BusINess Magazine by The Times of NWI

>> contents An Engine for Growth Stewart McMillan of Task Force Tips is one of five inductees in The Times Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2010

The Times Business and Industry

Hall of Fame

Class of 2010

5 6 7 8 9 10

BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD Tom Gryzbek, St. Margaret Mercy Hospital publisher notes by Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. By the numbers Statistics Concerning the Region’s Economy EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT Danny S. Jones, Security Industries Inc. BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Aleksandar Desancic, Progress Pump & Machine Inc. COVER STORY The Times Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2010 11 David Bochnowski by Lu Ann Franklin 12 James W. Dye by Heather Augustyn 13 Stewart McMillan by Lu Ann Franklin 14 Joe Morrow by Lu Ann Franklin 15 Gus Olympidis by Lu Ann Franklin

Stimulus: the region, the money, and nwi’s fair share by Dan Carden

18 22

BIZ BUZZ Updates on Area Businesses

25 26

Business Calendar Upcoming Events In the Area

MY TURN Collective Vision Today Will Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders by Bill Thon

SALUTE Promotions and Accomplishments of Local Business People

new futures Gender Equality and Diversity at the Top Tier by Tammi A. Davis

cover photograph by jessica a. woolf 4

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

>> business advisory board

St. Margaret’s Gryzbek a Man on a Mission By Jeremy Gantz

n an age when Americans change employers every few years, Tom Gryzbek is an anomaly: He’s spent his entire career working at Hammond and Dyer-based Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital, which has consistently ranked among Northwest Indiana’s best healthcare providers during the last decade.

As healthcare costs have skyrocketed around the country in recent decades, Gryzbek, the hospital’s president since 2004, has remained committed to Saint Margaret’s core mission: continuing Christ’s ministry in the Franciscan tradition. Or, as he put it in an interview with BusINess, whose advisory board he recently joined, “finding the limits of service in healthcare today, and filling those gaps.” With about 45 million Americans currently uninsured, the gaps have been substantial. Between 2007 and 2009, Gryzbek says, Saint Margaret annually provided $70 million in unpaid care to patients. It’s on track to provide the same amount this year. “Our mission is to see God’s presence in the patients we’re privileged to serve and to provide the highest quality service we can,” says Gryzbek, an ordained deacon. “We continually expand our services and specialties to meet the needs of the medical staff and the community.” Under Gryzbek’s leadership during the last 15 years (he was executive vice president and chief operating officer from 1993 to 2004); Saint Margaret’s myriad services have steadily grown in depth and breadth. The hospital’s bariatric services, neurosurgery, orthopedics and cancer treatment programs (among others) have expanded, and surgeons there welcomed the Region’s “Da Vinci robot,” a state-ofthe-art surgical system that performs “the most complex and delicate procedures… with unmatched precision,” according to

the hospital. Gryzbek, voted Hammond’s “Businessman of the Year” in 2007 and its “Citizen of the Year” in 2008, led the response to the 2007 flooding that forced much of the Dyer campus’ closure while overseeing a $45 million expansion of that facility that was completed the same year. (Both the Dyer and Hammond campuses are now in the process of converting to 100-percent private rooms.) Beyond capital projects, he has also helped develop two special Saint Margaret volunteer programs—“Volunteer Advocates for Seniors” and “Spiritual Companions”— while expanding the services of the Catherine McAuley Clinic in downtown Hammond. The clinic treats the uninsured working poor, while the advocates program provides seniors with trained legal guardians and the spiritual program provides patients without family or friends with a prayerful companion throughout the dying process. “We have a broad spectrum (of programs) to take care of the needs of our patients and our community,” explains 58-year-old Gryzbek, a Calumet City, Ill., native and Dyer resident. But he’s quick to credit the approximately 3,000 employees, including 550 physicians, who work at the hospital’s two campuses and off-site clinics. “I’m honored to be working alongside very good physicians and other medical professionals,” he says. February marks Gryzbek’s 36th year at Saint Margaret, where he began at an entry-

level human resources position and went on to move up through the hospital’s legal and support services’ department. Along the way, he earned a M.B.A. from Indiana University Northwest and a law degree from De Paul College of Law, in Chicago. “I’ve been lucky,” he says. So have Northwest Indiana residents, who have benefited from the hospital’s nonprofit services since 1898, when the Hammond campus opened. HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization, has ranked that campus among the top 10 percent of U.S. hospitals for cardiac surgery, women’s health and pulmonary care. Saint Margaret Oncology Center, also at Hammond, has been recognized as one of the top hospitals for cancer treatment in the Midwest. “My goal is to make Saint Margaret the top-quality provider in Northwest Indiana and to continue…to take care of God’s needs within the limits of our resources,” Gryzbek says, noting that any new federal legislation that provides healthcare to more people would be “good for everyone.” “We’ve tried to take care of needs,” he continues. “We believe that healthcare is a right that should be afforded to everyone.” With healthcare reform efforts in Washington D.C. dragging on indefinitely and a slow economic recovery failing to generate jobs, it’s a safe bet that Saint Margaret will continue to be a crucial part of Northwest Indiana’s social safety net as it moves well into its second century of operation.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

>> publisher’s letter

Success is built one decision at a time

he Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame is now in its third year and I continue to be amazed by the inspiring work, the level of commitment and the incredible impact that an individual can have on the lives of hundreds of thousands of others. What would Northwest Indiana be without Joe Morrow, James Dye, Dave Bochnowski, Gus Olympidis and Stewart McMillan? Joe Morrow and his family in effect saved the Northwest Indiana Symphony, which continues its 70-year tradition of top quality classical and popular music programs as well as an extensive music education program. And this was just the most recent example of Joe and Sandy Morrow’s constant commitment, vision and leadership. Joe Morrow has played a significant role with Campagna Academy (Hoosier Boys’ Town), the Hammond YMCA and Community Hospital. As chairman of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, he created and maintains the Joseph T. Morrow scholarship, which is awarded annually to a graduating senior from Gary, Hammond or East Chicago with a career interest in law or banking. James Dye’s unprecedented talent for building and investment led him to help on two major capital campaigns for Indiana University and St. Margaret’s Hospital. Later he and his wife Betty formed their own foundation, which has been awarding college scholarships for 15 years. The only return on investment James Dye wants is a copy of a diploma, and his goal completion ratio is over 90 percent, a great ROI for Northwest Indiana. And Dave Bochnowski . . . He is a banker who considers himself a community activist, and he’s right. The Peoples Bank CEO also serves as treasurer for the Munster Community Hospital and on the board of the Community Healthcare System. He is a current board member of the Legacy Foundation of Lake County, a director of the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council, a trustee of the Purdue University Technology Center, and a trustee of Calumet College of St. Joseph. The story of how Gus Olympidis built Family Express is legendary—he got his first store at age 21 by scraping together $6,000. Today, Family Express operates 52 stores, employs 500 people and reports gross annual revenues of $300 million. The company is principally focused on the art of “building relationships” with customers, community and coworkers, Olympidis says. Its unique culture is powered by its biggest competitive advantage, he says—its people, who are Family Express’s “living brand.” Stewart McMillan’s father Frank taught him the value of tenacity and how one person can make a difference in many lives. In the early days, his Dad’s company, Task Force Tips, was teetering on the brink of disaster when they got a prepaid order from the Fire Chief in Syracuse, Frank Burke. Now, every year Stewart McMillan presents the Frank Burke Award to an employee who made a difference in someone’s life. Today, Task Force Tips employs 190, and the company is a leader in supplying firefighting equipment throughout the United States and around the world. On behalf of The Times, I congratulate these pathfinders as they join our honorees from 2007 and 2008. The examples these leaders set will continue for generations to come, and our children will be double beneficiaries.

BUSINESS

S e rv i n g N o rt h w e s t I n d i a n a & C h i c ag o l a n d

winter 2010

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1

Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. Founding Editor Bill Nangle Associate Publisher/Editor Pat Colander Director of Product Development Chris Loretto Associate Editors Crista Zivanovic Julia Perla Matt Saltanovitz Art Director Joe Durk Graphic Designer Matt Huss Contributing Writers Heather Augustyn Cal Bellamy Dan Carden Wil Davis Lu Ann Franklin Jeremy Gantz Bill Thon Contributing Photographers Natalie Battaglia Jon L. Hendricks John Luke Robert Wray Advertising Director Lisa M. Daugherty Online Account Executive Craig Chism Advertising Managers Deb Anselm Eric Horon Frank Perea Jeffrey Precourt Business Advisory Board Dave Bochnowski Peoples Bank Wil Davis Gary Jet Center Tricia Geno NIPSCO Barb Greene Franciscan Physician Hospital Tom Gryzbek St. Margaret Mercy Hospital Terri G. Martin Gary Community Health Foundation Inc. Stephan K. Munsey Family Christian Center Dan Nita Horseshoe Casino Bert Scott Indiana University Northwest

Bil l M a steRson J r . P U B LIS H ER , B u s INe s s WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK. E-mail me at bill.masterson@nwitimes.com or write to me at: BusINess Magazine, The Times, 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

