OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2021
New Digs For Dogs Humane Society Gets a New Home
PLUS…
• Managing Stress at Work • Ethical Lapses at Theranos
• Raising the Militia Rebecca Stevens President and CEO The Humane Society for Hamilton County and Nikita
www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com
Letter from the Editor October • November 2021 Charley Waldo died this summer. Perhaps you recognize the name. Professor Waldo and I first started talking some eight years ago when I was seeking a columnist for this magazine and he was seeking an outlet to share his vast business knowledge. He was approaching retirement from Anderson University and had a lifetime of experience managing and consulting for businesses, which he generously shared with our readers in dozens of columns over the years. He had great admiration for Kaizen, continuous improvement and lean manufacturing. He loved to collect aphorisms and inspirational “words to live by.” He wrote many columns containing lists of pithy sayings from the famous and the obscure.
Mike Corbett Editor and Publisher
He eventually did retire and developed Parkinson’s Disease, which made it painful for him to sit at a computer and write. He must have told me five or six times that the column he was sending was going to be his last…only to follow up with another. He had that admirable urge of most good professors to spread knowledge far and wide and he just couldn’t stop writing. I only met him in person once in eight years but we communicated so often that I felt like I knew him well. When he finally got serious about quitting last year he asked that I rerun his favorite column as his last contribution. Its all about living in the moment and making the most of the time we have. We are rerunning it again in this edition on page 10. It’s a fine tribute to a fine man.
Ethics Column I am delighted to introduce a new columnist in this edition. Cari Sheehan is an attorney who will be writing on one of my favorite topics: ethics. We have had a number of ethics columnists over the years and I keep coming back to the subject because I think its important to keep it top of mind. Business is rife with opportunities to take unfair advantage of other people and businesses, so its important that we keep a proper perspective and deal with others in an ethical manner. I hope Cari’s columns will help us keep that perspective and prompt important conversations about treating people and businesses fairly in our daily discourse. In her first column for us, Cari pulls a topic right out of today’s headlines: Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, the Silicon Valley biotech company CEO currently on trial for fraud. Though Holmes’ alleged misdeeds seem extreme, there are important lessons there for all of us. Sometimes the slope gets slippery very quickly and I appreciate Cari’s detailed analysis. I look forward to future columns.
Digital Publishing For those of you following along at home, you know that this edition completes an entire year of digital-only publishing. We started this format last December when advertisers were feeling very conservative after a year of COVID. It’s no secret that many business sectors are significantly changed as a result of the pandemic. But there are promising signs of a potential return to normal next year and I do sincerely hope that includes us. I would really like for you to be reading our next edition on a piece of paper. See you around the county,
Editor and Publisher mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com 317-774-7747
2
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
ANY BANK CAN LEND YOU MONEY. WE’LL ALSO LEND AN EAR. Horizon’s Advisors offer you the local support you need to manage and grow your business. We give you personal attention and listen to everything there is to know about your business to make the most relevant recommendations, from flexible loan and financing options to deposit and cash management solutions for your everyday banking.
888-873-2640 | HorizonBank.com
October / November 2021
www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com Humane Society of Hamilton County Education Room
Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-774-7747
Features
12
EDITOR/PUBLISHER
Mike Corbett mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Bridget Gurtowsky bridget@gurtowskygraphics.com
Humane Society of Hamilton County
16 Chamber Pages
2
Editors Letter
6
Management Judith Wright
8
Ethics Cari Sheehan
Note: This is a hyperlinked digital magazine. Please click on bolded names, company names or linked boxes.
CORRESPONDENTS Chris Bavender crbavender@gmail.com
Columns
10
16
4
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Management Charles Waldo
Ann Craig-Cinnamon jandacinnamon@aol.com John Cinnamon jlcinnamon@aol.com Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com Patricia Pickett pickettwrites@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS
David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net Cari Sheehan cari.sheehan@btlaw.com Judith Wright jw3@iupui.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
mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com
History David Heighway
Copyright 2021 Hamilton County Media Group. All rights reserved.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
Matt Maher
Let’s Talk Business Member FDIC Institution ID# 478765
Your Commercial Financing Resource
Matt Maher
Kokomo Square
Senior Commercial Lender Commercial Real Estate Financing
101 W Sycamore St (765) 252-1738
FFBT.COM
Follow Us
WHITINGER.COM
celeBrAting
90 yeArS of Service
• Accounting ServiceS • ASSurAnce ServiceS • Benefit PlAn AuditS • MAnAgeMent AdviSory • forenSic Accounting • StrAtegic PlAnning • corPorAte tAx
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
• SMAll BuSineSS ServiceS • BuSineSS vAluAtion • not-for-Profit ServiceS • eStAte PlAnning • PAyroll & BookkeePing • inveStMent MAnAgeMent • retireMent PlAnning
INDIANAPOLIS
MUNCIE
7510 E. 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46256 ph: 317.841.6009 fax: 317.841.4777
1100 W. White River Blvd. Muncie, IN 47303 ph: 765.284.3384 fax: 765.741.5675
5
Management
Judith Wright
Managing Stress in the Workplace Happy employees make for better business In the past two decades, employers have invested billions in wellness programs to promote good health for workers. Most programs focus on lifestyle management to encourage good exercise and healthy diet. Many employers also offer programs to help employees identify, reduce and manage chronic disease. In today’s stressrising environment, maintaining good mental health is coming to the forefront of concerns. Experiencing stress at work is just part of life for most American workers. Studies over the past 20 years show that work-related stress has gradually increased. A 2019 pre-pandemic study found that 94% of workers felt stress at work. A recent Gallup poll found that 65% of workers reported stress on a daily basis. In the new age of working from home, more employers are realizing that managing stress has become an integral part of managing the business. It is pretty easy to make a financial case for why employers should be concerned about stress. The American Institute of Stress estimates that job-related stress costs employers over $300 billion a year. Those costs manifest in employee absenteeism, lower productivity, higher health care costs and related workers’ compensation claims. Moreover, as businesses focus on trying to stay viable, employers are realizing that happy employees make for better business. Programs to manage worker stress result in better decisionmaking, more creativity, enhanced productivity and overall improved well-being.
