Valparaiso Magazine - Spring 2021

VOL. 21 ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2021 

& 

LORI LENZ 

Indiana HomeCare 

Northwest

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& 

CONTENTS | SPRING 2021 

SECTIONS... 

CHAMBER FOCUS 

>> Salute to Leadership 2020 

PAGE 20 

MEMBER INVESTOR 

ANNIVERSARIES 

PAGE 23 

PAGE 4 

A HEART FOR CARING 

PAGE 12 

SERVICES FOR SENIORS 

PAGE 16 

STAYING 

INDEPENDENT 

BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS 

PAGE 24 

NEW MEMBER INVESTORS 

>> New Board-Approved Members 

PAGE 26 

AROUND TOWN 

>> Local Business News 

PAGE 30 

A LOOK BACK 

>> “Chamber News Stories April, 1971” 

PAGE 34 

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 

PAGE 37 

A PEEK @ THE PARKS 

>> “Porter County Parks and Recreation” 

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, Vice President & 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 Doug Ross 

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

Giving Care & Caregiving | A HEART FOR CARING 

Indiana HomeCare Northwest (formerly 

Porter Home Health) provides skilled, 

intermittent home health services to in-home 

patients. Executive Director Lori Lenz explains, 

“Services are designed to help patients recover, 

regain strength, health and independence in 

whatever setting they call home.” In addition, 

Indiana HomeCare Northwest provides services 

for those managing a serious or chronic disease 

or multiple diagnoses. 

(219-531-8189 | lhcgroup.com/locations/ 

indiana-homecare-northwest/) 

By Doug Ross 

Helping senior citizens stay in their homes often means providing 

specialized care to help them with medical issues and personal care. 

That can include everything from physical, occupational and speech 

therapy to managing a serious or chronic disease. 

VNA of Northwest Indiana is well-known for 

providing hospice care in its Horton Hospice 

Inpatient Center as well as in homes, nursing 

facilities and assisted living facilities across a 

six-county region. It also operates the Meals 

on Wheels program in Porter County and the 

Phoenix Center for grieving children. 

(219-462-5195 | vnanwi.org) 

Bob Franko, CEO, 

Brenda Rogers, 

Director of Hospice, 

Holly Doherty, 

Patient Care Manager 

VNA of NWI 

4 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

“We also provide one of the only fully 

comprehensive palliative care programs in 

the region,” President and CEO Bob Franko 

said. Palliative care, for people with serious 

illness, is focused on providing relief from 

the symptoms and stress of the illness to 

improve the quality of life of both the patient 

and family. Unlike hospice care, palliative care 

can be provided while medical professionals 

attempt to control the illness. 

“FirstLight Home Care offers two levels of 

care, companion care and personal,” owner 

Michelle Alex said. Companion care can 

include light housekeeping, meals, laundry 

and trips. Personal care helps with mobility 

issues and is more hands-on. Clients get help 

with taking medicine as needed. FirstLight 

also helps with dementia care, brain health 

services and respite care. 

(219-707-8354 | firstlighthomecare. 

com/home-healthcare-valparaiso) 

Elara Caring operates in the Northeast, 

South and Midwest, including Valparaiso. 

It is one of the nation’s largest providers of 

home-based care. They provide in-home 

assistance that includes personal care, skilled 

home health, hospice care and behavioral 

health. “Our intimate understanding of our 

patients’ needs allows us to apply proprietary 

platforms to deliver proactive, customized 

care that improves quality of life and keeps 

patients in their homes,” Senior Vice President 

of Communications Chris Hardman said. 

(219-246-5171, elara.com) 

Skilled home health care aims to help a patient 

get better, regain their independence, become 

as self-sufficient as possible, maintain their 

current level of function or slow the decline, 

according to Medicare.gov. A physician’s 

order is required to start skilled care, and 

the care is provided under a physician’s 

direct supervision. 

“Home care has been proven to reduce 

stress – not surprising, considering how many 

people want to be in the comfort of familiar 

surroundings at home – and is an effective, 

efficient, and economical form of health care 

that can minimize hospital stays,” Lenz said. 

“Examples of common problems requiring 

skilled interventions include medication 

management, specific health care treatments 

requiring the skills of a trained clinician, 

symptom assessment and education related 

to disease processes,” she explained. 

Indiana HomeCare Northwest also offers 

a Breathe Easy program that aims to 

strengthen muscles affecting breathing, 

speech, swallowing and impairment from 

cardiopulmonary illnesses. The Low Vision 

and Active Minds programs are also popular. 

“Additionally, Indiana HomeCare Northwest 

provides special programs to minimize falls 

and fall risk through improved balance, 

strengthening and continence control 

exercises,” Lenz added. 

Behavioral health services are aimed at 

helping people with mental illnesses or 

substance abuse disorders. Elara Caring 

focuses on assessment, education and action 

plans to promote recovery, Hardman said. 

Hospice care is offered when a cure is no 

longer likely. The focus is on the patient’s 

quality of life, with symptom and pain 

management offered on an inpatient basis 

or at home. It’s very comforting for not only 

the patients and families, but also to the 

caregivers, to see a patient receive a highquality 

of care and to be safe. 

Franko told of a man at the VNA hospice 

center who was down to his last couple of 

days. Dad wasn’t going to last long enough to 

see the wedding his child had been planning. 

About 8:30 on a Friday morning, they asked if 

they could get married at the hospice so Dad 

could be a part of it. “We scrambled,” Franko 

said, ordering a cake and flowers and buying 

a bottle of champagne. “By 1 p.m. that day 

we had an entire wedding planned. We had 

the wedding out in the garden so Dad could 

join in.” 

One of FirstLight’s clients was fond of going 

to Porter Beach, so his caregiver arranged to 

drive him there several days a week. “They 

wouldn’t stay long,” Alex said. “He just wanted 

to be at the beach.” Another client wanted to 

shop at Target and Kohl’s. She usually didn’t 

buy anything but just enjoyed shopping, Alex 

said. A third client enjoyed walking her dog 

but was losing her strength, so the caregiver 

held the leash as they walked to the end of the 

driveway and back. “They would walk down 

together, and that would make them happy, 

Alex said. That kind of care isn’t unusual. 

Lenz shared anonymous feedback from 

clients. “Two therapists came one at a time 

and helped me a lot,” one woman said. 

“I am 96, and they were extremely kind to 

this old lady! I would love to have both of 

them as friends.” 

Alex said some of her caregivers have been 

known to pick up a coffee or doughnut on 

the way to a client’s home. The one-on-one 

conversations make a difference. “People 

were literally dying from loneliness. They had 

no interaction with loved ones,” she said. 

Franko’s agency also administers the Meals on 

Wheels program, which last year served more 

than 50,000 meals to mostly elderly people 

in Porter County, an increase of more than 40 

percent. “We’re feeding people, but for many 

of these people this is the only human contact 

they get in the day,” he said. >> 

ValpoChamber.org 5


>> Franko enjoys delivering the meals 

about once a week. Sometimes, he has had 

to do more. In a recent major snowstorm, 

he drove two routes in a single day to make 

sure the senior citizens got their meals and 

had someone to check on them. “The people 

were so appreciative that we made the effort 

to get out to them,” he said. 

COVID-19 greatly challenged that program. 

Demand increased, and the number of 

volunteers dropped. “We lost probably twothirds 

of our volunteers,” he said, because so 

many are elderly or retired and didn’t want 

to risk exposing themselves to the deadly 

disease. “We really had to scramble to get 

some meals out.” 

COVID-19 has had impacts on other aspects 

of home health care, too. 

Alex found that more people over the last 

year have decided to keep loved ones at 

home because of restrictions on visits 

elsewhere. That observation rings true for 

others as well. 

“Many older, high-risk individuals have 

been reluctant to venture out of their homes 

to obtain necessary health care during 

the pandemic,” Lenz said. “Home health 

has provided a safe alternative to elderly, 

vulnerable seniors and includes direct care 

related to COVID-19 and other medical 

conditions that have continued to surface.” 

For VNA of Northwest Indiana, a large 

number of patients requiring hospice services 

had COVID-19, Franko said. 

