A publication of
November 2013
The pressure is on
Ivy Tech preparing students to alleviate nursing shortage
Contents
Also inside
On the cover
Patricia Paxton, left, prepares to take the blood pressure of fellow student Michelle Moralez in the nursing lab at Ivy Tech. Photo by Greg Jones. Story page 4.
Owens Communications page 6
Morton Marcus column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Chamber Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Health care Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 On the Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Mark McNulty column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Around the Watercooler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Business Leads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Business Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or dshowalter@therepublic. com. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. Š2013 by Home News Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited.
Knowing your market page 10
2 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
Focus on Hispanic business page 16
E H T E D A IM
H C T I SW
because my business is local, so I bank local. For lots of different reasons, people all over are making the switch to JCB. For them, it means quicker, local decisions, and it means their money stays local, helping out the community — and themselves in turn. Find out more about what it means to bank locally at jcbank.com, or just stop by. We’re right down the street. Life flies. Plan ahead.
COLUMBUS
400 Washington Street Columbus, IN 47201 379.1991
3019 East 25th Street (Clover Center) Columbus, IN 47203 378.0850
3880 West Jonathan Moore Pike (West Hill) Columbus, IN 47201 342.3633
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 3
Above: Ivy Tech nursing students, from left, Talina Hartwell, Tyla Doss, Anna Pershing, Shawna Kikendall and Clayton Hanson listen to Judy Wonning, associate professor of nursing, during a lab session. Right: The patch all nursing students and staff wear on their uniform sleeves.
Wanted: the young and motivated
Ivy Tech focuses on how to supply enough nurses for our aging population By Barney Quick n photos by Greg Jones
T
he nation needs more nurses — lots of them, in fact. The Columbus campus of Ivy Tech Community College is vigorously addressing that need, even as it must grapple with several related needs: more money, more qualified faculty and more nursing school applicants in the traditional age bracket for college students. Demographics is, to a considerable degree, driving the nursing shortage. According to Eloise Lewis, dean of the Columbus campus’s nursing
4 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
program, 20 percent of the U.S. population will be over 65 by the year 2020. Ivy Tech finds itself in the ironic position of being the largest statewide community college system in the nation, but also experiencing a budget shortfall of $68 million. Thus, it is looking at ways to pare its costs, even as it strives to find ways to accommodate all those interested in its programs, such as nursing. College President Tom Snyder is taking a proactive approach to the situation. He served
on a White House Roundtable on Affordability and Productivity in Higher Education, as well as a panel convened by the Institute for a Competitive Workforce. Ivy Tech hosted a regional U.S. Department of Education summit on community colleges last spring. Lewis, who began her Ivy Tech involvement as an adjunct instructor in 1991, became dean of the Columbus nursing program in 2010. She describes it as a time of reassessment. “The rigor of the program has increased,” she says. “We looked at curriculum, leadership, faculty and admissions standards.” She points to another demographic challenge specific to her profession. The average age of the U.S. nursing population is 60. Thus, there’s a need for younger students, but at present the average age of the Columbus Ivy Tech nursing student is approximately 32. Understandably, recruitment and retention are at the forefront of Lewis’ concerns. She does note that “we’re seeing more males.
Above: Daniel Losinger explains his actions to Tyla Doss as they work with a patient simulator. Left: Eloise Lewis is dean of the School of Nursing at Ivy Tech.
They seem to like fast-paced environments, such as ER and ICU. Interestingly, they are also drawn to pediatrics.” Faculty credentialing contributes to the challenging environment. Instructors must have a nursing master’s degree, but those so credentialed can find higher-paying work in hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices. The Ivy Tech Columbus program currently has nine full-time instructors and five adjuncts. “We have to look at faculty we have on board, as well as sites for students to go to,” she says, noting that the decision on how many students to accept is made at the campus level. While she is well aware of the competition between schools and other employment opportunities for nursing school graduates, she notes the collaborative aspect of the relationship as well. Ivy Tech Columbus partners with Columbus Regional Health, Schneck Medical Center in Seymour and Johnson County Memorial Hospital in
Franklin, as well as nursing homes, doctors’ offices and agencies such as Developmental Services Inc. “It’s gratifying to see former students employed at those places when I do site visits,” she says. Lewis says that the No. 1 change she has seen over the last 20 years in the nursing field is the pace of technological advancement. Ivy Tech has made it a top priority area of focus. Ivy Tech is a participant in the School of Nursing Learning Consortium to Promote Faculty Development in Simulation Technology. Other schools in the consortium include the Indiana University School of Nursing, the University of Indianapolis and Marian University. It is unique to the Midwest in terms of collaboration among schools with various levels of degree conferment. The school is also a member of the Area Health Education Center’s Southeast Indiana Simulation Consortium. The consortium’s schools were supplied by Ec015, a regional educational initiative, with mannequins and other simulation-lab equipment. A simulation laboratory is a realistically detailed room outfitted for various situations. Mannequins serving as patients are low-, medium- or highfidelity, as needed for a given type of session. “We use the labs for scenarios that depict reallife situations, such as the end-of-life phase, asthma and childbirth,” says Lewis. “Instructors sit in an
observation room separated by one-way glass from the lab. They can examine a student’s decisionmaking process. Afterward, students are debriefed and given a chance to either explain their decisions or discuss what they might have done differently. There are certain objectives the student is expected to meet.” Collaboration between Ivy Tech’s nursing school and educational programs for other professions is receiving a big push. The school is increasingly bringing students in the paramedic and nursing assistant fields, as well as IUPUC nursing students, into simulation-lab training. The nursing school’s efforts in the recruitmentand-retention area are part of Ivy Tech’s larger effort. It has formalized that activity in an initiative called Accelerating Greatness 2025. It encompasses four strategies: ensuring that students meet their educational objectives; ensuring a stable financial resource base; ensuring processes of optimal quality, efficiency and effectiveness; and ensuring optimal human and physical resource capacity. Ivy Tech Columbus’ nursing program is a microcosm of these efforts. Says Lewis, “We’re developing strategies to improve the interview process. We need nurses, but we want to be sure that nursing is the right career for the interested applicant.” There are clearly plenty of jobs, within academia and elsewhere, for those whose interest is genuine. NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 5
Stay in touch
Owens Communications Inc. attuned to latest two-way technology By Barney Quick n photos by Greg Jones
T
he surest route for a business to experience robust growth is to follow the classic formula: focus on core strength, stay abreast of technology changes, foster a culture of mutual respect, hire key people and be a presence in your community. That’s how Owens Communications Inc. has grown to four locations spanning two states and won some of the two-way radio industry’s highest awards. Founder Tony Owens had been a Motorola two-way radio dealer from 1987 to 1994. “Motorola was going away from direct sales to indirect,” he recalls. “That gave me the opportunity to start my own business.” The Rushville native moved to Columbus in 1988 while working directly for Motorola. He started as a one-man operation in 1995, but soon added Dave Harris, who is still with OCI as a senior technician, designing and engineering systems. “I was selling radios from my kitchen table, and Dave was repairing them from his,” says Owens. The late 1990s was the time of the cellular boom, and Owens tried his hand at that for a while. “From my perspective, it was a totally different type of model from business-critical communications,” he says. “I sold the cellular business in 2005 to focus on our core activity.” OCI’s current product line includes call boxes, dispatch consoles, mobile radios, pagers and wireless broadband.
