The Evansville Regional Business Committee: River City Illuminati or Just Good Ol’ Boys?

by: Brad Linzy

There has been a lot of talk lately in CCO comments about an organization called the Evansville Regional Business Committee (ERBC). I must admit, before these comments began to proliferate I had not heard of this organization. Intrigued, I decided to do a little research. Wow! What an amazing coalition of talented, successful, and wealthy individuals! I’m sure with all these people working together under one roof, Evansville – her elections, construction projects, and long term fiscal situation – is in great hands!

So little seems to be known about this group, and since they don’t have a website or any other compiled information other than the odd business listing, I decided to compile profiles on each member and an overview of their mission statement. Where applicable, profiles have been copied from reputable business websites like Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. These are the “movers and shakers” of Evansville. Meet your ERBC (current as of 2011).

Primary Stated Purpose:
“The EBRC Inc. has been formed to improve and promote the business and commercial climate and conditions in the Evansville, Indiana Regional Area. “[1]

Program Service Accomplishments:
“The company engages business leaders in a collaborative effort to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the regional area by advocating policy direction and encouraging appropriate projects and investment. “[1]

Ed Hafer, President
Appointed by Winnecke as President of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission. Former head of Hafer Associates, an Evansville architecture and design firm responsible for the design of, among other projects, The Ford Center, Swonder, Evansville Regional Airport, CMOE, The Victory Theatre Renovation, Vectren Building, Berry Plastics, Casino Aztar Hotel Renovation, Holly’s House, Deaconess Gateway Hospital, Welborn Clinic, and much of the USI campus. In 2011, Hafer was the only EBRC officer to receive a salary. It was $83,000.[1][2]

Andrew E. Goebel, Vice President and Treasurer
Director of South Central Communications Corp. Director of Indiana Gas Co. Inc. Director at Old National BanCorp. Member of Board of Trustees at UE. Director of SIGCORP, Inc. Director of SIGECO. [3]

Susan Albertson, Secretary
Employee of Vectren. Resident of Newburgh. Was a Community Impact Volunteer with the United Way of Southwest Indiana in 2009.

Alan Braun, Chairman
Independent Director at Old National Bancorp, VP at Tri-State Refractories Corp., President at Industrial Equipment, Inc., and President at Burch & Lamb, Inc. Director at Old National Bancorp, Koch Enterprises, Inc., Old National Bank and Industrial Contractors Skanska, Inc. [4]

Robert L. Koch II, Director
Director of SIGECO, SIGCORP. President and Chief Executive Officer of Koch Enterprises, Inc. Previously a director of Fifth Third Bancorp. Retired in 2011. [5]

John N. Daniel Jr., Director
President and CEO of Fifth Third Bank. Serves on several Boards including the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana, University of Evansville, and Holly’s House. [6]

Frederick W. Geissinger, Director
CEO and President of American General Finance Inc., at SunAmerica Financial Group Inc., since 1995. Also Chief Executive Officer of Springleaf REIT Inc. [7]

Robert G. Jones, Director
CEO and President of Old National BanCorp.. Director at Vectren, Director at Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Former Executive VP of KeyCorp and CEO of KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. [8]

Mark L. Lemond, Director
Shoe Carnival President and Chief Executive Officer. [9]

Jack D. Pate, Director
President and Publisher at Evansville Courier & Press. [10]

John C. Schroeder, Director
President and CEO of Wabash Plastics, Inc. and Crescent Plastics, Inc. Board of Trustees at UE. [11]

Michael Walsh, Director
VP of Manufacturing & Engineering at SABIC, Innovative Plastics Business Unit. [12]

James Jeffrey Jobe, Director
Senior VP-Global Supply Chain at Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. Director at Evansville Industrial Foundation, Inc. [13]

Ronald D. Romain, Director
President, Owner, and CEO of United Companies. CEO and President at Romain Buick Inc., United Leasing, Inc. and Professional Transportation, Inc. Treasurer of St. Mary’s Medical Center, Inc. Director of American Community Bancorp, Inc., St. Mary’s Medical Center, Inc., Welborn Baptist Foundation, Signature School Foundation, and Bank of Evansville. [14]

Linda White, Director
Director Old National Bank. President and CEO for Deaconess Health System, Inc. Director at Deaconess Hospital, Deaconess Health System, Indiana Hospital Association, VHA Central, and Boys & Girls Club. Board of Trustees at UE. [15]

Timothy A. Flesch, Director
CEO and President of St. Mary’s Medical Center, Inc. CFO and Executive VP of St. Mary’s Health System. Former VP of Finance at Ascension Health and Daughters of Charity Health. Director of First Bancorp of Indiana Inc. and First Federal Savings Bank. Director of St. Mary’s Medical Center, Inc. [16]

Ed Hemmersbach, Director
VP at Alcoa. Director at Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Advisory Board at UE. [17]

Daniel S. Hermann, Director
President and CEO of Ameriqual Packaging. Director of Boys & Girls Club. Served on Vanderburgh Airport Authority Board. Formerly President and COO Black Beauty Coal. [18]
Norman Bafunno III, Director
President Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Inc. [19]

Carl L. Chapman, Director
President, Chairman and CEO at Vectren Corporation. CEO and President of Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. He worked for Arthur Andersen & Company and IEI Investments. Chairman of ProLiance. Since 1996, he served as Chairman of the Board Citizens Gas and Coke Utility that is the largest transporter of natural gas on the Panhandle and Texas Gas pipelines. He holds Vice Chair of Reliant Services. Director of Utilicom Networks, LLC and Vectren Energy Services Corporation. [20]

Dr. Jonathan D. Rich, Director
Chairman and CEO at Berry Plastics Corporation and Berry Plastics Group Inc. President of Eliokem SAS. Director of Berry Plastics Corporation and Berry Plastics Group Inc. Director at Members Trust Company, an investment management firm. [21]

