Fourth Quarter 2017 - Indiana Minority Business Magazine by Indiana Minority Business Magazine

FOURTH quarter 2017

B U S I N E S S n L I F E S T Y L E n D I V E R S I T Y

Technology and innovation How the tech sector is changing the state's landscape Could generation z close the stem gender gap? Outside the box: Co-working spaces offer alternatives for pros on the go Angela Smith Jones Deputy mayor of economic development, City of Indianapolis

Mike Langellier President and CEO, TechPoint

Elaine Bedel President, Indiana Economic Development Corporation

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Brenda Burke Staff Vice President, Supplier Diversity Anthem, Inc.

Joseph Swedish President and Chief Executive Officer

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2017

Contents FOURTH QUARTER

Departments

French Lick and West Baden Springs Page 23

4 Boardroom Briefs 6 Up the Ladder 23 City Close-Up: French Lick and West Baden Springs 26 Startup 27 Tech Talk 28 Hoosier Marketplace 29 Skill Set

Features

15 What to know before borrowing from your 401(k) 16 How to slay the workday 18 Up close with James Duke 20 6 of Indiana's coolest co-working spaces 22 Workplace satisfaction: Here's why employees need more than perks 30 Work Style 36 On the Scene

Hoosier Marketplace Page 28

Technology and Innovation

8 Silicon Prairie: There's more than corn in Indiana 13 By the numbers: Indiana's tech 14 Could Gen-Z balance STeM gender gap?

Columns

3 President's Page — Shannon Williams 38 amy Stark 40 Iris Cooper

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B U S I N E S S n L I F E S T Y L E n D I V E R S I T Y

Technology and innovaTion how The Tech secTor is changing The sTaTe's landscape could generaTion z close The sTem gender gap? ouTside The box: co-working spaces offer alTernaTives for pros on The go angela Smith Jones Deputy mayor of economic development, City of Indianapolis

Mike Langellier President and CeO, TechPoint

elaine Bedel President, Indiana economic Development Corporation

On the Cover:

Indiana is well on its way to becoming one of the nation’s biggest tech regions thanks to an inﬂux of entities like Salesforce and Infosys. experts point to Hoosier hospitality, reasonable costs of living and the lure of tax incentives as reasons for this growth. ensuring the Hoosier state continues on this path is a top priority. In our cover story, writer Lauren Caggiano speaks with a few of the people at the helm: elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana economic Development Corporation; angela Smith Jones, deputy mayor of economic development for the City of Indianapolis, and Mike Langellier, CeO of TechPoint, about the future of technology and innovation in Indiana.

Cool and Colorful Page 30

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AROUND-THE-CLOCK INDIVIDUAL CARE. SO WHEN IT’S TIME TO REST, YOU CAN REST ASSURED.

Publisher William g. Mays President and general Manager Shannon Williams Senior Sales Representatives Michael Falker, Dale Foster, Chalton graham, Mark Harsley, Rita Wise editor ebony Chappel

Having a safe, comfortable place with highly trained can go a long way in reducing the amount of time you Schedule your visit today.

Copy editor Kelly Patrick Slone Senior Writer Lauren Caggiano Contributing Writers Keshia Mcentire, Miranda Miller, erica Pierce, Kelly Patrick Slone, Wandini Riggins Production Manager Jeffery Sellers

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Art Director John Hurst Jr. Designer Abby Westcott Photo Coordinators ebony Chappel, Amber Sapenter

You don’t set limits on your potential.

Photographer Bayette george Stylist Shyra ely

Neither do we.

Makeup Artist Amber Sapenter Advertise in Indiana Minority Business Magazine & online at: www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com Phone: (317) 924-5143 n Fax: (317) 924-5148 Indiana Minority Business Magazine is published by the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and is distributed quarterly (four times per year).

Visit schwab.com/jobsforall to learn more. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversifying its workforce. It is Schwab’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex ( including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, legally protected medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, military status, citizenship status, or any other status that is protected by law. ©2016 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Member SIPC. NAK (0116-0240) ADP90645-04 (12/16)

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Innovation in the heartland Do you remember how life was 20 years ago, before the influx of handheld, internet-enabled technology? Can you recall life before it was common to have a cellphone, and we actually had to look up numbers in the phone book and make calls on a landline? And how about directions? Remember when the only way you could go to a place you were unfamiliar with was to either ask for directions or, especially in the instances of out-oftown travel, use a physical map? Were you like my favorite uncle who always kept dozens of those fold-up maps in his glove box? When he needed to look at one, he would open it up and place it on the hood of his car while he studied the best route to take. Oh, and here’s a big one: Can you remember life before emails were one of the most common methods of communication? Think back to a time when you had to wait for a letter to arrive via snail mail to receive confirmation of something — whether it was the approval of a credit card, an acceptance letter for college or even correspondence from a relative who lived far away and wanted to update you on the happenings of their life, because writing it out and mailing a letter was significantly less expensive than making a long-distance call. As I reflect on some of the advances of technology, I think of how fast technology incorporated itself into our lives. I will be honest, though; sometimes the speed of our technological evolution scares me. It causes me to hesitate and think about our potential over-reliance on technology.

Shannon’s Faves

Silicon Prairie, Page 8 Learn how technological innovation is changing Indiana’s landscape and positioning us to be a national leader in the industry. 8

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President’s Page

Sometimes I find myself wondering what might happen if technology just stopped working for some reason or another. How would we make it after all the batteries and backup generators were used up? What on earth would we do? But then I think, all those extra-smart techy people have probably already figured out a solution for that … hopefully. All the aforementioned scenarios offer a nostalgic look back to a time that, in many ways, was a lot simpler but also, by today’s standards, extremely complicated. My words are a reflection and homage to the past, but this issue of the magazine is a look at the present and even what’s next for the world of technology, specifically as it relates to our great state of Indiana. There is a lot going on in the technology realm. Forbes Magazine ranked Indianapolis one of the top 10 metro areas for technology job growth in 2013. Did you realize there are 7,700 tech-industry establishments in the state? By 2025, Indiana is projected to have around 51,224 computer and IT jobs. I was surprised to learn that employees in computer and IT roles receive over $75,000 in average annual compensation, which is nearly double the pay for the average of all jobs in central Indiana. As you read this issue, you will gain even greater insight into technology and the role it plays in Indiana. This state is definitely primed to be one of the premier locations for technological advancements and opportunities. That is especially true in comparison to our neighbors in the Midwest. So as we ride the technology road, we should enjoy the voyage and what is on the horizon while also remembering the past and not forgetting simple gestures like sending a handwritten thank you note through the post office. It may take more time and even cost a little money for postage, but it is sure to put a smile on the face of the recipient.

City Close-Up, Page 23 I like to visit French Lick and West Baden Springs in the fall. Read about fun attractions and comfortable accommodations.

Shannon Williams President and General Manager

Millennials, Page 29 Learn ways to enhance your professional relationship with millennials, now the largest generation in the workforce.

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Boardroom Briefs

Partnership to push innovation in SW Indiana

Elevate Ventures and the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana have entered into a three-year, $2.5 million partnership with a mission to develop a culture and infrastructure of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship in the Southwest Indiana region. Official partners include Vectren Corp., Koch Industries, Old National Bank and German American Bank. Initiatives will include investments in local businesses, portfolio services, events for entrepreneurs and investors, marketing support, business coaching, access to professional resources and more. Eric Steele will serve as the region’s dedicated entrepreneur-in-residence. Steele has previously held a variety of leadership positions for startup technology companies in industries ranging from telecommunications to e-commerce.

more Hoosier communities. Monarch Beverage, founded in 1947, is Indiana’s largest distributor of wine and beer. Each day, Monarch trucks transport some 64,000 cases of beer and wine from the Indianapolis distribution center to more than 7,000 Hoosier retail accounts. Easley wines are currently distributed in seven other states. Easley, which has been in business since 1974, is in the top 3 percent of more than 8,000 wineries nationwide. According to Easley, over 136,000 gallons of wine have been produced at their Indy location since January of 2017.

Android, Avancez eye Allen County expansion

Android Industries and its sister company Avancez, which both manufacture and assemble specialty equipment and complex modules for the automotive industry, announced plans to expand their operations in Allen County, Indiana, creating up to 313 new jobs by the end of 2018. The companies will invest $14.7 million to expand operations in Fort Wayne to support General Motors’ growing local operations. Android Industries will expand its existing 59,000-square-foot operation at 13008 Fogwell Parkway Road, leasing additional space to occupy the entire 112,000-square-foot building. Avancez will also establish a second, 300,000-square-foot facility less than 1 mile away at 12808 Stonebridge Road. The Michigan-based companies plan to be operating in their new spaces by July 2018. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Android Industries up to $2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in performance-based training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

State’s INBiz site wins recognition New South Bend casino slated for 2018 opening The Four Winds South Bend casino is on schedule to open in early 2018. The casino, housed in a 175,000-square-foot facility at 3000 Prairie Ave. in South Bend, Indiana, is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Four Winds will have restaurants, a retail store and 1,800 slot machines, and plans to employ 1,200 people. The venue’s opening will mark the first time in nearly two centuries that sovereign tribal land will exist in the state. In addition to the casino, tribal leaders plan to build a new Tribal Police Substation and homes for six Pokagon families in the village nearby.

The State of Indiana’s INBiz one-stop web portal for business owners, which launched in April of 2016, has received national and international recognition. The Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on

Indy winery expands reach

Easley Winery, a family-owned winery located in downtown Indianapolis, announced that Monarch Beverage will handle the distribution of their suite of wine brands Reggae, No Opposition, Sweet Tulip, Jubilee, Kauffman and Easley to 4

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information technology polices and best practices in state and local government, presented the 2017 Government-toBusiness Experience Award to INBiz in September for its outstanding website and online user experience. In June, the International Association of Commercial Administrations (IACA) awarded Indiana the 2017 Merit Award for the development and success of INBiz, based on the portal’s creativity, innovation and vision. Since its launch, Hoosier businesses have conducted more than 300,000 transactions through INBiz, including nearly 60,000 online business formations. Later this year, INBiz will add functionality from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, as well as new features from DOR, DWD and the Secretary of State’s agencies. Hoosier business owners are encouraged to visit inbiz.in.gov to learn more.

