Southside Business Exchange - March 2015

business exchange southside

March 2015

A DAILY JOURNAL PUBLICATION

Annual

WOMEN IN

LEADERSHIP Special Issue

Find out what these ladies bring to the table.

From left: Betsy Schmidt, Stephanie Wagner, Tina Gross and Lee Ann Wilbur

also inside

greenwood chamber newsletter

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business exchange march 2015 I volume 13 I number 3

On the cover

The women featured in this year’s Women in Leadership issue are photographed at the Johnson County Museum of History.

Photo by Mark Freeland/correspondent

Women in Leadership

Q&A with Jill Geisler.................... 4 Featured: Tina Gross.................. 6 Featured: Betsy Schmidt............ 8 By the numbers........................... 9

pg. 14

Greenwood chamber: Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

pg. 19

Corporate Chatter: Companies making news on the southside.

pg. 22

Featured: Stephanie Wagner... 10 Featured: Lee Ann Wilbur......... 12 New funding sources................ 13 Back from motherhood............. 16

pg. 18

People on the Move: Business leaders making news on the southside.

pg. 20

State of the Cities: Franklin, Greenwood mayors discuss some of their goals for 2015.

pg. 25

Business and Professional Exchange

Where: Greenwood City Building lower level, 2 N. Madison Ave. When: 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Indy.South.BPE@gmail.com or 317-731-2734

Business Exchange Team

Where: Ann’s Restaurant, Franklin When: 8 a.m. Thursdays Info: Loren Snyder, 317-407-1837

Business First

Where: Financial Center Credit Union, 20 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood When: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Jerry Sparks, 317-296-1450

Business to Business Networking Group

Where: 435 E. Main St., Greenwood (Polk Place Building) When: 7 a.m. Tuesday Info: Mark Stansbury, 317-2812930, Cathy Claycomb, 317-2500467

Christian Businessmen’s Connection of Greater Greenwood

Where: Denny’s restaurant, Main Street and I-65, Greenwood When: 7 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Bruce Richardson, 317-8883901 or bruce@facilitatorsinternational.org

Advice: Getting publicity; how to sell your business.

Southside Snapshot: Facts, stats and quotes concerning the local business landscape.

Edinburgh Lions Club

COPYRIGHT © Daily Journal, 2015 All rights reserved.

E-mail: biz@dailyjournal.net

Edinburgh Merchants Association

SUBSCRIPTIONS southside business exchange is published monthly by the Daily Journal. The magazine is mailed at no charge to businesses throughout greater Johnson County.

To subscribe, send your name and address to: Daily Journal, P.O. Box 699, Franklin, IN 46131

EDITOR: Paul Hoffman 736-2721 phoffman@dailyjournal.net STAFF WRITER: Amy May 736-2726 amay@dailyjournal.net ADVERTISING: Chris Cosner 736-2750 ccosner@dailyjournal.net POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Daily Journal, P.O. Box 699, Franklin, IN 46131

Deadlines

Request advertising space by the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. l Submit briefs, ribbon cuttings and other news items by the 10th of the month. l

Did you know that you can read past issues of Southside Business Exchange online?

Go to dailyjournal.net, click on ETC. tab, then Special Publications

march 2015 calendar

Where: 112 S. Walnut St., Edinburgh When: 6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays Info: 812-526-2571

When: Varies Where: Varies Info: 812-371-1699

Franklin Chamber of Commerce

Info/RSVPs: 317-736-6334 or www.franklincoc.org

Franklin Kiwanis Club

Where: Pizza King Station, 2770 N. Morton St. When: Noon Fridays Info: indkiw.org

Franklin Lions Club

Where: Grace United Methodist Church, youth center When: 7 p.m. first and third Mondays Info: James McCay, 317-736-6580

Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce

Rainmakers Southside

March 6: Legislation Matters Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center.

March 19: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Hubler Chevrolet Inc. RSVPs/Info: 317-888-4856/www. greenwood-chamber.com

Greater Greenwood Toastmasters

Where: Community South Hospital Education Center, 1402 E. County Line Road, Greenwood When: 6:45 a.m. Fridays Info: SFuller1@me.com

Greenwood Kiwanis Club

Where: Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, I-65 and Main Street When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays Info: kiwanisgreenwoodin.com

Where: Dale’s Family Restaurant, 5209 E. Thompson Road, Indianapolis When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., first Wednesday.

Info: www.gorainmakers.com, lora. popov@worldpay.us, 513-1535

Rotary Club of Franklin

Where: Franklin College Dietz Center When: Noon Tuesdays Info: Loren Snyder, president, LASnyder@hillard.com

Rotary Club of Greenwood

Where: Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, I-65 and Main Street When: Noon Mondays Info: Tom Vander Luitgaren, 317881-7575

Rotary Club of Johnson County

Johnson County Business Referral Group

Where: Johnson County Museum When: 7 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Greg Heldman, 317-786-8001

Kiwanis Club of Greater Greenwood

Where: Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St. When: Noon first Thursday Info: kiwanisofgreatergreenwood@ yahoo.com or 881-1953

Kiwanis Club of Perry Township

Where: IHOP restaurant, 7521 U.S. 31 S. When: 7 a.m. Thursdays Info: Steve Hadley, 317-710-3199

Power Circle Network

Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Jockamo’s Pizza, 401 Market Plaza, Greenwood Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m., Financial Center, 1301 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m., Golden Corral, 160 S. Marlin Drive, Greenwood Thursdays, 10-11 a.m., Coffeehouse Five, 323 Market Plaza, Greenwood Thursdays, 11:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m., Jockamo’s Pizza, 401 Market Plaza, Greenwood Fridays, noon-1 p.m, Firehouse Subs, 884 N. U.S. 31, Greenwood RSVPs/Info: 317-455-5656, Mike Tollar Website: www.PowerCircleNetwork. com

When: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m.

March: TBD April: Oaken Barrel, Greenwood May: The Willard, Franklin June: TBD Info: Rotary Club of Johnson County on Facebook.

Rotary Club of White River

Where: Dye’s Walk Golf Club When: 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Charles Miller, 317-403-8281

Sertoma Club of Greenwood

Where/when: 6:45 p.m. first, second and fourth Thursdays Southern Dunes Golf Course, 8220 S. Tibbs Ave., Indianapolis Where/when: 11:45 a.m., third Wednesday, Fireside Brewhouse, 997 E. County Line Road, Greenwood Info: Denny Rusher, 317-965-4966

Vineyard Toastmasters

When: 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays Where: Office of Perry Township Trustee, 4925 Shelby St., Room 400, Indianapolis Info: Ed Barrett at tmebarrett@ yahoo.com or Rob Rogers at rogers121241@yahoo.com.

Woodman Toastmasters

When: 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Thursdays Where: Baxter YMCA, 7900 S. Shelby St., Indianapolis Info: woodman.freetoasthost.net or Mangnus Jannson, 317-372-4709

Rainmakers - Greenwood Where: Stone Creek Dining

Company, 911 N. State Road 135, Greenwood When: 7:30 a.m., last Friday Info: www.gorainmakers.com

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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015 Southside Business Exchange celebrates the accomplishments of five local women who are successful leaders at their companies and in the community.

In the pages that follow, you’ll read about these women’s leadership philosophies, as well as what leaders they admire and more.

In addition, we’ve got a Q&A with industry expert Jill Geisler, a story on new funding sources for women-led businesses and profiles of three female CEOs who took a timeout for motherhood before returning to the business world.

Women in Leadership profiles

Tina Gross Page 6

Betsy Schmidt Page 8

Stephanie Wagner Page 10

Lee Ann Wilbur Page 12

PHOTOS BY MARK FREELAND

4

march 2015 I southside business exchange

Q&A WITH AN EXPERT

Jill Geisler discusses women in leadership

BY PAUL HOFFMAN

Jill Geisler is principal of Jill Geisler Leadership LLC. She previously led The Poynter Institute’s leadership and management programs.

She has conducted training and coaching programs for scores of organizations in the United States and abroad and is in demand as a speaker on leadership issues, ethics, change management and the status of women in leadership.

Her book, “Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know,” was published in 2012.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in Leadership Studies from Duquesne University.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association named her to its Broadcast Hall of Fame, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted her into its prestigious Silver Circle.

She became one of the country’s first female TV news directors in the 1970s, at the age of 27. She built an award-winning newsroom culture at WITI in Milwaukee.

Hers was a teaching newsroom, where coaching and collaboration were as important as ethics and enterprise; where fun and families mattered, too.

She joined Poynter’s faculty in 1998, after a 26-year career in broadcast journalism. She uses all her experiences to help managers become great bosses and true leaders. In 2015, she shifted to affiliate status at the Institute, to respond to the demand for her custom teaching and consulting in organizations.

Southside Business Exchange editor Paul Hoffman asked her a few questions regarding women in leadership. Here are her answers:

Q A

What are some of the strengths many women possess that can be beneficial to their workplace and communities?

I’m glad you said “many women” rather than “all,” because each of us is unique, of course. But there’s a growing and impressive body of research that says women are better at certain aspects of emotional intelligence: the ability to read

other people, to be empathetic, to listen. A recent study found that teams that contain women tended to have a higher “team IQ” than others, largely because the women in those teams are more collaborative. (Here’s a link: www.theatlantic.com/business/ archive/2015/01/the-secret-to-smart-groupsisnt-smart-people/384625). Gallup has also found that women managers are better at engaging their employees than male manag-

ers. www.gallup.com/businessjournal/ 178541/why-women-better-managers-men. aspx There are also indicators that women excel at change management and strategy and can be more comfortable with the ambiguity that comes in changing times. (www.gallup.com/businessjournal/ 178541/why-women-better-managers-men. aspx)

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Q A

How can women’s strengths mesh with those strengths men typically possess to make for a better work environment?

I think it’s important to not frame this as a male vs. female competition for leadership superiority — and the good news is that the very collaborative nature that many women bring to the workplace meshes well with like-minded men. Competition isn’t a bad thing when it means taking on your business challengers, but it can be toxic when it’s the core of an organization’s internal culture, pitting people against each other.

Q A

How have the challenges women face in the workplace changed over the past 10-20 years? What are their biggest challenges today?

Today, women and men are both concerned with work-life harmony, but many of the domestic

responsibilities (sick children, care for aging parents, etc. can fall on the shoulders of women.) It’s a great frustration because the U.S., unlike other countries, is not especially advanced in the way we approach work-life issues such as child care, parental leave and even vacations.

Q A

Has the perception of female leaders changed over the past 10-20 years? If so, how?

Here’s the real problem women face today: They are told to “lean in” to make their interests known, to ask for raises or better starting salaries, to be less reluctant to advocate on their own behalf.

Diana Windle 812-526-0222

Q A

Do women in leadership positions feel pressure to exhibit more of the attributes that their male counterparts exhibit?

In my work with women managers, I often hear them say they’ve been told they are “too nice.” It’s possible to be too conflict-averse, of course, and not hold people accountable. But this has come from women who have been firm, fair and empathetic — and to some of their male bosses, the absence of a more in-your-face approach suggested less strength. That’s unfortunate.

As I write in my book, “Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know,” (http://what greatbossesknow.com), the key values of leadership are integrity, humanity and levity. After all, the most important thing leaders do is help others succeed. And I never stop telling both men and women who shape the culture of their teams and organizations: Life’s too short to work with jerks. B

Kay Wood Branch Manager

317-883-0300

12999 N US 31 Edinburgh, IN 46124

893 E Main Street; Suite G Greenwood, IN 46143

www.greenestruckautoservice.com

kwood@bloombank.com www.bloombank.com

Greene’s Truck and Auto is located on US 31, just north of the outlet mall in Edinburgh. Greene’s Truck and Auto is family owned and operated since 2008, when purchased by Diana Windle along with her husband David.

At Greene’s Truck and Auto we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of service to our new and returning valued customers. We are a full service facility with 14 bays and convenient hours including Saturdays.

We are a member of the Better Business Bureau. We support our community members, including the Fire Department, AMVETS and the DAV. We offer a multitude of quality services to all of our customers including: • System Flushes • RV Service • Fleet Services • Brakes • Brake Drum/Rotor Machining • Oil Changes • GSA • Light & Medium Duty Trucks • Pick up/Drop off Services • AC Service • Automatic • Domestic Passenger • Discount for Military Transmission Flushes • Frontend Alignments • Fuel system flush & Tune Up • Computer Engine • Overnight Drop Box Diagnostics • Transmission & Engine Repair

But when they do, it flies in the face of some expectations people have about women, and the women who lean in are slapped down. They are seen as selfish and not team players. (Here’s a link to research: www. newyorker.com/ science/mariakonnikova/leanout-the-dangersfor-women-whonegotiate) So, while women have few barriers to the higher education that can get them into job and leadership opportunities, they still face challenges as they attempt to move forward and move up.

