2023_Fall_ValpoMagazine

FINAL THOUGHT
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As you have seen, in this issue of the
Valparaiso Magazine we have featured
the Chamber: the organization, the
staff and its facilities. The Chamber
in Valpo was founded in 1912 and
moved into its current location when
it purchased the 162 W. Lincolnway
building almost 20 years ago.
Historically, the 162 W. Lincolnway
building has served as the home to a
wide range of businesses. It originally
served as home to the Grand Opera
House, which was built in 1875 by the
uncle of actress Beulah Bondi, who
played George Bailey's mother in It's a
Wonderful Life. Since that time, it has
housed a clothing store, a carpentry
shop, a funeral home, a Sears and
Roebuck department store, and an
office supply business before becoming
home to the Valpo Chamber. The
Chamber purchased this building from
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
a charitable organization. The Odd
Fellows used the second floor for their
organization and ceremonial programs
and, with a handshake agreement, they
continue to meet in the renovated second
level for their bimonthly meetings.
Over the twenty years that the Chamber
has owned the 162 W. Lincolnway
building, there have been three
renovations. The first renovation
occurred when the building was
acquired. At that time, the Chamber
renovated the first level into its
administrative offices. Seven years later,
the Chamber undertook
renovating the second floor into a
conference center that included three
conference rooms of various sizes and
handicap assessable bathrooms. The
third renovation occurred just this year,
in the late spring and early summer
when the Board of Directors approved
a renovation of the main level. The main
level houses the administrative offices
and welcomes Chamber members,
prospective businesses, tourists, and
members of the general public. Over
the last three months, the first floor has
received beautiful, as well as functional,
upgrades. New carpeting has been
installed and the walls received a fresh
and modern paint scheme. Glass walls
have been added to the administrative
area, which are filmed for privacy and
provide more productive workspace for
the staff. Every staff member now has a
private office, except for the Resource
Director who greets visitors and handles
the incoming phone calls.
The Valpo Chamber has successfully
served this community throughout its
111-year history. In the 1920’s, when
the Ku Klux Klan wanted to buy the
University, the Chamber opposed the
purchase and played a significant role in
the sale of the University to the Lutheran
Church. Today, the Chamber continues
to collaborate with local and regional
organizations to promote growth and
advance the interests of business.
As a result, the Chamber has recruited
many of the existing major employees
to the community.
By Lee Lane, 2023 Chair
Over the last 20 Years the Valpo
Chamber has received many honors.
Three times, it was selected as the best
Chamber in Indiana by an independent
panel of Judges of the Indiana Chamber
Executives Association. In 2018, it was
selected as the second-best Chamber
in America by the American Chamber
Executives Association. In 2012, Rex
Richards was selected as the Chamber
President of the Year for Indiana. Every
award is a product of hard work and
passion, and much of that work is done
behind the scenes by a team of people.
The Chamber has excelled because of
the teamwork of its staff, its members,
and the community.
The history and impact of this Chamber
has been significant to the City and
the Region. The Chamber undertakes
programs that inform and assist
business. It markets and promotes
this community. Its members are the
heartbeat of the organization. The
Valparaiso Magazine is a product of the
Valpo Chamber that is published four
times a year and goes into 18,000
homes and businesses.
46 FALL 2023 |