We're Bullish On Your Business

And we’ve built a big team to prove it.

Start with an economic development staff ready to help you find the perfect shovel-ready site or building for your business and connect you with the other resources you need.

Add an alliance of 21 distribution co-op CEOs and all the great people who work for them—people who know their local communities and can help give you a first-hand understanding of the economics, the infrastructure, the labor markets—everything that can help you get down to business faster here.

Put us together, and we’re one big team that’s totally committed to your success. We want you here—and we’re ready to get down to business right now.

Vicki Gardner

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Northern and Central Indiana

Contact:

v_gardner@wvpa.com
317.481.2859

Region/Co-Ops Covered:

Northern and Central Indiana

Biography:

As Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Vicki leads the department while serving as a member of our Executive Team. She works with our member co-ops and colleagues to develop easy-to-understand communications on a variety of topics to support our members’ communication needs. She also oversees corporate media relations and communications, identifies media opportunities, and coordinates media releases.

Prior to WVPA, Vicki served as Director of Strategic Communications for Hirons, where she developed comprehensive and cross-disciplinary plans to meet clients’ strategic objectives. Vicki also collaborated with partner organizations to create and execute statewide and local public affairs and outreach plans, and she was a point person on crisis communications. Vicki also previously was Director of Communications for the city of Westfield and Corporate Communications Manager for Cummins, and she was a reporter and news anchor for several television and radio stations throughout the Midwest.

Vicki earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from DePauw University. In her spare time, Vicki loves to exercise and is always looking for a challenge. She also watches sports –particularly soccer, tennis, and football – and plays pickleball. She also loves musical theater and dreams of singing on Broadway.

Mike O’Grady

Economic Development Representative

Illinois

Biography:

As our part-time Economic Development Representative in Illinois, Mike works closely with key staff in member co-ops, business partners, and civic organizations to promote economic development initiatives of WVPA and member co-ops. He is able to leverage his professional experience, as he previously served as interim CEO, Vice President, and Director of Government and Investor Relations of the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area. Mike has served in numerous community organizations, including the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, the Ecology Action Center Board, the Illinois Green Business Association Board of Directors, and the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.

Zyan Miller

Economic Development Relations Specialist

Northwest Indiana

Contact:

z_miller@wvpa.com

Biography:

Zyan cultivates relationships with economic development organizations in northern Indiana. She also supports economic development outreach programs with our member electric cooperatives and nonprofit organizations. Zyan also collaborates with member co-ops on business retention and expansion strategies, and she manages our Workforce Automation Grant program.

Zyan previously worked as Community and Economic Development Operations Manager for the Jasper County Economic Development Organization. In the role, she helped manage programs to improve business resources and economic development opportunities in the county. Zyan also previously worked as a Customer Service Representative for Jasper County REMC.