>> by the numbers

Employment Lake County

La Porte County

Cook County

Illinois

November 2008 Labor Force: 228,753 Employed: 212,231 Unemployed: 16,522 Rate: 7.2 percent

November 2008 Labor Force: 52,067 Employed: 48,290 Unemployed: 3,777 Rate: 7.3 percent

November 2008 Labor Force: 2,606,709 Employed: 2,433,037 Unemployed: 173,672 Rate: 6.7 percent

November 2008 Labor Force: 6,627,200 Employed: 6,183,400 Unemployed: 443,800 Rate: 6.7 percent

Porter County

Indiana

Will County

November 2008 Labor Force: 83,830 Employed: 79,078 Unemployed: 4,752 Rate: 5.7 percent

November 2008 Labor Force: 3,223,960 Employed: 3,002,540 Unemployed: 221,420 Rate: 6.9 percent

November 2008 Labor Force: 359,978 Employed: 337,849 Unemployed: 22,129 Rate: 6.1 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 223,396 Employed: 201,300 Unemployed: 22,096 Rate: 9.9 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 81,751 Employed: 75,006 Unemployed: 6,745 Rate: 8.3 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 51,794 Employed: 46,142 Unemployed: 5,652 Rate: 10.9 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 3,104,803 Employed: 2,816,107 Unemployed: 288,696 Rate: 9.3 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 2,626,581 Employed: 2,345,153 Unemployed: 281,428 Rate: 10.7 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 362,780 Employed: 325,645 Unemployed: 37,135 Rate: 10.2 percent

November 2009 Labor Force: 6,644,000 Employed: 5,948,800 Unemployed: 695,200 Rate: 10.5 percent

SOURCES: Indiana Department of Workforce Development/Illinois Department of Employment Security

Health care employment Nationwide by industry segment, 2006 and projected change, 2006-16 (Employment in thousands) 2006-2016 Percent change Industry segment 2006 (projected) Health services, total Hospitals, public and private Nursing and residential care facilities Offices of physicians Home health care services Offices of dentists Offices of other health practitioners Outpatient care centers Other ambulatory health care services Medical and diagnostic laboratories

13,621 5,438 2,901 2,154 867 784 571 489 216 202

21.7 13.0 23.7 24.8 55.4 22.4 28.3 24.3 32.3 16.8

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

>> executive spotlight

Providing high security Danny S. Jones President and CEO of Security Industries By LU ANN FRANKLIN

Danny S. Jones has guided his Hobartbased company Security Industries to success as a primary vendor for permanent perimeter and temporary construction site fencing as well as commercial and industrial overhead doors and dock equipment. Launched in 2003, Security Industries also offers maintenance, repair and installation services. “Our business, our industry has changed greatly since 9/11,” says the 52-year old Schererville resident. “We were on the leading edge of that change. We moved at full speed into heavy security fencing and overhead doors.” Security Industries’ clients include steel mills, refineries, utility facilities, water plants and construction companies. Industries along Lake Michigan’s shorelines and utilities supplying the power grid and water take possible terrorist targeting seriously, Jones says. Creating security solutions ahead of the curve is the core of his business, he says. One example of fencing offered by Security Industries is a steel product that provides an ornamental look, but will withstand a 15,000-pound truck ramming the structure at 50 mph and will move only one meter, Jones says. “It will stand up to repeated attempts at ramming and the truck won’t come through.” Jones brings his own 30 years of experience in industrial fencing, ornamental iron, access controls and overhead doors to his business. He also salutes his staff for their dedication. Union ironworkers install and maintain

the fencing. “We have the finest people working here – in-house, the craftsmen and supervisors. They all pride themselves on giving a better level of service,” he says. And Security Industries personnel are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Despite the economic downturn, Security Industries has continued to grow over the last seven years, although tighter margins are now the rule. “When we started in 2003, we had four people in the office and 11 in the field. Now we have 11 in the office and 42 in the shop and the field,” he says. In addition to an excellent staff and much-needed product, Jones credits the examples set by father for Security Industries’ success. A resident of Hammond’s Hessville section, Lester Jones owned a fencing company for many years. In his youth, Danny Jones worked for his father as an installer, learning the fencing business from the ground up. But Jones said his father gave him more than experience. Lester Jones gave his son roots and life lessons. “You have to get up every morning like it’s a new day, because it is a new day,” says Danny Jones, quoting his father’s philosophy and work ethic. “You have to do the right thing.” His work and business have brought Danny Jones numerous awards. For seven years, Security Industries has been given the Safety Achievement Award by the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable. The company also has earned the BP Safety Excellence Award for four years.

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“The Construction Advancement Foundation named us Subcontractor of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007,” Jones says. “No one’s gotten that award two years in a row.” In 2009, Danny Jones was honored as the Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Development Corp. Outside of work, Jones says he enjoys water sports, water skiing, high-performance cars and his collection of antique toys and cars. At 6’6” tall, Jones is a formidable figure, yet his corporate headquarters and his personal office are filled with part of that collection of toy cars and machines from bygone eras and with Disney characters, especially Mickey Mouse. These surroundings bring whimsy to his business life. The toys are also a reminder of his own heritage, and help keep him humble, Jones says. A photo of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse waits to be framed for display in the front office. The photo bears a famous saying by Disney about his own success that Jones says he endorses and instills in all his employees: “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.”

[

danny s. jones President & CEO Security Industries Inc. 1000 Georgiana St., Hobart (800) 854-3667 | (219) 942-9447 www.siifence.com

]

photo by John Luke

ecurity has become a major focus of American life since 9/11. Industries, including steel mills and utility companies, require such measures as fencing that provides high security and anti-ram capabilities.

>> executive spotlight

Machinist turned entrepreneur Aleksander Desancic, Owner/President and CEO Progress Pump & Machine, Inc. By Lu ann franklin

photo by John J. Watkins

s a young man in Yugoslavia, Aleksandar Desancic followed a family tradition and became a machinist. “Back in the old country, you became a machinist or an electrician. My brother was a machinist, and my uncle was an electrician,” he says. But, a different world beckoned him. “I went to France and lived there for two years,” Desancic says. “I always liked America and came here in 1965.” A friend brought him to Chicago from Europe and the then 20-year old found a job as a machinist at Beatty Machine & Manufacturing in Hammond. In 1973, Desancic decided to supplement his income by working part-time from a two-car garage in Whiting. “When I decided to get into it full time, everyone told me not to leave Beatty. I had a good job with good benefits and insurance,” he recalls. “But my wife, Sharon, had a good job as a nurse, and that helped me make the move.” In 1977, Desancic left Beatty Machine to devote all his time and energies to building his machine shop, the business that became Progress Pump & Machine Services. He hired a single employee that year. Later, he began specializing in pumps. Today, this distributor of submersible, dewatering, trash, slurry, stainless and sewage pumps works with clients throughout the United States. Progress Pump & Machine Services Inc. in Schererville now employs 40 people and has millions of dollars in sales. “We build pumps, too. Some are very small and some are 30 to 40 feet,” he says. As a service company, Progress Pump also provides repairs, rebuilding, retrofitting and overhauling of many types of pumps and steam turbines. “Our thorough pump

knowledge and in-house engineering services have created a loyal customer base for over 30 years,” Desancic says. “Although our base is in the Midwest, our reputation is country-wide.” Progress Pump’s 52,000-square foot facility at 918 Kennedy Ave. in Schererville features a 20-ton lifting capacity which enables staff to service large-scale equipment. “Our approach to repairing any component is to analyze each unit, re-engineer when necessary and upgrade equipment to maximize reliability,” Desancic says. “Computer Aided Design (CAD) system enables PPM to quickly and accurately custom design parts for any application.” The repair and rebuilding of pumps includes casing repair, machining, impeller van lap repair and polishing, retrofitting and bearing upgrades. PPM also repairs steam turbines and offers other repair and technical services including welding fabrications and castings and forgings, he says. In addition, PPM provides on-site services at clients’ facilities. Fully-equipped mobilized field crews are available 24-hours a day for emergency repair work as well as scheduled maintenance on all types of equipment. “We understand the importance and emergency created by downed equipment,” Desancic says. PPM’s field services include milling, drilling and tapping, line boring and turning. “Our other services include drawing, engineering, troubleshooting, machining,

balancing and remanufacturing,” Desancic says. Desancic is dedicated to meeting the needs of clients. His work ethic is as much a part of his heritage as being a machinist, he says. And Desancic has received honors as a businessman. In 1998, he was named small business person of the year at the Entrepreneurial Excellence Conference. His son, Stevan, has followed in the Desancic family tradition and has become a machinist. The elder Desancic also points with pride to daughter, Aleksandra, who is an attorney and a deputy prosecutor in the office of Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter. The Desancics also have three grandchildren. Although he still spends many hours as president of Progress Pump & Machine Services, Desancic also is active in his church, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in East Chicago. “If I can make it, anyone can make it,” Desancic says. “When I started my business, I couldn’t even really speak English. But I was willing to take a chance.”

[

Aleksandar Desancic Owner/President & CEO Progress Pump & Machine Inc. 918 Kennedy Ave., Schererville (219) 322-3700 www.progresspump.com

]

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

Welcome to the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry

Hall of Fame

2010 The Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame opens its doors to ďŹ ve local leaders who have made an indelible mark on the region.

