Dearborn County Chamber Announces Keynote Speaker for Annual Business Breakfast

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM

By Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce, news release

Dr. Uric Dufrene will discuss the economic outlook for the Southeast Indiana Region.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that the Annual Business Breakfast presented by Friendship State Bank is scheduled for April 17^th at Perfect North Slopes. This event promises to be a dynamic gathering of local business leaders, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders highlighting the spirit of innovation, leadership, and technological advancement in our region.

The Annual Business Breakfast serves as a yearly kick-off event for the Dearborn County business community, offering a valuable platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and recognition of outstanding achievements. We are thrilled that Friendship State Bank has helped make this event possible once again. In addition to our keynote speaker, this year's breakfast will highlight exciting local programs available in our community:

Dr. Uric Dufrene – Sanders Chair in Business at IU Southeast: Dr. Uric Dufrene holds the Sanders Chair in Business at IU Southeast and is a Professor of Finance. As the Sanders Chair in Business, he gives the annual outlook for Southern Indiana and Greater Louisville at the annual Economic Outlook Breakfast and Mid- Year Outlook programs. Professor Dufrene also speaks to various community groups and organizations across Southern Indiana and Louisville provides commentary on the economy to various media outlets. He also has extensive experience in academic administration, having served as Dean of the School of Business and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. At the Annual Business Breakfast, Dr. Dufrene will discuss the economic outlook for Southeast Indiana, current micro and macro trends affecting the local economy and touch on challenges during relatively turbulent times.

DICE Challenge Awards Presentation: The morning will kick off with the presentation of awards for the Dreams, Ingenuity, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (DICE) Challenge. The DICE Challenge is a regional competition in which high school students develop a business plan and pitch their dream to a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs. Their business idea and plan are evaluated and ranked, with the top 3 teams receiving an investment into their futures. In 2024 Lawrenceburg High School participants swept the awards and we are excited to recognize their accomplishments!

Launch of Leadership Dearborn: The Chamber will officially launch the Leadership Dearborn program during the breakfast. Leadership Dearborn is a prestigious initiative designed to cultivate and empower emerging leaders within the county, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to drive positive change and innovation in their respective fields.

"I always look forward to the Annual Business Breakfast. It signifies the start of the business year. It is the evolution of our Get Energized event we hosted for a number of years to bring together our business community to celebrate innovation, leadership, and the exciting opportunities in our region” said Eric Kranz President/CEO of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce. "This event underscores the Chamber’s commitment to supporting regional businesses, fostering local talent, and driving economic growth and prosperity across Southeast Indiana."

The Annual Business Breakfast presented by Friendship State Bank will take place on April 17^th at Perfect North Slopes. Registration begins at 7:30am and breakfast will begin at 8am. Tickets are available for purchase through the Chamber's website (dearborncountychamber.org) or by contacting the Chamber directly at 812-537-0814. The Chamber would like to thank Friendship State Bank for their continued support.