Indiana HomeCare Northwest clinicians 

“have responded courageously and diligently 

while working with strict infection control 

measures,” Lenz said. In addition to being 

screened daily, providers are rescheduled if 

they might have been exposed to the disease. 

Elara Caring uses telehealth services. “We’re 

proud to be implementing cutting edge 

telehealth services at Elara Caring that 

make us better, smarter and more effective 

caregivers,” Hardman said. 

Technology is important to FirstLight as well. 

Alex said a portal system is used so family 

members can log in to see who is scheduled 

to visit a loved one and read notes after each 

visit. “That’s pretty big, to be able to check 

on your loved one from a distance,” she said. 

Dementia patients, especially, often don’t 

remember who came to see them and why. 

For all home health care agencies, the 

personal protection of both the patients 

and providers is top priority. When a 

provider is exposed to the disease, that 

affects staffing levels. The ability to find 

amazing caregivers “is extremely challenging 

at this time,” Alex said. However, >> 

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>> FirstLight has an “amazing” recruiter who 

hires people with the right qualities. “You can’t 

teach somebody to be caring or have a heart for 

caregiving,” Alex said, “but you can teach them the 

skills they need to provide quality care.” FirstLight 

offers training every month so each caregiver is 

given training on a quarterly basis. 

VNA of NWI’s Franko has great respect for his 

employees. “It is with great humility and a sense 

of privilege that we are invited into the lives of 

the families we serve – in any of our service lines,” 

he said. “In particular, the work we do in hospice 

is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. We 

are invited into our families’ lives in some of their 

darkest and most painful times in their lives. They 

trust us to help them, to have answers and to be 

courageous when they can’t.” 

“You can’t do this job for a paycheck,” Alex said. “If 

you’re chasing a dollar for it, it’s not the right fit.” 

The office staff at FirstLight is trained to cover shifts 

in case of an emergency and have even picked up 

stranded caregivers so they can still work, despite car troubles. 

“My office staff is amazing,” Alex said. 

Elara Caring’s team members strive to exceed the expectations 

of each patient every visit, every day, Hardman said. 

“We find that many aren’t cut out for this type of work, 

but those who are, are truly angels on Earth,” Franko said. 

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Giving Care & Caregiving | SERVICES FOR SENIORS 

and housing,” Lindner said. In January 

2021, 370 seniors were receiving Section 

8 housing assistance. The highest previous 

total was 325. 

By Doug Ross 

eniors often require more than physical 

care. That’s why it’s great that there are 

organizations and individuals who are willing 

to fill in the gaps between medical and family. 

And that’s where Porter County Aging and 

Community Services and St. Agnes Adult Day 

Service come in. 

Porter County Aging and Community 

Services (PCACS), with offices at 1005 

Campbell St, offers a variety of services for 

seniors and low-income residents, including 

bus transportation, energy assistance, 

wheelchair ramps, health insurance advice 

and more. 

“We are a large umbrella,” Executive Director 

Bruce Lindner explained, “but the biggest 

demand is for transportation.“ The bus 

service offers 25,000 rides per year to 400 

riders, including to St. Agnes. 

The need for transportation services for 

senior clients increased last year because of 

COVID, but it also made it more challenging. 

Drivers have close contact with riders 

because it’s a door-to-door service, unlike 

some other bus services in Northwest 

Indiana. Drivers go to the rider’s door to help 

the client get to the bus and get strapped in 

safely. They help the rider when they get to 

the destination, too. That can’t be done while 

maintaining six feet of social distancing. 

When drivers were idle because of COVID-19 

from March 23 to June 1 last year, Lindner 

had drivers deliver 30-pound boxes 

of food to clients. “There are 

probably 6,000 people in 

Porter County that are living 

way below the poverty line 

that are struggling for food 

In addition, PCACS assists seniors in 

exploring health insurance options, especially 

Medicare Part D. Those costs can vary widely 

and can be confusing without help. 

PCACS also partners with other agencies 

and service organizations to help seniors get 

wooden or metal ramps as needed. “For most 

of these people, it’s a life sentence to them 

where they’re ‘locked’ in their house,” 

Lindner said. 

“That’s what I love about this job. We try to 

solve people’s problems,” he said. 

St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center, on 

the grounds of St. Paul Catholic Church 

on Harrison Boulevard, offers activities for 

senior citizens to keep them stimulated 

on weekdays. The center specializes in 

Alzheimer’s and dementia care for guests, but 

some seniors attend just for socialization. 

“We’re not a nursing home. We’re not assisted 

living,” Director Barb Kubiszak said. “People 

here have a higher cognitive level. They’re 

able to walk around and make friends. We 

keep them active. Every half hour they’re here, 

they’re changing rooms, they’re changing 

activities,” Kubiszak said. 

“We can slow the progress of dementia. We 

can’t stop it, we can’t cure it, but we can slow 

it down,” she said. “If you have to go to >> 

“ 

There are... 

people in Porter County 

that are living way below 

the poverty line, struggling 

for food and housing... We try 

to solve people’s problems. 

“ 

Bruce Lindner 

Porter County Aging & 

Community Services, Inc. 


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Giving Care & Caregiving | SERVICES FOR SENIORS 

“ 

We’re not a nursing home. We’re not assisted 

living. [The seniors] are able to walk around 

and make friends. We keep them active. 

“ 

Barb Kubiszak 

St. Agnes Adult Day 

Service Center 

>> long-term care or assisted 

living, this is a good first step. 

The activities are tailored to 

them as much as possible,” 

Kubiszak said. “You have to go 

into their reality. If they’re back 

in the 1940s, that’s where you 

have to go.” When the seniors 

play “name that tune,” the music is 

from the 1930s to 1950s. 

“They live in the moment. That’s all they 

have,” she said. That moment might be the 

present day or years ago. 

There is also a men’s woodworking group 

that makes patio furniture and birdhouses 

sold to bring money back into the program. 

“They’re very well supervised. It gives them a 

feeling of accomplishment,” Kubiszak said. 

The center relies heavily on volunteers 

committed to helping at the center half a 

day a week. “Our program would not 

be what it is without them,” Kubiszak 

said. One guest who enjoyed 

cleaning was given a Bissell 

sweeper to clean floors. She 

asked when to expect a 

paycheck but was happy to 

learn she was volunteering. 

Guests enjoy their day 

at St. Agnes. “Their 

party faces are on 

when they come here,” 

Kubiszak said. 

“When they get home, they sometimes treat 

their caregivers so differently. The one who 

does the most for them seems to take the 

brunt of their frustrations.” 

Kubiszak emphasized how the center also 

benefits caregivers. “We are a tremendous 

respite opportunity for caregivers who need 

us to take care of them for the day,” she said. 

One woman brought her husband in for the 

first time and had a list of things she planned 

to accomplish that day. When she got back, 

Kubiszak said, the list had been ignored. “I 

went home and went to bed. It was the best 

sleep I have had in months,” the wife said. 

A good night’s sleep can be a challenge for 

caregivers. “Many people have their loved 

ones at home who get up in the night and 

wander out,” Kubiszak related. That’s why 

St. Agnes is secured when clients are in 

the building. 

Project Lifesaver, run through the Porter 

County Sheriff’s Department, is a good 

resource, Kubiszak added. The device worn 

by a patient sends a signal that can be located 

easily to help police find the patient promptly 

and contact the caregiver. 

For additional information about Porter 

County Aging and Community Services, 

call 219-465-7144 or visit 

www.portercountyacs.org. 

You can learn more about 

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Giving Care & Caregiving | STAYING INDEPENDENT 

“This line of work 

is a passion for our 

caregivers. They truly 

care about helping 

people and their 

well-being.” 

Lori and Dennis 

van Waardenberg 

At Home by Choice 

Home Care LLC 

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At Home by Choice 

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Kristi Ritter 

FirstCare 

Home Care 

By Doug Ross 

fter a lifetime of independence, it 

can be difficult to accept help with 

daily life. Fortunately, there are 

those who can help this transition 

and make it easier for everyone 

involved. 

