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A Creative Engine Hello from Building Indiana’s new digs in Crown Point! Yes, we’ve moved to a new, larger location that will give us room to grow our business to a new level in 2011. Not only are we bringing on more people to help with our existing businesses, but we have some exciting event and publication launches planned for next year.

Things have been falling into place more rapidly than even I had hoped. Moving into the new office here followed closely on the heels of our expansion into Central and Northeast Indiana. And the fresh insights we’ve gotten from Lee Ann Richardson in Indianapolis and Julie Monteith in Warsaw have helped fuel those developing plans.

As we’ve reach out across Indiana, I keep getting asked different versions of the same question: “I’m in Indianapolis (or Evansville or South Bend or Muncie), why should I care about what’s happening in Northwest Indiana (or Lafayette or Jeffersonville or Elkhart)?” Why? Because a good idea doesn’t stop being a good idea when it crosses a county line. No matter what issue you have, chances are that someone else has the same issue, too – and maybe they’ve found an answer.

That’s why now is the most important time to grab any opportunity to tap into the minds of others. Whether it’s a magazine like this one, or functions held by your local chamber or economic development organization, or statewide or national assemblies of professional organizations and associations – take advantage of any chance to pick your peers’ brains.

Our goal at Building Indiana over the coming year is to offer Indiana businesses more opportunities to do just that. To share their stories in print and in person so that we can keep generating the ideas we need to build our businesses and our state.

Kind Regards,

219.226.0300 • 317.632.1410 Publisher/Editor Andrea M. Pearman andrea@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 301 Senior Writer David Wellman dave@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 307 Creative Director Rebekah Hendricks rebekah@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 Assistant Office Coordinator Carrie Sovola carrie@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 308 Special Projects Coordinator Jen Labriola jen@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 302 Director of Marketing Chrischelle Schmidt chrischelle@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 304 Director of Events Kristin Jurczak kristin@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 307 Director of Creative Media Sumer Rex sumer@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 Administrative Assistant Jennifer Ward jennifer@buildingindiananews.com 219.226.0300 ext. 305 Accounting Lindsey Andershock la@3dms.com 219.226.0300 ext. 303 Indianapolis Office Business Development Manager Lee Ann Richardson leeann@buildingindiananews.com 317.632.1410 Warsaw Office Business Development Manager Julie Monteith julie@buildingindiananews.com 888.226.0330 Website www.buildingindiananews.com Blog www.buildingindianablog.com

Andrea M. Pearman Publisher

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Andrea M. Pearman 2009 Small Business Journalist of the Year

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Copyright ©2010 Building Indiana News is published six times a year. Address correspondence to: 1330 Arrowhead Court, Crown Point, IN 46307. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. For general reprint information, contact Building Indiana News at andrea@buildingindiananews.com. All opinions and views are solely those of the participants or editors and are not necessarily the views of magazine sponsors.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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36 Being Productive Cable Gold

08 Contributors 09 Business Buzz

EVERY ISSUE

24 People News

40 Small Business Spotlight Pouring Success

56 Real Estate Corridor Report The Taming of the West

62 Logistics Rezoning Effort

42 Facts & Stats Holiday Statistics 81 Location Finder

65 Worker’s Comp A Necessary Decision?

Construction and Design Directory

68 Your Well-Being Alternative Options

85 Real Estate Marketplace

38 Mass Production Taste of Indiana 44 COVER STORY The 2010 Swanky Office Awards 58 ONSITE The People Hub

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DEPARTMENTS

26 PHOTO FEATURE • BCA Construction & Design Expo • Indiana Transportation Company Wins Top Safety Award • Indiana Plan Receives Grant to Increase Training Efforts • Majestic Star Named “Casino of the Year”

71 TECH TALK Silver Lining 72 Green & Sustainable Star Power 75 Lifelong Learning Hiring Education

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29 State of the Industry Time to Build Indiana

EXPERT ADVICE

FEATURES

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30 Rule of Law Suiting Up 32 SAFETY ZONE Lowering the Language Barrier 34 The Bottom Line Think Local, Act Local

76 Welcome Center Showcase on the Lake 78 Marketing Road to Victory 79 REGION FOCUS Road to Riches 86 The Last Word A Common Goal www.buildingindiananews.com

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Contributors ROBERT J. ALCORN Robert J. Alcorn is the Chief Operating Officer of Carmelbased n|Frame, one of Indiana’s largest commercial data centers and IT infrastructure solutions providers. n|Frame is a $30 million enterprise and is part of a national network of data centers owned by Continental Broadband. To reach him or learn more about n|Frame, www.nframe.com or e-mail rjalcorn@ nframe.com.

CESAR ESQUEDA Cesar Esqueda is Safety Manager at AEF Construction, LLC. The Fishers-based firm is part of AEF Companies, which provides crane services with operators, construction framing services, flatbed and trailer hauling services

and in-house storage of HVAC equipment. Visit them on the Web at www.aefcompanies.com.

ROLAND M. DORSON Roland M. Dorson is President of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, a business advocacy organization representing 4,300 businesses in central Indiana. Dorson joined the Chamber in 1991 as Executive Vice President and has served as President since January 2006.

STEVEN A. JOHNSON Steven A. Johnson is a partner in Johnson, Rappa & Ivancevich, LLC, in Merrillville. He concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, labor relations and construction law.

Johnson has served as an adjunct professor at Valparaiso School of Law and has taught labor relations at Purdue University Calumet.

JAMES H. MILSTONE James H. Milstone is a Partner with Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads. He has practiced law in Indiana since 1989, with a focus on civil litigation. He has also handled products liability, trucking, construction, bankruptcy, environmental, employment, civil rights, insurance coverage, first-party coverage disputes, alleged bad faith, and general commercial litigations. Milstone is a certified mediator in the State of Indiana and has also acted as an arbitrator.

DEWEY PEARMAN Dewey Pearman serves as the Executive Director for the Construction Advancement Foundation. He holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Indiana State University. The Foundation promotes the union construction industry of northwest Indiana by helping to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness via labor relations and government management, education, training, safety and workforce development.

BETH A. SCHENBERG Beth A. Schenberg is an Associate with Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads. She centers her practice on insurance defense, including professional liability insurance, automobile, and bad faith. She is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indianapolis Bar Association.

DR. JACK SINGER Dr. Jack Singer is a professional speaker, trainer and practicing psychologist.

He has been speaking for and training Fortune 1000 companies, associations, CEOs, sales staffs and elite athletes for 34 years. He is a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, FOX SPORTS and countless radio talk shows across the U.S. and Canada and author of “The Teacher’s Ultimate Stress Mastery Guide.” His Web site is www.drjacksinger.com.

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www.buildingindiananews.com

Growth Drives Unique Quality Certification Success

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his past June, Indiana became home to the first ISO 9001:2008 certified occupational healthcare provider in the nation when Working Well Occupational Healthcare earned the coveted quality-control designation following a year of rigorous documentation and analysis of all its processes and procedures.

Regional Director Tim Ross says that the certification will provide a foundation for best practices that will ensure the highestquality healthcare, improved outcomes and reduced errors for all patients, increasing patient safety and satisfaction.

The march toward ISO 9001:2008 certification began not long after the Michigan City-based company completed the quality certification process laid out by the National Association of Occupation Healthcare Professionals (NAOHP), earning a three-year Quality Certification Award under NAOHP’s Occupational Health Site Certification Program.

Given the opportunity to rest a bit on their laurels, the company declined. “That’s www.buildingindiananews.com

when we asked, how do we go above and beyond?” Ross says. Working Well, a division of The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, which operates eight hospitals on 12 campuses throughout Indiana and northeast Illinois, was looking at expanding into the Indianapolis market, and wanted to enter the booming on-site clinics business as well. But it needed a way to stand out from the other occupational health providers chasing the same markets and customers.

To do so, Working Well decided to pursue another quality certification – but this time, one that had never before been attempted by any occupational health provider, and very few health care operations overall: ISO 9001:2008 certification.

Gold Standard

ISO 9001:2008 certification is part of the ISO 9000 family of quality certification procedures managed by the International Organization for Standardization (Geneva, Switzerland). The gold standard of quality certifications, ISO 9000 standards are employed by more than one million companies

BUSINESS BUZZ

(l. to r.) Rich Shelhamer, Perry Johnson Registars, and Tim Ross, Regional Director of Working Well, celebrate Working Well’s ISO 9001:2008 certification.

in 172 countries, and have become routine in the U.S. across a broad swath of manufacturing industries.

Industries precisely like the ones Working Well is interested in as customers and potential partners for on-site clinics.

“ISO certification is a standard they know,” Ross says. “In many industries, businesses will only do business with other ISO-certified businesses. So why not give them the same option for occupational health care?” The idea wasn’t without precedent, he adds, noting that while only about 13 U.S. hospitals have been ISO 9000-certified, virtually all European hospitals are.

It took Working Well about a year to work through the rigorous ISO requirements.“You identify key processes, streamline the workflow, proactively prevent problems and so maximize customer satisfaction,” Ross explains. “The result is a world-class occupational health program.”

To complete the certification process, Working Well had to have its work checked by a third party, in their case Perry Johnson Registrars, a global provider of independent quality and environmental management system audits based in Troy, MI. “They did a phenomenal job,” says Rich Shelhamer, National Sales Manager at Perry Johnson. “The auditor commented that it was one of the best quality systems he had ever seen.”

Shelhamer chalks that up to a combination of hard work and a good attitude.

“They had a team of very qualified people,” he notes. “There was a lot of teamwork, so the result was very organized.”

And being in an industry where ISO certification was basically unknown, Working Well didn’t bring any negative preconceptions to the process. “I’ve been in this business 15 years and it’s nice to have a client who is positive and excited about it,” Shelhamer adds.

Ross believes that the ISO 9001:2008 certification provides the necessary platform for statewide growth. “Especially as we do more on-site clinics and build that network, ISO fits in with the industries we’ll be serving. It bridges the gap,” Ross says. Even Working Well’s parent, The Sisters of St. Francis, has taken notice, and is contemplating ISO 9001:2008 certification of its hospitals, starting with key departments. “I think they will end up being the leader in this in the Midwest,” predicts Shelhamer.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

The address of the new office is: Lake Business Center, 9200 Calumet Ave., N500, Munster, IN 46321. The phone number is (219) 836-2900.

Northwest Former Newton County Sheriff Among Three Nominated for U.S. Marshal

City Pays Off Redevelopment Bonds 15 Years Early

Myron Sutton, a Special Investigator with Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (IIIFFC) and former Sheriff of Newton County, was among three nominated to the post of U.S. Marshal by President Barack Obama.

The others were William Sibert, Detective with the Warrant/Fugitive Division of the St. Louis Police Department, and Albert Nájera, former Chief of Police for the City of Sacramento, CA. “Throughout their careers these individuals have shown a deep commitment to public service,” said President Obama. “I appreciate their continued willingness to serve and protect the American people.”

Sutton is a Special Investigator with the IIIFFC where he looks into allegations of fraud and misuse of tax dollars in publicly funded construction projects. From 1998 to 2007 he served as the Sheriff of Newton County.

Sutton joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1987 as a Correctional Officer, and later served as Jail Commander and as a Deputy Sheriff. His extensive professional training includes attendance at the School of Police Staff & Command at Northwestern University, and as a law enforcement instructor certified through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Six years ago, a 50-acre site near Michigan Street and Ireland Road in South Bend featured a former landfill in need of environmental remediation and a variety of underused properties at what was believed to be a highly viable commercial location near U.S. 31 and U.S. 20.

The Redevelopment Commission and the administration of Mayor Stephen J. Luecke envisioned a development site featuring 330,000 to 400,000 square feet of retail to anchor the western end of an Erskine Hills Shopping District, stretching along Ireland Road to Ironwood Drive. The development was jump started by public investment from the sale of two bonds totaling nearly $6 million to be repaid by anticipated increases in property tax revenue resulting from the growth in the assessed value of that site.

Since then, the creation of Erskine Commons has led to the development of more than 476,000 square feet of new commercial space.

More than $56.5 million in private and public investment has included commercial outlets like Wal-Mart, Lowe’s and Gates Toyota, and led to the creation of 740 new jobs. Each of these targets surpassed original estimates of what could be accomplished in 20 years.

In June, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a plan to pay off one of the two remaining bonds that funded the public improvements in July. Pay off of the final bond is anticipated early in 2011.

Middough Opens New Office Middough Inc., a top-ranking U.S. architectural, engineering and management services company, recently opened a new office in Munster. The company established this location to service the area’s growing metals, energy and petrochemical industries, as well as to expand their existing engineering capabilities in cokemaking and ironmaking.

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Safety Conference Set for November Building Indiana News and the Midwest’s owners, contractors, executive teams, plant managers, safety directors, engineers, auditors, and environmental professionals will gather Nov. 1-2 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville for the Beyond Safety Conference & Expo.

Attendees will learn how to use leading indicators to measure safety performance, identify and close the gaps in safety programs, and make adjustments along the way. They will also get a look at the newest technology and the www.buildingindiananews.com

University Gets Energy Grant The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the University of Notre Dame (DOE) a $2.8 million grant for a research project that aims to dramatically improve how the U.S. uses and produces energy.

The funds are part of $92 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that is being given to 43 cutting-edge projects that focus on accelerating innovation in green technology while increasing America’s competitiveness in grid scale energy storage, power electronics and energy efficient cooling systems.

The University of Notre Dame project selected seeks to create a low-pressure alternative to traditional high-pressure CO2 refrigeration systems.

construction specialists Robins & Morton Construction was named general contractor on the $225 million project.

Phase two is scheduled to begin in late 2010 or early in 2011, depending on weather. The hospital is targeted for completion in 2012. Over that twoyear period, the site will employ about 600 construction workers with a total payroll of $60 million to $65 million.

When finished, the new 430,000-square-foot Porter Hospital will sit on a 104-acre campus which will include a separate but attached Medical Office Building. It will have 225 private rooms, 32 intensive care beds and 39 rooms dedicated to outpatient treatment and recovery. The building could also be expanded if necessary, said Porter CEO John Nalli, by adding two more floors, which would increase private rooms by 120 and double intensive care beds.

Nalli said that Porter plans to sell its existing 70-year-old, 250,000-square-foot facility in Valparaiso. However, it will build a new,

BUSINESS BUZZ

latest safety news, trends and new products.

In addition to pushing the envelope with safety trends, Beyond Safety will connect attendees with the area’s largest companies in one-on-one dialogue through panel discussions and breakout sessions.

For complete information, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit www. beyondsafetyexpo.com.

- continued on pg 12

Indiana Health Provider Opens Michigan Office La Porte Regional Health System (LRHS) plans to open a medical facility in New Buffalo, MI. La Porte Regional Physician Network (LRPN) physicians will practice at the facility, which is expected to include services such as a walk-in clinic to provide convenient care, comprehensive cardiology services and family care by appointment.

LRPN has office locations throughout La Porte, Berrien, Lake, Starke, St. Joseph, Marshall, Pulaski and Porter counties.

Work Commences on $225 Million Hospital Porter Health System has begun the first phase of construction on its new hospital at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and State Route 49 in Porter County. The initial work includes clearing and preparing the site, laying the foundations and steel erection.

Birmingham, AL-based health care www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

25,000-square-foot hospital in the city to provide emergency and diagnostic services after completing the new hospital.

Industrial Park Receives Wildlife Honor The AmeriPlex at the Port development in Portage has become only the second corporate complex in Indiana to earn the Indiana Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Friendly Certification.

AmeriPlex staff put together a wildlife management plan that will avoid or mitigate habitat loss, use native plants, manage invasive species, and connect the property’s various habitats with wildlife corridors.

The complex offers 35 acres of wildlife habitat. This area serves landscape-level functions, as both a hub for wildlife activity and a link in the chain of natural areas along the Marquette Trail, including Deer Trail Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

In 2007, AmeriPlex-Indianapolis was Indiana’s first Wildlife Friendly Development, promoting the preservation, enhancement and restoration of wildlife habitat throughout the planning and construction process. AmeriPlex at the Crossroads, in Merrillville, will follow the Portage property.

New Hampshire Firm Motors Into Indiana New Hampshire-based RV company Camper Inn has opened its first dealership off the East Coast in Elkhart. The location is its sixth U.S. location overall.

The company, located in the former facility of Michiana RV, will focus on sales, service and parts for other Forest River brands. Campers Inn spent $2 million buying the building, and $5 million on inventory. It will initially hire 10, with hopes of eventually employing 40 to 50 people.

La Porte Automotive Supplier Expands Extrusion manufacturer Unitek Sealing Solutions Corporation — recently renamed Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions as a result of the company’s purchase by The Jaeger Group of Hannover, Germany — plans to double its employment in La Porte, adding 39 new jobs over the next three years.

Founded in 2006 Unitek specializes in rubber extrusion components used in window, door and sunroof assemblies for the automotive industry. The new company plans to invest more than $3 million to add rubber and thermoplastic injection molding, cryogenic deflashing and robotic inspection to its 150,000-square-foot La Porte operations.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions, Inc. up to $250,000 in performance-based tax credits and $20,000 in training grants. The company will also participate in the city of La Porte’s urban enterprise zone association investment deduction program with the support of the Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation.

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Insurance Group Offers OSHA Courses Gibson Insurance Group is conducting General Industry 10- and 30-Hour OSHA certification courses. Dates for the 10-Hour course are November 11-12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 30-Hour course will be held November 11-12 and 17-19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes will be held at Gibson’s South Bend Training Center.

Cost of the 10-Hour is $175 per person or $150 per person for three or more registrants from the same company. Special group pricing is available for groups of 10 or more. Cost for the 30-Hour is $500 per person or $400 per person for three or more registrants from the same company. Special group pricing is also available.

The 10-Hour training includes: Introduction to OSHA; Walking & Working Surfaces; Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans & Fire Protection; Electrical; Personal Protective Equipment; and Hazard Communication.

The 30-Hour training includes additional information on the topics already covered during the 10-Hour portion, and Materials Handling.

BUSINESS BUZZ

Northeast

Northeast

plans. The Kosciusko County Council has approved ten-year real and personal property tax abatements at the company’s request and with the support of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

Company Reopening Elkhart Facility Aluminum extrusion company Elixir Industries is preparing to reopen and restart production at an Elkhart plant it closed in 2009. The company plans to begin production with about 30 employees and grow to 100 workers in a year.

Elixir will manufacture vehicle entry doors, windows and compart- continued on pg 14

Orthopedics Firm Plans Expansion, New Jobs Biomet, Inc., a leading orthopedics manufacturer, plans to expand its operations in Warsaw, including the addition of 278 jobs through the end of 2012.

The corporation plans to invest $26 million via its Warsaw Center of Excellence initiative, including facility improvements and equipment, to consolidate manufacturing transferred from New Jersey. Research and development and administrative services will be expanded, and logistics operations retained, at its north central Indiana campus.

A global company, Biomet has a presence in over 50 locations worldwide and distributes its products in approximately 90 countries.

Biomet employs more than 7,000 team members worldwide.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Biomet nearly $3 million in incentives based on the company’s job creation www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

ment doors for RVs, and is investing $4.5 million in new equipment necessary to make the products

Asian Carp Fight Continues The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will install mesh fencing across a section of Eagle Marsh near Fort Wayne as a temporary solution to prevent the possible spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Although Chicago waterways remain the likeliest entry point for Asian carp into the Great Lakes, the Corps of Engineers is tasked with finding other potential pathways throughout the Great Lakes basin. Eagle Marsh was identified as a possible pathway for Asian carp passage under certain flood conditions.

A permanent solution to prevent Asian carp from being able to pass through this area during flooding conditions will take more time to develop, design and construct.

Sealing Company Grows in Fort Wayne Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is expanding its logistics operations in Fort Wayne, adding up to 46 new jobs and investing $1.8 million by 2013. The company currently has three locations in northeast Indiana and employs more than 300.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is part of Trelleborg Group, a global engineering group which develops high-performance solutions that seal, damp and protect in demanding industrial environments. The Group focuses on advanced polymer technology and in-depth applications. The company’s Fort Wayne loca-

tions consist of supply chain and logistics, sales and marketing, and manufacturing.

The company will invest in remodeling and upgrading the facade and interior of its 38,000-square-foot office building and will make cosmetic and lighting improvements to the 90,000-square-foot warehouse. Trelleborg will also add mobile picking equipment, conveyors, packaging equipment, racks and information technology and telecom hardware to the facility.

RV Startup Launched Creative Manufacturing RV, a start-up company, is moving into an empty industrial building in Goshen after getting a two-year tax abatement approved by the Goshen City Council.

The new company, which will build towable RVs from 13 to 23 feet long, will initially employ 25 people and projects firstyear gross income of $15 million.

The abatement was the first granted under a recent council ordinance which declared the city’s south side an economic-distress area. Businesses that occupy a building that’s been empty for more than a year are eligible to have property taxes waived for the first year and halved for the second year under the program.

Ohio Company Moving to Indiana Continental Structural Plastics, Inc. (CSP) will relocate operations from Ohio to Huntington, creating up to 350 jobs by 2012.

CSP manufactures compression-molded composite parts and components for the automotive and industrial end markets. The company plans to invest more than $9 million to locate a production operation in an existing 200,000-square-foot facility in Huntington.

The clean-tech company specializes in producing lightweight composites that make vehicles more efficient and utilizes renewable energy-developed materials based on soy resins in select products. CSP supplies highly-engineered composite products for applications in industries such as automotive, heavy truck, building products, solar power and water management.

Headquartered in Troy, MI, the 28-yearold company has existing plants in Ohio, Louisiana and Mexico.

The Indiana Economic Development 14

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EDC Launches New Web Site The Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance has launched a new Web site at www.TheAllianceOnline.com.

The site features a first-of-its-kind Sites and Buildings database and will serve to significantly enhance the organization’s social media presence.

The new Web site will serve as a major point of contact for those interested in the Alliance’s services. With additional links and embedded feeds, social media communications with the organization will be greatly improved. Access to the Alliance Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and FlickR accounts will be easily available through the new site.

