Published: April 28, 2007 09:22 pm      

Business Briefs - April 29, 2007

Malott named CFO at Pulaski Memorial

WINAMAC — Gregg Malott has been named chief financial officer at Pulaski Memorial Hospital.

Born in Pulaski Memorial Hospital and a native to the community, Malott graduated from Winamac High School in 1987. He graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington with a degree in accounting and a minor in psychology.

He served as an accountant with General Motors in Indianapolis for seven years, later accepting a position as chief compliance officer and internal auditor for an area hospital. Before coming to Pulaski Memorial, he was an internal auditor and provided consulting services with Mercy Health Partners in Springfield, Ohio, to several regional health-care facilities since 2002.

He and his wife, Kris, formerly of Carroll County, have a daughter, Lexis, 7. Kris is a licensed respiratory therapist who presently provides pulmonary services to long term care facilities.



Price, Shepler attend Indianapolis convention

Drs. Herb Price and Kathleen Shepler recently attended the Indiana Optometric Association Educational seminar in Indianapolis. The seminar was held April 20-23.

The speakers discussed the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, visual therapy for patients with eye muscle problems and new advances in contact lenses.

Children and adults with vision problems that cause reading difficulty can benefit from a complete vision examination that tests the eye muscles.



Logansport Financial reports net earnings

Logansport Financial Corp., parent company of Logansport Savings Bank, reported net earnings of $175,000 or $.20 per diluted share for the quarter ending March 31. Earnings in 2006 were $349,000 or $.40 per diluted share.

During the first quarter earnings were reduced by a provision of $150,000 to the loan loss allowance versus a provision of $30,000 in the quarter ending March 31, 2006. The net interest margin continues to be under pressure in the current interest rate environment. Total loans increased $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to Dec. 31, 2006 and deposits increased by $1.1 million.



Edward Jones offering investment information

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Dee Wenk of Logansport will host an education seminar, “Building a Strong Financial Foundation,” on Tuesday. The seminar will be offered at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Walton & Tipton Township Public Library.

The program is designed to teach the 10 foundational investing concepts that can help participants work on potential strategies to achieve their financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement or college savings.

The seminar is free, but space is limited.

To make a reservation, call Wenk at (574) 753-4391.



Northwestern Mutual recognizes local rep

PERU — Thomas A. Kirk will celebrate his 17th anniversary as a financial representative of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Peru.

Kirk joined Northwestern Mutual in May of 1990. He is part of a network of specialists offering a wide array of products, expert guidance and innovative solutions to a variety of needs and goals.

A qualifying and provisional member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Kirk has earned the Northwestern Mutual’s Sapphire and Ruby Awards in the Star Club and the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).

A native of Peru, Kirk received a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting from Indiana University, Bloomington. He currently resides in Peru with his wife, Elizabeth, where he is an active member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.



FEDCO, council announce business plan winners

ROCHESTER — The Fulton Economic Development Corporation, in conjunction with the Fulton County Council, announces the winners of the business plan competition.

Rapidview LLC, Water Works Cleaning Innovations and Hoffman Body Shop where chosen to receive rewards. The grants will come from the county’s Economic Development Income Tax account.

Rapidview LLC will receive $75,000 and “plans to introduce revolutionary new pipeline inspection equipment into the North American market and increase its level of service to its continually growing customer base.”

Water Works Cleaning Innovations, Inc. is a new venture that will manufacture turn-key machining centers combined with washing and waste water pretreatment functions. It will receive $50,000.

Finally, Hoffman Body Shop owners will receive $25,000 to expand their business ventures to include such things as aftermarket parts sales, vinyl graphics and signs, semitrailer and bus repair and paintless dent repair.

Fulton Economic Development Corporation Director Tom Tucker organized the business plan contest, which also included a class about writing business plans. The contest was open to entrepreneurs from anywhere in the U.S., and award amounts could have been as high as $100,000.

The goal of the plan was to spur economic growth and promote high-technology, high-wage employment in the county.



Resource for job seekers launches in Kokomo

KOKOMO — The Business Professional Exchange (BPE), an organization dedicated to providing support and training to professional job seekers, launches in Kokomo this month and will serve Howard, Cass, Tipton, and Miami counties. The launch is part of a cooperative program with JobWorks.

Dani Blanchard, BPE executive director, invites professional Job seekers to attend the first BPE Chapter meeting on Monday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Career Transition Center in Inventrek Technology Park, 700 E. Firmin Street, Conference Room A, in Kokomo.

In addition to providing tools to those in career transition and job search, the BPE launch will feature keynote speaker Jan Hendrix, president of the Kokomo Howard County Development Corporation. Hendrix will unveil current economic development projects and opportunities for Job seekers.

There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited. To reserve a seat for the meeting, contact Blanchard at (317) 690-4235 or via e-mail at dani.blanchard@businessprofessionalexchange.net



Indiana Chamber hosting safety workshop in May

INDIANAPOLIS — A workshop on forklift safety procedures and a two-day conference for supervisors and managers will both be presented by the Indiana Chamber in May.

Forklift Safety: Train the Trainer Workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 16 at the Indiana Chamber Conference Center, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 850S, in downtown Indianapolis.

An average of 20,000 workplace forklift injuries occur every year. This workshop, presented by nationally-known safety consultant Bob Pfister, will educate participants on the best practices and safe procedures that help companies avoid devastating injuries and costly fines.

Cost is $249 for Indiana Chamber members and $299 for non-members. Indiana companies with 250 or fewer employees could qualify for an INSafe Scholarship that would cover the registration cost for this program. To find out more about the INSafe Scholarship Program or to receive an application, call Ann or Lisa at (800) 824-6885.

The Indiana Chamber also will hold a Supervising & Managing People Workshop May 17-18 at the Indiana Chamber Conference Center, Suite 850S. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on day one and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day two.

Attendees will learn powerful techniques for leading and motivating people. Improving communication and effective leadership are also featured topics.

Cost for Indiana Chamber members is $599 or $624 for nonmember.

To register for the workshops, call (317) 264-6885 or (800) 824-6885, or visit www.indianachamber.com (seminars & events section).