SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER HOSTS THE ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER

SOUTHWEST INDIANA CHAMBER HOSTS THE ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER

FEATURING YEARLY BUSINESS AWARDS

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Southwest Indiana Chamber will host the Annual Meeting & Dinner from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Ford Center on September 24, 2020 – in person and via live stream.

Annual Meeting & Dinner signifies the change in board leadership. We celebrate successes of the past year, look ahead to a new year, and honor local business and their leaders. At this signature event, awards are presented to the most outstanding businesses and individuals of the year including Business of the Year and Distinguished Business Person of the Year. Nominations are open now thru August 19, 2020. This event attracts Chamber Members, elected and appointed officials, key community leaders, and our strategic partners. This event is the largest Chamber networking event of the year. Our Keynote Speaker this year is Battalion Chief David Morkal a 30 year veteran with the FDNY and University of Evansville alum. In the spirit or our speaker, we will be promoting and awarding the charity 911 Gives Hope. #BuildingResilience

Chamber events manager, Karen Robinson, and the staff of the Ford Center are taking all precautions necessary as guided by the CDC for a safe and comfortable event. A virtual option has been made available with lunch delivery.

Southwest Indiana Chamber Announces 2020 Annual Meeting & Dinner Keynote Speaker – FDNY Battalion Chief David Morkel

Battalion Chief David Morkal is a 30 year veteran with the FDNY. Promoted to Lieutenant the week after the World Trade Center attacks, Chief Morkal has taken every opportunity to study leadership and enhance his leadership knowledge. He is a graduate of the FDNY’s Fire Officers Management Institute (FOMI), Advanced Leadership Course (ALC), West Point Combating Terrorism Leadership Program, L-380 “The Point of the Spear”, L-381 “Incident Leadership” L-481, and L-580, Staff Ride at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Chief Morkel worked as a Lieutenant in Ladder 18 on the Lower East Side. After being promoted to Captain he was transferred to Engine 23 in Midtown Manhattan. As a Battalion Chief, he was assigned to Battalion 4 and worked as the Chief in Charge of Probationary Firefighter School for 2 years. Chief Morkel also worked as the Planning Section Chief for the FDNY Incident Management Team and is currently one of the Deputy Incident Commanders. He has been activated with the team for Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana, Hurricane Irene in both New York City and Binghamton, New York, Hurricane Sandy in New York City, the snowstorm in Buffalo, New York, the East Harlem explosion and collapse, and several wildland fires in the Southwest with other Incident Management Teams. Currently, Chief Morkal is the Executive Officer to the Chief of Operations at Headquarters.

He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Evansville and prior to joining the Fire Department worked in technical theater across the country and taught at the University of Evansville and Western Michigan University. Born in London, England, he lived in California, New Hampshire, Texas, and Michigan before settling in Indiana as an Air Force brat when he was 10. Although Indiana has a special place in his heart, he now calls New York home. He has lived in Westchester for the past 26 years with his wife of 34 years and has two adult children.

Gold Sponsors: Vectren – A Centerpoint Energy Company; Silver Sponsors: Berry Global, BKD CPA’s & Advisors, Old National Bank, and Townsquare Media; Signature Series: Atlas

About Southwest Indiana Chamber

Since 1915, the Southwest Indiana Chamber has been a trusted ally of the regional business community. Today we are one of the state’s largest, strongest, and most impactful nonprofit business organizations, representing a total membership of almost 1,400 businesses, organizations, and agencies. About one-third of members have invested in our organization for 10 or more years. While nearly all major employers in our region invest in the Southwest Indiana Chamber, 71% of our member businesses have 25 or fewer employees. 

Learn more about the Chamber, our members, and the Southwest Indiana regional business community at www.swinchamber.com. 318 Main St., Suite 401, Evansville, IN 47708.