BusINess Magazine Winter 2011

WINTER 2011

SCRAP METAL REVIVAL IN CEDAR LAKE HASLER HELPING HOOSIERS New Economic Development Corp. Chief LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW Candalaria Reardon for the House Charbonneau on the Senate

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. JOSEPH, MI PERMIT #65

One thing I’ve noticed in my time here is a certain spirit that feels like it’s been around forever.

As human beings, we naturally divide our lives into hours, weeks and years.

But here, there’s something timeless.

A way of treating people; of comforting them and giving them the attention they need.

Of course we offer the most modern technology and advanced treatments.

But it’s the people behind these things that set us apart.

I am a Franciscan Alliance nurse.

And I walk in the footsteps of St. Francis.

When St. Francis walked out into the world and began his ministry, he left everything behind.

It was a selfless act, symbolic of his desire to care for those in need. Today, in the halls of our hospitals, we follow in the footsteps of a single man whose timeless mission continues to inspire the 18,000 doctors, nurses and health care professionals of Franciscan Alliance.

14 hospitals. One mission.

Divisions of Franciscan Alliance 14hospitals.org

Contents Biz wortHy

5

CoVer story

14

Munster Steel set to call Hammond home: City officials and Hammond business leaders celebrate Munster Steel’s plan to move to West Point Plaza Industrial Park.

Indiana deaths decline 6.5 percent in 2010: Construciton fatalities declline for fifth consecutive year.

my turn

6

Not just scrapping by: Owners of Midwest PGM Recovery Specialists, a scrap recycling business in Cedar Lake, use experience from automakers to grow business.

By Andrea Holecek; cover photo by Jonathan Miano

FeAtures

18

36

Creativity, innovation enrich IUN experience: Innovation and adaptability are hallmarks of Indiana University Northwest. By William J. Lowe

new Futures 24

25

“The political rhetoric of jobs, jobs, jobs is very easy to keep repeating, but the specifics of how people are actually going to qualify for those jobs, or if you aren’t employed how you’ll find such services, is somehow evading us.”

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, R-ind., speaks to the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in late August.

Lugar staying the

Jon L. henDRiCkS, The TiMeS

Cou se Story By keith Benman

U.S.

Sen. Dick LUgar recalls returning home from the navy to find the family manufacturing business going under and teaming up with his brother to see if they could save it.

“We were trying to keep the factory gates open,” the six-term senator said at a recent breakfast of the Business magazine advisory board.

To get the Thomas L. green & co. humming again after the death of their father, Lugar and his brother, Tom, realized innovation would be the key.

That led Lugar to secure credits from the U.S. government’s export-import Bank in Washington, D.c. Before long, the small indianapolis company was exporting its cracker and biscuit-making machinery to customers in Mexico, South america and the Philippines.

“We then employed 50 more people and we had about 150 at the time i ran for mayor (of indianapolis) and my brother was left holding the bag,” Lugar said. Tom remains chairman of the company their grandfather founded in 1893.

Lugar’s anecdote stood in stark contrast to his report on the bitterly partisan 112th congress, with the anecdote evoking the optimism and international outlook the sixterm senator has brought to bear on some of the world’s most intractable problems.

Some of those accomplishments are now in the history books. along with U.S. Sen. Sam nunn, of georgia, Lugar in 1991 engineered the historic legislation and agreements that still bear their names, leading to the deactivation of more than 7,500 Soviet-era warheads once aimed at

At 79 years old, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar is in the midst of what is set to be one of the most hotly contested Republican primaries of his political career in 2012.

Tony V. MARTin, The TiMeS

the United States. in 1996, he forged bipartisan support for “freedom to farm” legislation which curtailed 1930s-era federal production controls on farmers. in doing so, he had to overcome divisions between farm and non-farm state lawmakers as well as reach across the aisle in the aftermath of the republican revolution that swept his party into control of both houses. at a 79 years old, Lugar is in the midst of what is set to be one of the most hotly contested republican primaries of his political career. republican State Treasurer richard Mourdock, with a good dose of Tea Party support, was the first republican to throw his hat into the ring to oppose Lugar in 2012. already campaigning hard, Lugar made it

clear he will not abandon the causes that have meant so much to him and ultimately to his nation. He also made it clear he won’t join in the “devil take the hindmost” attitude some legislators are bringing to Washington.

“We had people in the congress saying we won’t raise the debt ceiling – ever ... there are some moments with a theological bent of this sort,” Lugar said.

Lugar said it was near miraculous congress acted at all on the debt ceiling, given how divisive and partisan the politics there have become.

Having said that, Lugar said he was intent on seeing deficits reduced and policy put in place to eventually balance the budget. He pointed out he was one of 40 republican senators that voted for the so-called “ryan r ryan budget,” the proposal of U.S. rep. Paul ryan r

24 | In BusIness

Lugar staying the course: Already campaigning hard, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar made it clear he will not abandon the causes that have meant so much to him and ultimately to his nation.

By Keith Benman

38

Short legislative session can be long on results: In spite of the disruption caused by the House Democrat walkout, so much was accomplished.

By Ed Charbonneau

WInter 2011 | 25

session AHeAD

26

32

M

U.S. Steel says its initiatives around the world, including gary, are helping it remain competitive story By Bowdeya tweh

32 | In BusIness

2 | In BusIness

33

in the traditional cokemaking process, odernizing an industry coal is heated in a series of ovens in an that’s hundreds of years oxygen-starved environment to temperatures old and has continued to exceeding 2,000 degrees. This process takes operate in a location since at least a half day to remove impurities to 1906 is no easy task. officials from United States Steel Corp. say leave a purer carbon product to add to blast furnaces. The coke is used to help reduce iron northwest indiana is key to the company’s ore to make molten iron. The molten iron is long-term global success. then sent to a basic oxygen furnace and added The developing world may be seeing more with recycled steel products, or scrap, to make growth in steel in the next few years, but molten steel.

U.S. Steel officials say there are significant To help achieve the coke reductions, U.S. domestic opportunities to increase market Steel said in June 2010 it would build the share in certain sectors and invest in projects largest domestic commercial installation of that can ensure the company’s viability. equipment to produce a substitute product “one of the great strengths that gary called Cokonyx in gary. engineering and has is that we’ve been here for 100 years and everyone here, we have a well-developed base construction of two modules to produce up to 250,000 tons each year of a semi-crystalline here in the region,” said Matthew Perkins, carbon material from coal blends named general manager of gary would cost about $220 million. Since Works in July. “our employees Cokonyx production uses a different have a great knowledge and a great process than traditional cokemaking history here. We have developed a via coke ovens, gary Works will be great team of suppliers in the region able to reduce have a net reduction that can work for us and work with in the amount of harmful pollutants us at a moment’s notice.” being emitted into the atmosphere The region is home to the from potentially shutting down coke company’s largest manufacturing batteries, a series of coke ovens. complex, gary Works, but it is “This breakthrough technology only a slice of the more than 4,900 Matthew will improve the environmental employees the company employs in perkins, performance of the plant as the area. That number also pales to general well as create 500 construction the number of retirees the company manager jobs, further enhancing gary’s has living in the region. of U.S. Steel position in steelmaking,” U.S. Steel gary Works includes the coke Gary Works spokeswoman Courtney boone said. production, steelmaking, and John Surma, U.S. Steel chairman finishing facilities in gary, and the Midwest Plant in Portage and east Chicago Tin, and chief executive officer, said in a conference call with analysts in late october the gary which are finishing facilities. U.S. Steel also is project will start up in the middle of 2012. part of two joint ventures in Portage: Feralloy discussions about staffing and how to Processing Co. and Chrome deposit Corp. operate the facilities is a complex process that has required months of planning, said Making the littles, who represents more than 2,300 grade(s) of steel employees in iron and steel producing aUToMobileS, appliances, food containers, operations.

“We want to make sure that when we put and roofing. Those are a few of the industries that products that Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel our people in place that we hit the ground running and we’re not going through this and other steel companies impact.

However, one key investment launched six thing blindly,” littles said. “and it is a huge years ago at gary Works helped the facility and investment, so we want to make sure our people are fully qualified and our technicians its largest blast furnace remain viable, said Jerry littles, president of United Steelworkers are fully trained. The company and the union want this thing to be a success.” local 1014. nearly one year ago in gary, U.S. Steel in april 2006, the company unveiled its $300 million rebuild and production capacity began operating a compressed natural gas fueling station after retrofitting six cargo increase of the no. 14, formerly the no. 13, blast furnace. The company also had to make hauling pickup trucks and a passenger van.

The total project cost was $600,000, and additional repairs about three years later on the conversions will help save $12,500 a year the 9,200-ton per day hot metal production through lower fuel and maintenance costs, capacity furnace to keep it operating correctly. now, that furnace is one of the four said Michael Williams, U.S. Steel senior vice president and head of north american that are operating at the facility to keep the flat-rolled operations. Since natural gas burns products moving. cleaner than oil, operating the vehicles will The company also sees that keeping produce lower tailpipe emissions. products moving may require alternative methods of producing steel that can help the company reduce its cost structure. U.S. Changes at the top Steel wants to reduce its reliance on buying THe STeel indUSTry’S competitive coke from the spot market by increasing the landscape in northwest indiana and the world company’s coke production capacity and is a bit different since Matthew Perkins last decreasing its consumption rate. worked in the area nearly a decade ago.

Steelmaker’s key to success forged in Region: U.S. Steel says its initiatives around the world, including Gary, are helping it remain competitive.

By Bowdeya Tweh

39

Hoosier lawmakers must bring people back to work: There needs to be only one priority for lawmakers in the 2012 session of the Indiana General Assembly: finding jobs for Hoosiers. By Mara Candelaria Reardon

Publisher’s Letter winter 2011

Looking back at challenges, forward to renewal and change

T

By Bill masterson jr.

Publisher, BusINess, The Times Media Co.

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

hough reality sometimes seemed hard-edged during 2011, glimpses of the future are undeniably encouraging.

Our schools, our local and state governments, our public transportation systems, our healthcare and support for children, elderly and handicapped are in the midst of challenging times.

As close as we are to the more than 80 communities we serve in Northwest Indiana, we have had a front row seat watching governments grapple with tight budgets and limited time frames as priorities shift and targets move.

But the successes we’ve seen are similarly hard won. Last year, Calumet High School made a leap into a New Tech curriculum and climbed off of the school probation list. Also in 2011, the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology school opened in a completely wireless facility last fall. Though there are challenges ahead in education, as U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan underlined at the NWI Forum summit (part of the afternoon game change agenda and the Times’ One Region, One Vision annual event), the message is clear: jobs depend on a trained workforce in NWI. Workforce training and development depend on education and preparation for today’s market. And that is where the focus truly is in the Region.

