That time of year is here – it’s time to take a look back at some of the best stories to grace the ValpoLife Business Section in 2011!
We posted well over 600 articles to the ValpoLife Business pages this year, our most ever! With over 600 GOOD stories across all areas of business LIFE, we covered business development, staff development and motivation, real estate, automotive, legal and job openings!
It’s easy as ever to share your business story with us too! Just send us an email at share@valpolife.com and we can get started today!
Without further ado (and in no particular order), here are the Top 10 ValpoLife Business Stories of 2011!
ValpoLife Video 2.0: Faster. Smoother. Easier. Better. And Now... The Clicker.
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The Ideas in Motion Media engineers have been working hard to upgrade the ValpoLife.com Video system. Working with Vimeo, we've overhauled and upgraded the entire system to bring you a faster, more featured experience that helps you view our 500 plus video library covering everything Good in Valparaiso, Portage, and Northwest Indiana!
Governor Mitch Daniels Sits Down with Ideas in Motion Media Publisher Chris Mahlmann
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When Ideas in Motion Media Publisher Chris Mahlmann set up his big interview with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels at our offices, he told the governor’s assistant he would be asking about Daniels’ plans for 2012, in an attempt to get the coveted story of the year.
January 27, 2011 rolled around and the governor sat down with Chris. The end of the interview came and Chris finally asked the question, “So, do you have any announcements you’d like to make here Governor?”
SunGlassPoint Grand Opening Celebration
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SunGlass Point is hosting its grand opening celebration in Valpo, through Sunday the 13th of March, with one of the largest selections of designer sunglasses in Northwest Indiana. Customers lined the display walls and check-out desks, enjoying conversation with the staff as well as one young man who tried on a staff member’s sunglasses to “get a feel” for the color.
VisionPoint is a family-owned business, which opened in 2003 with a vision for providing quality products and services in all forms of eyewear to the Porter County region. Before VisionPoint, the Porter County community had to drive half an hour to Westfield Mall for any optical needs, but the location isn’t the only exciting thing about the grand opening of SunGlass Point.
What Makes Gus Go? Inside the Leader's Mind 
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Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by just about anything business related. How do businesses become successful? How do they sustain that success? How do they market themselves? How do they adapt and evolve, struggle, survive, and thrive?
I follow business sort of like a sports nut. I’m watching sales in the same way others watch batting average, studying the leaders and front-line employees like others analyze coaches and players on a team. It’s one thing to have a good game, or a good season, but how do certain teams win year after year, no matter what challenges are thrown in their face? While others may have ESPN burned into TV screens and minds, CNBC is burned in mine.
ValpoLife.com Opening Up with Facebook Comments
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We’re excited to announce our most recent site addition: Facebook comments!
We’re opening up our commenting system to Facebook users to encourage more positive communication amongst our loyal readers.
If you’re logged in to Facebook, you’re logged in to commenting on our site! Go ahead and pick your favorite article and share something nice with the person or organization who shared it with us, and with those who will read the article down the road.
Frontier Expanding, Bringing New Technology and Services to New Neighborhoods
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Frontier Communications, serving Northwest Indiana since 2010, is bringing a new focus of community engagement along with its investment in technology and infrastructure to new neighborhoods in Valparaiso.
The locally-focused company is on a mission to bring a renewed sense of quality services and products to the telecommunications field in Northwest Indiana. Frontier is starting to turn heads with the recent expansions, something the previous provider lost sight of.
United States Senator Richard Lugar Speaks to Valparaiso Chamber Percolator Club Meeting
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“Let me say something good to begin with: Indiana agriculture is strong.” Senator Richard Lugar told the crowd at the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Percolator Club meeting.
Nearly 200 members of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce packed Harre Union at Valparaiso University to hear the senator speak on issues, such as foreign policy, international trade, and Indiana’s role in the recovering economy on Tuesday.
2012 GMC Acadia: Professional Grade for People Making a Difference 
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Paul Sur Buick GMC has hooked the Ideas in Motion Media team up with the 2012 GMC Acadia, an awesome vehicle that will assist the team in covering all of the good news and events happening in Northwest Indiana. The vehicle was debuted and wrapped by Steindler Signs at the 2011 Porter County Chamber Network Night. The vehicle looks great as a well designed, sharp-looking cross over with the great craftsmanship done by GMC.
"We are happy to be one of the ValpoLife and PortageLife supporters," said Mike Sur, President of Paul Sur Buick GMC. "The 'Life Vehicle' from Paul Sur is a great way for us to get the word out about our 2012 GMC Acadia, since we know these folks are all over town covering everything good that is happening."
Mahlmann Among Honorees at 20th Annual NWISBDC E-Day Awards
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The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center’s 20th Annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards were handed out on November 17, 2011 to small business owners of Northwest Indiana for excellence in their businesses’ achievements. Ideas in Motion Media CEO/Publisher Chris Mahlmann was among the honorees, taking home the award for Small Business Journalist of the Year.
Welcoming everyone and congratulating everyone was Thomas L. Keon, Chancellor of Purdue University Calumet. His opening statements explained that small businesses are vital to our economy, saying, “This is very important because it is economic development from the grassroots, and we must have entrepreneurs.”
Reach Out and Touch Someone on ValpoLife and PortageLife
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We know what you must be thinking, “Geez, that sure is a suggestive title to an article!” Well, of course it is. We’re suggesting you touch someone by commenting on an Article, Video, or Featured Profile on ValpoLife.com or PortageLife.com. Why? Because it is a good way to let them know their story touched you in some way. AND, because it could win you one of six 8GB iPod Touch devices we are partnering to give away!
Reach Out and Touch Someone on ValpoLife and PortageLife - starts now, and we’re teaming up with five tremendous community-focused businesses: Group 7even, Frontier Communications, Anytime Fitness, Cavanaugh Orthodontics, and Northshore Health Centers.