Hamilton County Business Magazine Feb/Mar 2015

Focus:

Transportation

FEBRUARY • MARCH 2015

Hamilton County Hospitality

Plus…

• Model Trains in Carmel • Bookbinding • Grain Elevator: end of an era Fishers Innkeepers John and Karen Newton, Prairie Guest House

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February / March 2015

www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-774-7747 Editor/Publisher

Mike Corbett

mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Creative Director

Melanie Malone

imartist58@yahoo.com Correspondents Christine Bavender crbavender@gmail.com

Deb Buehler deb@thesweetestwords.com

Guests gather for breakfast at the Prairie Guest House

Stephanie Carlson Curtis steph@stephcurtis.com Jeff Curts jcurts@att.net

Features

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Rosalyn Demaree ros_demaree@hotmail.com Karen Kennedy Karen@karenkennedywriter.com

Prairie Guest House

17 Mr. Muffins Trains 20 Jeff Saxton, Bookbinder 22 Retail Roundabout 24 Dining Out: Peace Water Winery

Patricia Griffin Mangan manganpatricia69@gmail.com Shari Held sharih@comcast.net Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com

Columns 8

10

Management: Dr. Charles Waldo Ethics: Charles Geisting

26 Transportation: Rethinking SR37

12

Management: Jeff Bell

27 The Pitch-in

13

Technology: Robby Slaughter

28 Chamber Pages

34

History: David Heighway

CoNTRIBUTORs

Jeff Bell jeffbellmd@comcast.net Charles Giesting cjgiesting@gmail.com David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net Patricia Pickett pat@pickettandassociates.com Robby Slaughter rslaughter@accelawork.com Dr. Charles Waldo cnwaldo@comcast.net

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 Copyright 2015 Hamilton County Media Group.

All rights reserved.

Cover photo by Mark Lee, Great Exposures

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Letter from the Editor February • March 2015 I take it as a good sign that this edition marks the first time that we’ve featured the same business on the cover twice. Technically it’s not the same business, because the Prairie Guest House is a new name and it has a new owner, but it’s the same kind of business and in the same buildings as before. It’s satisfying to be able to document the evolution of a local small business over the years.

We first featured the Frederick Talbott Inn and then-owners Ed and Nancy Cohee back in August 2010. Ed and Nancy were a delightful retired couple living out the American dream of fixing up an old bed and breakfast while offering Hoosier hospitality to out of town guests. But it was the middle of the Great Recession and everyone was doing all they could to hang on. Travel dollars were scarce and I fear the timing wasn’t quite right for the Frederick Talbott. The inn closed and sat idle for a couple of years.

When the economy had recovered a bit another couple came on the scene and we feature them on the cover of this edition. In a kind of tribute to the last time we had them pose in the exact same spot as the Cohees. But the Newtons have a different story. They aren’t retired and their background is in the hospitality industry. They’ve been at this awhile and have re-renovated the old buildings.

Mike Corbett Editor and Publisher

Any regular reader of this magazine will recognize familiar aspects of these stories. They feature two of my passions: old buildings and ambitious local businesspeople. When you have both, I just can’t resist. The two couples are very different, yet they both exhibit the same entrepreneurial spirit that makes a great business story and a great business.

Bookbinding I am continually amazed by the variety of ways people make their living. Jeff Saxton, who also appears in this edition, learned about bookbinding some 40 years ago from his dad.

Who would have thought that in the 21st Century you could still make a living rebuilding the bindings of old books? Yet he is doing well, serving a niche that the family discovered years ago.

As Jeff tells the story, county record books are often in need of repair and Indiana county officials used to send them to binderies to be rebuilt. When one of the binderies burned with valuable record books in it, the legislature passed a law that said county records couldn’t be removed from the county courthouses anymore. Jeff’s family responded by starting a traveling bindery, where he will sometimes spend weeks at a county administration building, rebinding their records. Its classic American entrepreneurialism and the kind of story we love to tell here at HCBM. Jeff’s kids aren’t showing the same enthusiasm about the business as Jeff did, and county records are increasingly being digitized, so this may be the last generation of bookbinders in that family.

Its stories like these that make this nation great and make it such a pleasure to publish this magazine for you. We’re always on the lookout for interesting stories about local people carving their own niche in the Hamilton County business community. If you know of one, please dash off a quick email to me and we will consider running it in a future edition.

See you around the county,

Editor and Publisher mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com 317-774-7747 6

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Management

Dr. Charles Waldo, Ph.D.

Beware Suggestion Killers Don’t stifle the creativity of your employees My column in the December-January HCBM (“Is Your Workplace Problem Free?”) suggested several requirements for building a “Kaizen culture” in your organization – dramatically increasing the number of small, quality, implemented, problem-solving suggestions coming from frontline employees.

Just as there are proven ways of increasing the quality and quantity of problem-solving suggestions, there are other methods that can stem entirely the flow of suggestions. These “suggestion killers” mostly come from the supervisor and fellow employees.

These folks generally are not trying to be mean-spirited but it seems to be human nature to take a negative view of anything new, or they may adhere to the NIH (Not Invented Here) Syndrome.

8 Proven Suggestion Killers Continual training, coaching, and support can keep these types of suggestion killers out of the organization’s vocabulary: 1) “Your suggestion has never been tried before. It’s probably impossible.

Forget it.”

2) “I’m really busy right now. Let me get back to you.”

3) “I’ve got to send your suggestion on to the Suggestion Committee. You’ll hear from them if they’re interested.”

4) “I think your idea might have been tried before and didn’t work out. Forget it.”

5) “It’s too complicated. The other employees won’t understand it.”

6) “Let’s just wait and see what happens. Sometimes problems have a way of taking care of themselves. Forget it.”

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7) “You’re new here. Why don’t you hold off on this idea until you get more experience?”

8) And then there are non-verbal turnoffs such as a frown, drumming fingers while reading, taking a phone call while reading the suggestion, texting, a grunt, rolling of eyes, and so on.

Personality Plays a Role The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a well-known, proven tool for identifying certain personality preferences and types. MBTI shows that more than half of the general U.S. population identify as “Introverted” – quiet, thoughtful, perhaps shy, sometimes lacking self-confidence. But they are often quite smart and creative, such as artists, engineers, and scientists. For Introverts in front-line jobs it may take quite a bit of courage to offer up a problem-solving idea, even if they are inwardly confident it will work. If the supervisor uses a “suggestion killer” on an Introvert, that will probably be the last suggestion they will ever make. Their feelings are just too fragile to put themselves on the line again.

The supervisor’s role in developing a Kaizen culture is to try to find ways to say “Let’s do it” or “You are onto something, please develop it further” or other encouraging phrases; to be a coach and cheerleader; to try to foster the creative powers of their team. A few essentials: 1) Give the employee your undivided attention. If you are “up to your elbows in alligators,” quickly set up another meeting time….then stick to it.

2) Don’t pre- or early judge. Hear the suggestion out entirely.

3) Require that the employee write and/or sketch out the suggestion before discussing with the supervisor.

A “situation now” and “situation after change” is an easy formula.

4) Ask questions or point out shortcomings in a way that will show the employee you want the suggestion to make it.

5) If the suggestion is not feasible in its present form, encourage the employee to “go back to the drawing board” and tackle the problem from a different angle.

What about rewards?

This is a tricky question. By definition, Kaizen-type suggestions are small, and individually they usually won’t save much money. Sometimes the suggestion will relate to “soft problems” (such as employee health and safety issues) where a dollar and cents payoff might be impossible to determine yet it just makes sense to do the suggestion. And you don’t want employees competing with each other; you want them cooperating and collaborating with each other.

…it seems to be human nature to take a negative view of anything new…

One company I worked with which had a prolific Kaizen culture gave each supervisor a bundle of twenty $2 bills. Each time an employee offered a written suggestion to her supervisor, no matter how unrefined, she got a $2 bill on the spot and a verbal pat on the back. If two or three employees had combined to develop the sug-

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

gestion, each got a $2 bill. When the supervisor ran out of $2 bills, he just went back to the accounting department and got more, no questions asked. (Incidentally, this show of trust raised supervisors’ self-esteem and regard for the company enormously.)

If her suggestion was implemented (and many were not), she got a $10 bill, her suggestion was shared with her teammates, and it was then posted on a centrally located bulletin board for all to see and learn from. Then the challenge was to upgrade the suggestion and pay out more. Occasionally a suggestion “exploded” with much larger benefits than expected. The employee or team then would be given a larger reward. The company found that the more $2 bills given out, the more occasional big winners they got, which paid many times over for the small rewards.

At the end of each quarter the GM hosted a very nice lunch for all em-

ployees who had at least one Kaizen implemented that quarter. The employees themselves selected the “Best Kaizen for the quarter.” These were pretty impressive and fun affairs and illustrated how smart and creative front-liners can be if given the chance to have an impact on their workplace through training, encouragement, recognition, listening, and minds open to change.

