Southside Business Exchange - January 2016 by AIM Media Indiana

business exchange southside

A DAILY JOURNAL PUBLICATION

January 2016

TASTE OF VEGAS

Hal Yeagy brings that high-rolling atmosphere to his Greenwood restaurant

also inside FRANKLIN COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES PROGRAM greenwood chamber newsletter

PRESORTED STANDARD FRANKLIN, IN PERMIT NO. 110

business exchange january 2016 I volume 14 I number 1

On the cover

Hal Yeagy, owner of Hal’s Fabulous Vegas restaurant on State Road 135 in Greenwood. Photo by Mark Freeland/correspondent

pg. 4

A little glitz: Hal’s Fabulous Vegas brings the feel of “Sin City” to Greenwood.

pg. 10

Greenwood Chamber: Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

pg. 13

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

pg. 15

pg. 8

Career prep: Franklin College program teaches students about the business world.

pg. 12

Corporate Chatter: Companies making news on the southside.

pg. 14

Southside Snapshot: Stats, facts and quotes.

pg. 16

Advice: Managers can’t possibly please everyone.

Celebrating 50 years: Baxter YMCA has adapted to changing times.

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

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.

january 2016 calendar Business to Business Networking Group

Where: Firehouse Subs, 884 N. U.S. 31, Greenwood When: 7 a.m. Tuesday Info: Tim Weko, 317-966-7101, or Mark Stansbury, 317-281-2930

Business Exchange Team

Where: Ann’s Restaurant, Franklin When: 8 a.m. Thursdays Info: Louis Annee, 317-370-4776

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 Networking International

Where: Logan’s Roadhouse 600 Greenwood Park North Drive When: 11:30 a.m. Thursdays Info: Jon Wright, 317-622-8602

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

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

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. 31-Jan. 1: Closed Jan. 8: Legislation Matters Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center Jan. 21: Business After Hours, 4 to 6 p.m., First Merchants Bank – State Road 135 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

Johnson County Business Referral Group

Where: Johnson County Museum When: 7 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Paul Humbles, 317-738-4436, phumbles@amfam.com Web: jcbrgonline.com

Kiwanis Club of Perry Township

Power Circle Network

Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10-11 a.m., Coffeehouse Five, 323 Market Plaza, Greenwood Tuesdays, Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., Jockamo’s Pizza, 401 Market Plaza, Greenwood RSVPs/info: MikeTollar@gmail.com 317-455-5656 Web: www.PowerCircleNetwork.com

Rotary Club of Franklin

Where: Franklin College Dietz Center When: Noon Tuesdays Info: Stephanie Wagner, president, 317-738-3000

Rotary Club of Greenwood

Where: Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, I-65 and Main Street When: Noon Mondays Info: Rob Bailey, 317-517-0343

Rotary Club of Greenwood/ White River

Where: Dye’s Walk Golf Club When: 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays Info: Eric Johnson, 317-383-7575

Rotary Club of Johnson County When: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m. Where: TBD Info: Rotary Club of Johnson County Facebook page.

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

Where: IHOP restaurant, 7521 U.S. 31 South, Indianapolis. When: 7 a.m. Thursdays Info: Jeff Udrasols, 317-888-4405

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

Did you know that you can read past issues of Southside Business Exchange online? Go to dailyjournal.net, click on ETC. tab, then Magazines

january 2016 I southside business exchange

BETTING ON

VEGAS Hal Yeagy recreates the feel of the glitzy city in his Greenwood restaurant

STORY BY AMY MAY PHOTOS BY MARK FREELAND

Owner Hal Yeagy at Hal’s Fabulous Vegas restaurant

icture Las Vegas in the mid-1960s. The real estate boom is in its infancy and the ghost of organized crime still lurks around the edges of the glitzy neon city nestled in its desert valley. The biggest, newest and best hotel-casinos are the MGM Grand, the Stardust, the Landmark, Dunes and the International, rubbing shoulders with the smaller clubs like the Golden Nugget and the Pioneer Club with its giant neon cowboy. Hotels feature sumptuous food, free drinks, beautiful showgirls backing headliners like Diana Ross, Paul Anka, George Burns, Willie

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Nelson and Julio Iglesias and, of course, Wayne Newton and Tony Bennett. The Sands Hotel and Casino is still standing and the headliner is the famous “Rat Pack,” actors and performers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. They were the epitome of high class and style and all that was glorious about Sin City. You don’t have to picture it, though. Just visit Hal’s Fabulous Vegas restaurant on State Road 135. Las Vegas is owner Hal Yeagy’s second favorite city (after Indianapolis). He and wife, Carol, visit three to five times a year and he has read count-

less books and articles about the city and its history. His favorite period is the 1960s. “I would go to Caesar’s and you always felt like you had money, whether you had a dollar to your name or not. It’s always a good, cheap trip. It’s good for our hours. We can sleep in, order room service and go to shows. I love the shows. We’re not big gamblers; we just like the atmosphere. When I started going, they still had the Riviera, Stardust, the Sands.” Yeagy, who also owns the Indianapolis blues bar the Slippery Noodle Inn, wanted to open a restaurant near his home on the far south side. He didn’t set out to recreate Vegas at first.

I didn’t go into it necessarily to theme it, but we looked at our things and thought, ‘Why not?’” — Hal Yeagy

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Hal’s Fabulous Vegas

Address: 1133 N. State Road 135 Greenwood, IN 46142 Phone: 317-88VEGAS (888-3427) Website: halsvegas.com Owners: Hal and Carol Yeagy Founded: May 8, 2006 Employees: Approximately 20 Top short-term goal: Get more area residents to stop and give us a try Top long-term goal: Stay in business and keep things growing

“There was no fine dining in the area; no place to get a good steak. I wanted a place I could go and get a steak,” he said. “I didn’t go into it necessarily to theme it, but we looked at our things and thought, ‘Why not?’”

Recreating Vegas Hal’s opened in 2006. Yeagy acquired an existing building and gutted it, leaving only the exterior walls. “The day we got our plans accepted by the state, we were in Vegas,” he said. But Yeagy was not gambling or living the high life; he was photographing carpet. He explained that the casinos have huge square footage to carpet, so the patterns tend to be large. He wanted to duplicate the look, but needed a smaller pattern for his smaller space. He brought his photos home and had the restaurant’s carpet custom designed. He and Carol enjoy a store in North Las

Vegas, called Last Vegas, that sells a lot of the kitschy old-time items, like old poker chips, matches from the MGM Grand or swizzle sticks from the Sands, as well as historical photos, old newspapers and lots of Vegas-themed objects d’art. They purchased much of their decor there. The restaurant is full of Vegas photos and history and is worth a visit just to look around. The private party room is dominated by a huge photo of the Rat Pack on stage, one of the few photos in existence with all five members. He has a couple of deactivated (required per state law) old-time slot machines, a beautiful grand piano and lots and lots of photos. One side of the room is dominated by a huge aerial photo of the Strip as it looked in 2006. The building originally had windows there, but they gave a view of a used-car lot. The photo was formatted to look like a window, so diners feel like they are high above the city.

