Welcome to Inside the Region, the podcast that explores the forces shaping our local economy. In each episode, we dive into the conversations driving business growth, investment, and innovation across the region. From major development projects and capital investment to workforce strategies, market trends, and data insights, we unpack what matters most to business and community leaders.
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Sbrc Podcasts
What’s happening to spur economic vitality in the South Bend, Indiana, Region, and surrounding areas? And who are the people behind these efforts? We'll dive deeper beyond the headlines to keep you informed on the people and businesses making things happen in the region. You’ll hear casual and candid conversations with real people—business and community leaders driving the region forward. Hear authentic, unscripted stories from entrepreneurs, business owners, elected officials, and more!
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Sports, Life, Current Events, and anything else worth arguing about.
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John Yarger - President/CEO at North American Signs
26:54
26:54
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26:54Send us a text This week, we're putting the spotlight on a name you've likely seen — maybe without even realizing it. From bold building signage to eye-catching wraps, North American Signs has been helping businesses stand out for over 90 years. But behind the crisp lettering and striking designs is a family-owned company with a legacy of craftsman…
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Jim Williams - President and CEO of Habitat For Humanity of St. Joseph County
28:30
28:30
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28:30Send us a text This week, we are talking about more than construction; we are talking about building hope, opportunity, and strong communities. Jim will discuss their latest projects, the power of volunteerism, and how local businesses, including yours, can get involved.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Jeff Jarnecke - Executive Director of Visit South Bend/Mishawaka
27:06
27:06
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27:06This week, Alyson chats with Jeff about his role within Visit South Bend/Mishawaka, and the economic impact the tourism arm of the South Bend Regional Chamber has on the area. What are the major tourism events that put the most heads in hotel/motel beds, and what is Jeff most excited about looking ahead?…
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Dr. Breanne Hartley - President and Chief Clinical Officer, Co-Founder at UNIFI Autism Care
26:34
26:34
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26:34Send us a text Dr. Hartley will inform us about UNIFI Autism Care, explain why a company based downstate decided to open a center in St. Joseph County, and specifically why they chose the location they did. What makes UNIFI Autism Care's philosophy so different from other autism care programs, and how did Dr. Hartley decide to make this field her s…
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Mark Herriman - President and CEO at United Way of St. Joseph County
27:37
27:37
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27:37Send us a text Mark Herriman, President & CEO of United Way of St. Joseph County, breaks down what United Way is and the impact it makes in our community. He shares the biggest challenges the organization is facing today, what excites him most about its work, and his vision for the future.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Chris Campbell - President of Centier Bank/Len Amat-Head of Community Banking at Centier
25:43
25:43
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25:43Send us a text Chris Campbell, President of Centier Bank, and Len Amat, Head of Community Banking, share the remarkable story of a fifth-generation, family-owned business with roots stretching back more than a century. They discuss how Centier has grown from humble beginnings to over 60 branches, how they attract and retain top talent through a str…
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Mark Dobberstein - SVP, Market President of Old National Bank
22:42
22:42
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22:42Mark will tell us exactly what a Market President at a bank does. He will tell us what makes our market unique compared to other markets, both in Indiana and Michigan. He will give us a view of the local economy from a banking perspective, and what advice does he have for local businesses when it comes to lending?…
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Phillip Gulis - Owner of Dean's Barbecue and Restaurant
27:13
27:13
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27:13Send us a text Phillip has an inspiring story about how Dean’s became a reality, and an even more meaningful reason behind the name. What motivated him to leave a well-paying job and take the risk of opening his own restaurant? In this talk, Phillip shares the heartfelt journey that led to Dean’s, the passion that drives his homemade menu, and the …
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Send us a text Greg shares the story of Imagine Financial and how his company approaches insurance in a fresh way. He explains what drives him to leave a highly successful career in the automotive industry to launch his own business, and the factors that influence that decision. As a co-owner with his wife, Chelsea, and a father of four, Greg also …
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Jeff Rea-President and CEO of the South Bend Regional Chamber/Inaugural Epsiode
22:33
22:33
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22:33Jeff joins Alyson to highlight the county’s economic development projects, from major initiatives to smaller wins that are making a difference. They dive into workforce challenges and opportunities, discuss the role of tariffs, and explore what is next on the horizon. Listeners will get an inside look at the future projects shaping our community.…
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Jeff Rea-President and CEO of the South Bend Regional Chamber/Tariffs
24:52
24:52
