BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SHINING A LIGHT
By Maggie Valenti
Explore Evansville‘s time out of the sun has landed it in the spotlight.
At its annual conference in March, the Indiana Tourism Association honored the River City’s tourism agency with the award for best eclipse promotion for small markets, or those with marketing budgets under $300,000.
Taking note from being on the fringes of a 2017 total solar eclipse, the city in 2021 launched a marketing campaign that included social media, a website, merchandise, and public outreach. Explore Evansville was credited with both raising broader awareness of the region’s place in the path of totality and informing the public about the science behind solar eclipses.
Kate Reibel, Explore Evansville’s director of marketing and development, describes the Indiana Tourism Association award as “a tremendous honor, reflecting the collaboration and creativity that went into making the total solar eclipse a memorable experience for our community and visitors. This recognition high- lights the impact of our efforts to position Evansville as a premier destination for this once-in-a-lifetime event. We share this achievement with all those who contributed to planning and executing eclipse-related events.”
Explore Evansville’s efforts proved to be a success. The city saw 40,004 eclipse visitors — 25,226 of whom stayed overnight — who spent $6.6 million, $2.9 million of which benefited regional workers.
NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS
Old National Bancorp has appointed Daniel Hermann as its lead independent director. Hermann has been a founding partner of Lechwe Holdings LLC, founder of AmeriQual Group LLC, and former President and CEO of Black Beauty Coal Co. Hermann has been a director on Old National’s board since 2020 and has served on the audit, executive, and talent development and compensation board committees.
Explore Evansville has named Tom White as its new president and CEO. White has 30 years of industry experience and previously worked for Visit Mobile, Alabama, as the vice president of convention and leisure sales. He also held leadership roles with Yedla Hotel Management Company and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Armin Boehm has been appointed CEO and President of Escalade Sports, Inc. effective April 1. Boehm succeeds Walter Glazer Jr. and brings experience as CCO and a member of the Global Leadership Team for guitar brand Gibson Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. He also worked for Amer Sports leading commercial and marketing operations across the U.S. Previously, he was based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, while working for Puma, driving sales, merchandising, and product creation as well as spearheading direct-to-consumer growth and developing Puma China. He also led global product management and merchandising in the apparel division while based at Puma’s international headquarters in Germany. Boehm has worked for Levi Strauss leading innovation initiatives and began his career in R&D and product innovation at Adidas’ international headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Youth First Inc. has named Holli Sullivan as president and CEO, succeeding Parri Black, who retired in May 2025 after 21 years. Before serving as Indiana Secretary of State (2021-22) and an Indiana state representative (2014-21), Sullivan held roles with Toyota Motor Manufacturing and General Motors Corporation. Youth First also announced Carla Webb as its regional development officer. She will lead fundraising efforts in the company’s coverage areas of Vanderburgh, Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, and Warrick counties in Indiana. Webb previously taught middle school music for 17 years and held positions in marketing, business development, and fundraising.
The Evansville Otters Frontier League baseball team has made several front office hires for the 2025 season. Evansville native and Purdue University graduate Kelsi Rabin joins as the new marketing and community relations director. Ticket manager and account executive Tyler Guttu hails from Ohio, is a graduate of Kent State University, and has worked for Asheville, North Carolina’s Tourists baseball team. Kian Askari, a Boise State University (Idaho) graduate who played three seasons of baseball for the Broncos, is the new head groundskeeper. In coaching, Otters field manager Andy McCauley has been re-signed for his 15th season, and Boots Day, the former major leaguer and Evansville Triplet who served as the Otters’ original field manager, joins as the team’s bench coach.
Recent hires at the University of Southern Indiana include Jason Hardgrave, who
was named assistant provost for academic affairs. During his 21-year career with USI, Hardgrave served as chair of the history department and associate professor of history. USI graduate Taylor Gogel has been hired as director of development. Gogel began working as an annual giving officer for the university in 2016 and has served as assistant director of development since 2020.
The Evansville Police Department has announced that Sgt. Anthony Aussieker has taken up the role of public information officer. Aussieker has 12 years of experience with the EPD, including as a motor patrol officer, detective in the Adult Investigations Unit, and most recently grants supervisor.
Donaldson Capital Management has appointed Sarah Moore as chief executive officer and president, succeeding Mike Hull. An Evansville native, Moore is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and has worked for DCM since 2018 as an advisor, director of financial planning, and vice president of client experience. Moore previously worked for JP Morgan Private Bank and Merrill Lynch.
Nick Manente has rejoined Midwest Communications as its general sales manager. Before working as Vice President of Sales for a Tell City, Indiana-based recruitment marketing firm from October 2022 to January 2025, Manente had served as a marketing consultant at Midwest Communications for more than 14 years.
Hafer has promoted architect Dempson Haney to its leadership team. A graduate of Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana, and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Haney joined Hafer nearly six years ago.