The signage copies the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign located on the south end of the Strip. The sign was designed by Betty Willis and sold at rock bottom price to the city in 1959 with the stipulation that it remain in the public domain. It is duplicated everywhere in the city.

Looking for the payoff Yeagy said there’s no signature Las Vegas food, unless you count free buffet fare. Now, most casinos charge for the buffet, although gamblers still get free drinks. His menu is gambling themed and includes items not found in chain restaurants, concocted and supervised by executive chef Abdul Qadir. “Opening Wagers,” aka appetizers, include Jackpot Shrimp, Duck Tacos, Thai Chicken Satay and Lobster Cakes. The salad offerings are under “The Lettuce.” “The Payoffs,” main courses, include steaks, seafood and sandwiches, including the Blackjack

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Burger and Fat Elvis. The menu also features comfort food items, such as Chili Ginger Glazed Duck, Pan Seared Snapper and Mom’s Meatloaf, which is Yeagy’s mother’s recipe. Hals’s offers gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan selections and has a small children’s menu. Food and drink specials are offered daily. The full bar boasts an extensive and creative martini selection with names like “Dean Martini,” “Royal Flush” and “The Stacy Showgirl.” After dinner, find something sweet on the “Going All In” menu.

Casual fine dining Yeagy’s biggest challenge, he said, is getting people to give the restaurant a try. “(At the Slippery Noodle) we’re known. We’ve been known since the ’90s resurging downtown. The biggest challenge down here is to get people in the door for the first time. Everybody’s used to chains. At chain restaurants, you know what you’re getting, whereas you drive by here and don’t know what you’re getting into.” He promotes both businesses in both places. One marketing tool is glassware with the Noodle’s logo on one side and Hal’s on the other. When he checks online reviews, Yeagy said there are complaints about the Above: Bartender Shanna Osertermiller serves up one of Hal’s martinis. Opposite page: Pan-seared snapper

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price, but the prices at Hal’s are comparable to the other casual fine dining restaurants in the area, Yeagy said. Unlike chain restaurants, he offers beef that’s the same quality as St. Elmo’s or Ruth’s Chris steakhouses. He features 18-year-old Scotch and brand name well drinks. He said he’s been surprised to see a lot of young people visit, such as teens with parents or grandparents. Not a lot of children come. They are welcome, but Yeagy said the restaurant is not very “kid-friendly.” He opens the doors for a breakfast with Santa event every year. His son-inlaw plays Santa and his daughter takes pictures. Yeagy has a curtain to cover the bar and moves the tables out of the central dining area. The event is well-attended through word-of-mouth.

Pitching in As a boss, Yeagy is pleased that he has so many long-time employees. Many have been at the Slippery Noodle for 20-plus years. Several of his Hal’s employees have been with him since the restaurant opened. “That’s not very common in the restaurant industry,” he said. “It’s because we’re not a chain. We treat them like family. We’re not ‘make one mistake and you’re out.’” He fosters an attitude of cooperation. Everyone pitches in and no one says “that’s not my job,” he said. Even Yeagy pitches in, most notably picking up more than a ton of trash from the Slippery Noodle’s property after the Big Ten championship football game in December.

One employee commented, “that’s why I work for this man. I’ve never seen an owner pick up trash,” Yeagy said. “There’s not a single thing I’ve ever asked anyone to do that I’m not willing to do myself.”

Indy revitalized Yeagy loves Las Vegas but his first love will always be Indianapolis. He is proud to own one of the city’s most successful bars. The Slippery Noodle Inn was built in 1850 as the Tremont House on the corner of Meridian and South streets. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is Indy’s oldest continually operated bar, although its name has changed several times. Yeagy’s parents, Harold and Lorean, bought it in 1963 and gave it its current name. Back then, Yeagy said, Indianapolis had very little to do at night. The Wholesale District, now a busy nightclub area, was actually home to wholesalers dealing in tobacco, toys and clothing. The Noodle was open for lunch and to sell after-work drinks, but closed at 6 p.m. It had 50 seats.

“You didn’t want to be (downtown) after dark. It was just a bunch of closed businesses. There was nothing there,” he said. Yeagy, who graduated from Cathedral High School and attended Purdue University, worked as a computer programmer for Eli Lilly & Co. “But I always wanted to run a restaurant,” he said. His father, however, discouraged him, saying that Yeagy had a good job, a wife and kids and did not need to be in the bar business. Harold Yeagy died in 1984 and his son took over shortly after. Around that time, Indianapolis was in the midst of a downtown renaissance. In 1970s and ’80s, the city built the convention center, Market Square Arena, the Hoosier Dome and several hotels and brought in the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis Colts. Downtown was host to numerous conventions and concerts. Union Station was revamped to house vegas, page 18

january 2016 I southside business exchange

By Greg Seiter/Correspondent

education

Preparing students for the real world

Program teaches undergrads ins, outs of career success

y the very nature of what they do, colleges and universities are, in many ways, career service providers. However, at Franklin College, the process of helping students prepare for their future endeavors involves much more than simply educating them through classroom-based experiences. “As a student affairs professional, it is my mission to teach students to be good members of society and to have a love and appreciation for lifelong learning,” said Kirk Bixler, assistant dean of students and We work with director of career services at students to help Franklin College. “Certainly, in career services, them find a we work with students to help career path or them find a career path or their their specific specific calling but we also calling, but we want to help them find that also want to first job or graduate school help them find experience.” that first job or For Bixler and the school’s graduate school Career Services Office, the stuexperience. dent relationship-building process begins during freshman year orientation. “We spend a lot of time Kirk Bixler speaking to parents and students about the services we provide,” Bixler said. “Parents are concerned today. Considering the money they’re investing for an education, they’re wondering if there will be a viable career for their child at the end of the process.” According to Bixler, students are often concerned about their respective futures too.

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“Students are much more focused on the end game than they used to be and it has really changed how they do things while they’re in college. “I think a lot of it has to do with economics. Whether it’s at a state or a private school, things have gotten really expensive and students want to make sure that when they graduate, they will be able to pay off loans and get a good return on their investment.”

Anxiety relief In order to hopefully alleviate field-of-study-related anxiety, Franklin College strives to help students identify potential career paths early on through an inter-disciplinary approach. “I have different career assessment tools that can help identify skills, interests, work values and personality types,” Bixler said. “Based on those results, we can begin to take a look at different majors and potential career paths.

