FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Sept. 24, 2025 – Parkview Health has named Ellen Cutter, AICP, vice president of government relations. She will lead the health system’s legislative strategy and work with policymakers at the local, state and federal levels to advocate for policies that improve health care access, equity and innovation.
Cutter joins Parkview with more than 20 years of experience in economic development, public policy, and strategic collaboration. Most recently, she served as chief economic development officer at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. (GFW), where she oversaw business attraction and expansion projects that resulted in nearly 9,000 new jobs, $423 million in new annual payroll and $4.8 billion in capital investment across Allen County.
“Ellen’s ability to navigate complex political landscapes and build consensus among diverse stakeholders makes her an ideal fit for Parkview,” said Tom Trent, Parkview Health’s asset strategy officer, who oversees government relations. “Her experience and relationships at the local, state and federal levels will be instrumental in advancing our legislative priorities and supporting our continued growth.”
Cutter spearheaded Allen County Together (ACT), the region’s first comprehensive economic development strategy, which brought together dozens of public, private and philanthropic partners. Her leadership helped secure transformative projects, including a 900-acre site acquired across three jurisdictions in just 100 days. The site is now home to Google’s largest artificial intelligence data center campus worldwide.
She has also helped secure more than $200 million in funding through federal programs, including the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan Act. In 2020, she worked with Parkview Health and the Allen County Department of Health to deliver the “Roadmap to a Healthy Reopening” webinars, a COVID-19 business recovery resource recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as a national best practice.
Cutter is active in the community, serving on the boards of the Fort Wayne Community Schools Foundation, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Allen County–Fort Wayne Development Trust and the Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District. She is a past board president of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and a graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne.
“I’m honored to join Parkview Health and contribute to its mission of improving health and inspiring well-being,” Cutter said. “I look forward to working with government partners and community leaders to strengthen health care across our region.”
Her contributions have been recognized nationally and locally, including an Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives “40 Under 40” award, 2025 National Chamber of the Year award and Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s “Forty Under 40” honor.