[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 76 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE NORTHWEST INDIANA BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME 
                             CLASS OF 2022

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                          HON. FRANK J. MRVAN

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 6, 2022

  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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