BusINess Magazine

SPRING 2011

HALL OF FAME

WHY DO THESE PEOPLE

Give Back?

FAITH IN THE FUTURE. LEGACY. JUST PLAIN GENEROUS.

DAVE WILKINSON

JOHN R. BARNEY

SHAR AND GARY MILLER

MICHAEL BRENNAN

JAMES L. JORGENSEN

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. JOSEPH, MI PERMIT #65

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Local and Loyal… Your Community Bank Recognize us?

Meet the members of the Peoples Bank executive team who are committed to taking care of your personal and business financial needs. You may recognize a face or two from having seen us in your neighborhood, in the park, or at the grocery store…because we live and work here.

We have a stake in the well-being of this region, and we believe strongly in the value of relationships. It’s important that we get to know you so that we’re here for you as your needs continue to grow and change. Putting you first is what we’re all about, and we’re proud to carry on a tradition that began 100 years ago.

Now that you’ve met us, we hope the next time you have a question about any of our full range of products and services, you’ll know who to call. You can reach us at 219-836-4400 or visit us at www.ibankpeoples.com.

The Peoples Bank executive team that serves you, standing: Ben Bochnowski, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives; Terry Quinn, Senior Vice President, Chief Wealth Management Officer; Todd Scheub, Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer; Betsy Kasenga, Vice President, Human Resource Manager; Leane English Cerven, Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary; Tanya Buerger, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer; Marilyn Furticella, Vice President, Marketing. Seated: Joel Gorelick, President and Chief Administrative Officer; Carla Houck, Vice President, Retail Banking Group; David Bochnowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Bob Lowry, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; John Diederich, Executive Vice President; Stacy Januszewski, Senior Vice President, Risk Management Group.

personal banking

>

commercial banking

>

wealth management

Member FDIC

Contents BIZ WORTHY

6

COVER STORY

9

15 16

JOHN R. BARNEY A Man of True Dedication, Restaurant owner John Barney steps up for the Region.

18

MICHAEL BRENNAN Visionary Breathes New Life into the Region, Brennan rebuilds a factory as an outlet mall.

2 | IN BUSINESS

Purdue University Calumet honored six local businesses and organizations for partnering with students and faculty within the university’s experiential learning initiative.

JOHN J. WATKINS, THE TIMES

WHY DO THEY GIVE? THE NORTHWEST INDIANA BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME 2011 We honor five local leaders who have made an indelible mark on the Region.

The stories of the class of 2011 — John R. Barney, Michael Brennan, James L. Jorgensen, Gary and Shar Miller and Dave Wilkinson, are a record of achievement and philanthropy.

20

The parent company of State Line Energy LLC: The Hammond power plant could shut down in about four years — if certain tighter state and federal environmental regulations are finalized.

22 24

JAMES L. JORGENSEN Bringing the Region Together, Jorgensen helps Northwest Indiana see the big picture.

DAVE WILKINSON Dedicated and Driven, Wilkinson rises to the top of a grocery chain.

GARY AND SHAR MILLER Four Generations of Caring and Compassion, Miller’s ambulance service answers the call for Northwest Indiana.

MY TURN

27

Anatomy of a business leader: Former Hall of Fame Winner and President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum describes the winning attributes of visionary leaders in the Region. By Mark Maassel

TAX TIME

28

Charitable IRA Rollover a win-win: A how-to on maximizing the benefits of your charitable contributions.

By Christopher Yugo

BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD

31

Meet our newest advisory board member: Mona Vaccarella, Vice-President of Human Resources at Majestic Casinos & Hotel in Gary.

By Lu Ann Franklin

CALENDAR

32

Business calendar: Check out upcoming events in your area

Congratulations TO OuR PRESIDENT

DAvE WIlkINSON FOR BEING HONORED IN THE NORTHWEST INDIANA

Built around you!

Built around you!

www.strackandvantil.com

Publisher’s Letter SPRING 2011

Born or self-made, leaders are always tested and these stand out

I

BY BILL MASTERSON JR. Publisher, BusINess, The Times Media Co.

We want to hear from you E-mail bill.masterson @nwi.com or write to BusINess Magazine, The Times, 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321

4 | IN BUSINESS

n any successful endeavor, including a career, risk is always a factor. Good timing and great luck are as predictable in a business environment as setbacks, downward swings, difficult cycles and other adverse conditions. High-achievers reach their goals and the top of their profession through knowledge, experience, skill and an ability to navigate like crazy. This issue is dedicated to leaders who have given back to our community again and again and who had the grit and single-minded determination to get into a position to be able to focus on legacy and philanthropy. They are an inspiration.

The 2011 class of The Times of Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame is composed of a group of individuals who have proved over and over again the importance of a strong belief in hope and vision of a better tomorrow, by continuing the single-minded determination to make something happen today.

Read about Jim Jorgensen, a partner at Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, and you will see that Jorgensen’s wisdom and thought-provoking advice is as important as ever in the critical times ahead for Northwest Indiana.

Our second Hall of Fame winner, Gary Miller, remembers the day his father began to train him to become a man. He was five years old and his dad Robert Miller was stacking boxes of Cracker Jack for the Lions Club and peanuts for the Kiwanis in the garage. Quality of service is vital and the level of Prompt Ambulance’s corporate citizenship commitment is well-known.

Our third winner, John Barney may be best known as owner and operator of four local Wendy’s restaurants, but his personal achievements surpass his business career.

When Dave Wilkinson started working at Strack & Van Til’s Hammond store 36 years ago carrying groceries for customers, he just wanted to earn some extra spending money while attending Purdue. Wilkinson has climbed to the top of that corporation and is president and CEO of the Strack & Van Til Group, which includes Strack & Van Til Supermarkets, Town and Country, and Ultra Food Stores.

Michael Brennan built the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet mall in 1987.

I congratulate these pathfinders as they join our honorees from other years in The Times’ Business and Industry Hall of Fame.

On behalf of all of us in Northwest Indiana and The Times communities, I thank you all for your vision, commitment and contributions.

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1

Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. Founding Editor William Nangle Associate Publisher/Editor Pat Colander Advertising Operations Manager Eric Horon Associate Editors Julia Perla Huisman, Matt Saltanovitz Design Director Ben Cunningham Designer April Burford Contributing Writers Heather Augustyn, Cal Bellamy, Keith Benman, Dan Carden, Ed Charbonneau, Lu Ann Franklin, Jeremy Gantz, Carmen McCollum, Kathleen Quilligan, Bill Thon, Brian Williams Contributing Photographer Tony V. Martin Advertising Director Lisa M. Daugherty Advertising Managers Deb Anselm, Eric Horon, Jeffrey Precourt Business Advisory Board Dave Bochnowski, Peoples Bank; Wil Davis, Gary Jet Center; Nick Meyer, NIPSCO; Barb Greene, Franciscan Physician Hospital; Tom Gryzbek, St. Margaret Mercy Hospital; Stephan K. Munsey, Family Christian Center; Bert Scott, Indiana University Northwest; Bill Thon, Ivy Tech State College; Mona Vaccarella, Majestic Star Casino & Hotel Copyright, Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland BusINess, 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

Next Issue  Publishing May 2011

?

?

ProfessIoNals

to Watc h

?

Munster sales 219.933.3200

to adVertIse coNtact crown Point sales Valparaiso sales 219.662.5300 219.462.5151

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BizWorthy POLICY

STATE LINE EXEC: Enviro rules foreshadowing plant closure THE PARENT COMPANY of State Line Energy LLC said the Hammond power plant could shut down in about four years — if certain tighter state and federal environmental regulations are finalized.

Mark McGettrick, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Dominion Resources Inc., said in a company presentation at an investor conference in California in November that State Line was among its coal-fired power plants that would not receive any significant environmental improvements in the next few years.

In the next five years, McGettrick said the Richmond, Va.-based utility also planned to shift its focus from the merchant power generation business to its regulated businesses, which have stronger growth potential.

Power plants, such as State Line supply electricity to wholesale markets. The plant sits on the Chicago-Hammond border near Lake Michigan and operates two coal-fired boilers generating enough electricity to power about 128,000 homes.

“We’re not going to invest capital controls in that and when the (Environmental Protection Agency) came out with their one-hour (sulfur dioxide) rule, it was clear that life for that plant was either between 2014 or 2017, depending on when the state of Indiana comes out with their implementation plan,” McGettrick said Nov. 2 at the Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference.

Dominion spokesman Jim Norvelle said the company recorded a $163 million impairment charge in the second quarter

6 | IN BUSINESS

State Line Energy’s Hammond power plant, seen sandwiched between Horseshoe Casino and the Chicago skyline, might be closed in four years. TIMES FILE PHOTO

to reduce the value of the Hammond operation. He said the charge resulted from the decision to not invest to meet the more stringent rules being developed combined with the facility’s low level of profitability. State Line already uses a lowsulfur coal from Wyoming that helps keep it in compliance with current environmental rules, Norvelle said.

The Environmental Law and Policy Center released a report earlier this week and estimated the public health cost from the State Line operation to be at least $540 million since 2002. The group criticized State Line as well as other Chicago-area coal-fired power plants for the health problems that could result from decreased air quality.

“Dominion Resources acknowledged

that it will be shutting down the old State Line coal plant, but not soon enough,” ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner said in a statement. “Dominion seems determined to run this old clunker as long as it can without investing in modern pollution controls. It’s time for IDEM and U.S. EPA to step up and tell Dominion to either install pollution controls now, or shut this plant down. Enough is enough.”

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he spoke with representatives from State Line and learned about the future of the plant being in jeopardy. McDermott said he hoped there would be a way the plant could generate power using another fuel and possibly save the 120 jobs at the plant and preserve Hammond’s biggest property taxpayer. BY BOWDEYA TWEH, THE TIMES

SALUTE

MANAGEMENT

Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder

White Lodging now managing Nashville hotel

The physicians of Moore Surgical Associates have joined LaPorte Regional Physician Network and are accepting new patients at their office locations in LaPorte and Knox. Moore Surgical Associates includes physicians James Cornwell, MD, FACS; Myung “Mimi” Kim, MD; Brian Moore, MD, FACS; and Wayne Moore, MD, FACS. The group provides general, thoracic, trauma, endocrine and pediatric surgical services. They also provide specialized treatment of cancers.