“At a smaller school like Franklin, students are taught a lot of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that can help them see things in different ways. For example, you may approach a specific discipline in biology through the lens of being a good writer.” In essence, Franklin strives to produce well-rounded students. “There’s a concern out there that if you major in English, for example, you will have to go into publishing or writing, but that’s not the case,” Bixler said. “When you stop and think about it, there are actually very few careers out there that require a specific major.” No matter the field of study a student elects to initially pursue while at Franklin College, the school’s office of Career Services makes a variety of job preparation workshops available that are geared toward helping candidates get off on the right foot. “We offer workshops on how to write a résumé and cover letter, how to interview and even how to network,” Bixler said. “Within the interview workshops, we do mock interviews during which we bring in alumni and friends of the college.” Jill Novotny, director of professional development and employer relations at Franklin College, believes the sessions are one of the most beneficial career-enhancement

Top: Recruiter Joe Skeel interviews Jackson Hughes, a sophomore at Franklin College, in the school’s Career Services Center. At left: Heather Solea, a junior, talks with recruiter Avery Brown. Photos by correspondent Don Meyer

offerings at the school. “These individuals volunteer three hours of their time to come in and interview four to six students and then provide feedback,” she said. “While this was established as a learning experience, there are definitely some other outcomes. “These interviews can lead to internships and jobs down the road and there’s even evidence that students are learning how to take advantage of networking opportunities.”

Professional development In addition, while working in Academic Affairs, Novotny is responsible for teaching a professional development course that all Franklin College students, regardless of their major, are required to complete. “We have things such as etiquette dinners and networking events and we even help students understand how to dress,” she said. “This is all, of course, set in conjunction with very committed alumni and community employer partners. “I think in general, there’s a perception out there that dress codes have become more casual but we stress business professional attire here. It’s all about making a great first impression and that approach serves students well.” Aside from arranging for student-educational case studies and opportunities for employers to engage with students though classroom visits, representatives from Student Affairs and Academic Affairs work almost handin-hand to help students identify, connect with and potentially secure relevant internship opportunities. From left: Franklin College Career Services Center director Kirk Bixler, sophomore Allen Smith and junior Patrick Flynn talk outside the department’s offices in Dietz Hall. Photo by correspondent Don Meyer

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“We have an internship fair on campus but we also participate with a consortium of other schools in the state,” Bixler said. “There’s an accounting fair for accounting and finance students and a large general fair that has representation from businesses and not-for-profits. “In April, we even do a job fair for education majors. “Internships are more important today than they used to be and at Franklin, all students are required to do an internship or undergraduate research experience,” he continued. “We have a credit structure set up here so most students can do three to four internships for credit.”

Proactive approach Bixler also said Franklin’s proactive approach to career services allows students to potentially take advantage of internship opportunities as early as their second year of study. “Here, a lot of sophomores will start on internships and by their senior year, they may be doing one that actually translates into a full-time job. “We had a junior last year that, after a spring internship, already had a post-graduation job offer prior to starting the senior year.” However, Bixler emphasizes that internships can serve other purposes beyond potentially generating job leads. “Internships are important because employers are looking for candidates coming out of college that have experi-

ence but we also tell students that an internship is exploratory. It’s like taking a career for a test drive,” he said. “Some will do an internship and realize that it’s exactly what they want to do but if they decide they don’t like a particular field early enough in school as a result of an internship, they still have time to look for other career paths.”

Life skills, too The Career Services staff at Franklin College even helps students learn about life skills and how to use technology to their advantage. “We have workshops on building good credit and how to use a credit card and we even show students how to use technology to search for jobs,” Bixler said. “We also talk to them about the proper usage of social media and how their posts on Facebook and Twitter could adversely affect job searches.” The purposeful approach seems to be working at Franklin. According to Bixler, 97.6 percent of the school’s 2014 graduates are employed, in graduate school or reportedly doing what they want to be doing. “We average about 16 percent going to graduate school every year and roughly 70 percent are still employed full time within six months of graduation.” Overall, Bixler is philosophical about the role he plays at Franklin College. “Ultimately, I love doing what I do because I get to see the end result,” he said. “Part of what we do while they’re here is try to teach them skills so that if five years down the road, they lose a job, get downsized or want to change direction, they can follow through with the entire process on their own. “We’re definitely making a difference here.” B

We have things such as etiquette dinners and networking events and we even help students understand how to dress. — Jill Novotny

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Direc

JANUAR

Chamber news Congratulations, 2016 Ambassadors We are proud to announce that the following volunteers will serve as our 2016 Chamber Ambassadors: l Andy Bowen, Banking Center Manager, AVP, First Merchants Bank l Greg Brodnik, Financial Advisor, Raymond James l Michael Budensiek, Owner, U-Fit l Pat Enochs, Community Volunteer l Stephanie Garland, Independent Rep, LegalShield l Cindy Hiland-McNalley, Owner, MacLand Servpro l Leeanne Lollar, Financial Advisor, Promise Advisory Group l Brenda Kelley, Account Manager, Office360 l Mike Kensill, Vice President, Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services l Jerry Knoop, Director, Indianapolis Region, Accelerant l J. Michael MacDonald, Director of Sales, Financial Center First Credit Union l Kyle Masengale, Sales and Marketing, ASAP Payroll Services l Jennifer Meyers, Commercial Lender, First Merchants Bank l John Ross, Internal Consultant, Franciscan St. Francis Health

Ribbon cuttings

l Ray Stapleton, Director, Expense Reduction Analysts l Cindy Tollar, Independent Associate, LegalShield l Cindy Weddle, Business Banker, Horizon Bank l Jane Weisenbach, Director of Development, Greenwood Public Library If you are not sure who your Ambassador is, please contact Anna Murdock at the Chamber office.

Boost

By Lacey Ring Imagine Virtu

Why the 2016 Legislation Series matters to you Creating opportunities for members to meet with elected officials is an important way the Chamber serves the business community. Government legislation matters to members because it impacts the amount of regulation on business and the cost of operating a small business. Join us: l Jan. 8 — Luncheon with Greenwood/Indy representatives to the Indiana Statehouse at Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center. l Feb. 19 — Luncheon — Greenwood Mayor’s State of the City address at Valle Vista Golf & Conference Center. l March 4 — Luncheon with Greenwood/Indy representatives to the Indiana Statehouse at Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center. l March 19 — Johnson County is at the northern edge of Indiana’s Ninth U.S. Congressional district but home to a large portion of voters and donors. As part of our leadership, we’ll host an evening reception called “Top of the Ninth” with candidates running for IN-9 Congressional seat. Event held at Valle Vista Golf & Conference Center. l August TBD — Luncheon with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (tentative) at Valle Vista Golf & Conference Center. If business-friendly policy is important to you, we invite you to sponsor the 2016 series. Available sponsorships range from $150 for just one of the forums to $600 for the entire series. Email Stacie@ GreenwoodChamber.com to secure your spot now.

Nov. 3: Adaptive Nursing and Healthcare Inc., 225 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 195, Greenwood.

Nov. 5: Magnolia Springs SouthPointe, 4926 Sir Barton Way, Indianapolis.

Nov. 12: Ufit II, 2801 Fairview Place, Suite A, Greenwood.

