Valparaiso_Magazine_Fall_2019 (1)

VOL. 20 ISSUE 4 | FALL 2019 

JIM BERMAN AND 

LIZ BRYANT 

Valparaiso Inn Bed and 

Breakfast 

Home-grown 

dreams

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COVER 

PAGE 4 

CONTENTS | FALL 2019 

SECTIONS... 

CHAMBER FOCUS 

>> Chamber Network Night 

PAGE 20 

BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS 

PAGE 22 

FEATURES 

Home-grown 

dreams 

Provident Provisions: A Toast to 

Valparaiso’s Home-Based Food 

and Beverage Businesses 

PAGE 11 

Right at home: Valpo’s 

home-based businesses 

help other businesses 

PAGE 16 

MEMBER INVESTOR 

ANNIVERSARIES 

PAGE 24 

NEW MEMBER INVESTORS 

>> New Board-approved members 

PAGE 26 

AROUND TOWN 

>> Local Business News 

PAGE 30 

A LOOK BACK 

>> “Downtown Valparaiso 1960s in Pictures” 

PAGE 34 

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 

PAGE 37 

TALKING TOURISM 

>> “Ride the Wave—Become a Beaches 

& Beyond Brand Ambassador” 

PAGE 38 

Valparaiso Magazine circulates 18,000 copies per issue by direct mail to all businesses, and, on a rotating basis, to most households in the 46383, 46384, and 46385 zip codes. 

A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER VALPARAISO 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

162 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383 

Phone (219) 462-1105, Fax (219) 462-5710 

info@valpochamber.org 

www.valpochamber.org 

GREATER VALPARAISO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

Rex G. Richards, CCE, President 

Julie Gaskell, Executive Vice President 

Danielle Oeding, Vice President, Sales & Marketing 

Kurt Gillins, Vice President, Programs & Communications 

Christine Pazdur, Chief Financial Officer 

Sue Stymiest, Resource Director 

Donna Austin, Assistant Resource Director 

VALPARAISO MAGAZINE 

PUBLISHER Rex G. Richards, CCE 

EDITOR Kurt Gillins 

SALES Danielle Oeding 

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION 

Kre-Eight Design Marketing 

FEATURE WRITING Amanda Wilson 

COVER/FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY 

Aran Kessler Photo.Imaging 

PRINTING Boy-Conn Print & Copy 

MAILING Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service 

TO SUBMIT AROUND TOWN ENTRIES: 

call (219) 462-1105 or send to 

info@valpochamber.org, Attn: Editor 

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 

call (219) 462-1105, Attn: Danielle 

or danielle@valpochamber.org 

ValpoChamber.org

Home-grown 

dreams 

By Amanda Wilson 

oney matters, but the magic that turns 

a business from dream into reality is 

fueled by passion. It is what wakes 

Jim Berman up before the crack 

of dawn so he can create a threecourse 

culinary breakfast feast for 

his guests. It’s how Ovetus Singleton honors her sister’s spirit 

as she coordinates bucket-list expeditions and experiences. 

It’s what motivates Janet and Michael Metrakos to ensure that 

each client’s residence is thoroughly secure. It’s in the details 

of Erica and Jason Strutz’s repair and remodel work. Successful 

homebased businesses are helmed by those whose passion 

navigates the often uncharted, but rewarding, territory of 

owning one’s own business. 

Valparaiso Inn Bed and Breakfast innkeepers Jim Berman and 

his wife, Liz Bryant saw their dream come into focus on Mother’s 

Day in 2012. During a post-brunch stroll, they spotted a 

dilapidated but charming house on historic Washington Street. 

Their dream started some twenty-five years ago, when the 

then-newlyweds asked each other a simple but life-changing 

question: what are your dreams? Berman, the owner and one 

of seven psychotherapists at a private practice, and Bryant, a 

Purdue Northwest English professor, were getting ready to 

start graduate school. But they also shared a love of bed-andbreakfast 

venues. Berman recalls their weekend trips to the Blue 

Ridge mountains while they were dating and their honeymoon 

in the bed-and-breakfast capital, Maine. These experiences 

stoked a mutual desire to someday own their own bed-andbreakfast, 

a dream put on hold as they established their 

professional careers. On that fateful stroll, they saw the house at 

301 Washington Street and turned to each other to say, “That’s 

it,” Berman says. “We knew we’d found our house.” 

Staying true to the dream required patience, diligence, and 

hard work as the house they purchased in 2013 needed major 

restoration. “I filled nine thirty-yard dumpsters with debris 

and did more than half of the labor,” Berman says. “It took 

around eight-thousand hours of labor and four-hundred and 

fifty thousand dollars to complete the restoration alone.” The 

house, which was built in 1885 by then County Superintendent 

Homer W. Porter, went through several owners before Berman 

purchased it, required updating of every single electrical outlet 

and replacement of the entire plumbing system. Restoration 

of the house, which took four years, included sandblasting 

and refinishing the original clawfoot bathtubs, installing 

5,500-square feet of new hardwood flooring, and investing 

around $70,000 on home furnishings. 

Even more taxing was navigating the red tape to open the 

inn and ensuring that the house was up to code. Berman 

says, “I learned so much in that process. I’d anticipated some 

frustrations and dealt with them as they came about.” He 

credits cheerleaders like City Administrator Bill Oeding and the 

City Council, as well as the Northwest Indiana Small Business 

Development Center and its regional director Lorri Feldt with 

easing the way through their support. And, he adds, parts of 

the journey to opening the inn were delightful as when Berman 

drove three hundred miles to pick up three sets of china. “It was 

fun to select the china for the three-course breakfast we serve 

each morning.” 

True Memories Travel owner and travel consultant Ovetus 

Singleton always dreamed of traveling but was a self-professed 

homebody for much of her life. “I was afraid to travel in high 

school, and even later on in college,” she remembers. Early 

on, Singleton enjoyed a career in direct sales as she and her 

husband, Cedric, raised their children. But, the sudden passing 

of her sister, Loretta, in 2011 was a sobering wake-up call 

to Singleton and her other sisters to live experientially. The 

siblings started traveling together in 2012 and thus sparked 

Singleton’s mission to embrace life and consequently embrace 

experiences. Singleton launched her business in September 

2018. She explains, “I was in direct sales for thirty years, >> 

4 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

“It’s about being 

accommodating and 

welcoming... We want 

people to have an 

experience, 

to be enamored.” 

— Jim Berman and Liz Bryant 

Valparaiso Inn Bed and Breakfast 

To book your reservation 

at the Valparaiso Inn 

Bed and Breakfast, 

go to valpoinn.com or 

A @ValparaisoInn 

ValpoChamber.org 5

XXX COVER STORY | Home-grown dreams 

“I know the 

special things 

that help create 

special, personal 

memories. You 

can’t get that 

online... I’ll make 

sure you’re taken 

care of.” 

—Ovetus Singleton 

True Memories Travel 

Let True Memories Travel 

coordinate your bucketlist 

adventure by visiting 

truememoriestravel.com 

or 

A @truememoriestravel 

>> and I wanted to change 

course in my career and do 

something enjoyable that 

I can retire with. I realized 

that I wanted to take this 

chance and experience 

life. I wanted to see the 

beautiful creation God 

has made. My husband 

and I were empty nesters, 

so it was the right time.” 

Singleton’s niche is 

group travel, and she 

passionately advocates 

that prioritizing travel 

with your loved ones is 

important. “It’s important 

to create memories with the people you love and care about. Life 

is happening, and you need to make it a point to make what’s 

happening matter.” 

Though you can go online to make travel arrangements, Singleton 

stresses that using a travel consultant you meet with in person or 

talk to over the phone – someone who gets to know you and not just 

your online profile - creates personalized, meaningful experiences 

not possible with an Internet travel site. “I want to help create 

memories. Going online is cookie-cutter. It can’t create different 

things for every client. If you’re going to St. Lucia to celebrate your 

anniversary, I can set up a candlelight dinner at the restaurant in the 

corner by the water. I’ve been there so I know the special things that 

help create special, personal memories. You can’t get that online. 

It makes a big difference having that person you can talk to. I’ll 

make sure you’re taken care of.” To create the best experience, 

Singleton recommends that clients book their trips six months to 

a year in advance, though she will also work with those seeking a 

last-minute getaway. 

Sometimes dreams evolve as the vision clarifies. Janet and Michael 

Metrakos knew they wanted to use their corporate experience 

and expertise gleaned from their work for companies including 

Kellogg’s, Unilever, and Kraft to realize their childhood dream of 

owning their own business. Michael’s background in operations 

and finance was complemented by Janet’s customer service and 

marketing experience. Yet they found the requirements of leasing 

a retail space as a franchise restrictive and overwhelming. They 

decided to run a home-based business instead. “Our previous 

retail business had a term of ten years, and after three and half 

years we were tired of dealing with landlords and leases,” Janet 

and Michael recall. “We opted to sell that business as we looked 

for a properly balanced, non-leased, home-based business.” After 

first buying into a franchised home inspection business, they 

became an independent business – A1 Property Inspections - after 

their franchise contract term was fulfilled in November 2018. A1 

Property Inspections offers home inspections, radon testing, preinspections, 

mold inspections, and water analysis. 


