First Federal Celebrates Grand Opening Today

First Federal Savings Bank (5317 South Bend Drive, just off W. Jefferson Blvd.) invites you to stop by and share in the celebration as they recognize their Grand Opening today, Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to Noon. The celebration will follow a tailgating theme, featuring special promotions, give-aways including a tailgating grill, and the WLDE Weenie Wagon which will be present Friday from 4-6 p.m.

First Federal broke ground on their new branch in February of 2009. The new facility is 3,800 square feet and offers traditional banking services including consumer and commercial banking, a full-service lobby, two drive-up lanes and an ATM. Customers will also have access to brokerage and financial planning services through Innovative Financial Services, a division of First Federal Savings Bank.

For more information visit www.firstfedindiana.com.

Indiana Univ. Medical Education Center Dedicated Today

A dedication ceremony for the new Medical Education Center, which houses the Indiana University School of Medicine-Fort Wayne (IUSM-FW), was held today at 1 p.m., in the Rhinehart Music Center (RMC) on the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) campus. Chamber Interim President & CEO, Mike Landram attended the ceremony along with Government Affairs Vice President Joni Howell.

Construction on the more than 41,000-square-foot building began in 2007, following the appropriation of $12 million from the State of Indiana to IU for the structure. The building was finished and furnished earlier this year. It features state-of-the-art lecture halls and laboratories for first through fourth year med school students, allied health students, and faculty research.

Following the dedication ceremony in RMC, a reception was held in the Med Ed Center’s conference room.

For more information, contact Gina Bailey, development coordinator for IUSM-Fort Wayne, at 260-481-6731 or baileyg@ipfw.edu .

Chamber Recognized for Efforts with Fort to Port Project

Governor Mitch Daniels was joined yesterday by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and over 300 other officials and individuals at the Indiana-Ohio state line to open new sections of the U.S. 24 Fort to Port highway, fulfilling a commitment by both states to “meet at the line in 2009” and marking another step toward connecting Fort Wayne with the Port of Toledo.

The Fort to Port project is part of Governor Daniels’ Major Moves jobs and transportation program and will eventually connect with the Hoosier Heartland Corridor to provide access to cities and towns across north central Indiana to major highways and transportation outlets.

“The waiting is over. Thanks to our Major Moves transaction, a safer road and countless new jobs are finally on their way, without a dollar of new taxes or new borrowing. Hoosiers are showing America how to solve big problems and protect taxpayers at the same time,” said Daniels.

Representative Randy Borror recognized the Fort Wayne Chamber in his opening statements and credited the Chamber with playing "a critical role on the Indiana side".

The 2.9-mile section of new highway and new interchange is the first section to be open to traffic in Indiana. The new section will immediately connect at the state line to a 45-mile section extending to the east side of Napoleon, Ohio. In all, 11.5 miles of divided, limited-access highway, including three new interchanges, east of I-469 to the Ohio state line will be built.

The second section of the Indiana project is currently under construction and the final two sections will be placed for contract bid in 2010 and completed in 2012. The total estimated cost for the project is $170 million.

The Ohio corridor is a total of 58.5 miles and is being constructed in eight phases extending east from the state line to Toledo, Ohio. Five phases are complete with the remaining three phases scheduled to be completed in 2012. The total estimated cost of the project is $402 million.

“We are modernizing this highway not only to create a safer route of travel between these two cities, but also to establish a multi-modal corridor where goods can move efficiently,” said Governor Strickland. “The need for Ohio and Indiana to be strong partners in transportation has never been greater. These projects are key pieces in linking and strengthening the economies of both states.”

In October 2008, Daniels broke ground on construction of the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, a 31-mile, four-lane, limited-access divided highway between Lafayette and Logansport. The project is scheduled to be completed three years ahead of schedule in 2013. The highway will provide greater and safer access from Lafayette to Fort Wayne, where it will link with the Fort to Port corridor, allowing direct access from central Indiana to the deep water ports in Toledo. It will also connect I-65 in Lafayette to I-69 in Fort Wayne via a multi-lane highway.

For more information on the Fort to Port project, visit http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/us24/.

Governor to Hand out DeBrand Fine Chocolates to Trick-or-Treaters

Governor Mitch Daniels and First Lady Cheri Daniels will host trick-or-treaters at the Governor’s Residence from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT on Halloween night (October 31).

The governor and first lady will pass out assorted candy provided by five Indiana companies including Chamber member DeBrand Fine Chocolates.

