Building Indiana July/August 2009

MARCH/APRIL 2009 2009 JULY/AUGUST

$4.95 $4.95

State of the Industry The Union Difference 30

Feature

Passing the Test 66

The Last Word

Tourism Powers the Region 70

Ironworkers #395 - Portage, IN

• THE ROSS GROUP IS A UNIqUE design build COnTRAC TOR THAT HAS BROKEN THROUGH THE BARRIERS OF CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES AND CONCEPTS.

“I cannot say enough about the leadership of Ross Group Corporation’s management team. The job was completed within budget, on time and

with no accidents. Not only members of Ironworkers #395, but also all tradesman should be proud of the work their crafts have done on our building. It is simply beautiful.”

- Mike Summers, Business Manager, Ironworkers #395

• THE ROSS GROUP GOES TO wORK ORGANIZING, INTERPRETING AND wORKING FOR YOU TO CREATE A STAND ALONE SUPERIOR PROJECT.

• THE ROSS GROUP COMBINES TwO KEY ELEMENTS: wORLD CLASS

design build EXPERTISE AND FRONT RUNNING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES.

• THE ROSS GROUP RUNS AT THE • THE ROSS GROUP’S

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• TO EXPLORE THE DRAMATIC POSSIBILITIES OF YOUR NEXT PROJECT, AND HAVE A PERSONAL CONSULTATION, CONTACT OUR CEO, ROSS N. PANGERE.

219.764.9932

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Opportunity is Knocking In June, I had the chance to address the “Advancing Hoosier Women in Business” seminar put on by the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center. What I told my listeners was that I believe the ongoing economic crisis is also an opportunity – don’t waste it. There is still money to be made out there, but you’re going to have to sharpen your game, think outside the box and strategically align yourself with other people and businesses to be able to offer more.

And so in this issue, Building Indiana News presents the first-ever “Who’s Who in northern Indiana,” our hopefully not-so-small contribution to the cause of bringing people and businesses in the region together to forge a brighter future. To all of those who worked with us through countless phone calls and e-mails to make this project happen, my heartfelt thanks. Quite obviously, we couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re already looking forward to an even bigger and better “Who’s Who” in 2010.

Another opportunity to step outside that proverbial box and sharpen your game is coming up in October, when we host a half-day workshop featuring capital and funding guru Stefania Aulicino. You’ll find more details on page nine, but the bottom line is this: very, very, rarely does a speaker of Stefania’s caliber appear in northern Indiana. On any other day, you’d have to travel into Chicago to hear someone like her – assuming you found out in time to get a seat at all. Seating is limited, so get out to www.buildingindiananews.com today and reserve your spot.

Publisher/Editor Andrea M. Pearman andrea@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 301 Senior Writer David Wellman dave@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 307 Creative Director Rebekah Hendricks rebekah@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 Office Coordinator Jean Fostini jean@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 305 Special Projects Coordinator Maureen McShane maureen@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 305 Director of Marketing Chrischelle Schmidt chrischelle@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 304 Media Director Kristin Harkin kristin@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 307 Website www.buildingindiananews.com

Kind Regards,

Building Indiana News is a business-to-business publication

Andrea M. Pearman Publisher

from Diversified Marketing Strategies.

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Copyright ©2009 Building Indiana News is published six times a year. Address correspondence to: PO Box 730, Crown Point, IN 46308-0730. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. For general reprint information, contact Building Indiana News at andrea@buildingindiananews.com. All opinions and views are solely those of the participants or editors and are not necessarily the views of magazine sponsors.

www.buildingindiananews.com

MAXIMIZE YOUR BUILDING’S

ENERGY PERFORMANCE

Retro-commissioning of your mechanical or refrigeration systems guarantees that your existing building is operating at peak energy efficiency, keeping your building green and saving you money on operating costs.

Pipefitters Local 597 has been training their members in servicing and maintaining heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems for over 100 years. Today their focus is on improving the energy and environmental performance of buildings. In other words, they have the training and know-how to save money for you, and save valuable natural resources for our planet.

For tools and techniques that can help you conserve resources on your next sustainable building project, please visit www.pf597.org/green or call 312-455-6411. www.buildingindiananews.com

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FEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

JULY/AUGUST 2009

04 Publisher’s Desk 08 Contributors 09 Business Buzz 24 People News

26 PHOTO Feature - Crisis Center Wine Fest Raises $258,000 - Peoples Bank Opens New Valpo Branch - Crown Corr Makes Land Donation to PUC

39 Introduction

66 Feature Great Lakes Labs – Passing the Test

43 Business & Accounting Services

EXPERT ADVICE

30 State of the Industry The Union Difference 33 Rule of Law Employee Background Checks – How to Avoid the Orange Jumpsuit 35 Hard Hat Area Safety Squeeze

DEPARTMENTS

37 The Bottom Line Chief Executive Opinions

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28 CORPORATE Q&A John Diederich: Growth Still on the Agenda at Peoples Bank 68 Natural Elements To Build It Green, Everyone Must Come 700 The Last Word Tourism Investments Fuel Profits and Jobs in Northwest Indiana

40 Architecture, Engineering & Construction Services 42 Banking

46 Business & Economic Development 49 Consumer Products & Services 50 Education 51 Health Care 53 Insurance 53 Legal Services 55 Manufacturing 56 Marketing & Media 56 Nonprofits 58 Real Estate 60 Religion & Culture 61 Tourism 61 Transportation & Infrastructure 62 Unions 65 Index www.buildingindiananews.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

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Contributors SPEROS A. BATISTATOS Speros A. Batistatos is President and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. He has led the organization since 1989. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Economics and Public Policy from Indiana University and is a Fellow Certified Destination Management Executive

Gil Friend Gil Friend is founder, President, and CEO of Natural Logic, Inc. Natural Logic pro-

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vides advisory services in strategy, implementation, and performance measurement that help companies and communities prosper by embedding the laws of nature at the hearts of enterprise. He is also the author of The Truth About Green Business, which brings together 52 crucial facts and insights leaders must know to successfully “go green.”

STEVEN A. JOHNSON Steven A. Johnson is a partner in Johnson, Rappa & Ivancevich, LLC, in Merrillville. He concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, labor relations and construction law. Johnson has served as an

adjunct professor at Valparaiso School of Law and has taught labor relations at Purdue University Calumet.

GAVIN MARIANO Gavin Mariano joined the Crisis Center, Inc. in 2001 after earning a BA from Indiana University Bloomington, and is the Public Relations Specialist.

Mariano also serves at the program coordinators for the center’s youth development program, as well as the IT manager and webmaster of crisiscenterysb.org. In 2008, Mariano was honored by the Times as one of the “20 under 40” emerging leaders of Northwest Indiana.

DEWEY PEARMAN Dewey Pearman serves as the Executive Director for the Construction Advancement Foundation. He holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Indiana State University. The Foundation promotes the union construction industry of northwest Indiana by helping to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness via labor relations and government management, education, training, safety and workforce development.

www.buildingindiananews.com

BUSINESS BUZZ

Conference to Detail Alternative Funding

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cross the country, businesses are strapped for cash and leery of investing in the uncertain economy. But paradoxically, that makes it the perfect time for companies to grow revenues, profits and market share while competitors stand back and eye the economic indicators.

But building a plan of attack, finding the right people to execute it and securing the financial resources to make it happen are a challenge in the best of times. So how do you do it now? Start by joining Building Indiana News October 1 at Radisson at Star Plaza in Merrillville for a hands-on, results-driven workshop which will lay out funding, staffing and growth strategies for any economic climate.

Nationally recognized author and funding expert Stefania Aulicino will headline the event, bringing her knowledge of alternate capital funding avenues to northern Indiana’s top executives. Aulicino has addressed such blue-chip forums www.buildingindiananews.com

as The Inc. 500 Conference, The Council of Growing Companies Annual Conference and the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization. She is a frequently quoted source in the business press, including Crain’s and The Financial Times. Aulicino is also the

Fund It. Staff It . Grow It. Workshop October 1, 2009 Radisson Star Plaza, Merrillville, IN Featuring:

Stefania Aulicino

Tony Hutti

Eric Doden

author of the widely praised book, Cash and Control – You Can Have Both.

Attendees routinely laud Aulicino’s engagements. “I recommend this program

to anybody who wants to keep control of their company, yet wants to take it to the next level and grow in a way that they can eliminate risk,” said Steven Andras, President and founder of Massachusetts-based Grate Products. Adds Geneca President Mark Hattas, “[t]his seminar has been absolutely fantastic because we focused on all the core ingredients of what’s needed to get the company to the next level.”

The conference will also feature short presentations from planning expert Tony Hutti of Gazelles International Coaching Services, and Eric Doden of Ambassador Family Enterprises, a private equity firm based in South Bend, IN, who will share his insights on finding and securing top talent to build your organization. The conference will be followed by a short networking reception.

For more information and to register for the conference, visit our web site, www. buildingindiananews.com. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

November Referendum to Decide Fate of Regional Transit Authority Included in the new State of Indiana budget passed June 30 were instructions for the counties of Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph to hold a special referendum Nov. 3 on the issue of creating a regional transit authority that would fund bus and rail development throughout the area.

The authority will be created if voters in at least two of the four counties pass the referendum. If realized, the authority would have the power to levy an income tax of up to 0.25 percent. The authority would consist of an appointed board of mayors and elected county officials.

Supporters of the authority point to studies that say projects like extending rail service to Valparaiso and Lowell, IN, will create up to 26,000 jobs in the region over the next 30 years.

Opponents object to the prospect of new taxes and fear they will quickly rise above 0.25 percent, and question the need for mass transit options in the region.

VU’s Harre Union Scores Design Award Valparaiso University’s Harre Union was honored with the Collegiate Citation in this year’s American School and University Educational Interiors Showcase, the premier competition for excellence in the interior design of educational facilities.

The Collegiate Citation is presented to a new building at an institution of higher education judged as the most outstanding example of excellence in interior design. A jury of interior design professionals who reviewed Harre Union and hundreds of other submissions in the competition noted that “the artful selection of warm, quality materials will ensure this building will age gracefully.”

Design architect for the 202,000-square foot Harre Union was Sasaki Associates Inc., a Boston-based firm that is a lead-

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ing designer of college facilities. Design Organization Inc. of Valparaiso, which has designed other University facilities, is the architect of record.

Vic Ritter, a principal for Design Organization, said extensive use of natural materials such as limestone and wood in Harre Union creates a warm, welcoming environment for people inside the building, and invites those passing by to enter.

“The interior and exterior design helps make the Harre Union a great place for people,” Ritter said.

The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce also recognized Harre Union for enhancing the attractiveness of the city during its 42nd annual Community Improvement Awards ceremony on July 7.

Harre Union was selected for the award based upon the visual impact of the building’s exterior, creativity and innovativeness in its design and use of materials, compatibility with the environment, enhancement of the community’s quality of life and promoting pride in the community as a whole.

Portage, Valparaiso Partner with NIRPC on Equipment Deals The City of Portage is on track to get 19 new police cars at a cost of less than $10,000 thanks to an arrangement with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC).

The cruisers, all of which burn E85 fuel, will be acquired under a $491,625 grant from the Federal Congestion Mitigation/ Air Quality program. The city could not receive the grant directly, so NIRPC is acting as a go-between. NIRPC will receive the grant, Portage will purchase the vehicles out of its own funds, and the city will subsequently be reimbursed by NIRPC. Under a parallel agreement, Portage will pay NIRPC $1,872 a year for the next five years to do mandated oversight and compliance work.

Portage will hold public hearings on the deal in August. The deadline to finalize the arrangement is September 1.

A similar arrangement between the City of Valparaiso and NIRPC will net Valparaiso a new garbage truck, street sweeper, claw loader, pickup truck and van. The new vehicles, all of which use cleaner-burning diesel engines, will be paid for by a $596,000 grant under the same Federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality program.

NIRPC will receive a total of $2,463 from Valparaiso to manage the equipment for the city for five years.

Indiana Clean Energy Jobs Booming Jobs in Indiana’s clean energy economy grew 17.9 percent while overall jobs declined one percent in the state between 1998 and 2007, according to the “The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America,” report from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Indiana was part of a national trend that saw www.buildingindiananews.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

economy,” Pew’s numbers are a hard count of actual jobs, businesses and investments and do not rely on estimates, multipliers or projections. The report found that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds. Included in Pew’s definition are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

The private sector views the clean energy economy as a significant and expanding market opportunity. Venture capital investment in clean technology in Indiana totaled $26 million over the past three years.

BUSINESS BUZZ

job growth in the clean energy economy outperforming overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia over the same period. Nationally, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a rate of 9.1 percent, while total jobs grew by only 3.7 percent, between 1998 and 2007.

“While Indiana has been hit hard by job losses overall, the state’s clean energy sector grew by nearly eighteen percent between 1998 and 2007,” said Jodi Gibson, Indiana representative for the Pew Environment Group. “Jobs in renewable energy and energy storage and transmission have helped drive the growth in Indiana’s clean energy economy. In fact, Hoosiers are a dominant force in wind power, with the fastest growth in wind power generation nationwide in 2008.”

Indiana clean energy economy business leaders hailed the study, which both developed a clear, data-driven definition of the clean energy economy, and conducted the first-ever hard count across all 50 states of the actual jobs, companies and venture capital investments that supply the growing market demand for environmentally friendly products and services.

“NuVant Systems is proud to be a part of Indiana’s clean energy economy, which is here today,” said Eugene Smotkin, founder of Crown Point, IN-based NuVant. “Our business has continued to grow despite the recession, while developing cost-effective, innovative technologies that will assist fuel cell manufacturers in bringing fuel cells to market, and fuel cell researchers in rapidly improving fuel cell materials.”

In 2007, there were nearly 17,300 jobs in Indiana’s clean energy economy. Unlike previous studies of the so-called “green

NWI Hospitals Form Regional Patient Safety Organization In emulation of programs in the Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Michiana regions, a quartet of northwest Indiana health organizations have banded together to form the Northwest Indiana Patient Safety Coalition.

The four founders are Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, The Methodist Hospitals, Porter Health and Community Healthcare Systems. Purdue University Calumet’s nursing program is also part of the group.

The object of the Coalition is to standardize patient practices across all four organizations, so that elements including - continued on pg 12

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BUSINESS BUZZ

emergency codes and surgical instruments are the same for all facilities. The Coalition will also work to adopt standard guidelines for emergency room care and develop an education campaign focused on medication lists.

Lake Area United Way Taps Co-Chairs for Annual Campaign Rick and Aria Mazer have been named the first husband and wife team to lead the annual community campaign for the Lake Area United Way (LAUW).

Rick Mazer is Horseshoe Casino’s regional president and general manager.

Aria is active in the community and supports numerous philanthropic causes focusing on women’s health issues; nurturing strong, healthy and self-reliant families; helping children and youth to succeed in school and in life; fighting domestic violence; and supporting the arts.

As Co-Chairs, the Mazers will be visible champions for the 2009-10 LAUW campaign. It is the largest single fundraising effort in Northwest Indiana, raising more than $5.2 million annually to support a network of critical health and human services through 33 member agencies and community initiatives that assisted over 280,000 local residents in 2008.

“We are thrilled to have Rick and Aria Mazer, two highly respected leaders in our community, serve as Lake Area United Way’s Campaign Co-Chairs,” said Brad Vosberg, regional retail sales manager for First Midwest Bank and 200910 LAUW Board President. “They are already making plans and asking other leaders to step up to the community’s call for help.”

In addition to United Way, the Mazers give their support and time to Angels on Assignment, American Heart Association, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Crisis Center, Indiana Black Expo, Michael J. Fox Foundation, St. Jude House, Tradewinds, and South Shore Arts.

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WorkingWell Wins Gold for Occupational Health Series Sisters of Saint Francis’ Northern Indiana Region and Morse & Company Advertising Communications, Inc., who provided the artwork for WorkingWell marketing collateral, received a Gold Aster Award for the new WorkingWell Occupational Health Advertisement Series.

The Aster Awards Program is an elite competition recognizing the nation’s most talented healthcare marketing professionals for outstanding excellence in advertising.

Winning entries, judged by a diverse panel of experts, are published in Marketing Healthcare Today magazine.

Walsh & Kelly Lands Intersection Project The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has awarded Walsh & Kelly a $2.2 million contract to revamp the intersection of 93rd Avenue and U.S. 41 in St. John, IN. The Griffith, IN-based firm will widen lanes and create designated turn lanes in each direction at the intersection, which has been scheduled for improvement since 2000. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

La Porte Regional Health System Acquires Starke Memorial Hospital The La Porte Regional Health System (LRHS) has purchased Starke Memorial Hospital in Knox, IN, from LifePoint Hospitals.

“We are excited to become part of the Starke County community. Our goal is to regain the confidence of Starke County residents to choose Starke Memorial Hospital as their provider of choice and keep their healthcare local. We plan to work hard to strengthen Starke Memorial Hospital not only as a healthcare provider but also as a local employer in the community,” said Thor Thordarson, President and CEO, LRHS. Walter Fritz, M.D., Chairman of the Starke Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, said employees and volunteers of the hospital are eager to work toward a smooth transition and integration into LRHS and the Clarian Health system.

“Our goal is to work with an organization which shares our vision for person-centered Ceco care, and we believe we have found that in La Building Porte Regional HealthSystems System. The System www.buildingindiananews.com

Troyer Staffers Gain Accreditation Seventeen employees of The Troyer Group, Inc. (Mishawaka, IN) are now LEED Accredited Professionals, the company announced in June.

