Meet The Team!
Ashley Shirley
Executive Director
Ashley is a life-long Grant County resident and holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has 15 years of higher education experience at IWU, Ivy Tech, and Ball State, focusing on career and academic advising. In working with students, she became aware of how childhood poverty impacts their lives well into adulthood and creates significant hurdles when pursuing dreams. She spends her free time with her husband Michael, son Eli, and their family dogs, Samson & Isabelle.
Libby Root
Community Development Manager
Libby was born and raised in Gas City (Go Indians!) and recently graduated from Ivy Tech with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She comes from more than 7 years of non-profit leadership experience with focus in marketing and community impact. She enjoys spending time with her husband Tim cruising on their Harley or through the Caribbean or enjoying a quiet night at home with their dog, Case.
Cindy Roach
Office Coordinator
Cindy Roach is a lifelong resident of Gas City and holds a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Ball State University. Her academic advising work at Indiana University-Kokomo focused on career counseling as well as the needs of adult students returning to college. Her work with adult students brought to her attention the many challenges of the adult student demographic. Many of these students struggled with the balancing act between the needs of their families, the time constraints of a full-time job, and the learning curve of returning to academic life. Cindy brings that awareness to her work at Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township in her attention to the needs of the family. Cindy and her husband, Dennis, have two daughters, Courtney and Katie.
Our Board
The Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township Board of Directors is a group comprised of community members and partners who provide direction for Thriving Mill Township, ensure measurable goals are being met, and are champions for our work.
Georgette Miller Chief Consumer Lending Officer, VIA Credit Union
Jennifer Noseworthy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology, Indiana Wesleyan University
Kerri Wortinger Principal, Westview Elementary School
Lisa Weaver TCC Gives, Verizon Authorized Retailer, Director
Mark Atkinson (Treasurer) Eastview Wesleyan Church, Former Senior Pastor
Meagan Mathias Community Leadership Director, Community Foundation of Grant County
Rikki Planck Licensed Agent Team Member, State Farm Insurance
Tracie Speakman (Chair) Mississinewa High School, English Teacher
Tyler Shirley Exit Church, Co-Pastor
Community Foundation of Grant County
Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township is a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Grant County. As a supporting organization, Thriving benefits from the administrative oversight provided by the Community Foundation while maintaining its own specific mission.