Ambassadors Council |  Annual Outing Council |  Beautification Council |  Business Recognition Council |  Economic Development Council |  Education Council |  Environmental Council |  Government Council |  Leadership Council |  Minority Business Development Council |  OSHA Council |  Technology Council |  Transportation Council | 

Ambassadors Council

Erica Ogle, Chair

Claudia Meenan, Staff Liaison
E-mail: cmeenan@elkhart.org

Ambassadors are the Chamber's vital link to the business community, frequently attracted to the Council because they are people-oriented and strive to promote the benefits of Chamber membership.  While representing Your Company on the council Your Ambassador is helping to make Elkhart a better place to call home and to do business! 

Greeting and registering attendees of various Chamber events and seminars, Ambassadors also represent the Chamber at open houses and ribbon cuttings for Member businesses.  "It's not everyday that you can make a difference, but fortunately, every day you work as an Ambassador, there is always an opportunity to do so."  Stephanie Patka for a local non-profit organization

Ambassadors Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

Annual Outing Council

Steve Brown, Chair

Denise Polachek, Staff Liaison
E-mail: dpolachek@elkhart.org

Just say "fore", and you will be speaking the language of an Annual Outing Council member. Actually, there are even some members involved with the Council who do not live and breathe golf. This talented group of volunteers is responsible for planning one of the largest Golf Outings in Northern Indiana. The event encompasses morning and afternoon tee times, an entire day of tennis matches, with an array of food amoung the 18 holes, and lots of goodies and prizes given from our sponsors. The members of this Council work hard, and they play hard too. You can easily spot a member of the Annual Outing Council from about 350 yards.

Beautification Council

Dave Dygart, Chair

Denise Polachek, Staff Liaison
E-mail: dpolachek@elkhart.org

Bolsters area beautification by recognizing businesses who have made outstanding contributionsto beautification efforts.

Business Recognition Council

Stephanie Leniski, Chair

Stephanie Patka, Staff Liaison
E-mail: spatka@elkhart.org

Celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in Elkhart is the main focus of members of the Business Recognition Council. These volunteers know how meaningful it is for small business owners to receive credit for their tireless efforts. This Council recognizes a Small Business of the Month from established criteria, and from these candidates the Council selects a Small Business of the Year. The winners are honored at a special banquet during Small Business Week. The Council also recognizes area businesses throughout the warmer months for their beautification efforts in our community. Businesses are honored with a "Fairbanks" award for their landscaping and outside renovation efforts. If you would like to nominate a business for either award, call the Chamber for more information.

Economic Development Council

Ross Miller, Chair

Kyle Hannon, Staff Liaison
E-mail: khannon@elkhart.org

Elkhart is open for business. The Economic Development Council is working to make sure it stays that way. This council is active in identifying and removing barriers to business expansion and new business attraction. Keeping an eye on the objectives of the Horizon Project and the EDCEC, the Economic Development council is a partner in keeping Elkhart's economic climate vibrant.

Education Council

Patsy Boehler, Chair

Dr. John Hill, Co-Chair

Kathy Cardwell, Staff Liaison
E-mail: kcardwell@elkhart.org

This Council is bent on strengthening the link between the educators and business people of the Elkhart area with the goal of helping our citizens meet the demands of the 21st Century. The annual New Educator Event, sponsored by this Council, focuses on welcoming new educators/administrators to the Elkhart Community.

Business leaders join forces with the Education Council members to attend area school orientations, providing the new educators/administrators with welcome bags filled with donated items from local Chamber Member businesses. The Council also recognizes businesses that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to support education.  Winners are awarded a plaque and are announced in the media.   The Council continues to research ways to promote the benefits of continuous education to the community and our members.  Whether you are an educator or a business person, you can get involved in making the Elkhart area stronger.

Environmental Council

Michele Curtis, Chair

Kyle Hannon, Staff Liaison
E-mail: khannon@elkhart.org

The Environmental Council is your representative for local, state, and federal environmental legislation and regulations which affect the business community. This includes monitoring issues on groundwater, solid waste and air quality. The Council also provides direction and advice to the members on environmental requirements and pollution prevention. The Council sponsors several seminars throughout the year to update you on changing requirements. They also host an annual Environmental and Safety Conference in the fall which provides training from experienced consultants and environmental officials. Attendees can also browse vendor booths between seminars to learn more about what each company offers.

Environmental Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

Government Council

Doug Thorne, Chair

Kyle Hannon, Staff Liaison
E-mail: khannon@elkhart.org

Looking out for the best interests of the business community in tis relations with all levels of government is the mission of your Local Government Council. They provide resources for members to communicate effectively and efficiently with elected officials. For instance, every spring they host the Elected Officials Reception to give the business community the opportunity to meet and greet their elected officials.

Leadership Council

Christine Martin, Chair

Denise Polachek, Staff Liaison
E-mail: dpolachek@elkhart.org

The Elkhart Leadership Academy has received national recognition. It is a program to identify, inform, and cultivate emerging and existing community leaders, administered by the Chamber's Leadership Council. They handle the recruitment of participants for the nine-month program as well as its curriculum and structure. The Council seeks to motivate and prepare individuals to take on leadership roles in the community as well as in their own careers.

Leadership Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

Minority Business Development Council

Jim Pyles, Chair

Val Simon, Staff Liaison
E-mail: vsimon@elkhart.org

Counseling, training, technical assistance, and access to credit are the key elements this council offers to minority businesses.  Their mission is to assist underserved minority entrepreneurs (microenterprises) in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses.  A microloan program has been created to help provide start-up, or supplemental financing to qualified minority businesses. The MBDC partners with SCORE, SBDC and ASSETS of Elkhart County to provide training to operate a successful business. Major goals for 2006 are to market the availability of resources through MBDC and media, publish a Minority Business Directory, make personal calls on 20+ minority businesses, and host two or more special events to bring together minorities and resource organizations.

Minority Business Development Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

OSHA Council

Ron Crook , Chair

Hazel Redmond, Co-Chair

Jim Walsh, Staff Liaison
E-mail: jwalsh@elkhart.org

Because the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) has such an all-encompassing impact on manufacturing and business, this Council was established to promote a safety culture in the local workplaces. Nine monthly meetings provide a professional forum for networking and exchange of ideas and experience, while structured, scheduled training and workshops provide local support and dissemination of existing and proposed regulations.

OSHA Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

Technology Council

David Rohm, Chair

Beth Wentland, Staff Liaison
E-mail: bwentland@elkhart.org

Michiana, traditionally know as the RV capital of the world, is a regional center of entrepreneurship and innovation.  Michiana is rapidly becoming a technology development center in a wide diversity of industries including health and life sciences, information technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing.

The Technology Council has created an online, searchable technology directory.  The Elkhart Area Technology Directory can be found on the new technology website, www.elkharttech.org.

Along with the technology website and the Elkhart Area Technology Directory, the Technology Council also hosts quarterly Technology Connections Breakfasts. For 2007, the council is planning a Technology Conference to showcase the technology companies in Michiana.

Technology Council Brochure Click here. - (PDF file) Get PDF reader

Transportation Council

Kent Schumacher, Chair

Kay House-Clark, Staff Liaison
E-mail: kay@elkhart.org

The members of this Council monitor area transportation projects for timely completion as well as coordinate with elected officials and business professionals on transportation projects that benefit the region. This Council has established a valuable working relationship with highway officials.  Each spring the Council hosts a luncheon with the Commissioner of INDOT, and in the fall the Council hosts a reception to feature a key transportation issue.