The Times and BusINess magazine also want to thank the judges who helped make this project possible:

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

Mark Maassel (Class of 2008)

THE CLASS OF 2010:

DAVID BOCHNOWSKI JAMES W. DYE STEWART MCMILLAN JOE MORROW GUS OLYMPIDIS

Northwest Indiana Forum

Mamon Powers (Class of 2008) Powers and Sons Construction Nancy Johnson Legacy Foundation

Howard Cohen

Purdue University Calumet

Bill Wellman

Whiteco Industries

Cal Bellamy (Class of 2009) Kreig-DeVault LLP

Barb young

Porter County Community Foundation

Bill Masterson Jr.

The Times Media Company

>> cover story: business and industry hall of fame

David Bochnowski Leading by example By LU ANN FRANKLIN

s chairman and CEO of Northwest Indiana Bancorp and Peoples Bank, David A. Bochnowski carries on the lessons taught by his grandfather and father and their legacy of customer service and giving back.

“Our philosophy is to treat customers with respect as individuals, build rapport with our customers and reinvest in the Northwest Indiana communities where our customers and employees work and live,” says Bochnowski, a third-generation banker, husband, father of four and a Munster resident. “Fair and honest dealings are critical to the success of any enterprise, but especially critical in banking,” he says. “These are not just words. They’re a way of life.” And being a banker means being in public service, Bochnowski says. His involvement in local, state and national issues is extensive. A community activist, Bochnowski serves as treasurer for the Munster Community Hospital and on the board of the Community Health Care System. He is former chairman and current board member of the Legacy Foundation of Lake County; a director of the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council; a trustee of the Purdue University Technology Center and a trustee of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Gov. Frank O’Bannon appointed Bochnowski to a four-term term as chairman of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions and in 2001, the governor named Bochnowski a “Sagamore of the Wabash,” Indiana’s highest award for humanity, loyalty, wisdom and inspiration in leadership. As chairman of the American Bankers Association Government Relations Council, Bochnowski is a national advocate for change in the banking industry. He calls for bankers to work with state and federal legislators so they can make informed decisions about regulations and laws that

have a far-reaching effect on consumers and communities. But Bochnowski didn’t originally plan to become a banker. “I always joke that I came up in banking the hard way. I had a great deal of exposure to the bank, and I remember the days of posting ledgers by hand, back when digitalizing was a revolutionary concept,” he says. “But as much as I enjoyed the banking environment, my family encouraged me to explore the world beyond.” Bochnowski whet his appetite for foreign service by spending the summer of 1967 in Lesotho, Africa, with a faith-based group called Crossroads Africa. He and other workers built a maternity clinic from the ground up in the Drakensberg mountain range. “It was a rewarding experience,” he says. “I enrolled in Howard University for a master’s degree in African studies.” In 1970, Bochnowski volunteered to go overseas as a military advisor during the Vietnam War. In country, the U.S. Army lieutenant’s assignment was to put Vietnamese forces into place to fight the war independently of the U.S. “It was a challenging assignment and helped me learn the importance of priorities,” he says. “Even though we all had different ranks, we also formed a team. In a true team situation, rank does not make a difference. Everyone has a job to do.” Bochnowski has brought that experience to every phase of his life. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University and worked as a special assistant to Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Indiana) in Washington, D.C. Returning to Indiana, Bochnowski set up a private law practice and in 1977 became

legal counsel for Peoples Bank. “When the opportunity arose for me to join the bank’s management team, my father did not encourage me to do it,” Bochnowski recalls. “But, once I made my decision to join the bank, my father fully supported me.” Bochnowski took over as chairman and CEO of Peoples Bank in 1981 and was promoted to chairman of the Northwest Indiana Bancorp holding company in 1995. Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, Peoples Bank continues to grow under Bochnowski’s leadership. Today, Peoples Bank has 11 banking centers in Lake and Porter counties. A groundbreaking will be held in the spring for a 12th banking center in St. John, and bank officials are also looking to open other banking centers in Valparaiso and Chesterton. Peoples Bank also supports a wide range of community activities through Bochnowski’s leadership. Over the past 25 years, the bank has donated some $4 million in charitable contributions and community support. Bochnowski has built a team of leaders who are homegrown and active in their communities. Peoples Bank employees volunteer and serve on various boards. “When hiring, we look for people who like to deal with people, who like to engage our customers in conversation and who take responsibility for finding solutions for our customers’ needs,” Bochnowski says. “We’ve changed tires in the parking lot for our customers. If you need to talk to the CEO, you get to talk to me. If you call to ask a question, you get an answer without delay because decisions are made locally and not at corporate headquarters somewhere on the east or west coasts,” he says.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS winter 2010

>> cover story: business and industry hall of fame

James W. Dye Building homes, building lives By Heather Augustyn

J “I started working young and had a good work ethic. I started working at odd jobs at Standard Lumber and elsewhere. I worked as a block layer, soda jerk, had a paper route, delivered vegetables, raised chickens,” says Dye. After Dye graduated from Hammond High School in 1949, he went on to attend Indiana University and is still very involved in the campus today. “I was active down there, in charge of student spirit and I was a basketball manager. I was a Sigma Chi while I was in school and graduated as a business major and studied real estate,” he says. Dye has since served on the board of trustees for Indiana University from 1984 to 1990 and last October received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the institution. After college, Dye served with the Army Corps of Engineers and further honed his real estate skills, he says. “I was a real estate utilization and inspection officer and because the war was over I was very busy with releasing properties back to Korea and Japan,” says Dye. At this time he also gained critical training that he says was one of the most important skills for his career. “I got my pilot’s license and I’ve been flying ever since. I think flying did a lot for me, being able to fly to different locations and see what was going on with construction. It’s easy to get to Indianapolis, to Bloomington, or Washington DC, or wherever I wanted to go,” he says. It was during one of these flying trips to go fishing in Canada that he met his wife, Betty, with whom he was married for 50 years before her death two years ago. “She

was a beautiful girl, great mother, great supporter,” says Dye. Together they have five children. While still in college, Dye earned his real estate license at the age of 20. Although he legally couldn’t use that license for another year, Dye began paving the way for his future career. Building his first home over summer break, Dye got a taste for a life of building, and when his father died in 1953, Dye, only 21 years old, came back to help run the family business, working in the office. In the early 1960s, Dye founded the Landmark Corporation and began building homes. “It was the biggest builder in Lake County for years,” he says. This business segued into building luxury apartment buildings, an idea Dye had from flying over the country. “In the mid ‘60s, to get financing you had to get three market surveys and all three said we would not be successful building luxury apartments with pools and club houses. But being able to fly around and see what I saw in Indianapolis and Texas and Washington and around the country, I knew we could be successful,” he says. Soon the Mansards Apartment Complex was built with 1,430 units and the Mansards Racquet Club followed, both in Griffith. Dye sold the Mansards in 1984 when he saw tax laws were changing and he decided to pursue a new phase of his career— investing. He also purchased farm land and owned a buffalo farm in Wolcott, Indiana, but investing was a natural progression for Dye. “I got into the investment business because I tried to hire other people to do

winter 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

it for me and it didn’t work out,” he says. Working in this area for Indiana University and St. Margaret’s Hospital on capital campaigns, Dye got a taste for his next endeavor, co-founder of the James W. and Betty Dye Foundation, along with his wife. “I wanted to give back to Northwest Indiana. We’ve been giving scholarships for 15 years to people because Lake County has too low a base of college graduates. We have some of the best universities in the country but we do not have the number of students who graduate from college as elsewhere,” he says. Last year the foundation offered 28 scholarships to Lake County students which pay all of their tuition for four years at Purdue University, Indiana University, Ball State, or any of the extensions. “We plan to continue to foundation after I’m gone and our program has been very successful. Our return on our investment is we get a copy of their diploma. Our completion ratio is over 90% so our kids make it and they are very appreciative and keep in touch. We just have awfully good kids,” says Dye. Building homes, building lives has been the focus of James W. Dye’s career since he began working as a kid in his father’s store. Even today at age 79 he is still going strong, running the foundation, overseeing the farm land he still owns and leases, and enjoying life. “I still fly quite a bit, a Piper Cub, and fly around Indiana with my dog, Andy, and he’s a super dog. He’s my companion. We go flying together and fishing. He goes to my office everyday and he sits in the back seat in my plane. Life is good,” he says.

photo by Natalie Bataglia

ames W. Dye, president of JWD Management, Inc. and president of the James W. and Betty Dye Foundation, both in Munster, had building in his blood from the beginning.

