Two USTF board leaders named to the 2026 IBJ Indiana 250

August 11, 2026

Odon, Ind. — The Uplands Science & Technology Foundation (USTF) today congratulated board chair Tina Peterson and board member Andrew Kossack on their selection to the 2026 Indiana 250, IBJ Media's annual list of the state's most influential and impactful leaders.

The Indiana 250 recognizes 250 leaders making significant contributions across business, philanthropy, government, and the arts. Honorees are nominated and researched by IBJ Media staff, with final selections made by the organization's editors. Each honoree is profiled in the Indiana 250 magazine distributed to IBJ subscribers, and recognized at an awards event in Indianapolis that brings together business executives, civic leaders, and community influencers from across the state.

Peterson, of Bloomington, is president and CEO of both the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County and Regional Opportunity Initiatives Inc. She provides strategic vision and operations for both organizations and cultivates collaboration with local, regional, and statewide partners. She serves as a member or adviser on numerous regional, state, and national boards dedicated to economic development, education, workforce development, industry advancement, and philanthropy. She was recognized in the Indiana 250's nonprofit and education category.

Kossack, of Zionsville, is president and CEO of the Applied Research Institute Inc. (ARI), where he leads a 75-person team accelerating the development of technologies critical to national security. ARI works with the federal departments of defense and commerce and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's DARPA Connect, and in January led the state's application for the Federal Aviation Administration's Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site, awarded to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Kossack served as ARI's executive vice president and general counsel from March 2023 until his appointment as CEO in September 2025.

Both leaders serve on the USTF board, which oversees the development of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, adjacent to Naval Weapons Station Crane, on behalf of the WestGate Authority.

"WestGate@Crane sits at the intersection of innovation, national defense, and regional economic development, and that is exactly the intersection Tina and Andrew work at every day," said Bryant Niehoff, CEO of USTF. "Tina has spent her career building the philanthropic and regional capacity that makes southern Indiana a place where companies and talent choose to stay. Andrew leads an organization that moves defense technology from research to the field. Their leadership is vital to what USTF is building at WestGate, and this recognition is well earned."

IBJ Media launched the Indiana 250 program in 2022. The 2026 list was compiled following a months-long review of nominations, research into Indiana organizations, and consultation with community leaders statewide.

About the Uplands Science & Technology Foundation

The Uplands Science & Technology Foundation (USTF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the vitality of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. Created in 2021, following the completion of the technology park's Master Plan, USTF supports the park's long-term strategy and growth, building on the successes achieved by the WestGate Authority and other partners. For more information, please visit ustfwestgate.org.

About the WestGate@Crane Technology Park

Just beyond the gates of the world's third largest naval base, the WestGate@Crane Technology Park connects a world-class innovation ecosystem that includes the rich knowledge and capabilities of NWS Crane, the park's 70+ tenants, and Indiana's top research, development, and educational institutions. Set on 750 acres of the rolling hills and forests of southern Indiana, the cutting-edge technology park offers competitive advantages and exclusive amenities leveraged through the one-stop assistance of the park's management partner, Uplands Science & Technology Foundation (USTF).