“We work from our home – or, should we say, our vehicles – on a 

regular basis as that is our mobile ‘office,’” they say. “With this current 

business we have no leases and we enjoy the luxury of answering 

our cellphones wherever we are at the time.” Janet and Michael 

admit that the drawback of this kind of office is that you work more, 

including during vacation time. “We’ve received inspection requests 

as early as four a.m. and as late as eleven p.m., and we’ll return those 

calls as soon as we reasonably can.” But, the move from franchisee 

to independent business proved to be a good one for the Metrakos 

family. “We’re actually doing better since going independent since 

many of our clients and referring partners have told us they prefer to 

deal locally…. even though there’s a misunderstanding because we 

were a local business under a previously franchised company.” >> 

“We’re doing 

better since going 

independent since 

many of our clients 

and referring 

partners have 

told us they prefer 

to deal locally... 

When your hard 

work benefits you 

and not someone 

else, it makes it 

worth it.” 

—Janet and Michael Metrakos 

A1 Property Inspections 

Get your property 

ready to sell or simply 

secure by visiting 

a1propertyinspections.net 

or 

A @ A1PropertyInspections 

ValpoChamber.org 7

COVER STORY | Home-grown dreams 

>> Sometimes the call to action to fulfill a dream is born of 

frustration. Straight Edged Painting and Finishing owner Jason 

Strutz painted with his previous employer for 20 years and says that 

motivated him to start 

his own business with 

his wife, Erica. “Jason’s 

“We want our 

customers to be 

happy and know 

that they’re 

getting one of the 

best jobs possible. 

We put our soul 

into our work.” 

passion for his work is 

unbelievable,” Erica says. 

Jason adds, “We work 

very well together, so this 

decision was a no-brainer.” 

Although they admit that 

owning your own business 

can be quite stressful, 

particularly in handling 

insurance and taxes, 

Erica and Jason agree 

that the benefits outweigh the downsides. “When your hard work 

benefits you and not someone else, it makes it worth it.” 

The independence and freedom of owning a home-based business 

comes with heavy responsibility, they say, but their previous 

experience helps them shoulder it. “We knew not only how to paint 

and finish, but what needed to be done on the business side as well. 

It’s not all fun and money. You need to know what kind of insurance 

to have, when and how much taxes to pay, and how to find hardworking 

employees.” But, although it’s not all fun and money, they 

stress that their business is full of love. “We’re just painters and we 

love what we do! We want our customers to be happy and know 

that they’re getting one of the best jobs possible. We put our soul 

into our work. We wouldn’t be able to sleep otherwise.” Straight 

Edged Painting and Finishing offers services including exterior, 

interior and remodel painting; drywall repair; caulking; custom trim; 

and power washing. 

— Erica and Jason Strutz 

Straight Edged Painting 

For painting and finishing 

services inside and 

outside your home, go to 

www.straightedged 

painting.com or 

A @straightedged 

paintingandfinishing 


Success is possible for those whose fears of launching a 

home-based business are outweighed by their dedication 

and well-grounded confidence, Janet and Michael say. They 

advise researching business opportunities and narrowing your 

possible choices down to no more than three. Once the list of 

possibilities is narrowed down, go to trade shows, reach out 

to other businesses in your field, and find a mentor if possible. 

Janet and Michael spent two full days with a previous home 

inspector whose business they were considering buying before 

they decided to launch their own. “Running your own business 

is a common dream, but many are afraid to start something new 

and risk a loss of income. We started in our early forties from 

scratch. If you believe in yourself, have the appropriate skills 

and, especially, the mindset to succeed, you will be a success.” 

Singleton says Valparaiso empowers home-based business 

owners to achieve their dreams. “Valparaiso is such a 

wonderfully supportive, business-oriented community. This 

city has more events and activities than any other city I’ve lived 

in. I’ve met so many fellow Valpo business owners through 

the Valpo Chamber over this past year.” The best part of living 

the dream is that it allows room for new dreams to flourish. 

Singleton is looking forward to a special bucket-list adventure 

that involves a trip to a candy store in Spain with a unique name: 

Ovetus. “That candy store has my name going across the front 

of the building. I’m going to have someone take a photo of me 

standing in front of it. I have such an unusual name that I can’t 

resist the connection. I’m looking for cruises in the area so I can 

stop in port.” 

The sweetest dreams are expressed as acts of service to usher 

moments of joy into guest’s lives. Berman says his customer 

philosophy is simple: “It’s about being as accommodating 

and welcoming as I can be.” Luxury abounds throughout the 

almost 8,000-square feet inn, which has five guest suites and 

an innkeepers’ apartment in the basement in which Jim and Liz 

reside. It’s in the 800-thread count Egyptian bed sheets and in 

the personalized touches for guests, whether it’s rose petals 

for newlyweds or made-from-scratch, gluten-free blueberry 

muffins to meet the dietary needs of an individual guest. 

Guests are greeted with light refreshments when they check 

in; reservations are often set up by Berman at some of Valpo’s 

finest establishments by those seeking a night out in 

the community; and those who’d prefer to stay in can grab 

a book, or unwind in the six-person hot tub or retire to their 

luxury suite. Berman’s dedicated creativity is expressed in the 

three-course breakfast served daily at the inn. He gets up at 

5:30 a.m. every morning to create culinary delights ranging 

from hand-carved fruit to salmon croquettes, tomatoes from 

the inn’s garden served with marinated mozzarella balls to 

eggs with gruyere. “We want people to have an experience, 

to be enamored,” Berman says. “This gives me joy. The amount 

of time I put into this makes no rational sense, but it gives me 

pride to give back to the city. I named this the Valparaiso Inn 

because I care about this city. You can do wonderful things 

when you’re passionate.” 

ELEVATE YOUR BRAND — 

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hdull@nitco.com 

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ValpoChamber.org 9

And we know every chapter by heart. 

Expect More with Agents that Do More. That’s Home Services. 

Larry & Heather Hitz 

Broker/Owner 

(219) 405-8649 

hhitz@execgrp.com 

www.ExecGrp.com 

©2019 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered 

service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. 


XXX 

Provident Provisions: 

A TOAST TO VALPARAISO’S 

HOME-BASED FOOD AND 

BEVERAGE BUSINESSES 


Tammy Rose 

Cozy Catering 

The quote on Cozy Catering 

owner Tammy Rose’s business 

card sums up her philosophy, 

which is one that resonates with 

foodies and average Joes alike: 

“Food is symbolic of love when 

words are inadequate.” We 

need food and water to survive, 

yet these essential life elements are so much more 

than physical sustenance. There is something uniquely 

uniting about sharing a fine meal and enjoying 

exceptional cocktails with one another. We seek solace 

in meals that transcend the blandness of a frozen-food 

entrée, celebrate life and one another through fine 

liquors, and embrace the convenience of meal delivery 

to maximize our free time. 

We asked a few of Valparaiso’s home-based 

business leaders why they chose to focus on 

food and drink. Here’s what they shared: 

Q: 

What led to your decision to start a 

home-based business? 

Darko Latinovic, owner of Darna International, importer and 

wholesaler of Darna Liquors, small batch, craft liquors produced in 

Croatia. (502) 418-4099. www.Darna.hr 

I founded Darna International with the intention of bringing the 

A: 

traditional Croatian liquors I know and love to Northwest Indiana, 

where I live with my wife and children. Our products are produced in a small 

factory owned and operated by my mother, Katerina Latinovic. Some of Darna’s 

liquors are made using traditional techniques and recipes which date back to 

the factory’s origin in 1925. Other products are newer creations of my mother, 

who has over forty years of expertise and has a master’s degree in enology (the 

art of wine and spirit production). Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, so 

it seemed natural that I would eventually open my own branch to expand the 

family business. My parents met in college, where they were agriculture >> 

ValpoChamber.org 11

PROVIDENT PROVISIONS: A Toast to Valparaiso’s Home-Based Food and Beverage Businesses 

>> majors, and they eventually left the corporate 

world to run their own independent businesses. 

My dad owned one of the largest greenhouse and 

landscape businesses in our region. He supplied 

flowers for many of the region’s hotels and resorts. 

My mother purchased the liquor factory in the 

mid-nineties. This was a challenging period for the 

economy since Croatia became an independent 

country, but it was especially difficult for women 

to succeed in a male-dominated industry. I was 

inspired by my parents to build a business that 

could nurture and support my children and, 

hopefully, maybe even their children one day. 

