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Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly 3306 Independence Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46808 (260) 426-2640 Fax: (260) 426-2503 www.fwbusiness.com Randy Mitchell randymitchell@kpcmedia.com Publisher Lucretia Cardenas lcardenas@kpcmedia.com Editor Linda Lipp llipp@kpcmedia.com Associate Editor Aimee Ambrose aambrose@kpcmedia.com Reporter Doug LeDuc dleduc@kpcmedia.com Reporter Claudia Johnson cjohnson@kpcmedia.com Marketing Manager Beth Welty bwelty@kpcmedia.com Fort Wayne Paginator Kylee Malone research@kpcmedia.com Researcher Andy Eads aeads@kpcmedia.com Advertising Director Ann Saggars asaggars@kpcmedia.com Creative Manager Tracey Robideau trobideau@kpcmedia.com Special Sections Designer & Paginator MARKETING CONSULTANTS Wendy Krzyzanowski Nate Woenker Josh Patell Mark Davis Bobbi Jenks Walter Fisher
Diverse group shows promising future for region We at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly could not be more honored to present such a n well-deserving class this year with Forty Under 40 awards. The individuals in this class represent the diverse fabric of northeast Indiana’s industries and cultures. Some of the names in this class are well Editor recognized, due to the individuals’ involvement in major community projects or organizations. Others made the list because day after day, they quietly but consistently perform good work – whether it be on the job, in their communities or both. Some in the class are business owners and some are managers. Yet, others are still grinding it out in entry-level positions but, clearly, not
LUCRETIA CARDENAS
going unnoticed doing so. Not all of this year’s recipients are northeast Indiana natives, and several even grew up outside the United States. While some have had to overcome more challenges than others, no one would be on this list if hard work and determination wasn’t part of each individual’s make up. This is why reading about each of the Fort Under 40 winners is so inspiring. This award is simply one stepping stone for them on the journey of life. They have many more accomplishments to achieve beyond this recognition. We appreciate all of the friends, bosses, colleagues and family who took time to nominate these individuals, as well as the many other individuals who are not listed in this year’s class. The amount of nominations we receive is astounding and encouraging for our region as leaders work to create an attractive quality of place that helps drive economic development by keeping talent in northeast Indiana. Congratulations to this year’s winners and we can’t wait to see what you do next within our community.
S. Rick Mitchell Chief Financial Officer
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly is proud to partner with the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and its newly opened Conference Center; official venue for all 2016 Business Weekly events.
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Forty Under 40 portraits taken by Ray Steup, Creative Content Producer, KPC Media Group
George O. Witwer Publisher Emeritus Terry G. Housholder President Randy Mitchell Chief Executive Officer
Letter from the Editor
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Eric Ade................................................................ 3
Ryne Krock........................................................... 28
Dana Berkes........................................................ 4
Ryan Krueckeberg.............................................. 29
Rachel Blakeman................................................ 5
Tin Hein Latt......................................................... 31
Margaret Brooks................................................. 6
Matthew Marshall.............................................. 32
Zeke Bryant.......................................................... 8
Brandon McClain................................................ 33
Ellen Cutter........................................................... 9
Carrie Meyer........................................................ 35
Jordan Essman DeMond................................... 10
Max Meyer........................................................... 36
David Faust.......................................................... 11
David Nicole........................................................ 37
Jennifer Ford....................................................... 12
Edmond O’Neal.................................................... 39
Marietta Fry......................................................... 13
Kelli Packnett....................................................... 40
Alison Gerardot................................................... 14
Jeremy Redding.................................................. 41
Ryan Giese........................................................... 15
Heather Regan.................................................... 43
Damian “Dom” Gosheff..................................... 17
Holly Rommel....................................................... 44
Adam Hamid........................................................ 18
Shelley Lopez-Schwab...................................... 46
Brent Harring....................................................... 19
Shauna Shafer..................................................... 47
Sheenah Johnson............................................... 20
Gary Skeel............................................................ 49
Susie Kaiser......................................................... 22
Shawn Sollenberger........................................... 50
Michelle Kearns.................................................. 23
Mychal Thom....................................................... 52
Kara Kelley........................................................... 25
Caren Tse.............................................................. 54
Lucas Konger....................................................... 27
Ian White.............................................................. 55
MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
ERIC ADE Age: 37
Employer: Three Rivers Running Company Title: General Manager Education: Bachelors in Mathematics from Huntington College (2000), Bachelors in Exercise Science from Huntington University (2010) Community organizations with which you are involved: I attend St. Charles Borromeo Church and volunteer on the CardinalFest (family festival in September) committee. Three Rivers Running Company has also partnered with Girls on the Run of Allen County, NeighborLink, Fort Wayne Running Club, and Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I worked at Rogers Market in Georgetown Square in high school. I was a bagger and cashier. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? Our previous GM at 3RRC, Josh Brunson, was a tremendous help getting me to where I am today. He, along with our co-owners, created 3RRC from the ground up. They experienced and overcame the pitfalls that can occur when starting a small business; and I benefited from those experiences when I became the GM and continue to look back on the decisions they made 10-plus years ago to refine our store. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment is leading 3RRC to five consecutive 50 Best Running Store in America awards from Competitor.com. Only 15 running specialty stores, out of 1,000-plus in the U.S., have received this award for the past five years. We have been fortunate enough to be selected in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. What lessons did you learn from it? I have learned that we have a tremendous staff and business plan in place. Customer service is at the core of our success; we need to continue to make staff development and staff appreciation a priority to ensure that our staff is happy and dedicated to helping people. Conversely, we recognize that past success does not guarantee future success. Some running stores who had previously received the 50 Best award were not selected this year, so we need to constantly refine and adapt our
strategies to stay at the forefront of our industry and also connect with our local community. What is your current professional goal? I hope to continue to help 3RRC grow and reach new customers. Sharing the joy of health and wellness (especially through running) with people is important to me personally. I enjoy seeing people reach their goals with my assistance. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Three Rivers Running Company is a member of the Independent Running Retailers of America; we receive various articles, magazines, and industry reports on a regular basis from data gathered by the IRRA. In addition, I have attended The Running Event, a multiday running specialty conference, in Austin, Texas, for the past five years. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? My wife and our three children (6, 2.5 and 9 months) are my No. 1 priority. I work diligently to make sure I have as much time as possible to spend with them. My wife and I are both runners, so we try to schedule our day around work,
family, and fitness. It is definitely not easy to do, we try our best to find a good routine that keeps everyone happy. What do you do to relax? I truly enjoy running. I know it sounds contradictory to many people – a challenging activity to relax. However, running for me is a time to get away, unwind, and enjoy the outdoors. I almost always feel better after a run than before I started. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Gen X – my parents stressed the importance of working hard in school, staying active and healthy, never giving up when encountering a challenge, as well as working hard to earn what you receive. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I feel like I possessed a pretty strong work ethic and positive values when I was in high school mainly due to my parents and involvement in church. I suppose I would tell my high school self to keep working hard, treat people how you would like to be treated, and try to see the positive in every situation.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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DANA BERKES Age: 34
Employer: NIPSCO Title: Public Affairs Manager Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism from Indiana University, Bloomington Community organizations with which you are involved: At NIPSCO, our leadership is very supportive of employee engagement in our communities. Because of this, I’m able to serve as a board member for Adams County Economic Development Corp., Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, New Allen Alliance and the Northeast Indiana Fund. NIPSCO’s Dollars for Doers program provides a financial contribution to organizations where our employees donate time. We’ve leveraged those funds for volunteer events with Community Harvest, The Rescue Mission and United Way Day of Caring with Study Elementary. I also serve on the Industry Advisory Board for IPFW’s College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science and the Creative Sector Advocacy and Promotion Task Force for Arts United.
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Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck (handwritten) was from the Noble County Public Library. I was a page during high school, shelving books and helping with children’s programming after school and on Saturdays. It was my first taste of customer service and reading on the job was a major perk, as long as all the books were shelved. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I’ve had several mentors who took the time to help me develop personally and professionally and I’m very grateful to have worked for leaders who let me be part of the process during tough organizational discussions and decisions, as well as valued continuing education. Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits training was transformational for me. Since I took the course as part of Emerging Leaders, the habit “First seek to understand, then to be understood” has been my mantra and I truly believe it has helped guide my career and develop better relationships.
What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My favorite part of the story is when people come together to achieve a common goal. I feel a deep sense of accomplishment from being part of the teams that created memories and opportunities for people in our community. Being part of the team that created Embassy Festival of Trees, Down the Line, the Fort Wayne Venues marketing collaboration, NIPSCO’s Charity of Choice, America’s Best Communities competition and more has been the most gratifying part of my career. What lessons did you learn from it? I’m a firm believer that failure is the best teacher and, quite frankly, I’ve had some epic failures. It’s that experience that makes the successes so much sweeter. What is your current professional goal? I’ve been working in the utility industry for a little more than a year now and there is still so much more to learn. My next step is to earn a Master’s degree and continue working towards a deeper knowledge base in the industry. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I read as much as possible, take advantage of classes and professional training and ask lots of questions. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I don’t balance; I integrate. I think work and home are pieces of one big puzzle and separation doesn’t work for me. I take my family with me to volunteering events and bring my communication and management training home with the hope it makes me a better parent. Having an equal parenting partner and an updated family calendar app are vital. What do you do to relax? A quiet morning at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a good book. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Probably a little of both. I have the millennial idealism, but understand change is really hard and so am content with steady progress toward a goal. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Life is a great and magical journey. Savor every moment.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
RACHEL BLAKEMAN Age: 39
Employer: City of Fort Wayne Title: Compliance Officer, Document Management and Retention Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism, Ball State University; J.D., Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Community organizations with which you are involved: • Co-chair of the Allen County Bar Association law school liaison committee • Vice chair of WBOI community advisory board • Member, United Way of Allen County investment team • Volunteer with Arts United Taste of the Arts, Parkview Foundation Cookin’ Men, Coats for Kids, Habitat for Humanity, We the People civics education competition, FWCS Study Connection Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first job was as a hostess at Chi-Chi’s, complete with the ridiculous uniform. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I’m pretty sure every person who made the decision to hire me thought they were taking a big chance, but it’s paid off. It always helps to work with smart, dedicated people. It’s been great to see how some of my bosses have led by example. Fort Wayne residents are lucky to have a talented, loyal group of public servants working on their behalf. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Aside from returning to law school full-time after 11 years in the workforce, it is the creation of a comprehensive records management program for the City of Fort Wayne. I help city departments sort through their existing records, digitize what’s on paper when appropriate, create process improvements for incoming documents and ensure we are keeping what we need to and tossing what we can based on state law. I have had the opportunity to review records that are decades and even more than century old. City government has a lot of history that we don’t often think about. What lessons did you learn from it? I am almost always overly ambitious in how efficiently projects will go, probably thanks to working in places with tight deadlines. There are unforeseen hiccups every time. If I knew how much work some projects would take, I probably
wouldn’t have started them. But once I realize how long this will ultimately take, I’m in so far that there’s no turning back. I am better than I used to be, but my professional optimism doesn’t fade easily. What is your current professional goal? Continuing with the success the City of Fort Wayne has had in records management and the overall momentum of Fort Wayne. There’s plenty of work yet to be done, especially digitizing historic records and making them available to the public. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? There aren’t a lot of people who do my job locally so I seek out information online, attending presentations and conferences and keep up with a few trusted sources. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Some weeks better than others. One advantage to the public sector is that the hours are fairly predictable. I typically know in advance if I will have to stay late or come in early. For volunteer work, I have learned that some weeks I have meetings and commitments outside of work nearly every night. Thus, I work to carve out time each month just to be at
home. What do you do to relax? As my friends and co-workers know, I love to cook and bake, everything from an exotic ethnic dish that requires a specialty-market trip to a layer cake from scratch complete with homemade cream cheese frosting. In the age of mindfulness, it’s a sure-fire way for me to be fully present in the moment. Eggs, butter and especially sugar and water for a caramel sauce aren’t forgiving so they force me to pay attention. There are so many amazing food bloggers that I will never be able to make all the recipes I want. However, I delight when a new dish turns out better than expected, and I love to share with others. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Definitely a Gen X’er, based on my chronological age and outlook. I am old enough to remember life before the internet and started adulthood before social media. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Your popularity now, or more accurately lack thereof, will have no bearing on your value, worth and dignity as an adult.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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MARGARET BROOKS Age: 35
Employer: Brooks Construction Company Inc. Title: Project Superintendent Education: MBA, Indiana University; Bachelor’s, Duke University Community organizations with which you are involved: Fort Wayne Trails board member, Parkview Health board member, 100+ Women Who Care member, Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Other than years of teenage babysitting jobs, my first paycheck came from Brooks Construction. I worked in our quality control and assurance lab for a few summers, hauling buckets of stone and testing our materials. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I’ve been blessed with great mentors who provided me with guidance and opportunities throughout my career. My parents are by far my biggest and best supporters. My father taught me integrity, critical thinking, hard work, and the importance of giving back while my mother illustrated the importance of listening, connection, persistence, and patience. I had a great boss in DC who gave me room to grow and meaningful constructive criticism, while locally, I’ve had fantastic mentors (like Meg Distler and Dave Haist), and wonderful supporters (like Beth Regedanz and Wendy Page 6
Moyle). What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment was making the transition from my D.C., services-oriented job to a role in an infrastructure construction company in Fort Wayne. I had been a successful consultant in D.C., where I worked with Congress regularly and wore a suit most days of the week. Now, while I might wear jeans to work often, the pace is much faster and the results are much more tangible. The cultures of the two communities, industries and companies are vastly different, and it has been an amazing challenge translating what I experienced there into value here. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that it was the right decision to leave D.C. to come back to Fort Wayne. While living in D.C. had some great benefits, there’s nothing like working for a familyowned business. My colleagues here have been incredibly supportive and patient as I’ve developed my knowledge, and being close to family is worth more than any Smithsonian museum. What is your current professional goal? As part of the Brooks team, my aim is to grow and extend the successful trajectory of Brooks Construction over my lifetime. As a 107 year old company in a mature industry, it would be easy to become stale and complacent. We must strive to find innova-
tive ideas, technologies, and products and ask ourselves, “In a world where driverless cars and drones are commonplace, what type of infrastructure will we need to build?” How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I’m a big proponent of continual, lifetime learning. To stay relevant, I read a number of trade publications and attend trade shows as well as talk to experts and industry professionals. I also network with contacts in other industries, looking for new ideas and approaches that could be relevant to transform my company and industry. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? My life is in balance only with the inclusion of all three. Nothing is more important to me than my family, and I am fortunate to work in a company where my coworkers feel like an extension of family. And now being back in Fort Wayne – the culture here invigorates me. There’s such an energy and buzz around the community as we look to grow our historical strengths into a 21st century city. It’s hard to say no to opportunities to contribute. I love helping to grow our trails network and supporting the development of a healthy community. What do you do to relax? I love to travel. New experiences and places refresh me. When I’m in town, though, I relax by spending time with family and friends, reading, walking the trails, or enjoying a nice glass of wine. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I sit right on the line of Gen X and millennial, so both generations have influenced my attitudes, expectations and worldview. My elementary school classmates and I are among the last to remember classes before computers – but by the time we graduated from college, everyone had a cell phone. Because I straddle the line, I am often asked to act as the generational “translator” for many of the organizations with which I’m involved. While the gap between millennials and Gen X may not be as wide as the gap between millennials and baby boomers, it’s definitely does exist. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Listen to your mother. And buy Apple stock. Besides those two tips, I’d tell myself to seize more of the available opportunities. The best education can happen outside of a classroom, and I wish I had taken advantage of those chances more often.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
CONGRATS, ZEKE BRYANT
AND ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR JENNIFER FORD & COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER KELLI PACKNETT for
your 40 under 40 awards!
