Miller, Tom Join Economic Development Board
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
"It isn't that I was getting bored and looking for work," said Dane Miller, about his state-level appointment to the newly formed Indiana Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. "I'm truly honored to work on this commission for a governor, who, I think, is going to be a great leader of this state."
Gov. Mitch Daniels named Biomet's Miller and Tom Farms' Kip Tom, along with several other entrepreneurs, business and manufacturing executives to the new board. The board will coordinate Indiana's economic development efforts and be closely involved in statewide strategy for growing the Hoosier economy.
"I'll reprioritize things," Miller said this morning. "Biomet and the family will not suffer but some other things might.
"The goal of the governor and the commission is to make the state business-friendly and to increase the viability of the business community."
Miller knows some of the other board members and will meet others for the first time when the IEDC meets March 17. He and IEDC executive director Pat Miller (of Vera Bradley, Fort Wayne) are not related.
"For two businessmen from Kosciusko County to be appointed to the commission is not just a home run, it's a grand slam," Miller said. "What it says is Mitch Daniels is looking outside Indianapolis for support in state government. I think at times that hasn't happened. He's looking for diversity.
"I'm excited about getting Kosciusko County on the map and I'll hopefully represent the interests of the entire orthopedic industry here. We employ people using the highest technology in the state," he added.
Miller, Winona Lake, is founder, president, chief executive officer and director of Biomet Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of total joint replacement products. The company has grown from sales of $17,000 in 1978 to an international business with sales exceeding $500 million. Miller is a member of the board of directors at First Source Bank, South Bend, and Catheter Research Inc., Indianapolis, as well as chair of the industry council for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Agri-businessman Kip Tom, Leesburg, is president of Tom Farms, a family business considered a seed corn production leader and provides services globally to Pioneer HiBred. He was unavailable for comment about the IEDC appointment at press time. In January, he was named the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Kosciusko County/Warsaw Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Farms operates on 12,000 acres in Kosciusko, Elkhart, Whitley and Huntington counties. The company has seed corn production operations in the United States and Argentina. Tom is a member and past chair of the Texas Executive Agriculture Producers Association and a member and past chair of the AAPEX Association of Global Farm Executives. He also has served on the Governor's Commission on Groundwater.
Miller and Tom join other board members who represent all regions of the state, and trade on national and international levels.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic that two men from Kosciusko County were appointed to the state economic development board; one from the bio-sciences and one from agriculture," said Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of both the Kosciusko County/Warsaw Chamber and Kosciusko Development Inc. "We're very, very fortunate to have two members from our county."
Daniels signed legislation Feb. 9 creating the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which is designed to attract, grow and retain business in Indiana. The board, which replaces eight boards that had nearly 100 members, brings all economic development activities under one umbrella.
"These are people of proven business talent, from companies old and new, large and small, traditional and new economy. I've told them all that we expect them to work hard between meetings, developing leads and personally helping to market Indiana worldwide," said Daniels in a press release Tuesday afternoon. The governor also will chair the board.
Patricia Miller serves as the IEDC chief executive officer and Secretary of Commerce. She was a founding partner of Vera Bradley, a leading women's accessories business in Fort Wayne. Mickey Mauer, IEDC's chief operating officer, has had a career in law, cable television, newspaper publishing and commercial banking.
The following also are members of the board:
• Sally Rushmore Byrn, West Lafayette, is president and chief executive officer of SSCI Inc., a company which provides cGMP research and analytical services to pharmaceutical and other industries in the characterization and chemistry of solid materials.
• John A Hillenbrand II, Batesville, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Glynnadem Inc., and a member of the board of Hillenbrand Industries.
• Robert L. Koch II, Evansville, is president and chief executive officer of Koch Enterprises Inc., world leaders in the production of aluminum and magnesium die castings, sealants and adhesives, the design and construction of industrial paint finishing systems and other products and services.
• Cathy Langham, Indianapolis, is president and owner of Langham, a global freight management company which provides transportation, warehousing and distribution services.
• James C. Marcuccilli, Fort Wayne, is president and CEO of STAR Financial Bank, director of STAR Insurance Agency Inc., executive vice president and director of STAR Financial Group Inc., and officer and director of STAR Wealth Management.
• William G. Mays, Indianapolis, is president of Mays Chemical Company Inc., a fully integrated chemical distributor which serves a variety of customers, including the food, pharmaceutical, beverage and automotive industries.
• John M. Mutz, Indianapolis, chairman of the board of the Lumina Foundation for Education, retired in 1999 as president of PSI Energy, Indiana's largest electric utility.
• T.M. (Tim) Solso, Columbus, is chairman and chief executive officer of Cummins Inc., which designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and other technologies.
