Wendy Dant Chesser named 2024 IU Southeast Distinguished Alumnus

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New Albany, Ind. (April 16, 2024) – Jeffersonville native, Wendy Dant Chesser, has been awarded the honor of IU Southeast Distinguished Alumni. An award ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. in the IU Southeast Library as part of the annual statewide IU Day. Chesser received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana University Southeast in 1991.  The ceremony is open to the public.

In October 2023, Chesser joined the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) after working as a Chamber executive for nearly 20 years.  Driven by a strong desire to implement change that establishes stronger economic growth, a better educated and better-paid workforce, and a structure of advocacy within the State of Indiana, Chesser is recognized as a community leader within her community, helping to maximize opportunities and overcome challenges.

The River Ridge Commerce Center has become one of the nation’s premier business and industrial parks.  Located on 6,000 acres along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana, River Ridge is an economic driver for the entire region, attracting top-tier employers and well-paying jobs to the community.  Chesser’s role as Chief Director, Corporate Strategy & External Affairs is to ensure that the business environment within Indiana and the greater region is conducive to River Ridge replacing the economic loss suffered when the US Army closed its operations at the site.  And the RRDA team is well on its way to recovery, with 2023’s economic output from the park exceeding $2.89 billion and supporting nearly 12,000 jobs.

Chesser returned to her home area in 2012 to serve as President and CEO of 1si, the area Chamber of Commerce and state-recognized local economic development organization for Clark, Floyd, and Scott counties.  Before her move home, she served as President of Cornerstone Alliance, a similar organization in Southwest Michigan, and she worked in various aspects of economic development with the State of Indiana, finishing her government career as Deputy Executive Director for Program Operations of the Indiana Department of Commerce.

Chesser is a present or past member of several professional organizations, including the International Economic Development Council and economic development associations in both Indiana and Michigan. She currently serves as Legislative Committee Chair and Past Chair for the Indiana Economic Development Association.  Locally, she has served on the Boards for the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Louisville Zoo Foundation, Ivy Tech-Sellersburg Trustees, Louisville’s Regional Airlift Development, and the YMCA of Greater Louisville.

Chesser was named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2015 by Consultant Connect. The Indiana Economic Development Association awarded her the “Economic Development Professional of the Next Half-Century” in June, 2018.  And in 2016, her Indiana peers named her the “Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year.”  In both 2022 and 2023, the Indianapolis Business Journal named Chesser one of the “Indiana 250,” recognizing her as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.

In addition to Chesser, six additional IU Southeast alumni will be recognized with the Alumni Award of Excellence. Those being recognized include Greg Roberts, representing the School of Arts & Letters; Tirza Howard, School of Business; Nashiea Edmiston, School of Education; Katherine Sellers, School of Natural Sciences; Charlotte Ipsan, School of Nursing, and Ideisha Bellamy, representing the School of Social Sciences.

“It’s truly inspiring to see the remarkable achievements of the IU Southeast alumni award recipients and the profound impact they’ve had on their communities, professions, and alma mater,” said Megan Hicks, director of alumni relations and campus events. “Each recipient embodies the spirit of excellence and dedication, demonstrating a commitment to making a difference in the world around them.”

 

IU Southeast Alumni Award of Excellence

Greg Roberts

Greg Roberts is a seasoned academic and dedicated community leader with a rich tapestry of experience. With nearly three decades of experience as an academic advisor and educator, Roberts has provided invaluable guidance and support to countless students on their educational journeys.

In addition to his academic role, Roberts is deeply involved in community service, serving as President of the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association. His commitment to fostering a sense of unity and improving the quality of life for residents has earned him several awards, including the Mayor’s Leadership Award.

Within the academic realm, Robert’s leadership extends to his positions as Assistant to the Dean in the School of Arts and Letters and Manager of Interdisciplinary Programs. In these roles, he has championed collaboration and innovation, shaping programs that prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Roberts’ dedication to education, community, and interdisciplinary collaboration underscores his commitment to making a positive impact wherever he goes.

 

Tirza Howard

Tirza Howard was born and raised in Winchester, KY. She currently resides in Louisville with her two children.

Howard earned a bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Indiana University Southeast.

