Emphasis Magazine - February 2012

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emphasisMONTHLY

February

2012

T H E G R E A T E R F O R T W A Y N E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

Get yourbusiness

noticed

fwchamber.org/emphasis

From let are three o the presentersin The Chamber’s frst-ever Media

and P.R. Summit:

Je Bowman o Indiana’s NewsCenter,

Ryan Elijah o Indiana’s NewsCenter,

and Larry Wardlaw o Asher Agency.

Learn how at ourMedia and P.R.Summit on Feb. 2

Page 8

April’s Disney Institute: Quality Service 4 Leadership takes practice 7 Chamber events calendar 14



Interested?

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FEBRUARY 2012 EMPHAS IS MONTHLY 3

4 April’s Disney Institute willfocus on quality service

5 You’re the winner when yourbusiness chooses interns

6 Mike Landram on Right toWork

7 Leadership takes practice

8 2012 Media and P.R. Summit:Get your business noticed

8 Allegiant marks 5 years in FortWayne

9 Your Chamber discount guide

10 Watch for signs of heart attack

10 Value is more than just savingmoney

11 Get smart about credit

12 Ribbon cuttings

13 Ground breakings and newand renewing members

14 Chamber Calendar of Events

Chamber members and riends,Welcome to the February issue o Emphasis

Magazine. Emphasis Magazine is now in itssecond year and we’ve heard rom many you howmuch you enjoy it.

Tis month’s cover showcases some amiliaraces. Tey’re just a ew o the presenters at theMedia and P.R. Summit (see Page 8) taking placeat Te Chamber on the 22nd. Tis Summit isdesigned to help you and your team work closelywith the media and build good PR or your busi-ness.

Hosted by experts who work directly in mediaand PR every day, this will give you the hands onexperience you need to take your business to thenext level.

During the month o February, our Govern-ment Afairs team is at the Statehouse working tomove orward our 2012 Legislative Agenda. Teir

tackling issues that help you grow your business,create local jobs, and keep the local economycompetitive.

Our Graduate Retention team preparing or

echFest12 that will take place on March 10. Tisevent or high school students gets them engagedin technology and careers that will make themthe uture leaders you want to employ to advanceyour business.

As we begin February, mark your calendars orthe Tird House Forum on Saturday, Feb. 11. Tisis your opportunity to meet with legislators andhear rst-hand what’s going on at the Statehouse.

Also, be sure to join me at the February Presi-dent’s Lunch on Feb. 13 with special guest Mayorom Henry.

Looking orward to seeing you throughout themonth ahead!

Michael S. LandramPresident/CEOGreater Fort Wayne Chamber o Commerce

Volume 22, Issue 2

Mike LandramPresident/CEO

Michelle Merritt Vice President o

Membership andCommunications

Deb BoydController

Jennier FisherGraduate Retention ProgramManager

Katy Staford-Cunningham Vice President o Government Afairs

Dave Young Vice President o AirService Development

Jon SwerensDirector o Communicationsand Emphasis Editor

Emphasis Monthly is a

publication o Te Greater FortWayne Chamber o Commerce.

826 Ewing StreetFort Wayne, IN 46802(260) [email protected]

Printed by KPC Media GroupInc., publishers o the GreaterFort Wayne Business Weekly

A limited amount o adver-tising in Emphasis Monthlyis available exclusively toGreater Fort Wayne Chambero Commerce members.

For rates and inormation,contact KPC Media Group:

Lynn SroueFort Wayne general [email protected](260) 426-2640 ext. 304

Lynette DonleyFort Wayne advertising [email protected](260) 426-2640 ext. 305

Or visit the web site:wbusiness.com/emphasis

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

Mike Landram

CEO and President

Te Chamber

[email protected]

emphasis MONTHLY

Te mission o the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber o Commerce is to create a vibrant economicenvironment by supporting business, advocating on behal o the business community, andostering community partnerships to advance a common economic vision.

C O V E R P H O T O

B Y J O N

S W E R E N S

W E B S I T E S P O N S O R S



4 EMPHAS IS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2012

T R A I N I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S

April’s Disney Institute will

focus on quality serviceIvy ech Corporate Col-lege is bringing Disney In-stitute to Fort Wayne or athird time.

“Disney’s Approach toQuality Service,” a re-nowned proessional de-velopment program, will beWednesday, April 11, at theHoliday Inn Fort Wayne.

It is being sponsored lo-

cally by Ivy ech CorporateCollege with marketing partners Indiana’s News-Center, Te Greater Fort Wayne Chamber o Com-merce and Gordon Food Service.

Te ull-day event will demonstrate how antici-pating and reacting to customers’ needs, wantsand emotions is an integral aspect o deliveringquality service and achieving business results.

