New Hires/Promotionsย
University of Southern Indiana has named Joanna Riney director of student financial assistance. The USI graduate has had a 30-year career with the university, most recently as associate director of financial assistance. The school also announced the appointment of Claire Bosma as its first chief marketing officer. Bosma, an Indiana
University and USI graduate, will oversee strategic marketing efforts to elevate USIโs reputation. She previously worked as a strategy director at Ten Adams marketing agency. Troy Miller has been named USIโs vice president for strategic enrollment management and is slated to begin April 3. Miller will provide strategic leadership to the Offices of Undergraduate Admissions, Student Financial Assistance, New Student and Transitional Programs, and University Division, which includes five academic-based, first-year advising centers.
United Leasing & Finance has promoted five employees. Assistant Controller Emily Kendrick has been promoted to controller and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the accounting department and will lead projects focused on process improvements, automation, and other corporate quality initiatives. Shanta Khatri has been promoted to senior accountant from treasury/accounting supervisor and will be responsible for treasury duties including daily cash management and treasury service management. Whitley Everitt has been named a senior accountant and will manage financial statement preparations and presentations and develop automation for financial reporting. Heather Frederick has been promoted to title and registration manager after previously serving as an administrator. Her responsibilities include for overseeing the tracking and management of title and registration documents for the companyโs entire vehicle portfolio. Cindy Williamson has been named sales administration manager and will support the sales team to ensure smooth and efficient operations within the sales department.
Lieberman Technologies has hired Tom Walsh as a solutions consultant. His background includes 10 years of business-to-business sales experience in digital and local media.
University of Evansville has appointed Noah Alatza its chief communications officer, a new position, effective Jan. 30. The USI graduate has been an on-air anchor and reporter for WEHT-TV. UE also announced the investiture of chemistry professors Kristy Miller and Roslyn Lampkins. Miller, who started at UE in 2004 and helped initiate the Baccalaureate of Doctor of Medicine program, was named the Weller Endowed Professor in Chemistry. Lampkins, who joined UE in 2017 and has mentored 17 undergraduate researchers in that time, was named the Wargel Endowed Chair in Chemistry.
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership has promoted Audrie Burkett to chief operations officer and executive vice president. Burkett, who joined E-REPโs predecessor in 2015, will continue to oversee daily operations while aligning priorities to the organizationโs mission. E-REP also promoted Jenna Richardt to chief regional economic development officer and senior vice president. Richardt, who joined E-REP in 2021, will be the go-to resource for regional economic development and building quality-of-place.
Berry Global Group, Inc. has namedย Anastasia Matthews its vice president of global diversity and inclusion/corporate human resources. Matthews will lead Berryโs Executive D&I Council and D&I Global Workgroup to develop and execute updated strategies.
Hafer has hired Nicole Lewis as a senior project manager and Rob Armstrong as a senior electrical engineer.
Jackson Kelly PLLC has elected Charles Compton to assistant managing member. Compton, who serves as department chair of the litigation law practice and also has been the Evansville office managing member, has been with Jackson Kelly since 2015 and was named in Best Lawyers in America for mergers and acquisitions for the past three years.
Riney Hancock CPAs has promoted Taylor L. Deveaux to director of governmental audit services in the Audit and Assurance Services Division. Deveaux provides auditing and assurance services for utilities, HUD-assisted entities, governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations. Riney Hancock also promoted Jordan M. Turner to staff II accountant in the Tax Services Division. Turner was hired in 2022 and serves clients in various capacities, including tax preparation for small businesses and individuals. Riney Hancock also hired Jayla C. Burgess as a staff I accountant in the Audit and Assurance Services Division. Burgess has experience auditing nonprofits, governmental entities, and utilities. Sara E. Wilson was also hired as a staff I accountant in the Tax Services Division. She works in various capacities, including tax preparation for small businesses and individuals.