Dennis and Lori van Waardenburg, certified 

senior care managers with At Home By Choice 

Home Care, believe when people are able to 

stay in their own home, it’s safer and makes 

people happier, and that in turn improves their 

quality of life. Family members can breathe 

easier, too, knowing personal needs are 

being met. 

At Home By Choice Home Care 

provides nonmedical private duty in-home 

services to individuals with disabilities, injuries, 

difficulties with mobility, surgery recovery, 

respite care or illnesses. 

(219-386-5781 | athomebychoice.net) 

Kelly Staubus, president of Assisting Seniors 

Inc., shares a story of helping a husband and 

wife. “They were really very independent 

people,” she said. “We’re in their home. They’ve 

got rules established, how they communicate 

with each other.” Observing their habits helps 

get the details right, including how they prefer 

their shoes to be tied. That’s how senior care 

providers can build client satisfaction. 

Assisting Seniors, Inc. is a full-service 

nonmedical care provider, helping with 

personal care and activities of daily living. 

(219-508-4155 | assistingseniorsnwi.com) 

“We must form a relationship and a trust in 

order to feel as if we are helping them and their 

families. That does not happen in one or two 

visits,” said Kristi Ritter, director and senior care 

advocate at FirstCare Home Care. 

FirstCare Home Care, a family-owned 

business, strives to provide exceptional care 

and non-medical services for individuals who 

choose to live in the comfort of their own 

home but need some additional help. 

(219-476-5785 | www.firstcarecorp.com) 

Each client is different, with different needs. 

Providing care goes beyond making sure the 

client’s physical needs are met. “Often, they 

miss their loved ones. Simply looking at photos 

and talking about them or calling on the phone 

helps tremendously,” Ritter added. 


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“Often, [our clients] 

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— Kristi Ritter 

FirstCare Home Care 

Kelly Staubus 

Assisting Seniors 

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Sometimes, assessing a potential client’s needs 

means sending them elsewhere, Staubus said. 

One potential client enjoys interactions but 

doesn’t speak much. Adult day care seemed a 

better option for that client, she explained, “It’s 

all kind of like a puzzle, seeing what’s the best 

fit for this particular client.” 

Working well with a client means building 

rapport. After all, the caregiver is a guest in 

the client’s home. “There’s a comfort level for 

a caregiver to remember very specific details, 

such as ‘Hey, I like ketchup on my pancakes,’” 

Staubus said. 

Tammy Jindra, founder and senior care 

consultant at Assisting Seniors, Inc. said prior 

to the pandemic, the company not only helped 

clients get ready for the day but also helped 

drive them around town as needed. That 

included not only doctor appointments but 

also the YMCA, visiting a friend, going to lunch, 

visiting a senior center or other location. Some 

clients love the farmer’s market and would sit 

on the bench and enjoy watching people. She 

always wanted fresh cut flowers, Jindra said. 

Another would sit on a bench in front of the 

courthouse with an ice cream cone or 

something to drink and take half an hour or 

more to enjoy watching people. 

“With seniors, that’s what the beauty of this 

is – allowing them to live their lives to the 

fullest,” Jindra said. “Going for a drive to Lake 

Michigan, driving along Route 12, is a pure joy.” 

The pandemic has complicated nonmedical 

assistance for seniors as well as other aspects of 

daily life. COVID-19 has meant minimizing the 

number of workers, with some of them having 

to quarantine for 14 days after being exposed 

to the disease, van Waardenburg said. 

“It takes a lot of courage to continue to go into 

people’s homes and support people in these 

times,” Jindra said. 

Being forced to stay away from parents and 

grandparents has taken a toll, too. 

Staubus helped a family connect virtually with 

a parent in assisted living at Christmas. The 

residents had a Santa pinata and were able 

to interact for a bit of time. The children were 

relieved to learn it was a fun Christmas for 

their parent. >> 

Do You 

Want to Make 

a Difference in 

Someone’s Life? 

YOU CAN AT TRADEWINDS! 

We have full & part-time 

positions, including 

Direct Support Professionals. 

Check out job opportunities 

or apply online today! 

tradewindservices.org/careers 

3198 East 83rd Place • Merrillville, IN 

(219) 945-0100 

ValpoChamber.org 17

Giving Care &Caregiving | STAYING INDEPENDENT 

“That’s what 

the beauty of 

this is – allowing 

[seniors] to live 

their lives to the 

fullest.” 

— Tammy Jindra 

Assisting Seniors 

>> The pandemic also has meant 

an uptick in inquiries from family 

members, Ritter said, mostly for 

companionship. “Families are 

overwhelmed with their own 

families and work life. Turning to 

outside assistance has become 

more acceptable to society in 

general. It truly is a balancing act 

for families,” she added. 

Family members find comfort from 

the extra help, too. “They’re not 

people who are taking the easy 

way out,” Staubus emphasized. They just need some help so they can 

address their own needs, too. 

Caregivers find satisfaction in their work on behalf of seniors. 

van Waardenburg said he and wife Lori decided to open the business 

after seeing his mother refuse to move in with them after her husband 

died. “She said unequivocally, ‘No, I want to stay in my home!’” Now 

he sees what many people struggle with to stay at home. He finds 

his reward in helping with traditional toileting, bathing, laundering, 

cooking, cleaning and other tasks to help them enjoy life, not simply 

endure it. “This line of work is a passion for our caregivers. They truly 

care about helping people and their well-being,” he said. 

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156 Washington St, Valparaiso, IN 

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

ValpoChamber.org 19

CHAMBER FOCUS | SALUTE TO LEADERSHIP 

>> CH 

SALUTE T O 

LEADERSHIP 

By Amy Lavalley 

Todd Leeth, 

Hoeppner Wagner & Evans 

Each year, the Valpo Chamber recognizes the accomplishments of two business 

leaders who embody a spirit of selfless dedication to the community. This year, 

Todd A. Leeth, a partner with the law firm Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, LLP, will 

receive the 2020 Distinguished Community Leader award. Ed Charbonneau, who 

has represented District 5 in the Indiana Senate since 2007, will receive the Legacy 

of Service award. Both recipients of these awards were nominated by their peers. 

2020 DISTINGUISHED 

COMMUNITY LEADER 

Todd Leeth 

The Distinguished Community Leader Award 

is the highest recognition the Chamber confers 

on an individual member of the business 

community. Recipients have demonstrated 

leadership, active involvement in the greater 

Valparaiso business community, reputation 

among business leaders, success in promoting 

business and industry development, 

overall contribution to the community and its 

quality of life, and professional activities. 

Todd A. Leeth says he’s “surprised, humbled 

and honored” to be selected as the 2020 Distinguished 

Community Leader. “I’ve always 

looked up to (previous honorees) all the years 

I’ve been active with the Chamber and the 

community and I know to be one of them is 

pretty humbling.” 

Leeth and his wife Cheryl grew up in Fort 

Wayne and Leeth majored in political science 

at Indiana University. He came to Valparaiso 

to attend the Valparaiso University 

School of Law and graduated in 

1988, when he got an offer from the 

law firm Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, 

LLP and decided to stay in Valpo. “As 

they say, the rest is history. I’ve really 

enjoyed my time with the firm and 

certainly my time in Valparaiso.” 

Leeth has served the community 

on a wide array of boards and in 

leadership positions over the years, 

including with the Chamber. He was 

a member for many years and served 

as a member of the Public Policy 

Committee, which worked with the 

Chamber leadership. He was elected 

to the Chamber’s executive committee 

before being named board chair 

a few years ago. 

Additionally, Leeth served for more 

than 12 years on the board of the Val- 


AMBER FOCUS 

paraiso Country Club, where he’s a longtime 

member; spearheads pro bono legal work 

from his law firm to Habitat for Humanity of 

Porter County; has served as a board member 

and 2019 campaign chair for the United Way 

of Porter County; and chairs the local committee 

for First Tee, a youth golf program at 

Creekside Golf Course and Training Center. 

“It’s a child development program where 

we teach life skills. They think they’re just 

learning golf. The golf course is our classroom,” 

he says. 