The centerpiece is the new Sites and Buildings application, which is hosted on the Alliance Web site, rather than by a third party as is standard for most economic development Web sites. Sites and Buildings is a commercial property database that lists available buildings and land for businesses looking to relocate or expand operations. The Alliance is the first in the region to commission and launch a Sites and Buildings application of this caliber. The application was developed in Fort Wayne by Cirrus ABS, a company that is a nationally recognized expert in economic development Web sites and has won numerous awards for its work. The Sites and Buildings application, and several other ED-specific Web applications created as part of this project, will be marketed to the entire United States under the brand name LEDO Suite.

targeting the 48th National RV Trade Show, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Louisville, KY, for its product debut.

Redwood RV is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, Inc., Jackson Center, OH, the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.

BUSINESS BUZZ

Corporation offered the company up to $2.4 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants.

Elkhart Attracts Glass Manufacturer Santelli Tempered Glass Inc., a residential glass manufacturer, will establish its newest production facility in Elkhart, creating up to 35 new jobs by 2013.

The company, which manufactures tempered glass for new and replacement residential windows, will invest more than $3.7 million to lease and equip a 32,500 square-foot facility on the city’s Northeast side.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered San- continued on pg 16

Redwood Grows in Elkhart Thor Industries has filled key management positions for its newly formed subsidiary, Redwood RV, which will be based in Elkhart.

Dan Kreider has been named Vice President of Manufacturing. He was previously with KZ RV in Shipshewana. Ray Patterson, formerly with Monaco RV, has been named Head Engineer, and Doug Rheinheimer, a retired executive from Keystone RV, has been retained as a senior consultant.

Redwood RV will focus on the high end fifth wheel market, building products that will start at $65,000 MSRP. The new company is www.buildingindiananews.com

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and East Central Indiana’s presence in the wind and alternative industry sectors. The office will be located at 345 South High Street in downtown Muncie.

Illinois Paper Recycler Expands to Indiana

Carmel Cleaner Tops Nationwide Customer Satisfaction List

Quincy Recycle Paper will locate a new facility in New Haven. The company, which has its headquarters in Quincy, IL, will move to 2100 Summit Street. The project is scheduled for completion in December.

Quincy is a recycling facility that accumulates recycled material from suppliers, processes it and ships it to paper mills and plastic companies. The company handles over 250,000 tons of paper and plastic annually and stocks new and used baling equipment at its facilities. Quincy will add an Excel Baler, IPS Baler, and a Cresswood Shredder in the new facility.

Mitch and Jennifer Mauck, owners of Carmel-based Langenwalter Carpet Cleaning have been recognized by Angie’s List (www.angieslist.com) as having the highest number of customer satisfaction reports among all of the consumer reports gathered by the company, which operates nationwide and receives about 40,000 new reports each month from its more than one million members.

“We are thrilled to have received this very exclusive designation,” says Mitch Mauck, co-owner of Langenwalter. “It’s a testament to our commit-

BUSINESS BUZZ

telli Tempered Glass Inc. up to $250,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans.

Central

Central

Design, Printing Firms Link Up Indianapolis marketing and design firm Fuzion Graphics has joined the Priority Group family of companies. Fuzion Graphics principal and design director Dianna Coles will lead the existing Priority Press design studio under the new studio name, Priority Marketing and Design.

Fuzion Graphics specializes in comprehensive brand development services for customers in a variety of industries.

Priority Press is a leading provider of offset printing, direct mail and inventory fulfillment services to all size companies throughout North America.

Association Picks Muncie for HQ The Wind Energy Manufacturing Association (WEMA), Inc., will locate its headquarters office in Muncie.

WEMA joins Brevini and VAT in MuncieDelaware County and grows Delaware County www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

ment to impeccable customer service and our employee’s commitment to exceptional performance.”

Cheryl Reed, Director of Communications for Angie’s List, says that this is the only time in the company’s 15-year history that an individual service provider has received over 1,000 customer satisfaction reviews within a three-year loop.

Langenwalter operates from a 10,000-square-foot facility in Mayflower Park, one of Carmel’s newly developed industrial parks. The company serves the greater Indianapolis area and employs more than 20 full-time employees.

AIT Labs Plans $74 Million Investment AIT Laboratories will open a new corporate headquarters facility in Indianapolis, creating up to 160 new jobs by 2014.

The company, which specializes in compliance monitoring, forensics,

clinical and pharmaceutical testing, plans to invest $74 million to acquire and equip an existing 90,000 square-foot facility in the Woodland Corporate Park on the northwest side of Indianapolis, which will serve as the company’s new corporate headquarters. The company also plans to construct a toxicology laboratory adjacent to the headquarters.

The move is AIT Laboratories’ second expansion in the past two years. In 2008, the company announced plans to establish a new pharmaceutical testing division in Indianapolis, adding $9 million in capital investment and creating more than 130 new jobs over a period of five years, a target the company has already surpassed.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered AIT Laboratories up to $1.8 million in performance-based tax credits.

Anderson Establishes Grant Program The city of Anderson has established the Collaborative Business Grant program, which will allocate a total of $100,000 for joint business projects that assist in the success, growth, and retention of Anderson businesses through beautification, marketing, skill building, or sales growth. Grants of up to $10,000 are available.

Indiana Logistics Summit Set for October The 2010 Indiana Logistics Summit will be held on Oct. 26-27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis. Presented by the Ports of Indiana and Purdue University, the Summit will feature presentations by top industry experts and brings together leaders from industry, academia, public policy and government to discuss how to make Indiana’s transportation, distribution and logistics businesses more competitive.

The theme for the 2010 Indiana Logistics Summit is: “Economic Recovery: Fact or Fiction? What’s coming down the road, rail, river and runway?” Presentations include: • Industry updates from road, rail, water and air experts • Status reports for major transportation projects around Indiana • Best practice examples from industry leaders and regional roundtables 18

www.buildingindiananews.com

innovation + protection = innovation - NOUN 1. something new or different introduced.

2. the act of innovating; introduction of new things or methods. protection - NOUN 1. the act of protecting or the state of being protected; preservation from injury or harm.

2. a thing, person, or group that protects.

Fastener Manufacturer Consolidating into Indiana Earnest Machine, an international supplier of over 35,000 different types of fasteners, will consolidate its Cleveland, OH, and Davenport, IO, warehouses and open a centrally located facility in Indianapolis.

The company will invest $1.2 million in the new facility, creating 16 jobs. It will keep its corporate headquarters in Cleveland.

The 90,000-square-foot Indianapolis facility will use automated material handling equipment and new IT systems to drive efficiency and expand capacity, according to a statement by Earnest Machine.

Subcontractors Invest in Indianapolis Homebuilder Indianapolis area homebuilder The Estridge Cos. has raised $10 million to help weather the downturn in the market by selling 35 percent of the company to its subcontractors.

About 25 subcontractors invested between $25,000 and $500,000 in exchange for a chunk of the company. Estridge says the new funding will help it to pursue more projects, which should in turn create more work for its subcontractors.

Estridge hopes to build 250 homes this year priced from $300,000 to more than $1 million.

. Commercial Insurance . Risk Management & Safety . Employee Benefits . Health Risk Management . Personal Insurance . Surety

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Italian Carmaker Coming to Indiana Italian racing company Dallara will expand its operations to Speedway, according to an announcement by the Speedway Redevelopment Commission (SRC).

The news followed the announcement that Dallara was selected by the Indy Racing League (IRL) as the chassis manufacturer for the 2012 IndyCar Series.

The expansion will allow for the creation more than 80 new jobs in Speedway. Dallara will move into a new, state-of-the-art technology center located on Main Street, investing $7 million into the community.

This location will be the racing company’s only operation outside of Parma, Italy.

Indianapolis IT Company Adding 80 Jobs Smart IT Staffing Inc., an information technology firm, plans to expand its Indianapolis headquarters, creating up to 80 new jobs by 2014.

The company, which provides contract staffing and full-time placement services for companies needing information technology - continued on pg 20 www.buildingindiananews.com

19

BUSINESS BUZZ

• Current events and transportation issue discussions from around the U.S. The Summit will also include an exhibition area for booths and networking, and one-on-one speed networking sessions with top U.S. companies. For more information and to register online, visit www.indianalogistics.com.

BUSINESS BUZZ

workers, will invest more than $480,000 to lease and equip additional space at its current downtown Indianapolis headquarters.

Smart IT, which currently employs nearly 100 associates in Indianapolis, plans to begin hiring additional information technology professionals this year and will make investments in infrastructure and equipment to support their growth.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Smart IT Staffing Inc. up to $1 million in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job-creation plans.

Recycling Initiative Shaves Road Repair Costs Civil engineers at Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Transportation are teaming up on green projects around the state, including work aimed at saving taxpayers $300,000 annually by recycling a waste product from cement manufacturing.

As waste sources are further developed, cement kiln dust could be used to replace 70 percent of the roughly one million tons of lime used on projects annually to strengthen soil so that it can support new pavement.

“This represents a significant amount of potential savings for INDOT and may actually be higher,” said Barry Partridge, research program director of INDOT’s Joint Transportation Research Program. “Based on 2002 production rates, Indiana cement plants conservatively generated about 30,000 tons of

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cement kiln dust each year. At cost savings of $10 per ton, this generates annual savings of at least $300,000.”

A test section with cement kiln dust was used for repairs to Pendleton Pike at Interstate 465 in Indianapolis in 2008, along with a traditional lime-modified section. The kiln dust showed comparable engineering results at lower cost. Cement kiln dust is being used this year on the U.S. Route 24 “Fort to Port” project east of Fort Wayne.

In practice, INDOT was able to save $90,000 from the use of cement kiln dust on the initial U.S. 24 contract. On a second U.S. 24 contract, INDOT realized a savings of $332,000 when the unit price was reduced by half, from $4 to $2 per square yard. The Fort to Port project, scheduled to open to traffic in late 2012, involves building a four-lane, limited-access highway from I-469 to the Ohio state line.

Two other states, Michigan and Oklahoma, also have experimented with the cement kiln dust on highway projects.

Nationwide, more than four million tons of kiln dust from cement manufacturing is available as a lime substitute.

170 Jobs for Steuben County Two Steuben County firms, Fuel Systems of Angola and Steffy Wood Products, announced plans to expand operations in Angola. Combined, the companies will invest more than $4.8 million and create more than 170 new jobs by 2013.

Fuel Systems of Angola, a startup manufacturer of automotive and recreational fuel components and assemblies to

www.buildingindiananews.com

BUSINESS BUZZ

Tier I and Tier II manufacturers, will invest more than $2.5 million to lease and equip an existing 140,000 square-foot facility at 1501 Wohlert St. creating up to 140 new jobs.

Steffy Wood Products, a manufacturer of early childhood wood furniture for schools and daycares, will invest more than $2.3 million to add 20,000 square feet of additional manufacturing space at its existing Angola facility, creating up to 38 new jobs. The company supplies furniture to educational dealers throughout the United States.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Fuel Systems of Angola up to $750,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. Steffy Wood Products was offered up to $80,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $20,000 in training grants.

Trucking Company Driving Into Daleville DSE Services, Inc. is purchasing the former Burlington Motor Carriers truck maintenance building on Commerce Drive in Daleville. The company will invest $717,000 in the purchase and renovation of the facility, creating 56 new jobs over the next three years. The new jobs are expected to generate an annual payroll of $1.9 million.

DSE Services was founded in 2006 and has grown to 48 employees. The company is currently involved in logistics transportation and truck repair. The new location will allow DSE to expand its business services to include a parts department.

DSE received $325,000 in financial assistance from the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission to help facilitate the transaction.

W I T H C I T I E S V E R T ICAL Blackford County Flooring Company Grows

Q.E.P., a manufacturer of high-quality hardwood flooring located in Blackford County, is expanding and will create 35 jobs in its Montpelier facility within the next 18 months. Q.E.P. also expects to add additional equipment and tooling in the facility.

GM Invests in Indiana Carmaker

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Anderson-based Bright Automotive and General Motors have agreed to pursue a strategic relationship under which GM will provide funding to the Indiana automaker. This is the first funding action by the newly-formed General Motors Ventures, LLC, and is intended to accelerate Bright’s production of the IDEA plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle.

As part of the partnership, General Motors Ventures gets a O N E LO C AT I O N VERTICAL minority stake in Bright Automotive, while Bright gains access to GM technologies, and advanced engine and transmission systems, for its vehicle.

The IDEA is a multipurpose vehicle for business fleets designed to be highly efficient and provide a clear economic benefit. The IDEA operates in electric mode for 40 miles before switching to an estimated 36-mpg hybrid mode for 100-plus mpg potential based on daily driving behavior. www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

South

South

Indiana Tech Expands to New Albany Indiana Tech’s College of Professional Studies expanded into to southern Indiana with the opening of a new office in New Albany in August.

The Indiana Tech location at 2441 State St. in New Albany will provide space for an admissions representative and a computer lab. Students will initially be enrolled in online courses.

As the demand for on-site classes grows, classroom space will be added.

The College of Professional Studies offers undergraduate and graduate programs in an accelerated format. The program is designed to accommodate nontraditional students who also have to balance work, family, and community responsibilities. Each course spans five or six weeks, allowing students to attend full-time without sacrificing other commitments. The online courses can be accessed any time, from anywhere a student has broadband Internet access.

Indiana Tech is a private university focused on career-oriented degree programs in high-demand fields such as accounting, business, criminal justice and leadership. The university’s main campus is in Fort Wayne, with satellite facilities in

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Elkhart, Fishers, Greenwood, Huntington, Indianapolis, Kendallville, Mishawaka, Munster, Plainfield, and Warsaw.

Guard Training Boosts Southern Indiana Economy 160 soldiers representing the five major commands within the Indiana National Guard, have been and will continue training at the Terre Haute International Airport. The Indiana National Guard has joined with Soldiers from Arkansas and Alabama to train on new equipment that will help modernize the Army National Guard. A total of 13 weeks of training will have occurred between July and September that brought nearly $1.1 million into the Terre Haute economy.

Cummins Adding 200 Jobs in Seymour Cummins Inc. will expand its High-Horsepower Technical Center and High-Horsepower engine product line at the newly named Seymour Engine Plant, creating up to 200 new jobs by 2015.

The Fortune 500 company plans to invest approximately $100 million in machinery, equipment and the construction of a 28,500 square-foot expansion of its technical center. The technical center expansion will almost double the current engineering footprint in the facility and increase Cummins’ High-Horsepower mechanical development capability.

www.buildingindiananews.com

BUSINESS BUZZ

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Cummins up to $2.4 million in performance-based tax credits and $100,000 in training grants. The city of Lawrenceburg will provide Seymour a $1.75 million regional economic development grant from its municipal development fund to assist with the project.

Ports Power State Economy Even in Tough Times A new study released in August at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville revealed that Indiana’s three ports annually contribute $5.4 billion in economic activity to the state economy and 43,700 jobs.

The study focused on 2009 data, which reflected a significant economic downturn, suggesting that the results are conservative estimates for the ports’ annual impacts.

Other annual economic contributions generated by Indiana’s three ports included $2.38 billion in personal income, $732 million in local purchases and $224 in million state and local taxes.

The study was released during a special celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville.

“For 25 years, this port has helped to build the local economy,” said Matt Smolek, Port Director for the Port of IndianaJeffersonville. “So many people have contributed to the success over the years and it’s very gratifying to see that this port now generates more than $1 billion for the economy each year and 10,000 jobs.”

The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority that operates a system of three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan in Mount Vernon, Burns Harbor and Jeffersonville.

Posey County to Create Economic Development Plan The Posey County Economic Development Partnership, Inc. has received a $50,000 award from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). The county and the Partnership will use the award to create an economic development plan.

OCRA provides these awards through its Community Focus Fund which receives dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The goal of the program is to encourage cities, towns, and counties to plan for long-term community development.

Anticipated outcomes from the economic development plan include an assessment of the “shovel-ready” status of two industrial/business sites in the community, a long-term vision of the community’s economic future and an overall “roadmap” diagram in each action plan showing process flows, responsibilities, time schedules, benchmarks and costs The community has contracted with Strategic Development Group, Inc. (SDG) and Hannum, Wagle and Cline Engineering (HWC) to facilitate the project. SDG specializes in research and planning in economic and community development and is located in Bloomington. HWC is a full service consulting engineering firm with offices in Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Lafayette, and Scottsburg. www.buildingindiananews.com

• Commercial • Industrial • Healthcare • Higher Education • Bridges With nearly nine decades of meeting clients’ needs with award-winning construction projects, Tonn and Blank brings vision, conndence, and experience to raise your expectations.

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o Larson-Danielson Names CFO Larson-Danielson Construction Company, Inc. (La Porte) has appointed Patti O’Brien Chief Financial Officer of the company. O’Brien had previously served as Accounting Manager since joining the firm in 2008 and replaces William R. Nicholson who has served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer since 1997 and who will retire in September 2010.

Kelly Takes Reins in Jasper County Kevin B. Kelly, CECD, MBA, has joined the Jasper County Economic Development Organization as President.

Kelly has over 28 years of economic development and related experience with the City of Noblesville (IN), the Associated Builders and Contractors – Illinois Chapter, the Berwyn (IL) Development Corporation, Elgenesis, Inc., the Elgin (IL) Chamber of Commerce, the Busi-

iE

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ness Development Board of Palm Beach County (FL), and the Missouri Department of Economic Development. In addition, he served as Mayor of Elgin from 1995-1999.

Bender Named Community Development Director Jo Bender has accepted the role of Co m m u n i t y Development Director for the Indiana Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCFA).

A native Hoosier, she has

o

spent the past two years in the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis as the Take Steps Manager where she successfully executed two volunteer driven walk events and introduced Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation programs to new communities. Prior to her work at Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Jo was the Community Affairs Director at a national service organization where she was responsible for over half a million dollars in fundraising as well as the overall compliance and success of its programs.

www.buildingindiananews.com

Broadwater Joins Gibson Ned L. Broadwater has joined Gibson Insurance Group as a client executive in the Employee Benefits Practice. He is responsible for new business generation and managing existing client relationships to ensure quality delivery of benefits services. He has over 27 years experience with employee benefit plan management.

South Bend Executive Honored Shawn Todd, Associate Office Specialist at CB Richard Ellis | Bradley (South Bend) was recently honored in the 2010 Michiana Forty Under 40 program.

The award recognizes 40 young professionals under the age of 40 whose contributions and accomplishments continue to make a significant impact in their workplace and community.

LRHS Tap Taelman La Porte Regional Health System (LRHS) has named Chris Taelman as the new Director of Marketing and Strategy. Previously, he worked as the Vice President of Community Relations and Development at Madison Center, Manager of Communications and Community Relations for NIPSCO and Project Manager for the Indiana Department of Commerce.

Indiana Tech Adds Two Indiana Tech has hired two new staff members to support fundraising efforts. Larry J. Piekwww.buildingindiananews.com

arski (pictured) and Rick A. Wolff joined the university as Associate Vice Presidents for Advancement in June.

Piekarski brings the university extensive experience in fund-raising, strategic planning, and marketing. His previous position was director of development/major gifts at Trine University. Wolff has been a partner in direct sales and marketing firms WolffKallenback Associates and McNeal-Wolff Associates.

Ross Group Nabs Bailey Bruce Bailey has joined The Ross Group (Portage) as a Senior Project Manager in the Roofing Venture group. Bailey has more then 25 years of experience in the roofing industry, and is active in the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (Roofers Local 26), Northern Indiana Apartment Council, and Northwest Indiana Contractors Association. Prior to joining The Ross Group, Bruce spent the last 10 years managing the service department for large Midwest roofing contractor.

Mulcahy, Craig in at TAG The American Group of Constructors (Hammond) has added two construction industry veterans to its team of seasoned professionals. Tom Mulcahy (pictured) has joined TAG as Project Manager. For the last five years, Mulcahy operated his own residential general contracting business. Prior to that, he spent 30 years at an integrated steelmaker in a variety of management roles.

Tom is a registered Professional Engineer who resides in Michigan City. Valparaiso resident Bob Craig comes to TAG as USX Supervisor after

28 years with major national construction company.

Indiana CPA Tapped for National Acedemy Indiana CPA Society member Christopher R. Cobb, CPA, of Westfield was one of only 25 CPAs from across the U.S. selected for American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Leadership Academy held in October. Cobb currently works as an audit senior with Delotte in Indianapolis. He is an active member of the Indiana CPA Society serving on the Emerging Leaders Alliance (ELA).

Rex Joins Diversified Marketing Strategies Sumer Rex has joined Diversified Marketing Strategies

(Crown Point) as Director of Creative Marketing. Rex will spearhead the company’s promotional specialties business. Previously, she was with Livemercial and GO Promotions.

Turkok Joins Ambitech Greg Turkot has joined the Indiana operations of Ambitech Engineering as a Business Development Manager. Previously, Greg was a Director of Business Development for Bureau Veritas North America. Turkot is a Mechanical Engineer with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Purdue University. Ambitech is a 530-employee professional services organization which provides Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management services.

PROUD

TO PAINT THE

WOLF LAKE

PAVILION

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photo feature BCA Expo Combines Business, Pleasure The Building Contractors Association of Northeast Indiana held its 33rd annual BCA Construction & Design Expo in September. Held for the first time at the Allen County fairgrounds, this year’s Expo used nearly 20 acres and more than 60,000 square feet of total exhibit area, including inside and outside spaces. In addition to allowing residential and commercial builders, architects, engineers, property managers, municipalities and other industry professionals to meet with reputable suppliers and service providers, the Expo also featured numerous special events, including the Backhoe Rodeo, the Tool Belt Olympics and a fire safety demonstration. Fort Wayne-based BCA provides networking and education opportunities to the region’s construction industry, and tracks the pulse of industry, economic and national trends, and how they affect the local community.

Holding this year’s Expo on 20 acres at the Allen County fairgrounds meant that there was plenty of room for even the biggest pieces of construction equipment.

The Tool Belt Olympics were another of the offbeat events at the BCA Expo.

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A fire safety demonstration during the BCA Expo compared results with and without sprinkler systems. The set without a sprinkler was quickly engulfed in flames, while sprinklers quickly extinguished the fire in the other.

Virtually any piece of equipment, from the smallest to the largest, could be found at the BCA Expo.

The Backhoe Rodeo was one of several fun events at this year’s BCA Expo. www.buildingindiananews.com

Building Indiana’s Lee Ann Richardson and Julie Monteith at the BCA Expo.

