Building Indiana News

MARCH/APRIL 2012

$6.95

Travel Brightens Cover Story Travel Bounces Back 36 Construction The New South Shore 44 Welcome Center Performing Smarts 61

Interested In Building Relationships With

From 12 Heartland States?

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Come to the 'Greening The Heartland' Conference May 16th-18th At The Convention Center WHY TO ATTEND AND WHAT TO EXPECT:

Display your company and prospect for new business with attendees.

The 3�day conference and trade expo is anticipated to be one of the largest assemblies of green building professionals and citizens from 12 heartland states ever held in Indiana

GET OVER 9 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS AND ENJOY IT TOO!

Each conference day includes plenary sessions and breakout workshops that are organized around one of the "triple bottom line" tenets of sustainability: ecology, economy and technology

EVENT

U.S. Green Building Council Heartland Regional Conference (hosted by USGBC Indiana Chapter)

WEBSITE

www.greeningtheheartland.org

D AT E S

Wednesday, May 16 - Friday May 18

REGISTER

http://www.Greeningtheheartland.Org/

L O C AT I O N

LISTEN TO NATIONALLY RENOWNED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Charles Fishman, journalist and author of The Big Thirst Jeremy Rifkin, economist/futurist and author of The Third Industrial Revolution

Indiana Convention Center, downtown Indianapolis, IN

Presentation from Wishard/Eskenazi health hospital Wishard/Eskenazi health will be the first hospital in Indiana, and one of the ten in the nation, built to USGBC Leed Silver Certification.

GREENINGTHEHEARTLAND.ORG

info@greeningtheheartland.org

888.473.2993

THE AMERICAN GROUP OF CONSTRUCTORS

FOUNDATION STONES Determination in our Commitment to Safety Pride in our Workmanship Trust in our Relationships Care in our Stewardship

“A sure foundation inspires confidence, encourages creative thinking, and enables us all to achieve wonderful things...”

Phone: 877-937-1508 | Fax: 219-937-1512 www.tagconstructors.com

Publisher’s Desk

219.226.0300 • 317.632.1410 www.buildingindiananews.com www.buildingindianablog.com

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1330 Arrowhead Court Crown Point, IN 46307 Publisher/Editor Andrea M. Pearman andrea@buildingindiananews.com

Simply the Best

Vice President, Business Development Chrischelle Schmidt chrischelle@buildingindiananews.com

After tornados devastated rural communities in southern Indiana in March, businesses and individuals sprang into action, donating time, money and materials to help hard-hit towns like Daisy Hill and Henryville. The quick and generous response made me proud to be a Hoosier, but also saddened me just a bit. Why does it take a disaster to bring out the best in people?

Something similar has occurred to me several times over the last few years. Even as the economy nose-dived and unemployment soared, we saw people pull together to support one another and help each other out. Now that things are improving, can we keep that spirit alive, or do we just slip back into our “old” habits?

I hope that doesn’t happen. The “can-do” attitude of the past few years has been reflected in so many of the stories we’ve published during that time. It’s the source of innovation that’s made the state a leader in the healthcare field, and of the job growth that’s made Indiana an example nationwide.

We’ve spent the last few years showing ourselves, and the world, what we can do at our best. It was easy. After all, what did we have to lose? Now comes the hard part: staying at our best as the skies clear overhead.

Building indiana news will be accepting donations of food, clothing and sundries for tornado relief at our offices in Crown Point. I look forward to seeing you when you stop by and drop something off.

Kind Regards,

Director, Business Development Leigh Ann Flora leighann@buildingindiananews.com Director of Advertising Liza Hilliard liza@buildingindiananews.com Senior Writer David Wellman dave@buildingindiananews.com Creative Director Rebekah Hendricks rebekah@buildingindiananews.com Special Projects Coordinator Jen Labriola jen@buildingindiananews.com Director of Events Jo Sutton kristin@buildingindiananews.com Director of Creative Media Sumer Evans sumer@buildingindiananews.com Vice President, Public Relations Rebecca Bailey rebecca@buildingindiananews.com Accounting Lindsey Andershock la@buildingindiananews.com INDIANAPOLIS OffICE Business Development Manager Lee Ann Richardson leeann@buildingindiananews.com 888.226.0330 WARSAW OffICE Business Development Manager Julie Monteith julie@buildingindiananews.com 888.226.0330

Andrea M. Pearman Publisher

Building Indiana News is published by Diversified Marketing Strategies

Visit us at 3dms.com

2006 Communicator Awards’ Award of Distinction 2009 Communicator Awards’ Award of Excellence 2011 Communicator Awards’ Award of Distinction

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2007 Summit Creative Award 2010 Summit Creative Award

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2009 Davey Awards Silver Award

2008 Hermes Gold Award 2009 Hermes Gold Award 2010 Hermes Gold Award 2011 Hermes Gold Award

2006 Marcom Gold Award Winner 2007 Marcom Gold Award Winner 2008 Marcom Gold Award Winner 2010 Marcom Gold Award Winner

Andrea M. Pearman 2009 Small Business Journalist of the Year

2006 APEX Award for Publication Excellence

2009 Nichee Magazine Award

2008 APEX Award for Publication Excellence

2009 Silver Award 2010 Gold Award

Subscriptions: Standard rates: $25.95/year Single copy price: $6.95 Copyright ©2011 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.

www.buildingindiananews.com

Contents MARCH/APRIL

2012

E V E RY I S S U E

04 08 09 24

30 32 34

42

Publisher’s Desk Contributors

People News

CONSTRUCTION EVANSVILLE ARENA An Arena Arises

Business Buzz

E X P E RT A D V I C E

28

D E PA RT M E N T S

50

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Intern-al Advantage

44

CONSTRUCTION MARQUETTE PROJECT The New South Shore

48

BEING PRODUCTIVE Wellness Works

50

WORKER’S COMP A Healthy Partnership

RULE OF LAW Sustainable Subcontracting

52

SAFETY ZONE Get Real

CONSTRUCTION Breathing Easier

54

THE BOTTOM LINE Why Do We Invest?

YOUR WELL-BEING Navigating to Better Outcomes

57

LIFELONG LEARNING Okay, Now What?

F E AT U R E S

26

36 38 40

6

PHOTO FEATURE • ISA Awards Recognize Top Companies • Labor Leaders Hailed • County Awards Funds • Thomas Named 2011 Pro

48

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Setting a New Tone

GREEN & SUSTAINABLE Sewer Solution

61

WELCOME CENTER Performing Smarts

64

COVER STORY Travel Bounces Back FACTS & STATS Travel & Tourism Statistics

59

MARKETING Scan This!

66

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A Medical Marvel

30

70

THE LAST WORD Right to Educate

www.buildingindiananews.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

7

Contributors

Plan your

year.

EVENT

KEVIN COMERFORD

VENUE

MIDWEST SMOKE OUT

An upscale evening to treat and entertain clients.

Receive cigars, premium spirits, gourmet foods, luxury gifts & more! midwestsmokeout.com

LAKE COUNTY FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE CHRIS ANTON LODGE 125 BENEFIT FOR PATROLMAN JIM OPPOLO, JR. All you can eat dinner, raffle fundraiser, silent auction and more.

3dms.com/fop

LAKE COUNTY CIRCLE DEMOCRATS EVENING RECEPTION

Attend this reception to network and support the campaigns for County elected officials.

3dms.com

The Venue at Horseshoe Casino Hammond, IN

Slovak Club 6920 Broadway Merrillville, IN

The Patio Merrillville, IN

Avalon Manor Merrillville, IN

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF NWI Celebrate the Leading Women of NWI. nwiwomen.com

5-10pm

April 14, 2012 3:008:00pm

May 2, 2012 5-6:30pm

May 10, 2012 5:30-9pm

ILLIANA MAYFEST Held during American Craft Beer Week, the event is made up of sampling booths of craft breweries from IN and IL. Part of the proceeds benefit The Arc. illianamayfest.com

April 19, 2012

Lake County Farigrounds

Radisson Star Plaza Merrillville, IN

May 26, 2012 2:006:00pm May 31, 2012 5-8pm

FESTIVAL OF THE LAKES

Free live entertainment nightly, family events throughout the week, as well as the popular carnival. festivalofthelakes.com

NWIBRT GOLF OUTING

Network with the business leaders of NWI. The outing includes prizes & giveaways. nwibrt.org

Wolf Lake Hammond, IN

White Hawk Country Club Crown Point, IN

July 18-22, 2012

July 23, 2012

Radisson Star Plaza Merrillville, IN

Avalon Manor Merrillville, IN

IDEA SHOW: NW INDIANA

Get a head start on tradeshow giveaways, safety incentives, corporate gifts & more! Touch 1,000s of items with free samples! freeideashow.com

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TORCH AWARD LUNCHEON As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace.

Aug. 23, 2012

Avalon Manor Merrillville, IN

Sept. 13, 2012 5-8pm

Sept. 20, 2012 10am-2pm

Oct 9, 2012

beyondsafetyexpo.com

8

Media Company and Disney. She

Advancement

holds a B.A. in English with a

Foundation of Northwest Indiana

minor in Journalism from Purdue

(Portage). He is responsible for

University Calumet.

developing educational programs and seminars, and also works with

RANDY PALMATEER

local high schools and universities

Randy Palmateer is

to promote career opportunities

Business Manager

in the building trades and with

of the Northwestern

contractors.

Indiana Building &

MARIJO DLUZAK

Council (Munster). He is a member

Marijo Dluzak is a

of and former business agent for

Certified Financial

IBEW Local 697 and an Ivy Tech

Planner and

alumnus.

President of Dluzak & Associates Inc.

RICHARD RODARTE, M.D.

(Merrillville). She works with

Dr. Richard Rodarte,

business owners, retirees and

M.D., has more than

pre-retirees, and many widows

20 years experience

to help them create true wealth

in occupational

in their lives. Explore www.

health.

zakwealthadvisor.com for more

Board-Certified in occupational

wealth-building ideas.

health, he is a graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign,

Willis Glaros is

and did his post-graduate training

President and Owner

in Occupational and Environmental

of Employer Benefit

Medicine at the Medical College

Systems, one of the

of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He

largest group health

practices in Hammond.

insurance agencies in Northwest Indiana. He has headed up the

SEAN SMITH

NWI Wellness Council, been the

Sean Smith is the

Past President of the NWI NAHU

Vice President

chapter, sits on an advisory board

of Business

for the Indiana Department of

Development for

Leading Producers Roundtable.

CertifiedSafety (Whiting). Smith is responsible for CertifiedSafety’s growth through

JENNIFER LABRIOLA

STAND UP FOR ST. JUDE HOUSE

BEYOND SAFETY EXPO Come learn from the industries BEST Safety experts, CEUs available. Discuss topics related to safety and network.

for Horseshoe Casino, The Times

the Construction

Insurance, and is a member of the Radisson Star Plaza Merrillville, IN

3dms.com

Join us for a comedy show and dinner to benefit St. Jude House! standupnwi.com

to joining DMS, Labriola worked

Education for

WILLIS GLAROS

THE BIG SCHMOOZE

SCHMOOZE at this networking-focused event. Building Indiana News will recognize the Power Players in Northern Indiana. Annual Campaign Kick-off for The United Ways of Lake and Porter Counties. thebigschmooze.com

Strategies (Crown Point). Prior

is Director of

8am

URBAN LEAGUE GALA

The Urban League of NWI promotes services in the areas of Education, Economic Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Civic Leadership and Civil Rights & Social Justice for all. We serve Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties.

3dms.com

Kevin Comerford

Construction Trades

CAF & NWIBRT SAFETY AWARDS BANQUET Recognizing local firms committed to safety and the improvement of construction and maintenance projects in NWI. buildingindianananews.com

DATE & TIME

Diva at Diversified Marketing

Radisson Star Plaza Merrillville, IN

Radisson Star Plaza Merrillville, IN

Oct 11, 2012

Feb 19-20, 2013

strategic planning, market analysis/

With more than

awareness, corporate sales and

10 years in the

networking. Prior to joining

design business,

CertifiedSafety, Smith served as

Jennifer Labriola

Global Business Manager with

is the Design

Greene, Tweed & Co. www.buildingindiananews.com

BUSINESS BUZZ

Event Celebrates Top Women Executives

O

n May 31, Diversified Marketing Strategies will honor Northwest Indiana’s top female business and civic leaders at the second annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana reception at the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville.

The event will include a networking reception with cocktails and appetizers, dinner and the awards presentation. Last year, more than 500 business leaders came together for the inaugural banquet to recognize more than 100 nominees along with the 24 award winners. Proceeds from the event will benefit charities in Northwest Indiana.

“We created this event to encourage, support, and celebrate our female business leaders in Northwest Indiana,” says Andrea M. Pearman, President of Diversified Marketing Strategies (DMS) and the Publisher of Building Indiana News magazine, which is sponsoring the event.

“The way that the community embraced the event last year was just unbelievable, and I could not be more excited about returning again this year to recognize nearly two dozen more of the region’s most influential women.”

Winners are selected by a fivemember committee of local business professionals. They include representatives from 11 selected industries including

www.buildingindiananews.com

healthcare, finance, construction and engineering, economic development and real estate, education, government, law, manufacturing, marketing and media, service and tourism, and nonprofit organizations.

Nominees are judged on several criteria, including their influence on their company or industry; their reputation for leadership, experience and integrity; and their track record of accomplishment.

Two awards will be presented in each of the 11 categories, an “Influential Woman of the Year Award,” recognizing women who are having an impact in their field now, and an “Up and Coming Woman of the Year Award” for those on the cutting edge of business leadership in Northwest Indiana.

Supporting Success Two final honors will also be presented at the event. The first is the Community Leader Award, given to the region’s most outstanding female community champion. The second is the Supporting Business of the Year Award, which recognizes an organization that supports the success of women.

All of the 2012 Influential Women of Northwest Indiana will be featured in a special publication, NWI Women, that will be published in the first quarter of 2013.

The Influential Women of Northwest Indiana reception and awards ceremony will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 31, 2012 at the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville. Tickets to the event are available at www.nwiwomen.com or by calling Jo Sutton at 219.226.0300.

For sponsorship details and advertising information in NWI Women, contact Leigh Ann Flora at 219.226.0300.

Industry Categories for Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards • Construction • Economic Development • Education • Finance • Government • Healthcare • Law • Manufacturing • Marketing/Media • Nonprofit • Service/Tourism • Community Leader Award • Supporting Business of the Year 9

BUSINESS BUZZ

Northwest County Creates Economic Development Cabinet Porter County officials have named 11 area leaders to the new Porter County Economic Development Cabinet. The Cabinet will direct a countywide strategic plan focused on job creation and shovel ready development sites. The county and local communities have committed to an initial $100,000 in funding for the group’s efforts.

The 11 members are: Doug Olson, former Mayor of Portage and current Director of Government Affairs for SEH of Indiana, LLC; Ronald D. Belin, Area General Manager of North/Indiana/South Michigan for Frontier Communications; Stewart McMillan, President of Task Force Tips; Heather Ennis, Executive

Director of the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce and President of Duneland Economic Development Company; Kent Meihofer, Senior Vice President of UGI Services; Tim Healy, Holladay Properties; Larry Hitz, Owner/ Broker of Prudential Executive Group Real Estate; Tim Golab, Route 6 Development; Chris Hernandez, President of Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council; Harley Snyder, Regional Development Corporation; and Jeff Good, Regional Development Corporation.

Council Receives Grant The Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council has received a $55,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation at Legacy Foundation to support the production and distribution of the 4th edition report of the quality of life indicators in Northwest Indiana.

The report will be used as a widely distributed platform to engage residents and leadership in public discourse.

The Quality of Life Council incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2000 and is chaired on a rotating basis by the presidents and chancellors of Northwest Indiana’s six colleges and universities: Calumet College of St. Joseph, Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech, Purdue University Calumet, Purdue University North Central, and Valparaiso University.

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The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) has inked a deal with Blueweb Mobile Media PLC (Delray Beach, FL) for Wi-Fi hardware to be installed on South Shore commuter trains this year.

The advertising-supported Internet connection will not require riders to have a username or password. The railroad hopes to have the system installed in the first half of 2012.

