2015–16
MISSION-FOCUSED, VISION-GUIDED MISSION: SERVING OUR REGION BY PROMOTING AND PROTECTING BUSINESS VISION: TO MAKE OUR REGION A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PLACE TO WORK, LIVE, AND GROW A BUSINESS VALUES: LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
A MESSAGE FROM JIM SANDGREN & CHRISTY GILLENWATER September 30, 2016 marked the close of one of the most successful 12 month periods in Southwest Indiana Chamber history. We worked extremely hard as a collaborative force to continue to shape and mold programs and the direction for a bright future for our region. Here are a few of the milestones, achievements and accolades to remember and continue to build upon: #NATIONALCHAMBEROFTHEYEAR
Hats off to the community, our members, our volunteers and the staff who helped us achieve the title of the National Chamber of the Year. It was an awesome honor to represent Southwest Indiana and accept the award in Savannah, Georgia on your behalf. #NEWMEMBEREVENTSUCCESS
JIM SANDGREN
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our membership event in May was a huge success thanks to over 300 volunteers who worked to welcome 406 new members in 3 days. This event solidified our position as the 2nd largest chamber in the State of Indiana and welcomed many new faces to our chamber and its’ activities. #INNOVATIVEISBDC
Our Southwest ISBDC was recognized as Indiana’s 2016 recipient of the Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award. During the past five years, Southwest ISBDC clients invested over $23 million in their communities and started more than 72 new businesses. #I-69 BRIDGECROSSING
On June 30, 2016 Governors Bevin and Pence signed a memorandum of understanding to begin the I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project. The states agreed to spend a combined $17 million for an Environment Impact Statement and initial design work to figure out how the two states can pay for the bridge and where it will run.
CHRISTY GILLENWATER
The ever increasing momentum in our initiatives is propelling Southwest Indiana forward at a rapid rate. Your Southwest Indiana Chamber is proud and excited to be leading this collaborative effort to position our region as “THE PLACE” to live, work and grow a business in the Midwest, the U.S. and beyond. Our purpose must remain that we ALL continue to work together to maximize this opportunity in the weeks, months and years ahead.
PRESIDENT & CEO
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LOOKING BACK: FISCAL YEAR MILESTONES MARCH 24, 2016
SENATE BILL 232
NOVEMBER 17, 2015
Senate Bill 232, signed into law by Governor Mike Pence, provides the authority to create a land bank for blight elimination
BUSINESS CONNECTION
Nearly 100 guests attend Diverse Business Alliance Southwest Business Connection
OCTOBER 14, 2015
LUNCH WITH THE MAYOR
DECEMBER 17, 2015
SENATE BILL 67
YPs GIVE BACK
Senate Bill 67 is signed into law, releasing $430 million for local infrastructure improvements
657 clothing items are collected for Share-aSuit during Young Professionals Alliance Merry Mixer
291 guests attend Lunch with the Mayor
NOVEMBER 16, 2015
MARCH 2016
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
FEBRUARY 27, 2016
ATHENA AWARD®
285 guests attend Ecomomic Outlook Luncheon DECEMBER 15, 2015 NOVEMBER 3, 2015
2015 ELECTION 7 of 8 JPAC-endorsed candidates win 2015 election
SIGNATURE CHAMBER EVENTS
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
JPAC MILESTONE
JINGLE MINGLE Southwest Indiana Chamber members celebrate the holiday season at our holiday open house
TRI-STATE MANUFACTURERS’ ALLIANCE MILESTONE
491 guests celebrate 25 years of honoring female leaders through our annual ATHENA Award® by recognizing Sara Miller as the 2016 recipient
WHITE BELTS 61 White Belts certified through TSMA and Ivy Tech Community College partnership MARCH 23, 2016
HOUSE BILL 1001 Signed into law by Governor Pence, secures $230 million in road funding and $42 million for Regional Cities
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ALLIANCE MILESTONE
MAY 5, 2016
LUNCH WITH THE GOVERNOR
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 JUNE 30, 2016
295 guests attend Lunch with the Governor
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
MAY 10–11, 2016
APRIL 18,2016
MEMBERSHIP EVENT
MASTER PLAN
406 new members recruited through “A Day at the Races” campaign, made possible by 349 volunteers
Downtown Master Plan is unveiled to a crowd of 250 community participants
Signed by IN Governor Mike Pence and KY Governor Matt Bevin, to begin Environment Impact Statement and Design of new I-69 bridge
MAY 7, 2016
400 guests attend the inaugural Posey County Alliance Water Street Wine Fest
ISBDC AWARD Southwest ISBDC is recognized as a U.S. Small Business Administration Excellence & Innovation Award recipient
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
133 guests attend Family Business Alliance Stories from the Field AUGUST 2016
LATINO CHAMBER ALLIANCE
TROPICANA INVESTMENT $50 million investment in downtown announced by Tropicana Evansville
MAY 23, 2016
AUGUST 10, 2016
100 guests participate in our 14th annual Golf Classic for Cultivating Commerce
Southwest Indiana Chamber recognized by ACCE as National Chamber of the Year
COMMERCE CLASSIC
POSEY COUNTY ALLIANCE MILESTONE
2016 ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER
An evening of celebrating a year’s worth of big wins, impressive milestones, and booming businesses. Cheers!
