Indiana Legal Services to Appoint New CEO in November
The legal aid organization will transition to new leadership on November 9, 2026, as Tavonna Harris Askew takes the helm.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in People
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Indiana Legal Services Inc. has appointed Tavonna Harris Askew as its incoming CEO, succeeding long-time leader Jon Laramore. Askew is set to take the helm of the Indianapolis-based legal aid organization on November 9, 2026.
Why it matters
The leadership change arrives as Indiana Legal Services continues to navigate its mission of providing legal support across Indiana. Operators should watch for shifts in the organization's strategic priorities or operational focus under the new executive's tenure.
Askew brings 25 years of legal and executive leadership experience to the role, including 15 years with the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County. The organization will transition leadership following Laramore's 11-year term.
The players
Tavonna Harris Askew
Incoming CEO of Indiana Legal Services with extensive experience in the public health and corporate legal sectors.
Jon Laramore
The departing CEO who has led Indiana Legal Services since 2015.
Indiana Legal Services Inc.
A statewide non-profit organization headquartered in Indianapolis that provides legal aid services.
Cummins Inc.
A global power leader that designs and manufactures engines and power generation products.
The details
The board-appointed transition sees Askew move from executive roles at Suburban Health Organization and Cummins Inc. to lead the statewide legal aid entity. At Cummins Inc., she managed a $4 million budget and supported 75,000 employees while overseeing a 30-member team. She holds deep roots in the local community, having started her career at Indiana Legal Services in 2001.
Timeline
2001: Askew began her legal career at Indiana Legal Services.
2015: Laramore began his leadership of Indiana Legal Services.
October 2026: Askew received the Maurer School of Law Distinguished Service Award.
November 9, 2026: Askew officially becomes CEO of Indiana Legal Services.
Market Landscape
This leadership appointment marks the first change in top command at the statewide non-profit since the 2015 transition when Jon Laramore assumed leadership. The move signals a pivot in administration for one of the region's largest providers of legal services.
Operators in the legal and non-profit sectors should monitor the new administration for potential adjustments to outreach or service delivery models in the region. Organizations working with the firm should prepare for administrative continuity as the organization begins its new fiscal chapter.
The takeaway
The appointment of an executive with long-standing experience in the Marion County health sector may signal a focus on addressing social determinants of health through legal support. Track the organization's initial quarterly reports following the November transition for early signs of programmatic shifts.
Further reading
For more on local leadership shifts, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Madison Courier.
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