6 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
Brad Latimer, left, owner Tony Owens and Travis Edwards are based in the Columbus office of Owens Communication.
Top: Shawn Shafer works with a maze of color-coded wires that will be used for all of the equipment being installed on a new Columbus Police Department vehicle, including a radio, computer, sirens and lights. Bottom left: Drake Maddix installs equipment, including a laptop tower, in a vehicle. Bottom right: Wires run out from under the dash for some of the equipment on the seat.
The industries that OCI serves include construction, education, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, public safety, transportation and utilities. “Public safety is probably our number one vertical market,” Owens observes. “There’s not a law enforcement organization in the area we cover that doesn’t know about us.” He cites the 2006 hiring of former Columbus Police Chief Brad Latimer as “an instant boost in our credibility. I was probably the first in our industry to hire someone who had been a user.” He’s built on that, hiring former Greenwood Fire Chief Steve Dhondt for outside sales. “In strategic markets, we’ve found strategic people,” he notes. The Columbus Police Department has all installation of lights, sirens, laptops and two-way radios performed by OCI. “They’re basic cars when they come in here,” says Owens. “They leave fully equipped for the street.” A common application for OCI products in the manufacturing market
is permitting various departments on plant floors to implement just-in-time delivery. The education sector uses them for school safety. “It’s now absolutely critical for school officials to be in touch with each other. We give them the ability to send discreet text messages over two-way radios if a potential issue arises.” OCI also enables school systems to track buses with GPS. In health care, OCI products are used by nurses and hospital maintenance personnel. Construction firms use them to move the proper equipment and people to job sites in a timely fashion. OCI has offices in Columbus and Bloomington in Indiana, and Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky. Owens opened a Jeffersonville location in 2007, which he moved across the river in 2012. In 2010, OCI acquired a subsidiary, Warehouse Radio, a Columbus business dating to the 1970s. “I’d known the owner, Jim Martin, for 20 years,” says see oci on page 8 NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 7
oci continued from page 7 Owens. “What they did was somewhat similar, but it was primarily mail order, so we’ve kept the name and kept it distinct. It’s been a nice fit. Jim’s employees came with the purchase.” OCI donated all the communications equipment for the Sept. 28 Mill Race Marathon. “I went to Cummins, the event’s sponsor, and offered this,” says Owens. “We’ve had an individual attend all the meetings since then. We have a unique knowledge of how to coordinate all the people who should be in touch with each other.” Community involvement is important to the company, according to Owens. “We’ve donated to the hospice concert and other events that don’t have the budget for the kinds of things we do. We take pride in saying, ‘This is our town, and we can contribute in ways that matter.’ Our products can make the difference between life and death in situations where seconds matter.” He describes the organizational culture by saying, “We’ve become a big company, but we still act like we’re small. Last year, we had a project for the Louisville sewer department. We pulled resources from Columbus and Bloomington to make that work. I have incredible people who interact with a high level of effectiveness. Motorola tells us it’s uncommon to see such a willingness to work together.” Motorola has recognized OCI as a premier service partner, its highest level of accreditation. “I’ve been asked to serve on the Motorola Partner Advisory Council,” says Owens. “Motorola has asked people like myself to be the sounding board to ensure that it is providing the right technology to the dealers.” Owens says that his company’s trajectory occurred rather rapidly for the communications technology field: “A lot of businesses in our line of service have been around since the 1940s or ’50s. For us to grow the way we have since 1995 is pretty noteworthy.”
Dave Harris, the first employee hired at the company, programs a hand-held unit in the repair shop. Top: A box of radios sits in the service room at Owens Communications.
8 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
Eye on the pie
Morton Marcus
Best of the worst is not good enough Are Hoosiers satisfied to be the best of the worst? Is mediocrity our highest level of aspiration? I like to believe the answer to those questions is no, but I have my doubts. This round of questions is brought up by the latest estimates of per capita gross domestic product for the individual states by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. State gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of all goods and services produced within the boundaries of the state over a given period of time. The latest data are for 2012. Private firms, public agencies and not-for-profit organizations are all included. It is the states’ counterpart to the more familiar national GDP figures. Per capita GDP indicates the total an economy is producing relative to the population of the nation or state. That population includes all people — the very young and the very old, the infirm and the incarcerated. Per capita GDP will vary with the composition of the population. As such it is a poor measure of worker productivity. However, the number does give us a measure of output compared to the population — the consumption units — in a nation or state. It approximates the potential for the well-being of a population. What do the data tell us about Indiana? In 1997, the Hoosier state ranked 31st among the 50 states in per capita GDP. In 2012, we again ranked 31st. No change. You can praise our leaders for the relative stability of the Indiana economy. Or you can condemn them for not doing enough to improve our relative standing. In 1997, we saw Indiana with a per capita GDP 7.9 percent below the national figure, while in 2012 we stood 8.7 percent below the nation. That is not a catastrophic decline, but it is a movement in the wrong direction. Between ’97 and ’12, Indiana ranked 26th in its rate of growth (average annual rate of 1.07 percent) or just below the national average rate of 1.13 percent. This put us at the top of the bottom half of all the states, a solid expression of mediocrity. Where Indiana did excel was in comparison with the other four states of the Great Lakes (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin). Our rate of growth was the best experienced by any of these neighboring competitive states. But these five states together had the worst growth rate of any region in the nation. To lead the worst is not a great honor or distinction. Do Indiana’s leaders in business and government believe this is the best we can do? Fifteen years covers a strong start at the end of the century, followed by two recessions and two recoveries. During these years we have had much talk about Indiana’s innovative programs and expensive efforts to strengthen existing firms and to attract new businesses. Perhaps we need a re-examination of what we believe is innovative and just how we do spend our money. Morton Marcus is an independent economist, writer and speaker. He can be reached at mortonjmarcus@yahoo.com. NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 9
going P where they are
Associated press photos
Above: An Indian man gets a shave during the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Left: The Gillette Guard razor is designed for emerging markets like India.