Take “suggestion killers” out of your organization’s vocabulary. Get your front-liners involved and watch results improve. Kaizen is a winwin-win-win (employees-customerssuppliers-company) philosophy and practice that can work in organizations of all types and sizes…such as yours. HCBM

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Ethics

Charles Giesting

Good tax strategy or bad corporate behavior?

A look at the ethical issues of inversions I remember when the Baltimore Colts became the Indianapolis Colts and how that culminated in a midnight truck trip from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Upsetting as it was for fans in Baltimore, it was legal. And few in Indianapolis would have turned the truck around. In the 80s and 90s, According to a House Ways and Means had it been illegal for higher quality, less expensive Japanese automobiles report noted by the Washington Post to be sold in the US, would our own An inversion occurs when a US last August, in the last 30 years, 73 automakers been spurred to improve? company, typically a multinational companies have inverted, or ‘turned incorporated in the US, rethemselves up-side-down’ to reduce incorporates outside the US, usually tax burdens in the US. While this may Looking next at the utilitarian rule of ethics, or making a decision based to avoid paying the 35% US federal not seem like many, they represent on creating the greatest good for the corporate tax rate on revenue billions of dollars of lost US tax greatest number, things get a little generated outside the US. That is revenue. The tax is now collected by cloudy. Here you need to consider the highest tax rate of any advanced the new country where the inversion the stakeholders that benefit or are country and has not changed in at has been set up. Until 2007, the harmed by an inversion. While US least the last 35 years, while many most popular locations for inverted gets less tax revenue, the company other countries have actually reduced companies were the Cayman Islands lowers its overall costs and is more their tax rates. or Bermuda; however, most popular competitive in the world marketplace now is Ireland, with a corporate tax …your stance on this – increasing value to its shareholders; rate of just 12.5%, less than half the perhaps even ensuring its continued US rate. issue likely depends operations. There are more taxpayers on how you view the than shareholders, but is the benefit to Furthermore, it appears the rate of the taxpayers greater than the benefit inversions is increasing.

Since 2012, world…

15 companies have inverted, the latest to the shareholders? being Chiquita Brands and Medtronic, For revenue generated in the US, the Using the deontological rule of company still has to pay the 35% rate. together representing about $20 ethics, or what is duty, most would billion in total revenue. While the An inverted company’s headquarters say no companies should invert. can remain in the US, thus appearing first inversion occurred more than 30 Under this rule, companies would not years ago, 20% have happened in just that it is still incorporated here. the last two and half years! And, more invert since their main duty would be Typically, only one annual meeting to the everyday US citizen, you and companies are considering it. is required to be held in the reme! But, from the perspective of a incorporated location. company shareholder, the duty of the The Ethical Yardsticks company is to generate the maximum Starting with what I call the lowest The Fairness Argument profit; regardless of where it is Critics claim that these companies are bar of ethics, you need to ask incorporated – so go ahead and invert. yourself the question, is it legal? It not paying their fair share of taxes. is. And although many politicians, For the most part, these businesses Tax Policy were started in the US, took advantage including President Obama, have You can see how this issue gets said it is unpatriotic for a company to of the US business climate and complicated very quickly when you invert, no laws have been changed. infrastructure; then, after becoming Is it ethical for a US corporation to renounce its home country to reduce its taxes through a maneuver called an inversion? The short answer (written like a good lawyer) is, “It depends.” Inversion is a complicated issue and what you think of the practice likely depends on your view of the world.

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successful, reduced their tax liability by re-incorporating in a lower tax rate country. If the cost of re-incorporating is less than the expected tax liability of staying in the US, from a dollars and cents perspective it makes sense to invert.

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

consider the conflicting viewpoints of the many parties involved. That’s why your stance on this issue likely depends on how you view the world, your political position. This leads me to Congress, where many ethical issues end up on the agenda. Last November’s congressional elections were an opportunity for voters to affect the current tax laws through those who represent them. With a national debt of over $17 trillion, are you excited yet that our policies or laws on inversions could make a difference to the US taxpayer?

It’s time for our legislators to give corporations a reason to remain incorporated in the US through a change in US taxation that optimizes benefits for all parties. HCBM Charles Giesting is Senior Business Consultant with Integrity Leadership Partners, a business consulting and management services firm. Reach him at Charles.giesting@ilpartners.com

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

11

Entrepreneur

Jeff Bell

Use this Acronym to Grow in 2015 Become a S.M.A.R.T.A.S.S.: Focus on Business Basics and Fundamentals Business success is like winning in sports. Sales growth and profits are akin to winning records & playoff championships. With another NFL football season over a useful business exercise is to analyze how teams made the playoffs and to see what got them there.

What we “fans” see on game day are the teams that score the most points win.

First downs and getting to the red zone add up to field goals and touchdowns.

These teams always rank high in statistics like yards/rush and yards/pass.

But what makes a successful run play or pass play is being really good at the BASICS. Running, passing & catching, blocking & tackling. Being better, a little stronger and a step quicker on every play. That’s what sustains drives that end with points on the scoreboard.

The basics are what “coaches” watch for.

Not only on game day but during practices. Coaches drill their teams on basics & fundamentals. They use stopwatches, whistles, charts, X’s & O’s & films to observe & train players on fundamentals.

So what are the business basics that drive success? Sales growth and profits are our ultimate measurements as entrepreneurs, P&Ls with revenue & expense categories. But the fundamentals that drive these numbers, or KPI’s, are even more “basic”.

They’re daily tasks, activities & results that your people & business do that are the foundation to everything else. And as the ‘coach’ you need to monitor & train your employees, management & vendors on becoming ‘really good’ at them.

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Here’s my acronym for remembering what you should be doing. I call it being a S.M.A.R.T. A.S.S.. Let me explain by taking the 2nd part of the acronym first.

A = Advertising. Advertising generates people through your front door, calls to your office, website traffic & physical appointments. Basics to monitor are Cost Per Lead or response. If an ad costs $X, how may people respond, reply, call, walk-in or make an appointment because of that ad?

S = Selling. With the prospect, lead, or phone call, in your office or on your website, how many of them convert or buy? What did they buy, # of items/ services, dollar amount? Any upsells or upgrades offered and bought?

S = Servicing. Now that you have a new customer, client or patient you want them to stay with you, come back, buy again for as often and as long as possible, plus send you referrals. Tracking all this after the 1st sale is important.

Now here’s the front part of the acronym, the SMART part.

S = Systems. To consistently deliver your products or services you need to Systematize or create processes & procedures for as many tasks & activities as you can so they can be executed daily with maximum accuracy & as little effort as possible. You can’t wing it or reinvent the wheel everyday if you want growth and profitability. Focus on creating systems for stability.

M = Measurement. Track everything everyday. What gets measured gets

improved. Start simple. Pencil, paper & chicken scratches work. Track calls, foot traffic & ask why they called or walked in. Use codes & extensions for all your ads plus exit survey your web traffic whether they buy or not.

A = Analyze. Take all your measurements and dump them into spreadsheets. Graph them, you’ll be surprised what you discover. Determine why things go up, down or stay flat. Analysis will point to what’s working or not & what needs improving.

R = Response. Be response driven, which means asking for and tracking responses to everything you do or say to people, especially in your Advertising and Selling activities.

T = Test. If you say or ask ‘ABC’ when someone walks in or calls, how do they ‘respond’? Track it, then next time, day or week try saying or asking ‘XYZ’ and track that. Compare the two, see which gets the better response. Then repeat the process, forever.

Entrepreneurs are like coaches with no off season. We must continually keep our employees, vendors and business focused on results. Becoming a “SMART ASS” in a positive way helps everyone concentrating on business ‘basics’ which leads to growth, profits and winning seasons! HCBM

Jeff Bell is based in Noblesville and provides free marketing and business growth webinars for chamber members at www.IndianaChamberWebinars.com

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Technology

Robby Slaughter

How the Sharing Economy is Changing Us

Technology is only half the story These days, it seems every corner of the business community is talking about startups that upset traditional industries.

Many of these leverage the democratizing power of the Internet, where everyone has the power to participate in a conversation—or a transaction—regardless of geography or social class. Instead of a business operating out of local storefronts or monolithic warehouses, companies are now everywhere. And most interestingly of all, we carry brand messages along with us and voluntarily share them with our friends.

We’re starting to recognize that most people want what we want.

Increased efficiency Consider a few of the older examples of industries that have been irrevocably altered by the flattened playing field of the web. Classified ads, once an enormous source of relevance and revenue for newspapers, have been taken over by Craigslist, CareerBuilder, and Monster. com. Yard sales and antique malls now compete with groups on Facebook. Homebased crafters and artists sell via Etsy.