Blueweb is shouldering the costs of the hardware, while the South Shore will handle installation. NICTD will get a portion of ad revenues above a certain threshold once Blueweb sells enough adverting space.

ConAgra Investing $15.6 Million in Rensselaer ConAgra Foods will expand its Orville Redenbacher’s microwave popcorn operations in Rensselaer, creating up to 24 new jobs by 2014.

The Fortune 500 company plans to invest $15.6 million to upgrade its manufacturing www.buildingindiananews.com

Northern Indiana Solar Facility Approved The Merrillville Town Council has approved a variance allowing Lincoln Solar to erect 6,800 solar panels in Merrillville.

The $6 million solar energy facility is expected to create about 25 temporary construction jobs and one permanent job.

Power generated by the facility will be sold to NIPSCO. Chicago-based Lincoln Solar is exploring other similar projects elsewhere in Northwest Indiana, including a possible solar facility in Hobart.

Locomotive Goes Green

Valparaiso, INDOT Partner in $20 Million Deal

Tube City IMS has introduced a new locomotive with a retrofitted engine designed to reduce diesel emissions at U.S. Steel’s Gary Works. The new “Lean and Green Locomotive” will be used to haul slag at the mill.

The Gary-based company expects the new engine to reduce the locomotive’s fuel consumption by 60 to 70 percent.

The locomotive was funded in part by a $210,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Tube City invested more than twice that amount on its own, but estimates it will recoup that money in lower fuel costs within four years. The locomotive, built by Lean and Green Locomotive (Lorain, OH), is one of just two in operation. These locomotives save fuel because they can be shut down and restarted as needed, reducing the idle time of traditional diesel engines.

The City of Valparaiso and the Indiana Department of Transportation have reached an agreement under which Valparaiso will take over the management of Lincolnway, the city’s main street, in return for $18 million in improvements to State Route 30. The arrangement was announced by Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas in his 2012 State of the City address.

“It makes the most sense for the city to take over responsibility of Lincolnway as it runs though the heart of our city and is our signature street,” Costas said. “We gain greater freedom to maintain and manage this key road consistent with our overall road program and downtown agenda.”

The $18 million will be used to fund an “extensive improvement plan for Route 30 that was developed last year and which will be implemented over the next three to four years,” Costas - continued on pg 12

www.buildingindiananews.com

11

BUSINESS BUZZ

capabilities at its Jasper County plant. ConAgra will remodel its quality assurance laboratory, redesign its corn, slurry and salt systems and add four microwave popcorn packaging lines.

The company, which has more than 200 full-time employees in Indiana, has already begun hiring new production line associates.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered ConAgra up to $175,000 in tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. The city of Rensselaer also approved an additional property tax abatement at the request of the Jasper County Economic Development Organization.

BUSINESS BUZZ

said. The city will also pursue further grant opportunities to supplement this funding, he added.

“While the exact projects will be determined in partnership with INDOT, they will focus on improving traffic flow and safety, strengthening existing infrastructure, landscape upgrades and environmental enhancements,” he said. Planning for the projects will begin this year, with actual construction scheduled to begin in 2013.

In addition to the $18 million, Valparaiso will also receive $2 million from INDOT for the maintenance and daily operation of Lincolnway.

Construction Under Way on Modern Forge Facility in Merrillville Chester Inc. Architectural & Construction Services (Valparaiso) has broken ground on a $17 million state-of-the-art forging facility for Modern Drop Forge Company at a new site in Merrillville.

Modern Drop Forge announced last August that it would move from Blue Island, IL, to Merrillville, bringing approximately 240 jobs to Northwestern Indiana.

The site encompasses 40 acres with 230,000 square feet of building area for the production and distribution of high-quality, closed die forging products. When complete, the site will include a 60,000-square-foot forge shop with eight forging production lines, engineering and general offices and a die shop. Completion is slated for December 2012.

New Hospital to Open Ahead of Schedule Thanks to warm winter weather that has allowed construction to continue, the new 266-bed Porter Hospital in Valparaiso will open in late August instead of late November, according to CEO Jonathan Nalli.

To reflect the organization’s increased presence in the region, Nalli also announced a name change for both the hospital and health system. The latter will be changed from Porter to Porter Health Care System, while the hospital will be known as Porter Regional Hospital instead of Porter, Valparaiso Hospital Campus.

Construction Company Reaches Safety Milestone Superior Construction Co., Inc., is celebrating its 13th year of safe operations at the BP Whiting Refinery. Employees of the Gary-based construction firm have put in more than 15 million work-hours at the facility during that period without a single “lost-time incident” – an accident serious enough that a worker needed time off to recover.

“We have built an excellent safety culture there over the years by getting our employees involved,” says Safety Director Tom Owens.

“The credit goes to everyone out there. We have great supervisors and employees who make safety a part of their job.”

Superior Construction, which employs 26 full-time safety professionals, significantly improved its safety regime at the refinery three years ago, when it instituted the “Good Catch” program. Recently featured as a “best practice” by the Indiana Department of Labor in its bimonthly newsletter, the Good Catch program rewards Superior Construction employees for reporting potential hazards and unsafe behavior.

“The Good Catch program encourages every tradesperson to 12

www.buildingindiananews.com

Ambulance Service Makes Acquisition Prompt Ambulance Service (Highland) has acquired Keeney Ambulance and Transport Service (KATS), which has operations in Rensselaer, Lafayette and Frankfort. The acquisition expands Prompt’s service area, which previously extended from Lake County to South Bend.

KATS, now operating as Prompt Ambulance Central, will retain much of its existing management structure and all of its more than 70 employees.

With this acquisition, Prompt will also assume the existing 9-1-1 emergency contract for Rensselaer and Central Jasper County as well as several non-emergency contracts, primarily with hospitals and nursing facilities.

Horizon Buys Heartland Community Bank Horizon Bancorp (Michigan City) has acquired Heartland Bancshares and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heartland Community Bank, based in Franklin, for approximately $14 million.

Subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2012.

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11/8/11

9:30:56 AM

“We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand our presence in Central Indiana, which is an attractive, growthoriented market.” said Craig M. Dwight, Horizon’s President and CEO. “Heartland will provide a strong foothold in Central Indiana and further establish Horizon’s position as an Indianafocused financial institution.”

Heartland has reported total assets of approximately $246.0 million, total deposits of approximately $217.9 million and total loans of approximately $137.7 million on December 31, 2011.

For daily news from Northwest Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog.com and follow us on Twitter at @BuildingIndiana.

Northeast Furniture Maker Expands Poly-Wood, Inc., will boost operations in Syracuse, creating up to 50 new jobs by 2015. The manufacturer of outdoor furniture is investing $2.78 million to expand production operations, purchase a 25,000-square-foot facility and add a 35,000-squarefoot addition to its existing Kosciusko County campus.

The new production operations, which include plastic lumber extrusions and furniture manufacturing, are slated to be op- continued on pg 14

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CM

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CMY

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BUSINESS BUZZ

look for any kind of safety hazard and to report it immediately,” Owens says. The problems are then corrected, and the person reporting the hazard is recognized at the next company meeting and gets a $20 gas card. “Over the past two and a half years we have had well over 2,000 Good Catches,” Owens says, “and some have been extremely significant.”

Fort Wayne officials say the new abatement policy is needed to help attract new jobs and investments to the city.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Super Abatement

Vehicle Control Solutions, Inc. (VCS), an automotive engineering company, will expand its operations in Albion, creating up to 70 high-wage jobs by 2014.

The company, which provides embedded electronics hardware and software for vehicle systems, will invest $712,000 to lease 9,900 square feet of space and remodel it into office and lab space.

VCS, which has 18 full-time employees in Indiana, has already begun hiring additional hardware, software, components and computer-aided-design engineers. The positions pay an average salary of $85,000.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered VCS up to $1 million in tax credits and up to $62,500 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The Noble County Council also approved additional property tax abatement.

The Fort Wayne City Council has approved the creation of a new “super abatement” which will lengthen the period over which companies can skip paying property taxes on new investments in return for creating good-paying jobs.

Under the new abatement, companies will pay no property taxes for the first five years on new investments. However, in order to qualify, the company must pay wages 10 percent higher than the average wage for new jobs. Companies that don’t meet that criteria will still be eligible for traditional abatements.

Information Inform that matters It is our purpose to provide a vehicle to help establish and maintain a workplace free of the destructive effects caused by the use of drugs and alcohol.

If you require more information or would like to speak with us directly, please feel free to contact BCRC at anytime.

Contact Us

6050 Southport • Suite B Portage, IN 46368

14

Tech Company to Create High-Paying Jobs

RV Manufacturer Speeds Up

BCRC is very passionate about what we do. Our services promote the well-being and safety of employees in the workplace. Empowering our members with information is just one way BCRC does this.

www.bcrcnet.com

BUSINESS BUZZ

erational later this year. Poly-Wood, which has 87 full-time employees in Indiana, planned to begin hiring additional production associates in March.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Poly-Wood up to $100,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans.

Up to $200,000 from the state’s Industrial Development Grant Fund will also be made available to Kosciusko County for rail improvements at the site.

Crossroads RV, a manufacturer of fifthwheel and towable recreational vehicles, will expand its Topeka operations, creating up to 250 new jobs by 2014.

Crossroads, a division of Thor Motor Coach, will invest $3.9 million to purchase land and construct a new 93,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the company’s existing 45.3-acre campus in Topeka. The new facility will house the company’s Cruiser product line and is expected to be operational in June.

Crossroads employs more than 600 Hoosiers at six plants in Topeka and Syracuse. The company planned to begin hiring additional administrative, manufacturing and maintenance associates this year.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Crossroads up to $2.25 million in tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

Machining Company Investing $13 Million 877-988-5400 info@bcrcnet.com

Impact CNC, LLC, a production machining company, will establish a facility in Columbia City and add 106 new jobs by 2014.

The company will invest $12.87 million www.buildingindiananews.com

Rubber Hits Road in Plymouth Hoosier Racing Tire will invest $8 million to construct and equip a new 37,000-squarefoot expansion to its rubber mixing plant in Plymouth. The expansion is expected to create about 20 jobs.

The company will invest $8 million to construct and equip a new 37,000-square-foot expansion to its rubber mixing plant, integrating operations previously outsourced to an Ohio-based firm.

Hoosier currently has more than 400 employees, with the majority based in Plymouth.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Hoosier up to $140,000 in conditional Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits based on projected job creation.

The award recognizes organizational excellence in chambers of commerce and is based on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s accreditation process for local chambers. It highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership/governance, finance, advocacy and membership development.

Last year, the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County expanded its business growth and economic development efforts and is now responsible for county economic development. It added to its public policy success by endorsing candidates, through its political action committee (ChamberPAC), in municipal elections for the first time – with a 91 percent winning percentage.

Its Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka program hosted the second regional leadership conference and continues to be the benchmark for leadership program in the region and state.

The South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), an initiative of the chamber, developed an award-winning Web site, visitsouthbend.com, to attract visitors, and assisted in booking and servicing conven-

BUSINESS BUZZ

to purchase and equip a 30,000-square-foot facility at the Gateway Park in Whitley County.

The new facility will offer computer numerical control services for customers in the automotive, heavy-truck and agricultural industries.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Impact CNC up to $550,000 in tax credits and up to $80,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The Whitley County Council also approved an additional property tax abatement at the request of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

- continued on pg 16

Medical Company Boosts Employment in Whitley County Solstice Medical is expanding operations with a new facility in Columbia City and anticipates adding 10 to 15 new jobs by mid-2013.

The state-of-the-art facility will position Solstice Medical to meet growing product and service demands from across the country.

Solstice Medical provides inventory management and workflow automation solutions for medical device manufacturers and hospitals using advanced RFID solutions.

Whitley County Commissioners and County Council approved a CEDIT-based incentive to support the growth of Solstice Medical in Whitley County.

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Named Best in State The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County was named Outstanding Indiana Chamber for 2011 by the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) at their annual winter conference in Indianapolis. www.buildingindiananews.com

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BUSINESS BUZZ

tions, meetings and sporting events that drew more than 40,000 visitors to the community. And the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) graduated its fifth Michiana Forty Under 40 class and created the Outstanding Young Business Leader of the Year award. At the conclusion of 2011, The Chamber touted a 90 percent member retention rate.

Illinois Manufacturer Expanding in Fort Wayne Kinetek, a Deerfield, IL-based designer and manufacturer of motor, control and system solutions for commercial and industrial markets, has established an AC motor business unit in Fort Wayne This new unit – Kinetek Advanced AC Solutions – will design and develop AC and other brushless motor products for manufacturing at Kinetek facilities around the world.

Patrick Delaney, president of Kinetek Advanced AC Solutions, says forma-

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tion of the new unit leverages Kinetek’s AC motor engineering talent. “We have built a strong team with considerable expertise and experience at Kinetek’s research and design center in Fort Wayne. We are aggressively expanding this team to execute design and application of single, multi and variable speed NEMA 48 and 56 frame AC motor products.”

Whitley County Company Expands PDQ Workholding LLC is expanding its Whitley County operations. The manufacturer of hydraulic fixtures and workholding solutions for the CNC machining industry plans to invest more than $1 million in new machinery and equipment by the end of 2012.

The company started operations in the summer of 2010, when it invested more than $3.8 million to lease and equip part of an existing 50,000-square-foot facility in Gateway Park. The company now has 32 employees and is on track to meet or exceed its commitment to create 45 jobs by 2013.

The Whitley County Council has approved a ten-year tax abatement for additional machinery and equipment purchases at the request of Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

For daily news from Northeast Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog. com and follow us on Twitter at @ BuildingIndiana.

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The Indiana Economic Development Corporation secured job commitments from 219 companies in 2011, an increase from 200 companies in 2010 and more than any other year on record.

Driven by companies like Angie’s List, Canadian National Railway, R3 Composites and SS&C Technologies, Indiana welcomed commitments for 19,080 new jobs and $2.7 billion in capital investment in 2011.

The new jobs, many of which have already been created and others companies expect to create over the next five years, www.buildingindiananews.com

Inspector to Create 225 Jobs Quality inspection service provider Stratosphere Quality plans to invest $2.6 million to expand and upgrade its Fishers headquarters and create up to 225 new jobs by 2015.

Stratosphere provides sorting and inspection services to manufacturers of parts and components in the automotive, medical device, appliance, construction and recreational vehicle industries. The company, which has more than 800 associates in North America, has already begun hiring additional accounting, human resource and finance positions. It also plans to hire new quality inspectors and project managers across the state to interact directly with customers on-site.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Stratosphere up to $1.5 million in tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

Park Certification Extended

BUSINESS BUZZ

pay an average hourly wage of $21.22, above the state’s current hourly wage of $19.17.

Non-automotive manufacturing represented the largest sector for new job commitments in 2011 with 5,223 new jobs projected. With 4,650 job commitments, the automotive-related manufacturing industry represented the second-largest sector of new growth, followed by the logistics sector with nearly 2,000 projected new jobs. Job commitments for other sectors include: business services (1,729), information technology (1,261) and life sciences (838).

Business consolidations were a trend in 2011 with 34 companies planning to move all or a portion of their operations to Indiana. Collectively, these projects accounted for 3,325 new job commitments and $165.6 million in capital investment.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has awarded a four-year recertification to the Intelliplex technology park in Shelbyville. The 140-acre Intelliplex facility was one of the first parks to be certified under Indiana’s Certified Technology Park (CTP) program and has again been recertified with no extraordinary qualifications or requirements.

The park presently boasts more than 20 companies and organizations employing more than 280 people and generating an annual payroll in excess of $18 million.

Massive Development Planned in Indianapolis Plans have been unveiled for an $85 million development on the near Northside of Indianapolis that will feature two mixed-use buildings consisting of ground floor retail, 487 apartments, a 40,000-square-foot urban prototype Marsh Supermarket and parking garages featuring more than 1,500 spaces.

It is anticipated this project will create 830 construction jobs, 160 permanent jobs and generate $1.3 million in annual property tax revenue.

