the chamber scene - huntington county chamber of...
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TThhee CChhaammbbeerr SScceenneeHUNTINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
305 Warren Street • Huntington, Indiana 46750 • (260) 356-5300 • www.huntington-chamber.com • January 2011
The future plans for First Federal SavingsBank, according to its new CEO MichaelZahn, include continued growth, lookingfor opportunities to expand, and improvingbanking in Northeast Indiana. Michael be-came the new CEO of First Federal Janu-ary 1, 2011 after his father Steve Zahn’s re-tirement with 46 years of service on De-cember 31, 2010. Northeast Indiana Ban-corp is the holding company of First Fed-eral Savings Bank and Steve Zahn will re-main chairman of that entity.
The Zahn family’s long term commit-ment to banking and community service inHuntington began with William Zahn,Steve’s father and local dry cleaner. Hewas asked to become a member of theboard of directors for Peoples Savings andLoan in Huntington in 1957 and eventual-ly became a bank employee. William be-came the bank vice president in 1961, pres-ident in 1963, and Steve joined the busi-ness in 1964 after graduating from Mar-quette University.
Peoples Savings & Loan became FirstFederal Savings and Loan in 1966 andeventually First Federal Savings Bank as itis known today. Steve Zahn became presi-dent in 1980. Steve’s son Michael joinedFirst Federal in 1996 and became presidentin 2005. He has worked side by side withhis father, growing a business that now in-cludes three branches in Huntington, abranch in Warsaw, and the latest in FortWayne. Michael developed the plans forthe Warsaw branch, which opened in 2006,and the Fort Wayne office opening in 2009.
The board of directors agreed withMichael when he approached them aboutexpanding First Federal’s banking influ-ence into other communities. He believedthat putting branches in other communitieswould make it easier for existing loan cus-tomers to make deposits. With more mon-ey on deposit, the bank would have themeans to make more loans and interestpaid on those loans would increase thecompany’s income. Both branches havemet or exceeded projected financial expec-tations.
According to Steve Zahn, “We have beenvery pleased with our expansion into these
areas. They have exceeded our expecta-tions.”
First Federal Savings Bank offers mort-gage, consumer and commercial loans;FDIC insured deposit products; onlinebanking; and cash management. Its Hunt-ington locations include 648 N. JeffersonStreet; 1240 South Jefferson Street; and100 Frontage Road. The Warsaw branch islocated at 402 East Center Street; the FortWayne branch at 5317 South Bend Drive.The bank’s website is www.firstfedindi-ana.com.
First Federal also has an investment/bro-kerage arm of the business known as Inno-vative Financial Services. It is housed inthe Huntington Frontage Road branch andaccording to Michael, “it is another servicethat First Federal is pleased to offer its cus-tomers.”
Michael graduated from Indiana Univer-sity in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree intelecommunications and a minor in busi-ness. Prior to returning to Huntington and
First Federal, Michael worked for Cincin-nati Financial Corporation, Cincinnati,Ohio, where he was a senior underwriter.After returning to Huntington and begin-ning work at First Federal he continued hiseducation and received his MBA from theUniversity of Notre Dame in 2004.
“The opportunity presented itself to re-turn to Huntington and learn from my fa-ther at the bank,” Michael said. “The bank-ing industry is in itself a great vocation andhaving the opportunity to work with mydad in the community where I grew up pro-vided more than enough incentive to comeback to Huntington and First Federal.”
The Zahn family tradition of his grandfa-ther and father to devote one’s time andservice to the community is also being car-ried on by Michael. He is the current chair-man of the Bowen Center board, a Cham-ber of Commerce and YMCA board mem-ber, and an Optimist Club member.Michael is also on the cabinet of the Unit-ed Way. He is a past chairman of the Opti-mist Club, Junior Achievement, YMCA,and United Way campaign.
