2015 BusINess 20 Under 40 Fall Issue by The Times of NWI

FALL 2015

Marie Claire Foster, Purdue University North Central

20 40 UNDER

CLASS OF 2015

ALSO INSIDE

• WHAT I DO ALL DAY: Jillian Van Volkenburgh • GROW YOUNG HEARTS: Barry Tyler Jr. • UBER FUNCTION: Kathleen Szot • YOU HAVE 24 HOURS: Steven Lammers

Brandi Anstine Joseph Battistoni Gina Bell Megan Brennan Marie Claire Foster Jeri Pat Gabbert Michael Glorioso Stephen Kavois Aaron McDermott Alexandra Moran

Hilary Powell Raymond Ramirez Matthew Saltanovitz Christopher Smith Shelice Tolbert Michaline Tomich Peymon Torabi Daniel Vicari Luke Weinman IV Eric Zosso

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Contents 20 UNDER 40 14 16

When JOSEPH BATTISTONI was an undergraduate at SIU, he thought he wanted to be in politics. Then he got an opportunity to sell digital advertising. By Pat Colander

GINA BELL of Dyer, works as volunteer coordinator and life coach at Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana. By Vanessa Renderman

20 22

Family and faith have steered the direction of MEGAN BRENNAN’s life and career. By Lesly Bailey

MARIE CLAIRE FOSTER is energized by the creative power that comes through developing connections between people and organizations. By Andrew Steele

23 24

JERI PAT GABBERT’s colleagues say a lot has changed at Indiana University Northwest in her three years there. By Giles Bruce

COVER STORY Marie Claire Foster, Purdue University North Central

20 40 UNDER

CLASS OF 2015

ALSO INSIDE

• WHAT I DO ALL DAY: Jillian Van Volkenburgh • GROW YOUNG HEARTS: Barry Tyler Jr. • UBER FUNCTION: Kathleen Szot • YOU HAVE 24 HOURS: Steven Lammers

Brandi Anstine Joseph Battistoni Gina Bell Megan Brennan Marie Claire Foster Jeri Pat Gabbert Michael Glorioso Stephen Kavois Aaron McDermott Alexandra Moran

Hilary Powell Raymond Ramirez Matthew Saltanovitz Christopher Smith Shelice Tolbert Michaline Tomich Peymon Torabi Daniel Vicari Luke Weinman IV Eric Zosso

COLUMNISTS in November as chief of police and special services. By Vanessa Renderman

35 37 39 41

“I enjoy helping people develop and helping leaders problem-solve,” CHRISTOPHER SMITH says. By Lesly Bailey

A small sign outside Tolbert & Tolbert MICHAEL GLORIOSO leads 325 active law offices in Gary has served as a big senior citizen volunteers serving Lake, indicator for SHELICE TOLBERT. By Lesly Bailey Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties. By Philip Potempa MICHALINE TOMICH is the president and executive creative director of STEPHEN KAVOIS says: “It’s very mixdesign inc. By Philip Potempa rewarding when you sit down with a client, go through all their numbers and give MATTHEW SALTANOVITZ has them the green light to go ahead and retire.” combined an interest in business and By Lesly Bailey economics with a commitment to community. Given his family’s activities , you might By Andrew Steele think AARON MCDERMOTT would When PEYMON TORABI first came on have taken a career path into public office. board at Peoples Bank, his goal was to By Christine Bryant learn as much as possible about the banking industry. By Christine Bryant ALEXANDRA “AJ” MORAN is an assistant vice president and the DANIEL VICARI plays two important branch manager at Ameriprise Financial in roles in Gary’s development moving Orland Park. By Joseph S. Pete forward. By Christine Bryant Tune into 89.1 FM or turn on the LUKE WEINMAN IV is responsible TV, and you’ll likely hear something for information technology and the HILARY POWELL had a role in creating. tourism agency’s buildings. By Joseph S. Pete By Christine Bryant ERIC ZOSSO was commissioned with

26 27

29 32 33

After a dozen years working in patrol at Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in Hammond, RAYMOND RAMIREZ took over

2 | IN BUSINESS

SALUTE, BY THE NUMBERS, NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

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By day, BRANDI ANSTINE has worked to promote a healthier Northwest Indiana. By night (or weekend), she’s also been helping those in need. By Giles Bruce

BIZ WORTHY FALL 2015

42 44 45 46

the Air Force and learned about space, controlling satellites and leadership. By Diane Poulton

48 49 50 51

JILLIAN VAN VOLKENBURGH What do I do all day? KATHLEEN SZOT The key to being uber appealing STEVEN P. LAMMERS Find the opportunities that matter by listening to your heart BARRY TYLER JR. The value of nurturing the young mind, body and spirit

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Publisher’s Letter FALL 2015

Strong families and great teams spell success for 2015 class of high-achievers

E BY CHRISTOPHER T. WHITE Publisher, BusINess, The Times Media Co.

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

4 | IN BUSINESS

very year we start collecting nominations for the next year’s group of 20 Under 40s. The achievement award we give to encourage these outstanding professionals continues to be more sought-after every year. Past year’s 20 Under 40 alumni are a star-studded group that includes Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, Community Hospital CEO Donald Fesko, NIPSCO’s Eddie Melton and Jeff Strack of Strack & Van Til, to name just a few. The Times has also honored a highly skilled surgeon, a famous auto-brand’s marketing director, and a regional manager at Starbucks who started as a barista in Merrillville. These awards are, of course, about individual accomplishment but at the same time there is the intention to support and promote role models in Northwest Indiana. The 2015 class has the team mindset. Every single one of these winners talks about the importance of immediate and extended families and how critical those who are closest to award-winners at home and at work have helped them along the way. Each and every 20 Under 40 award winner has persevered and made the most of every opportunity. But they have something to teach the rest of us: Though we take the role of mentor for granted, these super-achievers do not. They know they could not have succeeded without their parents, spouses, employees, employers and friends. Congratulations to our winners and to the folks who have helped them along the way. Northwest Indiana is twice blessed to have you all working to create a better quality of life here: Brandi Anstine, Joseph Battistoni, Gina Bell, Megan Brennan, Marie Claire Foster, Jeri Pat Gabbert, Michael Glorioso, Stephen Kavois, Aaron McDermott, Alexandra Moran, Hilary Powell, Raymond Ramirez, Matthew Saltanovitz, Christopher Smith, Shelice Tolbert, Michaline Tomich, Peymon Torabi, Daniel Vicari, Luke Weinman IV and Eric Zosso. Next quarter, we will be looking at a year of innovation and achievement just past and thinking about the future in terms of dynamic growth and our collective goals for 2016.

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 4

Publisher Christopher T. White General Manager and Vice President, Sales and Marketing Deb Anselm Editor Bob Heisse BusINess Editor Keith Benman Associate Publisher/Editor Pat Colander Design Director Mary Garrison Contributing Writers Lesly Bailey, Giles Bruce, Christine Bryant, Steven P. Lammers, Joseph S. Pete, Philip Potempa, Vanessa Renderman, Andrew Steele, Kathleen Szot, Barry Tyler Jr., Jillian Van Volkenburgh Lead Photographer Tony V. Martin Director of Audience Development Kim Bowers Director of Digital Advertising Joe Battistoni Advertising Managers Craig Chism, Eric Horon Advertising Publication Manager Lisa Tavoletti Business Advisory Board Dave Bochnowski, Peoples Bank; Wil Davis, Gary Jet Center; Nick Meyer, NIPSCO; Barb Greene, Thomas Gryzbek, Franciscan Alliance; Susan Zlajic, ArcelorMittal Copyright, Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland BusINess, 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

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BizWorthy

JOHN LUKE, THE TIMES

British Petroleum Business Unit on Indianapolis Blvd. in Whiting.

BP named one of the country’s most veteran-friendly companies JOSEPH S. PETE If you’ve served your country in the military, opportunity may await back in Northwest Indiana. A special interest publication has named one of Northwest Indiana’s largest employers as one of the most veteran-friendly businesses in the country. U.S. Veteran’s Magazine named BP, which employs around

6 | IN BUSINESS

2,000 workers at its Whiting refinery, a top veteran-friendly company for the second time. The magazine, which aims to open up more employment, business and supplier opportunities for veterans, polled hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies for its annual review of nation’s employers, colleges, and government agencies. “America’s veterans are

often ideal candidates for jobs at companies like BP,” said Teri Poulton, retired Air Force pilot and director of BP’s strategic relationships and veteran outreach. “They’ve got the discipline, the maturity and the focus we need to help us keep our commitment to provide the energy America needs.” BP is a corporate partner of Hiring Our Heroes, a program

that encourages recruiting and retaining veterans in the private sector. Others, including GI Jobs Magazine and the U.S. Department of Defense, also have recognized its support of veterans. U.S. Veteran’s Magazine also honored other companies with a local presence, including Honeywell, DaVita, BMO Harris, Dollar General, Sears, Starbucks, Wal-Mart and Walgreens.

SALUTE Indiana Beverage has announced that Vice President and General Manager George Douglas and Pat Flynn, vice president customer relations and community affairs, received the Ernestine M. Raclin Community Leadership Award. Both received a Globe of Leadership, $1,000 to the charity of their choice and a personal $1,000 gift. First Source Bank established the award to honor and encourage leadership in volunteerism through the businesses in the community. Dr. Ashely Kirkwood, an obstetrician/gynecologist, is now accepting patients at her Knox and LaPorte offices. She lives in LaPorte. Erin Hott, a recent Ball State University graduate, is newly hired at American Community Bank’s lending center. Hott is a Munster native. HOTT Merrillville insurance professional Helen Husek Jacobsen was recognized as the leading long-term care insurance professional in Merrillville. Jacobsen, president and owner of Long Term Care Solutions Inc., dba LTC Solutions was recognized by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, a national trade organization, as the recipient of the industry’s 2015 National LTC Insurance Achievement Award. Austin Bancroft, DO, offers ear, nose and throat care to children and adults in Michigan City and LaPorte with new technology. His office and IU Health LaPorte Hospital now BANCROFT offer imageguided surgery. Bancroft sees patients at IU Health

Lifeworks in Michigan City and IU Health LaPorte ENT Care in LaPorte. Methodist Hospitals has announced its Daisy Award winners for the third quarter. The Daisy Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. The Daisy Award winners are Patricia Bryant, RN, Medical Surgical IMCU Unit, Northlake Campus. and Becky Lackey, RN, Neuro ICU Unit, Southlake Campus. Bryant lives in Merrillville and Lackey lives in Crown Point.

Bethany Cluskey, MD, is a

new obstetrician/ gynecologist who is accepting new patients at her LaPorte office. Cluskey CLUSKEY joined IU Health LaPorte Physicians Women’s Care this month. Cluskey lives in LaPorte. Her office is located at Founders Square, 1509 State St., LaPorte. The Rev. Kevin M. Scalf, C.PP.S., has been appointed as special assistant to the president for Mission and Ministry at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Douglas VanPutten, MD, who has been providing expert eye care to LaPorte County communities for more than 25 years, has joined IU Health LaPorte Physicians. VanPutten has begun seeing patients in his new office in Michigan VANPUTTEN City at IU Health LifeWorks, 3777 N. Frontage Road. Horizon Bank announces the promotion of Laura Ferguson to assistant vice president, district manager, for Lake County.

Fergusion joined Horizon Bank in 2010, she will have operational and sales responsibilities for five Lake County offices. The National Judicial College announces that the Hon. Calvin D. Hawkins of the Arredondo Justice Center in East Chicago has completed Dispute Resolution Skills from July 20 to 23 at the college in Reno, Nev. The course provides judges with information on the newest methods of dispute resolution including judicial settlement methods, mediation for family and civil cases, summary jury trials and other devices used to solve disputes more efficiently and effectively. Dr. Richard W. Ireland, O.D., of Valparaiso, is among 95 optometrists throughout the country who have received the American Optometric Association 2015 Continuing Optometric Recognition Award. The award is presented to doctors of optometry who have completed 50 credit hours of continuing education in their field over a one-year period and have previously received the Initial Optometric Recognition Award. Western & Southern Life announces the appointment of three financial representatives to its Merrillville office — Denise Isbill, Linda Bolan and Michael Johnson joined the firm in July. Tri-Creek Lumber & Hardware in Lowell announces that Steve Gruevski, a kitchen and bath designer with 20 years experience, has joined their staff to expand design services during business hours, evenings GRUEVSKI and weekends in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and the south suburbs. Lakeside Wealth Management, based in Chesterton, has named

Tim VerShure as a partner. A senior vice president, VerShure joined Lakeside in 2008. Valparaiso resident Raymond Cohen was recently honored with the “Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award” at the 2015 national meeting of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and COHEN Air-Conditioning Engineers on June 27 in Atlanta. The award is given annually to one of the Fellow grade members of the Society for continuous pre-eminence in engineering or research work. Cohen, Ph.D., P.E., is retired after serving as Herrick Professor of Engineering and the director of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories at Purdue University, West Lafayette. Western & Southern Life announces the appointment of three financial representatives to its Merrillville DEMPSEY office – Denise Isbill, Linda Bolan and Michael Johnson

joined the firm in July. Community Hospital Medical and Dental Staff elected new officers for a two-year term effective July 1.

ROBINSON

David Robinson, MD, will serve

as president,

Terrence Dempsey, MD, as

vice president and

Howard Marcus, MD as secretary.

MARCUS

FALL 2015 | 7

BizWorthy BY THE NUMBERS

Employment in the Calumet Region TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

Munster-based Peoples Bank declared a 27 cent dividend for the second quarter.

Peoples Bank declares 27 cent dividend JOSEPH S. PETE MUNSTER | Peoples Bank

shareholders are continuing to pocket higher dividends. NorthWest Indiana Bancorp, the parent company of Munsterbased Peoples Bank declared a second quarter dividend of 27 cents per share in the second quarter. The bank had been paying 25 cents per share but boosted it by 8 percent in the second quarter. Peoples Bank decided to kick more back to shareholders after reporting a record annual profit for the third consecutive year, raking in $7.4 million in net income. The bank, which recently completed two acquisitions and now has 16 locations in Lake and Porter counties, will pay its dividend on Oct. 2 to anyone who owns its stock as of Sept. 25. Its shares are publicly traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol NWIN. The stock traded at $27.55 a share as of close of business Friday.