You are making a difference in northeast Indiana and changing lives every day. That’s one thing we know best at Ivy Tech Community College:
CHANGING LIVES. MAKING INDIANA GREAT. IvyTech.edu/northeast
(888) IVY-LINE
�rooks �onstruc�on �ompany� �nc. proudly salutes the ����� ����� �� award winners.
For over 100 years our company has prided itself on developing leadership skills and suppor�ng the communi�es in which we work. Traits that are encapsulated in this award.
It is a true honor to celebrate this year with Margaret Brooks, the great
granddaughter of our company founder. ���������������� ������
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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ZEKE BRYANT Age: 36
Employer: Ivy Tech Community College and Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Title: Manager of Media Services Education: Bachelor’s in Telecommunications with a concentration in Design and Production, Indiana University, Bloomington Community organizations with which you are involved: Member-Come As You are Community Church, Reader-REAL MEN READ of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Advisor-African American Male Initiative of Ivy Tech Northeast, Board MemberCinema Center. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first official was from Old Country Page 8
Buffet in Southtown Mall. My job was to replace the food when it was low, and cut the ham and beef. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My biggest support has come from believing in God, following Jesus and a loving wife that has always pushed me not to settle and pursue the opportunities ahead. Also, keeping in close contact with former employees, volunteers and friends that I have met along the way. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment in my career thus far is being a part of an
Emmy Award winning team in 2009 What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that whatever role you play on a team, it would not be successful without every piece. Large or small. What is your current professional goal? My professional goals are to continue to move up the ladder in media production. Own my own multimedia production company that trains people how to produce professionally How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I am constantly looking for the latest technology, trends and styles in multimedia production. I stay relevant by not doing what others are, but adding my own twist or create from scratch. Production is an art, so I try to remain as creative as possible. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Balancing career, family, life and community is always a juggling act. I try to leave work at work. When possible, I use my family to help me with work, so that time is spent as well. As a result, one of my sons is studying telecommunications. What do you do to relax? I love to watch TV and movies. I know it sounds cliché because it is what I do for a living, but I love every aspect of it. I also love to just spend time with my family. Doing small things like going out to eat, bowling and short trips Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I think I identify with Generation X because I was on the tail end of that group. Generation X is full of individuals that work well together and want to create something innovative and new. Millennials want it quick, fast and in a hurry. I do at times, but so much is missed when in a rush. In my opinion Millennials are very trendy. They want to be like the next, and when that fad is over they quickly move on. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would tell my high school self to focus harder on your grades. The path traveled will be much easier with a higher GPA and more challenging classes will put you in the driver’s seat to your educational success.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
ELLEN CUTTER Age:34
Employer: Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Title: Director, Community Research Institute Education: Loyola University Chicago, Bachelors in Psychology and Urban Studies and Georgia Tech, MCRP in City and Regional Planning) Community organizations with which you are involved: Williams Woodland Park Neighborhood Association, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, American Institute of Architects - Fort Wayne, Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I started working when I was 13, assembling and bagging 400 Sunday papers (at 10 cents each) for the Chicago Tribune every Saturday evening. During the summer, I sold newspapers to morning commuters at the train station from 4:30– 8:30 a.m. My love of newspapers, trains and early mornings holds true today. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? While at Loyola, I participated in a service-learning semester with its Center for Research and Learning. Studying with Director, Phil Nyden, spurred my interest in community development and urban planning. I took a gap year after undergrad, and I volunteered with AmeriCorps in rural Oregon serving as the special projects manager of a small port district. My former boss, Chuck Daughtry, continues to be a professional mentor who has provided valuable guidance as my career has advanced. Chuck challenged me to take on big projects, and provided support while also letting me pave my own path. During my nearly nine years in consulting at Market Street Services, co-workers like Dana King-Brewer (now the director of research for the Georgia Department of Economic Development) and clients like Jay Byers (CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership) helped me grow into areas like data management and corporate relations. As I’ve transitioned to Community Research Institute, I’ve been moved by the wholehearted support of community leaders, particularly my predecessor John Stafford, John Sampson with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership,
and John Urbahns with Greater Fort Wayne Inc. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Serving as the project manager for teams at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. that won $42 million in matching funds for our Regional Cities proposal, the “Road to One Million” plan. It’s incredibly exciting to think about what our region will look like when those projects come to fruition. What lessons did you learn from it? The single biggest factor that drives a community’s success is quality of its leaders. Our community leaders are world class. What is your current professional goal? I want to continue to connect community leaders with data that help them make informed planning and policy decisions. It’s a critical need, and it’s work that I love. Beyond that, I see myself continuing to be involved with planning and quality of place development. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I maintain my AICP professional certification in urban planning to stay current on best practices, laws, and trends. Periodically, I participate in some sort of “think piece” to get out of the day-to-day crunch of projects and challenge myself to think bigger and bolder. In the past, I’ve contributed to an exhibition at the Chicago History Museum related to high speed rail and co-authored a white paper (The Power of Place) on how the community attachment and happiness of residents in Fort Wayne can be impacted by downtown and neighborhood development. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? My husband, Weston, and daughters, Josephine, 3, and Virginia, 1, are the great joys of my life. I strive to achieve excellence at work, while also maintaining consistency at home. That means setting reasonable boundaries
that I respect first and foremost, because if I don’t respect them, those in my work life will not either. I unplug during a specific time in the evenings to have family dinner, play time, and put my kids to bed every night. My family relocated here five years ago. Having no extended family nearby to lend a helping hand when it’s particularly busy is beyond difficult. In this regard, I need to thank my incredible husband Weston, who is an unbelievable support. He is a writer and professor and the flexibility of his professional life brings balance to our family when it’s needed most. What do you do to relax? Jogging outside, crafting with my kids, playing Yahtzee or laughing with Weston as we bumble through a home improvement project. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Gen X – I’m too patient to be considered a millennial, and I can still remember when “research” meant card catalogs and encyclopedias. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t worry so much.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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JORDAN ESSMAN DEMOND Age: 26
Employer: RE/MAX Results Title: Broker Associate Education: Bachelor’s from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis with a concentration in Political Science Community organizations with which you are involved: • Founding member of the Young Professionals Network of Steuben County • Angola Redevelopment Commission – vice president - appointed by the mayor of the city of Angola in 2014 • Annual Cameron Hospital Ballinvolved since 2013 - served as general chairperson in 2015 • Junior Achievement volunteer instructor 2014 • Fund raiser since 2013 with United Way Golf Outing and Cameron Hospital Golf Outing • Angola High School Boys assistant golf coach- 2014 to present Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from my father, Bill Essman. I would do Page 10
light assembly of brass fittings in our basement for his manufacturing company. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My parents have supported me the whole way. I would have never been able to get into the real estate industry without their continued support. The same is true for my husband AJ. Real estate can take up a lot of time and energy and he is always there to help me through whatever I encounter. Next, I learned a lot about customer service and sales working in the golf business when I was in college. Working for Meridian Hills Country Club and Callaway Golf was very valuable and I use those skills every day. Finally, the training and support that my company, RE/MAX Results, provided launched my career very quickly. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I would say my biggest accomplishment has been all of the community
service projects I have been involved in. Building my business is all about meeting new people and my community has many great opportunities for service. This is important to me because I can grow my career while giving back to my community. What lessons did you learn from it? Getting out of the office and giving back to the community that you work in can be better for business than any ad that you could pay for. What is your current professional goal? To list 20 homes by Dec. 31. I have that written on a white board in my office. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I try my best to learn as much as I can from the people surrounding me who have been in the business for a long time, attending all the training sessions available and also put my own millennial spin on things with Facebook and other technologies. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is important to say no. Pick one community board or project to be involved with at a time. Set one day a week to the side for your day off to spend with family. It is important to maintain balance in life and then when you have to push hard at your career you’ll have the mental stamina. I have learned that you cant go 110 percent all the time, time off is important. What do you do to relax? I love binge watching Netflix with my husband and reading. I also long to travel and run 5ks with my close friends. We travel to Chicago for 5ks at least once a month it seems. It has been a great way to keep in touch with friends and have a relaxing weekend away from the office. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I am a millennial for sure. I grew up with technology, the line outside my door at the office to help with cell phones and computers proves this fact. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Appreciate everyone you meet along the way and learn all you can from them. Don’t miss any opportunities to be with the people you love and enjoy every new experience that comes your way.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
DAVID FAUST Age: 37
Employer: Self Title: CEO/Owner, Precision Wire Technologies; President, Ro12 Enterprises Education: Bachelors in Business Management, Purdue Community organizations with which you are involved: Habitat for Humanity, VisionTech, The Chapel, Rescue Mission Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? After college, my first real paycheck was from Alside, Inc. I was an inside salesman for a small distribution center of theirs in Indianapolis. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? Lots of support from my family. My wife is a huge inspiration and supporter of mine. Her confidence in me is a major reason why I’m here. My father is an esteemed figure in the lean manufacturing world. He’s been a huge help through his teaching and guidance. There are several other professional relationships I’ve developed as well that contributed to my advancement but none more so than the Estes family, who runs Estes Design and Manufacturing in Indianapolis. They have long been clients and friends of mine and gave me the stepping stone to venture out on my own to begin with. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Professionally, the obvious one would be owning my own business at 37. However, I say it came from the impact I had on one particular company I worked with as a consultant. Through a major, breakthrough cultural shift achieved the turnover at this company went from 35 percent to less than 2 percent and they’re regularly considered for “Best Places to Work” honors. It’s the impact on those lives that means the most. What lessons did you learn from it? God has blessed me with a skill set that I can use professionally to make a difference in people’s lives. Through that experience, I realized the impact I could have and it shifted my focus and drive from making a paycheck to making a difference. What is your current professional goal? I’d like to grow my current business pretty aggressively over the next two to three years which would allow us to add more jobs to the community. Bigger picture, I’d like to have three to five
more businesses in the area to grow and manage. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Lots of networking and reading. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Setting your priorities in the proper order and being purposeful about them is the first step. God, wife and my children take precedence over everything else. I have made it a point over the past six to seven years to develop a professional career that will allow me to keep my priorities in line. What do you do to relax? Golf and exercise along with the occasional date with my wife are the best. I also enjoy coaching my kids in the many sports they participate in.
Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I don’t identify with either honestly and don’t pay much attention to what defines one generation over another. I have seen great people who are 60 and great people who are 20. I don’t want to be defined by what generation I’m associated with, but what I’ve accomplished and the difference I’ve made. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t do anything differently. Whatever good and bad experiences were faced along the way, God provided you a beautiful wife, 4 wonderful kids, and a successful career. You learned something from every experience you had, so if anything take a little more time to reflect and make yourself better.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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JENNIFER FORD Age: 37
Employer: Jennifer Ford Art/Choice Designs Inc. Title: President Education: PhD Candidate Community organizations with which you are involved: Own Your Own Success, Tapestry, Erin’s House, Go Red For Women, Dress For Success, Women’s Mentoring Network. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from an art gallery called Stefan Stux in New York City. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My parents were always there to listen to my crazy plans. Starting a career in art might make any parent nervous but they were always encouraging. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Working with Christie’s in New York as their Symposium Director for their Educational Programming was a Page 12
wonderful experience. I was able to compose a panel of experts that contributed to the broader topic of Globalization in the Art World. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that connecting diverse individuals in the field of art and economics leads to enriching conversations for the greater art community. What is your current professional goal? I would like to create a space in Fort Wayne that facilitates conversations between musicians, writers, artists, dancers, and the general public. I hope to challenge and educate a new generation of art lovers to support local talent. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I write and research on a daily basis. I look to multiple sources for inspiration and try to take lessons from various professions. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I don’t think that I do this very well.
As a mother and wife I feel guilty when I am at work because I would love to be at home, but when I am at home I feel as though I should be at work. One thing that has helped us all feel more balanced is having a set electronic disconnect time every night. What do you do to relax? I travel to relax. Even if they are short trips to Indy, Chicago or Detroit, it is nice to get refreshed and inspired in a different place. I love bringing creative ideas back with me. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I think I identify more with the millennials. I see the value in developing a local economy through creative entrepreneurship. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? All of your experiences, both the good and the bad, will prepare you for a fulfilling career. Stay focused on helping other people and remain positive.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
MARIETTA FRYE Age: 39
Employer: Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne Title: Director of Advising for the College of Arts and Sciences, IPFW Education: • Master’s in English, Language and Linguistics; Indiana University, Fort Wayne • Bachelor’s in English; Indiana University, Fort Wayne • Teaching English as a New Language Certificate; Indiana University, Fort Wayne • Bachelor’s in Business, Marketing and Management; Higher School of Business, Tarnow, Poland Community organizations with which you are involved: Fort Wayne Sister Cities International Inc. - I serve as chair for Plock, Poland, committee. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I held a variety of jobs in Poland before I came to the United States in 2001, but my first paycheck in the United States came from a job as a “sandwich artist” in the Subway restaurant in the basement of Kettler Hall at IPFW. As an international student, I was only allowed to work on campus for a limited number of hours per week. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? When I came to the United States, I was alone and barely had anything. My mother was only able to send me off with just a single suitcase. I didn’t come with family, and I hardly knew anyone here. Jane Ehle was the first person I met (after my host family), and she quickly became a guiding influence and a huge support professionally and personally. She was my academic adviser during my first years at IPFW and became a mentor as I progressed from sandwich artist to academic tutor, to the English as a Second Language academic adviser – her old position — all the way to my current position as the director of advising for the College of Arts and Sciences. There have also been many other IPFW professionals, faculty and staff alike, who have had a profound impact on my professional life by supporting me along the way. From professors in the classroom to campus administrators and supervisors, I have felt strong support of my professional development. I would be remiss not to mention the support of a man I met all those years ago working at Subway — he became my best friend, science tutor and then my husband when we married in 2006.
