Wells Fargo Invests in Pathfinder Services

Wells Fargo recently announced a $100,000 equity-equivalent investment in Pathfinder Services, Inc., a Huntington-based community and human development non profit that provides homeownership education and down payment assistance, and foreclosure prevention services to people with and without disabilities throughout Northeast Indiana.

The investment will help support Community Connections, the organization’s Housing Division, to provide low interest rescue loans for families and people with disabilities to become current in their mortgages and save their home from foreclosure.

For more information on Community Connections please contact (800) 310-9510 or visit http://www.cchomes.org/ . Community Connections is the Housing Division of Pathfinder Services Inc., a not for profit Human Services organization with offices in Huntington, Wabash, and Plymouth. Community Connections began in 1997 and has helped over 1,000 families fulfill the dream of homeownership and has provided over $7 million in Down Payment Assistance to those families.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Receives Historic Donation

For the first time since 1937, E.L Cord’s personal 1937 Cord Supercharged Beverly has returned to its original home, the Auburn Automobile Company. This special Cord has been donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum by the family of Charles Cord, Sr. and Charles Cord, Jr., the son and grandson of E.L. Cord.

The Cord is believed to be one of the last Cord 812s to have been delivered by the Auburn Automobile Company after its demise in 1937.

Cord garnered national attention for making the Auburn Automobile Company a success. He was featured in Forbes and Time Magazine, which proclaimed him as the “Mercury to the Middle Class.” Though the Auburn Automobile Company had to shut down to financial difficulties, Cord was still recognized for his achievements in the automotive field. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1976.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is located in the former national headquarters and administrative building of the Auburn Automobile Company that comprises part of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Facility. This facility has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is toured by individuals from all over the world every year. For more information visit http://www.acdmuseum.org/.

In This Issue...

In this issue of Emphasis, the final issue of 2008...

Find out why local company, Kruse Worldwide Courier, is ranked third in Indiana for transportation company growth.

Get the details on the Chamber's new networking event Cc: me and our Networking for Success brown bag lunch meetings coming in January.

Also, why the Power of One is an important community reminder.

Happy Holidays from the Chamber! For any questions regarding Emphasis please contact nwilkins@fwchamber.org.

Happy Holidays from the Chamber

The Chamber will be closed on December 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. Normal operating hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) will resume on Friday, December 26.

They say it's all about who you know...

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In business they say it is all about who you know. "They" are right and that is why you need to get cc'd.

January 29, 2009 marks the launch of the Chamber's new monthly networking event, Cc: me, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum lounge from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Cc: me is the place to build your professional network,establish lasting business relationships and catch the latest business buzz.

This is not a place where you will bombarded with sales pitches. It is about networking in its truest sense. Not sure what true networking is or how to do it? Chamber "Connectors" will be present to help connect you to those you should meet and know.

Need a refresher on networking? Then attend the Chamber's "Networking 4 Success: A Business Brown Bag." Learn from networking experts how to effectively engage others in any setting in order to build lasting professional relationships. This two part series will teach the difference between networking and selling and provide you with the skills necessary to build your business through relationships.

January 20 & 27 11:45-12:45 @ The Chamber
Register online @ fwchamber.org or at the door

Thank you to our January Cc: me sponsor, First Federal Bank and our host, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. For more information or to get involved with Cc: me contact Member Relations at (260) 424-1435, ext. 266, lvoirol@fwchamber.org or click here.

YMCA Baseball Hitting Clinic Features Pro Instructors

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop and third baseman Justin Parker and Detroit Tigers catcher and designated hitter Derek Lehrman will be instructing a Wells County YMCA Baseball Hitting Clinic. New York Mets Associate Scout and Summit City Sluggers Head Coach Mark DeLaGarza will supervise.

The Baseball Hitting Clinic is for children age 10 through 13. Through lectures, dry swing breakdowns, side tosses, and live hitting in the cage, each session will focus on the sound fundamental techniques of hitting. Hitters will be placed in groups of 5, with each hitter having the opportunity to work individually in the cage with the hitting coach. Each session will last at least 1 ½ hours. There will also be a ½ hour question and answer session at the end of each session for players and their parents.

The Baseball Hitting Clinic sessions will take place on Friday, December 26 and Tuesday, December 30. Three sessions will be offered each day from 9 - 11 AM, 12 - 2 PM, and 3 - 5 PM. The cost is $25 per player per session. There is a limit of 10 players per session. You can register online at www.fwymca.org or by calling Beth at (260) 918-2155.

The Baseball Hitting Clinic will be held at the former Kitco Plant facility which is located on 200 East Spring Street in Bluffton; however players should use the west entrance which is located off of Scott Street next to the CVS pharmacy.

For more information contact Mark DeLaGarza at (260) 402-0789 or delagarza0185@comcast.net.

Festival of Trees People's Choice Winners

The Embassy Theatre awarded the People’s Choice Awards for the 2008 Embassy Theatre Festival of Trees. Festival attendees were encouraged to fill out ballots with their choice for best tree in each category. Award winners receive a trophy created by LaHartz.

