Vickie Lootens serves as Cardinal Services of Indiana’s executive director. She started in that role in July 2022. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Vickie Lootens said Cardinal Services’ goal “is to lead the way to 100% equity, inclusion and access for people with disabilities, families and communities.”

Lootens of Warsaw is helping head up that mission as Cardinal’s executive director.

She’s been in that role since July 2022, having taken over after Matt Boren resigned.

Lootens is originally from Logansport, graduating from Logansport High School. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in special education and business from Ball State University.

She also has a certification in fundraising management through Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’ Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

“Like many in our field, I kind of fell into this industry,” Lootens noted. “In 1991, I was hired by Carey Services in Marion as an employment specialist, helping individuals find meaningful and gainful employment in the community. What I thought would be a temporary job turned into a lifelong career that I have loved everyday.”

Along with serving as executive director, Lootens also is the chief development officer for Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana. Cardinal Services started partnering with them in 2021.

“It’s a formal alignment, but we are a separate entity,” noted Lootens. “We have our own 501(c)(3)s, but we share kind of expertise, back office support, those types of things.”

Lootens said the partnership allows Cardinal to “be more efficient and have those cost savings necessary to be able to sustain our services.”

It also allows for “innovation” at Cardinal, she added.

“We’ve been able to really offer some grassroots fresh new services to the individuals we serve, and that’s been exciting,” said Lootens. “We have so many younger families wanting something different than what we’ve had before.”

Lootens described that “something different” being people wanting their family members who are Cardinal clients “to be active members of our community.”

She said the community can help Cardinal by volunteering there.

“This can be a one-time, one-hour commitment or a recurring one,” said Lootens.

“Donations are always appreciated to help sustain our services, but the greatest gift anyone can give is becoming friends with the individuals we serve,” she added. “Many of our guests have done this, and the impact it has had is truly indescribable.”

Lootens has been married to Greg Lootens for 33 years, and they have two sons: Tyler, 32; and Kobe, 24.