About Us
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The Starke County Economic Development Foundation is guided by policies determined
by its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of two types of membership;
At-large and Representative. At-large members are those persons possessing experience
in industry, economic development, or expertise which will assist the Foundation
with its mission. Representative members serve by virtue of public office or as
representatives of sectors of the business community. The County, all it’s Cities
and Towns, zoning personnel, all utilities, banking institutions, and schools are
represented on the Board.
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William J. Sonnemaker, President (billsonn1@embarqmail.com)
Retired - Lockheed Martin Corporation
At-Large Member since 2003
William J. Sonnemaker is retired from Lockheed Missile & Space Company with over
40 years experience in Facilities Management. He is President of the Starke County
Economic Development Foundation. He is also a former Director and Treasurer of Starke
United, the local United Way organization; a former Director of the Bass Lake Property
Owners Association for six years, and a Director of the Starke County Initiative
for Lifelong Learning (SCILL). Bill also served as a Director of the Sunnyvale,
California Chamber of Commerce.
Bill’s education includes a BSIE from Bradley University, 1954; United States Air
Force Contracting Officers School, 1955; Sanford Sloan Executive Fellow, 1968-1969.
Bill’s affiliations include: Registered Professional Engineer, California; American
Institute of Industrial Engineers; Society of Automotive Engineers; National Management
Association; Industrial Development Research Council (Core Net); International Facility
Management Association; and California Society of Professional Engineers.
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Diane Thalmann, Vice President and Chairman of Marketing Committee
(dlthalmann@nisource.com)
Economic Development Manager, NIPSCO
Representative Member since 2006
Since 1998, Diane Thalmann has been the Economic Development Manager for NIPSCO,
with a focus on prospective businesses, local economic development organizations,
and industrial realtors. She also assists with the Indiana Economic Development
Corporation to help facilitate economic growth in NIPSCO’s service territory. Diane
has spent seventeen years in manufacturing, including positions in marketing, engineering
and business development. She holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame; an
EET from Purdue University North Central; and a BSPE from Valparaiso University.
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James W. Wagner, Secretary (jwwagner@embarqmail.com)
Retired from CenturyLink
Representative Member since 1987-2010; At-Large Member since 2011
Jim Wagner worked for more than forty years in the communications business before
retiring from CenturyLink in 2010. He is a graduate of Elkhart High School, Elkhart
Indiana; Indiana State University, B.S. Marketing; Ball State, Economic Development
Course; and University of Oklahoma, Economic Development Degree Program.
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Mathew Swanson,Treasurer (mnmbasslake@embarqmail.com)
Retired Bank President
At-Large Member since 1990
Mathew Swanson is now retired but served as the President of American State Bank.
Mathew holds a degree in Economics from Purdue University.
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Mayor Rick Chambers (mayor@cityofknox.net)
Representative Member, Mayor of
City of Knox, Since 2008
Mayor Chambers is a graduate of Knox High School and served in the U.S. Air Force
for four years. He was also a member of the Knox Police Department for twenty-eight
years, serving the last eighteen years as Knox Police Chief. He was elected Mayor
of Knox in November 2007 and reelected to an additional four-year term in 2011.
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Kent Danford (kentdanford@yahoo.com)
Representative Member, Starke County Board of Commissioners, Since 2013
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Nancy Dembowski (nancyindiana@gmail.com)
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
At-Large Member since 1986
Nancy Dembowski is a life-long resident of Knox who was employed at WKVI Radio for
25 years. She also served as a member of the Starke County Council for seven years;
Mayor of Knox for eleven years; two years in the Indiana Senate, District 5; and
six years in the Indiana House, District 17. Nancy’s accomplishments also include
the roles of VP of Starke County Economic Development Foundation; former President
of the Knox Chamber of Commerce; former President of Starke County Junior Achievement;
a Board member of Starke United; and a Board Member of the Starke County Community
Foundation.
