Businesses and organizations share good news about new hires, promotions, accolades
Accounting
CPAs Angela Grothaus and Lisa Human were promoted to partner at CLH, CPAs & Consultants in Michigan City. Grothaus joined CLH in 2014 as a senior staff accountant. Human joined CLH in 2014 as a staff accountant. Wyatt Stacy was promoted to senior accountant. Stacy started at the firm in 2022. Charlotte Dombrowski of Valparaiso and Kristina Sherpitis of Beverly Shores interned last summer.
Agribusiness
Christy Wright was named the next president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy. She most recently served as the director of global food systems at Corteva Agriscience.
Banking
John Hatfield was appointed senior vice president and director of marketing at Horizon Bank, which has headquarters in Michigan City.
Lynnann Russo, manager of card issuance and disputes, was promoted to officer of 1st Source Bank, which has headquarters in South Bend. Russo joined the bank in 2018. Lucas VanMatre, senior credit analyst, was promoted to officer of the bank. He joined the bank in 2021.
Allen Stenberg was promoted to senior vice president of marketing at Notre Dame Federal Credit Union. He previously was vice president of marketing. He joined the credit union in 2014.
Lauren Beatty was promoted to retail banking officer at Warsaw-based Lake City Bank’s South Bend northwest branch, and Gregory Brown returned as senior vice president, commercial Elkhart regional manager.
Jordan Sharp was promoted to the role of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer at Converse-based First Farmers Bank & Trust, which has offices in Marshall and Starke counties.
Business services
Caleb Morris was named Goshen-based Viewrail’s CEO. Morris’ father, Len, founded the company in 2001. The elder will transition into an advisory role. Caleb most recently was president.
Samantha Roa, who served at HDW (now HDW | An Office Interiors Company) for eight years, transitioned to design manager for the Northwest Indiana location. Kristen La Rocca continues as the business development manager for Northwest Indiana. La Rocca contributed to HDW’s growth since 2019.
Construction
Matt Evans was promoted to president of Hammond-based Korellis. He most recently was vice president of operations of the commercial roofing and building envelope contractor that is 100 percent employee owned.
Justin LaPorte of Hebron, who drives for Smith Ready Mix, finished second in the 2025 Indiana Mixer Driver Championship, which was held by Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association July 19 in Fishers.
Joe Thompson joined La Porte-based Larson-Danielson Construction as a project manager. His background includes project management roles with CORE Construction and Hasse Construction. John Nims, who has been a Local 1005 Carpenter for 15 years, was hired as an estimator, including work with Nims Construction. Alexandria Bucher joined the accounting team as an accounting associate. She served in leadership and compliance roles with Edgewater Health and Pinnacle Treatment Centers before transitioning into the RV manufacturing industry. Shawnique O’Dell was hired as an estimating assistant.
Lori K Bath, a bathroom remodeling company, relocated its headquarters to a larger facility in Valparaiso.
Economic development
Niccole Zell was promoted to chief lending officer at the Regional Development Co. after 20 years with the organization. Most recently, she was vice president of lending.
The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership appointed three new members of its board of directors: Stan Klotz, Marshall County Commission; Natalie Tucker, Marian University’s Ancilla College; and Matthew Wesaw, Pokagon Band Tribal Council. Susan Ford was named co-vice chair of the board, sharing the title with South Bend Regional Chamber’s President and CEO Jeff Rea. Ford is managing partner at Quarterline & Rock.
Education
John Gipson was selected the next chancellor of Ivy Tech Lake County. Most recently, he served as the chief of staff to the provost and associate vice president for academic operations at Purdue University.
Terrell and Chelsea Whittington launched the Cursive Academy based in Gary. The program appeared on CNN’s “First of all with Victor Blackwell” on Aug. 30.
Heather Hahn Sullivan, executive director of Dunes Learning Center, was the recipient of the 2025 Association of Nature Center Administrators Nature Center Leadership Award.
