Evansville Business JuneJuly 2026

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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Laura Mathis Creative Director

Sarah Morgason Senior Graphic Designer

Lindsey McIntosh Photography Fellow

ADVERTISING

Jessica Hoffman Senior Account Executive

Jackson Tucker Account Executive

Adeina Mars Sales and Marketing Coordinator

DIGITAL

Maxwell Tucker Digital Operations Manager

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Gregg Martin Distribution Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Mitzi S. Morris, Chanda Ramsey, Audra Straw, Zach Straw TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

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 evansvilleliving.com

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Want to look sharp? Call Steve Sanders, whose decades of expert suitmaking have powered his eponymous shop, now on Southeast Fourth Street. Sanders shares his secrets to success, plus what’s in — and out — in men’s fashion.

Really … Big … Dreams

Iam just about to bust my buttons, and this time, it is out of pride and not weight gain. My nephew Kirk and I have always been close. My sister Tracee’s son, he was a pleasure as a kid and is a delight as an adult. Even while playing with toy rockets and planes at eight years old, he knew what he wanted to do in life: fly jets in the U.S. Air Force. Kirk graduated from Henderson County High School in 2004 and set out on a path to join the military. He studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida — an institution widely considered the premier aviation school in the U.S. — and graduated in 2009. In the Air Force, he served as a captain of a KC-135 Stratotanker, an aerial refueling tanker aircraft. Kirk spent 13 years on active duty and four years in the Air National Guard. After leaving active duty, Kirk quickly became a captain for Delta Airlines on some of the fleet’s largest planes. I am so proud of the newly promoted Lt. Col. Kirk Evans, USAF. Clearly, no one ever said, “Kirk, you can’t do that.” And if they did, he clearly didn’t listen.

Many people have congratulated me on both of my sons beginning careers with Tucker Publishing Group, Inc. Max, 27, joined us in February as Digital Operations Manager. He works remotely from his home in Indianapolis and, every few weeks, at our office in Downtown Evansville. He has a strong business mindset

and earned his bachelor’s degree and Master of Business Administration from Butler University — Go Dawgs!

Jackson, 24, joined us on my birthday in April (I’ve had better gifts!) as an Account Executive. A University of Louisville graduate and freshly minted MBA recipient, he moved back to Evansville to work for us. Both of my boys grew up in the magazine business and watched their parents love it. Kristen and I are very honored they chose to pursue careers with us.

Jack Headlee. There are few people who, upon just hearing their name, make me smile or say, “I love that man.” Jack passed away Jan. 31 at 97 years old. What a great life he led! Jack was a terrific husband, father, and grandfather — a truly devoted family man. In 1985, Jack founded Ten Adams Marketing and Advertising, now led by his son, Jon. In business, he was successful, innovative, and full of integrity. Because he was so close with my father, Jack was someone who I knew my entire life. He and my father were great fun to listen to. Jack will be missed by all who knew him; his family is a testament to his legacy.

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

Todd A. Tucker, President

THOUGHTS ON THE APRIL/MAY 2026 ISSUE

BACK TALK: JIM SANDGREN

Congratulations on a fantastic career. Now start working on your golf game.

Bert Brougham via Facebook

THE TROCKMAN TRADITION

Seeing Joshua become a partner — and reflecting on the legacy of my grandfather and father — makes me incredibly proud of these men, and grateful for the example they’ve set — not just in what they’ve accomplished, but in how they’ve lived, led, and cared for people. Honored to be part of this heroic family.

Ben Trockman via Facebook

COMMENTS ABOUT THE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026 ISSUE

ROUGH EDGES?

Thanks for the decision to review this project — whatever it may be. John Martin’s thorough research and clear-cut writing has produced an excellent assessment of a plan that would create considerable financial and logistical challenges for Boonville and Warrick County, and beyond. I appreciate your excellent business journalism. Cathy Speegle, Evansville

LOVE THAT PIANO. HATE THAT PIANO

What a great read. … Brought back a funny memory of my sister-in-law, Rebecca, and her piano. After her graduation from Indiana University, her adventures began with the Peace Corps. in Honduras. This three-year trek landed her a hubby and a move to Oregon. Fast forward a few years later, she decides she wants her childhood piano moved to her home in Portland via a local mover in Evansville. That $575 piano purchase in 1963 cost nearly four times more to crate and move that dang thing. So much for memories! Alice Walker, Evansville

PRAISE FOR TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

TRUSTEES’ SPOUSES DAY

Thank you so much for sharing your passion, time, and treasure with our guests! Your partnership in planning this dynamic experience was truly exceptional, and we are immensely grateful for your collaboration in the details. Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., is a true gem, and it is all thanks to you.

Office of President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, University of Evansville

INTERNSHIP THANKS

Thank you for welcoming me into the office. What a cool experience to be a part of and start to understand the behind the scenes of magazines I’ve always enjoyed. It was truly an honor to contribute.

Elayna Zausch, Evansville

‘One-Stop Shop’

Framed art and gifts combine as Inman’s moves in with Rare Bird

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

An alignment of opportunities — and a dash of neighborly spirit — brought Inman’s Picture Framing + Fine Art and Rare Bird Gifts & Goods under one roof. Mike and Jessica Inman considered relocating from their shop at 2828 Lincoln Ave. Next door, Casey and Bissy Keown wanted to expand their pizza restaurant, Casey’s Dugout. Three blocks west, Michael and Cary Gray and Olivia Wright had space to fill in the photography studio inside Rare Bird. The Grays and Wright also desired more art in their store. “I had in the back of my mind … that I wanted someone like Inman’s in my space,” Michael says.

“We knew it was perfect,” Jessica says. “The more we discussed our ideas of community-building events, the more we knew we were both on the same page.”

The Inmans in January sold their former spot to the Keowns, who turned it into an event venue called The Bullpen. Inman’s new location at 2605 Lincoln Ave. includes 12-foot ceilings, meaning more room for displaying and selling work by regional artists. Customers have moved seamlessly between the two shops, and the framing business — being rebranded as Inman Art & Frames — is a natural addition to the Best of Evansville award-winning boutique profiled in Evansville Business’ October/November 2022 issue.

“We have noticed an increase in traffic for our regional art, and we’ve started having some small painting classes in the evening,” Jessica says. Michael adds, “People seem really happy about being able to make it a one-stop shop.”

A Welcome Break

Newly reconstructed rest stop in Posey County shows Indiana lore

BY JOHN MARTIN

Weary travelers are treated to Hoosier history lessons in addition to a respite at the new 11,541-square-foot Black River Welcome Center along eastbound Interstate 64 in Posey County.

After razing the prior structure near mile marker seven, construction took three years and was led by Garmong Construction Services. Inspiration for the rustic design is clear: It’s a nod to the log cabin where President Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years in Southern Indiana.

“It gives Indiana a fresh look for those who are just coming to our state, and it also gives drivers a reason to get off the road and rest up,” says Gary Brian, public relations director for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Southwest District, which owns and operates the site.

While getting their second wind, visitors can browse informational displays and photographs of the 16th president. Also honored are ninth President William Henry Harrison and 23rd President Benjamin Harrison, who both had Hoosier roots. Outside is a kids’ play area, while adults and pets have spots to stroll and unwind.

The design also boosted tractor-trailer parking capacity to 75 spaces. The prior welcome center, which dated to 1976, had only 16 spaces.

“The new Black River Welcome Center is more than just a stop along Interstate 64,” says Steve Schaefer, vice president of Garmong. “It’s a front door to Indiana that will leave a lasting first impression. Garmong and the entire team of subcontractors took pride in building a facility that reflects the region’s character while providing a safe, modern, and welcoming experience for travelers.”

Welcome centers statewide are getting a refresh. INDOT’s improvement plan includes more than $600 million in federal funds for improvements to 21 high-

way stops to wrap up by the end of 2034. Brian says all of those projects include modernizing facilities, constructing new buildings, and more amenities, including showers for truckers.

“Giving motorists a place to take a break is just another way INDOT is working to make our roadways safer,” INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist said in a March 26 release, with Gov. Mike Braun pointing out the fortuitous timing of the rebuilt Black River Welcome Center’s debut: “Opening this facility as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary gives visitors a meaningful opportunity to connect with Indiana’s role in shaping America’s story,” Braun said.

Perfect Timing

Watchmaker Dean Powell applies his trade at Brinker’s Jewelers

BY JOHN MARTIN

The son of a typewriter repairman, Dean Powell always was intrigued by how small machines work. Raised in Arizona and educated at Lilitz Watch Technicum in Pennsylvania, Powell is a watchmaker who for 17 years has applied a delicate, skilled touch in a glassed-in corner of Brinker’s Jewelers’ East Side shop.

“A classically trained watchmaker is someone who’s gone through school and could build certain components of a watch if necessary,” Powell says. “Three hundred years ago, yes, they were handmaking lots of clocks and pocket watches. These days, it’s more refined, a lot of parts exchange and repair. But the education is similar. … It’s mechanics, theory, everything involving time.”

