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2 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Valpopourri
Did you know?
Chamber Gift Certificates are redeemable
at over 100 participating chamber
member merchants. In 2006, over
4,100 Valpo Chamber Gift Certificates
were sold with a redemption value
of over $83,000.
Volume 7 Issue 3 Summer 2007
Contents
Valparaiso: Your 4
Dining Destination
Serve it and 8
they will come
How the new historic liquor
licensing ordinance is helping
Valpo’s downtown grow
SUMMER 2007
A publication of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of
Commerce. 162 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone (219) 462-1105 Fax (219) 462-5710
info@valparaisochamber.org
www.connecttovalpo.com
www.valparaisochamber.org
GREATER VALPARAISO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Rex Richards, President
Amy Page, Senior Vice President, Member Services
Danielle Oeding, Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Julie Gaskell, Director of Operations and Assistant to
the President
Susan Antoszewski, Marketing & Communications
Specialist
Kurt Gillins, Special Events Coordinator
Gloria Lodics, Administrative Support Staff
Maria Diaz, Bookkeeper
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE
Publisher: The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Design and Production: Griffin Marketing Services, Inc.
Editor: The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Printing: Home Mountain Printing, Inc.
Mailing: Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE is published quarterly by
the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, P.O.
Box 330, Valparaiso, IN 46384-0330. To submit
“Around Town” entries, call (219) 462-1105 or send
to: info@valparaisochamber.org, Attn: Editor.
For advertising inquiries, call (219) 462-1105.
VALPARAISO MAGAZINE circulates 17,000 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:
Winter/Summer: Rural Routes
Spring/Fall: City Routes
Subscriptions may be purchased at an annual rate of
$12, for those outside our regular circulation.
www.connecttovalpo.com
Non-Smoking 10
Ordinance in Valpo
What local restaurants have to say
about the new legislation
Community 14
Improvement Awards
Pride and growth in Valparaiso
Ask An Expert 20
Benefits of the Visionary Process
Chamber Focus 22
Meet the Valpo Chamber
2007 Board of Directors
Sections
Dining Around Town 7
New Chamber Members 12
Around Town 16
Business Spotlight 19
Our Voice 26
Calendar of Events
www.connecttovalpo.com
Top photo: Chef Edward Luick and General Manager
Grey Parker, Bon Femme.
Middle photo: Exquisite selections at Bistro 157.
Bottom photo: Chef Nicole Bissonnette, Bistro 157.
Cover photo and photos this page by
Aran Kessler Photo Imaging
3

Photo: Aran Kessler Photo Imaging
by Michael J. Griffin
Ask anyone who has recently
returned from a vacation,
and you will hear about
the sites, sounds, and tastes
of the locale.
When people talk about the
most interesting cities in America,
three attributes are universally
mentioned: culture, architecture,
and food. Dining out is often the
highlight of any trip.
The fact is, good restaurants
bring visitors to town, and having
a choice of good restaurants
enhances the experience for local
residents too. So, forward-thinking
administrations like
Valparaiso’s are actively priming
the market to attract quality
restaurants through incentives like
the city’s historic district liquor
licenses (see sidebar, Serve it and
they will come. How the new
liquor licensing ordinance is helping
Valpo’s downtown grow pg 8).
The idea is simple: attract a variety
of restaurants that offer
unique menus, ambience, accessibility,
attractiveness, undisputed
quality and, yes, an element of
surprise and you will turn a community
into a dining destination.
Grey Parker, general manager
of Bon Femme located at 66 W.
Lincolnway, points to regular
customers from as far as 150
miles away who come to
Valparaiso specifically to eat at
his restaurant – a phenomenon
that would have been virtually
unheard of even a few years ago.
“While the majority of our customers
come from Porter
County, we have many regulars
who come from Chicago and
even Indianapolis,” he says. “One
couple comes
once or twice
a month
from Indy
just for our
grouper.”
Parker is
also quick to
point out
that the environment
in
Valparaiso is
right for his
type of establishment.
“I
think this is
the right
place and the
right time. There’s strong population
growth and people who live
and work here are the kind of stable
market that we were looking
for,” he explains.
When Carlos Rivero opened
Don Quijote, his Spanish restaurant
located at 119 W.
Lincolnway, in 1985, he saw an
entirely different climate. “When
I opened up Don Quijote, the
[better] restaurants in Valparaiso
were the White House, the China
House, Strongbow’s and the
Court,” he says. “After that it was
Ponderosa and McDonald’s. So,
there wasn’t much happening.”
In fact, Rivero, who was born
into a family of chefs, ended up
in
Valparaiso
quite by
accident.
“I met my
wife at the
University
of Madrid.
Her father
had a
business in
Gary, and
when he
passed, she
came back
to Indiana
to take
care of her
mother,” he explains. “I came
here to marry her, and had no
plans to open a business.”
The secret of his success, he
emphasizes, is in the comprehensive
Spanish cuisine he offers and
the care he takes in preparing his
food. “There are easier ways to do
things, but I prepare my food
from scratch,” he explains. “My
“We’ve had people from
Fort Wayne tell us that they
drove here specifically to
eat at our restaurant, but I
think more [out-of-towners]
put us on their schedule
when they come here for
shopping or other events.”
– Ken Blaney,
Kelsey’s Steak House
sauces and soups are created every
day by hand, with fresh ingredients.”
And, oh yes, he believes in
the value of marketing his establishment.
“I have billboards that
bring people in from all over.”
Paul LoDuca, who opened
Pikk’s Tavern at 62 Lincolnway
this summer, was also attracted by
the opportunities presented by a
downtown location. LoDuca
owns restaurants in Indianapolis
and Chicago and could have set
his establishment anywhere, but
all-in-all, Valparaiso seemed like
an easy choice.
“When I was a kid growing
up in Munster, I remember coming
to Valparaiso and the only
upscale restaurant was the White
House,” he says. “I moved here
four years ago and really like
what’s happening. There are a lot
of nice restaurants and I could
see the potential.”
LoDuca also benefited from
one of the new downtown historic
district three-way liquor licenses
that were created by the city to
stimulate business here. “It was a
real incentive for us,” he says.
Pikk’s Tavern certainly is
unique among downtown establishments.
A 1940s-style Chicago
steakhouse, its centerpiece is an
attractive bar from 1910 and its
menu features high quality meat,
4 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

