Fort Wayne: Where the Radio City Rockettes Kick Up Their Heels

Time Magazine calls it the "Grandest Holiday Show of All Time" and with good reason. Complete with domino-falling soldiers, high kicking rockettes, a living nativity, and dancing Santas, on November 24 the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is going to conduct their first Fort Wayne performance ever at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Ticket pricing starts at $47.50 and groups of 10 or more save 10% on pricing. For more information, call 260-480-3710 or visit http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/.

CEO Forum to Focus on Doing Business in Challenging Times

On Thursday, October 22, the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Saint Francis will host the 16th Annual CEO Forum entitled “Doing the Right Things in Challenging Times.” The event will be held in the North Campus auditorium, 2702 Spring Street. The corporate sponsor for the forum is Tower Bank.

Speakers for the forum are Keith Busse, Chairman and CEO of Steel Dynamics, and Karen Richards, Prosecuting Attorney for Allen County. The panel moderator is Pete Eshelman, Co-Founder and Former CEO, American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services.

In a fast-paced, dynamic format, Eshelman will solicit ideas from a high-powered panel of chief executives through a series of challenging, targeted questions. The panel includes Kathy Carrier (Briljent), Brian Emerick (Micropulse), Michael Himes (Petroleum Traders), Matt Kelly (One Lucky Guitar), Helen Murray (Indiana Michigan Power), Eugene Parker (Maximum Sports Management), Joe Ruffolo (Ruffolo Benson), Carol Shuttleworth (Shuttleworth), and Marilyn Townsend (CVC Communications).

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the forum from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more information, call 260-399-7700, ext. 8315. The cost is $35. Reservations are due by October 15. Seating is limited.

Fort Wayne Sister City Celebration

Fort Wayne Sister Cities International will present the “Sister City Film Festival” on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m. at Cinema Center. This year’s feature - “Departures” - is a winner of the 2009 Academy Award Best Foreign Film, and is directed by Mr. Yojiro Takita, who is from Fort Wayne Sister City Takaoka. Before the movie enjoy Sushi, Sake and other Japanese cuisine.

Upcoming CEO Forum Will Tap Successful Business Leaders for Advice

Join the Chamber at the University of Saint Francis' 16th annual CEO Forum on October 22. The panel of local executives, led by the Co-Founder of American Specialty and Risk Services, Pete Eshelman, will discuss the topic "Leadership: Doing the Right Things in Challenging Times." Last year's forum on entrepreneurship had over 400 participants.

This year's ten-member panel represents several of the major industries in the region. Each panel member has different ideas on the practices and philosophies that will be discussed. The current condition of the economy allows only those with the most initiative and innovation to rise to the top. The men and women on the panel have risen through the ranks and plan on sharing that which allowed them to make that extra jump.

The forum is sponsored by Tower Bank and is open to the public for $35 a person. For more information on obtaining tickets, please call (260)399-7700, ext. 8315.

Windows, Doors & More Celebrates Expansion in a Tough Economy

The Chamber will help Windows, Doors & More celebrate a recent expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony this coming Wednesday, September 30 at 4 p.m. at the site of their new location at 1121 W. Washington Center Road (off Lima Road, next to Don Hall’s Guesthouse).

Participating in the ribbon cutting, along with company officials from Windows, Doors & More, will be Mayor Tom Henry and representatives from the Chamber.

Windows, Doors & More has moved to its new location in order to expand in response to business growth. The new Showroom is five times the size of the previous location, and allows customers to see full-sized versions of products available for purchase, including kitchen and bath displays, room additions, to-scale homes with siding, roofing and cultured stone as well as windows and doors.

The Neighborhood Showcase is a one of a kind display created in 3½ months. Windows, Doors & More is in the process of patenting the concept. The building houses 14,000 square feet of Showroom and offices and 7,000 square feet of warehouse.

Windows, Doors & More wanted to show how their products would truly look and function in a realistic setting and showcase the different services they offer. The new location features a design center enabling design staff to render drawings of suggested remodeling ideas specific to each homeowner and their unique home.

The growth of Windows, Doors & More has been consistent for over a decade and the current expansion will position the company to create additional jobs for installers and support staff. In addition, the company’s continued growth in turn boosts the growth of its primary manufacturer, Home Guard Industries, located in Grabill, IN.

For more information on the Windows, Doors & More expansion contact Kevin Hunter at (260) 422-7077 or Kevinwdm@comcast.net.

October 23 REO Speedwagon and Foghat Performance At The Embassy

On Friday, October 23, at 8 p.m., the Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre will be hosting The Rock Doubleheader, a concert featuring the classic rock bands REO Speedwagon and Foghat.

REO Speedwagon came together in the 1970's and have recorded several hit singles. Their 1980 album, Hi Infidelity, is slotted as one of the top selling rock albums of all time. Some of their most popular songs include Roll With The Changes, Keep On Lovin' You, and Take It On The Run. They can also currently be found on one of the Guitar Hero games.

The band Foghat was founded in England but found a home in New York City. They too are featured on Guitar Hero and their music can be heard in many television and radio commercials. Several of the Foghat hits include Fool For The City, Stone Blue, and Slow Ride.

Tickets went on sale Friday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. at The Embassy Theatre box office and all Ticketmaster locations including Wooden Nickel in Fort Wayne, Karma Records in Plymouth, Super Sounds in Elkhart and Orbit Music in Mishawaka. Tickets may also be obtained through Charge-by-phone by calling 1.800.745.3000, and online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/. There will be a limit of 10 tickets per person.

Easter Seals ARC to co-sponsor IPFW Omnibus Lecture

The first IPFW Omnibus Lecture of 2009-10, "A Conversation with Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler", is slated to be held in the Rhinehart Music Center of IPFW on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30.

Henry Winkler, known most widely as "The Fonz" from ABC's Happy Days struggled through many years of undiagnosed dyslexia. He met and encouraged Marlee Matlin to pursue acting early in her career despite her profound deafness. She has since appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Hear No Evil, and The L Word. She is also an honorary member of the Board of Directors for Easter Seals National due to her advocacy and humanitarian work. Both Winkler and Matlin are passionate about seeing others overcome their obstacles.

Tickets are free but are held on a first come, first serve basis. They can be obtained by calling 260-481-6555 M-F from 12:30 - 6:30 p.m. or by requesting tickets online at www.ipfw.edu/rhinehart. For more information, call Tony Belton, Public Relations Coordinator at Easter Seals Arc at 260-469-2777 or IPFW University Relations and Communications at 260-481-6808.

Local "Passports" Encourage Hometown Exploring

Local residents will have the opportunity to discover gems in their own backyard free of charge during the Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown celebration. On Sunday, September 13 from 12-5, area residents will be able to tour 10 Fort Wayne attractions free of charge simply by presenting their "passport." These attractions include the Artlink gallery, the Lincoln Tower, the Botanical Conservatory, Science Central and more.

Passports can be obtained at The Visitor's Center on Calhoun Street or printed off from your home computer at visitfortwayne.com.

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/.