Southside Business Exchange - December 2014

business exchange southside

December 2014

A DAILY JOURNAL PUBLICATION

TO a

TEA

Sassafras Tea Room a perfect fit for Cheryl Domi

also inside what’s new in human resources? greenwood chamber newsletter

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business exchange december 2014 I volume 12 I number 12

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

On the cover

Cheryl Domi, owner of Sassafras Tea Room in Greenwood.

Photo by Mark Freeland/correspondent

pg. 4

Tea for You: Old Town Greenwood restaurant features a flair for the formal.

pg. 10

Greenwood chamber: Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

pg. 13

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

pg. 16

pg. 8

What’s New in HR?: Human resources managers need to stay abreast of the changing times.

pg. 12

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

pg. 14

Corporate Chatter: Companies making news on the southside.

pg. 18

Interstate-69 : Local business leaders tell you what route they think new road should take.

Advice: You need to invest in good employees in order to keep them.

COPYRIGHT © Daily Journal, 2014 All rights reserved.

E-mail: biz@dailyjournal.net

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

december 2014 calendar

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

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, 317-281-2930, Cathy Claycomb, 317-250-0467

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, 317-888-3901 or bruce@facilitatorsinternational.org

Edinburgh Lions Club

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

Edinburgh Merchants Association 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

Dec. 9: Chamber Holiday Celebration, 4 to 6 p.m., Dye’s Walk Country Club. Free.

Dec. 16: Membership 101, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Chamber Office. Free.

Dec. 24-25: Office closed Dec. 31-Jan. 1: Office closed 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

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

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

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 8811953

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

Rainmakers - Greenwood Where: Stone Creek Dining Company, 911 N. State Road

135, Greenwood When: 7:30 a.m., last Friday Info: www.gorainmakers.com

Rainmakers Southside

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, 317-881-7575

Rotary Club of Johnson County

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

Where: September, at Las Chalupa in Bargersville; October, at Oaken & Barrel in Greenwood; November, at The Willard in Franklin; December, at Las Chalupa in Bargersville Info: Karen Buckler, 407-8915

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: Southern Dunes Golf Course, 8220 S. Tibbs Ave., Indianapolis When: 6:45 p.m. first, second and fourth Thursdays, 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 december 2014 I southside business exchange

3

USING ALL HER TALENTS Running restaurant brings out the best in owner STORY BY AMY MAY PHOTOS BY MARK FREELAND

C

Tea Room in Greenwood. heryl Domi almost became a home economics teacher. She actually began her college education “I was still working for Karin and she was trying to set it up at Ball State University taking education courses, down here. I bought it from her,” Domi said. “It just kind of fell before switching to interior design. in my lap. I worked for her for four years, then I took this over.”

Domi, who has spent much of her adult life as Although a seamstress by trade, Domi felt confident she had an independent businesswoman, realized teachlearned what she needed to know about runing would not be for her. ning a tea room.

Sassafras “I didn’t like getting in front of a group,” she All her talents are put to use in the restauTea Room said. “Now, I do it all the time.” rant, she said.

Address: 229 N. Madison Ave., Greenwood, IN 46142 Her parents ran businesses when Domi was a “I had worked in restaurants before. The Phone: 317-888-8449 child. She remembers dusting the merchandise draperies business was interior design. I also Website: http://sassafrastearoom. com/ at her family’s furniture store, answering the use that here to create a festive, yet homey Founded: January 2010 phones at their funeral home and helping cusfeel. This is pretty much everything I’ve had Manager/owner: Cheryl Lutz Domi Employees: 4 to 6 tomers at her grandparents’ dime store in and done over the years all put together,” Business hours: Monday through southern Indiana. After college, she started her she said.

Saturday, lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; own window coverings business on the northThe Sassafras Tea Room opened January tea, 2:30-4 p.m. (reservations only for tea) side of Indianapolis, Windows Interiors By 2010 in Old Town Greenwood.

Cheryl, which she owned and operated for 12 The business is in a late-1800s Georgian years. home that was once the home of Dr. Sheek, She then worked with a friend, Karin Glass, for a few years, the town doctor. Unlike many historic homes repurposed into helping her start three tearooms, Serenity in Zionsville, businesses, this home was intentionally left looking like a house.

Serendipity in Carmel and Signature in downtown The hardwood floors are covered with Oriental rugs and an Indianapolis. Her friend had also planned to open the Sassafras eclectic, yet harmonious arrangement of old-fashioned tables

4

“ december 2014 I southside business exchange

This is pretty much everything I’ve had and done over the years all put together.

— Cheryl Domi

”

Owner Cheryl Domi serves up a piece of caramel cake with whipped cream. Opposite page: The

interior of the Sassafras Tea Room.

december 2014 I southside business exchange

5

and chairs and place settings. No two tables are identical, which was intended, Domi said.

She gets the tables and place settings from “all over,” including family and friends and thrift shops. The effect is like being at a get-together in a family home, where the dishes, tablecloths and chairs don’t necessary match.

“It’s like being in Grandma’s house,” Domi said.

The signature offering is the afternoon tea, which is offered Monday through Saturday, 2:30 to 4 p.m.