A luxury watch can have as many as 500 parts. “It is a tiny machine that is designed to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week for years on end uninterrupted. There are not many machines made to do that,” Powell says.

Watchmaking has become a rare trade. In fact, the school where Powell was trained closed in 2025. “It’s difficult to find qualified candidates who actually want to get through the process,”

“It’s expensive to create watchmakers. But the opportunities in watchmaking are fantastic. You can literally go anywhere in the world and get a job.”

Dean Powell, Watchmaker at Brinker’s Jewelers

Powell says. “It’s expensive to create watchmakers. But the opportunities in watchmaking are fantastic. You can literally go anywhere in the world and get a job.”

Brinker’s sells Certified Authentic watches — some straight from the dealer and some preowned — from multiple makers. A big name is missing after Rolex pulled out of the Evansville market in April 2025. “We enjoyed our partnership with Rolex for two decades, and we will continue to be successful because a brand doesn’t make a jewelry store successful — it’s people, their knowledge, passion for the industry and the way they take care of their customers,” Powell says.

Al though smartwatches are common, wrist accoutrements haven’t gone away with the arrival of cell phones. Powell says some owners feel

“controlled by their watch” after a certain point and desire to move on from it, yet still want something on their wrist. He says a majority of Brinker’s watch customers are men, but “we do have some pretty serious female watch clients.”

“People say the need for watches is going away, and the people who wear them are disappearing. That’s not true. It’s a niche — it’s not as common as it was in the 1950s and before cellphones. But it’s replenishing. You have younger generations that are still interested (in watches). There’s value because of the element of time involved, the involvement of precious metals, there’s art. It’s recognized, it’s also a status symbol,” Powell says. “As long as it fills those blanks, it continues to flourish.”

Core Strength

Pilates advocate takes a chance on opening her own studio

Shah Perkins is giving her passion its own space. “I had the idea on Jan. 11, 2025,” she says. Nearly a year to the day later, LuxeCore Pilates + Wellness opened.

The Trinidad and Tobago native grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, and always had an interest in health and wellness. She earned a degree in healthcare administration and a master’s in medical sciences — while running track and field — at the University of Central Florida before becoming a registered nurse through the former Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Though she wanted to become a doctor, she found fulfillment as a nurse.

Still, she says she knew that career was not her end goal: “I just knew that I wanted more.”

Perkins began practicing pilates in 2019 and earned instructor certification

in 2024. At first, she taught virtually or rented space in Chicago, Illinois. She knew she wanted to take the leap and start her own studio, but leaving a career behind felt terrifying.

“I needed to believe in myself and trust the vision I had for my future. I didn’t want to stay comfortable while wondering ‘what if’ for the rest of my life … So, I took the risk and decided to go for it,” Perkins says.

She signed a lease for 8887 High Point Drive, Ste. G, in Newburgh on Oct. 31 and put the space together herself with equipment, furniture, and accessories she purchased. It was important that her studio have amenities such as a sauna and cold plunge for contrast therapy, red light halotherapy, zero-gravity massage chairs, and compression therapy boots. LuxeCore Pilates + Wellness opened Jan. 5, 2026, with classes covering reformer

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

pilates, ballet-inspired barre workouts, and yoga. She and two instructors teach classes, with most clients being beginners.

“There’s an exclusivity in pilates. … I wanted to have women of any size. Whether you are 100 or 400 pounds, you can do pilates,” Perkins says. “Even when one person shows up, and I keep telling myself ‘consistency,’ that’s what it is.”

Six months into running her business, Perkins has developed her own pieces of advice. “Nothing grows from staying comfortable. Success is not built overnight; it’s … sacrifice, long nights, and continuing to show up even when nobody sees the work behind the scenes … Create something that makes people feel seen, heard, welcomed, and supported.”

Speaking With One Voice

E-REP broadens its regional approach

BY JOHN MARTIN

Half a decade into the joint venture, the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership is sticking to its core mission of growing area communities.

Culling the goals of the former Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, and Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce, E-REP was launched in April 2021 to put those operations under one umbrella. “It was a new concept for us to implement here, driven by the business community who asked, ‘Can we speak in a more collaborative voice?’” says current CEO Lloyd Winnecke, who was serving as Evansville’s mayor when E-REP was born. He became CEO in January 2024. “The chamber wasn’t doing economic development work, but it was doing public policy work that supported economic development. We thought we could be stronger as one organization representing all that we’re doing.”

Winnecke says E-REP — which works in Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties — is functioning as originally intended. “This is definitely the framework we need going forward,” he says. “If you talk to people around the state, they like the fact that Southwest Indiana speaks with one voice.”

E-REP has about 800 members. Talent attraction and retention are major areas of focus: Between 2023 and 2025, efforts such as the Belong Here initiative to incentivize relocation attracted 75 households and 181 individuals who had average annual wages topping $110,000.

Additionally, E-REP has guided the area’s pursuit of funds through two rounds of Indiana’s READI program, which altogether have netted $95 million for regional projects targeting quality of life, education and workforce development, and housing. E-REP also is steering the long-term Ohio River Vision initiative to upgrade riverfronts in Evansville, Mount Vernon, and Newburgh.

“The biggest benefit is the regional approach to things, instead of each individual county or pocket in our region working independently,” says Johnathan

“It was a new concept for us to implement here, driven by the business community who asked, ‘Can we speak in a more collaborative voice?’”

— Lloyd Winnecke, CEO of Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

Pope, president and CEO of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. Pope also serves as vice chair of the E-REP board of directors.

“We have great synergy with all our city and county governments, and even chambers that are still working independently work well with E-REP and engage in the regional efforts. I think we have a good formula.”

Chris Rutledge, market executive for Banterra Bank’s Indiana region and another

E-REP board member, says its performance has been “even better than what we had hoped. Much of the economic development and the continued growth in our region that we have been able to provide, I’m not sure it could have been attained without the merger of the organizations and the processes that have been put in place to grow this area.”

Winnecke credits the vision of E-REP’s original leadership team — CEO Tara Barney and President Greg Wathen. “The work they did out of the gate has really set us up for long-term success,” Winnecke says.

Sculpting Nature’s Beauty

Leaving Legacies

Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana’s rebrand embraces regional thinking

BY JOHN MARTIN

For an organization that has distributed $80 million in charitable gifts since its inception 35 years ago, the Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana — as it will be called starting July 1 — doesn’t consider itself well-known. In fact, “what I’ve heard over and over is that we are the best-kept secret in town,” President and CEO Jill Carpenter says. The foundation’s footprint covers nine Hoosier counties: Vanderburgh,

Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Daviess, Knox, Perry, Pike, and Spencer. Its roots date to 1991, after the Lilly Endowment launched its original GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) initiative to strengthen Indiana’s network of foundations. The Evansville-based entity long known as the Community Foundation Alliance was among those built and expanded during that statewide movement.

“As we were going through this growth and some strategic planning, we asked, ‘What is a better descriptor for us?’”

— Jill Carpenter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana

In 2025 alone, the foundation presented more than 1,400 grants totaling $10 million, boosting the work of nearly 800 organizations; those dedicated to education were the largest beneficiaries. Organizations focused on human services, arts and culture, health, youth development, and more also benefited.

The new name, Carpenter explains, better conveys the foundation’s mission. “As we were going through this growth and some strategic planning, we asked, ‘What is a better descriptor for us?’” she says. “We’ve already been working regionally, and community foundations are inherently place-based, but ‘alliance’ doesn’t say anything about where we are.”

CFSI’s rebrand offers proof that “we are serving and working in the nine communities in Southwest Indiana, as we have for the last three decades,” Carpenter says. “We will still have local volunteers who will help guide our work in each of those communities.”

The foundation has dozens of individual funds and scholarships under its umbrella. Many support specific agencies, while others have less-restricted uses. The foundation’s role is to steward all endowed funds and honor the donor’s intent; a select few funds support organizations outside of the nine-county area.

The growth Carpenter referred to reflects upward trends throughout the nine counties in giving, as well as

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

in requests for dollars. As foundation officials decide where to steer their resources, four core priorities offer a roadmap:

Vibrant & Resilient Communities: investing in spaces and experiences that make communities more livable, inclusive, and connected

Foundations for Economic Mobility: ensuring that families have access to building blocks of success, such as housing, child care, and education

Community Health & Well-Being: supporting prevention, care, and holistic wellness for healthier individuals and stronger communities

Regional Collaboration & Alignment: bringing communities, sectors, and organizations together to meet challenges

There isn’t an open application process for nonprofit agencies to seek foundation support with unrestricted funds for fiscal year 2027, which begins in July 2026. But officials say they are doing a lot of listening: Needs assessments are taking place in all nine Southwestern Indiana counties.

“The board and this organization have worked really hard on strategic planning for the future, and understanding and hearing what the community has to say as we deploy dollars into local communities,” says Chief Development Officer Aimee Stachura.

Foundation officials say their processes take into account how community needs can shift. Emergencies come up, too — officials say COVID-19 was a prime example of that, as well as a situation where regional collaboration was critical. Carpenter explains that the 2020 pandemic showed the foundation’s ability to be “nimble.”

“We were able to grant more than $1 million during the pandemic,” she says. “We participated in the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region and provided rapid relief funding across all our communities. We were able to get grant dollars out the door within a 72-hour time period.”

Endowed philanthropy packs power, foundation officials say. Through Rooted in Community — the foundation’s 2:1 matching campaign — every dollar contributed to an unrestricted endowment fund is matched with two additional dollars, tripling the resources available to meet evolving community needs for generations to come.

“When someone makes a fund, they’re not just creating a gift,” says Escalade Sports President and CEO Patrick Griffin, a foundation board member and its incoming chair, as well as a donor. “They’re creating something that will continue working long after they’re gone.”

Although it considers itself a wellkept secret, it’s also true that the foundation does much of its work quietly, communicating with individuals and entities about how to build legacies. “A

lot of my work is helping our donors give in ways that are meaningful to them but also sustainable for the community in the long term,” says Stachura, who was CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana for nearly a decade before joining the foundation in July 2025. “One thing that makes the Community Foundation unique is that we work with endowments. That means it’s a permanent resource. When someone gives to an endowment through the Community Foundation, their gift is

invested permanently, and each year a portion of those earnings goes toward grants and scholarships within their community.”

The foundation forms “deep-rooted relationships” with donors, Carpenter adds. “They are setting up funds that last forever, and we have an obligation to ensure that every dollar we’ve been given is being stewarded during their lifetime and well beyond it.”

Carpenter, who has been with the foundation for 15 years, mentioned Warrick County’s Sanctuary on the Hill — an outreach offering services to veterans and their families — and a trails expansion project in Pike County as two recent examples of initiatives that have major foundation support. But she notes that foundation-funded endeavors often cross county lines, as the rebrand to Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana strives to make clear.

“No community grows in isolation,” Carpenter says. “When we align resources and partnerships, we can create opportunities that benefit everyone.”

Global Reach, Local Expertise

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DEVELOPMENT

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HOSPITALITY

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As your community foundation, we work alongside donors and professional advisors to enhance charitable planning.

At the Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana, we help individuals, families, and businesses build charitable funds and endowments that support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. Our charitable solutions integrate seamlessly into tax, estate, and wealth plans, offering flexibility without added complexity.

We handle compliance, grantmaking, and reporting, so you can focus on family priorities and outcomes. You can feel confident that we will manage your gift carefully and invest it wisely. Our local knowledge helps align charitable giving with personal values and long-term legacy across Southwest Indiana.

Over the past 35 years, we’ve invested $80 million into Southwest Indiana. And

we’re just getting started.

RELATIONSHIPS TAILORED

BY MITZI S. MORRIS • PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

You don’t have to speak with Steve Sanders very long to learn he is a busy man. “I see a guy coming in. Can I put you on hold for a second?” he says.

The owner of Stephan G. Sanders Fine Men’s Clothiers greets his customer and asks him about a recent trip. A few minutes later, Sanders brings client Doug McPherson into the conversation. “I walked by his store a couple of times and kept thinking, ‘I need to come down here and get some new suits,’” McPherson says. “And then I showed up, and it wasn’t there anymore.”

After more than 20 years in the Hulman Building at Sycamore and Northwest Fourth streets, Sanders in February relocated his store two blocks south — still in Downtown Evansville — to The Foundry on Fourth, a coworking space. Client Scott Saxe, senior vice president of Saxe Pinkston Financial Group, applauds the move. “It’s a beautiful new store with lots of room and flexibility and a great look, and it’s going to be a big success,” he says.

With more than 50 years of industry experience, Sanders is known for personalized service and quality clothing at the only independently owned menswear shop left in town. Customers like Saxe attest that the clothier’s support and expertise are unparalleled. “I’ve been a client of Steve’s for over 20 years, and his energy, his passion, and his commitment to his clients are just as strong today as it was back when I started his service,” Saxe says.

At the new store’s address, 104 S.E. Fourth St., Ste. 101, Sanders is starting a fresh chapter in his business while maintaining his competitive position in a niche market. “As business continues to grow, the reception has been really good,” he says. “So I see myself continuing on, doing what I’m doing, appealing to anybody who is looking for something that’s well-tailored.”

Last Man Standing

Shopping for fine men’s wear in Evansville used to have a variety of stores to choose from, but their options have dwindled over the years. For example, after more than 60 years in business on the West Side, Paul’s Menswear closed in 2024. Now, Men’s Wearhouse, a national chain, and Sanders’ shop are the only locations for custom suits and tuxedos.

“At one time, there were probably 8-10 clothiers and clothing stores in Evansville, being a medium-sized market. Now, there’s basically me and a couple of other chain stores,” Sanders says.

The small business owner believes the closure of national department stores has helped a shop like his become the place to go for men’s formal wear. Sanders meets with a customer at least twice (consultation and fitting) before a suit leaves the store. An off-the-rack suit takes a week to get ready, while a custom suit requires four to six weeks. Sanders relies on a domestic manufacturer in the South that has been in business for close to 100 years for his custom suits. The fabrics come primarily from Italian woolen mills, including Loro Piana and Ermenegildo Zegna at the high end.

Though buying suits online is an option, the clothier insists several limitations exist regarding custom fittings. “I just don’t see how a person can order a garment online and expect it to come in fully tailored to fit them in the shoulders, the sleeves, the coat length, the taper on the sides. That requires a tailor to look at the garment, examine it, and pin it to fit the client,” Sanders says. “Everything that goes out of our shop is fully tailored, fully pressed, and ready to go once the garment is picked up by the client.”

The need for customization is exactly why customers like McPherson, former Old National Bank chairman and CEO Bob Jones, and Boone Funeral Home owner Jordan Duncan come to Sanders. Duncan remembers the clothier being straightforward about the fit of his suit when he walked into the store. “[Steve] was like, ‘Come on, Jordan, you own a funeral home now, so you can’t look sloppy.’ In a nice, professional way, that’s what he said,” Duncan says.

Like other clients, Duncan affirms that Sanders’ work ethic and personality helped his menswear business survive COVID-19 and other economic challenges that forced other shops to fold. “I just said to [Steve] the other day, ‘What am I going to do if you ever decide to step out of this space?’ Because I don’t know who else tailors anymore,” Duncan says.

More Than a Measurement

Many of Sanders’ clients visit his store because of referrals, but they keep coming back because of connections. Lloyd Winnecke, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership’s president and CEO, compares the experience to a barbershop. “Everybody goes in to see Steve. A friend of mine who was a customer said, ‘Hey, you need to check this out.’ And so I did,” says Winnecke, who served three

“At one time, there were probably 8-10 clothiers and clothing stores in Evansville, being a mediumsized market. Now, there’s basically me and a couple of other chain stores.”

— Steve Sanders, owner of Stephan G. Sanders Fine Men’s Clothiers

One of a kind? In Evansville, Stephan G. Sanders Fine Men’s Clothiers fits that description. Now located in a new Downtown site — The Foundry on Fourth — Sanders’ eponymous shop is the only locally owned destination for guys who want to look their best, from their tie and pocket square down to their cufflinks.

Seamless Transition

consecutive terms as Evansville’s mayor before joining E-REP in January 2024.

Jones reveals that Sanders keeps files on all of his clients, dating back to the clothier’s first introduction to the customer. “In his file for me, [Steve] has the letter that Old National sent out announcing my hiring [in 2004]. That’s why I got the quick call when I moved here,” Jones says. “It wasn’t just because he wanted a new client. He wanted to make sure I felt welcomed and included in the community.”

I used to travel and sing. So, he tries to get me singing gigs all over the place,” Duncan says. “He’s always looking out for me.”

“[Steve] called and said, ‘I’m going to open a business. Can I count on you for my alterations?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ So we were partners from then on.”

— Marla Beaven, master tailor

Sanders’ customer relationships often extend beyond fittings. Duncan mentions that the clothier networks on his behalf, connecting him to new opportunities. “In a former life,

One of Sanders’ longest relationships is with Marla Beaven, a master tailor with decades of industry experience. She joined his team more than two decades ago when he decided to become an entrepreneur. “[Steve] called and said, ‘I’m going to open a business. Can I count on you for my alterations?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ So we were partners from then on,” says Beaven, who works out of her East Side home. “It helped that he was so good at what he did, and I was known all over. … We worked as a good team.”

