ACCOUNTING
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), ranked as one of the nation's largest certified public accounting and consulting firms, has a new principal in its Chicagoland offices. Charles (Chuck) Taylor, CPA, was promoted to principal, effective November 2013. Taylor provides services from both the Oak Brook, Ill., and Schererville offices of CLA, and will oversee tax compliance, planning and consulting services for a wide range of privately held manufacturing and distribution clients.
BANKING
Mike Schrage, Centier Bank president and CEO, and Carol Highsmith, bank senior partner, recently donated on the bank's behalf a weight scale for wheelchair-bound patients to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago unit at Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness-Schererville. … First Merchants Corp. successfully completed its previously announced merger with CFS Bancorp Inc. of Munster in November 2013. In connection with the merger, Citizens Financial Bank has also merged with and into First Merchants Bank. The combined First Merchants Bank has 95 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and approximately $3.5 billion in loans, $4.3 billion in deposits, and total assets and shareholders' equity of $5.5 billion and $653 million, respectively. The full integration of Citizens Financial Bank under the First Merchants brand will be completed during the first quarter of 2014. … Horizon Bancorp and SCB Bancorp Inc. announced a definitive agreement whereby Horizon will acquire SCB and its wholly owned subsidiary, Summit Community Bank, through a stock and cash merger. Headquartered in East Lansing, Mich., SCB serves the greater Lansing area through two full-service banking locations. As of September 30, 2013, Summit Community Bank had total assets of $161.0 million. Horizon Bancorp is a community bank holding company headquartered in Michigan City, with total assets of $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2013. Horizon Bancorp's wholly owned subsidiary, Horizon Bank, still operates under its original charter, dating back to 1873.
DISTRIBUTION
Carl Buddig will be relocating its distribution center from South Holland, Ill., to a 65,000-square-foot facility in Munster. The family-owned company is the fifth-largest lunchmeat supplier in the country and will be leasing the former Dawn Foods space at 215 45th Ave. Commercial In-Sites represented Buddig and Jones Lang LaSalle represented building owner Becknell.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City Indiana (EDCMC) recently named Clarence Hulse its new executive director. Hulse previously served as the director of economic development in Jeffersonville, where he was instrumental in creating 3,500 new jobs and bringing in $300 million in capital investment. Creating the Jeffersonville Neighborhood Leadership Institute, he helped improve the city's neighborhoods and gained recognition by the Indiana Planning Association by winning the 2011 Outstanding Community Initiative Award.
EDUCATION
Susan Corbett has joined the nursing faculty at University of Saint Francis Crown Point. The Valparaiso native earned an associate of science in nursing at Purdue University, a bachelor of science in nursing at Purdue Calumet in Hammond and a master of science in nursing education at Indiana Wesleyan. … Peggy Gerard, professor and dean of Purdue University Calumet's College of Nursing and interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, recently received the Indiana Hospital Association's 2013 Award of Merit. Gerard developed the Northwest Indiana Patient Safety Coalition, with a vision of making the region's health care among the safest in the nation. … Marsha King has been named dean of the University of Saint Francis Crown Point, vice president for academic affairs. King joined the university last year as an assistant professor and director of the Nursing Resource Center and Simulation Laboratory.
ENERGY
Ozinga Energy opened the first public access natural gas fueling station in Northern Indiana in November 2013. The station is located at Ozinga's ready mix concrete facility at 400 Blaine Street in Gary.
GOVERNMENT
The Board of Directors of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority approved a $17 million matching grant for the Waterfront Revitalization Initiative in East Chicago. The grant will help fund phase 1 of the initiative, which includes improvements at Jeorse Park Beach and the East Chicago Marina; street and overpass work; and demolition of vacant properties. Also approved is a $200,000 Challenge Grant for the Town of Kouts in south Porter County. Combined with $445,000 in local funding, the grant will be used to extend infrastructure to 63 acres of land at State Route 49 and 680 South. This location links the Dunes Kankakee Trail with the national American Discovery Trail.
