JR Sandadi
President
JR Sandadi was born in Hyderabad, India, where he was raised on Hindu values with a strong emphasis on education and good character. He immigrated to the US in 1990. Carmel has been home for the last 22 years.
JR was with Unisys Corporation for 23 years before quitting the corporate world in 2017 to pursue engagement with various Sewa (Sewa, Sanskrit selfless service) organizations. JR volunteers his time with Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Sewa International USA, Hindu Education Foundation, Brightlane Learning, the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Carmel Interfaith Alliance and the Indiana Multifaith Network.
Education: Master’s in Education: Master’s in industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, Master’s in Mathematics and Master in Management Studies from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS – Pilani). industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, Master’s in Mathematics and Master in Management Studies from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS – Pilani).
JR is currently the Joint-Executive Director of the Great Lakes Zone of HSS, USA.
He dedicates his time to Brightlane Learning as a volunteer, where he tutors children from inner city communities and actively participates in the diversity committee. Holding the position of vice-chairman on the board of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, he also serves as a board member for the Carmel Interfaith Alliance. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Indiana Multifaith Network.
JR is a runner, having run 7 marathons, including Boston, NYC, Chicago, Carmel, Big Sur International, Monumental, and London. He has also run in 20 half-marathons.
Charlie Wiles
Treasurer
Charlie is the Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation in Indianapolis. He holds a degree in political science from Indiana University and spent several years working in construction, managing a not-for-profit organization focused on peace education, and served as a combat medic in the US Army Reserves.
Charlie’s is married to Sachiko Utsumi Wiles from Tokyo. Together they are attempting to raise their children with an appreciation of their diverse religious and cultural traditions. Charlie loves to travel, play and listen to music, and enjoys the outdoors.
Regarding interfaith engagement, Charlie states, “For me, authentic interfaith engagement affirms my faith in humanity. If we approach interfaith community building with curiosity and humility, it can be transformative. I believe that it is an essential tool to help overcome many of the challenges we face in the modern era. It is also fun and very enriching!”
Rev. Nic Cable
At-Large Member
Rev. Nic Cable has served as Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus, IN, since 2017. He received degrees from DePaul University and Chicago Theological Seminary, and fellowships from the Forum for Theological Exploration, Interfaith Youth Core, and Lilly Endowment, Inc. Nic has previously served congregations in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota, in addition to working at the UUA in Stewardship and Development. Locally, he serves on the board of directors for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, the Guiding Team for Imagine Columbus, which is a city-wide inclusion initiative, and as the Executive Director of Columbus Interfaith. Nic is married to his best friend, Hattie Cable, who is a child welfare attorney, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Holiday and Cedar.
Rev. Dr. Douglas Cripe
At-Large Member
Doug holds a Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University with a focus in music, psychology, and religion. He received a Child Development Associate Credential in Early Childhood, a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Eden Theological Seminary (with his dissertation on “Prayer Rug Spirituality: Weaving Interfaith Dialogue with Practice of Prayer”).
He has taken three years of Spiritual Direction courses and supervision at Anabaptist Mennonite Seminary and is a member of Spiritual Director’s International. His experiences of ministry include being nurtured as a child in the Mennonite Church and serving over 30 years as a pastor with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in IN, KY, IL, and MO. His roles included preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and community involvement mixed with educational experiences and Bible study with all age groups. He also worked as a curriculum editor and writer (Christian Board of Publication), as a hospital chaplain, and as adjunct faculty at McKendree University, where he taught Religion in the U.S., Interfaith Explorations, Religions of the West, Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures, and Hebrew language.
Doug’s interfaith experiences began in college and deepened during seminary. After the events of 9/11, Doug co-founded the MetroEast Interfaith Partnership to bring together people from various faith traditions to learn about one another’s faith traditions through visiting places of worship, book studies, experiencing foods related to faith traditions, and involving college students in interfaith experiences.
Risé Friedman
At-Large Member
Risé Friedman is a longstanding member of Indianapolis’ Jewish community, recently serving as the President of the Sisterhood at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. A lawyer by trade, she previously was Corporate Counsel with The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation heading the Peripheral Development section of the Legal Real Estate Department, and Senior Counsel and Divisional Counsel with Simon Property Group, focusing on land acquisition and new development projects. She resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Todd Wentico, and their dogs Hank and Lydia, who are their third set of rescued dogs.
Thomass M. Ringo
At-Large Member
Thomass M. Ringo, born July 18th, 1960. Tom grew up in Simi Vally California, (LA area).
In 1979-1981,he served a two-year church mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dallas Texas area.
A graduate of Huntington University, Huntington, IN., Tom still participates in the University Band, Orchestra, and choir.
Married for 43 years to his best friend Suzy, Tom has two adult children and 6 grand children.
Tom owns and operates Ringo Marketing, Inc., Huntington, IN.
He is a founding member of The Fort Wayne Area Interfaith Community (FWAIC) and is currently serving on its board of directors.
Tom’s hope is to get to better understand all his religious neighbors and to find ways to serve one another in Indiana’s cities and communities.
John Pinter
At-Large Member
John is the Executive Director of the United Religious Community of St. Joseph County, a position he has served in since 2015. In addition to that, John has a small consulting business, working with nonprofits, educational institutions, and municipal organizations. He also teaches in the Mendoza College of Business Nonprofit Certificate Program and assists with the Mandela Washington Fellowship of the Pulte Institute.
In a prior position with the American Red Cross, the local chapter served as a refugee resettlement site in greater South Bend, which went through a process of establishing a State Department approved entity in collaboration with Church World Service (one of nine NGOs that work with State to help resettle families in the US).
John is a graduate of Notre Dame (BA in Government) and the University of Utah (MBA).
Sundeep Singh
At-Large Member
Born in Carteret, New Jersey and raised in Fishers, Indiana, Sundeep attended Hamilton Southeastern High School before heading to Butler University, where he double majored in Biology and Political Science with a minor in Chemistry. After college, Sundeep completed his law degree at Indiana University – McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he held the title of Chief Justice of the Moot Court Society and Vice President of the Asian Law Students Association. Sundeep is a practicing attorney at the firm of RileyCate, LLC in Fishers, Indiana. Sundeep handles criminal defense, personal injury, medical malpractice, civil litigation, class action, defamation, and business litigation cases. Sundeep was an advocate and mentor through the law school Re-Entry and Community Help Program, where he reported monthly to the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and assisted local, newly released federal offenders in their journey of integrating back into society. Sundeep firmly believes that everyone deserves a second chance and has been involved with community efforts to reduce recidivism. Sundeep currently lives in Fishers, Indiana and enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, traveling, and reading.
Indiana Multifaith Network 