Tony Denhart joins IEDC as VP

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers announced this week that Tony Denhart has been named executive vice president of talent and workforce for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, effective Jan. 3, 2022. Denhart most recently served as the University Relations Director for GE Corporate.

“Tony joins the IEDC as the Hoosier workforce needs have never been more important. We are excited to use his expertise to build opportunities for our greatest asset, our talent,” said Secretary Chambers. “With Tony’s leadership, the IEDC will ensure Indiana is positioned to offer the business community coordinated support in talent recruitment and cultivating programs to attract and retain talent for our growing businesses and industries.”

In his role, Denhart will report to Sec. Chambers and help connect Hoosier businesses and talent resources including universities, government agencies and resources, as well as community and education stakeholders, to make it as easy as possible for employers to develop robust talent pipelines, meet hiring goals and implement training and development programs.

Denhart joins the IEDC with more than 30 years of developing early career talent attraction strategies and engaging with university recruiting and student relations. Most recently, he led the strategy and implementation of university relations, full-time and internship university hiring needs, military, diversity and campus recruitment initiatives, branding strategy and execution, and research collaboration at GE. Denhart began his career in 1989 as a GE field engineer, in the Field Engineering Program. After several roles of increasing responsibility at GE Power, in 2007, he was promoted to the role of senior services leader where he was responsible for the Midwest region, all client success, field operations and full profit and loss. 

Denhart was also involved in his alma mater Purdue University, serving as the Campus Relations Leader (CRL) for six years. As the CRL, he oversaw the recruiting cycle, relationships with the deans, faculty, administration, student organizations and research collaboration. Denhart drove the partnership to new levels where student interaction increased, hiring increased and collaborative research increased by ten times.

Denhart serves as an advisor to the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Industry Partnership Council, IPC, National Society of Black Engineers Board of Corporate Affiliates, Purdue Honors College Dean’s Advisory Board and Purdue Student Life Vice Provost’s Advisory Council. He is also active with the National Association of Corporate Relations Officers, NACRO, National Association of Colleges and Employers and Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers.

A native Hoosier, Denhart is a graduate of Purdue University and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University’s Polytechnic Institute. He resides in Noblesville with his wife, Rhonda. They have two children, Jake and Nicole.