Bio-tech company HQ comes to Carmel

Indigo BioAutomation plans to move its headquarters to Carmel City Center. It will occupy the entire second level of the building, almost 9,700 square feet. Indigo BioAutomation was started in 2006 as Indigo Biosystems by Randy Julian, as part of the Eli Lilly ventures group, housed at Lilly Research Laboratories. Indigo BioAutomation provides automated data analysis, data management and data integration solutions to clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology research labs and labs in other life science markets. Indigo BioAutomation will be located at 385 City Center Drive, Suite 200, in Pedcor Square Building 5, slated to open late fall 2017.

Lyft expands to rural Indiana

Popular ride-hailing company Lyft plans to expand service into rural Indiana in an effort to increase usership. The company expanded service similarly in 31 other states, raising the number of states with full coverage to 40. Uber, a larger competitor with 70 percent of the market, said it is near full-coverage in just 13 states. Before the expansion, which included recruiting drivers from many rural areas, 79 percent of the country’s population had access; that number, according to Lyft executives, is now 94 percent.

YouthBuild grants $1M-plus to Evansville housing agency

The Evansville Housing Authority received more than $1 million as part of YouthBuild, a federal pre-apprenticeship program under the U.S. Department of Labor. YouthBuild aims to help at-risk youth ages 16-24 complete degree programs and earn certifications for in-demand occupations. Evansville was the only agency in the state to receive financial support in the national $80 million round of funding. Overall, 77 YouthBuild programs received between $650,000 and $1.1 million. YouthBuild’s nationwide network includes 260 urban and rural programs in 46 states.

Lenovo settles with Indiana, other states in suit

Technology company Lenovo will pay $3.5 million and change how it sells laptop computers as part of a settlement reached with federal officials and 32 states, including Indiana. The agreement, announced in early September, settles allegations that the North Carolina-based firm sold devices with preloaded software that made users’ sensitive personal information vulnerable to hackers. The VisualDiscovery software was installed on hundreds of thousands of laptops to deliver pop-up ads to consumers. Lenovo stopped shipping laptops with VisualDiscovery pre installed in February 2015, but some states contend that some laptops with the software were still being sold by various retail outlets as late as June 2015. Under the settlement, Lenovo will now obtain consumers’ consent to use the software and provide a reasonable way for consumers to opt out, disable or remove it.

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Up the Ladder Aspire Indiana announced the appointment of Janey Trout as vice president of human resources and marketing. Trout has an extensive background in human resources and marketing with over 23 years of experience in a variety of industries, including economic development, the Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana public schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Taylor University and began her professional work career as a therapist and caseworker in the area of mental health.

ecutive order by former Gov. Mike Pence in April 2016 and continued by Gov. Eric Holcomb by executive order on Jan. 9, 2017, is a comprehensive public-private partnership charged with enhancing Indiana’s ability to prevent, respond to and recover from all types of cybersecurity issues, including attacks. The Council is comprised of members from public and private sector organizations across the state, along with a coalition of state agencies. Reynolds is co-chair of Ice Miller’s Data Security and Privacy Practice. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).

Anand M. Navarasala, DO, has joined Franciscan Physician Network Rehabilitation Specialists. Navarasala most recently completed physical medicine and rehabilitation training at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois, where he served as chief resident. Navarasala’s areas of clinical interest are interventional pain management, brain injury/post-concussion syndrome rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation and stroke rehabilitation. Board-eligible for physical medicine and rehabilitation certification, he received his undergraduate degree in physiology at Michigan State University (East Lansing), where he also earned his doctorate in osteopathic medicine. He later completed a transitional year residency at Western Michigan University. Navarasala is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Association of Physiatrists.

Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Camy Broeker has announced the appointment of Margie Smith-Simmons as assistant vice chancellor for finance and administration. Smith-Simmons will serve as an advisor to Broeker in implementing and monitoring the division’s strategic agenda and will develop the appropriate measurement and assessment methods for the division. Additionally, Smith-Simmons will oversee communications for the division and serve as the primary liaison with IU Emergency Management and Continuity and the campus liaison for the University Policy Committee. Smith-Simmons currently serves as IU’s spokesperson and assistant vice president for strategic communications. Smith-Simmons first joined the university in 2012 as director of strategic communications for the IUPUI campus. Prior to IU, she served as public relations manager for IU Health and press secretary and deputy communications director for former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. Smith-Simmons earned her Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from IU.

Ice Miller LLP partner Stephen Reynolds was recently voted an advisory member of the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity. The Council, established through ex-

Ice Miller LLP congratulates partner Lacy Johnson, who was appointed by Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath to serve on Indiana’s Marion County Judicial Selection Committee. The 14-member Marion County Judicial Selection Committee was established by House Enrolled Act 1036-2017. Upon a vacancy of the Marion Superior Court, the committee recommends three nominees to the governor. The committee also evaluates a judge’s qualifications at the end of his or her term and issues a recommendation to voters about whether he or she should continue to hold judicial office. Johnson’s practice focuses on public affairs. Before joining Ice Miller, he was an attorney for Government Relations Services at Sagamore-Bainbridge Inc., was director of security for the Indiana State Lottery and held a number of senior leadership roles within the Indiana State Police. He is a former Lt. Commander of the United States Naval Intelligence Reserves. The United Negro College Fund Indiana Area Office is proud to welcome new members to the UNCF statewide family. Danette Howard, Ph.D., is the senior vice president and chief strategy officer for the Lumina Foundation in Indianapolis. Before arriving in Indiana, she served as the Secretary of Higher Education for the State of Maryland. Howard is a graduate of Howard University, Harvard University and the University of Maryland, College Park. She has joined the Indianapolis Leadership Council. Alan K. Mills is a partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis office. He is a member of the firm’s litigation and finance, insolvency and restructuring departments and currently is the

To have a promotion or appointment considered for inclusion in “Up the Ladder,” please email info@indianapolisrecorder.com with the name of the employee, his or her position, previous positions, educational background and contact information. Only individuals for whom images can be provided will be considered. Submission does not guarantee publication. 6

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chair of the firm’s special servicer team. He concentrates his practice on transactional, complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters, representing financial institutions; special servicers; equity and hedge funds; and secured creditors. Mills is a graduate of Carthage College and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He has joined the Indianapolis Leadership Council. American College of Education (ACE) announced the appointment of Shawntel Landry as their new president. Landry joined ACE in 2009 and became interim president in 2013. Previously, she worked in senior vice president, assistant/associate provost and provost capacities for the college in program development and coordination, curriculum and assessment, and institutional effectiveness and assessment. She also taught for several years in gifted and talented programs, later working as a curriculum writer and editor for Voyager Expanded Learning, and then as an independent curriculum consultant. Landry developed the college’s first yearly Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) report and guided the development of a new mission, vision and revised core values. She also led the college to become the first company in Indiana that is both a certified B Corp and a Benefit Corporation. Under her leadership as interim president, ACE reached its highest historical enrollment at yearend 2016, which resulted in growing the college by 50 percent. Landry earned her

doctorate in educational leadership and MBA from Texas Christian University, a master’s in gifted education and a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Tammy Butler Robinson, a managing principal at Engaging Solutions LLC, an Indianapolis-based management consulting firm, was installed as president of the National Association of Women Business Owners-Indianapolis. Robinson has been a NAWBO-Indianapolis board member for five years. As a board member for NAWBO-Indianapolis, Robinson helped to establish F.U.E.L. (Females United and Empowered to Lead), which encourages and prepares women business owners to engage in the political process. Additionally, Robinson collaborates with affinity groups to impact policies affecting women business owners and connects women business owners with federal, state and local officials to increase procurement opportunities. Robinson is one of four managing principals at Engaging Solutions. She leads two of the company’s five business sectors: call center and planning and community outreach. Ericka Riding has joined the social media team of Eli Lilly as Digital Intelligence Lab manager for Lilly USA. Riding, who formerly worked at Elanco as the cause and shared value manager, will man-

age the listening and strategy associates who work on the organization's social media team. Riding's experience includes managing Elanco’s social listening center — which she helped launch — and an expansive background in communications, operations and social listening. Since joining Lilly, Riding has written for LillyNews, covering both Elanco and global marketing. The former print journalist joined Elanco in 2014. While on the corporate responsibility team, she led Elanco’s Global Day of Service efforts and developed Elanco’s first external corporate social responsibility report. Riding has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Jump IN for Healthy Kids announced that Julie Burns would serve as chief executive officer of the organization, succeeding Ron Gifford, who has led the initiative since its launch in January 2014. Gifford will remain with Jump IN in a part-time role as a senior advisor for strategic initiatives and as a member of its Leadership Council. Jump IN for Healthy Kids is a community-wide initiative dedicated to improving the health of children by reducing the prevalence of child obesity. The initiative was created in 2014 by the CEOs of Indianapolis’ largest health care systems, businesses and nonprofit organizations to help address central Indiana’s lagging health status. Burns has served as the head of program operations for the organization since early 2014.

