Lindsay Snyder, Deputy Mayor

Lindsay is the past President of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and was the past Executive Director of the Downtown Henderson Partnership. She is also a co-founder of the local non-profit, 7 Sisters, an organization whose mission is to stop the stigma of addiction and bring awareness recovery options in the tristate. She has a wealth of experience in working with the public and private business sector as well as fostering community engagement - her tenure in Henderson was marked by a commitment to promoting the growth of Henderson's Downtown area and strengthening the business community in Henderson County. Lindsay is originally from Newburgh, In. 

Joe Atkinson, Communications Director

Joe Atkinson earned his Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University, his Master of Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville, and his Master of Fine Arts in Writing at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He began his professional career at the Evansville Courier & Press, where he spent time on both the police and city government beats, before joining the University of Evansville in 2007 as Director of News Services. After also serving as UE’s Director of Digital Media, Atkinson joined the Department of Communication faculty in 2015, where he has taught classes in video production, web design, journalism, marketing and public relations. 

During his time at UE, Atkinson has remained active in the greater Evansville community, serving on numerous boards, including stints as president of both the Friends of Willard Library Board of Directors and the Evansville Civic Theatre Board of Directors.  Partnering with WNIN Tri-State Public Media, he also has produced several documentaries about the region’s history, earning Ohio Valley Regional Emmy nominations for both the five-episode documentary series Epidemic: Addiction in Middle America and for the documentary feature film From the Ashes: The University of Evansville Purple Aces, which tells the story of the 1977 University of Evansville men’s basketball team and the plane crash that killed all members on the way to a game against Middle Tennessee State. 

Ariah Leary, Community Affairs & Special Projects Director

Ariah Leary is an Evansville native with a passion for serving her community. She is a graduate of Indiana State University where she majored in Public Health. Most recently Ariah worked as the Director of 21st Century Programs for the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, where she excelled in grant writing and management. She is the assistant treasure for the Evansville Branch NAACP and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Zeta Zeta Omega Chapter. She is a proud mentor and child advocate. In her spare time she enjoys graphic design and pageantry. In 2023 she was 2nd runner-up for Miss Indiana USA.

Amanda Joest, Executive Assistant

Amanda Joest is a graduate of Ivy Tech Community College, holding degrees in both Business Administration and Hospitality Management. Her academic journey included active involvement in various organizations, notably Student Government, where she honed her leadership skills, earning recognition with the prestigious Athena International Scholarship. With more than 19 years of experience in front-line and customer service across public and private sectors, complemented by 11 years as an Executive Assistant, she brings a wealth of expertise. She also is a devoted mother of twins who expresses her creativity through culinary pursuits, crafting, and volunteer work with the Evansville Audubon Society.