In addition, Steven Chmil, MD, recently joined Moore Surgical Associates in September.

CORNWELL

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors recently recognized Jeffrey A. Bartholomew of Bartholomew & Son Inc. in Valparaiso for being among the first group of CICs to reach 30 years with this designation.

LeAndra Freeman, of Crown Point; Kim Hirchak, of Highland; Sam Bull, of Hobart; and Nanette Stokes, of St. John, received honors for Lia Sophia’s Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their sales accomplishments.

KIM

B. MOORE

Allstate agents Jack Keithley, of Lowell; Eric Miller, of Crown Point; and Mary Moynihan, of Munster, were recognized as Chairman’s Conference Award recipients for their customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitable business growth.

The Hospice of the Calumet Area Board of Directors named the following as officers for 2010-2011: John T. (Jack) Stephens, president; Lisa Misner-Skozen, vice president; Marion (Red) Fulte, secretary; and Mitch Gaffigan, treasurer. New members of the board are Rocharda Moore Morris, of Hammond, and Linda Randolph of East Chicago.

To submit an item for Salute, send information and a photo, if available, to 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321, e-mail to business@nwitimes.com or fax to (219) 933-3249. Faxed photos will not be published.

IMPROVEMENT

Infrastructure investments announced for Newton County

Kati Lapsley has been named as store manager at Maurices in Valparaiso. Lapsley is responsible for the dayto-day operations of the store, including sales performance, visual presentation, and personnel recruitment and training.

Steve Willis has joined ServiceMaster by Monroe Restoration of Valparaiso and South Bend as general manager. Willis has 18 years of experience in disaster recovery, fire and water restoration, indoor air quality and HVAC ventilation system inspection and cleaning.

WHITE LODGING has recently assumed management of the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, according to the company.

The acquisition marks Merrillville-based White Lodging Service Corp.’s first managed property in Nashville and the eighth addition to the company’s portfolio in 2010.

The hotel, located in the heart of Vanderbilt University, features 307 guest rooms, including six suites.

White Lodging owns or manages 152 hotels in 18 states, including the Marriott International Inc., Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Global, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotel Group and Carlson Hotels Worldwide brands. BY TIMES STAFF‌

W. MOORE

CHMIL

THE NEWTON COUNTY Rural Electric Membership Coalition will receive an electric loan guarantee, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky’s office has reported.

The funds will be used to serve 80 new customers, build 12 miles of new distribution line and make improvements to 27 miles of distribution line.

“This investment in a stable electric infrastructure will help ensure reliable power for families and businesses in Newton County, a necessity for continued economic development in our rural communities,” Visclosky said.

The Newton County Rural Electric Membership Coalition is one of 50 recipients in 31 states to receive the guaranteed loans announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. The guarantee, which is funded by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, comes on a $1.7 million loan with the Federal Financing Bank. BY TIMES STAFF‌

SPRING 2011 | 7

BizWorthy JOB WATCH

SALUTE

Employment in the Calumet Region

Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder

Lake County DEC. 2009

DEC. 2010

CHANGE

Labor force

217,264

217,728

UP 464

Employed

194,820

196,006

UP 1,186

Unemployed

22,444

21,722

DOWN 722

DEC. 2009

DEC. 2010

CHANGE

Labor force

80,273

80,025

DOWN 248

Employed

73,064

73,509

UP 445

Unemployed

7,209

6,516

DOWN 693

DEC. 2009

DEC. 2010

CHANGE

Labor force

50,950

50,719

DOWN 231

Employed

44,930

45,378

UP 448

Unemployed

6,020

5,341

DOWN 679

Percent of workforce unemployed 10 percent

Porter County Percent of workforce unemployed 8.1 percent

LaPorte County Percent of workforce unemployed 10.5 percent

Cook County DEC. 2009

DEC. 2010

CHANGE

Labor force

2,573,188

2,608,984

UP 35,796

Employed

2,294,047

2,376,939

UP 82,892

279,141

232,045

DOWN 4,7096

Unemployed

Percent of workforce unemployed 8.9 percent

Will County DEC. 2009

DEC. 2010

CHANGE

Labor force

360,823

366,006

UP 5,183

Employed

321,519

333,137

UP 11,618

Unemployed

39,304

32,869

DOWN 6,435

Percent of workforce unemployed 9 percent

Sources: Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Illinois Department of Employment Security

8 | IN BUSINESS

Allstate Insurance Company has named Elaine Morris, of Chesterton, as its Startup Agent of the Year for Indiana in recognition of her agency’s superior achievements in customer loyalty, sales and business growth in 2009.

Michael Griffin, Highland clerk-treasurer, has completed his Certified Public Finance Administrator credential by the Association of Public Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada. This designation, which requires renewal every five years, represents his second renewal. Griffin was the second designee in the state to have earned it, and is one of nine people statewide with this designation.

Tammy Flack Moore has joined Horizon Gymnastics Center in Valparaiso as marketing director and instructor.

The Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission has chosen Ronald J. (Ron) Donahue at Prompt as Indiana’s Dispatcher of the Year.

Prompt EMS calls for Dyer, Griffith, Highland, Merrillville and Munster.

Ken Monaldi, of Munster, has been selected by Schlumberger Technology Corp to become a reservoir engineer for the North American Off-Shore Division based in Houston.

Monaldi also is acting as the technical sales liaison for the Artificial Gas Lift Division.

MORRIS

GRIFFIN

MOORE

DONAHUE

MONALDI

EDUCATION KUDOS

Purdue honors real-life teaching HAMMOND | PURDUE UNIVERSITY CALUMET recently honored six local businesses and organizations for partnering with students and faculty within the university’s experiential learning initiative.

Winners of the 2010 Experiential Learning Exemplary Community Partner Awards include: • KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, of Hammond, selected by the School of Education for placing student teachers in classrooms for observation • PROFILE SYSTEMS OF MERRILLVILLE, selected by the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science for hands-on experiences in the management of programming, access and monitoring of wireless controls • MERRILLVILLE TRAVEL, selected by the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences for contributing to an educational study cruise course for hospitality and tourism management majors • SWARTZ, RETSON & CO. accounting firm of Merrillville, selected by the School of Management for mentoring students during internships • NORTHWEST INDIANA AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER of Merrillville, selected by the School of Nursing for partnering with students through facilitation of cultural awareness activities, establishing clinical rotation sites in underserved areas and providing service learning and grant opportunities • HAMMOND MAYOR’S HOUSING INITIATIVE TASK FORCE, selected by the School of Technology for engaging students in performing home inspections.

The experiential learning initiative aims to combine traditional classroom learning with the learning that occurs in the workplace.

For more information, visit www.calumet.purdue.edu.

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NEW BANK

Fifth Third bank opens in Hammond Strack & Van Til HAMMOND | FIFTH THIRD BANK recently opened a new

branch in the Strack & Van Til Supermarket at 115 E. Sibley Ave. The branch is Fifth Third’s 188th in the Chicago area, and one of many in Northwest Indiana For more information, visit www.53.com.

BY TIMES STAFF

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SPRING 2011 | 9

BizWorthy HONORS

SALUTE

Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder Karen Siggins is the new creative team leader for the Crown Point Vanis Salon. She has more than 20 years of experience.

Dawn Pelc, of St. John, recently joined Churchill Weavers. She is the sales and marketing representative for the Midwest Division.

Todd Avery, of Crown Point, has joined Ossur-Americas. as area manager-orthopaedics.

He will be responsible for sales in Illinois and Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

Dr. Cynthia Lembcke Grundy, of Great Lakes Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Crown Point and St. John, recently received additional board certification for Reconstructive Rear Foot and Ankle Surgery through The American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

La Porte Regional Physician Network Physiatrist Swathi Mothkur recently was certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners.

She also is Board Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

PELC

AVERY

MOTHKUR

BREWER

MICHNA

10 | IN BUSINESS

James P. Anton, of Anton Insurance Agency in Chesterton and Valparaiso, was honored

by Certified Risk Managers International recognizing five consecutive years of active affiliation with Certified Risk Managers International.

Carsten Falkenberg, a Thrivent Financial representative in Crown Point, has been named to the Chairman’s Council with the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors.

La Porte Regional Health System Director of Cardiovascular Services Marcia Brewer recently advanced to Fellow of the American College of Cardiovascular Administrators by the American Academy of Medical Administrators.

Richard Michna, of Valparaiso, has joined La Porte Regional Health System as director of reimbursement and managed care. Michna has more than 27 years of experience in finance departments of various hospitals throughout the region.

Janet Noel, College of Court Reporting in Hobart instructor, received the National Court Reporters Association’s Council on Approved Student Education Award of Excellence.

Geoff Blanco, co-owner of Rigg’s Outdoor Power Equipment in Valparaiso, has been selected to serve a two-year term on the National Dealer Advisory Board for Kubota Tractor Corp.

RailCats owner and CEO Patrick Salvi, of the law offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in Chicago, was appointed professorship for the fourth year in a row at the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Dan Zimmerman recently rejoined Medical Management & Data Services/Weichman & Associates in Munster. He will oversee various IT needs as well as implementation, support and maintenance of electronic medical records, medical billing and accounting technology.

ArcelorMittal nets energy award Modification at Indiana Harbor earns AIST honor A NATIONAL STEEL ASSOCIATION honored ArcelorMittal recently for installing energy-saving technology at its Indiana Harbor complex in East Chicago.

ArcelorMittal received the 2010 Energy Achievement Award from the Association for Iron & Steel Technology’s Energy and Utilities Technology Committee. The award was presented at the AIST Midwest chapter meeting Nov. 9 at the Avalon Manor in Hobart.

