Northeast Indiana Making an Impact

On Wednesday, the State Chamber's Indiana INTERNnet program recognized the recipients of its 2009 IMPACT Awards. "Outstanding Intern of the Year" winner Tiffany LeFever was a student at Churubusco High School when she began working with an organization called Leadership Whitley County to redesign its youth leadership initiative. Her responsibilities ranged from researching potential curriculum and securing financial support to attending board meetings and promoting the program to area high schools. LeFever now attends Indiana Wesleyan University, where she is majoring in leadership.

We are so proud that this student from Northeast Indiana was recognized with this state honor. Over the last two years employers and individuals from Northeast Indiana have been popping into these award categories. What does that mean, you ask? It means we've got it going on up here! Our Graduate Retention Program works tirelessly to connect employers with students for internships, in order to strengthen our future workforce.... I hope you will forgive my shameless bragging - our Graduate Retention team's work accounts for 25% of all the Indiana INTERNnet internship postings in the state. That's a big deal.

I can personally speak to the importance of internships, as my own college internship was a defining experience in my education and led to a full-time job. If you're overwhelmed by your workload, or just looking for some fresh talent, considering bringing a high school or college intern into your business. Not only will they bring energy and skill to your workplace, but you can have an enormous impact on their future as they gain valuable work experience. For help setting up an internship, contact Katelyn Daniel at (260) 424-1435. 

A Big Milestone for Three Rivers Federal Credit Union

For us people, 75 years means we are winding down. We've retired. We're just enjoying life. For Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, 75 years means 68,000 members, nearly $600 million assets, and 18 branches throughout Indiana and Ohio... and I don't think they're tired.

Next Tuesday, February 16 is their 75th anniversary, and at 9:30 a.m. we will be helping celebrate two new branches with a groundbreaking ceremony. These new branches will be located at Jefferson Boulevard in front of Lutheran Hospital, and on Dupont Road across from Parkview North's construction (which is where the groundbreaking will take place... 3750 E. Dupont Road).

We'll be there along with the City, and credit union officials, and others. Congratulations to Three Rivers FCU - they're 75-years-young!

Feet on the Street: Go AMO!

by Aimee Scott, Member Relations Specialist

There is a lot of hustle in the parking lot of the downtown Starbucks.  I watched and listened the other morning as a gentleman crossed the lot, latte in hand.  The attendant at the drive-thru window kindly called out to him and bid him farewell by name.  That made me smile.  That was worth the extra few bucks today, I thought.

So what does that have to do with my “Feet on the Street” feature member, AMO Office Supply, you ask?  My answer: customer service.  Sometimes, we “feel” like it’s a lost art, but it is not lost here, my friends.  Customer service in local business is what makes a community (big or small) feel like home.  Fort Wayne is not lacking when it comes to businesses who know the meaning of inviting and dependable customer service.

AMO Office Supply is without a doubt, one of the aforementioned.

I stepped in AMO Office supply in downtown Fort Wayne a few months ago to introduce myself. The business had just jumped back on board with a Chamber membership.  Brittany Martin, account manager greeted me with a cheery and sincere welcome.  Wow--- she just made me feel like she’s glad I showed up today, I thought.

Vice President Josh Kunkle told me what he wanted and expected in his Chamber membership.  I’d like for you to know what I heard him say.  He wants to see his local Chamber supporting local business.  He wants to feel that being a member gives him added opportunity to connect with the business community.  He wants to know that the Chamber endorses the great things his company is doing.  He wants to sense a business partnership.  Sounds good to me, I thought.

Chamber members… check out the website.  www.goamo.com.  It tells their story.  You will be smiling when you read the “meet the team” section.  You will learn from testimonials that their customer service is second to none.

I received a nearly immediate response when I asked for price comparisons and the particular order I was looking at saved me 20%.  You will not be disappointed.   You will receive personalized and quality service.  You will feel like you are working with people of integrity who believe in what they do.

We all know that a sense of success in our daily business endeavors is not just about feeling happy and valued.  However, I want you to know that I’ve done my homework on AMO. And I really think you should check them out.  I feel certain that you will realize satisfaction in their service and value in their product… and chances are, you may not even have to spend a “few extra bucks.”

Drum Roll Please...

We are excited to announce the 12 exceptional individuals who have been nominated for the sixth Annual ATHENA Award® Program. As you know (since we keep talking about it), ATHENA celebrates those who have achieved excellence in their profession, served the community in a meaningful way and assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. And the 2010 nominees are...

Chris Battell – President/CEO, Brainfood for Business

Eve Colchin – Director of Institutional Advancement, Indiana Tech

Kathie Green – Constituent Liaison, Congressman Mark Souder

Connie Kerrigan – Manager of Community Nursing, Parkview Hospital

Dorian Maples – Owner, Angel Corps

Helen J. Murray – President and COO, Indiana Michigan Power

Lynn Reecer – President, Aboite New Trails, Inc.

