Aaron Smith is a Partner & Principal for BAR Communications. For more than a decade, he has worked alongside elected officials and leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries to craft creative and strategic solutions.

He previously worked as a digital communications director in the United States Senate for Senator Dan Coats. This included responsibilities for the Joint Economic Committee, which Senator Dan Coats chaired, and roles in Coats’ DC and Indiana-based personal offices.

Outside of his role at BAR Communications, Aaron also serves on the Noblesville City Council as the representative for the 3rd District. As Council president, he spearheaded and personally negotiated two landmark developments: securing a partnership with the Indiana Pacers and orchestrating the Pulte Del Webb agreement—the largest residential investment in Noblesville’s history. His leadership has helped shape the trajectory of Noblesville, now Indiana’s 9th largest city with a thriving population of over 75,000 residents. His impact and leadership were recognized when he was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” Class of 2024. Aaron calls Noblesville home with his wife, Bronwen, whom he married in 2015, and their two children, Declan and Parker.

Lauren Schregardus is Vice President of Strategic Communications for BAR Communications. With more than 20 years in media and public relations at PR agencies, in government and in the private sector, her current focus and passion drive creative, strategic stories for her clients.

She previously worked at Dittoe Public Relations and served as director of communications for iStudio Salons, a growing salon concept started by her husband. In that role, Lauren specialized in direct marketing and internal communications, as well as directing social media and public relations campaigns. During this period, she helped grow the business from three locations to seven locations with nearly 200 salon professionals in three states.

Lauren also served in state government as spokeswoman for former Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett and the Indiana Department of Education as well as director of media relations for the Indiana Family and Social Services Agency.

Lauren graduated summa cum laude from Miami University of Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She currently serves on the board of directors of Summer Stock Stage and Discovering Broadway, is a senior contributor to Indianapolis Moms. Lauren is a current member of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series Class XLVIII and is an active alumni of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy. Lauren is a current member of Hoosier PRSA and was their 2022 Pinnacle Award recipient for excellence in public relations. She lives in Zionsville, Indiana with her husband, James, and her two children, Andrew and Madison.

Lucy Powers is the Chief of Staff for BAR Communications, bringing with her over eight years of experience in strategic planning, project management, and stakeholder engagement spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. 

Before joining the BAR team, Lucy served as the Advisor to White House Management and Administration, providing strategic guidance as the White House established its operations, travel, finance, and facilities processes. 

As Director of Event Programming on the Donald J. Trump for President 2024 campaign, Lucy leveraged campaign strategy and polling data to design and execute targeted event programs, employing a team of 20+ campaign staff nationally to ensure seamless communication and cohesive event execution. Lucy also served in President Trump’s first administration in strategic operations roles at both the White House and Department of Energy. 

Lucy attended Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, where her passion for civic engagement began. Originally from Bloomington, she is excited to be home in Indiana and looks forward to spending more time with family and friends.

Jonathan Kopp is the Director of Strategic Communications for BAR Communications. Jonathan has over seven years of experience in communications and public affairs, most recently serving as the director of a grassroots energy advocacy organization where he organized support for local projects, educated elected officials, and created and curated content for social media.

Prior to that, Jonathan served the Indiana GOP and Eric Holcomb for Indiana in the communications department, as well as on a U.S. Senate Primary campaign where he worked with the political and communications teams.

Jonathan played soccer at Indiana University — Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) before transferring to Marian University in Indianapolis, where he graduated summa cum laude in Management as a member of the men’s soccer team. He is also a member of the Indiana Leadership Forum Class of 2022, the American Enterprise Institute Millennial Leadership Network, and the Marketing & Communications Co-Chair for the CFA Society of Indianapolis Board. Originally from Avon, Indiana, Jonathan now resides in downtown Indianapolis.

Abbey Moman is the Director of Client Operations for BAR Communications. She has over 10 years of experience in marketing, office administration and customer experience. 

She most recently worked for indie record label Joyful Noise Recordings as their Online Community Manager where she managed a Discord community and social media content for artist campaigns and milestones. She also served as the Customer Sales Coordinator at a nationally recognized cabinet manufacturer for almost a decade, in which she was granted the President’s Staff Award for outstanding contributions to both customers and the company. While there, she led social media and blogging efforts, developed branding content and product ideas, and was appointed chair of the Customer Experience-Dealer Experience team. Abbey has previously spent a two year term as secretary for the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Indiana chapter. Additionally, she was an editorial intern at Emmis Communications – Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.

Abbey attended Hanover College and eventually transferred to Purdue University, where she studied English Literature and Professional Writing. While she was an undergraduate, she was nominated for the Professional Writing showcase and performed in the Purduettes varsity choir. She currently resides in downtown Indianapolis with her husband and dog.

Originally from Kokomo, IN, Audrey serves as the Content & Communications Manager at BAR Communications, specializing in hospitality clients. Audrey received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Communications in 2021 from Indiana University Kokomo. During her time at IUK, she co-founded both the Young Republicans Club and the Young Republicans of Howard County. Soon after graduating, Audrey decided to begin her career as a public-school educator, teaching students in grades 4 through 6.

Audrey’s time as a teacher has provided her with skills that seamlessly translate to her newest role. From problem-solving and communication to creativity and relationship building, Audrey’s classroom experience has given her a solid foundation to excel in client management, strategic planning and fostering connections. Her passion for helping others achieve their goals and her vision for creative content makes her an essential part of the BAR team.

Outside of work, Audrey enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring new restaurants and shops, and cheering on her favorite sports team, the Buffalo Bills. She recently relocated from her hometown to Hamilton County.

Ryan Everett joined BAR Communications as a Communications Manager in June 2025 after graduating Purdue University with a bachelor’s in Political Science and Communications. On and off campus, Ryan has cultivated a diverse set of experiences across public relations, leadership, and customer-facing roles.

Ryan first joined BAR in December 2024 as a Communications Intern, and served as an Account Coordinator for Black & Gold Buzz Public Relations while at Purdue. In both these roles, he collaborated with peers to research, plan, and implement PR campaigns, producing key deliverables for clients including the Gubernatorial Transition of Mike Braun and the Purdue Center on Artificial Intelligence for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3). He was most recently selected for the OneZone Chamber Leadership Institute Class of 2026.

Now a Carmel resident, Ryan is an avid golfer and previously worked two seasons as a Golf Professional Staff Assistant at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, organizing events, creating exceptional member experiences and honing his operational skills. He attends Holy Spirit Parish at Geist and remains an active supporter of Purdue Athletics. 

Ben Fruit is the Spring Communications Intern while he pursues a degree in Strategic Communication at Butler University. Through his curriculum and previous experiences, he brings a strong foundation in storytelling, digital media, and audience engagement to his work at BAR.

Prior to joining BAR, Ben served as a Marketing Intern at Utilicast, an energy and utility consulting firm, where he supported social media content creation, digital design projects, and campaign research. As a big sports fan, Ben enjoys working with brands in that world as well. He served as a LIV Golf Brand Ambassador, engaging directly with the public through tabling events at high-traffic locations and local businesses to increase brand visibility and drive ticket interest and has volunteered at events through the Indy Sports Corp.

Outside of his professional work, Ben is actively involved on campus as a captain of Butler University’s Club Ultimate Frisbee team, and a member of both Lambda Chi Alpha and the Butler Institute for Sports and Entertainment. He tries to always interact with and stay engaged in the Indianapolis community, which is where he hopes to live after graduating in May.