Show attendees had good weather in which to wander around the fairgrounds and examine all the equipment on display. www.buildingindiananews.com

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photo feature Majestic Star Named “Casino of the Year”

Indiana Plan Receives Grant to Increase Training Efforts

Majestic Star Casino has been named “Casino of the Year” by the Lake Area United Way for its outstanding corporate and employee group contributions generously donated in the 2009-10 annual community campaign. Majestic Star Casino led all area casinos in total corporate and employee giving ($93,854), achieving the highest average employee gift ($104.54) and the best overall employee participation level (33 percent) in the ’09-10 campaign.

ArcelorMittal executives present a $10,000 grant check to Indiana Plan Area Coordinator Joree Richards and the Plan’s Northwest Indiana Board of Directors.

The Indiana Plan is a pre-apprenticeship training program that helps prepare minorities for job opportunities in the construction industry. The funds will provide training for 75 participants in Northwest Indiana

(l. to r.) Rosa Maria Rodriguez, Financial Secretary, United Steelworkers Local 1010 and LAUW Board member; Bob Scott, LAUW Vice President of Marketing; Carolyn Wiley, Community Volunteer and LAUW Loaned Executive; Larry Buck, Majestic Star Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager; Chareice White, Corporate Director of Community Relations for Majestic Star & Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel; and Mona Vaccarella, Vice President of Human Relations.

(l. to r.) Dale Heinz, Senior Division Manager, Primary Operations, Burns Harbor; Ray Kasmark, Business Manager, IBEW Local 697; Cathy Delgado, Indiana Plan Board of Directors; Dewey Pearman, Executive Director, Construction Advancement Foundation; Joree Richards, Area Coordinator, Indiana Plan, Northwest Indiana; David Vittetoe, Manager, Indiana Harbor; Michael Heaney, Senior Division Manager, MEU, Indiana Harbor.

Indiana Transportation Company Wins Top Safety Award

Trans-United, Inc. (Burns Harbor) was named the Overall Grand Safety winner during the IMTA’s annual Spring Council Conference, held on May 27, 2010. Trans-United qualified for this award by entering in IMTA’s 2009 Fleet Safety Contest and winning in the “Over the Road” zero to one million miles category and the “Local Division” zero to one million miles category. Trans-United is a specialized carrier with a proven track record of safety and excellence in the transportation industry.

(l. to r.) Trans-United Director of Safety Tom Boo and President Jeff Fleming with Lawrence Cook of IMTA Safety Awards Sponsor, Volvo North America.

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www.buildingindiananews.com

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Time to Build Indiana Construction workers in need of work and highways and bridges in need of repair are a perfect match.

F

By Dewey Pearman, Executive Director, Construction Advancement Foundation

ew of the challenges facing Indiana can be ranked ahead of the state of our transportation infrastructure. Indiana’s greatest natural asset is its location as “the crossroads of America.” Every year, more than 724 million tons of freight pass through the Hoosier State, making it the fifth-busiest state in terms of freight volume – and according to Conexus Indiana, total U.S. freight volume is projected to double by 2035. Maintaining our roads and bridges is crucial to ensuring that Indiana can capitalize on this growth and use it to drive further economic development both in Northwest Indiana and statewide.

But the fact is that the highways and byways of Indiana are going in the wrong direction. In the six counties of Northwest Indiana alone, there are 364 bridges classified as either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. That adds up to 24 percent of all bridges in the region. In total across the state, more than 4,000 bridges are in the same shape.

Indiana’s Major Moves program, combined with stimulus funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, have injected $12.6 billion into road and bridge repair since 2005. That is to be commended, but plenty of work remains to be done. By the end of 2012, the state projects that it will have completed 3,650 miles of pavement preservation. However, Indiana has nearly 10,000 miles of roads that are rated in fair, mediocre or poor condition. With vehicle traffic on Indiana highways continuing to climb – up 28 percent between 1990 and 2008 – current investment levels are fighting a losing battle with the facts on the ground.

At the same time, the construction industry continues to stare up from the bottom of a very deep hole. While the employment picture has improved over the past year, nationwide more than 20 percent of construction workers – nearly 2 million men and women – remain unemployed. In Northwest Indiana, roughly 8,200 construction jobs www.buildingindiananews.com

have been lost in the past three years.

A solution to both these challenges is obvious: put our job-hungry construction industry back to work rebuilding Indiana’s transportation system. In August, more than 200 union construction workers came together in Northwest Indiana to support this goal, rallying behind the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Build Indiana 2010 campaign.

“One critical stretch of highway in Northwest Indiana, the Borman Expressway, has one of the highest truck volumes in the U.S., yet cannot be expanded further,” said David Frye, Field Representative for LIUNA’s Indiana District Council. “The truth is our current highway system does not come close to what is needed for Indiana to be com-

Nationwide more than 20 percent of construction workers remain unemployed. petitive in the 21st century. Build Indiana will not only heal our state’s infrastructure, it will also help create a healthy and sustainable economy through the creation of tens of thousands of good, family-supporting jobs.”

Build Indiana 2010 is part of LiUNA’s national Build America 2010 campaign arguing in favor of a major investment in infrastructure across the U.S., including roads, bridges, water resources, schools and energy systems. The effort was recognized at the highest levels in September, when President Barak Obama proposed plans to spend $50 billion expanding and renewing the nation’s infrastructure.

“President Obama’s plan for getting our economy moving again by putting men and women back to work building America’s critical infrastructure – our roads, rail and airports – is exactly what our nation needs,” said Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LiUNA. “LiUNA’s Build America 2010…

will continue in full force to build a movement that can make the President’s broad vision real.”

The impact of increased infrastructure investment in Indiana cannot be understated.

For example, because of a lack of funds Indiana’s 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan still leaves 132 major transportation projects unaddressed. Funding just those projects would create an estimated 463,500 jobs in the state over the next 20 years.

At the August LiUNA rally, Doug Robinson, Regional Vice President of RiethRiley Construction Company noted that greater certainty about future transportation spending would also positively affect related industries. “The highway industry is highly capitalized,” he explained. “It takes a significant investment to be in this business. For instance, asphalt pavers cost over $250,000.

Concrete paving equipment can cost over $1 million. Asphalt plants cost several million dollars. Industry contractors are ready and willing to invest in equipment, plants and supplies, if we can see a long-term funding commitment. When we make these investments, the entire economy benefits.”

The Construction Advancement Foundation strongly supports LiUNA’s Build Indiana 2010 campaign and urges contractors and construction workers statewide to contact their representatives in Congress and let them know that the time to invest in Indiana’s future is now. For more information on the campaign, visit www.buildindiana2010.org.

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RULE OF LAW

Suiting Up Do employers have to pay for the time people spend getting dressed? The answer is: maybe.

T

By Steven A. Johnson, Johnson, Rappa & Ivancevich, LLC

his past summer, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued an Administrator’s Interpretation that changes the agency’s position regarding whether the time spent changing clothes, donning protective equipment or washing at the beginning of a shift is compensable.

Section 3(o) of the Fair Labor Standards Act provides that time spent “changing clothes or washing at the beginning or end of each workday” is not compensable under certain limited circumstances: by custom or practice; or pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

However, much has changed in the 61 years since Congress passed that law. In 1949, when Congress narrowed the law’s scope, the clothes that the lawmakers had in mind were those worn by workers in the bakery industry. Today’s protective gear, often mandated by state or federal regulation, bears little similarity to the baker’s white shirts and pants, and so it is not surprising that the courts and the DOL have wrestled with what constitutes “clothes.”

Successive presidential administrations added to the confusion as they interpreted the law differently. Further complicating the issue is that Congress intended that this be a narrow exception, an intention which is often followed by the courts as they attempt to give meaning to the legislation. With no clear guidance, contradictory court decisions left employers in a quandary.

In an Administrator’s Interpretation issued June 16, 2010, the DOL states that, “it is the Administrator’s interpretation that the… exception does not extend to protective equipment worn by employees that is required by law, by the employer, or due to the nature of the job.” The opinion goes on to state that any prior interpretations issued by the DOL should no longer be relied upon.

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So, does this mean that an employer need not pay an employee for changing clothes, but must pay for the time that the employee spends putting on protective equipment? Perhaps, but only if changing clothes is the very first thing done at the beginning of the shift and very last thing done at the end.

To further confuse matters, the Administrator’s Interpretation also discusses the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Portal to Portal Act, wherein the Court held that any changing of clothes (called “donning and doffing”), as well as any walking or waiting time that occurs after the employee engages in his first principal activity and before his last principal activity is part of the “continuous workday,” and is time that must be paid.

Where does that leave us?

It appears that the DOL is taking the position that if an employee is required to change clothes, and he does so before he begins work and after he completes work, and it is customary in the industry or consistent with a collective bargaining agreement that “change time” is unpaid, then the employee need not be paid, so long as the clothing is not required protective equipment.

Note: for those who may find humor in the continuing “Lovemuffin” saga, have no fear: Lovemuffin will return. Some topics don’t lend themselves to humor, and attempting to inject humor into others, such as those dealing with the removal of clothing and the use of protective equipment, well, the price of humor in those cases is simply too steep. www.buildingindiananews.com

Local and Loyal… Your Community Bank Recognize us?

Meet the members of the Peoples Bank executive team who are committed to taking care of your personal and business financial needs. You may recognize a face or two from having seen us in your neighborhood, in the park, or at the grocery…because we live and work here.

We have a stake in the well-being of this region, and we believe strongly in the value of relationships. It’s important that we get to know you so that we’re here for you as your needs continue to grow and change. Putting you first is what we’re all about, and we’re proud to carry on a tradition that began 100 years ago.

Now that you’ve met us, we hope the next time you have a question about any of our full range of products and services, you’ll know who to call. You can reach us at 219-836-4400 or visit us at www.ibankpeoples.com.

The Peoples Bank executive team that serves you, standing: Ben Bochnowski, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives; Terry Quinn, Senior Vice President, Chief Wealth Management Officer; Todd Scheub, Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer; Betsy Kasenga, Vice President, Human Resource Manager; Leane English Cerven, Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary; Tanya Buerger, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer; Marilyn Furticella, Vice President, Marketing. Seated: Joel Gorelick, President and Chief Administrative Officer; Carla Houck, Vice President, Retail Banking Group; David Bochnowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Bob Lowry, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; John Diederich, Executive Vice President; Stacy Januszewski, Senior Vice President, Risk Management Group.

personal banking

www.buildingindiananews.com

>

commercial banking

>

wealth management

31

Member FDIC

SAFETY ZONE

Lowering the Language Barrier On multi-lingual worksites, translation is only the first step.

Y

By Cesar Esqueda, Safety Manager, AEF Construction

ou have no doubt heard that OSHA is stepping up enforcement of many workplace rules. One area that’s being watched closely is training and communication with workers who are not native English speakers. Companies are being required to provide training, training materials and safety policies in their workers’ native languages.

For years, many companies dealt with non-English speakers in minimal ways. The most common was putting up the required jobsite posters in Spanish. Under the new rules, that won’t be sufficient.

If your company truly believes in the value of worker safety and expects everyone on your worksites to abide by your safety culture, you already recognize the importance of going beyond simple compliance. In fact, you may already meet the requirement to make all your materials and policies available in your workers’ languages.

That’s a good thing, but at a practical level, it may not be enough to ensure the safety of everyone on your jobsite. You see, language issues create complex challenges you may not have considered.

For example, because most American 32

workers have completed high school (or earned a GED), many employers assume that immigrants, resident aliens and other non-native speakers have attained the same levels of literacy. However, many new arrivals come from countries where they receive far less (or poorer-quality) education. Others who were raised in the U.S. in homes where English wasn’t spoken may have barely made it through school.

Why is this important? For one thing, most safety materials are written at a level that assumes a certain degree of literacy.

If a worker is below that level, he may not understand the words and language that are being used in those materials – particularly where technical terms and complex concepts are being discussed. If a simple sign prohibiting parking in parts of the jobsite may be misunderstood, how will the worker grasp a Material Safety Data Sheet that includes a warning about smoking while using flammable materials?

Given human nature and personal pride, that worker isn’t likely to admit that he doesn’t understand the information. If a supervisor asks him directly, he’ll probably nod (especially if he’s worried that saying he doesn’t understand might cost him his job).

One way to address the literacy issue is to move away from printed materials to in-person training with bilingual instructors and videos in the native language. A worker who lacks reading comprehension skills will be able to follow the steps that are demonstrated to him in a video or a presentation.

However, that isn’t always a simple solution, either. As an example, many employers assume that Spanish is Spanish.

They don’t realize that the Spanish spoken in Northern Mexico is very different from that spoken in El Salvador, which is different from what’s spoken in Puerto Rico, and very different from what’s used in Spain. So materials that are written in Mexican Spanish may not be clear to an El Salvadorian immigrant, and a Puerto Rican native speaker may use colloquial phrases that don’t quite make sense to a Guatemalan.

The problem is compounded when there are multiple languages on jobsites. The growing influx of immigrants from Africa (where several languages may be spoken within one country), the Middle East, and the Far East – along with workers leaving Eastern European countries for opportunities in the U.S. – mean that a large contractor could contend with more than a dozen very different languages on a single jobsite.

Language issues can appear in other ways, too. Take a moment to sit down in one of your company’s forklifts or a similar piece of equipment. Look at all the switches, gauges, and instruction and warning placards. How many of them are written in English? How will someone who doesn’t understand English – or just knows enough to get by – know what to do if something goes wrong?

It’s not reasonable to expect equipment manufacturers to provide labels and placards in all of the possible languages that may be present on your jobsite. However, a company can create a simple manual or diagram that includes basic translations for the switches and gauges. Training sessions can explain what all the controls are used for, and what precautions are needed.

As with all facets of workplace safety, the starting point is awareness. The better employers understand the challenges of a multilingual workplace, the better they’ll recognize the steps they need to take to protect their workers (and themselves).

While many safety-conscious companies are already addressing these issues, OSHA’s increased enforcement will give an extra nudge to companies that have been slow to see the need. They may find the extra responsibilities frustrating, but in the long run, they’ll protect the well-being of their workers and reap the financial benefits of a safer workplace. www.buildingindiananews.com

2010 2010 Industrial Contractor Industrial of the Year Contractor Honoring innovative building, excellence in partnering, and management quality. ofprojectthe Year

2010 Safety Award Recognizing stringent safety practices, loss control and accident prevention.

Gibson 2010 Safety Award Gibson

2010 2010 Green Office Swanky Award Green Offi ce A tribute to innovative, green building practices for the Swanky Award Ironworkers Local 395 hall.

Educate • Listen • Build For more information or a free consultation contact us at

219-764-9932

www.buildingindiananews.com

www.therossgrp.com

33

THE BOTTOM LINE

Think Local, Act Local I

One Indiana community discovers a “buy local” campaign that works.

By David Wellman

t was the sort of idea that Clint Marsh could have easily rejected. Marsh, General Manager of Lake City Radio in Warsaw, is a 28-year veteran of the radio business, “and in that time I’ve seen a lot of attempts at ‘buy local’ campaigns – and they always fail,” he says.

He chalks that lack of success up to a couple of factors. “First, it’s contrary to peoples’ habits,” he says. “You’re not going to get my wife to stop shopping at Target. You just aren’t.” Second, most “buy local” campaigns are just code for “big stores are evil. But all the people who work at Wal-Mart live here, spend money here, pay taxes here. Why punish them?” he asks.

So when one of the station’s advertising sales reps showed him something called The 3/50 Project, a grassroots effort to encourage people to patronize local businesses, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he’d shrugged and moved on.

Instead, he thought it was a cool idea that avoided the usual “buy local” pitfalls. “I thought, ‘If we did this, the impact would be significant,’” he recalls.

Conceived by retail consultant Cinda Baxter, The 3/50 Project got its start as an unassuming blog post on her Web site, alwaysupward.com, in March of 2009.

The former owner of a stationery and gift boutique in Minneapolis, Baxter had been watching television and getting aggravated by the growing chorus of media figures talking up a collapse in consumer spending. She knew that the first businesses to feel the pinch would be the kind of small, independent operations such as she had run, and in a bid to help wrote this: “Call it The 3/50 Project, supporting local business in small, easily consumable bites.

34

The goal is simple: Ask consumers to frequent three local brick and mortar businesses they don’t want to see disappear, and to spend a very affordable $50 per month doing it.

[Which three] doesn’t matter. It’s about funneling revenue back into local business. You know – the folks that pour money back into the community via commercial property taxes, payroll taxes, sales tax, and salaries (not to mention all that good will by way of volunteer time, silent auctions, sponsored softball teams, workshops, book signings, etc.).”

The next week, in response to feedback to the idea, Baxter whipped up a quick promotional flyer touting the concept and made it available for download.

Themed “Pick 3. Spend 50.

Save Your Local Economy,” the flyers pointed out that if just half the employed population spend $50 a month with local businesses, it would generate $42.6 billion in revenues for local economies; and that for every $100 spent locally, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other sources, versus only $48 spent at a national chain.

“I never expected or intended it to go big,” she says. Of course, it did precisely that, quickly exploding into what she jokingly calls “an 80-hour a week job with no paycheck.” Inside of www.buildingindiananews.com

48 hours of uploading the flyer, her inbox was stuffed with 350 e-mails begging for more. In response, she created a new Web site, the350project.net (which immediately started drawing about 1,000 visitors a day) as a hub for more ideas. It now hosts a variety of print, online and broadcast resources available free to businesses that wish to participate in the program.

To date, more than 8,000 businesses and organizations nationwide have signed up as supporters of the program (they’re listed by state on the site) including 118 Hoosier supporters in 63 communities across the state.

Baxter attributes the Project’s success to its simplicity and that it tells shoppers that it’s still okay to shop at big chain stores and just encourages them to think about balance.

Back in Warsaw, Marsh had similar thoughts, and decided to put together a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign talking about the Project and the benefits of people spreading a bit of the wealth around to local shops.

“It ran on a fairly reasonable schedule, about 40 or 50 times a week,” Marsh says.

The only challenge was that paid ads naturally took precedence, limiting the amount of play the PSA could get at peak times like the morning and afternoon drive times. Still,

www.buildingindiananews.com

it got heard. “Suddenly, people started commenting on it, and our local advertisers were calling us up and thanking us,” Marsh says One of those who heard the spot was Kevin Deardorff, Executive Vice President of Lake City Bank. He immediately saw an opportunity to provide further support to the local business community. “All we did was spend a little money,” he says.

“What Lake City Bank’s involvement allowed us to do was to guarantee airtime in prime time, and I’m matching that on a wider schedule,” Marsh explains. He and Deardorff also cut new spots to air featuring Deardorff talking about The 3/50 Project.

The expanded campaign was wellreceived by business owners and shoppers alike. “I had downtown merchants coming up to me and thanking me,” Deardorff notes.

“It’s amazing. I’ve had people recite the commercial back to me verbatim.”

“I’ve heard about it more than once,” Marsh says. For example, the owner of a local feed store told him about one of his regulars – in the store every day, always sitting in the same place. Then one day, he was gone. When he showed up the following day, the owner asked where he had been. “Well, I heard on the radio that I was supposed to spend $50 with local businesses, so I did,”

was the reply.

Baxter, who now travels the country talking about the Project and sharing success stories (she will be the keynote speaker at the Taste & Trade Expo in Warsaw October 15-16) says that it’s proven effective for just about any type of local retailer. “You don’t have to be a particular type of small business, just one that wants to succeed,” she says.

She doesn’t believe the Project necessarily has a limited shelf-life. “It depends on what a community does with it,” she days.

“You can’t just print up a poster, but if they keep refreshing it then it can go as long as they want to put effort behind it.”

In the end, she says, it’s all about small business owners recapturing the spirit that animated them at the beginning. “One of the key elements that I’m always drilling in is that everybody has to start thinking like a start up again,” she says. “It’s about customer service and that back-to-square-one mindset when every customer who walked in the door was a blessing. Because of the recession, we’re in the middle of the biggest small business MBA course ever created. Those who survive will really raise the bar.”

For more about the 3/50 Project, visit www.buildingindiananews.com.

35

BEING PRODUCTIVE

Cable Gold Quality, innovation and family are key to five decades of success.

C

By David Wellman

Hessville built a homemade hot knife to cut and seal nylon for its slings.

15,000 square feet hold a wide variety of cable.

Hessville also offers a selection of tools and equipment for key industries it serves.

36

orporate anniversaries are easy to overlook, and they shouldn‘t be. It’s rare enough that a business reaches its fifth anniversary – according to the Small Business Administration about half of companies started close their doors within five years – much less its 50th. So Hessville Cable & Sling deserves a tip of the hat this year, its Golden Anniversary.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years,” says Ken Randall, who along with his brother George runs the company their father Boyd founded in 1960. “We really didn’t get into gear about it until a few months ago. It just came up and smacked us in the face.”

Though the company has gone from a two-car garage in Hessville to a 60,000-square-foot facility in Gary during the past 50 years, becoming one of the top suppliers in its industry in the process, it remains a family affair. “I’ve been inside, and George has always been outside sales,” Ken says.

“Two other brothers came in with us, Tom and Max. Tom is retiring this year; Max runs the tool department.”

Hessville got its start in cable splicing, eventually branching out into manufacturing slings for local contractors and manufacturers. “The cable end has been the backbone,” Ken says. “Then we added repair, then nylon.” Despite the rough economy and the downturn in construction, he says that both the chain and nylon sling businesses remain good, while tool repair has surged as companies look to fix up damaged equipment instead of spending to buy replacements, many of which are now available only via import.

“Business is pretty good,” he says.

“We can’t complain.”

Innovation has played both an out-

front and behind-the-scenes role at Hessville. In the former category are proprietary products like its HessLink chain slings and HessFlex nylon slings.

In the latter are a variety of items around its facility which were created as the need arose. For example, in the nylon sling workshop there’s a boxy, homemade hot knife used to simultaneously cut and seal lengths of nylon.

No one had one at the time Hessville entered the nylon sling business, Ken says, “so we made it ourselves.” It’s still in use today.

Custom Products

Hessville combines that can-do spirit with a commitment to quality and customer service. Much of what it makes is made-to-order, customized for specific uses in industries like construction, trucking and railroads. Cable, chain and sling are all tested and certified to twice their workload limit before they leave the plant. All repaired tools are rebuilt to the manufacturer’s original standards. The 15,000-square-foot cable warehouse, with its 10-ton overhead crane, is one of the largest such facilities in the Midwest, ensuring that Hessville can quickly meet virtually any request.

