Attorney General used legal authority aggressively in consumer protection, legal challenges

INDIANAPOLIS — As the economic downturn has emboldened fraudsters, scam artists and identity thieves to try to defraud Hoosiers, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has ratcheted up his efforts to protect consumers, homeowners and taxpayers and hold accountable those who victimize the public. With Indiana’s criminal justice system facing declining revenues, Zoeller in 2010 also focused on resource challenges posed by drug-trafficking organizations and urged policymakers to continue a dialogue on the escalating costs of the death penalty.

“In 2011, I plan to be an advocate for full state funding of the criminal justice system, so that law enforcement has adequate resources to combat well-funded drug rings while ensuring funding is efficient and transparent. The Attorney General’s Office serves in a dual role not only as the lawyer for state government but also as the state’s consumer protection agency. Hoosiers can rest assured that my office is serving them by defending against unscrupulous companies and individuals who want to deprive them of their money and security,” Zoeller said.

A New Albany native, IU Law School alumnus and former aide to Vice President Dan Quayle, Zoeller worked for eight years as former Attorney General Steve Carter’s chief deputy. Elected in 2008 as Indiana’s 42nd Attorney General, Zoeller now is completing a cumulative 10 years of service with the AG’s Office. “I had little need of on-the-job training when I was sworn in, but the seasoned team of lawyers we have assembled over the past decade means that my office is very aggressive in consumer protection and willing to explore a variety of legal options in using the Attorney General’s legal authority under state law in ways not often seen in years past,” Zoeller added. Today Zoeller recounted the office’s major accomplishments of 2010:

Defending consumers

Amid nationwide complaints that mortgage servicers routinely filed foreclosures without adequate review, the Indiana Attorney General joined a 50-state investigation into financial institutions “robo-signing” documents. Zoeller also filed 34 lawsuits in 2010 against illegal foreclosure-rescue consultants who preyed on distressed homeowners, taking their money but doing nothing to prevent a foreclosure. Armed with the powers of a new state law regulating credit service organizations, Zoeller’s team of consumer protection attorneys also began cracking down on credit-repair scam artists whose victims are also those who can least afford to be scammed. More enforcement actions against these types of organizations are anticipated in 2011.

The AG’s Unclaimed Property Division also assists Hoosiers who have money owed to them, often through forgotten bank accounts, unspent store credits or overlooked assets. In 2010, more than 60,000 claims were processed, translating into $40 million that the program returned to Hoosiers. Zoeller also kicked off the office’s first Amnesty program, allowing companies who had not previously filed unclaimed property reports to do so without penalty. This nearly doubled the number of companies who reported unclaimed assets to the state, which will translate into more money returned to Hoosiers in the future.

Defending crime victims and supporting criminal justice

As the state’s lawyer, the Attorney General represents the prosecution in appellate court and opposes attempts by offenders to overturn convictions or reduce sentences on appeal. Through November, the AG’s Criminal Appeals Section fielded 1,450 new appellate cases, a 17 percent increase from 2009, and is on track to open 1,600 new cases in 2010 – each one requiring zealous legal work to protect the public and crime victims.

The Attorney General by law also defends prosecutors named in civil suits. Representing the criminal justice system broadly, Zoeller organized the Mexico Rule of Law conference at IUPUI in September that analyzed how the well-funded, well-organized drug cartels that have violently thwarted justice south of the border now seek to extend their influence into the U.S.

Zoeller also led the first AG Criminal Justice Summit at Notre Dame in November that created a dialogue among prosecutors, defense attorneys and policymakers on whether the costs of a death penalty trial mean capital punishment is sought in some counties but not others, creating fairness issues. Diligently enforcing the laws on the books, Zoeller’s office prevailed in the Joseph Corcoran case where the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death sentence. Zoeller also brought together medical professionals, social services providers and law enforcement to focus on prescription drug diversion and addiction in Indiana.

