$100,000 Walmart Grant Aids Chamber's Graduate Retention Program

Yesterday just before the Tin Caps game started, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce was honored by the State Giving Program of the Walmart Foundation and accepted a grant of $100,000 to benefit the Graduate Retention Program.

The mission of the Graduate Retention Program is to attract and retain high school and college graduates to Northeast Indiana by supplying them with quality internships and high-skill jobs.

If you are a student or employer wanting to learn more about internship opportunities, please let us know! Contact Kay Anthony at kanthony@fwchamber.org.

Thanks again to Walmart for their generous support!

Energy Efficiency Workshop

On Wednesday, September 9, CANI (Community Action of Northeast Indiana) will be providing the public with a free workshop on Energy Efficiency. The event will begin at 4:30 at Valley Creek Apartments in Auburn and will cover ways we can all save energy in our homes.

Reservations are required, please contact Chris of Valley Creek Apartments at 260-927-1588 to reserve a spot. For more information about CANI and the services they provide, visit http://www.canihelp.org/.

Study Connection to Host 21st Annual Celebration & Recognition Breakfast

Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection will hold their 21st Annual Celebration & Recognition Breakfast on Friday, September 11 from 7:30-9 a.m. at Ceruti's (6601 Innovation Blvd.).

This year's guest speaker is Yvette McGee Brown, President, Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information call Nancy Sweet at (260) 467-8810.

In This Issue...

In today's issue of the Chamber's Emphasis magazine (which runs bi-weekly as the center section of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly)...

Find out how ENS Group, Inc. one of Northern Indiana's leading technology consulting firms, has expanded its IT training capabilities to more fully support the region's desktop training and support needs.

Learn about the Immigrant Integration Program and how Fort Wayne is one of three cities nationwide selected to participate in the pilot program...

Read a "State of the Industry" update from Air Service Development VP Dave Young...

Prepare to "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" with the Fort Wayne Womens Bureau and much more!

For full issues of Emphasis magazine visit fwchamber.org.

Arbor Education and Training's IMPACT Program

Arbor Education and Training provides employment and training services through the IMPACT (Indiana Manpower and Comprehensive Training) Program to assist those on public assistance in achieving self-sufficiency. The IMPACT Program provides instruction through classes, job readiness activities as well as volunteer opportunities in the community to our participants. These activities help them gain skills, work experience and self-confidence.

You are cordially invited to partner in the IMPACT Public Service Project

WHO: Non for Profit Organizations/Agencies in the Allen County Community who are
interested in helping IMPACT participants on their journey to self-sufficiency.

WHAT: To assist your organization with mailings, special projects or any other jobs that
can be easily transported to the DFR office. (such as flyers, envelopes, crafts or
small sewing projects.)

WHERE: The Allen County Department of Family Resources

WHEN: Beginning September 2009

HOW TO GET STARTED: Call Lisa Smith at 494-8720

Cost Effective Marketing: Utilizing Social Media

Don't miss our next informative Business Brown Bag workshop, presented by Digital Hill Multimedia, Inc. Wondering how to use social media to promote your business? Experts from Digital Hill will present an overview of various social media tools including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and how they can benefit your business.

This event will take place Thursday, September 24 from Noon - 1 p.m. Cost is $5 for Members, $10 for Non-members (pay at the door). Please RSVP ahead of time to troy@digitalhill.com.

Sampson Selected to Represent Northeast on 2009 Asia Trade Mission

On September 5, John Sampson, President and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, will travel to Asia with Mitch Daniels as part of the 2009 Asia Trade Mission.

First they will visit Zhejiang, the Chinese sister-state to Indiana. From there they will embark to Japan where they will spend time in Tochigi Prefecture, the Japanese sister-state to Indiana. They will also attend the Japan-U.S. Midwest Conference in Tokyo.

Sampson has made trips such as this before, having participated in both a week-long mission to Japan and a trade mission to Europe in the year 2007.