Tammy Rose, owner of Cozy Catering, which 

provides specialized catering using only the 

freshest ingredients in offerings from hors 

d’oeuvres to charcuterie. (219) 771-1314 

I grew up with fresh fruits and vegetables 

A: 

from our garden and various fruit trees. 

So, I grew up with an appreciation for fresh things, 

which is the basis of my business. We serve you 

what’s in season. I’ve always loved to cook and to 

entertain. I bring my lunch in to where I work in 

addition to running Cozy Catering – and people 

would compliment me on what I ate. They told me, 

“This is so good, you really need to do something 

with it.” I started with events like open houses, 

ribbon cuttings, holiday parties, and baby showers. 

I worked in the food service industry in my younger 

years which served as a great base for what I do 

now. I’m most happy when I’m cooking and serving. 

Originally, I wanted to open my own restaurant, 

perhaps a wine bar with cheese plates, and that 

morphed into catering. I rent a commercial kitchen. 

Not having a brick-and-mortar business minimizes 

the risk. 

Eric Berindei 

Mr. Delivery 

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1415 E. Lincolnway 

219.465.7262 


Eric Berindei, owner of Mr. Delivery, the Valparaiso 

franchise of delivery.com, which delivers food from a wide 

variety of Valparaiso’s establishments throughout the 

Valparaiso area. (219) 840-0210. 

Delivery.com. A@deliverydotcomNorthwestIN 

A: 

It all started when I was home one night with friends. No 

one wanted to drive and we wanted to get food delivered. 

Someone knew a delivery driver. We called and asked him if we 

ordered food online, could we pay him to pick it up for us. He was 

very happy to do it. I lived in Los Angeles from 2016 to 2017. There 

were five or six restaurant delivery services, which we used regularly. 

I saw a need for it here, and that next morning, I started looking into 

what it would take to start a food delivery service. I work at home on 

a computer as a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade. This gave 

me the ability to develop and manger the delivery service from my 

desk at home. I started in March 2018 completely on my own as 

Grub Guyz Delivery. A few months later, I joined a small company 

made up of independent delivery services called Mr. Delivery. We 

merged with delivery.com this past summer. I have a team of ten to 

fifteen drivers. We offer delivery from thirty Valparaiso restaurants 

and are always working to add more restaurants to provide a greater 

selection for our customers. To order, go to delivery.com or use 

the app and enter your address, which will bring up the restaurants 

available to order from. There’s a small delivery fee which doesn’t 

include tips for the driver, which are encouraged. We have a pretty 

diverse customer base, including college students, older people, 

and busy families with children who appreciate not having the 

added stress of making dinner. 

Q: 

What were the biggest 

obstacles to launching your 

business, and how did you overcome 

those obstacles? Why is it worth it? 

Tammy Rose: Finding a commercial kitchen in town and 

A: 

meeting health department regulations were the practical 

concerns, but that wasn’t anything that surprised me. The biggest 

obstacle was the fear factor, the fear of failure. But then I’d think, 

what’s the worst that can happen, and I’d remind myself that I’ll do 

great. I didn’t want to wait any longer to start this. It’s fun, and I love 

setting the ambiance of client’s events. I love making people happy. 

Eric Berindei: When I started, the biggest obstacles were 

A: 

changing people’s mindsets and getting the word out. We 

needed to let people know that their meal options aren’t limited to 

what they can eat at home or going out for dinner. Now everyone 

can get nearly any type of food delivered right to their door. We’re 

still getting the word out. While we’ve been open for a year and 

a half, I’ve have people tell me, “I didn’t even know you existed!” 

We don’t have the exposure of a brick-and-mortar business with 

a sign out front – where, say, someone drives by every morning, 

sees our sign and decides “hey, I’ll have dinner delivered at home 

tonight” – which is why social media marketing with Facebook and 

Google are so important. We’re also getting the word out about the 

opportunity for drivers. It’s a great job with lots of flexibility. Drivers 

don’t need to be sitting in their car waiting for an order. They can 

be at home, running an errand, they just need to be within a few 

minutes of the restaurant. It is worth it. I used to make the long 

commute to Chicago. Now I live in downtown Valparaiso, have a 

walking-distance commute and very close to most of the restaurants 

we deliver for. Which means I can quickly get to restaurants to help 

when needed, and spend more time with my daughter, Ellie. Ellie 

(aged 17) often helps get the word out with different promotions. 

Darko Latinovic: The alcohol beverage industry is very 

A: 

competitive. It’s also fraught with many complicated laws 

and regulations which seem to be constantly changing. It was 

intimidating to face that kind of risk, but my dream of bringing 

my family’s products to the United States was a strong motivation 

to continue moving forward. Every beginning, either in business 

or in other life pursuits, will be difficult. When I first came to the 

United States as an exchange student in 1996, I barely spoke English. 

After learning to communicate in English and finishing school >> 

ValpoChamber.org 13

PROVIDENT PROVISIONS: A Toast to Valparaiso’s Home-Based Food and Beverage Businesses 

>> successfully, I found that any challenge could be overcome. 

I think that persistence, planning, and passion are key ingredients 

for success. It also helps that my mom makes wonderful products 

that people love to drink! 

Q: 

A: 

What’s fresh? 

Eric Berindei: There’s a special promotional discount 

available to first-time customers. Go to delivery.com, use the 

order code ORDERNOW and receive $10 off your order of $15 or 

more. Also, check our Facebook page and get on our email list, as 

we regularly send out specials and discounts. 

Darko Latinovic: We plan to add two more products to 

A: 

our Darna family of liquors this winter. I look forward to 

introducing Darna’s Coffee liquor and Darna’s Bacio D’amore (kiss 

of love), which is a remake of a classic raspberry liquor. These two 

products will make wonderful additions to the Darna products 

currently available in the United States. Our products currently 

available in the U.S. are Pelinkovac (bitter herbal liquor); Amaro 

(herbal liquor); Kruskovac (pear liquor); Ovo Liker (Advocaat- 

European Egg liquor); Cokoladni Liker (chocolate custard liquor); 

Darna Domaci (Croatian rum); and Orahovac (walnut liquor). 

A: 

Tammy Rose: I’m all about fresh. I’m told by people all the 

time that my bruschetta is better than anyone else’s that 

they’ve ever had. I use fresh tomatoes and basil, and my technique 

for making it is different. I never use canned tomatoes. My grilled 

tenderloin is mouth-watering. One of my favorite things that I serve 

is my stuffed figs. 

Q: 

A: 

What advice would you give 

to those who’d like to start a 

home-based business? 

Eric Berindei: If it’s an idea you believe in, do your 

homework and go for it. Having a home-based business 

often allows for lower overhead and start-up costs. 

A: 

Darko Latinovic: Do your homework, check the market, 

and do strategic research on your product or service. You 

also need to know that every beginning is difficult so don’t expect 

a lot from the get-go. Be patient and persistent. Make sure you’re 

involved in the community and reach out to business organizations, 

like the chamber of commerce. 

A: 

Tammy Rose: Just do it. Look at the best that can happen, 

don’t look at anything else. 

Darko Latinovic 

Darna International 


President and owner of Dean’s 

Landscaping Dean Savarino is a 

self proclaimed perfectionist. And 

in his line of work, that is a good 

thing. “No one is pickier than I am 

when it comes to our work,” chuckles Savarino, 

whose full service landscape company has 

serviced clients throughout Northwest Indiana 

and the Chicagoland area for over 20 years. 

With more and more homeowners staying in 

their homes far longer than they had originally 

planned, the idea of making the most with 

what you have is certainly the goal for many. 

Creating an outdoor living environment that 

seamlessly ties into the feel of the home is one 

home improvement goal that remains high on 

the list of wants for homeowners. 

“People are staying put these days, but are 

constantly looking for ways to reinvest in their 

home,” he says. “Our customers are looking 

to improve their yards, and often this includes 

creating a beautiful outdoor living area. I love to 

show the client the true potential of the space. 

Sometimes that could mean the addition of a 

pathway, small seating area or a simple water 

feature.” 

Of course, the Northwest Indiana and 

Chicagoland area is filled to the brim with 

landscapers that can come out to cut the grass 

every two weeks. Yet, the discerning homeowner 

is looking for more - - and countless people 

look no further than the talented team at 

Dean’s Landscaping. Based in Schererville, 

the company brings an artistic outlook on 

the idea of landscaping. Whether it’s a small 

enhancement of an outdoor living space or a 

large total transformation, the talented staff 

of certified landscape installers and certified 

chemical pplicators can make your landscape 

dreams a reality. 

“We put much value on our ability to truly 

listen to our clients, but we also want to educate 

our clients throughout the process also,” says 

Savarino. “In terms of current trends, everyone 

seems to be looking for lots of color but low 

maintenance and we can assist our clients with 

the products and features that will work best. 

We are definitely an out of the box landscaping 

company. We are proud of the installation 

techniques and design elements that we can 

offer to our customers that can make their 

space much more than just your ordinary patio. 