“Te Chamber is pleased to have been a partnerin bringing this world-class training to northeastIndiana, and we’ll continue to do so,” said MikeLandram, President and CEO at Greater FortWayne Chamber o Commerce. “It doesn’t get anybetter than having the opportunity to absorb Dis-ney Institute training right here in our communi-ty. Ater all, our mission is to serve as the primaryadvocate or commerce and business in the area byproviding solutions like this or them to ourish.”

Tis will be the third DisneyInstitute program Ivy echCorporate College has spon-sored since April 2011. It isbeing brought back by popu-lar demand, ater the rsttwo served more than 500area business proessionals.

“We had an overwhelm-ingly positive response tothe rst two Disney Institute

programs and are pleased tobe able to once again bring this proessional devel-opment opportunity to the community,” said Jer-rilee K. Mosier, chancellor o Ivy ech CommunityCollege−Northeast.

Te ull-day “Disney’s Approach to Quality Ser-vice” program will give participants an insider’slook at business practices that have helped Disneybecome respected or product and service quality.

In 2010, Fortune magazine recognized Disneyas the world’s most admired company or quality.Participants will learn how to exceed customer ex-pectations using a well-dened service inrastruc-ture, ongoing research and service standards.

“Delivering great service is critical or companieslooking to survive and prosper,” said Jef James,vice president or Disney Institute. “Tis programis a rare opportunity or northeast Indiana busi-ness proessionals to go inside the Disney organi-zation and learn innovative, easy-to-implementbest practices that can give them the competitiveedge.”

Program registration is $359 per person priorto March 16 (early-bird registration) or $399 ater(regular registration). Te price includes all coursematerials, a continental breakast and lunch.

Employers sending ve or more participants re-

ceive $20 of each registration. Ivy ech employ-ees, students and alumni will receive a $20 dis-count, as well.

For more inormation or to register, go toIvyech.edu/quality or call 260-480-4118.

About Disney Institute

Disney Institute is the global proessional training arm o Te WaltDisney Company. One o the most recognized names in proessionaldevelopment, Disney Institute travels the world ofering engagingseminars, workshops and presentations, as well as ully customizedprogramming. Immersive learning experiences are also ofered at Disney

destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia, enabling participantsto go behind the scenes and see rsthand how business theory drivesoperational excellence. Te Disney Institute client roster includesFortune 500 companies as well as a wide range o small businesses, non-prots and government agencies.




G R A D U A T E R E T E N T I O N

And the Winner Is…(Drum roll please)… North-east Indiana businesses.

Te prize, you ask? alented and eager HighSchool and College Graduates.

So what do you have to do to win? Engage themnow!

You may get tired o me saying this, but it bearsrepeating again. I we don’t engage our youngpeople now through internships, externships, jobshadows, and company tours, we may lose themto regions who are all too happy to gain rom ourloss.

At some point, Baby Boomers are going to retire,and when they do, how will your organization sur-vive and thrive in the coming years? I you havenot made plans to replace that loss with well-trained and talented employees, you may struggleto compete.

What can you do?

Yes, you should already know I was going tosay host a student intern (high school, college,or both), but there are other things you can do aswell to get involved and help young people get theskills they need to be successul.

You could ofer to take a student on one o theirbreaks or an externship. At most, you’ll have themon site or a ew weeks. Short-term experienceslike this allow young people to gain a tremendousamount o inormation that may help them makecareer decisions and gain an understanding o atrue work environment.

You could also allow a student to job shadowyou or one o your employees or a hal or ull day. Again, you’re not out a lot o time and this interac-tion can be o great value to a young person tryingto decide on their uture goals.

Have even less time to invest? Host a class touror an hour at your location.

Tese things can all be huge to young people andteachers who are looking or ways to engage yournext generation o employees.

Here’s one more idea

You can also get involved in the Northeast Indi-ana echFest12 on March 10 rom 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.at the Lantern Reception Hall. Tis unique andinteractive one-day event targets area high schoolstudents by providing video game tournaments,problem solving competitions, guest speakers, in-ormation rom local universities, and more.

You can be involved in several ways. First, youcould choose to sponsor echFest12 through oneo the sponsorship levels, or become a game spon-sor o one o 11 diferent video games that willtake place that day, or you could have a table atthe event and talk to high school students aboutcareers or internships available at your company.

You could choose to host a high school studentthis summer or an internship and help them gainvaluable skills, or you could do all o the above.

However you choose to get involved, your sup-port goes a long way in helping us engage theseabulous high school students and help them un-derstand the type o careers available in NortheastIndiana.

Our goal is to get them engaged now so they stayhere ater they graduate!

Visit www.neitechest.com or more detailsabout this exciting event and learn how you canget involved!