Procter & Gamble created razor for Indian market By Mae anderson n Associated Press
10 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
rocter & Gamble executives say it was striking the first time they witnessed a man shave while sitting barefoot on the floor in a tiny hut in India. He had no electricity, no running water and no mirror. The 20 U.S.-based executives observed the man in 2008 during one of 300 visits they made to homes in rural India. The goal? To gain insights they could use to develop a new razor for India. “That, for me, was a big ‘a-ha,’” said Alberto Carvalho, vice president, global Gillette, a unit of P&G. “I had never seen people shaving like that.” The visits kicked off the 18 months it took to develop Gillette Guard, a lowcost razor designed for India and other emerging markets. Introduced three years ago, Guard quickly gained market share and today represents two out of every three razors sold in India. The story of how Guard came to be illustrates the
balance companies must strike when creating products for emerging markets: It’s not as simple as slapping a foreign label on an American product. To successfully sell products overseas, particularly in developing markets, companies must tweak them so they’re relevant to the people who live there. And often, that means rethinking everything from the product’s design to its cost. More companies will have to consider this balancing act as they increasingly move into emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil to offset slower growth in developed regions such as the U.S. For its part, P&G has doubled the percentage of its roughly $20 billion in annual revenue coming from emerging markets since 2000 to about 40 percent. Ali Dibadj, a Bernstein analyst who follows P&G, said the Guard razor, which has been used by more than 50 million men in India, serves as a roadmap for companies
seeking to court emerging markets. “It made P&G realize how much investment it really takes to be successful in India,” he said. “That’s the art of emerging markets.” India long has been an attractive country for U.S. companies looking for growth. It has 1.24 billion people. And its economy is bustling: India’s annual gross domestic product growth was 3.2 percent in 2012, according to the World Bank, compared with 2.2 percent in the U.S. the same year. Still, India’s widespread poverty presents challenges for companies used to customers with more disposable income. India’s per capita income is just about $124 a month, compared with $4,154 in the U.S., according to the World Bank. Gillette has sold razors in India for over a decade. The company had 37.3 percent market share in 2007, selling its high end Mach3 razor, which costs about $2.75, and a stripped down Vector two-bladed razor on the lower end, which goes for about 72 cents. But Gillette wanted more of the market. To do that, P&G executives would have to attract the nearly 500 million Indians who use double-edged razors, an old fashioned
T-shaped razor that has no protective piece of plastic that goes between the blade and the skin when shaving. This razor, which makes skin cuts more likely, costs just a few pennies per blade. Carvalho, who spearheaded Gillette’s effort to grow market share in India, didn’t want to rush into designing a product, though. Gillette had stumbled once before with its early version of the Vector in 2002. The version of that razor had a plastic push bar that slid down to unclog the razor. The bar was added because Indian men have thicker hair and a higher hair density than their American counterparts. Adding to that, they often shave less frequently than American men, so they wind up shaving longer beards. Gillette, which is based in Boston, wanted to test the product among Indian consumers before launching it, but instead of making the costly trip abroad, they had Indian students at nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology test the razor. “They all came back and said ‘Wow that’s a big improvement,’” Carvalho recalls. But when Gillette launched the razor in India, the reaction was different. Executives were baffled about why the
razor flopped until they traveled to India and observed men using a cup of water to shave. All the MIT students had running water. Without that, the razor stayed clogged. “That’s another ‘a-ha’ moment,” Carvalho said. “That taught us the importance that you You really need to go really need to go where your consumers are, where your consumers not just to talk to them, are, not just to talk to but observe and spend time with them to them, but observe and gather the key insight.” spend time with them to P&G acquired gather the key insight. Gillette in 2005 and the next several years — Alberto Carvalho, vice were spent integrating president, global Gillette the companies. But in 2008, the focus on India returned when Carvalho decided to bring 20 people, ranging from engineers to developers, from Gillette’s U.S. headquarters to India for three weeks. They spent 3,000 hours with more
“
see razor on page 15
”
NOW BOOKING
BUSINESS AND PRIVATE EVENTS + 8,000 square feet of performance and event space seats 450 at round tables or banquets. + Sky and street-level views of beautiful downtown Columbus
+ Tables, chairs and room set-up included with rental + Special weekday and weeknight rates for private and corporate events
MORE INFORMATION 812-376-2681 | www.thecommonscolumbus.com | 300 WASHINGTON ST. COLUMBUS, IN
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 11
chamberc NOVEMBER 2013
From the president
Attend the Economic Outlook Breakfast for 2014 Predictions By almost every measure, 2013 has shaped up to be an outstanding year for the Columbus economy. The evidence of this vitality is tangible. Extensive real estate development and new business openings are visible signs of growth. These recently released statistics underscore this point: • The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis noted a 9.6 percent increase in the community’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, ranking it fifth in the nation for GDP growth. • August employment numbers hit a fiveyear peak. With 5.5 percent unemployment, this area’s unemployment is a full 2 percentage points below the state average and well below the national unemployment rate of 7.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It comes as no surprise that the data show loCindy Frey cal economic health is heavily dependent on our local manufacturing companies. When the area’s durable goods manufacturers thrive, so does the community. Based on the results of the Economic Development Board’s 2013 business survey, there is ample reason to be optimistic. Leaders of many of our existing employers are planning future business expansions in the next three years. Each year, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce partners with Indiana University Purdue University Columbus and Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business to take the community’s temperature and check its vital signs. Business experts do an outstanding job making predictions based on the plethora of available data. Join us on Nov. 7 at the Columbus Learning Center for the annual Economic Outlook Breakfast to see what the numbers are telling us about the community’s economic well-being as we head into 2014.
12 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
Monthly publication of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerc
Shop locally As we get closer to the holiday shopping season, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce reminds you that every time you spend a dollar with a local business, you create a ripple effect. In turn, local business owners and their employees spend their earnings in our community, which keeps your investment circulating in the local economy. Promotional campaigns such as Shop Small Saturday, a national push to encourage shoppers to support local retailers on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, are growing each year. In our community, the Columbus Downtown Merchants Group will kick off the holiday shopping season on Saturday, Nov. 9 with music, food and special offers. Spend the holidays with us!
Ribbon Cutting Yats 325 Fourth St. Columbus, IN 47201 372-1533 www.yatscajuncreole.com
www.columbusa
connection
ce • 500 Franklin Street • Columbus, IN 47201 • 812-379-4457
areachamber.com
Growing BUSINESS. Growing people.
New Members
Calendar
Affordable Water Solutions 131 N. U.S. 31 Columbus, IN 47203 (812) 657-7227 rbwd2002@yahoo.com www.affordableh20.com
Nov. 6 — New member orientation, 4:30 p.m., Chamber office at 500 Franklin St.
Just Jewelry, Thirty-One Columbus (812) 216-6473 sarahnalley@hotmail.com www.thirtyone.com/sarahnalley/ Puccini’s 318 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201 (812) 348-7600 www.puccinissmilingteeth.com Raft To Rafters Pool & Spa 5780 25th St. Columbus, IN 47203 (812) 372-7983 mmiller@rafttorafters.com www.RaftToRafters.com Ashlynn Leigh Cakes 901 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201 (812) 603-2140 ashlynnleighcakes@hotmail.com www.ashlynnleighcakes.com Holiday World 452 E. Christmas Blvd. Santa Claus, IN (812) 686-4224 agrote@holidayworld.com www.holidayworld.com
Reception and networking event The final new member reception for 2013 will be at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6. If you have joined this year, or if you are new to your role, please feel free to join us for an informal meeting followed by a networking event open to all Chamber members. Reserve your spot now on the Chamber’s website.
