Valparaiso Magazine - Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce

VM
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E G R E AT E R VA L PA R A I S O C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Vol. 13 Issue 1 | Winter 2013
Valparaiso
Magazine
Chuck Worden
Lifetime Valparaiso Resident
GROWING
2012
A SALUTE TO
Leadership
800-727-6337 • www.nwicp.com
COVER
PAGE 4
GROWING
FEATURES
Valparaiso Magazine
VM
Vol. 13 | Issue 1
Winter 2013
PAGE 14
Valpo Chamber
Business Awards
PAGE 18
A Salute to Leadership
SECTIONS
PAGE 12
New Member Investors
New Board-approved members
A publication of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.
PAGE 17
162 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone (219) 462-1105, Fax (219) 462-5710
[email protected]
valparaisochamber.org
Business Snapshot
BridgePoint Church
PAGE 22
Business Snapshot
House of Fabian
GREATER VALPARAISO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Rex Richards, President
Julie Gaskell, Vice President, Operations
Danielle Oeding, Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Susan Antoszewski, Marketing &
Communications Specialist
Kurt Gillins, Programs Director
Christine Pazdur, Accounting Director
Sue Stymiest, Resource Director
PAGE 23
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE is published
quarterly by the Greater Valparaiso
Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 330,
Valparaiso, IN 46384-0330.
To submit “Around Town” entries,
call (219) 462-1105 or send to:
[email protected], Attn: Editor.
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE
Publisher: Rex Richards
Editor: Susan Antoszewski
Sales: Danielle Oeding
Design and Production: Morse + Harris Marketing
Cover/Feature Photography: Aran Kessler Photo.Imaging
Printing: Home Mountain Printing
Mailing: Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service
For advertising inquiries,
call (219) 462-1105, Attn: Danielle.
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE circulates
18,000 copies per issue by direct mail to
all businesses, and, on a rotating basis,
to most households in the 46383, 46384
and 46385 zip codes.
Subscriptions may be purchased
at an annual rate of $12, for those
outside our regular circulation.
Member Investor
Anniversaries
A showcase of members who have
demonstrated ongoing commitment
PAGE 24
Around Town
Local business news
PAGE 29
Business Snapshot
Locks of Fun
PAGE 31
Ask an Expert
“How Can I Provide the
Best Customer Service?”
PAGE 33
Business Spotlight
Advertisers in the spotlight
PAGE 34
Our Voice
“The Chamber Supports Vital Links
in Northwest Indiana”
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
valparaisochamber.org
www.valparaisochamber.org
3
GROWING
By Laurie Wink
Valparaiso is a vibrant, visionary,
values-based community created
by generations of civic-minded
residents, including the four
individuals profiled in this issue.
Their “can do” spirit and desire
to give back has been nurtured
by family members, local
business owners and nonprofit
organization leaders. Sharing
personal stories and thoughts
about what it has meant to grow
up in this close-knit community,
the quartet explains the reasons
they continue to call it home.
Chuck
WORDEN
Chuck Worden,
70, grew up in the
1940s. As a lad, he
remembers riding his
bike all over town.
He loved getting
a bowl of soup at
Harvey’s Dime Store
and going to the
Premier Theater downtown. “We got to see westerns
and several cartoons for a quarter,” he says.
Starting at Central School and continuing through old
Valparaiso High School, Worden says, “You just can’t
ask for better ‘growing up’ years.”
Chuck and his brother, Tom, were raised in a five-room
bungalow on Bush and Franklin Streets, a block south
of the Grand Trunk railroad tracks and two blocks
south of Tower Park. Their father, Dave Worden, was
a dispatcher for NIPSCO and mother, Wilma, was
a homemaker. Their parents played bridge, hosted
potlucks, and organized family-oriented activities that
didn’t require a lot of money, Worden recalls.
Worden learned the importance of helping people
from his mother and his maternal grandfather,
Vernon Beach.
4
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
“My grandfather was a county councilman and Center
Township trustee,” he says. “My mother was involved
with the Republican Women’s Club and did a lot of
volunteer work. Our family was always involved in
our church also.”
Worden married Marian Pulver, the daughter of
Valparaiso natives Robert and Ruth Pulver. She went
to high school in Manila, where her father worked
for Exxon, and then attended Valparaiso University.
Worden was a marketing major at Indiana University
when he became reacquainted with Marian at a July
4th party. Taking her for a spin in his hot ’59 Ford
convertible – black with a red-and-white interior –
“VALPARAISO’S
GROWTH WAS A
TEAM EFFORT AND
STILL IS TODAY. IT’S
A FAMILY-ORIENTED
COMMUNITY,
A HELPINGONE-ANOTHER
COMMUNITY, A
SERVICE-ORIENTED
COMMUNITY.”
­—Chuck Worden
Chuck recalls, “I knew I kinda liked
her but I was focused on graduating
from college.”
After completing his studies in
January 1965, Worden returned
to Valparaiso and married Marian.
Their daughter, Patricia, was born
the following year, and Carole
came along three years later.
Both daughters are married and live
in Fort Wayne and Murfreesboro,
Tenn., respectively.
Worden was on the city council for
eight years and ran (unsuccessfully)
for mayor in 1983. Although that
ended his political career, it didn’t
stop his drive to serve the community
in other ways. He’s been active in
a host of organizations, including
the Valpo Jaycees, Valpo Chamber,
Rotary, the YMCA, Spring Valley/
Housing Opportunities, the Board of
Realtors and the Historical Society.
Worden’s forte is fundraising. “I
seem to have a knack for raising a
few bucks,” he says. “You have to
believe in the organization you work
for. When you believe in what you’re
doing, it’s easy to sit down and talk
about the needs of that group.”
For several years, Worden served
on the Town and Gown committee
at the request of the mayor.
Representatives of the city and
Valparaiso University discussed
projects and issues of mutual interest
in an effort to bridge the gap between
community and campus. >>
www.valparaisochamber.org
5
UpValpo
GROWING
“WHAT’S BEEN
REALLY COOL IS
THAT THE LEADERS OF
THE CITY HAVE DONE A
GREAT JOB OF BRINGING
THE DOWNTOWN TO
LIFE. IT’S ALWAYS BEEN
NICE BUT THEY’VE
BROUGHT IT TO A
WHOLE NEW LEVEL.”
­—Debbie Anselm
>> “When I was a kid, you didn’t go up
to the hill,” he said. “You hardly knew
the university was there. There was
very little back and forth.”
Worden learned volunteerism from men
he worked with during the ‘60s, ‘70s
and ‘80s. The first was Clair Maxwell
at the Western Auto store, where
he worked during high school. At the
Oxford Shop, he worked with Chuck
Heppner. “He was involved in church,
the park board, Rotary, and more I’m
sure,” Worden said.
As a real estate professional, Worden
learned from John Wiggins, a former
high school teacher and coach. “He
was a great mentor in the classroom
and in the real estate office and politics
too,” Worden said. After that, Harley
6
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
Snyder led by example. “He was a
great organizer for large projects.”
photographed the evolving downtown
landscape over several decades.
In banking, Worden was influenced
by leaders such as Joe Bibler,
Les Robinson, Pete Candela,
Mike Schrage and Jim Ellsworth.
He recalls having quality experiences
with others, including Charlie Bowman,
Jim McGill, Len Ellis, and Alan Harre.
During a recent visit to the Valpo
Chamber building, he pointed across
Lincolnway at buildings from the late
1800s and 1900s and noted the various
businesses that had occupied them
over the years.
“They all gave me the time to devote
to many community projects, large and
small,” Worden says. “These folks laid
the foundation for the city we know
today and made it easy for new kids like
me to help do what we could to keep
‘community’ going strong in Valpo.”
Worden worked for five businesses on
Lincolnway during his diverse career in
retail, real estate, and banking and has
Worden is proud of today’s bustling
downtown business district, with its
mélange of shops, restaurants, and
entertainment options.
“We’ve been working on that the last
several years,” he explains. “There was
a time when there were more vacancies
downtown. But now we have a mix
of restaurants and more people are
working downtown. It’s a destination
and people are talking about what’s
happening. And the park is wonderful.”