8 | IN BUSINESS

Lake County JULY 2015

JULY 2014

CHANGE

Labor force

235,055

234,293

+762

Employed

219,256

215,766

+3,490

Unemployed

15,799

18,527

-2,728

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

CHANGE

Labor force

85,549

84,944

+605

Employed

80,966

79,636

+1,330

Unemployed

4,583

5,308

-725

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

CHANGE

Labor force

49,470

49,725

-255

Employed

46,591

45,737

+854

Unemployed

2,879

3,538

-659

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

CHANGE

Labor force

2,699,262

2,705,486

-6,224

Employed

2,528,052

2,496,841

+31,211

171,210

208,645

-37,435

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

CHANGE

Labor force

359,687

361,210

-1,523

Employed

337,757

333,704

+4,053

Unemployed

21,930

27,506

-5,576

Percent of workforce unemployed 6.7 percent

Porter County Percent of workforce unemployed 5.4 percent

LaPorte County Percent of workforce unemployed 5.8 percent

Cook County

Unemployed

Percent of workforce unemployed 6.3 percent

Will County Percent of workforce unemployed 6.1 percent

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

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BizWorthy

Prompt Ambulance marks 1 million transports DEBORAH LAVERTY MERRILLVILLE | Prompt Ambulance Service marked its 1-millionth patient transportation with a recognition event hosted by the ambulance company’s owner Gary Miller. “It’s a large milestone for us, since very few have ever reached this mark, said Miller. The 1-millionth patient transportation mark was reached Aug. 12. “It doesn’t count those who have been picked up in wheelchairs, strictly ambulance patients,” Miller said. The recognition event was held at the Prompt Ambulance Service Base at 6300 Broadway in Merrillville. There was also a special blessing by a sister from Sojourner Truth House, a ministry to help homeless women and children in Gary. “We’re just kind of thanking those who made it a milestone,” Miller said. The private ambulance company, which was started in July 1998, serves Highland, Dyer, Griffith, Munster, Merrillville, East Chicago and Calumet Township. Most recently, on April 1, the company also began handling ambulance services in Lake Station, Miller said. Although Prompt Ambulance Service has existed for 17 years, the ambulance-service roots go back to 1932. That’s the year his grandfather, Nicholas Fagen, purchased a 1932 Nash ambulance to be used in conjunction with the family funeral home, Fagen Funeral Parlor, based in Dyer. “It was quite common for funeral homes then to run ambulance services,” Miller said. The family’s service to the community started earlier in the 20th Century continues with Miller, his wife, Char Miller, and brother, Jerry Miller, operating Prompt Ambulance Service while siblings Larry Miller and Terri Miller-Bence operate Funeral Home.

10 | IN BUSINESS

Local steel output hits highest point in months JOSEPH S. PETE Raw steel production in the Great Lakes region rose to 660,000 tons in early September, the highest point it has reached since February. Local steel output has been much lower than normal all this year because of a surfeit of imports that now account for a record-shattering 31 percent of the total market share. Overall U.S. production trails 2014 by 7.8 percent. Great Lakes steel production increased by 13,000 tons, or 2 percent, in the week that ended Saturday, according to an American Iron and Steel Institute estimate. Overall U.S. steel output declined by 1.47 percent over the same period. Most of the raw steel production in the Great Lakes region takes place in the Chicago area, mainly Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana. Indiana, which also has

steelmaking operations in Fort Wayne and Crawfordsville, has led the nation in steel production for more than 30 years, largely because of big mills on the Lake Michigan shoreline in the Calumet Region. Production in the Southern District, which encompasses mini-mills across the South, slipped to 593,000 tons in August. Total U.S. raw steel production last week was about 1.742 million tons, down from 1.768 million tons a week earlier. Nationally, domestic steel mills had a capacity utilization rate of 72.9 percent during the same time period, down from 73.9 percent the previous week. The capacity utilization rate had been a much more robust 80.2 percent at the same time a year earlier. Year-to-date steel output has been 57.5 million net tons, at a capacity utilization rate of 72.6 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.

NWI Innovators preserve past, affect future LU ANN FRANKLIN

government divisions worked on this historic project including Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Nature One project that preserves Northwest Indiana’s historic past and another that paves Preserves and its Lake Michigan Coastal Program; DNR Divisions of Historic the way to a better future for ex-offenders Preservation & Archaeology; and DNR’s State are in the limelight as NWI Innovators of Parks and Fish & Wildlife divisions and law the Month for August by the Society of enforcement agencies. Innovators of Ivy Tech Community College. The preserve now has an underwater The J.D. Marshall Preserve, named for memorial plaque recounting how the J.D. a ship that sank in Lake Michigan in 1911, Marshall capsized and sank in a storm on and the Positive Impact program that has June 11, 1911, with the loss of four lives. And changed the lives of ex-offenders in Lake there are mooring buoys for boats. County received the designation awarded by The second Innovators of the Month the society from its 2014-15 class. project looks to enhance the future for Work on Indiana’s first shipwreck nature ex-offenders and the region. Since its launch preserve began in 2009 as a team effort, in 1988 as “Project Impact,” the Positive according to Mike Molnar, program manager for Lake Michigan Coastal Program. The J.D. Impact program has helped thousands of individuals incarcerated earlier in their lives Marshall Preserve, located north of Indiana lead crime-free lives. Dunes State Park in Chesterton, opened on “I saw a need to have a support group run Sept. 20, 2013. by ex-offenders but moderated by staff,” said “People think government only thinks Mark Murphy, operations director with Lake ‘inside the box.’ This project highlights the County Community Corrections. innovation that can be achieved,” Molnar “As a result of helping others, they realize said. they are helping themselves.” More than 20 individuals and several

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Muenster master: Fair Oaks Farms cheese wins international award JOSEPH S. PETE A local dairy farm’s cheese has won international recognition. Fair Oaks Farms won Best in Show at the World Dairy Expo Championship, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association. Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman won for his Muenster at the annual contest in Madison. “Fair Oaks Farms is committed to offering unparalleled quality in all of its products,” said Fair Oaks Farms Chief Operating Officer Julie Basich. “We are proud that Bruce’s efforts and Fair Oaks Farms Fine Cheeses have earned championship recognition.”

Fair Oak Farms’ Muenster also won Best in Show at the American Cheese Society Judging and Competition in 2014. The large production farm, an agritourism destination at the border of Jasper and Newton counties, bested more than 1,000 entries of cheeses and cultured dairy products at the 2015 U.S. Cheese Championship. The farm’s wide range of cheeses, which also include Smoked Gouda, Lacy Swiss, Butterkase and Emmentaler, are available at grocery stores all across the Calumet Region. For more information, visit fofarms.com.

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Wi-Fi getting tryout on some South Shore cars KEITH BENMAN

JOHN LUKE

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) is testing Wi-Fi on some cars, hoping results will be positive and that it someday can be expanded to the entire fleet.

12 | IN BUSINESS

The South Shore is again trying out Wi-Fi, making it available to passengers on 10 high-capacity cars that are often used at rush hour. Each car with the Wi-Fi has signs alerting passengers and so far reaction has been positive, according to Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) Planning and Marketing Director John Parsons. The testing will continue through the fall before any decisions are made on expanding Wi-Fi to more cars or the entire fleet, Parsons said. The cars where Wi-Fi is being tested now are the ones with two seats on one side of the aisle and three on the other with no middle doors. “We want to gauge customer reaction,” he said. The Wi-Fi is free to passengers

and Parsons said the plan is to keep it that way, even if the service is expanded. The Wi-Fi units and installation cost roughly $1,600 per car, Parsons said. The internet connection costs NICTD $45 per car per month. Wi-Fi is wireless technology that allows people to access the Internet with computers, smartphones, tablets and other devices. Three years ago, the South Shore partnered with a Florida firm that provided Wi-Fi for South Shore cars in exchange for the right to sell ads on the Wi-Fi welcome page. The experiment was ended when the Florida vendor apparently lost interest in the project. The decision was made during the summer to try again in part because the technology has improved and the price of the Wi-Fi routers needed has come down, Parsons said.

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20 40 UNDER

CLASS OF 2015 Brandi Anstine

Hilary Powell

Joseph Battistoni

Raymond Ramirez

Gina Bell

Matthew Saltanovitz

Megan Brennan

Christopher Smith

Marie Claire Foster

Shelice Tolbert

Jeri Pat Gabbert

Michaline Tomich

Michael Glorioso

Peymon Torabi

Stephen Kavois

Daniel Vicari

Aaron McDermott

Luke Weinman IV

Alexandra Moran

Eric Zosso

14 | IN BUSINESS

20 UNDER 40

Brandi Anstine

Helps those in need, on the job and off GILES BRUCE

truly fortunate I was to have it.” “I came to realize I was on a level a lot of people aren’t,” y day, for the past Age: 33 she adds. “There are people out year-and-a-half, Brandi Title: Director of Marketing there who are one car accident or Anstine has worked and Public Relations sickness away from hitting rock to promote and grow Business Name: Adjunct bottom in terms of medical bills or HealthLinc, a Northwest Indiana Professor Link not being able to take care of their health center that serves patients Business Address: 6 Michigan Ave., Valparaiso families.” regardless of ability to pay. Business Phone: Kathleen Honl, who works in By night (or weekend), she’s (219) 707-8218, ext. 706 accounting and procurement for also been helping those in need, Website: adjunctprofessorlink. Northwestern Indiana Regional by volunteering for local groups com Planning Commission and met trying to make a difference in the Anstine in grad school, calls her the community. “hardest-working person I know” her.” “If someone asks me to do and a “marketing and development Anstine recently took a something that’s going to help an expert.” job at Adjunct Professor Link, organization, I’m definitely going She notes that Anstine attends a Valparaiso-based startup to say yes,” says Anstine, 33, of numerous community events, that, as the name suggests, Valparaiso. “As long as it’s a good whether they’re related to her job links universities with adjunct cause and going to create a better or not, and networks at each and community in Northwest Indiana.” professors. The company was every one. founded by a former professor of Anstine didn’t plan to work in “There could be 100 people in Anstine’s at Valparaiso University, marketing and development, or Kathleen Gibson. Anstine will be in a room. She’d walk out and have even make the region her home. every single business card, meet charge of marketing the business What she always had was an every person,” Honl says. “She’s on a national level. industrious spirit and a desire to just one of those charismatic, “This is an organization that’s give back. dynamic people who draws other going to be able to do a lot of good She grew up on a farm in people to her. It makes her very for education, and it’s exciting to Missouri. On a recent vacation good at what she does.” be part of an organization I get to home, she notes, her father even Anstine says she just enjoys help from the ground up,” Anstine put her to work hauling hay. meeting people. When she moved says. “This is an opportunity to She studied political science at to Valparaiso, she didn’t know University of Missouri-Kansas City really challenge my skills and anyone, so getting involved in the before earning her master’s degree abilities, and challenge myself community was a way to expand professionally and grow even in sports administration from her social network. more.” Valparaiso University. She started volunteering and But she gained a lot from She stuck around Northwest serving on the boards of local HealthLinc, a federally qualified Indiana, landing a job at health center that provides health, charitable organizations. Among Lakeshore Public Media, where dental and vision care to Northwest the local nonprofits she serves are she did marketing and special the Northwest Indiana March of Indiana patients regardless of events. Through that job, she Dimes, St. Joseph Carmelite Home insurance status. met Beth Wrobel, the CEO of in East Chicago, Porter County “I didn’t know anything HealthLinc, who had won Super Boys and Girls Club and the men’s Bowl tickets in a Lakeshore raffle. about health care before I homeless shelter at her church. came into this position,” says Later, after HealthLinc created Anstine, who oversaw marketing, She helped found the Lakeshore the position of development Professional Women’s Conference. director, Wrobel thought Anstine enrollment, outreach and public She mentors local high school and relations for HealthLinc, which would be a good fit. college students. is headquartered in Valparaiso. “Beth has been a true mentor “I do it because I think it’s our “I have been fortunate enough for me and has really helped me duty,” she says of giving back. “I throughout my career to have grow and develop personally and think we are put on this earth to health coverage but until coming professionally,” Anstine says. “I serve a bigger purpose.” into this role I didn’t realize how wouldn’t be where I am without

Brandi Anstine

TONY V. MARTIN

FALL 2015 | 15

20 UNDER 40

TONY V. MARTIN

Joseph Battistoni

Leads with creativity, positive thinking and makes things happen! 16 | IN BUSINESS

PAT COLANDER

hen Joe Battistoni was an undergraduate at Southern Illinois University, he aspired to be the next great political figure in Illinois. Upon graduation Joe achieved his goal and landed a staff job for then (and current) Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in Springfield. As buried in his unconscious

as it was, Joe did have an alternative plan. While in school he answered a help wanted ad in SIU’s revered student newspaper, The Daily Egyptian and sold enough advertising to become rookie of the year in 2004. He was soon the sales manager and then senior of the year in 2005. That’s why when he answered the call from the Tribune Co. sales manager wanting a reference on a

rep he had supervised at the student newspaper, he paused for a moment and hit rewind. The more they talked, the more intrigued Joe became. “I realized that the job sounded so interesting and became convinced that that’s what I was meant to do. My transition back to advertising started then.” Battistoni called back and got hired to sell for Tribune/RedEye and metromix.com, a division of Chicago Tribune Media Group.

