In October 2021, I was announced as the new President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership by the NEI Board of Directors. The Board sought leadership with a proven track record of execution, collaboration, and innovative marketing strategies to elevate Northeast Indiana’s national business development and sales efforts. I brought these qualities and a vision to build on NEI’s 15-year foundation, steering the organization toward new levels of regional impact.

With the region and NEI investors eager for progress, my most meaningful goal was to build a strong, capable team to execute NEI’s ambitious three-year rolling strategic plan. My leadership focused on aligning the team to achieve impactful results together.

Upon taking the helm, I launched a comprehensive restructuring at NEI, emphasizing business attraction, data-driven insights, and regional branding. This strategic reorganization equipped NEI to better showcase Northeast Indiana’s unique value to targeted industries and offer investors actionable data.

In business development, the team executed 115 domestic and international sales missions, pursued 184 project opportunities, and secured seven major project wins, alongside three project assists. Key activities included targeted lead-generation campaigns, outreach to high-growth markets like California and Illinois, Site Consultant Roadshows, and hosting familiarization tours, such as the Indiana On Top Tour, which introduced site consultants to the region’s assets.

A standout achievement was establishing the Plug and Play MedTech accelerator in Warsaw, a project that has redefined the city’s and the region’s MedTech landscape. Since its launch, 17 companies have engaged with Northeast Indiana, many actively planning to localize their operations. Existing companies in the region also recommitted to Northeast Indiana, reinforcing the area’s position as a MedTech hub.

On the marketing front, NEI built a highly capable team that launched a rebranding and revamped website, which attracted over 50,000 pageviews, signaling strong market interest. The team reimagined NEI’s collateral for improved clarity and utility, launched the “Pioneer Starts Here” platform, and introduced the Pioneer Event, an annual flagship event celebrating Northeast Indiana’s local pioneers. The team also launched “The NEI Pioneer Podcast”, producing 22 shows to date.

Across digital channels, the marketing team executed dozens of campaigns, resulting in a steady increase in social media followers and solidifying the region’s reputation as a prime destination for business expansion. NEI’s in-house video content even went viral, achieving over 3 million views and counting, with most views coming from New York, London and Chicago.

In addition to operational transformation, NEI focused on enhancing regional competitiveness to drive growth, innovation and inclusivity. Over the past three years, NEI has led efforts to secure more than $100 million in READI funding from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Lilly Endowment Inc., and supported the Strategic Development Commission (SDC) in securing an additional $30 million to drive long-term growth from the Indiana General Assembly.

NEI published an updated Northeast Indiana Medical Device and Technology Report, a valuable tool that helped attract further funding to retain and expand the orthopedic sector. NEI also laid the groundwork for initiatives to integrate disabled individuals into the workforce, launched a legal clinic for immigrants and refugees, and supported developments including the NEI Automation Integration Center, which has become a core part of the Junction 36 project at Indiana Tech, funded by the Lilly Endowment at $21 million.

NEI advanced work on establishing the Off-Highway Vehicle Electrification Center and a Film and Animation Training and Production Center, and continued efforts to improve the region’s housing inventory and infrastructure investment policies.

NEI’s accomplishments over the past three years showcase a proactive approach to economic development. Looking ahead to 2025, we will launch a new strategic plan, enhancing our messaging to highlight Northeast Indiana’s unique value to potential investors.

We will continue fostering collaboration between regional stakeholders, businesses, and government, with a focus on innovation in technology and advanced manufacturing to attract high-value industries. NEI remains committed to inclusive growth, supporting community-driven strategies that balance rural and urban development. By advocating for policies that strengthen core industries, we aim to ensure Northeast Indiana remains competitive, vibrant, and appealing to businesses and talent.