2019 - 2020 SWIN Chamber Annual Report

#Together
WeThrive

2020 PIVOT:

MOVING
FORWARD

Your Southwest Indiana Chamber is proud to be
leading collaborative efforts to position our region
as “THE PLACE” to live, work and grow a business
in the Midwest, the U.S. and beyond.
Collaboration is the key, and at the Chamber
we know “Together We Thrive.”

www.swinchamber.com 2019/2020
@SWINChamber ANNUAL REPORT

Pictured: Berry Global accepts the 2020 Business of the Year Award at the Annual Meeting & Dinner held in-person and via live stream, Sept. 24, 2020.

A Luke Yeager, Incoming Chair-Elect | Christine Keck, Chair | Curt Begle, Chair-Elect
MESSAGE
FROM
OUR BOARD
CHAIRS

The Southwest Indiana Chamber’s fiscal 2020 year ended years, we’ve led through a multitude of opportunities and
September 30. The Chamber is an organization which challenges; potentially none as tumultuous, difficult to
has proudly served as the collective voice of our regional navigate or just plain scary as 2020. We’ve faced a pandemic
business community since 1915. In one hundred and five with thousands of jobs lost, the closure of our economy and

many hundreds of businesses at risk – all without a playbook. thousands of businesses found and can still find the most accurate,
As the needs of our members, our community and our region evolve, the up- to-the-minute guidance and information they need to protect their
Southwest Indiana Chamber is by your side, engaging strategically and businesses.
proactively, being nimble – responding to changes and ensuring that our We convened the Boards of the Chamber, Coalition and GAGE weekly
region is positioned to thrive as a globally competitive place to work, live by Zoom to stay current on the greatest needs of our businesses, with
and grow a business. The Chamber provided leadership with numerous the critical, timely input of many public sector leaders, including Mayor
legislative wins, new and innovative programing, and strong support for Lloyd Winnecke and Congressman Larry Bucshon, as well as our health
the Chamber’s Alliances and committees, tasked with keeping our region care providers. These calls quickly turned into a vital and trusted resource
moving forward within their areas of focus. of information, guidance and collaboration to help our region navigate
The Southwest Indiana Chamber is an association of businesses and through this turbulent situation.
individuals who come together for the benefit of our region. You inform We recognized that if we could execute successfully, this was an
our priorities, our public policy agenda, our member benefits, and every opportunity for our Chamber to have an even broader and more lasting
aspect of our work and services. You make our events successful and impact on the resilience and prosperity of our region. That meant doing
consistently the best-attended business programs in the community. things like: hosting Zoom town halls, showcasing local businesses, direct
You guide our talent and workforce initiatives and advise the Southwest membership calls, business-to-business free webinar information sharing
Indiana Small Business Development Center, which we are proud to host. and conducting surveys. Additionally, our Southwest Indiana Small
Chambers of Commerce are catalysts, conveners and champions for Business Development Center, which has always been such an important
our members and the communities in which we proudly serve. When partner to our business community, became even more critical through
COVID-19 came to our region and our public health partners made these months.
it clear that we would have to stay home and close business until we Some tangible wins for 2020 include: the Chamber Foundation serving
could safely manage the spread of the virus, we immediately pivoted community and quality of place priorities, modernizing our governance,
to provide all businesses in the region – not just our members – with winning marketing and communications awards, moving the needle
the critical information and services they needed. Very early into the on the I-69 bridge, advancing regional prosperity and equity for all, and
pandemic we mobilized internally and with our Board, to determine how committing to aligned and deliberate progress and growth for our region.
best to change gears from our normal course of operations and step We have a bright future. We are going to grow our region. We are going
up as the spark for nimble, collaborative leadership to businesses and to prosper as an equitable and inclusive community that opens access to
stakeholders throughout this region. our economy to all. We are going to participate in the Global Economy
With the able partnership of the Economic Development Coalition and because this Chamber, of which each of us is a part, will continue to
GAGE, we joined forces and quickly converted the Chamber website advocate for the change that moves us toward these goals, and we will
to a Business Information Portal. For the months that our region was do it together with every like-minded organization and individual.
essentially closed to commerce and normal business transactions,
#TogetherWeThrive

