by Jacqueline von Ogden
ACCOUNTING
Kruggel Lawton CPAs announced the addition of Stephen J. Beasy, CPA, as a senior manager in the firm's Elkhart office. Beasy brings 17 years of public accounting experience and is an active member of the Indiana CPA Society.
BANKING
Christopher Campbell of Centier Bank has been promoted to senior vice president and serves as market president of Porter, LaPorte and Marshall counties. Campbell joined Centier in 2006 as a management development trainee, is a graduate of Wittenberg University and received his MBA from Valparaiso University. Also joining is Pooja Walia, vice president of internal audit. Walia joins Centier with 14 years of audit experience, specializing in finance, IT and enterprise risk management. Walia previously worked for Baxter International, Sears Holdings and Grant Thornton LLP and will offer support and guidance to the bank's senior management and audit committee … LaPorte Savings Bank announced that Michael Nagy has joined the bank as a mortgage loan originator. With more than 12 years of lending experience, most recently in the role of mortgage loan originator with a national bank, Nagy will be based in the Michigan City market. Michael J. Utterback has joined LaPorte Savings Bank as vice president of commercial lending, bringing more than 20 years of commercial lending experience in both community and national bank settings. Utterback has been involved in many service and professional organizations including the Porter County Builders Association, Homebuilders of Northwest Indiana, Illinois Housing Council, Southside Community Investors Association, Neighborhood Housing Services and the Villages of Sand Creek Homeowners Association … Pamela Brown has been promoted to OSJ compliance officer of Centier Bank in Merrillville and has been a member of Centier Bank's Wealth Management Department since 2002. A graduate of Purdue University Calumet, Brown supervises registered investment representatives and administrative assistants, managing compliance rules and regulations. Bill Winterhaler also joins Centier Bank as vice president of business banking. Winterhaler has more than 20 years of experience in lending and management positions and is an Indiana University graduate. Jesse Dame has been promoted to vice president and brings 10 years of industry experience previously working as both a commercial loan officer and credit officer. Nikko Grant joins Centier Bank in Carmel as a seasoned mortgage lender with national loan originating experience with responsibilities of mortgage loan origination, mortgage team recruitment and training. Michael D. Cahill has joined dozens of business leaders from throughout the state to serve on the board of Centier Bank. Cahill is a CPA and CEO of the AWS Foundation. A career banker with more than 30 years of banking experience, Cahill is former president and CEO of Tower Bank. Douglas P. Fyock has joined Centier Bank of Fort Wayne, serving as mortgage loan originator and is a seasoned mortgage loan officer, with close to 40 years of experience in the industry. Fyock, a member of the Fort Wayne Board of Realtors, Homebuilders Association of Fort Wayne and Chamber of Commerce, is an Indiana University graduate and lifelong resident of Fort Wayne. John B. Willis has joined Centier Bank's board of directors. Willis is president and CEO of MBAH Insurance of Lafayette, and currently serves as chair of the Lafayette Family YMCA Foundation, chair of facilities management committee of the YWCA of Lafayette, and is a member of the finance committee at St. Mary Cathedral. Amber L. Pulford joins Centier as a seasoned banker with more than eight years of experience in retail banking and management. Jessica Berndt joins Centier as an assistant manager of the new Mishawaka Banking Center. Berndt, whose background is in retail management, resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Pulford and Berndt will lead Centier's expanded retail service team serving the greater Mishawaka community. Benjamin Jones has joined Centier Bank in Carmel as a seasoned mortgage loan officer, with former experience as a regional sales manager and as chief operating officer of Choice Mortgage Funding … LaPorte Savings Bank announced the following promotions: Gary Booth has been named vice president, residential mortgage lending. Booth has over 30 years of banking and mortgage lending experience and joined LaPorte Savings Bank in 2013 as residential mortgage loan manager. Dawn Lara has been named assistant vice president, credit administration. She has over 20 years of banking experience and holds an MBA from Indiana University and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin. Shellee Nelson has been named assistant vice president, credit manager. Nelson has more than 20 years of banking experience and earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue North Central and CPA in 1990. Nelson serves on the board and as treasurer for Pines Village Retirement Communities in Valparaiso; serves on the allocations committee for the United Way of Porter County; and serves on the independent review team for the Regional Development Company in Valparaiso. Kim Presley has been named assistant vice president, sales development officer. Presley has more than 29 years of banking experience and joined LaPorte Saving Bank in 2007, most recently serving as sales development manager. Presley actively serves on the boards of directors for the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra and Women in Leadership. Nicholas E. Shirk has been named assistant vice president, information technology. He received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame, and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.
CONSTRUCTION
MC Industrial, a national industrial construction company recently announced the expansion of its office in Portage. The company has completed numerous projects for local steel mills, power plants and manufacturing facilities throughout Northwest Indiana, including ArcelorMittal, BP, Carbonyx, Corn Products, Indiana Flame, Nalco and U.S. Steel.
