Born, raised and educated in Michigan City, Moldenhauer moved back to her hometown after living away, saying, “I love the area and community so much and am committed to the health, well-being, and quality of life for all of our residents.

After running for mayor as an Independent in 2011, Moldenhauer served on the Michigan City Human Rights Commission for seven years, and had been its chair for the last two.

 During her term, she and former city councilwoman Pat Boy co-supported an ordinance which updated language in 23 other ordinances to include minority and veteran protections.

She was also co-chair of the Celebrating Naomi Anderson project, enrolling nine team members and various organizations to earn a state grant to collaboratively erect a $140,000 sculpture in Westcott Park to honor the previously unrecognized hometown suffragist.

As chair of the Michigan City Sustainability Commission for the last three years, Moldenhauer helped secure free electric vehicle chargers; helped the city gain “SolSmart Silver Designation” by the U.S. Department of Energy; helped create Soul Power to train solar panel installers with the NAACP of La Porte County; and obtained free consulting services from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to install solar panels in Washington Park.

Case studies were published by Indiana University and the U.S. Department of Energy on innovative projects initiated by the commission under Moldenhauer’s leadership, and it also received the “Light Award” from Solar United Neighbors for successful home solar panel installations.

With green jobs projected to increase more than 29 percent in Indiana over five years, Moldenhauer said she will pursue “green and technological opportunities which ensure Michigan City is in a position to benefit” from the expansion.

“In order to keep our young people in town, we need to provide them with leadership which is concerned about job opportunities and economic growth,” she said. “My thoughtful and transparent leadership style, which is inclusive, strategic and visionary, will support this.”

Moldenhauer is co-founder and team coordinator for NWI Green Drinks, which was inducted into the “Green Hall of Fame” and received the Green Light Award from Sustainable Indiana. Green Drinks also received the “Rose Award” from the La Porte County Tourism Bureau for “Unity.”

Personally, she has received the Frontline Advocate of the Year Award from the Hoosier Environmental Council, the Paul H. Douglas Memorial Award from Save the Dunes, and Jana Nona Environmental Stewardship Award from Unity Foundation for her outstanding contributions to protect and advocate for the environment, Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan. She currently serves as president of Save the Dunes.