Wendy Starr, Director

Wendy has committed most of her life to caring or advocating for those in special circumstances. Her grandmother owned and operated a nursing home in Elyria, Ohio.  As a child, she remembers helping her father mow the lawn and assisting with maintenance. It was there she began caring for and interacting with elderly and younger special-needs residents prior to deinstitutionalization. Later, throughout middle and high school, Wendy volunteered to help individuals with developmental disabilities even learning sign language to communicate with students while in the classroom or instructing art classes.  After moving to Lafayette, she provided assessment and staffing for neurodiverse individuals in collaboration with job coaches and caseworkers as a manager at EA Staffing, a division of Wabash Center. From there, she became an Employment Coordinator and finally the Director of Human Resources for Wabash Center until 2007. 

Wendy is currently the CEO of Starr Land Designs but the American Red Cross was her passion for nearly 23 years. She provided casework and disaster scene management in various locations throughout Indiana. Whether working the role of Public Affairs or Government Liaison, she was always the most satisfied working directly with Red Cross clients and supporting our first responders on the scene. Wendy has served on multiple committees and boards in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties, including the DEI Committee for the United Way of Lafayette. Wendy believes the Oasis Community is another avenue to be the voice for individuals and their families who must be heard and seek out listeners who will make positive change.