David Hernandez, the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen associate professor of classics at Notre Dame University, and Morgan Munsen, senior research and partnerships program manager at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs, have each won an NEH Collaborative Research grant. Thomas Stapleford, associate professor in the program of liberal studies, is leading a team that has been awarded a Humanities Research Center on Artificial Intelligence grant.
Indiana University Northwest announced several promotions, including assistant professor to associate professor and tenure status — Patrick Johnson, communications; assistant clinical professor to associate clinical professor — Jaclyn Barkow, business and economics; associate professor to professor — Brian O’Camb, English; Monica Solinas-Saunders, public and environmental affairs; Micah Pollak, business and economics; and Glenn Lauzon, education. Faculty awards include: Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Award — David Parnell, professor of history; Distinguished Service Award — Anja Matwijkiw, professor of philosophy; Founder’s Day Teaching Award — Xiaofeng (Alex Wang), associate professor of mathematics; Trustees’ Teaching Awards — Katherin Arfken, associate professor of Theatre; Yllka Azemi, associate professor of marketing; Jen Fisher, associate professor of biology; Patrick Johnson, assistant professor of communication; Hannah Lee, associate professor of psychology; Daniele Rosso, associate professor of mathematics; Maureen Rutherford, associate professor of psychology; and Erin Schaefer, assistant professor of English.
Micah Koppang, a 2025 graduate of Valparaiso University, was chosen for the Fulbright Scholar Program.
Dr. Jorge Peña was hired as the assistant superintendent of school operations in the Diocese of Gary. Most recently Peña worked as a senior consultant and improvement specialist at Koru Strategy Group and served as the Andrew Greeley Endowed Research Fellow at Loyola University Chicago.
Finance
CPA Keith Knight launched CoreSource Capital, a private commercial lending firm, in South Bend.
Shawn Baldwin joined the TrueWealth Advising Group team as a business development consultant. The financial services firm is based in Crown Point.
Erin Schuster, a client relations manager at Harvest Wealth Partners, passed her certified financial planner exam. She has worked at Harvest Wealth Partners, which has offices in Munster and Valparaiso, for 11 years. She also has Series 7 and 63 registrations through LPL Financial and Series 65 registration through Private Advisor Group.
Government
Gov. Mike Braun awarded the Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Award in August. 2025 Century Award honorees from the Region: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co., 122 years; Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards in Elkhart County, 102 years; Lebermuth in St. Joseph County, 117 years; and The Lerner Theatre in Elkhart County, 100 years. 2025 Half Century Award honorees from the Region: Holbert Engineering Co. Inc., St. Joseph County, 60 years; LoveWay Inc. in Elkhart County, 51 years; and Porter-Starke Services, Porter County, 55 years.
Braun announced appointments to various state boards and commissions. Bill Hanna was reappointed to the Commission on Higher Education, term expiring June 30, 2027. Jeremy Lugbill of New Buffalo, Michigan, was reappointed to the Ivy Tech board of trustees, term expiring June 30, 2028. Jay Wilkinson of St. Joseph County was appointed to the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission, term expiring June 30, 2027. Matt Murphy of Porter County and Tim Sexton of St. Joseph County were appointed to the Indiana Ireland Trade Commission, terms expiring June 30, 2029. Malcolm DeKryger of Jasper County was reappointed to the Purdue University Board of Trustees, term expiring June 30, 2028. Raymond Lopez of Lake County was reappointed to the East Chicago Waterway Management District, term expiring July 31, 2028. Robert Ordway of Lake County was appointed to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, serving at the pleasure of the governor. Dr. Michael Nirenberg of Friendly Foot Care was appointed to the Board of Podiatric Medicine, term expiring Aug. 31, 2029. John De Souza of Cressy & Everett Real Estate in St. Joseph County was reappointed to the Real Estate Commission, term expiring Aug. 31, 2029. Jim Arnold, who serves on the La Porte Community Schools board, was reappointed to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, term expiring May 31, 2029. Ron Wamsley, a retired teacher in Jasper County, was appointed to the Board of Registration for Soil Scientists, term expiring July 31, 2029.
