Homegrown Excellence: Strengthening Northeast Indiana through Internships

Join us for the 5th Annual Graduate Retention Breakfast on Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

Steve Corona of Job Works will moderate a panel of high school and college students, as well as local professionals. They will share their expectations, experiences, and the impact of their internships on their careers and goals.

RSVP online or to Heather Neilson. This event is FREE.

Granite City & Easter Seals ARC Team Up with Mad Ants

Chamber member, Granite City Food & Brewery, one of Fort Wayne’s trendiest hotspots for great food and locally brewed beer, is giving back to the community by hosting their first charity night for another Chamber member, Easter Seals Arc.

On Wednesday, April 8 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. the Fort Wayne Mad Ants will be invading the kitchen and dining room of Granite City F&B, and giving the wait staff a break as they take over wait duties for the evening. All tips made by the Mad Ants will then be donated to Easter Seals Arc recreation program.

Diners will have an opportunity to meet and greet their favorite Mad Ant(s) and Madame Ant(s) as well as members of the ARC Raiders, one of Special Olympics Indiana competing basketball teams.

For more information about the Mad Wednesday Waiter Invasion, please call Tony Belton, Public Relations Coordinator, at (260) 469-2777.

In This Issue...

Our April 3 Emphasis issue is dedicated to all things Parkview Field. Get a sneak peek at the new ballpark, learn more about the local company chosen to outfit the stadium with its furniture and gear up for a great season of TinCaps baseball.

Don't forget April 9's Cc: me from 5 -7 p.m. is your first chance to get up close and personal with Parkview Field before it is even open to the general public. Join the Chamber for what promised to be one of the best events this year!

For information about Emphasis magazine please contact Nicole Wilkins at nwilkins@fwchamber.org.

Expansion at Edy's Fort Wayne Almost Complete

An expansion project at the Edy's Fort Wayne Operations Center is nearly complete. The $21.5 million expansion includes a new production line to make frozen snacks. The plant recently hired 49 new employees to staff the line. The recent expansion is the second phase of a project that began in 2007.

“The expansion of the Edy’s facility is excellent news for the community of Fort Wayne,” said Kristine Foate, President/ CEO of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. “This project will present many opportunities and will open the door for increased business development.”

Ivy Tech Offers Free Job Search Assistance

On Thursday, April 9 Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast will provide a free workshop entitled “Job Search in a Tough Economy” This event will take place from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. at Ivy Tech’s Coliseum Campus auditorium.

Presented by Sheila Biggs, assistant director of career advising at Ivy Tech, the session will focus on different areas of interest for job-seekers such as:
· self-imposed obstacles to overcome when searching for jobs;
· what is different when searching for a job with the economy’s current state;
· thinking out of the box when applying for jobs;
· interviewing
· dealing with rejection;
· and the best resources available in searching for a new career.

The workshop is one in a series of nine Career Development Workshops offered through Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast’s Career Services office. The workshops are free. Participants receive a free portfolio after successfully completing five different workshops in a 12-month period. Additional information and resources can be found at Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast’s Web site at www.ivytech.edu/fortwayne/career.

An evening session of this workshop will also be offered on Thursday, May 7 from 5 to 6 p.m. Registration is requested. To register or for questions about the workshop or any career-related service, contact the Career Services office at (260) 481-2282 or e-mail swiggins@ivytech.edu.

Tweet! Join the Chamber on Twitter

Want to know the latest in Fort Wayne business news or find information and resources that could impact how you do business? Sign up now to follow The Chamber on Twitter! The Chamber has launched its own Twitter account and will now be tweeting on a variety of topics from upcoming Chamber events to business news that impacts you - our members. It will also give us the opportunity to highlight member events (an opening, facility expansion, new contract won, etc.)

Sign up now as a Chamber follower on Twitter. Simply visit Twitter, set up an account, and search for "Fort Wayne Chamber" or "ftwaynechamber." Get connected and stay informed!

