WINTER 2012
2012 TRIBUTE Those Leaders We Lost
LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW featuring Lawson in the House Charbonneau in the Senate
U.S. Rep. Pete
Visclosky on Hope and Infra˜ r ucture BY DAN CARDEN
NWI FORUM Maassel In Summation 2012
NORTHWEST INDIANA HEALTHCARE WRAPS UP A BANNER YEAR — INNOVATION, GROWTH AND PROGRESS by Andrea Holecek
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Contents Biz W Biz WorTHy o rTHy
4 6
Co vEr sTor y
Job Watch: employment statistics from indiana and illinois a. Salute: Pamela a. Lowe, new director d evelopment with of development TradeWinds Services
30 Tribute: business nor thwest remembers northwest indiana community leaders
20
Q&A with U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky: Congressional r epresentative Pete visclosky sat down with business to discuss the most prominent issues facing nor thwest indiana business today.
FEaTurEs FEaTurEs
26
Bringing Home the Best Health nor thwest indiana’s health Care: northwest care industry is expanding faster than ever.
Co Lu MnisTs CoLuMnisTs
36 37 38
32
Business Schools Change Course: universities nationwide are adapting their mba curricula to better serve graduates in an age of transition and technology.
Ed Charbonneau: indiana state senator from valparaiso offers his views on the financial recovery in the r egion. Linda Lawson: State representative from hammond writes about some of the most important issues facing our state this year. Karen Freeman-Wilson: Gary mayor looks forward to a brighter future for her city and nor thwest indiana business.
CaLEnD ar
40
Business calendar: Check out upcoming events in your area
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Publisher’s Letter WinTEr 2012-13
v o Lu ME 8, issuE 4
Publisher bill masterson Jr. Founding editor William nangle ass ociate Publisher/Editor Pat Colander Director of a udience Development brett r iley Managing Editor matt Saltanovitz Design Director ben Cunningham Designer diane Cunningham Contributing writers heather a ugustyn, keith benman, dan Carden, ed Charbonneau, Lu a nn Franklin, Jeremy Gantz, William Lowe, diane Poulton, bill Thon, bowdeya Tweh
Thoughts on governance
I
Contributing photographer Tony v. martin a dvertising Director Lisa m. daugherty a dvertising managers d eb a nselm, eric horon, Jeffrey Precourt Business a dvisory Board dave bochnowski, Peoples bank; Wil davis, Gary Jet Center; n ick meyer, niPSCo; bar b Greene, Franciscan Physician hospital; Tom Gryzbek, St. margaret mercy hospital; Stephan k. munsey, Family Christian Center; a nna r ominger, indiana university nor thwest; bill Thon, ivy Tech State College Copyright, nor thwest indiana/Chicagoland business, 2012. a ll rights reserved. r eproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.
By BiLL MasTErso n jr. Publisher, business, The Times media Co.
We want to hear from you e-mail bill.masterson @nwi.com or write to BusIness Magazine, the t imes, 601 w. 45th Ave., Munster, In 46321
t is difficult for me to count how many people have mentioned the tension they’ve felt throughout this election season, and how frustrated they are with the confusing and contradictory messages they hear. When will the electorate get back to talking about what’s really important? That’s why when our statehouse reporter Dan Carden sat down with veteran legislator U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky, there was plenty to talk about besides the drama at the ballot box. I was surprised, for instance, to learn that though we hear a lot about the Cline Avenue bridge, other bridges in our area might need attention as well. The bridge over the Kankakee River between Jasper and Porter County is only one of 4,091 bridges in Indiana that are obsolete or deficient and badly in need of repair. There are big infrastructure challenges out there that touch many of our lives in fundamental ways. And we probably don’t think about them much, or won’t until we run over a pothole or get delayed when there is a roadwork emergency crew blocking the quickest route to wherever it is we’re going. That is the job of responsible leadership, as he says. But from my point of view, the most interesting idea that the Congressman put forward about the future was when he said that he is “hopeful,” and that a person who has a career in public service has to be hopeful. That was a word I had not heard much lately. It echoes a fundamental belief I have that a person in any leadership position has to be optimistic. It reminded me about my own sense of optimism and purpose. While the problems and opportunities are different in every industry—media, manufacturing, health care, gaming, retail, energy and real estate are just a few that come to mind—every industry is facing hurdles going forward. Timing is everything. Competition matters too, but there is one unavoidable aspect of shaping a successful future, and that is a hopeful and optimistic mindset in the company’s leadership that the people who work for that company believe there is a way to pull together and make something happen. By that I don’t mean daydreams or fantasies about the hard work and sacrifices that come with investing for the next generation. I mean a realistic view that gets past the cynicism and negativity that too often drown out new ideas or other voices. Our thriving and growing health care industry in Northwest Indiana is one of the best examples I can think of where there is a sense of cooperative collaboration. On the one hand, there are the new, robust, ultra-modern, full-service, comprehensive care facilities using the many innovative and transformative technologies that are changing the way medicine is being practiced at every level. But at the same time you see strategic acquisitions among the competitive leaders that manage to creatively fill the gaps in the industry. What we end up with are clients and patients with amazing outcomes and caregivers who help and teach people to manage serious illness and prevent injury and disease starting in childhood. To find out more, just read our wrap-up on the year we brought home the best health care. With my usual sense of optimism, I hope that we can emulate one of our leading industries in that spirit of doing our best for the common goal—an enhanced quality of life for our families and our communities.
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BizWorthy in TErn aTio na L r ELaTions HiPs
Chinese delegations boost economic ties Universities, businesses building relationships for future of NWI Lo ui s a Mur z yn Times Correspondent For more than 20 years, economic growth rates in China have continued to thrive and a multitude of American firms are entering the booming economy to take advantage of the world’s largest population. Local companies, universities and municipalities have sent delegations to China because of its long–term economic development impact the partnerships bring to Northwest Indiana. The Center for Entrepreneurship Success at Purdue University Calumet has an executive training program for foreign businesspeople. Earlier this year a group of 20 from China were trained in auditing and finance. “I’m trying to bring business into our local economy,” said Dushan Nikolovski, the center’s director. “For me, it’s a revenue stream for our local economy but also trying to match up businesses whether from China, Thailand or Europe. “Once they are here we can pair them off and connect local businessman with Chinese businessman to see how they can collaborate in the future. That’s an added benefit of what I am trying to do. My drive is to help start–ups here and create as many jobs as we can locally.” Starke County has two companies that have production plants not only in China but also in other countries. There are plans to bring some of those manufacturing jobs to Indiana soil. Charlie Weaver, of the county’s economic development foundation, said some delegations are establishing relationships so there can be two partners in production and fabrication. “The goal is to figure out what we can do better and what they can do better so they become a trading partner just like any other trading partner,” he said. “If we bury our head in the sand they can become this monolith of production controlling the world economy.” Don Koliboski, economic development
Pr o v id ed b y y u e Wu
A delegation of graduate students and faculty from VU’s Arts & Entertainment Administration as well as its Digital Media masters programs attended a four–day workshop at the Beijing Cultural Academy in March. Students learned the fundamentals of the business and case studies looked at how to market musical acts to Chinese audiences as well as how to market Chinese stage musicals in the U.S.
director for the Northwest Indiana Forum, said sending delegations is all about building relationships, which is a key cultural component in conducting business with China. Building relationships in China takes time and takes place over the course of years, not days or months. America is transaction– oriented while the Chinese want to know who you are and only do business with people they like, know and respect. “Before they invest outside of their country, they want a relationship with a company or supplier,” he said. Local universities have been successful at bringing together trade missions. “What they find attractive in the U.S. is our education system,” Koliboski said. “Millionaires and billionaires will invest here in order to get visas to be able to come here often to seek higher education. “They pay tuition so it supports our system. Chinese students also go back to China and they already know what opportunities exist in Indiana so it’s important to continue those relationships.” Kathy Gibson, assistant dean at Valparaiso University, recently took a group of arts and entertainment students to China where tremendous opportunities exist as the industry
and the middle class grow. “There are 1.3 billion people to sell to so it’s an extraordinary market for U.S. businesses and we benefit from those doors being open,” she said. With the inevitable rise of China, Weaver believes American innovation will win, as our nation has great social and cultural strengths, it welcomes ideas and moves them into the marketplace and has the ability to adapt. Apple’s founder Steve Jobs once said “this country is insanely great” and Weaver agrees. “We do things better here than what they do,” Weaver said. “More labor intensive jobs have gone to China but the high precision, skill jobs have not. They will catch up some day. We have to be more innovative to stay ahead. In the long run they are going to be our trading partners. They’ll carve out their niche and we’ll carve out our niche. If we isolate ourselves, we’ll lose. “We have to stay the course and always improve what we do in efficiency and innovation which we are famous for and have historically done best,” he said. “Every product we make today is better because we’ve learned to change our way of doing things. That’s what’s great about the people of this country.”
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in TErn aTio na L r ELaTions HiPs
Foreign direct investment in NWI has large impact Lu a nn Fr a nk Lin Times Correspondent The global marketplace has created new opportunities for foreign–owned companies to invest in facilities, provide employment and grow Northwest Indiana’s economy, according to those involved in attracting foreign direct investment to the seven– county region. A recent report from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business said foreign direct investment plays a key role in Indiana’s economy, particularly in the manufacturing sector – a major part of Northwest Indiana’s appeal
to foreign companies. “We have a number of foreign companies that have identified Northwest Indiana as an ideal place to conduct business, and their investment creates jobs and stimulates our local economy,” said U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D–Merrillville. “Investment in Northwest Indiana is a testament to the assets of our region,” Visclosky said. “Our skilled workforce and our vital transportation infrastructure, which includes air, rail, road, and water, lend themselves to endless economic development opportunities for Northwest Indiana.” To help coordinate that foreign direct investment in the future,
the Northwest Indiana Forum is developing a resource guide that analyzes the successful strategies used to attract foreign–owned companies. “The Forum has looked at industry clusters and what has worked to bring in foreign direct investments,” said Don Koliboski, the Forum’s economic development director. The resource guide will also look at such strategies as trade missions to foreign countries such as China and Japan, he said. Partnering with area universities is another way to attract foreign investment in Northwest Indiana, Koliboski said.
“Doing business with China is all about building relationships. It’s a different culture,” he said. Degree programs at Purdue University Calumet and Valparaiso University attract international students. “When those students go back to China or other countries, they know about Northwest Indiana, and we can build on those relationships,” Koliboski said. But foreign direct investment isn’t new to Northwest Indiana. In August 1998, British Petroleum bought Amoco for $57 billion. Those holdings include the BP refinery in Whiting and East Chicago.
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BizWorthy sa Lu TE
jo B WaTCH
Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder
Employment in the Calumet Region
r ailCats owner and CeO Patrick s alvi, of the law offices of salvi, schostok & Pritchard P.C. in waukegan and Chicago, has been selected for the 2012 edition of t he Best Lawyers in American in the specialties of Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation.
Lake County s a Lvi
john k ostecka
and Dan Winchell, from wesco Distribution, Inc., have again received the Directors Millionaire Club award. Kostecka also earned his second consecutive sales Professional of the Year award.
sEPT. 2012
sEPT. 2011
CHa ng E
Labor force
219,259
225,191
-5,932
employed
200,405
203,109
-2,704
unemployed
18,854
22,082
-3228
sEPT. 2012
sEPT. 2011
CHa ng E
Labor force
81,425
83,345
-1,920
employed
75,822
76,845
-1,023
unemployed
5,603
6,500
897
sEPT. 2012
sEPT. 2011
CHa ng E
Labor force
49,547
50,971
-1,424
employed
45,184
45,821
-637
unemployed
4,363
5,150
-787
sEPT. 2012
sEPT. 2011
CHa ng E
Labor force
3,142,648
3,198,413
-55,765
employed
2,886,221
2,903,480
-17,259
256,427
294,933
-38,506
a ug. 2011
CHa ng E
Percent of workforce unemployed 8.6 percent
Porter County k os TECka
Brenda r ocha
joined the leadership team at Iu Health La Porte Hospital as the vice president, nursing clinical effective- Win CHELL ness. Dr. David r obinson, a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Munster and Valparaiso, was recently elected to chairman of the Department of surgery at Comr o CHa munity Hospital in Munster. white Lodging services has promoted s helli Walczak to general manager of the Holiday Inn express in Merrillville. s ue Cain, of Plato’s Closet in r o Bins o n Merrillville, received a sales excellence Award from the company.