Howard worked in Human Resources for 8 years at a local utility company. She is a certified business coach, led company-wide initiatives, facilitated training, handled employee issues, and more.

Today, Howard is a growing entrepreneur. She’s the Broker/Owner of The Howard Realty Co. The Howard Realty Co assists families with homeownership in the Greater Louisville and Lexington Bluegrass areas. Howard is passionate about educating her clients on the value of real estate and ownership. Her motto is “good business” ensuring she goes above and beyond for every client, every time.

 

Nashiea Edmiston

Nashiea Edmiston, a distinguished IU Southeast alumna, earned her Bachelor’s in 2016 and was named Teacher of the Year at Pleasant Ridge Elementary in 2023. She has also served as a Cooperating Teacher to numerous IU Southeast Student Teachers, finding it fulfilling and a great way to give back.

Edmiston is set to receive the Regina Oglesby Minority Teacher Scholarship for her pursuit of her Master’s Degree at the end of the month at the Champions for Children event. Edmiston is honored to be recognized with the IU Southeast Alumni of Excellence Award.

 

 

Katherine Sellers

Since graduating from IU Southeast in 2009, Dr. Katherine Sellers has gained 15 years of biomedical research experience in oncology, immunology, and neurodegeneration. Currently, she serves as Director of Biology at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, where she leads a team of more than 10 scientists supporting the development of medicines in clinical and preclinical stages.  Before Biohaven, Sellers worked at Rheos Medicines and Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she identified novel targets and led drug discovery programs.

Sellers’  interests lie in leveraging the therapeutic opportunity afforded by dysregulated metabolism in disease and developing assays and biomarkers to advance drug discovery programs. Sellers was trained as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Francis Crick Institute in London after getting her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Louisville. In both positions, she developed expertise focused on translatable models ranging from human patients, mouse models, organoids, and ex vivo tissue slice cultures.

 

Charlotte Ipsan

Charlotte Ipsan, DNP, RNC, NNP-BC, was named to her current role in July 2022, overseeing operations for all Kentucky Norton Healthcare hospitals.

Ipsan previously served as chief administrative officer of Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, from 2012 to 2022. She was instrumental in creating the first women’s and children’s hospital in the Louisville area. She has excelled at implementing a transformational model of comprehensive health care for women, along with expanded pediatric services in conjunction with Norton Children’s.

Ipsan has more than 30 years of experience in maternal/child and pediatric health care. She worked in several roles at Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Audubon Hospital, and the former Norton Suburban Hospital, including staff nurse; nurse manager, neonatal intensive care unit; and director of women’s services. She was named vice president of Norton Children’s Medical Center, the first pediatric outpatient center of its type in Kentucky, in November 2009, then promoted to system vice president of pediatric services for Norton Healthcare/Norton Children’s Hospital in 2011.

 

Ideisha Bellamy

Ideisha Bellamy is CEO of Bellamy Business Insights LLC, which helps nonprofits and businesses uncover, refine, and execute strategies that create profound and meaningful change.

Before launching her firm in September 2022, Bellamy held pivotal leadership roles in government, healthcare, and nonprofits. She notably served as Chief Operating Officer at Maryhurst and Corporate Compliance Manager for Equian, LLC. In her early career with the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) she led teams engaged in complex investigations and regulatory oversight of thousands of companies within the Commonwealth. Governor Steve Beshear recognized her talent, appointing her to State Division Director for OIG, overseeing the work of staff in five offices throughout Kentucky.

“The collective achievements of these recipients not only reflect the caliber of education provided by IU Southeast but also serve as a source of pride and inspiration for current and future students,” said Hicks.” These alumni exemplify the university’s mission of excellence and service, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change in their communities and beyond.”

 

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About IU Southeast:  IU Southeast is one of seven campuses of Indiana University. Offering more than 150 degree programs and concentrations, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has over 3,750 students and employs over 360 faculty members. About 400 students live on campus in five fully furnished, lodge-style residence halls. Through an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast offers in-state tuition to students enrolled from eight counties in the Louisville region. IU Southeast has three nationally recognized, accredited schools including the School of Business, School of Education, and School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ius.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.