“This will be our fifth year of welcoming young Hoosiers to the Governor’s Residence on Halloween,” said First Lady Cheri Daniels. “I am certain that our guests will not be disappointed by this year’s elaborate costumes and delicious treats donated by Indiana businesses.”

DeBrand Fine Chocolates was founded in 1987 by artisan chocolatier, Cathy Brand‐Beere, who is also a member of the Chamber Board of Directors. Brand-Beere grew up in a family renowned in the confectionery business and began making chocolates at the young age of eight. DeBrand has grown significantly since its humble beginnings in Cathy's family's century-old home and now employs nearly 100 people with its four retail shops, kitchen, corporate office and thriving Mail Order business. http://www.debrand.com/

Staying Open for Business: Event Educates Business Owners

Staying Open for Business: Plan Ahead for an Unforseen Business Disruption

Friday, November 13, 2009, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Public Safety Academy, Southtown Centre
7602 Patriot Crossing, Fort Wayne, Indiana

This public seminar on business continuity will cover disaster protection, recovery planning, computer security, and more.

Lunch and free Disaster Protection and Recovery Planning Toolkit included with the reservation. This event is funded by the grant congressionally mandated award from US Congressman, Rep. Mark Souder, administered by the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

8:00 Registration

8:30 Welcome

8:45 Keynote Address
Increase your Bottom Line! Be Prepared
Dan Arnold, President Capital Strategies Group - Information sheet

10:00 Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Developing an IT Disaster Recovery Plan
There is more to Disaster Recovery than having a good backup!
Bob Kohlmeyer, Director, DWD Tech Group
Mike Johnson, MCSE, DWD Tech Group- Information sheet

Disaster Planning and Employee Safety
How to plan and respond to workplace emergencies
Thomas Black, Jr., President Safer Worker Systems, Inc. - Information sheet

11:00 Breakout session
Business Continuity with an IT Perspective:
10 ways to defend yourself against the unexpected
Brian O’Hara, President, Tech Defenders, Inc. - Information sheet

The New Normal:Responding to Workplace Violence
Peggy Jones, Assistant Director, Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute, IPFW- Information sheet

12:15 Lunch and Keynote wrap up

Note: CPAs will earn 4 CPE credits by attending this conference.

Sponsored by: The Public Safety Academy and its Educational Partners: Indiana Tech, IPFW, Ivy Tech, and Trine University.

In this Issue...

In today's issue of Emphasis magazine (which runs bi-weekly as the center section of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly) you will discover tips for protecting your business from the H1N1 Pandemic, as well as learn about the training McMillen Center can bring to your business to educate your employees on H1N1 prevention.

Meet Lisa Smith, Job Developer at Arbor Education and Training, an organization working to identify employment needs in the business community and supply well-trained individuals to meet those needs.

Sharyn Whitman, CEO of our local American Red Cross Blood Services, shares how you can give back to the community without spending a dime.

Learn more about the Business Leadership Network that will kick-off November 4 at the Chamber... Your business is invited to get involved.

Read about a small branch of the Allen County Public Library that has been dealing with big issues of conflict resolution, and much more.

For this and other issues of Emphasis magazine visit fwchamber.org. For more information on how you, as a Chamber member, can be included in the Emphasis, contact Joanna Jessup.

Easter Seals ARC "Write-A-Will" Day

Did you know you can make the world a better place by leaving a charitable gift (called a bequest) in a will to your favorite charity? You can. Anyone can. Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana is pleased to announce that it will host "Write-A-Will" Day as a part of the National Planned Gifts Fall Celebrations on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information about "Write-A-Will" Day, contace William Andreas at (260)456-4534, ext. 265.

Tear Down This Wall!

Chamber Board Unanimously Supports 911 Consolidation

Urges Members to Make the Call

The glass wall that separates the City and County 911 call centers has been a long-standing icon of the inability of the city and county to work together. On Friday, Allen County Commissioners will vote on a proposal to consolidate services, form a seven person board, and take the wall down. For more on the proposal see the Chamber Points below.

The Chamber urges members to contact the Commissioners to express your support for this action! Call (260) 449-7555 or email commissioner@co.allen.in.us and tell them you support this initiative for improved, streamlined services and city-county cooperation. Call today!

