Community leadership

Showing up. Listening well. Building together.

Meaningful regional work grows through participation, shared ownership, and relationships built over time.

Formal current roles

Marketing and Program Director — Hydrant Pet Center
Executive Director of Development — Dogs 4 U Inc.
Interim Coalition Director — Northwest Indiana Coalition of Animal Welfare Professionals (NWICAP)
Board Member — Highland Main Street

Committee leadership & community participation

Niki serves on the Development Committee and Nonprofit Committee of the Highland/Griffith Chamber of Commerce and participates in additional stakeholder and collaborative initiatives detailed below.

Highland Main Street

Board Member, supporting community-centered leadership and relationship development.

Highland/Griffith Chamber of Commerce

Development Committee and Nonprofit Committee, with a focus on community and business relationship development.

Northwest Indiana Coalition of Animal Welfare Professionals (NWICAP)

Interim Coalition Director, leading coalition development, stakeholder outreach, community research, survey and community feedback, and cross-sector planning.

READY NWI

Stakeholder participation focused on regional workforce priorities and stronger education and employer connections.

Humane Society of Hobart

Collaboration—not employment—through regional animal-welfare work and the NWICAP / One Million Dollar Grant Challenge initiative.

Animal Welfare Collaboration

Relationship building among shelters, rescues, veterinary partners, businesses, municipalities, and community organizations.

Nonprofit Partnerships

Dogs 4 U programs, corporate and community partnerships, fundraising, and programming.

Presentations & Speaking

Workforce and community presentations, facilitated coalition conversations, career events, and Chamber-related presentations as this area continues to grow.

This section will continue to grow as projects and leadership roles develop.