In 2019, the Regional Opportunity Initiatives issued a Monroe County Quality of Place & Workforce Attraction Plan. The initiative hosted a series of focus groups to develop the plan, and one of the findings included this: 

Minority residents do not feel the sense of welcoming community that Monroe County prides itself on. The legacy of the Ku Klux Klan in the region is remembered and felt today. Recruiters have trouble attracting diverse candidates to the region, to Monroe County and to Bloomington. 
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One focus group member noted that Monroe County “thinks it’s more progressive than it actually is.” Others pointed to the existence of a Black community that’s small with a strong identity and said they stay here for that reason.  

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce welcomes Mary Lechner and Whitney Koelling from Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Both Lechner and Koelling will be with the Chamber for two years. Lechner is the Vice Principal with the Chamber's Success School and working with Christopher Emge, Principal of the Success School. Koelling is the Public Policy Specialist for the Advocacy team and working with Mary Morgan, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy. 

​Mary Lechner is a first year MPA student at Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She was born and raised in Indiana. Lechner attended Indiana University where she studied Sociology and Spanish. After graduating, Lechner served with AmeriCorps for two years as a college advisor for high school seniors where she worked with amazing students, many who were the first in their families to attend college. This experience fueled her passion in advocating for access to higher education and providing students with all the options and resources to be successful and pursue their passions. 
 
You can find Lechner spending her free time running and cycling around Bloomington or reading at a local coffee shop. 
 
Lechner is excited to partner with schools and meet the wonderful volunteers who make the work of the Success School possible. 

​Whitney Koelling joins the Chamber from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) program. She is a Paul D. Coverdell Fellow who is using her experience from her Peace Corps service in the remote Pacific Islands of Samoa to work as part of our Advocacy Team. After having spent an extended period of time overseas, she is happy to call Bloomington her new home.

​Outside of work she loves to kayak on Lake Monroe, eat at many of Bloomington’s delicious local restaurants, and take her Rottweiler puppy to Switchyard Dog Park.  

The members, Board of Directors, and staff of the Chamber of Commerce would like to express their sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Melanie Walker, President and CEO of TASUS and Tsuchiya Group North America, and an Indiana University Trustee. Known as an astute businessperson, inspiring leader, strong advocate for underserved children and great friend to Indiana University, she will be greatly missed by many in our community. Melanie’s death is a loss to the many of us who knew her quick wit and her smile. Chamber Board Chair from 1999-2000 and Women Excel Bloomington 2013 Honoree, Melanie led many boards and organizations throughout her career with excellence and dedication. Our prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time.