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

RY 2016

Member profile Calendar

Our member experts

t your business with Twitter cards

g-Verbik ual Assistant Service LLC

pical business owner, you’re e lookout for new and interestget your products and services argeted and ou understand e of a consistent resence, but may to maximize Well, there’s a relyer in the social ng game and help you get ust in time to RING-VERBIK with a bang! r, Twitter announced Twitter low you to add images, videos escriptions to your tweets. This ppealing and engaging content y increase the amount of people ith you and attempt to learn pletely customizable right down ou spend per day, per campaign. e objectives you can achieve ards: agements — communicate with nd engage in conversation cks or conversions — send clients e to shop, register etc. installs — get more customers mobile app — Increase the community traffic r account witter — connect with interested il of your Twitter Card is based on a basis (CPC). You only pay when s through your website. Once as been met, your campaign will

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IN 46142 3 tingham otary Club 3 IN 46142

end. You are in complete control of how much you will spend, so you won’t pay more than you want. To keep things interesting, there are eight types of Twitter cards: l Summary card: Ideal for blogs or other information pages. This card shows a title, description, image and Twitter handle for a page. l App card: A card to advertise a mobile app with direct download on mobile devices. l Photo card: This one is great for any imagecentric business. Features include a substantial image, title, description and Twitter handle. l Gallery card: Similar to the photo card, only you can add up to four photos to your tweet. l Player card: This card allows you to embed a live video or audio player within your tweet. l Product card: The product card includes a title, description, image and Twitter handle, along with other important details such as price, location and availability. l Lead generation card: With a lead generation card, users can click once and quickly share the email address that’s associated with their Twitter account. l Website card: The website card includes a thumbnail image representing your website, your website title and a call-to-action button to encourage users to click through. This card is best used to drive traffic to your website or other landing pages. Once you’ve selected the right cards for your business, you can easily measure the results of your efforts with Twitter card analytics. Imagine the possibilities with Twitter cards this year: Generate more leads, introduce a new product, promote contests and share resources. Lacey Ring-Verbik can be reached at 317-268-6830 or lacey@imaginevas.com.

November new members 317-517-0343 Rob Bailey L & L Bulk Transport Inc. 1098 N. 125 West Franklin, IN 46131 317-458-0803 Dawn Littleton mDash Marketing & PR 7562 Huddleston Drive East

Indianapolis, IN 46217 317-888-7840 Susan Sullivan Radwell International 600 N. Forsythe St. Franklin, IN 46131 317-736-9650 Robert Tiedeken

ber of Commerce l www.GreenwoodChamber.com

Hays+Sons In June 1982, Charles Hays, along with his two sons, Mark and Brian, opened Hays+Sons Construction. Charles was no stranger to the construction industry, having been a home builder on the Southside. When the housing market dried up almost overnight in the early ’80s, Charles had a friend who was an insurance agent, and the agent had a client who experienced a house fire. Back then, there weren’t too many insurance restoration companies. Charles helped his friend, and a new business model was born. Today, the focus still remains the same: on the customer. We understand the emotional turmoil, stress and frustration that accompany times of crisis, and we at Hays+Sons pride ourselves on being there to help. Our mission is to provide exceptional service to our customers during their time of need while sustaining a culture of excellence. We live that mission every day. “As a business developer, I enjoy generating new relationships and growing existing relationships. I work directly with insurance agents, adjusters, schools, municipalities, senior living facilities, hospitals, apartment complexes and commercial buildings. My goal is to grow the Hays+Sons brand and be the first point of contact when my clients suffer a loss,” Charles said. “Communication is key in our business. I believe communication is a very important part of the relationship and, therefore, I take great responsibility to make sure that I provide the most accurate communication in our client’s time of need. Let Hays+Sons rewind life’s disasters.”

Friday, January 8 Legislation Matters Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet Center $20 per person; $28 at the door

Thursday, January 21 Business After Hours 4 to 6 p.m. First Merchants Bank – State Road 135 No cost to attend.

Chamber awards It’s never too soon to point out a member that deserves recognition. The Chamber is now welcoming nominations for its business awards. Please tell us about businesses demonstrating successful growth and/or stability, commitment to quality, creative/unique solutions to challenges, entrepreneurial spirit, outstanding new construction or renovation. Visit our website to fill out an online nomination form or contact Stacie Hindman at the Chamber office.

Staff: Tricia Bowen Member Services Manager

Stacie Hindman Events & Operations Manager

Christian Maslowski President & CEO

Anna Murdock Membership Development Manager

Customers can now find organic produce, USDA choice beef and other products that don’t have artificial colors flavors or enhancers, according to a statement from the company.

Chili’s provides meal to ECF vets

On Veterans Day, Chili’s Restaurant in Greenwood provided meals to the 37 military veterans housed at the Edinburgh Correctional Facility’s Indiana Veteran Education and Transition Program Unit. Officer Justin Butler partnered with Elisha Taylor McIntosh, Chili’s kitchen manager, to honor the veterans. The INVET unit case management includes special programming, mentoring and other services to aid veterans as they re-enter society. The facility also recently donated $500 to Prevent Child Abuse America. Offenders are allowed to purchase food from various restaurants and the profit is donated to organizations.

Walmart donates $25,000 for vets’ jobs

corporate chatter companies making news on the southside

Franklin, Edinburgh, Morgantown get stormwater improvement funds

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced more than $9 million in funding for the Stormwater Improvements Program was awarded to 11 communities throughout the state. Franklin received $1 million for the Roaring Run Rehabilitation project, which was identified in the City’s 2015 stormwater master plan. It will include lining and rehabilitation of the current pipe as well as installation of manholes and cleanouts. Edinburgh received $858,700 and Morgantown received $949,000 for similar drainage projects. The SIP is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant with the goals to cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, generate jobs and spur economic development, protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape, and reduce flooding

Greenwood supermarket marks grand reopening

The ALDI store on U.S. 31 South in Greenwood has reopened. The store celebrated the grand reopening at 1595 S. U.S. 31 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and giveaways for customers. The new building features improved natural lighting, environmentally friendly building materials and a new selection of merchandise.

Walmart celebrated Veterans Day with a special ceremony at the County Line Road store in Greenwood. The celebration included giving central Indiana’s Operation Job Ready Vets a $25,000 contribution. Walmart is teaming up with military service organizations including the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Team RWD, Hire Heroes, Team Rubicon and Blue Star Families to launch Greenlight A Vet, a campaign to help create visible and actionable national recognition for American veterans.

Agriculture scholarships endowed at Ivy Tech

Farm Credit Mid-America services recently donated money to endow scholarships through Ivy Tech Community College for agriculture studies. The lender has has pledged to give $70,000 for agriculture studies scholarships at each of the college’s seven agriculture campuses over the next six years. Ivy Tech has graduated 157 students in its agriculture program since it began in 2007.

Daily Journal earns top honor

The Daily Journal has been named the best daily newspaper in the state. The highest accolade, the Blue Ribbon award given out by the Hoosier State Press Association, is awarded to the daily newspaper that best serves its readers, regardless of circulation size. The newspaper also won the Blue Ribbon award in 2009. Judges, who are New Jersey journalists, examined the breadth and depth of coverage, quality of reporting and copy editing, news judgment and content balance, general

appearance, originality, reader interest and overall professionalism. Daily Journal Editor Michele Holtkamp and the newspaper staff accepted the award at the HSPA annual training and awards luncheon in December.

