After 12 years as mayor of Seymour, Craig Luedeman will embark on a new career in 2020.
Luedeman, 43, has been hired by HWC Engineering in Indianapolis. He will serve as a community business development manager for the firm beginning Jan. 6.
HWC is a full-service planning and infrastructure design firm with offices in Terre Haute, New Albany, Lafayette and Muncie. Although he will be based out of the Indianapolis office, he’ll be working remotely from his home, too, and will have to travel a lot, he said.
“Basically, I’ll be going to cities and counties and communities and trying to help them with getting grants and any kind of business development HWC does as far as transportation, bridges, wastewater, stormwater, all those areas and design services,” he said.
He will meet with mayors and other leaders across the state to discuss projects they may have and how HWC can assist with getting those projects accomplished.
“I’m looking forward to getting to meet new mayors and seeing how other communities are doing things,” he said. “It’s a different journey, but I’ll still be able to help out communities and use my knowledge I’ve learned here in Seymour.”
He doesn’t plan on forgetting his hometown.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring some of those services back to Seymour to offer to (Mayor-elect) Matt (Nicholson) if he would like those, some different ideas that maybe we haven’t seen,” he said. “HWC has done a lot of great things here in the community, and hopefully in the future, they can do more.”
As mayor, Luedeman has worked with HWC Engineering in the past on municipal projects, including the recently started One Chamber Square renovation, Crossroads Community Park and the Steinker Platz downtown pocket park.
“They actually reached out to me,” Luedeman said of getting the job. “I’ve had a relationship with some of the guys that work at HWC that actually goes back to before I was mayor. It’s just a good fit for me. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family.”
HWC also hired Shannon Kohl for the same position. Kohl served four years as mayor of Martinsville.
Company President Terry Baker said Luedeman and Kohl bring extensive knowledge and experience in municipal government to their new jobs to strengthen HWC’s position as a key partner in helping Hoosier communities grow and prosper.
“Shannon and Craig are two highly accomplished leaders whose intimate understanding of local government will enable HWC to best serve and meet the needs of Indiana’s communities in an even more comprehensive way,” he said. “This opportunity allows (them) to continue their legacy of public service and share the lessons they have learned with government leaders around the state of Indiana.”
Luedeman decided not to run for a fourth term as mayor and will be succeeded by Republican Matt Nicholson, who defeated Democrat Rexanne Ude in the November election.
Nicholson will be sworn into office during a ceremony at city hall Dec. 30 and will officially begin his duties Jan. 1.