>> cover story: business and industry hall of fame

Stewart McMillan Father, employees help lead to success By LU ANN FRANKLIN

“T

photo by Jon L. Hendricks

ogether we accomplish great things.” For Stewart McMillan, president and CEO of Task Force Tips in Valparaiso, that’s more than a company slogan. It’s a personal and family philosophy. “We do so little on our own and so much together,” McMillan says, reflecting on his family and company’s history. Raised in Hobart, McMillan says he watched his father put in long hours as an engineer for U.S. Steel and as a volunteer firefighter in Gary. As fire chief, Clyde McMillan knew a new nozzle design would help him and his crews in the field, so he sketched that design on a restaurant napkin in 1968. But the journey to get the nozzle to market nearly broke McMillan’s father financially and emotionally. But, a bit of serendipity intervened during Clyde McMillan’s darkest hour. “At the time, fire departments across the country were downsizing, and they needed equipment with more nozzle strength, which Dad’s company produced. But he didn’t have the money to make them without an order,” McMillan recalls. “Frank Burke, the fire chief in Syracuse, New York, called Dad and told him ‘Send me an invoice and get those things made and here.’” Now every year Stewart McMillan presents the Frank Burke Award to an employee who makes a difference in someone’s life. McMillan was the company’s first employee. Today, Task Force Tips employs 190, and the company is a leader in supplying firefighting equipment throughout the United States and around the world. The company is dedicated to helping first responders do their jobs safely and efficiently, McMillan says. Flags of more than a dozen nations hang above the headquarters factory, reminding employees how many people are helped by TFT products.

Nozzles and monitors designed and manufactured by Task Force Tips are used by emergency responders in a variety of settings including the fighting of fires in wooded areas, aboard ships at sea and in industrial plants such as refineries. Municipal fire departments, both paid and volunteer, use the products. The company designs products to deliver fluids, including water and foam, appropriate for each situation, McMillan says. “Foam helps knock down a fire at a faster rate. If you have a chemical fire, our foam application eductor and bigger nozzle can put down a layer of foam over the chemicals to prevent vaporizing,” he says. In recent years, the company also has begun designing remote control monitors, including the Extend-A-Gun, which is mounted on a stand and raises the nozzle to reach over most obstacles. Another new product is the hard suction hose that allows firefighters to obtain water from a river, lake, dry hydrants and other nonpressurized water sources. McMillan takes special pride in the museum located inside the new building in a replica of a firehouse. Historic fire engines, dalmations, helmets and masks trace the history of firefighting, particularly in Valparaiso, and the history of the company. A modest man, 55-year old McMillan credits his mentors, including his father, and his employees for his company’s success. “What I always admired about my dad was his integrity,” McMillan says. “My philosophy of leadership all starts with telling the truth. If people don’t know where the goal is, they can’t move the ball.” Sandy Tomecko of Kouts, an employee

for 23 years, nominated McMillan for The Times Business and Industry Hall of Fame, “He treats his employees very well. He gets things done,” Tomecko says. “He makes sure all the employees have turkeys at Thanksgiving. Who does that any more? He has Christmas parties for the children of employees and then there’s the family vacation time.” “Employees take a bag of information with them on vacation. Wherever they go, they visit a fire department and give the bag of information to officials,” McMillan says. The reward is that for every family member on the vacation, the employee receives money and a percentage of the gas spent on the trip. McMillan is also very active in the community, Tomecko says. “He goes wherever he’s needed. He’s a super, kind-hearted, gentle man.” A pilot for 23 years, McMillan flies a PC-12 turboprop airplane as part of the Angel Flight program to transport those who need medical care. He’s also on the board of the Purdue University Research Park in Merrillville and is heavily involved with the United Way. Both McMillan and his wife, Kathryn, provide support for the Christian Community Action homeless shelter, and Kathryn has served on the CCA board of directors. McMillan was named Community Leader of the Year by the City of Valparaiso in 2008. Very much a family man, McMillan points with pride to his two children. Kelly, 20, is a nursing student at Valparaiso University. Ian, 8, is a third-grade student. “I get great joy out of working with people, and changing things to make them better,” McMillan says. “It’s just a blast.”

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS winter 2010

>> cover story: business and industry hall of fame

Joe Morrow Blending business with philanthropy By LU ANN FRANKLIN

J “My plans was to move to a small county seat, practice law and run for Congress,” the 79-year old Morrow recalls. “Then I began realizing that that wasn’t the way to conduct a lifestyle. To give back to the community, you have to be successful in some other endeavor.” And he has been successful in two professions – the law and banking. Following his law school graduation in 1958, Morrow moved to Northwest Indiana and became law clerk to a judge in the Northern District Court of Indiana. In late 1959, he established his own law practice in Hammond. “We did general counsel work for NIPSCO and the South Shore Railroad, basically utility and regulatory law,” he says. Twenty years later, Morrow changed careers when he became chairman of the board of three sister banks –Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, First National Bank of Illinois and Home State Bank of Crystal Lake, Ill. He also was President of Lake Commercial Group. Morrow says he found great satisfaction in his 25-year banking career. “It was tremendously more satisfying than the practice of law,” he says. “It was not so adversarial or confrontational. I spent my days helping customers.” Joe and Sandy Morrow have been married for 53 years and have two children, Christopher Morrow and Gale Morrow Crabtree, both of Dyer, and four grandchildren. Christopher continues to lead the First National Bank of Illinois and Home State Bank. Like their parents, both Christopher and Gale are active in a

phlethora of community causes. An established philosophy of personal giving has guided Morrow and his family to share their success with the community. “I always thought I had a duty to do what I could to make Northwest Indiana a better community,” he says. “Philanthropy needs to be focused on the communities where our family’s money is made.” That’s exactly the life example he has set and continues to follow, according to John Cain, executive director of South Shore Arts, who nominated Morrow for the Business and Industry Hall of Fame. “As a pillar of business leadership in Northwest Indiana and beyond, Mr. Morrow distinguished himself as a steadfast supporter of the community through his personal involvement with and generous contributions to the non-profit sector,” Cain says. “This philosophy of personal giving is commendable and vital to our entire region.” The fund-raising efforts spearheaded by the entire Morrow family “effectively saved the Northwest Indiana Symphony from extinction,” Cain says. “The Morrows have set a standard for arts support from within the private sector that is unprecedented.” Morrow says his affiliation with Mercantile Bank was a springboard for his fund-raising efforts for various organizations, including the Hammond Area YMCA, Community Hospital, United Way, South Shore Arts and Campagna Academy. His support for the Calumet Council Boys Scouts of America comes from memories of his own scouting days. In

winter 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

2007, Joe and Sandy Morrow were honored with a Distinguished Citizen Award by the Calumet Council BSA. As chairman of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, he established the Joseph T. Morrow Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior from East Chicago, Gary or Hammond who plans to attend Indiana University Bloomington or Indiana University Northwest with a career interest in law or banking. Although retired now to Naples, Florida, Morrow remains active on the board of First National Bank of Illinois and Home State Bank, and the bank’s various committees. He is also chairman emeritus at First National Bank. The family sold Mercantile National Bank to Harris Bank in 2005. In addition to his family, a great source of pride for Joseph Morrow is his alma mater, Indiana University, where he remains actively involved. “I’m on the chancellor’s council and received the Chancellor’s Medal.” he says. “I’m also on the Indiana University Foundation board of directors and the IU Varsity Club.” Morrow says his deep connection to Northwest Indiana remains strong through the causes he supports and the many friends he’s made in the community. “Each day is a new adventure,” he says. His induction into the Business and Industry Hall of Fame is a great honor, Morrow says. “I join a really stellar group of people who have won this award.”

photo by Jessica A. Woolf

oseph Morrow began considering a political career while in an eighth grade civics class in his hometown of Huntington, Indiana. The idea of being elected to the U.S. Congress continued to appeal to him as he served in the United States Air Force, earned his business degree at Indiana University and while attending the IU School of Law in the late 1950’s.

>> cover story: business and industry hall of fame

Gus Olympidis Community involvement is vital to entrepreneur By LU ANN FRANKLIN

photo by John Luke

G At the age of 18, Olympidis left Greece and journeyed to Northwest Indiana where he enrolled at Indiana University Northwest to pursue a degree in business. He credits his parents with helping him succeed. “I believe that parental influence was the major motivator,” Olympidis says. “I grew up in an environment that was positive, nurturing and demanding. I was taught to be self confident and passionate for what I believed from my parents. They always projected the values of hard work and community.” “I started in the convenience store industry at the age of 21,” says Olympidis, president and CEO of Family Express Corporation. “I have always been a demanding consumer; consequently I helped build a company culture that is ‘customer centric.’ ” Family Express Corporation began with an independent, unaffiliated convenience store, called Time Low, that opened on Christmas Day 1975 on the west side of Valparaiso. Olympidis says he struggled to secure financing, but the store succeeded. The next month, Olympidis incorporated his company as part of a growth cycle he anticipated. Nine years later, in 1987, he changed the company’s name to Family Express to create a friendly atmosphere for female customers. “We build a business model at Family Express around the customer,” Olympidis says. He also pursued innovations to allow the small company to remain strong and competitive in the marketplace. For example, Olympidis saw the repetitive task of counting cash in the stores as inefficient and detracting from customer service. In May 1997, he introduced a cash management system into the stores. Bill reader machines reduce cash-counting

us Olympidis’ story is part of the fabric of Northwest Indiana, an area settled largely by immigrants seeking a better life.