Boxing gym franchise opens southside facility

9Round boxing gym franchise has opened its fifth Indianapolis location at 7045 Emblem Drive, Suite C, on the southside. The Southport location is the second of three for owner and head trainer, Craig Valier, who also owns the Greenwood location, which opened in December 2014.

Local care operation earns high-quality rating

Johnson Memorial Home Health Care has received a 4.5-star quality rating from Home Health Compare. Home Health Compare uses a quality patient care star rating to show consumers how the performance of a home health agency compares to other agencies. Agencies receive a rating from one to five stars, with one being the lowest and 5 being the highest. The quality of patient care star rating summarizes each agency’s performance on average across nine of the quality measures reported on Home Health Compare. Quality measures include patient care being initiated in a timely manner, giving caregivers drug education, ensuring patients receive the flu vaccine every year, patient mobility improvement such as for walking or getting in and out of bed, bathing and ability to engage in activities without pain. Other standards included patients experiencing less shortness of breath and needing less hospitalization.

Franklin chamber adds four

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce board of directors and staff welcomed four new businesses to its membership during its Dec. 2 meeting: • Bargersville Main Street, Bargersville • Brian Leslie Salon, 102 W. Jefferson St., Franklin • Event Barn at Bay Horse Inn, 1464 W. Stones Crossing Road, Greenwood • Tom’s Pancake House 1071 W. Jefferson St., Franklin

Kiwanis raise money with auction

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Perry Township celebrated the holidays and raised funds to support Kiwanis projects. The 13th annual event included a party and dinner,

auction of donated items, and a 50/50 raffle. Auctioneer Randy Hause from Christy’s of Indiana donated his services. Greg Welch and Chris Johnson of City Barbeque donated food. Community programs supported by the club include college scholarships for high school seniors, Baxter YMCA, Riley Hospital for Children, Hunger Inc. food bank and others. Proceeds also support the Kiwanis World Service Project: Eliminate MNT, an inoculation program to eliminate Maternal Neonatal Tetanus in developing countries. Info: kiwanisperrytownship.org or its Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages

Greenwood library plans educational garden

A new garden planned at the Greenwood Public Library will be used to teach residents how to be more resourceful when it comes to watering their plants. The Greenwood Redevelopment Commission has approved spending $7,500 on building the garden, including buying plants. The money will come from the city’s tax increment financing, or TIF, districts. The new addition on the east side of the library will be used to educate residents on how to build and maintain a self-sustaining garden, demonstrating how they can take advantage of rainfall and stormwater runoff as a source for watering their plants. The garden will be set up near the library’s stormwater drains, where it will take water runoff to plants, and the soil will capture and hold the water.

City ready to meet $1 million price for school

The Greenwood Redevelopment Commission has approved the $1 million purchase price of the current Greenwood Middle School property, at 523 S. Madison Ave. The funding would come entirely from tax-increment financing, or TIF, district funds. The $1 million price was determined by appraisals and agreed upon by the city and the school district. With the redevelopment commission’s approval, the city can now finalize the purchase. The current middle school property is inside the city’s downtown TIF district. The city can take over the property in 2017 or 2018 after students move to the new middle school and the 66-year-old building downtown is demolished. Demolition costs are estimated to be about $2 million, which would be paid for with tax dollars. B

Corporate Chatter, People on the Move policies

News such as anniversaries, promotions, performance awards or relocation information will be included free of charge in Corporate Chatter or People on the Move. Information promoting business events or services is considered advertising and will be referred to our advertising department.

The Southside Business Exchange publishes your submitted photos of ribbon cuttings for local business’ grand openings, relocations or members new to the Franklin and/or Greater Greenwood chambers of commerce, as long as the photos are of print quality. Submissions of other photos of general interest to the local business communtiy

january 2016 I southside business exchange

are also welcome, although we can not guarantee publication of all of them. Such photos could include head-and-shoulders pictures of people who have been promoted or recently hired to management positions, events at which your company helped raise money for a nonprofit agency. Info: Paul Hoffman, 317-736-2721 or phoffman@dailyjournal.net

Did you know that you can read past issues of Southside Business Exchange online? Go to dailyjournal.net, click on ETC. tab, then on Special Publications

downtown Indianapolis. The honorees were chosen for their dedication to bettering Indiana’s business climate for small employers. The award is based on voting and advocacy during the 2015 legislative session. Among the honorees were Rep. John Price from Greenwood, District 47. Price scored over 90 percent on the year’s Legislative Vote Analysis, the Indiana Chamber’s annual publication that chronicles voting records on pro-jobs, pro-economy legislation. He also earned a star designation for overall leadership or their significant efforts on issues deemed of critical importance.

Mutual adds to commercial lending staff

people on the move people making news on the southside

Associate named director of wellness at Baxter YMCA

The Arthur R. Baxter YMCA recently announced that associate wellness director Bobbi Finley has been promoted to wellness director. Finley has been with the Baxter YMCA for six years and holds a degree in exercise science from IUPUI. During her time at Baxter, Finley secured two Dream Big grants for wellness programs, launched the cenFINLEY ter’s Synergy program and raised more than $12,000 for the YMCA’s annual fundraising campaign. Baxter’s former wellness director David Smith recently accepted a position as wellness director at the City Way YMCA in downtown Indianapolis.

Greenwood legislator earns state chamber honor

Four state legislators were given the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Small-Business Champion Award at a recent ceremony in

Mutual Savings Bank has strengthened its commercial lending resources by adding a veteran commercial loan officer and giving additional responsibilities to a longtime staff member. Rob Henderson has joined Mutual as vice president and commercial loan officer, while commercial credit Analyst Connie Basco has also become a commercial loan officer. A Franklin native and resident, Henderson graduated HENDERSON from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1993. He is a member of the Johnson County Council and the Franklin Redevelopment Commission. The 2004 graduate of Leadership Johnson County is also active in the Franklin Rotary, Franklin BASCO Masonic Lodge and the Franklin Elks Club. Basco, who will also continue to serve as a commercial credit analyst, joined Mutual in November 2008. She is a Habitat for Humanity Women Build Team Member.

New members join LJC board

Leadership Johnson County welcomed three new board members. • Sara Fisk is the marketing communica-

tions manager with Endress+Hauser Inc. She is a graduate of the LJC Class of 2015 and will serve on the public relations committee. • Carolyn Goerner is a clinical professor of management at IU Bloomington, Kelley School of Business. She is a graduate of the LJC Class of 2014 and will serve on the alumni relations committee. • Adam Treibic is a vice president with First Merchants Bank. He is a graduate of the LJC class of 2009 and will serve on the development committee. LJC, in partnership with Franklin College, began in 1995 to promote involvement and creative problem-solving among people who live and work in Johnson County. It has graduated nearly 575 people from its nine-month signature program.

