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CFSI Welcomes Three New Members to Board of Directors
The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Rebecca Bennett Howard, Christian Huber, and Nick Oakes.
Each brings a unique combination of professional experience, community involvement, and deep ties to Southern Indiana. Together, they will help guide CFSI as the Foundation continues its work to connect people and resources, support local nonprofits, and create lasting opportunities throughout Clark and Floyd counties.
“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Rebecca, Christian, and Nick to our Board,” said Linda Speed, CFSI President and CEO. “In different ways, each of them reflects what makes Southern Indiana such a special place: strong community roots, a desire to serve others, and a genuine investment in what comes next for our region. They bring tremendous experience and perspective to the table, but just as importantly, they bring a willingness to listen, learn and help. I know we will learn from them, and I’m excited about what we can accomplish together for our region.”
Meet Our New Board Members
Rebecca Bennett Howard
Director of Trust Services, Stock Yards Bank & Trust
For Rebecca Bennett Howard, joining the CFSI Board is an opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to her and her family.
Howard serves as Director of Trust Services at Stock Yards Bank & Trust. A graduate of Salem High School, she earned her undergraduate degree from Sullivan University and later attended law school at Indiana University Indianapolis. Today, she lives in Greenville with her husband, Dustin, and their two sons, Owenn and Noah.
Her professional work and legal background have given Howard firsthand experience with stewardship and long-term planning – perspectives that align naturally with CFSI’s responsibility to care for charitable resources not simply for today, but for generations to come.
She supports the Foundation, she said, because she wants “to give back to the community that has given so much to me” while helping ensure charitable funds are stewarded responsibly to benefit the community in perpetuity.
Outside of work, much of Howard’s time revolves around family, friends and staying active. Her sons attend Floyd Central High School, where Owenn plays baseball and Noah enjoys basketball, and the family shares an enthusiasm for the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Cubs.
Howard also loves traveling and just about anything that gets her outdoors: running, riding horses, boating and more. A safari remains on her bucket list, along with more opportunities to travel internationally with her children and watch them experience new cultures and landscapes firsthand.
And when asked to choose the one cause she would fund if she had unlimited resources, Howard couldn’t narrow it down to just one – perhaps a fitting answer for someone stepping into a role that offers a firsthand look at the many needs, opportunities, and organizations that make up Southern Indiana.
Christian Huber
Seventh Generation Master Distiller & Winemaker, Huber’s Orchard and Winery & Starlight Distillery
As a seventh-generation member of the Huber family, Christian Huber knows a thing or two about legacy.
Huber is a seventh-generation master distiller and winemaker at Huber’s Orchard & Winery and Starlight Distillery. A graduate of Providence High School, he continued his education at Niagara College in Canada before returning home to Starlight, where he lives with his wife, Mary.
Growing up in a family whose roots in Southern Indiana stretch back more than 180 years has shaped the way Huber thinks about community, stewardship, and what one generation leaves for the next. Those ideas are also central to what drew him to CFSI.
“I support CFSI because it serves as one of the most powerful and trusted connectors in our region – bridging individuals, families, and businesses with the causes that matter most to our community,” Huber said. “As a seventh-generation family in Southern Indiana, I think a lot about legacy and long-term impact. CFSI isn’t just about moving dollars today; it’s about stewarding charitable intent so that generosity compounds for generations.”
Huber’s interest in the world extends well beyond Southern Indiana. Traveling is one of his favorite ways to spend his free time, and seeing every continent remains on his bucket list. His ideal getaway would include exploring a new wine region … not so surprising for someone who has made winemaking part of his life’s work.
Asked what he would support if resources were unlimited, Huber pointed to education. His vision would be a comprehensive college-access initiative for Southern Indiana students who might otherwise be unable to afford the opportunity, pairing financial assistance with mentorship, career guidance, and connections.
“Education is the great multiplier,” he said. “When you give someone the tools to build a career, you’re not just changing their life – you’re changing their family’s trajectory for generations.”
Nick Oakes
Financial Planner & Advisor, Edward Jones
For Nick Oakes, Southern Indiana has always been home.
A Floyd Central High School graduate and Indiana University alumnus, Oakes lives in Greenville with his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Raylen, Brynn, and Ava. He works as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, helping individuals and families plan for their futures and pursue their financial goals.
That professional experience also gives Oakes an appreciation for the role philanthropy can play in helping people turn what matters to them into meaningful action. He sees CFSI as a resource both for people who want to give and for the organizations doing important work throughout the community.
“From the outside looking in, it seems like a great way to help folks with their philanthropic goals, as well as give programs useful resources they need to help the surrounding community,” Oakes said.
When he isn’t working, there’s a good chance Oakes is moving. He enjoys running, golfing, coaching wrestling, traveling, and spending time outdoors. With three active children involved in everything from wrestling and swimming to dance, tumbling and cheer, staying active is very much a family affair.
His favorite places to spend time in Southern Indiana include his family’s property, Mount St. Francis, and the New Albany Greenway. And if unlimited resources were available to support one cause especially close to his heart, Oakes would choose Ronald McDonald House.
Building on a Tradition of Community Leadership
CFSI’s Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and oversight as the Foundation works to improve the quality of life in Clark and Floyd counties today and for generations to come.
With Bennett Howard, Huber, and Oakes joining the Board, CFSI gains three community leaders with different experiences and perspectives but a shared commitment to Southern Indiana – and to helping ensure its communities continue to thrive.