October 2, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Session Description
Organizations across the Uplands are rethinking their role in ensuring this region has the talent and quality-of-place assets needed to grow its population and meet the region’s growing potential. In this session, you’ll hear from an employer developing housing, a school system building a training center for a regional sector, and a higher education institution incentivizing students to consider education and careers in the Uplands.
Session Presenters
Ron Walker is President of CFC Properties and Workforce Housing LLC, where he leads real estate development, property management, and housing initiatives that support communities across the Indiana Uplands. Walker brings nearly three decades of experience in economic and community development, including leadership roles with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, the City of Bloomington, and Monroe County.
Walker has been a driving force behind Cook Group’s workforce housing efforts, including Texas Pike Place in Spencer, a READI 1.0-supported development designed to expand attainable homeownership opportunities for working families. Through partnerships with local governments, economic development organizations, and community stakeholders, he has helped demonstrate how employers can play a direct role in addressing housing challenges, strengthening quality of place, and supporting regional growth.
Dr. Jerry Sanders is Superintendent of Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation (Edgewood Schools), where he leads a district committed to empowering students through innovative learning experiences, life-changing opportunities, and strong community partnerships. Under his leadership, Edgewood Schools is developing a new Life Sciences Training Center supported by READI 2.0 funding. The facility will provide students with hands-on learning opportunities in environments that mirror those found in the life sciences, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors, helping them develop technical skills and earn industry-recognized credentials.
Through partnerships with employers, higher education institutions, and community organizations, Edgewood Schools is creating learning experiences that align student education with regional workforce needs while supporting the continued growth of the Indiana Uplands’ life sciences sector.
David B. Johnson is Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at Indiana University Bloomington, where he provides leadership for undergraduate recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and student success initiatives. Since joining IU in 2007, Johnson has helped advance efforts to improve college access, increase affordability, and support student enrollment and retention while strengthening partnerships with schools and communities across Indiana.
Under Johnson’s leadership, IU Bloomington is pursuing strategies that encourage talented students to build their futures in Indiana and contribute to the state’s long-term growth. These efforts include the university’s Grow Here initiative, which promotes educational and career opportunities in the region while encouraging students to live, work, and make an impact in communities across the Indiana Uplands.