exotic appetizers, and homemade
desserts. The 72-seat establishment
also has a wine cellar.
Being different, being unique,
and offering a variety of choices
diners cannot find anywhere else
all combine to create the mystique
of a dining mecca that attracts diners
from all corners of the world.
Maria Elena’s Restaurant, located
at 454 S. Greenwich St., certainly
contributes its share of personality
and charm to the mix.
Founded in 1999, Maria
Elena’s might be just off campus at
Valparaiso University, but it is
hardly totally reliant on students.
Owner Felix Cardenas is very
proud of his “varied clientele” who
make up his customer base. “We
have people come in from all over
the world,” he explains. “Many
might be visiting the University,
but we also attract a lot of steady
business from Northwest Indiana
and even Chicago.”
Cardenas attributes his success
to the eclectic menu, which is
exactly what you would you expect
from a chef who was born in
Mexico, raised in Long Grove,
Illinois, and went to school in Italy.
“Well, I consider my restaurant
Italian,” he laughs, but you certainly
can find Mexican items and
other tasty choices. Cardenas realizes
that good food is the first
strategy of restaurant marketing,
but it is a tough business. “A
friend of mine owned a restaurant
Photo: Aran Kessler Photo Imaging
www.connecttovalpo.com
and he told me that it’s a very difficult
business,” he says. “But it’s
like a shell. Once you break it,
you’re in.” And it seems that with
his unique menu, location, and
venue, he’s “in” for a long time.
Established last December,
Mezza is another unique dining
option for Valparaiso, located at
607 E. Lincolnway. While its
name may literally mean “small”
in many Mediterranean languages,
there is nothing diminutive about
the restaurant’s
concept.
The
menu features
an
array of
appetizers
carefully
chosen from
Lebanese,
Spanish, Italian, Moroccan and
Greek dishes.
“I really think Valpo is a
unique community, and I wanted
to do something unique with our
concept. So, we created a very
eclectic, exciting menu that is
always changing, always different,”
says owner Rachel Bucko who was
looking for a new outlet after she
sold Café 444 in Miller Beach last
August. She happened upon
Mezza’s current location and asked
who else was looking at it. “When
I discovered it was my friend Moe
Mroueh, of Eat at Moe’s in
Michigan City, I said, ‘I’m serious
Richard Cook, Mary Jean Cook, Caroline Maslankowski and Hesham Khalil
enjoy fine Mediterranean cuisine while dining outside at Mezza.
“...we have many regulars
who come from Chicago
and even Indianapolis.”
– Grey Parker, Bon Femme
if you are. Let’s do this together.’
So we combined our styles and
here we are!”
The experience of Mezza not
only includes an exotic wine cellar
and marvelous food, but also
a spirit of fun. “We have exciting
plans for summer, including belly
dancers and fire dancers and a
separate outdoor grill menu,”
explains Bucko. “Hey, I said we
want to be unique!”
The tastes of the world are
also the forté
of Bistro 157,
located at 157
Lincolnway.
Founded by
Nicole
Bissonnette in
June of 2001
after returning
from
Europe, her charming enterprise
is the logical evolution of the
skills she attained studying the
artistry of the restaurant business
at le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
“We are a Bistro in the true
sense of the word: a casual, inviting,
relaxed, yet sophisticated
eatery, serving global cuisine and
extensive wine, beer, and cocktail
selections,” she explains. “We
have really become a neighborhood
meeting place. Business
people, young people, older people
- all congregate at our bar to
converse, eat, and drink. It has
been great to see people become
friends at our bar.”
To say Bissonnette’s idea has
caught on is an understatement.
Last year, Phil Vettel from the
Chicago Tribune voted Bistro 157
one of the top 10 restaurants
worth the drive.
Somewhat less exotic, but perhaps
even more important to
hearty Midwest appetites is a
good steak dinner. Since 1988,
one restaurant has been synonymous
with that cuisine in
Valparaiso: Kelsey’s Steak House
located at 2300 Morthland Drive.
When Ken Blaney opened
Kelsey’s, there were so few choices
in Valparaiso, that his primary
competition was Merrillville so
the concept of creating a dining
destination is nothing new to him.
“We were fighting for people who
would drive down Route 30 for a
meal,” he explains. “People
weren’t staying here to eat.”
Blaney’s philosophy of providing
a great meal at a fair price with
excellent service has always attracted
visitors from out of town.
“We’ve had people from Fort
Wayne tell us that they drove here
specifically to eat at our restaurant,”
he says, “but I think more
[out-of-towners] put us on their
schedule when they come here for
shopping or other events.”
Another restaurant that was
established long before this most
recent dining renaissance is Billy
Jack’s Café & Grill located at
2904 N. Calumet Ave. Trading
on the Hispanic heritage of his
grandparents and his own love of
interesting, exotic foods, owner
Jack Richey created arguably one
of Valparaiso’s first unique fine
dining establishments in 1993.
He had recently left a chef’s job
in Chesterton, and was looking
to strike out on his own. He sort
of “lucked into” his now 14-year
old restaurant.
“A restaurant known as
Incredible Edibles was at this location
and it was owned by a local
dentist and his wife,” he explains.
“They found out how demanding
the business is, and wanted to sell.
I didn’t have any money or the
ability to borrow, so they allowed
me to buy them out on contract.
I was very, very lucky.”
Like all of the chefs interviewed
for this story, Richey’s
passion for unique tastes and the
creativity of discovering new and
interesting combinations of fresh
ingredients are the real reasons he
is in the business. “What we try
to do is so different from the
chains where the food is consistent
but so unimaginative and
not really very good for you,” he
says. “But we still have to fight
for that business. It’s tough, and
you have to be good.”
While becoming a dining
“destination” might be new for
Valparaiso, for the city’s granddaddy
of all restaurants it’s old
hat. When the Strongbow Turkey
Inn was created some 67 years
ago, it was located “out in the
boondocks,” in what used to be
continued on page 6 >>
5