Bob remains an unconditional support, a wonderful father, and the love of my life. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I have awards on my wall and a title behind my name, but I don’t count those as my biggest accomplishments. My biggest accomplishments are when I see the students I’ve worked with come back to share their accomplishments with me. It’s my honor to work with students to educate, inspire, and encourage them to believe in themselves and the power they have to change their lives and the world through education and determination. What lessons did you learn from it? Believe in education, and believe in yourself. The road to success isn’t an easy one, but through perseverance and prayer — with a lot of hard work — you can reach your goals. It won’t be easy, and you may want to give up along the way because it’s hard or you feel you won’t make it, but have faith and believe in your dreams. What is your current professional goal? My current professional goal is to continue working in an educational setting where my day-to-day job makes an impact on the world around me — be it through the students I work with at IPFW, the globally-minded professionals of the Fort Wayne Sister Cities International Organization, or a melding of the two into a mutually-beneficial partnership. I am honored to work with professionals like Eric Link, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dorothy Kittaka, the president of the Fort Wayne Sister Cities International Organization, who allow me to follow my professional goals to the betterment of those around me. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I remain current in my position through reading and research, attending and presenting at conferences, traveling internationally and networking with my fellow professionals. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? One word: in-laws. I am blessed to have a very supportive family that includes two retired parents-in-law and a sister-in-law that all live close to our home and are willing and able to help out — even at short notice and at odd hours. What do you do to relax? I love jigsaw puzzles, goofing around with my kids—and I actually love to iron. It’s calming, and gives me a chance to think things out and clear my head while being productive. I’ll also catch an episode or two
of The Big Bang Theory with the family. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I don’t identify with either. As my husband would say, I’m different. I grew up under communism in Poland where the culture is quite different from what my generation experienced in the United States. It shaped me in very unique ways that set me apart from my current peers. For example, I didn’t grow up with technology. I was 25 before I really interacted with the Internet and computers — my undergraduate thesis was handwritten, given to the university to be typed, and then returned to me for edits. I share more similarities with the generation that grew up during the depression: I’m very aware of food and water waste, I make more foods from scratch than from boxes or mixes, and I spend time mending tears and holes in my family’s clothing. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Listen to your father, but follow your heart. I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps, become a psychologist, and “solve the world’s problems” by working with those suffering from addiction, but my father knew my heart was too soft to see the destruction, and I was naïve to believe I could “fix” the issues. He knew me best and steered me to a path more suited to my personality — which ultimately led me to a different kind of counseling, something where I can share in more joys than sorrows.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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ALISON GERARDOT Age: 34
Employer: Riverfront Fort Wayne/City of Fort Wayne Title: Director of Programming and Events Education: Bachelors in English from Indiana University, Fort Wayne; Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from Taylor University Community organizations with which you are involved: dAnce.Kontemporary and Wunderkammer Company Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My very first paycheck came from Limited Too at Glenbrook Mall, retail. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have had key people placed in my life to help me advance in my career – people who believed in me and saw what I was capable of, when I wasn’t even sure I was capable of such things. When you have a spouse and mentors/peers who let you lean on them and who see your potential and push you to be a better person both personally and professionally hold on tight to them. Page 14
that no matter who you are, if you work hard for something you believe in and are passionate about, you can make anything happen. This community is so accessible. What I have been able to accomplish in Fort Wayne in a relatively short period of time, would’ve been nearly impossible in larger cities. Everyone has opportunity in Fort Wayne. What is your current professional goal? My current professional goal is to put Fort Wayne on the map on a national level through events and programs on our Riverfront and beyond. We are cool. It’s time we start believing it. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I’ve learned to not operate in a bubble. The world is a huge place with lots of people and amazing ideas in it. Study and embrace what others are doing. Never stop learning and asking questions. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? First, I have an amazing support system in my husband. Second, I’ve learned that I will never have it “all figured out.” Career and family and community and passions are not static things. “Balance” is an ever-evolving part of life that always needs attention. What is your biggest accomplishment However, I know it’s important to be thus far in your career? present in each thing that I’m doing, The biggest accomplishment in my especially being around my spouse and career thus far and what I am most children. proud of is the conception and creation What do you do to relax? of the Parkview Healing Arts program To relax I like to vegetate to mindless with my good friend Heather Schoegler. television or peruse Pinterest. The Parkview Healing Arts program, in Do you identify with Gen X or as a collaboration with the Fort Wayne Dance millennial? Why? Collective, integrates literary, movement, As someone smack dab in between music and visual arts into patient being a Gen Xer and a millennial there care, healthcare facility design and are qualities that I identify in both. Either aesthetics, the care of caregivers and the way – I don’t like to be labeled. I don’t community. It’s an extraordinary program want to be included in something just doing extraordinary things for some of the because I’m a “young person.” I want to most vulnerable people in our community. be included in something because I, as I’m also extremely proud of having myself, work hard, and can contribute started a professional dance company, something of value. dAnce.Kontemporary, with my co-director What would you tell your high school and best friend, Kara Wilson. Although it’s self based on what you know now? not directly related to my current daytime I would tell my high school self that profession, it’s a huge accomplishment to life begins after high school. To be open be able to have a 4-year-old, successful, to new experiences. To listen to your professional company, create works on inner voice and not let fear dictate your brilliantly talented dancers and have them choices. Be uncomfortable. Be terrified perform in our community and beyond. at times. Continue to do what makes you What lessons did you learn from it? happy regardless of money because From both experiences, I’ve learned others will see that in your work. And to that what makes Fort Wayne so great is not hate math so much.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
RYAN GIESE Age: 23
Employer: Imagine Real Estate Title: Associate Broker Education: Graduating college in spring 2016 semester Community organizations with which you are involved: New Haven Chamber of Commerce, City of New Haven Zoning and Planning Commission Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from Do it Best Corp. I would assemble patio furniture for their Outdoor Living catalog. I would then help take the furniture to photo shoots, and help with the setups and tear-downs. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My biggest support was from my family and mentors. These people never give up on me, and encourage me. They are big thinkers as am I, so they understand that the sky is truly the limit. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Selling my first house. What lessons did you learn from it? The biggest lesson I learned was that persistence is key, and never give up. There are some days where things work out and others that don’t. If you give up on a day where things don’t work out, then you’ll never see another day where they do work out. What is your current professional goal? Aside from continuing to grow myself in my real estate career, getting started in politics here in Indiana. I have also begun writing, and would love to contribute to the film industry in some creative capacity. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Networking and maintaining relationships that I have established without a doubt plays the biggest part. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Time management is the major key to that, along with knowing when you are over committed. What do you do to relax? My absolute favorite thing to do is going on vacation, or spending time with friends. Lounging around with good, company and joking is the greatest thing in the world to me and relieves more stress then anything else in life.
Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I identify with neither. I like to think of myself as a unique individual, and hate being placed in a category.
What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would tell myself that following my gut feeling serves me best, and if I begin to doubt myself go with my gut feeling and pursue that.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
DAMIAN “DOM” B. GOSHEF Age: 37
Employer: Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Title: Attorney Education: Bachelor’s from Indiana University, Bloomington; University of Toledo College of Law, J.D. Community organizations with which you are involved: I am currently involved with the Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana and the Development Committee of the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from my family’s restaurant for bussing tables and washing dishes. One of my favorite stories is when my grandfather told me and my brother that he would give us a nickel for every plate we bussed during the lunch rush. We each counted how many plates the other had collected midway through and became overly concerned about who had more. The obvious solution was to collect more plates, including plates from customers who were not yet finished eating. My poor grandfather gave away quite a few free lunches that day because of us. I don’t think we got any nickels. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? First and foremost, my family has given me immeasurable support. My mother and father sacrificed much to ensure my brother and I had an opportunity to choose our path, and my wife Jenny has been a wonderful partner every step of the way. Additionally, I am fortunate that several people at Faegre Baker Daniels took an interest in me and my career. Those relationships have been crucial to my development as a lawyer. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I am proud of the relationships I have built with my clients and colleagues. My practice area is estate and business succession planning. This practice area is unique because the legal issues range from complex tax and property law matters to issues such as who will make end of life decisions or care for children. I am also proud of my pro bono work, which is focused on immigration and guardianships. There are few happier moments than when a person obtains a favorable immigration determination (such as becoming a U.S. citizen) or someone is appointed guardian of a
loved one. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that being empathetic and a good listener are invaluable legal skills, and that each client requires an individualized solution. What is your current professional goal? I hope to continue to refine my estate planning knowledge and grow my regional practice. I also look forward to broadening my pro bono practice. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I attend continuing legal education seminars, subscribe to estate and business planning legal update services, and present on legal topics to estate planning professionals.
How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Balancing is difficult and requires constant adjustment. I am lucky to have terrific family support and a career that allows me to be flexible with my time. I often work atypical hours so I can go to my children’s activities, but I find a way to get it done. What do you do to relax? My favorite thing to do is spend time with my wife and children. I also enjoy reading, kayaking, baseball and golf. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I am not good at defining myself. I suspect I have characteristics of both. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? The winning lottery numbers to last month’s Powerball.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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ADAM HAMID Age: 37
Employer: Raytheon (Space and Airborne Systems) Title: Senior Engineer Education: Master’s of Science Community organizations with which you are involved: Burmese American Science and Engineering Society, Burmese Advocacy Center, Burmese Muslim Education and Page 18
Community Center Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from working as retail at a kiosk in one of the malls in southern California. Back then, it was huge and full of excitements as first really job. The job is selling gift items and providing person-
alized computerizing embroidery services. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I had received support and courage from special individuals and my family members; especially from my cousin who helped me getting into a small engineering firm as a drafter where I have very little experience. It changes everything the way I see and becoming big dream chaser. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I believe accomplishment is stepping step to no-limit. My very first step was breaking first generation immigrant barrier. Last couple of steps were being an engineer in cutting edge defense industry; lastly, not the least, being part of establishing Burmese community center building project right here in Fort Wayne. What lessons did you learn from it? Work smart (when resources are limited, work harder and expend outreach), be honest yourself, be focus, believing in yourself and failure is part of the success. What is your current professional goal? I would like to finish up the doctorate program and becoming a fellow engineer/innovator and entrepreneur. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Being a professional is committing for life-long studying especially in rapid revolving industry. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I balance in slotting, in engineering term, time-multiplexing: concentrate and enjoy the present time not thinking or feeling about future or past. What do you do to relax? I do test cooking, building stuff and biking. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I would identify as a millennial because of first generation immigrant and dream chaser. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would say the sky has no limit; you all can get what you want in life.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
BRENT HARRING
Age: 32
Employer: Fort Wayne TinCaps Title: Assistant Director of Group Sales Education: Bachelors in Sport Management from the University of Wisconsin Community organizations with which you are involved: Co-chair for the Fort4Fitness Fall Festival and on the Fort4Fitness board, Committee member for the River City Rat Race, Committee member for the inaugural Cupid’s Chocolate Chase 5K. I also am in my first year working part-time at the scorer’s table for IPFW basketball and volleyball games Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Back in high school and early college, I worked for a company called RGIS Inventory Specialists. I would go into retail businesses and count their merchandise with an inventory machine so they knew all of the product they had in stock. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I learned from an early stage in my career that the best professional asset one can have is people to learn from. I’ve been very fortunate at every step – from my first internship until now – to have always worked with tremendously knowledgeable and talented people. It starts with my parents. They have always set a tremendous example for me in terms of support and work ethic for as long as I can remember. This can be an interesting career path to choose, but they have always encouraged me to “be me” and do what makes me happy. I completed two internships in baseball before moving to Fort Wayne. Jeanette Roskom with the La Crosse Loggers and Dave Chase and Don Rovak with the Memphis Redbirds were three people in particular that took an interest in me to help me get started in my career. Dave encouraged me to move to Fort Wayne when we both thought this would be the best place for me. There is also no shortage of people here in Fort Wayne from Mike Nutter on down. I come to work each and every day with a staff of knowledgeable, hard-working individuals with a combined 100-plus years of experience that challenge my abilities and make me a better employee. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I moved to Fort Wayne and began
working for the then Fort Wayne Wizards six weeks before we broke ground on Parkview Field. I have always taken a tremendous amount of pride in the facility and all of the work that went into opening it in 2009 and the work that goes into maintaining it and keeping everything looking great! Seven affiliated Minor League Baseball teams opened new ballparks in either 2009 or 2010. Of those seven, Parkview Field was the only one that drew more people in year five than year one. That is something I will always take pride in. What lessons did you learn from it? Too many to count. On the sales side, I really learned it was much less about selling and more about listening and building relationships. We have so many unique areas at Parkview Field, I wanted to pitch everything to everyone! Once I settled in and listened to the needs of clients, I became a much better salesperson and employee. What is your current professional goal? Sales can be a selfish profession. I was as guilty as anyone of that line of thinking. Over the last year or so, I feel as if I have done a much better job of seeing the big picture and embracing more of a leadership role in celebrating success of others through a “whole is greater than the sum of the parts” attitude. I look forward to using my experience to help other young people starting out in this industry grow and have fulfilling careers of their own. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I am blessed to work with many talented, forward-thinking individuals. We constantly challenge ourselves to achieve new heights, keep things fresh, and adjust to whatever is changing in the outside world. Complacent is a word you will never here in our office. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? That is difficult and challenging, particularly with our crazy schedule six months out of the year. I like to set goals outside of work just like you would inside. I have five awesome nephews that live six hours away that I love spending time with. I make an effort to see them all five times a year. With community involvement, you have to get involved with things you are passionate about. I love Fort4Fitness, their mission, what they stand for and again the great people I get to work
with to put on that wonderfully rewarding event each year. What do you do to relax? I like to stay active. I enjoy running, and have the ultimate goal of running the New York Marathon one day if I get accepted. I play rec volleyball a few nights a week with some great friends. I also am a sports junkie. I enjoy following my Packers, Badgers, Brewers and Bucks. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I would definitely say Gen X, because I did not own a cell phone until I was a senior in college, I don’t have Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram (I don’t take pictures, I make memories) and have always lived by the “an honest day’s work should earn you an honest day’s wage” type of philosophy that typically identifies with Gen X individuals. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? It took me a while to find my niche as it relates to community involvement after I began my career. Follow your passion. Become involved with organizations, people, and causes that you care about. If you do that, you will be happy with how everything works out.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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SHEENAH ASHLEY JOHNSON Age: 32
Employer: SheeKriPhil Inc. dba SheeKriStyle Academy of Dance Arts/ Jam N’ Learn Early Learning Center Title: Director/ Lead Choreographer Education: 2001 graduate from Snider High School, Bachelor’s in General Studies with dance minor from IPFW, Zumba & Flirty Girl Fitness Certification, RadKids Defense Training Community organizations with which you are involved: Iota Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., IPFW Upward Bound, The Carriage House “Dancing with the Stars” Annual Fundraiser, Girl Scouts’ “Believe in Yourself” and “Walk the Runway” Page 20
programs for young girls, The Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, Arts United Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Target in Maplewood Plaza, cashier. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? A positive, never ending support system set by example from my parents, Ernest and Barb. I was encouraged to get as much education as possible. My mother, a business major/entrepreneur with a performing arts minor along with other life mentors (teachers, counselors, pastor) helped me to discover my innate
talents and decision-making skills. This support system taught me the value of gender equity and cultural diversity but allowed me room to discover who I was on my own. Thank you support system. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? From a business perspective, becoming a business owner at age 15, sustaining a functioning performing arts (dance) academy of 200-plus students entering its 16th year of existence which earned the Governor’s Award for Business Entrepreneurship in 2007. From a performing arts perspective, making the NBA Pacemates Cheerleading Squad for the Indiana Pacers organization. What an experience. What lessons did you learn from it? How to keep the faith when times get tough and to believe in myself. It takes a lot of sacrifice, commitment, perseverance and courage to run a business or any occupation that impacts your entire future. What is your current professional goal? To enter nursing school in the area of hematology to help care for sickle cell patients (my son Dinari) and help find a cure for sickle cell anemia, the unknown disease. Hopefully I can be instrumental in easing some of the distrust sickle cell patients have in healthcare professionals. We must find a cure. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Through social media, face-to-face networking and continued professional development. Make relevance a “priority.” How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Through lots of prayer and love from family and community. What do you do to relax? Absolutely nothing, I don’t know how to relax. When I get the time, I enjoy hanging out with my son, Dinari, and watching whatever he decides to watch on Netflix. We call it our “pizza picnic date” and enjoy each others’ company. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Millennial because I am poised to help the economy. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? To not rush things, enjoy the time you have to make a difference in society by getting a good education.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
5740 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
www.sheekristyle.com
Congratulations Sheenah on being named a winner of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s 40 Under 40 Award. Your hard work and dedication has made a profound impact on your community and the lives you touch everyday. We are so proud of your accomplishments!
