During October, NWI Innovators of the Month shines the spotlight on Pratt Paper Indiana LLC; Michigan City Chamber Music Founders Nic and Sunny Gardner Orbovich; the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District; and SOI Fellow Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, superintendent of MC Schools. Highlighted below is Team Member Jay Hennessy highlighting the Valpo mill. Also featured is Team Member Nic Orbovich sharing this year’s musical performances. All are celebrated as part of the 2016 – 2017 Class of Innovators, one of the largest “classes” inducted into The Society of Innovators. The Society is part of Ivy Tech’s Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center for Excellence. For information, contact O’Merrial Butchee, Director, Lamkin Center at (219) 981-4942, or John Davies, Managing Director, Society of Innovators at (219) 981-1111, 2292.
Pratt Paper Creates “Green Collar” Jobs in Valparaiso!
Capitalizing on a strong Midwestern work ethic and creating “green collar” jobs, Pratt Paper Indiana, LLC is the newest and most cost competitive paper mill in the container-board industry in North America. Now approaching its second anniversary in Valparaiso, Pratt continues to push the capabilities of the new mill. This year with its 120 employees, the mill is on track to produce 360,000 tons of recycled paper for the burgeoning box industry. In keeping with Pratt’s model of locating a mill next to its box-making plant, Pratt, a $250 million facility that opened in October, 2015, is anchored next to Pratt Industries Valparaiso, its largest supplier. “Together, we employ 450 people, representing the largest employer in Valparaiso,” said GM Jay Hennessey. Recycled fiber comes into the plant, and is processed into jumbo rolls, then cut down into 300 customer rolls per day, each weighing 3.5 tons, and prepared for shipment next door, as well as other Midwest box producers. Now in his second startup, Hennessey said the Valpo plant is making paper at least 30% faster and 15% more efficient through its state-of-the-art operation. Weekly, Kathy Neary, Ivy Tech Workforce Alignment consultant, meets with employees to counsel their careers and encourage lifelong learning.
Husband & Wife Team Complete 16th Season of Chamber Music
World class is typically associated with manufacturing linked to Northwest Indiana as exceptional makers of steel, petroleum, and even jet engine parts. But a husband and wife team in Michigan City are redefining the boundaries of exceptional performance at the community level to include world class chamber music. This event has attracted Emmy, Grammy and Gramophone Magazine award winning solists from across the nation. Based at The First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City, Nic (above, left) and Sunny Gardener Orbovich founded the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival (MCCMF) back in 2002, driven by a passion to bring great classical music to their hometown. They exemplify a commitment to the highest quality of music for their audiences. No better example than their just completed 16th season featuring Beethoven and Ravel on Aug. 7th, Schubert & Crusell on August 9th, Beethoven and Schubert on August 11th, and Corelli and Copland on August 13th. What sets this apart is a unique combination of education, international artists, and free performances. But as Nic explained, it is also about creating an “intimate conversation” about the music between the audience and the artists. Their model consists of 8 completely different performances in 9 days, including 5 formal concerts and 3 children’s concerts. “These founders want to share their love of classical music,” said nominator William Halliar.
Highlighted below is SOI Team Member and Executive Director Meg Roman focusing on the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District, having an impact on economic development as this community looks ahead to the prospect of double-tracking along the South Shore. Also featured is SOI Fellow Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins and Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools discussing how chromebook computers are benefiting MC students. Innovators are from Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke Counties. The mission of The Society of Innovators is to cultivate creativity and innovation as a growth strategy by discovering and encouraging, celebrating, educating and honoring our most innovative people across the 7 counties of Northwest Indiana. Click on www.nwisoi.org for details.
Miller Beach Arts & Creative District Has ‘Meteoric’ Rise!
From putting tables out on the street for artists to having a 6,000 sq. ft. gallery for art, the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District has enjoyed a “meteoric” rise. Thanks to an army of volunteers and great leadership, this bottoms up organization is dedicated to growing the local economy through sustainable art projects, said Meg Roman, the founding ED who grew up in Gary and returned after a 16 year stint in London. “We have great volunteers who leave no stone unturned to make people excited about local art events and encourage them to patronize our shops and restaurants,” she added. The genesis of the arts district led to innovation born of concern of the decline of community storefronts and restaurants, she added. Now in its 6th year, the district has a 19-member volunteer board that oversee about 30 events like its signature downtown arts project, Lake Effekt. Providing exceptional educational and entertainment opportunities, the transformation has been palpable with now 18 new businesses and restaurants opening. She also credited the district’s leadership for milestones led by the first president Eric Reaves. He persuaded the Gardner family to donate the old Miller drug store to create the Marshall J. Gardener Center for the Arts with its impressive gallery. Now with double tracking for The South Shore on the horizon, Miller is poised for the future, linked inexorably to the arts.
Chromebook Computers Are ‘Game-Changer’ for MC Students!
When Michigan City High School students returned to school this fall, they carried something other than a pencil and notebook to class: a Chromebook computer. It’s a concept called 1:1 (one device to one student), and it’s transforming teaching and learning at Michigan City Area Schools, thanks to the vision of Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins. The idea isn’t just to give kids a digital textbook. Instead, it’s providing them with a way to organize and enhance work and to become more engaged through blended learning—combining digital and traditional classroom methods. Now, every high school student has a school-issued device to use at school and at home. At middle schools, Chromebooks are available in all core classrooms, and in elementary buildings the devices are available on mobile carts. The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission, the City of Michigan City, multiple grants, and an Indiana Common School Loan are funding the 1:1 project, which is just one part of a $10 million, five-year technology initiative for MCAS. Other aspects include improved WIFI, interactive white boards, and a high school course that trains students to provide tech support. “Employers and colleges require our students to have skills for a digital world,” says Barbara. “This is truly a game-changer for our teachers, students, and the entire community.”