Katie Sensabaugh was recently named the Director of the Chamber’s Foundation & Internal Operations for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. She will continue her role in the Success School, a division of the Chamber’s foundation working with community partners in both the education and business sectors of Monroe County to develop strong relationships with the students, teachers, and employers to positively impact the emerging talent and future workforce of our community. Sensabaugh will also oversee all financial activities, and its foundation.

“I am thrilled to continue my work at the Chamber as the Director of the Chamber’s Foundation & Internal Operations,” said Sensabaugh. I look forward to furthering the goals and missions of both the Chamber and its Foundation through effective programming and strong fiscal management.” 

Since joining the Chamber in 2021, Sensabaugh served as the Director of the Success School, and Membership Services Coordinator. She currently also serves as Chamber staff liaison to the Bloomington Women in Leadership group and Young Professionals Bloomington group. Sensabaugh’s previous roles include Program Director at Big Brothers Bigs Sisters of Northwest Ohio, Gemologist and Jewelry Designer for an independent jewelry store, and manager of a retail clothing store. She was recognized for her efforts to develop lasting professional relationships and provide excellent volunteer management and customer service to her clients. Sensabaugh received a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a Certificate in Business Administration from Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington.

“Katie Sensabaugh continues to add value to our organization and the members we serve,” said Chamber President and CEO Eric Spoonmore. “She is the perfect fit to manage our internal operations while also advancing the Chamber’s Foundation and Success School programming to new levels.”
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Sensabaugh’s new assignment with the Chamber was effective April 1.

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has announced the five Women Excel Bloomington (WEB) 2023 award winners. These local women were chosen based on their outstanding leadership, business acumen, entrepreneurship, and community involvement. The 13th Annual WEB Awards cocktail reception and celebration will be held on Thursday, June 1, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm at Indiana University’s Henke Hall of Champions inside the Indiana Memorial Stadium.
 
Those to be honored at the 2023 Women Excel Bloomington award winners are:
 

• Kelly Clark – Founder/Owner, Patient Physical Therapy
• Hope Kaser – Assistant Director, IU Athletic Dining
• Lauren McCalister – Owner, 3 Flock Farms
• Gillian Thiebe – Chief Operating Officer, JB International
• Nicole White – Owner, Fit812

 
“Our community is so fortunate to benefit from the leadership and involvement of these five award-winning women,” said Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Eric Spoonmore. “It is an honor to recognize the dedication and hard work of local women who have gone above and beyond to lead and serve in the greater Bloomington community.”
This event is possible because of support from sponsors, including: Cassady Electric, Cook Group, Old National Bank,  Ruoff Mortgage, Indiana University, WBWB/WHCC, First Financial Bank, Develefy Consulting, ForthPhaze Technology, Inc., Nature’s Way, CFC Properties, Choice Realty, German American Bank, ISU/The May Agency, Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, Smithville, The Herald-Times, and The Monroe County YMCA.
 
To learn more about the 2023 WEB Awards, please visit The Chamber’s website at www.ChamberBloomington.org or call the Chamber at (812) 336-6381.

At a forum for mayoral candidates hosted on Monday night by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, not a lot of new, additional daylight emerged between the three candidates as far as their known policy positions.

But a sharp difference in perspective emerged in response to a couple of the questions—one involving public safety and another involving the working relationship between city and county governments.
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Moderating the forum was Paul Helmke, who was a three-term mayor of Fort Wayne, and is a professor of practice at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Voters who are interested in Bloomington’s mayoral race have two upcoming opportunities through Indiana University to learn more about the three Democratic candidates, Don Griffin, Susan Sandberg and Kerry Thomson.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s mayoral forum will take place April 10 in Presidents Hall inside Franklin Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the forum start at 6:20. Issues of focus will include public safety concerns, collaboration with the county and university, infrastructure, and accountability.

WFIU/WTIU News is hosting a live debate from 8 to 9 p.m. April 13, with Indiana Newsdesk anchor Joe Hren moderating. A livestream of the debate will be available at indianapublicmedia.org. The candidates will take questions, and people can submit them now on the Indiana Public Media website, or through WTIU’s or WFIU’s Facebook pages. Debate updates will be posted on Twitter with the hashtag #IPMDebate.

The primary election is May 2; no Republican candidate is on the ballot. The elected mayor will be dealing with issues such as annexation, the convention center expansion project, housing, homelessness, jobs and infrastructure.

Griffin, the former deputy mayor under current Mayor John Hamilton, is president of the Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus and owns Griffin Realty. Sandberg is president of the Bloomington City Council. Thomson is executive director of the IU Center for Rural Engagement and the former CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.
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Learn more about the candidates and get more election information from the 2023 Bloomington municipal election guide on the IU Political and Civic Engagement website.