Northwest Indiana Forum Announces Leadership Transition in Environmental and Public Policy Role; Michele Murday Pariso Succeeds Retiring Kay Nelson

The Northwest Indiana Forum is proud to announce that Michele Murday Pariso is now serving as its Environmental and Public Policy Director, following the retirement of longtime leader Kay Nelson after 28 years of dedicated service to the organization and the region.

Murday Pariso, who began her role with the Forum in January 2026, succeeds Nelson and will lead the organization’s efforts to advance sustainable growth, environmental stewardship, and collaborative public policy initiatives across Northwest Indiana. In addition to her environmental and policy leadership, she will also take on key aspects of economic development strategy, helping to market Northwest Indiana as a premier destination for business investment and growth.

“The Forum extends its deepest gratitude to Kay Nelon for her remarkable 28 years of leadership, commitment, and impact,” said Heather Ennis, President & CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum. “Kay has been instrumental in shaping the Forum’s environmental and policy work and leaves behind a legacy that will benefit our region for years to come. At the same time, we are thrilled to have Michele fully stepping into this role. Her experience and vision position her exceptionally well to carry this important work forward.”

Murday Pariso, a northwest Indiana native, brings more than 13 years of experience in environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, public service, and project management across Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Ball State University and is a graduate of Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI 43) through The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest.

Prior to joining the Forum, Murday Pariso served as Director of the Northwest Regional Office for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In that role, she oversaw Lake Michigan programs, including the Beach Monitoring Notification Program, the Lake Michigan Lakewide Action and Management Plan, and the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern, along with regional operations and stakeholder engagement throughout Northwest Indiana. Earlier in her career with IDEM, she served as a Compliance and Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) representative and as the Partners for Clean Air coordinator.

Before entering public service, Murday Pariso spent nearly a decade in environmental consulting, advancing from Field Geologist to Northwest Indiana Branch Manager. Her work included leading multidisciplinary teams, supporting business development, and managing complex environmental investigations and remediation projects ranging from $1,000 to $5 million. Her technical expertise spans brownfield redevelopment, subsurface investigations, remedial technology implementation, environmental due diligence, data analysis, and regulatory closure.

“Michele’s deep technical knowledge, leadership experience, and longstanding commitment to Northwest Indiana make her an outstanding leader for this role,” Ennis said. “She brings a unique perspective from both the public and private sectors that will strengthen our environmental and public policy work across the region.”

Murday Pariso’s leadership and contributions have been widely recognized. Her honors include Empowering Woman of the Year (2024) from Drive Clean Indiana; Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) (2020) from the Ball State University Alumni Association; Up-and-Coming Influential Woman of the Year in STEM (2019) from the Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association; and the Henry E. Kane Sr. and Ottilie N. Kane Memorial Award for Academic Excellence in Geology from Ball State University.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has a strong history of community involvement. She previously served as Environmental Committee Chair for the Northwest Indiana Forum, as a board member and Development Committee Chair for the Dunes Learning Center, as a board member for Water for Empowerment, and in leadership and ambassador roles with the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, and the Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association. She also served on the Ball State Geological Sciences Alumni Board for nearly a decade.

As Environmental and Public Policy Director, Murday Pariso will build on the strong foundation established by Nelson, guiding the Forum’s work to support a thriving economy and a healthy environment for Northwest Indiana. She will also play a pivotal role in guiding and advancing the Forum’s economic development initiatives.