The committee established the award to recognize an individual, group or organization that has implemented energy conservation practices or experienced significant improvements in energy-related productivity in the iron and steel producing sector.

ArcelorMittal received the award for the modification of eight preheated air burners in the top primary zone of a reheat furnace at the 84-inch hot strip mill with Praxair’s dilute oxygen combustion lances. Analysis indicated the improvement in energy efficiency has had no impact on scaling or rolling defects, according to the association.

Larry Fabina, ArcelorMittal USA Energy Team coordinator and manager for continuous improvement, said the conversion provided an estimated energy reduction equivalent to the natural gas needed to fuel about 1,945 homes for a year in the United States.

AIST is an international technical association of more than 13,000 professional and student members representing iron and steel producers, their allied suppliers and related academia. The association is dedicated to advancing the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel. BY TIMES STAFF

BRANDING

COMPETITION

Health system reinvents itself

Deadline for entrepreneurial contest extended

Sisters of St. Francis changes its name to Franciscan Alliance

HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE CENTERS in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan currently in the St. Francis Health Services Inc. network now will be known as Franciscan Alliance, the group said recently.

The decision came “after many months of intensive research with consumers in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, and after thorough deliberations at all levels of the organization,” a news release from the group states. The name change came at the recommendation of the board of trustees.

“Franciscan Alliance is the perfect pairing of two words to create a meaningful, memorable name that affirms our promise to continue Christ’s ministry in our Franciscan tradition. ... With this new name, we expect to broaden awareness of the system’s comprehensive, high-quality heath care services and highly regarded compassionate care,” said Sister M. Jane Marie Klein, chairwoman of the board of trustees.

The process began “a few years ago,” the release states, when the Tau — a sacred symbol to St. Francis of Assisi and a reminder of the cross of Christ — was added to each of the system’s hospital logos.

Accompanying the Tau were the words, “Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.” While the name change is effective immediately, the words “Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.” will be replaced by “Franciscan” at all

hospitals and health care centers starting in early 2011, said Kevin Leahy, president and CEO of Franciscan Alliance.

Included in the system’s network are St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point; St. Anthony Memorial Health Center in Michigan City; St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville, Ind.; St. Elizabeth East and St. Elizabeth Central in Lafayette; St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers in Beech Grove, Ind., Indianapolis and Mooresville, Ind.; St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields, Ill.; St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Hammond and Dyer; and Franciscan Physicians Hospital LLC in Munster.

“We are proud of all the fine, high-quality services that our hospitals offer patients and their families both independently and as a 13-hospital system,” Leahy said. “Now, we must let more people know of our great work and leverage our reach geographically.”

BY TIMES STAFF

HAMMOND | THE APPLICATION DEADLINE for a competition for aspiring entrepreneurs has been extended to March 26.

The Big Sell Entrepreneurs in Action provides an opportunity for 50 entrepreneurs to pitch their idea to audience members and a panel of judges for an opportunity to win cash prizes and services. It was developed

by Purdue University Calumet, its Center for Entrepreneurship Success, and the Hammond Development Corp.

Prospective entrepreneurs can apply for the competition online at ‌www.thebigsell.org.

The 50 finalists will be invited to make a twominute presentation. Three winners will share more than $30,000 in cash and prizes.

Ideas will be judged on innovation and feasibility, commercial potential and economic impact, marketability likelihood and related financial demands, as well as presentation credibility.

For more information, e-mail info@ thebigsell.org or call (219) 989-3159 or (800) HI-PURDUE, ext. 3159. BY TIMES STAFF‌

HONORS

Big R Stores earns award from Michigan City business group MICHIGAN CITY | FOR MAKING SIGNIFICANT investments in the Michigan City area, Big R Stores was honored with the Business Investment Award from the Michigan City Economic Development Corp.

For the past two years, Big R owners Jerry Gibbs, Jerald Sherman and Ed Ensminger have participated in the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce and have contributed to the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City, 4-H of LaPorte County, the Michiana Humane Society and the SPCA of Michigan City.

“We take a firm stance in our mission by contributing to local community organizations and rebuilding the local economy by reusing and renovating an existing property that would stand vacant,” CEO Jerry Gibbs said in a news release. “Our goal is to bring employment opportunities and keep the local landscape strong in communities in Indiana and Illinois.”

BY TIMES STAFF

SPRING 2011 | 11

BizWorthy COMPANY GROWTH

SALUTE

NLMK Indiana to hire 36 by 2013

Lawyer honored

by Hispanic Business for his achievements

PORTAGE | NLMK INDIANA plans to expand skills training for current and new employees and projects to hire 36 more employees by 2013, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

The steel processing company also plans to invest several million dollars toward equipment and machinery upgrades in its Portage facility.

NLMK Indiana processes hot rolled steel bands for sheet, plate, pipe and tube manufacturers in the Midwest.

More than 300 employees work for NLMK Indiana in Portage, and the company plans more new hires in the manufacturing operation, as needed. Current workers will begin taking part in new operations, welding, supervisory and electrical training to increase the facility’s competitiveness to get new business.

Mitch Roob, Indiana’s secretary of commerce and chief executive of the IEDC, complimented NLMK Indiana on the planned training opportunities to grow jobs for the facility and Northwest Indiana. The IEDC offered up to $181,500 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

The city of Portage will consider an additional property tax abatement. Mayor Olga Velazquez said new jobs for skilled labor are important to the economic progress of the city and the region.

The facility at NLMK Indiana, formerly Beta Steel Corp., was established in 1992 and acquired in 2008 by Russia-based Novolipetsk Steel. BY BOWDEYA TWEH, THE TIMES

CHICAGO | GARY NATIVE MICHAEL

MARTINEZ’S law career has earned him a place on Hispanic Business magazine’s list of the country’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics.

Martinez, a partner in the law firm of K&L Gates LLP, said the recognition came as a surprise.

“I assume I was selected because I’m a partner in one MARTINEZ of the largest law firms in the world,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of Latinos in that position anywhere.”

Martinez, whose father was Puerto Rican and mother is of Polish and Italian heritage, graduated from Andrean High School. He received an bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, where he originally planned to receive an engineering degree and become an astronaut.

“I never met a lawyer until I went to law school,” he said. “It wasn’t in my normal mode of social circles.

… But engineering was not what I anticipated. I needed something more fitting with my personality, something with more interaction. It was a gamble because I never had exposure to what they actually do.”

Martinez, who litigates multidistrict class action, antitrust, trademark, arbitration and other complex commercial cases, said the honor of being named one of the nation’s most influential Hispanics is important because there aren’t a lot of minorities in the legal profession.

“And in Chicago, there’s not the amount of representation that reflects the area’s large Hispanic population,” he said. “It recognizes that there are Hispanics who succeed in the business and legal profession. These are avenues that with hard work and a good education are open to everyone.”

Martinez, who lives in the Andersonville area of Chicago with his wife, Elis, and three daughters, retains family ties to Northwest Indiana. His mother lives in Portage and his wife’s parents reside in East Chicago.

BY ANDREA HOLECEK, THE TIMES

TRIBUTE

Times executive editor named to Hall of Fame TIMES EXECUTIVE EDITOR WILLIAM NANGLE has been named to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame for his conspicuous contribution to the field of journalism during his more than 47-year career. Nangle will be the first Times journalist to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which is housed at Indiana University’s School of Journalism in Bloomington. Times Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. nominated Nangle earlier this year with letters of support from more than 40 people, including Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, Gary Diocese Bishop Dale Melczek and mayors across the region. Nangle will be formally inducted along with other honorees at a banquet in the spring at Indiana University. BY KEITH BENMAN, THE TIMES

12 | IN BUSINESS

EMPLOYMENT

SALUTE

Hoosier hot jobs

Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder

Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski and Starke counties.

JOB

Heating, A/C and refrigeration mechanics and installers Registered nurse Management analysts

‘08 TOTAL

‘18 PROJECTION

% GROWTH

2009 WAGE

663

907

37%

$38,251

7,067

8,512

20%

$61,443

412

589

43%

$68,888

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailor

8,074

9,323

15%

$38,966

Construction managers

1,449

1,831

26%

$82,458

First-line supervisors/ managers of construction trades and extraction workers

1,552

1,867

20%

$66,855

Physicians and surgeons

1,596

2,013

26%

$166,400

Human resources, training and labor relations specialists

1,282

1,578

23%

$42,135

Construction laborers

2,470

3,054

24%

$49,380

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

1,962

2,410

23%

$40,180

SOURCE: Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Mike Bailey has been promoted to detective in the Criminal Investigation Division assigned to the Lowell District, which covers Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski and Starke counties.

BAILEY

Suzanne Davidson, RN, is the new director of nursing for Medical Surgical Services and Women and Children Services at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital.

BMW Constructors’ Board of Directors has elected Brian K. Acton president and chief operating officer of the company.

Acton joined the company in 1985 at its Munster operations.

SPRING 2011 | 13

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WELCOME TO THE NORTHWEST INDIANA BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

HALL OF FAME 2011

The Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame opens its doors to five local leaders who have made an indelible mark on the Region.

The Times and BusINess magazine salute the achievements of the honorees who were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges from dozens of nominations.

THE CLASS OF 2011 John R. Barney Michael Brennan Gary and Shar Miller James L. Jorgensen Dave Wilkinson

SPRING 2011 | 15

Restaurant owner steps up for Northwest Indiana

BY ANDREA HOLECEK BusINess Contributor

John Barney is likely best known as owner and operator of four local Wendy’s restaurants, but his personal achievements far surpass his business career.

As president and CEO of Crown Point-based Barney Enterprises, Barney has diversified his company and its holdings outside the fastfood industry while personally contributing his time and resources to his community and his alma mater.

“I believe it’s important to give back to the community part of yourself,” he said. “That’s part of the responsibility of a business person to give back and help improve the community that’s supported them in their various business efforts.”

Barney credits his upbringing, his education and his faith for his values that have led to his personal, business and charitable achievements.

“It’s something I inherited from my childhood,” he said.

