DeLaney new Franklin Initiative director

He’s new to the Franklin Initiative, but he has served at-risk youth for the better part of his adult life.

Mark DeLaney worked in the health care industry for more than 20 years, touching the developmentally disabled, families and the elderly. He’s counseled children with behavioral issues and juvenile sex offenders.

“I was pretty well connected to the community, so stepping into this position has helped me expand that connection,” DeLaney said.

Aug. 6 marked DeLaney’s first day as the director of workforce initiatives for The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

In this new role, DeLaney oversees the Franklin Initiative, a program dedicated to getting at-risk youth through graduation and developing a long-sighted vision for the post-high school years. 

Originally from Louisville, Ky., DeLaney got his undergraduate degree from IU and recently completed his master’s degree in business administration, which he said helped him combine his “eclectic” set of skills. He now lives in Bloomington with his wife and daughter.

Wanting to transition from a counseling role into a more administrative position,
DeLaney said his new position is a natural fit. 

“I have a real passion for at-risk youth, and that probably was the deciding factor,” DeLaney said of his acceptance of the job.

Part of the Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin Initiative combines the efforts of business and educational leaders.

“One of the unique things about Bloomington is the education and business interact, that relationship is there,” he said.

DeLaney highlighted the connection between the two groups. He said current students in Bloomington are likely to one day power the work force and be the business leaders in town.

Current Franklin Institute programs include career speaker panels, mock interviews, employment fairs and graduation coaches at local high schools.

Melanie Humbard, graduation coach at Bloomington High School North, started with the Franklin Initiative in October 2011. She works for DeLaney as one of three coaches.

“We’re a liaison between who the student needs to be successful, both personally and academically,” Humbard said.

Humbard interacts with DeLaney at graduation coach meetings about twice a month, but she knew him before he ever came to the Chamber of Commerce.

Before accepting the new role, DeLaney worked at Centerstone in Bloomington, a not-for-profit provider of behavioral health care.

There, Humbard interacted with DeLaney in her former role as a juvenile probation officer with the county.

So when he was being considered to replace former director Matt Wysocki, Humbard got good feelings.

“When we saw his name in there, and we saw what he had done at Centerstone, we thought he’d make a pretty good fit,” Humbard said.

And while most of her focus is on working closely with BHSN students, she’s looking forward to the fresh presence in the program.

“What Matt had done before was set up a great foundation for the Franklin Initiative,” Humbard said. “But Mark is coming from a different perspective. He’s got a counseling background, so I’m excited to see what kinds of ideas he’ll bring to the program. I think just having the different perspective, a fresh set of eyes looking at the program. I think it’ll be interesting.”

DeLaney said he has no big plans to change the program. Rather, he wants to continue the successes of the past, a decision DeLaney said he bases very much on years of collected data.

“When you hear of helping a student graduate, it’s a great feeling,” he said. “To actually be a part of something like that, it’s pretty awesome.”