Hamilton County Business Magazine February/March 2013 by Mike Corbett

FOCUS: Transportation

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February / March 2013

www.hamiltoncoutybusiness.com Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-774-7747 Cover photo by Mark Lee

Features

12 15 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 35

Hamilton County’s Two Breweries Mass Transit Skirtzophrenic Retail Roundabout Online Coupons Main Street HC Alliance Dining Out Student Business Plans Chamber Pages Business Resource Directory

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Mike Corbett

mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Columns 6

Editor

Entrepreneur

Ethics

Pitch In

History

Bridget Gurtowsky

bridget@gurtowskygraphics.com CORRESPONDENTS Robert Annis noeraser@yahoo.com Deb Buehler deb@thesweetestwords.com Jeff Curts jcurts@att.net Rosalyn Demaree ros_demaree@hotmail.com Shari Held sharih@comcast.net Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com Chris Owens zetus77@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS Emmett Dulaney DBA eadulaney@anderson.edu David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net Mark Robbins, CPA CFRM markr@cicf.org Dr. Charles Waldo cnwaldo@comcast.net William J. Wilhelm PhD wwilhelm@indstate.edu Please send news items and photos to news@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Submission does not guarantee publication

Subscription $20/year To subscribe or advertise, contact Mike Corbett at

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Letter from the Editor February • March 2013

Commuting has always annoyed me, to the extent that I’ve been on a long-term effort to reduce my commuting time as much as possible. I just don’t like the idea of having to travel a long distance to get to work. It seems inefficient to have to make that trip ten times a week just to get to and from work, and I’m all about efficiency. As a result I now live one block from my office (my most recent move cut the commute in half from two blocks).

Mass Transit So I often feel unqualified to comment much on mass transit. But then this morning happened. I know better than to venture onto I-69 at 8am on Friday but there was this conference in downtown Indy that sounded interesting and it’s only a 40 minute drive or so from Noblesville. Or so I thought. I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say I missed half the conference and I now feel qualified to comment.

Mike Corbett

Editor and Publisher

We’re all busy people. If you are working hard at your business your available time is pretty much filled up. Travel time to and from any destination is wasted time. As I sat on the four lane this morning I thought of how much I could be getting done if I weren’t in this place with all these other people who were also wasting their time and didn’t want to be there any more than I did. And, many of those people do that EVERY WORKDAY. The idea of a bus or train had a lot of appeal at that moment. Technology is such that commuting time can be productive time these days. I suspect there are a lot of people who could use public transport as a way to increase their efficiency. I’ve heard many arguments for and against mass transit but that would be one of the most appealing for me.

Here’s Another Efficiency Question Is it more efficient for everyone to have a car (so they each get to their individual destinations quicker and easier) or is it more efficient to have people use mass transit (so more people are served with fewer resources). I don’t have the answer, I’m just raising the question. It’s one more of many we need to ask as we decide whether to tax ourselves to fund mass transit. Deb Buehler tackles the topic and raises a few more questions in our focus story in this edition. It’s a new year, loaded with lots of promise. If you are seeking a way to market your business to Hamilton County business people this year, please consider these pages. Our rates are competitive and our audience is influential. We’d love to have you on board. See you around the county,

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Entrepreneur

Emmett Dulaney

5 Tools for Reducing New Venture Risk Risk is inherent in any new venture. Without it there would be nothing to stop multitudes of those who think they have a good idea—but are afraid to commit to it—from tossing everything they have into an undertaking. While you can’t completely remove all risk, there are ways to reduce (or contain) some risks.

a client (bonding). Many companies are only in business today because insurance saved them at a time when they needed it.

Here are five techniques to consider:

On the flip side, many companies are overpaying for insurance they don’t need. Just as you shop around for the best supplier of any resource/input, find someone you can trust to recommend and manage your insurance.

Don’t insist on doing everything yourself. In today’s economy, so many fields have enough excess capacity that you can usually outsource a sizable portion of any endeavor. It is possible, for example, to contract with a number of technology giants to host your IT “in the cloud.” Not only can they decrease their expenses through economies of scale/scope, but this lowers your initial investment.

Add seasoned founders to the team. There is no substitute for experience when it comes to anticipating stumbling blocks and knowing how to work around them. If you don’t have the experience yourself, add others to the team that do. If not founders, additional team members can be on the board of directors, serve as advisors, consultants, or in any of a number of other roles. The key is that they are actively engaged and available to help when you pick up the phone to address a crisis.

You can farm out payroll, marketing, human resources, and almost every division or function to specialists. While allowing you to focus more on your 4. business, subcontracting during the Copy what has worked before. Franinitial startup phase can help prevent chising works because you are purchasoverhiring, and the problems associing a business plan and operations ated with that. model that has proven successful for others. While there is great utility in cre2. ating something radically different than Investigate the insurance options has ever been done before, there is also and protect your assets. No one great risk in it. The closer the venture likes paying for insurance and almost is to what has worked in the past, the everyone wants to get by with as little lower the risk associated with it. as possible. That may be well and good when it comes to a homeowner’s policy, 5. but when it comes to a new business, Understand demand before you beinsurance can be the very thing that gin. Founders tend to overestimate the keeps you operating after one bad demand for their offerings and underesincident. That “incident” can be sometimate the marketing needed to educate one tripping over an extension cord the public about them. After you’ve sunk (general public liability), forgetting to everything into the venture, it is sobertake care of an important detail (errors ing to realize that the numbers weren’t and omissions), or making a bad hire what you thought they were. A good who damages something belonging to 8

way to help with the approximation is to ask as many people as you can before you start. Answers live in numbers, but you have to look at a big enough sample to see the true picture. Looking at my statistics in Windows Solitaire after I’ve won two games, for example, will show that I have a winning average of 100%. But I am nowhere near that good. Those same statistics after I’ve played more than 500 games will show the real average is only 53%. All of those iterations bring the findings to the true number that you don’t want to overlook. In class I often pass around a sealed jar that has a lot of pennies in it and ask each person to write down how many they believe are inside. The guesses are all over the place, but the more that are gathered, the more the average of those guesses approximates the actual number. There is no way to completely remove risk from a new endeavor, but these five tools can help reduce it. HCBM Emmett Dulaney teaches entrepreneurship and business at Anderson University.

One area where you never want to take shortcuts is legal. A valuable resource is The Entrepreneur’s Legal Companion by Daniel V. Davidson and Lynn M. Forsythe (ISBN: 978-0-13-607723-7). The entire book can be summed up by the title of the last chapter – Identifying legal risks before they become legal problems.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Ethics

Bill Wilhelm

Do You Have A Social Media Policy? Employees need to know what’s acceptable behavior on the web Social media sites can help a company develop its brand with minimal investment. However, employees’ posts to Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, YouTube, blogs and other social media sites can damage a brand’s reputation if used inappropriately. Whether or not your company is active on social media, your employees probably are. A well-developed social media policy and good training will help you avoid dangers like these: The Virgin Atlantic Airlines crew members that were fired in 2008 because of the insulting posts they made on Facebook about the company and some of its customers. The teacher in Georgia who was asked to resign from her high school job in 2009 because of photographs and status updates she posted to Facebook. The photos showed her drinking alcohol and using an expletive. The Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Company waitress who was fired in 2010 because of an insulting post she made to her Facebook account about customers. Embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned in June 2011 from the U.S. House of Representatives after admitting to sexually charged relationships with women on Facebook and Twitter.

Social media needs its own guidelines Confidentiality agreements about company policies, personnel or procedures while using social media are often not enough. A separate social media policy should delineate specific company guidelines for communicating in the online world, the company’s expectations for employee compliance and the logical justification for the expectations. Here are some social media policies to consider: • Employee Code of Conduct for Online Communications and for Company Representation in Online Communications • Employee Blogging Disclosure Policy • Employee Facebook Usage Policy • Employee Personal Blog Policy • Employee Personal Social Network Policy • Employee Personal Twitter Policy • Employee LinkedIn Policy • Corporate Blogging and Blog Use Policies • Corporate Blog Post Approval Process • Corporate Facebook Brand Page Usage Policy • Corporate Facebook Public Comment/Messaging Policy • Corporate Twitter Account Policy 10

• Corporate YouTube and You Tube Public Comment Policies • Company Password Policy

What to include LinkedIn’s Chief Blogger and Senior Social Media Manager, Mario Sundar, states that social media is about sharing and collaboration. For this reason he believes that the best way to create a policy is to find what he calls the “social media evangelists” from within your company. “Bring in your most active social media employees to collaborate and help craft your social media guidelines,” he suggests. By including employees you not only gain the benefit of their expertise about each social medium, you also help ensure that there are internal advocates for the policies within your organization. “The policy should be more about what employees can do and best practices for social media use versus all the things employees can’t or shouldn’t do on social media.” At minimum be sure to address the following: 1.