Video stores were made extinct by Netflix and Amazon. Travel agents struggle in the era of Expedia and Travelocity.

In these cases, technology makes connecting buyers and sellers more efficient.

To acquire the newest album from your favorite band, you don’t need to drive to a record store. You download music from wherever you are. But a new class of businesses does more than increase the convenience of spending money. Thanks to the so-called sharing economy, we’re now in the business of renting and borrowing directly from one another.

A little company called Airbnb has taken on the world of hotels, motels, and hostels by allowing people to list their own spaces online for temporary accommodation. You can offer a stranger a spare bedroom, an underused RV, or your entire home. Hamilton County boasts seventy-five lodging options on the website. Worldwide, Airbnb now fills more rooms nightly than the entire chain of Hilton hotels.

yesteryear might have certified everyday drivers and mass-produced window decals. What’s different now is really not the technology, but the trust. We’re starting to recognize that most people want what we want. We’re starting to realize that it doesn’t take much authority to confirm who can be trusted to give you a ride or stay in your home.

The most famous examples of the sharing economy may be the two giants of ridesharing: Lyft and Uber. Both services (which are widely available in much of our area) operate under a similar model.

Drivers sign up and make themselves available to give rides. Passengers download an app to their smartphone and request a pickup. The company facilitates payment through a credit card and takes a cut. It’s an elegant system for earning extra cash and for putting an otherwise idle vehicle to work.

We can only expect the sharing economy to grow. If Lyft and Uber work for transporting people, why not for local deliveries? What about extra room in your trunk for a long road trip, or an unused luggage slot for your next flight?

These are obvious extensions of a new way of thinking: that an individual’s excess resources can be a source of profit, but only if we have confidence in each other’s character. That may be the most important lesson from these world-changing startups. There’s money waiting to be made if we put aside our fears and collaborate. HCBM

Increased Trust What I find most fascinating, however, is that while Lyft and Uber seem like hightech startups that leverage the most advanced technology, they could have been invented decades ago. A business from

Robby Slaughter is a workflow and productivity expert. He is the author of four books, and a principal with AccelaWork, a speaking and consulting firm. More information at www.accelawork.com

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Karen Kennedy

Historic Hoosier Hospitality

Prairie Guest House

By Karen Kennedy

Mark Lee

If these old buildings could talk, they would certainly have some tales to tell. They have seen several owners and answered to different names before settling into their new role as the home of innkeepers John and Karen Newton. The houses had languished empty for over two years when the Newtons bought the property and began the process of lovingly cleaning and restoring it in the fall of 2012. It had previously been called the Frederick-Talbott Inn under owners Ed and Nancy Cohee from 2007 to 2010, and Sue Muller and Ann Irvine from 1992 to 2007. Before it was an inn, it was a horse farm and home to the Moorehouse family.

Now the nine spacious guest rooms in the farmhouse are sparkling

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Mark Lee

between. Although cars continue to travel the busy road at the end of the drive, you suddenly feel as though you have left the city entirely.

Mark Lee

Y

ou’ve probably zoomed by it many times as you travelled Allisonville Road in Fishers. But if you slow down and look directly across the street from the northernmost edge of Conner Prairie, you will see, surrounded by modern housing editions, a lovely, stately property that seems like a step back in time.

A winding driveway leads away from the road past a rolling meadow with a rugged, whitewashed barn.

The drive then curves around to two sage green Victorian houses facing each other across a small courtyard garden with a small studio nestled

Karen Kennedy

Photos by Mark Lee and Karen Kennedy

clean, freshly painted and filled with lush green plants. Each boasts an enormous private bath, and all of the rooms are filled with beautiful antiques. The elegant dining room in the main house, which features a fireplace and is home to the original L.S. Ayres boardroom table and chairs, bustles with activity as John and Karen serve a bountiful, homecooked breakfast to their guests every morning, while their feline innkeeper Fiona soaks up the morning rays in

What is just as important as the quality of professional services you utilize for your business?

Karen Kennedy

How they work together.

the adjoining, cozy sunroom. In the warmer months, John picks produce and fresh herbs for breakfast from the gardens just outside the dining room doors.

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Meeting Space The Newtons are not new to the hospitality industry. They have owned and operated the 40-bed Indy Hostel in Broad Ripple for over twelve years.

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“We felt that the time was right for a new project and the inn spoke to us,” said John. “It really needed some TLC, and we see so much potential here.”

As the Newtons look to the future, they are hoping to expand upon the current operations of simply being a stop for out-of-town visitors to become a resource for Hamilton County residents and business people.

8411 Fishers Centre Drive | Fishers, IN 46038 | 317-436-7488 | whitinger.com

“Our dining room is a perfect spot for business meetings of twenty or so people,” said John.

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February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

15

While those expanded operations might allow the Newtons to bring on more staff down the line, right now, they’re pretty much doing it all. They have one staff person who assists with housekeeping, but other than that, they are completely hands-on owners. In addition to cooking breakfast and meals for special events, John paints and handles repairs and maintenance and Karen oversees housekeeping and runs the on-site yoga studio. They share the responsibilities of gardening and handling reservations. They would love to fill the innkeeper’s quarters above the main dining room with someone who would do part-time work at the inn in exchange for free rent.

Feed the Whole Person The Prairie Yoga Studio is one of the many things that make Prairie Guest House unique. Karen has taught yoga

for over twelve years, and they have converted the small studio into a tranquil space in which yoga classes are offered to both inn guests and the public six times per week, (including a yoga class for kids on Tuesday afternoons) and private classes are available for groups as well.

“Our mission is to feed the whole person here-- body, mind and spirit,” said Karen. “I would like to bring on more teachers and really expand the yoga offerings. We want this place to be an oasis of tranquility for everyone who visits here, whether it’s for an hour, a night or a week. We want our guests to leave here feeling rejuvenated, revived and refreshed.”

When the warmer weather returns, the Newtons plan to offer more packages, such as a Symphony on the Prairie overnight package that will include concert tickets and a picnic meal complete with a blanket, served up in a red wagon to wheel across the street to Conner Prairie, as well as Stay and Play packages with local golf courses. They also have a partnership with the Summer Break Swim Club so that guests have access to a pool in season. In 2015, John plans to expand the gardens to bring even more of a farm-to-table experience to the meals he serves.

The Prairie Guest House is located at 13805 Allisonville Road in Fishers. The website is www.prairieguesthouse.com, and the yoga class schedule is available at www.prairieyogastudio.com. The phone number is 663-8728. Room rates start at around $100 per night. Inquiries for meetings, private parties and groups should be directed to events@prairieguesthouse.com. HCBM

Hamilton County’s three bed and breakfasts offer a locally owned alternative to chain hotel lodging. In addition to the Prairie Guest House, you will find: Sycamore Knoll

Mike Corbett

“And we would really like to do more private events, such as small weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, graduation and birthday parties and family reunions.

With leaves in the table, we can seat up to 24 people all at one table, which is rare. We are also planning a special Valentine’s dinner by reservation.

We would like to draw in our neighbors in Fishers and the surrounding communities.”

10777 Riverwood Ave., Noblesville 317-776-0570 www.sycamoreknoll.com

Mark Lee

Mark Lee

Old Towne Carmel Bed & Breakfast

Yoga Studio

16

521 First Ave. NW, Carmel 317-566-9696 www.carmelbandb.com February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Just One More Train Carmel’s Mr. Muffin’s Trains serves national clientele

By Jeff Curts Photos by Mark Lee “One more train, one more train, all I really need is just one more train.

People think it’s sad and it sounds pretty strange, but all I really need is just one more train.”

- Song by James Coffey

T

hose lyrics typify local hobbyist Steve Nelson, aka Mr. Muffin.

Nelson has spent a lifetime devoted to his favorite pastime… model trains and railroading. From his childhood days, he was fascinated by the constant movements, the engineering, and the back stories that each train represented.

About That Name Growing up in Indianapolis, Nelson began working at Ed Schock’s Toy & Hobby store in Broad Ripple Village on Indianapolis’ north side as a

teenager and his love of model cars, trains, and airplanes was born. He stayed there off/on throughout his college years and enjoyed the hobbies and customers so much that he has been engaged in discussing and collecting model kits and model railroading items ever since.

Nelson’s efforts in collecting, repairing, and admiring trains grew so much so that he leased warehouse space for Mr. Muffins Trains in a 1600 square foot industrial building in Carmel. Asked about the unique moniker, the affable Nelson recalls, “the Mr. Muffin name came about when I would tell stories about the Muffins, jokes and such…..then it evolved into a family nickname.

When I got on eBay in 2000 to sell my models and HO trains, my son

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Steve and Liz Nelson

was helping me set up my account and told me I couldn’t use my name, so I asked him what my user name should be and he said Mr. Muffin’s Trains. I used that ID in several hobby forums and away it went.”

