Indianapolis (03-April-2012) - Jonathan D. Weinzapfel, former two-term mayor of Evansville, Ind., has joined the government team at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP as counsel. He will practice remotely from Evansville.

At the firm, Weinzapfel will utilize his experience in government to assist clients in their interactions with federal, state and local government entities. He will help clients with their strategic planning and will design and implement public policy campaigns. In addition, Weinzapfel will counsel businesses, nonprofits and government clients on the development of public-private partnerships, economic development initiatives and neighborhood revitalization programs.

"I'm very excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Faegre Baker Daniels," Weinzapfel said. "This is an opportunity for me to continue serving the public by promoting job creation, economic development and public policy initiatives that will improve our state and our country."

As mayor of Evansville from 2004 to 2011, Weinzapfel formed many economic development agreements leading to job creation, including a $22 million AT&T Indiana call center, a new $30 million American General Corporate headquarters, a $20 million Berry Plastics investment and a $3.5 million investment from GBT USA. His development initiatives also included construction of the Ford Center, a $127.5 million multipurpose arena downtown, and an investment of more than $60 million in a new storm sewer system to address flooding problems on the southeast side of town. Through the Front Door Pride neighborhood revitalization program, Jonathan's administration worked to transform the blighted Haynie's Corner neighborhood and developed the Evansville Arts District. He also restructured the delivery of economic development services in southwestern Indiana through the creation of the Economic Development Coalition and the Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville.

"We are thrilled to bring Jonathan onto the Faegre Baker Daniels team," said Chip Garver, leader of the firm's government team in Indiana. "Through his government service, he has shown tremendous leadership at the federal, state and local government levels. His ability to navigate complex governmental issues will serve clients not only here in Indiana, but across state lines and in Washington, D.C. as well."

Weinzapfel has a distinguished record of public service. Before serving as mayor, he was elected to three terms in the Indiana House of Representatives, where he was chairman of the House Environmental Affairs Committee and the Courts and Criminal Code Committee. Weinzapfel also previously served as deputy commissioner of the Wage and Hour and Child Labor divisions of the Indiana Department of Labor, and as a legislative assistant to Congressman Frank McCloskey. In the private sector, he has worked as an attorney and in various positions with Old National Bank and Eli Lilly and Company.

Weinzapfel received his law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2000 and a master's degree in liberal studies from Georgetown University in 1993. He graduated from Indiana University with his bachelor's degree in 1988.