Board of Directors

2015 Executive Board officers 




CARRIE UPCHURCH,  PRESIDENT Carrie is the Branch Manager of the Highland office for Standard Bank & Trust Co located on Ridge Road where she specializes in community banking. She earned her degree in Communication Studies from IUPUI, and she has been in banking since 2006. Carrie is a Highland graduate, and she is proud to work in her hometown. She has served on the Highland Chamber of Commerce board since 2011 and became a member of the Executive board in August 2012. Carrie and her husband Michael have one son and one daughter.

 


    FRED LEEP, VICE PRESIDENT
219.838.0115
Fred is Sales Manager at Pleasant View Dairy. He has served on the Highland Chamber of Commerce board since 2011 and became a member of the Executive board in January  2013.
 

 
    DOUG BALLAS, SECRETARY
 219.972.0254
Doug is the Store Director at Ultra Foods in Highland  He has a Marketing Degree from Purdue's School of Business and he graduated from Crown Point High School.  Doug currently lives in  Valparaiso  with his wife, two boys and one girl.  He is a lifetime resident of North West Indiana who joined the Chamber Board of Directors in 2014.


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PATRICIA MAKAROUNAS, TREASURER
219.989.7203
Patricia is the Vice President of Branch Development for the Hessville Branch of at the Regional Credit Union located on Kennedy Avenue.  She has been with the credit union for 9 years, with 22 years experience in the financial field. Patricia is a Purdue University Calumet graduate, earning her degree in Human Resource Management. She has served on the Highland Commerce Board since 2013 and became a member of the Executive board in January 2015.
Michelle Anderson   

MICHELLE ANDERSON, PAST PRESIDENT
219.972.7325  
 Michelle is the Assistant Vice President and Banking Center Manager for First Financial Bank, N.A., located on Highway Avenue in Highland and specializes in private banking relationships and small business solutions. She has been in management for 11 years and at this office since 2007. She grew up in Highland and enjoys raising her family in the wonderful home-town environment. Michelle is an advocate for buying local and supporting our Town through Chamber volunteer opportunities.



STAFF MEMBER 



 
John Freyek   MARY LUPTAK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

219.923.3666
Mary is the Executive Director for the Highland Chamber since 2002 and has been with the Chamber since 1995.  She enjoys working with the Board and Committee Members to run the Chamber's program of  work and Promote Good Business. Mary also serves as the Highland Rotary President, Northwest Indiana Chamber Executives Treasurer and Highland Dollars for Scholars Committee Member.  Mary is a graduate of the Chamber's Institute for Organizational Management and Leadership Northwest Indiana.  Mary and her husband Ron have three grown sons and a grandson and a granddaughter.
     
     
        
     

2015 Highland board members

Carrie Upchurch,  President
STANDARD BANK & TRUST, 219-838-1812  

Fred Leep,  Vice President
PLEASANT VIEW DAIRY, 838-0155

Doug Ballas, Secretary
ULTRA FOODS, 219-972-0254

Patricia Makarounas, Treasurer
REGIONAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, 219-989-7203

Michelle Anderson, Past President 
FIRST FINANCIAL BANK,  219-972-7325

Kim Blaesing, Board Member
TIGER PLUMBING, 219-838-1151

Rhonda Basham, Board Member
FIRST MIDWEST BANK, 219-853-3483

Margie Dian, Board Member
FIRST FINANCIAL BANK, 219-922-3310

 Victor Garcia, Board Member
MARCH OF DIMES - Indiana Chapter, 219-736-0023
Gabe Mauch, Board Member
GRINDHOUSE CAFE, 219-595-3310

Colin Peterson, Board Member
HIGHLAND PUBLIC WORKS, 219-972-5083

Cindy Rivera, Board Member
NORTH TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE OFFICE, 219-932-2530 

Joe Starkey, Board Member 
OAK PARTNERS, INC., 219-795-1000

Sue Woodall, Board Member
CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY, 765-1108


Mary Luptak, Executive Director
HIGHLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 219-923-3666

 2015 Griffith BOARD MEMBERS  

Joe Koranek , President
CENTIER BANK, 219-924-0800

Susie Pollard, Vice President
CENTSIBLE HEATING & COOLING, 219-972-0289

Ray Giacomin, Treasurer
CROSSROADS YMCA, 219-750-1082

Carl Zurbriggen, Secretary
GRIFFITH FAMILY YMCA, 219-750-1082

Amy Conn, Board Member
CRESTVIEW APARTMENTS, 219-838-1450

LaRae Dykstra, Board Member
METRO RECYCLING, 219-922-1830 

Bob Johnson, Board Member
LIBERTY FLOORS, 219-922-4000

Gabe Mauch, Board Member
GRINDHOUSE CAFE, 219-595-5678

Gary Miller, Board Member
PROMPT AMBULANCE SERVICE, 219-934-1010

Rich Miller, Board Member
SPITZ & MILLER INSURANCE, 219-924-8700

Kathleen Reed, Board Member
FIRST MIDWEST BANK, 219-853-3183

Rachelle White, Board Member
WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 219-924-41003