Working from Home At the height of the pandemic response, an estimated two-thirds of American employees worked from 6
home. A May survey by Gallup found that seven out of ten white-collar workers are still working at home. This abrupt change in how people work has led to new forms of stress and a need to rebalance the work/life understanding between employer and employee.
Some workers report starting the workday much earlier than they used to, so they could set aside time midday to help children with schoolwork. Some find themselves still working well into the evening hours after family activities are finished.
“In the old days” when people drove to the office, it was pretty clear to determine when the workday began.
While workers are largely doing the same type of work— just from home in more comfortable clothes—a recent study shows the stress levels for employees have increased. At-home workers are handling more meetings, working more hours and struggling more than ever with the balance between work and family.
...job related stress
costs employers over $300 billion a year.
Those costs manifest in employee absenteeism, lower productivity, higher health care costs and related workers’ compensation claims. Most people worked 8 to 10 hour shifts with reasonable time for a meal and short breaks. At the end of the day, most workers turned out the lights or handed off their work to the next shift, indicating they were finished for the day. In the new environment, employees are working in varied and differing increments. As families adjusted to working and schooling at home, careerrelated work began to get done in a woven pattern with other life demands. Some couples have adopted shifts to help cover work and family needs.
The Martec Group, a Detroit-based research firm, found that workat-home employees across a number of industries reported a substantial decline in both mental health and job satisfaction. Stress levels for 42% of the subject group had worsened during the COVID-19 period.
A working paper by researchers with the National Bureau of Economic Research found at-home workers are engaging in 13% more meetings, with more people per meeting. And there is some indication that employees are working longer hours. The same NBER study reported workers on average logged an additional 48.5 minutes a day, or just over 4 hours more per week. More recently, as employers deal with attrition and difficulty in hiring, work has been shifted to remaining employees. Indeed, nearly half of workers say their primary stress on the job relates to having too much work. More than
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
half of workers report their workloads have increased over the term of the pandemic, nearly all without an increase in pay. A third of workers classified their stress as “burnout.”
•
Coping Strategies The added stress appears to be one important factor leading employees to consider a change in their jobs. In July of this year, job-search company Monster released a study showing a shocking 95% of surveyed workers are considering a job change. In the face of a robust employment market, the likelihood that workers will follow through on their inclinations should be worrisome for employers. One approach to retaining employees may well be to first acknowledge and then address the stress. A recent survey of executives and office workers by services firm PwC provides some suggestions: •
Employees desire more flexibility in which hours of the day they work to allow them to schedule around family demands.
•
Employees favor rules to outline when they are required to be available for calls and meetings. This lets co-workers know when an employee is accessible and helps in setting boundaries around those times within the family. Employees want the company to establish reasonable turnaround times for requests.
On-site workers say they benefit from flexibility around start-times and in working at home part-time. Experts suggest that employers provide a quiet place for workers to take regular breaks while in the office or encourage short walks outside. Some larger companies have adopted periodic meditation or yoga programs to help employees deal with stress. At-home workers want the company to let them know how they are doing. Even though they maintain interaction with customers and co-workers, remote employees sometimes feel detached and isolated. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 40% of workers report worries about
job security. Employers can allay stress by creating consistent and regular feedback loops to communicate and check in with workers. Stress is a reality, and smart business managers are taking steps to address it. Alleviating stress is likely a key factor in retaining desired employees while enhancing job satisfaction, boosting productivity and supporting overall wellbeing. HCBM
Judith Wright is a clinical assistant professor of business law at Indiana University Kelley School of Business at IUPUI
First, we’ll lend an ear. The beginning of any strong partnership starts with knowing your business. Lake City Bank’s experienced loan officers are experts at listening to your needs and helping you take your business where you want it to go. We’ll lend you our time. We’ll lend you an ear. We’ll lend you a hand.
Call (317) 706-9000
Drop in.
All loans are subject to credit approval. Institution ID #431669.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
lakecitybank.com
7
Ethics
Cari Sheehan
Fake It ’Til You Make It? Ethical Lapses Abounded at Theranos to remain silent and certify fake results. Other results were never reviewed, or other companies’ old technology was used in the testing. Many of the testing machines did not work as well. There was ultimately not one verifiable test that could be produced.
