Pone Vongphachanh serves as Economic Development Director for the City of New Haven, Indiana, she has been in New Haven since March 2020. Prior to her current position, she was the Public Affairs Officer for the Upstate Alliance of REALTORS® (UPSTAR), a local trade association serving around 1,500 members across six counties in northeast Indiana, where she dedicated nearly twelve years.
Educated at Indiana University-Purdue University of Fort Wayne (IPFW), Pone holds both a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and a master’s degree in Public Management. During her graduate studies, she interned at the IPFW Research Institute, where she gained valuable insights into local government structures and taxation systems. In the fall of 2021, she served as an adjunct professor at Purdue Fort Wayne.
Pone's dedication to community involvement is demonstrated by her active participation in numerous municipal and legislative committees. She has lent her expertise to initiatives such as the Housing and Neighborhood Services Board for the City of Fort Wayne, the Regional Opportunities Council, the comprehensive plan committee for the City of Huntington, the CitiLink Board of Directors, Greater Fort Wayne Advocacy Committee, among others.
Beyond her professional engagements, Pone remains deeply engaged in community organizations, having served on the boards of the Embassy Theatre, the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association, Brightpoint, and the IPFW Alumni Association. Her dedication to mentorship is evident from her prior role as a Mastodon Mentor for IPFW. Additionally, she currently contributes her expertise to committees for Amani Family Services, Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
Pone’s contributions have earned her recognition, including being honored in Business Weekly’s 40 under 40, nominated for the Athena Award, and receiving accolades such as the Dedicated Service Award from YLNI and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue Fort Wayne. She is also a graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and of the Indiana Leadership Forum Class.
A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Pone values family deeply and enjoys spending time with her daughter, granddaughter, father and eight siblings. Outside of work, she finds fulfillment in traveling, volunteering, reading, and socializing with friends. Her multifaceted involvement reflects her commitment to both personal enrichment and community betterment.