Our Staff & Board

CEO of the YMCA, Casey Weimer

Casey is the CEO of the Cole Center Family YMCA where she has served since 2011. Prior
to serving in her current capacity, she was the Human Resources Director for the YMCA of
Greater Fort Wayne where she developed a passion for the work of the YMCA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy Management from Indiana
University in Bloomington. She volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and serves on the
Oak Farm Montessori School Board and the Kendallville Library Foundation Board.

The Honorable Mayor Suzanne Handshoe

Mayor W. Suzanne Handshoe was born and raised in Detroit, MI after High School graduation she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completion of boot camp she held a variety of positions and duty stations.
She is a Desert Storm Veteran and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 with 24 years of service at the end of 2003. She was sworn in as Kendallville’s first female Mayor in Jan 2004. Mayor Handshoe is the recipient of the ESGR Patriotic Employer Award, 21 Women in Leadership Award, the State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award and Indiana Federation of Republican Women of the Year 2019.

The Dekko Foundation President, Tom Leedy

Tom Leedy is the president of the Dekko Foundation, a private foundation located in Kendallville, Indiana.  The foundation’s mission is, “To foster economic freedom through education.” The foundation focuses on the developmental needs of young people ages 0-18.
Tom has served his community through board and committee membership on the local and state level.  He has engaged at the local level with the chamber of commerce, library foundation, YMCA, Freedom Academy and Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

The Freedom Academy Executive Director, Melissa Carpenter

Melissa Carpenter has been the Executive Director of Freedom Academy since March 2002. Freedom Academy is a not for profit providing workforce training & certifications for individuals, businesses and industries in the region. In her role she collaborates with the LEDO’s (local economic development officers), WorkOne, Reginal Partnership, Administrators of school corporations and Career & Technical Education Organizations to build practical, relevant training programs for the region.

Park Department Director, Dawn McGahen

Dawn graduated from East Noble High School. She followed in her father’s footsteps by being a public servant as a police officer for the City of Kendallville. She continued to work in public safety for the City of Fort Wayne for 18 years and then realized she missed her hometown and the closeness of the community. She currently serves as the Recreation Director and Park Director for the Kendallville Park and Recreation Department. She obtained her Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne.

Parkview Noble Hospital President, Jordi Disler

As president of Parkview Health North, Jordi Disler leads both Parkview LaGrange Hospital and Parkview Noble Hospital and their respective counties. Disler also serves on the board of directors for Farmers State Bank and Northeast Indiana Works. Disler earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Marian College in Indianapolis, later earning a master’s degree in nursing administration/executive nurse from Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Ind.