Remind employees to familiarize themselves with the employment agreement and policies included in the employee handbook.

State that the policy applies to multi-media, social networking websites, blogs and wikis for both professional and personal use.

Internet postings should not disclose any information that is confidential or proprietary to the company or to any third party that has disclosed information to the company.

If an employee comments on any aspect of the company’s business they must clearly identify themselves as an employee and include a disclaimer.

The disclaimer should be something like “the views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of (your company’s name).”

Internet postings should not include company logos or trademarks unless permission is asked for and granted.

Internet postings must respect copyright, privacy, fair use, financial disclosure, and other applicable laws.

Employees should neither claim nor imply that they are speaking on the company’s behalf.

Corporate blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc., could require approval when the employee is posting about the company and the industry.

10. State that the company reserves the right to request that certain subjects be avoided, can withdraw certain posts, and can remove inappropriate comments. February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Fortunately, you do not have to reinvent the wheel. Social media policies from many companies are available on the Internet. A particularly helpful site is the Social Media Governance website at: http://socialmediagovernance.com. The tab labeled “Policies” allows you to search a broad array of industries.

the new policy and where they can refer to it. Also consider face-to-face training. A well-developed company social media policy helps employees understand the benefits as well as the potential hazards of social media and will help ensure that they know what they should and should not do. HCBM

Be sure to consult your lawyer when planning your social media policy. Once the policy has been created, communicate it effectively to your employees. Use email, memoranda or other internal communication to notify employees of

Dr. William J. Wilhelm teaches business ethics and social responsibility management at the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University. Reach him at wwilhelm@indstate.edu.

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February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

By Shari Held • Photos by Mark Lee

ext time you’re in downtown Noblesville, pull up a chair at Barley Island Brewery and order a Dirty Helen, an award-winning brown ale named for a Noblesville native. (If you’re wondering about her name, she earned it by heaping profanities on the patrons of her Milwaukee tavern!) Or try cask-conditioned artisan ale from Hamilton County’s newest brewery, Union Brewing Company in Carmel.

Barley Island, Noblesville

Both craft breweries are at the forefront of a growing phenomenon that’s sweeping Hamilton County and the entire nation. “The variety and the different tastes that you can accomplish with beer are what’s driving the phenomenon right now,” says Jeff Eaton, owner and brewer for Barley Island. “Plus, people like to support local people.” Eaton has seen the demand for handcrafted brews increase over the last three years, especially last year. That upward momentum isn’t likely to slow any time soon. “In a difficult economy where people are cutting back on luxury items, that hasn’t been true of craft beer,” says Lee Smith, executive director Brewers of Indiana Guild. “You may have to go to your brewery to get it, but there seems to be a widespread appreciation of hand-crafted products.”

For Love of the Brew Both Eaton and Cameron Fila, owner and head brewer of Union Brewing Company, began as home brewers. Eaton learned about the joys of home brewing from his lab-mates at Roche

Diagnostics. “It was surprising how good home-brewed beer could be,” he says. “I could create many different styles, and I was always putting my home brew in front of people to sample.”

in a difficult economy where people are cutting back on luxury items, that hasn’t been true of craft beer. — Lee Smith, executive director Brewers of Indiana Guild

While earning his MBA from Butler University, Eaton wrote a business plan for a brewpub. “That always stuck with me,” he says. Finding the right real estate for the concept brewery—8,000 square feet in historic Noblesville— gave his dream legs, and Eaton and his wife Linda opened Barley Island Brewery in December 1999.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Linda worked at the restaurant and brewery full-time, and in 2004, the couple added a successful bottling operation. Jeff, by then a global marketing manager at Roche, quit his full-time job in 2009. “I was doing well there, but I thought if I’m going to be working 80 hours a week, I’d rather it be for my own business,” Eaton says. Eaton parlayed his science degree and home-brewing experience into a professional venture, learning the brewing business from the hired brewers he used to get Barley Island up-and-running. He also earned his certification as a national beer judge to continue to gain valuable experience. This year he did all the brewing himself. “It’s wonderful to be able to use your imagination and be creative,” Eaton says. Union Brewing Company, a 48-seat brewpub, tasting room and production facility which opened in December, originated in a similar fashion. Fila, and partners Nathan Doyle and Jay Snider, determined that Hamilton County “fit the bill” as far as growth and per capita income. Hardly any competition—Barley Island previously 13

marketed itself as the only brewery in Hamilton County—and an “overwhelming positive response from Carmel” cinched it. “It had always been a dream and a passion of mine,” Fila says, “The perfect location in Mohawk Place Shopping Center became available. It was a now or never kind of thing. Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith.” Fila, who was an advertising sales representative for Angie’s List until the brewpub opened, has 12 years of home-brewing experience under his belt and took a course in brewing technology at the Seibel Institute of Technology in Chicago. He plans to earn his international diploma in brewing technology from Seibel in 2013.

A tricky business Getting into the business requires a labor of love. Both Eaton and Fila are passionate about the beer production, but food is also essential. The traditional high turnover rate associated with the restaurant industry is a drawback. “Maintaining consistency with the beer and the food and the service, and putting it all together with changing staff has been a big challenge,” Eaton says. Besides its own brews, Union Brewing Company offers wine and other select beers. In a unique arrangement, it offers a limited menu and also pairs with other restaurants such as SoHo Café and food trucks to provide more variety. “A lot of places try to do both food and beer really well right off the start and then fail in one of them,” Fila says. “Our focus is on the beer.” Eaton estimates in today’s market you’d need $200,000 or $300,000 in start-up capital, assuming you had an exist-

ing restaurant site and bought a used brewing system. “If you bought a new system and if you had to do a build-out on a restaurant, you could easily spend $1 million,” he says. Barley Island typically has nine or 10 beers on tap at any given time. Eaton anticipates creating more specialty beers once it opens a new location to serve as its main production site and bottling operation.

Barley Island Brewery is just one block from the site of Hamilton County’s first brewery. Read the story on page 34.

A growing and rewarding trend Despite the challenges, breweries are springing up statewide. According to Brewers Guild Director Smith, Indiana has 54 small breweries currently, and more than 20 others soon to come. Fortunately, each has its own taste and focus. Union Brewing Co. makes beers in the British style. “It fits very well with the Arts & Design district in Carmel,” Fila says. “I think that attention to detail and the hand-crafting is what’s going to set us apart from some of the other breweries.” Last year, Smith took 19 beers from Indiana craft breweries and served them at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the largest beer festival in the U.S. The response was overwhelmingly positive. “I was so proud to be associated with the Indiana brewing community,” she says.

Jeff Eaton, Barley Island Owner

Barley Island, a three-time winner at GABF, has won many awards, but Eaton loves it when people come up to him at a festival and tell him his beers were the best they sampled. “It’s so rewarding to hear that,” he says. HCBM

Nathan Doyle, Union Brewing Co. Operations Mgr.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Focus: Transportation

By Deb Buehler

isiting major metropolitan areas such as Seattle or Chicago makes one acutely aware of the convenience, ease and accessibility of mass transit. From elevated trains to alternative energy city buses, residents there have many options for getting to and from work, shopping and entertainment. Mass transit resources are plentiful and part of each city’s culture. Central Indiana’s transportation culture has long revolved around automobiles, but is it time to consider expanding our horizons?

Five year effort Since 2008, a veritable who’s who of Hoosier experts, leaders and organizations have been studying the feasibility and economic implications of expanding mass transit here. From the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, to the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Central Indiana Community Foundation, to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), IndyGo, and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) the Indiana Transit Task Force was formed. The task force ultimately developed recommendations which were revised and presented in final form in December 2011. According to Ron Gifford, Executive Vice President of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and Executive Director of the Central Indiana Transit Task Force, there are significant rationales for pursuing mass transit for Central Indiana. “A good overall transportation system needs good transit. Roads and highways are critical but public transit is a key component. It helps connect people to economic centers, allows people to get to work, provides options for those who need options: people who can’t or don’t drive, the aging, those with physical or financial limitations. For some its access to jobs, healthcare, education and cultural opportunities.” Gifford explained.

map courtesy Indiana Department of Transportation

Gifford went on to say that the task force’s research indicates that young people — those between the ages of 18 and 30 — value access to mass transit. Because

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Indiana wants young professionals in its communities, mass transit is particularly relevant. Talent pools are highly significant for companies exploring the possibility of locating corporate headquarters. Gifford worked for three years to attract new businesses to Central Indiana and Hamilton County. Through conversations with corporate leaders, he found that human resources are central to successful business endeavors. Today’s young people desire walkable communities with easy access to public transportation. Many seek communities where it’s possible for a growing family to live with a single car; where adults can get to work, attend sporting events and shop for groceries without ever getting into their car. Over the course of his research Gifford compared Central Indiana to cities of comparable size where growth has been spurred by mass transit. Charlotte, Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Salt Lake City have successfully implemented new services that are bringing economic development opportunities and attracting new residents.