Percent of workforce unemployed 6.9 percent
LaPorte County Percent of workforce unemployed 8.8 percent
indiana
unemployed
Percent of workforce unemployed 8.2 percent
Cook County a ug. 2012
Labor force
2,604,238
2,596,148
-8,090
employed
2,361,904
2,307,746
+541,458
242,334
288,402
46,068
unemployed
Percent of workforce unemployed 9.3 percent
Sources: indiana d epartment of Workforce d evelopment, illinois d epartment of employment Security
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TECHn o Logy in THE Mo viEs
Region company assists ‘masked man’ C.P. business manufactures props for ‘Lone Ranger’ movie Dia nE Po u LTo n Times Correspondent Pr o v id ed b y d iSn ey S Tu d io S
Cr o Wn P o in T | Once again, Crown
Point has ties, railroad that is, to a Johnny Depp movie. Ploog Engineering recently manufactured and shipped to Arizona 32 metal hand brake assemblies which are replicas of those used on train cars during the 1800s. The hand brakes are historically authentic props for the filming of “The Lone Ranger.” Starring Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer in the title role as the masked crusader, the
”The Lone Ranger” stars Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer in the title role.
movie is currently being filmed in New Mexico. The Disney movie, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is scheduled for release July 3, 2013. Ploog Engineering was recommended for the project by Crown Point resident Robert Schultz, who after 64 years working in the railroad industry, now makes his living as a consultant. Schultz’s client, M id–Am
Equipment, of Mesa, Ariz., provided Disney Enterprises with the “old time” passenger railroad cars which have steps going up to an outside platform, Schultz said. Mid–Am asked Schultz if he knew of anyone who could supply needed hand brake replicas for the passenger cars. After contacting five or six Northwest Indiana machine shops who didn’t want to take on the project because it was “too small’ or “too complicated,” Schultz said, someone suggested he try Max Ploog. Schultz showed Ploog the pictures of what was needed, and Ploog decided to tackle the project. Schultz drew design sketches including the individual pieces and how it all fit together. Ploog took it from there. “I thought it would be a good challenge,” Ploog said. “I gave them a price and they accepted it.” Ploog said his company
manufactures equipment for testing the compactibility of soil and strength of asphalt and concrete mixes for the construction trades. The equipment is used in labs which test these products for state and federal projects which are built throughout the world as far away as Australia, Iraq and South America. Ploog began his career in 1952 with a welding shop, building Ploog Engineering at its current location, 814 Indiana Ave., in 1957. Ploog said business has steadily grown. Schultz and Ploog are both looking forward to seeing “The Lone Ranger,” watching for the Crown Point manufactured hand brakes and Ploog Engineering’s name in the movie credits. “I am interested in seeing why they were so particular with the parts,” Ploog said. “They must be somehow playing a major role in the movie, otherwise why would they have to look so authentic?”
iun.edu/~busmba
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BizWorthy sa Lu TE
Promoting local business: People who are climbing the professional ladder sister Elaine Brothers has been appointed interim dean of the university of st. Francis Crown Point. t he following local residents have become independent consultants with tastefully simple Inc.: s teph Mcg athey, of Hobart; k athleen Pazanin, of Merrillville; Lorena g onzalez, of whiting; and jennifer a llums, of Valparaiso. Myles r apchak, of Crown Point, is joining Latitude Commercial in schererville as an agent. Charles Weaver, executive director of the starke County economic Development Foundation, has been elected as a member of the board of directors of the Indiana economic Development Association Foundation, and will serve as chairman of the scholarship committee of the Foundation. jeffery g ivens has joined Vanair in Michigan City as the vice president of Vanair Defense systems. john g raun is the new vice president of drill and gas suppression. judy Bridgewater has taken the position of purchasing analyst. Doug Mack enzie has joined Vanair as a service technician. k urt s mith, of Valparaiso, has joined Duneland Group Inc. in Chesterton to manage engineering and surveying work. Megan Pugh , rn , was named the first Iu Health La Porte Hospital recipient of t he DAIsY Award For extraordinary nurses. Patti k omara, president of Patti’s All American in Dyer, will be speaking to gymnastic coaches at the us AG national Convention. r yan s miley has joined the staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County as director of operations. Henry j. “Hank” s uerth has been appointed as chief executive officer at Orion Food systems, the international food service provider of brands such as Hot stuff and Lettieri’s. He is a native of the southeast side of Chicago. Michael Hardek , second vice president, relationship manager at Citizens Financial Bank, was appointed for a one-
year term to the Board of Directors of t he Orland Park r otary Club. Christian Daigre, of schererville, has been named chief executive officer at south Holland-based sDG Global Inc., a protective and investigative services provider. Tom g hrist, compliance analyst at Horizon Bank, was recently awarded the Certified r egulatory Compliance Manager designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers. juan s anchez, r .n. received the DAIsY Award for extraordinary nursing Care at Pinnacle Hospital. r uss Bereolos, an American Family Insurance agent in Munster, has been recognized for providing outstanding customer experience under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program. john Ciszcon has joined Hometown Appliance and electronics in st. John as lead service technician for the new service department. t he following advisers for lia sophia were recognized by the as 2011-2012 achievers at the company’s annual conference: joann k eck, Griffith; Debbie u rban, Highland; s ue Bailey, st. John; Dana a rgoudelis, schererville. r ichard Powell, of Griffith, was recognized by r aun t ransportation for driving 4 million safe miles. john u pshaw, of Merrillville, has been accepted into the Indiana CPA society. Lt. Edward Davies, of the t he Indiana university northwest Police Department, was recognized by the Indiana state Fraternal Order of Police with the Addie Maddox Memorial Award. t radewinds services Inc. of Gary has hired Pamela a . Lowe to serve as the Director of Development. Tony Englert , of Highland, is the new regional executive director of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation. Druanne Bocek has joined security One Lending as a mortgage loan consultant specializing in reverse mortgages.
Bro THEr s
sM iTH
Da ig r E
g iv En s
k o Mar a
Cisz Con
g r au n
sM iLEy
Lo WE
Br iDgEWa TEr
su Er TH
Eng LEr T
Ma Ck Enz iE
Har DEk
Bo CEk
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Hon ors
Purdue Cal student places first in international competition Ha MMo n D | A Purdue University Calumet
engineering graduate student earned first place in an international competition at the recent Association for Iron and Steel Technology Conference in Atlanta. Md Taifur Rahman, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, placed first in the Graduate Student Poster Contest for his research project, “Development and Application of Burden Distribution Model and Shaft Simulation Model for Blast Furnace.” Rahman’s research was developed and advanced at Purdue Calumet’s Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation. Research co–authors were classmates Dong Fu and Yan Chen and Professor of Mechanical Engineering Chenn Zhou. “This award reflects the high quality of our students, of whom I am very proud,” Zhou said in a statement.
ExPans io n
White Lodging to manage Bloomington hotel
MErri LLv iLLE | White Lodging Services has been selected to manage the new SpringHill
Suites Bloomington, in Bloomington, Ind. The hotel, owned by Bloomington-based KPM Hotel Group, is scheduled to opening in fall 2013, according to a news release Located downtown at 501 N. College, at the corner of College and 9th Street, the 158-room hotel will feature 1,300 square-feet of meeting space connected to the lobby, as well as a 20-seat bar and lounge area in the lobby. SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an allsuite, select-service hotel brand. The brand currently has more than 250 locations in the United States and Canada. For more information about White Lodging, visit whitelodging.com
ExPans io n
Mitsubishi Electric a utomation partners with Purdue Calumet Ha MMo n D | A recently partnership
between Purdue University Calumet’s School of Technology and Mitsubishi Electric Automation has produced a new, campus– based state–of–the–art mechatronics engineering technology laboratory. The lab provides an environment of realworld equipment designed to enable students to gain the knowledge and experience that is attractive to employers, according to Purdue
Calumet Dean of the School of Technology Niaz Latif. The new lab features five automation simulation rack unit stations donated by Mitsubishi. The technological units, each valued at $13,000 or more, include programmable logic controllers, human machine interfaces and PC–based icon–driven programming tools. For more information, visit webs.purduecal.edu/et/eng–tech/mtb–degree/.
Hon ors
r oofing contractor earns industry honor
g a r y | E. C. Babilla, Inc. was recently honored with the 2012 Firestone Building Products Partner in Quality Award. The company was among 193 roofing contractors throughout North America honored with this achievement. Firestone presents its Partner in Quality Award to contractors who installed a minimum of four warranted Firestone roofs in each of the past five years, maintained at least 1 million square feet of Firestone roofs under warranty and achieved an annual Quality Incidence Rating of 2.0 or less. For more information call (219) 884-3851, email cbabilla@babillaroofing.com or visit babillaroofing.com. TiMEs s Ta FF
Nurturing Growth Working to attract quality jobs and capital investment to the region, enhance the business climate and preserve and protect the environment. Help us grow the NWI Economy Learn more about the Forum mission, membership and initiatives.
Visit www.nwiforum.org wInter 2012
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BizWorthy Hon ors
Train cars wait to be added to a train in the hub of Gary’s Kirk Yard, a Canadian National rail yard, in August.
Jo h n Lu k e, FiLe, The TimeS
Awards recognize NWI projects Kirk Yard, Fronius projects cited for advancing economy TiMEs sTa FF Cro Wn P oi n T | Two Northwest
Indiana projects were among 1 0 c i te d s ta tew i d e by A rea Development magazine in presenting a 2012 Silver Shovel Award for excellence in economic development to Indiana in its summer 2012 issue. The magazine named Canadian
National’s planned expansion of the Kirk Yard in Gary and Fronius USA’s decision to locate its U.S. headquarters in Portage as two of the 10 “big projects” advancing the state’s diverse economy. Combined, the two projects represent approximately $186 million in investment in the region and are projected to create more than 750 jobs, according to a news release. T h e No r t hwe s t I n d i a n a Regional Development Authority employed its Deal Closing Fund for the first time to provide a $4 matching grant for the CN rail yard project. The grant will go towards
improvements such as installation of a new waste water treatment facility and a new storm water management system. The RDA also worked with local and state economic development officials last year to provide $2 million in assistance to Modern Forge for its new facility in Merrillville. The company, which is moving to Indiana from Blue Island, Ill., is investing $17 million in a state–of–the–art forging facility expected to create 240 jobs. “It’s gratifying to see the region and the state being recognized for
all its hard work and innovation in attracting new business. Here in Northwest Indiana, RDA–funded i n i t i a t ive s h ave m a d e h u ge strides toward revitalizing our shoreline and creating signature communities with strong appeal to companies like Fronius and Modern Forge as great places to live, work and play,” said Bill Hanna, president and CEO of the RDA. “We were pleased to be a part of bringing these projects to Northwest Indiana and look forward to working with local and state officials to attract even more jobs and investment to the region.”
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THE STRENGTH IT TAKES
To keep you on top of your game. IU Health Orthopedics wants you to live without back, neck or joint pain so you can continue to do the things you love. Look forward to less back, neck and joint pain to keep you on top of your game. The framework of the human body is made up of hundreds of bones, joints and muscles. In the game of life when one of these are injured, either through trauma or degenerative disease, your whole body feels the effects. At Indiana University Health La Porte Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we know you want relief and we’re committed to helping reduce your pain. From your first appointment through treatment, rehabilitation and follow up, our expert physicians and highly skilled support staff provide individualized and comprehensive care. We help get you back to your previous activity level in the safest and most effective way possible—so you can get back to doing what really matters. Returning to your normal, healthy routine is possible. Let us help. IU Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is available to keep you active, free of pain and on top of your game. To make an appointment for Orthopedic Care call 219.878.2663, to make an appointment for Pain Management call 219.877.3877.