That idea has been echoed across the area and in our newsrooms. We have been visited by Superintendent Tony Bennett repeatedly this year. Both Senators Lugar and Coats talked about compromise but also discussed real change and the core values of education and diversity in meeting with our Times team and BusINess editorial board.

In this issue, we are introducing the new chief of the Indiana Economic Development Dan Hasler, who explains the commitment behind bringing more and more jobs, businesses and dollars to our state. We also get a look at what’s in store at U. S. Steel Gary Works in 2012 (There was growth there again in 2011 too). And two of our state legislators take a look at the upcoming legislative session in Indianapolis. Also, thanks to IUN Chancellor William Lowe for letting us know his priorities for higher education in the coming year.

Congratulations to Ivy Tech for its many initiatives and the business partnerships that its dedicated staff continues to bring to our area, along with more growth. And on another exciting energy technology and business front, I drove an electric car for the first time last month thanks to my friends at Team Chevy. It was definitely one of many interesting rides this year and convinced me that we have a number of surprises on the horizon for next year in BusINess.

Hope you get everything on your wish list this holiday season.

4 | In Business

Volume 7, Issue 8

Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. Founding editor William Nangle Associate Publisher/Editor Pat Colander Director of Product Development Brett Riley Managing Editor Matt Saltanovitz Design Director Ben Cunningham Designer April Burford Contributing writers Heather Augustyn, Keith Benman, Dan Carden, Ed Charbonneau, Lu Ann Franklin, Jeremy Gantz, William Lowe, Diane Poulton, Bill Thon, Bowdeya Tweh Contributing photographer Tony V. Martin Advertising Director Lisa M. Daugherty Advertising managers Deb Anselm, Eric Horon, Jeffrey Precourt Business Advisory Board Dave Bochnowski, Peoples Bank; Wil Davis, Gary Jet Center; Nick Meyer, NIPSCO; Barb Greene, Franciscan Physician Hospital; Tom Gryzbek, St. Margaret Mercy Hospital; Stephan K. Munsey, Family Christian Center; Anna Rominger, Indiana University Northwest; Bill Thon, Ivy Tech State College; Sonya Dactelides, Majestic Star Casino Copyright, Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland BusINess, 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

BizWorthy health care

IVDiagnostics among top 50 innovators at summit VALPARAISO | IVDiagnostics Inc.,

Ronald Robbins, president emeritus of Munster Steel, left, and Jeanne Robbins, president of Munster Steel, laugh together during a meeting announcing the company’s upcoming move to the West Point Plaza Industrial Park in Hammond. Kyle Telechan, The Times Manufacturing

Munster Steel set to call Hammond home HAMMOND | Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. in Steel fabricates structural steel, steel parts and late September praised Munster Steel Co. Inc.’s iron for buildings and bridges.

The company’s exit from its site at decision to locate in the city and welcomed the 45th Street and Calumet Avenue will help the “high-paying jobs” that will follow. town move forward with its plans to mitigate Under a tent constructed adjacent to congestion and spur economic development.

Munster Steel’s future home, city officials During the ceremony, McDermott said and Hammond business leaders gathered to Munster Steel is the latest in the line of celebrate Munster Steel’s plan to move to the companies including Cabela’s, Walmart and West Point Plaza Industrial Park. Munster Menards that have expanded in Hammond. He Steel plans to spend between $5.5 million said it hurts job-attraction efforts when Gov. and $6 million to acquire land and build and equip a new 123,000-square-foot facility. The Mitch Daniels criticizes the area’s business climate in his new book. property will be west of White Oak Avenue “This is a job that you can support a family and north of property near Gostlin Street.

Munster Steel could move to the new, more on,” McDermott said on a rainy Wednesday morning. “These are the kinds of things cities efficient facility as early as December 2012, need to do to survive, and we’ve been doing said Ronald Robbins, president emeritus at that for the last eight years in Hammond. I’m Munster Steel. The company plans to leave very proud of Munster Steel.”

Munster no later than December 2013.

Founded in 1957, privately held Munster

By Bowdeya Tweh, The Times

a biomedical technology company, recently was selected as a top 50 Innovator at the New York Venture Summit in New York City.

IVDiagnostics presented its new approach in monitoring and diagnosing cancer, according to a news release. The company has developed a platform for a low-cost, circulating tumor cell scan without taking blood.

“With the ability to monitor and diagnose circulating tumor cells, clinicians will be able to better determine prognosis of blood-borne diseases and prescribe personalized medicine,” President and CEO Frank Szczepanski said.

IVDiagnostics is focused on bringing new diagnostic technology to assist physicians with earlier detection of cancer and other diseases. IVDiagnostics is an Indiana-based company with offices in West Lafayette and laboratories in Valparaiso. By Times Staff

retail

Mary & Martha Home Accents earns honor HIGHLAND | Mary & Martha Home

Accents, 2044 45th St., has been named one of Home Accents Today’s 50 Retail Stars for 2011 by editors of the trade magazine for the home accents industry.

The store, in business since 1999, is owned by Dawn Johnson.

Stores selected for the Retail Stars list have demonstrated that they operate successfully in their marketing areas, exhibit strength in merchandising, display and/or advertising, and have a positive presence in their communities.

“The 2011 Retail Stars represent some of the best independent stores in the country,” said Jenny Heinzen York, editor in chief, in a statement. “In a harsh economic climate where mere survival has equaled success for many, this year’s Stars have faced down the challenges with innovation, creativity and fortitude. We salute these inspiring entrepreneurs.” by times staff

Winter 2011 | 5

BizWorthy Businesses on the EDGE Two local small businesses were recently singled out by the Indiana Small Business Development Center with Economic Development and Growth through Entrepreneurship Awards. Scrap recycler PGM Recovery Specialists in Cedar Lake was honored with an EDGE Award in the emerging business category, while plastic and reconstructive surgery center Health & Renewal Plastic Surgery Associates in Hammond was awarded as an established business.

More than a pretty face HAMMOND | Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Mark Grevious selected Hammond as the location for his surgical practice because of its proximity to Chicago and the opportunities the area presented.

“I had talked to a couple of surgeons in the area and they said it was an up and coming’ city,” said Grevious, of Chicago. “It was a great opportunity for me to start in private practice.

I had been in academic medicine and was making the transition.”

Grevious, who is a board certified plastic, reconstructive and general surgeon and remains chairman of plastic surgery at the Cook County Hospital, opened Health & Renewal Plastic Surgery Associates is 2008.

He earned his medical degree from the New Jersey School of Medicine in Newark, N.J., and surgical training at the University of Chicago.

The physician and surgeon moved the practice into its own facility adjacent to Franciscan St. Margaret Hammond campus in April 2010.

“I chose the space because it’s so close to the hospital,” Grevious said. “I know the location gets a lot of traffic, and I prefer to do cosmetic surgery in a hospital. Overall it’s safer, especially if it requires major anesthesia.”

Grevious used about $150,000 in personal

Health & Renewal Plastic Surgery Associates, run by Dr. Mark Grevious, earned an EDGE Award for established businesses from the Indiana Small Business Development Center. John Luke, The Times

funds to renovate and equip the 1,948– square–foot office and surgery, and expects to recoup the investment in about three years.

Health & Renewal Plastic Surgery Associates provides surgical care to patients in need of complex plastic and reconstructive surgeries as well as those seeking cosmetic augmentations. It also features a wellness center, a medi–spa, a full skincare line, and body–shaping garments.

The venture is one of the 20 Indiana businesses that recently received a 2011 EDGE Award in the established business category.

The awards are sponsored by the Indiana Small Business Development Center to celebrate “Economic Development and Growth through Entrepreneurship.”

“It’s fantastic,” Grevious said. “It’s a great honor to win the award and be recognized.”

By Andrea Holecek, Times Correspondent

Cedar Lake company not just scrapping by Owners use experience to grow scrap business CEDAR LAKE | Years of experience, business

relationships and a state grant are among the factors Rich Thiel credits for the success of Midwest PGM, a scrap recycling business The business recently was recognized the Indiana Small Business Development Center Network’s Economic Development Through Growth and Entrepreneurship Award in the emerging business category.

The award is sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s Small Business Development Center.

Thiel and partner, Jorge Rangel, officially

6 | In Business

opened their metal and automotive scrap purchasing, reuse and recycling business in April 2009.

“I’d been recycling automotive scrap for 18 years,” said Thiel, an automotive mechanic who worked with Rangel at a local Toyota dealership. “We were at Toyota one day when it was slow ... so we started talking about how to scrap and cut out the middleman, and that’s how we started.”

But it soon became apparent the business would need a larger facility to be able to store the growing amount of materials.

The partners closed on the site adjacent to their current location in the Cedar Lake industrial park with the help of a Small Business Development Center loan.

Despite the hard work, Thiel said he loves

About the business Company name: Midwest PGM Recovery Specialists When opened: April 2009 Location: 10501 W. 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake Phone: (219) 669–5238 Website: www.midwestpgm.com being in the recycling business.

“We are our own boss,” he said. “And it’s something I know and something business–wise that’s a good business to be in with everything going green.” By Andrea

Holecek, times correspondent

Banking

Peoples Bank parent earns honor Institution in top 200 of community banks in the country The parent of Munster-based Peoples Bank has received recognition for the sixth year in a row as one of the nation’s top community banks.

U.S. Banker magazine in its June edition listed NorthWest Indiana Bancorp as one of the top 200 community banks.

The list includes publicly traded banks and thrifts with less than $2 billion in assets as of

Dec. 31, and rankings are based on a bank’s three-year average return on equity. The three-year average for Peoples, which ranked No. 161 on the list, was 8.18 percent.

Eight Indiana banks earned the ranking, including Horizon Bancorp based in Michigan City.

“We’ve shown that even in the most challenging of economic times, Peoples

A wind turbine that AB Wind Power helped procure in Kankakee, Ill, is shown. The company has joined the Purdue Research Park in Merrillville.

Provided

energy

Wind power company set to join Purdue Research Park MERRILLVILLE | The growth of Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana continues with its addition of a company that helps customers interested in wind energy manage their projects.

Rob Hefner, wind sales specialist who oversees day-to-day responsibilities for AB Wind Power, said it makes sense for the company to be located in the Northwest Indiana corridor.

“When you consider the additional amenities offered, such as a business center, receptionist and marketing assistance, it made the decision to be located there an easy one,” he said.

AB Wind Power specializes in community wind development by helping large energy

users – manufacturing facilities, schools, hospitals and even farmers – offset their energy retail costs.

“We have led projects for municipalities, the public and private sector, and now we are reaching out to the agriculture sector,” Hefner said. “Every wind turbine project is different.

Wind regimes, local ordinances, interconnection standards and project goals vary, but we bring together these aspects of the projects” Purdue Research Park has locations in Indianapolis, Merrillville, New Albany and West Lafayette and is home to about 200 companies employing 4,000 people.

