#Together WeThrive
2020 PIVOT: MOVING FORWARD Your Southwest Indiana Chamber is proud to be leading collaborative efforts to position our region as “THE PLACE” to live, work and grow a business in the Midwest, the U.S. and beyond. Collaboration is the key, and at the Chamber we know “Together We Thrive.” www.swinchamber.com 2019/2020 @SWINChamber ANNUAL REPORT
Pictured: Berry Global accepts the 2020 Business of the Year Award at the Annual Meeting & Dinner held in-person and via live stream, Sept. 24, 2020. many hundreds of businesses at risk – all without a playbook. thousands of businesses found and can still find the most accurate, up- to-the-minute guidance and information they need to protect their As the needs of our members, our community and our region evolve, the businesses. Southwest Indiana Chamber is by your side, engaging strategically and proactively, being nimble – responding to changes and ensuring that our We convened the Boards of the Chamber, Coalition and GAGE weekly region is positioned to thrive as a globally competitive place to work, live by Zoom to stay current on the greatest needs of our businesses, with and grow a business. The Chamber provided leadership with numerous the critical, timely input of many public sector leaders, including Mayor legislative wins, new and innovative programing, and strong support for Lloyd Winnecke and Congressman Larry Bucshon, as well as our health the Chamber’s Alliances and committees, tasked with keeping our region care providers. These calls quickly turned into a vital and trusted resource moving forward within their areas of focus. of information, guidance and collaboration to help our region navigate through this turbulent situation. The Southwest Indiana Chamber is an association of businesses and individuals who come together for the benefit of our region. You inform We recognized that if we could execute successfully, this was an our priorities, our public policy agenda, our member benefits, and every opportunity for our Chamber to have an even broader and more lasting aspect of our work and services. You make our events successful and impact on the resilience and prosperity of our region. That meant doing consistently the best-attended business programs in the community. things like: hosting Zoom town halls, showcasing local businesses, direct You guide our talent and workforce initiatives and advise the Southwest membership calls, business-to-business free webinar information sharing Indiana Small Business Development Center, which we are proud to host. and conducting surveys. Additionally, our Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, which has always been such an important A Chambers of Commerce are catalysts, conveners and champions for partner to our business community, became even more critical through our members and the communities in which we proudly serve. When these months. COVID-19 came to our region and our public health partners made MESSAGE it clear that we would have to stay home and close business until we Some tangible wins for 2020 include: the Chamber Foundation serving could safely manage the spread of the virus, we immediately pivoted community and quality of place priorities, modernizing our governance, FROM to provide all businesses in the region – not just our members – with winning marketing and communications awards, moving the needle the critical information and services they needed. Very early into the on the I-69 bridge, advancing regional prosperity and equity for all, and OUR BOARD pandemic we mobilized internally and with our Board, to determine how committing to aligned and deliberate progress and growth for our region. best to change gears from our normal course of operations and step CHAIRS up as the spark for nimble, collaborative leadership to businesses and We have a bright future. We are going to grow our region. We are going Luke Yeager, Incoming Chair-Elect | Christine Keck, Chair | Curt Begle, Chair-Elect stakeholders throughout this region. to prosper as an equitable and inclusive community that opens access to our economy to all. We are going to participate in the Global Economy The Southwest Indiana Chamber’s fiscal 2020 year ended years, we’ve led through a multitude of opportunities and With the able partnership of the Economic Development Coalition and because this Chamber, of which each of us is a part, will continue to September 30. The Chamber is an organization which challenges; potentially none as tumultuous, difficult to GAGE, we joined forces and quickly converted the Chamber website advocate for the change that moves us toward these goals, and we will has proudly served as the collective voice of our regional navigate or just plain scary as 2020. We’ve faced a pandemic to a Business Information Portal. For the months that our region was do it together with every like-minded organization and individual. business community since 1915. In one hundred and five with thousands of jobs lost, the closure of our economy and essentially closed to commerce and normal business transactions, #TogetherWeThrive COVID-19 RESPONSE BY THE NUMBERS... With 62 Board Members and 53 Ambassadors, the Southwest Indiana Chamber has gained more than 110 New Members during the 2019 - 2020 fiscal year.
Helping to support our members’ specific needs are the Tri-State Manufacturing Alliance and the Family Business Alliance. Both alliances conduct informative quarterly events bringing high-quality, nationally recognized speakers. The alliances have also formed peer groups providing best practices and supporting incoming leaders.
