Evansville Business April May 2026

WE ALWAYS RISE

STOCKING THE RIGHT VEHICLE AT THE BEST PRICE ABOVE

Alcoa

Anchor Industries, Inc.

Arbormetrics

ARC Construction Company

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville

Assured Partners NL

AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical

Atlas World Group

Azzip Pizza

Baird Private Wealth Management

Bally’s

Banterra Bank

Berry Global/Amcor

B-Fit

BMO Financial Group

Bosse Title Company

Bowen Engineering Corp.

Brickyard Healthcare-Woodlands Care Center

Brinker’s Jewelers

Cameron Born Scholarship Fund

Capital Electric

Catholic Charities Diocese of Evansville

Centene Management Company, LLC

CenterPoint Energy

City of Evansville

CK United Sheet Metal and Mechanical

Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation

Coca-Cola Consolidated

Concept Sound & Light

Community Foundation Alliance

Costco Wholesale

CountryMark

Cresline Plastic Pipe Co, Inc.

CRS OneSource

Custom Mechanical Construction

D-Patrick, Inc.

Deaconess Health System

Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP

Diehl Consulting Group

Donaldson Capital Management

Don’s Claytons, Inc.

Dunn Hospitality Group, Ltd.

ECHO Community Healthcare

Eckart, LLC

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

EnviroForensics/EMC

Evansville Fire Department

Evansville Housing Authority

Evansville Police Department

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

Evansville Sheet Metal Works

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.

Evansville Water & Sewer Utility

Evansville Welding Supply

F.C. Tucker Emge/F.C. Tucker Commercial

Fibertech Inc.

Fifth Third Bank

First Federal Savings Bank

First Financial Bank

First Merchants Bank

Flair Molded Plastics, Inc.

Forvis Mazars

Fox Pools of Evansville

German American Bank

Graybar Electric Company, Inc

Hafer Associates, PC

Harding, Shymanski & Company PSC

Heritage Federal Credit Union

Heritage Petroleum LLC

HSC Medical Billing & Consulting, LLC

IBEW Local 16

Indiana-American Water Co., Inc.

Indiana Members Credit Union

Infinite Solutions

Ireland Home Based Services, LLC

Jerry David Enterprises, Inc

United Way of Southwestern Indiana brings our community together to understand and tackle the root causes of instability. Thanks to the generous support of these companies, we can continue this vital work and help every person access resources to reach their full potential.

Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn

Kaiser Aluminum -Warrick

Keller Schroeder & Assoc., Inc.

Kemper CPA Group

Koch Air LLC

Koch Enterprises Inc.

Koch Finishing Systems

Koch Foundation

Lensing Building Specialties

Liberty Federal Credit Union

Lochmueller Group

Meijer

Macy’s

McGowan Insurance Group

Memorial Community Development Corp.

Meridian Leasing

Midland Packaging

Mister B’s/Club 18

Morgan Stanley

Old National Bank

Old National Events Plaza

OneMain Financial

Premier Electric

Pro-Tex-All Company, Inc.

Purple Aces Sports Properties

Ragle Inc.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Real Purity

Reckitt / Mead Johnson Nutrition

Red Spot Paint & Varnish Co.

Regency Property Services, LLC

Reinsurance Group of America

Reliance Inc.

Ruxer Foundation

SABIC

Salesforce

Schiff Air Conditioning/Heating

Schnucks Markets Inc.

Shoe Carnival, Inc.

SERVPRO

Sheffer Construction/Lakeview Pointe

South Western Communications, Inc.

Symetra

T-Mobile

Target

TaylorMade Golf Co.

Traylor Construction Group

Tri-State Bearing Company

Tri-State Trophies

Uniseal, Inc.

United Companies

United Fidelity Bank

United Way Of Southwestern Indiana

University Of Evansville

University Of Southern Indiana

Vicki Brasel-State Farm Insurance Agent

Wabash Plastics

A Publication of Tucker Publishing Group, Inc.

PUBLISHER

Todd A. Tucker

EDITORIAL

Kristen K. Tucker Editor

Jodi Keen Managing Editor

John Martin Senior Writer

Maggie Valenti Staff Writer

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Chanda Ramsey Art Director

Sarah Morgason Senior Graphic Designer

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Jessica Hoffman Senior Account Executive

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DIGITAL

Maxwell Tucker Digital Operations Manager

DISTRIBUTION

Gregg Martin Distribution Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Jolie Hunter

Mitzi S. Morris

Zach Straw

Todd A. Tucker President

Kristen K. Tucker Vice President

Tucker Publishing Group, Inc. 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 200 Evansville, IN 47708 812-426-2115 evansvillebusiness.com

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IN THE NEWS

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GOING PLACES

What has Toyota Indiana brought to the region over three decades? Thousands of jobs, millions of charitable dollars, and an automaking identity. The company reflects on a major anniversary and what might be next.

Oink-N-Squeel’s

Elberfeld, Indiana, film manufacturer Phenix Corporation packs pride in its rapid

Back

Nearing

Meet companies and organizations

TaylorMade Golf Co.

Jim

How

Discover how area businesses have created a

culture for their employees

I’m Not John Candy

“Famous last words,” I told Senior Account Executive Jessica Hoffman as we eased into a rooftop bistro along the riverwalk in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “We’ll have a nice lunch, stroll back along the river to the hotel, gather our luggage, and after two easy, short flights, we’ll be back home by 10:30 p.m.” It was Friday, March 6, and we were winding down the third day of a conference for Mirabel Technologies, Inc., whose program called The Magazine Manager facilitates the customer relationship management system we use at Tucker Publishing Group, Inc. Arriving at the fairly busy Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for our return flight, unsuspecting passengers (including us; flip to page 54 to see us in happier times) strolled through the terminal oblivious to what was about to occur: A hail storm with winds up to 41 mph brought a screeching halt to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the world’s busiest airport and our connection in Georgia.

An early indication of trouble lying in wait occurred while going through security. Ahead of me, Jessica breezed through TSA. Still in line, I watched as my carry-on, brightly covered with stickers from several universities (Evansville, Louisville, and Butler), took a hard right onto the “alternate” conveyor belt. “I must be special,” I thought; that quickly was dispelled when a TSA agent asked, “Is this your bag? Can you step over here?” TSA then performed three scans of my carry-on and two screenings of my toiletry bag. Apparently, some of my luggage contents were flagged for being organic, but the only thing organic was my workout clothes, which obviously didn’t offer a “rain fresh” scent.

After safely landing, our plane headed toward our gate — and stopped, because no gates were available. For threeand-a-half hours, our captain fought a no-win battle with optimistic false calls delivered to his passengers. Finally, we received a gate, parked, and disembarked, with passengers surprisingly civil.

Our connecting flight to Evansville already had been canceled before we’d even left Florida. Since our carry-on bags were gate-checked straight through to Evansville, we decided there was no sense in going to our hotel lacking luggage and awaiting a huge mess at the airport the next day.

With considerable effort, Jessica and I attempted to rent a car to drive to Evansville. There were none — not a single car left at any of the rental agencies at Hartsfield-Jackson. Now wanting to get to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to rent a car, we were told to “get on the airport shuttle,” which includes out-of-state service to cities such as Chattanooga. We waited and waited. When the shuttle appeared, we were told, “Sold out already.” So, one very expensive cab ride later, we were in front of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. After waiting another oh-so-magical three hours in the terminal, the rental car counter opened, and a few hundred dollars later, we were driving west on Interstate 24 eyeballing Lookout Mountain. Nearly five hours and 300 miles stood between us and home. New time of arrival: 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

It was hard to laugh in the moment. Now, I find my travails “somewhat” humorous and a bit surreal. My favorite line all night was spoken while we sat waiting for the shuttle bus we never rode. Without much intonation, Jessica said, “This is just like the movie ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.’” But we found moments of gratitude: Initially, our taxi to Chattanooga was freezing, so I asked the driver to turn the heat on. Jessica says that when it started to warm up, “I was grateful. It was the first bit of comfort I’d felt in hours.”

Reunited, Jessica and I arrived at our gate and found our flight delayed. It happens. We eventually boarded and began a multi-hour adventure. The heck with a “trust fall” — Jessica and I had to pull together. We were on the plane, sitting on the Fort Lauderdale tarmac, for more than three hours. We then deplaned and eventually reboarded, taking off for Atlanta to the passengers’ cheers.

As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.

Todd A. Tucker, President

Capital Commitment

TaylorMade Golf Co. is growing its Vanderburgh County facility

BY JOHN MARTIN

TaylorMade Golf Co. plans to add up to 50 new jobs by the end of 2031 and build a warehouse on Petersburg Road, Gov. Mike Braun said in a Feb. 25 news release.

The move supports increased demand across North America for TaylorMade’s golf products, as well as pro golfer Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red-branded apparel and footwear. As reported in the October/November 2025 issue, the company’s Southwestern Indiana location allows it to reach more than 80 percent of its customers within three days. TaylorMade employs about 150 workers at its Garrison Avenue facility.

“Since we moved here about six years ago, we’ve hit some huge numbers and haven’t slowed down, and we had to figure out what our next play was,” says Jessica Delgado, TaylorMade’s Associate Director of PMO Operations. “We went through a market analysis of what’s best for our customers as well as our people. We still landed on Evansville after all that work. We love the town, and we’re glad it could stay here.”

TaylorMade officials say the company’s investment includes roughly $23.7 million in manufacturing and logistical equipment over the next four years. The developer constructing the building and filling out its interior for TaylorMade to ultimately lease is expected to invest about $35.2 million. Based on those plans, the Indiana

Economic Development Corporation has committed up to $555,000 in the form of incentive-based tax credits. The news release adds that these incentives are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim state benefits once investments are made and jobs are created.

The Trockman Tradition

Three generations have helped interpret and mold the law

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

When Joshua Trockman considers his trajectory to becoming a lawyer, one moment stands out: At nine years old, he saw his father, Wayne, donning a robe for the first time as a Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge and thought “he looked like a superhero,” Joshua says.