These employees include: Myron Bollman, P.E., VP Information Technology; Project Architects Kyle Copelin, AIA, Sean Frederick, AIA, and Andrew Roche, AIA; Rich DeLong, Design Associate; Steve Domonkos, Electrical Systems Designer; and Wendi Lopez, Interior Design Associate.

LEED Accreditation, managed by the Green Building Certification Institute (Washington, DC) certifies that a building professional has “demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System.”

DC Green-Lights NWI Green Projects The House Appropriations Committee in June approved $1.8 million for two environmental infrastructure projects in Northwest Indiana. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will receive $1 million to restore Good Fellow Lodge, while the City of Portage will get $800,000 for water infrastructure improvements.

“This funding for improvements to Northwest Indiana’s environmental infrastructure will improve the quality of life for all the region’s residents,” said Congressman Pete Visclosky, a member of the Committee and the representative for Indiana’s First Congressional District, which includes Indiana Dunes and Portage. “By protecting and preserving our local environment we can make the area a nicer place to live, thereby attracting new investment and creating new economic opportunities.”

At the Dunes, the funding will be used to install a new - continued on pg 14

www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

is known for focusing on disease prevention, education and community outreach and we are excited to see these resources extended here to Starke County,” Fritz said.

LRHS will form a for-profit, limited-liability company that will become the sole operator of Starke Memorial Hospital.

Later, the company will explore allowing up to 30 percent investment by individual physicians or physician entities, but will retain majority ownership and board control.

Starke Memorial Hospital is a 53-bed acute-care facility with about 250 employees. The only hospital in the county, it has a primary service area of approximately 28,000 county residents and a secondary market from surrounding counties accounting for an additional 15,000.

La Porte Regional Health System is a Clarian Health Partner, made up of La Porte Hospital, a 227-bed acute care community hospital; La Porte Regional Physician Network, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants throughout La Porte, Starke, St. Joseph and Porter counties; La Porte Hospital Foundation, a 501 (c)3 corporation to support LRHS; and the La Porte Hospital Auxiliary, a membership-based support organization for LRHS. LRHS is one of the largest employers in the county with 1,500 employees

BUSINESS BUZZ

municipal water line to the lodge, a first step in restoration efforts. In Portage, the money will be used to complete the second phase of improvements at the existing water reclamation facility, which includes enhancements to the solids handling infrastructure to accommodate increased biosolids production associated with increased flows.

NIRPC Nets Marketing and Planning Awards Recognized as an outstanding Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at the 25th Annual Indiana MPO Conference, the Northwest Indiana Regional Greenways and Blueways Plan, which provides a detailed analysis of potential land corridors and water routes in the NIRPC region, has recently received two additional awards.

The American Planning Association – Indiana Chapter (APA-IN) awarded NIRPC the Outstanding Marketing Initiative award at its Annual Spring Conference held in Indianapolis on May 31, 2009. This award deals with a public information program or project by a planning organization that raises awareness of planning issues, increases community participation in planning, or makes a significant contribution to advancing the cause planning in their community.

The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) awarded NIRPC a Certificate of Nomination (Medium Metro Region) at its Annual Conference and Exhibition held in Denver. The NARC Achievement Awards recognize excellence in programs and services of regional councils and Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

NIRPC is currently working on a web site so that the general public can access the Blueways and Greenways Plan online.

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Berglund’s Novak Named Chesterton Building Czar David Novak has been named Chesterton Building Commissioner, replacing former Commissioner Mike Orlich. Town Manager Bernie Doyle cited Novak’s experience with both residential and commercial clients as a key factor in the town council’s unanimous vote to offer him the position. Previously, Novak was with Berglund Construction (Chicago, IL).

CFO Survey Sees Recovery in 2011 Chief financial officers’ confidence in the U.S. economy saw signs of improvement for the first time in over two years, but revealed declined optimism toward their own companies, according to the most recent survey of CFOs conducted by Financial Executives International (FEI) and Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. While CFOs are taking a cautious approach in regard to capital spending and hiring, they see light at the end of the tunnel, forecasting an end to the current recession by 2011.

In the 2009 second quarter “CFO Outlook Survey,” the CFO Optimism Index for the U.S. economy, while still down 43 percent from its 2004 high (73.55), reported an increase for the first time in 28 months (41.90) after hitting an all-time low of 38.96 last quarter. Despite the reported heightened sense of optimism in the overall economy, financial prospects for one’s own company plummeted to another all-time low, dropping approximately 7.5 points to 51.44 from 58.93 in the previous quarter. CFOs will continue to take precautionary measures to initiate cutbacks in the areas of capital spending, hiring and product pricing over the next 12 months.

“The sentiment of CFOs this quarter can best be described as ‘cautious optimism,’ and at this point, there is no clear consensus among chief financial officers as to whether the conditions have in fact stabilized,” said John Elliott, Dean of the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College (New York).

CFOs this quarter also revealed a mixture of positive and negative views. Demonstrating positive signs in the market, over a quarter (27 percent) of CFOs have increased their interest in making acquisitions. Furthermore, more than a quarter (28 percent) feel the economy has already stabilized, with an overwhelming majority (90 percent) anticipating an economwww.buildingindiananews.com

using only horsepower and manpower,” McShane says. “Everything in these steel plants is huge, and when workers are shown, one can see how the equipment dwarfs the human beings.” The “rough and ready” nature of the early days of Gary and Indiana Harbor are also striking, he adds, as is the speed with which both the mills and towns were built.

For details on obtaining a copy of Steel Giants, visit www.buildingindiananews.com.

BUSINESS BUZZ

ic recovery by the first half of 2011, or before.

When asked what signs of stabilization they are noticing at their company, 33 percent of CFOs expect to report positive earnings for the second quarter. CFOs also cited positive first quarter earnings (28 percent), increased cash flow over the previous quarter (21 percent), and increased consumer demand (13 percent) as signs of improvement.

More than half (56 percent) stated they are spending cautiously, while approximately one quarter are holding off on all, or nearly all, capital investments (28 percent). In terms of lending, nearly nine out of 10 CFOs reveal that amounts being lent have either decreased or gone unchanged, and more than a third (34 percent) believe it will become increasingly difficult to access credit over the next six months.

Although 34 percent feel credit is still difficult to access, it has loosened in comparison to third quarter 2008 findings (67 percent).

Financial Executives International, based in Florham Park, NJ, has been conducting surveys gauging the country’s economic outlook from the perspective of CFOs for more than 11 years.

Lowell Boosts Street Spending A half-million dollar bond measure approved in late June means that the town of Lowell, IN, will spend a total of $800,000 on road resurfacing and curb repairs this year.

The original $300, 000 budget for repairs would only have enabled the town to fix about 2.5 miles of roadway, according to Director of Public Works Greg - continued on pg 16

New Book Revisits Region’s Steelmaking History A new book by Indiana University Northwest fine arts professor Gary S. Wilk and archivist/curator Stephen G. McShane dips into the Calumet Regional Archives to find dramatic photographs and images of the region’s turn-ofthe-20th-Century steel mills and the towns that grew up around them.

Steel Giants tells the story of the region’s phenomenal growth through photos taken by photographers from U.S. Steel in Gary, IN, and Inland Steel in East Chicago, IN. The images and detailed captions show the construction of the mills and steel towns, the early production of steel, and the people who lived and worked in the industry.

“Gary and I had been working with the U.S. Steel images for about 20 years now,” says McShane. “Each time we viewed them, we were just awestruck at the quality, clarity and drama of steel-making. We believed that folks should be able to view these photographs and enjoy them as we did. So, we selected about 275 images for the book, out of thousands of photographs from these two collections.”

Readers will discover many things in Steel Giants that will surprise them. For example, “the construction photos show how amazing the effort was, as huge facilities were erected www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Shook. The additional measure, payable over five years out of road and gambling revenues, will allow approximately five more miles of repairs.

Harding Wins Raclin Award Brian Harding, Managing Director of Residential Services at Real Estate Management Corporation (REMC), was selected as a winner of the 2009 Ernestine M. Raclin Community Leadership Award for his leadership role in the community through volunteer activities.

This award, issued by 1st Source Bank, honors Ms. Raclin, Chairman Emeritus of 1st Source Corporation, who set an outstanding example throughout her career by giving her time and talents to help others.

Harding has contributed his leadership abilities to the Northern Indiana Historical Society, Studebaker Museum and South Bend Symphony, and has been actively involved for many years with the Saint Anthony de Padua Church and School, Saint Joseph High School, Indiana University South Bend, United Way and Hannah’s House.

He has also provided expertise and support to the economic development and real estate industries through many years of services to the Institute of Real Estate Management, Greater South Bend Housing, Inc. and the Saint Joseph County Chamber of Commerce Project CONNECT.

New Web Site Raises Convenience Bar for Area Parks A new web site developed by a Purdue Technology Center-based company aims to simplify the task of registering and paying for parks and recreation department programs offered in three Northwest Indiana communities.

The site, www.activenwi.com, was developed by Next Generation Solutions Ltd., an affiliate company of the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana. It provides information about programs offered by the Highland, Merrillville and Schererville parks departments.

“Some departments use large brochures to list information about activities, but searching through them is time-consuming and they can be expensive to produce,” says Peter Pekala, Managed Services Director at

Next Generation Solutions. “People can perform keyword or category searches on Active NWI to find activities and learn registration dates, start dates, program costs and more.”

Along with the client parks and recreation departments, information on the site comes from LakeNet (www.lakenetnwi.net), a site that provides service, business and event information for the Northwest Indiana area. Next Generation Solutions also developed that site.

The program has the capability to expand and include more Northwest Indiana municipal parks departments as clients. Other organizations requiring online registration and payment for their programs also may sign up with Active NWI.

Tonn and Blank Ranked Among Nation’s Top Contractors Tonn and Blank Construction Company, headquartered in Michigan City, IN, was recently ranked as one of Engineering News-Records’ Top 400 General Contractors in the United States.

“We are extremely pleased about the recent news,” said Jon Gilmore, President and CEO, Tonn and Blank Construction. “Despite today’s tough economic climate, we have been extremely fortunate to have our construction pipeline full while building a backlog to carry us into the future. We’ve recently completed several major projects, and expect that we’ll continue the momentum well into 2009 and beyond.”

ENR’s 2009 Top 400 Contractors list ranked companies according to 2008 construction revenue in millions of dollars. ENR’s Top 400 is a comprehensive package of data and analysis that contains the previous year’s rankings and percentage of revenue by market. The list also ranks the largest firms in a wide variety of market sectors.

According to ENR, the Top 400 Contractors raked in $338.38 billion in contracting revenue in 2008, up 11.2 percent over the $304.36 billion that the Top 400 took in during 2007. Of 375 contractors on this year’s list that submitted surveys last year, 245 had revenue increases, 128 saw declines and two were virtually unchanged.

Construction Survey Reveals Lack of Succession Planning, In-House Training Grassi & Co., CPAs (Lake Success, NY) has released its 2009 Construction Industry Survey results and report. The industry-wide survey, 16

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BUSINESS BUZZ

“The State of Your Business 2009,” was conducted in partnership with McGraw Hill Construction’s New York Construction. Highlights of the survey include: • 60 percent of the respondents did not have a succession plan.

• 30 percent of the respondents currently participate in joint ventures.

• 57 percent of the respondents reported they do not have in-house training programs.

• 52 percent of the respondents cited change order disputes as the largest cause of litigation.

• 57 percent of the respondents stated that their companies have instituted fraud control plans.

• 57 percent of respondents indicated that they have a business plan; only 40 percent noted that they have a marketing plan.

• Only 76 percent of the respondents noted that they have a web site.

In general, firms surveyed were moderately optimistic about future growth, despite the current economic downturn. Almost 80 percent of the respondents indicated that their firms are growing or at least leveling off. However 18 percent of the respondents indicated that they saw their firms declining.

BCC Opens New Valparaiso Office Burke Costanza & Cuppy LLP has opened its new Valparaiso, IN, offices at 156 Washington Street.

Erected in 1910, the building has been part of the Valparaiso business district for almost 100 years, originally housing an Ace Hardware Store. In 1998, it was converted to accommodate the Trust Service Department of First National Bank of Valparaiso.

While the traditional architecture has been preserved and enhanced, the interior has been completely renovated and features sleek modern offices and a state-of-the art conferencing center.

St. Joseph County Realtors Say Area Housing Market is Looking Up Inventory has fallen and home prices are rising in St. Joseph County, according to the Greater South Bend/Mishawaka Association of Realtors, heralding a rebound for the region’s battered housing market.

The number of homes for sale in the area reached its lowest level in the past year in May, while median home prices rose three percent versus May of 2008.

The Association pointed to several factors driving the improvements, including federal first-time home buyer tax credits, a new home construction tax credit, normal seasonal shifts and pent-up demand.

Harris Among Midwest Banking Leaders in Customer Satisfaction Chicago-based Harris was ranked highest in retail banking in the Midwest region for customer satisfaction in a tie, in J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study.

“Harris has a simple and powerful vision for our company: To - continued on pg 18 www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

be the bank that defines great customer experience,” said Ellen Costello, President and CEO of Harris Financial Corp. “We are proud that our dedication to delivering on our vision each and every day is being recognized by our customers.”

Harris tied with Commerce Bancshares, Inc., Kansas City, MO. The rankings analyzed customer satisfaction with the retail banking experience through six factors: transactions, account statements, account initiation/product offerings, convenience, fees and problem resolution.

“This prestigious award is great recognition of our employees’ dedication to helping our customers with all of their personal banking needs,” said Chris McComish, Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking. “In the current environment, customers’ needs have changed and delivering superior customer service is more important than ever. We have and always will keep the customer at the heart of everything we do and look for ways to continue to build on this success.”

Harris has more than 280 full-service locations and more than 630 ATMs in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Methodist Hospitals Among Top 5% of Hospitals for Women’s Health Methodist Hospitals has received the 2009/2010 Women’s Health Excellence Award from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, based on a newly released study of patient outcomes.

Hospitals that receive this award rank among the top five percent of all hospitals nationwide when it comes to providing care to women in three areas: Women’s Medicine, Women’s Cardiovascular Procedures and Women’s Bone & Joint Health.

“Women are often times the healthcare drivers in their family but overlook their own health needs. It is important that women take time for themselves and their health needs, not only will it improve their own quality of life but also the lives of the people they care for. This designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our primary care physicians, specialists, clinical staff and nurses,” stated Ian E. McFadden, CEO/President, Methodist Hospitals.

Methodist Hospital is also the recipient of the 2009 Stroke Care Excellence Award from HealthGrades. This award recognizes Methodist Hospital’s clinical excellence for treating stroke patients, placing the facility in the top ten percent nationwide for stroke services five years in a row. Methodist Hospital is also being recognized for 5 star ratings for Treatment of Pneumonia, Treatment of Bowel Obstruction and GI surgeries and procedures.

Winfield is Fastest-Growing Town in Indiana The largest population gains among cities and towns in Indiana within the last year were concentrated in the Indianapolis metro area and in Lake County, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Indiana Business Research Center at

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

The town of Winfield in Lake County is the fastest-growing city or town in Indiana, with a 120.1 percent increase since 2000, bringing its 2008 population estimate to 4,484. Following Winfield are Kempton (86.1 percent), Fishers (80.6 percent), New Palestine (64.8 percent) and Pittsboro (61.6 percent).

Portage (16th), Mishawaka (18th), Lafayette (19th) and Goshen (20th) were within the top 20 largest gainers outside the Indianapolis metro area or Lake County.

Meanwhile, four of the state’s six largest cities have seen population declines since 2000.

Four Indiana cities had populations greater than 100,000 in 2008: Indianapolis (798,382), Fort Wayne (251,591), Evansville (116,309) and South Bend (103,807). Only Indianapolis has experienced consistent population growth since 2000 with a 2.1 percent increase. Fort Wayne lost population earlier in the decade but has since rebounded to have essentially the same population total in 2008 that it had in 2000. Evansville and South Bend have each had population declines of 4 percent since 2000.

Among Indiana’s 20 largest cities, Fishers is the fastestgrowing with an 80.6 percent increase between 2000 and 2008.

Others include Noblesville (43.4 percent), Greenwood (30.9 percent), Carmel (25.2 percent) and Lawrence (11.1 percent).

Out of the top 20 largest cities, those with the greatest population rate of decline since 2000 include Hammond (-7.6 percent), Gary (-6.6 percent), Muncie (- 4.7percent), Evansville (-4.4 percent) and South Bend (-4.2 percent).

Fishers also had the largest numeric growth of all Indiana cities with a gain of 30,803 residents since 2000. This gain is substantially larger than second-place Indianapolis, which grew by 16,515. However, Fishers’ increase of 2,929 residents between 2007 and 2008 was its lowest mark since 2005.

Indianapolis had the largest numeric population gain between 2007 and 2008 with 3,517 new residents.

State Program Salts Away Savings for Local Governments Local governments across Indiana will save $8.5 million thanks to a consolidation program from the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) that aggregates all road salt buying into a single, statewide contract.

The program was prompted by heavy snow and ice over the past two winters, which led to salt availability issues and high spot pricing. These factors put a strain on local budgets, making it more costly for cities and county governments to keep streets and highways clear.

“Historically, communities have gone it alone and been forced to pay a higher price for salt,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner, IDOA. “In these difficult economic times, it is important to leverage the state’s buying power. Communities can salt away these substantial savings and then plow them back into essential services for Hoosiers. This is a clear win-win for both the state and locals.”

