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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMembership Director | Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation
Age: 27
Hometown: Dyer
Education: bachelor’s in media and public affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis
Family: “My friends are my chosen family in Indy, and I love visiting my actual family in Chicago and Florida.”
Years with organization: 1-1/2
First job: At her grandmother’s and mom’s dance studio, Jeanne’s Dance Academy, doing whatever was needed.
Something surprising: “In another career life, I would love to either be the person who chooses music for movies, be a professional surfer, personal stylist or a CIA agent.”
Coffee order: black iced Americano
Morning person or night owl: morning person
As membership director of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation, Kelsey Cook is responsible for the organization’s statewide fellowship program, its Aiming Higher event series, marketing and team support. In her first year, she has raised awareness of the foundation, leveled up the fellowship curriculum, expanded the statewide network, grown the Aiming Higher event series, and created marketing and recruitment strategies. She more than tripled the number of applicants for the fellowship program, which received 137 applications from 28 counties, and most recently she recruited 118 applicants from 31 counties after leading an intense summer road show to attract applicants for Class VII. Cook started her career in government and politics as an intern in Washington, D.C., and at the Indiana Statehouse. From there, she worked in public affairs, learning the ins and outs of scheduling, event management, political campaigns and advocacy coalition building. For three years, she managed the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, a leadership program that prepares Republican women to run for public office and increase their participation in public service, then started her own business, KC & Co., offering nutrition and fitness coaching to individuals and engaging in the health initiatives in our community. She still operates KC & Co.•
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