County marketing strategy is community forum topic
Comet staff report

Two specialists will explain how to market Carroll County for economic development at a Carroll County at the Crossroads/ Focus on the Future community forum set for April 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center, Delphi.

Richard Heupel and Bob St. Claire will address the forum that is being sponsored by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Carroll County Economic Development Corporation, and Carroll County Community Foundation.

Heupel, who is senior project director for the Office of Building Better Communities at Ball State University, has over 20 years experience leading economic development organizations. Prior to his arrival at Ball State in 2004, he spent 12 years with Hoosier Energy, leaving as manager of member and key accounts, with responsibility for the electric utility's economic development and key accounts functions. He also led the county and regional economic development organizations and foundations based in Portland and Merrillville, Indiana, and Mansfield, Ohio.

Heupel served as president of the Mid America Economic Development Council in 2000 and the Indiana Economic Development Association in 2005. Selected past affiliations include the boards of directors of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation, and the East Central Indiana Private Industry Council. He also served on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Valparaiso University College of Business Administration and as a member of the Indiana Main Street Council.

Heupel graduated from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in 1988 and earned a Certified Economic Developer designation in 1989 from the International Economic Development Council.

St. Claire is president and CEO of the St. Claire Group, a firm based in Indianapolis, specializing in strategic planning and strategic marketing planning. With over 20 years of strategic planning experience, St. Claire has assisted clients of diverse background, including organizations in the health care, electric utility, commercial real estate, and financial services industries. Small companies as well as Fortune 500 firms have drawn on his perspectives.

St. Claire has been a featured speaker for the Society of Health Care Strategists as well as the Mortgage Brokers Association of America. He is a presenter for the Indiana Economic Development Course held annually at Ball State University, teaching marketing concepts. His first book on strategic planning is due for publication this year.

The forum is open to all interested individuals, businesses and organizations.

Forum sponsors are the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Carroll County Economic Development Corporation, and Carroll County Community Foundation, and Carroll County at the Crossroads/Focus on the Future committee.