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24:52In this episode, Jeff turns the tables on Alyson and takes on the role of interviewer as they dig into the topic of tariffs. Together, they break down what is happening, how local manufacturers are being affected, and what options may exist to address the challenges ahead.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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S3 E34 Rob Kelly | Chief Operating Executive, Mendoza College of Business
23:29
23:29
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23:29Send us a text Rob shares an inside look at the Mendoza College of Business and the outstanding programs it offers. He highlights the history of the college, its partnership with the chamber, and his perspective on the future, not only for Mendoza but for business schools across the country.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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S3 E33 Eric Klepper | Head Distiller/VP Of Operations, The Indiana Whiskey Company
25:49
25:49
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25:49Send us a text Eric Klepper, Head Distiller and VP of Operations of The Indiana Whiskey Company, shares the company’s history and origins, how he became involved, and how his background and expertise prepared him to lead in crafting exceptional whiskey.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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S3 E32 Sarah VanVactor | Founder and CEO, SoVan Media
26:47
26:47
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26:47Send us a text Want to become an internet influencer? Sarah VanVactor, Founder and CEO of SoVan Media, will guide you through the process. She’ll explain why social media is a crucial tool for any business and why you should be leveraging it to promote your brand. Sarah will also share her rapid rise in the industry at a young age, detailing her ca…
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Kevin Park | Sales Manager, Leatherman Supply
21:08
21:08
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21:08Send us a text Kevin will tell us what Leatherman Supply is and why the Goshen-based company made a significant investment in St. Joseph County by opening a beautiful showroom in Mishawaka. Kevin will tell us how he attracts and retains his top talent, and how a long-time educator found his way into the cabinets and countertops world, having zero k…
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Dr. Heather Short | Superintendent, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
26:55
26:55
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26:55Send us a text In this episode, meet Dr. Heather Short, the new Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Hear about her journey through the district, her bold vision for public education, and the strategies PHM uses to recruit and retain top talent. From academic excellence to economic impact, Dr. Short shares how PHM is shaping th…
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Kris Priemer | Founder, Momentum Entrepreneurship Hub
25:22
25:22
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25:22Send us a text Get an inside look at South Bend’s newest space for big ideas! In this episode, Kris Priemer, founder of the Momentum Entrepreneurship Hub, shares how he transformed a former Salvation Army building into a vibrant, collaborative space for entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners. Hear how his vision, inspired by other star…
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Theo Brown | Franchise Owner, Grease Monkey
22:42
22:42
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22:42Send us a text Meet Theo Brown, franchise owner of Grease Monkey in Mishawaka. Theo shares his journey into entrepreneurship, why he chose Grease Monkey, and how he’s building a standout customer experience from the ground up. From family involvement to balancing a second career as an airline coordinator, Theo’s story is one of hustle, heart, and h…
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Connie Bryan | CEO & Founder, OnSite Health
26:38
26:38
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26:38Send us a text In this episode, Connie Bryan, founder and CEO of On-site Health, shares how she built a national leader in workplace healthcare—starting with just $247. She discusses her company’s holistic, on-site approach to employee wellness, their early pandemic preparedness, and how community partnerships and perseverance have fueled a mission…
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Gary Fox | Retired Corporate Development Managing Partner, Crowe
27:02
27:02
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27:02Send us a text Gary is this year's winner of the Distinguished Business Leader award at our annual Salute to Business luncheon. Gary will tell us his secret to success, as he helped Crowe grow to the firm it is today. How he built the amazing culture that Crowe is known for, how he recruited top talent, and what he is doing now, as he navigates ret…
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Scott Brewer | Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Community Relations, and Security, Four Winds Casinos
28:30
28:30
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28:30Send us a text Scott will give us a history lesson about the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians. He will discuss how Four Winds is more than just casinos and the significant economic impact they have on the region. Scott also tells us about new developments on the horizon as they continue to expand their business ventures, both within and outsi…
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Andrea Short | President & CEO, 1st Source Bank
25:45
25:45
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25:45Send us a text Andrea will tell us about the long history of 1st Source Bank, her journey to the corner office and what the future of banking looks like.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Janet Horvath | Attorney, Athora Law Group
25:29
25:29
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25:29Send us a text Janet will tell us how the decision was made to leave being an associate at an existing law firm and venture out on her own. What is the meaning behind the Athora name? What kind of law do they specialize in, and how is it being a managing partner in this ever-changing industry, thanks to things like AI?…
