From small-town girl to a strong champion for non-profit work, Bethany Hartley, CEO and President of South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership, is fueled by a passion for community development and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Growing up in the small village of Edwardsburg, Hartley dreamt of a life bigger than her small town. This yearning led to her pursuit of a degree in marketing with a minor in French at Loyola University Chicago.
“I am the first in my family to ever get a four-year degree,” said Hartley. “It was a great learning experience to see what is out there and an incredible cultural experience.”
Graduating in the 2008 recession presented many challenges, but would usher Hartley into her first nonprofit role in Chicago. This experience proved to be a pivotal stepping stone in her career path and ignited her passion for community development.
“I started as a marketing assistant, making $29,000 a year,” said Hartley. “It was humbling, eye-opening, and incredibly rewarding. I was surrounded by powerful women who became my mentors and showed me the impact we could have in a male-dominated industry. I got to learn from them and the incredible board of directors. They led me into what I now understand to be entrepreneurship-led economic development.”
After a few years in Chicago, Hartley and her husband decided to relocate to Elkhart for an improved quality of life and a stronger sense of community. Her career path led to various roles in the non-profit sector. In her first role, she helped families transition into social service with the Boys and Girls Clubs and Family & Children Center. Hartley ultimately decided to follow a path to South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership, which promotes economic development in the Region. She started as a volunteer, quickly realizing the depth of the work needed and desired to be a part of the solution.
“A lot of my work is informing key decision makers across the Region on what upcoming activities should be prioritized and what they should consider as we continue to execute our regional strategy,” said Hartley. “I also receive information about each area in our Region and help decide how to prioritize and support them.”
In 2022, Hartley was appointed to her current role as CEO of the partnership. Her position often extends beyond boardrooms and conference calls. Hartley travels to each of the nine counties in the Region on a quarterly basis, meeting with local leaders, business owners, and community members to help them understand their priorities and overcome challenges. She must venture across the state to connect with state-level stakeholders. She also oversees the LIFT Initiative, which is a $42 million project funded by the Lilly Endowment and the University of Notre Dame, aimed at diversifying the Region’s economy and building resilience against future economic downturns.
“A big piece of our work is convening and communicating,” said Hartley. “We try to keep everybody moving in a similar direction and lead to support where needed. We take leadership roles when asked to do so and do what makes sense for the organization.”
As the organization strives to create community connections throughout Michigan and Indiana, Hartley hopes to be a positive role model and voice, most especially to women in the workforce.
“My overall experience in this Region is that I have not felt any sort of negativity because of my gender,” said Hartley. “I can leverage that it is important for there to be a person that is under 40 and a female presence. I do not want to be identified just because I am a woman under 40, but rather I strive to prove myself every day and work really hard. I think those qualities transcend any age, gender, or race—it is about getting the work done and fulfilling our core values as an organization by doing what we say we are going to do.”
As Hartley engages in the busy life of a regional leader, she attests to prioritizing work and personal relationships, believing in blending seasons rather than balance. She aims to be intentional with her time with others, her work, and her unwavering love of education.
“Throughout my career, I found it very valuable to be a lifelong learner,” said Hartley. “I have pursued various certificates, including inclusive leadership, and I did some work when I used to teach and work in an entrepreneurship organization. I went out to Babson College and did training there. I recently did an economic development/finance professional certificate that I wrapped up last year.”
In the fall, Hartley will start at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business for its Global Executive MBA program. Her decision further demonstrates her commitment to personal growth.
“Since college was super hard for me, I was nervous about fully enrolling into getting my master’s,” said Hartley. “My board is very supportive at South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership and Notre Dame is an incredible institute in our backyard. I will be going part-time and hope to graduate in 2026.”
In her personal life, Hartley engages her time with various hobbies, including scuba diving. She holds fond memories of ocean-diving in Cozumel and Italy, finding it a meditative and peaceful pastime. She and her husband also enjoy traveling, biking, running, and swimming together. She also enjoys spending time with her family, including her five nieces, all of whom she aspires to inspire.