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BizWorthy Ex Por Ts
Exports hit record in 2011, ’12 uncertain Transportation equipment is largest share of $32.2 billion of goods shipped to other countries Bo WDEya T WEH While Indiana exports reached their highest level ever last year, global economic roadblocks are tempering hopes for a repeat performance in 2012, according to a report from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. The report released from the Indiana Business Research Center said Indiana exported more than $32 billion worth of goods in 2011, or about 2.1 percent of the nation’s total. Exports from Indiana stood at $12 billion in 1997 and have shown steady growth aside from recessions in early and late 2000s, according to Tanya Hall, an economic research analyst at the Indiana Business Research Center and study author. Vehicles and parts, which includes automobile transmissions, automobile sheet metal assembly and recreational vehicles, is Indiana’s top exporting industry with improvements in activity from manufacturers such as Honda Motor Co., General Motors Co., and Winamacbased Braun Corp. The report said recovery in the nation’s automobile industry has had benefits for Canada and Mexico, which are the destination of nearly half of Indiana’s exports worth about $15.1 billion. Other top industries are industrial machinery including computers, pharmaceutical products, optical and medical instruments, electric machinery, iron and steel, organic chemicals, plastics, aircraft and spacecraft parts, and chemical products.
About 12 percent of Indiana’s GDP depends on exports, according to the report. Commenting on the report, Indiana University Northwest professor Surekha Rao said there should be concern about the 2012 export standing this year because of the economic woes in Europe and projections of moderating growth in developing countries including China. In May, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast slower growth in gross domestic product this year
compared to 2011 in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Spain’s GDP is expected to contract in 2012. Those four countries are among the top eight destinations for the state’s exports. “That’s the reason why we need to be concerned and explore newer markets,” said Rao, who mentioned north Africa as a potential destination for Indiana goods. Afghanistan receives the 10th largest share of the state’s exports and that share is 13 times higher than it was in 2008.
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Ex-Ispat Inland executive joins firm’s advisory board TiMEs sTa FF
A former Northwest Indiana steel industry executive was named to the advisory board of a Rhode Island-based steel materials design firm. Peter Southwick joined the advisory board for Providencebased NanoSteel Co., the company said recently. NanoSteel, a 10-year-old p r i va te l y h e l d c o m p a n y, produces iron-based alloys from surface coatings to monolithic sheet for the oil and gas, mining and power generation industries. Southwick, 59, started his career in 1980 as a research engineer at Inland Steel in
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Calumet Carton Co. earns recognition
Workers secure ArcelorMittal steel coils in September at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor as the cargo is readied for its journey to a plant in Macedonia. A report released Wednesday from the Indiana Business Research Center said Indiana exported more than $32 billion worth of goods in 2011, or about 2.1 percent of the nation’s total. TimeS FiLe
Continued slowdowns within economies around the world will reduce the demand for Indiana products and could impact job creation, Rao said. Rao said with Northwest
Indiana’s reliance on primary metal manufacturing, additional job creation in the area could depend on the ability to increase the number of markets the companies located here serve.
s ou TH H o LLan D | Calumet Carton Co., a manufacturer of paperboard packaging solutions, received a Recognition of Achievement from the American Institute of Baking International following an audit that was conducted last month. “Receiving the AIB recognition is a great accomplishment and reflection of our facility and its operations,” said president John Inwood. “With many of our customers being in the food business, this was an important step to the success and growth of our business. It gives our customers the assurance that we are committed to their industry and the high standards of packaging safety.” Calumet Carton was started in 1930 and is still a familyowned company, currently
East Chicago. After a series of promotions and following the Ispat International N.V. acquisition of Inland Steel, he was named president and CEO of Ispat Inland in 2000. Southwick later returned to his native United Kingdom in 2003 for a corporate position with Ispat International, Ispat Inland’s parent company. He guided the integration of Ispat International into Mittal Steel. He left the company in 2005. The company became ArcelorMittal in 2006. Southwick was sought for his knowledge in operational efficiency and quality control, said Dave Paratore, NanoSteel president and CEO.
employing 130 people. For more information about Calumet Carton, visit calumetcarton.com.
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Home building group recognizes valparaiso verifier
The NAHB Research Center recognized 40 of its Green Partners, including Chris Schwarzkopf, of Energy Diagnostics in Valparaiso, for their contributions to advancing green building in their communities. The 2011 Green Partners of the Year include 21 residential building companies, 12 accredited verifiers, and 7 program advocate organizations. For more information on the Standard or the Research Center’s certification program, visit nahbgreen.org/certification. TiMEs s Ta FF
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Impact of Indiana’s ports exceeds $6B Burns Harbor port shows large increase in tonnage TiMEs sTa FF in Dia na Po L is | A new study shows business activities at Indiana’s three ports contributed $6.38 billion to the state economy in 2011 and supported 51,577 jobs. The annual economic impact and job creation totals both increased by 18 percent since 2009. The Port of Indiana–Burns Harbor handled a 56 percent increase in ship tonnage and 75 percent increase in barge tonnage in 2011 compared to 2009, according
to a news release, with significant increases in shipments of almost all major cargoes. There was also more than $23 million in capital expenditures invested into port infrastructure and facility expansions. “A s t h e g l o b a l e c o n o m y struggles to emerge from a deep recession, U.S. ports play key roles helping businesses improve their connectivity to supply chains and customers, and also lower transportation costs,” said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana, in a statement. The recent study was conducted by Martin Associates, a maritime economic consulting firm, as part of a multi–year project started in 2009. The first study showed 2009 business activities at Indiana’s
ports generated 43,744 jobs and $5.42 billion in economic impact. Increases in employment, capital investment and shipping volumes at all three of Indiana’s public ports were key factors in the economic growth as part of the 2011 update. The Port of Indiana– Jeffersonville handled a 4 percent increase in barge shipments and a 70 percent increase in railcar traffic over the same period, with significant increases in steel, fertilizer and road salt shipments. Since 2009, direct employment increased by 20 percent and more than $30 million was invested into infrastructure and port company facilities. The Port of Indiana–Mount Vernon handled a 3 percent increase
in shipments by all modes between 2009 and 2011, but experienced a slight decline in some maritime cargoes, primarily coal, as a result of mild winter conditions. Direct employment increased by 11 percent and over $50 million was invested in port businesses as three facilities opened between 2009 and 2011. Overall, the Ports of Indiana handled an 8 percent increase in maritime shipments between 2009 and 2011, and recorded more than $100 million of investments into port facilities. Employment increases related to port operations also generated a significant increase in personal income (up 20 percent to $2.9 billion annually) as well as state and local taxes (up 21 percent to $271 million annually).
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People who are climbing the professional ladder Dr. jennifer Herbert has joined Arbor View Animal Hospital in Valparaiso. Marian o wens, of Griffith, has been promoted to branch manager at the Highland office of First Federal savings & Loan. a lexander Midence of Alexander’s Photography & Video in Crown Point has earned the Certified Professional Photographer designation from the Professional Photographic Certification Commission. janis Flutka, the chief financial officer of the south shore Convention and Visitors Authority, has recently been appointed to the Indiana CPA society Leadership Cabinet. Fernando Carrasco and Brian s tauffer, both Farmers Insurance agents in Crown Point, has completed the Career Agents Course at the university of Farmers training facility in Grand r apids, Mich. Indiana university northwest has
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named Ellen s zarleta, as its director for the Center for urban and r egional excellence. Daniel Mucha, of Crown Point, has joined Merrillville-based Commercial Property tax Advisors as a business development representative. s ofia Mendez-Bork has joined HealthLinc Inc. in Valparaiso as their director of human resources. r oberta s . Tuft has joined HealtheACCess Clinics LLC in Valparaiso as the director of sales and marketing. Brandy Bryan, of Portage, has
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May
become an independent consultant with tastefully simple Inc. scott May, of Valparaiso, has joined Centier Bank as chief financial officer. He recently worked for a national financial services provider at locations in Indianapolis and Orlando, Fla. Lesley r hee, M.D., who is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, will begin practice at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic specialty Center in Munster. Bill Wirtz, of Crown Point, has joined Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance
ro BEr Tson as an agent based in the Crown Point office. Camille Cooke has joined HealthLinc Inc. in Valparaiso as outreach manager. Melissa Mitchell has been promoted to director, systems operations and support and a yala Barth has been promoted to Patient Centered Medical Home manager at HealthLinc. William r obertson has joined the business banking team at Citizens Financial Bank as first vice president, senior relationship manager.
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Just In Time for the Flu Season… St. Catherine Hospital’s Hessville Family Care Center’s Immediate Care has expanded its hours to Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Walk-in patients welcome! While getting sick is never convenient, there is a simple solution. Medical attention for illnesses that are not life-threatening is available through St. Catherine Hospital’s outpatient center located in Hessville. For immediate needs, lab work to x-rays, patients seeking help and answers can often get what they need in just one visit. No appointment is necessary Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and most insurance plans are accepted.
Conditions We Treat & Services Provided: • Cold/Flu • Bronchitis • Ear infections • Minor lacerations/burns • Sprains/Strains • Urinary tract infections • Sports physicals • Lab Testing
Hessville Family Care Center 3432 169th St. Hammond, IN 46323 (219) 844-9060 www.comhs.org wInter 2012
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Inspiring our children Local CEO writes book encouraging adults to make an impact LEs Ly B a i LEy Times Correspondent
g a ry | Danita Johnson Hughes understands the powerful impact adults can have on children. As a first-grader facing challenges at home and teasing by classmates, she found a source of strength in her teacher, Gussie Kaufman. “She really took an interest in me and let me stay after school and help out,” Johnson Hughes said. “She made me feel special at a time in my life when I really needed it. Throughout my life, I always felt her impact. Her early influence really took me a long way.” The CEO of Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living in Gary hopes to inspire a mentor mindset as well as cultivate a community spirit with the release of her second book, “Influencing Today’s Youth: Shaping the Behavior s, Expectations, and A spirations of Tomorrow’s Leaders.” “The book is about how we as responsible adults can influence young people to become successful,” she said. “And how adults can help influence youth to rise above adversity and navigate through societal and peer pressure and just make smarter choices in all aspects of their lives.” Hughes said she was motivated to write the book not only by her involvement in the community but also by her role as CEO. “We are a behavioral health care services provider for youth, families and adults,” she said. “I see people who are experiencing challenges in their everyday lives from a problem in school to serious
Jo h n J. WaTk in S, The TimeS
Edgewater Systems CEO Danita Johnson Hughes looks to inspire today’s mentors and tomorrow’s leaders with the release of her second book. “Influencing Today’s Youth: Shaping the Behaviors, Expectations, and Aspirations of Tomorrow’s Leaders” showcases how adults can impact their communities by guiding them toward the choices and decisions that will lead to success.
For your information
danita Johnson hughes, Ceo of edgewater Systems for balanced Living in Gary, has written her second book. “Influencing Today’s Youth: Shaping the Behaviors, Expectations, and Aspirations of Tomorrow’s Leaders” spotlights how adults can make an impact in the lives of children. The book is available at danita johnsonhughes.com or amazon.com.
emotional or mental issues to drug addiction. It runs the gamut.” It was while working with local organizations she realized today’s youth are facing similar challenges and a theme began to emerge. “I go to a lot of activities and meetings and what always pops up is how we as successful adults need to take responsibility in making
our community and our world a better place,” Johnson Hughes said. “The only way we are able to do that is to really understand what responsibility is. It goes beyond the personal level.” She said social responsibility builds on being responsible to ourselves as well as our inner circle of family, friends and co-workers. “We all have the opportunity to influence the future generation,” Johnson Hughes said. For the book, Johnson Hughes interviewed local leaders in various arenas, including health care, law enforcement and education, to showcase their stories and offer examples of how adults are making an impact. “I spoke to an FBI agent who said something very profound. There are a lot of negative influences out there for kids and it can
be a hard pill to swallow how your kids are influencing other kids,” she said. “They may be having a negative influence on others and that is hard to understand and accept. Know who their friends are and who they are influencing.” Beyond community leaders, Johnson Hughes believes anyone can be an inspiration. “ U l t i m a te ly, to i n f l u e n ce anybody, you have to walk the talk. Actions have a greater influence than words so make sure they line up,” she said. “Be emotionally present. Speak to a kid who might be feeling down and needs to share or even something he or she feels good about. Be open to communication. “Do what you are passionate about. If you feel really good about who you are, then you are able to really give back to others.”