With a bittersweet tone, Sanders reflects on leaving the Hulman Building, a structure Indiana Landmarks placed on its 10 Most Endangered List in 2022 and 2023. Before his move, he was its longest tenant. “It’s a beautiful, historic building, and I hope something happens to preserve that building,” Sanders says. “Whether it be a boutique hotel, apartments — whatever happens there, it’s going to be residential. That’s the push of what’s going on in Downtown Evansville.”

Other Downtown projects, such as The Vault, a mixed-use development on Main Street, and a planned neighboring park, complement the shop’s new environment. “[The new store] puts him in a more vibrant location,” Winnecke says. “He’s got a great landlord, and it’s a winwin situation for him.”

Benefits at The Foundry on Fourth include better visibility, improved accessibility, and modern amenities. “We have a lobby (and) a full kitchen that’s there for me and my clients. It’s brighter,” says Sanders. “(Customers) can park right outside

the front door and walk in. … It’s definitely worked out better.”

Saxe refers to the relocation as “a home run,” and Duncan loves what Sanders has done with the place. “I told (Steve), ‘You were busy before; you’re only going to get busier.’ Just the presentation, the look of the shop, the warmer feel, walking in it. It’s a great move,” Duncan says.

A Career That Still Fits

Last fall at the Hulman Building, as Sanders contemplated his options for the future, Winnecke offered some reassurance — while searching for slacks. “I said, ‘You are a destination,’” Winnecke recalls. “‘People are going to go to you wherever you are. If you’re two blocks away, they’re still going to come to you.’”

Sanders’ reputation for white-glove service combined with a range of products — including suits, sport coats, trousers, dress shirts, neckwear, and shoes — sets his business apart in the menswear industry. His formalwear business, which includes tuxedos, is also strong. “When [Steve] says the suit’s going to be done on a certain day, it’s done on that day. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. And the quality has always been tremendous. You get this amazing selection to choose from, but the tailoring is just phenomenal,” Winnecke says.

Shelby Bartholome, whose husband, Justin, and his father purchased wedding suits from Sanders last year, emphasizes the clothier’s communication skills. She notes that Sanders was receptive to the couple’s needs and considerate of their price range. “Justin’s suit was custom made from head to toe … and he got to choose every piece of it,” says Bartholome, Executive Assistant for the University of Evansville’s Vice President of Student Affairs. “I was so glad he got to have such a nice, special, high-quality experience regarding his outfit, similar to what I did with my dress.”

As Jones put it, Sanders is not just “the gentleman who provides me with my clothing,” he is a friend. It’s a sentiment that Sanders shares.

“It’s more than just walking in and taking care of business. These customers, they get to know you. You get to know them. It’s more of an exchange of friendship. And it’s just the way the business works,” Sanders says. “Quite frankly, that’s why I’m still at it. When you go to work, you don’t feel like you’re at work.”

MEN’S FASHION TRENDS

What’s In

During his extensive time in the industry, Steve Sanders has witnessed a shift in the fit of menswear. Today’s customers prefer something slim and tailored over roomy suits. Italian blue is a popular suit color, paired with a colored or patterned shirt and walnut or medium-brown shoes. The sport coat-and-jeans combination is fashionable, according to Sanders; he says nearly every sport coat customer asks whether denim will go with the outfit. Open collars and pocket squares are another big part of the business and complete the look.

What’s Out

Sanders has watched the necktie go from part of a daily uniform to occasional wear, though it’s still worn by lawyers and other professionals. The full suit has followed a similar pattern, shifting from an office staple to special events. Pleated pants have largely vanished in favor of a plain-front, tapered-leg look, according to master tailor Marla Beaven. Cuffed hems were once non-negotiable, but she says almost nobody asks for them anymore. Bold, wide plaids have also been replaced by quieter, more subdued fabrics.

The

Voters

First Federal Savings Bank

First Federal Savings Bank offers a full range of financial solutions designed to support individuals and businesses at every stage of life. From personal and business checking and savings accounts to home mortgages, auto and personal loans, and commercial lending, their services meet both daily financial needs and long-term goals. Customers also benefit from certificates of deposit and robust digital banking tools delivered with a focus on convenience, security, and accessibility.

Founded in 1904, First Federal is deeply rooted in Southwest Indiana and has remained committed to community-driven banking for more than a century. First Federal primarily serves individuals, families, and smallto-mid-sized businesses within their local communities, emphasizing strong relationships, local decision-making, and a genuine understanding of the people they serve. This long-standing local focus allows First Federal to provide more personalized guidance than many larger institutions.

A common challenge people face in financial management is taking a reactive rather than proactive approach — whether that means neglecting savings strategies, failing to plan ahead, or not aligning financial decisions with longterm goals. First Federal helps address this by offering personalized support, practical tools, and education to help clients make informed decisions and protect what they’ve built. Their secure systems are designed to safeguard both financial assets and personal information.

Preparation is key to long-term financial success. One of the most important steps individuals can take today is actively managing their finances — reviewing goals, building savings through options like CD or other savings accounts, and utilizing digital tools to stay organized and informed. What sets First Federal apart is its relationship-driven approach. Rather than a one-size-fitsall model, they focus on understanding each client’s unique situation and tailoring solutions accordingly. Whether someone is opening their first account,

purchasing a home, or expanding a business, their team works to align products and strategies with evolving needs.

Clients can expect a straightforward, supportive experience when working with First Federal. The team combines friendly, knowledgeable service with modern banking technology, making it easier to manage finances while still benefiting from personal connections with local experts.

Across all life stages, the approach remains consistent: provide the right tools, guidance, and support to help clients succeed. One piece of advice the team shares often is simple but powerful — stay engaged with your finances. Regularly reviewing accounts, asking questions, and taking advantage of available resources can make a meaningful difference over time.

Ultimately, the greatest benefit of working with First Federal Savings Bank is the combination of personalized service and comprehensive offerings. Clients gain a trusted financial partner committed to helping them manage, grow, and protect what matters most — backed by over a century of community-focused service.

German American Bank

812-962-2265 | germanamerican.com

The Surprising Truth About Who Needs Estate Planning

Written by: Mary Dishman and Spencer Vinson, Wealth Advisors with German American Wealth Advisory Group

Estate planning is not just for the wealthy or retired it’s for anyone who wants control over what happens to their assets, loved ones, and health decisions if they become incapacitated or after they’re gone. If you own property, have children, or simply want to make things easier for your family, estate planning is essential

• Young adults, especially those with dependents, should have basic documents like a will and powers of attorney to ensure their children are cared for and decisions are made by trusted individuals.

• Married couples can use estate planning to coordinate asset distribution and minimize taxes.

• Blended families benefit from clear planning to avoid conflicts over inheritance. Utilizing a corporate trustee or executor may also ease the heavy lifting and minimize conflict within families during what could be tr ying times.

• Homeowners and business owners need plans to ensure smooth transitions and prevent probate complications.

• Those with aging parents or special-needs dependents should plan for long-term care and guardianship.

• Even single individuals benefit by designating healthcare proxies and heirs, avoiding state intervention.

At German American Wealth Advisory Group, we bring experience and guidance to every stage of the estate planning process, from initial planning to formation and final implementation. An estate plan can:

• Provide care instructions for you and your loved ones in case of disability

• Remain effective if you move to or own property in another state

• Keep your affairs private and confidential

• Give you control over all of your property

• Include trusts for young and disadvantaged children and grandchildren

• Provide federal estate tax planning

• Provide for estate administration upon your death

Gain peace of mind, clear direction, and lasting protection for your future and for the people who matter most. Wherever you are in the estate planning process, German American is here to help you move forward with confidence.

Cottage Wealth Advisors

The “Common Sense” Manifesto: Investing Without the Noise

In a world of high-frequency trading and viral “meme stocks,” it is easy to feel like the average person is at a disadvantage. However, the secret to wealth isn’t found in a secret algorithm; it’s rooted in common sense. We believe successful investing is less about brilliance and more about temperament, discipline, and seeking the right guidance.

1. Automate Your Success

The biggest hurdle to investing is human psychology; we tend to spend what we see. A common-sense solution is to split your direct deposit at the source. By instructing your employer to send a portion of your paycheck directly into a brokerage account, you remove the “choice” to spend it. If you never see the money, you learn to live without it, making your future wealth an automated line item in your budget.

2. The Power of “Boring”

The most effective way to build wealth is through diversification

Instead of gambling on a single hot tip, common sense suggests buying into a broad range of assets. Holding a piece of many companies ensures that if one stumbles, the collective growth of the others compensates. It’s the financial equivalent of not putting all your eggs in one basket — a strategy prioritizing sustainable growth over high-risk speculation.

3. Time is Your Greatest Ally

Compound interest is the closest thing to magic in finance. When you reinvest earnings, those gains can eventually generate their own gains, creating a snowball effect.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.”— Albert Einstein.

Because growth is cumulative, your time in the market is often more important than the amount you start with. Starting early can result in a staggering difference in your final nest egg.

While principles are simple, execution over decades is difficult. This is where a professional financial advisor becomes invaluable. An advisor offers a personalized roadmap for tax strategies, estate planning, and risk management.

Most importantly, an advisor acts as a behavioral coach. During market downturns, they provide the objective perspective needed to help prevent “panic” decisions. They help ensure your portfolio remains aligned with your goals, helping you stay the course when the noise becomes distracting. By combining automated habits with professional knowledge, you can build a foundation for lasting financial confidence.

Neither Cottage Wealth Advisors nor &PARTNERS, LLC, renders legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisors before taking any action that may have tax consequences. Securities and advisory services offered through &PARTNERS, LLC, a

and investment advisor; Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guidance and Support for Your Life Transition

New Horizons Financial Consultants

Amy Bouchie Founder and Lead Advisor

What originally led you into financial planning and what made you realize there needed to be a different approach? I was drawn to financial planning because I’ve always believed money touches every part of our lives – but early in my career, I realized something was missing. Too often, the focus was on products and performance, not people. I saw individuals and families facing some of the most important decisions of their lives – retirement, loss, divorce – and they weren’t getting the guidance they truly needed. That’s when it became clear to me that financial planning should be more than numbers. It should be about helping people understand their options, feel confident in their decisions and move forward with clarity.

Many people come to you during major life changes. What do they need most in those moments – and how do you help provide that?

What people need most is transparency and reassurance. When you’re going through a life transition, there’s often a lot of uncertainty – and financial decisions can feel overwhelming. Our role is to simplify that complexity. We help clients understand where they are today, what their options are and what each decision means for their future. From there, we build a plan that gives them confidence –not just financially, but in the direction they’re heading.

Looking ahead, what impact do you want New Horizons to have on individuals and families here in Evansville?

My goal has always been to create a place where people feel comfortable asking questions, seeking guidance and taking control of their financial future.

Danielle Andrews Client Experience and Relationships

What drew you to New Horizons, and what stood out about the way this firm serves clients?

What stood out to me right away was how personal everything felt. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach –every client is truly listened to and understood. You can

see that the focus is on building relationships, not just managing accounts. That was something I really connected with, and it’s a big part of why I wanted to be here.

You work closely with clients day-to-day–what are some of the most common concerns or emotions you see when people first come in?

A lot of people come in feeling overwhelmed or unsure. They might be facing a big life change or simply feel like they don’t have a clear direction financially. There’s often a sense of “Where do I even start?”– and that’s completely normal. One of the most important things we do is help people feel comfortable from the very beginning.

How do you help clients feel more comfortable and confident throughout the financial planning process?

It starts with listening. We take the time to understand each person’s situation and what matters most to them. From there, we walk through the process step by step so nothing feels confusing or rushed.

Tell us about your background and what led you to join New Horizons.

My background has always been centered around organization, detail and supporting both teams and clients. I’ve always enjoyed being the person behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. What drew me to New Horizons was the care and attention given to each client. It’s a place where the details truly matter, and that aligns perfectly with how I approach my work.

What role do you play in supporting both the team and clients behind the scenes?

I help ensure that everything is handled accurately and efficiently–from account management to client communications. I focus on taking care of requests quickly and correctly.

Why do you believe the details matter so much in financial planning?

Financial planning is built on trust and trust is built on consistency and accuracy. The small details – whether it’s paperwork, timelines, or follow-through – can make a big difference in how confident a client feels.

McGowan Insurance Group

Strengthening Nonprofits Through Collaborative Risk Management

In today’s increasingly complex environment, nonprofit organizations face a unique and evolving set of risks. From financial pressures and regulatory demands to cybersecurity threats and human capital challenges, the landscape continues to shift. Through my work with nonprofit leaders, I have seen firsthand that effective risk management is no longer reactive — it must be collaborative, intentional, and aligned with an organization’s mission and long-term sustainability.

My approach to insurance and risk management is built on partnership. Coverage is only one part of the equation. By working closely with nonprofit organizations, I focus on understanding their operations, leadership, and the communities they serve. This allows us to build strategies that not only protect their assets but also strengthen their ability to grow and adapt in an ever-changing environment.

This philosophy has been significantly enhanced through our partnership with Keystone Agency Partners. At McGowan Insurance Group, we offer nonprofits access to an expansive suite of risk management tools and resources designed for their needs. These solutions go far beyond traditional insurance — they provide practical, real-world support to help organizations anticipate challenges and respond with confidence.

What Collaborative Risk Management Looks Like in Practice

A key component of this value is McGowan’s Risk Advisor Connect platform, which emphasizes education, prevention, and collaboration. Through access to training modules, compliance resources, and best practices, nonprofit leaders are better equipped to identify potential exposures early and take proactive steps to address them. This shifts the focus from reacting to problems toward building resilience and organizational strength.

Ultimately, our goal is to help nonprofits move beyond simply having insurance policies in place to building truly resilient organizations. By combining tailored coverage with education, strategic insight, and ongoing collaboration, we provide the tools necessary to navigate uncertainty with clarity.

As nonprofits continue to operate in an increasingly complex world, having the right partner is essential. Through my commitment to personalized service and our partnership with Keystone Agency Partners, we are proud to stand alongside organizations that are making a meaningful difference — helping them not only manage risk, but thrive in pursuit of their mission.

Indiana529

1-866-485-9415 | myindiana529.com

Planning for your child’s future doesn’t have to be complicated. Indiana529 makes it simple to start saving early, helping families turn small steps today into meaningful support while keeping every path from college to career training within reach.

Does my child have to attend higher education in Indiana?

No. You can use the assets in your account at any eligible school in the country and abroad. That includes 2and 4-year colleges, graduate schools, and vocational/ technical schools.

How can the funds in a 529 account be used?

You can use your account assets for many qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, certain room and board costs, computers, and equipment.

For more information about the Indiana529 Direct Savings Plan (Indiana529 Direct), call 1.866.485.9415 or visit www.Indiana529direct.com to obtain a Disclosure Booklet, which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state’s qualified tuition program.*Indiana taxpayers

How does the state tax credit work?

If you are an Indiana taxpayer (resident or non-resident, married or individual), you are eligible for a state income tax credit of 20 percent of contributions to an Indiana529 account, up to $1,500 per year.* This also extends to friends and family who contribute to the account.

What if my child doesn’t attend college?

Not every child goes to college, and that’s okay. Funds in an Indiana529 account can be used toward other higher education costs, such as trade schools, apprenticeships, and more.

are eligible for a state income tax credit of 20% of contributions to an Indiana529 Direct Savings Plan account, up to $1,500 credit per year ($750 for married couples filing separately).This credit may be subject to recapture from the account owner (not the contributor) in certain circumstances, such as rollovers to another state’s 529 plan, federal non-qualified withdrawals, withdrawals used to pay elementary or secondary school tuition for a school outside of Indiana, education loan repayments, or rollovers to a Roth IRA account, as described in the Disclosure Booklet.

Kemper Capital Management

KCM offers a full range of services, including investment management, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, and ongoing financial guidance. By integrating these services, clients gain a comprehensive view of their financial picture rather than receiving fragmented advice. The team also collaborates closely with tax professionals to help ensure strategies are aligned and efficient.

Whether you are planning for retirement, managing significant assets, or preparing for the next chapter, the Evansville Kemper team is committed to helping you move forward with confidence. Their approach is grounded in trust, built on experience, and focused on helping clients achieve meaningful financial outcomes.

Forvis Mazars

Whether you’re leading a large-scale building project, scaling a production facility, or guiding an investment portfolio to new heights, having forward-thinking financial guidance is crucial. What you build and advise matters. We want to hear the story behind your drive.

Understanding Your Industry Needs

At Forvis Mazars, we help bring clarity to complex situations so you can move forward with confidence. We offer accounting, tax, and consulting services tailored to help you create lasting value. Our dedicated industry teams understand the unique hurdles you face daily. From helping you improve cash flow, navigate regulatory changes, and manage complex buying, selling, and refinancing transactions, we’re here to support your vision.

Beyond Traditional Practices

We go beyond traditional accounting practices. Our team centers on understanding your exact operational needs. We offer strategic planning, technology guidance, and succession planning. We actively listen to your concerns, ask

insightful questions, and consult with purpose to deliver real value.

A Collaboration for Success

Your success genuinely matters to us. We operate with a highly dedicated attitude, rolling up our sleeves to work alongside you throughout your journey. With a rich history spanning more than 100 years, we focus on helping you achieve sustainable growth. You benefit from the vast resources of a large firm, combined with the personal touch of a local team. This focused approach allows us to deliver an Unmatched Client Experience® every single day.

Reach out today to discover how Forvis Mazars can help you prepare for what’s next.

Heritage Investments

What we can do for you!

At Heritage Investments, we’re more than just financial advisors — we’re your long-term wealth partners. Whether you’re planning for retirement, seeking to grow your portfolio, or preserving a legacy for future generations, we tailor smart, strategic solutions to help you get there with confidence.