20 community volunteers engaged in formation of alliance
JULY 19, 2016
WINE FEST
MAY 4, 2016
AUGUST 24, 2016
SEPTEMBER 2016
KEEP IT LOCAL! Keep It Local! lands in 75,000 mailboxes across the region
CHAMBER OF THE YEAR
FAMILY BUSINESS ALLIANCE MILESTONE
DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE MILESTONE
DIVERSE BUSINESS ALLIANCE MILESTONE LATINO CHAMBER ALLIANCE MILESTONE
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | LOOKING BACK: FISCAL YEAR MILESTONES
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MEMBERSHIP As one of the largest chamber of commerce organizations in Indiana, we have the strength and support of nearly 1,800 members who stand by our side as we advance Southwest Indiana as a globally competitive place to live, work, and grow a business.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | MEMBERSHIP
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ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY We’re the trusted voice of the regional business community, and as such, we advocate for legislation and policies that help our region thrive. We keep a keen eye on local, state, and national issues that positively or adversely affect our members and the region. Some might say we have our elected leaders on speed dial.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY
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COMMUNITY & DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT A thriving region creates increased opportunities for all our members, and the broader community as well. Southwest Indiana Chamber volunteers and staff work tirelessly to invigorate our core creating a downtown that serves as ‘everybody’s neighborhood.’ Through our Downtown Alliance we encourage investment in our core, foster a spirit of collaboration among stakeholders, and lead efforts to build awareness of downtown’s role in the region.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
2014-15 ANNUAL REPORT | COMMUNITY & DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
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WORKFORCE, EDUCATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Through key initiatives and Alliances targeted to specific audiences and industries, we provide leadership and resources that foster investment and job creation through business retention and development.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
TRI-STATE MANUFACTURERS’ ALLIANCE
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKFORCE, EDUCATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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BRAND AWARENESS & ENGAGEMENT
Supporting our innovative initiatives and projects is a bold brand that promotes and supports commerce in Southwest Indiana. In a 12-month span ending Sept. 30, 2016, event registration topped 10,000; net revenue from events climbed to over $167,000. Now, our members are more engaged than ever before with the Southwest Indiana Chamber brand. We’re movers and shakers for business in our region.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
AWARD ACHIEVEMENTS & EVENT ATTENDANCE
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | BRAND AWARENESS & ENGAGEMENT
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FINANCIALS & OPERATIONS The Southwest Indiana Chamber thrives through responsible financial management and streamlined operations. With support from more than 1,800 members, we deliver unmatched programming, host exceptional events, launch new member-focused initiatives, and advocate on behalf of the regional business community.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | FINANCIALS & OPERATIONS
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ALLIANCES & JPAC Alliances tailored for specific audiences create opportunities for manufacturers, young professionals, diverse businesses, the Posey County community, nonprofit organizations, family enterprises, and businesses and people of Downtown Evansville to connect with the Southwest Indiana Chamber. Business-friendly, community-minded candidates for elected positions are the focus of our Jobs for Southwestern Indiana Political Action Committee (JPAC).