Atlas Van Lines has promoted Jeff Schimmel to senior vice president of operations. Schimmel has worked with Atlas for 30 years and will concentrate on capacity growth.
Legence Bank has appointed a new market president, Chris Wampler. Wampler brings 24 years of experience and previously was the vice president of commercial banking at German American Bank.
Awards/Recognitionย
The West Side Nut Club recently approved donations totaling $377,100 to several local organizations. The Nut Club awarded funds to Mater Dei High School ($27,000), F.J. Reitz High School ($27,000), six other high schools in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation ($24,000 total), Reitz Memorial High School ($4,000), three middle schools in the EVSC ($15,000 total), eight Evansville Catholic Diocese grade schools ($40,000 total), five EVSC elementary schools ($25,000 total), Evansville Day School ($3,000), Evansville Lutheran School ($3,000), Evansville Police Fund ($15,000), Vanderburgh County Sheriffโs Office ($15,000), Posey County Young Life ($3,000), Granted of Evansville ($25,000), Evansville Junior Football League ($5,000), Building Blocks of Evansville ($1,500), Sleep In Heavenly Peace ($5,000), Vanderburgh County CASA ($12,000), Albion Fellows Bacon Center ($16,600), Honor Flight of Southern Indiana ($5,000), Golden Bears Football ($5,000), American Red Cross ($5,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana ($1,500), Indiana Black Expo ($1,000), Camden Hancock Foundation ($1,000), Learning Center of Posey County ($1,000), Aurora ($7,500), Easterseals Rehabilitation Center ($10,000), House of Bread and Peace ($2,500), Marian Educational Outreach ($5,000), West Side Business Association ($3,000), Evansville Youth Baseball South ($3,000), and Junior Diabetes Research Foundation ($500). The Nut Club also paid $50,000 and $10,000 to the balance of EVSC schools and diocese schools, respectively.
First Bank and the Association of Accredited Small Business Consultants has announced that Christy Walker, vice president and business relationship manager, has been named an Accredited Small Business Consultant. Walker passed the ASBC certification exam by demonstrating core competencies of small businesses and small and medium enterprises.
Hafer is celebrating its 45th anniversary. Hafer is an award-winning architecture, engineering, and interior design firm known for its work on the Deaconess Aquatic Center, Deaconess Gatewayโs Orthopedic & Neuroscience Hospital, the University of Southern Indianaโs Business and Engineering Center, and the Gateway campus of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley. Since its founding in Indiana, Hafer has expanded to Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois.
Vanderburgh County Commissioners have awarded grants from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to several local organizations. Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy received $50,000, Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve was awarded $135,000, the Evansville African American Museum received a$100,000 check, and the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science was awarded $201,667.
Boys & Girls Club of Evansville has celebrated and honored individuals and companies for their commitments to the club. Board members and staffers were honored for their years of service, including Kortney Blaylock, Sarah Herdes, Dave Buchold, Bill Kennedy, Dylan Rexing, Ron Ryan, Chad Wingert, Linda White, Sid Dill, William Michael Schiff, Shanna Groeninger, Marc Fine, Amy Hahn, and Scott Roland. Businesses and organizations recognized for their volunteerism or support include OneMain Financial Services as this yearโs Volunteer of the Year, and Docโs Sports Bar and TaylorMade as Friends of the Club. The West Side Nut Club received the Man/Woman & Youth Award.
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D-Patrick Honda has donated $1,500 to Little Lambs of Evansville, which safeguards the health and well-being of young children, as a part of its โHonda Helping Kidsโ campaign. Through the same campaign, the dealership also donated $1,500 to Hangers, a clothing resource serving EVSC students in need by providing everyday living essentials. The dealership also donated $1,500 to United Methodist Youth Home, which helps at-risk youth become responsible and productive members of their communities.