Be Part of a Leading Health Care Organization Eskenazi Health is looking for qualified professionals to fill both clinical and nonclinical positions in our organization. APPLY TODAY AT

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How technological innovation is changing Indianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape By Lauren Caggiano

Move over, Silicon Valley. Indiana is poised to become a leader in technology. According to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), projected growth rates for central Indianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tech sector could soon make it one of the most robust regions for tech employment in the U.S. Nationwide, the numbers speak for themselves. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high-tech industries provide about 12 percent of all jobs and produce nearly a quarter of output. 8

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According to national real estate firm CBRE, over the past five years, the tech industry has been the fastest-growing subset of the labor market. The net result was the creation of 780,000 new jobs at a 7.3-percent growth rate. There is also an unrivaled resiliency among tech firms, which were hit harder by the 2000–01 recession than other industries — including the housing market and the auto industry — but were largely immune to the effects of the 2007–09 recession. But the nation as a whole is the sum of its parts. Indeed our state, particularly the central part, has contributed positively to the country’s robust growth in the tech sector. CBRE’s 2016 Tech Thirty Report found that Indiana’s tech ecosystem is in growth mode. According to the report, Indianapolis saw tech jobs grow nearly 30 percent between 2013 and 2015. This was the fifth-highest rank among the 30 cities surveyed. The data, derived from U.S. Department of Labor statistics and the firm’s proprietary research, showed that Indianapolis’ tech labor pool expanded by 27.9 percent over the same two-year span, accounting for just over one-third of new office jobs. According to local experts, human capital is and will be the engine for growth, but there are other supporting factors, too.

Dollars and cents

Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporaton (IEDC), explained the role her agency has played in advancing the cause of technology in Indiana and beyond. Among other things, she said the IEDC is charged with helping new or existing companies grow or expand, as

Strength in numbers Professional development is essential to growth in any industry. Following is a list and brief description of professional technology/innovation organizations in Indiana:

The Indiana Technology & Innovation Council (indianachambertech.com) focuses on public policy so technology leaders present a strong, unified voice at the Indiana Statehouse and beyond.

With a chapter in Muncie, CompTIA (aitp.org/chapters) offers members the opportunity to keep current on technology and business trends and www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

Elaine Bedel

collaborate with other tech professionals on initiatives that not only shape the future of the local chapter, but also advance the global IT industry. The Indiana Chapter of HIMSS (indiana.himsschapter.org) is one of more than 50 affiliated chapters of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the largest health care information systems professional organization in the nation. Their purpose is to bring health care professionals together to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge among colleagues, and to assist members in their professional growth. The Central Indiana Chapter of ISSA (ci-issa.org) is a group of seaFOURTH QUARTER 2017

soned information technology security professionals located in and around Indianapolis. They are committed to knowledge sharing, consulting, educating and improving information security within central Indiana. Women & Hi Tech (womenandhitech.org) works to connect female STEM professionals with each other. Members and sponsors represent a wide array of STEM fields, including life sciences, engineering, accounting, psychology, statistics and information technology. They work as engineers, analysts, scientists, business developers, marketers, educators and more.

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well as helping firms relocate to the Hoosier state via incentives like tax credits, training funds and grants. Often the decision to relocate a company is one of dollars and cents, and Indiana boasts an attractive package. Bedel described Indiana as “very business friendly,” citing low taxes, low cost of living, hardy work ethic and high quality of life. Regarding the cost of living, Bedel said the heartland’s advantages are pretty clear when you juxtapose a positon at an Indiana firm versus a California one. Someone making $100,000 here would need to bring home about $272,000 in San Francisco to maintain the same lifestyle. “So, when you’re a tech firm, you can hire almost three workers for every one (in California),” she said. “We just have a great environment for businesses to be here.” Attracting firms is one goal, but championing homegrown successes is another. Bedel cites “great companies” that started in central Indiana, like ExactTarget. In her words, “there’s a real nucleus” here in terms of tech company growth.

lOOkING AHEAD

Supporting the next generation of companies is also high on the IEDC’s priority list. The 21st Century Research and Technology Fund is one initiative toward that end. The 21 Fund was created in 1999 by the General Assembly to stimulate the process of diversifying the state’s economy by developing and commercializing advanced technologies in Indiana. The 21 Fund was brought under the leadership of the IEDC in 2005. Through partnerships with private capital, the 21 Fund helps companies meet essential milestones along the path to commercialization.

angela Smith Jones

Indiana’s tech giants

Who are the giants when it comes to tech companies in the Hoosier State? Here are the top five largest tech firms according to number of employees: Infosys Limited Pyramid Technology UST Global Cognizant Technology Solutions Interactive Intelligence

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What makes Indiana an attractive home ★ Culture and amenities for tech companies? Experts believe it ★ Central location (short drive comes down to a combination of factors: to several states) ★ Educated workforce (due in part to ★ Minimal bureaucracy Indiana's exceptional state-funded institutions) ★ Low taxes ★ Strong work ethic and loyalty

★ AAA bond rating and balanced budgets for nearly a decade

★ Low cost of living “(The Fund) helps leverage initial funds with other investors,” said Bedel. “It helps companies scale to achieve that next level (of success).” Similarly, the Next Level Fund allows the state to invest in high-growth Indiana companies. Though not limited to tech ventures, the Indiana Small Business Development Corporation (ISBDC) has centers around the state to serve aspiring and current business owners. Staff there do things like coach clients and help them create business plans. It’s a publicprivate partnership of federal government, state government, universities and the private sector. While these specific incentives enter into the equation, Bedel calls for a holistic approach to attraction, growth and retention. Stakeholders need to look at the “whole business environment,” she said. For example, minimizing bureaucracy and helping push people and organizations through the governmental processes are critical to attraction and retention. www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

A strong workforce

Angela Smith Jones’ office is tasked with a similar charge. As the deputy mayor of economic development for the City of Indianapolis, her team works with companies to attract, expand and retain Indianapolis businesses. Jones said her office’s initiatives are supported by the state’s pro-business climate. She said she’s impressed by the state’s commitment to advance and expand the tech sector, with $50 billion earmarked for initiatives. Whether on a city or state level, the human factor comes into play. Companies from out of state view the Hoosier workforce as an asset. Jones said the Indianapolis area is uniquely positioned with a strong talent pool. And the university network also furthers the cause by creating a pipeline of talent. There’s also something to the Midwest work ethic and sense of loyalty you don’t find in other geographic regions. Those qualities translate into real and measurable gains.

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“It’s less expensive labor, because they stay (here) longer compared to (professionals) in Silicon Valley,” she said, adding that the average tenure is five years. “It comes down to saving a lot of money. That’s huge.” Jones’ comments are re-enforced by a recent Forbes article in which Angie’s List CEO Scott Durchslag attributes tech growth in Indiana to the workforce, saying, “unlike Silicon Valley, employees are here because they want to be here, which tends to lead to much more loyal employees and a lower attrition rate.” An additional factor at play is the availability of direct flights to and from the West Coast. “It makes it easier for people to get back and forth,” she said. Also related to the bottom line is the affordable cost of living and sense of place, both significant wins for the city. For example, she said Indianapolis has a great urban core, hospitable people and no shortage of culture.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

While state officials are fixated on attracting new companies, they are equally as concerned about developing the next generation of tech leaders here. Jones cited the example of coding schools as one avenue for investing in the future. “I think it’s critically important that we expose young children, regardless of socioeconomic and gender, (to careers in technology),” she said. She said Indiana is at an advantage because it’s progressive in its private sector leadership. Jones offered a case in point: “CEOs are known to be available to have peer-to-peer conversations with growing tech companies and help companies looking to relocate or expand in Indiana.” As for current and established leaders in Indiana, Jones offers some words of advice. Underscoring the importance of partnerships and support, she said, “be open to whatever innovations are out there and utilize new tools and services.”

PRIvATE-PUBlIc EFFORTS

Also in the name of innovation, TechPoint is an organization committed to accelerating the tech eco-system in Indiana. It’s unique in that it’s a nonprofit organization rooted in the private-public model. TechPoint is an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), along with Ascend, BioCrossroads, Conexus, ESN and Agrinovus. “The mission is to make good on the potential for Indiana to have a top ecosystem in the region and U.S.,” said Mike Langellier, president and CEO of TechPoint. To that end, he said there are seven ingredients in a thriving tech ecosystem: talent, innovation, companies, capital, community, promotion, and research, strategy and policy — all of which are interconnected. One of their most well known initiatives — which touches on most of those focus areas — is the Xtern program. According to xtern.me, the program promises its student participants the ability to “work alongside industry leaders at one of Indy’s hottest tech companies.” Each year, about 300 students are placed in internships at 60 central Indiana companies. Langellier said applicants typically come from 12

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Mike Langellier all around the country and are eager for the chance to get real-world experience and a taste of local tech culture in the process.

YEARS IN THE MAkING

Langellier said Indiana’s pro-business and innovative environment is no accident and has been years in the making. “We’re fortunate that we’ve had 35-40 years of tech company growth to build on,” he said. “It takes time to build an ecosystem like this.” The Salesforce tower, Infosys hub and the creation of the Next Level Fund, he said, are great examples of fruits of those labors. Other metrics, like third-party rankings, indicate progress. Indiana is on the map nationally when it comes to innovation. Every year, Inc. magazine ranks “America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies,” and this year 21 tech companies based in Indiana made the “Inc. 5000” list, which is ranked according to percentage of revenue growth comparing 2013 to 2016. It’s also encouraging that companies not necessarily in the tech arena — Eli Lilly and Company, for example — are embracing innovation. “More and more companies are seeking to become more tech-like,” Langellier said. In short, the state is on track to create a new tech epicenter on the Silicon Prairie, and it’s attracting tech companies to further that growth. After all, there is much more than corn in Indiana. I

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By the NumBers 33,868 Tech IndusTry jobs In IndIana

80,000

Tech IndusTry esTablIshmenTs esTabl T Tabl Ishmen

7,700 IndIana Is home To

cerTIfIed Tech ech parks, where Ideas are generaTed genera generaT Ted and busIness busIness IIs busI s IIncubaT ncuba ed ncubaT IndIana ana has genera generaT generaTed ed approxImaTely approxImaT ma ely maT

$5 bI bIllIon b Ill llIIon In Tech exIT value In The lasT decade IndIana’s compuTer and IT job growTh h ra raT e was raTe

70%

hIgher Than The resT of The u.s. from 2009–14

The number of computer and IT jobs in Indiana in 2014

51,224

The projected number of computer and IT jobs in Indiana by 2025 forbes magazine ranked Indianapolis as one of the

