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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – May/June 2016

AUTHENTIC ELKHART

Bernie Beer grew up in the Nappanee

area. As the youngest of seven children, he

opted for a profession other than farming. He

started as a salesman with McCormick

Motors in 1961 and has been president for

almost 20 years. The General Motors

dealership offers personal vehicle sales and

service, as well as commercial van and truck

sales. It employs around 40 people.

Beer highlights the low cost of living in

the county.

“There’s no other place I’d sooner live,

and I’ve traveled all over the world,” he

asserts. “To summarize Elkhart County, and I

know this is a fact, for what you can make

and what you can live on per capita, there’s

no place like it. That’s as I see it, but you’ve

got to be willing to work. Elkhart County

does not tolerate laziness.”

BV:

What have been the lasting impacts

of the Great Recession?

BB:

“The one thing that helped balance

this (recession) was the agriculture. The

farmers did very well during that and kept it

from being a total disaster. I think we’ve

rebounded about as well as any place around.

The lasting impact would be that people

aren’t making the money they were making

before the Great Recession. A lot of people

lost their credit during the Great Recession.”

BV:

What is it about Elkhart County

that helps businesses and people prosper?

BB:

“The work ethic. There are strong

family ties for the most part in Elkhart County

and they’ve always had a labor force here

that’s just about second to none. They’ve

always built things, and they build them well.

There is a strong Amish and conservative

base. Strong work ethic; people get to work

on time and turn out a lot of products.”

BV:

What makes you optimistic about

the future of your company?

BB:

“Optimistically, our workforce here

is going to attract some pretty good industry.

Being a General Motors dealer, there are not

many left in markets our size. I see growth

potential with us.”

BV:

How does the rich heritage and culture

make Elkhart County a great place to live?

BB:

“Well, we’re sitting right here on

some really fertile farm ground; we’ve got

successful farmers. The Amish and the

conservative community and the vast majority of

people probably have the Amish somewhere

back in their family tree. Those people tend

to stay put and try to maximize the potential

of where they grew up and lived. They are

expert networkers among themselves. Elkhart

County is really good at that. I see that as one

of our biggest strengths. There is no better

labor than the conservative workforce.”

BV:

What are the hidden gems?

BB:

“Right here in Nappanee, we’ve got

a strong Amish heritage. Amish Acres, which

is known nationally, is well preserved. It’s

much the same thing in Middlebury, at the

other end of the county. Our county park

system is very good; you’ve also got the

national recreational vehicle hall of fame.

“And people just love to come to the

small towns in Elkhart County and

experience the conservative lifestyle. The fast

food places and modern grocery stores that

have hitching racks; that is a hidden gem for

most people, but it’s a way of life for us.”

Sullivan Group, Inc.

Amy Heckaman, program director

302 Del Mar Way, Nappanee

www.sullivangroupusa.com

Heckaman has been with the company

for 18 years. She isn’t an Indiana native (Ohio

was home), but has been in the Elkhart

County area for almost 20 years.

“I grew up in a small town that’s similar

to this area and I do appreciate being able to

live and work in a smaller community where

family values do mean something,” she offers.

“There is a sense of community locally. That’s

why I enjoy living here.”

Kerry and Paula Sullivan started Sullivan

Group in 1978 as a screen printing and embroidery

company. Over the years, it has branched out

By Charlee Beasor

Values, Heritage Among Key Attributes

County Focus – Elkhart

Elkhart County is often referred to as the RV Capital of the World. But there is much more to celebrate,

according to two county business leaders.

Bernie Beer, president of McCormick Motors, and Amy Heckaman, program director for the Sullivan Group, Inc., highlight the strong value

system of hard work, a rich Amish heritage, a thriving agricultural industry and low cost of living.

McCormick Motors

Bernie Beer, president

1255 W. Market Street, Nappanee

www.mccormickmotors.com

McCormick Motors President Bernie Beer cites the small community feel as one reason for the

longevity of his employees. The least senior person on his sales staff, for example, has been at the

dealership for eight years.