D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln has presented a check for $2,500 to The Hope Gallery of Newburgh, Indiana, which helps empower young adults with disabilities through art. The dealership donated another $2,500 check to The Menโs Fund of Vanderburgh County, which helps male philanthropists fund projects to create positive social change. The donations were part of its โ$10 per Test Driveโ campaign benefiting local charities, organizations, and businesses.
Deaconess Foundationโs Safe Babies initiative has received an impact grant of $15,000 from the Henderson POW! Partnership of Women. River View Coal also donated $2,800 to the Safe Babies initiative. The foundation also has launched its Safe Babies: Secure at Home and On the Go initiative to address car seat and safe sleep needs in western Kentucky, including Henderson County.
University of Evansville Associate Professor Su Jin Jeong has secured grant funding, valued at $450,000, for local nonprofit Young & Established. The funding is awarded by the Indiana Department of Health from its Health Issues and Challenges grants. The grant secured with support from Jeong, director of UEโs Institute for Public Health, will support Y&Eโs programs related to food insecurity and obesity for two years. Specifically, the funding will go toward a backpack and food pantry program, community garden and farmerโs market, and cooking classes for children as part of Y&Eโs mentorship program. Grant disbursement will begin this summer.
Evansville Parks Foundation will award area organizations grant money to improve, expand, and create recreational programming to benefit the community. The first deadline to apply for a foundation grant is May 1, and the second is Oct. 1. Applications can be filled out at evansvilleparksfoundation.org.
The Captain Henry Vanderburgh Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has named its youth community winners of the 2022-23 Good Citizens Program and American History Essay Awards. The chapter-winning application came from Kaden Leverenz of Signature School while second place went to Paul Sellers of F.J. Reitz High School. Other winners included Ethan Fuller of Central High School; Allyson Bentley of William Henry Harrison High School; Luke Fehrenbacher of New Tech Institute; Joseph Anderson of North High School; and Rachel Lasher of Reitz Memorial High School. The winner of the American History Essay was Lilian Crowe of New Horizon Christian Academy. The eighth-grade winner was Alexia Lou Noll of Holy Redeemer Catholic School, while second place went to Lily Coomes of Annunciation Catholic School at Christ the King, and third place went to Kinsley Dean of Annunciation Catholic School at Christ the King.
Albion Fellows Bacon Center has received funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators through the Office for Victims of Crime, a part of the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice. The money will help the organization host victim services tables at local courthouses. It also will help Albion hold a victimsโ rights outreach fair at Eastland Mall for the Community Awareness Project in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, and Gibson counties, as part of National Crime Victimsโ Rights Week taking place from April 23-29.
Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana has named its 2023 Women of Distinction award recipients. Tara Barney, CEO of Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and a former Girl Scout, was given the Woman of Distinction Award, while the Rising Star Award went to Kim Wren, a Certified Financial Planner at Baird Private Wealth Managementโs Berger Wealth Services team. The Girl Scouts also recognized Toyota Indiana with its Advancing Women Company Award.
University of Southern Indiana has announced that Intelligent ranked its online sports management graduate degree program in the Top 49 online sport management programs, receiving a score of 92.37 out of 100. Intelligent evaluates programs based on flexibility, faculty, reputation, affordability, and strength. The universityโs Multicultural Center also honored the 2023 Class of Phenomenal Women of University of Southern Indiana and the Community at a recognition ceremony on March 21. Those honored included undergraduate Adriana Garcia, graduate student Katelyn Vinci, alumna Jaimie Sheth, support staff Michele Barnett, administrative staff Jennifer Hammat, faculty Tori Colson, and community members Melissa Cook, Barbara Lucas, and Krista Wilson.
Donaldson Capital Management has received a five-star overall Morningstar rating for its Rising Dividend Cornerstone fund out of 466 funds in the Large Value category. DCM, an independently owned investment advisory and financial planning firm that manages more than $2.3 billion in assets, is headquartered in Evansville and has offices in Columbus, Indiana, and Atlanta, Georgia.