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20 UNDER 40 Vice President of Sales at Tribune Publishing, Matt Bute, who Joe calls a mentor and Matt calls a friend, says that he remembers Joe Battistoni hit the ground running at the RedEye: “He always put the customer first. He wasn’t afraid to challenge assumptions. He did a great job. I’m honored that he says I am his mentor, but anyone could see from a very early point in his career that he was really wanting to take on more responsibilities and could indicate where there were going to be challenges. Right from the beginning he was a hard worker, who never asks anyone else to do something he wouldn’t do himself.” Joe Battistoni won the NAA Media Innovation Award of Excellence in 2007 while a national account executive at the Tribune/RedEye. Bute, who has known Battistoni for almost 15 years, says that explains that there was more significance to that career leap: moving from responsibility for a sales team of a handful of people to taking on the management of broad organization-wide initiatives, is even more challenging. Because, as Matt Bute explains, “now you are trying to get 30-40-50 people moving in the same direction,” and most of them are not your direct reports. Battistoni was there for two-anda-half years before an executive recruiter found him. Since his arrival at the Times Media Co. in 2014, Battistoni has been “an absolute game-changer,” taking the digital sales operation from one of the worst performers in (its) peer group to the top of the list in only six months,” says Publisher Chris White. “Through expanded training efforts, a change in go-to market strategy, an expanded product line and lots of energetic leadership, Joe created a true culture change that has had positive ripple effects throughout our organization,” White says. “Every day, Joe leads from the front and makes great things happen.” “It was Chris White’s commitment to digital,” Joe Battistoni says, that made accepting the position of Director

18 | IN BUSINESS

Joseph Battistoni

Age: 32 Title: Director of Digital Advertising Business Name: The Times Media Co./nwi.com Business Address: 601 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321 Business Phone: (219) 933-4155 Website: nwi.com

of Digital Advertising at the Times of Northwest Indiana, such a great fit. Since coming into the Times Media Co. 18 months ago, he has worked to develop what is sustainable in the evolution of traditional media into something new and better and instilling a positive attitude, “helping people feel like they can win,” he says. “We have awesome sales teams here,” Battistoni says. “We’ve

seen phenomenal, back-to-back, double-digit gains here over the past two years. Our revenue was up 20 percent in 2014 and now in fiscal 2015 we will have grown 30 percent year-over-year and the Times consistently turns in the highest performance in digital in this company.” Battistoni is known for his creativity, the driving force in his constant promotions and

that quality is frequently cited as contributing to his success in sales. Joe Battistoni is particularly excited about the imminent launch of Times Media’s new full-service agency, AMPLIFIED, and the possibilities to support clients and their businesses. Joe was recently named to Editor and Publisher Magazine’s 25 under 35 list and gave his advice for success: “Evangelize digital every chance you get. There is nothing more exciting than the explosion of digital. Whether it’s audience growth on your own site, capabilities and function of your organization or the newest social platform—everyone wants to talk about it, and we are lucky enough to sell it. “Never fear making the big mistake,” he explains. “The biggest fear young professionals should have is not taking big enough risks to truly effect change. Publishing is in transition, and its success will come from young leaders shaping the future with new innovations, and we all know that comes with perfecting our practice and learning from our mistakes. “Every organization will have their fair share of skeptics, but avoid those people, and continue to prove them wrong with consistent results and constant innovation. Have fun, take no prisoners, and let the magic happen. You can never predict where your next big idea will come from.” Battistoni is leading a new effort with Strack and Van Til leadership to start the Checkout Challenge in October. The Times and Strack and Van Til are partnering to raise significant dollars and build awareness of local charitable organizations in Northwest Indiana. This initiative is projected to raise over $200,000 for local charities and more importantly educate the region about local causes. Battistoni continues as a long time active member at Grace Fellowship Church in Mokena. Joe credits his wife for her support. Joe and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Lila, two-and-a-half, and Joey Jr., age one.

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Gina Bell

Rallies neighbors to help Habitat homeowners VANESSA RENDERMAN

Gina Bell

ina Bell wants people to find their colors again. As volunteer coordinator and life coach at Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, Bell asks each family that receives a home through the organization to create a tree. “The base is all the colors you’re born with,” she says. “The middle is black. The top is all the colors, and all the colors are reaching to the sun.” It’s symbolic of how everyone, even people with bright foundations, goes through a dark time. “Each family makes this tree,” she says. “It’s framed and displayed during their home dedication.” Bell took over in the volunteer coordinator capacity about a year ago and brought a host of ideas to expand Habitat’s reach. “We have to put a creative spin on things,” she says. “We need to go into the community on non-build volunteer work.” Among those ideas is a fashion show planned for January. “When you think of Habitat, you don’t think of a fashion show,” she says. It’s a way to bring in new volunteers. Another idea is to send volunteers caroling in December at the homes built through Habitat. “We’re on task to have all the Habitat homes caroled at,” she says. Groups will go to the home, sing and leave a small gift. “It’s a sign of hope and of communities coming together,” she says. “All over Northwest Indiana in the month of December, there’s going to be singing groups. We’re really excited about that.” And it could open the door for more volunteers and donors. Bell

Age: 37 Title: Volunteer Coordinator and Life Coach Business name: Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Business address: 6114 Ridge Road, Gary Business phone: (219) 923-7265 Website: www.nwihabitat.org

TONY V. MARTIN

looks at the volunteers as flowers in a garden. Some are annuals, some perennials. “We want to plant perennial volunteers to come back time after time,” she says. “They bring such light and such color. They inspire me to recruit and find more volunteers like them.” Bell grew up in Chicago Heights and remembers a little pink brick house in her neighborhood. It was a Habitat for Humanity build. She learned then and continues to promote that the home-building program is a “hand up, not a hand

out.” She enjoys watching families go through their journey until they get the keys to their house. As a life coach through her private practice and through Habitat, Bell wants people to embrace creativity and imagination, things that often fade with age. She meets with Habitat participants every two weeks to help them explore their dreams. The 37-year-old Dyer resident is a married mother of six. “My kids inspire me every day to grow,” she says.

When there’s time, she enjoys modeling and shooting her own yoga photography as a way to promote stress release through creative discovery. She also bakes vegan cupcakes and used to cater them under the name Black Bark Bakery. She may return to the catering later in life, she says. In his letter nominating Bell for 20 Under 40, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Executive Director Daniel Klein says Bell has brought new life to the volunteer program. “Gina’s charisma, energy and boundless enthusiasm is the driving force behind the revitalization of volunteerism in the Habitat community,” Klein says. He says Bell instantly made herself at home and brought new ideas and creativity to the growing affiliate. “Gina works closely with our partner families, guiding each of them through her 12-week program, encouraging them to follow their dreams and finding a clear vision of their future path in life,” he writes. “Gina encourages everyone to get a 64-count box of crayons and color outside the lines of life.” He also compliments her idea to plant a tree in the yard of each new home built. “The tree serves as a reminder, as it grows, so will the partner families within our organization,” he writes.

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20 UNDER 40 MEGAN BRENNAN

Megan Brennan

Lawyer whose work is infused with ministry at Franciscan Alliance LESLY BAILEY

Megan C. Brennan

ince the days of bringing her daughter to her law school classes at Notre Dame, family and faith have steered the direction of Megan Brennan’s life and career. “I really had an atypical start to becoming a lawyer because I have always had to balance career and family. I had my first daughter during my second year of law school. When I did not bring her to class, I had to arrange childcare. Studying was limited to what I could squeeze in,” she says. “My whole professional life has been shaped by my family. “Work is meant to increase our ability to flourish and I have been very fortunate with work that has facilitated my ability to grow as a lawyer and in my personal life.” In February, Brennan took on the role as general counsel to the South Suburban Chicago Ministry of Franciscan Alliance working on the Franciscan St. James Health campuses in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields. “It is an interesting role not typical for an attorney … to be working in a mission-based environment. The Sisters of St. Francis’ mission to care for patients touches everything at Franciscan Alliance,” she says. “My work varies from reviewing contracts to operational or personnel matters. I may have three different questions in a day that I have never worked through before … it keeps it fresh.” The Munster resident has shifted gears after focusing on litigation for 10 years as an attorney at Eichhorn & Eichhorn LLP. “It was a great experience. Litigation is an adversarial process: It’s you against someone else. You have to learn how to be a strong advocate for your client without unproductive aggression. The litigators at Eichhorn are

20 | IN BUSINESS

Age: 35 Title: General Counsel, South Suburban Chicago Ministry Business Name: Franciscan Alliance Inc. Business Address: 1423 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights Business Phone: (708) 756-1000 Web site: franciscanalliance.org

TONY V. MARTIN

talented and I was lucky to have good mentors,” she says. Nicholas Lagina works with Brennan in his role as general counsel for Franciscan Alliance in the Northern Indiana Ministry and they also crossed paths professionally during her time with Eichhorn & Eichhorn. “Megan is a gifted attorney, but even better person. After years of private practice, she adeptly shifted her legal focus and quickly transitioned to become an effective member of the Franciscan Alliance legal department,” he says. “She instills confidence and comfort in those around her with her gregarious personality and remarkable ability to communicate decisively and effectively. When it comes to

leadership style, she has a knack for filling exactly the role that is needed.” Brennan found becoming a lawyer was a good fit for her skill set. Initially focusing on medical malpractice defense was also a natural progression after growing up being exposed to her mother’s role as a risk manager at a hospital. “I like to analyze the best arguments to solve problems, so being a lawyer made sense to me. I grew up exposed to medical malpractice cases through my mom’s job. Litigation requires you to learn the substance of the subject matter involved in a lawsuit,” she says. “You have to speak the language of the case so medical malpractice was a perfect

fit for me having some familiarity in the area.” Outside of work, Brennan and her family — husband Patrick and children Gabrielle, 11, Carla, 8, and Sean, 6 — are active in their parish, St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, where Megan and Patrick co-teach faith formation. The family has also volunteered in Chicago at a Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS). PADS offers meals and overnight shelter at places of faith to help the homeless. “I want to contribute to my community and I want to foster the desire to serve in our children. True happiness lies in caring for others,” she says. Megan and Patrick also serve as marriage encounter community coordinators for the Northwest Indiana Marriage Encounter (ME) community and are members of the Gary-Chicago-Joliet Diocese ME presenting team. “We talk about the stuff that gets in the way of being in a good relationship, some of the pitfalls inherent to marriage. Hopefully, by sharing our struggles and successes, couples can learn from that to better communicate and empathize with each other,” she says. “I feel fortunate to be at a place where I can invest time in multiple priorities: from my career to my faith journey to my family. I want to live a life and look back and say, ‘That was reasonably well-done.’”

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Marie Claire Foster Raises awareness and engagement at PNC ANDREW STEELE

arie Claire Foster is energized by the creative power that comes through developing connections between people and organizations. Engaging hearts and minds is her vocation, though she is officially the director of advancement at Purdue University North Central. “Most people would consider it to be fundraising,” she says of her position, “but in reality what I do is more engagement.” Foster says her role is to link people, businesses and organizations to the university. “I’m kind of a connection to the outside world.” In addition to handling donor relations and special events, the Office of Advancement also manages alumni relations for the campus’ approximately 13,000 graduates — another activity that’s about connections. “It’s building that relationship with alumni,” Foster says. A team of four regular employees and four student employees and interns work in the advancement office. “She’s an amazing young woman,” says PNC Chancellor James Dworkin. “She’s had a meteoric rise to her current position.” Foster, a Merrillville High School and Purdue University of West Lafayette graduate, didn’t start out in the world of fundraising and marketing. She was a middle school history and art teacher for 10 years in Texas before returning home to Northwest Indiana. Upon her return, Foster took a marketing job with a local company, then a similar position with the Porter County Parks Department, where, among other responsibilities, she worked on the Winter Lights Night festival at Sunset Hill County Park. “As I did,” she recalls, “I realized what amazing connections could

22 | IN BUSINESS

Marie Claire Foster Age: 39 Title: Director of Advancement Business name: Purdue University North Central Business address: 1401 S. U.S. 241, Westville Business phone: (219) 755-5200 Website: pnc.edu

TONY V. MARTIN

be made from just one event. That energized me.” And that experience led to her current job. “I’m a Purdue graduate so I love Purdue,” Foster says. “I wanted to be able to help build the university.” The university’s mission intersects with those of large corporations, small nonprofits, and everything in between. “It all kind of funnels through here for the purpose of educating students,” Foster explains. “It’s very powerful.” Dworkin said he’s impressed by Foster’s engagement with the community, and is comfortable having her represent his office and the campus. “I have great

confidence she takes care of that,” he says. Foster’s focus on building is continuing with the merger of Purdue North Central and Purdue Calumet. “We will be able to create a lot of synergy in the region,” she says. “I see the benefit. I see the exciting potential we have.” With her marketing experience, Foster thinks that much of the challenge will be fostering and branding. Her job is to create the new Purdue Northwest in the public’s consciousness. “We have the new brand that we’re formulating,” she says. “It’s going to take time for that transition to occur, but I see it as an

opportunity.” Her experience and education — which includes a master of business administration degree from Purdue North Central — has also led her back into teaching. She is a lecturer in marketing in the College of Business at PNC. In addition to being back “on that side” in the classroom, teaching puts her in touch with the challenges of the university’s faculty members. “I’m aware of how they’re feeling, or what their needs are,” Foster says, and in very specific ways. Foster also serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet, which is charged with the mission of creating bonds between segments of the university’s community. The Chancellor’s Cabinet opens up various departments to see the broader picture, and also helps coordinate participation in events like the Day of Giving. This year, Purdue North Central raised 23 times more money than in 2014, Foster says, “because of collaboration that took place across campus.” Outside of her work at the university, Foster enjoys watching sunsets at the beach with her family and nurtures an interest in the arts — playing guitar and painting. She also serves on the boards of the Memorial Opera House Foundation in Valparaiso, and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, and is a member of the Tri-Kappa philanthropic sorority.

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Jeri Pat Gabbert

Helps grow reputation, brand of IU Northwest GILES BRUCE

Jeri Pat Gabbert

eri Pat Gabbert’s colleagues say a lot has changed at Indiana University Northwest during Gabbert’s three years as the vice chancellor for university advancement and external affairs: an improved reputation, an enhanced presence in the community and increased fundraising. “Jeri Pat’s been a breath of fresh air,” says Chuck Gallmeier, chancellor’s professor of sociology at IUN and a 20-year veteran of the Gary campus. “She’s the most competent, most professional person we’ve had in that role. She’s getting the job done like no one has before: fundraising, scholarships. She really is a master at this.” Gabbert, 39, brought years of experience with her when she arrived at IUN in October 2012. She had served as the director of major gifts for Valparaiso University for more than eight years and, before that, worked in political fundraising in Indianapolis. At IUN, she oversees four offices: development, alumni relations, campus events, and marketing and communications. She attended Hanover College, then Ball State University for her graduate work, majoring in communications. Communicating with a wide range of people is a big part of what she does. “It’s unusual to have someone that young with such maturity,” says Pat Bankston, associate dean of the medical school at IUN. “It’s not an easy job to do in an academic institution, where you have a combination of people with distinct backgrounds and varying educational levels, and professors, with all the egos. She has to get along with us and be productive and move IUN

Age: 39 Title: Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and External Affairs Business Name: Indiana University Northwest Business Address: 3400 Broadway, Cedar Hall, Gary Business Phone: (219) 980-6800 Web site: iun.edu/ university-advancement

TONY V. MARTIN

forward.” In her role, she raises funds for the school, increases IUN’s presence in the community and connects students with financial assistance to further their education. “The No. 1 thing that I’m always the most proud of is when

I’m able to hear from a student that the work we’re doing in this office has made a difference to them,” Gabbert says. “Over 75 percent of our students need some type of scholarship assistance. I work with donors to get money to make that happen.” Afterward, she has students

write thank-you letters to the donors, saying that without their help they wouldn’t have been able to go to school. “In terms of fundraising,” she notes, “I want to raise more funds so more students can come to IU Northwest and follow their dreams. That’s always the No. 1 goal.” To do that, she links members of the faculty with donors who are interested in their given area of expertise. David Malik, the former executive vice chancellor of IUN and current chancellor’s professor of chemistry and chemical biology at IUPUI, says that both Gabbert’s work and personal lives are dedicated to improving the region. He describes her as “very animated and engaging, a delightful person.” In her off time, Gabbert, who lives in Valparaiso with her husband and two children, works to improve access to affordable child care in Valparaiso, serves on the Valparaiso Events board of directors and is the chair of the Counsel for Advancement in Support of Education of Indiana. “Her whole way of life is about community service,” Malik says. Says Gabbert: “I want to be passionate about what I do, whether that’s volunteer work or professional work.”