You’re the winner when your

business chooses internsJennier Fisher

Graduate Retention

Program Manager

Te Chamber

[email protected]

wchamber.org/grad

Follow us on witter:

@gradretention

TechFest seeks sponsorsComing March 10! Contact Jennier Fisherat [email protected] or more details onhow you can get involved in this great eventaimed at retaining high school students inNortheast Indiana by connecting them tolocal employers and universities through acreative, one-day video gaming competitionand career exploration air.

More details: www.neitechest.com




G O V E R N M E N T A F F A I R S

Follow us onTwitterFind us on witterat @FWGovConnect

Katy Staford

Vice President o

Government Afairs

Te Chamber

[email protected]

wchamber.org/gov

For this month’s issue, I’m publishing excerpts rom

Mike Landram’s testimony on Right to Work that he presented in written orm to our state representatives

in January.

As President o the Greater Fort Wayne Cham-ber o Commerce, I have the privilege to lead apremier organization that has a long history o ad-vancing Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana.

Our Chamber and its members have been insupport o Indiana passing Right to Work legis-lation or nearly two decades and we continue toght or it today.

Te Chamber Board voted unanimously to sup-port Right to Work. And many other area orga-

nizations have shown their support such as the Allen County Commissioners, Allen County Coun-cil, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, veadditional Northeast Indiana Chambers, and sixNortheast Indiana Local Economic Developmentorganizations. In addition, 24 member businessesand 46 individuals have signed our Right to Workpetition.

Our membership o 1,650 employers, employnearly 100,000 people and does $18 billion inannual business. We would not consciously sup-port or promote legislation that would reverse thestandard o living or our member’s workers.

Our public/private unded economic develop-ment entity in Allen County that has repeatedlystated that being non-Right to Work has let usout o the batters box or many projects. Indianais very oten crossed of the list o possible placesto locate beore the game has even begun. Right toWork would give Indiana the opportunity to com-pete or more business relocation and expansionprojects.

Right to Work also makes small business, includ-ing many o our members, a winner. It would cre-ate an economic opportunity or small businessesby becoming part o the new supply chain. Morebusiness expansion and attraction would increase

economic opportunities or many small business-es to grow their revenue and create more jobs orHoosiers.

Indiana has made progress over the last sever-al years by creating a avorable business climate.With all the hard work that has been done to main-tain and urther develop Indiana as a competitive

location or business attraction, enacting Rightto Work legislation would improve the chances o landing and retaining businesses to urther driveour local and regional economies.

In November 2011, Forbes announced their BestStates or Business. O the top ten states, 7 o the10 are Right to Work. O the top twenty states, 14o the 20 are Right to Work states. Indiana wasranked 34th. Indiana can do better and Right toWork can give Indiana the edge.

According to the Bureau o Labor Statistics, thethree states with the lowest unemployment ratesin October 2011 – North Dakota, Nebraska, andSouth Dakota – are Right to Work states. O thetop ten states with the lowest unemployment, 7

o the 10 are RW states. In October, Indiana hadan unemployment rate o 9 percent with 283,611Hoosiers out o work and over 15,000 unemployedin Allen County. Right to Work will help retain andattract new businesses and projects bringing anopportunity or jobs.

Northeast Indiana has a history o a skilled andtalented workorce. In order or Indiana to com-pete and be on the cutting edge, it needs to retainits talent. By passing Right to Work legislation,more businesses will choose to locate here, creat-ing more jobs and economic growth and keepingour talented workorce here in Indiana.

Right to Work does not change any o the rulesconcerning the right o unions to organize em-ployees nor does it prohibit unions rom addingmembers who voluntarily elect to join and pay thedues. Right to Work does give private sector work-ers the reedom to choose whether or not to joina union much the same as currently exists or allpublic workers in Indiana As President o a mem-bership organization, I know i we provide value,members will remain. I we don’t, those memberswon’t stay with us very long and we certainly can’tcompel them to remain members. Why not thesame or unions?

Indiana is missing out on many job and econom-

ic development opportunities simply because weare not in the same ball eld as other states thathave Right to Work legislation. Te Greater FortWayne Chamber o Commerce urges you to growIndiana’s revenue through attraction, expansiono business, and employ more Hoosiers. It is timeto pass Right to Work.

Landram on Right to Work

Downloadthe 2012LegislativeAgendaFind the PDF atwchamber.org/legislativeagenda

ps

so

Responsiv e and Repr esentativ e

P RES ENT IN G SP ON SOR : N I P SC O

2012 Legislativ e Agenda

For moreon Right toWork Go to ourresource center:wchamber.org/

rtw




“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will

spend the irst our sharpening the axe.” — Abraham Lincoln

What really is important in organizationalleadership is the ability to partner with people toachieve results. Organizational leadership is aboutperormance — building success by ocusing on avision, developing a strategy, and then setting acourse that will engage those who will help us getwhere we need to go.