“Fake it ’til you make it” is the motto that entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes appeared to adopt. Once known as the “wunderkind” of Silicon Valley, Holmes was a 19-year-old Stanford University dropout seeking to be the next Steve Jobs. However, her fame within the business community was short-lived. Holmes is now known by business professionals as a case study in ethical missteps in a company, as she is embroiled in fraud charges and is on trial in federal court. In 2003, Holmes founded the biotech startup company Theranos. Holmes was charismatic and used her charm to secure millions of dollars in funding from large, savvy investors. The company claimed to have created technology that would offer 240 blood tests by just the prick of a finger. The results would be delivered directly to the patient’s phone within hours, and would cost less than any single test on the market. There was no other technology of this magnitude on the market. If approved, the technology would revolutionize modern medicine.
packed with influential politicians that Holmes charmed and utilized for her ultimate goal of obtaining more funding. The board solely relied on Holmes and her false demonstrations.
Holmes’ surrounded herself with “yes” people instead of people who would Further, several employees feared job loss question her technology and provide and other consequences. If an employee solutions and insight to counter-balpushed back, or did not meet expectaance Holmes’ lack of experience in the tions in job performance regarding the medical field. There were no checks and advancement of the technology, they were balances from the board in regards to fired. The company’s first CFO raised con- the technology, since the board did not understand the medical science. A company should have a strong board that is competent in the areas of development and business of the company. The board should be strong enough to step forward and stop any unethical behavior and see through the politics of a company.
“Holmes’ own delusion and inflated optimism in her
abilities were her ultimate
demise. Those characteristics
are contagious and can lead to
Holmes’ third ethical misstep was pursuing “profits” over “ethics”. Holmes decided to commercialize the technology despite the obvious flaws in testing. Holmes pushed out the technology before it was ready, thereby misleading and defrauding investors out of billions of dollars. Holmes also set up fake results and testing demonstrations deepening her intent to defraud investors, and was continually developing new lies to cover up her old lies instead of pulling back and reevaluating the technology.
grave ethical consequences…”
Unfortunately, the technology was flawed. Holmes attempted to cover-up its flaws until she was exposed by a whistleblower, Tyler Schultz, the grandson of a Theranos board member. But what were Holmes’ ethical missteps? What led to the ultimate whistleblowing and collapse of Theranos?
Fear Factor Holmes’ first ethical misstep was setting very unrealistic expectations coupled with fear and silence of employees. Holmes set very high expectations of her employees in regards to testing and certifying the technology. However, the technology was flawed and did not produce the results Holmes was promising her investors. Employees were asked 8
cerns early on, questioning Holmes when he learned the technology demos to the investors were fake. He was fired on the spot as not a “team player.” This created an extremely toxic work culture and distrust throughout the company. Employees started to cut corners and lie about the results of testing of the technology. The lies grew bigger and bigger, until more lies were needed to sustain the status quo. A good company culture starts with the upper management; that was lacking through Holmes’ leadership.
Checks and Balances Holmes’ second ethical misstep was composing a weak board. Holmes stacked the company’s board with military leaders and political names (mainly older men), instead of medical professionals. The company’s board was not composed of individuals with a medical background, but instead was
However, Holmes’ efforts paid off. She was featured in glowing stories in the news and magazines, and was the darling of business TV shows and at tech conferences. She raised over $1 billion in funding, with over 75% of it coming after she commercialized the technology. Some believe that Holmes actually started to believe her cycle of lies regarding the technology, which can be seen through Holmes’ TV interviews. People wanted to have faith in the tech-
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
nology that Holmes was promising and in her passion, because it would make medical testing easy and give peace of mind to many consumers. People can be blinded by the prospect of something new and innovative, and overlook the flaws that are right in front of them. Holmes seized on the blind spots that people had with her technology and used it to her advantage; she ultimately used the people of her company as a means to her end.
Dangerously Flawed Holmes’ fourth ethical misstep was marketing the company as having workable, innovative technology like no other company. She allowed the technology to be used and sold in the marketplace before it was ready. She even struck deals with big retail giants to sell the technology in test markets, even without full approval. This decision endangered the lives of tens of thousands of people, since the technology could not actually detect illnesses through the blood testing. The gravity of the decision to sell the technology, with the knowledge that it was flawed, appeared to have no emotional effect on Holmes or her moral conscience. Holmes and her company would stop at nothing to protect the web of lies that she created. As a result, Holmes and her company have defended several consumer civil lawsuits regarding the technology, and she is still reported as lavishing in a lifestyle of luxury to this day. Holmes’ fifth ethical misstep was Elizabeth Holmes herself. Holmes was a young, bigger-than-life CEO. Her own delusion and inflated optimism in her abilities were her ultimate demise. Those characteristics are contagious and can lead to grave ethical consequences unless a person has a strong moral compass to guide in decisionmaking. Decisions should first be viewed from an ethical prospective and not a profit perspective. Thinking in terms of ethics sometimes means putting yourself and your own selfinterests, as well as profits, second. This is a hard concept for many business professionals to grasp when most are taught that they should seek profits first to satisfy shareholders and consider ethics second (if at all).