Who I Am…
I am a Mother I am a Cheerleader I am a Community Activist I am a Dancer I am a Coach I am an Entrepreneur
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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SUSIE KAISER Age: 38
Employer: Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana Title: Director In-School Education Programs Education: Bachelor’s in Communications with an Advertising concentration and minors in Business and Art & Design Community organizations with which you are involved: The last few years I have been part of the Fort Wayne Active 20-30 Club which has allowed me to work with students from the Euell Wilson Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club and Camp Watcha Wanna Do. I also volunteer with events at a couple area churches. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Premier Inc. Realtors: I was a bookkeeper and scheduled home showing appointments. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? The support of my husband, family and friends has been tremendous. They have Page 22
allowed me to dedicate the extra hours to achieve the outcomes needed, and have been my cheerleaders when the goals were achieved. The JA president, Lena Yarian, has also provided me support by providing me new opportunities to manage events and projects, allowing me to learn new skills and challenged my abilities. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I have gained the trust of my team, Board Members, educators, and volunteers; and have fostered the same high quality of customer service and reliability in my in-school program team. Over the course of the past 13 years, we have used these relationships to grow the JA In-School programs to approximately 1,900 classes in Allen County. What lessons did you learn from it? I have learned to let people know that I care, to be honest and sincere, and keep my word. What is your current professional goal? To continue to enjoy working alongside
people that allow me to be myself, challenge my abilities, inspire me to be my best, and that I can call friends. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Working at one of the top Junior Achievement offices in the nation, I have had the opportunity to assist in new program development, technology testing, and serve on national committees. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Incredible support from my husband and family, having a flexible work environment and being surrounded by wonderful friends and coworkers. What do you do to relax? I spend time with my family and friends, and enjoy time at our family cottage on Crooked Lake. What would you tell your high school self, based on what you know now? There are much better things ahead. Take a breath, enjoy the time you have with people and be yourself.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
MICHELLE KEARNS Age: 38
Employer: Physicians Health Plan Title: Marketing Communications Director Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism, Ball State University Community organizations with which you are involved: Junior League of Fort Wayne, president; Headwaters Counseling, board of directors; Fort Wayne Community Schools Foundation, board of directors; Indiana Bicentennial Allen County Task Force; On My Way to Pre-K Allen County Task Force. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? The local grocery store in Pierceton, where I grew up. I worked in several areas of the store including the meat department, produce department, deli and cashier. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My first job after college was in the administrative office of a hospital where I had daily interaction with the president, CFO, COO and senior management. Exposure to this high level, strategic planning and thought process was valuable experience to a new college graduate and provided training in communicating with all levels through an organization. I’ve also been fortunate to have supportive supervisors throughout my career, encouraging personal growth and development. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment is making a commitment to being involved in the community and taking a leadership role in those activities. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that volunteering my time with other organizations benefits both parties. Not only does the non-profit organization benefit from my skills, knowledge and time, but professionally, I also receive the advantage of networking and furthering brand awareness for my company, and learning more about the great organizations, activities, and individuals in our community. What is your current professional goal? With the rest of the leadership team at PHP, my current goal is to move PHP through this period of enormous change in the insurance industry with products and services that are relevant and prime for growth.
How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? By staying up-to-date with industry news and trends, making time for leadership and development activities, and continued interaction and networking in the community. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? One day at a time. I do feel overwhelmed at times and have to remind myself to step back and look at what has to be done today, and focus only on those tasks. That, along with a fabulous
husband and wonderful parents who help me be in three places at once! What do you do to relax? I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family and friends. My kids are pretty active and we log quite a few hours at swim meets, basketball games, and dance competitions. But what I find most relaxing is sitting on a boat, watching the sunset over the lake. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t be in a hurry, enjoy each stage of life as it comes.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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MICHELLE K E A RN S FORTY UNDER 40
WINNER
PHP congratulates you for making a difference in our company and our community. Your positive contributions have made PHP and northeast indiana a better place to live and work.
THANK YOU! P HYS I C I AN S
H EALT H P LA N T H E
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I N S U R A N C E
Y O UR
HEALTH
DE SERVES
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
KARA KELLEY Age: 38
Employer: Asher Agency Title: Senior Vice President Education: University of Dayton, Bishop Luers High School Community organizations with which you are involved: • Big Brothers, Big Sisters • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society • Le Tour de Fort Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Sycamore Hills Swim and Racquet Club. I was a lifeguard and swim instructor throughout high school. During college summers, I continued to life guard and teach swim lessons at a children’s camp in northern California. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My first professional job was at a boutique public relations firm in the San Francisco Bay area. Being such a small firm, the president of the agency had me involved in every aspect of the business. I was privy to seeing firsthand how she managed the agency’s budget, pursued new business leads and garnered additional PR activity from existing clients. She also involved me in the interviewing process for new hires. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I’ve been a key contributor in growing our Subway Restaurants account from 13 markets to 62 markets, making it our agency’s largest client. When I started with Asher, we had a team of five and we now have a team of 18 that manages daily activities for more than 5,700 restaurants nationwide. What lessons did you learn from it? The key to any successful business is the good people that you hire. It’s important to nurture their professional growth, keep them challenged and establish a mutual respect and trust. What is your current professional goal? I’m very proud of the work our agency does and the stellar people that make it happen. My goal is to actively contribute to the continued growth of our business. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? The marketing field is changing at a rapid pace with the constantly evolving consumption of media and the continued growth of digital marketing. I strive to remain current by regularly reading up on the latest advertising trends. In addition,
with our Subway clients, I also stay in-tune to the competitive QSR marketplace and the latest food trends. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? The work-life balance can be a challenge, so I make it a priority to carve out time for each. Family always comes first! What do you do to relax? Spend time with my husband, family and friends. I love to travel, go to concerts and enjoy a sunny afternoon on Pretty Lake. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Actually, I relate to both the Gen X and the millennial profile, but more-so with millennials. This could be in-part because
they’re a target audience for our clients, so I’m regularly studying the latest trends on this demo, but it may also be because many of my colleagues and friends are millennials. A few traits that I share with this demo is that my smart phone is rarely more than an arms-length away, I prefer buying local and I believe in individualism — being proud of who you are. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? It’s not much different than what I would tell myself today; always treat others as you would like to be treated. Be kind and respectful to everyone because you never know when your paths may cross again. You learn more by listening than by talking.
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An exciting year begins with exciting news... Vintage Archonics purchases Industrial Design Group Lucas Konger, R.A., AIA – President Building Design + Construction Magazine 40 Under 40 & Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Forty Under 40 Our new web site at www.vintagearchonics.com designing your vision
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
LUCAS KONGER Age: 33
Employer: Vintage Archonics Inc. Title: President Education: Bachelor’s of Architecture, University of Kentucky Community organizations with which you are involved: Parkview Whitley Foundation, Churubusco Main Street Committee, Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Chapter, Local County 4-H Programs. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Pine Tree Farm Thoroughbreds, My brother and I worked there when we were early teenagers. Our parents would drop us off on their way to work and pick us up on the way home. We were general farm labor and maintenance which basically equaled long days with a weed eater in hand. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My parents and family provided the most important support I have ever received well before I chose a career path. Instilling the values of hard work, determination, respect and honesty have done more for me in my professional life than anything else. Two others standout, Marv Bok & Todd Wambach took a chance on me and gave me a great opportunity at Vintage Archonics as an intern. That experience lead to what has now been almost 15 years with the organization. Marv has placed an immense amount of trust in me over the years and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I’m not sure I have one “biggest” accomplishment, 15 years of accumulated knowledge, failure and practice has offered up the opportunity to become President of our organization. Leading a company that has roots going back to 1927 is both humbling and challenging, it sets a precedent to leave behind a legacy for the next generation of staff to fulfill. What lessons did you learn from it? Never allow the fear of failure to be an excuse not to try. Nothing holds an individual or an organization back more than fear. That’s not to say we want to take adverse risk, but we always need to be pushing for what’s next in our development. Willingness to jump in and grab a hold of something unfamiliar or challenging often opens up our ability to succeed.
What is your current professional goal? Personally my next goal is complete my certification with the American College of Healthcare Architects. As a company we want to continue to grow. We recently have acquired a new market arm to our organization and our staff continues to expand bringing with it new challenges. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Get involved. There is a wealth of knowledge out there to be obtained from others, either in your field or in a related field. As a member of the AIA/ AAH (American Institute of Architects, Academy of Architecture for Health) Codes and Standards Committee I’m helping to improve the next set of guidelines that are going to shape healthcare design across the globe. This organization also exposes me to individuals that these guidelines will affect outside of the “design” community; facilities managers, health practitioners and code enforcement officials that have alternate perspectives. Local and regional organizations like the Builders
and Contractors Association are also great places to acquire additional skills and to network with local professionals. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Do more, sleep less - at least that’s how it feels sometimes. I think the balance is how you transition from one to the other. When I’m at home with my family I try to leave work at work and focus on them. I also think community involvement and volunteering for things you enjoy adds to that balance. I love the work we do with our community 4-H programs, it’s something we enjoy, and something we can do as a family. What do you do to relax? Spending time in the outdoors; hunting, fishing, riding horses or just working around our farm. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Gen X. I think with Gen X there was an entrepreneurial spirit that I tend to gravitate towards. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? The journey is the best part, enjoy it.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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RYNE KROCK Age: 24
Employer: LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation Title: President & Chief Executive Officer Education: University of Toledo, Political Science Community organizations with which you are involved: • United Fund of LaGrange County, board member • LaGrange County Community Foundation, board member • Junior Achievement, LaGrange County, board member & classroom mentor • Elevate Ventures, regional advisory board member • LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce • Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership LEDO Council, member • Launch LaGrange County, organizer & mentor Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first job was as a “cart boy” or maintenance employee at Heron Creek Golf Club in LaGrange. Better than the paycheck, we received free/discounted rounds of play as employees; unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage much and am still a terrible golfer. Page 28
What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have been blessed with tremendous support throughout my young career. First, I have had a few individuals in particular that took a risk in hiring me, likely against their conventional wisdom. Second, I have had more strong mentors and role models in a five year span than I could have asked for in a lifetime. These things coupled with a supportive family have meant all the difference for me. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? It’s difficult to point to one particular project or accomplishment. I would say that the one thing I am most proud of is working to bring community, educational, government and private-sector business partners together in LaGrange County to tackle some very tough issues. The creation of Launch LaGrange County is one example, among many, that has been born from this strong collaboration. What lessons did you learn from it? Anything can be done much faster and with a much higher degree of success when committed, like-minded individuals and organizations come together to act in sync. It’s extremely difficult to break down “silos” in a community, but the
results make it well worth it. What is your current professional goal? I plan to complete my final course at the University of Toledo and then become a certified economic developer. I want to continue work to make LaGrange County and northeast Indiana a great place to live, work, and raise a family. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I’m a news junkie, avid reader and frequent traveler; each of these lends itself well to staying current on economic and community development trends and best practices. I also always take the time to talk to people from diverse backgrounds, whether in northeast Indiana or elsewhere, to get their perspective on how a community can be improved and better opportunities can be created. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Fortunately, at this point I don’t find this to be a challenge. My career allows me to work with community organizations on a daily basis. Unmarried and without children, I can focus more on my career now, knowing that I am supported by my family and friends. What do you do to relax? I enjoy spending time outdoors. In the summer, I spend as much time as possible on the lake with family and friends. In the winter, I spend much more time reading a good biography or binge-watching Netflix. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I definitely consider myself a millennial. My management style and the workplace environment in our office is flexible, innovative and non-traditional. Like many other millennials, I have a strong desire to challenge the “status quo” when appropriate and to find alternative methods for solving the problems facing our community. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? “Take a leap. Just jump, and figure out how to swim when you hit the water.” I remember agonizing over where to attend school, what to study, etc. Things have a beautiful way or working themselves out if you just jump in and take a chance. Developing that philosophy has made a world of difference to me at this point in my life.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
RYAN KRUECKEBERG Age: 33
Employer: Lincoln Financial Group Title: Senior Business Analyst Education: Information Systems bachelor’s, Indiana Tech Community organizations with which you are involved: • Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, vice president • Cinema Center, Hobnobben Film Festival, co-chair • Arts United, quality of life committee member • Fort Wayne Dance Collective, marketing committee • GFW Inc., Leadership Fort Wayne, class of 2016 Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first job was at West End Restaurant in Decatur. I worked there for many years, my first job as kitchen staff. I’ve seen more than my fair share of fried fish. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? The support of friends who in times of high stress know best how to help me blow off steam and the support of the company I work for whom not only truly cares about career progression, but also allows me many opportunities to support my community. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I would say taking the dive into community involvement. I was at a point in my life where I needed something more and I found that in YLNI, the arts, and the Fort Wayne community. Not only has the experience grown me professionally and personally, but it has also cultivated in me an attachment to my community. What lessons did you learn from it? That no matter how much you think you know, there is always more to learn. I learned so much about how things work in this city and region when I started getting involved. It’s easy to ignore the things that go on behind the scene and pretend things just happen. What is your current professional goal? To continue to support my community through community involvement, talent attraction and retention, and supporting a growing arts community. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Coming from an IT background, staying relevant is a constant task. Technology changes faster than most companies can
adopt it. Data Analytics is deeply seated in technology so the constant drive to learn has to be there. Honestly, podcasts have been my saving grace on staying up to date on technology and data trends, although I have to admit I’ve fallen a bit behind lately. Just don’t tell my employer. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I would probably say I’m a little top-heavy on the career and community involvement portions and as a bachelor I’m okay with that. However, I do play as hard as I work so I find plenty of time to socialize with people that I love. What do you do to relax? Read, mostly. I’m a huge science fiction and horror nerd with some actual nonfiction science mixed in. I’m usually reading two to three books at any given time. Anything from HP Lovecraft to
Richard Dawkins. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I would say millennial, but honestly, until recently, I didn’t know I actually was a millennial. However, I find myself constantly defending some of the stereotypes that come with that and I will use this question to give my two cents. The millennials I know are some of the most passionate and dedicated people I’ve ever met and I look forward to seeing what our generation can do, not only in this city and region, but as a country, to move forward. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t be afraid to be who you are. People who judge you because of it aren’t worth your time.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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Multi-Media Sales Executive KPC Media Group is a multi-media local news organization and a leader in delivering award winning content to our market and marketing solutions to businesses. Our company is looking for true sales executives to continue to evolve, grow and deliver custom solutions to our business clients. We have a broad suite of products and services designed to meet the needs of our clients in a rapidly evolving and demanding media environment. With the efforts of our sales professionals, we’ll continue to successfully grow our partnerships. This key role will be responsible for growing advertising revenues through the consultative sale of both print and digital solutions including newspaper, specialty publications, digital display, SEO, social media and website development. Candidates must have a proven record of maximizing revenue potential to meet company/business objectives; demonstrate consultative sales skills, have strong analytical and research capabilities to develop multi-media proposals and presentations to potential clients; must possess strong written and verbal
communication skills, be capable of executing dynamic presentations, and have exceptional problem solving abilities. Essential Skills: The ideal candidate must be an aggressive sales professional with proven sales success; have the ability to develop new business; work independently to identify, propose and present multi-media solutions to existing and prospective clients, and engage and strategize with advertising clients to demonstrate our value proposition and how we can assist them in meeting their marketing objectives through a variety of print and digital products and services. This is a full-time position that offers a base salary, commission, a competitive incentive program, excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401(k), and more. Qualified candidates should provide a cover letter and resume to hr@kpcmedia.com. KPC Media Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values the benefits of diversity in our workplace.