British tradition

6

Afternoon tea is a British tradition said to have been introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840. Dinner in upper-class society was served fashionably late, so when people become hungry in the afternoon, they had a long time to wait to eat. Anna would ask for a tray of tea and bread and butter to be brought to her room around 4 in the afternoon. She began inviting friends to join her for the afternoon snack. Soon it became a fashionable event, with ladies dressing up in gowns, gloves and hats for light refreshments and conversation in the drawing rooms of upper-class homes. The British still have tea and a snack in the late afternoon, although much of the ceremony and ritual is gone, with Brits more likely to have a quick mug of tea and a biscuit at 4 p.m., according to HistoricUK.com.

The more formal version of the tradition crossed the ocean, however, and afternoon tea is offered in upscale hotels and restaurants across the country, including the former L.S. Ayres Tea Room in Indianapolis.

Sassafras Tea Room’s deluxe tea package is called “The Duchess Tea.” It includes three varieties of teas, four types of finger sandwiches (chicken salad, cucumber, etc.), and a tower of sweet treats, such as brownies, éclairs, scones, cream puffs, lemon bars, etc.

A “petite” version of the tea, “The Princess Tea,” is december 2014 I southside business exchange

Above left: A card with the types of tea offered. Teas vary according to the season. Above: The building is a late 1800s home with a fireplace. Opposite page: The restaurant features an array of tea cups and tea pots.

also available. For little girls, it includes a craft and makes an ideal children’s birthday party, Domi said.

Domi said many of her customers who come for afternoon tea are in a party. It’s often a setting for wedding showers, baby showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties. Organized groups, such as members of the local Red Hat Society, residents from area senior citizen homes or a church women’s group, also enjoy coming for tea. For celebrations, Sassafras can make personalized, decorated cakes.

“We try to make it a special environment and for the whole experience to be unique and memorable for them,” Domi said. “We cover the whole gamut.

We’ve done everything but a divorce party.”

Sassafras has a lunch menu, as well. Sandwiches, salads and soups are offered, including the iconic Chicken Velvet Soup from the L.S. Ayres Tea Room. Lunch is served before tea time and includes more substantial fare.

All the food and treats are homemade. Domi can make gluten-free foods, as well, and is willing to tweak recipes to accommodate a customer’s allergies.

Many people learn about her restaurant on the Internet and it becomes a destination for some, bringing people from all over the state. Domi said she’s had customers hail from as far away as Australia. They were staying in a hotel in Indianapolis and decided to make the trip south for afternoon tea.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER DELIVERED YOUR WAY EZ Simple, automatic payments deducted from your credit/debit card, or checking account.

And tea is not just for the ladies. Domi said they get men in there, either as part of a family group or on their own for lunch.

“We’re not a typical tea room. A lot of times, men don’t want to go to a tea room, but even the men don’t leave here hungry,” she said.

After opening, Domi expanded the restaurant to the upstairs of the home, raising the capacity to approximately 50.

She recently added offsite catering, offering her signature foods and teas at events, such as wedding receptions or small office parties. She has also offered dinner for special occasion groups at the restaurant, but is not open to the public for dinner.

The holiday season is especially busy, with so many groups looking for a fun and unique activity.

She is offering “Tea with Mrs. Claus” this year on Dec. 13-14.

Her downtime, she said is in January and February.

“Come winter, I’ve got to think outside the box a little,” she said.

The restaurant also offers a variety of retail items, including sampler packages of teas that are served there and arts and crafts from local artisans. The walls are

decorated with works from Southside Art League members and are for sale, as well.

As she grows and expands her offerings, Domi is experiencing a problem, although it’s a good one to have, she said. She has outgrown her kitchen; she especially needs a bigger and better refrigerator.

Plans to expand So Domi plans to expand the kitchen into the neighboring room, originally the home’s dining room.

Right now, the room has guest tables, but people don’t like to sit so close to the kitchen anyway, she said. Most prefer the home’s front room with its cozy fireplace and view of Madison Avenue.

Domi said it would be difficult for her to work for someone else at this point in her life, although running her own business does have its negatives, most of which she knew to expect, such as dealing with a no-show employee or the high cost of new equipment.

“Expect that you’re going to work long hours,” she said. “It’d be nice to have a consistent paycheck, too. But I’ve been on my own for so long, so I am loving this.” B

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december 2014 I southside business exchange

7

trends

By Greg Seiter/correspondent

HR pros need to handle many changes

P

eople-related business policies and procedures can be affected by numerous variables, including political decisions and technological advancements.

While some marketplace issues are short-lived and require little attention from human resources professionals, others demand almost constant monitoring. One of those topics is health care.

“We continue to work with health care reform issues,” said Dawn Lively, director of client services with Greenwood-based Tilson, which provides HR outsourcing services. “There are different requirements laid out going into each subsequent year, and there’s a lot to keep track of. Being aware of the amount of businesses someone owns in order to be able to count how many employees they actually have is important.

“Management also has to know about providing minimum health care and whether or not what they have in place meets minimum requirements.”

Affordable Care Act In 2015, the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect, which affects how employees are classified.

“Are they full-time or part-time, and what does that mean for their benefit eligibility?” Lively said of the forthcoming changes. “The difficult thing for businesses is that different pieces and parts of this have been delayed. So some of them have said they’ll just do what they’re required to when they’re told to do so. That’s not really the right approach because the freight train is still coming.”

Same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage is another issue of prolonged debate that HR representatives must be aware of.

Same-sex marriage in Indiana has been legal since Oct. 7, the day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal of the decision

8

“

that allowed the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to require Indiana to license and recognize samesex marriages.