Franciscan Alliance executive appointed to ACHE Council of Regents

Christopher A. DiGiusto, vice president of ambulatory services for Franciscan Alliance, has been appointed to the Council of Regents, the legislative body of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The council approves governance and membership regulations and promotes ACHE programs, services and activities within its respective areas. DiGiusto will assume that position in March 2016 at ACHE’s 59th DiGIUSTO Congress on Healthcare Leadership at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. DiGiusto was appointed to his current Franciscan Alliance position in October. He previously served as service line director for orthopedics, neurosciences and rehabilitation for Franciscan St. Francis Health, which operates hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel.

Greenwood volunteer earns statewide award

Jennifer Hollingshead, the founder of Restore Old Town Greenwood, Inc., was named a Volunteer of the Year by the Indiana Main Street community program, which

encourages residents to revitalize downtown. The program is a division of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Seven Hoosiers statewide, including Hollingshead, were chosen to be Volunteer of the Year, said Indiana Main Street program manager Shae Kmicikewycz. Hollingshead started Restore Old Town Greenwood, Inc., five years ago to save the downtown area of Greenwood, including along Main Street and Madison Avenue. This year, city officials applied for and received a grant for $400,000 to update and improve 22 facades of downtown businesses. The entire project will cost about $1.1 million. Restore Old Town Greenwood gathered donations to go toward the facade update project.

Cornett hires sales associate

Cornett Roofing Systems recently hired Max Waller to join its sales team. Waller has extensive sales experience and joins his brother, Keith Waller, in providing free roofing estimates for metal, slate, tile and solar systems in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. He can be WALLER reached at 317-668-3055 or at max@cornettroofing.com.

CAREGiver recognized for service to seniors

Melanie Cunningham has been named Home Instead Senior Care Greenwood 2015 CAREGiver of the Year. Cunningham has worked for Home Instead since April 2013. She was honored for her positive attitude while serving in a number of capacities. She has been CUNNINGHAM specifically requested by families to train other CAREGivers that come to her regular clients. B

noteworthy

Indiana Members Credit Union employees donated $5 apiece to wear pink and jeans to work on Oct. 16 to raise money for breast cancer research. A total of 106 employees participated, and IMCU donated $530 to Susan G. Komen Central Indiana.

Cornett Roofing Systems contributed 5,300 pounds of food to the 40,000 Pounds of Giving food drive held on Dec. 5. A significant portion of that donation went to the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County in Franklin.

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southside snapshot

business indicators for johnson county what did they say?

Percent Change Oct 15/ Sep 2015 Oct 2015 Oct 14 Labor Force 76,765 77,207 1.39 Employed 74,141 74,438 2.71 Unemployed 2,624 2,769 -24.55 Unemployment Rate (pct) 3.4 3.6 -1.2 Note: All figures not seasonally adjusted SOURCE: Ball State Center for Economic and Business Research

by the numbers

Residential Building Permits

Johnson County Residential Building Permits, 2014: Pct Dist. Pct. Dist. Units in County in State Cost ($000) State Cost ($000) Total Permits Filed 668 100.0% 100.0% $136,000 $3,222,176 Single-Family 658 98.5% 68.1% $134,651 $2,748,532 2-Family 10 1.5% 2.0% 1,349 $40,304 3- and 4-Family 0 0.0% 1.1% $0 $18,185 5+ Family 0 0.0% 28.7% $0 $415,155 Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

noteworthy Home Bank recently gave the Interchurch Food Pantry in Franklin $10,000. Five charities in Morgan County also received $10,000 gifts. The bank is based in Morgan County but has a branch in Greenwood that opened in 2014. The monetary donations are part of a giving initiative where the bank gives 10 percent of its net income to charitable causes in the communities it serves. Employees also paid money to be allowed to wear jeans, and that money also went to local charities. The bank split $1,000 between the United Way of Johnson County, Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County and Relay for Life. Top: From left: Pat Purtell, Shelia Morton, Karol Doughtery, and Trent McWilliams. Bottom: From left, front row: Emily Ribley, Home Bank; Lindsey Houston, American Cancer Society; Nancy Plake, United Way of Johnson County; Lee Ann Wilbur, Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County; back row: Trent McWilliams, Amber Pittman, CJ Hobson and Scott Hines of Home Bank.

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“People told me to look at Fishers, but I didn’t want to go outside of the city. We love Greenwood. I like the people, the environment and the convenience. But I told the mayor, new businesses come into this city, and it seems like they get all the help, while older businesses like us that have been here for decades are left out.” Ruben Fiorenza, Greenwood resident and founder of CTW Electric, on plans to buy and move from its current building in Greenwood to the short-lived former headquarters of an insulin manufacturer in the Precedent South Business Park.

“In a few years, the potential for that area on the south end of Madison Avenue will add to our downtown and make our city a place people will be excited about.” Greenwood Redevelopment Commission board member Mike Campbell on the commission approving the $1 million purchase price of the current Greenwood Middle School property.

“This might be one that’s not a unanimous vote. I know that we need improvements out there, and I know we can’t pay for those improvements out of the general fund.” Franklin Redevelopment Commission council member Steve Barnett on a suggestion to create a new TIF district along U.S. 31, which could stretch as far as the Knollwood Farms neighborhood to Jefferson Street, to cover the cost of sidewalks or trails for residents to walk safely to grocery stores or restaurants district.

Indy Chamber

on the southside

Online convenience to small businesses

or entrepreneurs and employers, time is often the most valuable — and scarce — resource. The Indy Chamber’s Business Acceleration Team has launched a new online tool that slashes the amount of time required to open or expand a business in Marion County. OpenCounter Indy allows companies to apply for permits, licenses and navigate other city agencies and processes with a few clicks and keystrokes. Part of Mayor Greg Ballard’s Indianapolis Business Acceleration Team initiative launched in 2013, OpenCounter Indy aims to replace in-person visits to city agencies like the Departments of Code Enforcement and Metropolitan Development with the convenience of a secure online session. The OpenCounter portal provides each applicant with a customized outline of the necessary permits, project licenses and fees, detailing relevant zoning and other rules while collecting the data that local governments require to ensure public health and safety. By moving this process online, the city and chamber are hoping to be able to provide reliable, targeted data to the small business and entrepreneurial community on their schedules, while eliminating duplicative data entry, forms and submissions that require resources on both “sides of the counter.” The launch of OpenCounter Indy is part of a national movement to encourage municipal governments to streamline the process for starting up a business as part of the National League of Cities’ Startup in a Day initiative. B

advice

By Liz Reyer

You can’t please everyone

Q A

As a manager, I struggle with managing the pressures of my boss’ expectations while trying to meet my team’s needs. How do I best set priorities to keep everyone happy? Rethink your goal. You’ll never be able to make everyone around you happy, so focus on a vision of leadership success that is grounded in personal authenticity and integrity. About your vision. Setting aside your current day-to-day, what does it mean to be a good manager? What does a good manager do or say? Is that the same or different as a good leader? Take time to understand your aspirations. If you’re not sure, consider examples from your past, including bosses you’ve admired and those you’d never want to be like. Now think about what other people want from you. It may feel like they want you to do certain things. In fact, your boss probably cares less about what you do than the outcome you achieve. Likewise, your team is likely less invested in your activities than in how well you meet their needs. So, in considering what they want, take a step back to understand the contributions you make to them when you’re operating at your best. For example, your boss is accountable to her boss. What pressures can you take off her? How can you make her life easier and equip her to be successful? It’s essential that you understand her needs in order to meet her expectations. Note: Often when I hear this type of challenge with a boss, it comes down to having an insufficiently strategic approach to meeting the boss’ expectations. At the same time, you need to be clear about the tools you bring to bear. That goes back to authenticity. If your boss is