Here’s how we make a difference:

• Personalized Financial Planning: Your goals are unique, so your strategy should be too. We craft custom investment plans based on your life, not a generic template.

• Professional Investment Advice: With deep market insight and a disciplined approach, we help you build and preserve your wealth through all market cycles.

• Transparent Guidance, Real Relationships: We believe trust is built on honesty. Expect clear communication, personalized advice, and a team that puts your interests first.

Let Heritage Investments help you take control of your financial future with confidence, clarity, and care.

Banterra Bank

Five Evansville Area Branches | 812-226-8377 | Banterra.bank

Banterra Bank has five Evansville-area locations, including a commercial lending office in Downtown Evansville. Banterra has more than 40 locations in six states, plus nationwide specialty lending. With more than $3 billion in assets, Banterra continues to grow, ranks in the top 8% of U.S. charter banks*, and has more than 500 employees. *Based on assets.

What services or products does your business provide?

Banterra offers personal and business banking services, including conveniences like online account opening and digital banking. With a strong commitment to helping individuals and businesses plan for the future, we provide financial planning resources, business loans and deposit solutions, and competitive treasury management services to support long-term goals. Our relationship-focused approach also includes private banking and mortgage services, ensuring clients have the guidance and tools they need at every stage of their financial journey.

How does the commercial loan process work?

Banterra’s loan process is quick and convenient. You can start by making an appointment online at Banterra.bank or contacting your local branch. When you arrive for your appointment, your lender will begin with questions to get to know you and your business so we can better support your

needs. Your application will be completed, and a site visit to your business may be scheduled, depending on your loan needs. Often, your loan could be approved within 48 hours and closed within 72 hours. Banterra offers the lending strength of a mega-bank with the benefits of quick decisions and local direct service.

Why work with Banterra?

Banterra is truly a partner for growing your business. We take the time to get to know you and your business, so we can help you reach your financial goals. With Banterra’s Evansville team, you will work directly with local loan and treasury management teams with years of banking experience. We offer competitive rates, strong lending capacities, exceptional business products, and quick local decisions. This combination is hard to find with area competitors. Finally, we are a regional bank that supports our communities with ongoing charity promotion, contributions, and volunteer time.

First Financial Bank

12600 US-41 | First-online.bank

CrossPoint Polymer Technologies was built on the belief that business growth should create opportunity for people and communities. With support from First Financial Bank, founder Ben Schmidt continues to grow a company focused on sustainability, local impact, and long-term purpose, proving that strong businesses can strengthen far more than the bottom line.

Growth With Purpose

When Ben Schmidt founded CrossPoint Polymer Technologies, the goal was clear: create high-quality recycled materials from post-industrial plastic waste while building a business designed for long-term impact.

What started as a focused recycling operation has grown into a company employing more than 70 people with influence reaching well beyond manufacturing. Today, CrossPoint supports local schools, community projects, and international education initiatives rooted in experiences that shaped Ben’s vision early on through mission work abroad.

For Ben, growth has never been just about revenue. It has always been about responsibility. That mindset continues to shape how CrossPoint operates today, from investing in employees

and supporting classrooms to creating opportunities throughout the community. The company’s success reflects a broader belief that when businesses grow with intention, the impact reaches far beyond the balance sheet.

As CrossPoint expanded, having the right financial partner became an important part of the journey. First Financial Bank provided guidance that supported both the operational side of growth and the larger mission behind it. More than transactions, the relationship focused on understanding the company’s long-term goals and helping create a path forward with clarity and confidence. “At First Financial Bank, we believe strong businesses help build stronger communities,” said Craig Kirk. “When we support businesses like CrossPoint, we’re supporting the people, families

and communities connected to that growth.”

Whether a business is just beginning, expanding into new markets, or planning for the next generation, First Financial Bank shows up the same way: with trusted guidance, practical solutions, and a long-term commitment to helping businesses grow stronger so the communities around them can prosper.

At First Financial, we do more than offer business checking—we provide the tools, insights, and support businesses need to move forward.

Whether you’re managing cash flow, making payments, or planning for growth, our team is here to help you make confident financial decisions every step of the way.

In the world of business, milestones mark not just the passage of time, but the persistence, innovation, and impact that define success. This special advertising section highlights companies and organizations that have reached significant milestones. Celebrate these milestones and the people behind them who continue to shape industries, inspire progress, and drive our economy forward.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

IN 2016, Brian Wildeman established Wilde Horticulture, introducing a fresh vision for local horticultural design deeply rooted in an artistic approach to any space, combining unique plants and materials.

Over the past 10 years, he has grown Wilde Horticulture into the premier partner for creative spaces and displays. Whether designing stunning commercial or residential landscapes, envisioning seasonal decor installations, or bringing special projects to life, Brian’s commitment to quality, creativity, and transformation remains. With sights set on another decade of unique and inspiring design, the vibrant projects that have defined Wilde’s work so far — striking seasonal planters, interactive natural playscapes, the City of Evansville’s Christmas tree, magical holiday light displays, and hundreds of landscaping projects — have left a lasting mark on the community.

FOR FOUR DECADES, Tri-State Fence has remained a trusted name in the Tri-State region, marking 40 years of steady growth, lasting relationships, and dependable craftsmanship. Since opening its doors in 1986, the company has evolved alongside the community, earning a reputation for quality work across commercial and industrial fencing projects.

Reaching a 40-year milestone is more than longevity — it reflects resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to serving customers with consistency and care. Through changing industries, expanding communities, and generations of clients, Tri-State Fence has continued to deliver solutions built to last.

As the company celebrates this anniversary, it also looks ahead with gratitude for the customers, employees, and partners who made the journey possible.

WHEN THE COX GROUP OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1986, the goal was straightforward: deliver safety, quality, and productivity for every client. Forty years later, these priorities have not changed, but the company certainly has.

Today, The Cox Group spans 22 states with a fully integrated range of services including distribution, transportation, information technology, real estate, and manufacturing solutions. Through every stage of growth, what has kept the company moving forward is its people. Executives with decades of tenure, managers who grew within the

organization, and frontline team members who are recognized and appreciated for the work they do every day — all united by a shared commitment to each other and to the customers they serve.

A s The Cox Group looks to its next chapter, it remains focused on the foundation that has carried it for 40 years: taking care of its people, serving customers with excellence, and growing together as the group begins bringing its portfolio of services under one unified brand — TCG.

IN 1991, a compassionate Sunday school class from Bethel United Church of Christ served meals to those in need, a simple act that sparked the creation of United Caring Services. From a day shelter serving 25 people, we’ve grown into a multi-faceted organization offering life-saving shelters, medical respite, and pathways to stability for hundreds daily. We believe in a community where everyone matters, and no one is left behind.

Our Day Shelter feeds 100 people three meals a day, 365 days a year. Our Men’s Shelter provides 50 regular and seven respite beds. Our Women’s Shelter offers 22 regular and four respite beds. Our Diversion Center provides five beds for those in mental health crises. Our White Flag program ran from November 1 to April 30 and provided emergency shelter to 868 individuals. We couldn’t do any of this without the amazing support of our volunteers and donors. To celebrate 35 years, we are hosting a gala celebration on October 3rd. For more information or to donate, check out our website unitedcaringservices.org.

AT BARTON AUTOMOTIVE, the vision has always been simple: take care of people, and the rest will follow. While the company has grown over the years, it has remained grounded in the same core values upon which it was founded: honesty and transparency, a servant’s heart, humility, quality workmanship, and a positive attitude.

Customers, business fleets, and the community at large know the business not only for dependable service but also for the relationships built along the way. From supporting local organizations to helping someone stranded on the side of the road, the team at Barton Automotive is committed to serving their neighbors.

Building on a strong foundation, the next generation looks forward to bringing new ideas and growth while carrying forward the values that built the business.

WHAT STARTED AS A ONE-PERSON OPERATION IN 1991 has grown into one of the Tri-State area’s most trusted names in secure document destruction. Piranha Mobile Shredding, family owned and operated by Mike Murphy, is proudly marking 35 years of keeping businesses, organizations, and individuals across Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky protected.

Over three and a half decades, Piranha has expanded to a team of 15 dedicated employees and a six-truck fleet — earning NAID AAA certification and an A+ BBB rating along the way. From off-site document destruction to free community shred days, they’ve built their reputation on reliability, security, and genuine hometown service.

Congratulations to Mike and the entire Piranha team on 35 years of shredding it. Here’s to the next chapter.

