From her roots in a small farming town to her role as Goshen’s first female mayor, Gina Leichty’s journey has been anything but linear. Her experiences in nonprofit work, communications, and entrepreneurship helped shape her into the leader she is today.
Growing up on a small farm in Rensselaer, Indiana, Leichty learned the values of a strong work ethic and a commitment to community from her parents, whose influence left a lasting impact throughout her life.
After graduating from Rensselaer Central High School, Leichty chose to attend Goshen College because of its unique opportunities.
“I knew I wanted to study abroad while I was in college, and Goshen College had a requirement that every student who studied there would spend a semester abroad,” Leichty said. “I was very excited about that possibility.”
With interests in several subjects, Leichty pursued a multidisciplinary path. She explored subjects like English, history, marketing, and communications, ultimately deciding to major in English and minor in teaching English as a second language. Along with this, she spent a semester abroad in Costa Rica, where she studied Spanish and Latin American history.
After college, Leichty stayed in Goshen where she volunteered as a caregiver for adults with developmental disabilities. She was later offered a job within that organization, eventually advancing to the role of director of operations.
“It was a great learning experience, immersing myself in the nonprofit world while gaining a deeper understanding of individuals with special needs and their families,” Leichty said.
After eight years, Leichty made the transition to the corporate world to work in communications. She spent the next 10 years working for various manufacturers in the RV industry, eventually securing a role at a local hydropower turbine manufacturer.
“I was very happy there, but the company decided to relocate to Portland, Oregon,” Leichty said. “By then, my daughter was going into her junior year of high school, and it just wasn’t the right time for my family to pack up and move across the country.”
Experiencing another shift in her career, Leichty and her husband combined her skills in writing and public relations with his expertise in web design to start their own marketing and communications firm. Over time, their business grew to a team of about 15 people.
One of the most notable contributions Leichty and her team made to the Goshen community was launching the Goshen First Fridays program, a monthly free event that invites residents and visitors to explore the best of Downtown Goshen.
“Goshen First Fridays was just one piece of everything we were doing, but it was something I truly loved,” Leichty said. “Any time we could take on a project that championed our local community and created opportunities for people to come together, I jumped at the chance to be involved. I think that passion for our community is what ultimately led me to be considered for mayor.”
In early 2023, Jeremy Stutsman, the former mayor of Goshen, was nearing the end of his term, and he approached Leichty about running for office.
“I was really happy being the CEO of my own company, and we were doing really well,” Leichty said. “Jumping into politics was not on my radar at all, but with years of experience and a deep investment in the City of Goshen, I realized it was something that I had a passion for.”
Leichty stepped into the role as interim mayor and successfully ran for election later that year, making history as Goshen’s first female mayor.
After about a year in office, Leichty admires the dedication of other local government officials.
“There are so many people working in our local government who care deeply about our community,” Leichty said. “Collaborating with such smart, capable individuals who are genuinely committed to improving their community is truly rewarding.”
When she’s not leading the city, Leichty enjoys hosting friends and family around the dinner table.
“Cooking and laughing around good food and good stories brings me a tremendous amount of joy,” Leichty said.
In reflecting her goals for the City of Goshen, Leichty always returns to her root values of hard work and commitment to her community.
“Growing up, I was taught to always leave something better than you found it,” Leichty said. “My goal as Goshen’s mayor is to ensure the city is in better shape at the end of my term than when I started.”