Dawn Rudolph – CEO, St. Joe Hospital

Courtney Tritch – Marketing and Events Coordinator, Downtown Improvement District

Tonya Vojtkofsky – Co-Founder, Fort Wayne Derby Girls

Irene Walters – Executive Director of University Relations and Communications, IPFW

Mary Ann Ziembo – Senior Vice President, National City Bank

Congratulations to each - they have joined the ranks of those recognized by this prestigious award. These nominees will be honored and the winner announced on March 24. Get your tickets online now. We would be remiss not to thank our sponsors: Lincoln Financial Foundation, National City Bank, Vision Management Consulting, Prairie Quest Consulting, Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, BKD CPAs and Advisors, Raytheon, Lutheran Health Network, Indiana Michigan Power, Farmers Insurance, and Tower Bank.

And finally, this is a perfect time to remind you that ATHENA Scholarship applications are due tomorrow. Our ceremony includes a presentation of $1000 scholarships to female high school students for use in continuing education, sponsored by Dr. Michelle Helfgott and Northeast OB/GYN. Download a scholarship application. 

Indiana’s NewsCenter: Reaching Fort Wayne, Detroit, and Beyond

by Lauren Richwine, Communications Specialist

We recently came across an interesting article by Rick Farrant of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly and thought we’d share. Here in Fort Wayne, we’ve got a long list of reasons we are proud of our news networks. Now we can add one more reason to that list. Indiana’s NewsCenter has become a control hub of sorts for 12 Midwest television stations. One of the stations is located in Detroit and features Fort Wayne on-air personalities. In all, Indiana’s NewsCenter is providing for the six local stations, five stations in Peoria, and the Detroit station.

As a result, the workload has increased for both the on-air and behind-the-cameras staff which has grown from fewer than 100 employees to 130, mainly to maintain the “hub operation”. Melissa Long said she sees the silver lining in the situation despite the heavier work load.

“We started looking at it this way — that it’s good for us to be the station that’s the hub rather than the station that’s being told, ‘Your operations are going someplace else,’” she said. 

Aptera Launching Special Web Series

Aptera just announced a new webinar lineup for 2010 - this series will focus on efficiency tools for the health care professional. The first webinar will take place next Wednesday, February 17 at 2 p.m. It's free - but you do need to register. 

I encourage you to check this series out... I'm intrigued just by the titles: "Tools for the Forward-Thinking" and "Understanding Search Engine Optimization" to name a few. This first webinar in the series will be hosted by Aptera team member Jim Wilcox (who brings knowledge to the table from both the IT world and the health care world, having served as a nurse for 15 years). He will be sharing on tools and business solutions that address information and collaboration goals that many health care professionals and organizations are striving for. A few of the key words being thrown are "streamlining processes" and "operational efficiencies."

Yes, please.

A new webinar will be featured on the third Wednesday of every month during 2010. Aptera Design Team Lead Brooke Francesi will be partnering with Jim to bring you this series and add additional marketing insights into the mix. Each session will cover a new category or business solution, providing information on the best way to implement these solutions in a healthcare environment. To find out more or to register, click here. 

Share Your Thoughts on the Future of Downtown

The City of Fort Wayne is offering you the opportunity to provide input and feedback on the future design of the downtown area of our city... Seize this opportunity to comment on the draft Design Manual for new development and exterior renovation projects in downtown Fort Wayne. An Open House will take place tomorrow, February 11 at 4 p.m. in Meeting Room C of the Allen County Public Library main branch.

At the Open House, attendees will be able to visit several “stations” which explain specific sections of the manual, and ask questions of staff at each station. You can view the draft document online or as a hard copy at the City-County Building or the ACPL. 

Meet Me @ 5 Tomorrow

No, really - meet me at 5 tomorrow! -We hope to see you tomorrow evening at The History Center from 5 to 7 p.m. for our next Meet Me @ 5 professional networking event... We are excited to be among the first in town to see the newly renovated Shields Room ($250,000 worth of changes), which was formerly the Old City Courtroom and Council Chamber.

You are probably familiar with what a Meet Me @ 5 is, but just in case, the whole idea is for Fort Wayne professionals to get together and get to know one another. We believe that valuable networking means building relationships with other business people, and that is why we put these laid-back events together!

Tomorrow's MM@5 will feature a mashed potato martini bar and a cash bar. Cost is just $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Find out more here. 

Big is all Grown Up

A big (no pun intended) congrats goes out to Brand Innovation Group - they are celebrating their 15th anniversary this month! On February 15th, to be exact. Chad Stuckey, president of Big, launched the business in 1995, originally as Trademark Advertising and Design. This company can accurately be described as a local success story - a business we should be proud to have in our community. Built from the ground up, they are now a full-service branding and marketing company, serving clients across the nation. Not only that, but they've managed to continue to grow even during difficult times, posting over 50 percent growth over the past five years.

