Noteworthy News Around the Region
by Jacqueline von Ogden
BANKING
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. of Mishawaka announced the appointment of Nicole Ross to vice president and senior relationship manager for Wealth Management in Northern Indiana. Ross has 20-plus years of experience and is responsible for managing the short- and long-term financial needs of affluent individuals, families and businesses in the region.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The board of directors of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) agreed to join with the City of Gary and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) in applying for a federal grant to fund transit-oriented development (TOD) at and around the South Shore station in Gary's Miller neighborhood. Gary is applying for a $21.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transit Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, competitive grant program. Gary, NICTD and the RDA are pooling resources to provide the necessary local match for the grant application. NICTD is providing $860,000, Gary $1 million and the RDA $4.26 million. Funds will be used for improvements at the Miller station, including the new high-level boarding platform called for in the NICDT 20-year Strategic Business Plan jointly developed by the railroad and the RDA.
EDUCATION
At Valparaiso University, more than 90 percent of recent graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school for the 22nd straight year. Overall placement rate for 2013-2014 alumni is 94.5 percent, marking a 2.2 percent increase … Brian Miller, former Hammond chief of police, has assumed responsibilities as director of Public Safety at Purdue University North Central and Purdue University Calumet. Miller will oversee law enforcement, emergency preparedness, regulatory compliance and transportation at both regional campuses. Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central are engaging in a unification process to become Purdue University Northwest effective with the start of the 2016-17 academic year…Saint Joseph's College recently announced Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Chad Pulver is one of 28 mid-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a year-long Senior Leadership Academy. The Academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division — including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management, and advancement — in independent higher education. Pulver received his bachelor's degree in psychology from SJC in 1997. He earned his master's of science in education in 1999 and his doctorate in 2004 from Purdue University … Dr. Tantatape Brahmasrene, professor of finance and international business at Purdue University North Central, has been selected for a Fulbright Senior Specialists project in Turkmenistan at International University for the Humanities and Development (IUHD). He is one of more than 400 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad this year through the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program … Purdue University Calumet's College of Business has earned accreditation from the world's premier business accrediting body — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Indiana University Northwest recently selected Mark McPhail, Ph.D., as the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. McPhail, who has more than 15 years of administrative experience in higher education and is an accomplished scholar in the field of communication, will lead the Office of Academic Affairs. In his role, McPhail will serve as an active and substantive contributor to the strategic direction of academic programs, continuous strengthening of academic excellence and effective day-to-day operation of the IU Northwest campus, as well as the advancement of Indiana University.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Illiana Brew Bus is expanding by taking craft beer drinkers to local craft breweries across the Calumet Region, including St. John Malt Brothers, Bulldog, WildRose, New Oberpfalz, The Devil's Trumpet, 18th Street, One Trick Pony, Pokro, Crown Brewing and Flossmoor Station. Services begin upon licensure from the state.
HEALTH CARE
Beacon Medical Group proudly welcomes Nonyem Onujiogu, MD, who specializes in treatment of ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. She is experienced in robotic, laparoscopic, and complex gynecologic surgeries. Dr. Onujiogu received her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She completed her gynecologic oncology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health … Franciscan Alliance has named Gene Diamond senior vice president and chief operating officer of Inpatient Services for its entire health care ministry. For the past 17 years, Diamond has served as the Northern Indiana Region CEO for Franciscan Alliance facilities in Hammond, Munster, Dyer, Crown Point, Chesterton and Michigan City. In his new role, the system's hospital presidents will report to Diamond on inpatient activities and he will be responsible for developing a service line management structure for all Franciscan Alliance hospitals … David Ruskowski, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point president, will retire from Franciscan Alliance, following a progressively successful 41-year career, and will serve on the Franciscan Alliance Central Indiana Regional board of directors upon retirement and will also serve as an adviser to the corporate marketing team … Barbara Anderson (formerly Greene), former president of Franciscan Healthcare-Munster and current chief operating officer of Franciscan St. Anthony Health, will assume the role of president and CEO of the Crown Point facility. Sister Aline Shultz, current corporate vice president of marketing and development, will assume Anderson's former duties as chief operating officer at Franciscan Healthcare-Munster … James Callaghan, MD, current Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City president, has been named the new president and CEO of Franciscan St. Francis Health's hospital campuses in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel … Thomas Gryzbek, former Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond president, has assumed a new corporate senior vice president position and has been charged with overseeing the system's post-acute services, including home health and hospice … Franciscan Alliance of Mishawaka has announced the appointment of Michael J. Stenger to the position of president and CEO of Franciscan St. Margaret Health, with campuses in Dyer and Hammond, and the expanding Franciscan Healthcare campus in Munster. In a health care career spanning more than 30 years, Stenger has spent 16 years in key leadership positions with leading Catholic health care systems, including Centura Health in Colorado, Hospital Sisters Health System in Illinois and Wisconsin, and Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in Ohio. He is graduate of the University of Notre Dame, with a master's degree in Health Administration from Xavier University … Mary Ann Hansen has been appointed to director of Imaging Services at Methodist Hospitals. Hansen has been an employee at Methodist Hospitals for more than 35 years serving in a number of staff and leadership roles with her most recent position being that of manager of Ultrasound Services and Advanced Obstetrical Services Outpatient Clinics … Porter Health Care System has named Linda S. Kiger as its new director of Health Information Management. Kiger is responsible for managing policies and procedures related to healthcare information services throughout the system and serves as assistant privacy officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in acute healthcare to her role … Beacon Medical Group Portage broke ground on a new 20,469-square-foot medical facility on five acres of land on Cleveland Road in South Bend. Upon its completion, slated for August 2016, the new facility will replace the current Beacon Medical Group Portage Road office. The new facility will offer medical care to patients of all ages, including family medicine and podiatry services, and will be equipped with digital radiology services, EKG capabilities, and an on-site lab, enabling patients to receive efficient, convenient care. It will also include a Med-Point Urgent Care Clinic.