“And my involvement in my faith, 16 | IN BUSINESS

that’s a good part of it.”

John Walsh, who is a partner in one of Barney’s businesses, said Barney could best be described by the word “dedicated.”

“He’s dedicated to the business, to his family and to several charitable causes,” Walsh said. “He has a very strong character that I think was influenced by his father’s work ethic.

He respected his father very much.”

Barney, 68, was born in South Bend and raised in Indianapolis. He joined the Indiana National Guard in 1960, a year before graduating from high school, and served until 1976 with the rank of major.

In 1967, Barney received a bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University School of Business, married Ann Pytel and began working in the hospitality industry for Indiana-based Burger Chef. A year later, the couple moved to Crown Point, where they remain active participants in the community.

“I moved here in fall of ‘68 to develop the concept of Burger Chef Restaurants as a franchise,” Barney said. “The move was in conjunction with the company developing the franchise system in the Chicagoland market. I felt it was a real great business, and at the time there were not any in Illinois and I though it was a real opportunity to develop that concept.”

By 1980, Barney owned and operated 12 Burger Chef Restaurants and several Rax restaurants. General Foods bought Burger Chef in 1969, and then sold the company to Hardee’s in the early 1980s.

photography by TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

A MAN OF TRUE DEDICATION

At that time, all of the 19 franchises Barney owned became Rax. He eventually he sold some of them to Hardee’s and in the mid 1990s, Barney began diversifying his company.

“I started diversifying because it seemed like the business skills I had accumulated would transfer into other business,” he said. “And I felt diversification was important to the future of Barney Enterprises.”

From 1994 to 2000, he owned a Beltone Hearing Center in the greater Cincinnati area. He opened Broadway Video in Chesterton in 1995, and the following year he began his partnership with John Walsh in Heat Wagons Inc., and Manufacturing Products Inc., the holding company for PHP. The Valparaiso-based companies sell commercial heaters and the related parts nationwide through a distributor and representative network.

Walsh, the president of Heat Wagons Inc. and Manufactured Products Inc., said he and Barney joined forces to buy the business when its original owner put it up for sale.

“I knew him socially before that, and I approached him and asked him to get involved,” Walsh said. “He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur and is a very hard worker. He’s been the source of great support, wisdom and business advice.”

Since 1997, Barney also has been the owner-operator of Wendy’s Restaurants in Hammond, Lake Station, Hobart and Crown Point, and a partner in the Imaging Center in Munster.

In total, Barney Enterprises has 225 employees.

“I have great people in the organization,” Barney said. “Many are long-term employees.”

His varied business ventures have “worked out great, some things greater

I BELIEVE IT’S IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY PART OF YOURSELF. than others,” Barney said. And while he says he enjoys all of them, the restaurant business remains his favorite.

“I feel like I’ve spent to lifetime in the restaurant business, so it’s the one I feel partial to,” he said.

Despite the demands of business, Barney finds the time to serve on the Crown Point Community Foundation as a board member and past chair, on the Indiana University Northwest Board of Advisors to the Chancellor and as an adviser to the Indiana University Northwest School of Business.

He also is a member of the University Club, the Crown Point United Methodist Church, the World Presidents’ Organization Chicago Chapter and the Chief Executives’ Organization.

Barney formerly served a board member of Bank One in Merrillville,

of St. Anthony’s Hospital in Crown Point, Methodist Hospital in Gary, the Northwest Indiana Entrepreneurship Academy, and the Lake Area United Way. He also has been a director of the Mercantile Bank and served a three-year term as regional director of Harris Bank.

Barney’s years of service have not gone unnoticed. Besides receiving numerous awards from different organizations involved in the restaurant industry, Barney has been honored with the Indiana Military Academy’s Leadership Award, and the Indiana University School of Business Distinguished Entrepreneur award.

He is the most proud of the latter.

“This award has been bestowed on approximately 25 individuals in total over the years, and I am honored to be one of those recipients,” Barney said.

He and his wife, Ann, have two daughters, two “great” sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Ann does marketing for Barney Enterprises, while daughter Julie Bieszczat serves as vice president of the company and president of the Imaging Center. Daughter Kathleen Smith runs the Barney family’s charitable foundation.

Whenever he’s not otherwise involved, Barney likes to be with his family, on the golf course or piloting his plane. He says flying, even for business, is his favorite hobby.

Barney currently has no plans to retire and said he may even expand his restaurant chain.

“I consider retirement is when you do what you want to do,” he said.

“Ninety percent of the time, that’s what I’m already doing.”

Walsh said he can’t imagine Barney’s retiring.

“I think he thrives on being involved and making things happen,” he said.

JOHN R. BARNEY // AGE: 68 // TITLE: President and CEO // COMPANY: Barney Enterprises Management Services Inc., Crown Point // ACHIEVEMENTS: The Indiana University School of Business “Distinguished Entrepreneur” award; participant in various fundraisers that have raised more than $100,000 to benefit Camp Riley.

SPRING 2011 | 17

Hulking factory reborn as outlet mall

BY LOUISA MURZYN BusINess Contributor ‌

it was sold in 1984. Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet mall was built in 1987.

Michael Brennan grew up in a modest home along the pristine shores of Lake Michigan nestled among towering oak and thick sassafras trees that grew along the sand dunes of Grand Beach, Mich.

With the landscape shaping his young life, Brennan already was showing signs of leadership.

His younger brother, Terry, said “Mickey” always was the makebelieve captain and the expert at engineering bow and arrows out of skinny saplings as well as constructing the ultimate tree-fort out of earth, logs and underbrush.

“He was our hero,” Terry Brennan, 66, said. “We admired and looked up to him because he could do all the things we couldn’t and he willingly taught us.

He was a genius to us because he was three years older.”

Maggi Spartz, president of the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, said it made sense he gave Michigan City a makeover by turning the Pullman Standard rail car manufacturing plant into one of the country’s first outlet malls.

“His family had the Dunes as their playground,” she said. “Mike was the favorite because he got everything going. He always has. Even as a child,

BEACON OF HOPE

IF A GOOD IDEA COMES ALONG AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT MIGHT WORK THEN YOU GO FOR IT. he was the organizer who got everybody together and made it fun. He took a dinosaur factory building and converted it into his vision.”

Brennan, of Long Beach, Mich., attended Western Michigan University and then John Marshall Law School in Chicago and practiced law in Michigan City from 1967 to 1980. He was chairman for Tyler Refrigeration until

Decades after freight car manufacturer Haskell-Barker bustled with 3,500 workers and was sold to PullmanStandard, Brennan came up with the idea of converting the remains of the factory, which had closed in the 1970s.

The project on the north side of town gave new life to a struggling city.

“I was the guy in the trenches everyday and, at the time, people thought I was nuts because the property wasn’t on the south side of town by the highway — but if it was, it wasn’t going to help the downtown district,” Brennan said.

“People asked, ‘What are you thinking?’ We bought the land from the owners because the taxes were killing them. It was an ill-fated venture for them and a great one for us.”

The total initial investment was $7.2 million and was funded with more than $2 million in equity and $5 million in borrowed funds. The initial development was 125,000 square feet. Within a few years, another 190,000 square feet was added in two phases bringing the total retail space to 315,000 square feet.

“I remember back in the early 80s I didn’t even get the concept of an outlet mall and cutting out the middle man,”

MICHAEL BRENNAN AGE: 69 // TITLE: Co-owner // COMPANY: Sager Metal Strip Company, Michigan City // ACHIEVEMENTS: Co-founder and co-chairman of the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County; developer of Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet mall and Michigan City Enterprises Center industrial complex in Michigan City 18 | IN BUSINESS

photography by ERIK KELLAR PHOTOGRAPHY

VISIONARY BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THE REGION

said Don Babcock, director of economic development for Northern Indiana Public Service Co. “The old plant was an eyesore and his vision helped revitalize the community and brought tourism dollars in before the Blue Chip Casino was anywhere near a reality.”

Brennan did the footwork and discovered only a handful of outlets nationwide.

“The concept was a good fit because we had a base population of 6 million in Chicago less than two hours away and were in a resort area with affluent summer traffic,” he said. “The demographics fit, one thing led to another and we were off to the races.”

In 1988, the mall drew more than 1 million shoppers and $45 million in sales. In 1989, two 19th-century factory buildings were renovated at a cost of $2 million, adding another 35,000 square feet in retail space.

The mall, which now has 120 stores still has about 5 million shoppers visit annually.

In 1994, Brennan and his partner, Peter Taritz, also invested $400,000 in the former site of Joy Manufacturing and developed the Michigan City Enterprise Center.

Through a partnership, more than $5 million in improvements were made to the 600,000-square-foot facility located on 72 acres at 900 South Woodland Ave. in Michigan City. Six companies moved into the centrally located complex, which created over 600 jobs.

MIRACLE OF ENDOWMENT When Brennan and his partners sold the outlet mall, they took $500,000 of the proceeds from the sale and invested it in the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County and received a matching grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Formed in 1992, Unity Foundation assets have grown to more than $20 million. The foundation has awarded more than $8 million in direct grants and scholarships as well as nearly $16 million in indirect grants.

“Mike was a key leader and a driving

force,” Spartz said. “He leveraged the money. They could have done something else with it, but they decided to give back to the community. He got the right people in the room and off they went.

“They knew when they sold the mall they would be giving up their ability to make corporate donations to local charities and they wanted to preserve that,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful vehicle as much for donors as for recipients because it’s such an easy process,” Brennan said.

Brennan has been involved in projects worth millions but is still touched by even the smallest. The Unity Foundation awards educational grants and Brennan recalls a teacher who received a mere $263.

“She could never get all the kids to answer math questions because they were too embarrassed. So she bought paddle chalk boards for everyone and, bingo — she had every kid in class participating. And nobody was embarrassed anymore. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Nearly 100 organizations have endowment funds with the Unity Foundation and it has supported more than 300 organizations, improving the quality of life in the Region.

and a keen eye for opportunity. Michael Brennan said it came from lawyering a leveraged buyout and watching venture capitalists first-hand.

