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

Jeff Turner | Metal Technologies

Immediate Past Chair

Scott Glaze | Fort Wayne Metals

Vice Chair

Sherilyn Emberton | Huntington University

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

Isaac Lee | Steuben County Economic Development Corporation  

Governing Board

• Karl Bandemer | City of Fort Wayne
• Tamra Boucher | 20/20 Custom Molded Plastics
• Mike Cahill | Ruoff Home Mortgage
• Jim Cook | JPMorgan Chase Bank
• Brian Emerick | Micropulse
• Commissioner Barry Eppley | Wabash County
• Arlan Friesen | Ambassador Enterprises
• Jeff Gery | Ash Brokerage
• Mayor Richard Hickman | City of Angola
• Anton King | DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership
• Chad Kline | Wells County Economic Development
• John Lefever | Retired from STAR Insurance
• Marc Leu | LaGrange County REMC
• Bob Marshall | Noble County Economic Development Corporation and Campbell & Fetter Bank
• David McFadden | Manchester University
• John Miller | Best-One Tire & Service
• Mark Millett | Steel Dynamics, Inc.
• Mike Packnett | Parkview Health
• Commissioner Nelson Peters | Allen County
• Kathleen Randolph | Northeast Indiana Works

Honorary Board Members

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

Ex-Officio Directors

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

Advisory Directors

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