Valpo Chamber NEWS

MARCH 2010
VALPO CHAMBER MEMBERS STEWART MCMILLAN AND GUS OLYMPIDIS NAMED TO THE TIMES 2010 BUSINESS & INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME
Valpo Chamber members Stewart McMillan and Gus Olympidis have been selected for The Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame. This annual induction program honors individuals who have made substantial contributions to business and industry across the region.

Inductees are individuals who have not only had exceptional business success, but have shown a lifetime commitment to the region and community.

McMillian, (pictured left) president and CEO of Task Force Tips, is a pilot in the "Angel Flight" program that transports those who need medical care. McMillan serves the Purdue Research Park Board and is heavily involved with the United Way. McMillan was named the Valpo Chamber Distinguished Community Leader in 2007.

Olympidis, (pictured right) owner of Family Express Corp., has made many contributions in Northwest Indiana including directorships with Centier Bank, Visiting Nurse Association, Northwest Indiana Forum, and Valparaiso Dept. of Parks and Recreation Foundation. Olympidis received the Valpo Chamber Distinguished Community Leader in 1993 and Valparaiso Rotary Four Way Test Award in 1997.

McMillan and Olympidis will be honored March 10 during a luncheon open to the business community at the Radisson Hotel. Congratulations Stewart and Gus!

A.M. VALPO ATTENDANCE MILESTONE
CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Judith Cook, of Aspen Studio for reaching an A.M. Valpo milestone! Cook has attended 50 A.M. Valpo monthly networking events since the inception of the program in 2003.

Developed by the Valpo Chamber Small Business/Retail Committee, A.M. Valpo is undoubtedly one of the most successful, free, early-morning networking programs in Valparaiso. Who will be next? Attend A.M. Valpo the first Wednesday of every month at South Bend Chocolate Café at 7:00 a.m. and find out!

Pictured above: Judith Cook (center) with A.M. Valpo Co-hosts John Freyek, Citizens Financial Bank (left) and Gary Taylor, KENPRO Cleaning Services (right).

FEBRUARY 2010
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MARKETING AND SALES ERIC P. CANADA KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT VEDC ANNUAL MEETING
Eric P. Canada, a partner of Blane, Canada, Ltd., will be the keynote speaker at the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation's Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Valparaiso University Harre Union. Canada's topic will be "Marketing Your Community for Economic Development."

Canada has worked with communities throughout the U.S. and Canada on a variety of economic development projects including: market research, marketing strategy and planning, competitive assessment, and industry analysis.

Seating is limited and reservations are requested by February 5. This event is sponsored by Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP and Horizon Bank.
DOWNLOAD FLYER REGISTER ONLINE

VALPO CHAMBER BLOOD DRIVE
The Valpo Chamber is sponsoring its 2nd annual blood drive on Friday, February 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The bloodmobile will be in front of the Chamber office located at 162 W. Lincolnway.

In order to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs., and be in good general health. Please be sure to bring a photo ID. An individual can donate blood every 56 days.

Each hour, a visitor's name will be entered into a drawing to receive a $20 Valpo Chamber Gift Certificate, redeemable at over 100 participating member businesses.

To reserve a donation time, please visit www.donorpoint.org and click "Find a Drive." Walk-ins are also welcome. For more information, contact the Chamber office at (219) 462-1105 or the Indiana Blood Center at (765) 446-4216.

VALPO CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING PREMIERS MAYOR'S "STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS"
The Valpo Chamber Annual Meeting hosted 350 business and community members at Valparaiso University's Harre Union to celebrate the successes of 2009 and plan of work for 2010 of the Valpo Chamber.

Also at this event, Mayor Costas presented the "State of the City" address. Click here to read the 2010 Valparaiso "State of the City"

VALPO CHAMBER MEMBERS... THANK YOU!
The Valpo Chamber Board of Directors and Staff wish to express their gratitude for your renewed 2010 membership commitment. We thank you for your help in strengthening the greater Valparaiso business community by supporting your fellow Chamber member businesses. Thanks to your efforts, we look forward to another prosperous year for the Valparaiso community!

VALPO CHAMBER CONNECTS YOUR BUSINESS WITH NEW MEMBERS

Would you like to offer your services to new members joining the Chamber? Would you like to increase awareness of your products and services? With over 100 new members joining the Chamber annually, you can reach these new businesses through our Valpo Chamber Welcome Bags.