What we know

People don’t get better because they go to “pro-grams.” Long-term change in leadership develop-ment takes time. People get better only i they

pick something important to improve, involve thepeople around them and ollow up in a disciplinedway.

Tis philosophy is the oundation upon whichthe Applied Leadership Series at IPFW is built.

Consider this. Te term “leadership’ has joinedits close cousin, “communication,” as part o thecontemporary lexicon that ofers an answer to vir-tually all problems, without providing a hint or areal solution. Imagine a work team sitting aroundwondering how a project could have gone so ter-ribly wrong, then someone ofers this: “We couldhave avoided all o this or wont o just one thing(pause) communication (or leadership).”

Tese melodramas are common where the hol-low response is a single word. We have heard thebuild-up time and again, remembering the hope o that momentary promise, that the person speak-ing might just have a valuable lesson or meaning-ul reection. But we end up eeling like CharlieBrown when the ootball, yet again, has beenpulled away. We are let with the empty eeling,knowing there are opportunities or leadershipimprovement (or communication), but do notknow how to best dene it, how to improve it, oreven know or sure where to begin.

So how do we improve leadership perormance?

What steps do we take? How do we improve ourown organizational leadership efectiveness?

oo oten, leadership development is a one-timeevent. An of-site session with solid, interestingcontent, but or so many, the lessons ail to takehold once attendees are back at the workplace.

We have experienced it ourselves or have wit-nessed it in others where program participants

leave the training session charged-up with re-newed energy, only to experience disappointmentwhen it becomes apparent that things requiringimprovement will remain unchanged.

What else we know

Becoming a leader in an organization is a deci-sion that individuals make. Tey can always sayno. Organizational leadership it is a choice, andone requiring commitment. It comes with the ter-ritory.

It is important to understand that efective lead-ership is not an inherited skill assured by the titleor description o the position. Tink o the stellarsales person or the premier engineer who are pro-

moted to leadership roles in their departments,and, to their own disappointment and to the cha-grin o others, nd that those exceptional techni-cal skills prove to be inadequate or the challengeso the new leadership role.

Long-term sustainable leadership developmentrequires time, ocus, support, and commitment.What makes this blend o requirements work iswhat is so oten missed in leadership development“programs.” It is something that can’t be capturedvery well in a seminar, a workshop or a series o lectures. Tat missing piece is practice. It’s thepractice o leadership.

It is important to add that practice and experi-ence are not the same things. We can have experi-ences without actually practicing, though we can’tpractice without having an experience upon whichto challenge or hone our skills.

Go back to Charlie Brown and his ootball. Hehas a lot o experience with Lucy and the ootball,but we have little condence that the experiencehas improved his kicking game.

It is the recognition o this distinction thatmakes the Applied Leadership Series at IPFW trulydiferent. It is constructed to get the most out o our experiences by reecting on them in a delib-erate and thoughtul way, ofering the necessary

tools acilitating ocus and support.It’s a challenge that all leaders can benet rom

as long as they bring with them their commitmentto lead, and a willingness to put their experiencesto practice.

For more, visit the Applied Leadership Seriesweb site: ipw.edu/applied-leadership

Leadership takes practice

T I P S A N D T R I C K S

Bob Abel

Faculty, IPFW Division

o Organizational

Leadership and

Supervision and Director

o the Applied Leadership

Series

[email protected]

ipw.edu/

applied-leadership/




bers. Te early-bird registration ends Friday, Feb.10. Early-bird rate is $49 or Chamber membersand $99 or nonmembers. Ater Feb. 10, the regis-

tration rate is $69 or chamber members and $129or nonmembers.

Te registration ee also includes breakast,lunch, and all materials.

A I R S E R V I C E D E V E L O P M E N T

2012 Media and P.R. Summit

Get your business noticed

C H A M B E R S U M M I T S

Responding to the needs o our members, TeGreater Fort Wayne Chamber o Commerce hascreated the rst-ever Media and P.R. Summit: Howto get your business noticed.

Tis event will be held on Wednesday, February22, at the Chamber building, 826 Ewing St., FortWayne.