By Rob Earnshaw, times correspondent

Bank continues to be strategically positioned by focusing on key banking principles, maintaining strong core earnings and a strong capital position, and prudently managing our customers’ resources,” said David Bochnowski, chairman and CEO of Peoples Bank, in a statement.

Peoples Bank provides consumer, business and wealth management products from 12 banking locations in Lake and Porter counties. by times staff

Chamber of commerce

Richards elected to lead state chamber group VALPARAISO | Rex Richards, president

and CEO of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, recently was elected to serve as the 2011-12 chairman for the Indiana Chamber Executives Association. He was elected to the ICEA Board in July 2009 and has served as vice chairman Richards for conferences.

Richards is a member of the Chamber Veterans, a group of senior-level chamber managers.

The ICEA is governed by an 11-member board of directors elected annually by the membership.  by times staff

manufacturing

Metals company set to expand in Starke County KNOX | A metals industry supplier is expanding in Starke County. J.W. Hicks Inc. plans to add 25 jobs at two operations in Knox, a news release shows.

The company, which also has a location in Merrillville, is a manufacturer of specialty refractory shapes for the primary metals industry.

Including construction and equipment, the expansion will cost $4 million. The Indiana Economic Development Corp., the state’s commerce agency, also provided tax credits and training assistance. By Times Staff

Winter 2011 | 7

Bizworthy GAminG

United Way honors Majestic Star Gary casino celebrates 15 years in business GAry | Majestic Star Casino received a special honor during its 15th anniversary celebration in July.

Lake Area United Way presented Majestic’s team members with its “Casino of the Year” award for raising the most new dollars and running the best workplace campaign in United Way’s 2010-11 community campaign.

Majestic raised $175,000, an 80 percent increase from the previous year. It also marked the second consecutive year the Gary casino won the award. The organization honored Majestic with its “Company of the Year” award in March.

“The people who work here are more giving of their own personal funds than any place I’ve ever worked for,” said Majestic General Manager Larry Buck.

Buck said he was involved in United Way for years prior to arriving at Majestic, where he found the campaign “faltering.”

“We were looking for a way to step up what we do,” he said. Buck credited a lot of the success to Sonja Dactelides, United Way chairman for the casino in addition to her regular job as shift manager.

Lake Area United Way President Lou Martinez said the casino’s successful campaign “starts at the top,” and it shows employees want to know their employer is doing something good for the community.

“It was a huge hit for us in terms of not expecting the results to be as generous as they

Lou Martinez, of the Lake Area United Way, at right, presents Majestic Star Casino general manager Larry Buck with the United Way’s award for “Casino of the year” during a daylong event at Majestic Star celebrating its 15th year in business. The celebration included recognition of the Employee of the Month, Employee of the year, Supervisor of the year and Community Ambassador of the year.

This is the second consecutive year that Majestic Star has earned the United Way award with their contributions increasing 85 percent, according to Martinez. JOHN LUKE, THE TIMES were,” he said.

Majestic Star Casino honored its team members throughout the daylong celebration including Rileatha Jenkins, employee of the

year; Laurie Anderson, supervisor of the year; and Sherna Ambrose, community ambassador of the year. By roB eArnsHAw, times CorresPonDent

meDiA

Times publisher tapped as regional leader TIMES MEDIA CO. PUBLISHER Bill Masterson Jr. was appointed group publisher in June within Lee Enterprises Inc., The Times’ corporate parent.

In addition to being publisher of Northwest Indiana’s largest daily newspaper, Masterson will oversee publications in Rapid City, S.D., Orangeburg, S.C., and Maysville, Ky. Masterson said he is one of four group publishers within Lee, which is based Davenport, Iowa.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to grow with Lee,” Masterson said. “It’s a great company and I’m fond of Rapid City. That’s where I lived for 21

8 | In BusIness

years and was publisher out there.”

Masterson became publisher of The Times in 2006. Since that time, The Times has diversified its delivery platforms, including magazines and digital forms of information. Most recently, Masterson led the development of community websites serving the diverse communities of Northwest Indiana.

In addition to growing the media company, Masterson has become a leader in community activities. He founded the One Region: One Vision multi-county development program that led to a mayors’ roundtable, education summit, health council and urban renewal initiative. By times stAFF

employment

Development

Top 10 Hoosier hot jobs

NIRPC wins national recognition from council

rank

job title

Salary

Education

1

Computer Software Engineer

$72,268

Bachelor’s degree

2

Management Analyst

$66,691

Bachelor’s or higher degree, plus work experience

3

Physician and Surgeon

$166,400

First professional degree

4

Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst

$61,292

Bachelor’s degree

5

Registered Nurse

$56,393

Associate degree

6

Construction Laborer

$36,739

Moderate on-the-job training

7

Construction Supervisor

$57,377

Work experience in a related occupation

8

Industrial Engineer

$69,087

Bachelor’s degree

9

Counselor

$41,249

Bachelor’s degree

10

Accountant

$55,909

Bachelor’s degree

Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission received the top award in its category from the National Association of Regional Councils for the second consecutive year and the third time in five years.

The Outstanding Achievement Award for a Mid-Sized Regional Council recognized The Marquette Plan Phase II at NARC’s recent annual conference in San Diego.

The Marquette Plan Phase II is a reinvestment strategy for the 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline areas extending from Ogden Dunes to Michiana Shores.

NIRPC is the council of governments and metropolitan planning organization serving the region comprised of Lake, Porter and La Porte Counties.

For more information, contact John Swanson of NIRPC at (219) 763-6060 or Lindsey Reilly of NARC at (202) 986-1032. by times staff

Ivy Tech Community College is Indianaís workforce development leader, bringing new and enhanced skills to residents throughout the state. By providing training for good paying jobs in the professions where people are needed most, Ivy Tech is changing lives throughout Indiana.

1.888.IVY.LINE  www.ivytech.edu

BizWorthy Real Estate

job watch

Real estate office moves locations in Schererville

Employment in the Calumet Region

SCHERERVILLE | Prime Real Estate, a full-service real estate company, has moved its Schererville location to 318 E. US 30, just west of its previous location.

Prime Real Estate has been expanding with a focus on two new divisions, a commercial division and a new construction division.

The company has also re-designed its website, www.WeSellNWI.com. For more information, call (219) 322-9009.

By Times Staff

Hotels

M’ville-based hotel giant to build major hotel in Austin Merrillville-based White Lodging Services Corp. said it plans to open the largest hotel in Austin, Texas.

The 1,000-room Austin Marriott Marquis is scheduled to break ground in mid-2012, open in 2015 and employ 725 workers. by times staff higher Education

University Village Hall Council wins national award HAMMOND | Purdue University Calumet received a national award for Building Residence Hall Association of the Year at the 2011 conference for the National Association of College and University Residence Halls Inc. More than 270 universities and institutions at the converence were represented. Attending from Purdue Calumet was University Village Hall Council President Na–Jee Harris, Vice President Eric Giboyeaux, National Communications Coordinator Yasemine Garmon, Director of Finance Asad Khan, Director of Programming and Diversity Ryan Harris, and UVHC Advisor and Interim Director of Housing and Residential Education Abbas Hill.

All are current residents of University Village in Hammond.

The Building RHA of the Year Award was created to recognize those RHAs that have made significant strides in the development of their RHA. To view UVHC’s National Award Winning Building RHA of the Year Bid, visit ‌gouvhc.com/uvhc/library/2011/05/ PurdueUniversityCalumet_ BuildingRHA_2011.pdf. by times staff

10 | In Business

Lake County Sept. 2010

Sept. 2011

Change

Labor force

221,374

218,399

-2,975

Employed

196,689

197,719

+1,030

Unemployed

24,685

20,680

-4,005

Sept. 2010

Sept. 2011

Change

Labor force

80,940

80,865

-75

Employed

74,348

74,737

+389

Unemployed

6,592

6,128

-464

Sept. 2010

Sept. 2011

Change

Labor force

50,835

50,089

-746

Employed

45,351

45,262

-89

Unemployed

5,484

4,827

-657

Sept. 2010

Sept. 2011

Change

Labor force

2,600,168

2,609,818

+9,650

Employed

2,345,246

2,339,493

-5,753

254,922

270,325

+15,403

Sept. 2010

Sept. 2011

Change

Labor force

364,690

365,438

+748

Employed

331,177

330,364

-813

Unemployed

33,513

35,074

+1,561

Percent of workforce unemployed 9.5 percent

Porter County Percent of workforce unemployed 7.6 percent

LaPorte County Percent of workforce unemployed 9.6 percent

Cook County

Unemployed

Percent of workforce unemployed 10.4 percent

Will County Percent of workforce unemployed 9.6 percent

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

Salute

Promoting those climbing the professional ladder

Koeppen

Winter

Scheub

Ciszewski

At the Valparaiso Family YMCA, Debra Koeppen was promoted to vice president chief development officer in charge of association advancement and Deborah Winter was promoted to vice president chief financial officer overseeing association regulatory environment.

Melinda Hustmyer, of Valparaiso, has been promoted to sales and promotion marketing manager at Marsh Supermarkets.

The Indiana Business and Professional Women recently recognized Tina Meckaroski, a member of the Merrillville-Duneland Chapter of INFBPW and a financial adviser for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as the first runner up for the Young Working Adult competition at the 2011 State Convention.

Jeff Scheub, a field safety manager for the past eight years with The Pangere Corporation and its sister company, Culver Roofing, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Roger Walters Memorial Award by the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable.

Signature Graphics Inc. in Porter recently hired Megan Ciszewski, of Valparaiso, as marketing manager. She was previously director of marketing and special events for Lakeshore Public Television.

Kathy Szymonik, of Lansing, was honored by St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago with the 2011 Nursing Excellence Award. Jennifer Powell, a labor and delivery patient care technician and Munster resident, received the 2011 Patient Caregiver Excellence Award from Community Hospital in Munster. Kathy Long, registered nurse in oncology and also a Munster resident, received the 2011 Nursing Excellence Award from Community.

Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond and Dyer honored several staff members. The St. Margaret of Cortona Nurses’ Choice awards were given to Mary Noy, RN, Interventional Radiology Department, Hammond Campus, and Anita Cummings, RN, Emergency Department, Dyer Campus. The St. Margaret of Cortona Physicians’ Choice awards were given to Cathy Pena, RN, Inpatient Rehabilitation Case Manager, Hammond Campus and Sue Fluga, RN, Case Management, Dyer Campus The hospital system also presented a Physicians’ Choice Award for Outstanding Manager to Dora Slupski, cardiology manager at the Hammond Campus, and Carole Perrin, RN, surgery department manager at the Dyer Campus.

BizWorthy manufacturing

Gov. Daniels hails Modern Forge’s move to Merrillville Blue Island company to bring 250 jobs MERRILLVILLE | Gov. Mitch Daniels visited

town in August, lauding the move of Modern Forge Companies from its Blue Island, Ill., facility to Merrillville.