Welcome Bags are filled with promotional items representing Chamber member businesses and are distributed to new members at the New Member Reception.

If you would like to have your promotional item included in these Welcome Bags, please bring them to the Chamber office any time. Our next New Member Reception will be held on May 25, 2010.

Promotional items should be quality gifts, valued at $5.00 and above (please no business cards). We have storage space to keep your items, and we will contact you when the supply is low. Contact Danielle Oeding, for more information at (219) 462-1105.

ENVISION THE FUTURE Get ready today... to experience tomorrow!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Since 1998, the Valpo Chamber has partnered with Porter County Middle Schools to provide over 1,000 8th grade students with an amazing educational experience called "Envision the Future."

Envision the Future is a simulation game in which students, projecting themselves to age 28, research and identify their career interests through their class curriculum, consider family size (marital status and number of children), and receive a mock checkbook with the monthly income entered for their specific career.

Students visit stations, manned by over 170 trained business volunteers, at which they pay their monthly bills. At each station, students make decisions concerning the standard of living they will assume. For example, at the housing station, students decide if they want to pay for a one-bedroom apartment or a three-bedroom house.

The program focuses on the monthly costs associated with rent/mortgage, utilities, taxes, insurance, childcare, and other living expenses such as food and clothing. The program also includes military information in the way of earnings and allowances if the student chooses the military as their future option.

The program also includes unexpected events such as unemployment, medical bills, and divorce. Students who go through these unexpected events must also visit an assistance station to seek counseling for legal, financial, counseling, or employment education issues.

The 2010 Envision the Future is a Chamber Coalition project between the Valpo, Kouts, and Hebron Chambers. The program is scheduled for Thursday, March 18, at the Porter County Expo Center. For more information about Envision the Future or to volunteer, contact Kurt Gillins at (219) 462-1105.
Envision the Future Presenting Sponsor:
Contributing Sponsors: Centier, Teachers Credit Union
In-Kind Donors: NetNITCO Wireless Broadband; Porter County Expo Center; Strongbow Inn; and Wal-Mart

January 2010
SALUTING DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS OF VALPARAISO
Dave Rose, Dr. E. Ric Frataccia, and Curt Gill to be honored by Chamber
The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce will host its annual “A Salute to Leadership” dinner on Saturday, January 16, 2010. This black-tie optional evening will begin with cocktails at 6:00 pm at Strongbow Inn, 2405 US 30 E in Valparaiso. Dinner will be served, with the awards ceremony to follow.

The Board of Directors of the Valpo Chamber will honor Dave Rose, Horizon Bank, (pictured left) with the 2009 Distinguished

Community Leader Award. “This award is given to an individual who demonstrates a leadership role, is successful in promoting and developing business and industry, is involved and contributes to the community, has a general reputation among the community business leaders and enhances the quality of life in our community on a sustained basis,” stated Rex Richards, Chamber President. "Dave is a fantastic personification of this award."

Dr. E. Ric Frataccia, Portage Township Schools (below, left), and Curt Gill, Centier Bank (below, right), will be awarded the 2009 Legacy of Service Awards. The Valpo Chamber Board of Directors created the Legacy of Service Award in 2004 to give special recognition to individuals in the community who have, over the course of time or in an extraordinary

circumstance, given service to the community beyond what is expected in their profession. “Ric and Curt are terrific examples to which others might aspire and will leave legacies from which others might learn the value of community service,” added Richards.

Four Valpo Chamber member businesses who were recently honored by Governor Mitch Daniels with Indiana’s Century and Half Century Business Awards will also be recognized. They are: Greiger's Motor Sales, Inc., 50 years; Marc T. Nielsen Interiors, 85 years; Tonn & Blank Construction, 87 years; and Valparaiso First Insurance, 87 years.

Outgoing 2009 Board Chair, Dale Clapp, Citizens Financial Bank, and incoming 2010 Board Chair, Nick Sommer, Century 21 Alliance Group, will also be honored. Presenting sponsor for the event is Porter Health System.

VALPO CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 26!
The Valpo Chamber will host its Annual Membership Meeting luncheon on Thursday, January 26, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Valparaiso University Harre Union.

