It's that time of year again where we wrap up 2012 by looking back at some of the best stories we published on PortageLife.com throughout the year.
It was a great year for the Business section on our site with articles highlighting areas of business development, staff motivation, legal tips and news, market and investing news and information, real estate updates, and technology.
Check out the 2012 Best of PortageLife.com Business below!
And the Winner from the NWIndianaLife and NorthShore Health Centers' iPad2 Giveaway Is…
Click here to read this article!
We’d like to announce the winner of the “Do You Love Good News” iPad2 giveaway, where NWIndianaLife.com and NorthShore Health Centers teamed up to give one lucky participant a FREE iPad2! All contestants had to do to enter was "Like" the NWIndianaLife.com Facebook page and fill out a brief form, and they were eligible to win!
So, without further ado… Congratulations Eric Woodside!
Upon receiving his awesome prize, Eric said, "I'm very grateful and excited to have been chosen! Thanks to NorthShore and NWIndianaLife.com for this awesome opportunity!"
The State of LIFE - Letter to the Community
Click here to read the full State of Life Letter to the Community!
Three years ago, we launched a new look at LIFE…
…a new media start-up working at a relentless pace above a garage, based entirely on one simple premise: Good News.
… a place you could go to enjoy positive, community-oriented information about the town, city, or region you live in and the people involved.
… a place where you can celebrate what is right in the world, share it with your friends, family, and your community of neighbors at school, work, or church and having some fun doing it!
Porter Health System Presents Details of Hospital Transfer to Portage Chamber Members
Click here to read this article!
Porter Health System CEO Jonathan Nalli and hospital transfer specialist Colleen Tymensky, RN, MBA, spoke to Portage Chamber of Commerce members at their March 2012 Luncheon to bring forth vital information about the new Porter Regional Hospital and to give details about the transfer process from their campus in Valparaiso to their new facility.
“It’s all new,” explained Nalli. “It’s not just a new department or pavilion or tower or or center or area, everything is new.”
Volt Across America - Spring Break 2012 with the Family in Arnell Chevy Volt
Click here to read this article!
My family and I joined our extended family on a trip down to Florida for Spring Break this year. One great reason was obviously to spend some good, quality time with everyone after a busy and work-filled winter. A second reason was to spend some good, quality time driving down the 2012 Chevy Volt that we already are driving around Northwest Indiana, and testing how that would fare on a trip down south.
The Volt is already an absolutely incredible car to drive around town with 35 miles of spirited, gas-free driving each day after a charge as an electric vehicle. But I could only describe what is it like driving this bundle of technology and efficiency from the Chicago area - Valparaiso Indiana, to southwest Florida with your family in one word: awesome.
NIPSCO CEO Discusses Powering Lives and Businesses, Looks Toward the Future with Porter County Chamber Members
Click here to read this article!
“We have been a part of the fabric of this community for 100 years and we’re excited ,” stated Jimmy Staton, Chief Executive Officer for NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, during a presentation in front of the Porter County Chamber Coalition at Strongbow Inn on May 17, 2012.
The NIPSCO CEO spoke in front of about 150 of members in Strongbow Inn’s Charles Room of their banquet hall. The Porter County Chamber Coalition includes the Chesterton/Duneland, Hebron, Kouts, Portage, and Valpo Chambers of Commerce.
The event, sponsored by the Porter County Community Foundation, touched on NIPSCO’s role in providing access to utilities to hundreds of thousands individuals, powering their lives and their businesses.
9th Annual Portage Chamber PCBN a Huge Success (Update)
Click here to read this article!
The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce held its ninth annual Portage Community Business Night at Woodland Park on April 19, 2012, with what seemed to be a record turnout for the community event.
We had an awesome time connecting to many new faces at the event and re-connecting with some in the community who we hadn’t seen in some time. We always enjoy the opportunity that the PCBN event gives us to put ourselves out in front of the community, and it gives us a chance to share our story about sharing the positive stories of the people, organizations, and businesses in Portage.