 

Develop New Albany’s Farmer’s Market

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New Albany, Ind. (April 16th, 2024) – The Develop New Albany Farmers Market presented by Duke Energy will kick off the summer season this Saturday, April 20th, 2024. The market is open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays at the City Square Pavilion located on the corner of Market and Bank Streets in downtown New Albany (202 E. Market St). The Farmers Market runs year-round at City Square.

“We’re excited to welcome both our long-term vendors and new ones.” said Westley Fair, Farmers Market Manager.  “Come and enjoy free activities for the kids and enjoy live music.”

In addition to the longer shopping hours, the summer season brings many activities for the community. Duke Energy Kids Day at the Market features scavenger hunts, big games, story time, giveaways, and more. Sponsored by Duke Energy, these activities will take place on the third Saturday monthly, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21 from 8 am to noon. Stay up to date on events by visiting our social media channels. Be sure to sign your children up for the POP CLUB starting April 20th thanks to a donation from the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County.

“Farmers markets provide a variety of fresh food while promoting good health and supporting local farmers,” said Lisa Huber, government and community relations manager for southern Indiana. “Duke Energy appreciates the contributions of small business and family farms to the area economy”.

The market accepts SNAP benefits, and we also have Double Up Indiana. Consumers can come to the information booth and use their SNAP card to withdraw money and through a generous grant, we are able to match that amount for the purchase of additional fruits and vegetables (up to $20 per market day). The Double Up Indiana program is made possible by donations from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and the Indiana Department of Health. 

 

Edward and Charles Stopher Join Stites & Harbison’s Louisville Office

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 17, 2024)—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Edward H. Stopher and Charles H. Stopher of Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP have joined the firm’s Louisville, Ky., office. They are members of the Business Litigation Service Group and secondary members of the Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group.

“We are incredibly honored to have Ed and Charles join Stites & Harbison,” stated Marjorie A. Farris, Chair of Stites & Harbison. “Ed is one of the finest litigators in the country with a brilliant trial mind. Charles is a revered lawyer who is highly respected by both his clients and other attorneys. We are very excited about what they both bring to the firm, and know our clients will greatly benefit from their knowledge and expertise.”

Edward Stopher is Of Counsel with Stites & Harbison. His practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on corporate, insurance, product liability and legal malpractice litigation. Serving as lead counsel in numerous high profile jury trials, he has tried more than 100 civil cases to verdict in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia. His practice includes extensive experience in defending insurance carriers in bad faith claims. Among his many honors, he is a Fellow of three elite, invitation-only trial organizations — the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.

Charles Stopher is a Member (Partner) of Stites & Harbison. His civil litigation practice focuses on personal injury, products liability, insurance bad faith, employment, professional liability and breach of contract litigation. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America and Kentucky Super Lawyers.

About Stites & Harbison

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is a nationally recognized, full-service law firm. With 11 offices across six states — Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia — the firm represents clients across the United States and internationally. Tracing its origins to 1832, Stites & Harbison is known as a preeminent firm managing sophisticated transactions, challenging litigation and complex regulatory matters on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.stites.com.

Leadership Receives Grant from Community Foundation of Southern Indiana

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Leadership Southern Indiana is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,000 by the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.

This generous grant serves as recognition of the impactful work carried out by Leadership Southern Indiana, particularly through its NEXGEN program. NEXGEN is dedicated to fostering stronger leaders by providing high school juniors with immersive experiences in various community sectors, including government, financial literacy, workforce development, and more. The program culminates in a capstone philanthropic project, further enriching participants’ understanding of community engagement. The recent surge in applications for the Class of 2025, totaling over 90 from students across Clark, Floyd, and Scott Counties, spanning public and private schools as well as homeschooled individuals, underscores the program’s burgeoning influence and its significance in shaping future community leaders.

As a token of appreciation, the Youth Philanthropy Council honored Leadership Southern Indiana at the Grants Award Reception on Wednesday, April 10th. The reception took place at the Prosser Career Education Center located at 4202 Charlestown Rd in New Albany. During the event, the grant check was presented to our organization.

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition of our organization’s efforts and their investment in our community,” said Mark Eddy, President/CEO of Leadership Southern Indiana. “This support will enable us to continue our mission of cultivating leadership and making a positive impact in our community.” 

