Bob Schaefer has achieved so many great successes throughout his life and still continues to serve his bustling community. As President of the Long Beach Town Council, Schaefer’s purpose is to be a chief administrator, representing those who live or vacation in his beautiful town.
Being born and raised in Michigan City helped Schaefer capture the allure of the lakeshore and furthered his dream of living close to Lake Michigan.
“I was born and raised in Michigan City and attended St. Mary’s High School. I then graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Living in Long Beach is something I’ve always wanted and now I’m able to wake up to the sights and sounds of our lake,” Schaefer said.
For 32 years, Schaefer managed many tasks for NIPSCO including operations, community affairs, communications, economic development, and public affairs. Throughout his career, he traveled to many cities in Northern Indiana coordinating managerial and communicative functions.
After retiring from his management position at NIPSCO, Schaefer created his own company called Community Dynamics which is still going strong. He consults interested clients in economic, community and workforce development.
To this day, NIPSCO still looks to Schaefer for coordinating their Community Advisory Panels. In these meetings, NIPSCO speaks with representatives from five different areas of Northwest Indiana three times a year.
“Ten years ago, I was elected as the President of the Long Beach Town Council and I am currently in my third term. After retiring from my work at NIPSCO, I felt that I had some time to get involved with the Long Beach community. I really wanted to participate in the politics of the town that I love so much,” Schaefer said.
Long Beach was founded in 1921 by a group of developers hoping to provide a nice summer location spot along Lake Michigan for future residents. Currently, roughly 1,100 homes can be found in Long Beach. Summer vacationing residents own half of these homes and mostly come from the Chicago area.
A lot of residents are second and third generation families following after their grandparents or great grandparents who bought or built homes in Long Beach. New investments have also been made on larger houses on the lakefront.
“I moved to Long Beach in 1991 and have greatly enjoyed it ever since. My wife, Jayne, and I have a daughter named Rachel who lives in Orlando, Florida and a son, Christopher, who lives in Michigan City,” Schaefer said.
He and his wife love being just an hour away from Chicago and many home owners don’t mind the short commute either.
Much support comes from his lovely wife, Jayne, his two children, and his five siblings. All of his family stays close even if they live minutes or hours away. He is also thankful that everyone shares a joined interest in each others lives. It’s like a private “cheering section” that will never be erased.
“If you say you’re going to do something and you have a deadline, then you do it. I think that is so important to students and adults. By following up with your work and employing a good work ethic, you will be sought by employers for your values, punctuality, and how well you accomplish your tasks,” Schaefer said. “It’s all worthwhile in the end.”
Currently, Schaefer is working with both of the Economic Development Corporations in Michigan City and La Porte on a project called Made in La Porte County. Local manufacturers and suppliers will display products that they have made and showcase their abilities to the public. Many career options can be found through this gathering and assist those interested in constructing goods. This event is on September 27 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium.
Schaefer can also be found on the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board as a Treasurer, involved in the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) Executive Committee, and also on the Long Beach Water Department Board.
“In this stage in my life, many things are in order so I’m not really looking for anything new to undertake. I’m very happy with what I’m doing. Living my life day to day is very refreshing to me,” Schaefer said.