Hessville’s headquarters also includes a showroom full of tools and equipment. The selection isn’t as extensive as it once was. “It used to be, you name it, we had it,” Ken says. These days, the offerings are more specialized and targeted to key customer groups like ironworkers and mill workers.

Hessville has expanded its Gary facility a couple of times already and still has room to grow. “We’ve got six or seven acres here,” Ken says. If the past 50 years are any indication, Hessville will need the room. www.buildingindiananews.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

37

MASS PRODUCTION

Taste of Indiana Food processing is a small but growing piece of the state’s manufacturing pie.

E

By David Wellman

conomic development officials in central Indiana are hoping to chow down on some tasty food and beverage industry jobs with the creation of the first “Shovel-Ready Food Processing and Beverage Industry” site in the country.

An 80-acre chunk of land in Muncie was awarded the designation after a six-month-long process involving the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Alliance, Ady International Company, a corporate site selection firm based in Mount Prospect, IL, and Clevelandbased Austin Consulting.

The designation is valid for two years.

“Ady-Austin reviewed and evaluated

38

over 200 location variables of critical importance that companies in the food processing industry consider when siting a new facility. Based upon original document review, in-site inspections, and signed letters of data confirmation by appropriate parties, the 80-acre property was given our first “Shovel-Ready” designation award for the food processing industry. This property is available for immediate occupancy,” says Bob Ady, President of Ady Industrial.

“Our hope is that it will attract a major company in the food industry,” says Jay Julian, President and CEO of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. The decision to set up such an enticement grew out of the Alliance’s vision plan, which identified the food industry as one of five sectors to target.

It was attractive for three reasons, Julian says: it’s a stable industry, it’s relatively recession-proof, and it matches the skill set of people in the area.

Higher Thresholds To achieve the designation, critical variables were evaluated in categories such as: labor, network logistics, transportation, utilities, communications, taxes/incentives, business/community climate, building/site characteristics, quality of life and environmental regulations. “It’s a little more intensive” than the standard shovel-ready evaluation, Julian says. “Certain thresholds, like utilities, had to be a bit higher.”

“There are many similar characteristics, but this takes it a bit further,” agrees Frank Spano, Director of Austin Consulting. “We look at about 250 variables that we have devised. We have about 60 years of experience doing this, so we understand what food companies need and we know what’s necessary to make a site a step above.”

For those companies, “we like to believe that this is 99 percent of the information they would need to decide if the site is right,” Spano says. “And this will save a company six to nine months versus if they had to do this work on their own.” Julian adds that conversations have already begun with interested food and beverage companies. www.buildingindiananews.com

While the food and beverage processing doesn’t constitute a major segment of Indiana’s manufacturing industry, it still employs more than 33,000 Hoosiers according to the latest Census bureau numbers. And while many industries have been retrenching two years, many food companies continue to grow and invest, such as tomato products maker Red Gold Inc. The Madison County-based manufacturer said in August that it will expand its production operations in Orestes, adding about 41 new jobs by 2012 to a workforce that already exceeds 1,300.

The company, which produces canned tomatoes, ketchup, tomato juice and pasta sauces, among other tomato products, all in Indiana locations, has invested more than $5.1 million in the construction of a new 23,000-square-foot facility at its current Orestes campus. The expansion includes a high-speed food processing line and distribution equipment.

“What’s really exciting is that this is in addition to $20 million in other investments to date this year,” says Tim Ingle, Director of Human Resources at Red

Gold. “And we have had 10 successive years of this kind of investment. We just continue to grow.” Those investments include things like more equipment automation and new data center.

“A lot of this equipment is very stateof-the-art for what we do, which creates more advanced manufacturing career tracks for employees,” Ingle notes.

“There are a lot of opportunities for electricians and industrial technicians.”

This latest expansion, Ingle says, will allow Red Gold to move more aggressively into the specialty and diced tomatoes categories, and also to expand its sauces business. “With all these investments, we are also growing the category,” he says. “We are starting to see the Red Gold brand take off in the west.”

Clabber Girl, which makes cooking and baking supplies, is also investing in its Terre Haute operations, buying and installing new machinery in September that will more than double its production capacity for Clabber Girl baking soda and corn starch.

Company officials say the new equipment will allow them to produce 120

boxes of baking soda or corn starch a minute, compared to 58 boxes per minute with the old equipment. As a result, the company will be able to reduce inventory while still being able to respond to rapid shifts in demand.

Another food category whose production is set to grow in Indiana is potato chips. In July, Saratoga Potato Chips, LLC, announced it would locate its U.S. headquarters in Fort Wayne, creating up to 175 jobs over the next three years.

Peter Margie, owner of Saratoga, also owns Olde York Potato Chips, which is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and also has a facility in Fort Wayne. The new company will spend approximately $5 million to lease and equip an existing 138,000-square-foot building in Fort Wayne to make potato chips, kettle chips and popcorn.

“Saratoga’s Indiana headquarters gives us closer proximity to our U.S. customers, many of which are located in the Midwest,” says Margie. “State and local officials have created an excellent business environment and that made our decision to locate in Indiana an easy one.”

2010

CADILLAC SRX

(219) 738-1900

2929 W. Lincoln Highway • Merrillville, IN 46410

www.schepel.com www.buildingindiananews.com

39

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Pouring Success Lafayette, Indiana is the unlikely home of one of the best Irish pubs in the country.

W

By David Wellman

hen Irish students participating in Purdue University’s exchange program with the Dublin Institute of Technology feel homesick, there’s only one place in Lafayette to go: the Nine Irish Brothers pub.

“They all walk in and say, ‘oh my God, it looks just like the pub back home,’” says founder and principal owner Jerry O’Bryan. Which should come as no sur-

prise, since nearly everything in the place was picked out on trips to Ireland and shipped back to Indiana to help O’Bryan realize a decades-long dream of owning his own pub.

Not only did he accomplish that, opening the original Nine Irish Brothers pub on the west side of Lafayette near the university in 2006, but O’Bryan also went on to expand to a second location on the east side of town in 2009. Both were built

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with the aid of small business loans from the Lafayette Savings Bank that were facilitated

by Valparaiso-based Regional Development Company (RDC).

A longtime Lafayette businessman, O’Bryan was the owner of a local hair salon and a four-bay car wash. The idea of exchanging those businesses for an Irish pub started gathering steam back in the mid-1980s, but O’Bryan decided to wait until his two daughters had made their way through college.

Initially, O’Bryan explored the popular option of buying what amounts to a prefab Irish pub. If you’ve ever wondered why so many Irish-themed bars have appeared in the last couple of decades, it’s in part because of companies like the Dublin-based Irish Pub Company. Founded in 1991, the company offers several standard themed designs of Irish pub, which it will build for and ship to customers anywhere in the world.

“Except that would have cost me triple what it cost to go over and bring everything back myself,” says O’Bryan. “So we went to Ireland and picked out what we liked, and brought it back.”

The car wash was to be sacrificed to provide the site for the pub, but early interest in it suggested that the original plan might not be large enough. So O’Bryan moved his adjacent salon, sold it, and used both sites for Nine Irish Brothers. There actually are, by the way, nine Irish brothers – Berton, Jim, Michael, Norman, Bobby, Tim, John, and Willie – plus Jerry, as well as five Irish sisters (Julie, Colleen, Patricia, Muriel, and Karen) for whom the bar inside the pub is named. One of the brothers is a construction engineer, so even building the pub was kept in the family.

To help finance the pub, O’Bryan approached the RDC, which was initially a bit wary. “They asked, ‘how much experience www.buildingindiananews.com

do you have in the restaurant business,’ and I said, ‘none,’” he recalls. “At that, they backed off a bit, then I said, ‘but, I have 40 years of dealing with people. Whether it’s a bar or a salon, you’re still dealing with people.’” O’Bryan further soothed fears by bringing aboard a friend with 16 years of experience in the bar business, and hiring another person with seven year’s of experience running an Applebee’s.

“The RDC was great,” he says. “They got us a fixed rate, made the paperwork easy and worked out everything. Lafayette Savings went to bat for us, too. I think they saw our passion and that they could trust us to work hard.”

Opened in the fall of 2006, Nine Irish brothers quickly became a hit not only with the college crowd, but residents of Lafayette as well. “Eighty percent of our clientele is over 25,” O Bryan estimates. “Most of the college kids we see are grad students or foreign exchange students, especially from Europe.” Reception was so encouraging that it led to the opening of a second location on the east side of town last year.

“Lafayette has about 110,000 people but there’s a river between us,” he explains.

“I’ve been here 45 years and I know that east side people don’t cross the river, so we opened a location across town.” The second location is a partnership between O’Bryan and one of his nephews.

Despite the economy, both locations are thriving. “We have quality products and quality food and I think that while people may not be going out as much, when they do, they’re saying, let’s go someplace good,” O’Bryan says. The Nine Irish Brothers’ menu includes pub food as well as traditional Irish dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers and Mashed. Pub food is priced in www.buildingindiananews.com

the $6 - $8 range, while Irish entrees run around $9 - $15.

And, of course, there are the libations, led by about 20 varieties of Irish whiskey and a dozen draught beers and ciders headlined by (what else?) Guinness Stout. For the draft beers and ciders, O’Bryan invested in an advanced delivery system using a line-cooled, nitrogen gas blending system to ensure the pouring of a perfect (20-oz., not 16-oz.) pint every time. The investment paid off in 2009, when Nine Irish Brothers on the west side was officially designated the “Best Pint of Guinness in the United States” by Diageo, marketer of Guinness. The brand conducted a nationwide survey asking participants to rate their pint of Guinness against 10 different criteria, ranging from quality of the beer itself to the presentation of the pint. Nine Irish Brothers averaged 9.72 out of 10.

Guinness conducted a similar survey from November 2009 - January 2010, asking participants to rate on a scale of 1 to 5.

Nine Irish Broth-

ers on the west side took the top prize with a 4.99 rating; the east side pub took sixth place nationally.

The two locations host a variety of events, such as whiskey tastings and, in the east side location, cigar and whiskey dinners (the west side pub is smokefree). “The main reason is to entertain our people,” O’Bryan says. “It’s an appreciation thing.” That said, he adds it certainly doesn’t hurt from a marketing perspective. “When we do a tasting, they’ll talk about it for a month.” One unique event is held May 7, O’Bryan’s birthday, dubbed “St. Jerry’s Day.” When the name was proposed, O’Bryan said “if I don’t get excommunicated, I’ll go for it.” The night was a huge success and the celebration has become an annual event.

“People like us because we’re family,” O’Bryan says. “Everyone who works here is either related to me or someone we’ve known for 20 years.”

And with his dream of owning a pub now a reality, that circle of friends widens every day.

To see more photos of the pub, visit www.buildingindiananews.com

41

Holiday Statistics The 2010 holiday season is fast approaching, and as summer moved toward fall, businesses in Indiana and elsewhere were stocking up early in hopes of a fruitful fourth quarter. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. ports handled 1.32 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in June, up four percent from May and 30 percent from June 2009. It was the seventh month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines. Moreover, July was estimated at 1.38 million TEU, a 25 percent increase over last year.

NRF analysts believe the large double-digit increases in June and July are the result of backlogs built up due to the lack of shipping capacity earlier in the year after ship owners took vessels out of service and were slow to return them as the economy began to pick up. With many retailers ap-

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

pearing to bring merchandise in early to avoid any further bottlenecks, July is likely to be the peak shipping month for 2010 rather than the traditional rush of holiday season merchandise in October.

While hoping for a bright holiday season, companies

In 2009 Americans spent nearly

40 percent

staffing employment grew steadily through the first half of

of their annual seasonal decorations budget on new outdoor decorations, up from only 22 percent in 2004. Overall sales of outdoor seasonal and holiday decorations rose 18.9 percent from 2008 to 2009, while sales of indoor decorations were off by 4 percent.

2010, and the Association’s Staffing Index stood at 91 in

Source: Unity Marketing

remain wary of hiring, at least on a permanent basis. However, the number of temporary and contract workers continues to rise. According to the American Staffing Association,

July, up one point from June (the reference level was set at 100 in June 2006).

$109.00

That index seems likely to continue to climb. Last year, temporary help employment in November and December hit a 20-year high, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In the fourth quarter of last year, staffing employment totaled 2.09 million workers, up 2.2 percent from the third quarter. The October through December period marked the

Top 5 Floral Sales by Holiday HOLIDAY

TRANSACTIONS

DOLLAR VOLUME

second consecutive quarter of staffing job growth after six

Christmas

30%

30%

quarters of declines. From the third to the fourth quarter of

Mother’s Day

24%

25%

Valentine’s Day

20%

25%

Easter/Passover

13%

10%

6%

5%

2009, staffing payrolls expanded at nearly four times the rate of overall employment in the U.S. economy.

Thanksgiving

Average amount per person left unspent during the 2009 holiday season due to stores’ limited merchandise, lack of availability of coupons or discounts and inconsistent customer service.

Source: Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions

Source:aboutflowers.com aboutflowers.com Source:

42

www.buildingindiananews.com

Retail Holiday Season Employment Buildup YEAR

BUILDUP (%)

2003

8.1

2004

8.7

2005

8.5

2006

9.1

2007

9.0

2008

6.2

Average*

8.7

*Includes employment from furniture and home furnishings stores, electronics and appliance stores, health and personal care stores, clothing and clothing accessories stores, sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores, general merchandise stores, miscellaneous store retailers, and nonstore retailers.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

3,175 acres

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Number of Indiana acres devoted to Christmas tree production on 231 farms.

Ten Heaviest U.S. Online Retail Spending Days of 2009 RANK DATE

SPENDING (MILLIONS)

1

Tuesday, Dec.15

$913

2

Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 (Cyber Monday)

$887

3

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009

$886

4

Wednesday, Dec. 16

$874

5

Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 (Green Monday)*

$854

6

Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009

$852

7

Tuesday, Dec. 8

$828

8

Thursday, Dec. 17

$809

9

Thursday, Dec. 3

$809

10

Wednesday, Dec. 2

$797

*Green Monday occurs on the Monday with at least 10 daysprior to Christmas and tends to be the heaviest online spending day of the season.

Source: Indiana Business Research Center

Average Number of Holiday Gifts Wrapped by Gender

9.9

20.3

Source:3M 3M Source:

Source: Source:comScore, comScore, Inc.

235 Number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in Indiana, with 5,011 employees.

Source: Indiana Business Research Center

$1,053 Temporary help employment increased by

2.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, from November to December 2009, the largest increase than at any comparable period in the past 20 years.

Source: American Staffing Association

www.buildingindiananews.com

Amount Hoosiers were projected to spend on 2009 holiday-related shopping, a seven percent increase from 2008.

Source: Indiana Business Research Center

Percent Chance of an Indiana White Christmas CITY

SNOW DEPTH IN INCHES 1 5 10+

Evansville

13%

3%

0%

Fort Wayne

47%

7%

0%

Indianapolis

30%

3%

0%

South Bend

67%

37%

7%

West Lafayette

24%

8%

4%

Source: about.com Source: about.com

43

O

ffices seem to get a bad rap these days.

Whether it’s a rerun of the movie “Office Space” or another episode of “The Office,” the “O-word” has become synonymous with dysfunctional employees and drab gray cubicles. Yet as we at Building Indiana discover annually, the reality is far different here in the Hoosier state. Across Indiana, companies are creating vibrant and fun workplaces and businesses that demonstrate the design and construction flair of architects, builders and decorators.

With the magazine’s statewide expansion this year, we’ve upped the ante in the Swanky Office Awards. For the first time, we are presenting multiple honors in each category to allow us to showcase more companies from all around Indiana. Whether it’s central, southern, northwestern or northeastern Indiana, there are offices and businesses which have created “wow” spaces in which to work, build new companies, and hold events that funnel new revenues into their communities.

What’s presented here is just a snapshot of our winners. For a complete photo gallery of all our 2010 Swanky honorees, visit www.buildingindiananews. com.

Swanky The 2010

Office Awards Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Dynamic Dimension Indiana Live! Casino

The winners of the 2010 Swanky Office Awards are: Dynamic Dimension • Indiana Live! Casino Best Small Business • Bluefish Wireless Management/ Mobi Wireless Management • Burke Costanza & Cuppy, LLP Best Green Office • Ironworkers Local 395 Union Hall • Horseshoe Casino Best Technology • Heartland Payment Systems • Hammond INnovation Center Best Interior Design • Task Force Tips • Bose McKinney & Evans LLP Best Exterior Design • Orthopaedic Capital Center • Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille Best Conference Room • Lost Marsh Clubhouse • Trans-United Inc.

44

Dynamic Dimension Indiana Live!

O

pened in March of 2009, the $250 million Indiana Live! casino has already had upward of 3 million visitors – and it’s easy to see why. “To me, it’s a contemporary design,” says General Manager Richard Kline. “It’s inviting and comfortable and can be navigated easily.” Departing from traditional casino design, Indiana Live! boasts ample natural light, giving it an open, airy vibe.

The central bar acts as an organizing element that can be seen from anywhere in the casino. Green elements in its construction include a white roof that reflects sunlight and energy recovery wheels in the heating and cooling system. www.buildingindiananews.com

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Small Business

Best Small Business Bluefish Wireless Management/ Mobi Wireless Management

Bluefish Wireless Management/ Mobi Wireless Management

T

he shared office space of Bluefish Wireless Management and Mobi Wireless Management contains a 20’ by 20’ indoor putting green, state-of-the-art conference rooms, ergonomically designed workstations, a modern 2,000-square-foot warehouse, the self-named “IT Bullpen,” two loaded vending machines, a ready-to-use smoothie maker next to a keep-you-moving cappuccino machine, and the most relaxing space to enjoy it all in, “The Lodge.” “Every office, every space, all furnishings and workspaces are intended to allow employees to work hard, be creative and have fun along the way,” says Marketing Manager Matt McIntyre. “We believe that one of the keys to creating an organization passionate about success is creating an environment that fosters creativity.”

Building Indiana News

Best Small Business Burke Costanza & Cuppy LLP

Swanky Office 2010 Best Small Business Burke Costanza & Cuppy LLP

E

rected in 1910, the building that’s now home to law firm Burke Costanza & Cuppy has been part of the Valparaiso business district for almost 100 years, originally housing E.E. Cunningham Veterinary Sanitarium. In 1998, it was converted to accommodate the Trust Service Department of First National Bank of Valparaiso. For its latest lease on life, the firm brought in Design Organization (Valparaiso) and Larson-Danielson (La Porte) to completely renovate the interior while preserving and enhancing the traditional architecture. “There were only minor revisions to the first floor,” says Kevin Steele, Partner in the firm’s Litigation Services Practice Group.

“The major work was done on the second floor, which had not been built out at all.” That floor was just bare brick and plank floors; where possible, the brick has been left exposed. The new building also features sleek modern offices and a state-of-the art conferencing center www.buildingindiananews.com

45

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Green Office Ironworkers Local 395 Union Hall

Best Green Office Ironworkers Local 395 Union Hall

T

he Ironworkers Local 395 union hall, which opened in December, 2009, showcases a number of green innovations throughout its 16,000 square feet. Built by The Ross Group (Portage) and located at Ameriplex at the Port, its environmentally friendly features include 100% post-consumer recycled Burke flooring, a highefficiency HVAC system and Low-Emittance (low-E) windows.

Low-E coatings are microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface which reduce heat flow. The principal mechanism of heat transfer in multilayer glazing is thermal radiation from a warm pane of glass to a cooler pane. Coating a glass surface with a low-E material and facing that coating into the gap between the glass layers blocks a significant amount of this radiant heat transfer, thus lowering the total heat flow through the window.

Other green elements which can be found in the hall are hand sensors on the waters faucets to conserve water and blow dryers to limit paper consumption. During construction, Ross also employed poured on-site tilt up concrete panels. These have a higher R value then conventional construction. A portion of the jobsite scrap was also recycled, including metal stud cuts and copper piping.

46

www.buildingindiananews.com

Best Green Office Horseshoe Casino

“G

o Green” generally starts at home, but for Dawn ReynoldsPettit, Vice President of Human Resources at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, going green has taken on a whole new meaning. To Dawn, having a greener workplace means a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and as an added bonus, it is good news for the bottom line as well. The Horseshoe Facilities department took practical steps to lay the groundwork for Dawn’s green workspace. Its green features include renewable resourced hardwood bamboo floors, Sherman Williams Harmony, environmentally friendly paint and an occupancy sensor connected to a digital climate control system that regulates the temperature based on the number of people in the room. Dawn’s office also has the cooking oil lines from the Buffet running overhead. These lines transport the used cooking oil from the Buffet to a holding container, from which it is used to run the grounds-keeping vehicles and the heat the warehouse.

www.buildingindiananews.com

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Green Office Horseshoe Casino

47

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Technology

Best Technology Heartland Payment Systems

Heartland Payment Systems

B

uilt in phases starting in 2007, the $80 million Heartland Payment Systems Operations Center in Jefferson is now home to 600 Heartland IT and customer service personnel. “The company is 13 years old and has been a very fast-growth company,” says Chief Marketing Officer Nancy Gross. “So now we have built a state-of-the-art facility with a cafeteria, health club and day care center, and have space to continue to grow.” The building incorporates 88 miles of electrical wiring, 10 miles of conduit, and 152 miles of under-floor communications cabling, as well as redundant electrical, mechanical, and communication infrastructure (including two 4000amp services, two separate phone trunk lines, three 100kw back-up UPS systems and a 1500kw back-up generator) to protect the twenty-four hour facility from interruption. Sensors monitor air temperatures and air pressure and as people adjust their own thermal comfort turning off vents at their desk, the system recognizes the build-up of air pressure and adjusts the output of air at the air handlers.

48

www.buildingindiananews.com

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Technology

Hammond INnovation Center

S erving northweSt i ndiana For o ver 30 YearS

Serviced with Integrity...

