Meet the Team
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Tobi Herron
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Whitney Koelling
MUNICIPAL MANAGER
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![A smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a white button-up shirt and a necklace with a blue pendant, against a dark gray background.]()
Angie Newman
OFFICE MANAGER &
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Darian Collier
COMMUNITY & GRANT ANALYST
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Robin Willats
PROGRAM MANAGER
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Executive Director
Tobi has extensive experience working with diverse stakeholders, engaging communities, and driving successful projects in both private and public arenas. She has spent over a decade supporting grant development and administration, and is a certified OCRA grant administrator. She is also a certified Community Development Corporation executive. Tobi holds a B.S. in Business (Finance and Economics) from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Florida State University.
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Municipal Manager
Whitney is a OCRA Certified Grant Administrator and has extensive experience in project development and grant writing at all levels. She also served in the Peace Corps and thus brings a global, strategic view to our team. Whitney holds an MPA from the IU O’Neill School and a B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University.
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Community & Grants Analyst
Darian is a Certified Community Development Corporation Executive and OCRA Grant Administrator who leverages technology to drive improvements. She leads administration of IEDC READI and IHCDA grants, and plays a key role in support across the ARa footprint. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Informatics from IU Southeast and an Associate of Science in Database Design and Management from Ivy Tech.
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Administrative Coordinator
Angie is an OCRA Certified Grant Administrator with over 20 years of administrative experience. She supports grant administration, oversees labor standards compliance for SRF projects, and provides accounting support and office management services for ARa.
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Project Manager
Robin has a diverse high-tech background with 30+ years in the private sector. He is nearing OCRA Certified Grant Administrator status. Robin currently serves as an external Project Manager, supporting grant administration and project delivery efforts. He is a graduate of the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
The ARa Cost Advantage:
We prioritize keeping fixed costs low by partnering with skilled external contractors and service providers as needed.
Thursday, February 19
Thursday, May 21 - Annual Meeting
Thursday, September 17
Thursday, November 19
Meetings
2026 Board Meeting Schedule
2026 Officers
Sam Craig
President
Raymond “Shawn” Gerkin
Vice President
John Irrgang
Treasurer
Mary Ferdon
Secretary