The University of Evansville has appointed Brian Conner as the assistant dean of students and director of residence life, Rachel Carpenter as vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and Will McDonner as assistant director of residence life. The trio brings years of experience in residence life. Conner has worked for UE for 22 years. Carpenter, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 2003 and a master’s degree in 2009 from UE, served two years as dean of students at Harlaxton College, UE’s campus in Grantham, England. While attending UE, McDonner was awarded Resident Assistant of the Year.
DEPARTURES
Patrick Jackson has retired as an Early Learning Program Officer after a quarter century with Welborn Baptist Foundation. He joined Welborn in 2000 and oversaw grant making for early childhood development and assisted in developing studies into initiatives like Paths to Quality and Kindergarten Readiness Indicator, which were adopted by the state of Indiana. The Purdue University graduate previously spent 15 years working for the City of Evansville, with three years spent in the Department of Metropolitan Development, and 12 years as executive assistant to then-Mayor Frank McDonald II.
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
Reitz Home Museum received a $3,000 Historic Preservation Education Grant from Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks. The museum says the grant will help support its educational programming for elementary school students.
Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., is marking the 25th year of its flagship publication, Evansville Living, with special anniversary coverage and a refreshed look. The cover of the March/April 2025 issue offers a modern view of the city’s skyline, as photographed in February 2025 by Zach Straw. The image harkens back to the original March/April 2000 cover image of Downtown Evansville shot by Fred Reaves in early 2000 near Reitz Hill. As part of the 25th anniversary, the magazine sports a refreshed nameplate, new trim size, and more attractive page design, plus three newly titled editorial sections and a revamped dining guide and events calendar. Founded in 1999 by Todd and Kristen Tucker, Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., publishes the bi-monthly magazines Evansville Living and Evansville Business, as well as other ancillary and custom publications.
Evansville African American Museum, in partnership with Cultural Resource Analysis, Inc., and the University of Evansville’s Center for Innovation & Change, has received $5,000 from Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program to hold a reburial ceremony for remains uncovered during construction of the Toyota Trinity Stormwater Park in Downtown Evansville in 2023.
The D-Patrick family of auto dealerships has made several recent charitable contributions. D-Patrick Honda donated $1,500 to the Isaiah 1:17 Project and Holly’s House through its Honda Helping Kids initiative. D-Patrick Boonville Ford donated $1,000 to the Warrick Humane Society and the Boonville Square Flair Festival. D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln awarded a $2,500 check to Vanderburgh County CASA and another $2,500 check to Youth First.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville’s annual meeting and award ceremony Feb. 6, CEO Ron Ryan was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash and with a Raise the Bar award on behalf of Leadership Everyone. The Boys & Girls Club also presented awards for service to Scott Roland, Erika Maurer, Jace Redman, Mary Reese, Sara Rupp, Brent Beeler, Marc Fine, Daniel Hermann, and Robert Kent. The volunteer of the year award went to Kyle Alton and the Buffalo Trace Council of the Boys Scouts of America. On Feb. 24, the club also named Alexzander Colacecchi its 2024 Youth of the Year. Colacecchi will represent Evansville at the Youth of the Year state competition in April.
University of Evansville has awarded scholarships to a trio of students as part of its 2025 Global Changemaker Challenge. A four-year scholarship went to first-place winner Ronik Sharma of Cooksville, Maryland, and SolarGlide, a solar-powered electric tricycle. The second-place award and $27,000 scholarship went to Oluwadarasimi Moses of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, and Fireguard Pod, a heat-activated fire suppression device. Hunter Kellems of Perry Central High School in Leopold, Indiana, came in third and was awarded a $23,000 scholarship for his Hunter Kellems Cyber Truck, a special plug-in designed for a Tesla Cybertruck to prevent the accidental activation of the emergency exit mechanism when it is not needed. UE also has received an estate gift from alumni Julie and Steven Walker toward the establishment of The Walker Family Women’s Excellence in Basketball Endowment Fund, the largest planned gift to UE women’s basketball in its history. The endowment will provide financial support for the program, ensuring resources for student athletes.
TechPoint named Evansville ag-tech startup Anu its Tech Innovation of the Year at the 2025 Mira Awards. Anu received the award for working with Eko Solution to overcome technical limitations in indoor farming and controlled environment agriculture with its Rotary Aeroponics® system. The system addresses the struggles of indoor farming systems, including low-yield densities, power inefficiencies, and labor-intensive operations, by using AI-driven image data to optimize plant growth and reduce water and nutrient usage, thereby providing tailored growth environments for each plant.
Berry Global Group, Inc. has received a gold medal from EcoVadis, an evaluator in companies’ sustainability performance. Berry Global scored in the top 2 percent of companies overall and top 1 percent for manufacturers of plastics products. The company’s high scores were based on four criteria: environment, ethics, labor and human rights, and sustainable procurement.