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20 UNDER MICHAEL GLORIOSO 40

Michael Glorioso

Leads by extending helping hands to others PHILIP POTEMPA

Michael Glorioso

ichael Glorioso knows the importance and value of both volunteerism and the limitless resources afforded from dedicated retirees eager to help others. “There is so much to be learned from volunteering and seniors are a group dedicated to making a difference in the community,” says Glorioso, 34, United Way Retired and Senior Volunteer Program director of NWI. “I’ve been with this program for four years, and what was originally a program serving Lake, LaPorte and Starke counties has now expanded into Porter County as well because of a grant.” Prior to joining the RSVP program based at the United Way of Porter County offices in Valparaiso, Glorioso was with Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana for seven years. “While at Meals on Wheels, I gained valuable experience and served in a number of areas, from part-time driver and kitchen work to eventually moving into the role of volunteer manager responsible for 900 volunteers serving our clients’ needs.” A 1999 graduate of Merrillville High School, he earned a degree in performing arts from Marian College. “My career path has always led me to work with others who are older and it’s always been rewarding,” Glorioso says. “This is an age group spanning 55 to our oldest volunteer who is 100 years old and they all have so much to give and a willingness to share their gifts and talents with others.” United Way RSVP ranks as America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over. Consisting of more than 500,000 volunteers throughout

24 | IN BUSINESS

Age: 34 Title: Program director Organization name: United Way RSVP — retired and senior volunteer program of NWI Organization address: 951 Eastporte Centre Drive, Valparaiso Organization phone: (219) 464-3583 Web site: nwivolunteer.Org

TONY V. MARTIN

the country, RSVP members serve communities under the guidance of the program’s leaders like Glorioso, who evaluate and assess volunteers’ capabilities to find assignments to make a positive difference. RSVP offers a full range of opportunities and specializes in placing older and more experienced adults, while teaching new skills and utilizing existing skills to benefit others. RSVP members are assigned to assist at hospitals, food banks, shelters, hospice, nutrition sites, civic centers, day care centers, office and clerical opportunities and after-school programs for children, teenagers and young adults. “We take the guess work out of deciding what might be the ideal fit for someone who is eager to find a volunteer opportunity,” Glorioso says. “Currently, we have 85 categories of different volunteer

positions based at 42 station sites throughout our four counties we serve. And everyone has their desired interests, despite a skill set. For example, we find retired teachers aren’t always interested in volunteer work with students because they’ve already spent their career working with that young demographic. And retired nurses will often request to be placed in some other capacity besides a health care setting since they are ready for a change after so many years dedicated to the same needs.” Sharon Kish, president of Porter County United Way, says she is impressed with both Glorioso’s creative talents to inspire his volunteers and also his vision for the program’s growth and expansion. “Michael is so passionate about his work and his enthusiasm spreads to everyone around him,”

Kish says. “He remains very organized as a wonderful young leader coordinating what is a very large federal program with continued success every step of the way.” Glorioso, with the help of one other employee in his department, leads 325 currently active senior volunteers and has a goal of raising his volunteer number to 450 by next year. “We emphasize to our volunteers all of the benefits of this time investment,” Glorioso says. “We keep everyone connected with a newsletter and also offer educational training and seminars as part of our program, ranging from topics like learning sign language to safety training. We also are able to offer a mileage reimbursement option of 35 cents a mile to help assist with volunteer transportation needs.” Glorioso says the program’s affiliation with United Way has made his role in marketing the program much easier because of the reputation for excellence associated with the United Way organization. “We still have more outreach work to do to get the word out about RSVP and all that we do,” Glorioso says. “But just being able to say we are a program based with United Way helps so much, because people know how strong the United Way connection is for helping make communities better for everyone.”

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20 UNDER 40

Stephen Kavois

LESLY BAILEY

Stephen Kavois

‘I

t’s very rewarding when you sit down with a client, go through all their numbers and give them the green light to go ahead and retire,” he says. “Clients retire once in a lifetime but as a financial adviser, I retire several times a week via my clients.” Kavois has been with Oak Partners Inc. since 2005 working as a financial adviser and CFP© (Certified Financial Planner™) practitioner. In January, he became a partner and equity owner of the wealth management firm, which has five locations: Crown Point, Valparaiso, Auburn, Lafayette and Cincinnati. He also hosts a financial radio show, “Making Finance Personal,” on WJOB-AM 1230 at 9 a.m. on Mondays. “My day-to-day involves meeting with clients, managing client portfolios, researching investment opportunities, and networking and meeting new potential clients,” he says. “I am also heading up a centralized investment research and asset management team for our firm.” Kavois says his role and his firm’s philosophy really go beyond financial planning. “In our industry, of course, everyone talks about account performance and how to manage money and pick investments … that is very important, but that is really only half of the picture. I jokingly say that my job is 50 percent analyst and 50 percent therapist,” he says. “The client relationship part is the part that we excel at. “We reinvest in our clients through an unmatched program of client education and social activities for our clients, particularly retirees. I am responsible for many of the systems and client events that have become Oak Partners’ institutions.” At 35, Kavois already has 10 years of experience in his field — a combination that he believes will help his clients in the long run. “My office and myself are old

26 | IN BUSINESS

Retires on a regular basis Age: 35 Title: Partner and wealth adviser Business Name: Oak Partners Inc. Business Address: 55 W. 94th Place, Crown Point Business Phone: (219) 795-1000 Web site: oakpartners.com

enough to know how to do the job, but young enough to not just rest on our laurels and keep innovating and educating ourselves. Even at 35, I am on the young side for a financial planner. The demographic is greatly skewed toward the baby boomer adviser. As they retire, it could potentially leave a void for experienced advisers to take over their client relationships,” he says. “If you are about to retire, you plan on living quite some time into retirement and you want someone to be there throughout that time … you don’t want to go to your adviser’s retirement party the week after yours. “I am young enough to be there well throughout — if not completely through — my clients’ retirement.” Kavois grew up in Crown Point, graduated from Merrillville High School in 1998 and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette where he received a bachelor’s in management in 2002. He obtained his series 7 and 66 registrations and is a registered representative of SII

the organization through participation in three Chicago marathons, Porter County Community Foundation as a junior advisory committee member, Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County and Emerge South Shore. Ann Marie Woolwine, of Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP, has known Kavois since their high school years and has worked with him on nonprofit activities including as Amazing Advisers for Opportunity Enterprises. “As a leader in the region, TONY V. MARTIN Stephen will no doubt make an impact on any project he’s Investments Inc. involved — whether big or small: “I am most proud of obtaining his dedication, work ethic and my CFP certification. It involves honest approach will make an entire a significant educational committee perform to the best of its requirement, ethical guidelines ability,” she says. and a 12-hour board exam,” he “Plus, he’s fun to be around — an says. “I have a bigger knowledge all-in-all good guy who can bring base and it’s a representation of out the best in those around him.” going the extra mile to take my He hopes that he inspires career seriously. It’s a serious job others to volunteer as he builds that I do … people trust me with their life savings. Their money is as on lessons garnered from having almost 3-year-old triplet sons important to me as it is to them.” Graham, Reed and Flynn with wife Kavois has been giving back Marissa. to the community since he “It seems like Gen Y and first became a referee at soccer Millenials in the region find it tournaments for the Special difficult to balance career, family Olympics. and giving back to the community. “My parents and grandparents I try to find time to get involved were very generous with their time and money. It’s so rewarding and it’s as difficult as it may seem,” he says. “Having triplets has helped almost selfish the good feeling you me become even more effective at get,” he says. time management to make time for Kavois also has been involved everything I want to do. with the Methodist Hospital “You can find a need out in the Foundation, assisting with the community to fill whatever your organization’s golf outings, commitment level is time-wise and Opportunity Enterprises as an financially.” Amazing Adviser and supporting

20 UNDER 40

Aaron McDermott

Brings public service philosophy to commercial real estate CHRISTINE BRYANT

oming from a family with a dad and older brother, both mayors of Hammond, you might think Aaron McDermott would have taken a career path into public office. Instead, McDermott found his passion in helping companies in Northwest Indiana and Chicago with commercial real estate. In 2009, with his younger brother, Brett, he founded Latitude Commercial. “For as long as I have known Aaron, he has never shied away from the public success of his family name, but was very

TONY V. MARTIN

determined to make his own mark in a different area,” according to Rick Calinski, NIPSCO public affairs manager and former high school classmate of Aaron McDermott. “It turns out Aaron has really found his passion in commercial real estate.”

As owner and president of Latitude Commercial, McDermott provides commercial real estate services, such as purchasing, leasing and tenant representation, to local companies. Being a small business owner himself, his day-to-day responsibilities can change, from working on a marketing project one minute to handling brokerage for a company in the next hour. “I really enjoy the challenge and problem-solving in this business,” he says. “There can be complex issues with some of the assignments, as no two deals are alike.” McDermott has had the

opportunity to consult some of the most successful franchisees and business owners in the region on commercial real estate — something that brings unpredictability to the workplace. “Although I try to make a conscious effort to manage my day instead of letting it manage me, there are always days when you have no idea where it may take you,” McDermott says. “The most exciting part of the job is coming up with an idea for a project, putting it into action and it working out.” His days are not confined to handling the region’s commercial real estate transactions, however.

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20 UNDER 40

TONY V. MARTIN

Outside of his work, he enjoys giving back in other ways — serving as board chairman of the Lake Area United Way and board member at the Crisis Center. “Both are great organizations that provide essential services to our under-privileged residents here in Northwest Indiana,” he says. He is also married and he and his wife, Christina, 10 months ago welcomed baby Jordan into the family. Lisa Daugherty, president and CEO of the Lake Area United Way, says McDermott has been a great board leader, and has given his time to serve on the Executive Committee and chair a fundraising campaign. “He is leading us through an exciting transition we are undergoing with our business model that will ultimately impact many more lives in a meaningful and sustainable way,” she says. In fact, after stepping up to chair the 2013 United Way fundraising drive, he led the

28 | IN BUSINESS

Aaron McDermott

Age: 37 Title: President/Owner Business name: Latitude Commercial Business address: 2342 Cline Ave., Schererville Business phone: (219) 864-0200 Website: latitudeco.com

organization to surpass its fundraising goal, Calinski says. “If you get to know Aaron well, you realize he doesn’t sit still and is always doing something new,” he adds. McDermott’s passion for the United Way and its mission is apparent, Daugherty says. “He doesn’t shy away from difficult decisions, always expresses his opinion even when it may not be the popular opinion, and he is very respectful of others’ contributions.” Though McDermott has found success in real estate, that career path wasn’t always his goal. In

fact, his career in real estate started with an internship for a mortgage company in Phoenix during his junior year at Indiana University. Although he had planned to attend law school after college, he changed his mind and took a job at a mortgage company in Chicago, eventually landing at a firm in Merrillville. “I thought a good way to get new business was to meet new agents in the business, so I went to get my real estate license,” he explains. “It only took a short time to realize how much more I enjoyed doing the real estate side than mortgages.” Calinski recalls hearing McDermott explain a particular real estate deal, concluding how a successful transaction would create jobs and tax base for the community. “I remember thinking that he sounded like someone running for office, so maybe all that time growing up around the public sector has provided Aaron a selfless

approach to not only being a successful real estate agent, but also by making his community a better place to live,” he says. McDermott offers the following advice for young professionals — work smart, be patient and always look for ways to improve. “Work smart by always thinking three steps ahead and planning out the day,” he says. He also advises others to be patient and not rush for instant gratification. “I know I was like that when I was younger,” McDermott says. “To be great at something you need to be the expert at it. You cannot be an expert at it without knowledge and experience.” Daugherty says she appreciates McDermott’s enthusiasm for Northwest Indiana and his willingness to help others. “Through his business and community involvement, he works hard to make this a better place to live and work,” she says. “Through thick and thin, I can always count on Aaron.”

20 UNDER 40

Alexandra Moran

Guides wealth management clients, equestrian team

JOSEPH S. PETE

lexandra “AJ” Moran single-handedly accomplishes the work of at least a few people. She’s an assistant vice president and the branch manager at Ameriprise Financial in Orland Park, where she advises clients on financial issues like estate planning, tax planning and retirement income strategies. She’s also an adjunct professor of business at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, a board member of Taltree Arboretum and Gardens in Valparaiso, and the hunter jumper coach for the Purdue Cal Equestrian Team. A former nationally top-rated equestrian rider who has been riding since she was 5, Moran is also a certified equine appraiser who teaches in Purdue Calumet’s School of Management for equine businesses and runs an equine-assisted learning business that offers corporate leadership team-building — on horseback. “AJ is one of those rare individuals who simultaneously thinks strategically to accomplish the ‘big picture’ while paying attention to detail and managing multiple projects successfully,” says Diana M. Subka, registered operations lead for Ameriprise Financial Services in Orland Park. “She has a keen eye for talent and is accomplished when working with people to bring out their potential and assist them in becoming better in whatever role they are in. AJ not only is a successful branch manager for our firm, she also is an accomplished equine instructor and actively pursues her passion and spends her time teaching at Purdue University. She consistently acts with integrity and energy and the people around her are inspired by her intelligent approach to finding solutions.”

