A lot has happened in Northwest Indiana in the past three months–here is a bit of what has transpired in the region.
ACCOUNTING
McMahon & Associates, a certified public accounting firm in Munster, has passed a peer review on its accounting and auditing practice.
BANKING/INVESTING
Michele Banes has been named assistant vice president of client relationship at MutualBank in South Bend. … Jill Hasiak, vice president of cash management at Citizens Financial Bank in Munster, has been elected chairwoman of the Munster Plan Commission. … Bob Schell has been named manager for the IU Credit Union‘s South Bend branch. … Ryan Woodruff has been named area manager of the retail network for St. Joseph County by MutualBank. … Heather Leer has been promoted to financial center manager of the Granger branch of MutualBank. … Mindy Beier has joined 1st Source Asset Advisors in Valparaiso. She will offer clients guidance on investments and retirement planning. … Centier Bank of Merrillville has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. … Rob Romano has been named vice president and investment officer with 1st Source Corp. Investment Advisors in South Bend. … Denise Myers has joined 1st Source Bank as a private banker assisting clients one-on-one. … Ryan Fenstermaker has been named assistant vice president at 1st Source Bank in South Bend. … Shelley Mulconrey has joined Horizon Bank in Michigan City as a trust officer responsible for estate, investment, retirement and financial planning. … J. Daniel Magura has joined Peoples Bank as vice president and commercial loan officer. He has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.
CONSTRUCTION
Korellis Roofing Inc. has been honored with the 2011 Firestone Master Contractor Award and the Inner Circle Quality Award from Firestone Building Products Co. … Troy A. Madlem has received his structural engineering license in Nebraska. He is affiliated with Frost Engineering & Consulting in Granger. … Benjamin Baker has joined Abonmarche, an engineering, architecture, land surveying, marina consultant, landscape architecture and community planning company in South Bend as a licensed landscape architect. … Sarah Murray has joined Abonmarche in South Bend as a marketing and information specialist. … Jim Freeman has joined the South Bend office of Abonmarche as survey crew chief. … Jennifer Jacobs has been promoted to marketing and information specialist in the Business Development Group of Abonmarche in South Bend. … Stephen Manner has joined Frost Engineering and Consulting in Granger as a project engineer. … Mario Munguia has been named vice president of operations for The American Group of Constructors in Hammond. Most recently he was operations manager for the company.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Bert Cook has been named executive director of Portage Economic Development Corp. Cook, a Portage native, was most recently retention and expansion coordinator for the LaPorte County Economic Development Alliance.
EDUCATION
The Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame has received a top national ranking for the second year in a row from Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 for “Best Undergraduate Business School”. … Two Lake County schools were beneficiaries of Chrysler's Drive for the Kids through Bosak Auto Group. Bosak helped raise $1,430 for St. Michael's School in Schererville and $620 for Pathway Christian School in Crown Point. … Purdue North Central in Westville has appointed Paul M. McGuinness as vice chancellor for enrollment management and student services. … St. Mary's College in South Bend has received a $10 million contribution to renovate its Science Hall. $9 million was from Mary Ann and Clayton Mathile, who owned Iams Co., a pet food company, from 1982 to 1999, and $1 million was from their daughter, Jennifer Mathile Prikkel, a 1995 St. Mary's graduate and a member of the college's board of trustees.
ENVIRONMENT
Legacy Environmental Services Inc. of Merrillville has been chosen to lead the not-for-profit agency Wisconsin Clean Cities-Southeast Area. Legacy also oversees South Shore Clean Cities in Northwest Indiana. … Republic Services Newton County Landfill has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program. The landfill's methane gas-to-energy effort was named Project of the Year for 2010.
