After years as a public servant, I am now the consulting owner of Projects with a Purpose. In this role, I help nonprofit organizations and municipalities achieve their mission by guiding community development projects, fundraising events, and grant writing. In addition, I am an Airbnb Superhost and work part-time at Blue River Nursery in Columbia City.

 

My husband, Tim Woenker, is the retiring president of Chematics, Inc. in North Webster. We have four children, five grandchildren, and two dogs. Our family has resided at Tri Lakes (on Round Lake) for more than 85 years. Tim and I enjoy sharing lake life with our family and friends. My hobbies include traveling, gardening, camping, going to sporting events and live music shows.

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I am the oldest of five children and the fifth generation born and raised on our family’s farm in Brook, Indiana. My father served in the Navy for 20 years. It was complicated, we lived on our farm when Dad was on sea duty and visited him when he had shore duty until I was a teenager, then he retired and sold the farm. I learned early in life how communities can be very different.

During my career in development for cities and towns, I never lost my love of rural life. I have been working since I first got a paper route as a child. I landed my first restaurant job when I was 11 years old and continued working in food service while I earned a BA in Psychology from Purdue University (with a minor in communications). During college, I served in student government, representing off-campus students.

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I married right after college and started a family, and a very diverse career. I have worked in different aspects of real estate and was a newspaper reporter for five years. Then, I found my calling, and spent more than 30 years in various roles as a public servant, including marketing and business development in community and nonprofit economic development organizations. I served over the last decade as a Town Manager for multiple northeast Indiana communities.

I have a long history volunteering including as a teacher for 11 years for Junior Achievement. I have also  served on active committees that:

• Advised on proposed government utility and community development legislation

• Formed the downtown Fort Wayne Cultural District

• Raised money for Early Childhood Alliance

• Started the 2-1-1 calling system in Tippecanoe County

• Won beautification awards for Lafayette, West Lafayette, and other communities

 

I now volunteer closer to home as a member of Whitley County Master Gardeners and the Tri Lakes Property Owners Association Board of Directors.

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