Bloomfield State Bank, conveniently located on Main Street in Greenwood, pride themselves with providing friendly customer service to everyone that walks through the door. There are certainly numerous choices when it comes to who you bank with. If you are looking for a bank that treats you and your needs special than Kay Wood at Bloomfield State Bank, and her staff, would be the right choice. Kay has been with the bank for seven years. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years as a mortgage specialist at an area bank and a national mortgage company along with her earlier career as Sales and Marketing Manager for area builders. Her customers’ needs have always been her focus. That is why people like Kay and the Greenwood staff make a special effort every day to provide customers with personal attention. It just comes naturally.

Kay and the Greenwood staff are all residents of the Southside. Kay has children in the area schools and strives to stay involved in the community. Kay is a graduate of the 2013 Leadership Johnson County class. Kay and Bloomfield State Bank are involved with Greenwood Relay for Life, Santa’s Breakfast at The Greenwood Community Center, Freedom Fest, and numerous Greenwood Recreational teams to name a few. The Greenwood community is their home and their focus. At Bloomfield State Bank, they don’t take relationships for granted. Stop in and meet one of your neighbors.

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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Tina Gross Campus president Ivy Tech Community College 2205 McClain Drive, Franklin, IN 46131 Children: Hunter, 16; Hayley, 13 Education: Connersville High School; Franklin College, bachelor’s degree in accounting; Ashford University, masters in business administration/organizational leadership Employment: Ivy Tech for 22 years in various roles, mainly CFO What do you like most about your job or career field?

I love working in education. It’s so rewarding being able to offer students the chance to better themselves and their lives. Education is the key to getting the right job and being able to support yourself and a family. I get to play a small part in that accomplishment. If you have never been to an Ivy Tech graduation, you need to go. It’s life changing.

So many of our students have obstacles that the rest of us can’t even relate to. Many have worked and taken care of families while also going to school.

gross, page 7

A-1

GARAGE DOORS, INC.

Edinburgh Flower Shop

A-1 Garage Doors, Inc.

Edinburgh Flower Shop

(812) 526-5717 (800) 651-5717

(317) 422-5225

515 W. Old South St. Bargersville, IN 46106 www.a1garagedoors.com

119 W. Thompson St. Edinburgh, IN 46124 Edinburghflowershop.com

Ann Fuller and Carol Munchel

Carol Munchel and her husband Darrell founded A-1 Garage Doors, Inc. in March 1988 in their home on State Rd. 144 just west of Bargersville. At that point in time they had two daughters and a son under the age of twelve, so Carol took on the role of office manager in addition to being a full-time mom to three busy children. Carol and Darrell worked diligently to build their business, and at times the kids helped as well. A-1 Garage Doors was truly a family run business in the early days. Everyone helped unload delivery trucks, sort parts, clean up the woodshop turned “warehouse” and answer the phones. Daughters Ann and Amanda helped with invoice tracking in the dining room “office” with Carol while son Brad helped Darrell with installs in the field. In 1997, Carol and Darrell made the decision to move the office out of their home to their current location in Bargersville. Renovating the old warehouse was again a family affair.

Daughter Ann joined the staff at A-1 full-time in October of 2003 and quickly assumed the role of accounting clerk. Since that time, Ann has helped implement new technology, handles invoice control, and assists Carol with scheduling, billing and ordering. Ann’s 3-year-old daughter comes to work with her, and she even helps when she’s not busy playing or napping. Sage enjoys being a “Handy-Helper” for her Grandma Carol.

A-1 Garage Doors employs three other women in the office as well. Secretary Carol “C.W.” Whitaker and clerks Rachel Whitaker and Regina Hine assist Carol and Ann in keeping A-1 running by answering phones, calling customers, data entry and general office duties. It takes all 5 of these women (and 1 small girl) to keep things going.

6

The fact that they have sacrificed so much to earn their education makes me very proud of Ivy Tech’s mission.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

In my work life, funding is always our biggest challenge. Ivy Tech has grown so fast over the last few years, during a time when state funding has decreased. There are some specific programs that I would like to see added, but lack of funding might delay or prohibit these opportunities.

In my personal life, time is my biggest challenge. I have two very active teenagers, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

How would you characterize your leadership philosophy or style?

I expect a certain level of performance and accountability from my employees, but I expect even more from myself. I really try to lead by example, but I also make mistakes along the way. It’s always been important to me that I not ask others to do something that I’m not willing to do myself. I’ve also learned over the years that it’s

march 2015 I southside business exchange

Evelyn Pence, owner

Evelyn Pence, owner of Edinburgh Flower Shop, is celebrating her 57th year in business in 2015. The flower shop provides high quality flowers, designs and services for its new and existing customers. From fresh cut bouquets to funeral spreads, Edinburgh Flower Shop can take care of all your needs. They offer a large selection of custom designs for sympathy, get well, birthday or “just because”! Delivery is offered daily for Columbus, Franklin and the surrounding area. She also offers Teleflora and FTD, so delivery worldwide is available.

Along with fresh floral arrangements, they carry unique gifts such as tapestry throws, plants, dish gardens, door & wall wreaths, musical ceramics, angels and more. Feel free to stop by the shop and browse. There is always something new and different.

Edinburgh Flower Shop is a proud community member. Community involvement has included school sports, local youth programs and the Edinburgh Park & Rec. Evelyn is also a proud member of the local Lions Club.

Please call Edinburgh Flower Shop for your next floral or gift need.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

gross

continued from page 6

important to hire people who can balance your weaknesses.

My style has definitely changed over the years. I was blessed with some amazing opportunities within Ivy Tech at a fairly young age. At the time, I thought that respect and performance from my employees would come automatically because of my position and title. Through my master’s degree and lessons learned, I now understand that people have to want to get behind you. As a leader, you have to prove to them that you’re worthy of leading them. Engagement and communication are critical elements that will make or break a leader.

“

What leader do you most admire or try to emulate? Why? My ultimate goal is for people to want to work for me, not have to. The most successful leaders are those who can engage people and make them want to support their cause. Martin Luther King Jr. was successful in rallying thousands of people who voluntarily stood behind him and shared his vision. At the end of the day, that’s successful leadership.

I also enjoy reading about leaders in business like Jack Welsh. He had a modest upbringing and worked hard to make his way up the ranks. I admire his ability to make the tough decisions necessary to turn an organization around.

Has the perception of women in leadership roles in business changed in the last

20 years? If so, how?

I think it’s awesome to see the number of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies. It’s been an amazing transformation to see that women have figured out how to have a family and a successful career at the same time.

What is your advice to up-and-coming business leaders?

Make sure you are investing time in developing others around you. It’s so important to make sure that you are creating opportunities for others to grow.

Sometimes it’s easier to just do things yourself, but that’s very short-sighted. It won’t matter how successful you are and how much progress you make if there’s no one behind you to pass the ownership to.

Hobbies, community involvement: I like to spend time with my kids and attend their sporting events. I also enjoy exercising, water skiing and traveling.

What famous leader, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why?

I would like to meet Condoleezza Rice, the second woman to be appointed national security adviser by President George W. Bush. She also went on to become the first black woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. She definitely paved the way for women in high level bureaucratic positions, which had previously been dominated by males. I’m sure that journey was not easy, and that she has some interesting stories to tell. B

I now understand that people have to want to get behind you. As a leader, you have to prove to them that you’re worthy of leading them.

— Tina Gross

Deena Wilham, Broker

” Choice Dental Centre of Greenwood

317-738-HOME (4663)

(317) 881-5200

72 E. Jefferson St. Franklin, IN 46131 deenawilham1@gmail.com

Dr. Michelle Lumsdon, Owner of Choice Dental Centre

Hometown, Born & Raised, Franklin Indiana, Deena started her Real Estate career in 1996 with Coldwell Banker Jim Williams and Associates then transferred to Jarvis Realty group in 2007. The next leg of the journey took her to Keller Williams Hometown. Deena has brought 19 years of experience with her to Keller Williams Hometown as well as many accomplishments including Rookie of the Year, Multi-Million Dollar producer, Listing Agent and Selling Agent of the month and listing Agent and Sells Agent of the year.

8936 Southpointe Dr., Ste B-6, Corner of Shelby St. & Co. Line Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46227

Dr. Michelle Lumsdon started Choice Dental Centre in 2005 with the idea of giving her patients choices when it comes to their dental health. “I wanted to create a practice that is comfortable and soothing to help our patients achieve their goals. For some, a healthy mouth is the most important.

Others just want to look better and have more confidence. Often the two go hand in hand.”

Dr. Lumsdon received her dental degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1997 and attends 30-plus hours each year of continuing education. She is a member of the American Association of Women Dentists, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the American Dental Association. She is married with two young boys.

Dr. Lumsdon has worked in dentistry since the age of 18 when she began assisting for a pediatric dentist while going to school. “I used to be scared of the dentist. For this reason, our office’s primary concern is patient comfort assisted by the advances in modern dentistry. Many patients tell us they are surprised by the ease of their visit with us. That is the greatest compliment!”

Deena specializes in residential and commercial real estate, working closely with both buyers and sellers to help them through the process of purchasing or selling their home. Deena recently received her BPO & ABR certifications.

Complete Family Care Preventative Care Cosmetic Dentistry Veneers

You can find Deena helping out with local community events along with her Keller Williams Hometown Franklin team.

OFFERING

Porcelain Crowns Dental Bridges White Fillings Digital X-Rays

Rotadent Periodontal Therapy Devices Zoom Whitening Implant Crowns

www.ChoiceDentalCentre.com

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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Betsy Schmidt Director of Development Research and Grants Franklin College 101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131 Education: Franklin Community High School; Franklin College, bachelor of arts; University of Indianapolis, masters of business administration Previous employment: ARA Living Centers, director of social services, 1985-1989; current position since then.

What do you like most about your job or career field?

I have the privilege of working with college employees from various departments, alumni from all generations as well as local community and business leaders. I am usually juggling multiple projects that run the spectrum from grant budgets and systems reporting to proposal writing and database research. I enjoy partnering with colleagues who are strategic thinkers and look at challenges as opportunities.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

Our team is focused on encouraging alumni and friends of Franklin College to give a portion of their

time, talent and treasure to the institution. Those are limited and valuable resources for any individual. The biggest challenge is building awareness of FC’s important mission and engaging/connecting all of our audiences in meaningful ways so that supporting our students and faculty becomes a priority and a pleasure.

How would you characterize your leadership philosophy or style?

I had the opportunity to be a member of the first class of Leadership Johnson County taught by Bonnie Pribush. In that program, we were introduced to several leadership philosophies and theories. The one that resonated the most with me — and the one I aspire to — was servant leadership because many of its core concepts align with principles of faith such as self-awareness, empathy, listening, healing, stewardship, etc.

What leader do you most admire or try to emulate?

Why? I grew up surrounded by wonderful, positive role models — my mother, my grandmothers, my aunts and sisters from my church. There are qualities and values schmidt, page 9

Dr. Erin Buck

(317)300-1460

Waddell & Reed

(317) 663-8444 x112 Samantha Bush, Financial Advisor

Samantha Bush is a Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed. She currently holds her series 7 and 66 securities licenses as well as her Indiana life and health insurance licenses. A graduate of Indiana University School of Business, she majored in Accounting. Samantha has the passion to analyze information, consider potential outcomes and help make informed decisions about your financial goals.

With access to our comprehensive financial planning software, she can deliver a plan that is easy to understand and that can adapt to the changes in your life. Samantha enjoys working with individuals to prepare a roadmap for their future goals. Samantha is a member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana CPA Society.* Samantha is married to her husband of 20 years, Mike, they have three daughters, Britain, Isabel and Abigail and reside in Greenwood. She enjoys reading, travel and spending time with her family.

Samantha’s primary business focus is Center Grove and Greenwood. Please feel free to contact her for more information on how she can help you accomplish your financial goals.

Services offered: • Mutual Funds • 529 College Savings Plans • Variable Annuities • Traditional and Roth IRA • IRA Rollover • SEP/SIMPLE/401(k) • Financial Planning • Retirement Planning • Business Planning • Wealth Forecasting • Life Insurance • Long Term Care Insurance • Disability Insurance * Waddell & Reed is not affiliated with these organizations.

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Waddell & Reed, Inc., Member FINRA/ SIPC. Insurance products offered through insurance companies with which Waddell & Reed has sales arrangements.