TONY V. MARTIN

Moran is especially active as a volunteer in the community, says Stan Hollenbeck with the consulting firm Hollenbeck Strategies. “As an outstanding volunteer in her community, AJ serves as board member of Valparaiso’s Taltree Arboretum and Gardens and was a trustee for Saint Xavier University (in Chicago) as well as a board member for the Housing Opportunities for Women, a non-profit organization,” Hollenbeck says. “I know of no person who deserves to be honored as one of her community’s noteworthy 20 Under 40 than Alexandra ‘AJ’ Moran.” Moran is dedicated and puts hard work into everything she does, whether at the office or in the barn, according to Emily Robinson, who has known her for 10 years. “She has never let anything get

Alexandra ‘AJ’ Moran

Age: 36 Title: Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager Business Name: Ameriprise Financial Business Address: 15255 S. 94th Ave., Ste 405, Orland Park, Ill. Business Phone: (708) 226-3400 Web site: ameriprise.com

in the way of her goals,” Robinson says. “AJ knows what it means to make goals a reality and she has taught others how to do the same thing. AJ is not just focused on achieving her own personal goals, but she is focused on helping others achieve their goals as well.” Moran has a master’s degree in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and previously

worked for the City of Chicago as a legislative aide before transitioning into wealth management, where she now manages an office for a Fortune 500 company and was voted Outstanding Leader by her staff last year. “My personal path and journey has been about connecting people to resources,” she says. “I get a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment from helping people make the tough decisions as well as the easy decisions while giving them the tools and resources they need to be able to do what’s important to them.” She views all of her various roles as interconnected. “I work with individuals and nonprofits and families to help them achieve for themselves,” she says. “I help students achieve their educational goals. I don’t see it as balancing multiple things, but instead being on a single path.”

FALL 2015 | 29

SPONSORED CONTENT

and visitors. The restoration work at Burns Harbor has resulted in the facility’s certification by Wildlife Habitat Council as a Corporate Lands for Learning site in 2013 and a Wildlife at Work site in 2014. At our Global Research and Development campus in East Chicago, ArcelorMittal partnered with The Field Museum and The Nature Conservancy to restore 7 acres of globally rare dune and swale habitat. This site was identified in the Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision, a visioning project which identified 1.4 million acres that can be restored, protected or connected through conservation and thoughtful, sustainable development practices. To complement these projects, ArcelorMittal identified a unique opportunity to use restoration as an education tool. We partnered with local nonprofit organizations Dunes Learning Center, the Field Museum and Shirley Heinze Land Trust on the Mighty Acorns® program, a curriculum that annually introduces thousands of fourth- through sixth-grade students in the Calumet Region to nature and conservation stewardship through activities based on education, restoration and exploration. More than 200 students visit ArcelorMittal sites each summer to pull invasive species, study dune and swale and black oak savanna habitat and learn a bit about the daily operations of a steel facility. In addition, we provide grants to organizations like the Lake Heritage Parks Foundation to purchase equipment such as microscopes, binoculars and stereoscopes that broaden educational offerings and augment STEM programming for area students. Expanding our reach, ArcelorMittal has a long history of bringing together private sector companies and government agencies to enhance communities. In 2007, ArcelorMittal teamed up with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and a number of public agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to launch the Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) program. Aimed

at tackling key ecological issues, the SOGL program gives out competitive grants for projects that sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the Great Lakes basin. ArcelorMittal remains the only corporate partner of the program and sits at the table in all grant-making decisions, working with other program partners to set project goals and strategy.

More than 200 students visit ArcelorMittal sites each summer to pull invasive species, study dune and swale and black oak savanna habitat and learn a bit about the daily operations of a steel facility. The success of SOGL — our flagship public-private partnership — continues to echo through the Great Lakes region and each year delivers hundreds of thousands of dollars of restoration funding specifically in the Calumet Region. In 2014, the program awarded $100,000 to Shirley Heinze Land Trust for its work to restore the Hobart Marsh in Hobart. Native plant communities will be restored on 247 acres at four sites within the Hobart Marsh complex. This project will reduce threats to protected areas and ensure habitats are improved for area wildlife including amphibians, waterfowl and other migratory birds. We continue to partner with NFWF, and in 2013, established the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund, a public-private partnership with eight additional organizations working to restore the health, vitality and accessibility of the

waterways in the Chicago and Calumet regions. Each year, these funds provide millions of dollars in on-the-ground restoration, habitat enhancement, stormwater infrastructure and publicuse improvement grants to the Calumet Region. ArcelorMittal recognizes the important role that the Chicago and Calumet watersheds play in promoting a positive quality of life for our employees and citizens as well as the economic viability of the Calumet Region on both sides of the Illinois–Indiana state border. We are committed to remaining a leader in public-private partnerships to protect and conserve not only the Great Lakes and Calumet regions, but those ecosystems near our facilities around the world. In dedicating ourselves to our communities, we place the importance of environmental sustainability and protection in those communities as a long-term priority. All around Northwest Indiana, there are many ways to see the beauty of the Calumet Region in action. We encourage our employees and everyone who lives and works in the region to learn more about the natural ecosystems that surround us. • Visit Shirley Heinze Land Trust at www.heinzetrust.org and participate in “Take a walk with Shirley,” an initiative building awareness and raising funds for land preservation and protection in the region. • Spend a Saturday at Taltree Arboretum and Gardens in Valparaiso, a dog-friendly oak preserve of gardens, woodlands, wetlands and prairies that offers exhibits year-round. Find more information at www.taltree.org. • Learn more about the Calumet Region and the relationship between people and nature with The Calumet Stewardship Initiative, a collective of more than 40 member organizations focused on improving the Calumet Region at www.calumetstewardship. org. These and so many other organizations are the heart of the Calumet Region and valued partners of ArcelorMittal. We hope you’ll learn more about them and us at usa.arcelormittal.com.

FALL 2015 | 31

20 UNDER 40

Hilary Powell

Reaching out to others in her profession and community CHRISTINE BRYANT

une into 89.1 FM or turn on the TV, and you’ll likely hear something Hilary Powell had a role in creating. As anchor, managing producer and assignment editor for Lakeshore Public Media, Powell sees the show from concept to completion every day. “My job is a unique hybrid,” she says. “Not only am I doing station managerial duties and representing Lakeshore, but I also spend a large amount of time creating content for our 30-minute news and public affairs show, ‘Lakeshore Report.’” At age 30, Powell provides the main editorial vision as the managing producer, deciding the show’s content from top to bottom. “Our broadcast provides region-centered stories that are accurate, timely and topical for the residents of Northwest Indiana,” she said. “Because our intimate team of anchors and reporters — there’s only three of us — are often in the field interacting with our audience, I’d like to think we know the issues and stories that matter most to our viewers.” Steven Lattimore, who works with Powell at Lakeshore, says she is a team builder and is supportive of her co-workers. “She is always trying to get the best stories for her viewers,” he says. “The type of stories she champions are the ones that no one else has or are told in a way to give the viewer the most information possible.” Before playing an important role in news production for Lakeshore, Powell began as a parttime reporter and video journalist. Within a year, she was promoted to her current role. “I most enjoy that I have a chance to share someone’s truth,” she says. “For a time in my own life, I had forgotten my voice.”

32 | IN BUSINESS

TONY V. MARTIN

journalism institution, I expect a lot from a Medill student. I was Hilary Powell blown away by Hilary.” Age: 30 Her ability to quickly grasp the Title: Anchor/Managing essence of a story, to know what Producer/Assignment Editor questions to ask and to uncover Business name: Lakeshore new information at such a young Public Media age quickly earned Powell a top Business address: spot in Tucker’s intern Rolodex, 8625 Indiana Place, Merrillville she says. Business phone: (219) 755-4312 “I am not at all surprised at Website: lakeshorepublicmedia.org Hilary’s current success and I have no doubt her accomplishments to date will pale in comparison to her It was shortly after leaving the future endeavors,” Tucker says. Oprah Winfrey Network that she decided she wanted to get back into “I’m just proud to call her a mentee and a friend.” a career of broadcast journalism. When not at Lakeshore, Powell She was without a job and trying to get a foot — or elbow or toe, she enjoys mentoring others the same as she was mentored. says — in the door. “I recently returned from the “PBS provided that chance,” Powell says. “It’s a privilege to walk National Association of Black Journalists’ annual conference, in another’s shoes and share their where I served as a mentor for tale as a journalist.” student reporters,” she explains. Dorothy Tucker, a mentor to “I still keep in touch with some of Powell, says it’s rare for her to these young people.” encounter someone as focused, She is also involved in the determined and dedicated to her women’s ministry at Bethel Church craft as Powell. “Hilary interned with me at CBS2 while a student at in Crown Point, and recently Medill,” Tucker says. “As a premier joined the Girl Scouts of Greater

Chicago and Northwest Indiana as a volunteer. In the past year, Powell has embarked on some coveted fellowships as well. These include the Radio Television Digital News Association, Covering Race and Police at Columbia College Chicago, the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism, and Knight Science Journalism at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “They continue to bear fruit in helping me tell good narratives,” Powell says. “I am so thankful for each experience and I can only hope it makes me a more wellrounded reporter.” She advises young journalists to be grateful for every lesson, whether it comes from a success or a setback. “And be aware of your advantage as a young person,” Powell says. “I’ve found people want to share what they know, especially with curious parties. So be a student in your new role as a young professional, always curious and humble.”

20 UNDER 40

Ray Ramirez

Sharing and security specialist, collaborates to keep railroads safe

Vanessa RendeRman

t 39 years old, Ray Ramirez jokes that he’s the old guy now. At least at work. He went from patrolling miles of railroad as a rookie, ascending to the role of chief of police and special services at Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in Hammond. “I was hired in 2004 as a special agent, promoted to sergeant in 2009 in charge of a shift of two special agents and then promoted to lieutenant in 2013 overseeing all special agents and began learning administrative responsibilities, then appointed to chief of police

Ray Ramirez

Age: 39 Title: Chief of Police and Special Services Business Name: Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Business Address: 2721 161st St., Hammond Business Phone: (219) 989-4706 Web site: ihbrr.com

and special services upon the retirement of former Chief Rob Olszowka in November of 2014,” he says. He oversees two supervisors and seven special agents.

“My special agents patrol IHB property interests and serve and protect employees from the Port of Indiana west through Gary, East Chicago, Hammond, Calumet City, continuing northwest around the city of Chicago-proper through Franklin Park, Illinois,” he says. He is the administrator in the department and oversees daily activities. “We’re all state-commissioned sworn police officers with the same authorities as local law enforcement, but our focus is railroad property,” he says. “All IHB property is basically our city. In fact, even though we are ultimately governed by federal code under the

U.S. Secretary of Transportation, many of us at the IHBPD are dual commissioned in both Indiana and Illinois as our property traverses both states.” Scrap theft, trespassing and train vs. vehicle accidents are some of the most common calls. Police work wasn’t a top career consideration for Ramirez at first. A 1994 graduate of Hammond High School, he got a job as a laborer at Republic Steel’s South Chicago plant. He was 18 and earning about $30,000 a year. “It wasn’t something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life,” he says. “The idea of being a police officer popped in my head,

FALL 2015 | 33

20 UNDER 40 but I wasn’t sure I could do that.” At 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, he wasn’t physically imposing and didn’t think he would be seriously considered. After some ride-alongs in his dad’s squad car, police work grew on Ramirez. He took the entrance exam and worked five and a half years for the Hammond Police Department before transitioning to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. He considers his father, retired Hammond Police Lt. Oscar Ramirez, a strong influence. “I worked at the department when he was a shift commander,” Ray Ramirez says. “I never worked on his shift, but I observed that he was well respected and treated people fair. He got stuff done. I wanted to be like that.” His new administrative role offers a fresh perspective. “I’m learning a lot about the railroad business now,” he says. He’s responsible for budgeting, scheduling vacations, training and more. As the rail security coordinator — a federally mandated role for any railroad hauling hazardous materials — he always has to be available in case someone from the Department of Homeland Security or TSA calls for information. Frequent travel is part of the new job and has brought him to Washington D.C., Quebec in Canada and Sacramento, Calif., among other places. “All of my travel is by virtue of the nature of the vastness of the national railroad system,” he says. “I attend security meetings in Washington with the TSA and the AAR (Association of American Railroads), and other securitybased meetings are located around the country and Canada at Class I headquarters. Many regional and short line railroad security meetings are located in various parts of the U.S. The industry as a whole collaborates extensively to ensure the best security practices are understood, followed and standardized across the board.” Around 2002, Ramirez became a Microsoft-certified professional. That computer training comes in handy because now he can usually figure out technical problems on

34 | In BusIness

Tony V. MarTin

his own. He graduated from Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1997 with honors and from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command in 2005. Ramirez earned a bachelor of science with distinction in law enforcement management from Calumet College of St. Joseph in 2008. “Ray is an outstanding young man working in a top level position for one of the most important and least known businesses in Greater Chicago, the Indiana

Harbor Belt Railroad,” General Manager Pat Daly wrote in a letter nominating Ramirez for 20 Under 40 recognition. Ramirez is the youngest man to attain that position in the railroad’s 119-year history, according to Daly. Ramirez supports rail safety awareness campaigns such as Operation Lifesaver by employing a dedicated special agent who creates and participates in events and presentations. He is also a founding member of the Northwest Indiana Information Sharing and Security Alliance Rail Safety Working Group, according to Daly.

“Over the last decade, the consecutive leadership from the general manager, general superintendent, comptroller, to mid-level managers has continued to improve our business outlook, our rail traffic and infrastructure and streamline our operations to make the IHB one of the most formidable short line railroads in the country,” he says. “I look forward to the future of this outstanding company. There is nowhere else I would rather be.” Ramirez shares his life with fianceé Valerie and her 10-year-old son Elijah.