Chamber Academy April Sessions

Designing a Team that Improves your Bottom Line
Presented by Dick Brooks of Richard K. Brooks & Associates on Thursday, April 16
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce.
To join us register online now! Cost is $39 for Members ~ $49 for Non-members

Attendees will learn why some teams work much better than others, and what it takes for their employees to feel it's an honor to work for your company and to be on their team. Outcomes include:
Cut your labor cost by 10%
Use teams to lower cost and increase quality
Minimize employee turnover
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Team Change Engagement
Presented by Chris Sanderson of Dale Carnegie Training on Wednesday, April 29
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce.
To join us register online now! Cost is $39 for Members ~ $49 for Non-members.

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Analyze principles for participating in teams during changes
Develop stronger team relationships
Practice a higher level of listening effectiveness
Click here to learn more about Dale Carnegie Training.

If you are interested in presenting for the Chamber Academy, please view the guidelines and submit a proposal.

Upcoming Leadership Summit

You are invited to attend the Learn United Leadership Summit on April 7 at the Public Safety Academy, breakfast begins at 8 a.m. with a presentation following at 8:30. The keynote speaker, Dr. Eric Cooper; President of the National Urban Alliance, will share a message of hope and possibility for our community. Breakout sessions will be held following the keynote to explore ways we can all help struggling readers. Currently 40% of low income 3rd graders do not pass 3rd grade reading, and 74% of those children never catch up. We can close this gap and open the door of opportunity!

Learn United is a community partnership championed by United Way of Allen County, Fort Wayne Community Schools, East Allen County Schools, Allen County Education Partnership and The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the event or to volunteer to help struggling readers, visit http://www.learnunited.org/.

Please RSVP for the April 7 event to:
Antoinette Hunter antoinetteh@uwacin.org

United Way of Allen County (260) 422-4776

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Launches Site Certification Initiative

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership has launched an aggressive site certification initiative in associate with professional site selection and economic development consulting firm, Strategic Development Group, Inc. The certification process will expand the inventory of development-ready sites in northeast Indiana, resulting in fast, efficient and risk-free development throughout the region.

Funded through a grant from the Northeast Indiana Foundation, Strategic Development Group will conduct a rigorous certification process over the next nine months to verify that key elements necessary for development such as the presence of utilities, sound environmental conditions and land control are present. The effort builds on a program spearheaded by Allen County and aligns with the "Shovel-Ready" site certification program initiated by the state of Indiana.

"The certification standards implemented through this process will create a distinct competitive advantage for Allen County and the northeast Indiana region," said Allen County Commissioner Bill Brown.

Local economic development organizations from northeast Indiana's 11-county region will have the opportunity to submit eligible properties for the certification process. Possessing these certified sites will increase the region's chances of success in attracting investment and jobs.

Fort Wayne Chosen as Finalist for All-America City Competition

Three Indiana cities have made the list of finalists for the National Civic League’s 60th annual All-America City competition. Fort Wayne, Richmond and South Bend are competing against 29 other cities for the award, which recognizes outstanding civic accomplishment.

Finalists were asked to document three community projects that addressed local challenges such as job creation/economic development, environmental sustainability, neighborhood revitalization and disaster recovery. Ten winners will be announced in June.

Two other Indiana cities are finalists - Richmond and South Bend.

The 2009 finalists are:
Phoenix, Arizona
Windsor Heights, Iowa
Toledo, Ohio
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wooster, Ohio
Inglewood, California
Pocomoke City, Maryland
Toledo, Oregon
Rancho Cordova, California
Rockville, Maryland
Erie, Pennsylvania
Windsor, Colorado
Salisbury, Maryland
Providence, Rhode Island
Tampa, Florida
Somerville, Massachusetts
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Bensenville, Illinois
Belton, Missouri
Rowlett, Texas
Carbondale, Illinois
Albany, New York
Caroline County, Virginia
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Benson, North Carolina
Richmond, Indiana
Kinston, North Carolina
South Bend, Indiana
Clinton, North Carolina
Des Moines, Iowa
Statesville, North Carolina

Join Ivy Tech for Annual "Book Tasting"

Join bibliophiles, book artists and food lovers for the 3rd annual Edible Book Festival on Wednesday, April 1 at Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast (Anthony Commons). The event is held in conjunction with the International Edible Book Festival which celebrates the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) - famous for his book
,Physiologie du gout, a witty meditation on food.

