Northeast Indiana Economic Development Group Names Interim President

The organization was formed in the Fall of this year by public and private leaders from northeast Indiana to advance marketing efforts among economic development professionals and communities in the region. The group plans to launch a major fundraising campaign next year.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Northeast Indiana's board for the regional economic development marketing partnership has named John R. Sampson as interim president and announced a major fundraising campaign set to launch in 2006.

"We are very pleased to have John in this role," said Tim Haffner, chairman of the board of directors for the Regional Marketing Partnership. "This is a critical step forward to build regional collaboration in support of local economic development efforts throughout Northeast Indiana. John will continue to further build the existing broad base of community-leader support."

The board for the Regional Marketing Partnership was formed in the fall of 2005 by public and private leaders from Northeast Indiana to advance marketing collaboration among economic development (ED) professionals and communities throughout the region. [See Founder’s Board member list below.] The Partnership proposes to augment and complement individual county ED efforts by serving as a contact point for regional inquiries and by promoting and marketing the region. Regional ED marketing is common throughout the U.S. and is widely accepted as a cost-effective means for communities to compete globally in the marketplace.

Haffner said the Partnership’s near-term focus will be a formal fundraising campaign. "A top-quality regional marketing partnership requires public and private investment to ensure success, and we have engaged STELLAR Fundraising Executives, a firm with national experience and an impressive track record, to guide this effort with John Sampson's leadership,” he said.

Jim Marcuccilli, a member of the Regional Partnership Board and chairman of the Northeast Indiana Corporate Council, noted these announcements further solidify the commitment of public and private community leaders to make regional marketing a reality for Northeast Indiana. "In most growing regions of the country, similar organizations are already in place,” he said. “The Corporate Council identified and evaluated regions such as Indianapolis; Dayton, Ohio; and Roanoke, Va., and found these regions were already reaping the benefits of direct investment in regional marketing."

Sampson said he is delighted to be a part of such a vital effort. “Northeast Indiana is rich in talent and resources and holds a unique geographic location at the crossroads of America. We need to move quickly to advance our message," he said. "A number of industry clusters that are prominent in Northeast Indiana – such as advanced materials, defense, financial services, medical devices and transportation logistics – are poised for growth. We must leverage their presence and full potential to grow jobs and wages in Northeast Indiana."

Sampson is a former executive for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M). From 1999 to 2004, he served as the AEP president for Indiana. He was responsible for external affairs and public policy advocacy, including building relationships with community and business leaders, legislators and local public officials. He has also served as a member of the Northeast Indiana Corporate Council and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and a director for the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc. provides comprehensive campaign management and consulting services to economic and community development organizations, as well as other non-profits, across the United States. Founded in 2001, STELLAR brings together 19 professionals with more than 150 combined years of talent and experience in economic development and fundraising. STELLAR executives have successfully assisted more than 80 organizations across the country, raising many hundreds of millions of dollars.

Northeast Indiana
Regional Marketing Partnership
Founder’s Board

Tim Haffner, (Chair), Managing Partner, Baker & Daniels
Mark Becker, Deputy Mayor, City of Fort Wayne
Keith Busse, CEO, Steel Dynamics
Gene Donaghy, Indiana Northeast Development Chair
Ted Ellis, Mayor, City of Bluffton
Tom Leedy, President, Dekko Foundation
Jim Marcuccilli, President & CEO, STAR Financial Bank
Charlie Mason, President & CEO, Parkview Health
Kurt Mattox, Regional President, Wells Fargo
Tom Rethlake, Commissioner, Whitley County
Mark Royse, Allen County Deputy Director for Economic Development
Marsha Ryan, President & COO, Indiana Michigan Power
Norm Yoder, Mayor, City of Auburn

Supported by:
Kirk Kemmish, President, Northeast Indiana Corporate Council
Mac Parker, Attorney, Cole Foundation
John Stafford, Community Research Institute, IPFW

Source: Northeast Indiana Regional Marketing Partnership