DISTRIBUTION
Indiana Beverage in Valparaiso announced the appointment of Jill E. Ritchie to the position of vice president and general counsel – governmental affairs. Ritchie will be responsible for the company's legal and regulatory matters, governance and compliance, and public and governmental affairs while based at Indiana Beverage in Valparaiso. Prior to joining Indiana Beverage, Ritchie was director of public policy and governmental affairs for United States Steel Corp., where she addressed policy issues for U.S. Steel facilities in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. She additionally spent a number of years in private practice before joining U.S. Steel as a litigator in 2001. Ritchie is currently the board chair of the Northwest Indiana Forum and a board member of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Northwest Indiana Editorial Advisory Board and the Lake County Advancement Committee.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $541,250 to Michigan City Municipal Airport and $2,152,842 to Porter County Regional Airport. These grants are part of a multistep process for maintenance and enhancement. The 2012 Indiana Airports' Economic Impact Study indicates that Michigan City Municipal Airport has an estimated economic impact of over $52.1 million annually and Porter County Regional Airport has an estimated economic impact of over $17.2 million annually.
EDUCATION
Patrick O'Brien has joined the nursing faculty at the University of Saint Francis Crown Point as a mental health instructor for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. O'Brien spent nearly 20 years in Illinois law enforcement within various roles. The University of Saint Francis announced tenure and promotions for faculty members and honored others for completing advanced degrees or working on sabbaticals at the university's Faculty Scholarship Banquet. Granted tenure and earning promotions to assistant professor in 2013-2014 were Kimberly Bowers, Department of English and Foreign Languages, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Geoffrey Steele, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership. Also earning tenure was Dr. Lance Richey, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earning promotion to associate professor were Teresa Roberts and Amy Winkeljohn, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences. Daniel Torlone, Department of Education chair in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was promoted to full professor. Faculty members in the School of Health Sciences honored for completing advanced degrees were: Kelly Elder, nursing department instructor at USF Crown Point; Dr. Marsha King, Dean of USF Crown Point; Jeanette Zelhart-Smith, nursing department instructor at USF Crown Point; Devon Lewandowski, nursing department instructor at the University of Saint Francis; LeeAnn Patterson, nursing department instructor at the University of Saint Francis; Jeffrey Rodgers, assistant professor in the School of Creative Arts and chair of the music program; and Matthew White, an instructor in the Department of Art and Visual Communication for the School of Creative Arts. Honored for a 2014-2015 sabbatical was Douglas Meador, an associate professor in the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership.
ENGINEERING
SEH of Indiana LLC, an employee-owned, engineering and architecture company, continues to grow in the Indiana engineering consulting market and announced that Jay H. Niec, PE, BCEE joined the company. Niec brings more than 36 years of experience designing and managing medium to large complex water and wastewater treatment projects including pressure filtration, UV treatment, membrane wastewater treatment processes and stormwater systems. In his role of senior wastewater engineer, Niec will lead the growth of water and wastewater services throughout Indiana and Illinois.
FINANCE
Timothy VerSchure of Lakeside Wealth Management was recently named to the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Top 50 Advisors Under 40 list. The list includes plan advisors who have built a solid practice–either alone or as part of a team–and are established leaders ready to take their defined-contribution and 401(k) plans to the next level. VerSchure, a senior financial advisor specializing in qualified plans and personal wealth clients, is an active member on the Valpo Parks Foundation board and recently graduated from the Leadership of Northwest Indiana program.