Top 10 meTro areas for technology job growth in 2013.

j obs in computer and jobs IT roles pay more than

$75,000 annually on average, almost double the pay for the average of all jobs in central Indiana as a whole. In 2012,

48%

of computer-related occupations in Indiana were located in Indianapolis and carmel, followed by

in fort wayne. Sources: Indiana Economic Development Corporation, TechPoint

Generation Z is key

Gender balance in STEM starts in childhood

By Miranda Miller hen someone says “scientist,” what do you picture? “If you asked any third-grader to draw a picture of a scientist, most of them will draw a white man with curly hair and glasses,” Melissa Moritz, deputy director of STEM initiatives at the U.S. Department of Education, told U.S. News & World Report. It turns out that teachers themselves may be culprits in the lack of female role models in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Two years ago, Today reported that Israeli researchers discovered that elementary school math teachers were favoring boys and discouraging girls from interest in the STEM industry. When teachers knew the identity of the children they were grading, they gave boys higher grades, Today said. “As a test, the researchers checked to see if the same kind of bias was occurring in other school subjects — it wasn’t.” The researchers continued to monitor the students through high school and found that girls who’d been given bad grades in elementary school math classes were less likely to register for advanced math and science classes later. This sort of discouragement metamorphoses into something uglier in college. For example, said Quartz writer Shannon Palus, University of California – Berkeley professor and astronomer Geoff Marcy sexually harassed his students for decades. When the school was forced to investigate complaints, one of Marcy’s colleagues wrote a memo in support of him to the rest of the faculty. “Of course, this is hardest for Geoff in this moment,” it said. “For those who are willing and able, he certainly can use any understanding or support they can offer (this wouldn’t include endorsement of the mistakes he acknowledges in an open letter on his website). I ask that those who have the room for it (now or later), hear him out and judge whether there is room for redemption in all that will transpire.” Once women reach the workplace, they encounter coworkers like former Google engineer James Damore, who wrote an online memo that cited biological differences as the reason for the dearth of women in STEM. Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett, authors of “The Age of Longevity: Re-Imagining Tomorrow for Our New Long Lives,” rebutted this assertion with the fact that the study he’d based his memo on had never been replicated and “The Athena Factor,” a major companysponsored report that revealed that women in high-ranking tech positions don’t get a second chance when they make a mistake. “Men do,” Rivers and Barnett said. So how do we balance the scale in STEM? Talmesha Richards, chief academic and diversity officer at Million Women Mentors, told U.S. News that encouragement is critical. She hated math until an elementary school teacher

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“took an interest in” her. Now she has a Ph.D. in cellular molecular medicine. “Every STEM person that I know has had that ‘a-ha’ moment where the light bulb goes off and you think to yourself, ‘I can do this; this is really cool,’” she said. That coolness is precisely why Palus rejects the need for more female role models or gimmicks such as the “Hack a Hair Dryer” ads that IBM posted on YouTube and Facebook. Inspiration and patronization aren’t the solution, she said. “Instead, we need to start dealing with sexism and racism head-on. … Young girls know that stars, dinosaurs, bugs and volcanoes are magic. The problem is that day-to-day life in a patriarchal culture makes it hard for women to study them.” I

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To borrow or not to borrow? wHAT YOU NEED TO kNOw ABOUT USING YOUR 401(k)

By Miranda Miller inter is coming — and not in the “Game of Thrones” kind of way. But if thoughts of bone-chilling temperatures and snow have Hawaii calling your name, you may want to find another way than your 401(k) to fund your trip. Here are a few reasons why: First, your employer may not allow you to borrow money from your 401(k) for a vacation. So if your plan administrator says no, it isn’t out of spite. Technically, employers don’t have to offer 401(k) loans at all, according to 401khelpcenter.com, but those that do “must adhere to some very strict and detailed guidelines on making and administering” them. Consequently, many companies forbid them for anything other than education expenses, medical bills, eviction prevention and firsthome down payments. Second, it’s a loan, so you’ll owe interest. “The rate is often in the neighborhood of the prime rate, which is consistent with typical consumer loans,” financial

empowerment site The Balance says. On the upside, you’ll be paying the interest to yourself, but you relinquish potential investment benefits while your loan is outstanding. “Even when you pay back the principal and interest, you likely still won’t break even in terms of lost investment growth by the time you retire.” Third, although 401(k) loans are tempting because they’re tax-free loans that don’t affect your credit, they’re still risky, says Financial Center First Credit Union certified financial planner Tom Collins. “When you take out a 401(k) loan, it is deducted from your paycheck, so you can’t really stop it unless you pay it off or you separate from service,” Collins said. In other words, if your car breaks down and your mechanic charges hundreds of dollars to replace an important part, you can’t ask your employer to stop deducting money from your paycheck for a while. Worse, if you lose your job, your for-

mer employer may not allow you to pay the loan back, Collins said. This would put the loan in default status, and the remaining balance would be subject to ordinary income tax at the federal pay level. Plus, you’d be forced to pay a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you’re under age 59 1/2. This penalty was created to deter people from dipping into their retirement plan, Collins said. “Every plan’s a little different, but usually you can borrow up to 50 percent of the value of your 401(k) with a cap of $50,000,” Collins said. Imagine losing your job while you’re on vacation and returning home needing to repay your rent or mortgage, utility bills, car payment and insurance, student loans, the amount you borrowed from your 401(k) — whether it’s $3,000 for a tropical vacation or $50,000 for medical bills — and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. With such scenarios in mind, Collins said he’d tend to use a 401(k) loan as a last resort. I

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Highlights of this Event: Local brands will have the opportunity to spend time with national concession operators and tour the IND terminal!

For Event Details and To Register: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/ind-concessionsrefresh-outreachevent-new-info-please-read-registration-37420227909 www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

FOURTH QUARTER 2017

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Work-life hacks

Productivity tips for owning your workday By Keshia McEntire

f time is money, how much is your workday really worth? The answer all comes down to productivity. Whether you are an entrepreneur or you work in a corporate setting, making the most of your time at work is crucial to maintaining a healthy worklife balance. Here are eight tips to help you work smarter rather than harder and increase your productivity at work:

Set your schedule

At the beginning of your workweek, take a look at all the tasks you need to accomplish and think about the time you have available to work on each task. Make a list of all your tasks for the week and prioritize the things that need to get done first. Work on creating a schedule for the following day the night before you leave your office, or first thing in the morning as a last resort. Most importantly, give yourself enough time to complete each task, even if something comes up last minute. Keeping track of how long each task takes will help during the planning process and eventually 16

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allow you to limit how much time you spend on each task.

Minimize multitasking

Numerous studies have shown that our minds can’t do multiple tasks simultaneously as well as we thought. When we assume we are multitasking, we are really just repeatedly stopping one task and quickly starting another. Ultimately, we end up spending more time on our tasks than we would have if we had worked on them one at a time, and we also end up making more mistakes. At work, try to focus on one task at a time and keep a list of other tasks to complete after you are done with the initial task.

Eliminate distractions

The workplace is full of distractions, but there are ways individuals can minimize many of them. If you have an office, close the door. If a co-worker wants to talk and you are in a time crunch, it’s OK to say you need to finish FOURTH QUARTER 2017

a task first but will catch up with them later. Turning off notifications on your phone and logging out of social media accounts can help. Consider downloading a distraction-blocking app such as Offtime or Moment to help you stay away from Facebook or games.

Work offsite when need be

If you need to finish a number of tasks distraction-free, sometimes the office isn’t the best place to be. Working at home, at a quiet library or a coffee shop might be a better environment. Make sure your company policy will allow offsite work before deciding not to punch in on any given day, but for those who can, working from home will reduce commute time, and the familiar environment reduces stress as well.

Speak up for yourself

Many individuals in fast-paced careers never stop saying yes to assignments and overtime hours, but sometimes even the most organized person www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

has more on their plate than they can chew. If you are certain that you don’t have enough time or resources to complete a task, consider voicing your concern to your employer. Turning down a task isn’t easy and can have consequences. If you choose to speak up after reviewing those consequences, state your case firmly yet respectfully, and offer some alternative solutions to aid in the situation.

Run your business. We’ll help with the rest.

Work ahead

Having deadlines looming over your head is never fun. One of the best ways to prevent yourself from getting behind on work is to work ahead when time allows. If you have any repetitive task that you do each week, try to work on them all at once on a slow day or after hours to free up some time.

Reward yourself when work is done

You put your nose to the grindstone and have been repeatedly meeting deadlines and doing exceptional work. Avoid burnout by rewarding yourself when the job is done. This can be as simple as giving yourself a small break and stepping outside at work, buying yourself a drink or indulging in some (controlled) retail therapy after-hours. Employers can get in on the fun by setting up incentives to keep employees motivated, be it allowing employees to leave the office a bit early if deadlines are met or providing lunch when the company meets a goal.

Disconnect from work

Disconnecting from work may be most difficult for entrepreneurs or those who work from home, but it’s an important part of self-care and maintaining work-life balance. If you can’t stop thinking about tomorrow’s tasks after work, your mind isn’t getting the mental break it needs in order to stay productive. If you work from home, block all work-related tools after you decide your workday is over. I

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When you do what you love for a living, you’re bound to be happy. However, r it’s not fun when you’re pulled away from r, your job to deal with government regulations. That’s why we created INBiz. It’s the state of Indiana’s one-stop resource for registering and managing your business, and it helps all businesses stay compliant with Indiana requirements. Check it out for yourself at INBiz.in.gov.

GE T B ACK TO W H AT YOU LOV E .