BUSINESS
GROWTH
SERVICES

TOTAL MEMBERS EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED

1,335 133,000

With 62 Board Members and 53 Ambassadors, the COVID-19 RESPONSE BY THE NUMBERS...
Southwest Indiana Chamber has gained more than
110 New Members during the 2019 - 2020 fiscal year. 6,914 460 2,757

Helping to support our members’ specific needs are # of restaurant # of business owners # of member
the Tri-State Manufacturing Alliance and the Family take-out/delivery participating in support calls
Business Alliance. Both alliances conduct informative website page views virtual town hall in March, April
quarterly events bringing high-quality, nationally in March meetings and May
recognized speakers. The alliances have also formed
peer groups providing best practices and supporting
incoming leaders.

The Posey County Office is an extra layer of support
for our members in the Posey County area. The Posey
County Office hosts the Annual Report to the Posey
County Business Community and the State of Schools,
among other activities throughout the year.

We are proud to host the SW Indiana 834 117 307
Small Business Development Center
- a top performing organization # of survey # of small businesses # of businesses
supporting new business. respondents - highlighted on WFIE 14 listed on
thank you! Serving the Tri-State swinchamber.com
466 Clients Served as resources
33 Business Starts
SOUTHWEST $10M Capital Investment $6.3M Disaster related capital funding
3,045 Jobs Supported approved through SW Indiana SBDC

Sally Rideout, our government affairs specialist, provided insights LEGISLATIVE WINS
through daily and then weekly COVID-19 updates from Gov.
SB1 Tobacco & Vaping Smoking Age
Eric J. Holcomb and his team to keep our members updated with
the latest mandates, financial resources, and health and safety SB 409 Employment of Minors
guidance across all sectors of business. She provided direct
assistance to several members who reached out with HB 1153 & HB 1419
specific questions and concerns regarding their Governor’s Workforce Cabinet
operations and safety plans.
SB 177 Administration of the
Our Public Policy Committee met Broadband Ready Program

virtually with local legislators several SB 350 Central Indiana Regional
Development Authority
PUBLIC times to provide direct input about
the business community and HB 1343 New Harmony &
hear their perspectives on Wabash River Bridge Authority
ways Indiana government
SB 256 Courts & Judicial Officers
POLICY was stepping in to help.
Some of our committees, SB 61 EMS Personnel Licensure
including our Infrastructure Interstate Compact
We are the trusted voice of the regional business and our Energy and
community, and as such, we advocate for HB 1004 Health Matters
legislation and policies that help our region Environmental Committees,
thrive. We keep a keen eye on local, state moved their meetings to virtual HB 1111 Unemployment

formats to continue providing educational HB 1065 Various Tax Matters

and national issues that positively or opportunities for members.

adversely affect our members and
the region. Some might say we
have our elected leaders
on speed dial.
ADVOCATING FOR COMPLETION
OF THE OHIO RIVER CROSSING

Best location for economic development, cross

river mobility and ease of traffic congestion.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb joins Southwest Indiana Chamber President and CEO Tara Barney for a discussion
during the 2020 Lunch with the Governor. Other legislative and advocacy events included Lunch with the

Mayor, Lunch with the Lt. Governor and Report to the Posey County Business Community.

TALENT, 3rd
INCLUSION & ANNUAL
LEADERSHIP
LATINO CHAMBER ALLIANCE
DINNER - ¡CELEBRECION!

The Latino Chamber Alliance Annual Dinner and the Athena Awards were able to be
full, in-person events before the shutdown of COVID-19. The Young Professionals

Alliance offered its events virtually throughout the year. The Chamber took the lead on
conducting COVID-related webinars and town halls to assist businesses
in shifting to accommodate COVID-19 mandates.