COVER STORY Dining Destination

Bon Femme Café
66 W Lincolnway
(219) 531-0612
Bistro 157
157 Lincolnway
(219) 462-0992
“Committed to
Downtown Valparaiso”
~
Full service bar
~
Alfresco dining
“American Cuisine with a
French Accent”
~
Well-balanced wine list
~
Live jazz on Fri & Sat nights
Campbell Street Café
4245 Meridian Woods Dr
(219) 531-1800
“It’s a scrumptious place
to eat, the nicest place to
meet, the menu can’t be
beat and it’s all at
Campbell St.”
pinesvillage.org
Culver’s of Valparaiso
2101 LaPorte Ave
(219) 531-9600
“Taste How Much We Care”
culvers.com
Maria Elena’s Restaurant
454 S Greenwich St
(219) 477-2490
Beautiful outdoor seating
~
Catering & Carryout available
Don Quijote Restaurante
119 E Lincolnway
(219) 462-7976
“The only Spanish
Restaurant in Indiana”
~
Alfresco Dining
donquijoterestaurant-in.com
Suzie’s Café & Catering
1050 Southpoint
(219) 462-5500
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
~
Wednesday Night Buffet,
includes Dessert Bar
PassTimes
175 W Lincolnway, Ste B
(219) 462-3786
“A great place to pass
time with friends”
~
Over 80 beers from
around the world
Strongbow Inn
2405 US Hwy 30 E
(219) 462-5121
A Family Dining Tradition
for 67+ years
~
Catering &
Special Events
strongbowinn.com
Be a Part of It!
55 Chicago Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 462-4185
A full program schedule is available online!
www.valpoymca.org
Valpopourri
Did you know?
The backbar in PassTimes was crafted by a tavern owner
on the north side of Chicago. The owner fell into debt to Al
Capone, and the mobster broke into the bar one night and
removed the owner's masterpiece in payment of the debt.
Capone moved it to a small resort hotel he owned near the
Illinois and Wisconsin border. The backbar was confiscated by
the government after a shootout at the resort. Five decades
later the bar was bought at auction. If you look closely
along the top panel, you will see three holes that
were covered up. Bullet holes?
We'll never know for sure.
www.connecttovalpo.com
7

How the new historic liquor licensing
ordinance is helping Valpo’s downtown grow.
The evolution of Valparaiso as a dining
destination is not merely the result of
the good fortune of having several
restaurants somehow magically appear at the
same time. In fact, what is happening here
today is a critical component of the city’s long
term strategic plan.
Two years ago, city officials created the
Valparaiso Downtown Alcoholic Beverage
Licensing Committee with a goal, “. . . to
provide the finest dining environment in
Northwest Indiana in a single downtown district,”
according to the policy’s wording. The
committee established 10 new special threeway
liquor licenses as allowed by Indiana
State law, offered at a substantial discount.
Known as Historic Downtown District
Liquor Licenses, their purpose is to encourage
the location and operation of upscale restaurants
in the historic downtown area.
“We know that people will travel to eat,”
explains Chuck Williams, city councilman and
owner of Elegan Customware on Lincolnway.
“As a business owner I have long been an
advocate of downtown, and the days of the big
stores like JCPenney locating on the square are
over. So, we needed this,” he says.
“We modeled this program after other
proven success stories in the state,” explains
Charlie McGill, Valparaiso Economic
Development Director. “It is a strictly controlled
program with a stringent application process.”
In fact, to date, only four of the 10 licenses
have been granted out of “approximately
15 applications,” according to McGill. “Some
applicants are really just bars trying to pass
themselves off as restaurants,” he says. “But
our ordinance specifically states that we are
looking for a variety of distinctive and unique
restaurants that operate in Valparaiso's downtown
to help distinguish it as the best dining
environment in Northwest Indiana.”
Williams explains that this new wrinkle in
the state liquor licensing law is specifically
designed to help entrepreneurs who otherwise
would not be able to offer full service at their
restaurants because of the extreme costs of purchasing
liquor licenses from current holders.
“The [current liquor licensing] law was enacted
right after prohibition and is very archaic,” he
says. “The state awards three-way liquor licenses
based on population, and Valparaiso is only
entitled to nineteen. The only way to obtain
one is to purchase one from a current owner,
and that can cost literally hundreds of thou-
The atmosphere of an old style Chicago steakhouse is enhanced by the ornate bar which is a
centerpiece at Pikk’s Tavern. The establishment also boasts an extensive wine cellar. Pictured
here is General Manager Sean Curran. (Photo: Aran Kessler Photo Imaging)
sands of dollars. Smaller restaurants can’t
afford that as easily as the big chains.”
Williams also points out that a $200 million
mall in Lake County is not being built
because the restaurants cannot get three-way
licenses. “It’s too bad that we still have such
archaic laws on our books,” he says.
The new law was created strictly as an
economic development tool, McGill explains.
Unlike “traditional” three-way licenses, these
special licenses are non-transferable, and the
application process is rigorous and specific
criteria must be met and maintained once the
license has been granted.
In addition to considering the applicant’s
experience in the business
and unique features of
the restaurant, applicants
also have to submit a
menu. “The key focus
has to be the atmosphere
and the food,” McGill
says. The committee is
also careful to choose
enterprises that provide
diversity as well as unique
offerings. “We don’t want
an over population of the
same type of restaurants
here. That defeats the
purpose,” he adds.
To date, the four downtown restaurants
that have benefited from this special program
are Bistro 157, Bon Femme, Don Quijote and
Pikk’s Tavern, and for the new establishments,
the availability of the new license was a very
important part of their decision to open here.
“We love the area and expect great things,”
says Paul LoDuca, owner of Pikk’s Tavern.
“Being able to get a license was key to our
decision [to move here].”
“Oh, definitely important,” echoes Grey
Parker, general manager of Bon Femme. “We
serve a very unique menu and the ability [to
offer wine and mixed drinks] enhances the
whole experience.”
8 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