The move represents about 250 new Indiana jobs and a $17 million investment in Merrillville, according to supporters.

Greg Heim, CEO of Modern Forge, said lower taxes and incentives “were definitely a factor” in its decision to open a manufacturing site at 8757 Colorado St. “You’ll always feel this is the best decision your company has made,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said to Heim.

Modern Forge was offered up to $2 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to make the move.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority also provided $2 million in the incentive package, and the Merrillville Town Council approved a 10-year tax abatement for the company in May. Modern Forge provides services to aerospace, railroad and motorcycle industries, including Harley-Davidson.

Heim said the company expects sales will approach $125 million in 2012.

Modern Forge’s $17 million investment includes upgrading an existing 150,000-square-foot building in Merrillville, Heim said. The company also will construct a

Modern Forge CEO Greg Heim announces his company’s move from Illinois to Merrillville during a press conference with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, left. The company will be moving into a 144,000-square-foot building on Colorado Street and plans to add an additional 60,000 square feet.

Jon L. Hendricks, The Times 60,000-square-foot building to complete the “state of the art forging facility,” he said.

Construction should begin next year, Heim said.

“It’s a very exciting prospect for us, and we are very excited to be in Merrillville,” he said.

Daniels also commended Merrillville for its

ability to attract Modern Forge to the town.

Town Councilman Shawn Pettit said the town’s decision to spend $550,000 to rebuild Colorado Street helped the process. Pettit thinks Modern Forge’s decision to come to Merrillville could attract more businesses to Colorado Street. By Chas Reilly, the times

Steel

ArcelorMittal’s safety record at Indiana Harbor facility receives national accolade from trade group A North American steel trade group is honoring ArcelorMittal with an award for its safety performance at a Northwest Indiana facility.

The Steel Manufacturers Association presented ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor Long Carbon in East Chicago with one of its 2011 Safety Recognition awards earlier this month.

The company received the award for its corporate safety initiative and lack of

12 | In Business

recordable injuries during the restart of the facility last year.

“The health and safety of our work force is ArcelorMittal’s highest value,” said Ray Hawkins, general manager of Indiana Harbor Long Carbon. “The only way to meet production and quality goals, achieve continuous improvement and develop operational excellence is by doing each job safely.”

The facility employs more than 270

people and produces steel for the automotive, cold-finisher, fastener and steel service center markets.

The Steel Manufacturers Association presented the award to officials from Indiana Harbor Long Carbon on May 10 at its annual members conference in Washington, D.C. The association is the primary trade group that represents electric arc furnace steel producers, often referred to as “minimills.” by bowdeya tweh, the times

sALute

Promoting those climbing the professional ladder

sPAw

Anton

LArK

rentsCHLer

BrisCuso

The Shawn Spaw Team, led by broker associate and the team leader Shawn Spaw, was the top selling, top volume, and top listing sales associates at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Porter County office for May. Jim Anton, of Anton Insurance Agency in Chesterton, and Courtney Cerajewski, 1st Source Banking Center Operations Manager in LaPorte were named winners of the 13th annual Ernestine M. Raclin Community Leadership Awards given by 1st Source Bank.

Methodist Hospital employee Latonya Lark recently won a Spirit Award for going beyond the call of duty to accommodate a patient. Lark is a technologist in Methodist Hospitals’ Northlake Neuro EDX department.

Trial lawyer Trent McCain, of Gary, was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

James Lewis, senior account representative, registered representative and investment advisor representative in Valparaiso, has recently earned MetLife’s Leaders level of recognition.

Daniel Cain, franchise owner of Plato’s Closet of Merrillville, was honored with a Sales Excellence Award at the company’s recent annual conference.

Munster financial adviser Marta Shuya recently received the 2010 Protect. Grow. Give award from Riversource Life Insurance Co. Former Portage resident Gina Rentschler, director of community life at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., was awarded the Don L. Boender Award for Distinguished Service by the Association for Christians in Student Development during the 2011 ACSD conference.

Jennifer Briscuso, of Highland, has been promoted to vice president at Centier Bank.

Since 2007, Briscuso has served as CRA/ Compliance Officer for the bank.

Steve Murphy, second vice president, relationship manager, at Citizens Financial Bank, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of TradeWinds Services in Valparaiso.

St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart recognized the top performances of caregivers. St. Mary Medical Center 2011 Nursing Pillar Award winners include: Nursing Pillar Award for Service - Ashley Hershman, RN, Crown Point; Nursing Pillar Award for Quality - Alicia Ventura, RN, Hobart; Nursing Pillar Award for People - Lauren Haller, RN, Hobart; Nursing Pillar Award for Growth - Josh Pool, RN, Chesterton; Nursing Pillar Award for Finance - Linda Geer, RN, Portage; Super Star Award winner - Jennifer Mulvihill, RN, Portage

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A worker walks along beams at a construction site in Portage. Fatal workplace accidents in Indiana dropped 6.5 percent in 2010 from a year earlier, according to a report released by the Indiana Department of Labor. Jon L. Hendricks, The Times workplace

Ind. deaths decline 6.5 percent in ’10 Construction fatalities decline for fifth consecutive year Fatal workplace accidents in Indiana dropped 6.5 percent in 2010 from a year earlier, according to a preliminary report from the Indiana Department of Labor.

The agency said there were 115 deaths from workplace injuries in the state last year, which was the lowest number of incidents reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. The census was introduced in 1991.

“While a record low is good statistically speaking, for 115 families their tragic loss defies any statistic,” said Lori Torres, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor. “That

is why there is no higher priority in our agency than safeguarding the lives of working Hoosiers through safety and health initiatives and enforcement programs.”

The agency reported 123 deaths from workplace injuries in 2009.

The agriculture industry reported the highest number of work-related deaths in 2010 with 22. Most of those deaths involved accidents with crop production.

The leading cause of all workplace fatalities was transportation incidents, with 54 out of 115 reported. This includes vehicular accidents and people being struck by a vehicle.

Construction continued to have the highest rate of fatalities, but for the fifth straight year there was a decline in fatal accidents.

The nanufacturing industry had 13 fatalities in 2010, according to the report, which is up from 12 in 2009. The report noted manufacturing, particularly the manufacture of motor vehicle parts, was one of the leading industries for workplace deaths for Hoosiers.

On a national level, U.S. workplace fatalities remained relatively flat year over year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said in a preliminary report. In 2010, there were 4,547 fatal work injuries nationwide, compared to 4,551 in 2009. By Matt Saltanovitz, the times

“While a record low is good statistically speaking, for 115 families their tragic loss defies any statistic.” Lori Torres, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor 14 | In Business

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BizWorthy awards

Salute

Five local Promoting those who a businesses honored on ‘watch’ list Kull

Three Lake companies, two in Porter selected INDIANAPOLIS | Five Northwest Indiana businesses have been named “Companies to Watch” for their role in growing the state’s economy.

The designation, presented annually by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, is awarded to privately held businesses employing six to 150 full-time employees with $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or capital.

Lake County businesses named Companies to Watch are: Diversified Marketing Strategies, of Crown Point, a marketing and public relations agency; DonLevy Laboratories, of Crown Point, a commercial food testing laboratory; and VF Garza El Popular, of East Chicago, a manufacturer, distributor and wholesaler of Mexican chorizo sausage.

Porter County businesses named Companies to Watch are: In Touch Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Valparaiso, a long-term care pharmacy; and Retro-Tech Systems Inc., of Valparaiso, a construction firm that designs, engineers and installs energy-efficient lighting systems.

Statewide, 43 Hoosier businesses were named Companies to Watch, chosen from more than 300 nominees.

Mitch Roob, CEO of the state’s economic development agency, said the honored companies demonstrate the kind of success and growth that is possible for businesses based in Indiana.

“These ‘Companies to Watch’ are among the firms fostering Indiana’s economic growth,” Roob said. “This group deserves our congratulations and our thanks for helping to make Indiana a great state for business.”

The 43 Companies to Watch will be honored at an Indianapolis ceremony on Aug. 25. By Dan Carden, the times

16 | In Business

Stolpe

Garcia

Pack

Mishler

Realtor Suzy Kull has joined Stolpe Real Estate Inc. in Valparaiso, specializing in Valparaiso, Crown Point and Cedar Lake. Deana M. Stolpe has moved to broker status with Stolpe Real Estate. Deana has worked for Stolpe Real Estate for the past eight years.

Melissa Garcia has joined Diversified Marketing Strategies of Crown Point as director of communications. Garcia joined DMS after 13 years with Graycor as the company’s director of marketing communications.

Phil Pack has been promoted to vice president of generation at NIPSCO. He previously was director of generation support services.

Kent Mishler has been promoted to market president, Porter County for Horizon Bank. He will oversee all market development and expansion in the Porter County area.

Kelly Shikany, associate financial adviser with Vogelsang Asset Management LLC in Valparaiso, spoke at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business about the unique considerations women face in the work force.

Dan Shaner, of Merrillville, and Dean Sangalis, of Merrillville, have earned membership into the Million Dollar Round Table, a association for life insurance and financial services professionals.

Adam Collins, plant manager with Kruz Inc. in Starke County, and David Broad, co-owner of Alliance E.M.S. in Pulaski County, have joined the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, responsible for the strategic vision of workforce development and governance of the regional WorkOne system.

Kent Mishler has been promoted to market president, Porter County, at Horizon Bank. He will be located in Chesterton and oversee all market development and expansion in the Porter County area.

John Amatulli of Amatulli & Associates LLC, a financial services and insurance firm in St. John, recently attended the BBB Torch Awards event in Fort Wayne as a board member for the Indiana BBB. William Maar and Douglas

Watkins, both of Valparaiso and wealth advisers with Thrivent Financial Lutherans, have earned membership in the 2011 Million Dollar Round Table, and independent association of leading life insurance and financial insurance professionals.

Kristy Schoenling has joined the law firm Harper and Rogers in Valparaiso as a paralegal.

Ruan Transportation Management Systems driver Richard Powell, who operates out of the East Chicago terminal, was one of 106 finalists nationwide for the company’s annual Driver of the Year award.

Chrisanne Christ, vice president of human resources at Centier Bank in Merrillville, was a finalist for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Ogletree Deakins/HR Dimensions Human Resources Professional of the Year.

Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc and Aileen Wehren, executive vice president at Porter-Starke Services, spoke at the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s annual Mental Health and Addiction Conference. They shared their organizations’ experience with developing the mental health and physical health integration model designed to improve their patient’s health.

Two bariatric physicians, Jeffrey Rosen and Allen Mikhail, have joined the ReStart Center, the bariatric weight loss surgery center for Methodist Hospitals. Both are board certified in general surgery.