Protecting patients and seniors

The Attorney General’s Office filed licensing violations against the professional licenses of doctors, nurses, administrators and other health care professionals accused of violating state rules and endangering patients. Zoeller obtained revocations or suspensions of the licenses of a number of physicians who endangered patients by over prescribing narcotics in dangerous quantities and by prescribing to known addicts. Thoroughly investigating complaints to ensure licensing actions stick, Zoeller also advocated for changes in state law to protect nursing home residents, such as requiring mandatory criminal background checks for nurses and other healthcare workers.

Standing up for state sovereignty and representing Indiana in court

As the state’s lawyer, the Attorney General defends and protects state sovereignty and executive authority: the ability of Indiana to pass and enact its own state laws and not have them overridden by the federal government or courts. That means Zoeller proactively serves as plaintiff’s attorney, such as when Indiana was one of 20 states to file a legal challenge to the new federal health care law, contenting the individual mandate to buy insurance is unconstitutional. That also means Zoeller serves as defense attorney for a state statute that plaintiffs seek to overturn, such as when the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the Voter ID law as being constitutional. Zoeller and Solicitor General Thomas M. Fisher now are defending the state’s school funding formula and Indiana’s Auto Dialer law restricting “robocall” machines from separate legal challenges. Fisher authored friend-of-the-court briefs in U.S. Supreme Court cases involving state sovereignty and other issues.

On a daily basis the Attorney General represents state agencies and state officials as their lawyer and provides them legal advice. In September, the AG’s Litigation Division, acting on behalf of the Indiana Department of Labor and a Michigan City worker, obtained the largest settlement of a whistleblower-retaliation complaint in recent state history: $215,000.

Fighting health care fraud

The AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigates nursing home abuse, neglect and fraud, and investigates ineligible billings submitted for reimbursement to Medicaid. Since January 2009, the MFCU participated in 13 settlements with pharmaceutical companies that were accused of engaging in illegal off-label marketing practices, and Indiana’s share of the announced settlements is more than $23.6 million. Also, the MFCU since early 2008 has obtained nearly $1 million through settlements with health providers who illegally billed for services provided by employees who were excluded from the Medicaid program. Zoeller and his Deputy AGs from MFCU gave several presentations to health care workers on how to blow the whistle on fraud by filing suit under the False Claims Act.

Fighting public corruption

Zoeller continued to pursue the lawsuit that former Attorney General Steve Carter brought under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), against East Chicago political figures accused of corruption. In March, a federal court ordered former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick to pay $108 million in damages, after that court last year entered judgments against Pastrick and two accomplices on every racketeering count the AG alleged in the $24 million “sidewalks-for-votes” fraud. Seeking to collect on the judgment and opposing Pastrick’s bankruptcy petition, Zoeller also has fought in court and in the Legislature to pry open the books of a non-transparent for-profit entity Pastrick created, Second Century, that received casino revenue in East Chicago. Zoeller has urged legislators to change state law to require financial transparency whenever casino revenue flows to such companies through local development agreements.

To recover public funds, the Attorney General also filed suit against several local officeholders around the state who misappropriated money according to State Board of Accounts audits. Zoeller sued Linda Durham, the former Knight Township trustee in Vanderburgh County, for allegedly using $74,000 in public money on personal items and luxuries. The AG’s Office also served as special prosecutor in the criminal trial of Monte Murphy, a former Muncie city councilman convicted of three counts of mishandling absentee ballots.

Combating illegal activity to improve quality of life

Zoeller has used the AG’s environmental law authority to wage an ongoing legal battle to stop pollution by VIM Recycling, an Elkhart County wood recycler subject of years of odor complaints. Zoeller’s Revenue Division used sales-tax evasion laws to shut down an unregistered dog-breeding operation in Bloomfield, Ind., that owed the state $311,000 in unpaid taxes. Continuing the popular Do Not Call program Carter started, Zoeller sought to deter candidates from engaging in annoying political robo-calls. He negotiated the “Treaty of 2010” the three state political party chairmen signed that urged candidates not to resort to automated calls. Complaints to the AG’s Office about robo-calls were few during the 2010 election season and no suspected violations were substantiated.