Nov. 6 — Networking event, 5 p.m., Chamber office at 500 Franklin St. All members are invited to network and meet new Chamber members. Nov. 7 — Economic Outlook Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Columbus Learning Center. Nov. 8 — TEN Roundtable, 8 a.m., Visitors Center. Nov. 20 — Open board meeting, 11:30 a.m., City Hall, Cal Brand Meeting Room.
Open board meeting The open board meeting will be Nov. 20 at City Hall. Join us as we hear from city officials about current and upcoming projects. Reservations are required; please register online at www.columbusareachamber.com/events. Chamber member price is $15; non-member price is $25.
Holiday party Mark you calendar for our annual holiday party at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. Join us on Dec. 12.
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 13
Health care Q&A for small business employees
associated press
Bryan Shaw works for a software company and is considering his options for health insurance.
By Joyce M. Rosenberg n The Associated Press
I
f you’re one of the nearly 60 million people in the U.S. who work at small businesses, the nation’s new health care law likely will affect you in some way. Public exchanges, or marketplaces, are now open in each state to sell health insurance. Bryan Shaw has coverage from his employer, 3dcart, a software company in Tamarac, Fla., but plans to shop on an exchange. Shaw says he’s excited about the fact that insurance companies large and small will be competing for customers on the exchanges. He expects that competition will lead to a better price for the insurance he needs. Here’s what you need to know about the law:
Q: A:
How do I find out what coverage my company is offering?
Companies with fewer than 50 workers aren’t required to provide insurance. Those with more than 50 must provide affordable coverage. Ask your company about its plans to provide insurance, including details about premiums, deductibles and other costs, says Zoe Barry, CEO of ZappRx, a Boston-based company that manages patients’ prescription information.
Q:
My company isn’t required to offer coverage and isn’t going to do it. What are my options?
A:
Public exchanges set up in each state under the new law are designed to sell affordable coverage. Each exchange offers insurance plans from several companies. Coverage is divided into four levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum, with premiums at the bronze level being the cheapest and platinum the most expensive. Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs are larger with bronze plans,
14 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
and shrink as you go up the scale and pay higher monthly premiums. The government will subsidize coverage on the exchanges if an individual’s income is no more than $45,960 and up to $94,200 for a family of four. You can also buy insurance through a broker, on a private exchange or directly from an insurer, but it’s likely to be more expensive and it won’t be subsidized.
Q:
My employer isn’t required to buy coverage, but is going to give me money to help me buy my own insurance. Is this money taxable?
A:
Yes. The government considers the money part of your compensation. It will be subject to federal, state and local taxes.
Q: A:
How much more is this going to cost me?
It’s hard to say. But workers are likely to find that their out-of-pocket costs will be higher if they choose a plan with low monthly premiums, says Allen Wishner, CEO of Flexible Benefit Service Corp., a Rosemont, Ill.-based benefits broker and administrator.
Q: A:
Will I have to change doctors?
Possibly. Insurers might include fewer doctors in the plans they sell on exchanges to keep the costs of the insurance down, Wishner says.
Q: A:
Q: A:
Q: A:
Q: A:
My employer is providing insurance, but I don’t like my choices. What can I do?
You can buy your own coverage. But if you use a public exchange, you could lose the right to any possible subsidies that are available. The government will subsidize coverage on the exchanges if an individual’s income is no more than $45,960. For a family of four, the threshold is $94,200. You can also buy insurance privately, but it won’t be subsidized. My company has more than 50 workers. Does it have to cover my spouse and kids?
The new law requires that employers with 50 or more workers offer insurance to staffers’ dependents. Employers don’t have to pay for that insurance, however, and they’re not required to offer coverage to spouses.
Can someone help me figure out what to do?
A health insurance broker can help you decide which insurance plan is best. So can a financial planner or attorney with expertise in health care law. Exchanges will have help available through toll-free numbers and online chats. But you’ll only get information about plans on the exchange, not other options available to you, notes Joel Ohman, a financial planner in Tampa, Fla., and founder of InsuranceProvers.com. Where can I find information online?
www.healthcare.gov is the government’s main source of information about insurance on the exchanges and has links to the exchanges. State websites also have information and links to exchanges. The Kaiser Family Foundation, which researches health care issues, has information at http://kff.org/aca-consumer-resources.
razor continued from page 11 than 1,000 consumers at their homes, in stores and in small group discussions. They observed people’s routines throughout the day, sometimes staying late into the evening. They also hosted small group discussions. “We asked them what their aspirations were and why they wanted to shave, and how often,” Carvahlo said. They learned that families often live in huts without electricity and share a bathroom with other huts. So men shave sitting on their floors with a bowl of water, often without a mirror, in the dark morning hours. As a result, shaving could take up to half an hour, compared with the five to seven minutes it takes to shave in American households. And Indian men strain to not cut themselves. The takeaway: In the U.S., razor makers spent decades on marketing centered on a close shave, adding blade after blade to achieve a smoother cheek. But men in India are more concerned about not cutting themselves. “I worked in this category for 23 years and I never realized with those insights that’s how they think about the product,” said Eric Liu, Gillette’s director of research and development, global shave care.
With that knowledge, the Gillette team started making a new razor for the Indian market. In nine months, P&G developed five prototypes. The company declined to give specifics on each prototype for competitive reasons. But they tested things like handle designs, how well the blade cuts hair and how easy the razor is to rinse. The resulting Guard razor has one blade, to put the emphasis on safety rather than closeness, compared with two to five blades found on U.S. razors. One insight from filming shavers was that Indians grip the razors in many different ways, so the handle is textured to allow for easy gripping. There’s also a hole at the handle’s base, to make it easier to hang up, and a small comb by the blade since Indians hair growth tends to be thicker. Next, the company had to figure out how to produce the razor at the right price. “We had to say ‘How do we do this at ruthless cost?’” Carvalho said. P&G scrutinized the smallest details. It cut the number of components in the razor down to 4 compared with 25 needed for Mach3, Gillette’s three-blade razor. They even made the razor’s handle hollow so it
would be lighter and cheaper to make. “I can remember talking about changes to this product that were worth a thousandth, or two thousandths of a cent,” said Jim Keighley, the company’s associate director for product engineering. The result? The I can remember talkGuard costs about one third of what it costs ing about changes to to make the Vector, this product that were Gilllette’s low-price Indian razor before worth a thousandth, or Guard. Gillette sells the two thousandths of a Guard for 15 rupees, or 34 cents, and each cent. razor blade is 5 rupees, — Jim Keighley, associate or 12 cents. The company’s director for product strategy seems to have engineering worked. P&G says with 9 percent market share, Guard has grown share faster than any other P&G brand in India. And Gillette’s market share for razors and blades in India has grown to 49.1 percent, according to Euromonitor. That’s up from 37.3 in 2007.