www.connecttovalpo.com
9

NON-SMOKING ORDINANCE IN VALPO
What local
restaurants
have to say
about the new
legislation
On April 1 of this year, the City of Valparaiso enacted
a non-smoking ordinance which effectively
banned indoor smoking except in bars. The new law
even prohibits outdoor smoking within 15 feet of
the entrance to an establishment. So, how has this
legislation impacted restaurant owners? Is it good
for business or does it hurt? Here’s what the owners/managers
of a few local restaurants had to say:
Russ Adams, Owner, PassTimes:
“We were exempt from the non-smoking law based
on PassTimes designation as a bar, but we decided
to think out of the box and let the customers
choose. We informally polled our guests and they
chose to ban smoking by a two-to-one margin. I
sat on the mayor’s task force and received a lot of
calls from restaurant owners. I assured them everything
was going to be fine, and we have not seen
any drop off in business.”
Ken Blaney, Owner, Kelsey’s Steak House:
“When I first heard about the ordinance, I was a little concerned. I
wasn’t sure how it would impact our business. But it’s been [going on]
for several months now and it hasn’t hurt us at all in terms of lost
business. Our guests who are smokers simply take a smoke break outside
if they need one.”
Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Rachel Bucko,
Owner, Mezza:
“I am a non-smoker and
used to work for the
American Cancer
Society, so I don’t object
to the ban except for one
thing. We were planning
on having a hookah tent
[where patrons may share a multi-stemmed
pipe used for smoking] outside this summer,
because it seems that hookahs have become
the rage with college students, but we won’t
be able to do it.”
Felix Cardenas, Owner,
Maria Elena’s Restaurant:
“We’ve been non-smoking since the day we
opened in 1999. It has never been a problem
as far as I could tell.”
Grey Parker, General
Manager, Bon Femme:
“We’ve always been nonsmoking,
so the ordinance
hasn’t affected us at all.
My only problem is that
we have al fresco dining
and we have to explain to
our customers that they
can’t even smoke outside.”
Paul LoDuca, Owner,
Pikk’s Tavern:
“I have restaurants in
Chicago and we’re used
to the concept. I have no
problem with it at all,
and it hasn’t hurt us in
Chicago and I don’t
think it will matter
much here either.”
The City of Valparaiso Ordinance No. 49-2006 Nonsmoking Areas
can be obtained at Valparaiso City Hall, 166 W. Lincolnway or at
www.ci.valparaiso.in.us.
Jack Richey, Owner,
Billy Jack’s Café & Grill:
“With a separate bar, we had a choice and it
was one of the hardest decisions we had to
make. I am a non-smoker, and I loved the
idea of a complete non-smoking establishment.
But I had to think about my bar customers.
Would I lose business? It was a really
tough decision, but we decided to stay smoking.
We did [smoking] for a month and
beginning May 1, we changed to non-smoking.
[The ordinance] should have banned
smoking across the board. It would have
evened the playing field for everyone. Now I
have to worry if I am losing my regular
smoking bar customers to other bars.”
Carlos Rivero, Owner,
Don Quijote:
“I was completely against
the ordinance, especially
banning smoking outdoors.
We have outdoor
dining and our customers
can’t smoke. I
think they went a little
too far with the outdoor [ban].”
www.connecttovalpo.com
11

