Commencement 2026

Indiana Tech’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held May 9, 2026.

2026 Commencement Speaker, Gilman Farley

Gilman Farley is a self-made entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Fort Wayne-based companies Biodyne USA and BW Fusion, which are two of agriculture’s most influential biological and agronomy platforms.

Gil’s story began in Florida, where he grew up facing significant challenges. When he was eight, his father left the family and was no longer part of his life. His mother raised Gil and his brother as a single parent, working tirelessly to support them despite financial strain. Because her work required frequent relocating, Gil attended four different high schools, constantly adapting to new environments. Gil played both basketball and football in high school, and he credits athletics for helping him stay focused, grounded and motivated to rise above the challenges of his childhood.

After graduating high school, Gil ventured north to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to attend Indiana Tech and play men’s basketball—a decision that would shape both his academic and athletic journey. It was during his time at Indiana Tech that Gil’s future path began to take shape, thanks in large part to key mentors—especially Coach Dan Kline—who became a father figure and pushed him to excel both on and off the court. Gil became a four-year starter on the men’s basketball team and earned national recognition as a 1993 NAIA Men’s Basketball All-American. His athletic excellence led to his induction into the Indiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, and he continues to hold the school’s record for career field-goal percentage—a testament to the consistency, focus and drive that would later define his leadership in business.

After graduating from Indiana Tech in 1994, Gil began his business career in sales within the medical and pharmaceutical industry, specializing in oncology. Over the next 15 years, he excelled in both sales and management roles, developing expertise in complex product portfolios, clinical discussions, and high-performance leadership. These skills later became foundational in his entrepreneurial success.

With a strong entrepreneurial drive and the desire to control his own destiny in business, Gil founded Biodyne USA in 2013 alongside his friend-turned-business partner, Tim “TJ” Weir. Together they transformed innovative microbial research into scalable agricultural solutions and built a commercial production and sales organization. Under Gil’s leadership, Biodyne USA grew rapidly and was recognized as one of the most innovative and successful agricultural biotechnology companies, leading the biological revolution in row-crop agriculture.

In 2019, Gil co-founded BW Fusion to combine Biodyne USA’s biological crop nutrition with cutting-edge bio-nutritional technologies and real-time soil and plant performance insights through Agronomy 365. BW Fusion quickly established itself as an innovator and leader in the bio-nutritional space for sustainable agriculture. Under Gil’s leadership, the companies grew to more than 100 employees and exceeded $100 million in annual sales.

A major milestone came in November 2024, when Biodyne USA, BW Fusion, and Agronomy 365 merged through a Bain Capital–supported private equity transaction. This transformative partnership formalized the long-standing strategic alliance between the three organizations and created a unified platform designed to deliver more effective and sustainable biological solutions at every stage of the crop nutrition cycle. Gil played a central role in shaping the merger—aligning leadership teams, guiding integration efforts and positioning the platform for long-term growth and success.

Following the merger, Gil remains a minority shareholder and serves on the board of directors, offering strategic guidance while stepping back from day-to-day operations. His focus now includes supporting and building new startups, mentoring young entrepreneurs and sharing the many lessons learned throughout his journey.

Beyond business, Gil enjoys traveling, golfing, pickleball, boating and, most importantly, spending time with his wife, Carrie, and their four wonderful adult children. Gil credits Carrie—his rock and partner—for much of his success, and together they recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Gil and Carrie are also passionate philanthropists, actively managing their family foundation to support causes including Indiana Tech, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, breast cancer research organizations and various other charities. Their giving reflects a desire to create opportunities for others facing challenges similar to those Gil once overcame.

Driven by hope, family, and a commitment to innovation, Gilman Farley continues to build, mentor and inspire—leaving a lasting impact across agriculture, business and the communities he serves.