Vaughn named branch manager

A branch of a local credit union has a new leader.

CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union announced Thursday that Zackary Vaughn has been named as the new branch manager for its Dunkirk location.

Vaughn will take over leadership of the branch at 18919 N. Indiana 167. He will be responsible for consumer lending, office operations and member development.

“His addition to our staff strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our members,” CrossRoads president and CEO Donald Gillespie said in a press release. “Zack’s knowledge of the community and its people will greatly benefit CrossRoads. His energy, experience and industry knowledge has already made Zack a key addition to the CrossRoads family.”

Vaughn is a Dunkirk native with banking experience and is pursuing a degree from Ball State University.

Hosting drive

First Financial Bank is collecting food for those in need through Nov. 17.

The bank will accept donations at all of its locations, including 112 N. Meridian St., Portland, and 220 N. Wayne St., Fort Recovery. Following the drive, bank employees will distribute the food to organizations in the community.

“Helping the communities we serve comes naturally to our team, and this is a fun, impactful volunteer effort that will benefit the neighbors who keep our communities vibrant,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial Bank, in a press release.

During its first drive last year, First Financial Bank gathered more than 7,600 food items at its locations in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky. 

LIFT meeting set

The next meeting of LIFT Jay is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Nov. 28 at John Jay Center for Learning.

LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Females Together) was formed this year in an effort to connect professional women in the community. Bonnie Maitlen will be the speaker and discuss assertive communication.

The event is $18 for Jay County Chamber of Commerce members and $23 for non-members. For more information or to register, email [email protected] or (260) 726-4481.

Open house set

Mercer Health will host an open house for its Mendon location from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1.

The open house will highlight the renovated office in Mendon (128 Drake St.) and offer the public a chance to meet with staff. There will be refreshments and a drawing for a $100 prize.

For more information, call (419) 795-2050 or visit mercer-health.com.

CEO named

Scooter’s Coffee, announced Wednesday that it will appoint Joe Thornton as its next CEO.

Thornton, who currently serves as the company’s president, will take the new role on Jan. 1. He takes over for Todd Graeve, who will retire after serving as CEO since 2016.

“Joe has been a blessing for our business since joining as president,” said Scooter’s co-founder and chairman Don Eckles in a press release. “He’s an exceptionally experienced leader in the restaurant, franchise and retail industry, and I know Joe is the right leader for us in our next acceleration of growth.

Prior to joining Scooter’s, Thornton was the chief operation officer at HMSHost and Jamba Juice.

Revenue up

Indiana University Health saw a 7.1% revenue increase for the first nine months of the year.

Becker’s Hospital Review reported Friday that increases in inpatient and outpatient surgeries drove the increase. IU Health also saw a 3.2% increase in operating expenditures.

“Overall financial performance is trending in the right direction, but we still have challenges,” IU Health chief financial officer Jenni Alvey said in a press release. “Continued financial investments in our team members coupled with cost pressures require that we continue to focus on sustainable strategies to improve operational efficiencies and reduce administrative costs.”

Ardagh participates

Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa recently took part in the Made in Africa exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The exhibition showcases regional development and encourages further investment.

“Our footprint on the African continent has grown considerably over the past decade, with production facilities in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia,” said Paul Curnow, CEO of AGP-Africa, in a press release. “Our recent acquisition by Ardagh Group, a global supplier of sustainable glass packaging for brand owners around the world, has enabled us to invest even further in the growth of the South African glass industry.”

Ardagh operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.

Agreements signed

Delaware County last week signed three memorandums of understanding with Italian firms.

The county signed an agreement with plastics recycling firm Gamma Meccanica to develop a local facility. It also signed agreements with robotics firm Trebi Srl, which plans to add a warehouse location to its existing sales office in the county, and technology firm Vi-Technik, which plans to establish operations with a 15,000-square-foot facility in the south Muncie Industrial Center.

“We are very happy with the success of the trip and wish to welcome these great

new firms to our business community,” said Delaware County Commissioner James King, who made the trip to Italy to sign the agreements along with fellow commission Shannon Henry and local economic development leaders. “Our new approach is diversification of business

in various advanced technical sectors by promoting relationships with both existing and

new companies.”

Named provost

Ball State University last week announced that Anand R. Marri will serve as its new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Marri had served as interim provost since April and had been dean of BSU’s Teachers College since 2020.

“Dr. Marri’s extensive experience as an academic administrator, professor, and executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is matched by his collaborative leadership style,” BSU president Geoffrey S. Mearns said in a press release. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with him to implement the shared vision, values, and goals articulated in our University’s strategic plan.”

Marri earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and master’s degree from Stanford University.

Paxton purchases

Paxton Media Group last week announced that it will purchase The Southern Illinoisan from Lee Enterprises.

A timeline for completion of the purchase of the newspaper based in Carbondale, Illinois, was not announced. Media merger company Dirks, Van Essen & April is representing Lee Enterprises in the transaction.

“The SI naturally fits our footprint for community-based journalism. The team of journalists I have the opportunity to lead from our Paducah and southern Illinois newsrooms has covered many of the important stories impacting our hometowns in southern Illinois. I look forward to expanding our coverage. We have the resources to allocate to covering southern Illinois,” said Evans.

Paxton owns more than 120 newspapers in all and 14 in Indiana, including The Courier-Times (New Castle), The Chronicle-Tribune (Marion), the Huntington Herald-Press and the Connersville News-Examiner.

Lee Enterprises publishes 77 newspapers in the U.S., including The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster).