Lloyd Winnecke Announced as Next CEO for Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP)

Evansville, Ind. ( September 28, 2023) – The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lloyd Winnecke as its next Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Tara Barney, who is retiring in 2024. Winnecke’s appointment was unanimously approved by the E-REP executive committee and is set to take effect in January 2024.

With a distinguished career in public service and a strong record of economic development, Winnecke is uniquely positioned to lead E-REP into the next era of economic growth and innovation. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community development and the prosperity of the Evansville region.

“Lloyd’s proven leadership and dedication to not only Evansville but the entire region makes him the ideal choice to carry on the unbelievable work of Tara and E-REP,” said Curt Begle, chair of E-REP and president of Health, Hygiene, & Specialties at Berry Global. “As we look to the future, we are confident that Lloyd’s expertise will build upon the high-value E-REP has created and will continue that trajectory.”

Barney, who has served as the CEO of E-REP and its predecessor organization for nearly six years, led the strategic merger of six organizations now under the E-REP umbrella. Since serving as CEO, Barney has been awarded several prestigious leadership awards including the 2023 Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana and the 2021 Woman of Empowerment Award from the Junior League of Evansville. She has also been recognized as one of Indiana’s top 250 most influential business leaders. She will continue to lead the organization until her retirement, ensuring a seamless transition of leadership.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to lead the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and work in an industry I love,” said Barney. “Lloyd is the right leader to continue the important work of moving the Evansville region forward and has been part of implementing E-REP’s strategic plan from its inception. He knows this work, and I am confident he will take E-REP and this region to the next level.”

During his 12 years as mayor, Winnecke has been at the center of many collaborative projects that are improving the quality of life in Indiana’s third-largest city. From the interchange at the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. 41 to the Deaconess Aquatic Center to the Kinney Family Penguins of Patagonia exhibit at Mesker Park Zoo, Lloyd has helped align public and private sector priorities for the betterment of the region.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. I look forward to working closely with the dedicated E-REP team and our community partners to further our mission of driving economic growth and prosperity for the Evansville region,” Winnecke said. “Tara has set a high standard, and I am committed to building on her legacy and taking our region to new heights.”

Winnecke grew up on the northside of Evansville, attended Central High School and graduated from the University of Evansville with a degree in Communications. He spent 18 years in television news, 13 years in corporate communications at Fifth Third Bank and 12 years as mayor. He and his wife, Carol McClintock, are very active in the community and spend many, many nights attending benefits for non-profit organizations. They are huge cheerleaders for the community. Winnecke’s first official day as E-REP CEO is January 8, 2024.

Barney announced her retirement in earlier this year and a search committee was formed to conduct a nationwide search. The search committee was led by Vice Chair Beth McFadin Higgins of McFadin Higgins and Folz, LLP, and Vice Chair Christine Keck, Vice President of National Government and Regulatory Affairs, American Water.

“We were impressed with the quality of candidates and interest in our region from across the country as far as Texas. It shows we are making a name for ourselves in the Evansville region and are excited to have found hometown talent that will continue to lead this work forward,” said Begle.

About the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) leads economic development efforts for the Evansville, Indiana region and elevates the overall quality of life through transformational projects, planning, advocacy, and business engagement. Additionally, E-REP supports the attraction, startup, and growth of regional businesses.

169 ON THE TERROR WATCHLIST STOPPED AT THE BORDER. HOW MANY DID WE MISS? 

(Senate Republicans urge President Biden to address the rise in terrorists crossing the southern border)

October 31, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Mike Braun joined a group of Republican senators led by Senator Todd Young in sending a letter to President Joe Biden expressing deep concern about the rise in terrorists crossing the southern border and asking for plans to bolster border and internal security measures.

The senators wrote in their letter, “Our Southern border is a matter of deep national concern and insecurity. With rising violence and economic crises around the world pushing many people towards our borders, the record levels of illegal crossings and the spike in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terror watchlist are alarming.

“In fiscal year 2023 alone, 169 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches were apprehended along our Southern border.

“This represents a tenfold increase from the figures reported in fiscal year 2021.

“Although the exact affiliations and identities of these individuals remain classified, the marked increase is alarming. Even if these apprehensions represent a minority, the potential devastation from a single individual with malign intentions cannot be overstated.”

The full letter is available here and below:

Dear President Biden,

The recent brutal and reprehensible attacks by Hamas against Israel underscore the importance of vigilance against global terrorist groups both internationally and domestically. As President of the United States, we expect you to take every necessary step to ensure the protection of the homeland and to both prioritize and resource this task accordingly. However, the nature of the foreign challenge, combined with vulnerabilities at home—starting at our Southern border—warrants a proactive and comprehensive assessment.

Our Southern border is a matter of deep national concern and insecurity. With rising violence and economic crises around the world pushing many people towards our borders, the record levels of illegal crossings and the spike in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terror watchlist are alarming. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 169 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches were apprehended along our Southern border.  This represents a tenfold increase from the figures reported in fiscal year 2021.

