The Hendricks County Community Foundation has hired a new executive director.
William Rhodehamel will replace Janet Haley, who announced her resignation in the spring. A resident of Brown Township, Rhodehamel has lived in Hendricks County for more than 20 years.
Alice McColgin led the transition team that conducted the hiring process to replace Haley. She said they received 35 applications for the job.
"We received a lot of good resumes from a lot of really good people," McColgin said. "William was the one who bubbled to the top. There was no question in our minds."
The transition team wanted someone well-versed in fund-raising to increase the community foundation's endowment and expand its pool of donors. Rhodehamel has experience with that in both the public and private sectors.
Other qualities that were sought included leadership skills and fiscal management experience.
"That's certainly important when you have an $8 million endowment," McColgin said.
Rhodehamel, who graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in photography, got into the orchid business through a family friend. He founded the Hoosier Orchid Company in 1989 and served as president until it closed in 2008. He was also general manager and chief operating officer of The Riviera Club and CEO of Fleming & Associates Calibration, Inc., in Indianapolis. The latter manufactures gas turbine airflow measurement equipment.
The public will get to meet Rhodehamel when the community foundation hosts an open house from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at its new location Ñ the Avon Executive Suites at the corner of U.S. 36 and County Road 625 East.
Associate Director Susan Rozzi says they moved from their old office, in the Duke Energy building between Avon and Danville on Old U.S. 36, because they simply ran out of room.
"Duke Energy had supplied us with that office space for 15 years," Rozzi said. "They've been incredibly generous with that space, but they just couldn't give us any more."
She estimates that the new location is at least twice the size of the old one. In fact, Deedee Daniel, who was HCCF's first executive director, noted the receptionist's area at the new building was the same size as her first office.
"It's been fun to see our original donors come in and see where we are, and they're like, ÔWow, we've grown up,'" Rozzi said.
For more information on the HCCF, visit the website at HendricksCountyCF.org.
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
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