(02/15)

8

march 2015 I southside business exchange

Greenwood Vision Development Center 1701 Library Blvd, Suite I Greenwood, IN 46142 www.greenwoodvision.com Dr. Erin Buck started Greenwood Vision Development Center in March 2013 in order to help children and adults who struggle with reading, learning and other activities of daily life.

“About 60% of people who have problems learning have undiagnosed vision problems contributing to their challenges, “ Dr. Buck shares, “and most of these people have passed previous vision screenings or even eye exams, being told their vision is fine (or “20/20”).” Seeing the letters on the eye chart is just one of more than 15 visual skills required for reading and learning.

Dr. Buck is board certified in vision development and vision therapy, an optometric specialty. She is dedicated to bringing this specialty service to the residents of Johnson County and surrounding areas and states, “I want everyone to know there is hope.”

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Dr. Buck is proud to be a Hoosier. She graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2009. Her specialty areas include developmental vision evaluations, pediatric eye examinations, vision therapy, and sports vision training. She is board certified in vision development.

In her spare time, Dr. Buck likes to be involved in the community, both locally and globally. She volunteers with Timmy Global Health helping to provide eye care to those in need and is active in her church.

Thanks to Greenwood Vision Development Center, a high school student who always thought she was dumb is now able to get straight A’s in school and an 8 year old boy now finds joy in reading for the first time after struggling for years.

If you or your child skips lines, rereads lines, has poor reading comprehension or a short attention span, it would be wise to schedule an appointment with Dr. Buck. For a more in-depth symptom checklist visit www.greenwoodvision.com

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

schmidt continued from page 8

from all these incredible ladies that I admire, hold in my heart and try to emulate in both my personal and professional life.

Has the perception of women in leadership roles in business changed in the last 20 years? If so, how?

Certainly the number of women in leadership positions has increased in the business and government realms as well as on civic and community boards.

I sense more of a confidence and drive about the impact and difference they can make by serving in those important roles.

“

What is your advice to up-and-coming business leaders?

I would remind them that leaders are found at all levels of an organizational chart and not just with the CEO position.

Leadership principles can be practiced and modeled every day! It seems like a cliché, but having a genuine passion and sense of purpose for your organization or cause is so important. Remind yourself every day of the “why” behind the work.

Hobbies, community involvement: I volunteer with Johnson County Community Foundation, United Way of Johnson County, Leadership Johnson County, Friends of the Johnson County Public Library, the Franklin Symphonic Council, the Franklin and Greenwood

chambers and Aspire Johnson County. I enjoy attending local cultural programs/festivals and follow sports, particularly FC Grizzly teams, the Indianapolis Colts and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. I am an avid walker and log between 15 and 20 miles a week in the Franklin Community Center or on outdoor trails. Attending weekly worship services at my church in Morgantown is special and important to me.

What famous leader, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why?

Wouldn’t it be incredible to meet the ultimate spiritual leader, Jesus Christ?

Biblical teachings can provide a framework and foundation for how we relate to others both in and out of the office. B

It seems like a cliché, but having a genuine passion and sense of purpose for your organization or cause is so important.

— Betsy Schmidt

”

By the Numbers Numbers on woman-owned businesses in the United States: Woman-owned businesses: 7.8 million (13.9 million for male-owned) Annual sales: $1.2 trillion ($8.5 trillion for male-owned) Average number of employees: 8.3 Growth of woman-owned businesses from 1997 to 2007: 44 percent Percent of all privately held businesses owned by women: 30 (53 for male-owned) Industries that have the most women-owned businesses: Other services (not public administration), 1.3 million; health care and social assistance, 1.2 million; professional, scientific and technical services, 1.1 million; retail trade, 919,000; administrative support/waste management remediation, 786,000 Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

Jane Thacker

Main Street Auto Tech 172 Melody Ave, Greenwood, IN 46142

Dr. Holly Vaught 1037 W. Jefferson St. Franklin, IN 46131

317-881-7220 As most young girls do, we dream of being a hair stylist or dancer or maybe even a movie star. I was one of those girls, but at 17, I married and started a family. My husband was a mechanic and loved drag racing. So I threw myself into a new world.

We went drag racing on the weekends and then Monday night, we would pull the engine to rebuild it for the following weekend race. I learned not only about parts of vehicles, but how to be social. So at the events, I had to be the one explaining about the car we were racing.

I then started working at a dealership in Greenwood in the accounting department and there learned all aspects of the business. After 15 years there, I wanted more. I wanted to be on my own, so I helped start a small independent auto repair shop in Greenwood. I was with that shop 10 years and still not on my own. In January of 2012, I started planning for my new place, Main Street Auto Tech.

On November 1, 2012, I was able to open for business. Now I can run an auto repair shop that puts the focus on the customer and their needs. Communication is the No. 1 key. If you take the time to listen to what happened to their vehicle and ask questions about the situation, then it is easier for the mechanic to give the right diagnosis to the problem.

I like to treat customers and employees like they are family. Simple things like giving a birthday cake or sending a card to a customer or employee wishing them well can change their morale. A family atmosphere is more relaxed, with no pressure and no stress. It is stressful when your car breaks down, so why make it worse? I am honest and up front with the pricing. We also do a complete check over on the vehicle so you know of an upcoming repair so you can save for it. I don’t believe in making a customer wait 2 to 3 weeks before they can come in for an appointment and should not have to wait over a week for their car to be repaired, unless it’s an engine rebuild. How many of us have a spare vehicle sitting in the driveway waiting for a breakdown?

We are pleased to still serve our customers for over two years and have hired on more staff to attend to our customers.

317-736-7722 Dr. Holly Vaught started Vaught Family Eye Care in 2009 with the goal of giving patients comprehensive eye examinations in a friendly environment where infants, children, and adults would all feel comfortable.

Dr. Vaught opened her first practice in Greenwood, adjacent to Sam’s Club Optical. She has recently purchased a second practice located in Franklin, and will start seeing patients at the address above on March 2nd.

Dr. Vaught received her optometry degree from Indiana University School of Optometry, where she graduated with honors in 2009. She attends 20+ hours of continuing education each year to keep up to date with the latest treatment options. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Indiana Optometric Association, and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Vaught also participates in InfantSee, a program that provides a one time free eye exam for infants between the ages of six and twelve months. In addition, she performs LASIK consultations once per week at TLC - Indianapolis, where she evaluates patients and determines if they are good candidates for refractive surgery.

OFFERING Comprehensive Eye Examinations Diabetic Evaluations

Contact Lens Fittings Glaucoma Treatment Red Eye Exams

Pediatric Eye Examinations LASIK Consultations

march 2015 I southside business exchange

9

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Stephanie Wagner Branch manager and vice president PNC Bank 1500 N. Morton St., Franklin, IN 46131 Pet: Chloe (rescue dog), 6 Education: Roncalli High School; Franklin College, bachelor’s degree in finance Employment: PNC Bank: branch manager, office manager, platform banker, customer service representative What do you like most about your job or career field?

The interaction with people, both customers and employees. I love being able to work with a customer to better their financial picture or help them achieve a personal financial goal. I also love working with my employees and helping them with their personal development plans and achieving their career aspirations. Each day is a different day, with different scenarios and circumstances. The variety, with the common thread of working with others, really makes me enjoy my job and career.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

Time. I never seem to have enough of it. There are so many things that I need to get done at work, community and home, but I never seem to have enough time to complete them all the way I would like to. I know that I won’t get any more time given to me, so I have to work on my time management to be the most productive I can be during the 24 hours I get in a day.

How would you characterize your leadership philosophy or style?

I always try to lead by example and stay positive. I can’t ask someone to do something if I wouldn’t be willing to complete the task myself. I have found that I’ve earned respect from my colleagues and people are more willing to help because they know I will be in the thick of things with them and understand where they are coming from. Sometimes the message I have to deliver may not be as positive or optimistic as it could be, but staying positive and energetic with my delivery will help keep those receiving the message engaged and enthusiastic about the future. wagner, page 11

FitSpa

™

Lauren Walls Manager

Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson

(317) 885-5180

(888) 883-5459 www.7eFitSpa.com 8936 Southpointe Dr. (Just west of Community Hospital South) Lauren Walls has been the manager of 7e Fit Spa in Greenwood for a year and a half and has been with the company for a little over two years. Throughout her time with 7e, she has seen and helped clients of all ages, shapes and sizes get closer to their fitness goals. “I started out personal training clients when I got out of college and realized that long term goals are difficult to achieve when the results take so long to achieve. Working at 7e Fit Spa has allowed me to continue to help clients get closer to those long term goals much faster, all while staying safe and healthy.”

Lauren received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration as a Health and Fitness Professional from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2012. In 2014, she received the Manager of the Year award through 7e Fit Spa. Though Lauren started her professional fitness career outside of college, she gained plenty of experience while in college. She volunteered at the YMCA to help special populations with fitness classes and personal training. She also coached gymnastics for young children as well as cheerleading for a middle school squad. “I have always wanted to help others feel and do their best. I am able to do that every day at 7e Fit Spa with my clients because they are constantly seeing results. Seeing the transformations not only through their bodies, but through their personalities as well, is a true privilege. I love my job and not too many people can say that.”

OFFERING: Torc Body Contouring • Facials • Detoxing Infrared Sauna

10

march 2015 I southside business exchange

Kathy Schulteti

4930 Southport Crossing Place Indianapolis, IN 46237 www.southsideharley.com

Kathy Schulteti has worked for her family’s business since 1973. Through the years, at Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson she has worked the counters, kept the books, managed the office and today, as general manager since 1998, she’s been involved in nearly every aspect of the store’s growth and operation, now overseeing all managers and departments.

Kathy has been riding since age 13. Today her motorcycle of choice is her 2014 Tri Glide. Prior to riding the trike, she rode many miles on a Dyna. She’s been known to take some long trips by herself and some with family and friends. She says one of her most memorable (longest!) rides was 4,200 miles in 10 days through Nova Scotia with a stop at Niagara Falls.

The dealership will be celebrating 68 years this October. A lot of things have changed over the years. One of the things that remains strong is the commitment of the family to continue to build the business for the future so they can celebrate many more years to come.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

wagner

continued from page 10

What leader do you most admire or try to emulate? Why? Tandy Shuck, executive director of Leadership Johnson County. Tandy is absolutely phenomenal at what she does and is the glue that holds over 550 graduates and hundreds of community constituents together. She leads by example and is always positive through challenges and adversity. She is willing to get her hands dirty in projects and is not afraid of hard work. She is patient, professional, humble and is the epitome of positivity and optimism. She is a true leader, not only by definition, but also by her actions. I am very fortunate to call her a friend and to work

“

with her to help better the community we live, work and play in.

Has the perception of women in leadership roles in business changed in the last 20 years? If so, how?

I believe the perception of women in leadership roles in business has changed for the better in the past 20 years. I work for a Fortune 200 company, and in 2014, we were voted a Top 50 Company for Executive Women, as well as one of the Top 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the 13th year in a row. We have multiple women in top executive leadership positions in the state and market. Twenty years ago, that wouldn’t have been the case. Now, we don’t think anything of it. Women lead and manage in a different way than men, and most companies are realizing that and are not

Leadership Johnson County, Rotary Club of Franklin, United Way of Johnson County, Give Back Gals, Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County Women’s Build, Discover Downtown Franklin, Franklin Heritage Inc., Delta Gamma fraternity.

What famous leader, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why?

Pope Francis. I believe that Pope Francis is a change agent and is opening conversations about long-standing beliefs and practices in Catholicism. He is the people’s pope. He shows compassion for all humanity and is very well respected throughout the world. He is not afraid to hear and speak out about what concerns Catholics may have, and does so in a considerate way. He will help dictate the next 100 years and the future direction of Catholicism. B

afraid to appoint women in executive leadership positions.

What is your advice to up-and-coming business leaders?

Make sure you know and understand the community we live in. Don’t come in with a personal agenda; listen to what the community wants and needs, then try your hardest to work to achieve it. Get out and meet people! Johnson County is full of people who want to make a positive difference and improvements; work together to achieve success. I’m a firm believer of “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” so get out there and get to know people!

Hobbies, community involvement: Hobbies include being the best aunt I could possibly be, hanging out with friends and volunteering. Community involvement includes

I’m a firm believer of “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” so get out there and get to know people!

— Stephanie Wagner

”

Brenda Burkhart • Branch Manager

317-422-9900

Dawn Whalen, Broker RE/MAX Select

317-807-1568 office 317-459-5182 cell 48 N. Emerson Ave, # 300 Greenwood, IN 46143 Dawn obtained her Real Estate Salesperson License in 2006 and her Brokers License in 2013. As a full time Realtor she works hard to help people making that next move. Whether it be downsizing or moving up, she listens to the needs of her clients and strives to meet or exceed the goals of her clients. She has a team of professionals that she refers to for anything from painting a room to getting a mortgage. She truly loves what she does and can’t imagine doing anything else. Her motto is, “At the end of the day, my goal is to have treated everyone I come in contact with respect and compassion. If I’ve done that, then I’ve done my job.”