“If a good idea comes along and you can see how it might work then you go for it,” Michael Brennan said. “Hopefully, you are cautious enough to make sure the facts and figures are right and the business plan goals start falling into place.

Babcock said Brennan’s legacy will be his innovation, willingness to try something new and fortitude to make it succeed.

“We don’t have enough people who routinely want step out and take that risk and follow through on it,” he said.

“When it was time to make a decision whether I’d stay in Chicago or move back to Michigan City after I finished law school, I didn’t have a second thought,” he said.

“I have traveled all over the world and when I look back on where I’m from and what else I’ve seen out there — it’s hard to find anything that compares.”

BIT BY THE BUG Brennan opted out of law after he was bitten by the entrepreneur bug.

“It was more fun hiring a lawyer than it was being one,” he said.

Brennan went on to buy in 1993 Sager Metal Strip Co., which engineers and designs conveyor systems for companies globally. Sager employs 55 workers and generates annual revenues of $8 million to $10 million.

Regetz said Brennan’s entrepreneurial activities have had a major economic impact.

“Lighthouse Place was visionary and was the motif for shopping centers in vogue in the last decade — and he did it 20 years ago,” he said.

Terry Brennan said his brother’s business acumen is more a gut-feeling SPRING 2011 | 19

Ambulance service answers the call for Northwest Indiana

FOUR GENERATIONS OF CARING AND COMPASSION Since the beginning of time turning a boy into a man has been the job of a father. So it was the responsibility of Robert Miller, third-generation owner of Fagen-Miller Funeral Home, to turn his son Gary Miller into a man.

Gary Miller remembers his journey started at the age of 5, when his dad stacked boxes of Cracker Jack for the

20 | IN BUSINESS

Lions Club and peanuts for the Kiwanis in the garage because of his dad’s involvement with community civic organizations.

Robert Miller died unexpectedly in 1981 at age 50 from a heart attack.

Twenty-year-old Gary Miller was thrust alone into manhood, but the lessons passed along from father to son formed the foundation for everything that followed in his life.

“I had seen his work ethic — he was always on call — and what it took to run a business successfully,” said Gary Miller, 50, CEO of Prompt Ambulance Service Inc. in Highland.

“When he died it was a real shock.

It was tough. I remember opening up something complicated; I didn’t know how to deal with it,” Miller said. “Out of habit, I’d start walking up the stairs to go ask my dad and got half way and real realized he was gone.

I had to muscle up and figure it out myself.”

Robert Miller had instilled the value of wisdom, inspiration, strength, skill and sense of duty.

“He taught me to do whatever it takes,” Miller said. “He told

me you can never do bad business with good people and can’t do good business with bad people. He focused on the character of the person. If you give your word you better follow through because your word is your bond. I saw that firsthand.”

A FAMILY BUSINESS The ambulance service had origins back to the late 1800s when Gary’s greatgrandfather, Michael Fagen, started a Dyer furniture store which also made caskets. By the early 1900s, transporting the sick became a necessity.

In 1930s and 40s, the funeral home service opened a second home and added a one-vehicle ambulance company. Ownership eventually transferred to Nicholas Fagen and subsequently Robert and Maureen Miller.

The name was changed to FagenMiller and the company expanded to a third home in Griffith. After Robert Miller died, Maureen Miller and children Larry, Jerry, Terri and Gary took over operating the homes and threevehicle ambulance service.

Between 1985 and 1995, the company fleet grew to 24 ambulances and 24 wheelchair vans and became the emergency ambulance provider for the towns of Highland, Dyer, Griffith, St. John and unincorporated St. John Township.

After a merger and partnership ended, Gary and Shar Miller purchased a small ambulance service in East Chicago in 1998 and took the name of Prompt. That same year, Gary married

photography by TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

BY LOUISA MURZYN BusINess Contributor

Shar, who came on board as president.

In 2009, Prompt acquired Indiana EMS Ambulance of South Bend, expanding its network through St. Joseph County. The Millers added 10 employees to its staff of 35 and added four new ambulances and six new wheelchair transport units.

The South Bend service is nonemergency and, for example, takes patients to health facilities such as nursing centers and outpatient facilities. It also picks up patients discharged from the hospital.

Today the company has more than 560 Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics, and administrative and management staff. It has bases in Merrillville and Valparaiso with a fleet of 180 vehicles.

Prompt made about 1,100 calls the first year in business and last year made nearly 169,000 emergency calls and wheelchair requests. It has completed a total of more than 1 million trips.

“The success of our business has come from the employees of my grandfather’s to 80 years later with our employees — and everybody in between,” Gary said. “For every patient they have, they are interacting with probably 20 other people and touching the lives of others.”

“There are two sides to Gary Miller and they are inseparable,” said attorney Cal Bellamy of Kreig DeVault. “One side is an old shoe type person — very friendly, easy to approach and interested in things all around him. The other side is a sharp, focused business person — a side you don’t see in casual encounters.”

Prompt added another revenue stream by purchasing Southlake Limousine Service Inc. in 2003. It had one car and has grown to 10 vehicles with eight part-time drivers.

“It was a perfect fit because we already had drivers, a dispatch center

IF YOU GIVE YOUR WORD YOU BETTER FOLLOW THROUGH BECAUSE YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND. and the vehicles so in many ways the services paralleled each other,” Gary said. Prompt also expanded territories and diversified its market to include wheelchair service and municipalities.

There are few companies around with Prompt’s longevity.

“We’re fluid, innovative and not afraid to make changes,” he said. “When other companies were pulling back, we went in the opposite direction.

Most were sticking their heads into their shells and taking a wait-and-see attitude.“We were more aggressive,” Gary said. “We put a lot of thought into where the market would be five years from now and then tried to prepare ourselves for that. We took an educated guess and a bold initiative on our future planning.”

In the last two years after expanding its fleet, Prompt invested in a new mobile communications platform, which enabled dispatchers to know the precise location, direction and speed of its ambulances at all times.

The company can dispatch the closest ambulance to the scene, provide accurate estimated arrival times and achieve average response times of about 4 minutes.

“I always knew ours was a hightouch business but I never knew high technology would make us improve our touch,” Gary said. “We can communicate better with patients and staff and it gives us the best response times in the state.”

JOY IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM Shar said when she met Gary in 1988 as Jaycee members, their love at first sight was born of the mutual joy and happiness they found in community service to others.

“We joined the organization separately, and when we paired together it was a natural fit,” she said. “We hit it off from the beginning.”

Shar is an active board member for Meals on Wheels and past president of the Friends of Hospice of the Calumet Area. She has been treasurer of the Griffith Chamber of Commerce for the last six years.

She actively supports a wide range of local and national charities and has been acknowledged with many honors.

“When I would serve meals, some days it’s just you and the client,” Shar said. “There’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing you accomplished something that day. Maybe you were the only person they talked to that day.”

Gary said the same passion to serve trickles down to Prompt’s employees.

“Our staff does a good job of hiring people who care,” he said. “I tell our workers if at any time they feel callous and lose their ability to be empathetic, to do everybody a favor and get out of it.

It’s difficult to work in this field without compassion.”

GARY AND SHAR MILLER AGES: 50 and 53 // TITLE: Chief Executive Officer and President // COMPANY: Prompt Ambulance Service Inc., Highland // ACHIEVEMENTS: The family-owned ambulance company started as part of the Fagen-Miller Funeral Home Service in 1932 and now supplies emergency services and first-responders to Dyer, Highland, Griffith, Munster, Merrillville and South Bend.

SPRING 2011 | 21

Lawyer helps Northwest Indiana see the big picture

BY DIANE POULTON BusINess Contributor ‌

His nomination for a regional award by a lawyer from a competing firm speaks volumes about James L. Jorgensen’s ability to lead.

Jorgensen, a partner at Hoeppner Wagner & Evans was nominated this year into the Times of Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame by attorney Cal Bellamy, of Krieg Devault.

Bellamy describes Jorgensen as being “as close to an indispensable person as we could find in Northwest Indiana.”

Bellamy has known Jorgensen for a number of years, mostly through the Northwest Indiana Forum, where Jorgensen has been chairman and an active board member.

“I’ve seen him in action there,” Bellamy said. “If I could only use one word to describe him, it would be ‘wise.’ He is always calm. His advice is always thought-provoking.”

Bellamy said Jorgensen has the ability to take the emotion out of an issue and get to the heart of the matter.

“Anything that goes on in Porter County, which is positive somehow or other, involves James Jorgensen,” Bellamy said. “As much as he is focused on Porter County, he also has a regional

THE PROCESS OF WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING A COMMON GOAL IS IMPORTANT. focus and is broad in his perspective.

He has a very strong sense of ethics.”

Bellamy said Jorgensen is very single-minded in his focus on whatever the issue at hand.

“His only goal is to serve the purpose of the organization,” Bellamy said.

“He has no ulterior motive. His goal is to perform service.”

Jorgensen was born in Spokane, Wash., but grew up mostly in the Chicago area. He graduated from Park Forest High School in Illinois and

from St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

Jorgensen received his master’s degree from the University of Washington and graduated from the Valparaiso University School of Law. He specializes in business, banking and employment law.

Jorgensen’s father, a business executive with Armour and Co., often traveled and relocated the family as part of his employment. His mother was a homemaker. Jorgensen and his wife, Cindy, have one son, Mark, who is an artist and writer.

Cindy, whom Jorgensen describes as “my greatest supporter,” teaches eighth grade language arts.

“The value I learned most from my dad was hard work,” Jorgensen said.

“My mother was very compassionate and very involved in the church. She didn’t work outside the home but was very engaged in community activities.

She was the world’s best person for helping others.”

Jorgensen said his life lessons from them were a blending of working hard in your job and contributing to your community.

There have been other mentors and role models who have inspired Jorgensen along the way.