Leadership Southern Indiana extends its gratitude to the Youth Philanthropy Council and the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana for their commitment to supporting organizations like ours.

River Ridge’s Economic Impact on Southern Indiana Tops $2.9 billion in 2023

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Annual analysis highlights $90.9 million of private investment and support of 18,558 regional jobs

Jeffersonville, IN (April 10, 2024) – River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) unveiled its annual economic report for 2023, showing another record-breaking year with more than $2.9 billion in economic output benefits throughout southern Indiana. 

Completed by Policy Analytics, LLC, the report shows the River Ridge Commerce Center saw a year-over-year increase in private, direct employment in 2023.  Companies located in River Ridge directly employed 12,002 people, but when looking at the overall impact, the report credits River Ridge with supporting an additional 6,550+ regional jobs and a total of $884 million in labor income throughout the region.

“Growth at River Ridge continues to benefit Southern Indiana and the metro area,” said Jerry Acy, River Ridge Executive Director.  “Our commitment to providing a worldclass industrial park through the development of quality infrastructure including 2023 investments of $6.0 million in new roads and another $6.2 million in improved utilities.” 

“This builds upon nearly two decades of infrastructure investment within River Ridge by the RRDA.  We strive to create an environment which attracts and grows private investment and job creation, and project announcements in 2023 from some of the largest companies in the world prove this strategy is producing results,” Acy stated.

A major focus for the RRDA was to prepare the Charlestown end of Commerce Center for development by demolishing existing structures and preparing sites for construction.  In October, Charlestown announced it is welcoming a high-profile name to its community.  The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, an industry-leading restaurant, is opening a large bakery for manufacturing and distributing its iconic cheesecake and other desserts to operators, retailers, and distributors. The bakery and operations will be housed at River Ridge, investing over $74 million into its operations.  The bakery and distribution operations should have more than 200 employees, making an average wage higher than the Clark County average.  

“We know that private investment will follow our public investments, and companies of all sizes are taking note,” added Acy.  “Later in October, we announced Canadian Solar’s commitment to making the largest economic investment in River Ridge’s history, and then matched it with another such announcement three months later with Meta.”

Canadian Solar, an integrated provider of solar power products and system solutions, will invest a projected $800 million to construct and equip a state-of-the-art photo voltaic cell manufacturing plant at River Ridge in Jeffersonville. The new plant will produce an annual output of 5GW – equivalent to approximately 20,000 high-power solar panels per day – and ship the finished cells to the company’s new module assembly facility in Texas, which was announced in early 2023. This new River Ridge facility will create approximately 1,200 new jobs in Jeffersonville over the next several years, including 150 engineers.

In December, River Ridge transferred 619 acres to Meta Platforms, Inc.  But it wasn’t until January 2024, that the company publicly announced plans to establish a new $800 million data center as the first phase of a future campus on the site. The new facility in Jeffersonville will support approximately 100 operational jobs and hundreds of construction jobs.  Meta, which powers products such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, will establish a nearly 700,000-square-foot facility, their 18th such data center in the United States.

“We have so much to celebrate from the past 12 months, but the fun is just beginning,” said Dr. Treva Hodges, Mayor of Charlestown and President of the RRDA Board of Directors. “The River Ridge Development Authority’s talented, professional staff, together with my fellow board members’ leadership and vision, has energized us in envisioning what our economic development future can be.”

River Ridge is benefiting the State of Indiana and local entities through added tax impact.  In just one year, the companies located at River Ridge generated $48.4 million in total tax revenue for state and local entities, with wages from these business operations generating $884 million in total labor income. 

A summary of Policy Analytics’ report for 2023 includes the following highlights:

  • The River Ridge Commerce Center produced $2.932 billion in economic output throughout Southern Indiana.
  • Business activity generated $48.4 million in total tax revenue for state and local entities.
  • Businesses that call River Ridge home expanded their employment footprint to 18,558 people.
    • 12,002 employed individuals onsite; and
    • 6,556 regional jobs supported.
  • RRDA continued to expand infrastructure, providing $6.0 million in new roads and another $6.2 million in improved utilities.
  • The Board of Directors approved the largest land transfer of 619 acres to Meta Platforms, Inc., representing more than 10% of the Commerce Center.
  • Private development of $90.9 million in 2023 is estimated to bring an additional 2.3 million square feet once completed.