“Growing up, my grandfather and father did not teach me the technical aspects of lawyering — it was more about judgment, discipline, service, and accountability. … In this profession, credibility compounds over decades.”

Joshua Trockman, partner Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn LLP

general practitioners and worked alongside each other for 18 years at Newman, Trockman, Lloyd, Flynn & Rheinlander. Wayne eventually became an assistant attorney for the city in 1992, before being appointed to the bench in 1999, where he has handled felony criminal matters, civil cases, and family law matters. “I became interested in law by following his work,” Wayne says about his father. “I just wanted to be like him: patient, creative. His mind was always looking for solutions to problems.”

The younger Trockman was named a partner at Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn LLP in January after nine years of practice. Joshua, with his focus on fields such as estate planning, business law, real estate, and municipal law, diverts from the law practiced by his father and grandfather, Howard: The elder Trockmans were

One example: Howard’s career took him to Da Nang, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War to defend Thomas Boyd, an Evansville Marine accused of participating in the murder of 16 civilians in Son Thang. Boyd’s mother raised him and his four siblings by herself and could not afford a lawyer, but that did not stop Howard from flying halfway around the world to defend Boyd, who was found not guilty. “He was such a fierce advocate,” Wayne says of his father, who passed away in 2001. “If he made his mind up to take a case … he would throw himself into it

Everyone looked to him. He was a natural leader and fantastic mentor for me.”

“Growing up, my grandfather and father did not teach me the technical aspects of lawyering — it was more about judgment, discipline, service, and accountability. … In this profession, credibility compounds over decades,” Joshua says. Howard was honored with the James Bethel Gresham Freedom Award in 2000 in recognition of his impressive legal career, an award his son received four years later. State Sen. Vaneta Becker knew Howard when he represented her late husband, Ray. Becker says Howard was “very down

to earth.” When Ray died in 1975, he helped her through it. “Losing Ray was tough, and he was there to support me and help me, and he did,” she says.

Becker also was familiar with Wayne’s work through the Vanderburgh County Treatment Court, which he founded in 2000 to help provide addicts with treatment instead of prison time. He often invited state and local legislators to witness the process. “He’s really very helpful in showing the difference in recidivism,” Becker says. “The Trockmans are very civic-minded and have done a lot in our community to improve the lives of oth-

MADE IN EVANSVILLE

Getting Saucy

From store shelves to a food truck,

BY JOHN MARTIN

Oink-N-Squeel Barbecue Sauce was Steve Neumann’s dream. He owned Kwik Stop Liquors at Third and Columbia streets for 30 years and was a cook in the early 1970s while in the Army National Guard. With a friend, Steve built a large smoker in the mid-1990s and began competing in barbecue contests, creating his own sauce along the way. His wife, Joan, and their sons, Andy and Zach, were taste testers. It was 1998 when Steve perfected the recipe, registered his trademark, and searched for a bottler.

The first batch was produced in Louisville, Kentucky, but then Evansville’s Farm Boy Food Service began making it. Steve “pounded the pavement trying to convince retailers to stock our sauces and would fill their shelves before he went to work at the liquor store,” Joan says.

She and their sons have carried Oink-N-Squeel forward since Steve’s death in 2019. Farm Boy was bought by Owensboro, Kentucky’s CRS OneSource in October 2022, and after its production facility closed in March 2023, Louisville’s Bluegrass Superior Foods took over the Oink-N-Squeel brand. It’s still on the shelves of local

ers.” Early in Joshua’s career, he made weekly visits to the Civic Center Complex for smaller litigation matters and often heard about his father’s work with the treatment court. People frequently asked if he was related to Wayne. “Is your dad the judge?” Joshua recalls them saying. “He saved my life.” “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t done what he did.” The experience made him proud to continue his family’s legal legacy.

“It makes me very proud that Josh has been successful,” Wayne says. “I hope I had a little something to do with his desire to practice and be the best he can be.”

Oink-N-Squeel is going strong

Schnucks and IGA stores, plus a few smaller outlets. Restaurants including Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar & Grill, 10-8 Cafe Bar & Grill, Dontae’s Highland Pizza Parlor, and Boonville’s 3rd Street Saloon cook with it.

Oink-N-Squeel took another big step in 2021 when Zach suggested a food truck; it debuted a year later. What’s cooking? Lots of barbecue, of course: pulled pork and chicken the Neumanns smoke themselves, plus

street tacos, loaded tater tots (Joan says these are a fan favorite), and sides. By the way, the Neumann family does know how to correctly spell “squeal” — Joan, after all, worked in Evansville newspapers for 40 years before retiring in 2015. “It had to be misspelled for trademark purposes,” she explains.

Grip It, Rip It

Back Nine joins a growing list of golf simulation businesses

BY JOHN MARTIN

“Just golf, no B.S.” That’s how franchise owner Matt Waller describes Back Nine, a new simulation experience that provides casual and serious golfers a private, relaxed setting to work on their game at any time of day or night.

The United States Golf Association cited a recent boom in golf interest in a 2025 Golf Journal article. Participation is up from about 30 million players in 2014 to 45 million in 2023, boosted in part by offcourse options such as indoor simulators and driving ranges. Back Nine is taking advantage: Founded in Utah in 2021 by Wil Bangerter, it has spread nationally. Its third Hoosier State location opened Feb. 28 in Evansville at 6840 Logan Drive, Ste. C.

“I wanted to pay tribute to the rich history and tradition of Evansville golf,” Waller explains. A large mural nods to the city’s universities and golf courses, as well as TaylorMade Golf, one of Back Nine’s corporate partners in Evansville, which provides clubs for members’ use. Graphic artists and Evansville natives Corey and Casey Wilkinson of Fishers, Indiana, created the mural; Waller reached out after seeing their “Summer’s Funner” design on the July/ August 2025 Evansville Living cover.

Warrick County’s Victoria

National Golf Club is one of dozens of simulated courses that Back Nine members can tackle. Famous courses include Pebble Beach Golf Links in Southern California, TPC Sawgrass near Jacksonville, Florida, and the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. Back Nine members book tee times and gain entry via an app; the club operates 24/7 for those who purchase memberships.

Back Nine uses Full Swing technology, in which highspeed cameras and infrared light wave technology measure ball flight and club data at the moment of impact, offering real-time feedback. Three studios each can accommodate four golfers, with room for more if needed. Waller has his eye on private events and group outings, and he’s been in touch with area high school and college programs, plus the Evansville Junior Golf Association.

The Washington, Indiana, native is happy to be back in the Hoosier State after a career in sports sales and marketing in Atlanta, Georgia. “Family brings

Get In The Swing

you back home, and I ran around going a thousand miles an hour for 26 years,” he says. “It’s nice to be settled here, and I can put all my 30-plus years of sales and marketing experience to work. And I feel really confident this is going to be successful.”

THEBACKNINEGOLF.COM

More simulators can help you hone your skills in golf and other sports

Club 18 at Mister B’s club18golf.com

TrackMan technology lets you compete with friends on dozens of worldrenowned courses.

Pure Golf Lab puregolflab.com

True to its name, this is a spot fit for a beginner or more skilled players. It’s limited to 30 members, ensuring plenty of open tee times.

Birdies birdiesdowntownevv.com

This Downtown spot offers axe throwing as well as golf, zombie dodgeball, soccer, football, basketball, and hockey simulations.

Tee Box

Find Tee Box Newburgh on Facebook

TrackMan technology also factors into this facility, which is equipped for kids’ and adults’ parties.

Swings at Wings, Etc. swingsatwings.com

Simulations for golf, football, baseball, basketball, zombie dodgeball, soccer, hockey, and carnival games are available.

Golf Galaxy golfgalaxy.com

Simulate play at iconic courses and browse golf apparel and gear.

A Cut Above

Ronald Korff still trims hair as he nears his 90th birthday

BY JOHN MARTIN

Even with his 90th birthday on the horizon, Ronald Korff isn’t ready to hang up his scissors. He’s cut hair at Darmstadt, Indiana’s Village Square Barber Shop since Sept. 9, 1965, in what was a bustling shopping center generations ago.

Old-school? Korff defines it. He gave his first trim on April 12, 1956. These days, he works by appointment only, and you can forget about paying him with any type of plastic. “Part of that is being a hard-headed Dutchman,” he explains.

“If you take care of people, they take care of you.”

Ronald Korff, owner of Village Square Barber Shop

The cost ($14 for an adult) gets you a sharp haircut; the conversation is a bonus. A devout Christian and proud veteran, Korff gladly chats about his three years in the Army and two decades in the Army Reserve. He held the rank of master sergeant when discharged on June 30, 1973. His shop displays several military mementos as well as a Don Mattingly print; the Evansville baseball legend used to live nearby.

Longevity in business requires loving your job and being kind, Korff explains. “I’ve still got customers from those first couple months that I was open,” he says. “I had a customer this morning who was 93. If you take care of people, they take care of you. And I have tried to be halfway decent to people.” He says his philosophy toward work lies somewhere between “don’t quit” and “don’t overdo it.” He spaces out appointments, so he’s not on his feet constantly.

Husband to Nancy and the father of three children, Korff is still mulling over retirement. “My family has been on my case for over a year about quitting,” he says. “But I just feel better when I’m in here. And I like what I do. I want to at least work till I’m 90” — that’s May 18. “And then I’ve had several guys say, ‘Yeah, you’ll get to be 90,’ and I say, ‘I think I’d like to work until 91.’ And maybe I will.”

Korff’s daughter, Tara Schnur, says she loved growing up in her dad’s shop; the memory of smelling

hot lather foam for straight razor shaves is still strong. She, for one, is not eager to see her dad retire. “It is amazing to see him still thrive at doing the thing he loves the most,” she says. “It is most definitely his happy place.”

LEAVING A LEGACY

May 19, 2026

Presented By

2026 Laureate Gene Warren, Jr.

North Park Corporation

Gene Warren, Jr. is an entrepreneur, farmer, and dedicated civic leader committed to the Tri-State.

