OUR TEAM

Eric DeWald is the president and CEO at Health Foundation of La Porte. Eric was most recently the President/Secretary of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio and the Public Health Fund of Ohio, both subsidiaries of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. In conjunction with those roles, he served as President of Oral Health Ohio, and other foundation initiatives funded by government, and national and state private foundation sources. He was on the board of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and was the Chair of the Governance Committee. He was the Coordinator of the Ohio Convergence Partnership which works collaboratively with the National Convergence Partnership. 

 

Prior to leading HealthPath, Eric served for 16 years as the founding President and CEO of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation which included two health conversion foundations. He was also the Executive Director of AllOne Foundation in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, a Blue Cross/Blue Shield health conversion foundation; Program Manager for the Center for Schools and Communities; and Program Coordinator at the Center for Juvenile Justice. Eric led the Family Service System Reform Initiative in Pennsylvania where he managed a team of eight, providing grantmaking services and technical assistance to all 67 counties. Eric was also named to PA Governor Schweiker’s Task Force on Early Childhood Care and Education, co-Chaired by the late Fred Rogers and the late Ambassador Marilyn Ware. 

 

Eric holds a BA from Eastern University and an MPA from Penn State University, School of Public Affairs. 

 

In his private life, Eric is an avid hiker, skier and weekend warrior golfer. He has successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, one of the seven highest mountains in the world, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and many other peaks. He has two adult daughters, Olivia and Sophie who often travel with him on adventures.   

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Jessica Mace is the vice president at Health Foundation of La Porte. Jessica is experienced in providing technical support to nonprofit organizations and in developing, implementing, and managing grant-funded projects and programs. She also works closely with thepPresident & CEO on the overall HFL grant investment strategy

 

Prior to joining HFL, Jessica worked with several organizations in the United States and internationally. At Mariposa DR Foundation in the Dominican Republic, Jessica led the development and implementation of procedures and tools to strengthen human resource management; program delivery; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Jessica also worked as a consultant with Population Services International in the Dominican Republic where she supported resource development, designed and managed health projects, and led a team to develop a technology platform that used text messaging as a tool for social and behavior change communication.

 

As a Service Corps Fellow at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Jessica coordinated the Nonprofit Service Corps program and supported health projects at the City of Bloomington. After completing her studies, she served as the community initiatives director at United Way of Monroe County in Bloomington. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Gonzaga University and a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University.

 

She resides in Michigan City with her husband and two children.

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Mary Wellnitz is the special projects manager at Health Foundation of La Porte.

 

She earned her Master of Business Administration from University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University and Sales Certificate from University of Michigan. She began her career with NIPSCO Industries, holding various positions including Human Resources Manager, Investor Relations Supervisor, and Manager of Sales & Marketing. She also served as the Director of Strategic Planning and Marketing for La Porte Regional Health System. Mary is one of three founders of Figment Group, Inc., and serves as its President. She has taught advanced strategic planning, marketing and sales, and has consulted for many non-profit and for-profit organizations. She has also actively served on many non-profit boards in the region and currently serves on the Board of La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP). She has been honored with the National Athena® Award to acknowledge her professional excellence and contribution to assisting others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential; inducted in the Society of Innovators – PNW saluting business innovation; and selected to participate in the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series-Leadership in Action. Women accepted into the Lugar Series have demonstrated long-term success, leadership in their careers or community, and have an interest in developing public policy.

 

Mary has a stepson who lives in Vermont, and she resides in La Porte with her spouse Jim and attends Sacred Heart Church. She enjoys pickleball, antiquing, reading, birding, and volunteering. But her favorite pastime is visiting with and pet sitting the neighborhood dogs.

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Erica Kanney is the communications & education manager for Health Foundation of La Porte.

 

Erica is a lifelong resident of La Porte and former Slicer, both as a student and then an English teacher at La Porte High School, where she taught for nine years. Prior to teaching, Erica worked at the Herald-Argus newspaper as a reporter, columnist, and Community editor. Most recently, Erica served as the Operations Manager at a local digital marketing agency, managing projects, content creation, PPC, and SEO strategy for clients. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature from Purdue University and completed the Transition to Teaching program at Indiana University South Bend. Through HFL, Erica participated in the third cohort of the Nonprofit Leadership Academy, receiving a certificate from Indiana University Executive Education at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

 

Erica lives in La Porte with her husband, their daughter, three sons, a cat, a dog, and a very busy kids' sports schedule. She loves to read, practice yoga, and be outside, preferably at the beach. 

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Elizabeth Schlundt is Health Foundation of La Porte's Operations Manager & Board Liaison. She manages the operations of the Conference & Learning Center and provides logistical support to the board, CEO, and committees, as well as handles the administrative duties of HFL's grant investment system. Liz works closely with both the President and Vice President. coordinating the facilities, team schedules, HFL Board meetings, assisting the Vice President with administrative duties of HFL's grant investment system.

 

Before joining HFL, Elizabeth was an office manager in home health for several years. She grew up and currently lives in Wanatah, Indiana, with her husband and two children. Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management from Indiana University Northwest, but she is a Purdue fan. Boiler up! She has a group fitness instructor certification, and she enjoys exercising, gardening, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family. ​

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Lisa Heddens is HFL's Conference & Learning Center (C&LC) Operations Associate.

 

Lisa grew up in Vincennes but recently moved to Michigan City with her family from Columbus, Indiana. As the C&LC Operations Associate, Lisa is the first smiling face you'll see when you visit our building, and she coordinates the C&LC room reservations, tours, set-up, and event flow. Lisa received an Associates Degree in Business Administration from American Intercontinental, and most recently worked as the Office Coordinator at a school in Michigan City. An avid reader, Lisa loves going to the beach with her husband and two sons. She enjoys cooking and smoking meats, making desserts, and experimenting with different foods. The Heddens family also includes a beagle mix (Dakota), a bloodhound (Liberty), and a cat who is well fed.

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Amy McDaniel serves as the Staff Accountant for Health Foundation of La Porte.

 

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington. She began her career in accounting at Monon Trailer Company and then worked for LaPorte Hospital as a Staff Accountant until deciding to stay home and raise her children.  Amy has been very active in her church and creating costumes for the Young People’s Theater Company in Michigan City.  She has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Mothers of Preschoolers, and is the President of the Parent Network at Michigan City High School.  Amy enjoys gardening, yardwork, hiking with her family, and creating.  

 

Amy lives in Michigan City with her husband Jason and their two children.