New Connect with Southern Indiana class participants announced

PERRY COUNTY – Twenty-three people have been selected to participate in USI’s Connect with Southern Indiana Program.
The annual regional leadership program was established through a grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2006 and is currently sponsored by USI’s Center for Human Resource Development.
The intent of the program is to boost Indiana’s retention of intellectual capital by helping participants strengthen their skills and opportunities for involvement in community and regional projects, meet business and civic leaders, and gain greater awareness of community and regional needs.
The 2012 class includes:
Dubois County – Jessica Beck, sales and marketing manager, Dubois County Visitors Center; Brad Brown, supervisor, Plant 8, OFS Brands; Brian Dale, people department representative, Jasper Engines and Transmissions; Jill Jahn Schenetzki, production planner, Leed Selling Tools; Arnold Tempel, facilities project manager, Kimball International
Perry County - Patrick Rich, State Farm Insurance, agent
Posey County - Hans Schmitz, extension educator, Purdue Extension, Gibson County
Spencer County - Sabrina Harpenau, student worker, News Information Services, University of Southern Indiana; WG Bud Schaaf, city letter carrier, US Postal Service
Vanderburgh County - Anu Asthana, financial adviser, New York Life; Jerry Clark, president and CEO, Evacus Technologies, LLC; Jessica DeLorenzo, director of student services, Vincennes University, Jasper campus; John Foster, executive director, Wesselman Nature Society; Carey Franks, assistant to the provost, University of Southern Indiana; Kacheyta McClellan, assistant director, Multicultural Center, University of Southern Indiana; Ashley Murray, auctions-events manager and event fundraising, WNIN; Sara Rhoades, senior gallery associate, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art; Andy Robling, financial advisor, German American Investments
Warrick County - Lori Blackford, sales and customer service, WineStyles; Candy Cooper, community relations coordinator, Boston’s Restaurant; Richard Martin, president/registered patent lawyer, Martin and Martin, Attorneys at Law; Carol Schaefer, executive director, Historic Newburgh, Inc.; Matt Zoccola, economic development analyst, Warrick County Department of Economic Development

Program participants will attend 10 full-day sessions over a six-month period and will develop a collaborative project that will be presented at the end of the program.
Topics for this year’s class include community overviews, critical thinking, personality profiles, opportunity identification, project management, public skills, presentation planning and government relations. USI faculty and staff and southern Indiana community leaders will facilitate each program.
Connect with Southern Indiana is open to Indiana residents living in Perry, Spencer, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Vanderburgh or Warrick counties who would like to improve the quality of life in their communities.
Applications to participate in the 2013 Connect with Southern Indiana class will be available this summer at www.usi.edu/extserv/outreach/connect.asp.