Meet The Center: Garth Eberhart
First things first: tell us a little about your background.
I am a native Hoosier educated here in Indiana at Wabash College for my undergraduate degree (English and International Studies) and, after a few years of employment, earned my MBA from Butler University. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 46 U.S. states and 13 countries throughout my 25+ year career, all of which has been spent in nonprofit, higher education, and association management. I’ve also been married for more than 20 years and have two daughters.
What drew you to your role at The International Center?
The COO role really brought to light my background and experience with nonprofit management and a passion for all things international.
What is your favorite aspect of your role?
I enjoy being in a mission-focused organization that utilizes my business skills to help us advance daily toward the mission of globalizing Indiana. I get to do what I like to do, am good at, and it’s in a highly international-centric office environment. Every day I learn something new about the world.
If you have traveled or lived abroad, which location was the most impactful on your life? Why?
I spent quite a bit of time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, coordinating Middle East-focused projects for the U.S. Department of State and truly enjoyed my time there. That said, it was my time in Northern Iraq, commonly referred to as the Kurdish region, in the city of Erbil, that impressed me the most. Erbil is an 8,000-plus-year-old walled city and I walked the same paths of generations that have long since passed. The people were welcoming and hospitable. We even shared lamb pizza on the street! A modern mall was available and behind it was a modern amusement park. Certainly, an oasis and not what I had previously thought it would be like thanks to images and videos that made it appear as if the whole nation was war-torn and unsafe.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m an avid car connoisseur who is a self-taught mechanical engineer. I’ve owned/collected a 1949 Dodge Coronet, 1966 and 1967 Mustangs, thirteen Jeeps and a 1963 Studebaker Champ truck. When not at The International Center or with family, I can usually be found wrenching in my garage.
Speed round (answer with only one word):
- Favorite food: Bratwurst
- Favorite country you’ve visited or lived: Iraq
- Language you’d love to learn: Arabic
- Favorite IC brand color (orange, blue, green, yellow): Orange
- Social media handle: #what’s that?
Profile completed by Garth Eberhart, Chief Operating Officer