“Right now, a lot of information is in limbo,” Lively said. “Everybody is having to review existing plan documents. But due to the current situation, everybody is in nebulous land. And on top of that, there are federal employment laws, family medical leave and other issues to examine. When the federal government is making changes in real time, each day, people take positions and many things must be considered.

“For a local company that may have maternity

leave and a paternity policy, they need to look at the language and determine whether paternity leave language is best for them going forward. The bottom line is that businesses have to carefully look at policies to make sure there’s nothing discriminating in any way regarding sexual orientation.”

Social media According to Lively, social media-related policies and procedures continue to be an area of focus for HR workers. In fact, she recommends that business owners utilize legal representation in order to clearly define rules that are compliant with industry regulations.

You simply cannot have a policy any longer that says an employee will be fired for talking about their employer on Facebook.

december 2014 I southside business exchange

— Dawn Lively, Tilson

”

She suggested checking into what policies are currently in place for employees regarding what they can and can’t say about their colleagues or employer through social media.

“Now is the time to examine your employee handbook,” she said. “In fact, you may want to consider having an attorney look at it in order to make sure it isn’t too restrictive. You simply cannot have a policy any longer that says an employee will be fired for talking about their employer on Facebook.”

Tobacco policies One of the oldest topics of discussion in the HR industry involves the use of tobacco products in the workplace. As a matter of fact, Lively said e-cigarettes are even a part of today’s policy-related conversations.

“

“We’re advising clients to have the same policies in place (for e-cigs) that they already have for tobacco,” she said. “It basically gets down to semantics and how things should be worded. Part of it is simply about smoking and hazards in the workplace but another part is about odors in the workplace.”

they understand what’s changing. She added that Tilson created a webinar with recommendations for its clients to implement at their places of business.

“Most of it is pretty easy to comply with,” she said. “But if you’re not aware of the changes that need to be made in order to comply, it could be an issue for you.”

Hazardous chemicals

Hiring and firing

The same can be said for hazardous chemical marking systems based on changes being implemented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“One thing is to have a material data sheet that tells things like what to do if a substance is ingested or gets in the eyes,” Lively said.

She said employers need to go through the regulations with their staffs, so that

In addition, there are many issues to consider relative to the hiring and firing of employees and according to Lively, one of the biggest has to do with what is commonly referred to as “ban the box” verbiage on employment applications.

“In the past, it was always standard procedure to ask if a person had ever been convicted of a crime,” she said. “But now, more and more states and localities are determin-

We’re advising clients to have the same policies in place (for e-cigs) that they already have for tobacco.

— Dawn Lively, Tilson

ing that it’s not appropriate to ask.

She said this hasn’t been brought up or questioned in Indiana yet. But in a multitude of states, it’s no longer acceptable.

“The change in opinion says you should only ask that question if it’s pertinent to a person’s job,” she said.

Non-competing clauses Non-competing agreements, which some workers sign when they hire on, state that the employee may not be able to work in the same field or radius if they leave that job.

“A lot of that is being questioned now,” Lively said. “And parts are even being struck down because those types of rules are simply not enforceable.

“You can’t impede someone’s ability to earn a living. The rule must be enforceable and realistic.” B

”

december 2014 I southside business exchange

9

Medical Group in Louisville, Kentucky. He also has health care administration experience in Indianapolis as well as with the U.S. Air Force.

Kimberly Sharp, a registered nurse, has been appointed director of pain management. She has 30 years of care BOND experience and is board-certified in pain management. She is a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association, American Society of Pain Management Nurses and Healing Beyond Borders.

Methodist Sports Medicine adds doctor

people on the move people making news on the southside

Chiropractor opens practice

Dr. Amanda Meyers has opened her practice, Optimal Vitality Chiropractic, at 925 N. Main St. in Franklin.

She completed her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic in August 2014 and is boardcertified in several techniques, including Koren Specific, Thompson, Logan Basic, Sacro-Occipital, NIMMO/ MEYERS Receptor Tonus, Diversified and Graston. During her education, she served as a peer mentor and earned two awards: Health Center Achievement Award for exemplary clinical performance and academic excellence, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation for her service as a senior intern for Logan University Health Centers.

Meyers is a life-long resident of Johnson County and a 2006 graduate of Franklin Community High School.

Community Physician Network names leaders

Community Physician Network recently announced two new leadership appointments: Kenneth Bond has been named executive director of specialty care. He joins Community with more than 14 years of health care experience, most recently serving as executive director of operations for Baptist Health

Methodist Sports Medicine recently added Dr. Ryan Jaggers to its roster of physicians.

Jaggers specializes in sports medicine and knee disorders. He is a native of Indiana and graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his sports medicine fellowship training at Methodist Sports Medicine. He also has experience in partial and total knee replacement surgeries.

He will practice at Methodist Sports Medicine’s southside location, which will move from its current location on south Meridian Street near County Line Road to an expanded office at 1401 W. County Line Road in Greenwood in early 2015.

Hospitalist joins Franciscan network

Dr. Jerome J. Cordova has joined Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians as a hospitalist.

He is part of the newly established Cardiovascular Hospitalist Program, which will team him with interventional cardiologists to admit and consult on patients overnight. Hospitalists specialize in the care of patients in the hospital. Board-eligible in CORDOVA internal medicine, he is a member of the American Medical Association and American College of Physicians.

Greenwood man earns insurance designation

Derek I. Lacy, vice president of ISU American Business Insurance in Greenwood, has been awarded the professional insurance designation Chartered Property Casualty

Underwriter. He received the designation from the Institutes, an educational organization that gives the designation to people who completed the required coursework and examinations.

