Influential Women 2026
Influential Women 2026
Influential Women 2026: Madison County’s Leaders — Profiles of Community Change-Makers
This inaugural feature shines a light on remarkable women shaping Madison County across sectors, from education and nonprofit leadership to housing and caregiving. The editorial perspective reflects decades of experience in journalism and community service, celebrating progress, mentorship, and the power of women leading with heart and resilience. Readers are invited to explore personal journeys, impactful projects, and the commitments that drive sustained positive change within the region. (Page 3)
NANCY ANDERSON
Nancy Anderson serves as the director of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation for the North Region, covering Anderson and Kokomo, where she focuses on building resources to support high-quality care and enduring hospital programs. Her tenure in the community spans more than three decades during which she devoted time to nonprofit work, staff leadership, and local initiatives that improve residents’ quality of life. A long-time advocate for green spaces and public amenities, she is especially proud of her role in shaping a more vibrant community through thoughtful civic engagement. (Page 4)
One of Nancy’s notable accomplishments was chairing the City of Anderson’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, a multi-day effort that brought together businesses, organizations, and residents in a shared celebration of the city’s history, diversity, and culture. The event drew broad participation, reflecting a community that supports collective memory and shared pride. In addition to the festivities, the initiative funded and oversaw tangible improvements, including the planting of 168 trees, the creation of a community orchard, and the commissioning of a lasting public mural that will be visible for years to come. (Page 4)
Looking ahead, Nancy aims to continue leveraging her extensive experience to mentor upcoming nonprofit leaders and to advise on boardsmanship and volunteer management. She believes in passing on practical knowledge that helps organizations recruit, engage, and develop strong governance and mission-driven teams. Her guiding message stresses that volunteering can open doors, connect people across unlikely networks, and create lasting professional and personal relationships that advance the greater good. (Page 4)
JILL HAYDEN BARKER
Jill Hayden Barker is the commandant and superintendent at Anderson Preparatory Academy (APA), where she has served for 18 years, with a leadership role at the school for over a decade. Her career began in education with a conviction that every child possesses unique strengths and should be empowered to discover and nurture them. This conviction informs her approach to schooling, which centers on leadership development, civic responsibility, and fostering students’ confidence in advocating for themselves and others. (Page 4)
Under Jill’s leadership, APA emphasizes a holistic mission that extends beyond academics, aiming to cultivate thoughtful leaders and compassionate citizens who can articulate their own needs and contribute positively to their communities. Success, for her, is measured not only by test scores but by students’ personal growth, character development, and their readiness to pursue meaningful futures with resilience and purpose. She also anticipates the impact of a new Launch Pad initiative designed to accelerate growth and opportunity for students and the school community. (Page 4)
She summarizes her guiding philosophy with the idea that while hope fuels beginnings, it is not a strategy on its own. Real transformation comes from deliberate action, sustained effort, and a commitment to serving others. Jill’s daily work centers on helping each student discover their voice, gain agency, and become active, engaged members of society who can influence positive change in their own right. (Page 4)
STASHA BURTON
Stasha Burton is the owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio & Wellness Spa in Anderson, where she built a business focused on more than beauty—it's about confidence, connection, and overall well-being. Her approach has evolved the studio into a wellness destination that blends skincare with education about healthy living and personal empowerment. By partnering with wellness brands such as Jordan Essentials and Juice Plus+, she brings clean beauty and lifestyle resources to her clients, expanding the studio’s role from cosmetics to a broader wellness community. (Page 5)
Beyond beauty, Stasha acts as a property manager for Harter House Senior Living and Highland Park Apartments. In those roles, she prioritizes creating communities where residents feel safe, valued, and connected. Her work goes beyond day-to-day operations; it centers on relationships, resident engagement, and cultivating a sense of belonging. The experience of serving seniors has shown her that people seek not just a place to live but a place where they are seen, heard, and cared for with dignity. (Page 5)
Her collaborative approach brings together an regional leadership team, maintenance staff, local businesses, first responders, and community partners to deliver programs that enrich residents’ lives—ranging from educational initiatives to wellness activities and social events. Stasha emphasizes that true impact comes from shared purpose and teamwork, not individual effort, and she values teams that place residents’ needs first. (Page 5)
Looking forward, Stasha aims to redefine exceptional property management by deepening resident-focused programs, expanding partnerships, and creating more opportunities for community involvement. She measures success not merely by occupancy or financial metrics but by the tangible positive changes in residents’ lives and the lasting connections formed within the communities she helps manage. (Page 5)
MARTA LESKAUSKAS
Marta Leskauskas contributes to the leadership of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana as part of Madison County Service Unit 337. She helps coordinate programs aligned with the four core pillars of Girl Scouting—STEM, Life Skills, Outdoors, and Entrepreneurship—ensuring that all Madison County troops can participate in meaningful events such as World Thinking Day and activities celebrating the founder of the organization. In addition to program leadership, Marta serves as a council facilitator, guiding adult volunteers through essential training opportunities that support robust and enriching experiences for girls. (Page 7)
Her involvement with Girl Scouts began when she joined as an adult to provide her daughter with a similar opportunity she valued herself. She started as a troop co-leader and gradually expanded her service to a broader leadership role within the service unit so that girls across the county could access high-quality programs, not just those in her own child’s troop. A family member, her mother, offered practical guidance that remains a touchstone: focus on constructive change rather than merely pointing out problems. This philosophy informs Marta’s ongoing commitment to empowering girls and strengthening communities through collaborative, accessible programs. (Page 7)
SHEILA FAKHREDDINE
Sheila Fakhreddine is affiliated with the Anderson Education Foundation as an integrated support and facilitation professional. In her current role, she works as a wraparound facilitator across eight counties, coordinating with families, schools, and multiple community partners to keep children with complex emotional and behavioral health needs safely supported in their homes and communities. Her work aims to reduce involvement with juvenile justice and out-of-home placements by creating individualized, strengths-based plans that emphasize hope and collaboration. (Page 7)
Sheila’s commitment to this field is deeply personal, shaped by her own early experiences within Indiana’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Those experiences drive her belief that every child deserves a voice and a network of advocates who can help them navigate challenges. She emphasizes the power of cross-sector collaboration—parents, educators, behavioral health professionals, healthcare providers, and nonprofits working together to address needs that no single organization can meet alone. (Page 7)
As she looks to the future, Sheila intends to expand awareness of the wraparound process, strengthen partnerships, and advocate for earlier interventions and greater access to resources. She also plans to contribute to her community as a candidate for the Anderson Community Schools Board, where she hopes to support students, families, educators, and the broader community. Her overarching message is that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and given opportunities to thrive, underscoring the belief that investing in youth builds a stronger, more hopeful future for all. (Page 7)
Concluding note
Together, these profiles illustrate a tapestry of leadership that spans education, healthcare, housing, nonprofit work, and youth development. They reflect a shared commitment to empowering others, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and building communities where everyone has a chance to contribute and flourish. The volume and diversity of these women’s contributions demonstrate Madison County’s ongoing evolution toward greater equity, collaboration, and community resilience. (Page 3, 4, 5, 7)