Nelda J. Connors, president and CEO of Atkore International in Harvey, was recently elected

by Group 3 banks as a Class B (non-banker) director by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to serve an unexpired term that will end Dec. 31.

Natalie McPhillips, of Lansing, has been named a financial representative for Country Financial in Crete.

Michellene Arder, an interventional radiology nurse and 12-year Franciscan St. Anthony Health employee, received the hospital’s annual Nightingale Award Lia sophia has promoted Jackie Gore, of Valparaiso, from adviser to unit manager. Joann Keck, of Griffith,

are climbing the professional ladder Amatulli

McPhillips

Maar

Arder

Watkins

Rosen

Mikhail

Cavanaugh

Connors

Ballweg

and Debbie Urban, of Highland, were recognized as Monthly Achievers by the company. Deb Tulba, of Griffith; Rhonda Lawinski-Cavazos, of Hammond; Lauren Shelby, of Cedar Lake; and Sandy Berger of Crown Point earned top honors for the company’s Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers.

Rita D’arcy, of Crown Point; Kerry Fenters, of Hebron; Vicki MacRoberts, of Merrillville; Jennifer Alfaro, of Dyer; and Laura Hullinger, of Highland, have become independent consultants with Tastefully Simple Inc. James Crum, managing director of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 4 of Indiana/Kentucky Apprentice Fund in Valparaiso, has been named regional trustee of Ivy Tech Community College Northwest.

Kitty Cavanaugh, RN, BSN, has been named the new intensive care unit director at Porter Health System. Cavanaugh has worked at Porter since 1992.

Pat Ballweg has joined First Midwest Bank as assistant vice president and trust officer at the Highland Grove location. She has 20 years of insurance and investment experience.

Valparaiso resident Jeff Lamb, a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch in Merrillville, recently earned the certified special needs adviser designation administered by the special needs financial services division of the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management group.

Tom Newton has joined Stolpe Real Estate in Valparaiso as a new sales associate. He has been a residential real estate appraiser with Newton & Associates Inc. since 2003.

TP Orthodontics Inc. has promoted Robin Intagliata, of Valparaiso, to vice president of research and development and clinical affairs; Randy Berry, of LaPorte, to vice president of manufacturing; and Matt Oswald, of LaPorte, to vice president of information technologies.

Jody Schneider, of Crown Point, and Adam Simaga, of Schererville, were promoted to managers at Legacy Professionals LLP. Cathy Dufresne, of Crown Point, an emergency room nurse at the Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, won a Spirit Award from the hospital system.

Rocio M. Flores, commissioner of the

Lan-Oak Park District, recently attended the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ 2011 Boot Camp.

Lia sophia has recognized Joann Keck, of Griffith, as a monthly achiever. Grace Montalvo, of Dyer, earned top honors for the company’s Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers.

Melissa Gonzalez, of Crown Point, Cathie Mashburn, of Hebron, and Joy Komoscarm, of Hobart, have become independent consultants with Tastefully Simple Inc. Carsten Falkenberg, of Crown Point, a wealth adviser with the South Shore Group of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has been named a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Sharon Kuiper, of Lake Village, has been promoted to mortgage technology officer at Centier Bank.

Neal Fedak, of Crown Point, has been promoted to project manager and Cameron Leliaert, of Valparaiso, has been promoted to project engineer at AIM Machinery in Merrillville Karen Peters, RN, has joined the Memorial’s LaPorte Medical Group. She specializes in cardiovascular health and cardiac rehabilitation and will be working with the Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute cardiologists in LaPorte.

Andrew Losiniecki, MD, is the newest member of Memorial North Central Neurosurgery. He will practice at both the South Bend practice and at LaPorte Medical Group.

Alisha Breckenridge has been named financial center manager for Fifth Third Bank’s Ridge Road branch in Munster.

Advocate South Suburban Hospital has named Sharon Otten, RN, MSN, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing executive.

The Lansing Chamber of Commerce has appointed Renée N. Hale, of Lansing, as its executive director.

Jennifer Dean, a chocolate sculptor and graduate from the French Pastry School in Chicago, has joined Gayety’s Chocolates and Ice Cream in Lansing.

Newton

Intagliata

Berry

Oswald

Kuiper

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

Winter 2011 | 17

“The political rhetoric of jobs, jobs, jobs is very easy to keep repeating, but the specifics of how people are actually going to qualify for those jobs, or if you aren’t employed how you’ll find such services, is somehow evading us.”

Lugar staying the

Cou se Story By keith benman

U.S.

Sen. Dick Lugar recalls returning home from the Navy to find the family manufacturing business going under and teaming up with his brother to see if they could save it.

“We were trying to keep the factory gates open,” the six-term senator said at a recent breakfast of the BusINess magazine advisory board.

To get the Thomas L. Green & Co. humming again after the death of their father, Lugar and his brother, Tom, realized innovation would be the key.

That led Lugar to secure credits from the U.S. government’s Export-Import Bank in Washington, D.C. Before long, the small Indianapolis company was exporting its cracker and biscuit-making machinery to customers in Mexico, South America and the Philippines.

“We then employed 50 more people and we had about 150 at the time I ran for mayor (of Indianapolis) and my brother was left holding the bag,” Lugar said. Tom remains chairman of the company their grandfather founded in 1893.

Lugar’s anecdote stood in stark contrast to his report on the bitterly partisan 112th Congress, with the anecdote evoking the optimism and international outlook the sixterm senator has brought to bear on some of the world’s most intractable problems.

Some of those accomplishments are now in the history books.

Along with U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, of Georgia, Lugar in 1991 engineered the historic legislation and agreements that still bear their names, leading to the deactivation of more than 7,500 Soviet-era warheads once aimed at 18 | In Business

At 79 years old, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar is in the midst of what is set to be one of the most hotly contested Republican primaries of his political career in 2012.

Tony V. Martin, The Times

the United States.

In 1996, he forged bipartisan support for “freedom to farm” legislation which curtailed 1930s-era federal production controls on farmers. In doing so, he had to overcome divisions between farm and non-farm state lawmakers as well as reach across the aisle in the aftermath of the Republican Revolution that swept his party into control of both houses.

At 79 years old, Lugar is in the midst of what is set to be one of the most hotly contested Republican primaries of his political career.

Republican State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, with a good dose of Tea Party support, was the first Republican to throw his hat into the ring to oppose Lugar in 2012.

Already campaigning hard, Lugar made it

clear he will not abandon the causes that have meant so much to him and ultimately to his nation. He also made it clear he won’t join in the “devil take the hindmost” attitude some legislators are bringing to Washington.

“We had people in the Congress saying we won’t raise the debt ceiling – ever ... there are some moments with a theological bent of this sort,” Lugar said.

Lugar said it was near miraculous Congress acted at all on the debt ceiling, given how divisive and partisan the politics there have become.

Having said that, Lugar said he was intent on seeing deficits reduced and policy put in place to eventually balance the budget. He pointed out he was one of 40 Republican senators that voted for the so-called “Ryan budget,” the proposal of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, R-Ind., speaks to the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in late August.

Jon L. Hendricks, The Times

Winter 2011 | 19

U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, left, shakes hands with Albanese Candy Factory founder and CEO Scott Albanese during a tour of the facility in August.

Lugar is pushing for legislation that will subsidize sugar for American farmers and bring pricing closer to foreign competitors.

JON L. HENDRICKS, THE TIMES

passed by the House that would have led to deep cuts in federal spending and converted Medicare into a voucher program.

The Senator struck a decidedly cautious tone on the revolutions sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.

He said he did the same when he was one of five Congressional leaders summoned to a top-level meeting with President Obama on Libya before the United States became involved there.

“I was sort of the skeptic in the room and I indicated frankly that Libya was not a strategic interest of the United States,” Lugar said. “Our armed forces are stretched.”

Lugar said he counseled the president that the United States should let its European allies take care of Libya if they were so inclined.

“The president found that viewpoint totally unacceptable,” Lugar said. “He said, ‘We’re not going to be in hostilities. We won’t be at war, no boots on the ground. We will only be involved for a few weeks.’”

Throughout the BusINess advisory board breakfast, Lugar kept returning to the subject of jobs and how he intends to promote policies that can help people bridge the “skills gap” so they can get new jobs.

“The political rhetoric of jobs, jobs, jobs is very easy to keep repeating, but the specifics of how people are actually going to qualify for those jobs, or if you aren’t employed how you’ll find such services, is somehow evading us,” Lugar said.

Efforts in Indiana by Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University, and Purdue University offer much promise, Lugar said. But more clearly has to be done.

“I look at it from that standpoint, this is a state of large businesses that are very successful and we are grateful for that,” Lugar said. “But it now has to be a state of small businesses, startups, incubators of angel investors and things that all of you talk about very frequently. I’m encouraged this is happening in Indiana, but it will require a great deal of encouragement.”

20 | In BusIness

Winter 2011 | 21

elling the STATE Dan Hasler, the new head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., will do just about anything to get businesses to consider the Hoosier state story By DAn CArDen

22 | In BusIness

WInTer 2011 | 23

an Hasler, the new executive director of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, bleeds to bring new businesses and jobs to Northwest Indiana. Literally. photos by AJ Mast, Special to The Times

Dan Hasler, executive director of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Since taking over the state’s commerce agency in September, Hasler said a focus has been helping businesses relocate to Indiana or expand within Indiana.

24 | In Business

Earlier in 2011, prior to his Sept. 16 appointment by Gov. Mitch Daniels, Hasler and former Indiana Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob trooped through bushes and brambles around the Kirk Yard rail facility in Gary, suffering numerous cuts and scrapes in the process, to plot an access road that would make the site acceptable for the Canadian National Railway Co. to relocate from the Markham Yard in Homewood, Ill., bringing up to 250 jobs to the region by 2015.

“I was bleeding from thorns trying to get through,” Hasler said. “And I don’t think we would have found it if he hadn’t been willing to beat thickets to do it.”

Reflecting on that moment months later in an IEDC conference room in Indianapolis looking out at the green dome of the Indiana Statehouse and the blue glass J.W. Marriott Hotel, owned by White Lodging of Merrillville, Hasler said that experience showed him he has to be prepared to do just about anything to bring businesses to Indiana.

After 31 years of leading marketing efforts for Indianapolis-based drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co., the Paris, Ill., native said he’s now eager to similarly sell his adopted home state.

“Indiana is a brand. Indiana is a product,” Hasler said. “Our job here is to make sure we are communicating what that product is well, finding potential customers that are in interested in a product like we have and then helping them transact the business.”

The IEDC already successfully attracts the companies it competes for about 60 percent of the time, Hasler said. He said his goal isn’t necessarily to improve that number but to get more companies to give Indiana a look when they are considering expanding or relocating.

“Why is it Indiana is not getting more opportunities to compete and what can I do to get us more opportunities to compete?”