An upscale 40,000-square-foot Marsh Supermarket will - continued on pg 18

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BUSINESS BUZZ

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The second building, “The Point @ Block 400,” will occupy the triangular parcel bordered by Michigan Street and Senate and Indiana avenues. It will offer 10,000 square feet of street-level retail, 162 residential units and 180 structured parking spaces. The residences in the Block 400 development will include one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The city of Indianapolis will also build a 930-space parking garage along the eastern half of the block bordered by New York, Illinois, and Vermont streets and Capitol Avenue. This will replace OneAmerica employee parking being used for the development and provide limited additional public parking in the area. The parking structure will be connected to the OneAmerica tower by an elevated skywalk. The city will invest approximately $11 million in this facility through the downtown TIF.

Software Firm Grows in Indianapolis Archway Technology Partners, Inc., a financial software provider based in Indianapolis, will invest $1.7 million to nearly double its current 6,000-square-foot headquarters on the north side and create up to 140 new jobs by 2015.

Archway supports and integrates back office operations for firms in the investment management industry. The new high-wage positions will be across the company, including software engineering,

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business development and professional and client services.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Archway Technology up to $2.4 million in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on its job creation plans.

BUSINESS BUZZ

Blackford County Has Record 2011 Despite a sluggish global economy, private companies in Blackford County pledged to invest more than $35 million and create 86 new jobs in 2011. The new investment, comprised of both real and personal property, will generate more than $2.6 million in new tax revenue over the next 10 years.

The $35 million is a substantial increase for Blackford County.

It represents nearly 10 percent of the total net assessed value county-wide. The new investment in 2011 is also more than four times the total combined investment in 2009 and 2010.

Companies investing in their Blackford County operations last year included 3M Corporation ($9 million), Central States Enterprises ($6.5 million) and Naturally Recycled Proteins, whose $16 million investment creating 68 new jobs was the largest new-job announcement in Blackford County in nearly 20 years.

Ad Agency Blooms TrendyMinds Incorporated, an advertising and public relations agency, will expand its operations in Indianapolis, creating up to 20 high-wage jobs by 2014. The company is investing $964,000 to purchase and renovate an 8,300-square-foot facility.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered TrendyMinds up to $240,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans, and Indianapolis has approved additional property tax abatement at the request of Develop Indy.

Museum Sets Attendance Record Hundreds of thousands of children and families flocked to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in 2011, setting a new all-time attendance record that exceeded 1.27 million. That number is 9.4 percent higher than the previous record of more than 1.16 million set in 2010.

Museum membership also reached an all-time high of more than 34,000 membership households, compared with 32,000 in 2010. The Museum Store set a new sales record as well, exceeding $2,380,000 in 2011; that is up 5 percent from 2010.

Tech Park Certified Purdue Research Park of Indianapolis, a business and technology park near Indianapolis International Airport, has become the latest State Certified Technology Park.

The Purdue Research Park of Indianapolis opened in 2009 on a 78-acre site owned by the Purdue Research Foundation. The park is home to 14 new and expanding companies that employ about 160 people in the sectors of information technology, life sciences, engineering and other high-tech industries. The companies are housed in the 55,000-square-foot Purdue Technology Center building.

The Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette was the first State Certified Technology Park in 2003, and the Purdue Research Park of Merrillville received the distinction in 2006. www.buildingindiananews.com

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Indy Airport Adds Flight

BUSINESS BUZZ

For Indiana manufacturers exporting to Europe, the options to ship air cargo have become easier with the introduction of a third weekly cargo flight between Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Luxembourg. The new international all-cargo flight has been arranged by freight forwarder DB Schenker’s Indianapolis office and will be operated by Cargolux Airlines using Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.

In February 2006, DB Schenker, Indianapolis-based Roche Diagnostics, Cargolux and the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) collaborated to establish the first non-stop all-cargo flight to and from Europe. That operation quickly expanded with a second Cargolux flight from Luxembourg starting that July. These two cargo flights have successfully operated for the past six years bringing time and temperature-sensitive import and export shipments directly to the region.

“This additional weekly non-stop flight is a result of an eighteen percent increase in regional air export demand,” says Chris Matney, Air Service Director for the IAA, citing available U.S. Census data.

“Surprisingly, of the over 180 million pounds of air cargo Indiana exported in 2010, less than two percent of those exports left from an Indiana airport.

“Almost two-thirds of Indiana’s air cargo exports end up flying out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport, which is often challenged by congestion and unreliable flight schedules,” he adds. “This new cargo flight is a great opportunity for IND and the economic development of our region.”

Franciscan Alliance Consolidates in Greenwood Franciscan Alliance will consolidate physician billing operations at a new facility in Greenwood, adding up to 84 new jobs by 2015.

The Mishawaka-based Catholic health care system plans to invest $8.3 million to purchase, remodel, and equip a 96,505-square-foot office building, which will house all physician billing operations for the organization’s 13 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois.

Franciscan Alliance, formerly known as the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, employs 18,200 associates and more than 550 physicians throughout its health care network. The company planned to begin hiring additional management and business operation personnel in April.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Franciscan Alliance up to $700,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans.

Refrigerated Warehouse Company Expanding in Johnson County Interstate Warehousing has announced plans to expand its operations in Franklin, creating up to 50 new jobs by 2014.

The refrigerated warehouse company will invest $26 million in two phases beginning by expanding the company’s current 428,000-square-foot facility by 140,000 square feet. This portion of the cold storage facility is slated to be fully operational by July.

Founded in 1972, the Fort Wayne-based company operates additional cold-storage facilities in Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Interstate Warehousing is among the top-ten public refrigerated warehouse companies in North America with more than 80 million cubic feet of refrigerated and frozen storage space throughout the country.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Interstate Warehousing up to $200,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The city of Franklin also approved an additional property tax abatement and tax-increment financing at the request of the Johnson County Development Corporation.

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South Turkey Time in Southern Indiana Farbest Foods, Inc., one of the nation’s largest turkey companies, will locate a new plant in Vincennes, creating up to 600 new jobs over the next few years.

The Huntingburg-based company will invest $69.2 million to build a 220,000-square-foot processing plant that is expected to open in January 2014.

Farbest currently employs approximately 850 Hoosiers at its two Indiana locations in Huntingburg and Dubois. The company has already begun hiring engineering, administrative and maintenance associates for the new Vincennes plant and plans to begin

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BUSINESS BUZZ

hiring manufacturing associates in 2013. Once operational, the plant will initially employ 360 associates and will later grow to up to 600 employees with the anticipated addition of a second shift.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Farbest Foods up to $2.8 million in tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. Knox County has also approved an additional tax abatement at the request of the Knox County Development Corporation.

Swedish Construction Powerhouse Buys Evansville Firm Skanska USA, the U.S. arm of Skanska AB (Stockholm, Sweden) has acquired Evansville-based Industrial Contractors, Inc. (ICI), a leading contractor in the commercial, industrial and power markets.

Skanska has also acquired ICI affiliates Professional Consultants, Inc., Tri-State Refractories, Corp., and Industrial Equipment, Inc. The acquisition will allow Skanska to bring its heavy civil work and experience to the Midwest, enable the company to move into the industrial sector and bolster its position in the energy sector.

Headquartered in New York, Skanska USA has approximately 7,000 employees. Skanska USA Building, which specializes in building construction, and Skanska USA Civil, which is focused on civil infrastructure, generated $4.8 billion in revenue in 2010, representing 31 percent of Skanska’s global construction revenues.

Nonprofit Buys Vacant Plant KCARC, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people with disabilities in southern Indiana, has purchased a 139,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility in Loogootee that was vacated earlier in the year by Perfect Fit Industries.

KCARC, which is based in Vincennes, operates a number of for-profit companies, including Wabash Heritage, LLC, that provide services and manufacturing for a variety of major companies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense and Mack Trucks.

KCARC employs about 400 people in a wide variety of industries.

Economic Development Group Expands Board Radius Indiana, a regional economic development group representing eight counties in southern Indiana, has expanded its board of directors in order “to stay on a path of continuous improvement of service to the region,” according to R.J. Reynolds, President and CEO. The board was formally expanded to 24 voting members and three primary board advisors at the Radius Indiana meeting in mid-December.

The board is now made up of local economic development officials, utility executives, local elected officials, 11 professionals from related fields in the private sector and three core advisors.

Jasper Company Grows Stens, LLC, a supplier of replacement parts for the outdoor power equipment industry, is expanding its headquarters in Jasper, creating up to 98 new jobs by 2015.

Stens is investing $2.28 million to purchase, renovate and equip a 208,400-square-foot building on the city’s south side. Renovations on the facility, which will house the company’s headquarters and distribution center, began in January. Operations will transfer to the new site in August when facility upgrades are expected to be complete.

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The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Stens up to $750,000 in tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. The city of Jasper has also approved an additional tax abatement at the request of the Dubois County Area Development Corporation.

Buchanan Group Services, LLC, owners and operators of Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers, will expand its operations in Scottsburg, creating up to 24 new jobs by 2015.

The company will invest $2.3 million to construct a new 17,500-square-foot building for granite memorial production.

Construction of this new facility is slated to begin this spring.

Buchanan, which has 300 full-time employees in Indiana, plans to begin hiring additional production, delivery and installation associates this spring.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered The Indianapolis-based company up to $100,000 in tax credits and up to $32,000 in training grants.

Evansville Group Details 2011 Successes The Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) assisted 10 companies in locating or expanding in the city of Evansville or Vanderburgh County in 2011, securing commitments for 973 jobs with a five-year economic impact of $967.4 million, according to GAGE’s 2011 Annual Report to the Community.

In addition to the accomplishments outlined in the Annual Report, GAGE developed a Business Licensing and Permitting

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Pet Specialty Retailer Relocates from Michigan Pet specialty retailer Pet Supplies Plus (PSP) is relocating its warehousing operations from southeastern Michigan to Southern Indiana, creating up to 135 new jobs by 2016.

PSP plans to lease and equip a 763,000-square-foot facility in Seymour. Operations will begin in August.

Founded in 1988 in Farmington Hills, MI, PSP was originally designed according to the grocery store model and was the first pet shop with wide aisles and organized, well-stocked display shelves. Today, approximately 10 PSP stores throughout Indiana employ about 200 Hoosiers.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered up to $850,000 in tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The city of Seymour also approved additional property tax abatement at the request of the Jackson County Industrial Development Corp.

For daily news from Southern Indiana and around the state, visit our blog at www.buildingindianablog.com and follow us on Twitter at @BuildingIndiana.

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BUSINESS BUZZ

Monument Company Building New Facility

Guide and a variety of promotional materials used to attract and retain businesses and workers in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. The Growth Alliance also implemented economic impact modeling to accurately evaluate projects, conducted multiple entrepreneur workshops and obtained Shovel Ready Certification for another local property.

People News Corporate College Names Leader Ivy Tech has named Dennis Maloy Executive Director for its newly named Corporate College in Bloomington. Maloy was previously Executive Director of the Hancock County Economic Council, where he served as Executive Director.

Porter Names New COO Porter Health System (Valparaiso) has appointed Brian Sinotte as the hospital’s new Chief Operating Officer. Sinotte comes to Porter from John Randolph Medical Center in Hopewell, VA, where he most recently was the center’s Chief Operating Officer and Ethics and Compliance Officer.

Tonn and Blank Appoints Steve McGill Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC, has appointed Steve McGill as the new Director of Business Development. Previously, he was Business Development Manager with Moore Engineers. McGill will be based in Indianapolis and is responsible for business development efforts in Indiana, Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

Olthoff Joins Berglund Scott Olthoff has joined Berglund Construc tion (Chester ton) 24

as Project Executive. Olthoff has more than 19 years of experience in the industry and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Purdue University. He is a member of the United States Green Building Council and is seeking his LEED Accreditation in Building Design and Construction.

Indiana University Northwest Having most recently served the campus as SPEA’s Assistant to the Dean for graduate programs and outreach, Smith now will be responsible for making connections between community organizations and the university, and taking the lead on initiatives that will benefit Northwest Indiana.

Express Taps Crossen Jill Crossen has been named as the newest Employment Specialist at Express Employment Professionals (Greenwood). Crossen graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies. She also holds an MA in Public Relations from Ball State University.

Casterton to Helm Excel The Board of Directors of Health Care Excel (Indianapolis) has named Joy Casterton Chief Executive Officer. Casterton joined the company in June as its Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining HCE, Casterton served as Vice President of Finance and Business Services at Sunrise Greetings.

Johnson to Coordinate Success By 6 Leslie Johnson has been chosen as Coordinator of Northwest Indiana United Way Success By 6. Success By 6 is a United Way initiative to ensure that by age 6 all children are optimally healthy, safe and prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed. Prior to joining Success By 6, Johnson was a family support specialist supervisor for Healthy Families Indiana.

Hall to CURE Post Sandra Hall Smith has accepted the post of Assistant Director of the Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) at

Bose Advances Brown Bose Public Affairs Group LLC (Indianapolis) has named Douglas Brown Managing Principal for the governmental affairs and strategic communications firm.

Brown joined the firm as Senior Vice President in 2010.

Weitekamp to Fundraising Post The Community Health Network Foundation (Indianapolis) has appointed Bente Weitekamp as Vice President of Development. She will be responsible for leading fundraising strategies. Weitekamp most recently served as a Director of Ad-

vancement for the College of Science.

Grigson to Guide Colts The Indianapolis Colts have named Ryan Grigson as the team’s new General Manager. Grigson comes to the Colts following a nine-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, most recently as the Director of Player Personnel from 2010-11. He began his NFL scouting career as the national combine scout and area scout for the St. Louis Rams.

Legacy Foundation Names VP Lara Kalwinski has been appointed Vice President of The Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s leading philanthropic partner. Kalwinski is responsible for management of all Legacy Foundation grant initiatives.

Kalwinski was previously director of philanthropic sustainability at PHJC Foundation in Hobart.

PNC Chancellor Earns Award Purdue University North Central Chancellor, Dr. James B. Dworkin, has been presented with the prestigious Castaldi Award, given by the Indiana Association of United Ways in recognition of his commitment to the United Way. The Castaldi Award honors Lawrence Castaldi, who led the Indiana Association of United Ways for its first three years www.buildingindiananews.com

and served on its board until his death in 1985.

Gray Chosen by Oak Street Oak Street Funding (Indianapolis) has appointed W. Todd Gray as Chief Financial Officer. Gray brings more than 20 years of senior executive experience in strategic leadership, financial management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Arctic Chills with Belko Matthew Belko has been named Manager of New Business Development/Sales for Arctic Engineering Co., Inc., responsible for building relationships with clients with all types of mechanical needs. Belko has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University Calumet.

Fesko Named Executive of the Year Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer Donald P. Fesko has been presented with the Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award as the 2012 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.

The award honors an exceptional healthcare executive who is under 40 years of age; is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives; and holds a CEO or COO position in a healthcare organization.

Kelly Joins Duneland Group Duneland Group, Inc. (Chesterton), a provider of engineering and surveying services, has hired engineering industry veteran Shawn Kelly, RLA, to advance service diversification and strengthen current engineering, surveying and development services. Most recently, Kelly served as Senior Project Manager for DLZ Industrial, LLC, in Burns Harbor. www.buildingindiananews.com

Feldt Named to Small Business Post Business advisor Lorri Feldt has been named Regional Director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center. She brings more than 25 years of business-based expertise to the role. She has worked at Whirlpool Corp. in sales, customer service and marketing management capacities as well as served as a consultant and instructor at Purdue University North Central.

Campagna Joins Meyer-Najem Construction Adam Campagna has joined MeyerNajem Construction, LLC (Fishers) in Business Development. Campagna was most recently with The Mattison Corporation, where he served as Associate Coordinator for the Indiana Subcontractors Association.

Huffman Accepts Position Steve Huffman has accepted the position of Chief Information Officer of the Newly Affiliated Organization combining Elkhart General Hospital and Memorial Health System. Huffman has served as the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Memorial Hospital & Health System since 2008.

Former Royals Pitcher to Lead Oilmen The Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League announced that former Kansas City Royals Pitcher and Purdue Calumet alumni Justin Huisman will be the first Manager of the new collegiate summer league club. The Northwest Indiana Oilmen will take to the field this June at the new Oil City Stadium in Whiting.