Michael commented that as a communitybank, First Federal has a responsibility tobe a leader in trying to make life better inthe markets in which it operates. Employ-ees are encouraged to embrace communityinvolvement and be generous with theirtime, talents, and treasures. The growth ofFirst Federal is most noticeable through itsemployees and assets. Over the past fourdecades the institution has grown from oneto 65 employees and from $6 million to$260 million in assets
Michael lives in Huntington and is mar-ried to Susan. They have three sons, Adam,age 10; Noah, 8; and Ethan, 3. He enjoysgolf, work, and spending time with hisfamily.
When asked about the current economicsituation, Michael said he sees some im-provement in the economy and believes itwill be a slow, sustained recovery. He alsocommented about the future of banking,“There are some challenges with all the in-creased regulations, but I believe bankingstill offers plenty of opportunity for allcommunity banks to serve their markets.”
Michael Zahn named new First Federal CEO
Michael Zahn, left, new CEO of First Fed-
eral Savings Bank and his father, Steve
Zahn.
Board of Directors2010
Chairman of the BoardSeth Marshall
BSB Investments
Chairman of the Board ElectNicole Johnson
Edward Jones & Company
TreasurerLee Pasko
MarkleBank - Huntington
Community Banking Center
Past Chairman of the BoardMatt Roth
DeLaney Hartburg Roth & Garrott LLP
Kim Myers
Myers Jewelry
Rose Wall
Wehr Into Flowers
Jeremy Nix
Matheny Hahn Denman & Nix LLC
Mike Perkins
Parkview Huntington Hospital
Foundation
Dan Juergens
Juergens Do-It Center and Radio Shack
Lori Mickley
Bendix Commercial Vehicle
Systems, LLC
Tracey Shafer
Huntington County Community School
Corporation
Kittie Keiffer
Re/Max Professional Group
Mike McElhaney
McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home
Ron Tinkle
First Federal Savings Bank
STAFFSteve Kimmel
Executive Director
Ellen Prange
Office Manager
Jo Ann Burnau
Program/Administrative Assistant
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Pace Chevrolet in Huntington delivered a
trunk load of donations, collected this hol-
iday season for families served by
Pathfinder Services and Love INC, on
Monday, December 20.
Pace partnered with Pathfinder Services
and Love, INC to collect donations of per-
sonal hygiene, baby products and house-
hold cleaning products to assist families in
Huntington County during this holiday sea-
son. All donations received will go toward
families served by Pathfinder Services and
Love, INC in Huntington.
Pace Chevrolet collected items through-
out November and December at their store
location at 239 Hauenstein Road across
from Wal-Mart in Huntington. Each person
who donated an item was entered into a
chance to win three $100 Visa Gift Cards to
be used this holiday season.“The Huntington Community always
opens up their arms each and every holidayseason to reach out to those less fortunate,”stated Beth Stevens, Family-Self Sufficien-cy Coordinator for Pathfinder Community
Connections.“We have seen an increased need among
the families we serve this holiday seasonand this project has shown me again howcommunity partnerships like the one wehave with Pace and Love INC help im-prove difficult situations some of the fami-lies in Huntington County are encounter-ing,” Stevens concluded.
JanuaryBusiness of the Month
Ad Design
Ad Design was chosen as January’s Business of the Month by the Huntington
County Chamber of Commerce. Pictured in the photo from left are: Tyler Allen,
Nathan Palmer of Ad Design; Steve Kimmel, executive director, Chamber of Com-
merce; Brenda Lehman, Ad Design; Bobby Bailey, ambassador, Bailey’s Coffee
LLC; Sue Rumple, ambassador, Beacon Credit Union; Chris Sands, Krystle Golds-
berry, Ad Design; Amy Stansell, ambassador, Northview Inn; Connie Smith, Ad De-
sign; Jean Wright, ambassador, Habitat for Humanity; Terry Miller, ambassador,
Ness Bros and Huntington University; Greg Batt, owner, Ad Design; and Justin Wal-
lace, Ad Design.
