As a child, George Kepchar Jr. grew up in the real estate industry. His father owned Century 21 Kepchar in the Merrillville/Crown Point area. Eventually, real estate also became Kepchar’s career. Upon graduating from college, Kepchar went to...
Life in the Spotlight
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.
A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Brian Pillar
A Crown Point native and graduate of Calumet College of St. Joseph, educator and community leader Brian Pillar has dedicated his life to giving back to those around him. More than two decades ago, his passion for basketball evolved into a love for...
A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Izabelle Galvin-Ellis
A career in politics was not the direction Izabelle Galvin-Ellis thought her life would go. However, as the appointed Board of Works clerk and administrator assistant for the mayor of Michigan City, Galvin-Ellis happily dedicates her time and efforts...
A Michiana Life in the Spotlight: Kristin Saner
From studying communication to working in bookselling, Kristin Saner discovered her passion for creating connections and building community. Her journey led her to Fables Books in Goshen, where she now co-owns a space where literature and meaningful...
A Valpo Life in the Spotlight: Erin Gibson
Erin Gibson comes from Marshfield, a city in central Wisconsin, but came to Valparaiso in 1995 to attend Valparaiso University (VU) where she graduated with a bachelor’s in social work. Gibson initially thought she’d go into international...
A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Vincent Ranola
While Vincent Ranola is tackling auditions on the West Coast, his roots remain in Northwest Indiana, where he grew up surrounded by music, movies, and sports, along with the comfort and security of his loved ones. “My dad recently sent me a picture...
A Valpo Life in the Spotlight: Aidan Ross
While originally from La Porte, Indiana, Aidan Ross is currently a senior at Valparaiso University (VU) where he’s been up to big things both in and out of the classroom. Ross began his studies in the school’s sports management department....
A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Amanda McKenzie
Amanda McKenzie is the Production Manager at First Community Mortgage in Portage, where she brings years of experience to the mortgage industry. Her journey began in high school when she took a business vocational class, and her internship led her to...
A Michiana Life in the Spotlight: Megan Davidhizar
Dedicated educator and published author Megan Davidhizar seamlessly blends her passions for teaching and storytelling, both in the classroom and on the pages of her book. With a commitment to inspiring young minds, Davidhizar builds meaningful...
A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Jessica Aguilar
M.Ed Certified Mindset and Confidence Coach Jessica Aguilar is the owner of A Thriving Mind in Roseland. Originally from Portage, Aguilar started the company to help others see their potential. “During those years, I worked as a therapist and...