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Labor of love A talk with James Duke

By Ebony Marie Chappel

o two days are alike for James Duke. As the manager of supplier diversity for Indiana University Health, Duke oversees the organization’s statewide efforts to increase diverse spending. He starts early, ends late and relies on his two cellphones to keep him on track. Despite his hectic schedule, Duke finds time to give back to the community, a custom he learned as a child. The youngest of five children, born and raised on the east side of Indianapolis, Duke watched as his mother volunteered with various efforts at his elementary school and worked election polls, among other activities. When he was a teenager entering high school in Lawrence Township, his mother taught him another valuable lesson — the importance of mentorship. “My mom marched me into the superintendent’s office, Dr. Percy Clark Jr., and said ‘What are you going to do to make sure my son is successful?’” After that, Duke and Clark began regularly meeting one-on-one to discuss the future. In fact, Clark is the reason Duke attended Morehouse College after high school. Today, Duke lives out the African-American proverb, “Each one, teach one. Each one, reach one,” through his work with

youth in his roles with the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and the Center for Leadership Development. He is also involved with the Hispanic Business Council, Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council and the United Negro College Fund’s Indianapolis Leadership Council, among other groups, and has received a number of recognitions and awards. When asked how he balances it all — work, family and civic engagement — Duke said it is a “labor of love.” Indiana Minority Business Magazine recently sat down with him to talk about his work with IU Health and his commitment to community. IMBM: Tell us about your career background. How did you come to be in this position with IU Health? Duke: I have been here since 2010, originally for Clarian, which is now IU Health. I was in a similar role at the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) prior to this. I saw (my current role) as an opportunity to make a bigger impact in the community than I was able to do at IAA. The airport, even though we had a large project that we completed when we built it, I had a staff of less than a thousand people. I saw IU Health as an opportunity for growth and to step outside my

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What do you feel have been some of your biggest career challenges? The challenges are more self-imposed. I want to be able to do more, and just sometimes there are limitations that won’t allow that to happen — time, access, a variety of things, and sometimes it can get frustrating because you see so much possibility, and when all of that doesn’t come to fruition, you’re harder on yourself. A lot of people are that way and you’ll have others say, “What are you talking about, this is great. You’ve done a lot of good stuff.” But yeah, I could’ve done more. Obviously when I was at the airport, it was when 9/11 happened. I started there in May and that happened in September, so experiencing that total stoppage and shutdown is something that was challenging. Another would be the 2008 recession. It was a tough time for a lot of small businesses, and being a representative of corporate America, if you will, you’re sitting in meetings and you have no choice but to discuss how you’re going to trim and be efficient, and lots of times, that means you’re gonna reduce the amount of vendors that you have and anytime you do that, it makes it more difficult not only for minorities, but any small vendor. It makes it difficult for them to be competitive. So sitting there in some of those discussions and knowing that there’s a need to get the community involved but knowing the limitations, those are frustrating times. How do you overcome those obstacles? Prayer, thats one! My faith has played a huge role in what I do. Through that faith and that outlook, you learn that you can’t be everything in one, and you learn that you’re not gonna be able to make everyone happy all the time so you have to find joy in wins when you can, even the small ones. Find happiness in that.

James Duke comfort zone and challenge me as an individual. It was an opportunity to expand my horizons. Some people would be fearful making such a move career-wise. Did you have any reservations about moving from a place like IAA to a much larger organization? Yeah, I did feel fear, but I utilized that fear to cause me to be humble and not to take anything for granted. I also utilized it as fuel to make sure that I put that energy and effort into what I was doing. First of all, you’re not going to make everybody happy, so one of those fears was, you’re gonna be more visible and people may be upset that they don’t get the opportunities they want to get. You know? But I couldn’t let that stop me, because I knew there’s a need out here for businesses trying to work with IU Health and also for IU Health to be able to communicate with those potential vendors, as well. I see myself as that liaison.

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What, for you, is the significance of being generous with your time, talent and resources? Winston Churchill said it this way: “We make our living by what we get, we make our life by what we give.” I really have looked at how we as a people owe it not only to ourselves, but our community and our future, any knowledge that we’ve gained, information that we’ve acquired we have a responsibility to share it to make sure our future is going to be solid. When I’m talking to the young people we work with, in the 100, I tell them that we’re providing shoulders for them to stand on, and they’re our future kings and queens. We have the responsibility to lead them and guide them and be transparent. A lot of times, education is not just talking about the good things, but (also saying) these are the mistakes I’ve made, this is where I stumbled and this is what I learned from it. I think that it’s also not just handing the knowledge to them, but dialoguing with them, suggesting they explore other options, because there’s more than one path to success. I

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Rethink your workspace Six of Indiana’s coolest co-working spaces By Keshia McEntire

oing your own thing doesn’t have to mean doing it alone; just ask the thousands of freelancers, entrepreneurs and other devotees of the 21st century’s “gig economy” who are sharing office spaces and skills with trailblazers from a range of industries and backgrounds. The co-working business model is built around the belief that individuals can be more innovative when they are surrounded by other passionate people, even if they don’t necessarily share the same employer. According to the 2017 Global Coworking Survey published by Deskmask, between 2011 and 2017 the co-working market has grown from a little over 40,000 to over one million members worldwide. Folks who desire a change of scenery outside of the office or home can look into several co-working spaces around the state. While prices and amenities vary, all offer a unique opportunity to collaborate with the community. Here are six of the coolest co-working spaces in Indiana.

The Hatch

Located in Broad Ripple, a hub for Indianapolis’ creative community, The Hatch is a workspace that can fulfill a large assortment of needs. Here you will find lighting equipment and backdrops for photography and videography, easels for painting and a sound booth for podcasting or audio recording, alongside more traditional co-working features such as conference rooms and open work spaces. At the Hatch, there are no long-term leases, just day passes ($25) and monthly memberships ($99). Entrepreneurs can enjoy coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks while taking advantage of high-speed WiFi and free printing. Learn more at thehatchcreates.com.

The Speak Easy

With locations all around Indianapolis, The Speak Easy aims to be Indy’s go-to place for entrepreneurs to create, collaborate and learn. During the day, members can be found working in the common spaces or having meetings in private rooms. This venue stays alive way beyond 9 to 5. At night, Meetup groups, guest speakers, panels and lively discussions keep the space flourishing. At some locations, thirsty creatives can even enjoy cold local beer on tap. Locations include Broad Ripple, downtown Indianapolis, Indy’s south side (by the name of Tube Factory Artspace), Zionsville (zWORKS) and more. Pricing details are available after an application is submitted. Visit speakeasyindy.com to apply.

Cowork

Located in Bloomington, Indiana, Cowork offers a lounge, kitchen, snack bar, conference room, “couch room,” and a number of designated workspaces. Full-time membership is $150 a month, part-time membership costs $80, and day passes run $25. Nonprofit organizations and graduate students can receive a 20 percent discount at this venue. Visit coworkbtown.com to learn more.

Indiana CoWorking Passport

The Indiana CoWorking Passport allows you to take your office statewide. Connecting entrepreneurs from across Indiana, Indiana CoWorking Passport (ICP) is a reciprocal rights arrangement between top co-working and innovation hubs in Indiana. Individuals may stop in to work at another participating co-working space one time per month, giving individuals access to over 30 co-working facilities. A list of participating facilities can be found at indianacoworkingpassport.com.

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The CO:LAB

The CO:LAB, with two locations in Muncie, Indiana, aims to help the community share expertise, engage in networking and grow professional relationships with others. At the CO:LAB, members can find an open office environment and a cafe full of coffee and snacks to keep workers fueled. The CO:LAB partners with East Central ISBDC to provide business services such as one-on-one consulting and loan assistance to interested individuals. Membership is $70 monthly or $600 annually, and single-day passes can be purchased for $15. Learn more at colabmuncie.com.

GreenCOW Coworking

Lake County residents seeking to work alongside other visionaries can look into GreenCOW Coworking in Hammond, Indiana. The company claims its environment changes work from somewhere you have to be into someplace you want to be. In addition to offering office space, they have weekly events including game nights and workshops to help affiliates learn new skills. Membership rates start at $49 per month, and even non-members can book a conference room for as low as $20. Visit greencow.space to learn more.

IU Health is proud to partner with Indiana’s minorityowned businesses. n

Regional “Corporation of the Year” by Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council “Best in Class” Hospital by the Institute for Diversity in Health Management Recognized as a “2017 Top Hospital System for Diversity” by BlackDoctor.org

Visit iuhealth.org.

The Union – Westfield

Nicknamed “The U,” The Union – Westfield is a co-working space where startups and industry experts work, connect and grow in a cozy, yet modern, environment. This laid-back office space will feel like home away from home. Membership rates start at $75 a month. More information can be found at theunionwestfield.com. I www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

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What about workplace benefits? Studies show employees need more than unique perks to get by By Ebony Marie Chappel

n January, Toyota opened a new fitness facility at its Columbus, Indiana, campus, T+Rex (short for Toyota Recreational Complex). The international automobile brand and manufacturer became another in a long list of corporations that are looking to make the workplace a bit more enjoyable. “The T+Rex has inspired several of our team members and their families to be focused on their overall health and become active on a regular basis. It has provided opportunities for entire families to spend quality time together while enjoying fun activities,” said Steve Pride, director at Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing. The T+Rex facility features basketball courts, locker rooms, a yoga room, a physical therapy room, free weights, workout machines, an indoor running track and group workout classes, as well as a fun room complete with pool table, pingpong table, shuffleboard table, multiple TVs and a video game console. Additionally, the facility has on-site medical care available to employees during the week from 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m.–noon. Pride said that he believes T+Rex will help continue to boost employee morale. “We feel it makes for healthier and

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happier members of the Toyota family.” While perks can make the workplace more enjoyable, they are no substitute for healthy environments. In an address before the Banking and Finance Oath’s inaugural Banking and Finance Ethics Conference in Sydney, Australia, this summer, National Mental Health Commissioner Lucinda Brogden shared that financial institutions looking to build employee morale needed to go further than “free fruit” and “yoga.” “Employers have a legislative obligation to provide people with a safe place to work,” Brogden said. “Not only physically safe but (well-managed for limiting) psychological risks, as well.” Brogden went on to share that when an employee’s duties are not aligned with their values, it can create a form of cognitive dissonance, ultimately affecting not only their performance, but also their mental well-being. Recent research conducted by Glassdoor showed that many of the exciting perks firms offer have little effect on employee satisfaction, particularly if more traditional benefits such as health insurance, 401(k) matches and paid time off are neglected. In recent years, many organizations have tinkered with the idea of creating the best workplace by offering em-

