Joel L. Silverman

Advisor to the President

Joel L. Silverman is a member of President Troup’s Cabinet serving as an advisor to the President.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 with a B.A. in Public Administration, Silverman completed his MBA, Finance/Accounting at Pitt in 1977. He began his business career as a financial analyst/director of cost departments for Federated Department Stores. His time at Federated Department Stores was the beginning of a more than thirty-year career in the business world.

In 1985, Silverman moved to New York City where he served in a variety of positions, culminating in his appointment as Chief Operating/Finance Officer for Lerner New York. In 1996, he moved to Indiana to become the CEO of the upstart Galyan’s Sporting Goods chain. He led the company for six years and directed growth from five to 36 stores. Silverman was appointed as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for the State of Indiana in 2004. During his time in the position, Indiana’s BMV improved from being rated as one of the worst in the country to the best.

While maintaining a successful business career, Silverman was actively involved with his church and community. He served on the school board of Timothy Christian Schools and on the Geneva College Board of Trustees. He also coached travel soccer, basketball and softball teams for 13 years. Silverman is an active member of One Mission Society, an evangelical, interdenominational faith mission that makes disciples of Jesus Christ through intentional evangelism, planting churches and training national leaders. Silverman and his wife Sharmayne spent four years as part-time missionaries to Myanmar and Hong Kong. Following overseas fieldwork, Silverman was appointed Executive Director of One Mission Society and served for 5 ½ years.

They have three married daughters and seven grandchildren. They live in Indiana but spend two weeks every month in Beaver Falls.