EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Turae comes to PUP with extensive background as a political operative and non profit manager with experience in implementing complex projects and events for key community stakeholders. A native Hoosier, she began her career with the Indiana General Assembly serving as a legislative aide to the Ways and Means Committee Chair. 

Additionally, she has worked with several non-profit organizations in Cincinnati, OH and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in Washington, DC.

Turae has been a big fan of PUP since our work with the Super Bowl and has served our Board of Directors. She holds a B.S in Political Science, B.A. in International Studies and MPA all from University of Evansville. In her spare time she enjoys discovering new things in  Indianapolis. 

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC DESIGN

Michael works extensively in both design and film, aiming to raise the caliber and conversation of both industries in Indianapolis.

He has presented PUP's work across North America, including Design Boom in New York, Brightworks Innovation Day in Toronto, and Creative Mornings in Indianapolis, among others. Through PUP, Michael served as the Steering Committee Co-Chair for Indy Rezone, the city's first comprehensive zoning update since the late 1960s.

His production design work (here) was most recently featured in the first season of Netflix's Russian Doll for which he won an Emmy for Outstanding Production Design. His recent work also includes the Sundance hits Results and Computer Chess, the Toronto-premiering Beneath the Harvest Sky, and Ari Shaffir's Netflix special Double Negative. He holds a Master in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. He and Jessica are twins.

CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF DESIGN + FABRICATION

Jessica started with PUP in late 2009, working initially as a product designer. She now oversees all product development - from material sourcing to prototyping - ensuring that PUP continues to deliver awesome, high-quality products. 

Additionally, Jessica works independently as an interior designer. In this capacity, she has worked for Lohr Design and Rowland Design in Indianapolis. She studied Interior Design at Ball State University and is LEED Certified. She and Michael are twins.

RESOURCE MANAGER

Jason is from Morristown, Indiana. After completing a tour in Iraq he returned to his hometown and decided to disrupt the relatively quiet small town with a three day, multi-stage music festival in the town’s local park. Every summer for the last eight years Morristown has been treated to a variety of local and touring bands alongside movies, artists, and local food trucks.

In addition to PUP, Jason works as a tour guide at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He studied geography/urban planning and event management at IUPUI. He lives on the southside with his fiancée alongside four cats and a goldfish.

STUDIO ASSISTANT

Sara grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She studied Photography at Indiana Wesleyan University. After falling in love with Indiana during her college years, she moved to Indianapolis in 2014. She first joined PUP as a volunteer during the summer of 2017.

She has a passion for the zero waste lifestyle as well as sustainable and ethical clothing. You will most likely find her thrifting and running her secondhand clothing business during her free time. She lives on the westside with her husband.

LEAD PRODUCT DESIGNER

Amy grew up on a Missouri farm where making something from nothing was often a necessity. She earned a degree in graphic design and remembers the smell of ink from the Iowa press where she first set type. Amy moved to Indianapolis in 2006, began sewing products in her basement in 2012 and for PUP in 2014. She likes home, travel, photography, gardens and helping creative people do good things.

STITCHER

Lindsay was born in Peru, IN. She grew up up on Indy’s far Eastside until she relocated to Avon as a young teen where she still resides. Lindsay enjoys volunteering for local community theaters by helping on their costume teams and being with her 2 sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

Trying to keep an asthmatic child of the ‘60’s entertained on the couch, Lindsay’s mom bought her a membership to the “Craft of the month club” and so a maker emerged. Lindsay began sewing after receiving her first real sewing machine at the age of 10 and stitching to this day is her happy place. Starting as a Saturday morning volunteer with her son, Lindsay has been enjoying her role as a stitcher with PUP since Oct. 2016.

STITCHER

Michelle grew up in central Indiana and studied Apparel Merchandising at Indiana University. She recently Joined PUP after working in Marketing for several years. She has always had a knack for creating products and brings product development experience from past jobs. She is the owner/designer/maker for Busty’s Fun Bags, a local boutique line of handbags and small leather and canvas accessories. 

Michelle is a Realtor with the FC Tucker Company and serves Central Indiana. She has a passion for Mid-Century houses and furnishings. She lives on the north side of Indianapolis in a Mid-Century home with her husband and pack of fur-kids. She also has a passion for fashion and is a Retailer for the size inclusive company, LuLaRoe. In her free time she likes to socialize with friends and hang out with the local Tiki group. 

KEY VOLUNTEER

Mary is originally from Davenport, Iowa and is now retired from public school teaching and administration after 40 years. Along with volunteering with PUP since 2012, she volunteers with IPS, Christ Church Cathedral, the League of Women Voters, and is currently a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She and her husband Greg have been married for 44 years, and together have one son and two grandsons.

STITCHER

Luke grew up in Plymouth, Indiana. He moved to Indy when he was a junior in high school. After graduating in 2013, he studied apparel design at The Art Institute. He started working as a stitcher at PUP in 2019.

STITCHER

Kelly grew up in Bloomington, Indiana where she learned to sew at a young age. She moved to the Indianapolis area in 2006 and received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Indianapolis in 2013.

Since graduating, Kelly has worked as a Technical Designer and Patternmaker. Now she’s returned to her sewing roots by stitching for PUP. Kelly lives with her boyfriend and their cats in Fountain Square. She enjoys gardening, seeing live music, and playing pinball.