When not working, Dawn enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband share their home with Cheyanne, a retired racing greyhound, the third one they have adopted since 2009. She has two adult children, and her daughter & son in law have blessed her with 2½ year old grandson. She also spends time traveling with family across the country to see Bruce Springsteen, or on cruises.

She has also volunteered with the Greater Beech Grove Chamber of Commerce, and is past president of that organization for 2013 and 2014, as well as served as a mentor for a high school student in a school to career program.

www.dawnwhalen.com

42 S. State Road 135 Bargersville, IN 46106 www.ffbt.com First Farmers Bank & Trust is known in some circles as “state of the art banking with old fashioned service.” If you are looking for a friendly, hometown banking experience, don’t look any further then Bargersville Branch Manager, Brenda Burkhart. Brenda has been a lifelong resident of Bargersville and has been in the banking industry for over 34 years. She proves time and again that customer service is the most important aspect of the banking business. She feels it’s all about neighbors helping neighbor.

First Farmers was founded in 1885, as Mark Tully’s Exchange Bank, and has steadfastly committed itself to preserving the traditions of rural banking and bringing that style of service to new markets. First Farmers Bank & Trust is a privately held financial institution dedicated to serving its communities with state of the art banking products with old fashioned service.

With over 300 employees and over $1.3 billion in assets, the bank has come a long way from Mark Tulley’s original Exchange and is now the largest Agricultural bank east of the Mississippi River as designated by the FDIC. But central to the bank focus is the commitment to remain an independent institution, free to change dynamically to meet the needs of its customers and communities.

Committed to holding true to its roots as an institution with an obligation to help its neighbors and its community, First Farmers is convinced that the best way to do that is by combining the most modern financial products with the most old-fashioned ideals of customer service.

First Farmers Bank & Trust honor the relationships it has established with its customers and neighbors. Stop in and make First Farmers Bank & Trust your new banking home. Brenda and her staff will always offer you “state of the art banking with old fashioned service.”

march 2015 I southside business exchange

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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Lee Ann Wilbur Executive Director Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County 780 International Drive, Franklin, Indiana 46131 Spouse: Scott Wilbur Children: Ashley, 31; Whitney, 27; Corey, 27; Lindsey, 22; Jake, nephew, 14 Grandchildren: Rylee, 6; Levi, 3 Education: Center Grove High School Employment: NSK Corporation, human resources assistant, four years; Johnson County Development Corp., assistant to the executive director, 14 years; Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County, executive director, four years.

What do you like most about your job or career field?

The feeling I get when we have a house dedication, knowing a family is going to have a new home, especially if kids are involved. I know the kids will have a safe warm place to live and a yard to play in. Best feeling ever!

What are the biggest challenges you face?

With all nonprofits, I think funding is a huge chal-

lenge. The needs of our residents continue to grow, and it’s challenging to continue to find more and more funding sources to meet those needs.

How would you characterize your leadership philosophy or style?

One thing I wholeheartedly believe is you have to have a sense of humor. Laughing is good for the soul. I really try to keep things in perspective and not get hung up on things out of my control. I also think you have to listen.

What leader do you most admire or try to emulate?

Why? This is a very personal issue with me as the person who instilled most of my leadership values was my mentor and good friend, and is no longer with us. He was 30 years my senior, and back when I was in my 20s, he made a huge impression on me that I will never forget. He was a very prominent attorney in Indianapolis who took his profession very seriously, was incredibly philanthropic and had a little bit of an ornery streak, which made for a great sense of humor. wilbur, page 13

Janette Koon CFP®, CMFC®

(317) 887-1764

399 N. Madison Ave., Ste. 101 Greenwood, IN 46142

PICTURED: Janette Koon

. . . . helping you turn personal dreams into financial realities.

Waddell & Reed Women In Action! Whether it’s working with an individual, a family or a group, you can find us busy helping others with financial strategies!

Janette Koon is a Financial Advisor and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. She has been a professional in the financial services industry for over 30 years. She guides individuals to make educated choices and encourages planning to help get them through the good and bad times.

We provide: • Financial Planning • Retirement Planning • College Funding Options

• Long Term Care Insurance • Life Insurance • Investments

Insurance products are offered through insurance companies with which Waddell & Reed has sales arrangements.

Janette Koon offers securities through Waddell & Reed, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investing involves risk and the potential to lose principal.

2/2014

12

march 2015 I southside business exchange

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

small business professor

New funding sources for women-led businesses

Hobbies, community involvement: My husband and I love to travel. We also enjoy going to car shows, riding our Harley and ’61 Ford Galaxie Starliner, going to casinos and spending time on my family’s farm in Tennessee. I’m a member of the Franklin Rotary Club, Give Back Gals and past board member of Leadership Johnson County.

What famous leader, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why?

Hands down — Condoleezza Rice. I remember watching her during the Bush administration and thinking how poised and knowledgeable she was. She spoke with such conviction and her passion for our country resonated in her tone. I can’t imagine the challenges she faced being a women in a predominately male

continued from page 12

His insight, life experiences, wisdom, humility and good nature will forever be a part of who I am today. I think of him often and miss him dearly.

Has the perception of women in leadership roles in business changed in the last 20 years? If so, how?

I think there have been significant changes. I think women are more confident and willing to take chances. I also think men are more accepting of women in leadership roles than 20 years ago.

What is your advice to up-and-coming business leaders?

Work hard, surround yourself with positive people, have a sense of humor, take chances and don’t sweat the small stuff.

“

Bruce Freeman, a small business consultant, is adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Seton Hall and Kean universities. He also is co-author of “Birthing the Elephant: The Woman’s Go-For-It Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business.” Readers may send him questions at bruce@smallbusinessprofessor.

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wilbur, page 26

Work hard, surround yourself with positive people, have a sense of humor, take chances and don’t sweat the small stuff.

— Lee Ann Wilbur

leadership and a committed, stable management team capable of pushing a business to new levels of growth and profitability. They also want to see a solid business model and a large, expanding market.

Some angel investors have a hands-off policy; other want active involvement to protect their investment. Be sure you’re attuned to their operating style before making your approach. B

ns

wilbur

merce and networking site geared to aspiring women entrepreneurs needing startup dollars. Launched by Deborah Jackson, a former investment banker, in its first months it helped raise more than $200,000 in seed funds.

Angel networks, such as Golden Seeds, Launch Angels, Belle Capital and the Texas Women’s Fund offer early stage investment to fast-growing women-owned businesses with breakthrough market potential. Since 2005, Golden Seeds, for example, has invested more than $70 million in women-led enterprises.

To tap these types of funding sources, you’ll need a strong business proposal profiling your venture’s track record and outlook. Angel investors look for dynamic

P

female entrepreneurs grow their bottom lines, from women-focused angel investors to crowdfunding platforms.

There is a level of innovation that could have never been anticipated, according to Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a nonprofit providing business resources and training to help women build their ventures.

Other women-focused resources to investigate include: Astia, Double Digit Academy, Springboard Enterprises and the Women’s Venture Fund all provide leadership training, access to capital and business connections to help high-growth, women-led ventures expand.

Plum Alley is a crowdfunding, e-com-

l

ere’s a forecast that my coauthor on “Birthing the Elephant,” Karin Abarbanel, alerted me to recently: By 2018, experts predict that the U.S. economy will generate close to 10 million new jobs — and more than half of them will be created by women entrepreneurs.

This projection begs some questions, such as: Q: I need capital to fuel my growing business. What funding resources are available to me as a woman business owner?

A: Finding both startup dollars and early-stage funds to boost growth is an ongoing challenge for women business owners, but this is rapidly changing. Today, targeted programs are springing up to help

re

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By Bruce Freeman

” march 2015 I southside business exchange

13

Direct

MARCH 2

January new members Bubba’s 33 Dawn Hummel 317-883-4833 7799 U.S. 31 South Indianapolis, IN 46227 www.bubbas33.com Tricia Bowen 317-626-6093 65 Airport Parkway, Suite 140 Greenwood, IN 46143 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Elizabeth Ransom 317-247-3548 711 N. Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.esgr.mil/in.aspx Fast Park Tonya Scully 317-241-7275 8550 Stansted Road Indianapolis, IN 46241 www.thefastpark.com Greenwood Foot Clinic Drew Christie 317-881-0788 720 Fry Road, Suite A Greenwood, IN 46142 www.greenwoodfootclinic.net

Hopebridge Pediatric Specialists Allegra East 317-449-2104 21 S. Park Blvd., Suite 21 Greenwood, IN 46143 www.hopebridge.com Humane Society of Johnson County Pam Self 317-535-6626 3827 N. Graham Road Franklin, IN 46131 www.hsjc.org LHD Benefit Advisors Bill Drew 317-705-1600 250 W. 96th St., Suite 350 Indianapolis, IN 46260 www.lhdbenefits.com Premium Auto, LLC Charles Colwell 317-412-2000 370 S. Madison Ave. Greenwood, IN 46142 www.PremiumAutoLLC.com We Fix Daniel Church 317-714-7591 1306 Secretarial Lane Indianapolis, IN 46217 www.WeFixIndy.com

ribbon cutting

PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNA RICE PHOTOGRAPHY

9Round, 520 N. State Road 135, Suite Q, Greenwood, held its grand opening ribbon cutting on Jan. 23.

Smoke alarms, escape plans v

By Servpro of Indianapolis South and Johnson County

A

ccording to statistical data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2012 an estimated 1,375,500 fires were responded to in the United States. These blazes caused 2,855 deaths and 16,500 civilian injuries while costing more than $12.4 billion in damage.

Though some fires are unavoidable acts of nature or unpredictable accidents, many fires in the home and workplace are preventable.

Servpro of Indianapolis South and Johnson County deals with fire and smoke damage on a regular basis. Here are some tips to help reduce the likelihood of a fire in your home or business.

Check your smoke alarms … and keep checking them!

Time is of the essence in a fire, and the quickest (and noisiest) indicator that there is a fire in your home or business is your smoke detector.

You should have one on every level and inside each bedroom. Be sure to test the alarms once a month and replace the batteries at least once per year or as needed.

The NFPA recommends replacing the batteries when you change your clocks every March and November.

Be smart Stay in the kitchen if you are frying, grilling or broiling food, and never allow young children around the stove or oven. Tell the chef in your family to avoid wearing shirts with baggy or billowing sleeves and to never pour

water on lid and th If you o never sm guished smoking repaired

Give ca

Space and cand leaving t

Have an

Practic room in y enough f need to e route for exit and

We hope and you ex hesitate to promise to

Chamber awards The 2015 Chamber award nominations are now open.

Have you, or another business you know, demonstrated outstanding business success? Nominees for the “Salute Award” demonstrate success in more than one of the following areas: l Growth and stability l Commitment to quality l Creative/unique solutions to challenges l Entrepreneurial spirit l Overall contribution to the community Have you, or another business you know, made excellent design efforts in the construction of a new business or the renovation of an existing property?

The “Pride and Progress Award” celebrates the way the construction positively contributed to their business success and improved our community’s overall appearance.

Learn more and refer your nominees to: http://www.greenwoodchamber.com

Posting Events and News on Greenwoo l Post

Your Event Online Post your business events on our online Com The calendar is accessible from the website’s From the homepage at GreenwoodChamber.c News & Events on the menu bar; click on Sub Enter your contact and event information. The will appear on the community calendar; for m bility, include your company name in your eve Proofread for accuracy and grammar before s Complete the event information and click Sub Once submitted, your event will be posted fol internal review process. l Post Your News Online Post your business news on our online Mem Chamber members can submit their press rele their business awards and recognitions, staff h ings and relocations, and other relevant news GreenwoodChamber.com, scroll over News & Click on Submit your press release or news st attach your news story or press release as a W and proofread for accuracy and grammar bef an internal review process.

A publication of the Greater Greenwood Chamber o

ctions

Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce Greenwood Commerce Center 65 Airport Parkway, Suite 140 Greenwood, IN 46143 317.888.4856 GreenwoodChamber.com

ARCH 2015

our member experts

ns vital part of fire safety

water on a grease fire — you should always smother a grease fire with a pan lid and then turn the burner off.