People's Choice Award winners:

Four-foot category: “Inspirations" - decorated and sponsored by A Party Apart.

Seven-foot category: “Snow Queen” - decorated by Steven Douglas and sponsored by Parkview Health..

Nine/ten-foot category: “Let’s Build A Snowman” - decorated by Tina James and sponsored by The DeHayes Group.

December 24 Chamber Hours

The Chamber will be open on December 24 from 8 a.m. - noon. Season's Greetings!

Give Back to the Community with "Light a Night"

Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House is hosting their second annual “Light a Night – Tree of Hope” fundraiser. Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House provides families a home-like setting, meals, and other necessities just steps away from their children who are being cared for at a local hospital. They provide overnight accommodations in a family-centered, supportive environment to any family with children in any community hospital.

A nominal $10 fee is requested from house guests, but the actual cost to provide each room is $95 per night. Many families cannot afford to pay anything and no is turned away due to an inability to pay.

“Light a Night – Tree of Hope” is an opportunity to “give the gift of community" by donating a small amount to provide a free stay to families in need. The Tree of Hope is located at Bob Evans at the Village of Coventry (I-69 & US 24). Each light on the tree represents a night’s stay for a family with an ill child in the hospital.

For more information on how you can donate call (260) 459-8550 or visit http://www.childrenshopefw.org/.

2008-09 Northeast Indiana Innovative Business Concept Competition,

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Purdue University, the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center announce the launch of the 2008-09 Northeast Indiana Innovative Business Concept Competition, formerly known as the Opportunity for Indiana Business Plan Competition.

IPFW will host the fifth annual competition, which includes changes other than its name. Sean Ryan, director of university engagement, said, "This competition won't require a complete business plan. Instead, we'll focus on the development and presentation of an executive summary of the business concept, with the most promising one awarded business coaching, support, and grant funding to launch the business venture."

Another change this year is the competition will be conducted in three separate divisions: professional, university, and high school. "Individuals and teams in each division will compete against each other, with an overall winner selected for the competition. That winner will then be entered for consideration in the 2009 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Innovation Awards," added Ryan.

Registration for the competition is now open and must be submitted electronically at www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/opportunity. The deadline for registration is Feb. 2, 2009. The executive summaries are due March 9, 2009, with the final competition at IPFW Friday, April 17, 2009.

For more information, contact Sean Ryan, director of university engagement, at 260-399-1662 or ryans@ipfw.edu or Jean Eisaman, project manager, at 260-481-6489 or eisamanj@ipfw.edu.

Apply Now: ATHENA Nominations & Scholarships

Help celebrate the remarkable individuals in our community. The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce it is now seeking nominations for the 5th Annual ATHENA Award® and also applications for ATHENA Scholarships which will be presented at a luncheon March 11, 2009 at Ceruti's Summit Park.

The ATHENA Award® program celebrates exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their profession, have served the community in a meaningful way and have assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. Nomination forms and criteria are available at www.fwchamber.org and are due January 5, 2009.

Several $1,000 scholarships are also available to outstanding area students. Established in 2006 by the Fort Wayne ATHENA planning committee to provide scholarship assistance for 2009 high school graduates attending a two- or four-year college or vocational school in Indiana. Assistance will be given to women demonstrating outstanding leadership in their high school and community. Recipients may attend school half time (at least 6 credit hours) or full time. For an application visit http://www.fwchamber.org/. Deadline is Monday, February 2.

For more information please contact Kristi Holmes, Vice President of Communications & Member Relations at (260) 424-1435 or kholmes@fwchamber.org.

YLNI Masquerade Ball

Looking for something extra special to do this New Year's Eve??? What better place to ring in the New Year than YLNI's 4th Annual Masquerade Ball? Get dressed up - go out for a night on the town - and do something unique this year! Spend the evening dancing the night away with your friends at the Historic Embassy Theatre.

YLNI's Annual Masquerade Ball Fundraiser
Embassy Theatre Lobby, 125 West Jefferson Blvd.
December 31, 2008 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Masks Required/Black Tie Optional
Black & White Theme
Ages 21 & Over

Special Features:
Casino Night (Everyone will get a FREE $500 voucher to play games. Winnings can be exchanged for tickets to win prizes!)
Music & Dancing
Hors d'oeuvres by Catablu
Complimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight
Cash Bar
Prize Drawings (featuring packages that include gifts from Espresso Gallery, ArtLink, Cinema Center, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, JK O'Donnell's, Boudoir Noir, Cherry Hill Golf Course, Autumn Ridge Golf Course, Eddie Merlot's, Jefferson Pointe 18 Theaters, AND MORE!)
Ballroom Dancing Demo
Chocolate Fountain
Prize Awarded for Best Mask
Living Statue

Purchase tickets at http://www.ylni.org/. Tickets are $35 in advance, $30 for YLNI dues paying members (up to 6 tickets), or $40 day of the event. This event has sold out in the past, so be sure to get your tickets now!