Proudly hosting the annual ATHENA Award COVID-19 RESPONSE WEBINARS
Luncheon reflecting the critical importance
MARCH 27: COVID-19 Legal Issues for Small Business
of women in the community. APRIL 22: Food & Beverage Town Hall
APRIL 23: Manufacturing Town Hall
ATHENA AWARD
Close Contact Business Town Hall
30 YEARS APRIL 24: Local Retail Town Hall
APRIL 27: Manufacturing Best Practices
CELEBRATING WOMEN LEADERS APRIL 30: ReOpening After COVID-19: Staying Legal 2.0

Child Care Town Hall
MAY 6: ReOpening Stage 2 Retail Town Hall

ReOpening Stage 2 Restaurant Bar Town Hall
MAY 19: Turning Adversity into Opportunity:

Success in the Face of COVID-19
JUNE 1: Hospitality and Event Town Hall
JUNE 17: Turning Adversity into Opportunity:

Building Business and Personal Resilience
JULY 8: Turning Adversity into Opportunity:

How to Think Like a Remote Worker
What COVID-19 Means for State

& Local Budgets
SEPTEMBER 16: Cybersecurity – Manage Your Risks
SEPTEMBER 28: Families First Coronovirus Response Act

@swinchamber

900+ MEMBER NEWS &

Greater Evansville is a region with a bright future. We’ve EVENT PROMOTIONS

got more career opportunities than most places in the 16K+ SOCIAL MEDIA
Midwest, and our schools and universities punch
above their weight in both quality and value. We FOLLOWERS

CONVENING & are lucky enough to have miles of trails and 4 ICEA EXCELLENCE IN
thousands of acres of public parks and
forests to enjoy, and our overall cost of COMMUNICATIONS
living beats out most of
the country. AWARDS
· Programs That Engage The
CHAMPIONING The Southwest Indiana
OUR REGION Chamber and our partner Next Generation: Regional YP Conference
organizations are committed
to some specific goals for our · Marketing Campaigns:
community over the next five years.
We’ve named this vision for a stronger Welcome Back! Media Kit

· Strategic Plan / Annual Reports:

2019 Annual Report

· Website Excellence: swinchamber.com

E IS FOR EVERYONE region Talent 2025. By committing to some SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY
REOPEN EVANSVILLE TASKFORCE specific goals, we can set our hometowns COVID-19
TALENT 2025 on the right track. ECDTVTOBHAOOWERNWNOSIVERTNNWIKLTHGLODEEEIWANTCNGAONBEPSLSEECOLINPICL#EKeepItLocal

KEEP IT LOCAL! MEMBER DIRECTORY #5
Glossy magazine featuring small business resilience, a new
JAIONTBTNSRAATCIOTINNGFOR

multi-cultural business directory and quality-of-place stories. greater evansville COVID-19
greater evansville
HTUCROHPIEETUDGIPSAEIOOESTENSTAL greater evansville LSIINLVINEGR SITNLUOLTOROCCANALOIENLAPTGBPS,UODARSRDINITNKVSUEE, CNSROSSIUTEPITYOSYNS & MORE!

MULTI-CBUULSTIUNREASSLPAGNEE3W0!
DIRECTORYIPnidcitaunraedC:hGaumebsetsr aStitgennadtuinrge tehvee2n0t 2at0OLludnNchatWionitahltEhveeGntosvPelranzoarinSoEuvtahnwsveisllte, IN.

SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER

AMBASSADORS

In addition to helping businesses celebrate
milestones with ribbon-cuttings and
volunteering at events, the Southwest Indiana
Chamber Ambassadors stepped up to aid
businesses during COVID-19.

The Ambassadors rallied to help local
restaurants by hosting Grab-N-Go lunches.
They delivered “Welcome Back” window clings
to let customers know the business they were
entering was open and safe.

Moreover, the Ambassadors continued
member engagement by assisting with
monthly member retention
communications.

The chamber is lucky to have such engaged,
enthusiatic and commited ambassadors to
support the local business region.