activities and allow store personnel to focus on customers. Under Olympidis’ leadership, Family Express continued to innovate. In February 1998 Family Express introduced its own gasolines including the high performing FE 9300 premium. At that time the stores were re-imaged with the company’s current signature colors, teal and white with a splash of magenta. This began the rollout of a variety of proprietary brands that have become synonymous with Family Express. On September 8, 1999, Family Express acquired Carter Oil. This acquisition extended the company’s reach into the Lafayette, Indiana, market and improved its exposure along I-65. Family Express soon introduced its own brands of coffees, sandwiches, baked goods, frozen carbonated beverages, water, ice and milk. In December 2003 the 60,000-square foot Central Distribution Center was purchased and totally redeveloped to its current state. “Our company had to evolve to remain competitive, “Olympidis says. “In the near future Family Express will be introducing a powerful rewards program for our customers. It will be called ‘FE Perks’ and it would help consumers right where they have been hurt the most, their pocketbook. FE Perks will deliver fantastic discounts on gasoline.” Olympidis’ commitment to innovation was recognized by the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators when he was inducted with the class of 2008-2009. Today Family Express operates 52 stores, employs 500 people and gross annual revenues of $300 million. The company is principally focused in the art of “building relationships” with customers, community,

and co-workers, Olympidis says. Its unique culture is powered by its biggest competitive advantage, he says – its people who are Family Express’s “living brand.” “We invest in people that instinctively engage in relationship building,” Olympidis says. “Last year our company reached the milestone of half of our stores having zero turnover.” In addition, Olympidis introduced company learning centers in both Valparaiso and in Lafayette, which underscore the company’s commitment to employee training and cultural development. “My personal leadership style is to show passion, walk the talk, and invest in overachievers. My philosophy is that it is all about the customer!” he says. Another part of Olympidis’ philosophy is community life. “I believe that engagement in community life is an obligation,” he says. Rex G. Richards, president of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, nominated Gus Olympidis for The Times’ Business and Industry Hall of Fame. He cites the many contributions Olympidis has made to Northwest Indiana, including directorships with Centier Bank, the Valparaiso Community Development Corp., the Visiting Nurses Association of Porter County, the Northwest Indiana Forum and the Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Foundation. Olympidis has also received the Distinguished Community Leadership Award for Valparaiso in 1993 and the Valpo Rotary Four Way TEST Award in 1997. But, Olympidis himself says, “The most rewarding community activities for me have been ones that do not come with publicity and/or a plaque such as mentoring a college student or delivering the gift of hospice to a family.”

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS winter 2010

>> feature story

Stimulus: The Region, the Money, and NWI’s Fair Share e By Dan Carden

orthwest Indiana is poised to finally see the benefits of President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus program in 2010. Set to go this year are road repaving projects through the region, including streets in Gary, St. John, Merrillville, Crown Point and Portage. Traffic signals will be modernized in Valparaiso and new sewer pipes will be installed in Schererville. Porter County will see new bridges built while portions of the dunes will be restored along the Lake Michigan shoreline. In all, millions of dollars will be spent on hundreds of projects intended to make long-term infrastructure improvements and create jobs throughout the region. “The biggest emphasis for us is to put as many people to work as possible with this money, in order to follow the intent of the Act,” said Wil Wingfield, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law one year ago this month. Unlike earlier stimulus plans that spent their funding as fast as possible, Obama’s $787 billion stimulus was designed to provide a constant source of new money over the course of its twoyear lifespan. In fact, Indiana will see nearly three times as much stimulus money coming in this year than it did in 2009.

To date, the Hoosier State has been awarded more than $3 billion in federal stimulus funds, but has only received some $850 million through January. Most of the money received so far, nearly $650 million, has been used to balance the state’s budget. In August, state government skipped its regular monthly payment to Indiana schools and substituted instead federal stimulus money slated for education. While that substitution freed up state funds now being used to address a $1.8 billion state budget deficit, Hoosier schools did not see any extra benefit from the stimulus cash. However, using a federal jobs formula, the net effect of that spending has been to create or save 16,310 jobs in Indiana. Critics of the stimulus plan charge that those job creation numbers seem to have

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

no basis in reality. Indiana’s unemployment rate in Dec. 2008 was 8.2 percent. By Dec. 2009, it was up to 9.9 percent. Whether it might have been even higher without the stimulus is likely impossible to determine. But state government is doing its part by spending stimulus money as quickly as it comes in, says Cris Johnston, executive director of government efficiency and financial planning with the Indiana Office of Management and Budget. More than 99 percent of the money Indiana has received so far has been spent, said Johnston, a Crown Point native. A similar situation exists in Illinois. While Illinois has received far more stimulus money than Indiana – $2.5 billion – it’s actually waiting for a lot more as well. To date, Illinois has been awarded $6.5 billion

in federal stimulus money, meaning some $4 billion is still slated to come through in 2010. However, not all stimulus funds are routed through state government. The stimulus has added billions of extra dollars to Medicaid health coverage for the poor, Pell Grants for college students, extended unemployment benefits, improvements in Internet access, home weatherization projects and $250 bonuses for Social Security recipients and disabled veterans. Every worker making less than $75,000 in 2009 and 2010 will receive a $400 income tax credit, while first-time home buyers can claim a refundable tax credit of $8,000. The effects of some of those stimulus programs are just now beginning to be felt in the region. Will workers with $400 extra cash in their pockets spend it at a local businesses? Will that lead to the creation of new jobs? Will the homebuyer credit give a boost to the local real estate market? Could healthier workers reduce insurance premiums? This will be the year to find out. Indiana schools could also land millions in new stimulus cash this year through the federal Department of Education’s “Race to

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the Top” program. In January, Indiana sent in its application asking for at least $250 million of the $4.35 billion to be awarded through competitive grants for innovative education programs. “We are told Indiana’s application is perhaps the boldest in America,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said after signing the state’s application. On tap is nothing less than

Indiana will see nearly three times as much stimulus money this year compared to 2009 the wholesale restructuring of kindergarten through twelfth-grade education in Indiana. The state Department of Education has proposed using Race to the Top stimulus funds to change how teachers are trained, hired and evaluated, reform how students are tested and alter the relationship between

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the state and school corporations. Under the plan, it would become less burdensome for professionals with a bachelor’s degree to become teachers, thereby opening the teaching ranks to people interested in changing their career. Instead of having to go back to college for an education degree, people who already have a bachelor’s degree would only have to take a few teacher-training courses in order to get a teaching license. The state has also proposed taking over low-performing schools and turning their operations over to private corporations for improvement. As the school improves, it could either become a charter school or return to its original school corporation. “We believe a new era of educational transformation and reform has begun in Indiana,” Daniels says. Indiana will find out in April whether it will receive federal stimulus money to support these initiatives. Dan Carden, an Orland Park, Ill. native, covers Indiana government and politics from Indianapolis as The Times Statehouse Bureau Chief.

*That’s right: training on your terms. No matter where you are in Indiana, Ivy Tech’s division of Workforce and Economic Development can help your company reach its goals. With 23 locations throughout the state and training available at your site, it’s never been easier to accelerate your workforce. Our programs in Information Technology, Human Resources, Manufacturing and Industrial Skills, Safety, Quality, Healthcare, Finance and a variety of other areas can give your employees the skills they need to help you grow. Our team of workforce professionals also can customize a training program to meet your unique needs, on your schedule. Whether at your facility or one of ours, Ivy Tech’s division of Workforce and Economic Development offers you what you need, when you need it. Visit ivytech.edu/actnow today to accelerate your workforce.

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NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS winter 2010

biz buzz >> VALPARAISO

INsight Design Conference is Set for Year Two at Faith Church Garage

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>> MUNSTER

>> HOBART

Video offerings multiply on nwitimes.tv

Hobart McDonald’s has new look, location

The Times Media Co. added more offerings to its online video channel, with daily weather forecasts joining weekly video features and regular news video offerings at http://www.nwitimes.tv and http://www.nwi.com. Each morning, a forecast focusing on Northwest Indiana is available for readers, a convenient click away. The other regular weekly feature on nwitimes.tv, the Shore Weekender, continues to grow in popularity as Joe Durk and Julia Perla run down the weekend entertainment highlights in a breezy video available on the site every Thursday. Meanwhile, The Times’ news staff will continue to provide video supplements to its print and online coverage, including on-location reports and daily news updates. “I hope readers will keep logging on to view the outstanding work being done by our media center staff,” Times New Media Coordinator Robert Blaszkiewicz said. “Working with nwitimes.tv provides us a powerful storytelling tool, and we’re looking forward to offering even more quality content for our users.”

The McDonald’s outside of Westfield Mall has a new look and a new location, 1939 E 80th Ave., in front of Toys R Us and across from the Westfield Southlake Mall. OwnerOperators William Modrak and Sherri Ashby-Modrak will continue to run the franchise. The new location includes WiFi access, big-screen Vs, custom artwork and a large conference table. For more information, contact (219) 738-1889.

>> MERRILLVILLE

Networking PRO’s expands to Merrillville A new Chapter of Networking PRO’s meets Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at A. J. Specialties, 1308 E. 85th Ave. For more information, call Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367.

