Clik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Carlson’s Drive-In
Order up! 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. Carlson's Drive-In Still holding time-honored traditions like...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: 3rd Base Bar and Grill
Nestled in the small 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight – Frontier Lawn and Recreation
Bruce Hoover wasn’t quick to talk. But one mention of the outdoor service industry and he opened up like a certified seed spreader. If you’re unclear as to what that is, ask Bruce. He’ll give you a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Precision Printer Services
Roy Gooch started Precision Printer Services before the ink dried on his college diploma. The business began in 1991 while Roy was attending Western Michigan University. It has grown over the years and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Jazzercise Center on Franklin Street
Kim Noe is a fitness buff and lifelong participant of sports. She’s taken her craft and molded it from hobby to a Michigan City-based business Kim owns the Jazzercise Center on Franklin Street...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: The Gagie School
Dr. Sandra Gagie believes in a personal touch. It’s what her business, The Gagie School, is all about. For more than 30 years, the Gagie School has prepared children to become very highly contributing...
View ArticleBusiness Spotlight Review
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....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Corvette Central
Jerry Kohn began molding the Corvette Central business by making his own, high-quality Corvette parts. Disappointed with the poor quality, and sometimes the complete lack of needed parts, he decided to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight Good Guys Collision – Merrillville, Indiana
Good Guys Collision of Merrillville, is a company that prides itself on outstanding work and exceptional service. As one of three founding partners in the company, Clay Moser’s hope was to combine his...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight Plato’s Closet, Valparaiso
As a customer of Plato’s Closet, Tammy Wendland found that she was able to purchase quality clothes for a reasonable price – but she didn’t know it was a franchise business until she found herself on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight Lithographic Communications, Munster
In 1988, Rick Pietrzak decided to start his own company after working 15 years in the printing, mailing industry. The company started with three employees – and today, it’s grown to over 60....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight – K & L Backyard Birds
Lora Maclean and her husband, Norman, took over the Valparaiso Wildbirds Unlimited franchise in 2012. “We went from feeding and watching birds in our yard, to getting binoculars so we could observe...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Connors Automotive, Chesterton
Kathy Connors Benke is one of three siblings operating the family business of Connors Automotive in Chesterton. Along with her co-owners, brothers Jack and Mike, she works with a team of additional...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Spotlight: Velko Hinge – Munster, IN
Velko Hinge began in 1969 as Velko Tool & Die Company. A family business, Velko is now operated by president Alina Jansen, the daughter of its original founder. Here, Jansen provides an overview...
View ArticleHave you heard of RockZip? “high balloon” technology
Austyn Crites, co-founder of RockZip, has been studying “high balloon” technology for about 3 years. In early 2014, his interest officially became a business — and he has big plans for bringing...
View Article