OCRA welcomes two community liaisons
Recently, two new staff members joined the Office of Community and Rural Affairs as Community Liaisons. Community Liaisons grow and maintain working relationships with a variety of local, regional, state, and federal leaders. They educate and promote the agency?s menu of programs and provide technical assistance to communities in the engagement of these programs. They also identify, link, and convene local and regional groups with common missions and interests dedicated to community and economic development.
As of February 24, Deidra (DeeDee) Leonard is the West Central Liaison and Christian Chamberlain is the East Central Community Liaison. The West Central region covers 14 counties and East Central covers 15.
Before joining OCRA, DeeDee previously worked as Office Manager for the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce. During those two years, she worked to promote business growth and involvement in the Plainfield community through events, maintaining relationships, and recruiting new members. She also assisted with helping the Town in their efforts to become an Indiana Main Street organization. Before joining the Chamber, she previously worked in project management for International Medical Group and Pearson Learning Solutions.
"Upon moving to Indiana, I quickly realized that there is a sense of community that you cannot find elsewhere,? said Leonard. ?The festivals, the ball games, the harvests, I knew that I wanted my family to be a part of it. My love for history and retaining what is already cherished, coupled with the future, is what led me to this particular career path."??
Motivated by a love for history, she has traveled to western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and Central and South America. She?s lived in Chicago, Tampa and Orlando, but finally settled in Plainfield with her children Will, Claire, Julia and Nolan.
DeeDee has a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and an Associates in Mass Communications from Hillsborough Community College of Tampa, Florida.
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Christian joined OCRA after serving as Special Assistant to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. Prior to joining state government, he worked as a BMW/Porsche Service Consultant and a BMW Genius. For two years, he helped train staff, assisted clients, and led his sales team become the highest grossing team out of five German brands.
?I?m excited to build upon my experience working with Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and be able to work directly with communities to help them achieve the goals they wish to accomplish? said Chamberlain. ?Being able to take the relationships I?ve built and expand them further in my region is exhilarating.?
Originally from Evansville, Christian studied Political Science at University of Southern Indiana (USI). He became active in local political campaigns, applying the skills and training he recieved at USI. To give back to his community, he volunteered countless hours for Keep Evansville Beautiful and his local church. As a big motorsports fan, he chose Speedway as his home to be near the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Under the leadership
of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as the Secretary of Rural
Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs? (OCRA) mission
is to work with local, state and national partners to provide resources and
technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their
vision for community and economic development. For more information, visit
ocra.in.gov.
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