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219-972-0193

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Dumps • FlatbeDs • lowboys • stretch Flats tippers/walking Floors • construction aggregates

INJURY PREVENTION • Employee Education • Ergonomic Consultation • Post-Offer Employment Screening

Best Technology Hammond INnovation Center

A

joint venture between Purdue University and the city of Hammond, the Hammond INnovation Center is a business incubator with style. Architects American Structurepoint (Indianapolis) and interior design firm Designtech (Hammond) created a space for tech-based businesses to flourish in a building that once housed a children’s clothing store and, during Prohibition, a speakeasy. “I love historic preservation,” says Designtech Principal Phylis Butler Mamula.

The Center has a big wow factor, she adds. “People walk in and say, ‘I can’t believe I’m in downtown Hammond.’” www.buildingindiananews.com

Over

50 Years

of Orthopedic Excellence

INDUSTRIAL REHABILITATION • Functional Capacity Evaluation • Work Conditioning • Job Analysis • On-Site Return to Work Consultation • Work Hardening • IME WORK RELATED INJURIES • Fracture & Crush Injuries • Tendon or Nerve Injury • Burns • Overuse Injury

Phone: 574-247-9441 • 800-424-0367 • www.sbortho.com SOUTH BEND • MISHAWAKA • PLYMOUTH • LAPORTE

49

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Interior Task Force Tips

Best Interior Task Force Tips

N

ot many corporate headquarters double as a museum, but when firefighting equipment manufacturer Task Force Tips undertook a $7.5 million expansion project in Valparaiso last year, CEO Stewart McMillan took the opportunity to fulfill a dream. The result is a spacious two-story entrance and museum featuring some rare pieces of firefighting history, including a vintage 1899 horse-drawn steamer, an 1880s-era hand-drawn engine, and a restored 1923 fire engine. McMillan’s own contributions to the museum include his family’s collection of fire helmets from around the world, toy fire trucks dating back to the mid-Fifties and his basement bar, which used to be the front end of a fire truck before a plane hit it during an air show in Chicago. It now serves as the reception desk. Task Force Tips’ history is represented as well: among the items on display is founder Clyde McMillan’s drawing of the “automatic” fire hose nozzle – sketched in red felt pen on the back of a cocktail napkin – which would eventually become the industry’s standard design.

50

www.buildingindiananews.com

Best Interior Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

L

aw firm Bose McKinney & Evans LLP’s Indianapolis offices were created by Schott Design, also based in Indianapolis.

Features include custom pieces of glass for marker boards in the conference room, commissioned artwork of the must-see part of the city and the use of environmentally friendly materials such as cork in the reception area.

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Interior

Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

www.buildingindiananews.com

51

Best Exterior Orthopaedic Capital Center at Grace College

N

Building our track record on 80 years of client satisfaction.

amed for Warsaw and Winona Lake, Indiana – the “Orthopaedic Capital of the World” – and sponsored by the world’s leading manufacturers of orthopaedic equipment, the Orthopaedic Capital Center at Grace College is a 56,000-square-foot facility for major events that is unequaled in the region. The $9.1 million Center provides a venue that benefits the entire community. It includes a 15,000-square-foot convention and exhibition center, a 2,700-seat theater, arena-style seating for 2,100 for athletic events and seating for 2,500 for concerts and special events, as well as business seminars. In addition to civic, sporting and college events, the Center helps to drive the local economy by hosting trade shows, conventions and annual corporate meetings. It is also is the home of the Warsaw Symphony.

Building Indiana News

219.513.2500 • www.sehinc.com 9200 Calumet Ave., Ste. N501, Munster IN 46321 ARCHITECTS | ENGINEERS | PLANNERS | SCIENTISTS

Swanky Office 2010 Best Exterior

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Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Exterior

Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille

Best Exterior Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille

T

he design of the Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grilel in Valparaiso was so unique that owner Mike Leeson had to sooth the concerns of city planning officials about what might be done if the restaurant ever closed. Celebrating the industrial heritage of both Northwest Indiana and the nation overall, the restaurant’s exterior features 100-year-old clinker brick and steel girders that have been given a rusted appearance through a process Leeson developed at his other company, Synergy Steel Structures.

The outdoor patio is floored with 200-year-old reclaimed granite cobblestone and surrounded by a cast-iron railing. But the most striking features are the steel sculptures based on Charles Ebbets’ iconic 1932 photo, “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.” The men in that shot were replicated in steel by sculptor Sergio Furnari, and the group of statues spent six months at Ground Zero in New York as a tribute to those who built the Twin Towers and cleaned up the damage. Those sculptures are now perched atop the restaurant and Leeson commissioned others for use both inside and outside the building. www.buildingindiananews.com

53

Best Conference Room Trans-United Inc.

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Conference Room

D

esign, colors, comfort, view and amenities set the conference room at Trans-United’s Burns Harbor headquarters apart. Built as part of an overall expansion of the specialized hauler’s facility in 2007, the conference room is located on an upper level and provides visibility into sales, operations and the company shop. “I wanted to make it a focal point for customers to come in and experience what we do,” says President and CEO Jeff Fleming, noting that you can also see out to the front of the building from the room.

“It’s not closed in behind walls. It has a lot of windows that bring in natural light,” he says. The room also features a custom-built conference table, granite countertops, a refrigerator and ice machine, and a complete audio-visual suite for presentations.

Trans-United Inc.

we mean business banking.

We understand what drives business owners. We know about the long hours and short vacations.

We know the dollars and cents. But we never lose sight of the benefits beyond the balance sheet.

Call us if you’re ready for banking partners who are willing to work as hard as you do.

Call Troy Kafka at 317-208-1044 or Helen Pennington at 219-738-6505 or go to harrisbank.com to begin a relationship today.

®

Harris® is a trade name used by Harris N.A. and its affiliates. Member FDIC

54

2010_160_Building Indiana.indd 1

5/20/10 9:31:03 AM www.buildingindiananews.com

Building Indiana News

Swanky Office 2010 Best Conference Room Lost Marsh Clubhouse

Reaching

Higher

1960-2010

All major brands of tools, wire rope, slings, lifting equipment, fittings, power tools, pumps, hydraulic cylinders, and safety equipment.

Best Conference Room Lost Marsh Clubhouse

T

he Lost Marsh Clubhouse in Hammond isn’t what people expect from a public golf course. The 450,000-square-foot, $9 million Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building sits atop the former Baristow slag mountain, a former brownfield site in far north Hammond. The facility features a grand lobby with a two-story glass waterfall which cascades into an interior reflecting pool. Other features include a pro shop, players lounge, a bar and restaurant, a 240-seat banquet facility – and of course, a high-end conference room. “It’s very convenient for companies in the area like BP and Cargill, who now have conference rooms and a banquet center just minutes from the office,” says Fred Armstrong, Vice President, Estimating with Hasse Construction, which built the Clubhouse. In May, the Clubhouse was named Public Works Project of the Year by the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana. www.buildingindiananews.com

50 Celebrating Celebrating

YEARS YEARS

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1601 Cline Avenue • Gary, Indiana 46406

IN: 219-944-7200 • IL: 773-768-8181 Fax: 219-944-8224 www.hessvillecable.com

55

CORRIDOR REPORT

The Taming of the West New industrial and commercial projects in Indianapolis’ western suburbs bring the promise of jobs and economic development.

By David Wellman

A

s mid-2010 came and went, the Indianapolis industrial real estate market continued to gain ground, recording 400,000 square feet of positive net absorption for the third straight quarter, which reduced the vacancy rate to 9.5 percent from 9.8 percent at the start of the year, according to figures compiled by CB Richard Ellis.

Much of the recent improvements can be credited to activity on the western side of the Indianapolis metro area, particularly the massive 1.1-million-square-foot distribution facility being built off of I-70 in Hendricks County by health care and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. Scheduled to be completed early next year, the facility is expected to bring about 465 jobs to the community. But more than twice that amount of space was set to be vacated in nearby Plainfield in the second half of the year, and while multiple new projects have been announced, a stall in industrial market improvements seems likely.

The industrial market has implications as a potential leading indicator for the area’s office market, which continues to record vacancy rates in the high teens and beyond, depending on location. “Usually, the office market lags the industrial market by 12 to 18 months,” notes Charlie Podell, Senior Vice President, Indiana Operations, for Duke Re56

alty. “So the big question is, where are we with industrial?” Market-watchers see several large vacancies looming in the back half of the year which could stall or reverse advances made in the first six months.

“In the first quarter, we weren’t seeing a lot of deals,” Podell says. “In the second, there were more, but they weren’t large deals: 30,000 to 150,000 square feet, where in the past it would be 500,000 square feet.

So there’s still a lot of shadow inventory out there, but we are making some headway.”

With space available, lease terms are becoming more generous. “’Free rent’ has entered the marketplace,” Podell says, referring to a practice of giving, for example, one month’s free rent for every year of a lease signed. Still, he adds, Indianapolis “isn’t getting creamed like the coasts and Texas. I’m happy to say that I’m in the low 90s [percent] leased; some markets it’s as much as 27 percent vacant.”

One strong factor undergirding the industrial market is Indiana’s natural geographic advantage as the “crossroads of the nation.”

Companies continue to choose the state for its logistics advantages. One of the most recent was Heritage Crystal-Clean, which in July announced a major expansion of its industrial site in Speedway designed to grow its business throughout the eastern half of the United States.

The Elgin, IL-based company will spend $40 million to build and equip a re-refinery at an existing site in Speedway. “We have a warehouse operation on the site, and two years ago we put in a distillation tower for our solvents recycling business,” says Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Greg Ray. Now, the plan is to construct a refining facility capable of recycling 50 million gallons of used oil a year at the location.

Heritage provides a variety of waste management services, such as drum (or containerized) disposal and absorbents designed to soak up oil and other chemicals. But it currently offers oil recovery and recycling – for customers such as quick-lube providers, trucking companies, railroads and heavy machinery and equipment operators – on a limited basis. “We have 62 branches throughout the Eastern U.S.,” Ray says, “and not all of those branches collect used oil yet. We are in the process of expanding that business.”

The re-refinery is expected to be on-line at partial capacity by 2012, and completed by 2013, and will result in the creation of 75 Hoosier jobs.

Though larger, Heritage’s expansion was overshadowed by another industrial development in Speedway in July, the announcement that Italian car maker Dallara would build a $7 million tech center adjacent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The comwww.buildingindiananews.com

pany, which was selected to build the 2012 IndyCar chassis, will spend $7 million on a facility to house its technical center, Indy Parts Inc. (the official Dallara spare parts distributor), the Indy Racing Experience (two-seater and single-seater IndyCar programs), Experiential Marketing Inc. (show cars and promotional activities) and the Indy Engine Group (a high-performance engine shop). Future plans call for the addition of a restaurant and facilities for meetings and parties.

It will be the company’s first location outside its Parma, Italy headquarters, and Speedway officials say three other auto racing-related manufacturers have already inquired about locating near Dallara’s building. The project is expected to create about 80 jobs.

These new projects will help, eventually, to offset coming industrial vacancies in the market.

Notes CB Richard Ellis researchers: “Currently, the pending occupancies being tracked are just shy of 2 million square feet. Therefore, it will take another quarter like the previous three just for the market to break even if everything being tracked comes to fruition.”

As industrial hovers and the office market awaits a rebound in employment, an ambitious commercial project has emerged in the heart of Hendricks County, a 72-acre development dubbed Satori Pointe. Serving as the gateway to the 122,000-squarefoot Hendricks Regional Health YMCA currently under construction in Avon, the development will consist of health- and wellness-focused businesses and services ranging from physician practices and medical services to fitness-apparel retailers, natural and organic grocers, and healthy restaurants all gathered in one location.

“The Hendricks Regional Health YMCA is one of the only examples in the country where the ‘Y’ and a hospital have joined forces – and now also the largest www.buildingindiananews.com

planned community for health services,” says Tim Norton, SIOR, Executive Vice President with Summit Realty Group, which is marketing Satori Pointe.

“The county didn’t really have a ‘center of town,’ so this development is an area that will create a reason for people to come to every day.”

Satori Pointe businesses will line the boulevard leading from US 36/Rockville Road to the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA facility that broke ground in December and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of next year.

“Satori Pointe is a perfect match with our project, which was conceived as a way to offer Hendricks County residents a one-stop opportunity to address their health and wellness needs,” said Hendricks Regional Health Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. John Sparzo.

Summit began officially marketing Satori Point in August and Norton reported strong initial interest. “The main boulevard, roundabouts and retention pond are in process and the site should be shovel ready in the next two months,” he says. Discussions have already proceeded beyond the commercial phase and into talk of multi-family, residential and senior living facilities.

“I’ve spoken to 10 or 15 developers who love the senior living concept,” says Summit Realty Director Jeff Merritt. “You have the walking trails, access to health care facilities, it all makes perfect sense.” A garden hotel is also among the possibilities for the site.

He doesn’t doubt the development will succeed, even in this economy. “You have two strong, driving forces at work,” he says.

“First, you have the trend toward healthy lifestyles. Just look at how many television shows you see on healthy living, and the time and money spent on it. Then there’s the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA, which will draw a huge number of people every day.”

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Welcome to OnSite!

When it comes to economic development and job growth, Indiana’s industrial and business

communities and provide jobs

The People Hub

that often pay better than the

Evansville’s Vanderbergh Industrial Park sits at the crossroads of America’s population.

statewide average. In order to

By David Wellman

parks provide unparalleled opportunities for both new and existing companies. They also bring new investment to proactive

accurately reflect their importance in the economic puzzle, Building Indiana has created OnSite, a new section of the magazine dedicated to business and industrial parks around the state. Each issue, we will profile a different park, look at some of the companies doing business there, and examine its impact on the surrounding community. If you have a park in your area that you think we should cover, call us at 219.226.0300 or drop a note to editor@ buildingindiananews.com.

58

S

ituated at the southwestern tip of Indiana, less than 300 miles from six major metro areas, Vanderbergh County’s Vanderburgh Industrial Park (the “VIP,” for short) has been offering companies an ideal location to service customers in the Midwest, and the nation at large, for more than a decade.

Now home to eight companies, the VIP continues to attract new tenants thanks to ongoing efforts by local government and economic development officials to maintain and upgrade the property.

The VIP was founded in 1998 through the combined efforts of the county and the Evansville Industrial Foundation. Founded in 1958, the Foundation was an early economic development organization manned by volunteers from local businesses. “It was exceptional for

its time,” says Ron Keeping, Director of Economic Development for Vectren Corporation and a current Foundation volunteer. “These days, its kind of work is typically done by an economic development association.”

The impetus to create the VIP was the conclusion by local officials “that one of the impediments to development was that there wasn’t a shovel ready property,” recalls Bill Doty, Executive Vice President of Utility Operations at Vectren and the current Chairman of the Foundation. “Companies had to start from scratch. We did a study and found there would be value in creating an industrial park.”

The site they identified for the park had originally been sold to a coal company, whose plans for a mine and rail loading facility at the site never materialwww.buildingindiananews.com

Companies Located at the Vanderbergh Industrial Park • Brake Supply Co., Inc. • Pyrotek • Cortegra Group, Inc. • Graham Packaging Company, Inc. • Great Lakes Power Products • Federal Express • Tenneco, Inc. • ProLift ized. Just a mile and a quarter from I-164 and less than four miles from I-64 – and with the Evansville Regional Airport and its Foreign Trade Zone just five minutes away – the property was a perfect location. The Foundation purchased the land, and the county then undertook the task of putting in the roads.

“It was a public-private partnership,” notes County Commissioner Troy Tornatta.

“We went ahead and built it and put in the infrastructure and waited for businesses to relocate.” It didn’t take very long.

The park’s first customer was material handling equipment supplier ProLift, which opened its doors in the park in 2001, followed by Graham Packaging, a provider of customizable blow-molded plastic containers.

“I’ve been to a lot of different ribbon-cuttings,” Tornatta says.

Among the more recent was for Cortegra Group, Inc., a provider of printing services for the pharmaceutical industry, which dedicated a new, 63,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility in January of 2008. The $6 million, ISO 9001-certified plant enabled the company to expand www.buildingindiananews.com

and update the its capabilities in the areas of packaging, design and printing services for labels, inserts and outserts, folding cartons and saddle-stitched booklets.

That was followed in May by opening of a new, 18,000-square-foot facility for Great Lakes Power Products. A division of Mentor, Ohio-based Great Lakes Power Companies, Great Lakes Power Products specializes in flywheel mounted machinery such as marine gears, powershift transmissions, power take-offs, fluid couplings, torque converters and pump drives for use in a broad range of markets. The company also manufacturers components such as mounting brackets, offers accessories like controls and provides related engineering services. The VIP facility is primarily involved with the distribution and rebuilding of heavy equipment for the barge and coal mine industries.

More Space

The company had an existing facility in the Evansville area, but “we were crammed into 7,500 square feet and it just wasn’t cutting it,” says Manager Tim Titus. “One thing that drew us to VIP was the covenants they had in place. The company wanted to protect its investment, and didn’t want flyby-night places moving in next door.”

Indeed, the VIP has not only covenants for those who locate there, but design guidelines for their facilities as well. And unlike many parks in which neighbors have little contact, the VIP has an owner’s association to 59

In 1950 the Median Center of U.S. Population was located north of Richmond, Indiana in Wayne County. Since then, it has moved south and west at every census. The 2000 U.S. Census placed the Median Center of U.S. Population in northeast Daviess County approximately 75 miles northeast of Evansville. This strategic location near the Median Center and the major urban centers and markets makes the VIP a prime location for manufacturing, distribution or back office facilities. oversee the development. “All the companies have representatives and the meetings are pretty well-attended,” Tornatta says.

The covenants and design guidelines, all of which are available on the park’s Web site, www.vanderberghindustrialpark. com, “discourage speculators from buying a lot and sitting on it,” says Doty. “We also wanted buildings that were reasonably attractive. The park is really aimed at light industry, and companies might not want a scrap dealer next door. We like heavy industry here, too, but we’ve found that segregating light and heavy industry is advantageous.”

60

Great Lakes Power’s new facility allowed it to expand its service offerings.

“We can participate in high volume rebuilds for OEMs that we simply didn’t have the room for at our old location,” Titus says. The new building features a service with a dedicated clean room as well as two five-ton overhead bridge cranes.

The parts area includes a dedicated on the spot cable manufacturing area and a huge inventory of parts and units to support customers. The offices boast a new training and conference room with state-of-the-art digital capabilities.

Meeting companies’ digital needs is

one service of the VIP. The VIP provides fiber optic cable to meet the need for faster and better communication links. This provides businesses in the park with a connection boasting greater security, higher data transmission rates and other benefits. Other features of the park include: • 40-foot wide asphalt-surfaced interior road • Rolled concrete curbs, gutters and storm sewers • Street lights • 12” water lines • 12” sanitary sewer lines • 12.5 kV underground electric • Landscaped entrance and retention ponds • Area is pre-designated to allow for possible inventory tax exemption • Easement allowing for the extension of a spur from the Indiana-Southern Railroad

www.buildingindiananews.com

ing with Vanderbergh,” he says. “We combined four lots into one and went from 135,000 to almost 200,000 square feet.

And we have 25 acres to expand.”

While development at the VIP has slowed with the economy, “there continues to be interest in the park,” Tornatta says. One important pending project he believes will boost that interest further is the planned I-69 expansion between

Evansville and Indianapolis. Part of a larger push to expand the road from Canada to Mexico, the Indiana Department of Transportation had as of August spent about $20 million to acquire the necessary land, with another $69.7 million budgets to buy land through June of 2011. Indiana officials hope to finish the first half of the project, from Evansville to the Crane Naval Warfare Center by the end of 2012.

All the imVIP’s Proximity to provements to the Major Midwest Metros park were key to Brake Supply’s City Miles decision to locate Louisville 107 there in 2007. “One of the benefits was Nashville 156 that we could get Indianapolis 159 up and running reSt. Louis 172 ally quickly,” says Cincinnati 211 President and CEO Chicago 283 Kevin Koch. Getting up and running quickly was crucial since the Evansville location was intended as the company’s main facility.

Brake Supply, which was founded in 1947 and acquired by Koch Enterprises in 1986, specializes in rebuilding heavy-duty off-road powertrain components and hydraulic cylinders. In order to service customers with a minimum of downtime, it maintains more than $30 million in inventory. Of its four rebuild centers nationwide (Evansville; Casper, WY; Beaver, WV; and Ft. Worth, TX), Evansville is the largest.

“We looked at a number of different locations, worked with different economic development groups, and we ended up gowww.buildingindiananews.com

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LOGISTICS

New rules for foreign trade zone designations being adopted by the Ports of Indiana will provide another competitive advantage for businesses in the state.

Rezoning Effect T

By David Wellman

hanks to the efforts of the Ports of Indiana at Mount Vernon, Burns Harbor and Jeffersonville, as well as a parallel initiative by the South Bend Regional Airport, businesses in more than a quarter of the state of Indiana are, or will soon be, eligible to apply for foreign trade zone (FTZ) status under a new, expedited process designed to deliver the benefits of an FTZ faster and at a lower cost.

“The expansion of the FTZ to six counties is a great opportunity for attracting, retaining and growing businesses in Northwest Indiana,” says Donald Koliboski, Director of Economic Development for the Northwest Indiana Forum. Six counties in Northwest Indiana – Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper and Stark – will fall under the new Alternative Site Framework program, as will Jackson, Washington, 62

Harrison, Floyd, Clark and Scott counties in southern Indiana; Vanderburgh, Dubois, Pike, Gibson, Knox, Daviess, Spencer, Warrick and Posey counties in southwestern Indiana; and four more counties falling under the sponsorship of the South Bend Airport. Indianapolis is also expected to apply to the new program, according to Scott Taylor, Partner in Miller & Company, P.C., a Kansas City, MO-based law firm which specializes in international trade, customs, and FTZ law.

“FTZs are more valuable than ever,” Taylor says. “It’s another tool to run a company in a more cost-efficient manner.” Moreover, he adds, improvements in inventory management over the past 10 or 15 years have made the benefits of FTZs less costly and more accessible to small and mid-sized firms. “Ten or fifteen years ago, we worked with companies who were look-

ing for millions of dollars in savings,” he notes. “Now, $200,000 makes a big difference to the bottom line.”

