Forum Groups

Forum 01

Tracy Bartow

Tracy Bartow
President / Owner

AJP Corporation

AJP, Inc. is a niche transportation company that was founded in 1994 by Tracy Bartow. The company specializes in the transport of dry bulk plastic material for plastic manufactures across the Midwest. AJP has a calcium chloride division that services county governments in Southwestern Indiana and Northern Indiana as well as private companies. Calcium chloride is used primarily as a dust control substance but also as an ingredient in ready-mix concrete. The company also provides traditional transport services for regional companies.
AJP maintains a fleet of dedicated transport equipment, including pneumatic self-loading trailers for their plastics customer and tankers with spraying equipment for their calcium chloride customers.
AJP is strategically located on a rail spur. Their rail yard allows them to economically transfer and deliver bulk commodities to their customers.


Kent Bontreger

Kent Bontreger
President

Middlebury Produce Inc.

Wholesale live poultry to Chicago and Detroit. Dealing primarily with ethnic groups to provide live poultry for their special needs.
Heavy-duty truck repair shop, as well as our own vehicles we maintain service of approximately 100 vehicles in our area.


Ryan Britsch
COO

Solution Source

Solution Source provides effective solutions to businesses looking to solve their technology pain points. We focus on not just on developing custom solutions, but on creating personalized solutions. Learning the goals and objectives of the client, then choosing a software solution that fit their needs, is the business model for Solution Source.


Alan Brown

Alan Brown
Vice President

The Lebermuth Company

The Lebermuth Company founded in 1908 is a grower / direct supplier of essential oils flavor raw materials and fragrances throughout the world. The smell / taste is part of our customers products directly impacts the success of their brands. The company has on a staff perfumer and can develop private label fragrances and flavors from its international sources of raw materials for flavor and fragrances. Lebermuth creates the smell and taste, so their customers can market their products / brands.


Stephen L. Fidler

Stephen L. Fidler
Vice President

Kuert Concrete, Inc.

Kuert Concrete, Inc. is the oldest central mixed concrete company in the state of Indiana. The George Hoffman Co. started what is now Kuert Concrete in 1925. John Kuert was an employed manager of the Hoffman Co. and in 1927 the company was incorporated as Kuert Concrete, Inc.
Today, the business is owned by the Fidler family and a number of key employees. Kuert Concrete is headquartered in South Bend has four plant locations: South Bend, Goshen, Rochester, and Warsaw.
Kuert is the market leader of ready mixed concrete in north central Indiana. The company has fifty trucks that serve both commercial and residential building contractors. Kuert is well know and respected for their quality products and dependable service.


Mark Gendel

Mark Gendel
President

Hass Wholesale Millwork, Inc.

Current Locations South Bend & Indianapolis, IN
Distributors of:
• Commercial Steel Doors
• Kitchen Cabinets (•Merillat & Smart)
• Moulding
• Windows (Kolbe, Atrium & Crystal)

Manufacturers of:
• Exterior Doors
• Interior Doors


Denny Gill

Denny Gill
President

Stoutco, Inc.

Dick Stout founded Stoutco in Bristol, IN, in 1959 as a three-man operation, Stoutco now employs over 200 people, including those at the company’s Bristol headquarters and those at the branch operations (under the name Ameri-Kan Division) in Warsaw, IN
Stoutco is a supplier of fabricated metal parts and assemblies to the Recreational Vehicle, Cargo Trailer, Transit Bus, Truck Body and other industries
Ameri-Kan is a manufacturer of front, rear, and side load metal refuse and recycling containers. Plastic lid systems and other hardware items for refuse and recycling containers are also offered.


Peter Hutchings

Peter Hutchings
General Manager

South Bend Controls

South Bend Controls was founded in 1940 as a coil manufacture. The demands quickly lead to the development of solenoid assemblies and ultimately to solenoid-operated fuel control valves for aircraft.
Today South Bend Controls continues to design and manufacture innovative products for the aircraft, defense and aerospace, medical and clinical chemistry industries. Their philosophy of collaborative engineering, working closely with customer to design products to exacting specification, has proven to be a successful strategy.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Koontz Wagner Electric, South Bend Controls has grown to $8 million dollars in revenues with 70 employees.


Christine A. Lauber

Christine A. Lauber
Owner

Christin A. Lauber, CPA

Christine Lauber, CPA is a general service CPA firm for entrepreneurial business’s. The firm was founded in 1981 by Chris Lauber.
This professional accounting and consulting firm employs a staff of seven. Their clients represent a broad base of small and medium size business’s that range in development from start up to maturity.
This CPA firm is focused on helping their clients achieve success. They provide a full range of professional services that accelerate growth and profitability. Services range from business planning and operational reviews to retirement planning. What sets this firm apart from others is that they really care about their clients and back that up with prompt, high quality service.


H. Timothy Markley

H. Timothy Markley
President

Markley Enterprise, Inc.

Markley Enterprises is a manufacturing company specializing in the design, production and distribution of sales and marketing support products to industries worldwide. Tim’s parents founded the company in 1960.
Today the company has 65 employees and customers around the world. The key products for Markley Enterprises are sample cases, large format printing, displays and color selectors. The primary industries served are: building and construction products manufactures, medical equipment manufactures, marine products manufactures, and advertising agencies.
This innovative company stays ahead of it’s competitors by being able to identify market trends early, bringing uniqueness and creativity to their clients projects and incorporating the latest technology to enhance their systems and processes.


Michael Miller
President

Smart Systems

SMART Systems began in 1993 and is a diversified offering for school food service operators with solutions to food safety, sanitation and employee safety concerns.

Company provides Sanitation and Safety Systems to over 1,500 schools with food service and custodial operations in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Largest regional and national provider of Sanitation and Safety Programs to the school food service market.

National network services over 10,000 schools nationally.


James Peacock

James Peacock
Owner

Outpost Sports

Outpost Sports is a specialty sporting goods retailer. It was founded by J.V. and Sue Peacock in Ft. Collins, CO in 1972.
Today, the business consists of five retail outlets, four of which are seasonal locations. Three spring and summer season stores are in cities along Lake Michigan, Elkhart is open in the fall and winter. The business was born out of a love for the outdoors and outdoor recreation. The focus of the business has never changed.
The stores have carved out a niche for high quality products complimented by knowledgeable salespeople and friendly service. Products for people who love outdoor recreation all four seasons of the year. Year round activities and special events distinguish this business from any competitor.


Keith Powell

Keith Powell
Director of Operations

Gortrac Corp.

Gortrac Division of A & A Manufacturing Co., Inc. manufactures custom engineered solutions for cable and hose carrier systems. Gortrac offers four standard cable carrier lines: Gortrac - open steel, Gortube - enclosed steel, Nylatrac - open nylon and Nylatube - enclosed nylon.


Terry Lee Troyer

Terry Lee Troyer
CEO

The Troyer Group, Inc.

The Troyer Group was established November 1, 1971 as a sole proprietorship providing architecture and planning services. The firm, 60+ strong today, provides a full range of in-house services including:
• Architecture
• Engineering (civil, structural, mechanical and electrical)
• Interior Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Construction Administration Services

As a leader in sustainable design since our inception, The Troyer Group believes that all we do with and to our environment must contribute to its maintenance or improvement. We have sixteen (and growing) LEED accredited professionals and 28 staff members have been trained in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ which is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable environments.