Strategic Investment Ehren Bingaman, Executive Director of CIRTA, wants to make sure that people understand that mass transit will be an investment in Indiana’s future. “Going forward we want to be a place where the best/brightest/future minds want to live,” Bingaman stated “When we compare ourselves with our peer cities we see that their investment in mass transit is resulting in new [commercial and real estate] development, redevelopment of older neighborhoods and tremendous growth opportunities.” Bingaman added that 70 percent of Indiana’s population is located in Central Indiana, creating traffic congestion and continued challenges with air quality, which affect stress levels and individual health in a myriad of ways. “Investing in transit while making highway and road improvements can provide relief during peak periods on our limited roadways,” Bingaman said. Anecdotal evidence suggests that riders gain an opportunity to decompress while using express transit and benefit from walking home from a terminal or station. With the endorsement of local leaders, including Hamilton County mayors and business leaders, the conversation about mass transit continues to unfold. 15

integral to ease of access for conference attendees.

We want to be a place where the best/ brightest/future minds want to live. — Ehren Bingaman, Executive Director, CIRTA

Gifford explained that the next step is legislative approval for a public referendum allowing voters to weigh in. He anticipates the referendum could take place in November 2014, providing time for people to talk about how it would work, learn about the financial investment needed, and explore the short and long term implications; discussions that will inform how the final plan looks. A successful referendum would lead to the development of a transit authority and a governing body.

Financial Implications While Senator Luke Kenley, (R) Noblesville, thinks a public referendum might be a good thing, he also believes that elected officials should play a prominent role. “It really is the job of elected officials to bring to light the needs and costs facing a county,” Kenley said. “It’s their job to know and they need to know. At the same time, giving the process to the voter allows them to weigh in. It is a complex and important decision — one that people are certainly entitled to weigh in on. A referendum vote in isolation without elected officials is leaving out an important part of the process.”

the largest city in the country without robust mass transit,” he explained. “We Hoosiers will never give up our cars — it’s part of our culture.” Cook explained that as Westfield develops the Grand Park, a travel team sports complex with an anticipated attendance of 1 million visitors a year, the community hopes to attract a larger hospitality industry to the area. Seventy three percent of visitors to Grand Park will be traveling with children participating in sports. However, there are long hours between competitive events where there will be time to visit places like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Children’s Museum. A good central Indiana transit system will be key to encouraging visits to other attractions, he says. Ellen Rosenthal, president and chief executive officer of Conner Prairie Interactive Historic Park, agrees with the

“Mass transit is absolutely a way for Central Indiana to remain competitive,” Rosenthal said. “There is a perception that Conner Prairie is waaaaayyy out there; that it takes a long time to get to. If mass transit links Fishers [to downtown Indianapolis] it would enable people to have a better sense of what Central Indiana is all about. People would feel like the amenities across the counties are shared by all. It is a great idea.”

Behind the Curve Gifford suggests that the proposed plan is a good one with room to get better by capturing all of the great thinking in our community. He says the plan should be responsive to community needs and reflect community wishes. And Central Indiana can benefit from the experience of communities which have already implemented mass transit. “One of the great pieces of advice we got was about governance; to make sure that there are real, strong financial policies and protocols to ensure that it runs well,” Gifford said. “We need to make sure cost and cash flow modeling aren’t overly optimistic but rather are very conservative, including proposed revenues. We should present realistic numbers, provide conservative assumptions and be extraordinarily transparent with the public about the cost as well as the rationale for doing it. We need to get good feedback and incorporate that into the plan.”

A referendum vote in isolation without elected officials is leaving out an important part of the process.

Ultimately, Kenley believes it is a very expensive proposition that raises the question of whether the business and lifestyle benefits justify the cost. The public needs a lot of information before deciding how to proceed, he says. At the local level, Westfield Mayor Andy Cook says he thinks mass transit is something Hamilton County should be taking a long hard look at. “We are 16

— Senator Luke Kenley, (R) Noblesville

need to provide Indianapolis visitors with access to her facility and other central Indiana attractions. The development of the Nickel Plate Line to Fishers would enable Indianapolis’ many convention attendees easy access to Conner Prairie without having to rent a car. Rosenthal added that her husband recently received a conference packet for a convention in Atlanta. Rather than highlighting the convention keynotes, the cover of the conference packet focused on the city’s transportation as

June • July 2011/Hamilton County Business Magazine

To Gifford, the biggest downside of mass transit in Central Indiana is not doing it. “The longer we delay the farther behind we fall, the longer it will be before people benefit from mass transit and the more we risk losing our young people to cities with amenities we aren’t offering,” Gifford concluded. HCBM

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Profile

Fishers Designer and her fashions skirt the norm By Rosalyn Demaree

hoenix Niewidok’s persona and personality are what you might expect of a fashion designer. Her skirts, though, are unexpected finds, even in a chic boutique. Her label is Skirtzophrenic, but the Philadelphia-born Fishers woman describes her designs as “Frankenstein skirts” and “fabric chaos.” Her expressions are as colorful as her creations, which she cuts from old blue jeans. A nearly 30-year veteran of the beauty business, Niewidok compares the initial work to cutting hair. Many of her skirts feature asymmetrical hemlines that are reminiscent of a mullet — a mini in the front, a midi in the back.

Skirtzophrenic is a 2-year-old company that has been simmering in Niewidok’s creative mind since she was a child and added a skirt to a pair of pants. Classmates poked fun when she wore it to school. It didn’t matter; she remained proud of her work. Self-confidence continues to define her. Her skirts sell for $200-$400. The amount of time it takes to make a skirt plays a key role in setting the price. A single skirt can take anywhere from 10 hours to three weeks to complete, and no two are alike. To get in the designing mood, Niewidok retreats to her basement studio that’s part lady cave, part hobbit, pours a glass of wine and cranks up the ‘70s

When the skirt is cut out, the fun and chaos begin. She adds recycled embellishments that can be as diverse as bling, pieces of pillowcases, bejeweled fabrics and zippers. One skirt had pieces from a rubber body suit accented with “Dr. Seuss green fur,” laughed Niewidok (pronounced new-e-dock).

music. The path from cutting table to closet isn’t a straight one. She doesn’t know what a skirt will look like when she begins cutting, so you have to wonder how she knows when one is finished. “When I look at it and my heart smiles and my eyes tear up, I know it’s done,” she said. Her reaction was similar the first time she spotted a fellow mall shopper wearing one of her fashions. Almost as surprising as Niewidok’s designs are the fashionistas she gathers for opinions about her skirts. She calls them her “senior citizen posse.” The women are in their 70s, some in their late 70s. She invites them for lunch, and then they try on the skirts, fashion show style. You don’t have to ask about the mood; you just know it is light-hearted and fun.

“You can’t be timid and wear a skirt like this,” said Pam Bryor Hockenmeyer, coowner of the Emporium Boutique. Her shop in the Fashion Mall has carried the Skirtzophrenic line since fall. It’s the only shop where they’re currently available.

Niewidok has a deep respect for elders in general and this group in particular. A spark of social worker in her high fashion mind-set burns brightly when she talks about these friends.

“It’s wearable art. It’s unique,” she added. “There’s a market for these skirts.” Not surprisingly, younger customers are drawn to the line, but so are older, established women looking for something for a night on the town, a special event or everyday wear. Niewidok’s first customer was her former boss at Brunette Salon in Fishers. 18

When I look at it and my heart smiles and my eyes tear up, I know it’s done. Phoenix Niewidok

— Phoenix Niewidok

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Pop in to see the skirts Skirtzophrenic will be part of a Fashion Pop Up Shop, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Baymont Inn and Suites, 9790 North by Northeast Blvd., Fishers.

It saddens her when people forget what makes their hearts sing, what exhilarates them, she said. The lunches and style shows are her way of ensuring that the posse’s spirits don’t droop. That they live boldly and confidently instead. Her skirts are meant to do the same thing for any woman who wears one. But then, how can you not be confident when the short front of your skirt sports a Union Jack flag and the plunging back features a portrait of Elton John and Billy Joel? HCBM

The primary goal for the shop, explains Skirtzophrenic designer Phoenix Niewidok, “ is merging extraordinary women and having a positive result in the community and our personal lives.” In addition to Niewidok, photographer Sarah Boutwell, Heather Pirowoski from Retro 101, a boutique on wheels, (see page 26) and Pam Bryor Hockenmeyer from Emporium Boutique will participate. Samples of locally produced foods will be served.