IDOA, in coordination with the Indiana Association of - continued on pg 20

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Cities and Towns (IACT) and the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC), worked with localities to aggregate their volume commitments, structured the bid around those committed volumes, and went to market early. The size of the combined buy, coupled with the state’s early bid, were key to securing the competitive pricing.

In many cases, the local savings are significant. For example, Lake County will save more than half a million dollars thanks to the program, and St. Joseph County more than three-quarters of a million dollars. Michigan City will save in excess of $536,000, Valparaiso more than $130,000, and LaPorte about $70,000.

“This type of joint purchasing with the state is illustrative of the type of partnership state and local government should strive for to improve local communities and stretch public resources. We can work better together as partners to improve services for taxpayers,” said David A. Bottorff, Executive Director, Association of Indiana Counties.

Auto Parts Manufacturer Expanding in Valparaiso UGN Inc. says it will invest more than $3 million to expand operations in Valparaiso, IN, creating up to 100 additional jobs by 2014.

The company, which manufactures acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products for Japanese automakers in North America, is in the process of launching a new product and expanding floor space at its 180,000-square-foot facility on the city’s southeast side.

UGN employs 170 at the Valparaiso facility and has added more than 40 new manufacturing workers to support new product since March.

Based in Tinley Park, IL, UGN was incorporated in 1986 as a joint venture between Switzerland-based Rieter Automotive Systems and Nihon Tokushu Toryo of Japan.

Horizon Bancorp Named Top 200 Community Bank Horizon Bancorp was nationally recognized as one of the top 200 community banks by US Banker magazine in its June, 2009 edition. This ranking, compiled by using data from the SNL Financial LC, includes publicly traded banks and thrifts with $2 billion or less in assets, along with some private companies that file with the SEC. Horizon Bancorp, ranked 108 on the list, earned this recognition as being one of the nations top community banks based upon its three-year average Return on Equity (ROE) for the three years ending December 2006, 2007 and 2008. This is the second consecutive year Horizon has been recognized for this performance by US Banker magazine.

“It wasn’t long ago that banks in slowgrowth states were seen as laggards because they couldn’t keep pace with their counterparts in go-go markets like Florida, Arizona and Nevada,” said Alan Kline of US Banker. “But the real estate collapse has left many banks in those once-thriving markets severely hobbled, and now banks in areas that never quite boomed, and therefore, never went bust, are emerging as the industry’s stars.”

“Horizon is pleased to be recognized as a top-performing community bank,” said Craig M. Dwight, President and Chief Executive Officer of Michigan City, IN-based Horizon. “We have a tremendous team committed to building longterm relationships with our customers, communities, employees and shareholders who make this recognition possible. I’m proud of our team and know that we will continue to strive towards achieving this recognition in the years ahead.”

Community Hospital Expands Private Rooms Community Hospital in Munster has added 26 more private patient rooms on the second 20

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Ball State Approves New Charter School in Chesterton Ball State has authorized a new public charter school in Chesterton that will open in fall 2010.

President Jo Ann M. Gora has approved the sponsorship of Discovery Charter School after further review of the proposal, including additional community input, and receiving a recommendation from the Office of Charter Schools.

Discovery Charter School will serve grades K-6 with a projected initial enrollment of 273 and will add a grade each year until it reaches grades K-8. Students will learn to become better stewards of their environment and community and will engage in educational experiences through an integrated place-based and environmentally based curriculum.

In 2001, the Indiana General Assembly approved legislation allowing four-year public universities, public school districts and the mayor www.buildingindiananews.com

of Indianapolis to sponsor charter schools. Ball State is the only university authorizing charter schools in Indiana.

The university sponsors 28 public charter schools currently in operation across Indiana, with four scheduled to open in 2009 and four more in 2010.

As a public charter schools authorizer, Ball State does not run the schools but reserves the right to rescind a charter if a school fails to meet performance standards.

BUSINESS BUZZ

floor for cardiac patients in need of specialized monitoring.

Following the relocation of oncology care in February to the fifth floor, the second floor has been renovated to accommodate a new cardiovascular-intermediate care unit (CV-IMCU). The new private rooms create a home-like atmosphere for patients and make family members more comfortable with amenities considered to be the latest, most advanced, state-of-the art technology.

“Our patients are those who have had cardiac or vascular related events or interventions and need monitoring and additional care before discharge,” says Shannon Zlajic, nurse manager of 2 West. “Our goal is to create a streamlined admission/discharge process for our cardiac patients while optimizing their recovery and getting them home sooner.”

Each of the rooms is equipped with technology that can detect conditions affecting the heart’s function. Data is displayed on the monitors in the nurses’ station, providing a quicker assessment of a patient’s condition and easing communication of updates to their cardiologist and primary care physician. Designed to be soothing and organic, the rooms are decorated in tones of sage green, chestnut, goldenrod and cream, and feature a sofa bed with built-in storage, a desk area, sink, flat-screen television and a spacious, glass-tiled bath area with a shower.

The new rooms are part of the third phase of a $10 million expansion project to provide additional private patient rooms at Community Hospital.

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Head to Resign Nancy Hellyer, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, will leave her post February 1, 2010.

In a statement, Hellyer cited personal reasons for the resignation. Tom Reitinger, who joined the organization in July, will serve as interim President and work with Hellyer to find a permanent replacement.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Consumer Spending Reverses Course, Inches Up

Casino Fortunes Mixed in June

After falling for four straight months, consumer spending inched back up in June, according to Deloitte Research (New York).

“The pace of decline in real consumer spending appears to be abating,” said Ira Kalish, director of global economics and consumer business with Deloitte Research and author of the monthly Index. “High savings rates and unemployment accompanied by a weak housing market have weighed on consumer spending for months, but trends are starting to point in a different direction. For example, the rate of decline in housing prices began to decelerate and, in June, real home prices finally rose from the previous month.”

Also contributing to the increase in spending were a declining tax burden, caused by tax cuts embedded in the Federal stimulus program; and falling commodity prices coupled with weak demand, meaning that while real wages have been flat, deflation is increasing their buying power.

Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN, and Blue Chip in Michigan City, IN, both saw revenues rise year-over-year in June, but their gains weren’t enough to make up for declines at three other area casinos.

According to data from the Indiana Gaming Commission, gaming boats Majestic Star I and II saw revenues slip about 21 percent and eight percent, respectively, in June, while Ameristar reported a 14 percent drop versus prior year. By contrast, Horseshow logged at 13.5% increase in June.

Overall, total casino revenues dipped $1.25 million versus a year ago.

Six Northern Indiana Businesses Tapped as “Companies to Watch.”

Six northern Indiana businesses were among the 50 companies from 17 Indiana counties named to the second annual field of “Companies to Watch.”

The accolade, presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, its Small Business Development Center network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, recognizes privately held businesses that employ up to 150 employees and have between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue or working capital.

The six northern Indiana businesses being honored are: • A Packaging Systems LLC. Based in LaPorte, the company manufactures bottlefilling machines and liquid packaging equipment.

• Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. Founded in 1983, the Merrillville company’s products include The World’s Best Gummies and Gold Label Chocolates, among other confections.

• Livemercial, an online marketing and sales company based in Valparaiso.

• New Carbon Company, Inc., of South Bend. New Carbon markets Carbon’s Golden Malted Pancake & Waffle Flour to foodservice and institutional customers.

• Omnitech Systems, Inc. Based in Valparaiso, Omnitech designs and manufacturers medical devices.

• TruPay Corporation. This Mishawaka business provides integrated payroll, human resources, and time and attendance management solutions.

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Federal Funds to Fuel Projects in East Chicago and Indiana Dunes State Park The Indiana Dunes State Park will receive $1.4 million in federal stimulus funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore the Dunes Creek Watershed, while East Chicago will receive $1,779,850 in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help the city expand economic opportunities and affordable housing.

Funding for both projects was arranged by Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-1st District).

The Indiana Dunes project, which will restore and reconnect Lake Michigan to nearly six miles of stream spawning habitat for migratory fish, will improve the environment while quickly creating jobs, Visclosky said. “Economic stimulus projects should have an immediate impact on jobs and the economy and also have a lasting impact on our community,” he noted. “That’s exactly what this project does.”

In East Chicago, “these investments… will stimulate economic activity and provide people decent, affordable housing,” Visclosky said. $1,365,992 of the funds will come from the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program, while an additional $413,858 will come from the HOME program to expand the supply of affordable housing to low- and very-low-income families.

Staff Employee; and Rebecca Benson of Highland, Outstanding Clerical Staff Employee. They were honored at the university’s recent Employees Service Recognition Luncheon.

Denkhoff, Senior Business Manager, provided significant assistance to Academic Affairs deans, directors, principal investigators and others in understanding and interpreting financial reports and various aspects of grant funding.

Jarvis, a Building Services custodian, was introduced as “a courteous and hardworking employee who always exceeds expectations. She takes the initiative to go beyond standard procedures to do the job to the utmost.”

Benson is a secretary in the Center for Student Achievement, where, among other responsibilities, she has spent the past year coordinating Purdue Calumet’s Foundations of Excellence self-study of the first-year student experience. Her tasks have included organizing meetings from five committees and assuming leadership roles in communication and survey work.

Seminar to Focus on Recruiting in the Disability Community Ross N. Pangere, Commission Member for the State of Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services and President of The Ross Group, will host a seminar on the “Bottom Line Benefits of Recruiting in the Disability Community” September 16 at the Construction Advancement Foundation offices in Portage, IN. Running from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (a continental breakfast will be provided), the seminar will focus on how to tap the skills of qualified people with disabilities, and demonstrate the positive bottom-line impact of a disability outreach initiative.

To register, please contact Elana Gebel at 219-764-9932, ext. 10, or elana@ therossgroup.com, by September 11. Registration is free.

PUC Recognizes Outstanding Employees Purdue University Calumet has recognized three staff members as Outstanding Employees of 2008-09.

Martin Denkhoff, Jr. of Highland was named Outstanding Administrator; Rebecca Jarvis of Lake Station, Outstanding Service

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BUSINESS BUZZ

“Mid-sized companies like these named Companies to Watch make up the foundation of the Indiana economy,” said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

It’s projected that this year’s 50 winners will have combined revenues exceeding $671 million, and will create more than 560 new jobs, in 2008. All 50 “Companies to Watch” will be honored at an Aug. 27 ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

o Thordarson Named President and CEO at LRHS La Porte Regional Health System (LRHS) has named G. Thor Thordarson as its President and CEO. Thordarson has been serving in dual capacity as Interim President and CEO, and Vice President of Corporate Operations, since March 1. He joined LRHS in June 2008. Thordarson, a La Porte resident, previously worked as a health care administrator of multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers and an endoscopy center. He was the president of two health care management consulting firms, and prior to that, was senior consultant on a number of operational strategic and financial consulting projects with a variety of health care clients throughout the Midwest and eastern United States. Earlier in his career, Thordarson worked as a staff nurse on a peripheral vascular floor. He received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Andrews University and a Master in Business Administration from Kent State University.

diana Center for History as a trustee. He is also President of the board for the philanthropic arm of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, and President of the board at the Women’s Care Center Foundation.

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Leep Joins Centier Bank Board of Directors Michael R. Leep, Sr., President of GurleyLeep Automotive Family of Mishawaka, IN, has joined Centier Bank’s Board of Directors. Leep has managed the Gurley Leep Automotive Family since 1973, and over the past 36 years, Gurley-Leep Automotive Family has grown from one dealership to 25.

An active member of the community, Leep currently sits on the board of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Northern In24

Bestow Takes Helm at Primet Fluid Power of Hammond

William D. Bestow has been named President of Primet Fluid Power of Hammond, a distributor of hydraulic, pneumatic and electronic automation components.

Bestow is a 17-year veteran of the company and has worked in all facets of the business, from driving the delivery truck and handling shop repairs, to inside sales, territory sales and management. Bestow takes over from his father, William J. Bestow, who founded the company along with his wife, Iris.

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St. Anthony Hospice Taps New Medical Director Kathryn Mulligan, M.D., has been named medical director of St. Anthony Hospice, a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago. Dr. Mulligan, who has board certification in internal medicine and additional qualifications in geriatrics, has been practicing medicine for more than 25 years. In her new role, she will be responsible for the overall medical direction of hospice patient care and for developing and maintaining appropriate policies and standards of the medical activities of the in-patient and community hospice programs. Dr. Mulligan will also participate in patient care planning and scheduled multi-disciplinary meetings.

Valparaiso University Appoints Two Dr. David Owens, an associate professor of English who has written about American war literature, has been appointed to the position of assistant provost at Valparaiso University, while Dr. David Rowland, a professor of psychology who has directed Valpo’s graduate studies and continuing education programs during the past decade, has been promoted to the position of associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Owens’ areas of responsibility will focus on faculty affairs, including faculty development, academic planning, sponsored research, and matters of tenure and promotion. Dr. Rowland’s primary responsibilities will include graduate education, continuing education, joint degree programs and entrepreneurial ventures.

Steketee Chosen to Michiana Forty Under 40 Amy M. Steketee of Baker & Daniels LLP has been chosen to the Michiana Forty Under 40 Class of 2009. The award recognizes and honors 40 young professionals in the region under the age of 40 for their contributions and accomplishments in both their workplace and community. Steketee, a specialist in employment, labor and school law, recently, co-authored an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the National School Boards Association, has written a chapter on religion in the public school curriculum in The Principal’s Legal Handbook, and authored www.buildingindiananews.com

several entries in the Encyclopedia of Education Law. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County, St. Vincent de Paul of St. Joseph County and the Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes. She is an attorney coach for the Mishawaka High School mock trial team and a volunteer in the South Bend Community School Corporation’s Read-to-a-Child Program. Steketee also serves as secretary for the Mary van Drew Charitable Foundation.

Mix Joins NIES Engineering Andy Mix, P.E., has joined NIES Engineering, Inc., as Senior Project Manager. Andy’s recent engineering experience includes system analysis, planning and design, plant design, inspection, and project management for numerous water, wastewater, and development projects for municipal clients. Andy received his Civil Engineering degree from

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the University of Illinois and his Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado. NIES Engineering, with offices in Hammond and Michigan City, IN, provides professional civil engineering consulting services to municipal and private customers in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.

Fish Returns to Centier Karyn Fish has returned to Centier Bank as a Mortgage Loan Officer responsible for making loans for consumers, realtors, and builders. Fish will manage the processing of internet mortgage loan applications from the company website and will work to increase the bank’s online mortgage activity. Fish has more than 30 years of experience in mortgage lending. She is a licensed real estate broker in the states of Indiana and Florida and is a member of the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors, the Building Industries Asso-

ciation of NWI and the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association.

IUN Names Hoyert Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Professor of Psychology Mark Hoyert, Ph.D., who has served as interim dean of the Indiana University Northwest College of Arts and Sciences since August 2008, has been named to that position on a permanent basis. Hoyert, 49, of Valparaiso, is in his 21st year at IU Northwest. He had previously served as chair of the university’s psychology department. Hoyert is an acclaimed educator who received IU’s prestigious Herman Frederic Lieber Memorial Award for outstanding teaching in 2006, and he is a longtime member of FACET, the statewide IU teaching academy for excellence in teaching. Hoyert has also received three IU Teaching Excellence Recognition Awards, three Trustees Teaching Awards, and an IU Northwest Founders Day Teaching Award.

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photo feature NWI Comes Out For Wine Fest The Crisis Center held its 14th annual Wine Fest fundraiser in June. The event lived up to its nickname, “The Biggest Night in Northwest Indiana,” attracting in excess of 700 guests and raising an estimated $258,000 for the Gary, IN based organization. The Crisis Center provides a wide range of services to kids and teens in crisis, including youth counseling, a suicide prevention hotline and temporary housing. For more information, visit www.crisiscenterysb.org.

L to R: Wine Fest Committee members Robert Welsh, Tom Collins and Bishop Melczek.

L to R: Barbara Wisdom, Associate Director, Crisis Center; Shirley Caylor, Executive Director, Crisis Center; Julie Bieszczat, Wine Fest Committee member and Vice President, Barney Enterprises Management Services; Tony Bieszczat; Sales Consultant, Meyer Material Handling; John Barney, President, Barney Enterprises Management Services; and Ann Barney, Director of Marketing, Barney Enterprises Management Services.

L to R: Kathy Ireland with Chase Bank, John and Susie Wilson with Box Seat Tickets, and Sue Arnold with Wine Fest co-chair Andy Arnold.

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L to R: Wine Fest co-chairs John Diederich and Tom McDermott, Sr., with Jennifer McDermott .

L to R: Don Biesen, Partner, Braman Insurance; Chrischelle Schmidt, Director of Marketing, Building Indiana News; and Wine Fest Committee member Rita Nangle. www.buildingindiananews.com

photo feature Peoples Bank Opens New Valparaiso Branch Peoples Bank of Munster held a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 12th for its new Valparaiso Banking Center. The Banking Center is the bank’s 11th location and first to open in Porter County.

Presiding over the ribbon-cutting for the Valparaiso Banking Center were, L to R, front row to back row: Bob Priesol, Banking Center architect; Gloria Gray-Weissman, Peoples Bank Director Emeritus; Lourdes Dennison, member of the Bank’s Board of Directors; John Costas, Valpo Mayor; David A. Bochnowski, Bank Chairman and CEO; Joel Gorelick, Bank President and CAO; Rex Richards, Valparaiso Chamber President; Carla Houck, Vice President, Retail Group; Shannon Franko, Vice President, Banking Center manager; Rev. Bob Nienhuis, Liberty Bible Church; Ed Furticella, member of the Bank’s Board of Directors; Tom Kennedy, Kennedy Buick/Mazda; John Diederich, Executive Vice President; Bill Hasse, Hasse Construction; Bill Baker, Urschel Development.

