About Executive Volunteer Services
History
After retiring as CEO of IU Hospitals, COO of Clarion, and Director of IU's Master of Health Administration Program, David (Dave) Handel became concerned about the dearth of professional assistance for nonprofit organizations in Indiana. The primary source of nonprofit guidance, the Indianapolis branch of the National Executive Service Corps, had recently closed. In 2011, Dave decided to fill the gap and created Executive Volunteer Services. He began by convincing experienced leaders in his network to volunteer their time to help and put the word out about the new organization. Demand quickly exceeded his expectations.
In 2013, Dave approached United Way of Central Indiana's then-CEO Ellen Annala to create a formal partnership, and thus, Executive Volunteer Services (EVS) was born. Over the past 10 years, EVS has connected volunteers with projects across Central Indiana. Today, EVS continues to thrive as the only program in Central Indiana that offers quality pro bono professional advice to community-based organizations.
Our Mission
To improve the functioning of human services nonprofits in Central Indiana by providing the expertise of executives on a pro-bono basis. To offer experienced executives avenues to contribute to the community.
Our Vision
Nonprofit leaders throughout Central Indiana will have the professional support and guidance to achieve their goals and positively impact the community.
Our Team
Ellen Rosenthal, Program Leader
Ellen has served as EVS's Program Leader since 2022. She retired in 2016 after 13 years as the transformational President and CEO of Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Fishers, IN. During her 40-year career in museums, Ellen learned the strategies and practices that help nonprofits succeed.
Under Ellen's leadership, Conner Prairie received the nation's highest honor for museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Medal, and became Indiana's first Smithsonian Affiliate. From a field of 18,000 museums, the authors of the book Magnetic: The Art and Science of Engagement (2013) featured Conner Prairie as one of six case studies of museums demonstrating prolonged business success and "tangible cultural and civic value."
During her career, Ellen received many awards and honors: the Sagamore of the Wabash, Distinguished Hoosier, one of the state's Most Influential Women (Indianapolis Business Journal), a tribute in the US House of Representatives for "her outstanding service to Conner Prairie," the Leading Light, Excellence in Innovation, Commitment to Creativity Trailblazers, and the Torchbearer award.
Ellen earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, a master's degree in American material culture from the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, University of Delaware, and a master's degree with high distinction in public management from Carnegie Mellon University. Ellen also studied leadership at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Ellen lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Dr. Theodore Logan, an oncologist at the Indiana University Medical Center. They have three adult sons.
Elizabeth (Betsy Smith), Assistant Program Leader
Betsy Smith serves as Assistant Program Leader, co-facilitator of the EVS Executive Director Peer Group, and volunteer consultant to nonprofits. Her career began with the Illinois Department of Public Aid and then the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Law school followed, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. She capped her legal education with a judicial clerkship with Judge Pasco Bowman on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. For 15 years, Betsy practiced business law in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Ice Miller.
Changing careers, Betsy joined The Nature Conservancy as head of fundraising for the Indiana Chapter. During her 13-year tenure, she ran two successful capital campaigns and managed the annual fund, grants, and legacy giving. Betsy then became the Executive Director of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation, Inc., which operates the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. There, she professionalized object and archival collections, managed the board, staff, and budget, oversaw a strategic planning process, and increased attendance and fundraising. In 2020, she took a short-term position with Indiana Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm providing free legal services to low-income clients, for which she now volunteers.
Betsy has served on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Humane Society of Indianapolis, Pleasant Run Children's Home, Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Marion County Animal Care and Control Board, and Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. She currently serves on the Conservation Law Center and the Indianapolis Opera boards.
Betsy is a director of the Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, a position she has held since 2005.
Betsy lives with her husband, one dog, and a cat in rural northern Hamilton County.
Isaac Mervis, Organizational Development Director
Isaac Mervis is a social impact leader with deep experience directing philanthropic investments that engage communities, strengthen nonprofit capacity, and expand opportunity for all. As Organizational Development Director at United Way of Central Indiana, Isaac manages grantmaking initiatives, programming, and cross-sector partnerships that align resources with evolving community priorities to support the nonprofit sector in Central Indiana. He is known for his collaborative approach, strategic mindset, and commitment to equitable systems change. With expertise in trust-based philanthropy, capacity building, and organizational development, Isaac works to break down barriers, build authentic relationships, and drive sustainable impact across Central Indiana.
He currently serves on the Board of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council.
Isaac lives in Broad Ripple with his partner, Jessy, and their two rambunctious cats, Norman and Leonard.