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Photo Feature ISA Awards Recognize Top Companies The Indiana Subcontractors Association held its annual Construction Networking Event of the Year in Indianapolis in February. Exhibitors and attendees were at an all-time high. This year 102 companies exhibited at the show, up from 83 in 2011. While the total number of attendees is still being tabulated, the ISA is confident that the 2012 attendance will eclipse the 1,600 at last year’s show. Concluding the event was the GC of the Year Awards Banquet, in which the subcontractor community voted on who they believe deserved to win the title GC of the Year for projects completed in 2011, among other awards. The top two awards, for General Contractor of the Year, went to Shiel Sexton Company, Inc., and RLTurner Corporation.

(Photos: WhonPhoto)

Diversified Marketing Strategies’ Liza Hilliard (l.) and Betanda Schalasky get set up for business during the ISA show in Indianapolis.

Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. was awarded the GC of the Year Award in the $100 Million Annual Revenue and Over category

Meyer Najem won Project of the Year honors for the Blair Ridge Health Campus in Peru, Indiana.

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Duke Realty’s construction team won Project of the Year for the expansion of Building 1 at Allpoints at Anson.

RLTurner Corporation was awarded the GC of the Year Category in the Under $100 Million Annual Revenue category. www.buildingindiananews.com

Labor Leaders Hailed The Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor recently honored labor leaders and organizations at its annual Community Labor Awards Reception. These included Ray Kasmark, IBEW 697; Randy Palmateer, Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council; William Bech, Pipefitters 595, and Roger Jachna, IBEW 697; and Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO. (l. to r.) Richard Trumka, President of the AFLCIO, accepts the Leadership Award from Dan Murchek, President of the Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor.

County Awards Funds The LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) has awarded a grant from the LaGrange County Investment Fund to Cruiser RV, LLC. The company is investing $850,000 to create 200 jobs by 2014 at a 140,000-square-foot facility in the town of LaGrange.

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(l. to r.) Ken Mishler, LaGrange County Investment Fund Advisory Board; Keith Gillenwater, LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation; Mark Leu, LaGrange REMC; Jeff Fought, Cruiser RV; and Dan Van Liew, Cruiser RV.

Thomas Named 2011Pro In recognition of his strong dedication to safety, Steve Thomas has been named the FCII HSE Professional of the Year by Fluor Constructors. (l. to r.) Randy Brodziak, Rusty Long, Mitchell Surovik, Steve Thomas, Alex Sierra, Tom Rabb and Ed Bandauskas.

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Intern-al Advantage How businesses profit from internships.

By Kevin Comerford, Director of Education and Workforce Development, Construction Advancement Foundation

I

ncorporating an internship program can be a cost-effective and flexible solution to the recruitment and workforce development needs of any business. Internships can provide a riskfree opportunity for employers to evaluate talent and to determine if candidates are a good fit for their company.

Many businesses are often so impressed with their interns that they offer them full-time jobs. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2010 Internship and Co-op Survey, 53.3 percent of internships turn into full-time jobs. Since internships usually last several months, employers can get a good feel for the student’s socialization to the workplace, and analyze their skill sets and ability to perform the workload. After the internship is complete, there is no obligation if the intern does not fit the company.

However, student interns who eventually get hired as full-time employees often end up being devoted and dependable workers. According to NACE’s 2009 Experiential 28

Education Survey, almost 40 percent of employers reported a higher five-year retention rate among employees they had hired via their internship programs.

Old Dogs, New Tricks College interns can bring a fresh perspective, diversity and enthusiasm to an organization. Many businesses too often use deep-rooted static processes to accomplish tasks simply because “it was always done that way.” This doesn’t mean that these embedded methods of doing business are necessarily the best. Students can bring new ideas to old business practices that can help companies identify and solve problems that are often overlooked by full-time employees. Interns can help discover smarter and more efficient ways of managing tasks that can help the organization become more competitive.

Many students think internship programs are a waste of time. So when you come across a student who is actively looking for an internship, you can assume they

are a self-driven individual. Students who choose to pursue internships want to make an impression on the organization. These students are eager to prove themselves in a real-world environment and will help out as much as they can when given the chance.

They’ll work with focus and diligence on any assignment thrown their way for the chance to gain experience.

Interns also understand that their time with the organization could be limited.

Therefore, they are motivated to work hard and impress as they lay the groundwork for a full-time position or, at least, a favorable recommendation to add to their resumes.

There are many additional advantages to pursuing college interns as part of a workforce development recruiting strategy. Students today are extremely techsavvy. These aspiring young professionals grew up on computers, software programs and social media. They are at ease with the technology that is needed to move business forward. Incorporating student interns into your business model is also a great way to www.buildingindiananews.com

support students and give back to the community. Hiring interns helps students in your community get started on their career paths, which can enhance the local workforce as a whole.

Compensation Questions One issue that employers must consider is whether to pay the employee during the internship. Paid internships usually attract a larger group of qualified individuals. Often, financial difficulties prevent highly qualified students from pursuing unpaid opportunities. Employers must also be aware that they must adhere to strict guidelines provided by the US Department of Labor that they must adhere to so that an unpaid internship does not violate the Fair Labor Standards Act. Effective internship programs are well thought out and have structured orientation and training plans. The sooner students understand the culture, mission, and how a particular organization operates, the sooner they can assume assigned responsibilities and become productive.

Interns should be provided with a clear job description and given realistic goals. The workload should be challenging for the student. They should have real responsibility on meaningful projects and be permitted to participate within company functions and meetings. The organization should provide the student with a dedicated site supervisor, and the two should have regular meetings to evaluate projects, discuss goals and ensure that objectives are being met. This type of feedback provides the student with direction and ensures the program’s success.

Good resources to find interns can include colleges and universities, job fairs, and advertising in university newspapers www.buildingindiananews.com

and on their Web sites. Often, employers can turn to their local employer organizations for guidance.

The Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) is one such organization. CAF posts the resumes of local college students on their Web site so that contractors have a resource to utilize when recruiting interns.

As an incentive for contractors to hire from local universities, CAF provides free training on many of their educational and safety programs.

Natalie Connors, Director of Career Development for Purdue University North Central (PNC), provides many on-campus recruitment programs that are free to employers. PNC, like most colleges, has a Career Development department which can be a friendly and helpful resource for employers looking to develop and establish a successful and meaningful internship training program.

Connors says that one of the keys to getting the most out of a student intern is to establish a thorough training plan before the intern begins work. She points out that their university’s career department is more than willing to assist employers by providing instruction manuals and other materials that can be useful in developing a quality internship training program.

Businesses that incorporate an internship program into their workforce development strategy can provide a cost-effective and diversified solution to their recruitment needs. When wellmanaged, interns can boost workplace productivity and give employers an edge. A meaningful internship program will provide win-win benefits to any business that aspires to maximize the value of their workforce development strategy.

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RULE OF LAW

can eliminate subcontractors that are inexperienced on green projects and the peculiar limitations that certification standards impose. The level of pre-qualification is up to the contractor, but should include the following criteria:

Sustainable Subcontracting

Collaborating with subcontractors to meet green goals.

By Logan A. Hollobaugh, LEED AP, and Matthew J. Straub, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart, P.C.

L

EED credits frequently hinge on routine construction tasks. Consider a contractor whose contract states its work must meet the requirements for Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Credit 4.2. The contractor hires a subcontractor who, unknown to the contractor, uses a high volatile organic compound (VOC) paint for minor punch-list work. As a result, the job does not earn the credit. If the credit was critical to reaching LEED Silver status, which the owner was counting on to get more than $500,000 in tax credits, the contractor may be exposed to the owner for significant damages.

Because contractors normally bear responsibility for the acts or omissions of their subcontractors, they should implement additional measures on 30

green projects to ensure subcontractors meet green goals. Some simple, but effective measures include: • Using heightened pre-qualification standards.

• Outlining increased project documentation requirements.

• Performing LEED specific on-site training.

• Reviewing substitution requests and value engineering proposals carefully.

Adopt specialized prequalification standards.

Contractors working on sustainable projects should add additional pre-qualification requirements before hiring subcontractors. This process

• The number of LEED/Green Globes projects the subcontractor has completed.

• The number of LEED Accredited Professionals the subcontractor has on staff.

• The subcontractor’s experience with sustainable building products.

• If the subcontractor is a mechanical subcontractor, its experience with commissioning and working with a Commissioning Authority.

• The subcontractor’s submittal/ documentation management process.

• The subcontractor’s management process for waste and recycling.

Review the increased project documentation requirements with subcontractors.

LEED and other green certification standards require extensive documentation to ensure credits are awarded. Because this documentation is typically required from the party purchasing or installing the materials (i.e. suppliers and subcontractors), contractors should meet with subcontractors and suppliers to review the increased documentation requirements in detail before or early in the project. Meeting minutes should be generated and circulated to document such reviews.

Compiling a credit responsibility matrix for the project that lists each targeted credit, the documentation required and the party responsible is an efficient way for a contractor to document each subcontractor’s credit responsibilities. Such a matrix should be attached and incorporated into relevant subcontracts and should be fully communicated to the subcontractor in scope review meetings. To avoid www.buildingindiananews.com

surprises, a contractor should require its subcontractors to periodically submit all documentation to the contractor (or architect) as the project progresses, and not wait until project closeout.

Implement LEED-specific on-site training.

Contractors should develop and implement a LEED-specific training program that addresses what subcontractors are supposed to do (and not do) on green projects. For instance, field personnel must understand what the green project recycling goals are, which materials are recyclable, where to put materials that are recyclable and how to document that materials have been recycled.

Contractors should require subcontractors new to LEED projects to submit a plan for training field personnel and monitoring their crews to ensure that field personnel are adhering to the necessary green processes to achieve certification.

If a subcontractor is new to green construction, the contractor should assist that subcontractor in preparing a training plan. The contractor should also provide training materials, including the current LEED Reference Guide. One option is to provide this training in conjunction with toolbox safety talks or weekly subcontractor meetings.

Contractors should take advantage of scheduling software to set reminders for certain tasks on the project, like painting and priming, to help alert project managers to review the green requirements with subcontractors just prior to beginning the task.

if any, on project credits. Although a more cost-effective material may have been an adequate alternative on a non-green project, it may be insufficient as an alternative when LEED credits are involved.

Similarly, value engineering proposals can inadvertently drop green credits. Contractors should pay careful attention to any value engineering proposals, whether contractorgenerated or subcontractor-generated. Before submitting VE proposals to the owner or architect, contractors

should work with subcontractors to review credit goals and the integration of building systems to ensure valuable LEED points are not lost.

Mistakes on green projects can be costly, especially when one credit can make the difference between gaining or losing certification, tax credits and other green incentives.

Proactive planning, prudent project management and early collaboration with subcontractors can reduce risk and increase the likelihood of a successful green project.

Examine substitution and value engineering proposals carefully.

LEED credit requirements can also create additional risk on green projects when coupled with substitution requests or value engineering proposals. Contractors and subcontractors frequently request the right to substitute materials or permission to use alternative materials in submittals and substitution requests. Contractors should carefully review substitution requests to determine the impact, www.buildingindiananews.com

31

SAFETY ZONE

Get Real Real safety versus the illusion of safety.

By Sean Smith, Business Development Manager, CertifiedSafety

R

egardless of which industry you observe, nearly every company’s safety culture is on display.

Employees wear T-shirts with catchy safety slogans, and brightly colored posters with bold graphics are plastered across high-traffic corridors, lunchrooms and meeting areas.

Worker safety is extremely sensitive – especially in the construction industry. It is common practice for companies to have dedicated safety professionals on staff who regularly audit the work environment. They consult with outside agencies, produce elaborate safety programs and generate a steady stream of reports in an effort to protect workers from injury. By all appearances, the performance standards of building safety awareness and planning are at an all-time high.

However, for all the time, effort and resources that go into accident avoidance, there are still thousands of workers who suffer an injury or are killed in the workplace each year. How is it we can spend so much time, money and effort and still miss our targets? Are we doing the right things?

Are we focusing on the right areas? Companies carefully check all of the boxes next to the OSHA guidelines and on their corporate safety policies, but does this generate real safety or just an illusion of safety?

Effective safety awareness programs and plans are important investments. Efforts and progress in these areas positively impact the workplace and save lives yet they account for only part of the solution.

Even the best plans will fall flat if they are not effectively implemented and execut-

32

ed in the field. Plan execution is where most fall short. Ask yourself these questions: • Is your strategy for qualifying a safety execution team as detailed as your safety awareness and planning methods?

• What selection criteria are used for safety execution teams? Does price rank over qualifications?

• Does the safety execution budget match the actual need, or is it built from what is left over from the mechanical budget?

• Are the people executing your safety plan qualified safety people or is safety a secondary role to their “real” job?

• What level of training and experience does your contracted safety team have?

• Are you aware of and in alignment with the approach, processes and methods that are to be used by your safety contractors? Can you easily see how they will have a positive impact on safety?

• Does your safety execution team have a documented track record of success?

• Are you hoping for a successful outcome, or are you confident you will have a successful outcome?

You could probably gauge your safety results by how you answered these questions. Real safety is the result of combining an effective awareness campaign and a comprehensive safety and implementation plan with truly qualified people for execution. The greatest impact you can have on safety is made by having the right people in the field along with the processes and methods they employ while executing the plan.

Anything less is an illusion of safety. www.buildingindiananews.com

www.buildingindiananews.com

33

THE BOTTOM LINE

Why Do We

Invest?

As we welcome the arrival of Spring and create “Spring cleaning” lists, money almost always makes it into the top ten.

By Marijo Dluzak, Certified Financial Planner and President, Dluzak & Associates Inc.

W

hy do we bother to save and invest? At its simplest, we save now so we can spend later. We invest now to create a lifestyle of financial freedom in the future. However, when you get older (if you are not yet) what are you going to spend your money on?

People dream of endless leisure, fabulous possessions and extraordinary “stuff.” Many imagine that a shiny new car, a new home and that “magic moment” on retirement day will be a ticket to eternal bliss. But, a year after the purchase, a year after retirement day, they discover that the thrill is gone and find themselves searching for new “stuff.”

Think about it. Really, what good is all that stuff? A client of ours, Dan, sold his businesses and retired last year. Dan and his wife also decided to sell some of their “extraordinary stuff.” They did not need the money; they just wanted to be free. They can buy anything they want. They just don’t want or need to buy more stuff.

Which brings us back to our question, what is the point of saving and investing? Wall Street Journal

34

columnist Jonathan Pond shared a few thoughts about this topic in his farewell article. To paraphrase Jonathan: If you have money, you do not have to worry about it. Of course, you still can, and indeed many rich folks still worry about money (lots of times needlessly). But, if you spend less than you make, live within your means, save and invest on a systematic and automatic basis, and invest prudently, you can live your life with a sense of financial control, long before you achieve total financial freedom.

Pursue Your Passions Money can provide you freedom to pursue your passions. What captures your heart? Our happiest retirees are filled with a sense of purpose, whether it is for their favorite animal cause, helping at church, adventures with their grandchildren or re-discovering their love of travel. Retirement gives you the time to pursue your passions without worrying about a paycheck.

Money can buy you time with friends and family. We all need a reason to get up in the morning.

But we also need someone to come

home to. Research shows that regular talks, visits and time with friends and family are a huge spark to happiness. Money does help you to go out to lunch together, take your family on vacation and go to the theatre together. Our happiest widows, those who are able to put back together the pieces of their life, all spend lots of time with friends, family and their passions.

The good news is that you can enjoy these benefits even if you don’t have wads of cash. You do not need a fortune to be truly wealthy. A fat portfolio just makes it all a little easier.

But, the quicker you do not feel the need to buy all the “stuff,” the quicker you commit to a debt-free lifestyle, the quicker you commit to a systematic and automatic investment plan, the sooner that you will be able to feel the freedom that Dan and his wife feel.

Feeling a bit of the “winter blues?” Consider adding a promise to your “Spring cleaning” list to spend less money on “stuff” and more time with your friends, family and passions. Your life, and your pocketbook, will be much richer.