New Members
All addresses are in the 46383 zip code and phone
numbers are 219 area code unless otherwise indicated.
THE VALPO CHAMBER welcomes Board-approved new members who joined during March, April, and May 2007
A Positive Approach to Teen
Health, Inc. (PATH)
1755 Thornapple Circle, 46385
548-8783
Wilma Willard
Organizations
Asera Care Hospice
332 W US Hwy 30, Ste E, 46385
462-6398
Catherine Ashton
Healthcare/Home Health Services
Best Western Valparaiso Inn
760 Morthland Drive, 46385
464-8555
Alicia Baker
Lodging
Crème De La Crop
208 N 250 W, 46385
510-4547
Leann Landgrebe Stephens
Agriculture
Cruises, Inc.
45 Warren Drive, 46385
462-9616
Pamela Sands
Travel Services
Distinctive Travel Service
244 S Marcliff #13, 46385
(877) 531-9131
Debrah S. Coleman
Travel Services
Doelling Decorating Center
753 Washington St
462-3043
Malissa Doelling-Happer
Interior Designers
Essential Cleaning Services, LLC
2552 Sunswept Circle
464-9235
Don Rush
Cleaning/Janitorial Services
First Presbyterian Church
3401 N Valparaiso St
464-4985
Wayne Rhodes
Churches/Synagogues
Flash Travel
PO Box 63
Dyer, 46311
808-5030
Anthony Casboni
Travel Services
Garcia’s ATA Blackbelt Academy
& Karate for Kids
3907 N Calumet Ave
477-5554
Chivonne Rush
Martial Arts
Healthcall, LLC
9800 Connecticut Dr
Crown Point, 46307
476-3459
Daniel Hayes
Healthcare
Indiana Army National Guard
1502 Linwood Ave
464-2070
Phil Isaily
Government
Krazy Cab of Northwest IN, Inc.
2040 Landmark St
Portage, 46368
(888) 445-4844
Linda Stauffer
Transportation Services
Life Extension Laser Center
330 W US Hwy 30
464-9955
Hugh Harshbarger
Health & Wellness/Medical
Luke $5 Car Wash
460 Morthland
962-7676
Mark Ellis
Car Wash
The Birth Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6330
Breast Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6010
Burrell Cancer Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6285
Diabetes Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6268
The Heart Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6142
The Rehabilitation Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6125
Center for Sleep Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6243
Sports Medicine Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681.6757
St. Clare Health Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6272
Wound Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757.6020
Programs and Services
Valparaiso Center for Diagnostic Imaging
2411 LaPorte Avenue • Valparaiso • 476.7226
MRI, CT scanning and general radiology
Winfield Diagnostic Imaging Center
11161 Randolph Street • Crown Point • 662.6165
CT scanning, ultrasound, and general radiology
North Point Outpatient Physical Therapy
2050 North Main Street • Crown Point • 681.6700
Schererville Outpatient Physical Therapy
7310 W. Lincoln Highway (Rt. 30)
Crown Point • 322.4530
Physician Referral
1.800.931.3322 or 219.757.6000
1201 South Main Street
Crown Point, Indiana 46307
219.738.2100 • 219.663.8120
www.stanthonymedicalcenter.com
12 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Margaret, LLC
216 Southmoor
Hammond, 46324
880-5830
Duane Dedelow, Jr.
Construction
Mastile Properties, Inc.
PO Box 882
Chesterton, 46304
476-7615
John Mastile
Builders & Developers
Mezza
607 E Lincolnway
464-1060
Rachel Bucko
Restaurants
My Valpo.Com
PO Box 308, 46384-0308
508-3719
Patrick C. Harbron
Internet Services
Northwestern Mutual Financial
Network
954 Eastport Centre, Ste C
548-8722
Douglas C. Mogck, CLU, CASL
Financial Advisors
Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy
2505 LaPorte Ave, Ste 171
465-3100
John Burrell
Ice Cream
Pikk’s Tavern
62 Lincolnway
476-7455
Sean Curran
Restaurants
Portage 16 IMAX
6550 American Way
Portage, 46368
764-2550
Kevin Morgan
Theatres
Reliv International
3907 Autumn Lane, 46385
508-2069
Kathy Cunningham
Health & Wellness Products
Rent-A-Man Maintenance, Inc.
2923 Franklin St
Michigan City, 46360
916-5243
Thomas Almanza
Cleaning/Janitorial Services
Rio’s Country Club
1151 Southpoint Dr, 46385
465-5200
Rick Roberts
Golf Courses/Country Clubs
Shults Lewis Child and
Family Services
PO Box 471, 46384-0471
462-0513
Ray Crowder
Counseling
Sistar Mortgage
13 Lincolnway, Ste 204
241-0665
Sunil Dhoot
Mortgage Brokers/Lenders
Skrivan Chiropractic
118 E Lincolnway
508-1620
Christopher J. Skrivan
Chiropractors
Strategic Employee
Benefit Services
954 Eastport Centre Dr, Ste C
548-8722
Tony Johnston
Insurance
Summit Homebuilders &
Designers
260 Spectacle Dr
916-2001
Noel Perry
Builders & Developers
Construction
Taylor & Taylor
Engineering, Inc.
104 Northview Dr
548-8683
Randy S. Taylor
Engineers
VM Direct
PO Box 63
Dyer, 46311
808-5030
Vince Casboni
Advertising and Marketing Services
Waterbird Lakeside Inn & Spa
556 Indian Boundary Rd
Chesterton, 46304
928-1501
Robin Chubb
Lodging
Salons/Spas
Banquets/Meeting Room Facilities
www.connecttovalpo.com
13