HEALTH CARE
Porter Regional Hospital once again sought to honor one of its nurses through its annual Patient Choice Award program. The prestigious award recognizes the level of quality care, comfort and compassion offered by nurses each day. ICU nurse Bev Holesinger, R.N., is the 2013 Patient Choice Award winner. Holesinger began her career at Porter in 1984 and will be celebrating her 30th anniversary in ICU this coming year. … Indiana University Health La Porte Physicians announces ear, nose and throat specialist Austin Bancroft, D.O., recently joined the network and welcomes new patients at his La Porte office. Dr. Bancroft joins the practice of Dr. Neil Wangstrom, nurse practitioner Christine Maddox and audiologists Jessica Barr and Jessie Grskovic. … Porter Regional Hospital recently opened an Anticoagulation Clinic in the Center for Cardiovascular Medicine. Porter's pharmacists and nurses review patients' prescription and over-the-counter medications for potentially harmful drug interactions; perform blood tests; communicate lab results; adjust medication dosages as needed; and provide patient education about blood thinners. … Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka welcomes David Parker, M.D., to Saint Joseph OB/GYN Specialists & Midwifery and the Saint Joseph Physician Network. Dr. Parker specializes in NaProTechnology, a medical and surgical application of gynecology used to treat infertility, recurrent miscarriage, abnormal bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, recurrent ovarian cysts, or pelvic pain. … The Memorial Leighton Trauma Center has been re-verified as an Adult Level II Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. The center has been re-verified three times since initial verification in 2004. … Northwest Indiana Cardiovascular Physicians (NIPC), the largest cardiology practice in Porter County, has joined Porter Physician Group. NICP brings a formal affiliation of eight cardiologists to the health care system, including: Keith Atassi, M.D.; Akram Kholoki, M.D.; Daniel P. Linert, M.D.; Hector J. Marchand, M.D.; M. Satya Rao, M.D.; Sandeep Sehgal, M.D.,; Jay Shah, M.D.; and Michael L. Wheat, M.D. The Center for Cardiovascular Medicine is located on the first floor of the new Porter Regional Hospital. Porter recently was awarded advanced certification in heart failure from The Joint Commission (the first hospital in Northern Indiana and the second in the state to receive this honor) . … Porter-Starke Services recently received the state of Indiana's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the American Psychological Association, honoring organizations that promote employee involvement, work-life balance, employee growth and development, health and safety and employee recognition. Porter-Starke Services was recognized for its comprehensive and innovative approach to employee engagement and health through the company's policies and procedures, which included the establishment of a Wellness@Work rewards program, development of a Leadership Academy with Purdue University North Central, establishment of Fitness Fridays, provision of various health screenings, implementation of Breakfast with Leadership, The Inspiration Project, and hosting the annual Valparaiso Turkey Trot. … Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point and Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City recently received Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, while Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond received reaccreditation. Accredited hospitals have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with heart attack symptoms, undergoing a rigorous, onsite evaluation by review specialists, assuring quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine are met or exceeded. … Methodist Hospitals welcomes new management staff Raymond Martinez as director of security and Rayfeael Gullatt, director of food and nutritional services.
INSURANCE
Tim Leman, president & CEO of Gibson, has been named to Business Insurance(R) 40 Under 40 Regional Broker Leaders program. Leman joined Gibson in 2005 as the Director of Employee Benefits, named a stockholder in 2006, Chief growth officer in 2007, president in 2009, and CEO in 2011. He received Michiana's 40 Under 40 honor in 2008 and was named the 2013 Outstanding Young Business Leader from Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County. … Mark Bates, CIC, CSRM, AAI from Pinnacle Insurance Group of Indiana in Crown Point is the recipient of the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana's 2013 Harry P. Cooper Jr Industry/Public Image Award. Bates is president of Pinnacle Insurance Group and a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana and Independent Insurance Agents of Northwest Indiana, and has served on several company agent advisory councils and boards. Locally, he has served as chair of the Crown Point Community Foundation and president of the Greater Crown Point Chamber of Commerce and Southlake YMCA.
LEGAL
RailCats owner and CEO Patrick Salvi has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of medical malpractice law and personal injury litigation. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has received a Tier 1 Ranking in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers 2014 “Best Law Firms” rankings and Salvi has been named to Best Lawyers since 2005. This is the fourth consecutive year Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard has received this honor.