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35

COVER STORY

Travel Bounces Back

N

Travel and tourism in Indiana rebounded in 2011, and all signs point to healthy growth in 2012.

By David Wellman

T

he U.S. travel and tourism industry was a bright spot amidst the mixed economic news of 2011. According to the Wash Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Travel Association, from March of 2010, when employment began to rebound, through September of last year the travel industry added about 209,000 jobs – a job growth rate 1.7 times faster than the economy as a whole. Over the first 10 months of 2011, new travel industry jobs accounted for nine percent of all jobs created nationwide.

That growth was reflected around Indiana in places like Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, where new facilities played a role in boosting travel and tourism’s fortunes.

“The Grand Wayne Convention Center had one of its best years ever in 2011,” says Dan O’Connell, President and CEO of the Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau (also known as Visit Fort Wayne).

“We had over 50 conventions last year.” And 2012 promises to be another big year, headlined by the Indiana State Democratic Con Convention, the first time the event has been held outside Indianapolis.

Improvements in Indianapolis and Chicago have helped to boost business elsewhere in Indiana as well. “One of the things we mashave noticed is that whenever Indianapolis or Chicago makes mas sive improvements, it displaces events into the suburbs,” says Katie Holderby, Executive Vice President of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA). Usually this happens because new events squeeze out existing ones, or higher rates lead convention planners to look at alternate locations, she explains.

As a result, the SSCVA was already running ahead of 2010 in early 2011. As of January of this year, rooms-nights booked through verthe SSCVA’s reservation system were up three to four hundred ver sus the start of 2010. “And if you look at this time last year, we had

36

only booked about 50 or 60 percent of the total room-nights we would have,” adds Heather Becerra, the SSCVA’s Director of Sales and Marketing. By the time 2012 is in the books, she expects the room-nights improvement to be in the thousands.

Not that cities like Indianapolis are likely to miss the business.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA) genergener ated 734,991 hotel room-nights, beating its goal of 725,000 and representing a sales increase of 13 percent. As part of this increase, the ICVA booked 48 citywide conventions, up from 44 in 2010.

As a result, the economic impact of tourism on the city is likely to have increased again in 2011. A study released late last year put the impact of tourism on the Indianapolis economy at $3.58 billion in 2010, an increase of $120 million versus 2009.

The study, conducted by Vantage Strategy, D.K Shifflet & Associates for the ICVA, also showed an increase in the number of visitors in 2010, with more than 20 million people from around the www.buildingindiananews.com

world traveling to Indianapolis, an increase from 18 million in 2009.

A third indicator, the number of tourism jobs in Indianapolis, also showed growth, to 70,000 jobs from 69,000 in 2009. The study showed wages of tourism employees increased by 2.9 percent.

A breakdown of the $3.58 billion in economic impact found that 63 percent was generated by leisure visitors (including sporting and special events) and 37 percent by convention and business visitors. There was also a rise in the share of total spending by international visitors to nine percent, up from seven percent in 2009.

“The success of Indianapolis’ convention and leisure tourism industry stands out in a relatively challenging economic landscape,” says Leonard Hoops, President and CEO of the ICVA. “The growth seen in 2010 is due in large part to the community’s decades-long commitment to making the Indianapolis region a must-visit destination.”

Indeed, the ICVA has already landed a number of events for the next decade, including the Kiwanis International Annual Convention in 2015, which will generate an estimated $10 million in economic benefits; the National Safety Council’s annual meeting in 2019 ($18 million); and the Seventhday Adventist Convention in 2020 ($45 million). The Association also extended the stays of several more events, most notably the fantasy, science fiction and gaming convention GenCon, which attracted some 36,000 fans and gamers to Indianapolis in 2011 with an economic impact of more than $36 million. In December, ICVA announced that the annual show would remain in Indianapolis through 2020.

For 2011, the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne scored 54 conventions totaling over 200,000 attendees. Of the shows, 15 were new to the Center. For 2012, 33 conventions are already booked and 13 pending. New events in 2011 included the Association of Indiana Counties convention, the Midwest American Trails and Greenway Convention and the Indiana Music Educators Association. This year, in addition to the state Democratic Convention, new events include American Choral Directors Association Central Division Conference, the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference, and the Motivational Interviewing www.buildingindiananews.com

Pictured is the new,250-room Marriott Courtyard attached to the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Combined with an existing Hilton also attached to the Center, it has doubled the inventory of rooms at the convention center.

Network of Trainers Convention, an international event previously held in San Diego, London, Sydney, and Switzerland.

This year Fort Wayne will also host the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA), a group dedicated to Honda’s Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles. “That will bring 8,000 to 10,000 people so we are very excited about that,” O’Connell says.

Like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne had a hand from White Lodging. The Merrillvillebased company got plenty of press for its new 1,000-room flagship Marriott in Indianapolis opened last February, but the com-

pany also built a new, 250-room Marriott Courtyard attached to the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Combined with an existing Hilton also attached to the Center, “it doubled our inventory of rooms at the convention center,” O’Connell says.

The new Marriott was in addition to four new hotels that have opened recently along the interstate. Though occupancy rates have remained flat, O’Connell says hotel revenues were up about eight percent in 2011. “We’ve built a new hotel here every year for the last ten years, so something must be going right,” he says.

TOP 10 INDIANA CONVENTION CENTERS VENUE

CITY

LARGEST MEETING ROOM (SF)

Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum Exposition Ctr. Marriott Evansville Indiana Convention Center Grand Wayne Convention Center Hilton Fort Wayne at Grand Wayne Center Indianapolis Art Center Evansville Auditorium & Convention Centre The Centre Cumberland Place Exhibition Center The Century Center

Fort Wayne Evansville Indianapolis Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Indianapolis Evansville Evansville West Lafayette South Bend

108,000 80,000 51,000 50,000 50,000 44,000 38,250 37,000 26,562 25,000

5,000 550 7,230 3,000 3,080 150 2,500 1,500 2,000 1,568

Source: meetingsource.com

37

Travel & Tourism Statistics STATE Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan Ohio

TOTAL BUSINESS BUSINESS TRAVEL TRAVEL SHARE OF BUSINESS TRAVEL DIRECT SPENDING ALL TRAVEL TAX RECEIPTS $11,857.0 $2,989.0 $2,211.0 $3,459.0 $5,534.0

39.6% 34.0% 30.5% 22.7% 35.0%

STATE Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan Ohio

$2,167.0 $423.0 $314.0 $547.0 $878.0

Source: U.S. Travel Association, dollar figures in millions

TOTAL LEISURE LEISURE TRAVEL TRAVEL SHARE OF LEISURE TRAVEL DIRECT SPENDING ALL TRAVEL TAX RECEIPTS $18,052.0 $5,805.0 $5,041.0 $11,794.0 $10,276.0

60.0% 66.0% 70.0% 77.0% 65.0%

$3,299.0 $821.0 $716.0 $1,866.0 $1,631.0

Source: U.S. Travel Association, dollar figures in millions

$2,773,823,048.00 Indiana casinos’ adjusted gross receipts in 2011.

Source: Indiana Gaming Commission

STATE Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan Ohio

SPENDING* $27.1 $8.6 $7.3 $14.8 $15.0

JOBS

PAYROLL

288,700 95,700 87,300 142,600 160,500

$8.0 $1.9 $1.7 $3.4 $3.4

TAX RECEIPTS $5.1 $1.3 $1.0 $2.4 $2.4

The 1.7 million jobs generated by the U.S. meetings industry is larger than many U.S. industries, including broadcasting and communication (1.3 million), truck and rail transportation (1.5 million) and computer and electronic product manufacturing (1.1 million).

Source: Convention Industry Council, “The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy”

by all andand international travelerstravelers to the stateto the state ** By alldomestic domestic international Source: U.S. Travel Association, dollar figures in billions

INDIANA CASINOS WAGERING & ADMISSION TAXES – 2011 CASINO Horseshoe Hammond Hollywood Horseshoe Southern Indiana Ameristar Indiana Live Hoosier Park Blue Chip Belterra Aztar Majestic Star I Majestic Star II French Lick TOTAL Source: Indiana Gaming Commission

Source: Indiana Gaming Commission

38

WAGERING

ADMISSION

$173,347,030 $137,211,981 $77,841,413 $71,840,710 $69,130,109 $60,901,674 $46,205,811 $35,078,581 $27,643,943 $26,518,240 $23,014,500 $17,416,293 $787,452,554

$17,296,539 $11,541,036 $7,032,438 $8,993,532 n/a n/a $7,517,340 $4,990,221 $3,790,266 $4,417,782 $4,417,782 $3,062,181 $76,968,423

TOTAL $190,643,569 $148,753,017 $84,873,851 $80,834,242 $69,130,109 $60,901,674 $53,723,151 $40,068,802 $31,434,209 $30,936,022 $27,432,282 $20,478,474 $860,420,977

Total U.S. travel expenditures are projected to grow 3.2% to

$841.6 billion in 2012.

Source: U.S. Travel Association

www.buildingindiananews.com

BY THE NUMBERS: U.S. MEETINGS INDUSTRY – 2009 • Directly supports 1.7 million jobs • Contributes $106 billion to Gross Domestic Product • Accounts for $263 billion in spending • Accounts for $60 billion in labor revenue • Contributes $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue • Contributes $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue Source: Convention Industry Council, “The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy”

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BY THE NUMBERS:

IMPACT OF TRAVEL ON U.S. ECONOMY – 2010 • Travel Expenditures • Travel-Generated Payroll • Travel-Generated Employment • Travel-Generated Tax Revenue • Travel Trade Surplus Source: U.S. Travel Association

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$758.7 billion $188.4 billion 7.4 million jobs $117.6 billion $31.7 billion

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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

SETTING A

NEW A new owner retools a Lafayette fitness club to attract a broader audience and serve an increasingly health-conscious population.

By David Wellman

I

t had possibilities, thought Marc Vaughn. Vaughn, owner of a business management company in Lafayette that owns and manages seven different entities, had been approached by the owner of a local health club who was looking to cash out. “He had been in business for 22 years, and the club had good membership. But the business and facility needed a facelift,” Vaughn says.

But what started as a facelift turned into a transformation that took the new Club NewTone to a different level, expanded its appeal and broadened its mission from just a place to work out to a center for a healthier lifestyle.

“It was essentially a dump,” says Mike Witteveen, President and COO of Tecton Construction Management, the Lafayette firm that performed all exterior and some interior work revitalizing the facility. “Marc took a place that was 40

TONE

really tired and created a vision for it.”

“I had never been in the health club business before,” Vaughn says. “My background is in finance.”

Realizing that remodeling the 40,000-square-foot facility would not be cheap, he wanted to ensure that he spent his money wisely. So he began attending industry conferences, touring top facilities around the country and even studying peoples’ club habits through his other ventures.

“One of my other ventures is a cleaning business, and we clean clubs attached to hospitals,” he says. “One thing we noticed was that people take their kids and go to the pool or the snack bar. It was a recreational activity.”

Vaughn also learned that the Midwest was short on workout warriors.

“Here, about 13 to 15 percent of people work out,” he notes. “The national average is about 17 percent. So the popula-

tion you are marketing to is smaller, so you have to be doing other things.”

Those “other things” have come to include a wide variety of programs and options aimed at health, wellness and families. “We now have 85 fitness classes a week, including parent-child yoga classes” Vaughn says.

As part of the renovations, Vaughn created Camp NewTone, a club-withinthe-club for kids. The club hosts monthly wellness meetings, offers healthy eating tips, sponsors a healthy eating Web site, eathealthylafayette.org, and sells healthy snacks and meals in partnership with a local deli.

Club NewTone also hosts a range of events, from a Christmas wrapping workshop to wine tastings. “It’s almost a country club-type feel,” Vaughn says.

The changes haven’t been without their critics. “We did lose some customers who felt the place had become too www.buildingindiananews.com

nice for them,� Vaughn says, but there were more new arrivals. “We doubled membership in a year.�

The centerpiece of the retooled club was a new indoor pool. The building for it was constructed next to an existing outdoor pool and has a glass wall that slides open to the outdoor pool. Vaughn wanted to duplicate the indoor pool environment he had seen in top clubs in places like Chicago and Indianapolis, which did not have the typical highhumidity and chlorine scent of indoor pools. A big reason Vaughn called on Tecton was their experience in this field. “There is a whole industry of specialty mechanical equipment for pools that heat, cool and dehumidify,� Witteveen says. The result, adds Vaughn, is a pool that would “stand with that in any five-star hotel.�

The exterior pool was also remodeled, and a splash pad for kids was added. Other exterior work included a new outside wrap; new curbs, islands and asphalt in the parking lot; and roof work. The inside was remodeled, including the entry way and locker rooms, and Vaughn added a hair salon.

Initially, Vaughn funded the project from an existing line of credit. But as costs rose, his bank partners became nervous. One of them pointed him to Valparaiso-based Regional Development Company for a small business loan. “This was the first time I had done an SBA loan,� he says. “It was a way to put the banks at ease, and the interest rate was beautiful.� The process of getting the loan “went really well,� and he is currently looking at doing another SBA loan for a second project.

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By David Wellman

CONSTRUCTION

An Arena Arises

T

he opening of the new Ford Center in downtown Evansville last November gave Indiana yet another marquee event destination and marked the next step in the revitalization of the city’s downtown.

The $127 million, 11,000-seat arena is expected to draw more than 300,000 people in its first year with a variety of entertainment and sporting events, including serving as the home court for the University of Evansville men’s and women’s basketball teams and as the home ice rink for the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League.

In addition to creating more than 300 part-time jobs including ushers, ticket sellers, ticket takers, and concessions and catering workers, construction of the Center provided nearly 700,000 manhours of work for local building trades.

Initial estimates were that only about half the work on the arena could be handled by local labor unions. In the end, 1,275, or 80 percent, of those who worked on the job were members of local trade unions.

For the trades, the project was a godsend, says Jack McNeely, President 42

of the Central Labor Council.

“When you couple the arena with a high school/middle school project we had going on, most of our crafts had full employment,” he says. “They got the job done on time and under budget. It’s just a magnificent facility.”

It was a win for Evansville as well, which got a new venue to replace the aging Roberts Stadium at a time when borrowing and construction costs were at the lowest they had been for a long time.

The city funded the arena with a mix of TIF revenues, gaming receipts and a food and beverage tax. The city also sold the naming rights to the Tri-State Ford Dealers for $4.2 million over ten years.

To build the arena, Evansville tapped Indianapolis-based Hunt Construction Group. “We are the No. 1 sports builder in the country, so any time a project like this comes along we are interested,” says Joe Eckhart, Project Manager for Hunt Construction. “Plus it was in our home state of Indiana, so we definitely wanted to be a part of the project.”

The arena didn’t present any especially difficult challenges, Eckhart says, but there were a few wrinkles. When the contract was awarded, for example, there were still several buildings to be demolished on the site, so Hunt and the demolition company developed a plan to share space so that Hunt could move in and get started once an area was cleared.

An arena project in the middle of a downtown wasn’t new to Hunt, either.

“A lot of these projects are located in the middle of a downtown,” Eckhart says.

“You just have to be cognizant of delivery schedules and limitations on storage.”

Strong local trades also helped www.buildingindiananews.com

move the project forward. “The use of local construction contractors is key to the success of these buildings,” Eckhart says. “They know the local authorities and vendors; we bring the expertise in building these kinds of structures.”

The Ford Center held its grand opening November 9 of last year, hosting Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, an event that brought a smile to the face of Bob Warren, Executive Director of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“This is my fourth destination in 25 years, and based on that, I can say that this is one of the best things they could have done for the community,” he says. “Sports, events, concerts – it’s going to be a big asset to tourism.”

Warren sees the arena as the foundation of a downtown entertainment district with restaurants, clubs, shops and art galleries. And being larger than the old Roberts Stadium, it puts the city in the market for events and acts it could not accommodate before.

“We are forecasting something like 135 events for the Center, from hockey and basketball to monster trucks and concerts,” Warren says. “And that gives us the opportunity to market ourselves outside our immediate market to generate overnight visits and economic development.”

The one remaining snag is providing accommodations for those overnight visits.