Environment and economic development

As the state’s lawyer, Zoeller’s office represented Indiana in the old General Motors bankruptcy negotiations. Zoeller’s office obtained a $25 million settlement for environmental cleanup of former GM manufacturing sites in Kokomo, Anderson, Indianapolis and Bedford so they can be remediated and marketed to new employers. The AG’s Office also negotiated a separate $3.6 million settlement for cleanup of a former GM plant site in Anderson that the city hopes to redevelop.

“As the consumer protection agency for Hoosiers and as the lawyer for state government, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has seen no letup in its caseload, yet we have continued to aggressively enforce the laws and protect the public using less taxpayer resources than in years past,” Zoeller said.

IS IT TRUE? December 21, 2010

IS IT TRUE we really miss the past Mayor’s Press Secretary, Audra Levy? ….Ms. Levy always sent Press releases from the Mayor’s office to the CCO in a timely manner? ….we must continually remind the Mayor’s new Press Secretary that the office in which she works is funded by tax dollars and should adhere to public access laws? ….that we are tired of the games being played by the newly appointed Press Secretary of the Mayor and shall file a formal complaint against her for her non-conformance with state public access laws?

IS IT TRUE that the three presentations for the Downtown Convention Hotel will be held this morning at 8:30 am at the Evansville Redevelopment Commission meeting?….that Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has called a press conference at his conference room to make an announcement regarding the Downtown Convention Hotel?…that everyone is anticipating that a choice of developers will be announced at this meeting?…that inside sources tell the City County Observer that no final choice will be announced tomorrow?…that the announcement will be for the purpose of announcing that a new and improved RFP will be issued and that developers are invited to respond?….that Mayor Weinzapfel may just announce a preference based on tomorrow’s presentations?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville will be expected to complete or pay for the solutions to problems created by their oversights like parking, demolition, site preparation, environmental remediation, infrastructure, and bridges to the Centre and Arena in every proposal?….that some of the proposals may even ask for direct cash assistance of significant amounts of money?….that the City of Evansville may even be asked by one developer to provide a 100% assistance package with loan guarantees?….that proper planning would have and could have resulted in a construction project that was already well under way?….that this could have happened on the same schedule as the Arena and a lower cost to the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that despite all of the stumbling and bumbling that it will be a very good thing for Evansville to go into the Christmas break knowing that there is real, capable, and credible interest that will result in a Downtown Convention Hotel sometime in 2012?

IS IT TRUE the City County Observer shall be announcing an important new media partner? ….when it is announced, people shall roll their eyes and say “WOW”?

IS IT TRUE that GAGE has made the internal decision to return to their roots and concentrate on business incubation, business support, and technology transfer?…that part of that transition has resulted in a whole new set of job descriptions?…that existing staff were told that their positions have all been eliminated but that they are free to apply for the newly created positions?…that some of GAGE’s veteran employees have been notified just before Christmas that they will no longer be employed shortly after Christmas?

IS IT TRUE that City Council candidates Al Lindsey and Patrick McBride just completed a MONSTER political fundraiser?…that this event greatly enhanced their political war chests?…that this event was attended by people never before involved in a political campaign? ….that Patrick McBride is rumored to be the second highest political fundraiser behind the Mayor?

IS IT TRUE that the Rick Davis for Mayor Neighborhood workers can no longer be called the “Killer Bees”? ….they are now known as the Rick Davis for Mayor “Snow Birds” because they are going door to door in the snow?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,318 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,173 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that there are now 692 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

All I Want for Christmas is Smokefree Air

The holidays are here and this Christmas Eve many Indiana residents won’t be nestled all snug in their bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. They’ll be dreaming a very different dream of healthy Indiana residents and employees, of a healthy economy, of a decrease in deaths caused by cancer and heart disease – a dream of a smokefree Indiana…

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House (of Representatives), not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Legislation had been introduced with great fanfare, and there was a great yell of triumph from the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air (ICSA).

