Meet Chuck Haberman
Assistant Director of Economic Development
Office: 317-776-6345 x2102
Email: chaberman@noblesville.in.gov
- Years with the City of Noblesville:
- 3 years
- What was your first job and what lesson did you learn there that you brought with you to your current role?
- I was a Sandwich Artist at Subway. I think the thing that I’ve carried with me from my time at Subway was that you have to have fun at work. Work is work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. As I’ve grown in my leadership, I’ve realized when work is fun people will give exponentially more discretionary effort, which results in creativity, teamwork, stronger engagement, and ultimately better outcomes.
- What led you to your current role? (tell us about your education and/or background)
- You could say I took “the scenic route” on my career journey. After a couple of attempts in college (accounting, then music), I decided to make a big change and joined the United States Marine Corps. I served 8 years as a Combat Engineer, deployed three times, and traveled the world. I also discovered my passion for service, leadership, and lifelong learning. After the Corps, I came back to Indiana and completed a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and HR Management and started working in talent development in the construction industry. As I dug into the companies I worked for, I discovered that I wanted to understand them at a higher level and I wanted to continue to learn, so I started a master’s program at Penn State University in Organization Development and Change. At the same time, I was getting more involved in the community and broader workforce development initiatives. In 2019 I was approached to join Mayor Jensen’s Comprehensive Transition Team as a co-chair of the economic and workforce development committee. We were charged with helping to research, analyze, and develop strategies for his campaign pillars. About a year later I was contacted again to join the Mayor’s economic development team as a newly created Workforce Development Manager. I was challenged again to adapt my understanding of talent and workforce development in a new context, so I enrolled in the University of Oklahoma’s Certified Economic Developer certificate program. Consequently, that helped prepare me to take on more in the department, and was promoted to Assistant Director.
- What is your role in the department and what would a person come to you about?
- I currently serve as the Assistant Economic Development Director. People can come to me to help them solve challenges, I may not always have the answer, but my curiosity and experiences have taught me how to ask the right questions. I’ve found that this helps to give people I’m working with a different perspective and find solutions they may otherwise not have seen. My responsibilities are focused on operations, marketing and communications, and strategy development. Our mission is to drive commerce, culture, and community, and all of those start with strong relationships.
- What do you like most about working in economic development?
- My favorite part is that at its root, the job is to make the community a better place. As a resident, I enjoy playing a role in that, even if it is a small one.
- Tell us about your community involvement.
- I serve on the board of directors for the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce, Ivy Tech Community College – Hamilton County Campus, and Invest Hamilton County
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- My wife, Kari, and I have two young kids, Paige and Connor, and they keep us on our toes. We love being outside; at the park, camping, on the beach, or just in the backyard, we spend every season outside. We’re also foodies and I enjoy cooking, so we like to find new places to meet friends for a meal. I like whiskey too, haha, I’ve got a few bottles.
- What concert do you have to see at Ruoff Music Center?
- Tom Petty is one of my all-time favorites, I’ve seen him 9 times. My wife and I are also huge John Mayer fans. Foo Fighters is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at Deer Creek.
- What sports do you watch and who do you cheer for?
- NFL – Indianapolis Colts
- NCAAF – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- NCAAB – Purdue Boilermakers
- I enjoy going to IMS for the races and going to baseball games, but I don’t follow any particular teams.
- What’s your favorite quote?
- “Everyone makes mistakes, so being a person of integrity doesn’t mean you haven’t committed a moral or ethical violation, ever. It means having the strength of character to learn from those “misbehaviors” and seek continual self-improvement” – Col. Eric Kail
- What’s your go-to road trip snack?
- Salty – Pretzel Pizzeria Combos
- Sweet – Peanut M&Ms
- What do you order at a coffee shop?
- Shot in the Dark
- What’s your dream vacation?
- That’s a tough one, there are a lot of places I dream about visiting: Glacier, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, the Grand Circle, Europe, etc. But if I had to pick the tried-and-true vacation, it’s simply: the beach!
