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JUNE 2019 VOL. 32, NO. 6
A Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Publication
In this issue: Advocacy Update ..........................................................2
“Diamonds say what we can’t. Very few gifts you are able to give have that kind of power and sentiment.”
Chamber Voices............................................................3 YPB News .....................................................................4 Chamber Briefs .............................................................5 Franklin Initiative Update...............................................6 In Our Own Backyard ...................................................7 Chamber Launches ‘3 Things’ Podcast......................11
—Christian Lawrence, Gold Casters Fine Jewelry
Chamber’s Annual Meeting.........................................11 Women Excel Bloomington Awards............................12
Christian Lawrence, Gold Casters Fine Jewelry. (Chris Howell / Herald-Times)
Spotlight: Gold Casters Fine Jewelry
JUNE
By Kasey Husk
T Coming in July: The ‘Right Hands’ of Bloomington
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
o Christian Lawrence of Gold Casters Fine Jewelry, selecting an engagement ring – or any other piece of fine jewelry – isn’t buying just any gift. It’s making a statement. “Diamonds say what we can’t,” Lawrence says, adding that “very few gifts you are able to give have that kind of power and sentiment.” Since the company’s founding in 1984, the Lawrence family has been dedicated to helping its clientele make those kinds of statements with highend products and dedicated customer service. Today, Lawrence says that Gold Casters – whose sole location is on the corner of Second and Washington streets in Bloomington — is the largest jewelry store by volume in south-central Indiana. “We pride ourselves on offering a selection that rivals the one you’d find in a store in Indianapolis,” Lawrence says. “We carry brands you wouldn’t usually see in a store in a town the size of Bloomington, that are not typical for a town of 80,000 people.” The company has come a long way since its founding in 1984 when Lawrence’s father, Brad Lawrence – who he describes as “the visionary” and a
SPOTLIGHT
continued on page 14
12 Chamber Golf Scramble, The Golf Club at Eagle Pointe 20 Business After Hours, Hearthstone Health Campus 27 YPB, Switchyard Brewing Co.
JULY 16 Business After Hours – Graduate Bloomington 25 10 Under 40 Awards, Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington
In Our Own Backyard: Highlighting some unique local businesses
See page 7