Rather, we can look at the space and the home 

and visualize how it’s the finished product will 

look. For example, we like to use colors and 

flowers that will remain a constant interest 

throughout the season.” 

Their expertise also allows the company 

to trouble shoot the site for any possible 

landscape design limitations, and make the 

necessary preparations to ensure everything 

goes as planned. Of course, no patio, whether 

big or small, will truly come to life without 

constructing the floor surface first. Dean’s 

Landscaping’s extensive use of patio pavers 

certainly helps them stand out amongst their 

competitors. The durable, low maintenance 

brick pavers come in an array of colors and 

styles, and create a look that your family and 

friends won’t soon forget. 

“We have partnered with the best 

manufacturers and suppliers in the 

MUNSTER 

CALUMET AVE. 

45Th St. 

WHITE OAK AVE. 

45Th St. 

INDIANAPOLIS BLVD. 

AQUA 

STONE 

HIGHLAND 

KENNEDY AVE. 

HIGHLAND GROVE 

SHOPPING CENTER 

industry to get the top-notch products that 

will guarantee the most durable and beautiful 

construction,” says Savarino. “Our pavers are 

from Belgard, a world-class manufacturer of the 

widest varieties of pavers.” 

To better ensure their work, Dean’s 

Landscaping offers a 7 year warranty on 

all of their Belgard brick work, combined 

with Belgard’s lifetime warranty that can be 

transferred from homeowner to homeowner if 

needed. “I love being able to use hardscaping 

to create something not only beautiful, but 

artistic,” says Savarino, whose company received 

the coveted World Class Award for 2011 Best in 

Class from Belgard via a Midwest competition 

amongst landscape contractors from Illinois, 

Wisconsin, Indiana and Southwest Michigan. 

“It’s all about utilizing pavers in an intriguing 

way to create a beautiful space.” 

Throughout their 20 year history, Savarino 

says he has constantly looked at ways 

to expand the company from its roots 

as a simple landscaping company with 

45Th St. 

a limited number of services to offer. 

One of the best examples of this never 

ending expansion was the opening of 

their Garden Center just over six years 

ago. Located at 238 Kennedy Avenue 

in Schererville, their Garden Center offers a 

wide variety of trees, shrubs and annual flowers 

along with a range of lawn and landscape 

supplies for the true do it yourselfer. 

“The Garden Center is just another way that 

we can give our clients something above and 

beyond what they are expecting,” says Savarino, 

whose Garden Center has been recognized as a 

Best of the Region. “We are thrilled that this 

is the first year that we are growing our own 

perennials that we can then go ahead and use 

in our hardscaping. Having a hand in the 

growth of a more excellent product is extremely 

gratifying.” 

And for Savarino, having the chance to 

expand on his personal and passion to create 

unique outdoor living area has also been a 

gratifying experience. Driving home from a 

busy day at work, Savarino passes by a number 

of homes. The owners of these homes were once 

given the title of clients. Yet, these days, many 

have earned the title of friends. 

“There is a definite sense of pride knowing 

that we had our hands in there from start 

to finish,” he explains. “Watching a family 

grow and 6-10 years down the line, they are 

still enjoying the space…it’s just extremely 

rewarding.” 

MAIN ST. 

MAIN ST. 

MAIN ST. 

KENNEDY AVE. 

2 blocks south of Main Street on Kennedy Avenue. 

Paid Advertisement 

ValpoChamber.org 15

Ray Toppen and 

Sasha Pinto 

KIS Branded Specialties 

Right at 

HOME: 


More and more, home-based businesses are 

increasingly the norm than the exception. 

According to an August 2017 report from 

the Small Business Administration, around 

fifty percent of small businesses are 

home-based. KIS Branded Specialties and 

Organizational Development Solutions are 

two Valpo Chamber businesses proving 

that you don’t need a traditional brick-and-mortar location to be in 

business serving other businesses. 

KIS Branded Specialties owner Sasha Pinto enjoyed a thriving career 

first in marketing at two companies before launching KIS Branded 

Specialties fifteen years ago. Pinto had purchased promotional 

products and decorated apparel from Ray Toppen throughout her 

career. Thoroughly impressed by Toppen’s level of customer service 

and personal demeanor, Pinto says she knew she wanted him on her 

team when she started her marketing agency. They had previously 

discussed their mutual interest in 

Valpo’s home-based businesses 

help other businesses 

starting their own businesses, and Pinto knew his expertise and 

professionalism would be perfect for the promotional products and 

decorated apparel component of her company. 

It didn’t take long to see that the company was spread too thin both 

with the marketing agency and promotional products component, 

she says. “We were growing, and revenue was increasing, but 

neither aspect of the business was getting the rightful attention. 

So, I looked at the numbers and realized that a significant portion 

of the revenue was coming from the promotional products and 

decorated apparel side. And, this was the area where Ray had the 

most experience and for which we were both passionate. This is 

an industry that is always changing, offers a new experience every 

day, and provides challenges as it evolves.” Toppen is the business 

development manager for KIS Branded. 

Pinto credits her entrepreneurial, competitive spirit with inspiring 

her to leave the corporate world behind and funnel her talents into 

her own business. “It was the desire to work for myself and, to the 

degree that it’s possible, control my own destiny. I also like the idea 


“It was the 

desire to work 

for myself and... 

control my 

own destiny. 

I also like the 

idea of being 

able to employ 

others and build 

a sustainable 

company at 

which my 

children may 

want to work 

and one 

day run.” 

—Sasha Pinto 

KIS Branded Specialties 

of being able to 

employ others and 

build a sustainable 

company at which 

my children may 

want to work and 

one day run.” 

Desila Rosetti’s 

rapid career 

advancement 

into management 

helped her to 

discover just how 

much she truly 

loved training and 

development. 

Rosetti is the owner 

of Organizational 

Development 

Solutions, Inc. 

(ODS) a nationwide 

company which 

specializes in training, planning, project 

management, as well as assessment and human 

resource functions. She started her career at 

Kankakee Valley Job Training, studied and later 

worked at Purdue North Central (now Purdue 

Northwest), after which she worked for 12 years 

at LaPorte Hospital for CEO Leigh Morris. She 

started at LaPorte in a training and development 

position and quickly advanced, earning her 

master’s degree from the University of Notre 

Dame while taking on additional management 

responsibility. During this time, Rosetti realized 

that she was getting farther away from the work 

she loved. “I loved training and development, 

and I was finding less and less time to do that 

type of work,” she recalls. She went to work at 

Indiana University Northwest, which she says 

immersed her in the community and helped 

her realize she could work on her own. 

“I never really planned to be in business for 

myself, it just kind of happened. Once I started 

from my home, I found that the work needed 

to take place at client locations. Rarely did I 

need office space. When I did, I had enough 

contacts that they were always more than 

generous in sharing.” 

Rosetti’s initial concerns that her lack of retail 

office space might lead to lowered credibility 

were quickly eased. She says, “I thought 

credibility would be an issue without having a 

‘real’ office, but no one asked me about it and 

no one cared. Now people work from everywhere and I believe making the decision 

to work from home was the best, most cost-efficient thing I did.” She says that hiring 

contractors as needed instead of employing permanent staff also works out well for 

everyone in the business, clients to contractors. “I could flex from two people to over 25 

people depending on the contract. It takes me no training time and little time providing 

direction since those hired are experts, and those contractors are happy to work flex 

hours as well and be able to work from home.” 

ODS has a wide variety of offerings tailored to client needs, including developing and 

perfecting training programs, strategic management processes, and human resource 

matters such as employee handbooks, evaluations, and audits. Survey design and data 

analysis are also part of ODS’s expertise. Rosetti, who is also a professor in the business 

department at Calumet College of St. Joseph, has been a featured speaker at numerous 

state and national conferences, and has been honored with several leadership awards. 

She has no doubt in God’s life plan for her. She enjoys living out that plan and the >> 

Desila Rosetti 

Organizational Development 

Solutions, Inc. 

ValpoChamber.org 17

RIGHT AT HOME: Valpo’s home-based businesses help other businesses 

“I believe 

I have been 

abundantly 

blessed. My 

hope is that 

I will teach, 

inspire, and 

mentor others 

as so many 

people have 

done and 

continue to 

do for me.” 

—Desila Rosetti 

Organizational 

Development Solutions 

>> freedom she has in decisionmaking 

when it comes to her 

business. “Right or wrong, decisions 

are made with no red tape and 

there’s a reduction in non-valueadded 

meetings. I appreciate 

meetings where things are 

accomplished, and projects move 

forward. People take accountability 

for what needs to be done. They 

expect that from me as well.” 

Rosetti adds that when you love 

what you do it doesn’t always feel 

like work. “I believe I have been 

abundantly blessed. My hope is 

that I will teach, inspire, and mentor 

others as so many people have 

done and continue to do for me.” 

Likewise, KIS Branded Specialties 

has succeeded by building longlasting 

business relationships and 

partnerships as well as providing exceptional customer service. 

Pinto says that means putting the client first and making sure 

every order is accurate. “Too often, the use of the term ‘customer 

service’ doesn’t have any teeth. Companies talk about how great 

their customer service is, but when a problem happens, they’re 

indifferent. Problems happen, it’s just part of doing business. 

What matters is how you handle the situation when it arises. I 

firmly believe KIS Branded is different. We always champion for 

our clients. Our goal with each client is to listen, to understand 

their business in general and project specifically. We take the 

burden off our clients by doing the product research and offering 

recommendations based on their specific needs.” She adds that 

she’s grateful to clients who took a chance and believed in her when 

she started her company. “You’re asking people to take a chance on 

you, and I’m forever grateful to the individuals and businesses who 

saw something in me and decided to give me a shot.” 

For exceptional promotional products and apparel offered with 

top-notch customer service, visit kisbranded.com. For tailored 

offerings and expertise to help your business thrive, visit 

successwithods.com. 

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Community Care Network Welcomes 

Keith Atassi, MD and Akram Kholoki, MD 

Keith Atassi, MD 

FACC, FSAI 

Akram Kholoki, MD 

FACC 

BOARD-CERTIFIED INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS 

Keith Atassi, MD and Akram Kholoki, MD 

are dedicated to providing quality compassionate care by establishing 

trustworthy patient relationships and collaborating successfully with 

their full healthcare team to achieve the best patient outcomes. 

Dr. Atassi specializes in the medical diagnosis and treatment of 

coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and congenital heart 

defects, using the most advanced techniques in the field. Additionally, he specializes 

in the treatment of symptomatic varicose veins and venous insufficiency. 

Dr. Kholoki practices internal medicine, cardiology, nuclear cardiology 

and adult echocardiography, and he performs complex coronary and 

peripheral interventions as well as pacemaker implantations. 

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 

3800 St. Mary Drive • Suite 202 

Valparaiso, IN 

219-286-3788 

COMMUNITY 

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ® 

Community Care Network, Inc. 

COMHS.org 

ValpoChamber.org 19

CHAMBER FOCUS | 2019 CHAMBER NETWORK NIGHT 

>> CH 

Booth 84 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

Porter County Expo Center 

4-7pm 

Free Admission | Open to the public 

Discover 

solutions to your 

business needs, 

connect with 

potential customers 

and meet the people 

behind Porter County’s 

thriving business community, 

face to face. Over 120 exhibitors 

will introduce their newest and 

greatest products and services. 

Chamber Network Night is the premier 

business-to-business networking event 

of the year dedicated to generating 

high-quality leads, learning from the 

brightest, and networking with the best. 

Booth 40 & 41 

Booth 79 

Booth 71 & 72 

Don’t give up your lunch hour — 

Mid day let-out/walks available! 

WWW.HEADTOTAILPETSITTING.COM 

219-462-2911 

Serving Businesses in NWIndiana since 1992 

-High Speed Internet -Phone Services 

-Hosted PBX 

-Telephone Systems 

-Network Security-Firewall -Security Cameras 

www.pickmta.com 

20 20 VALPARAISO VALPARAISO MAGAZINE MAGAZINE | FALL | 2019 FALL 2019 

mta-2x2-ad-final.indd 1 

9/14/16 5:46 PM

AMBER FOCUS 

Booth 23 

Booth 14 

Booth 38 

219.464-4467 

M-F 9am - 5pm 

centralagencyinsurance.com 

a division of Century Pipe 

219-531-2150 

711 Morthland Drive, Valparaiso 

BUSINESS CONSULTING 

& ACCOUNTING 

WWW.CLH-CPA.COM 

Booth 35 

Booth 37 

Giving furniture new life 

since 1930 

Booth 77 

www.firsttrustcu.com 

1-800-276-6161 

Valparaiso u La Porte u Michigan City u Wheatfield 

Upholstering 

Refinishing | Repair 

219-872-1700 

Booth 86 

THE EASY PLACE TO SHOP FOR YOUR PETS 

TOYS • FOOD • TREATS 

Booth 19 

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MASCOTS at NW Indiana’s 

newest children and family attraction! 

Field Trips 

Birthday 

Parties 

Corporate 

Events 

Become a 

Member 

Meet 

Reggy! 

Booth K 

info@MinisteringHearts.com 

HealthiPaws.com 

MascotHallofFame.com 

219.354.8814 

219-513-9936 

www.MinisteringHearts.com 

Booth 16 

Specializing in 

Windows & Siding 

219-476-0400 

1153 Marsh St. Ste A 

Behind Valpo’s Harley Davidson 

Valparaiso, IN 46385 

Best Products, Prices & Installation in NWI! 

CHECK OUT THESE 

GREAT EXHIBITORS 

AT THE EVENT! 

ValpoChamber.org 21 21

BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS 

>>BUSINESS 

SNAPSHOTS 

ARAN KESSLER 

PHOTO.IMAGING 

800-939-2726 

www.kesslerphoto.net 

VALPO CHAMBER 

Aran Kessler is a professional photographer in 

the Midwest with over 30 years of experience 

in both studio and location photography 

as well as videography. Aran’s experience 

ranges from hospitals to universities, property 

management firms to non-profits, and food 

to environmental. Whether it is on location or 

in the studio, his goal is to cater to all client 

photographic needs. Aran produces 

all photography for the Valparaiso 

Magazine as well as many other Valpo 

Chamber publications. 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

SINCE 1995 

E 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

SINCE 1996 

E 

KENPRO CLEANING 

SERVICES, INC. 

219-464-7171 

www.kenprocleaning.com 

Founded in 1974 as Ken’s Carpet and 

Upholstery Cleaning, the business was 

purchased in 1986 by current owners Gary 

and Claudia Taylor. The Taylors entered the 

janitorial services through persuasion of 

their satisfied carpet cleaning customers. In 

1996, they branded their janitorial services 

as KENPRO Cleaning to better market 

those services, while retaining the Ken’s 

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning brand for 

their quality residential and commercial 

carpet and upholstery services. Today 

they continue the tradition of quality work 

and value pricing for all their customers. 

KENPRO Cleaning Services, Inc. provides 

cleaning services to the Valpo Chamber 

office weekly. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 

Trick or Treat Downtown 4-6 pm 

Wear your favorite costume 

to trick-or-treat downtown. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 

Fall Fest - Central Park Plaza 11 am-2 pm 

Goblins and ghouls of all ages enjoy free, live 

entertainment & family-friendly activities. 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 

Football Fun - Central Park Plaza 2 pm 

Community tailgate, watch the Bears 

live on big screen 3:30 pm game time. 

219.464.8332 

ValparaisoEvents.com 


KRE-EIGHT DESIGN 

MARKETING 

219-561-1040 

www.kre-eight.com 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

E 

SINCE 2016 

Kre-Eight Design Marketing is a full service 

marketing and advertising agency. With 

over 20 years experience and access to a 

complete network of the area’s creative web 

developers, technical professionals, and 

vendors, Kre-Eight is a one stop shop for all 

of your graphic design, branding, marketing, 

& event planning needs. Kre-Eight has been 

the designer of Valparaiso Magazine for the 

past three years, and has worked with the 

Valpo Chamber on many other publications, 

including the Membership Directory and 

Annual Report. 

Business Snapshot businesses 

are selected among Valpo 

Chamber Members related to the 

overall theme of the Magazine 

issue. These featured members 

are home-based businesses. 

GROW LIKE 

NOBODY’S BUSINESS 

with better business banking from 

a leading community bank. 

1stsource.com/business | Member FDIC 

ValpoChamber.org 23

CHAMBER ANNIVERSARIES 

A showcase of member investors 

who have demonstrated an 

ongoing commitment 

35 Years 

• Hoosier Fire Equipment, Inc. 

25 Years 

• Hartman Global IP Law 

• Ozinga Ready Mix 

Concrete, Inc. 

20 Years 

• HealthLinc, Inc. 

15 Years 

• Coldwell Banker 

Commercial NRT – Gottleber 

• Don Quijote Imports, Inc. 

• Ed Whitcomb Carpet & Tile, Inc. 

• Family Dental Care 

• Purdue Extension – 

Porter County 

• Sunrise Health Foods 

• Tobacco Education & 

Prevention Coalition 

• Two Men and a Truck 

• Valparaiso Care & 

Rehabilitation Center 

10 Years 

• Bridge Point Church 

• Calvary Church 

• Colonial Cleaners 

• Kauffman Chiropractic 

• RE/MAX Lifestyles 

• Simko Signs 

• Suzie’s Café & Catering , Inc. 

