SCORE Mentors Northeast Indiana
2025 Build a Better Business Conference speakers
BBB Serving Northern Indiana and SCORE are proud to introduce the experts behind the insights. The 2025 Build a Better Business Conference speakers bring real-world experience, fresh ideas, and practical tools to help you strengthen your business. Get to know the voices leading this year’s conversations.
Meet the keynote - Barry LaBov on "The Power of Differentiation"
Barry LaBov
LABOV - Founder and CEO
Barry LaBov is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, recognized author, brand strategist and Founder of LABOV Marketing Communications and Training. The LABOV agency specializes in helping clients discover and celebrate their brand differentiation to rally their organization, and ultimately their customers. LABOV’s clientele includes Harley-Davidson, The Macallan Scotch brand, Audi and other leading brands worldwide. His book, “The Power of Differentiation, Win Hearts, Minds and Market Share,” was the Top New Marketing Book on Amazon. Barry has been a guest on nearly 100 podcasts and is co-host on Difference Talks with the LABOV team. They have interviewed guests including top-selling authors, leading CEOs, and performers in sports and music.
The first 125 people to register for the Build a Better Business Conference will receive a free copy of Barry’s book, The Power of Differentiation.
Meet the 2025 Build a Better Business Conference workshop speakers
Alex Andorfer, Partner, Leonard J. Andorfer & Co., LLP
Alex joined the firm in August 2013 after graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Ball State University. He is a Fort Wayne native and currently serves as the treasurer of the board for the Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana and the Charitable Gift Planners of Northeast Indiana. He is also a member of the parish council for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Wayne. He has four children with his wife, Jamie, and enjoys going on family vacations and playing golf. He is the great-grandson of the company founder, Leonard J. Andorfer.
Alex specializes in real estate taxation both at the individual and partnership level. He also specializes in small business consulting, especially during the start-up stage when issues such as entity type, bookkeeping methods, and payroll requirements are critically important.
Missy Blackmer, Unboxed Grace Counseling Company, LLC
Missy Blackmer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Indiana. She is also certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), reflecting her commitment to supporting individuals who have experienced trauma.
Blackmer has served in various roles as both a therapist and clinical supervisor at organizations including Park Center, Meridian Health Services, Lifeline, and Easterseals ARC of Northeast Indiana. Her broad clinical experience gives her deep insight into the complex challenges individuals face in their pursuit of mental wellness.
In addition to her counseling work, Blackmer is the owner of The Mental Health Chick, a coaching and consulting practice that offers mental health education, training, online courses and motivational speaking.
She specializes in working with women navigating anxiety, mood disorders and trauma-related concerns. She also supports parents, teens and young adults facing behavioral challenges, depression, anxiety, developmental disorders and major life transitions. For clients who seek it, Blackmer offers faith-based counseling tailored to their spiritual beliefs.
Outside of her professional work, Blackmer is a wife and mother of two teenage boys. Her family includes two dogs — a poodle and a Boston terrier. A proud Boston terrier enthusiast, she also enjoys serving on the worship team at her local church and spending time with audiobooks.
Britney Breidenstein, Principal Growth Strategist, upLinked LLC
Britney Breidenstein provides strategic direction for upLinked and also uses her talents as principal growth strategist, developing client relationships, LinkedIn strategy and presence. Over the last decade, she has focused on equity and inclusion efforts in both community and corporate sectors.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two boys, going to sports events (#Goblue), and having coffee and convos with people in the community.
Christie Browning, Owner, Content By Request
Christie Browning is a seven-time award-winning writer and a three-time award-winning website designer. Her background includes journalism, photography, graphic design and creative marketing solutions. Christie has written for newspapers, online magazines and major publications and is the author of seven books. She is the owner of Content By Request, an award-winning marketing company that offers captivating designs and unique solutions to build relationships, referrals and revenue. Her long-time career as an entrepreneur gives her a unique insight into what her clients need to promote their products, services and messages. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Christie resides in northeast Indiana with her husband, Mat, and their three dogs.
Carly Buchanan, Senior Vice President, F&M Bank
Carly Buchanan serves as F&M Bank’s Chief People Officer, bringing over 18 years of experience in human resources, leadership, and organizational development across multiple industries. Joining the bank in 2025, Carly leads the bank’s HR strategy, overseeing talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, benefits, compensation, learning and development, human capital planning, payroll, and compliance.
