South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Appoints New Chairs to Regional Economic Development Strategy Committees

Posted by South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership
February 10, 2022

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Feb. 10, 2022) — The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership recently appointed the following individuals as Chairs to the specified Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) committees.

  • Entrepreneurship Committee – Susan Ford, Partner, Graham Allen Partners
  • Talent Attraction and Retention Committee – Andrew Wiand, Executive Director, enFocus

Formed out of the region’s 2016 “Plan for Prosperity, Growth and Inclusion Version 1.0,” each committee represents the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership’s strategic drivers identified as the underlying principles for a comprehensive regional development plan:

  • Educating a world-class workforce
  • Recruiting and retaining great talent
  • Attracting and growing new economy companies in complement to our remarkably strong manufacturing industries
  • Promoting inclusion and sparking opportunities for minorities
  • Helping entrepreneurs

“Volunteer leadership roles require a significant commitment of time and energy,” said South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Chief Strategy Officer, Bethany Hartley. “Our regional successes are a direct result of the collaboration and dedication of strong leaders representing our 47 smart, connected, communities.”

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership has a robust committee structure which facilitates ongoing regional collaboration and functions to ensure efficient and impactful use of resources, rapid identification of challenges, and the coordination of solutions. Committees are comprised of industry leaders, public sector officials, post-secondary thought leaders, and entrepreneurs.

The slate of REDS Committee Chairs currently serving as committee representatives on the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership’s Board of Directors is listed below:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Education and Workforce Committee

Entrepreneurship Committee

Industry Growth Committee

  • Shelley Klug, Economic and Business Development Manager, American Electric Power
  • Committee Members

Talent Attraction and Retention Committee

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership and their Board of Directors recognizes and thanks Matt Davis of ITAMCO, Chuck Lehman of Lehman & Lehman, and Phil Smoker of Smoker Craft for their leadership to their respective committees and to the South Bend – Elkhart region.

For more information on the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership’s Regional Economic Development Strategy, click here.

About South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership
The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of the economic development partners from 47 smart connected communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership focuses on a long-term systemic approach to advance the region’s economy by aligning the efforts of various stakeholders around five key areas: educating a world-class workforce, recruiting and retaining great talent, attracting and growing new economy companies in complement to our remarkably strong manufacturing industries, promoting inclusion and sparking opportunities for minorities and helping entrepreneurs thrive. The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, the communities across the region to work together to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.

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Media Contact
Sarah Niespodziany
South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership
sniespodziany@southbendelkhart.org