The Posey County Office is an extra layer of support BUSINESS for our members in the Posey County area. The Posey County Office hosts the Annual Report to the Posey County Business Community and the State of Schools, GROWTH among other activities throughout the year. 6,914 460 2,757 # of restaurant # of business owners # of member take-out/delivery participating in support calls website page views virtual town hall in March, April SERVICES We are proud to host the SW Indiana in March meetings and May Small Business Development Center - a top performing organization supporting new business. 834 117 307 # of survey # of small businesses # of businesses 466 Clients Served respondents - highlighted on WFIE 14 listed on thank you! Serving the Tri-State swinchamber.com TOTAL MEMBERS EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED 33 Business Starts as resources $10M Capital Investment Disaster related capital funding 1,335 133,000 SOUTHWEST 3,045 Jobs Supported $6.3M approved through SW Indiana SBDC Sally Rideout, our government affairs specialist, provided insights LEGISLATIVE WINS Governor Eric J. Holcomb joins Southwest Indiana Chamber President and CEO Tara Barney for a discussion through daily and then weekly COVID-19 updates from Gov. during the 2020 Lunch with the Governor. Other legislative and advocacy events included Lunch with the Eric J. Holcomb and his team to keep our members updated with SB1 Tobacco & Vaping Smoking Age the latest mandates, financial resources, and health and safety Mayor, Lunch with the Lt. Governor and Report to the Posey County Business Community. SB 409 Employment of Minors guidance across all sectors of business. She provided direct assistance to several members who reached out with HB 1153 & HB 1419 specific questions and concerns regarding their Governor’s Workforce Cabinet operations and safety plans. SB 177 Administration of the Our Public Policy Committee met Broadband Ready Program virtually with local legislators several SB 350 Central Indiana Regional times to provide direct input about Development Authority the business community and hear their perspectives on HB 1343 New Harmony & PUBLIC ways Indiana government Wabash River Bridge Authority was stepping in to help. SB 256 Courts & Judicial Officers POLICY Some of our committees, SB 61 EMS Personnel Licensure including our Infrastructure Interstate Compact We are the trusted voice of the regional business and our Energy and HB 1004 Health Matters community, and as such, we advocate for Environmental Committees, legislation and policies that help our region moved their meetings to virtual HB 1111 Unemployment thrive. We keep a keen eye on local, state formats to continue providing educational HB 1065 Various Tax Matters and national issues that positively or opportunities for members. adversely affect our members and the region. Some might say we have our elected leaders on speed dial. ADVOCATING FOR COMPLETION OF THE OHIO RIVER CROSSING Best location for economic development, cross river mobility and ease of traffic congestion.
Proudly hosting the annual ATHENA Award Luncheon reflecting the critical importance COVID-19 RESPONSE WEBINARS of women in the community. MARCH 27: COVID-19 Legal Issues for Small Business APRIL 22: Food & Beverage Town Hall APRIL 23: Manufacturing Town Hall Close Contact Business Town Hall APRIL 24: Local Retail Town Hall APRIL 27: Manufacturing Best Practices APRIL 30: ReOpening After COVID-19: Staying Legal 2.0 Child Care Town Hall TALENT, MAY 6: ReOpening Stage 2 Retail Town Hall ReOpening Stage 2 Restaurant Bar Town Hall INCLUSION & MAY 19: Turning Adversity into Opportunity: Success in the Face of COVID-19 LEADERSHIP 3rd JUNE 1: Hospitality and Event Town Hall JUNE 17: Turning Adversity into Opportunity: ANNUAL Building Business and Personal Resilience LATINO CHAMBER ALLIANCE JULY 8: Turning Adversity into Opportunity: DINNER - ¡CELEBRECION! How to Think Like a Remote Worker What COVID-19 Means for State The Latino Chamber Alliance Annual Dinner and the Athena Awards were able to be & Local Budgets full, in-person events before the shutdown of COVID-19. The Young Professionals ATHENA AWARD Alliance offered its events virtually throughout the year. The Chamber took the lead on SEPTEMBER 16: Cybersecurity – Manage Your Risks conducting COVID-related webinars and town halls to assist businesses SEPTEMBER 28: Families First Coronovirus Response Act in shifting to accommodate COVID-19 mandates. 