20 UNDER 40

CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Christopher Smith ‘I Revels in the ‘gray’ side of life

development as vice president of human resources at NiSource, supporting the Northern Indiana enjoy helping people Public Service Company or develop and helping NIPSCO. leaders problem-solve. “I work for a company that When you’re dealing provides a vital safe and reliable with people, employee relations service to Indiana residents and or labor relation matters, there businesses: gas and electric is usually not a clear ‘black and service. We also provide white’ solution,” Christopher Smith says. “I really enjoy working employment opportunities that and problem-solving in the ‘gray.’” contribute $574 million-plus to our local communities. This really Smith is responsible for gives me a sense of purpose,” he recruiting and retention, says. “Every day is different. I employee relations, performance walk in with a plan of how the day management, organizational is going to shape up, but all of a effectiveness and leadership LESLY BAILEY

TONY V. MARTIN

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sudden a phone call or email can change everything. “I enjoy helping people whether it’s hiring, talking to a group of interns just starting off in their careers or helping someone at the other end navigate retirement questions and helping steer them in the right direction.” Smith’s career was guided early on by a connection to human resources. He received a scholarship from Jasper, Ind.-based Kimball International and inquired about internship opportunities at a scholarship recipient event. “I attended Indiana UniversityBloomington majoring in English and made a connection with someone at Kimball who also had attended IU and was in human resources,” he says. “We kept in contact and I was given an opportunity to intern at one of Kimball’s facilities in Santa Claus.” Smith says this random conversation sparked his career direction. “I think my experience demonstrates the power of networking. Sometimes what you think is a simple encounter or conversation can lead to a passion and a career,” he says. “When I talk to job seekers, folks looking at a career change or making a pivot from an initial career choice, I say you never know what type of impact having a conversation might make. “I share the value of networking and the importance of keeping in touch and tapping into your network.” Smith continued to follow his path with internships throughout college including at a former division of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mead Johnson Nutritionals where he served as an HR generalist. “MJN extended me an offer the last day of my internship, which I accepted. I went into my senior year of college with a full-time offer and working for the company, recruiting summer interns,” he says. He went on to work for Pepsi Bottling Group (now PepsiCo) before joining NiSource in 2009. “I think about the advice and

36 | IN BUSINESS

Christopher Smith

Age: 35 Title: Vice President of Human Resources Business name: NiSource/NIPSCO Business address: 801 E. 86th Ave. in Merrillville Business phone: (219) 647-5990 Website: nisource.com

stretch opportunities that I have been given throughout my career, and I try to pay that forward with both the people on my team, and as I am talking with my business partners about development opportunities for people across the company,” he says. Violet Sistovaris, executive vice president at NIPSCO, works with Smith as part of the senior leadership team. “I consider Chris my leader for

human resources and employee relations. I see Chris as an asset to NIPSCO/NiSource and to any board or community group that he would affiliate with,” she says. “I see him as a creative thinker, someone who is passionate about leadership and able to get things done. His interest and passion for employee development makes him an outstanding mentor both internally and externally to NIPSCO.

“He has a genuine interest in people, business and community.” Smith has the opportunity to impact the community working with NIPSCO’s charity of choice initiative, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and as a panelist and moderator for The Times Media Co.’s annual Diversity Career Fair. He was recently appointed to Indiana’s Workforce Innovation Council and the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board. “I enjoy working with the Valparaiso University Career Center, sharing my own experience with students about financing college, preparing for interviews and discussing workforce readiness postgraduation,” he says. “I also enjoy volunteering at functions at my kids’ school. I’ve participated in first-grade’s career day, using the opportunity to talk with students about gas safety. Anytime there is an opportunity to get involved at our kids’ school, my wife (Amy) and I try to do so.” Servant leadership is a concept that Smith strives to demonstrate. “It’s not wanting to be in the spotlight, but recognizing the blessings, talents and gifts that I have been given and thinking about what I can do to give back,” he says. “I prefer to be the person that’s in the background, but the kind of person that if someone calls, they know I will answer the phone and that I will deliver. I have a really hard time saying ‘no’ to things that involve helping young people or something that contributes to a greater sense of community.” “I am fortunate to have an awesome father who pushed me to want more for myself, and inspired me to do things that I never thought I was capable of doing. I hope to provide the same experience for my sons (Xan, 11, Tyce, 7, and Kroix, 3),” he says. “I believe in the old adage that ‘friends are the family you choose.’ I feel that my community is the family that I have chosen. Giving back is just me doing my part to contribute to my extended family.”

20 UNDER 40

SHELICE TOLBERT

shelice Tolbert

Committed to providing services in her community

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small sign outside Tolbert & Tolbert law offices in Gary has served as a big indicator for Shelice Tolbert. “We’re a Christian-based firm with a deep faith in knowing that all things are guided by God. Being visible in Gary is very important, especially with the state of Gary in trying to attract new businesses,” Tolbert says. “We were always involved in the community of Gary, but to have the visible sign on the building … sometimes something that simple makes a huge shelice R. Tolbert difference.” Age: 40 When Tolbert and Title: Partner husband Michael opened Business Name: Tolbert their law office in January & Tolbert LLC in Gary, they returned Business Address: 1085 Broadway, Suite B, Gary to their Gary roots. The Business Phone: (219) 427-0094 two have known each Web site: tolbertlegal.com other since junior high and graduated from law school together. “We built our respective careers at other places but in the back of our minds we wanted to open a firm in Gary since we were both born and raised here,” Shelice Tolbert says. “Coming together and saying now is the time, God put it on us. Things kind of fell into place and the timing worked out.” Tolbert focuses on insurance defense concentrating on commercial litigation and coverage issues. She also has experience in corporate and business law. The firm also provides legal counsel in negotiations, contract disputes between businesses, represents families in wrongful death claims and serves as counsel for nonprofit organizations. “I never had any interest in the areas of criminal or family law,” she says. “I want to do something to help the community so if I am going to talk about the community progressing, I have got to be a part of it and come back to Gary and Northwest Indiana.” With a degree in business management from Wittenberg University, her career path was not a straight one.

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20 UNDER 40

TONY V. MARTIN

“I was always good at numbers and math so I thought I should be able to go into accounting, but it was not holding my interest during college,” she says. “Above all else, God has a plan for us.” Tolbert first considered entering the legal field at a young age after seeing now Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson at a career fair. “I was seeing a black woman who is practicing law in real life at my school where I grew up. It was tangible and real and I took it to heart,” she says. She went on to earn her juris doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2000 and today she is an adjunct professor at VU law school, teaching trial practice. She ended up serving on the transition team for FreemanWilson in 2011 and worked to provide recommendations to the city of Gary on how to operate

38 | IN BUSINESS

an effective law department. She served on the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program committee from 2011 to 2014 after being appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court and was appointed to the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners in 2014. She has served with distinction as president of the James C. Kimbrough Minority Bar Association and served as president of the Porter County Chapter of the American Inns of Court from 2014 to 2015. She is the 2015 president-elect of the Lake County Bar Association and has served on the board of governors of the Indiana State Bar Association as a district representative. “I think being able to see someone like me doing what I do and not just the entertainers and athletes that are hyped-up in the media … I hope it makes a big difference whether it is through a mentoring program, volunteer

activities or speaking to a class at a school,” she says. “I don’t do it because I am trying to get attention but because it is in my nature … you help others because someone helped you. I hope that has an impact: to stay visible with faith and my husband on my side.” “Shelice is the smartest, most diligent person I know. She is a great lawyer, but more importantly a woman of God who works extremely hard to make Northwest Indiana a better place to work and live,” Michael Tobert says. “Our region is lucky to have such a transformational leader who dedicates her life to serving others.” Outside of her professional role, she is involved in the community serving as chair of the United Negro College Fund Northwest Indiana Advisory Council and as a member of the Gary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She serves on the board

of directors for the Lake Area United Way and as campaign chair for the organization. She also is on the board of directors of the Gary Literacy Coalition and is on the scholarship committee of the Legacy Foundation. “If we don’t give back to the community … who will? We’re able to make a difference. God gives us all different talents and we need to utilize them to the best of our ability,” she says. As they continue to settle in to their space in Gary, the Tolberts are looking forward to the future. “We’re trying to make sure we are doing the best legal work that we can for the community. Working together has been a really good experience. We’ve been blessed and we really complement each other,” Shelice Tolbert says. “We obviously hope to grow and we hope our growth as a firm affects the city of Gary and our community.”

20 UNDER 40

michaline tomich

Specializes in effective branding for clients and NWI

PhiliP PotemPa ichaline Tomich smiles while talking about what she describes as the “humble beginning” of what is now her highly successful branding business based in Schererville, which includes a roster of dozens and dozens of high-profile clients from around the country. Tomich, 40, is the president and executive creative director of mixdesign inc. which started in March 2002 in her small apartment in Griffith. She had just resigned from her design position at a prominent branding

firm in Chicago, which resulted in opening her own business with fresh ideas and imaginative know-how. Born and raised in Highland, the 25-year-old 1993 graduate of Bishop Noll Institute decided to target internationally known Church’s Chicken as her first potential client. Her trip to Atlanta to meet with the company’s CMO to pitch the business was wellreceived but Church’s CMO told her they couldn’t give the contract to a independent freelancer so she quickly incorporated, hired a friend and Northwest Indiana based mixdesign was born. Today, mixdesign is a

extensive and her company has a brand development team, commercial interior-division, as Age: 40 well as marketing, public relations Title: President and Executive and website design departments. Creative Director “Mixdesign has 14 employees, Business name: mixdesign with specialists in brand inc. and Happy Day development, interior experience Business address: design and web to bring brands 21 E. U.S. 30, Schererville and brand experiences to life or Business phone: (219) 322-7190 filter the brand objectives and Website: mixdesign.com story through corporate interior,” says Tomich, a 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois with a full-service brand agency with degree in graphic design and fine nationally recognized clients. But arts. Tomich gives the same attention “As I drive through Northwest and care to growing startups as she does to established businesses. Indiana, I’m proud of the many people we’ve impacted when I Her branding partnerships are

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20 UNDER 40 see our clients, which includes our work with re-branding for businesses like The City of Whiting, Cedar Lake and Jak’s Warehouse. When we meet with clients, I say we listen and then we lead. It all starts with a plan, some research and a few smart doodles. Regardless of the type of project, company vision and research are key. We guide with the appropriate steps and help prioritize a company’s needs, budget and creative style.” Tomich says she credits the creative and inventive mind of her carpenter father for inspiring her own artistic ingenuity and clever approach to imaginative ideas. “I tell my team when you think you’re done, take it one step farther and bring the personality of the client into the project,” she says. “The best part of owning your own business is that you get to choose who you work with, and our account managers, designers and carpenter are the best around.” One of her team’s most recent projects was a year and half of planning and execution for Fair Oaks Farms for the creation and launch of Fair Oak’s Pig Adventure and Pork Education Center last summer. Besides building the branding, interior design, the “experience” and the overall budget to execute Fair Oaks’ ideas, Tomich and her team created unique, press-worthy opportunities, sponsorship engagement for a pleasing return on investment. The over-the-top success of the launch included booking Kevin Bacon and his Bacon Brother’s Band for the grand opening, which was called, “The Sizzling Days of Bacon,” and it landed the farm an episode on Animal Planet featuring a treehouse designed for the project. Toast & Jam in Schererville is another recent client project which attracted compliments for mixdesign’s ability to dream up a different approach to everyday expectations — such as the interior atmosphere of a restaurant. Themed as a breakfast and brunch cafe, Tomich and her team created a vivid fantasy dining

40 | IN BUSINESS

the new home of mixdesign inc. at 21 E. U.S. 30 in Schererville. The new office was completed four months ago after an intense and very artistic renovation of a space that had been vacant for 25 years. “I’m inspired by my husband Jared and our sons Jack, who is five years old and Jude, who is five months old,” Tomich says. “My husband helped with so much of the design and look of our new space, which will include a shopping showroom for our Happy Day, shirt and event company opening October 1. We want everyone to know we are here for them, which is why our theme written on our business cards reads: ‘So happy to meet you.’” Happy Day is a complementary company headed by Tomich, which she says “opened from a need that once your company has branded or rebranded itself, the next need is a grand opening event or shirts and gear to roll-out your brand with enthusiasm.” “Because it was a natural step for us to help our clients roll-out their brand, Happy Day was born,” Tomich says. “Our new location is perfect for the Happy Day showroom [in the lobby of mixdesign inc.] as it allows the general public to also unitize our creative team for event planning, rental and T-shirt or promotional gear. Behind the scenes we have a full-serve screen shop to back the showroom in Cedar Lake.” Tomich says she has a special TONY V. MARTIN connection to her beloved new location as the home of both “Michaline’s passion for design mixdesign inc. and Happy Day. interior landscape with custom “I have passed the old and creativity in life is not only light fixtures and a decor full of inspiring, but contagious,” Dzunda Sherwood music building with patterns. The team worked with interest ever since opening says. the owners to design the logo “Her passion also extends into mixdesign. It had been a vacant and offer name options for the eyesore for nearly 25 years,” charitable work since she is also establishment. Tomich says. one of the founders of the Halo Some of mixdesign’s other “When the owner approached of Hope Foundation for kids with clients include Round the Clock, us to help make it look great so he pediatric cancer. She personally Bulldog Brewing Co., White could land a tenant, we jumped organizes many events and Lodging, Tradewinds and the on the opportunity to collaborate fundraisers for the foundation. reestablished Gary Air Show. and make it our home. Now, She is one of the most amazing Brandon Dzunda, brand it’s a showroom where creative people I have had the pleasure of developer and art director at solutions, shirts and event support mixdesign inc., has known Tomich knowing, both professionally and can be accessible to our branding for 15 years and worked with her at personally.” clients and the general public.” Tomich is also excited about the firm for more than a decade.