UE FORWARD CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION, Feb. 28, University of Evansville Photo 1: Paul Jones, Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, and Randy Alsman. Photo 2: Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, Siobhan Pietruszkiewicz, Janet Wempe, and Ken Wempe. Photo 3: Tricia Ryan, Hannah Ryan, and Jim Ryan. Photo 4: Deb Mason and Rick Mason. Photo 5: Melissa Eisenhauer and Matt Eisenhauer

SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER TEAM MARKS ONE YEAR OF CERTIFICATION, April 1, Deaconess Henderson Hospital Aubre Stofleth, Jessica Cornelius, Jaci Nall, Sydney Book, and Megan Ward

HONDA CELEBRATES D-PATRICK HONDA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, March 17, D-Patrick Honda Tom Matthews, Scott Brown, Ray Farabaugh, Aaron Coulter, Mike O’Daniel, Wolfi Roehrborn, Eric Krzystofiak, and Joshua Beckner

VIP OPENING FOR THE FOUNDRY ROOM, April 1, DoubleTree by Hilton Doug Minor, Katelynne Edge, Jessica Cron, Wendy White, Jodi Von Alman, David Hess, Lloyd Winnecke, Jen Kerns, Doug Rosepapa, Mayor Stephanie Terry, Jalyn Denham, Rachel Edgington, and Peyton Boyd

LEADERSHIP EVERYONE’S CELEBRATION OF LEADERSHIP, March 18, Old

Stephanie Roland and Kyle Gorman

EASTERSEALS

TELETHON, April 17, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center Photo 1: Jared Wilson and Ron Rhodes, Photo 2: Gretchen Ross and Maurice Berendes, Photo 3: Ange Humphrey and Kelly Schneider

NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS

Jackson Tucker joined Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., in April as an Account Executive.

The 2020 Reitz Memorial High School graduate attended the University of Louisville, earning a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration in 2024 and a Master of Business Administration in 2026.

The Evansville Philharmonic has extended Music Director Roger Kalia’s contract through the 2028-29 season. Kalia was appointed as the Philharmonic’s sixth music director in 2020 and has introduced the New Traditions Series, which champions underrepresented composers; free public performances in community venues; and the Young Artist Composition Competition.

Mayor Stephanie Terry appointed Brian Mundy as City Engineer effective April 6. Mundy has more than 30 years of experience managing public infrastructure projects and most recently was a senior project

B BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

manager with the Lochmueller Group. Terry also named Anna Raben as the city’s new communications director. The graduate of Mater Dei High School and Purdue University most recently was employed by Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and Berry Group (now Amcor).

Escalade, Inc., has removed the “interim” from Patrick Griffin’s title as president and CEO. Before becoming interim president and CEO of the Evansvillebased manufacturer and distributor of sports and recreation products, Griffin was an Escalade director and had been Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations since 2012. His time with the company dates to 2002.

Welborn Baptist Foundation has named Sara Miller its new Endowment Advancement Officer. Miller spent more than 25 years

Expanding Operations

Polyram USA ramps up local production lines

BY JOHN MARTIN

Polyram USA continues to expand in Evansville, with another 100,000-square-foot warehouse and 10th production line coming this year. The total expansion represents more than $12 million in investment, retaining 106 jobs and adding about nine more.

Two production lines launched the plastic compounds manufacturer’s local operations in 2017. Its site at Vanderburgh Industrial Park in north of Daylight, Indiana, now includes all three of Israel-based Polyram Group’s core divisions: engineering thermoplastic compounds, long-glass-fiber reinforced materials under the Polytron brand, and Bondyram coupling agents and tie-layer materials. Polyram Group supports the automotive and food packaging industries, among others. Of its nine facilities worldwide, Polyram’s only U.S. presence is in Evansville.

Vanderburgh County officials approved a seven-year, performance-based property tax incentive for the expansion. A partnership with Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc., and Woodward Development and Construction, Inc., advanced the real estate portion.

at Old National Bank in roles including Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Southern Region CEO, and Evansville Region President.

B.J. Watts, Executive Director of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s OptIN initiative, was appointed to a fourth term on the Indiana State Board of Education by Gov. Mike Braun. He’s served on the board since 2011.

The University of Evansville has invested Walayet Khan as Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business on April 10. Khan joined UE in 1989 and is a professor of finance in UE’s Schroeder School of Business. He also directs the Purple Aces StudentManaged Investment Fund, which gives students experience in managing investments and applying financial theory.

The Evansville expansion “allows us to increase production capacity, improve responsiveness and lead times for customers, and support future growth in the region,” Polyram USA Plant Manager Yuval Marmor says.

Ben Wierzba also was named UE’s 12th women’s basketball coach on April 16. He was an assistant coach for the Purple Aces’ men’s team from 2007-10, and most recently was associate head coach for the Miami (Ohio) University women’s program. Wierzba succeeds Robyn Scherr, who served as UE’s head coach from April 2021 to March 2026.

Four University of Southern Indiana employees have been promoted within the office of Outreach and Engagement. Jaclyn Dumond is now the Director of K-12 Partnerships and Lifelong Learning; Paula Nurrenbern’s new role is Director of Corporate Partnerships and Career Success; Diane Sanders has taken over as Director of Historic New Harmony; and Leslie Townsend is Senior Director of Community Engagement. USI also promoted Dan McDonnell to Director of Athletic Communication following Ray Simmons’s retirement. McDonnell has been with USI since 2000, most recently as Associate Director of Athletic Communication.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden named Leah McCormick its Director of Marketing. An Evansville native and USI alumna, McCormick was a founding member of the Franklin Street Events Association and served as Director of Marketing and Social Media for the former Tin Man Brewing Co. She has moved back to Evansville after working as the Sales and Branding Ambassador for Yazoo Brewing Company in Nashville, Tennessee.

Claire Meier has joined the Warrick County Chamber of Commerce, replacing the retiring Shari Sherman as Executive Director. Meier previously worked for Southern Indiana Resource Solutions as Employment Services Director and Outreach and Development Coordinator.

Vanderburgh Humane Society promoted Vanessa Brown to the new position of Pathway Coordinator, where she will monitor animals’ journeys through the shelter. She oversees daily rounds and interdepartmental collaboration in the hopes of reducing the length of stay and achieving positive outcomes for more animals. Her prior role was Foster Care Coordinator; she will continue to oversee that program.

RJL Solutions hired Luke Conner as Senior Director of Government and Industry Partnerships. Conner is based in the firm’s Evansville office but will have a full-time presence at the Indiana Statehouse during legislative sessions. RJL Solutions specializes in government relations, marketing and communications, community and economic development, and association management.

DEPARTURES

Sgt. Todd Ringle retired from the Indiana State Police on April 8 after a 42-year career, including the last 25 as Public Information Officer. The Fowler, Indiana, native and Warrick County resident spent his entire career with ISP’s Evansville-based District 35.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

The City of Evansville received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for its 2026 city budget. It’s the first time Evansville has received this national award, which evaluates how clearly a budget presents its priorities, revenues, expenditures, and long-term financial planning.

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Steve Jordan was named the 2025 Green River Kiwanis Firefighter of the Year. Recently retired, Jordan’s career with the Evansville Fire Department spanned 30 years. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran rose to become a lieutenant and arson investigator at EFD, started a peer fitness program within the fire department, and was honored with the Indiana Fire Chief’s Association Instructor of the Year award in 2019.

The inaugural Mohammad K. Azarian Prize for Mathematical Reviews, named after the longtime University of Evansville Professor of Mathematics, was bestowed on Harvard University Assistant Professor of Mathematics Arnav Tripathy. The American Mathematical Society presented the award to Tripathy in January at the 2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, D.C. The award carries a $5,000 prize and recognizes reviewers whose work demonstrates technical insight, clarity, and service to the global mathematical community.

B BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Suresh Immanuel, UE’s Dean of the College of Business and Engineering and Associate Provost for Academic Partnerships, has been appointed as a commissioner on the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. His term begins Aug. 1.

The annual Veterans Day breakfast by the WIKY-104.1 FM Morning Show is being honored by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation. The free event, which drew more than 600 veterans and their families in 2025, has earned the Service to Community Award for Radio – Small Market, as part of the foundation’s 2026 Celebration of Service to America awards.

The Shield, University of Southern Indiana’s student newspaper, won 11 awards at two statewide conferences in April. From the Society of Professional Journalists’ Indiana Pro Chapter, Photo Editor Izzy Hannon earned first place in the Feature Photo category; Managing Editor Aracely Chavez took home second place in Editorial; former Editor-in-Chief Ian Young placed second in

Coming Full Circle

Opinion Column; and The Shield Source, a weekly e-newsletter, earned second place for the Best Student Newsletter. From the Indiana Collegiate Press Association, News Editor Cade Smithson came in first for News Magazine News Story and second for Breaking News Reporting Online; Editor-inChief Alex Mendoza won second place for News Magazine Column/Essay and News Magazine News Story; former Visual Editor Kai Harris took home third place for News Magazine Illustration; and the Shield’s staff earned third place for News Magazine of The Year and Advertising Self-Promotion Campaign.

Local McDonald’s restaurants donated $6,152.25 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley as part of the franchise’s annual Shamrock Shake fundraiser.