Upon graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1971, Gene joined Guthrie May Corporation, where he later served as vice president. His responsibilities included the development of residential, commercial and medical properties in Evansville along with resort condominiums at Lake Barkley, Kentucky.

In 1983 with his late wife and business partner, Charlotte, he purchased North Park Shopping Center. Together, they later established a comprehensive commercial real estate business that now operates in the Evansville area, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. Fostering relationships with small business owners along with regional and national partners has been a professional highlight.

O utside of the family business, Gene has served in leadership roles for local and statewide organizations,

including the Evansville Rotary Club, Evansville Goodwill Industries, WNIN, Southwest Indiana Chapter of American Red Cross, and Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

Gene is passionate about his farming and agricultural roots. As a child on the family farm in Henderson and a student leader for Future Farmers of America, he learned to “never be afraid to blaze (your) own trail.” He is an advocate of regionalism and its benefits for economic development and job creation. Gene and Charlotte were early leaders in the resurgence of Downtown Evansville, and this commitment continued as recently as his role in restoring the Greyhound station.

Gene has b een a member of the Evansville Rotary Club since 1983 and has been recognized as the Rotarian of the Year, Rotarian of the Decade, and is a two-time recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award.

2026 Laureate Dr. H. Ray Hoops

University of Southern Indiana

Dr. Hoops became the second president of the University of Southern Indiana in July 1994 and served in that capacity for 15 years until retirement in 2009. During his tenure, he forged important community partnerships and oversaw dramatic growth in the university’s assets, enrollment, student life opportunities, academic excellence, and capital projects.

As chief executive, President Hoops positioned USI to be an agent for economic development. From two studies he commissioned on workforce and economic development, the university implemented recommendations and added academic programs in a dozen areas, including an undergraduate program in engineering. Four new graduate programs and 11 new academic majors were introduced during the Hoops presidency.

During his years, development of the university’s physical plant included the Liberal Arts Center, the Recreation and Fitness Center, the Education Center and Torrington Wing of the Science Center, Rice Library, and the start of construction of the Business and Engineering Center and a second expansion of the University Center, plus four residence halls.

Dr. Hoops led the university through its first capital campaign, Campaign USI, in 1997. The successful campaign exceeded its goal, raising a total of $18 million in gifts and pledges and $6 million in deferred gifts. During the Hoops presidency, the assets of the USI Foundation reached $70 million. As president, Dr. Hoops saw enrollment increase by 20 percent to 10,126 in fall 2008.

During his presidency, Dr. Hoops was involved in the community through many organizations, including the Deaconess Hospital Board of Directors, the Evansville Education Roundtable, and the Southwest Indiana Economic Development Task Force. He served as a member and chair of the WNIN Board of Directors and was a director of the Southwest Indiana Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, he received the Evansville Rotary Civic Award. He served the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) as a director and as a member of its Committee on Professional Development and Council of State Representatives. He was a director and chair of the Indiana Conference of Higher Education and chair of the Great Lakes Valley Conference President’s Council.

2026 Laureate Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.

1935-2019

Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders, LLP

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr. was a distinguished attorney and devoted community leader known for his generosity and commitment to public service. A graduate of St. Louis University with a Bachelor of Science, he earned his Bachelor of Laws from the Indiana University School of Law (Bloomington) in 1962. He began his legal career that same year and became a partner at Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders, LLP, where he specialized in Health Care, Corporate, Probate, Real Estate, and Municipal Law.

Throughout his career, Ted was deeply involved in state and local politics, serving as a major fundraiser for the Republican Party. His leadership extended to roles such as past chairman of both the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern Indiana Foundation and the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana. He contributed to numerous organizations, including the Board of Directors of Southwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc., the Evansville Museum, and the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, and he served on the inaugural Board of Directors for Holly’s House.

Ted also co-chaired fundraising efforts for Mickey’s Kingdom Park, reflecting his dedication to community improvement. As Corporate Counsel for the City of Evansville, he played a pivotal role in local governance.

Within the legal community, he was active in several professional organizations, including the American Bar

Association, where he participated in the Health Care and Real Estate Forums, as well as the Evansville Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association. His service included membership on the House of Delegates and leadership as chair of both the Young Lawyers Section and the Youthful Offenders Committee. He also served on the Indiana State Bar Foundation Board of Directors from 1973 to 1975.

In recognition of their community impact, Ted and his wife, Clara, received the City-County Observer’s “Outstanding Community Service Award” in 2017. They founded the “Ted & Clara Ziemer Society,” a fundraising initiative for the St. Vincent-Evansville Foundation that supports needy pediatric patients and other vulnerable individuals, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.’s legacy is defined by his unwavering commitment to service, advocacy, and philanthropy, leaving a lasting impact on the community he cherished.

Not pictured: Addison and Miaka Conkling

On January 1, 2026, my family and I took a leap and became the new owners of Fulton Interior Systems Inc. This is especially meaningful to me, as I’ve spent the past 23 years growing with the company from apprentice to journeyman, then foreman, and most recently superintendent and estimator. Throughout the years, Dan and Gayle Fulton, along with the team, have become like family to me.

Fulton Interior Systems was founded on July 1, 2000, when Dan and Gayle took their own leap of faith and opened the doors to the company. From the very beginning, Dan poured his skill, knowledge, and dedication into building a team of highly trained carpenters and craftsmen. Under his leadership, the company became known for its expertise in commercial interior construction, including metal stud framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, and complete interior buildouts. Working for Dan, you weren’t just an employee, you were part of a family, learning from a mentor who took pride in developing the best carpenters around.

Our connection goes back even further than the job site. Dan and Gayle have been close friends with my parents for many years. Their son, Danny, and I met when we were just five years old playing ball together, and over the years, he has remained one of my closest friends. Today, Danny and his wife, Misty, are proud owners of Fulton Tile and Stone, located right next door to our office, keeping the Fulton family legacy strong and close to home.

My family and I are incredibly proud to carry on the legacy that Dan and Gayle built. My wife, Kali, and I, along with our children, are excited for this new chapter and look forward to continuing the company’s long-standing tradition of hard work, craftsmanship, and treating people like family.

• Metal Stud Framing • Drywall & Sheathing • Spray Foam Insulation • EIFS – Dryvit & STO Systems • Acoustic Ceilings & Sound Panels • General Contracting

Wrapped in Success

Phenix Corporation celebrates growth in food packaging

BY MITZI S. MORRIS

Like an excited child flaunting his favorite Christmas toy, Rich Henderson fervently grabs a beef stick from a table to show off Phenix Corporation’s newest food packaging product, CurlGuard.

“This is how most sticks look. You can’t stop these films from curling. It’s the nylon in them,” he says as he bends

the ends and then lets go. “These are flat. You just don’t see these. Go look in a gas station. You’re going to be like, ‘Wow, whatever product Rich was holding up is incredible.’”

The Phenix co-founder is referencing the flexible packaging and equipment services provider’s significant growth in recent years. With two buildings in

Elberfeld, Indiana, the employee-owned company is developing a third structure for its corporate headquarters and conversion facility. The business expects to complete the 39,000 square-foot project this summer.

“The demand initially drove the first warehouse investment in Elberfeld,” says Nick Henderson, packaging engineer and son of Rich Henderson. “That warehouse is now our engineering headquarters. We have a warehouse triple the size of that right behind it.”

With $49 million in sales in 2025 and a workforce of more than 40 people, Phenix executives are also contemplating a fourth building in Elberfeld.

‘FANATICAL ABOUT RESPONSE’

When Rich, an Indianapolis-area resident, and Florida resident Joe Dobinski founded Phenix in 2010, they didn’t pay themselves so their employees would get paychecks. Rich filed for bankruptcy, while Dobinski used his home as collateral to get their first line of credit.

The men had plastics knowledge, but they spent many nights learning everything they could about food packaging. This rocky period created one of the company’s primary tenets: Fanatical About Response.

“Why were we Fanatical About Response in the beginning?” Rich rhetorically asks. “Because we had to eat. We had to live. We had to pay people. We just got back to people immediately. And we recognized that’s why customers liked us.”

The company began with custom food packaging and printed film solutions and added full-service equipment and technical support around 2015. Today, there are two divisions: Phenix Flexibles and Phenix Engineering.

“A lot of what our service does is that it opens the door to film sales and vice versa,” says Chief Operating Officer Dusty Wilson. “If we have a film customer who needs monthly preventative maintenance programs on their equipment, our service department is outstanding. They’re fast,

they’re reliable, and they get the job done properly. So, we’re growing on both sides.”

Rich says Phenix chose to locate its first physical operations in Elberfeld in 2020 because of one of its main clients: the U.S. military. Evansville-based AmeriQual Foods is one of the company’s Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) assemblers. Nick Henderson, who’s also in Indianapolis, adds that the Warrick County location’s proximity to I-69 and I-64 is ideal for shipping.

“It’s allowed us to better service everyone up north. That’s out all the way out to Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio. We have a big footprint within those states,” he says.

“Why were we Fanatical About Response in the beginning? Because we had to eat. We had to live. We had to pay people. We just got back to people immediately. And we recongnized that’s why customers liked us.”

— Rich Henderson, co-founder of Phenix Corporation

‘DO THE RIGHT THING’

When it comes to Phenix Corporation’s products and services — commercial product packaging, printed packaging, and packaging equipment support and consulting — Rich insists the engineering division is the backbone of the company.

“We turn (the engineers) into salespeople. Because sales isn’t about going and selling anybody something. It’s about being organized and helping customers reach their own goals. You help them, and you’re going to be helping yourselves,” he says.

Besides providing MRE packaging for the military, Phenix’s markets include proteins (such as the aforementioned beef sticks), dairy, produce, snacks, and pet food. Regional customers include Haubstadt-based Dewig Meats and Prime Foods in Boonville, while New York’s Sabra and Georgia’s MANA Nutrition are national customers.

“We deal in food. You don’t make a mistake in food; 99 percent is not good enough. You have to be 100 percent accurate in what you do,” Rich says.

The drive to deliver exceptional customer service led to another tenet for Phenix: Do the Right Thing. Wilson says this pledge is why customers trust the company and keep coming back.