However, history has taught us that not many companies climb the ladder to success without some shred of ethics. A company will only survive if it is ethical and upholds best business practices, particularly into today’s modern era of social media and consumer criticism. Holmes has never admitted her ethical missteps or showed remorse for her actions. Instead, she continually denies any fault or responsibility for her actions, and, in 2018, she was charged by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) with massive fraud regarding her false statements at investor presentations, false product demonstrations, and for her statements in news articles by which investors were deceived into believing that the technology rrycould perform comprehensive blood tests from a single finger prick. Holmes settled with the SEC for a $500,000 penalty, return of her shares in Theranos, termination of voting rights, and prohibition on serving as director of a public company for 10 years. The dominoes continued to fall in 2018. Holmes stepped down as CEO of Theranos just before she was indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California. The fraud trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the once “wunderkind” of Silicon Valley, commenced in late August 2021 with jury selection, and is expected to continue for several months, with a verdict to be rendered sometime in the late fall or early winter of 2021. As the trial proceeds, the business community will wait and watch to observe how Elizabeth Holmes presents her defense, and to see if she now expresses remorse or continues to hold strong in her egocentric view of her actions and how she led Theranos. HCBM Cari Sheehan is of counsel with Barnes & Thornburg, where she sits on the firms Professional Responsibility Committee. She focuses on legal ethics, professional accountability and loss prevention. This article should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
Hamilton County Mended Hearts Chapter 350 Misson Statement: To inspire hope and improve the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support, education and advocacy.
SUPPORT GROUP MEETING TIMES 3RD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH 11:30am - 2:00pm Meetings temporarily suspended due to COVID-19
RIVERVIEW HEALTH 395 Westfield Rd. Classrooms A & B Entrance 4
CALL (317) 776-7377 for additional information
Heart Disease in your family? Think you or a family member needs a heart scan or EKG? Call Riverview Health at
(317) 773-0760 Ask for Central Scheduling to set an appointment for a $49 hear t scan or a $10 EKG. w w w.mendedhearts350.org
9
Management
Charles Waldo
Have You a Dream Deferred? Act on it now, says the creator of “servant leadership” The title of this article is the title of a talk given by Robert K. Greenleaf in spring, 1967 to a group of soon-to-be sophomores at Ohio University (Athens). Subtitled “On Opportunity in the Next Three Years,” these students had applied to be part of the Ohio Fellows Program, a three year venture aimed at helping the selected students realize their potential for service in the public interest….regardless of their particular vocational track. Although given over fifty years ago in a relatively obscure setting without fanfare, Greenleaf’s talk has been reprinted thousands of times and is still one of the best-selling publications offered by the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. (See endnote 1.)
Leader as Servant
after retiring in 1964, Greenleaf was a lecturer and guest speaker at such distinguished schools as MIT, Harvard, Yale, Virginia, and many others. A life-long student of how organizations do (or don’t) get things done, Greenleaf eventually distilled his observations and conclusions into a series of essays with the common thread of the “Leader as Servant.” He formed the Center for Applied Ethics in 1964, with the name later changed to the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, which it still is today. Initially, Greenleaf was talking to 18 and 19 year olds in the tumultuous
Greenleaf was talking with the early Baby Boomers. Did they have dreams? How did they turn out? Did they defer some never getting the chance to achieve them?
Key Points “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or?” (2) What are your dreams? Do you have some? There is a big difference between “dreams” that are really just wishes or hopes versus “dreams” that have some possibilities undergirding them and into which the dreamer can put some effort. What’s on your “bucket list?” Are there items that have some possibility of happening or are they just “wishing in the wind?” Have you deferred some? Should/can you defer them any longer? Can you afford to?
Try to live your life with
distinction (doing something
Greenleaf, a native Hoosier, was born in 1904 in Terre Haute. He began college at nearby Rose Polytechnic Institute, now Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. But, wanting a liberal arts rather than a technical education, he transferred to Carleton College in Minnesota. After graduating with a math major in 1926, he immediately joined AT&T in its Minnesota “Baby Bell” division. After three years he transferred to AT&T’s Manhattan corporate headquarters where he carved out a long, distinguished career as a top-level, internal consultant in management and organization education and development. Along the way, both before and
very well) and greatness (leaving society at least a little better
off for your having been here). Helping others who are less
fortunate. That’s quite different than helping the rich get richer.
10
mid-1960s (Viet Nam, the draft, race riots, the Hippy revolution, the Kennedy assassinations, the Beetles’ “invasion” of the U.S., and so on), before some of the readers of this article were born.
Space does not permit detailing Greenleaf’s advice to those students that might have helped them both dream and achieve those dreams. But here are key points that might also help you achieve yours:
1. Try to live your life with distinction (doing something very well) and greatness (leaving society at least a little better off for your having been here). Helping others who are less fortunate. That’s quite different than helping the rich get richer.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
2. Cultivate your creativity. Everyone has the gift of creativity in one field or another. Find it and make it productive. Let dreams soar. 3. Find a moral compass that will support you in good times and bad. Two examples: “What does the Golden Rule require in this situation?” and “Always tell the truth.” 4. Develop wisdom, common sense, and good judgment—usually by looking at efforts that did not turn out right, figuring out what went wrong, making changes, and trying again. Having a mentor for guidance is a plus. 5. Be a good trustee of whatever assets you are entrusted. That might be your children, your church’s physical plant, business finances, a social service agency on whose board you sit, and so on. Live above expectations and above board. 6. Be “positive realistic.” It is good to dream, even to dream REAL BIG. But temper that dream with realism. There is a saying put out by some that “You can be anything you want to be if
you dream big enough and work hard enough.” True for some; not true for others. Example: A 5' tall, 100 pound person is NOT going to play on an NBA team. But he or she might get into a front office position, be a trainer, be a marketing or PR person, be the travel secretary, or so on. Be around the game but not on the floor. Some things just cannot be willed. 7. If you want to feel good about yourself, do good for others less fortunate than yourself.