If you or someone in your home is a smoker, take extreme precautions; never smoke in bed and always make sure every cigarette is fully extinguished before throwing it away. Finally, be wary of any appliance that starts smoking or smells odd. Stop using it, unplug it immediately and have it repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

Give candles and space heaters space

Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet from anything that can burn and candles at least 1 foot away. Be certain to extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

Have an escape plan

Practice your plan at least twice per year. Test escape routes from every room in your home. Do your windows and doors open easily? Are they big enough for everyone to fit through? Do you have fire escape ladders if you need to exit from the second or third floor? Map out a potential escape route for every room and make sure your entire family knows how to safely exit and where to go in case of an emergency.

We hope that you take these simple tips to heart. However, if the unavoidable still happens and you experience a fire and/or smoke damage at your home or business, please do not hesitate to contact SERVPRO at 317-784-3008 for your cleanup and restoration services. We promise to make it “like it never even happened.”

benefit spotlight

reenwoodChamber.com

nline Community Calendar. website’s main menu bar. hamber.com, scroll over k on Submit an Event. ation. The event name dar; for maximum visiyour event title. r before submitting. click Submit Event. osted following an

ine Member News page. press releases and news stories about ns, staff hires and promotions, grand openant news. From the homepage at News & Events on the menu bar; click on Member News. r news story. This will prompt an email to be sent to the Chamber. Please se as a Word document or include it in the body of the email. Include a title mmar before submitting. Once submitted, your news will be posted following

mber of Commerce l www.GreenwoodChamber.com

member profile Calendar Brew-By-U Brew-By-U, Indiana’s only on-premise brewery, offers customers the opportunity to brew their own beer and be brewmaster for a day.

We have approximately 20 beer recipes and are always adding new beers to our menu. Brew-By-U offers everything from cream ales and India pale ales to porters, ambers and even a Russian imperial stout.

Brewing sessions last three hours and include all ingredients, equipment and a knowledgeable staff to aid customers. We even clean up the mess!

The beer ferments for approximately three weeks and then customers return to bottle their creation themselves. Brew-By-U offers custom bottle labels perfect for family gatherings, weddings or simply to impress friends with a personalized label.

Brew-By-U not only offers on-site brewing sessions, but is also a fully stocked retail store for the home brewer. Whether you are just beginning or a skilled home brewer, Brew-By-U has the products and ingredients you need. We carry brewing equipment such as brew kettles, carboys and hydrometers as well as fresh grains, hops and yeast. If you don’t see a product you need, simply let us know and we’ll order it for you at no additional cost.

Owner Jeremy Hough came up with the idea for BrewBy-U after participating in a “do-it-yourself” painting class.

Supplied with all the necessary tools and professional instruction, Hough was able to create a painting that he admittedly could not have painted on his own. Hough thought to offer the same concept, but with home brewing.

Brew-By-U supplies all the needed ingredients, equipment and instruction for novice brewers. We also offer equipment rental for a small fee if you are an experienced brewer not wanting to deal with the mess at home.

For more information or to schedule a brewing session, visit www.brew-by-u.com or call 317-550-1776.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and special promotions.

Register for all Chamber events at 317.888.4856 or GreenwoodChamber.com

Friday, March 6 Legislation Matters Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center Pre-register: $17 member At the door: $25 member/ non-member

Thursday, March 19 Business After Hours 5 to 7 p.m.

Hubler Chevrolet Inc. No cost to attend

Staff: Stacie Hindman Events & Operations Manager Christian Maslowski, President & CEO Julie Spate, Member Services Coordinator

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015

Back on the

fast track

How 3 execs opted out for motherhood, then opted back in

By Lisen Stromberg San Jose Mercury News

A

woman spends years building her career. Then family becomes her new priority, so she steps out of her high-powered job to raise children. What happens when she wants to get back in the game? Since Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg launched the “Lean In” movement in 2013, much attention has been paid to figuring out how to keep mothers in the workforce, but many have already left and are trying to get back in.

There’s not one route for all. As these three Bay Area executive women demonstrate, you can reignite your professional life — and even take it in a wildly different, equally or more successful direction — even after taking years off from work. Here they share their stories and their advice.

Name: Mary Page Platerink Previous job: Coca-Cola, director, global strategic planning Time at home: 12 months the first time, 18 months the second time Current job: Founder-CEO of First Aid Shot Therapy How she got there: Staying in touch with previous mentors and contacts provided much-needed financial support and credibility.

Mary Page Platerink’s LinkedIn profile said her specialties are “getting things done and never giving up,” important characteristics for the founder and CEO of a hot Silicon Valley startup. But her most valuable skill might be her willingness to take risks coupled with the confidence that everything will work out.

“I took several leaps on and off track,” she said, “and it was those very leaps that have helped make me a better leader and manager.”

Platerink’s first leap came when her husband wanted to move to the United States. They’d met while getting their MBAs at the University of Cambridge in England. He went into finance, and she built a thriving career at Fujitsu, helping the company turn around two flagging divisions.

After the birth of their second child, Platerink quit her job to help her family settle into its new life. “It was the right thing to do. I didn’t worry about whether I would have a problem going back,” she said.

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It wasn’t as easy as Platerink imagined. She eventually took a job in marketing at Coca-Cola. It was a step back, in terms of both pay and responsibility, but not for long. After Platerink gave birth to the couple’s third child, she worked her way into a coveted role in strategic planning. Then, she leapt again.

“I had a dream job at Coca-Cola,” said Platerink, “but we wanted to move to California, so I quit.”

For over a year, Platerink focused on being a full-time mother while she pondered her next career move. She met the head of gastroenterology at Stanford University’s medical school, who had an idea for a stomach ache solution, and so began her latest leap of faith.

Platerink was confident she could apply her expertise and experience in soft-drink marketing to the fast-growing medicinal beverage industry.

To launch the company, she reached out to her previous mentors for support. They provided guidance, advice and much-needed seed funding.

The result was First Aid Shot Therapy, a startup that specializes in fast-acting liquid medicines for pain and upset stomach symptoms.

“My career wasn’t calculated,” Platerink said. “It was an organic reflection of my commitment to my family and my professional ambitions.

“That’s not a cop-out or an opt-out; that’s simply a choice.”

Her best advice for others: “Stay connected to your past employers and mentors. They can offer you strong references, which you will need as you re-enter.”

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 2015 Kriste Michelini in her Danville, Calif., interior design studio. Michelini gave up a lucrative career in tech sales to raise her children. She has now re-invented herself to pursue her passion for interior design and re-entered the workforce. Photo

by Jim Stevens/Bay Area News Group/MCT

Name: Kriste Michelini Previous job: Intuit, sales and business development Time at home: 5 years Current job: Owns Kriste Michelini Interiors How she got there: Listening to the advice of friends and following her creative passions and interests In 1988, when she graduated with a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, Kriste Michelini thought she would become a lawyer. What she didn’t expect was that she would eventually become a nationally recognized interior designer.

It took staying home with her children to make that happen.

After college, Michelini took a job in commercial sales so she could earn money for law school. She was a natural at sales and soon moved into the more lucrative high-technology sector, working in software sales for Intuit. Law school, Michelini decided, would have to wait.

“I had a great job working for a great company,” Michelini said. “Being a lawyer just didn’t seem like it was in the cards.” She worked full-time through the birth of her daughter and would have happily continued if life hadn’t gotten in the way.

“I went through a painful divorce and then met the man of my dreams,” Michelini said.

When she became pregnant with their first son, Michelini quit her job and, with her new blended family, moved. “I wanted to be fully hands-on as a mother the second time around,” Michelini said.

It didn’t take long to decide that stay-at-

home mothering wasn’t her calling.

Michelini asked friends for advice, and they all agreed she had a talent for interior design. One friend agreed to hire her for a home redesign. Word got out and soon Michelini had a handful of clients. Five years after she quit her fast-track sales job, Michelini officially launched her own company.

Now Kriste Michelini Interiors is in great demand with a cadre of high-end clients. She employs a full-time staff of three and has recently moved into a large studio office. It was the recent surprise of having been selected as one of Traditional Home magazine’s 10 decorators to watch in 2014 that finally convinced Michelini she had arrived.

“I never regretted leaving my job in sales, but there were days I had doubts about staying home with my children. Today, there is no doubt my experience both in sales and as a mother has made me a better entrepreneur,” Michelini said.

Her best advice for others: “Join or start a networking group. It will provide you with new friendships, a large network of relationships and a wonderful support system.”

Name: Alison Cormack Previous job: Hewlett-Packard, planning and operations manager Time spent at home with children: 10 years Current job: Google’s SMB Group, operations manager-chief of staff How she got there: Taking leadership roles as a volunteer led to valuable new contacts, opened new doors.

The tipping point for Alison Cormack was the birth of her second child. Before that, she never really imagined she’d become a full-time stay-at-home mother, but like many women trying to juggle a family with two careers and two kids, she came to the point

where it made more sense to stay home.

After securing her MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, she took a job in finance at Hewlett-Packard.

She held a variety of positions there, including sales representative, and became a member of the HP Achievers Club, a select group of high-performing sales professionals.

When her first child was born, she enjoyed six months at home with her baby and then returned to work on a reduced schedule, taking on a new role for one of HP’s worldwide vice presidents of sales. But then her second child came along and, well, her priorities changed. “I tried the part-time thing,” Cormack said, “but my heart wasn’t in it. It just felt right for me to be with my children.”

She spent the next five years at home, committing to her role as mommy. Then a friend suggested she join the board of the Palo Alto Library Foundation and everything changed.

When no one volunteered to lead the $76 million bond campaign to support the refurbishment of the town’s libraries, Cormack stepped up.

“I leaned in to leadership,” she said, “and ended up having the best job I could ever imagine. Sure it wasn’t paid, but it helped me get where I am today.”

When she decided to return to the workforce, a Google employee whom she had met through that bond effort helped her tweak her résumé and flagged it for the HR department. She landed a job in communications at Google and since has been promoted to chief of staff for two of Google’s senior executives.

She has no regrets about her time at home, but she knows giving up a hard-earned career can be hard; so can finding one’s way back into the paid workforce.

Her best advice for others: “Don’t read your alumni magazine. Do read Fortune and other business magazines to stay relevant.” B

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tion for IndyGo employees.

Associate broker named at real estate agency

people on the move people making news on the southside

Local resident awarded entrepreneurial fellowship

Bargersville native Isaac Duke has been selected for the Gov. Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship. The program aims to develop leadership in Indiana’s next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Named for the late governor, the fellowship pairs high-achieving college graduates with some of Indiana’s high-growth companies for two-year tenures of execuDUKE tive-level mentorship, networking, job skill development and professional growth. Since its inception in 2001, the Orr Fellowship has placed more than 230 fellows with Indiana companies.

Duke earned a degree from Anderson University in economics and management and will work at IT consulting company Appirio for his two-year fellowship.

He was selected as one of 45 Orr Fellows from more than 800 applicants.

Greenwood city engineer joins transportation board

Mark Richards, Greenwood director of community development services and city engineer, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority. He was appointed by Gov. Mike Pence.

The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority was created in 2004 to expand and improve mass transit in the region. It is governed by a 17-member board appointed by the governor, elected officials who represent 10 counties in the region, as well as municipalities, the Indianapolis Regional Transportation Council and the labor organiza-

Donna Crawford has joined Greenwoodbased Weichert, Realtors — Tralee Properties as an associate broker. She is serving buyers and sellers in Indianapolis, Greenwood and Whiteland.

Crawford joins a team of 19 agents at the company, which serves the greater metropolitan Indianapolis area, including Marion, Johnson and Morgan counties.

A current resident of CRAWFORD Indianapolis, Crawford is a member of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors. She is a graduate of REAL University and holds real estate certifications.

Prior to real estate, Crawford was in the customer service industry for more than 30 years.

Edinburgh artist featured in Fort Wayne, Carmel shows

Rick Wilson, owner of Rick Wilson Fine Art Gallery in Edinburgh, was one of the featured artists in “American Romanticism,” a Hoosier Salon exhibit in Carmel, in February. He was also featured in the Valentines Day Invitational 20th anniversary show at Castle Gallery Fine Art in Fort Wayne.

Two Greenwood women tabbed for leader series

Two Johnson County women, Linda Gibson and Beenu Sikand, have been selected to participate in the annual Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series women’s leadership development program.

Gibson is a member of the Greenwood City Council.

She oversees operation of Custom Plaques, a family owned manufacturing business, and has two children.

In 1996, she and her husband, John, founded Flags gibson for Greenwood, a nonprofit organization to raise funds to purchase American flags to be displayed along Greenwood’s streets. She is also a board member of The Social of Greenwood, the Greenwood Village South Retirement Community and SIKAND the Indiana Utility Shareholders Association.

She is retired from Ernst & Young.