Crown Corr Donates Land to Purdue University Calumet Crown Corr Inc. has donated an undeveloped 7.5-acre tract of land in Hammond’s Hessville neighborhood to Purdue University Calumet for use in expanding the school’s intercollegiate athletics program. Crown Corr, a national metal enclosure contractor based in Gary, IN, is owned and operated

by Richard Pellar and his sister, Jolaine (Pellar) Boudart. Their late father, Joseph Pellar, founded the company. The site has been designated Pellar Park. Plans call for the land to be developed into a Purdue Calumet outdoor athletics complex suitable for intercollegiate competition. www.buildingindiananews.com

L to R: Crown Corr co-owners Rich Pellar; his sister, Jolaine (Pellar) Boudart; Purdue University Calumet Chancellor Howard Cohen; Assisstant Vice Chancellor for Health, Recreation and Sports/Athletics Director Robert Bunnell; and Vice Chancellor for Advancement Judith Kaufman.

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Growth Still on the Agenda at Peoples Bank In 2010, Peoples Bank will observe its 100th Anniversary of service to Northwestern Indiana. Based in Munster, IN, Peoples continues to believe in – and invest in – the region, opening its first banking center in Porter County in June (see preceding page). “We are investing now for the good times that we know will come,” says Executive Vice President John Diederich.

Diederich, who began his career in finance more than three decades ago at Commercial Bank of Crown Point, joined Peoples from JP Morgan Chase in May. The opportunity at Peoples drew his interest because of the bank’s strong management team, and because it allowed him to remain in a community in which he is deeply involved. Among other activities, Diederich is Chairman of the Crisis Center in Gary, and Past Chairman of the NWI Forum, the Southlake YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. He continues to be active with those organizations, along with many others.

Now, at a spry 99, the opening of People’s new Valparaiso branch marks the beginning of a plan to grow throughout northern Indiana. Diederich recently took some time to talk about those plans, and the region’s economy in general, with Building Indiana News.

Q: Congratulations on your new position.

What drew you to Peoples?

A: One of my criteria was to stay in the area and to continue to represent an organization that I could be proud of. And I wanted to work for an organization that wanted me to work for them. I know that sounds hokey, but if you interview for a job and those things aren’t present, then it doesn’t make sense.

Also, the management team at Peoples is

ous recessions?

A: This current recession is much deeper and customers are being more conservative and cautious. I can’t remember the last time we saw the savings rate increase, but that’s what we are seeing now.

very strong and their goal is to take the organization to the next level. I thought I could add something in that regard.

Q: You have been in banking in the region for more than 35 years. How has what businesses expect from their bank changed over that time?

A: They have become more sophisticated, more adept at technological solutions, and the speed of information is quicker. Banks have to deliver more, and be more efficient. Customers have become less transactional; they are starting to value the business relationship they have with a bank. Banking is still about price, but it’s not all about price anymore. Especially over the last three or four years, their biggest expectation is predictability. They are looking for both their banker and the institution he represents to be delivering the same message.

Q: How does the current economic slump compare with ones you have seen in previ-

Q: What has Peoples been doing to help customers get through the tough times?

A: Even in good times, a bank is usually the last place a borrower goes because of the fear of rejection. Now we are in a downturn where the consumer with a mortgage or the business owner with a commercial loan appears to be reluctant to have discussions with the bank. There are solutions available, but if they don’t communicate, we can’t help. In the end, we don’t want their house, we don’t want their business, those are their dreams, not ours. Our biggest challenge now is getting people to talk to us.

Q: Peoples Bank recently opened a new banking center in Valparaiso, which is also its first location in Porter County. What opportunities does Peoples see in Porter County in general and Valparaiso in particular?

A: Valparaiso is a growing community with good leadership, good demographics, a strong Chamber, just lots of positives on both the business and consumer sides, and we want to be a part of that. More broadly, we are looking to build an office in St. John in the fall. Beyond that, we want to open a new banking center each year. Right now, we are prioritizing among nineteen communities in Northwest Indiana to determine our next several locations. Of those, I don’t think it’s any secret that, you can’t go into Valparaiso with just one office, so we will likely be looking at a location in the southern part of town.

Would you like us to consider you for a future issue? To submit your Q&A, go to www.buildingindiananews.com.

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

The Union Difference Unions are integral to the maintenance of quality, productivity and expertise in the construction industry.

By Dewey Pearman, Construction Advancement Foundation

M

ost people, businesses and institutions are not directly involved in the construction industry, but from time to time will purchase construction services, becoming what we in the industry call owners or project owners.

One of the first decisions an owner faces is hiring a contractor and, specifically, whether to hire a union contractor. There are very persuasive reasons to do so, thanks to the unique role of unions within the construction industry, a role with which those outside the business are not normally familiar.

Union contractors choose to be union employers for one basic reason – it’s a good business decision. To those in other industries, that may be a surprising statement. In many businesses, companies would choose to avoid being a union employer. But the fact of the matter is that the relationship between labor and management is fundamentally different in construction than it is in most other industries, and it’s for this reason that the union provides valuable services to the employer.

Among those services, the three most important are skill training, an on-demand labor supply and a set of important human resource-type functions.

Skill training is essential to the construction industry because productivity is determined not by doing the same task over and over exactly the same way, but rather by being able to perform many different tasks well under a variety of circum30

stances. In the union sector, skill training is centralized through the apprenticeship schools. These schools not only provide the highest level of skill training to apprentices, but also provide important upgrade training to journeymen. Such a centralized training system works best for the industry because, absent that system, no single contractor has an incentive to provide skill training to their employees. With the frequent movement of labor between contractors, any contractor who committed the necessary resources to training his or her employees would soon see the people they

paid to train working for someone else. In other words, the money they spent ended up benefitting their competition.

That’s why little training is done in the non-union sector. That lack of training results in much lower levels of productivity, which lead to higher real labor costs and lower-quality construction.

In the union sector, every contractor helps pay for the training of the labor pool on a basis proportional to their size.

As contractors employ craftsmen, they pay into the apprenticeship training fund on a per-man-hour basis. The larger the contracwww.buildingindiananews.com

tor, the more craftsmen the contractor employs and therefore the more they pay to the apprenticeship fund. Smaller contractors pay less. That fund supports the operation of the school and ensures that all contractors have ready access to skilled craftsmen when they need them. That’s a better business model than hoping someone else trained enough people in your market area so you can easily access skilled workers when you need them.

This, of course, is related to the labor supply/demand mechanism at work in the union sector. A contractor in the non-union sector who lands a new project may be in a position to suddenly need 20 carpenters, eight ironworkers, four operating engineers, 12 bricklayers, five electricians, 15 laborers and a host of other skilled craft workers. That contractor has to go out on the street and hope to find an adequate number of skilled workers in each craft.

and other benefits cannot be provided by an individual contractor if workers are frequently moving among contractors.

That’s the beauty of the multi-employer benefit systems in place in the union sector. Like the apprenticeship training system, each employer pays into pension, health and welfare, and other benefit funds for each employee on a per-manhour basis. Those payments also cover the cost of administering the programs, relieving the contractor of book-keeping costs. Because workers can, and do, receive good benefits in the union sector, the most qualified, most highly skilled and productive craftsmen in the industry

are drawn to the union sector. Here again, the project owner benefits from having the most productive craftsmen working on their projects.

This is not to say that being a union employer in the construction industry is without its problems. Perhaps we will get into that set of issues in a future article.

For now, we will leave it at this, because the advantages out-weigh the disadvantages. The union contractor chooses to be a union employer because it’s a good business decision. It results in a better quality worker, ready access to a pool of skilled craftsmen and greater productivity and craftsmanship.

The union contractor chooses to be a union employer because it’s a good business decision. It results in a better quality worker, ready access to a pool of skilled craftsmen and greater productivity and craftsmanship.

The union contractor has a better business model. He calls the union hall, which is contractually obligated to provide an adequate labor supply. If the local hall can not find enough skilled workers in the immediate area, the hall reaches out to other union halls around the county to find workers. In doing so, the hall is providing an important service to the employer. This is particularly important to an industry which experiences frequent movement of labor between employers as a normal course of business. A given worker may be employed by a half-dozen contractors in the course of a year, and a contractor may employ the same person several times during the same period. In that labor supply/demand system, going to the street for your workers simply doesn’t work well.

The union system also provides many important human resource-type systems that employers need to attract the best workers.

Like any other industry, in order to attract the best talent a contractor needs to offer not just competitive wages, but good benefits as well.

Again, with the mobility of labor among contractors that would be difficult for any individual contractor to do. Pensions, health insurance www.buildingindiananews.com

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RULE OF LAW

Employee Background Checks How to Avoid the Orange Jumpsuit

By Steven A. Johnson of Johnson, Rappa & Ivancevich, LLC

Employee background checks are valuable hiring tools to weed out troublemakers, but improper procedures can land the employer in trouble instead.

H

ow many of us get background checks on prospective employees? Maybe you don’t, perhaps because you don’t know where to go or who to call, or because it just doesn’t seem worth the effort. But that extra effort may protect you and your employees from theft or violence, or your company from embezzlement. And everyone might be protected from the effrontery of sexual harassment and the incredible investment of time and money spent in defending such charges. Maybe you think that prospective employee will just tell you about the intimidation charge that ended their prior employment, or will explain how they were just “borrowing” the company’s money and that it wasn’t all that serious anyway (after all, the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor). Sure they will.

So the simple answer is: let’s do background checks on everyone, right? Not so fast, Sparky. The Fair Credit Reporting Act contains protections which, if violated, may result in both civil and criminal penalties for the employer. www.buildingindiananews.com

When an employer hires a “consumer reporting agency” to issue a “consumer report,” the law kicks into gear.

Although a consumer reporting agency is generally what you would understand to be a third party agency in the business of issuing reports, the consumer report is far broader than a credit report. When used for credit or employment purposes, it is any communication that bears upon not only credit-worthiness, but also character, reputation, lifestyle or personal characteristics.

Driving records, employment information from prior employers, credit information, court records and educational data all are included. And, if the employer wishes to dig even more deeply into a potential employee’s background and instructs the consumer reporting agency to obtain interviews and information from sources other than public databases, then an additional layer of protection is imposed.

This latter report is referred to as an “investigative consumer report.”

So what’s an employer to do? The first step is to obtain a written release from the applicant. It must be a separate document (not buried in the fine print of the job application). The precise wording of the release is dependent upon the depth of the investigation, and paying your lawyer a few dollars to draft one for you, rather than doing it yourself or finding it on the internet, is a good idea (remember the civil and criminal penalties – do you look good in an orange jumpsuit?).

The second step is to hire the consumer reporting agency. In so doing the employer must make several certifications, all dealing with the appropriate use of the information.

It must, for instance, be used only for em-

ployment purposes, not used in violation of EEO requirements, and assure that notices will be provided to the applicant if adverse action is to be taken. A Federal Trade Commission document is available to guide the employer.

So what happens when the consumer report reveals that the meek little fellow you interviewed for that bookkeeping position was fired from his last three jobs for intimidation? The decision not to hire an applicant based upon the results of a consumer report carries certain obligations. First, even before the decision is final, the employer must provide both a copy of the consumer report and a copy of the Federal Trade Commission document “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” Having sent the report and the rights document, how long must the employer give the applicant to dispute the report? A week is sufficient.

And lastly, when the final decision is made, the employer must provide the applicant with a notice of adverse action. The content of the notice is governed by law and advises the applicant of his rights, among others, to obtain a free copy of his file and to dispute the report.

It seems appropriate, having begun with orange jumpsuits, to end with them as well.

The penalty for negligent failure to obey the law is actual damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Willful violations add punitive damages. And finally, obtaining consumer reports under false pretenses or knowingly disclosing the consumer information obtained in a report for unauthorized purposes carries a Federal criminal penalty.

Background checks used correctly can save an employer untold misery; used incorrectly, they can make an employer the laughingstock of the cellblock.

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www.buildingindiananews.com

HARD HAT AREA

Safety Squeeze As budgets tighten, safety programs and professionals are starting to feel the pinch as companies seek ways to lower their costs.

By David Wellman

T

he weak economy is finally making itself felt in workplace safety circles. “In the beginning of the downturn, we didn’t see that many layoffs in the safety community,” says Diane Hurns, Public Relations Manager for the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). “But in the past few months, we’re starting to see more than ever before.” On conference calls and in Society board meetings, she adds, talk now routinely turns to who has been let go, and whose department has been downsized.

Ron Hanson, Vice President of Operations for Safety Management Group, corroborates Hurns’ report, noting that the Indianapolis-based safety consulting, training and staffing firm used to only have to worry about other consulting companies. “Now we are also competing with folks who have been downsized,” he says.

On one hand, it’s a testament to American industry that safety appears to have been well back on the list of things to trim when times turned tough, but on the other hand, that doesn’t change the fact that companies are certain to pay a higher price later in return for devoting fewer resources to safety now.

One person who has seen this cycle before is Ken Allen, whose Valparaiso, IN, law firm, Kenneth J. Allen & Associates, concentrates exclusively on accident and injury law.

“Last year, injuries were down not just in Indiana but all across the country,” he notes.

According to the Indiana Department of Labor, the state’s injury and illness rate fell to an historic low of 5.2 per 100 workers in 2008. www.buildingindiananews.com

Allen credits that to the strong economy that existed up until last summer. “When times are good, safety is enhanced,” he says, but “like the tide,” when things go south, safety funding and focus dwindle.

“I expect to see a spike in injuries next year, followed by a spike in worker’s compensation rates,” he predicts.

Cuts in safety programs and person-

nel are an especially bad idea in times of economic stress, says ASSE President Warren Brown. “When times are tough, people are often thinking about other things and not paying as close attention to their job,” he explains. “So it’s important to keep the safety program going [after layoffs or downsizing] because the people still there are all potential candi-

35

dates for an incident.” Moreover, such incidents can have a disproportionate impact in a down economy. With fewer man-hours being worked, any kind of accident is going to have a larger-than-usual effect on a company’s accident statistics, and that can impede its ability to land new business.

However, smart or not, there is widespread agreement that the cuts are happening, and those charged with safety are now scrambling for ways to maintain safety programs on a budget. Not surprisingly, one of the first places they are turning to is vendors of safety products and services.

Companies are looking for any help they can get to fill in the gaps in safety programs, says Mark Micheles, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Safety Today, a safety products and services provider based in Grovesport, Ohio.

Traditionally, Micheles relates, one of the things that set Safety Today apart from its competitors was that the company not only sold safety equipment, but also provided free training in its use. “That was what separated us; we took that extra step,” he

says. But of late, demand for Safety Today’s training services has grown so much that the company may have to institute a fee-based program.

“We are looking at having to charge for what used to be a value-added service,” Micheles says.

“Companies with a strong commitment to safety are using the current slowdown as an opportunity to do more, not less, safety training.”

- Ron Hanson, Vice President of Operations Safety Management Group

Companies are also reevaluating their safety programs in a search for potential efficiencies. “We have seen an increase in companies who want assessments of their safety programs,” reports Hanson. Others are looking at outsourcing some or all of their safety program to a firm like Safety Management Group. “It doesn’t have to be a full-time thing,” he says. “They could go down to using a part-time consultant.”

Another strategy that’s being employed is ramping up less expensive parts of a safety program if more costly ones are trimmed. As the amount of hands-on training has fallen, “we have seen an uptick in signage programs, visual aids and bilingual signage,” Micheles says. “A lot of plants are putting up pictures of PPEs [personal protective equipment] for a given job site to continue to reinforce training.”

That said, Micheles argues training should be the last thing reduced. “I think that’s where you get the most bang for your buck,” he says. Indeed, Hanson says that companies with a strong commitment to safety are using the current slowdown as an opportunity to do more, not less, safety training.

The bottom line, says Allen, is that the cost of safety is nominal compared to the cost of not doing it. “The whole purpose of tort law is to prevent widows and orphans and disabilities,” he says. “Once you cut safety, those consequences will come about. It’s just a matter of time.”

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THE BOTTOM LINE

Chief Executive Opinions A survey finds that chief executives in Indiana are generally upbeat, but the weak economy has them adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to growth.

By David Wellman

T

op-line growth is taking a back seat to maintenance of existing customers as the recession wears on, according to a survey of chief executive officers at 350 Indiana companies.

“The State of Our Business: A Perspective from Indiana Executives” also found that the state’s CEOs believe that Indiana is doing a better job weathering the economic storm relative to surrounding states, but have become more concerned about a lack of both public and private funding sources over the past year, and say the state has been only “somewhat effective” in attracting new businesses, encouraging business growth and retaining businesses in Indiana.

“Everyone is hunkering down,” says Dona Stohler, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Ice Miller, which conducted the third annual survey in concert with Butler University’s College of Business and Inside INdiana Business. At a CEO panel discussion convened after the survey was taken, she adds, executives confirmed that protecting their own turf had become top priority. “Right now, growth is just not a concern,” she says. www.buildingindiananews.com

That attitude also reflects a lack of ready cash to fuel growth, she adds, citing as just one example, the steep drop in funding available from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “That capital is not as available definitely impacts peoples’ ability to grow,” Stohler says.

“Those that mention difficulties in equity markets are not incorrect,” confirms Vince Galbiati, President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum, pointing to both a shortage of investors regionally as well as a dearth of ventures that would produce attractive returns. But for both companies and regional development organizations, he believes there’s a silver lining: more time to plan.

