by Jacqueline von Ogden
BANKING
Nick Matthews has joined Centier Bank as assistant vice president of business banking. Matthews services commercial loans throughout the Elkhart, South Bend and Mishawaka region and joins Centier as a seasoned banker with experience in commercial banking and commercial credit … Jim Pinarski has joined Centier Bank's new Elkhart branch as bank officer and branch manager. Pinarski, a graduate of Purdue University, is a former board member of the Goshen Little League, a volunteer for Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys and Girls Club … LaPorte Savings Bank recently announced Jim Kypuros joined the bank as a mortgage loan originator, bringing more than 25 years of mortgage lending experience in the Chicago market. Kypuros holds a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University-Calumet, has served on the board of directors and acted as president for the sales and marketing council of the South Suburban Home Builders Association … MB Financial Bank announced Michael J. Leonard has joined the organization as a group president in the bank's Commercial Banking Group. Leonard joins MB from First Midwest Bank, where he was regional president of the bank's largest commercial banking region, and will provide MB Financial Bank's range of commercial banking services to mid-sized companies in the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago as well as in Northwest Indiana … 1st Source Bank President Jim Seitz has been elected president of 1st Source Corp. by the board of directors. All of the bank's business and commercial banking areas, specialty finance lending units and banking centers will report to Seitz. Similarly, Andrea Short, chief financial officer and principal accounting officer, has been promoted by the board to executive vice president of the corporation, with the company's lending and deposit operations being added to her accounting and finance responsibilities. Lastly, Jeff Buhr, chief credit officer of 1st Source, with responsibility for credit analysis and underwriting, loan workout and recovery, and loan administration, was promoted to executive vice president of the bank.
COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA
South Bend-based Villing & Co. named Jeff Middaugh as creative director. He'll be responsible for the creative integrity of all agency projects by directing copy and design, as well as developing and maintaining client brand awareness through print, television, radio, video, digital, social media and the web. Middaugh has more than 20 years of advertising and marketing experience and previously held positions with Todd Allen Design in Elkhart, the former Juhl Agency in Mishawaka, M&H Advertising in Minneapolis as well as Haynes & Partners Communications Inc. in Indianapolis … VIA Marketing of Merrillville recently welcomed Carlo Labriola as a senior graphic designer. Labriola is a Winfield resident and a graduate of the American Academy of Art, bringing more than 16 years of graphic design experience to Via.
CONSTRUCTION
Berglund Construction has been named construction manager for the Purdue University North Central Student Services and Activities Complex, providing project administration services working alongside architects Design Organization. The expected completion is projected for the university's May 2016 commencement … Construction Advancement Foundation awarded Superior Construction Co. Inc. the 2014 Project of the Year Award for the Whiting Lakefront Revitalization Project. This award was based on Superior's ability to deliver a quality project to the owner–on schedule, within budget, with minimal disruption of the owner's operation, while upholding the highest commitment to safety.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Jill Ritchie, vice president and general counsel of Indiana Beverage and chair of the Northwest Indiana Forum, was honored as Volunteer of the Year at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's annual luncheon in Indianapolis. Ritchie has called Northwest Indiana home for more than eight years and through her work on the Indiana Chamber board and several policy committees, as well as being an Indiana Vision 2025 regional partner, she strives to connect Northwest Indiana with broader goals and initiatives. Prior to joining Indiana Beverage, Ritchie was director of public policy and governmental affairs for U.S. Steel Corp., where she addressed policy issues for U.S. Steel facilities in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois … RDA chief operating officer Sherri Ziller was one of 25 women recognized at the 4th Annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana gala, and was named as the Up and Coming Woman of the Year in the category of economic development. Ziller joined the RDA in 2006 as finance and grants manager, and was named COO in November 2012. During her tenure she has overseen more than $200 million in RDA grants for shoreline, transportation and economic development projects, resulting in more than half a billion dollars of additional public and private investment in Northwest Indiana …. The RDA was inducted into The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana at the society's 10th Annual Induction Ceremony at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, receiving the 2014 Accelerating Greatness Award.
EDUCATION
Jessica E. Huber, a professor in Purdue University‘s Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, was named the 2014 recipient of the Outstanding Commercialization Award for Purdue University faculty. Given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to, and success with, commercializing Purdue research discoveries, the award was established with an endowment gift from the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation. Huber is chief technology officer of SpeechVive Inc., a company whose behind-the-ear smart device helps people with Parkinson's disease speak more loudly and communicate more effectively … Indiana University Northwest announced the appointment of Alexis Montevirgen as vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management. Montevirgen comes from the College of Alameda in Alameda, Calif., and brings nearly 15 years of higher education experience in student services and enrollment management … Valparaiso University has again been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, joining a group of select universities and colleges across the country honored for their support of volunteering, service learning and civic engagement … By increasing its freshman-to-sophomore year student retention rate to 73.5 percent from 68.8 percent the previous year, Purdue Calumet received one of three 2014 Student Success Collaborative Awards from the Education Advisory Board. The national honor recognizes outstanding achievement of improving student outcomes and proactively intervening with students at risk … Dan Hasler, president of Purdue Research Foundation, announced Chad Pittman will be the vice president of the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. Pittman, who recently served as the executive vice president and chief of staff of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., was instrumental in bringing hundreds of companies to Indiana in the past five years … In addition to a record-breaking commercialization year with the Purdue Startup Class of 2014, the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization reported 272 invention disclosures, 140 issued U.S. patents, 471 global patent applications filed, and royalty income of nearly $7 million, all of which is returned to the inventing faculty and Purdue University.