HR/Workforce
Alyssa Eslinger is the new business development manager at TalentSource in Mishawaka. Isabel Rodriguez was named recruiting and marketing support specialist.
Hospitality
Noah Hoppe was hired as executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Jared Garner as executive vice president and chief legal officer of White Lodging based in Merrillville. Bruce Hoffmann, former executive vice president and chief financial officer, will transition to an emeritus role. Jason Druso rejoined the company as regional vice president. Druso worked for White Lodging from 2015 until early 2025. His most recent role was the vice president of food and beverage.
Manufacturing
ASA Electronics CEO and Co-Founder Tom Irions was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame. The Elkhart company has designed and manufactured electronics for the RV, marine, fleet, construction and agricultural industries for almost 50 years.
Angela Perez, a graduate student at Purdue University Northwest, was named to the Conexus Indiana Rising 30 Class of 2025. Perez was nominated for her work as a part-time plant operator and engineer at FiberX in Merrillville. Other honorees include Rod Baradaran, CEO of rScan based in South Bend; and Cristhian Padilla, senior HSE engineer at Cummins, which has a Mishawaka location.
Marketing
Samantha Walker and Onija Davis were welcomed as social media managers at JRS Mar/Com in Crown Point. Sameer Sheikh joined the team as a web developer and content administrator. Shawn Agyeman was hired as a project manager.
Philanthropy
Opportunity Enterprises’ President and CEO Neil Samahon was elected chair of the board of directors for Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities.
The Valparaiso Family YMCA recognized CeCe Arocho and Annmarie Severson with 2025 Changemaker Awards. Monica Rubio, NWI market president and community lending market executive at Old National Bank, and Mark Anderson, an attorney at Anderson & Anderson, joined the Legacy Foundation’s board of directors.
Nicole Gladstone was named president and CEO of Valparaiso-based MAAC Foundation, which is a nonprofit training campus for firefighters, EMS, law enforcement and K-9 units. Most recently, she served as the publicity superintendent for the Lake County Fair and vice president of operations and strategy at Mixdesign Inc. in Hebron.
The YWCA of NWI planned to honor the following awardees during its Circle of Friends Gala on Oct. 2 at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary: Judge Deidre Monroe — Circle of Vision Award; Shelice Tolbert, attorney — Women who Lead Award; Denise Dillard — Safe Futures Award; Susan Watkins, — YWCA NWI Longevity Award; and Chelsea Whittington, CEO of C WHITT PR, Earline Rogers Trailblazer Award.
Bonita Schaaf, Sophie Koss and CarolAnn Brown were appointed to the board of directors of the Center for Creative Solutions in La Porte.
Laura Green was promoted to training and technical assistance specialist at First Things First Porter County based in Valparaiso. She started at the nonprofit in 2022 as an outreach coordinator.
Public relations
Jonathan Thomas was appointed chief digital officer, and Marin Bruns, digital content and public relations coordinator, at South Shore Public Relations, which opened an office in Michigan City.
Real estate
Dan Rohaley joined the commercial division of Coldwell Banker Realty-Northwest Indiana.
Small Business
Studio director Shannon Williams and staff opened Transcend Dance Collective in Chesterton.
Technology
Paul Miceli was promoted to director of Pulse Technology’s audiovisual division.
Transportation
Todd Nuelle was named Anacostia Rail Holdings’ chief commercial officer. Nuelle succeeds Eric Jakubowski, who is retiring after more than a decade of leadership. Nuelle joins Anacostia from Canadian National Railway, where he served as senior director of supply chain operations, managing the Great Lakes business unit.
Dexter Salenda joined Ports of Indiana as the first foreign trade and economic development director. His most recent role was director of business development/key account management for DHL Global Forwarding’s life science, health care and chemical sectors. •
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
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Professional advancement