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And lest one think that model train collecting is part of a bygone era, Nelson points out the hobby has experienced a rebirth in recent years with 2014 ranking as one of the industry’s best sales years. In fact, late night comedian and Indianapolis native David Letterman is a fellow collector, recently having purchased two train sets of “The Monon’s Thoroughbred”, a set designed to showcase a line that ran between Louisville and Chicago, servicing Indiana colleges along its route (Rensselaer (St. Joseph’s College), Lafayette (Purdue University),

Greencastle (DePauw University), and Bloomington (Indiana University).

Nelson says Mr. Muffin Trains does “ok” business wise, “some months better than others”, but one gets the impression that while the bottom line is important, there’s a bigger purpose in mind.

“Trains to kids today are similar to dinosaurs to kids from a prior generation,” he points out. “It’s an active hobby and appeals to a modern generation that likes to see things happen quickly. Parents and grandparents introduced their children and grandchildren to it, and the internet certainly has helped provide background information. It’s hands-on and teaches problem-solving skills at the same time.”

Expanded Space As Nelson’s passion and commitment to sharing his hobby increased, so did the need for additional space.

In November 2013, he relocated to a new location at 146 W. Carmel Drive.

Situated just off the Monon Trail, the building contains nearly 5400 square feet of space. Inside, a small reception area serves as the storefront for Mr. Muffins Trains. There, Nelson maintains a limited retail presence where he sells and occasionally, repairs trains. The bulk of his business though, approximately 80 percent, comes from a robust online store. He’s an authorized dealer of MTH, Atlas and Lionel trains. Holiday sales equate to roughly half of his annual revenue.

18

While the front space serves as a tease, visitors that venture into the warehouse are greeted by a combination of sights and sounds that stimulate the imagination. Valued at half a million dollars, Nelson proudly escorts visitors and guests around his playhouse with trains galore stationed on the walls and an “island style” layout occupying the rest of the space. The island style layout, coined as such because it allows one to walk all the way around the tracks, contains a long wall at the north end.

David Letterman is a fellow collector, recently having purchased two train sets of “The Monon’s Thoroughbred” He regularly welcomes a core of visitors, sometimes numbering between 200-300, on Saturdays when the warehouse is open to the public and the trains run in all their glory.

As much a part of the story is the

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine December • January

Butler University.

He also teaches Operations Management and Systems and Strategic Business Leadership in the MBA program. His career has included assignments at, among others,

as the CIO at HH Gregg; Division President of Ohio Bell Communications; Vice President of Marketing for Ameritech Information Systems; Vice President and General Manager of GTE’s Information Business’ unit.

Even with those impressive accomplishments on his resume, the gleam in his eyes is evident when he tells you…. he “just needs one more train.” HCBM

vivid scenery, which is meticulously planned out by Nelson and his wife Liz, affectionately referred to as “Mrs. Muffin.” She actively participates in the business, often designing many of the layout scenes that accompany the trains.

Business Background Both also share a soft spot for community outreach, encouraging and inviting special needs students and school groups to the shop. The Nelsons have a vision in 2015 to use Mr. Muffins as a pilot program to teach life skills to disadvantaged children.

“If we could launch an initiative to work with perhaps 5-10 special needs kids, have them help in the shop, process our e-commerce orders, that would be a dream,” says Nelson softly but emphatically.

With a large, dominating, but gentle presence, Nelson describes himself as a businessman first, collector second. He has an extensive business background and is a member of the faculty of the College of Business at February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

19

One for the Books Noblesville bookbinder restores old volumes by hand

By Rosalyn Demaree Photos by Mark Lee

I

t’s not what Jeff Saxton does that’s uncommon. It’s how the master bookbinder does it.

Saxton restores treasured volumes by hand.

When he receives a job, whether it’s a Bible, a cookbook or a novel, “book” is almost a misnomer.

Chunks of leather covers often are missing, titles all but vanished from decades of being touched. Spines hang by threads and text blocks – sections of pages once sewn together – are unattached. Bindings are brittle and broken. Decorative end papers are faded; pages are torn.

When Saxton returns a book, it’s as if it ran through the fountain of youth.

Covers are whole, hand-dyed to their original color and practically unblemished. Titles glisten. Pages lie flat, amazingly whole without tape to heal tears. Bindings are strong and end papers are replaced with handmade papers.

20

Saxton says he’s never been given a book he couldn’t restore. The oldest one was a German atlas dated 1517.

“Jeff is one of the best bookbinders I know,” said Bruce Kolb of Fishers, who owns around 200 rare books, most about Lincoln or the Civil War. ”I have him do all the work on my books.”

Kolb’s most recent job for Saxton was a Bible copyrighted 1799. To the collector, this particular edition is priceless.

It is one of only three in the United States, Kolb said. The other two are museum pieces. Nancy Hanks Lincoln read them to her children, Sarah and the future president, Abraham.

“My stepfather told me (bookbinding) is what I was going to do for a living,” he said, adding that he started learning when he was 13 at the binding factory in Marion his stepfather and grandfather owned.

His first job was “watch and hold this while I glue it. I hated it.”

Saxton served 10 years in the Air Force working on fighter plane ejection seats before surrendering to his stepfather’s dictate and changing his attitude about bookbinding. An apprentice for 15 years, he earned the master bookbinder distinction after 25 years of gluing, sewing, repairing, and stamping.

A handed-down art

“My biggest joy is the reaction I get when people get their books back,” he said. There are smiles and elated gasps, sometimes tears, always appreciation.

Saxton thoroughly enjoys bookbinding but his career wasn’t an immediate bestseller. When he’s talking about books, he frowns only when recalling the early days.

The hardest part in the multi-step process is restoring covers, which often have been nicked, split, torn or worn through the ages. The te-

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Jeff Saxton

dious part is waiting while glue dries.

He uses three coats – two that keep pages soft and flexible enough to open and a stiffer coat to ensure pages open flat without being flimsy. Drying each coat takes 2-4 hours.

The master bookbinder is also a reader, finishing 4-5 books every week (ironically, on his Kindle), and he sometimes has to stop himself from

reading the books he’s restoring so he won’t get distracted. He can’t help but get distracted, though, with some of the things he finds tucked between pages. He’s discovered yellowed newspaper clippings, obituaries and marriage certificates, browned flowers, old stamps and death photos.

“As a quilter, I like to keep things as original as possible and do the best work I can do. Jeff is the same way with bookbinding,” she said. “I just don’t think anyone would ever regret taking a book to him to have it rebound.

If anyone can fix it, Jeff can.” HCBM

Simple, old tools Saxton’s home-based Noblesville workshop contains tools that are simple, such as the 10-inch needles he uses to sew pages together. And they’re old.

Many were bought in antique shops.

When end papers have to be separated from covers, he uses a bone folder -not something you’d find at even the best-stocked hardware store. It resembles a tongue depressor and is made from a cow’s rib.

Before

Just like his tools, “you can’t find a bookbinder on every corner,” said Suellen Fletcher of Noblesville, who had Saxton restore two copies of “The American Woman’s Cookbook.” One was a 1945 wedding gift from her grandmother to her mother. The other was a wedding gift to Fletcher from her mother.

Before Saxton restored the older edition, it was bound with duct tape.

Fletcher had it restored to preserve memories for her father.

After

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

21

Roundabout

A Summary of Recent Retail Activity

By Samantha Hyde

Northern Hamilton County Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish at 410 S. Pearl Street North in Cicero is undergoing a remodel and expansion. A new retail center is being built at 3888 W SR 47 on Sheridan’s southwest side. Ricker’s will be building a convenience store on the site of the old Reynold’s Farm Equipment location at SR 38 and SR47.

The new Midtown Plan includes the demolition of several buildings along Range Line Road and the relocation of multiple businesses, including Miller Auto Care at 434 S. Range Line Road.

IronFit Boxing opened in October at the Monon Square Shopping Center at 620 S. Range Line Road. The Music Playhouse Carmel Studio also moved into Monon Square in Novem-

Carmel

Operations at Firestone Building Products and Firestone Industrial Products will be moving to Bridgestone America’s new Nashville, TN headquarters in 2017. Pit Pro Custom Carts has opened at 9850 N. Michigan Road. Deviate Brewing is opening its doors this summer at 4004 W. 96th Street.

Phoenix-based Children’s Learning Adventure plans to build an $8M facility on 3.3 acres at 116th Street and College Avenue. A second location in Fishers is also planned (see below). Baume Psychological Services is seeing clients at 12337 Hancock Street just north of City Center Drive.

Fishers is quickly filling with tenants.