INSURANCE
Schererville-based Meyers Glaros Group, a one-stop shop for employee benefits, business and personal insurance services, announced the addition of Rob Adlard to the team. In his new role, Adlard works with a full range of clients, bringing his expertise in the area of the Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare insurance products and will focus his efforts on individual health, life and Medicare … JBI insurance Group welcomed new members aboard recently. Tina Tobye recently joined the Operations / Marketing department. Tobye has more than 20 years' experience planning and directing executive-level administrative activities and support to directors and senior management. Christine Gonzalez has joined as account manager and brings fifteen-plus years' experience as account manager and account executive, working with such insurance brokers as AJ Gallagher, Hub International and Mesirow Financial. Gonzalez's expertise lies in construction, professional liability, habitational and hospitality industries. Riste Jakimoski joined as account executive and producer after five years with Farm Bureau and two with Crown Insurance … Jakimoski specializes in working with business owners on developing solid insurance protection. Doug Norris will be overseeing the call center and niche market programs … Jan Phifer of Gibson is leading the new small employer benefits group, focusing on employee benefits for companies with under 100 employees. Phifer works with new and existing clients in the development and implementation of their employee benefits strategies using her expertise to develop benefits plans that align with regulations while also meeting the needs of the employees. Jenny Toth, CAWC has joined Risk Management Services as a claims consultant. She is responsible for developing and implementing claims consulting plans for select clients and coordinating client meetings. Toth joined Gibson in 2013 as an account manager in the Business and Private Client Group and has received the Certified Authority on Workers' Compensation (CAWC) designation. Heather Schmidt has been named a senior marketing analyst in the Employee Benefits Practice. Schmidt's responsibilities include preparing the request for proposals (RFP) while auditing historical and current plan information and experience. Kelly Bunnell has joined the Employee Benefits Practice as a marketing analyst. Bunnell joined Gibson in 2012 as a client manager in the Business and Private Client Group. Jocelyn Pollard has been named a senior data analytics consultant in the Employee Benefits Practice. Pollard's responsibilities include providing plan forecasting and modeling for fully insured and self-funded clients, along with in-depth network and plan analysis. Greta Wagner has been named a data analytics consultant in the Employee Benefits Practice. Patrick Harpenau, GBA, of Gibson has been awarded the Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The GBA designation is offered through the CEBS program and distinguishes professionals who know the group benefits industry and are committed to their career. The GBA designation examines a wide variety of welfare benefits including: dependent care and family leave benefits; work/life benefits, such as financial planning, adoption assistance, legal services, and education assistance; and vacation and other time-off benefits.
LEGAL
Joel Bowers of the South Bend office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP was selected as a member of the Michiana Forty Under 40 Class of 2015. The Michiana Forty Under 40 program honors young professionals for their contribution and accomplishments in the workplace and community … Larry Evans of Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of 1 percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation … For the fourth straight year, Burke Costanza and Carberry LLP won the large firm division of the Indiana attorney general's statewide March Against Hunger Competition. This March, attorneys and staff donated 257 pounds of food and $4,302.70 to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. The donation put the firm in first place in the Large Firm division.
MARKETING
SMDG LLC (Social Media Development Group), a social media marketing firm based in Gary, welcomes Aaron Ratigan as content manager. Ratigan, a student of Purdue University North Central, served in the United States Army, was promoted to sergeant (2010) and received the Meritorious Service Medal (2012). As content manager for SMDG LLC, Ratigan will assist in the planning and executing of social media campaigns and the creation of quality content needed for various social media channels.
NON-PROFIT
Goodwill LEADS Inc. of South Bend named Randy Beachy as executive director for The Excel Center. Holding a MBA from Bethel College, master of science degree from Miami University and bachelor of business administration from McMurry University, Beachy previously served as assistant vice president for Marketing and Enrollment at Bethel College and held positions with Richard Harrison Bailey, Illinois College, Butler University, Denison University and McMurry University. Beachy will be providing the leadership to direct and manage the educational goals and vision for The Excel Center.
REAL ESTATE
David Lasser, Managing Broker of Commercial In-Sites LLC of Merrillville, has been elected as the 2015 chairman of the board of the Lake County Economic Alliance (LCEA).