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Brian Earnest (brian4iu@yahoo.com)
Representative Member - Hamlet Town Council
Since January 2013
Brian is a 33 year old lifetime resident of Hamlet, Indiana. He is a 1997 graduate
of Oregon-Davis High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education
from Indiana University. After earning his college degree Brian began teaching at
Westville High School. He later left the teaching profession to enter a career in
business at Hamlet Golf Course where he serves as the Manager. Brian is also active
in the coaching profession where he serves as the Boys Varsity Golf Coach and Assistant
Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at Knox High School.
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Dennis Estok (stcosurvey@yahoo.com),
Representative Member - Mayor of Knox 2004-2007
Representative Member – Starke County Plan Commission
Since August 2009
Dennis currently serves as Starke County Surveyor and is a member of the Starke
County Planning Commission and he has also served as Mayor of the City of Knox.
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John Fowler (fowlerj@1stsource.com)
1st Source Bank, Plymouth, IN -- Commercial Lender
Representative Member since 2002
WORK EXPERIENCE
- 1998 to present - 1st Source Bank, Plymouth, IN -- Commercial Lender
- 1989 to 1998 - First National Bank of Wabash, Wabash IN -- Lender
- 1981 to 1989 - Iowa State Bank, Des Moines, IA -- Lender
EDUCATION
- Indiana Wesleyan, MBA 5/92
- Briar Cliff College, Sioux City, IA, BA in Business Adm. 5/81
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A.J. Gappa (ajgappa@knox.12.in.us),
Superintendent
Representative Member – Knox Community School Corporation
Since May 2011
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Wendy Hoppe
North Judson Town Council
Since January 2011
Wendy is a member of the North Judson Town Council as well as the Starke/Pulaski
Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. She has been a member of the North Judson
Town Council for three years and on the Habitat for Humanity Board for eight years.
Wendy has owned Hoppe Hardware, Inc. of North Judson for the past four years. She
has been an Indiana Licensed Contractor Plumber for 25 years and has been in the
hardware industry for 40 years. She has lived in Starke County her entire life.
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Jon E. Mack (kvremc@kvremc.com)
Representative Member, Kankakee Valley REMC, Since 2005
Jon Mack has been employed at Kankakee Valley REMC for thirty three years. Jon also
serves as the co-coordinator for the Scripps National Spelling Bee for Lake, Porter,
and LaPorte Counties. He is also involved in 4-H; Hoosier Antique & Classic Bicycle
Club; Wanatah Historical Society; Hanna Historical Society; Hanna United Methodist
Church; and American Wheelmen Association. Jon’s hobbies include astronomy, restoring
old bicycles and antique collecting. He attended LaCrosse High School and Indiana
University.
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Greg Matt (gregormatt@hotmail.com)
Representative Member, Knox City Council, Since 2013
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Deborah J. Mix (dmix@starkcountychamber.com)
Representative Member, Stark County Chamber of Commerce, Since November 2012
Deborah J. Mix has been the Executive Director of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce
since 2009.
Debbie was born on Long Island, NY and graduated from the State University of New
York (SUNY) at Stony Brook with a BA in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary. After
attending the SUNY School of Social Welfare for her graduate work in Policy, Administration
and Research, she moved to the Chicagoland area. She became the Director of Family-Based
Services working with child abuse and neglect prevention and Foster-care. She left
the social work field to become the co-owner of a specialized underground construction
business. She and her husband Raymond live at Bass Lake as full time residents after
having been weekenders for many years.
Other current board positions: Secretary, Starke County Historical Society
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Jack D. Moore (jack.d.moore@centurylink.com
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CenturyLink
Representative Board Member
Jack D. Moore is the Market Development Manager for CenturyLink in Indiana, Illinois
and Michigan. His responsibilities include economic and community development for
CenturyLink across the region.
A graduate of Knox High School and Ball State University, Moore began his career
with CenturyLink in May 1977. He has served CenturyLink in various capacities over
his career including the Commercial, Engineering Revenues, Regulatory and External
Affairs departments. Jack has been the recipient of two coveted CenturyLink corporation
awards during his career: the Lamar S. Stoops Customer Relations award and the C.A.
