The Board of Directors is the governing body of YLNI. Their big-picture approach is to guide the organization to fulfill our mission. The day-to-day happenings include approving activities, securing funding, being advocates for our demographic and generally trying to figure out what we're doing. The board meets once a month and all members welcome your input. Have a question or comment for the board? They can be reached at the emails below or at board@ylni.org.

Meet the current YLNI Board of Directors:

Michael Barranda, President

Michael is a graduate of East Noble High School, The University of Notre Dame and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. An attorney with Burt, Blee, Dixon, Sutton & Bloom, LLP, he practices commercial law and civil litigation, and has been recognized by Indiana Super Lawyers and Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law Awards. Michael has served as a jack of all trades for YLNI. Although his passion is the continued development of the urban core of Ft. Wayne, he has also lent his efforts towards grant-writing, YLNI's 2020 Vision and advocating for the interests of the young leaders demographic throughout the region. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and is the President of the Notre Dame Club of Ft. Wayne. He is the father of two and the husband of a loving and understanding wife.

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Lisa Updike, Vice President

Lisa has an undergraduate degree in finance from Manchester College and her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis. She practices in the finance, insolvency and restructuring department and the business department at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. A Huntington native, Lisa is an avid traveler and enjoys being outdoors and active. Lisa served as treasurer for YLNI for two years prior to becoming the vice president. Outside of YLNI, Lisa serves on Alliance's Downtown Development Committee, the Allen County Bar Association's Public Relations Committee and as a member of the Manchester College President's Leadership Council. She is also a member of Inns of Courts and judges for the Sterling Sentinel Scholarship program. Lisa was a 2010 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly “40 Under 40” award recipient.

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Beth Bobay, Secretary

Beth is a graduate of Indiana University and is employed as an Account Executive at Lincoln Printing. She has been involved with YLNI for nearly five years by serving on the Masquerade Ball committee and Hot Spot task force. Beth is a Fort Wayne native who is excited to further work to make Northeast Indiana a great place for young people to work and have fun. Speaking of fun - she enjoys spending her extra time with family and friends.

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Ryan Hart, Treasurer

Ryan, a Fort Wayne native, is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and is currently completing his MBA at IPFW. Over the last several years Ryan has served in a variety of capacities including task force leader, Social Chair and is also a graduate of YLNI’s Leadership Institute. Highlights of his YLNI involvement include planning the annual Masquerade Ball and the 5th Birthday Bash. Beyond his YLNI involvement, he is active in the Northern Indiana Chapter of the Risk Management Association, currently serving as the President. Outside of his community work, Ryan is a Credit Administration Officer with Lake City Bank and is glad he chose to stay in the community.

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Tamesha Fikes, Director at Large (Executive Committee)

Tamesha is a Quality Analyst at Lincoln Financial. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Public Financial Management from Indiana University. She also holds her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. She enjoys spending time with her family and being involved with her children. She likes reading, singing, and is very passionate about helping retain young people in Northeast Indiana. Tamesha is also an advocate for young professionals helping make our community a better place by staying involved with different organizations.

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Amy Johnson, VP of Membership

Amy is the Director of Selection for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, where she interned while working toward a Purdue University degree. She grew up in Fort Wayne, and jumped into YLNI in June of 2005 after graduation. Amy has a varied background with the organization, beginning with chairing the Membership Committee to recently serving as Marketing VP, participating in the first Leadership Institute as well as its task force, planning Speed Networking for Downtown Development, volunteering at the Barr Street Market, planning General Membership Meetings and frequenting Hot Spots. Like Katy, Amy hasn’t learned the art of not over-committing, and absolutely loves her involvement with YLNI, church, Junior League Fort Wayne, and the Women’s Bureau. Beyond community involvement, she enjoys family, friends and food, and sneaks in reading and running when possible.

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Sam Graves, VP of Community Impact

Sam is a project manager, estimator, and shareholder at Strahm Group, a local interior contracting company. Born, raised and currently residing in New Haven, Sam has a strong attachment to Northeast Indiana and its success, including receiving his undergraduate degree in Business from IPFW and the recent opportunity to serve on the Competitive Business Climate discussion panel for the Vision 2020 Regional Economic Summit. Sam enjoys participating in the United Way "Real Men Read" program, volunteering at his Church’s nursery, along with reading to his own 5-year-old boy/girl twins and 2-year-old daughter. A YLNI Leadership Institute graduate, Sam's involvement in YLNI includes serving one year previously on the Board in his current position as V.P. of Community Involvement, as the 2009 Masquerade Ball Chair, any number of YLNI committees and volunteering at many of our events.

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Heather Schoegler, VP of Marketing

Heather, a B.A. graduate of IPFW and MSOL graduate of Indiana Tech, is the Director of Communications for Parkview Foundation. Heather is committed to seeing our community be successful. This commitment to community drives her to serve as a member of the Regional Vision Coordinating Committee; the Coalition for Human Services Appointed by Mayor Tom Henry; board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana; board of directors for Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana; and marketing committee for the Early Childhood Alliance.  A recipient of the 2010 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly “40 Under 40” award and the 2008 Upstate Indiana Business Journal “Future 40” award, as well as a 2007 YLNI Leadership Institute grad, Heather has been active in YLNI since the summer of 2005 serving previously as President and VP of Marketing as well in many volunteer roles. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her husband and two children. You'll often find them taking in a local sporting event or concert—especially anything happening in downtown.