With a decade of retail banking experience, Carly possesses a deep understanding of customer-focused strategies, operational efficiency, and team leadership in fast-paced environments. She holds senior HR certifications from SHRM (SHRM-SCP) and HRCI, and has served as Past President of the Northeast Indiana Human Resources Association (NIHRA), where she led a 20-person Board of Directors and a 580-member chapter.
Carly earned her MBA and BSBA from Indiana Tech and an AS in Business Administration from Indiana University Fort Wayne, with concentrations in Human Resources. Recognized as a 2023 Fort Wayne 40 Under 40 honoree, she is an advocate for community impact, actively supporting organizations like Junior Achievement, Boys and Girls Club, SHRM Foundation, and the 988 Crisis Lifeline.
Carly and her family are deeply rooted in Northern Indiana, where she blends her passion for leadership with a commitment to community engagement.
Joshua Burkhardt, Partner, Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP
Joshua A. Burkhardt is a partner with the law firm of Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP (“HSK”). His practice focuses on business law and estate planning. He helps entrepreneurs plan, build, and protect their businesses. He helps both startups and well-established businesses manage their legal risks. He regularly advises businesses on a broad range of topics, including acquisitions, asset protection, asset purchase agreements, bankruptcy, compliance issues, contracts, corporate formalities, dissolution, due diligence matters, financial issues, formation, risk management, succession planning, and work-out negotiations. Joshua also advises individuals and families on estate planning and asset protection issues.
Joshua obtained his license to practice law in 2001 and became a partner in 2016. Joshua has approximately 24 years of experience representing Indiana businesses and families.
Robert Congdon, Vice President, Trust Officer and Retirement Plan Services Manager, Lake City Bank
Bob Congdon serves as vice president, trust officer and retirement plan services manager at Lake City Bank. His 30-year career in tax-qualified retirement plans includes roles as a pension underwriter, third-party administrator, fiduciary consultant, and sales, relationship and compliance management.
Bob volunteers his time with the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana and the Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross.
He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Ball State University. He is a qualified 401(k) administrator (QKA) through ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries) and holds securities licenses through FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
Mark Dobson IOM, AE, President and CEO, Vice Chair, SCORE
Mark Dobson brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors, combining entrepreneurship with economic development leadership.
Highlights:
- Principal and co-founder of Eighty-Four, LLC, a real estate investment and development firm with holdings across Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Alabama. The portfolio includes single-tenant retail, industrial sale/leasebacks and veterinary clinics.
- Former president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County, where he led efforts resulting in more than $850 million in new investment and record-breaking growth in 2018.
- Partnered with regional workforce and education leaders to strengthen talent pipelines, including leadership training for manufacturing supervisors.
- Past president and CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, where he expanded membership and was named 2014 Chamber Executive of the Year by the Indiana Chamber Executive Association.
- Served in leadership roles with the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County and was twice elected to the Board of Commissioners of St. Joseph County, where he served as board president.
- Held state appointments by Governors Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence to the Distressed Unit Appeals Board and the Judicial Advisory Committee.
- Private-sector background includes executive roles in the oil industry and real estate, earning Coldwell Banker’s International Diamond Elite status for sales excellence.
Mark holds a bachelor's degree from Butler University and completed organizational leadership training through the U.S. Chamber Institute. He is an Accredited Executive through the Indiana Chamber Executive Association.
In addition to leading Eighty-Four, LLC, Mark serves as vice chair of the Northeastern Indiana SCORE chapter and is active on the Ivy Tech Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Advisory Board.
Jordan Kerner, CEO/Founder, Behavior Bloom Consulting (bloom)
Jordan Kerner is the founder of Behavior Bloom, a consulting practice focused on liberating leadership and thriving team cultures. With a background in education, coaching, and nonprofit leadership, Jordan blends performance science, psychology, and communication strategy to help organizations unlock growth from the inside out.
His work spans executive coaching, culture transformation, and team development, equipping leaders and teams with tools to build clarity, connection, and long-term resilience. Jordan’s signature “BLOOM” framework helps high-performing people detach their worth from outcomes and lead from a grounded, values-aligned place—without burning out.
Whether he’s coaching a CEO through transition or helping a team get unstuck, Jordan brings warmth, clarity, and a deep belief that better business begins with better humans.
Jacqueline Lonis, Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager, PNC Bank
Jacqueline Lonis joined PNC Business Banking in June 2017. She has been proudly serving business owners in the Fort Wayne community for 18 years. Since joining PNC, she has been honored to receive the Circle of Excellence Award, the Market All-Stars Award (consistently), and the President’s Award. She is Omega Credit certified, Women in Business certified, and in 2024 graduated from the Fort Wayne Leadership Academy. In addition to her client work, she currently serves as a mentor to Fort Wayne branch partners and is the second business banker in the Fort Wayne market. She is passionate about building strong, long-term relationships with clients by helping them navigate the financial landscape with tailored solutions that drive growth and sustainability.