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Moving forward. Making a difference. More and more Northwest Indiana families are turning to Methodist Physician Group doctors everyday, where compassionate, experienced doctors deliver quality, personal care at convenient locations near you. CROWN POINT Family Medicine 11496 Broadway 219-663-1150 GARY Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2269 West 25th Avenue 219-944-4187 Internal Medicine 3195 Broadway 219-887-0900 Internal Medicine 6101 Miller Avenue 219-938-0700 GRIFFITH General Surgery 801 W. Glen Park Avenue 219-924-3379 HEBRON Family Medicine 704 State Road 2 219-996-2641
MERRILLVILLE Family/Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 200 E. 89th Avenue, Suite 3-C 219-757-7566 General Surgery 6111 Harrison Street, Suite 252 219-980-1348
Bernadette Aghaji, MD Internal Medicine
Adolphus A. Anekwe, MD Internal Medicine
Angelique Brown, MD Family Medicine
Nadezda Djurovic, MD Internal Medicine
Debra Equihua, CNM Certified Nurse Midwife
Tonya Harvey, NP Nurse Practitioner
Hiren Italia, MD Family Practice/ Sports Medicine
Michael Linton, MD Gynecology
Anemaria Lutas, MD Internal Medicine
Jerry Kuna, MD Family Medicine
Paul Nyongani, MD General Surgery
Winifred Oniah, MD Family Medicine
Frank Quint, MD Family Medicine
Arnita Reed, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
Susan Schneider, MD Reconstructive & Plastic Surgery
Henrique E. Scott, MD General Surgery
James Siatras, DO Bariatric Surgery
Judson Wood, MD Orthopedic Surgery
Family Medicine 6111 Harrison Street, Suite 331 219-887-1340 Internal Medicine 99 E. 86th Avenue, Suite D 219-769-3233 Bariatric Surgery 101 E. 87th Avenue, Suite 430 219-738-5617 sT. jOHN Internal Medicine 10200 Wicker Avenue 219-365-6728
The right doctors make all the difference.
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People who are climbing the professional ladder western-southern Financial Group, with offices in Valparaiso, Portage, and Merrillville, added three associates: v alerie Hunter, k eith Taylor and Dan Taylor.
t he Indiana Dental Association honored Dr. Paul Wolf, a dentist from schererville, for serving as the president of the northwest Indiana Dental society. Becky jascoviak, of Valparaiso, has joined the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City as marketing director. Leelarani Chigurupati, of Methodist Hospitals, has achieved Board Certification as a specialist in Oncology nutrition and may use the designation, r D, CsO. sheppard, Mullin, r ichter & Hampton LLP announced this week the opening of a Chicago office, which includes steger native k enneth Peterson jr. r achael s arson, Certified Public Accountant with Craighead, Lange and Hough PC in Michigan City, has been selected as one of 36 CPAs under age 36 to participate in the American Institute of CPAs fourth annual Leadership Academy in Durham, n.C. this fall. t he company also announced the addition of joshua s ims, of Griffith, as a staff accountant. Valparaiso resident Frederick a rmstrong, vice president of estimating for Hasse Construction Co. Inc. in Calumet City, has earned the designation of Certified Healthcare Constructor. Dawn DeBolt, of Crown Point, has been promoted to corporate vice president at r egistry Partners Inc. of Burlington, n.C. Theresa Mudd, vice president, regional sales manager at Citizens Financial Bank, was appointed as president elect of the Munster r otary Club. Barb g ulden , American Family Insurance agency owner in st. John, has again received the JD Powers and Associate Award providing an “Outstanding Customer experience” for 2012. Indiana university Health La Porte Hospital recently promoted s hannon Hannon, of LaPorte, to administrative director. t he following servepro franchise owners were honored with awards for outstanding revenue performance: james a domitis, servpro of western Lake County, was honored with the Director’s silver Award; Carley Burton, servpro of Benton, Jasper, newton & southern Lake Counties, was honored with the President’s silver Award; and Diane Hodges, servpro of eastern Lake County, was honored with the Director’s silver Award. t he Fellows of the Indiana Bar Foundation inducted 35 new or advancing members at its annual meeting, including Bruce P. Clark, of Bruce P. Clark and Associates, st. John; g ordon E. g ouveia , Gouveia
and Associates, Merrillville; and s haron L. s tanzione, Johnson and Bell, Crown Point. Daniel B. v inovich, Hilbrich Law Firm, Highland, advanced to Patron Fellow level. jan z urek was recently hired as marketing director for Midwest Family Federal Credit union in Portage. k en r asmussen, general manager of the r ed Lobster in Merrillville, has been presented with Darden r estaurants’ top honor – the Joe r . Lee Diamond Club Award, for the second time. Theresa v alade, CeO of success t rek Inc. of Valparaiso, attended the 2012 national speakers Association Convention. Former Dunes Learning Center Board of Directors member jim Flannery has agreed to serve as the organization’s executive director. Lansing native r ussell E. r yba, a partner at Foley & Lardner’s Milwaukee office, has been named cochair of the law firm’s senior Living Industry team. Purdue university Calumet Professor of Communication yahya k amalipour, of Munster, delivered the keynote address at the recent international Global Communication Association conference in Zambia. Another Purdue Calumet faculty member, Associate Professor of Political science r ichard r upp, of Chicago, presented at the conference a paper titled, “Obama and Africa: Change and Continuity in American Foreign Policy.” Mary Patchin, director of sales for the Chicago southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, earned her Certified Destination Management executive designation through Destination Marketing Association International. Dr. Lena Chheda , now provides ophthalmology services at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic specialty Center in Munster. Allstate Insurance Co. recognized Allstate agency owners joe g regoline, in Valparaiso; Mark Mercer, in Portage; Elaine Morris, in Chesterton; and Mary Moynihan, in Munster, with the Allstate Honor r ing award for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitability. Tiffany Tulba, of Griffith, and Carly r ossner, of Highland, earned top honors for lia sophia’s excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their sales accomplishments and professionalism. Harold Morgan will be joining white Lodging as the new senior vice president of human resources. To submit an item for Salute, send information and a photo, if available, to 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321, e-mail to matt.saltanovitz@nwi. com or fax to (219) 933-3249. Faxed photos will not be published.
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Schepel Buick GMC recognized as GM Dealer of the Year r o B Ear n sHa W Times Correspondent MErri LLv i LLE | Schepel Buick GMC was presented with the 2011 Dealer of the Year award by General Motors. It marked the second consecutive year the dealer has received the honor. Only 2 percent of GM dealers in the region are eligible for the award, said GM Chicago Zone Manager Robert Secrest. Secrest said in 2011 there were only four Buick and GMC dealers in Chicago’s north central region to receive the award and Schepel was one of only two to receive it for both Buick and GMC. “Winning Dealer of the Year is an award in of itself, but to win it for both Buick and GMC is certainly an outstanding feat,” he said. “It’s a high honor and not an easy thing to do.” Secrest said the award is designed for top dealers who take care of sales, service, training, customer satisfaction and its facility. “We want dealers conducting business and
treating customers out of a beautiful facility,” he said. Secrest said Schepel increased its market share for Buick in 2011 and remains one of the top Buick dealers in the Chicagoland market. The dealer also increased GMC business more than 13 percent last year and was the No. 1 Sierra dealer in Chicagoland. Schepel Buick GMC saw its fleet commercial business jump 12 percent and delivered just shy of 200 commercial and fleet vehicles last year. The dealer delivered 450 certified used vehicles for a 7 percent increase making it tops in the Chicagoland market. Schepel also did over $7 million in parts purchases from GM. “That’s a phenomenal number,” Secrest said. “It’s a huge part of our business.” Tom Van Prooyen, Schepel Auto Group vice-president and general manager, said the award recognizes the customer experience at the dealership and the staff that works with them.
ExPans io n
iv Diagnostics opens office in Purdue r esearch Park MErri LLv iLLE | A company that develops, tests and markets diagnostic tools that measure and monitor cancer tumor cells is expanding its presence in Northwest Indiana by opening an office in the Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana. IVDiagnostics LLC has developed tools that target circulating tumor cells, which are released from primary cancer tumors into the bloodstream and then lodge at distant organs to begin new cancer growth. Healthcare providers use the information to determine the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The company was founded by Frank Szczepanski, Tom Szczepanski and Wei He in 2008. Frank Szczepanski is president and CEO. Frank Szczepanski said IVDiagnostics has completed pre–clinical studies and looks to launch its first pilot trial with human cancer patients, according to a news release. The company also has an office in Valparaiso. For more information, visit ivdiagnostics.com or call (219) 840-0007. TiMEs s Ta FF
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Qa a WITH U.S. REP. PETE VISCLOSKY Da n Ca r DEn | To n y v . Ma r Ti n P Ho To s
Business issues, foreign trade, jobs and taxes are certain to be
at the top of the agenda through the end of 2012 and into 2013 as Congress works to avoid potentially devastating cuts in defense and other discretionary spending and prevent significant scheduled tax increases from taking effect. U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, has been looking out for Northwest Indiana companies and residents on such issues in the U.S. House since first taking office in 1985. BusINess sat down with the Congressman prior to the Nov. 6 elections for a wide-ranging interview on where the nation, state and region stand on economic and business issues and what the future might hold. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and space. wInter 2012
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Q:
One thing on everyone’s mind is the economy and whether it is improving. There seem to be some indications that it is. Is that something you’re seeing as well, and if so what role did the federal government, through the stimulus and similar programs, play in helping improve economy? Visclosky: I think that
the economy continues to improve at a very modest rate and I anticipate that during the coming year, barring some type of intervening event – that could be Europe, that could be China, that could be the Middle East, that could be the complete failure of the federal government to resolve some of the fiscal and other issues outstanding – that would continue through 2013. As far as the federal role I think there are a number of them. One is we need to introduce certainty into the
economic climate. We have an issue between now and the end of the year on the debt ceiling. You have an issue at the end of the year about the Bush tax cuts. You have an issue at the end of the year about sequestration, which are automatic across-the-board cuts on discretionary spending, which is one-third of the federal budget. It doesn’t touch the so-called mandatory programs, such as interest on the debt, Social Security, Medicare. I’m convinced that one of the retardants on the economy today and why it is not growing more robustly is that the government collectively and institutionally has not met that responsibility. As to the extent that you have a have a significant degree of uncertainty hanging over the economy, it is harmful. Secondly, I believe as far as economic vitality, as far as wage rates, making a living
wage, we need to be much more focused on maintaining and encouraging manufacturing in the United States, both as far as an investment issue, as well as recognizing the world internationally is a global market but it is a very great place. I testified before the International Trade Commission (on Oct. 17) on 99,000 tons of steel. Somebody suggested to me it’s a small issue. I said here’s 75 jobs. Every one of those is important to the people who lost their jobs. Third, and I think this translates to states as well, and I would include Indiana as a resident of this state, to invest in our economic infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers has indicated that we have a shortfall of about $2.2 trillion in infrastructure investment. ... In their survey, they indicate that in Indiana alone, for example, 4,091 bridges are obsolete or
deficient, not unsafe or defective. The example I use locally, of course everybody thinks about Cline Avenue, is NIPSCO is investing a half billion dollars at a plant at Wheatfield. That’s a lot of money. You cross the bridge over the Kankakee River between Jasper and Porter County to get to that site and you have to have a stoplight on the bridge because you can only get one car or truck on the bridge at a time. When you think about the number of people, the investment, the economic energy down there and you’ve got a bridge with a stoplight because it has limited capacity. ... I do believe that has been a classic failure of the federal government and parenthetically, the states.
