In this issue

The Best of Business Awards are always an exciting time of year for the staff at Northwest Indiana Business Magazine. We enjoy finding out who our readers think are the best!

This year’s winners faced challenges but mostly made big plans for the future.

For 20 years, our readers have voted for the best in the Region. We thank them for taking time out of their busy work schedules to vote for their favorite vendors, businesses and community organizations.

We also congratulate the winners! Their work ethic, attention to customer service and vision for the future make them stand out in the Region’s business community.

Many other businesses in this issue also are finding ways to pursue success, including entrepreneurs who are fearless in pursuit of their dreams. We celebrate National Small Business Week in May by featuring three businesses that find Northwest Indiana a special place to do business.

Our construction story focuses on interesting ways to keep costs down and projects on schedule. Companies are turning to new innovations and ways of thinking. Then we have a little fun thinking about the ways companies can build their teams. From axe throwing to simulated space missions, employees can learn to count on each other by working together to escape a room, solve a problem, or just release some stress.

Then we share the Future of Goshen, a place where the quality of life makes the city a special place to live, work and play! With careful planning, city leaders have created reasons to start a business, enjoy the outdoors and visit their vibrant downtown.

Our series on economic development will take a closer look at how growth will increase the Region’s need for energy and how companies are working to meet that need.

We also profile Mno-Bmadsen, a firm that is building a financial future for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi by acquiring other companies that agree with their motto of a “good way of living.”

Plus we feature stories on a PNW alumni, a banker working at the YMCA, a master gardener and the Health Foundation of La Porte. But the best does come last when DJ Moore of Erosion & Construction Solutions offers reasons to let go of unreasonable goals and just be. Enjoy this issue!

John Wilkening

Common sense beats process

Employers who overlook older workers forfeit a median job tenure of 10.4 years, institutional knowledge, and stability that younger hires typically can't match.
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Brian Schutt

Great ownership transfer

Indiana's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is piloting a business succession program in NW Indiana to help small business owners plan for retirement and find local buyers before closing.
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NWI Works

Bridge for skills gap

NWI Works is opening two workforce training hubs in Gary and Michigan City, combining job readiness, childcare, and support services under one roof.
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Janus Motorcycles

Passion project

Goshen's Janus Motorcycles raised $470,000 through equity crowdfunding to fund expansion, with customers among the first investors in the 25-employee, build-to-order shop.
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Olivia West

Curiosity at heart

La Porte native Olivia West serves as in-game host for the Indiana Pacers and Fever while running a marketing firm and speaking to 1,000+ people weekly.
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Trinity Displays

Quality trade show strategy

Northwest Indiana businesses are rethinking trade show strategy, shifting toward smaller, experience-driven booths focused on audience fit over raw attendance numbers.
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Ty Financial

Employee wealth plans

Regional employers are expanding financial wellness benefits beyond retirement plans, adding literacy programs, ESOPs, and adviser access to reduce turnover and retain workers.
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Holy Cross College

Inside mid-career learning

More working adults are returning to college mid-career to change fields, with programs including teaching and business administration designed around full-time jobs and family obligations.
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JNE Group

Betting on Northwest Indiana

Low property taxes, a 3.8% unemployment rate, and projects from Amazon, John Deere, FedEx, and Microsoft are drawing business relocations and expansions to the area.
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Microsoft data center

Digital infrastructure

Hobart, La Porte, and Merrillville are navigating a wave of data center proposals, weighing billions in projected revenue against concerns over energy, water use, and transparency.
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June-July 2026 Cover

In this issue

Mid-career retraining, data center growth, and a new state succession planning pilot are among the topics covered in this issue of the regional business magazine.
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Author

  • Heather Pfundstein 2024
    Publisher/Executive Editor - Linker Media Group

    Heather Pfundstein is the publisher and executive editor of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine and NWIndianaBusiness.com. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience in Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois newsrooms. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She has been part of the magazine's team since 2018.

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