Life in the Spotlight

For Andrea Puente, being the Director of Marketing & Sales at Belvedere Senior Housing feels like a true full-circle moment. Growing up close to her grandmother, whom she calls Mama, the East Chicago native cultivated a special relationship that...

Turning his childhood hobby into a thriving business, Alex Altenhof spends everyday surrounded by his passion while connecting with fellow collectors who share his love for trading cards. Michiana Sports Cards in Granger has become a welcoming space...

Megan Lawrence is from the Region. Today, she works at one of her alma maters, Valparaiso High School as an education teacher with a specialization in teaching for the school’s applied-skills program. It was called the Life Skills Program when she...

Kinsey Krachinski, a writer and educator, is on a mission to cultivate empathy, kindness, and social-emotional learning in both children and adults. Through her work at Purdue University Northwest, her involvement in mental health initiatives, and...

A passion for children receiving a good education drives Shelby Davis to be a teacher who helps her students succeed academically and behaviorally. No matter what they choose to do after they leave school, Davis wants her students to know she’s...

Chris Orange, property manager at Lowell's Buckley Homestead, began his career shortly after graduating from Ball State University with a degree in history.  He first worked at Oak Ridge Prairie in Griffith for two years before spending 12 years...

Meet doctors Erika and Jaron Pettis, a dynamic duo of physicians who recently relocated to La Porte, bringing not only their medical expertise but also their newest role—parenthood. As proud parents of their 6-month-old son, Leo, the couple is now...

Daniela Mancusi-Shreve’s parents come from South Philadelphia. While she herself was born in Hammond, she spent her formative years growing up on the East Coast — specifically, southern New Jersey. There she grew up and became close with many of...

From a young age, Rachel Ross began living out her calling to ministry, inspired by the powerful example of faith and service of her grandmother. Today, as a lead pastor at Right Now Outreach, she leads with the same passion for sharing God’s love...

Michael Bendicsen grew up near the Region. He comes from Addison, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. He attended Valparaiso University to earn his bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in secondary-education studies. Following the completion of...