Scupin Award for Meritorious Service.
Jack and his spouse, Judy, the parents of four children and two grandchildren, reside
in Columbia City.
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Carla Musial (cmusial@netdsb.com)
Representative Member, DeMotte State Bank, Since 2007
With over 30 years of experience in Community Banking, Carla Musial has served in
the positions of Vice President and Knox Branch Manager at the DeMotte State Bank.
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Ben Osinski (ben@osinskiauction.com)
Past President
Osinski Auction Service
At-Large Member since 1996
Ben Osinski, a Professional Auctioneer, is co-owner of Osinski Auction Service,
Inc. along with his wife, Dorothy. A first generation auction company since 1983,
Ben conducts over 50 real estate and personal property auctions per year in Starke
and surrounding counties. In addition to the Starke County Economic Development
Foundation Board, he is also a State Director for the Indiana Auctioneers Association.
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Benjamin E. Schaller (bschaller@fnbmonterey.com)
Representative Member, The First National Bank of Monterey, Since 2008
Benjamin Schaller received his Associate’s Degree from Ancilla College and his Bachelor’s
Degree in Agriculture Finance from Purdue University. He is employed as a Commercial/Agriculture
Lender at The First National Bank of Monterey.
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Mitchell D. Semans (mitchds23@yahoo.com)
Representative Member – Starke County Council, Since January 2012
Graduated from Oregon Davis High School in 1990; received a Bachelor’s Degree in
Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Manchester College
in 1996.
Currently a financial advisor with Ameriprise since 2004; member of the Starke County
Council; member of Hamlet Lions Club; and, member of Starke County ABATE.
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Alex Weisheit (acwisdom@embarqmail.com)
Retired from MPI International
At-Large Member since 2011
Alex Weisheit came from Switzerland to this country in 1970. He started his professional
career in Chicago where he acquired extensive international business experience
by providing engineering support to licensees and customers in Europe and Japan.
In 1988 Alex was assigned the task to start up the MPI plant in Knox and managed
its operation for almost 20 years until his retirement in 2007.
Alex holds a BSME (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering) from the Technical
University in Biel, Switzerland.
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Donald White (dwwhitecons@yahoo.com)
White Construction
At-Large Member since 2006
Originally from Starke County, Donald White went to work for Scott Foresman & Company
immediately after high school graduation. He later took management courses at Purdue
University North Central and completed a Dale Carnegie Course for Human Relations.
In 1972, Donald and his brother started White Construction. In 1981, Donald took
over sole ownership and became D.W. White Construction. Since 1972, he has been
building homes and light commercial spaces in Starke, St. Joseph, Marshall, and
Porter Counties. He also co-founded L.M.W. Investments LLC, and in 2005 became a
land developer. Donald is currently developing Anchorage Town Homes at Bass Lake,
Indiana.
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Larry Wickert (lwickert6@hotmail.com)
At-Large Member since 2011
Larry is a lifelong resident of North Judson. He has a degree in Agricultural Economics
from Purdue University. He and his wife, Marilyn, have two married daughters, Sarah
and Julia. He is owner of Wickert Agronomy Service which provides agronomic consulting.
His expertise includes fertilizer recommendations, field scouting, and crop insurance.
He and Marilyn also operate Wickert Produce and Herb Farm raising chemical free
vegetables and herbs.
Larry has been involved in the agriculture industry his entire career. He was previously
a plant manager for a retail fertilizer plant, worked in feed sales, sold seed,
and was engaged in farming.
As an active participant in community organizations, Larry serves on the North Judson-Wayne
Township Library Board, North Judson United Methodist Church Administrative Council,
North Judson Kiwanis, and Starke County 4-H Livestock Committee. Larry has served
one term on the Starke County Board of Commissioners. He was also a Railroad Township
Advisory Council member for two years.
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