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Dant Chesser Tops in Indiana

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She was a visionary leader in Michigan's Great Southwest for nearly 8-years before returning to her native Indiana, and now less than four years into her role as President & Chief Executive Officer of One Southern Indiana, Wendy Dant Chesser has been tabbed as Outstanding Executive of the Year by the Indiana Chamber Executive Association. 

Wendy led Cornerstone Alliance in Southwest Michigan from January of 2005 until her departure in September of 2012 to return to her Hoosier roots to be near her aging parents while her daughter was still young for everybody's benefit. She shepherded Cornerstone through critical times including the entire process of piecing together the myriad parts that came to become the Harbor Shores Resort community, including the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Club that is now the unofficial home of the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, already hosted here three times in the last six years and slated for four more in the coming eight years ahead.

Nominated by her own staff and board of directors at One Southern Indiana, colloquially referred to as 1si, Wendy also drew considerable support from the public at large, resulting in a unanimous vote from the judging committee for the 2016 honor. That's significant when you consider that the Indiana Chamber Executive Association (ICEA) represents more than 230 chamber professionals from organizations from one end of the state to the other. 

According to ICEA authorities, the award recognizes the long-term professional career achievements of the recipient who is assessed as the most effective chamber professional making a significant difference in a local chamber. 

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Shelli Williams is President of the ICEA. She told the Indiana press, "Wendy's leadership is an example of all that can be accomplished with the right visionary steering the helm of the organization on a daily basis. She is a most deserving candidate for this statewide recognition."

Wendy tells me that, just like Cornerstone Alliance, 1si services an area on a state border, where most of the media comes from another state. She says, "While we benefit from the big city amenities of our neighbor to the south, (she's just north of Louisville, Kentucky) we have to seek out information on what is happening around Indiana. We have to deliberately engage with these initiatives if they are to benefit our part of the state." She adds, "The 1si team has made that a priority, and I'm sure our visibility at the statehouse has given exposure to what we are working on statewide."

The criteria for the ICEA award on which Wendy and other candidates were evaluated include:
 

  • Professional experience
  • Training & education
  • Ethical conduct in dealing with peers
  • Professionalism
  • Leadership
  • Desire to advance the profession of chamber management

Wendy was presented with the award during her organization's annual meeting last week at Horeshoe Southern Indiana. She told local media there, "Any accolades I receive is a direct reflection of the 1si staff, directors, members and investors who make the work of One Southern Indiana possible, and I share this accomplishment with them."

When I reached out to Wendy this week, I asked her what drives her and she says, "I'm driven by results for our organization, not be personal recognition. Our staff and directors are committed to our causes, and that re-fuels my energy to guide the team."

When I asked her what she misses most from our area, other than Lake Michigan, she tells me, "In Michigan, the public was very interested in our work, and because of that we had involvement in our projects from a lot of great people from many different areas." She points out that. "Here in Southern Indiana, communities have not had major projects that cross community borders. We are just beginning to measure the regional benefits of our work like you do in Michigan's Great Southwest." 

Wendy's work in Indiana goes far beyond her role at 1si. Before being recruited to Cornerstone Alliance, she spent more than 16 years in Indiana government, working for the Indiana Department of Commerce and the Indiana Department of Agriculture. 

Congratulations for an honor well-earned by somebody who clearly made a difference here and is continuing to do so in her career. 

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