Worden emphasized that no single person has been
responsible for the community’s growth and vitality.
“Valparaiso was not built on ‘I, I, me, me,’” he said.
“It was a team effort and still is today. It’s a familyoriented community, a helping-one-another community,
a service-oriented community.”
Since retiring from Centier Bank three years ago,
Worden passionately pursues golf, reading, and
painting. If it’s not fun, he isn’t doing it. He’s happy
to play nine holes with friends and, especially,
his grandsons. He devours mysteries rather than
business-related material. “I don’t read anything too
deep,” he chuckles. “I don’t have to do that anymore.”
And he’s discovered a talent for painting that has
been nurtured by artist Susan Young. Worden paints
mostly landscapes for family members, charity
auctions, and individual clients.
For Worden, two lines from the Jaycee Creed
he learned years ago continue to guide his life:
“Service to humanity is the best work of life,”
and “Faith in God gives meaning and purpose
to human life.”
Debbie ANSELM
Debbie Anselm, Porter County general manager of
The Times Media Company, moved to Valparaiso
from Merrillville when she was seven years old.
Her extended family is deeply rooted in the region.
Grandfather Eugene Swartz was Mayor of the City of
Gary in the late ‘40s.
Anselm grew up in the Concord Woods and Oakwood
subdivisions in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and has
fond memories of spending time with family friends,
many of whom she still sees. She’s the oldest child in
a blended family of seven and her siblings all live within
an hour’s drive of Valpo.
“Valparaiso has always felt like home,” she says.
“It was a place where you knew your neighbors and
people in the larger community were neighborly.”
She attended St. Paul’s Catholic School through eighth
grade and spent a lot of time with friends at Harvey’s
Dime Store. “They had a big candy counter and with
25 cents you could get a good sized sampling,” she
said, adding she was also fond of french fries and
chocolate shakes. Other downtown draws were the
Premier Theater and Lowenstein’s Department Store.
During high school, she hung out at Greek’s Pizzeria,
owned by the Karamasines family, and Valpo Velvet,
owned by her classmate Mike Brown’s family. “After
high school basketball games, everybody would
go to Tony’s,” Anselm recalls.
She enjoys seeing her children having fun downtown
with their friends. “What’s been really cool is that the
leaders of the city have done a great job of bringing
the downtown to life. It’s always been nice but they’ve
brought it to a whole new level, especially with Central
Park Plaza.”
Anselm graduated from Valparaiso High School in
1981 and earned a bachelor’s degree in public affairs
from Indiana University in 1986. After briefly living in
Indianapolis, she took a job at the Valparaiso YMCA,
where she established the gymnastics program.
Six years later, she became marketing director of
Benchmark Ltd., a real estate development company.
“I was fortunate to have people willing to give me
opportunities along the way. When I think back about
people that influenced my professional development,
Bill Anderson, Barb Young, and Bill Masterson
immediately come to mind.”
Her husband, Scott Anselm, is a local boy with strong
family ties to the community. He was a standout on the
Valparaiso University basketball team and now works
in sales for Luke Oil Company.
“We knew we wanted to stay here,” Anselm says.
“Scott had job opportunities in other places but when
we thought about our values – family, a strong sense
of community – it was pretty clear that we wanted to
do everything we could to stay here.”
The couple has three children: Alissa, 16, a sophomore
at Valparaiso High School; Zach, 13, an eighth grader
at Ben Franklin Middle School; and Emma, 6, a first
grader at Cooks Corners Elementary School. The
family likes living in a university town, where they enjoy
basketball games, VU’s Christopher Center Library,
the Brauer Art Museum and special events on campus.
Anselm’s life of service is rooted in family. Her
step-father, Roger Shurr, was a children’s dentist
who volunteered his services to families in need.
Her mother, Judie Shurr, was active in Tri Kappa, the
women’s service organization. Anselm has been a
devoted Tri Kappa for over 20 years, and now serves
as president of the local chapter. She’s served on
committees and boards of the Valpo Chamber, the
Porter Starke Foundation, the YMCA, the Valparaiso>>
www.valparaisochamber.org
7
UpValpo
GROWING
>> Park Foundation, the American Cancer Society
and PTA. She’s baked lots of cookies and raised a lot
of “dough” through fundraisers.
“I enjoy volunteering,” she says. “My family
volunteers a lot. We’re trying to instill that same
sense in our kids. Being involved is critical. It’s
what makes a home town your home town. We
have a responsibility to make it the great place
we think it is.”
Anselm sees the same community spirit she grew
up with in today’s mix of established and new families
in Valparaiso.
“The willingness to say ‘hello’ and reach out a hand,
makes this a great place to be,” she said. “People
in Valpo share a common vision of a welcoming
community that puts its best foot forward
and makes the best of what it has.”
George
DOUGLAS
George Douglas, general manager of Indiana
Beverage, Inc. has lived in Valparaiso all of his life,
except for college and three years in South Bend.
“I think Valpo is just a great place,” he said. “Growing
up here was a lot of fun. Like most kids, I enjoyed
having a lot of family and friends around. I also
liked being near Lake Michigan and Chicago. It’s a
wonderful location.”
Douglas was raised in the ‘70s and ‘80s with
three brothers and a sister, who still lives in town.
“I grew up in the area near downtown and
I remember getting my allowance and spending
the day downtown.”
His mother, Mary Rose, worked at J.C. Penney and
Denise’s downtown and still lives in Valparaiso.
His father was a Porter County Superior Court judge
from 1972 until his death in 1989, when George
was 21. The legacy his father left was a strong work
ethic, a sense of fairness and justice, and a belief that
“we’re all good people.” “My dad always said,
‘Don’t judge people until you’ve walked a mile in
their shoes,’” he adds.
Douglas met his wife, Julie Bodensteiner, when they
worked at General Cinema during high school. He
laughs when he recalls that they were dating each
other’s best friends before becoming sweethearts.
8
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
Douglas graduated from Valparaiso High School
in 1986. “After high school, I was anxious to bust
out,” he says. “What I didn’t see as a kid were the
opportunities I see today. Part of it was youthfulness.
It’s not until you start raising a family that you think
of values.”
Douglas received a B.S. in political science and
history from Purdue University in 1990. After
college, he was a case manager at Bradley Center,
a residential community corrections program in
Michigan City. In 1995, he became the City of
Valparaiso assistant city planner and economic
development planner. From 2002 until 2005, he was
operations manager for Natural Ovens and then joined
Indiana Beverage.
George and Julie married in 1992 and have three
children: Madeleine, 17, a junior at Valparaiso High
School; Sam, 15, a sophomore; and Sarah, 10, a fifth
grader at Central Elementary School. Julie graduated
from Purdue with a journalism degree, and then
completed law school at Notre Dame. After practicing
law, she started a photography business and also
teaches legal writing at Notre Dame.
Ivan and Pat Bodensteiner, Julie’s parents, live two
blocks away from the Douglas home and her sister,
Jill, lives in South Bend.
“When we thought about raising a family, all the
values and close family ties in town made it a natural
choice to come back here,” Douglas said.
He learned about community leadership and service
at his first job as a delivery boy for Sievers Pharmacy,
where he came to admire Paul Schreiner and Dick
Brychell. “I have enjoyed working with great people
in a number of different businesses and not-for-profit
organizations. They have taught me so much
about respect, compassion and commitment.
People always make the difference in every business
and organization.”
Douglas serves as treasurer of the YMCA and is a
board member of the Northwest Indiana Forum; PACT
Inc., which operates Michigan City’s Bradley Center;
and the Valparaiso Schools Foundation. He also is
a member of the Workforce Investment Board of the
Center of Workforce Innovations.
“I’ve been given an opportunity to continue to serve,”
he said. “The sense of giving back is strong in
the community. You find a cause and you’ll find a
group willing to jump in (to help).”
“I THINK THERE’S
AN OVERALL HUGE
SENSE OF PRIDE AND
OWNERSHIP WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY.
IT’S NOT ONE
PARTICULAR GROUP
THAT’S DRIVING THE
VISION. IT’S NOT
ONE INDIVIDUAL’S
PLAN. IT’S A
COMMUNITY PLAN.”