Pace donates to Pathfinder and Love INC
Pictured above are Joe Pais, owner, Pace
Chevrolet; Beth Stevens, Family Self-Suffi-
ciency Coordinator for Pathfinder Services’,
and Alissa Furry, Sales Representative for
Pace Chevrolet posing with the donated
items at Pace Chevrolet
Helping with the ceremonial groundbreaking for Helena Chemical Company are (from
left) Greg Wolford, of W Design Associates, the project engineer; Dale Cox, project en-
gineering manager for Helena; Doug Goff, North Central Division manager for Helena;
Huntington Mayor Steve Updike; Dane Tate, business manager for Norfolk Southern
Railway; Brook Steed, of the Indiana Economic Development Commission; Chris
Schultze, business development manager for Helena; Huntington County Commission-
ers President Tom Wall; and Mark Wickersham, executive director of Huntington Coun-
ty United Economic Development.
Ground BreakingHelena Chemical
Tuesday, December 14
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Palascak toperform atChamber Dinner
Michael Palascak
will be the guest
speaker at this
year’s Chamber
Annual Dinner to
be held on Mon-
day, January 17,
2011. The event
will take place at
the LaFontaine
Golf Club with the
social hour begin-
ning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:45 p.m.
Palascak, originally from Wabash, Indi-
ana and currently living in Chicago, Illi-
nois, has made his name in comedy circles.
Palascak has performed at Comedy Cen-
tral’s Live at Gotham, Caesar’s Palace in
Las Vegas, made a guest appearance on the
Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was the
winner of HBO’s Lucky 21 Stand-up Com-
edy Contest.
The event is guaranteed to leave you
laughing and wanting more. The Chamber
Annual Dinner is sponsored by Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, Ciner-
gy MetroNet, Beacon Credit Union, Bippus
State Bank, Comcast, First Federal Savings
Bank, Lake City Bank, MarkleBank,
Teacher’s Credit Union, and Wells Fargo
Bank. Tickets for the event will be $35 per
person or $280 for a table of eight. Call
the Chamber of Commerce at 356-5300 to
reserve your space at the dinner.
Pictured in the photo are a group of Huntington city and county representatives wel-
coming 1776 Sporting Club to its new location in downtown Huntington. Shown in the
center of the photo cutting the ribbon are Mayor Steve Updike and Brad Roberts, own-
er of the new business.
Ribbon Cutting1776 Sporting Club
Friday, December 17
Michael Palascak
“Every man should be born againon the first day of January. Startwith a fresh page. Take up onehole more in the buckle if neces-sary, or let down one, accordingto circumstances; but on the firstof January let every man girdhimself once more, with his faceto the front, and take no interestin the things that were and arepast.”
- Henry Ward Beecher
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Welcome New MembersBarlow Appliances and More
Jack and Samantha Barlow
1763 Old U.S. Highway 24
Huntington, IN 46750
Home HelpersBob Hartwiger
287 East High Circle Drive
Warsaw, IN 46580
Pictured in the photo above are a group of Huntington city and county representatives
welcoming Aaron’s Lease to Own to Huntington Plaza. Shown in the center of the pho-
to cutting the ribbon are Mayor Steve Updike and Nick Krontz, with scissors, manager
of the local Aaron’s store.
Ribbon CuttingAaron’s Lease to OwnFriday, December 17
The Chamber held an After Hours at the Parkview Huntington YMCA on Tuesday, No-
vember 30. Guests were given tours of the YMCA and treated to refreshments. Taking
a tour of the YMCA are from left: Joel Roush, Margie Roush, Huntington University;
Jean Williams, Economy Machine Products; Carol Pugh, WorkOne; Rob Young, CME
Corporation; Michelle Crone, Wells Fargo Bank; Dianne Shaw, Convenience Corner;
and Tim Allen of the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA.
After HoursParkview Huntington Family YMCA
Tuesday, November 30
First Federalrecognizesemployees
First Federal Savings Bank announcesthat Nicole Emley has been named the“Teller of the Year, 2010.” Nicole was afull time employee at First Federal’s southoffice and has been promoted to head tellerat the north office effective December 13.She has been employed at First Federalsince March of 2005.