“This is the benefit, so to speak, that a recession offers,” he says. “Now you can devote more time to planning and asking questions like, ‘how do I position my community to be more tech-friendly?’

If you aren’t doing that, you will have missed an opportunity when this recession is over.”

Regionally, Indiana CEOs thought the state was in good shape relative to its neighbors. Though Indiana has been hurt by the implosion of Chrysler and General

Percentage of CEOs...

55%

are concerned about raising capital or securing funding.

85%

believe the media’s negative coverage has worsened the recession.

7%

said Indiana’s educational system was a “strong disadvantage” in 2009.

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What CEOs Say: • Most important business issue: Customer loyalty and retention • Least important business issue: Growing internationally • Most pressing workforce concern: Hiring talented managers • Least pressing workforce concern: Immigration • Indiana’s biggest advantage over neighboring states: Cost of living • Indiana’s biggest disadvantage versus neighboring states: Education • IT function most likely to be outsourced in the next 18 months: Production/ maintenance of company web site • IT function least likely to be outsourced in the next 18 months: Customer service call center

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Motors, so have Illinois and Ohio, Stohler says, and Michigan has just gotten hammered. And, she adds, while having fewer public companies than other states isn’t usually something to brag about, it’s meant that Indiana has felt less direct impact from the collapse in stock prices.

The state’s fiscal policy has also been prudent. At a time when many states are facing huge budget gaps, “Indiana still has $1 billion in reserve,” notes Tom Galovic, President and Executive Director of the Regional Development Company (RDC).

“The Governor has done a nice job of leadership on the budget.”

All of that said, CEOs on the followup panel told Ice Miller that Indiana’s relative good fortune shouldn’t lead to parochialism. “They said that we need to look at the whole Midwest and how we can build that,” Stohler says. “We need to be more cohesive about promoting the region.”

Stohler chalks complaints that Indiana doesn’t do enough to retain and grow businesses in the state up to perception. “CEOs felt the state did a better job of attracting than retaining companies, and some of that is just the news factor,” she says. “We re-

port when a company arrives, but we don’t report when a company stays.”

One area in which CEOs continue to believe that Indiana is at a disadvantage compared to the states next door is education, though they were far less negative about the state’s educational system this year versus 2008. Indiana boasts worldclass universities like Notre Dame and Purdue, but lags the nation at the K-12 level, a situation Galbiati terms “not acceptable.”

The challenge, he says, is that there’s no consensus on the roles business and the community should play in improving K-12 education in Indiana. “We need to think collectively on education,” he says, instead of responding as happens now, in a piecemeal, uncoordinated fashion.

The survey found a great deal of unhappiness with the media. Among the CEOs surveyed, there was broad agreement that the continuous, negative coverage of the economy had made the crisis worse. Galovic agrees, saying that “the best thing to happen to the economy was the swine flu, because it knocked it off the front page.”

www.buildingindiananews.com

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES William H. Barnard, AIA, LEED-AP Vice President of Architecture The Troyer Group, Inc. Business: Architecture and planning services Professional: Registered Architect; American Institute of Architects - National LEED Accredited Professional; Indiana DNR: Qualified Professional of Archaeology and Historic Preservation; United States Green Building Council Civic: Housing Development Corporation; Habitat for Humanity; Salvation Army Kroc Center; Near Northeast Neighborhood Association

Fred Berglund President Berglund Construction Business: Preconstruction, construction, maintenance, repair and restoration services Professional: Construction Advancement Foundation; Past President, Chicago Building Congress; Associated General Contractors of America Civic: Porter County Community Foundation; La Rabida Children’s Hospital Board; RushPresbyterian-St. Luke Medical Center; Rush Day School; Past Chairman, Epilepsy Foundation, Golf Around Chicago; Juvenile Diabetes Association

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Michael Falk

Kevin Kelly

President Falk PLI Engineering & Surveying

President Walsh & Kelly, Inc.

Age: 48 Business: Engineering and surveying Revenues (millions): $5 Professional: American Association for Geodetic Surveying; American Society of Surveyors and Mappers; Associated General Contractors of America; Association for Iron and Steel Technology, Maintenance and Reliability Committee; American Railway Engineering and Maintenanceof-Way Association; American Society of Civil Engineers; Builders Association of Greater Chicago; Building Trades Association; Cartography and Geographic Information Society; Geographic and Land Information Society; Industrial Contractors and Builders Association of Indiana; Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association; Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors; National Society of Professional Engineers; National Society of Professional Surveyors; NWI Contractors Association; Northwest Indiana Building Round Table Civic: Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Jon Gilmore President and CEO Tonn and Blank Construction

Age: 40 Business: General contracting, design/build, construction management Revenues (millions): $225 Professional: Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Indiana

Age: 54 Business: Paving Professional: National Asphalt Pavement Association; Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana; Indiana Construction Association Civic: Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County

Timothy F. Larson President Larson Danielson Construction Co. Inc. Age: 54 Business: Contracting, design/ build and construction management services Revenues (millions): $81 Professional: Registered Professional Engineer, Indiana and California; Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation; Indiana Toll Road Advisory Board Civic: La Porte YMCA; Ruth Sabin Home; Purdue North Central Advisory Board

John Marsch CEO The American Group of Constructors

Age: 56 Business: Construction and maintenance solutions Revenues (millions): $60 Professional: Construction Advancement Foundation; Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute; International Concrete Repair Institute; American Concrete Institute

Tom Muchesko Senior Vice President Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc. Age: 57 Business: Heavy industrial construction services Revenues (millions): $649 Professional: American Welding Society; Association of Iron & Steel Engineers; Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana; NWI Contractors Association; The Association of Union Constructors

Ross N. Pangere President and Owner The Ross Group, Inc. Age: 58 Business: Development, planning, programming, design, construction and facilities construction maintenance Professional: NWI Contractors Association Civic: Indiana Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services; St. Iakovos Church, Valparaiso

Pete Peuquet Chairman and CEO Chester, Inc. Age: 64 Business: Industrial and commercial construction, development, engineering and architectural services Revenues (millions): $36 Professional: Regional Development Corporation Civic: Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce www.buildingindiananews.com

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Matt Reardon Principal, Economic and Community Development Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. Age: 42 Business: Architecture and engineering, project consulting Revenues (millions): $90 Professional: Laportecounty. biz; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Civic: Northwest Indiana Forum; Knights of Columbus; Friendly Sons of Erin

Maria Slager President and CEO Office Interiors, Inc.

www.buildingindiananews.com

Business: Office design and furnishings Civic: St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce; Memorial Hospital ; Summit Club; Rotary Club

Thomas Swizek Contract Operations Manager Midland Engineering Business: Roofing and related services Age: 28 Revenue (millions): $20 Civic: Par Club Member; Evans Scholarship

Spero W. Valavanis

Civic: Habitat for Humanity; Northwest Indiana Forum

Dave Winter Principal Design Organization, Inc. Business: Facility planning and design Professional: Board of Directors, Horizon Bank Civic: Rotary Club ; Porter County Community Foundation

Dave VanDyke President Precision Construction

General Manager Orbital Engineering, Inc.

Age: 51 Business: Engineering and design Revenues (millions): $35 Professional: Association for Iron and Steel Technology; Registered Professional Engineer in State of Indiana

Business: Residential and commercial development Professional: National Association of Home Builders

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

BANKING

Kevin Beres Mike Baird Regional President, Northwest Indiana

Harris N.A. Business: Banking Bank asset size (millions): $51,600.0 Professional: Chairman of the Board, Northwest Indiana Forum; Center for Workforce Innovations; Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation; Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center Civic: Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana; Porter County Vocational Career Center

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Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending.

LaPorte Savings Bank Age: 48 Business: Banking Bank asset size (millions): $380 Civic: Open Door Health Center; Regional Development Company

Joel Gorelick President and Chief Administrative Officer Peoples Bank Age: 61

Business: Banking Bank asset size (millions): $678 Professional: Northwest Indiana Regional Development Company; Lake County Economic Development Corporation; Indiana Bankers Association Civic: Boys and Girls Club Northwest Indiana; Selective Service Board; Pirates Inc.

Andrew Kyres Vice President, Retail Banking Center Manager First Financial Bank City Councilperson Crown Point, IN Age: 49

Business: Banking, government Bank asset size (millions): $3,500.0 Professional: Crown Point Planning and Economic Development Commission; Ivy Tech State College Board of Trustees; Small Business Development Center Advisory Board; Lake County Advancement Committee; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns; Building Industry Association Civic: Rotary Club; Northwest Indiana Contractors Association; Crown Point Chamber of Commerce; Merrillville Chamber of Commerce; Winfield Chamber of Commerce; Order of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association; South Shore Visitors Authority

www.buildingindiananews.com

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

David Rose President, Northwest Indiana Horizon Bank

Age: 50 Business: Banking Bank asset size (millions): $1,400.0 Civic: Porter County Community Foundation; United Way; Boy Scouts of America; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation; Porter Hospital; Michigan City Redevelopment Commission; Porter Stark Services; Dollars for Scholars; American Cancer Society

Michael Schrage

Education; Centier Bank Schrage Family Scholarship Foundation

President and CEO Centier Bank

BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING SERVICES

Age: 61 Business: Banking Bank asset size (millions): $1,900.0 Professional: FDIC Alliance for Economic Inclusion Civic: Northwest Indiana Symphony; St. Jude House; American Red Cross; YMCA; Calumet Council Boy Scouts; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; American Heart Association; Habitat for Humanity; Samaritan Counseling Center; United Way; Money Bus; Indiana Workforce Development Work Ethic Program; Newspapers in

Tim Anderson Partner Clifton Gunderson LLP Age: 42 Business: Accounting Professional: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Indiana CPA Society; Institute of Management Accountants

Civic: Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; Hammond Rotary Club

Ron Bush Director of Business Development DRD Business: Information management Age: 58 Professional: Public Records & Information Services Management; Authority on Managing Records & Information International; Healthcare Financial Management Association; Society of Human Resources Management; American Health Information Management

Nothing beats this pair The Northwest Indiana business community continues to be a dynamic environment for some of the country’s best and brightest. And even in such extraordinary company, there are those who stand out for their tireless commitment. Congratulations to Rick and Aria Mazer on being named this year’s Lake Area United Way Campaign Co-Chairs. It’s a tremendous honor and we couldn’t be more proud of you.

On Lake Michigan. Just take I-80/94 to Calumet North www.chicagohorseshoe.com Must be 21 years or older to gamble. Know When to Stop Before You Start®.

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. ©2009, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Association; Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: Rotary Club; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Portage Chamber of Commerce; Duneland Chamber of Commerce; Lafayette Chamber of Commerce; West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce; State of Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Deborah Davis President Davis Staffing Age: 50 Business: Employment and staffing services Revenue (millions): $14 Professional: American Staffing Association; Society of Human

Resource Management Civic: Illinois State Chamber of Commerce; Hammond Chamber of Commerce; Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; Olympia Fields (IL) Chamber of Commerce; Hometown (IL) Chamber of Commerce; Career Preparation Network; BNILakeshore Chapter; Bedford Park Clearing Industrial Association

Robert Johnson President/CEO Cimcor, Inc. Age: 39 Business: Computer and network security Professional: Technology Executives Club; Association of

Iron and Steel Technology Civic: Advisory Board, Northwest Indiana Purdue Technology Center; Purdue Calumet Alumni Board; Commissioner, State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana; Purdue Calumet Dean’s Executive Council; Indiana Society of Washington

Jean M. Phelps Co-Owner Express Employment Professionals Business: Staffing Professional: Workforce Investment Board Civic: 2010 Co-Chair, United Way of Porter County campaign; Chesterton/Portage Rotary

Club; Executives’ Council; Duneland Exchange Club; Duneland, Merrillville, Portage, Gary and Valparaiso Chambers of Commerce; Ivy Tech Capital Campaign; Commonwealth Business College Advisory Board; Davenport University Advisory Board; Lake County Community Development Committee; Porter County Community Foundation; American Heart Association

Gilbert Velez President G & M Training & Services Age: 50 Business: Safety training services

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Professional: American Society for Training and Development Civic: Governor’s Commission on Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises; President, Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; The Interfaith Federation; Indiana Minority Enterprise Center Committee; The United Neighborhood Organization; Purdue University Calumet’s DEEL Center Advisory Committee; Hope Center of Northwest Indiana

Tamara K. Young-King

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Business: Communications Revenues (millions): $124,000.0 Professional: American Society of Public Administrators; Community Action Network; National Association of Black Public Administrators; National Association of Black MBAs; American Sociological Association Civic: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; National Council of Negro Women; National Organization of Women; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Urban League; 100 Black Women;

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President Woodlands Communication Group and Managing Director Society of Innovators Age: 65 Business: Communications, business development Professional: Leadership Northwest Indiana; Public Relations Association of America

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Timothy J. Gropp Executive Director Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation Age: 30 Business: Economic development Professional: Indiana Economic Development Association; International Economic Development Council; Regional Development Company; Northwest Indiana Forum; La Porte County Revolving Loan Fund; La Porte Community Development Partnership; President, La Porte Urban Enterprise Association Civic: President, Rotary Club of La Porte; La Porte Chamber of Commerce; Purdue North Central Alumni Association

Bill Hanna Executive Director Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority Business: Economic development Professional: Porter County United Way Emerging Leaders Civic: The Society of the Honor Guard,Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington D.C.

Denarie Kane Director of Development City of Hobart Business: Economic development Professional: Redevelopment Association of Indiana

Joshua Lybolt Regional Director Indiana Small Business Development Center www.buildingindiananews.com

Business: Small business development Professional: Partners in Contracting Corporation; Lake County Advancement Committee; Regional Development Company; Hammond Innovation Center; Purdue University Calumet’s Center for Entrepreneurship Success; Purdue University Lake County Cooperative Extension Service; Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly; Building Industries Association of Northwest Indiana; Indiana Builders Association; National Association of Home Builders; Indiana Bankers Association Civic: Indiana Young Republican Federation; Indiana Leadership Forum; Northwest Indiana Forum; Leadership Northwest Indiana; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; National Rifle Association

Erica Passauer Senior Vice President of Lending Regional Development Company Business: Small business development Revenues (millions): $0.7 Professional: National Association of Certified Development Companies; Portage Economic Development Corporation Civic: Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehabilitation; Pines Village Retirement Communities

John G. Regetz Executive Director Michigan City Economic Development Corporation Age: 49 Business: Economic development Professional: Indiana Economic Development Association; International Economic Development Council 47

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Civic: Rotary Club; Michiana Resources

Rex Richards President Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation Business: Economic and business development Professional: Indiana Commerce Executives Association; American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association; Lubeznik Foundation; Indiana Chamber of Commerce; Indiana Association of Economic Developers; Past Chairman of the Board, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota,

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FL.; Northwest Indiana Forum; Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Economic Development Committee Civic: Rotary Club of Valparaiso

Jim Staton Regional Director Indiana Economic Development Corporation Age: 48 Business: Economic development Professional: Northwest Indiana Forum; Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission Civic: Junior Achievement; Rotary Club; Jasper County Library Board, multiple

Chambers of Commerce

John Swanson Executive Director Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Age: 63 Business: Regional government planning council Revenues (millions): varies from year to year due to grant income Professional: International City/County Management Association; American Planning Association; Indiana Municipal Managers Association; Indiana Planning Association; Lambda Alpha International; National Association of Regional

Councils; Indiana Association of Regional Councils; Indiana Metropolitan Planning Organizations Council; Indiana Transportation Authority

Bill Thon Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development Ivy Tech Community College/ Northwest Business: Workforce and economic development Professional: BusINess magazine board Civic: Gary Chamber of Commerce; Gary Neighborhood Services, Inc.

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Pete Visclosky U.S. Representative, 1st Congressional District United States Congress Age: 59 Business: U.S. government Professional: Appropriations Committee; Chairman of the Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee; Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee; Chairman, Congressional Steel Caucus.

Charles W. Weaver, JD Executive Director Starke County Development Foundation, Inc Age: 62 Business: Economic development Professional: Indiana Economic Development Association; International Economic Development Association; Mid-America Economic Development Association; Regional Development Company; Northwest Indiana Forum; Starke County Initiative For Lifelong Learning; Indiana Bar Foundation; Starke County Bar Association; Starke-Pulaski Board of Realtors Civic: Board of Trustees, Ancilla College; Starke County Chamber of Commerce; Knox Gateway, Inc.; Knox Civic Development Corporation; Maxinkuckee Players/Maxinkuckee Singers; Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum; Starke County Historical Society; Indiana Society of Chicago

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Jennifer J. Whaley Executive Director Newton County Economic Development Commission Age: 36 Business: Economic development Professional: Mid-America Economic Development Association; Indiana Economic Development Association; Regional Development Company; Iroquois Memorial Development Council; Newton County Park Board; Newton and Jasper County Life Long Learning Network Civic: Brook Chamber of Commerce; Kentland Chamber of Commerce; North Newton Chamber of Commerce

CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVICES Scott Albanese CEO Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc.