Although the exact affiliations and identities of these individuals remain classified, the marked increase is alarming. Even if these apprehensions represent a minority, the potential devastation from a single individual with malign intentions cannot be overstated.

Given the current geostrategic challenge and potential threats, we request that your Administration provide Members of Congress a senior-level classified briefing to discuss your plan and intentions to support the security of the homeland, including clarification to the following:

1. Given the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the possibility that Hamas or other regional terrorist organizations may seek to expand the conflict and incite further violence against the United States, how have you assessed any changes in threats to the homeland?
2. What proactive initiatives are underway to bolster the security protocols at our Southern border, especially in light of the increased apprehensions related to the U.S. terror watchlist and threats of violence by leaders of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations?
3. With the possibility of hundreds of thousands of individuals having entered the country undetected in the past two years, what measures are being implemented to address this significant blind spot and to ensure that potential threats are identified and neutralized?
4. How are key national security agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), being primed to preemptively detect and counteract threats from designated terrorist organizations, especially those that stem from potential border vulnerabilities?
5. Are there plans to conduct a comprehensive review of current security protocols to identify potential loopholes or areas of improvement?
6. What collaborative steps is the Administration taking with our neighbors to enlist their support in sharing information and intelligence against designated terrorist organizations, given mutual security objectives and possible vulnerabilities?
7. How is the Administration working to track and block financial channels that may support terrorist activities and infiltration at our Northern and Southern Borders and ports of entry?

Hamas’ devastating attack, combined with its ties to entities such as the Iranian government and Hezbollah, underscores the necessity for a comprehensive assessment of its potential to reach targets beyond the immediate region. Its active publication of digital propaganda, reminiscent of ISIS strategies, further complicates this picture and potentially expands its scope of influence. These narratives, capable of reaching audiences beyond the Middle East, have the potential to inspire or influence disaffected individuals within our borders and those of our allies and partners.

In addition, FBI Director Christopher Wray has commented about the challenges posed by “copycat” actors, noting on October 13, “[I]n this heightened environment, there’s no question we’re seeing an increase in reported threats, and we’ve got to be on the lookout, especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own.”  Indeed, numerous acts of terror on U.S. soil, reminiscent of the ISIS-driven attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando, and New York from 2015 to 2017, have primarily been executed by domestic individuals or lawful immigrants, rather than foreign infiltrators. The call for a “Day of Rage” by Hamas leadership must be seen as an incitement to violence, and underscores the need to remain vigilant against “copycat” actors or radicalized individuals. International terrorist organizations likely recognize that their effectiveness is increased by inspiring individuals already within our borders as opposed to breaching them.

Given these considerations, we urge you to reassess, reinforce, and bolster our border and internal security measures. In light of the seriousness of these potential threats and the likely need for additional resources, we request that you ensure senior administration officials brief Members of Congress no later than November 8 with any findings and recommendations, to ensure a coordinated and informed response.

The consequences of lapses in security can be catastrophic. We must be proactive and not wait for tragedy to strike before taking decisive action. We stand ready to support any measures and initiatives that prioritize the safety and well-being of our nation and its citizens.

Federal dollars to fund weatherization extension program for qualified CNP customers

 Evansville – Oct. 30, 2023 – CenterPoint Energy, in collaboration with the City of Evansville and JD Sheth Foundation, today announced the launch of an enhancement to the company’s already existing, income-qualified neighborhood weatherization program. The enhancement program has been funded by a $600,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awarded to JD Sheth Foundation by the City of Evansville. It will allow customers who had been assessed and approved to receive weatherization assistance but were placed on a deferral list due to additional home repairs needed, to have those repairs addressed and receive CenterPoint Energy’s weatherization services.

“One of JD Sheth Foundation’s five pillars is to promote energy efficiency, including supporting projects which help individuals to manage their energy usage through energy-efficient practices,” said Jaimie Sheth, CEO and Founder. “We are thankful to the City of Evansville for awarding the ARPA dollars, which will assist so many of those in need to make critical repairs needed to live in a more energy-efficient and safe environment.”

CenterPoint Energy offers income-qualified weatherization services at no cost to assist electric-only, or combination of natural gas and electric, customers in identifying ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Eligible customers will receive a home assessment, during which CenterPoint Energy may install smart thermostats, high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, pipe insulation, and/or LED bulbs. The energy technician will also review with the customer if any additional home improvements should be made, such as adding or replacing attic insulation, and identifying air infiltration and duct sealing.

“CenterPoint Energy is pleased to work with the city and JD Sheth Foundation to further extend the reach our neighborhood weatherization program has in the Evansville community,” said Richard Leger, Senior Vice President, Indiana Electric at CenterPoint Energy. “We currently have an exhaustive list of qualified customers who have previously applied for the weatherization program services, but due to other challenges with their home, have been unable to benefit from our program. The funds through JD Sheth Foundation will allow for remediation of these issues, so CenterPoint Energy’s weatherization services can be provided.”

Customers can schedule their appointments online at centerpointenergy.com/smartsavings or by calling 1- 866-240-8476 to speak to a customer service representative.