This annual recognition program will report Chamber accomplishments and recognize various committees. The luncheon also features the "State of the City" address from Mayor Jon Costas. Space is limited, reserve today to guarantee seating.

VALPO CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2010 BOARD MEMBERS
Sommer to Chair 2010 Board
The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce has selected its 2010 Board of Directors to lead the organization through its next year of operations. Nick Sommer, (pictured right) Century 21 Alliance Group, will serve as chair for 2010. He succeeds Dale Clapp of Citizens Financial Bank.

The Valpo Chamber executive committee officers include Sommer (Chair); Martin Sonnenberg, Task Force Tips (Chair-Elect and Treasurer); Clapp (Immediate Past Chair); Rex Richards (Chamber President); Jeff Lewis, Design Organziation (Vice Chair – Special Events); Desila Rosetti, Organizational Development Solutions, Inc. (Vice Chair – Member Services); Jon Schmaltz, Burke Costanza & Cuppy LLP (Vice Chair - Public Policy and Legal Counsel); and Jonathan Nalli, Porter Health System (Vice Chair - Governance).

New members to the Valpo Chamber Board include Debbie Anselm, The Times Media Company; Bob Ax, 1st Source Bank; Paul Denesuk, Mortgage Professional Group; Cindy Hall, Ivy Tech Community College; April Wolford, Harris N.A.; and Randall Zromkoski, Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman LLP.

In addition to these executive committee appointments and new members, the Valpo Chamber Board of Directors also includes Tina Bengs, Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP; Tom Boyt, Valparaiso University; Mayor Jon Costas, City of Valparaiso (ex-officio); Jon Groth, Porter County Education Services; Dorcas Hammond, Horizon Bank; Harold Howie, Town & Country Market; Tom Kennedy, Kennedy Buick/Mazda; Marti Masterson, Masterson Alliance LLC; John Seibert, Valparaiso Department of Parks & Recreation; Gary Taylor, KENPRO Cleaning Services, Inc.; and James Tudor, Tudor Cleaning & Restoration Services.

WANT TO SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS? HOST A BUSINESS AFTER HOURS!

A Valpo Chamber Business After Hours (BAH) event offers a great opportunity to showcase your business and establish relationships with other Chamber business representatives. Since hosting this popular monthly program is highly desired, the calendar is typically booked well in advance. Due to cancellations, the Valpo Chamber has two slots open in 2010: Thursday, May 20 and Thursday, September 23.

If you are interested in hosting a 2010 BAH event at your place of business, contact Danielle at the chamber office for a request form. A $150 deposit is required to hold your spot, but is completely refunded once you hold your event. Guidelines, assistance at the event, and free mailing labels are provided to the host business. For more information, phone 219-462-1105 or email Oeding@valparaisochamber.org. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND ENHANCE YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY SERVING ON A VALPO CHAMBER COMMITTEE OR VOLUNTEER FOR AN EVENT!
Joining a committee or volunteering are great ways to meet people and use your skills and talents on interesting and challenging projects. Choose the committee/event that most interests you. Not sure which to choose? We'll help you find the group that's just right for you!

Click here for more information on each committee. Contact the appropriate Chamber staff liaison if you are interested in a particular committee! Committees you can join are:

Ambassador Committee
Staff Liaison: Danielle Oeding

Chamber Network Night
Envision the Future
FunDay Golf Classic
Lu-Wow!
Percolator Club Committee
Small Business/Retail Committee
Staff Liaison: Kurt Gillins

Leadership Engagement Committee
Staff Liaison: Susan Antoszewski

VCP 2010 - VALPO CHAMBER PARTNERS PROGRAM

The Valpo Chamber Partners (VCP) program was launched in 2006 to provide members with options for streamlining their Chamber sponsorship opportunities, while enhancing their visibility and promotional opportunities. This annual marketing campaign prominently promotes your business on signage, inside Chamber publications and on our website, and at events throughout the year. The VCP is a terrific way to gain extensive exposure and valuable name and logo recognition.

The VCP includes four partner packages to choose from, at four price points. Each of the packages includes incentives, complimentary tickets to events, special recognition and promotion, and sponsorships to high-profile networking, and educational events.

New opportunities for partnership begin in February. To inquire about the available packages and their specific benefits, contact Danielle Oeding, at (219) 462-1105, or Oeding@valparaisochamber.org.