Having “good luck” Dream big or dream small. But dream. Then have a plan for achievement and work like hell while waiting for success to arrive. “Good luck” is the intersection of being prepared and working hard. Don’t give up too easily. Inventor supreme Thomas A. Edison (General Electric’s founder) said he found 999 ways to NOT invent a light bulb before he finally found a way to make it. Worthy goals and dreams usually demand (and deserve) much “cultivating and fertilizing.” Get your rake and hoe, spread
some fertilizer, water now and then, keep the weeds down, and best wishes for a bumper crop of achieved dreams. Don’t defer any longer. HCBM (1) Go to www.greenleaf.org for information on the Greenleaf Center and to order this 16 page gem as well as others, especially the classic The Servant Leader. Greenleaf retired from AT&T in 1964 and died in 1990. He is buried in Terre Haute with his gravestone stating “Here lies a potentially good plumber, ruined by a sophisticated education.” (2) Langston Hughes, poet and playwright. 1902-67.
Charles Waldo, Ph.D., was Professor of Marketing (ret.) at Anderson University’s Falls School of Business. He died this summer.
Keep more of your money... legally. AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU’VE GOT SPECIAL TAX BENEFITS. WE’LL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THEM.
The Padgett team specializes in small business needs: TAX PREPARATION ACCOUNTING TAX COMPLIANCE PAYROLL SERVICES
Call us at 317.503.5113 to schedule your free consultation, or visit us at smallbizpros.com/b_leonardi.
PATTY & BILL LEONARDI OWNERS
WHERE YOUR SUCCESS TAKES ROOT.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
11
Cover Story
Love & Let Live The Humane Society for Hamilton County Enters a New Era By Ann Craig-Cinnamon
12
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
Why it Matters The Humane Society for Hamilton County is the only open admission truly no kill animal shelter in the state of Indiana and one of the few in the whole country. Stevens says the shelter takes in approximately 3100 animals every year, 365 days a year, regardless of breed or condition. That encompasses strays, owner-surrendered pets, community cats and those found or seized by law enforcement including hoarding cases, investigations, hit by car, and abandoned in Hamilton County. f you haven’t been in the area of 106th and Hague Road in Fishers recently you might be surprised to see a large, impressive new building where there once was a church. That building is the new home of the Humane Society for Hamilton County. And you might think that it just popped up out of nowhere. On the contrary, it has been many years in the making and is now a realized long term vision that resulted from a successful capital fundraising campaign.
area for contagious animals, a recovery area for the injured, and adequate meeting/office space. Additionally there was no noise control, which caused staff, visitors and even the animals to be overcome by the deafening noise. There was also a lack of adequate outdoor space resulting in the animals often going without proper exercise and fresh air. So it was announced in 2014 that the organization would begin the process of finding a new home.
“We also take in a variety of other pets who are abandoned or displaced and help find them appropriate rescue or placement—birds, rabbits, snakes, fish, potbellied pigs…you name it,” she adds. Approximately 400 of the 3,100 animals taken in each year are ones that are at-risk for euthanasia in other Indiana shelters that contact them for help. “Those animals are typically the hardest to save/place pets that need us the most, like seniors, bonded pairs, and animals with disabilities/special medical needs,” says Stevens, adding that they receive
The Humane Society for Hamilton County President and CEO Rebecca Stevens, who has been “top dog” with the organization for 16 years, says their previous space in a county-owned building in Noblesville was too small the day they moved in back in 2006. “We never had adequate space in that facility and struggled more every year to keep up with the exponential growth of Hamilton County,” she says. The shelter, which serves as both Humane Society and county Animal Control, lacked several critical areas such as an arrival space for cats, a quarantine
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
13
“We ended up raising the $12 million we needed for construction by November 2019, the majority of which was from individual donors with the lead gifts coming from the Steven J. Cage Foundation,” says Stevens, who adds that the building is named the Steven J. Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center and it bears the photo of Steve Cage's black cat, Stanley on the front. Other key donors included the Samerian Foundation, a grant from the Hamilton County Commissioners, County Council, and Dr. Mark and Vanessa Roth.
no county funding or support for nonHamilton County animals and rely 100% on donations to the Survivor Program to fund those efforts, as well as all life-saving medical care for all animals. It should be noted that the truly “no kill” philosophy is defined as saving 100% of the animals in a facility’s care who are medically treatable or behaviorally rehabilitatable, irrespective of age, breed, special medical needs, or disabilities. However that does not mean that animals with untreatable or unmanageable conditions are allowed to suffer. It is rare for a shelter to reach a 90% placement rate and even rarer for a shelter such as Hamilton County’s, which is both Humane Society and Animal Control, to reach such a number. Which is why Stevens is especially proud that her shelter has consistently achieved a 98% or higher live placement rate since 2014. “We have an annual placement rate of 98%, which means 98% of the animals in our care are either adopted, go to another no-kill rescue for placement, or
they are lost pets we reunited with their owners. The remaining 2% are animals that are still with us on January 1st or there is a small percentage of animals we receive who end up passing away upon arrival from serious injuries, hit by car injuries, pre-natal kittens who succumb to illness, or a small number of animals are euthanized if they are suffering from an untreatable illness, or are deemed dangerous and unable to rehabilitate,” she says.