Hasler said. “That’s about awareness and it’s about branding and it’s about outreach, which happens to be something I know a little bit about.”

In an interview with BusINess, Hasler would not talk about whether the goal of some Republican state lawmakers and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to make Indiana a right-to-work state would aid his efforts to attract businesses. Right-to-work

is a proposed law exempting employees at an union company from having to pay either union dues or fair share fees for collective bargaining services and is expected to be a major fight in the upcoming legislative session.

Roob told lawmakers this summer that some businesses won’t even look at Indiana because it is not a right-to-work state.

Hasler wouldn’t say if he agrees.

“There are a whole lot of elected people who are going to have to decide if that is the right choice for Indiana,” Hasler said. “I’m going to let them make that choice.”

But Hasler doesn’t similarly shy away from taking on his boss, Indiana’s twoterm Republican governor.

In his book “Keeping the Republic,” Daniels said Northwest Indiana’s “reputation for governmental corruption and labor union aggression” make the region “a place employers

“Indiana is a brand. Indiana is a product. Our job here is to make sure we are communicating what that product is well, finding potential customers that are in interested in a product like we have and then helping them transact the business.” are more likely to flee than invest in.”

“I would love to prove him wrong,” Hasler said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help that region leverage the incredible jewels they have in their crown.”

Unlike the rest of Indiana, which outside of Indianapolis and a few other cities is mostly rural, Northwest Indiana has an incredible network of highways, abundant railroad lines, a port connection to the rest of the world and the Gary/Chicago International Airport that could and should be a magnet for development in the region, he said.

“When you see those kinds of assets sitting

there that are just crying to be leveraged for the good of an entire region and community – it’s compelling. You want to dive in and see what you can do to help, and that’s what I intend to do,” Hasler said.

That would be a shift from IEDC activity under Roob, when the majority of businesses and jobs coming to Indiana ended up in Indianapolis or northeast Indiana.

Hasler hinted Northwest Indiana could do more to get its economic house in order to be even more attractive to companies considering relocating.

“When I talk to site consultants, it does

matter in the purchase decision if they’re seeing a collaborative environment that they’re moving into,” Hasler said. “It’s like moving into a neighborhood – you’re not too excited to move into a neighborhood that’s unable to organize and always arguing and can’t agree on anything.”

But he said that’s not going to stop him from doing everything he can to get businesses to give the region and the state a look.

“If I think I can help them make a better life for their business and their employees in Indiana, I’m going to compete for them,” Hasler said.

Winter 2011 | 25

U.S. Steel says its initiatives around the world, including Gary, are helping it remain competitive Story By bowdeya tweh

26 | In Business

M

In the traditional cokemaking process, odernizing an industry coal is heated in a series of ovens in an that’s hundreds of years oxygen-starved environment to temperatures old and has continued to exceeding 2,000 degrees. This process takes operate in a location since at least a half day to remove impurities to 1906 is no easy task.

Officials from United States Steel Corp. say leave a purer carbon product to add to blast furnaces. The coke is used to help reduce iron Northwest Indiana is key to the company’s ore to make molten iron. The molten iron is long-term global success. then sent to a basic oxygen furnace and added The developing world may be seeing more with recycled steel products, or scrap, to make growth in steel in the next few years, but molten steel.

U.S. Steel officials say there are significant To help achieve the coke reductions, U.S. domestic opportunities to increase market Steel said in June 2010 it would build the share in certain sectors and invest in projects largest domestic commercial installation of that can ensure the company’s viability. equipment to produce a substitute product “One of the great strengths that Gary called Cokonyx in Gary. Engineering and has is that we’ve been here for 100 years and everyone here, we have a well-developed base construction of two modules to produce up to 250,000 tons each year of a semi-crystalline here in the region,” said Matthew Perkins, carbon material from coal blends named general manager of Gary would cost about $220 million. Since Works in July. “Our employees Cokonyx production uses a different have a great knowledge and a great process than traditional cokemaking history here. We have developed a via coke ovens, Gary Works will be great team of suppliers in the region able to reduce have a net reduction that can work for us and work with in the amount of harmful pollutants us at a moment’s notice.” being emitted into the atmosphere The region is home to the from potentially shutting down coke company’s largest manufacturing batteries, a series of coke ovens. complex, Gary Works, but it is “This breakthrough technology only a slice of the more than 4,900 Matthew will improve the environmental employees the company employs in Perkins , performance of the plant as the area. That number also pales to general well as create 500 construction the number of retirees the company manager jobs, further enhancing Gary’s has living in the region. of U.S. Steel position in steelmaking,” U.S. Steel Gary Works includes the coke Gary Works spokeswoman Courtney Boone said. production, steelmaking, and John Surma, U.S. Steel chairman finishing facilities in Gary, and the Midwest Plant in Portage and East Chicago Tin, and chief executive officer, said in a conference call with analysts in late October the Gary which are finishing facilities. U.S. Steel also is project will start up in the middle of 2012. part of two joint ventures in Portage: Feralloy Discussions about staffing and how to Processing Co. and Chrome Deposit Corp. operate the facilities is a complex process that has required months of planning, said Making the Littles, who represents more than 2,300 grade(s) of steel employees in iron and steel producing Automobiles, appliances, food containers, operations.

“We want to make sure that when we put and roofing. Those are a few of the industries that products that Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel our people in place that we hit the ground running and we’re not going through this and other steel companies impact.

However, one key investment launched six thing blindly,” Littles said. “And it is a huge years ago at Gary Works helped the facility and investment, so we want to make sure our people are fully qualified and our technicians its largest blast furnace remain viable, said Jerry Littles, president of United Steelworkers are fully trained. The company and the union want this thing to be a success.”

Local 1014.

Nearly one year ago in Gary, U.S. Steel In April 2006, the company unveiled its $300 million rebuild and production capacity began operating a compressed natural gas fueling station after retrofitting six cargo increase of the No. 14, formerly the No. 13, blast furnace. The company also had to make hauling pickup trucks and a passenger van.

The total project cost was $600,000, and additional repairs about three years later on the conversions will help save $12,500 a year the 9,200-ton per day hot metal production through lower fuel and maintenance costs, capacity furnace to keep it operating correctly. Now, that furnace is one of the four said Michael Williams, U.S. Steel senior vice president and head of North American that are operating at the facility to keep the flat-rolled operations. Since natural gas burns products moving. cleaner than oil, operating the vehicles will The company also sees that keeping produce lower tailpipe emissions. products moving may require alternative methods of producing steel that can help the company reduce its cost structure. U.S. Changes at the top Steel wants to reduce its reliance on buying The steel industry’s competitive coke from the spot market by increasing the landscape in Northwest Indiana and the world company’s coke production capacity and is a bit different since Matthew Perkins last decreasing its consumption rate. worked in the area nearly a decade ago.

Gary Works includes the coke production, steelmaking, and finishing facilities in Gary, and the Midwest Plant in Portage and East Chicago Tin, which are finishing fac Despite the changes, he says returning to the area is an honor and it will be important for him to ensure Gary Works makes continuous improvements as it works to serve customers.

The interest Perkins, a Hamilton, Ohionative, has in the steel industry started as a result of growing up near in a steel mill. That interest was heightened when he realized people are going to continue to buy cars and build buildings, both of which are dependent 28 | In Business

upon steel. Perkins graduated from Ohio State in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering and completed his master’s degree in business administration at the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. He is also married to his wife Nadezda.

Perkins, 44, said his top priorities are improving the safety performance at Gary Works facilities, environmental compliance, energy usage efficiency in production and

product quality. With quality, he said it’s important to “differentiate ourselves from our competitors to make better quality products to work better with our customers to help them in the development of new products.”

Perkins worked with LTV Steel Co. for 10 years prior to U.S. Steel’s 2001 acquisition of the East Chicago Tin facility. Since 2003, he has worked near Detroit and the European countries of Serbia and Slovakia. His most recent role

“One of the great strengths that Gary has is that we’ve been here for 100 years and everyone [has] a well-developed base here in the region.

We have developed a great team of suppliers in the region that can work for us and work with us at a moment’s notice.”

Matthew Perkins, Gary Works general manager

For 100 years more?

Concerns about domestic and international competition and technological challenges aren’t new within the steel industry and officials expect steel companies to deal with them in the future.

In addition to enhancing its raw materials position, U.S. Steel, the world’s eighth largest steelmaker based on annual raw steel production, plans to invest heavily in its tubular products business and produce high-strength steels for cars, trucks and other motor vehicles. In its tubular business, the company wants to supply pipe products to companies that are leading domestic exploration and transmission of oil and natural gas.

George Babcoke, U.S. Steel senior vice president and head of Europe and global operations services, says the company has significant opportunities to use more natural gas within its blast furnace and oxygen steelmaking operations. However, he says the company could also build electric arc furnaces that could that accept a product called directreduced iron to reduce scrap consumption.

With direct-reduced iron, natural gas is used to reduce iron ore and creates a higher iron content product to use in steelmaking.

“We are working together with an eye to the future to take the basic steelmaking process with its basic roots back to the days of Andrew Carnegie and harness the John J. Watkins, The Times innovation, knowledge and strength of our cilities. U.S. Steel also is part of two joint ventures in Portage: Feralloy Processing Co. and Chrome Deposit Corp. greatest assets: our people, and create the future of steel,” said Babcoke, a Northwest Indiana native, at a steel industry conference deal with increasingly demading customers. with the company has been vice president and in October.

Perkins said since many of the company’s general director of U. S. Steel Serbia.

Regardless of what form the industry “I know that’s one of the advantages that we customers have global operations, there also is takes, Littles said he’s confident there will be more uniformity in product demands within have moving from facility to facility,” Perkins Northwest Indiana workers to staff facilities the industry whether the customer is located said. “There are things that I’ve learned in and help the company produce steel for years in central Europe or the United States.

Europe, there are things that I have learned in “We’ve found better and better ways to run to come. other facilities that I’m bringing to Gary.”

“They’re going to be a player in the steel it to become more environmentally compliant,” The fundamental processes of making industry for the long term and I think they Perkins said. “We’ve had major investments iron and steel haven’t changed in Gary, but have good intentions,” Littles said. since my last time here.” equipment upgrades have been made to Winter 2011 | 29

Remembering region business

leaders Whether a small business owner, a grant facilitator, politician, emergency medical services trainer or a volunteer helping raise funds for the community, their presence and contributions will be greatly missed.

In 2011, Northwest Indiana lost many prominent community leaders. We pause to remember their lives and the impact they had on their communities. story By DiAne PouLton

Dick A. Becker

Cara Spicer

A. D. ‘Bud’ Luers

Becker, 78, of Crown Point, left behind a legacy of service.

A retired Purdue Extension agent, his passion was 4-H. Becker was also on the original committee raising funds to build St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point, where he volunteered as a red coat.

Becker, who encouraged his children to do their best and help others, worked with many 4-H groups especially in poorer urban areas.