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ployees unique incentives and perks in addition to making deliberate efforts to address the aforementioned issues. Employees at Squaremouth, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based customer service company, help their clients compare insurance products, all from the comfort of an open-concept office space that overlooks a waterfront view. Employees are urged to take a minimum of 10 paid vacation days a year and can take breaks throughout the day by shooting a round of pool, playing other games or grabbing a drink at the open bar. Employees can also hit the water in one of two company boats. Project Management Director Megan Singh shared that the company is hiring a lot and has experienced very little turnover. Fifth Third Bancorp has recently created a program for expectant moms and dads and parents of newborns. Those employees are offered assistance with baby shower or gender reveal party planning and other tasks via a maternity concierge service. The service was borne out of research conducted by Bancorp that showed employees who have taken parental leave in the past 12 months leave the company at almost twice the rate of all women at the firm. Though there is not yet evidence of its success, Fifth Third executives hope the perk can help retain employees going through the parenting transition. In the nonprofit realm, organizations that aren’t able to compete when it comes to salary have begun exploring other options to attract and retain top talent. Among the top offerings, according to ASAE Foundation’s 2016-2017 Association and Compensation Benefits Study, are increased paid leave, flexible work schedules through telecommuting, and tuition assistance or reimbursement. The research into employee response to perks overwhelmingly shows that the offerings cannot be one-offs to curry good favor but must be sustainable and address employees’ real needs and desires. I

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City Close-Up

West Baden Springs Hotel

French Lick and West Baden Springs Modern, historic, rejuvenating

Staff Report rench Lick, a small town with a population of just over 1,800 residents, is known for many things including its world-class spa hotel, casino and other attractions including those found in neighboring towns Paoli and West Baden. Basketball lovers will be thrilled to note French Lick is the hometown of legendary Hoosier Larry Bird. Read on for more of what this southern Indiana gem has to offer.

LODGING

Big Splash Adventure 8505 W. State Road 56 French Lick, IN 47432 (877) 936-3866 bigsplashadventure.com Enjoy waterpark fun all year round at Big Splash Adventure. The 40,000-square-foot attraction has a retractable roof that is open in the warmer months and closed when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit more frigid outside. The park has a variety of lodging options, from double occupancy rooms to larger family-sized suites. Be sure to grab a souvenir or two at the Seaside Market and a bite to eat at one of three restaurants located on the premises. French Lick Cabins at Patoka Lake Village Lake Village Drive 7900 W. County Road 1025 S. French Lick, IN 47432 (812) 936-9854 plvlogcabins.com www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

Located just 10 miles south of French Lick, the Cabins at Patoka Lake Village include two-bedroom log cabins, a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier, hiking trails and more. Patoka Lake Village is just a short drive away from Marengo Cave, President Abraham Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boyhood home and a number of other points of interest. French Lick Springs Hotel 8670 W. State Road 56 French Lick, IN 47432 (812) 936-9300 frenchlick.com French Lick Springs Hotel, one of two hotels on the French Lick Resort, was established in 1845. The historic locale has activities for everyone, including a casino, golf course, swimming pools, multiple dining options and a 28-room spa featuring a host of different beauty and health treatments. West Baden Springs Hotel 8538 West Baden Avenue West Baden, IN 47469 (812) 936-9300 frenchlick.com West Baden Springs, the second hotel located on the grounds of the French Lick Resort, features an awe-inspiring atrium that spans 200 feet and has 243 guest rooms/luxury suites. Guests can take a short trolley ride over to French Lick Springs to enjoy their amenities or stay nearby to visit the formal gardens, take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pool or visit the spa, which has a two-level natatorium and full-service salon.

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DINING

French Lick Winery 8145 W. Sinclair St. West Baden Springs, IN 47469 (812) 936-2293 frenchlickwinery.com In 1995, French Lick Winery opened for business on the grounds of the Beechwood Mansion. Today, the winery is located up the road from its original location and still offers a number of award-winning varietals. Visitors are welcome to watch the production process up close and personal through a set of large windows, while being led on a tasting of 29 wines by a trained wine expert. Be sure to stop by the Vintage Cafe for yummy appetizers, pasta, pizza and other bites.

33 Brick Street 480 S. Maple St. French Lick, IN 47432 (812) 936-3370 33brickstreet.com 33 is the quintessential sports bar even non-ballplayers and watchers can enjoy. With hand-cut steaks, pasta, legendary burgers and an extensive local/craft beer selection, you’re sure to find something on the menu to enjoy. This place even features great sports memorabilia including signed jerseys from Emmitt Smith, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Lou Brock, Magic Johnson, Joe Montana, Walt Frasier and hometown hero Larry Bird. Bird’s NBA championship trophies are also on display, among other items.

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Porky’s BBQ 711 W. Main St. Paoli, IN 47454 (812) 723-2271 Oink out at Paoli’s premiere BBQ joint. This place, founded in 1950, originally gained notoriety for its double-decker Fat Boy burger. Today, they’re still serving up the Fat Boy along with in-house smoked chicken, brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs. Porky’s also offers a number of breakfast and lunch options.

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The Superburger 600 W. Main St. Paoli, IN 47454 (812) 723-4445 facebook.com/The-Superburger Tired of basic burgers and blah buns? Check out The Superburger in Paoli. Superburger boasts fresh burgers made from locally raised, 90 percent lean, grass-fed beef dressed your way. Be sure to complete your meal with yummy sides like onion rings, fries, pepper jack cheese balls, ice cream, a fruit smoothie or a shake.

ATTRACTIONS

French Lick Scenic Railway 8594 W. State Road 56 French Lick, IN 47432 (800) 74-TRAIN (87246) frenchlickscenicrailway.org Enjoy some of the Midwest’s most picturesque scenery while aboard a locomotive. Riders will journey through the Burton tunnel and see the Hoosier National Forest. Coach seats are $20 per adult and $10 each for children 2-11. Little ones under 2 can ride on your lap free of charge. Dome-class and first-class seats are available for purchase for a higher charge. Throughout the year, the railway hosts a variety of events including a Wild West themed “hold-up” and a holiday season Polar Express train ride.

French Lick West Baden Museum 469 S. Maple St. French Lick, IN 47432 (812) 936-3592 flwbmuseum.com Home to what’s promoted as the world’s largest circus diorama, the French Lick West Baden Museum is definitely a sight you want to see. The downtown French Lick attraction features an exhibit on Pluto water, a once-popular health supplement bottled at French Lick Springs; the work of artists Henry and Ferdinand Cross; and, yes, a visual homage to the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, which was stationed throughout the winter months in French Lick before being sold to Ringling Brothers in 1929. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $2 for children age 6-12 years old. Paoli Peaks 2798 W. County Road 25 S. Paoli, IN 47454 (812) 723-4696 paolipeaks.com There’s no need to fly to Aspen when you’ve got slopes near home. Skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers will enjoy a day at Paoli Peaks, located less than 15 minutes from West Baden Springs, Indiana. Paoli Peaks is open seven days a week from mid-December through mid-March and features a 45,000-square-foot day lodge equipped with ski and snowboard rental, cafeteria-style restaurant and pizzeria, ski bar, free Wi-Fi, pro shop, first aid station and a ski and snowboard school. There are also two terrain parks, one for more advanced visitors and another for beginners. I

French Lick West Baden Indoor Karting 8331 W. State Road 56 West Baden, IN 47469 (812) 936-5390 flwbindoorkarting.com If you’ve got a need for speed, a zip around this track may be just what the doctor ordered. FLWB Indoor Karting features three courses: the Falcon, a small oval track for drivers 4-8 years old; a grand-prix style offering where racers can go up to 40 mph; and a slick track where drivers can glide around. There’s also a Family Fun Center with dozens of arcade games, a bounce house and more.

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Startup Misinformed

HOw A MISUNDERSTANDING OF TEcH INDUSTRY PERPETUATES THE DIvERSITY PROBlEM

By Wandini Riggins ack of diversity in the tech sector is simultaneously a crisis and an opportunity, says Kelli N. Jones, co-founder of Indianapolis-based Be Nimble Ventures. With co-founder Jeff T. D. Williams, Jones and Be Nimble Ventures seek to “create the blueprint for what true diversity and inclusion looks like in technology.” Be Nimble “advises existing tech companies, creates collaboration opportunities and programming, and incubates new startups founded by people of color.” “To ‘be nimble’ is to be flexible — to be able to pivot and adjust,” says Jones. And therein lies part of the solution to the long-standing diversity problem in tech. Jones has identified various keys to unlocking the puzzle. Jones points to the importance of exposing K-12 children to technology education; investor support and scale opportunities for tech startups; development and mass circulation of creative learning tools for use by individuals and companies alike; and, perhaps most importantly, shedding the fear and embracing the possibilities. Jones says fear — not will or capacity — is at the root of the tech diversity problem. “We have to default to ‘can’ instead of ‘can’t.’ We need to understand our power. We can win. There’s room for everyone, and there’s time for everyone. We need to spend less time being scared, counterproductive, talking ourselves out of things, competing with one another,” she says. A self-described “non-technical tech person,” Jones is laser-focused on what she terms a “missed opportunity.” Data shows a meager 3 to 5 percent of tech industry professionals are people of