Age: 56 Business: Confectioner Revenues (millions): $25-50 Professional: National Confectioners Association

Shar L. Miller Owner Prompt Ambulance Service and Southlake Limousine Company Age: 52 Business: Transportation Civic: Meals on Wheels; Hospice of the Calumet Area; South

Shore Arts; Crisis Center; March of Dimes; Speaking of Women’s Health; multiple Chambers of Commerce

Don Nagdeman

James & Sons Age: 61 Business: Jewelry Professional: Gemological Institute of America Civic: Schererville Chamber of Commerce; Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus; President, Duneland Model Railroad Club; Crisis Center, Ecumenical Music Ministry; 2008 Hearts on Fire Champion

Gus Olympidis President and CEO Family Express Corporation

Age: 57 Business: Convenience stores and fueling centers Revenue (millions): $300 Professional: Director, Centier Bank; Director, Golden RuleBermuda, Ltd. Civic: Director, Valparaiso Community Development Corporation; Director, Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Foundation

Kim Sauers President Sauers BuickPontiacCadillac-GMC

Mark Tarner President South Bend Chocolate Company

Age: 48 Business: Confectionery Civic: South Bend Alumni Association; National Public Radio; American Heart Association; Center for the Homeless

Tom Van Prooyen Vice President and General Manager Schepel Auto Group Age: 53 Business: Automotive Revenue (millions): $85 Professional: Cadillac Marketing Advisory Board Member; Past President, Northwest Indiana Auto Trade Association Civic: Council President of the First Church in Highland; Elim Christian Services program; The Bible League Board of Trustees

Don Weiss President Wiseway and Pay Low Supermarkets, and Wiseway Discount Liquors Age: 50 Business: Grocery and liquor stores Professional: Executive Committee, Central Grocers Civic: Chicago Public Radio; Past President, Boys & Girls Club

Age: 55 Business: Automotive Professional: Indiana Auto Dealers; National Automotive Dealers Association Civic: American Red Cross; Fair Board; Kiwanis Club 49

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EDUCATION Bruce W. Bergland Chancellor Indiana University Northwest

Age: 64 Business: Education Professional: American Association of State Colleges and Universities; American Council on Education; Beta Gamma Sigma; Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities; Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: South Shore Arts; Urban League of Northwest Indiana; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Northwest Indiana Empowerment Zone; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; University Club

Howard Cohen Chancellor Purdue University Calumet Business: Education Professional: Northwest Indiana Forum; Chairman, Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana; American Association of State College and University Presidents Civic: Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority; Home Lumber Company; Fifth Third Bank; Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; Lake County Boys & Girls Club; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; Hammond Rotary Club

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James B. Dworkin, Ph.D. Chancellor Purdue University North Central

Age: 60 Business: Education Professional: American Arbitration Association; Labor and Employment Relations Association; Society of Federal Labor Relations Professionals; National Academy of Arbitrators Civic: Valparaiso Rotary Club; United Way of Porter County; Barker Civic Center Commission; Lubeznik Center for the Arts; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; Sinai Sunday Evening Forum Programming Committee; Editorial Board, The Times Media Company; Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System; Indiana Campus Compact; LaPorte County Logistics Task Force; National Campus Compact; LaPorte Regional Health System

Mark Heckler President Valparaiso University Business: Education Professional: Commissioner, Commission of Effective Leadership, American Council on Education; Past President, Association for Theatre in Higher Education; New American Colleges and Universities; Horizon League; Independent Colleges of Indiana; Council of Independent Colleges; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Indiana Campus Compact; International Council of Fine Arts Deans; Lutheran Educational Conference of North America Civic: Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

F. Dennis Riegelnegg, Ed.D. President Saint Joseph’s Business: Education Professional: Great Lakes Conference of the National Association of College Activities; Pennsylvania Association Student Personnel Professionals; Pennsylvania Personnel Association.

Civic: President, California Area Recreation Corporation; California Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club; Youth soccer and basketball coach; Theta Xi Education Foundation; Theta Xi Alumni; Confirmation Instruction Team Member, Holy Name Church; Regional Aviation Recreation and Conservation Association; Loretto Community Development Committee.

Dennis Rittenmeyer, Ph.D. President Calumet College of St Joseph Age: 65 Business: Education Professional: Independent Colleges of Indiana; National Council of Independent Colleges Civic: Past President, Regional Bus Authority; Lake County Advancement Committee; incoming Chairman, Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council.

J. Guadalupe Valtierra Chancellor Ivy Tech Northwest

Age: 52 Business: Education Professional: Indiana Bar Association; Past President, www.buildingindiananews.com

Council for Opportunity in Education; Gary Educational Development Foundation; Higher Learning Commission Civic: Catholic Charities; Hispanic Organization Promoting Excellence; Indiana Latino Institute; Indiana Minority Health Coalition; Indiana University School of Education Alumni Association; KIPP Lead Charter School Board of Directors; Lake County Good Government Initiative; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council

HEALTH CARE James Callaghan, MD, MBA President St. Anthony Memorial Age: 44 Business: Health care Professional: Northern Indiana Executive Foundation Civic: U.S. Senator Richard Luger (R-IN) U.S. Air Force Academy Merit Selection Board; United Way of LaPorte; University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of LaPorte; Rotary Club

Eugene C. Diamond CEO Sisters of St. Francis – Northern Indiana Region Age: 56 Business: Health care Revenues (millions): $2,200.0 Professional: American College of Healthcare Executives; Chicago Bar Association; Citizens Financial Bank; Hospice of the Calumet Region; CFS Bancorp; Franciscan Physicians Hospital Board of Managers;

Center for Diagnostic Imaging; Woodland Healthcare Surgicenter; IUN Medical School Advisory Council; Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: The Times Media Company Healthcare Council; The Times Media Company Board of Economists

Donald P. Fesko CEO Community Hospital Age: 37 Business: Health care Revenue (millions): $350 Professional: American College of Healthcare Executives; Indiana Hospital Association; Hospice of the Calumet Area; Indiana University School of Medicine Advisory Committee; Peoples Bank Board; Community Cancer Research Foundation; Munster Medical Research Foundation

Ian E. McFadden, FACHE President and CEO Methodist Hospitals Age: 49 Business: Health care Revenues (millions): $650 Professional: National Association of Health Services Executives; American College of Healthcare Executives Board of Directors; Frontiers of Health Services Management Editorial Board; Ohio University; University of Memphis; Greater Louisville Health Enterprise Network; New Jersey Hospital Association; California Hospital Association Civic: ACHE Greater Louisville, Inc.; Leadership Louisville; University of Alabama at Birmingham Alumni

Association; Lincoln Heritage Council; Boy Scouts of America

Jonathan Nalli CEO Porter Health Systems Age: 34 Business: Health care Civic: Porter County Community Foundation; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Board; Valparaiso Rotary Club

Philip A. Newbold President and CEO Memorial Hospital/Health System Age: 61 Business: Health care Revenues (millions): $884 Professional: Northern Indiana Medical Education Foundation; American College of Healthcare Executives; Health Insights Foundation Civic: Chair, Project Future; Gigot Center at Notre Dame Advisory Board; Center for Homeless Board; Indiana University South Bend Advisory Board; Innovation Park @ Notre Dame Board; Community Coalition for School Board; Indiana Academy; Leadership Institute – Horizon Group; Local and State Chamber of Commerce Boards

David Ruskowski President St. Anthony Medical Center

Age: 59 Business: Health care Revenues (millions): $420.4 Professional: American College of Healthcare

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Executives; American College of Cardiovascular Administrators; Society of Healthcare Marketing and Planning; American Marketing Association; Saint Anthony Health Network, LLC; Health Partners Medical Group, LLC; Indiana Sleep Disorders Center, LLC; LaPorte County MRI, LLC Civic: LaPorte County United Way; Southlake YMCA; Northwest Indiana Healthcare Council; Healthcare Advisory Board, The Times Media Company; Healthcare Editorial Board, The Times Media Company; Rotary Club of Downtown Indianapolis; Rotary Club of Michigan City

Rocco Schiralli President/CEO Porter-Starke Services, Inc. Business: Health care Budget (millions): $14 Professional: Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor; Certified Clinical Supervisor through the Indiana Counselor’s Association on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Master Addictions Counselor through the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors; Licensed Mental Health Counselor Civic: Community Corrections Advisory Board; The Caring Place; Past President, Community Action Drug Coalition; Valparaiso Rotary Club; United Way of Porter County

G. Thor Thordarson President and CEO La Porte Regional Health System Business: Health care Professional: American College www.buildingindiananews.com

of Healthcare Executives; Medical Group Management Association Civic: Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation; La Porte Chamber of Commerce; United Way Campaign Cabinet

INSURANCE Michael R. Anton Agency Principal Anton Insurance Agency Business: Insurance Professional: Porter County Association of Independent Insurance Agents Civic: Duneland YMCA; Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club; Past President, Duneland Jaycees and Duneland Chamber of Commerce

Michelle Brown Owner Michelle Brown State Farm Insurance Age: 49 Business: Insurance and bank products Civic: Crown Point Chamber of Commerce; 4-H; Active in 4th of July Celebration, Pet Parade, Santa’s Breakfast, Easter Bunny Breakfast; Kiwanis Club

Greg Downes President and CEO Gibson Insurance Group

Age: 61 Business: Risk management

Revenue (millions): $12 Professional: Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters; Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana Inc.; Redevelopment Commissioner of City of South Bend Civic: Chairman, St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce; Project Future Inc.; Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County

Rick Lohmeyer Vice President Regnier Insurance Services

Age: 44 Business: Insurance programs and risk management services for the construction, wholesale and institutional industries Civic: Chesterton Chamber of Commerce; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Highland Chamber of Commerce; Coach, State Park Little League; TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center; VNA Foundation

Randy Vale Partner Braman Insurance Services

Age: 44 Business: Insurance Revenues (millions): $4.2 Professional: Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Civic: Construction Advancement Foundation; Northwest Indiana Forum; Merrillville Chamber of Commerce

LEGAL SERVICES Kenneth J. Allen Principal Kenneth J. Allen & Associates

Age: 53 Business: Personal injury and wrongful death litigation Professional: American Association for Justice; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; Indiana State Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Chicago Bar Association; Lake County Bar Association; Porter County Bar Association; American Bar Association; Indiana Bar Foundation Civic: Tocqueville Society (United Way); numerous charitable organizations

Calvin E. Bellamy Partner Kreig DeVault Business: Commercial and civil law Professional: Board of Directors, Ancilla Systems Inc.; First District Pro Bono Committee; Indiana Board For Depositories; Board of Directors, Sisters of St. Francis Health Care System; Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; American Heart Association of Northwest Indiana; Calumet College of St. Joseph; Calumet Council Boy Scouts of America; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Gary; Catholic Foundation for Diocese of Gary; Chicago-South Shore Connections; Hammond Education Foundation; Indiana University Northwest; Lake County Community 53

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Development Committee; Lakeshore Public Television; Legacy Foundation of Lake County; Prairie State College Foundation; Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana; Purdue University Calumet; Quality of Life Council of Northwest Indiana; St. Thomas More Church; Sisters; South Shore Arts Endowment

George Carberry

Managing Partner Burke Costanza & Cuppy LLP

Age: 56 Business: Full-service law firm Professional: Lake County

Indiana Bar Association; American Bar Association; American Health Lawyers Association Civic: United Way Porter County; Past President, Valparaiso Rotary Club; YMCA Foundation of Valparaiso

Steven A. Johnson

Attorney Johnson, Rappa & Ivancevich, LLC

Age: 60 Business: Complex litigation and employment relations law Professional: American Bar Association; Lake County Bar Association; Indiana State Bar

Association; Seventh Circuit Bar Association; Florida Bar Association; Calumet American Inns of Court; Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana

James L. Jorgensen Partner Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP Business: Corporate law Professional: American Bar Association; Indiana Bar Association; Florida Bar Association; Lake County Bar Association; Porter County Bar Association; Society of Human Resource Management

Civic: Northwest Indiana Forum; Chairman, Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation; Center for Workforce Innovation; Society of Human Resource Management; Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events; Porter County Economic Development Alliance; Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission; Valparaiso School Board

Mark Maassel Of Counsel Kreig DeVault Age: 54 Business: Commercial and civil law Professional: Indiana State Bar Association; American Bar

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Association Civic: Ivy Tech Foundation; Indiana Humanities Council; State Workforce Innovation Council; United Way of Porter County; Crisis Center; Porter County Community Foundation

Gene A. Pinkus Managing Partner Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads, LLC Business: Insurance fraud litigation Professional: American Bar Association; Indiana Bar Association; Ohio Bar Association; Illinois Bar Association; DRI; National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators Civic: Coaching Munster, IN, Youth (Baseball, Basketball and Soccer); Munster Booster; Marion Catholic Booster

MANUFACTURING James Flannery Manager, Environmental ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor (ret. July 2009) Director of Business Development Heartland Pump and Process Business: Custom-designed chemical delivery and control systems Professional: Indiana Water Pollution Control Board; Purdue Water Institute Advisory Board Civic: Past Chairman, Northwest Indiana Forum; Indiana Dunes Learning Center

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Thomas Keilman Director of Government & Public Affairs BP America

Age: 50 Business: Refining Revenues (millions): BP Group $361,000.0 Professional: Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: Past Chairman, Lake Area United Way; Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; Calumet College of St Joseph; St Catherine’s Hospital

Joe Medellin Manager, Personnel ArcelorMittal – Indiana Harbor

Age: 58 Business: Steel manufacturing Professional: Indiana Manufacturers Association Civic: United Way

Jill E. Ritchie Manager Public Policy and Governmental Affairs United States Steel Corporation Age: 42 Business: Steel production Revenues (net income, millions): $2,000.0 Professional: Northwest Indiana Forum; Pennsylvania Bar Association; Allegheny County Bar Association; Gary Chamber of Commerce Civic: Lake Area United Way; Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana; President, Adult Education Alliance

55

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA Dan Sajkowski

Sharee Morse

Business Unit Leader, Whiting Business Unit BP America Business: Refining Revenues (millions): BP Group $361,000.0 Age: 50 Professional: University of Michigan Chemical Engineering Advisory Board; Purdue University Calumet Engineering Department Advisory Board

Owner and President Morse & Company Advertising Communications, Inc. Business: Advertising and marketing Civic: Dunebrook – LaPorte County Child Abuse Prevention; LaPorte County Chapter of the American Red Cross; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Michigan City Chamber of Commerce

MARKETING & MEDIA Tom Carroll President & CEO Lakeshore Public Television Age: 52 Business: Media (television) Revenues (millions): $3.5 Professional: Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, Inc. Civic: American Red Cross, Lake County Chapter; Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project

Leigh Ellis President Radio One Communications Age: 55 Business: Media (radio) Professional: National Association of Broadcasters, Past President, Indiana Broadcasters Association; Radio Advertising Bureau Civic: American Cancer Society; United Way; Past President, Valparaiso Kiwanis Club; Porter County Fair Board; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce 56

Iron and Steel Technology; Society for Human Resource Management; Indiana Worker’s Compensation Institute Civic: Crisis Center ; Northwest Indiana Forum

Lisa Tatina Publisher The PostTribune

William Nangle

Age: 42 Business: Media (newspapers) Civic: Past President, The Food Bank; Merrillville Chamber of Commerce; TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center; South Shore Arts; United Way

Executive Editor The Times Media Company

NONPROFITS

Age: 64 Business: Media (newspapers) Professional: American Society of Editors; Associated Press Managing Editors; Hoosier State Press Association; Midwest Press Association Civic: Northwest Indiana Forum; Crisis Center; Indiana Debate Commission; One Region: One Vision Council; Northwest Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross; The Legacy Foundation; Indiana Coalition for Open Government; Northwest Indiana Healthcare Council

Andrea M. Pearman Creative Commander Diversified Marketing Strategies Age: 40 Business: Publishing and marketing services Professional: Society for Marketing Professional Services; Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable; Association for

Kay Evans Ball President and CEO United Way of St. Joseph County Age: 56 Business: Community health, education and development Revenues (millions): $4 Professional: Association of Fundraising Professionals Civic: Rotary Club

Shirley Caylor Co-founder and Executive Director Crisis Center Business: Youth services Civic: Lake Area, and Porter County United Way Agency Executives; The Times Media Company Editorial Advisory Board; President, Gary Rotary Club; One Region: One Vision Council; Chairperson, Consortium of Residential

Providers; Indiana Youth Services Association; National Network of Youth Services; Society of Innovators

Betty Clayton Executive Director Humane Society Northwest Indiana Business: Animal care and rescue Professional: Nationally Certified Cruelty Investigator

Lisa A. Jaworski, MPA Chief Executive Officer Food Bank of Northern Indiana Business: Meal services Professional: Association of Fundraising Professionals; Secretary, State Board of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Civic: Lions Club; IUSB General Studies Alumni Board

Gordon T. Johnson Chief Executive Officer American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana Business: Emergency response, blood collection and distribution, community and education services Revenues (millions): $0.8 Professional: President, Lake Area Executive’s Council; Lakeshore Area Resources and Recovery of Indiana Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee; Joint Board for the City of Gary and Lake County FEMA Funded Emergency Food, Shelter, and Governmental Utility Assistance Program; Coalition of Agencies Providing Emergency Services; Lake Area United Way; Indiana www.buildingindiananews.com

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

American Red Cross Executive’s Council; Illinois American Red Cross Executive’s Council; American Red Cross of the Greater Chicago Area Regional Advisory Council Civic: Rotary Club, Merrillville Chapter

Sharon A. Kish President United Way of Porter County Age: 62 Business: Community health, education and development Revenue (millions): $2 Professional: Porter County Community Foundation; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; Indiana Association of United Ways; Lakeshore

Area Regional Recovery of Indiana; American Counseling Association; Association for Specialists in Group Work; American Association of University Women; Indiana University Alumni Association; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; International Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialists Civic: President, Rotary Club of Valparaiso; Porter County Career Center; Healthy Women Advisory Committee – Porter Health Systems

Age: 77 Business: Regional development Professional: Iroquois Investment Club; City of Rensselaer Park Board; Northwest Indiana Workforce Development Board Civic: The Carnegie Players of Rensselaer Indiana; Rensselaer Area Senior Service Center; Retired Iron Club; Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce

Gary M. Mitchell

Lou Martinez President/CPO Lake Area United Way, Inc.