The second INsight Design Conference is scheduled for May 21, 2010 this year again at Faith Church Garage, Dyer. The strategy workshop for freelance creative designers has several education components throughout the session including a portfolio review. A non-profit case study is also on the agenda. The focus of the event is to bring the talent pool of NWI graphic designers together with local businesses. A suggested donation of $10 benefits the Faith Church Community Arts Center. Last year, says media coordinator Martin Oleksy, the conference gave $1,000 to the FCCAC for supplies as a result of the benefit.

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

>> NORTHWEST INDIANA

Health centers share grant to buy medical equipment Five Northwest Indiana community health care centers will share a federal grant to jointly purchase medical equipment in order to provide services to the region’s uninsured and underinsured. East Chicago Community Health Center, Gary Community Health Center, Hilltop Community Health Center in Valparaiso and NorthShore Community Health Center locations in Lake Station and Portage are sharing a $377,190 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The agency is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. The grant was secured in the 2009 Fiscal Year Omnibus Appropriations Act. With the grant, the health centers will be able to leverage group purchasing power and defray costs, according to a news release from the office of U.S. House Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind. “I am really thrilled with the attention that Congressman Visclosky gives to health care,” NorthShore Health Centers CEO Janice Wilson said. “By providing grants like this to all the centers in the region, it helps us to better serve the uninsured and under-insured, especially in this economic crisis. He is the champion of health care in Northwest Indiana.”

[ Updates on local businesses ] >> NORTHWEST INDIANA

NWI nets 4 firms on Inc. magazine list

>> NORTHWEST INDIANA

Walsh and Kelly receives national commendations Walsh & Kelly Inc., heavy highway contractor with asphalt plants located in Griffith, South Bend, Valparaiso, Lowell, and Portage, has received both the Diamond Achievement and Quality Achievement Commendations from the National Asphalt Pavement Association for each of the business’ five asphalt plant locations. The Diamond Achievement Commendation is a comprehensive assessment that recognizes industry leaders for excellence in safety, environmental practices, community relations, operations, appearance and permitting and regulatory compliance. The Diamond Quality Commendation is awarded in recognition of an asphalt plant’s excellence in product quality as it relates to practices in quality control and management, environmental quality, aggregate handling, asphalt mixing practices, and asphalt storage. For more information, call (219) 924-5900.

photograph by Tony V. Martin

>> MICHIGAN CITY

Horizon Trust management ranks in performance report Horizon Trust & Investment Management ranked 380 out of 1,500 trust companies in their peer group, in the Trust Performance Report for 2009. The noted findings included that Horizon Trust achieved 0.87 percent for return on assets compared to peers at 0.59 percent. It also ranked more than 55 percent higher for total income compared to peers. For more information, (888) 873-2640 or www.accesshorizon.com.

Four Northwest Indiana firms are on Inc. magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America. The firms were ESW Inc. (No. 2,005) in Crown Point, Alliance LLC (No. 2,075) in Valparaiso, Cornerstone Appraisal Services Inc. (No. 2,782) in Valparaiso, and Livemercial Inc. (No. 4,896) in Valparaiso. The magazine released the list in August. Firms were ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008, according to a news release from the magazine. Companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005 and must be based in the United States, privately held, for-profit and not be a subsidiary or division of another company as of Dec. 31. Businesses also had to have at least $200,000 in revenue in 2005 and $2 million in revenue in 2008. Sixty-two businesses from Indiana and 224 businesses from Illinois made the list. California had 612 companies on the list, the most of any state.

>> VALPARAISO

Northwest Indiana Professional Network meets at new location The Northwest Indiana Professional Network recently changed its weekly networking location to the Valparaiso University campus. NIPN weekly meetings will take place 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays in the Alumni Room of the Harre Student Union, 1509 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. NIPN is a networking group for professionals interested in sharing information and resources that would allow them to meet their career objectives. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com.

>> MUNSTER

Peoples Bank ranked as top 200 community bank For the fifth consecutive year, Peoples Bank has been recognized as one of the top 200 community banks in the nation for performance as published in the June issue of U.S. Banker magazine. The financial trade publication ranked community banks with less than $2 billion in assets at Dec. 31, 2008, by their three-year average return on equity. “This honor is shared by the entire Peoples Bank team who, everyday, put our customers first and work hard to bring value to our stakeholders,” said David A. Bochnowski, chairman and CEO. Peoples Bank, headquartered in Munster, is one of only seven Indiana community banks to receive this year’s recognition. Peoples has multiple banking locations in Lake and Porter counties.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

biz buzz >> MERRILLVILLE

Local leaders join Legacy Foundation board

Local business wins nationwide art and framing award Decor Magazine, an international trade publication serving the art and custom picture framing industry, recently named Framing Concepts Gallery, with offices in Chesterton, Crown Point and Valparaiso, as one of 10 winners of the magazine’s nationwide Top Art and Framing Retailers Award. Framing Concepts has won the top honor in three of the six years it has been awarded. The awards honor general business excellence and outstanding customer service among art and framing retailers nationwide. Entries are judged by a panel of industry experts and small business administrators at the magazine’s headquarters in St. Louis. Framing Concepts is highlighted in the September issue of DECOR. For more information, visit www.decormagazine.com or www.framingconceptsonline.com.

>> NORTHWEST INDIANA

Community recognized as top 50 health system A study on hospital quality recognized Community Healthcare System as one of the top 50 performing health systems in the nation. The Thomson Reuter’s “100 Top Hospitals: Health Systems Quality/Efficiency Study” analyzed health systems, including Community’s Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. The study looked at the quality provided by a health system as a single organization, regardless of ownerships, religious affiliation, location, size or purpose. “This recognition, as one of the nation’s top performing hospitals for high quality healthcare, is a validation of the work of our staff and physicians to hardwire excellence throughout the hospitals of teh Community Healthcare System,” said John Gorski, Chief Operating Officer of Community Heatlhcare System.

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>> CROWN POINT

Dean White on Forbes 400 Four Indiana residents, including Crown Point resident and Whiteco CEO Dean White, are on Forbes 400 recent list of the richest Americans. Bloomington-based Cook Group founder William Cook is No. 85 on the list with a net worth of $3.5 billion. White is ranked No. 202 and Herb Simon of Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group is No. 317. Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay is on the list for the first time at No. 347.

>> HIGHLAND

Prompt honored by Red Cross for effort during floods The Prompt Ambulance Service operations staff was recently honored by the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana for their strong support during the Northwest Indiana Floods of September 2008. “We’re very proud of our staff,” said CEO Gary Miller, “they worked very hard during the flood.” During the flooding, hundreds of people were staying in temporary shelters. Many of these people had injuries or health conditions requiring medical treatment. Prompt voluntarily placed an ambulance at each of the Red Cross shelters, providing 24-hour ambulance service and medical transport. “We are grateful for the support we received from PROMPT,” Gordon T. Johnson, Red Cross CEO, said. Prompt provides emergency ambulance service for Dyer, Griffith, Highland, Merrillville and Munster. For more information, call (219) 838-4444.

photograph by Jon L. Hendricks

>> NORTHWEST INDIANA

The Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s community foundation, recently elected three community and business leaders as the newest members of its board of directors. Howard Cohen, Purdue University Calumet chancellor; The Times Media Co. Executive Editor Bill Nangle; and Dave Ryan, executive director of the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, each were elected to three-year terms. The board governs Legacy Foundation’s administration and distribution of funds and provides leadership in guiding the work of the organization. “We are fortunate to have three individuals with a high level of commitment to and knowledge of the Northwest Indiana community join our board,” Margot Clark, chairwoman of the board of Legacy Foundation, said in a news release. “Howard, Bill and Dave bring significant insights to the organization. Their contributions will help the foundation continually seek ways to improve the quality of life in Lake County.” The Legacy Foundation, founded in 1992, aims to encourage philanthropy, support good works and inspire leadership. For more information, visit www.legacyfoundationlakeco.org.

salute Promoting local business people who are climbing the professional ladder

Davis

Tammi Davis of Gary, Indiana joined Trinal, Inc. of Chicago, a strategic development consulting firm specializing in the development and implementation of EEO and Affirmative Action Programs, as the Director of Contract Compliance in March 2008. She has recently been promoted to Chief of Operations, where she will oversee a staff of 13 full and part-time positions and have direct oversight over all the of the firm’s clients and projects, which total over $1 billion in construction costs. Prior to joining Trinal, Davis was the Compliance Officer for the City of Gary/Sanitary District for 5.5 years. Donna J. Bartley has been appointed to vice president, mortgage area sales manager at Fifth Third Bank in Merrillville. Bartley will oversee a sales team comprised of mortgage loan originators based throughout Northern Indiana.

Friedman

Gary Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chuck Hughes and City Director of Public Works Rinzer Williams III have been appointed to the board of directors for the Indiana Black Expo, most notably known for its sponsorship of Summer Celebration and the Indiana Circle City Classic.