putting pressure on you to be someone you don’t want to be, you’re setting yourself up for failure if you don’t assert yourself. Similarly, take a big-picture view of your team’s needs. It’s easy to get bogged down in being the problem solver, but that will drain you dry and not help them develop, and also create bottlenecks that reduce productivity. If that’s happened, it’s time for a new era. Set an expectation that people will bring ideas for solutions when they have a problem, and encourage creative alternatives that get the work done. Not only will you have better outcomes, you’ll free up time to be the strategic partner your boss needs. Creating this alignment may not be easy. Determine any gaps in your skills that need to be addressed to be successful. These are likely to be in the “soft skills” area of communication, negotiation and conflict management. If you’ve had a hard time setting limits (either with bosses or staff), some work on assertiveness may be needed. And remember that you can’t be all things to all people. However, you can be your best self, advocating for ways you can be most valuable in your role and sculpting the role to best fit your gifts. Once you clarify this vision of your role, it’ll just be a matter of selling it through demonstration of the benefits to boss, team and company alike. 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. january 2016 I southside business exchange

From left: Michele Fleming, of Greenwood, watches in a mirror as she takes part in a “Boot Camp” exercise class. Stacy Winko, Indianapolis, left and Mary Lewis, Greenwood work out on eliptical machines at the YMCA.

Baxter Y adapts to changing times; core mission remains

y midmorning at the Arthur R. Baxter YMCA, hundreds of people already pack the facility. People run on treadmills, cycle on stationary bikes and lift weights in the fitness center. Swimmers do laps in the indoor pool, while a water aerobics class splashes in the shallow end. Dozens of children whose parents rely on the YMCA for child care run around playing tag, do arts and crafts, and work on literacy skills. Story by The equipment, exercises and even the Ryan Trares building have changed since the Baxter Photos by YMCA was founded, but it’s the same ROB GOEBEL, Submitted activity that’s defined the organization for 50 years. “We see people come in now with young kids, who came here when they were little. Those kids will grow up and bring their own kids. Generations are coming back,” said Terri Bradley, associate executive director for the Baxter YMCA. For the past 50 years, the Baxter YMCA has been a hub of community involvement on the southside. More than 14,000 members use the facility to strengthen their bodies through weightlifting, swimming and other physical activities. Churches have been founded at the Y, and Meals on Wheels efforts were organized in the building. The organization has survived lulls in membership and a tornado that nearly destroyed the branch. As members, staff members and supporters prepare to rec-

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Something for everyone

an office on the campus of Indiana Central College, now known as the University of Indianapolis. What: Arthur R. Baxter Memorial YMCA Where: 7900 S. Shelby St., Indianapolis In 1961, the organization moved to an 18-acre tract of land Opened: Dec. 27, 1965 that formerly was a hog farm. Members met in a barn on the Members: 14,237 property at what was known as the Southside Family YMCA, Features: with a membership of about 1,500. ■■ Indoor pool “When they decided it was necessary to do something with ■■ Two outdoor pools — an eight-lane, 50-meter with double-flume slide; a zero-depth-entry wading pool with water features an official building, they did a barn-burning to clear land for ■■ Free child care while you work out the activities center,” Overstreet said. “The Baxter YMCA ■■ Free land and water group exercise classes for ages 11 and up was built on the same location.” ■■ Specialty fitness classes such as triathlon training and Synergy circuit training Grover and Annabel Hartman were charter members of ■■ Wellness center with cardio machines, strength machines and the new facility. Grover Hartman served for years on the orgafree weights nization’s board and went door-to-door in southside neigh■■ Indoor and outdoor playgrounds borhoods to gain interest in and raise money for the new Information: indymca.org/centers/baxter/center-news building. He was chairman when low membership and disinterested ognize the facility’s first half-century, it presents a perfect leadership threatened the Baxter YMCA. opportunity to understand what the YMCA has meant to The Hartmans believed greatly in the benefits of a YMCA this area and what it can continue to provide in the future. on the southside. In a letter Annabel Hartman wrote the “We serve the needs of the community,” said Mary Baxter YMCA leaders after her husband’s death, she recalled Overstreet, member involvement director. “That’s what we’ve a speech he gave at the annual meeting of the YMCA. done since we started, and that’s what we’re going to conHis words emphasized the importance of the YMCA as a tinue doing.” community building and institution of personal developStarted in a barn ment. It would overcome destructive forces in the community The Baxter YMCA opened to the public on Dec. 27, 1965. and around the world that were, “disrupting our individual But the organization’s roots in the southside community values so essential to the kind of interrelationships necessary stretch back further. As early as 1947, the YMCA moved into to the continuation of civilized life on planet earth,” he said.

“This belief in the need for the YMCA motivated his dedicated service,” Annabel Hartman wrote.

Honors philanthropist The Baxter YMCA is named for Arthur R. Baxter, a prominent Indianapolis businessman and philanthropist. Though not an active member in planning the building, he was a supporter of the organization. His foundation’s gift of $250,000 helped pay off a loan, a gift for which he was honored with his name on the facility. Inside the newly constructed facility, people played basketball on new courts, exercised in a wellness center and gathered in club rooms and lounges. The large outdoor pool was one of the first features built; and on summer days, it attracted hundreds of people. Greenwood residents Elva and Roy Spears have been members at the Baxter YMCA almost from the beginning. They joined to provide some activities for their sons, who were both under the age of 5 at the time. Over their time as members, their children were part of the Indian Guides youth program as well as the swim team. Elva Spears would swim laps; and when the couple retired, they participated in the many classes, clubs and lunches held for older adults. “It has meant a lot for the southside,” Elva Spears said. “They’re just like family. They see to each other and have programs for all kinds of people. We’ve really met a lot of good friends and lasting friends there.” As the Baxter YMCA became more established on the southside, it became intertwined with the other institutions of the community. Christ United Methodist Church, located less than a mile south of the YMCA, held its services in the building while its own worship center was under construction. More than 1,000 people volunteer to support the organization, from serving on the board to coaching youth sports to helping with the preschool. “It’s a true partnership with the community, because we can’t do this by ourselves,” Bradley said.