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Emily McCabe, VP of Social

Emily McCabe was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida and graduated from Florida State University in 2008. After graduation, Emily moved to Fort Wayne to pursue a job with Vera Bradley and is currently a Special Collection-Merchandise Analyst there. Emily has been active in YLNI since the summer of 2008 participating in the High-Speed Networking event, Hot Spots, Get on Board events, and is a 2009 Leadership Institute Graduate. In addition to her community involvement with YLNI, Emily is also a member of Junior League Fort Wayne. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

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Katy Silliman, VP of Leadership Development

Katy Silliman is the primary 'cat herder' for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, as the Operations Manager for the organization. A Fort Wayne native, Katy graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and then left to join the Peace Corps, where she served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two and a half years in the Community Health and AIDS Prevention Program in Togo, West Africa. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Fort Wayne Women's Bureau, and the Fort Wayne Dance Collective and was a member of the 2009 Leadership Fort Wayne class. Katy became involved in YLNI through the Leadership Institute task force in 2008 prior to her position on the board.  As a first time homeowner in Fort Wayne's historic West Central Neighborhood, she is also now experiencing the joys and financial heartburn of remodeling. Go downtown living! Aside from slowly learning the art of not over-committing, Katy also enjoys playing soccer, ultimate frisbee and working up the nerve for another triathlon.

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Mike King, Director at Large

Mike works in sales at Aptera Software downtown, and has been there almost as long as he's been married and participating in YLNI – 2005 was a big year for him! He grew up in Fort Wayne, and left long enough to get his business degree from the Bloomington campus of Indiana University in 2001. He also spent a couple of years working outside of Fort Wayne. Mike has been very active with YLNI's programming efforts. His foray into YLNI began with the Leadership Institute, and he has been passionate about it ever since. Mike also helped lead business-oriented programs like YLNI's CEO Experience and Business Round Table. He is currently in his third year on the board. Outside of YLNI, Mike just completed his third year as a Lunch Buddy for Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has also participated with events benefitting the American Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Mike has two adorable young kids with his wife, Julie. He loves being a dad and spending time with his growing family.

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Luke Squires, Director at Large

Luke was born, raised, and resides in the Fort Wayne area. He attended IPFW graduating with an undergrad degree in business. During his time at IPFW, Luke was selected as a Lawson Scholar and spent time studying international business abroad. He now works in the commercial lending division of 1st Source Bank where he spearheads an entrepreneurial preparedness program through a partnership with the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center. In addition to his role as director at large on the YLNI board, Luke sits on the board for the Northeast Indiana Better Business Bureau, the YWCA finance committee, and volunteers with Erin’s House for Grieving Children. He was married to his wife Ayesha in 2008; together they enjoy golfing, spending time with family and friends, and traveling overseas.

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Kelly Pautler, Director at Large

Kelly Pautler is a senior associate attorney at Carson Boxberger LLP, where she practices in the area of civil rights defense litigation.  Kelly is a graduate of Ball State University and Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis.  Prior to attending law school, Kelly taught sixth grade at Daleville Elementary School in Daleville, Indiana.  Aside from her service on the YLNI Board of Directors, she serves on a number of other boards, including Fort Wayne Civic Theatre and Allen County Education Partnership.  Kelly has been active in YLNI since 2006, graduating from the YLNI Leadership Institute in 2007, serving on the Leadership Institute Planning Task Force, and the Nominating Committee.  In her free time, Kelly sings with the Whammy-award winning rock and soul band, Urban Legend, performs in local theatre productions, and spends time with her black Lab, Bela.

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Courtney Tritch, Director at Large

Courtney Tritch currently serves as the Communications Manager for a 10-county regional program called the Talent Initiative, which is focused on expanding the number of highly qualified workers in Northeast Indiana and inspiring people to upgrade their skills in STEM-related disciplines. Prior to joining the Talent Initiative, she served as the Marketing & Events Director at the Downtown Improvement District (DID) in Fort Wayne. Courtney is a Fort Wayne native who also spent time in Chicago where she owned her own business, Sweets by Courtney. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Indiana University - Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Drama. Her YLNI involvement includes serving as Task Force Leader for the 2008 YLNI Masquerade Ball and on the committee for YLNI’s 2020 Vision project.

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Andrew Thomas, Director at Large

Andrew is the VP of Sales for Ridge NAPA Auto Parts and the owner of 816 Pint & Slice in downtown Fort Wayne. As a third generation business owner, Andrew brings a unique perspective of having historical, current and future views of the pros and cons of doing business in our community. A graduate of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, Andrew understands the wants and needs of the 20s and 30s professional. Andrew has been instrumental in the forming and developing of YLNI. He previously served as President of YLNI.