The Forum’s team is focused on economic development and the prosperity of business/industry in our dynamic market by providing customer-focused services designed to meet your unique needs. The Forum welcomes the opportunity to work with you and make a compelling case for locating or expanding in Northwest Indiana. We serve to foster economic growth and diversity for the region.

HEATHER ENNIS | President & CEO
hennis@nwiforum.org

Heather Ennis is President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum, a privately held nonprofit organization focused on creating economic development opportunities for the seven-county region. With more than 130 members, the Forum works to create a positive business climate promoting investment, quality job creation and retention in harmony with the environment and critical components of a sustainable regional economy. Funded by membership contributions and grants, Forum membership translates into a direct investment in the region’s future.

In her 9 years with the Forum, Heather has worked to build a coalition of regional partners focused on transforming the Northwest Indiana economic landscape; focusing on key performance indicators of population growth, increase in capital investment and per capita income growth. She is a registered lobbyist and has spent hundreds of hours advocating for economic development tools.

Previously as President of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, she led an organization committed to improving the quality of life and breadth of economic opportunity within the five lakefront municipalities of Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres and Porter.

Ennis is more than just a community leader, she serves as a catalytic voice for her constituents on a state and regional level as a member of the Indiana Economic Development Association Board and Legislative Committee, Metro Chambers Coalition, Indiana Vision 2025+, Indiana Defense Task Force, Indiana Chamber Workforce Advisory Council, 21st Century Talent Region Partner, Northwest Medical Board, Autonomous Vehicle Challenge Committee,  Unity Way of Northwest Indiana Board, Porter County Community Foundation Grant Committee and Champion of Ignite the Region.

Ennis credits her husband and son as the source of her passion for local community building and regional economic development. After working nationally for several years, she made a firm commitment to raise her family in Northwest Indiana – a region she is doing her part to strengthen for the next generation. 

KAY NELSON | Environmental Affairs Director
knelson@nwiforum.org

Kay Nelson is a 1977 graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Agriculture in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. In the pursuit of her degree, Ms. Nelson focused upon water quality issues.
During the course of her career, Kay’s roles have included:

1. Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator

2. EPA Wastewater Expansion Construction Grant Administrator

3. Brownfield Redevelopment Administrator

4. Director, Indiana Department of Environmental Management Regional Office

5. Indiana representative to US EPA Iron & Steel FACA group

6. Great Lakes compact, Indiana negotiating team member

7. Great Lakes Commissioner. Appointed by Governor Pence, reappointed by Governor Holcomb

8. VW Trust Fund Settlement Board member. Appointed by Governor Holcomb

Ms. Nelson joined the Northwest Indiana Forum in 1998. Recognizing the integral relationship between economic development and environmental protection, Ms. Nelson’s role with the Northwest Indiana Forum is diverse. She is an active participant during the new and/or expanding business process – working to assist understanding by the community at large of the impact and importance of economic development. Working on environmental issues affecting existing members, Ms. Nelson provides a forum whereby regional position papers are developed. In this process, Ms. Nelson represents the business community in discussions with environmental and community stakeholders to develop understanding and often consensus on issues of regional, state and international importance. The successful passage of Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 45, the adoption of the Great Lakes Compact, as signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on February 20, 2008 reflects this unique collaboration Ms. Nelson works to affect.
In recognition of her Great Lakes Compact work, Ms. Nelson was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Mitch Daniels.
Ms. Nelson was awarded the 2014 Influential Woman of Northwest Indiana in Economic Development award.

Jennifer Gadzala | Grants Manager
jgadzala@nwiforum.org

Jennifer Gadzala is a 1996 graduate of Indiana University Northwest, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Geology. Gadzala also received the Indiana Economic Development Course Certification from Ball State University in 2020. Jennifer joined the NWI Forum in May of 2022 as the Grants Manager. Gadzala has more than 25 years of experience administering grants with the Town of Chesterton, Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. While at the Town of Chesterton, she led the town’s comprehensive plan update, secured $1.4 million in grants and coordinated several quality of place projects including the Centennial Park restroom and caboose restoration project downtown. Jennifer was awarded the 2019 Influential Woman of Northwest Indiana in Government/Economic Development.

At the NWI Forum Foundation, Gadzala will spend most of her time ensuring that READI grant recipients follow compliance guidelines as administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and their consultant, EY.

Spencer Summers | Director, Economic Development
ssummers@nwiforum.org

Spencer Summers, of Valparaiso, currently serves as the Economic Development Director with the Northwest Indiana Forum. There he works to attract high quality investment to Northwest Indiana, showcases the Region to many markets in the Unites States and handles the Forum's internal and external marketing.

Summers graduated in December of 2023 with a Masters of Business Administration concentrating in Information Systems from Purdue University Northwest. He completed his undergraduate work in 2022 from Purdue University Northwest with a double major in business management and human resources. He previously served as the basketball league director for The Courts of Northwest Indiana in Valparaiso from 2019-2022 and has experience coordinating and managing events/tournaments, managing staff, marketing and database management.

Ashley Jones | Operations Director
ajones@nwiforum.org

Jones is tasked with sustaining and expanding upon organizational relationships, accounting efforts, and membership expansion.

Ashley began her work in office administration at an early age at her father’s locally-based electrical contractor business which led her into account management and other core administrative duties. She also served Porter County as a Juvenile Probation Case Manager. Now, with over 10 years of professional office administration experience, Jones brings to the Forum assured operations leadership and a solid business acumen.

Morgan Payton | Grants & Operations Coordinator
mpayton@nwiforum.org

Morgan Bruns graduated from The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington in December of 2022. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations, a specialization in strategic communications, and a minor in communication and public advocacy.

During her time at Indiana University, Morgan held three internships in the marketing department at Cook Medical and a communications internship at CCB Counseling Services. Following graduation, she worked as a Marketing Communications Specialist at Smithville, a broadband company in Ellettsville, Indiana.

At the Northwest Indiana Forum, Morgan serves as the Grants & Operations Coordinator where she assists with the READI grants.

Olivia Allen | Membership & Marketing Events Coordinator
oallen@nwiforum.org

Olivia Allen graduated from The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in May of 2016. She has a bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing with a concentration in International Business. During her time at Purdue, she studied marketing abroad in London with the Foundation for International Education in the summer of 2014.

She previously worked as the Sr. Community Partner and Event Coordinator for American Girl Place in Chicago for five years, managing community partnerships and a hotel affiliate program, and hosting 100 events annually. She also trained and supported coordinators in New York and Los Angeles and worked with Mattel corporate partners to market her events and location.

Olivia will spend her time at the Northwest Indiana Forum executing marketing strategies, and managing memberships, sponsorships, and events.