Our People

Staff

Andrea Kern

CEO

Andrea Kern is the CEO of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, leading efforts to attract businesses, strengthen communities, and drive long-term success. A sixth-generation Hoosier passionate about historic downtowns and local businesses, she brings over a decade of experience in economic development, Main Street revitalization, and strategic planning. Before Boone EDC, she helped Indiana communities secure funding and implement economic strategies at the state level. Andrea holds a B.A. in history from Indiana University and an M.S. in historic preservation from Ball State University, where she serves on the College of Architecture and Planning Advisory Board. She enjoys exploring small towns, gardening, historic preservation, and discovering local coffee shops.

317.719.5268
andrea@betterinboone.org

Shelby Farthing

Director of Strategy & Innovation

Shelby Farthing is a public affairs professional with experience in community and economic development, nonprofit fundraising, and strategic program management. Most recently, she served as the Community and Economic Development Program Manager at the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. In this role, she managed key initiatives including the Stellar Pathways program, Indiana’s Site Certification program, and the Building Socially Connected Communities program. Her work focused on strategic planning, research, and stakeholder collaboration to support growth in rural communities across the state.

Previously, Shelby worked with the Indiana University Foundation as a fundraiser for the Northeast United States. She also held roles as a Strategic Initiatives Intern and Development Assistant within the organization.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and English Literature from Greenville University and a Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University Bloomington. Outside of her professional work, Shelby enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with their two corgis, Watson and Dave.

317.719.1990
shelby@betterinboone.org

Kate Fehres

Operations Manager

Originally from Houston, Texas, Kate Fehres recently relocated to Whitestown and is excited to call Boone County home. She holds a degree in Human Resources from Texas A&M University and will begin her Master’s in Human Resource Management this August through Texas A&M’s Mays Business School.

With a diverse background in human resources across multiple industries, Kate brings a strong passion for people-first practices and a commitment to continuous growth. Outside of work, she enjoys baking and spending time with her two dachshunds. Kate looks forward to discovering what makes Boone County special and to building meaningful connections within the community.

kate@betterinboone.org