Leadership roles announced for Valparaiso City Services
The City of Valparaiso has announced new leadership for the Valparaiso City Services division, which provides comprehensive services, including water, wastewater, streets, solid waste, recycling collection and snow removal, according to a release from the city.
Matt Zurbriggen has been named Deputy Director for Valparaiso City Services and Katie Travis has been named Public Works Manager, according to Steve Poulos, Executive Director for Valparaiso City Services, in a release.
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Zurbriggen formerly served as the Deputy Engineering Director for the City of Valparaiso. He has 10 years of engineering experience in both the private and public sectors and has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Trine University, a release said.
Travis formerly served as Business Operations Manager for Valparaiso City Services and has more than six years of experience with the department, a release said. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University.
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Matt Zurbriggen has been named Deputy Director for Valparaiso City Services, which provides comprehensive services, including water, wastewater, streets, solid waste, recycling collection and snow removal, according to a release from the city. – Original Credit: Photo courtesy of City of Valpar (Photo courtesy of the City of Valparaiso/HANDOUT)
Hoosier food banks receive $2 million in state funding
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is among Indiana agencies in line to receive a combined $2 million, according to a release.
According to Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIH), while the long lines outside of food banks and food pantries may not have been as noticeable in 2021 as the year before, nearly 1 in 6 Americans received food assistance from the charitable sector last year.
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana will receive $195,200, the release said. The Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana in Indianapolis is slated to receive the largest amount, $643,600. Indiana has 11 food banks, which feed into pantries and soup kitchens across the state. Each food bank received part of the $2 million in funding, which was provided by the Indiana Legislature, as part of its biennial budget. The distribution amounts were determined using The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TFAP) fair share percentages for Indiana, which captures poverty and unemployment levels in each county.
Katie Travis has been named Public Works Manager for the City of Valparaiso. Travis formerly served as Business Operations Manager for Valparaiso City Services and has more than six years of experience with the department, a release said. – Original Credit: Photo courtesy of City of Valpar (Photo courtesy of the City of Valparaiso/HANDOUT)
Humane Indiana awarded $10K grant
Humane Indiana received a $10,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love during a recent celebration at Highland Petco, 10235 Indianapolis Blvd.
Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger and healthier, according to a release. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts, the release said.
“We are honored to have Petco Love’s partnership for our mission, helping pets and people live their best lives,” Jessica Petalas, Humane Indiana Shelter Director, said in the release. For more information about Humane Indiana, visit humaneindiana.org. Learn more about Petco Love at petcolove.org.
Region represented in IBL state listing
The Indiana Business Journal’s annual list of the state’s movers and shakers includes a smattering of Calumet Region representatives.
Joining former governor and Purdue University president Mitch Daniels and former governor and vice president Mike Pence on the second annual IBJ Media Indiana 250, a list of the state’s most influential business and community leaders, are Pete Visclosky, longtime Congressman from Gary and chairman of the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority Board; Heather Ennis, of the Northwest Indiana Forum, and Sheri Ziller, of the Regional Development Authority, in the Civic Leadership category.
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Others making the list include: Thomas Collins II, owner and president of the Luke Family of Brands in Energy/Agriculture; Mike Schrage, CEO of Centier Bank, Financial/Business Service; Thomas Dakich, an attorney who has focused on telecommunications and data center development, according to a release, Law; and Bill Hanna, executive director of the Dean and Barbra White Family Foundation.
Jose Padilla, president of Valparaiso University, is named in the Not For Profit/Education listing. Also listed is Michael Noland, president of Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, in the Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics group; and Robert E. Johnson III, president/CEO and co-founder of Cimcor Inc., in the Technology/Media category.
Visit https://www.indiana250.com/2023 for the complete listing.
Michigan City Chamber announces ambassador
The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce announced Jessica O’Brien as the Ambassador of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2023, according to a release.
O’Brien serves as the Development Director for The Salvation Army of Michigan City and is a member of the Rotary Club of Michigan City.
The Chamber’s Ambassador of the Quarter designation is given to an individual who has shown dedication to the mission of the Chamber by regularly attending chamber events, connecting with members through emails, calls and in-person meetings, and referring non-members for membership, a release said. As ambassador, O’Brien helps to promote the role of the Chamber in the community by welcoming new members, encouraging current members to maximize their membership and aid in maintaining and increasing the retention rate of new and existing members, a release said.
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To learn more about chamber membership, call Danny Hogan at 219-874-6221 or email membership@mcachamber.com Visit www.MichiganCityChamber.com for more information about the chamber.