Participants create edible books that are exhibited, documented, and consumed. The public viewing will be from noon to 1 p.m. with a reception and "book-tasting" from 1 to 2 p.m.

For questions contact Jen Traore at (260) 480-4176 or e-mail jheiding@ivytech.edu.

Leadership Fort Wayne Searches for New Executive Director

Janet Chrzan, Leadership Fort Wayne's Executive Director, has resigned her position as of April 10 to pursue another business opportunity that has recently become available to her. In 2007, she started as the organization's program manager of the Northeast Indiana Nonprofit Alliance.

The Board of Directors at Leadership Fort Wayne is currently looking for an executive director.

According to Susanne Moorman Rowe, President, Leadership Fort Wayne Board of Directors: "In the interim, please be assured that LFW staff and Board are moving along with the strategic plan and operations. Please e-mail me with any questions at smmoormanrowe@aep.com."

O’Daniel Chrysler Jeep Donates $8,000 to Local Veterans Organizations

O’Daniel Chrysler Jeep of Fort Wayne took on the task of collecting used and old cell phones for a Chrysler sponsored promotion to benefit Operation Gratitude www.operationgratitude.com, an organization that sends care packages to U.S troops overseas. Part of the promotion was if they succeeded in collecting the most phones in their region they would receive $5000 to donate to a military charity of their choice. Little did they know Fort Wayne would serve up so much support! Not only did O’Daniel Chrysler Jeep win the regional award they actually collected more phones than any
other dealer in the country. In addition, for the month of February O’Daniel was the #1 retailing dealer for all Chrysler store in Indiana!

In conjunction with O’Daniel’s annual Jeep Jam festival, where they raised $3000 for the Fort Wayne Chapter of the Disable American Veterans, They will be donating a total of $8,000 to local veteran’s organizations. The $5,000 check presentation to the local veteran’s center will take place at the Fort Wayne Komet’s home game on Friday March 27, where members from the O’Daniel organization and Chrysler will present the donation to the organization members.

Craig Ruskaup, Sales Manager for O’Daniel Chrysler Jeep, took on the task of organizing the collection efforts. He solicited local businesses, the media and customers to help spread the awareness of the program. “I just felt like this was one thing we could do locally to support our troops globally,” Ruskaup commented.

Ruskaup’s efforts’ turned out to be world class as boxes and boxes of phones started pouring in last fall. After the dealership sent all the phones in to the collection center it was several months before they found out the good news that not only they collected the most phones for their region and won the $5,000, but they had collected nearly two thirds of all phone collected in the United States.

For more information about this information please contact Craig Ruskaup at (260) 435-5331, cruskaup@odanielauto.com or Greg O’Daniel (260) 435-5441, godaniel@odanielauto.com.

Rally for Rail

(click on image for larger view)

Green Innovation Award Accepting Nominations

The deadline for the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition Green Innovation Award is approaching. The deadline is Wednesday, April 15. Eligible projects can take any form, and may involve building or household efficiencies, landscaping innovations, innovative green products or invention/adaptations, or going above and beyond what is standard procedure or practice.

Award Criteria:

• Any project located in NE Indiana
• Any green innovation that includes any of the following characteristics: Energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability

Award Categories:

• Commercial/Business
• Residential/Individual

One award will be given in each category. Projects can be nominated by anyone, including the project owners. For more information contact Laura Martin at lmartin@hagermangc.com.