Wally Laird Host, Farm World WRIN

Revenue (millions): $5.2 Professional: United Way of America National Professional Council; Indiana Association of United Ways Executive Council Civic: Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; Northwest Indiana Race Relations Council

Age: 60 Business: Community health, education and development

President and CEO Opportunity Enterprises Inc. Age: 65 Business: Services to challenged individuals Revenue (millions): $14.5

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WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Professional: Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc. and numerous State Task Forces Civic: Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Youth Service Task Force; United Way

Sandra Noe Executive Director Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana Business: Meal services for the elderly, needy, homebound and disabled Professional: Meals on Wheels Association of America; National Society of Human Resource Management; Continuity of Care Association; Aging Advisory Committee, National WIC Association; Nutrition Leadership Fellowship Institute; Leadership Northwest Indiana Civic: Lake Area United Way; Taltree Arboretum

Dewey F. Pearman Executive Director Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana Age: 56 Business: Construction industry trade association Revenues (millions): $1 Professional: Regional Development Company; Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable Civic: Admiral, Pirates Inc., Northwest Indiana Forum; Lakeshore Public Television Board; Purdue Calumet Chancellor’s Advisory Committee

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Kris Prohl Executive Director Arc BRIDGES Business: Work, community and home service for the developmentally disabled Revenues (millions): $22 Professional: Northwest Indiana Adult Guardianship Services, Inc.; Past Chairperson, Campagna Academy Charter School Council; Indiana Conference of Executives of the Arc; National Conference of Executives of the Arc

Willis Shepard Executive Director Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable Business: Construction industry trade association Civic: Pirates Inc.

Linda Woloshansky President and CEO The Center of Workforce Innovations, Inc. Business: Strategic workforce solutions Revenue (millions): $9 Professional: Centier Bank; Northwest Indiana Forum; Quality of Life Council; Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation; Alliance for Adult Education; Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly Advisory Board; One Region: One Vision Council; Innovators Association; IndianaIntern.net; Ready Indiana Civic: Porter County Community Foundation; Valparaiso Rotary Club

Barbara Young President Porter County Community Foundation Business: Community development Revenues (millions): $2.7 Professional: Indiana Grantmakers Alliance; Porter County Bar Association; Council on Foundations Civic: The Discovery Alliance; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; Race Relations Council of Northwest Indiana; Past President, Valparaiso Rotary Club; Past President, United Way of Porter County

REAL ESTATE Todd Dickard Associate CB Richard Ellis Age: 47 Business: Commercial real estate Professional: National Association of Realtors; Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors; Regional Development Company; Michigan City Port Authority Civic: Butterfly Inc.

Tim Healy Senior Vice President and Partner Holladay Properties Age: 42 Business: Development, design/build and real estate Professional: Northwest Indiana Forum Civic: Opportunity Enterprises

Larry D. Hitz Managing Broker Prudential Executive Group Business: Real estate Professional: National Association of Realtors; Indiana Association of Realtors; Illinois Association of Realtors; Chicago Association of Realtors; Past President, Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors; Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers Civic: Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County; Duneland Chamber of Commerce; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Duneland Economic Development Corporation; Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation; Friends of Art, Brauer Museum of Art ; Northwest Indiana Forum; Opportunity Enterprises; Pathway Family Center ; Porter County Community Foundation; Porter County Builders Association; Porter Memorial Hospital Foundation; Portage Economic Development Corporation; The Caring Place; United Way of Porter County; Valparaiso Ethics Commission; Valparaiso Parks Foundation; Valparaiso University Alumni Association; Valparaiso YMCA

David Lasser, SIOR/CCIM Principal Broker Commercial InSites, LLC Business: Brokerage, consulting, investment and development Professional: Society of Industrial Office Realtors; Certified Commercial Investment Member, Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors; National Association of Realtors; www.buildingindiananews.com

Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors Civic: Merrillville Chamber of Commerce; Hobart Chamber of Commerce; Porter Chamber of Commerce; Schererville Chamber of Commerce; Duneland Economic Development Corporation

Aaron M. McDermott Commercial Broker NAI Hiffman

Age: 31 Business: Commercial real estate Professional: Real Estate Broker, Indiana; Certified Commercial Investment Member; International Council of Shopping Centers; Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors; Indiana Association of Realtors; National Association of Realtors Civic: Lake Area United Way; (Thomas) McDermott for Mayor, Hammond, Indiana

Peter Novak, Jr. CEO Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors Age: 31 Business: Professional association Revenues (millions): $2.5 Civic: Chairman, First Tee of Hammond; Hammond Democratic Organization

Cynthia Powers President Century 21 Powers Realty, Inc. Business: Commercial and residential real estate Civic: President of the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Northwest Indiana; Northwest www.buildingindiananews.com

Indiana Advisory Council, United Negro College Fund; Regional Development Council of Northwest Indiana; South Shore Arts; Friends of Emerson School of Visual and Performing Arts; The Links, Inc.; Life member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Choir member and Youth Choir Coordinator at First A.M.E. Church, Gary, IN.; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Deana Rule Broker/Owner F.C. Tucker Age: 34 Business: Residential real estate Professional: National Association of Realtors; Indiana Association of Realtors; Illinois Association of Realtors; Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors; Iroquois Ford Association of Realtors; National and Indiana Council of Residential Specialists; City of Rensselaer Planning Commission; RCHS Building Trades Advisory Board Civic: President, Greater Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce; Kiwanis; PTA; National Association of Foster Parents; Earth Day Planning Committee; Footprint Committee

Brad Toothaker, CPM President and CEO CB Richard Ellis | Bradley Business: Commercial real estate Professional: Past President, Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors; International Council of Shopping Centers; Indiana Association of Realtors Board; National Association of Realtors; President, BOMA Michiana Civic: St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce Board; 59

Past President, Madison Center Foundation Board, Past President; National Brownfield Association, Indiana Chapter; Downtown South Bend, Inc.; South Bend Symphony; Broadway Theater League; Chairman, United Way, Annual Campaign 2009

RELIGION & CULTURE John Cain Executive Director South Shore Arts Age: 54 Business: Music and art instruction and appreciation Revenues (millions): $2.6 Professional: Ridgewood Arts Foundation; Friends of Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts Civic: Center for Regional Excellence, Indiana University Northwest; Lake Courthouse Foundation

John M. D’Arcy Bishop Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, Ind.

Age: 77 Professional: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.; Diocesan Review Board; Catholic Community Foundation of Northeast Indiana; Diocesan Finance Council; Ex-Officio, Board of Catholic Charities

Joyce Davis Owner Lake Street Gallery Age: 59 Business: Art gallery Professional: Certified Picture Framer, Professional Picture Framers Association; South Shore Arts; Miller Business Association; Gary Art Works Civic: Gary Rotary Club

Damien A. Gabis Founder Taltree Arboretum and Gardens Foundation, Inc.

Age: 69 Business: Nonprofit Professional: American Academy of Microbiology Civic: Valparaiso Rotary Club; Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council

Dale Melczek Bishop Diocese of Gary, Ind. Age: 70 Professional: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Joint Committee of Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bishops Civic: One Region: One Vision Council

Kirk Muspratt Music Director and Conductor Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra Business: Music Revenue (millions): $1.2 Professional: League of American Orchestras; Conductors’ Guild; Opera America; Orchestras Canada

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www.buildingindiananews.com

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Frank Schilling

Ted Bogich

Foundation President Shrine of Christ’s Passion President Schilling Brothers Lumber President Schilling Land Management & Development

Vice President and General Manager Blue Chip Hotel,

TOURISM

Casino & Spa Business: Hospitality Civic: United Way of Porter County

Peter Kaiafas Speros A. Batistatos, FCDME

President and CEO South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Age: 45 Business: Destination marketing Professional: Destination Marketing Association International; Travel Industry Association of America; Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Civic: Multiple Sclerosis Society; American Cancer Society; Humane Society

Charles L. Blum President and CEO Star Productions Business: Concerts and theatrical events Revenue (millions): $7.8 Professional: Country Music Association; New York Friars Club; International Entertainment Buyers Association Civic: Lakeshore Public Broadcasting Corporation

www.buildingindiananews.com

General Manager Avalon Manor, Inc.

Age: 38 Business: Banquets and events Civic: Merrillville Chamber of Commerce; Crown Point Chamber of Commerce; Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Hobart Chamber. of Commerce; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Rick Mazer Indiana Regional President & General Manager Horseshoe Casino Age: 52 Business: Entertainment Revenues (millions): $550 Professional: Chairman, Casino Association of Indiana Civic: Northwest Indiana Forum; Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce ; Co-Chairman, 2009-10 Lake Area United Way Campaign

Lorelei Weimer Executive Director Porter County Convention, Recreation & Visitor Commission Business: Tourism

Professional: President, Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission; Indiana Tourism Council; Association of Indiana Convention & Visitor Bureaus; Indiana Toll Road Citizens Advisory Board; Porter County Economic Alliance Group; Portage Economic Development Corporation; Past President, Duneland Exchange Club

Bill Wellman Senior Vice President of Communications Whiteco Industries Inc. Business: Outdoor advertising, construction, hotels and motels, entertainment, home building, and real estate Professional: Past President, Indiana Restaurant Association; Past Director, National Restaurant Association; Tourism Council, Indiana Department of Commerce; President, Northwest Indiana Tourism Council; Past President, Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau Civic: “I” Men’s Association, Indiana University; Northwest Indiana Forum; TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center; Challenger

Dean V. White Chairman and CEO Whiteco Industries Inc. Business: Outdoor advertising, construction, hotels and motels, entertainment, home building, and real estate

Mike Williams Vice President/ General Manager Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza Age: 49 Business: Hospitality Revenue (millions): $18 Professional: American Hotel/ Motel Association; Indiana Hospitality Association Civic: Porter County Adult Alliance Board; Lakeshore Public Television Board; Indiana Sports Charities Board

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE Don Babcock Director, Economic Development NIPSCO

Age: 55 Business: Energy Revenues (millions): $2,500.0 Professional: Indiana Economic Development Association; Michigan City Economic Development Corporation, Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation; Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center; PNC Advisory Board; PUCC Engineering, Math, & Science Advisory Committee; Friends of Gary/Chicago Airport Civic: Northwest Indiana Forum; Michigan City Boys & Girls Club

Ken Buczek Director, Production IndianaAmerican Water Company, Inc. 61

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Age: 60 Business: Water Revenues (millions): $156.0 Professional: American Water Works Association; American Society of Civil Engineers; Water Environment Federation Civic: Merrillville Rotary Club; Hobart Kiwanis Club; Merrillville Chamber of Commerce

Michael Charbonneau

Manager, Communications and Public Affairs NIPSCO Age: 29 Business: Energy Revenues (millions): $2,500.0 Civic: St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, LaPorte United Way; Family and Children’s Center; St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center; Center for the Homeless; Starke United Way

Chris Curry Airport Director Gary/Chicago International Airport

Age: 46 Business: Transportation Professional: American Association of Airport Executives; Airports Council International; Airport Minority Advisory Counsel Civic: Tuskeegee Airman

Peter Laman Port Director Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor Business: Transportation 62

Henry B. Lampe President Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad

Age: 60 Business: Transportation Professional: Surface Transportation Board; Association of American Railroads Civic: LaPorte County United Way; LaPorte County Junior Achievement; President, Western Railway Club

Leigh Morris Deputy Commissioner, Indiana Department of Transportation Toll Road Oversight Chairman, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority Age: 74 Business: Transportation, regional development Revenues (millions): INDOT $1,000.0+; RDA $27.5 Professional: American College of Healthcare Executives; Healthcare Financial Management Association Civic: Past President, Rotary Club; La Porte County Symphony Orchestra Board; Lubeznik Center for the Arts; Memorial Health Foundation Board (South Bend); Past Chairman, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission; Past Co-Chairman, Unity Foundation; Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago

Colleen M. Reilly

Director of Communications and Public Affairs NIPSCO Business: Energy Civic: Indiana Youth Institute; South Shore Arts; Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra; TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center; Porter County Community; Foundation, Quality of Life Council; Ivy Tech Regional Board of Trustees

John C. Schalliol Executive Director South Bend Regional Airport Age: 68 Business: Transportation Revenues (millions): $13.7 Professional: Past President, Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives; Past President, Aviation Association of Indiana; Purdue School of Aviation Technology Advisory Committee; Aviation Cooperative Research Program, National Transportation Research Board Civic: Project Future; President, Industrial Foundation of South Bend; St. Joseph County HotelMotel Tax Board

Professional: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Member System Representative on the Wabash Valley Power Association Board Civic: South Central School Board

UNIONS Tom Hargrove President USW Local 1010 Age: 64 Business: Labor relations Professional: Region One Workforce Board

Ray Kasmark Business Manager IBEW Local 697 Age: 51 Business: Labor relations Professional: Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades; President, IBEW State Conference, Construction Conference; Indiana State AFL/CIO Executive Board Civic: Lake Area United Way; TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center; President, Parents as Teachers Lake County Board; Rebuilding Together; Indiana Plan Statewide Board

Dennis Weiss CEO Kankakee Valley Rural Electric Membership Corporation Age: 46 Business: Energy Revenues (millions): $26.8 www.buildingindiananews.com

Randy Palmateer Business Manager Northwest Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council Age: 30 Business: Trade organization Professional: Member IBEW Local 697 Civic: Lake County of Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Ivy Tech Advisory Committee; United Way; Amalgamated Bank Labor Council Board; Crown Point Redevelopment Commission;

Lake County Democratic Party; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; One Region: One Vision Council; Elks; Lions; American Legion Post 430; Slovak Club; Scottish Rite; Masons; St. Stephen’s Church Men’s Club

Tom Tyrka President USW Local 1011 Business: Labor relations Civic: Masons, Eagles

2009 CAF INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

STEVENS PAINTON CORPORATION Constructors and Engineers - Midwest Operations -

“Committed to Achieving a Zero Accident Workplace”

Providing our clients with professional construction and engineering services.

• Full Service General Contractor • Industrial, Refinery, Commercial and Process Piping • Complete Fab Shop Capabilities / Coded Welding • Overhead Door Installation / Maintenance • Supply and Install Pre-Engineered Buildings

Established in 1970

(219) 762-8505

www.spcdmg.com

2008 NWIBRT RECOGNITION AWARD WINNER www.buildingindiananews.com

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Saturday October 10, 2009 3rd Annual Gala United Club • Soldier Field Chicago, Il Ticket price: $225.

The Sisters of St. Francis, in their generous spirit of giving and community assistance, are pleased to provide funding from this 3rd Annual Regional Gala to the following programs:

Saint Anthony • St. Clare Health Clinic

This campaign will raise funds for the expansion of St. Clare Health Clinic an outreach that provides primary healthcare and education for the uninsured, working poor of the south Lake County areas. At this time the needs are exceeding expectations and the clinic is at maximum capacity. In order to meet the growing needs of this patient population and to anticipate future objectives, the St. Clare Health Clinic must expand services.

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Saint Anthony Memorial • Creating Positive Relationships

This campaign will be provided to the Creating Positive Relationships (CPR) Program, established in Michigan City by Saint Anthony Memorial in 1998. The Michigan City area schools rely on Saint Anthony Memorial to sponsor this comprehensible sexual abstinence based program which on an annual basis serves approximately 3,000 Michigan City public and parochial school middle school students.

Saint Margaret Mercy • The Catherine MCauley Clinic

The Catherine McAuley Clinic is a volunteer-based medical clinic for the working poor and uninsured of the Calumet area. Since 1996, the clinic has provided medical and referral services to the medically underserved as an extension of Saint Margaret Mercy’s Franciscan mission to minister to the sick and neglected. The clinic provides preventive care, physical exams, diagnosis and treatment of chronic health problems, and referrals to physicians for more extensive treatment.

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For more information or to reserve your www.buildingindiananews.com tickets, please call (219) 933-2178

WHO’S WHO

DIRECTORY NAME

PAGE

IN NORTHERN INDIANA

NAME

PAGE

NAME

PAGE

NAME

PAGE

Scott Albanese

49

Michael Falk

40

Joe Medellin

55

John C. Schalliol

62

Kenneth J. Allen

53

Donald P. Fesko

51

Dale Melczek

60

Frank Schilling

61

Tim Anderson

43

James Flannery

55

Shar L. Miller

49

Rocco Schiralli

53

Michael R. Anton

53

Damien A. Gabis

60

Gary M. Mitchell

57

Michael Schrage

43

Don Babcock

61

Jon Gilmore

40

Leigh Morris

62

Willis Shepard

58

Mike Baird

42

Joel Gorelick

42

Sharee Morse

56

Maria Slager

41

Kay Evans Ball

56

Timothy J. Gropp

47

Tom Muchesko

40

Jim Staton

48

William H. Barnard

40

Bill Hanna

47

Kirk Muspratt

60

John Swanson

48

Speros A. Batistatos

61

Tom Hargrove

62

Don Nagdeman

49

Thomas Swizek

41

Calvin E. Bellamy

53

Tim Healy

58

Jonathan Nalli

51

Mark Tarner

49

Kevin Beres

42

Mark Heckler

50

William Nangle

56

Lisa Tatina

56

Bruce W. Bergland

50

Larry D. Hitz

58

Philip A. Newbold

51

Bill Thon

48

Fred Berglund

40

Lisa A. Jaworski

56

Sandra Noe

58

G. Thor Thordarson

53

Charles L. Blum

61

Gordon T. Johnson

56

Peter Novak, Jr.