Attendees will be able to choose our o the ol-lowing sessions:

“Working With the elevision Media,” byRyan Elijah, Indiana’s NewsCenter

“How o Get Your Event Noticed by the Me-dia,” by Jeanette Dillon, IPFW

“Working With Radio Media” by CharlyButcher, WOWO

“Building P.R. Trough Branding,” by SusanSegworth, BIG

“Why Your Press Release Gets Ignored,” byElbert Starks III, Te News-Sentinel

“Stepping Outside Your Comort Zone,” byMatt Kelly, One Lucky Guitar

“How o Be Interviewed on Air,” by Jef Bow-man, Indiana’s NewsCenter

“How o ell Your Story in Print,” by Dan Co-

peland, Business People MagazineTe keynote address will be delivered by Larry

Wardlaw, Asher Agency.Te summit is open to members and nonmem-

Allegiant marks 5 years in Fort WayneWe have a celebration in February this year. Al-

legiant Airlines has now been serving the FortWayne market or 5 years. Over that time Alle-giant has ofered ights to Orlando, ampa/St.Pete, Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, Myrtle Beach, andLas Vegas. In act, about 200,000 trips have beenown on Allegiant since they arrived in 2007 withElvis to celebrate and kick of their ights. We willbe commemorating this anniversary this month.

In other news, Allegiant has begun to sell itsseasonal service to Myrtle Beach, so I would go totheir web site to take advantage o their ights. American will be reinstating its ourth Chicagotrip in March, while Delta will be adding a secondMinneapolis ight this June.

As always we will continue to work towardsmaintaining, enhancing and expanding ight o-erings on behal o the community.

Dave Young

Vice President o Air

Service Development

Te Chamber

RegisteronlineSign up or the Feb.22, 2012, Media andP.R. Summit online:wchamber.org/

mediasummit




DISCOUNT GUIDE

Get complete details online atwchamber.org/getsaving

PHP member discount

I your business has 2 to 50 employees, you qualiy ora discount o up to ve percent on your small busi-ness insurance premiums rom PHP. Average annualsavings is $2,500. o receive a quote, call PHP at (800)982-6257 or visit phpni.com and click on the Chamber

Discount Program link.

O ce Depot savings

Chamber members can save 60 percent on “core cata-log” items and our percent of retail catalog purchases.Contact Chris Michaels at (260) 249-3977.

Cirrus ABS eBusiness Suite or the Web

Te Cirrus ABS eBusiness Suite provides web site ser-vices or members seeking more afordable alternativesto traditional web site designs and set up. Read more atwchamber.org/cirrus.

Comcast Business Class

Tis program provides Chamber members with excep-

tional Internet services at a substantial discount o upto $29.95 per month. Ino: wchamber.org/comcast.

Sam’s Club savings

Chamber members receive a $25 git card or a Plusmembership or a $10 or a Business membership. Inoat samsclub.com/membership.

Event discounts and admittance

Every employee o each o our members receives themember price or Chamber events. Also, all employeeso members can attend member-only events, such asthe Tird House Forums.

Meeting rooms

Members get ree usage o meeting rooms large andsmall in the Chamber building during business hours.Call 424-1435 or details.

Promotion and reerrals

Members can create and ofer member-to-member cou-pons on the web site. Members also get ree promotionto a readership o 24,000 through Emphasis and reephone and web reerrals.

Notarization and certifcation o origin

Free or members by our ront desk staf.

ATHENATHE

OPENING DOORS OF LEADERSHIPOPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN

AWARDLUNCHEONWEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012

THE DIAMOND ROOM AT CERUTI’S SUMMIT PARK

6601 INNOVATION BOULEVARD, FORT WAYNEREGISTER BY MARCH 9 AT FWCHAMBER.ORG




C H A M B E R P A R T N E R S

Each February, the American Heart Associationmarks National Heart Month with a special ocus

on women’s heart health.Heart disease is the No. 1 killer o women, killing

about one woman every minute! Many think thatheart disease is a man’s disease, but it’s a woman’sdisease as well.

Heart disease has been called the “silent killer.”Many people are not aware o the warning signs.

oo oten we see actors in movies clutching theirchest when they are acting like they’re having aheart attack, but this isn’t always the sign thatpeople experience, especially women.

Most warning signs are subtle and may bebrushed of as something else. Educate yoursel on the warning signs o a heart attack and i youexperience any o the below, call 911 immediatelyand get to a hospital.

Warning Signs o a Heart Attack

Uncomortable pressure, squeezing, ullnessor pain in the center o your chest, lasting morethan a ew minutes or goes away and then comesback.

Pain or discomort in one or both arms, theback, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness o breath with or without chest dis-comort.

Additional signs include breaking out in a coldsweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common attacksymptom is chest pain or discomort. But womenare somewhat more likely than men to experiencesome o the other common symptoms, particular-ly shortness o breath, nauseas/vomiting and backor jaw pain.

Make it your mission to ght heart disease inwomen. Join the American Heart Association onFriday, Feb. 3, and Go Red For Women.

Wear red to show your support and also sharethe warning signs o a heart attack with the wom-en in your lie.

Log in to www.GoRedForWomen.orgto learnyour risk or heart disease, take the Go Red HeartCheckup and make it your mission to give vewomen you care about the power to save theirlives.