“He touched a lot of lives trying to help as many kids as possible,” his daughter Sarah Paraday said. “He kept them going in the right direction.”

Becker handled publicity for the Lake County Fair and volunteered on the Lake Courthouse Foundation board for 15 years, keeping regular office hours as president.

Spicer, 57, of Miller, was the program officer at Legacy Foundation in Merrillville.

In her position, Spicer managed the nonprofit group’s grant and convening activities. Retired Executive Director and President of Legacy Foundation Nancy Johnson said Spicer had the respect of the nonprofit community.

“She was passionate about their endeavors and she transformed that passion to the grants committee and our board of directors when they made funding decisions,” Johnson said.

Luers, who grew up on a 200–acre farm near Rensselaer, started his Christmas tree farm to create fond memories for generations of families. He served as administrator of the Purdue University staff of the Cooperation Extension staff for 32 years. A Rotary Club member for 50 years, Luers also served on many boards.

His daughter Jan Sallee said Luers was instrumental in organizing an annual Northwest Indiana migrant workers’ Mass.

The liturgy was in Spanish and afterwards the Gary Diocese hosted a pot luck supper.

Sallee said Luers encouraged family involvement in the Lake County Fair both in 4-H and working at the family’s corn stand, where sandwiches and apple cider were sold.

Don Barden Although not from Northwest Indiana, Don Barden impacted the region by opening Majestic Star Casino in Gary in 1993. Barden was a prominent businessman with a variety of interests ranging from casinos to cable television, and real estate. Barden was the first black casino owner in the country.

32 | In Business

Vyto J. Damasius Damasius, 66, who had a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University, opened Vyto’s Pharmacy in 1989. The pharmacy has locations in Highland and Hammond. Damasius received the Sperandio award from Purdue as distinguished Indiana pharmacist. Damasius was a Community Pharmacist of Indiana Board member, United Drugs of Indiana board member and served on the board for Mental Health America of Lake County.

William C. Isakson Isakson, 85, of Hobart, was the owner and president of Isakson Motors. He was a member of the Hobart Chamber of Commerce, Hobart Pool Association, Hobart Rotary, Hobart Lions Club and former member and chairman for Hobart Savings and Loan.

Isakson took over the family business in the mid 1960s.

George W. Carlson On the political front, Hammond lost both former and current city council members. A Hammond city councilman for 32 years, Carlson, 98, left, served the longest term of any public official in the city’s history.

A staunch Democrat, in 2007 Carlson was awarded the Key to the city of Hammond.

Four days after Carlson’s death, a street was dedicated in his honor as Carlson Drive.

Kathleen Pucalik A Hammond city councilwoman, Pucalik, 47, right, was a lifetime Hammond resident and was committed to her community and to organizations, City Court Judge Jeffrey Harkin said. She was a lifetime girl scout and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Catherine Stasinos

Roen ‘Betty’ Speroff

Stasinos, 91, of South Holland, owner of Lincoln’s Sandwich Shop in Highland, was known for her welcoming smile.

She and her husband George opened their first restaurant in 1946 at the Gary bus station and later expanded to the Hammond bus station. In 1950, they took over the coffee shop in the Southmoor Hotel; opening their first Lincoln’s in 1963 in Gary.

Speroff, 81, was a founding member and three–time president of the Community Hospital Auxiliary. Speroff helped establish Munster’s Center for Visual & Performing Arts. She volunteered many hours in the hospital’s Red Garter Gift Shoppe “What we will remember about Roen was her unwavering support of projects that contributed greatly towards improving the quality of life in Munster,” said Donald Fesko, CEO of Community Hospital.

Donald Hess Emergency Medical Services Trainer Donald Hess, 53, of Merrillville, loved to share his knowledge and was always there to help the people he trained, Schererville Assistant Fire Chief Rob Dowling said.

Hess was a manager for Franciscan Alliance St. Anthony Crown Point Emergency Medical Services Academy.

“Don’s career was saving lives and teaching others to save lives,” Dowling says.

“Don started his career as a dispatcher; his goal was always to become an educator and pass on the knowledge he gained from the field,” Dowling said.

A versatile instructor, Hess’s training included lay persons in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and, on a higher level, physicians and nurses.

Frank M. Munsey Jr. Bishop Munsey, 80, founded Family Christian Center 58 years ago in Hammond’s Hessville neighborhood. His impact is felt in Northwest Indiana and around the world with his missionary work, Pastor David Jordan Allen said.

The church was originally named Evangelistic Temple. Currently between 15,000 and 17.000 people attend weekly services. The church in Munster is listed as the 15th largest in America in Outreach Magazine.

In 1985, Bishop Munsey passed the leadership torch of his church to his son Dr. Rev. Stephan K. Munsey Sr. and became a full time missionary with his wife Ruth, traveling around the world and settling in Bulgaria.

Marvin ‘Mickey’ Weiss Weiss, 89, left a legacy of hard work, fairness, integrity and generosity, his son Donald Weiss said.

In 1937, at age 15, Weiss immigrated to Gary from Komoro, Hungary with no money. At age 17, he opened his first grocery store in Gary using a few hundred dollars scraped together with the aid of family members.

In 1951, Weiss opened his fourth store, his first modern 7,000 square-foot WiseWay Supermarket, laying the foundation for a company which now has eight stores and 800 employees.

Winter 2011 | 33

f nishin

Local dealers

By Diane Poulton BusINess Contributor‌

T

MERRILLVILLE

he year was 1913. Lincoln Highway was dedicated as the first cross country road for automobiles. Ford Motor Co. introduced the assembly line, dramatically cutting down production time.

It was the same year E.L. Shaver started in the automobile business as a HudsonEssex distributor in Lake County. The Shaver family has had second, third and now fourth generations in automotive sales.

This year Shaver Preferred Motors was named the 2011 Joe Krier Indiana Quality Dealer of the Year by the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association. The award was presented to Michael Shaver Sr. on Sept. 11.

According to the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealer Association, criteria used in choosing the award recipient include customer care, good business decisions based on honesty and integrity, and civic leadership.

In 1998, Shaver Preferred Motors opened a seven-bay repair center where automobiles are conditioned prior to sale. The company at 5701 Broadway is a regional repair center for service contract customers, walk–ins and

34 | In Business

ng in first

ship takes care of community Shaver named 2011 Indiana Quality Dealer of Year

Michael Shaver Sr. dealer referrals and it is an Indiana authorized emission center. Shaver Preferred Motors has seven Automobile Service Excellence certified technicians on staff.

Shaver Sr. has served on the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association Board of Directors for eight years. He has served as a director at his alma mater, Regis University, in Denver, and he is a member

of the Indiana and Crossroads chambers of commerce. Ten years ago, Shaver Sr. was a founding member of the Leedom & Associates First Dealer Twenty Group for Secondary Independent Dealers. Michael Shaver Jr. said the group is composed of 20 car dealers who share business practices and ideas, discuss legal issues and compare expense structures and profitability. Shaver Jr. said his father serves on an elite dealer panel of Credit Acceptance.

Shaver Preferred Motors will represent Indiana at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Conference in Las Vegas in June 2012, where it will compete for the National Dealer Quality Award.

Shaver Jr. said his dad’s business philosophy is that everyone deserves a second chance.

“He always carried that message inside the dealership both to his customers and to his employees,” Shaver Jr. said.

Shaver Jr. said his dad stresses that if you take care of the community, it will take care of you. Shaver Sr. gives back by supporting civic organizations and foundations, sponsoring local events and the Merrillville Little League.

Shaver Jr. said his dad’s business goal is to sell quality and safe vehicles.

“We spend well above the industry standard as far as reconditioning is concerned,” Shaver Jr. said. “He wants his customers to buy a vehicle from us that is serviced and in good condition and safe for their family. He also offers warranties on pre–owned vehicles free of charge.”

Shaver Sr. supports Faye’s Light, a cancer patient comfort treatment program located in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area. His wife died of breast cancer in June 2010. Shaver Sr. is also supports the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shaver Jr. said many people come into the dealership and say his father helped them repair a car or get a car when they were down and out.

“Being in the community for as long as we have, we have custoers who have purchased 10 or 12 vehicles over many generations of their families,” Shaver Jr. said.

Shaver Jr. said that the dealership is able to help any customer, regardless of income credit status or financial hardship.

“I think that is truly important,” Shaver Jr. said. “Our slogan here is to make sure that customers leave with a smile. Our symbol is a smiley face. We try to provide a top of the line product for a fair and reasonable price.”

Winter 2011 | 35

My Turn

Creativity, innovation en

I

By William J. Lowe

Chancellor at Indiana University Northwest

36 | In Business

nnovation and adaptability are hallmarks of the Indiana University Northwest learning experience.

They also describe our approach to growth and facilities management, curriculum delivery, and student recruitment and retention, all of which relate directly to our students’ academic success.

I am proud to share just a few examples of how the creativity and innovation of my IU Northwest colleagues make our students’ academic objectives more accessible and achievable for them.

Economic growth is a chief concern for Northwest Indiana and a key quality of life indicator for the region. The Small Business Institute, part of our AACSB-accredited School of Business and Economics, contributes to economic development by connecting teams of student consultants and their faculty advisor with company clients who need customized solutions for meeting business objectives. Our faculty also incorporate business outreach into classroom curriculum, creating additional collaborative opportunities between students and local employers.

Health care is a significant industry and employment sector for Northwest Indiana. IU Northwest, through our College of Health and Human Services and our close partnership with the IU School of Medicine-Northwest, continues to lead the region in interdisciplinary health care education.

While the School of Medicine distinguishes itself through such programs as the internationally renowned Human Cadaver Prosection Program, its presence on our campus also makes possible synergies and collaborative programming that create joint learning experiences for future physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and social workers. This learning model prepares our students to work productively in the health care teams

the industry demands but few academic programs are equipped to deliver.

High-quality, innovative and relevant curriculum is characteristic of our academic programs, and the university is working to identify flexible learning formats for students whose life circumstances and responsibilities may make classroom-based learning less accessible. IU Northwest offers more than 50 online courses in such disciplines as nursing, computer science, business administration and management, and mathematics, and we are planning for significant increases in our online offerings in coming semesters.

Programmatic innovations such as the popular Weekend MBA for Professionals will continue to play a significant role in our efforts to extend IU degree opportunities to working professionals and other adult learners.

Transfer students, including individuals who may have begun working toward their degrees some time ago, comprise 30 percent of our student body and will find both a welcome and a pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree at IU Northwest.

Our participation in the Portage University Center project underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in Porter County while maximizing student access to a first-rate IU education. The University Center project also demonstrates the collective commitment of the region’s higher education community to work together in support of student access and achievement.