Greatly simplified, having a facility designated as a foreign trade zone means that the facility isn’t part of the U.S. as far as Customs Department is concerned. Anything a company imports and transfers to that facility (via bonded carrier) isn’t considered to have ever entered the United States, and so the company pays no duties on the imported products. From that point, a company has two options: one, export products from that facility to other countries, in which case it never has to worry about paying those duties; or make products for the domestic market, it which case it pays duties on whatever product it “exports” into the U.S. as if it were a foreign company.

The advantage domestically is that www.buildingindiananews.com

Indiana Free Trade Zone Facts Indiana currently has six active and one lapsed General Purpose Zones. These Zones are an area within 60 miles and/or 90 minutes of a Customs Port of Entry such as one of the Ports of Indiana, which serves as a grantee of the zone. These seven zones are: FTZ No. 125 – South Bend, Indiana Grantee: St. Joseph County Airport Authority FTZ No. 152 – Northwest Indiana Grantee: Ports of Indiana FTZ No. 170 – Jeffersonville, Indiana Grantee: Ports of Indiana FTZ No. 177 – Evansville, Indiana Grantee: Ports of Indiana FTZ No. 182 – Ft. Wayne, Indiana Grantee: City of Ft. Wayne, Indiana FTZ No. 239 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Lapsed Grantee: Terre Haute International Airport Authority FTZ No. 72 — Indianapolis, Indiana Grantee: Indianapolis Airport Authority, Indianapolis International Airport

field with those in other countries,” Taylor concludes.

Historically, one barrier for companies seeking an FTZ designation was the lengthy and expensive process involved.

Depending on the type of facility and its location, gaining approval could require completing a phone-book-sized application, forking over a $6,500 filing fee in addition to anything a company paid lawyers or consultants to complete the application – and then waiting six to 12 months to hear back from the Commerce Department.

It’s this issue that’s addressed by the new Alternative Site Framework (ASF)

program currently being put into place at the three Ports of Indiana and in South Bend. Under this new program, companies in surrounding counties can apply for FTZ status under an expedited process that requires answering just a few questions, includes no filing fee and will deliver an answer in 30 days or less for a warehouse/ distribution site, and 75 days or less for a manufacturing facility.

As of early August, only 10 sites in the U.S., primarily in Texas and New York, had been approved under the ASF program. The three in Indiana were expected to be approved between September

Within the six active zones, there are 24 General Purpose Zone sites designated as FTZs. Of the six zones, only the one in Indianapolis received any foreign merchandise in 2008 (the last year for which figures are available). The Indianapolis FTZ received $483.2 million of foreign merchandise in fiscal 2008.

There are also 32 Subzones in Indiana.

These are individual companies outside the General Purpose Zones with facilities that have been designated as FTZs.

there may be duties on imported parts or raw materials, but not duties on the finished product. For example, according to Taylor a digital camera kit, including a camera, case and cable to connect the camera to a computer, is a duty-free item. However, if a company in the U.S. wanted to import all the pieces and assemble and sell kits themselves, they would find that there are duties on the camera case and the cable. By getting designated as an FTZ, that company could import the cables and cases duty-free, assemble them into finished kits, and then “export” those kits duty-free into the U.S. market. “The point is to put domestic companies on a level playing www.buildingindiananews.com

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and November of this year. This approval is little more than a formality, however, and Taylor says that temporary provisions have already been set up for any companies that want to take advantage of the new program immediately.

Taylor adds that there is also now discussion in Washington, D.C. of further steps to specifically encourage manufacturing and exports from ASF service areas.

Even if they receive a quick answer on the FTZ request, manufacturing companies have additional hoops to jump through, which can add several months of further delays. However, the Obama Administration has set a goal of doubling America’s

exports in the next five years, and as part of that, “what they are talking about now is that, if you are in an ASF, get that 30day designation and have a high level of exports, you just do it, you don’t have to wait for a manufacturing approval,” Taylor says. He stresses that this is not official and still in the discussion stage, but believes there is a reasonable likelihood that it will happen.

Economic development officials believe that the new FTZ rules will not only provide companies outside the state with another reason to choose Indiana, but also be of benefit to existing firms who may now be able take advantage of the tactic.

Ports of Indiana ASF Service Areas

Taylor says that his firm has processed FTZ petitions for companies who estimated as little as $100,000 in annual savings. He offers these tips for companies who want to find out if it makes sense for them:

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• Identify all direct-foreign-sourced material used, and determine the cost of any duties paid on those materials.

• Identify any domestically purchased material that is really foreign-sourced merchandise.

Some suppliers may be importing goods that they in turn sell to the company.

• Product packaging may be imported.

• Document imported scrap, waste and obsolete material. If an imported raw material has duties, but a portion of that material is reduced to scrap or waste in the manufacturing process, any duties a company pays on the finished product can be reduced to reflect that unused waste.

• Is there potential for kitting? As in the digital camera example, finished products may not be subject to duties.

• Identify cash flow benefits. For example, imagine you are a supplier of widgets to an American company, but can only get the widgets via import in lots of 1,000, and there’s a hefty duty on each widget. Moreover, you only sell 200 widgets a year to your American customers, so it will be five years before you recoup your money. If your facility is a designated FTZ, you only pay duties as you “export” each widget to your American customers.

For more details about FTZs, go to www.buildingindiananews.com

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WORKERS COMP

A Necessary Decision?

The Indiana Supreme Court redefines what is meant by “reasonable” and “necessary” medical care.

By James H. Milstone, Partner, and Beth A. Schenberg, Associate, Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads

T

he growth of unconventional medical care and inflated billing has caused employers great concern in the context of personal injury tort litigation. More and more, they are being asked to pay for odd or unusual medical procedures, and frequently it is reasonable to question decisions made by patients and their doctors. Medical care is very expensive. It is not difficult for unscrupulous parties to falsify and exaggerate their claims by presenting large medical claims.

This in turn places employers in the position of questioning not only the motivation of the claimants but also the honesty and integrity of the treating care providers.

Traditional tort principles already severely limit an employer’s ability to contest medical care. There are long-recognized principles that were intended to protect the rights of innocent claimants against those accused of harming them, even if the innocent party received negligent medical care. However, our society has come to accept a broader range of treatments as reasonable medical care, and as a result, courts are now limiting a defendant’s ability to contest medical care by limiting the their ability to challenge what is “necessary care.”

On March 4, 2010, the Indiana Supreme Court weighed in on this question in Sibbing v. Cave, 922 N.E.2d 594, (Ind. 2010). Sibbing was a motor vehicle accident claim, where there was a hard collision. The claimant’s injuries appeared minor: 1) she told officers she did not need an ambulance at the scene 2) she claimed only a headache 3) she went home and took a three hour nap 4) then she went to hospital, with pain in ribs and right hip 5) she had no fractures www.buildingindiananews.com

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6) no complaints of back pain noted at hospital 7) she was sent home with pain reliever and to follow up with another doctor 8) two weeks later she had symptoms of back and hip pain, and sought treatment from an Internist 9) the Internist ordered a nerve conduction study and an MRI that showed bulging disc at L5-S1 but not pressing on nerve, 10) she had physical therapy for several weeks and then unilaterally stopped treatment because she felt she was no longer improving 11) more than a month after the accident she was treated by a chiropractor 12) she then had forty visits with the chiropractor over the next six months 13) the only evidence offered by the claimant at trial to support her claim was testimony of the chiropractor, who testified that the care was reasonable and necessary as a result of trauma from the motor vehicle accident At trial, the woman offered medical bills of more than $16,000. The defendant did not contest liability, but instead offered a medical

expert who had reviewed the medical records to contest the nerve conduction study as inappropriate and unnecessary. The defense expert also gave an opinion that the passive chiropractic care received by the claimant more than four weeks following the accident was medically unnecessary. However, the trial court barred the defense expert’s opinions on the nerve conduction study and the passive care. The matter was submitted to a jury, who awarded $71,675.

The defense appealed, but the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict, as did the Indiana Supreme Court in March. In doing so, the Indiana Supreme Court redefined what is meant by “reasonable” and “necessary.” The plaintiff’s burden to show that medical care and expense was “reasonable” now specifically related only to the amount of a bill. The burden to prove that care was “necessary” now relates solely to whether the care was caused by the defendant’s negligence.

The court held that the exclusion of opinions of the defense expert was proper. The court reasoned that, if someone is liable for another’s bodily injury, they are also liable for any additional bodily harm resulting from normal effort of third persons to render aid,

even if the aid was done in a negligent manner.

The Sibbing court did include some limitations on its holding. First, the court stated that “a plaintiff’s recovery may be reduced if he fails to obey his physician’s instructions and thereby exacerbates or aggravates his injury.” Second, the court did not want its decision to be read so broadly so as to allow a claimant to recover for medical treatment “wholly unrelated to a defendant’s wrongful conduct.”

As to the causation element, however, the Sibbing court gave further clarification.

The court distinguished what it was referring to from the “standard negligence doctrine,” where proximate cause has two components: causation-in-fact and scope of liability. The court defines the scope of liability component as “whether the injury was the natural and probable consequence of the defendant’s conduct, which in light of the circumstances should have been foreseeable or anticipated.”

Then, the court opines that the scope of this foreseeability component is limited where medical care is contested; the medical judgment of an injured party’s medical care professional cannot be contested even if it is unsound or erroneous.

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The Sibbing court then asserts that future defendants can refute a plaintiff’s claim that medical bills were reasonable and necessary by: (1) contesting the amount as unreasonable; (2) showing that the defendant’s actions were not the cause-in-fact of the care; and (3) showing that the damages were not within the “scope of liability” component as limited by the principle that the decisions by medical professionals would not be subject to contest. As to causationin-fact, the court gives two examples of situations where later care would not be recoverable: 1) damages for dental care received following a collision “in which harm to the plaintiff’s teeth was not implicated,” and 2) damages for medical treatment “not at all necessitated by the alleged tortuous conduct but by non-aggravated, pre-existing conditions.”

While the sympathy shown by the Indiana Supreme Court is commendable, the new rule places unlimited faith in medical providers, by not allowing defendants to in any way question their decisions. While there should be some level of credence given for doctor’s frailties’ in decisionmaking, this rule has no limits. The decision appears to eliminate any approach by a defendant to question the type of care, its duration, or the amount of testing given to any claimant.

Without concern that they will have to affirmatively demonstrate that medical expenses were reasonably incurred, unscrupulous care providers will have no limit on the expenses made or the treatment provided. There are already cases where numerous pain injections are given at the same site on the same day, and chiropractors open clinics where a patient is sent from a general practioner (who prescribes medication) to a neurologist, then anesthesiologist, then physical therapist, then chiropractor in quick succession. Imagine the abuse that will occur when all of these care providers’ charges and care cannot be contested!

The Sibbing court also does not seem to address that situation where treating doctors themselves disagree on care. Often there are cases where a claimant goes to many providers who all suggest conservative care before finding one who wants to be aggressive, or who wants to order medication.

Sibbing seems to eliminate defendants bringing independent medical experts to question care; it is unclear if it eliminates opinions from treating doctors that question other treating doctor’s care. One would imagine that a claimant would argue that he should not be placed in a position to second-guess the doctor that was aggressive – and so the jury should not know that others disagreed.

The immediate ramification of Sibbing in Indiana will be that, when there is an injury that requires medical care arising from an accident, www.buildingindiananews.com

a defendant cannot bring an independent witness to question the medical care the claimant received, unless they can demonstrate that the choice of doctor was unreasonable.

Further, the Sibbing rule appears to treat all care equally, irrespective of the skill and training of the medical provider or whether the care given was generally accepted by the medical community. The ruling leaves no leeway to question holistic medicine, or other treatments that are fairly questioned so long as they relate to injured parts of the bodies of claimants.

The decision will lead to some interesting positions for defendants. Medical opinions will need to focus more on butfor causation, and test the validity of the claimant’s assertion that they suffered actual injury. It would appear that past medical care will be more difficult to attack – this may lead to defendants pushing for quicker trials before care is complete to preserve their right to offer medical opinions. Also, unnecessary care can still be attacked by insurance carriers through criminal prosecution avenues, or through fraud investigations.

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YOUR WELL-BEING

Alternative Options

By David Wellman

An increasing number of Americans are turning to alternative medicine in hopes of staying healthy and keeping traditional medical costs down.

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I

nterest in alternatives to traditional medical care continues to rise due to several factors, including the graying of America, skyrocketing health care costs and the increasing body of evidence surrounding the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of alternative therapies. However, health insurers still routinely exclude alternative treatments from coverage, and as a result alternative care is chewing up an outsized portion of American’s total out-of-pocket medical expenditures.

“My perspective is, whatever gets the patient relief is good,” says Dr. Charles Mok, Jr., a physician with Working Well Occupational Health at the St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point. Though Mok comes from a primary care background, he’s had a lifelong interest in alternative therapies, which led him to train in acupuncture five years ago. Since then, he has been able to use the technique to help patients who don’t respond to, or can’t use, conventional treatments.

“Most individuals coming into an occupational health setting don’t think about alternative treatments,” he notes. They think, ‘work sent me here, I don’t have a choice.’ But sometimes a patient is allergic to the medicine, or it just isn’t working. I had a patient who broke a rib and none of the drugs could take away the pain.

Finally, at the end of the line, I suggested acuwww.buildingindiananews.com www.buildingindiananews.com

puncture, and after the first session they were able to draw their first deep breath in a long time.”

Mok views acupuncture as one more tool in the box of chiropractive/manipulative techniques that have been shown to be effective in treating musculoskeletal injuries, the most common kind of injuries seen in the occupational health field.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all,’ he notes. “I don’t suggest it for everyone but I have found success with it.”

Acupuncture makes up a small piece of the alternative care picture in the U.S. The most common form of alternative medicine, Mok says, is the use of supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 18 percent of Americans reported using nonvitamin, nonmineral supplements in 2007.

The most common were fish oil/omega 3/ DHA, glucosamine, Echinacea, flaxseed

www.buildingindiananews.com

oil or pills, and ginseng.

“Are more people looking for alternatives as health care costs rise? Definitely,” says Tim Cleland, President of Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc. Operating out of a 55,000-square-foot facility in Hobart, the herbal supplement and natural remedy retailer’s 220 employees process about 4,000

38.3 percent of U.S. adults and 11.8 percent of children have used some form of alternative medicine.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007

orders a day for its products. Shipped nationwide, these items include vitamins, herbal supplements, natural beauty care products and more.

“We spent heavily to revamp our Web site and have seen a lot of growth,” Cleland says. “Three years ago, we were getting 5,000 orders a month from the site.

Now we get 225,000 a month. We mail out

about two million catalogs a month, and get 1,500 to 2,000 phone calls a day. So we are busy.”

The aging population is reflected in the popularity of supplements dealing with vision, joint and heart health. “Fish oils are also popular right now, and of course weight control,” he says. Interest in the products is widespread. “We ship to all 50 states and I can’t really say that one area of the country is stronger than another,” he says.

With so many Americans exploring alternative medicine – 38 percent of Adults and almost 12 percent of children had used some form of alternative medicine as of 2007, according to NCCAM – efforts have been expanded to determine how effective these treatments and supplements are. Generally speaking, results are usually mixed and open to interpretation.

For example, a study funded by NCCAM and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine last year found that people suffering from chronic low back pain who received acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatments fared better than

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those receiving only conventional care.

However, there was no significant difference between those involved who received actual acupuncture versus a simulated form. “The findings of this research show that acupuncture-like treatments, including simulated acupuncture, can elicit positive responses,” concluded Dr. Josephine Briggs, Director of NCCAM. “This adds to the growing body of evidence that there is something meaningful taking place during acupuncture treatments outside of actual needling. Future research is needed to delve deeper into what is evoking these responses.”

Because of the lack of hard data, most health insurance plans exclude coverage for alternative medicine. “They will cover certain things to a limit, but more and more they are not covering these items, so people have to pay outof-pocket” says Carla Cohen, Employee Benefits Account Executive with Braman Insurance Services in Merrillville. Generally speaking, money from Health Savings Accounts can’t be used for alternative medical care, either, she says.

Still, people are willing to pay. According to NCCAM, Americans spent a staggering $33.9 billion out-of-pocket

Top 10 Natural Products Used by Adults Fish Oil/Omega-3 Glucosamine Echinacea Flaxseed Oil/Pills Ginseng Combination Herb Pills Ginkgo Biloba Chondroitin Garlic Supplements Coenzyme Q-10

37.4% 19.9 19.8 15.9 14.1 13.0 11.3 11.1 11.0 8.7

Top 10 Alternative Therapies Used by Adults Natural Products Deep Breathing Meditation Chiropractic & Osteopathic Massage Yoga Diet-Based Therapies Progressive Relaxation Guided Imagery Homeopathic Treatment

17.7% 12.7 9.4 8.6 8.3 6.1 3.6 2.9 2.2 1.8

Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007

on alternative medicine between July 2008 and July 2009. While that accounted for just 1.5 percent of total health care expenditures ($2.2 trillion), it represented 11.2 percent of total out-of-pocket expenditures on care.

Of the $33.9 billion, an estimated $22 billion was spent on self-care costs, with the majority going to the purchase of nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products ($14.8 billion) such as fish oil, glucosamine and Echinacea. U.S. adults also spent approximately $11.9 billion on an estimated 354.2 million visits to practitioners such as acupuncturists and massage therapists.

The $14.8 billion spent on nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products is equivalent to approximately one-third of total out-ofpocket spending on prescription drugs, and the $11.9 billion spent on practitioner visits is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of total out-of-pocket spending on physician visits.

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TECH TALK

Silver Lining

Is cloud computing right for your company?

By Robert J. Alcorn, COO, n|Frame, Inc.

Y

ou may have seen the television commercial that asks, “What is cloud computing?”

If you own or run a business, you’ll be very interested in the answer.

While terms like “cloud computing,” “virtualization” and “hosted computing” may seem like a vague, formless illusion, they actually produce more tangible bottom line results than any other technology approach in decades.

In the past, companies had to make huge capital investments in technology hardware – such as servers, routers, firewalls and switches – in order to launch or grow.

However, commercial-grade equipment is very expensive and quickly becomes obsolete. Ultimately, technology hardware has become a major hurdle and bad investment for businesses.

Cloud computing eliminates these capital investments in equipment by utilizing a secure, off-site, shared platform. This approach enables businesses to direct working capital into revenue-generating activities such as research and development rather than network equipment that will become outdated almost as soon as it is installed.

In addition to capital savings, cloud computing provides companies of any size (even small businesses) with access to Fortune 500-level network security, bandwidth and computing capacity, as well as a system that is monitored and managed 24/7 by certified technology engineers. Cloud computing also reduces costs by leveraging a “shared environment” so management costs are spread over many users. www.buildingindiananews.com

Cloud computing and virtualization solutions are intrinsically designed for new or expanding companies that need to conserve or redirect capital for growth initiatives.

These new services are also well suited for large corporations that require dynamic network environments that can accommodate significant fluctuations in system usage.

One Indiana company that recently switched to cloud computing is Indianapolisbased Delivra, an e-mail marketing software company. The strategic switch from a traditional computing environment to a virtual IT environment has resulted in operational, financial and customer satisfaction benefits for Delivra.

In less than six months Delivra was experiencing a significant return on its technology investment. With more than 700 customers, Delivra can now literally do more with the same resources. n|Frame’s virtual environmental enabled Delivra to reallocate funding previously used to maintain expensive network equipment into growth and expansion initiatives. This included major upgrades to its sophisticated e-mail software application, adding technical support and customer service staff members and providing more comprehensive creative services to its clients.

“The net effect of going virtual with n|Frame is an unlimited capacity to provide high-end service to a limitless number of clients,” says Neil Berman, President and CEO of the company. “It’s a win-win scenario for Delivra and our customers. We have used the cost savings introduced by a cloud computing environment to re-invest in the business.

We now offer our clients more services,

more support and more value. n|Frame has given us an edge over the competition.”

If you are considering switching your traditional network environment to a cloud computing model, ask yourself the following questions: • Can my investment in technology equipment and support be better utilized in other areas of the business?

• Does my business need Fortune-500 network design best practices, commercialgrade equipment, bullet-proof security, enterprise bandwidth and expert IT management?

• Does my business model require a network system that can scale up quickly to accommodate unplanned growth?

• Are system performance, access and security critical to my business’ day-to-day operations?

If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, cloud computing may be right for your organization.

There is little doubt that cloud computing is the future in terms of IT. The next time you hear the phrase, think of a technology approach that is fluid, flowing and freeing.

This new concept in network design will enable companies to do more with less by leveraging a shared IT environment that includes sophisticated features only large enterprises can afford. As businesses vie for a competitive edge, cloud computing will clearly allow companies to concentrate more on big-picture investments and less in the costly over-head of equipment.

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GREEN & SUSTAINABLE

Star Power Solar power hops on board Indiana’s green energy bandwagon

I

By David Wellman

f all goes according to plan, sometime shortly before the end of the year Evansville-based Powers Energy of America, Inc., will begin work on yet another landmark development in renewable energy in Indiana.

Already, the state ranks 13th nationally in wind power after installing more generating capacity than any other state except Texas in 2009, and more capacity than any other state, period, in 2008. In Muncie, Ball State University is building the world’s biggest geothermal system, which will eventually heat and cool nearly all the buildings on its campus. Now, Powers Energy has unveiled plans for a 100 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Northwest Indiana. If fully realized, it would be one of the largest photovoltaic so72

lar facilities in the world.

Powers’ proposal came on the heels of news that Abound Solar, a manufacturer of photovoltaic solar panels based in Loveland, CO, would expand production to Indiana.

With its business booming, the company plans to complete and occupy an unfinished facility in Tipton County, creating up to 850 jobs in the world’s largest solar panel manufacturing facility by 2013.

“We are struggling to meet demand,” says Mark Chen, Abound’s Director of Marketing. “The worldwide market for photovoltaic solar has been growing at 30 to 60 percent a year for the last ten years, and it will grow another 70 percent in 2010.” Similarly, Powers Energy CEO Earl Powers cites surging demand for solar energy, driven by an

increasing number of states mandating that a certain percentage of their electricity come from renewable sources, for the decision to build the new plant. “These [mandates] are a necessary ingredient in our plan because the cost of solar is still more expensive than a coal power plant,” he says.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories estimates that complying with just the existing state mandates will require 9,000 MW of solar power-generating capacity by 2025. Globally, only Germany, with 9,677 MW, has that kind of generating capacity.