Employees with asthma were wishing for the best, to work in establishments with clean air in their chests. And mamma in her apron could work for a living, without the worry of cancer the secondhand smoke was giving.

When out in the Capitol lobby, there arose such a clatter, the people all wondered just what was the matter? Michigan has done it, and Illinois, too, so many states were smokefree, why is it so hard for Indiana to do?

Then it became clear, there was smoke in the air, from opponents who warned lawmakers, “You’d better not dare.” “We have,” they said, “our own science for you; just listen to us, so you’ll know what to do.”

But it wasn’t enough, and ICSA found their excuses easy to snuff. In a flash, we showed them the truth: smokefree air is needed at every worksite – from office, to factory, to bar and to booth.

The people of Indiana called out in the night, “please Mr. Lawmaker, please make it right!”

We want what they have – in Arizona, Arkansas, California and Colorado. Why can’t we be like Connecticut, Florida, Georgia and Idaho? From Louisiana to Maine, in Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana – why they’ve even bet on smokefree air out in Nevada! New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, the Dakotas – residents are protected and smokefree, just like the folks in Oregon, Rhode Island and Tennessee. Out west in Utah, up north in Vermont, in rainy Washington and political D.C. – they’ve figured it out, so why, why, oh why can’t we?

So the lawmakers voted and did the right thing, they proved to constituents that they had been listening.

But then I awoke with a terrible start; I grabbed for my pillow and clutched at my heart. For I had only been dreaming of a smokefree state, and I know those who want it have had an unnecessary wait.

You see, even though the cities and counties have voted, it’s still no cinch. The chambers’ agreement on a comprehensive version can be a Christmas Grinch.

So write to your lawmakers and tell them to vote; tell them you’re watching and you’re taking note. It’s good for me and for you, good for health and business too; be you naughty or nice, a smokefree Indiana is the right thing to do!

From: The Smokefree Communities Coalition

Here is the List: What are Evansville’s?

Louisville opens its new KFC Yum! Center – a $238 million state-of-the-art sports arena. It’s a defiantly can-do gesture in the face of the worst recession in a generation.

Eastern Kentucky native Monica Marks comes to Louisville and becomes the first female U of L student to be named a Rhodes Scholar.

USA Today names Slugger Field as one of nation’s 10 best minor league baseball parks in April 2010. Of course, we’ve known this since they opened its doors 10 years ago.

Ford Motor Company announces it will invest $600 million in the once-doomed Louisville Assembly plant.an investment that will include 1,800 new jobs..

Men’s Journal names Louisville to its list of the “Best Places to Live”.

Signature HealthCARE, one of the nation’s 12 largest operators of senior care facilities in the U.S., announces a move to Louisville-a move that will result in 120, new, high-paying jobs. Additionally, Signature partnered with the University of Louisville to create the International Center for Long Term Care Innovation – an accelerator focused on developing new products and services to the Aging Care market..

The St. James Court Art Show lands in the Top 10 of American Style Magazine’s sixth-annual Fairs & Festivals poll.

For the second straight year Conde Nast Traveler names 21c Museum Hotel the No. 1 hotel in the United States.

The University of Louisville men’s soccer team defeats UCLA, Ohio State and North Carolina to advance to the nationally televised NCAA Championship game.

Louisville is named one of the safest large cities for children in the United States, according to MSNBC.com.

18-year-old Louisville native Alexandria Mills is named Miss World.

Bicycling Magazine names Louisville one of the nation’s top 25 “bicycle-friendly” cities.

Louisville made Bon Appétit Magazine’s list of “America’s Foodiest Towns.”

General Electric announces a $142 million investment that will create 851 local “green” jobs at Appliance Park.

Louisville receives the 2010 IFEA (International Festivals and Events Association) World Festival & Event City Award.