Mix

Faitak

Leep

Gemma Macias, of Hammond, has been promoted to director level with Reliv International, a direct-selling nutritional supplement company. S. Sohail Ahmed, MD, board-certified in neurology, has joined St. Margaret Mercy’s Department of Internal Medicine. Ahmed has offices in Hammond and Chicago. Michael E. Flisak, MD, board-certified in Diagnostic Radiology, has joined the Department of Radiology/ Vascular and Interventional Radiology. Flisak’s office is in Harvey. Steven R. Klepac, MD, board-certified in Diagnostic Radiology, has joined the Department of Radiology/Vascular and Interventional Radiology. His office is in Harvey. John F. Mamon, MD, with board certifications in Diagnostic Radiology and Vascular & Interventional Radiology, has joined the Department of Radiology/ Interventional Radiology. Mamon’s office is in Harvey. Daria Brooks Terrell, MD, board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, has joined the Department of Surgery. Brooks’ office is in Munster. Tejvir S. Nanda,

winter 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

MD and Derek L. West, MD, each with board certifications in diagnostic radiology and vascular and interventional radiology, have joined the Department of Radiology/ Vascular and Interventional Radiology. Both physicians practice in Harvey. The Gary Public Schools’ Board of Trustees appointed attorney Tony Walker to serve on the Gary Public Library Board. Stuart J. Friedman and Kirk A. Pinkerton, both formerly name partners of Munster-based Pinkerton and Friedman P.C., have joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Northwest Indiana office in Schererville, expanding the firm’s corporate and transactional practices, including trust and estate planning. Rob Maciel, of Valparaiso, has been accredited as a cruise specialist for Cruises Inc., a worldwide travel agency network. Rita Bacevich, owner of HDW Commercial Interiors in Schererville, was named “Business Person of the Month” by the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. HDW is a certified women-owned business that specializes in commercial furnishings and space-planning services in healthcare, education, corporate and hospitality. Areas of service include Northwest Indiana, Chicagoland and South Bend. Andy Mix, P.E, has joined NIES Engineering Inc. as senior project manager. St. Mary Medical Center has appointed Mammography Supervisor Donna Faitak, of Portage, to the Women’s Diagnostic Center in Hobart. She has more than 20 years of health care supervisory experience. Her most recent position was mammography supervisor at the Methodist Hospitals. Michael R. Leep Sr. has joined Centier Bank’s Board of Directors. Leep is president of Gurley-Leep Automotive Family of Mishawaka. Derek Chirch, former athletic director at Lancaster Christian Academy in Smyrna, Tenn., has been named the new athletic director at Victory Christian Academy in Valparaiso. Chirch replaces Nate Shidler. Chirch founded the athletic department at Lancaster in 2005.

lia sophia recently recognized local 2008-09 Top Achievers at its annual conference, including Gina Mytnik, of Dyer; Joann Keck, of Griffith; Debbie Urban, of Highland; Sue Bailey, of St. John; Allison Doyle, of St. John; Dana Argoudelis, of Schererville; Monique Clark, of Schererville. Lesly Bailey has joined the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center as communications coordinator. Her responsibilities include increasing public awareness of the NWI SBDC and its mission and goals, creation of marketing materials, maintaining and updating the Web site and calendars and reaching out to the public through social media avenues. Bailey has previously worked at the Columbus (Ind.) Republic and The Times Media Co. The American College of Healthcare Executives in Chicago has announced that Donald P. Fesko, of Dyer, chief executive officer of Community Hospital in Munster, has recently earned Fellow status and board certification from its professional society for health care leaders. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination, meet academic and experiential criteria, earn continuing education credits and demonstrate professional/community involvement. Steve Mazylewski, formerly of the Hoghaus Brewery in Fayetteville, Ark., has become the new head brewer at Crown Brewing in Crown Point. Sean Kasparian, of Lowell, has joined Crown Brewing as the assistant brewer. Financial Advisor Matt Dilts of West Point Financial in Merrillville participated in the 2009 Million Dollar Round Table annual meeting in Indianapolis. Dilts participated in workshops and presentations by estate planning, tax, business, law and other experts in the life insurance and financial services fields. Rick Monroe and Eric Gulbrandsen, both Crown Point volunteer firefighters and laborers for the Public Works Department, Utilities Division, were honored as the July 2009 Employees of the Month for their quick response, while off-duty from the Fire Department, to a distress call in Stillwater subdivision. They answered a pager and administered CPR to someone in distress until paramedics

arrived. Mayor David Uran said their quick response was an outstanding example of professionalism and true compassion. Chuck Taylor has joined the certified public accounting and consulting firm of Clifton Gunderson as senior tax manager in the Schererville office. Taylor is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Valuation Analyst. Dr. Darcy Diehl is now working at Kauffman Chiropractic at the Winfield office. The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously appointed Gary attorney Tony Walker to a vacancy on the Disciplinary Commission of the Indiana Supreme Court. The commission is charged with protecting Indiana residents from unethical and illegal conduct by attorneys and protecting attorneys against false allegations from the public.

Bailey

Fesko

Dr. Ryan Porterfield, of Valparaiso, has joined the office of Kauffman Chiropractic in Merrillville. Standard Bank and Trust Co. welcomes John Horton as senior vice president of mortgage banking. Formerly a regional sales manager at Fifth Third Bank, Horton comes to Standard Bank with 19 years of banking experience. Local business owners Sue and Dan Cain, of the Platoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet retail store in Merrillville, recently attended the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual conference in Orlando, Fla. The conference covered a variety of topics, such as marketing techniques, management skills, employee training, and planning for business growth. Local attorney Jeffrey S. Wrage, a partner with Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman, in Valparaiso, has been named a member of the Board of Directors of the National Floor Safety Institute. Wrage will participate in a panel discussion at the Slips, Trips & Falls Prevention Symposium in Chicago on Oct. 6. Northwest Indiana native Bradford Sims has been named dean of the College of Technology at Indiana State University. He was previously professor and chair of the construction management department in the Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology at Western Carolina University.

Dilts

Diehl

Porterfield

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS winter 2010

salute Board-certified family practice physician Dr. Deepa Potti has joined the Hammond Clinic and will see patients at the clinic’s St. John facility.

Glaros

Tonevich

Basher

Fielder

Willis Glaros and Matthew Glaros (pictured) of Employer Benefit Systems, Inc. have recently completed advanced training in health insurance technology with the Zywave Corporation. Employer Benefit Systems Inc. is one of a limited number of health insurance agencies to utilize this advanced communication, compliance and data warehouse system. Maggie Reister Walters, of Merrillville, was among the financial representatives who recently attended the 2009 Million Dollar Round Table Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Reister participated in workshops in general session presentations by experts in estate planning, taxes, business, law and other areas of concern to life insurance and financial services professionals. Lowell resident Melani Tonevich, clinical nurse in Behavioral Health/St. Francis Center, has earned Saint Margaret Mercy’s GEM Award in July. Tonevich has been employed at Saint Margaret Mercy since August 2000. Thomas Aquisto, MD, with board certifications in diagnostic radiology and vascular and interventional radiology, has joined St. Margaret Mercy’s Department of Vascular & Interventional Radiology. His office is in Harvey. Sean Chrystal, DO, has joined the Department of Emergency Medicine. His office is in Hammond. Sameea A. Chughtai, DO, board certified in family practice, has joined the Department of Family Medicine. Her office is in Hammond. Therese M. Heenan, DO, board certified in family practice, has joined the Department of Family Medicine. Her office is in Dyer. Arshad A. Khan, DPM, has joined the Department of Podiatry. His office is in Munster. Wil Hendrix-Griffin, of Chicago has joined Standard Bank and Trust Co. as vice president of mortgage lending. Formerly of Wells Fargo, Hendrix-Griffin comes to Standard Bank with 14 years of banking experience.

Isakson

Prathis Sivaprakasm, DDS, recently joined Parkside Dental Care, 1515 W. 45th Ave., Griffith. He currently is a member of the American Dental Association.

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

Schererville-based Advance Financial Federal Credit Union recently promoted Yvette Williams, of Hammond, to lending service representative at its East Chicago branch office. Williams joined the staff as a full-time teller in June 2006 and also worked as lead teller. Barb Pence is now with Re/Max Results in Schererville. Barb has 15 years of marketing and sales experience in real estate. Charles Huseman, of Cedar Lake, was one of the first 30 individuals in the U.S. to be chosen to represent the Agricultural Industry as a Master Beef Advocate. This program is an effort by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to provide knowledgeable spokespeople to tell the true story of beef production and agriculture. Three physicians within La Porte Regional Physician Network recently expanded their specialties to Starke County. Invasive cardiologist Abul Basher, MD, FACC, is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease. He provides prevention, treatment and management of heart and vascular disease, and specializes in echocardiograms, stress tests and cardiac catheterization procedures. Basher has offices in Knox and New Carlisle. Scott Fielder, MD, specializes in arthroscopies of the shoulder, wrist, ankle and other major joints. He also performs general orthopaedics, including hip and knee replacement surgery. Fielder has offices in Knox and La Porte. OB/Gyn John Taylor, MD, is Board Certified. Taylor’s specialties are in gynecological surgeries, including laparoscopic, vaginal and hysteroscopic surgery. Taylor sees patients in Knox and La Porte. LRHS recently named Jennifer Williams, a registered nurse and certified emergency nurse, as the director of SameDay Center. Porter-Starke Services Inc. has added Abigail Isakson, D.O., to its psychiatric staff. Isakson is board certified in psychiatry.