­—George Douglas
Like the others, Douglas is
enthusiastic about the enhanced
downtown environment, citing
the two community theaters,
mix of restaurants and Central
Park Plaza, which he calls “a
phenomenal asset.” He credits
the city’s Redevelopment
Commission with making
important investments in
infrastructure and he values
the amenities available through
Valparaiso University, including
sporting events, cultural
programs, and the Brauer
Art Museum.
“I think there’s an overall huge
sense of pride and ownership
within the community,” Douglas
says. “It’s not one particular
group that’s driving the vision.
It’s not one individual’s plan.
It’s a community plan.”
Clay
PATTON
Attorney Clay Patton, of Osan &
Patton, LLP, has spent most of
his 40 years living in Valparaiso.
He grew up with older brother,
Todd, in Center Township in a
house his parents, Jim and Jean
Patton, built on Goodrich Road.
They still live there. His 87-yearold grandmother and an aunt,
uncle and cousins live
in the area as well.
Patton’s parents were born and
raised in Northwest Indiana.
His father was a steelworker
and his mother worked in the
travel industry for 30 years and
owned World Travel Unlimited.
His parents chose to live in
Valparaiso, Patton said, because
they found a large piece of land
here to build a house, it was
close to his father’s work and the
school system was first rate. >>
www.valparaisochamber.org
9
UpValpo
GROWING
“... THE MOVE
[BACK] TO
VALPO WAS A
GOOD ONE. THE
COMMUNITY
HAS A CERTAIN
SOMETHING
THAT ATTRACTS
PEOPLE.”
­—Clay Patton
>> As a kid, Patton remembers
riding his bike to RogersLakewood Park. He spent a lot of
time downtown at Tony’s Place
and Sievers Drug Store. Another
favorite pastime was going to the
movies at County Seat Plaza, and
then hanging out at Shakey’s pizza.
During high school, Patton worked
in the produce department at Town
and Country grocery store and
then delivered flowers for Schultz
Floral Shop.
“On Friday and Saturday,
teenagers would cruise up and
down Lincolnway from the Post
Office to the 7-11. The street was
clogged,” he recalls.
Patton graduated from Valparaiso
High School in 1990. He earned a
B.A. in criminal justice from Indiana
University in 1994 and a J.D. from
IU’s Robert McKinney School of
Law in Indianapolis in 1999. Patton
met his wife, Jeri Pat Gabbert,
while living in Indianapolis and the
couple moved to Valpo nine years
ago, when she joined Valparaiso
University’s Office of Institutional
Advancement. Recently, she
was named Vice Chancellor for
Advancement & External Affairs at
Indiana University Northwest.
Patton and Gabbert have two
daughters: Alexandra, 7, and
Caroline, 4. The quality of life here
was a big draw for the couple.
“We realized the move to Valpo
was a good one,” Patton says.
“Raising children in a big city such
as Indy, there are a lot of things
you have to consider, such as child
care, schools, and the expense of
those things.”
Patton says he continually runs
into former Valpo residents who
have moved back. The community
has a certain something that
attracts people, he notes.
10
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
“I don’t know what it is about the community that makes
it that way, but it seems to always have had it.”
Like others who grew up in Valpo, Patton has been
immersed in serving and giving back to the community he
loves. One of the people who had a profound influence
on him personally and professionally was Judge Bill
Alexa, of Porter County Superior Court 2. Alexa lived
down the street from Patton’s boyhood friends, so he
was aware of the accomplished attorney who ran for the
State Senate.
Grow.
We can help.
“Bill was probably the first attorney I really knew,” said
Patton, who kept in touch with Alexa over the years.
When Patton decided to return to Valpo to practice law,
he asked Alexa to help him network for jobs.
“I was honored to be the treasurer of his re-election
campaigns in 2006 and 2012,” Patton adds.
Patton is a member of the Valpo Noon Kiwanis group;
vice president of the Valparaiso Schools Foundation
Board; past president of the Porter County Bar
Association; and previously served as a trustee of the
Family & Youth Services Bureau.
Michigan City • Chicago • Indianapolis
219-879-4276
www.morseandharris.com
Like those before him, Patton is teaching his oldest
daughter, Alexandra, to appreciate the benefits and
opportunities she has in life, rather than taking them for
granted, and to give back.
“She’s energetic about her school fundraisers and
enjoyed helping serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local
Salvation Army,” Patton said.
Patton is proud of the community’s commitment to
creating an attractive environment for young families.
His wife, Jeri Pat, serves on the Board of Valparaiso
Community Festivals and Events that plans family
friendly activities, such as movie night in Central
Park Plaza.
“Thirty years ago, there wasn’t that kind of resource to
bring the community together,” he says. “The Popcorn
Festival was in its infancy.”
Collectively, the quartet of Worden, Anselm,
Douglas, and Patton spans seven decades of growing
up in Valpo. Amidst the community changes and the
fond memories of days gone by, one comment is
constant: Valparaiso is a place that keeps getting better,
largely because of the people that nurture and care
for it. Generation after generation. VM
www.valparaisochamber.org
11
NEW MEMBER INVESTORS
Welcome Members
The Valpo Chamber welcomes Board-approved new members who joined during
September, October, and November 2012.
Interested in joining the largest and most active chamber in Northwest Indiana?
Contact Danielle Oeding at (219) 462-1105 or [email protected]
n Agusti MD
60 S Valparaiso St
477-5751
Dr. Jose L. Agusti
Health & Wellness Products & Services
Physicians & Surgeons
Skin Care Products & Services
www.agustimd.com
___________________________________
n Best Servers LLC
1581 E 90th Pl, Ste D
Merrillville, 46410
756-5280
Peter Jordan
Computer Networking/Products/
Services/Training
www.bestserversllc.net
___________________________________
n Caribbean Pools Inc.
3900 Murvihill Rd
299-2997
John Bartolomeo
Pools
www.caribbeanpools.com
___________________________________
n Comprehensive Care
Occupational Medicine
Specialists
7501 W 15th Ave
Gary, 46406
427-5927
Gladys Salas
Occupational Health
Physical Therapy
www.compcareonline.com
___________________________________
n Endodontic & Periodontic
Associates, Ltd.
502 Wall St, Ste 103
462-8008
Darlette Porebski
Dentists
www.endoperio.com
___________________________________
n Epic Limo, Inc.
4601 Murvihill Rd, Ste 3
462-5466
Brian Sheely
Transportation Services
www.epiclimoinc.com
___________________________________
n Grass is Always Greener
3305 Clairborne Crossing,
46385
241-6662
Doug Walls
Landscape Design/Products/Services/
Supplies
Snow Removal
12
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
n Hasse Construction Co.
PO Box 300
Calumet City, IL 60409
932-1611
Fred Armstrong
Construction
www.hasseconstruction.com
___________________________________
n Healing Arts Center
2307 LaPorte Ave, Ste 4
510-5623
Renee Kimberling, N.D.
Health & Wellness Products & Services
www.healingartsvalpo.com
___________________________________
n Holley’s Landscaping LLC
651 Axe Ave
299-2768
Thomas Holley
Landscape Design/Products/Services/
Supplies
___________________________________
n Hoosier Chiropractor
259 Indiana Ave, Ste 53
286-2565
Dr. Brian Hold
Chiropractors
www.hoosierchiro.com
___________________________________
n Horizon Gymnastics &
Cheer Academy
1254 Horse Prairie Ave
477-6542
Jodi Nylin
Gymnastics/Cheerleading Instruction
www.horizongymnasticscenter.com
___________________________________
n In Touch Pharmaceuticals
1150 Eastport Centre Dr
(877) 464-7055
Jason Borlick
Medical
www.intouchpharma.com
___________________________________
n Interlogic Outsourcing,
Inc.
