Tuesday, November 16, 2010
2011 Evansville's Business Hall of Fame Laureates Announced
USI President Linda L. M. Bennett made the announcement.
Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 Koch, secretary of Koch Development Corporation and director of values at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari Romain, owner, president, and CEO of United Companies and historical laureate Bosse, former mayor of Evansville and entrepreneur, will be inducted into Evansville's Business Hall of Fame at a breakfast on March 17, 2011, at The Centre. The induction ceremony will take place at 7:15 a.m., and will include video vignettes on each laureate's life, outlining their entrepreneurship and managerial accomplishments. "Junior Achievement is proud to introduce these industrious individuals as the newest members of Evansville's Business Hall of Fame," said JP Engelbrecht, chair of the Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana Board of Directors. "Their vision, leadership, and untiring community involvement epitomize the best of the best in the Evansville business community." This morning's announcement was made by USI President Linda L. M. Bennett, who served as chair of this year's Laureate Selection Committee. Among the criteria used by the committee in reaching a decision were: Business excellence, courageous thinking and actions, vision and innovation, inspiring leadership, community involvement, and actions s role models for future generations. "These are true leaders," said Bennett. "In addition to being successful in business, they are strong advocates for our community and excellent role models for young men and women. It is an honor to have been part of the process that selected three such deserving individuals for this distinction." Patricia A. Koch, secretary, Koch Development Corporation director of values, Holiday World and Splashin' Safari Pat Koch and her late husband W.A. "Bill" Koch were co-chairs of the family business, originally known as Santa Claus Land, in Santa Claus, Indiana, for many years, seeing the company through growth and development. As director of values of what is now known as Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, Koch works with the park's many employees to maintain the high standards of the family business. Also the secretary of Koch Development Corporation, she has worked in almost all departments in Santa Claus Land/Holiday World. Koch holds a bachelor's degree from St. Louis University and a master's degree from Loyola University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Spencer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and through Koch Development Corporation, supports many community endeavors such as the Lincoln Boyhood Drama, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, and Easter Seals. In 2006, she opened the Santa Claus Museum, dedicated to telling the story of the town, the post office, and her family's park. Ronald D. Romain, owner, president, and CEO of United Companies Ron Romain heads United Companies, a diversified transportation and commercial financing firm with operations throughout North America. United Companies is comprised of Professional Transportation, Inc., United Leasing, Inc., and Romain Automotive Group and has been listed as one of Indiana's top 100 privately held companies. Romain holds a degree in marketing from the University of Southern Indiana. He is active in civic and charity organizations including St. Mary's Hospital Board of Directors, Welborn Baptist Foundation Board of Directors, Signature School Foundation, Evansville Regional Business Committee, and the Evansville Police Department Foundation Board. He is member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern Indiana. Benjamin Bosse (1875-1922), entrepreneur mayor of Evansville Benjamin Bosse, well known as the progressive mayor of the City of Evansville from 1914 to 1922, also was one of the leading businessmen in the early 20th century. In 1899, he formed Globe Furniture Company and later established Bosse Furniture Co. and World Furniture Co. In 1910, he merged the three companies into Globe-Bosse-World, which at that time was the largest furniture manufacturer in the world. On the national level, Bosse was elected president of the National Furniture Manufacturers Association and used this forum to advocate for a shorter work week, higher pay, and better working conditions for furniture workers. At the age of 27, he and others formed the West Side Bank, where he served as president until his death. He was the president and owner of The Evansville Courier and was the owner of the Vendome Hotel. He was the owner or partial owner or served on the boards of directors of numerous other companies. Bosse served as president of the Evansville Business Association (the forerunner of the current Chamber of Commerce). In that role, he led the fund-raising for the Industrial Campaign that brought major businesses to Evansville, including Faultless Caster, Imperial Desk Co., and the companies that later became Servel and Bucyrus-Erie. He served as president of the Board of Public Safety and president of the Evansville Coliseum Corporation. His philanthropy was manifested in the establishment of the Benjamin and Anna Bosse Scholarship Fund that still awards annual scholarships. Other examples of Bosse's community leadership and involvement include an extensive list of philanthropies. For more information, contact Theo Boots, president of Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana, at 812/425-8152. |
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