Watch for signs of heart attack

By Eric SponableIn today’s business world, it is oten hard to

dene the term “value”. Te dictionary denes itas “an amount, as o goods, services, or money,considered to be a air and suitable equivalent orsomething else; a air price or return”. However, intoday’s tough economic times, value is oten mis-takenly dened as nding and choosing the low-est priced option. People can spend an overabun-dant amount o time shopping or the lowest pricewhile at the same time settling or a product thatis substandard to do the job. And all based solelyon price.

Tere is a lot more to value than just getting thelowest price. I the old adage o “time is money”holds true, then the quality o the item and thee ciency in which it can be obtained must alsobe considered. How long is the low cost alterna-tive going to last compared to it’s higher pricedcounterpart? Is it going to be able to accomplishthe same job, in an expedient manner, as the more

expensive model?Many times, I am able to also show my custom-

ers value by simply making the way they do busi-ness more e cient. Being able to order quicklyand with condence in a air price means thatyou’re able to get back to the main business athand. You’re able to keep your ocus on your busi-ness instead o worrying about the supplies thatkeep your business running.

Especially when it comes to working with com-panies that supply the basics o what you needor business, signicant savings can be realizedby working with companies that provide you with

ease o ordering, reliable delivery, understandablebilling practices, and a transparency in trackingyour ordering habits over the recent past.

By shopping in a e cient manner and buyingthe products you know will do the job, you’ll saveboth time and money. You must always be con-science o price but not dependent on it to get thebest value or your money.

Value is more than just saving money

The Chamberdiscount

I your business has 2 to

50 employees, you qualiy

or a discount o up to

ve percent on your small

business insurance pre-

miums rom PHP. Average

annual savings is $3,500.

o receive a ree quote,

call PHP at (800) 982-

6257 or visit www.phpni.com and click on

the Chamber Discount

Program link.

The Chamberdiscount

Chamber members can

save 60 percent on “core

catalog” items and our

percent of “retail cata-

log” purchases. Monitor

expenses with monthly

reporting, and order on-

line, via phone or ax, and

through retail stores.

For more ino, contact

Chris Michaels at (260)

249-3977.




T I P S A N D T R I C K S

Grabill Bank urged customers to educate them-selves on responsible credit habits.

“No matter your age or nancial stance, it’snever too early to get smart about credit,” saidMichael C. Marhenke, Grabill Bank President andCEO. “Learning the basic undamentals o creditprovides customers with a oundation that willprove invaluable throughout their lives.”

Grabill Bank encourages customers to ollowthese Dos and Don’ts o Credit:

DO pay at least the minimum due and contact

your creditor i you have trouble making

payments.

Tis will help you to avoid late ees and a rising APR. o pay of your balance quicker, pay morethan the minimum due. I you are unable to makethe minimum monthly payments, let your creditorknow so they can work with you to create a moremanageable payment plan.

DO be wary o anyone who claims they can

“fx” your credit report.

No one can legally remove negative accurate in-ormation rom your credit history. Te only thingthat can x a credit report is time and a positive

payment history.

DO read the fne print on the credit

application.

Te application is a contract, so read it careullybeore signing. Credit card companies are verycompetitive so interest rates, credit limits, graceperiods, annual ees, terms and conditions mayvary.

DON’T eel pressure to get a credit card.

I you don’t want one, you have the right to say“no.” Under the new CARD Act 2009 consumers

aged 18-21 cannot be solicited or credit. I you nolonger wish to receive prescreened ofers, opt outby calling 1-888-5-OPOU (1-888-567-8688) orvisit www.optoutprescreen.com.

DON’T ignore the warning signs o credit

trouble.

I you pay only the minimum balance, pay late,use cash-advances to und daily living expenses ortranser a lot o balances you might be in the creditdanger zone. alk to a nancial counseling organi-zation to regain control o your nances.

DON’T share your credit card number.

Never give out credit card or personal inorma-tion i you have not initiated the transaction. Beaware o identity thet and phishing scams thatask or credit card numbers. I you suspect thatyour identity has been compromised, le a com-plaint with the Federal rade Commission by call-ing 1-877-ID-HEF (1-877-438-4338); DD:202-326-2502, or visit www.tc.gov/idthet.

Grabill Bank, ounded in 1946, is a state-char-tered, community bank and is a subsidiary o Inde-pendent Alliance Banks, Inc., a two-bank holdingcompany that includes MarkleBank and was estab-

lished in May o 2005. Grabill Bank employs about175 people in our local communities.