30 YEARS CELEBRATING WOMEN LEADERS SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER @swinchamber AMBASSADORS In addition to helping businesses celebrate 900+ MEMBER NEWS & milestones with ribbon-cuttings and EVENT PROMOTIONS volunteering at events, the Southwest Indiana Greater Evansville is a region with a bright future. We’ve Chamber Ambassadors stepped up to aid got more career opportunities than most places in the 16K+ SOCIAL MEDIA businesses during COVID-19. Midwest, and our schools and universities punch above their weight in both quality and value. We FOLLOWERS are lucky enough to have miles of trails and The Ambassadors rallied to help local thousands of acres of public parks and 4 ICEA EXCELLENCE IN restaurants by hosting Grab-N-Go lunches. forests to enjoy, and our overall cost of COMMUNICATIONS They delivered “Welcome Back” window clings living beats out most of AWARDS to let customers know the business they were CONVENING & the country. · Programs That Engage The entering was open and safe. Next Generation: Regional YP Conference The Southwest Indiana · Marketing Campaigns: Moreover, the Ambassadors continued CHAMPIONING Chamber and our partner Welcome Back! Media Kit member engagement by assisting with organizations are committed · Strategic Plan / Annual Reports: monthly member retention to some specific goals for our 2019 Annual Report communications. OUR REGION community over the next five years. · Website Excellence: swinchamber.com We’ve named this vision for a stronger The chamber is lucky to have such engaged, E IS FOR EVERYONE region Talent 2025. By committing to some enthusiatic and commited ambassadors to specific goals, we can set our hometowns SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY
REOPEN EVANSVILLE TASKFORCE COVID-19 #KeepItLocal support the local business region. on the right track. BRINGING PEOPLE TALENT 2025 TO THE TABLE THE NEW DEACONESS CLINIC DOWNTOWN COWORK EVANSVILLE #5 IN NATION FOR ATTRACTING JOBS KEEP IT LOCAL! MEMBER DIRECTORY Glossy magazine featuring small business resilience, a new
greater ev multi-cultural business directory and quality-of-place stories. ansville REGIONAL COVID-19 CITIES
greater ev UPDATE ansville THE POST HOUSE SILVER greater ev ansville MULTI-CULTURAL LININGS LOCAL BUSINESSES NEW! BUSINESS PAGE 30 DIRECTORY TURNING ADVERSITY Pictured: Guests attending the 2020 Lunch With the Governor Southwest Indiana Chamber Signature event at Old National Events Plaza in Evansville, IN. INTO OPPORTUNITY LOCAL EATS, DRINKS, COUPONS & MORE! SOUTHWEST INDIANA SBDC KIM HOWARD $262,050 Regional Director DOUG CLAYBOURN EVENTS | PROJECTS | WORKSHOPS Business Advisor JULIE FOLZ Business Advisor GRANT GLACKMAN PAT CRON TINA FUHRER Membership Acquisition Account Executive Business Advisor Coordinator [email protected] KARINA HAMPTON [email protected] $356,502 Office Coordinator TARA BARNEY GRANTS | CONTRIBUTIONS President & CEO [email protected]
RACHEL HERR RANDY OWENS Member Engagement Posey County Director Manager [email protected] FINANCIALS $712,212 [email protected] SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DUES DOROTHY & OPERATIONS PERGOLA TSMA Coordinator The Southwest Indiana Chamber thrives through STAFF [email protected] responsible financial management and As a new business owner streamlined operations. With support from CHANDA RAMSEY KAREN ROBINSON nearly 1,400 members, we deliver in these unprecedented times, Marketing & Communications Events Manager $450,321 Creative Director [email protected] unmatched programming, I am thrilled to have such a great [email protected] host exceptional events, launch PROGRAMS | PUBLICATIONS | OTHER organization to help keep me new member-focused initiatives “ JOSHUA and advocate on behalf updated and informed.” ARMSTRONG of the regional business President community. – ERIC RALPH ADAM TRINKEL owner, Honey Baked Ham Marketing & Events Director ALLI TURPIN Marketing & Events Coordinator $1,781,085 CANDACE CHAPMAN Executive Director ELLEN KNAPP VICKI SCHMITT COURTNEY SNYDER Operations Administrator & Administrative Coordinator Development Corporation Vice President & CFO [email protected] 2019 - 2020 FISCAL YEAR GROSS REVENUE Secretary to the Board [email protected] [email protected] DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE - EID CHAIR SECRETARY VICE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BRAND AWARENESS 2019/2020 CHRISTINE KECK BETH MCFADIN QUALITY OF PLACE We value and appreciate all of our members. The Southwest Indiana JEFF JUSTICE PETE PARADOSSI Vectren - A CenterPoint Energy HIGGINS ERBC Chamber would not be the premier business organization it has been for over 100 BOARD OF Company McFadin Higgins & Folz, LLP Hafer THANK YOU PRESIDENT & CEO VICE CHAIR, SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS & EVENT SPONSORS years without the ongoing support of our partners and key partnering sponsors. DIRECTORS CHAIR-ELECT TREASURER & ENTREPRENEURSHIP TARA BARNEY CURT BEGLE KEITH MESSMER Southwest Indiana Chamber Berry Global JOHN LAMB BKD, LLP German American Bank SIGNATURE CIRCLE PARTNERS VICE PRESIDENT & CFO IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIR, ADVOCACY VICE CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP ELLEN KNAPP & PUBLIC POLICY JIM SANDGREN ENGAGEMENT & OPERATIONAL Southwest Indiana Chamber Old National Bank LUKE YAEGER EXCELLENCE Indiana Members Credit Union LISA SLADE Slade Print