Lincoln Financial Group congratulates
Ryan Krueckeberg on being selected as one of the 40 Under 40 honorees. Thank you for your outstanding service to our company and our community.
To learn more about Lincoln Financial Group, visit LFG.com. Lincoln Financial is the marketing name for the Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliate. ©2016 Lincoln National Corporation. LCN-1439170-030916
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
TIN HEIN LATT Age: 38
Employer: Fort Wayne Halal Meat & Grocery LLC Title: Owner Education: B.E ( Electronic ) Community organizations with which you are involved: Burmese Muslim Education & Community Center, vice president Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? In Burma, I worked for my familyowned business during summer breaks, but I would say my first real pay check came from PSA, Singapore, as a technical specialist. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? It was a challenging career from an electrician to electrical manager and now as a small business owner. I have
received many forms of support from my parents, my wife, my coworkers and community. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Since I graduated, it takes several years of learning and hard work to get credit from my mentors and coworkers in the engineering field. I would have to say the transition from engineer to small business owner would be the biggest accomplishment for now. What lessons did you learn from it? The lesson I learned from transitioning to small business owner is it needs a lots time, learning, hard working and patience. What is your current professional goal? PHD in engineering and becoming a professional engineer.
How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Constant learning, being positive and flexible and listening carefully. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is hard to balance between those task, but I understand we must hit all the notes at correct timing for a wonderful song. What do you do to relax? Spend time with my kid and listening to music. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Honestly, I have to Google what is Gen X or millennial and I consider myself as Gen X.
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MATHEW MARSHALL Age: 37
get to where I am today. I have also had the ongoing support of my wife and my parents, all of whom have given me great advice and support for various items throughout my career. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? The biggest accomplishment in my career has been becoming an officer of the bank, as well as a commercial banker several years ago. Both of these were goals that I had set at the beginning of my career and I have worked hard to grow in my experience as a banker to achieve them. What lessons did you learn from it? I have learned that no matter what title you hold or what you do in your career, it is always important to have humility in what you do. The main part of my job is to help Employer: IAB Financial Bank Title: Assistant Vice President- Commer- businesses achieve their financial objectives, which in turn, help the business owners and cial Banking Officer their employees to provide for their families. Education: Bachelor’s in Finance from Keeping those priorities first before my own Manchester University; MBA from Indiana professional wants is important because University-Purdue University Fort Wayne if I help my customers and co-workers to Community organizations with which the best of my ability, the rest will work out. you are involved: I am a board member and the treasurer of I have also learned throughout my career ARCH. In addition, I also serve on the finance about the importance of being a good steward of the resources and people that I and facilities committee of ARCH. I am also am entrusted to help on a daily basis. a board member of Redeemer Radio 106.3 What is your current professional goal? FM and serve as a chair of its governance My goal is to continue to build my profile committee. I have also been involved as a as a commercial banker in the Fort Wayne volunteer high school instructor for Junior business community, and as a community Achievement for 12 years. I am a 2014 servant through the other organizations of graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and a which I am involved. I believe that both of member of its “Love Fort Wayne” positive image project. Finally, I am a lifelong member these areas of my life go hand-in-hand in many ways. I want to be able to hopefully of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, look back someday and know that my efforts of which I have been a religious education and time spent to all of these groups have teacher, reader at mass, and Eucharistic made a positive difference in the lives of minister for more than 15 years. others in our community. Where did your first paycheck come How do you remain current/relevant in from? What was your job then? your profession? My first paycheck came from working One of the most important items that for my uncle’s heating and air conditioning allow me to remain relevant in my profession business. This was my summer job for five is the building of positive and lasting relationyears during high school and college. My primary work was installing (and sometimes ships with others in the community. My career in banking and ongoing community digging) ductwork ventilation systems for involvement have allowed me to continue to buildings on residential and commercial develop many of these types of relationships. construction sites. I also actively seek the advice of others What kind of support did you receive in my profession when needed because I along the way to help you advance in your always have something new to learn or to do career? better in my job, no matter how long I have I have been very fortunate to have been in my career. received the support of many people along How do you balance your career, family the way to help me advance in my career. life and community involvement? There have been several executives, I believe that it is very important to always directors, and officers at IAB that have keep a good balance of work, family and been very instrumental in helping me to community involvement. I often evaluate and develop as a professional and to help me Page 32
prioritize how much time that I am spending in each area in order to make sure that I am giving all of them my best effort. My family always comes first. There are too many times that I hear of people later in life who wish that they had spent more time with their family. I never want to be the next one to say those words. I am always reminding myself that my family should never take a backseat to anything. I also understand though about the importance of my career and community involvement to support my family and to make a positive difference in the community. I am constantly aware and work to give my professional life the time and energy that it needs to be successful. This means taking care of my clients as best as I can, sometimes even if it is on a vacation day. It also means sometimes staying at work a little later than normal to meet important deadlines and for business social functions. When it comes to community involvement, I have always tried to make sure that I am not involved in too many causes just for the name recognition, but in a smaller number of causes that mean the most to me. This allows me to devote the most of my energy, passion, and time to hopefully make a true difference. What do you do to relax? There are several things that help me to relax. The thing that helps me to relax the most is praying the rosary. My other favorite ways to relax are spending time with my family, taking mini road trips with my wife around Indiana, and drinking a good cup of coffee on a weekend morning. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I mostly identify with Gen X. Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s has provided me with many fond memories. In fact, one of the great leaders from that era is a major source of inspiration to me today. Also, when I mention something specific about those two decades to a younger millennial (under 20), they sometimes have a puzzled look on their face and wonder who or what I am talking about. Those are the moments when I realize that I am definitely a Gen X. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would tell my high school self to always treasure each day for what it is and the people that you love, no matter how busy or involved you are. Also, there will be many things later in life that will turn out a lot different than you originally had planned as a high school student, but that is OK. It is all a part of God’s plan and you will be a wiser and better person for it.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
BRANDON M. MCCLAIN Age: 31
Employer: PNC Bank Title: Branch Manager Education: Graduate of Bishop Luers High School, Ivy Tech Indianapolis Community organizations with which you are involved: I am currently a member of Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana - serving as chair for the 2016 My City Summit, a Fort Wayne Base Community Council board member/ treasurer and an active member of the Waynedale Chamber of Commerce Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I was working at Mark’s City Market on Anthony when I was 14, I was a stock boy. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have received all kinds of support, my family always being behind me and pushing me. When I was young and really unsure as to what I wanted to do, my mother always encouraged me to pursue banking, she thought I would excel. My father always pushed me to do something that would create a bright future and allow for more family time. I have a previous boss who really propelled my career by pushing me and developing my skills as a banker. We still talk even after several years and living in different cities. PNC has giving me the opportunity to spend time in the community and also has given me the resources to grow professionally. And of course, my wife and daughter, they inspire me to always be better. They are the reason I keep chasing the dream! What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I would have to say this, this recognition. It encapsulates my accomplishments as one. How many people live in this city that are under 40? A lot. Being chosen as one of the Forty under 40 is a pretty neat feather to put in your cap. What lessons did you learn from it? It takes hard work, determination to grow and an unselfish attitude. If you do what you know is right for the greater cause people pay attention and notice. When you feel you haven’t done enough go out and do something bigger. Never give up and always remember, someone else is out there willing to do what you are not. What is your current professional goal? My current professional goal is to
take the next step. Beyond the branch manager role I am looking to take more of an adviser role. I have always measured my career by the steps I have taken, as long as I am taking steps upward then I consider my career to be on track. Long term I would like to look back and be able to tell a story that people are inspired by. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I try to remain as current as possible. One thing that is always for sure in the banking world is change. Knowing and understanding how change affects you, your firm and your clients is so imperative. Being relevant comes with your network and having a network that trust you, seek you out and recommend you. If you can stay current and relevant you become a top of class resource to your clients, prospects and employees. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? That is something I am always working to improve. I am a giving person and I am always open to take on additional responsibilities. Early in my career I would do anything that I thought would develop my network or get me an introduction. Now that I have become more established I am trying to be more selective on what I engage in to help my work/life balance.
I have to be diligent in my actions to get the most return. It is definitely a balancing act, but at the end of the day my family has to come first. I have to remember my career is a tool to provide for my family and community involvement is to better the quality of life that me and my family participate in. What do you do to relax? Golf, I love to golf, I guess I can’t always consider that relaxing though because I am a competitive person and if you know golf, it doesn’t always go as planned. I have always been obsessed with my yard and spend a lot of time there, attending to my garden too. I like the outdoors and find it relaxing, unless my neighbor cuts his grass before I do! Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I hate boxes, by definition I could fall into both categories. I think I flex my personality pretty well and can associate with both, of course only with the positive stereotypes. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t be afraid to fail, make bold decisions and send handwritten thank you cards more often. Ask questions and find things that are broken and fix them.
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Carrie Meyer Director of Online Learning & Institutional Technology, Forty Under 40 honoree
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
CARRIE MEYER Age: 38
Employer: Taylor University Title: Director of Online Learning Education: MBA from Taylor University; Bachelor’s in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems from the University of Southern Indiana Community organizations with which you are involved: Current: Whitley County Economic Development Corporation - Leadership Whitley County Director, Columbia City United Methodist Church- Member, Childcare Board, Youth Huddle Leader, Marriage Mentor Previous: Leadership Fort Wayne Class 2011, Leadership Whitley County Class 2012, United Way of Whitley County Board Member Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first real paycheck was from the French Lick Springs Resort – I worked in the magazine shop and the ice cream shop. Prior to that, I worked for my dad who was an entrepreneur. He had a water purification business and hired me to do data entry, answer the phone, and manage the store on Saturdays. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? My husband and I are a team. Without him, I could not possibly be as involved as I am. I have excellent parents who affirm me every step of the way and taught me at a young age to be confident in what I truly believe in, as long as I truly believe in it. They modeled for me responsibility, and how to persevere even through adversity. I’ve been fortunate to have great bosses. Those who have invested in me, who have helped find development opportunities suitable for me, those who have empowered me and who understand that I work and learn best with a little autonomy and flexibility have been invaluable. There are a lot of people in my life who model, encourage and influence me positively. Leaders are only as good as our teams and I am truly surrounded by great teams. Although not directly supportive - I would be remiss if I left out the challenges I’ve encountered along the way. Those challenges have helped shape who I am and where I’m at, today. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Becoming a Certified Strengths Based Educator (Gallup CSBE) and a Certified Christian Life/Executive Coach have
been instrumental for me. Both of these together have given deeper insight into who I am and have afforded me opportunities to work with and appreciate people. Working closely with others to help them discover their own greater potential both personally and professionally, has provided a good fit with the whole person emphasis of my employer, Taylor University and the talent development initiative of the Whitley County EDC. What lessons did you learn from it? I’ve learned that pursuing a passion and being able to live and work through that passion is one of the most rewarding and satisfying ways to live. What is your current professional goal? My first goal is to discern what God’s calling is for me apart from my personal desires. I hope to represent women well and inspire young women to tackle leadership roles. I also love the challenge of changing a narrow outlook to one of collaboration, strategy, and development, so any opportunity I get to work with people or organizations to maximize potential is a worthwhile experience. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I enjoy collaborating with others - understanding what they are doing, how they are doing it, what makes them successful, and how their experiences could influence organizations I am involved in. I also attend professional higher education and leadership conferences regularly, visit other universities, and read books that challenge me to think outside the box and grow. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? There are periods of time when I feel I have better balance. It largely depends on the season, what’s going on at home, as well as in the assorted circles where I live and work. By the grace of God, the essentials rise to the top and it all gets done. What do you do to relax? Define relax. To most, it looks like I don’t know how to relax. I love to be busy - to maximize. Really – to relax, I run, shop, clean the house or cross things off my list, which just gives me a sense of satisfaction! Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I’m a tweener. I can pass between Gen X and millennial generations pretty easily. My job is to bring people together
and I believe I get both generations. It keeps things interesting and, dare I say, fun. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? • Discover your values now and ground yourself in them. • They aren’t kidding — life really is short. Don’t grow up too fast. • Your way isn’t always the best way, Carrie. • Take time to understand and consider other perspectives. • For you to understand the world and those around you, first, you must understand yourself. • Be authentic in your actions. • I know you hate to exercise, but I swear, one day you will be a runner and you will enjoy it and you won’t want a day to pass by without a good sweaty workout. • Oh, girlfriend - you think you know what love is…. You’ll gain a deeper meaning of love after (if) you are blessed with children. • Parenting is the most difficult job you will ever have, yet most rewarding. • A people-pleasing behavior isn’t good for anybody. • Don’t work so hard you forget about who and what is most important. • Your plans may not be the same as God’s plans for you. • Speak the truth in Love.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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MAX MEYER Age: 38
Employer: Fort Wayne Museum of Art/ Maxamillian Studio LLC Title: Director of Children’s Education/ Owner Education: Attended University of Arizona/Mentorship with Renowned Artist Simon Donovan (Experiential Liberal Arts Program) Community organizations with which you are involved: Regional director for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, on various committees with FWCS, past Artlink artist panel Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Faulkner’s Grocery and Produce, Ceres, N.Y. It was an incredible family business, and my title was “Grocery and warehouse laborer.” I was the first high school student they gave a raise to because I was, “great with customers and was a hard worker.” What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? At home I have an incredible wife that is my partner in everything. There is no one in the world I’d rather have on my team. Locally, it all starts with Mark and Jodie Hemphil Smith. They welcomed me into West Central and the artists’ Page 36
community in Fort Wayne starting in 2002, and to this day we are very close. I like to think if Mark and Jodie as my adopted parents. Also all of the Fort Wayne Art League, which is a group of 40 incredible women that fund raise for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. They have incredibly giving and supportive to the programs I’ve done at FWMoA. I’ve also worked with some very special teachers that serve on our Advisory Board. This past fall FWMoA and I were honored at the US Department of Education through a special ceremony and exhibit. Those accomplishments I share whole-heartedly with these talented teachers whom I love. They have shown me the absolute pinnacle of what humanity can be. Also I can’t forget Tom Galliher and Victoria Laird, who donated their incredible talents for seven years to help photograph our students work giving us a huge edge nationally within our Scholastic Art and Writing Program. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Our Scholastic Art and Writing Program has been fourth in the country for the past three years and led to more than $14 million dollars in scholarship offers over the past eight years. This has led to various awards with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art such as being recognized on stage at Carnegie Hall in 2013 for being the top region in the country. This year, I was honored along with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, at the U.S. Department of Education. For an educator that is like receiving the medal of honor from the President. For Maxamillian Studio LLC, it is clearly being able to film Artist Donald Martiny create a commission which is permanently installed on the Ground Floor Lobby of the One World Trade Center. What lessons did you learn from it? For the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the lessons I’ve learned come from my interactions with people. People are the most important resource in any community. The investments and the time we spend helping one another (especially from every background) is the greatest investment a society can make. Being successful, especially in a public setting, requires three very simple things: transparency (it forces you to make the best decisions for everyone,) educating people on the unwritten rules in society and giving credit to the people
who have earned it. What is your current professional goal? Currently, I would like to organize the local alumni of our amazing Scholastic program to help build a creative force for telling Fort Wayne’s story to the world and to be resource of our current students. For Maxamillian Studio, I’m currently working on a variety of film projects including filming a $400,000 commission for University Medical in New Orleans by artist Simon Donovan and Ben Olmstead this April. I’m also working with Fred and Patricia McKissack on a series of videos to help young kids become better writers. Lastly, I can’t wait to start filming Lisa Feder-Feitel give advice on how to pursue scholarships for college. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I listen to my customers, and understand that each problem they face is an opportunity for FWMoA to remain vital to their everyday needs. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? My career is fairly consuming presently, however, I have an incredible wife that is my partner in everything. There is no one in the world I’d rather have on my team. My daughters Zelle and Lena know they are my first priority, and I love being their dad. Also if I don’t get an eye roll a day from them I’m not doing my job. It is because of them Fort Wayne is stuck with me. What do you do to relax? I love to learn new things and spend a good bit of time on Vimeo and YouTube learning about tech, film making and home improvements. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I really don’t think about it much. I guess I would be a Gen Xer but for me I don’t know if those labels are really helpful. Simple things like the importance of community, acceptance of everyone, question everything, and a love of sarcasm I more associate with. However, I still do like a little Radiohead and Pearl Jam on occasion. What would you tell your high school self-based on what you know now? People matter most. Surround yourself with great people, work hard and believe in yourself to figure it out.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
DAVID NICOLE Age: 39
Employer: United Way of Allen County Title: President & CEO Education: Bachelor’s, Economics – University of Akron; MBA – University of South Carolina, Certified Fund Raising Executive Community organizations with which you are involved:Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Northeastern Indiana Regional Partnership – Regional Opportunities Council, Cities United Steering Committee – Black Male Achievement Task Force, Consortium of Northeast Indiana United Ways, United Way Worldwide Network Engagement Corp. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My next door neighbors Ron and Sally. They were the first to hire me to mow their lawn. From there, my brother and I started our landscaping business. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? Many, many mentors. Throughout my career many individuals have invested in me. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Transforming United Way of Allen County. When I arrived United Way was an organization that was ineffectively engaging the community, had lost significant revenue and was not relevant to the community and sensitive to the needs of our neighbors. Today, United Way leads with our ears, we are wrapping up a fundraising campaign with the largest increase we have seen in more than ten years and we are being called upon to help develop community solutions. What lessons did you learn from it? This is hard work. This is fun work. We have an amazing community filled with individuals and organizations that are passionate about seeing our community succeed. I have also learned that most of those individuals and organizations are working in silos. While we have momentum, we have a tremendous amount of work left to accomplish. We must work together to be successful. What is your current professional goal? To see that no person is defined by their birth place or parents. To see that all individuals have equal access to the resources needed to achieve their potential.