There is no better community where everybody 

seems to be rowing in the same direction, 

Leeth says, adding most people have 

the same or similar goals, even if they 

differ on how they get there. “It’s not true of 

many communities and I think that’s a tribute 

to the people here. It’s not about self-interest, 

he adds, “and the community is just full of 

those people.” 

Ed Charbonneau 

Indiana Senator, District 5 

Leeth is clearly one of them. When he joined 

Hoeppner Wagner and Evans, LLP, the law 

firm had a culture and legacy of service to the 

community, of giving back. “Once you get in, 

you see the need is there. You don’t need any 

encouragement. If you have a heart, you see 

what needs to be done,” he says. 

2020 LEGACY OF SERVICE 

Ed Charbonneau 

The Legacy of Service Award recognizes 

individuals in the community who, over time 

or under extraordinary circumstances, have 

given service to the community above and 

beyond what is expected in their profession. 

Recipients have created a legacy of community 

service and serve as an example for others 

to emulate. 

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau says he was 

“totally stunned” to receive the honor. “I realized 

that it isn’t me that’s getting this award. 

It’s everybody throughout my life who’s been 

willing to surround me and with all sincerity, 

make me look a little better than I am.” 

Charbonneau, who was born and raised in 

Gary, was the third generation of his family to 

work at U.S. Steel, and his daughter was the 

fourth, working there until she had a baby. He 

graduated from Wabash College, where he 

majored in economics and psychology, and 

served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He worked 

full-time at U.S. Steel and earned his MBA 

at Loyola University, taking classes at night 

and walking a mile to the downtown 

Chicago campus from the South Shore 

station. “I swore if I finished, I’d never go back 

to school.” 

He changed his mind, working on his law degree 

at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, 

only to be transferred by U.S. Steel to an 

office in Houston. That set off a series of work 

transfers with the steelmaker and law school 

switches that sent Charbonneau crisscrossing 

across the country, to Pittsburgh, San Francisco 

and then back to Chicago. The constant 

in a life that was anything but was Charbonneau’s 

wife Sharon, who he met at U.S. Steel 

in Gary and who had their first child while they 

were in Texas. “From day one, she has been a 

trooper in my life. She has been the glue that 

held us together.” 

Charbonneau worked his way up to human 

relations and corporate attorney for labor 

relations at U.S. Steel. When he returned to 

Chicago, he and Sharon moved their young 

family to Valparaiso in 1980. Charbonneau, 

who retired from U.S. Steel in 2002 as its head 

of government relations, shepherded the 

steelmaker through tough financial times, a 

skill that carried him through several future 

chapters in his life. 

He started the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission, 

which is still going strong. From 

there, he was hired to lead the Northwest 

Indiana Forum, bringing that through its own 

set of challenges, and then was asked to serve 

as president and CEO at Methodist 

Hospitals, which faced financial woes and 

other concerns. 

“One more time, I thought I’ll wait to ride off 

into the sunset and I’ll write one more chapter,” 

Charbonneau says, though of course, 

there was yet another chapter. When Vic 

Heinold announced he was resigning from 

the Indiana Senate to move to Louisiana, the 

Republican Party asked Charbonneau to complete 

Heinold’s term. He was subsequently 

elected to his first full term in 2008 and has 

served District 5 ever since. 

Charbonneau also has served as board member 

and president for both the United Way 

of Porter County and Lake Area United Way; 

served on the board of TradeWinds, receiving 

a lifetime service award there; is a lifetime 

member of the Methodist Hospitals board; 

and serves on the board of Opportunity 

Enterprises. 

“If you were to look at a picture of me, looking 

at it from the moon and getting closer, 

you realize it’s a mosaic of all the people I’ve 

encountered in my life,” Charbonneau says. 

“That is who I am, all those dots that were connected 

were because of what the good Lord 

had for me.” 

The Valparaiso community is lucky to count 

such dedicated and positive people among its 

leaders. Congratulations to Todd A. Leeth and 

Ed Charbonneau and thank you for all you do. 

ValpoChamber.org 21

WELCOME 

TO AN EVEN 

BIGGER, BETTER 

NETWORK 

Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have merged, T-Mobile has 

added more towers, more engineers and more coverage. 

So you don’t have to choose between an amazing network 

and great prices. At T-Mobile, you get both! 

Learn more at t-mobile.com/acrossamerica 

Proud Partner of Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. 

Coverage not available in some areas. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information. T-Mobile, the T logo, Magenta and the magenta color are registered trademarks of 

Deutsche Telekom AG.© 2020 T-Mobile USA, Inc. 


CHAMBER ANNIVERSARIES >> 

ANNIVERSARY 

A showcase of member investors who have demonstrated 

an ongoing commitment 

HAPPY 

40 

Years 

• Comcast Business 

• Opportunity Enterprises, Inc. 

• Tri-Star Pipe & Supply 

30 

Years 

• Task Force Tips 

25 

Years 

• Aberdeen Manor/ 

Affairs to Remember 

• Recycling & Waste 

Reduction District of 

Porter County 

• Rice & Rice Attorneys 

at Law, LLC 

20 

Years 

• BucherTech 

• Commercial In-Sites, LLC 

• Culver’s of Valparaiso 

• SERVPRO of Porter County 

• Thelpack, Inc. 

• Valuation Services, LLC 

15 

Years 

• Coldwell Banker Realty – 

Melissa Osika 

• Valparaiso Nazarene Church 

10 

Years 

• Brilliant Results 

Cleaning Service 

• Dunebrook, Inc. 

• McColly Real Estate 

• Northwest Indiana 

Eye & Laser Center 

5 

Years 

• Affordable Remodelers 

• Cosmo Spa Nails 

• Duo Sequenza 

• Indiana Ballet Theatre 

NW, Inc. 

• Kemp’s Office City, Inc. 

• Southshore Managed IT 

Group, Inc. 

• Shady Creek Winery 

• Terry Abner Salon 

• The Valparaiso Inn B & B 

Where beautiful 

beautiful 

smiles begin! 

begin! 

begin! 

Where beautiful 

smiles begin! 

Puntillo 

r. Anthony Dr. Puntillo Anthony Puntillo Dr. Puntillo Anthony Puntillo 

r. Christopher Crane Dr. Christopher Crane Crane Dr. Christopher Crane Crane 

olyn r. ardiner Carolyn Dr. Gardiner Carolyn Gardiner Dr. Gardiner Carolyn Gardiner 

Dr. Anthony Puntillo 

Dr. Christopher Crane 

Dr. Carolyn Gardiner 

Crown Point Crown Point Crown Point Crown PointMerrillville 

Crown Merrillville 

Point Merrillville Merrillville Schererville 

Merrillville Schererville Schererville Schererville Valparaiso Schererville Valparaiso Valparaiso Valparaiso Valparaiso 

Crown Point 

Merrillville 

Schererville 

Valparaiso 

1539 S Court 1539 StS Court 1539 StCourt 1539 1539 S StS Court St St 200 1539 West S 200 Court 84th West St Dr 

200 84th West West Dr 84th 200 84th Dr West Dr 84th 1000 200 Dr Caroline 1000 West 1000 Caroline 84th Caroline Ave 1000 Ave Dr Caroline Ave 1000 Caroline Ave911 Wall 911 Ave St 1000 Wall Caroline St 911 Wall Ave 911 St Wall 911 St Wall St 911 Wall St 

Crown Point, Crown IN Point, 46307 Crown IN Point, 46307 Crown IN 46307 Point, IN Merrillville, IN 46307 Crown Merrillville, Point, IN 46410 IN Merrillville, 46307 IN 46410 Merrillville, IN 46410 IN 46410IN 46410 Merrillville, Schererville, IN IN IN Schererville, 46410 46375IN 46375 Schererville, IN 46375 Valparaiso, IN Valparaiso, Schererville, 46375 IN 46383 Valparaiso, IN 46383 IN Valparaiso, 46375 IN 46383 Valparaiso, IN 46383IN 46383 Valparaiso, IN 46383 

(219) 662-2264 

(219) 769-7447 

(219) 322-8552 

(219) 462-3537 

www.pandcsmiles.com (219) 662-2264 (219) 662-2264 (219) 662-2264 (219) 662-2264 (219) (219) 769-7447 662-2264 (219) 769-7447 (219) 769-7447 (219) 769-7447 (219) (219) 322-8552 769-7447 (219) 322-8552 (219) 322-8552 (219) 322-8552 (219) (219) 462-3537 322-8552 (219) 462-3537 (219) 462-3537 (219) 462-3537 (219) 462-3537 

s.com ww.pandcsmiles.com 

www.pandcsmiles.com www.pandcsmiles.com 

ValpoChamber.org 23

BUSINESS 

>> BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS 

SNAPSHOTS 

Business Snapshot businesses are selected among Valpo Chamber Members related to the overall 

theme of the Magazine issue. These Chamber members are all retirement communities. 