• Bruce White, Merrillville and Edwards, Colo., is chairman and chief executive officer of White Lodging Services Corp., a hotel ownership, development and operating company headquartered in Merrillville. [[In-content Ad]]
"It isn't that I was getting bored and looking for work," said Dane Miller, about his state-level appointment to the newly formed Indiana Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. "I'm truly honored to work on this commission for a governor, who, I think, is going to be a great leader of this state."
Gov. Mitch Daniels named Biomet's Miller and Tom Farms' Kip Tom, along with several other entrepreneurs, business and manufacturing executives to the new board. The board will coordinate Indiana's economic development efforts and be closely involved in statewide strategy for growing the Hoosier economy.
"I'll reprioritize things," Miller said this morning. "Biomet and the family will not suffer but some other things might.
"The goal of the governor and the commission is to make the state business-friendly and to increase the viability of the business community."
Miller knows some of the other board members and will meet others for the first time when the IEDC meets March 17. He and IEDC executive director Pat Miller (of Vera Bradley, Fort Wayne) are not related.
"For two businessmen from Kosciusko County to be appointed to the commission is not just a home run, it's a grand slam," Miller said. "What it says is Mitch Daniels is looking outside Indianapolis for support in state government. I think at times that hasn't happened. He's looking for diversity.
"I'm excited about getting Kosciusko County on the map and I'll hopefully represent the interests of the entire orthopedic industry here. We employ people using the highest technology in the state," he added.
Miller, Winona Lake, is founder, president, chief executive officer and director of Biomet Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of total joint replacement products. The company has grown from sales of $17,000 in 1978 to an international business with sales exceeding $500 million. Miller is a member of the board of directors at First Source Bank, South Bend, and Catheter Research Inc., Indianapolis, as well as chair of the industry council for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Agri-businessman Kip Tom, Leesburg, is president of Tom Farms, a family business considered a seed corn production leader and provides services globally to Pioneer HiBred. He was unavailable for comment about the IEDC appointment at press time. In January, he was named the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Kosciusko County/Warsaw Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Farms operates on 12,000 acres in Kosciusko, Elkhart, Whitley and Huntington counties. The company has seed corn production operations in the United States and Argentina. Tom is a member and past chair of the Texas Executive Agriculture Producers Association and a member and past chair of the AAPEX Association of Global Farm Executives. He also has served on the Governor's Commission on Groundwater.
Miller and Tom join other board members who represent all regions of the state, and trade on national and international levels.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic that two men from Kosciusko County were appointed to the state economic development board; one from the bio-sciences and one from agriculture," said Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of both the Kosciusko County/Warsaw Chamber and Kosciusko Development Inc. "We're very, very fortunate to have two members from our county."
Daniels signed legislation Feb. 9 creating the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which is designed to attract, grow and retain business in Indiana. The board, which replaces eight boards that had nearly 100 members, brings all economic development activities under one umbrella.
"These are people of proven business talent, from companies old and new, large and small, traditional and new economy. I've told them all that we expect them to work hard between meetings, developing leads and personally helping to market Indiana worldwide," said Daniels in a press release Tuesday afternoon. The governor also will chair the board.
Patricia Miller serves as the IEDC chief executive officer and Secretary of Commerce. She was a founding partner of Vera Bradley, a leading women's accessories business in Fort Wayne. Mickey Mauer, IEDC's chief operating officer, has had a career in law, cable television, newspaper publishing and commercial banking.
The following also are members of the board:
• Sally Rushmore Byrn, West Lafayette, is president and chief executive officer of SSCI Inc., a company which provides cGMP research and analytical services to pharmaceutical and other industries in the characterization and chemistry of solid materials.
• John A Hillenbrand II, Batesville, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Glynnadem Inc., and a member of the board of Hillenbrand Industries.
• Robert L. Koch II, Evansville, is president and chief executive officer of Koch Enterprises Inc., world leaders in the production of aluminum and magnesium die castings, sealants and adhesives, the design and construction of industrial paint finishing systems and other products and services.
• Cathy Langham, Indianapolis, is president and owner of Langham, a global freight management company which provides transportation, warehousing and distribution services.
• James C. Marcuccilli, Fort Wayne, is president and CEO of STAR Financial Bank, director of STAR Insurance Agency Inc., executive vice president and director of STAR Financial Group Inc., and officer and director of STAR Wealth Management.
• William G. Mays, Indianapolis, is president of Mays Chemical Company Inc., a fully integrated chemical distributor which serves a variety of customers, including the food, pharmaceutical, beverage and automotive industries.
• John M. Mutz, Indianapolis, chairman of the board of the Lumina Foundation for Education, retired in 1999 as president of PSI Energy, Indiana's largest electric utility.
• T.M. (Tim) Solso, Columbus, is chairman and chief executive officer of Cummins Inc., which designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and other technologies.
• Bruce White, Merrillville and Edwards, Colo., is chairman and chief executive officer of White Lodging Services Corp., a hotel ownership, development and operating company headquartered in Merrillville. [[In-content Ad]]