How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? A combination of reading, training and networking. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is a struggle every day. We work to have dinner as a family as much as possible. I work to have only two evening events per week. Sometime this is possible, and sometimes not. My first priority is to my family, when possible I try to involve my family in community activities. What do you do to relax? Spend time with my family. Specifically, I love to run when my son or daughter can ride their bike with me. It gives us some “dad time” and I get to hear about all sorts of things going on in
their lives. It also keeps me motivated to keep running. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I identify more with the Greatest Generation (or WWII generation) than with Gen X or Millennial. The Greatest Generation was marked by values of personal responsibility, duty, honor and faith. Given the great relationship I have had with my grandparents, those values were instilled in me. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? It really doesn’t matter what other people think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself. Be authentic. While it is a risk that people may not like what they see, the only way to be at peace is to be yourself.
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CONGRATULATIONS DAVID NICOLE FOR BEING NAMED ONE OF THE 2016 FORTY UNDER 40 WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO THE STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
EDMOND C. O’NEAL Age: 34
Employer: Northeast Indiana Works Title: Senior Director of WorkOne Services Education: Stanford University, Bachelors; Texas Christian University, Master’s of Education; Indiana University, MBA Community organizations with which you are involved: Erin’s House for Grieving Children, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, Catie B Charities Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first official paycheck was from Allied Van Lines. I worked for the full-service moving company in northern California, packing and loading people’s possessions for transport. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have an outstanding support group, including my wife, friends, family, professional colleagues and mentors. Everyone, at some point, has provided me with encouraging words, guidance, developmental opportunities or an ear to listen. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest career accomplishment to date has been helping people through the economic recession and post-recession challenges. Through Northeast Indiana Works and WorkOne Northeast, we have served thousands of people whose careers were impacted. It was extremely hard work, but it was rewarding to see people increase their transferable skills and find a place for themselves in the job market. What lessons did you learn from it? It reinforced lessons that everyone learns at some point in their lives – that life often isn’t fair but hard work pays off. It was a very stressful time for everyone, but from my perspective it was also a period that forced people to evaluate what was truly important to them and reassess their life goals. What is your current professional goal? To continue to develop myself. I am committed to the concept of lifelong
learning and firmly believe that all effective leaders pursue self-improvement at every opportunity. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I read. A lot. Workforce development is very much an atypical profession for the majority of people. I have yet to meet someone who said they wanted to be a workforce development professional when they grew up. Understanding labor force needs is truly a mixture of being able to project economic trends, staying in touch with the evolutions of higher education, and being able to construct systems that are effective and accessible for employers and individuals. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is definitely a difficult task. I am lucky that my 3-year-old son does not
care about anything related to my career or community involvement, so he keeps me grounded and is the best reminder of what is important in life. What do you do to relax? Sleep. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Professionally, I would say that I lean closer to Gen X but I honestly do not identify with either group. My core values and attributes are a blend of both, while many other contributing factors are heavily favored to one side or the other. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? The world is much bigger than you think it is. Make sure you take every opportunity to experience and learn from things that are different than your “normal.”
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KELLI PACKNETT Age: 33
Employer: Fort Wayne Community Schools / Opal & Ruby Gift Emporium Title: Building Instructional Coach / Partner Education: Master’s of Arts in Elementary Education from Ball State University Community organizations with which you are involved: The majority of my volunteering has been with organizations and programs that benefit women and children in need. I am a member of the Junior League of Fort Wayne. I have been a project manager or a committee chair for several projects over the last 9 years. I am currently the chair of our community project, First Things First. I am also involved in Ronald McDonald House of Northeast Indiana, Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival special event committee, leadership committees at my school and a past YLNI member. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from Arvest Bank in Oklahoma City where I worked as a teller, focusing on customer service for our bankers. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have been incredibly blessed to work with great teachers and principals in my career in education. My first teaching partner, Shelly Michael, taught me so much about the importance of Page 40
being fully committed to your students and their learning. She also taught me that no matter how long you have been teaching, it is always important to stay open to new strategies and techniques. I have had great principals along the way who allowed me to take on leadership positions. They saw potential in me and made sure I was given opportunities to stretch and grow. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? This is a hard question to answer as a teacher. There are so many big moments in my career. However, most of these accomplishments would not be recognized outside of the classroom. Helping a child learn to read or assisting a child in understanding the concept of multiplication - these are accomplishments that keep teachers teaching. But my favorite moments are when you get a breakthrough with a “tough” kid. So often in my career I have had a student come into my classroom with their shield up. It takes weeks and sometimes even months to create a rapport with this child. But when they finally determine that you are someone they can trust, they begin learning. This is the kind of accomplishment that brings tears to your eyes and makes you fight for each child in your classroom. In my classroom I am not just teaching school skills, I am teaching life skills. What lessons did you learn from it? Each of these accomplishments keep
me going in my career. I have learned that you never give up. No situation is too big, no issue too challenging. You keep going and know that eventually you will see positive growth. What is your current professional goal? My current goal is to help the teachers at my school create a great learning environment for our students. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I remain current in my profession by reading journals, books, and attending conferences. Education is always changing. It is important to stay up to date on the current research. Staying in tune with your environment is also important. I need to stay “hip” so that my students find me relevant. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is incredibly difficult to balance career, family life, and community involvement. In a way, I compartmentalize with all the different areas of my life. My career is incredibly challenging. I often give everything I have to the students in my school. This is when my family and friends comes in and support me. My mom will stop by school with a Starbucks and a smile, ready to volunteer. My sister is always there for a good laugh or a listening ear. My dad keeps me motivated with great advice and as a good example of how to juggle a busy schedule. What do you do to relax? To relax, I love to catch up on my DVR. It is a rare opportunity for me to be able to enjoy quality downtime on the couch. But when those times come I take advantage of it. This is a way I can completely relax and recharge for the next day or week. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I honestly had to look this up, but after my research, I seem to identify more as a millennial. One reason I identify as a millennial is because of their focus on changing the world around them. I also enjoy technology and use it on a daily basis. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would tell my high school self to worry less. I have learned over the years that extreme worrying does more harm than good. You can only do your best and then let God take care of the rest.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
JEREMY REDDING Age: 31
Employer: Commercial Filter Service Inc. Title: Vice President of Operations Education: MBA, Bachelor’s in Business Marketing, Management & Communications. Community organizations with which you are involved: I am most heavily involved with the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne as a club member and member of the Board of Directors. Through the wide reaching scope of Rotary, I have had the opportunity to work with and serve many great community organizations. Some of these include the Community Harvest Food Bank, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission and FWCS, among many others. The Rotary Club of Fort Wayne also manages a variety of programs that promote leadership and responsible citizenship among youth in our community. I work heavily with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program which provides mentoring and a special scholarship to local students to participate in life change leadership training. I also work with Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana as a volunteer instructor for 7th grade business economics. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My very first job technically started when I was 12 years old, working in the Wallen Baseball Complex concession stand. However, we were paid in cash at the end of each shift. So, I would cite that my first actual paycheck came from a job I started in high school. I worked at a company called Dolphin Marine, a dry dock boat marina on the north side of town. I used to detail and winterize boats, maintain the grounds, and even became involved with some sales and marketing projects later on in that job. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have always received so much support from friends, family, and colleagues in my professional endeavors. But if I had to pinpoint the most defining kind of support which has helped me advance in my career and life, I would have to say it’s been the support of my employers. I have been extremely lucky in all of my past work experience to have bosses who have mentored me and given me the freedom to implement my own ideas without the fear of judgement
or failure. Often times my ideas work. Sometimes they don’t. But being empowered to try new things and take certain risks has undeniably helped me grow and advance both personally and professionally. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I’d say one of my biggest accomplishments thus far is growing within a company to become a top executive, after starting at the bottom of the figurative totem pole. What lessons did you learn from it? Business in the “real world” is so drastically different from what you learn in college. You have to wear multiple hats and take on tasks that you may not think are your responsibility. And commitment means more than just showing up for work every day. To be successful, you have to be willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to get the job done. What is your current professional goal? Much of my daily work, community involvement and personal life involves project and event planning. And while I’ve gained a tremendous amount of experience over the years, I would like to get my CSEP certification to become a Certified Special Event Planner. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I think staying current and relevant means staying informed and connected. Within my current profession, I have obtained my Certified Air Filtration Specialist accreditation from the National Air Filtration Association. This certification requires continuing education and helps insure that I and the company I work for are always on top of the latest trends and information within the industry. I also think it’s important to stay connected within your community and to the world. Networking is important. Continue to meet new people and learn from them. Read about what’s going on in your community and get involved. Stay informed with the current political climate, current events, and technology. This all plays a role in staying relevant both professionally in in my personal life. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I’m not really sure that I do. Not intentionally, at least. I feel lucky that both my company and my family are also very committed to community involvement. It seems like they all mesh so well
together that I have never really felt forced to “balance” them. They just fit like three pieces of a puzzle and naturally balance out. What do you do to relax? I enjoy a wide variety of activities in my leisure time. I spend a good portion of my free time volunteering through Rotary. Aside from that I like to play tennis, ride my motorcycle, any outdoor activities and spend time with friends. I do some event coordinating and catering on the side. I enjoy seeing movies, shows and going to concerts. I really enjoy music and visual and performing arts. I also love to travel to other countries, experience different cultures, try new foods, and meet new people. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Even though my literal age puts me right on the edge of the bubble, I definitely identify more with Generation X. I’ve historically had what you might call an “old soul.” As I’ve grown up, I’ve always seemed to make friends and identify better with people who are older than I am. I think you can learn a lot more about life by surrounding yourself with those who have had more experience. And I’ve always felt a certain comfort in that. But that’s certainly not to say that I don’t enjoy having fun with friends and acquaintances in the younger generation also. I feel I am adaptable and can enjoy spending time with people of any generation. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Be who you are and don’t get so caught up in what others think about you. In high school, everything seems like a big deal. But when you look back, it will all seem so trivial. Don’t waste time trying to be someone you aren’t or being afraid of failure. Life is too short.
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NS
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GR CON
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IN D D E
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for being selected a winner of Business Weekly’s Prestigious 40 Under 40 award. Your accomplishments make your family, friends & community proud!
