NORTH WEBSTER - Emily Shipley, president of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce (NWTTCC), will become the North Webster Community Center’s new executive director in early October, according to a release from the NWCC board.
“This is great news, coming as it did only days after we learned that the position was to be vacated,” said NWCC President Dennis Wagoner. “We can hardly express our good fortune in having a confirmed succession plan on the table at The Center, a nonprofit facility that has seen its fortunes rise appreciably over the past two years under the energetic leadership of Executive Director Emily Worrell.”
Worrell, for her part, announced last week that she’s moving into a new position as director of communications and marketing for the Wawasee Community School Corp., where she previously had held a teaching position.
Shipley, a lifelong area resident known for her passionate role in the community, said she would like to see more organizations working together with the goal of keeping North Webster a great place to live and work.
“I am honored and excited to become a part of this organization,” Shipley said. “I love this community, not only the businesses and organizations I’ve represented through the Chamber, but the people who are a part of it. In this role, I will strive to represent each community member by connecting them to The Center through programs and events, but also creating a place to feel valued as an individual.”
“Due to her familiarity with the community at large and the positive role she’s played as the Chamber president,” said Lori Mark, vice president of the NWCC board, “Emily Shipley is a great fit to carry on the positive momentum we are creating at The Center.”
Shipley, who grew up around the lakes of northern Kosciusko County, obtained her bachelor’s degree in communications in 1999 from Grace College, Winona Lake. She serves as general manager of Dixie Haven Resort and Fisherman Cove Resort in North Webster. She’s worked with the Chamber for five years as Dixie Days 5K chairperson, as vice president since 2022-2021 and president since January 2022.
She also serves as vice president of the Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board of Trustees, as treasurer of the Sullivan Park Property Owners Association, vice president of the North Webster Elementary PTO and as a volunteer at the North Webster Church of God’s Kids Cove program. She’s also a traveling judge for the Miss Indiana and Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen competitions.