Kelli N. Jones

color or members of the LGBTQ community. Twenty percent of the tech labor force are women. In tracking all-important growth in the tech sector, the data shows that companies with little to no minority presence grow at a rate of approximately 15 percent, while tech companies with solid minority employee bases are growing at a staggering 50 percent. Distilling this data, Jones explains that tech companies —incentivized to embrace and capitalize on diversity in hiring — are actively seeking new hires and coming up short. Why? The problem stems, in part, from a fundamental misunderstanding of the tech industry by minority populations. As Jones explains, “Just because it’s tech, doesn’t mean it’s coding.” To-date, Jones explains, minority populations have failed to see the untapped potential in tech. “You do not have to be tech-skilled to thrive in the

tech sector,” says Jones. “Tech companies want to reach people. If you know how to reach people, you can work in tech. The operative question is, ‘Do you have marketing, design, project management or sales skills? Are you a journalist, writer, artist or designer? If so, the tech companies want you!’” Jones explains that a wide swath of minority professionals simply fail to consider the tech sector as an option, deeming it foreclosed to them due to their lack of a technical background. This is a fallacy, and a costly one, as the tech industry continues to grow exponentially in the absence of skilled minority labor. “On the development side, the tech companies can always find coders,” Jones explains. “Building the product is the base; but tech companies ultimately make their money from the efforts of the marketing, human resources, sales, business development, bloggers, content and digital marketing professionals, and creatives who ‘package’ the product and ‘make it hot’ for the public.” Understanding the tech labor market and the vast opportunities therein is vital to bridging the tech diversity gap, Jones says. “Tech is growing faster than any market in the world. There are always new companies emerging, and they are all looking for people. Tech companies go to who they know and operate within networks. In recognizing the opportunity and figuring out how to get more of us in those spaces, we win. I want our community to realize that we push culture. Black Twitter curates everything. If we harness our power and leverage it, we can do anything.” I

Startup features companies that have been in operation for one to three years. To have your company considered for a feature, please email newsroom@indyrecorder.com with the name of your company, contact information, a short description of your product or service and a link to your website. 26

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Across time and space

Tech Talk

Grant to help Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site share collections

By Wandini Riggins he Lilly Endowment Inc. has issued a $50,000 grant that will fund a revolutionary approach to showcasing the President Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s collection of photographs, art and other artifacts belonging to the family of America’s 23rd president. Through the New Century eCollection initiative, the President Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s collection will employ innovative digital scanning technology and enhanced website resources to present its collection of two-dimensional and three-dimensional artifacts to audiences far beyond the site’s Indianapolis location. “Few people realize the extraordinary depth and breadth of our collection, and because of the Lilly Endowment’s grant, we’ll be able to help change that. Less than 10 percent of the Benjamin (Harrison) Presidential Site’s collection is currently accessible to the public through our guided tours and special exhibits,” said Charlie Hyde, the site’s president and CEO. “This forward-looking New Century eCollection initiative will open up an extraordinary range of original materials for exploration that have never been accessible in this way before.” As its website states, the Presidential Site is a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and preserving the location as a museum and memorial to the only U.S. president elected from Indiana. It is open to the public, serves as an educational and historical resource, promotes the values of patriotism and citizenship, and dramatizes the Victorian period for patrons. In 2001, the

Carriage House, which serves as an exhibition hall as well as the Presidential Site’s Welcome Center, underwent a dramatic reconstruction, which included the installation of elevators to facilitate full museum access to all visitors. The Presidential Site has a storied history of grant partnerships. In 2003, the Presidential Site earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. In 2006, the Presidential Site was awarded a “Save America’s Treasures” matching grant from the National Park Service for site recovery and repair. In 2013, the Presidential Site initiated a successful multi-year Bicentennial grant partnership with the Indiana Statehouse and State Library, enabling fourth-graders from partnering counties to visit the Presidential Site at no cost. When Hyde was named president and CEO in 2014, the Presidential Site endeavored “to become the most innovative, impactful and civically engaged presidential site in the United States within five years.” Embracing technology to transform artifacts so they can be viewed digitally will achieve various ends, he says. The collection will simultaneously be preserved for future generations, and the entire collection will be on round-the-clock display for public consumption by students and history buffs around the country and the world. “It will allow us as a museum to better preserve our two-dimensional and three-dimensional collection for future generations by visually documenting artifacts in their entirety and opening up new channels for the thrill of discovery.” I 3D-printed Benjamin Harrison statues made from the New Century eCollection scans

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Hoosier Marketplace Hoosier made

Five products to make you proud to be a Hoosier In 2008, Christine Acton left the corporate world to pursue fiber arts full-time, founding Acton Creative. Today, the company, based in Chesterton, Indiana, produces beautiful woven accessories, including clutches, wallets and messenger bags. Acton Creative offers custom creations — handbags or homegoods — made from their own special fabrics, whether Dad’s favorite necktie or Grandma’s cherished handkerchief. Find your special Acton Creative piece at actoncreative. net. Family venture B. Happy Peanut Butter began in 2013 when Jon and Kathy Weed wanted to teach their kids about running a small business. The small-batch peanut butter, made in Zionsville, Indiana, is available at dozens of retailers across the state and is shipped nationwide. Flavors like Chocolate Cherry, Snickerdoodle, Apple Cinnamon and more take these peanut butters way beyond the basic PB&J. B. Happy also makes custom creations for wedding favors, corporate gifts or any other special occasion that calls for peanut butter good enough to eat with a spoon. Learn more at bhappypeanutbutter.com.

launched the line, paving the way for Creamy Garlic Herb, Sunny Honey Balsamic and Raspberry Champagne vinaigrettes. To find Chef Bricker’s creations, visit chefbricker. com. Pamper your skin without harmful chemicals and other additives with Indianapolis-based Frangipani products. Tracy Land started the line in 2008 to offer safer products to people concerned about what they were putting on their skin. Frangipani offers facial cleansers, serums and moisturizers; body oils and lotions; hand creams and more. The line is sold in natural food stores throughout the Midwest and online at frangipanibodyproducts.com. “Rock your crock” with a dinner kit from Moveable Feast in Indianapolis. The restaurant offers dine in, takeout and catering, but their signature dinner kits simplify home cooking. Kits include chilis, soups, brownies, hot cocoa and more, plus the restaurant offers house-made dressings, rubs and sauces, among other tasty treats. Recipes are made on-site and shipped anywhere. Find your next dinner at movablefeast.name/ bricks-and-mortar.html. I

Chef Jeff Bricker, a native of the south side of Indianapolis, strives to make a tasty line of vinaigrettes without all the junk. Brickhouse Vinaigrettes use non-GMO oils and no artificial ingredients for full flavor with no regret. The Classic Sweet Dijon To have your product or service considered for inclusion in “Hoosier Marketplace,” please email newsroom@indyrecorder.com with the name of your company, contact information, a short description and a link to your Website. Only products and services for which images can be provided will be considered. 28

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Skill Set

Make it meaningful

Tips for Providing feedback to millennials By Erica Pierce

illennials, also known as Generation Y, are a powerful force in everything from athletics to music to technology and beyond. Their power can also be felt within the workforce as they are now “the largest generation in the workforce” according to Stacey Hanke, author of Influence Redefined. But millennials have proven to be the most difficult employees to retain. Of course, the generational gap doesn’t help, but perhaps with better feedback and communication, effective change can take place. Here are a few tips for millennials and non-millennials on how to effectively overcome this obstacle together:

Flexibility fixes potential problems

When dealing with millennials in the workplace, all parties must be open to the idea of bending. According to Forbes, in a recent survey done at YPulse, “77 percent of millennials feel they can be more productive with flexible schedules.” This is when reevaluating time constraints and policies proves beneficial when working with millennials. On the contrary, millennials must still adhere to ensuring deadlines are met.

Providing the good with the bad

Millennials are typically open to feedback, but many non-millennials don’t seem to know how to provide it. This is where the generational gap comes in. With many non-millennials, feedback seems to have a negative connotation attached, but this can’t be further from accurate. So-called “negative criticism” pairs well with positive reinforcement. An employee survey by Harvard Business Review found that “millennial employees want a constant stream of review and recognition.” Feedback is simply coaching and usually desired by millennials more often than not. Annual reviews aren’t enough. Social media updates, peer evaluations and mentorship opportunities are a few additional ways to provide feedback. On the other hand, according to gallup.com, “Millennials

want feedback at work, but they don’t necessarily ask for it. “I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, but closed mouths certainly don’t get fed.”

Evolution is essential

Many non-millennial managers fail to think beyond the traditional approaches and evolve from the normal means of management. Be open to change. Most millennial employees don’t leave because of the job itself, but rather the people they work for. In her book Millennials Incorporated, Lisa Orrell says, “People don’t leave companies; they leave managers. We may have tolerated it for five to 10 years. (Millennials) will tolerate it for five to 10 months.” It’s always a great idea to think beyond those standard corporate practices and strive to get everyone on the same page. I

Clarify for me, please

At times, both non-millennials and millennials shy away from scratching beneath the surface. Stacey Hanke says, “Avoid asking the generic question, ‘How did I do?’ Instead, ask the person to describe precisely what you said or did. If the person responds with generalities, ask follow-up questions.” Millennials want to hear more than cliche statements and vague responses. They want honest and meaningful feedback.

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he leaves have begun to fall, and crisp winds are soon to follow. Fall is upon us, and contrary to what some may think, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;tis the season to embrace bold, bright colors and unique patterns. Our models (left to right) James Duke, manager of supplier diversity for Indiana University Health; Kay C. Dee, associate dean of learning and technology and professor of biology and biomedical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; and Angela B. Freeman, a former biologist and current attorney with Barnes & Thornburg LLC, show us that being fashionable is serious business. On James: Saks Fifth Avenue collection On Kay: K&G Fashions On Angela: Personal collection

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Pair a well-fitting dark or neutral base, like this navy dress with cutout details along the hem, with a complementary color, like goldenrod, for a unique seasonal look. Add a cool cuff and a statement necklace to complete the ensemble. (Clothing, K&G Fashions; Jewelry, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own curated collection)

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Blue is a color that conveys confidence and stability. Mix and match darker and lighter tones with varying textures to create an outfit that exudes coolness and strength. (Clothing, Saks Fifth Avenue Collection)

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Red is an energizing color that complements while drawing attention. Enhance a timeless silhouette like this Cinq á Sept dress with mixed metal accessories for a chic get-up that’s sure to turn heads. (Dress, Saks Fifth Avenue; Jewelry, stylist’s own curated collection)

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Special thanks: K&G Fashions Nashara Mitchell, owner of Studio B Creative Exchange Saks Fifth Avenue

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On the Scene

Happenings around the Hoosier state

Credit union supports Indiana vets memorial

Historical Society honors living legends

The Indiana Historical Society honored its 2017 Indiana Living Legends with a black-tie gala. Living Legends included (left to right): John and Sarah Lechleiter, Tamika Catchings, Janet Allen and Mark Miles.

