BizVoice March / April 2015

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6 BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – March/April 2015
@IndianaChamber
Brinegar: State superintendent needs to be
appointed, on same page with governor
bit.ly/1Cqk5EK (our column) via @nwi #INLegis
Indiana INTERNnet announces Lilly
Endowment funding, outlines plans for more
collaboration tiny.cc/yzqftx @IndianaINTERN
#internship
Lilly Diabetes making significant global inroads
ow.ly/IkTbo (via @IIB) @LillyPad
IN’s largest employer of people with vision
loss, @Bosmaenterprise, celebrates 100 years
of opportunity ow.ly/IaKOr (via @IIB)
Grant from @FifthThird to support Southside
Indy quality of life study (press conf. tmrw
morning) ow.ly/I74fF
Get tix now for our March 11 Legislative
Dinner featuring former White House press
secretary Jay Carney
#INLegis
What others are saying to – or
about – the Indiana Chamber:
@CI_ASSE: Great speaker lineup at IN Safety &
Health Conference! Register at: hubs.ly/y0qLpS0
@
#INSafety15
@h4qed: @IndianaChamber testifying in
support of HB 1609. Not a new idea.
Chamber has supported this for over 30 years,
whether SPI is Rep or Dem
@ScottElliott_IN: Everyone at #INHouse Ed
Cmte is for a tax credit for teachers buying
supplies: unions, @IndianaChamber, IDOE, etc.
@SunKingBrewing: @IndianaChamber
@3floyds Thank you for the support!
#SupportINBrewers
@readyindiana: Excited to visit @
NobSchools today to feature their robust
#internship program in @IndianaChamber
BizVoice mag, Mar/Apr issue. Look for it!
@ericweddle: @IndianaChamber hires new
education lobbyist Caryl Auslander, frmer
Lugar staffer & Verizon gov affairs director
bit.ly/1wxzOxW
What’s Chirping
on Tweet Street?
The Indiana Chamber has over
12,300 followers. Are you on the
list? Here are some examples of
recent activity:
CHAMBER REPORT
Going Back to
Familiar Places
For two of the stories I had the
opportunity to write in this issue, I traveled
to Wabash and Batesville. I’ve been to both
communities many, many times (a little more
on that later) – and am pleased to be able to
share the Wabash County Promise (Page 28)
and some equally encouraging education-
driven partnerships in Batesville (Page 24).
The critical importance of locally-driven
solutions cannot be underestimated. Yes,
there are lessons to be learned from best
practices. In fact, the dream of the initiators
of the Wabash County Promise is an eventual
Promise Indiana. But they also know that won’t happen without local stakeholders embracing the
program and making it their own.
What’s the common ingredient in these efforts in Wabash, Batesville and beyond? It’s local
leadership. The message for others from their actions: We control our own fate. We can make great
things happen. We will not be denied.
My reaction: More power to you and all those striving to make a difference.
If you’re wondering what took me to the two fine communities noted here, I was actually born in
Batesville, grew up 15 miles away in St. Leon and spent more than a few days at the rival of my East
Central High School.
Wabash was the second stop on my newspaper career, with service for two-plus years as sports
editor of the Wabash Plain Dealer newspaper. That run included a bit of a David and Goliath upset to earn
the 1986 state high school baseball championship over neighboring Marion.
Good times and lasting memories from both cities. Great programs and exciting progress for both
communities today.
– Tom Schuman, Editor
Your Chance
to Weigh In
Many say finding qualified
workers is their most critical
business challenge. That question
and related topics are featured in
the Indiana Chamber’s 2015
Workforce Development
Employer Survey. We look
forward to gaining your insights.
The 2014 survey, along with
Indiana Chamber Foundation
research on school counseling,
guided the development of
several of the Chamber’s
Ready Indiana initiatives – and
the focus of some of the stories
in this issue.
Look for the survey link in your
inbox on March 4; the survey will
close March 20. If you do not
receive the March 4 email and
are the best person from your
Indiana employer to complete
the survey, contact Amy Marsh
).
All sectors in Wabash
– city and county –
have come together for
the Promise program.