The NIDIA (Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association) was formed with the idea to help fuel industry development in our area. Starting in 2010 we worked with community educators to help develop and improve the local defense community’s ability to attract and retain the required talent to effectively execute business and improve interaction between the defense industry and suppliers in the region. In 2015, the board voted unanimously to extend our reach to a 20 county region.
NIDIA Membership Region
With this development, we expect to be able to grow the network to assist in supporting the services and product creation that each and every one of our members is dedicated to accomplishing.
Our Mission
The general mission of the NIDIA is to address issues and opportunities facing the 20 counties in the Northeast Indiana defense industry community. Specifically, NIDIA will: (1) take actions to work with the community educators in the region to develop and improve the local defense community’s ability to develop, attract, and retain the required talent to effectively execute business opportunities, (2) foster the increased and improved interaction between the defense industry and suppliers in the region for accomplishment of better services to defense and homeland security customers. (3) perform as an advocacy group for the defense industry in the Northeast Indiana region (4) provide liaison with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, elected officials, legislatures, and special groups and committees, to advance defense industry opportunities’ in the Northeast Indiana region to support economic development.
- Take actions to work with community educators to develop and improve the local defense community’s ability to develop, attract, retain, the required talent to effectively execute business opportunities.
- Work with academic organizations to suggest improved technical education opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level. Work with area high schools and middle schools to encourage careers in math & science.
- Co-sponsor job fairs to retain and attract new defense employers and employees.
- Foster the increased and improved interaction between the defense industry and suppliers in the region for accomplishment of better services to defense and homeland security customers.
- Foster increased communications between local defense companies and suppliers as well as interaction among the defense companies to develop better teaming opportunities, to jointly develop solutions to community wide defense issues and to improve service offerings to defense customers.
- Hold periodic luncheons with guest speakers targeted to provide opportunities for networking, information exchange and potential business.
- Hold quarterly membership meetings as established on the online calendar to address the needs of each NIDIA member.
- Perform as an advocacy group for the defense industry in the Northeast Indiana region.
- Enhance awareness of the local defense industry through local media resources on how it has a positive impact on the region’s economy.
- Provide liaison with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, elected officials, legislatures, and special groups and committees, to advance defense industry opportunities’ in Northeast Indiana to support economic development.
- Support funding to enhance technical education opportunities.
- Support a robust research and development campaign to create intellectual property and produce the products/services from it.
- Provide bi-annual bus tours of key defense installations to enhance business relationships and subsequent opportunities for NIDIA members.
Our history starts with Northeast Indiana and so does our name, but we are here to help assist our membership in a much larger scope than a single location. We are enthusiastic about the future of NIDIA and what we can do for all of our members!
Our Board of Directors
Lynne Miller
Chairman
Rick Howard
Past Chairman
Dave Jost
Chris Straw
Treasurer
Rich Banta