“I remember what the late Del Hoeppner, the law firm’s founder said to me on my first day on the job 37 years

JAMES L. JORGENSEN AGE: 64 // TITLE: Partner // COMPANY: Hoeppner Wagner & Evans law firm, offices in Valparaiso and Merrillville // ACHIEVEMENTS: Serves on the boards of Valparaiso Community Schools and the Northwest Indiana Forum; the Valparaiso Economic Development Corp. (chairman); the Center of Workforce Innovation; the Society for Human Resource Management; Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission ; Past board member of both United Way and Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce 22 | IN BUSINESS

photography by TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

BRINGING THE REGION TOGETHER

ago, Jorgensen said. “You always place the client first. That is something I have tried to do ever since.”

Jorgensen said memorable, extraordinary and influential people for him include Harold Heinold and Charlie Bowman. Jorgensen describes both as “extremely hard working creative, innovative risk takers but in a very responsible way who thrived on new ideas.” He said both were exceptional problem solvers.

Jorgensen said Heinold revolutionized the marketing of livestock within the United States and Bowman was one of the co-founders of Chester Inc. The list of community organizations in which Jorgensen is involved is lengthy. He serves on the boards of the Valparaiso Community Schools, the Northwest Indiana Forum, the Valparaiso Economic Development Corp., the Center of Workforce Innovations, the Society for Human Resource Management and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission. He is a past board member of both the United Way and Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.

“I think that for a professional person and maybe for all of us it is a privilege to serve the community, not out of a sense of obligation but because it is extremely meaningful and rewarding as well,” Jorgensen said.

Jorgensen said the Valparaiso Economic Development Corp. is a unique partnership between developers and the city.

“It is a uniting of the public and the private sector to assists in economic development in Valparaiso and in Porter County,” Jorgensen said. “It’s a partner in helping to retain and attract business.”

Jorgensen said the Valparaiso school board has an excellent mission statement which includes two items.

The first is to rise from excellence to preeminence.

“I think that it has been intriguing that in its own way it has been difficult to accomplish that,” Jorgensen said.

“We are trying to take something that is very good and make it even better.”

The second goal, he said, is to maximize the learning opportunity of each child.

“Whether it be the extremely talented and gifted child who maybe has a very focused view of what they want to do or the child who maybe struggles in certain skills or just doesn’t understand what lies out there for him or her,” Jorgensen said, “we recognize that each child is important and want to make each child the very best person that they can be.”

Jorgensen said the great thing about being involved in groups is that “none of us can succeed by ourselves.”

“What I have always tried to do is to work with others to build relationships, alliances and collaboration, recognizing that individually we may have some successes but never as many as we can have when we work together,” he said.

“Always working together it is an exciting part of Northwest Indiana.”

Jorgensen sees the role of economic development in Northwest Indiana as striving to attract, sustain and retain quality jobs, therefore strengthening the economic base.

“This economy is a greater challenge because it seems there have been so many changes,” Jorgensen said. “We are going to have to be flexible and recognize that we are more of a global economy, more of an informationbased economy. Everyone who has gone before has had their challenges. It just seems that today it is so much faster paced.”

Jorgensen said the best part of working in economic development is the groups. “The process of working together and having a common goal is important,” Jorgensen said. “Being willing to collaborate, for me that is the key.”

Jorgensen said he is a firm believer in the regional thinking concept.

“There are boundaries we have created. There was a time and a place when they were really important, but we can’t think of just Valparaiso or just Porter County or just Northwest Indiana. All the lines have disappeared. All

the great challenges and opportunities I think we have to face on a regional issue,” Jorgensen said. “If education is a priority, it is not just a priority in Valparaiso it’s everywhere. If north Lake County or north Porter County succeed, then Valparaiso succeeds.”

“I have been surrounded by many exceptional individuals,” Jorgensen said. “That is where all my learning has come from. Watching them, seeing how they handle responsibilities has had a huge impact on me.”

With his busy work and community schedule, Jorgensen said he recharges by re-reading chapters of his favorite book, The Gift of Peace, by the late Cardinal Jo s e p h B e rnadin, a fitting role model for anyone wanting to put aside differences to work together towards the common good.

SPRING 2011 | 23

Wilkinson rises to top of grocery chain

BY DIANE POULTON BusINess Contributor

When Dave Wilkinson started working at Strack & Van Til’s Hammond store 36 years ago at the bottom rung of the ladder carrying groceries for custom customers, he had no plans to continue his employment there after he graduated from college and started a career.

Wilkinson said he just wanted to earn some extra spending money while attending Purdue University Calumet.

“The first week I worked there, I thought to myself, ‘Why would anyone want to stay in this business?’” Wilkin Wilkinson said. “It’s such hard work.”

Fast forward to the present.

Wilkinson has climbed to the top of that corporate ladder becoming president and CEO of the Strack & Van Til Group, which includes Strack & Van Til Supermarkets, Town and Country, and Ultra Food Stores.

As president and CEO, his responsibilities in include managing the entire company, making sure it is profitable and ensuring value for the shareholders.

Jeff Strack, Vice President of the Strack & Van Til Group, said the company is lucky to have Wilkinson as its CEO. “Dave is a dedicated and driven individual who inspires and pushes the rest of the team at Strack & VanTil to excel,” Strack said. “His leadership and vision in the company has been very influential in its growth from 10 stores 24 | IN BUSINESS

to 30 stores during the past 13 years.”

Strack said Wilkinson realizes the importance of the company’s more than 4,500 associates and thousands of customers who shop at the company stores daily to its overall success.

Strack said Wilkinson has continued the tradition started by Nick Van Til and Ernie Strack of giving back to the communities which the company serves.

“He encourages all senior management and store managers to be involved in local organizations and events,” Strack said. “Dave is always open to all associates. I believe that besides being an effective leader, one of his best qualities is that he is a good listener.”

Educated locally, Wilkinson graduated from Hammond’s Gavit High School, received his degree in management from Purdue Calumet and master’s in business administration from Indiana University Northwest.

After starting at Strack & Van Til, he rose through the ranks from part time to full time, then from department manager to assistant store manager, from store manager to supervisor — leading to his appointment as company president and CEO in 1998.

Wilkinson said the previous owners of the company, Larry Raab, Jack Strack, Sam Van Til and Frank Van Til, strongly encouraged him in his rise to the top.

“They were all different and each had his own management style, so I was able to have four role models within the company,” Wilkinson said. “I worked closely with and learned much

photography by TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

DEDICATED AND DRIVEN

from each of them at different points in my career.”

“Larry encouraged me to continue my education and pursue my MBA,” Wilkinson said. “The others supported me through this time as well as my ongoing development as I progressed in the company.”

“The grocery business is hard,” Wilkinson said. “It is very fast-paced and very physical; but it gets into you blood and can be fun and very exciting.”

Wilkinson describes his management style as “laid back.” He said he surrounds himself with good people, allows them latitude in their responsibilities, gives them the tools they need and allows them to do their jobs.

Starting out as a paper boy in junior high, Wilkinson also worked in a paint shop and spent one summer employed at Youngstown Steel Door.

His work ethic was instilled at an early age by his parents’ example as role models. His late father, Clint, started out as a reporter rising through the ranks to become city editor and then managing editor of the Hammond Times though the 1980s.

“I received my personal principles and values from my father,” Wilkinson said. “He was my role model. My work ethic comes from him.”

Wilkinson’s mother, JoAnn, was a homemaker and a dietitian.

“She brought us up to eat healthy,” Wilkinson said. “They both taught us to work hard, be honest and do the right thing.”

Wilkinson said his wife deserves much of the credit for where he is today.

“Donna has always been there for me,” Wilkinson said. “She is supportive and understanding of the demands of my job and the retail industry. I give Donna a lot of credit for

WE, OF COURSE, WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS WE CAN, TO FEED THE HUNGRY. where I am today.”

Wilkinson is looking forward to passing on the family values to his first grandchild, who is due in April to son, Joe, and his wife, Erica.

Wilkinson’s business philosophy is “to provide excellent service to all customers and to treat all our customers and employees with respect.” His aim is to provide the best product possible and he believes in being involved in all the communities the company serves.

Personally, Wilkinson is committed to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.

He served on the organization’s board of directors for 10 years.

“We, of course, want to give back to the community as much as we can, to feed the hungry, that is real important to us,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson’s friend and co-worker at Strack & Van Til, Joe Kolavo, serves on the food bank board. The Food Bank of

Northwest Indiana was founded in 1982 in a barn and it has grown into a facility which distributes 3.5 million pounds of food throughout Lake and Porter counties to local pantries, shelters, day care centers and soup kitchens. Wilkinson also is on the board of directors for the Illinois Food Retail Grocers Association.

Physical fitness is another priority for Wilkinson, who meets some friends on weekends at a local Starbucks when weather permits. The group rides 50 to 100 miles on bicycle paths and along mostly country roads in Indiana and Illinois. Group size varies from 10 to 30 participants. Golf and reading are among Wilkinson’s other hobbies.

Wilkinson said new hires at Strack and Van Til need to keep the customer in mind.

“They have to be very focused on customer service and be good people persons,” Wilkinson said. “The retail business is very challenging.” We try to find people who can work in a pretty high-paced environment. Dealing with the public can be fun but it can also be challenging.”

Wilkinson’s main advice to newly hired workers is have perseverance.

“Don’t just give up on a job in two to three days,” Wilkinson said. “You have to give it a chance. We have many managers who have been with the company 25 to 30 years. It’s retail. You get your hands dirty. It is not a desk job.”

Wilkinson’s rise to the top of the corporate ladder is an encouraging example for those new employees.

One of Wilkinson’s favorite quotes comes from Dale Carnegie, “The measure of a man is what he does with the power he has.”

To that end, it appears Wilkinson’s life and commitments are truly an inspirational success story.