How to get smart about credit:

6 do’s and don’ts for consumers




Dec. 21 grand opening at Massage

Envy, 6409 W. Jeerson Blvd.:

From let, Michelle Merritt, Chamber vice president

o member relations and communications;

Charlie Marsh, Massage Envy regional developer;

Jessica Salas, assistant manager; Brian Lee,

owner; Ainsley Lee, owner; Andrew Lee, sales

associate; Sarah Miers, sales associate; Chantel

Williams, massage therapist; and Teresa Royer,

Chamber member relations specialist.

Let us host your ribboncutting or groundbreaking!

Details: www.wchamber.org/openings

R I B B O N C U T T I N G S

Dec. 13 grand opening at General

Credit Union, 630 E. Dupont Road:

From row rom let: Michelle Merritt, Chamber

vice president o member relations and

communications; Kay Neidlinger, VP Public

Relations, Indiana Credit Union League;

Kathy Knight, VP Business Development/

Marketing, General Credit Union; Lori Huglin-

Curry, CEO; Heather Bird, Dupont Branch

Manager; Julie Wood, Board o Directors.

Back row: Chris Coy, Assistant Dupont Branch

Manager; Tami Etzler, Dupont Teller; David

Kaiser, CFO; Matt Leitz, Chairman, Board o

Directors; Fred Parshley, Supervisory Committee;

Tony Belton, Assistant Marketing Manager.

Dec. 13 renovation at General Credit

Union, 5020 Riviera Court.Front row rom let: Michelle Merritt, Chamber

vice president o member relations and

communications; Abby Macy, Assistant VP

Operations, General Credit Union; Matt Leitz,

Chairman, Board o Directors; Lori Huglin-Curry,

CEO; Kathy Knight, VP Business Development/

Marketing; Julie Wood, Board o Directors; Nancy

Brandenberger, VP Loans; Kay Neidlinger, VP

Public Relations, Indiana Credit Union League.

Back row: Dave Kaiser, CFO, General Credit Union;

Danielle Gonzales, Riviera Teller; Kim Meyer,

Mortgage Loan O cer; Tony Belton, Assistant

Manager Marketing; Fred Parshley, Supervisory

Committee Member; Cindy Gebhart, Senior Loan

O cer. On phone in background: Elvia Garza-

Sandoval, Assistant Riviera Court Branch Manager.




P H O T O

B Y J O N

S W E R E N S

N E W A N D R E N E W I N G M E M B E R S

Renewing members

December 2011

AMO O ce Supply American Wire, Rope & Sling

Arby’s Restaurant (Downtown)Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC-HondaBaden ax Management, LLC

Beckman Lawson, LLPBoyer & BoyerBurkhart Advertising, Inc.Casa RestaurantsColdwell Banker Roth Wehrly GraberCombustion MechanicalComcast

Courtyard by Marriott Downtown/Convention Center

Crossroad Child & Family Services,Inc.

David Culp & Co.Daisy Wheel & Ribbon Company, Inc.

Deister ConcentratorE & B Paving, Inc.ENS Group Annie Eckrich/Re/Max ResultsEnvironmental Management Special-

ists, Inc.Faireld Inn & Suites By Marriott/

Fort WayneFindley Financial CorporationFirst Gear, Inc.

Flickinger Industries, Inc.Fort Wayne Financial CorporationGladieux ConsultingGranite City Food & BreweryGreat Lakes Pediatric Surgeons, Inc.Group Delphi

Hanson Aggregates Midwest, Inc.Harrison Proessional Center A. Hattersley & Sons, Inc.Heritage Food Service Equipment,

Inc.Image Exhibits, Inc.K-Industrial o Indiana LLCKees Grain Farms, Inc.Keystone Concrete, Inc.Kingston Residence

Koher AdvertisingMacAllister Machinery CompanyMarkleBankMartin Riley architects/engineersTe Midland GroupNAPA Distribution Center

Nelson’sNew Process CorporationNorthern Insurance, LLCOld CrownOphthalmology Consultants o Fort

WaynePak Mail (St. Joe Center Road)Precise Manuacturing, Inc.Pyromation, Inc.Reincke-Norris, LLC

Rothberg Logan & Warsco LLPRuss Moore ransmission, Inc.Saint Anne Home & Retirement

CommunitySand Point Living Interiors, Inc.Signature Mac, Inc.

Simcox Financial Services, Inc.Te State Bank & rust CompanySummitline Industries, Inc.Swanson Sta ngSweetwater Sound, Inc.US Signal Vince’s Vital Living Terapeutic MassageWal-Mart (Coldwater Road) Yoder Rahrig Family Dentistry

New members

December 2011

Absolute Machining, Inc.Clawson Communications, Inc.