25325 Leer Dr
Elkhart, 46515
(574) 262-2800
Stacey Moody
Payroll Processing
www.ioipay.com
___________________________________
n JC Global Supply
537 Karcio Ct
Pullman, WA 99163
(866) 578-9992
Janice M. Chau
Office Equipment/Services/Products/
Furniture
www.jcglobalsupply.com
n Katherine Murray
Photography, LLC
225 S 13th St
Chesterton, 46304
(310) 463-9542
Katherine Murray
Photography Studios/Supplies
www.katemurrayphotography.com
___________________________________
n Lola’s
1008 Evans Ave
531-1200
James Hagberg
Salons/Spas
www.lolassalon.com
___________________________________
n Main Street Motors
1059 West St, 46385
299-2075
John Klisurich
Auto Dealers-New, Used, & Specialty
www.mainstreetmotors.org
___________________________________
n Meeting Achievements,
Inc.
232 E 500 N
465-1115
Polly Rossi
Meeting Management
Special Event Planning/Products/Services
www.meetingachievements.com
___________________________________
n Nana Clare’s Kitchen
3907 Calumet Ave #106
286-3645
Gina Zieniewicz
Meal Preparation/Commercial Kitchen
www.nanaclares.com
___________________________________
n Northwest Fireplace &
Chimney, LLC
413-2349
Octavio De La Vega
Chimney Service & Sweep
www.nwfireplaceandchimney.com
___________________________________
n Paul Wurth, Inc.
2800 E Evans Ave
756-1061
Mike Gluszewski
Manufacturing/Industrial
www.paulwurth.com
___________________________________
n Petey’s Gyros
255 Morthland Dr
548-2233
Pete Poulos
Restaurants
www.peteysgyros.com
n Pure Skin LLC Medi-Spa
2500 Calumet Ave
743-5778
Jeane M Ziegler, RN
Skin Care Products & Services
www.pureskinllc.com
___________________________________
n Seven Peaks Waterpark
Duneland
150 E US Hwy 20
Porter, 46304
801-420-2186
Matthew Phair
Recreation
Tourism
www.sevenpeaks.com/
waterparkduneland/home.aspx
___________________________________
n Sheree Warnke State Farm
201 Morthland Dr, Ste 1
465-0848
Sheree Warnke
Insurance
___________________________________
n T-Mobile Valparaiso
2910 S Calumet Ave
299-2974
Antonio Ruiz Jr.
Cellular Phones
www.tmobilevalpo.com
___________________________________
n Wagner Architecture
54 Indiana Ave
531-2468
Brent Wagner
Architects
www.wagnerarchitecture.net
___________________________________
n Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
751 E Porter Ave, Ste 6
Chesterton, 46304
926-5548
Clifford E. Bryan
Financial Advisors
www.wellsfargoadvisors.com
___________________________________
n Wings Aviation, Inc.
4601 Murvihill Rd, Ste 5
462-6622
Brian Sheely
Aircraft Charter/Instruction/Lease/
Rental
All addresses are in the 46383 zip
code and phone numbers are 219
area code unless otherwise indicated.
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www.valparaisochamber.org
13
VALPO CHAMBER
Business Awards
Two Valpo Chamber businesses were honored with the Valpo Chamber
Business Awards at the Salute to Leadership dinner on Saturday, January 12.
100
75
These awards are designed to recognize Valpo Chamber member businesses
that have endured longevity of 50, 75, or 100 years.
YEARS
Valpo | Dyer | Homewood | Oak Lawn | Orland Park | Joliet | Bourbonnais
502 Wall Street, Suite 103
Valparaiso • 219-462-8008
14
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
YEARS
· Root Canal Therapy
· Gum Disease Treatment
· Dental Implants
· Cosmetic Periodontic Surgery
www.endoperio.com
Valparaiso Health Center
of St. Mary Medical Center
Join us for a public OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, January 26
11 am - 3 pm
Valparaiso Health Center Services:
Immediate Care Center - Open 7 days, 8 am - 8 pm
Clinical Laboratory
MRI, 64-slice CT, X-ray, Ultrasound
3D Digital Mammography with Same Day Results
Bone Densitometry
Outpatient Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy
Bariatric/Weight Loss Services
Physician Specialists in: Functional Medicine, Internal Medicine,
Podiatry, OB/GYN Services, Neurology, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology,
Urology, Ear/Nose/Throat, General Surgery, and Cardiology
Extraordinary Care, right in your neighborhood!
Near the corner of SR-49 & Burlington Beach Road
Community Healthcare System
ST. MARY
Medical Center
Hobart, Indiana
www.comhs.org
Find a St. Mary Medical Center
physician near you!
Call toll-free 1-866-836-3477
www.valparaisochamber.org
15
The first step toward preventing a heart attack is to know
you’re at risk for one. And a great way to find out is with
Porter Regional Hospital’s free online heart risk assessment.
It only takes around seven minutes, but it can provide
you and your doctor with information that may improve
your heart health and potentially prevent a heart attack.
Don’t take a chance. Take our free assessment today.
take our free heart risk assessment
at PorterheaLth.com/heartaWare or
caLL 800-453-2330 to scheduLe your free
assessment in Person With our screener.
when it comes to heart disease,
the biggest risk is not knowing you’re at risk.
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12/17/12 1:48 PM
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16
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
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Contact us at 888-999-3639 or IvyTech.edu/CorporateCollege.
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BUSINESS SNAPSHOT
BridgePoint Church
105 N Washington St, Valparaiso
Telephone: (219) 477-4207
Website: www.bridgepointchurch.info
Management: Jeff Cagwin, Pastor
Chamber Member since: 2009
BridgePoint Church exists to help people
know Christ and become all that God has
made them to be. BridgePoint warmly
welcomes all to its downtown facility –
the former YMCA – for worship on
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. There, attendees
will find a casual and comfortable environment
with contemporary music, relevant teaching,
and great programs for kids.
In addition to gathering for
worship, BridgePoint groups
meet weekly in homes
and give back by
volunteering in the
community. BridgePoint
hopes to meet you soon!
3/15/12 12:10 PM
“I trust Dr. Hyde to make
sure my smile reflects my
business confidence.”
Make Your First Impression
Your Best Impression
From clear aligners, retainers, and today’s braces,
Dr. Hyde will recommend the treatment plan that
meets your needs and fits your lifestyle.
Photo by Aran
Kessler Photo.
Imaging
Featured Chamber
member business
chosen at random.
Schedule Your
Consultation Today!
219.462.3537
orthobyhyde.com
Jeff Cagwin, Pastor
www.valparaisochamber.org
17
CHAMBER FOCUS
A SALUTE TO
2012
Leadership
T
By Laurie Wink
The Valpo Chamber hosted its annual Salute to Leadership dinner on Saturday, January 12, where the Chamber Board of
Directors honored Jonathan Nalli, CEO of Porter Health Care System, with the 2012 Distinguished Community Leader
Award, the highest recognition the Chamber bestows on an individual member of the business community.
Recipients are selected based on: demonstrated leadership; active involvement in the greater Valparaiso business
community; reputation among business leaders; success in promoting business and industry development; overall
contributions to the community and its quality of life; and professional activities.
Rob Thorgren, vice president of Thorgren Tool & Molding Co., was awarded the 2012 Legacy of Service Award. The award
recognizes individuals in the community who, over time or under extraordinary circumstances, have given service to the
community above and beyond what is expected in their profession. Recipients have created a legacy of community service
and serve as an example for others to emulate.
Both Nalli and Thorgren were nominated for the awards by their Chamber peers.
JONATHAN NALLI
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY LEADER
Jonathan Nalli, 37, a native of Kentucky, moved to
Valparaiso in May 2007 becoming interim CEO of Porter
Hospital. He was named permanent CEO later that year.
He’s at the helm of a health care system that has more than
2,000 employees, making it the second largest employer
in Porter County. Under his leadership, the area’s health care
system has expanded to include the latest technologies and
more than 45 new physicians.
Nalli was nominated for the prestigious honor by Dave
Rose, Porter County president of Horizon Bank, who noted,
“In just a few short years, Jonathan personally immersed
himself into the Valparaiso community in numerous activities
that provide significant community development.”
“Many Valparaiso organizations have received benefits from
the leadership that exists through Porter Hospital that did
not exist a few years ago,” adds Rose.