“In the past couple of years, we’ve had 30 percent sales growth, 50 percent sales growth. We’re looking to do another 20 percent sales growth in 2026. The volume is stronger than ever,” he says.

‘WE OWN IT’

Phenix Corporation’s third tenet, We Own It, is a double entendre, according to Rich. Not only does the business take full responsibility for client issues, but the employees literally own the company as of 2025. Rich recalls private inquiries about buying Phenix in the past, but he wasn’t interested.

“We thought, ‘We can cash out with enough to make ourselves happy, but we can also grow this thing to reward all these people, to make a significant difference in everybody’s life — not just their life, but all the people around them,“ he says. “It’s probably a percent that separates everybody, from a forklift operator to the president of the company. Our (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) is a powerful tool, and everybody owns it together.”

Rich estimates 5-7 more employees will join Phenix’s ESOP once the headquarters and conversion facility is operational in Warrick County. For the first time, the company will go beyond supplying films and packaging to customers to also bringing in components and converting them into products.

“We’ll have the capabilities down the road of print and pouch making,” Wilson says. “We’ve got a lot of custom automation that’s going into that facility. So our new headquarters is going to be a nice showpiece of Phenix specialty films.”

Phenix also is planning in May to move out of a warehouse the company has leased since 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida, into a new 26,000-square-foot facility in the same city to support its Southeast market.

“We have a solid footprint, and we’re getting noticed. Anywhere from small mom and pop companies, which we love working with, to the big corporate side,” says Wilson, who works on-site in Elberfeld. “We’re always growing.”

Wilson says Phenix’s future expansion strategy will depend on the projected outcomes for both company and client. “We can jump into smaller niche markets if we want, and we’ll be prepared to make those choices. It’s just, ‘Does it bring value to Phenix? Does it bring value to our customers or potential customers?’” he says. “We’ll never sacrifice what we’re great at. And that’s film.”

30 Years Strong... And Just Getting Started

Honoring Our Past. Building Our Future.

As we mark 30 years, we want to thank our team members, community, and partners as we celebrate the progress that brought us here and the vision that will guide us forward. Together, we’ll continue driving what’s possible.

Indiana automaker continues to lead in jobs, innovation, and heart THE TOYOTA

BY JOHN MARTIN

Thirty years after the first shovel of dirt signaled change was coming, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana has left an immeasurable impact – employing thousands, boosting regional organizations with volunteerism and financial gifts, and building and shipping more than eight million high-quality vehicles across North America.

“It’s fair to say that Toyota didn’t just add jobs. They really changed who we are as a region,” says Lloyd Winnecke, CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. Data from E-REP proves Winnecke’s point: In the early 2000s, one in nine local manufacturing jobs was tied to the automotive industry. Today, following a wave of expansions at Toyota Indiana and suppliers such as Vuteq and Toyota Boshoku, the figure is one in five.

The 4.5 million-square-foot factory is divided among the original facility (now known as West Plant) and East Plant, which was added in 2003. It has long been a site of innovation — as current Toyota Indiana President Jason Puckett calls it, a “greenfield,” literally and figuratively. The facility sprouted from Gibson County farmland, and after its 1998 opening, it birthed two models that remain prominent in Toyota’s portfolio: the Tundra, a full-size pickup, and the Sequoia, an SUV derived from the Tundra.

Opened in 2010, Toyota Indiana’s Experience Center tours visitors through the automaker’s history, including remarks from Japanese inventor and industrialist Sakichi Toyoda — who founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works (later Toyota Industries) in 1926 — and a loom machine. Construction on its Southwest Indiana facility began in 1996, and Jason Puckett joined soon after. He returned in 2025 as Toyota Indiana president.

EFFECT

“It’s fair to say that Toyota didn’t just add jobs. They really changed who we are as a region.”

— Lloyd Winnecke, CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

Assembly of both models moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 2009 and 2022, respectively, but Toyota Indiana has continued to grow, with electrification a major driver. These days, 7,380 team members currently build the Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Sienna Hybrid, Lexus TX, Lexus TX Hybrid, and Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid.

More evolution is on the way. Toyota has announced that the 2027 Highlander, a battery-electric vehicle, and a second battery-electric vehicle will be assembled at Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. This relocation “will allow Toyota Indiana to increase production capacity for the Grand Highlander, one of Toyota’s most popular SUVs,” according to a statement from the automaker. A new battery pack assembly plant on-site at Toyota Indiana also is under construction.

Toyota Indiana in 2025 surpassed eight million total vehicles assembled, as well as

Groundbreaking ceremonies on May 8, 1996, drew more than 300 guests, and trees were planted to mark the occasion. When the factory opened on Dec. 10, 1998, it was the birthplace of the Tundra pickup truck. The Experience Center nods to the vehicle by hanging individual parts of a deconstructed Tundra from the ceiling.

one million hybrid vehicles.

Puckett cites Toyota’s worldwide commitment to reducing carbon emissions for driving the factory’s hybrid traffic, and he points to shifts in customer preferences. “Sixty-five percent of what we built last year was electrified: hybrid or plug-in hybrid,” he says. “That transition has happened.”

BUILDING AUTOMOBILES AND CAREERS

The key to maintaining such busy and flexible assembly lines? Toyota Indiana officials credit a dedicated workforce that has kept up with and even led new vehicle technology.

“When this plant started, we still had a high level of automation, even then, in some of the shops from a robotics standpoint,” says Puckett, a

Hawesville, Kentucky, native who returned to Toyota Indiana last year after working at the plant early in his career. “Automation and digitalization definitely has changed the business, but we’ve really invested in our members. They’ve stepped up to the challenge, and it’s how we’ve been able to continue to grow over the 30 years.”

Amanda Culver would agree, having worked for Toyota Indiana since its Gibson County operations opened in 1998. As a manager in quality assurance, Culver’s job involves making sure each vehicle meets or exceeds its buyer’s expectations — a soup-to-nuts inspection of door locks, infotainment systems, steering, lights, signals, and more.

Culver has had a front-row seat at the plant’s evolution. She notes that its first Tundras played cassette tapes; today’s vehicles include elaborate wireless systems connected to smartphones. Learning on the job is part of Toyota employment, she explains, and embracing this mindset can lead to a long career.

“I think about all the changes we have had in the facility, and our team members are the core of that process,” says Culver, whose own path through Toyota has come full circle. She began as a team member in Vehicle Performance Inspection. She later moved to Press and Weld Inspections, Assembly Inspections and Vehicle Performance for the East Plant, and Dynamic Audit. She rejoined the Quality Inspection Team as a manager in 2019, and also took a temporary assignment in that area with Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama.

Toyota Indiana, Culver says, “welcomes people from all different walks of life, and people in different periods of life, as well.”

The critical role of each Toyota worker is exemplified using what the automaker calls Andon:

for uniforms, and a shoe and eye glasses store. There’s onsite childcare, a medical center, pharmacy, and credit union, plus athletic fields, a disc golf course, and hiking trails. Employees can dine in a pair of cafeterias or pick up on-the-go meals in several mini-markets; all breaks, including a 45-minute lunch, are taken at the same time.

Educational partnerships in Southwestern Indiana have keyed Toyota into locating and training the workforce needed to meet its production goals.

“I think about all the changes we have had in the facility, and our team members are the core of that process.”

— Amanda Culver, Toyota Indiana quality assurance manager

Any team member may alert the Andon by pulling a cord, halting plant production to evaluate and fix a potential issue in a vehicle before it travels down the assembly line.

Beyond the line, Toyota Indiana team members have access to three fitness facilities within the plant, a team store

The 4T Academy trains interested high school juniors and seniors in manufacturing, with other areas of emphasis including engineering, computer science, precision machining, industrial automation and robotics, industrial maintenance, and environmental sustainability. The 4T name is a nod to Toyota and mascots of Gibson County’s three area high schools: Gibson Southern’s Titans, Princeton’s Tigers, and Wood Memorial’s Trojans.

“Some of it is instruction at the school, and some of it is work experience in the plant,” Puckett says. “Then, at the end

of the program, it allows them to come into full-time employment, if that’s what they choose.” Such programs are critical, he adds, so that “we can make sure the workforce that’s coming in is ready for our challenges.”

Seven schools participate, including Benjamin Bosse in Evansville. Principal Aaron Huff says the Toyota partnership allows students “to see beyond what’s in front of them and reimagine what high school education looks like. By the time they graduate, our students aren’t just receiving a diploma; they have a clear, high-wage career path and the technical skills to lead in their community.”

The University of Evansville Center for Innovation & Change has partnered with Toyota Indiana on projects such as a mobile innovation lab, in which a Sienna was gutted and turned into a classroom on wheels, and Driving Possibilities, an effort to steer more students toward science, technology, engineering, and math careers. TMMI is a major sponsor of UE’s annual High School Changemaker Challenge, and although it didn’t win the top prize in 2021, one pitch by then-Bosse student Robert Lopez was pursued by the company and fueled design for the city’s utility infrastructure beneath the planned Toyota Trinity Stormwater Park in Downtown Evansville.

“In many ways, this partnership has helped transform our region,” says Erin Lewis, executive director of the Center for Innovation & Change, which has worked with Toyota since 2016. “When students see innovation happening both in their classrooms and at Toyota’s plant in nearby Princeton, they begin to understand that world-class ideas, and world-class opportunities, are right here at home.”

A CULTURE OF GIVING

In the 30 years since it broke ground, Toyota Indiana has invested about $55 million in various regional philanthropic endeavors. Perhaps no organization has been impacted more than the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. The influence goes beyond the Toyota Indiana YMCA in Downtown Princeton, which opened in May 2025, although both organizations point to that project with pride.

This initiative involved thinking big. The YMCA first considered smaller renovations to the former Lowell Elementary School building. But Johnathan Pope, CEO of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, says Toyota’s vision and generosity enabled a larger endeavor to take root. The project stayed at the school

CEO Johnathan Pope credits Toyota’s vision for making the project happen.