$262,050

EVENTS | PROJECTS | WORKSHOPS

$356,502

GRANTS | CONTRIBUTIONS

FINANCIALS $712,212
& OPERATIONS
MEMBERSHIP DUES

The Southwest Indiana Chamber thrives through
responsible financial management and
streamlined operations. With support from $450,321
nearly 1,400 members, we deliver
unmatched programming,
host exceptional events, launch PROGRAMS | PUBLICATIONS | OTHER
new member-focused initiatives
and advocate on behalf
of the regional business
community.

$1,781,085
2019 - 2020 FISCAL YEAR GROSS REVENUE

SOUTHWEST INDIANA SBDC PAT CRON TINA FUHRER
KIM HOWARD
Membership Acquisition Account Executive
Regional Director Coordinator [email protected]
[email protected]
DOUG CLAYBOURN

Business Advisor

JULIE FOLZ

Business Advisor

GRANT GLACKMAN

Business Advisor

KARINA HAMPTON
Office Coordinator

TARA BARNEY

President & CEO
[email protected]

RACHEL HERR RANDY OWENS

Member Engagement Posey County Director
Manager [email protected]
[email protected]

SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER

“STAFFAs a new business owner DOROTHY CHANDA RAMSEY KAREN ROBINSON
in these unprecedented times, PERGOLA
I am thrilled to have such a great Marketing & Communications Events Manager
TSMA Coordinator [email protected]
[email protected] Creative Director
[email protected]
ELLEN KNAPP
organization to help keep me JOSHUA
updated and informed.” ARMSTRONG Vice President & CFO
[email protected]
– ERIC RALPH President
owner, Honey Baked Ham
ADAM TRINKEL
VICKI SCHMITT COURTNEY SNYDER
Marketing & Events Director
Operations Administrator & Administrative Coordinator
ALLI TURPIN Secretary to the Board [email protected]
[email protected]
Marketing & Events Coordinator

CANDACE CHAPMAN

Executive Director
Development Corporation

DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE - EID

2019/2020 CHAIR SECRETARY VICE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BRAND AWARENESS
BOARD OF QUALITY OF PLACE
DIRECTORS CHRISTINE KECK BETH MCFADIN PETE PARADOSSI
HIGGINS JEFF JUSTICE
Vectren - A CenterPoint Energy ERBC
Company McFadin Higgins & Folz, LLP Hafer
PRESIDENT & CEO
CHAIR-ELECT TREASURER VICE CHAIR, SMALL BUSINESS
& ENTREPRENEURSHIP TARA BARNEY
CURT BEGLE KEITH MESSMER
JOHN LAMB Southwest Indiana Chamber
Berry Global BKD, LLP
German American Bank VICE PRESIDENT & CFO
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIR, ADVOCACY
& PUBLIC POLICY VICE CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP ELLEN KNAPP
JIM SANDGREN ENGAGEMENT & OPERATIONAL
LUKE YAEGER EXCELLENCE Southwest Indiana Chamber
Old National Bank
Indiana Members Credit Union LISA SLADE