He is a graduate of Franklin Community High School and of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He received his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 2010.

Family medicine physician honored for clinical care, dedication

Dr. Eric Hartman has been recognized with Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Healing Hands Award. The award is given quarterly by the Physician Satisfaction Committee at Franciscan St. Francis.

Dr. Hartman has been a part of the Franciscan St. Francis family since he joined the residency program in 2009. He is affiliated with Indiana Internal Medicine Consultants. He is a graduate HARTMAN of the University of Arkansas for Medical Services and is board-certified in family medicine.

The award recognizes Franciscan St. Francis physicians for excellence in clinical skills, patient relations, research, stewardship and reflection of the hospital’s care ministry, values and mission.

Area attorney to serve on board

Patrick J. Olmstead Jr., a Greenwood resident, was elected to the board of governors of the Indiana State Bar Association at its annual meeting in Indianapolis in October.

He will serve a two-year term, representing one of 13 districts in the state.

Olmstead is a practitioner at his firm, Patrick Olmstead Law LLC. He is a member of the American, Indiana state and Indianapolis bar associations.

Physician establishes practice at Oncology & Hematology Specialists

Dr. Meghana Raghavendra has joined Franciscan Physician Network Oncology & Hematology Specialists.

She joins seven cancer specialists, who provide care at Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel hospitals. This team also cares for patients at locations in Greensburg,

Franklin, Rushville, Columbus and Shelbyville.

Raghavendra specializes in medical oncology, and is board-certified in internal medicine. Sshe earned her medical degree from BLDEA’s Shri B.M. Patil Medical College in Raghavendra India.

College names program director

Franklin College has named Jennifer Austin as program director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training.

The college is applying for accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education for the program.

The college anticipates enrolling its first graduate students in the summer of 2016.

Austin earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Ohio University. She previously worked as an associate professor and program director of athletic training at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Students who enroll as undergraduates at Franklin College may apply to the graduate program in their junior year. Students with bachelor’s degrees from other institutions may apply to the graduate program starting in the fall of 2015 for admission into the 2016 cohort group.

Hotel employee honored

Hampton Hotels has honored Michael Sweet, front desk associate, at Hampton Inn Columbus/Taylorsville/Edinburgh with the company’s Spirit of Hampton Award.

This award recognizes Sweet as a top performer within Hampton Hotels for exceeding expectations of both customers and fellow team members.

Sweet was nominated for the award by his peers for being a role model, extra efforts for customers and fellow employees and his sense of humor, according to a statement from the hotel chain.

Hampton Hotels recognizes 240 employees per year with the award. As a recipient of the award, Sweet will receive a cash prize, a Spirit of Hampton Award plaque and other special recognition during the year.

The Hampton Inn is near the Edinburgh Premium Outlets. B

noteworthy Innovative Technologies is celebrating 15 years as a Greenwood business.

In celebration, the company held a neighborhood block party on Nov. 5 at its office, 550 U.S. 31 South. The event featured free food, giveaways and local entertainment. In attendance were Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers, members of the Greater Greenwood and Franklin chamber of commerce, local business owners, clients, and community members. Innovative Technologies, owned by Robert Kanter, does business and residential computer repair as well as web development/hosting, software development, business consulting and online backup. The company moved into the old Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce building in August 2010. Info: 317-885-7049 or www.itindiana.com

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december 2014 I southside business exchange

southside snapshot

business indicators for johnson county

what did they say?

Percent Change

Sep 14/

Sep 14 Aug 14 Sep 13 Labor Force 76,217 77,202 2.03 Employed 72,935 73,739 3.27 Unemployed 3,282 3,463 -19.36 Unemployment Rate (pct) 4.3 4.5 -1.1

“We did agree it would be much wiser if we could just keep the ownership and lease it so we could have control of the use. There were some suggestions for different uses that would not be beneficial to the city, so that was one of the reasons to keep it.”

Note: All figures not seasonally adjusted SOURCE: Ball State Center for Economic and Business Research

by the numbers U.S. Industrial Production

Apr 14

May 14

Jun 14

Industrial Prod. Index 103.1885 Business Equipment 106.2978 Consumer Goods 97.369 Durable Cons. Goods 100.7342 Nondurable Cons. Goods 96.8189 Electric/Gas Utilities 101.0263 Final Products (Market Grp) 100.1931 Manufacturing (NAICS) 100.7583 Durable Mfg (NAICS) 108.388 Nondurable Mfg (NAICS) 93.0016 Materials 110.4256 Durable Materials 113.2694 Nondurable Materials 90.0211 Mining 127.718 Capacity Utilization: Total 79.0 Capacity Utilization: Mfg (NAICS) 77.7

103.6619 107.1904 97.0016 102.1699 95.9595 101.2496 100.1539 101.1486 109.6872 92.5053 111.3457 114.73 89.8009 128.9957 79.1 77.8

103.9503 106.8781 96.7185 102.8293 95.4195 99.2511 99.9028 101.462 110.1519 92.6705 112.2092 115.8208 89.7649 130.8851 79.1 77.9

Jul 14 Aug 14

Sep 14

104.1916 104.0187 105.0728 108.1385 107.8789 108.1936 97.1353 96.4887 96.9953 107.3343 103.4513 103.1864 94.7303 94.9561 95.6726 96.2629 97.4512 101.2219 100.5258 100.0289 100.5731 102.2919 101.8244 102.2986 111.7221 110.6458 111.1422 92.7785 92.9027 93.3536 112.0942 112.0625 113.5968 116.667 116.0994 116.9079 89.9123 89.9054 90.5226 130.8287 131.2763 133.7001 79.1 78.7 79.3 78.4 77.9 78.1

Greenwood Redevelopment Commission president Mike Tapp on the city’s plan to remodel its former city hall

“It is just far enough south that people who aren’t familiar get in the car and once they hit the residential area, they say, ‘I think we’ve left the retail hub.’”

