Behind the Region

Send us Fan Mail Get an inside look at South Bend’s newest space for big ideas! In this episode, Kris Priemer, founder of the Momentum Entrepreneurship Hub, shares how he transformed a former Salvation Army building into a vibrant, collaborative space for entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners. Hear how his vision, inspired by other startup cities and his own journey, is bringing ener...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Theo Brown, franchise owner of Grease Monkey in Mishawaka. Theo shares his journey into entrepreneurship, why he chose Grease Monkey, and how he’s building a standout customer experience from the ground up. From family involvement to balancing a second career as an airline coordinator, Theo’s story is one of hustle, heart, and high standards! 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Connie Bryan, founder and CEO of On-site Health, shares how she built a national leader in workplace healthcare—starting with just $247. She discusses her company’s holistic, on-site approach to employee wellness, their early pandemic preparedness, and how community partnerships and perseverance have fueled a mission to create healthier, more productive workplaces...

Send us Fan Mail Gary is this year's winner of the Distinguished Business Leader award at our annual Salute to Business luncheon. Gary will tell us his secret to success, as he helped Crowe grow to the firm it is today. How he built the amazing culture that Crowe is known for, how he recruited top talent, and what he is doing now, as he navigates retirement.      

Send us Fan Mail Scott will give us a history lesson about the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians. He will discuss how Four Winds is more than just casinos and the significant economic impact they have on the region. Scott also tells us about new developments on the horizon as they continue to expand their business ventures, both within and outside the casinos.      

Send us Fan Mail Andrea will tell us about the long history of 1st Source Bank, her journey to the corner office and what the future of banking looks like.

Send us Fan Mail Janet will tell us how the decision was made to leave being an associate at an existing law firm and venture out on her own. What is the meaning behind the Athora name? What kind of law do they specialize in, and how is it being a managing partner in this ever-changing industry, thanks to things like AI?   

Send us Fan Mail Chris and Jack will discuss their paths, how they met, and why they decided to open their own marketing agency. What separates them from other marketing firms? What's important to them as they continue to grow by attracting and retaining top talent? And why was it important to them to set up shop in one of South Bend's most iconic buildings?   .   .

Send us Fan Mail Dan will tell us how OSMC got started and how it's expanding to help serve the medical needs of St. Joseph County. Dan will also discuss how they are embracing technology to ensure patients and even non-patients have the very best information and care at their fingertips. 

Send us Fan Mail This week, we give you a Chamber update as we sit down with our team members, Jeff Jarnecke and Alyson Herzig. Jeff is the Executive Director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka and will fill us in on what's new in the destination marketing and tourism space. Alyson has key updates on construction projects, big and small, going on in the area.    

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a powerful episode, as Larry and Sherry tell us the heartbreaking story of how the JWAS Foundation came to be, and how they have taken an unimaginable tragedy and turned it into something amazing for families, and specifically children throughout Michiana. Jeanie will tell us exactly what the foundation does, their success, and future plans.    

Send us Fan Mail Amanda will tell us about her interesting career path and how it led to the corner office.  She will talk about the history of public broadcasting, not just nationally but also here in Michiana, and how the future looks.  

Send us Fan Mail Donald will tell us the history of RLA, the biggest challenges facing private schools, how they attract and retain their teachers and staff, and their future plans.

Send us Fan Mail Kierstin will tell us precisely what RMHC is and does, the local history of the house, and how it came to be. What plans are being made to make it an even better resource for the community, and how can you get involved?  

Send us Fan Mail Emilie will discuss the sweet reason why she started the museum, what you can expect when walking through the doors, and what her future hopes and dreams are for the museum. Annie Johnson, a member of the Board of Directors, will also join us and share her vision.    

Send us Fan Mail Craig was a standout basketball player at Mishawaka High School and a D1 College Basketball Coach. He will talk about when he knew it was time to give up coaching, what went into the decision to hang up his whistle, and how he knew what was next. Craig also talks about what makes an amazing company like Gibson even better and how they have achieved all its success.      

Send us Fan Mail Cale will tell us what changes to expect since the club is now under new ownership. He will also describe his path to becoming the general manager of a country club, and we will see if he can give Jeff some tips to improve his short game.  

Send us Fan Mail As a marketing firm, Jay will discuss the state of marketing today and how Villing & Company keeps up with the ever-changing industry landscape. Jay will also talk about what went into the decision to buy a marketing firm, shortly after retiring from owning a successful staffing agency, especially not knowing much about running a marketing firm. Jay will also talk about attrac...

Send us Fan Mail Ryan will tell us, as a hometown boy, why he chose to stay in South Bend to raise his family, and some of the changes he has seen over the years. He will tell us what steps he takes to attract and retain his top talent. Why is it important to Ryan to give back so much to the community, especially as a member of the Board of Directors at the chamber, and how does he view his role a...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know there is a pretty good chance that the lettuce you are eating is grown right here in South Bend? Joe will tell us how that works. He will also talk about how he attracts and retains his specialized team, and what are the future plans for Pure Green Farms.  

Send us Fan Mail Justin will tell us what it's like to run a 4th generation construction business.  With all the projects they are involved in, how do they attract and retain their top talent. And what does the construction industry's future look like in St. Joseph County?    

Send us Fan Mail Jason will tell us about his journey from big city credit unions to South Bend, and why he chose to call Michiana home. He will talk about the rebranding of Teachers Credit Union to Everwise, and why the change. Jason will also tell us a very cool story about the role TCU, at the time, played in naming the Michiana Region.

Send us Fan Mail Andrew will tell us the pros and cons of working for a franchise. What separates them from other painters in the area and how do they attract and retain their top painting talent?

Send us Fan Mail We will learn what ChoiceLight, Inc is, and how the idea for ChoiceLight was way ahead of its time. Regina is also very active in helping to restore downtown South Bend, by buying old buildings and bringing them back to their glory, and she will tell us why that is so important to her.

Send us Fan Mail Matt tells us his journey from giving up his regular paycheck to fulfilling his dream of starting his own company with his friend Josh. What challenges do they face, and how do they overcome those challenges? .