IS IT TRUE? December 19, 2010

IS IT TRUE that tomorrow is the big day we have all been waiting for when it comes to the unveiling of the proposals for a new Downtown Convention Hotel?….that the City County Observer has already published renderings and the layout that will be spoken about by Woodruff Hospitality, the only Evansville based business making a presentation?….that White Lodging is also expected to make a bid to do a similar project as they did in Fort Wayne?…that the White Lodging Marriot in Fort Wayne was approximately a $40M project with a roughly $25M assistance package being offered by the City of Fort Wayne to make it happen?…that Woodruff Hospitality has been open about the fact that the project they will propose also carries a $40M total budget?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer correctly projected the $40M figure last summer in our series of articles about the Executive Inn Dilemma?…..that we also projected that due to a valuation gap that substantial City of Evansville financial participation would be necessary to attract a Downtown Convention Hotel investment team?….that the Fort Wayne project validates our projections as Fort Wayne and Evansville are economically similar?….that we eagerly await the presentation by Woodruff Hospitality that seems to have secured a good financing package led by LOCAL INVESTMENT?….that hotel investors and venture capitalists both share the same philosophy when it comes to where to invest their money?…that if a regions businesses and government will not invest in itself outside money is quite unlikely to invest either?…that Woodruff Hospitality has proven that axiom to be true?

IS IT TRUE that the author of an Evansville based staunchly Republican blog has launched a Facebook effort to “draft Lloyd Winnecke” to run for Mayor of Evansville?….that potential candidate Winnecke has recently dispelled rumors that he and Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel have a pact not to oppose each other in an election?…that less visible “draft Cheryl” efforts are also underway for the Republican nomination for Mayor of Evansville?…that former Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. has also expressed an interest in a second time in the office?….that it is beginning to look like a three horse race may be forming for the Republican primary for Mayor of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that as much as the Republican candidates are still sniffing at the prize that announced Democratic candidate for Mayor of Evansville and current Vanderburgh County Treasurer Rick Davis is rapidly securing the support of the base of the Democratic party?….that Mr. Davis has put together a passionate and dedicated group of volunteers that are braving the cold in a door to door campaign in Evansville’s traditionally Democratic neighborhoods?….that every day that Davis continues to secure the Democratic base in an unopposed manner is another day that he moves closer to the nomination.

IS IT TRUE that 2nd Ward candidate for City Council Patrick McBride is doing extremely well in his fundraising efforts to attempt to wrestle the democratic nomination from incumbent Missy Mosby?…that Mr. McBride like Mr. Davis made an early announcement that appears to be paying off?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,317 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,172 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that there are now 693 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

THINKâ„¢ Delivers Its First U.S.-Built Electric Cars

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — THINK(TM), the world’s leading
dedicated electric vehicle maker, has delivered its first U.S.-built cars to the
State of Indiana for use in its government fleet. The 15 vehicles, which were
shipped from THINK’s manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Ind., will be the first
electric passenger vehicles with American-made, Lithium-ion batteries used in a
U.S. fleet operation.

“We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to deliver an all-electric car built
in the U.S. with an advanced battery that suits the needs of government and
commercial fleet operators,” said THINK CEO Barry Engle. “Our delivery today is
part of a larger effort to help transform the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet from
one that is mostly dependent on imported oil, to one that is fueled entirely by
domestically produced electric energy.”

“As part of that goal, we’ve made a strategic decision to target initially the
many millions of fleet vehicles in operation in the U.S. market,” Mr. Engle
added. “These fleets can jumpstart vehicle electrification in America’s cities
and help push the industry past early adopters into mainstream consumer markets.
Fleet sales will drive up vehicle and battery production volumes and drive down
costs, which will benefit retail consumers.”

The economics of electric vehicles for fleet operators in terms of cost of
ownership are highly positive. With defined travel routes and centralized
recharging and service, fleets are the natural platform to launch this new
industry.