Nicole has won “Teller of the Year” fiveout of the last six years. This recognitioncomes from accuracy, hard work, customerservice, dedication, number of transactionsand job knowledge.
The following people were recognizedfor their daily balancing record and largenumber of transactions: Megan Behrens,Janelle Gates, Nicole Emley, Joshua David,Tara Hunnicutt, Abby Haskett, BrittneyShoemaker, Laura Lacey, Cameron Buz-zard, and Ashley McCleary.
Honored at the First Federal’s ChristmasParty, held on December 8, were employ-ees Debby Kaufman and Nicole Emley forfive years of service with the institution.Brandi Krumanaker was recognized for 10years of service. Cindy Homier, LoriAllred, Bev Shivley, and Deborah Branklewere presented with an award for 15 yearsof service, and Dee Ann Hammel was hon-ored for 35 years of service.
First Federal awarded Lindsi Walker withthe Volunteer of the Year Award which isgiven to someone that continually pitchedin to help with all of the extra activitiesheld at the bank during the year. She was amember of the United Way Pacesetter com-mittee, worked on the Heritage Days float,participated in the YMCA’s Battle of theBusinesses, community expos, Senior Fri-days, and worked at the Moola Moola par-ties that First Federal has for their kids’savings account holders. Lindsi has alsobeen a part of the Lincoln Study BuddyProgram for the last three years.
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Dr. Thomas Stein-metz has practiceddentistry in Hunting-ton for over 40 years.On Wednesday, De-cember 22 he retiredand in order to ensurethat his patients con-tinue to receive thebest possible care, Dr.Steinmetz and Dr.Matthew Eckert willmerge their respective practices into a sin-gle practice called Downtown Dental. Dr.Eckert will carry on the Huntington den-tistry practice as Downtown Dental.
In honor of Steinmetz’s 40 years of dedi-cation to dentistry in Huntington, an openhouse will be held on Saturday, January 15from 1 to 3 p.m. at 429 N. Jefferson Street.The open house will also showcase thechanges that are taking place at DowntownDental and the public is invited to attend.
Dr. Eckert has been Dr. Steinmetz’s part-ner for the past 17 and a half years andSteinmetz believes he is extremely well
skilled in all phases of dentistry. “I havebeen blessed in my practice over the past40 years and especially the past 17 and ahalf years working with Matt Eckert. Mattand I had a very unique relationship. Mattis a very talented dentist and I know I amleaving the practice in good hands,” saidSteinmetz.
Steinmetz is originally from Garrett, Indi-ana and graduated from the Indiana Uni-versity School of Dentistry in 1968. Aftergraduation he spent two years as an armydentist and then moved to Huntington andopened his practice in 1970. He has hadfour offices in different locations over theyears. The first was on Market Street aboveBarnhart’s Bookstore (now Bob TroyerReal Estate). Steinmetz explained thatthere were 25 steps to his office on the sec-ond floor. He said, “I felt if a patient couldphysically make it up the stairs, they werehealthy enough for me to work on!”
The second location for Steinmetz’s prac-tice was on the second floor of the Com-munity State Bank building (Wells Fargobuilding now empty), the third was at theformer Cut Rate Drugstore (now the Visi-tors’ Bureau), and it was finally moved toits current location at 429 N. JeffersonStreet. The name also changed over theyears from Steinmetz D.D.S. to FamilyDentistry.
Downtown Dental will soon replace theFamily Dentistry name and along with thissome unique changes are coming to thepractice. Steinmetz explained that Down-town Dental will have all new computersand top-of-the-line technology. Digital x-rays will be offered to better serve patientsand a website will soon be online atwww.downtowndentalhuntington.com.Downtown Dental believes that this im-proved use of technology will be a positiveaddition to the dental practice.