40th Annual Community
Improvement Awards
The City of Valparaiso and the Valpo Chamber recognized five local
businesses for their commitment and investment in Valparaiso by
awarding them with the 40th Annual Community Improvement
Award (CIA). A luncheon sponsored by Porter was held in July to
honor the recipients and their projects which improve our city.
These projects join the more than 200 properties that have been recognized
since the awards program began. Community Improvement
Awards are based on the visual impact of exterior appearance and are
judged on the following criteria:
• Enhances the attractiveness of Valparaiso
• Compatible with the area and environment
• Shows creativity/innovation in both design and use of materials
• Enhances the quality of life and promotes pride in Valparaiso
• Makes a commitment to Valparaiso’s future
In addition, a Special Recognition Award is given to a project that
demonstrates outstanding achievement on its own merits but does
not fit into the general CIA parameters of eligibility.
2007 Community Improvement
Award Winners
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
3100 Ivy Tech Drive
Architect: Design Organization
Designer: Design Organization – Peter Anderson
Contractor: Larson-Danielson
Construction Management: Skillman Corporation
Landscape Designer: Lakeshore Landscaping, Inc.
The Valparaiso Historic Preservation Commission also presented its
fifth Heritage Award for Historic Preservation at the luncheon. The
award is given to the owner of a building whose construction or renovation
efforts result in significant enhancing and reinforcing the historic
character of Valparaiso.
VOTED
“BEST PLACE TO WORK”
BY THE INDIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
APPLY YOURSELF TO
ACAREERATCENTIER
1-888-CENTIER
www.centier.com/jobs
SAINT PAUL EDUCATION CENTER
1755 Harrison Street
Architect: DLR Group – Chicago
Designer: DLR Group – Chicago
Contractor: Gariup Construction
Builder: Gariup Construction
Landscape Designer: Lakeshore Landscaping, Inc. –
Rob Szrom
Member FDIC. E.O.E.-V-D
14 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Special Recognition Award Winners
PORTER COUNTY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
2000 E Comeford Road
Engineer: Bengel Engineering
Designer: Flat Rock Designs
Contractor: Carmen Good Builders, Inc.
VALE PARK WAY
North of Valparaiso High School between
Campbell Road and Valparaiso Street
Designer: DLZ of Indiana
Contractors: Dyer Construction, Walsh & Kelly
Department: Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission
Landscape Designer: DLZ of Indiana, with assistance
from the Valparaiso Parks
SILHAVY POINTE
1351 Silhavy Drive
Architect: Architectural Group III
Designer: Good Hospitality Services, Inc.
Contractor: Good Hospitality Services, Inc.
Builder: Good Hospitality Services, Inc.
Landscape Designer: Great Oaks Nursery
VALPARAISO PLACE
2005 Valparaiso Street
Designer: K2 Construction
Contractor: K2 Construction
Builder: K2 Construction
Owner: Valparaiso Partners LLC
Heritage Award for Historic Preservation
PIKK’S TAVERN
62 Lincolnway
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
2500 Morthland Drive
Architect: Will Poliski
Designer: Will Poliski
Contractor: GDK Builders
Builder: GDK Builders
Landscape Designer: Small’s Landscaping, Inc.
Year Built: 1921
Rendering provided by Pikk's
Tavern. Building under construction
at publication time.
www.connecttovalpo.com 15

The Valpo Chamber would like to congratulate its
members who were voted “Best in Business”
among 36 categories by the readers of Northwest
Indiana Business Quarterly. They are: Best New
Business in the Region: Portage 16 IMAX; Best
Place for a Corporate Retreat: The Inn at
Aberdeen; Best Advertising Agency: Morse &
Company Advertising Communications, Inc.;
Best Bank for Business: Centier Bank; Best
Commercial Real Estate Company: Commercial
In-Sites; Best Caterer for Business Events:
Strongbow Inn; Best Corporate Law Firm:
Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP; Best Estate
Planning Practice: Rice & Rice Attorneys; Best
Insurance Agency for a Business: General
Insurance Services; Best Place to Obtain an MBA:
Valparaiso University; Best Place to Purchase
Office Furniture: Kramer & Leonard Office
Products; Best Telecom Service Provider: Midwest
Telecom of America, Inc. (MTA); Best Place to
Purchase Office Equipment & Supplies:
McShane’s Business Products & Solutions, Inc.;
Best Golf Course: The Course at Aberdeen; Best
Performing Arts Group: Northwest Indiana
Symphony Orchestra; Best Place to Purchase
Home Accessories and Furniture: Indiana
Furniture Showcase. Congratulations!
_______
Dave and Susan Lindgren, RN, BSN of Comfort
Keepers not only provide non-medical, in-home
services to area families, but were recently honored
by CK Franchising, Inc. for their performance as
franchise owners. The Lindgren’s were recognized
at the Celebration Dinner and Awards Ceremony
during the Comfort Keepers Annual Conference
held in Charlotte, N.C. The Lindgren’s received
one of the top honors of the evening when they
were inducted into the President’s Club. Owners
are selected for this honor based on several criteria
including hours of service, revenues, and the
adherence to the ideals and standards of the
Comfort Keepers system.
_______
16 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Visit www.connecttovalpo.com for a calendar of events and a list of summer recreation.
Chester Inc. Information Technologies (IT)
was one of 13 Indiana companies nominated
for Information Technology Firm of the Year
in the state of Indiana. In May, TechPoint,
Indiana’s largest and most prominent technology
membership organization, hosted its
annual MIRA Awards gala recognizing
Chester IT as a finalist. MIRA recognizes the
state’s most outstanding IT company based on
accomplishments, revenue growth, and outstanding
contributions to the community.
Chester IT was the only IT finalist from the
region. Chester Inc. Information Technologies
division is a premier network solutions
provider with solution centers located in
Valparaiso and Fort Wayne. Chester Inc. IT
has exclusive partnerships with Hewlett-
Packard, Citrix, Microsoft, Novell, IBM,
Cisco, and others.
_______
Theresa Valade, Vice President and Co-
C.E.O of The Growth Coach, earned a
Master of Business Administration from
Indiana
University
Northwest in
May. Valade’s
expertise is in
the area of
business operations
which
includes sales, marketing, and human resource
management. Valade has more than 13 years
of management experience and has earned a
degree in hotel and tourism management
from Purdue University. Valade, along with
President and Co-CEO Curtiss Asbell, was
recently inducted into the prestigious Beta
Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, where
only the top business students in the world,
along with professionals who have earned the
distinction of “The Best in the Business” during
their academic careers, can claim membership.
Valade is a leader involved in many
Aaron Johnson, Chief Instructor
2001 & 2002 Indiana champion
2002 World Silver Medalist
2005 Gold Medalist (Freedom Games)
World Ranked Competitor
Students from Garcia's Black Belt have Captured over 40 State
Titles and 1 World Title in the last 4 years.
Your Child Could Be The Next One!
organizations, including the Institute for
Innovative Leadership and Leadership
Northwest Indiana and the Greater Valparaiso
Chamber of Commerce.
_______
Pines Village Retirement Communities
(PVRC) is pleased to serve veterans of WWII
and countless others who lived and worked
for a common cause during that historic era.
PVRC views their elders from a physical,
social, emotional, and spiritual perspective – a
vision that continues to drive them to look
for innovative ways to celebrate life. The Tour
of Duty: Taking our Veterans D.C. project
comes from this spirit. October 4-8, 2007,
PVRC veterans will travel to Washington
D.C. to visit the WWII Memorial. It took
our nation nearly 60 years to create a lasting
memorial to honor this “Greatest Generation”
and the Tour of Duty trip is a way for PVRC
veterans to pay tribute to their lost friends
and family. The PVRC Board of Directors
and staff invite the public to stand together
continued on page 18 >>
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(219) 477-5554
3907 Calumet Ave.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 762-7070
5374 E. US Hwy. 6, Ste. F
Portage, IN 46368
17