The THINK City model is an all-electric, zero-emission car designed in
Scandinavia for fleet applications and urban commuters. Durable, highly
maneuverable and with low maintenance, the THINK City can travel 100 miles on a
single charge, using advanced Lithium-ion batteries manufactured in Indiana by
Ener1, Inc. The vehicle has accumulated more than 35 million road miles in
customer experience since it was first safety certified in Europe in 1999.
The vehicle presentation took place today at Fort Harrison State Park outside of
Indianapolis and was presided over by Governor Mitch Daniels. The cars were
delivered to the Department of Administration and will be used principally by
the Department of Natural Resources in the state’s park system.

“THINK found a great place to establish its business in Elkhart, and we’re proud
to be the first customer,” said the governor. “We believe that the coming era of
electric cars, like the THINK City, will find its home here in Indiana.”
Indiana Department of Administration director Rob Wynkoop, whose agency
maintains the state vehicle fleet, said: “We saw this specific green initiative
as an opportunity to test alternative energy vehicles in real-life situations.
We believe the state parks provide the best locations to test these vehicles.”
Mass deployment of electric vehicles in the state of Indiana is being
facilitated by Project Plug-IN, an initiative organized by the Energy Systems
Network (ESN), which is creating one of the most advanced ecosystems to support
electric transportation in the country.

By early 2011, ESN will place 100 or more electric vehicles and supporting
charging infrastructure with government and corporate fleets, as well as
selected individual commuters, across the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
Project Plug-IN enlists a wide range of industry and government partners to
solve technical and regulatory challenges related to preparing communities for
electric vehicles and is helping lead the national government-industry dialog to
develop deployment community strategies.

“Our goal with Project Plug-IN is the seamless transition for consumers from
gas-powered to electric cars,” said ESN President and CEO Paul Mitchell. “To
make this happen requires collaboration among vehicle and battery makers,
utilities and government agencies at all levels and the willing participation of
fleet operators, like the Department of Administration. The response so far has
been tremendous.”

THINK plans to roll out retail distribution in select U.S. cities in the second
half of 2011. The retail distribution timeline coincides with the company’s
plans to expand the production line at its Elkhart facility, where the company
currently employs more than 25 local workers. By the end of 2011, THINK will
have more than 100 people in Elkhart building electric cars and more than 415 by
the end of 2013. The company also builds the THINK City in Finland for sale in
Europe.

About THINK

THINK is the world’s leading dedicated electric vehicle manufacturer, developed
and proven over 20 years. This heritage gives THINK a head start with having put
nearly 10,000 electric vehicles on the road and accumulated more than 35 million
road miles of customer experience. The THINK City, the first electric car to be
granted pan-European regulatory safety approval, is sold across Europe, with
sales and production in the U.S. and operations being developed in Asia.
THINK is also a leader in electric drivetrain technology, and was the first to
offer a modular and flexible electric drive-train solution in the
business-to-business sector. With its Scandinavian origins and sustainability
mindset, THINK is one of the most carbon-efficient car companies in the world.

About Project Plug-IN

Project Plug-IN is an industry-led, commercial-scale pilot of plug-in electric
vehicles and smart grid technology to demonstrate an energy efficient
transportation solution for the Indianapolis area. The project includes vehicle
and battery manufacturers, electric utilities, smart grid technology firms and
research institutions. They are working collaboratively to build a plug-in
ecosystem that provides an optimal test bed for accelerating the
commercialization of plug-in and smart grid technologies. Phase 1 of the project
will include the deployment of more than 100 plug-in vehicles and 250 charging
stations across the Indianapolis region by early 2011.

Project Plug-IN is an initiative of the Energy Systems Network, a non-for-profit
industry consortium focused on the development of the energy technology sector.
www.thinkev.com

News Release

Evansville, Ind. — Today, Accuride Corporation (OTCBB: ACUZD), announced that NYSE Regulation, Inc. (NYSER) has authorized Accuride Corporation for listing on the New York Stock Exchange. It is anticipated that Accuride’s common stock will begin trading on the NYSE, under the symbol ACW, when the market opens on Wednesday, December 22, 2010.