Q:
Where does the money come from to pay for infrastructure improvements? In June, Congress passed a new
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transportation bill that keeps funding level through 2014 so there’s no new additional money, we’re going to have more fuel efficient cars so there will be less gas tax money, Indiana’s Major Moves money (from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road) is gone, so how do you pay for it? Visclosky: It costs money.
We have not raised the gas tax in Washington since 1993. ... I am not saying that’s the perfect answer. Gas is, for the average consumer, a very costly product at this point in time. But it is costly sitting in a traffic jam, it is costly getting your car repaired because you hit a pothole, it is costly when I have to detour around Cline Avenue or I cannot go over the Borman Expressway on Martin Luther King Drive. I have used more gas than potentially I’d have paid in a gas tax. I’m not saying we should
raise the gas tax by any particular amount, but it is time to stop dancing around some of these issues and to be honest with people and to say, ‘Listen, this is going to take more revenue.’ This is an investment! I just came from Griffith. You drive down Broad Street in Griffith; it is a joy to drive down Broad Street. ... It has made that community more viable. That costs money. So how you distribute that, whether you do it at the wholesale or retail level, what the range is, people have to discuss that and come to a compromise. But we have to be honest and we have to make this investment.
Q:
You m entioned sequestration, that would obviously hold up a lot of money for a lot of different things. Do you think this lame duck Congress will find a way to put off the automatic budget cuts or find
a new compromise? There doesn’t seem to be much room for compromise in the House or Senate lately. Visclosky: I would suggest
to you, at best, Congress will kick the can down the road for three months. ... And that’s an open question ... I agree with the conventional wisdom that people won’t let this happen, but I cannot construct to you legislatively how they will avoid it. What is wrong here is sequestration is mindless because everybody gets cut the same, and all programs are not alike. ... With the Department of Defense, I’m on defense appropriations, each ship is a line item. Well each ship is a different size, different defense function, different number of personnel, different needs, different state of repair or disrepair – the same cut. In departments, a lot of it would be personnel. Well somebody has to be there to answer the
phone, answer those emails, to do something.
Q:
What will prompt the necessary institutional change to avoid
that? Visclosky: I have devoted
my life to public service, and I wouldn’t trade a day of it, and to do that you’ve got to be a hopeful person. Not Pollyanna, but hopeful. I do believe that one person can lead the world a little bit better, and not me, just all of it. If I wasn’t hopeful that there’s an ebb and flow – you think about what Congress looked like in the 1850s, we had tough times. I mean people walked over to the Senate and beat people nearly to death, people carried guns onto the floor – so there’s an ebb and flow here. ... Somebody is going to get elected president of the United States. Whoever that person is ... has got to step up to the plate, and that has not
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An dr e A Hol e c e k rom opening of the new more than $200 million Porter Regional Hospital to new newborn intensive care unit at Franciscan St. Anthony, Region hospitals have been enhancing their sites, technology and services during 2012. The myriad of advances at every area facility is a concrete sign of their commitment to the citizens of Northwest Indiana. And the hospitals administrators say they plan to make the coming year a continuation of 2012’s progress. Por ter He al t H Care S y Stem Porter Health C a r e Sy s te m C E O Jonathan Nalli says the opening of Porter Regional Hospital was a milestone
for the area and an introduction of the future of health care in the Region. The facility on a 104-acre site in Valparaiso is twice the size of the hospital it replaces and features all private patient rooms, advanced new imaging equipment and new medical and communication technology. The hospital offers a continuum of specialized services, such as emergency/trauma (including ALS ambulance services), cardiology, family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, orthopedics, oncology, physical rehabilitation, a joint replacement center, advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities, the Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders and Porter’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center. “One of our main goals for 2013 is to better educate our community,” Nalli says. “We’ve just introduced Northwest Indiana to the future of health care with the opening of Porter Regional Hospital. “Now we need to educate them on what that truly encompasses,” he says. “We need to let them know that now there’s no reason to travel to Chicago for their health care
needs. It’s all right here: new equipment, new advanced technology in a patient-centered, award-winning hospital in their own backyard.” Nalli’s statement is a echoed by other area hospital administrators. met Hodi St Ho SPit al S Ian E. McFadden, president and chief executive officer of Methodist Hospitals, says his hospitals are differentiated by the vision to change how the facilities are able to care for patients in the communities they serve. “Our entire focus is to ensure that Northwest Indiana residents do not need to go elsewhere to seek care,” McFadden says. “That’s why Methodist Hospitals is determined to offer top-flight medical care right here, in the Region. We anticipate new technologies will continue to be introduced at an ever-increasing pace. “Together with our medical staff, Methodist Hospitals is determined to adopt these new technologies ... We are committed to creating positive change in the way health care is delivered, change in the way medicine is practiced,
Among Franciscan Alliance’s achievements for the year are the an outpatient surgery at Franciscan Point, the outpatient treatment complex under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony’s in Crown Point and a free-standing emergency department in Chesterton, shown here, operated by Franciscan St. Anthony’s in Michigan City. Ky le Tele c h an , Th e Times
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and the implementation of innovative.” Me t h o d i s t Hos p i ta l s i n G a ry a n d Merrillville has invested $60 million in the past two years on services, technologies and facilities to improve patient care. They include a computer-assisted surgery suite for orthopedic, spine and neurosurgery; a da Vinci surgical program for cardiothoracic procedures, a Gamma Knife Radiosurgery unit for brain tumor treatment and electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy. The hospitals also added a three-dimensional mammography system at both campuses; a penumbra clot retrieval system to treat stroke; optical coherence tomography and transradial angiography for treating heart disease; transoral incisionless fundiplication (TIF) to treat acid reflux; and a biplane catheterization Lab for neurovascular intervention. As well as the EKOS system ultrasonic treatment for peripheral vascular disease to safely and quickly remove blood clots; the Impella LVAD, the world’s smallest heart pump that enables cardiologists to perform needed interventions not otherwise possible, and the most advanced endobronchial ultrasound technology that produces precise, 3D imaging for lung cancer. “We anticipate new technologies will continue to be introduced at an everincreasing pace,” McFadden says. “Together with our medical staff, Methodist Hospitals is determined to adopt these new technologies.” Fran CiSCan a llian Ce Area Franciscan Alliance hospitals had a number of noteworthy projects in 2012. The Alliance includes Franciscan St. Anthony Health, Crown Point; Franciscan St. Anthony Health, Michigan City; Franciscan St. Margaret Health, Dyer and Hammond, as well at Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster and other hospitals throughout Indiana and the south suburbs. “It’s been a challenging and exciting year,” says Gene Diamond, CEO of Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region. “Our folks have been given a lot of challenges. They’ve risen to the occasion and we’re very proud of them. For 2013 we are going to have to roll out our Accountable Care Organization. The pioneer project will be our foremost challenge.” The model program is designed to improve patient care, reduce medical costs and enhance delivery of health care. “We have to work real hard to improve our overall quality and to learn to more effectively manage the many patient lives were going to be responsible for in the context of the demonstration project,” Diamond says. Among Franciscan Alliance’s achievements for the year are the an outpatient surgery at Franciscan Point, the outpatient treatment complex under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony’s in Crown Point and an freestanding emergency department in Chesterton operated by Franciscan St. Anthony’s in Michigan City. The Alliance opened the Woodland Cancer Care Center of Franciscan St. Anthony
Health-Michigan City, a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that combines the most advanced technologies available with compassionate care. Services include a stateof-the-art Linear Accelerator, PET/CT Scan, and Diagnostic CT, along with 14 infusion bays, lab and pharmacy. On Oct. 1, Franciscan Alliance acquired Medical Specialists, a longtime Northwest Indiana health care organization of 69 health care providers who offer a wide variety of primary and specialty care services. Now called Franciscan Medical Specialists, the entity was established in 1978 and has 12 locations in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties. Its team consists of 55 physicians and surgeons, 11 nurse practitioners and two physician assistants. Community He al t HCare S y Stem Community Healthcare System, which operates Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, was on the forefront of providing progressive health care in 2012. Community Hospital was recognized by HealthGrades as one of the country’s 50 Best Hospitals for the year, plus the rating agency listed it as the best hospital in Northwest Indiana for overall cardiac services. Plus HealthGrades ranked Community Hospital among the top 5 percent in the nation for women’s health care. One of its surgeons, Dr. Nabil Shabeeb, was among the first in the country to perform a single-incision gallbladder removal using the da Vinci SI robotic surgical system. He and other Community Healthcare System surgeons have helped to pioneer the technology. Community Hospital NICU also has partnered with University of Chicago Medicine to develop a transport system that makes its critical care nursery services more accessible for babies throughout Northwest Indiana. St. Catherine Hospital has been awarded the 2012 Emergency Medicine Excellence Award from HealthGrades and received an A+ in patient safety overall hospital rating from the Leapfrog Group, which does an annual survey comparing hospital safety, quality, and efficiency in the clinical areas consumers and healthcare purchasers value. It also opened the new 6,000-square-foot Hessville Family Care Center in the Hessville section of Hammond in late 2011 that provides a full scope of medical services including physician specialties such as family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN and pediatrics. This fall, the clinic opened an immediate care unit. St. Mary Medical Center is offering stateof-the-art, specialized care for diseases of the heart valves and other complex heart conditions at its new Heart Valve Institute. The hospital also is completing an expansion project that brings services closer for the Valparaiso community. Opening in February, the Valparaiso Health Center will provide the same patient care found at the in a new convenient location. Plus, St. Mary Medical Center sponsors
a Teaching Garden that is aimed at giving children a hands-on appreciation for nurturing and growing plants and harvesting food. And the Center is the first in Porter County to sponsor an American Heart Association Walking Path, a My Heart My Life initiative. The campaign is aimed at empowering Americans to get healthier through a series of health, wellness and fitness activities. Community has ambitious plans for 2013. “In response to the growing demand for services across the Community Healthcare System, we will be embarking on expansions and improvements at all three of our hospitals,” says John Gorski, the system’s Chief Operating Officer. “These projects include an expansion of surgical services, more private rooms and bed capacity at Community Hospital; an expansion of surgical services and more bed capacity at St. Mary Medical Center; and the remodeling of the inpatient behavior health unit and our Family Birthing Center at St. Catherine Hospital. “We continue to serve more patients at all of our hospitals and the complexity of the care we provide has also grown,” Gorski says. “The investments in our surgical services will provide more capacity for more cases. Most importantly, it will also extend to our patients and physicians the benefits of the latest advances in surgical care, including the growing use of robotics and other technologies that have made surgery less invasive and safer to undergo.” indian a u niver Sity He al t H Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital was named No. 16 in the 23rd annual Best Hospitals ratings by U.S. News & World Report to the esteemed 2012–13 Honor Roll, the highest distinction reserved for the top medical centers across the country. It also was recognized as Best in Class in several key categories in a national survey of diversity practices (including diversity management and strengthening the workforce; cultural competency and engaging communities; and addressing disparities and delivering quality care) by the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association. The LaPorte facility hosted the largest women’s health event in LaPorte County, the 11th annual Women’s Fair on Oct. 9 at Blue Chip Stardust Event Center in Michigan City with more than 2,300 area women attending and participating in free wellness screenings. And it partnered with the City of LaPorte and LaPorte County Family YMCA to provide Fitness Fridays, a newly created weekly noncompetitive running/walking group from early spring to early fall. “We’ve been really tightening the focus on out mission to improve the health of our patients and communities, and using our values starting with patient -centered care to assure patients are at the center of everything that we do,” said Thor Thordarson, IU Health La Porte Hospital president and CEO. “It’s good when that focus is recognized by our
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peers and national organizations and that has happened on several occasions in the past year. We’ve going to continue wth more of the same. That is to keep up the same emphasis on patient-centered care in 2013. It really doesn’t matter what changes are made in health care reform or other changes in health care, we’ll always continue to put the patient first.” in GallS He al tH S y Stem Expansion and construction projects were abundant within Ingalls Health System during the past year – from the main campus in Harvey to several of its family care centers. “As the area’s only independent not-forprofit health care system, Ingalls has the ability to ensure that our resources are directed to areas that result in the greatest benefit to our patients and the community,” says Kurt E. Johnson, president and CEO of Ingalls Health System. Ingalls is one of the first hospitals in the Chicago area to offer the sophisticated O-arm Imaging System for more precise spinal surgery. The new three-dimensional, navigational imaging system gives surgeons a way to navigate a patient’s spine – much like a car’s GPS. The hospital is having the new TrueBeam radiation therapy system installed this fall will allow radiation oncologists to aim a more precise, higher-dose beam of radiation that is shaped to a cancerous tumor and timed to a patient’s breathing during treatment. A new 3T magnetic resonance imaging coming to Ingalls Family Care Center in Flossmoor before then end of the year is the most powerful imaging tool used in patient care today. Pinn a Cle Ho SPit al Five-year-old Pinnacle Hospital, Crown Point, is a partnership between primary care physicians, surgeons and other specialists housed in a 18-bed, 63,000-square-foot facility facility designed to avoid having an institutionalized hospital atmosphere. “Pinnacle Hospital continues to remain consistent in patient satisfaction, which is directly related to the nurse patient ratio,” says June Musikant, quality and risk manager for the hospital. “Nurses are able to work closely with patients and family members to educate on their medical condition.