D-Patrick Boonville Ford donated $1,000 to Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library/Warrick Literacy & Education Connections, which promotes early literacy by providing participating children birth to age five with one free book each month.
Growth/Developmentย
Massage therapist Danielle Weatherford has opened her own practice, Danielle Marie, LMT, at 516 W. Main St., Newburgh, Indiana. Since Feb. 1, the practice has offered massage treatments that are medical and sports specific as well as pregnancy and postpartum massages.
Berry Global has announced environmental, social, and governance goals achieved from 2021 to 2022. The worldwide company based in Evansville says it increased its purchase of post-consumer recycled plastic by 28 percent, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased average training hours by 35 percent, increased the number of women in salaried roles by 5 percent, and increased the number of people of color in U.S.-based salaried roles by 6 percent.
First Federal Savings Bank has opened its first branch in Henderson, Kentucky, at 2555 U.S. Hwy. 41.
Parlor Doughnutsโ new headquarters is open. In addition to serving Proper Coffee and its pastry-like doughnuts, the location in the Bitterman Building at 204 Main St. will serve as a national hub, training center, test kitchen, and full-scale coffee roastery.
University of Evansville will launch a new degree program next fall. The four-year Bachelor of Science in creative technologies aims to build studentsโ technology skills through the creation of sound, video, lighting, graphics, and other technologies used for creative endeavors.
Businesses Closingย ย
Longtime chocolatier Mike Libs has closed Mike Libs & the Chocolate Factory, his shop at 864 S. Green River Road, citing his desire to retire.
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Tuesday Morning will close stores around the country, including the Evansville location at 217 N. Green River Road.ย
Business Success: On the Move
By Jodi Keen
The F.C. Tucker Emge family is growing.
The regional real estate company recently expanded its services into Kentucky by merging with Henderson, Kentucky-based Collier & Company. The union โ effective Jan. 3, 2023 โ forms F.C. Tucker/Collier. F.C. Tucker Emge broker Jason Eddy will manage the new office at 11 S. Main St. in Henderson.
โWe are so excited to bring F.C. Tucker/Collier into the Tucker family. When we learned of their focus on client service, deep market knowledge, and community partnership, we knew it was a perfect match,โ says F.C. Tucker Emge co-owner Gretchen Muchnick.
Collier & Company dates to 1968 and serves Henderson, Union, and Webster counties in Kentucky. The merger will add eight agents to F.C. Tucker Emgeโs 193-strong group of real estate specialists and intends to bring enhanced marketing and transaction tools to Kentucky real estate clients. F.C. Tucker Emge operates commercial, residential, and regional title service transactions primarily in Southwestern Indiana communities, including Evansville, Newburgh, Jasper, Vincennes, Princeton, and Fort Branch.
โWe couldnโt be more thrilled about joining forces with F.C. Tucker Emge and F.C. Tucker/Collier,โ says Jim Collier, Collier & Companyโs owner and managing broker.ย โThe strong foothold that F.C. Tucker Emge and F.C. Tucker/Collier have on the Southwestern Indiana market was built on the same principles we have abided by here by the Collier & Company team for years.โ
Business Success: Leading Legacy
By Jodi Keen
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science hit a milestone in March when it earned reaccreditation โ the highest national recognition afforded an American museum โ from the American Alliance of Museums.
Founded in 1904, the Evansville Museum first gained accreditation in 1977. Of the estimated 33,000 museums in the U.S., 1,103 are accredited. The Evansville Museum is one of only 29 in Indiana to receive such accreditation. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain their status.
Museum accreditation is earned through a year of internal study, a site visit by a peer review team, and a subsequent analysis by the AAMโs Accreditation Commission of the studyโs and visitโs findings.
โThis accreditation recognizes the dedicated efforts of the Evansville Museum staff and board of trustees to further the Museumโs mission to utilize its permanent collection and resources to offer diverse educational experiences for the Tri-State region,โ says Mary Bower, the Evansville Museumโs executive director.ย
