Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
A Special Thank You	May 23, 2022 12:00 PM	THANKS to our local law enforcement and first responders for their service to our community This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 Passcode: 1917 Whether we see you in-person at Matterhorn or see your chat broadcast on the screen, hope to see you there!
Memorial Day	May 30, 2022 12:00 PM	—No Meeting Today— No Meeting Today Please remember and honor those who have served and died for our country.
Paul Cataldo, Owner, Antonio's Italian Ristorante	Jun 06, 2022 12:00 PM	World Pizza Champion! Please Welcome Paul Cataldo, Owner and Operator of Antonio's Italian Ristorante. Paul is more than a restaurateur, he is an International Pizza Champion. When you meet Paul, you’ll first feel the intensity of his personality. He takes his restaurant and his food seriously. He’ll look you in the eye and give you his attention while fifty other demands are pecking at the door. That focus and intensity have given him the winning edge. Born in Calabria Italy in 1962, Paul's family immigrated to the US in 1966. Paul worked for a family owned pizza restaurant 1979-1995 and became owner of Antonio’s Italian Ristorante in 1996. His 39 years in the industry has garnered him many awards, including: 2004 1st place, Masterpiece Pizza Championship, Toledo Ohio (US Pizza Team) 2004 3 rd place Americas Plate, New York 2004 1 st place Pizza Quest Elkhart, IN 2004-2008 Competed in World Pizza Championships in Salsomaggiore Italy (2007 16 th place in the world- Pizza in Teglia) 2005 2 nd place Masterpiece Pizza Championship, Toledo Ohio 2005 2 nd place Largest Dough, Alamo Pizza Festival, San Antonio TX 2007 3 rd place Pizza Pizzazz, NAPICS, Columbus OH 2008 Asked to join and compete with” World Pizza Champions” Pizza Team 2016 3 rd Place Gourmet pizza division NAPICS, Columbus Ohio 2016 Top 4 NAPICS Traditional division 2017 Best Pan Pizza from North America in World Pizza Championship (Parma Italy) 2019 4 th place Mid-America Pizza Pizzazz Competition 2019 1 st place International Pizza Competition Las Vegas (World Champion) Restaurant Achievements 2004-2008 Voted Best Pizza, Elkhart County 2004-2008 Voted Best Italian Food, Elkhart County 2015 People’s Choice, Best Italian Restaurant, Elkhart County 2016 People’s Choice Best pizza, Elkhart County 2016 People’s Choice Best Italian Restaurant, Elkhart County 2017 Best of Elkhart, Best Italian Restaurant 2018 Best of Elkhart, Best Fine Dinning 2019 Goshen News, Best of the Best Pizza, Elkhart County 2019 Goshen News, Best of the Best Italian Restaurant, Elkhart County This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 Passcode: 1917 Whether we see you in-person at Matterhorn or see your chat broadcast on the screen, hope to see you there!
Kelli Brien, Founder	Jun 13, 2022 12:00 PM	Mahogany Maternity Please welcome Kelli Brien, CD(DONA) LCCE, CLS, CPE, SPBCPE and Founder of Mahogany Maternity About Kelli I am a passionate maternal health advocate, focused on eliminating health disparities and the disproportionate African American and Latina infant and maternal mortality rates. I created the Speak Life Doula program and co-authored the Safety PIN grant that garnered multiple million dollar awards from the Indiana State Department of Health. I am a Certified Lactation Specialist, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator, Certified Perinatal Educator, Certified Birth Doula with DONA International, and Postpartum Doula of over 13 years. I am a member of: DONA International, Breastfeeding USA, International Childbirth Education Association, the United States Lactation Association, The Saint Joseph County Fetal Infant Mortality Review team, the Indiana State Department of Health Maternal Mortality Review Committee and chair of the Birth Equity Subcommittee and Indiana Ambassador for DONA International. I established the 32nd Milk Bank Depot in Indiana. I authored the Birthing Bill of Rights to champion the rights of mothers during the childbearing year. I testified at the Indiana Statehouse in House and Senate chambers in support of Senate Bill 416, for Medicaid reimbursement of doulas which passed, and was signed by Governor Eric Holcomb. About Mahogany Maternity: https://mahoganymaternity.com/ This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 Passcode: 1917 Whether we see you in-person at Matterhorn or see your chat broadcast on the screen, hope to see you there!