Live updates from the mission will be available through the following websites.

http://chooseindiana.blogspot.com/


http://twitter.com/NortheastIN


http://in.gov/gov/asia09.htm

Eddie Merlot's Summer Special

Chamber member Eddie Merlot's is hosting a special from now until September 27 - get a complete dinner for only $24.95 including entree, potato, fresh vegetable and half Caesar salad. Offer is valid only at Fort Wayne location. Call (260) 459-2222 to make a reservation!

Feet on the Street: Impex International

by Teresa Royer
Member Relations Specialist

A recent visit took me to Impex International, Inc – I had the pleasure of sitting down with the President of the company, Nagin Shah -- who goes by “Nick” by the way.

After I first met Nick and listened to his background and passion for what he does, I assumed he was an engineer, but was quite surprised when he assured me he was not. For the record, though, he says everyone thinks that at first.

Nick is from New York, but relocated to Fort Wayne over 25 years ago when his position as a Finance Auditor with Tokheim Corporation brought him to our fair city.

However, over the years as an auditor, Nick felt the urge to start a business of his own, but he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. A business consultant told him to consider going into the distribution importing/exporting business of fasteners, parts, equipment, etc.

The consultant told Nick he knew of a company that had such a need and encouraged Nick to talk to this company – to make a long story short – that company is now known as Rolls Royce.

Impex International Inc. is an importer / exporter of mechanical products offering a variety of services to many different industries being a “concierge” -- if you will. They ensure their customers receive the right components needed to manufacture their own products even if it requires creating and machining a new part – Nick’s customers can then focus on their own business at hand – letting the concern of getting their parts when and where needed and the right quality and quantity up to Impex. The industries they cater to are across the board – aerospace, automotive, defense, specialty materials – and could even be orthopedics and medical equipment…

I was very impressed with their method of operation as well – a very organized and clean office, warehouse, quality control and shipping area as well as many files which are vital to a main selling point of theirs – Quality. They have a traceability system – which means each and every part ordered or is in stock has a “birth certificate” that tells of its origin.

Nick shared that Impex International Inc. was one of the first distributors in Indiana to receive ISO 9000 certification and will be one of the first batch of distributors to receive an aerospace standard called the AS9120 – this assures his customers that they are “on the same page” with their own business practices.

Impex International Inc. will be celebrating 25 years in business next July – I wish Nick continued success as he serves his many customers from Asia and Europe (and beyond) to as close as Indianapolis. I was a little surprised to learn that he has never serviced any companies in Fort Wayne. Perhaps it’s a situation where local residents (or businesses) do not always realize what is in their own backyard…

I&M Power Sponsors Habitat for Humanity Home

With support from Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity will soon begin construction on a new “Energy Star” home for Shameka Arrington and her son. This will be Fort Wayne Habitat’s 131 house built in the Fort Wayne area. Construction on the new house, located at 3917 Gretna Avenue, Fort Wayne, began in late August.

Homes earn the “Energy Star” rating by meeting guidelines for energy efficiency that are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the things that qualify a home are insulation that is properly installed and inspected, energy-efficient windows and lighting, as well as things you might not think of such as sealing holes and cracks when the house is being built to help reduce drafts, moisture and noise. The house will also have Energy Star appliances, a programmable thermostat and a high efficiency heat pump system for heating and air conditioning.

In addition to its financial gift to Habitat in support of the project, I&M will be providing volunteers to construct the house.

For more information about I&M’s “Energy Star” House or about Habitat, please call HABITAT (422-4828) or visit www.fortwaynehabitat.org.

Don't Miss Fanfare With New Philharmonic Maestro Andrew Constantine

Visit fortwaynephilharmonic.com for more information on these $10 concerts!

Quick Member Survey: Chamber Academy

Just one question! What time of day should the Chamber hold Chamber Academy sessions:

Take our survey!

Thank you for your feedback!

Walmart to Award The Chamber a Grant at TinCaps Game

We hope to see you tomorrow night at the "Walmart Community Giving Night at TinCaps Game." The night was created to focus on giving back to the community around you. Attendees are encouraged to bring school supplies with them to be donated to the Salvation Army's "Tools for Schools" program.