4th of July Decorating Contest Benefits Entire Community and Two-Time Winner, Midwest Family Federal Credit Union
Click here to read this article!
The week leading up to the Fourth of July, the staff of Midwest Family Federal Credit Union were exceptionally busy. Beyond the usual lobby bustle of processing new loans, opening checking and savings accounts, and waiting on members in line and at the drive-up; the tellers, managers, and even the CEO were reaching deep for the energy needed to win first place in the “Spruce It Up” contest sponsored by the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber challenged local businesses to display their patriotism and pride by decorating their buildings inside and out with Independence Day decorations galore.
“Our office is situated along the city’s parade route. We wanted to show our pride in Portage by embracing their 2012 parade theme of ‘Recycling,’” explains Midwest Family’s new Marketing Director, Jan Zurek. “We developed our own decorating theme, ‘Land That I Love.’ Most of our decorations were hand-made, many of which were crafted from recycled materials found in our own recycling bins.” President and CEO, John Peterson, adds, “We were hopeful that the community and our members would feel proud when they drove down Willowcreek and saw dozens of flags surrounding the parking lot; red, white, and blue bunting hung over the windows; and the bold firecracker rockets standing tall in front of the building created by our talented Member Service Representative.”
Steindler Signs Wraps Yet Another Ideas In Motion Media Vehicle, A 2012 Chevy Volt in "Connect to Good News" Partnership with Arnell Chevy-Kia
Click here to read this article!
Have you seen the highly decorated and detailed vehicles that belong to Ideas in Motion Media? They sport our logos with colorful designs displayed all over, making quite a positive statement as they cruise down the street. Well, meet the newest addition to the fleet Chris Mahlmann, Publisher and CEO of Ideas in Motion Media, took his Arnell Chevy-Kia Chevrolet Volt to Steindler Signs & Graphix in Wanatah, IN to get a custom car wrap.
"This will be the fifth car wrap that they have done on our behalf and we love working with them,” said Mahlmann. “We are more excited about this one than any other as it really focuses on our core messages and ties into what is awesome about the Volt being plugged in to good news," Mahlmann said.
Porter County Chamber Coalition Network Night Rocks the Expo Center!
Click here to read this article!
Welcome to Chamber Network Night! It’s the only night of the year where dressing in costume for professional business purposes is totally acceptable. Being the biggest networking event in Porter County, over 150 businesses from all over Northwest Indiana came and set up booths in the spacious rooms of the Porter County Expo Center. Everyone had a fun and productive time chatting with the other exhibitors, learning about new products and services, playing games, and eating LOTS of candy.
As stated before, many businesses attended. Read what some of them had to say about why they love coming to the Porter County Chamber Coalition Network Night.
Family Express Welcomes Ruth Keefover to Social Media Community Manager Position
Click here to read this article!
Family Express, is excited to announce the hiring of Ruth Keefover as Social Media Community Manager. Ruth will be responsible for managing the daily functions of social media, which includes actively participating in a wide variety of activities such as Family Express’ social space, blogging, community development as well as being connected with the broader social media world. She will also work with employees to generate stories that happen in their stores as well as their community while growing and building a more online presence through social media.
“As a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, I’m excited for the opportunity to engage and build relationships with our customers, communities and employees by being an ambassador of our “Living Brand”.
PEDCO Shares Vision of Bright Future for Portage During 2012 Annual Meeting
Click here to read this article
Hundreds packed Sycamore Hall at Woodland Park as members of the Portage Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) shared their positive outlook for the future of Portage during the 2012 edition of the organization’s Annual Meeting. Diane Thalmann, President of the Board of Directors of PEDCO, started off the session by thanking the numerous board members, staff, and partners who have helped make 2012 a successful year for the organization.
“I believe we have come a long way as an organization and in this past year we have had a number of admirable accomplishments due in a large part to the leadership Jim Fitzer (Executive Director) and his assistant Amy Parker, and to the partnership PEDCO has continued to nurture throughout the community,” Thalmann said. “The state of Indiana has done an outstanding job of creating a positive business climate, which has positioned Indiana as one of the top states to do business in.”