59

Brad Toothaker

59

Ted Bogich

61

Robert Johnson

45

Gus Olympidis

49

Tom Tyrka

63

Michelle Brown

53

Steven A. Johnson

54

Randy Palmateer

63

Spero W. Valavanis

41

Ken Buczek

61

James L. Jorgensen

54

Ross N. Pangere

40

Randy Vale

53

Ron Bush

43

Peter Kaiafas

61

Erica Passauer

47

J. Guadalupe Valtierra

51

John Cain

60

Denarie Kane

47

Andrea M. Pearman

56

Dave VanDyke

41

James Callaghan

51

Ray Kasmark

62

Dewey F. Pearman

58

Tom Van Prooyen

49

George Carberry

54

Thomas Keilman

55

Pete Peuquet

40

Gilbert Velez

45

Tom Carroll

56

Kevin Kelly

40

Jean M. Phelps

45

Pete Visclosky

49

Shirley Caylor

56

Sharon A. Kish

57

Gene A. Pinkus

55

Charles W. Weaver

49

Michael Charbonneau

62

Andrew Kyres

42

Cynthia Powers

59

Lorelei Weimer

61

Betty Clayton

56

Wally Laird

57

Kris Prohl

58

Dennis Weiss

62

Howard Cohen

50

Peter Laman

62

Matt Reardon

41

Don Weiss

49

Chris Curry

62

Henry B. Lampe

62

John G. Regetz

47

Bill Wellman

61

John M. D’Arcy

60

Timothy F. Larson

40

Colleen M. Reilly

62

Jennifer J. Whaley

49

John H. Davies

46

David Lasser

58

Rex Richards

48

Dean V. White

61

Deborah Davis

45

Rick Lohmeyer

53

F. Dennis Riegelnegg

51

Mike Williams

61

Joyce Davis

60

Joshua Lybolt

47

Jill E. Ritchie

55

Dave Winter

41

Kathy DeGuilio-Fox

46

Mark Maassel

54

Dennis Rittenmeyer

51

Linda Woloshansky

58

Eugene C. Diamond

51

John Marsch

40

David Rose

43

Barbara Young

58

Todd Dickard

58

Lou Martinez

57

Deana Rule

59

Tamara K. Young-King

46

Greg Downes

53

Rick Mazer

61

David Ruskowski

51

James B. Dworkin

50

Aaron M. McDermott

59

Dan Sajkowski

56

Leigh Ellis

56

Ian E. McFadden

51

Kim Sauers

49

www.buildingindiananews.com

To nominate someone for the 2010 “Who’s Who in Northern Indiana,” visit www.buildingindiananews.com.

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Contractor List for Great Lakes Lab Architect Chester, Inc. General Contractor Chester, Inc. Concrete Walker Construction Co., Inc. Plumbing Rhodes Plumbing, Inc. Electric Giesler Electric Inc. HVAC Bloomfield Mechanical Walls Kleckner Interior Systems, Inc. Carpentry Specialty Construction, Inc. Windows Trout Glass and Mirror Interior Doors The Lazzaro Companies Inc. Painting Stan’s Painting & Decorating Flooring Duneland Carpet Connection Water & Sewer Johnson Excavating Co. Inc. Cabinets DWT Custom Woodworking

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Passing the Test

Great Lakes Labs provides northern Indiana law enforcement and businesses with a local solution to drug testing and forensic analysis.

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By David Wellman

rom watching shows like TruTV’s “Forensic Files” or any one of CBS’ “CSI” incarnations, viewers might think that, these days, the bad guys don’t stand a chance. But for all the advances in forensic science, the analyses themselves still have to be done and, in part because of the way those shows have boosted the demand for forensic work (the so-called “CSI effect”) testing laboratories today are typically swamped.

“The state labs are inundated,” says Michelle Volk, CEO of Great Lakes Labs. “That’s been their plight for a few decades.” Meanwhile, on a regional level, area law enforcement had few options when they needed forensic services.

Great Lake Labs, which first opened its doors in what Volk humorously refers to as a “holding pen” on Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso in 2003, is the region’s only lab offering forensic and DNA testing. “Before, they had to go to Indianapolis,” she notes.

The need for such services in northern Indiana in reflected in the growth of Great Lakes Labs. At the end of last year, the company celebrated the holidays by moving into a brand new facility in Valparaiso, IN. Funding for the project came from 1st Source Bank via the Regional

Development Corporation, whose loan program Volk credits with helping the company “realize its dream.”

“Every small business should take advantage of the RDC,” she says. “Committing to a building is a costly event in a businesses’ life.”

Once that commitment was made, general contractor Chester, Inc. wasted no time getting to work. “I think we broke ground in late August or early September, and finished around the 15th of December,” recalls Chester’s Adam Peuquet, who managed the project. Both he and Volk say excellent communication – Great Lakes Labs was renting space from Chester at the time, so they were literally down the hall from each other – was a key factor in the smooth completion of construction. The biggest snag was the weather, which dumped snow and ice over the area the day they were supposed to move in, pushing the occupation back a day.

Volk is justifiably proud of the new 6,400-square-foot facility, which was built to the exacting security specifications needed for the lab to be certified and accredited to work with law enforcement. Four levels of security separate the lobby from “the vault” that stores samples and evidence. Basic drug screening can www.buildingindiananews.com

be accomplished in a dedicated room off the main lobby. With proper electronic identification, authorized personnel can pass into the second level of security, which includes executive offices, a conference room, a library and a break room for the lab’s seven employees, as well as a dedicated area for undercover officers to present evidence to lab personnel.

“One of my primary focuses was to keep the environment safe and secure, so I insisted on a separate area for undercover officers to present evidence,” Volk says. “I didn’t want them doing this while mingling with the public.” Work with law enforcement accounts for about 50 percent of the labs’ businesses, with drug testing making up the other half.

The third layer of security bars entrance by the unauthorized to the lab itself, where testing work is done. In addition to drug, alcohol and DNA testing, Great Lakes Labs also offers paternity testing, forensic testing including cause-of-death determinations, and consulting, expert testimony and educational services. Activities in the lab can be observed through two large windows that Volk insisted on including in the design. “I wanted the windows so that if a prosecutor wanted to come in and watch the testing being done, they could,” she explains. They also allow schoolchildren on field trips to get a peek at the lab as well, she adds.

Though Great Lakes Labs has only been in its new home for about half a year, Volk is already eyeing an expansion. Construction was done in such a way that the prep work is in place to “mirror” the building from the back. Volk hopes to break ground on such an expansion before the end of 2010. The new construction will be dedicated to development of improved testing methodologies and research into behavioral techniques to break the cycle of addiction.

“Drug addiction is such a serious problem that you can’t tackle it by just addressing one facet,” she says, and quotes a local sheriff who summed things up thusly: “We can’t arrest our way out of this situation.”

And, unfortunately, there’s rarely been a greater need than now.

The sputtering economy has hit northern Indiana hard and with predictable results. “We’ve seen an influx of DUIs and cause-of-death from drug abuse,” Volk relates. Alcohol and drug abuse are pervasive in society to begin with, she says, “and when times get tough, it’s that much more notable.”

And so Volk, and all the lab personnel, find themselves expanding their community involvement as well. Volk is the 2009 chairperson for the Porter County Substance Abuse Council, and is active on the county’s drunk driving task force. “Everyone here is involved in community programs,” she says. “The older you get, the more you realize that it’s going to take all of us [to solve these issues].” www.buildingindiananews.com

2008 NWIBRT

ACHIEVEMENT

AWARD WINNER 67

NATURAL ELEMENTS

To Build It Green, Everyone Must Come

By Gil Friend, CEO, Natural Logic Inc.

Tips For Putting Integrative Design Into Action • Kick off the integrative design process with a “design charette.” This intensive, collaborative design session—with a full complement of stakeholders and every aspect of the project on the table—helps ensure that you work as a team, with full consideration of all relevant factors, right from the start. The charette is a good way to communicate and clarify green goals for the project and to turn your group of specialists into a true team with common goals. Your list of people to invite to the team should include architects, engineers, finance, operations team, and legal.

The charette should generate a compelling, shared story to guide the design team and the client.

• Assess the site and your building needs. Or more accurately, assess the needs of the people that will occupy the building. How will you use water, energy, living systems, and materials to meet those needs?

• Set initial goals for your green building. But don’t limit yourself to a shopping list of features and technologies. Start with performance goals, including energy and water benchmarks, and let the lists follow, not drive, the process. Research other green building case studies for some inspiration. Think about how you can go beyond “doing less harm” to building something that actually enhances natural capital.

• The design team should discuss how it will approach the actual building process after holding the charette and getting buy-in from decision makers.s Architects should create specific designs for the entire team to review and refine. Continual, active communications among the various specialists is key; effective communication helps make sure the building is properly calibrated for all systems.

• Schedule frequent team workshops after the initial charette and early phases of work. A standard building has one workshop, and the integrative design process can have upward of five.

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Integrative design, which brings together all stakeholders in a project, from architects to engineers to finance to operations and legal, is key to successful green construction.

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onsider two similar office buildings. One was built traditionally: a developer hired an architect to draw up plans, a construction company built the offices to specifications, and an engineering company installed lighting, temperature control, and water systems. The building serves its purpose just fine, but some workers complain about the air conditioner being too cold, that the air inside feels stuffy, and the office lighting feels “too artificial.”

The second building was constructed by an integrated design-buildengineering team and was meticulously planned. It uses 30 percent less energy and water than the first building. The building is full of fresh air and natural light, and workers miss fewer days due

to illness. In fact, workers are proud to tell friends about their innovative “green” office building.

Which building cost more to build? Most people assume that a superior product costs a lot more and ask, “So how much extra will green cost me?” The more sophisticated question is, “How soon will that extra cost get paid back?” But leading developers are now constructing high-performance green buildings at construction costs similar to traditional buildings, or even lower, which makes the truly sophisticated question more like: “How can we design a building that delivers better performance, lower operating costs, and lower initial costs?”

The answer: integrative design.

Typical buildings are created in a piecemeal process—find a site, draw a www.buildingindiananews.com

plan, construct, and then add some mechanical systems. Each phase is optimized independently for speedy completion and low cost. It works, but it leaves money on the table, because optimizing the elements can suboptimize the building.

Integrative design is a way to break that mold and create truly green, high-performance, healthy buildings. Integrative building design is “a process of design in which multiple disciplines and seemingly unrelated aspects of design are integrated in a manner that permits synergistic benefits to be realized. The goal is to achieve high performance and multiple benefits at a lower cost than the total for all the components combined.”

This is not the typical way modern buildings are created. The key difference is in the process: bringing together all relevant stakeholders early, for a comprehensive consideration of the project.

It moves away from the typical model where one team does design, another does mechanical systems, another designs electricity, and so on. It requires more time (and expense) at early stages, but through design synergies and the huge value of getting everyone on the same page, it can speed design, development, construction, and permitting. Going slow to go

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engineer working actively with the architect and the finance team might reach the conclusion that a building design that emphasizes sunlight for heating and air flows for cooling is a more cost-effective solution. Because the integrative process is the driving philosophy behind good green building, it can help guide a project not only toward a 36 certification such as LEED, but can also create efficiencies beyond those prescribed in green building guidelines.

The earlier an integrated design process

is implemented, the more likely you are to find synergistic efficiencies that save you money on operations. Implementing a design process early also increases the likelihood that you can trim construction costs. The later you start the integrated process, the more expensive it becomes to make changes to the building plans. Earlier integration of the design process typically yields better environmental performance as well.

Support integrated design with integrated financial management, using life-cycle costing.

Traditional cost estimates focus on the construction costs and fail to incorporate costs of occupancy, such as energy costs or even labor.

Costs of occupancy are a significant part of the lifetime cost of a building. For example, the Herman Miller office building in Zeeland, MI – a LEED Gold building built at no incremental cost – uses 31 percent less water and 29 percent less energy than a comparable standard building. Herman Miller expects to see operational cost savings of $1,001,000 at this 95,000-square foot property over its seven-year lease.

It can be difficult to find team members with experience in integrative design, meaning that the design phase can include lots of time to educate the team on the subject. However, more architecture and construction firms are using integrative design techniques.

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fast can deliver a better-performing building at lower total cost.

In an integrative design process, creative solutions address multiple needs. For example, a traditional building process might ensure a desired temperature range for a building by having an HVAC engineer design a heating system sized to the expected demands for a building of given size, type, and use. However, an HVAC

Integrative design is a way to break the mold and create truly green, high-performance, healthy buildings.

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it’s everything you need for your next meeting. (and it’s conveniently located in northwest indiana) The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza is your answer to hassle-free convention space. Whether your event is company wide or intimate, our meeting facilities can accommodate you. Our experienced sales and catering team is here to help, and complimentary high speed wireless is provided throughout the entire property. With cost savings being on our minds more than ever, why not go where you’ll get the most for your money?

Book your 2009 meeting at the Radisson and receive one of two FREE upgrade options: access to our private concierge lounge, or a complimentary welcome reception for your group.

The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza

800 East 81st Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410 • Sales Office: (219) 769-6311 ex. 5321 • www.radisson.com/merrillvillein www.buildingindiananews.com

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the

LastWord opinion page

Tourism Investments Fuel Profits and Jobs in Northwest Indiana

By Speros Batistatos, FCDME, President/CEO, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority

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he hospitality industry represents the most diverse collection of businesses, employees and marketing strategies that exist. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, gaming boats, parks and retail stores all have employment and profit issues unique to their respective businesses. The travel and tourism industry is often referred to as the “invisible” industry because there is no easy way to identify which purchases or transactions are being paid for by a visiting athlete, conventioneer or businessman.

Maximizing economic impact and job creation, as well as strategically planning for the hospitality industry’s growth, requires strong, visible leadership. It also requires the development and implementation of a unified vision for representing the destination in the market place. That is the role of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

There are currently 32,000-plus hospitality jobs in Lake County alone; these paychecks pay utility and grocery bills, mortgages and car loans. The creation of additional venues, events and other hospitality investments will increase the number of jobs and further stabilize our regional economy.

The SSCVA is not funded by property taxes. Not one penny. The revenues used to market, sell and create economic development through tourism are derived from businesses in the industry: hotels and casinos.

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Conversely, everyone benefits from having a healthy travel industry. The benefits include increased local employment, diversification of our economy and lower property taxes (that’s right, I said lower; in fact, $980 lower per household).

Talented CVA leadership is also necessary because the tourism industry represents the most perishable inventory of sold goods in existence. Unlike steel plants or oil refineries, hotels, riverboats and restaurants cannot carry their unused rooms, tables or gaming positions into inventory for use on a higher-demand day. The CVA exists to help these businesses find sporting events, special events, and investment in new attractions or conventions to bring in people and utilize a greater share of the inventory each and every night. The CVA brings this group of businesses and services together to sell northwest Indiana to the world.

Ahead of the Curve Clearly, the activities of our organization reflect a private sector approach to earning market share through promotion, sales and advertising.

Since tourism is hard to “see,” especially in places like the South Shore (where travelers blend in with residents) it is even more important to organizations like the SSCVA to be ahead of the curve in employing the best

sales and marketing techniques to measure the economic impact of visitor spending.

The South Shore CVA has invested heavily in technology to make us competitive in the convention and amateur sports market. For example, each sporting event that is hosted by South Shore Sports Promotions (a department of the SSCVA) is tracked room by room and reports are generated with quantitative data and given to the event planner and the hotels.

Since the creation of a sports department three years ago, the number of events and visiting athletes has tripled. This success is derived not only as a result of the investment in technology, but also the number and quality of venues offered. For example, northwest Indiana is home to the nation’s largest soccer field complex, Hallmark Properties. Located in Lowell/Hebron near I-65, Hallmark and South Shore Sports host some of the largest tournaments in the nation.

For all these reasons, investment in tourism infrastructure must continue if we are to advance job creation and benefit from the economic diversity brought by tourism.

While the use of facilities like Wicker Park, city softball fields, Lincoln Center, Marquette Park and dozens of others have helped create more room nights and visitor spending, we must recognize the need to invest in updating and constructing a convention center/sports arena if our community is to fully exploit the growing sports and convention markets.

The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the authors. We welcome your response.

If you are interested in writing an opinion piece, send an e-mail to editor@buildingindiananews.com.

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Energy security for the Midwest: the Whiting Refinery investment.

We believe that as our nation’s demand for energy rapidly increases, reducing our reliance on more expensive, less secure energy sources is crucial to our country’s energy future. At BP, our plan to spend more than $3.8 billion to modernize our Whiting Refinery will not only allow us to process more Canadian oil, which is a secure, North American source of energy, it will also increase fuel supplies to the Midwest.

Jobs and the environment.

Once construction begins, this will be the largest private investment ever made for a project in the state of Indiana. It will also create more than 2,000 construction jobs over a three-year period and approximately 70 new full-time positions.Today, the Whiting Refinery provides jobs for more than 1,700 BP employees plus hundreds of contractors each day.

We also plan to spend more than one-third of the total investment on the most modern pollution control technology to reduce our impact on the environment. We recently applied for air permits that are crucial to the project, and construction will not begin until they are approved.

Change is in the wind.

As always, we remain committed to expanding the diversity of cleaner energy sources.That’s why we’re also investing in a new wind project in Benton County, Indiana, which, when in full operation, will provide enough clean low carbon power for 225,000 average American homes.

To learn more, visit whiting.bp.com

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