“
”
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 15
Attracting Hispanic customers easier with business legwork
By Virginia Bridges n The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
I
ris Ramirez Reese made a promise to right a wrong after she asked a Food Lion employee where she could find traditional Puerto Rican seasoning and sodas. “They directed me to the Taco Bell box, and they were calling it the Spanish food section,” said Ramirez Reese, who owns Fusion Multicultural Marketing & Communications, a Durham, N.C., firm that focuses on the changing cultural marketing landscape. “So I made a conscious decision that I need to help this company to bring my food here, my products here.” That was 1998, a year after Ramirez Reese, who was the first in her Puerto Rican family born on the U.S. mainland, and her husband moved to Durham from New York, where she was raised by her parents and grandparents. In 1999, Ramirez Reese, who at the time owned La Conexion Latina, an interpretation and translation services company, shared her concerns with local Food Lion officials, who then contracted with her to help bring in authentic products, create internal procedures and take other steps to attract and retain the local Hispanic market. “We did 16 cities in 16 weeks,” Ramirez Reese said. “Then they contracted me again to come in and help them train their associates.” She then went to Food Lions from North Carolina up the East Coast to help stores match their demographics with its food. Ramirez Reese’s company and efforts highlight two important markets — Latino consumers and Hispanic-owned businesses — that communities and mct photos
Above: People fill the dining room of the Havana Grill in Cary, N. C. Owner Robert Cardoso has found success in the area and is helping other Hispanic business owners. Right: Cardoso makes Cuban sandwiches. 16 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
small-business owners need to pay attention to, she and other experts said. Latino consumers are part of the fastestgrowing ethnic segment, according to a 2012 report on Hispanic consumers from Nielsen, which provides information and insight on consumer activity. According to the report, the Hispanic segment is expected to increase 167 percent from 2010 to 2050, compared to 42 percent for the total population. “The Hispanic market’s size, growing clout and buying power of $1 trillion in 2010 and $1.5 trillion by 2015 require thoughtful understanding about what the market represents to a company’s bottom line,” the report states. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses is also rapidly increasing, providing jobs and driving economies in communities across the nation. From 2002 to 2007, the number of Hispanicowned businesses grew from 1.57 million to more than 2.26 million with more than $350 billion in revenue, according to a report from Geoscape, which provides multicultural intelligence to companies, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The number of U.S. Hispanic-owned businesses is projected to grow to more than 3.16 million this year, the report states. To understand the purchasing habits of the Latino demographic, owners need to do research, attend related conferences and connect with
consulting companies, said Casey Steinbacher of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “There are consumer spending habits by the Hispanic community in every aspect of daily consumption,” Steinbacher said. “You just have to know and understand the cultural differences, and the product differences, and the buying-purchasing difference that they bring to the marketplace so that you take the best advantage of that.” Ramirez Reese advises owners to seek training to understand the norms and nuances of the Latino culture and avoid misconceptions. Owners should ensure their materials are professionally produced and culturally and linguistically inclusive, she said. Owners should also set up an internal structure, such as a bilingual salesperson, to respond to demand. “You have one time to capture or lose that market,” she said. Hispanic small-business owners need to capitalize on the mainstream marketplace to expand their revenue. The North Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which has about 200 small-business members, encourages Hispanic owners to learn the English language, understand best practices and integrate into other organizations and chambers, said President Leonor Clavijo. Roberto Cardoso, 48, opened Havana Grill in
Cary, N.C., in June 2007. Cardoso was born in Cuba and moved to Miami with his parents when he was 10. After nearly 30 years of owning or working for restaurants in Miami, Cardoso moved his family to North Carolina in 2005. He’s built a healthy business over the years, he said, by treating his employees well, providing good products and service, and making everyone feel welcome. “We keep our culture. We keep our stuff, but everything is pretty much in English, or my menu is in Spanish and English,” Cardoso said. “I am not saying you have to change your roots or change your tradition, but you need to adjust, and everybody has got to feel welcome.” Ramirez Reese and her husband, David Reese, moved to Durham in 1997, when she started interpreting for two health care facilities. In 1999, she founded La Conexion Latina, a company that provided interpretation, translation and graphic design services. She also sought to fill a need to better inform American companies that were trying to appeal to the Hispanic market. During her business’s first year, Ramirez Reese started consulting for Food Lion. Now she is proud when she finds an expanded Latino section. “I love being able to walk into the store and know that I am going to find cilantro, I am going to find all those things that were staples in my household for many generations,” she said.
FOR
INDUSTRIAL • RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL ROOFING SPECIALISTS Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, IN
SINCE 1947
ROOFING & SHEET METAL www.hrcroofing.com
2845 Roadway Drive Columbus, IN • 812-372-8409
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 17
on the move Whitworth of Advanced Pain Management Surgery in Greensburg, with offices in Columbus and Indianapolis, was elected to serve as an alternate trustee for two years.
Six staff members from Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, recently attended the Disney Institute, a daylong development training session that examines the leadership culture that makes Disney one of the most successful and recognizable organizations today. Tracy Souza, Amber Fischvogt, Celeste Yonushonis, Lorraine Low, Kristin Munn and Amy Laker discussed how to apply Disney’s leadership values and strategies for excellence to their own organization and also gathered insight into what makes good leaders and how they are instrumental in inspiring and guiding change.
Joseph Green
Joseph Green has been promoted to facilities and purchasing officer at JCB. He began his career with JCB in 2008. He will be responsible for bank-wide buildings, grounds, non-technology equipment, machinery and other facilities. He will oversee remodeling of existing facilities and the development of new facilities through planning, budgeting and scheduling as well as oversight of all operating supplies budgets and the bank’s messenger services. He is a graduate of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mich., and holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. Jack Champlin of Columbus has joined Data Cave as a systems administrator. He is an academic honors graduate of Columbus North High School, studied engineering at the University of Kentucky and is a student at Ivy Tech. He is a former developer, software engineer, IT support and emissions technician at Analytical Engineering Inc.
Pete Johnson
Pete Johnson has joined Centra Credit Union as Madison branch manager. He has more than 13 years of retail administration and branch management experience, including positions at Stock Yards Bank and American Founder Bank. A University of Southern Indiana graduate with a degree in business administration with emphasis in management, he has also served in the Peace Corps. He is an active participant with the immigrant and refugee population in his community. Columbus family medicine physician Dr. David Rau recently was elected by colleagues to serve a three-year term on the Indiana State Medical Association Board of Trustees. He previously served four years as an alternate trustee and represents the organization’s 4th District, which includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings and several other counties. Dr. Michael
18 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
Justin McCracken is now a mortgage loan officer for Union Savings Bank. He has 11 years’ experience in sales, finance and marketing. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a helicopter hydraulics/metalsmith. He and his wife are the parents of four sons.
Justin McCracken
Lenore Hollowell, Eastside Community Center assistant director, has completed all requirements with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to become a state certified financial education counselor and a state certified foreclosure prevention specialist. Cathy Klaes, an account manager at The Republic, was recently named Salesperson of the Year at the annual advertising conference conducted by Indiana Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and Hoosier State Press Association Foundation. Newspapers from all over Indiana participate in the conference and advertising contest.
