Elena Giorgi

It’s not everyday that you get to sit down with a cancer survivor, a military veteran, a change-maker in the community, or a thriving high school student and get a look into what it’s like to live in their shoes. By sitting down with the members...

There have been a wide variety of businesses, organizations, and communities that have been giving back to others and making Northern Indiana the best place it can be. Northern Indiana continues to grow and prosper due to the determination and...

From highlighting growing communities to celebrating new projects to fun networking events, we've captured a lot of positive movement in the business realm throughout La Porte County in 2024. Cities welcomed new businesses while continuing to further...

Erika Robinson-Watkins has a strong sense of pride for the Region, especially her hometown of East Chicago. After spending some time away while at college, Robinson-Watkins realized she couldn’t stay away for too long.  Robinson-Watkins...

Mindy and Jeff Wallis laid roots in Valparaiso after developing a community of people and a sense of home.  Mindy and Jeff Wallis met while studying at Michigan State University, earning degrees in veterinary technology and veterinary medicine,...

Stacie Schuster was ready for a career change when her cousin, Renee Blosky, approached her about taking over Lifestyles, a unique gift store in Valparaiso’s historic downtown. After 27 years of working in the School City of Hammond, Schuster...

Sue Straatman sat in a doctor’s office in the Community Healthcare System (now Powers Health) Hospital Emergency Room next to her only son, Rob, when she received her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2008. The team of five doctors sitting in front of...

Byron Faulstich moved his family from Plymouth to Valparaiso for a number of reasons, but the teaching and coaching positions at Wheeler High School simplified the decision. A Plymouth native, Faulstich received an associate’s degree from Marian...

Ivy Tech Community College offers a wide variety of programs for students of all ages to expand their knowledge and grow their skills. Whether completing a certification program or earning an associate’s degree, students of all ages can find the...

Donna Shane knew that she wanted to be an early elementary educator from when she was a young girl attending St. Mary’s Catholic Community School in Crown Point. “I had some profound teachers at St. Mary’s who have really shaped my attitude...