DAVID ANDERSON MICHELLE HUDSON GEORGE L. MORGAN ELLEN REDDING Warrick Co. Chamber Rep. Posey Co. Committee Rep. CountryMark Energy Resources, LLC Henderson Co. Chamber Rep. LNB Investment Services Shrode Agency, Inc. BRAD MUEHLBAUER GREG RISCH CHRIS JACKSON Gibbs Die Casting STEVE BENNETT Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc. Koch Air, LLC Posey Co. Committee Rep./CSB State Bank PHILLIP ROBERTS W. KERRY JACKSON PEPPER MULHERIN Hilliard Lyons JEAN BLANTON Shoe Carnival, Inc. AT&T Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders DR. RONALD ROCHON GUY JACKSON MICHAEL O’DANIEL JOHN BRISCOE BWX Technologies University of Southern Indiana PIVOTAL PARTNERS D-Patrick, Inc. FC Tucker Emge Realtors TONY KRAMPE BILL SCHIRMER KATHY BRISCOE Henderson Co. Chamber Rep. DAN PAROD Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union Ascension St. Vincent FC Tucker Emge Realtors Old National Bank MICHAEL SCHOPMEYER KYLA DOWELL DARIN LANDER BERNARD PETER Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP Ivy Tech Community College Old National Bank Warrick Co. Chamber Rep. First Advantage Insurance LAURA SCOTT BRAD ELLSWORTH LUKE LEDER Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt LLP WAREHOUSE Vectren South Posey Co. Committee Rep. Valero Renewables – Mt. Vernon DOUG PETITT SERVICES, INC. United Companies JORDAN SHEETS KYLE FIELDS Spencer County Regional Chamber Rep SS&C Technologies BRANDON McCLISH Purple Aces Sports Properties – UE CHRISTOPHER PIETRUSZKIEWICZ DR. DAVID SMITH BRANT FLORES University of Evansville Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. VISIONARY PARTNERS PMG Landscaping Company NIALL McCONVILLE SABIC ARTHUR PIKE CINDY STAPLES KARI FLUEGEL RB Anchor Industries, Inc. Escalade Sports, Inc. Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville NFP Clippinger Financial Group Alcoa – Warrick Operations SHAWN McCOY AstraZeneca Atlas World Group, Inc. Evansville Regional Airport Hafer OneMain Financial Deaconess Health System PAULA PINKSTAFF SCOTT THOMAS DAVID FREEMAN Toyota AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Evansville Regional Business Harding Shymanski & Co. Regency Properties BKD, LLP JAKE McGENNIS Curran Miller Auction Realty JOHNATHAN POPE DR. MATT THOMPSON AT&T Committee Heritage Federal Credit Union Shoe Carnival NATE HAHN JIM McMURRAY YMCA MSD of Mt. Vernon Baird Wealth Management Evansville Teachers Federal Jackson Kelly PLLC Skanska Evansville Regional Airport Atlas World Group JENNIFER RAIBLEY AMBER THORN Banterra Bank Credit Union Kahn Dees Donovan & Kahn Stoll Keenon Ogden MIKE HEAD STACY McNEILL Fifth Third Bank Posey Co. Committee Rep. Warehouse Services, Inc. Commerce Bank FC Tucker Emge Realty Kenny Kent Chevrolet Tropicana First Federal Savings Bank Tropicana Evansville DAVE RECTOR CountryMark First Federal Savings Bank Legence Bank University of Evansville DREW HECKERT KEITH MESSMER Warrick Co. Chamber Rep. PATTY VANOVAN Edward Jones BKD, LLP Evansville Vanderburgh Co. Bldg. Authority Gibson Co. Chamber of Commerce Donaldson Capital Management First Financial Bank Lochmueller Group University of Southern Indiana JAY HIETT KELLY MITCHELL KATHY REINKE MAYOR LLOYD WINNECKE Economic Development Coalition of Friends of Winnecke Mitchell Transmission Welborn Baptist Foundation WFIE/Raycom Warrick Co. Chamber Rep./SIRS Spencer Co. Regional Chamber Rep. City of Evansville Southwest Indiana Garmong Construction Services Mulzer Crushed Stone Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders #Together We Thrive
MISSION-FOCUSED, VISION-GUIDED MISSION: SERVING OUR REGION BY PROMOTING AND PROTECTING BUSINESS
VISION: TO MAKE OUR REGION A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PLACE TO WORK, LIVE AND GROW A BUSINESS
VALUES: LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
greater evansville
EVANSVILLE POSEY COUNTY OFFICE 318 Main Street, Suite 401 231A Main Street • PO Box 633 greater evansville Evansville, IN 47708 Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 812-425-8147 812-838-3639
www.swinchamber.com greater evansville @SWINChamber