Northern Indiana is full of people working hard every day to make their communities a better place. Since 2011, GreatNews.Life has been putting the spotlight on the people spreading this positivity in the Region with our Life in the Spotlight series. New articles are published every Wednesday, so be sure to check back often to learn more about the stories of great people doing great things in Northern Indiana.
From small-town girl to a strong champion for non-profit work, Bethany Hartley, CEO and President of South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership, is fueled by a passion for community development and a commitment to lifelong learning. Growing up in the...
Penny Rush, the administrative assistant at Crisman Elementary School in Portage, is a true testament to the power of taking a chance and finding life’s calling. What started as a simple substitute teaching gig transformed into a fulfilling 18-year...
In life, the unexpected twists along our journey can lead to surprisingly fulfilling destinations we may have never have envisioned. Though she had aspirations for a career in healthcare during college, Amanda Lower’s path led her to a passion for...
The Region is known for hosting folks for what they think will be a season of their life, but they wind up staying a lifetime. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Valparaiso University, the steel mill industry, and large public education systems...
Andrew Pleasant, an incoming sophomore at Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City, has been immersed in the world of sports since a very young age. With a passion that runs deep in his familial roots, Pleasant’s aptitude for sports had led...
Pete Xidias has spent most of his life in the Michigan City community. In the early 1970s, the Xidias family immigrated to Indiana from Greece, where they opened Apex Auto Care in 1983. The family has stayed committed to the community, running a shop...
Stephanie Krol aspired to live in Chicago and build a career at a leading public relations (PR) agency. She not only fulfilled this ambition but also surpassed her own goals. For the past 18 years, she has successfully led her own PR practice....
Barbara “Barb” Young serves as the director of the Mike Anderson Chevrolet Event Center in the Dean and Barbara White Event Center of Merrillville. In her role, Young is tasked with coordinating events and ensuring they run as smoothly as...
Family ties run strong for some Region families, with parents and grandparents laying down roots many decades ago. This holds true for Arman Sarkisian, longtime resident and associate at his family’s law firm, Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates...
Matthew Zawacki, the youth assistance program coordinator for La Porte Community School Corporation’s Virtual Learning Academy, has long known that he wanted to help people. Through various job experiences and inspiration from his mother, he has...