“The listing of Accuride’s common stock on the NYSE puts a finishing touch on our capital restructuring efforts for 2010 and signifies Accuride’s positive momentum heading into 2011,” said Bill Lasky, Accuride’s President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. “Our team has worked hard throughout the industry downturn to successfully restructure the Company’s operations and capital structure to be in a position to capitalize on the inevitable economic recovery, and we’re pleased about the additional benefits that the relisting will bring to our investment community.”

Accuride Corporation is one of the largest and most diversified manufacturers and suppliers of commercial vehicle components in North America. Accuride’s products include commercial vehicle wheels, wheel-end components and assemblies, truck body and chassis parts, seating assemblies, and other commercial vehicle components. Accuride’s products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride®, Gunite®, ImperialTM, Bostrom®, FabcoTM, BrillionTM, and Highway Original®.

For more information, visit Accuride’s website at http://www.accuridecorp.com.

Source: Accuride Corporation

Shouldn’t Evansville be following Louisville’s Example?

By: Joe J. Wallace

During the early nineties Louisville and Evansville were on the same level when it came to local venture capital firms that offered funding for local entrepreneurs with ideas to pursue prosperity. At that time both Evansville and Louisville had exactly zero venture capital firms. Local people with ideas in need of funding had no choice but to pack their bags and leave town to pursue entrepreneurial dreams

Today it is a different story. Louisville is the home to twenty four (24) venture capital firms that manage a total of $800 Million while Evansville is still waiting for that first venture capital firm to set up shop. As much success as Louisville has had in growing a venture investment community other similar cities have latched on to the national venture capital phenomena that has been the catalyst of the technology revolutions in both Silicon Valley and the Boston area. According to the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Nashville, Tennessee is home to venture capital firms that have $2.3 Billion under management and available to entrepreneurs.

Louisville’s road from being a venture capital no-place to the home of 24 firms and $800 Million of available investment funds started where all such roads must start, at home. There was no emissary from the City of Louisville that went to Silicon Valley and convinced firms there that Louisville was the place to be. At that time Louisville was not the place to be so efforts to convince outsiders to come there would have been a complete waste of time. Louisville’s first venture capital firm, Chrysalis Ventures grew from the profits made by Humana, the pioneer of the Jarvik artificial heart transplant.

The successes of the Humana Corporation’s internal entrepreneurship created the wealth needed and the mindset necessary to launch Chrysalis Ventures as Louisville’s first venture capital firm in 1993. The other twenty three firms to form in or enter the Louisville market for entrepreneurship followed over the next several years. The venture industry continues to grow and Louisville is now recognized worldwide for pioneering medical products and services through entrepreneurship efforts made possible by local investment. Outside firms have now recognized the local talents that local dollars have leveraged to create wealth in Louisville and are eager to get in on the action.

Chrysalis today is headquartered in Louisville and has offices in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor and Houston. The wealth and profits from that expanded effort are of course repatriated to the home office and are available to Louisville entrepreneurs.

One of the portfolio companies of Chrysalis Ventures is AchieveCCA, a former Evansville based business that was founded by 2007 candidate for Evansville City Council and the inventor of the “sewers before stadium” mantra, Andrew Smith. AchieveCCA was chosen as a portfolio company by Chrysalis due to the recognition of the simple yet low risk approach they pioneered to assist hospitals in the recovery process of patient debt. Achieve CCA was recently profiled as growing to over 200 employees this year. When AchieveCCA left Evansville for Louisville, it was still in the start-up stage with few employees and was seeking local investment. That investment never came and today AchieveCCA is a Louisville success story.

There are many similar stories where the fact that local investment dollars are not available, have caused educated, ambitious, and energetic young professionals with ideas to depart this region. Others just find a job and shelve their dreams. We are all a little worse off in terms of opportunities, lifestyle, and prosperity because there are no established local investment firms.

