Innovations and Leadership
The region's researchers and business leaders are charting new paths.
The Indiana life sciences industry's overall economic impact is estimated $50 billion by BioCrossroads, in a report released earlier this year. In Northwest Indiana, the influence of this industry is emerging, involving innovators such as Dr. Almuhannad Alfrhan, whose intragastric balloon device treats obesity, and Dr. Janice Zunich, on our cover, whose frontier genetic research in exome sequencing is responsible for detecting 85 percent of genetic diseases and can be lifesaving. Recent examples of genetic testing resulted in double mastectomies for 60-year-old Sharon Osbourne and much younger actress Angelina Jolie. Or what about detecting food bacteria such as E. coli within an hour? Read more inside, in our cover story.
According to American Express, there are 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. This shows a 54 percent growth in the last 15 years! Our Women in Business article profiles a few trailblazers, including Peggy Moore, president of Dage MIT, who with her husband bought the company in 2003, when it was on the verge of closing its doors forever. Today the company is on track to exceed a 50 percent growth projection. Maria Slager, president and CEO of Office Interiors Inc., was one of the first women in the field of office furniture sales back in 1975. Her business located in Granger is thriving today. And Joanna Plank of Hawk Enterprises says, “Women are willing to work harder and fight harder because we have to.”
We have more to interest our readers this issue, including our annual Health Care Honors recipients, Leadership Northwest Indiana award winners, expert legal advice on current business issues, and our CEO profile of Andrew Berlin, a successful Chicago business leader and baseball fan who has breathed new life into the minor league South Bend Silver Hawks. You'll also gain a new understanding of the business side of golf after reading our article. It may be fun, but for business reasons, learning to play golf can be a goldmine.
Enjoy our current issue!
–Glee Renick-May, Publisher
In Memoriam
Rick A. Richards
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our magazine colleague, Rick A. Richards, as we went to press with this current issue. He was a true journalist at heart, who as our editor contributed greatly to the success of our magazines. For those of us who worked closely with him, this is a tragic loss. Our prayers and thoughts are now with Rick's family.
