BIO
ROLLIE HELMLING, PRINCIPAL
A graduate of Vincennes University and the Indiana University School of Business, Rollie has a very diverse and experienced business career. His primary business was centered in retailing. He was the owner and CEO of Harold’s Supermarkets, a very success supermarket operator, headquartered in Vincennes, Indiana. Other business interests included commercial property development, retail auto parts stores, auto racing teams and banking. Rollie was also extremely involved in community affairs in southwestern Indiana, participating and leading many civic clubs and community organizations. In 2001, Rollie orchestrated the sale of his supermarket operations to the Kroger Company, the largest traditional grocer in the United States.
In 2002 through 2008 he served as the President and CEO of the United States Auto Club (USAC) headquartered in Indianapolis, one of America’s premier auto racing sanction bodies and automotive certification organizations.
Rollie had previously been one of USAC’s leading and winningest racing team owners. His drivers included Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, John Andretti, Mel Kenyon, and Ken Schrader all USAC National Champions as well as several others who competed in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Automobile Competition Commission of the United States, the F.I.A. representative for the United States. He also serves on the INDYCAR, ARCA and World of Outlaws appeals commissions.
Rollie joined the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in 2008 to lead an effort to build the motorsports industry in Indiana at the request of Governor Mitch Daniels. His role was expanded to business development in the automotive, aviation - aerospace and motorsports sectors. In July of 2016 he was appointed Senior Vice President for Global Industry and Trade Development. He has managed projects to attract and expand Fiat Chrysler Automobile, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Toyota, Dallara, General Motors, NTN Bearings, GE Aviation in Indiana and recently Dow, DuPont. Since joining the IEDC projects under Rollie’s supervision have brought over $4.5 billion in new investment and over 6,200 new jobs to Indiana.
In 2019, Rollie was appointed the Senior Advisor to the IEDC for Motorsports, Automotive & Aerospace.
Rollie and his wife, Carol reside in Carmel, Indiana and have 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren.