INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP proudly announces Gretchen K. Gutman has been selected as Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ (SPEA) 2008 Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
 
This award is the highest honor bestowed by the School; honoring a graduate for outstanding professional achievement and service to the School and beyond.
 
"We're all very proud of Gretchen's accomplishment,” said Mark Palmer, partner in Taft’s Indianapolis office. “She has a fierce devotion to public policy and takes great pride in her many years of public service. Gretchen is an outstanding alumnus and practitioner of SPEA's values. They couldn't have selected a more deserving person."
 
Ms. Gutman has more than 20 years experience in the legislative and political arenas. She joined the firm, then known as Sommer Barnard, in 2002. Previously (2001-2002), she served as the Midwest Regional Manager for Mirant, an international energy company. Between 1993 and 2001, Ms. Gutman served as the Senate Majority Fiscal Analyst for the Indiana Senate Republicans. She also worked in local government as the Public Finance Director for the Allen County Commissioners (1988-1989).

Ms. Gutman was named one of Indianapolis Business Journal's "Forty Under 40". She was also the recipient of Sagamore of the Wabash in 2001 and the Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman State and Local Tax Award in 1997.
 
Ms. Gutman will be presented with the Distinguished Alumna of the Year award at SPEA’s 2008 Dinner of Distinction on Thursday, September 25th in the Indiana Memorial Union Tudor Room.
 
About Taft
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana, Northern Kentucky, Phoenix, Arizona and Beijing, China. With more than 320 attorneys, the firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals, including litigation, corporate and business law, securities and municipal financing, tax and estate planning, labor and employment law, real estate and environmental, health care, intellectual property and unfair competition and antitrust law.