“By the time they graduate, our students aren’t just receiving a diploma; they have a clear, high-wage career path and the technical skills to lead in their community.”

— Aaron Huff, Principal at Benjamin Bosse High School

site, but it included an expansion, plus substantial renovations to the existing structure. ProRehab and The Isaiah 1:17 Project lease space in the new Toyota YMCA building for family services and physical rehabilitation services.

“They loved the idea of having a Toyota YMCA in town,” Pope says of the automaker’s local executives. “They said they believed in what we were doing. Because they signed on, we were able to leverage their name, and we ended up raising about $23 million for that project in total. The scale and scope changed.”

Toyota also sponsors STEM labs at the Ascension St. Vincent YMCA in Downtown Evansville and the CenterPoint Energy YMCA (formerly the Caldwell Community Center) in the city’s Glenwood neighborhood. For good measure, Toyota team members also log time at YMCA Camp Carson in Gibson County, assisting with upkeep.

Current and past Toyota executives have left their mark on area organizations. Evansville native Tim Hollander,

who preceded Puckett in the role of Toyota Indiana president, was honored in October with the Dr. William Wooten Champion of Youth First award. Now the president of Toyota Canada, Hollander served on Youth First’s board and remains on the nonprofit’s advisory council.

Area leaders praise Toyota Indiana’s vast philanthropy and employment. “It’s tough to find a significant project in the region that they have not made a significant contribution to, especially in Gibson County,” says Winnecke, who served three terms as Evansville’s mayor before becoming E-REP’s CEO. Current Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry says Toyota “has been a consistent community leader,” offering “significant support for STEM education, workforce development, and nonprofit partners. That focus on people is what helps communities grow and stay strong.”

Princeton has a sister city relationship with Tahara, Japan, and Toyota representatives accompanied Mayor Greg Wright on a visit there in June 2024. Beyond the new YMCA, Wright says Toyota employees have given the city a lift during plant slowdowns or annual maintenance shutdowns. As recently as summer 2024, they painted fire hydrants and worked on sidewalks and the city’s skate park. “No matter what I threw at them, they were able to take it and run with it,” Wright says. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

He says a goal for the city is getting more of the company’s team members to reside near the plant; about 22 percent of Toyota’s workforce live in Gibson County, and fewer lay their heads down in Princeton. Apartment developments

have helped, Wright says, but “we need more developers to come here and build houses.”

ON THE HORIZON

Looking for a job, or wanting to move on from your current one? Toyota is hiring as it celebrates 30 years in Gibson County; it aims to push its workforce beyond 8,000. Puckett says Toyota has team members who “came in basically with very little experience and (are) in higher levels of management here in the plant now. I think opportunities are endless, and our doors are open.”

The demand for vehicles Toyota Indiana produces remains high: In 2025, team members assembled 427,844 automobiles, the plant’s second-highest total in its 28 years of production. Puckett says automation is here to stay, but the need for human capital in vehicle manufacturing also is needed, provided it can adapt.

“Our team members are going to continue to play a key role,” he says. “But the role will change. Some of that is up to us to make sure we’re upskilling (workers) in the plant, as AI and digitalization happens. Then we need the skill to be able to maintain those systems and continue to advance them.”

Puckett’s first stint with Toyota dates to 1997, “before concrete was in the building,” he says. “I would never have guessed it would look like it does today, in the people we have, and what they’ve accomplished.” Looking ahead, he says, “we want to continue to position ourselves best to take on that next challenge. And I’ll say it again: We have to focus on that workforce development piece and making sure that our people stay on the front edge of that and are ready for whatever that challenge is.”

May 8, 1996: More than 300 guests attend the groundbreaking for Indiana’s first Toyota manufacturing facility, including Toyota Motor Corporation President Hiroshi Okuda and newly appointed Toyota Motor Manufacturing President Seizo Okamoto.

Dec. 10, 1998: TMMI’s first vehicle, a Tundra pickup, rolls off the assembly line, as 1,500 guests, including Toyota Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda, Okamoto, and Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon, look on. The plant produced about 100,000 vehicles annually at full capacity.

2000: Ground is broken on Toyota’s East Plant, and the existing plant begins production on the Sequoia.

2003: The Toyota Children’s Center opens, as does the East Plant as assembly begins on the Sienna.

2008: Toyota Indiana launches an afforestation and plants 130,900 trees on 225 acres.

2009: Assemblage starts on the Highlander.

2010: The plant’s Experience Center opens, providing an outlet for Toyota Indiana to share an inside look at advanced manufacturing with the public.

2012: An expansion of Highlander production includes the hybrid model.

2017: Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb purchases Toyota Indiana’s five millionth vehicle, a 2018 Sequoia.

2020: Toyota and area schools create the 4T Academy to train interested high schoolers for careers in auto manufacturing.

2023: Production begins on the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX.

www.sterlingindustrialllc.com

TECHNOLOGY in Business

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

EVPL Can Help You — and Your Business — Thrive

“Wow, I didn’t know the library offered this!” is a common reaction when people are first introduced to EVPL’s Online Learning & Research collection and many other EVPL services and resources.

Online Learning & Research Collection

More than 60 free resources are available with an EVPL library card, and each can help you grow and excel, personally or professionally. These resources are in 12 themed sections, helping you find learning programs or research databases that meet your specific needs.

For Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

The Business & Financial collection can help you…

• Start a new business, or grow a current one

• Gain consumer and market insight

• Discover grant opportunities and foundations

• Gather local, regional, and national demographic data

• Research investments and access financial planning tools

• Find free legal forms covering hundreds of issues

• Read business journals and newspapers across the U.S.

Growing Your Career

The College & Careers and Online Classes & Training collections offer resources to help you:

• Prepare for your next education or career step, whether it’s changing jobs or going back to school

• Access resume templates and receive free professional resume review and interview coaching

• Complete training and develop new skills to enhance your current role or prepare you for a new one

• Prepare for more than 1,000 different exams, including standardized testing or career and technical certifications

More EVPL Resources for You and Your Business Library Cards: Free to residents and property owners of Vanderburgh County; however, various other card options are available. See card options at evpl.org/card.

Meeting Rooms: EVPL offers more than 30 reservable spaces for studying, small groups, or larger meetings, with free WiFi throughout our libraries. Reserve a room at evpl.org/meeting.

Print|Copy|Fax|Scan: Available at all EVPL locations, and print jobs can be sent remotely via personal devices. See fees and specific details at evpl.org/print.

Notary Services: Free notary services — drop in, or by appointment — are offered at several EVPL locations. See the schedule and learn more at evpl.org/notary.

Passports: EVPL helped 1,259 people complete passport applications in 2025. Find details at evpl.org/passport.

Book-A-Librarian: For personalized, expert assistance, you can also request a one-on-one appointment with a librarian. Schedule an appointment at evpl.org/book-a-librarian.

EVPL Maker Studio: A space for DIY artistic expression, creative exploration, and educational experimentation with free access to equipment, software, and other resources.

• EVPL Central, 2nd Floor

Open Hours: Monday 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Also available by appointment. Learn more at evpl.org/maker.

Coworking/lounge space, along with reservable small group rooms, invite people to study, read, work, and gather at EVPL McCollough on Washington Avenue. EVPL has more than 30 reservable spaces, including meeting rooms, small group rooms, and study rooms. In 2025, these spaces were reserved more than 10,500 times. See details or request a reservation at evpl.org/meeting.

Is it a good fit for AI?

Keller Schroeder

Keller Schroeder, founded in 1978, is an employee-owned technology consulting firm that helps organizations get more from their technology. They connect your systems, data, and teams to deliver secure, high-performing solutions through AI and analytics, custom software, cybersecurity, digital transformation, data architecture, process improvement, and technical recruiting.

Do You Really Need an AI Strategy?

At 7:30 a.m., a plant manager’s phone buzzed. A key customer order was delayed overnight because an important email went unread in someone’s inbox. By midday, company leaders were discussing if artificial intelligence could help prevent this from happening again.

It’s a familiar moment for many organizations. AI dominates headlines, boardroom conversations, and technology roadmaps. But in cases like this, the real problem usually isn’t the absence of AI. It’s the lack of a clear digital strategy.

AI

Alone Isn’t the Strategy

Organizations across all industries are rushing to experiment with AI tools, hoping to unlock efficiency or gain a competitive advantage. But when these efforts aren’t grounded in a broader transformation strategy, they rarely deliver the value leaders expect. An AI initiative, by itself, isn’t a strategy; it’s a capability. Without the right foundation, it becomes just another disconnected tool.

Successful organizations approach AI differently. They begin by aligning people, processes, and technology around clear business goals. Instead of asking, “Where can we apply AI?” they ask, “Where can better data, automation, or insight improve the way we work?” AI then becomes a natural extension of that journey rather than the starting point.

Turning AI Into Real Business Impact

This is where experienced technology partners can make a meaningful difference. Developing an AI strategy requires understanding an organization’s operational maturity, data environment, and team readiness. It connects AI tools to real business results, such as automating manual tasks, making better decisions, and uncovering hidden insights in data.

When done well, AI becomes a force multiplier. Instead of replacing people or processes, it

helps them do more, turning curiosity into capability and insights into action.

By matching digital transformation efforts with practical automation and AI options, Keller Schroeder helps leaders focus on what matters most: solving real problems and creating measurable impact.

In the end, the real question isn’t whether a business needs an AI strategy. What matters more is whether the organization has the digital foundation needed to make AI truly meaningful.

With the right strategy, AI becomes a catalyst for smarter decisions, stronger operations, and lasting business advantages. Connect with Keller Schroeder today and let us guide you in aligning your business objectives with the right processes for AI.

Be kind to people.

PC Quest Technologies

4210 E. MORGAN AVE., STE. A; CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: 5011 WASHINGTON AVE. • 812-423-9693

Reliable IT Solutions for a Connected Business World

At PC Quest, we believe technology should empower your business, not slow it down. For more than three decades, we have helped organizations across the Evansville region build, manage, and protect their technology infrastructure so they can focus on what matters most: running their business. From small offices to complex multi-location operations, our goal is simple: deliver dependable IT solutions backed by responsive local support.