JE
Commercial Filter Service, Inc. 3510 Metro Park Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46818 www.commercialfilter.net
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
HEATHER REGAN Age: 38
Employer: Reecer Properties Title: Realtor/Broker, Green, RSPS, MRP Education: Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene Community organizations with which you are involved:100+ Women Who Care, The Carriage House, Cookies for Kids Cancer. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first job was at a little diner on Clear Lake as a waitress. I would ride my pink Huffy 10-speed bike there every weekend and wait tables. I had to have been 13 or so. I remember saving up enough money to buy my first pair of Guess Jeans and an IOU sweatshirt. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? First and foremost, I have to thank my husband for his support. Having three small children when I first started (ages 2, 4, 8) selling real estate was extremely difficult. As a Realtor, you are gone at the most random times, mostly nights and weekends. But, to be a great Realtor means you have to be available. After staying home as a mom six years prior, working was a difficult adjustment for our family to have me gone all the time. My husband is amazingly supportive. I also appreciate Lynn Reecer’s and James Reecer’s company philosophy. When I started they were very new to the Real Estate world as well. They continue to be a small, boutique agency and we have all grown together. I appreciate their continued support. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Last year, I managed to sell more than $13 million dollars in real estate. I was ranked No. 12, among the company of other Realtor’s who have been selling for 20 to 30-plus years. That was very rewarding. Even better than that, I was getting my hair done the other day and my hairdresser said that “one of those Realtors was telling her how well I was doing and how much she liked doing business with me.” Real estate isn’t always a cake walk and at times can be very competitive. To hear that one of my peers appreciated “me” and my values of real estate meant so much to me. What lessons did you learn from it? I always try to remain professional and I go out of my way to treat people fairly. Her compliment meant that I am
succeeding in making sure I get things done in a positive light. Life is too short to be unhappy in your profession. Especially when you work side by side with other Realtors negotiating the biggest purchase of your clients’ lives. It can be a very emotional process for everyone. What is your current professional goal? My goal is to love what I do and make sure that I can maintain a good balance of being a wife, mother and Realtor. I also want to continue to grow my business. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I take a lot of continuing education classes. I also earn special certifications like the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist, Military Relocation Professional and Green Realtor certifications. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? I believe in the philosophy of working hard and playing hard. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I love to vacation. I try to get away for alone adult time with my husband every couple months and for family getaways a couple times a year as well. It is nice not to be distracted by work, school sports, etc., and to make memories. I try to donate my time to charities that make a difference and mean something special and ignite a fire in me. What do you do to relax? I don’t relax unless I am sleeping. I do love tennis but I wouldn’t call that relaxing. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I can really relate to the Gen X profile. Growing up, both of my parents worked and I was an only child. I always had to solve problems on my own. I saw what it was to struggle when the economy took a down turn in the 1980s and remember when my dad was laid off from his job. Those times are ingrained in my head. I also specifically remember my mother sitting me in front of our TV (that was bigger than I was) and making me watch Geraldine Anne Ferraro running for vice-president. She told me that I could do that one day if I wanted. I remember the first computer in my classroom in grade school. We only had one and it was this huge thing they brought in on a cart. I remember hearing about the Internet and thinking how strange that we would be able to talk to people all
over the world via computers. Gen X are people who are entrepreneurs and rule breakers, I can definitely relate to this generation. I am always pushing myself to try new things and think of new ideas. I have failed many times, at many things but I always keep a positive attitude. I think this is what it means to be a Gen- Xer. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? High school can be a struggle for girls. I wanted to be popular and wanted to have the cool new clothes, as most teen girls do. I was always confident though and I think confidence as a teen can get misunderstood as conceit. I struggled tremendously with needing validation. I sometimes felt uncomfortable in my own skin for being me. If I could go back and tell my high school self something it would be: “Keep being confident in yourself. Believe in yourself. Don’t let other peoples’ opinions define who you chose to be. Treat people with kindness but don’t let others mistreat you. Stick up for yourself and what you believe is right. A confident girl means a strong woman, a great role model to her children.” One of my favorite quotes that would have been useful to know when I was a teen is this “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~Mark Twain
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MOLLY ROMMEL Age: 38
Employer: Barrett McNagny LLP Title: Director of Marketing Education: Bachelor’s in Marketing, Hillsdale College Community organizations with which you are involved: Currently, I am a board member for Erin’s House for Grieving Children and serve on their Development Committee. I have been a volunteer with Junior Achievement of Northeast Indiana for more than 10 years and I am on the marketing committee for the McMillen Health Center. Previously, I have served as president and a member of the board for Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House and I was a member of the steering committee for the Shindigz National Soccer Festival. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from Sycamore Hills Golf Club where I worked Page 44
at the front desk on weekends greeting members, answering phones and handling the coat check. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have been blessed to have several mentors who have coached and advised me, and have been advocates on my behalf. By their example and encouragement, they challenged me to strive for more. My family has also been instrumental in helping me and I am fortunate to have a husband who is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment has been the refresh of Barrett McNagny’s identity which included an updated name and logo change. The new identity had to satisfy our client’s expectations, while
at the same time, preserve the value of 140 years of providing legal services to generations of businesses and individuals. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned the power of collaboration and the value of communication. Be sure to listen, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions. What is your current professional goal? I want to continue to promote Barrett McNagny’s new identity in the marketplace. With less than a year since the roll out, I have seen the positive impact it has made for the firm locally and for business overall. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I keep up on legal marketing and business development trends by reading magazines and blogs, watching webinars and listening to podcasts for the industry. I am a member of the professional trade organization for legal marketers and attend their meetings and conferences where I network as much as I can to learn from others in the field. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It is a work in progress, but I have an amazing support system with my husband and mother who help make everything work. My husband and I work as a team in planning meals, coordinating schedules and dividing duties, and my mother is always willing to assist where needed. What do you do to relax? Spending time with my family would be first on my list to relax. Playing board games, building Legos or watching TV, nothing relaxes me more than hearing my girls laugh and have fun. My personal relaxation is reading a good book. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I would classify myself as a Gen X’er because I highly value the work/ life balance. I am fortunate that Barrett McNagny has a very family-friendly culture allowing me to be a working professional, while still being an active mother and wife. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Get outside of your comfort zone – try new things, meet new people and enjoy life. Because when you look back at your life, you want it to be interesting
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
Barrett McNagny congratulates
Molly Rommel the firm’s Director of Marketing for being a 40 Under 40 award recipient. Congratulations to all the 2016 40 under 40 recipients and Barrett’s previous winners Samuel J. Talarico Jr. , Henry P Najdeski, James J. O’Connor, H. Joseph Cohen, Joshua C. Neal, Zachary E. Klutz and Charles Christopher Dubes.
Trusted. Responsive. Local.
I
215 E. Berry St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802
I P: 260.423.9551 I F: 260.423.8920 I barrettlaw.com As the Director of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Shelley Schwab does it all: fund development, marketing & recruitment, special event production and everything in between. In light of her many roles, Shelley still finds the time to fulfill another roll: Big Sister. And no matter how busy she gets, she never foregets that just a little time can make BIG difference for a child in need.
You have the potential to change a child’s life for the better, forever. Start something BIG today!
www.bbbsnei.org 260-456-1600
Big Sister Shelley and Little Sister Reanna - Matched since 2012
On behalf of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors and Staff, congrats, Shelley, on recieving the Forty Under 40 Award! Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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SHELLEY LOPEZ-SCHWAB Age: 39
Employer: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana Title: Chief Development Officer Education: Bellmont High School, Ivy Tech Culinary Arts, IU School of Philanthropy, American Express Leadership Academy Community organizations with which you are involved: Big Brothers Big Sisters and Summit Ministries Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I was blessed to have family who were local business owners. At 16 years old, I landed a receptionist/sales clerk position at Genesis Salon & Boutique, a store owned by my aunt. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? First and foremost: God. In Jeremiah 29:11, God declares how his plan for me is all of good intentions and a great future. Growing up, I received tons of support from my parents. They led by example, demonstrating love, care and compassion to everyone. They instilled in me confidence, courage, humility, grace and the “can-do” attitude that has fueled my professional Page 46
career as well as my personal life. As the youngest of three, my siblings and I make up a great team and we learned to draw on each others’ strengths and talents in everything we do. I’m also blessed to have come from a very large family full of grandparents, uncles, aunts and oodles of cousins, all who continuously give and show unconditional love and support in whatever I do. When I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was a direct report to Josette Rider, the executive director. Over the years, Josette has not only served as my boss but became my friend, teammate and confidant. Everything that I have learned about business, leadership and nonprofit development has come directly from her guidance and the amazing individuals – staff, board members, volunteers and community leaders – who surround us each and every day. Lastly, my almost decade-long tenure with the organization could not have been possible without the unwavering love and support of my husband, Dan. Through the many good times and the few bad, Dan has always been my peace, strength and joy – always supportive of my personal and professional endeavors. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? When you’re truly passionate about what you do, it’s hard to reflect on one single accomplishment. Simply put, I love people. I love that every person has the ability to inspire someone else. No matter how big or how small, we all have something good we can share that will positively impact another. My position and career allows me to create and develop opportunities for growth. So I feel my biggest accomplishment is seeing continual growth in numbers of matches made and children served year after year. When I see a child, who was once scrawny, unsure and wayward develop into a confident, secure and successful young adult - it just makes my heart sing. What lessons did you learn from it? Perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that we are much more than a business – we are a people-oriented organization in which every individual contributes to its overall success. All of the people involved give to both my personal and professional development and I’ve learned to never take those people for granted. I’ve also learned that growth is not defined by numbers or quantity – but it is quality that is the determining factor. What is your current professional goal? I will always be developing, growing and
evolving as a person, but my next step is to develop those around me. Ten years ago, I was blessed enough to have someone breathe life into me and give me a chance to do something great; now it’s time for me to return the favor. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? As one of the leading mentoring organizations in the nation, Big Brothers Big Sisters prides itself on innovation. As a member of this organization, I’m always learning from others and gaining insight from other great businesses and nonprofits to make our agency the best that it can be. You can gather ideas from everybody and implement them in your own work to remain on the cutting edge of progress. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? It’s a daily struggle to achieve this balance, but I believe that all three values are equally important in leading a successful and well-rounded life. Something as ordinary as a phone call on the drive home from the office or a silly Facebook post can turn into something extraordinary and meaningful to those you love. What do you do to relax? While hard work is essential to leading a successful career, there is always time for play. I’m a huge “waterbaby”– I love lounging by the pool with a good book, good tunes and good friends. In my opinion, there’s no better way to relax. In the wintertime, I turn to Calgon to fill in the gaps. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? It’s hard for me to identify with either. Growing up with older siblings, I feel like I’m a generation back – I know more about the 1970s and 1980s than I should. At the same time, I work in a progressive and fast-paced environment that requires me to “go with the flow” of the latest trends in technology and culture. I feel that I’ve been able to embrace the strengths and ideologies from both generations and implement them into my personal and professional life. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t take “no” for an answer. When I entered high school, I was automatically placed on an academic track that didn’t foresee me pursuing a college education. I had to prove the guidance counselor wrong and show them that I had what it takes to pursue a college-bound path. I ended up graduating with honors and was accepted to many colleges and universities. No is never the final answer.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
SHAUNA SHAFER Age: 38
Employer: Parkview Health Title: Senior Services Supervisor/ Parkview Senior Club Education: Bachelor’s in Education (Ball State), MAE in Leadership (Ball State), Licensed Health Facility Administrator, certified aerobics instructor Community organizations with which you are involved: Planning committee for the McMillen Center for Health Education, Fort 4 Fitness, Council on Senior Services board member, NICHE Steering committee member, Volunteer teacher at Faith Baptist Church Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? I worked the drive thru at Mac’s Restaurant in Muncie – home of the 99-cent biscuits and gravy. I never got tired of serving biscuits and gravy. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? One of my greatest supporters has always been my grandmother. I think she is the reason I have so much love and gratitude for the senior population. As a young child, she instilled a very strong work ethic. As my career has unfolded I have had some excellent mentors who have encouraged me to think “outside of the box” and problem-solve situations in my own way. In my position at Parkview, I have developed relationships with many lovely ladies in the community who are in long-term care and marketing. We do a great job bouncing ideas off one another. And, I also have a great team of people in my department who support and share the same goals I have. In addition, my husband, Darton, has always been my biggest fan and greatest support. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? While my goal is to always enter every endeavor with the same amount of effort and grace, I think one of the things I am most proud of myself for doing is making a transition from education to health care. What lessons did you learn from it? For me, I was able to fully understand and embrace my professional versatility. I am constantly growing and in many ways I have reinvented myself along my journey. When I made the leap from education to health care, many people were shocked and said things to me like, “health care is so different than education.” While there are some differences, there are many similarities. In both professions, I foster excellent communication, organization, and attention to detail. Further, I harness my ability to unite
people towards a common goal and to be a good leader. Essentially, the same skill set is required; it is just utilized in a different environment and with different people. What I have discovered, whether it be working with parents with children as I did as a principal and educator or working with adults and their aging parents, is that everyone wants what is best for their family member. They might not know how to find what’s best or always be able to articulate it; however, my purpose is to step in and assist by filling in the gaps. What is your current professional goal? I have a long-standing professional goal for myself. When I enter any position, it is to create something special for people and to leave the position better than when I found it. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I am constantly learning new professional skills by attending formal workshops, online education, and on and off-site trainings. However, beyond that, I stay relevant in this industry by networking with my peers. Being not only involved with the efforts of the health care system, but also developing relationships with community members. Additionally, I learn new research methodologies and initiatives which impact the demographic I serve. I am not afraid of taking some risk now and then. If someone approaches me with a new idea or a way to create something exciting for people, I am always willing to give it a try. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? There is a saying about when you do something you love - you’ll never work a day in your life. I could go on about how it really isn’t that simple, however, I will tell you that passion is the key. Not every day is going to be the most rewarding, the most successful, or the most “fun.” However, at the end of my day, passion is what keeps me coming back. In balancing community involvement, I used to say “yes” to a lot more than I do now. I am involved in the things that I am passionate about. We have a family motto that even our youngest child knows: “Nothing is more important than family.” For me, this is the truth. I have been blessed to be able to be a working mother and do the things I am passionate about. This in part is because of a wonderful care-giver for our children. One who allows me to not feel guilty because she teaches them things I would have never thought about.
What do you do to relax? I have been teaching aerobics since 2007. I like to decorate and paint furniture. But, mostly, my children, Dexter and Evie, relax me. Our whole family makes a point to dance and be silly with each other every day. I also love reading to my children. Those are the moments I find myself mostly at peace. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Definitely Gen X. I find myself extremely conscientious at work and home. I also appreciate a leader who allows me to have a level autonomy. That isn’t to say I don’t appreciate guidance, because I do, but I also like to feel trusted as a professional. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? • Relax. Everything will turn out perfect in the end. God will put you exactly where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. • Stay true to yourself. • Most importantly, always be kind.
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Congratulations, Shauna! One of Business Weekly’s 40 Under 40. Being named a 40 Under 40 recipient is a great honor that is given to those who work to improve our region. Congratulations, Shauna! We’re proud to have you on our team.
© 2016, Parkview Health PH-A-198
We can HELP your business
GROW! Take on your competition by advertising in the regions most respected source for business news. Call Wendy and Nate for all your advertisng needs.