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | ALLIANCES & JPAC
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CHAMBER STAFF CHRISTY GILLENWATER
JESSICA WILL
BRITTANY JOHNSON
JACOB JEWELL
President & CEO
Director of Marketing & Communications
Posey County Director
Accounting Assistant
ELLEN KNAPP
JUSTIN GROENERT
ABBY MARAVICH
ALLISON BORCHARD
Vice President & COO
Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Account Executive
Creative Specialist
MATT LUNDBERG
PAT CRON
Member Engagement Manager
Membership Coordinator
JOSHUA ARMSTRONG Downtown Alliance Director
KACINA SHANE Administrative Coordinator
DOUG CLAYBOURN Business Advisor, Southwest ISBDC
KARINA HAMPTON Office Coordinator, Southwest ISBDC
ASHLEY MURRAY Director of Events
KIM HOWARD Regional Director, Southwest ISBDC
PETE SABELLA Business Advisor, Southwest ISBDC
VICKI SCHMITT Executive Assistant
2015-16 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
TREASURER
VICE CHAIR, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Mulzer Crushed Stone, Inc
BKD, LLP
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc.
CHAIR -ELECT
VICE CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP
VICE CHAIR, BRAND AWARENESS
Old National Bank
Evansville Courier & Press
AlphaGraphics
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN
VICE CHAIR, ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY
PRESIDENT & CEO
F.C. Tucker Emge Realtors®
Energy Systems Group, LLC / Vectren Corp.
Southwest Indiana Chamber
SECRETARY
VICE CHAIR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
EVAN BECK
Atlas World Group
Hafer
JEFF MULZER
JIM SANDGREN
KATHY BRISCOE
GLEN DUNKERSON
KEITH MESSMER
JACK PATE
CHRISTINE KECK
JEFFREY JUSTICE
CONNIE WELLMEYER
LISA SLADE
CHRISTY GILLENWATER
Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc.
ADRIAN BROOKS Community Development Corp.
SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER
MARCO DELUCIO Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders, LLP
BETH McFADIN HIGGINS McFadin Higgins & Folz, LLP
GEORGE MORGAN CountryMark Cooperative, LLP
MIKE SCHOPMEYER Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP
JEFF DEIG Skanska
BRAD ELLSWORTH Vectren Corp.
2015-16 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALEXANDER ALFORD
DWIGHT HAMILTON
PEPPER MULHERIN
LINDA WHITE
Alcoa Warrick Operations
Fifth Third Bank
AT&T
Deaconess Health System
FRANK BAGALA
W. KERRY JACKSON
BILL NEWMAN
MAYOR LLOYD WINNECKE
SABIC Innovative Plastics
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
Posey County Committee
City of Evansville
STEVE BENNETT
DOUG JOEST
WILLIAM NEWMAN
LUKE YAEGER
CSB State Bank
Evansville Regional Airport
Posey County Committee
Commerce Bank
JUDY BUTCHER
DR. THOMAS KAZEE
MATTHEW NIX
TRACY ZELLER
American Electric Power | Rockport/TSMA
University of Evansville
Nix Companies
Tracy Zeller Enterprises, Inc.
JOSEPH CASTRALE
DR. TOM KOPATICH
MICHAEL O’DANIEL
SABIC Innovatice Plastics
MSD of Mt. Vernon
D-Patirck, Inc.
FARRAH CORBETT
RICHARD KUHN
DR. RONALD ROCHON
BWX Technologies
Efficient Engery Technologies LLC
Univeristy of Southern Indiana
SARAH DAUER
JOHN LAMB
JOHN ROHLMAN
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
German American Bank
Warehouse Services, Inc.
KYLE DODD
KRISTA LOCKYEAR
LAURA SCOTT
Banterra Bank
Jackson Kelly, PLLC
Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald & Hahn, LLP
BO DRAKE
LUKE LEDER
DR. DAVID SMITH
Ivy Tech Community College - Southwest
Valero Renewables - Mt. Vernon
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.
BILL GILLENWATER
DAVID MATTHEWS
TRUDY STOCK
BMG, Inc.
David Matthews & Associates
Harding, Shymanski & Company, P.S.C.
LAURA GOLIO
STACY McNEILL
TRENT VAN HAAFTEN
Mead Johnson Nutrition
Tropicana Evansville
Van Haaften & Farrar | Attorneys at Law
DOROS HADJISAVVA
BRAD MUEHLBAUER
ALFONSO VIDAL
Acropolis
Koch Air, LLC
Vidal Plastics
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT | CHAMBER STAFF, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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SIGNATURE PARTNERS
PIVOTAL PARTNERS
ELITE PARTNERS
EVANSVILLE
POSEY COUNTY
318 Main Street, Suite 401
915 E. 4th Street · PO Box 633
Evansville, IN 47708
Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
812-425-8147
812-838-3639
www.swinchamber.com