Managed IT Services That Work for You Technology is constantly evolving, and keeping up with it can be overwhelming. That is where our managed IT services come in. We act as an extension of your team, proactively monitoring systems, performing maintenance, and resolving issues before they become costly disruptions.

Our technicians manage everything from network performance and device management to cybersecurity and system updates. By identifying problems early and maintaining the health of your infrastructure, we help businesses reduce downtime, improve productivity, and operate with greater confidence in their technology.

Cybersecurity in a Changing Threat Landscape

Today’s businesses face more digital threats than ever before. Ransomware, phishing attempts, and data breaches are increasingly sophisticated, and even small companies can become targets. At PC Quest, we help organizations stay protected with layered cybersecurity strategies designed to reduce risk and safeguard sensitive information.

O ur team implements secure network configurations, endpoint protection, backup systems, and employee awareness strategies to help businesses stay ahead of emerging threats. Security is not a one-time setup. It is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and expertise.

Strategic Technology Planning

Technology should support your growth, not limit it. PC Quest works closely with clients to develop long-term technology strategies that align with their goals. Whether that means upgrading aging hardware, migrating to cloudbased systems, or designing scalable networks, we help businesses plan ahead and make smart technology investments.

Our approach is consultative. We take the time to understand how each client operates so we can recommend solutions that make sense for their workflow, budget, and future plans.

Local Support You Can Count On

One of the biggest advantages of working with PC Quest is our commitment to local service. When businesses need help, they want to speak with someone who understands their systems and can respond quickly. Our Evansville-based team provides that level of personal attention.

At the end of the day, our mission is simple: keep your technology running smoothly so your business can move forward with confidence.

Southern Business Machines, Inc.

Southern Business Machines, Inc. opened its doors in October 1989. We began modestly with two employees and 127 customers. Celebrating 36 years in business, we have established ourselves as a strong leader in the mailing/document distribution industry and strive to provide great customer service to the 52 counties we cover in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

How does Southern Business Machines, Inc. set businesses up for success?

By revolutionizing mail/shipping center management — pairing any of our mailing systems with our S.M.A.R.T. mail center software provides the ultimate Shipping, Mailing, Accounting, Reporting, and Tracking experience — all from a single dashboard! This solution combines leading-edge technologies to improve customer interactions and business processes. S.M.A.R.T. fuels stronger business communications with your internal and external customers by providing detailed shipping and tracking notifications, chargeback accounting with postage meter reconciliation, and extensive reporting options, to name a few. This best-in-class, powerhouse shipping application allows you to process parcels using USPS, UPS®, FedEx® and DHL® from one dashboard. S.M.A.R.T. is fully IM®pb compliant and offers commercial base pricing discounts, address corrections, and free insurance on Priority Mail™ and Priority

Mail Express™. View rates and services across all carriers from one screen with Rate Shopping or externally prepare shipments with traveler documents from any desktop, giving the mail centers full control of carriers and rates with Desktop RTS (Request to Send), decreasing the number of work steps it takes to process a shipment, increasing efficiency and minimizing errors.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

Southern Business Machines, Inc. offers more than just Mailing Machines and Postage Meters. Did you know we carry a full line of Toshiba Multi-function Units and Lexmark Office Printers. Whether you are looking for a single unit for a small office, need an entire fleet for your warehouse or fall somewhere in between, we can collaborate to determine which solutions will best fit your needs. Even if you have satellite offices located across the country!

The IParigon Difference: Communication Built on Connection

In a world of automated menus and offshore call centers, finding a partner who truly cares about your business is rare. At IParigon, we don’t just sell phone systems; we invest in the success of our fellow Evansville businesses by striving for excellence in every connection we build.

What Makes Us Different from Nationwide Options?

When comparing IParigon to the massive national providers, the difference lies in our agility and personal touch.

• Local Service: Although we can manage every aspect of your setup remotely, we will come on-site to ensure a smooth installation.

• True Accessibility: We are easy to reach by phone, email, chat, or text.

• Rapid Resolution: We resolve issues quickly, often within just a few minutes.

• No Surprise Fees: We can provide what your total bill will be each month before you approve our quote.

• No Long-term Agreements: You are able to add or remove services at any time as your business needs change.

We are now rolling out AI features such as Call Transcriptions and Virtual Receptionists. Our clients also love it when we connect the phones with their door access controls, overhead paging, and alert systems to keep their operations secure and efficient.

uBreakiFix

850 N. GREEN RIVER ROAD

812-773-5018

Tired of staring at a cracked phone screen? At uBreakiFix, we specialize in fast, reliable tech repairs to get your devices back in working order. From iPhone screen replacements and Pixel repairs to gaming consoles, tablets, and computers, our team is trained to handle a wide range of technology issues. When you walk into our store, you are greeted by knowledgeable technicians who understand how important your devices are to your daily life. Whether you rely on your phone for work, entertainment, or staying connected with family and friends, our goal is to make the repair process simple, quick, and stress-free.

What is the turnaround time?

We know you don’t have all day to wait for a repair. That’s why many of our most common services can be completed in less than two hours. Our technicians work efficiently while still taking the time to ensure every repair is completed with care and precision.

Do you offer a warranty?

Absolutely. All of our repairs are backed by a one-year hassle-free warranty covering both parts and labor. This warranty is valid at all uBreakiFix locations worldwide, giving our customers added peace of mind. If your repaired device experiences issues after service, simply visit us and we’ll run warranty diagnostics to resolve the problem.

Our Evansville location is equipped with high-quality replacement parts and professional tools to ensure every repair meets manufacturer-level standards. Whether your device has suffered a cracked screen, battery failure, water damage, or software issues, we approach each repair with the same level of attention and expertise.

Technology plays such an important role in everyday life, and unexpected issues can be frustrating. That’s why we focus on providing dependable service, clear communication, and repairs you can trust — so you can get back to your day without missing a beat.

Whether you use your device for gaming, taking photos, managing work, or simply staying connected, we’re here to help. At uBreakiFix Evansville, we’re proud to put our customers first and reunite them with the technology they depend on every day.

ERS Wireless

ERS Wireless: Keeping Indiana and Kentucky Safe with Smarter Security ERS Wireless is redefining how organizations think about security, specializing in integrated technologies like two-way radio, video surveillance, access control, mass notification, and dispatch solutions. The company helps schools, hospitals, manufacturers, and government agencies simplify processes, improve efficiency, and enhance safety across Indiana and Kentucky.

Seamless Solutions for Real-World Challenges

Security systems often operate in silos, but ERS Wireless brings them together so they respond as one. When a door is breached, for example, cameras can start recording instantly, alerts are sent to dispatch, and security teams are ready to act. Hospitals, with open emergency entrances and high-stress environments, face unique risks. ERS Wireless has installed concealed weapons detection systems that allow patients and visitors to enter without pausing or emptying bags — keeping hospitals safe and staff at ease.

I n manufacturing, protecting property, people, and operations is paramount. Integrated tools like visitor management, license plate recognition, AI-powered video analytics, and access control help companies monitor activity in real time, secure sensitive areas, and manage access efficiently.

Schools benefit too. ERS Wireless helps develop strategies that start at the perimeter

and move inward, protecting students and staff wherever they are — on buses and playgrounds, in classrooms and cafeterias, or at sporting events. Technologies like video surveillance and access control detect threats and slow intruders, giving staff and first responders precious time to react.

What Sets ERS Wireless Apart

A partnership with Motorola spanning more than 75 years gives ERS Wireless unmatched expertise. As a Motorola Solutions Platinum Channel Partner, Manufacturer’s Representative, and Elite Service Partner, along with partnerships with Avigilon, Allegion, and Evolv Technologies, ERS delivers top-tier technology backed by strong manufacturer support.

In-house systems design engineers, radio programmers, installation technicians, certified project managers, and customer support specialists guide every project from design to implementation and beyond. By understanding each customer’s goals and challenges, ERS Wireless ensures every solution works efficiently, reliably, and exactly as intended.

May 13, 2026

GREAT PLACES TO WORK

In today’s fast-paced job market, finding the right workplace isn’t just about salary — it’s about culture, growth, and a sense of purpose. The Great Places to Work special section highlights companies that go above and beyond to create environments where employees feel valued, motivated, and supported.

Radio Reach. Digital Precision. Local expertise that delivers growth.

Own the Evansville Market

MWC Advertising Evansville helps local businesses grow real market share using the unmatched power of four heritage radio stations combined with full-funnel digital marketing solutions.

Our local marketing consultants bring 100+ years of combined experience in this market, building campaigns that turn awareness into results.

Make An Impact. Advance Your Career.

RiverValley Behavioral Health is proud to be your employer of choice, offering a welcoming environment where you can grow and make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of our communities.

RiverValley is a state-designated Community Mental Health Center, serving Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Ohio, McLean, Union and Webster counties in Kentucky since 1967. We offer a full range of mental health services and supports, in addition to substance use treatment, and specialized care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We provide a supportive, friendly environment with opportunities for growth, along with competitive compensation, great benefits, paid vacation, and more.

Explore our career opportunities today to discover how joining our dedicated team can provide you with professional and personal fulfillment.

We offer:

l Tuition Reimbursement

l In-House CEU Trainings

l Benefits (Medical, Vision, etc.)

l State Sponsored Pension

l Paid Vacation, Sick Days, Holidays

l On-site Employee Fitness Center

l Employment Referral Bonuses

l Professional Development

What Sets Us Apart

At RiverValley, we offer flexible scheduling and a family-friendly, inclusive environment.

We prioritize professional growth and lifelong learning, offering tuition reimbursement and continuing education opportunities. We value your input, welcoming innovation and new ideas.

RiverValley Behavioral Health

Since 1967, RiverValley Behavioral Health has offered Western Kentucky high-quality services for mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities. Our dedicated employees are the heart of that mission. We foster a supportive, inclusive workplace with competitive benefits, professional growth opportunities, and a culture of appreciation, ensuring employees feel valued and empowered to make a difference.