www.connecttovalpo.com
19

Benefits of the
Visionary Process
by
Larry
Galler
When I work with business
owners, coaching them to
improve their businesses, I
want to get a sense of their vision for
their company. It’s rare, at the beginning
of our relationship that they actually
have gone through the thought process
to the point where they can articulate
their vision for their company. Most
business owners have a vision… sort of,
but it is kind of like the vision of a person
who has cataracts and their vision is
foggy, indistinct, and cloudy. Usually the
response I get is a mumbled phrase,
something about increasing sales or
making more money, but I rarely get a
well thought out, concise, understandable,
articulate picture of what they want
their business to become in the future.
I’m positive the reason for that mumbled
20 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Ask An EXPERT
statement is that they have not really conceptualized that important
part of their future, or if they have, they have not been able to clarify
their vision. So they just give me a quick answer designed to sort of
satisfy me and shut me up. But I’m not so easily satisfied and I’m
certainly not easy to shut up!
The situation becomes even worse (or less clear) when I talk to the
executives, managers, supervisors, and staff of those companies and
ask them where they think the company is headed. The answers I
receive are usually clear as fog because very few have ever received the
vision from the owner or have ever discussed it. They are in the dark
about the company’s future and their personal future. Most people
assume that the future will look pretty much the same as it looks
today, yet we all know that in our hyper-competitive business climate,
that thought is just not realistic.
I encourage my clients and every businessperson to have “cataract
surgery” for their business by spending some time and asking themselves
to create a vivid description of the future for their company –
what they intend for it to become in five, ten, or twenty years. The
businesses I see and work with that well understand their vision are
businesses that show better growth, are more profitable, and are
>> continued on page 24
www.connecttovalpo.com
21

Chamber
Focus:
Photo by Aspen Studio, Valparaiso
Meet the
Valpo Chamber
2007 Board of
Directors
by
Susan Antoszewski
The Valpo Chamber Board of
Directors is the principal
governing and policymaking
body of the Greater Valparaiso
Chamber of Commerce. The
board's membership is as diverse
as the community itself, with
business leaders serving from all
sectors and sizes of business.
(left to right) Front row: John Seibert, Christy Graf, Marti Masterson, Dee Haklin, Melissa Fagen, Jean Phelps,
Miche Grant; Middle row: Don Asher, Dale Clapp, Jon Costas, Tim Scannell, Todd Etzler, Jay Conison, Steve
Doniger; Back row: Martin Sonnenberg, Rick Urschel, Nick Sommer, Harold Howie, Tom Kennedy, Dave Rose
Not pictured: Leigh Ellis, Jim Fitzer, Jon Groth, Jim Jorgensen, Jeff Lewis
Directors determine the Valpo
Chamber policy positions on
business issues and advise the
membership on appropriate
strategies to pursue. Through
their participation in meetings
and activities, the Board of
Directors help implement and
promote Valpo Chamber policies
and objectives.
The 2007 Valpo Chamber
Board consists of: Don Asher,
Deputy Executive Editor of The
Times; Dale Clapp, Chamber
Treasurer and Senior Vice-
President & Regional Manager
for Harris N.A.; Jon Costas,
Mayor of the City of Valparaiso,
Elder Law Attorney at Burke
Costanza & Cuppy LLP, and
Adjunct faculty member at
Valparaiso University; Steve
Doniger, Director of the
Valparaiso Department of Parks
& Recreation; Leigh Ellis,
President and General Manager
of Radio One Communications;
22 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