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February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Retail Roundabout

A Summary of Recent Retail Activity By Samantha Hyde

NORTHERN HAMILTON COUNTY The owners of The Medicine Shoppe in Tipton and Day’s Healthy Living Pharmacy in Cicero consolidated the two pharmacies, closing the Tipton store and renaming the Cicero location The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy. Cicero Pool and Spa is relocating to the former Cicero Market location at 175 W. Jackson Street.

Clare Bridge of Carmel

CARMEL The Barrington of Carmel broke ground on Guilford Road off 116th Street. The 19.5acre campus is slated to open later this year. Max & Erma’s Restaurant at 12195 N. Meridian underwent a renovation and reopened in January. Clare Bridge of Carmel at 301 Executive Drive also underwent renovations. Little Star Center celebrated its 10th anniversary and grand reopening after the expansion of its center at 12726 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard. Home Care Assistance moved into 12525 Old Meridian Street. Businesses that have closed their doors include Kiss Z Cook and Young Chef’s Academy, which was replaced by Cooking Greek Indy. Net Heads Internet Café & Gaming Center closed its retail business on Main Street after 13 years in business.

Eye Candy Boutique

Carmel pets are enjoying the services of two new businesses: Cottage Animal Clinic of Carmel at 420 N. Range Line Road and Canine Cloud Nine dog wash and bakery at 110 W. Main Street. In February a new Edward Jones office is opening at 4650 Killarney Drive near 161st Street & Gray Road. In November Eye Candy Boutique moved their jewelry and accessories store from Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis to Carmel City Center at 736 Hanover Place. Rain Salon opened at 41 W. City Center Drive in January. Two new businesses will open at Carmel City Center later this spring: Silver Door Spa at 762 S. Range Line Road and SpinCycle cycling studio at 736 Hanover Place. Athletico physical therapy is planning to open its first central Indiana facility on March 1 at 912 Range Line Road. Reese Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery is opening a new showroom on the 2nd floor of the Indiana Design Center in early 2013. This spring Wedgewood Building Company will be moving into the former Carmel Day School building at 32 First Street NE. Merchants Square renovations and changes continue, including the departure of long-time tenant The Party Tree. McAlister’s Deli is planning to move into the old Longhorn Steakhouse location on 116th Street and Einstein Brothers Bagels moved into the old Hardee’s location in December. The area’s first Goldfish Swim School has come to Carmel at 271 Merchants Square Drive. Salon Lofts plans to move into the former Starbucks location at 2316 E. 116th Street. In November Arhaus Furniture relocated to River’s Edge at 4130 E. 82nd Street in Indianapolis. Panera is moving to Range Line Crossing at 116th Street & Range Line Road, where the Kite Realty development includes new Walgreens, City Barbeque, Verizon Wireless and EarthFare locations. Walgreens will be at the former location of Old National Bank, which is moving just west of the corner. McAlister’s Deli added another location at 146th Street near Greyhound Pass. Mo’s a Place for Steaks moved into the former Estridge space at 14300 Clay Terrace Boulevard. MacKenzie River Pizza is remodeling the former The Bike Line space at 11596 Westfield Boulevard and will open its second Indiana restaurant in March. Isushi Café moved from their 116th Street loca-

tion to 1400 S. Guilford Avenue at the end of January. Christian Brothers Automotive is constructing a new 5,000 square foot repair shop near 146th Street and Gray Road. Mercy Road Church is converting 10505 N. College Avenue into a worship facility with plans to open in February and celebrate with a grand opening in March. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground for a new Mormon temple at 116th Street & Springmill Road, which should be completed in 2014.

Launch Fishers

FISHERS Launch Fishers, a meeting and work space for local entrepreneurs, opened in early December in the Hamilton East Public Library basement. Mantid Interactive is among the first tenants of this new coworking space. In November the Town of Fishers announced plans for a mixed-use development with retail, luxury apartments and parking garages along Municipal Drive. Construction will begin this year and is slated to be completed in 2015. In April the owners of Pat’s Philly Pretzels in Indianapolis are opening their first Hamilton County location at 8395 E. 116th Street in the old Suntan City location. Tegry Bistro of Brownsburg is building its second location at 11561 Olio Road, due to open this summer. Jack’s Donuts opened it doors at the end of January at 13578 E. 131st Street. This spring Southern Kitchen, a new soul-food restaurant, plans to open along 96th Street just east of I-69. In January Force Barbell opened at 14036 Britton Park Road and Fannie May moved into the former space of the I Sold It On Ebay Store at 8270 E. 96th Street. PRO Martial Arts held its grand opening on No-

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

courtesy Hinkle Creek School

WESTFIELD

vember 17th at its new location at 8962 E. 96th Street. Christian Brothers Automotive is constructing a new 5,000 SF repair shop at Parkside Shoppes near 131st Street & SR 37. Fresh Market is planning construction of a new supermarket at 116th Street & Cumberland Road, due to open later this year. Ruben Perez Farmers Insurance is moving from 11650 Lantern Road to 12574 Promise Creek Lane. Hy-Pro Filtration will be closing its Fishers manufacturing facility in 2013 when the construction of its new plant in Anderson is completed and operations can relocate.

NOBLESVILLE

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has moved into the old Friedman Family & Cosmetic Dentistry location at 3144 E. SR 32. St.Vincent Medical Group Pediatric & Women’s Clinic is remodeling at Springmill Commons with plans to open as early as this spring. Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church held its groundbreaking at 15606 Ditch Road. The new 12,300 SF church is slated to be completed by October 2013.

La Hacienda Bar & Grill

Kinney Dancewear space and plans to finish renovations by the end of April. In December new management opened La Hacienda Bar & Grill in the former Mudsocks Grill location at 14741 Hazel Dell Crossing.

In November Dr. Trinh T. Tran, previously of St.Vincent Health in Anderson, opened AllCare Rheumatology at 18077 River Avenue in Riveredge Professional Center. All Fashion Bug locations nationwide closed January 1, including the Noblesville store at 158 Logan Street.

Two new businesses are set to open in Hamilton Town Center: a new Wet Seal store and the chiropractic clinic The Joint, which should open in March. Deer Chase Apartments off 146th Street is in the process of remodeling after last summer’s fire at the complex.

In February Kinney Dancewear will be moving from their current location at 14765 Hazel Dell Crossing to a new, larger space around the corner at 14753 Hazel Dell Parkway. Master Yoo’s World Class Tae Kwon Do is expanding into the vacant

Recent new tenants at 14300 Mundy Drive include Cook’s Pizza and Tiki Tan. A 61,000 SF Courtyard by Marriott is planned for 17863 Foundation Drive. Lyon Industries is constructing a 30,000 SF facility at 17230 Kraft Court.

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Social Media

Are Online Coupons Gift Certificates If so, why do they expire? By Robert Annis

roupon, LivingSocial and other deal sites are some of the most popular on the web. But while many consumers flock to the sites looking to save some cash on their next massage or night out on the town, others are staying away because of the deals’ expiration dates. Groupon, LivingSocial and Amazon Local, the third major Internet deals site, offer the promotional value of a deal voucher for a limited time. Say you pay $10 for $20 off your meal at a steakhouse. You have a limited time, typically four to six months, to use the deal before the promotional value expires. After that time, you can redeem the voucher for the paid value — in this case, the $10 you originally paid. With LivingSocial and AmazonLocal, you have five years to redeem the voucher for the paid value; Groupon has no time limit. Customers can request their money back for an unused deal voucher, but it typically must be for circumstances beyond the customer’s control. In the two years I’ve used the various deal sites, I’ve requested a handful of refunds, but only received two, both times the business owner didn’t return my phone calls seeking an appointment. LivingSocial recently settled a lawsuit with customers angry over their deal vouchers expiring. Under terms of settlement, LivingSocial set aside $4.5 million for partial or full refunds of expired deals. Details of the settlement and a claim form can be found at www. livingsocialvouchersettlement.com (February 8 is the deadline to submit a claim). Groupon settled a similar class-action lawsuit last year for $8.5 million. Attorneys claimed Groupon’s deal restrictions, including forcing consumers to 22

