NiSource team members are passionate about supporting their communities through volunteering, and we celebrate those who go above and beyond. We call them our 'Super Volunteers.'
Major Accounts Manager Duke LaMere, based in Indiana, is our latest Super Volunteer. Duke serves as one of NIPSCO's primary points of contact for 100 of the largest gas and electric business customers in Northern Indiana. But his commitment to service extends far beyond his professional responsibilities.
Aside from being a member of all of our internal employee resource groups, Duke passionately volunteers with several organizations, including the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement of Chicago, United Way Northwest Indiana and the American Red Cross of Indiana. He also volunteers as a high school football coach.
Duke's dedication to service was shaped early in life by his high school coaches who ingrained in him that possessing talents, such as strength, grit and being a good communicator, could be used to give back to the community in many ways. Now that Duke is a wide receiver coach at his old stomping ground, he shares the lessons he was taught with the young adults he coaches, as well as his own children.
"Growing up, I was fortunate to have coaches who encouraged us to give back to the community and to be on the lookout for opportunities to serve others," Duke shared. "I try my best to instill this in my kids as well as the young adults I coach, and I lead by example by being the first name on the sign-up sheet when volunteers are needed."
For Duke, volunteering offers a unique opportunity to step away from the daily grind and focus on the positive impact he can have on others. Whether participating in the annual Heart Walk with the American Heart Association or engaging with local schoolchildren though Junior Achievement, Duke finds that these experiences recharge him and enhance his well-being.
"Focusing on your career and raising a family can obviously give you all you can handle on a day-to-day basis, but I've found that taking advantage of opportunities to be altruistic can serve as a form of therapy in and of itself," he said. "I always seem to come away from volunteering activities with a recharged battery."
Duke encourages others to explore volunteer opportunities, emphasizing the positive impact it has.
"Take a chance and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone," Duke said. "Spending an hour or two to help others can refresh you and make you that much better at what you do when you plug back into your normal day-to-day life."
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to helping your local community, Duke.
