FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2007

Ivy Tech Community College Chancellor/Vice Provost to Attend Conference in Japan

Terre Haute, IN - Ivy Tech Community College, Dr. Jeff Pittman, chancellor, Wabash Valley Region, and vice provost for Distance Education will be representing Ivy Tech Community College and attending the 39th Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest U.S. – Japan Association and the Japan – Midwest U.S. Association in Tokyo, Japan, September 9 – 11, 2007.

Dr. Pittman will be among the 75 attending the conference from Indiana. The delegation will be headed by Governor Mitch Daniels. Other participants include four state legislators, seven mayors, and community, economic development and business leaders.

These meetings are held to discuss economic relations between the Midwest United States and Japan and this year’s theme is: Japan and Midwest U.S.: Innovation and Sustainable Growth.

“I am honored to be representing both the State of Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College on this important endeavor. Members of this delegation will be focusing on the continuation of economic progress between Indiana and Japan. Economic development activities are an important aspect of the College, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve the State in this capacity,” states Dr. Pittman.

The Midwest U.S. – Japan Association in comprised of ten member states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The Japan-Midwest U.S. Association is comprised of over 100 corporate members with either direct economic ties to Japan or ones that are interested in developing them. The association includes such corporations as Toyota Motors and Sony.

The annual meetings allow the associations to strengthen and energize the economic, political, and cultural ties that connect the economy of Japan and the economy of the Midwest.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state's second largest public post-secondary institution with over 100,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has 23 campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Wabash Valley Region offers 25 degree programs and eight locations throughout the area.

Members of the delegation are:
Governor Mitch Daniels
Nate Feltman, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Chad Sweeney, IEDC
Steve Akard, IEDC
Kai Chuck, IEDC
Andy Miller, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Beth Bechdol, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
State Senator Sam Smith
State Senator David Long
State Representative Clyde Kersey
State Representative Jim Buck
Jane Jankowski, Governor's Office
Ben Ledo, Governor's Office
Don Babcock, Northern Indiana Public Service Company
David Barrett, Gene B. Glick Co., Inc.
Mike Beard, Indiana Pork Producers Association
Brandt Burdick, National City Bank
Stephen Corwell, Indianapolis Power & Light
Michael Dellinger, The Indy Partnership
Bill Dory, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, Inc.
Kathryn Ertel, Jennings County Economic Development Corporation
Mike Fincher, mayor of Logansport
Scott Furgeson, mayor of Shelbyville
Harold Force, Force Construction Company, Inc.
Tamayo Fukumoto, Japan-America Society of Indiana
Gary Gentry, Knox County Development Corporation
Robert Grewe, Dubois Area Development Corporation
John Hall, mayor of North Vernon
Nubuo Hara, JP Morgan Chase Bank
Takayasu Hara, Fifth Third Bank
Yuichi Hasegawa, National City Bank
Michiharu Homma, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart, P.C.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland and Energize ECI
Kyle Hupfer, ProLiance Energy
Larry Ingraham, Ingraham & Associates, Inc.
Hideyuki Kawashima, MJ Insurance
Vicki Kellerman, Economic Development Corporation of Greensburg/Decatur County
Christopher Kinnett, Perry County Development Corporation
Jeffrey Knight, Old National Bank
Mark Kosiarek, VAI Technology, Inc.
Theresa Kulczak, Japan-America Society of Indiana
John MacNab, MJ Insurance, Inc.
Dennis Maloy, Hancock Economic Development Council
Richard McConnell, Bose, McKinney & Evans, LLP
Mark Miller, Cornerstone Environmental, Health & Safety
Terry Mooney, mayor of Vincennes
Cheryl Morphew, Johnson County Development Corporation
Peter Morse, Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
Terry Murphy, Muncie-Delaware Economic Development Alliance
Mick Nakada, Force Construction Company, Inc.
Marie-Christine Pence, Duke Energy
Jeffrey Pittman, Ivy Tech Community College
Joseph Plankis, Economic Development of Westfield
Jim Plump, Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation
Melissa Reese, Ice Miller, LLP
John Sampson, Northeast Indiana Regional Marketing Partnership
Dennis Sargent, National FFA Foundation
Wayne Seybold, mayor of Marion
Gina Sheets, Clinton County Economic Development
Robert Sparks, Anderson/Madison County Corporation for Economic Development
Randall Stephens, Chase Commercial Banking
Don Stock, mayor of Frankfort
Toyohara Tamura, Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance
Danny Theobald, Shelby County Development Corporation
Kip Tom, Tom Farms, LLC
Greg Wathen, Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana
Ayako Yamamoto-Girt, City of Anderson