AVALON SPRINGS 

HEALTH CAMPUS 

2400 Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso 

219-462-1778 

www.avalonspringshc.com 

Contact: Heather Schlegelmilch 

At Avalon Springs Health Campus, we’re ready to adapt to what every new day 

brings, while staying true to our mission of providing compassionate care. This 

means that no matter what’s going on in the world outside, we’ll keep you 

safe, we’ll keep you connected, and we’ll keep you close to our hearts. 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

LIFE CARE CENTER OF VALPARAISO 

3405 N Campbell St, Valparaiso 

219-462-1023 

www.lifecarecenterofvalparaiso.com 

Contact: Cathy Ellis 

We feature a warm, welcoming environment and highly skilled staff 

just minutes away from Northwest Health locations. We offer short-term 

rehabilitation, long-term care and post-operative recovery to help you or your 

loved one live their best life. 

B 

E M 

R 

SINCE 1990 

E 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

E 

SINCE 2011 

VALPO CHAMBER 

PINES VILLAGE RETIREMENT 

COMMUNITIES 

3303 Pines Village Cir, Valparaiso 

219-465-1591 

www.pinesvillage.org 

Contact: Martin Sonnenberg 

We embrace your independence with a “village-style” approach to retirement 

living offering security, flexibility, opportunities for socialization, fitness, and 

continued learning. You choose the space and lifestyle that works for you, a 

maintenance-free cottage or paired home in the Meridian Woods Campus, or 

an easygoing apartment at the Pines Village Campus. 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

E M 

E 

RESIDENCES AT COFFEE CREEK 

2300 Village Point, Chesterton 

219-921-5200 

www.residencesatcoffeecreek.com 

Contact: Natalie Reisen 

We provide an impressive collection of private, senior living apartments 

with maintenance-free living and personalized care, if ever needed. We’re a 

licensed residential care community that strives to cultivate a strong sense of 

community and active senior living. 

B 

R 

SINCE 2018 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

SINCE 1984 

E 


DEAR COLLEAGUE, 

As a longtime United Way of Porter County supporter, I understand the value 

the United Way Network brings to Northwest Indiana to safeguard the success 

of our community. 

I am truly grateful to see United Way support our neighbors in need by making 

sure resources such as food and shelter are available when needed. One such 

food program is Backpacks United. This program aims to feed hungry children 

on the weekends. In the Valparaiso school district alone there are nearly two 

times more children hungry than before the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way 

is stepping up to fill the gap here and in other school districts. 

Working with United Way ensures a healthy tomorrow today. 

WILL YOU STEP UP TO CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS? 

VALPO CHAMBER 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

SINCE 2003 

E 

SUPPORT NEIGHBORS 

IN NEED 

Visit unitedwaypc.org/donate or call 

219.464.3583 x 103 to discover 

more ways your business can step up. 

RITTENHOUSE VILLAGE AT VALPARAISO 

1300 Vale Park Rd, Valparaiso 

219-531-2484 

www.rittenhousevillages.com 

Contact: Debby Atsas 

We have a long history of providing exceptional care to seniors within our 

communities. Offering both a warm village atmosphere and a team of 

remarkably caring professionals.Our sought after communities have welcomed 

and cared for our residents with the greatest respect and intentions. 

Thank you for your commitment to your community. 

Sincerely, 

Longtime United Way Supporter, 

Past Campaign Chair & Board Member 

VALPO CHAMBER 

STORYPOINT OF CHESTERTON 

700 Dickinson Rd, Chesterton 

219-263-9383 

www.storypoint.com 

Contact: Courtney Fokianos 

We are Northwest Indiana’s premier independent living community. 

We designed our community as a place where people can live better than 

anywhere else. It’s not just a place to live, it’s a place to brag about living. It’s a 

place where an executive chef creates bold, flavorful, gourmet meals on a daily 

basis and a place full of enough health and wellness to keep you physically fit 

and mentally active. 

M 

B 

E M 

R 

E 

SINCE 2017 

NEED SOME HELP? 

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. 

On special occasions or a regular cleaning schedule. 

www.boyconn.com • projects@boyconn.com 

Almost 

Call Today: (219) 462-2665 

The most trusted and reliable 

team in house cleaning. 

Call for a free, in-home consultation and estimate. 

219-386-2828 

©2021 Molly Maid, Inc. 

Each franchise is locally owned and independently operated. 

Visit us at MollyMaid.com to learn more. 

ValpoChamber.org 25

MEMBERS 

NEW 

@properties 

111 Franklin St 

Michigan City 46360 

219-243-2120 

Candy Freehling 

Real Estate-Commercial & Residential 

Established in 2000, @properties was built 

around a simple but elusive concept: provide 

brokers and clients with the highest level of 

service in the industry through cutting edge 

sales and marketing programs and a culture 

that values innovation, relationships and a 

strong local focus. In less than 10 years, @ 

properties became the #1 brokerage firm in 

Chicago. We then expanded to the surrounding 

suburbs and quickly grew into the largest 

independent broker in Illinois. Ultimately @ 

properties Michigan/Indiana was born with 

the understanding that our vast network of 

Chicago area clients provided a great advantage 

to Harbor Country buyers and sellers and vice 

versa. Today @properties is one of the top 

eleven residential brokers in the U.S. by sales 

volume and one of the leading brokerage firms 

for Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana. 

As a locally owned independent company, 

@properties is deeply committed to supporting 

the communities and clients we serve. We are 

constantly evolving, but remain focused on that 

one simple idea behind our founding. 

THE VALPO CHAMBER WELCOMES BOARD-APPROVED NEW MEMBERS 

WHO JOINED DURING DECEMBER, 2020; JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2021. 

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

Interested in joining the largest and most active chamber in Northwest Indiana? 

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

At Home By Choice 

Home Care LLC 

10971 Four Seasons Pl, Ste 123 

Crown Point 46307 

219-386-5781 

Dennis van Waardenburg 

Healthcare/Home Health Services 

athomebychoice.net 

To execute our mission, we offer various 

non-medical home care services that are made 

specifically to meet your health and personal 

needs. Our team of professional caregivers 

is ready to assist you with your daily routine. 

The services we offer are all aimed toward 

improving your overall well-being. Regular 

office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, but caregivers 

are available 24 hours a day. 

bNutty 

6370 Ameriplex Dr, Ste 102 

Portage 46368 

844-426-8889 

Carol Podolak 

Manufacturing/Industrial 

bnutty.com 

bNutty is a gourmet peanut butter company 

started by two local NWI women. 

CCSK Law 

57 Michigan Ave, Ste 101 

219-230-3600 

Isaac Carr 

Attorneys/Legal Services 

ccsklaw.com 

CCSK Law serves clients in Northwest Indiana 

with efficient legal solutions in terms you’ll 

understand. We assist with wills, trusts, 

Medicaid planning, business consultation, 

entity creation, contracts, real estate, evictions 

and FSBO. 

ColorCo 

PO Box 90 46384 

219-232-9285 

Benji Stemple 

Credit Card Services 

colorco.net 

Merchant services/credit card processing for 

virtually all business types of any size. Always 

open 24/7 to support and service client’s 

expectations. 