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Matt Saltanovitz

Combines business, economics and commitment to NWI

ANDREW STEELE

att Saltanovitz has combined an interest in business and economics with a commitment to the community to forge a career that’s taken him from the newsroom to the front lines of business development in Northwest Indiana. Saltanovitz has been economic development director at the Northwest Indiana Forum since October 2014. The organization promotes a seven-county area to businesses worldwide. “I’m so lucky I get to promote Northwest Indiana to businesses across the globe,” Saltanovitz says. “What we do is truly a regional effort, working closely with local economic development officials.” The Northwest Indiana Forum has more than 130 members, including businesses, governmental agencies and other interested organizations. It focuses on attracting industrial, technological and professional management companies. Prior to his work at the Forum, Saltanovitz was business editor for The Times Media Co. “The Times was good at getting me to think regionally. Getting to know the people in the business community, I really wanted to take an active part in economic development,” he says of his transition from the newsroom. “I wanted to be on the front end of that.” Saltanovitz says the region’s proximity to Chicago, along with its industrial background and “stellar workforce,” draws wide interest. “We have a lot of people looking at Northwest Indiana,” he says. While a journalism student at Indiana University in Bloomington, Saltanovitz minored in business. While working at The Times, he earned a master of business administration degree at Indiana University Northwest. He now teaches introductory economics courses at IUN as an

TONY V. MARTIN

Matt Saltanovitz

Age: 39 Title: Economic Development Director Business Name: Northwest Indiana Forum Business Address: 6100 Southport Road, Portage Business Phone: (219) 763-6303 Web site: nwiforum.org

adjunct professor. “It keeps my mind sharp and it’s a real pleasure teaching something I love to Northwest Indiana students,” Saltanovitz says. He hopes to teach in a way that creates a lasting interest in economics with his students. Saltanovitz’s busy schedule also includes service on the board of directors of the Lake Area United

Way. He became involved in the organization while at The Times. “I was eager to become more involved in the community, and this created a good opportunity to give back,” he says. The LAUW is in the process of revising its mission to put more of a focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of major problems impacting the community. “This new model is more of a laser-like approach,” Saltanovitz says. “It’s been great to be part of that transition.” The organization’s president and CEO, Lisa Daugherty, says Saltanovitz is “one of those board members you wish you could clone. He doesn’t just show up at the monthly meetings, he participates and challenges when appropriate, and he dedicates

additional time to committees and our special events.” Daugherty also worked with Saltanovitz at The Times, where she says she was impressed by his ability to work with people of different backgrounds inside and outside the organization. “Matt knows a lot of people and organizations in the community and doesn’t hesitate to help us make those connections,” Daugherty says. Saltanovitz is also an organizer of TEDx CountyLineRoad, which sponsors conferences where local speakers share “Ideas Worth Spreading,” the theme of the original TED group that’s gained attention for its forums focused on short talks by experts in any field. Celina Weatherwax, communications director for U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, works on the TEDx organizing committee with Saltanovitz. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Matt on a number of regional initiatives, including the creation of TEDx CountyLineRoad,” Weatherwax says. “Through each of these experiences, Matt has demonstrated his continuous commitment to the growth and well-being of the people of Northwest Indiana and the communities to which they belong.” Saltanovitz was raised in Munster and lives within a mile of where he grew up. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Karin, and son, Pablo, seeking “new adventures.” An audiophile, in his free time Saltanovitz enjoys building his collection of more than 500 vinyl records. He also grows hot peppers and uses them for his own hot sauce. He enjoys reading, and roots for the White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks and Indiana University teams. Those roots in Northwest Indiana link home and work for Saltanovitz. “I’m so fortunate that when I’m successful in my job,” he says, “I am ultimately making my home a better place.” FALL 2015 | 41

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Peymon Torabi Teaching, coaching and finance CHRISTINE BRYANT

hen Peymon Torabi first came on board at Peoples Bank, his goal was to learn as much as possible about the banking industry. “Along the way, that focus grew into a passion to help position the bank and the communities we serve for long-term growth,” he explains. “That is what being a community bank is all about, and I’m excited every day to have a role in extending the bank’s footprint.” At 39, Torabi serves as senior vice president, controller, and leads a team of nine. He’s responsible for the bank’s financial statements, general ledger, cost accounting, payroll, accounts payable, budgeting and tax compliance. Robert Lowry, executive vice president and CFO of Peoples Bank, has worked with Torabi for the past 10 years in the accounting and finance area. He says Torabi’s dedication and hard work has aided Peoples in becoming a high-performing community bank on both the local and national levels. “Peymon has developed a strong expertise in finance and financial management, which has guided Peoples Bank in offering quality and value added financial services in Lake and Porter counties,” Lowry says. “His analytic and managerial skills are a real asset to the Peoples’ management team, and he is actively engaged in driving the bank to achieve its strategic vision.” Though Torabi is known for his ability to successfully lead projects and serve as a mentor within the group he manages, he is known as an educator and community supporter as well. Edward Furticella, who heads the Department of Accounting at Purdue University Calumet, first met Torabi on campus in 2003 when Furticella was both a professor and CFO at Peoples Bank. “As a student, he was outstanding, always prepared, always did well,” Furticella says. “I felt that I knew talent when I saw it, so I hired him to serve as the assistant to the controller.” That decision, he says, turned out to be one

TONY V. MARTIN

42 | IN BUSINESS

20 UNDER 40 he would take pride in because of Torabi’s outstanding contributions to the bank. Furticella, however, saw another opportunity where Torabi could make a difference in the careers of young professionals. “In 2008, I approached Peymon and asked if he had any interest in teaching college students,” he says. “By that time, I was the department head for the accounting program at the university.” As a lecturer at Purdue University Calumet, Torabi has taught both undergrad and graduate students. “His students enjoy his humor, his knowledge and his ability to bring real world experiences to the classroom,” Furticella says. One of these real world experiences Torabi helped navigate were two bank mergers, in which he played an instrumental role in analyzing the value a merger would bring to Peoples, integrating the accounting systems for both Peoples and the acquired banks, and ensuring the consistency of internal controls within the combined companies. As the head accounting officer, Torabi helps keep the bank on a course of financial stability and plays a key role maintaining Peoples’ compliance with federal regulations established following the Enron scandal and banking crisis. “Sometimes people get bogged down in what they call the day-to-day grind,” Torabi says. “However, it’s this day-to-day work that I find most fulfilling. To me, every day is an opportunity to look for efficiencies in work, learn new concepts and ideas, and focus on supporting the people around us.” A certified public accountant, Torabi completed his bachelor’s degree in management and master’s degree in accountancy at Purdue University Calumet. This past year, he graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, the preeminent executive management school for the financial services industry. He also earned a certificate from the Wharton University Leadership Program for high-potential leaders. His passion for mentoring and coaching has extended beyond the banking industry, however. Torabi is actively involved in the Hammond chapter of Optimists International, a service organization dedicated to bringing out the best in kids. He also volunteers as a reader and speaker for the Eads Elementary Community Readers Program, and teaches financial literacy in local classrooms to explain to youth the importance of saving and managing money. “I’m personally grateful to all those who gave me a chance as a kid and helped me along the way,” Torabi says. “As a result, I’m committed to taking the time to support

Peymon Torabi

Age: 39 Title: Senior Vice President, Controller Business name: Peoples Bank Business address: 9204 Columbia Ave., Munster Business phone: (219) 836-4400 Website: ibankpeoples.com

activities that support children.” As a volunteer for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, Torabi assists low- and moderate-income taxpayers complete their annual tax returns at no cost. He also recently volunteered to serve as an adviser to the School Town of Munster’s Community Financial Advisory Committee. In the remaining time he has available, he manages and coaches T-ball and baseball for the Munster Little League. He previously served as the board president of Woodland Child Care Development Center in Hammond as well. Torabi lives in Munster with his wife, Angela, and their two young sons.

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Daniel Vicari

Accelerated commitment to the NWI region

CHRISTINE BRYANT

aniel Vicari plays an important role in the city of Gary’s development, serving in two executive director positions. At the helm of the Gary Sanitary and Stormwater Management District, Vicari has been responsible since 2012 for a 1938-era, 120-million gallon a day wastewater treatment plant that serves a 98-square-mile area across four cities in Northwest Indiana. He also serves as executive director of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, the region’s third largest airport, behind O’Hare and Midway. The Gary/ Chicago International Airport serves a large base of corporate and charter travelers with two first-class fixed base operators — B. Coleman and Gary Jet Center. “I started out as project manager for the airport’s $174 million runway expansion project in December 2013 and was appointed to executive director of the airport this past April,” Vicari explains. Prior to working in the public sector, Vicari worked for 12 years for the global consulting engineering firm CDM Smith on a variety of water treatment, hazardous waste management and architectural design projects for municipalities. “This is a really exciting time for the Gary/Chicago International Airport,” he says. “This summer we completed the runway expansion project and officially opened the runway with a ceremony and ribbo-cutting attended by local, state and federal officials.” This is the start of a new chapter for the airport — something Vicari says is rewarding to oversee as executive director, as he helps lead the airport into this next phase while it continues to grow as an asset for the city and

44 | IN BUSINESS

TONY V. MARTIN

region. “The extended 8,900-foot runway opens up a lot of new opportunities for air service and we’re actively pursuing those opportunities,” he says. Denise Dillard, vice president of the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority Board, says Vicari has been an asset to the Gary community. “In his capacity as airport and sanitary district director, and as a resident of Gary, Dan has demonstrated an overwhelming commitment to revitalizing the community as a whole,” Dillard says. “His engineering and compliance background have made a tremendous impact on Gary and the entire region.” “People said the runway expansion would never get done, but we did it,” he says. “It’s not easy to change perceptions, but we’ve come a long way in the last year alone, and will continue to promote the airport to a wider

Daniel Vicari

Age: 39 Title: Executive Director Business Name: Gary Sanitary and Stormwater Management District; Gary/ Chicago International Airport Business Address: 3600 W. 3rd Ave., Gary; 6001 Airport Road, Gary Business Phone: (219) 944-0595; (219) 949-9722 Web site: garysanitary.com; garychicagoairport.com

audience.” Proud to call himself a lifelong Hoosier, Vicari attended Purdue University and earned a master’s degree in civil engineering. “Dan has shown exceptional growth from a project manager to the executive administrator of the Gary Sanitary District,” says Richard Comer, president of the Gary Sanitary District Board.

“He is very knowledgeable of the wastewater treatment process, and is certainly a future leader in the field.” Vicari says taking on the project manager role for the runway expansion came naturally. “Through working so closely with the airport authority and our private partners, I developed a good understanding of the administrative, operational side of things,” he says. Though Vicari considers himself a workaholic, in his free time, he enjoys visiting the lakefront with his wife of 10 years and their two children, Lukas and Vincent. “There are always opportunities to grow and improve at whatever you choose to do,” Vicari says. “There are a lot of great opportunities for young professionals in the Northwest Indiana region, and I hope young people will take advantage of those.”

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Luke Weinman IV

Your guy, whether you need to build an app or a museum JOSEPH S. PETE

bout a decade ago, Luke Weinman IV left the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority for what turned out to be a brief stint at the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He’s glad he was talked into coming back. Weinman, who has worked for Northwest Indiana’s largest tourism agency for 14 years, now serves as the SSCVA’s chief technology officer. He is responsible for information technology and the SSCVA’s buildings. He is currently working on developing a new mobile website, was in charge of the build-out of the newly relocated John Dillinger Museum on the Courthouse Square in Crown Point and will soon plan an expansion of the gift shop in the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. “He does a phenomenal job,” President and Chief Executive Officer Speros Batistatos says. “He’s our go-to guy with technology and has had great success with digital marketing. He helped design one of the first geocentric mobile sites for a convention bureau. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority had one before Las Vegas or New York did. He brings a lot of talent to the digital space.” Weinman originally started out as the convention and visitor authority’s public relations coordinator, but he didn’t like that role, which involved talking off the cuff to the media. “It just wasn’t my gig,” he explains. When he returned to the bureau, he started as the director of information technology and was recently promoted to chief technology officer.

TONY V. MARTIN

“’Chief’ is really something that’s cool to say,” Weinman says. “But a title is something for when you’re looking for another job and I’m very happy where I’m at. I work with amazing people, and there’s something different to do every day. It’s always fun and challenging. They say if you really enjoy what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.” His colleagues supported him when he got non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma two and a half years ago. Weinman was told he didn’t have to worry about his job and could take as much time off to heal as needed. His co-workers took

Luke Weinman IV

Age: 36 Title: Chief Technology Officer Business name: South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Business address: 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond Business phone: (219) 989-7770 Website: southshorecva.com

him out for big lunches or dinners before his treatments, knowing he wouldn’t have any appetite afterward. Weinman has since beaten cancer and finished his

maintenance treatments. “It was very gratifying and humbling to know your whole team is behind you with something like that,” he says. “I didn’t have to worry about going in to show up that day if I was (sick). They were all behind me like my family.” Weinman is very involved in his son’s travel soccer league and his daughter’s softball team. He calls his wife Kristen the backbone of his four-member family. When not carting his kids around to games, Weinman handles varied tasks at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. He might need to solve a problem with the servers, figure out something on the mobile web site or plow some snow. His first priority is making sure the bathrooms are immaculate because it’s the No. 1 reason why people visit. He tests out new beta products from vendors and collaborated with outside sources to design a mobile website modeled after Yelp, so that people can see a restaurant like El Taco Real is just right down the road if they are in the Hammond area. He updates the website with different videos, links and events, while tweaking the search engine optimization so the SSCVA always comes up high on Google and other search engines when people are looking for hotels in Merrillville or Schererville or other communities in Lake County. Drawing visitors to the site is essential because it helps them find out about local restaurants or attractions they might not have been aware of otherwise. “The numbers have been skyrocketing,” he says. “We also have been blessed with a forwardthinking CEO who was willing to take the time to see results.”