Coliseum Productions, Inc.Comcast Spotlight

Eagle’s Wings AirFort Wayne Urban Enterprise As-

sociationJAE Insurance SolutionsKam Construction, Inc.Molly Maid o Fort WaynePanda Express (Lima Road)Rustic HutchShred-itaxademic LLCTe Crossing Educational Center

More onlineFind more aboutthese businesses and

all o our members inour online businessdirectory at:

wchamber.org/directory

Why join?Te Chamberrepresents morethan 1,600 localbusinesses andorganizations.

Find out the benetsor you at:

wchamber.org/whyjoin

G R O U N D B R E A K I N G S

Dec. 6 ground breaking at the site o D.O. McComb & Sons’ uture cremation center at 2307 W. Main St. From let: Mike Murphy,Kurt Vlot, Taron Smith, Shad Briles, Mark McComb, and Janelle McComb, all o D.O. McComb & Sons; Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry;

Dave McComb, co-owner o D.O. McComb & Sons; and Mike Landram, president and CEO o The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber o

Commerce. Murphy, Vlot, Smith, Briles and Mark McComb all have been with the company or at least 20 years.




Tird House ForumGet to know your state legislators and share

your thoughts on polices that concern your

business

Join us at the Chamber to hear the

Northeast Indiana legislative delegationreport on their activity at the statehouse

and to speak with Chamber members

regarding issues that directly afect you.

Cost: Free | Exclusive to Chamber

members only

Saturday, Feb. 11 | 10:30 a.m.-noon

Te Chamber building, 826 Ewing St.

President’s Lunch withMayor om Henry

Every month, meet a local business leader

Chamber President and CEO MikeLandram hosts this lunch with Fort

Wayne Mayor om Henry.

Cost: $25, including meal | Limited to the

rst 10 Chamber members to sign up

Tursday, Feb. 19 | noon-1 p.m.

Club Soda, 235 W. Superior St.

Meet Me @ 5Enjoy an evening o networking with hors

d’oeuvres and a cash bar

Cost: Member: $5 | Nonmember: $10

Tursday, Feb. 19 | 5-7 p.m.Hosted by Rothberg, Logan & Warsco/

Landquest itle Group, 505 E.

Washington Blvd.

Media and P.R. SummitOur summits are new quarterly events

that ofer in-depth education on relevant

business topics

Local media proessionals, including Ryan

Elijah, Jef Bowman, Charly Butcher,

Jeanette Dillon, Elbert Starks III, and

Larry Wardlaw, teach you how to get

your business noticed by the media.

Early-bird cost (last day: Feb. 10): Member:

$49 | Nonmember: $99.

Cost rom Feb. 11-21: Member: $99 |

Nonmember: $129.

Includes breakast and lunch

Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m.;registration opens at 7:30 a.m.

Te Chamber building, 826 Ewing St.

Northeast IndianaechFest12

An event or students by our Graduate

Retention department.

Tis ull day will include tournament

style video gaming, problem solving,

technology demonstrations and

presentations by area proessionals

about career opportunities in the region.Saturday, March 10 | 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Te Lantern Reception Hall, 4420 Ardmore

Ave.

For details, visit neitechest.com

Te Athena AwardsCelebrates exceptional individuals who

have assisted women in the attainment o

proessional goals.

Cost: $35

Wednesday, March 14 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30

p.m.

Te Diamond Room at Ceruti’s Summit

Park, 6601 Innovation Blvd.

Meet Me @ 5Enjoy an evening o networking with hors

d’oeuvres and a cash bar

Cost: Member: $5 | Nonmember: $10

Tursday, March 15 | 5-7 p.m.

Fort Wayne inCaps at Parkview Field,

1301 Ewing St.

C H A M B E R C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

FEB

21

FEB

22

Sign up orour events!Go online at

wchamber.org/eventsto get more detailsand register.

FEB

11

FEB

19

MAR

14

MAR

10

MAR

15



About TechFEST12

TechFest is an opportunity for all Northeast Indiana high schoolstudents to engage in a full day of video game tournaments, problem-solving team competitions, hear guest speakers talk about their careersin Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) inNortheast Indiana, and much more. Local Universities/Colleges willalso be on hand to provide information about majors related to thesesubject areas and employers will be present to discuss internshipopportunities and career information.

Want to Sponsor TechFEST12? Contact us for details!

Sponsor an Individual game or TechFEST12!

This year’s games include the following:

Wii Bowling Rock Band Wii Boxing Guitar HeroMario Cart Dance CentralSmash Brothers Wii Big Brain Academy Madden 11 Problem Solving CompetitionNBA JAM FIFA 11

Learn More

Interested in learning more

about TechFEST12? Simply

visit our website and read

about this fun event!

www.neitechfest.com

Check us out on Social Media

@neitechfest

(260) 424-1435

[email protected]

Call or email for more

information on how

you can sponsor!!



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Emphasis Magazine - February 2012

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Transcript of Emphasis Magazine - February 2012