Christopher Mahlmann
Founder, President, and Business Editor
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Chris Mahlmanngraduated from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, in December 1986. After graduating he immediately continued his career that began during college working in the financial markets. He gained some well-rounded experience working for a leading brokerage firm and the Chicago Board of Trade. He also worked for an advertising agency, where he focused on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange account with their advertising and marketing initiatives. He was then recruited to join FutureSource, a global market information and analysis supplier for the futures and options markets, in order to reinvigorate their marketing. During his 13 years with the company, he took on new challenges as Director of Sales, Director of Product Management, and Senior Vice President of Global Business Development until he eventually led the company as President and CEO.
Late in 2004, Chris played a major role for the owner in the sale of the $20 million privately held firm to the eSignal division of Interactive Data Corporation (IDC), a leading global market information company. After staying on to assist with the integration of the two firms and to lead their global sales teams, he launched Ideas in Motion, a business development agency, in January of 2006. He has always thrived on the entrepreneurial nature of the markets and the firms in that industry. His experience as a senior executive for one year in a “corporate” position at Motorola’s headquarters in the Chicago area, the always candid Mahlmann reinforced his aversion to bureaucracy, office politics, and anything in business that moves slowly. At Ideas in Motion, he has enjoyed the fast-paced, dynamic nature of each firm with which he has worked. The 20+ years of experience as a CEO and senior level sales and marketing executive has given him the insight to look at companies objectively and candidly, and to quickly see a multitude of ways in which to expand business, whether the company is big or small.
Chris takes pride in developing and executing successful business plans that allow a company to achieve their true potential. He has always been fascinated with how businesses function, and has a very unique eye for anything that could be slowing down or limiting any business. With his experience, leadership, and passion for everything related to building and growing businesses, Ideas in Motion works with a variety of financial industry firms (along with quite a few outside of the industry) on a diverse set of sales, marketing, executive mentoring, and business planning and development initiatives.
In 2007, he and his family moved to Valparaiso to be closer to his wife’s family, and as the business development agency continued to grow, he also found that the more he learned about Valpo and the more people he met, the more he fell in love with the town while at the same time becoming an organized lunatic. ValpoLife.com became an independent initiative for which he has great passion, telling the stories about the awesome organizations and people that are in Valparaiso. As an outsider turned insider, Chris often has a more appreciative perspective on all that is great about Valpo even when talking to people who have lived here their whole lives.
Brett Fuller
Operations Manager, Sports Editor
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Brett Fuller was born in Northwest Indiana and has spent most of his time living in Valparaiso. With his mother as an educator and his father as a business manager, Brett has developed a great respect for the importance of education and the principles that drive a business. After graduating from Valparaiso High School in 2004, he attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, to study management and finance. After gaining a better insight into both disciplines, he found studying communications best utilized his skill sets and personal interest. However, because of the change in studies, Brett has attained a sound background in technology, sales, marketing, and management.
After working in the technology and sales fields, he began as an intern at Ideas in Motion in the spring of 2008. He graduated from Purdue University in December 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication with a focus on rhetorical advocacy and advertising.
In his free time, Brett enjoys reading, playing guitar, and following sports. He follows the “Big 3” Chicago sports teams (Bears, Bulls, Cubs). He tries to get out to Wrigley Field a couple of times per year.
Karin Mick
Editor, Accounts Manager
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Karin Mick has been a resident of Valpo for the majority of her life. During her time in the Valparaiso Community School system, she developed a love for the arts and went on to pursue that love after graduating Valparaiso High School in 2005 at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL. While pursuing an art degree with a photography emphasis, she gained an interest in business and added a business minor to her degree.
After graduating in December 2008, Karin joined the Ideas in Motion team, putting her photography and business background to good use.
In her very limited free time, Karin enjoys being with friends and family.
Theresa Potesta
Executive Sales Assistant
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Theresa graduated from Sawyer Business College in 1995 and worked in Chicago, IL, as an office manager for seven years. She was a stay at home mother for eight years and loved every minute! For the past two years she has worked at James O’Connor’s Martial Arts & Fitness teaching fitness classes, building a run club and various marketing initiatives.
She and her husband Gary will be celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary this year. They have two beautiful children, Nathan (9) and Connor (7)!
Her passions include running and fitness. She looks to set a good example for her children to stay fit and healthy. Her days are filled with a strong positive attitude!