Cathy Klaes
James A. “Andy” Applewhite has taken the position of senior vice president and mortgage operations manager at MainSource Bank in Greensburg. He will assume responsibility for the overall administration of the mortgage operations division, including secondary market and title services. He is a graduate of Indiana University and has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Applewhite served as chairman of the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Compliance Committee. He is a 19-year resident of Seymour and has been a board member for the Seymour Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Justin J. Burdick of Columbus has joined the medical staff at Southern Indiana Surgery. He is a cum laude graduate of Wabash College and a graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed general surgery training at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and prior to joining Southern Indiana Surgery was a staff general surgeon at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C. Burdick’s wife, Dr. Laura Burdick, also practices in Columbus as a dermatologist with Dermatology Physicians Inc. — Staff Reports
coach’s corner
Mark McNulty
HAVE COME TO YOUR FACTORY!
Are you focused on the right things? As we get closer to the end of the year, I talk to my clients and business owners about finishing strong, and as part of our fourth quarter planning process, we talked about the importance of focus for a strong finish. Finishing strong has many different meanings at this time of year depending on the industry you are in. Yet whether you are a retailer planning for a strong holiday season, or a service provider preparing your clients for the cold weather, or any other business category, the key to a strong and profitable finish is the same – unrelenting focus. The end of the year can bring a lot of chaos and noise into your business, and your job is to sort through it and to keep yourself and your team pointed in the same direction and more importantly, aiming at the same target. Here are some tips to creating and maintaining your focus. Set Goals – At the beginning of the year, I often have my clients set 10 to 12 goals for their business, as we have 12 months to work on them. Now that we are in the home stretch, we narrow the focus to two to three goals at the most and pick the goals that will have the biggest impact on the business between now and the end of the year Share Your Goals – While setting goals can help you focus, sharing them with your team, your board, your mentors, your business friends and your spouse can help you to stay focused and can help your supporting cast get and stay focused on the same outcomes. Be sure that your team knows what the most critical goals are and help them plan their days and weeks around achieving them. Be sure that the daily conversations are focused on the critical few and not the important many. Everything is important in business; you need them working on what is vital and critical right now. Laser vs. Wide Spectrum Focus – There are 100 watt light bulbs that fill a room with light, yet fade as you go down the hallway, and there are 10 watt lasers that can reach the moon. Make sure that you are the 10W laser beam, lining up all of the light rays (your team, your time and energy) and pointing them in the same direction. It is too easy to let our businesses become like that 100W light bulb, shining light everywhere, but never getting us where we really want to go. Develop Focus Habits and Rituals – What are your daily rituals for getting “in the zone”? What do you do at the start of every day to make sure that you and your team are spending your valuable time on the right things? Here are a few of the habits of the successful: daily affirmations or “I am” statements, visualization, meditation, motivational CDs or readings for 10 minutes, exercise and goal review. What are your success habits that help you to focus on the critical few every day? First Things First – As Stephen Covey wrote, plan your day the evening before, identifying what you must do the next day, what you should do and what you want to do. Focus on getting the “must do’s” completed as early as possible so you have room for the shoulds and wants. This time of year, there may not be a lot of time for anything but the must do’s, so be sure to get yourself and your team focused on them every day. Mark McNulty is a business coach with ActionCoach Business Coaching. He can be reached at 372-7377 or mark@coachmark.biz.
Steel Toe, Composite Toe and Carbon Max Composite Slip Resistant • Oil Resistant Electrical Hazard Resistant • Static Dissipative Waterproof • Insulated We Have Many Styles to Choose From: Athletic, Slip-Ons, Oxfords, Hikers, 6”/8” Boots
Sizes 5 to 16EEEE Call today for an appointment to see what we have to offer
812.522.3800 Located at the corner of 4th Street & Burkhart 1239 East 4th Street, Seymour NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 19
Around the WATERCOOLER Hospitality business rises 6.3 percent
High interest in architectural tours, one-time events such as the Super Bowl in Indianapolis and recurring sports tournaments pumped more tourism dollars into the local economy in 2012 than ever before. Tourists spent $241.6 million in Columbus in 2012, up 6.3 percent from 2010, according to a report from Lexington, Ky.-based CERTEC Inc. The report, commissioned by the Columbus Area Visitors Center, also found that nearly 4,400 people worked in the tourism industry in Bartholomew County last year, up 154, or 3.6 percent, from 2010, the last time the study was done. The hospitality-related jobs generated wages of $70 million in 2012, up 12.1 percent from 2010.
Indiana incomes continue behind national levels
INDIANAPOLIS — New Census Bureau figures show that the income of Indiana households trailed the national median by 9 percent last year. The U.S. median household income for 2012 was just above $51,000. In Indiana, the median household income was about $46,700. Indiana’s median household incomes have been falling behind the national mark since 2000. The Indiana Community Action Association says Indiana’s decline over that period was the fourth largest in the country. Association policy analyst Derek Thomas calls it a “lost decade for Hoosier families.” Thomas says Indiana needs to attract the right kind of jobs or the next decade is likely to continue that trend.
Old National buys Tower
Evansville-based Old National Bancorp, which has branches in Columbus, has agreed to buy Tower Financial Corp., a $681 million-in-assets bank with branches in Fort Wayne and Warsaw, for roughly $108 million. The deal will bring Old National six branches in Fort Wayne and another location in Warsaw, 20 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
both companies said in announcing the deal. Tower Financial Corp.’s stock, which trades on Nasdaq, soared 45 percent after the sale was announced. Under the terms of the deal, Tower Financial stockholders will get 1.2 shares of Old National Bancorp common stock and $6.75 in cash for each share of Tower Financial common stock they own. Bank officials expect the sale to close in the first quarter of 2014 after banking regulators review it.
Cummins projects sales of $25 billion by 2018
decline in value compared to 2011. The biggest foreign markets for Indiana-made cars and parts are Canada, Mexico, China, Australia, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Steel was the sixth-biggest export in the state. Northwestern Indiana’s mills shipped nearly $1.3 billion worth of products abroad last year. Indiana’s overall export growth rate was 6.6 percent last year, well above the national growth rate of 4.4 percent. Economic analyst Tanya Hall, a co-author of the Indiana Business Research Center study, said Indiana exports are growing faster than other states’ because it makes some of the products that are most in demand internationally, such as aircraft parts and pharmaceuticals.
Cummins Inc.’s leading executives said new products and tougher emissions standards across the globe would allow the engine maker to reach annual sales of between $25 billion and $31 billion by 2018. Last year, the company reported sales of $17.3 billion. Executives, including Chief Executive Officer Tom Linebarger, told about 100 Wall Street analysts and shareholders that the company expects its revenues to rise at two to three times the growth rate of global gross domestic product over the next five years. Whether sales would reach $31 billion or $25 billion will depend on global economic conditions, the company said in a news release. The company did not give details about how that growth might affect employment, but the company’s growth in the past decade also came with significant numbers of new jobs. In the past decade, revenues have roughly tripled, while employment almost doubled, from 23,700 in 2002 to 46,000 last year.