What makes RiverValley Behavioral Health a great place to work?

RiverValley Behavioral Health is more than a workplace — it’s a community where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired. We are honored to be recognized by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Work in Kentucky for 2025, a testament to our commitment to fostering a rewarding and engaging work environment.

How does RiverValley support professional growth and career advancement?

We believe in lifelong learning and career development. Employees have access to tuition reimbursement, in-house continuing education training, and professional development programs. Whether you are just starting your career or looking to advance, we provide the tools and encouragement needed to help you grow.

What benefits and perks do employees receive?

We offer a competitive benefits package, including medical, vision, and other health coverage options, a state-sponsored pension, paid vacation, sick days, and holidays.

Our team members also enjoy access to our onsite Employee Fitness Center and an Employee Wellness Program that promotes healthy lifestyles. Employees who participate can enjoy health care insurance discounts, supporting their physical and mental well-being while promoting a balanced, healthy life. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential counseling, resources, and support for personal and work-related challenges, ensuring employees have access to help when they need it.

How does RiverValley show appreciation for employees?

Our team’s dedication does not go unnoticed. We celebrate and appreciate our employees in meaningful ways, including:

• A full month of Employee Appreciation, filled with fun activities.

• A company-wide Fall Festival to bring our team together in a fun, relaxed setting.

• Regular giveaways and incentives to reward hard work and dedication.

• Ongoing recognition programs, ensuring employees feel valued for their contributions.

How does RiverValley promote work-life Balance?

We prioritize work-life balance through flexible scheduling, a family-friendly environment, and an inclusive workplace culture. Our employees are encouraged to take care of themselves while making a meaningful impact on the community.

Why should someone consider joining RiverValley Behavioral Health?

If you’re looking for a career where you can make a difference, your work is valued, your growth is encouraged, and your contributions are recognized, RiverValley is the place for you. With comprehensive benefits, wellness programs, and a culture of appreciation, we offer not just a job, but a fulfilling career in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Outpatient Therapist • Peer Support Specialists • Nurse Practitioners • Registered Nurse

United Methodist Youth Home

United Methodist Youth Home is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to helping at-risk youth become responsible and productive members of the community for more than 46 years.

What is the employee experience at United Methodist Youth Home?

Youth-centric, heart-driven, and profoundly rewarding. Our team is passionate about the cause: empowering struggling young people to reach their full potential. Whether you work in finance, administration, or direct care, you’ll feel the magnetic energy of making a real difference. We’re not just colleagues; we’re a community dedicated to building happier, healthier lives for kids.

What do employees love most about their jobs?

Our team thrives in a tight-knit, open-minded culture. We support each other during challenging times, have fun, and celebrate every victory — especially the successes of our youth. Seeing our residents and students transform into independent adults is one of the most beautiful things to experience. Having played any part in that process is a special kind of joy we relish, and sharing that joy only makes it grow.

How does UMYH support its employees in their personal and professional growth?

Like we do for our youth, UMYH offers team members many opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. These include wellness benefits, free telehealth care, budget-covered professional development and training courses, internship positions, and on-site volunteer days. We are constantly exploring new ways to support our team members.

What do UMYH employees have to say about their work?

Direct from our Residential Program Director: “Whether it’s participating in therapy, earning their high school equivalency, or graduating from the program, witnessing youth progress and the “aha!” moments

they encounter is one of the best feelings ever. Working here has helped me tremendously in my life and relationships. It’s made me a better person, friend, and parent. Learning to be trauma-informed, how to be a role model for these youth, and witness their growth and resilience have helped me become more understanding and open-minded to all situations and people.”

How does UMYH foster community and belonging among its employees?

UMYH builds community through shared events and celebrations. From our community-wide Block Party awareness event, to private family nights for residents and their immediate families, to holiday gatherings and social hours, our team naturally connects. We celebrate milestones big and small with the youth and staff, fostering a sense of belonging.

Marshall Disposal

For 26 years, Marshall Disposal has steadily grown from a small, family-run waste service company into a trusted regional provider consisting of 37 employees, 33 trucks, and 12,000-plus customers across Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The company believes that staying grounded in its founding principles will lead to further sustainable growth that better serves the community.

How would you describe your company culture?

At Marshall Disposal, our mission goes beyond waste management. We’re here to create and maintain a positive atmosphere for everyone we connect with — our team members, our families, our customers, and our community. As a team, we work to help each other achieve personal, spiritual, financial, and professional goals. Two of our core values, Respect and Unity, help support our team growth and align us with the mindset to continue to build each other up. We aim to leave a positive impression on everyone we meet.

What can we expect from your company in the future?

Known for reliability, transparency, and exceptional customer care, the company remains committed to community-driven service, modern solutions, and sustainable

practices. Under the leadership of Zachary Goebel, Marshall Disposal continues to provide a premium service while staying true to its core values. Looking ahead, the company is expected to expand its reach further, integrate advanced waste management technologies, and enhance sustainability efforts, ensuring that waste collection goes beyond mere disposal — it’s about making a lasting impact on the communities it serves.

How would employees describe working at Marshall Disposal?

“Working at Marshall Disposal allows me the opportunity to serve this community. I really do enjoy coming to work and take great pride in what we accomplish as a team. Marshall Disposal leadership cares deeply for their employees and it’s a blessing to be a part of this team!” – Cori, Roll-Off Customer Service Specialist

IN THE NEWS

NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS

Maxwell Tucker joined Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., in February as Digital Operations Manager, coordinating digital sales and content operations. The Reitz Memorial High School graduate earned a Bachelor of Science in 2020 and a Master of Business Administration in 2022, both from Butler University in Indianapolis, where he resides.

Jonathan Aldridge is the University of Southern Indiana’s new director of athletic marketing and fan engagement, leading branding initiatives, marketing communications, community activities, and game experiences. He was USI’s assistant men’s basketball coach since 2020. Marna Hostetler has been promoted from services director to dean of USI’s David L. Rice Library. Hostetler joined USI in 2012. Barry Cox owner of The Cox Group in Mount Vernon, Indiana, was appointed to

WHO’S MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN LOCAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

the Board of Trustees by Gov. Mike Braun, filling the remainder of a four-year term held by former Toyota Indiana president Tim Hollander. Mads Kaiser is USI’s new men’s soccer coach. He comes from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, where his teams went 22-16-11 over three seasons.

Monique Dozier has been appointed assistant vice president for development at the University of Evansville. The Harrison High School graduate most recently was vice chancellor for university advancement and foundation president at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. UE also named Joe Atkinson the director of Evansville NewsLab, a UE ChangeLab focused on civic journalism and community engagement. Atkinson left a UE faculty position in January 2024 to serve as Mayor Stephanie Terry’s communications director.

Next Chapters

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library has opened a temporary West Side location while its Red Bank branch is razed and rebuilt.

EVPL Red Bank Express at 4905 University Drive is open Monday-Saturday. It includes a portion of Red Bank’s collection of books and other materials, plus public computer access, printing and copying, a drive-thru materials return, and pick-up for items requested from other EVPL locations.

Funded from a $12 million bond issuance, the new Red Bank site “will be a substantially larger, more modern library, designed to meet the growing and changing demands of the western portion of Vanderburgh County,” says EVPL CEO-Director Scott Kinney.

Although the Express location doesn’t have meeting or study spaces, EVPL officials say those will be abundant in the permanent branch under construction. Opened in 1991, Red Bank was renovated in 2006 and flagged for an overhaul in the library system’s 2021 Master Facilities Plan. The new location will nearly

The Vanderburgh Humane Society promoted Lauren Stuckey to clinic manager. The alumna of Gibson Southern High School and Purdue University joined the VHS clinic team in 2020 and succeeded departing Clinic Manager Austyn Stock in February. Stuckey will oversee the clinic’s 6,0007,000 surgeries annually.

The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science promoted Kaman Hillenburg to curatorial affairs and collections manager. She has been with the museum since 2010.

Tarrah Kopka, who has been with the museum since 2011, was promoted to visitor experience manager. Savanah Summerfield was promoted to curatorial assistant; she started with the museum in 2023.

JOHN MARTIN

triple to about 20,000 square feet and have capacity for nearly 80,000 items. EVPL is working with MKM architecture + design, which also designed the renovated McCollough Library.

The Evansville Fire Department promoted Dalton Gray to lieutenant on Engine 14. Gray joined the department in 2020, serving at Station 1. He is also a member of the EFD’s hazmat and rope teams.

Jack Barnes joined Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance as an agent in its Evansville office at 1010 W. Buena Vista Road. Barnes graduated from F.J. Reitz High School and Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.

Sycamore Land Trust has named Alex Sienkiewicz executive director. Sienkiewicz was previously district ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, managing the Yellowstone Ranger District of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The nonprofit he now leads is dedicated to preserving southern Indiana’s national landscape through land conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education.

DEPARTURES

Blake Shockley has left his role as Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s marketing manager to take a job with the San Antonio Zoo. He had been in a full-time role at Mesker for four years after having a part-time role while attending Central High School.

Mike Labitzke, Evansville’s city engineer, has left after working 16 years in Evansville city government to take a position in Bloomington, Indiana. He was retained as city engineer when Mayor Stephanie Terry took office in January 2024; before that, Labitzke was director of the Water & Sewer Utility’s Program Management Office.

Seyed Mehdi Shokouhzadeh retired as executive director of the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization on March 31 after more than 45 years with EMPO. He helped expand Metropolitan Evansville Transportation System service to include Sundays and offer METS Micro, led a collaboration with the Indiana Department of Transportation to implement $150 million in improvements to the Lloyd Expressway corridor, and developed the regional pavement management system that brought $65 million in state investment.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

Andy Martin , managing director of SVN The Martin Group, has been inducted into the 2025 Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame by REjournals, recognizing his leadership, performance, and impact across the industry.

The office of Vanderburgh County Prosecutor

Diana Moers donated more than $57,000 to five community organizations. After a defendant in a recent fraud case was ordered to pay restitution, the prosecutor’s office chose Vanderburgh Humane Society, Holly’s House, Little Lambs, Parenting Time Center, and Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana to split the funds.