Additionally, potential new businesses filed a record 126 requests for proposals and hosted 38 on-site visits, more than double the number of visits in 2022.

The full 2023 RRDA Annual Report can be accessed at www.riverridgecc.com/annual-report.

About the River Ridge Development Authority

The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998 to replace lost economic activity from the closure of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.  Today, River Ridge is home to more than 80 companies such as Amazon, Bose, Collins Aerospace, Medline, Optum and PharmaCord.  Onsite employment totaled more than 12,000 in 2023, and the Center produced a total of over $2.9 billion in economic output and supported an additional 6,550+ jobs. The investments and growth at River Ridge earned the RRDA the International Economic Development Council’s 2020 Gold Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities to Hold Annual Giving Hope ~ Changing Lives Gala

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New Albany, IN- St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities is gearing up for their biggest night in fundraising; their Annual Giving Hope ~ Changing Lives Gala. The Gala will be held on the evening of Thursday April 18th at the Galt House Grand Ballroom in Louisville, KY.

The St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities’ Giving Hope ~ Changing Lives Gala, is an elegant event that features a silent auction and an exciting live auction which help raise funds to run their community programs. A delicious meal will be prepared and served by Galt House’s in house restaurant chefs from Walker’s Exchange. Online bidding opens on April 2nd and can be access at bidpal.net/stegala2024.

The doors open at 5:30 pm for social hour. During the night, St. Elizabeth will celebrate its mission and many blessings as the agency raises funds to support their social services programs.  Attendees will also have a chance to hear inspirational testimonies from 3 individuals directly impacted by the programs of St. Elizabeth and how their lives have been forever changed.

Last year St. Elizabeth assisted 346 women faced with homelessness and were able to help 189 women and children in the form of shelter and support. The agency also assisted 33 birth parent inquiries with their professional adoption services, provided over 7,130 hours of support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and assisted 1,045 families with essential mother/baby and household items free of charge and more.

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About St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities

St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities has been serving families throughout Southern Indiana and Metro Louisville for 45 years. The agency’s history is rooted in the 1979 opening of Catholic Charities in Southern Indiana. In May of 1989, St. Elizabeth’s opened in New Albany as a crisis pregnancy center. The two organizations merged in 2004 to better serve the community.  Current programs include: Adoption Bridges of Kentuckiana– adoption services licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana, a Women and Children Emergency Shelter, a Domestic Violence Transitional & Rapid Rehousing Program, a Maternity Program for single mothers, Affordable Supportive Housing, Marie’s Blessings Community Distribution Program of mother/baby and household items, a School Counseling Program, and a Supported Living Program serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities is a COA accredited human service agency providing physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the community committed to Providing Help, Creating Hope and Serving All.   

Brian Butler Elected Fellow of American Board of Criminal Lawyers

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 1, 2024)—The American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL) recently elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Brian Butler as a Fellow. He is one of only five Fellows in Kentucky.

ABCL is an invitation-only legal honorary society founded in 1978 for outstanding criminal trial lawyers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. To be considered for fellowship, nominees must have at least 10 years of criminal trial experience and have tried at least 50 trials, of which 35 were felony jury trials. Nominees must also receive exceptional recommendations from current Fellows and honored jurists.

Butler is a Member (Partner) based in Stites & Harbison’s Louisville, Ky., office. He is a member of the Torts & Insurance Practice Group and the Business Litigation Service Group. His practice focuses on a wide variety of litigation matters, including but not limited to white collar criminal defense, criminal defense, product liability and general tort defense. He has tried more than 100 jury trials and is intimately familiar with complex federal investigations including those involving corporations and their employees. Butler routinely serves as a legal analyst for Louisville television stations and the Louisville Courier-Journal. Butler received his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1995. 

About Stites & Harbison

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is a nationally recognized, full-service law firm. With 11 offices across six states — Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia — the firm represents clients across the United States and internationally. Tracing its origins to 1832, Stites & Harbison is known as a preeminent firm managing sophisticated transactions, challenging litigation and complex regulatory matters on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.stites.com.