Wendy Vachet

Gary gets new redevelopment director

Contributed By: The 411 News

Wendy Vachet, a certified planner with nearly three decades of professional experience, is the new head of the City of Gary's Redevelopment Department.

Mayor Jerome A. Prince made the announcement Monday. "The City of Gary is at a significant crossroads, with more companies considering coming to the City to expand their operations. Ms. Vachet, a Gary resident, will bring a long track record of success at at critical time," the Mayor said.

“Wendy is a highly qualified professional, with extensive experience in many key areas of economic development for Gary,” Mayor Prince said. “From handling multimodal transportation planning to large development projects, Wendy is joining us at a time when we are considering large projects that can become economic game-changers for the City.”

Vachet replaces AJ Bytner, the holdover redevelopment director from the Mayor Freeman-Wilson administration.

A graduate of Indiana University Northwest and Old Dominion University, she has spent the last several years in the private sector as a regional planning and environmental manager for Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services.

Over the last five years, Vachet has provided technical services support to the Gary Redevelopment Commission on a variety of projects and city-led initiatives. “I have really enjoyed my work with the Gary Redevelopment Commission, and I’m eager to come on board to head the Redevelopment Department full-time,” Vachet said. “I’m grateful to Mayor Prince for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with all of Gary’s stakeholders in my new capacity.”

Story Posted:09/27/2022