A lot of business is conducted in the Region, and GreatNews.Life is there to capture the biggest moments. Whether that’s spotlighting some of the businesses making an impact on the day-to-day lives of those living in Northwest Indiana to helping find our readers a home in an ever expanding market, we’re proud to serve as a leader in business reporting in the Region.
2024 saw a lot of focus placed on the people who help production run in Valparaiso. New ventures were introduced to the Region, old ones were reacquainted, and a special spotlight shone on the employees that make every successful business work.
In no particular order, here are the Top 10 business articles on Valpo.Life to recap the good news in 2024!
GreatNews.Life Celebrates 15 Years Of Sharing Great News With Great People
It’s truly amazing to see how an unfortunate setback can quickly turn into a great opportunity. Today, that great opportunity turns 15 years old.
In 2009, Chris Mahlmann was driving home from a meeting feeling rather discouraged. New to the Northwest Indiana area from Illinois, he was able to observe a lot about the Region from an outsider’s perspective - most notably all the positivity in the communities around him, and was excited to share all this good news with others. Unfortunately, others he met with about starting a good news company seemed to lack the same sentiments, much to his surprise.
Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation promotes ‘Perfect Place’ throughout Chicagoland
Coined as the “Perfect Place,” the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) knows that sharing the good news about Valparaiso is the best way to help it grow. Along with countless other initiatives throughout the city, ChicaGo Dash buses will soon be wrapped in VEDC imagery.
New General Manager, Leo Sfikas, Prioritizes People at Currie Motors Ford of Valpo
Currie Motors Ford of Valpo enters an exciting new era in customer service with the appointment of Leo Sfikas as its new General Manager. With prior experience overseeing operations from 2015 to early 2020, Sfikas brings a simple yet profound philosophy: always prioritize people over sales.
His mission is to ensure that every interaction at Currie Motors Ford of Valpo is characterized by positivity, particularly for those who step through its doors. Recognizing the weight of purchasing a car, both financially and in its impact on daily life, Sfikas emphasizes the critical importance of first impressions, with every team member committed to making a stellar one.
Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service and AMA Design & Print work seamlessly to bring polished, professional bulk mail to and from Northwest Indiana
A quick introduction can go a long way. After a brief meeting almost three decades ago, it didn’t take long for Flanagin's Bulk Mail Service and AMA Design & Print to decide to seal the deal and team up for business. Ever since, the two have worked in tandem to make sure professional, polished postage can be swiftly sent throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond.
It all began when Flanagin’s Owner Donna Flanagin was looking at Northwest Indiana-based printers to help when her business was just getting off the ground.
Team Chevrolet’s expert Service Center offers quality service & flexible hours, serving all makes and models
When your check engine light comes on, it’s time for a regular oil change, or your tires need to be rotated, getting your car into a shop for service can feel like a major ordeal. One shop’s hours might be too inflexible, another’s prices might be too high, while another’s reviews might be suspect.
Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso’s service department looks to break those stereotypes, offering affordable, reliable, transparent, and trustworthy service on a schedule that works for its customers. The dealership’s service hours run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every weekday, but unlike many auto service shops, they also offer weekend hours – running from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday.
AJ Portable Buildings brings quality, handcrafted buildings to Northwest Indiana and Midwest regions
AJ Portable Buildings has become a staple throughout the Northwest Indiana and Eastern Illinois regions for custom-made, quality-crafted Yoder buildings designed to give customers the extra space they need to live life to the fullest. It all began when Owner Patrick Dykes was approached by Yoder Buildings to be a dealer in the midwest region many years ago – which he hesitantly turned down at first. It was only a matter of time, however, before he had a change of heart and the journey to build the AJ Portable Buildings began.
6 veterinarian team at McAfee Animal Hospital bring a loving family atmosphere to the workplace
McAfee Animal Hospital is devoted to providing the best care possible for all of its customers. The organization accomplishes this by practicing aspects of veterinary medicine such as comprehensive preventive care, dental cleanings, and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. While there are a lot of people responsible for making everything flow in the workplace, there’s nobody who deserves more recognition than the team of doctors behind it all.
AI’s rapid growth presents new challenges for filmmakers, artists, legislators, and the experts at Hartman Global
Hardly a day goes by without artificial intelligence (AI) making headlines as daily use of technologies based around it continues to grow. When you search for something on Facebook, it challenges you to ask “Meta AI instead.” When you look at a live YouTube stream, an AI offers a summary of what is being said by users in the video’s chat room. Art and writing made with generative AI continues to flood the internet.
Chester Inc.’s in-house architects flourish with company’s design/build philosophy
Chester Inc. is responsible for the design and construction of an almost countless number of buildings that dot the Northern Indiana landscape. From animal hospitals and churches to office buildings and nail salons, business owners and developers in almost every industry trust Chester to work with them through every step of the process to design, build, and finance their dream building.
Community Associations Institute equips 1st American Management Company’s property managers with expert skills & knowledge
Residential property management is a complicated job where managers work to meet the needs of large communities – the neighborhood homeowners/community associations that hire them. It takes a wide array of skills, a deep pool of knowledge, and a strong sense of ethics to do the job right.
1st American Management Company, Inc. AMO® ensures all of its property managers are equipped with the right sets of tools and knowledge to do right by every community they serve. One way they do that is by having managers such as Tiffany Tyler and Nicole Jefferson study with the Community Associations Institute (CAI). As an organization with 63 chapters worldwide, the CAI offers property managers a full range of classes to take and accreditations to earn.