Cheryl Morphew, Johnson County Development Corp. president and chief executive officer, on the vacant Marsh store at Smith Valley Road and U.S. 31 in Grenwood.

“It shows where we’re at and where we’re going. Meijer is not going to build in a community that isn’t making some progress and doing the right thing. Picking Franklin, we’re very excited to welcome them when they get here.”

Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness on Meijer’s plans to open a supercenter in the city.

“There are just too many obstacles for a small business to overcome these days.

Downtown is a very tough environment to have a retail store. It became a business decision and a very hard one to make. But it had to be made.”

Henderson Drugs owner Travis Richey on the downtown Franklin company closing after 130 years in business.

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13

Tony Nally, will become the branch manager at Franklin. Stephen Bradburn, an associate with Carpenter’s Franklin office will become the assistant manager. Jarvis’ branch in Nineveh will continue under the Carpenter name with David Pierce as the director.

IMCU official partner of Marian University athletics

Indiana Members Credit Union has become an official partner of the Marian University Knights Athletics, which includes an exclusive Marian University Knights debit card, naming rights to the M-Club hospitality area for all Marian University home football games, in-stadium signage, radio commercials during all basketball and football broadcasts and hospitality.

IMCU is headquartered on the southside of Indianapolis.

Aspire Johnson County selected for Community Conversation series

corporate chatter companies making news on the southside

New doctor’s office open in Trafalgar

American Health Network opened a new doctor’s office in Trafalgar on Oct. 1.

Dr. Patricia Hallett and nurse practitioner Karen Kinney now practice at 106 S. State Road 135, Suite C. Hallett is a family medicine doctor. She is a graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her residency at St. Francis Hospital. Her clinical interests include obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health.

Kinney also specializes in family medicine.

She earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Indianapolis and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Depauw University.

Hallett and Kinney also practice at their office at 520 Tracy Road, New Whiteland.

Info: 535-7447

Chamber hosts Start Here event

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce will participate in the fifth annual Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 with its “Start Here” open house from 9 a.m. to noon at the chamber office at 120 E Jefferson St. Shoppers can show support for small businesses and pick up Shop Small giveaways, including coupons, information on participating businesses, free shopping bag, and coffee and donuts.

Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide.

Celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the day has given small businesses across the country a boost.

Franklin realty firms merge

The merger of the Franklin branch of Carpenter Realtors with Jarvis Realty was announced by David Caveness, president of Carpenter Realtors and Tony Jarvis, president of Jarvis Realty Group. The combined operations are located in the existing Franklin Carpenter branch at 3 E. Monroe St. on the square in Franklin and will operate as Carpenter Realtors.

Tony Jarvis, president of Jarvis Realty Group, will continue working in Franklin and Columbus. The Jarvis Realty Group manager,

14

Aspire Johnson County has been selected for Indiana’s Community Conversation series, a program that evaluates a region’s assets and determines its current and future needs.

The Community Conversation helps selected regions better understand their past and prepare them for the future. Aspire Johnson County, a community betterment initiative, applied for the program as part of its ongoing research and planning efforts.

The Community Conversation partners will work with Aspire Johnson County to convene a regional conversation among community leaders and citizens from public, private and non-profit sectors; evaluate possible solutions for addressing community challenges and discuss best practices; provide access to resources, technology and expertise in the creation of solutions to community issues; and provide ongoing consultation.

Aspire Johnson County was one of four Indiana entities selected for the Community Conversation series.

Franciscan St. Francis reaccredited as Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis has achieved renewal as a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Facilities are required to maintain standards set by the Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, the unified program between the American College of Surgeons and the ASMBS. Recertification occurs every three years.

This review process confirms that all Center of Excellence programs, new and existing, continue to meet the evidence-based quality thresholds determined by expert physicians and medical organizations. It also provides an opportunity to improve the overall quality of care by requiring all centers to meet criteria that keep pace with ongoing advances in clinical practice.

Ann’s Restaurant celebrates renovation

The 62-year-old Ann’s Restaurant, 77 W. Monroe St., Franklin was completely renovated with support from the Franklin Development Corporation Facade grant program, Johnson County Community Foundation, philanthropist Cindy Simon Skjodt, the Indianapolis Colts and others.

The restaurant is operated by employees of Tara Treatment Center Inc. and all profits generated by restaurant sales are used to support

december 2014 I southside business exchange

alcohol and drug treatment programming.

Tara, Ann’s and the Historic Artcraft Theatre recently hosted a fundraiser that included dinner and a showing of “Gone with the Wind.

IMCU raises money for Komen

Indiana Members Credit Union supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month and designated Oct. 10 as Breast Cancer Awareness Day for its employees.

IMCU’s President and CEO Ron Collier challenged employees to show support by donating $5 to wear jeans to work; 113 employees participated. IMCU is donating the $565 to Susan G. Komen Central Indiana, to help fight cancer locally.

