By HOLLY GASKILL
Earlier this month, Wells County welcomed its first-ever public information officer, LeAnne Gibbs.
Commissioner President Michael Vanover spearheaded the addition of the role during the county’s last budget sessions, citing a need for someone to develop communication and information resources.
“As a county government, we can always improve how timely and effectively we communicate with taxpayers,” Vanover wrote in a statement. “Creating a PIO position is one way we hope to be more proactive in exchanging information with our county residents. (Gibbs’) experience and skills will be valuable as we build and launch this new service to our community.”
As Gibbs starts in the role, she stated her focus will be observing current methods of sharing information and seeing where improvements could be made. From there, she plans to work with one department at a time to implement possible improvements.
However, given the new nature of the role, she stated much of her job involves flexibility and creativity. Creating these communication systems will take time — from the trial and error of the work, and because Gibbs is currently working part-time, 10 hours weekly.
“From the day-to-day perspective, I think I’m most excited to see how that all that piece goes together,” Gibbs said. “Right now, it feels like a big thought cloud, and you can’t really see what’s in it. I (like) being able to see that become a little bit more clear and more legible — I like to be on the front edge, to see a dream come together.”
Gibbs is a Wells County native with extensive experience in government, having spent time at the Capitol and Indiana Statehouse with lawmakers.
After graduating from Taylor University with her bachelor’s in psychology in 2002, Gibbs began as a staff assistant for former Vice President Mike Pence when he was an Indiana representative. She advanced to become his legislative director over nearly six years in his Washington, D.C., office. She later transitioned to serve as projects director for Sen. Richard Lugar for several years.
Gibbs also spent a stint in Tallahassee, Fla., when her husband, Francis, received a job opportunity. When her husband died from cancer just a few years later, Gibbs was launched into the nonprofit sector by founding Fresh New Start.
Her own journey as a widow inspired the charity. Before her husband’s passing, he asked her to use some of their savings to take a trip to Florence, Italy, with some of her friends after he was gone. This time gave her time to connect with herself, grieve with others and make new memories.
Fresh New Start aimed to sponsor similar trips for young widows, as well as provide a support network for those of similarly unique experiences.
“The nonprofit has been a complete blessing, but probably for totally different reasons than what I originally started it out to be,” Gibbs said. “It’s really morphed over time into this beautiful support network.”
Gibbs has since moved back to Wells County to be closer to family. Most recently, she served as Sen. Todd Young’s district director for Northeast Indiana. In 2022, she also earned her master’s in organizational leadership from Huntington University.
Now, as PIO, Gibbs hopes to bring together her heart for serving others, passion for Wells County and government background to inform and inspire area residents.
“I look forward to what this is going to teach me — it’s a big elephant to eat, but I’m willing to try things and figure out what works well to benefit the taxpayers,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs can be reached at pio@wellscounty.org
holly@news-banner.com