A Groupon is basically a gift certificate, and gift certificates shouldn’t expire. — Colleen Page La Dolce Salon and Spa

use the full value of the voucher in one visit, violated federal gift-card regulations. The negotiated settlement — for people who purchased an unused Groupon from Nov. 1, 2008, through Dec. 1, 2011 — offered customers a refund check for what they paid for the Groupon, plus 20 percent. However, customers were only eligible for the refund check if the merchant refused to honor the original voucher after the expiration. Groupon also was forced to change the language on its website to make the restrictions clearer. Leisa Burke of Westfield said the threat of a deal expiring has given her pause, although she admits the LivingSocial settlement probably wouldn’t make her buy more deals than she had before. Expiration dates don’t scare Fishers resident Doug Henry, who said he and his family buy at least one Groupon a week, typically for places they frequent, such as Cool River Pizza in Noblesville. “We have maybe let one expire — I think it was for the Kolache Factory, and it was only worth $6,” Henry said. “The expiration date is often far enough in advance that we don’t worry (about them expiring).” Financial advice website moneycrashers.com offers several suggestions for expiring Groupons, including selling

them for a small fee on a site such as DealsGoRound.com or trading them on Swap.com. If you decide to go this route, make sure the fine print on your deal vouchers allow you to transfer it to another person. More than a few businesses disregard the expirations. As a courtesy, Colleen Page at La Dolce Salon & Spa in Carmel will allow customers to use an expired Groupon if they haven’t already canceled another appointment. More often than not, she said, customers will want to use their deal as soon as the confirmation e-mail hits their in-box. Only about 10 percent of the sold deals go unused. “I once got a $300 gift card for French Lick,” Page said. “It took me about three years to finally try to use it, but when I did, they wouldn’t let me because it’d expired. I tried talking to the manager, but (to no avail). A Groupon is basically a gift certificate, and gift certificates shouldn’t expire.” Although she’s flexible with the dates at her salon, Page suggests businesses would do well to put a six-month expiration on their deals, as well as limit the number sold. Not only has she heard horror stories from fellow business owners who gave customers a year to redeem their deal voucher or sell too many of the heavily discounted deals, she was burned once herself. She sold 700 laser hair-removal deals, which took more than a year to finish. “We do Groupon, but sparingly,” Page said. “We’re doing our most recent one to build a client book for our new (massage) therapist. … It’s a great way to advertise and get your name out there. A lot of the time, people don’t realize all we do here until they see a Groupon for a particular service.” HCBM

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Taking New Directions Noblesville Main Street has hired a new executive director to replace Joe Arrowood, who retired in December after nine years. NMS is a non-profit that promotes and develops downtown businesses with an eye toward historic preservation. It’s associated with both the statewide and national Main Street organizations.

Renee Oldham is native of Richmond, Indiana, where she led the local Main Street for 16 years. She’s been given the task of growing membership and revenue for Noblesville Main Street.

The Hamilton County Alliance is seeking a new director following the departure of Jeff Burt, who led the organization since its inception some 20 years ago. Search committee Chair Ron Brumbarger says the county has changed over the years and the Alliance is changing with it. In the early Ron Brumbarger 90’s, none of the local cities and towns had economic development directors, he says, so the Alliance was the main new business recruiter. Now that the cities are recruiting on their own, the Alliance is taking on the role of a strategic partner with the local municipalities, sort of a team captain.

Hamilton County Business Magazine: You’ve been on the job for a few weeks now. Let’s hear your initial impressions.

HCBM: How do you see the Alliance helping the cities and towns in the future?

Oldham: I have found the community to be very committed to the downtown district. There is clearly a sense of place and beaming pride for Downtown Noblesville in the hearts of Noblesville businesses, community leaders, and citizens. I have also found there to be lots of opportunity for growth and development of the downtown core and it’s connectivity to the community as a whole. Personally, I appreciate the warmth and kindness that has been shown to me since accepting this position.

Brumbarger: The Alliance is maturing from a traditional, county-focused economic development organization into much more of a regional marketing partnership. Unlike traditional economic development organizations, the Alliance will leverage its partners (the cities and towns of Hamilton County) to focus on creating fertile ground for the growth, expansion (a.k.a. retention) of existing businesses in Hamilton County. We’re unique in that, unlike 91 other counties in Indiana, we have 8 cities and towns – most of them of size and scale. This uniquely positions Hamilton County as a “regional” play. As such, the Alliance will increasingly be the face of Hamilton County and the convener and torch bearer of the county’s economic vision.

Renee Oldham

HCBM: I know you’ve been talking to Main Street merchants in Noblesville for the past few weeks. What are you hearing? What are their current challenges? Oldham: It is to be expected with the diverse mix of businesses that are located in the downtown district that needs and expectations vary. One of the underlining themes was that Main Street worked to create incentives and programs that enhanced current businesses and attracted complimentary businesses to the downtown. In addition expanding marketing and ongoing promotional campaigns for the downtown area. It was also mentioned that Main Street reevaluate downtown events and look at ways to build on their successes. HCBM: These sound like good ideas but they sound very traditional. You have a record of trying new and non-traditional ideas. I know it’s early in your tenure but any initial thoughts about that? (Renee responded with two pages of ideas. Find her complete answer at www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com)

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

HCBM: If we’re a regional play, to what extent should we combine our efforts with Indianapolis? Brumbarger: Of course, when a company is looking to relocate their offices or expand into a new market relative to Indiana, they think “Indianapolis”. As such, we must think regionally also. The benefits of economic growth in Marion County, and conversely in Hamilton County are not encumbered by the geopolitical boundary a.k.a. 96th street. As we encounter opportunities where the prospective company is looking at “Central Indiana”, we want to make certain we’re a strong contender on their list both within Hamilton County and, of course, within the region. In other words, yes, it is a competitive landscape, but the better word to describe the relationships with other counties and communities in the region is coopetition. We welcome the partnership/coopetition conversations and relationships with Indianapolis (and other regional counties) much along the same lines as we’ve enjoyed over the past dozen or so years in which the Indy Partnership has been in existence. HCBM 23

Dining Out

Look Beyond the Golden Arches Ginger’s Cafe Story and Photos by Chris Owens

ook past the fast food options while driving through the heart of Noblesville and you can find Ginger’s Café, one of the city’s familiar restaurants hidden behind the golden arches on Conner. I had the privilege of spending part of a morning sharing coffee with Mikki Perrine, owner of Ginger’s, who is Noblesville born and raised. Ginger’s Café has been a part of Noblesville since 2007. The story goes that Mikki was one of the original employees for the first owners, Lenine & Brett Gross, who still own the building in which Ginger’s is housed. Having left a 25-year career in the mortgage industry and running a home based business, she found that she had some free time and began what she called “a fill-in role,” which quickly developed into a full time job. Fastforward three years, a discussion with her husband, some soul-searching on a business trip to Dallas, and phone call with the owners, and Mikki had a restaurant “lock, stock, and barrel,” with no restaurant management or culinary experience. The restaurant is named after a friend of the previous owner. Considering the short turnaround time when she purchased it, Mikki decided to keep the name, though she did admit that if circumstances were different the res-

taurant might have taken on the name “Billy Bob’s,” after her father, a Ginger’s regular who passed away around the time she took ownership. You walk in to a very open space and instantly notice it’s different. Tables are unique. They don’t all match and that’s by design. I’m a big recycler and re-user of things so this concept fit my personality well. “Most of these tables have been donated to us by customers, the plates, the décor, everything. Often times, customers who’ve donated want to come in and sit at ‘their’ table” said

Kristen Robinson, Mikki Perrine, Priscilla Pritchard

Most of these tables have been donated to us by customers, who often want to come in and sit at ‘their’ table. — Mikki Perrine owner

Perrine. There’s a story behind each piece, the aprons, the quilts, the license plates and each one adds a unique element of home to the café. They also have a corner full of toys and encourage families to dine with them. Ginger’s is a seven-day a week operation and is open from 7 am to 2pm daily. Mikki was full of compliments for her staff. “We’ve got a good staff of about 20 people that work here, some part-time, but most full-time, that crank a lot of food out of our little kitchen” she said. Loyalty goes a long way in her book and she’s found unique ways to continue to serve her home community. “I had a chance encounter with a representative of Janus Developmental Services,” she said. That relationship has afforded Mikki one of her star employees. “I’ve gone a little non-traditional and it works.”

The menu is comprised of breakfast favorites, classic and signature sandwiches and entrée’s, and a pie list that boasts an average of ten selections daily. When discussing the menu, Mikki emphasized she uses “as much from scratch as possible.” She has a glutenfree menu in the works. Mikki and staff take pride in cooking and caring for their community. “A good week is people coming in and making connections, seeing people they haven’t seen in a while, enjoying their favorite foods.” Find Ginger’s Café online at gingerscafe.net or perhaps make a suggestion of one of your favorites to be featured on their Facebook page. HCBM

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

courtesy Simply Sweet Shoppe

Don’t let our new balloon fly naked. Who do you know that would be interested in getting their name & message in the sky?

Midwest Balloon Rides is offering a very unique opportunity to 8 partners in the Indianapolis area. • These 8 partners will have their logo displayed on a new 160,000 cubic foot hot air balloon capable of carrying 8 passengers • A landing page on a dedicated website for those that see their balloon and want to contact them easily • Rides in the balloon to be used at their discretion • Trading cards to be handed out bearing the balloon with the partners logo displayed • Many other benefits. In the last three years our balloons have flown 100-plus flights per year all in the immediate area with 70% of our flights taking place here in Hamilton County and 30% taking place in the Indianapolis area including right over downtown Indy. So if you know of any company looking for something truly unique to add to their marketing, please pass on their information to us or pass our information to them. Please email us for program pricing, balloon design images or any other questions you may have. BTW…All referrals given will be entered into a drawing for some very cool prizes, email us for details… P.S. Are you interested in booking a hot air balloon ride? Check out our website www.midwestballoonrides.com.

