Regina Emberton is President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, which serves as a single point of contact for regional economic development in the 47 smart connected communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan that make up the South Bend - Elkhart region.
Regina joined the Regional Partnership in 2013 and provides leadership for the execution of the region’s economic development strategies aimed at increasing per capita personal income by aligning efforts 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.
As part of the talent attraction efforts, Regina was instrumental in securing the $42 million Regional Cities Initiative grant for projects which are improving quality of life and she continues to serve as administrator for the Regional Development Authority that is responsible for deploying the grant. Emberton was also a key partner working with Notre Dame to secure a $42.4 million LIFT Network grant to develop a collaborative platform connecting industry to the regional academic expertise and capacities in manufacturing, technology, and workforce development.
Prior to this role, Regina spent 14 years engaged in a variety of commercial real estate projects, including research, consulting, brokerage, investment and development.
She received her BS and MPA in Community and Economic Development from IU South Bend earned the Certified Economic Developer designation in 2020. Regina previously earned the CCIM and SIOR designations while working in the commercial real estate industry. She and her husband Brad have two daughters.
More information available for reference on Regina's LinkedIn profile.