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
General Motors honored Elkhart-based supply chain company Kem Krest Corp. as one of its best global suppliers during its 23rd annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony. CEO Mary Barra and other GM executives recognized 78 suppliers (out of 20,000) from around the world to receive the award for going above and beyond GM's requirements, designed to provide customers with the most innovative technologies and the industry's best quality vehicles. The Supplier of the Year award winners are chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives.
Education Leader Earns Sagamore of the Wabash
IU Northwest's vice chancellor of administration, Joseph Pellicciotti, was honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash award during a formal presentation on IU Northwest's campus.
Pellicciotti, who recently retired from IU Northwest has had a long and distinguished career with the University. After having begun his tenure at IU Northwest in 1980 with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), Pellicciotti was promoted from teaching part-time to assistant professor, associate professor and, finally, professor of public and environmental affairs in 1997. Within SPEA, he also served as criminal justice coordinator and division director for 13 years, during which time he oversaw significant growth in student enrollment and faculty, as well as the addition of the bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, and graduate certificate programs in environmental affairs and nonprofit management.
As vice chancellor of administration since 2008, Pellicciotti made significant contributions to IU Northwest through his leadership, directing a multitude of campus facilities-related and infrastructure projects. Specifically, he spearheaded an unprecedented number of projects made necessary by the 2008 campus flood, including the creation of Arts on Grant and other campus departmental relocations, property purchases and demolitions, creation of the RedHawk shuttle bus service, investment in a major storm water sewer improvement project, and planning for the new Arts and Sciences building.
The Sagamore of the Wabash award is the highest honor the governor of Indiana bestows. Among those who have received the award are astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians, and ordinary citizens who have contributed greatly to Hoosier heritage.
Rare film of Amelia Earhart donated to university
Purdue University Libraries' Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center recently accepted the donation of an original 16 mm film showing Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed Electra as they were being photographed by Albert Bresnick, Earhart's official photographer.
Earhart, a Purdue career counselor and adviser to the Department of Aeronautics from 1935 to 1937, was recruited by then-President Edward Elliott, who was impressed by her spirit of adventure and her message to women. In April 1936 an Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research was created with the Purdue Research Foundation. The fund purchased the $80,000 Lockheed Electra that became known as Earhart's flying laboratory. With navigator Fred Noonan, Earhart disappeared July 2, 1937, near the tiny Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean while attempting an around-the-world voyage.
The film was donated to Purdue by Douglas Westfall, owner and publisher at The Paragon Agency, which last month released a book, “Amelia Earhart's Last Photo Shoot,” by Nicole Swinford.
According to Westfall, who acquired the film from John Bresnick Jr., the family believes the film footage was taken by Albert's brother, John Bresnick. The film is unique in that it captures Earhart posing for publicity photos and interacting with her photographer and others at the Union Air Terminal in Burbank, California (today known as the Bob Hope Airport). The film shows clear and close-up shots of Earhart's plane before her departure on her world flight attempt.
Purdue University Libraries Archives and Special Collections faculty and staff will take steps to preserve the film and make it accessible to students and researchers interested in scholarship on the many facets of the legacy of Amelia Earhart.
Cimcor makes top 20 list of cyber security firms
Recently recognized for the innovation of its cyber security solutions, Cimcor Inc. has been named to CIO Review's annual list of the top 20 list of most promising cyber security solutions firms to watch in 2015. The technology magazine's cyber security edition focuses on trends in the cyber security landscape, helping CIOs navigate and understand solutions, and providing a listing of those firms best equipped to handle the ever-changing landscape.
“Cimcor has been on our radar for stirring a revolution in cyber security space and we are happy to showcase them this year due to their continued excellence in delivering top-notch technology-driven-solutions” says Harvi Sachar, publisher and founder of CIO Review. “Cimcor's solutions continue to break new grounds benefiting its customers around the globe and we're excited to have them featured on our top companies list.”
According to Robert E. Johnson III, president and CEO of Cimcor, “This is not only a wonderful honor from CIO Review magazine, but this acknowledgment affirms our product strategy and roadmap of innovation as we move into the future. We continuously strive to create groundbreaking security solutions that are not only technology-based, but ones that are closely aligned to our customer requirements as well.”
This continued momentum has allowed Cimcor Inc. to emerge as a leader in file and system integrity monitoring software for servers, network devices and databases, as organizations attempt to maintain compliance, ensure continuous system uptime and take control of their environment.
Purdue flood website offers resources for rebuilding
Purdue University's Extension Disaster Education Network has compiled a number of informational resources on a new website to help agricultural producers and homeowners affected by this summer's destructive floods in Indiana.
The site includes instructional videos, background materials, news stories and how-to guides produced by extension experts. Topics covered on the site include crops and livestock, agribusiness, residential flooding, horticulture and gardening, financial management, mold control, food safety and managing stress.
“Those who have lost crops or personal property face many decisions going forward. By providing these resources, we hope to help people make choices with confidence,” says Michael Schutz, director of extension's agriculture and natural resources programs in the state.
Resources available on the site include a field guide to cleaning up flooded homes, and an additional publication featuring homeowner suggestions for pre- and post-flooding practices regarding water supply, health and septic systems.