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

business calendar To read more of the calendar, visit www.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.

Monday 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. Contact Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367. 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. Contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com.

Tuesday 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. Hammond | The North Lake Chapter of BNI (Business Networking International), which encompasses Hammond, Gary, Griffith and East Chicago, meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays at Cabela’s, 7700 Cabela Drive, in the upstairs conference center. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940. Schererville | NWI PRO’s of Tri-Town meets Tuesdays at Tylers Tender, 350 E. U.S. 30. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start 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. Merrillville | Toastmasters of Southlake Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in Room 102 at the University of Phoenix, 8401 Ohio Street. For more information, call Shugunna S. Alexander at (219) 794-1500.

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. Merrillville | Referral Organization of Crown Point meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Café Divine, 9000 Taft St. Contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or generate@ comcast.net. The Web site is http://roinetworkinc.com. Munster | The Munster BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Centennial Park, 1005 S. Centennial Drive. Contact Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090.

Thursday 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). Call Aaron Yakovetz at (219) 7075023, e-mail aaron@goiim.com, or visit www.kiwanis.org. Schererville | A BNI (Business Networking International) business development group 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 the Round-the-Clock restaurant, 217 E. Lincolnway. Contact Kim Michalski at (219) 510-3674. 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. Contact Cindy Zromkoski at (219) 741-7963. Homewood | The Homewood-Flossmoor Toastmasters meets from 8 to 10 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Sylvan Learning Center in Park Place Plaza, 17936 S. Halsted. Call Julie at (708) 903-0692.

Wednesday

Friday

Crown Point | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Wednesdays at First Financial Bank, U.S 231 and Broadway. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or Marsha Coleman at (219) 374-9613.

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. If you are starting a business, or having problems in business, call (219) 931-1000 for an appointment.

Crown Point | Toastmasters meets from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Conservative Cafe, 201 N. Main St. For more information, call Dale Brooks at (219) 775-7788.

Merrillville | Northwest Indiana Networking Professionals meet at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at Towne Center Retirement Community, 7250 Arthur Blvd. (73rd Avenue, east of Taft). Contact Beverley Steinman at catchbev@sbcglobal.net or (219) 730-1262. More info at www.nwinetworking.org.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

[ new futures ] by Tammi A. Davis Chief of Operations, Trinal, Inc.

Gender equality and diversity at the top tier

ccording to Fortune Magazine, 43 women are CEOs of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. More specifically, women lead 15 (3%) of the Fortune 500 companies and 28 (3%) of the Fortune 1000 companies. Taken at face value, one would grimace at such statistics. However, in the bigger picture, hundreds if not thousands of women lead and own businesses in both traditional and nontraditional industries-from beauty shops to construction companies to nonprofit organizations. Today, women are appointed, nominated and elected to political positions at local, state, national and even global levels. It could be argued that the battle for gender equality has been won. Or has it? Has gender equality truly been realized? Or has it been replaced by the quest for gender diversity? Does gender equality mean the same as gender diversity and does it produce the same results?

It is up to women today to euthanisize gender discrimination Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decisionmaking, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored. Simply put, gender equality means that parity exists at multiple levels and within multiple disciplines between and among men and women. Gender equality, much like success, appears to be more a journey rather than a destination. Gender diversity, on the other hand, could be viewed as a destination. It is presumably achieved when an organization can look at its board members and “see” diversity, usually represented by one female and/or one minority, with the remainder comprised of Caucasian males. Women, particularly, and some men too, want to “see” more women as executives, department heads, policy makers, chairs of boards and award winners. They want to be visible and vocal as opposed to the antebellum practice of being seen and not heard. Until women are significantly positioned and physically present among the majority -- in this case, men -- it is often questioned whether diversity has been achieved. Once diversity is perceived, then it’s off

WINTER 2010 NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS

to strategic planning, product development and other bottom line priorities. Meg Whitman, former President and CEO of eBay, was recently quoted as saying, “I have been asked so many times about being a woman in a man’s world, and about how I dealt with sexism in the workplace. My short answer is that mostly I just focused on delivering results.” So perhaps that’s what’s next: focus on producing tangible, quantifiable results and take appropriate steps to prepare, nurture and motivate the next generations of young women looking to climb the corporate, civic, nonprofit or social ladder. The next step is to climb the crystal stairs leading to where the sky’s the limit to achieving political, social, economic, racial and sexual-oriented equality. In Langston Hughes’ poem, Mother to Son, he writes: Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor—Bare. The quest for gender equality and diversity sought by women leaders was no doubt filled with moments of standing in places with no carpet on the floor and being ridiculed because they refused to “wear the masks” of assimilation. The ancestral gains of the past have paved the ways for CEOs like Meg Whitman, presidential candidates such as Hillary Clinton and mothers as global leaders like First Lady Michelle Obama. The generations born in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s have a unique opportunity to grab the millennium generations of the ‘80s and ‘90s to become the qualified women from which to employ, appoint or elect as executives, department heads, policy makers or chairs of boards, thus, eliminating the generational shortfall of women as leaders. It is up to the women today, regardless of position, to euthanize gender discrimination, so that future generations do not have to suffer from its continuing effects. Langston Hughes represents this challenge for today’s woman best in the conclusion of his poem: So [girls], don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now— For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. Fortunately, women today have not only cracked the ceiling, but have gone beyond the glass to climb those crystal stairs leading to unimagined opportunities and experiences not only for our generation but for generations to come.

[ my turn ] by Bill Thon Executive Director of Workforce Development Ivy Tech Community College Northwest

Collective vision today will inspire tomorrow’s leaders

vy Tech Community College’s partnership with business and industry goes back to 1963 when the college was first started. It was the need to have a skilled workforce in Indiana that helped spur Ivy Tech’s development. Throughout the years, we have been recognized for our innovative partnerships with business and industry. Just in the last few days we were notified that the Northwest region’s partnership involving BP and NIPSCO was selected to receive the Indiana Career and Technical Education partnership award. This award is given annually to schools that promote and strengthen career education for today’s youth. With nearly half of U.S. workers expected to retire within the next decade, companies across Indiana are turning to Ivy Tech to help recruit and train future employees. Ivy Tech has recognized that the economic landscape in this country is changing, thus changing the needs of business. So the school is broadening its definition of partnerships by positioning itself to be an educational training partner to assist and support not only business and industry, but local economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and governments. Those partnerships may take the form of training their employees as well as being a partner that can provide skilled employees to new businesses recruited to the area. Our partnership with the Northwest Indiana Building Trades Apprenticeship Program has over 600 apprentices receiving an Associate’s Degree at the completion of their apprenticeship training. In addition the Valparaiso campus is home to the Valparaiso WorkOne Office. This partnership with our local WorkOne continues to grow as the college has regular hours at several of the WorkOne locations to provide college and program information to local residents. Our regional workforce partnerships have grown from the requests for curriculum development to specifically addressing the needs of local business and industry. Within the last three years we have been asked by the six largest manufacturing industries in Northwest Indiana to create a specialized curriculum in the School of Industrial Technology for the steel industry (Arcelor Mittal & US Steel,) the process operations industry (BP, Prax Air and Safety Kleen,) and energy producer (NIPSCO.) Our newest program is called “Steelworker for the Future” through a partnership with Arcelor Mittal Steel. This specialized Industrial Technology degree with a concentration in electrical and mechanical maintenance was designed by Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario,

Canada. We were able to bring this curriculum to Ivy Tech/Northwest through an international partnership agreement. The energy program, “Careers in Energy” was designed through a partnership with five regions of Ivy Tech and the state’s six company energy consortium. Currently with these new programs in place we have added several hundred students to the college seeking Career Development Certificates, Technical Certificates and Associate Degrees. These programs are providing students with industry-specific education and hands-on skills that local industry has recognized as entry level requirements. We realize that our growth and the growth of the region must be more and more inclusive of alliances outside of the business sector as well. New partnerships must substantively address the needs of Northwest Indiana. For example, our “Innovator Cafés” in partnership with The Society of Innovators have given regional business leaders

Our goal has been to develop leadership capacity across our seven counties an inside look into innovative and best practices to encourage growth and innovation across the seven counties of our Northwest Indiana region. Through the “Dare to Dream” convenings that have been held in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski Counties, our goal has been to develop leadership capacity across our seven counties. Our “Dare to Dream: One Region / One Vision” initiative funded through a grant by the Knight Foundation encourages communication, cooperation and collaboration among the leaders of our seven counties. The sponsoring institutions are: Calumet College of St. Joseph, Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Northwest, Purdue University Calumet, Purdue University North Central, Saint Joseph’s College, Valparaiso University, The Center of Workforce Innovations and the Times Media Company. With over 1200 participants attending our Dare to Dream convenings from our seven counties, we have gathered hundreds of ideas on how to improve leadership, strengthen communication and inspire collaboration. Our goal is to make the seven counties of our Northwest Indiana region a “world-class” regional community.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGOLAND BUSIN ESS WINTER 2010

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