The importance of start-up firms to a local economy is summed up by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in a study that concluded that “nearly all” of the jobs created from 1980 to 2005 nationwide were created by companies that are less than five years old.

How long can a city survive without investing in its own talented and ambitious people? I guess that answer depends on ones definition of survival. Perhaps a better question would have been, “how long can a city grow and prosper without investing in its own homegrown talented and ambitious people”? The answer of course is not at all, unless ones definition of growth and prosperity is simple survival.

References:
http://www.chrysalisventures.com/
http://www.achievecca.com/
http://www.chrysalisventures.com/2009/12/achieve-cca-expects-to-have-more-than-200-employees-in-louisville/

AGENDA
Vanderburgh County
Board of Commissioners
December 21, 2010
5:00 p.m.,
Room 301

1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Permission to Open Quotes for VC10-12-01: Mann Road Culvert No. 1212 Replacement
5. Action Items
• ONB Insurance: Property and Casualty Insurance Premium Comparison
• Cooperative Purchasing Organization: Award Delivered Bulk Fuel to Heritage Petroleum and Wabash Valley Services
• Jill Gehlhausen: Southern Indiana Classic Marathon and Half Marathon
• Economic Development Coalition: Bohannaon Estates
i. Permission letter to hold and advertise public hearings
ii. Citizen Participation Report
• Old West Heights Trade School Property/1430 Harmony Way
• Commissioners: Sale of 1018 Adams Ave.
• Commissioners: Redemption of 620 E. Gum
• Commissioners: Requests for Redemption Period Extensions on Tax Sale Properties
i. 618 Louisiana
ii. 15 E. Tennessee
iii. 807 S. Werner Ave.
iv. 1010 N. Second Ave.
• Contracts, agreements and leases
i. Health Department: Verizon Wireless Contract
ii. EMA: Sub-Grant Agreement EDS#C44P-1-164A
iii. Purdue Cooperative Extension Services: Amendment No. 3 to Contractual Services Agreement
iv. County Engineer: LPA – Consulting Contract with Cripe Architects and Engineers
v. Sheriff: Sprint/ Nextel Agreement
vi. Commissioners:
 Fred Bumb Drainage Tile Easement
 Vanderburgh County Engineer Old Courthouse Lease Agreement Renewal
 AIDS Recourse Group Old Courthouse Lease Agreement Renewal
 2011 WNIN Agreement
 2011 YMCA Membership Agreement
 2011 Mulberry Center Employee Assistance Agreement
 2011 Youth Resources Agreement
 2011 Evansville ARC Agreement
 JE Shekell Contract for Semi-Annual Maintenance of HVAC at Old Court House
 Xerox copier lease for County Auditor’s office
 Addendum to Welborn Health Plans Agreement
6. Department Head Reports
7. New Business
• Set first meeting for 2011
8. Old Business
9. Public Comment
10. Consent Items
• Approval of prior minutes
i. December 7, 2010 Commission meeting minutes
• Employment Changes
• Commissioners: Old Courthouse Boiler Motor Replacement Quote
• County Engineer: Pay Request No. 118 for $415,818.76
• County Treasurer: November 2010 Monthly Report
• Kraftwerks, Inc. Old Courthouse Craft Show 2010 Financial Report
• Southwestern Healthcare: Hillcrest Washington Youth Home Contract Increase for 2011
• Sheriff: ICJI Impaired and Dangerous Driving Grant
• County Treasurer: November 30, 2010 Year to Date Report
• Burdette Park Year to Date Comparison: January through November 2009-2010
• Department Head Reports
11. Adjournment

Here is a quick little instructional youtube video about what motivates people in work situations. It is interesting in the fact that it states that repetitive tasks that are paid by the piece are good motivators but with jobs that require cognitive thought carrot and stick bonus plans degrade results.

As my advisor in college once told me “only one animal is really stimulated to perform by a carrot tied to a stick”. That animal is sometimes know as Jack!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc&feature=channel