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Chris Sharp & Jack Wilkinson | Founders, Sharp Wilkinson
29:18
29:18
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29:18Send us a text Chris and Jack will discuss their paths, how they met, and why they decided to open their own marketing agency. What separates them from other marketing firms? What's important to them as they continue to grow by attracting and retaining top talent? And why was it important to them to set up shop in one of South Bend's most iconic bu…
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Dan Gartee | CEO, Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center - OSMC
25:09
25:09
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25:09Send us a text Dan will tell us how OSMC got started and how it's expanding to help serve the medical needs of St. Joseph County. Dan will also discuss how they are embracing technology to ensure patients and even non-patients have the very best information and care at their fingertips.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director | Alyson Herzig, Director of Economic Development | Visit South Bend Mishawaka & South Bend Regional Chamber
31:29
31:29
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31:29Send us a text This week, we give you a Chamber update as we sit down with our team members, Jeff Jarnecke and Alyson Herzig. Jeff is the Executive Director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka and will fill us in on what's new in the destination marketing and tourism space. Alyson has key updates on construction projects, big and small, going on in the a…
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Larry & Sherry Swank, Founders | Jeanie Shuck, Executive Director | JWAS Foundation
35:10
35:10
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35:10Send us a text Get ready for a powerful episode, as Larry and Sherry tell us the heartbreaking story of how the JWAS Foundation came to be, and how they have taken an unimaginable tragedy and turned it into something amazing for families, and specifically children throughout Michiana. Jeanie will tell us exactly what the foundation does, their succ…
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OFF...Is the Direction You Can Fuck (The Great Booger Wolf)
1:55:50
1:55:50
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1:55:50Send us a text The guys got around the table tonight for an impromptu episode of Rival Radio. Listen in as the gang freestyles for a while and just shoots the breeze. #thefoursportsmen #rivalradio Facebook - TheFourSportsmenPod Instagram - @thefoursportsmen TikTok - @thefoursportsmenBy The Four Sportsmen
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Amanda Miller Kelley | President & CEO, WNIT-PBS Michiana
27:37
27:37
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27:37Send us a text Amanda will tell us about her interesting career path and how it led to the corner office. She will talk about the history of public broadcasting, not just nationally but also here in Michiana, and how the future looks.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Donald Swift | Director of Development, Resurrection Lutheran Academy
18:26
18:26
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18:26Send us a text Donald will tell us the history of RLA, the biggest challenges facing private schools, how they attract and retain their teachers and staff, and their future plans.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Kierstin Eifler | CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana
26:16
26:16
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26:16Send us a text Kierstin will tell us precisely what RMHC is and does, the local history of the house, and how it came to be. What plans are being made to make it an even better resource for the community, and how can you get involved?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Emilie Utigard | Executive Director, Children's Museum of South Bend
27:08
27:08
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27:08Send us a text Emilie will discuss the sweet reason why she started the museum, what you can expect when walking through the doors, and what her future hopes and dreams are for the museum. Annie Johnson, a member of the Board of Directors, will also join us and share her vision.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Craig Heatherly | Risk Advisor & Former D1 Collegiate Basketball Coach
26:36
26:36
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26:36Send us a text Craig was a standout basketball player at Mishawaka High School and a D1 College Basketball Coach. He will talk about when he knew it was time to give up coaching, what went into the decision to hang up his whistle, and how he knew what was next. Craig also talks about what makes an amazing company like Gibson even better and how the…
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Cale Bolinger | General Manager, Knollwood Country Club
28:00
28:00
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28:00Send us a text Cale will tell us what changes to expect since the club is now under new ownership. He will also describe his path to becoming the general manager of a country club, and we will see if he can give Jeff some tips to improve his short game.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Jay Mattern | Owner, President & CEO, Villing & Company
26:30
26:30
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26:30Send us a text As a marketing firm, Jay will discuss the state of marketing today and how Villing & Company keeps up with the ever-changing industry landscape. Jay will also talk about what went into the decision to buy a marketing firm, shortly after retiring from owning a successful staffing agency, especially not knowing much about running a mar…
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Send us a text Ryan will tell us, as a hometown boy, why he chose to stay in South Bend to raise his family, and some of the changes he has seen over the years. He will tell us what steps he takes to attract and retain his top talent. Why is it important to Ryan to give back so much to the community, especially as a member of the Board of Directors…