Todd Etzler, Past Chamber Board
Chair and Attorney at Burke
Costanza & Cuppy LLP; Melissa
Fagen, Director of Retail &
Marketing at Fagen Pharmacy; Jim
Fitzer, Manager of Communications
& Community Relations for NIP-
SCO; Christy Graf, Vice President
of Trust Administration at First
National Bank; Miche Grant,
Private International Consultant and
Vice President of the Center of
Workforce Innovations, Inc.; Jon
Groth, Principal of Porter County
Career & Technical Center; Dee
Haklin, Chamber Chair Elect and
Executive Dean of the Valparaiso
Campus of Ivy Tech Community
College; Harold Howie, Manager of
Town & Country Market; Jim
Jorgensen, Attorney for Hoeppner
Wagner & Evans LLP; Tom
Kennedy, President of Kennedy
Buick Mazda; Jeff Lewis, Senior
Project Manager of Design
Organization; Marti Masterson,
President and Agent at M.
Masterson Agency/American Family
Insurance; Jean Phelps, Franchise
Owner of Express Personnel
Services; Dave Rose, Chamber
Board Chair and Porter County
President of Horizon Bank; Tim
Scannell, CPA, CFP, President of
Scannell Wealth Management
Group; John Seibert, Vice President
of Opportunity Enterprises; Nick
Sommer, Vice President /Principal
of Century 21 Alliance Group;
Martin Sonnenberg, Chief
Financial Officer of Task Force Tips;
and Rick Urschel, Vice President of
Operations of Urschel Laboratories.
Key duties of the Board and its
committees include: identifying
emerging issues that will impact the
Valpo Chamber and its members;
advising the Valpo Chamber of programs
and services needed by the
Chamber and its members; evaluating
the usefulness of existing Valpo
Chamber programs and services to
members; and providing input and
feedback on policy-related issues,
and when appropriate, develop
strategies to advocate those policies.
For nearly a century, the Greater
Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
has been promoting the interests of
their members by providing the
highest quality information,
advocacy, networking opportunities,
economic development and
member services.
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23

ASK AN EXPERT

Digital Mammography at
Saint Anthony Memorial
Committed to providing the women
of our community the highest quality
of care available.
Caring for Women is a Way of Life for us.
Saint Anthony Memorial is pleased to announce digital mammography services.
The addition of the Selenia from Hologic ® uses revolutionary direct capture
technology, bringing the latest advances in breast cancer detection to patients.
Please call 219-877-1980 to schedule an appointment.

y Rex G. Richards
Rex G. Richards is the President of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.
He has served as a Chamber CEO/President for 30 years, having led Chambers in
Logansport, Michigan City, and East Chicago, Ind.; Kansas City, Kan.; and most
recently Sarasota, Fla. He has successfully accomplished increases in program activities,
capital resources, and membership in the chambers he has served. In addition to
over 30 years of chamber experience, Richards has played an instrumental role in
major economic development projects and public policy initiatives. Richards also
serves as President of the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation.
Recently, I attended an Innovator’s Café
presentation where Valparaiso’s own Task
Force Tips was honored for its innovations
in the design and production of fire fighting
equipment. Innovator’s Café luncheons are
sponsored quarterly by Ivy Tech Community
College and designed to help business executives
learn from the experiences of entrepreneurs
like those at Task Force Tips.
After the presentation and tour of the
facility, I had the most uplifting feeling witnessing
first hand, a truly remarkable company,
founded in 1971 by Clyde McMillan in
his basement. Clyde’s original nozzle design,
drawn on a napkin, is framed in the company’s
conference room. Thirty-six years later,
Task Force Tips has managed to stay on the
leading edge of technology through the use
of computerization and innovative research
and development. TFT products are sold in
all parts of the United States and to over
thirty countries worldwide.
Upon reflecting on Task Force Tips’ success,
I think of other locally-owned firms,
both past and present, which have contributed
so much to the economic vitality of
the Valparaiso community.
Gus Olympidis, who founded the Family
Express Corporation in 1975 with one local
store, has grown his organization into a
regional giant, with 47 high quality convenience
stores, located in 28 cities in
Northwest and North Central Indiana.
Founded by James H. McGill in 1905,
McGill Manufacturing, whose first products
were for the electrical industry, grew into the
McGill Metal Company, developing retainers
for ball bearings. In the years that followed,
the company introduced and patented many
different types of precision bearings, which
enhanced McGill’s reputation as a nationallyrecognized
leader.
Established in 1910 by William E.
Urschel, the Urschel Gooseberry Snipper
Factory began with manufactured machines
which could remove the stems and blossom
ends of gooseberries. These original food
processing machines grew into over 90
patents for inventive Urschel. Today, Urschel
Laboratories is synonymous with precision
food processing and has sold to buyers all
over the world.
Chester Inc. was founded in 1951 by
Charles F. Bowman and the late Orville
Redenbacher, as a result of the purchase of
George F. Chester & Sons Seed Company of
Boone Grove. Their first innovation was to
develop a superior strain of hybrid popcorn.
Today, Orville Redenbacher’s name, face,
and signature bowtie are internationally
known. Chester still serves their customers,
agriculturally, through its grain/irrigation
systems and The Popcorn Store; industrially,
through its architectural and construction
services; and technologically, with its computer
and network services.
The Valparaiso community has a rich history
of innovators who have built and expanded
local companies to grow and sell globally.
Each year, Valparaiso Community school
students compete in Science Olympiad, a
nationwide contest where participants compete
in a variety of science engineering topics.
These events range in category from aviation,
rocketry, and chemistry to forestry,
polymers, and computers. These students,
and others like them, are Valparaiso’s future
innovators. This community’s economic
well-being is dependent on cultivating the
spirit of innovators: we recognize this mission,
and we embrace it.
26 Valpo Magazine Summer 2007

UNDERGRADUATE and GRADUATE CENTER
MORE THAN 90 CLASSES IN PORTER COUNTY
FALL 2007
GET YOUR MBA SATURDAY PROGRAM
pnc.edu/mba
START or COMPLETE YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE
pnc.edu/admissions
APPLY YOUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE CREDITS
pnc.edu/admissions/articulation
EARN COLLEGE CREDITS WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL
pnc.edu/admissions/dualcredit
CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION
pnc.edu/ce
PORTER COUNTY
600 Vale Park Road • Valparaiso, IN 46383
email: kmarrs@pnc.edu
www.pnc.edu/portercounty
Undergraduate 219-531-4200 Graduate 219-531-6500
an equal access/equal opportunity university