From opening of the new more than $200 million Porter Regional Hospital, shown above, to new newborn intensive care unit at Franciscan St. Anthony, region hospitals have been enhancing their sites, technology and services during 2012. JOn l . h en DRic Ks , The Times
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In tribute
r emembering n orthwest indiana community leaders sT o r y By D i a n E Pou LTon
Whether a small business owner, community activist or political leader, their presence and contributions will be greatly missed. In 2012, Northwest Indiana lost many prominent community leaders. We pause to remember their lives and the impact they had on their communities.
David jordan a llen
Allen 56, of Munster, Associate Pastor of Family Christian Center, was instrumental in its move to Munster. Allen headed the church’s Spanish ministry for many years.
Bruce a yers
Ayers, 98, of Gary, former owner of Ayers Realty, was past president of the Miller Business Association and the Gary Board of Realtors. Ayers served on the Marquette Park United Methodist Church council for several decades and the local Selective Service Draft Board 25 years.
Daniel r . Barrick jr.
Barrick Jr., 85, of Merrillville, a 58-year Realtor and owner of Barrick Realty, also co-owned Red Carpet Barrick Realty and other firms. An Indiana real estate commissioner for 15 years, Barrick was named “Realtor of the Year” three times and was a Sagamore of the Wabash.
Frank a . Beck
Beck, 74, of Crown Point, founded Beck’s Crown Bakery. As chairman of the Crown Point Festival Day committee, Beck was instrumental in starting the festival, including the rib and corn roasts.
Bill Broderick
Broderick, 53, of Griffith, was the Griffith Clerk Treasurer. He was a founder of St. Mary Tuesday night Bingo and a member of the Pastoral Council and several other parish groups.
Phillippa Cody-Tolliver
Cody-Tolliver, 62, of Gary, served 22 years as the city’s First Precinct representative. A four-year member of the Calumet Township Advisory Board, Cody-Tolliver hosted a radio show, “The People’s Point of View.”
Pat Demure
Demure, 69, of Crown Point, was the city’s first elected Democrat. DeMure served four terms as city councilman, one term as clerk treasurer, originating the city’s recycling program. He was past president of the Crown Point Babe Ruth Baseball League.
Thurm Ferree
Ferree, 80, of Highland, was a journalist and long-time Democratic office holder. President and CEO of Ferree Moving/ Transportation, he served as a member of Highland’s Town Council, school and sanitary boards and was an Indiana senator. A Sagamore of the Wabash, Ferree coached and umpired Highland youth sports.
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Sandra Irons
Irons, 72, of Gary, was president of the Gary Teachers Union Local No. 4 AFT. She volunteered with the United Way, Mental Health Association, YWCA, Progressive National Conventions and Gary Educational Development Foundation.
Sen. Mathias A. Kerger
Kerger, 85, of Hammond, was a former Indiana senator, owner of the Matt Kerger Agency, co-owner of Caldis Collection Agency and Vice-President of United Tractor. Kerger served as a United Way Chairman, on the Hammond Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. He was a founding member of Hospice of the Calumet Area.
Mary Lou Kieswetter
Kieswetter, 87, of Valparaiso, was instrumental in the conception of Highland’s Highway of Flags Servicemen’s Memorial. A local patriotic radio and television show host, Kieswetter founded the National Council for the Encouragement of Patriotism and was a Sagamore of the Wabash.
Polly Koester
Koester, 59, of Hobart, owner of Ginter Realty, was involved in many real estate organizations, serving as president of several, Koester was chosen Realtor of the twice. Her Hobart civic involvement included the Chamber of Commerce, Education Foundation and Downtown Merchants Organization.
Dr. Robert J. Krajewski
Krajewski, 83, of Schererville, was East Chicago School Superintendent for 38 years and Indiana Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Krajewski compiled a book “My Teacher, My Future: Indiana’s Best and Brightest Remember Their Favorite Teacher.”
Margaret Kuchta
Kuchta, 88, of Hobart, was city mayor, councilwoman and clerk treasurer. She volunteered at St. Mary Medical Center and was active in the Hobart Economic Development Commission. As mayor, Kuchta began the process of annexing a nine-square mile portion of Ross Township which includes Westfield Mall and the U.S. 30 corridor.
James Lazerwitz
Lazerwitz, 90, of Bloomington, Ind., owned Lazerwitz Insurance Agency. A member of numerous community organizations including the Gary Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Indiana Arts Association and President’s Circle, Lazerwitz was on the board of directors of Temple Israel Temple Beth El of Hammond.
Leon Lynch
Jerry Scherer
Lynch, 76, of Memphis, Tenn, a local civil rights activist, was the first African-American to hold a seniorlevel position in a U.S. labor union. Named a USW staff representative in 1973, he was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council and appointed to the Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation and a subcommittee of the Federal Aviation Administration Management Advisory Council.
Scherer, 83, of Lansing, a member of the Lansing Village and Zoning Boards, was an airport commissioner and a member of the Lansing Airport Modernization and Expansion Committee, Community Chest and Calumet Humane Society. The owner of Scherer Management, he was past president of the Lansing Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club.
Edward C. Minas
Schoettle, 101, of Lansing, owned Flowers by Josephine 50 years. Active in the Lansing Garden Club, a member of the Lansing Business Women’s Association, she earned an Athena Award. Schoettle received the Christi Fidelis Award for her work at St. Ann’s Church.
Cynthia Pallick
Shults, 83, of Crown Point, served as clerk treasurer 20 years. She volunteered with the Lake County Historical Society, the Lake County Courthouse Foundation, the South Lake County Agricultural Historical Society and was secretary of the Old Lake County Sheriff’s House Foundation.
Minas, 92, of Mercer Island, Wash., was owner of Hammond’s former Edward C. Minas Company founded by his grandfather in 1880. He spearheaded the campaign to bring the YMCA to Hammond, receiving the Jaycee’s Outstanding Man of the Year Award.
Pallick, 53, of Calumet City, was a former Calumet City alderman and known as the “pied piper” of her neighborhood.
Donald M. Peddycord
Peddycord, 84, of Orland Park, was former owner of Tilles Interiors of Munster. He served on the board of the National Home Furnishings Association and taught at Moraine Valley College.
Edward J. Raskosky
Raskosky, 89, of Hammond, was a former mayor of the city. Raskosky, an attorney, also served as in the Indiana House of Representative and was Hammond city judge.
Eunice Roper-Allen
Roper-Allen, 74, of East Chicago, a community activist, served as president of the local NAACP for 25 years. Working with the Indiana and national NAACP, she also founded Minority Opportunity for Racial Equality. Roper-Allen hosted an annual Marin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast and was co-owner of Allen Funeral Home.
Eleanor Santos-Prisby
Santos-Prisby (nee Pozzo), 87, of Crown Point, past president of Pozzo Truck Center and Pozzo Illinois, was past secretary/treasurer of the Women’s Golf League of Innsbrook Country Club.
Josephice Schoettle
Eileen Shults
Charles Swisher
Swisher, 95, of Crown Point, was known as the city’s “poet laureate.” A decorated World War II veteran, whose six medals included the Purple Heart, Swisher was active in the Lake County Historical Society.
James J. Thiel
Thiel, 89, of St. John, an eight-year town council member, was a volunteer fireman 25 years. Thiel was president of the St. John Civic Club five terms and a past president of the Lions Club, Historical Society and park board. He served on the Franciscan St. Anthony Health Board 12 years. A charter member of St. John VFW Post 717, serving as commander five terms, Thiel also was district, state and national commander. He was on the Governor’s Advisory Board for the Indiana Veterans Home.
Roger Van Slyke
Van Slyke, 69, of Crown Point, 30-year Peer Cabinets owner, was past commander of both the city’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts and coached youth sports.
Jon P. Williams
Williams, 84, of Portage, the city’s third mayor, served as a Portage Township Trustee and school board member. He helped build the Bonner Senior Center and start the Porter County Ambulance Service. winter 2012
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business schools change course MBA curricula emphasize leadership, corporate responsibility and international business sT o r y By Lo ui s a Mur z yn
If the resources of every church were added together, the millions of employees and billion-dollar operating budgets would rival the size of the nation’s largest corporations. Faith-based organizations provide a lifeline for millions of people but despite their virtues, the finances of many are an unholy mess. “Churches all around the country are in terrible shape,” said Bruce MacLean, Director of Graduate Programs at Valparaiso University. “The need is universal. I don’t care what faith you are from. Leaders from Catholic, Lutheran, Islamic and Jewish faith have all talked to me.” Though divinely guided, these operations have many of the same problems that modern management principles have been developed to fix. A m o n g t h e c h a n ge s i t’s making in its curricula, Valparaiso University is adding a concentration in ministry administration for 2013, which will be taught at a new campus in Chicago’s Hyde Park. In the last several years, many of most well-known business
To n y v. mar Tin /TimeS
Valparaiso University has clocked about 4,000 hours in a $100,000 classroom, which enables students to participate in a live classroom remotely from anywhere in the world. Class sessions are fully synchronized and broadcast on the Internet.
schools in the U.S. have announced major overhauls of their MBA curricula. Local universities also have updated programs in response to local market, regional needs and globalization. The nation’s elite B-schools have also revamped programs and added courses with a focus on ethics and Northwest Indiana is no exception.