About the Consolidated City-County 911 Call Center:

• Proposed 3 year interlocal agreement establishes a joint partnership with a cost sharing structure representative of the volume of calls from the respective areas. (Fort Wayne 70 percent, Allen County 30 percent)
• Establishes Operations Board of six members (three appointed by the Mayor, three appointed by County Commissioners, one member jointly selected by the sixth).
• Current City and County dispatch center employees would become partnership employees. The Operations Board would select a benefit package equivalent to the City or County's. Existing employees would not have a reduction in pay or benefits.
• The Operations Board will select the agency's executive director (board has 60 days).
• The City Controller will handle the accounting for the partnership.
• The state requires consolidation of E-911 centers by 2014! The law requires consolidation down to 2 centers per County. (Allen County has 3)
• The agreement requires approval from the Mayor, City Council, Allen County Commissioners, and County Council.
• A timeline for implementation would be established after approval but could begin merging the departments by the start of 2010.
• Operations: Calls will basically be routed the same way, although there won't be "roll-overs" under a consolidated system. Currently, when a call comes in, once a dispatcher knows the location the call is routed.
• Equipment: The city and county have the same hardware and software. They are both working from an 800mh system, which will need to be upgraded soon.

Why the Chamber Supports:

• Local Government Reform and consolidation of services have been long-standing, primary goals of the Chamber. 911 consolidation specific initiatives have been on the state legislative agenda for the last decade.
• For years, the "glass wall" between the city and county dispatch centers has been the icon of the inability of city and county government to work together. The elimination of this wall signifies the possibilities of cooperation.
• A single emergency dispatch center provides one point of contact for communications, emergency services, and homeland security issues. Less points of contact less risk.
• The board will force integration among city and county and all public safety, as likely appointments will be Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Sheriff, and other primary users.
• Many states and areas mandate regional public safety answering points, and consolidation of more than 20 PSAPs. Consolidation of city and county communications should be achieved.
• This was Mayor Bob Armstrong's #1 recommendation for making our local government more efficient in 1975! It's time to do this!

Clinic Friday on Work Opportunity Tax Credits

A clinic for local businesses is being held this Friday from 3-4 at Ivy Tech Community College’s new Student Life Center to educate them on Work Opportunity Tax Credits. Chamber member Blue Jacket Inc., an organization that helps adult ex-offenders regain a place in the community, and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development will be hosting the clinic.

Businesses may not realize that up to $2,400 per person is available to them if they hire employees considered to fall within a certain criteria, such as having a felony on their record. Also discussed will be the Federal Fidelity Bond, a free honesty bonding program that covers $5,000 per candidate hired through Blue Jacket.

Let Us Know How We're Doing

We want to stay in touch with you - our members - and make sure we are meeting your business development needs. Let us know if there is anything you need help with, if you have any questions about the Chamber or your membership, and if you have any comments for improvement in our service to you. Our door is always open! Give us a call at (260) 424-1435 or e-mail us. Find the staff member you want to reach by clicking here.

Health Careers Preview for Graduate and Undergraduate Students

The University of Saint Francis will host a Health Careers Day on Saturday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at North Campus, 2702 Spring Street. Registration will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Prospective graduate and undergraduate students will have the chance to learn about the many career opportunities in healthcare being offered, including Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Physician Assistant, Health Services, Family Nurse Practitioner, Community and Health Education Nursing, and Pre-Professional Studies. In addition, attendees can speak with faculty and students, tour patient care laboratories and bring college transcripts for on-site transfer credit evaluation.

For more information or to register call 1-800-729-4732.

Editor of Local Photo Books to Speak On Missing the Old Fort Wayne

Jon Swerens, editor of the "Allen County Photo Album" books published by The News-Sentinel, is going to discuss the history of Fort Wayne at an upcoming event that will include a book signing and slideshow. The event is called "Longing for a City: Why We Miss the Old Fort Wayne and What We Should Do About It". The event will take place on Wednesday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m. and is hosted by the Allen County Public Library in the Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery.

The event is free and copies of the latest book will be available for purchase. For more information, visit http://acphotoalbum.wordpress.com.

Cancer Center Begins New Support Group for Those with Blood/Bone Marrow Disease

A new support group will be meeting on the second Wednesday of each month in the third-floor Education Room at the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center. This group has been created specifically for those affected by leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

The support group facilitator will be Jan Eggiman, RM, MS, LMFT. Eggiman was previously a nurse in Parkview's New Life Center but has since entered private practice with her master's degree in marriage and family therapy.

For more information about this particular group, please contact any of the following:
Gail Keuneke: (260) 266-9163
Gail Hamm: (260) 484-9560
Claire Kammen: (260) 846-7764

The Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center is located on the Parkview North campus, 11141 Parkview Plaza Drive, Entrance 4.

Lutheran Hospital Chosen as Consumer Choice Award Winner

The National Research Corporation has publicly recognized Lutheran Hospital as a 2009-2010 Consumer Choice Award Winner. The award identifies hospitals that healthcare consumers have chosen as having the highest quality and image in more than 250 markets throughout the U.S. This is the second year in a row that Lutheran Hospital has received this award.

Winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in NRC's Healthcare Market Guide Ticker study. NRC's Healthcare Market Guide Ticker is the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. No other study used to measure hospital performance and preferences contains more consumer responses than NRC's study.

Indiana Physical Therapy to Receive Philanthropy Award

Chamber member Indiana Physical Therapy will be honored on Thursday, November 12 with the award for Outstanding Corporation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The event coincides with the annual National Philanthropy Day.

Indiana Physical Therapy started donating athletic training services and programs to local high schools in 1998, a yearly estimated value of $300,000. They also contribute hands-on and financially to the nonprofit Matthew 25 clinic and have given 216 mentor hours to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana.

The public is invited to come out and support the various organizations awarded at this event. Tickets are $20 per person and can be obtained by calling Gary Nahrwold at (260) 452-2277 or at gary.nahrwold@ctsfw.edu. For more information, visit www.afpnein.org.

BBB of Northern Indiana Presents "A Little Bid of Everything!"

The Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana will be presenting "A Little Bid of Everything!" October 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Ceruti's Diamond Room. The dress code is casual and attendees can expect to participate in a wine tasting and enjoy live music by George Ogg. Some of the silent and live bid items include a hot tub spa, dinner for 4 at Club Soda, Notre Dame tickets, jewelry, a Tin Caps suite, and countless other items. Tickets are $35 per person and raffle tickets (to win $1,000) cost $25 each.

For more information or to order your tickets visit www.bbb.org.

eXcellon Technologies Recognized by U.S. Department of Defense

It wasn't long ago that eXcellon Technologies, Inc. received a letter of commendation from the United States Department of Defense. The letter was sent to eXcellon based upon the company's work with ITT Communications System's Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS).

The company was recognized for its expediency in the production and delivery of the installation cabling needed to create the Vehicular Remote Control Unit (VRCUs) for the SINCGARS. It is very rare for the United States to issue commendation letters to defense subcontractors.

eXcellon Technologies was founded in 2001 as a manufacturer of sensors for industrial applications. The company entered the defense industry when it began creating wiring and cable for sonobuoys. eXcellon then began to create accessory products for ITT's SINCGARS program, which is the most widely deployed and battle-tested combat net radio in the world. For more information on eXcellon Technologies, visit www.excellontech.com.

Professor to Speak on "The Great Recession of 2008-09"

On October 29 at 7 p.m., Professor Bradley R. Schiller of the University of Nevada, Reno will give the lecture "The Great Recession of 2008-09". The lecture will be held in the Auditorium of Ivy Tech Community College.

Despite the obvious issues that have arisen from the recession of 2008-09, it has come nowhere close to the devastation caused by the Great Depression of the 1930's. Professor Schiller plans to speak on the possible effects of the situation we are in now, both short term and long term. Fiscal policy has been less successful, largely due to President Obama's focus on longer-term structural issues like energy independence rather than short-term job creation. The current federal policy walks a tightrope strung between deficit restraint and continued spending stimulus.

For more information on this event, contact Angela Hudson at (260) 480-4144 or awest@ivytech.edu.

Don't miss Cc: me this Thursday...

Communicate and connect with other business professionals at the next Cc: me networking event this Thursday, October 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chamber. You will enjoy new menu items from the Holiday Inn’s Mastadon restaurant as well as a cash bar from Mad Anthony Brewing Co.

Cc: me is an after-work event designed to create opportunities for you to build lasting relationships with other Fort Wayne professionals and find out the latest business buzz without being bombarded with sales pitches.

Not sure what networking is or how to do it? Chamber "Connectors" are available at every Cc: me to help you find valuable connections for your business.

Admission is $5 for Chamber members, $10 for for non-members. For more information about Cc: me contact Laureen at lvoirol@fwchamber.org.

Wells Fargo Donates to Community Harvest Food Bank

Wells Fargo recently donated $7,500 to the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana to help provide needy families with a basic, Thanksgiving meal. Both organizations are Chamber members. Wells Fargo is now encouraging other companies to assist in making contributions to the food bank.

Within the last year, the need for Community Harvest Food Bank programs has risen 30-50 percent. Due to partnerships the food bank as with food vendors and suppliers, the donation of a mere dollar can provide up to seven meals for a person in need. A donation of $25 will bring a complete thanksgiving meal worth $125 to a table in need this autumn.

For more information on Community Harvest, visit www.chfb.org. For more information on Wells Fargo, visit www.wellsfargo.com.