MANUFACTURING
The Procter & Gamble Co. recently recognized MonoSol LLC, a Kuraray company and the world technology leader in water-soluble delivery systems, at its annual External Business Partner Recognition Dinner. MonoSol was one of only 15 external partners out of 82,000 suppliers that received the highest honor of being named “External Business Partner of the Year.” This is the third year in a row that MonoSol has received the Supplier Excellence Award, recognizing MonoSol as one of the top chemical and ingredient suppliers to P&G.
MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS
Ideas in Motion Media has teamed up with the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Co. (NITCO) to give the online media company and its office and studio visitors a high-speed Internet option. This partnership allows the staff to get news in, posted and published faster due to NITCO's fiber access. NITCO also currently provides free, high-speed WiFi in the city's popular Porter Health Amphitheater and Central Park Plaza.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Mental Health America of Lake County welcomes Renae Vania-Tomczak of Munster, as the organization's new executive director. Vania-Tomczak brings with her more than 10 years of nonprofit management and consulting experience related to administration, planning, operations, public relations and resource development.
PHILANTHROPY
The LaPorte County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors has selected Robert D. Long of Michigan City as the organization's executive director. Long took over the position at the end of 2013 and has experience in management, fundraising and community relations with nonprofit, health care and human services organizations in Indiana and Michigan. … Hospice Foundation announces Christopher Taelman recently joined the organization as chief development officer. Taelman is responsible for Hospice Foundation's resource development strategies and initiatives, including fundraising campaigns and the solicitation of major gifts, planned gifts and in-kind gifts. … Legacy Foundation announced interim leadership of Leigh Morris as interim president and CEO and Tina Rongers as interim vice president. Morris is a well-recognized community leader in Northwest Indiana with past accomplishments including gubernatorial appointments as chairman of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, State Mental Health Review Panel, and Ball State University Board of Trustees; executive director of the Indiana Toll Road and deputy commissioner of Toll Road Oversight. Morris has also held leadership positions as mayor of LaPorte; president and CEO, LaPorte Regional Health System; board chair, Indiana Hospital Association, and Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission. Rongers, president of Karnerblue Era, a sustainable development consultancy, will spearhead several major projects, bringing in-depth local knowledge and operational capacity to the team. … Anne Hosinski Watson has been named executive director of the St. Joseph County Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Watson formerly served as the assistant campaign director of the uKnight Capital Campaign at Marian High School in Mishawaka. Watson previously worked in the IT industry, serving as security practice manager at Network Solutions Inc. in Granger, and as a security product manager at Sprint Telecommunications.
REAL ESTATE
The Northwest Indiana residential real estate market remained strong as the region transitioned into fall with a steady increase of homes sold in both Lake and Porter counties, reports Jeanne Sommer, broker/owner of Century 21 Alliance Group. Through October, the number of homes sold in Porter County was up 23 percent over the previous year, while the average sales price increased 1 percent. In addition, the average number of days a home was on the market, another key factor in the health of a market, decreased 13 percent. Lake County saw similar changes in activity. The number of homes sold in Lake County increased 22 percent and the average sales price increased 1 percent. In addition, the average number of days to sell decreased 13 percent. …South Bend-based Bradley Company has promoted Kara McGuire to executive vice president and Rudy Yakym III to senior vice president. As one who has worked in nearly every department within the organization, McGuire will lead the multi-housing, human resources, information technology and risk management efforts within the organization, as well as quality control of company processes and special projects.
TOURISM
The South Shore Air Show will be held in 2014 at Fair Oaks Farms, a 33,000-acre attraction, allowing the two organizations ample room to make additions to the family-fun event. With the 2014 date yet to be released by the Southshore CVA, the 2012 air show saw an estimated 570,000 attendees over the three-day event which included numerous aerial acts, a twilight night show with fireworks, kids' zone, beer garden, food vendors, charity event and VIP receptions. The 2013 South Shore Air Show was canceled due to the impacts of sequestration.
TRANSPORTATION
South Bend Airport is the latest airport to receive TSA Pre-Check, expanding the number of total airports participating in the program to more than 100. The expedited screening program allows pre-approved airline travelers to leave on shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes. To date, more than 18 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre-Check since its launch October 2011.
