Lisa Dan is currently Executive Director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. She served as Administrative Assistant of the Foundation from 2006-2020. She is a lifelong resident of Starke County, with short stops in Fort Wayne and Bloomington, and then back to Starke County where she raised her three sons and currently resides. She is a graduate of International Business College in Fort Wayne. Lisa has over 35 years’ experience as an office administrator in the public, non-profit, and for-profit sectors. She brings to the position top-notch organizational and interpersonal skills. She understands the vision, is able to design its processes, and causes implementation to its ultimate end. She will always strive to improve the quality of life for Starke County citizens through job creation, retention, expansion, and workforce development efforts.
Ron Gifford has worked for the Foundation as Special Projects Coordinator since 2008 after a law career of 32 years. In addition to his duties for the Foundation, Mr. Gifford serves as Director of the Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning (SCILL) and as a Business Advisor for the Indiana Small Business Development Center, serving businesses and entrepreneurs in both Starke and Pulaski Counties.
Linda joined the SCILL staff as Administrative Assistant in February 2016. Prior to working at SCILL, she spent many years in office management for a local company. Her passion lies in the needs of children and teenagers of Starke County. In 2012, she established Kid’s Closet Ministry at the North Judson United Methodist Church and serves as the volunteer executive director. Since June of 2018, Linda now handles the bookkeeping responsibilities for both SCEDF and SCILL.