For more information contact: Tony Sandlin tony@midwestballoonrides.com Midwest Balloon Rides 7 Launch Way • Fishers, IN 46038 O: 317.863.0318 • C: 317.414.0148

317.722.0537 www.itex.com

Encouraging the Entrepreneurial Spirit The Entrepreneurship Advancement Center held this year’s Young Entrepreneur Business Plan competition in January. HSE, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Sheridan and Westfield sent the top two entries from their schools in both individual and team categories. More than 300 students have competed in 12 contests over the past 7 years, presenting written business plans and oral presentations. Telemon and the Ritz Charles are the longest term sponsors. EAC Executive Director Cathy Langlois plans to expand the competition next year and is seeking sponsors. Contact her at cathy@goentrepreneurs.org. This year’s winners:

FIRST PLACE / INDIVIDUAL SHANNON EDELSTEIN Carmel High School

Savory Confections

SECOND PLACE / INDIVIDUAL MADISON STEGALL Fishers High School

DIY Cupcakes

DIY Cupcakes is a food truck that allows customers to customize their cupcakes by choosing from an array of cupcake flavors, frosting flavors, and toppings.

THIRD PLACE / INDIVIDUAL SEAN DUNAWAY Fishers High School

SD Recordings

Tourism picked up last year. The Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau reports that hotel occupancy and room demand in the county were both up 7% over 2011, one of the best growth rates in the Midwest. Brochure requests were up 200% and e-newsletter sign up grew 600% .

CALLIE DEDINSKY ARYN RICHEY MIRANDA SIMON Carmel High School

Mirage Fashion Consulting is a fashion and image consulting company that offers clients top-notch personal shopping, personal styling, and closet organization services. The company vows to improve self-confidence in every client through various wardrobe and image choices.

SECOND PLACE / TEAM

Retro 101

Heather Hogan Pirowkski, launched Retro 101, a 1978 Chevy bus that extends the food truck idea to fashion. Based in Fishers, the mobile pop-up shop is Hamilton County’s first boutique on wheels, and shows up at special events and other functions throughout the metro area.

DEVON MUETING KRISTEN WILLIS Carmel High School

The Sacked Sandwich

The Sacked Sandwich is designed with “game day” in mind and offers appetizing meals that can be conveniently served at the table or taken to go. The Sacked Sandwich allows customers to design their personal sandwich or wrap.

THIRD PLACE / TEAM LOGAN KING (partner not present/ unable to participate) Sheridan High School

K&H Landscaping

The goal of SD Recordings is to give artists the quality sound they need to meet the standard of the music industry, providing a mutually beneficial partnership between musicians, producers, and the businessplayers of the industry.

Notes from all over the county

FIRST PLACE / TEAM

Mirage Fashion Consulting Savory Confections is comparable to a grocery store with limited offerings like delicatessen, bakery and specialty items. The focus is on fresh, healthy foods that are suitable for any diet or occasion.

Pitch In

K & H Landscaping provides landscaping services to citizens of all economic levels throughout Hamilton County and surrounding areas, specializing in lawn care and landscaping that bring a house to life.

Lisa Ridder

Chaucie’s Place hired Lisa Ridder as part-time Prevention & Education Coordinator to work on its Body Safety program, a child sexual abuse prevention program for elementary school students. Casey Kenley is the new Creative Director for Carmel marketing company Silver Square. Paul Estridge Jr. says he is in the process of reviving Estridge Homes. The Carmel-based homebuilder fell victim to housing bust and closed its doors in 2011. Westfield received a $75,000 INDOT grant to develop a comprehensive Safe Routes to Schools plan.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

movies. Proceeds will help support the free movie series offered each summer (and profiled in the Dec12/Jan13 edition of the Hamilton County Business Magazine) . Larry T. Micon

Julie Carmichael

Larry T. Micon, MD, has joined St.Vincent Medical Center Northeast, specializing in gastrointestinal hernia and emergency general surgery. Julie Carmichael was hired as system vice president and chief strategy officer for the 22-hospital St.Vincent Health system.

Noblesville businessman Jim Wafford opened the Wafford Theater on S. 10th St, in the same building as his Logan St. Signs and Banners. The 32 seat theater will feature new and classic

Jeff Jellison launched a new newspaper in Sheridan. The Sheridan Reporter distributed 2000 free copies of the first edition in early December. The weekly is offered in newspaper stands or by subscription through the mail. HCBM

Carrie Cason and Dave Mueller

Dave Mueller, owner of Insects Limited and Class of 2004 alumnus, was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Hamilton County Leadership Academy. The Hamilton Count Airport Authority received a grant to complete an Environmental Assessment of the proposed extension of the Indianapolis Executive Airport runway. It would lengthen the runway from 5,500 to approximately 7,000 feet. Indy Exec is one of the most active general aviation airports in the state and was the second busiest airport (behind Indianapolis International) during last year’s Super Bowl.

Juanita and Jim Harger and daughter Barbara Harger Lotridge

Jim and Juanita Harger received the Living Legacy Award for their philanthropic contributions to Noblesville and Hamilton County during Legacy Fund’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy. February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

News & Updates February & March Events February

March

February 6: Arrows Young Professionals Lunch & Learn 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Art Institute of Indianapolis

March 7:

Network Breakfast (Carmel & Westfield) 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Hilton Garden Inn

February 7: Network Breakfast (Carmel, Noblesville & Westfield) 7:30 to 9 a.m. | La Hacienda

March 8:

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Mansion at Oak Hill

February 8: Legislative Breakfast 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Mansion at Oak Hill

March 13: March Luncheon 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Monon Community Center

February 13: February Luncheon 12 to 1:30 p.m. | The Fountains

March 19: Arrows Young Professionals After Hours Network 5 to 7 p.m. | tba

February 19: New Member Orientation 8 to 9 a.m. | HCR ManorCare

March 21: Business After Hours 5 to 6:30 p.m. | tba

February 21: Business After Hours 5 to 6:30 p.m. | The Stratford

Ribbon Cutting

Events are subject to change. Visit carmelchamber.com for updates and to register for events.

Taste of the Chamber

 

 Presented by:

Crystal sponsors:

Century 21 Rasmussen Co., Inc.

Look what’s NEW! Download our Mobile App

Video University [at carmelchamber.com]

New Members Accent on Business Assisted Transition Senior Living & Care Finders Beam, Longest and Neff, L.L.C. Capital Processing Network Carmel Green Initiative Concorde Sales LLC Crossroads Chiropractic Entrepreneurship Advancement Center F.E. Moran Security Solutions Goldfish Swim School Harbor Pictures Heart Reach Carmel Home Safe Homes Ice Miller LLP Indiana Wesleyan University Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace J & A Vo, Inc. Kirkpatrick Management Company, Inc. Midwest School of Voice Mitchell’s Fish Market The Naked Monkey Old Town Design Group OmniSource Marketing Group Personal Benefits Service LLC Pounds and Inches Away Property Tax Group I, Inc. Roundpeg Simpson Construction Service Target Metabolism W by Worth presented by Andrea Liebross Weichert Realtors-Hoosier Homes

carmelchamber.com  317.846.1049  21 S. Range Line Rd., #300A  Carmel

FRESH FACES October Axia Technology Partners 7130 Waldemar Drive Indianapolis, IN 46268 317-489-5544 www.axiatp.com

Beau Bradle State Farm Agency

9757 Westpoint Drive, Ste. 300 Indianapolis, IN 46256 317-288-2944 www.beaubradleinsurance.com

Dairy Queen Grill and Chill 13647 Olivia Way Fishers, IN 46037 317-776-8805 www.oliodq.com

Fresenius Medical Care of Fishers 13648 Olivia Way Fishers, IN 46037 317-773-6638 www.fmcna.com

Indy Collision Center

13668 Britton Park Road Fishers, IN 46038 317-842-2525 www.indycollisioncenter.com

Jack’s Donuts

Everything Indiana

Saxony Bonn Building 131st and Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 317-440-8377 www.jacksdonuts.com

