INDIANAPOLIS (August 17, 2005) -- Governor Mitch Daniels has appointed Kenneth Kaczmarek of Bloomington to serve on the Indiana Port Commission. He will serve until July 1, 2007, filling the remainder of the term of Joe Gerson, who died earlier this month.

Kaczmarek has served as executive director of the Port Commission since April and has resigned from that post. Earlier this year, he was acting commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.

“Ken is a utility player who has helped us by taking various leadership roles early in our administration,” said Daniels. “He has tremendous experience as a senior executive for Fortune 500 companies in the United States and abroad. He will be a great resource for helping us grow the Ports of Indiana.”

Kaczmarek, a South Bend native, is a partner with Elliott & Associates, an investment firm in Bloomington. Previously, he was president of American Re-Asset Management, chief information officer for American Reinsurance and chief financial officer for Merrill Lynch Insurance Group and Blue Cross of California.

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