Starke County Economic Development Foundation Elects Executive Director

Larry Wickert

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has elected Larry Wickert executive director. He has been serving as interim executive director since January 1. Wickert was raised in Starke County and has lived and worked in Starke County his entire career. After receiving his BS degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, he returned home and worked as plant manager for a retail fertilizer plant.

Wickert was self-employed as an agronomy consultant and is also a former Starke County commissioner. He has been a board member for seven years, serving two terms as president.

Wickert recently attended the Ball State Economic Development Course and the Economic Development Director’s Course at the Indiana Economic Development Association. He was instrumental in initiating the foundation’s newly-created Agriculture Committee, and he helped start the Quality of Life initiative in partnership with the Starke County Chamber of Commerce.