Nalli is a member of the Valparaiso Chamber board and
executive committee; chaired the United Way 2011
campaign; is a board member of the Porter County
Community Foundation; a member of the Porter County
Redevelopment Commission; serves on the Purdue
18
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
University North Central Advisory Committee and is a
member of the Valparaiso Rotary.
Nalli said he was “in a state of shock” and rendered
speechless when he found out he was named the 2012
Distinguished Community Leader. “When I look at the list
of previous recipients, these people have spent a great deal
of time in Valpo,” he says. “Their contributions have been
phenomenal.”
“Words cannot describe what it feels like to be considered
a peer in that category,” Nalli adds. “This is one of the most
prestigious awards any organization in the county awards to
people. So even to be considered is honor enough.”
Jonathan and Cathleen Nalli are the parents of three-and-ahalf-year-old Jonathan and two-year-old Delaney. Cathleen
taught at Hayes Leonard Elementary School before taking
time off to stay home with their children. She is involved with
the Boys & Girls Club, the United Way and Tri Kappa.
Moving here required a leap of faith that has paid off,
Nalli says.
“The community welcomed us with open arms,” Nalli
explains. We have made this our home and our children are
now Indiana Hoosiers. We feel the need to pay forward all
the opportunities given to us.” >>
“This is one
of the most
prestigious
awards any
organization
in the county
awards to
people. So
even to be
considered is
honor enough.”
­— Jonathan Nalli
www.valparaisochamber.org
19
CHAMBER FOCUS • A SALUTE TO LEADERSHIP 2012
>>
ROB THORGREN
LEGACY OF SERVICE
Rob Thorgren isn’t the kind of person who is comfortable being
singled out for special recognition. But he said it’s nice to be
selected by the Chamber for this year’s Legacy of Service Award.
“I’m really a Valpo guy and any time I can help the city I love,
I’m all for it,” he says.
Deb Koeppen, vice president chief development officer,
Valparaiso Family YMCA, agrees. “If there were a ‘Mr. Valpo,’
Rob would be first in our book!”
Koeppen explains he was instrumental in getting a new facility
for the YMCA. “This young man, when he started on the board,
became very engaged,” she says. “He chaired the Building
Committee and was immersed in the entire process. He watched
contractors every day. The YMCA really was his second home.”
In addition to serving on the YMCA board, Rob has chaired,
co-chaired, and been division leader of the YMCA Annual
Campaign; served on the Capital Campaign Task Force and
other task forces; helped create the highly successful Jazz &
Blues Fest, a fundraising event now in its seventh year; and
regularly volunteers for special events.
“I’m really
a Valpo guy
and any
time I can
help the city
I love, I’m
all for it.”
­— Rob Thorgren
Thorgren’s deep connection with the YMCA began in childhood,
when he and his sister, Courtney and brothers, Tyler and Charlie,
spent considerable time there with their father, the late Robert
G. Thorgren Jr., who passed away in March. As a long-time
philanthropist and benefactor, his father left a legacy of community
service for Rob to follow, as well as the challenge of managing
the third generation manufacturing and distribution firm started
in 1946 by Rob’s grandfather, Robert G. Thorgren Sr.
“I’m filling some big shoes and I’m very humbled by the honor,”
Rob says.
Thorgren, 35, grew up in Valparaiso and graduated from Indiana
University with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He intended to
become a physical education teacher and coach but was pulled
into the family business 13 years ago. Since then, he’s helped
expand the business by creating new manufacturing facilities in
China and Mexico and he frequently travels internationally.
Thorgren finds time to serve on the Valparaiso Schools
Foundation board of directors and is the incoming president.
Spending time with family is a high priority for Rob and his wife,
Natalie, who have two sons, Bo, 10, and Sam, 5. The family
enjoys the YMCA and Rob coaches his sons’ Pop Warner
football teams, another tradition he learned from his father.
“My Dad always coached all of our teams when we were
younger,” Rob said. “They were some of the most quality times
we had with him and I’m sure my kids will remember that as
I do.” VM
20
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
Indiana’s largest
privately-owned bank.
Member FDIC
1-888-CentIer | CentIer.Com
mike Schrage
Centier President & Ceo
2405 EAST US 30
VALPARAISO, INDIANA 46383
RESERVATIONS 219-462-5121
BANQUETS 219-531-0162
BAKERY 219-464-8643
www.valparaisochamber.org
21
BUSINESS SNAPSHOT
House of Fabian
3510 Calumet Ave, Valparaiso
Telephone: (219) 462-1458
Website: www.valparaisoflorist.com
Management: Patrick Fabian, Owner
Chamber Member since: 2012
Since 1978, the Fabian name has been
synonymous with quality, beauty, and creativity
in floral designs. House of Fabian also offers an
extensive collection of unique accessories, gifts,
and treasures from home and abroad. Whether
you are celebrating a birthday or a baby, Fabian
floral designers have the artist’s touch, bringing
imaginative, one-of-a-kind arrangements that will
show how much you care. House of Fabian has
been pleasing brides for 34 years and can help
with event planning, graduations, individualized
funeral displays – you name it.
Nothing is too large
or too small – a
simple boutonniere
to grand entry hall
arrangements are
all within your
reach at House
of Fabian.
BCC
BURKE COSTANZA & CARBERRY LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Advisors you want. Advocates you need.
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VOTED 2012 & 2011 BEST
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ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS
by the readers of
Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly
Photo by Aran
Kessler Photo.
Imaging
Featured Chamber
member business
chosen at random.
Patrick Fabian, Owner
22
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
THANK YOU!
9191 Broadway | Merrillville, IN 46410 | t. 219.769.1313 | f. 219.769.6806
156 Washington St. | Valparaiso, IN 46383 | t. 219.531.0134 | www.bcclegal.com
MEMBER INVESTOR
ANNIVERSARIES
Your Local Print Connection
Produced by Members
of Your Community
The Valpo Chamber is proud to showcase
our members who have demonstrated an
ongoing commitment to our organization and
to the business community. We applaud and
appreciate your dedication. The following
milestone anniversaries occurred in the first
quarter of 2013.
219.462.6601 • www.homemountain.com
25 Years
3602 Enterprise Avenue • Valparaiso, IN
Don Quijote Restaurante
Midwest Insurance Agency
MP_ValpoMag Ad Jan2013.indd 1
12/27/12 3:07 PM
20 Years
David’s Mens Clothier
Elwood Staffing Services, Inc.
M&S Collision Center, Inc.
15 Years
Paul Jankowski
888.846.6860 / 219.465.0844
Barile Ford, Inc.
10 Years
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.midwestinsurance.net
Chandana Pointe Apartments
Paul Jankowski is an independent authorized agent in Indiana for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Anthem Blue
Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. An independent licensee of the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols
are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
5 Years
Bart Vickery & Co. Real Estate
Duffy’s Place
Hines Plumbing, Inc.
Holladay Properties
Martin Security Systems, Inc.
McMillan Law Offices, PC
National CineMedia
Pak Mail
Peoples Bank
Realty Executives
Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Inc.
Vogelsang Asset Management LLC
Wayne Welter
Horizon Bank
Congratulates
Jonathan Nalli
Congratulations Jonathan
for being recognized as the
2012 Distinguished Community Leader.
Preventive Care | Dentistry | Surgical Care
Dog Training | Boarding | Wildlife Rehab | And More
M•A•H
Well deserved!
PET HEALTH CARE FOR
CATS, DOGS & EXOTICS
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A NASDAQ Traded Company — Symbol HBNC
E X C E P T I O N A L
S E R V I C E
•
S E N S I B L E
A D V I C E
219-462-5901
651 Eastport Centre Dr.,Valparaiso www.mcafeeah.com
®
www.valparaisochamber.org
23
AROUND TOWN
Around Town
is an important
element to the local
business coverage of
Valparaiso Magazine.
Submissions by
chamber member
businesses are
given preference.
Articles are business
announcements –
i.e. awards, new
additions to staff
or promotion of
title, and change of
business location.
Sales promotions,
advertisements, or
coupon ads may not
be accepted. Around
Town submissions
must be 130 words
or less, are subject
to approval, and may
be edited.
To submit Around Town entries,
call (219) 462-1105 or send to
[email protected]
Attn: Editor.