GOVERNMENT
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky announced a grant award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the City of Michigan City under the Community Development Block Grant program. The program is a federally funded grant program that provides annual grants to develop urban communities and expand economic opportunities … Portage-based NorthShore Health Centers will receive $1.5 million in continuation funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, allowing NorthShore to continue providing affordable primary care, including medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services, regardless of patients' level of health insurance coverage … U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a construction contract of $3.2 million for the ecosystem restoration work of 80 acres in the City of Portage lakefront area. Techniques utilized will be girdling in place, under-story clearing, planting, controlled burns and invasive plant eradication. Dune rebuilding will occur for 9.5 acres through onsite cut and fill with the excess material being placed for a separate dune restoration. Additional wet woodland acreage in the southern area will be terraced upland from the river.
HEALTH CARE
The Indiana Hospital Association presented one of its two highest awards to Denise Dillard, Methodist Hospitals' chief consultant for government relations and external affairs. Dillard received the IHA Award of Merit for exemplary service to health care and has been recognized with several awards, including the NAACP Image Award, Who's Who in Indiana and Influential Women of NWI 2013 Community Leader of the Year … Benjamin Schmid, M.D., a gastroenterologist, received the annual McAuley Clinic Gratitude Award from Thomas Gryzbek, Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond president. Schmid has been with the hospital for 34 years and has volunteered at the clinic since it opened in 1996. Physicians receive the annual honor for volunteering at the clinic, which provides medical and referral services at minimal cost for needy Northwest Indiana residents. … Porter Health Care System welcomes Teresa Haskins, M.D., to the hospital's occupational and corporate wellness program, Health At Work … Terrie Fontenot, R.N., MSN, has been named the new chief nursing officer at Porter Regional Hospital. Fontenot began her career with Porter more than 10 years ago as a nurse in the intensive care unit and has served in the role of ICU director, and most recently, assistant chief nursing officer. Fontenot graduated from Valparaiso University with her bachelor of science in nursing and completed her master's degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University. Fontenot is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force … Methodist Hospitals announced new medical staff officers to lead more than 600 physicians who serve communities' medical needs: president–Raied Abdullah, M.D., nephrologist; president-elect–Abdul Kawamleh, M.D., cardiologist; secretary–Thessa Robertson, M.D., emergency medicine; treasurer–Amead Atassi, M.D., general surgeon … Porter Health Care System welcomed Pravin Gupta, M.D., to the hospital's network, Porter Physician Group, located at Steel Family Health Care Center in Chesterton … Methodist Hospitals recently signed an $11 million dollar agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc. to replace all of its diagnostic imaging equipment with the latest technologies available. The first phase of the agreement is a multi-million dollar investment in Siemens' cutting-edge CT and radiography equipment. Later phases of the project will include the addition of new MRI systems, nuclear medicine systems, ultrasound systems including systems with dedicated breast imaging capabilities, and further additions to the array of CT and radiography equipment available at Methodist facilities … Sally A. Ramirez has joined Methodist Hospitals as director of compensation and benefits. Ramirez served as corporate director of compensation and benefits at Majestic Star Casino … St. Mary Medical Center recently welcomed nurse practitioner Angela Tursman, WHCNP, to its Community Care Network of physicians and allied health professionals. Tursman, with more than 10 years of experience in women's health and integrative medicine, earned her MSN from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and her BSN from Purdue University … Orlean Miller, a 16-year veteran at Indiana University Health Starke Hospital, has been honored with The Daisy Award for her compassion and excellence in nursing service to patients and families. The award is a top honor for nurses who provide compassionate care to patients. … Elkhart General Hospital was named a 2014/2015 Consumer Choice Award winner by National Research Corp. The annual award identifies hospitals across the United States that health care consumers choose as having the highest quality and image. Elkhart General Hospital is a part of Beacon Health System. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, which is also a part of Beacon Health System, was named a 2014/2015 Consumer Choice Award winner as well … Porter Health Care System welcomes urologist Ashay Kparker, M.D., to the hospital's network, Porter Physician Group. Dr. Kparker joins fellow urologists Dr. Robert Lai, Dr. Adam Perlmutter and Dr. John Lynam in practice at Lakeshore Urology. A graduate of Duke University in Durham, N.C., where he received a dual undergraduate degree in engineering and biomedical engineering and chemistry, Dr. Kparker completed his medical degree and residency at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine … Community Hospital concussion clinic director John J. Doherty, MS, PT, ATC, ITAT, has been inducted into the Indiana Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame. Considered one of the highest honors a member can receive, the Hall of Fame showcases the exceptional talents and workmanship of athletic trainers loyal to their trade. To be considered for the award, inductees must have worked at least 15 years in their specialty, be active and respectable members of their communities, and perhaps most important, be dedicated to advancing the fields of athletic training and sports medicine. Doherty balances a full-time career at Community Hospital's concussion clinic, the head athletic trainer position at Munster High School and writing a sports column in The Times … The Saint Joseph Physician Network (SJPN) announces the opening of SJPN Dermatology in Mishawaka, with Miles Andrew, M.D.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Kelly Baker has been named the new director of human resources for all seven YMCA organizations in the Northwest Indiana area. Baker will be located at the Valparaiso Family YMCA in Valparaiso, and brings human resource experience with nonprofit and for profit organizations in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. Baker received a BA in political science from the University of Illinois.
