HCLA BLOG
The HCLA Blog allows alumni, community partners, and interested applicants to gain a glimpse into the experiences and connectivity HCLA offers. The HCLA Blog highlights class day experiences, leadership lessons, and Hamilton Connection and alumni spotlights.
Interested in sharing content for the HCLA blog? Email engagement@hcla.net.
Hamilton Connections Spotlight | Lindsay McGuire
It seems like every week brings another return to office (RTO) mandate across my LinkedIn feed. Every time, I’m still surprised. I’ve been a remote worker since 2018. In my previous position at a local tech company, we had an open office policy: come in when you...
Class of 2025 Spotlight | County & Municipal Government Class Day
A primary driver of my interest in the Hamilton County Leadership Academy was having a better understanding of the inner workings of local government. From my perspective, we give too much time and attention to federal government and too little consideration to the...
Hamilton Connections Spotlight | Laura Musall
There may not be a better time to get out and about in Hamilton County than in the fall, where the cooler temps and changing colors give the whole landscape a fresh, crisp new look and feel. It’s also the season for some of my favorite fall activities in Hamilton...
Class of 2025 Spotlight | Diversity & Belonging Class Day
As I reflect on our first HCLA Class Day, I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to learn from and alongside so many people who care so deeply about making Hamilton County a place of belonging for everyone who lives and works here. The passionate...
SERVE Spotlight | Sandy Allen
I forgot how good serving can feel. I was fortunate enough to be reminded of that when I participated in SERVE Noblesville with HCLA. I admit I thought for a very long time about not volunteering for several reasons. The biggest being “I don’t have time, or I can’t...
Hamilton Connections Spotlight | Angie Frazier
Statements I have heard numerous times in my adult life: "I want to volunteer somewhere. I want to help. I want to get involved. I just don't know where to do it." These statements are often followed by the question, "Where should I go?" This is music to my ears. I...
Empowering Change | Reflections on My Journey as Dean of Hamilton County Leadership Academy
Every Dean likely holds a special affinity towards their cohort, and I am no exception. However, there was something distinctly different about the class I had the pleasure of guiding through their leadership journey. From the moment they gathered for the opening...
Hamilton Connections Spotlight | Bonnie Riley
Summer concerts have an almost magical quality, don’t they? They’re like a rite of passage, special to both the season and our communities, marking the start of warm evenings and unforgettable memories. In 2007 when I moved to Hamilton County, Indiana (Carmel) from...
Class of 2024 Spotlight | Arts, Recreation, & Culture Class Day
Oh the places you will go… May 9 was our Arts, Recreation, and Culture class day. We started the day at Grand Park Sports Campus where we were welcomed by Mayor Scott Willis of Westfield. We learned about his vision for Westfield as the new mayor of one of the fastest...
Hamilton Connections Spotlight | Jennifer Miller
Recently, I changed jobs. It was a homecoming of sorts. I returned to the field of urban planning after working seven years in the nonprofit sector. I went to work for a small municipality in northern Hamilton County that I have always thought had amazing potential....