HAND promotes Davis to Executive Director

HAND Inc.’s Board of Directors has promoted Andrea Muirragui Davis to Executive Director, effective immediately. Davis has been serving as Interim Executive Director since November.

Interim Deputy Director Rebekah Metzger was named Development Director, a shift made to emphasize the nonprofit organization’s ongoing focus on neighborhood and community development.

“We are excited with the progress that both Andrea and Rebekah have made in continuing HAND’s mission,” Board Chairman Keith Broadnax said of the appointments, approved May 14. “If there was ever a need for affordable housing, it is now. We are committed to continuing to serve the affordable housing needs of our families and communities.”

Davis is a Fort Wayne native who graduated from Ball State University and worked as a newspaper journalist for more than 20 years, most recently serving as Indianapolis Business Journal’s North Editor covering Hamilton and Boone counties. She joined HAND in 2016 as Outreach Coordinator.

“I am thrilled to be able to work on addressing the need for additional housing options in the suburbs,” she said. “Our communities are wonderful places to work, play and live, but too many of those who work to make them attractive simply can’t afford to live here too. That’s not OK.”

A resident of Fishers, Davis serves on the boards of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy and SERVE Noblesville. She also is a member of Fishers Tri Kappa, the Breathe Easy Hamilton County Coalition and 100+ Women Who Care of Hamilton County.

Metzger, who lives in Indianapolis, graduated from Indiana University and is a member of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy Class of 2020. Prior to joining HAND as Project Manager in 2017, she worked for the John Boner Neighborhood Center in Indianapolis. Metzger is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional.

The HAND board’s decision comes the same week the organization was awarded a $150,000 grant from United Way of Central Indiana to provide rental assistance to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in 2003 as Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Inc., HAND addresses the housing needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families and senior citizens in Indianapolis’ northern suburbs. It owns seven affordable rental communities in Hamilton County and one in Boone County, leasing a total of 137 units. A ninth development is proposed in Tipton.