About Us

Cultivating the next generation of Wall Street leaders.

The Indiana Project (TIP) prepares high-potential students — particularly from underserved backgrounds and communities — to enter the financial services industry through credential attainment, executive mentorship, and direct market exposure. Our vision is to close education gaps, increase literacy, and produce career-ready professionals who elevate their families and communities.

Credential Attainment

Weekly Saturday preparation for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam — the industry-recognized foundation for a career in capital markets.

Executive Mentorship

Direct relationships with CEOs, founders, and senior executives across banking, wealth management, and investment firms.

Direct Exposure

Real-time client experiences, Fortune 500 company tours, and live bond-market transaction events.

Global Partnership

Building capital market expertise in Ethiopia.

The Indiana Project is extremely excited to announce our partnership with The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, ECMA. Note that this is the first year of this collaborative initiative, which brings together The Indiana Project and ECMA to offer a Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) certification sponsorship and training program for Ethiopian cohorts.

The program trains and mentors participants to pass FINRA's introductory SIE exam, covering capital markets, financial instruments, regulatory frameworks, and ethical standards. By building foundational capital market expertise in the region, we aim to prepare local talent for emerging capital markets.

What the program offers

Structured training and preparation support
Guidance from experienced practitioners
Sponsorship for the SIE exam

Eligibility criteria

Junior professionals with 1–2 years of experience
University students with a strong interest in capital markets
Demonstrated commitment to learning and professional development

Our Founder

David B. Girton

Founder / CEO / Chairman

David B. Girton is the Founder and President of The Indiana Project (TIP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building scalable pathways into the financial services industry for emerging talent.

With more than 35 years of experience across public finance, corporate finance, and capital markets, Girton brings deep industry expertise to his work developing the next generation of professionals. He founded TIP to address a critical gap in access—creating a direct pipeline for high school and college students to enter the industry through certification, training, and placement.

Under his leadership, TIP has helped produce dozens of SIE-certified students, many of whom have gone on to internships and full-time roles at firms such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab, Bank of America, BMO, and Empower, as well as major Indiana-based companies including Cummins and Elanco.

Building on this success, TIP is now expanding globally through TIP Africa, in partnership with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, supporting the development of a new generation of financial talent within one of the world’s emerging capital markets.

Girton’s work sits at the intersection of workforce development and capital markets—advancing a model that connects overlooked talent to meaningful careers while strengthening the broader financial ecosystem.

His commitment to education and community impact is reflected in his eight years of service as a Commissioner for Indianapolis Public Schools. He is a recipient of numerous honors, including the Indiana University Alumni Award, Center for Leadership Development Man of the Year, Indianapolis Public Schools Hall of Fame, NAACP Man of the Year, and Indianapolis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Girton holds a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University and is an alumnus of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL).

Contact David

Managing Director

Steven Jones

Managing Director / Board Member

Steven Jones leads The Indiana Project's high school outreach and collegiate partnership strategy, building the pipeline that connects promising students from Indiana to the program's mentorship, certification, and career pathway offerings. In this role, Steven directs charter school outreach, manages ongoing partnership relationships, oversees student recruitment, and coordinates program delivery support across partner campuses — ensuring every school we serve has a clear, well-supported path into the cohort.

As Dean for Professional Development at Wabash College, Jones oversees the activities of the nationally ranked Schroeder Center for Career Development, the Center for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship, and the Wabash Internships and Student Employment program. He also leads the programming and community outreach activities of the Malcolm X Institute; of which he was an award-winning member during his four years at Wabash. Jones majored in economics with an area of concentration in African American Studies. He began his career after Wabash in 1987 working in circulation for the Indianapolis Star and News before joining the personnel office for the Indiana Department of Transportation. He later spent two years as Director of Minority Affairs with the State Personnel Department before joining Methodist Hospital, later IU Health, in human resources. In 1993 he received one of the state's highest honors, the Sagamore of the Wabash, from Indiana Governor Evan Bayh. In 2014, he was honored by the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) with the Distinguished Alumni Award. His recent recognition was from Steward Speakers when he was awarded their Change Maker Award in Education.

Contact Steven

Managing Director

Thomas "Tommy" Shaffer III

Managing Director / Board Member

Thomas "Tommy" Shaffer III is a seasoned financial leader serving as Controller at LAMPCO Federal Credit Union, where he oversees financial reporting and helps ensure the organization's long-term integrity and stability.

In addition to his role at LAMPCO, Tommy is the Managing Director of The Indiana Project, where he leads efforts to expand financial education, leadership development, and career access for emerging talent across Indiana and beyond.

Tommy brings more than 15 years of private banking experience to his work. His career includes serving as an Executive Director and Private Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Indianapolis, as well as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Bank of America Private Bank in New York City.

Throughout his career, he has advised complex families, business owners, nonprofits, and senior executives. A graduate of the Kelley School of Business, Tommy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and an alumnus of the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), where he continues to give back as an SEO Career Mentor. He also serves as a linebackers coach for Lawrence North High School football, helping develop and mentor student-athletes both on and off the field. Tommy has also completed executive training with McKinsey & Company and New York University.

Contact Tommy

Program Director

Tchad Blair

Program Director / Board Member

Tchad Blair is the Program Director of The Indiana Project, where he leads program implementation, technology, marketing, and sponsorship development. He turns the organization's vision into scalable systems that expand access for underrepresented students entering financial services, ensuring every cohort is supported by modern tools, clear reporting, and a strong public presence.

A technologist, designer, and social entrepreneur, Tchad brings more than two decades of experience building digital products and leading creative teams. He most recently served as Head of UI/UX at the American Chemical Society, directing user experience strategy across a portfolio of research and publishing platforms serving a global scientific community.

He is also the founder of UXpertism, a full-service digital agency that partners with mission-driven organizations and businesses to design, develop, and automate the digital experiences behind their growth, spanning brand identity, web development, content production, and AI-enabled workflow automation.

Learn more at tchadblair.com and uxpertism.com.

Contact Tchad LinkedIn

Awards

March 27, 2026

Accomplished Achievement Award — Center for Leadership Development

Blaylock Van proudly recognized David Girton, Senior Vice President, for receiving the Accomplished Achievement Award from the Center for Leadership Development in recognition of his impactful work through The Indiana Project.

With decades of experience in public and municipal finance, David has held key leadership roles at top firms, guiding clients and mentoring future professionals. As Founder of The Indiana Project, he is creating meaningful pathways for students in underserved communities to pursue careers in public finance — helping them prepare for and pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and opening doors to new opportunities and long-term success.

David's leadership continues to expand access, foster diversity, and shape a more inclusive future for the industry.

Video credit: Blaylock Van LLC · Read on blaylockvan.com

March 19, 2026

Man of the Year

David B. Girton to be honored as Man of the Year in recognition of his sustained impact on financial education and mentorship for high-potential students.

2025

NAACP Recognition

The Indiana Project was honored by the NAACP for its commitment to advancing opportunity, financial literacy, and career pathways for young people of color across Indiana.

Read the recognition

Our Team