Indiana 250: Jeff Rea

Jeff Rea is president and CEO of both the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce across the state line in Michigan. His team of 15 works with 1,300 member businesses that employ more than 85,000 people. Rea recently has been focused on driving regional economic growth and school improvement. A former mayor of Mishawaka, he helped form the North Central Indiana Regional Development Authority, and he is a founding member of the South Bend Empowerment Zone, a school turnaround effort in the South Bend schools.

First job

My first job away from the family business was cleaning the meat room at Wilson’s Grocery Story. It was not a pretty scene, but I had to start somewhere. Free dog bones for the dog, but few other perks. Not a glamorous job, but maybe one of the most critical in the store. If I didn’t do my job well, we didn’t pass health inspections, and we couldn’t serve meat. A bad health inspection might have put us out of business. I learned that every position is critical, that it was essential that I did my best work EVERY day, and that a lot of other people were counting on me to do my work.

Job swap

I’d love to be on the PGA Tour, but unfortunately, my golf game isn’t going to allow that. Instead, if it was a different time, I would love to be running the family business. We had a drugstore for 50-plus years in Mishawaka. My great-grandfather, grandfather and dad all owned it, the whole family worked there. I always dreamed of being the fourth-generation owner. The industry has changed significantly, my dad made the right decision to sell, but I always loved retail operations. I think we could find a real niche in this day and age, but it would be a heavy lift.

Favorite thing about being a leader

I love the seat at the table, to be in the room when critical decisions are happening. I’ve worked hard for that seat. I continue to show up, try to add value, work with people, bring new ideas. We have such opportunities to influence what happens in our community. George Bernard Shaw said it best: “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

Worries about

Education. Our schools and students have some challenges, especially in the urban areas. We have to prepare students for future career success. Many aren’t showing up, when they are they aren’t behaving, and they aren’t performing well in the classroom. I really worry about how to turn around those failing schools.

Pets

Milo, my dog, Australian Shepherd mix, 5 years old. My best friend, follows me everywhere. Walks with me every day, shares my bowl of popcorn. A great companion.•