Working Together So We Can Build a Better Future
As your mayor, Colleen will focus on:
- Development: economic, recreation, and cultural
- Conservation: environmental and historical
- Quality of Life: learning & health
- Diversity and inclusion: whether born here or choosing to be here, Angola is where you belong.
Meet Colleen Everage
A Mayor for the People
Colleen learned early the value of public service and sacrifice. Her mother served 20 years on the Dekalb County School board and raised Colleen to excel in the arts and academics, as well as explore a multitude of cultural experiences.
Growing up on a farm, her mother and father taught her that helping others is always the right thing to do, a lesson Colleen has carried with her throughout her life and career.
She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds a Master’s from Roosevelt University. Colleen taught for Chicago Public Schools before she toured globally as a vocalist for several years with the late Joey DeFrancesco.
These unique experiences led her to explore a broad range of diversity among individuals which further fueled her passion to improve the lives of people in her community.
Wanting to settle back to her roots in Northeastern Indiana, she moved back to Steuben County and fell in love with Craig Everage.
Colleen is a licensed realtor with Fred Beck & Associates. She and her husband also run Everage Auto of Angola and LaGrange and sold their successful restaurant WeHop to Wings Etc. Together, Colleen and Craig have improved eight commercial properties in Angola and lease to 14 commercial tenants.
Although Colleen is not a politician, she is a fiscal conservative that currently focuses on her community in many ways such as:
- Small Business Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Community Leadership
- Community Investment
Colleen has helped several local businesses in various ways such as Angola Motor Speedway, Sofia’s Kitchen, Fidelity Title, Budget Ink, Trilogy Wealth Advisors, Lash Lounge, Mid Solv, The Printing Place, Wayside Furniture, and Refreshed Tech, to name a few, Colleen has a deep understanding of what it takes for a business to thrive.
Over the years, she has written millions of dollars in proposals that would be of benefit to Angola and she envisions many opportunities in the future.
Some of these grants have added uniqueness to the community landscape, such as the celebration and addition of the Sojourner Truth Sculpture by James Haire (celebrating 100 years of Indiana Women Suffrage the largest grant amount awarded by Indiana Humanities).
She also partnered with Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership to allow for a mural to appear in the 900 block on N. Wayne Street and inside the Steuben County Community Center.
Colleen values parks, recreation, and conservation. She and her husband chose to set aside “Bird Song Park” (located downtown) for the community to enjoy instead of its commercial development and has supported retaining the Steuben County Courthouse Courtyard.
With a background in teaching, being a mother, caring so much about youth, and seeing the need for childcare, she was instrumental in the development of the first Montessori early learning center in Angola called The Vine.
Colleen has walked a unique path to become Angola’s next mayor. Her leadership, collaborative nature, integrity, and boundless energy are what we need. She knows this city and its people and promises to bring compassion and results to create better opportunities for everyone.
A Mayor for the People
Community Involvement
- Angola Rotary, President
- Angola Main Street, President & Ex Officio
- Angola Sculpture Tour, Committee Member
- Angola Arts Festival, Chairman
- The Vine Early Learning Center, Founding Member
- Steuben County Arts Scene, Founding Member
- Mayor’s Art Council, Appointed Founding Member
- Steuben Republican Women, Founding Member
- 2022 Elected Republican Delegate for Steuben County
- Trine University, Adjunct Faculty, Trine Fest Committee
- Cahoots, Past Board Member, Volunteer
- Kiwanis, Volunteer
- Pleasant Lake Lions Club, Volunteer
- EastersealsRise, Choir Director, Volunteer
- MSD of Steuben County, Educator, Volunteer
- YMCA, Volunteer
- Angola Kids League, Supporter
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The Nature Conservancy/US Department of the Interior; Douglas Woods; Community Planning Volunteer
- Angola Balloons Aloft, Volunteer
- United Way of Steuben County, Volunteer
- Council On Aging, Volunteer
- Steuben County Purdue Extension, Volunteer
- Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Center, Community Outreach
- Steuben County Tourism Bureau, Main Street Community Advocate
- Steuben County Soil and Water, Community Advocate
- Blue Heron Ministries, Community Advocate
- City of Angola, Community Advocate
Grant Awards
- Indiana Arts Commission, Grantee
- DEKKO Foundation, Grantee
- Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Grantee
- Steuben County Community Foundation, Grantee
- Indiana Humanities, Grantee
-
IYI Indiana Youth Institute Grantee
-
AWS Foundation Grantee to support Sensory Movies at the Brokaw Movie House
- James Foundation Grantee to benefit Friends of Pokagon, Council on Aging, Angola Main Street Youth Theater, and the United Way Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Education
- Roosevelt University, Master of Music in Jazz & Commerical Music
- Ball State University, Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Leadership Development
- Transforming Communities Sponsored by the Dekko Foundation, James Foundation, Donwood Foundation, and Dekalb County Community Foundation (current participant)
- Lugar Series; Excellence in Leadership Graduate
- The Policy Circle; Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap Graduate
- Advancing Voices of Women (AVOW), Graduate
- Steuben County Community Foundation Leadership Workshops
- Hometown Collaborative Initiative in partnership with Purdue University and Ball State University
-
Participant earning her Certificate in Non-Profit Fundraising to assist with federal grant writing from IUPUI
- 2022-2023 Colts Small Business Spotlight recipient celebrating Sutton’s Deli
Ready to help us win?
Join the Movement
Sign up to volunteer and help us win!
You can:
- Help at events
- Host a fundraiser
- Host a meet & greet
- Request yard signs
- Walk & door knock
- Call & text
Make a Plan to Vote
Election Day: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Voter registration ends: Monday, April 3, 2023
1st day early voting: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
1st day confined voting: Thursday, April 13, 2023
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Campaign Events
Steuben Republican Women at Steuben County Community Foundation
Thursday, March 2 at 5:30 pm
Steuben GOP Breakfast at The Heritage Club
Saturday, March 4 at 8:00 am
Coffee & Cookies with Colleen at Cahoots Coffee Cafe
Saturday, April 8 at 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Co-hosts: Cheryl Wilhelm & Julie Arnold
Families are welcome to engage in youth activities!
Coffee with Colleen at Sutton’s Deli
April 13 at 7:00 am-8:30 am
Coffee with Colleen at The Rooted Vegan
Saturday, April 15 at 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Co-hosts: Kim Sommerlot & Nease Kalme
Coffee with Colleen at Caleo Coffee
Saturday, April 22 at 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Co-host: Irene Ulrich