BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Spreading Happiness
Be Happy Pie Company earns state entrepreneurship award
By Jodi Keen
A decade after launching Be Happy Pie Company, owner Jenny Lamble’s passion project now has four locations in three states, a growing menu, and some impressive hardware.
Being named Entrepreneur of the Year in May by the Indiana Small Business Development Center capped off an exciting 10th anniversary year for Be Happy, whose first pie shop opened in 2017, two years after the company’s founding. What hasn’t changed, she says, is “our dedication to making a made-from-scratch, consistent product and treating our customers like we want to be treated.”
In addition to two local locations, Lamble has franchised shops in Paducah, Kentucky, and Kansas City, Missouri. “We worked very hard on our branding and believe with the right partners, our concept can be replicated. Both have gone well, and we are very excited to see how the Kansas City franchise has done in the larger market,” Lamble says. She’s also exploring franchises in Indianapolis, Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Be Happy’s recipe for success comes from the menu’s inspiration: Lamble’s grandmother. “She would be thrilled,” Lamble says. “She always told me to work hard, be kind, and have fun, and that is what I’ve tried to do.”
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Driven to Succeed
Lucrece Chenault reboots transportation service in late husband’s memory
By John Martin
Scott Chenault received dialysis treatments nine years ago, he noticed that several of his fellow patients struggled to find rides. Wanting to help, he and his wife, Lucrece, created a business providing transportation to nonemergency medical appointments.
In February, Lucrece — a native of Haiti who first came to Evansville in 2010 — rebooted the business in memory of Scott, who died in June 2018. Called Committed Transportation Services, “I mostly work with workers compensation companies, but I do get private calls sometimes,” she says. “I am also in the process of working with Indiana Medicaid.”
Lucrece’s Chrysler Town & Country minivan accommodates wheelchairs. The base fee for ambulatory individuals is $35 for one way, and for those who are nonambulatory, the one-way cost is $45. Patients can book rides by emailing committed003@yahoo.com. “Even though I have set prices, I want my clients to know that I work with those that might not be able to pay those prices, as long as they communicate that with me,” Lucrece says.
Scott envisioned an even bigger business: “He wanted a fleet,” Lucrece recalls, but she believes her husband would be pleased to see her back on the road. “I’m ready to take this on in his honor,” she says.
NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS
The University of Southern Indiana has named Matthew Brown its new Director of Technical Services in Information Technology. He most recently served as Director of IT Operations for Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville. Before that, Brown held technical leadership positions with SS&C Technologies. He holds associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in computer science from the since-closed Carmel, Indiana, ITT Technical Institute.
Atlas Van Lines has promoted Greg Williams to Corporate Controller following 17 years with the company, where he managed corporate accounting, tax, and financial reporting. In his expanded role, Williams will be responsible for treasury, accounts receivable, collections, and Atlas International accounting. The Indiana University Kelley School of Business graduate joined Atlas in 2009 and most recently served as Senior Director & Controller.
Wesselman Woods promoted Kristina Arwood and Mariah Bradley to interim Co-Executive Directors in April. Arwood, who joined in 2021, will continue directing marketing and events. Bradley, the nature preserve’s Engagement Coordinator since October, will keep coordinating engagement and development initiatives.
University of Evansville has named Rachel Carpenter the Executive Director and Dean of Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. She succeeds Kristen Strandberg, who had served as interim dean since January. Carpenter, who once was Harlaxton’s Dean of Students for two years, had been UE’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students since 2022. The 2003 and 2009 UE alumna led major university initiatives, including the opening and integration of the Lincoln Commons apartment complex, and helping guide the university through its 2025 Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation process.
Julie Hoon has joined Deaconess Health System as System Manager of Corporate Communications. The Texas A&M University marketing graduate most recently spent nine years as Vice President of Philanthropy, then Marketing and Communications at Youth First, Inc., and served five and a half years as managing the marketing departments at tent and pergola producer Anchor Industries, Inc., and industrial machinery manufacturer Flanders.
Luke Johnson of Hafer has earned his architectural license from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards by completing 5,600 hours of professional experience and passing a six-part examination. The Southern Illinois University alumnus has spent four years at Hafer as an architectural graduate. Examples of Johnson’s work are on plans for the University of Evansville’s Freeland Baseball Clubhouse, the University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Business Technologies, and the Lodge at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, Indiana.