Dr. Ryan Hart will also be joining Dr.Eckert in the practice. Dr. Hart grew up ina military family and has lived in severalplaces over the years. He graduated fromthe University of Nevada Las Vegas DentalSchool and currently resides with his wifeVanessa in southwest Allen County. Dr.Hart will be officially introduced also atthe open house at Downtown Dental onJanuary 15.
Dr. Eckert said the business will continueto keep on the cutting edge in technology.“We are going to be adding Friday appoint-ments to better accommodate our patient’s
schedules and Dr. Hart will see a full rangeof patients to include children,” he ex-plained.
When asked about his years with Dr.Steinmetz, Dr. Eckert commented, “I amgoing to miss Tom. It is hard to see him go.We have been blessed to have such a won-derful relationship. It has been a blessingworking with Tom, but I want Tom to beable to enjoy his retirement since he is insuch good health. And after talking, weboth feel this is a good time. I am also ex-cited to have Dr. Hart join the practice. It iscertainly going to be different.”
Dr. Steinmetz has always loved working,coming home, and enjoying the outdoors.He has been married to his wife Kathy for44 years. They have two children, Matthewand Kari, and four grandchildren, 2 boysand 2 girls.
When asked what his plans for retirementinclude, Steinmetz said, “Right now I haveno plans. Since I love the outdoors so muchI do want to spend time hunting, fishing,and doing some traveling. We will be goingto Arizona for a visit this winter. I am justgoing to take it one day at a time and seewhat happens.”
Steinmetz retires after 40 years in practice
Dr. Steinmetz
New faces atBippus State Bank
Bippus StateBank would liketo welcome itsnewest employ-ees: Dana Spahrand Kathy Mason.
Dana is workingas a teller and cus-tomer serviceRepresentative atBSB’s HuntingtonSouth Office,1303 S. JeffersonStreet.
Kathy joined thestaff at BSB’sHuntington MainOffice, 150Hauenstein Road,as a teller. BippusState Bank has of-fices in Hunting-ton, Roanoke, andNorth Manchesterand will be cele-brating its 100thAnniversary in 2011. BSB is a MemberFDIC and Equal Housing Lender.
Dana Spahr
Kathy Mason
Home Helpersnow available inHuntington
A new service is available in Hunting-ton that provides care options for seniors,new moms, recuperative care, and con-tinuing care in the home. Home Helpershas been supporting their clients in morethan 500 communities across NorthAmerica for over a decade and are nowin the Huntington community.
As the nation’s leading senior care fran-chise, Home Helpers is an in-home careagency that provides companionship andquality non-medical and personal care.Flexible plans are tailored to the client’sunique needs, budget, and schedule.From a few hours to the whole day in thecomfort of the home, the needs of thoseneeding extra help are met. All care-givers are screened and insured.
For more information about HomeHelpers and Direct Link visitwww.homehelpers.cc/warsaw57626 orcontact Bob and Aimee Hartwiger inWarsaw at (574) 372-2273 or (574) 371-7584.
Select My Business CardNorthview Inn & Suites
We’re Expecting You!
Amy StansellGeneral Manager
2820 Hotel Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750
Phone: (260) 359-9000
Fax: (260) 359-9100
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VACANCY OFFICE SPACE
Located at 1312 Flaxmill RoadBEST LOCATION IN HUNTINGTON
CURRENTLY AVAILABLEAMPLE PARKING WITH UP TO (10)
INDIVIDUAL OFFICES
OWNER WILL MAKE CHANGES TO
MEET YOUR NEEDS!
CALL LIZ McCLAIN OR GENE FLECK AT:
356-6577
PROFESSIONAL JANITORIAL
SERVICE, INC.Industrial and Commercial Cleaning
Since 1985
SAFEGUARD SERVICES, INC.Security Guard and Patrol Service
Since 1962430 Warren Street Huntington, IN
(260) 356-4726
Parkview Huntington Hospital has inaugurated a special honorfor its most senior volunteers in terms of service by inductingeight volunteers into the Parkview Huntington Hospital 2010 Cir-cle.
