Staff Reports

Three new employees have joined the Administrative Resources association (ARa), a leading regional governmental partnership devoted to enhancing the quality of life in member communities. They are Staci Findley, Tobi Herron and Whitney Koelling.

Findley will be a manager of municipal programs, is working on her masters of nonprofit administration and will graduate this summer. Her work will focus on helping member communities shape and develop strategic planning and related activities that drive community growth.

Herron joins ARa as executive director, and also will serve as the executive director of Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corp. The corporation is closely connected to the work of ARa and is a regional not for profit focused on assisting Indiana cities and communities with affordable housing projects. It also serves as the lead organization for the READI efforts of the South Central Indiana Talent Region.

Koelling, manager of municipal programs, holds a master of public affairs from Indiana University, specializing in Policy Analysis and Information Systems. Her role at ARa will involve collaborating closely with member cities and towns to develop and implement effective strategies for economic and community development.

ARa is a governmental association owned by the cities of Austin, Batesville, Bedford, Columbus, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Martinsville, Mitchell, North Vernon, Rushville, Salem and Seymour. In addition, the towns of Crothersville, Hope and Nashville are associate members of ARa. As a governmental entity, ARa operates on a not-for-profit basis.

Non-member assisted communities or organizations (assisted at the request of a member community), include Jackson, Bartholomew, Brown and Rush counties and the Columbus Education Coalition.

Information: aracities.org.