The arena is built partly on the former site of the Executive Inn, a 400-plus room hotel that used to service the adjacent 280,000-squarefoot Vanderburgh County Convention Center. The demolition of the Executive Inn complicates the job of attracting large conventions and events, and Warren says it’s “critical” to build a replacement.

“That keeps us out of the major league convention business until we can build a replacement,” he says. “I’d like to see that built sooner rather than later.”

The chances for a downtown hotel remain murky. The city had a deal in place with Woodruff Hospitality for a new hotel, but it fell through. Just before last Christmas, Evansville began negotiations with The Kunkel Group, a local design-build firm, for a $33 million, 220-room hotel. However, in March, the Evansville Redevelopment Commission opted to order a $40,000 feasibility study of a downtown hotel, at which point Kunkel said it was no longer interested in the project. www.buildingindiananews.com

CONTRACTOR LIST FOR FORD CENTER General ContraCtor Hunt Construction Group, Inc.

overHeaD DoorS & SHutterS, loaDinG DoCkS Architectural Sales Division of Lensing Wholesale, Inc.

Demolition Klenck Company

millwork, SoFt FloorS Danco Construction, Inc.

Site/Civil improvementS Sterling Boiler and Mechanical, Inc. main Street BuilDinG aBatement Elite Environmental & Safety Services, Inc. FounDation Weddle Brothers Building Group, LLC Sewer reloCation Precision Piping and Mechanical CaSt in plaCe ConCrete SuperStruCture, Drywall, Hollow metal DoorS, FrameS anD HarDware Deig Brothers Lumber & Construction, Inc. maSonry, HarD FloorS & CeramiC tile Arc Construction

eleCtriCal, low-voltaGe eleCtriCal Industrial Contractors, Inc. HvaC anD ControlS; plumBinG Peyronnin Construction Co. Fire proteCtion Tri-State Fire Protection, Inc. teStinG anD inSpeCtion ATC Associates, Inc. Bernardin Lochmeuller and Associates, Inc. Patriot Engineering Furniture Business Environments, Inc. Hudson Office Solutions

rooFinG Lehman Roofing, Inc.

Congratulations to the

Ford Centerfrom

THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THE RIGHT RESULTS.®

HUNTCONSTRUCTIONGROUP.COM to the Ford Center from

43

CONSTRUCTION

The New South Shore

Wolf Lake Pavilion, Hammond, Indiana

Northwest Indiana’s greatest single natural resource – the Lake Michigan shoreline – is finally getting the treatment it needs and deserves.

T

he changing face of the Northwest Indiana shoreline is being guided by the Marquette Plan, a regional strategy to redevelop shoreline communities and transportation infrastructure. Since 2006, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA), shoreline communities, and forprofit and non-profit partners have invested more than $213 million to turn the Marquette vision into reality. These investments include projects in the communities of Gary, Whiting, Portage, Burns Harbor, East Chicago and Hammond.

HAMMOND

Total Cost: $54.3 million

Hammond’s Wolf Lake Recreation Area Development Study identified potential upgrades that were incorporated into the final Marquette Plan.

44

www.buildingindiananews.com

These included improvements to the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Wolf Lake Recreational Development Area and the George Lake recreational trail system.

By combining $31.5 million from the RDA with $22.8 million of its own money, the city put the plan into action, improving access to and enhancing the Lake Michigan Lakefront Park, building a signature Amphitheater at Wolf Lake Memorial Park, and expanding and upgrading the park as well as a network of trails connecting Hammond, neighboring Whiting, and continuing through to Chicago. Key to this effort was the construction of the George Lake Trail Bridge, which connected the George Lake Trail and the Whiting Lakefront Park Trail over Indianapolis Boulevard.

Wolf Lake Memorial Park, a longneglected jewel in Hammond’s crown, has been transformed with the construction of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Wolf Lake Pavilion (pictured at left). A new aquatic center, landscape improvements and other additions have further reclaimed this space.

At nearby Forsythe Park, the city has reconstructed and expanded baseball and softball fields to encourage organized youth sports activities as well as family events like lakeside picnics and outings.

The George Lake Trail Pedestrian Bridge links the lakefront trail systems of Hammond and Whiting, allowing residents to mingle and enjoy shopping, dining and recreation amenities offered by both cities.

This newly built concession stand is part of the Marquette Plan for Whiting.

Also set for completion in 2012 is a performing arts pavilion.

and utility lines and a lift station, were completed in 2011. New concession stands, restrooms and a performing arts pavilion will be completed in 2012.

With the RDA funding about half of the costs, Whiting has been able to pursue related projects such as a new sports complex and citywide improvements that to boost local retail and tourism industries.

One example is the new Oil City

Stadium at Standard Diamonds Park, which was honored by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns with a 2011 Community Achievement Award. Whiting is also reconstructing old, unusable trails and building new trails.

Combined with the Dunes Kankakee Trail, these projects will create a modern trail system from Chicago to the Indiana Dunes.

WHITING

Total Cost: $48 million Marquette Plan projects in Whiting are providing improvements including pedestrian and bicycle connections to a regional trail network, access to the Lake Michigan waterfront and improvements along the shoreline. Together with expanded opportunities for additional residential and commercial development around Whiting Lakefront Park and 119th Street, these projects are generating more than 200 fulland part-time construction jobs.

The bulk of the investment in Whiting is going toward improvements at Whiting Park, where a boardwalk, boat harbor and concert venue are being put in place. Initial infrastructure phases, including new sewer www.buildingindiananews.com

45

EAST CHICAGO

Total Cost: $60.3 million

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As part of the Marquette Plan, East Chicago has embarked on several initiatives to create a more open and livable community, and set the stage for further economic development.

Efforts in East Chicago’s central business district have included the reconstruction of the Nunez and Callahan parks, a new police substation and the transformation of an old library into a performing arts center.

Infrastructure and streetscape upgrades in the retail district have also been made, and building codes have been tweaked to encourage pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development in the area.

The majority of the $60.3 million being spent to realize the Marquette Plan’s goals in East Chicago went toward a $56 million project to replace an aging water filtration plant with a new, state-of-the-art facility.

In the process, the new, smaller plant freed up 10 acres near the East Chicago marina, a prime location for further redevelopment.

GARY

Total Cost: $30.3 million

SUPER LOAD • POWER-ONLY

Spanning 241 acres, Marquette Park in Gary represents one of the region’s greatest

opportunities for redevelopment and reinvention. In Spring 2011, officals from Gary and around the region came together to kick off the Marquette Park Lakefront East Project.

The Lakefront East project includes the restoration of the Marqutte Park pavilion, the Gary Beach Bathing Aquatorium and the Father Marquette Statue. Other projects include adding a children’s playground, beach and lagoon improvements, and paving work in parking lots and access roads.

RDA funding for the project has been leveraged to attract matching grants from the EPA that will fund further projects and job creation at Marquette Park. Approximately $30.3 million is being spent on these efforts.

PORTAGE

Total Cost: $16.1 million Like the Marquette Plan, the $16.1 million Lakefront Park & Riverwalk in Portage project required collaboration and cooperation to be successfully implemented.

Over the course of the ongoing project, Portage has worked collaboratively with the RDA, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Indiana Dunes State Park), the National Park Service (Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore), the Porter County

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Once a National Steel Corporation landfill, the Lakefront Park & Riverwalk in Portage is a signature accomplishment for the Marquette Plan.

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Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission, the Porter County Parks Department, Duneland communities and other federal, state and local agencies to ensure the success of the project.

Once a National Steel Corporation landfill, the Lakefront Park & Riverwalk is a signature accomplishment for the Marquette Plan. RDA funding and partnerships with the city of Portage and the National Park Service have created a beachfront attraction that has become one of the most-visited sites at the National Lakeshore.

The project featured a LEED Goldcertified pavilion with meeting rooms and classrooms.

BURNS HARBOR Total Cost: $200,000

With $200,000 in funding from the RDA, Burns Harbor has developed and begun implementation of a Town Master Plan that will boost commercial and industrial development while remediating brownfields, preserving open spaces and

improving the quality of life in all of the town’s residential neighborhoods.

Key proposed improvements include remodeling the Westport Community Club Hall, developing of a multi-use office park and the creating a green technology park.

PORTER

Total Cost: $30.7 million The 2005 Porter County Destination Audit indicated that while more than three million visitors come to Porter County every year to visit the Indiana Dunes, the region lacked a gateway community or a place for visitors to start their experience. This missing element impacted the quality of life of residents and reduced economic development opportunities associated with these visitors.

The $30.7 million Indiana 49 Lakeshore Gateway Corridor Development Project balances the needs of residents and visitors and showcases the town’s heritage while preserving the environment, protecting local waters and meeting the principles outlined in the Marquette Plan.

Most recently, the town of Porter

piggybacked on Indiana Department of Transportation plans to rebuild the Indiana 49 bridges over U.S. 12 and U.S. 20.

The new bridges feature design elements which will be carried throughout the corridor upgrade as well as a 10-foot bike and walking path separated by a barrier wall, allowing safe pedestrian access from the town to the park.

The town and Porter County are also building the Dunes Kankakee Trail. Part of the overall vision of a single continuous trail running from Chicago across Northwest Indiana, the Dunes Kankakee Trail will run from the Kankakee River east to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Trail will connect the beach, the state park entrance and the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitors’ Center. Improvements include paving, trail restoration and flood control efforts.

For a complete list of area contractors working on various Marquette Plan projects around Northwest Indiana, visit www. buildingindiananews.com.

Keep Up the Hard Work!

Shoreline Communities of Northwest Indiana

Advance Construction Services Construction Manager 219. 794.1277 www.advancecs.com

Budd Mechanical Systems HVAC 219.931.1073 www.buddmechanical.com

PMS 303 and Process Cyan

NIPSCO

Utilities 1.800.4NIPSCO www.nipsco.com

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The Marquette Plan www.buildingindiananews.com

47

BEING PRODUCTIVE

Wellness

Works

An Indiana town proves the value of wellness programs.

By Willis Glaros, President, Employer Benefit Systems

D

espite all the discussion about wellness, there seems to be no clear path on how to get started and what to do, unless you have very proactive advocates.

So here is some direction and, hopefully, some motivation to start a program that will benefit not only your employees but also you, the employer.

A Real-Life Success Story If you want a reason to act, consider the success that the town of Dyer had with its wellness initiatives.

In 2006, Dyer decided to promote wellness by starting an onsite screening and health risk appraisal program. For the first two years, the program was voluntary , so only about 50 out of 130 employees and dependent spouses participated. While the town did receive an annual management report with global data based on the 48

appraisals, the less than 50 percent participation rate meant that the information was not reasonably credible for planning.

As a result, Dyer’s health insurance rates continued to increase between two percent and 18 percent a year.

In 2008, as part of the renewal process, Dyer decided to incorporate an incentive to encourage people to join the program. Participation shot up to 119 employees and spouses, and the data began to draw a more specific picture of risk.

In 2009 and 2010, Dyer had a rate hold, which was partially due to people’s increasing awareness of their health conditions. Based on the findings of the screenings and assessments, the town began to distribute information about risks that had been identified and how they could be addressed in 2010.

In 2011, Dyer changed its wellness vendor, switching to a provider that of-

fered a greater variety of wellness programs. These included new programs on hypertension, diet and weight, as well as the opportunity to conduct a full-scale health fair. Again, in 2011 and 2012, Dyer had rate holds with its insurance company.

The bottom line is that Dyer’s health insurance rates have not increased in five years and benefits have remained stable.

Even more impressive is that this achievement came when the average annual increase was seven percent to 10 percent a year. Dyer was able to utilize the wellness screenings and health risk appraisal results in tandem with the stable claims to argue with the insurance company for rate stability.

So does wellness pay? You bet it does.

Companies have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Contact your health insurance broker, join the Wellness Council and get started now. www.buildingindiananews.com

HOW DO I GET STARTED? • If you are the leader of your organization then endorse and promote your program, no matter how small.

• Join the Wellness Council of Indiana for Corporate support.

• Use your safety committee or develop a new committee to oversee and report on wellness initiatives.

• Develop a plan to identify your company’s risks by setting up onsite health screenings and health risk appraisals. Most insurance plans pay 100 percent of the cost of these tests.

• Promote the program with incentives to participate.

• Encourage your employees to act on the screening results.

• If you are eligible for a corporate management report, use the global data to educate all employees on the most prevalent risks and resources available to mitigate them.

• Re-test each year to set up comparative results to monitor your progress.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE? • Some insurance companies have developed lowlevel programs that will provide self-testing, health club reimbursements, health coaching and ongoing classes. Check with your insurance broker to see if your insurance company provides such programs.

• In Northwest Indiana, you can find an outside health screening group to do health risk appraisals and onsite testing.

Some of the vendors are HealthCheck, Working Well and Chicago Health Consultants.

• For smoking, resources include American Cancer Society, Geminus Corporation, WorkingWell and many other locally owned companies.

• There are also many vendors available for weight loss and exercise including OMNI 41, Fitness Point and many others.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR THE EMPLOYER? • An informed and knowledgeable employee.

• An informed employer who can plan with knowledge, not guesswork.

• Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism.

• Reduced disability and health claims.

• Potential reduction in health insurance premiums.

www.buildingindiananews.com

49

WORKER’S COMP

Choosing the right occupational health provider.

A Healthy Partnership

By Richard Rodarte, MD, WorkingWell

O

ne great lesson I learned in occupational medicine did not come from a textbook or professor. It came unexpectedly while I sat in the offices of a prospective client’s company.

I was there to present our services to their workers’ compensation coordinator. While I was doing so, she received a doctor’s report faxed from a competing clinic’s office. As she read the fax, her facial expression became one of frustrated disdain. I wondered how often this exact scene played out without the knowledge of the doctor who had faxed that report.

The doctor probably felt that the best medical decisions had been made, yet was unaware of the business ramifications of those decisions.

Back in the office, the coordinator threw the fax onto her desk. I had a front row seat, watching what happens when communication breaks down between the employer and the doctors 50

who provide treatment to injured workers. I wondered how much time, money and medical recovery fall victim to poor collaboration. On the other hand, studies confirm that companies who closely partner with an effective workers’ compensation medical provider frequently demonstrate better use of workers’ compensation dollars, fewer “lost time” injuries and a safer work environment.

How can you find the right clinic? It can be hard to know where to start. Begin by contacting local, large and wellrun companies for a referral. Another resource is your workers’ compensation insurer. Finally, you can refer to the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Web site (acoem.org) for a listing of doctors in your area with an interest in worker injury.

A clinic that is right for you will be clean and professional. It will accept walk-in patients, have convenient hours of operation and be in reasonable prox-

imity to your business. They will be familiar with employer legislation such as workers’ compensation law, OSHA and FMLA and can perform drug and alcohol testing. Most importantly, the doctors and their office team will be eager to stay in close communication, partnering with you on issues such as light duty accommodation, injury prevention and effective case management.

Partnership is the key. An effective first step is to invite the doctor to tour your workplace, regardless of the nature of your business. I have always seen this opportunity as an industrial house call, being every bit as informative as a visit to someone’s home. The visit familiarizes the doctor with the conditions and unique hazards of a particular worksite.

It also gives the employer a face-to-face opportunity to share company philosophy and business needs. Finally, the tour sends a message to your employees that you have a mutual interest with your ocwww.buildingindiananews.com

cupational medical provider in a healthy workforce.

I have often thought that the telephone is one of my most important medical tools. It is my link to everyone that has a stake in safely returning an injured worker to the workplace.

You should expect that the doctor will welcome your calls and will seek an understanding of your perspective. The doctor should be eager to cooperate with all interested parties, such as physical therapists, insurers, nurse case managers and other doctors in your provider’s network of referral specialists. In addition to your provider, your workers’ compensation insurer can also recommend local specialists who share this understanding of cooperation.

As with the physician in the story above, we sometimes don’t anticipate the business ramifications of a medical deci-

sion. You should encourage the physician to consider your business needs that do not compromise the patient’s welfare and recovery. An experienced occupational physician understands that it is the employer’s duty to sometimes ask tough questions and it is our duty to respond thoughtfully. After all, we both seek the same goal, a healthy and fully recovered employee.