24
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
Donna Rucks, CFP, is
proud to announce her new
franchise, 360 refresh®, an
exclusive service for women
who are thinking about divorce,
in the process of divorce, or in
post-divorce. The goal of 360
refresh® is to empower women
by providing the knowledge
and resources necessary to
regain control of their lives.
360 refresh® helps prepare
women to better manage their
current situations and the
challenges of the next phases
of their lives by providing
unique, personalized divorce
assistance including the
following areas: psychological,
physical, financial, selfimprovement and career.
For additional information,
visit www.360refresh.com/
duneland.
————————————
Calvary Church of
Valparaiso recently released
“Mighty Fortress,” its first
worship album. The album
was recorded live on Sunday
mornings and produced
through the church’s in-house
studio. Musicians featured on
the album are all part of the
Calvary Church community.
“Mighty Fortress,” sold
through the Calvary Church
office located at 1325 Evans
Avenue, is also available
on iTunes. Calvary offers
a contemporary worship
experience and relevant
expository preaching to
nearly 1000 worshippers. For
more information, visit www.
calvaryweb.net.
————————————
The agents and staff at
Century 21 Alliance
Group congratulate Jeanne
Sommer on her recent
Woman-Owned Business
of the Year award. The
award was presented by
the Northwest Indiana Small
Business Development
Center at the 21st Annual
Entrepreneurial Excellence
Awards. This honor recognizes
Sommer’s passion, positive
attitude, and commitment
to the community – qualities
that have been essential to
the success of Century 21
Alliance Group and the animal
rescue group she co-founded.
For more information, visit
www.21alliance.com.
————————————
Citizens Financial Bank
is proud to announce the
achievement of President
and Chief
Executive
Officer,
Daryl D.
Pomranke,
who was
named
a 2012
Leading CEO Award Winner
by Northwest Indiana Business
Quarterly Magazine. Pomranke
joined the Citizens team in
April 2007 as Executive Vice
President – Chief Operating
Officer, with over 16 years
of banking experience. He
held several executive
management and operating
positions with Mercantile
National Bank of Indiana and
its successor, Harris Bank,
N.A. Pomranke is a graduate
of Indiana University, with a
bachelor of science in business
with highest distinction. For
additional information, visit
www.mybankcitizens.com.
————————————
Design Organization
(DO), a sustainable planning,
architecture and interiors
firm founded in 1971 with
offices in Chicago, Illinois
and Valparaiso, announced
it has become a Division of
Shive-Hattery, Inc. ShiveHattery, founded in 1895, is
a 350-person architecture
and engineering firm with nine
locations in Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa and Missouri. Design
Organization will continue
to operate with the same
leadership team and staff
to manage their long list of
repeat clients, for their national
corporate workplace practice
and regional higher education,
healthcare, and public
works practices. For more
information, visit www.shivehattery.com or www.designorg.
com.
————————————
Michelle Bush recently
accepted a position with
Diversified Marketing
Strategies (DMS) as a
Senior
Account
Executive
servicing our
businesses
in the Porter
County area.
Diversified
Marketing
Strategies (DMS) is an awardwinning, full-service marketing,
communications, and public
relations agency with more
than 20 years of experience.
From branding, public relations,
and brochure development to
event planning, web design,
and specialties, DMS is
dedicated to delivering tailored
marketing programs with a high
level of return on investment
for its clients. DMS publishes
the award-winning Building
Indiana magazine, >>
Methodist Hospitals President and CEO, Ian McFadden (left)
and Valparaiso Family YMCA CEO, Bob Wanek
Methodist Hospitals and
the Valparaiso Family YMCA
Partners in
Wellness
Methodist Hospitals and Valparaiso Family
YMCA are both dedicated to building healthy
families and communities. In many ways, our
missions and values are the same. As local,
not-for-profit institutions, we both reinvest
all of our resources into the communities
we serve. That’s why we have forged a new
partnership that combines our expertise
and commitment to bring a robust menu of
wellness programs to YMCA members and
the entire community.
In addition to health screenings, risk
assessments, support groups, classes and
physician seminars, we will introduce
programs to help prevent and manage
chronic conditions, such as obesity and
diabetes. Methodist Hospitals will also bring
new services such as cardiac rehabilitation,
physical therapy, alternative medicine,
employee assistance program support, as
well as an on-site primary care and sports
medicine certified physician to the Valparaiso
Family YMCA.
Leading the Way to Better Health
Ultimately, our goal at Methodist Hospitals is
to change the way health care is delivered in
Northwest Indiana. Our new partnership with
the Valparaiso Family YMCA is a significant
step toward that goal.
888-909-D OC S ( 3627) • M E THO DI S THO S PI TAL S . O RG
www.valparaisochamber.org
25
AROUND TOWN
>> the leading source of
business and economic
development news in the
state of Indiana. The womanowned and operated firm,
which has won more than 20
marketing industry awards
is headquartered in Crown
Point, Indiana, with offices in
Indianapolis and Warsaw.
————————————
The Board of Directors of the
Family & Youth Services
Bureau is proud to announce
the promotion of Lisa
Jordan, a 17-year veteran of
the agency,
to President
and CEO.
Family
& Youth
Services
Bureau,
established in
1972, serves over 3,600 Porter
County residents annually.
The services and programs
are designed to support the
agency’s mission: to support
children and families as they
encounter the various tasks,
circumstances and challenges
of life—so that children have
the opportunity to become
capable, responsible, and
contributing members of the
community and families have
the means to effectively assist
in that process. Moreover,
the agency will encourage the
community to nurture and care
for all of its children. Jordan
replaces Dennis Morgan who
served the Porter County
community for 40 years.
————————————
Family Express Corp.
is excited to announce the
hiring of Ruth Keefover
as Social Media Community
Manager. Keefover will be
responsible for managing the
————————————
daily functions of social media,
including Family Express’
social space, blogging, and
community development as
well as being connected with
the broader social media
world. She will also work with
employees to generate stories
that happen in their stores
as well as their community
while growing and building a
more online presence through
social media. Keefover will
work out of the Family Express
headquarters in Valparaiso.
You can follow Family Express
on Twitter @FamilyExpress or
“Like” at www.facebook.com/
FamilyExpress.
Metro Auto Recyclers is
proud to announce they have
become the first auto salvage
company to receive Recycling
Industry Operating Standard
(RIOS) certification for their
Valparaiso location. RIOS is the
recycling industry’s standard
for quality, environmental,
health & safety (QEH&S)
management systems. RIOS
provides a powerful framework
for scrap recyclers of all types
to improve their QEH&S
performance and their bottom
line. Becoming RIOS certified
solidifies the commitment that
Metro Auto Recyclers already
made to improve >>
Congratulations!
The Board of Trustees, Medical Staff, Associates and Volunteers
of Porter Health Care System congratulate
Jonathan Nalli, CEO: Recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Community Leader Award
Porter Regional Hospital is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.
26
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
66899_PORTER_CEO_7_917x5c.indd 1
12/14/12 12:08 PM
GROWING
STRONGER
TOGETHER
TheTheHardest
HardestHitHitFund
Fundhelps
helpsIndiana
Indianahomeowners
homeownerswho
whoareare
struggling
to
make
their
mortgage
payments
due
to
job
loss
or or
struggling
to
make
their
mortgage
payments
due
to
job
loss
The Hardest Hit Fund helps Indiana homeowners who are
temporary
financial
hardship.
Qualified
homeowners
may
receive
temporary
financial
hardship.
Qualified
homeowners
may
receive
struggling to make their mortgage payments due to job loss or
The
Hardest
Hit
Fund
helps
Indiana
homeowners
who
mortgage
payment
assistance
while
they
search
or or
retrain
forare
new
mortgage
payment
assistance
while
they
search
retrain
for
new
temporary
financial
hardship.
Qualified
homeowners
may
receive
struggling
to
make
their
mortgage
payments
due
to
job
loss
or
employment.
This
is
a
program
through
the
Indiana
Foreclosure
mortgage
payment
assistance
while
they
search
or
retrain
for
new
employment.
This
is
a
program
through
the
Indiana
Foreclosure
The Hardest
Hit Fund
helps
Indianahomeowners
homeowners
are
temporary
financial
hardship.