Slade Print

DAVID ANDERSON MICHELLE HUDSON GEORGE L. MORGAN ELLEN REDDING

Warrick Co. Chamber Rep. Posey Co. Committee Rep. CountryMark Energy Resources, LLC Henderson Co. Chamber Rep.
LNB Investment Services Shrode Agency, Inc.
BRAD MUEHLBAUER GREG RISCH
STEVE BENNETT CHRIS JACKSON
Koch Air, LLC Gibbs Die Casting
Posey Co. Committee Rep./CSB State Bank Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc.
PEPPER MULHERIN PHILLIP ROBERTS
JEAN BLANTON W. KERRY JACKSON
AT&T Hilliard Lyons
Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders Shoe Carnival, Inc.
MICHAEL O’DANIEL DR. RONALD ROCHON
JOHN BRISCOE GUY JACKSON
D-Patrick, Inc. University of Southern Indiana
FC Tucker Emge Realtors BWX Technologies
DAN PAROD BILL SCHIRMER
KATHY BRISCOE TONY KRAMPE
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union
FC Tucker Emge Realtors Henderson Co. Chamber Rep.
Old National Bank BERNARD PETER MICHAEL SCHOPMEYER
KYLA DOWELL
DARIN LANDER Warrick Co. Chamber Rep. Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP
Ivy Tech Community College First Advantage Insurance
Old National Bank LAURA SCOTT
BRAD ELLSWORTH DOUG PETITT
LUKE LEDER Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt LLP
Vectren South United Companies
Posey Co. Committee Rep. JORDAN SHEETS
KYLE FIELDS Valero Renewables – Mt. Vernon CHRISTOPHER PIETRUSZKIEWICZ
Spencer County Regional Chamber Rep
SS&C Technologies BRANDON McCLISH University of Evansville
DR. DAVID SMITH
BRANT FLORES Purple Aces Sports Properties – UE ARTHUR PIKE
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.
PMG Landscaping Company NIALL McCONVILLE RB
CINDY STAPLES
KARI FLUEGEL SABIC PAULA PINKSTAFF
AstraZeneca
Alcoa – Warrick Operations SHAWN McCOY Toyota
SCOTT THOMAS
DAVID FREEMAN Deaconess Health System JOHNATHAN POPE DR. MATT THOMPSON

BKD, LLP JAKE McGENNIS YMCA MSD of Mt. Vernon

NATE HAHN Curran Miller Auction Realty JENNIFER RAIBLEY AMBER THORN

Evansville Regional Airport JIM McMURRAY Fifth Third Bank Posey Co. Committee Rep.
Warehouse Services, Inc.
MIKE HEAD Atlas World Group DAVE RECTOR
PATTY VANOVAN
First Federal Savings Bank STACY McNEILL Warrick Co. Chamber Rep.
Evansville Vanderburgh Co. Bldg. Authority Gibson Co. Chamber of Commerce
DREW HECKERT Tropicana Evansville
KATHY REINKE MAYOR LLOYD WINNECKE
Edward Jones KEITH MESSMER
Spencer Co. Regional Chamber Rep. City of Evansville
JAY HIETT BKD, LLP

WFIE/Raycom KELLY MITCHELL
Warrick Co. Chamber Rep./SIRS

THANK YOU We value and appreciate all of our members. The Southwest Indiana
Chamber would not be the premier business organization it has been for over 100
PARTNERS & EVENT SPONSORS years without the ongoing support of our partners and key partnering sponsors.
SIGNATURE CIRCLE PARTNERS

PIVOTAL PARTNERS

WAREHOUSE
SERVICES, INC.

VISIONARY PARTNERS

Anchor Industries, Inc. Escalade Sports, Inc. Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville NFP Clippinger Financial Group
Atlas World Group, Inc. Evansville Regional Airport Hafer OneMain Financial
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Evansville Regional Business Harding Shymanski & Co. Regency Properties
AT&T Committee Heritage Federal Credit Union Shoe Carnival
Baird Wealth Management Evansville Teachers Federal Jackson Kelly PLLC Skanska
Banterra Bank Credit Union Kahn Dees Donovan & Kahn Stoll Keenon Ogden
Commerce Bank FC Tucker Emge Realty Kenny Kent Chevrolet Tropicana
CountryMark First Federal Savings Bank Legence Bank University of Evansville
Donaldson Capital Management First Financial Bank Lochmueller Group University of Southern Indiana
Economic Development Coalition of Friends of Winnecke Mitchell Transmission Welborn Baptist Foundation
Southwest Indiana Garmong Construction Services Mulzer Crushed Stone Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders

#Together
We Thrive

MISSION-FOCUSED, VISION-GUIDED

MISSION: SERVING OUR REGION BY PROMOTING AND
PROTECTING BUSINESS

VISION: TO MAKE OUR REGION A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PLACE TO
WORK, LIVE AND GROW A BUSINESS

VALUES: LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

EVANSVILLE POSEY COUNTY OFFICE greater evansville
318 Main Street, Suite 401 231A Main Street • PO Box 633 greater evansville
Evansville, IN 47708 Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 greater evansville
812-425-8147 812-838-3639

www.swinchamber.com

@SWINChamber