This past year we’ve talked to and learned a lot about local businesses in the area. Here’s an annual look into everyone that we talked to, what they offer and why they do what they love to do.
Business Spotlight: The Gagie School
For more than 30 years, the Gagie School has prepared children to become very highly contributing members of society with a focus on the individual. The school offers pre-K through 8th grade curriculum and lets students dictate the pace.
Business Spotlight: Jazzercise Center on Franklin Street
Kim Noe owns the Jazzercise Center on Franklin Street franchise, a passion that began roughly 16 years ago. Jazzercise, which offers a fusion of dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing movements al choreographed to the most current music, has positively affected millions of people worldwide.
Business Spotlight: Precision Printer Services
Family-owned and operated, Precision Printer Services provides high-quality laser printers, service, support and compatible cartridges. The business began in 1991 while Roy was attending Western Michigan University. It has grown over the years and now employs 42 people at its location in Portage, Michigan.
Business Spotlight – Chuck’s Bakery
Chuck’s Bakery glazed onto the pastry scene in 1982 and celebrated 30 years of sugar-coated service earlier this year. Gordon Vander Steldt joined the family business in the ’80s and now operates the facility located in Orville Redenbacher’s hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Business Spotlight – Frontier Lawn and Recreation
Owner of Frontier Lawn and Recreation, Bruce moved into the driver’s seat of his Michigan City-based family business in 1985. Frontier Lawn and Recreation specializes in John Deere tractors, outdoor power equipment, sales, parts and more. Bruce also entrusts Horizon Bank with financial responsibilities.
Business Spotlight: 3rd Base Bar and Grill
Nestled in the city of LaPorte, Indiana, 3rd Base Bar and Grill was born after a fluke idea in 1999. Always of the entrepreneurial spirit, Kent Johnson now has two homeruns to show for it. Kent keeps busy between 3rd Base and Mom’s Café (his other venture). It’s hard to deny Kent’s success, simply because most restaurant startups quietly close up shop within a few years. Kent’s batting 2-for-2 against the odds.
Business Spotlight: Carlson’s Drive-In
It’s been 65 years since Carlson’s Drive-In, one of the few remaining of its kind, opened its fryers in Michigan City, Indiana. Still holding time-honored traditions like all-beef, bun-length Eckrich hotdogs, on-site homemade root beer and freshly peeled produce, Carlson’s is known for interlacing nostalgia with an excellent menu and top-notch customer experience.
Business Spotlight – Mario’s
Formed in the early 1960s, Mario’s was more about premium meat than the mop-tops taking over airwaves worldwide. Upon her father’s retirement in 1987, Lynda Bell took over the Mario’s family food business and catering soon became a focal point of the Elkhart, Indiana-based company.
Business Spotlight: Waste Revelation
Waste Revelation was founded in 2000 by Mr. Cole Doolittle. Its mission is to identify opportunities for savings and revenue from recycled materials and waste disposal. Mr. Doolittle is completely self-funded, and Waste Revelation now employs fourteen people, as well as four independent sales staff.
Business Spotlight: Portage Printing
Portage Printing is a 25-year-old print shop located in Portage, Michigan. Founded in 1986 by Craig Vestal, Portage Printing specializes in a variety of printing and marketing services and works for a client base that includes over two thousand businesses and organizations in the Kalamazoo/Portage area.
Business Spotlight: Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Gryphon Place is the 24/7 crisis and referral agency serving Kalamazoo County and southwest Michigan. It also mediates disputes in the community and provides extensive suicide prevention services.
Business Spotlight: Levin Eye Care Center
Levin Eye Care Center is a full scope optometric care office, treating diseases, fitting glasses and contact lenses, and providing vision therapy. Dr. Levin is the only doctor in NW Indiana who is certified in Vision Therapy, which is an extremely rewarding endeavor that changes and improves lives every day.