Maureen Davey
Web Development
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Maureen Davey has always been interested in web development and technology. She graduated from Ball State University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in English and a minor in Telecommunications, with hopes of writing for/working with online media. Time out in the workforce encouraged her to broaden her graphic, web design, and web development skills, until she came on board with Ideas in Motion Media in 2010. Maureen works on developing new applications and functionalities for the Life sites, as well as coordinating office technology and IT.
With the exception of her college years, Maureen has lived in Valparaiso all her life. She enjoys reading, writing, and catching up on TV shows with her husband.
Shawn Barnes
Graphic Design
Shawn Barnes grew up in downtown Valparaiso, and left to attend college at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA to study Animation and Digital Arts. At USC, she was able to develop networking, media development, and video editing skills on top of learning the animation trade. Shawn has always enjoyed technology and worked in IT for USC after graduating. She recently moved back to Valparaiso to work on her house and spend time with her elderly dog, Emma.
Shawn joined Ideas in Motion in 2011, but also helped develop the design for the featured profiles back in 2008. She puts her tech skills to work as a web developer and graphic designer.
In her spare time, Shawn enjoys renovating her house, working on her yard, reading, and drawing.
Natalie Mahlmann
Account Manager
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Natalie Mahlmann grew up in Valparaiso and attended St. Paul Catholic School and Valparaiso High School. After completing her education at Indiana University, she obtained a job at the Chicago Board of Trade in the marketing department, where she met her husband Chris. This May, they will be married 20 years, and have four children, Christopher (29), Nicole (25), Trevor (17), and Peyton (14).
Natalie was delighted when the opportunity to move back to Valparaiso four years ago became an option. Her parents and two brothers also live in Valparaiso, which meant more time for family and especially their kids and their cousins getting to spend more time together. Natalie is also glad to have the chance to now give back to the community she grew up in, and for her children to have that chance as well.
When she is not handling the bookkeeping and accounts for Ideas in Motion, she can usually be found running her kids to and from school or sports practice, playing tennis, working out at the YMCA, or volunteering at school.
Caitlin Vanlaningham
Contributing Editor
Cait has lived in Kouts, IN for most of her life. Coming from a family of journalists and reading enthusiasts, she developed a love reading and writing at an early age. After graduating from high school, Cait attended PNC where she majored in Communications. She was able to hone her writing, editorial, and communication skills during her time at PNC.
She graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s in Communications and joined Ideas in Motion Media in 2012.
In her free time, Cait loves to cook, workout, read, write, spend time with family and friends, and play video games.
Liz Powers
Client Relations Specialist
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Liz grew up in Northwest Indiana, and is a 2012 graduate of Valparaiso University. She studied Public Relations and Art while at VU, and became quickly fascinated with the field of social media marketing. During her college career, Liz was a manager of VU’s Student Union and interned at Opportunity Enterprises.
She joined Ideas in Motion Media in March of 2012, where she works to help further develop the great client relationships that have been built.
In her free time, Liz enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and the occasional video game.
Brandon Vickrey
Content Development
Brandon Vickrey is a senior at Portage High School and a lifelong Portage resident. He joined
Ideas in Motion Media as a coverage team member in February 2010, taking photos and writing
articles about positive happenings primarily in Portage. In June 2012, Brandon took on editorial
responsibilities with the company, coordinating the coverage team and assisting with all aspects
of PortageLife, LaPorteCountyLife and ValpoLife in addition to continuing to write articles, take
photos and engage with Portage residents.
In addition to his duties with Ideas in Motion Media, Brandon is a production intern for 89.1
FM The Lakeshore, the editor-in-chief of the Portage High School student run newspaper the
Pow Wow, the student director of the PHS online radio station Pow Wow Radio, the sports
anchor for the Indians News Network, the public address announcer for PHS varsity boys soccer,
girls soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, freshmen football and junior varsity football and a
broadcaster for Mid America Broadcasting. He spent the summer of 2012 as the broadcasting
intern for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League.
In the fall of 2013, Brandon will attend Valparaiso University to major in journalism and sports
broadcasting.
Vicki Schmidt
Office Assistant
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Coming soon!
Content Development Team
Content Development & Event Coverage
Our content development team runs around and helps tell the good stories of many events going on in our community in the realms of business, sports, community, entertainment, health, and any other areas of LIFE we can cover.