Welborn Baptist Foundation has tapped Chief Program & Impact Officer Andrea Hays to succeed Pat Creech as CEO and Executive Director upon his retirement. Prior to joining Welborn in 2008, Hays served as Director of Public Health for Prevent Blindness’s national office and led the administration of the region’s $3 Community Transformation Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
DEPARTURES
After 15 years with the organization, YWCA Evansville CEO Erika Taylor has accepted the position of Vice President of Member Services at YWCA USA, which serves a network of 180 YWCAs across the country. Taylor continues to support the local organization during a 90-day transition period beginning in mid-June while the board searches for new leadership.
Doug Claybourn has retired from the Indiana Small Business Development Center. During his 13-year tenure, he guided 779 small-business clients through their entrepreneurial pursuits and facilitated $54 million-plus in financing.
Center for Pediatric Therapy has new leadership after founder and CEO Ginger Whitler retired June 30 after 21 years leading the business. Hannah Hartmann, who joined CPT in 2016 as an occupational therapist, is the new owner.
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/MILESTONES
Castle North Middle School student Ayan Reddy placed first at the Indiana State Finals of the 2026 National Civics Bee on June 23 at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. Reddy advanced to state after winning first place April 30 at the Evansville region’s inaugural civics bee. Reddy’s presentation focused on partnering with local farmers to increase fresh food in school cafeterias to improve student health. Upon winning at state, Reddy received $1,000 and qualified to compete in this year’s National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C.
The Ohio River Vision & Strategic Plan has received the Best Practice in Planning Award from the Economic Development Division of the American Planning Association. The project, a partnership between the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and design firm Sasaki, was unveiled in May 2024 and aims to revitalize 50-plus miles of the Ohio riverfront from Newburgh to Mount Vernon, Indiana.
D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln gifted $2,500 each to Colon Screening for Life and Isaiah 1:17 House. D-Patrick Honda Honda Helps Kids presented $1,500 to Foster Care In The U.S. D-Patrick Motoplex donated $1,500 to the Newburgh Museum. D-Patrick Boonville Ford has donated $1,000 each to Warrick Humane Society and Warrick 4-H Clubs.
Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union has named 10 high school recipients of its 2026 scholarship program, honoring academic achievement and leadership. Recipients from Central High School include Alexander Beaven, who will study professional aviation flight technology at Indiana State University in Terre Haute; Ashlyn Hills, a psychology and neuroscience major at the University of Evansville; and Peter Turpen, who is pursuing actuarial science at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. Benjamin Bosse High School recipients include nursing majors Faith Boze at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and Greenlee Gist at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. The recipients from Mater Dei High School are Alivia VanBibber, a psychology major at Ball State University, and Nolan Schickel, who at the time of the award planned to study business administration at Oakland City University before the school suspended its undergraduate programs. North High School’s recipients are Brandon Flanigan, who is studying meteorology and atmospheric science at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, and Kirsten Wink, a nursing student at UE. Castle High School graduate Alayna Clark is pursuing exercise science at UE.
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville students in the Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation earned top honors at the college’s annual Entrepreneurship Expo. Rylie Schelb of Newburgh won the $1,750 grand prize for Mobile Metals, an on-the-go piercing studio that uses nickel-free jewelry. Evansville’s Makayla McCool earned second place and $1,000 for The Drink Station, a mobile customizable beverage trailer. Rosa Ramirez of Evansville earned $500 for the third-place award for Spanish-to-English Language Services, which provides translation and interpreting services for legal, medical, business, and nonprofit clients.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce ranked Lensing Building Specialties 16th in the state’s Top 20 Best Places to Work among medium-sized companies with 75-249 employees. The family-owned distributor earned 90 percent or higher satisfaction scores in anonymous employee surveys for benefits, work-life balance, employees’ sentiments toward their roles, workplace communication and culture, diversity and inclusion, and employee-manager relationships.
University of Evansville has received a $23,000 grant from the Efroymson Family Fund to expand visual arts programming and provide hands-on career experience. The funding supports initiatives including the Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series, which encompasses student internships and the Bridge Year Fellowship for recent graduates.
Deaconess Gateway Hospital’s Cancer Services has earned Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification, a nationally recognized designation awarded through the QOPI Certification Program, LLC, a subsidiary of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. To be certified, the hospital completed a voluntary, comprehensive site review that evaluated general safety, treatment practices, staff and patient education, and ongoing patient care.