Chad says “Big is an entirely different company than when we started. What began as a very traditional design firm—focusing on corporate identity—grew over the years into an advertising agency, specializing in print, radio and TV. Today, we’re positioning ourselves as a ‘think tank’—a marketing partner who helps clients Think Big, using a range of integrated marketing strategies. We’ve also invested heavily in recent years in nonconventional services, such as e-media, public relations and social media to strengthen our capabilities.”

That explains all the awards they keep winning.

Big is located near the Fort Wayne International Airport and employs 20 people, including a full complement of graphic designers, copywriters, Web developers, account service and support staff, PR practitioners and administrative staff. 

Get Ready for Community Awareness Week

We are excited to announce to you that the first week of March (the 1st-5th) will be Chamber Community Awareness Week. We will  be engaging the community in a major membership campaign. Our goal is to inform the business community of what the Chamber does and what we can provide. The highlight of this week will be a membership drive taking place March 2-4. We are offering a special incentive package to all businesses who join the Chamber during Community Awareness Week. We already have many Chamber members and board members signed up to help us with this drive, but we need more!

If you are an enthusiastic Chamber member, please share your story with others by donating just three hours of your time. We will treat you to fun, food, and prizes for your efforts, and make it so you can cross some items off your own personal to-do list all at the same time! If you are interested in learning more, click here, or contact Teresa Royer at (260) 424-1435.

P.S. While we're on the subject, I need to issue a special thanks to Chick-fil-A for serving as our food sponsor during Community Awareness Week! 

What's the Next Step for Your Business?

Are you contemplating the next step your business can take to increase productivity and well-being for your employees? You will not want to miss Workplace Wellness: Taking the Next Step on March 10 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at IPFW, presented by the Wellness Council of Indiana.This seminar is designed to empower corporate decision-makers with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to build wellness initiatives in their own organization. President of the Wellness Council of Indiana, Mike Campbell, will be addressing the components of a successful wellness program and available state and local resources. You will walk away from this event equipped with what you need to start or improve your corporate wellness initiatives!

You will hear more from Mike Campbell in our next issue of Emphasis magazine on February 19. However, don't wait to register - seating is limited. You can sign up here: www.wellnessindiana.org.

Sponsors for this event include: Wellness Council of Indiana, Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Tobacco Free Allen County, Parkview Workplace Wellness, Parkview Signature Care, Physicians Health Plan, Hylant Group, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, IPFW, On-Call PSN, MedPartners and Lutheran Health Network.

Great Food and Great Connections Can Go Hand-in-Hand

Last week many Chamber members embarked on their free trial of our newest member perk - the Connect For Lunch program. And I do not exaggerate when I say – they are raving about it. As you know, the strongest referrals you get are from someone who knows you personally. When another businessperson has time to get to know you, he or she will have the confidence to start referring you to the important people in his or her life – close friends, neighbors, a brother-in-law, the person they play tennis with.

A business card and a 30-second elevator speech are not likely to get you that kind of personal relationship – or those referrals. You need to give others more time to get to know you. That's why we decided to offer Connect For Lunch, which enables you to spend an hour or more at lunch with three different Chamber members. This setting provides you the time to make personal connections with other professionals – build trust, swap referrals, and learn more about each other’s businesses.Connect For Lunch does all of the work making arrangements for you, and lets you know ahead of time who you will be seeing for lunch so that you can walk in prepared.

Here's what just one member, Tom Reynolds of Comprehensive Retails Solutions, had to say about his first experience with Connect For Lunch: 

“Wow! My first Connect For Lunch was an outstanding success for me. I met three very interesting business people and immediately found that one of them shared many of the same customers as me - and we are now looking at doing work together on two new projects! What will happen in a year of these lunches?" 

I have more - but I don't want to overwhelm you. Suffice to say, it's worth checking out. The best part is, all Chamber members receive a free two-month trial of Connect For Lunch. You can sign up at anytime to start your trial, and if you decide it's not for you, there's no obligation to continue. For more information, contact Teresa Royer at (260) 424-1435 or sign up now at www.connect4lunch.com/fwchamber.

Free H1N1 Vaccine Offered at FWA

Starting tomorrow and lasting through Friday, the Indiana Department of Health in collaboration with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Health Department will be offering free H1N1 flu vaccination shots to airport staff, patrons and the general public for anyone over the age of six months. The vaccinations will be given from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., February 9 to 12, at the Fort Wayne International Airport. The vaccinations will take place in the Business Center Room located at the east end of the terminal building near baggage claim. Parking will be available in either short or long term parking with validations of parking being provided to participants.