Helping families The facility has partnered with Johnson County schools to offer after-school pro

Families swim at the outdoor pool at the Arthur R. Baxter YMCA in this undated photograph.

grams and mentoring options. More than 1,500 kids take part in the after-school care, Overstreet said. “When you look at our before- and afterschool program, most families cannot survive without both parents working. Or in single-parent households, they have no place to put their children when they’re working,” she said. Students from those same schools often come back to volunteer their time as teenagers. Overstreet has seen that effect on her own family. When they moved to southside Indianapolis from Lexington, Kentucky, her family joined the YMCA because they didn’t know anybody. Overstreet was a member for one year before applying for a job there. Her daughter, Lindsay, was 3 when they joined. Since then, she’s been in the preschool, taken swim and taekwondo lessons, and played soccer and flag football. Now 17, she works as a lifeguard and in the Childwatch program. “I know when Lindsay talks about her childhood, it’s going to be the YMCA. That’s the foundation of all of the stories she got to tell about the things she does and friends she made,” Overstreet said.

‘Strengthen the C’ While the YMCA is known for swimming lessons, recreational basketball leagues and aerobics classes, the facility also serves as an

incubator for important social service initiatives as well. Special fundraising helps provide more than $700,000 in financial assistance to low-income families so they can be members as well, said John Schwentzer, executive director of the Baxter YMCA. “If you look at 1965 to now, we’re seeing more needs in the community,” he said. Diabetes prevention is a nationwide YMCA project and has been successful at the Baxter facility. Water classes through the Arthritis Foundation helps people with arthritis improve their movement and ease their pain. Working with the Livestrong Foundation and Franciscan St. Francis Health, the Baxter YMCA provides wellness services for people going through cancer treatment and recovery. Efforts have also been made to serve the spiritual needs of the southside. A staff pastor is available to meet with members if they are struggling through a life situation. “We’re trying to strengthen the C in the YMCA,” Schwentzer said. “We have a Christian emphasis committee that is meeting now, so that can do some things around prayer and helping the community. It’s not just the ‘gym and swim’ concept.” Arguably one of the greatest challenges of the past half-century was a tornado that destroyed the old building in 2002. More than $1 million in damage was caused when

the twister tore the roof and walls from the building. The storm forced the YMCA to move to an interim location in a 33,000-square-foot warehouse. More than 25 percent of the membership left after the tornado. But one year later, a rebuilt $7.2 million building opened, increasing the size of the Baxter YMCA by 26,000 square feet. The new construction reconfigured the facility, making it flow more easily and adding elevators for handicap access. Remnants of the old building are visible throughout the Baxter YMCA. “If you walk the building, you can see part of it. When you go down the stairs, you can see where the old staircase went up the other direction,” Overstreet said.

Celebrating anniversary Over the years, staff members have seen fitness trends rise then fizzle out. Remaining successful and useful to the community requires paying attention to new ideas while maintaining longtime programs. When Zumba became popular in the mid2000s, it exploded into what officials joked was a cult, Overstreet said. “It exploded. It got so big, we had to move it into the gym from one of our multipurpose rooms. But now it’s sort of waned in interest, and the next new thing will be on the horizon,” she said. To help recognize the anniversary, YMCA officials have planned some small events, inviting past board members and longtime members to celebrate. Staff members will wear “Happy Birthday” T-shirts to bring attention to the milestone. Photo boards will show what the Y used to look like. Organizers have asked members to share their best YMCA story. It could be a personal achievement in the fitness center, a funny story that happened on the basketball court or a series of memories of time spent at the pool. Whichever story is chosen as the best, that member will receive a year’s membership at the 1965 cost of $11.43 per month. “We’ve tried to keep it very low-key,” Overstreet said. “We just want people to know that we’re celebrating something.” B january 2016 I southside business exchange

balancing act

By Cindy Krischer Goodman

Want to reward employees? Show them some gratitude

Executive Chef Abdul Qadir displays a bone-in ribeye at Hal’s.

vegas

continued from page 7

shops, restaurants and bars. Indy’s Warehouse District now had a growing nightlife and the Slippery Noodle, which converted to a live blues bar, grew right along with it. “We kept expanding. I bought a parking lot and added the atrium. Now it has around 600 seats,” Yeagy said. Yeagy works six days a week. He put in 80 hours during early December’s Big Ten

football championship game. The Slippery Noodle had a line around the block. Yeagy had his eye on retirement when he created Hal’s, looking for a business with a slightly more relaxed pace. His two sons are ready to take over at the Slippery Noodle. It will be different for them, just as it was different for him when he took it over from his dad, Yeagy said. “I grew up in a small place — from $100,000 a year — and made it a big place. They grew up and they’re looking at a $3 million a year place.” B

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recently walked into my local coffee shop and saw a wall covered in posted notes with handwritten customer comments about what they are thankful for this time of year. If I were to look for a similar gratitude wall in most workplaces, it is unlikely I would find one. Let’s face it, showing gratitude is rare in most workplaces. Even while there have been numerous studies on the positive relationship between gratitude and work engagement, the concept isn’t often embraced by the people in charge. Some bosses fear saying thank you to staff will weaken their authority, while others worry employees will take advantage of them if they show gratitude. There are also some managers who believe they already thank their staff by giving them a paying job, and some who will argue that because they don’t receive appreciation, there is no need to dole it out. It is no surprise that people are less likely to feel or express gratitude at work than anyplace else, according to a 2012 survey of 2,000 Americans by the John Templeton Foundation. “It’s the habit that people bring to the workplace,” says Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. “They feel reluctant at work to say thank you but those bosses who do actually tend to be more respected.” A few years ago, I wrote about a company that gave its workers turkeys every Thanksgiving to show appreciation. One year when the company was going through tough times, it eliminated the gesture. Employees were irate and the owner angrily told me it had become an expectation by his workers rather than an appreciated gesture. Clearly, creating a culture of gratitude can be tricky. For one corporate leader, finding the right approach was a learning

process. When Craig Ceccanti, CEO of Pinot’s Palette, a chain of studios where customers drink wine and paint, gave his employees high-fives and thanked them often for their work building his paint and sip concept into a national franchise, the show of gratitude backfired: “They began not working as hard and not striving for the next level.” Ceccanti says he finally figured out the right way to show gratitude with his new team in place. With some employees, he will take them to lunch and say thank you for good work: “They want that one-on-one attention.” With others, he will recognize a special accomplishment during a Monday morning staff meeting: “They want to be recognized in front of the team, especially when it’s for something that’s not obvious.” Where money is tight and people work hard, managers may find a show of gratitude can boost employee commitment, even without a costly company-wide rewards or recognition program. Researchers say the desire to receive positive reinforcement for a job well done is even important to millennials who are less salarydriven and more appreciation-driven. B

Survey findings

l 93 percent of those polled agreed that grateful bosses were more likely to be successful, and only 18 percent thought that grateful bosses would be seen as “weak.” l People were least likely to express gratitude in workplaces … despite wishing to be thanked more often themselves at work. l Bosses, regrettably, were placed the category of “never” being thanked by 35 percent of those polled. l Given a list of categories from friends to education to modern medicine, people were most grateful for their immediate families. Lowest on the list was their current job. Source: John Templeton Foundation 2012 gratitude survey of 2,000 Americans

Cindy Krischer Goodman is CEO of BalanceGal LLC, a provider of news and advice on how to balance work and life. She can be reached at balancegal@gmail.com.