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Tobias Center Vision

The enduring mission of the Tobias Center is inspiring leadership excellence on a national scale.  Special access to the Center’s work will be furnished to Indiana citizens for the distinct purpose of enhancing leadership within the state.

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Conferences and Lectures » About Jerry Semler

JERRY D. SEMLER, CLU
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, American United Mutual Insurance Holding Company
Parent of OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc.

“Leaders do the right thing, managers do things right.” Jerry Semler is one of those people who knows the difference between leading and managing. Quietly but with uncommon effectiveness, he led his company to new standards of corporate achievement, qualitative customer service and generous public service. Leaders, however, are people who do more than give back to their community; they use their positions and influence to bless and enhance the quality of life in the communities in which they live. Jerry Semler exemplifies what it means to be a public citizen and civic leader. In a quiet but very intentional manner, he has left his footprints all over the city of Indianapolis — be it the arts, athletics, business, youth and family service programs, government, higher education or religion. Driven by a deep religious faith and blessed with boundless energy, Semler has literarily wrapped himself around Indianapolis and the city has been the beneficiary of his visionary generosity. Philanthropists, as the etymology of that word implies, are “lovers of humanity” who give of themselves for the flourishing of the world around them; and as is true of Jerry Semler, most frequently anonymously and with genuine humility.

— Bill Enright, Executive Director of the Lake Family Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on
Philanthropy, Indiana University and former senior pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.

INTRODUCING MR. SEMLER

Jerry Semler has made outstanding contributions to the Indianapolis community. He has freely given his time, talent and treasure to a long list of worthy civic, charitable and Church-related causes. He and his wife Rosemary (Rosie) raised seven children and have 27 grandchildren. They are active members of St. Pius X Parish. Jerry spent most of his childhood in Indianapolis, but completed his senior year of high school in Evansville. He received a bachelor’s degree in industrial economics from Purdue University and completed the business executive program at Stanford University in 1985. Now chairman emeritus, Jerry has been employed by American United Life (AUL) Insurance Company for 49 years and serves on the Board of American United Mutual Insurance Holding Company. For many years, he has been consistently ranked among the top CEOs in Indianapolis and in 2004, was named Business Leader of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He continues to serve on the boards of many civic, charitable, and Church-related organizations.