The Date is February 9, 2009. The Place is Elkhart, Indiana.
The date is significant because it marks the occasion of Barack Obama's first Presidential Town Hall Meeting, a gathering at Elkhart's Concord High School where President Obama spoke in support of his economic stimulus package. The place is significant because Elkhart proved to be the epitomic stage for this presidential visit; it's an industrialized city where the recessionary impact is, even today, reflected in its job-starvation. The city's unemployment rate at the time was 15.3%, a number that jumped to 18.7% in August before finally seeing a decline.
Now fast-forward to February 9, 2010. The unemployment rate in Elkhart hovers just below 15%. Yet while statistics may reflect that the Elkhart area economy hasn't improved much in the past year, Colbert Packaging contends that statistics don't necessarily tell the whole story.
Today - the "City with a Heart" Still has a Pulse
This is precisely the message that Colbert Packaging, together with several local businesses and political officials, set out to deliver on February 9, 2010. Exactly one year after the president's visit made Elkhart the poster child for the economic recession, Colbert Packaging hosted a media event with the mission of putting Elkhart back on the map by accentuating the positive.
"It's not that President Obama created the wrong impression during his visit to Concord High School a year ago - it's more that he may have left a lasting impression that doesn't tell the full story," said reporter Mark Peterson of WNDU, the local NBC affiliate covering the event.
During what one official labeled an "economic pep rally," Colbert Packaging shared a story of manufacturing success in Elkhart that dates back 123 years. In fact, Colbert Packaging is carrying the torch of Elkhart's oldest manufacturer, Barger Packaging, founded in 1887 and acquired by Colbert Packaging in 2004. One of Colbert Packaging's four manufacturing plants in the Midwest, the Elkhart facility, at 109,000 square feet and 110 employees, is its largest.
"Colbert Packaging's long-standing history of manufacturing success is an important part of Indiana's economy, providing jobs to Hoosiers and contributing to the vitality of our state's economy," wrote Governor Mitch Daniels in a letter shared during the event. "I am grateful for companies like yours that are willing to take risks for growth and invest in the future of Indiana."
Similar sentiments were shared by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh (represented at the event by Julie Vuckovich, his regional director) and U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly (represented at the event by Hodge Patel, his district director).
"Elkhart, Indiana, has and will always be America's heartland for manufacturing," said Vuckovich on behalf of Senator Bayh. "Amidst this fragile and declining economy, where many companies have closed and unemployment continues to rise, it is companies such as Colbert Packaging that continue to testify success. Colbert Packaging shows not only for the citizens of Elkhart but to the nation the dedication and hard work that its employees continue to hold."
And hard workers, they are. "I'm working Saturdays, I just worked last Sunday, so I haven't had a day off this month," said Aaron Peters, who works at Colbert Packaging. Three shifts keep Colbert Packaging Elkhart running 24 hours a day, five days a week. According to Jim Hamilton, the company's president, the Elkhart operation has grown from 43 employees in 2004 to 110 employees today. In the past six months, the size of Colbert's workforce grew by 10% in Elkhart and nearly 20% company-wide, including growth through two acquisitions in late 2009.
Elkhart Remains a Great Place to Do Business
The premise of the February 9th event was to "talk about Elkhart, its people and the fact that it's a great place to do business," said Hamilton to Gerry Dick of Inside INdiana Business during a recent in-studio interview. "We've certainly benefited by tripling our expansion over the last six years." Also, Hamilton told Josh Weinhold of The Elkhart Truth that he's a big proponent of Elkhart and the area's workforce. Indiana is simply a much friendlier, cheaper place to do business, he said. Colbert Packaging looks forward to continued expansion in Northern Indiana.
Ken Smott is the president of Atlas Die, an Elkhart business founded in 1952 and a long-time vendor of Colbert Packaging. Smott also emphasized that Elkhart is a great place to do business, even stating that "Elkhart is a competitive advantage" for Atlas Die, because they are able to employ "good people who believe in a good sense of community." Atlas Die's business has remained steady despite the economy, with no significant capacity reductions and the continual investment in their 58-year heritage of innovation in laser cut steel rule die technology.
Manager of the Elkhart Municipal Airport, Andy Jones, shared his appreciation for Colbert Packaging's event recognizing the anniversary of the president's visit and said that "we need to be reminded from time to time that our community is coming back and will thrive once again."
Arvis Dawson, executive assistant to Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore, agreed. "We're not over it, but we're sustaining. Things are happening that are positive, that's what we want to convey to the world, that Elkhart is alive and vibrant and ready to move forward after a stumble in the road."
Colbert Family Roots in Elkhart Run Deep
"I think there's a member of the board of directors who has very deep roots in the Elkhart community," said Peterson during the WNDU broadcast. "I think they're very proud of Elkhart, very committed to Elkhart, and they just want the world to know that this city is not dead."
This is exactly right. While the company's manufacturing roots in Elkhart date back to 1887 when J.H. Barger chose Elkhart as the place to hang the shingle for his packaging business, the Colbert family, coincidentally, also has roots in the Elkhart area that span several generations. Nancy Colbert MacDougall, chairman of the board, shared some family history during the event.
Elkhart was once home to MacDougall's father and Colbert patriarch, Charles Colbert, and it was also in Elkhart where, in 1921, her grandfather founded American Coating Mills, which became one of the country's largest producers of folding cartons and carton board before being acquired in 1947. In her role as chairman and her management of all personnel functions, MacDougall remains committed to continuing the Colbert family legacy of manufacturing excellence and the family-oriented atmosphere you'll find within the walls of Colbert Packaging.
And Colbert Packaging remains committed to Elkhart. "Every region of the country has its own flavor," said Hamilton, "but there's something about here, that Hoosier mentality, that's special."
That should be reason enough to celebrate.
Letters of Support
Media Coverage
- WNDU - February 9th 5:30 Broadcast
- WNDU - February 9th 6:00 Broadcast
- WNDU - February 9th 11:00 Broadcast
- The Elkhart Truth - February 10th Article
Press Materials
Event Photos
 Andy Jones, Elkhart Municipal Airport Manager and Nancy Colbert MacDougall, Chairman of the Board, Colbert Packaging Corporation |
 Hodge Patel, District Director for U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly |
 Julie Vuckovich, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Evan Bayh |
 Jim Hamilton, President, Colbert Packaging Corporation and Ken Smott, President and CEO, Atlas Die, LLC |
|||
 Nancy Colbert MacDougall, Chairman of the Board and Tim Price, Vice President and General Manager Elkhart both of Colbert Packaging Corporation |
 A variety of packaging manufactured by Colbert Packaging was on display during the media event. |
 Tim Price, Vice President and General Manager Elkhart, Colbert Packaging Corporation, Ken Smott, President and CEO, Atlas Die, LLC and Arvis Dawson, Executive Assistant to Mayor Dick Moore, City of Elkhart |
 Jim Hamilton, President, Colbert Packaging Corporation and Julie Vuckovich, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Evan Bayh |
|||
 Jim Hamilton, President, Colbert Packaging Corporation |
Event Photos