GOVERNMENT
The East Chicago Fire Department has been awarded a $126,317 grant under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program … U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky announced that the Cedar Lake Volunteer Fire Department has been award a $58,247 grant under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
HEALTH CARE
Antoinette Cardenas, MSW, LSW, OSW-C, Porter Regional Hospital's discharge facilitator and social worker, recently received the designation of Certified Oncology Social Worker from the Board of Oncology Social Work. Cardenas's role at Porter is to aid patients and their caregivers with questions and concerns related to their cancer diagnosis, assisting them with coping skills, helping to improve communication, and linking them to community resources … Recently promoted, Art Vasquez is now vice president and chief financial officer for St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago. Vasquez brings more than 13 years of finance and accounting experience to the job, with responsibilities that include strategic financial planning, business development, physician relations and hospital administration, and joined the Community Healthcare System in December of 2007. Vasquez previously served as an assistant vice president for Kaufman Hall and Associates providing management advisory services to hospital and health systems, including the development of long-term financial plans, operational improvement plans and cost-reduction implementation … Cathy Tinsley joins Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana (CFNI) in a newly created position, vice president of medical data analytics and health economics. Tinsley has more than 20 years' experience in the field with an extensive background in corporate strategic planning. CFNI in Munster serves as the parent company to the Community Healthcare System, which includes Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart … Marvin Ramey has been named the new environmental services director at Porter Health Care System. Ramey previously held positions at Loyola University Medical Center, Jackson Park Medical Center and the University of Chicago Medical Center. Aundrea Siebert, RN, BSN, CNML, CMSRN, has been named the new immediate care unit and progressive care unit director at Porter Regional Hospital. Siebert previously served at Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Michigan City and brings more than 22 years of experience in the health care industry to her new role, with nearly a decade of that time spent in leadership roles … Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) welcomed Laura Blackford, MD, to Plymouth Family and Internal Medicine and the Saint Joseph Physician Network, and Mojgan Arashvand, DO, to the Marshall County Cardiology Specialists and the Saint Joseph Physician Network … St. Mary Medical Center recently welcomed several new physicians to its staff. Dafer Al-Haddadin, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease; Michael Hu, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Christina Huynh, DO, Family Medicine, and Seferino Farias, MD, FACS, General Surgery, are the newest members of Community Care Network Inc., the physician group affiliated with the St. Mary Medical Center and all the hospitals of Community Healthcare System … St. Mary Medical Center recently welcomed several new directors to its leadership team, including Carolyn Croswell as the new director of human resources. Croswell brings decades of experience with her in health care human resources, previously serving as the chief human resources officer at South Suburban College and as a human resources consultant involving mergers, acquisitions and hospital turnaround initiatives. Katherine Radinovic is the new director of finance, and brings more than 24 years of finance and management experience, the last four years in a leadership role in healthcare. Sekani Williams is now director of engineering services. Williams started at St. Mary Medical Center as manager of clinical engineering and was subsequently promoted to the director role. Williams has worked in health care regulation at the Joint Commission and in hospital operations both as a manager and a consultant for more than 10 years.
HOSPITALITY
Le Meridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center, a Rockbridge Portfolio property, announced the appointment of Jiaqi Tang as director of food & beverage, and Jarek Krolak as chief engineer. Le Meridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center recently opened in July following a $25 million transformation and is home to a multitude of upscale shopping and dining options as well as Fortune 500 business headquarters. Tang most recently served as director of outlets at the Peninsula Chicago, overseeing restaurant and beverage operations. Krolak recently served as Facility Manager of SOHO House.
INSURANCE
Farmers Insurance agent and Northwest Indiana native Melissa Y. Torres was once again honored and received national recognition for her outstanding work within the industry by receiving a National Award of Excellence, given at the annual Farmers Insurance “Championship” convention in San Antonio, Texas. The Melissa Y. Torres Farmers Insurance Agency has been a part of the community and a staple in local business for years … Michael Cahill has recently joined the board of directors at Gibson. Cahill is the former CEO of Tower Bank and current president & CEO of AWS Foundation. Rachel Potter has joined Gibson as an account manager in the Business & Private Client Group. Potter is responsible for servicing and processing risk management plans for personal clients and small business owners including renewing, auditing, and updating their programs. Potter previously worked for Liberty Mutual. Jocelyn Pollard, GBA, CMS, of Gibson, has been awarded the Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The CMS program is offered through the CEBS program and distinguishes one as a professional with expertise in human resources and compensation. Pollard, a financial analyst in the Employee Benefits Practice, provides marketing and service support to new and existing employee benefit clients. Heather Czarnecki joined Gibson as a client manager in the Business & Private Client Group, and is responsible for the sales and servicing of personal insurance accounts focusing on auto, homeowners, personal umbrella liability, recreational motorcraft and collectibles. Prior to joining Gibson in 2014, Czarnecki was employed with Liberty Mutual for 15 years, working as an eService specialist in the first report claims center and customer response center.
LEGAL
Mark D. Boveri joins Krieg DeVault's South Bend/Mishawaka office as a partner in the firm's Litigation Practice Group; Catherine Fanello joins Krieg DeVault's South Bend / Mishawaka Office in the firm's Litigation and Public Finance Practice Groups; and Shannon L. Noder joins Krieg DeVault's Merrillville office as an associate in the firm's Litigation and Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Practice Groups … Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP (DSV), announced several new hires with the firm, all of whom focus their legal practice and professional services in the areas of health care law, professional licensing and liability issues, legal issues involving long term care facilities, business issues for medical providers including creditor's rights and collections, and medical malpractice defense. The new hires include three new partners: Janet A. McSharar, Paul (Rick) Rauch III, and A. Barclay Wong; one new associate: Jennifer L. Strange; a legal nurse consultant: Therese (Terri) Miller; and a paralegal: Zac Chianello.