To be Announced	Jun 20, 2022 12:00 PM
Caitlin Doucette, Director	Jul 11, 2022 12:00 PM	Elkhart County CASA Program Please welcome Caitlin Cataldo, Director, Elkhart County CASA to our meeting today. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates What is a CASA? When a child is in the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect, a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer represents the best interest of the child in court hearings and many other areas of the child’s life. The purpose of CASA is to be the child’s voice in court, making sure children are safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. Without a CASA, children may find themselves trapped in the court and child welfare system, spending their entire childhood moving from one temporary placement to another. How does the CASA model work? CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children’s best interests. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home. Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators and service providers to ensure that judges have all the information they need. Volunteers help judges develop a fuller picture of each child’s life. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child. What does a CASA volunteer do? As a CASA volunteer, you will form a one-on-one relationship with a child to get a full picture of the case. A CASA volunteer’s work with children is one-on-one, but they do not work alone. Each volunteer is trained and supported by highly qualified CAPS staff member. How can I become a CASA volunteer? To change a child’s life for the better, click the volunteer link below. You’ll be trained and supported every step of the way. This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 \| Passcode: 1917
DATE TBD- Ray Caldwell, CFEC Assoc. Prog. Officer	Sep 05, 2022 12:00 PM	The Community Foundation's Mobility Master Plan Project for Elkhart County. Please welcome Ray Caldwell, Associate Program Officer for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, sharing information about the Mobility Master Plan Project for Elkhart County. About the Community Foundation of Elkhart County: We are part of the unfolding story of generosity in Elkhart County. We believe the Community Foundation resembles the unique traits of the distinctive ginkgo tree. The ginkgo has a strong root system and resembles strength and hope to those who recognize it – inspiring good. Its leaves have been used for remedies, just as the Community Foundation strives to support nonprofits and various endeavors that improve the health of our community, our businesses, and our people – impacting success. MISSION: To improve the quality of life in Elkhart County by inspiring generosity. VALUES: The Community Foundation is committed to the following as essential to our effectiveness. We aspire to reflect the following values as we serve the community: Integrity: An abiding pledge to honesty, professionalism, humility, and respect. Inclusion: We seek and elevate diverse voices. We are most impactful when our organization and deliberations include people from varied backgrounds, opinions, and perspectives. Excellence: In our every endeavor. Collaboration: We believe in teamwork, both internally and externally. We desire to be trusted partners with community members, civic leaders, and not-for-profit organizations to provide high-impact programs and services benefitting the broadest possible constituency. About Ray: Ray Caldwell is Associate Program Officer for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. As a program officer, he supports the placemaking process to make Elkhart County a better place to live, work and play. His areas of focus are vibrant downtowns, parks, and trails. Ray joined the Community Foundation in summer 2020. He has both a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bethel University in Mishawaka and master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. He was a teacher and administrator for 15 years. He and his wife Aliya have two children. He is a musician at heart and enjoys creating and playing music. You could say that creating, recording and producing music is his jam. Ray’s superpower is being a jack of all trades. This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 Passcode: 1917
Bianca Letens, CEO	Sep 12, 2022 12:00 PM	Dutch Waffle Company, LLC Please Welcome Bianca Letens, CEO of the Dutch Waflle Company LLC, of Nappanee. Their Story: In 1988 Dutch Waffle Company CEO Bianca Elisabeth Letens–Van der Gaag attended the North Wood High School in Nappanee Indiana as a senior and had an amazing year. From that time on, she stayed in close contact with both of her host families, The Curtises and The Hartmans. Bianca introduced Dutch Syrup Waffles (in the Netherlands called “Stroopwafels”) to both families and got them hooked. Every visit after that, Bianca always had to bring the famous Dutch Syrup Waffles to both families. Bianca met her husband Patrick in 1993 and took him over for the first time in 1995 to the United States of America to meet both host families. Bianca and Patrick both took 2 suitcases along. One filled with personal belongings and one with Dutch Syrup Waffles to increase the group of Dutch Syrup Waffle fans. In 1998 Bianca and Patrick got married and both host families took the wonderful effort to come over for the wedding. In that time, Jim Hartman, advised Bianca and Patrick to start selling Dutch Syrup Waffles in de USA. Being a smart businessman, Bianca and Patrick took his advice and bought a waffle baking iron and got skilled at a famous Dutch Syrup Waffle factory. In 1999 Bianca and Patrick did a 10 weeks market research to see if the USA was ready for the Dutch Syrup Waffles. They got in contact with a Canadian Dutch Syrup Waffle baker to get them started. In that 10 week time period Bianca and Patrick met a lot of companies that wanted to work together with them to get the Dutch Syrup Waffle sold in the USA. The Dutch Waffle Company was born and registered in Elkhart Indiana in August 1999. A tough and time consuming period started with lawyers to get all the documents and visas to move over to the USA. After a couple of years the attempt was put on hold, due to the expenses and disappointments of getting things done. Almost reaching the age of 50, Bianca and Patrick put their still living dream of selling Dutch Syrup Waffles in the USA in a prayer and after that, all the necessary doors opened and got the process running again. In July 2019 Bianca and Patrick got a “GO” from the US Consulat and they sold their house and were brought to the airport by their close friend Henk Venema. The Dutch Waffle Company was allowed to spread their wings in the USA and to follow their oldest daughter that is living as an alumni from Bethel University in Mishawaka Indiana. This will be a hybrid meeting - - you can attend in-person at Matterhorn Conference Center or virtually on Zoom at noon: Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9601448006?pwd=WGhWc3h5MDByVlRORGcyYnN2WjROUT09 Meeting ID: 960 144 8006 Passcode: 1917 See you there!