Continued on pg. 28 >> 

Childcare & Early Childhood Education • 

Afterschool Care • Food Pantry 


Our Care 

IS WHAT WE SHARE WITH YOU 

Community Healthcare System Home Health Services embraces all of the 

comforts of home coupled with compassionate medical care. Patient care 

coordinators work closely with social workers, nursing staff, case managers and 

physicians to coordinate services that specifically match the needs of our patients. 

• Cardiac Management 

• Home Infusion Care 

• Hospice Coordination 

• Nursing Care 

• Occupational Therapy 

• Pain Management 

• Physical Therapy 

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation 

• Rehabilitation 

• Social Services 

• Speech Therapy 

• Wound Care 

COMMUNITY 

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ® 

Home Health Services 

Community Hospital • Munster 

St. Catherine Hospital • East Chicago 

St. Mary Medical Center • Hobart 

Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center • Crown Point 

219-440-5400 

COMHS.org 

ValpoChamber.org 27

Continued from pg. 26 

Dailey Law Firm, P.C. 

13 E Lincolnway, Ste 201 

219-232-8821 

Jason A. Ott 

Attorneys/Legal Services 

daileylawyers.com 

Jason A. Ott is a personal injury attorney with 

the Dailey Law Firm. Jason focuses primarily on 

auto accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death, and 

medical malpractice matters. Jason is licensed 

in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Primary office 

is in downtown Valparaiso. 

Luxe Life Medical 

606 Lincolnway 

219-247-4003 

Elizabeth Moerman, FNP 

Medical 

luxelifemedical.com 

Family practice overseeing all aspects of a 

patient’s health from birth to geriatrics. 

Moses Eyecare Center 

115 E Lincolnway 

219-736-2020 

Dr. Jennifer Kohn 

Ophthalmologists/Optometrists/Optical Products 

moseseyecare.com 

Moses Eyecare is a family-owned business that 

has been taking care of patients since 1975. 

We apply the most advanced treatments and 

technology to our eye care all while keeping the 

latest styles and fashion for your eyewear. 

The Pathfinder Group, 

LTD 

2307 Roosevelt Rd 

219-926-5273 

William Hale 

Computer Networking/Products/Services/Training 

pfgltd.com 

Design and maintenance of software systems for 

the financial services industry. 

Phil’s Friends 

1249 Arrowhead Ct 

Crown Point 46307 

219-869-3152 

Judy Earnshaw 

Health & Wellness Products & Services 

philsfriends.org 

Phil’s Friends is a non-profit, faith-based 

organization that distributes free care packages 

and monthly cards of hope to cancer patients 

of all ages across the country. Volunteer 

opportunities are available for all ages on 

Monday evenings, Tuesday mornings, and 

Thursday mornings and afternoons. 

Seal Solutions Inc. 

3103 Cascade Dr 

219-246-1302 

Craig Tomerlin 

Manufacturing/Industrial 

sealsolutionsinc.com 

NEW MEMBERS 

Mechanical seals and repair, gaskets, and 

packing for pumps and compressors. 

CONGRATULATIONS 

2020 DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY LEADER 

Thanks for all you do for our Firm, 

our clients and our community. 

www.hwelaw.com 


Synergy Media 

219-393-4693 

James Bannister 

Photography 

synergymediausa.com 

Synergy Media is a small business helping 

individuals build their personal and professional 

brands through photography. 

Technology Consultants 

Group, LLC 

1421 E 91st Dr 

Merrillville 46410 

219-662-2511 

Richard Cannon 

Audio Video/Automation/Production 

Security Products/Services 

Home Theater/Media Systems 

tcgdesigns.com 

Technology Consultants Group, LLC has been in 

the area for over twenty years and has been 

providing companies and individuals with audio 

visual conferencing and unified communication 

systems, digital camera (CCTV) systems, access 

control (card swipe) systems and network and 

WIFI solutions. We design/build all systems, 

install and commission all hardware and service 

and support every product sold. 

Valpo Raised Doors, LLC 

PO Box 2073 46384 

219-916-5260 

Jason Marquart 

Home Improvement 

Valpo Raised Doors, LLC proudly serves 

Northwest Indiana. Family owned and operated, 

with over twenty years of experience in sales, 

service, and installation of garage doors and 

operations. 

Valle Landscaping 

219-242-2557 

Veny Valle 

Landscape Design/Products/Services/Supplies 

vallelandscapingllc.com 

We pride ourselves on the quality and 

timeliness of our work and our ultimate goal is 

to ensure that you are completely satisfied with 

the end result of our work. 

Veleros Restaurant 

902 Calumet Ave, Ste 2 

219-615-3915 

Veny Valle 

Restaurants 

velerosrestaurant.com 

Veleros is a family-owned restaurant that started 

in September, 2020. We proudly serve Mexican 

food with a twist. 

MAKING 

BEST DAYS 

POSSIBLE 

GREAT LEADERSHIP 

AND UNITED WAY 

United Way of Porter County 

GO HAND-IN-HAND! 

VNA of Northwest Indiana is the premier advocate for aging 

members of the community, providing hospice care, palliative 

care, VNA Meals on Wheels, the Lifeline response system, 

community education, grief support for families, the Phoenix 

Center with grief support for children, a Five-Star We Honor 

Veterans program, and recognition programs celebrating the 

lives of our loved ones. 

As a community nonprofit, VNA of NWI provides $1.2 million 

in charity care every year. We are guided by mission, not profit. 

Support YOUR local VNA – trusted by the community to lead 

the way with care, compassion, and comfort. 

EXPLORE SERVICES | SUPPORT THE VNA FOUNDATION 

We can’t thank you enough for your commitment to our community. 

We truly appreciate your many years of service in Northwest Indiana. 

CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR CHARBONNEAU! 

LEGACY OF SERVICE AWARD WINNER 

(219) 462-5195 | www.vnanwi.org 

ValpoChamber.org 29

AROUND 

AROUND TOWN is an important element to the local business coverage of Valparaiso 

Magazine. Submissions are permitted 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 

@properties, the #1 residential real estate firm in 

Chicagoland and one of the top 10 brokerage firms 

in the nation, announced it is opening a new office in 

Valparaiso, Indiana, anchored by one of the area’s top 

brokers, Dawn Collins, and her full team, as well as a 

number of other leading agents in the community. 

@properties will take over the Dawn Collins | Executive 

Realty office at 57 Franklin St., in the heart of downtown 

Valparaiso, and absorb Collins’ 11-person team, which 

includes her son and business partner, Aaron Collins. 

Other top producers, including Susie Jaskowiak, Alissa 

and Mike Johns, Wayne and Jarrod Carr, Meredith 

Klemm, Christie Kolb, and Erica Kendera have also joined 

the Valparaiso office. 

@properties 

recently welcomed 

Susie Jaskowiak 

to their Northwest 

Indiana office as one 

of their founding 

agents and real estate 

advisors. Susie, who 

consistently ranks 

amongst Valparaiso’s 

top producing 

Realtors®, will continue 

to represent buyers 

and sellers. Always 

one to think outside of the box, Susie is known for her 

resourceful nature, local connections and great instincts. 

Affiliating with the region’s fastest growing brokerage 

known for cutting-edge sales, marketing programs and 

a culture that values relationships, innovation and local 

focus, @properties was the logical choice. In less than 10 

years, @properties became the #1 brokerage in Chicago 

and continues to expand regionally. @properties is one of 

the top 11 residential brokers in the U.S. by sales volume. 

You can reach Susie at 219-508-6690 or susiejaskowiak@ 

atproperties.com. 

Managing member 

of the law firm 

Blachly, 

Tabor, Bozik & 

Hartman LLC, 

Randall J. Zromkoski, 

has been appointed 

to serve on the 

Board of Directors 

of the VNA Northwest Indiana. Randy has a long history 

of community service as an advocate for people with 

mental and physical disabilities. He has been the past 

president of the Boards of Directors for the Porter 

County Family Counseling Center, Mental Health 

America of Porter County, and the Porter-Starke Services 

Foundation. He has also served as past president of the 

Valpo Chamber and the United Way of Porter County. 