Rural King to take Kmart space

Less than a month after a Greenwood retailer announced it will shut its doors, Rural King has finalized plans to fill the store once it’s vacated.

Rural King expects to be open in the Kmart building near Smith Valley Road and U.S. 31 by May, Rural King director of marketing David Bailey said.

Sears Holdings, which owns Kmart, announced earlier this month it would close its Greenwood store at 860 U.S. 31 South by midJanuary. Rural King quickly pounced on the location, since the company typically likes to open new stores in existing spaces, Bailey said.

The company will begin renovations on the building as soon as Kmart is out and should be completed by the end of February, Bailey said.

The store’s grand opening is targeted for late April or May — and the company will hire 50 to 60 workers, he said.

Racing business plans new storage building

A Greenwood-based racing business plans to build a new storage building at its facility just off U.S. 31.

Gene Nolen Racing, located south of Pushville Road and U.S. 31, asked for permission to construct the new 5,000-square-foot building, which will be used for storage.

Gene Nolen Racing is a business wellknown in racing circles for focusing on small, open-wheeled racing categories, such as sprint cars. The new building is for storage and is not expected to add any new jobs or business expansion, Greenwood planning director Bill Peeples said.

The city had to give the business at 117 Crossroads Drive a special approval because the new building would be within 50 feet of the property boundary at the small industrial park in Greenwood. The variance was granted because another building on the property already comes within 50 feet of the line and the new building would not pose any hardship on the adjoining property, Peeples said.

Franklin officials, residents meet, discuss development options

Stricter development standards, higher-end shopping, dining and hotel options and landscaping all top the list of what residents want for the east side of Franklin.

About 50 people attended a meeting in late October to discuss what they would like to see done with the area along State Road 44 and King Street, near Interstate 65. They prioritized which properties should be developed and how, voted on design and architectural standards and laid out their overall vision for the east side.

The city is working on a strategic plan to develop the area, which is viewed as a gateway into Franklin. And as part of that plan, the city wanted input from residents to make sure planners are on the same page as the community in what they want for the area, Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness and HWC Engineering Senior Planner Chris Hamm said.

What residents want: High-end retail businesses, hotels and restaurants either in standalone buildings or new strip malls, and manufacturing facilities on the east side of the interchange.

What they don’t want: More apartments.

Meijer plans to open supercenter in Franklin

Meijer plans to build a 200,000-plus-squarefoot store and gas station at the southwest corner of U.S. 31 and Commerce Drive on the northern end of Franklin. The site is currently farmland. A farmhouse near the corner will be demolished to make way for the store, which will be across the highway from Chili’s, Starbucks and a bank.

The store will be similar to the Meijer on State Road 135 in the Center Grove area, Mayor Joe McGuinness said.

Henderson Drugs closes in downtown Franklin

Henderson Drugs has closed its downtown Franklin location after more than 130 years in business.

The owners cited difficulties for an independent business to compete with larger chains, including navigating reimbursement requirements recently imposed by the federal government for patients with Medicaid and Medicare.

Downtown Franklin, with the recent road construction that has blocked off streets and parking and façade work at multiple buildings, including at Henderson Drugs, also became too disruptive to business, owner Travis Richey said.

The pharmacy is closing, but Henderson’s home medical equipment store will remain open in the same location, Richey said.

Henderson Drugs has been open in Franklin since 1878. For the past 60 years, it operated a block away from the courthouse and had become an iconic presence on the corner of Jefferson and Water streets.

Greenwood may underwrite city hall renovation

About two years after Greenwood officials turned down an idea to remodel the former city hall, the city is looking at spending about $2.5 million to do just that.

A business is interested in consolidating all of its locations into the former city hall on Madison Avenue, but first Greenwood would need to spend the money to gut and rebuild the interior of the nearly 100-year-old building.

The project could cost about $2.5 million, but that is money the city is willing to spend to secure an agreement with a business that will bring people downtown, Mayor Mark Myers said. The funds would have to come from the city’s tax-increment financing, or TIF, districts, which collect property taxes from certain businesses to pay for economic development and infrastructure projects.

The city would have to tap into TIF funds to pay for the renovation cost upfront, but rent from the building would help pay back that expense over time, Myers said. B

from the IBJ

State’s small firms not dropping their health plans

I

ndianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. has reported — again — that its small employer customers are ending their group health plans faster than expected.

(If this sounds familiar, WellPoint executives said the same thing in July. Since then, the pace of this trend has only accelerated).

A process that WellPoint initially expected to take five years will now happen in two, WellPoint CEO Joe Swedish told analysts during a conference call. In the past year, WellPoint has lost 300,000, or 19 percent, of the members in its small employer health plans.

“I think now that you’ve got exchanges up and running and functioning well, that small group employers will have an opportunity to re-evaluate whether they choose to go to an exchange for their employees,” added WellPoint CFO Wayne DeVeydt.

But that trend appears to be on hold here in Indiana, according to Matt Kleymeyer, Indianapolis market leader at Bernard Health, a Tennessee-based benefits consultancy.

After a small wave of employers ended their group plans a year ago, most of the rest are holding steady now, Kleymeyer said.

“We’re seeing a lot of continuous complacency,” Kleymeyer told me this week.

There is one big, overarching reason for this. It’s a part of Obamacare called community rating.

It’s one of the least understood, but most consequential, portions of the health reform law.