For so many employers, workers’ compensation costs are out of control. You can regain some of that control by identifying and aligning closely with your medical provider and all other interested parties.

Through this partnership, you make best use of your workers’ compensation dollars, expedite recovery time and maintain a healthier workforce.

P.S. The company I called on that day became a long-lasting and valued client.

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southlakenissan.com 51

CONSTRUCTION

Breathing

Easier

Indiana contractors, sheet metal workers improve indoor air quality.

W

hen leaders from the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) and Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) first approached state legislators in Indiana to discuss indoor air quality a decade ago, the legislators listened. SMACNA and SMWIA don’t often unite on initiatives, but it was clear that something needed to be done about indoor air quality in Indiana – and fast.

Indoor air quality has been identified by the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) as an emerging market for the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry. The organization has worked with the industry’s International Training Institute (ITI) to implement indoor air quality curricula in sheet metal union apprenticeship programs throughout the country.

Through joint efforts, contractors and labor leaders helped lay the groundwork for cleaner air in all Indiana state buildings.

52

“This is an industry issue,” says Phil Gillespie, Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Central Indiana, Lafayette and Fort Wayne, “not a labor issue.”

Former Gov. Frank O’Bannon appointed school officials, physicians, safety personnel, and industrial hygien-

Indiana’s air quality is polluted with coal and other industry pollutants, and before the measures were put into place, 50 percent of schools struggled with indoor air quality problems. ist and labor officials to an advisory panel in 2002 to address pollution issues. Six years later, wheels began to turn, and the Indiana State Legislature clearly defined the panel’s roles and actions, and expanded its scope to include all state buildings. Requirements were written for

certification for those who complete airflow tests. At the beginning of this year, best practices were sent out to each Indiana school and state agency.

Indiana’s air quality is polluted with coal and other industrial pollutants, and before the measures were put into place, 50 percent of schools struggled with indoor air quality problems.

“What we hope to see is schools hiring qualified contractors to take over the best practices for them,” Gillespie says.

“At the same time, we want contractors to educate community members and neighbors about the importance of indoor air quality.”

Aside from the advisory panel, SMACNA and SMWIA took on the indoor air quality issue on a larger scope.

Last year, with the involvement of the two organizations, Title 410 was created and then passed by the Indiana Board of Health. It required builders to duct all return air in new or remodeled school and state buildings. Currently, ceiling space is used for return air in many buildings, causing dust, allergens and other parwww.buildingindiananews.com

ticulates to infect buildings’ air quality.

“You have all the space above your ceiling. What do you think is up there? It’s nothing but a dust collector,” Gillespie said. “To keep the air under control and for it to be able to be controlled and be filtered it has to be ducted. It’s a pretty big deal.”

SMACNA and SMWIA don’t shy away from the fact better indoor air quality could create jobs for unionized sheet metal workers and contractors. While workers reap the benefit of more jobs, patrons in state buildings and students in school breathe cleaner air.

To Gillespie, that’s a situation where everyone wins.

“We recognize it as an emerging market, which it is.

SMACNA and SMWIA worked on it a lot longer before 2002,

but it wasn’t until then we could get it to the legislature and have them take a look at it,” Gillespie said. “We hope to get more efficiency out of this, too, and save energy. So, it’s a win-win-win.”

Part of the challenge is to continue to educate Indiana residents on the quality of their indoor air. Energy analysis and more efficient systems are next on the SMACNA and SMWIA to-do list. Gillespie would like to see building owners invest in the future.

“We’ve got to become more aware of the design of the duct system itself, so we can help it operate more efficiently,” he added. “Having indoor air quality shouldn’t cost you a lot of money if you do the maintenance right. It shouldn’t be considered a cost. It should be considered an investment.”

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53

YOUR WELL-BEING

Contractor List for Methodist Hospitals Computer Assisted Surgery Suite

General Contractor The Pangere Corporation

Architect BSA LifeStructures

Steel Wilson Iron Works Inc.

Electrical EMCOR Hyre Electric

Navigating to

Better

Outcomes New knee and spine surgery technology promises less invasive procedures with faster recovery times.

By David Wellman

HVAC Piping Medical Gas Arctic Engineering Co., Inc.

Sprinklers McDaniel fire Systems, LLC

Flooring Lake Shore Floor Covering Corporation

Painting Southlake Painting & Decorating

Equipment Stryker Navigation

54

M

edical technology in Indiana took another step forward in late January when Methodist Hospitals unwrapped its new multi-specialty surgery suite. The new surgery suite and equipment represent a $1.5 million investment by the Gary-based hospital system that is expected to have an impact far beyond Northwest Indiana.

“It is one of the most advanced multispecialty computer assisted surgery suites of its kind in a 200 mile area – including Indiana, Illinois and Michigan,” says Jared Slibeck, Sales Representative from Stryker Navigation (Kalamazoo, MI), which created the technology driving the suite.

“It was a large investment,” says Matthew Doyle, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Methodist Hospitals.

That investment is in contrast to the health care industry at large, which has reduced its acquisition of this kind of technology recently due to the recession.

According to a 2011 report by Global Industry Analysts (GIA), a San Jose, CAwww.buildingindiananews.com

2

1

3

1. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Judson Wood, Jr., demonstrates the adjustment of a cutting guide on a model knee joint. Sensors on the guide transmit information to the mobile navigation unit at right. 2. The surgery suite during construction. Since Workers had to pass through sterile areas of the hospital to reach the building site, they had to wear surgical scrubs to enter or leave the area. Once inside, they could change back to regular clothes. 3. Local community leaders and the press tour the finished surgical suite in February.

based research publisher, the market for computer assisted surgical technology slowed in 2009 and 2010 as the number of elective surgeries decreased and hospital capital budgets tightened. Still, GIA projects that the industry will recover, growing to more

The new surgery suite and equipment represent a $1.5 million investment by the Gary-based hospital system that is expected to have an impact far beyond Northwest Indiana. than $2.2 billion by 2015, due to its ability to reduce costs through better procedures and shorter hospital stays.

The new suite at Methodist is focused on orthopedic, spine and neurological surgery. “This will make minimally invasive procedures possible,” says Methodist President and CEO Ian McFadden. “This www.buildingindiananews.com

Congratulations Methodist Hospitals

General Contractor 219. 949.1368 www.pangere.com

Arctic Engineering

HVAC/Piping/Medical Gas 219.947.4999 www.arcticengineering.com

McDaniel Fire Systems, LLC Sprinklers, Fire System 219.462.0571 www.mcdanielprotection.com

Computer Assisted Surgery Suite 55

means there will be smaller incisions and faster healing time.”

The suite’s navigation technology employs sensors, infrared cameras and computer software to build virtual threedimensional models of individual patients’ anatomy, such as a knee or spine. Once the model is complete, sensors are attached to the site of the surgery that can be adjusted to provide the best possible guide for incisions and other work.

“In orthopedic surgery, when we use this in total joint replacement, we use the computer to make perfect cuts,” explains orthopedic surgeon Dr. Judson Wood, Jr. “This allows us to place the prosthesis in the best alignment. This means that there will be less wear and the prosthesis will last longer.”

Formerly, to place a guide for such surgery on the patient, Dr. Wood had to drill a into the patient’s femur – the bone in the upper leg – and insert a metal rod lengthwise into the bone to act as a mount for the guide. This procedure was apt to cause a lot of bleeding and lengthened

56

recovery time. “Now we don’t have to drill a hole, and that has really helped my patients to do better,” he says.

Another advantage of the system is that it reduces the need for X-rays prior to surgery, reducing radiation exposure for both patients and hospital personnel.

In addition to the full suite, Methodist has purchased a mobile version of so that more than one patient can take advantage of the navigation technology at a time.

Construction of the new surgery suite and an associated storeroom began in September of 2011 and was finished in December. The project, managed by The Pangere Corporation (Gary), took an existing operating room and storeroom and “sort of flipped them,” says Project Manager Pete Odinsoff. “We built the new operating room where the storeroom and part of the old operating room was.” The storeroom, since it was for the storage of surgical equipment, also had to be constructed to sterile standards.

To minimize disruptions to hospital operations, Pangere and its subcontractors

started work early – around 5 a.m. – and ended the day in the early afternoon. The biggest challenge, Odinsoff says, was simply getting men and material into and out of the work site.

“The real challenge was to create a negative air pressure area,” he says. This prevented potential contamination of the rest of the hospital, but meant going in and out through the equivalent of an airlock.

“To enter into the area, we had to dress in surgical clothes,” he says. “Once we got inside, we would go into an anteroom and change into regular clothes. Whenever we went out, we reversed the process.”

The results of the project have been well-received by the physicians of Methodist Hospitals, and the new suite will be a boon to the region and beyond.

“The new computer assisted surgery suite will enhance the patient experience at Methodist Hospitals. It will allow residents of Northwest Indiana the opportunity to receive the best care available without having to travel out of the area,” McFadden says.

www.buildingindiananews.com

LIFELONG LEARNING

Okay,

Now What?

Training your workforce is a great idea, but it’s a waste of time unless companies also make sure their employees turn lessons into actions.

By David Wellman

S

o you want to develop your workforce? Terrific idea. They learn some new skills, you pay some new bills (for the trainers, of course), and the company rises to a new level of efficiency and service.

Except when it doesn’t, which is a lot of the time. Employees may learn some new skills and you will certainly get those bills, but there is no guarantee that the company will benefit unless you ensure what is learned in training and development sessions is applied on the job. And according to a survey conducted in 2011 by ESI International, a majority of companies don’t have processes in place to make that happen.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they don’t think they have such processes in place. Only about a third of companies surveyed said that they definitely did not have any way of ensuring that training was applied on the job. However, under closer questioning, 60 percent of companies asked admitted that their methods for tracking the application of learning were either anecdotal or “just a guess.”

And it gets murkier. One of the prerequisites for getting workers to actually apply what they’ve learning is getting them excited about the training in the first place. However, there was little agreement among companies surveyed about what incentives might www.buildingindiananews.com

motivate their employees.

Nearly six in 10 companies used the possibility of increased responsibility as a motivational tool, and more

than half – 53 percent – dangled the promise of future advancement after completing the training. But an equally large percentage, 58 percent, preferred

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sticks to carrots, telling employees that bypassing training opportunities would impact their performance reviews. Few firms, just 20 percent, offered any financial incentives for employees to undergo training.

Even more bizarrely, while threequarters of those surveyed said that their company works to make sure that training and development efforts support the goals of the organization, just 57 percent said that they gave employees the necessary time, tools and investment to apply what they had learned.

Crazy? Perhaps – but “we see this every day,” says Rick Riddering, President of training and development firm NorthStar 360 (Dyer). Often, he explains, companies whose employees don’t apply what they learned to their jobs are companies that didn’t put in the necessary work at the start of the process.

“Companies know that they need to be doing something, but they don’t know what they need to do,” Riddering says.

“We get calls all the time: ‘we need train-

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ing!’ And the first question I ask is, ‘are you sure?’” Companies need to do a rigorous assessment of their needs up front.

“They need to go through that process because training is very expensive and sometimes they may just need a tweak to their business processes and not a training and development program,” he says.

For companies that do need training, the best motivational strategies are ones that are all about the employees being trained. Riddering says that the companies ESI surveyed who put a low premium on cash as a motivational tool are right to do so.

“In every survey that goes out, pay is number three,” he says. “The number one motivator is always the idea that they are making a meaningful contribution to the company, and number two is believing that the company is investing in them.”

By and large, Riddering says that companies are becoming more trainingsavvy, if only because of tighter budgets, but post-training efforts to ensure that learning is applied are still a challenge.

“Companies tend to put too much weight on whether employees like the training,” he says. “But that can mean a lot of things.

Maybe they just liked the trainer. Or maybe they just liked having a day off work for the training.”

The best tool companies can use to make sure that employees use what they have learned is post-training coaching. “It keeps them focused,” Riddering says. “We are doing this now for one of our clients in Chicago. We did our workshop, and then within two weeks we came back for a coaching session.” The results were good enough that the company chose to continue the coaching sessions, which have now gone on for 11 months.

ESI’s research found that most companies (more than 70 percent) expect managers to be part of the learning transfer process, and more than 60 percent of companies set formal goals. This is also a strong tool, Riddering says. “If managers know that goals have been set, it’s easier to hold everyone accountable for applying what they have learned,” he says.

www.buildingindiananews.com

GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE

Sewer

Solution

South Bend hopes to reduce the half-billion-dollar cost of the largest infrastructure project in city’s history with innovative and locally developed technology.

A

fter years of negotiation and six years into implementation of early action projects, the City of South Bend, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Indiana and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) have reached an agreement on a 20-year, $509.5 million long-term plan to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in South Bend.

The half-billion-dollar project – the most extensive capital project in South Bend history – will reduce CSOs “and the problems associated with them, including basement backups, neighborhood flooding and river pollution associated with combined sewage overflows,” says South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke. Since 2006, South Bend has already spent or committed $100 million toward the $509.5 million plan. These efforts included expanding its 55-year-old wastewater treatment plant, separating existing combined sewers into separated storm and sanitary sewers, and building capacity for additional storage of combined sanitary sewage and storm water.

As a result, discharge levels into the St. Joseph River have fallen from about two billion gallons per year in 2003 to 750 million gallons in 2010. “Homeowners are confronted with fewer basement backups of combined sewage and stormwater and city www.buildingindiananews.com

residents are more actively enjoying the St. Joseph River, our most treasured natural resource,” Luecke says. In its current fouryear funding period, the city will invest another $70 million to complete the $102.2 million needed to meet EPA requirements for Phase 1.

In Phase 2, between 2014 and 2031, the city will spend $367.7 million. Mandated features of the long-term control plan include: • Upgrading the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant to 100 million gallons per day, matching the wet-weather capacity of the primary sewer line conveying outflow to the wastewater treatment plant.

• The addition of seven new storage tanks, a storage conduit and a 12,000foot storage and conveyance mechanism running parallel to the existing primary sewer line.

• Construction of a storage conduit run-

ning parallel to the river from the Howard Park Ice Rink to CSO 25 at North Shore Drive and Lafayette Boulevard.

Nearly 800 other cities with aging sewer infrastructures find themselves facing the same kind of massive investments in order to comply with the Clean Water Act. Estimates of the total cost nationwide exceed $50 billion.

However, South Bend has a secret weapon: CSOnet. As the world’s first city to deploy a system to monitor and control CSOs with technology, South Bend will use wireless sensors, computers and smart valves to help control water flow in its existing system. CSOnet was developed by South Bend-based EmNet LLC, using research conducted at the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University. The city’s deal with the EPA allows it to reduce its investment in new tanks and sewer lines if it can demonstrate that CSOnet will compensate for the smaller system.

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“For a $6 million investment in CSOnet, we expect to be able to improve system performance 25 percent to use existing assets to achieve the same level of benefit as conventional solutions which would cost an estimated $120 million,” said Public Works Director Gary Gilot. “This is giving us real-time monitoring and control to maximize the storage and conveyance capacity of our sewer system in the same way that engineers limit traffic entering freeways to control congestion.”

CSOnet was first deployed in 2008, when South Bend installed 110 wireless sensors underneath “smart” manhole covers citywide. An embedded radio network monitors the depth and flow of storm water and sewage.

City officials can access the data 24/7 at any point in South Bend’s combined-sewer system or at its 36 CSO outfall points.

South Bend will also deploy

green infrastructure measures to save more money. These include a range of storm-water control measures that use plant and soil systems, permeable pavement or storm-water management to harvest, reuse, store and infiltrate storm water to reduce CSOs. The city will also spend $150,000 to help restore Bowman Creek, a polluted tributary of the St. Joseph River. The project was proposed as an alternative to paying higher fines and penalties to EPA for past CSOs. “Bowman Creek runs dry during droughts, floods during rainstorms, is little valued and often serves as a dump, despite fencing that seeks to control dumping,” Gilot said. “But we can fix it. Bowman Creek could become an area with attractive passive linear parks, hiking trails and wildlife habitat. Fish could thrive where they now barely survive.”

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WELCOME CENTER

Performing Smarts A new study provides insight into the economic impact of the state’s performing arts venues.