Sources
1: http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/030/030408032/030408032_201112_990EO.pdf
2: http://www.haferassociates.com/usi-rice-library.php
3: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=411210&privcapId=3154920&previousCapId=293447&previousTitle=OLD%20NATIONAL%20BANCORP
4: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/onb/insiders?pid=29837
5: http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-koch/
6: http://www.zoominfo.com/p/John-Daniel/19065130
7: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=250271&privcapId=250265&previousCapId=1598673&previousTitle=Third%20Security,%20LLC
8: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=329434&ticker=ONB
9: http://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-lemond/
10: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=10544435&privcapId=1074423&previousCapId=1074423&previousTitle=Evansville%20Courier%20Company,%20Inc.
11: http://artsinstitutefund.wikispaces.com/file/view/WNIN+CCG+2012+UE+Board+of+Directors+and+Trustees+2011-12.pdf
12: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-walsh/46/b37/99
13: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mjn/insiders?pid=53583763
14: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=22236138&privcapId=26535296&previousCapId=11756782&previousTitle=AMERICAN%20COMMUNITY%20BANCORP
15: http://www.forbes.com/profile/linda-white/
16: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8072324&privcapId=4079932&previousCapId=400787&previousTitle=FIRST%20BANCORP%20OF%20INDIANA%20INC
17: http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Ed-Hemmersbach/1169312004
18: http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Daniel-Hermann/1229546504
19: http://pressroom.toyota.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2218
20: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=1096524&ticker=VVC
21: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1147737&privcapId=44916553

BitterPill.IN.gov is one-stop-shop resource for Hoosiers and medical community

Information about prescription drug abuse – including how to recognize signs and symptoms and where to find help – is now a click away.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force teamed up today at the Indiana State Fair to launch www.BitterPill.IN.gov. This comprehensive website is part of an upcoming statewide public awareness campaign targeting Indiana’s prescription drug abuse epidemic.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), 718 Hoosiers died from accidental drug overdoses in 2011, compared to 654 deaths the year before. More people abuse prescription drugs in the U.S. than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“Statistics show that abuse and misuse among all age groups is a serious problem in Indiana and that’s a bitter pill for our state to swallow,” Zoeller said. “Whether you are seeking ideas on how to talk to your teenager about whether they are abusing prescription drugs, searching for help for yourself or a loved one or just want to know how to properly dispose of your unwanted medications, this new website serves as a one-stop shop. I believe consumers need to be armed with information and the right resources so we can try to put an end to this epidemic.”

Zoeller said www.Bitterpill.IN.gov served as an official State Fair sponsor on Friday in attempt to educate more Hoosiers about prescription drug abuse. Chief Medical Officer at ISDH, Dr. Joan Duwve, serves with Zoeller as co-chair of the task force and said public awareness is a critical component to tackling this statewide problem.

“We have to recognize prescription drug abuse for the serious problem that it is,” said Duwve. “According to the 2011 Indiana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in five Hoosier high school students has used controlled substances without a prescription. Teens have easy access to most of these drugs because they are commonly prescribed and end up in the home medicine cabinet. What is perceived as a ‘safe’ high, because a doctor prescribed it, too often ends up being deadly.”

In addition to learning more about the efforts of Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, Zoeller said the top five features of www.BitterPill.IN.gov include:

• Knowing the dangers: Learn about the consequences of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs and what impact this epidemic has had on Indiana;
• Dealing with addiction: Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse in all ages. Access talking points to use when speaking with family or friends when you suspect a problem, and obtain information about treatment resources and referrals;
• Proper prescription disposal: Learn how to dispose of your unwanted or expired medications in way that protects the environment and ensures they don’t wind up in the wrong hands;
• Clinical resources: Access information written by Hoosier physicians which can help ensure optimal treatment with regards to commonly misused and abuse medications; and
• Reporting illegal activities: Learn how to report illegal activities whether it involves a physician, friend or someone else you know.

Zoeller was also joined by local health officials today for the website’s launch who shared in the state’s concern for the growing number of accidental deaths related to prescription drug overdoses.

“Adults and adolescents have the perception that prescription drugs are not as harmful as illegal drugs because they come from doctors,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director of the Marion County Public Health Department. “Since 1999, more women are dying from prescription drug abuse than from cervical cancer or homicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, prescription drug abuse has increased among men, with the highest rate of abuse among young adults ages 18 to 25.”

Zoeller said his office and the task force will be announcing more details about the statewide public awareness campaign later this month. Consumers can receive updates on the efforts to fight prescription drug abuse by “liking” Zoeller’s Facebook page or by following him on Twitter @INATTYGENERAL.

In 2012, Zoeller launched the task force made up of state legislators, law enforcement, members of the medical community, health officials, pharmacists, state and local agencies and education providers. The goal of the task force is to significantly reduce the abuse of controlled prescription drugs and to decrease the number of deaths associated with these drugs in Indiana.

The task force made recommendations to the state Legislature for new rules, regulations and state statutes. Stemming from its recommendations is a new law which requires an owner of a clinic that prescribes, dispenses or administers controlled substances to obtain an Indiana Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) for each facility they own, if they don’t otherwise hold a CSR.

The new law also calls on the Medical Licensing Board, through new rule making procedures, to allow the Attorney General’s office to move more quickly in taking enforcement action against practitioners who overprescribe and obtain records for its investigation.  Zoeller said his office and other stakeholders are being careful to make recommendations that include appropriate due process protections that balance consideration of physicians’ right and business operation needs, while still providing effective tools that will enhance the ability to protect the public.

Since January 2012, Zoeller’s office has taken action against more than 15 doctors for prescribing addictive painkillers outside of what is considered medically appropriate.