Pence Names Works Councils Members
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGovernor Mike Pence has named the members and chairs of the 11 Indiana Regional Works Councils. Each group will be responsible for evaluating available career and training opportunities for high school students.
September 18, 2013
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Governor Mike Pence today announced the Chairs and members of the Indiana Regional Works Councils. For a complete list of Indiana Works Councils members by region, please visit www.in.gov/ceci/2345.htm.
“Our administration remains committed to making career and vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana,” said the Governor. “I welcome the individuals named today to the Indiana Regional Works Councils, a key initiative in making this goal a reality. The caliber, leadership, and breadth of experience of the members, as well as the great Hoosier companies they represent speaks volumes about the interest, passion and tremendous need for increased collaboration among business and education in order to best prepare Hoosiers for the demands of the workforce and to place them on a pathway to success. “
The Indiana Regional Works Councils were created with the unanimous passage of SEA 465, which the Governor signed into law on April 15, 2013. The legislation specifies each Council will bring educators and employers together to evaluate and develop career and technical education that meets the demands of employers in each region. Each Council is responsible for preparing and submitting a comprehensive evaluation of the available career, technical and vocational education opportunities for high school students in its region to the Governor and the Education Roundtable by November 1, 2013.
The Chairs named below will be joined by representatives from a number of Indiana companies including Caterpillar, Chrysler, Cook Pharmica, Cummins, ExactTarget, Hillenbrand, Inc., Honda, NiSource, NucorSteel, and Subaru. As the Indiana Regional Works Councils organize, additional members may be added.
Region 1:
Kristin Emaus, Training Manager at Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource, will lead the Indiana Region 1 Works Council. Emaus, who has worked at NIPSCO for 34 years in human resources, labor relations, and training capacities, played a key role in implementing Indiana Energy Consortium, a partnership of major utilities and Ivy Tech Community College, which created three energy disciplines to increase the success rate of incoming energy workers and workforce development. She serves on the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, the Northwest Indiana Ivy Tech Regional Advisory Board, and is an active member of WIB Youth Council. Emaus earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan Tech University, her graduate degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, and has completed an Executive Program at Indiana University Graduate School of Business.
Region 2:
With more than 20 years of orthopedic industry experience, Executive Director of OrthoWorx Brad Bishop will serve as Chair of the Indiana Region 2 Works Council. Prior to joining OrthoWorx, Bishop served as Director of Public Affairs at Zimmer, Inc., where he was responsible for internal and external communications, corporate philanthropy, community affairs and state and local government relations. He has served on a number of boards including the Indiana Health Industry Forum, the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, the YMCA of Kosciusko County, and the Orthopedic Capital Foundation, and he is a past president of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Kosciusko County. Bishop is a graduate of Ball State University.
Region 3:
John Sampson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, will lead the Region 3 Council. In his current role, Sampson strategically leads the Partnership's mission to generate business investment in Northeast Indiana through supporting collaborative relations with stakeholders, facilitating regional communications and expanding all channels of business development. Previously, Sampson served as the Vice President for External Affairs for Indiana Michigan Power and AEP President-Indiana. Sampson is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Region 4:
Sascha Harrell, of Lafayette, will serve as Chair of the Region 4 Council. Harrell is currently Human Resources Supervisor at Caterpillar Inc, where she is responsible for providing leadership to the human resources team, as well as providing support to employees and leaders to drive strategic imperatives and engagement. Prior to her role at Caterpillar, Harrell worked as Economic Development Program Manager at Greater Lafayette Commerce. In earlier roles at Purdue University and Purdue Research Park, Harrell designed and founded the Purdue Research park Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students. Harrell earned her undergraduate degree from Morehead State University and her graduate degree from Purdue University.
Region 5:
David Shane will serve as Chair of the Indiana Region 6 Works Council. Shane recently retired as Chief Executive Officer of LDI, Ltd. LLC, after 17 years of service. Prior to LDI, Shane was a partner at the Baker & Daniels law firm in Indianapolis. Committed to improvements in both education and workforce development, Shane has served on the Indiana State Board of Education, as Senior Advisor to former Governor Mitch Daniels for Education and Employment, on the Board of Directors of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, the Economic Club of Indiana, Wabash College and the Mind Trust. He has also served on education and workforce committees of both the Indiana and the Indianapolis Chambers of Commerce. Shane earned his undergraduate degree from Wabash College and his law degree from Duke University School of Law.
Region 6:
Michael Wickersham, of Winchester, will lead the Indiana Region 6 Works Council. Wickersham is President of Wick’s Pies, Inc., which has produced pies and pie shells for more than 50 years in Winchester. He serves as a board member on the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, the Randolph County Economic Development Board, the Region 6 Local Elected Officials Executive Council and the Randolph County YMCA. Wickersham earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville and his law degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Region 7:
Douglas Dillion, Career and Technical Education Director/Curriculum Coordinator for the Vigo County School Corporation since 2007, will serve as Chair of the Indiana Region 7 Works Council. Prior to his current position, Dillion taught middle school technology education for 13 years after spending time in the construction industry. Throughout his career, Dillion has been recognized for his efforts to encourage workforce development in the classroom and has received a Disney Teacher of the Year Award and the designation of “Life Director” by the National Association of Home Builders. He is a past State President of the Engineering/Technical Educators of Indiana and the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education. Dillion, of Terre Haute, earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana State University.
Region 8:
Director of Human Resources at Cook Pharmica, David St. John will serve as Chair of the Region 8 Council. With nearly 25 years of experience in the human resources field, St. John, of Bloomington, is a leader in talent acquisition, performance management and process improvement. St. John earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and his graduate degree from UCLA.
Region 9:
Chris Lowery, Director of Public Policy and Engagement for Hillenbrand, Inc., will chair the Indiana Region 9 Works Council. Lowery, who has worked at Hillenbrand in a variety of capacities for 19 years, previously served as Executive Director of the Association of Indiana Counties, an aide to former Indiana Govern