By David Wellman

W

hile Indiana is not generally perceived as a hotbed of arts and culture, the field plays a notable role in the Hoosier economy. According to the Indiana Arts Commission, the state was home to more than 9,615 arts-related businesses employing 48,887 people in 2010. In addition to direct employment, the arts also play a role in driving Indiana’s travel and tourism industry, encouraging spending at businesses located near artsoriented venues around the state.

Such spending can have a “substantial impact,” says John Stafford, Director of the Community Research Institute (CRI) at Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. The CRI recently quantified that impact for one such venue, the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne.

“It has a fairly good-sized economic impact,” he says. “If the Embassy were not here, part of the downtown area would notice the difference.”

The study, commissioned by the Embassy Foundation, found that the 3,000-seat theatre draws more than 110,000 visitors each year, about a third of whom (34.3 percent) come from outside Allen County. Direct spending by just this subset on lodging, dining, retail and other activities in Fort Wayne adds up to $1.018 million annually.

The theatre also directly spends about $1.35 million a year in the county on wages, labor, supplies and other expenses. Coupled with the indirect and induced spending that the direct expenditures fuel, the Embassy’s total economic impact on Fort Wayne is approximately $3.75 million.

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The Embassy Theatre draws more than 110,000 visitors annually.

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Neither Stafford nor Kelly Updike, the Executive Director of the Embassy Foundation, were surprised by the numbers. “We’re longtime residents of the community and knew it was a pretty significant draw,” Stafford says. The importance of the study, Updike adds, is in providing hard data where before there was only anecdotal evidence.

“There aren’t a lot of these studies out there,” she points out. “This provides us with solid information we can take to potential partners and funders.” It will also help guide the Foundation board as it considers the 12.2% of Embassy best ways for the theater to grow.

Theatre visitors who did The study’s findings are consistent not stay overnight, and with the few other examinations of 14.5% of those who did, similar venues around the state. A 2006 also shopped or went to study of the economic impact of Indiana the movies in Fort Wayne University in Bloomington included an as part of their visit. estimate of about $4.9 million in total impact from events at the Indiana Source: Community University Auditorium. And a 2007 Research Institute study of the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend put its impact on the city at $5.9 million annually.

Among the suspicions that the study confirmed was the Embassy’s importance to local restaurants. “If you talk to people who run restaurants near the theatre, they will tell you that how the Embassy goes is how their business goes,” Updike notes. More than 85 percent of visitors to the Embassy arrive in parties of two to four people, and the average party spends nearly $45 dining out before or after an event. Not surprisingly, those coming in from out of town are much more likely to dine. Fewer than four in 10 parties from within Allen County dined out as part of their theatre experience, but more than 70 percent of those coming in from outside Allen County did.

More than one in 10 visitors (13 percent) also stay overnight, and

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A third of visitors to the theatre come from outside the county.

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90 percent of those stay in a local hotel. The average hotel bill per party was $138.34. “People who have dinner and stay overnight are the ones that really drive up the economic development numbers,” Stafford says.

With hard numbers on the theater’s benefits at hand, Updike says the Embassy Foundation is better prepared to move forward. “We are primarily a rental business, and our board has looked at the question of, how do we want to grow,” she says. In late 2011, the Embassy announced the start of a $10 million fundraising campaign to restore the Indiana Hotel. “We own the whole building, which is wrapped by the hotel, and the board is working on renovation plans,” she says. The hotel would not be restored as a functioning hotel, but rather as an extension of its events business featuring new options like a ballroom or rooftop garden.

www.buildingindiananews.com

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MARKETING

SCANThis!

Demystifying QR codes.

By Jennifer Labriola

B

y now, you’ve probably become pretty familiar with QR codes, whether or not you’ve realized it. It is the little square 2-D symbol that is appearing everywhere these days. From pizza boxes to magazine ads these “quick response” codes are taking technology to a whole new level.

What exactly do they do?

These codes turn URLs, vCards (electronic business cards), contact information, text messages and even Wi-Fi networks into a jumble of pixels that you can scan with your smartphone instantaneously, no typing required. What makes these codes so attractive is their ease of use and instant gratification for users.

This no-fuss technology has grown considerably in the past few years due to the popularity of smartphones. Not only can QR codes bring new and unique users to your Web site, they also cut down on paper waste and manual data entry costs.

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As QR codes have proliferated, questions have grown. Are they worth it? Is this just a fad? How often are they really used?

The answers to those questions are not as simple as you would think. As with most technology, it’s based more on the reason for using the code. Codes used for promotional campaigns will quickly go out of style, but what about codes used for contact information? The staying power of QR codes is entirely based on how they are used – if a need is established, they will be used.

According to a study by comScore, Inc., 14 million Americans have scanned QR codes on their mobile phones – in one month. Of this number, young to middleaged, upper-income males were more likely to use the codes. The study also found that users were most likely to scan codes found in newspapers and magazines or on product packaging, and while either

QR Best Practices From building loyalty and generating sales to capturing customer feedback and boosting local SEO, how you use your code determines how successful it will be. Good QR code practices are pretty clear cut: • Your code should always serve a business objective, such as generating leads, retaining customers or driving traffic.

• It should add value for the user to save time, reduce costs and enhance experience.

• Codes should provide contextual assistance, like how-to-steps, a callto-action or a link to a reader app.

• Test to ensure codes are scannable with respect to different readers and handsets, code sizes, lighting, etc.

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10 Quick Ideas for QR Codes • Product info or comparison data on price tags • Feedback surveys, comment cards and presentations • Marketing collateral: business cards, flyers, billboards, direct mail, coupons, name tags, conferences, event tickets and window displays • Facebook “like” on products • Google Places review flyers and posters • Foursquare check-in posters • Interactive map and directions • Smart reorder from product labels • Expedited RSVP and lead generation

at home or in a store.

On thing to remember is that, like any new marketing tool, just because you can use it doesn’t mean you should. QR codes are meant to be a simple way to access information. One of the biggest mistakes that new users make is placing codes in situations where they won’t work. For

instance, the codes must be scannable.

You wouldn’t want to use QR codes on television, which would be difficult to scan due to the limited amount of time a person has to pull out a phone. Likewise, some billboards are just too big to scan.

Be sure your code is some place where people will have network access. One

campaign that failed using QR codes was on billboards in subways. Why? Because most cell phones don’t work underground.

Be aware of where your code is going, how it’s being used and what audience you’re trying to attract.

If you’re thinking about adopting a QR code into your advertising collateral, or even for your employees, there are a variety of ways to use these quick codes.

Generating them is as simple as going to a Web site, inputting your information and grabbing the code generated.

What about people who do not own smartphones? This might scare some potential QR code users; however, listing the Web site or how the code functions beside your QR code may ease their concerns. It’s also helpful to educate employees about what they are, and how to use them, if you do plan to begin using QR codes.

Once you understand the usefulness of QR codes, integrating them into your sales collateral will be easy. The possibilities are endless.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A Medical

Marvel

Medical science marches on in Indiana, driving the economy around the state.

By David Wellman

M

edical and life sciences development, construction and research continue to have an enormous impact on Indiana’s economy. The state was among the top six states nationwide for hospital construction in 2010 and remains one of a handful of states recognized as a hotbed for life sciences businesses. Meanwhile, medical and pharmaceutical research is delivering direct economic benefits as well as attracting new companies to Indiana.

Biomedical research in Indiana “brings us tomorrow’s medicine, it helps us educate tomorrow’s doctors, and it is a powerful boost to the Indiana economy,” says David Wilkes, Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs at the IU School of Medicine.

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He cites a study completed last fall by the American Medical Association that found funds received by the Indiana University School of Medicine and its partner hospitals boosted the Hoosier economy by about $370 million in 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available.

The report, prepared by consulting firm Tripp Umbach, estimated that the direct economic impact of federal and state-funded research to the IU School of Medicine was $142.5 million, representing institutional spending, employee spending, and visitor spending related to research activity.

The indirect effect of that spending on the state economy added another $228 million in economic activity. The report esti-

mates that 2,470 jobs in Indiana were supported by that research-driven economic activity.

Altogether, the federal and state-funded research to the AMA’s member medical schools and teaching hospitals had a combined economic impact of $45 billion and accounted for nearly 300,000 full-time jobs in the 46 states and the District of Columbia.

Health and Wealth The IU School of Medicine received nearly $138 million in federal and state funding for research programs in fiscal year 2009, primarily to investigators in Indianapolis but also to scientists at the school’s eight regional campuses across the state. www.buildingindiananews.com

The association report noted that the economic impact figures do not include the economic benefits of declines in mortality rates for such diseases as cancer, heart disease, HIV/ AIDS and others. Nor do the figures incorporate the economic activity of businesses that commercialize the discoveries of academic research. According

Biomedical research in Indiana “brings us tomorrow’s medicine, it helps us educate tomorrow’s doctors, and it is a powerful boost to the Indiana economy.”

- David Wilkes, Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs at the IU School of Medicine to the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., 21 businesses have been created over the past 10 years based on discoveries from IU School of Medicine research.

Seeding Success State initiatives are also boosting medical development in Indiana. Last October, the state’s life sciences booster,

BioCrossroads, made its twelfth investment of 2011 from the Indiana Seed Fund to Zorion Medical. Zorion, which received $300,000 from the fund, is a medical device start-up that is developing a device that combines novel biomaterials with existing drug and drug delivery technology to treat cardiovascular disease.

The $6 million Indiana Seed Fund was launched in June 2005 and is managed by BioCrossroads with funding from BioCrossroads, the Indiana Finance Authority and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. It provides working capital up to $500,000 to promising Indiana life sciences companies at the preliminary stages of operation.

Zorion is developing a vascular stent that will be absorbed in the body within three to six months following implantation. The company completed a successful pre-clinical study in 2011, and the new funding will support a second study in 2012.

“Zorion’s stent has the potential to be revolutionary within interventional cardiology where the market is significant with more than one million stent placements performed in the U.S. each year,” says David Johnson, President

HEALTH SCIENCES JOBS AMONG TOP 50 INDIANA JOB CATEGORIES RANK 3 5 24 30 34 37 44 46

JOB Physician and Surgeon Registered Nurse Licensed Practical Nurse Medical Services Manager Dental Assistant Physical Therapist Dental Hygienist Pharmacist

Source: Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs

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and CEO of BioCrossroads. “Zorion’s experienced management team and innovative device represent a promising combination of talent and technology, and the company is exactly the type of start-up enterprise that fits into Indiana’s entrepreneurial life sciences community. The Hoosier state is fortunate to be on the receiving end of a truly measurable ‘brain gain’ through the addition and relocation of the company’s chairman and industry veteran, David Broecker, from Boston to Indianapolis.”

Overall, Indiana’s life sciences industry has a $44 billion total impact on the state’s economy, according to report released

by BioCrossroads last year. The state’s $7.4 billion in life sciences exports are the third-highest in the United States, behind only California and Texas, and likewise Indiana has the third-highest life sciences employment con-

centration nationally. More than 50,000 workers are employed by 825 companies in the four life sciences sub-sectors: medical devices and equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals, research, testing and medical laboratories, and agricultural feedstock and chemicals.

Orthopedic Edge The heart of the medical device sub-sector is Warsaw, home of one of the largest orthopedic device industry clusters worldwide. That cluster continued to expand late last year when Warsaw-based Precision Medical Technologies announced a new facility in Rome City in Noble County. The company, a contract manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments, is investing $4.36 million to lease, renovate and equip a 30,000-squarefoot facility in Noble County.

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INDIANA LIFE SCIENCE SECTOR – 2010 Industry Employment & Wages Jobs 49,359 Wages $4,271,420,000 Avg. wage - U.S. life sciences $80,789 Avg. wage - Indiana life sciences $86,537 Avg. wage - Indiana private sector $39,229 Establishments

854

Entrepreneurial Activity Life sciences venture capital invested

$8,900,000

Exports Exports $9,015,646,295 Export - Indiana rank (50 states) 3 Exports per worker $182,655 Research University Activity University disclosures 450 University patents filed 637 Patents issued 113 University licenses 134 University licensing income $18,396,753 University start-ups 17 University sponsored research (awarded) $1,287,186,855 NIH funding $209,000,000 Industry Innovation Patent filings (corporate) New product applications to FDA

249 62

Source: BioCrossroads

people in Warsaw, plans to add more than 60 jobs at the new facility by 2015.

However, growth is hardly limited to Northeast Indiana.

Triden Medical opened a new plant in Fishers last September, with plans to add up to 40 jobs this year. The company designs and manufactures medical therapeutic support surfaces and patient positioning devices used for the prevention and treatment of pressure wounds experienced by patients with limited to no mobility.

Driving Real Estate Indianapolis, in fact, continues to benefit from medical and health care-oriented growth. Direct healthcare leasing activity in the Indianapolis office market accounted for 16 percent of total office leasing activity in 2011, up from 12 percent in 2010, according to real estate firm Cassidy Turley’s year-end report. If healthcare-related leasing activity is included, the percentages rise even higher.

Cassidy Turley attributes this to declining rental costs for medical space and to the current boom in medical development in Indianapolis. Currently, the firm is tracking more than

$2 billion in medical development is in progress in the area, including projects by the Indiana School of Medicine (a new neuroscience center), Indiana University Health, Community Health Network, Franciscan St. Francis Health and, of course, the $754 million Eskanazi (formerly Wishard) health project, which ended the year on a high note: installing the final steel beam at the top of the new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health facilities in downtown Indianapolis just before Christmas.

“The Eskenazi Health project is on time and under budget.

We are on schedule for completion in December 2013 and now officially at its final height,” says Matthew Gutwein, president and CEO of Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County.

“We have reached this milestone rapidly and responsibly in the construction process, exceeding participation goals for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities. More than 90 percent of our contractors are local.”

As of the end of 2011, Wishard had executed more than $386 million in construction contracts on the project.

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The Last Word Right to Educate Indiana’s working families will not benefit from the new right-to-work law.

By Randy Palmateer, Business Manager, Northwest Indiana Building Trades Council

U

nless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you know that Indiana joined the ranks of so-called “right-to-work” states earlier this year. And since I am the Business Manager for the Northwest Indiana Building Trades Council, I don’t think anyone will be surprised when I say this was a bad decision that won’t create one job, but will lead to lower wages and more workplace injuries.

Now, before you dismiss that conclusion as just a union talking point being thrown out by a union guy, understand that I am not talking only about union members. Right-to-work is bad for all Indiana workers, whether you belong to a union or not. No matter what industry you are in, no matter what your political affiliation, no matter your race or creed or color, multiple studies have shown that right-to-work means less money in your pocket, less access to employer-provided health care and a less safe workplace.

These arguments against right-towork were made in the statehouse earlier this year. Expert after expert made them, while tens of thousands of Indiana workers protested inside and outside the statehouse. But the legislature passed the measure anyhow, and the Governor signed it. So the question is, what do we do now?

This Web site was created to register, confirm, educate and mobilize the people of Indiana to vote and to vote their pocketbooks.

One answer can be found at www. indianaworkersvote.com. Developed by Ryan Reithel, Business Representative at IBEW Local 697 and launched in February, this Web site was created to register, confirm, educate and mobilize the people of Indiana to vote and to vote their pocketbooks. This site will not discriminate against Republicans or Democrats, union or non-union, women or men, race or religion. The main focus will be household income, living wage jobs and the quality of life for working families in Indiana.

So many benefits that every worker takes for granted today only came as the result of hard-fought labor battles that stretch back more than 100 years. The good news is that those benefits aren’t going to disappear tomorrow. Even the impact of right-to-work on unions will take time to be felt. And those effects will never be felt if we are successful in

showing working families how such laws don’t work in their favor.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., right-to-work has not benefitted working families in other states. On average, a full-year, full-time worker in a right-to-work state makes about $1,500 less than a worker in a non-right-to-work state. The rate of employer-provided health care is 2.6 percentage points lower, and the rate of employer-sponsored pensions is 4.8 percentage points lower. Maybe this would be acceptable if right-to-work created jobs – but there’s no evidence it does that, either.

Indianaworkersvote.com is one of the many tools we will use to continue the fight for all the working families across Indiana: the fight for good jobs, good pay and a higher standard of living for everyone.

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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