Monthly Luncheon - The Power of Influencer Marketing for Community Growth

“Julia Huckaba is the neighbor behind Exploring Hendricks County. Originally from Florida, she moved to Indiana in her mid-20s, spent a decade in downtown Indy where she met her husband and taught middle school for 12 years. After having kids, they outgrew their downtown home and decided to move to the suburbs. It was a hard decision to leave a neighborhood they loved but quickly realized how great Hendricks County is and it has became home. She started Exploring Hendricks County during the pandemic as a way to be involved in supporting her community at a time that being a part of a new community was difficult. While she did not set out to become a content creator, she loves how she’s been able to support local businesses and connect neighbors and visitors to the great things happening in Hendricks County through social media.”

About Sondra Robison: 

Sondra Robison is the founder and content creator behind Where Is Sondra. Through her platform, she partners with local businesses to amplify their stories and connect them with new audiences through strategic, engaging content. Before becoming a full-time creator, Sondra built her career in marketing and media. She served as a Content Marketing Manager at Herff Jones, where she led social media strategy and launched an influencer marketing program, and later worked in sales at INDYtoday, helping local businesses promote events and execute effective marketing campaigns. Today, Sondra combines her professional marketing expertise with her firsthand experience as a content creator to help businesses better understand and leverage influencer marketing. Her mission is to inspire people to love where they live and to “live like a local” wherever they go.

About Carly Schafer: 

Carly Schafer is the creator behind Keeping Up in Brownsburg, a local digital media platform and lifestyle guide dedicated to connecting the community with the best events, businesses, and experiences across Hendricks County and central Indiana. Through relatable storytelling and strategic content creation, she has built an engaged, all-organic audience of more than 6,600 followers, with her platform regularly reaching hundreds of thousands of people each month and peak reach exceeding half a million.Over the past year and a half, Carly has partnered with more than 55 local and national brands, including Crime Junkie, NCAA, Indianapolis Indians, Edible Indy, Cunningham Restaurant Group, Butler Athletics, and more. Known for her ability to drive community engagement and create authentic local influence, she has become a trusted voice in the Central Indiana digital media space.Since moving to Hendricks County in 2020, Carly has been passionate about helping families and residents discover and connect with their community. In addition to her work in digital media, she has a background in nursing and a passion for health & wellness, fashion, and family life with her husband and two children.