The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association
Jeanne Cranon Fuqua Inducted 2011 - Class of 1977
Fishing in the Ottawa River, gardening, and bicycling with friends Hilda Soto, Belinda Wright, and Darlene Fears from the Stickney Avenue neighborhood of Hamilton Elementary and Woodward, provided the background for Jeanne to proclaim "When I was growing up I, was a tomboy."
Although Jeanne calls Indianapolis her home, her Ohio roots are never far from her thoughts. Jeanne remembers her high school teachers as having a profound influence on her development and growth. Jeanne credits Vern Reichmanis for her continued interest in global issues, David McMurray for her excellent leadership skills, Anna Bolden for pointing out the scholarship opportunities that were available, and Elaine Markopoulos for encouraging curiosity and to always "dig deeper." Even after more years than she cares to remember, Jeanne's favorite memory of Woodward was the Donkey Basketball game during "Togetherness Week."
After graduation from WHS, Jeanne attended the University of Akron, graduating with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in political science with an emphasis on international politics and business administration, along with a certified degree in peace studies.
She spent over 25 years in the insurance industry, starting her career as a divisional claim representative with Kemper Insurance. Career advancements lead to global risk management insurance brokering as an associate producer, handling international placements for numerous corporations. She earned rave reviews and numerous awards from the insurance industry, including the Flying Start Bravo Zulu award from Federal Express, three Alexander & Alexander Technical Excellence Awards, and the Miller Pipeline Corporation Performance Excellence Award.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, in 2006 Jeanne founded C. H. Barnett Construction LLC to facilitate the transportation and logistics requirements of the construction industry. Jeanne is majority owner and president of the Indianapolis-based company. Named after her maternal grandfather, Barnett Construction is thriving throughout mid-America. Jeanne takes pride in encouraging young people, especially women and girls, to embrace the opportunities in the construction industry.
Jeanne is committed to make the world a better place through her participation in numerous professional and community organizations. She lends her expertise to the Board of the National Council of Churches, the Resource Development Committee for the Church World Service, and the Educational Foundation and School Improvement Board for Pike Township. Jeanne is also a member of Alpha Kappa Sorority, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
Jeanne and her husband, L. Terrence, reside in Piqua Township, northwest of Indianapolis. She remains active with their two daughters. Traci is completing her senior year at Manchester College and Leslie is a freshman at DePauw University. Jeanne enjoys traveling, reading, and working in her yard.