(INDIANAPOLIS) -- The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has welcomed 21 new business and civic leaders to its board of directors, effective immediately: 

Chesterton
- Mark Chamberlain, CEO, Lakeside Wealth Management Group

Decatur
- John Draheim, CEO, Fleetwood RV Inc.

Evansville
- Kevin Hammett, president and CEO, Regency Commercial Associates, LLC
- Linda White, president and CEO, Deaconness Health System

Fort Wayne
- Andrew Coolidge, executive vice president and chief operating officer, SIRVA, Inc.

Granger
- Angela Faulker, president, Gridiron Communications

Hartford City
- Daniel Maddox, senior vice president, Town Financial Corporation

Indianapolis area
- William Barrett, attorney/partner, Williams Barrett & Wilkowski, LLP (Greenwood)
- Elaine Bedel, president, Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc.
- Mike Berghoff, president, Lenex Steel Company
- Cal Burleson, vice president and general manager, Indianapolis Indians
- Jeff Hagerman, president, The Hagerman Group, LLC (Fishers)
- Carey Lykins, president and CEO, Citizens Energy Group
- Terry O'Neil, partner, Katz, Sapper & Miller

Jasper
- Brenda Stallings, president and CEO, Matrix Integration, LLC

Merrillville
- Jim Stanley, executive vice president and CEO, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO)

New Albany
- James Rickard, president and CEO, Community Bank Shares

Richmond
- Craig Kinyon, president and CEO, Reid Hospital & Health Care Services

South Bend
- Patricia Griffey, president, Page 1 Benefits, Inc.
- Mark Harman, president, Stanz Foodservice

Vincennes
- Anthony Burkhart, president, Burkhart Insurance Agency, Inc.

More than 180 members make up the Indiana Chamber board of directors. They are presidents, CEOs and high-level executives from companies throughout Indiana.

The Indiana Chamber board plays a crucial role in developing the aspects of the organization's business advocacy efforts. Members serve on various committees that research key topics and define policy positions for adoption by the entire board each fall. These positions are used by the Chamber's advocacy team to initiate and evaluate legislation at the Indiana Statehouse and in Congress.

"Infusing new leaders and ideas into an organization is what keeps it moving forward. We are excited to welcome these new board members, who represent top companies throughout the state and are recognized for their efforts in their respective communities," says Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. "We look forward to their diverse experiences as we all work to promote economic prosperity and job growth in Indiana."

All of the new board members will serve three-year terms through 2015.

Kerry Stemler, president and CEO of KM Stemler Company, Inc., in New Albany, will lead the board as the 2012 chairman of the board. Stemler was introduced in his new role during the Chamber's 23rd annual awards dinner earlier this month. His chairmanship duties run through the organization's next fall board of directors meeting on November 12, 2013.

###

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is the state's largest broad-based business advocacy and
information organization, representing nearly 5,000 member companies that employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.