Easterday Construction

MCEDC Newsletter

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MCEDC (Marshall County Economic Development Corporation) has had a busy year so far.  As a board member I’ve been pleased with some of the progress we’ve made.  Here are a few highlights:

  • Installation of a new Executive Director, Jerry Chavez.  He started with MCEDC this Spring and hit the ground running.  Formerly with the Minot, North Dakota Economic Development Corporation, Jerry has brought new ideas and new energy to the position.
  • Revamped the MCEDC website.  It has been streamlined and the speed and usability has been increased without losing any of the underlying information.
  • Revamped the MCEDC Newsletter, now titled The Economic Development Perspective.  As with the website, the newsletter has been streamlined and the frequency has been increased.  It’s now an easier read and much more timely.
  • We have a Shell Building!
    Commerce Building

    Now dubbed “The Commerce Building“, the structure is located on Commerce Street in the northwest PIDCO industrial subdivision.  It is ready to show now and the shell should be complete by this time next month.

We’ve managed to do all of this without sacrificing any of our ongoing projects such as the County Development for the Future meetings, outreach to the community through SBDC and our commitment of support to Project Lead the Way.  I’m looking forward to more good things from MCEDC.  If you’re interested in keeping up on those, check out the newsletter link above and add your name to the mailing list.  There are more good things to come!

Colts Game

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Colts Entry 10-5-14I was pleased to be the guest of Dave Behr and the IDEC (Indiana Economic Development Corporation) on Sunday for the Colts/Ravens game.  I was there representing MCEDC (Marshall County Economic Development Corp.) along with Jerry Chavez.  Several business leaders were also in attendance as well as Mayor Senter from Plymouth.  I’ve decided that watching the game from a suite is the way to go!  Ha!

The game was a good one and the networking opportunity was good as well.  It’s good to speak to people outside their normal work environment sometimes.  Those connections can be important.

Speaking of those connections, all of us from Marshall County also got to meet and speak briefly with Governor Pence.  I don’t expect that he knows my name, but I think he’s seen me enough now to recognize my face and know some of my issues.

Colts with Governor 10-5-14This was my first NFL game and that in itself was quite an experience.  Experiencing the crowd and seeing the stadium was all new.  Of course I can’t walk through a parking lot without looking at the drainage patterns or walk through a building without assessing the details.  Looking at the stadium structure with the retractable roof and such was fascinating.

All and all it was a good time and I think the discussions were worthwhile.  I will definitely go again if invited.

ECC Anniversary with ABC

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ABC - Associated Builders & Contractors of IndianaAt a recent ABC meeting our council manager, Felisha Minnich, had a list of all the members present with the dates they joined ABC.  It turns out Easterday Construction Co., Inc. joined Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana (now Indiana/Kentucky) on this day in 1983.  Thirty one years of anything isn’t insignificant.  That’s seven years longer than I’ve been back with ECC!

Since joining, we’ve had various employees involved with the ABC, serving on committees, attending apprenticeship, etc.  I’ve served on the Michiana Council Steering Committee, served 5 terms on the State Board, served on the committee reviewing the by-laws and served on the Political Action Committee.  There is something to be said for “getting out what you put in”.  I am in general agreement with the ABC philosophy and I’ve learned a lot from interactions with other contractors I respect.

Felisha Minnich

While Easterday Construction Co., Inc. holds memberships in various other organizations, ABC is probably the one that has the closest connection to the ECC philosophy.  There is no group that I agree with 100% and I am often one of the lonely “Nay” votes on the board, but I would still recommend ABC membership to my peers.  If any of those peers are reading this, I suggest they contact Felisha.  Felisha has done a wonderful job and holds our Council together.  ABC scored big when they added her to our “family” and I don’t hesitate to recommend a conversation with her.

Little League 2014

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Little League ECC 2014Easterday Construction has always sponsored a Little League team.  We always ask for Easterday Green shirts and they try and accommodate us.  The team is pictured to the right.  I hit the organizers up about including names with the plaque.  Some of those kids may work here someday and it would be fun to see the tie-in.  Ha!