INSURANCE
Jerry Scott of Gibson has been promoted to chief operating officer, responsible for creating and driving operational excellence across the company and building the talent capacity for dynamic future growth. Joining Gibson in 2013 as the director of commercial risk management, Scott quickly became director of operations and joined the executive leadership team in early 2014, and named COO later that year. Ruth Kramer has joined Gibson as a client manager in the Employee Benefits Practice, where she is responsible for providing renewal and service management for employee benefits, including overseeing renewals and enrollments, maintaining policy data, the creation of employee communication materials, and conducting employee open enrollment meetings in both English and Spanish. Mike Ripley has joined Gibson as a consultant in the Employee Benefits Practice. Prior to joining Gibson in 2014, Ripley worked as an employee benefits consultant with Old National Insurance in Fort Wayne for six years. Gary Clark of Gibson has been promoted to loss prevention manager, specializing in risk management techniques and loss prevention services for business clients. Shawna Neilson of Gibson has been promoted to director of risk management services. Her responsibilities include oversight of the claims, claims consulting and loss prevention teams, providing them with guidance and support for achieving the strategic goals of the agency and clients. Diana Weatherly, GBA, GBDS, CMS, of Gibson, has been awarded the Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Patricia Groh, AINS, CAWC, of Gibson, has been awarded the Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation from the Insurance Risk Management Institute Inc. and the Certified Authority on Workers' Compensation (CAWC) designation. The CAWC designation offers a unique perspective on workers' compensation, combining business acumen with key educational training, for an innovative and unique skill set. Andrew Graman, of Gibson, has been promoted to client manager in the Employee Benefits Practice.
LEGAL
Attorney Michael Tolbert of Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP was presented the 2014 Rabb Emison Organization Award at the Indiana State Bar Association's annual meeting. Awarded by ISBA's diversity committee in recognition of an individual and organization that demonstrates “a commitment to promote diversity and equality in the legal profession and in the membership of the State Bar,” Tolbert currently serves as president of the Lake County Bar Association and has previously served as president of the James C. Kimbrough Bar Association, and continues to serve on numerous boards and is active in his community. Larry Evans and John Hughes of Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP were listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2015. Evans was selected by his peers for inclusion in multiple fields: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Construction, Litigation-Labor & Employment, and Litigation-Real Estate. Hughes was selected by his peers for inclusion in the field Personal Injury Litigation–Defendants. Both Evans and Hughes have been repeatedly chosen by their peers for inclusion in most of the fields noted in previous years.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Gordon Demery has joined Valparaiso firm Success Trek as a junior consultant. Demery, who hails from the Chicago area, obtained his undergrad degree in Southern Utah and graduate degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology … Elkhart-based Interlogic Outsourcing Inc., a provider of payroll and employer services, announced the addition of Shelley Chakan as marketing manager. Chakan comes to IOI from Schurz Communications Inc.-owned South Bend Tribune. Chakan has worked for the Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.), Wednesday Journal Inc. (Oak Park, Ill.) and the Chicago Tribune.
REAL ESTATE
Century 21 Alliance Group has recently added new real estate agent Debbie Barclay to its team. Barclay has been involved in volunteering in the community, church, school and youth sports organizations. Century 21 Alliance Group has also added Angela Traycoff to its real estate team. Traycoff is a Northwest Indiana native and Indiana University graduate.
TOURISM
Marquette Park will host its first air show since getting a $30 million makeover when the Gary air show returns in July 2015. The RDA invested $28 million in the renovations at Marquette Park as part of the Marquette Plan to recover 75 percent of the shoreline for public use. This attracted an additional $2 million from federal sources. To date, the RDA and local communities have invested more than $200 million in shoreline improvements in Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Whiting and Portage over the past nine years. Projected to create more than 1,000 jobs, primarily in the tourism and hospitality industries, the investment may add more than $90 million annually to the region's economy by 2025 … The board of directors of Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) announces the appointment of Erika Hanner as its executive director. Hanner recently served as the director of convergent programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, bringing more than 20 years managing program initiatives, including curatorial, educational, performance, as well as the library and archive at MCA. Hanner will succeed Carolyn Saxton, who led LCA for eight years through a major period of growth, including spearheading several significant community initiatives that promote and/or support arts and culture within Michigan City.
