HSPA has selected its new leader

Hoosier State Press Association has its next leader.

The organization that represents newspapers across the state announced this week that it has hired Amelia Dieter McClure to be its executive director and general counsel.

McClure will work with outgoing executive director and general counsel Steve Key during the Indiana General Assembly’s 2022 session. She will then take over after Key retires at the end of May.

McClure has served as assistant director of government relations and compliance for Indiana University for the last two and a half years. She previously worked as manager of government relations for Hosparus Health and was a practicing attorney.

“I am thrilled to join the Hoosier State Press Association to vigorously advocate for newspapers across Indiana,” said McClue, whose mother was a statehouse reporter for the Louisville Courier Journal, in a press release. “I am deeply committed to the fourth estate and believe local journalism is vital to the health of our democracy.”



Scout signs

Scout Clean Energy this week signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for its Gonzaga Ridge Wind Farm.

Scout signed the agreement with Peninsula Clean Energy to provide power to San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos from the re-powering of Pacheco Pass Wind Farm in Merced County, California. Scout purchased Pacheco from International Turbine Research in 2018 and will rename it Gonzaga Ridge.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Peninsula Clean Energy and the opportunity to continue to supply clean, renewable power to the customers of San Mateo County and Los Banos in Merced County while we complete our upgrade plans to the Gonzaga Ridge Wind facility,” said Scout CEO Michael Rucker in a press release.



Breaking ground

Gillman Do It Best Home Center will break ground on its new facility in Muncie with a ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Batesville-based company’s new location in Muncie will be its 15th. It is hoping to open the facility at 3400 S. Madison St. in December 2022.

“Muncie holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to giving back to a community that has done so much for me,” said Gillman chief operating officer Curtis Gillman, a 2006 Ball State University graduate, in a press release.



BSU launches

Ball State University on Friday announced that it is launching the Miller Leadership Academy through its Miller college of Business.

The new scholarship and support program will offer BSU freshmen an $11,000 renewable scholarship in addition to other resources and services. It will kick off during fall semester 2022.

Students in the leadership academy will be part of various activities including a summer bridge program, leadership and professional and development.

“Miller College of Business is very excited about the launch of this new program,” said Stephen Ferris of Miller College of Business in a press release. “Miller Leadership Academy will provide these students with an opportunity to learn about effective leadership that they can take back to their communities, and help build a stronger Indiana.”



Ardagh buys

Ardagh Group recently announced an agreement to acquire Consol Holdings Proprietary Limited for $1 billion.

Consol is the top glass packaging firm in Africa with its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was founded in 1946 and makes a variety of products for beer, wine, spirits, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

“We are very pleased to expand our European and North America presence in glass packaging into Africa with the acquisition of Consol, a high-quality business, led by an excellent management team,” said Ardagh chairman Paul Coulson. “Consol is a market leader in the region, with great relationships across a diversified domestic and multinational customer base.”

Ardagh operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.