In March, Memory Ventures is moving from California to lease space, as is the first member of Launch Fishers, Bluebridge. Other new tenants at 11787 Lantern Road include Novia Clinic and Scandigital. Blue Pepperment Boutique has expanded from its presence at Flirt Salon to a new independent location at 8936 South Street.

Wings Etc. Grill and Pub is moving into the former E Miracle Dining location at 11003 Allisonville Road.

ber. In January, Citizens State Bank opened a new office at 903 S. Range Line Road.

My Toy Garden at 301 E. Carmel Drive closed in November. The space reopened in January as the home of new business Painting with a Twist.

In December, AutoMatcher opened its new national headquarters at 600 E. Carmel Drive.

Goldfish Swim School is expanding from its first location in Carmel to a second location on Geist Pavilion Drive.

Boom Bozz Pizza and Tap House is planning a new location at Exit Five Shoppes at 9887 E. 116th Street. Plans The Carmel Arts and Design District is Clay Terrace shopping center is seeing are underway for the construction of several changes in 2015. Paradise saying goodbye to the Simply Sweet two new buildings for a Roto-Rooter Shoppe, which downsized earlier this Bakery & Café is closing and the Service Center at 12034 Exit Five space will be taken over by Dallasyear to share space with Tina’s TraParkway. Mustard Seed is remodelditional Old English Kitchen. Tina’s based Corner Bakery Café. This will ing 12,000 SF for warehouse space at be the first Indiana location for this will expand to fill the entire space at 10080 E. 121st Street. Fishers Church national chain. Clay Terrace retailers 30 N. Range Line Road. Marketing of Christ at 10082 E. 126th Street is Aeropostale, Delia’s and The Chilgroup Fat Atom has outgrown its dren’s Place are also closing in early undergoing a major expansion. location in the District and will move 2015. Carmel Seventh-Day Advento a larger location nearby at 141 N. tist Church at 146th Street and Carey Range Line Road.

Road is opening a new faith-based school for Grades 1-8.

Eye on Art Gallery at 150 W. Main Street closed at the end of DecemFishers ber. Vitality Bowls is opening the Kittles Furniture has rebranded its first week of February in the former Huddles location on Main St., serving clearance center at 96th Street and low fat/low calorie bowls and smooth- I-69 as Below Market. ies. California Closets is opening on the corner of Main and Range Line in The second floor of the new Meyer Najem headquarters in downtown Wes Whisler the former Carmel Couture space.

22

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

The former Strike Zone is being rebranded as the Wes Whisler Academy at the Strike Zone. Whisler was Indiana’s Mr. Baseball his senior year at Noblesville and played for the White Sox and the Marlins in the Major Leagues before returning to Hamilton County.

Lutz’s Steak House at 3100 Westfield Road closed on New Year’s Eve after 31 years in business but will reportedly open under new ownership. A new Dairy Queen Grill & Chill is going up just east of Lutz’s at 5625 Pebble Village Lane.

Midwest Eye Consultants has consolidated three locations and is now operating out of its new facility at 535 Sheridan Road on Noblesville’s west side. Riverview Medical Group has welcomed Dr. Romana Malik, who is seeing patients at Noblesville Diabetes & Endocrinology and Internal Medicine at 395 Westfield Road.

Restaurant franchise support company, Ultra Steak, Inc., is relocating from Anderson to the former headquarters of Meyer Najem at 13099 Parkside Drive. A state-of-the-art Children’s Learning Adventure facility is slated for construction at the Fishers Marketplace north of 131st Street at SR 37. Asian restaurant Shanghai Express is coming to Fishers Marketplace at 13284 Market Square. A new Taco Bell is slated for construction at 135th Street and SR 37. In December, Beauvoir Aesthetics held its grand opening at 9247 E. 141st Street.

Westfield

Noblesville

The Kroger at 150 W. 161st Street is gearing up for a major remodel and

Fitness center Rally.Rock.Ride. opened in October at 14660 Herriman Boulevard. Pro-Gard Products has plans to move from Fishers’ Crosspoint Business Park to the Noblesville Business Park at 9650 E. 148th Street. The Riverview Medical Arts building a 14540 Prairie Lakes Boulevard is welcoming Riverview WorkMed to a suite on the first floor.

Weaver Popcorn Co. is moving its headquarters at 14470 Bergen Boulevard to the new AllPoints at Anson development in Boone County near Whitestown.

the addition of over 15,000 SF of retail space.

Bang Fitness closed its center at 2480 E. 146th Street in November with plans to reopen at a new location in Carmel in February. Pet supply store Pet People is moving into a portion of the building. Indiana’s first

Orangetheory Fitness has come to Westfield at 2438 E. 146th Street. The former T.G.I. Fridays restaurant at Village Park Plaza will be demolished this year with plans to construct a new Huntington Bank branch on the site. HCBM

Serving Hamilton County and supporting our community since 1880

C hurch C hurch H ittle & A ntrim

Beauty retailer Cosmo Prof is opening a new location at 17160 Dragonfly Drive on the west side of SR 37 just south of Pleasant Street. The new

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

PRACTICE AREAS

Courtyard by Marriott at 17863 Foundation Drive opened its doors to guests on December 15. Carolyn’s Consignments has moved two doors down from its 2340 Conner Street location to a new space at 2350 Conner Street. Goodwill is moving across SR 37 to the former Office Depot location

Personal Injury Business Law Estate Planning & Probate Domestic Relations Criminal Defense

Real Estate Law Banking & Finance Law School Law Local Government Law Litigation/Eminent Domain

317.773.2190

Offices in Noblesville, Fishers, Tipton & Merrillville

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

www.cchalaw.com 23

Dining Out

Where the Spirit Moves You

Peace Water Winery features philanthropy and family

By Chris Bavender, Photos by Mark Lee

Stroll Carmel’s Main Street in the Arts & Design District and a winery might be the last thing you’d expect to find. But venture inside Peace Water Winery and you’ll find a little sip of Napa Valley heaven.

Peace Water Winery, located at 37 W Main St. in Carmel, opened Sept. 19. While you’ll find a cozy interior, replete with a centrally staged tasting area, fireplace and comfortable seating, a unique aspect not visible is the business model. Fifty percent of the profits from tastings ($10 for five pours) and bottle sales (ranging in price from $19 to $32) go to charity.

Owner Scott Burton said the inspiration came from his wife, Laura, and eight children (one girl and seven boys) – Henley, Carson, Tripp, Whit, Riley, Jordan, Adam, and Wilson - who range in age from 12 to 26.

24

“Our family is large but our vision is larger,” Burton said.

“We truly believe the smallest act of kindness has a ripple effect that can help change the world. It can all start here.”

Charity on the Menu It started rather simply. One day in line at Starbucks, Laura – as she often did – paid for the drink of the car behind theirs. Burton said the smiles on the faces of their children as they watched the “joyous reaction” stuck with him.

“That’s when I realized I needed to do something more,” he said. “If the simple act of buying a stranger a cup of coffee can make someone’s day, what can happen if we really set our minds to making a difference?”

Burton, who has worked as an attorney, also owned – and later sold commercial properties, including The Fieldhouse in Fishers, after he began to “dabble” in wine. The inspiration from Laura and his children led to the idea of a winery that would give back.

Each of the kids picked a favorite charity they wanted to support.

The charities are featured on the Giving Wall and include: • Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

• The IU Dance Marathon • The Soup Kitchen at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral • Equus Foundation • The Jesse G. (Lebu) Library Project in Ethiopia • Love on a Leash • Charity: Water • Art with a Heart Each time a bottle is purchased; the buyer receives a peace sign token (the international sign of thinking of others and caring, Burton said) to put it in the basket affiliated with the charity they wish to support. All tips are also donated to charity.

“One bottle does a world of good,” Burton said.

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Advertise in the Carmel City Map and give you a fun, informal feeling the second you walk in the door.”

The Burtons love the Napa (CA) area and found a “great” winemaker there – Brian Brakesman - to work with on Peace Water’s wines. The 10 current offerings include: • Two Cabernet Sauvignons – Nirvana and Passion • A Rose Wine – Inspire • A Pinot Noir – Sublime • A Red Table Wine – Grateful Red • A White Table Wine – Wishful White • An Oaked Chardonnay – Soulful • An Unoaked Chardonnay – Radiant • A Sauvignon Blanc – Bliss • A Zinfandel – Zen Fun and Informal “The label design, a ‘splashing peace sign’ surrounded by small ripples getting larger as they spread outward, is meant to reflect the whole idea of the brand, i.e., that small ideas/acts can have a big impact and spread farther than you can imagine,” Burton said. “It reflects what we wanted to do - create something that would have an impact and maybe a little ripple effect.”

The mellow setting of the 1,900 square foot winery design is the key element of the entire concept, Burton said, and is meant to “relax people

The curved tastings counter is situated in the middle of the room, with a modern fireplace and comfortable seating in the back. Additional seating can be found on the left side of the winery, while the Giving Wall, bottles of wine, and eclectic décor graces the right side of the space.

