Biographical Information
Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea
PERSONAL:
Jeffrey Lynn (Jeff) Rea was born on June 20, 1969 at Elkhart General Hospital and brought to his Mishawaka home. He was raised in Mishawaka, until his family moved to North Carolina in 1982. Rea graduated from South Brunswick High School in Boiling Springs Lakes, N.C. in 1987. After graduation in 1987, the family returned to Mishawaka. Rea continued his studies in North Carolina, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government, with a concentration in Public Administration, from Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. in 1991. Rea returned to Mishawaka in June of 1994 after three years in Raleigh, N.C.
Rea is single and resides at 1221 Lincolnway East, Mishawaka, Indiana. His parents, Phil and Naomi Rea, live in Mishawaka. Rea has a twin sister (Julie), who lives locally with her family and a brother (Joel) in Melba, Idaho. His Grandparents, Kenny and Phyllis Rea, his great-grandparents William and Stella Rea, and their families were longtime Mishawaka residents and business owners. William Rea, Kenny Rea, and Phil Rea all owned and operated Tribe-O-Rea Drug Store, a Mishawaka fixture for over fifty years. All the Rea kids and grandkids were regular workers behind the counters at the family store.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Rea was hired by the City of Mishawaka as the Staff Planner in the City Planning Department on June 27, 1994. He held that position until February of 1996, when he was promoted to the Assistant City Planner/ Zoning Administrator. After a month as Interim City Planner in May/June of 1997, then Mayor Beutter promoted Rea to the position of Director of Community & Economic Development and Redevelopment, a position he held through December of 2003 when he assumed the duties of Mayor of Mishawaka. Rea has served as Mayor of Mishawaka from January 1, 2004 through today.
From August of 1991 to June of 1994, Rea was employed by the Rite Aid Corporation, at the time the nation’s largest drug store chain. He served as a Store Manager and as a Training Manager, training new employees to assume management positions. His responsibilities included the management of the day-to-day business operations of the business, employee relations, inventory control, loss prevention, balancing budgets, human resources management, management training, and payroll.
Rea's experience in local government began in the City Manager’s office of the City of Dunn, N. C. in 1990-1991. His responsibilities there included research, policy writing, downtown revitalization, redevelopment, budgeting, ordinance writing, and fixed assets inventory.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY (Offices Held):
Former member of the Board of Directors of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka Campus
Former member of the Board of Directors and a Graduate of St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce Leadership South Bend/ Mishawaka Program.
Former Vice President of St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce "Alive with Pride South Bend/ Mishawaka Program."
Former President, Vice President, and Board Member of Preservation of the Res Inc. (Mishawaka Res), a private youth camp and nature preserve on the east-side of Mishawaka.
Former member of the Board of Directors of the Mishawaka Education Foundation
Former member of the Board of Trustees, Former Marketing Director, Former Youth Leader, and Former Softball Coach of First United Methodist Church in Mishawaka.
Former member of the Board of Directors for the St. Joseph County Business Development Corporation
Former member of the Board of Directors for the St. Joseph County Corporation for Entrepreneurial Development
Former member of the Kiwanis Club of Mishawaka
PROFESSIONAL (Offices Held)
Current President of the Indiana Chapter of the National Brownfield Association (NBA-IN)
Member of the Executive Committee of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT)
Paid for and authorized by the Jeff Rea for Mayor Committee
P.O. Box 861
Mishawaka, IN 46546-0861
(574) 255-5081
e-mail: reaformayor@aol.com