A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Emily SeDoris

The next time you go into the office at the Portage Parks and Recreation Department, be sure to stop in and introduce yourself to the city’s new events coordinator, Emily SeDoris.

SeDoris took over her role in December and is in charge of the programs and activities for the Parks Department. Her first event in her current position was the Portage Daddy-Daughter Dance in February. Some of the other activities SeDoris oversees include yoga, cardio drumming, and Taekwondo programs. She wants to offer as many activities to the community as possible.

“We're just coming up with different ideas for programs that we can offer throughout the week for the community, as well as bigger events like our spring craft show,” SeDoris said. “We have our market on the square this summer, and we have about 77 vendors already signed up for that.”

SeDoris loves the diversity Portage has to offer. She said there is a lot to do in town and the city has room for growth. SeDoris said the city is always looking for the best ways to utilize the city’s 19 parks. She wants to make sure there is something for everybody.

“There's the Earth Day Brew Fest coming up with the Portage Parks Foundation on April 27, and proceeds from that are going to improve our dog park,” SeDoris said. “We try to offer something for everyone, no matter the age, and for dogs and animals. We have a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny for dogs. It's really neat, and honestly, it feels like the sky's the limit.”

SeDoris comes to town from the City of Hobart, where she served as the administrative assistant for seven years to then-Mayor Brian Snedecor.

“Mayor Brian is an amazing leader,“ SeDoris said. “I can’t say enough about him, his leadership style, and his skills. He always made sure everybody worked together.”

SeDoris’ counterpart in Hobart is Nikki Lopez. She describes Lopez as an all-around amazing person during the time they worked together. SeDoris still reaches out to Lopez, now the Chief Operating Officer for the South Shore Convention and Visitor Authority, to pick her brain on occasion.

“A lot of times I think, ‘Okay, what would Nikki do in this situation?’” SeDoris said. “I'll reach out to her sometimes and ask for guidance.”

SeDoris has always thought the people of Portage were something special. She worked for the Portage Chamber of Commerce about 20 years ago. She noted the sense of community, teamwork, and the strong work ethic of the people in town, something Portage shares with Hobart.

“It just comes down to the hard-working people you see every day that make the events what they are in the community,” SeDoris said. “We all just work so hard to make sure that Northwest Indiana as a whole can be the best that it can be.”

Family means everything to SeDoris and her husband, Matt. They have two teenage daughters who attend Hobart schools. She describes herself as a mother first and foremost. SeDoris also noted they have a weekly dinner with her father or brothers regularly.

“We see each other every Sunday,” SeDoris said. “Family’s really everything.”

For more information on the programs offered by the Portage Parks and Recreation Department, please visit portagein.gov.