Veterans law firm Woods & Woods donated $10,000 to the Evansville Parks Foundation for the construction of a splash pad at Igleheart Park, expected to be the largest in Indiana, opening late summer 2026. It also is sponsoring Honor Flight of Southern Indiana’s 21st mission ushering veterans to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26.
Chambers & Partners, a leading independent professional legal research company, has recognized Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP as one of the state’s top law firms for its work in Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions in 2026. There are five attorneys in KDDK’s mergers and acquisitions department.
CenterPoint Energy Foundation gave $25,000 in Optimize for Local matching grants to nine small businesses to help improve energy efficiency. Recipients include Haynie’s Corner Mart, Honey Moon Coffee Co., La Campirana, The New Old Mill, Peephole Bar & Grill, River City Coffee & Goods, Sandy’s Pizza, The Vineyard, and Gehlhausen Boutique, Gifts & Home Decor.
Deaconess Health System performed its 1,000th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement operation on May 27 at its Heart Hospital in Evansville. The minimally invasive procedure repairs severe aortic stenosis — which can result in irreversible heart failure if left untreated — without the need for open-heart surgery. Deaconess launched its TAVR program in 2017, with interventional cardiologist Dr. Srikanth Penumetsa and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Dominic Cefali leading a multidisciplinary team.
The Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., honored six trailblazing women at its annual Red Shoe Luncheon on May 30. Honorees included Foster Care in the U.S., Inc. Executive Director Jessica Angelique for Economic Development; Delisa Payne, founder of Differently, Talented, Extraordinary Autistic, Minds, Inc., for Educational Development; F.C. Tucker Emge real estate agent and Haitian Center of Evansville founder Gelina Mascoe for International Awareness and Involvement; Deaconess-Memorial Health Clinic family medicine/obstetrics physician Dr. Pearl Quartey-Kumapley for Physical and Mental Health; and Valencia Redding of the NAACP’s Evansville Branch for Political Awareness and Involvement. Incoming University of Southern Indiana biochemistry major Ashlyn Cayce received the Youth (Red Sneaker) Award.
GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT
The Republic, a $38 million mixed-use development, has been announced for The Promenade, a shopping, dining, and residential district off North Burkhardt Road. Plans call for two four-story buildings featuring 153 one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus 3,159 square feet for commercial and restaurant endeavors. Construction by Indianapolis-based Goodin Development is slated to start in fall 2026.
Historic Newburgh, Inc. has been given ownership of “The Burgh” logo and brand from Bill and Erin Morrison, who have created and operated the community-focused brand since 2017. Historic Newburgh plans to continue offering “The Burgh” products.
Evansville-based Heritage Petroleum, LLC broke ground on a new fuel distribution and office facility June 9 in Huxley, Iowa. Slated to open in spring 2027, the new site expands the petroleum distributor’s reach to its customers in 27 states.
Your Brother’s Bookstore has relocated from 504 Main St. to 100 N. First Ave., across from Willard Library.
Jesse Jeanne’s Flower Boutique has merged with Colonial Classics Landscape & Nursery. The florist shop opened in 2024 by Jesse Diekhoff has moved from Washington Avenue to the landscape business’ sprawling site on Epworth Road. Diekoff and her husband, Andrew, purchased Colonial Classics from longtime owners J.T. and Julie McCarty in late 2024.
CLOSINGS/REDUCTIONS
Hydration Station, a clean water initiative launched by Jack Deig in 2022, is closing as its administration members graduate college and embark on their next life chapters. Deig, 22, entered his idea for expanding access to public filtered drinking water in the University of Evansville’s Changemaker Challenge while a senior at Castle High School in Newburgh. In a June 17 press release, Deig states that Hydration Station administrators are seeking new partners and long-term homes for each station.
REGIONAL NEWS
Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. has broken ground on a $47 million expansion at Ports of Indiana’s site in Mount Vernon, in response to a soybean volume of more than 60 percent over the past decade. In addition to a storage increase of 4.25 million bushels, officials expect grain handling capacity to triple for CGB’s soybean processing operations. The 1,200-acre port in Posey County is Indiana’s largest and handles around five million tons of cargo annually, including grain, soy products, ethanol, fertilizer, steel, and project cargo.