“It was designed in large part by one of my sons, Jordie (who is the store manager and can often be found manning the tastings counter), with my wife’s unique eclectic decorating touch,” Burton said. “Anyone who has been to our house knows we are very comfortable and we wanted the same sort of concept to apply here. Based on the reaction of people walking in the door I think we got that right.”

In addition to tastings and bottle sales, Peace Water Winery offers a wine club – the Peace Posse. Perks include wine delivery within a 15mile radius of the winery, first access to all new releases and commemorative bottlings, a 10% discount on all in-store purchases, and the option to have every penny of that discount given to a charity near and dear to your heart.

For now, Carmel is the only place you can buy Peace Water Wines, but Burton said he wouldn’t mind a second tasting room - someday - on Mass Ave. in Indianapolis.

And maybe even a local restaurant or two featuring the wines. HCBM Peace Water Winery 37 W. Main St. Carmel, IN 46032 317.810.1330 www.peacewaterwinery.com

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

City of

Carmel

The map includes a full index of streets

and subdivisions, detailed maps of the Arts & Design District and Carmel City Center, a county map on the reverse and advertising space for local businesses.

“We continue to get requests for maps of the city from many, including residents, visitors, businesses, teachers, REALTORS and families relocating or trying to make that determination.”

–Nancy Heck, Carmel Director of Community Relations & Economic Development

Will be published this winter.

Affordable rates.

Ad design included.

Call today for rates and specs:

774-7747

Or email mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Published by

25

Focus: Transportation

Improving the 37 Corridor

County is floating ideas, seeking input

By Mike Corbett If you’ve driven State Route 37 through Noblesville and Fishers, especially at rush hour, it’s clear something has to change.

At peak traffic, those 5 miles from State Route 32 to 126th St. can be a frustrat-

ties for improving traffic flow may not match the priorities of local governments and businesses. In fact, the idea has been floated of a consortium of municipal and county government taking over the project from the state. “It’s clear something is going to happen with this road,” says Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, “We just want to be prepared when it happens.”

as being friendly to local retail, reducing noise, and improving connectivity and air quality. The interchanges are also designed to maintain site lines across the highway so businesses can stay visible instead of disappearing behind tall bridges and approaches.

Businesses are concerned about the impact construction will have on sales.

Gail Von Holten owns 3 local Perkins restaurants, including one on Noble Creek Drive, adjacent to 37 in Noblesville. She’s been through this before. Her Castleton restaurant is just off the Allisonville Road bridge over I-465, which was rebuilt several years ago. Customer counts declined and she had to find ways to make up for the revenue loss. “The bills still come… mortgage, utilities,” she says, “so you need people to come in.” She would like to see

Business Impact The success of Keystone Parkway is clearly driving the Rendering of proposed 126th St. intersection looking northwest thinking on the fuing and time-consuming excursion. More ture of SR 37. Keystone was similar to SR than 100,000 commuters use the road dai- 37 before it was improved: traffic signals ly. Planners predict no fewer than eight of every half mile or so, the intersections will “fail” or “nearly fail” causing frustrating by 2019 unless the road is improved. traffic backups and slow speeds during But, what should an improved road look rush hour. Carmel like? What is the best way to accomtook over the project modate traffic that is bound to increase from the state and further, while also protecting the interests built a series of inof businesses located along the roadway, novative roundabout both during and after construction? overpasses on an accelerated schedule.

With those questions in mind, the HamAlthough some busiilton County Commissioners have been nesses closed during convening informational meetings with and after construcRendering of proposed 146th St. intersection looking northwest public officials, businesses and residents. tion, the road is They’re concerned that the state’s priorigenerally considered a success, and traffic some local tax relief during the construction period, and she hopes the city will is certainly running relax signage rules for businesses affected smoother. by the construction.

The county has The price of improving the five miles beengaged local tween 126th St. and SR32 is estimated at engineering firms nearly a quarter Billion dollars. For now to generate design ideas, which resem- people are just talking but as traffic gets ble the interchanges heavier and delays get longer, motorists will start demanding that something be on Keystone. The done. Hamilton County wants to be ready designers tout the when that time comes. HCBM proposed changes Rendering of proposed Greenfield Avenue intersection looking southeast

26

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Pitch-In Notes from all over the county Casandra Nelson joined Campbell Kyle Proffitt as associate attorney. CKP Casandra Anita G. Nelson Hawarth. RP® Paralegal Anita G. Haworth, RP® earned the designation Certified E-Discovery Specialist.

Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. reported that tourist spending in the county exceeded $100 million last year, a 42 percent increase from 2013.

Kevin Hipskind was promoted to Market President for Central and Kevin Teresa Northeast Shaffer Jessica Billingsley, attorney with Church, Hipskind Indiana and Church, Hittle & Antrim, Marnie Cooke, Teresa Shaffer was hired as Marketing Director of Marketing and CommunicaDirector for Fifth Third Bank. tions at Noblesville Schools, and Matt Yates, architect at krM Architecture Chris Miller is the new Digital Storefront joined the board of Directors of NoblesApplication Developer for UN Communiville Main St. cations.

American Structurepoint is donating services to Janus Development Center in an effort to help the non-profit use its space more efficiently and prepare for future growth.

The Carmel-based Q Public Relations and Marketing expanded to become a full-service agency.

Meals on Wheels volunteers got a break from using their own cars as Tom Wood Subaru provided new cars and gas to deliver Meals on Wheels to 69 clients as part of its national Share the Love program.

The City of Westfield received a $7 million Federal grant to build a bridge over Elaine Mancini, Ph.D. SR32 as part of its Monon Trail expansion. was appointed as the first Executive Director of Carmel’s Museum of Miniature Houses.

Elaine Mancini, Ph.D.

The former Barn of Terror Andrea Moore

John Reed

Navi Simgh

Andrea Moore joined Centier Bank as Branch Manager of the Carmel Banking Center, John Reed as Senior Credit Analyst and Navi Singh as Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Market Manager.

The Gordon family, which operates a campus of companies on Hague Road in Noblesville, purchased an adjacent property with a building long known as the Barn of Terror around Halloween, has cleaned up the property and is the process of planning a 55 and over housing community. HCBM

December • January 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

27

Business News February & March Events

New Members

February 2015 February 4: Arrows YP Lunch & Learn | Eddie Merlot’s | 12 to 1:30 p.m.

February 5: All-County Network Breakfast | The Bridgewater Club | 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

February 11: February Luncheon | Ritz Charles | 12 to 1:30 p.m.

February 13: Legislative Breakfast | The Mansion at Oak Hill | 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

February 18: Arrows YP After Hours Network | Matt the Miller’s | 5 to 7 p.m.

February 25: Business After Hours | Moore Restoration | 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

March 2015 March 11: March 13: March 19:

March Luncheon | The Mansion at Oak Hill | 12 to 1:30 p.m.

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

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

Reservations are required for all events. Register online or call 317.846.1049.

Information subject to change. Visit carmelchamber.com for details.

Ribbon Cuttings

Indiana Vein Specialists 10485 Commerce Dr.

Jonathan Byrd’s

Comprehensive Retirement Solutions Fully Armored Family Health and Fitness The Grounds Guys of Carmel Gutter Shutter Company HTL Yoga Mathnasium of Carmel Pacers Sports & Entertainment Painting with a Twist Paychex Payroll Services Social Order Inc. Syntex Technologies LLC Interested in becoming a member?

Visit carmelchamber.com or call 846.1049.

Legislative Breakfast Series Through April Mansion at Oak Hill 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Discuss issues that impact business with our legislators.

February 13, 2015 March 13, 2015 April 10, 2015

Park Lane Apartments 221 E. Main St.

Legislative Breakfast Series sponsored by:

About Carmel Chamber • • • •

Case Design/ Remodeling

•

99 E. Carmel Dr.

•

Advocates on behalf of business.

Collaborates to maximize impact.

Communicates issues and positions.

Grows the voice of business through membership.

Serves 750 members.

