| Issue No. 245 Serving the Entire Business Community January 2005 | ||
VISIT OUR SPONSORS  |
 New Chamber BoardFrom the desk of Susie Reinholt, President 2004 As your outgoing Chamber President, I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to our membership for your support and dedication to the work of the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce. We have a membership concerned with and actively supporting our ever expanding community and our community's needs. I would like to again extend my heartfelt thank you to the Chamber Board of Directors. This diverse and unselfish group of individuals represents the best of our community leadership. These caring people volunteer their time and expertise to guide the Chamber's efforts to make our community a better place to live, conduct business, and raise our families. Before welcoming in your new Chamber representatives, I want, along with the Chamber staff, to extend our great appreciation and thank you to the outgoing Chamber Board members. Leaving after completing their second terms of service to the Chamber membership are Mike Burroughs, Lake City Bank and John Yeakey, Bomarko, Inc. Re-elected to a second term are Kay Garrison, Bookworm, Inc. and Mike Lintner, Marshall Starke Development. The newly elected members are Dee Brown, Centier Bank and Jackie Wright, M.C. Council on Aging/Senior Center. Welcome aboard! Your new Executive Board are President: Mike Lintner, Marshall Starke Development; Administrative VP: Linda Rippy, M.C. Historical Society/Museum; Internal VP: Rick Hite, Indiana Heat Transfer Corp.; and External VP: Rich Holland, Martin's Super Markets. I know their leadership will be outstanding! Along with your Chamber Staff, I wish you a safe and prosperous year! ------------------------------- From the desk of Mike Lintner, President 2005 Like our esteemed outgoing President, Susie Reinholt, I too would like to thank the outgoing Chamber Board members and welcome the newly elected members. The work of your Chamber is vital to our community, and the work of volunteer Board Members is vital to your Chamber. Thanks so much for your time and your commitment. I especially want to thank Susie for two great years of leadership. With Susie's leadership we got things done, and we had fun doing it. A winning combination. Every new year brings new challenges and new opportunities. My goal is for your Chamber to continue to be a viable resource for members to address the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities. I believe the success of the Chamber is best measured by the success of the members. I assure you the Chamber Staff and Board will continue to work diligently so that we may all succeed. The Plymouth community experienced some tremendous and exciting growth in 2004. I am optimistic this trend will continue in 2005 and beyond. I look forward to serving as your Chamber president, and wish you all a happy, and prosperous new year. ------------   Business Resources Co. 10413 Pretty Lake Tr. Plymouth; 574-780-2261; www.davidmiller.biz David Miller of Business Resources Company will be hosting a new radio show on WTCA AM 1050. The show is entitled "Business On The Line" and will focus on business issues in the area. The show premiers at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 12th, and will air every other Wednesday. Miller has over 20 years of small business and economic development experience. The show will feature guest segments, listener call in, and practical information related to business.. Ivy Tech State College 3755 Lake City Hwy., Warsaw; 574-267-5428; www.ivytech.edu Ivy Tech administrators recently signed the first transfer-of-credit agreement between the North Central Region's Technology Division and a campus of Purdue University. The agreement provides for transfer of approx. 22 courses earned in any technology program to the bachelor's degree in industrial technology at Purdue North Central. Technology programs include design, automotive services, manufacturing/industrial and electronic/computer technology. The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. 112 S. Center St., STE C, Plymouth; 574-935-4511; www.centerforhospice.org The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. has earned special recognition from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for "providing outstanding, compassionate care to those facing the end of life and their loved ones." The recognition was given as part of the Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence and included a $10,000 unrestricted grant. The Center was one of three awardees out of 21 applicants. The Center is a not-for-profit, community-based agency. Offices in South Bend, Plymouth and Elkhart, Hospice serves St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaPorte and Starke Counties. GIBSON INSURANCE GROUP 333 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth; 574-936-2122; www.gibsonins.com Gibson Ins. Group, a privately held agency with 80 employees, 28 in their Plymouth location and 52 in their South Bend location, announces their commitment to grow. "We've taken a strategic look at our company and see that our future is full of growth opportunities," stated Greg Downes, President of Gibson Insurance Group, "We've made an investment in much needed office space for the agency and plan future expansion as well." Growth projections for Gibson over the next few years estimate a 25% increase in headcount for the agency. "These are positive numbers for Plymouth and Marshall County," noted Mr. Downes. Gibson Insurance Group is among the top 250 agencies in the nation Offering customized solutions for risk management to a wide array of clients, Gibson Insurance Group specializes in Commercial, Personal and Employee Benefits Insurance programs that are fully supported by Loss Prevention and Claim Services. Gibson focuses on North Central Indiana and Southwest Michigan clients with offices in both South Bend and Plymouth, Indiana, and numerous association member clients throughout the country. For further details contact Tania Bengtsson, Marketing Coordinator at 245-3546 or tbengtsson@gibsonins.com. LEADERSHIP MARSHALL COUNTY 574-935-5159 Students from Class X of Leadership Marshall County received a first-hand look at local government during its government session on December 15. The students learned about the governmental bodies that are in Marshall County with the help of guest speaker Jim Easterday, an attorney from Plymouth. A panel discussion with county leaders varying from a county commissioner to a township trustee, gave the students the opportunity to learn about different governmental positions in the county. The panelists also answered questions about current issues facing the county, which led into a small group discussion on four different topics. The leadership class students gave their input on these current issues: what could be done with the existing county jail building/property, possibilities for a juvenile detention center that is shared by area counties, recommendations for the real estate the county owns next the Shady Rest Home, and thoughts on the Comprehensive Plan for Marshall County. The session wrapped up with an invitation to the students to become involved in their local government or possibly run for an office. Each month, for nine months, students enrolled in the Leadership Marshall County class learn about various aspects of leadership and leadership opportunities within the county. The mission of the program is to identify, motivate, and develop community leaders through education and skills development. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony in May. For more information on the Leadership Marshall County program, please contact Jeff Honzik at 574-935-5159. Ancilla Domini College 9601 S. Union Rd., Donaldson; 574- 936-8898; www.ancilla.edu The Academic Council at Ancilla College has approved a new associate degree in business to be taught in an accelerated format. The accelerated Associate of Science degree in business administration is structured to take less classroom time than conventional (traditional) programs. The accelerated courses meet for five to eight weeks, cutting classroom time to less than half that of traditional courses which meet for sixteen weeks. The program is designed for adult learners who have at least three years of work experience. The classes are conveniently held in the evening one time per week from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to accommodate those who work during the daytime. A unique feature of the program is that a student can start the program at various times throughout the year since the classes typically start every five weeks. Those who have successfully completed business courses in the traditional format may also receive credit in the accelerated program for the courses already taken. All courses that are currently offered in the accelerated certificate program can immediately be applied to the accelerated associate degree in business administration. For more information on the accelerated business administration degree program, contact the Ancilla College Admissions Office at 574-936-8898 ext. 330. Ancilla College is a private, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and located on the grounds of the PHJC Ministry Center at Donaldson, Ind. ------------ New Members
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