Craig E. Fenneman
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Craig E. Fenneman '71 became chair of the Butler University
Board of Trustees in May 2011. Fenneman earned his bachelor of arts
in economics from Butler and attended Indiana University School of
Law from 1971 to 1973.
Shortly after completing his education, Fenneman founded two
Hoosier-based businesses - Fenneman & Associates (today
Fenneman and Brown Partnership) and Southern Bells Inc., one of the
largest owners of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut franchises in the
country.
In 1982, Fenneman and his partner, Charlie Brown, were in the
process of building their first restaurant when PepsiCo offered to
sell them two existing stores in Bloomington and Columbus, Ind.
Since that time, the company has grown through acquisitions and new
development to 62 restaurants.
In addition to building his own business, Fenneman has helped
shape the industry. He served on the board of directors of the
National Taco Bell Franchisees for six years, where he helped
effect changes in concept development, building design, and
national insurance programs for franchisees.
Fenneman has received Taco Bell Corp. regional and national
awards for achievement in operations and development.
His civic activities include serving as president of Area 2
(Indiana and Michigan) Boy Scouts of America (BSA), as a member of
the BSA National Marketing Committee and the National Foundation
Board, and board member at the Barbara Jordan YMCA in Martinsville,
Ind. In 2013, he completed a 12-year term as chairman of the board
of YMCA Camp Carson. He sits on the Morgan County Parks Board.
Craig and his wife, Mary, have contributed to the Butler Fund,
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Dean's Fund, the
ButlerRising Campaign, and the Craig Fenneman Endowed Scholarship.
Craig was elected to Butler's Board of Trustees in 2003 and became
vice chair of the Butler University Board of Trustees in May 2008.
He serves on the Board of Trustees' Executive Committee and
Executive Compensation Committee. He is a past member of the LAS
Board of Visitors.
The Fennemans are members of the Cornerstone Society of Butler
University.
They also support several arts organizations, including the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Historic Landmarks,
Indiana Heritage Arts, Friends of T.C. Steele, and the Brown County
Art Guild.