DAVE WILKINSON AGE: 55 // TITLE: President and CEO // COMPANY: Strack & Van Til Group which includes Strack & Van Til, Town and County and Ultra Food Stores, Highland corporate offices // ACHIEVEMENTS: Rose through the ranks from carry out employee to president and CEO of Strack & Van Til Group; involved with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and on the board of directors of the Illinois Food Retail Grocers Association SPRING 2011 | 25

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My Turn

Anatomy of a business leader

I

BY MARK MAASSEL

President and CEO, Northwest Indiana Forum‌

n 2011, Northwest Indiana recognizes the fourth class of members into the Business and Industry Hall of Fame and congratulations are certainly in order to them. Perhaps it is also a time where a moment of reflection is important. As I look at my fellow honorees over all four years, it is time to consider the common traits each has shown.

As we tackle this task, it is apparent that the members represent different races; they are both men and women; they may or may not have been born in Indiana; and they have built their own companies, have taken over a family business or have been a part of a large corporation. No common traits here.

And we quickly note the obvious common trait.

Each has shown a high level of business acumen in their chosen profession and achieved significant business success. They have grown their businesses into key parts of our vibrant NWI economy. Business acumen is a common trait.

As one might expect, these individuals all are leaders. Each has shown the ability to gather groups of individuals, inspire them to work towards a common goal, gather the resources needed to achieve that goal and then reach the goal. Leaders do so not by dictating but by listening, learning what others see as important and then focusing everyone towards a common goal.

Leadership is a common trait.

But, as we dig just a little deeper, other traits begin to surface — and these are critical. None of the members of the Hall of Fame have limited their activities to the business world.

Members of the Hall of Fame have each shown a vision for a better NWI. Certainly, building businesses to serve customers is an example. Looking to the class of 2011, who would argue that the Lighthouse Mall in Michigan City isn’t important to the region? And from the class of 2008, that the redevelopment of Cedar Lake has not been important? Seeing the future is key, but is not enough. Each member has committed him or herself to making this future a reality.

Anytime one shows leadership and begins to drive towards a vision, however, there will be critics. There are always some who would rather create negativity than create a better tomorrow. Certainly, optimism for a better future is a common trait.

And members of the Hall of Fame have been

generous in supporting our region. The lives of many are touched through this generosity. Through their generosity, members are able to feed the hungry, provide medical help, give children a chance be involved in the Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, YWCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and so many other groups.

But the members of the Hall of Fame are willing to give something even more important — their time — directly investing their skills and gifts to serve others.

Collectively, members of the Hall of Fame have served on the boards of directors of many of the charities in the Region, serving others through the United Way, membership on college boards, groups working to bring jobs to NWI, churches, charities committed to growing children, educational institutions, and far more that I have not named. Giving time and skills to serve others is a common trait.

Beyond these uses of their time, the members have all shown a willingness to work with others and help them succeed as business people, to grow into someone who deeply appreciates NWI and someone who supports the great organizations across our region. They help others learn how the region works, put teams together to solve problems and assure ongoing leadership for our Region as they move through their careers. Often called mentoring, they have supported people in their companies and in the myriad other organizations where they serve. Giving to other individuals, helping them grow and succeed — mentoring is a common trait.

And the members of the Business and Industry Hall of Fame are all strong promoters of NWI. They have seen the natural beauty of the Dunes, Lake Michigan, the inland lakes and all of the natural areas.

They know the fine educational opportunities of this region and of the great, varied cultural experiences that can be enjoyed. More importantly, they actively share this knowledge with others — they promote NWI. Faith in our region and a willingness to promote it to others is another common trait.

So, at least for me, these are the common traits shared by all members of the Business and Industry Hall of Fame. Business acumen, leadership, vision, drive, optimism, generosity, mentoring and supporting the region are essential and common traits of all members of the NWI Business and Industry Hall of Fame.

SPRING 2011 | 27

Tax Time

Charitable IRA Rollover a win-win

T

BY CHRISTOPHER YUGO Attorney at Law, Crown Point

28 | IN BUSINESS

he measure of life is not its duration, but its donation – Peter Marshall.

There has been a noticeable change in estate planning in the last few years, and I’m not referring to the Federal Estate Gift Tax, which has given me a 10-year migraine.

More often, estate planning professionals are encountering estates where large portions of a client’s wealth is concentrated in tax deferred retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s.

Granted, the recession has taken its toll on the balance of many of these qualified accounts, but the trend continues. People are socking away lots and lots of money into retirement accounts.

This is likely, at least in part, the result of concerns about the sustainability of Social Security.

As 40-somethings, my wife and I have already come to terms with the fact that Social Security likely won’t be available in its current form when we retire.

Just as likely the influx into retirement accounts is a result of tax benefits resulting from funding them and, of course, from employer compensation packages. Employers often match a portion of contributions to retirement accounts and if an employee fails to make substantial contributions, they are essentially leaving money on the table — something professionals rarely like to do.

From an estate planning standpoint, planning around qualified accounts brings its own set of issues and concerns. Because of the tax deferred nature of retirement accounts, the tax consequences can be dramatically different money contained in nonqualified accounts.

Nestled within the Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 that President Obama recently signed into law is the reinstatement of the IRA Charitable Rollover.

Originally included in the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the IRA Charitable Rollover allowed individuals to make a donations directly from their IRA to a qualified charity.

The IRA Charitable Rollover was scheduled to lapse on Dec. 31, 2007, but was subsequently extended under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which extended it through the end of 2009. For most of 2010, the Charitable

Rollover was no longer an option for the charitably minded. However, that changed on Dec. 17, 2010, when President Obama again made it the law of the land.

The IRA Charitable Rollover allows folks ages 70-1/2 or older who are subject to Required Minimum Distributions a tax-efficient way to donate up to $100,000 from their IRAs without first having to recognize the IRA distributions as ordinary income or deal with the ceiling the IRS imposes on charitable contributions.

If you make a charitable contribution from your IRA, you won’t get the charitable deduction for that amount, but the income avoidance should more than make up for that.

As great a benefit as this is to the charitably minded, there are restrictions. The IRA Charitable Rollover only is available to traditional and Roth IRAs. If you have a Simple IRA, SEP IRA or an employee-sponsored retirement account, it isn’t for you. Also, remember that the Charitable Rollover must be made to a “qualified charity,” which doesn’t include certain grant-making foundations and 509(a)(3) supporting organizations.

Finally, remember that the check must go directly from the IRA to the charity. Don’t try routing the check through you. Trust me, the charity will know who it came from when it’s time to send out that thank you letter.

If you choose to make a Charitable Rollover, you will still receive a 1099R from the IRA’s custodian or trustee. However, the IRS has issued a new procedure to address it on the form 1040.

Admittedly, the IRA Charitable Rollover isn’t for everyone. However, if you are 70-1/2 or older, subject to Required Minimum Distributions and don’t necessarily need the income from your Traditional or Roth IRA, the Charitable IRA Rollover maybe just thing you are looking for.

You get to do a good thing and the IRS leaves you your pound of flesh. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Christopher W. Yugo is an attorney in Crown Point Indiana practicing exclusively in the areas of Estate Planning and Settlement, Business Planning and Real Estate.

Non-Profit Notes

Why arts and culture are always worthy of your support

W

BY JOHN CAIN

Executive Director of South Shore Arts and Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra

ith state funding for the arts down by 35 percent from this time two years ago, the support of the arts on the local level by individuals and businesses is more essential than ever before.

South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra are the region’s two oldest arts organizations. South Shore Arts began in 1936 when a dedicated group of local artists organized the first annual art exhibition of the Hammond District Art Association in the millinery (that’s lady’s hats) department of the Edward C. Minas Department Store in downtown Hammond.

The Gary Civic Symphony Orchestra, now known as the Northwest Indiana Symphony, performed its first concert five years later on December 7, 1941, with 86 volunteer musicians performing under the direction of a cello teacher from Chicago, who had relocated to Gary. They opened the concert that evening with a thundering performance of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

South Shore Arts is a large regional arts organization serving Northwest Indiana and greater south suburban Chicago. We have three locations-our headquarters in Munster at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, an urban art center in downtown Hammond called Substation No. 9, and another branch location in Crown Point. Each year we present over 20 exhibits of local, regional, national and international art in our four galleries, and offer over 400 classes in everything from graphic arts to painting, drawing, photography, pottery, cartooning, air-brushing and pre-school classes to name a few.

Central to our mission is arts education, and our “everykid” outreach program annually reaches over 20,000 children and youth as we partner with schools, social service agencies and municipal parks and recreation departments. The Beaux Arts Ball, our annual black-tie fundraiser that benefits the “everykid” program, is held every year on the first Friday in June and is a consistently sold-out, mustgo-to event. South Shore Arts is one of eight Regional Arts Partners for the State of Indiana and will this year

re-grant $192,000 to nonprofit arts organizations, as well as providing technical assistance for area artists.

The season for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra consists of seven concerts, three of which are the pops-oriented concerts presented at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville and three of which are more traditionally classical performed this year at Bethel Church on Broadway in Crown Point. A Gala Concert launches the regular concert season.

The Northwest Indiana Youth Orchestra performs twice a year at Munster and Hobart High School.

The Symphony has a 120-member volunteer chorus that practices every week and performs in concerts throughout the year, as well as a very active women’s association, WANISS. The Indiana Coalition for the Arts reminds us of the many benefits that the arts provide in our daily lives: • The arts define a sense of place and identity for communities.

• The arts promote understanding and an open exchange of ideas and values.

• The arts attract new business and talented professionals.

• The arts draw visitors, which generate tax revenue and jobs.

• The arts make a community more livable.

• The arts help improve grades and student attendance.

The arts break down racial stereotypes, religious barriers and socio-economic prejudices.

The arts — and arts education — must be integrated into all aspects of community life. Arts education, whether in a school setting or through community programs and partnerships, is one means to achieving this accessibility.

If you have an interest in supporting our organizations, please engage us by taking an art class, coming to an exhibit, or attending a Symphony concert. We also gladly accept and appreciate donations of money, volunteer time, in-kind services and advocacy for the arts.