Another important donor for the new facility was Allen Wilkie, who is financially involved in several pet-related businesses, including Carmel’s Canine Cloud Nine. He wanted to help because
Capital Campaign Begins Finding the right location in a desirable and accessible location that could be zoned for their needs was the first obstacle. They found that spot, their current location at 10501 Hague Road, in the fall of 2018 when it went on the market. Once the land was secured and zoning was accomplished the Capital Campaign, “Building a Brighter Future for Hamilton County and Hoosier Animals” was launched. The goal was to raise the $12 million needed for construction, not including the land cost of $1 million.
Daisy
the shelter gave support to him and his wife for many years when they ran a rescue organization for Boxers. He says having your name associated with a not for profit is a win-win. “I think that you build a rapport and a reputation and you’re seen as helping those who need help and there’s a bit of a selfish reason there too. If people are seeing your name and products in a place where they are adopting their pet we believe they are more likely to buy more of your product and use more of your services as well. It’s not all altruistic, there’s some business promotional aspects involved with this too,” says Wilkie. Construction on the new facility began in April 2020 and they have been fully operational in their new home since March. The old facility in Noblesville was 8,000 square feet. The new one is 5 times that size at 40,000 square feet
14
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
vens at Hamiltonhumane75@gmail. com. There are other naming opportunities that exist as well for bricks and kennel plaques. Stevens says her organization’s work is necessary. “In addition to pet adoption, we offer a multitude of outreach programs that connect people with the healing power of pets such as our Pets Healing Vets Program, Youth Education K-12 curriculum, Scout Programs, Volunteer Program, an online Resource Center for animal behavior questions & training support, pet food pantry collaboration with Good Samaritan,
and we offer pet microchipping and pet crematory services to the public,” she says adding, “As the only animal welfare facility serving Hamilton County's residents and pets, I think our work is essential and we are considered "essential" by Hamilton County. We never stopped taking in animals during COVID, for example, and we are here to take in Hamilton County's animals 365 days a year.” HCBM To check out these and other adoptable animals, click now or visit www.hamiltonhumane.com/adopt
Waylon
and includes all the missing basic areas such as medical space to treat injured and sick animals. “Now, we are in a state-of-the-art facility that mitigates all of those challenges we have operated with for so long, and the additional space includes an Education Center for us to facilitate more community outreach programs, indoor exercise areas, and much more,” says Stevens, adding that they feel at home. “The city of Fishers has been wonderful to us. The community has been incredibly supportive and welcoming. We are thrilled to call Fishers our forever home.”
ENHANCE YOUR NEXT PROJECT WITH METALWORK BY A LOCAL ARTISAN
Future The capital campaign may have ended but the operational costs continue. The Humane Society for Hamilton County’s 2021 operating budget is $2.58 million, of which 20% is county and municipal contracts. The rest comes mostly from individual donations, which make up 88.5% of funding. There is still a major naming opportunity for the Canine Adoption Center. The organization is looking for $1 million for that naming right. Anyone interested can contact Rebecca Ste-
Smart Enterprises
GUY SMART, PROP. 317.200.0902 RAYGSMART30@GMAIL.COM Willa
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
15
Thank you to our Legacy Partners:
Upcoming EVENTS Event UPCOMING Young Professionals Coffee Roasters – October 6 & November 3
Enjoy your favorite morning beverage as we network with one another! October’s Spotlight: Discussion with Ryan Hiatt with Edwards Jones. November’s Spotlight is St. Vincent de Paul.
Coffee & Connect – October 13 & November 10
Connect with other women in business in Noblesville and the area. Stay for a few minutes or the entire time. A special thanks to STAR Financial Bank as our Annual Sponsor. Events are held at Smith House in Noblesville.
State of the Schools Luncheon – October 28
Join us at the NEW Noblesville School Community Center for the "State of the Schools" luncheon with Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer. Our local schools have been put to the test throughout the pandemic. Learn what is on the horizon for Noblesville public schools during this informative luncheon.
Small Business Saturday – November 27
The Holiday Season starts with Small Business Saturday. Support our downtown and local businesses with a busy weekend of holiday shopping, events, and activities. It’s a perfect kickoff to a festive holiday season.
Welcome to Our Newest Chamber Members 1st Class Auto Glass Inc
D & M Hauling, LLC
Musselman Landscape Solutions
AC Enterprises, LLC
DENTAL TI
Phase 1 Electric
A&D Hydra Clean, INC.
EastWest Construction
Professional Car Wash Systems
Ashlin Hadden Insurance
Indy Water Heater and Softener LLC
Quality Control Plumbing Heating & Air
Bj’s Painting LLC
Livery
RCR Contracting, LLC
Barla Golf Academy
Lucid Electronic Displays
Silvergold Resources LLC
Bridges of Hope
Mercedes-Benz of Indianapolis
Style-N Graphics Corp
The Bowen Center
MetroNet
Walker Professional Insurance *Indicates corporate partner
CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP BRINGS YOU
CONSULTING RESOURCES - The Chamber solves problems. Just ask. NETWORKING & RELATIONSHIPS - Leverage the collective power of a Chamber connection. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - Build your connection to Noblesville. ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY - Let us stand up for you.