GAMING
Horseshoe Casino in Hammond has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
HEALTH CARE
Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital has received the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition. About 700 hospitals, about 15 percent nationwide, receive the award. … The University of Notre Dame and Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend have announced a joint cancer research center. The 55,000-square-foot center will be known as Harper Hall and is named after Mike Harper, the retired chairman and CEO of ConAgra Foods. He grew up in South Bend and donated $10 million to Notre Dame to support the center. … Ann Rathburn-Lacopo has been named chief development officer for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka. … Franciscan Alliance and the Hammond Clinic have formed a partnership creating a network of 1,250 physicians. Franciscan Alliance operates four hospitals in the region and the Hammond Clinic has two locations in the region. … Ann Higley has been named clerical supervisor for Indiana University Health LaPorte Physicians. …Family doctor Gary Wheeland has joined Indiana University Health LaPorte Physicians and is accepting patients at 500 Legacy Plaza West. He specializes in prevention, treatment and management of acute and chronic medical conditions. … Workforce Health LLC, an affiliate of Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital, has opened a clinic in the Eastport Centre in Valparaiso. It offers treatment of work-related injuries, case management, drug and alcohol testing, work-related physicals, ergonomics/injury prevention and employee wellness. … The three hospitals in the Community Healthcare System have been included in the Chicago area U.S. News & World Report‘s Best Hospitals metro rankings. The three are Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. The rankings single out 622 hospitals in or near major cities with a record of high performance. … Community Hospital in Munster has been cited by Thomson Reuters as being among the nation's top 100 hospitals. The ranking is based on Medicare costs reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. … Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point is expected to complete construction on a $6 million radiology oncology department that will be home of the new Varian Medical Systems Trilogy linear accelerator. The accelerator will offer faster, more precise cancer treatment, says Abdul Khan, medical director of radiation oncology. Jacqueline Katz will be director of imaging. … John Mauch has joined Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame as president and chief executive officer. … Neil Wangstrom has joined Indiana University Health LaPorte Physicians, where he will provide diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat. … Family nurse practitioner Christine Maddox has joined IU Health LaPorte Physicians as a primary healthcare professional. … Audiologist Jessica Barr has joined IU Health LaPorte Physicians, where she will specialize in fitting and dispensing hearing aids, newborn hearing screenings and diagnostic hearing evaluations for children and adults. … Randy Tomczak recently joined the Hammond Clinic as executive director of finance.
INSURANCE
Gibson Insurance Group, which has offices in South Bend, Plymouth, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, has begun an employee stock ownership plan which will make employees owners of the company. Previously, Gibson was owned by 15 employee stockholders. … Lisa Frazetta-Manning has received the Rookie of the Year Award from South Bend/Mishawaka Association of Insurance Women/National Association of Insurance Women. … Lorene Kreil has joined the South Bend office of Gibson Insurance Group as a service specialist. … Dohn Cunningham is the new help desk specialist for Gibson Insurance Group. … The Risk Management Institute has presented Diane Merrill of Gibson Insurance Group in South Bend with an associate of general insurance designation. … Todd Byram of Gibson Insurance Group has received the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation from National Underwriters. … Ryan Colvin of Gibson Insurance Group has been awarded the Group Benefits Associate designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. … Erin Repic of Gibson Insurance Group of South Bend has received the associate in insurance services designation from the Insurance Institute of America. … Adam Peat of Gibson Insurance Group has received the Accredited Advisor in Insurance designation. He is a client executive in property and casualty specializing in business development. … Cindy Stutesman of Gibson Insurance Group has been promoted to senior claims specialist. She has been with the company for six years. … Jill Olson of Gibson Insurance Group has been named senior service specialist in commercial insurance. She has been with the company for nine years. … The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors has recognized Doug Charles of Charles & Casassa Insurance of Crown Point with a certificate honoring his 30 years of participation in advanced education. … Karen Frick has been named Outstanding Service Professional by ACUITY, a property and casualty insurer. Frick is an agent at Holland Insurance Group in South Bend. … Jim Unrue has been named president of TCU Insurance Agency.
LEGAL
Four lawyers from the South Bend office of Baker & Daniels have been named to the Indiana Super Lawyers list for 2011. They are Richard L. Hill, bonds and government finance; Edward A. Sullivan III, business litigation; Thomas J. Brunner, employment and labor; and Robert A. Wade, health care. … Adam Russell has joined the South Bend law firm at Hall Konopa, where he will practice in business litigation and estate planning. … Barnes & Thornburg has announced that four lawyers from its South Bend office have been named to the Indiana Super Lawyers list for 2011. They are Timothy J. Abeska, business litigation; George E. Horn, criminal defense and white collar; Brian J. Lake, closely held business; and Gerald F. Lufkus, employment and labor. … Two lawyers from the South Bend office of Barnes & Thornburg have been named “Indiana Rising Stars” by Indiana Super Lawyers magazine. They are Alice J. Springer, business litigation and Damon R. Leichty, business litigation. … Caleb S. Johnson and Adam J. Moore are now partners in the Merrillville law firm of Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C. … Stephanie Nemeth has joined the civil litigation practice of the law firm of Wruble & Associates in South Bend. … Krieg DeVault LLP, a law firm with an office in Dyer, has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. … R. William Jonas, a lawyer with the South Bend firm of Hammerschmidt, Amaral & Jonas, has been named as one of the top attorneys in Indiana by Super Lawyers magazine. … Paul E. Singleton has joined the South Bend office of the law firm of Baker & Daniels. … Jason D. Schultz has joined the law firm of Krieg DeVault as an associate in its Health Care Practice. He is a graduate of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. … Robert A. Wade has joined the Health Care Practice of the law firm of Krieg DeVault. He spent 6 years as general counsel and organizational integrity officer for a multi-hospital system and is the creator of Captain Integrity, (www.captainintegrity.com) a compliance program branding and education resource used by hospitals and health systems nationwide.
MANUFACTURING
Dietrich Metal Framing in Hammond will close, according to an announcement from its parent company, Worthington Industries of Columbus, Ohio. The Hammond plant is one of seven to be closed by Worthington. … ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor has been recognized by The Association for Iron and Steel Technology for improving its equipment productivity. The steel mill received the Silver Reliability Achievement Award for reducing its hot strip mill's maintenance delay rate by 26 percent. … Jonathan Gallagher has been promoted to new product development manager for MonoSol LLC in Merrillville. He will be responsible for advancing application development new market opportunities. … Corporate Services in South Bend, which receives and stores products for other companies around the United States, has been sold to Rochester, Minn.-based Archway. It operates 21 facilities and employs 1,500 people. None of the 240 people employed at Corporate Services is expected to lose a job because of the sale. … J.W. Hicks of Knox, a refractory supplier of equipment for the molten metal industry, will expand its operation. The $2.5 million project will include 110,000 square feet and add 20 jobs. … The Albanese Confectionary factory will expand later this year, says Alan Ruddell, chief financial officer. The Hobart factory will add 20,400 square feet to its existing 100,000-square-foot facility. The space will be used to make more gummi bears and increase warehouse space.
MEDIA/MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS
Rebecca L. Isaacs has joined Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly as administrative assistant to the publisher. … Denise Buschmann is editorial assistant/research for Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. … Janice L. Dixon has been named new media intern for Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly; she is from the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Informatics. … Matt Kasper has been promoted to director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Indiana. Most recently he was area sales manager in northern Indiana. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University. … Via Marketing of Merrillville, a marketing and advertising firm, has merged with Studio1 of St. John. Studio1 is a graphic design firm. … Arielle Schmitt has joined Big Idea Company in Mishawaka as a graphic designer.
