As he entered the luncheon room, the governor took almost a half-hour to shake hands and speak with every person present. He was welcomed by Chamber executive director Angie Anspach and board president Brad Conn.

He then addressed the gathering for about 15 minutes. During his first year as governor, Pence said his administration has worked to create an environment for providing resources to "put ingenuity to work." 

He cited statistics that point to the continuous improvement of Indiana's business climate, including a triple-A credit rating, nearly $2 billion in reserves, cuts in corporate taxes, caps on property taxes, enactment of Right-to-Work legislation, and the repeal of inheritance tax.

He also referred to the state's leadership in higher education, recent headlines on above national average math and reading scores at some elementary school grade levels, and improvement plans for the state's infrastructure.

As the General Assembly prepares to open next month, Pence said his agenda will largely be to "build on our momentum."

The governor shared how he travels the state, nation and abroad promoting Indiana's business climate. He challenged those attending the Chamber luncheon to consider their own friends and contacts outside Indiana who might be persuaded to locate a business in the state. "You can help bring business to Indiana," Pence said.

The governor began his day in Rochester Tuesday morning where he rang the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign at the Kroger grocery.

"It was my first bell ringing of the season," he said. "It's a tradition in my family, and we will be ringing for the Salvation Army around Indiana. As the holiday decorations go up, we must remember a lot of Hoosiers are struggling."

When asked later about the importance of small business, he observed that "small business is the backbone of Indiana," and noted that most small businesses file tax returns as individuals which is why his administration has worked for tax relieve for individuals, as well as businesses.

He added that many small businesses in communities such as Winamac and in counties like Pulaski have been sustained over the years from being passed from generation to generation. Repealing the inheritance tax in Indiana as of Jan. 1 should also be a boon to small businesses as well, he said

Pence also addressed health care in the state, saying "we are making steady progress." Of primary importance, he said, was making sure Hoosiers who have plans don't lose their coverage. The governor also plans to expand the Healthy Indiana Plan to enroll more Hoosiers, a program he says encourages participants to take ownership of their own health care.

He wants to meet with U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to negotiate expanding Medicaid in Indiana and using the Healthy Indiana Plan as the state's health care framework. He added that his administration will move "cautiously and carefully" to obtain the right kind of health care for Indiana that is in the best interest of the people and the fiscal health of the state.

Pence ended his day in Monticello where he joined executives at Adkev, a homegrown-Hoosier automotive supplier, for a jobs announcement in White County.