Obamacare requires that the oldest worker in an employer’s health plan — a 64-year-old — can

advice

By Johnson County Development Corp.

Resources available to assist small businesses with growth

C

an you guess what percentage of net new jobs is created each year by small businesses?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was 64 percent from 1993 to 2009 and rose to 67 percent in the recession years of 2009-2011.

The most commonly used definition for a small business is a firm employing fewer than 500 people, according to the Small Business Administration. It is no wonder that the small business sector rounds out the threelegged stool for many communities’ economic development strategies.

Recognizing there is a direct correlation between small business and job creation, the SBA has many programs available to

encourage small business growth and sustainability.

One such program is Small Business Innovation Research program. This grant program encourages domestic small businesses to become part of the nation’s research and development of high-tech, innovative products.

Without this assistance, many of these businesses would not be able to bring their products to the commercial market or be able to bid for government contracts for their products.

Funding for this highly competitive program is provided to recipients early in the process — to help promote innovation.

Traditional funding then is phased-in for the commercialization stage of the process.

There are 11 different government agencies involved in this program, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture.

These agencies offer either a grant or a contract to the startup or small business.

The contracting agencies put out a call for specific needs.

Businesses then present an idea for meeting that need. If accepted, they begin the feasibility study in Phase One; create a prototype in Phase Two; and finally start commercialization of the product in Phase Three. Each phase requires a new application

and has a different funding level.

The SBIR program has strong restrictions in the first two phases, which prohibit some small companies, and especially startups, from participating.

However, the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship has created a matching grant program. This program allows a company to apply for a 50-cents-on-the-dollar match to be used for research assistance and proposal writing.

This is primarily used in Phase One of a project.

For more information on the SBIR program, go to www.sbir. gov.

For more information on the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, go to http://isbdc.org/osbe B

health, page 18

december 2014 I southside business exchange

15

on the southside

By Steve Garbacz Daily Journal staff writer

Where should I-69 go?

T

he state is beginning a two-year environmental study that will determine the route of the final leg of Interstate 69 between Martinsville and Indianapolis. The original plan, developed more than a decade ago, said the interstate would run up State Road 37 through Johnson County. But a state law approved in 2006 prevents the interstate from going through Perry Township without special approval from lawmakers, and the state plans to consider alternate routes.

We asked several state and local leaders one question: Where do you think I-69 should go and why?

“When you’re talking about 200-plus businesses, that’s a big hit in Perry Township. My best hope is I certainly hope the road would still be helpful to the economic development of Johnson County but that we find some way to divert it away from Perry Township. I think there are alternate routes that could be considered.”

--State Rep. David Frizzell, R-Indianapolis “I still think (State Road 37) is a viable route and there will be some disruptions, but in the end the relocation of businesses and economic impact it would have from Martinsville up 37 in Morgan County, Johnson County and Marion County will have a positive impact.”

--State Rep. John Price, R-Greenwood “I think it should go right up 37 like the original plan called for. State Road 37 is already there, a lot of people have already planned on it and are preparing for it. I think to go out there and cut some new road in an entirely different area would cost a whole lot of money.”

--State Rep. Woody Burton, R-Whiteland “I think I-69 should be built west of State Road 37 somewhere between Five Points Road and Mann Road. The land acquisition costs would be hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper and far less disruption to schools, businesses and families.”

--State Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood

16

december 2014 I southside business exchange

ment, you pretty much have to go new route in order to make it limited-access. You can lay it over existing ground, but you’re going to wipe out a lot of existing businesses or homes.”

--State Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus “I think it should run with 37 as they’ve got it planned at this point. What’s there is already there, where if it goes any other direction we’re going to be taking out a lot more property and farmland. 37 is there, it’s established.

Yes there are some open areas that are going to change a little bit, I still think for the most part it will be more feasible to go up 37.”

--Johnson County Commissioner Brian Baird

“Straight up 37. My whole thought process is easier is usually cheaper and better. Just because with every public works project, sometimes there are growing pains. With State Road 37 already being there, most of it is done. I just don’t see how moving it 3 or 4 miles, spending the money to buy all that ground and make another bridge to get over the White River, how does that make better sense?”

--Johnson County Commissioner Tom Kite

“It definitely needs to run up State Road 37. The financial impact that it will do the town of Bargersville is great. We’ve already spent millions of dollars on our new water plant on the west side of White River at (County Road) 144 and 37. We updated our comprehensive plan targeting that area as our second window with 135. And we’ve just almost finished up a master plan of sanitary sewer of how to sewer that area.”

--Bargersville Town Council president Ken Zumstein

“I support coming up 37 through Johnson County and Perry Township for the economic value it would bring to that area as it traverses through the county. It would enable us to develop an access road running parallel to the interstate to tie in those roads that would be dead-ended for lack of an interchange. An access road along the side running parallel, I could just see a tremendous amount of development there.”

--Johnson County Commissioner Ron West

“I think it needs to run west. I think it needs to run substantially west of the current route, not only for the picture of what property is taken, but because I think it’s much more conducive, it’s a better route to hook up with I-70 near the airport where there has been major, major construction with multiple lanes on I-70.”

--State Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis

“I do support I-69 following 37. One of the big reasons is I wouldn’t want to see it go through Morgan County and disrupt all the farmland and homes, it makes sense to use a pre-existing highway.

I think it would impact Johnson County in a huge economic way. It would be a missed opportunity if we let I-69 go to another county.”