• Uptown East Apartments 

• Valparaiso International Center 

• Valpo Schools Foundation 

5 Years 

• American Legion Post 94 

• Chuck Worden – Civic Member 

• DeLaine Anti Aging 

Cosmetic & Eye Surgery 

• Four Fathers Brewing, LLC 

• Greater Indiana Title Co. 

• Growing Smiles 

Pediatric Dentistry 

• Humane Indiana Wildlife 

Rehab Center 

• Innovative Property 

Tax Solutions 

• Ironwood Brewing Co., LLC 

• Larson-Danielson 

Construction Co., Inc. 

• Paladin Insurance Advocates 

• Tax & Accounting Alliances, LLC 

• Team Chevrolet 


We always go 

the EXTRA MILE 

for you! 

M•A•H 

Preventive Care | Dentistry | Surgical Care 

Boarding | Wildlife Rehab | And More 

CELEBRATING OVER 75 YEARS 

of Caring & Community 

PET HEALTH CARE FOR 

CATS, DOGS & EXOTICS 

Save 

$ 

10 

on any full price 

footwear purchase 

Not valid with any other offer - Expires 11/15/19 

Free Custom Video Gait Analysis for EVERYONE 

219-462-5901 

651 Eastport Centre Dr., Valparaiso www.mcafeeah.com 

Being 

CHASE-d Away? 

STOP IN TODAY! 

Member FDIC 

Access your Centier Bank account at over 43,000 ATMs nationwide 

through the Allpoint network. Visit centier.com/allpoint for details. 

Centier.com 

ValpoChamber.org 25


NEW MEMBERS > 

The Valpo Chamber welcomes board-approved new members who joined during 

June, July and August, 2019. 

All addresses are in the 46383 zip code and phone numbers are 219 area code unless otherwise indicated. 

Belle Estanni Bakery Shoppe 

4405 N Calumet Ave 

299-8454 

Mireya Rodriguez 

Bakery 

www.belleestanni.com 

We only use fresh quality ingredients in our baked 

goods. We specialize in gluten free goods, wedding, 

birthday cakes and also vegan baked goods. There 

is seating in our shop and a party room which seats 

20 to 30 people. 

Brick Street Burrito 

3 Napoleon St 

510-1100 

Evan Costas 

Restaurants 

www.brickstreetburrito.com 

Brick Street Burrito features southern California style 

burritos, beer, wine, and other unique dishes. We 

are open SU-TH 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and FR-SA 8:00 

a.m.-10:00 p.m. 

Coldwell Banker 

Residential Brokerage 


508-6690 

Susie Jaskowiak 

Real Estate-Residential & Commercial 

www.susiejaskowiak.com 

Susie Jaskowiak is an active Valparaiso realtor and 

resident. She is the consummate sales professional, 

blending energy, enthusiasm, integrity, and 

instinctive business savvy to provide her clients with 

a gold standard service and exceptional results. 

FiTrain 

4411 Evans Ave, Ste C 

702-7691 

Pedram Etebari 

Health/Fitness Centers, Equipment, Instruction 

www.valpofitrain.com 

At FiTrain, we provide personal, small group and 

athletic training. We are open M-F 5:00 a.m.-7:00 

p.m. and SA 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

Illiana Wildlife and 

Pest Control 

750 Rigg Rd 

464-7966 

Tom Hullinger 

Pest Control 

www.illianawildlifeandpestcontrol.com 

Illiana Wildlife and Pest Control provides 

professional and effective pest control services for all 

commercial and residential needs as well as solving 

all nuisance wildlife problems. 

JoJo Epoxy & Floor Care 

443 E US Hwy 30 

405-6223 

James Tudor 

Flooring – Residential/Commercial/Industrial 

JoJo Epoxy and Floor Care applies concrete overlay 

and epoxy floors for residential and commercial 

indoor and outdoor installation. 

Leslie Plesac Life Coaching 

395-6290 

Leslie Plesac 

Personal Life Coach 

Business Coach/Training 

Leslie Plesac is a master certified life coach and 

owner of Leslie Plesac Life Coaching. As a coach, she 

supports women and men who want to say yes to 

living life courageously. 

Lil Coffee Cabin 


708-323-9686 

Kathleen Schroeder 

Coffee Shop 

www.lilcoffeecabin.com 

We serve various coffee drinks, breakfast muffins, 

bagels, & sandwiches. 


Mascot Hall of Fame 

1851 Front St 

Whiting 46394 

354-8814 

Michele Gustin 

Museums 

www.mascothalloffame.com 

The Mascot Hall of Fame is a children’s museum which showcases 

sports mascots in a fun, educational environment with a full line of 

interactive exhibits. 

THIS SCHOOL 

YEAR, GIVE LIFE 

TO YOUR STORY. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 

5:30-6:45pm 

CAMPUS 

R 

LIFE 

JOIN US MONDAY EVENINGS 

HIGH SCHOOL 

7:15-8:45pm 

55 CHICAGO STREET, VALPARAISO 

Campus Life is a place where ALL students belong. 

It’s a place for teens to have fun, meet 

new friends, and talk about life. 

CONTACT: 

219.928.0538 | ebarnes@spyfc.org 

www.yfcchicago.org/valparaiso 

McDonald’s #1420 

2002 Calumet Ave 

462-7278 

Rod Lubeznick 

Restaurant 

www.mcdonalds.com 

Quick service restaurant open 24 hours. 


364 W US Hwy 6, 46385 

762-6885 

Rod Lubeznick 

Restaurant 




2150 Morthland Dr 

531-0250 

Rod Lubeznick 

Restaurant 




2310 LaPorte Ave 

548-5864 

Rod Lubeznick 

Restaurant 



>> Continued on Pg. 28 

ValpoChamber.org 27


>> Continued from Pg. 26 

Ministering Hearts 

2646 Highway Ave, Ste 107 

Highland 46322 

513-9936 

Maria Cooper 

Healthcare/Home Health Services 

www.ministeringhearts.com 

We are a non-medical in-home care services agency 

providing assistance to those who struggle with their 

daily living activities such as dressing, grooming, 

meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, 

medication reminders as well as offering respite care 

to family members. We also specialize in helping 

Veterans and their spouses. Office Hours: M-TH 9:00 

a.m.-5:00 p.m., F- 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 

Orthopedic and Balance 

Therapy Specialists 

3125 Calumet Ave 

548-8770 

Nathan Hand 

Physical Therapy 

orthopedicandbalancetherapy.com 

From four convenient Northwest Indiana 

locations, Orthopedic and Balance Therapy 

Specialists provides physical therapy for 

Highland, Valparaiso, Crown Point, and LaPorte. 

Most of all, we listen and we care. Your complete 

satisfaction with every aspect of your physical 

therapy experience at our clinic is our number 

one goal. Our team of highly trained physical 

therapists has helped thousands of patients-in 

fact our patients have given us a 98% satisfaction 

rating (based on discharge surveys). 

Professional Hearing 

Management, Inc. 

2601 Beech St 

464-9580 

Dr. Vasilike Rauch 

Hearing Products & Professional Services 

www.prohearingmgmt.com 

Professional Hearing Management has been serving 

the community since 1983. We provide personal 

attention and customized service for hearing and 

tinnitus, as well as evaluations and treatments. 

Staples, Inc. #483 


464-9005 

Tina Nevill 

Office Equipment/Services/Products/Furniture 

www.staples.com 

National office supply retail store. 

Interested in joining the largest and most 

active chamber in Northwest Indiana? 

Contact Danielle Oeding 

at (219) 462-1105 or danielle@valpochamber.org. 


BEYOND 

THE EXPECTED 

NOW OFFERED AT THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AT 

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY: 

Bioengineering 

+ 

Environmental Engineering 

+ 

Integrated Business and Engineering 

Ranked No. 13 Best 

Undergraduate Engineering 

Program by U.S. News & 

World Report 

Learn more at valpo. edu/engineering 

ValpoChamber.org 29

AROUND 

The Barbauld Agency 

recently received recognition 

for their scary-good marketing 

campaign for Tour of Terror, 

a haunted house hosted by 

Blastcamp Paintball & Airsoft on 

their property, a decommissioned 

missile base in Hobart, IN. The 

owners were frustrated with 

stagnant ticket sales and reached 

out to The Barbauld Agency for 

help. The Barbauld Agency’s 

strategy was to use low cost 

marketing avenues to build 

awareness and increase ticket 

sales and—it worked! With the 

same budget and schedule, in 

2018 Tour of Terror experienced 

a 76.8% boost in ticket sales 

over the previous year. In 

recognition of this success, The 

Barbauld Agency received a 

Summit International Award in 

Marketing Effectiveness. This 

award recognizes companies 

for innovative creative work that 

uses strategy and results-based 

effectiveness to create solutions 

in today’s marketplace. This is 

the agency’s fourth international 

marketing effectiveness award. 

AROUND TOWN is an important element to the local business coverage 

of Valparaiso Magazine. Submissions by chamber member businesses only. 

