2017 Evansville's Regional Business Hall of Fame laureates announced

Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana and Evansville Business Journal (EBJ) announced the 2017 Evansville's Regional Business Hall of Fame laureates at a news conference Tuesday, November 15, at the University of Southern Indiana. The 2017 laureates are John C. Schroeder, Wilfred C. (Bill) Bussing III, and the late Richard W. Shymanski.

Schroeder, president and CEO of Crescent Plastics and Wabash Plastics; Bussing, attorney at law and owner of the Evansville Otters baseball team; and Shymanski, late chairman and CEO of Harding Shymanski and Company and chairman and president of Fendrich Industries, will be inducted into Evansville's Regional Business Hall of Fame at a breakfast at 7 a.m. on March 9, 2017, at The Old National Events Plaza.

The announcement was made by USI President Linda L. M. Bennett, who served as chair of this year's Laureate Selection Committee. "As anyone who has had the pleasure of working or associating with them knows, these three individuals represent the finest our region's business community has to offer. They truly are the kinds of role models we need for our young people, and for the area's future business leaders."

Individuals are nominated for their outstanding civic and business contributions to the southwestern Indiana area and recognized for their business excellence, vision, innovations, inspiring leadership, courageous thinking and actions, and local community service. A crystal eagle symbolizing the spirit of free enterprise is presented to each laureate.

John C. Schroeder, President and CEO, Crescent Plastics and Wabash Plastics

Schroeder has led Crescent Plastics, Inc. and Wabash Plastics, Inc. as president and chief executive officer for nearly 30 years. His leadership and management skills led to the successful growth of those companies and their sister companies.  John's service on boards includes Signature School Foundation Board, the board of directors of Old National Bank Community Board, Wabash College Board of Trustees, and almost 24 years on University of Evansville Board of Trustees, including three years as Chairman. He is a member of the Indiana Academy, past chair of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center Board, a life member of Keep Evansville Beautiful and current chairman of the board of directors of the Welborn Baptist Foundation.

Wilfred C. (Bill) Bussing III, Attorney at Law

Bussing is a lawyer who has practiced in the field of estate planning for nearly 30 years.  He and his family have owned the Evansville Otters since 2001. Bussing is president of the Bussing-Koch Foundation and the Notre Dame Club of the Tri-State.  He is a trustee at the University of Evansville, where he chairs the Enrollment Advancement Committee.  He is currently involved with the Evansville Catholic schools, Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation, Habitat of Evansville, the Boy Scouts, the Evansville Sports Corporation, the Jacobsville Initiative, the Southern Indiana Network of Grantmakers, and the Sisters of St. Benedict.

Richard W. Shymanski (1936-2010), Chairman and CEO, Harding Shymanski and Company; Chairman and President of Fendrich Industries

Shymanski was retired chairman and chief executive officer of Harding Shymanski, and Company and served as chairman of the board and president of Fendrich Industries, Inc. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Turner Joy. He served on many boards including Deaconess Hospital, Deaconess Health System, University of Evansville, Vectren Corporation, City of Evansville Human Relations Commission, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Airport Authority and the Vanderburgh County Planning Commission. He and his wife also established the Richard and Marian Shymanski Scholarship Fund at the University of Evansville.

Evansville's Regional Business Hall of Fame was established jointly by the Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana Board of Directors and the Evansville Business Journal (EBJ) in March, 2006, to honor local champions of free enterprise.

For more information, contact Junior Achievement at 812-425-8152.