--Johnson County Council member Anita Knowles

“We need to figure out what the economic advantages are and which will be the least expensive and least impactful to our environment. I can’t tell you which route it should be. I’m just not there yet.”

--State Sen. Rod Bray, R-Martinsville

“We think it should stay with the current proposed route, which is north of Martinsville on 37 to 465. We’re always trying to help our communities identify areas for potential growth and Bargersville, understanding that was the proposed route, they’ve been making recommendations to be ready to have some projects in the pipeline. We want to try to encourage that growth for the town of Bargersville and unincorporated areas. We think it’s a huge economic engine.”

--Johnson County Development Corp. president and chief executive officer Cheryl Morphew

“I have thought that an existing route was better particularly through some of the rural areas for I-69. Through Perry Township, it seems as though an existing route defeats the purpose of trying to speed traffic and make it a through-way. There is so much develop-

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december 2014 I southside business exchange

17

ask the mompreneur

W

by Jennie Wong

Want to keep good employees? Invest in them

hen I was growing up in the 1980s, my immigrant Chinese parents drilled it into my head that I was to study hard and then find a good, secure job at a big company. After leaving grad school, I entered the working world in my first corporate job. About two years later, that Fortune 500 company became the first of what would ultimately turn out to be a total of three companies that would lay me off over the course of the next decade.

So much for safe corporate jobs!

Nowadays, few companies outside the public sector can offer any type of job security, no matter how big or small. And yet, we still need to invest in our employees, and we still need our employees to invest themselves in our companies.

Reid Hoffman, the co-founder and chairman of LinkedIn, tackles this topic in his new book, “The Alliance.” Hoffman, along with co-authors Chris Yeh and Ben Casnocha, proposes a new type of employment contract centered on the idea of “tours of duty.”

The expression comes from the military and refers to a period of time devoted to an assignment. In the employment context, the authors use the concept to indicate “an ethical commitment by employer and employee to a specific mission. We see this approach as a way to incorporate some of the advantages from both lifetime employment and free agency.”

The reality is that all of our employees are free agents. Acknowledging that truth is actually the best way to convince your

best people to stay. So which type of tour is right for your people and your situation?

Rotational tours A rotational tour of duty is often appropriate for new or relatively inexperienced employees. The mission here is for both the employee and the employer to be able to assess the fit and potential for a longterm relationship.

Transformational tours The second type of tour gets its name from the idea that both the employee’s career and the company itself will be transformed. These are personalized missions that are negotiated one-on-one, and typically last between two and five years. This time horizon is long enough to allow for something truly substantial to be accomplished.

Foundational tours A foundational tour should only be undertaken when there is exceptional alignment between employee and employer, because it refers to the employee becoming one of the foundations of the company and the company becoming foundational in the life of the employee. Note that this type of tour is not limited to founders and top management, and can be extended to special employees at any level who are good stewards and stalwarts of the company and its values. 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.

The reality is that all of our employees are free agents.

Acknowledging that truth is actually the best way to convince your best people to stay.

health

continued from page 15

only pay three times as much in premiums as the youngest worker—a 21-year-old.

Before Obamacare, Indiana had no such community rating rules, and insurers typically charged the oldest customers five or six times more than the youngest.

Essentially, Obamacare’s community rating rules mean that younger customers have to pay more than they had been for coverage so that older customers can pay less.

How much more? In rough terms, Obamacare’s community rating rules give a 25-percent-off coupon to boomers while sticking millennials with a 75-percent surcharge.

I get that 25-percent figure from new data from employer-sponsored insurance

18

plans published this week by the Health Care Cost Institute.

The oldest group of workers — those aged 55-64 — were spending nearly $8,500 per person in 2010, the year Obamacare became law, or 3.76 times as much as the youngest group of workers — those aged 19-25.

If Obamacare allowed insurers to charge the oldest workers, say, 3.75 times more than the youngest, then premiums would correspond perfectly with spending. But the Obamacare rules don’t perfectly match the differences in spending that exist in the employer marketplace.

The potential “rate shock” for youngerthan-average workers would be more modest, of course. But it could still be large.

That is a big reason why so many employers, if they have a lot of workers under age 45, are holding onto their pre-Obamacare plans as long as they can.

december 2014 I southside business exchange

WellPoint’s Indiana health plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, told the IBJ that two-thirds of its small employer customers — which cover about 125,000 Hoosiers — renewed their 2013 health plans late last year so they would not have to adhere to Obamacare’s new rules, including community rating.

The Obama administration has said small employers can renew their pre-Obamacare plans again for 2016, if insurers allow them to do so.

Not everyone thinks there will be this kind of rate shock. A 2013 study by the Urban Institute found that Obamacare’s community rating rules roughly corresponded to the difference in spending that existed in the individual insurance market before the rules took effect.

The youngest workers (those aged 21 to 26) could join their parents’ health plan —

if, of course, their parents have a health plan and can afford to add them as a dependent.

And, to the extent premiums did rise for younger workers, most of them could qualify for Obamacare’s generous tax credits, which would mostly offset their premium increases, the Urban Institute noted.

But for employers, those subsidies would only be available via Obamacare’s SHOP exchange, which has yet to become operational in Indiana. Or, if the employer ended its group plan and told its workers to find coverage via the Obamacare exchanges.

Some employers have done that.

But most, at least here in Indiana, appear to still be waiting until all these changes shake out. B — Indiana Business Journal