Randy and his wife, Jo Ellen, served as co-chairs for the 

United Way’s campaign in 2018. When he was honored 

by the Valpo Chamber with the Legacy of Service 

Award in 2019, Randy said, “I’m so grateful to work in a 

community that understands that every human being … 

has a right to be treated with respect, support, nurturing, 

and love.” Randy practices law in the areas of Social 

Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation. 

For more information visit their website at BTBHLaw.com 

or call 219-464-1041. 

Center for Hospice Care is proud to announce 

Dr. Matthew Misner as the organization’s new Hospice 

Physician. He is a new addition to Center for Hospice 

Care’s Medical team. Dr. Matt Misner is a board-certified 

Pediatrician who is responsible for working with the 

staff and patients of Center for Hospice Care. He will be 


providing medical care to both 

pediatric and adult patients 

in the home and inpatient 

settings. In unification with 

the rest of the medical team, 

he will also be responsible for 

the education of fellows and 

residents that rotate through 

the organization. Center for 

Hospice Care is a community 

based, not-for-profit organization, improving the quality of 

living through hospice, home health, grief counseling, and 

community education. Put simply, our mission is “to improve 

the quality of living” for those in our community through 

our support of Center for Hospice Care, an organization 

that helps patients and their loved ones experience the best 

possible quality of living even as they face end of life. 

Franciscan 

Physician 

Network’s Zohair 

Ahmed, MD, has received 

board certification 

in interventional 

gastroenterology, 

demonstrating nationally 

recognized standards for 

education, knowledge, 

experience and skills. 

Dr. Ahmed practices at 

Woodland Health Center in Michigan City and Valparaiso 

Specialty Health Center. He did his residency in internal 

medicine at the University of Illinois, along with a fellowship 

in gastroenterology and an advanced fellowship in 

interventional endoscopy at University of Illinois at Chicago. 

His clinical interests include advanced diagnostic and 

therapeutic endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), 

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), 

biliary and pancreatic disease, gastrointestinal stent 

placement and endoscopic bariatric procedures (balloon 

placement and endoscopic suturing). Franciscan Physician 

Network Woodland Health Center is located at 8865 W. 400 

North in Michigan City. Valparaiso Specialty Health Center 

is located at 2590 W. Morthland Dr. (U.S. 30) in Valparaiso. 

MyChart Virtual Visits are available. To make an appointment 

for an in person or online visit, call (219) 872-6566. >> 

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ValpoChamber.org 31

AROUND 

>> Sue 

Grossbauer 

from The 

Grossbauer 

Group 

announced that 

Adam Ispas has 

advanced to the 

role of CEO of 

The Grossbauer 

Group. Through his 15 years of service to their 

clients, Adam’s visionary creativity has led to his 

being named on the “People to Watch” list by 

Graphic Design USA. His leadership has earned 

him the respect of his team members and clients 

alike. He is earnestly committed to client success in 

each and every project he guides. With this shift, 

Grossbauer is staying on board and will help guide 

client marketing strategies, plans, and tactics in the 

new role of Senior Marketing Consultant. She’ll be 

devoting her time to working directly with clients. 

For more than 30 years, it has been her honor to 

collaborate with client teams across the nation, 

and she greatly looks forward to continuing this 

important work. Adam and Sue are excited to 

have such a strong integrated marketing team in 

place and are proud of the way they have adapted 

to their new work model over recent months. 

They continue to provide full-circle marketing 

solutions encompassing web development, digital 

marketing, graphic design, photography, video, 

creative writing, and more. 

BRANCH 

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CENTIER.COM/LOCATIONS 

MEMBER FDIC 

All telephone users in the 219 and 574 area codes of 

northern Indiana are encouraged to start using 10-digit 

dialing instead of seven digit to make local phone calls. 

NITCO customers can start using 10-Digit dialing 

immediately, all other carriers will be ready to convert to 10 

digit dialing in April. The full transition will be mandatory by 

October 24th of this year. Should you have any questions 

please feel free to visit the NITCO website at www.nitco. 

com/10Digit for more information. 

Services, the largest 

family owned full service 

security company in the 

Midwest, is pleased to 

announce that Brian Duffy 

has been promoted from 

Chief Operating Officer of 

Per Mar to President and 

Chief Executive Officer, 

effective January 1, 2021. Brian Duffy becomes the third 

generation of the Duffy family to lead Per Mar. The company 

was founded by John and Eleanor Duffy in Davenport, Iowa 

in 1953. Michael Duffy will continue with the company as 

Chairman of the Board. In Preventive his role as Care President | Dentistry and Chief | Surgical Care 

Executive Officer, Dog Brian Training Duffy | Boarding will assume | Wildlife responsibility Rehab | And for More 

the long term vision and ongoing strategic plan ensuring the 

viability M•A•H and success of the organization. He will continue to be 

responsible for all operations in the company, CELEBRATING and be working 75 YEARS 

closely with the division heads and support groups. of Caring For & Community more 

info, www.permarsecurity.com. 

PET HEALTH CARE FOR 

CATS, DOGS & EXOTICS 

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100 Lincolnway, Suite 1 • Valparaiso, IN 46383 www.riceandrice.com 

ValpoChamber.org 33

A LOOK BACK 

>> A LOOK BACK 

These Valpo Chamber 

stories were published in 

The Vidette-Messenger 

fifty years ago on 

April 6 and April 8, 1971. 

One-Day Member Drive 

Art Malasto, president of the Greater 

Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, 

announced that 40 local businessmen 

will be in action calling on prospects 

for chamber membership in the 

Greater Valparaiso area. 

The one-day drive to add 40 

memberships, under the direction 

of Chamber Vice President 

Richard Koening and Contact Club 

Chairman Ron McGuire, is essential 

if the chamber is to meet its growing 

responsibilities for community 

leadership, according to Malasto. 

The volunteers will meet for coffee 

at 7:30 a.m. at the Lembke Motor Inn 

to receive instructions and prospects 

and then will split into teams to call on 

new businesses and those who are no 

longer active in the chamber. 

Expect To Top Member Goal 

‘Takes Two’ • Chamber of Commerce 

officials Ron McGuire (left), Art Malasto 

and Richard Koening are shown with 

folders in which chamber membership 

drive volunteers will carry information 

to prospective members Wednesday. 

Drive’s theme, ‘It takes two—the 

Chamber of Commerce and you,’ is 

illustrated on folders. 

Preliminary reports indicate that 

the Greater Valparaiso Chamber 

of Commerce membership drive 

will exceed the goal of 40 new or 

renewed memberships, according 

to Contact Club Chairman Ronald 

McGuire. 

McGuire said over 30 paid 

memberships were received in 

Wednesday’s drive with others still 

coming into the chamber. Chamber 

President Art Malasto, who hosted 

a victory party for the volunteer 

workers in his home Wednesday 

afternoon, said, “We are deeply 

grateful to the volunteers and 

businessmen who made this victory 

possible. Our Chamber of Commerce 

faces unusual challenges as the 

largest businessmen’s organization in 

Indiana’s fastest growing county. The 

support and participation of every 

business and interested individual 

According to Malasto, the chamber is 

facing its greatest challenge in many 

years due to the combined effects 

of the tightening economy and the 

constantly growing demands on 

the chamber for new services. If the 

chamber is to maintain its services on 

a level consistent with the needs of 

the community, the chamber needs 

the ideas, the participation, and the 

financial support of every business 

Photo of 

IIC Machinery from 

The Vidette Messenger, 

January 29, 1977 

and professional person in Valparaiso, 

Malasto said. 

The theme of the Contact Club drive 

is “It takes two—the Chamber of 

Commerce and you.” This theme points 

out the necessary partnership between 

citizens and volunteer organizations 

like the chamber in keeping the kind 

of a community climate in which both 

businesses and individuals can thrive 

and prosper, according to McGuire. 

Apr. 8, 71 

is vital, if we are to meet these 

challenges successfully.” 

McGuire urged anyone who has 

not yet been contacted to call 

the chamber office, so a Contact 

Club representative can arrange 

to personally discuss the Chamber 

action program. 