Prior to the game's start, the Walmart State Giving Program will present The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce with a grant to be used for funding the Graduate Retention Program.

The Graduate Retention Program's mission is to attract and retain northeast Indiana high school and college graduates in high-wage and high-skill jobs to improve the local workforce.

For tickets to the game see tincaps.com.

September Cc: me @ Botanical Conservatory

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Carmike Cinemas to Offer Special "KIDTOON" Movie Program

Beginning in September a special KIDTOON will be played every weekend for only $5! Contact your local theatre or visit http://www.carmike.com/ for show times at your location.

Our First feature is THOMAS & FRIENDS: HERO ON THE RAILS. (For those of you who don’t know, this is the first feature where THOMAS actually speaks!) In this action-packed tale of friendship, determination and teamwork Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine named Hiro from an exciting far away land. Fearing that he will be scrapped, Thomas enlists help from many friends including Victor, a new steam engine and Kevin, a new crane vehicle who both work at the spectacular Sodor Steam Works. But mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their plans for a heroic rescue. Can the engine pals work together to help their new friend? Join the adventure and find out!

***Some locations will be able to have a special showing on Tuesday mornings for school / daycares to take advantage of Carmike’s Stimulus Tuesdays*** Contact your local theatre manager.

IPFW Career & Internship Fair

IPFW's Sixth Annual Career & Internship Fair! Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 10 AM-3 PM, IPFW Walb Student Union Ballroom For more information click here.

Keep checking back for the updated list of employers attending. Job Seekers need to come prepared with resumes and dressed professionally. Employers can register here.

Deadline to register and all payments are due by September 4. Payments are non-refundable. Space is limited and granted in the order of registrations and payment received.

IPFW Announces Omnibus Lecture Lineup

Award-winning actors Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler will kick off Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne's Omnibus Lecture Series, which begins its 15th season Sept. 17.

IPFW announced the lineup for the 2009-2010 lecture series on Thursday. The guest speakers and their topics are:
* Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler, "A Conversation with Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler," 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Matlin and Winkler will talk about their friendship, their lives and their belief that anything is possible when following your dreams.

* James Galbraith, "The Great Financial Crisis at Two Years," 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Galbraith is an author and economist who is the Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair of Government/Business Relations and professor of government at the University of Texas. In his most recent book, "The Predatory State: How Conservatives Abandoned the Free Market and Why Liberals Should Too," he explains the gap between conservative ideas and their use to cover up the Bush administration's "predator state," which, he argues, took advantage of the public sector and undermined public institutions for private profit.

* Andrew Sullivan, "Friendship: The Forgotten Relationship," 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Sullivan is a senior editor and blog writer of the Daily Dish for the Atlantic magazine, and a frequent commentator who argues that conservatism in America should return to the conservative traditions of the Republican Party.

* Jamaica Kincaid, "Reading and Growing Up Under Colonial Rule," 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11. Kincaid, an author and professor, has written for the Village Voice and the New Yorker. Her novels include "At the Bottom of the River," "Annie John," "A Small Place" and "Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya."

* Neil LaBute, "Changing Course: The Serpentine Road to Success," 7:30 p.m. March 25. LaBute, no stranger to Fort Wayne, was an assistant professor of theater at IPFW in the early 1990s and returned to the city later that decade to film his directorial debut, "In the Company of Men." His most recent play, "Reasons to be Pretty," earned three Tony nominations.

* Christopher Buckley, "An Evening with Christopher Buckley," 7:30 p.m. April 8. Buckley, an author and satirist who was the chief speechwriter to then-Vice President George H. W. Bush, has written 13 books. His latest, "Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir," was published this year.

All lectures will be held in the John and Ruth Rhinehart Music Center at IPFW. The lectures are free, but the Matlin and Winkler lecture requires free reserved tickets. Tickets can be reserved beginning Sept. 4 at (260) 481-6555 or www.ipfw/rhinehart.
For more information about the 2009-2010 Omnibus Lecture Series, visit www.omnibuslectures.org.

FREE Community Education Program on Prostate Cancer: Sept. 10

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