Sikand is an alumna board member of the University of Indianapolis and board member of the Johnson County Development Corp.

She is also a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Realty Group in Indianapolis, where she spe-

cializes in residential real estate. In 2005, she was ranked the No. 2 Realtor in sales in Indiana and Ohio with Century 21. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009 from the University of Indianapolis for her contribution toward her community and for excellence in her field.

Greenwood city clerk appointed to committee

Greenwood City Clerk Jeannine Myers was recently appointed to the 2015 finance, administration and intergovernmental relations policy and advocacy committee of the National League of Cities.

The committee is responsible for developing the league’s federal policy positions on issues involving national economic policy, general financial assistance programs, liability insurance, intergovernmental relations, census, municipal bonds and capital finance, municipal management and citizen participation among other topics.

Franciscan St. Francis Health selects new pharmacy services director

Ronda D. Freije has been appointed director of pharmacy services for Franciscan St. Francis Health.

She most recently served as pharmacy operations manager, where she oversaw the daily operations at the hospital’s Indianapolis campus. In that role, she supervised a staff of more than 100 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medi- FREIJE cation reconciliation technicians. Freije has served on a variety of clinical and operational committees since joining Franciscan St. Francis staff in 1992.

Southside dentist earns industry distinction

Dr. Louis Abukhalaf has been awarded fellowship with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. The distinction is awarded by completing over 75 hours of documented dental implant education along with verification of dental implant cases performed.

Abukhalaf performs dentistry at the Gentle Dentist location at 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis.

Correction officer promoted at Edinburgh

Donald Davis has been promoted to correctional sergeant at the Edinburgh Correction Facility at Camp Atterbury. Davis has been with the Indiana Department of Correction since September 2013 and has worked as officer in charge DAVIS on various shifts over the last six months.

He has a bachelor of science degree in

Did you know that you can read past issues of Southside Business Exchange online?

Go to dailyjournal.net, click on ETC. tab, then Special Publications

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Criminal Justice, served four years in the United States Navy and worked as an intern for the United States Marshall Service.

Lawrence firefighter joins White River department

Matthew Partain has joined the White River Township Fire Department as deputy fire marshal. Partain began his firefighting career as a parttime firefighter in 1999 at White River before joining the Lawrence Fire Department as a career firefighter in 2000.

He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and several professional PARTAIN certifications, including Fire Investigator I from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and is certified as a fire and explosion investigator by the National Association of Fire Investigators.

Physician joins staff at Southport Family & Sports Medicine

Dr. Christine M. Shock has established a practice with Franciscan Physician Network Southport Family & Sports Medicine.

She joins Drs. Jeffrey M. Peterson, Erhard Bell and Christopher J. Conrad at 7855 S. Emerson Ave. Suite P. Shock, who sees patients ranging from infants to seniors, has worked as a family physician in Central SHOCK Indiana for four years. She has served on the Randolph County Board of Health since 2011. She completed an internship and residency in family medicine in Indianapolis and a fellowship in rural medicine in Tacoma, Washington, where she received specialized training in high-risk obstetric cases and obstetrical surgery skills.

Realtor earns multiple company awards

Mike Cagle, a first vice president with F.C. Tucker Co., received the Gary Warstler Marketing Excellence Award for leading the company in total number of homes sold for individual agents. It is the second time he was won this award. Cagle also finished in the top ten for closed production for individual CAGLE agents, the fifth consecutive year he has earned this distinction. He led the south office in Greenwood in production for the ninth time and earned the Realty Alliance Award for the 22nd consecutive year. B

RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce helped Henderson Health Supplies with its grand re-opening and ribbon cutting at its newly remodeled location at 100 E. Jefferson St. on Jan. 22.

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce helped the Johnson County Public Safety Communications Center & Emergency Operations Center with its grand opening on Feb. 6.

wedding venue. Patricia Planker is the proprietor of the Chapel at Morgantown, in a building that once housed the First Christian Church of Morgantown beginning in the 1870s.

Planker and her husband, Dan, are completing renovations to the church building at 140 E. Washington St. Planker is a registered nurse who decided to open the business after planning three weddings recently.

New dermatology office opens

Forefront Dermatology has opened an office in Greenwood with Drs. Kevin Crawford and Thomas Cortese, who also see patients in Columbus, Seymour and Scottsburg. Forefront Dermatology also has offices in Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Greenwood clinic will provide treatments for common conditions such as acne and psoriasis.

Info: 855-535-7175, www.forefrontdermatology.com.

corporate chatter companies making news on the southside

Franklin Chamber elects officers, board members

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce has elected two new board members and officers.

Dustin Huddleston, an attorney with Huddleston & Huddleston, and Chase Schletzer, a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments, will serve two-year terms on the board.

Aaron Brown, an Indiana Licensed Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance Agent for Green Owens Insurance Agency, is the newly elected president; Tandy Shuck, executive director for Leadership Johnson County, will serve as vice president, and Angela Chamberlin, a partner in Chamberlin & Taylor, LLP Public Accounting Firm serves as the treasurer.

Also serving on the board are Lisa Buening, Jeff Byrd, David Clendening, Steve Hood, Dale Hughes, Theresa Lehman, Terry Miller, Greg Taylor, Jennifer Wilson, Steve Wohlford and Melanie Zimmerman.

Info: 736-6334 or www.franklincoc.org

Morgantown church remodeled as wedding venue

Morgantown will soon be home to a new

Leadership Johnson County gets new website

Leadership Johnson County asked J Owen Media to design and build a new website that helps find new class candidates and secure financial and volunteer support. The project was part of a comprehensive marketing plan for the organization.

The new website — leadershipjohnson county.org — features content about the organization and its programs and provides userfriendly forms for online donations and class applications.

This was a special project for Jeff Owen, who is a 1997 graduate of the LJC program and served as the organization’s board member and past president. He also is assisting LJC with a new comprehensive strategic plan.

LJC is a nonprofit organization that promotes widespread involvement in creative community problem solving.

Financial Center named a ‘Financially Healthiest Credit Union’ in 2014

Financial Center First Credit Union was ranked a 2014 Healthiest Credit Union by DepositAccounts.com, which evaluates the financial health of every federally-insured credit union in the United States — more than 6,600 total — every year.

Each institution is graded on a number of factors, including capitalization, deposit

growth, and loan to reserve ratios, in order to determine a comprehensive health score.

DepositAccounts.com recognizes those who have shown exceptional fiduciary responsibility in its 2014 edition of the Top 200 Healthiest Credit Unions in America. Four other Indiana credit unions also made the list.

Bowling fundraiser nets $12,500 for credit union’s foundation

Indiana Members Credit Union hosted its seventh annual “Bowl-A-Thon” employee fundraising event at Expo Bowl in Indianapolis on Jan. 18. A total of 375 bowlers raised more than $12,500, which will assist in supporting the mission of Indiana Members Foundation.

New stores coming to outlet mall

Edinburgh Premium Outlets will soon welcome Express and Abercrombie & Fitch to its lineup of quality retailers and exclusive brands.

Abercrombie & Fitch is a popular brand of casual apparel and accessories for young men and women. The retailer is expected to open in the spring between J Crew Factory Store and Calvin Klein.

Express offers fashion-forward, sophisticated apparel and accessories for young men and women for work, the weekend or a night on the town. Express will open this summer between Jones New York Outlet and Levi Outlet.

Meanwhile, Under Armour will soon begin an expansion of its current location. Famous Footwear, Dress Barn and Bass will move to newly renovated locations in late spring.

Franciscan St. Francis Health’s women’s health services recognized nationally

Franciscan St. Francis Health has received the 2015 Women’s Choice Award as an America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics.

This recognition comes in the wake of the recent opening of a new neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics wing, which are part of an ongoing $37 million construction project at the Indianapolis hospital’s Women & Children’s Center. The new unit is the only Level III NICU in south-central Indiana.

Other recent project milestones include moving massage and acupuncture services and the Maternal Fetal Medicine clinic into the new Women & Children’s Center. Women’s rehabilitation and pelvic health services will be open to the public at the end of January.

Hospital honored for clinical excellence

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis has received the 2015 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence from Healthgrades, an online rating website for physicians and hospitals.

The distinction places Franciscan St. Francis in the top 5 percent of the more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide based on clinical performance. It also marks the fourth consecutive year the hospital has received the award.

Local fire department honored

White River Township Fire Department’s fire prevention division recently was named the 2014 Fire Prevention Bureau of the Year by the Fire Inspectors Association of Indiana.

The division is headed by Fire Marshal Michael Arany and includes two part-time inspectors and a full-time deputy fire marshal.

The association also recognized White River in 2013 by naming Arany inspector of the year.

The department protects an area of about 26 square miles in the Center Grove area. This includes the State Road 135 corridor, State Road 37 and about 28,000 residents.

Salsa company earns culinary awards

Greenwood-based Salsa Me Krazy won top awards for the company’s signature culinary creations at the 2015 Scovie Awards.

The company won second and third place for its medium and mild blends. Judges praised the company for savory flavor and consistence and texture of the salsa, according to a statement. The salsa can be purchased at Marsh grocery stores in Indiana and Ohio.

Info: salsamekrazy.com or scovieawards. com

Franklin chamber adds seven members

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce board of directors and staff welcomed seven new businesses to its membership during its Feb. 5 meeting.

New members are: Class Hoosier Realtors, Franklin Ferguson Construction Co., Columbus Johnson County Business Referral Group, Franklin McMurray Transport LLC, Trafalgar Success in Focus LLC, Franklin

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ON RIGHT PATH Franklin, Greenwood mayors praise progress, discuss plans for 2015 STORIES BY STEVE GARBACZ PHOTOS BY SCOTT ROBERSON

Mark myers

Joe McGuinness

Foundation for responsible growth

T

his year in Franklin can be summed up with two words familiar to residents: Under construction.

Whether roads, sidewalks, trails or new businesses, Franklin is going to keep building them all, Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness said in his annual state of the city address.

The city will launch the first phase of a $20 million project to rebuild Jefferson and King streets, one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Franklin’s history. But that’s not until August, after the city wraps up the last piece of construction on North Main Street, approves a stormwater plan focused on fixing issues in creeks and streams and solving drainage problems, plotting future growth around Interstate 65 and continuing to design more than 4 miles of new trails.

All of that is coming after the city worked on North Main Street and built its first roundabout, made major road and sidewalk upgrades to downtown streets, announced six major industrial projects bringing 200-plus jobs and continued to have new shops opening up downtown.

The only thing not getting an overhaul in Franklin is your tax bill, McGuinness said. The city finished 2014 with about $650,000 in unspent tax dollars and is paying for millions in road improvements with federal grants and funding from the city’s tax-increment financing (TIF) districts.

“We’ve laid the foundation for continued responsible growth and prosperity,” McGuinness said.

Construction continues to be a top focus for Franklin, with the city launching the first phase of a four-year project to rebuild Jefferson and King streets this year. In August, construction will start on the first secfranklin, page 21

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Recounting successes «Franklin »Six industrial projects were announced, leading to at least 230 new jobs in the city. »Franklin finished 2014 with a surplus of about $650,000 in tax dollars, which went into savings.

Greenwood» »Getting the ULTA Cosmetics distribution center at Main Street, which will bring more than 500 jobs »Starting construction on the Worthsville Road widening project and new interchange

‘The Greenwood way of solving problems’

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or the past three years, Greenwood has been spending within its means and finding inventive ways to replace equipment or rebuild infrastructure, the mayor said.

That’s the path on which Mayor Mark Myers said he wants to keep the city.

Greenwood finished 2014 by spending $400,000 less than it collected in taxes and tucked away $300,000 into savings.

The city is saving $120,000 per year in expenses since moving into the new city center, collected more than a half million dollars in utility liens last year and is building millions of dollars worth of projects with funds from the city’s tax-increment financing, or TIF, districts.

Meanwhile new businesses are opening, such as ULTA Cosmetics, which is bringing more than 500 jobs. The city is expanding trails, upgrading parks and opening a new aquatic center to improve quality of life, Myers said.

The city is catching up on major maintenance issues, such as aging sewers and drainage, before they become a larger expense, he added.

That’s why financial health continues to be a focal point as Myers enters the last year of his first term as mayor, he said. The city is no longer bleeding money, old problems are being corrected and new projects to improve the city are being tackled each year, he said.

“When I started working on my transition after the election in 2011, I was surprised by both the number and seriousness of the challenges the city faced. I was also a bit saddened that many in our community had lost hope in our ability to solve the problems,” Myers said.

“I’m especially proud of our efforts to become better stewards of our resources.” greenwood, page 21

franklin continued from page 20

tion, west of U.S. 31 to City View Farm Apartments.

