Speakers

Three of the five students who received this year's RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) honor will join us for lunch to tell us about their experience this summer.  Some great benefits of RYLA are building commuinication and problem-solving skills; discovering strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school or community; learning from community leaders, inspirational speakers and peer mentors; unlocking potential to turn motivation into action; and, of course, having fun and forming lasting relationships!

Recognized as a visionary leader in the community and economic development profession, Clarence Hulse is known for his passion and talent in implementing and executing a community’s vision. His diverse background includes achievements in performance management, affordable housing, strategic planning, redevelopment, business recruitment, project financing and building community partnerships. In his current role as the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City IN, he is spearheading the revitalization in the area.  Working with the current Mayor of Michigan City, Ron Meer, over $1billion in public and private investments have been completed and/or initiated in Michigan City.

As the former Director of Economic Development in Jeffersonville IN, he was instrumental in creating 3,500 new jobs and $300 million in capital investment. In creating the Jeffersonville Neighborhood Leadership Institute, he improved the city’s neighborhoods and won recognition by the Indiana Planning Association winning the 2011 Outstanding Community Initiative Award. He also served as the Executive Director of the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association implementing strategies to assist small businesses on Mainstreet, promote tourism and augment historic preservation in the downtown.

Clarence earned his BS at Harding University, AR in Public Administration, magna cum laude and an MS in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. In his spare time, the native of Belize keeps up with current events-global and national, travel, art and music festivals, Roman and Greek history, biographies, golf and fishing.

Since 2015, Brandi Lewis has served as Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City. Prior to joining the Boys & Girls Club movement, she worked for Dunebrook for over 14 years developing her passion for empowering others and serving the community. Under her leadership, Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City has benefited from an array of innovative programs, expanded partnerships and increased involvement in the greater Michigan City community. 

Brandi studied for 3 years at Indiana University Bloomington before receiving both her undergraduate degree in Communications and MBA from Purdue North Central.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a graduate of Leadership Northwest Indiana. Born and raised in Michigan City, she is married to her high school sweetheart with 3 children.

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Dr. Sue Ellspermann has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, economic and workforce development, and public service. In January 2018, under Ellspermann’s leadership, Ivy Tech launched its new five-year Strategic Plan, “Our Communities. Your College. Pathways for Student Success and a Stronger Indiana.” The plan’s vision is for Ivy Tech students to earn 50,000 high-quality certifications, certificates, and degrees per year aligned with workforce needs. The plan aligns with Indiana’s goal to equip 60 percent of the workforce with a high-value, post-secondary degree or credential by 2025. Through achievement of this goal, the College will help increase Hoosier per capita income and support the transformation of the state’s advanced industries economy. The plan development covered 18 months, including a restructure of the College, comprehensive fact finding conducted internally and externally, including thousands of faculty, staff, students and statewide stakeholders. In May 2016, she was selected to serve as President of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. She is the ninth individual to hold the position and first female president for the college. She replaced Thomas J. Snyder who announced his retirement in September of 2015 after serving as President since 2007. Ellspermann assumed the role of President on July 1, 2016. Prior to officially assuming the role as President, Ellspermann visited all 14 regions and 22 different locations in June of 2016 as President-elect. She convened 52 small groups meeting with an estimated 750+ faculty and staff on a listening tour prior to July 1. She most recently served as Indiana’s 50th Lieutenant Governor from 2013 until March of this year. As the vice chair of the Indiana Career Council she led efforts to align Indiana’s education and workforce development system to meet the needs of employers which is her continued focus at Ivy Tech. Her public service began in 2010 when she was elected as the State Representative for District 74. Ellspermann formerly served as the founding Director of the Center of Applied Research and Economic Development at the University of Southern Indiana and also owned and operated Ellspermann and Associates, Inc, an independent consulting firm licensed in the training and facilitation of Simplex Creative Problem Solving. Early in her career she spent time with Frito-Lay and Michelin Tire Corporation. Ellspermann holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Louisville in Industrial Engineering and a B.S. from Purdue University also in Industrial Engineering. She is married to James Mehling, a recently retired high school principal. She has a blended family of four daughters, three sons-in-law, two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Lunch will be held at Barker Mansion 631 Washington Street -- Michigan City, Indiana

optional Guided tour after meeting

Barker Mansion is the former residence of local millionaire-industrialist, John H. Barker, who built the Haskell & Barker Railroad Car Company, which later became Pullman-Standard. The mansion was built in 1857, and shortly after the elaborate 38 room structure was finished, both Mr. and Mrs. Barker passed away, leaving the mansion and the Barker fortune to their only child, Catherine, who later donated the structure to Michigan City. The building is now a lasting tribute to Barker's philanthropy and is open to the public for tours. A tour of the mansion and grounds makes for a fascinating study in "gracious living." It is typical of turn-of-the-century opulence and features rare woods and marble, beautiful one-of-a-kind tapestries, impressive collections of books and paintings, and a third-story ballroom where the Barkers entertained in royal fashion.

The architecture is modeled after the stately English manors of the Victorian Era. The rich furnishings, almost all original, were imported from Europe and the rest of the world. The drawing room features a hand carved marble fireplace and ceiling of molded plaster in baroque design. Silver-plated bronze torches and a white limestone fireplace invite one into the foyer of the mansion. The walnut table in the formal dining room has a beautifully carved pedestal base ornamented with cherubs, each one a unique "winged child." Throughout the mansion, the discerning visitor is intrigued by the repetition of lions, winged women, cherubs, and garlands worked in various mediums. Much of the decor consists of authentic Barker family artifacts, including furnishings and art objects, family portraits, library collections, and personal belongings. Outside, an elaborate sunken garden hosts a bronze equatorial sun dial, a tea house complete with leaded-glass globes, and a 19th Century Italian statue of "The Three Graces"; these delightful elements combine to make the courtyard and perennial garden an especially unique setting for weddings.

If the visitor is lucky enough to be in LaPorte County around the holiday season, he or she can experience the splendor of a Barker Christmas! In December, all three floors are bedecked with Christmas decor of the Victorian period. It is a magical sight for children and adults. Barker Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Barker Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.