Recognizing the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2022
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Mr. MRVAN. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration that I take this time to commend several exceptional leaders from Indiana who will be honored as the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2022. This year's inductees include Brian Boomsma, Napoleon Branford III, Debbie and David Cook, and Fritz Olthof. In addition, Tri-State Industries will be presented the Enterprise of the Year Award. For their outstanding contributions to the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond, these honorees will be commended at the 15th Annual Induction Ceremony on Monday, May 9, 2022, at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana. The Honorable Eric Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana, will serve as the keynote speaker for this special event.
Brian Boomsma is the president of Dutch Farms, Inc., which was founded in 1987 by Brian and his brother, Bruce. In the beginning, Dutch Farms sold farm fresh eggs to local grocery stores and markets throughout the Chicagoland area. Over time, the company expanded its product line to include dairy, meat, juice, baked goods, and more. Today, the family-owned business operates out of a 400,000 square foot campus in the Pullman District of Chicago. Under the remarkable leadership of Brian, Dutch Farms currently distributes its products in 40 States and 15 countries. Dutch Farms is committed to giving back to the community through its support of various organizations, including food banks, youth groups, veterans' groups, and soup kitchens.
Napoleon Branford III is a Northwest Indiana native hailing from East Chicago. Napoleon is a graduate of East Chicago Roosevelt High School and played on the celebrated Rough Riders basketball team that won the State title in 1970. For this accomplishment, Napoleon was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Later in life, Napoleon established and led the successful investment and banking firm, Siebert Branford Shank & Co., LLC, and served as its chairman from 1998 to 2016. Currently, he is chairman and CEO of his own company, NBIII Entertainment. He is also one of the chief financial strategists for Team Harris, LLC. Napoleon has given of his time and efforts to numerous charitable organizations and foundations throughout his lifetime including, but not limited to, the California Healthcare Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, and the American Heart Association.
Dave and Debbie Cook are the founders of Hoosier Bat Company, located in Valparaiso, Indiana. Dave Cook worked as a scout for the New York Yankees, and during that time, he observed players struggling to transition from using aluminum bats to wooden bats. Seeing the need and the opportunity, Dave painstakingly created a patented design, a durable wood bat that helped to ease this transition. In 1991, Dave and Debbie founded Hoosier Bat Company, which they continue to operate and grow today. The company sells its bats throughout the United States and worldwide. Hoosier Bat Company caters to all levels of the game, from Little League to the major leagues, and they have made bats for many successful Major League Baseball players. The Cooks are involved in numerous charitable endeavors, and they continue to donate bats to events and organizations that give back to the community.
Fritz Olthof is the founder of Olthof Homes, which he established in 1961. Fritz learned the basics of building a strong work ethic at a young age, which he credits to his upbringing and his father, in particular. Fritz's first project was a seven-flat building in Lansing, Illinois, and he moved full steam ahead from that moment on. Currently, Olthof Homes is based in Saint John, Indiana, and has an office in Indianapolis as well. Olthof Homes continues to grow and expand building new home communities throughout Northwest Indiana, Northeast Indiana, and Central Indiana. Fritz is proud to have all four of his sons and his grandson working for the business. The company has been proud of their dedication to support local charitable organizations, including the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and Habitat for Humanity, to name a few.
The recipient of the Enterprise of the Year Award is Tri-State Industries, a steel manufacturing and fabrication company based in Hammond, Indiana. The company was founded in 1980 by Don Keller and initially made industrial pipe glides and slides. Today, the company is a contract manufacturer for large entities in the railcar, construction, and mobile trailer industries across Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Additionally, the Keller family founded Tri-State Automation, a business that advances the use of robotics in manufacturing. This truly innovative technology produces robots that weld, haul materials, and serve other customized industrial functions.
Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending these dedicated leaders and organizations upon their induction into the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame. For their influence, innovation, and dedication to the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond, the inductees are worthy of the highest praise.
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