The U.S. had just over 2,100 MW of solar generating capacity as of 2009, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Of that, about half was being generated www.buildingindiananews.com

by photovoltaic systems at the end of last year, but projects that would cumulatively add 6,470 MW worth of capacity had been announced by the start of 2010. This has led not only to the need for manufacturers like Abound to expand, but is also bringing the price of photovoltaic systems down rapidly. Average installed costs fell 10 percent in 2009 from 2008, says the SEIA, while the price of the photovoltaic modules themselves dropped 40 percent.

Three-year-old Abound Solar, whose products represent the fruit of 15 years of research at Colorado State University into methods to produce low-cost, reliable solar panels, was ramping up one production line to full capacity last summer. The line can produce 65 MW worth of solar modules a year. “Once we hit that, we will expand two more lines over the course of 2011,” Chen says, giving the facility the ability to produce enough solar panels annually to generate 2 MW of electricity.

In 2012, the plan is for Abound to begin production in Indiana. The Tipton plant won’t be at full capacity until 2014, but Chen anticipates they will be manufacturing on the site well before then. The company will occupy an existing building that was begun as a partnership between Chrysler and German transmission maker Getrag. The plant, begun in 2007, was to have created about 1,400 jobs, but the project was halted 2008 when Getrag went bankrupt. Since then,

Abound Solar is currently expanding this Colorado facility, and plans to begin production in a second plant in Tipton, Indiana, in 2012.

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local and state officials had been searching for a replacement.

Abound, meanwhile, had begun looking at expansion. Though the primary market for photovoltaic panels is currently overseas, Abound wanted to stay in the U.S. due to the fast-growing domestic market, and so they could obtain funding and loan guarantees through the U.S. Department of Energy. The almost-Getrag facility was a perfect fit.

“You don’t find too many vacant, new, 800,000-square-foot buildings,” Chen says. “It had passed environmental review, it was relatively ready to move in to, there’s skilled labor, and it’s close to our suppliers.

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We use tempered flat glass in our modules and those suppliers are mostly in the Midwest.”

Tipton County kicked in $13 million to grease the skids on the deal, issuing a 20-year bond to lower the price of the facility. The county established a tax increment financing (TIF) district to repay the bond. The Indiana Economic Development Commission added up to $11.85 million in performance-based tax credits and a quarter-million dollars worth of training grants.

For its part, Abound will invest more than half a billion dollars between purchasing the plant, machinery and building improvements.

The Powers solar power plant proposed would carry a smaller price tag – about $75 million – but the 100 MW target size would make it four times the size of any current U.S. facility, though some of those are in the process of expanding. The project will be built in phases, says Ken Bosar, Vice President and Chief Engineer of Powers Energy, and reaching 100 MW “could take possibly as much as five years.” If completely built, it would cover 100 acres with 137,000 solar panels.

The first phase, which will install 5 MW of capacity, was projected to start in November or December. “We hope to start this year,” Bosar says. “The permitting isn’t complicated since we don’t really disturb the ground.” As press time, Powers was in negotiations to acquire the necessary land in Schneider in Lake County. The actual construction will be carried out by SunDurance (South Plainfield, NJ). Construction is expected to create about 50 to 70 temporary construction jobs in the region.

Powers is stopping at 5 MW due to regulatory issues. Currently, the ability of the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) to buy renewable energy from a customer is capped at 100 kilowatts (kW). In July, NIPSCO filed a request to create a pilot program known as NIPSCO’s Renewable Feed-In electric rate, which will allow customers to connect solar, wind or biomass generation sources, up to 5 MW in capacity, to the NIPSCO power grid and sell the power to NIPSCO. The overall program cap of the Feed-In electric rate program was proposed at 30 MW. NIPSCO also proposed that the overall program cap of the Net Metering program be expanded to 6 MW. If the program caps were reached, the total renewable generation produced annually would be enough electricity to power more than 10,000 average Indiana homes for a year.

Beyond 5 MW, Powers would use the nonprofit regional transmission organization Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator to sell power to states that need to meet Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) which require that a certain amount of the electricity used in the state come from renewable energy sources. These standards may be voluntary targets, or required by law, depending on the state.

A handful of states – Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania – as well as Washington D.C., have active markets on which renewable energy credits are traded. Among these is the Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC). One SREC is equal to 1 MW hour of electricity generated by a solar photovoltaic system. Powers Energy would sell solar power generated by future phases of the plant on these exchanges. www.buildingindiananews.com

LIFELONG LEARNING

A partnership between several Northwest Indiana high schools and a group of retired professionals could provide a model for schools across the state.

Hiring

Education D

By David Wellman

espite the recession, employers in Northwest Indiana are faced with an approaching workforce challenge driven by the most unstoppable of forces: time. The median age for the region’s population is higher than the median age statewide, and continues to age rapidly: according to the 2010 State of the Workforce report issued in September by The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI), between 2000 and 2008, Northwest Indiana saw its population under 45 decrease by nearly 19,000, while the number of those aged 45 and up grew by almost 46,000 people.

“Probably the most critical change in Northwest Indiana’s workforce has to do with age and this huge wave of older workers retiring,” says Bob Schaefer, President of Michigan City-based consulting firm Community Dynamics and a member of CWI’s Board of Directors.

“The region will be among the first to have to deal with labor shortages and a less experienced workforce.”

Statewide, the median age is 36.8 years, identical to the median age of the country at large. But all seven counties in Northwest Indiana exceed that mark, and three having a median age above 40. With a median age of 37.4 years, Lake is the youngest county, followed by Jasper and Porter, both 38.1, and La Porte (39.3). Starke County’s population has a median age of 40.2, Pulaski 41.3 and Newton 41.8.

Some industries have already taken steps to address this demographic time bomb. For example, last year the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) and the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable (NWIBRT) acted on concerns that retirements would rob the region’s construction industry of experienced supervisors by partnering to offer a highly-respected supervisory training program to begin building a new generation of leaders (see Building Indiana, January/ February 2010).

Another tactic, being pursued by CWI, is to beef up support to the region’s high schools. In the final quarter of this year, CWI will survey Northwest Indiana companies to identify where they expect to have job opportunities and openings in the next five years. Linda Woloshansky, President and CEO of CWI, says that it “seems like about 20,000 folks will be leaving jobs over the next five years,” and the survey is designed to uncover specifics such as what industry sectors will be most affected. “The superintendents and principals in area schools are very anxious for that information,” she says. www.buildingindiananews.com

Northwest Indiana Schools Participating in the Encore Program Lake County

•Crown Point At the same time, CWI is launching •Highland a new program, dubbed Encore Career •Lake Ridge Advisors, that will team retired business •Merrillville professionals and high schools around the •Munster region to provide some reality-based job training to students, and to provide a link La Porte County between the schools and the local busi•La Porte •MSD New Durham ness community.

Township “There needs to be a better connection •North Judson-San Pierre between education and the workforce,” •South Central says Eric Ban, Principal of Crown Point High School, one of 13 Northwest InPorter County diana high schools which has agreed to •Portage Township host an Encore Advisor. The challenge, he continues, is that the demands of both Starke County •Knox business and education, especially when •Lake Ridge times are tight, mean that neither side has •Oregon-Davis much time to spare for the other. “People get driven into their silos,” he says. Putting a retired professional in their own office in the school “is a win-win.”

“It’s an opportunity to have someone who has been out there working directly with the kids and the guidance staff,” notes Portage Schools Superintendent Mike Berta. “They will hear directly from a person who ran a business, and I think the kids will relate differently to ‘been there, done that.’” This is especially critical in the area of “soft skills” such as showing up on time and dressing appropriately.

“Students sometimes seem to have a hard time understanding that,” he notes.

As a liaison to the local business community, the Encore Advisor can also help generate more internship opportunities and more authentic field experience for students, Ban says. Combined with the planned survey on job openings coming in the next five years, he thinks the program will greatly improve the schools’ ability to keep an eye on the emerging job picture.

“We need a process of backward mapping from the job market to the high school,” he says. “That will enable us to get kids focused and energized around a career field.”

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WELCOME CENTER

Wolf Lake Festival Pavilion Contractor List

General Contractor Gough, Inc. Design Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) Structural Steel Thompson Iron & Construction Co. Inc. Steel Fabrication SIMKO Industrial Fabricators Steel Erection Kerrcon Inc. Aspahlt Rieth-Riley Construction Co. Inc. Metal/TRESPA Panels Crown Corr, Inc. Roofing Charles Gluth & Sons Roofers Inc. Plumbing Hernandez Mechanical Electrical Base Electrical Services HVAC Budd Mechanical Systems Windows/Glazing Meyer Glass & Mirror Overhead Door Security Industries, Inc. Painting Prism Painting Company Flooring MidWest Tile & Interiors Inc. Landscaping Meier’s Landscaping

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Showcase on the Lake The new Festival Pavilion on the shores of Wolf Lake in Hammond highlights the developing “western gateway” to Indiana’s North Shore.

O

fficials from the city of Hammond and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) gathered in July to dedicate the Wolf Lake Festival Pavilion as part of the opening ceremonies for Hammond’s annual midsummer Festival of the Lakes. The official opening of the $2 million permanent, openair stage came just a few days after the RDA and city of Portage representatives broke ground on the Dunes Kankakee Trail about 20 miles to the east. Together, the two projects represent the first phases of more than $80 million in planned proj-

ects aimed at finally putting U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky’s 25-year-old Marquette Plan to reclaim and develop more than 20 miles of the lakeshore in Lake and Porter counties into action.

During the dedication, RDA Executive Director Bill Hanna said that the Wolf Lake Pavilion would serve as a key part of the “western gateway” to the lakeshore, much Officials from the city of Hammond and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) gathered in July to dedicate the Wolf Lake Festival Pavilion as part of the opening ceremonies for Hammond’s annual midsummer Festival of the Lakes. www.buildingindiananews.com

The official opening of the $2 million permanent, open-air stage came just a few days after the RDA and city of Portage representatives broke ground on the Dunes Kankakee Trail about 20 miles to the east. Together, the two projects represent the first phases of more than $80 million in planned projects aimed at finally putting U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky’s 25-year-old Marquette Plan to reclaim and develop more than 20 miles of the lakeshore in Lake and Porter counties into action.

During the dedication, RDA Executive Director Bill Hanna said that the Wolf Lake Pavilion would serve as a key part of the “western gateway” to the lakeshore, much as the Dunes Kankakee Trail is the first step in turning the Indiana 49 corridor north of I-94 in Porter County into the eastern gateway to the shore.

For local officials, the new pavilion is the latest step in the ongoing development of the Wolf Lake recreational area. “Hammond Mayor McDermott’s vision is truly ambitious and well on its way to fruition,” says Speros Batistatos, President and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. Over the past two decades, Wolf Lake has seen the addition of a $23 million, 1,113-slip marina, a casino, the Lost Marsh Golf Course at George Lake – which transformed a former brownfield site into a championship 18-hole course – and most recently the completion of the Lost Marsh Clubhouse, winner of the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana’s 2010 Public Works Project of the Year Award.

Combined with the new pavilion, “they add additional resources and opportunities for increased tourism and recreation,” Batistatos says.

Like the Lost Marsh Clubhouse, the Wolf Lake Pavilion owes its design to famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. However, where the clubhouse was built in Wright’s familiar “prairie” style, the pavilion boasts a very different look which includes a pair of illuminated, 100-foothigh glass and steel towers, and a broad, sharply angled canopy.

“During our research, we found an old Frank Lloyd Wright drawing that he did of a pavilion on Wolf Lake,” explains Rick Trevino, Project Design leader for Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH).

The St. Paul, MN-based company, which has offices in Lake County, used the sketch as inspiration for its own pavilion design. “We knew we wanted to keep some of the key elements, like the towers, in,” Trevino says.

SEH also wanted an open design, as opposed to a bandshell-type layout, in order accentuate the lake behind the pavilion. That presented a problem due to high winds common at Wolf Lake (which make it a popular windsurfing destination). “We knew we had to protect the performers, so we created a set of rotating screens,” Trevino says. Set about two-thirds of the way back from the front of www.buildingindiananews.com

the stage, these clear-paneled steel screens can be shifted as needed to redirect winds coming off the lake.

The screens also serve to create a separate, smaller rear stage suitable for small shows and children’s performances. Trevino says that the clear panels may eventually be replaced with colored ones, possibly generated through a competition by local artists.

The stage is just the first step in an overall $54 million plan envisioned by Hammond and the RDA. Design work began after the 2008 Festival of the Lakes with the goal of having the pavilion finished in time for the 2010 Festival, which ended up requiring general contractor Gough Inc. (Merrillville) to keep working through the winter. “Everything just takes longer,” says Site Manager Mark Gott. The usual challenges of the cold, from needing cold weather protection for workers to equipment that balked at operating in freezing temperatures, were exacerbated by the fact soil was all slag, which increased the time necessary for excavation work. A trio

of cranes were needed to erect the towers, and getting the big steel canopy into places “was definitely the most challenging aspect of the job,” Gott says. “Overall it was a lot more fancy than a typical construction job.”

However, he adds, “all in all it went pretty well.” As the Festival deadline loomed, work went into overdrive, and in the end a few details remained to be completed, but the pavilion was completely functional by show time.

“Gough really took the bull by the horns” to get the structure ready on time, Trevino says. That there were still some elements to be finished was actually expected.

“We thought there might be some roof issues, but felt confident we would have it 95 percent complete by the festival,” he says.

A large concrete area fronts the pavilion, beyond which is a broad semicircular swath of lawn. In total, the area can accommodate a crowd of 15,000. For the 2010 Festival of the Lakes concerts, temporary VIP seating was set up on the concrete. Whether permanent seating will be installed there “is still up in the air,” Trevino says.

The stage is just the first step in an overall $54 million plan envisioned by Hammond and the RDA.

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MARKETING

Road to Victory

Consistently outperform your sales competitors by adding the TRIUMPHS model to your selling skills repertoire.

S

By Jack Singer, Ph.D.

usan has been doing well in her sales career for many years. She understands how to make cold calls, how to follow up on leads and referrals and how to offer excellent customer service. Yet, she’s amazed at how much more successful her colleague, Michael, is when she puts much more time and sweat into her work than Michael seems to do. She wonders what is missing in her approach.

The key difference between Michael’s and Susan’s approaches is the fact that Michael has trained himself to be an “active listener.” He uses the sales T.R.I.U.M.P.H.S. model to help him maximize his sales deals.

This model works wonderfully for virtually any product or service that one is selling.

Here are the components:

Treat your client/customer with respect and value. Developing rapport with the

prospective client/customer is a crucial first step. Smile, position yourself at the same level (sitting or standing, depending on what the client/customer is doing), and slightly lean toward him, maintaining eye contact. Make sure your cell phone is on silent and you can give undivided attention to the customer.

Listen to what the prospective customer is saying and don’t shuffle papers or start thinking about your response. Just listen.

Regardless of what they ask, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to answer immediately. It’s okay to say, “That’s a great question. Give me a day or so to research our products to find the one that precisely 78

addresses your question.” Always give the speaker the courtesy of finishing a point before you interject yours. Take notes so you won’t forget what you want to say.

Reflect the meaning of what your client is telling you before you actually respond. The

best way to understand your prospective customer is to make sure you are listening carefully and the best way to do that is to reflect or paraphrase what you heard him say before you comment on it. An example is, “What I’m hearing is that you are not certain that our product will serve your needs.”

I statements are powerful. As you paraphrase and reflect back what the buyer is saying, you can use “I statements,” which are very powerful. For example, “I am getting the feeling that you are uncomfortable with this product and would like some other options.” For you to start with “You” would be much more threatening for the buyer.

“You don’t like this product.”?

Understand the needs and goals of your client/customer. If you are genuine and sell

quality products that will truly satisfy your customer’s needs and desires the customer will trust you. That includes not selling him the most expensive product if you believe it is not right for him. Nothing gains their trust more than being honest.

Monitor the tone and mannerisms of the prospective customer. Body language is so

important that studies point out that only a small percentage of what is “heard” by a listener are the words of the speaker. Most of what is “heard” by the listener is tone of voice, smiling, facial expressions, vocal in-

flections, etc. Watch for all of these indicators of your customer’s mood and attitude.

Probe gently and with respect. Your job is to try to understand what your prospective client/customer needs and how you can accommodate those needs. The only way to show people that you have exactly the product to satisfy those needs is to ask gentle questions about their goals and hopes (related to your product). An example is, “If you could describe the ideal software to solve your business problems, what would you like it to do for you?”

Help your client feel safe in the conversation. For major purchases, such as insur-

ance policies, automobiles and investment products, clients need to feel safe discussing specific money issues. Gently probing about personal and family situations that affect their pocketbook requires them being able to trust you. This entails ensuring confidentiality and showing genuine concern for their needs. If you expect them to share their biggest fears and insecurities, you must focus in on what they’re saying, be sensitive and assure them that you will help them to meet their goals.

Summarize. You’d be amazed at how much you show the speaker you are listening by frequently summarizing what you just heard. This will also help you to focus and remember what the speaker is telling you. If you have hit the key points in your summary, the speaker will feel validated and closer to you. If you missed key points that he is trying to convey, he can inform you about that at this time. www.buildingindiananews.com

REGION FOCUS

Along I-74 in Shelby County, growth is being fueled not only by a good location, but also a smart use of casino revenues.

Winning Hand B

By David Wellman

ucking a nationwide trend in development – namely, that when it comes to speculative construction, there isn’t any – officials in Shelbyville have rolled out a plan for a 50,000-square-foot multi-use flex building in the Intelliplex business park. The new building in the technology-oriented park is scheduled to be open by February of next year.

“Things are going well,” says Dan Theobald, Executive Director of the Shelby County Development Corporation. In terms of companies looking at locating in, or relocating to, the area, “there’s more activity now than in past years.”

That’s due in large part to the county’s – and the city of Shelbyville’s – not-so-secret weapon: money. Last spring, both the city and the county passed resolutions mandating that 60 percent and 65 percent, respectively, of the tax revenues they receive from the Indiana Live! casino and Hoosier Park race track be used to fund economic development. Combined, that could give the region an economic development war www.buildingindiananews.com

chest of more than $4 million by year’s end.

“It’s a great benefit,” Theobald says.

“We can still do TIF districts and those kinds of things, but this can help top off any incentives we offer.” That’s especially important in light of the increasing competition for new businesses. “Tax abatements are not even an incentive anymore,” he says. “That’s just expected.” Now, companies are looking for even more. “For the tech companies, they are looking for money, free buildings, operational cash,” he says. “For distribution and light manufacturing, it’s ‘can we make the operation work here?’ and two, ‘is there a workforce?’

Then you get into incentives.”

One recent example was a sweetener that helped bring KN Platech America to Shelbyville. The company, a joint venture between two Japanese firms, is relocating production of plastic flex-molded components for Honda, Nissan and Toyota from Japan to Shelbyville. It will occupy a former stamping plant and is expected to bring about 100 jobs to the area.

KN Platech, which will invest about

$4.7 million to upgrade the plant, received a pair of 10-year tax abatements, one for $1.8 million on real estate and upgrades to the building, and another $4.6 million for equipment. Additionally, some of those casino revenue-derived economic development funds will cover the company’s cost of sending local workers to Japan for training.

“We’re working on four other projects that are nearing the point of a final decision,” Theobald says, “and we have five or six companies that are still looking.”

The new spec building at Intelliplex may help reel in some of those lookers. “A number of companies have expressed interest in locating at Intelliplex but the market isn’t supporting build-to-suit,” says Michael Snyder of The MEK Group. “We have already received inquiries which would fill a third of the space.”

Fully certified by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in Indiana’s certified technology park program, Intelliplex is a 141-acre development on I-74. It is currently home to Makuta Tech79

nics, the ReNovo Orthopedic Center, the Benesse Oncology Center, and other regional medical, technology and service businesses, Intelliplex features a number of strategic advantages for high-tech companies, including a state-of-the-art conference center.

“With the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine finalizing plans to build a $10 million equine surgery center on the border of Intelliplex, this new building opens additional potential opportunities for the development of an animal life sciences cluster strategy,” says Jack Horner, President and CEO of Major Health Partners. “This would be

in addition to existing strategies for human life sciences and information technology cluster strategies that are already in place.”

Major Hospital, the primary healthcare provider for Shelby County, has just finished up an expansion project of its own. Major and St. Francis Hospital have partnered to create the $1.5 million UnaVie cardiology center, which opened in September. Located in the Intelliplex Medical Arts Center, the 10,000-squarefoot facility is to cardiologists, pulmonologists, echocardiogram technicians, and other professional medical staff.

“Before the creation of UnaVie,

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many Shelby County patients saw these same cardiac physicians in the professional relationship that Major Hospital previously had with the Indiana Heart Physicians group, which was acquired by the St. Francis healthcare network,” says Horner.

The new facility includes a cardiac rehabilitation center, diagnostic testing and clinics for lipid, anti-coagulation and heart failure treatment. UnaVie also has facilities for patient education and private conferences.

Hotel on Horizon?

Meanwhile, at the Indiana Live! casino, General Manager Richard Kline and his team will be looking at feasibility studies early next year regarding the addition of a hotel.

“We’re not quite a full-service casino,” he says. “The one piece we are missing is a hotel with an events center.” The casino is currently in the process of expanding its meeting and banquet facilities to accommodate up to 200 guests, a project scheduled for completion in October.

They also partner with the neighboring racetrack to use its clubhouse, which can seat up to 400 people. But Kline would like to see a fullscale hotel and events center on the site.

Though no specific plans have yet been drawn up, Kline says his own experience suggests that a 200-room hotel with a spa and fitness center and an accompanying events center that could hold up to 1,000 people would be ideal. “That’s ambitious but I think it would be the right thing to do from a business standpoint,” he says.

The additional facilities would certainly be of use to local economic development officials who are looking to employ a regional approach to building up the I-74 corridor between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. In 2009, the six counties through which I-74 runs between the two cities – Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ripley, Rush and Shelby – along with the city of Batesville formed the I-74 Business Corridor group, designed to showcase properties available along the highway and promote the advantages of the region.

“We are just starting to market the I-74 corridor,” says Thobald, who is also President of the group. “I think that it will catch on. The idea is to bring Indianapolis and Cincinnati closer.”

Among plans in the works are a “mini-workshop” on I-74 opportunities to be held in Cincinnati.

“We need to work together as a region,” he says. “We’re not competing with each other.

Our competition is in places like China and Alabama.” www.buildingindiananews.com

Construction and Design Directory DESIGN/BUILD

Advance Construction Services 9148 Louisiana St. Ste F Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 794-1277 Fax: (312) 275-8411 www.advancecs.com info@advancecs.com

DESIGN

The Ross Group, Inc. 5901 Carlson Ave. Portage, IN 46368 (219) 764-9932 Fax: (219) 764-9952 www.therossgrp.com Ross@therossgrp.com

Advance Construction Services (ACS) is a Commercial & Industrial Construction Manager; General Contractor; Commercial Developer and a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). The ACS team has over fifty (50) years of combined experience in constructing civil; office; restaurant; gaming; hospitality; K-12; postgraduate; financial and health care type projects.

General Contractor/Construction Manager

The Ross Group, Inc. is an award winning construction firm that specializes in General Construction, Design Build, Pre-engineered Steel Buildings, Roofing, Conventional Steel Structures, and Architectural/Conventional Metal Roofing and Siding in the industrial, commercial, and manufacturing markets throughout Northwest Indiana. We provide unparalleled customer service to all our clients while holding safety and quality to the highest of standards.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Aker Construction, Inc.

AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc.

Aker Construction is one of the premier industrial construction and maintenance firms in the nation. From our executive team to our field staff, we approach each project as a partnership with our client. This personal attention to detail combined with the expertise of our people is the Aker Construction Difference. Serving the Power, Steel, Chemical / Petro Chemical, and Refining industrial markets.

AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc. is a privately owned, full service mechanical contracting firm, providing excellence in mechanical contracting services to a wide range of commercial, industrial and institutional clients throughout the Midwest Region since 1963. For over 40 years, AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc. has served the mechanical and refrigeration needs of the chemical, food, process, manufacturing and power industries.

701 Technology Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-416-6763 • Fax: 724-416-6875 www.akersolutions.com Terry Alderson, Manager Communications and Marketing terry.alderson@akersolutions.com

425 W. 151st Street, Suite 2 East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 392-3000 Fax (219) 392-3001 www.amsmechanicalsystems.com

General Contractor

Correct Construction Inc.

6610 Melton Road Portage, IN 46368 (800) 726-7473 Fax (219) 762-7062 www.correct-construction.com Correct Construction is an experienced mechanical contractor dedicated to quality construction and efficient management. A track record of major projects –including new construction, renovation, and restoration – earned us a reputation for creativity, technological advancement and customer service. Our experienced, well-educated professionals work in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect that provides our competitive advantage.

General Contractor/Construction Manager

Graycor Services LLC

One Graycor Drive Homewood, Illinois 60430 (708) 206-0500 Fax (866) 629-8879 www.graycor.com The Graycor companies – Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc., Graycor Construction Company Inc., Graycor Blasting Company Inc., and Graycor International – provide a wide variety of industrial and commercial construction services, as well as industrial maintenance technologies, across North America. Established in 1921, Graycor employs more than 1,500 construction specialists at the Chicago area headquarters, regional offices and project locations across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

General Contractor/Construction Manager

Larson-Danielson Construction Co., Inc. 302 Tyler St. La Porte, IN 46350 (219) 362-2127 • Fax: (219) 362-2848 www.ldconstruction.com tal@ldconstruction.com

Larson-Danielson Construction is the contractor of choice for many of Northwest Indiana’s leading companies and institutions. Widely recognized for superior quality, performance and value, Larson-Danielson Construction brings over a century of experience to every project. Our extensive capabilities in Design/Build and Construction Management let us offer innovative and cost-effective solutions to the most challenging of projects. www.buildingindiananews.com

General Contractor

Superior Construction Co., Inc. 2045 East Dunes Hwy. Gary, IN 46401 (219) 886-3728 Fax: (219) 885-4328 www.superior-construction.com

Superior Construction built many landmark interchanges lining I-80/94 expressway, like Calumet Avenue, Indianapolis Boulevard, Burr Street and I-65. Today, we continue to stand at the edge of the construction’s industry future, while keeping strong ties with its past, like Superior Construction achieving 6 million work hours over the past 10 years at BP Whiting Refinery without a lost time incident.

81

Construction and Design Directory General Contractor

General Contractor/Construction Manager

Tonn and Blank Construction

The American Group of Constructors 5020 Columbia Ave. Hammond, IN 46327 (219) 937-1508 • Fax (219) 937-1512 www.tagconstructors.com

The American Group of Constructors (TAG) is the leading provider of construction and maintenance solutions for commercial and industrial clients in Illinois and Indiana, efficiently handling even the toughest jobs. TAG has dedicated teams in a variety of specialty groups including: Concrete, Excavation; Pipe Fabrication & Installation; Boilermaker; Mechanical/Structural; Stud Welding Services; Commercial General Contracting; Live-Line Repair; and E.O.T. Crane Repair.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

1623 Greenwood Avenue Michigan City, IN 46360 (219) 879-7321 Fax: (219) 873-0210 www.tonnandblank.com paul.dwyer@tonnandblank.com

Tonn and Blank Construction is an award winning general contractor / construction manager with 88 years of experience. Our experience extends into the markets of industrial, healthcare, commercial and institutional. We maintain fabrication shops for HVAC, millwork, light and heavy-gauge metal fabrication.

Professional Services

ACMS Group

Ambitech Engineering Corporation

ACMS Group, Inc. offers a unique set of talents to the manufacturing and construction industries by provide personnel with specialized knowledge and experience in construction management, project management, operations management, manufacturing processes, scheduling, equipment assessment, safety management, and quality assurance. Industries served include construction, power generation, foods, chemical, automotive, pharmaceutical, steel, and household goods.

Ambitech is a single source, full service company, providing fast-track, turnkey design, EPCM and PM services. Our philosophy and core values of integrity, honesty, respect, openness, and teamwork help us deliver superior client service. We provide quality services to markets including, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Petroleum Refining, BioFuels, Power, Primary Metals, Consumer Products, Food and Beverage and Pharmaceutical and Biotech.

10769 Broadway, Ste. 333 Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 662-2380 Fax (219) 662-2384 www.acmsgroup.com

4527 Columbia Avenue Hammond, IN 46327 219-659-5700 • 219-937-0395 www.ambitech.com Joseph V. Idaszak • jidaszak@ambitech.com Greg Turkot • 219-659-5909 gturkot@ambitech.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Contractors Steel Company

Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying

Structural Steel Angles, Channels, Beams, Pipe, Tube, Bar Stock, Sheet, Plate, Diamond Plate, AR Plate, Grating, Expanded Metal, Grip Strut, Tees, Rail & More. In House Processing: Sawing, Shearing, Braking, Laser/Oxy/Hi-Def Plasma Cutting, Grinding, Cambering, Rotary Shear T-Splitting, Punching, Coil Leveling, Beveling. (5) Locations: East Chicago, IN, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Belleville, MI, and Cleveland, OH.

For over a decade, Falk-PLI has been redefining standards for precision measurement.

Specializing in the metals, rolling mills, power, and petroleum industries we utilize Laser Tracker and Laser Scanning Technologies to provide unprecedented speed, accuracy, and repeatability of the data provided. Customized reporting and 3D modeling allows our clients streamline maintenance practices, reduce downtime, and increase productivity & equipment reliability.

4407 Railroad Ave. East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 378-1777 Fax: (219) 378-8815 www.contractorssteel.com

5979 McCasland Ave. Portage, IN 46368 (219) 762-7024 • Fax: (219) 764-4261 www.falk-pli.com mfalk@falk-pli.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Safety Management Group of Indiana, Inc.

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH)

Safety Management Group is a leading provider of safety consulting, training and staffing services that are customized to each client’s needs. Our services include safety auditing, program development, safety training, OHSAS 18001 assistance, wind turbine rescue training at heights, OCIP Loss Control Services and safety staffing for short or long term needs.

SEH, Inc. is a team of planners, designers, architects & engineers with the expertise to help its clients craft tomorrow’s waterfront, neighborhood, municipal or industrial project. SEH works closely with clients to identify & secure the funding necessary to bring projects to fruition. Its mission is to enhance its environments by providing valuable solutions expressed in a climate of trust, respect & cooperation.

6500 Technology Center Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46278 (800) 435-8850 • Fax: (317) 873-5096 www.safetymanagementgroup.com ronhanson@safetymanagementgroup.com

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9200 Calumet Avenue, Suite N501 Munster, IN 46321 (219) 513-2516 Fax (219) 513-2501 www.sehinc.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

Construction and Design Directory PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

SUBCONTRACTOR

Superior Spaces

Area Sheet Metal, Inc.

Superior Spaces, with offices in Highland, IN and Chicago, IL offers a complete array of interior services and products for commercial and medical facilities. From interior design, space planning, furniture, architectural finishes, relocation/move management and network/IT capabilities, we can create and complete your space on time and within budget. Contact us to discuss your specific needs, large or small.

Since 1971, Area Sheet Metal has employed highly talented workers who provide reliable, quality craftsmanship and services. Our in-house equipment and capabilities enable us to handle projects of considerable size and complexity. We specialize in commercial and residential HVAC, industrial fabrication, installation, thermal and acoustical lagging, and specialty projects such as: ovens; dryers; conveyors; oxidizers; guards; heat exchangers & more.

2633 45th Street Highland, IN 46322 (219) 794-5349 Fax: (219) 934-0482 www.superiorspaces.com teresa@superiorspaces.com

409 S. Shelby Street Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 942-7700 www.areasheetmetal.com mikebirky@areasheetmetal.com

SUBCONTRACTOR

Budd Mechanical Systems

SUBCONTRACTOR

Central Rent-A-Crane

586 Fayette Street Hammond, IN 46320 (219) 931-1073 Fax: (219) 932-8307 buddmechanical.com budd1921@sbcglobal.net

5725 Kennedy Ave. Hammond, IN 46323 (800) 986-8750 Fax: (219) 989-7513 www.centralcrane.com EdwardK@centralrentacrane.com

Performance, Integrity and Trust since 1921, customers have relied on Budd Mechanical Systems for all their heating, air conditioning, ventilation and piping needs. We offer complete design, sales, installation and service of commercial, industrial and residential HVAC systems. Dependability backed by 24-hour service. We are certified as a woman business enterprise. Visit our website to see our video.

Central Contractors Service and Central Rent-A-Crane is a close-knit organization capable of serving markets in greater Chicago, northern Indiana, southern Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, and Iowa. Our size allows us to maintain close relationships with our customers. We have the added resources of ALL Erection & Crane Rentals nationwide network of companies. Our fleet ranges from 2.5 to 1,000 tons.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Prism Painting Company

SUBCONTRACTOR

Rieth-Riley Construction Company Inc.

368 Kennedy Ave. Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-4800 • Fax: (219) 322-7321 www.prismpainting.com jimsr@prismpainting.com

7500 West 5th Avenue Gary, IN 46406 (219) 977-0722 Fax (219) 944-2472 www.RIETH-RILEY.com

Industrial Painting and Sandblasting - Commercial Painting and Vinyl Wall Covering.

We are licenced in Indiana & Illinois.We service the Petroleum, Steel, Power and Municiple Industries also General & Mechanical contractors and Steel Fabricators.Our Commercial divison services medical facilities,schools, churches, banks, retail stores, office buildings, restaurants and grocery stores. We have shop facilities to sandblast and paint fabricated steel & piping.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Rieth-Riley prides itself in getting the job done on time, on spec and on budget. From adhering to project specifications to communicating openly with customers, it strives to exceed customer expectations. Not only is it done right, integrity drives everything it does. Its employees are their greatest asset and what make Rieth-Riley the industry leader.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Ross Roofing

Security Industries , Inc.

Ross Roofing, a Division of The Ross Group, is an expert in the repair, replacement or new installation of Low & Steep slope roofing systems, including Shingle, Conventional, Single ply & Metal Roof Systems. Get to know what we offer in experience, craftsmanship, training, materials, workmanship & warranties and be confident in your decision to call us for your next project.

Security Industries, Inc. an industrial/heavy commercial contractor specializing in High Security Anti-Terrorist/Anti-Ram Perimeter Protection, Ornamental Steel Fence, Electric Door & Gate Operators, Chain Link Fence, Wood Fence, Temporary/Rental Fence & Screening, Steel Rolling Doors, Hollow Metal Doors & Grills. While maintaining safe work practices and reliability, Security Industries is a primary vendor of fence & door maintenance for many of the area’s industries.

5901 Carlson Ave. Portage, IN 46368 (219) 764-9932 Fax: (219) 764-9952 www.therossgrp.com Bruce@therossgrp.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

1000 Georgiana Street Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 942-9447 Fax (219) 942-9448 www.siifence.com

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Construction and Design Directory Solid Platforms, Inc.

SUBCONTRACTOR

6610 Melton Road Portage, IN 46368 (219) 762-8054 Fax: (219) 762-0341 www.solidplatforms.com thomas.dunajeski@solidplatforms.com Solid Platforms, Inc. provides professional scaffolding services to the foremost corporations in the Refinery, Steel Producing, Power Generation, Petrochemical, Industrial and Commercial industries. Our work encompasses new construction, fast track projects, shutdown assignments and general maintenance. We design, build and maintain task specific scaffold systems. Solid Platforms, Inc. can provide any crew size required for the task at hand.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Stevenson Crane Service, Inc. 16675 S. Van Dam Road South Holland, IL 60473 (219) 972-9199 Fax: (219) 972-0303 www.stevensoncrane.com info@stevensoncrane.com

Established in 1989, Stevenson Crane Service, Inc. is the leading provider of lifting equipment for contractors nationwide. Equipment ranges in size from 8.5 ton to 826 ton capacity. Our unequaled customer service, true dedication to safety, deep commitment to project cost-controls and our comprehensive fleet of the most updated equipment enables us to develop lasting, successful partnerships.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Stevenson Sales & Service, LLC

SUBCONTRACTOR

Superior Design-Build, LLC

16675 S. Van Dam Road South Holland, IL 60473 (219) 972-0330 Fax: (219) 972-0113 www.stevensonsales.com info@stevensonsales.com

2345 167th Street Hammond, IN 46323 (219) 989-0721 Fax (219) 989-4261 www.superiordesignbuild.com

Stevenson Sales & Service, LLC. is the leading provider of lifting equipment, sales, and maintenance solutions for contractors nationwide. Stevenson Sales offers preventative maintenance plans and full parts support to help keep your equipment looking and running like new without any expensive downtime. Stevenson Sales is truly a one-stop shop for all of your equipment needs.

SUBCONTRACTOR

Superior Design-Build is a leading provider of general contracting services. Its experience, talent, skill, technology and reputation differentiate us from others in the market. In addition to general contracting and project management for a variety of commercial construction projects, our scope of services includes experience in medical construction, retail construction and pre-engineered building construction SUPPLIER

Vidimos, Inc.

Calumet Lumber Inc.

3858 Michigan Ave. East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 397-2728 Fax (773) 221-2244 www.vidimos.com

402 E. Chicago Ave. East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 397-0254 Fax: (219) 398-6425 www.calumetlumber.com callumrk@aol.com

Vidimos, Inc., has been producing custom steel fabrications, rolled and welded cylinders, along with flame, laser and plasma cut steel parts for over 60 years. Vidimos, Inc. specializes in field installation and maintenance repairs. The quality of your product is our number one priority and our experienced craftsmen have the resources to get your job done.

For over 100 years Calumet Lumber has been serving the needs of industrial clients and contractors in Northwest Indiana with name brand products such as BASF, FIVESTAR, SIKA, CTS RAPIDSET, CECO HOLLOW METAL, RAMSET REDHEAD, HAGER, YALE, and BLACK BEAUTY. We are truly more than just a lumber yard.

ARE YOU

JOKING? You haven’t ordered your 2011 calendars yet?

Contact Sumer Rex Today!

219.226.0300 • sumer@3dms.com • www.3dms.com 84

SUPPLIER

Synergy Steel Structures, Inc. 17500 S. Paxton Avenue Lansing, IL 60438 (708) 474-8815 Fax (708) 514-0304 fax www.synergysteelstructures.com

Synergy Steel Structures’ fabrication process is built around a highly skilled team of people who are supervised by a group of foremen that average over twenty-five years of experience each in the custom structural steel fabrication process. SSS is an AISC certified fabricator passing its original certification audit with zero corrective action reports. www.buildingindiananews.com

ELKHART, IN Build to Suit for Sale or Lease

Phone: 800-276-5149 Website: www.myerstrust.com Broker Name: Andrew Myers Email: amyers@myerstrust.com Total Land Size: 48.13 acres Square Feet Available:10,000 to 200,000 SF Property Type: Industrial Land Zoned M-2 Description: Excellent location with under employed highly skill manufacturing workforce.

Easy access to major roads including 80/90 and US 20. All utilities run to site. Creative builder/ developer with over 50 years experience in commercial construction. Outside storage available. Can accommodate 10,000 to 200,000 SF facility. Will build to suit either sale or lease.

1330 ARROWHEAD CT. Phone: 219-663-7870 Website: http://www.easylifestorage.com Storage Size: 5x5 up to 13x20 Description: NOW OPEN. Storage pricing starts at $49.

TRUE CLIMATE CONTROL STORAGE! Store offers packing supplies and more! Store hours are M-F 10am to 4pm. Storage units are accessible 24 hours!

Round the clock surveillance!

East Chicago Enterprise Center

24 HOUR ACCESS

EAST CHICAGO, IN FOR LEASE

4407 Railroad Ave East Chicago, IN (PLANT #2 & 4)

Phone: 312-642-1800 ext. 11 Website: www.commercial-adv.com Broker Name: Commercial Advantage of Chicago, Inc. Email: ltubbs@commercial-adv.com Total Square Feet: 548,469 (3 Buildings) Square Feet Available: 191,118 sq. ft. (+/-) Property Type: M-1 Industrial Description: Plant #2 16,634 sq. ft. to 100,442 sq. ft. with 10 Ton and up to 50 Ton Capacity. Plant #4 90,676 sq.

ft. with 2-30 Ton cranes and 60 Ton (w/10 Ton auxiliary). 480 Volt Service – 1200 to 3000 amp – 3 Phase. Radiant heat, sodium vapor lighting, ceiling height up to 35’ clearance (+/-), 9 overhead doors, IHB rail (interior to building #4). Perimeter fence with security guard. 5 Minutes from Major Inter State Highways, Enterprise/TIF Zone, Outside Storage.

CROWN POINT, IN STORAGE AVAILABLE

REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE

Beck Industrial Phase II

WANTED: HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING Contractor Steel Company 36555 Amrhein Rd. Livonia, MI 48150 Donald R. Simon, President (734) 452-3332

WILL CONSIDER LAND PURCHASE

Lot Requirements: 15 acres minimum, heavy industrial zoning.

Building Requirements: 150,000 SQ FT building minimum with room to expand.

Building Amenities: 10/20 ton cranes, 80’ or wider bays, 20’ under hook and a minimum 7,500 SQ FT office space.

Desired location: East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Indiana area. *Rail Access is a Plus.

2010 GMC

TERRAIN

(219) 769-6381

3209 W Lincoln Hwy • Merrillville, IN 46410

www.schepel.com www.buildingindiananews.com

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the

LastWord

opinion page A Common Goal

Business leadership needs to step up and create ways to work with educators to ensure that Indiana maintains a strong, skilled and educated workforce.

E

By Roland Dorson, President, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce

verywhere we look, studies and surveys and anecdotal evidence show that good education, including postsecondary training, is imperative for workers in the 21st century economy. But American students are falling behind their counterparts elsewhere on the globe.

Indiana businesspeople have a stake in ensuring that young people are properly prepared to enter the work force.

First, those in school today – even those born tomorrow – are our future workers. If our companies are to survive and thrive, we need a stream of reliable, skilled workers flowing uninterrupted into the work force.

Second, baby boomers retiring over the next two decades need to know that the work force is strong and sufficient enough to maintain not only the Social Security system but the very economy.

And third, it’s the right thing to do.

These imperatives drove the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce to create Common Goal, an initiative to increase the high school graduation rate among Marion County youth. We partnered with a number of like-minded organizations to establish a series of programs and interventions that help at-risk young people recognize the value of education, witness how it matters in their future and experience the real-life workplace. These

experiences are occurring every day in 20 public high schools across Marion County.

Mentors – Chamber members who volunteer – generally work in pairs as they meet twice monthly throughout the school year with a group of youths to talk through issues, offer encouragement, share personal experiences and handle obstacles that stand in the way of graduation. Mentoring isn’t tutoring, but rather advising on issues such as stress management, time management, job searches and interview skills. And listening.

Graduation coaches are professionals who work one-on-one with students, advocating for them, helping them over hurdles and exposing them to postsecondary education. Remediation, reading classes and credit recovery make it possible for young people who have gotten off the rails to get back on track for graduation.

Common Goal also creates opportunities for internships. We just completed the third summer in which students were matched with willing employers for 80-hour paid work experiences. In 2008, nine students interned at nine companies. In 2009, 37 students worked at 27 companies. This year saw 59 students interning at 45 companies, and we hope to have even more next summer. Interns and their employers report that these have been positive relationships

in which both have benefited. And counselors or teachers often report that the experience causes students to focus more deliberately on his or her school work.

When we established Common Goal in 2007, that “common goal” was to raise the graduation rate in Marion County’s 11 school districts to 80 percent by spring 2012. We don’t yet know the rates for spring 2010; those likely will be tabulated

by January. But by spring 2009, the graduation rate had increased 6 percentage points, to 73.8 percent. That is a lot of progress in just two years.

But we still have far to go, not only to reach a magic number, but to make a difference in the lives of many Marion County youths, to ensure that a skilled work force is available to staff our businesses tomorrow and to do the right thing.

If you are a Marion County businessperson, consider volunteering your time to mentor or making your staff members available to do so. Give some thought to sponsoring a Common Goal intern next summer. If you’re doing business elsewhere in Indiana, think about how you can adapt Common Goal to your own locale, ensuring a better future for your youths and your community.

For more information, visit www.buildingindiananews.com.

The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the authors. We welcome your response.

If you are interested in writing an opinion piece, send an e-mail to editor@buildingindiananews.com.

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