Indiana Members Credit Union was named by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions. Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group recognizes the most trusted institutions nationwide based on financial data, customer feedback, press coverage, and app and social media reviews.

Specialty Practices

Proceeds from our Annual Golf Classic willdirectlybenefittheSusanH.Snyder CenterforWomenandChildren,helping tosupportitsvitalprogramsandservices. Women and children in Evansville arefacingdifficulttimesandtheyneed aplacetohealandfindhopeagain. HelpyourERMrestorethehurtingand vulnerable,onelifeatatime.

Bridgitte Danhauer

received the 2025-26 University of Southern Indiana Alumni Service Award, which is determined by the USI Alumni Council.

A 2008 alumna with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and professional services, Danhauer is director of client services at Pettinga Financial Advisors and has served on the Romain College of Business Accounting Circle since 2018, acting as chair from 2022-24. She volunteers

as a guest speaker for many USI student organizations. Eight students from USI’s art and design departments also won awards at the 2026 American Advertising Awards, showcasing professional and student art entries in the Tri-State area.

The University of Evansville’s FORWARD capital campaign surpassed its $125 million goal with a total of $130,470,925.

UE officials believe

FORWARD represents the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in southwestern Indiana history. More than 15,000 alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations supported more than 500 initiatives throughout the campaign, expanding access to education through scholarships, strengthening experiential learning opportunities, supporting inspirational faculty, and advancing transformative capital projects. UE also announced that Barbara J. Kolb Price, a 1966 alumna, bequeathed $2 million to establish an endowed faculty chair in the Robert and Judy Decker Wargel Department of Chemistry. The resource will support retaining distinguished faculty, encourage innovation in the classroom, and elevate

student success and achievement within the department. An estate gift of over $1 million to UE from the late Patrick L. Roberts and the late Christine (Sowinski) Roberts will support scholarship opportunities reflecting the couple’s lifelong commitment to service, integrity, and the transformative power of education. Christine graduated from UE in 1973.

UE’s High School Changemaker Challenge

committed more than $1 million in scholarships since its inception, and three winners were announced following the recent 10th annual event. First place (a full-tuition UE scholarship) went to Noma Ohonba and Chaz Burkett of Signature School for their HelpingHands platform to make

volunteering more convenient; the second place award (a $27,000 UE scholarship) was won by Lucy Howe of Reitz Memorial High School and Elodie Thomason of Signature School for Team Promise, proposing a co-ed or all-girls flag football league in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood; and the third place team (a $25,000 scholarship) was Jaini Haria and Adria Saha of Signature School, whose VeraWell for Women app provides a secure way for victims of domestic abuse to reach licensed health and mental-health professionals through private chat or video. UE expanded its ChangeLab program to the high school level for the first time, marking a milestone in youth-led innovation and community change. Howe is the first high school student ever to earn class credit for a changemaking project prior to graduation through UE’s ChangeLab program.

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville will offer a new Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program in its Frank L. Hilton M.D. School of Health Sciences beginning in summer 2026. A new partnership with Deaconess Health System will provide space in its Midtown campus for classes

Behind every strong business is a trusted partner. Our Business Banking Team is here with tailored solutions, local insight, and the relationships that help you grow and keep our community thriving.

SEASON SCHEDULE 2026

Thursday, May 7 6:35

Friday, May 8 6:35

Saturday, May 9 6:35

Tuesday, May 12 6:35

Wednesday, May 13 5:05

Tuesday, May 19 6:35

Wednesday, May 20 6:35

Thursday, May 21 6:35

Friday, May 22 6:35

Saturday, May 23 6:35

Sunday, May 24 12:35

Tuesday, June 2 6:35

Wednesday, June 3 12:05

Thursday, June 4 6:35

Friday, June 12 6:35

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Sunday, June 14 5:05

Friday, June 19 6:35

Saturday, June 20 6:35

Sunday, June 21 5:05

Tuesday, June 23 6:35

Wednesday, June 24 6:35

Thursday, June 25 6:35

Tuesday, June 30 6:35

Wednesday, July 1 6:35

Thursday, July 2 6:35

Friday, July 10 6:35

Saturday, July 11 6:35

Sunday, July 12 5:05

Friday, July 17 6:35

Saturday, July 18 6:35

Sunday, July 19 5:05

Tuesday, July 28 6:35

Wednesday, July 29 6:35

Thursday, July 30 6:35

Tuesday, Aug. 4 6:35

Wednesday, Aug. 5 6:35

Thursday, Aug. 6 6:35

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and work-based learning opportunities. Ivy Tech also announced it has received a $192,105 Empowering Employment Grant from the United Way of Southwestern Indiana. The funding will be used as part of Ivy Tech’s work-based learning program, which provides workforce training and professional certifications in specific areas of study.

Recent donations by the D-Patrick family of automotive dealerships include D-Patrick Ford Lincoln’s $2,500 gifts to Evansville Senior City Golf and Vanderburgh County CASA, a $1,500 check from D-Patrick Honda Helping Kids to Borrowed Hearts and Sleep In Heavenly Peace, D-Patrick Motoplex’s $1,000 donation to Carver Community Organization, and $1,000 from D-Patrick Boonville Ford to Boonville Bands.

GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT

The Evansville Promise Neighborhood welcomed its first cohort of new program partners: Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, Carver Community Organization, City of Evansville and Mayor Stephanie Terry’s office, Community Action Program Evansville, J.D. Sheth Foundation, Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville, Old National Bank, Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy, Welborn Baptist Foundation, and YWCA Evansville. EPN now is a network of 33 organizations.

The University of Southern Indiana and Amcor launched a partnership to spark student-led packaging innovation. The semester-long project for spring 2026 unites students and faculty with Amcor professionals to co-create practical packaging concepts that address real industry needs. The project, coordinated through USI’s Center for Applied Research, has seven student participants supported by four faculty mentors as well as industry experts from Amcor.

ORX Tolling Body, newly formed to set policy and rates for electronic tolling on the Interstate 69 Ohio River Crossing, had its first meeting on March 3. The initial rates are expected to range from $3.14 for a passenger vehicle with a prepaid account and transponder to $18.62 for a large vehicle without an account or transponder. The rates mirror those anticipated to be in place for tolled bridges in Louisville in 2032.

REGIONAL NEWS

The District, a 254-unit apartment complex on South Second Avenue in Princeton,

WHAT’S NEW AT YOUR BUSINESS?

Indiana, opened its second phase during a ribbon-cutting attended by Gov. Mike Braun and Mayor Greg Wright. The second phase added 110 apartments to the existing total of 144. The District received $2.5 million from Indiana’s READI 1.0 program and $2.975 million from READI 2.0.

Jim Sandgren

EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in economics, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana (1988)

HOMETOWN Deerfield, Illinois

RESUME CEO, Commercial Banking, Old National (2022-26); President and COO (2016-22); Chief Banking Officer and EVP (2014-16); CEO, Southern Region (2007-14); Southern Division Chief Credit Officer and EVP (2004-07); Commercial Loan Manager and SVP (2001-04); Senior Commercial Loan Officer and VP (1999-01); Commercial Loan Officer and VP (1998-99); Commercial Loan Officer and AVP, Terre Haute (1995-98); Loan Officer, Greencastle (1993-95); Loan Development Officer, Greencastle (1992-93)

FAMILY Wife Becky; sons Drew, 22, and Matt, 18

aybe it’s appropriate that I started and ended my career on April Fool’s Day,” Jim Sandgren jokes. But he’s serious about closing the book on his 34-year career at Old National. He’s helped guide the bank to tremendous success: On his first day in 1992, it had about $3 billion in assets. Today, the bank manages more than $70 billion in assets. On March 19, the bank thanked Sandgren for his decades of service by acknowledging his love for the community, donating $500,000 in his honor to one of his favorite nonprofit partners, Easterseals.

Now, Sandgren and his wife, Becky, will invest in “quality time remaining,” he says. “We don’t have all the time in the world, so when there’s an opportunity that comes up … we’re going to go do that.”

WHAT CAREER ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR SONS?

I think sometimes young professionals get in a hurry. … Whatever that first job, do it to the best of your ability. Worry about things you can control. … Bring the best attitude to work. Bring your hardest work ethic. Those are the kind of things that I think really matter.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

I’m not one of those guys who looks back. My career path was certainly not linear, and there were a lot of deviations. But being at a great bank, it was the opportunity.

YOU’VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH OLD NATIONAL’S EXPANSION. HOW HAS THE COMPANY STAYED FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITY?

We have to be really intentional about it. … We’re spending more time outside of Evansville, but … this has been home

for us for 192 years. People ask us, “Are you going to move your headquarters to Indianapolis or Chicago?” No, we can’t call ourselves a community bank if we all of a sudden leave Evansville.

WHAT FUELS YOUR DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE?

I have had the opportunity to work with some phenomenal organizations — the YMCA, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, just to name a couple — and the impact they’re having on kids and families and our community is just remarkable. … We’re only as strong as the communities that we serve.

TELL US ABOUT SOMEONE WHO MAJORLY IMPACTED YOUR CAREER.

I first met Ben Trockman, and I will tell you, Ben’s a special guy. He had just had his accident, but then he had graduated from University of Southern Indiana and he was trying to think, like, “Hey, what

do I do next?” … I brought him in to meet Bob Jones. … Within two weeks, we came back with a job description for Ben to lead our work hiring people with disabilities, and that was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen. Ben did some great work across our footprint. …We wound up hiring so many folks with disabilities who wouldn’t have gotten that chance.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’LL MISS ABOUT THE BANK?

I’ve led all the different lines of business, I’ve been in every market, I’ve met a lot of different people. That’s the part that I’m going to miss.

HOW DOES IT FEEL AS YOU EXIT ONB?

We’ve had our ups and downs over the years, there’s no doubt about it. But man, it’s shaped me as a leader, as a person. And to go to work every day with people you really like and trust and respect, that makes it all worthwhile.