11247 Turfgrass Way Indianapolis, IN 46236 317-379-9195 www.everythingindiana.com

Matt O’Malley State Farm Agency

Pam Wood/Coldwell Banker Kaiser

11844 Allisonville Road Fishers, IN 46038 317-902-0730 www.omalleyinsurance.com

12401 Old Meridian Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-431-8523 www.pamwoodrealtor.com

Quilt Expressions

Target Metabolism

12514 Reynolds Drive Fishers, IN 46038 317-913-1816

726 Adams Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-848-3400 www.targetmetabolism.com

The Naked Monkey

8355 E 116th Street Fishers, IN 46038 317-445-6750 www.waxthatmonkey.com

Wild River Nursery

13279 E 126th Street Fishers, IN 46037 317-770-3321 www.wild-river-nursery.com

We Are Changing Lives 8961 Crystal Lake Drive Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-828-3061 www.wearechanginglives.net

November

Divine Savior Lutheran Church

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS New Year’s Resolution for 2013 Resolution: Eliminate the phrase “I did not see a return on my investment” regarding Chamber Membership in 2013! How: Communicate to employees/staff who don’t know the importance of extending Chamber Members the opportunity to earn our business which is vital to retain and grow Membership in 2013! Result: Chamber Members see more business generated from Membership, their business grows and new relationships form making a stronger and more prosperous Chamber! Happy New Year! Carole Palazzo Senior Account Manager Braden Business Systems

11351 Village Square Lane Fishers, IN 46038 317-849-9692 www.ds-indy.com

RIBBON CUTTINGS d Raymond James 9998 Crosspointe Boulevard

e ClubZ! In Home Tutoring

f Dairy Queen 13647 Olivia Way (Exit 210)

g Elaine’s Salon 11559 Cumberland Road

h Drake’s Restaurant 3740 E. 82nd Street

i Beau Bradle State Farm Agency 9757 Westpoint Drive

www.hamiltonnorthchamber.com

HAMILTON NORTH

UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS FEBRUARY 2013

5th – Tuesday 11:30am-1:00pm MONTHLY LUNCHEON

Red Bridge Park Community Building $12 members; $15 non-members

8th – Friday 7:30am-9:00am LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

The Mansion at Oak Hill $15 members; $20 non-members

MARCH 2013

5th – Tuesday 11:30am-1:00pm MONTHLY LUNCHEON

Red Bridge Park Community Building $12 members; $15 non-members

8th – Friday 7:30am-9:00am LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

Holiday Celebration Luncheon

The Mansion at Oak Hill $15 members; $20 non-members

NEW MEMBERS Cicero Insurance Agency Fred Day/Terri Milbank 7810 E. 236th St. Cicero, IN 46034 317-606-8092 McCormack Printing Impressions Chris McCormack 618 Oak St. Tipton, IN 46072 765-675-9556

Hamilton North Chamber 70 N. Byron St. Cicero, IN 46034 317-984-4079 New Member: Fr. Dale Ehrman of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church recently joined the chamber. 30

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

7th – Thursday 7:30a.m.-9:00a.m. NETWORK BREAKFAST (Noblesville/Carmel/Westfield) La Hacienda (formerly Mudsocks Grill) 14741 Hazel Dell Pkwy, Noblesville $10 Members, $20 Non-Members 8th – Friday 7:30a.m.-9:00a.m. HAMILTON COUNTY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST The Mansion at Oak Hill $15 Members, $20 Non-Members 27th – Wednesday 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON State of the Schools (featuring Noblesville School Superintendent, Dr. Libbie Conner) Harbour Trees Golf Club $18 Members, $22 Non-Members

MARCH 2012

7th – Thursday 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. LUNCH & LEARN Taylored Systems Community Room 14701 Cumberland Rd., Suite 100, Noblesville $15 Members, $20 Non-Members 8th – Friday 7:30a.m.-9:00a.m. HAMILTON COUNTY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST The Mansion at Oak Hill $15 Members, $20 Non-Members 12th – Thursday 4:30p.m.-7:00p.m. A TASTE OF BUSINESS IN NOBLESVILLE Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds Applications to participate are available on the Chamber website www.noblesvillechamber. com or call the Chamber at 317-773-0086 Open to the public. Tickets are $5 at the door. 15th – Friday 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN LUNCHEON Featuring Julie Schnieders, St.Vincent Women’s Health The Sagamore Club $18 Members, $22 Non-Members 27th – Wednesday 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Sponsored by Riverview Hospital Harbour Trees Golf Club $18 Members, $22 Non-Members

November/December Community Pride Award Winners Hamilton Town Center 13901 Town Center Blvd. Noblesville, IN Mall Office (317) 214-6956 Shopping Line (317) 770-5996 www.simon.com

Tiffany Cring, Dir. Of Mall Marketing & Business Development Hamilton County Judicial Center One Hamilton County Square Noblesville, IN

NOBLESVILLE

FEBRUARY 2013

www.noblesvillechamber.com

UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

Hamilton County Commissioners Steve Dillinger, Steve Holt and Christine Altman

Enterprise Award Winners Congratulations Winners!

Noblesville Businesses Recognized at 9th Annual Enterprise Awards Banquet. Presented by the City of Noblesville and the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce

(from left to right) Business Person of the Year Chuck Goodrich of Gaylor, Inc.; Best New Construction/Renovation went to Shanon and Andy Gigante, Harbour Trees Beach Club; Best Small Business of the Year winners, Kyle and Lori Spencer of Spencer Farms; and Business of the Year was awarded to Mike Field and Field Rubber Products, Inc.

Noblesville Chamber 601 Conner St. Noblesville, IN 46060 317-773-0086

This year’s event was sponsored by City Securities Corporation.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

www.sheridanchamber.org

SHERIDAN KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US!

The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce publishes a weekly email newsletter. To join our mailing list please text us at 22828 with the keyword SHERIDAN, visit our website local news page, or contact Patty Nicholas, Executive Director at 317-758-1311.

Sheridan Chamber 407 S. Main St. PO Box 202 Sheridan, IN 46069 317-758-1311

UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS CHAMBER EVENTS The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce holds monthly member luncheons on the fourth Thursday of each month with a few exceptions. This March we’ll be having a luncheon on Tuesday to welcome a very special guest. In November, 2013 we will not have a luncheon due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Keep reading for more details about our upcoming luncheons.

FEBRUARY 2013 28th - Thursday 11:30am-1:00pm

MONTHLY MEMBER LUNCHEON

Sheridan Public Library Speaker: Brenda Bush Members $12 Contact Patty Nicholas at 317-758-1311 to register

MARCH 2013

26th - Tuesday 11:30am-1:00pm SPECIAL TUESDAY DATE!

MONTHLY MEMBER LUNCHEON

Sheridan Public Library Speaker: Gerry Dick, Creator and Host Inside INdiana Business Members $12 Contact Patty Nicholas at 317-758-1311 to register

COMMUNITY EVENTS FEBRUARY 2013

22nd - Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm

Sheridan Chamber of Commerce Unveils New Logo By Donald Vita, Sheridan Chamber of Commerce The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new logo at the December 6th Membership Luncheon. During the past 14 months the chamber has worked hard to renew its leadership through several initiatives. Some of the specific projects undertaken include: installing a new website with relevant and up-to-date content; producing weekly newsletters with valuable news and information; communicating local news on the Indianapolis Business Journal website in the Regional News Section; sponsoring and supporting the Sheridan Learning Center; and working to build relationships within the Sheridan business community. The work will continue in 2013 as the chamber works hard to book relevant and informative speakers for luncheons, improve the participation and content of the membership directory, and continue to provide opportunities for members to network and attend events with other Hamilton County chambers. The new logo, designed by Ben Hershberger of Fishers reflects the newness and enhanced professionalism of the Sheridan chamber, while still projecting a small town feel. During the next few months the logo will replace the “old” logo on all official chamber business, websites, etc. Ben Hershberger works for Robbins Graphics of Fishers, and also does freelance design work. He has been involved with the design of many projects including creating materials for the Indianapolis 500, designing for various Indiana companies, and participating in designing a line of greeting cards.

CHICKEN NOODLE DINNER

Sheridan High School Benefiting the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce More information coming soon!

Be sure to visit www.sheridanchamber.org for information on all upcoming events!

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

FRIDAYS: FEBRUARY 8 • MARCH 8 • APRIL 12 FEBRUARY 8/FRIDAY, 7:30am-9:00am LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

Organized & Presented by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee Sponsored by Krieg DeVault The Mansion at Oak Hill, 5801 East 116th St. $15 members with reservations, $20 all others RSVP by Mon1/7/13 to info@westfield-chamber.org

NEW MEMBERS

FEBRUARY 2013 Breath of Life Home Medical Equipment Respriatory Services Contact: John Nauyokas 17005 Westfield Park Rd., Suite 1 Westfield, IN 46074 317-896-3048 www.bolhme.com

Target Metabolism Medical Weight Loss Contact: Jessica Drager 726 Adams St. Carmel, IN 46032 317-848-3400 www.targetmetabolism.com

Shelby Materials Ready Mix Concrete Supplier Contact: Tony Montgomery 17701 Spring Mill Rd. Westfield, IN 46074 317-804-8100 www.shelbymaterials.com

Freedom Home Health Of Indiana Home Health Agency Contact: Nedra Moran 7215 E. 21st. St. Suite A Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-359-3444

21st/Friday, 11:00am-1:00pm

*Doors open at 10:45am; Lunch served at 11:30am

NETWORKING LUNCHEON

Bring plenty of your business cards to this luncheon! This popular annual program features rotating rounds of meeting, greeting, passing out business cards and literature. This is a great opportunity to mingle with Chamber members and share information about your business. Due to the nature of this networking event, reservations are required. The Bridgewater Club, 3535 East 161st St. $15 members with reservations, $20 all others and billables Register by Fri 1/11/13 online at westfield-chamber.org

MARCH 2013

WESTFIELD

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST EVENTS 2013

www.westfield-chamber.org

UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

7th/Thursday, 7:30am-9:00am

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Hilton Garden Inn 8th/Friday, 7:30am-9:00am

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

Beam, Longest and Neff LLC Engineering Contact: Bruce Breeden 8126 Castleton Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-849-5832 www.b-l-n.com

Gilbane Building Company Construction Contact: Bob Stasia 3815 River Crossing Pkwy. Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-569-2298 www.gilbaneco.com

Mansion at Oak Hill 21st/Thursday, 7:30am-9:00am

NETWORKING LUNCHEON

The Bridgewater Club 28th/Thursday, 10:30am-Noon

Perl Mortgage Mortgage Company Contact: Scott Anspach 15 E Carmel Dr. Carmel, IN 46032 317-815-1062 www.perlmortgage.com

MEMBER PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE

Ameriana 28th/Thursday, Noon-1:30pm

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Ameriana 28th/Thursday, 5:00pm-7:00pm BUSINESS AFTER HOURS & MEMBER RECEPTION Call for Details All Chamber event dates, times and locations are subject to change. Please call 317-804-3030 or visit www.westfield-chamber.org for details.

New in 2013

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Westfield Chamber Summer Golf League

Annual Golf Outing at The Bridgewater Club

Looking for some fun competition, networking and time on the course while not committing to too much time — if so, this league is for you. Sign up your company team today — call the Chamber for details.

FOR JUNE 10TH, 2013

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Westfield Chamber of Commerce 130 Penn St. Westfield, IN 46074 317-804-3030

Hamilton County History

David Heighway

The Noblesville Brewery Immigrant started HC’s first brewery in mid 1800’s eer took some time to establish itself as a part of the diet of Hamilton County residents. Corn whiskey and hard cider were the traditional drinks and these were usually manufactured at home, although there was a distillery at Strawtown as early as the 1820’s. German immigrants wanted beer, but there were not many Germans in this area. However, after the railroad was built 1851, new kinds of people began moving to Hamilton County. The first known brewery appeared around 1865 and lasted for at least five years It was built by Xavier Joseph, (18241901), who had emigrated in 1852 from Forschheim, a small town in the Duchy of Baden, part of present-day Germany. His granddaughter said that the family was Jewish, but there is no other documentation for this. He first traveled to Cincinnati and then settled in Louisville, where he married in 1856. He had established a brewery in Louisville in the area known as “Butchertown” by 1859 and was listed as a brewer on the 1860 census. In 1862, when income taxes were being collected during the Civil War, he owed $50 in tax for a brewery license and $1 a barrel for selling 175 ¼ barrels of beer. According to his granddaughter, the family moved north from Kentucky because they objected to slavery. She said that before they left, they bought a family of slaves in Louisville and freed them in Indiana. These former slaves were

A view from the County Courthouse of Conner St., which ended at the White River. the Dempseys, a family that would be a part of the Noblesville community for many years. Xavier started the Noblesville brewery soon after his arrival, and it can be seen on the 1866 map of the town. There is an 1869 advertisement with his prices: $1.50 for a dozen bottles of ale (“50 cents cheaper than ale brought here from other places”), $3.25 for a keg, and $6.00 for a half-barrel. He also sold cider and ice. I have wondered where they got the water for the beer. There was a spring directly behind the brewery, (later called the Lewellyn Spring), but it was mineral water and had a nasty aftereffect. There was also White River a block or so away, but by the 1860’s and 1870’s, it was becoming an open sewer. Conner Street dead-ended at the river and was lined with many of the town’s livery stables. All of their effluvia would wash straight down the street and into

…any beer made with White River water would have had a really unique taste. the river. There was also a tannery just upstream. Alcohol will kill germs, but any beer made with White River water would have had a really unique taste. An 1869 newspaper article mentions the brewery, but the temperance movement was growing at that time, and the article downplays it while insisting there were no licensed liquor saloons in the town. (No licensed ones perhaps, but a person could get a drink if they wanted it.) In the 1870 census, Xavier is listed as a Brewer, but in the 1880 census, he is listed as a Saloon keeper.

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

BUSINESS RESOURCE DIRECTORY SIGNS AND BANNERS

COMMERCIAL LEASE SPACE

Logan Street Signs & Banners 1720 South 10th St. Noblesville, IN 317-773-7200 Open M-F 7-5 www.loganstreetsigns.com www.noblesvilletrophies.com www.noblesville.com The brewery was on the corner of Sixth and Conner St., two blocks east of the river, as shown on this Sanborn map.

So, brewing was not a viable business in Noblesville at this point in time. By 1892, the building had become a dwelling and was eventually demolished. It’s now the site of an auto repair business. Even when the brewing business was finished, the family continued to make their mark in a variety of ways. One of Xavier’s sons, Julius X. Joseph, became mayor of Noblesville in the 1920’s. Xavier’s daughter Emma married Julius Worley, the Cicero telegraph operator. Their daughter Helen didn’t like small town life, so she moved to Chicago in the 1920’s, where she became one of Al Capone’s “girls” and apparently was quite successful. Eventually, she opened her own speakeasy and “house” in Wisconsin called the Sunflower Inn. Because she used a lot of strong language, she acquired the nickname of “Dirty Helen.” Copies of her autobiography are available at the Hamilton East Public Library and have some information about her grandfather’s brewing business. It’s questionable as to how truthful the book is, but it makes for interesting reading. It would take over a century for professional brewing to return to Hamilton County. The first to open was Barley Island Brewing Company and restaurant, which, thanks to the increased popularity of beer, has shown more staying power that its predecessor. However, they recognize their heritage by producing a beer with the brand name of “Dirty Helen.” So, the next time you visit the brewpub, make sure to enjoy a glass of Hamilton County history. HCBM

Digitally printed signs and banners of any size, vehicle wraps and graphics, T-shirt printing, laser engraving. Great customer service, fast turn-around. Family Owned and Operated. Serving Noblesville and Hamilton County since 1992. Also home of Noblesville Trophies. 773-7391 Open M-F 9-6 Sat. 10-2

David Heighway isBUSINESS the Hamilton County historian TECHNOLOGY

Sharp Business Systems of Indiana 7330 East 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46256 317-844-0033 www.sbsindiana.com

We are serious about improving our clients businesses by updating office technology, managing office printing and streamlining critical business processes. Sharp Business Systems of Indiana, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, can increase your company’s bottom line.

River Edge Professional Center and River Edge Market Place Noblesville, IN Call John Landy at 317-289-7662 landyfortune@gmail.com

65,000 square feet of flexible floor plans. Design and build to your specifications. Time Share space available. Retail space also available from 1,600 square feet up. Easy access and abundant parking! High speed internet. 3 minutes from Riverview Hospital.

GRADUATE EDUCATION University of Indianapolis 1400 E Hanna Ave. Indianapolis, IN 317-788-3340 www.mba.uindy.edu

The University of Indianapolis MBA Program offers a wide range of options to help secure your future. Our programs include on-campus programs in the evenings and on Saturday, off-campus programs including Carmel and Fishers, and we are the largest provider of on-site MBA programs in the area.

SERVICE CLUB Rotary International

The Noblesville Midday Rotary Club is one of 32,000 local Rotary clubs throughout the world and six in Hamilton County. Open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed or political preference, Rotary brings together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Each club meets weekly. For more information on the Noblesville Midday Rotary Club. Call Mike Corbett at 774-7747

THE PROFESSIONAL BARBERS

David Heighway is the Hamilton County Historian. February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Dave Snider - Owner - Master Barber

Classic Barber Shop

317-843-2500

2462 East 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032 Mon, Tues & Fri 9-6 Wed & Thurs 9-7 Sat 7-4 www.barberclassic.com

Walk-in no waiting

NEXT EDITION:

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96th St

Springs of Cambridge Across the bridge from the Geist Marina on East 96th St

Hampton Cove Across from the Geist Marina

February • March 2013 • Hamilton County Business Magazine