Represents diversity of business from corporate headquarters to sole proprietorships.

carmelchamber.com  317.846.1049  21 S. Range Line Rd., #300A  Carmel, IN 46032 28

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

UPCOMING EVENTS

RIBBON CUTTINGS

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Bridgewater Club 3535 East 161st Street Carmel, IN 46033 $15 Members, $20 Guest

FORUM Conference Center 11313 USA Parkway $5

5th – Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

All County Networking Breakfast

13th - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Legislative Breakfast

The Mansion at Oak Hill 5801 E. 116th Street Carmel, IN 46032 $15 Members, $20 Guests

18th - Wednesday 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Navigating the Chamber Fishers Chamber Offices Informational session for New members and current or New contacts (no fee: please RSVP)

18th - Wednesday 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Monthly Luncheon ‘State of the City’ FORUM Conference Center 11313 USA Parkway $20 Members, $25 Guests Reservations Required

5th – Thursday 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Health, Wellness, Fitness Fair

11th - Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Monthly Luncheon Program TBD The Mansion at Oak Hill 5801 E. 116th Street Carmel, IN 46032 $15 members, $20 Guests

The Mansion at Oak Hill 5801 E. 116th Street Carmel, IN 46032 $15 Members, $20 Guests

19th - Thursday 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

Business after Hours

11991 Fishers Crossing Drive Fishers, IN 46038

Athletico Physical Therapy

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Indiana Realty

11780 Olio Rd, Ste 100 Fishers, IN 46037

8402 E. 116th Street Fishers, IN 46038

Location TBD No fee

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Bubba’s 33

Meadow Brook Senior Living

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

The Flats at Fishers Marketplace

9770 North by NE Blvd.

Fishers, IN 46037

Moore Restoration 15325 Herriman Blvd.

Noblesville, IN 46060 No fee

AIG Financial Network American Bank Beauvoir Aesthetics Carpenter Realtors – Susie Edwards Estridge Homes Goldfish Swim School Hoosier Benefit Plans

Ameriana Bank

12955 N. Old Meridian, Suite 104 Carmel, IN 46032

13th – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Legislative Breakfast

25th - Wednesday 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Business after Hours

FRESH FACES

A Cut Above Catering

Nameless Catering Poseidon Experience Redemption Alewerks Salon Lofts TOPHAT LTD University Moving & Storage Waddell & Reed

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

9403 Ambleside Drive Fishers, IN 46038

11011 Village Square Lane Fishers, IN 46038

9588 Ambleside Drive Fishers, IN 46038

29

www.hamiltonnorthchamber.comOCTOB

HAMILTON NORTH

Upcoming Events & HAPPENINGS Taste of the Holidays

UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY 2015

February 5 7:30 am All-County Networking Breakfast Bridgewater Club

November luncheon

30

Red Bridge Park

February 13 7:30 am Legislative Breakfast The Mansion at Oak Hill Rhett Cecil was the speaker for the November luncheon

Hamilton North Chamber 70 N. Byron St. Cicero, IN 46034 317-984-4079

February 10 11:30 am HNCC Luncheon

MARCH 2015 DeLullo’s Trattoria catered the November luncheon

December luncheon The Indiana Academy Gracenotes Bell Choir performed at the Holiday Luncheon.

Catered by Alexander’s Catering

March 10 11:30 am HNCC Luncheon Red Bridge Park March 13 7:30 am Legislative Breakfast The Mansion at Oak Hill

NEW MEMBERS Advocare

Alisia Turner/Liz VanDyke

Indiana Adventist Book Center Muriel Wilson

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Upcoming Events & HAPPENINGS Ribbon Cuttings

All County Networking

Noblesville High School 18111 Cumberland Road Noblesville, IN 46060 317-773-4680 www.noblesvilleschools.org

The Bridgewater Club

13th – Friday– 7:30 am to 9:00 am

LEGISLATIVE SERIES BREAKFAST

The Mansion at Oak Hill, 5801 E. 116th St., Carmel, IN 25th – Wednesday– 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

MEMBER LUNCHEON TBA

25th – Wednesday – 4:30- 6:30pm

Business After Hours

Moore Restoration, 15325 Herriman Blvd., Noblesville

MARCH 2015

3rd – Tuesday – 4:00 – 7:00pm

Courtyard by Marriott 17863 Foundation Drive Noblesville, IN 46060 (317) 770-7800 www.marriott.com/hotels/ travel/indin-courtyard-indianapolisnoblesville

Taste of Business

4H Fairgrounds

Midwest Eye Consultants 525 Sheridan Road, Noblesville, IN 46060 (317) 776-0036 midwesteyeconsultants.com

13th – Friday – 7:30 – 9:00am

Legislative Series Breakfast

The Mansion at Oak Hill, 5801 E. 116th St., Carmel, IN 25th – Wednesday – 11:30 – 1:00pm

Member Luncheon - State of the Hospital

TBA

Garrick Mallery - presented the Chamber’s Community Pride Award

Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery 13316 Tegler Drive, Noblesville, IN 46060 317-773-8210 www.perkinsrestaurants.com

for his lifetime commitment to Noblesville.

Mr Mallery served as a Director of the Chamber for 19 years including a stint at President from 1976-78. His long career in real estate provides him a unique understanding of the community. His goodwill reach throughout Noblesville and positive effects on the community is widespread.

As an extension to the Chamber’s Tech Tuesday program, aimed at bringing technology based solutions to small business, the Chamber, Noblesville Main Street Inc., and Peoplocity have partnered to form the Noblesville Cares initiative. The partnership leverages Peoplocity’s mobile technology to help businesses improve customer service experiences throughout the Noblesville community. Peoplocity is a locally grown technology startup whose mobile app allows consumers to send feedback and resolve issues directly with businesses, often in real time.

Be on the ground floor of the groundswell of great customer service….

Contact the Chamber today to learn how your business can be part of Noblesville Cares.

To learn more about the Noblesville Cares initiative visit www.noblesvillechamber.com

TECH TUESDAY

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

The Ville 101 N. 10th Street Noblesville, IN 46060 (317) 774-5301 www.dineattheville.com

www.noblesvillechamber.com

5th – Thursday – 7:30 – 9:00AM

NOBLESVILLE

FEBRUARY 2015

Redwood Living 10111 Town & Country Blvd., Noblesville, IN 46060 (317) 478-3295 • www.byredwood.com

NEW MEMBERS Karen Caprino-Burg We Are Changing Lives 8961 Crystal lake Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-828-3061 www.wearechanginglives.net

Rebecca Gill Dunlap Gill Wealth Management Group 14074 Trade Center Drive, Ste 110 Fishers, IN 46038 317-770-3612 www.dunlapgill.com

Tom Krol Metro Plastics Technologies Inc. P.O. Box 1208, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-776-4034 www.metroplastics.com

Connie Chesney Huntington Bank 949 E. Conner Street, Noblesville, IN 46060 317-776-4212 www.huntington.com

Mark Dreiband The AME Group 6998 Hillsdale Ct, Indianapolis, IN 46250 310-309-0750 www.theamegroup.com

Marshall Kahn Floors To Your Home 16080 Prosperity Drive, Noblesville, IN 46060 317-328-8989 www.floorstoyourhome.com Eric Jungbauer Durbin|Jungbauer LLC 970Logan Street, Noblesville, IN 46060 317-456-5446 www.djattorneys.com

Noblesville Chamber 601 E. Conner St. Noblesville, IN 46060 317-773-0086 Follow us at:

Legacy Partners

31

www.sheridanchamber.org

SHERIDAN

Upcoming Events & HAPPENINGS FEBRUARY 2015

5th - Thursday – 7:30 – 9am

All-County Networking Breakfast

Bridgewater Club, Westfield

Cost $15 for members of any Hamilton County Chamber, $20 for guests Make new contacts as you network with businesses from throughout Hamilton County.

13th - Friday– 7:30 – 9am

Legislative Breakfast

Mansion at Oak Hill, Carmel

Cost $15 for members of any Hamilton County Chamber, $20 for guests Join us for a discussion with our legislators about items and issues that are important to the business community.

Legislative Breakfast Series Sponsor: The Legislative Breakfast series is presented by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee, which includes representatives from the six Hamilton County Chambers and advocates on issues of importance to local businesses and the community.

SPREAD THE WORD

26th - Thursday – 11:30am – 1pm

Are there others in your business who would like to know what’s happening at the Chamber?

Add them to our distribution list by sending their contact information to chambermail@ sheridanchamber. org or calling the office at 758-1311.

Sheridan Public Library

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

Sheridan Chamber 101 E. Second St. PO Box 202 Sheridan, IN 46069 317-758-1311

SHERIDAN Monthly Luncheon

Cost $15 for members of any Hamilton County Cost: $14 for members, $18 for prospective members Each month the Chamber hosts a speaker to discuss topics of interest or helpful to the business community.

To make reservations for any of these events, pleasecontact the office at 317-758-1311 or chambermail@sheridanchamber.org, or online at www.sheridanchamber.org.

MARCH 2015

13th – Friday – 7:30 – 9am

Legislative Breakfast

Mansion at Oak Hill, Carmel

While the answer to that question will vary from community to community, the local chamber of commerce typically serves as the voice of the local business community. If local decision-makers, the media or persons outside the local area are looking for information about local businesses, they most often contact the local chamber to get information. Those inquiries include requests for statistical information, opinions on business issues or community programs and referrals to local merchants.