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Send us a text Did you know there is a pretty good chance that the lettuce you are eating is grown right here in South Bend? Joe will tell us how that works. He will also talk about how he attracts and retains his specialized team, and what are the future plans for Pure Green Farms.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Justin Reinke | Owner & President, HGR Group
27:01
27:01
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27:01Send us a text Justin will tell us what it's like to run a 4th generation construction business. With all the projects they are involved in, how do they attract and retain their top talent. And what does the construction industry's future look like in St. Joseph County?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Jason Osterhage | President & CEO, Everwise Credit Union
26:48
26:48
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26:48Send us a text Jason will tell us about his journey from big city credit unions to South Bend, and why he chose to call Michiana home. He will talk about the rebranding of Teachers Credit Union to Everwise, and why the change. Jason will also tell us a very cool story about the role TCU, at the time, played in naming the Michiana Region.…
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Andrew Shackleford | Location Manager, That 1 Painter
27:33
27:33
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27:33Send us a text Andrew will tell us the pros and cons of working for a franchise. What separates them from other painters in the area and how do they attract and retain their top painting talent?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Regina Emberton | Chief Executive Officer, ChoiceLight, Inc
28:35
28:35
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28:35Send us a text We will learn what ChoiceLight, Inc is, and how the idea for ChoiceLight was way ahead of its time. Regina is also very active in helping to restore downtown South Bend, by buying old buildings and bringing them back to their glory, and she will tell us why that is so important to her.…
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Matt Metzger | Co-Founder & Owner, Leadership Tap
26:50
26:50
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26:50Send us a text Matt tells us his journey from giving up his regular paycheck to fulfilling his dream of starting his own company with his friend Josh. What challenges do they face, and how do they overcome those challenges? .By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Mark Tarner | Owner & President, The South Bend Chocolate Company
29:49
29:49
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29:49Send us a text Mark Talks about how a guy who makes candy, has branched out into the restaurant industry. He will also tell us about his interesting hobby, and how that led him to building a museum to share his hobby with the public.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Send us a text Joe discusses all the renovations happening this off-season at Four Winds Field and what fans can expect next season and beyond. He tells us why, after 30 years in baseball, he is still running a single-A Club in South Bend, Indiana. Here is a hint: it's because he wants to. What is the behind-the-scenes magic that makes Four Winds F…
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Randy Kelly | Executive Director, Leadership South Bend-Mishawaka
31:05
31:05
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31:05Send us a text The program, founded in 1974, just celebrated its 50th anniversary. For the first 41 years, it was a Chamber program. In 2015, it elected to leave the Chamber and go out on its own. Randy will tell us about the program and how it has transformed since its days with the chamber.By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Send us a text Julio has an interesting path on how he got to where he is today, experiencing both success and failure, and he will tell us about both. He talks about as a business owner, how you overcome failure and how you have the strength and drive to keep going, and the courage to do it all over again.…
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Rich Carlton | President & CEO, Aunalytics
26:06
26:06
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26:06Send us a text Rich will tell us what Aunalytics does in the I.T. space. How do they keep up with this ever-changing industry, and how do they attract and retain their top talent, especially with new, national brand competition coming into the market?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Josh Gobel | Owner, Gobel's Commercial Cleaning Service
28:10
28:10
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28:10Send us a text Josh tells us about his journey from law enforcement into entrepreneurship. How he went from owning one company to several within a very short period of time, and all from different industries. With a company that is constantly growing, how does Josh attract and retain his talent?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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Kristian Stankiewicz | Founder & CEO, MAKS Plastics
26:33
26:33
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26:33Send us a text Kristian's journey to owning MAKS Plastics is interesting, and he will tell us about it. He will also tell us why he owns MAKS Plastics and why he comes to work invigorated, and it's probably not for the reasons you think. He also has a dedicated and loyal staff, and he will tell us his secret to attracting and retaining his top tale…
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Anne Witsken | Director of Marketing & Area Manager, StretchLab
16:29
16:29
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16:29Send us a text Anne will explain StretchLab and its health benefits. There are only seven StretchLabs in Indiana, so what led to us getting one here in Granger? How does StretchLab attract and retain specialized talent in such a niche market?By South Bend Regional Chamber
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