SPRING 2011 | 29

Working Smarter

Investments are the catalysts that make Indiana great

I

BY BILL THON

Executive Director Workforce and Economic Development Ivy Tech Community College Northwest

30 | IN BUSINESS

nvestments are the catalysts that make Indiana great It is easy to forget, with our phenomenal growth, that Ivy Tech is only 47 years old. We are the largest college in Indiana and the largest community college of its kind in the U.S. We serve 200,000 students at our 23 regional campuses.

The success of Ivy Tech Community College is a direct reflection of the generosity and vision of those who give to the Ivy Tech Foundation. And so many people have given in so many ways to the Northwest region. Monetary gifts are needed and deeply appreciated; but not all gifts we receive are monetary.

Equipment plays a major part in preparing students for the workforce. We use equipment for our computer programs, science labs, manufacturing technology areas, kitchens, automotive areas and almost every program we offer. Our goal is to offer a learning experience that will be similar to what students will encounter in the workplace. However, trying to maintain updated equipment can be expensive.

That is why gifts from companies are so critical to our success.

A great example of partnering with an industry to help our students and also meet the need of industry is our NIPSCO Partnership. Experiencing worker shortages in certain areas and expecting to have even more as the workforce approached retirement age, NIPSCO needed a trained and job ready workforce.

We had the students, they had the need. We were more than willing to help the company train the next generation of workers.

After conversations with NIPSCO about preparing students for jobs in the energy industry, we realized that we could not effectively offer an energy training program to our students. Tight budgets restricted purchasing new equipment and paying for space to teach classes. So, NIPSCO invited Ivy Tech to bring the courses to the facility in LaPorte. Our dean of the School of Technology, Aco Sikoski, created curriculum and formulated a

program. NIPSCO offered staff volunteers to serve as adjunct faculty to teach the specialized energy courses in evening and weekend classes. The program began in 2008 as an associate of applied science degree program and technical certificate program.

This partnership has garnered national attention in energy industry. Kris Emaus, manager of training for NIPSCO has been called on to speak at conferences about the partnership.

“The success of Ivy Tech Community College is a direct reflection of the generosity and vision of those who give to the Ivy Tech Foundation.”

We announced our intent to begin a regionwide capital campaign in the summer of 2010.

The campaign will ensure that Ivy Tech provides the programs and instructional methods that are necessary to develop skilled workers for our community. That means that we will be able to update our teaching and lab equipment that provides hands-on experiences for our students. The goal of the campaign, which will service all four campuses, is $4.5 million. Honorary Chairs for the capital campaign are Bruce and Judy Leetz of Valparaiso.

Cindy Hall, executive director of resource development says, “Gifts in any amount make a difference. It means more opportunities for students.

It means a more employable workforce. It means a more vibrant economic environment. As our current capital campaign motto states, it means changing lives...making Indiana great!”

BusINess Advisory Board MONA VACCARELLA

Human resources professional brings insight to gaming industry hospitality industry.

When the economy plummeted in 2008, Vaccarella says she decided to leverage an industry she knew and joined Majestic Star ona Vaccarella brings Casinos & Hotel. more than a quarter “This has been the most robust century of experience experience professionally and personally,” in executive human resources management to she says. “Larry Buck (general manager and her role as vice president of human resources senior vice president of Majestic Star in Gary), is one of the most brilliant, passionate at Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel in Gary. guys in the industry.”

As a new member of the BusINess Majestic Star has put a number of advisory board, Vaccarella says she sees successful programs in place over the past an opportunity to “communicate on very year, Vaccarella says. important topics and lend solutions.” The “We’re rolling out training programs,” she recession has challenged both businesses says. “In a bad economy, the first things to and individuals, and how they have dealt with a bad economy can provide lessons for go are training and development programs.”

But these programs are vital to recruit the the future, she says. best employees for the job, she adds.

“Management needs to be ahead of Vaccarella says she uses an Attribute the curve, to be proactive. I see my role as Index to assess potential employees and helping to promote suggestions about how corporations can be ahead of the curve as we current employees for move-up positions.

“People are a top assess in an emerge from this recession,” Vaccarella says. organization. In order to maximize this That’s a role that she believes human important asset, an organization has resources should always play in the to identify and understand the talents corporate culture. “We (human relations of its workforce,” Vaccarella says. The professionals) achieve results by being a Attribute Index assesses the way a person strategic partner at the table,” she says. makes decisions and interacts with In 1998, she began consulting with the the environment around him or her. It gaming and hospitality venues across the also assesses how individuals perceive globe as an entrepreneur. She became a themselves, she says. founder and managing partner of Gaming When an organization needs leaders for Hospitality Experts LLC and a managing example, she says, “If they don’t have a member of Casino Careers Online. passion for doing that, they don’t need to be Gaming Hospitality Experts formed in that position.” a business alliance in Asia with Biglot Majestic Star has also instituted ways to Resource Development Ltd. in Macau and reward and recognize employees for doing mainland China and AGMI International an exemplary job, Vaccarella says.

Casino College in Singapore to expand on “You need to nurture employees for services provided to Asian clientele. Casino continued learning. They need to be Careers Online provided a web board and rewarded and shown potential career paths,” resume builder for those in the gaming and

BY LU ANN FRANKLIN BusINess Contributor ‌

M

she says. “We are unique in that we celebrate employee successes every month at a special gathering. And these are employees who interact with our patrons — dealers, security guards, beverage servers, food service employees.”

Majestic Star has also rolled out special rewards programs for its patrons and according to the monthly revenue figures from the Indiana Gaming Commission, the two Majestic Star casinos at Buffington Harbor are drawing more customers.

“We cater to multi-generational patrons,” she says.

Vaccarella says she has a passion for helping organizations gain efficiencies and become more profitable in various areas such as assessing generational workforce and organizational structure, defining the tools to assess performance and employee engagement, strategic recruitment initiatives, compensation and benefit evaluations, leadership development/ assessment and customer satisfaction and loyalty programs.

To get the word out, Vaccarella hosts roundtable discussions for human resource professionals and is an internationallyacclaimed speaker and author.

These panels and keynote speaking engagements include those at the U.S. Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, the National Indian Gaming Association and the Asian Gaming symposiums.

Vaccarella is also a contributing author of the new series “Quick Takes” that provides career seekers and employers with an essential guide on embracing generational differences when looking for a new position or in managing the workforce.

“I pride myself on being visible in the public eye, making speeches,” she says.

SPRING 2011 | 31

Calendar MONDAYS MERRILLVILLE | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Mondays at A.J. Specialties, 1308 E. 85th Ave. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367.

MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters of

Southlake Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the University of Phoenix, 8401 Ohio Street. For more information, call Kim Kosmas at (219) 218-3877.

VALPARAISO | The Northwest Indiana

Professional Network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays in the Alumni Room of the Harre Student Union, 1509 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@ innovativeworkforce.com.

TUESDAYS GARY | The Indiana Business

Professionals Chapter of the Networking Club meets from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Tuesdays at The Baker’s House upstairs meeting room, 6004 Miller Ave. For information, call Tammie Galloway at (888) 263-6926, ext 1.

MERRILLVILLE | Southshore

Business Networking, will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Cafe Divine, 9000 Taft St. Call Rick Gosser at (219) 808-9888 or visit w ‌ ww. southshorebusinessnetworking.com.

HIGHLAND | The North Lake

Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) (East Chicago, Gary, Griffith, Hammond and Highland) — meets Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Round the Clock restaurant, 9010 Indianapolis Blvd. To RSVP or for more

32 | IN BUSINESS

information, call Roger DeVries at (219) 365-1333.

SCHERERVILLE | NWI PRO’s of

Tri-Town meets Tuesdays at Tylers Tender, 350 E. U.S. 30. Networking at 7:15 a.m.; meetings, at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Twila Kaye at twila@twilakaye.com or (219) 227-8875.

VALPARAISO | Small-business

operators are invited to Duneland Chapter of Business Networking International from 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Tuesdays at Strongbow Inn. For information, call Sandy Boland at (219) 926-2505.

WEDNESDAYS MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at T.J. Maloney’s (Radisson complex) near the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. 30. Contact Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940.

HIGHLAND | NWI PROs (Professional Referral Organization) West Lake Chapter meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Wednesdays at Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine, Port De L’eau Plaza, 2130 45th St. Networking before and after. For more information, call Dru Bocek at (219) 613-1125.

THURSDAYS MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Noon

Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1 p.m.

Thursdays at the Old Country Buffet off U.S. 30 (1634 E 80th Avenue). For more information call Aaron Yakovetz at (219) 707-5023, e-mail aaron@goiim. com, or visit www.kiwanis.org.

SCHERERVILLE | BNI (Business Networking International) meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Holiday Inn Express, 1773 Fountain Park Drive in the Fortis A Room. Call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940 for more information.

VALPARAISO | The Porter County

Business League meets at 7 a.m.

Thursdays at Round-the-Clock restaurant, 217 E. Lincolnway.

For more information, visit ‌ www.portercounty.com.

VALPARAISO | The Referral

Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. at Regional Federal Credit Union, 2801 Boilermaker Court (behind Menards). For more information contact Cindy Zromkoski at (219) 741-7963.

FRIDAYS HAMMOND | Free business

counseling services are available through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) from 9 and 10 a.m.

Fridays at the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 5246 Hohman Ave. Call (219) 931-1000 for an appointment.

MERRILLVILLE | Referral Organization of Crown Point meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Café Divine, 9000 Taft St. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or generate@comcast.net. The Web site MERRILLVILLE | Northwest Indiana Networking Professionals meets at is r‌ oinetworkinc.com.

7:15 a.m. Fridays at either Cafe Divine MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters meets (Inside Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first and St.) or AJ Specialties (1308 East 85th third Wednesdays of the month at the Ave.) Check the website for location, Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. ‌nwinetworking.org/events.php. Contact 81st Ave. For more information, call Carl Watroba at carl@compdrinc.com or Dale Brooks at (219) 775-7788.

(219) 776-7423 for more information.

We want to hear from you To read more calendar, visit w ‌ ww.nwi.com/ business. To include an item in the local business calendar, send event information, time, date, cost and location to: business@nwitimes.com or fax to (219) 933-3249.

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