The state turned over ownership of State Road 44 to Franklin, which allows the city to rebuild the road and sidewalks. The project will include streetscape work, including decorative lighting, benches and landscaping, similar to what’s been done on North Main Street and East and West Court streets.

The total price tag will be around $20 million, but most of the cost is being paid for with state and federal grants, McGuinness said. The Indiana Department of Transportation is giving Franklin $12.8 million for the project, and the city has received additional grants for sidewalks and trails. Whatever isn’t covered by the grants, such as design work and land purchases, is being paid for out of the city’s TIF funds, which are taxes paid by businesses and set aside for infrastructure and economic development projects, McGuinness said.

“That we have secured enough INDOT and federal highway money to build our gateway brings a smile to my face,” McGuinness said. “Construction inconveniences are the only impacts to Franklin residents, not your tax bill.”

Before then, workers will finish the last leg of North Main Street from the post office to U.S. 31. The city will review and adopt a stormwater master plan that will help address flooding concerns and drainage problems in the city in March. And the city will create recommendations for the kind of developments wanted around the I-65 exit.

Businesses grew, relocated and opened in Franklin last year, McGuinness said. Six industrial projects, including a $26 million expansion at Interstate Warehousing, will mean 230 new jobs in the city. Downtown, multiple new restaurants including a brewpub, pizzeria and tap room, diner, and tea house and bakery all are scheduled to open this year, he said.

And Google is coming to town this year, too. The company selected Franklin as a stop on an international education summit tour. The city helped Franklin Community School Corp. purchase Google Chromebook laptops for every high school student, allowing them to use technology more often in the classroom and collaborate with other students on projects.

New development in Franklin also is helping boost growth in all of Johnson County. National surveys and articles, such as one recently done by CNN, point to the county as one of the best places to live in the U.S. “I am extremely excited from where we have been and how we plan to continue our journey in 2015. The days of Franklin and Johnson County being overlooked in central Indiana are over,” McGuinness said. B

Franklin highlights Here’s a look at some of the successes and upcoming projects Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness touched on during his state of the city speech: Other successes of 2014 »Road repairs and maintenance on dozens of city streets, new sidewalks and road surface on Water and Monroe streets and two-thirds of the North Main Street rebuild were done.

What’s coming up in 2015 »Final section of construction on North Main Street, from the post office to U.S. 31 »First phase of construction on Jefferson Street, west of U.S. 31 to approximately City View Farms apartment complex »City will host a Google education summit.

Joe McGuinness

Worth quoting Here are other statements made by Mayor Joe McGuinness at his state of the city address:

“You’ll continue to see such things as new sidewalks, enhanced streetlights and bicycle racks.”

About upcoming improvements on Jefferson Street

*** “We have 9.5 miles of trails and are designing an additional 4.5 miles thanks to the Federal Highway Administration.”

On the city’s success in getting grant money

*** “We have garnered the attention of Google. Franklin, Indiana, is now in the same category as cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. Do I need to repeat that? We are in the same category as L.A. and New York City.”

On the Google education summit

*** “We are competing with the world and must band together to fight for the region.”

On supporting development in all Johnson County communities

greenwood continued from page 20

Money was the main focus of Myers’ remarks as he recounted numerous ways in which the city is saving cash and applying it to new projects. That effort has started at city hall, he said.

The renovation and move to the new city center on South Madison Avenue helped bring all city offices into the same building, while simultaneously redeveloping a 1970s office tower in the heart of downtown, Myers said. But the project has also saved about $120,000 per year in utilities, insurance and rent, and the city is earning about $150,000 per year in new revenue by leasing the attached PNC Bank and office space on the third floor.

“It is a great example of how my administration has conducted business over the past three years. The city center meets our needs. The facility is both attractive and functional, but few have walked into the lobby and immediately asked, ‘What did this cost?’ The city center project is a great example of the Greenwood way of solving problems,” Myers said.

The move downtown is also the first step in the city’s plans to revitalize downtown, and Greenwood has adopted a plan to begin that work.

Some of the redevelopment already has started, including a new barbershop, coffeehouse and fine-dining restaurant that have opened in Old Town. The city is now getting ready to remodel the former city hall and lease that out to a medical services provider, which employs more than 300 people, Myers said.

The city’s redevelopment commission will be instrumental in revamping the former city hall, but it is also paying for other multimillion projects that are needed, Myers said.

The city board, which controls money from Greenwood’s TIF disgreenwood, page 26

Greenwood highlights Here’s some of the successes and upcoming projects Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers touched on during his state of the city speech:

Successes of 2014 »Three years of balanced budgets, including finishing with a $400,000 surplus last year »Finishing renovations and moving into the new city center on South Madison Avenue

What’s coming up in 2015 »Freedom Springs aquatic center will be complete and open Memorial Day weekend »Construction will start on the Pearl Street sewer, stormwater and road improvements, improving downtown infrastructure »Downtown revitalization plans have been completed and the first projects, such as façade renovations, can begin after being talked about for years

Mark Myers

Worth quoting Here’s a few other statements made by Mayor Mark Myers at his state of the city address:

“She taught all of us a lot about how to be leaders and how to be better citizens.”

About his mom, who was in attendance, and her influence on him

*** “No new taxes will need to be levied for the work. After decades of false starts, frustration and disappointment, it appears that revitalization of the Old Town Business District is finally underway.”

On rebuilding the downtown

*** “It will be slightly larger than the Franklin city pool. Sorry, Joe.” Teasing Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness about Greenwood’s new aquatic center, Freedom Springs

*** “Saving the city from financial ruin involved some hard and sometimes unpopular decisions.”

About the changes made to improve the city’s finances

*** “I am proud to be your mayor. Greenwood works because we’re willing to recognize and serve the needs of our future generations.”

On the city

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ask the mompreneur

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by Jennie Wong

Three ways to get publicity for your small business

his week’s “Ask the Mompreneur” features an interview with Jenni Walker, president and co-owner of Walker PR Group.

Q: As a startup founder, I don’t have any budget for professional public relations services. What tips do you have for entrepreneurs to rustle up their own publicity until they can afford someone like you?

A: You don’t need big budgets to generate publicity. All you need is a little time, planning and creativity. If your creative juices aren’t flowing or you’re feeling stuck, bring together your team, family, friends or other colleagues to brainstorm ideas. Also, keep a file of ideas or an ongoing list on your phone or other device to refer to throughout the year.

There are many ways to generate publicity for your small business, but here are three to get you started:

Support a worthy cause Giving back to the community and getting involved in a cause that is important to you and your business is a win-win for both the charity and your business. To get started, identify a cause that you want to support and then contact the organization to determine their specific needs. Once you decide how you will support a particular charity, share it across your various communication channels — company website, social media, emails, company newsletter, a display in your lobby area, etc. Be sure to take photos to include with a press release and other written communications at the end of the project.

Share your expertise As a business owner, you are an expert in your field. Share some of your expertise to help others, generate business and to

spread the word about what you do. Host a seminar, training, webinar or other similar educational event. This can be done solo or with other experts who you want to be part of a program. Once you have determined the type of program you want to hold, write a press release and other communication pieces — an event invitation, information for your website, e-blasts to your connections, social media posts, etc.

— to get the word out. Just be sure you’re giving plenty of lead time for pre-promotion.

Go outside of the box Don’t limit “your story” to just your business and your expertise. Go outside the box to share something more about yourself. Perhaps it’s a particular volunteer endeavor, a hobby or passion. By reading publications (print and digital) and blogs,

listening to the radio, watching the news and staying connected on social media, you may see that a particular reporter or blogger covers a topic or area that would be a good fit for you. If so, then reach out to that person, introduce yourself, and briefly explain why you would be a good fit for what they cover.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to allow enough time to coordinate and execute your ideas. If you are hosting an event for example, let your invitees – and especially any media – know about it well in advance. And make sure your plan is attainable and fits in with your other goals and commitments. B Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book “Ask the Mompreneur” and the creator of the product quiz website www.ABorC. com. Email her at TheJennieWong@gmail.com.

by Josh Patrick

A

fter dedicating a good 20 years to building your own business, the question just might be, “What now?”

When selling the enterprise you nurtured, getting your managers to buy is usually your best bet.

I spend lots of time talking to owners of private companies who are not sure how to leave their business. If you consider selling your company, you might find that it isn’t going to get you the cash you thought.

In the wealth management business, the selling owner usually gets 35 percent to 40 percent in cash and holds paper for the rest.

How would you like to have 60 percent of your wealth depend on how well your buyer runs your old business? If it doesn’t do well,

22

march 2015 I southside business exchange

Tips on how to sell your business

then what happens? The buyer stops paying you. What do you do then? To me, selling your company for some cash to an outsider is a bad idea. There is just too much risk in doing this sort of transaction.

What can you do to make it safer? If you’re going to play bank, you might as well play bank with people you know well, such as the managers in your company. You probably get a little less down, but the business transfer is likely to be more successful. Client and vendor loyalty remains. You can also structure a taxfriendly sale more easily with your own people.

The real trick here is to start early. You can’t make this work if you decide that you want your managers to take over in the next six months. It takes years to get used to the

idea of an ownership change. You need lots of time to make sure they know how to run your company successfully.

You start letting go of control of the business by leaving for a couple of weeks (and do not call in at all.) You then have some idea of how your company does after you leave.

Before you do the deal, hopefully, you should spend at least six weeks away, and everything’s fine when you return.

When you sell your business, tell the buyers you are the one who’s taking the biggest chance. Make sure you have the risk conversation with your managers early in the process. They probably aren’t going to have enough money to write you a big check, so make sure you get proper security agreements

to protect your loan.

That might mean your managers give you a personal guarantee, allow you to control the board of directors and put their homes up as collateral. If you get serious push back from one manager, you have to move on to find another who agrees to your terms.

Plan ahead in choosing and testing your management team. If done properly, an internal transaction is often the most satisfying way to sell your business. B Josh Patrick is a founding principal of Stage 2 Planning Partners in South Burlington, Vermont. He writes for AdviceIQ, which delivers quality personal finance articles by both financial advisors and AdviceIQ editors.

Indiana Business Journal staff reports

Office, industrial markets heated up in 2014 The Indianapolis office and industrial markets posted strong results in 2014 as demand for space in both sectors continued to improve following the recession.

Year-end reports from a handful of local real estate firms show the local office market absorbing anywhere from roughly 300,000 square feet to 400,000 square feet.

That translates to a year-end vacancy rate of about 18 percent, according to reports from CBRE and DTZ (formerly Cassidy Turley). NAI Meridian statistics peg the number higher, at 20.6 percent.

Year over year, the office vacancy rate in the Indianapolis area dipped in 2014 from 19.2 percent to 18.2 percent.

State union membership counters national trend Indiana bucked a national trend in 2014 by experiencing an increase in labor union membership, statistics released by the U. S. Labor Department show.

The state saw union membership rise to 10.7 percent of the labor force last year, up from 9.3 percent in 2013.

A Bureau of Labor Statistics report said that Indiana had roughly 299,000 union members last year, compared with 249,000 the year before. The total number of employed in the state rose from 2.68 million to 2.8 million.

Nationally, the percent of workers who were members of unions in 2014 was 11.1 percent, down from 11.3 percent in each in the two preceding years.

Indiana has seen an increase in union membership the past two years despite enacting a Right to Work law in 2012 that was predicted to cripple labor unions. The state’s union-membership rate in 2012 was 9.1 percent.

Health venture capital dollars tripled in Indiana After a spectacular start, investments in Indiana’s health care companies slowed to a trickle in the second half of 2014, according to data released in January.

Even so, more Hoosier companies than ever attracted outside investments last year,

from the ibj helping Indiana record its largest haul of health-related venture capital since 2007, according to BioEnterprise, a Clevelandbased life sciences business development group. It tracks investment activity in 10 Midwest states, including Indiana.

Indiana’s health care companies attracted $103.8 million in investments last year, the highest total since attracting $135.6 million in 2007. All but $3 million of last year’s investments came during the first six months of the year.

Global spinoff spree Just call 2014 the year of the corporate spinoff frenzy. And 2015 might be just as crazy.

Time Warner Inc., Sears Holdings Corp. and Kimberly-Clark Corp. are some of the better-known companies among a multitude completing spinoffs last year.

Locally based Simon Property Group Inc. and other Indiana companies were in the mix as well, and a record 44 companies worldwide completed spinoffs in 2014, according to a study released by The Edge Consulting Group Ltd. The London-based firm tracks only companies with market values of $250 million or more, and it’s been following spinoffs since 1999. Its study said the combined market value of parent companies involved in de-mergers in 2014 was also a record at $664 billion, and that companies worth a combined $775 billion had already announced spinoffs for 2015.

