Evansville Regional Economic Partnership CEO to retire
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The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership announced Wednesday that CEO Tara Barney plans to retire in 2024. Barney has led E-REP since April 2021, when three regional economic development organizations merged into one.
Barney previously served as president and CEO of the Southwest Indiana Chamber, which joined forces with the Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville and the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana to form E-REP.
She initially served as co-CEO of E-REP along with Greg Wathen and was named the organization’s sole CEO in September 2021.
Barney calls the position an “honor of a lifetime.”
“We have evolved E-REP into an essential community partner and are a key enabler in the region’s strategic growth,” Barney said in a news release. “Perhaps most importantly, we also now have the most talented team we have ever had, with the entire staff and board working together to move the organization forward for the betterment of the entire Evansville region.”
A specific date for her retirement has not been announced, but the organization said Barney plans to step down within the next 12 months.
“Tara has provided great leadership and has prepared us well for the next phase of E-REP’s mission,” said E-REP Chair Curt Begle. “The list of accomplishments Tara has had during her career is too long to list, but she has exemplified what makes the Evansville Region so special through her collaborative and innovative efforts.”
The organization’s board of directors has formed a committee – led by Vice Chair Beth McFadin Higgins of McFadin Higgins and Folz, LLP and Vice Chair Christine Keck with American Water – to conduct a nationwide search for Barney’s successor.