​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hiring of John Skolak as its new Member Services Coordinator. In this role, Skolak will serve as the first point of contact for Chamber members, prospective members, and the public—ensuring a welcoming, professional, and highly engaged experience for the business community. He will support membership growth and retention efforts by coordinating onboarding, ribbon cuttings, member outreach, volunteer committees, and key relationship-building initiatives. Skolak will report directly to Katie Sensabaugh, Vice President of Operations & Membership.

“To meet the needs of a growing and increasingly engaged membership, it was essential to bring on a dedicated Member Services Coordinator,” said Sensabaugh. “John brings an incredible blend of relationship-building talent, operational experience, and genuine care for people. His ability to listen closely, connect authentically, and make others feel supported made him a perfect fit for this role.”

Skolak first came to Bloomington in 1992 to complete his degrees at Indiana University, earning a double major in Criminal Justice and Photography along with a certificate in Underwater Resource Management. He later earned an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. His early work in restaurants evolved into a nearly 40-year career spanning restaurant operations, food service distribution, and restaurant-technology innovation. Throughout his career, he has been known for helping people and businesses tell their stories, building strong connections, and improving customer and client experiences.

Outside of the Chamber, Skolak is developing a culinary workforce nonprofit, Best Food Forward Bloomington, and creating restaurant-tech tools through his startup, 812 Labs. A lifelong foodie, he believes—as Anthony Bourdain once said—that “travel is not a reward for working, it is education for living.” Originally from Portage, Indiana, he now lives in Bloomington with his wife, seven cats, two dogs, and what he affectionately describes as “a kitchen that’s rarely quiet.”

“John’s deep connection to Bloomington, his creative mind, and his passion for helping people succeed make him an outstanding addition to our team,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “We are thrilled to welcome him and look forward to the impact he will have on member engagement and community support.”
​
Skolak’s role with the Chamber was effective November 10th, 2025.

The Bloomington City Council met on September 30th. During the meeting, a proposal to name a section of Bloomington the “Stadium District” was introduced. The naming would be the area  surrounding Miller-Showers Park. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner speaks with Co-Founder of Heartwork Brewing Aubrey Williams and Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s Christopher Emge about naming an area in Bloomington the “Stadium District.” She also features perspectives from residents of the area who pushed back against the proposal. ​

Ty Osborne grew up at Stahl Furniture. That’s no exaggeration — his father has managed the store since 1976 and bought it from Ray Stahl in the early 2000s.

“Now my son's the third in the business,” Osborne said. “He's third generation of Osbornes running the store, and I want to have a location where he's got a future, and where I've got a future.”

That location, he said, isn’t in Bloomington.

Just south of downtown on Walnut St., businesses and property owners like Osborne say they’re losing business over problems caused by street homelessness. Despite the efforts of local government and nonprofits, some locals said they haven’t seen improvements.

“A lot of days we come to work, and we have to work an hour just to open up our front door with all the paraphernalia, food and clothing and bedding that's been left there,” Osborne said.

NOTE: This news article featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published by WTHR Channel 13 by Ashton Hackman on Friday, September 12th, 2025.

Hoosier football fans are in full swing for another season and still hyped up after a historic 2024 season for Indiana. 
​
City leaders are building off that excitement, launching a new district in the city at the area around Walnut Street, the SR 45/46 bypass, and 17th Street on the north end of Bloomington as visitors enter town from the north.