Noblesville Chamber of Commerce | P.O. Box 2015 | Noblesville, IN 46061 | 317.773.0086 | noblesvillechamber.com 16
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
Upcoming Events OCTOBER
OneZone Business Expo Powered by FORUM Credit Union at Forum Events Center October 7, 2021, 4:30pm – 7:00pm Tickets available online or at the door DIG at Carmel Clay Library October 20, 2021, 8:00am – 9:00am Caffeinated Conversation at Flexware Innovation October 26, 2021, 8:00am – 9:00am OneZone Meet Up at Pinheads October 28, 2021, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
NOVEMBER
OneZone Luncheon Series: Fishers State of the City at FORUM Events Center November 3, 2021, 11:00am – 1:00pm
DECEMBER
OneZone Luncheon Series Carmel State of the City at Ritz Charles December 1, 2021, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Young Professional Meet Up with Mayor Fadness, Location TBD November 8, 2021, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
OneZone & YP Meet Up Industrious December 8, 2021 4:30pm – 6:30pm
OneZone Women’s Network Women’s Breakfast “Beating the Odds” with Dr. Stacy Atkinson at Conner Prairie November 10, 2021, 8:30am – 10:00am
Legislative Breakfast Series Conner Prairie December 10, 2021 8:00am – 9:00am
Young Professional Luncheon Series at Launch Fishers November 16, 2021, 11:30am – 1:00pm
Welcome All of Our New Members! Click on the New Member Company Names Below and Visit their OneZone Member Directory Contact Information. 1 Life 2 Live Health and Safety Training 3Oe Scientific ADP - Tanner Lambert Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter Amada Senior Care of Greater Indianapolis American Pain Consortium AMH GROUP / Insurance & Risk Management Axis Architecture + Interiors BASH Beth A. Forst Professional Artist Brooks Security LLC Canon Solutions America Compassus Hospice Cordoba Strategy Group Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse Dan Ferren Coaching LLC Dare 2 Design Dental TI Dream Store Media E Spot Spa Fast Park Airport Parking Fire Starter LLC FocusCFO FoxGardin Family Kitchen FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale
GadellNet Consulting Services Golden Heart Senior Care Grand Global Vacations H-7 Hive Nanny Agency Hollingsworth Roberts Means, LLC Indiana Property Rights Alliance Indianapolis Ballet INDUSTRY Insights Consulting Joy Fully Career Strategy & Confidence Coaching Laundry on the Way - Carmel Laundry on the Way - Fishers Laundry on the Way - Kokomo Law Offices of Gerald L. Cowan LGW Restoration Macy's Marathon Health Marathon Health @ Fishers Marathon Health @ The Olivia Modern Rejuvenation Center Nardco Heating and Air Needler's Fresh Market - Opening Soon Ovation Audio Video Pana Donuts
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. Principal Financial Group Quarles & Brady, LLP Resounding Joy Ritchey Reserve Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard RPM Technologies RPM Technologies - Carmel SEAM Group LLC Secure Plus Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. Sogility Springhetti Dentistry StretchLab Carmel The Den by FoxGardin The Memory Compass, LLC Thirsty For Travel Designs Tina Mangos Arts Qumulex, Inc. Valve+Meter Wharton & Power Insurance Wholestic Nutrition WSI Digital Marketing
Click Here Now and Visit the OneZone Member Directory
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
17
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Corey Sylvester
We had a great ride last week and can’t wait for next year! Thank you to everyone involved for making the first 4 Town Tour such a success. Watch for more events from your 4 Towns!
— ADVOCATE MEMBERS —
18
70 Byron Street, Cicero, IN 46034 • (317) 984-4079 • www.northernhamiltoncountychamber.com October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
Upcoming Events
City of Westfield & Westfield Chamber of Commerce
Barktoberfest
Saturday, October 9 Asa Bales Park | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Westfield in Lights
Saturday, December 4 Downtown Westfield
Vist westfieldwelcome.com to learn more!
40th Anniversary Luncheon
Thursday, November 18 The Bridgewater Club | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Westfield Community Awards
Thursday, December 16 The Bridgewater Club | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Vist westfield-chamber.org to learn more!
Hamilton County History
David Heighway
When Hamilton County Built an Army – the 1844 Militia merica has a long tradition of citizen soldiers organizing to protect the community without relying on a standing army. This goes back to Plymouth Plantation and the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord. It became official when the Militia Act of 1792 was passed by Congress. However, militia troops were generally regarded as poor soldiers—they were constantly defeated in Northwest Indian War of 1785-1795 until Anthony Wayne created the Legion of the United States. Despite this, they continued to be used. A militia group called the Indiana Rangers had a skirmish with Native Americans in 1813 in the area that would become Hamilton County.
were challenges and requests in the state legislature for changes to the law. There is not much information for this area until 1844 when notices began appearing in the local weekly paper, the Little Western. These started on January 20, and ran till March 2, saying that the Hamilton County militia is to be “organized under the present militia law” by order of the Colonel. The Hamilton County unit was the 65th Regiment of Indiana Militia, under the command of Colonel Francis B. Cogswell. Cogswell was an interesting choice for leader. He had been born in Canada in 1800, grew up and married there, and moved to Noblesville sometime around 1824. He ran a tannery on the site of the present County Judicial Center, which was the first industry in Noblesville. Cogswell also served in the legislature and introduced a bill to create the “Hamilton Guards” in February 1840. He was probably the prime mover of 1844 militia effort.
