WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER BUSINESS, COMMUNITY
AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

The LIFT portal is designed by Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation. Powered by a transformational Lilly Endowment grant, LIFT brings together business, community, and educational partners in new and innovative ways centered on creating a diversified regional economy with global presence, based on technology and advanced manufacturing.

ABOUT THE LIFT NETWORK

By connecting cutting-edge expertise, technologies, workforce development programs, and innovation-based facilities for collaboration across education, community, and Industry partners, the LIFT Network supports the region through the transformation to an increasingly digital and automated future. By enhancing the current manufacturing base with new business models, technologies, and tailored workforce training programs, we are accelerating new high-tech sector growth in the region. In addition to the implementation team, an executive steering  committee as well as several regional advisory councils have been created to help inform strategic investments throughout the LIFT Network.

WHO ARE WE

Leighton Johnson

Director of Education & Workforce Initiatives

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Jill Scicchitano

Director of Industry Growth

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Regina Emberton

President & CEO

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Scott Ford

Managing Director, Industry Labs, Associate VP – Economic Development

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John DeSalle

Executive Engineer in Residence

 

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Michael Shoemaker

Program Director of Industry Innovation

 

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Tom Fuja

Faculty Director, iNDustry Labs, Interim Dean College of Engineering

 

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EXECUTIVE
STEERING

The Executive Steering Committee oversees the implementation and stewardship of the catalyzing grant from the Lilly Endowment during the five-year grant implementation period.

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Dr. Thomas Burish

Chair, Provost , University of Notre Dame

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Dr. David Balkin

Chancellor , Ivy Tech Community College

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Ann-Marie Conrado

Committee Member, University of Notre Dame

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Shannon Cullinan

Executive Vice President, University of Notre Dame

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Tom Fuja

Faculty Director, iNDustry Labs, University of Notre Dame

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Dr. Pete McCown

President, Community Foundation of Elkhart County

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Rose Meissner

President, Community Foundation of St. Joseph County

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Bryan Ritchie

VP & Associate Provost for Innovation, University of Notre Dame

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Linda Yoder

Director of Education & Workforce Initiatives

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Regina Emberton

President & CEO, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

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Scott Ford

Vice President – Economic Development, University of Notre Dame

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Jim Morrison

Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives , University of Notre Dame

INDUSTRY
ADVISORS

The Industry Advisory Council is a coalition of regional leaders formed to provide advice and expertise for the LIFT Network and iNDustry Labs.

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Tom Fuja

iNDustry Labs Director, University of Notre Dame

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John Axelberg

President, General Stamping & Metalworks

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Jacqueline Barton

Founder & CEO, Specialized Staffing, Inc.

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Regina Emberton

President & CEO, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

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Tracy Graham

Founder & Managing Partner, Graham Allen Partners

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Kreg Gruber

CEO, Beacon Health Systems

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Ken Julian

Senior VP of Administration & Human Resources, THOR Industries, Inc.

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Jason Lippert

President and CEO, Lippert Components, Inc.

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Gary Neidig

President, ITAMCO

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Ashley Martin

Ashley Martin, NIBCO, Inc.

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Amish Shah

CEO, Kem Krest

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SOUTH BEND - ELKHART REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A key advisory body to the LIFT Executive steering Committee is the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership Board, as well as its constituent advisory committees.

Higher Education Advisory Council

The following higher education institutions are part of the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership’s Higher Education Advisory Council and are key LIFT Network partners.

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