MANUFACTURING
Schafer Industries has announced the appointment of Scott Childers as general manager of the company's Gear Unit where he is responsible for the company's three plant locations in South Bend, Fort Wayne and Rockford, Illinois. Childers, who has 25 years of experience in medium and large organizations, in roles that cross engineering, operations and general management, served in two significant roles at CTS Corporation in Elkhart prior to joining Schafer Industries.
MARKETING
Graphic Design USA, NY, an international publication dedicated to the field of design, branding and advertising, recently presented Devarj Design Agency Inc. with the Brand Introduction Award of Excellence for collateral pieces developed, designed and launched for local telecommunications company, NITCO.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Michael J. Ferry was recently named president and chief operating officer of Halley Consulting Group, a firm specializing in the strategic development and performance turnaround of hospital-owned medical practice networks and independent physician offices.
REAL ESTATE
Lou Dennison, from the McColly Real Estate Valparaiso office, was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by One Region, a nonprofit initiative to improve the quality of life across Northwest Indiana. Dennison's twin passions of providing quality health care while improving the quality of life in Northwest Indiana have been satisfied through her work as the permanent secretary of the Asian American Medical Society (AAMS).
RECOGNITION
Marvin P. Peters, a longtime resident and business person in North Judson, recently received the Robert E. Hamilton Award, at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation “Prospectus and Achievements Event.” During his lifetime in Starke County, Peters has been widely respected for his common sense approach to matters and, as a result, he has been in demand to serve on several boards and commissions that have benefitted his community, not only in North Judson, but also the greater Starke County community as well.
TOURISM
W.F. “Bill” Wellman was recently recognized by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann for his dedication to Northwest Indiana's tourism industry. Ellspermann presented Wellman the prestigious Will Koch Tourism Leadership Award, Indiana's highest tourism honor. In addition to serving as the senior vice president of Communications for Whiteco Industries, Wellman is the vice chairman for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority's board of directors and has served on many other boards through the region and Indiana. Wellman previously was named one of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority's 30 Faces of Tourism along the South Shore.
UTILITIES
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced that Andy Stone has joined the company as vice president of gas operations. Stone is responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas service to more than 821,000 customers in northern Indiana and will be based at NIPSCO's headquarters in Merrillville. During his nearly 25-year utility career, Stone's operations and management experience has ranged from the front-line to the management level. He began his career at NiSource's subsidiary company Columbia Gas of Virginia in 1992 as a natural gas customer serviceman.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Joining the staff of the welding technology program at The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning Inc. (SCILL) is Elizabeth Tylisz, who will be teaching the vocational welding class and adult welding classes. Tylisz, a native of Michigan City, attended Baran Institute of Technology in East Windsor, Connecticut, and has worked as a welder in several industries, including aerospace, nuclear and a paper mill, obtaining various certifications in those industries.
NEWS BRIEFS
Whiting Lakefront Park Sets New Standard for the Lake Michigan Shoreline
City, region state and federal officials, area business leaders and residents gathered for the recent dedication of the new Whiting Lakefront Park. “It never gets old, looking behind me at one of our most famous suburbs: Chicago,” quipped Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura, referring to the park's view of the Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan. The mayor extended the thanks of his community to all members of the RDA, past and present, for the financial assistance which made the project possible. The $47 million renovation on the lakeshore was fueled by $22 million in grants from the RDA. Over the past six years, more than 200 full- and part-time construction workers labored to transform the park into an economic asset and attraction for the community. Initial infrastructure phases, including new sewer and utility lines and a lift station, were completed in 2011. New concession stands, restrooms and a performing arts pavilion were added in 2012 and 2013.
Northwest Indiana Insurance Industry Veterans Form the Meyers Glaros Group
Schererville-based HIA Insurance and Dyer-based Employer Benefit Services recently announced they will join forces to offer clients a one-stop shop for employee benefits, business and personal insurance services, all under one roof. The new firm, Meyers Glaros Group, is headquartered in Schererville, with a satellite office in Valparaiso. “We are excited about our new partnership and name,” says Larry Meyers, managing partner, Meyers Glaros Group. “Together we are more than 100 years of industry knowledge and tradition that we put to work for our clients every day,” he adds. The two families who own the new company–the Meyers family and the Glaros family–span four generations and have insured countless employers and people throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond. The company's executive management team will consist of insurance industry veterans Larry Meyers and Will Glaros, along with their sons Jeff Meyers and Matt Glaros. The new firm employs approximately 15 insurance industry professionals.
MacAllister Breaks Ground on New Agriculture Division Facility
Rensselaer-MacAllister Machinery's Agriculture Division held a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the $1.4 million investment for construction of a 12,000-square-foot building, to be located on 12 acres adjacent to the Jasper County Airport. The project will provide MacAllister's customers with local support of their AGCO, Claas and Caterpillar equipment.
Expected to open in January 2015, the new facility will replace a smaller location that has been in operation since 2011, and will initially employ six people.