If you aren’t a member of the chamber, your voice may not be reflected in the focus of your local chamber, and you may not receive business referrals because the chamber won’t be familiar with your business and the services you offer.

The chamber also offers a valuable network for meeting new customers, sharing information with your peers and getting support from business mentors.

Maybe most importantly to the day to day operations of a business, the chamber offers opportunities to market your business, fill job openings and promote events, employees or new products. Studies have found that consumers are 67% more likely to do business with a company that supports it’s local chamber, so join your local chamber today and display your membership proudly.

If you’d like to understand how your local chamber can assist you in promoting your business specifically, contact the chamber of commerce in your community today. In Sheridan, the chamber office may be reached at 317-758-1311. *For source information, contact the Sheridan Chamber office.

Cost $15 for members of any Hamilton County Chamber, $20 for guests. Join us for a discussion with our legislators about items and issues that are important to the business community.

Legislative Breakfast Series Sponsor: The Legislative Breakfast series is presented by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee, which includes representatives from the six Hamilton County Chambers and advocates on issues of importance to local businesses and the community.

26th - Thursday – 11:30am - 1pm

Sheridan Monthly Luncheon

Sheridan Public Library

Cost $14 for members, $18 for prospective members Each month the Chamber hosts a speaker to discuss topics of interest or helpful to the business community.

To make reservations for any of these events, pleasecontact the office at 317-758-1311 or chambermail@sheridanchamber.org, or online at www.sheridanchamber.org.

32

Ever wonder why you should support your local chamber of commerce? What does the chamber do, exactly?

Join us on Facebook and Twitter:

Sheridan, Indiana Chamber of Commerce

@sheridaninchamb February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

NEW MEMBERS

All-County Networking BreakfasT

Jon Wright

5th – Thursday

Greek’s Pizzeria 205 Park Street Westfield 46074 317.804.7777

Legislative BreakfasT

13th – Friday Series sponsored by:

The Legislative Breakfast series is presented by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee, which includes representatives from the six Hamilton County Chambers and advocates on issues of importance to local businesses and the community.

Chamber Luncheon

Topic: Grand Junction Update

www.greekspizzeria.com Keith Pemberton

Pemberton Insurance Group 39 Susan Court Carmel 46032 317.656.7793

www.pembertongrp.com

26th – Thursday

Jeff Dickison

MARCH 2015

Union Savings Bank 5881 E. 82nd Street Indianapolis 46250 317.281.1071

Legislative Breakfast

13th – Friday

www.usavingsbank.com

Chamber Luncheon

Topic: TBD

Stephen Bignal

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERIES

2454 Winfield Drive Carmel 46032 317.408.4436

Bignal Design

19th – Thursday 27th - Friday

For more information and online registration, please visit: www.westfield-chamber.org

WESTFIELD

FEBRUARY 2015

www.westfield-chamber.org

Upcoming Events & HAPPENINGS

www.bignaldesign.com

Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear receives assistance from MHG Hotels LLC employees at the Ribbon Cutting of the new facility on December 15. The hotel, Noblesville Courtyard, located at State Road 32 (Conner Street) and State Highway 37 opened in December.

On Friday, November 22, a ‘flash mob’ visited My Father’s Garden Health & Wellness located at 106 N. Union Street in downtown Westfield. The brainchild of Chamber Board member Tom Warner, members and friends of the Chamber gathered in the parking lot at the Chamber office at 4:00 p.m. and walked down to the store surprising storeowner, Betsy Rabold. During the season of giving, each participant committed in advance to spend a minimum of $20 to support Betsy’s small business. Betsy was genuinely surprised and grateful. ** Photo courtesy of Rhonda Daly

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

Westfield Mayor Andy Cook and representatives of Magnolia Springs at Bridgewater and the Carmel, Noblesville, and Westfield Chambers cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of this community of luxury senior living on December 10.

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

33

History

David Heighway

The Rise and Fall of a Hamilton County landmark Grain elevators are a relic of our agrarian past.

As Hamilton County’s economic base has changed through the years, so too has its physical appearance. You don’t see fur trading posts or natural gas derricks any more. Now another part of the economic history is disappearing – grain elevators. These enormous structures, built near railroads for storing and shipping items such as wheat and corn, were once a defining feature of important rural communities. With less and less agricultural activity in the Hamilton County, the elevators here are beginning to disappear.

Carmel’s elevator, which may have built around 1920, has been demolished. Now the elevators

1909

1911

1914

34

Ad from 1918

does make for a strong building, there is always the danger of fire. The Model Mill was proving to be very successful. They had to bring in wheat to keep up with their flour grinding capacity and The Original Mill used the elevator for storing grain rather than The structures themselves are more than a century old. The first mill in that area was the A. shipping it out. There was a maze of railroad track to facilitate incoming grain cars and tunnels J. Sohl and Son Mill in 1869, which stood on the with conveyors to get the grain from the elevator site of the present parking lot at Mulberry and Eighth Streets. It was close to the railroad for easy to the milling room. These tunnels ran under shipment of its flour. It eventually became known Mulberry Street and are still there today. as the “Old Elevator” and could hold 50,000 The business continued to grow and in 1911, they bushels of corn. When Nordyke and Marmon came to town announced in trade journals like the American Hay, Flour, and Feed Journal and The Operative to establish Miller that they would build a 700,000 bushel their Model elevator. Actually, what they did was to add a Mill in the concrete elevator with ten sections that could 1890’s, they purchased the hold another 350,000 bushels. They hired James Stewart and Co., pioneers in elevator design, Sohl Mill and began expand- as the contractor. The first concrete elevators in ing from there. America had been built in 1902. Unfortunately They built the they had failed, but the failures taught the contractors how to build them better. The concrete large brick mill and soon were processing more elevators in Noblesville cost $250,000 ($6 million grain than the old Sohl elevator could hold. in today’s dollars) to build and are 90 feet high In 1900, they announced that they would build a with a 25 foot inside diameter and 7 inch thick walls. They had conveyors that could run 9,000 new elevator which could hold 350,000 bushels bushels an hour through the tunnels to the mill. of wheat. This structure was the square wooden building and was finished by 1904. The style The builders finished the exterior construcof construction where boards are stacked and tion by December of 1912, which was noted in nailed together is called “cribbing”. While this in Noblesville that were once a part of the Model Mill complex are coming down.

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

BUSINESS RESOURCE DIRECTORY Signs and Banners Logan Street Signs & Banners

The walls of the wooden grain storage building are made of planks stacked on top of each other, a building technique called cribbing.

trade magazines like the Grain Dealers Journal.

However, articles in the Indianapolis Star and Noblesville Ledger suggest that actual use didn’t begin until 1914. The article in the Star was very complimentary and said, “These structures tower above the other buildings of the town and are admired by everyone passing through the city.”

The three elevators combined made for a 750,000 bushel capacity which was needed since, in 1915, the Model Mill was processing 1,200 bushels of grain a day.

1720 South 10th St. Noblesville, IN 317-773-7200 Open M-F 7-5 www.loganstreetsigns.com www.noblesvilletrophies.com www.noblesville.com www.HamiltonCountyTV.com www.HamiltonCountyCalendars.com www.HamiltonCountyRadio.com

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

Service Club Rotary International

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, contact President Scott Smith, 773-2090

Today

Eventually Nordyke and Marmon closed and the mill changed hands – in 1946, it was the Doughnut Corp, and in 1959, it was McMahon Foods. In the 1970’s, the elevators were sold to the Hamilton County Coop and the old Sohl mill building was torn down. Now the elevators have been sold again and this time, they are to be taken down.

And so, another piece of Hamilton County history disappears. HCBM

Business 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.

Commercial Lease Space 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.

Next Edition: Health Industry/Employee Wellness Advertising Deadline: february 20

Mails: march 23

Commercial Residential

David Heighway is the Hamilton County Historian

February • March 2015 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

www.ductznoblesville.com • 317.773.9831 35

Creating

a lake living lifestyle—

t of be par

it!

Waterfront Communities County Rd. 360 N.

Lake Clearwater

Scatterfield Rd

Next to Killbuck Golf Course

Bus 9

If you are interested in living on the water, The Marina Limited Partnership has a host of options for you. With six distinctive communities on three Central Indiana lakes, we’ll help you find the perfect waterfront, water-accessible or off-water lot on which to build your new home.

Special in-house lot financing is available in all of our communities.

COMING SOON! Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home in the Springs of Cambridge April 2015

Anderson

Canal Place On Olio Rd just north of 104th St

116th St

Sail Place

Olio Rd

Adjacent to the Indianapolis Sailing Club

Marina Village Townhomes Access from the Geist Marina

96th St

Indianapolis Geist Reservoir

Carroll Rd

Fall Cr ee k

Rd

96th St

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

Hampton Cove Across from the Geist Marina

www.marinalimitedland.com