The Women’s Hospital at Deaconess and the Deaconess-owned Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana, both were recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program March 6. The Women’s Hospital was honored as an Inspire Hospital of Distinction and Memorial received an Inspire Category of Excellence award. The awards are based on implementing best practices in infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, perinatal substance use, social drivers of health, obstetric hemorrhage, and maternal hypertension. Deaconess also announced that Memorial will change its name to Deaconess Memorial Medical Center. The new name was decided after Deaconess Health System fielded feedback from 800 community members and hospital employees.
Rally Point Events and Shoe Sensation have donated more than 2,000 pairs of footwear to children attending school in Vanderburgh County. Rally Point Event, which stages the Professional Bull Riders Rodeo each May, partnered with the nonprofit Cops Connecting with Kids for the giveaway.
Gribbins Specialty Group has donated $12,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to support the ongoing construction of affordable housing in the region. The Evansville-based company provides insulation, scaffolding, abatement, and industrial cleaning services in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.
The American Trucking Associations have honored Atlas World Group Chairman and CEO Jack Griffin with their 2025 Moving & Storage Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. Winners of the industry honor are singled out for their professional excellence and contributions to the moving and storage industry. Griffin has been with Evansville-based Atlas for more than 30 years. He was elected CEO in late 2016, and the company’s board of directors extended his contract in 2024.
JD Sheth Foundation announced a new partnership with Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — including a $10,000 donation — in support of the purchase of low-vision technology for those experiencing blindness or a visual impairment.
GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville has started four new apprenticeship programs. Southern Indiana Resource Solutions is partnering with Ivy Tech Evansville on a new apprenticeship program for the direct support professional position, which provides support and services to people with disabilities. Ivy Tech Evansville and Prime Foods in Boonville, Indiana, also are partnering to provide training for a new apprenticeship program for industrial maintenance mechanics, who help keep machines in working order. Commonwealth Rolled Products in partnership with the Ivy Tech Evansville, has announced the develop- ment and registration of two apprenticeship programs for industrial maintenance mechanics and maintenance electricians, who perform maintenance and repairs on electronics. The apprenticeship programs are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America program.
Azzip Pizza has announced an expansion of its franchise with two new locations — its 12th and 13th — in West Lafayette and Terre Haute, Indiana. Both are planned to open in 2025. Brad Niemeier opened the first Azzip Pizza in February 2014 with $20,000 in prize money after winning Purdue University’s Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition.
Berry Global Group, Inc., and Swiss company Amcor plc have announced an $8.4-billion merger that will take effect in mid-2025. Founded in Evansville in 1967, the plastics manufacturer has blossomed into a worldwide operation with more than 240 sites and 40,000-plus workers, maintaining a workforce of more than 4,000 in its home region. Amcor develops packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal care, and other products. In 2024, 41,000 Amcor employees generated $13.6 billion in annual sales, operating in 212 locations in 40 countries. As part of the merger, Berry Global will move its corporate headquarters overseas.
Aluminum die casting and machining company Gibbs has been purchased from Koch Enterprises by California private equity firm Architect Equity. Founded in 1965, the Henderson, Kentucky, company is a leading manufacturer of aluminum parts and components for Tier One industrial and automotive OEM customers worldwide. In the acquisition’s February 2025 announcement, Architect Equity officials stated they plan to continue Gibbs’ operations in Henderson and maintain its current leadership team of CEO Greg Risch, Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Moyer, and Chief Operating Officer Harvey Dewan, while promoting John Bush to Chief Financial Officer.
Evansville Regional Airport has added a fourth daily flight to Atlanta, Georgia, via Delta Air Lines. Through Nov. 30, 2024, the airport saw 175,875 passenger departures, a 13.5 percent increase from 2023. Last year, EVV brought back twice-daily flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport via American Airlines, while Allegiant Air created a twice-a-week connection to St. Pete Clearwater International Airport, and Breeze Airways offered a twice-weekly connection to Orlando International Airport. American Airlines also offers thrice-daily nonstop routes to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas.
Evansville Rescue Mission opened the Susan H. Snyder Center for Women & Children on March 13 at 1400 Professional Blvd. Designed by L+D Architecture and constructed by Arc Construction, the building offers programming for women and children who need a place to eat, sleep, and rest, as well as other services. The center has a capacity for 125 guests. “This place will be a warm, welcoming, safe, and secure space where life change indeed happens,” ERM CEO Tracy Gorman said at the ribbon cutting.
University of Evansville is offering students a chance to jump-start their college experience with a 30-hour credit block of general education courses that can be transferred via the Indiana College Core. The ICC program aims to lighten students’ college course load, create flexibility for them to pursue a second major or minor, and open doors to study abroad and internship opportunities. At UE, students who complete the ICC curriculum will have already met general education requirements in most instances.
