Chamber Executive Indiana Digest - October 2014 - Chamber future: Why Indy must invest in early childhood education; Duke Energy Honors Bedford (Indiana) Area Chamber's Jamie Medlock With "Difference Maker" Award; COMMERCE: Northwest Indiana catching the eye of national retailers; Chamber news: 2014 Indiana Governor's Conference for Women: Community. Connection. Inspiration!; Chamber business: INVESTIndiana Return Sept. 23; Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U. S. - #3. Carmel, Indiana; Chamber issue: Work sharing gains support as alternative to layoffs in Indiana; Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook; Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber; Chamber Good News: Lafayette, Indiana Hotel Project Set to Begin; Chamber economic development: Michigan City, Indiana designated as HUBZone; Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education) Albert Einstein

Chamber future: Why Indy must invest in early childhood education

Venture capitalist Robert Dugger focused on what he knows best — investing and capital formation — as he spoke to about 75 of Indianapolis' top business leaders, gathered early Friday morning on Eli Lilly and Co.'s Downtown campus. But his message had nothing to do with stocks and bonds; it was all about Indy's children.

"Young adults are the most important economic product that the United States produces," Dugger said.

More important than Apple or Google. More important than Ford or General Motors. More important even than pharmaceuticals (sorry, Lilly). If the great majority of our children are well equipped to thrive in the 21st century economy, then it's likely our state and nation will thrive as well. The reverse also is true: If they struggle, we'll all struggle.

"Human capital formation from ages 0 to 18 is the most important sector of the economy," Read more: IndyStar.com

Duke Energy Honors Bedford (Indiana) Area Chamber's Jamie Medlock With "Difference Maker" Award

Duke Energy honored Bedford Chamber of Commerce President Jamie Medlock with a "Difference Maker" award at the Aug. 30 Indianapolis Indians game in Indianapolis.

"As Indiana's largest electric supplier, we have the privilege of working with a number of community leaders statewide," said Bruce Calloway, Duke Energy's southwest district community relations manager. "We're honoring one of those leaders, Jamie Medlock, with the Duke Energy Difference Maker award for her work bettering lives in our community." Medlock has helped secure nearly $20 million in investments for Bedford's downtown revitalization. Read more: WBIW.com

COMMERCE: Northwest Indiana catching the eye of national retailers

The Times Board of Economists - economic update from Rex Richards, executive director of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce

Business interest in Northwest Indiana is growing, a sign of good things to come, said Rex Richards, executive director of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm really bullish on Northwest Indiana now, from the standpoint of our total growth and development," he said. "And with the firms we've had locate from Illinois, just across the state line coming over to Northwest Indiana, is a tremendous sign that we are going to have some good days ahead." Richards said he has never been so bullish about the Region as in the last three to four months. Read more: NWI Times

Chamber news: 2014 Indiana Governor's Conference for Women: Community. Connection. Inspiration!

See and share our new video showcasing the life-changing day we're putting together at the Indiana Governor's Conference for Women on October 21st. Get immersed in a groundbreaking program led by business experts on today's hottest topics – from building your confidence and sparkling in the spotlight to building a thriving business.

Chamber business: INVESTIndiana Return Sept. 23

Leading Indiana companies will participate in the fourth INVESTIndiana Equity Conference on September 23 at the Conrad Indianapolis. Fund managers, analysts and institutional investors are primary attendees, with the event open to others in the business community. An Executive Roundtable opens the day. The keynote speaker is William Testa of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Twelve companies, including six financial institutions, are scheduled to make presentations. They cover the state, including 1st Source Corporation (South Bend), Escalade (Evansville), Hillenbrand (Batesville) and nine others. Full information online.

Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U. S. - #3. Carmel, Indiana

When Carmel's mayor, Jim Brainard, first ran for office nearly 20 years ago, he says he heard a common request: "People said it would be nice if we didn't have to drive to have a nice dinner or see a show."

His vision: Borrow the walkable, culture-filled model of the great European cities by re­vitalizing the downtown, replacing intersections with roundabouts (there are now about 90), and bringing in more performing arts.

Today residents of this perennially well-ranked city (it was No. 1 on our 2012 list) can hear local symphony or travel­ing acts at the Palladium, a 1,600-seat concert hall in the style of Venetian architect Andrea Pal-ladio, or see theater or dance at the Tarkington and Studio theaters. Money Magazine

Chamber issue: Work sharing gains support as alternative to layoffs in Indiana

Support may be growing in the Indiana Legislature for a program that lets employers cut worker hours instead of cutting their jobs.

During a hearing Tuesday, lobbyists for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO urged the concept as a way to keep skilled workers on the job and mitigate the damage of an economic downturn.

At least 27 states have implemented similar programs, known as "work-sharing," which are credited for reducing the number of workers unemployed during the 2008 recession. Republican Gov. Mike Pence opposes the idea. But the legislative study committee's conservative chairman, Rep. Dave Ober, R-Albion, said he'll push for a bill next session. Read more: News and Tribune

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook

Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women's voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women's progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to "sit at the table," seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of "having it all."  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg's book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can't do to what they can.

Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber

Indiana Chamber ‏@IndianaChamber 1h

Our Vince Griffin: Site selector Larry Gigerich says for next 100 years, water will be #1 factor in site selection. #ICCcall

Chamber Good News: Lafayette, Indiana Hotel Project Set to Begin

The Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Lafayette is about to undergo a $5 million expansion. Officials say the project will add a conference facility and 32 additional guest rooms.
Devry Butcher, the Area General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Lafayette, Indiana, today announced that the hotel is embarking upon a $5 million dollar expansion that will include a brand new, state-of-the-art, 15,500-square-foot indoor/outdoor conference facility and up to 32 additional guest rooms. The site of the conference facility will be on recently purchased land just south of the hotel's current location on Fairington Avenue and is Phase two of five planned.

"We conducted local market research which showed that people planning meetings and events would like to have better options right here in Lafayette," said Butcher. "Building the new conference facility is a great opportunity for the Courtyard Lafayette to provide our outstanding services and amenities to groups of travelers and event planners that have been looking for fresh and innovative facilities in the community." Read more: Inside Indiana Business

Chamber economic development: Michigan City, Indiana designated as HUBZone

The City of Michigan City, Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) and the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City (EDCMC) are collaborating to sponsor a seminar on how to expand business opportunities with the federal government.

The city was designated as a HUBZone after it met the eligibility requirements due to the 2010 U.S. Census. The purpose of the HUBZone program is to provide federal contracting assistance for qualified small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones in an effort to increase employment opportunities, investment and economic development in such areas. Read more: Michigan City News Dispatch

Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a $500 million investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is designed for business owners with limited resources who have a business poised for growth. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Learn more about this program and eligibility requirements. Further information: 10,000 Small Businesses  

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education)

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."--- Albert Einstein

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John

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