BLOOMINGTON — Two Bloomington-area employers have announced layoffs, with more than 200 workers losing their jobs. GE Appliances said it will eliminate 160 jobs from its Bloomington plant because demand for its side-by-side refrigerators has fallen by more than 30 percent since 2010. GE forecasts about 35 percent of the cuts will come from employees taking early retirement. The move will leave GE with 364 employees at the Bloomington plant. Ellettsville telecommunications company Smithville is cutting 45 full-time employees in part because consumers are using fewer landline telephones.
Indiana exports hit record $34 billion
Leaders drum up interest in I-67 plan
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana exports hit a record last year as the number of state-made products leaving for other countries grew at a faster rate than the rest of the nation. A report by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business found the state’s exports reached $34.3 billion last year. That’s up from $32.2 billion in 2011. Indiana’s auto industry was the top exporter at $3.1 billion in goods, despite a 7.6 percent
2 employers lay off 205 workers
WASHINGTON — Business leaders in Indiana and Kentucky are joining forces to drive interest in a cost-effective interstate proposal that would use existing infrastructure to link the states. The Interstate 67 project would tie into Interstate 69 near Washington, Ind., and eventually link up with Interstate 65 in Bowling Green, Ky. Washington Mayor Joe Wellman says the ability to tie into I-69 in Washington has spurred interest
among Daviess County officials. The Washington Times-Herald reports a $200,000 study shows the road would draw at least 16,000 vehicles a day and could ease congestion on I-65 near Louisville. Coalition member Hank Menke says there’s no money for the project right now. But he hopes the study has sent a strong message to state transportation officials that the idea is worth considering.
Purdue debuts series on wine industry
WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University has uncorked a new online series examining Indiana’s wine industry and all of the steps needed to produce a fine bottle of wine. The new “Through the Grapevine” feature debuted on the website of Purdue’s “Agricultures” publication with a segment on four wine varieties, two red and two white, that are putting Indiana’s vineyards on the wine-sipping map. Series organizer Natalie van Hoose will draw on the expertise of Purdue’s grape and wine specialists for a new segment each Tuesday about Indiana grapes. She says “Indiana’s wine industry may be small, but it’s really quite remarkable.” The series will also explore issues such as how rising temperatures have affected the range and
varieties of grapes grown in Indiana. Online: Through the Grapevine: https://ag.purdue.edu/ agricultures.
IU center’s index tracks fashion choices
BLOOMINGTON — A new tool in use at Indiana University is tracking college students’ fashion habits to help the industry understand what young buyers are looking for. IU’s Kelley School of Business Center for Education and Research in Retailing has created the Fashion Innovation Index — or FIndex — that focuses on retail and retail research. That information is fed to two other organizations that help translate the data for retailers like Kohl’s and Macy’s. The 2013 FIndex Back to School Survey shows that college-age fashion enthusiasts make purchases early and have less disposable income than last year. They spend the most on apparel and typically use the Internet to make purchases.
Recycled paper mill to create 137 jobs
VALPARAISO — A paper and packaging company plans to locate a new paper-recycling plant in northwestern Indiana, creating up to 137 new jobs by 2018.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said that Pratt Industries will invest $260 million to build the recycling plant next to its existing boxmaking plant in Valparaiso. At full capacity, the new mill is expected to produce 360,000 tons of recycled paper each year. The IEDC offered Pratt up to $1.2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on job creation. Northern Indiana Public Service Co. offered $15 million in energy and infrastructure incentives, and the city of Valparaiso will consider tax abatement. Conyers, Ga.-based Pratt currently employs more than 320 workers in Valparaiso, located about 15 miles southeast of Gary.
Nestle adding production line
ANDERSON — Nestle USA says it will spend $72 million to add a new production line to the central Indiana plant where it makes several beverage products. The expansion project will start up a seventh production line at the factory along Interstate 69 in Anderson. The company says it will be making more of its Boost and Carnation Breakfast Essentials drinks at the plant. Nestle has also been making Nesquik and Coffee-Mate at the plant that opened in 2009. see watercooler on page 23
We are your local printing company, family owned for 140 years FULL SERVICE PRINTING, BINDERY & MAILING
CALL US TODAY
For a quote on your next printing job.
Commercial Web & Sheetfed Printing // Personalized Customer Service Mailing & Fulfillment Resources // Quick Turnaround Two Central Indiana Production Facilities
HNEprinting.com 3330 W. International Court, Columbus // 812-342-1056
(812) 372-7829
Mike Bonham
Mbonham@jwinsurance.com
Dan Fox
dfox@jwinsurance.com
NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 21
BUSINESS LEADS
SEPTEMBER
COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS
COOPER, MICHAEL,OWNER REMODEL
COM REMODEL FAURECIA 312 SF
4603 PINE RIDGE DR COMMERCIAL REMODEL $4,800 WESTWOOD PINES APTS, OWNER MK ROOFING, CONTRACTOR REROOF CLUBHOUSE
4510 PROGRESS DR COMMERCIAL REMODEL $9,500 JIM GORDON, INC., OWNER MINGS, THELBERT, CONTRACTOR
3780 JONATHAN MOORE PK COMMERCIAL REMODEL $4,000 STAHL, KERRY, CONTRACTOR STUDIO SHAG LLC, OWNER COM REMODEL 1400 SF
1800 SF COMM/REM 240 JACKSON ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $350,000 GERMAN AMERICAN BANK, OWNER BUCKINGHAM CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTOR GERMAN AMERICAN BANK REMODEL 7035 SF
11774 N E EXECUTIVE DR COMMERCIAL REMODEL $81,550 GATTURNA, JOHN/WET SEAL, OWNER WET SEAL COM REMODEL 3005 SF
240 JACKSON ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $100,000 BUCKINGHAM COLE LLC, OWNER BUCKINGHAM CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTOR GERMAN AMERICAN BANK 500 JACKSON ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $1,650,000 CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY, OWNER WILHELM CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTOR CUMMINS REMODEL 30,500 SF 3031 NATIONAL RD COMMERCIAL REMODEL $25,000 NORTHERN VILLAGE ASSOCIATES LL, OWNER IRC ROOFING, CONTRACTOR COM REROOF 4742 RAY BOLL BLVD COMMERCIAL ADDITION $168,000 ATTERBURY/BAKALAR MUSEUM, OWNER DRIFTWOOD BUILDERS, CONTRACTOR ATTERBURY MUSEUM ADDITION 2380 25TH ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $54,500 FAIROAKS MALL, OWNER RAMSEY & NORTH MECHANICAL SERV, CONTRACTOR HVAC/FAIROAKS MALL 4020 E 25TH ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $3,000 22 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013