FALL 2015 | 45

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Eric Zosso

Serves others through Zoseco Coworking

DIANE POULTON

hether working on an Air Force team that controls GPS satellites or creating a business of co-working spaces, Eric Zosso’s life centers around space both outer and interior. “As a child I was fascinated by science and space,” Zosso says. “Launching rockets and reading about planets helped me grow that initial flame. From there it evolved into ‘How can I do something with this?’ I was led down the Air Force path as a combination of desire to serve something larger than myself mixed with the interest in working in the outer space field.” Upon graduating from Purdue University, Zosso was commissioned with the Air Force and learned volumes about space, controlling satellites and leadership. “My time on active duty was spent being on the small team who controlled all of the world’s GPS satellites for navigation and timing,” Zosso says. “Working with a team of highly motivated and intelligent individuals all working towards something which is by definition global, was such a rewarding experience. In fact, after leaving active duty last year, I joined the Air Force Reserve so I can continue to serve something great while still working with satellites out in space.” After moving to Northwest Indiana last year, Zosso founded Zoseco Coworking, which is located in Valparaiso. The company is an energizing office space designed for remote workers, freelancers and new businesses. Members come from a variety of categories including managing nonprofits, marketing, design, development, finance, writing and coaching. “We find being around great diverse individuals gives all of us

46 | IN BUSINESS

Eric Zosso

Age: 29 Title: Founder Business Name: Zoseco Coworking Business Address: 5 Washington St, Suite 300, Valparaiso Business Phone: (219) 488-2689 Web site: www.zoseco.com Facebook page: Zoseco Coworking

The challenge, Zosso says, is that he hasn’t found an instruction manual yet on building a business from scratch. “It’s a lot of trial and error mixed with continuous TONY V. MARTIN learning,” Zosso says. “But to be fair, that continuous learning a chance to grow as we change the and improvement process is a rewarding challenge I enjoy world,” Zosso says. working towards.” Zosso says Zoseco is the Zosso says his decision to open perfect place to sit down and Zoseco resulted from an evolving focus while being in work mode. “It is how we stay productive,” idea throughout college and the Zosso says. “We are your own café Air Force — “thinking through ‘What kind of impact do I want to with a light atmosphere, great conversation, consistent Internet make?’ and ‘What is the best way to make it happen?’” and free coffee. We even provide Rex Richards, president office needs such as printing and of the Valparaiso Chamber of conference rooms.” Zosso describes his business as Commerce, has known Zosso “a think tank with an open door to about two years. Richards says Zoseco helps small businesses and collaboration and motivation.” entrepreneurs maintain traction “Over the course of our and develop their businesses. first year we’ve expanded the “One of the things that is a work space and amenities for real asset for Eric is that he has members and recently hired a a military background in which space manager, which marked a he developed a lot of leadership huge milestone in the life of our skills,” Richards says. “It’s a co-working space,” Zosso says. perfect example of an individual “Working around great people that went to college and then at the co-working space is by far went into the military, developed the best part of my job. Everyone great leadership skills and brings a unique perspective entrepreneur skills. When he got and great attitude where it’s out of the service after he served impossible to not feel motivated around the space. I love seeing our his time, he opened up his own business. His business has great members and knowing the space traction and it is expanding.” is truly helping them live the life Richards describes Zosso as an they want to live. It’s an incredible ideal example of an entrepreneur feeling to work within a mission who wants to help other to serve others.”

businesses and grow his own business at the same time. “I believe he has great analytical skills and has taken those analytical skills and his leadership skills that he has learned in the military years and is utilizing them in his own personal business,” Richards says. “I think he is just a really outstanding entrepreneur and he is definitely someone to watch as he grows his business over the next several years. He is an outstanding choice for the ‘20 Under 40’ honor.” Zosso says his “largerthan-life inspiration” is Elon Musk, a South African-born, Canadian-American business magnate, engineer, inventor and investor. (Musk is the CEO and CTO of SpaceX, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors, and chairman of SolarCity.) “Not only does he want to see great things in the world, but he’s committing his life to making it happen,” Zosso says. Zosso says his parents, Tammy and Cliff Zosso, have always been a great source of support and strength for him.“And they continue to help me every day,” Zosso says. “I really can’t thank them enough.” Zosso is proudest of his “best instructor” award at his former Air Force unit. “Teaching someone how to fly something that is, no kidding, out in space, was such a fun and rewarding experience,” Zosso says. A strong believer in community involvement, Zosso says the most important aspect of that “is supporting our neighbors and working together for a common good. I think the ValpoNEXT project is a great opportunity for us to make this community one where we want to live and others want to join us,” says Zosso, who attends the group’s events and shares ideas. “I’m so glad to be here. The more engaged with our neighbors, the stronger the longterm outcome in my eyes.”

Join Us for a wonderful evening as we celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2015.

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Cultivating Creativity

What do I do all day?

BY JILLIAN VAN VOLKENBURGH Director of education, South Shore Arts

48 | IN BUSINESS

went to a career day and did not talk about my career. Recently I was asked to speak to incoming freshmen at an event called “What Do I Do All Day?” Area leaders were asked to speak to the students about their respective careers and literally, what they do all day. Having participating in career days before, I knew my audiences are predominantly middle school students or recent art school graduates. The middle school students will undoubtedly change their minds about their future career paths a million times before they step foot into high school and the art school graduates are just praying to find any job before the student loan bills hit their mailboxes. I reflected on what I would have wanted to hear as an incoming college freshman and ran with it. I spoke about following your passion and the importance of creativity. To avoid becoming a valedictory speech, I refrained from the “reach for the stars” talk and spoke directly about my experience. I began with, “Good afternoon, I am Jillian Van Volkenburgh the director of education for South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and my freshman year of college I was a biology major.” Their faces lit up and I knew they got it. Having a career in the arts enables me to provide opportunities to inspire people on a daily basis. Whether it is through art classes, performances or outreach, it is my role to encourage creativity. My department provides those opportunities to over 30,000 people annually in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. As an arts professional, I am often in the position of defending the arts and I readily accept the challenge. In our ever-growing and innovative society, the arts are becoming more important, especially in business. IBM conducted a global CEO study that surveyed more than 1,500 chief executives from 60 countries in 33 industries to learn what they value as leadership qualities. According to this study, creativity is the “most crucial factor for future success.” Creativity ranked higher than “rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision.” Creativity used to be associated with individuals in traditional creative careers, but now it is commonplace in most businesses. Business leaders now encourage the cultivation of a creative workplace environment. All businesses recognize that creativity increases productivity, problem-solving and workplace engagement. It also fosters teamwork and encourages individuality. In an innovative and brand-driven market, society thrives on what’s new, what’s better and what’s next. A workforce that supports those ideas is rooted in creativity.

TONY MARTIN

Creativity is not only important to employers but also for the people that are hired. As an employer, employee retention is often an indicator of good business health. Simply, if you have a happy work environment, you have happy employees. But what employees seek is changing from tangible benefits like a good retirement plan to a workplace that encourages opportunities for creativity and innovation. Employees look for flexibility and purpose. Fostering a creative workplace environment is not only good for employees but ultimately it is healthy for the bottom line. At the career day, by not speaking about the specifics of “What Do I Do All Day” and instead speaking about the importance of passion and creativity in jobs and life, I explained to my audience exactly what I do all day. Jillian Van Volkenburgh is director of education for South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

Function First

The key to being Uber appealing

B BY KATHLEEN SZOT

Senior manager for customer marketing and communications at NIPSCO

reakthrough is one of those illusive buzzwords that all businesses and organizations strive for. Grabbing people’s attention is becoming harder and harder, in the age of information overload. If you look at two recent successful startups, Uber and TaskRabbit, their breakthrough boiled down to something fairly simple: They created something useful. Uber crafted a tool that takes the waiting and chance out of hailing a cab. TaskRabbit created a forum that connects people who need help with different tasks to users who can help. Their motto is “We’ll do what you don’t want to do, so you can do what you love.” Putting function first isn’t just for startups. Working for an electric and natural gas provider that’s been around for more than 100 years, I have a strong appreciation for utility and function. People expect their heat, lights and electronics to work when they need them, and we have a duty to provide that service. We also have a duty to educate our customers on things that impact their energy needs. For example, we know that customers want up-todate information when the power goes out, so we created tools such as a mobile outage map and reporting feature, both of which are accessible from any smartphone or tablet. Because we know our customers often turn to social media for the news that matters to them, we post updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages during major storm events. We also recently added the option for customers to receive power outage alerts via text. Usefulness was the key goal of all of those tools, and it was central to how we promoted them. For example, we ran an advertising campaign in June and July, when the odds of severe storms are at their highest. The campaign included weather-triggered online ads, which appeared in areas that were under weather warnings. The timely messaging was supported by storm cloudinspired imagery intended to catch the eye and motivate customers to sign up for the alerts. We saw a significant increase in enrollment following the campaign. What does this mean for other region businesses? Whether you’re in an existing market or breaking into a new one, a veteran in your industry or just starting

If you’re not already doing it, begin tracking the reason for each customer contact. You’ll learn pretty quickly what’s working well and what’s not. Also look to local or national market information to get a glimpse into trends in your industry. out, understanding what about your product or service is most useful to your target audience is central to your success. Start with your ears. Customer insights, such as surveys or focus groups, are a great place to begin. Be specific in asking about the tools and services your business offers and your customers’ interactions with them. Another great feedback mechanism is inbound customer calls, emails or other types of inquiries. If you’re not already doing it, begin tracking the reason for each customer contact. You’ll learn pretty quickly what’s working well and what’s not. Also look to local or national market information to get a glimpse into trends in your industry. These customer insights should help you refine or design your approach to promoting your business. Knowing when and how your product or service is most useful helps give your creativity direction and will make sure your marketing strategies are in the right place at the right time. Whether you’re designing a new app, launching a new product or growing an existing service, when it comes to creating a breakthrough, start simple and focus on function. Kathleen Szot, is the senior manager of customer marketing and communications within the NIPSCO Communications & Public Affairs department.

FALL 2015 | 49

The Same 24 Hours

Find the opportunities that matter by listening to your heart

A BY STEVEN P. LAMMERS

Associate, Krieg DeVault LLP

50 | IN BUSINESS

s a kid, my dad would encourage me to be productive. No excuses. No complaints. If it matters, get it done. I remember him saying “We all have the same 24 hours in a day, Steve.” I probably rolled my eyes and slipped away to catch the last few innings of a Chicago Cubs game on TV. More than 30 years later I still try to watch as many Cubs games as possible, but I have a better understanding of my dad’s advice. My 24 hours are now very full. I practice as a business litigation partner with the law firm Krieg DeVault in Merrillville. My wife, Emily, and I reside in Crown Point with our three beautiful daughters, ages 5, 3, and 2. Between my career, commitment to faith, and our active family, I would describe my life as busy. Nonetheless, I feel called to serve others and improve my community. It’s important to me. No excuses. No complaints. Get it done. So I am trying my hardest to carve out time in my hectic 24 hours for philanthropy. Choosing a specific area to support was easy. My middle daughter, Elise, has Down syndrome. Our family adopted her at birth, and we were immediately welcomed into the special needs community by Chasing Dreams Inc. Chasing Dreams is a nonprofit organization based in Valparaiso that serves individuals with special needs and also helps and supports those individuals’ families. Serving on the board of directors for Chasing Dreams seemed like a natural fit for me. It is easier to give my time to Chasing Dreams because I have a passion for kids with disabilities. I want to see Northwest Indiana as a place where individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and physical challenges are nurtured and supported. Helping Chasing Dreams grow is one way that I can contribute to this goal. I will admit that devoting time on top of my typical daily responsibilities is difficult. There is always yard

I will admit that devoting time on top of my typical daily responsibilities is difficult. There is always yard work to complete or a meeting to attend, but I try to remember my dad’s guidance. We all have the same 24 hours, and I am determined to fill mine with things that matter. work to complete or a meeting to attend, but I try to remember my dad’s guidance. We all have the same 24 hours, and I am determined to fill mine with things that matter. My job. My family. My community. No excuses. Sometimes it’s hard, but it always ends up feeling great. What matters to you? I encourage all professionals to take another look around Northwest Indiana. We have endless opportunities to contribute right in our backyard. What speaks to your heart? Think about giving a bit of your time to something that matters to you. It’s easy to make excuses, especially with intense professional demands. But you can do it. If it matters, get it done. And I promise there will still be time left over in your 24 hours to root on your favorite baseball team. Steve Lammers is a partner with the law firm of Krieg DeVault in Merrillville. He primarily practices business litigation in the state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois.

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Kids Need Adult Support

The value of nurturing the young mind, body and spirit

BY BARRY TYLER JR.

Director of Northwest Indiana Partnerships, Teach for America

52 | IN BUSINESS

rederick Douglas once said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” This belief shaped my time growing up in Northwest Indiana’s urban core, as I could always count on the support of my family and the larger community as far as my personal development was concerned. As early as I can remember, I was provided opportunities to grow and learn. While I was a student at Maywood Elementary, my sisters and I were enrolled in Expanded Studies, an educational enrichment program offered during the 1990s. I remember taking courses like “How to Make Paper Airplanes” or “Everything You Need to Know about RVs” in which we learned about aerodynamics, geography and engineering, but more importantly we developed lifelong friendships and a quest for knowledge that truly helped shape our childhoods. Unfortunately, programs like this were the norm for a few, but many of my closest friends were not able to benefit. I was lucky to have adults in my life, my parents and community leaders, who deeply valued a quality education. They were also willing (and able) to make sacrifices to ensure that their children would become lifelong learners and productive citizens. While at Eggers Middle School, I was afforded the opportunity to attend a class trip to Disney World. Each student was required to cover their own travel expenses and while we were able to raise funds (selling the infamous and delicious candy bars), a good amount of my friends had to opt out due to the overwhelming cost. Once again, my family made an incredible sacrifice to make sure I was able to travel to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Yes, the trip was rewarding; it is Disney World after all, but the truly indelible lesson I learned was that there are rewards for academic excellence and the microcosm of Northwest Indiana is a border and not a boundary of opportunity. My parents understood that opportunities like this do not come along very often and that students need to take a moment to enjoy the present while preparing for their futures. I could discuss how being selected to serve on the

Principal Student Advisory Committee at Hammond High School or as a youth board member with the Indiana Youth Institute also helped shape my passion for education and social change. Instead, I will use this opportunity to highlight the reality that not every student has an informed, caring adult by his or her side: Someone to provide them with life-changing opportunities (or even daily compassion) to keep them excited about learning. It often seems that the sense of responsibility communities once held for youth has been lost. The resources once available to engage and encourage are instead used to disapprove or denigrate the dreams of the budding spirits that we should protect. Enrichment programs like Expanded Studies are long gone, but we still expect more from our youth with far less resources to support their dreams. We often hear of extracurricular activities being cut with no alternative programming offered to help students figure out their paths to success. We push for educational success but neglect the spirit. All of the past experiences I mentioned instilled in me a passion for youth development. When I graduated from Wabash College in 2006, I remembered the camaraderie and opportunities that playing a sport afforded me. Wanting to instill a desire for achievement while promoting community involvement, I returned to what I knew: high school football. Over the past 10 years, I have been lucky to work with thousands of students towards my ultimate goal of inspiring others to pay it forward. Even though tangible resources are slim, I urge other young professionals across our region to step up. Become a mentor. Volunteer your time. Find your own unique way to help shape the life of at least one student. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at how one conversation or one experience can impact a life; and who knows, you might also learn something about yourself along the way. I know I sure have! Barry Tyler Jr. is director of Northwest Indiana Partnerships for Teach For America and an assistant football coach at Hammond High School.

IT’S THEIR JOB TO KEEP DREAMING.

IT’S OUR JOB TO KEEP UP. As tomorrow’s inventors reimagine what we have today, NIPSCO is making some changes of our own. From replacing power lines to upgrading natural gas pipes, we’re making sure we’re ready for whatever comes next. See our modernization plans at

NIPSCO.com/future

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