IEDC CEO Patricia Miller Addresses Local Manufacturers' Council
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Patricia Miller, chief executive officer of the new Indiana Economic Development Corp., was the speaker Tuesday at the December meeting of the Kosciusko County Manufacturers' Council.
The IEDC replaced the Department of Commerce in February as the entity charged with state economic development.
Miller is co-owner and co-president of Vera Bradley Designs, a Fort Wayne-based company, which she and Barbara Baekgaard started as a cottage industry in 1982. Today, the company is approaching nine figures a year in sales and employs more than 120 workers. She was named Business Leader of the Year in 1997 by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2002 from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. To concentrate her efforts on the IEDC, Miller has taken a leave of absence from Vera Bradley.
Miller said, "Economic development is the No. 1 focus for the Daniels administration. The IEDC hopes to finalize its strategic planning by the end of the year.
"We're a quasi-government agency, and can raise money for funds to invest in companies throughout the state. Our thinking is, 'We'll give (a company) the money, but would like for you to give it back, so we can pass it on.' We operate as a business." Most IEDC funds come from the private sector.
Miller cited speed, flexibility and customer service as the driving forces behind the IEDC. The IEDC board of directors includes 12 business people, and Gov. Daniels is the chairman of the board.
Of Daniels, Miller said, "He's very involved - he knows about everything about the agency. He's pulling the wagon and pulling it very fast. He's a taskmaster, but he's fair."
She said Warsaw is blessed to have the orthopedic industry, and mentioned the recently announced expansion of Zimmer.
"We're (the IEDC) always 'delving' - looking for better ways and more efficiencies. We've completed 120 projects, and we're being noticed from outside Indiana. We have to differentiate ourselves and keep the pedal down. Use a 'can-do' approach to market the state and market your community."
Miller introduced David Behr, project manager with the IEDC North Central Region, which includes Kosciusko County. Behr provided detailed information on the programs and services available through the IEDC, Legislative developments and contact information for the North Central Region office in South Bend.
Editor's note: Detailed information on the IEDC's incentive programs will be included in the business section of Saturday's Times-Union. [[In-content Ad]]
Patricia Miller, chief executive officer of the new Indiana Economic Development Corp., was the speaker Tuesday at the December meeting of the Kosciusko County Manufacturers' Council.
The IEDC replaced the Department of Commerce in February as the entity charged with state economic development.
Miller is co-owner and co-president of Vera Bradley Designs, a Fort Wayne-based company, which she and Barbara Baekgaard started as a cottage industry in 1982. Today, the company is approaching nine figures a year in sales and employs more than 120 workers. She was named Business Leader of the Year in 1997 by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2002 from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. To concentrate her efforts on the IEDC, Miller has taken a leave of absence from Vera Bradley.
Miller said, "Economic development is the No. 1 focus for the Daniels administration. The IEDC hopes to finalize its strategic planning by the end of the year.
"We're a quasi-government agency, and can raise money for funds to invest in companies throughout the state. Our thinking is, 'We'll give (a company) the money, but would like for you to give it back, so we can pass it on.' We operate as a business." Most IEDC funds come from the private sector.
Miller cited speed, flexibility and customer service as the driving forces behind the IEDC. The IEDC board of directors includes 12 business people, and Gov. Daniels is the chairman of the board.
Of Daniels, Miller said, "He's very involved - he knows about everything about the agency. He's pulling the wagon and pulling it very fast. He's a taskmaster, but he's fair."
She said Warsaw is blessed to have the orthopedic industry, and mentioned the recently announced expansion of Zimmer.
"We're (the IEDC) always 'delving' - looking for better ways and more efficiencies. We've completed 120 projects, and we're being noticed from outside Indiana. We have to differentiate ourselves and keep the pedal down. Use a 'can-do' approach to market the state and market your community."
Miller introduced David Behr, project manager with the IEDC North Central Region, which includes Kosciusko County. Behr provided detailed information on the programs and services available through the IEDC, Legislative developments and contact information for the North Central Region office in South Bend.
Editor's note: Detailed information on the IEDC's incentive programs will be included in the business section of Saturday's Times-Union. [[In-content Ad]]