2460 25TH ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $3,000 ADVANCE AUTO LENNOX, CONTRACTOR REPL HVAC ROOF TOP UNIT 4220 W JONATHAN MOORE PK COMMERCIAL REMODEL $50,000 HOPE VET CLINIC, OWNER EMP CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTOR 3200SF COMM/REM 8111 E 450 N COMMERCIAL ADDITION $25,000 SIMMONS, DAVID W, OWNER 816 SF COMM/ADDN 2535 ARNOLD ST COMMERCIAL REMODEL $108,000 SUNNY SIDE INVESTMENTS, OWNER DRIFTWOOD BUILDERS, CONTRACTOR SONNY SIDE INV COM REMODEL 2250 SF 950 W 450 S COMMERCIAL REMODEL $70,000 FAURECIA EMISSIONS CONTROL, OWNER FORCE CONSTRUCTION CO INC, CONTRACTOR
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS 1697 ANTHONY DR $75,000 RES/NEW BEACON BUILDERS LLC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 1718 ANTHONY DR $80,000 RES/NEW BEACON BUILDERS LLC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 1953 DEER CREEK CIRCLE $400,000 NEW 6562 SF RES/BMT/GAR PHILLIPS DEVELOPMENT INC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 2122 E 950 S $250,000 RES/NEW BURBRINK, CURTIS OWNER 5143 EAST HARVARD CT $265,000 NEW 2903 SF RES/GAR SKAGGS BUILDERS INC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 1948 HEATHROW DR $150,000 RES/NEW PHILLIPS DEVELOPMENT INC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 1954 HEATHROW DR $200,000 RES/NEW PHILLIPS DEVELOPMENT INC, OWNER/CONTRACTOR
2079 PAWNEE TRL $295,000 RES/NEW THOMPSON CONSTRUCTION, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 2093 PAWNEE TRL $310,000 RES/NEW THOMPSON CONSTRUCTION, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 6111 PELICAN LN $256,000 RES/NEW M/I HOMES OF INDIANA, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 2393 SHADOW BEND DR $137,000 NEW 2549 SF RES/GAR BEAZER HOMES, OWNER/ CONTRACTOR 5035 SOMERSET CT $270,000 NEW 5778 SF RES/BMT/GAR DREES HOMES, OWNER/ CONTRACTOR 2713 VIOLET WAY $210,000 NEW 4043 SF RES/BMT/GAR TOUCHSTONE BUILDERS, OWNER/CONTRACTOR 14000 W LAKE RD $275,000 NEW 4441 SF RES/BMT/GAR REUTTER, GREG, OWNER KLEBER BUILDING & REMODELING, CONTRACTOR 5510 W LOWELL RD $200,000 NEW RES MEDARIS, TIM, OWNER TIM & DAUGHTERS INC., CONTRACTOR 6065 WATERSIDE DR $580,000 NEW 6583 SF RES/BMT/GAR PANDITA, SANJAY, OWNER BANISTER CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTOR 888 WESTCREEK DR $400,000 6943 SF RES/BAS/GAR
THOMPSON HOMES OF COLUMBUS, OWNER/ CONTRACTOR
CERTIFICATES TO DO BUSINESS UNDER ASSUMED NAME Jason I. Brown DBA Right Click PC Repair LLC (computer repair), 1608 Central Ave. Suite B, Columbus Maritza Meihls DBA Castillo Packaging (sewing), 4725 Autumn Ridge Drive Ricky D. Harper DBA Ricky D’s Construction, 2232 Timbercrest Drive, Columbus Richard Dwayne Gandy DBA Amazing Bible Stories (tell Bible stories, hold storytelling festivals), 1573 S. 475W, Columbus David and Sandra Fuller DBA White River Road Service (truck repair), 2400 Farmstead Drive, Columbus Diana Rondinel and Rebeca Martinez DBA El Rincon de las Delicias (juice and sandwich shop), 2556 McKinley Ave., Columbus
watercooler continued from page 21 Nestle spokesman Chris Lloyd says the company isn’t announcing whether any jobs will be added with the new production line. Lloyd says the new line is expected to be in operation next year. More than 700 people now work at the plant.
brake reservoirs, air suspension components and other parts that are mostly used in heavy trucks.
Auto parts supplier expanding factory
SEYMOUR — Engine maker Cummins Inc. is refurbishing a used locomotive that will be outfitted with a new 4,200-horsepower diesel engine and used to haul coal or mixed freight across the state. The low-emissions engine known as the Hedgehog is being built in Seymour and will be used to haul loads on track owned by the Indiana Rail Road Co. The train will be used commercially starting in mid-2014. Cummins says the engine also has possible uses in marine vessels and in some offshore drilling operations. Indiana Rail Road spokesman Eric Powell says the rail company’s 500 miles of track will give Cummins a varied geographic landscape to test the engine, including steep hills between southwestern Indiana and Indianapolis.
LAFAYETTE — Heartland Automotive is planning to expand its Lafayette factory and add a couple hundred jobs. The factory makes dashboards and other interior parts for Subaru’s nearby vehicle assembly plant. The Heartland expansion is a ripple effect of Subaru’s announcement in May of a major expansion that’s expected to add 900 workers. Heartland Automotive Vice President Ronan Mtoi told a city board that the company will spend $38 million to expand and equip the factory. About 90 people now work at the factory, where Mtoi says some 220 jobs are expected to be added in the next two years.
Auto parts factory set to close
FORT WAYNE — An auto parts factory in Fort Wayne with about 100 workers is being shut down just months after new owners took it over. Workers at the Nyloncraft Inc. factory were told about the decision by company officials on Oct. 1. Nyloncraft President Jim Krzyzewski says it might take a year before the company has enough inventory stockpiled to be able to close the Fort Wayne factory. The production will be moved in stages to other company factories in Mishawaka and Michigan, and the Fort Wayne workers might be able to transfer to those plants. Nyloncraft in June bought the factory that makes
Cummins tests low-emissions locomotive engine
Cabinet company to hire 300
CONNERSVILLE — A cabinet company will hire more than 300 people over five years at a vacant former auto parts plant, ending a six-year search for a major new employer in Connersville. Wayzata Home Products Connersville, a unit of 6 Square Cabinet Co. based in Minnetonka, Minn., will occupy the former Visteon plant that closed in 2007. The company will occupy the same site where Carbon Motors planned for years to build high-tech police cars until its plans fell apart last year and the company filed bankruptcy. Wayzata will invest about $12.5 million in the plant. The city agreed to sell the plant for $1. Wayzata will own the building and take over utilities, upkeep and insurance. — Staff and Wire Reports
Business Indicators for Bartholomew County May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Aug. 2013
Labor Force % Chg from Year Ago
41,694 42,253 42,680 42,920 1.07% 1.61% 2.14% 3.41%
Employed % Chg from Year Ago
39,070 39,414 39,963 40,549 1.04% 1.42% 2.3% 4.36%
Unemployed % Chg from Year Ago
2,624 2,839 2,717 2,371 1.51% 4.26% -0.18% -10.56%
Unemployment Rate 6.3 6.7 6.4 5.5 Chg from Year Ago 0.0 0.2 -0.1 -0.9 — Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University NOVEMBER 2013 The Business Connection 23
www.columbusindianajobs.com
24 The Business Connection NOVEMBER 2013