Qualified
maywho
receive
employment.
This
a program
through
the Indiana
Prevention
Network
. is.their
Prevention
Network
struggling
to make
mortgage
payments
to Foreclosure
jobfor
loss
or
mortgage
payment
assistance
while they
searchdue
or retrain
new
Congratulations to
Rob Thorgren...
2012 Legacy of Service
Award Recipient!
Prevention financial
Network hardship.
.
temporary
Qualified homeowners may receive
employment. This is a program through the Indiana Foreclosure
Get
help.
Get
mortgage
payment
assistance
while they search or retrain for new
Get
help.
Get
hope.
Prevention
Network
. hope.
Get
help.
Get
hope.
Thank you for your ongoing and
steadfast commitment to giving back
and providing support to our Y and
our community.
employment. This is a program through the Indiana Foreclosure
Prevention Network .
Get help. Get
hope.
1-888-401-2592
ext.
201
1-888-401-2592
ext.
201
1-888-401-2592
ext.
201
Get help. Get hope.
1-888-401-2592
ext.
201
219-548-2800
201
219-548-2800
ext.
201
219-548-2800
ext.
201
1-888-401-2592
ext.201
201
219-548-2800 ext.
219-548-2800 ext. 201
A HUD certified housing agency.
•
•
•
•
A HUD
certified
housing
agency.
A HUD
certified
housing
agency.
A HUD certified housing agency.
Board of Directors (Chair 2010-2011)
Annual Campaign Chair
Special Events Volunteer
Trusted Committee Member
Your friends at the
Valparaiso Family YMCA
A HUD certified housing agency.
Valparaiso Family YMCA •1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive • Valparaiso, IN 46383
219 462 4185 • www.valpoymca.org
Scrappy’s Spotlight
on Recycling
Recycling aluminum cans reduces the amount
of waste in America’s landfills by up to 50%.
Currently 800,000 tons of aluminum cans are
recycled each year. Recycling just one aluminum
can saves the same amount of energy as
watching TV for 3 hours.*
metro recycling is dedicated to making
it easier than ever for residents of Valpo
and its surrounding communities to do
their part for our planet.
* Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
Find more recycling tips at
ScrappytheTurtle on Facebook
2155 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN
219.465.1459
We buy or recycle: Aluminum cAns |copper | brAss | scrAp steel & iron | Wire | rAdiAtors | stAinless steel
Aluminum siding | Vinyl siding | electric motors | pAper | cArdboArd | And more
3 conVenient locAtions: VAlpArAiso, in griffith, in blue islAnd, il
We accept junk vehicles at our Valparaiso and Griffith locations.
www.valparaisochamber.org
27
AROUND TOWN
>> the environment. Metro
Auto Recyclers also recently
earned re-certification of
the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management’s
highest level award, the Indiana
Clean Yard Gold Level award.
The Clean Yard program
was established in 2009 as a
collaborative effort of IDEM
and the Automotive Recyclers
of Indiana, Inc. to decrease
environmental threats posed
by vehicles stockpiled in
salvage yards. To learn more,
contact Metro Auto Recyclers
at (219) 462-3753.
————————————
LeadingAge Indiana presented
Pines Village Retirement
Communities with two
Excellence Awards at its
annual state conference. The
awards celebrate dedicated
individuals and organizations
who have improved the quality
of life for older Hoosiers.
28
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
of older adults. To learn
more on how Pines Village
celebrates the lives of older
adults, visit www.pinesvillage.
org.
————————————
Tracy Huyvaert (left),
Chief Operating Officer,
received the prestigious
“Linda Woolley Excellence in
Nursing Leadership Award”
that recognizes a licensed
nursing professional who
demonstrates good mentoring
relationships, enabling others
to act proactively in the
care of older adults through
clinical excellence, leadership,
and commitment. Judy
Bornstein (right), Meridian
Woods resident, received the
“Excellence in Volunteering Resident” award in honor of
her extraordinary commitment
to preserving dignity, wellbeing, and the independence
The Porter County
Business League recently
contributed $500.00 to Boys
& Girls Clubs of Porter
County to support its “Teen
Enterprise” program. Teen
members who participate in
“Teen Enterprise” develop
small business management
skills through operating the
Clubs’ concession stands
during athletic league games.
Teens are responsible for all
aspects of the concession
stand including budgeting,
inventory management and
staffing. “Teen Enterprise”
is offered at the Valparaiso,
Portage and South Haven club
locations.
To learn more about the
programs at the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Porter County, call
(219) 464-7282 or visit
www.bgcpoco.org.
————————————
Jamie
Sulcer,
Business
Development
Specialist with
Chicago
Title has been
named in the
top 10 percent of residential
sales representatives for
production in the country by
Fidelity National Financial –
the parent company of
Chicago Title. VM
BUSINESS SNAPSHOT
Locks of Fun
155 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso
Telephone: (219) 548-7059
Web site: www.locksoffun.com
Management: Jen Pancek, Manager;
Christian Quiroz, Assistant Manager
Chamber Member since:2005
St. Mary Medical Center’s Breast Team
(L-R): Donna Faitak, RT, (R)(M)(QM) certified breast health
navigator; Richard Browne, MD, breast surgeon;
Charisa Spoo, DO, dedicated breast radiologist.
Locks of Fun is a children’s hair salon that makes
getting a haircut an enjoyable experience for the
parent as well as the child. Its special “cutting
stations” are child-sized cars in six different makes
and models including a jeep, police car, and sports
car. Each car is equipped with its own flat screen
television and gaming system that kids can watch
or play while receiving a quality haircut from an
experienced stylist. Every child receives a free
juice, popcorn, and coupon for a treat at another
downtown business during each visit. Locks of
Fun works by appointment, reducing waiting time;
but should you wait, there is a play area with a
train table and other fun items to keep your little
one busy. Make your child’s next haircut the best
haircut at Locks of Fun!
Photo by Aran
Kessler Photo.
Imaging
Featured Chamber
member business
chosen at random.
Jen Pancek, Manager and
Christina Quiroz, Assistant Manager
www.valparaisochamber.org
29
AN
N
O
U
N
C
IN
G
You’ve just had an accident!
Don’t have a second, let us repair your vehicle.
Chesterton Location
219.926.8203
Valparaiso Location
219.462.0405
Proud member of the
Valparaiso Chamber
of Commerce
www.mandscollision.com
STUDENT SUCCESS
THE PURDUE WAY
Bachelor’s degrees
Outstanding faculty
Online classes available
Saturday MBA
WHY AREN’T
YOU HERE?
Undergraduate 219-531-4200
Graduate 219-531-6500
600 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso
PNC PORTER COUNTY
30
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
ASK AN EXPERT
HOW CAN I PROVIDE
The Best
Customer Service?
W
We have all been in that situation where
you feel you have been treated unfairly by
a business, whether it is charged a regular
price instead of the sale price, or dealing with
a rude and uncaring employee. We get angry
and vow to never return to that place of
business. We will also be likely to talk about
the unjust manner in which we were treated,
sharing the negative experience with friends
and co-workers. In the end, that business
has just cut off a vital asset to its success…
the customer.
Everyone wants to feel important, and
businesses need to make each and every
customer feel this way to be successful
and stay successful in the future. Because,
let’s face it, without happy customers you
wouldn’t be in business.
Here are several key points and
rules to providing good customer
service:
•LISTENING - The simple task of listening
to your customer’s wants and needs goes
a long way toward customer satisfaction.
There is nothing more frustrating than
telling someone what the problem is,
or what you want, only to discover that
person wasn’t even focused on what you
were saying.
•RESPECT – You need to treat each
customer as an individual. Look them in the
eye when talking to them and try to know
their name. Be mindful of body language
and the tone of your voice when meeting
someone or speaking on the phone.
Always say please and thank you. People
like to be acknowledged and treated as if
they are the main focus of your time.
•PHONE CALLS – Answer the phone as
quickly as you can and in a pleasant voice.
I recently answered the phone during a
very busy morning and the person on the
other end said it sounded like I was busy.