4-6-71 

McGuire pointed out that the 

chamber “is only as effective as 

its members make it — and like all 

human endeavors it is subject to 

errors.” But, he said, “Excellence is 

our primary goal. We now have nearly 

30 chamber committees working 

together for a better community. 

And, the partnership between 

the chamber, local governmental 

officials, and private citizens is 

becoming much more effective in 

solving community problems.” 


First New C-C Member • James C. McGill 

(left), member of Chamber of Commerce 

Contact Club, presented membership 

plaque to William Wheeland of Jess 

Bowman Associates as Chamber’s 

first new membership of the drive. 

PRESENTER: NICKI HUSIAR, 

PRESIDENT OF MOVING PLACES 

April 21, 2021, 6-7 pm 

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Long after the April showers have passed and the May flowers have bloomed, 

summer allergies kick in. But there is something you can do about it, before 

ragweed and other allergens take hold of your family this summer. 

Get a whole-home cooling system serviced for just $88 until June 18, 

2021. This service, which is typically $102, is the BEST way to keep 

your indoor air quality pure this summer. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SUMMER AIR CONDITIONING 

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Our multi-point air conditioning system tune-up includes getting your wholehome 

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and lubricated to improve every aspect of your system’s performance. Plus, 

you’ll know that you’ve done your part to improve your indoor air quality and 

help your system last as long as possible. 

Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc., in 

partnership with Moving Places, is offering a 

FREE online Zoom program, "The Upside to 

Downsizing." Most people know that a day will 

come when they need to consider downsizing, 

whether to simplify their lifestyle, cut costs, 

or be closer to family and friends. 

Nicki Husiar of Moving Places, a pioneer in the 

moving management industry, will lead 

"The Upside to Downsizing." Topics include: 

• The benefits and where to start 

• Sorting, donating, and selling 

• Selecting a moving company 

For more information and to register for this 

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PINESVILLAGEVALPO 

PINESVILLAGE 

ValpoChamber.org 35

A health plan 

that may give you 

$6,016 * back? Nice. 

Managing employee health care costs is critical — now more than ever. All Savers® Alternate Funding from 

UnitedHealthcare is designed to give you more ways to save, including a possible surplus refund if employee 

medical claims are lower than expected. In fact, more than a third of All Savers customers in northwest Indiana 

received a surplus refund last year, the average of which was $6,016.* 

More freedom 

Exemption from most 

Affordable Care Act regulations 

and state insurance mandates. 

More stability 

Safeguards for your employee 

benefit plan that help protect 

it from unexpected high 

medical claims. 

More ways to save 

Wellness programs at no additional 

cost to you designed to help your 

employees get healthier and lower 

costs for everyone. 

To learn more, contact your broker or visit uhc.com/southshore 

* Yep, that’s a real number. Over a third of UnitedHealthcare’s All Savers customers in northwest Indiana received a refund in 

2019, the average of which was $6,016. Please consult a tax and/or legal advisor to determine if, by receiving this surplus 

refund, there are any restrictions or obligations, or whether the surplus refund is taxable. 

Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by 

All Savers Insurance Company. 3100 AMS Blvd., Green Bay, WI 54313 (800) 291-2634. 

B2B EI20227604.0 7/20 ©2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 20-227606-A 


BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT >> 

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Call Danielle Oeding at the Valpo Chamber 

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

ValpoChamber.org 37

TALKING TOURISM 

>> A PEEK @ 

Taylor Bundren 

Spring is almost here! Like many, we are 

ready for the warmer temperatures and 

the beauty of new growth that comes 

with this season. After a long winter and 

a challenging year, we’re reflecting on all 

of the encouragement and positivity from 

our community. 

This past year was difficult for many 

different reasons, but we experienced 

our community pulling together to 

support each other. It warms our hearts to 

see you enjoy the beauty of nature in our 

parks! To all those who visited your local 

parks, donated, or sponsored our Winter 

Lights Drive-Through, thank you! 

In 2020 we saw an increase in visitation to 

our parks with so many people seeking 

out opportunities to hike, walk, run, or 

enjoy nature in safe spaces. We loved 

hearing from community members who 

visited Brincka Cross Gardens, Sunset Hill 

Farm, Brookdale County Park, or Dunn’s 

Bridge for the first time. We enjoyed 

seeing people embrace new outdoor 

activities, and many are eager to spend 

more time in nature for the physical and 

mental health benefits. 

At the end of 2019, we celebrated the 

opening of the Horton Family Children’s 

Education Center at Sunset Hill Farm. 

Thanks to the efforts of the Porter County 

Parks Foundation, Porter County Park 

Board, and our generous donors over the 

last decade, the Horton Family Children’s 

Education Center is now a prominent 

feature of Sunset Hill Farm that provides 

opportunities for interactive STEM 

learning and citizen science, as well as a 

unique space for events and rentals. 

Our team is dedicated to natural area 

restoration work and the flourishing 

of native beauty in our parks. This past 

year, our staff focused on many different 

projects at our properties, including 

invasive species removal, native seed 

collection, and bringing in new plants 

and trees. Along with these, some of 

the highlights from Sunset Hill were 

pond restoration and planting various 

hardwood trees throughout the park. At 

Brincka Cross Gardens, our team also 

planted native ferns, sedges, grasses, 

North American rhododendrons, 

hardwood trees, and other plants and 

trees. At our Hawk Ridge property in 

Pine Township, we removed invasive 

species and converted former agriculture 

fields to native prairies. We continued 

with native seed collection and seeded 

tallgrasses, sedges, and rushes at 

Brookdale County Park. 

If you’re excited about the warmer 

weather coming soon and looking for 

nearby trails to visit, we invite you to 

enjoy your local parks. Sunset Hill Farm 

and Brincka Cross Gardens both offer 

woodland trails for hiking, walking, or 

running. Brookdale County Park and 

Dunn’s Bridge are perfect spots for 

picnics and fishing. The first hints of 

spring will soon begin to appear - the 

trails are waiting for you! 

Each year, we look forward to serving 

you, our community. To us, 2020 

confirmed the importance of open 

spaces in nature for the public to enjoy. 

We’re proud to provide neighbors with 

quality parks – an essential component of 

any great community. 


To the citizens of Valparaiso and Porter County, Indiana: 

The Valpo Chamber would like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to the first 

responders, all service staff, orderlies, nurse’s aides, nurses, physicians, and administrators at 

the three major healthcare organizations serving the Greater Valparaiso population which are: 

Franciscan Health Systems, Northwest Health, and Saint Mary Medical Center. 

These past 12 months have been extremely difficult for these three organizations’ total work 

force. Each of them performed in an outstanding manner to provide the very critical medical 

needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These organizations had to allocate specific areas of their hospital for treatment of COVID-19 

patients. They were also mandated to reduce elective procedures if they were not life threatening. 

The dedication and commitment to patients during this time has been an important 

example of the vital role each organization plays in the overall quality of life and 

health of our citizens. 

These organizations that serve Valparaiso and the Porter County community have shown 

they are truly three of the greatest assets serving our population during this extreme period. 

As the number of citizens getting inoculated with the vaccine increases, and our 

pandemic starts to recede, let us not forget that the Franciscan Health Systems, 

Northwest Health, and Saint Mary Medical Center played a pivotal role in serving 

and protecting our citizens in this time of need. 

Thomas Long Rex G. Richards CCE 

Valpo Chamber Board Chair Valpo Chamber President 

ValpoChamber.org 39

CHECK-UPS 

ARE ANNUAL 

FOR A REASON. 

There’s a good reason to keep your health care on schedule. Your family. 

When it comes to keeping your family healthy, annual wellness visits with a health 

care provider are key. Routine exams and screenings can identify potential health 

issues early, when they are most treatable. And if you or a loved one gets sick, seeing 

a doctor is even more important. 

We know some people are afraid to seek medical care right now. But we are taking 

extra precautions to provide a safe environment, including screening everyone, 

social distancing, requiring masks, cleaning frequently and limiting wait times. 

Make your appointment today. In-person and telehealth visits are available. 

NWIndianaDocs.com

Valparaiso Magazine - Spring 2021

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