IN Chamber: The Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Talkin’ Trades: Reaching Out to Students Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

If you’re experiencing challenges finding the workers you need – and who isn’t – you certainly realize that simply “complaining” about the lack of talent isn’t going to get the job done. Part of the longer-term play is reaching out directly to students to educate them about careers, including in the trades. Holly Ward of Irving Materials Inc. (aka the “Rock Lady”) and Jesse Johnson of Metal Supermarkets are going above the norm. They passionately advocate for career opportunities in the rock/materials industries and the welding profession. They visit with students; they donate materials; they help schools and teachers meet their needs. Most of all, they provide a path to career happiness for many – and convince a few parents along the way. Learn more:
Irving Materials Inc. (www.irvmat.com)
Metal Supermarkets (west Indianapolis location now open): (www.metalsupermarkets.com/indianapolis-east)

Kevin Brinegar: Indiana’s 20-year success story Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

Modesty is a good thing – most of the time. One of the exceptions might be when it comes to “selling” Indiana to those who might not be as familiar with the many attributes the state has to offer. We’re not going to recount those many qualities today – you know what they are. Chamber President Kevin Brinegar will share the journey, however, that has propelled Indiana from economic depths in the early 2000s to a Midwest leader and national competitor as we launch into the 2020s. It’s that success that helps produce the many positive things we should be proclaiming across the country and beyond. Learn more:
Indiana Chamber: Top Policy Victories in the 2000s (https://www.indianachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DecadeVictories5.22.19.pdf)
Indiana Vision 2025 economic development action plan (https://www.indianachamber.com/news-resources/studies-reports/indiana-vision-2025/)

Ray Boomhower: Explore the past to inform the future Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

Yes, the start of a new decade puts us in a forward-thinking mode. But we couldn’t resist one more look back at Indiana business history in the current issue of BizVoice® magazine. To accompany those features and stories, we offer this conversation with Ray Boomhower, senior editor at the Indiana Historical Society Press and author of a soon-to-be 18 books. Among his many subjects: 1968 and Robert F. Kennedy’s impact in Indiana; business – from the auto industry to manufacturing’s wartime role; president Benjamin Harrison; and World War II heroes. He talks about the important role history plays in our society. Learn more:
Indiana Historical Society: www.indianahistory.org
Ray Boomhower: http://rayboomhower.blogspot.com

Krista Skidmore: Taking leaders to a whole new level Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Leadership is not easy, and it potentially gets a little more difficult as time goes by. Krista Skidmore of FlashPoint Leadership Consulting brings more than 17 years of experience to the mix and helps clients cope with the many ongoing changes. The prior year brought an emphasis on longer-term experiences and an increased focus on measurement (part of the firm’s brand promise). Trends for the new year are expected to be a rise in the importance of teams and the ongoing development of millennial leaders. We talk engaging employees in training, sustaining the lessons after the advisors are gone and more. Learn more:
Krista Skidmore and FlashPoint Leadership Consulting (including a January webinar on 2020 trends): www.flashpointleadership.com
Indiana Chamber’s Supervising and Managing People Workshop (offered six times a year): https://www.indianachamber.com/event/supervising-managing-people-workshop-feb-2018

Emily Bermes: Consulting, coaching, executive onboarding and more Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

The leader of her own human capital consulting firm says 50% of first-time CEOs are not successful in that role. Why? Among the leading reasons: Not reading the company culture correctly. Bermes & Associates strives to fix that, with executive onboarding the fastest-growing portion of its business. And with a financial cost of at least two times the executive’s salary (to recover, recruit, hire again, etc.), it’s best to do everything possible to avoid those failures. Bermes brings her background in research and evidence-based solutions to the table. She talks about effective teams, healthy conflict, a different take on gender disparity and more. Learn about Emily and the Fort Wayne-based company (with a Chicago office) at www.bermesassociates.com.

Indiana Workforce Recovery: Solutions Through the Employer Lens Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

The complexity of the opioid (and other drug) epidemic is enormous. A sometimes overlooked – but vitally important – component is the impact on the workplace and the role of the employer. Enter Indiana Workforce Recovery (IWR). In less than two years, IWR has shifted the conversations and provided pathways for organizations to invest in their employees and offer solutions. Jennifer Pferrer of the Wellness Council of Indiana and Mike Thibideau of IWR are deeply involved with a variety of partners. They talk survey numbers, changes that have taken place, the still enduring stigmas and some of the next steps that need to take place. Learn more at www.wellnessindiana.org/recovery.

Ryan McCarty and Marcie Warren: Cultivating Your Company Culture Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

He’s a co-founder of the Culture of Good. She’s a leader with Ingram Micro Mobility. They are working together to implement the former at the latter with an ultimate goal of Ingram Micro being a company that “not only delivers products but delivers hope.” Or, in other words, making both the workplace and the world better places. It’s a proven process that helps organizations find a cause that aligns with their business strategy, incorporates key “promises” and makes the effort sustainable. Culture of Good is more than a program or an initiative; it’s a feeling that takes employee engagement and organizational success to new levels. Indiana Chamber members receive a discount on Culture of Good in a Box. Learn more at www.cultureofgood.com; www.ingrammicro.com

Katie Ittenbach: In Charge – On the Job and Off Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

She’s 33 years old. She’s the president of a 36-year-old market research and insights organization (SMARI) started by her father. Her home is a ranch, where she takes care of a growing family of animals (delivering a calf at 3:00 a.m. and leading a high-powered business meeting a few hours later is a classic). Meet Katie Ittenbach of SMARI. She talks millennials, leadership, moving up the ranks from starting as an intern, how the research game is evolving, company culture, work-life balance (the television set falls into the rarely used category) and more. Learn about SMARI (https://smari.com).

Julie Benezet: Change is Here; Quit Fighting It Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Julie Benezet gave up a law career to enter real estate development and later was an early executive at Amazon. Both provided valuable lessons in overcoming the unknown – “we lived change every hour of every day” at Amazon – and adapting to evolving circumstances. Today, she coaches executives and guides companies on making the most of the rapid change that is taking place. Benezet shares best practices from her book titled The Journal of Not Knowing: How 21st Century Leaders Can Chart a Course Where There is None.
Learn more:
Julie Benezet (juliebenezet.com)
The Journey of Not Knowing (journeyofnotknowing.com/book)

Joe Santana: Lifting Up Your Employees Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

When it comes to boosting the skills of your workforce, Joe Santana uses an old story to advise "look nearby before you go to a far off land." In other words, do all you can to build up current employees. Employee networks are an important ingredient, along with properly using diversity and inclusion to address challenges. Santana shares insights learned during his business career and consulting work. Learn more: http://joesantana.com/index.html

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