The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership’s Young Professionals Alliance (YPA) named LaKeisha Roach-Maxwell as its 2025 Young Professional of the Year at the annual Young Professionals Conference on July 23.
The Young Professional of the Year is a prestigious recognition given annually to one individual who demonstrates exceptional personal and professional leadership, community involvement, volunteerism, and business achievement.
LaKeisha has served the Evansville community over the last seven years in her career with the Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD). In her current role as VCHD’s Pre to 3 Program Community Health Worker/Client Advocate Team Lead and Program Intake Coordinator, she works to support families and strengthen maternal and child health outcomes. Through risk assessments and health system engagement, the Pre to 3 is designed to reduce infant mortality by offering long-term support for families, including no-cost educational home visits for families from pregnancy until the baby turns 3 years old. LaKeisha’s work has been instrumental in growing the Pre to 3 Program from 50 clients to over 300. She is on the Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) team, the District 10 Health Engagement Council, the Community Action Team (CAT) for Maternal Health, the Pre to 3 Advisory Committee, and the Minority Health Advisory Board. LaKeisha also leads infant and maternal health outreach initiatives through the Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE).
With a deep commitment to public service, LaKeisha brings compassion, leadership, and lived experience to her work, empowering the community’s most vulnerable populations. Currently pursuing her Master of Public Health at Indiana University, LaKeisha continues to expand her impact through education and leadership. She actively contributes her voice and expertise on numerous boards and committees across the community, advocating for equity, wellness, and sustainable systems of support.
Her extensive civic involvement includes serving on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Board and the Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) Advisory Council. She actively engages with initiatives such as Mental Health Matters, Community One, Black Nurses of Evansville, S.M.I.L.E. on Down Syndrome, and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation community meetings. LaKeisha also serves as a trainer for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a fully equipped medical clinic on wheels that delivers free or reimbursed care to underserved women.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Lakeisha is most proud of her role as a mother to three amazing boys, who inspire her every day to lead with purpose, resilience, and heart.
“LaKeisha is truly a gem of the Evansville community,” said VCHD Pre to 3 Program Manager Ashly McCain. “She serves others in several roles with compassion; she empowers those around her to believe in the good and find positivity.”
Managed by the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), the Young Professionals Alliance engages, develops, connects, and empowers young professionals to actively shape the future of the Evansville Region. Events provide unique opportunities for the region’s young professionals to meet new people, connect with like-minded peers outside the office, develop and enhance skills, and make a lasting impact on the future of our community.