Earthly concErns
Most universities have had flat enrollments, but Valpo has
grown from 30 students in 2004 to 100 students this year. MacLean expects the program to grow a minimum of 300 students in the next three years. For 2013, its parttime MBA program was ranked among the best by U.S. News and World Report. MacLean believes faith-based organizations must tap into business professional know-how if they are to pursue their missions responsibly and effectively. “The churches have wonderful people who are volunteering their
time but they have no business background,” said MacLean. “When it comes to managing they can’t maintain financial sustainability and many of them are going out of business.” For the ministry concentration, six unique courses will be offered. For example, the curriculum will offer philanthropy and fundraising instead of sales and marketing. “We are trying to tailor this very specifically
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to exactly their needs instead of trying to adapt a for-profit business model to a church,” said MacLean, who has worked with the Chicago and Gary Catholic diocese as well as Chicago’s Lutheran School of Theology. “It’s a whole different perspective,” he said. “You have to get these organizations to focus on what the future is, where they want to be and the best way to meet the needs of their community. Is the church a business? No. But it can certainly benefit from business skills.”
rEstoring public trust
Harvard Business School overhauled its curriculum in an effort to restore a reputation tarnished by the financial crises and to diffuse what many see as a money-hungry culture that some say created the crisis on Wall Street. “If you were fortunate enough to go to Harvard, you were hired by Wall Street because your acumen was high, but what students lacked were corporate discipline, ethical training and social responsibility,” said Joe Joniec, department chairman of Business Administration at Ivy Tech Community College. Ivy Tech now has business students volunteering within the community when possible and even has a “day of service” when students help at the Salvation A r m y, M i c h i ga n C i ty Z o o, Porter County Animal Shelter, Whispering Pines Healthcare Center and Miller Beach in Gary. “When you talk about Wall Street that’s what was lost,” Joniec said. “The public perceives they’ve been shortchanged by their business leaders because they don’t see what their leaders are doing for the community. “The idea is to understand that you have obligations as citizens and as a member of your community and of society,” he said. “That all goes hand in hand with ethical training.” Other local universities have also integrated courses aimed at
To n y v. mar Tin , Th e TimeS
The Valparasio University MBA program offers the MBA Live feature of signing on and participating in class remotely. Joshua Wawak runs the remote links and can talk with the remote students and even ask questions in class for them.
creating leaders of competence and character and cultivating judgment not just analytics. A n n a Ro m i n ge r, d ea n o f Indiana University Northwest’s School of Business and Economics, was a trailblazer for ethics in curricula. “It’s crucial,” she said. “We want to create responsible business people who not only serve customers and clients but also contribute to and run their business for the benefit of the community.” Purdue University Calumet also now has a class on ethics and governance. Harvard’s “MBA Oath” was created to establish a code of morality and ethics and went viral in 2009. Today, 160 Valparaiso students have signed the pledge promising to act with utmost integrity. “Values-based leadership is our goal,” MacLean said. “Our program and everything else is built around it. It’s something we take very seriously.”
their programs based on local needs, which play up Northwest Indiana’s geographic strengths. Purdue University Calumet now requires coursework in international business and supply chain
management. “Even though we cater to students in this region, we have to prepare them to be global leaders because the steel industry is a global business,” said Lori Feldman, department head for Marketing, Human Resources and Management at PUC. Courses also have been added or revised to include executive communication, leadership, s p re a d s h e e t m o d e l i n g a n d forecasting, and negotiations. Students also can take an international trip in which they actually create a business plan for new business in that country. “Our students with managerial experience also want factual content and education that takes them to the next step in their careers,” she said. “These skills really differentiate the folks that are promotable from others. It helps create stronger leaders to continue to lead Northwest Indiana, help us through the economic recovery and bring new industry here to the region.” MBA students at IUN study abroad for 10 days at the end of
global carEErs
Local schools have customized
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To n y v. mar Tin , Th e TimeS
The Valparaiso University MBA program offers the MBA Live feature of signing on and participating in class remotely. When signed on the student sees video from the class.
their program. MacLean expects to triple the size of its MBA program in part with a new initiative, which includes a mix of students from Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Students also will be required up to take at least one eight-week session in other countries and international students coming to the U.S. for the first time will attend a summer “boot camp” to prepare them for business education here in America. Valpo was one of four schools approached by the United Nations to be part of an initiative on global reporting and now offers a specialization in sustainability. The reporting process is the most widely-used standard worldwide to assist with ethical, social and environmental protocols.
program architEcturE
Valparaiso University has clocked about 4,000 hours in a $100,000 classroom, which enables students to participate in a live classroom remotely from anywhere in the world. Class sessions are fully synchronized and broadcast on the Internet. A student can be out of town on business in a hotel room or a single-parent can be at home if childcare is not available and still fully participate in class discussions and projects. Classes are recorded and the school is working on obtaining printed transcripts. Valpo offers its MBA year round and has six eight-week terms. PUC offers a part-time evening MBA, a Saturday MBA for Executives, and Masters of Accountancy program. IUN offers a weeknight and weekend MBA and also allows student to take foundation courses online. Rominger said the school continuously assesses the graduate program to make sure students are learning what the course objectives are. Ivy Tech offers an associate degree in business administration, which is based on partnerships with local industries and leads to employment. “BP, Praxair, Nipsco ad Arcelor Mittal came to us and we established what they
To n y v. mar Tin , Th e TimeS
Remote students using the MBA Live feature at the Valparaiso University MBA program are visible on a screen in the room.
needed,” Joniec said. “The steel industry, for example, is not the steel industry of 50 years ago,” he said. “Today everything is driven by technology. They said they needed men and women who are educated enough to be able to handle the multi-million dollar equipment. “The ultimate goal is to get students
employed even if they aren’t in an MBA program. Collectively all of us have been charged with how can we better meet the needs of Hoosiers and the constant message we keep getting is we need to develop our students and give them the right kinds of skills.”
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r egional growth
NWI is posed for a productive year
W By Mark Maass EL
President and Ceo of the northwest indiana Forum
With a focus on boosting jobs and the quality of life, Northwest Indiana continues to make great strides toward our future. And the Northwest Indiana Forum and our partners are a significant part of these strides. With a goal to preserve and grow the number of high quality jobs while improving the environment, the Forum uses a collaborative approach to drive investment, job creation and an ever-improving environment. We do this by working with local economic development organizations and elected officials, as well as environmental, community and business leaders. And it is only fair that people ask how we do our work and what has been accomplished. Through ongoing marketing and advertising about the advantages of NWI, the Forum received and responded to more requests about specific sites in 2012 than during the same time in 2011 and answered nearly 2,000 more general requests for information. We learned that companies looking to establish an operation in Northwest Indiana consistently fell in target areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, Distribution and Logistics, and Information Technology with significant interest emerging in the Energy/Fuel, Bio/Life Science; and Agri-business/Food industry sectors. This will allow even more focus in our efforts in 2013. The Forum also promoted the region with our “Opportunity Indiana Conference” highlighting the advantages of NWI versus Illinois and other Midwest regions. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Dan Hasler keynoted the event followed by discussions on our business friendly location and climate. The “Economic Development for Decision Makers” program, geared to prepare communities for success in economic development, gathered attendance from elected and appointed officials from across the region. National leaders came to Northwest Indiana to learn about the good things happening here and encourage our work to make the region even better. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Tom Guevera and U.S. Administrator for the St. Lawrence Seaway Craig Middlebrook highlighted opportunities for NWI at separate speaking engagements. The Forum partnered with governmental leaders through the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to create the NWI Economic Development District. This District received a grant to continue organizational development and the update of the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which prioritizes investments and positions the region for future growth. This provides a vehicle to fund needed growth efforts in NWI. And Elevate Ventures, an Indiana nonprofit organized to facilitate and enhance high growth entrepreneurial ventures, is being supported by the Forum and others. This has increased support of entrepreneurs across
2013 looks even better. With partnerships in place to market Northwest Indiana as a great place to do business, similar efforts are under way to support current employers and any additional employment or operational expansion they might propose. Northern Indiana from virtually none to a full third of all efforts in Indiana — tying small and burgeoning businesses into to the broader economic development effort. Environmentally, our air is cleaner than in years past thanks to the diligent efforts of both industry and citizens. Proactive measures such as the installation of pollution control equipment by industry and emissions testing by individuals have helped us reach this level. With ongoing efforts, further improvement is expected. Work continues on the topic of Asian carp. While the potentially significant negative impact on our economy has long been a concern, issues of residential flooding and negative environmental impacts to our air and water are coming to the front. The Forum actively facilitates and participates in meetings and conversations to provide education and awareness through programs and media while partnering to find a comprehensive, balanced solution between all aspects of this issue. 2013 looks even better. With partnerships in place to market Northwest Indiana as a great place to do business, similar efforts are under way to support current employers and any additional employment or operational expansion they might propose. Investments in improved roads, bridges and broadband will support business investment and job creation. Along with a focused effort on education and creating the workforce of tomorrow, the region is poised for another productive year. We have much to be proud of. We learned a lot. We understand more. We work hard on problems that can be solved. We recognize real progress. We have more to do. We will do it together. wInter 2012 | 35
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Legislative preview
Fiscal responsibility a priority
I
By E D CHar Bon n Eau
r epublican State Senator from valparaiso
n Indiana, our system of government is comprised of three branches — an executive branch, a judicial branch and a part-time legislature. For taxpayers, this means less money is spent on legislators’ salaries and staff, while more money is spent on essential government services. For lawmakers, it means more time can be spent working back home in our communities. Starting on January 7, 2013, legislators will return to the Statehouse for a four month session, writing a two-year state budget and representing the interests of Hoosiers in their districts. Despite the ongoing fiscal struggle our country faces, Indiana continues to be the envy of other state governments for having an honestly balanced budget and responsible reserve levels. While other states raise taxes to fill voids left from the economic downturn, we live within our means and as a result, our tax climate improves. In 2010, voters approved permanent property tax caps initiated by the legislature. Last year, lawmakers reduced Indiana’s corporate income tax. In March, Gov. Daniels signed the Republican-led plan to phase out our state’s burdensome inheritance tax. This summer I was appointed to a national State Fiscal Health Work Group. As one of twelve members from around the country, I had the opportunity to talk with other state legislators at meetings held in Chicago and Washington, D.C. I was often asked how Indiana has been able to weather the economic storm. My answer to them was our stability rises from strong leadership and a willingness to make difficult financial decisions instead of kicking the can down the road. Fiscal responsibility is important because it affects private-sector job creation, which thrives on predictability. Employers long for a predictable tax environment supported by a government that isn’t continually looking to raise revenue to cover its expenses. Make no mistake that the economic vitality of our state depends on the development of a skilled workforce. We must ensure our young people receive a world-class education that will prepare them to fill the jobs of tomorrow. There have been many discussions and even disagreements over the past few years on the best way to help Hoosier students reach their potential. Without hesitation, I can assure you the education of our children is one of the highest priorities in the state legislature. In fact, Indiana appropriates more than 50 percent of its General Fund budget to K-12 education. Now, because of our record of responsible spending, we will have options in the upcoming budget to invest even more in student growth. Additionally, last year we worked to promote early foundations for academic success. For the first time, legislators were able to assist schools, students and families by completely funding full-day kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year. The emphasis on high-quality options that work for
students and families starts during the early education years but must be carried into high school and beyond. We cannot overlook the importance of vocational and technical training in our public schools. A new initiative called “Hire Technology” is an effort implemented this year by Conexus Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College to teach students necessary skills for careers in manufacturing and logistics. The pilot program was offered to eight schools across the state including one in Northwest Indiana, George Rogers Clark High School. Participating students have the opportunity to earn college credit from Ivy Tech and also receive industry certifications through the two-year program. Employers are in constant need of a highly trained workforce, and new vocational and technological training like “Hire Technology” can encourage qualified students to become skilled workers and obtain high-wage jobs. As we prepare for the 2013 legislative session Indiana’s balance sheet looks healthy. There are concerns on the horizon, however. There will be significant pressure on both the revenue side as well as the expenditure side when the budget writing process begins. Consider a few of the factors at play from a revenue standpoint: • The gaming industry has become a significant revenue generator for Indiana, but there are signs indicating a weakening in that revenue stream due to increasing competition. Ohio has entered the fray and talk of a Native American facility in northern Indiana and the possibility of gaming in Chicago are of concern. • In the 2012 legislative session two bills were passed that will reduce income flowing to the state; the first begins the phase-out of the state’s inheritance tax while the other provides for a reduction in the corporate income tax. These will encourage long-term economic growth but may present short-term revenue changes. • Both major party gubernatorial candidates have as part of their plan a tax reduction of one kind or another. Pressures with regard to expenditures include: • Pension funding • Medicaid funding and implementation of the Affordable Care Act • Pent-up demand in areas such as K-12 education, higher education and transportation infrastructure Moving forward we need to focus on job creation and education, but that focus won’t matter much if we fall back into our old habits and abandon the work that’s been done balancing the state budget and forcing government to live within its means. It is Indiana’s fiscal integrity that provides an economic climate that will spur job creation. The improved economic environment will allow us to provide additional help for classroom teachers, funding for early childhood learning and expanding vocational and technical education opportunities, thus ensuring a workforce able to compete in a global economy. Hoosier taxpayers deserve nothing less.