REAL ESTATE
Aaron McDermott of Latitude Commercial Realty in Merrillville has received the 2010 Commercial In-Sites Co-Broker of the Year Award. … Tim McColly has joined McColly Real Estate as managing broker in the Valparaiso office. He also is responsible for creating a curriculum for new agent training. … Amber Knuth and Matt Kruyer have joined Prudential One Realty in Mishawaka as real estate sales representatives. Both are licensed in Indiana. … Two members of CB Richard Ellis/Bradley in South Bend have received Certified Commercial Investment Member Scholarships for 2011. They are Autumn Psaros, who received the Push for the Pin Scholarship, and Jennifer Pinkepank, who received the C101 Financial Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate Scholarship. … Joe McPhie has received the Certified Real Estate Negotiator designation. He is a broker with AtHome Realty Group in South Bend. … Terry Trusgnich, president of Aide Rental & Sales in Highland, has been elected to the board of directors of the American Rental Association. As Region 5 director, he will represent members from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin for the next three years.
RETAIL
Basney Honda has opened a new showroom in Mishawaka. The 6,000-square-foot showroom is on Grape Road and is connected to a new 15,000-square-foot service area with 21 stalls and 18 lifts. … FFC Fencing Co. of Cedar Lake has received the Digger Specialties Inc. 2010 Customer Satisfaction Award, and was recognized for being the fourth-highest-volume dealer in the United States. … The Chapter 11 reorganization announced by Borders, the national bookselling retailer, has resulted in the closing of its store at Westfield Southlake Mall in Hobart and its store in Mishawaka. … The Hammond location for Cabela's, a national outdoor equipment retailer, has been named 2010 Store of the Year. In addition, Matt Burtch and Jerry Nicholsen were named managers of the year. Burtch ran the Hammond store for the first three quarters of 2010 before being reassigned to a Cabela's in Texas. Nicholsen has been manager of the Hammond store since October.
SERVICE
Geisen Funeral-Cremation & Reception Centre in Crown Point has received the 2010 Pursuit of Excellence Award from the National Funeral Directors Association. … American Structurepoint Inc., a consulting firm based in Highland, has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
TECHNOLOGY
Sarah Kiger has been hired as director of operations and new business for Mixdesign in Schererville. Mixdesign is a strategic design firm specializing in customer interaction with a client's brand. … Anthony Ritchie has been named senior systems engineer at Kinetic IT Solutions in South Bend.
TOURISM
Toi Baylor has received the Athletic Mentor Inspire Award. She created the Baylor Youth Foundation of Gary in 2001 to help inner city children. Baylor was nominated for the honor by Jason Sands, director of sports development for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. … The Best Western Portage Hotel and Suites has opened at the intersection of Indiana 249 and U.S. 20. The 100-room motel replaces a Holiday Inn and Ramada Inn that had been there since 1969 and had been closed since 2004. … Scott Winn has been named general manager of the South Bend Country Club, where he will focus on course conditions, membership development and hospitality. … Susan Dawson has joined Holiday Inn Express at the Country Inn & Suites in Mishawaka. … Indiana Dunes Tourism in Porter County has named Christine Livingston marketing director. In addition, Ken Kosky has been named promotions director and Angela Pasyk is niche market director. … Maggie Lewallen has been named a Pacesetter from American Express Travel Network. Lewallen is a travel specialist at Menno Travel Service/American Express in South Bend.
TRANSPORTATION
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District has announced it has closed ticket offices in Hammond and the Gary Metro Center. The stations will remain open to passengers, but they will have to buy tickets on the train. … Indiana's port system, including the Port of Indiana in Portage, announced it handled 7.7 million tons of cargo in 2010, an 8 percent increase from 2009. It was the most tonnage handled by the port system since 2006. The Port of Indiana handled 1.8 million tons, up 43 percent. … The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. opened the 53rd shipping season on the Great Lakes on March 22. It predicts a 7 percent increase in tonnage to 39.1 million tons this year. … The first ship of the 2011 season arrived at the Port of Indiana on March 27. The Avonborg from Denmark was carrying 75 wind turbine blades that will be used on a wind farm in Ohio.