Hoosier firms attract more venture capital Venture capitalists poured more than $47 million into emerging Indiana companies in 2014, a figure that’s higher than the previous year’s but nowhere close to the cash pumped into Hoosier companies annually between 2007 and 2012.

Early-stage and growth-stage companies raised $47.3 million on 20 deals last year, according to the annual MoneyTree Report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.

That’s more than double the $23.4 million invested in 2013, but only 38 percent of the $123 million per-year average invested for six years starting in 2007. B

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march 2015 I southside business exchange

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By Ann Marie Van Den Hurk

Branding essential to identity, success of your business

B

randing is an important aspect in the world of business, and it’s so much more than simply how a brand looks. The visual representation of the logo of Nike, for example, is only the surface piece of the Nike brand.

It runs deeper than that.

By definition, branding is about the process involved in creating a unique name and image for an organization. The aim of branding is to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the marketplace which attracts and keeps loyal customers.

A logo isn’t a brand. A product isn’t a brand. And a service isn’t a brand. It is all of that woven together, creating a connection with your employees and customers.

For example, let’s talk about Apple. It is an iconic brand known globally. The silvery apple with a bite missing is the company logo. Apple’s products are personal mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad. The Genius Bar is a service they make available to customers.

What makes Apple’s brand is the cultlike devotion of users to their products and services based on their brand promise: every new product must deliver simplicity.

A brand promise can be defined as a commitment connecting your organization’s purpose, positioning within the market, people, and customer experience into one.

There are three things that make a successful brand: l Projecting a consistent look. Think back to Apple and how when you look at any of their devices or materials, you know that is from Apple. l Projecting a consistent tone in your communications. Apple has developed its own language and way of presenting its products. l Projecting a consistent level of quality, demonstrated by consistent communications, consistent products and consistent services. Apple is built on a high level of customer and product satisfaction.

Developing your organization’s brand is

a process, which goes beyond your company’s logo and letterhead. It is a public representation of your business. So how do you develop your company’s brand?

There are six steps to building a good brand: l Define why you are in business. A good start is to answer the following questions to get the ball rolling: what does your business do, what does your business do best, and what customer needs are you meeting? l Think about what you want people to think when they hear your organization’s name. Create a list of those adjectives you hope people think about you. l Ask your employees, vendors, and customers what they think about your organization. If what they share with you doesn’t match with what you think they should be thinking, then there is a disconnect that needs to be realigned. l Identify the benefits you want people to associate with your business.

Understanding what these benefits are helps you figure out the advantages you

want to communicate with customers. l Define your brand. Based on the above, you can define who you are as a business. l Build your brand. Using your brand definition, you can create a brand that resonates and fosters loyal customer behavior throughout every representation of your business in the marketplace.

Essentially, branding is the practice of forming memories, emotions and relationships around your organization’s brand in the customer’s mind. Through building a solid brand, you can build a strong connection so that your customer takes on your brand as part of who they are. Once you develop your brand, then live it in very aspect. Soon your customers will, too. B Ann Marie van den Hurk, an accredited public relations professional, is principal of Mind the Gap Public Relations and author of “Social Media Crisis Communications.” Readers may email her at ann@mindthegappr.com or follow her on Twitter @amvandenhurk.

By Liz Reyer

How to get your team on board with new strategy Q: My company has adopted a new companywide customer engagement strategy. We’ve had some training, but my team doesn’t really get it yet. What can I do to help get everyone on board?

A: Make it concrete and relevant so that your team members can get a deep understanding.

The inner game Many companies are talking about customer experience, and there are new teams, departments and organizations springing up every day to help businesses focus on their customer. The devil is in the details, and helping departments that don’t deal directly with customers understand their effect is one of the challenges.

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march 2015 I southside business exchange

How well do you get it yourself? If you have a clear vision for your team’s customer experience relevance, you’ll be better positioned to help them. If not … well, you need to focus there first.

Consider whether there are other barriers to engagement. If your company has a track record of starting initiatives and not following through, for example, your team may be a bit cynical. Or if people have too much on their plates, this may seem more like a burden than an important step.

Finally, look for any gaps in the information that has been provided, particularly thinking about your team’s learning preferences to make a strategy for how to help them.

The outer game

Start bringing your strategy to life close to home — with yourself. Try standing in front of a mirror, explaining your team’s customer story out loud. If you can’t articulate your group’s connection with the customer, work backward, envisioning your company without your team and the effect it would have on the customer. This is easy if you’re in sales or customer service; it takes more work to map out the connections between you and the customer when you don’t have direct interaction.

Now spend some time with your team to make it personal. My bias is that training doesn’t always include enough time for people to integrate what they’ve learned, reyer, page 26

southside snapshot

business indicators for johnson county

Percent Change

Dec 14/

Nov 14 Dec 14 Dec 13 Labor Force 77,459 76,946 3.66 Employed 73,493 73,106 4.01 Unemployed 3,966 3,840 -2.64 Unemployment Rate (pct) 5.1 5.0 -0.3 Note: All figures not seasonally adjusted SOURCE: Ball State Center for Economic and Business Research

by the numbers Indiana Farms

Average farm size (acres) Farms by size (percent of total farms) 1 to 99 acres 100 to 499 acres 500 to 999 acres 1,000 to 1,999 acres 2000 or more acres Farms by sales, current dollars (percent of total farms) Less than $9,999 $10,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $499,999 More than $500,000

2002 2007 2012 250 242 251 57.5 28.7 7.5 4.7 1.6

62.7 24.7 6.2 4.3 2.1

63.2 24.0 6.1 4.3 2.4

54.0 20.6 8.2 14.1 3.1

54.4 17.8 7.0 14.2 6.6

51.7 16.7 7.2 15.4 9.0

what did they say?

“I wish I could deliver my paychecks to my employees with it. That drone’s the best thing since sliced bread.”

White Glove Towing Company owner Tod Coumbe on the drone he uses to assess damage in auto accidents.

“This takes us to our furthest north location and addresses the most populated location of the county.”

Johnson Memorial Health CEO Larry Heydon on the company purchasing a property on U.S. 31, south of Smith Valley Road, that will house a 10,000- to 15,000-square-foot physicians office building.

“Wow. That’s all I can say. Thank you from the bottom of our grocery cart.”

Interchurch Food Pantry co-manager Shelia Morton on a $20,000 donation given

by HomeBank.

“We’re not going after new drugs. What we’re after are improvements that make Community (Health Network) a better place to receive care and a better place for our caregivers to provide that.”

Pete Turner, vice president of innovation for Community Launchpad, a program that has generated more than 800 ideas from staff members.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

march 2015 I southside business exchange

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trends greenwood U.S. pay and benefits rose by most in 6 years last year continued from page 21

Associated Press

Wages and benefits rose at the fastest pace in six years last year, a sign strong job gains could be forcing companies to pay a bit more for workers.

The Labor Department said that the employment cost index, which measures pay and benefits, rose 2.2 percent in 2014, up from 2 percent the previous year. That’s the biggest gain since 2008. It’s also ahead of inflation, which rose 1.3 percent.

Yet the increase is still sluggish by histori-

cal standards. In a healthy economy, the index usually rises at about a 3.5 percent pace.

The Federal Reserve is closing watching wages as it considers when to raise the short-term interest rate it controls. Fed Chair Janet Yellen considers rising wages a key sign that the job market is nearing full health. Higher pay can also push up inflation, which typically prompts the Fed to raise interest rates. B

reyer

fortable as a facilitator, great; however, having a neutral third party running your meeting can free you up to participate with your team members. Also, having expertise regarding the initiative itself could be helpful, though you’ll need to be sure that your team members feel safe in expressing reservations so that they can be addressed.

continued from page 24

and on a culture change initiative like this, it’s essential. If it’s a large group, do a kickoff conversation with the whole group and then break into smaller teams to think it through.

Once everyone gets it, work as a team to develop action plans. Figuring out what you can do differently, how you can maintain awareness of the centrality of your customer, and how you can remain attuned to your company’s direction will build momentum. For example, perhaps each team member can shadow a customer service rep for a few hours. This isn’t “one and done,” so build an ongoing structure for discussion and customer-focused activity.

Look for help with this. If you’re com-

chatter

continued from page 19 West Point Financial Group, Indianapolis Vaught Family Eye Care, Franklin Info: www.franklincoc.org or 736-6334

Credit Union donates $2,960 to schools

Indiana Members Credit Union recently presented a check for $2,960 to Beech Grove City Schools as part of an ongoing school spirit debit card program. The partnership allows Beech Grove fans the opportunity to show their school spirit and support the athletic program by signing up for a Beech Grove Hornets themed debit card.

Network’s new tool helps patients gauge costs

Community Health Network is releasing a new tool that will help patients determine outof-pocket health care expenses.

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march 2015 I southside business exchange

The last word When you support your customer-facing colleagues, take pride that you’re supporting your customers. B Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www. deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.

My Estimate is part the hospital network’s new Office of Patient Experience. Community will work with patients’ insurers to obtain price estimates in advance of health services.

Out-of-pocket price estimates will be provided to patients for inpatient and outpatient procedures when they call 355-9279 or 844786-9503 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Messages left after hours or on weekends will be returned within 48 hours or the next business day. Online requests can be submitted at eCommunity.com/myestimate.

Patients fill out a request form online, and a Community pricing analyst will contact them to review the estimate and answer questions.

In most cases, professional fees, anesthesiologist fees and radiologist reading fees are not included in the estimate. Price estimates are not guaranteed.

Injury clinic opens at sports medicine office

Methodist Sports Medicine has opened a

tricts, is paying for part of the new interchange and four-lane boulevard at Worthsville Road and the new aquatic center, which are all going to open in 2015.

Property taxes aren’t enough to fund major projects, so TIF dollars have been key, he said.

Property tax caps have squeezed revenues for years and made the city get smarter about how to operate and spend money, Myers said. The city was burning through its savings when Myers took office, but Greenwood has since approved balanced budgets, which required sacrifices by city staff and residents, he said.

City controller Adam Stone has found ways to cut costs wherever possible while improving the city’s financial reporting, which has allowed the city to get better deals on loans and save more than a half-million dollars.

City attorney Krista Taggart and the legal department have been able to do work in-house, instead of paying an outside attorney to work on annexations or finalize loans. At the same time, they have collected about $750,000 in unpaid utility bills, Myers said.

The work is paying off, with the city recently ranked in one study as one of the most affordable communities in the country to live in, the mayor said.

While trimming costs, the city is reinvestsame-day appointment clinic for acute orthopedic injury or onset of pain at the new Greenwood office, at 1401 W. County Line Road.

Patients will be examined by fellowship-trained physicians who can diagnose and treat orthopedic injuries at the new southside location, which opened in January.

The clinic will receive patients from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.

Methodist Sports Medicine moved from its former location on South Meridian Street to its new expanded facility, which includes physician offices, suites for MRI, pain management, rehabilitation and chiropractic care.

The facility is staffed with nine orthopedic surgeons, a primary care sports medicine physician, a chiropractic doctor, physical and occupational therapists, athletic trainers and radiology technicians.

Appointments are required in advance

ing in equipment and infrastructure.

Greenwood has replaced more than 30 vehicles, reducing the average age of the city’s fleet of trucks, fire engines and police cars.

And the city is spending millions to update stormwater pipes or sewer lines that are nearly 100 years old in some places, such as the Pearl Street project scheduled for this summer or the ongoing Pleasant Run Creek project in downtown, Myers said.

The city also is investing in quality of life, with parks, playground equipment, trails and the new aquatic center, which turn into a major selling point for new businesses considering Greenwood, Myers said.

“A high quality of life attracts high-quality employers and helps to ensure that employees chose Greenwood as their homes, as opposed to commuting from neighboring communities,” Myers said. B

wilbur

continued from page 13

world, especially being national security adviser and secretary of state. I would love to talk to her about her triumphs and her challenges, her most memorable experiences in the White House, being one of the first women admitted as a member of the Augusta National Golf Club and being a role model for women all over the world. B and can be requested by calling 208-5110.

For more information, visit methodistsports. com.

Franklin a ‘fit-friendly’ workplace

The American Heart Association recognized 57 Indiana companies and organizations, including the city of Franklin, as Fit-Friendly Worksites for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace. Nationally, the association recognized 1,896 companies during this application cycle.

The Fit-Friendly Companies program helps companies make their employees’ health and wellness a priority.

Companies reach Gold level status, as Franklin did, by implementing various activities and programs to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as on-site walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools. B

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