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Legislative preview
Dems to focus on jobs, education
A By Lin Da La Wson
d emocratic State r epresentative from hammond
s preparations begin for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, there already has been talk from Republican lawmakers about a commitment toward jobs and education as the priorities for the next Legislature. Jobs and education have historically been the priorities for Indiana House Democrats. It bodes well for the next session if both sides are able to agree on what needs to be done at the Statehouse in order to benefit the people of Indiana. These are still tough, uncertain times. We’re working harder, but our lives don’t seem to be getting better. At times, it seems like we’re not even sure that we can afford a tank of gas or even a bag of groceries. But I believe that when times are the hardest is when we have to stop playing politics and start working together. That’s when we’ll make sure that our kids get the education they deserve, and that all families can afford quality health care, and that all Hoosiers can get jobs and keep them. So what can we do in 2013 to meet these goals? Here are a few ideas to consider. Early childhood education is not a new concept. There are 40 other states across this country that already have identified it as a priority and provided funding for it. House Democrats have proposed such funding in the last three budget cycles, only to be turned down by our colleagues across the aisle. Perhaps the next session will have a different outcome. Of course, education in Indiana cannot be discussed without understanding the financial toll that has been extracted these past few years by our outgoing governor. Public schools have had to endure massive cuts in state support, and even more funding channeled away into vouchers and other programs that still benefit the very few. You cannot talk about providing Hoosier children with the tools they need to succeed in life without realizing that public schools must play a critical role in that effort. Public schools do not get the opportunity to pick and choose who they want to educate, but they are being forced to perform this critical task with less funding. Now is a good time to reaffirm the important role that public schools play in helping our children. Let’s stop using them as a whipping boy. Job creation remains an ongoing concern for House Democrats. Too many Hoosiers are still out of work. It is important to remember that too many Hoosiers have given up hope of ever finding a job. That is unacceptable to me, and I believe that government can help get them back to work. How? We can do everything in our power to make sure Hoosiers get first crack at those jobs that are funded through taxpayer dollars. We can make the effort to help small businesses retain their position as the backbone of Indiana’s economy by
offering them incentives to hire Hoosier veterans and the unemployed. We can provide low interest loans for small businesses. We can seriously consider a Work-Share program that other states have used to preserve jobs and prevent increases in unemployment during economic downturns. It reduces the training and rehiring costs for employers, while workers affected by reduced hours can have their lost wages made up through a portion of their weekly unemployment compensation payments. We can use the remaining proceeds from the Major Moves program to make investments in roads, bridges and other infrastructure. These are the types of projects that pay good wages and help our communities improve their economic development prospects. Again, none of these ideas are new. House Democrats have proposed any or all of them in recent legislative sessions. I believe they will prove more effective than a job creation program based on the regrettable “right to work” proposal that has not been proven to create jobs or pay good wages. One can fairly gather that the state has gained some of the financial flexibility to implement several of these worthy ideas by simply looking at the glowing reports we receive from the Daniels Administration that indicate a surplus of more than $2 billion. While I applaud the desire to return some of those proceeds back to the taxpayers of Indiana, it is important to weigh those interests along with the need to help our schools and state services regain solid footing. And I have to mention that any discussion of fiscal integrity must be tempered by the knowledge that we are still weighing the fallout from the recent revelations that the current administration mismanaged more than $500 million in state revenues through accounting mistakes. We must be absolutely sure that our state’s financial books are in order. I must mention one more area of concern. Even though the state’s Department of Child Services (DCS) has a new director, the change in leadership does not solve the concerns that so many of us have about the agency’s ability to protect children who have been abused and neglected. We believe there is a need to re-establish strong local involvement in helping improve the lives of at-risk children, rather than focusing on centralized hotlines that do not do a good job of recognizing problems and actively working to solve them. As we work on these problems, we also realize that no one person or party has a monopoly on the solutions. Working together does not mean trying to pass a Republican plan, or a Democratic agenda. It means finding the best answers from all sides, no matter the party affiliation. That means we need to work together. That is when we will make things better for everyone. That is the commitment we make as Indiana House Democrats. wInter 2012 | 37
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Economic development
Gary’s best days lie ahead
I
By k ar En Fr EEMan WiLson Gary mayor
n January 2012, the New Day Administration pledged to deliver “the best government that tax dollars could buy” to the citizens of Gary. Our vision was to accomplish this task by developing a team of partners from the public and private sector who have a vested interest in seeing our city reclaim its status as the “Magic City.” Before taking office, we gained a wealth of information about the state of the city to aid in our mission to deliver on our promise. We understood the budget deficit that accompanied the institution of constitutional tax caps, the adverse impact of the subprime mortgage market debacle and the impact of the waning economy. We also were aware of the challenges of stalled construction at the airport, a protracted dispute with Majestic and an expiring garbage collection contract. The information gathered during my early term as mayor made the challenge every more formidable. We were confronted with HUD’s pending decision to take over the Gary Housing Authority, the Environmental Protection Administration’s decision to address issues at the Gary Sanitary District through enforcement actions and a delayed Marquette Park project. We also found five expired labor contracts and a laundry list of grievances and arbitrations. We had to address maintenance needs at the Genesis Center, Gary Public Transportation Facility, City Hall, the City Hall Annex and the Public Safety Facility. Every air conditioner that could go out this summer did. It was necessary to manage these crises in the face of the dayto-day demands of planning and conducting city business. I list these challenges not as a complaint, but to portray what this administration has been addressing in 2012. So, what have we accomplished to date? • In January, we laid out a plan for eight federal agencies that were given a mission from the White House to determine how they could partner with Gary and Northwest Indiana. As a result of that effort, the EPA and HUD are partnering with the city to demolish the Sheraton Hotel in Gary’s downtown area, the EPA is assisting with brownfield redevelopment, the EDA has offered assistance through their planning arm and HUD has started to exhibit more confidence in GHA leadership. • The Department of Labor and Indiana WorkOne have shown their support of our New Day; New Jobs program, a new path to employment opportunities for Gary residents. • In February, we leveraged $5 million dollars of private investment by dedicating dollars for private demolition at the future site of the Boys & Girls Club at the old Tolleston School. • In March, we completed the agreement with CN that opened the door for the airport runway construction to continue on schedule. • In May, we opened the renovated Marquette Park Pavilion, part of a $28 million dollar investment at Marquette Park that will make the park a destination for the entire Midwest region. • In May, we were designated by the White House as a
“Let’s Move” city and began a series of ongoing health and wellness activities for residents. • We have also compensated for the reduction in city services with the initiation of the Green Vision and Adopta-Park programs which have yielded great community participation from churches, block clubs, corporations and other nonprofit organizations with hours of labor and donated equipment. • In May, we initiated a project with former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the University of Chicago, where public policy students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and innovative ideas to help solve some of the greatest challenges in the city; • In July, we announced the University Park development project in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University Northwest. Through this project, we will develop retail and housing by leveraging the investments of two established educational partners. • The Gary Police Department has created a special team to target high crime areas, partnering with other law enforcement agencies and encouraging community participation through our crime tip line, the National Night Out event, gun buyback program and a blue ribbon working group. • We are enhancing our general services department by sweeping the streets, retiring a long waiting list for garbage cans and implementing GIS technology. • We have developed a solid waste plan that will reduce garbage collection plans to residents and enhance revenue opportunities for the city. It is important to underscore that this success has come with the assistance of a team representing all branches of municipal government, other levels of government, and the private and nonprofit sector. It also is noteworthy that these efforts have garnered positive attention from national and local media, casting the efforts in Gary in a positive light. We are excited about 2013 and what the future will bring for Gary, Indiana. The area around city hall will get a facelift that includes the demolition of the Sheraton and the development of green space in its place. We also will continue to forge meaningful partnerships and build on the assets that already exist in our city limits, while reestablishing ourselves as the viable economic engine for Northwest Indiana. The completion of the runway expansion project at the Gary/Chicago International Airport will open doors of opportunity for continued and expanded charter, commercial, private and charter service, and the creation of related jobs in airport corridor. We will study the feasibility of the trauma center and teaching hospital as the centerpiece of the University Park area while launching a full effort to improve relationships with local businesses while enhancing job opportunities for Gary citizens. In short, Gary’s best days are ahead of her, and “Team Gary” is poised to tackle our challenges and keep its promise to deliver the most transparent and ethical government that tax dollars can buy.
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| 39
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Calendar Mon Day s Ha MMon D | t he northwest Indiana small Business Development Center business adviser Bill Gregory will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the Hammond Innovation Center, 5209 Hohman Ave. to meet with Gregory, visit www.nwisbdc.org, fill out a business assessment and call (219) 644–3513 to schedule an appointment. Por Tag E | t he northwest Indiana
Professional network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays at Portage work One, Ameriplex Commercial Park, 1575 Adler Circle, suite A. For more information, contact sandra Alvarez at the Center of workforce Innovations at (219) 4622940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce. com.
Tu EsDay s Ha MMon D | t he r otary Club of Hammond meets from noon to 1 p.m. t uesdays in the student union Library Building at Purdue Calumet, 2200 169th st. For more information, call (219)5130549, or visit www.hammondrotary.org. MErri LLvi LLE | southshore Business
meets from 8 to 9:15 a.m. every second t uesday of the month at r ound the Clock, 9010 Indianapolis Blvd. For information contact, Bethany Crose at (219) 308-9113
WEDn EsDay s Cro Wn Poi n T | BnI, Business network International, meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at white Hawk Country Club, 1001 white Hawk Drive, in the Members Lounge. For information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 427-5933 or (815) 370-2940. Cro Wn Poi n T | t he r eferral Organiza-
tion of Indiana (r OI) Business networking Group meets wednesdays at r ed Key r ealty Leaders, 503 e. summit st. networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, visit http://roinetworkinc.com. MErri LLvi LLE | t he Merrillville Chapter of BnI, Business networking International, will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. wednesdays at Innsbrook Country Club, 6701 taft st. Contact Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940. va LParaiso | BnI, Business network International, meets from 7 to 8:30 am at t he Hampton Inn, 1451 silhavy r oad. For information call Beckie Guffin at (219) 462-2771.
networking, will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. on the first and third t uesdays of the month Cafe Divine, 9000 taft st. Call THurs Day s r ick Gosser at (219) 808-9888 or visit http://www.southshorebusinessnetwork- MErri LLvi LLE | Merrillville Breakfast Kiwanis meets from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. ing.com. t hursdays at Petro’s r estaurant, 6190 Hig HLan D | BnI, Business networking Broadway Ave. For more information, International will meet from 8:30 to please contact Mary Jane DiMichele at 10 a.m. t uesdays at Harry’s Grill, 9400 (219) 934-6318 ext. 239 or visit www. Indianapolis Blvd. Contact Michael Pelz MerrillvilleBreakfastKiwanis.com. at (815) 370-2940. MErri LLvi LLE | t he Merrillville noon Hig HLan D | Bwun (Business women Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1 p.m., t hursdays at Petro’s r estaurant, 6190 united network) Highland Alliance
Broadway Ave. For more information call Bruce woods at (219) 794-1259 over visit www.merrillvillenoonkiwanis.org. sCHEr Ervi LLE | A BnI (Business networking International) business development group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. t hursdays at the Holiday Inn express, 1773 Fountain Park Drive. Call Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940 for more information. va LParaiso
| t he Porter County Busi-
ness League meets at 7 a.m. t hursdays at the r ound-the-Clock restaurant, 217 e. Lincolnway. For more information, visit http://www.portercounty.com. va LParaiso | t he r eferral Organization of Indiana (r OI) Business networking Group meets t hursdays at the r egional Credit union, 2801 Boilermaker Ave. (Door needs to stay locked until 9 a.m., so knock). networking starts at 8 a.m.; meetings are from 8:15 to 9:15 am. For more information, contact sue Baxter at baxterdesign@comcast.net or (219) 464-9237. Visit www.roinetworkinc.com for more information.
We want to hear from you To read more calendar, visit nwi.com/calendar/ business. To include an item in the local business calendar, send event information, time, date, cost and location to matt.saltanovitz.nwi.com.
Fri Day s MErri LLvi LLE | nw InP, northwest Indiana networking Professionals, meets from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Fridays at AJ specialties, 1308 east 85th Ave. For more information, visit www.nwinetworking.org or contact Carl watroba at (219) 776-7423. Ha MMon D | Free business counseling services are available through the service Corps of r etired 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.
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