Community Liaisons

Community Liaisons (CL) are strategically located throughout the state to assist communities in accomplishing the goals set forth by the local government. CL's proactively work to locate funding and other resources for community and economic development projects as well as facilitate the meeting of local officials, state, and federal agencies and other entities and provide information and access to the necessary resources. CL's also assist communities in meeting their community and economic development goals by providing technical assistance on all OCRA programs.

Northwest 

Gerry White: (317) 694-8372, gewhite@ocra.in.gov
Benton, Cass, Carroll, Clinton, Fulton, Jasper, Lake, Porter, La Porte, Marshall, Newton, Pulaski, Starke, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, White, Warren counties.

Gerry joined OCRA in December 2006. During his time with the agency, he has represented the Northwest region. Before working at OCRA, Gerry spent 16 years in the administration at Purdue University, three years teaching in HS and three years in financial planning. The diversity of people, geography and opportunity in Indiana should be celebrated, encouraged, strengthened and experienced. Every day working with communities brings unique challenges making each day different.

“I really appreciate the diversity of the people and communities that I work with, which include the highly urbanized, as well as extremely isolated communities. This means that no two days are alike,” said White.  

He holds a B.A. in Political Science/U.S. History/ Social Studies Education, a M.S. in Social Studies Education and is a dissertation shy of a Ph.D. in Educational Technology. Gerry lives in West Lafayette, with his wife Barbara. His extended family stretches across the state.

Northeast 

Renea Salyer: (317) 741-2264, rsalyer@ocra.in.gov
Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Elkhart, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, Whitley counties.

Renea has accumulated over 14 years of experience working in various positions within non-profit organizations. She has previously served as the director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce and as member relations manager with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, where she implemented placemaking opportunities and aided in the growth of small businesses. Her most recent role was as the director of a domestic violence shelter. In that capacity, she utilized substantial grants from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority to create a safe haven for victims to heal and become self-sufficient. Renea holds a certificate from the Purdue Extension as an American Citizen Planner, and recently acquired a certificate in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Tech in 2022. Additionally, she has attended courses in grant writing with the Grantsmanship Center.

Renea resides in Warsaw, Indiana with her husband, Jeff, and enjoys gardening, creating art and spending time with her family. She is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet with communities leaders in Northeast Indiana. Renea emphasizes that her mission is to see communities thrive and achieve prosperity - she's enthusiastic about serving as your Community Liaison to provide technical assistance and resources to your community.

East Central

Vacant

Southeast

Jarrad Holbrook: 317-690-9736, jaholbrook@ocra.IN.gov
Bartholomew, Brown, Clark,  Dearborn, Decatur, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland,  Scott, Washington counties.

Growing up in a tiny southwest Georgia town, Jarrad knows firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing these communities. His love for global travel also serves as inspiration for projects and approaches back home in southeast Indiana.

With an undergraduate degree in theatre and a Master of Historic Preservation along with a Graduate Certificate in Historic Landscapes, all from the University of Georgia, he has a particular eye for the intersection of historic downtowns, placemaking and the arts.

He also has a special interest in telling more complete stories and amplifying voices of underrepresented communities.

Southwest

Vacant