With daily life slowly returning to where it was before the pandemic, business leaders and owners continue to seek advice on how to operate in an environment where employee and customer safety has taken on new meaning. For more than a year, many businesses have allowed their employees to work remotely, which has led to a need for new guidelines to maintain productivity as well as keep sensitive information secure.

Because many people were glued to their computers at home, businesses also learned to embrace social media to boost their marketing presence and keep dialogue open with customers.

Evolution also is happening in higher education as many of the Region’s institutions are finding ways to attract students and diversify program offerings to better serve the community.

While the pandemic was an unprecedented event, some embraced new hurdles that led some to develop financial contingencies to better weather future economic downturns.

Communication remains key to help a business grow, a motto followed by HealthCall in Crown Point. Community leader John Cain decided to postpone retirement — for now. The Boys & Girls Clubs are making reintroductions in the Region. And a few experts share their insight too.

Thanks for reading!

— Larry Avila, managing editor

Click here to read more from the June-July 2021 issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.