The 2010 Circle recognizes volunteers who have served the hos-pital for at least 20 years or for at least 10,000 hours, which is theequivalent of nearly 4 years and 10 months of 40-hour workweeks.
The 2010 Circle recognition is made possible through ParkviewHuntington Foundation gifts in memory of Wilda Cox, who servedHuntington Memorial Hospital and Parkview Huntington Hospitalas a volunteer from 1990 until 2009. Cox’s family consented to theuse of some of her memorial gifts to purchase a plaque, whichbears the names of the charter recipients and which will hang on awall in the administration area of the hospital.
Charter honorees, area of service and years and/or hours of serv-ice include:
• Wilda Cox, (in memoriam), 12,000 hours, Human Resources• Charlotte Campbell, 29 years and 11,500 hours, main informa-
tion desk• Ethel Maples, 25 years, PHH Gift Shop• Opal Poe, 25 years, PHH Gift Shop• Rachel Truitt, 24 years, Surgery Department hostess• Loveta Hartle, 23 years, Surgery Department hostess and John
B. Kay Medical Office Building information desk hostess• Margie Hunnicutt, 23 years, main information desk• Phyllis Miller, 21 years, Homebound Meals delivery• Jannette Caley, 20 years, Parkview Home Health & Hospice
Blood Pressure Clinic
“It is not possible to overstate the importance of volunteers in al-lowing Parkview Huntington Hospital to fulfill its mission of careand healing to this community,” said Mike Perkins, ParkviewHuntington Foundation director, who presented the plaque to thecharter recipients. “This recognition attests to the important andunselfish service each of these volunteers has provided to the hos-pital and to the people of this community.”
Parkview recognizes volunteers for years of service
Sharon McCoart, daughter of Wilda Cox and family representa-
tive (second from left), presents Parkview Huntington Hospital vol-
unteers (from left) Jannette Caley, Ethel Maples and Charlotte
Campbell with the Parkview Huntington Hospital 2010 Circle
plaque.
Community calendar nowfeatured on Chamber website
The Chamber’s website now features a community calendar.To view the calendar, see the first page of the websitewww.huntingtoncountychamber.com. Find the calendar to thefar right and click on the month.
A full page calendar will open showing all the events for thatmonth that the Chamber has received information for. Furtheruse of the calendar features searching for the previous or for-ward months by clicking on the directional arrows adjacent tothe month name. To have your organization’s activities includedsend a listing to the Chamber at [email protected]. The Chamber is currently gathering information for the2011 calendar year.
305 Warren StreetHuntington, IN 46750
Presorted
Standard
U.S. Postage
Paid
Huntington, IN
Permit No. 194
Visit Us on the Web!
www.huntington-chamber.com
CHAMBER NEWSLETTER ADSBusiness Card and Service Ads
as low as - $10 per issue
Half Page -$50 per issue
Full Page - $100 per issue
Call 356-5300to reserve your space
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS:Email your press releases and pictures to:
NOTE: Deadline for advertising and members in the news for
the Feburary newsletter is January 21, 2011. Call for details!
NETWORKING BREAKFAST SHOWCASEFor information on becoming a Networking Showcase
presenter, please call the Chamber office at
(260) 356-5300 and ask for available dates.
AFTER HOURSFor information about hosting a Chamber After Hours, please
call the Chamber office at (260) 356-5300 and ask for available
dates.
Mark Your CalendarsHuntington University Foundation Breakfast
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Annual Economic View and Forecast - Jim O’Donnell
Habecker Dining Commons - 7:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
87th Annual Chamber Dinner MeetingMonday, January 17, 2011
LaFontaine Golf Club
Social 6:00 p.m.; Dinner 6:45
Entertainment: Michael Palascak, comedian
Legislative SessionSaturday, February 5, 2011
Huntington City-Township Public Library
8:00 a.m.
Healthcare SeminarWednesday, February 16, 2011
Habecker Dining Commons
12 noon-1 p.m.
Speaker: Mr. Dick Robinson, Parkview Health Systems
ADDRESS SERVICEREQUESTED