At spring ceremonies commemorating the Princeton plant’s 30th anniversary, Toyota Indiana announced $330,000 in grants supporting youth development and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Recipients included the University of Evansville and North Gibson School Corporation, to purchase vehicles for Toyota’s Driving Possibilities initiative; YMCA of Southwestern Indiana’s Camp

USI nursing program to bear name of inaugural dean Nadine Coudret BY

Nadine Coudret’s legacy in the University of Southern Indiana’s Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions is secured, thanks to a $1 million endowed gift.

While dean of the program from 1988 to 2012, Coudret helped launch bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing. She also was instrumental in growing USI’s health professions programs. She received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USI in 2020.

Two of Coudret’s children, Gayle and Carol, work in health care. Her son, Dave, owns Preferred Construction Services and says it was the business’s foundation that made the endowed gift. A portion of that gift will establish a scholarship honoring Coudret’s late mother, Christine Elliott.

“Being a part of the Evansville health care community and having the opportunity to start the nursing program were opportunities for which I am most grateful,” Coudret says. “The excellence of the USI nursing graduates is due to the efforts and hard work of faculty, students, and the support of the community.”

Carson, for improvements to its 300-acre Gibson County site; and Mudpuppy Palace, for the first phase of a planned nature-based learning center in Mount Vernon, Indiana.

The Warrick Humane Society received a Rachael Ray No-Kill Excellence grant of $20,000 from national nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society. The dollars support the Fostering Hope: Expanding Support to Save More Lives program, which has a goal of saving 292 dogs and cats.

Recent donations by the D-Patrick family of automotive dealerships include two $1,000 checks from D-Patrick Boonville Ford to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library/Warrick Literacy & Educational Connections and Youth First, respectively; $1,500 from D-Patrick Motoplex to Scouting America and the Pinewood Derby; $1,500 each to United Methodist Youth Home and Newburgh Buddy Ball from D-Patrick Honda; $2,500 from D-Patrick Evansville Ford to Easterseals; and $2,500 from D-Patrick Ford Lincoln to the USI Baseball Dugout Club.

GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT

Evansville Regional Airport has introduced GoodMaps, an accessible indoor technology that helps travelers move through the terminal with greater independence and confidence. It provides step-by-step guidance via a mobile device for visually-impaired travelers or others who want additional assistance navigating the airport.

The Town of Newburgh and Newburgh Park Pals have reached their funding goal for a new inclusive and accessible playground at Lou Dennis Community Park, thanks to a $1 million READI grant, $500,000 from the Town, and $375,000 in private donations to Newburgh Park Pals. An April 24 groundbreaking was held for the playground.

Additional parts of the park’s expansion include the Robert Emmett Griffin Obstacle and Fitness Course, safety surfacing, fencing, shade structures, and seating areas.

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville celebrated surpassing its $30,000 fundraising goal during its fourth-annual Ivy Tech Day, held April 21. Nearly 6,000 area high school students take dual credit courses through Ivy Tech’s Evansville campus, which graduates about 1,400 people a year.

Grow, a capacity-building platform that the Welborn Baptist Foundation supports, has partnered with global digital credentialing leader Credly to introduce verified digital badges for nonprofit professionals. This initiative aims to strengthen the nonprofit workforce and improve community outcomes. Participants in Grow training programs will earn credentials for skills in areas such as strategy, operations, marketing, and fundraising. These badges, issued through Credly, provide a transparent and verifiable way for nonprofit leaders to demonstrate expertise and commitment to organizational excellence.

Posh on Main, a boutique offering clothing, accessories, home decor, and more, has

ARC Construction ..........................22

Banterra Bank ................................50

Barton Automotive Services 57

Brinker’s Jewelers 12

CenterPoint Energy IBC

Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana 24, 25

Cottage Wealth Advisors 40, 41

Cox Group, The 55

D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln 18

D-Patrick Motoplex 7

Dyna-Kleen 20

Explore Evansville ..........................22

First Bank 23

First Federal Savings Bank ........................ 36, 37

First Financial Bank 51

Forvis Mazars 48

German American Bank 38, 39

Greer’s Flooring America 9

Heritage Investments 49

Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission 10

Indiana529 46

moved to 208 Main St. The locally owned shop opened in 2019 at 330B Main St.

REGIONAL NEWS

Daviess Community Hospital, a Deaconess-owned facility in Washington, Indiana, hosted a ribbon-cutting April 10 to celebrate its new Women’s Health Center, a one-stop shop for multiple health services.

Ports of Indiana has opened a bonded storage facility at its Mount Vernon port. The 20,000-square-foot warehouse expands the port’s ability to handle large barge shipments of aluminum. The site is operated by Indiana River & Rail Terminals.

Traylor Building is serving as Construction Manager for the 320,000-square-foot Mizkan America production expansion project in Owensboro, Kentucky. The project adds production space for Mizkan and Nakano rice vinegars, Holland House cooking wines, and other products while also expanding production capability for Ragu and Bertolli pasta sauces. The company produces more than 400 million jars of Ragu and Bertolli pasta sauces per year in Owensboro. Construction is expected to finish in February 2028.

Jackson Kelly, PLLC. ........................ 1 Keep Evansville Beautiful...........58 Keller Schroeder 8 Kemper Capital Management, LLC. 47 Landscapes By Dallas Foster, Inc. 17 Liberty Federal Credit Union ..................34, 35, BC McGowan Insurance 44, 45 Midwest Communications 30

N.M. Bunge, Inc. 4 New Horizons Financial Consultants 42, 43 Old National Bank 3

Piranha Mobile Shredding 57 Popham Construction 11 RE/MAX/ Richardson, Mike IFC Signarama 30

Straub Mower Service, LLC. 20 SVN The Martin Group 23 SWIRCA & More ..............................52 Tri-State Fence Co. 54 Tucker Publishing Group, Inc.

Lisa Verkamp

EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Marketing, University of Southern Indiana (2004); Master of Business Administration, University of Southern Indiana (2008)

HOMETOWN Milltown, Indiana

RESUME Senior Strategic Engagement Director, YMCA of Southwestern Indiana (2023-present); Director of Marketing and Annual Campaigns, YMCA of Southwestern Indiana (2014-23); Media Director, AXIOM (2006-13); Adjunct Faculty, University of Southern Indiana (2005-21); Media Buyer, Keller-Crescent Co. (2003-06); Administrative Assistant, Kitch & Schreiber (2002-03)

FAMILY Husband Darren Verkamp

The art of storytelling captivated Lisa Verkamp from a young age. Combined with an artistic nature and business acumen, she’s made a career in marketing and advertising for more than 20 years. Joining the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana was the final piece of the puzzle, allowing her to use her passions and strengths to make an impact in the community she loves.

“I consider myself kind of this chief storyteller,” she says. “I’ve always had both an analytical side and a creative side, and this industry lets me exercise both. Marketing and advertising may live in the same world, but they require very different ways of thinking — and I love that balance.”

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE YMCA?

I’ve always had a servant’s heart. … The Y has been quietly serving this community for more than 165 years. It’s woven into the fabric of Evansville in ways people don’t always realize. There’s something really meaningful about being part of an organization that shows up for people every single day — often without asking for recognition. I have a deep appreciation for that.

DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AT THE Y.

I joke that my actual title should probably be “Director of Other Duties as Assigned.” I oversee marketing, communications, philanthropy, and fundraising for YMCASWIN. So, professionally speaking, I tell stories and ask people for money. Thankfully, those two things actually work really well together. No two days are ever the same, and honestly, that’s probably why I’ve stayed in this role for so long.

TALK ABOUT THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB.

As the marketing person, there are a lot of stories to tell. The YMCA impacts tens of thousands of people throughout our region. I get to witness that work firsthand and help connect people to that impact. I have the privilege of helping people learn more, know more, and understand what the Y means to the community. Because we do so much. We help so many people in so many different ways. That’s awesome to see and share every day.

IS IT CHALLENGING FINDING THOSE STORIES?

Everybody has a story about the Y. … Some people learn how to swim here. Some people work on their health or wellness goals. Some people went to summer camp. Some play basketball at the Y after school. I think that diversity is what I enjoy the most about the Y’s story. It’s also the biggest challenge in my job because we have meant so many

different things to so many people over our 165 years in this community.

YOU’VE CHOSEN TO PLANT YOUR ROOTS IN EVANSVILLE. WHY?

I started school at USI, fell in love with Evansville, and have been here ever since. I like to be involved, so I volunteer a lot. I’ve tried to be a part of the community — not just live here, but know what’s going on. It’s the perfect big little city. Evansville has a very “figure it out and get it done” personality, and I genuinely love that about this community. People here show up for each other.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?

Do something that genuinely interests you, because curiosity is what keeps you growing. Ask questions. Pay attention. Find people who are smarter than you and learn from them. The older I get, the more I realize good mentors can change the trajectory of your life.