I felt bad for two reasons. First, I was
amazed that they could tell I was busy
just by the tone of my voice in that
five second greeting; and second, I did
not want that person to feel I was too
busy for their call. Try smiling when
talking on the phone – customers can hear
it in your voice!
•MESSAGES – Return e-mails and
voicemail messages as promptly as you
can, preferably within 24 hours. This
is a good way to make customers feel
important and let them know that you are
willing and available to help them.
•GIVE MORE THAN EXPECTED
– Give your customers more than they
expect whether it be a discount for their
next visit, or just a genuine smile and
thank you for stopping in, even if they did
not purchase anything. Do anything you
can to elevate your business above the
competition.
These guidelines and rules for great
customer service should be practiced every
day. There is, however, one rule of thumb
that I find to be a tried and true way to
deliver exceptional customer service. Treat
everyone as you would want to be treated.
When a customer enters your place of
business, immediately put yourself into their
shoes. Treat them how you would want and
expect to be treated and you will have happy
customers returning to your business for a
long time. VM
By Sue Stymiest
Valpo Chamber
Sue Stymiest is the Resource
Director at the Valpo Chamber.
Previously, she was employed
by the Valparaiso Community
Schools as an instructional
assistant at Flint Lake
Elementary for nine years.
Stymiest attended DePaul
University, with a concentration
in Business, and the Harrington
College of Design focusing on
Interior Decorating.
Stymiest, an avid photographer,
recently won second place in the
“Wildlife” division of the Porter
County Master Gardeners
Association photography
contest. Her photography is also
featured on the 2013 Valparaiso
City Map.
Originally from Chicago,
Stymiest resides in Valparaiso
with her husband, Mark, and
their three children.
www.valparaisochamber.org
31
EXPERTISE.
MEET ValPaRaISo’S nEwEST PhySIcIanS.
Porter Physician Group is proud to welcome four outstanding new physicians. Each of them is dedicated to providing
skilled, personalized care to the residents of our community. These physicians are part of our commitment to expand
our services in the Valparaiso area and bring you the care of experienced physicians in a wide range of specialties.
Call today for information or an appointment.
PorterPhysicianGroup.com
Crystal Tuncay, D.O.
Cumberland Internal Medicine
219-548-3843
James Anthony, M.D.
Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine
219-464-9054
Masood Ghouse, D.O.
Porter Hematology-Oncology
219-983-6260
Geoffrey Schwartz, M.D.
Associated Ear, Nose & Throat
219-531-0355
Members of the Medical Staff at Porter Regional Hospital
32
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
66237_PORT_4docs_7_917x10_25c.indd 1
12/17/12 1:56 PM
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Every Child: Safe, Healthy, Happy
Parent and Family Support
& Child Advocacy Center
Valparaiso • Michigan City
(800) 897-0007 • www.dunebrook.org
219-464-9871
www.mybulkmail.com
SUPPLIES
EQUIPMENT
FURNITURE TECHNOLOGY PROMOTIONS
Healing Arts Center
AlternAtive HeAltH tHerApies
Offering:
• N.A.E.T. AllErgy ElimiNATioN
• rEflExology • AcupuNcTurE
ANd morE!
CAll (219) 510-5623 for A free Consult!
www.healingartsvalpo.com
800.837.1400
BUY LOCAL, GIVE LOCAL
FOR DETAILS VISIT US ONLINE
WWW.MCSHANES.COM
Quality • SuStainability
Excellent service
Quality used auto parts
Trained, knowledgeable staff
2155 W. Lincolnway • Valparaiso
219.462.3753
219.462.6929 (fax)
www.metroautorecyclers.com
www.pureskinllc.com
Medi-Spa
cosmetic laser services and skin care
Jeane M. Ziegler, RN
Certified Medical Aesthetician
2500 Calumet Ave, Valpo
(inside Anthony’s Salon)
219-743-5778 by appointment
2 Miniature Golf Courses
Go Karts alliGators
GaMe rooM Wave slide
laser taG CoMinG soon!
1050 Horseprairie Ave • 462-1194
www.Zaoisland.net
Spotlight your business with a 2”x2” ad. Reach 17,000+ readers quarterly!
Call Danielle Oeding, at the Valpo Chamber. (219) 462-1105 | [email protected]
www.valparaisochamber.org
33
OUR VOICE
THE CHAMBER
SUPPORTS
Vital
Links
in
CLOSING THOUGHTS
By Rex Richards
Valpo Chamber
Rex G. Richards is the
President of the Valpo
Chamber. He has served
the Chamber profession for
over 30 years having led
Chambers in Logansport,
Michigan City, and East
Chicago, Ind.; Kansas City,
Kan. and most recently
Sarasota, Fla. before calling
Valparaiso home.
He has successfully
accomplished increases in
program activities, capital
resources, and membership
in the chambers he has
served. In addition to over 30
years experience, Richards
has played an instrumental
role in economic development
projects and public policy
initiatives.
Richards also serves as the
president of the Valparaiso
Economic Development
Corporation.
NORTHWEST
INDIANA
Over 40 years ago, a
planning committee of the
Northwest Indiana Regional
Planning Commission
was formed to explore
the building of a new
East/West highway that
would link Route 30, east
of Strongbow Inn, with
Interstate 94. At the time,
there were pessimists that
thought the project would
never come to fruition
and, in fact, might waste
important natural resources.
Today, it’s hard to imagine
Valparaiso without the vital
link of State Road 49.
Few can deny the value
of this tremendous
transportation corridor
34
Valparaiso Magazine | Winter 2013
and the significant contribution
this highway has made to economic
development in Porter County. Some
of the projects this has fostered are: Porter
Regional Hospital, Ivy Tech Community
College, high quality residential
neighborhoods, and the soonto-open St. Mary Medical
Center Valparaiso Health
Center. Further south of
Route 30, the highway also
passes Indiana Beverage
Corporate Headquarters,
Pratt Industries, Family
Express Headquarters, and
the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
Now plans are being proposed for a new
highway that would run from the western
Chicago suburbs, across the state line into
Indiana south of Crown Point at Interstate
65, with a possible extension linking south
Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties with
Interstate 94.
The proposed Illiana Expressway would
reduce traffic congestion where Interstate
94 and Interstate 80 converge. This would
bring new opportunities for the southern
Porter County communities of Kouts
and Hebron.
Major highway projects like State Road 49
and the proposed Illiana Expressway shine
a bright future upon Northwest Indiana
and Porter County. The Valpo Chamber
consistently works to support projects that
will enhance the greater Valparaiso business
community. VM
We have all the OccupatiOnal HealtH tOOls that keep Northwest Indiana WORKING Well
save money
and promote an efficient and
healthier workplace.
WorkingWell offers companies
a full-range of healthcare services
designed to help control medical
costs and increase employee
productivity.
We work closely with employers
to create customized workplace
wellness programs that promote
a healthy workplace and a healthy
bottom line.
Our services and
prOgrams include:
Drug & Alcohol Testing
Injury Treatment
Wellness Screenings
Travel Medicine
Onsite Services
Injury Prevention
Health and Safety Education
Onsite/Near-Site
Dedicated Clinics
Acupuncture
Physicals (Pre-Placement & DOT)
RATED among the BEST in the nation
Sports Physicals
Spirometry (Pulmonary Function Testing)
Audiograms
Fit Testing (Quantitative)
THE ONLY CERTIFIED
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
PROGRAM IN INDIANA
866-552-WELL(9355) | WorkingWell.org
5 cOnvenient lOcatiOns: crOwn pOint | HammOnd | micHigan city | munster | valparaisO
When a minor injury or illness
just can’t wait.
Urgent Care Center is here with on-site physicians and walk-in care
for illnesses, injuries, school or sports physicals and more. We also offer lab and X-ray
services, and are open evenings and weekends, too. Now that’s a relief!
Urgent Care Center
Porter’s Chesterton Medical Campus • 650 Dickinson Road (150E)
Chesterton • 219-926-7755 • 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., 7 days a week
NOW OPEN in Valparaiso
Porter’s Valparaiso Medical Center • 1900 Roosevelt Road • Valparaiso
5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Porter Regional Hospital is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.