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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.comHeckaman 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.comMcCormick 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.