Regional Partnership

Our region is led by ambitious people who are marked by ingenuity and positivity.

With hard work and determination, our region’s leaders are demonstrating that we can support and execute our big visions, with many catalytic projects developed in just the past few years alone. These developments are transforming the face of downtown Fort Wayne and are serving as regional amenities, allowing people to convene and experience the regional city. 

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s governing board is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of our operations and fiscal matters. Our board members serve three-year terms and are elected by the Regional Opportunities Council (ROC), our investor board of more than 120 members. All 11 counties participate on the governing board: There must be more non-Allen county participants than Allen County participants, no fewer than 10 private-sector members, and no more than six elected official members.

Thanks to the guidance of our board members and regional collaborators, you’ll find us at the forefront of innovation and progress—that’s always good for business. 

Meet Our Governing Board Members

Executive Committee

Board Chair

Sherilyn Emberton | Huntington University

Immediate Past Chair

Jeff Turner 

Vice Chair

Mark Millett | Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Secretary

Tom Niezer | Barrett McNagny LLP

Treasurer

David Findlay | Lake City Bank

Regional Opportunities Council Chair

Raymond Kusisto | Ortho NorthEast

Public Representative

Mayor Joe Thallemer | City of Warsaw

LEDO Council Chair

Bill Bradley | LaGrange County Economic Development

Governing Board

• Karl Bandemer | City of Fort Wayne
• Commissioner Therese Brown | Allen County
• Ellen Cutter | Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
• Mayor Ryan Daniel | Columbia City
• Brian Emerick | Micropulse
• Arlan Friesen | Ambassador Enterprises
• Jeff Gery | Ash Brokerage
• Patty Grant | Community Foundation of Wabash County
• Mayor SuzAnne Handshoe | City of Kendallville
• John Hopkins | Sweetwater Sound
• Anton King | DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation
• Mark Leu | LaGrange County REMC
• Kristin Marcuccilli | STAR Financial
• David McFadden | Manchester University
• Mark Music | Ruoff Mortgage
• Edmond O'Neal III | Northeast Indiana Works
• Mike Packnett | Parkview Health
• Terry Redmile | BFGoodrich
• Mayor Dan Rickord | City of Decatur
• Ashley Savieo | AEP
• Kimberly Shoppell | Fort Wayne Metals
• Mike Vanover | Clean Fuels National
• Tony Winters | Klink Trucking

Honorary Board Members

• Scott Glaze | Fort Wayne Metals
• Tim Haffner | Faegre Baker Daniels
• Jim Marcuccilli | STAR Financial Bank
• Maclyn Parker | Olive B. Cole Foundation
• Joe Pierce | Retired from Farmers State Bank
• Bob Taylor | Retired from Do it Best Corp.

Ex-Officio Directors

• Linda Walczak | Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Northeast Region
• Bill Konyha | Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana

Advisory Directors

• Rachel Blakeman | Purdue Fort Wayne Community Research Institute (CRI)
• Gene Donaghy
• Savannah Robinson | Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI)