Evansville Business August/September 2024 by Evansville Living Magazine

Meet Mayor Stephanie and

Terry

the new city administration team

LEARN THE LATEST TRENDS IN MEETING AND EVENT PLANNING PRESENTING THE AREA’S LEADING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

Todd A. Tucker

EDITORIAL

Kristen K. Tucker Editor

Jodi Keen Managing Editor

John Martin Senior Writer

Maggie Valenti Staff Writer

Nick Shelton Editorial Intern

Jackson Tucker Office Assistant

DESIGN

Laura Mathis Creative Director

Hadley Mitchell

Digital Marketing Coordinator

A PUBLICATION OF TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP

Todd A. Tucker, President Kristen K. Tucker, Vice President

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Photography Fellow

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CIRCULATION

Gregg Martin Distribution and Circulation Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Catherine Anderson, Gordon Engelhardt, Katie Henrichs, Natalie Reidford, Audra Straw, Zach Straw

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IN THE NEWS

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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2024

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Evansville Business is published bimonthly by Tucker Publishing Group, 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 200, Evansville, IN 47708, and printed at KODI Collective, Lebanon Junction, KY. Any views expressed in any advertisement, signed letter, article, or photograph are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Evansville Business Copyright © 2024 Tucker Publishing Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Tucker Publishing Group.

24 EVANSVILLE’S NEW LEADERS

More than six months after her historic inauguration, Mayor Stephanie Terry is making her mark on city government, starting with the team she has assembled. Plus, new City Council members are bringing fresh perspectives to the Civic Center. Here, Evansville Business profiles this new generation of city leaders.

With the McCollough branch reopened, here’s what renovations lie ahead for Evansville’s public libraries

Alex

Meet Matthew Brookman, the

District Court Judge for

From team members to executives, meet some of the region’s top female professionals

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You Never Know

Since my last publisher’s letter, I have had the opportunity to proudly watch my son Jackson graduate from the University of Louisville on May 11. Two days later, we were flying over the Atlantic Ocean along with my wife, Kristen, and Jackson’s longtime girlfriend, Katherine, on a long-planned graduation trip to Europe. After spending several days in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, we took a Eurostar train through Belgium and entered Paris, France.

While Paris would be spectacular at any time, the city definitely had something extra special with all the busy preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics happening right in front of us. An unusual dinner reservation made by Jackson at Café de l’Homme afforded us tight Eiffel Tower views, and so we ended up being in the same location as NBC’s studio for the entirety of this year’s Games.

For me, the Summer Olympics easily surpasses all my favorite sporting events. My first recollection of the Olympics is a fleeting memory of the 1968 Games in Mexico City, Mexico, with the controversy over American athletes Tommie Smith’s and John Carlos’ raised fists on the medal stand for the men’s 200-meter race. I remember the palpable sadness of

the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany, when 11 Israeli hostages were taken and all 11 executed by their captors. I was stunned when then-President Jimmy Carter announced the United States would boycott the 1980 Games in Moscow, in what then still was the Soviet Union, to protest the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Sixty-five nations boycotted and 80 attended. The Games are to promote sport and Olympic values in society, after all.

Going into 1980, I knew a swimmer, now deceased, who held national and world record times. His life trajectory was never the same after the boycott; a wrist injury prevented him the opportunity to swim for his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Also in 1984, I saw my cousin swim in the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. As my cousin and I are a month apart in age, it was extremely cool to watch, and it still is today. (My cousin still is not cool.) These were the initial building blocks of my love for the Olympics.

With the Olympics, I think the insight you gain into other countries’ cultures – the strong sense of nationalism of the athletes and fans – is like no other event. Do you usually watch the men’s gymnastics vault holding your breath? The track and field athletes

and swimmers become household names. Well, I can’t get enough of it, and I bet a lot of you can’t, either.

And you never know if the 10-yearold girl from Evansville you saw winning her first 50-meter breaststroke state title just might become an Olympic gold medalist.

As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.

Todd A. Tucker, President

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

I hope this happens. It looks so nice (“Work in Progress: Ohio Riverfront,” June/July 2024).

Phyllis Bussing via Facebook

BRIGHT FUTURE

Phil Smith is going to do amazing things (“Back Talk,” June/ July 2024)!

Britney Felstead via Facebook

FORCE FOR GOOD

I remember years ago when Philip Smith and his brother were giving free hugs at the fall fest. He’s really a great guy and very deserving of this position (“Back Talk,” June/ July 2024)!

Marcia Hazelwood via Instagram

ON THE HORIZON

Wow, great to see these updates happening at UE just down the street from us (“Work in Progress: University of Evansville,” June/July 2024)!

The Rug Merchant via Facebook

What’s Next for Trinity?

With utility work completed, focus turns to fundraising for Downtown park

BY JOHN MARTIN

Toyota Trinity Stormwater Park is awaiting next steps. Bordered by Court, Vine, and Northwest Third streets, the site of the former Holy Trinity Catholic Church is to be used for stormwater infrastructure as well as park features.

Now that the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility has finished underground work – which took about two years and $11 million –the timeline to establish a park depends on fundraising, according to Evansville Parks and Recreation Executive Director Danielle Crook and Erin Lewis, executive director of the University of Evansville Center for Innovation and Change.

Toyota Indiana got the ball rolling with a $350,000 donation, but UE wants to raise much more for the Downtown amenity. The university is leading the fundraising. The city owns and maintains the land, which is open to the public.

The green infrastructure concept was crafted by Benjamin Bosse High School and UE graduate Robert Lopez, who now is the office operations coordinator for the Center for Innovation and Change.

What the park will look like depends, again, on how much money is raised. UE wants to incorporate materials salvaged from the church building into the design. Some features – wetland plants and a pergola have been proposed – could be in place by fall 2025.

“The design Robert has been working on for years is about a $1 million park,” Lewis says. “So, he’s working hard to raise the additional $600,000 to $700,000. We’ll focus on that for a few more months, and then start the bidding process with what we have in hand.”

EVANSVILLE.EDU/CENTERFORINNOVATION

By Popham By Popham

TOYOTA TRINITY STORMWATER PARK

Bank or Bust

Bally’s blackjack dealer

Carla Gardner has table games in hand

BY JODI KEEN

“Twenty-one! Blackjack!”

Whoops of congratulations and joy erupt from a blackjack table, where a player has beaten the odds to win their hand – and some dough. Amid the revelry, Carla Gardner maintains a steady presence.

Gardner, a Bally’s Evansville employee who deals cards for table games like craps, blackjack, and poker, prepares for her 10-hour shifts with a daily motivational verse, followed by a cup of coffee. Then, she hits the casino floor.

The blackjack tables at Bally’s Evansville are tucked into a space devoted for other table games. The five-seat blackjack tables are flanked by electronic poker and slot machines, as well as a bar that evokes a relaxed, private club-like setting. That, in particular, is top of mind for dealers.

“I would say entertainment and customer service are my priority, as well as dealing the cards,” she says.

Gardner, an Evansville resident, says blackjack dealers “must have patience, good customer service skills, and basic math skills” — understandable for a game in which players’ hands of cards cannot exceed 21.

Once Gardner filters a deck through an automatic card shuffler, the game begins. She slides out one card at a time, deftly depositing it with a slight flick of her hand at each player’s station. Once each player gets a card, they can choose to stay put

DID YOU KNOW?

with their current hand or try their luck by being dealt an additional card. The ball – figurative, in this game – is in their court.

Not that they’re completely on their own. “We are encouraged to help new players understand strategy,” Gardner says. One piece of free advice: “Don’t split 10s when playing blackjack,” she says. “Always split aces.”

On average, with a full table of blackjack players, Gardner estimates she deals about 100 hands an hour.

Although security is available to intervene with problematic patron behavior, Gardner says dealers need to be vigilant and fluid with their understanding of player personalities in order to spot something amiss.

She says she troubleshoots “by staying aware of current bets and habits of players in regard to their betting trends. If I catch someone cheating, I alert my floor supervisor.”

After 17 years in the casino industry, Gardner has experienced several standout moments. “My most memorable experience was a player winning around $125,000 on my table,” she says. As a professional, she says she fondly remembers “when I was selected as the employee of the month.”

What’s been the biggest surprise Gardner has had about dealing blackjack? “Learning how much fun you can have while dealing games and making decent money,” she says.

ON THE CLOCK

Carla Gardner

Blackjack players at Bally’s Evansville are allowed to tip their dealers. “It is not mandatory, but if you feel the service is good, yes,” dealer Carla Gardner says.

From the Inside

Natalie O’Daniel sees fulfillment in a career at Branchville Correctional Facility

BY CATHERINE ANDERSON

In 2020, as COVID-19 unleashed a world of change, Natalie O’Daniel’s 20-year career in health care abruptly ended. Still reeling, she answered an ad for a parole/probation officer in the Kentucky Department of Corrections and was hired, which led to a weekend job at a maximumsecurity prison.

It was at the state penitentiary in Eddyville, Kentucky, that O’Daniel found fulfillment in combining old skills in caretaking with new ones.

“I learned a lot. I worked in what they call ‘the hole,’ (solitary confinement where they place) the incarcerated that have done something wrong or those on suicidal watch,” she says.

Early in 2024, O’Daniel moved her career as a correctional officer to Branchville Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison in Perry County, Indiana.

She describes going through an academy for several weeks of classroom work, then weeks of on-the-job experience. Trainees learn how to properly manage an individual, as well as how to cuff, protect themselves, and properly conduct patdowns and shakedowns. A final exam follows.

“It’s eight weeks of training before you can go into a job,” O’Daniel surmises.

Branchville’s population of about 1,500 incarcerated individuals is primarily males with typically 12 years or less on their sentences when they arrive. According to an Indiana Department of Correction spokesperson, the movement of the incarcerated population is set up like passing periods at a school.

Most of the housing units at Branchville are dormitory-style housing units with bunk beds. Incarcerated individuals are allowed open movement in their housing unit to access their unit’s common areas at approved times.

O’Daniel, as part of a staff of about 250 employees, frequently makes rounds through her assigned unit to ensure safety and security.

The prison provides skills such as welding, sawmilling, and culinary arts, plus educational opportunities through a high school equivalency program and substance abuse programs to encourage success upon release.

“We are trained to be empathetic, not sympathetic,” O’Daniel says. “The thing that surprises me most is that everyone is one choice away from prison.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Day in the Sun

The region raked in millions from eclipse tourism in April

BY JODI KEEN

Although the number of visitors to Southwestern Indiana for the April 8 total solar eclipse was smaller than expected, umbraphiles in Posey, Gibson, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties generated millions of dollars in tax revenue and regional wages April 5-9, according to Explore Evansville.

80,000

Anticipated number of visitors for the eclipse

40,004

Visitors specifically attributed to the eclipse

$1.1 million

Amount of tax revenue generation from regional eclipse tourism

25,226

Overnight visitors for the eclipse, whose lodging boosted the regional hospitality industry by $1.6 million

$6.6 million

Amount spent by visitors during eclipse weekend

$3.4 million

Boost the regional food and beverage industry received $2.9 million

Amount eclipse visitors generated for regional wages

Source: Explore Evansville, via Rockport Analytics, Inc.

Natalie O’Daniel

Getting it Right

Newer Evansville residents weigh in about life in the city

COLLECTED

AND

EDITED BY JODI KEEN

What does Evansville do well? What could it do better? We polled a few residents who aren’t native to the River City but now call it home.

GREG BLAIR

Greg is a Canadian native and art professor at the University of Southern Indiana who moved to Evansville’s North Side in August 2019 from Aberdeen, South Dakota.

ROGER KALIA

Roger is a Manhasset, New York native. Hired in 2020 as the Evansville Philharmonic’s Music Director, he officially moved to Evansville from Bloomington, Indiana, in June 2023 with his wife, Christine Wisch.

CHRISTINE WISCH

Originally from Richmond, Texas, Christine – a musicologist and lecturer at the University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University – moved to Evansville from Bloomington, Indiana, in June 2023 with her husband, Evansville Philharmonic Music Director Roger Kalia.

In what areas do you think Evansville excels?

GREG: I think Evansville excels at several things, starting with educational opportunities. Having two teenagers in the local school system, I get to see first-hand the good experiences and prospects they have to succeed. Also, having a highly rated public charter school, and two excellent universities within the same city is fantastic.

Evansville also has a wonderful local design community. The quality of local design and the way local designers support each other is quite excellent.

ROGER: One of my favorite places to visit is the Haynie’s Corner Arts District, which hosts the annual Front Porch Fest as well as a Summer

Wiffle Ball League. (Go EPO Symphonic Sluggers!) I am also very impressed by Evansville’s food scene, particularly the variety of international and ethnic restaurants and food markets … Lastly, the people that I have met here have been extremely welcoming and friendly.

CHRISTINE: It’s large enough to support multiple major cultural and educational institutions, while still offering a lower cost of living and a sense of community found in smaller cities. … I also love being able to enjoy four distinct seasons … I am charmed by the Historic District … the energy in Haynie’s Corner is infectious, and I love the constantly expanding food truck scene.

In what areas do you think Evansville could improve?

GREG: The one thing that perhaps could be improved is how the city promotes itself. This is an amazing community that sometimes does not get enough recognition for all of the incredible things that are going on here.

ROGER: I am disappointed by the small number of destinations that you can fly into from the Evansville Regional Airport. I appreciate the ease and convenience of a smaller airport, but as someone who travels quite often, I would like to see direct flights to major cities. As much as I enjoy Schnucks, I would love to see a grocery store like Trader Joe’s. Oh, and maybe an In-N-Out Burger.

CHRISTINE: I am flummoxed by how difficult it is to get across this comparatively small city … The North Side and U.S. 41 are particularly problematic … I am excited by the River Vision proposal because I definitely think the riverfront is underutilized. … I love seeing how Downtown continues to be reenergized, and I am hopeful, too, that we will get a few more late-night options where people can eat and mingle after events. And lastly … how about a Spanish tapas joint and a Cajun place?

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Revitalizing Jacobsville

Community investment continues with the opening of Baker Flats

BY NICK SHELTON

Jacobsville has become a center for revitalization near Downtown Evansville, with the latest project being another housing development.

On May 21, Mayor Stephanie Terry and other city officials cut the ribbon on Baker Flats. Brought to life by Indianapolis-based real estate developers House Investments and Partnership for Affordable Housing, Inc., the new 52-unit apartment complex offers affordable housing for residents 55 and older.

“We could not be more proud of this project,” House Investments Principal Matt Gadus says.

Gadus adds that the project would not have been possible without support from the city of Evansville, which, according to Gadus, provided $1.85 million in HOME-ARP funding and a 5-year, 100 percent property tax abatement. Gadus notes 28 of the building’s apartments had been leased by the time the ribbon was cut and says the complex will offer services including Meals on Wheels and a foster grandparent program.

The Baker Flats Affordable Housing complex is one of several improvement projects recently completed in the neighborhood, including the installation

of a gateway arch across North Main Street near Division Street, a Dollar General neighborhood grocery on the ground floor of the two-year-old Forge on Main apartment campus, a new streetscape along North Main, and the Deaconess Aquatic Center, which opened in Garvin Park in October 2021.

“This is the look and feel that we need to see all over this city,” Terry

says. “I’m hopeful that our team will be able to reimagine some of these spaces to ensure that they’re more walkable, that we’ve got adequate housing, and that we continue to uplift neighborhoods so that we have a stronger community overall.”

Court in Session

New U.S. District Judge Matthew Brookman brings experience to the bench

BY GORDON ENGELHARDT

Unflappable and unassuming, Matthew Brookman knows the power he yields when he walks into a courtroom. He says he uses the depth of his experience to render the fairest and most just rulings he can.

“I approach it as a difficult job. I try to do the best I can,” says Brookman, who was sworn in as the U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Indiana on April 3, 2023. “Most of the time, when people come into court, it’s one of the worst days of their life. You can’t lose sight that the decisions being made are momentous, that they weigh on people’s lives.”

He was appointed by President Joe Biden. Indiana Republican Senators Mike Braun and Todd Young helped secure a unanimous confirmation.

“There was no controversy,” Brookman says. “It was gratifying to have the support of Senators Braun and Young.”

“Most of the time, when people come into court, it’s one of the worst days of their life. You can’t lose sight that the decisions being made are momentous, that they weigh on people’s lives.”

— Matthew Brookman, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Indiana

Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, and a lifelong Cardinals baseball fan, Brookman graduated from Greencastle, Indiana’s DePauw University, with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and history in 1990. At DePauw, he met his future wife, Michele. Brookman earned his Juris Doctor from the Washington University (of Saint Louis) School of Law in May 1993. He also studied at the University of Essex in Colchester, England.

“I lived in Saint Louis for 25 years and eventually made my way to my wife’s hometown,” Brookman says of the former Michele Herrell, a 1986 William Henry Harrison High School graduate. “I felt like (now) this is my hometown. I consider it a blessing to work in a great state like Indiana and live in a place like Evansville and Newburgh. It’s such an idyllic place.”

Brookman, 56, describes the Evansville-Newburgh area as a down-to-earth, comfortable place to live.

“It’s an easy commute – there’s no commute,” he says.

Brookman and his wife have three children. Katie is a science teacher at Edgewood High School, near Bloomington, Indiana. Brookman notes that she previously played for Castle High School’s girls’ tennis team and is currently Edgewood’s head

coach. Adam is in his second year of law school at Indiana University. Andrew, the youngest, is a sophomore at Castle. Along with his family’s connections to IU, the judge has become a “big Hoosiers fan, IU basketball and football.”

He received the Director’s Award in 2010 from former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for superior performance by an assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. vs. Jarvis Brown, et al. quadruple homicide prosecution. Before his present post, Brookman served as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Indiana from 2016 to 2023. He relished the opportunity to take on

Judge Matthew Brookman

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a different role when U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young took senior status, opening a judicial vacancy in Evansville.

Underscoring the significance of district court decisions, Young’s landmark 2014 ruling in Baskin v. Bogan declared Indiana’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.

Indiana’s district court system is separated into a pair of sectors labeled as the southern and northern districts, which act independently of one another and do not set precedents for each other. The northern district has four divisional offices in Fort Wayne, Hammond, South Bend, and Lafayette, while the southern district operates out of Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Evansville, and New Albany. Each court is made up of five judges who are nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate. Confirmed judges serve lifetime appointments.

“My colleagues and I in the district court are hardworking, unbiased, and fair, which is exactly what the people of this district deserve,” Brookman says. “We strive to seek justice and have no bias toward any litigant in the trial court, where the rubber meets the road.”

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Turning the Page

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s McCollough branch serves as a preview of the system’s big plans

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

When Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s McCollough location reopened June 5 after a 10-month, $4 million renovation, it represented the start of an ambitious 20-year process that seeks to transform all eight of EVPL’s locations.

Conversations started as early as 2019, indicating a system-wide renovation effort making structural improvements while adding new and expanded services as well as updated technology. The result was the 2022 Master Facilities Plan, which makes systemwide and location-specific recommendations to improve the quality of service and increase attendance at each location.

“It had been many years since a master plan had been done,” says Heather O’Grady, chief operating officer of EVPL, adding that after conversations with staff, “the time was right” to update their facilities and get public input on changes or additions. “Updating our library locations across the county gives us the chance to more equitably serve and provide inclusive spaces for all community members.”

MKM architecture + design of Fort Wayne, Indiana, put together the plan for EVPL with help from Illinois-based engineering consultants IMEG, Carmel, Indiana-based library consulting firm ReThinking Libraries, and Evansville architecture firm Hafer. Goals are increased meeting room capacity, updated technology including computers and televisions, and improved ADA accessibility at all locations. Many locations – ranging from 20 to more than 100 years old – also require updates to HVAC and lighting.

EVPL officials say library users will benefit from those changes, and East Side workers already are noticing positive results and feedback from the improvements to McCollough. Claire Winternheimer, McCollough’s location manager, describes one longtime patron shedding happy tears after seeing the changes, saying, “This is beautiful. I grew up coming here in the 1970s, and it’s very moving.”

Claire Winternheimer and Heather O’Grady

Evan and William Villines

“It looks night-and-day different. It’s a completely new color scheme, and much of the layout changed, so … a lot different from what people had seen before.”

— Claire Winternheimer, McCollough’s location manager

Visitors even wondered if renovations enlarged McCollough. Despite appearances, the interior at 5115 Washington Ave. was the same size as before – it only seemed larger because of the rearranged space and larger windows.

“It looks night-and-day different,” says Winternheimer. “It’s a completely new color scheme, and much of the layout changed, so … a lot different from what people had seen before.”

Evansville general contractor Danco Construction brought those planned transformations to fruition at the 59-year-old McCollough. During construction, the library made its temporary home at the adjacent Washington Square Mall, which hosted programming and about half of the material collection from Aug. 1, 2023, through May 18.

McCollough now boasts a revamped floor plan, new furniture, and a refreshed color scheme and look. Some of the biggest changes include a new colorful children’s area with in-wall octagon seating, a new large meeting room and four small meeting rooms with updated technology, and a digital mural called “Bookshelf” by Spence Farmer, an artist and instructional designer at the University of Southern Indiana.

“Before we were in our temporary location, we only had one small group room, and it was in high demand. So, we knew we needed to expand on that,” Winternheimer says. “A lot of care went into the McCollough renovations.”

Patrons are responding: Within the first two weeks of McCollough’s reopening, the library received 50 bookings for its new small meeting rooms.

The goal is to “equitably provide all services at all locations,” O’Grady says. However, the scale of services provided by each location will depend on the size of each branch. Branches are defined as regional and neighborhood locations, with EVPL Central at 200 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. having its own designation.

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“As we renovate spaces, it is our aim … to provide the same types of spaces and experiences at all locations,” O’Grady says. “The communities served by library renovations will experience greater satisfaction in their library experiences and will have a more robust library visit that meets their needs.”

The next step in EVPL’s plan is its North Park location at 960 Koehler Drive, with Danco again overseeing renovations. Changes include a revised floor plan, a new circulation desk, an additional entrance, small group meeting rooms similar to McCollough, updated flooring, and the library will be repainted. Unlike McCollough, the North Park location will not be closed to the public for an extended period or relocated. Certain parts of the library will be closed to the public in stages while renovations are completed.

Whether a location includes phased closings or relocations will depend on how extensive the renovations are. EVPL’s board of directors and Evansville City Council have approved $6 million in bond issuances to fund the renovations to Central and North Park — estimated to cost $1.6 million. Renovation of EVPL Oaklyn at 3001 Oaklyn Drive is in the early stages, pending funding.

“We intend to leverage our existing debt service tax rate to help fund these projects. Thereby not raising taxes to fund future projects, but we do intend to continue progressing through the projects within the Facilities Master Plan,” O’Grady explains.

As for future construction projects, per state statute, all project bids are public, and it is not known which companies will bid until their applications are submitted. Bids for Central and Oaklyn’s branches have yet to be selected, according to O’Grady.

The public’s response to the McCollough renovations has been positive, as is the feedback from the proposed changes to North Park.

Scott Edmond, CCIM Managing Director scottedmond@naiprime.com 812-453-3102

Carrie Figueroa Property Services 812-204-3357

Scott Hyatt, CCIM Senior Advisor scotthyatt@naiprime.com 812-430-4989

Natalie Bueltel Advisor nataliebueltel@naiprime.com 812-900-7661

Holly Edmond Marketing & Operations Manager hollyedmond@naiprime.com 812-306-1544

Stephanie Barnett Accounting 812-900-7661

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“Shared interests, that’s what it’s about,” Winternheimer says. “This is where people come to connect on that level – whether it is literature, movies, or various community efforts, the library is a place for that.”

The community feedback “shows a shared value in libraries, the equality and equity that libraries create,” O’Grady says. “We don’t want the locations to just seem inviting, but to be inviting as well.”

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Fifth Third Private Bank has been serving the Tri-State area since 2000, and over the years our commitment remains the same: to provide best-in-class service so you and your family can ﬁnd ﬁnancial freedom. We have a few new faces to the team: Marshall Byers recently joined the bank and will serve as a Wealth Management Advisor, alongside two relocations, Andrea Braun, Associate Wealth Management Advisor, and Miranda Schultheis, Trust Administrator. Pictured front row, left to right: Andrea Braun, Miranda Schultheis, Gabrielle Jones, Private Banker, Derek Bitter, Sr. Portfolio Manager. Pictured back row, left to right: Joshua Wichman, Sr. Portfolio Manager, Adam Stevens, WMA, Ryan Davis, PB Managing Director, and Marshall Byers.

A LOOK AT WHO RUNS THE CITY

Meet Evansville’s new leaders in the administration

BY JOHN MARTIN AND NICK SHELTON

Mayor Stephanie Terry has had a busy first six months in office, from preparing her inaugural budget proposal, to getting accustomed to her position as the city’s most visible leader. She’s far from the only one, though. Terry has surrounded herself with several department heads who also are new to their roles. Get to know these key officials and the fresh perspectives they are bringing to the city’s administration.

SETTLING IN

Stephanie

Terry reflects on life changes since her historic victory

More than six months after her historic inauguration as the first woman and first Black person to be elected Evansville mayor, Stephanie Terry says the changes in her life are palpable, from the demands on her time to being recognized nearly everywhere she goes.

Terry says one challenge has been trying to control her schedule rather than letting it control her, and she wants her administration’s goals to align with how she spends her day. She’s also striving to be accessible, even if there are instances when lines are crossed.

she commuted home frequently from Kentucky State’s in Frankfort, Kentucky, campus. After graduating, she earned a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Evansville.

“I really try my best to interact as much as I can if I’m approached.”

— Mayor Stephanie Terry

“I really try my best to interact as much as I can if I’m approached,” she says. “I was approached at even my dad’s funeral, and I thought, ‘Oh gosh, really?’ But yes, people want to be heard. And so, we’re trying to do our best to listen.”

Terry’s journey to being her hometown’s most visible leader started early on, with her father – the Rev. Robert Allen Esters Sr., who died June 30 at age 75 –among her influencers.

Terry says her father and mother, Tressie, were married for 51 years and displayed “what service means” and “how you care for other people.”

“Being able to watch him is why I’m able to do what I do,” Terry says of her late father. “I wasn’t called to preach or take over a church … but I do have to care for the people, and that’s responsibility for the city of Evansville. And I hope that I’ll continue to make him proud.”

Other Evansvillians who shaped Terry’s career and political paths were Sheila Huff, a former Benjamin Bosse High School principal who was her teacher and track coach; longtime City Council member Connie Robinson; and the late Marvaline Prince, a local civil rights pioneer.

In 1994, Terry left for Kentucky State University, where she majored in biology, with a chemistry minor. She had given birth to a son while a senior at Bosse, and

She held jobs at a local nursing home and as public health administrator with the Indiana Department of Health, and she pondered a career in nursing home administration. “But I really didn’t feel like I was thriving or could be at my best,” she says. “I left that industry and really found my love in the nonprofit sector.”

Terry’s career then took off, first with the Carver Community Organization in 2006, and then a 13-year stint as executive director of the Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville.

Along the way, she felt a calling to politics. In addition to the life influencers she mentioned, Terry says her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority also drove her political involvement. The organization of college-educated, mostly Black women dates to 1913.

“I went to (Washington) D.C., I went to the statehouse every year with my sorority advocating for things that were important to us as citizens,” Terry says. “That really got me fired up about the government space.”

Terry’s first forays into politics came up short: She lost a race for the school board in 2002, and five years later, she fell short in a Democratic Party primary for an Evansville City Council seat.

But she stayed engaged, and a Democratic caucus in 2010 picked her to fill a vacancy on the budget-writing Vanderburgh County Council. Elected to that position in subsequent years, she entered the race for Evansville mayor in 2023.

Her history-making victory already is the subject of a paperback book, “Evansville Excellence,” and Terry is well-aware of the impact of her achievement.

“The moments that I’ve held closest to my heart are when little girls that are seeing me and seeing potential and opportunities that (they) could be anything when they grow up,” Terry says. “The other moments are when other women have shared just how much it means to see me in this position.”

The mother of two sons and stepmother of one is passionate about youth-related issues. She loves “creating things” and planning events. And singing always has been a part of Terry’s life. She sang in high school and college and performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before an Otters baseball game this summer.

It all started at Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church – her father’s church.

Terry won a historic mayoral election last November, but she says the time she didn’t win a West Side Nut Club Fall Festival talent show while growing up still stings.

“Everybody was on their feet after I sang,” she says. “But I didn’t win that night, and I’ll never forget that. But I love to sing.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE

Much of Mayor Stephanie Terry’s recent focus has been preparing her first budget for the Evansville City Council’s consideration. The Council will conduct hearings on Terry’s 2025 budget proposal, with passage expected in October. Without tipping her hand too much, she says the budget will prioritize public safety, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development. She says one of her goals is seeing to it that “people can connect directly with the work that we’re doing in City Hall on their behalf. I’m really excited about being able to present this first budget.”

STEPHANIE TERRY BIOGRAPHY

Hometown: Evansville / Age: 47 / Family: Husband Marques; sons Denereo, 31, and Myles, 18; stepson Marques, 30 / Education: Benjamin Bosse High School; Bachelor of Science in Biology, Kentucky State University; Master of Science in Health Service Administration, University of Evansville / Evansville Mayor Salary: $135,000

DEPUTY DUTIES

Lindsay Locasto’s career path again crosses the Ohio River

Lindsay Locasto loved her nine years in Henderson, Kentucky, during which she held key leadership roles – president of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and earlier as executive director of the Downtown Henderson Partnership before it merged with the chamber.

But when new Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry’s transition team contacted her about joining her administration, she was ready to relocate across the Ohio River.

Locasto lived in Evansville before moving to Henderson, and “by 2023 I knew I eventually wanted to move back,” she says, adding that her engagement was one reason. “I really do believe it was a power greater than myself that brought me over. I didn’t know that it was going to happen, but it worked out perfectly for what I had hoped.”

“Every day is totally different. And it’s very, very fast paced. That’s probably the biggest shift … just the pace of everything.”

— Deputy Mayor Lindsay Locasto

After accepting the job, Locasto met with Steve Schaefer, who was deputy mayor under former Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. The position was known as chief of staff previously, and Locasto also sat down with ex-Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel’s chief of staff, Rose Young.

She says that because of her work with local government officials in Henderson, “I don’t feel like a fish out of water” at Evansville’s Civic Center. But she’s had to make adjustments.

“Every day is totally different,” she says. “And it’s very, very fast paced. That’s probably the biggest shift … just the pace of everything.”

Locasto is a fast mover outside of work, as well, having completed four of the six major world marathons in Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, and London, England. Races in Berlin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan, remain on her list.

She’s tied her running to her passion for stopping stigmas around drug addiction and bringing awareness to recovery options. Locasto’s brother, Sam, died in 2017 from a drug overdose, and she completed her previous world marathons in support of the Herren Project, which supports those goals. Locasto also co-founded 7 Sisters, a local organization focused on addiction issues.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE DEPUTY MAYOR

As deputy mayor, Lindsay Locasto defines herself as Stephanie Terry’s “right hand gal.” She attends meetings with Terry and works one-onone with all departments within city government. “I can be a liaison between those department heads and the mayor,” she explains. Since Terry can’t be in two places at once, Locasto helps in that respect. “As you can imagine, there are a lot of requests for people wanting to meet with Mayor Terry, for her to be at events. So, when her calendar gets full, I may be the person that goes and fills in for her.”

LINDSAY LOCASTO BIOGRAPHY

Hometown: Newburgh, Indiana / Age: 38 / Family: Engaged / Education: Castle High School, Newburgh, Indiana; attended Western Kentucky University / Deputy Mayor Salary: $96,391

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Danielle Crook embraces her role leading Evansville parks

Having risen through the ranks at the Department of Evansville Parks and Recreation since 1999 – when the figure skater was hired as an ice skating instructor at Swonder Ice Arena – Executive Director Danielle Crook knows the department and how some city residents perceive it.

Crook says a lack of maintenance at existing properties is the most common complaint parks officials receive and something the department prioritizes while striving to make parks safer and accessible for all.

access in and out of our facility. That’s all part of it.”

Parks officials want to add amenities, and Crook cites Wesselman Park as a spot where those goals are coming to fruition. A 16-court pickleball complex and a new accessible playground are open, and more is coming as Wesselman grows to include former Roberts Municipal Stadium land.

“Parks should not just be for specific ages or demographics.”

— Evansville Parks and Recreation Executive Director Danielle Crook

“Parks should not just be for specific ages or demographics,” Crook says. “They should be for everyone, and that has not really been true of the parks up to this point. We’re focusing on whether that means improving sidewalks and curb ramps, making more accessible play structures, or easier

DANIELLE CROOK BIOGRAPHY

Crook says she “fell in love with the city” after coming from Illinois in 1999 to attend the University of Evansville. She took on the assistant manager’s role at Swonder in 2006 and was its general manager from 2016 until 2022 when then-Interim Executive Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Schaefer promoted her to deputy director.

Mayor Stephanie Terry named Crook executive director in late December, days before taking office.

Hometown: Rockford, Illinois / Age: 43 / Education: Bachelor of Science in mass communications and psychology, University of Evansville; Master of Science in family and consumer sciences, Illinois State University / Family: Husband Chris; two daughters / Parks Executive Director Salary: $101,000

Crook says it wasn’t until taking the top job that she finally watched “Parks and Recreation,” the irreverent sitcom that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015.

“The show is relatable for anyone working in the parks and rec field for sure,” Crook says. “It does a good job of describing the variety of challenges that you are faced with in this type of work.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION

A five-year master plan for Parks and Recreation, released in 2023 by a consultant, spells out many challenges the department faces. It cited several maintenance concerns, and Crook says the department has hired an additional crew to tackle those. In total, Evansville manages 46 community, neighborhood, and pocket parks; more than 12 miles of paved trails; and other facilities such as five neighborhood swimming pools (two of which are currently closed), four golf courses, two disc golf courses, boat ramps, the C.K. Newsome Community Center, the Pagoda, Swonder Ice Arena, and Deaconess Aquatic Center.

MORE THAN A UNIFORM

Police Chief Philip Smith fits in at EPD

Iwas not traditionally a target for the police department, but I … fit the mold.”

Whether he’s leading an Evansville Police Department press conference or mugging for the camera while escorting children to Disney World, Philip Smith seems at ease with life in a police uniform. But, as discussed in the June/July 2024 issue of Evansville Business, even he was surprised by how wearing a badge was different from his expectations.

“I’m big on being present … being in my uniform so that if my guys have to wear it, I’m going to wear it as well.”

Fraternal Order of Police leadership. If I make a decision, I’m big enough to say, ‘This is why I made the decision. I respect you enough to tell you why I made the decision,’” Smith says. “I think that goes a long way in keeping relationships tolerable … Even if someone doesn’t agree with your decision, they can at least sit back and say, ‘Well, at least he told me why.’”

— Evansville Police Chief Philip Smith

“I thought policing was everything that I saw on television, high-speed chases, etc. Police get that rap from on television, in Hollywood,” Smith says. “But in reality, what it was for me was an opportunity to talk to people and help people through issues, some big and some mundane, but it’s always a big issue to the person calling you. I saw that part of it, and thought, I can do that.”

Named EPD’s chief by Mayor Stephanie Terry in January 2024, Smith was a natural fit after serving more than three years as deputy to former chief Billy Bolin. That experience was crucial to shaping his leadership style.

“I’m very intentional, not only with rankand-file and my commanders, but even the

Already a steady presence at community events like Coffee With A Cop, Smith plans to stay visible even more now that he is chief.

“I’m big on being present … being in my uniform so that if my guys have to wear it, I’m going to wear it as well. Letting them know that I’m not just the chief of police,” he says.

“I don’t think ordering people to do anything is a way to run this organization. Tell me what you think, and I’ll be a resource for you. I’ll help get things accomplished with my position.”

PHILIP SMITH BIOGRAPHY

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVANSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Like other law enforcement agencies around the country, EPD has struggled to recruit enough new personnel to replace the career officers reaching retirement. Exacerbating the problem is that retention rates for new officers also are not consistent.

“Right now I’m really focused on the retention aspect, keeping the people I have, and making sure they enjoy coming to work because they are my biggest billboard. They’re my biggest point of advertisement. If they like their jobs and they go out there in a uniform and represent this agency, they’re going to tell people about it,” Philip Smith says.

Hometown: Clarksville, Tennessee / Age: 40 / Family: Wife Jackie; children Jasmyn, 15, and Bryson, 13 / Education: Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV Broadcasting, University of Southern Indiana / Police Chief

Salary: $126,769

IGNITING CHANGE

Tony Knight lays the groundwork for a new brand of firehouse administration

Firefighters are known for extinguishing fires, but how often do the flames come from within the firehouse? It was a tumultuous time at the Evansville Fire Department in January when Tony Knight stepped into the role as chief. Two abrupt leadership changes had created a vacuum, and now in the chief’s seat, he has made it his goal to improve the culture.

Growing up in the Posey County village of St. Philip, Knight’s father gave him a first-hand look at being a first responder. A full-time emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter, Knight’s dad took him and his two siblings on runs in the summer.

“That adrenaline begins to get you at a young age, making those emergency responses and watching what’s happening from the windshield,” Knight says. “You start to get interested; it doesn’t take much.”

By age 12, Knight had made up his mind about his future career.

“I have three main principles that I am leading this department by: honor the mission, support our people, and change the culture.”

— Evansville Fire Chief Tony Knight

At 18, he signed up as a volunteer for the Marrs Township Fire Department in Posey County, fighting fires with his father while attending EMT school.

After a 17-year stint in the medical field as an EMT and, later, a paramedic, Knight pursued his passion full-time at EFD, working his way up the ranks from captain and district chief to health and safety chief.

“Knowing that you’re possibly going to be able to make a difference” is a feeling Knight had grown accustomed to over the years. When the opportunity presented

TONY KNIGHT BIOGRAPHY

itself to apply for fire chief, he knew this was his chance to create positive change from within the department.

“I have three main principles that I am leading this department by: honor the mission, support our people, and change the culture,” Knight says. “I want the people in the fire stations to know that they have just as much power as I do when it comes to developing the Evansville Fire Department.”

Hometown: St. Philip, Indiana / Age: 48 / Family: Wife Kerri; children Chase, 24, and Shelby, 22, and stepchildren Kaedin, 21, Gavin, 17, Ava, 17, and Hudson, 11 / Education: paramedic science certification, Ivy Tech Community College; Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama (online) / EFD Chief Salary: $126,769

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVANSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Through his role as fire chief, Tony Knight is looking to bridge the gap between the administration and the “front line” by formulating innovative solutions. “We depend on them,” Knight says. “Do I want them to find all the answers? No, but do I want them to be empowered enough to help find an answer? Absolutely.” Knight aims to keep firefighters more informed and better protected. He has introduced a weekly email titled “From the Chief’s Desk” and posted the department’s budget for all firefighters to see.

OFF AND RUNNING

Vic Kelson takes over at EWSU during a busy time

Vic Kelson has always been interested in water, and he explains some of this originates with his upbringing in Colorado – a state where water is scarcer, and where land is not as lush and green. Water, Kelson says, “is what moves me and excites me.”

After moving to the Hoosier State, Kelson spent much of his professional career in Bloomington, where he earned a Ph.D. in environmental science from Indiana University. He worked on water supply issues and resources management for 16 years with Layne, a subsidiary of Granite Construction, Inc.

VIC KELSON BIOGRAPHY

Hometown: Aurora, Colorado / Age: Did not provide / Family: Two grown children / Education: Bachelor of Science in chemical and petroleum-refining engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado; Ph.D in environmental science, Indiana University, Bloomington / EWSU Executive Director Salary: $123,636

In 2016, Kelson was appointed director of the City of Bloomington’s municipal utilities department, overseeing water and wastewater operations. He already was familiar with the public sector, having served on the Monroe County Council as well as on a township board.

As Mayor Stephanie Terry’s choice to lead the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility as executive director, Kelson has had no choice but to hit the ground running. The utility is planning a new $258 million water treatment plant, and it is in the midst of multiple federally mandated projects to nearly eliminate combined stormwater and wastewater overflows.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the city, getting to know the community. It’s a very laid-back, friendly city.”

—

Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Executive Director Vic Kelson

Kelson says he’s getting up to speed on everything while also relying on veteran EWSU staff members, who he credits for easing his transition.

He’s taking time to learn Evansville, and as a resident of Downtown, he rides a bicycle to work every day.

“It is different, but it’s been a delight,” Kelson says. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the city, getting to know the community. It’s a very laid-back, friendly city. It’s a lot of fun to be in a completely new place, and then living Downtown, it feels like I’m on vacation a lot because everything is new.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY

How big is the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility? It has an annual budget of $165 million, and its inventory includes about 1,000 miles of waterlines, 800 miles of sewer lines, and total infrastructure worth about $1 billion. A large percentage of the utility’s property was built in the 1930s and 1940s. EWSU is funded by customer rates: The average city monthly water bill (based on 5,000 gallons of usage) spiked by $3.10 this year, and increases of $2.83 in 2025 and $2.30 in 2026 are coming as EWSU takes a century-old water plant offline and builds a new one.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Kolbi Jackson’s determination places her at the forefront of metropolitan development

From growing up in Indianapolis, to graduating high school in Phoenix, Arizona, to studying architecture in Muncie, Indiana, to moving to Evansville to run the Department of Metropolitan Development, Kolbi Jackson always seems to end up right where she is meant to be.

After her first year at Ball State University, she was prompted to select a definitive career path. Jackson, who simultaneously had her first child, no longer could devote herself to pursuing architecture. She pivoted to “the next best thing,” urban planning.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in designing, building, or planning.”

— Department of

Metropolitan

Development Executive Director Kolbi Jackson

“It was something that I’ve always been drawn to,” Jackson says. “I’ve always wanted to be involved in designing, building, or planning.”

Three years after her graduation from Ball State, she moved in 2012 to Evansville, the hometown of her future husband, Theodore.

Jackson got her start at Keep Evansville Beautiful, an environmental and community nonprofit, while simultaneously working on a master’s degree in public administration through Capella University’s online program.

After a six-month stint at KEB, Jackson was given the opportunity to work at Evansville’s Department of Metropolitan Development in 2014 by former director Kelley Coures.

Jackson continued to climb the ranks at DMD while also earning a doctorate through Capella, showing her now three

KOLBI JACKSON BIOGRAPHY

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana / Age: 39 / Family: Husband Theodore; children Kabryen, 20, Khye, 11, and Khaori, 7 / Education: bachelor’s degree in urban planning and development, Ball State University; Master of Public Administration, Capella University; Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, Capella University / DMD Executive Director Salary: $103,814

children “what you can accomplish if you work hard and stay determined on your goals,” she says.

Jackson took a job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2023, but it wouldn’t take long

for DMD to come calling after her mentor, Coures, retired.

“I wasn’t sure what my path was going to be, but here I am,” Jackson says. “I truly believe that, at any one point in your life, you’re meant to be where you are.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT

Kolbi Jackson says she has adjusted quickly since her return to DMD in January, recently holding ribbon cuttings for housing developments in Jacobsville such as Baker Flats and announcing plans for new apartments to be built near Bosse Field. “Affordable housing is a hot topic, and it is very much needed in this community,” Jackson says. “Whatever we can do to close that gap and get our residents into affordable homes is a step in the right direction.” Jackson hopes to use her position to be an architect of change who residents can be proud of.

ON BOARD

Six members of Evansville City Council’s nine-seat board are elected by residents of each of the city’s wards, while three seats are elected for at-large positions representing the entire city. Ward representatives Ben Trockman, Missy Mosby, Zac Heronemus, Alex Burton, Angela Koehler Lindsey, and Jim Brinkmeyer are serving subsequent terms. At-large representatives Mary Allen, Paul Green, and Courtney Johnson — all Democrats — are new to elected office. The council, currently controlled 8-1 by Democrats, passes city ordinances and approves the city’s annual budget each fall. Allen, Green, and Johnson talked to Evansville Business about what they hope to achieve on the council.

ABOUT MARY ALLEN AND CITY COUNCIL

As a city councilwoman, Mary Allen aims to be a positive force that represents all people, particularly those who may feel “they don’t have a seat at the table.”

Through her sustainability-based business, Allen has cultivated a passion for environmentalism and enjoys collaborating closely with Climate Action Director Lauren Norvell.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Mary Allen to push for local progress

Former longtime poll worker Willie Allen – mother-in-law of current city councilwoman Mary Allen – couldn’t have been more excited when she was handed a sign that read, in part, “Mary Allen for City Council.” Despite being in hospice, she was determined to lend her support, and even if the support was only symbolic, it meant the world to Allen.

Willie didn’t live to see her daughterin-law win her at-large race in November 2023, but Allen hasn’t forgotten her servant’s heart.

“She was a motivator throughout the whole campaign,” Allen says. “I know she would’ve been so proud.”

Support didn’t stop there for Allen, a five-year U.S. Army veteran and owner of the sustainable products business Sixth and Zero. She received overwhelming encouragement to pursue her new dream after speaking with her husband, Greg, and her company’s staff.

Along the campaign trail, Allen found that some would instantly turn her away when she told them her party affiliation. She offers that if you give someone a chance, you’d discover you have more in common than you might think.

MARY ALLEN BIOGRAPHY

“I always wanted to steer clear of politics because I thought it’s just a bunch of vitriol, and I don’t want to be about that,” Allen says. “If everybody feels that way and no one actually gets involved, then it’s always going to be that way. I never thought I would be in politics, but I’ve fallen in love with it.”

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio / Age: 49 / Family: Husband Greg; children Gabrielle, Christina, and Gabriella / Education: Occupational Therapy Training Program certification, former Academy of Health Sciences, San Antonio, Texas; currently pursuing a Bachelor of Professional Studies in political and earth sciences, University of Southern Indiana / City Council Member Salary: $21,588

DRIVEN TO SERVE

Courtney Johnson seeks to shoulder community responsibility

Courtney Johnson already was a busy man before running for an Evansville City Council at-large seat last year.

Since 2013, he’s run Young & Established, a nonprofit seeking to mentor and inspire the city’s middle and high school students. In October 2023, he took on a role with the Evansville Housing Authority as director of youth and community resources.

There’s more: Johnson has a life coaching business with a dozen

clients, plus a company called Established Marketing, with nine clients. Why add politics to the stack? Johnson views it as a continuation of what he already does.

“A lot of people would always mention it,” Johnson says. “I never felt the timing was right and didn’t even think that it was something that I would even do. But after serving and being involved in the community, there were a lot of things that I felt that should be done differently, or I could do a little better, I should say.”

Hometown: Somerville, Indiana / Age: 68 / Family: children David, 49, John, 48, and Jason, 48 / Education: NECA/IBEW Electrical JATC - Inside Journeyman Wireman, Electrical Theory and Application Program / City Council Member Salary: $21,588

Long focused on issues surrounding youth and education, Johnson these days is receiving a crash course in how local government works – from utilities to street maintenance to public safety. His email basket overflows with citizen questions and concerns.

Those queries cover a whole spectrum of topics. “It could be parks; it could be potholes. It could be anything that someone has an issue with and wants fixed,” he says. “I feel everybody should be heard, and everybody should at least be responded to.”

Johnson says he knows from experience what it’s like to reach out to public officials and hear only crickets.

“I would reach out and never get a call back, but at election time I would always get a call, and I would always see a lot of people knocking at my door,” he says. “I don’t think that’s how we should serve.”

COURTNEY JOHNSON BIOGRAPHY

Hometown: Evansville / Age: 35 / Education: Benjamin Bosse High School; bachelor’s degree in individualized studies, University of Southern Indiana / Family: Wife Annica; daughter Soul, 3; son Mars, 1 / City Council Salary: $21,588

RETIRING FROM RETIREMENT

Paul Green finds new purpose through public service

Retirement isn’t for everyone, and it’s definitely not for City Council member Paul Green. After moving to Evansville in 1997 and working for 20 years as IBEW Local 16’s longesttenured business manager, the Gibson County native decided his work in the community wasn’t over yet.

In 2021, one year into his short-lived retirement, he purchased Taylor’s 2 Steakhouse in Oakland City, Indiana. Even so, he yearned to be of service.

ABOUT PAUL GREEN AND CITY COUNCIL

In 2022, Paul Green took part in an Aurora project aimed at showcasing the experience of homeless people in Evansville. He calls “48 Hours in the Life” something he would “recommend everyone experience once.” Green says, in addition to improving public safety and making Evansville “more business-friendly” through sensible deregulation, it is a top priority to acquire funding for affordable housing.

It was a big deal for Green, who had regularly enjoyed the restaurant with his son, David. Yet, even after undertaking all the responsibilities associated with owning your own business, Green still searched for something more.

“I still wasn’t in a position like I was at IBEW where I could, either directly or indirectly, help people in the community,” Green says.

While at IBEW, he worked on projects with nonprofits like Holly’s House, Easterseals, and Aurora, whose focus on underserved communities resonates with Green. He saw the opportunity to run for Evansville’s City Council in 2023 as a way to make a difference, noting that his time at IBEW “had everything to do with” his decision to run for an at-large seat on the city council.

ABOUT COURTNEY JOHNSON AND CITY COUNCIL

Courtney Johnson says one of his council priorities is Parks and Recreation, and he speaks of the needs at Vann-Pollack Park, near the headquarters of his nonprofit, Young & Established. Dissatisfied with how long it takes to address certain needs, Johnson is not afraid to take a DIY approach: “We fixed one of the baseball fences out there,” he says. “We cleaned up trash and painted a little bit.”

Green believes Evansville strikes the perfect balance. “It’s got that small town feel” with big city appeal, he says, but it comes as a mixed blessing. Green loves outings at Otters baseball games and Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden but wishes everyone could afford to enjoy them. His goal is to kickstart more affordable events and housing projects so families from all backgrounds want to live and stay in Evansville. 

PAUL GREEN BIO

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ACTION STAFFING

Laura Rath, Kim Devine, Diana Coy

DRIVING DOWN MORGAN AVENUE, you will see a familiar sight at the 4004 building. Action Staffing has called this address home for nearly 40 years. According to Co-Owner Kim Devine, she sees grandchildren of the people placed more than 30 years ago. Founded by Jo Ann Vaughn of Evansville, Kim Devine is an original employee.

Action’s goal has always been to offer exceptional customer service at the lowest possible rates. As a general staffing agency, Action oversees a variety of placement types.

Laura Rath was hired to work in the Vincennes, Indiana, office in 2003 and was promoted to Branch Manager in 2009. Since 2016, she has served on the board of directors as Vice President.

Diana Coy began in 2005 in New Castle, Indiana. She was hired as a branch manager and bought into the company in 2013. Devine and Coy each own 50 percent of the company.

“I have always loved that Action is so family oriented. I was happy to buy in and be a part of it,” says Coy.

Action has previously been named on Inc. Magazine’s list of top 500 independent businesses in the United States three years in a row.

Amy Canterbury

AMY CANTERBURY is an experienced community leader, a commonsense conservative, and the Republican nominee for Vanderburgh County Commissioner.

As a wife, mother, and grandmother, Amy has spent her entire adult life in Vanderburgh County striving to make our community a better place for all of us.

Amy previously served as Regional CEO of the American Red Cross and in numerous leadership roles in the banking industry. She more recently served as the CEO of United Way of Southwestern Indiana and has spent her career serving our community. Her efforts have assisted countless families and organizations.

As a candidate for Vanderburgh County Commissioner, Amy is focused on easing the economic burden on Hoosiers by keeping taxes low and spending wisely and efficiently. She will work to ensure responsible growth, support our public safety, and prioritize infrastructure improvements in every corner of our county.

Amy Canterbury is the proven leader we need to work collaboratively with stakeholders and elected officials at all levels to reflect the needs and wants of our community and get the job done.

For more information, please visit canterburyforcommissioner.com.

Paid for by Friends of Amy Canterbury.

canterburyforcommissioner.com

Meaghan Elpers

IF YOU BANK WITH LIBERTY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the work done by Meaghan Elpers. As the organization’s Senior Vice President of Deposit, Digital, and Payment Operations, Meaghan has been an integral part of the credit union’s overall growth and its transformation into a local leader in digital banking.

Nearly a decade ago, Meaghan led an effort that resulted in Liberty FCU becoming the first locally headquartered financial institution to offer Apple Pay. In the years since, she has helped keep Liberty at the forefront of mobile banking services with continuous enhancements to its app, including remote check deposit, a free credit score and credit monitoring tool, and the ability to transfer funds between your accounts at Liberty FCU and other institutions.

Her favorite, however, is a feature she calls Card Controls.

“If you think you’ve lost your card, you can simply turn that specific card ‘off’ in the app. Find it? Turn it back on. Or if you can’t remember your PIN, you can reset it. Again, it’s right there in the app,” shares Elpers.

“For me, the best part is that we’re addressing everyday banking needs. I’m proud that so much of what I do is based on simply listening to our members.”

Colonial Classics Garden Center and Landscaping

THE STAFF AT COLONIAL CLASSICS has some of the most knowledgeable and talented women horticulturists and master gardeners in the area. We feel very fortunate to work with customers to bring beauty and livability to all projects, small or large. We specialize in advising on the appropriate plants and how to best care for them. Our goal is to delight and exceed customer expectations.

Colonial’s staff also has a long tradition of partnering with the many non-profit organizations that support a diverse range of individuals and families in our communities. Owners Julie and JT McCarty believe “the essence of living is giving” and are grateful to all of our customers for helping make that possible.

Hailey Smith, Hannah Garwood, Beverly Herron, Alexis Frederick, Patti Payton, Julie Batey, Theresa Henning, Julie McCarty, Tina Miller, and Renae Newton

Nancy Bach, MBA Founder & Wealth Advisor

NANCY BACH HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT LEADERSHIP comes down to the work you are willing to put into your faith, family, and community. For over twenty years she has dedicated her life to being a personal steward of her clients’ closely held financial goals. Her work is not just a profession; it’s a calling that she bolsters with a strong belief in the power of helping people with an open mind and a smile. Her faith in others prompted her to establish Cottage Wealth Advisors to serve Evansville and beyond with creative thinking and true relationships.

Having raised her family in Evansville, Nancy is especially responsive to the multigenerational considerations today’s investors face. From sending your kids to college to accommodating aging parents, she finds joy when creating actionable plans for every step of your family’s journey.

As her business grows, Nancy has deep gratitude for the Evansville community. It’s a privilege for Cottage Wealth Advisors to put in the work for the great people, businesses, and families here. Connect with them today for an experience that always leads with faith, family, and community!

Securities and advisory services offered through &PARTNERS, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, Member FINRA, SIPC

123 N.W. Fourth St., Ste. One 812-909-9490 cottagewealthadvisors.com

Old National Events Plaza

LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE, the Old National Events Plaza stands out as the city’s premier event venue and a champion of women in the workplace. Comprising more than 60 percent of our workforce, women hold key leadership roles in culinary services, finance, marketing, ticketing services, and sales. We believe this inclusivity encourages fresh perspectives and drives creativity across every aspect of our business.

At the Old National Events Plaza, our commitment to excellence goes beyond producing unforgettable experiences for our guests. We strive to nurture an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. Our team’s dedication to equity and inclusion in the workplace fosters a culture of innovation and customer satisfaction.

We celebrate the achievements of all women in our organization and anticipate their future successes. Thank you to our women leaders for setting new standards and cultivating the landscape of hospitality for generations to come!

Brittany Shouse, Ginger Harper, Amanda Overby, Emily Kemper, and Laura Peck

F.C. Tucker Emge

F.C. TUCKER EMGE IS YOUR RESOURCE for residential and commercial real estate, property management, auction, and relocation services. We have more than 180 professional real estate agents to serve your individual needs — including this group of Leading Women in Business. These women represent F.C. Tucker Emge’s President’s Club and Executive Club, offering outstanding sales performance and remarkable customer service. All F.C. Tucker Emge real estate brokers and sales associates are well-trained professionals who understand today’s market trends and current laws governing their profession.

As the leading real estate company in Southwestern Indiana, we pride ourselves on excellent service throughout your property search and all the way to the closing table. Whether you are searching for your primary residence, vacation home, investment property, building lots, commercial property, or upcoming auctions, we invite you to come into Tucker’s visual domain and view the area’s properties for sale. Whether you are considering buying, selling, checking out the Southern Indiana market, or a career in real estate, you will find the answers at F.C. Tucker Emge, www.FCTuckerEmge.com.

Back Row: Sharon McIntosh, Anita Waldroup, Terri McCoy, Anita Corne, Missy Mosby, Kristin Dannheiser, Mary McCarthy, and Dara O’Neil Front Row: Gretchen Muchnick, Pam Rickenbaugh, Shelbi Carroll, Gretchen Ballard, Amber Wood, Stephanie Morris, Robin Montgomery, and Kindra Hirt

VERIDUS GROUP, INC .

Andrea Herschelman

Director of Client Development, Southern Region

Project Manager, Owner’s Representation

OFTEN IN DEVELOPING a new construction project, opportunities arise where owners need a representative to guide them through the intricacies and solve complex issues on their behalf. After working in the architecture, design, and construction industry for more than 15 years, Andrea Herschelman consistently saw a need for this type of representation in our region. That’s why she recently joined Indianapolis-based Veridus Group Inc. as its Southern Region Director. Through its new Evansville office, Veridus provides local clients the confidence that they have an engaged team to see their project vision through to completion.

Veridus’ comprehensive team of skilled professionals also supports community development through studies, comprehensive plans, and construction project implementation. Team members utilize the core values of People + Process to work alongside clients and guide them through multifaceted project implementation in a variety of industries. From representing clients in the negotiation, management, and execution of complex projects to helping empower municipalities to make informed, data-driven decisions, Veridus’ team prioritizes the client through every step of the process.

Collaboration is a tenet of Veridus’ core philosophy. Through Andrea’s engaging leadership, you can count on Veridus’ support for all areas of Owner’s Representation, Community & Economic Development, and Civil / Site Engineering.

522 Main Street, Suite B 317-598-6647 •

First Federal Savings Bank

FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, ESTABLISHED IN 1904, has served Southwestern Indiana and the surrounding region for the past 120 years. Today, we are a full-service community bank, offering complete banking products for individuals, families, and businesses. We pride ourselves on building better communities by prioritizing and investing in the customers and neighborhoods we serve. This group of women represents First Federal Savings Bank’s leadership team. Our employees specialize in building customer relationships and providing banking services tailored to fit the individual needs of the customer. With locations across the Tri-State and the Henderson, Kentucky, and Petersburg and Washington, Indiana, areas, we provide accessibility to our customers. We offer competitive interest rates and closing costs, and with in-house servicing, our closing process is quick and efficient. Our loan servicing team is available to answer

any questions throughout the lifetime of your loan. Perhaps you’re a business owner looking for small equipment financing, large commercial construction, or anything in between; our relationship bankers can help. At First Federal Savings Bank, it is our mission to serve YOU and provide banking services tailored to fit your needs. At First Federal Savings Bank, we are your #BFF – your banking friend forever.

Back row: Courtney Schmitt, Sarah Cox, Jessica Aldridge, Bethany Cross, and Jenn Goodwin

Front Row: Christy McBride, Elisa Snyder, Anjel Hillenbrand, Jennifer Singleton, and Kristina Jackson

Not pictured: Beth Ramsey

Amy Bouchie CFP®, CDFA®

Julie Hill D anielle Andrews

A PASSION FOR EXCELLENT CLIENT SERVICE drives the work that Amy, Danielle, and Julie do at New Horizons Financial Consultants. Their mission is to educate and empower clients with sound, solid financial information, options, and strategies designed to improve their financial lives. Whether that includes fulfilling family dreams, charitable giving, investing to impact your passions, or leaving a legacy, there’s no need to hope for the best, they help you plan on it.

“Our clients have busy lives and more to do than worry about their money. Providing client service that saves them time and gives them confidence is what we strive for. No client should have to wonder if they are going to get a callback or follow through on their requests.” says founder Amy Bouchie. “We strive to help our clients pursue their idea of financial success and build relationships they can trust.”

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Western Wealth Management, a registered investment adviser. New Horizons Financial Consultants and Western Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.

Stacey Johnson

Regional

Retail Banking Officer

BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THE ROLE of Regional Retail Banking Officer means wearing many hats, and Stacey Johnson excels in her position. As a leader within German American Bank’s retail banking team serving the Evansville-area market, Stacey sets an example of customer service excellence with her commitment to accuracy, efficiency, knowledge, and positive attitude. As a community-minded banker, Stacey willingly immerses herself in supporting bank sponsored give-back programs benefitting organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville, Lampion Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley, United Way of Southwestern Indiana, and YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. You’ll see Stacey volunteering at events like the YMCA Half Marathon, United Way Day of Caring, and Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair.

Stacey understands that today’s customers appreciate the convenience of online and mobile banking, yet also desire access to knowledgeable, local financial professionals. She is available to her team for training and coaching to ensure every customer is served with German American Bank’s commitment to service excellence.

Stop in any banking office in the Evansville-area to experience the German American Bank difference, which Stacey helps support daily.

4424 Vogel Road, Evansville

21 S.E. Third St., Evansville

961 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville 515 Dixie Lane, Evansville

3300 N. Green River Road, Evansville 530 N. St. Joseph Ave., Evansville 8477 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh

2 N. Green St., Henderson 812-962-2265

germanamerican.com

Prime Foods

TO SUSTAIN PRIME FOODS’ INNOVATIVE FOOD PRODUCTION business for nearly 90 years, it has cultivated a strong group of employees to expand and implement the company’s vision.

Like others in the company, Sanitation Manager Maria Vizcarra – a Prime Foods employee for eight years – has been able to move around within the business, picking up new skills and learning different parts of the industry. “I really enjoy the work environment,” she says.

Purchasing Manager Mandy Cottrell shifted her career from retail buying to manufacturing purchasing because “there is a lot more opportunity in the area,” she says.

“We work great as a team and have fun doing it,” says Accounting and IT Manager Lacy Stillwell. “Plus, I think what we do is very interesting. Who else can say they work for a company that boils and peels 1.5 million eggs a day?”

Employees like Customer Service Manager Cherie Hill dedicate themselves to producing the best products and client relationships.

“I feel my co-workers are as invested in my success as I am,” she says.

Take it from FSQA Manager Christine Jansen, one of Prime Foods’ newest employees, who enjoys the company’s culture of collaboration.

“It is genuinely refreshing to be part of a team that works harmoniously towards the same goal,” she says.

These women and more are leading Prime Foods into its ninth decade. We salute them and look to the future!

885 American Way Boonville, IN 812-897-3783

primefoods.us

Christine Jansen, Cherie Hill, Lacy Stillwell, Mandy Cottrell, and Maria Vizcarra

Heritage Federal Credit Union

AT HERITAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, our leading women take immense pride in fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace. We are passionate about mentoring others, driving innovation, and making impactful decisions that benefit the credit union and our members.

We build strong, lasting relationships by understanding individual needs and providing personalized financial solutions. Transparency, trust, and exceptional service are at the core of every interaction.

Heritage offers a comprehensive range of banking services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and investment services. We also have a student rewards program to support and encourage college students to make smart financial decisions.

As a local not-for-profit, we’re deeply involved in community initiatives, helping to shape a brighter future. We prioritize the well-being

of our members and reinvest in the community, driving economic growth and stability.

At Heritage, we’re proud to empower women in business and remain dedicated to our mission: Improve lives; Simplify banking.

Multiple locations • 812-253-6928 • heritagefederal.org

Front Row: Amy Susott, Jennifer Boester, and Jenny Hurley Back Row: Tiffany Wynn, Sami Etienne, Sara Robinson, and Ava Cutshaw

EVANSVILLE DAY SCHOOL

Sarah Jacobson

SARAH JACOBSON IS EXCITED to begin her role as Head of School at Evansville Day School, where she is committed to nurturing both academic excellence and the growth of the whole child. Sarah brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this independent school, renowned for its studentcentered approach.

At Day School, Sarah is focused on fostering an environment where students from preschool through 12th grade can thrive. She was drawn to the school’s strong community spirit, collaborative partnership with parents, and dedication to excellence in mind, body, and spirit. Sarah envisions a Day School where every student feels seen, heard, and challenged to grow.

Before moving to Evansville, Sarah served as Associate Head of School and Head of Upper School at Nichols School in Buffalo, New York, where she significantly influenced the school’s academic and cultural development. She also founded a theatre program and taught at Founders Classical Academy of Leander, Texas. In 2004, Sarah embarked on an incredible adventure, through the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, working on archaeological digs and broadening her global perspectives.

Sarah is eager to bring her expertise, creativity, and dedication to Day School and the Evansville community.

3400 N. Green River Road

812-476-3039

evansvilledayschool.org

Catanese Real Estate

CATANESE REAL ESTATE is a boutique real estate brokerage offering a personalized approach to real estate services. Our expertise helps clients navigate the nuances of the local real estate landscape with confidence. Catanese Real Estate fosters closer relationships between clients and agents. This trust and understanding make the real estate journey more collaborative and less transactional. Our experienced team of agents works closely with buyers, sellers and investors. We even have a commercial division.

Catanese Real Estate employs creative and innovative marketing strategies to ensure properties stand out in a competitive market. We have the freedom to experiment with new ideas and approaches. From social media (reaching thousands) to traditional forms of advertising, we will get your home sold.

Catanese Real Estate has strong local networks, which can open doors to exclusive opportunities and resources that might not be available through larger firms. We personally guide you through the sale of your home from start to finish.

When buying a home, our top priority is getting you the best home for YOU. Through educating you about inspections, appraisals, loans, and more during the entire buying process, we can help you with one of the biggest transactions of your life. Let us remove that stress. We quickly adapt to changes in the market, offering a flexible approach that aligns with your evolving needs. This agility can be a significant advantage in a dynamic real estate environment.

Top row: Ireland Martin, Erica Berendsen, Audra Barbauld, Lauren Lagenour, and Josie Bush

Bottom row: Theresa Catanese and Catie Catanese

Lynne Lewis Emily Provost

THE RUG MERCHANT has been an Evansville tradition for more than 55 years, and the dynamic mother-daughter team of Lynne Lewis and Emily Provost is a major part of its longevity and success. Lynne’s husband, Terry, started the family-owned business in the early 1970s. While Terry remains an active part of the business, Lynne and Emily focus on day-to-day operations including building relationships with residential and commercial customers, merchandise selection to keep their nearly 10,000-square-foot showroom stocked, and helping Tri-State residents select the perfect rug for their space.

The duo admires each other for their exemplary customer service skills and the innate way they work with customers to find the right rug for their space. “I love how Emily interacts with customers. She isn’t trying to just sell to them. She is their partner in finding the perfect rug and genuinely wants their selection to fit their lifestyle,” Lynne says.

Emily echoes that sentiment. “I want everyone who visits to feel comfortable and excited to see what we offer. Our extensive collection of rugs allows us to serve a broad clientele base and meet their expectations,” Emily says. “The rug buying process can be overwhelming, but we strive to make it a fun and educational experience! I enjoy watching my mom talk to customers. She’s so tenacious and works so hard to meet the needs of every client.” Plus, most people never get to see their family due to work. “I’m lucky enough to work with mine every day,” Emily says. The Rug Merchant stays up to date with rug trends by attending several rug markets every year. They also rely on reading rug trade and interior design subscriptions and talking to other dealers around the U.S. However, most of their success comes from simply listening and talking with local clients and designers. Armed with the knowledge and perspective of different generations in the Rug Merchant family, finding your perfect rug is an easy task.

Team McClintock

AT TEAM MCCLINTOCK, which is led by a group of dynamic women, our approach from the first phone call to the closing table is defined by meticulous communication and a deep commitment to our clients. Our strategy integrates a powerful mix of television, radio, internet, social media, and print advertising, ensuring unparalleled exposure and results.

Boasting more than 90 years of combined experience, the women of Team McClintock bring wisdom, tenacity, and insight to every transaction. In today’s market, where homes sell quickly and multiple offers are common, the guidance of experienced REALTORS® is crucial. Our team is skilled in crafting strategies that not only yield the best return on sales but also position our buyers to make compelling offers in competitive situations.

Navigating the complexities of real estate requires a knowledgeable and proactive ally. The women of Team McClintock are your champions in real estate, dedicated to guiding you through each step with expertise and care. In these challenging times, choose the team that stands for excellence and empowerment.

Rely on the leading women in real estate – Team McClintock. We’re not just selling homes; we’re setting the standard.

First row: Susan Haynie, Carol McClintock, and Cherona Hajewski

Second row: Jodi Fehrenbacher, Libby Pittman, and Cindy Howard

Third row: Laureen Ludwig, Mindy Word, and Kelsey Simmons

First Bank

UNDERSTANDING AND IMPLEMENTING effective cash flow management techniques enable your business to cover day-to-day expenses, invest in growth opportunities, and have a financial cushion during economic downturns or unexpected events.

These three Leading Women – McKenzie, Rachelle, and Morgan – are helping local businesses do just that. And with over 40 years of collective experience, this First Bank Treasury Management Team understands your challenges and what it takes to run a business.

They are committed to helping you maximize efficiency, manage money, accelerate receivables, improve payments, and mitigate fraud. With innovative solutions like remote deposit, positive pay, business payroll, easy invoicing and beyond, you’re sure to be covered.

In a recent client survey, these Treasury Management products and services received a 9.6/10 rating. Participants shared they appreciate

our suite of solutions that pair functionality with security and are easy to use and adapt for any business of any size.

Ready to connect? Our complimentary Cash Flow Template is a great place to start. Scan to download it now, and while you’re there, be sure to connect with these dynamic First Bank Leading Women.

McKenzie Ziliak, Rachelle Sneed, and Morgan Hargis

WEST SIDE CHIROPRACTIC, MASSAGE, & ACUPUNCTURE

Dr. Jessica Ignacio

DR. JESSICA IGNACIO truly loves helping people feel better. A graduate of Logan University’s acclaimed chiropractic program, Dr. Jessica takes an all-natural approach to chiropractic care to help people diminish their pains. She and her patients have the same goal: that they are able to do the things they would like to do in life without having constant pain.

Dr. Jessica’s team addresses health issues in every walk of life. In babies, chiropractic adjustments can help with colic and constipation. In children and teenagers, they help with headaches, “growing pains,” and correcting and/or preventing scoliosis issues. Adults who receive regular chiropractic adjustments can prevent or alleviate inflammation pain caused by arthritis, headaches, lower back pain, numbness and tingling in extremities. Adjustments can prevent osteoporosis and stop arthritis from becoming worse in older patients. Adjustments and treatment vary depending on the patient’s age, the severity of the problem, and how long the problem has been occurring.

When patients visit West Side Chiropractic, Massage, and Acupuncture for the first time, they can expect to receive the utmost individual care. Chiropractic adjustments to the spine help correct underlying structural misalignments that have taken place from every day stresses that are applied to the spine. In addition to adjustments, West Side Chiropractic offers massage therapy, acupuncture, muscle rehabilitation, and shoe inserts. Patients have noticed GREAT benefits and FASTER care when incorporating acupuncture along with their routine adjustments. Plus, the benefit of having all of these services under one roof is that all care is overseen by the same physician.

Whether you’re seeking relief from headaches, arthritis, lower back pain, numbness, or other ailments, the dedicated team of women at West Side Chiropractic works together to treat patients and have them feeling better.

Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc.

• Audrie Burkett, Chief Operating Officer

• Susi Racine, Vice President

• Christy Vondersaar, Associate Broker

• Donna Taylor, Associate Broker

• Susan Bohrnstedt, Director of Accounting

• Sally Fedolfi, Executive Administrator

Front Row: Audrie Burkett, Susi Racine, and Christy Vondersaar. Back Row: Donna Taylor, Sally Fedolfi, and Susan Bohrnstedt

Maureen Barton, Kara Rose

WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 12 PERCENT of roles in the automotive industry, highlighting the challenges faced in achieving gender parity. However, in Southern Indiana, Kara Rose and Maureen Barton stand out as prominent leaders in this traditionally male-dominated field. Kara Rose is co-owner of Larry’s Automotive Repair in Newburgh, while Maureen Barton is co-owner of Barton Automotive Services in Wadesville.

Both Kara and Maureen initially pursued different careers before joining their husbands as owners of automotive facilities. They have made significant contributions to their respective shops, which prioritize cutting-edge technologies and deliver high-quality, honest service to ensure customer satisfaction. Beyond their roles in business, Kara and Maureen actively engage in community projects. As founding members of the Tri-State Independent Auto Care Alliance, Kara and Maureen work to educate, advocate for, and support local causes. Their status as independent automotive facility owners allow them to cultivate genuine relationships and prioritize each customer’s experience.

Their leadership exemplifies the increasing presence of women in the automotive industry, demonstrating competence, innovation, and a commitment to both business success and community service. Kara Rose and Maureen Barton serve as role models, paving the way for more women to excel and thrive in this challenging yet rewarding sector.

AMELIA AESTHETICS

BOARD-CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON Dr. Kate and her all-women team are on a mission to change the plastic surgery and med spa industry for the better. Free educational resources, online booking, and transparent pricing are just some ways they aim to make things easier for the women they serve. Their space is full of good vibes, and even better people. But the best part? Dr. Kate and her team are committed to understanding your goals and working with you to achieve them. Amelia Aesthetics is all about women supporting women with authenticity and kindness, and we’re here for it.

111 South Green River Road, Suite F 812-541-4388 • askamelia.com

An Nguyen, Dr. Kate Kottwitz, Annie Happe, Hannah France

ASTRAZENECA IS A GLOBAL, science-led biopharmaceutical business creating lifechanging medicines for millions of patients around the world.

We are excited to highlight some of our talented female operators. We are honored that each of these ladies has chosen to share her talents, expertise and experiences in our workforce. Fostering an environment where employees feel they belong and are empowered to reach their fullest potential is important to us. We are proud of all our employees and the different views and strengths each of them brings to the table! This is our competitive advantage and what makes AstraZeneca a great place to work!

4601 Hwy. 62 East, Mt. Vernon, IN 812-838-4675 • astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca

Top Row: Kelsey O’Daniel, Hope Barrett, Susan Zink, Melissa Thompson, Teresa Schneck, Angela Ames, and Jessica Pace. Middle Row: Shannon Reese, Krista Jackson, Michelle Wrobel, Kimberly Ries, Lauren Nellis, Tami Wicks, Amanda Hill, and Stacia Nellis. Front Row: Kari Denning, Damara Sandefur, Merica Hart, and Selina Wirtjes-DeVoy

Banterra Bank

NEED A BANK WITH SOME GIRL POWER?

We have that and more. Banterra is a growing, regional bank with branches in six states, including five Evansvillearea locations. Our most recent facility is a commercial lending office in Downtown Evansville, where a team of experienced, local lenders is ready to serve your business needs. With Banterra, we offer digital conveniences, competitive rates, strong lending capacities, and exceptional business products, including treasury management services and quick local decisions. Plus, we support our communities through ongoing charity promotion, contributions, and volunteer time. We salute Evansville’s leading women in business and the women of Banterra.

Evansville-Area Locations 866-226-8377 • banterra.bank

BODYWORKS HAS PROVIDED the highest-quality massage therapy services and education in the Evansville area for more than 26 years. Our leadership style focuses on our therapists and clients to create a space where every person can relax into the peaceful environment of our massage rooms.

We understand that our knowledgeable therapists set the overall tone for our clients, and they say, “Working with the team at Bodyworks led by Cecile, Leah, and Emily feels more like a family of gentle, heart-centered people who provide healing for each other and for the clients they see.”

Come and experience a massage at Bodyworks.

2809 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 110 812-490-9009

bwmassage.com

Bodyworks

Amy Allen, Angie Schaffstein, Devon Tonkins, Tina Spears, Lauren Singleton, Paula Cheek, MaNissa Coon, and Kara Bunch

Brittany Doonan, Autumn Devore, Emily Sandullo, Kristen Tenbarge, Cecile Martin, Chastity Axton, Leah Martin, and Cheyenne Ford

BOSSE TITLE COMPANY

Susan Dayton Vollmer

BORN AND RAISED IN EVANSVILLE, Susan graduated with honors from Ball State University with a degree in corporate financial management and then went on to earn a degree from the University of Dayton Law School.

Returning to Evansville in 1996, Susan started practicing law with Jeffrey A. Bosse, the founder of Bosse Title Company. Susan left the title industry to become the executive director of the Evansville Bar Association and then a senior trust advisor. Fortunately for Bosse Title Company, Susan came back in 2020 to serve as vice president for Jeffrey H. Bosse.

4799 Rosebud Lane, Newburgh, IN 812-421-4000 • bossetitle.com

THE WOMEN WHO DRIVE Center for Pediatric Therapy are Ginger Whitler, Owner/President; Karen Lawson, Senior Staff Physical Therapist; Karen Shields, Senior Staff Occupational Therapist; Rachel Goebel, Senior Staff Speech Therapist; and Cindy Lawrence, Administrative Office Manager.

Our company projects the true meaning of a business run by successful women. We have more than 100 years of experience among the five of us in the health care industry.

Center for Pediatric Therapy strives to work closely with each child and their family to meet their goals for a bright successful future.

Leadership drives CPT and we are truly a family of 44 women. CPT was started in 2005 and continues to grow each year.

4900 Shamrock Drive, Ste. 100-102 812-479-7337 • cptevansville.com

Center for Pediatric Therapy

Karen Shields, Cindy Lawrence, Ginger Whitler, Rachel Goebel, and Karen Lawson

DIRT FINDERS

WHEN YOU NEED A MAID, call Dirt Finders, and leave the dirt to us! Dirt Finders Maid Service offers residential cleaning, office cleaning, new construction cleaning services, and residential and commercial painting. We guarantee to provide dependable, first-class cleaning service for your home or office at reasonable rates. For one-time “deep cleaning” or “spring cleaning,” weekly maid service, bi-weekly house-cleaning, move-in or move-out cleaning, office cleaning, or new construction cleaning, we have the people and the equipment to do the job right!

708 Stanley Ave.

812-402-3060 • dirtfinders.net

COMMONWEALTH PAIN AND SPINE

Janet Carlson Sarah Herdes

SARAH HERDES AND JANET CARLSON, as part of the Commonwealth Pain & Spine team, have played pivotal roles in launching a new ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Evansville. This state-of-the-art ASC, set to open in early 2025, promises convenient, patient-centered care. Their leadership has been instrumental in creating a facility that focuses on affordable, high-quality care. The ASC aims to set a new standard in outpatient surgery, benefiting the Evansville community and beyond. Herdes and Carlson are committed to making a positive impact on patient care and the region’s overall health care landscape.

6016 E. Columbia St. 812-476-7111

mypainsolution.com

Summer Kemp, Kristina Lamkin, Bev Berry Pike, Cassie Wellmeier

EVANSVILLE WINSUPPLY

EVANSVILLE WINSUPPLY has been part of the community for 50-plus years, supplying plumbing parts and fixtures in thousands of homes and hundreds of local businesses over our time. Customer service and satisfaction are the core of all our business practices, and the women working in our showroom exemplify that standard. They’re the friendly faces you see upon arrival selecting your new dream kitchen and bathroom set. The women working at Evansville Winsupply are friendly and compassionate, but no pushovers. Working in a male-dominated field can be difficult, but these women navigate the field with poise and a standard for excellence that’s unshakeable.

EVANSVILLE HEARING AID CENTER

Amanda Bennett

YOUR HEARING IS UNIQUE and connects you with people. The fundamental goal of Evansville Hearing Aid Center is to reconnect you with the world.

Your hearing is like fingerprints — no one’s are the same. Likewise, we strive to create an individual custom hearing solution for every patient.

Evansville Hearing Aid Center is the oldest, most trusted hearing aid center in the Tri-State. Committed to leading the hearing health care industry, we strive to exceed our patient’s expectations by providing hearing solutions at competitive prices and offering excellent customer service.

Stringtown Road • 812-424-5116

Mikayla Evans, Brynn Blankenberger, Thekla Georges, Michelle Ferrero

FIELD AND MAIN BANK

Maggie Collier

MAGGIE COLLIER BRINGS A DYNAMIC BLEND of expertise and community dedication to her role as Business Development and Marketing Officer at Field & Main Bank. Recognized for her leadership and dedication to her community, Maggie is driven by a genuine passion for client satisfaction and community well-being. Her commitment to the bank’s mission is reflected in her efforts to enhance banking services and foster meaningful customer relationships. Maggie’s work is central to promoting a culture of exceptional service and care at Field & Main Bank, where every customer’s financial journey is met with personalized attention and guidance. With Maggie on board, the bank continues to set the standard for excellence in the industry, ensuring each customer feels like a part of the Field & Main family.

140 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 102 N. Burkhardt Road, Evansville 888-831-1500 • fieldandmain.com

FORVIS MAZARS

Jennifer Heckel, CPA

Director

WE ARE PROUD TO CONGRATULATE Jennifer on her recent promotion to director. Jennifer has more than 10 years of experience providing tax services to corporate, partnership, and individual clients, focusing on the taxation of manufacturing companies and private equity groups.

Forvis Mazars, LLP is an independent member of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, the firm’s 7,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally through the global network.

400 Cross Pointe Blvd. 812-428-6500

forvismazars.us

INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

ADVANCING MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Julianne Giust, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine and Associate Director of the Mary O’Daniel Stone and Bill Stone Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is triple board-certified and passionate about improving youth mental health through innovative systems and education in evidence-based prevention and treatment.

Kara Garcia, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Radiology & Imaging Sciences and the Evansville Navigator for the Indiana Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI). Dr. Garcia’s primary research focuses on mechanics-based modeling and MRI-derived measures to understand brain development and brain disorders.

515 Walnut St., Evansville 812-909-7200 • Medicine.iu.edu/Evansville

KATE FAUPEL FORD

Kate Faupel

KATE FAUPEL GREW UP AROUND HER FATHER’S DEALERSHIP in Henderson, Kentucky, and was helping answer phones and file papers by the age of 15. Faupel graduated from Reitz Memorial High School in 2011 and attended Indiana University, where she graduated with a degree in marketing. She spent five years working in corporate retail before moving back to Henderson to pursue the family business. Faupel spent time working in every department before earning the title of General Manager in 2021. An opportunity came in 2023 to buy the Ford store in Henderson, and Faupel couldn’t pass it up. Kate Faupel Ford opened in December 2023, and Kate is now an owner and operator of both Kate Faupel Ford and Henderson Chevrolet GMC.

Kate Faupel Ford • 2530 US 41, Henderson, KY 42420 270-827-3566 • Katefaupelford.com

Henderson Chevrolet GMC • 2746 US 41, Henderson, KY 42420 • 270-826-7600 • Hendersonchevrolet.com

Julianne Giust, MD Kara Garcia, PhD

IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Debbie Dewey

DEBBIE DEWEY IS A LEADER who knows the importance of knowledge and skills. Now serving as Executive Director of Ivy+ Career Link for the Ivy Tech Community College Evansville campus and its 10-county region, Dewey came out of retirement to lead a team of 13, whose chief goals are to help employers develop employees, to teach skills-based training in our communities, and to help potential and current students and alumni to find their passions and prepare for employment. Debbie’s previous positions include president of the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville and president of a variety of water and energy companies throughout the Midwest.

OUR GOAL IS YOUR SUCCESS. We are driven by a deep passion for assisting clients in fulfilling their financial goals. At HSC, we provide a team-oriented approach that revolves around understanding your unique needs, priorities, and aspirations, enabling us to implement planning-centric strategies tailored exclusively for you.

Front row: Ashley Schultz, Lacy Bender, and Kathy Ettensohn Back row: Lisa Frank, Michele Graham, and Shannon Brewer

MCMAHON EXTERMINATING, INC., was founded on March 17th, 1971. Meet the women who make up our client relations, bookkeeping, accounting and, of course, canine teams. Starla, Jill, Jordan, Jessica, Lorin, and Carrie all work taking and making phone calls, monitoring our online chat and emails, and collecting and posting payments. Shelby along with Raven, Sparrow, and Indy work in the field keeping our customers safe from bed bugs. They handle our canine bed bug inspections, doing the work that quite frankly most men wouldn’t do. These women are the backbone of our business and have a passion for helping people. They are true professionals, and we could not do it without them.

1605 Theater Drive 812-475-1100 • mcmahoncan.com

OAKLAND

CITY UNIVERSITY

Dr. Cathy Robb Dr. Sarah Wilson

McMahon Exterminating

DR. CATHY ROBB, PROVOST and Vice President of Academic Affairs with Professor rank in the School of Business, and Dr. Sarah Wilson, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Honors Program, both reflect servant leadership through promoting change to improve the student, faculty, and staff experience at OCU. They support a strong agenda for developing an enthusiastic and encouraging environment for students to be challenged in their educational journey. They also stay current in their field by researching and publishing. Dr. Robb and Dr. Wilson are professional educators who are passionate about developing innovative curricula with professional preparation for OCU’s students.

138 N. Lucretia St., Oakland City, IN 47660 800-737-5125 • oak.edu

Front Row: Shelby Buono, Carrie Kensell, Lorin Chambers, and Jordan Brown Back Row: K9 Raven, Jessica Hurley, Starla Lee, and Jill Brown

The Refinery

WHERE WELLNESS MEETS BEAUTY, The Refinery Spa boasts a dedicated team of two RNs, two NPs, one paramedical esthetician, one receptionist, and one office manager all passionate about client success. Our comprehensive services meet and exceed clients’ aesthetic and wellness needs. Since 2022, we have helped our clients collectively lose hundreds of pounds, but more importantly, we’ve guided them in establishing healthy habits for a higher quality of life. We recently added Emsculpt Neo to our wellness services aiding clients in building and retaining muscle while losing fat. By listening to our clients, we continually expand our offerings to enhance their success. Visit us at 8788 Ruffian Lane, Suite C in Newburgh, Indiana, or book a telehealth consult.

8788 Ruffian Lane, Ste. C Newburgh, IN 812-490-0301 • skin-refinery.com

RIDEOUT PUBLIC AFFAIRS, INC.

SALLY RIDEOUT LEARNED EARLY ON that discussing community issues around the dinner table wasn’t the normal family experience. This lesson set the foundation for a career in and around public service. What started with being the second youngest woman to serve in the Indiana House of Representatives culminated in 2013 when she used 20 years of experience and relationships to start Rideout Public Affairs.

Today, Sally and her associates serve clients in all aspects of government and public affairs needs. The team uses a serviceoriented approach working alongside clients to build strategies that manage issues, shape reputations, and solve problems. Rideout Public Affairs helps clients understand the intersection of their work with the work of government to assemble a robust toolbox capable of supporting any public policy goal.

Learn more about the Rideout Public Affairs team at rideoutpublicaffairs.com.

Front row: Michelle Neff, Whitney Saint, and Carolyn McDonald Back row: Cassie Mickelsen, Sheilia Thomas, and Neveah Wilson

Sally Rideout

WOMEN LEAD AT ALL LEVELS within United Companies, whether it’s our CEO Amy Romain Barron, our United Leasing & Finance President Martha Ahlers, or our many female department heads and managers. We’re proud to have created spaces within all our organizations — United Leasing & Finance, Professional Transportation, Inc., Romain Automotive Group, and Tri-State Aero — where women can learn and grow as individuals, and lead and develop our teams. From promoting a culture of process improvement, to striving to provide exceptional customer service, to mentoring those around them and giving back to our community, the women in our company demonstrate exactly what it means to be a true leader.

3700 E. Morgan Ave. • 800-7423928 unitedcompanies.com

United Companies

Third

SOUTHERN BUSINESS MACHINES, INC.

Jennifer Stevens

Dawn Stevens

JENNIFER AND DAWN STEVENS are the driving forces behind this woman-owned corporation that puts a focus on customer service and first-class support. Southern Business Machines, Inc. started as a mailing machine business in 1989, and today it offers a full range of office solutions for businesses to distribute their customer communications. Both active in the community, Jennifer serves as President of the Reitz Home Museum Board of Trustees and Vice President of the Willard Library Board of Trustees. Dawn is on the Board of Trustees of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science and serves as President for the Quadient Dealer Advisory Council, a team representing 80-plus Quadient dealerships. “I enjoy being able to work with Quadient on behalf of the dealer community to provide best-inclass solutions,” Dawn says.

Front row: Tammy Hagan, Meagan Brien, Kris Conner, Martha Ahlers, Taraha Baum, Crystal Loudermilk, Amy Romain Barron, Heather Frederick, Debbie Lewis, and Tracy Liebert

Second row: Laura Dawson, Laura Scheessele, Andrea Shofner, Julie Mills, Tristan Robinson, Amy Herrera, Shelby Steward, Lori Dick, Shanta Khatri, Emily Kendrick, and Caitlin Purkhiser

row: Leesa Young, Samanatha Graham, Stacy Dixon, Laurie Laine, and Ashley Hart

TOURCY

TOURCY HAS PROVIDED guided tours around the world for 14 years.

As tour specialists, their mission is to take care of all the details – so travelers don’t have to – and provide extraordinary customer service.

TOURCY knows people travel for a lot of reasons and being able to help make their travels a reality is joyful. It’s the true highlight of what they do at Tourcy.

All the many details in arranging tours are just details at the time they are working on them, but when the details are pulled together, it’s powerful. It makes for an unforgettable travel experience.

812-781-0201 concierge@travelwithtourcy.com

Tracy Wilson, Lera Wilson

VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY

Kendall Paul

KENDALL PAUL, CEO OF THE VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY, has served the organization for 30 years in 2024. The VHS has experienced exponential growth under Kendall’s leadership. Just before she became CEO in 2004, the organization moved into their current facility near Garvin Park. In 2007 the Davidson-Rausch Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic opened, which has fixed more than 110,000 pets to date. The Happy Tails Resale Shop opened in 2014, shortly followed by the Cardio for Canines program in 2016. Most recently, the VHS now owns and operates River Kitty Cat Café Downtown. Kendall has built a dedicated team of more than 40 staff and 800 volunteers who tirelessly serve thousands of pets, their families, and our community.

400

Dr. 812-426-2563 vhslifesaver.org

Crafting Nature's Beauty

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Friedman Park Event Center

2700 Park Blvd., Newburgh, IN / 812-490-4FUN / friedmanparkeventcenter.com

SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT VENUE

for your company’s teambuilding retreat or upcoming gala? Need space for your family’s next baby shower or reunion? How about the ideal spot for hosting the 300-count wedding of your dreams? Call Friedman Park Event Center.

Opened in 2021 in Newburgh, Indiana, the event center offers 16,000 square feet of space that can be tailored to each event’s specific needs. No event is too large or small for Friedman Park Event Center.

Ideally located in the middle of Friedman Park, our facility boasts an urban lodge feel, with all the modern conveniences and amenities required for corporate events. The ballroom, conference room, and classroom all have spectacular views of the lake and park. The park itself is home to native plants and wildlife like deer, geese, ducks, turtles, hawks, eagles, and quail, which visitors can gaze upon from the large lakeside patio.

Inside, the event center offers a ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 people, a classroom with capacity for 30, a conference room fit for 16, and a boardroom with space for 12. Included onsite are a concession stand, catering kitchen, coat check, and an integrated AV system in each room. We also have plenty of parking and are compliable with the American Disabilities Act.

Friedman Park Event Center plans your event down to the last detail. We always start by walking clients through the Event Center so they get a good feel for the space. We discuss the itinerary, catering, and any special or unique event needs. Our team designs potential layouts and works with the client’s vendors to meet their needs. Our spaces are flexible to accommodate every kind of event, and we utilize space planning software so clients can visualize the room’s set-up.

Need electronics? Each room’s AV system includes projectors, big-screen TVs, microphones, cameras for online meetings, and a Bluetooth sound system.

Our team prioritizes your vision.

Case in point: Friedman Park Event Center provides beverage and snack options and works closely with a local caterer for all other needs, but we also offer an open catering policy, so you can bring in your favorite vendor.

We also love putting a personalized touch on events. Unique requests come from clients wanting to utilize our outdoor area and facilities for

team-building activities or celebrations. We’ve had bounce houses, obstacle courses, group hikes, cornhole, and croquet.

Interested in holding your event at Friedman Park Event Center? We have several dates available during the week in 2024. We also are booking into 2025. Why wait? Secure your event date now, and let us take it from there!

The Bauerhaus

13605 Darmstadt Road / 812-867-3169 / thebauerhaus.com

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE CLIENTS TO KNOW ABOUT WHEN CONSIDERING THE BAUERHAUS?

We’re just 15 minutes from Downtown and easily accessible from any side of Evansville! Our private venue is like no other in the Tri-State and will have you feeling like you’re miles from the office in a park setting.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST REQUESTED BUFFET ITEMS?

Client favorites include the fried chicken and chicken Florentine alfredo, paired with our garlic smashed potatoes and country style green beans or Tuscan vegetable medley. We also recommend trying our food stations, like a taco bar, spuds bar, and other trending menus.

DESCRIBE THE AMBIANCE AT THE BAUERHAUS.

The Bauerhaus is timeless. While both the outside and inside have German Bavarian-inspired architecture and design, the beautiful outdoor park and interior woodwork set a stunning background for events of all themes and color schemes.

WHAT DO SOME OF THE BAUERHAUS’ CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE?

Here’s a review from a recent event: “We had glowing feedback from our staff, board members, volunteers, and guests

about the event! Everyone on the Bauerhaus team was great to work with and we are so thankful for all the help in making our event a big success!” We encourage you to check out our reviews on Facebook and Google to see why The Bauerhaus is recommended by so many.

Emerald Design

AN EVENT’S SUCCESS is determined by the smallest details. At Emerald Design, that’s where we bloom.

Emerald Design offers full-service design, which is the perfect choice for clients who don’t want the pressure of coordinating floral decor. Our team creates based on a color palette and/or theme, sets up the event, and manages cleanup of floral materials. This includes centerpieces, backdrops, and any other place we may add a floral touch, saving clients precious time post-event.

Do you need just a few items? Our a la carte packages are a great option. For weddings, this may include bouquets and boutonnieres for a couple planning to DIY their centerpieces. For a small shower, luncheon, or corporate event, this may be a few centerpieces. Best of all, a la carte items can be delivered or picked up at our store. 427 Main St. /

As well as impeccable service, you can count on Emerald Design to expertly deliver the best style for your event. We do this in part by staying on top of trends. One example: We’re seeing more clients gravitate toward seasonal hues. Think bright pastels in spring, bold color in summer, and rich burgundies and bronzes in fall. Winter events often incorporate evergreen branches that reflect the cooler season. No detail is too small for Emerald Design. Let us help your event flourish.

Hadi Shrine Temple

THE HADI SHRINE TEMPLE GRAND BALLROOM on the second floor of the Hadi Shrine’s building in Downtown Evansville offers an exquisite riverfront event space.

The Hadi Shrine Temple is a full-service event space for weddings, receptions, class reunions, and office parties. For weddings, the Hadi Shrine Temple offers separate spaces for the bridal party and groomsmen to get ready. The venue offers various bar options, including a cash bar, an open bar, and kegs. There also is access to a spacious catering kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, an oven, ice, and more. Additionally, the Temple provides microphones, TVs, and a large-screen projector for displaying pictures or presentations during your event. Clients have the flexibility to select any catering service they prefer. The ballroom can host up to 250 guests.

The venue has four staff members dedicated to coordinating events and will take care of setting up the tables and chairs. After the event, the venue will handle tear down on Monday. Clients are allowed to access the venue one or two days before the event to decorate.

The venue is outstanding and open to the public, providing a spacious area with a dance floor and a bar, ensuring that all guests will have unforgettable experiences.

Knob Hill House

1016 IN-662, Newburgh, IN / 812-205-7039 / knobhillhouse.com

WHAT TYPE OF SPACE DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS?

The Knob Hill House offers a premier private event space suitable for many occasions. The dining room’s large windows overlook the beautifully landscaped covered patio, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The space

includes a cozy indoor dining and bar area that will seat 44 people. Outdoors is a covered terrace with seating for an additional 50 people. The location makes for a beautiful setting for events such as weddings, showers, and rehearsal dinners. It is also a perfect location for events such as business meetings, birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, and Christmas parties.

WHAT CAN A CUSTOMER EXPECT FROM THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM ON EVENTS?

You can reach Kara for booking information at knobhillhouse@gmail. com. From here, we can communicate through email or schedule a time to meet at the venue to go over your event’s needs.

Host your event in the heart of Historical Newburgh, Indiana. The Knob Hill House, with a cozy indoor atmosphere and outdoor patio space, is nestled behind the popular neighborhood tavern, the Knob Hill Tavern. The Knob Hill House is ideal for a quaint reception, fundraiser, wedding shower or business meeting.

private Venue

DO YOU OFFER CATERING?

We do offer our own catering services. Our menu ranges from small hors d’oeuvres to full dinner options, along with desserts.

WHEN WORKING WITH CLIENTS, IS IT TYPICALLY A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS?

Yes, we work closely with the customer to plan their ideal event.

WHAT TYPES OF AMENITIES DO YOU PROVIDE AS PART OF THE RENTAL PACKAGE?

Our booking includes:

• 90 minutes to set up/decorate

• 30 minutes to take down/clean up

• A staffed full-service bar

• Indoor seating capacity of 44 people

• Indoor/outdoor 96-person capacity

• Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth speaker system (indoors and outdoors)

• Private parking lot behind house

• Two TVs with USB/HDMI ports

Link Graphics

SINCE 1990, Bob Fuchs and his team at Link Graphics have assisted customers in growing their businesses with eyecatching graphics production that works to build brand recognition, generate sales leads, and promote new growth. The team’s expertise in art preparation, commercial print production, direct mail advertising, and signage have made them the go-to source for marketing and brand management needs. Link Graphics works diligently to ascertain clients’ needs and expectations to efficiently provide value to the range of products and services offered.

WHY GO TO LINK GRAPHICS?

In today’s fast-paced, multi-channel advertising and promotion marketplace, businesses must make decisions about advertising budgets that achieve results across a wide variety of mediums and products. Team members’ many years of experience provide them with a wide variety of resources, solutions, and products that allow customers to make optimal decisions in allocating resources.

WHAT DO YOU OFFER?

Link Graphics offers a wide variety of printed products through its array of conventional and digital printing assets. The team has long established connections with trade show hardware resources and has provided and assisted many of its customers with printed booth graphics, banners, and advertising specialties. The company’s strong working relationship with the USPS allows timely production,

as well as effective and resourceful direct mail campaigns.

In our technology-driven world, Link Graphics has worked smartly to apply proven digital technology changes to drive down costs in the competitive printed graphics marketplace. You can count on Link Graphics to continue providing Tri-State customers with affordable, attention-grabbing graphics for years to come.

BUSINESS LIFE

AN EVENING OF HOPE April 19, Bally’s Evansville 1. Julia Kathary, Kalah Dorris, Elizabeth Baker, Kellie Hanson, Amy Jo Sheeley, Erin Maile, Judi Keller, Jessica Ellis, Mallory Deckard, and Casey Storms 2. Marisa Patwa

SIX ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE GRANTS May 3, Deaconess Henderson Hospital Holly Trent, Jared Marshall, John Marshall, Julie Wischer, Annette Garrison, Jason Beasley, Bill Fidler, Monica Fella, Cindy Weaver, Erika Nicolas, and Brooklynn Burris

DEACONESS NURSES OF THE YEAR

RECEPTION May 7, Deaconess Gateway Hospital Tamara Brown, Myra Dame, Ada Jane Meece, Sara Van Winkle, Jenna Ritzert, and Morgan Marchino (not pictured: Byron Rademacher)

BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TOWN HALL

May 11, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central Branch John Bartlett, Andrea Hunley, Earl Harris Jr., Carolyn Jackson, Mayor Stephanie Terry, LaKeisha Jackson, Ryan Hatfield, Vanessa Summers, Robin Shackleford, and Alex Burton

AHEC’S

MATTERS AWARD

May 22, ECHO

Community Healthcare Kerseclia Patterson, Carol Collier-Smith, Jane Friona, and Krista Kercher

43RD ANNUAL HERITAGE OPEN June 10, Evansville Country Club 1. Ted Ziemer, Daniel Ziemer, Doug Sheffer, and Chad Perkins 2. Caroline Harris, Jason Wiles, Joe Majtyka, and Christian Beuschel 3. Drew Mathews, Pawan Sooch, Ken Haynie, and Bryan Speer

VANDERBURGH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDES $10,000 GRANT May 28, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana Heather Hicks, Kelsie McWilliams, Mikayla Mack, Grace Walker, Tony Buzzella, Ryan Scott, Va

and Amy

Cun,

Tank

IN THE NEWS

NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS

Ariah Leary has joined Mayor Stephanie Terry’s administration as its community affairs and special projects director. The Evansville native is a public health graduate from Indiana State University and most recently served as director of 21st Century programs at the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana.

Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science has appointed Jennifer Evans as the new John Streetman Executive Director, effective July 22. She succeeds the retiring Mary Bower. Evans most recently was a major gifts/ planned giving officer at WNIN Tri-State

Public Media and earlier was director of development with Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.

Amy Fisher has been selected as director of University Budgeting at the University of Southern Indiana. The USI alumna previously served as controller for JL Equipment/H&R AgriPower in Poseyville, Indiana, and, prior to that, she held a variety of roles at USI. David Henriques has been selected as USI’s new executive director for student success. Henriques served as an assistant professor in the Department of Academic Advisement and Student Development at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania. USI also announced that

Working Together

House of Bread and Peace moves under the umbrella of ECHO Housing

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

In January, ECHO Housing and Community Development and the House of Bread and Peace entered an interim management agreement. After many discussions, both agency boards agreed that a merger aligned with ECHO’s mission while preserving the legacy of Sister Joanna Trainor, who began HBP. That formal merger was completed at the end of May.

According to Savannah Wood, CEO of ECHO Housing and Community Development, the effects of changes in staff and

leadership on the homeless women served by HBP had to be considered, especially after HBP’s executive director Shelbie Auberry left in December 2023.

“When trust, relationships, and rapport are built, we do whatever we can to maintain those relationships while trying to avoid retraumatizing those we serve who sometimes struggle with feelings of abandonment and lack of trust,” Wood says.

The HBP is no longer a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the Secretary of State. Nothing else will change, Wood says, though HBP is looking to the future by putting the women it serves on the path to permanent housing and homeownership.

“To keep The House sustainable, we had to develop a long-term operations and service strategy,” she says.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed two new members to the Board of Trustees – Toyota Indiana President Tim Hollander and Wayne Kinney, the owner of JWK Management Group in Evansville. Both have four-year terms on the board through June 30, 2028. Holcomb also appointed Samantha Fleischaker, a USI political science and philosophy major, to a two-year term as the student member on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. USI also has a new head baseball coach. Chris Ramirez, who most recently held the same position with Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, and earlier at the University of Illinois Springfield, succeeds Tracy Archuleta, who left for Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Ramirez has a 351-202-1 record in 11 seasons of college baseball coaching.

Longtime Evansville real estate agent

Scott Hyatt has joined NAI Prime Commercial as a senior adviser and partner. His brokerage areas for the Evansvillebased chapter of the global commercial real estate firm will include the Evansville and Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky, markets.

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville

has hired Rebecca McQueen-Ruark as assistant vice chancellor of student affairs, a new position at the college. McQueen-Ruark most recently was vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky.

AstraZeneca has promoted Eric Watkins to Mount Vernon Formulation PET lead and the Site Leadership Team. Watkins previously was Formulation PET associate director for eight years.

WAYNE KINNEY

ARIAH LEARY

JENNIFER EVANS

AMY FISHER

DAVID HENRIQUES

TIM HOLLANDER

REBECCA MCQUEEN-RUARK

SCOTT HYATT

Hall of Famer

WIKY’s Dennis Jon Bailey headed to the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

When Dennis Jon Bailey, cohost of WIKY’s Morning Show, learned in June that he would be inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame, he felt “deeply honored, but very surprised,” he says. “I’ve been inducted with people who I highly respect. I’m honored that my name is included alongside them.”

This year’s five inductees will be honored at a luncheon on Sept. 10 in Fishers, Indiana.

The Fort Knox, Kentucky, native’s talents have been recognized before during his 50-year career, the last 20 of which have been with WIKY. The National Association of Broadcasters honored Bailey and his Morning Show co-host, Diane Douglas, with the Marconi Radio Award for Small Market Personality of the Year in 2011. They also won Best Personality at the 2019 Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Awards.

“I firmly believe my induction stems more from my work in Evansville than anywhere else … WIKY and the people of Evansville have made it amazing,” Bailey adds.

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation has announced three new principal hires: Shannon Strieter at Oak Hill Elementary School, Tera Babb at Delaware Elementary School, and Erin Seibert at Vogel Elementary School. EVSC also has named Toni Hamilton its chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and promoted Michelle Williams to the role of chief human resources officer.

Ziemer Funeral Home has welcomed Marley Stratman as its new advanced planning counselor. The 2012 Reitz Memorial High School graduate has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University and joins Ziemer after 12 years teaching at schools in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Saint Louis, Missouri.

Pettinga Financial Advisors LLC has made three recent hires. Sandra Leibering has joined the firm as its Director of First Impressions, following Diane Fischer’s retirement. The Evansville native and Ivy Tech Community College graduate has worked in the business and information technology fields for 13 years. Jenny Scales has returned to Pettinga as a client service associate. The University of Southern Indiana alumna has more than 20 years of experience within the communications industry as well as the financial sector. Anna Palmer has been hired as a client service associate. The Kansas native has called Evansville home for 11 years and has an elementary education degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

ECHO Housing and Community Development

has made several new hires. Adam Commens and Larry Newell will be part of the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program. Commens, a U.S. Army veteran

who most recently worked for the Dubois County Drug Court, will serve as HVRP coordinator. Newell, an Illinois native and U.S. Air Force veteran, will work as a veteran navigator. Merrick Korach, a co-founder of Bedford Collab, has been hired as ECHO’s community development director.

Atlas Van Lines has hired Lauren Piekos as its new vice president of business development. She replaces Mary Beth Johnson, who retired in June after 42 years at the Evansville transportation company. Piekos previously worked as a strategic accounts director at Berry Global and holds an MBA from USI.

DEPARTURES

Diane Fischer has retired as director of first impressions at Pettinga Financial Advisors. For more than 13 years, Fischer was the first person who greeted guests and employees arriving at Pettinga, which gave her a unique opportunity to influence the firm’s culture.

USI President Ron Rochon has left the Tri-State after accepting a position as president of California State University, Fullerton. Rochon was appointed the head of USI in 2018 after serving eight years as the school’s provost. Steven Bridges, a 35-year employee and veteran administrator at USI, has been named the institution’s interim president by its Board of Trustees while the university conducts a search for its fifth president. The Women’s Hospital CEO Christina Ryan will chair the committee.

Rick Emmons, sign shop manager and the artist behind many iconic Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari murals and logos, has retired. Emmons worked for the Santa Claus, Indiana, park for 52 years.

MARLEY STRATMAN

JENNY SCALES

LAUREN PIEKOS

DIANE FISCHER

SANDRA LEIBERING

RON ROCHON

RICK EMMONS

ANNA PALMER

Longtime WEHT/WTVW news anchor Brad Byrd has retired. The Emmyand Edward R. Murrow Award-winning reporter worked for 46 years at WEHT-TV, becoming one of the state’s youngest weekday anchors at age 26 in 1978. The Muncie, Indiana, na tive was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2005.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

For the third straight year, the University of Evansville was named to the 2024 Transfer Honor Roll by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for its support of transfer students as they enroll and work to complete their education. UE was one of 228 colleges and universities to make the list of nearly 900 that were considered.

American Airlines announced that its team at Evansville Regional Airport received a Customer Cup award, recognizing outstanding customer experience, for the first quarter of 2023. The team also was awarded the Customer Cup in the third quarter of 2023. EVV’s American Airlines service is operated by subsidiary airline Envoy Air.

The USI Foundation Board of Directors has named 1972 graduate Robert W. Swan the recipient of the 2024 Suzanne A. Nicholson Leadership Award. Swam is a former university trustee and sits on the school’s Romain College of Business board of advisors. He also served as a director of the USI Foundation Board for 34 years. He is a prior recipient of the university’s Alumni Service and Distinguished Alumni awards.

The D-Patrick family of automotive dealerships has made recent donations. D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln presented $2,500 to Colon Screening for Life, a nonprofit which provides education on the importance of

early detection of colon cancer. D-Patrick Boonville Ford contributed $1,000 to Southern Indiana Resource Solutions, which supports individuals with disabilities on their journey toward independence, and $1,000 to the Warrick Public Education Foundation D-Patrick BMW donated $1,000 to the Evansville Wartime Museum.

Deaconess Health System is celebrating two recent recognitions. Deaconess Gateway Hospital has received a Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. Certification requires health care organizations demonstrate compliance with national standards. The Registered Nurse Residency Program

at Deaconess Midtown, Gateway, and Henderson, Kentucky, hospitals also has been accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition.

The Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. , presented awards at its annual Red Shoe Luncheon on June 8. Geronica Hazelwood, founder and executive director of Missing Pieces Community Development Corporation, was presented the with chapter’s award for economic development. Debbie Calhoun of the #Tech Me Program was honored for educational development. The award for work in international awareness and involvement went to the Rev. Lynn Renne of Amani Partners Kenya. Registered Nurse April Goebel received honors for physical and mental health. Community organizer Amy DeVries was honored for political awareness and involvement. Trinisia Brooks, a culturally responsive trauma-informed practitioner and owner of YOUr Advocate Consulting, was recognized for community outreach. Youth Award recipients included Sophie Golday and Jahzara McAlister.

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville honored several area business leaders during its 2024 spring commencement ceremony. Malcolm Wickware, founder and attorney at Evansville’s Wickware Law Offices, received the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess Health System, was named the Benefactor of the Year. Leah Davis, the school’s disability support adviser, received this year’s President’s Spirit of Diversity Award.

Law firm Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP has been recognized by ClearlyRated’s annual Best of Legal Awards for providing superior service. ClearlyRated, a customer satisfaction and experience management company, surveys clients across a variety of industries and ranks businesses by a Net Promoter score. In 2024, KDDK earned a Net Promoter score of 85.9 percent, compared to the 2023 industry average of 37 percent.

GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville and Aurora Material Solutions have established a partnership program, under which apprentices will pursue an industrial maintenance repair technician certificate with Ivy Tech while being employed by Aurora. The partnership is funded by a $4.7 million grant through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building American program.

University of Southern Indiana’s College of Nursing and Health Professions has received $5 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to renew its Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program for five years. USI in 2019 received a $3.7 HRSA million grant to implement the program as a five-year project to improve health outcomes for older adults in underserved Southwestern Indiana com-

Ports of Indiana have selected OmniTRAX as the new rail operator and development partner at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon, the state’s largest port. The Denver, Colorado, company was chosen from 19 respondents to provide rail switching and business development support at the Mount Vernon port on the Ohio River, which covers 1,200 acres and is home to 12 companies, with annual shipments of about 6.7 million tons and 40,000

D-PATRICK FORD/LINCOLN AND COLON SCREENING FOR LIFE

Jasper, Indiana-based German American

million.

ADVERTISING INDEX

Alex Chang

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in biology, University of Chicago, Illinois; master’s degree in hospital administration, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; master’s degree in health law, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey

RESUME: Administrative resident, Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, Florida; associate administrator, HCA Northside Hospital and Heart Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida; chief operating officer, HCA South Bay Hospital, Sun City Center, Florida; chief operating officer, HCA Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, Aventura, Florida; chief operating officer, HCA Fawcett Memorial Hospital and Englewood Community Hospital, Port Charlotte, Florida; vice president, support services/cardiac administrator, UF Health Central Florida, Leesburg, Florida; south region president, Ascension St. Vincent Evansville (August 2022-present)

HOMETOWN: Tampa, Florida

FAMILY: Wife Theresa; children Josh and Liam

The son and brother of physicians, Alex Chang thought he would follow in their footsteps. Instead, hospital administration called his name. After more than 20 years as a health care executive, Chang relocated in 2022 from Florida to Indiana to lead Ascension St. Vincent’s South Region. He feels right at home in Evansville.

“[I] didn’t know anything about Evansville before this,” he says. “It turned out to be a really great move. I think it’s one of those areas where you discover the city if you didn’t grow up here, and then you realize all it has to offer.”

DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY FROM FLORIDA TO INDIANA.

I was a cook in the cafeteria at my local hospital in my later years of high school. I thought I was going to be a physician. As a junior in college, I couldn’t see myself going to school for another 7-10 years, so I pivoted and decided I would be able to serve in a health care capacity much greater if I went into hospital administration. … At the end of 2021, I left the University of Florida. … I wanted to find a role in this system that had a faith-based focus, and after some searching, this position came open, and I found that it was a real connection.

DID YOU ANTICIPATE BECOMING A REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?

I think that was the ultimate goal. I’ve tried to focus on improving care wherever I’ve been, in whatever executive role I’ve been, and so this is the culmina-

tion of a dream I’ve had, but also in the right circumstance. I could have been president much earlier in other areas, but it’s where you want to put roots down and then also who you want to be working for or be part of. So that’s why I think I’m lucky that I’ve been able to become president, but in the right circumstance.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR ASCENSION ST. VINCENT EVANSVILLE?

This system, whether it’s St. Mary’s or St. Vincent’s, has always had a rich and storied tradition. It’s always been a really strong health care provider, and it’s always treated the community well. We continue to look at how we strengthen our community ties, make sure the health care services we perform are our highest caliber, and we’re looking at more access points to serve the community. We are doing a major

renovation of our women’s hospital. We have completely redesigned the mother baby unit [and] our emergency obstetrics department and are now moving to our new labor and delivery suites. … We’re also trying to recruit physicians who come to Evansville and the surrounding areas so that we make sure we have great providers.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ASCENSION GROW REGIONALLY?

I think we want to continue to build upon creating access points for people to seek health care in all different areas. People want to be as close to health care as they can get, so I want to grow for folks that need primary care on the West Side, Newburgh, Henderson, and those surrounding areas. We want to continually strengthen our tertiary-level services so that when people need emergency care, they come to us.

As a way of saying thank you for all your diligent work in our communities, CenterPoint Energy’s Small Business Energy Solutions is offering nonprofits a 50% bonus rebate* for qualifying electric savings upgrade projects when they apply by Nov. 30, 2024.

Find out how you can benefit from energy savings! For more information contact Kristen Cain at 812-568-0725 or KCain@Resource-Innovations.com.

*The 50% bonus will be applied after the 50% project cap for the CenterPoint Energy Small Business Energy Solutions rebates. The total rebate amount with bonus cannot exceed the full cost of the project and applies to all final applications received by Nov. 30, 2024. Any projects that are already preapproved or installed are not eligible for the bonus. Additional program Terms and Conditions apply.