Vanessa works to keep the organization running smoothly, conducting administrative functions of NEI, including human resources, governance, organizational planning and legal. She has been a member of the team since 2007 and has had the privilege of serving the organization throughout its lifetime, missing only the first year of start-up operations. She is passionate about economic development because of the opportunities it creates for residents to create a better life for themselves and their families.

Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in speech from the University of Saint Francis.

Vanessa sings in her church every Sunday as part of her church’s worship team. While she enjoys singing, singing in front of people is a different story!

Vanessa is a testament to the potential of internship programs. She started with NEI as an intern her last semester of college, fell in love with the work, and decided to make economic development her career. Prior to her internship, she worked her way through school as a part-time nanny, private tutor, and piano teacher.

Vanessa’s top five strengths in CliftonStrengths are:

1. Achiever
2. Discipline
3. Responsibility
4. Input
5. Belief

Did You Know?

• Vanessa and her husband, Chris, live in the country in a 1900 farmhouse with their son Tucker and their two little dogs, Laci and Annabelle.
• Vanessa and Chris enjoy outdoor recreation, home improvement projects and just spending time with Tucker as he grows. 
• When they ran out of home improvement projects on their own home, Vanessa and Chris renovated a camper and three 1920s houses in Fort Wayne.