“We will continue to engage Northwest Indiana’s students, educators and communities in meaningful ways that support their educational objectives and impact the region’s quality of life.”

nrich the IUN experience

The 2010 opening of our Arts on Grant location, just one mile from campus in the Village Shopping Center, further demonstrates IU Northwest’s commitment to the Gary community. This facility addresses our need for modern studios and performance spaces to replace those in Tamarack Hall and accommodates our record number of students (6,035 in Fall Semester 2011), with additional parking capacity that is served by our convenient RedHawk Shuttle service. The increased flow of students to the Grant Street shopping district also supports our local businesses.

While Arts on Grant temporarily addresses our academic needs, our continuing growth and commitment to community-based engagement require us to plan for a new, more permanent solution. Indiana University, ever-mindful of innovative opportunities

for greater efficiency through collaboration, has joined with Ivy Tech Community College to propose a shared building at the northeast corner of Broadway and 35th Avenue, to serve IU Northwest and Ivy Tech-Northwest Gary students. This partnership building is an economical approach to serving our growing student populations and, literally, a concrete investment in the much-discussed “educational corridor” between our two campuses.

IU Northwest has been located at our Gary campus for 52 years, and the university’s commitment to serving the citizens of this community remains central to our mission. We will continue to engage Northwest Indiana’s students, educators and communities in meaningful ways that support their educational objectives and impact the region’s quality of life.

Students and professors at the Indiana University Northwest School of Medicine begin dissections of donated cadavers as part of the internationally renowned Human Cadaver Prosection Program.

John Luke, The Times

Winter 2011 | 37

New Futures

Short legislative session can be long on results

A

By Ed Charbonneau

State senator, R-Valparaiso

38 | In Business

legislative session that could have been a disaster turned out to be historic, thanks in part to an Indiana Senate that stayed on the job and focused on pro–job, pro–growth policies. Now the question becomes: What do we do for an encore?

For both substance and drama, the 2011 Indiana General Assembly may go down in the history books as one of the most headline–making sessions in recent memory. Before we wipe off the crystal ball and try to predict what the 2012 session will bring, let’s briefly look back at the highlights of this year’s historic session.

In spite of the five–week disruption caused by the House Democrat walkout, so much was accomplished: a fourth–consecutive balanced budget, the drawing of new state legislative and congressional maps as well as the most sweeping education reforms in nearly 30 years.

I was pleased to vote for a budget that remained balanced and continued to provide solid support for our schools while not raising taxes on hard–working Hoosiers.

That’s a combination hard to find in any other state, where even cuts in education funding have not prevented increases in taxes.

While government doesn’t really create jobs, it can help build an environment that promotes job creation.

Lawmakers sought to improve on Indiana’s employerfriendly climate by reducing the corporate income tax rate and establishing programs to encourage entrepreneurship.

During a time when there was so much political protest, the redistricting process was one of the smoothest in recent memory. It was the first time I had experienced the process firsthand, but Tim Storey, a national expert with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said Indiana did very well. He praised Indiana during a recent committee meeting, saying Indiana was one of the first states in the nation to complete the redistricting process this year, one of the first to begin evaluating its efforts and one of the few states that does not have a legal challenge to its new maps.

I was also fortunate to be an author or sponsor this session of legislation to: • Allow all Indiana counties to use convenient, cost–saving vote centers

• Promote economic development by improving the Industrial Recovery Tax Credit program to encourage the rehabilitation and re–use of empty industrial buildings • Protect Hoosier youth by implementing a ban on synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as “spice” • Streamline the driver’s education process to make it more efficient • Establish a Great Lakes task force to protect and preserve these precious water resources.

What will 2012 bring? No one can say for sure, but I am hoping to make progress on some important issues.

I’d like to explore changing the school funding formula format from a calendar year to a school year.

I’d also like to discuss adding a second “count” date for establishing enrollment numbers at our schools so we can better ensure state education dollars follow the child.

You can bet the topic of land–based casinos will come up again. Allowing such a move could help improve revenues that can be used for community development projects such as a teaching hospital or a trauma center for Northwest Indiana.

I also expect a statewide ban on smoking in public places to be introduced again. It’s been more than 40 years since the first warnings appeared on cigarette labels advising the consumer that smoking could be a health hazard and 25 years since then–U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop cited nicotine found in cigarettes as having addictiveness similar to heroin or cocaine. Yet today, Indiana continues to have one of the highest adult smoking rates in the nation. Perhaps it’s time for Indiana to follow Valparaiso’s lead and implement a statewide ban on smoking in public places.

While it’s anyone’s guess how these and other issues will be resolved, one thing is clear: the short session of the 117th Indiana General Assembly will soon be upon us. It is scheduled to begin Jan. 4 and end no later than March 14. While the session is short, that doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be long on results.

I’d love to hear what you think of these and other issues. For those who live in Senate District 5, watch for my annual legislative survey to be in your mailbox in the coming weeks.

“While government doesn’t really create jobs, it can help build an environment that promotes job creation.”

Session Ahead

Hoosier lawmakers must bring people back to work

T

By Mara Candelaria Reardon State representative, D-Munster

here needs to be only one priority for lawmakers in the 2012 session of the Indiana General Assembly: finding jobs for Hoosiers.

As I write this, more than 266,000 Hoosiers are officially classified as unemployed. Thousands more have given up hope of ever finding another job.

In the face of these staggering numbers, we have to devote our energies to getting more people back to work as quickly as possible.

What should we be doing to create jobs in Indiana?

First of all, we need to be taking advantage of our greatest resource: the men and women of this state who ask nothing more than the opportunity to make an honest living from a hard day’s work.

We have to provide them with a chance to make the kind of real progress that comes when everyone prospers, not just the very rich and the largest corporations. Real progress comes when unemployment goes down and wages go up. Real progress comes when families don’t have to struggle for basic needs.

To that end, I believe we need to pursue a program that focuses on targeted tax cuts that get people back to work and invest in those things that matter – namely, jobs, schools and small businesses.

That last point is particularly important. Small businesses are the engine of our economy, responsible for 80 percent of new job creation.

I believe we need to pursue a tax credit directed toward job creation, with a focus on hiring the unemployed and Hoosier veterans. I also feel we should provide more low interest loans to keep small businesses afloat during tougher economic times.

We need to make sure that our efforts are directed at giving Hoosiers the best chance at getting the jobs that are created. Other states have dabbled successfully with programs that link unemployment benefits with training workers. There is a movement to explore such a program at the national level and I can see no reason why we cannot look at it here.

In addition, I maintain that this state should be more forceful in making sure that public works contracts – roads, bridges, buildings at our state university campuses – that are built using Hoosier tax dollars should be employing Hoosier workers.

As we help businesses attract new jobs, we also want to make sure those businesses are accountable if they do not live up their promises. We should require that companies give back taxpayer-funded incentives if they

“We have too many people in Indiana who have been out of work for too long. It is our obligation to make them our greatest priority in 2012 and beyond.” do not live up to their end of the deal in creating jobs.

Our commitment should be matched by one equally as strong from those who benefit from breaks paid for by the people of Indiana.

I am a firm believer in allowing local governments the ability to make decisions locally. By providing our local units of government with the controls they need, they will better be able to protect their public works projects from delays and cost overruns by entering into mutually beneficial agreements with workers. These local agreements can help us all, by keeping project costs to the budgeted amounts and protected from avoidable time delays.

I also intend to make sure that my colleagues in the General Assembly continue to realize that the Little Calumet River Flood Control Project remains a high priority for Northwest Indiana. We cannot ignore the long-term benefits of this asset, or the impact it has on our region. Together, we must find continued funding for its operation and maintenance.

Additionally, issues between the Town of Griffith and Calumet Township can no longer be ignored. There are real hardships facing the residents of these communities and addressing the inequities and adopting efficiencies can only strengthen both communities.

If you stop to think, none of these are new ideas. They have been proposed and debated in the halls of state government on numerous occasions in recent years.

What has been missing is a renewed commitment toward seeing these proposals put into place. We have too many people in Indiana who have been out of work for too long. It is our obligation to make them our greatest priority in 2012 and beyond.

Winter 2011 | 39

Calendar MONDAYS MERRILLVILLE | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Mondays at A.J. Specialties, 1308 E. 85th Ave. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367 or John Vurpillat at 219-669-6804.

VALPARAISO | Small-business operators are invited to Valparaiso Chapter of Business Network International from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Suzie’s Cafe, 1050 Southpoint Circle. For information, call Beckie Guffin at (219) 462-2771.

THURSDAYS

MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters of Southlake Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the University of Phoenix, 8401 Ohio Street. For more information, call Kim Kosmas at (219) 218-3877.

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Noon Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1PM, Thursdays at Petro’s Restaurant, 61st and Broadway. For more information call Bruce Woods at (219) 794-1259 over visit www. merrillvillenoonkiwanis.org .

PORTAGE | The Northwest Indiana Professional Network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays at Portage Work One, Ameriplex Commercial Park, 1575 Adler Circle, Suite A. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com.

SCHERERVILLE | A BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Holiday Inn Express, 1773 Fountain Park Drive. Call Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940 for more information.

TUESDAYS MERRILLVILLE | Southshore Business Networking, will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month Cafe Divine, 9000 Taft St. Call Rick Gosser at (219) 808-9888 or visit ‌www. southshorebusinessnetworking.com

VALPARAISO | The Porter County Business League meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays at the Round-the-Clock restaurant, 217 E. Lincolnway. For more information, visit ‌www.portercounty.com.

VALPARAISO | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets at 8 a.m.

Thursdays at Regional Federal Credit Union, 2801 Boilermaker Court (behind Menards). For more information contact Kealah Parkinson at (708) 955HIGHLAND | BNI, Business Networking International 5131. will meet from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays at Harry’s Grill, 9400 Indianapolis Blvd. Contact Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940.

FRIDAYS

WEDNESDAYS CROWN POINT | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Wednesdays at Fahrenheit 212, 10805 Broadway.

Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, contact Debra Corum at (219) 769-77433-8544.

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Chapter of BNI, Business Networking International, will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Innsbrook Country Club, 6701 Taft St. Contact Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940.

40 | In Business

HAMMOND | Free business counseling services are available through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) from 9 and 10 a.m. Fridays at the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 5246 Hohman Ave. If you are starting a business, or having problems in business, call (219) 931-1000 for an appointment.

MERRILLVILLE | Northwest Indiana Networking Professionals meets at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at either Cafe Divine (Inside Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft St.) or AJ Specialties (1308 East 85th Ave.) Check the website for location, ‌nwinetworking.org/events.php. Contact Carl Watroba at carl@compdrinc.com or (219) 7767423 for more information.

We want to hear from you To read more calendar, visit ‌www.nwi.com/ business. To include an item in the local business calendar, send event information, time, date, cost and location to: business@nwitimes.com or matt.saltanovitz@nwi.com, or fax to (219) 933-3249.

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