Fort Wayne attorney becomes Indiana Chamber board leader

A Fort Wayne attorney has taken the helm of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as the leader of its board of directors.

Tim Haffner, a partner in Faegre Baker Daniels’ Fort Wayne office, became the Indiana Chamber’s board chairman Thursday after 13 years of board service. He will serve a one-year volunteer term.

“Tim is an excellent advocate for Northeast Indiana and has a passion for policy — both at the local and state level,” Kevin Brinegar, Indiana chamber president and CEO, said in a statement. “He’s a very thoughtful leader who cares very deeply for Indiana. We are excited to have him as our volunteer leader for the next year.”

Haffner is a corporate and commercial attorney. According to Faegre Baker Daniels, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Wabash College in 1982 and a J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1985.

Also on Thursday, the Chamber named Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb as the 2019 Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year, citing his Next Level legislative policy and his work on workforce training, the opioid crisis and business expansion.

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush was last year’s Government Leader of the Year.

“Chief Justice Rush has greatly expanded the use of technology to allow the court system statewide to operate more efficiently,” Brinegar said in 2018. “From administrative restructuring and establishment of Indiana’s commercial courts to her focus on trying to protect young people from becoming innocent victims of the actions of others, she is a true leader for Indiana and beyond.”

Other honorees at the Chamber’s 30^th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday included:

• Chuck Surack, Sweetwater Sound, Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year
• John Thompson, Indianapolis business owner, Dynamic Leader of the Year
• Plymouth, Indiana, Republic Airways and LIFT Academy Community of the Year

Three Volunteers of the Year – Larry Gigerich, Donna Niesen and Casey Stanley — were also named.