Outside of work, she is actively engaged in the Fort Wayne community, attending more than 50 nonprofit events each year. Her community involvement also includes active participation with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she has served as a POM (Professionals on a Mission) match for the past eight years with a Little who recently graduated from high school.
Elizabeth MacDonald, Communication Skills Speaker/Trainer, The Verbal Edge
Elizabeth (Nulf) MacDonald is a communication skills author, speaker, consultant, trainer, and founder of The Verbal Edge, which is located in Fort Wayne and Tampa Bay, Florida.
Her book, "Sharpen Your Verbal Edge: 101 Tips to Enhance Your Professional Communication Skills," is based on what she has observed, learned, and taught in her professional life. It offers an assortment of bite-sized tips addressing presentation skills, networking, the power of words, grammar essentials, positivity, and the art of asking fascinating questions. (I can make the books available if that is allowed.)
Elizabeth is passionate about equipping professionals to become confident and effective communicators—polishing the skills of individuals and teams who are already good communicators and providing the needed skills to professionals or teams in positions where they realize they need help learning essential skills in specific areas.
She has focused on teaching professionals communication skills for 15 years--skills she's honed from previous careers: She was a:
- TV reporter, anchor, and co-host for evening talk and entertainment shows for stations located in Fort Wayne and the Norfolk/Virginia Beach metro area. The evening shows were Tidewater Evening in Virginia and, before that, PM Magazine in Fort Wayne. Elizabeth was a co-host and producer of both of them.
- Communication Specialist for Fort Wayne Community Schools
- High School English/Language Arts Teacher at South Side
Elizabeth graduated from Indiana University at Fort Wayne with a B.S. in Education--focusing on sociology, history, and English. She completed her master’s work and graduate orals in Broadcast Communication at San Francisco State University and interned at KPIX-TV in San Francisco.
She is married to Greg MacDonald. They have two married daughters and two young grandchildren who think that all grandmas immerse their grandchildren in playtime that just happens to include grammar and words!
Marc Menzies, President and Chief Technology Officer, Overview Technology Solutions
Marc Menzies, originally from New York, recently relocated with his family to Indiana. He and his wife, Anya, along with their two sons, are embracing this new chapter together.
Professionally, Marc is a seasoned leader in the tech industry. He serves as president and chief technology officer at Overview Technology Solutions, a company based in both Long Island, New York, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. He leads a dedicated team focused on IT, cybersecurity and compliance.
He grew up in a family immersed in dance. His parents and sister all shared a love for the art form. His wife was a ballroom dancer in college. Marc, however, took a different path — more an observer than a participant.
Now, as he settles into life in Indiana, Menzies is beginning to step into the spotlight he once avoided. This chapter offers an opportunity to bridge his passion for technology with the rhythm and creativity his family holds dear.
John Mergy, Chief Innovation Officer, BT Pro Solutions
John Mergy is a technology leader with over 36 years of experience driving innovation in aerospace, medical devices, and retail. As a former chief information officer and current chief innovation officer (CINO), he has pioneered game-changing solutions from developing software for jet fighters to leading ERP transformations for multibillion-dollar companies.
He has optimized global supply chain technologies for growth, steered technology integrations through complex mergers, and crafted the AI strategy for Indiana’s largest privately held company. Beyond his strategic roles, John is a dynamic speaker and trusted advisor, sharing insights at events such as Techapalooza, Agile Indy, and CIO Panels while serving on advisory boards. He’s passionate about shaping the future of technology through visionary leadership and mentorship in an era of radical change.
Lisa Mungovan, Owner, Mungovan HR Consulting LLC
Lisa Mungovan has been married to Matt for 40 years. Together, they have daughters Sarah (Greg), Emily (Scott) and Jenna. Their grandson Gregory is a junior at Homestead, and their granddaughter Blake turned two in April.
Lisa is a human resources professional with over 30 years in HR leadership positions in durable goods manufacturing, transportation engineering and design companies, a medical startup, service and insurance industries, and nonprofit and workforce development organizations. As an HR consultant, she has provided guidance to businesses in healthcare, e-commerce, agriculture, mining, utilities, nonprofit organizations, wealth management, banking, landscape design, insurance, machine tooling, and other industries.