Financial Center First Credit Union presented representatives from the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame (IMVHOF) with a $15,000 check to support the building of the organization’s memorial, which will honor Hoosier veterans who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Left to right: Carol Kinser, Financial Center marketing communications manager; Russ Dowden, IMVHOF board chairman; Mark Moulton, IMVHOF board secretary; J. Kevin Ryan, Financial Center president and CEO.

Tech diversity summit explores solutions Panelists discuss building a diverse and inclusive tech workforce at Disrupt Indy. Speakers included (left to right): Ade Olonoh, founder/ CEO of Jell and executive chairman of Formstack; Santiago Jaramillo, founder/CEO of Emplify; Sasha Bannister, global recruiter with GitHub; David Dickerson, regional vice president of enterprise customer success with Salesforce; and James Loduca, director of equality programs with Salesforce. Disrupt Indy aims to explore the tech industry’s diversity problem and outline solutions. Kendrea J. Williams, the founder and CEO of Pitchfeast, speaks to an engaged audience at Disrupt Indy.

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Angela Smith Jones, deputy mayor of economic development of the City of Indianapolis, speaks during Disrupt Indy’s opening session.

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‘Start with Art’ kicks off new art season

Tindley Accelerated High School Choir from Indianapolis performs at Start with Art 2017, a business and arts luncheon hosted by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

The star of Broadway’s “Hamilton,” Mandy Gonzalez, gave an inspirational keynote performance at Start with Art 2017.

The 2018 Robert D. Beckmann Jr. Emerging Art Fellows, Joe Clemmons and Alecia Zanoni, Phoenix Dance Company performs at Start with Art 2017. were recognized at Start with Art 2017.

Simon awards scholarships

DeMarcus Gaddie, left, who will attend DePauw University, and Antonio Davis, who will attend Tuskegee University, received Greg Saunders Legacy scholarships at the Simon Youth Foundation scholarship ceremony. The scholarship gifts up to $3,000 annually to the children of Simon employees and are renewable. www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com

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Can the internet save us? A brief history of innovative communications By Amy Stark

What type of life do you think physicist Stephen W. Hawking would have experienced if he had lived in the 15th century? Do you think he would have been able to share his genius with the world in the 1600s? Imagine for a moment what Hawking’s life would have been like if he had lived in the early 1800s rather than now. It’s likely that past the age of 25, Hawking wouldn’t have been able to communicate with anyone. Throughout most of recorded history, Hawking’s life would have been the stuff of nightmares with an almost certain early death. For more than 40 years, innovative technologies have provided the now-70-year-old physicist with the ability to communicate. Much like Hawking benefits from his computer-generated voice, we all can benefit from the most important communication innovation since Gutenberg’s press in the 1400s. With our mobile and electronic devices — like cellphones — plus a connection to the internet, we now can access the expressions of physically, mentally, socio-economically and geographically challenged individuals from around the world. It provides a space allowing collaborative efforts to solve problems — some that have plagued mankind since the beginning of recorded history. All communication devices used predecessors as springboards for innovation. The printing press provided an easy way to collaborate in the creation of the telegraph. It stands to reason lots of information shared via telegraph played a role in the adoption of the telephone. The twisted pair of copper wires AT&T laid across the U.S. put a

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phone in virtually every home. All those landlines came in handy allowing you to connect to the World Wide Web via modems. Now there are satellites connecting the deepest parts of the Congo to the global conversation taking place all day, every day with more than five billion cellphone subscriptions. Who was the first among our species to draw a picture in the sand or on a cave wall to communicate a message to someone? Who first decided to use the innovative technology of a pen to write on paper to share ideas among elites and clergy? We can thank Gutenberg for the ability to share ideas among a more diverse group of people. Books and newspapers were tremendous innovative technologies giving a more representative collective voice. What new technologies will springboard from using mobile devices and a connection? The internet can provide the space to transport anything not made of matter, including ideas, music, literature, beliefs, history, religion, knowledge, wisdom, etc. All of those things listed can be translated into bits of data with the potential to reach a million minds at the speed of light. At the beginning of the 21st century, Professor Peter David Blanck presented a statement to the U.S. House of Representatives saying that “increased accessibility to private internet websites and services may have yet-undiscovered benefits to society.” Innovative technology gave Hawking a voice, but he’s just one person. Imagine how many ideas have been lost over time because there was no outlet for their expression. We must tap into the wisdom of the

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internet and trust that the most diverse group in our history will create better solutions to move us forward. But the internet can be used for good and evil. It is a neutral playing field where there’s a constant battle of ideas going on all the time. Can we allow this innovative technology to be overrun with those who choose hate over compassion and war over peace? We are at the convergence of global internet coverage and more cellphones on the face of the earth than toilets. This ever-increasing access to the voice of people from cultures around the world allows for a better sampling of our collective genius. Right? Haven’t we always relied on diversity and adaptability to ensure our continued evolution? Now we have an opportunity to collaborate globally — resolving issues that have plagued us for millennia. That’s why I encourage all the smart folks I know to get out there and fill the internet with their wisdom. In the face of all the bad news lately, it’s best to embrace this innovative technology, trusting it will help us move forward to a brighter future. Amy Starkis founder and CEO of Digital Dames Inc., professor of digital media marketing at the University of Indianapolis, author of “The Tweeter’s Almanac, The Great Indiana Initiative of Aught Nine” and co-founder of the Social Media Dames Movement. Professor Stark is passionate about helping women learn how to leverage the power of digital communications to benefit themselves, their families, their careers and the world.

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IndyGo is Hiring Help Drive Our City! Apply to be an Operator, Mechanic, or General Laborer

www.indygo.net/employment

The bottom line: How deep is your brand? By Iris Cooper

The red polo with your company logo looks great, and so do the business cards, but your sales manager (with the polo on) was drunk at the ballgame. The address on the building is missing a number, and the front door creaks. The receptionist in the foyer has a frown on her face most days and keeps customers on hold forever. These conditions are all a part of your brand. Your brand is the soul of your business and incorporates every component of your internal and external messaging. Yes, your brand is just that deep! The good news is that you have the power to change these conditions to reinforce the quality and trust that your company stands for. To test your brand depth, conduct a brand audit. Ask a trusted, impartial colleague to search for voids or deficiencies in your brand based upon your mission and values. Some of the benchmarks might be: 1.

External image consistency: Does everything (stationery, business cards, advertising, etc.) with your logo look the same, down to the color and font? Do you take pride in the external and internal conditions of your workplace? Do your key employees conduct themselves professionally when they are at public events? What about social media? Are the messages accurate, consistent and aimed at the target customer? Have you selected a set of keywords to describe your product or service?

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Your brand is the soul of your business and incorporates every component of your internal and external messaging. Investing the time to measure its depth is necessary for sustainability. 2.

Corporate knowledge: Do all of your employees know the history, mission and goals of the company? Could they stand in for you at an external meeting? Do you have regular staff meetings to keep them current on company matters? Community alliances: Does your company support a community cause that lets the public know that your business goals transcend net profit after tax? Is it obvious that you and your employees care about others? Do you have an advisory board or an influential mentor? Media emergency plan: If a serious communication problem occurs, would your employees know how to handle it? Who is the spokesperson if a TV reporter knocks at your door? One credible voice is the only way to treat an emergency. What happens if your information system is hacked or breached?

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Brand reinforcement: What happens regularly to reinforce the brand? Staff meetings, company outings and retreats can help to build pride in the brand and loyalty from the staff.

Customer connection: Does your brand align with the values and goals of your customers and, if so, how and when?

A Christmas card from the dollar store with a stamped signature is shallow and crude if that is all you do. Your brand is the personality and character of your business, so investing the time to measure its depth is necessary for sustainability. So again, I ask, how deep is your brand? Iris Cooper owns JustAskIris, an entrepreneurial coaching firm, and she founded Glory Foods, a multi-million dollar food marketing company. Contact Iris at iris@justaskiris.com.

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Champions o f d i v e r s i t y

SAVE THE DATE

You are invited to join us for the 13th annual Champions of Diversity Awards Dinner When

Where

time

Friday, Jan. 12, 2018

Hyatt regency Hotel: 1 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204

networking reception: 5:30 p.m. dinner and awards program: 6:30 p.m. aFter party (21+): 8:30 p.m.

individual tickets may be purchased for

$75

ATTIRE

Business proFessional or “ “aF ter 5” “aFter

event tables (seats 10) start as low as

$750

Each attendee will receive a plated dinner, gift bag and a complimentary subscription to both the Indiana Minority Business Magazine and Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper.

to rsVp Visit cod2018.eVentBrite.com For sponsorship and other event details contact Amber Sapenter at asapenter@indyrecorder.com or 317-762-7854.

Real Legacy At Old National, banking is much more than mapping out financial success. It’s about pursuing opportunities to help change a customer’s life. And often, it’s about how customer relationships impact our own. We hope experience and expertise, commitment to financial education and passion for client service can make your life better too. That’s our purpose as a community bank. Discover the difference at oldnational.com/realpurpose.

Serving Indianapolis area with more than 20 locations. Member FDIC | 317-693-2552