ICEA Board Leadership
Board of Directors:
2011-12 Chair
Rex Richards, President – Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 219.462-1105 (e-mail) richards@valparaisochamber.org
Colleges Attended: Indiana University; Continued Professional Development: IOM; Academy; Post-Grad; Entered Chamber Profession: 1972; Previous Chambers: Sarasota (FL); East Chicago (IN); Kansas City (KS); Michigan City (IN); Logansport (IN); Jasper (IN); Areas of Expertise: Advocacy Issues; Board Ethics; Board Relations; Budget Development & Management; Chamber Restructuring; Economic Development; Foundations; Lobbying; Marketing; Membership; Mentor for New Execs; Staff Management; Starting A Governmental Affairs Program; Strategic Planning
Immediate Past Chair
Christy Gillenwater, President - Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 812.336-6381 (e-mail) cgillenwater@chamberbloomington.org
Colleges Attended: Indiana University (BA); Ball State University (MBA); Continued Professional Development: IOM; Lugar Series; Entered Chamber Profession: 1996; Previous Chambers: Greenfield (IN), Muncie (IN); Areas of Expertise: Advocacy Issues; Board Relations; Organizational Management (structure, governance, planning); Starting A Governmental Affairs Program; Strategic Planning
Vice-Chair Conferences
Matt Meadors, President/CEO – Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 812.425.8147 (e-mail) mmeadors@ccswin.org
Colleges Attended: Indiana University (BS in Public Administration); Continued Professional Development: IOM; ACCE Board of Directors; U.S. Chamber's Committee of 100; U.S. Chamber's Environment & Energy Committee; U.S. Aid economic development mission to Romania charged with establishing that nation's first industrial park. Entered Chamber Profession: 1984; Previous Chambers: Kokomo (IN); Traverse City (MI) Areas of Expertise: Public Policy; Economic Development; Community Development; Financial Management; Effective Team Building; Human Resource Mgmt.; Strategic Planning; and Marketing.
Vice-Chair Membership
Kim Pinkerton, President of the Wabash Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 260.563-1168 (e-mail) kim@wabashchamber.org
Colleges Attended: Huntington University, B.S. in Organizational Management; Continued Professional Development: Ball State Level I Economic Development Training; ICEA Hoosier Chamber Academy Graduate; regularly attend ICEA Conferences to keep up on industry benchmarks/trends, skills; Entered Chamber Profession: 1998; Previous Chambers: N/A; Areas of Expertise: Visioning, Change Management, Organizational Growth, Board Development
Vice Chair Organization Finance & Development
Dave Long, Executive Director - Crawfordsville-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 765.362-6800 (e-mail) long.chamber@comcast.net
Colleges Attended: N/A; Continued Professional Development: N/A; Entered Chamber Profession: 2004; Previous Chambers: N/A; Areas of Expertise: Event Planning; Marketing; Membershp Retention
Vice Chair Professional Development
Brian Shafer, President - Logansport/Cass County Chamber of Commerce
574.753.6388 brian@logan-casschamber.com
Colleges Attended: Indiana State University; Continued Professional Development: IOM; Entered Chamber Profession: 2005; Previous Chambers: N/A; Areas of Expertise: Chamber Restructuring; Collaboration of Local Agencies; Event Planning
Board Members:
Bill Bailey, President – Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 812.522-3681 (e-mail) billbailey@seymourchamber.com
Colleges Attended: Murray State University, Indiana University; Continued Professional Development: Hoosier Academy, IUPUI SPEA; Entered Chamber Profession: 2000; Previous Chambers: none; Areas of Expertise: Project Development & Coordination; Legislative Liaison.
David Daugherty, President – Goshen Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 574.533-2102 (e-mail) ddaugherty@goshen.org
Colleges Attended: Ball State University; Continued Professional Development: IOM; Economic Development Institute; Entered Chamber Profession: 1977; Previous Chambers: Muncie-Delaware County (IN); Sidney (OH); Troy (OH); Longmont (CO) Wackton (OH); Middletown/Monroe/Trenton (OH) Areas of Expertise: Advocacy; Mentor for New Execs; Starting A Governmental Affairs Program
Jack Hess, President – Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 812.379.4457 (e-mail) jhess@columbusareachamber.com
Colleges Attended: Ball State University; Continued Professional Development: IU MBA Program, Economic Development Institute, ICEA and ACCE Professional Development Programs; Entered Chamber Profession: 2006; Previous Chambers: Columbus Enterprise Development Corp; Areas of Expertise: Entrepreneurship, Strategic Planning.
Mo Merhoff, President – Carmel Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 317.846-1049 (e-mail) mm@carmelchamber.com
Colleges Attended: Purdue (BA & MA); Continued Professional Development: Indiana School of Philanthropy, Wharton; Entered Chamber Profession: 2000; Previous Chambers: N/A; Areas of Expertise: Communications; Marketing; Mentor for New Execs; Organization Management (structure, governance, planning); Strategic Planning
Mike Ripley, VP, Health Care Policy – Indiana Chamber of Commerce
(tele) 317.264-6883 (e-mail) mripley@indianachamber.com
Colleges Attended:
Continued Professional Development:
Entered Chamber Profession:
Previous Chambers:
Areas of Expertise:
Shelli Williams, ICEA President
(tele) 812.265-9488 (e-mail) shelli@iceaonline.com
Colleges Attended: Western Kentucky University (BA); Continued Professional Development: IOM; Community Leadership Series; Entered Chamber Profession: 1992; Previous Chambers: Madison (IN); Jennings County (IN); Areas of Expertise: Mentor for New Execs; Organization Management; Starting A Governmental Affairs Program; Strategic Planning; Budget Development & Management; Foundations; Staff Management