Her expertise includes every aspect of HR, including organizational development, employee relations, employee and leadership training, and recruiting and administration. She draws on a vast knowledge base and a keen understanding of how to keep her clients compliant with employment law. She provides investigative interviews for potential employment law cases and enjoys educating leaders by facilitating employer-specific supervisor training, workplace civility, conflict resolution, and the value of standard operating procedures for a small business.
Lisa is currently an active member of NIHRA (Northeast Indiana Human Resource Association) and SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management).
Lisa is actively involved in her community with a special interest in NIMAN (Northeast Indiana Military Assistance Network) and is on the Board of the NIBCC (Northeast Indiana Base Community Council). She is also passionate about increasing the employment of people with intellectual and physical disabilities by connecting business leaders to local organizations that support the training and development of this important population.
Lisa’s five Strengths are Connectedness, Arranger, Maximizer, Individualization, and Responsibility. Her word for 2025 is Purposeful.
Eric Ogle, Fund Manager, Brightpoint Development Fund
Eric Ogle is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, change management, and turnaround implementation. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a solid commitment to improving the lives of millions of Indiana residents by developing innovative policies and programs that facilitate large-scale change and incentivize best practices while building stakeholder support.
Currently serving as the Fund Manager for Brightpoint Development Fund (BDF), Eric is leading efforts to grow the impact of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) for Northeast Indiana.
Eric Ogle holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in entrepreneurship and management from the University of New Orleans.
John Paff , APR, CFRM, founder, Fort Wayne Marketing
John Paff is the founder of Fort Wayne Marketing, a strategic communications agency that helps mid-sized businesses grow through story-driven, results-oriented, multichannel marketing. With a focus on B2B and B2C marketing strategy, Fort Wayne Marketing helps companies elevate their brands, sharpen their messaging, and reach the right audiences across traditional and digital platforms.
In addition to Fort Wayne Marketing, he founded Petra Strategic Communications (for faith-based organizations) and Marketing the Midwest (for economic development and workforce initiatives). He was formerly an agency partner at Nichols Brand Stories and served two decades as the chief communication officer of Huntington University. He continues to teach university courses in social media, marketing, and branding—equipping the next generation of marketers with real-world insights and practical tools for success.
John brings more than two decades of experience in public relations and brand strategy to every client engagement. He serves on the board of the American Advertising Federation of Fort Wayne and is accredited in Public Relations and certified in Fund-Raising Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK) and a master’s degree in public policy from Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA).
Wesley Shie, Regional Director, Indiana SBDC
Wes Shie is regional director of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center. He oversees the operation of the regional office, including two full-time business advisors, a part-time business advisor, a program manager, and an intake administrator. He also coordinates with the center’s host, Purdue Fort Wayne’s Division of Continuing Studies, and the ISBDC Lead Center.
Wes came to the center with years of experience in banking and financial services, having worked as a relationship manager for Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. He also served as a finance specialist for the Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana prior to working in commercial banking.
Wes is a Fort Wayne native and graduated from Purdue University-Fort Wayne with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision.
Nancy Steigmeyer, Human Resources Director, Allen County Government
Nancy Steigmeyer brings more than 20 years of experience in staffing, training, recruiting and human resource management, with a passion for people and organizational development.
Professional Highlights:
- Director of human resources for Allen County Government, leading business strategy and people development initiatives through executive and HR collaboration.
- Extensive experience in HR leadership within both nonprofit and government sectors.
- Background in university-level instruction, academic curriculum development and recruiting/staffing alignment.
- Consulted with hundreds of companies across northeast Indiana on talent strategy, compensation and benefits, and organizational solutions.
- Developed and led statewide seminars and professional development programs in leadership and human resources.
Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Indiana Tech. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in organizational development with a global focus.
Nancy lives in Fort Wayne with her husband of 22 years, Steve. Her mission is grounded in faith, family and health, always putting people first.
Jackie Washington, Relationship Manager, Bankable
Jackie Washington, a 2010 graduate of Anderson University with a degree in communications, has a longstanding passion for serving others and strengthening her community. Over the years, she has been involved in a variety of volunteer initiatives.
In October 2024, she joined Bankable, where she continues her mission of helping others, specifically small business owners, grow and thrive. Jackie believes that small businesses are the cornerstone of America and is honored to walk alongside her clients as they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Michelle White, Founder and Co-owner, upLinked, LLC
Michelle White is the founder and co-owner of upLinked, LLC. Her unique combination of writing, teaching, consulting and freelancing experience provides the perfect backdrop for upLinked, where she spends time writing, training others, and providing LinkedIn consulting and management services.
Michelle and her husband, Jeremy, live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with their four children.
