ValpoMag12-19-2011_3

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The younger Coolman took on the challenge of leading the Chamber through the difficult year of 1980. “You know how bad the economy is right now? 1980 may have been worse here in Northwest Indiana,” he says. In the wake of a collapsing steel industry, unemployment in Porter County topped 20 percent in 1980. Yet the Chamber was active. “The year before, when Paul Von Tobel was Board Chair, we were looking for ways to bring the community together. Someone floated the idea of a festival and the Popcorn Festival was born,” says Coolman. The Popcorn Fest, organized by Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events, will celebrate its 34th year in 2012, bringing thousands of visitors to Valparaiso each year. “It was tough in 1980, but Valpo was proactive. We worked together with outstanding people. We accomplished some good things for the community and for society. In many ways that’s more valuable than a few bucks,” says Coolman. “As a kid, Valpo was Valparaiso aims higher. Whenever people talk about a great city or a great chamber, they talk about Valpo. Fred McNulty, 2003 a farm town in many ways. LaPorte had Whirlpool and International Harvester and other successful industry. Now they look at Valpo and say ‘Wow!’ That didn’t happen by accident. It took a lot of leadership by a lot of people over a lot of years.” A Year of Surprises Fred McNulty, 2003 Fred McNulty took on the Chamber’s board leadership during the year that the Chamber decided to make a move… to a new old building. “We saw the need for a new space if we were to go forward with economic development and growth,” remembers McNulty who served as Executive Director of the Porter County Interlocal in 2003. While McNulty was Board Chair, the Chamber found a new location, worked to build the partnerships necessary to finance the move, redesigned the aged building, and assisted in the remodel and move to the Chamber’s current home at 162 Lincolnway. “It was really an exciting time. Exciting and also nerve wracking!” he says. < Robert V. Coolman, 1980 “Every time we had a plan, there was a surprise – a leaky roof, a faulty elevator… but we saw the value in it and got it done.” McNulty sees the Chamber as a place where leaders gather. “I’m old enough to have seen the changing of the guard a number of times in Valpo. It’s great to see that there’s always another cadre of really talented leaders who keep it up and stand on the shoulders of others before them to make it better,” he says. He uses an analogy he learned from a New York firefighter who was on site at 9/11. “Their orders that day as they climbed those stairs were ‘Go as high as you can and do as much as you can.’ Wouldn’t it be something if we all did that? Wherever we are on the staircase of life. Climb as high. Do as much as you can.” “Valparaiso aims higher. Whenever people talk about a great city or a great chamber, they talk about Valpo. We have people willing to give the energy and the time and we have great cheerleaders. It’s the perfect storm of lots of things that make this city wonderful,” he says. VM 10
100 YEARS 75 YEARS 50 YEARS Business awards: Five Valpo Chamber businesses will be honored with the Valpo Chamber Business Awards at the Salute to Leadership dinner on Saturday, January 14. These awards are designed to recognize Valpo Chamber member businesses that have endured longevity of 50, 75, or 100 years. Congratulations, Bob Urschel! Distinguished Community Leader 2011 Your commitment to giving back and providing support to our neighbors will be forever appreciated. Your friends at the The Valparaiso Family YMCA www.valparaisochamber.org 11
Page 1: The Magazine of the Greater Valpara
Page 4 and 5: Blazing the Trail Chamber Celebrate
Page 6 and 7: He reminisced about a homecoming th
Page 8 and 9: “Even the most recent announcemen
Page 12 and 13: New Member Investors The Valpo Cham
Page 14 and 15: 3Barb Young, 2000 > Dee Haklin, 200
Page 16 and 17: By 2000, when Young served as Chair
Page 18 and 19: chamber focus • A Salute to leade
Page 20 and 21: chamber focus • A Salute to leade
Page 22 and 23: Business snapshot Jean Kohler Ameri
Page 24 and 25: around town Around Town is an impor
Page 26 and 27: around town >> across the generatio
Page 28 and 29: around town >> Jan Rubsam, owner of
Page 30 and 31: ask an expert Susan Antoszewski is
Page 32 and 33: usiness spotlight Spotlight your bu
Page 34 and 35: = our voice aimingHigh FUTUrE for t
Page 36: During a stroke, know where to go.

ValpoMag12-19-2011_3

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