Articles are business announcements - i.e. awards, new additions to staff 

or promotion of title, and change of business location. Sales promotions, 

advertisements, or coupon ads may not be accepted. Submissions must be 

130 words or less, are subject to approval, and may be edited. 

Send to info@valpochamber.org 

Todd 

Wooten of 

Blue Sky 

Financial 

Partners 

in Valparaiso 

has qualified 

for Top of 

the Table, a coveted milestone 

achievement for his membership 

in the Million Dollar Round Table 

(MDRT) which equips him with 

tools and resources to better 

serve his local community. Top 

of the Table is an internationally 

recognized mark of excellence 

reserved for the most successful 

in the financial services industry. 

This places Wooten among 

the top professionals in the 

intensely competitive global 

life insurance and financial 

services industries. “Top of the 

Table is comprised of the best 

and brightest professionals our 

industry has to offer,” said MDRT 

President Jim Pittman, CLU, 

CFP. “MDRT hopes to continue 

to foster a culture of excellence 

and encourage members to 

grow both personally and 

professionally.” It recognizes him 

for demonstrating exceptional 

professional knowledge, client 

service and ethical conduct. In 

addition to recognizing career 

accomplishments, Top of the 

Table membership offers Todd 

the opportunity to further 

improve professional skills by 

sharing ideas and best practices 

with other leading professionals. 

To find out how Todd can help 

you, call Blue Sky Financial 

Partners at (219) 548-9370. 

This 

summer, the 

College 

of Court 

Reporting 

(CCR) hired 

intern Garrett 

Gilmartin. 

Garrett is from the Chicagoland 

area, is 21 years old, and a senior 

Business Management major at 

Valparaiso University, located in 

Valparaiso, Indiana. He is working 

with CCR to update print media 

and the main website, help 

revitalize CCR’s social media 

presence, and manage smaller 

tasks in the office. Although 

Garrett’s summer internship 

came to an end, he agreed to 

work with CCR for the rest of the 

school year in order to continue 

helping with media management 

and to attend college fairs so 

that he can educate high school 

seniors about court reporting 

and the versatile career paths 

available in the court reporting 

fields. “I am excited to be 

working with CCR this year. I 

have had plenty of part-time jobs 

and internships in the past but 

30 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | FALL 2019 

>> Continued on Pg. 32

BETTER built for our business. 

Left to right: Dan Duncan, Peoples VP, 

Business Banker with Todd Adams, 

President of Adams Masonry. 

Why bank bigger… bank better with a bank that puts your business first. 

“Part of the reason I chose Peoples Bank was the convenience of several locations and customer service. Their service is consistently 

superior. I can reach out to their Business Bankers with whatever I need and I get a call back right away. It’s really convenient to have them 

readily available to me. They do a great job of following up, staying in touch with me, and making sure all my needs are taken care of!” 

Bank of the Year 

for Small Business Administration 504 Loans * 

Bank Better with Peoples – one of the top 200 performing community banks ** in the nation for 14 consecutive years. 

Visit us online or call a Business Banker today. 

ibankpeoples.com | 219.853.7500 

– Todd Adams, President 

of Adams Masonry 

Member FDIC 

Peoples Bank is an SBA (Small Business Administration) approved lender. *2018 Regional Development Company Award. **American Banker Magazine 

ValpoChamber.org 31

AROUND 

>> Continued from Pg. 30 

working with CCR is like working 

with one big family. I am honored 

to continue to work with CCR 

throughout the year,” said Gilmartin. 

First 

Financial 

Bank 

announced that 

Sam Boufis has 

recently joined 

the Northwest 

Indiana team. 

In his role, Boufis will help to 

expand the Bank’s Middle Market 

footprint. Sam has served on the 

TradeWinds Services Board since 

2016 and currently serves on their 

finance committee. 

The Indiana Broadcasters 

Association announced the finalists 

for their 2019 Spectrum Awards, 

and Lakeshore PBS was 

nominated for Station of the Year 

in markets outside Indianapolis. 

The 32nd Annual Spectrum Awards 

recognizes broadcast excellence 

for outstanding achievement in 

broadcasting by Indiana radio and 

television stations. The competition 

is open to all FCC licensed IBA 

member radio and television stations 

in Indiana. Lakeshore PBS, 

located in Merrillville, Indiana, was 

nominated for the highest award, 

along with commercial stations 

WBND of South Bend and WPTA of 

Fort Wayne. The 2019 IBA Spectrum 

Awards will be awarded during 

the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of 

Fame Luncheon on Thursday, 

October 24th in Carmel. The Indiana 

Broadcasters Association is an 

alliance of more than 270 member 

radio and television broadcasters, 

united to serve their audiences 

throughout the Hoosier state. 


NITCO would 

like to announce 

the promotion 

of Ahna Dunn 

to Assistant 

Director of 

Sales. We are 

pleased to have 

Ahna on our 

team. Her hard work and success 

in sales and marketing has earned 

her the respect of the company staff 

as well as customers. Ahna’s ability 

to help lead the sales & marketing 

department has been recognized 

and we are pleased she has accepted 

this new position with NITCO! Within 

her new role, Ahna will be taking 

on more responsibilities assisting 

to lead and manage the sales and 

marketing team as well as working 

to improve department processes 

with innovation and new strategies. 

Customers will still see Ahna doing 

her favorite thing: being out and 

about at community events and 

functions, representing NITCO! 

VNA of NWI impacts lives in 

Porter County and surrounding 

counties every day. We provide 

hospice services, Meals on Wheels 

in Porter County, Lifeline, and grief 

support. The VNA Meals on Wheels 

program is surging with clients. 

Volunteers are in need to help make 

these deliveries. Not only are warm 

meals delivered, but moments of 

human connection are as well. For 

homebound seniors, that’s the 

ultimate comfort food! Do you have 

an hour a month to offer to bring 

companionship and nutritious meals 

to isolated seniors who might not see 

another person on any given day? 

Call us at 462-5195. 

Advisors you want. Advocates you need. 

156 Washington St, Valparaiso, IN 

www.bcclegal.com p. (219) 531-0134 

ValpoChamber.org 33

A LOOK BACK 

>> A LOOK 

Downtown Valparaiso 

1960s in pictures 

By Kevin Pazour 

Executive Director 

Porter County Museum 

Aug 1961 Boomerang Bar Sign 

Hotel Lembke 

A picture might be worth a thousand 

words, but George Neeley’s (1924-2011) 

lifetime dedication to Valparaiso’s history 

is priceless. Some of you surely bought 

clothing at Neely’s Men’s Shop, worked 

together on Valpo Chamber activities, or 

read through the pages of his Valparaiso: 

A Pictorial History book. I never found the 

opportunity to meet George, but I always 

felt like I knew him thanks to hearing 

stories from others about his work as 

an outstanding entrepreneur, engaged 

citizen, and meticulous local historian. 

Apr 1962 N Franklin 

Jul 1963 

S Washington 

Aug 1961 N Franklin Fire Dept 

Feb 1964 SW Corner 

Washington and Lincolnway 

I find joy in sharing these rare Valparaiso 

images with you because they were 

personally taken by Neeley throughout 

the 1960s. The entire collection had been 

tucked away for years until Julie Neeley 

Patterson, George’s daughter, donated 

them to the PoCo Muse in September 2019. 

This curated glimpse of downtown will 

hopefully inspire you to look more closely 

at your surroundings, instill a better sense 

of place, and help you realize that history 

is not relegated to the distant past but is 

being made every day. 

Nov 1963 68-74 Lincolnway 

Sep 1963 N Lafayette 

Oct 1962 Old Style Inn 


BACK 

Feb 1964 SW 

Corner Washington 

and Lincolnway 

YOUR YEAR-END GIVING MATTERS T 

PORTER COUNTY RESIDENTS 

YOUR YEAR-END GIVING MATTERS TO 2 IN 5 

PORTER COUNTY RESIDENTS 

4-star Charity Navigator Rating 

4-star Charity Navigator Rating 

YOUR We YEAR-END know you GIVING care about MATTERS the TO community 2 IN 5 yo 

PORTER which COUNTY is why we’re RESIDENTS asking for your h 

Nov 1963 

Homecoming Block 19 

Mar 1961 123-113 Lincolnway 

Through your support, 4-star Charity United Navigator Way Ratingfights for the heal 

We know you care about the community you live in, 

which is why we’re asking for your help. 

financial stability of every resident in your commu 

problems such as homelessness, the opioid crisis, lite 

Through your support, United Way fights for the health, education 

and financial stability of every resident in your community— 

tackling problems which such is as why homelessness, we’re asking the opioid for your crisis, help. literacy 

and so much more. Your gift makes a powerful impact! 

DONATE TO UNITED WAY TODAY! 

DONATE TO UNITED WAY TODAY! 