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Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
GARY SKEEL Age: 36
Employer: Wine Down Tastings & Tapas Title: Owner, Member-Manager Education: Bachelors Huntington University Community organizations with which you are involved: I wish I had more time to be actively involved with the community, but for right now and through Wine Down we’ve supported several schools, organizations, and churches through fundraisers and activities. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came as an Applebee’s server while in college. But prior to opening up Wine Down, I was a school teacher at Carroll Middle School for 10 years. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I’m very lucky and have received a lot of support from my wife Kelly, family, friends and God, and thank them all for getting me this far. I have a great and supportive staff. Early on in planning and development, I received a lot of support from other people in the downtown area, several people offered help and guidance in connecting the dots for the concept of Wine Down to become a reality. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? I would say just making it this far by taking the leap of faith. My wife and I were able to create something from nothing and made this original concept a unique dining experience right here in Fort Wayne. There is truly nothing like it in the world. What lessons did you learn from it? I learn something new every day. Running a restaurant was not in my background, so trial and error, learning from mistakes, and getting advice from other industry professionals has been the key. What is your current professional goal? I would say continuing to make Wine Down a better place. To grow the concept and push ourselves to provide an atmosphere that both locals and visitors to Fort Wayne will enjoy. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I work in the restaurant every day, and learn about the industry through talking with other people and asking questions.
There is also plenty of reading material and my wife and I enjoy watching shows about starting up and fixing restaurants and bars, we look for tips that can help us shape our concept and keep it both current and relevant. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Right now there is not much balance as Wine Down takes up almost all my time, but my wife has been very strong and supportive. We are best friends, and it’s hard finding time together when we are on different schedules. Hopefully, as our staff gains experience I will be able to step back a little bit and create a more healthy balance of work, family, and community involvement. What do you do to relax? When we do have time, I enjoy going
out to eat at other local restaurants. It’s fun to sit down and enjoy the service and eats from other establishments. Fort Wayne truly has a lot to offer. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Neither, I classify myself as part of the Oregon Trail Generation. If you were born in the late 1970s or early 1980s and have never heard about this generation, look it up. You will be amazed at how well it fits us. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? I would start by dropping a few relationship pointers to my younger self but, other than that, I would be motivating and make sure my priorities stayed in order.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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SHAWN SOLLENBERGER Age: 38
Employer: Baden, Gage & Schroeder LLC Title: Audit Senior Manager Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s of Accountancy from Manchester College Community organizations with which you are involved: Project READS, as treasurer for seventh year, Christ’s Church, as deacon, chair of benevolence committee and elementary teacher, Glenaqua Pool, as dive coach and governing committee member, Page 50
Fort Wayne Summer Dive League, as president, Indiana International School of Diving, as assistant coach. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? Glenaqua Pool – Dive coach for a year in college. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? The directors of our firm provided a range of industries and experiences
during my career, as well as exposure to corporate and individual income taxes, which allows a wide understanding of my clients. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? About four years in, I realized that the impact of me teaching others could be way more than I could ever accomplish by myself. What lessons did you learn from it? I learned that my success at the firm wasn’t dependent on me looking better than my peers, but that I could become a valuable asset by getting new accountants up to my level as quickly as possible. Then, it became fun to celebrate in their growth and cheer them to new levels. What is your current professional goal? One of my current professional goals is to become a strong resource to my clients, so they feel comfortable asking questions of me, even if they have had a relationship with a director for many years. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? With the wide range of services I provide, my continuing education and industry conferences provide opportunities to discuss current events with other professionals. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Our firm helps create an atmosphere where our families are important. I have had a priority of eating dinner with my family, help get our boys ready for bed and then, if there is more work to be done, finish at that time. What do you do to relax? I play football, soccer, kickball and frisbee in our backyard with our boys. I am also the pit-stop crew chief when they ride their bikes or scooters around the neighborhood. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? Gen X. I remember my first computer with a color screen (only green). I didn’t get a cell phone until I moved away from home and needed one and it wasn’t more powerful than the computer. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Don’t be afraid to fail or make a mistake. It is a requirement for growth and stretching to new boundaries.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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MYCHAL THOM Age: 38
Employer: Concordia Lutheran High School Title: Principal Education: Bachelor’s in Biology; Master’s in Biological Sciences Community organizations with which you are involved: I am involved in coaching Upward basketball, Wallen baseball and at the Fort Wayne Sports Club. I also serve on the Gateway Coalition steering committee and on my church’s, Promise Ministries, strategic planning board. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first check came from Monroe Parks and Recreation in Monroe, Mich., where I grew up. This was a summer job for me and I helped to line baseball fields and clean up the parks around our city. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I’ve had so many people support me through encouraging words, opportunities to lead, and opportunities to make mistakes to learn from. Through it all, Page 52
I’ve received support from my awesome parents, who continue to encourage me through prayer, wisdom and affirmation. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? Working in schools for most of my professional career, I’d say that my biggest accomplishment has been helping kids feel like they matter, that they are people and someone cares about them. I consider this the best part of my job. What lessons did you learn from it? I have learned, and continue to learn, that engaging with people in a way that demonstrates to them that they matter, and are important, is critical. Especially when dealing with young men and women, establishing a basis for relationship that initially begins with the idea that they matter has been a tremendous lesson for me. What is your current professional goal? My current professional goal is to serve Concordia Lutheran High School the very best that I can, and help the
students, families, faculty and staff feel that they have a great place to come to every day. I hope that all associated with Concordia Lutheran High School will have a positive experience and be impacted for Christ. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Developing professional networks of people has been the most effective way for me to remain current and relevant. I do read quite a bit, but find that the personal network of folks, throughout the country, has been a tremendous success. Connecting with those folks through conferences and through Twitter (@ CadetPrincy3) has been very effective. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? This seems like a constant struggle for most folks in today’s tremendously connected reality. To be honest, I fight hard for time with my family and have learned that creating time to be with them actually makes me a better employee; it doesn’t detract from my productivity. I keep this goal of balance constantly in front of me, and schedule time very carefully. As some wise people continue to tell me, what gets scheduled, gets done. What do you do to relax? I love wrestling around with my three boys, being on the water and playing golf with my wife. I also enjoy the time I get to spend watching the students at CLHS engage in activities outside of the school day. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I would say a bit more Gen X than millennial. I tend to be quite independent and see the value not only of emerging technologies, but also proven ways of doing things “old school,” connecting with people face to face in a meaningful way. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Thank your parents more and all the hard work, effort and experiences (both positive and negative) will be worth it.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
Counseling Encouraging People Toward A Better Life
Congratulations
Congratulations Principal Mychal Thom
Michelle Kearns on the distinguished honor of being named a winner of the
2016 Forty Under Forty Award.
All of us here at Headwaters Counseling are very proud of your accomplishments!
2016 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Forty Under 40 winner
www.clhscadets.com
2712 S. Calhoun St. Fort Wayne, IN 46807 www.headwaterscounseling.org
Lincoln Financial Group congratulates
Carmen Tse on being selected as one of the 40 Under 40 honorees. Thank you for your outstanding service to our company and our community.
To learn more about Lincoln Financial Group, visit LFG.com. Lincoln Financial is the marketing name for the Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliate. ©2016 Lincoln National Corporation. LCN-1439175-030916
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
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CARMEN TSE Age: 38
Employer: Lincoln Financial Group Title: Manager, Financial Analysis Education: Bachelor’s in Accounting, MBA, CPA, CGMA Community organizations with which you are involved: Member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church music ministry; Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, board of director, finance committee, allocation committee, strategic planning taskforce, Chair of Arts United Taste of the Arts Festival; Fort Wayne Running Club, board of director, finance committee, website steering committee; membership coordinator; Member of American Institute of CPAs; Indiana CPA Society, Three Rivers Running Company Community Team. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from Travel Leaders (formerly Conference & Travel Services). I was a fresh college graduate with no work experience trying to apply my accounting degree towards the Page 54
debits and credits of a travel agency. I was clueless. This is where my boss then taught me a valuable lesson about making mistakes, as long as I learned from it and not making the same mistake again, everything can be fixed, it is not the end of the world. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? I have been blessed with a tremendous support system with family and friends. But first and foremost, my parents, who supported my decision to study overseas, taught me about faith, values, morality and the importance of a good work ethic. My sister is always proud of me regardless of what I am trying to accomplish. My fiancé has always been incredibly supportive. He has always believed in me when I have doubted myself and continued to challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone. In addition, I have worked for many incredible bosses who have taught me valuable life and business lessons. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment thus far was to find the courage and perseverance at 17 to move from Hong Kong to the United States alone, living with an American host family as a foreign exchange student, earning my accounting degree and passing the CPA exam at 22. Fast forward to 2016, my journey continues as a finance professional helping leaders to make better-educated business decisions. What lessons did you learn from it? Be courageous, be faithful, be diligent and don’t give up. It was terrifying as a teenager to come to a foreign country without any friends and family; however, I was determined to achieve my academic goals and to earn my CPA license, so I studied very hard and was very persistent. What is your current professional goal? The insurance industry is ever changing. My goal is to continue to expand my industry knowledge, focus on learning and further develop my skills as a strategic leader. As the finance leader of my business area, my goal is to lead and to participate in transforming processes, improving operating efficiency, developing effective analytics and turn limited data into
actionable knowledge. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? Accounting standards change regularly, I am a licensed CPA so I attend many continuing education seminars and workshops throughout the year. I read journals such as the Harvard Business Review and Journal of Accountancy. I also subscribe to several professional forums and blogs to stay current with my profession. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? Balancing a career, family and community involvement can be a challenge at times. It is important to plan ahead, schedule your workload and ensure you do not overcommit yourself. Once you committed, be present and give your 110 percent. My fiancé and I share a lot of the similar interests, so I get to spend time with him while doing good work and supporting great causes. My current employer has also been very supportive. What do you do to relax? I am a runner and enjoy running races with distance ranging from 5K to marathon. Fort Wayne has one of the finest trail systems in the Midwest that allows me to relax and be present with the nature all year round. In addition, I love attending Fort Wayne Philharmonic concerts and Fort Wayne Ballet performances, visiting the Artlink Gallery and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art or catching a movie or two at the Cinema Center. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? To me, these terms only define the year someone was born. Generation over generation, people are fundamentally the same, they just look different; we have essentially the same priorities and values, similar experiences to drive our behaviors to get to our destinations. What has changed, in my opinion, is the landscape. I do not identify myself as being either. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? Be bold, stay humble and never be satisfied. Question things with an innocent natural curiosity to desire and learn. The minute you stop asking and think you know everything is the minute you limit your potential. Life is short, don’t wait too long, be a world changer! And lastly, smile at everyone you meet.
Forty Under 40 • March 2016 • fwbusiness.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.
IAN D. WHITE Age: 26
Employer: Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic Title: Front Desk Coordinator; EMR Administrator Education: • Master of Healthcare Administration from University of Saint Francis • Currently working on MBA at the University of Saint Francis • Bachelor’s in Public Health from Indiana University, Bloomington Community organizations with which you are involved: Member of the Matthew 25 medical advisory board committee, dental advisory board committee, leadership committee, the wellness & education committee; Board member (secretary) and volunteer with Sonrisas; member of the Indiana University Alumni Association; member of the American Public Health Association. Where did your first paycheck come from? What was your job then? My first paycheck came from East of Chicago, the small-town pizza place in Warren, where I worked in high school as a server and in the kitchen. What kind of support did you receive along the way to help you advance in your career? In addition to the love and support from my fiancé, family and friends, someone believed in me. Still uncertain with what exactly I wanted to do in the public health field, I was faced with an internship in my final semester at IU. After just three weeks of interning, I was fortunate to get hired part-time at the front desk for the dental clinic at Matthew 25. It was through the many great connections I established that help land me in an administration role as the front desk coordinator for Matthew 25 in June 2013. I continue to have the support of my supervisors and executive leaders who believe in me and allow me to truly demonstrate my leadership capabilities and ability to connect well with patients. What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career? My biggest accomplishment thus far in my career is completing my master’s in Healthcare Administration at the University of Saint Francis. After completing my bachelor’s degree at IU, I took one year off to work and delve into my new administrative role at Matthew 25. I knew I wanted to get my master’s, but wanted to work and gain experience in my career field first so I could apply it in my studies. I completed my MHA in December of 2015
and just started working on my MBA in January of 2016. What lessons did you learn from it? I definitely learned how to juggle life and all its happenings better. It’s not easy to work a full-time job and go to school full-time, in addition to having other commitments. Time management and prioritizing have been the two skills that helped me get through, and will continue to help me juggle life. At the end of it all, I have learned that with focus, effort, and prioritizing, if I put my mind to it, I can do just about anything. I have also learned the importance of taking time away from the hustle and bustle to focus on me and make time for myself. What is your current professional goal? My professional goals are many. First, and foremost, I would like to finish my MBA. Once finished with my MBA, I want to position myself to advance the ranks in not-for-profit healthcare. Ultimately, I strive to become a well-respected leader in this field. I am not opposed to my career going to private sector healthcare, but I really enjoy the aspect of pay-it-forward that you find in the not-for-profit sector. How do you remain current/relevant in your profession? I love to learn and take on the next challenge that awaits me. I remain current and relevant in the Healthcare Administration profession by reading journals and articles about the latest trends, technology and methods used. Additionally, I reach out to my friends and colleagues to learn about their personal and professional experiences. I’m not afraid to ask for help; I find that learning from my mistakes is another way to stay on top of things. How do you balance your career, family life and community involvement? There is no single formula for attaining a balanced life. I think the balance comes from just simply knowing when one part is taking away from another. There are times when one aspect of life will need more attention than others. During these times, I am very appreciative of the understanding, love, and support I receive from my fiancé, family and friends when I must stay late at the office, study after I get home from work, or go to meetings throughout the week. It’s hard for me to say “no.” I rely on those closest to me to let me know when I need to “shuffle some things around.”
What do you do to relax? When I do have time to relax, which is rare, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, family, friends, and pets. I also love to travel, whether near or far, but there’s nothing better than boarding a plane and getting away from my daily grind. I also make time to get massages and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) as I wind down from my day. Do you identify with Gen X or as a millennial? Why? I identify as a millennial. I consider myself a millennial because I have grown up in an electronics-filled and increasingly online and socially-networked world. Although a millennial, I do still enjoy making that phone call home to talk with mom and dad. What would you tell your high school self based on what you know now? It will all be okay; life does not go as planned. Who you are in high school does not define who you are in life or what you are destined to do. Knowing what I know now, take a deep breath, buckle up, and enjoy the adventurous ride that they call life.
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CONGRATULATES ONGRATULATES
a n a U n i v e r s i t y – P u r d u e U n i v e r s i t y F o r t Wa y n e
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y – P u r d u e U n i v e r s i t y F o r t Wa y n e
CONGRATULATES
MARIETTA FRYE, M.A. Director of Advising College of Arts and Sciences MARIETTA FRYE , M.A.
MARIETTA FRYE, M.A. MARIETTA FRYE , M.A. Director of Advising Director of Advising
ELLEN CUTTE Director Community Research CUTTER , AICP
ELLEN ELLEN CUTTER , AICP ELLEN CUTTER , AICP Director Director
RECIPIENTS OF THE 2016 40 UN
Director CollegeofofAdvising Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences
Director Research Institute Community Community Research Institute Community Research Institute
RECIPIENTS 40 UNDER RECIPIENTSOF OFTHE THE 2016 2016 40 UNDER 4040 CIPIENTS OF THE 2016 40 UNDER 40
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