A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Andy Neal

A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Andy Neal

Andy Neal, Chairman of the United Way in La Porte County, has served his community for 6 years on the Board of Directors. Neal coordinates all of the board’s operations and also guides many dedicated individuals to make a difference in their community. Along with his role in the United Way, he is additionally an asset manager for G.E. Capital.

Prior to his current positions above, Neal worked for the Hartmarx Corporation in Chicago as the Director of Operations and coordinated marketing for Jack Nicklaus of Nicklaus Apparel. For 27 years, Neal worked at Jaymar Ruby and Hartmarx and for Burton Ruby at Jaymar Ruby, Inc., in various positions which included directing the retail division and managing the building and grounds for the corporation’s Michigan City facility.

While working for Nicklaus Apparel, I attended golf tournaments and set up our retail line under inside the merchandising tents. We were present at PGA Championships, US Open events, and Jack Nicklaus’ home tournament, called “The Memorial”, in Dublin, Ohio,” Neal said. “Hartmarx actually sells Nicklaus Apparel as well as 25 other brands.”

Neal has also been a loaned executive for the United Way; this position required him to go out and call the companies in the La Porte community to help them conduct their employee campaigns. After he raised money as a loan executive, he then switched his position to allocations panel chairman—determining how to distribute the funds to various agencies.

Some of the skills that Neal took with him include decision making, financial analysis, solving problems, working as a team, communicating with customers, and coordinating special events.

The United Way has several special events throughout the year and since I have worked at some major golf tournaments, those talents carried into my current position,” Neal said.

Twenty-five agencies that provide direct services to those who have needs are supported by the United Way of La Porte County. These agencies can be found here: http://www.unitedwaylpc.org/about-us-11829/our-partners.

We just finished conducting a group of Kindergarten Countdown camps for kids who did not have an opportunity to attend preschool. Our four week camps help children learn social skills and following instructions,” Neal said.

Within the last two years, Neal has also worked for 7 years alongside children through the Junior Achievement association in La Porte County. As a classroom instructor, he learned patience and realized how teachers have a very challenging job because all children do not learn in just one way.

Neal himself enjoyed going away to school and attended three prestigious schools: Purdue University, the New York Institute of Photography, and the Northwest Indiana Entrepreneurship Academy.

The Entrepreneurship Academy helped Neal along with co-owning Pumps Pasta and Pizza, now known as Hammers, in Michigan City.

He enjoyed when speakers like Gus Olympidis (Family Express), Harold Heinold (Heinold Commodities) and Mr. Burrell (Burrell Imaging) came in to speak of their ups and downs while owning their businesses. It was both informative and inspirational to the entrepreneurs enrolled.

I look forward to everyday—new challenges and new opportunities. I really enjoy working on the United Way board because we have a great group of professionals. We have worked with CEOs of Michigan City and La Porte hospitals and presidents of other successful companies,” Neal said. “Overall, we have a great group of dedicated people that sincerely have the community’s best interests at heart.

Some events and places that Neal enjoys in La Porte County include: the United Way Golf Outing, the United Way Fall Gala, the Washington Park Zoo, Lake Michigan, bark parks, and county parks (Striebel Pond, Creek Ridge County Park). He also enjoys photography on his days off and prefers the fall because of the all colors.

Kathy, Neal’s wife, currently works at CVS as a pharmacist. His daughter, Lisa, works in a global supply chain based in Michigan City and also translates and interprets French for her corporation. Neal’s son, Derek, just finished his Software Engineering degree at Purdue University and works for Hurco in Indianapolis.