Visit unitedwaypc.org/donate or 

unitedwaypc.org | 

Text GIVE2UWPC to 41444 

Visit unitedwaypc.org/donate or 

DONATE. VOLUNTEER. CONNECT. 

unitedwaypc.org © 2018 United Way | of Porter /unitedwaypc County 

more. Your gift makes a powerful impa 

We know you care about the community you live in, 

Through your support, United Way fights for the health, education and 

financial stability of every resident in your community—tackling 

problems such as homelessness, the opioid crisis, literacy and so much 

more. Your gift makes a powerful impact! 

DONATE TO UNITED WAY TO 

Visit unitedwaypc.org/donate 



/unitedwaypc 

DONATE. VOLUNTEER. CONNECT. 

© 2018 United Way of Porter County 

Aug 1961 N Franklin VPD 

ValpoChamber.org 35

Post-Professional 

Occupational Therapy 

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY’S POST-PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM 

OFFERS TWO TRACKS BASED UPON YOUR HIGHEST LEVEL OF DEGREE ATTAINED: 

M.S. to PP-DrOT 

Designed for students with a master’s degree in occupational therapy or 

a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy plus a master’s degree in any 

field. This high-demand, career-ready program is 32 credits and typically 

completed in two years. 

CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 8, 2020! 

Apply today with VALPOCHAMBER 

application fee waiver code. 

valpo.edu/grad-apply 

B.S. to PP-DrOT 

Created for students with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy 

who are licensed as a professional occupational therapist. This 

42-credit program is typically completed in two and a half years. 

Valpo’s PP-DrOT programs features: 

• No GRE required 

• Online program with two required on-site weekends 

• Courses customized on your professional needs 

• One course at a time, optimal for the professional OT 

• Courses offered in a live webinar format to allow for 

academic interaction 


valpo.edu/occupationaltherapy

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT >> 

> BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 

Tracy Rust 

CRUISES, RESORTS, AND 

TOURS SPECIALIST 

574-772-0809 

trust@dreamvacations.com 

www.AdventuresByTracy.com 

219-464-9871 

www.mybulkmail.com 

Not just different. Better 

Valparaiso, Merrillville, Highland 

and LaPorte Locations Available 

(219)246-2240 

www.libtitle.com 

Email: Cynthia.Reed@libtitle.com 

FOR ALL YOUR PRINTING NEEDS 

Stationery & Business Cards 

Tickets • Invitations • Flyers & More 

Blueprints • Photocopies 

Layout Design • Binding 

Lamination • UPS & Fax Service 

306 E. Lincolnway, Ste. A 

Valparaiso | 219.462.1108 

diane@mrcopyrite.com 

www.mrcopyrite.com 

Commercial & Industrial 

219.462.5359 

WWW.BOYDASPHALT.NET 

Tom Carroll tcarroll@nitco.com 

Heather Dull hdull@nitco.com 

Ahna Dunn adunn@nitco.com 

SPOTLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS 

with a 2”x2” ad. Reach 18,000+ Readers Quarterly! 

Play the moment. 

Sing the moment. 

Music Instruction 

& Sheet Music 

Piano, Voice, Guitar, Percussion, Violin & more 

219.462.4573 | gratzopus118.com 

2701 Beech Street, Valparaiso 

219 996 2981 

nitco.com 

DAWN COLLINS 

Move Ahead 

219.921.3731 

CENTURY 21 

Executive Realty 

www.C21Valpo.com 

Dedicated & Focused in “Keeping it Legal” 

Vitello law Firm 

• Business & Corporate Law • Real Estate Law 

• Estate Planning & Probate 

Susan Vitello 

Attorney, Advisor and Consultant 

Licensed in Illinois & Indiana 

219-476-7755 | Susan@vitellolaw.com 

Call Danielle Oeding, at the Valpo Chamber 

(219) 462-1105 | danielle@valpochamber.org 

=d 

Dine-in or Carry Out * 4 Different Beers on Tap 

“Where hungry people come to eat”TM 

CALL US FOR 

CATERING! 


* VALPARAISO * 219-510-1742 

jordyandjaxbbq.com Follow us 

* 

A 

ValpoChamber.org 37

TALKING TOURISM 

TOURISM 

>> TALKING 

Ride the Wave— 

Become a Beaches & Beyond 

Brand Ambassador 

Record-High Season 

The Visitor Center just had its busiest 

season ever recorded at the Indiana 

Dunes. Interest in the destination 

surged after becoming a National 

Park earlier this year, and most visitors 

are surprised to discover 15 miles of 

beautiful beaches just an hour outside 

Chicago. But the hidden gems visitors 

find beyond the beach are worth 

boasting about, too. Our Indiana Dunes 

communities are filled to the brim with 

unique accommodations, activities, 

attractions, and individuals bursting 

with brand ambassador potential. 

All aboard the brand-wagon! We 

empower visitors to explore all that 

the Indiana Dunes area has to offer 

by fostering a brand community that 

doesn’t just meet their needs—it exceeds 

their expectations. Here are a few easy 

ways you can get involved today: 

Boost Your Reach 

Your business isn’t beyond reach—it’s 

just beyond the beach! Post about your 

business using #beachesandbeyond 

and pull curious customers off the 

shores and into your store. 

Embrace for Impact 

What’s in a name? Indiana Dunes 

Tourism shares the region’s best places 

to eat, play, shop, and stay with over 

42,000 followers on 

social media. That’s 

right—go ahead and 

namedrop us! Tag 

@indianadunes on 

Instagram to tap into our audience and 

see what Beaches & Beyond can do for 

your business. 

Beyond Belief 

Believe it or not, local experts make the 

best brand ambassadors. Our research 

shows that when visitors know what 

the Indiana Dunes area has to offer, 

day trips turn into overnight stays. Our 

most recent economic impact report 

shows that visiting friends and relatives 

make up about 11 percent of total visitor 

spending in Porter County. That means 

you’re not just showing your guests 

a good time when you endorse the 

Beaches & Beyond brand—you’re also 

making a positive impact on your 

local economy. 

Don’t quite have the lay of the land? 

Here’s a quick tourism tip—grab a copy 

of our Activities Guide so the next time 

someone asks, “What’s there to see and 

do around the dunes?” you can skip 

the search engine and get straight to 

exploring the area. 

Visit indianadunes.com/destinationguides 

to download your digital 

guide today. 

Follow Indiana 

Dunes Tourism on Social 

Media for insider access, 

quick answers, up-to-date 

information, and 

helpful tips. 

Instagram and Twitter 

@indianadunes 

Facebook, Pinterest, and 

Youtube 

@indianadunestourism 

By Kailey Ann Capuano 

Communications Director, Indiana 

Dunes Tourism 

Crunched for time before company 

arrives? Choose from some of our 

favorite Valpo businesses below. 

Local Experts Say...* 

EAT 

Try one of Valpo’s best restaurants on 

Midwest Living’s Indiana Dunes Culinary 

Tour, and don’t forget to save room for a 

decadent dessert 

(or two) downtown. 

Aftermath Cidery 

& Winery, dish 

Restaurant, Don 

Quijote Restaurante, 

Four Fathers Brewing, 

Industrial Revolution 

Eatery & Grille, 

Ironwood Brewing Co., 

Kelsey’s Steak House, 

Main and Lincoln, Parea, 

and Valpo Velvet Ice 

Cream Shoppe. 

PLAY 

Hit the arcade, the 

box office, or the hiking trails. Visit 

Valparaiso’s unique blend of activities, 

attractions, events, and unforgettable 

experiences throughout the year. 

Chicago Street Theatre, Gabis 

Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, 

Memorial Opera House, Portage 16 

IMAX, and Zao Island. 

SHOP 

Shake off the sand and discover handmade 

goods, home-grown produce, 

and one-of-a-kind finds in Valparaiso’s 

eclectic shopping scene. 

Ivy Boutique, Lifestyles, and Old 

World Market. 

STAY 

Forget the hide-a-bed—book a B&B 

instead! Unique lodging is a trademark 

feature of the Indiana Dunes area, and 

Valparaiso—the seat and social center 

of Porter County—offers a variety of 

welcoming accommodations, branded 

hotels, and experiences just south of 

the dunes. 

Inn at Aberdeen, Pikk’s Tavern, 

and The Valparaiso Inn Bed 

& Breakfast. 


* Tourism Partners and Valpo Chamber members

ValpoChamber.org 39

FINDING THE RIGHT 

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER 

JUST GOT EASIER. 

If you are looking for convenient, accessible healthcare for your whole family, you will find it 

at Porter Physician Group. With 11 convenient locations, we’re making it easier than ever to see 

a primary care provider close to you. Ask about same-day appointments. 

ONLINE 

SCHEDULING 

IS 

AVAILABLE. 

No need to wait! Online scheduling is available at PorterPCP.com. 

Or, call 844-PPG-DOCS for an appointment.

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