Civic Responsibility The first Indiana militia law was passed in 1818. An updated militia law was passed by the state legislature in 1831. It said that all white males between the ages of 18 and 45 were expected to join, and was organized geographically. This was called the “district militia.” Companies were based on townships, regiments were based on counties, and brigades were groups of counties. Hamilton county was in the 17th Brigade of the Sixth Division. There was also the “independent militia” which was for companies organized around a specialty such as cavalry or artillery. Companies were to have between 40 and 100 troops and were ordered to muster once a year in April. Participating in a militia muster was viewed as a civic responsibility, much 20
like jury duty. However, also like jury duty, it was regarded by some people as an imposition, and was avoided or ignored. There were many exemptions. Locally, the most notable were the pacifist Quakers in Westfield. By 1839, there
A mocking letter signed by “Phantom” appeared in the paper on January 27 accusing the Colonel of neglecting his duty before this time. This got a response from a local Quaker and from a member of the militia. They claimed the “Phantom” was a local doctor and was angry about being passed over for the position of Regimental Surgeon. Phantom answered by accusing the colonel of having others fight for him, but, in the end, the letter writer declared defeat and called himself “Phantom’s Ghost.” “Phantom” was jokingly nominated as captain for the Noblesville Township company on February 24.
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
The Muster An article in March about the militia was titled “Hoosier Blues”. It reported (in a somewhat hyperbolic style) that a meeting had been held to establish at least one company. The article then ended with a poem: Arouse ye! Arouse ye to action and glory, March young and old with your matchlock and brand, Come awake! that your names may long live in story, Oh haste ye, and join ye the brave Hoosier band. The muster was supposed to happen in April, but possibly didn’t as another call-up was made for May 25th. The organized units were listed in an article on June 1st. They were: • The Hamilton Light Horse Company commanded by Captain Carah W. Harrison. He was the minister of the Christian Church and had recently been elected Sheriff. They were officially organized on May 28. • The Independent Greys commanded by Captain William Garver. He was lawyer who had moved to town in 1841. He eventually became a judge and was an officer in the Civil War. They were officially organized on March 8. • The Fall Creek Township Company commanded by Captain Alexander. It’s not clear if David or Jacob Alexander was the leader. They were broth-
ers a year apart in age and were both farmers in Fall Creek Township. • The Wayne Township Company commanded by Captain Phillip Karr, a local farmer. • The Noblesville Township Company didn’t even manage to muster. They were nicknamed “The Square-Toes,”
Fourth of July parade, which may have been the full extent of their service. Nothing has been found about them after that, except for being mentioned in the Indiana Adjutant General’s report made in November of 1844. In the 1845 Adjutant General’s report, the state Quartermaster General said, “…companies spring up, organize, and call for arms. They parade a few times and then disband…” That was probably the case here.
Later militia activity was sporadic. The Indiana Legion was formed in 1861 in response to the opening of the Civil War. There were several compawhich was a reference for someone nies from Hamilton County. However, with out of fashion tastes. many people enlisted separately • Another Hamilton Country group when regular regiments started being was listed in the 1844 report of formed. The militia units were later the Indiana Adjutant General, and reformed as regular regiments and was called the used against Morgan’s Raid. In 1878, “Aberbeen Rifles.” the Hamilton Guards were organized, (This was possibut apparently did nothing. The bly a misprint for various state units were renamed the “Aberdeen Rifles.”) Indiana National Guard in 1895, and They were offithe national Militia Act of 1903 crecially organized on ated the present system. HCBM June 10, but they are mentioned nowhere else and may have never actually mustered. Hidden History of Hamilton County by These companies were organized to march in the
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine
David Heighway is available at local book stores and from the publisher, Arcadia Publishing. 21
BUSINESS RESOURCE
Anyone can shoot
DIR EC TORY
VIDEO
SIGNS AND BANNERS
We know how to tell your story. That’s the difference.
Logan St. Signs & Banners 1720 South 10th St. Noblesville, IN 317-773-7200 Open M-F 8-5
Let Video Ninjas help you to tell the story your current and future customers need to see on the web.
Call or e-mail today for your FREE Video Marketing Consultation
www.loganSt.signs.com www.noblesvilletrophies.com www.noblesville.com www.HamiltonCountyTV.com
Digitally printed signs and banners of any size, vehicle wraps and graphics, T-shirt printing, laser engraving. Great customer service, fast turnaround. Family Owned and Operated. Serving Noblesville and Hamilton County since 1992. Also home of Noblesville Trophies. 773-7391
www.thinkvaulter.com (317) 399-4575 email: digitalbiz@thinkvaulter.com
BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY Sharp Business Systems of Indiana
WHAT IF LEADS
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.
NEXT EDITION: DECEMBER/JANUARY
MAILS WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: OCTOBER 29
22
October • November 2021 • Hamilton County Business Magazine