AUGUST 2019 VOL. 32, NO. 8
A Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Publication
In this issue: Advocacy Update ..........................................................2
“I’m working really hard on promoting the airport and letting the community know about this wonderful asset in their backyard.”
Chamber Voices............................................................3 YPB News .....................................................................4 Chamber Briefs .............................................................5 Franklin Initiative Update...............................................6 Health and Business Luncheon ....................................6 Human Resources Conference ....................................6 Emerging Leaders/YPs .................................................7
—Carlos Laverty, director of aviation, Monroe County Airport
2019 Ten Under 40 honorees .......................................8 Ambassador of the Quarter .......................................11 Chamber Annual Awards Nominations.......................12
Carlos Laverty, director of aviation, Monroe County Airport. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
Spotlight: Monroe County Airport
AUGUST
By Kasey Husk
L Coming in September: Local Education
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
ast year, more than 29,000 planes either landed at or took off from the Monroe County Airport. The facility’s 6,500-foot runway is large enough to accommodate commercial airliners as large as a Boeing 727, and its size means the airport must meet virtually the same regulations as its much-larger sister to the north, the Indianapolis International Airport. And yet, says Carlos Laverty, director of aviation for the airport, most people in Monroe County are shocked to learn any of this. “It is the big-little airport in Monroe County that a lot of people just don’t know about,” he says. That, he says, is something he hopes to change. Laverty, who took the helm as director of aviation on Jan. 7 this year, hopes to both raise the profile of the Monroe County Airport and to increase its economic contributions to the community. “I’m working really hard on promoting the airport and letting the community know about this wonderful asset in their backyard,” he says. “I think because of the lack of awareness of the airport, people assume we are just a sleepy little airport where people who fly go on Sunday afternoons for
SPOTLIGHT continued on page 14
15 Business After Hours, Oliver Winery 20 Health and Business Luncheon, Bloomington Country Club 23 Human Resources Conference, Hilton Garden Inn
SEPTEMBER 19 Business After Hours, College Mall 26 Chamber Annual Meeting, Monroe County Convention Center
Emerging Leaders/YPs Making their mark on the Bloomington community
See page 7
ADVOCACY★Update pdate The Chamber serves as an advocate on behalf of all businesses for the issues critical to the future of our community. For timely updates, check out the Chamber’s Advocacy Matters site at chamberbloomington.org/advocacy-matters.
How’s Your Summer Going? I have vivid memories of growing up in Indiana without air conditioning, sleeping on our back porch with a washcloth soaked in cold water on my Mary Morgan. Courtesy forehead to relieve the heat. photo. It’s been many years since I’ve lived in southern Indiana, so I’m getting reacquainted with the oppressive humidity of summer. We used to handle it, in part, by taking things at a slower pace, as I recall. But summer doesn’t seem much slower these days, does it? Certainly not if you look at what we’re doing at the Chamber. You’ll find info on some of that work in this issue of BizNet. Please also check out our frequent Rendering of the proposed design for the new 4th Street parking structure, looking northwest from the intersection of 3rd and Walnut. updates on the Chamber’s Advocacy Matters site at (Courtesy photo) https://www.chamberbloomington.org/advocacy-matters. ers, public restrooms and public art installations. How’s your summer going? Drop me a line at mmorThe design assumes that the city will acquire the parcel gan@chamberbloomington.org. at the southeast corner of the site, currently owned by —Mary Morgan Juan Carlos Carrasquel of JuanSells.com Realty Co. The Note: The City of Bloomington Plan Commission was city has filed a Complaint for Condemnation with the scheduled to meet on Aug. 12, after this issue of BizNet Monroe County Circuit Court, beginning the process to went to press. Check the Chamber’s Advocacy Matters site buy the land through eminent domain. A memo to the for updates. Plan Commission stated that the city’s legal department At their July 8 meeting, the Bloomington Plan The Bloomington/Monroe County performing arts sector adds over $4 million annually to the local economy Commission pushed back action on the city’s new 4th St. “has advised that moving forward with a conditional approval is valid.” parking structure to their Aug. 12 meeting. Some comand supports more than 160 jobs here, according to a missioners expressed concern about giving conditional recent analysis commissioned by Cardinal Stage. approval so quickly, citing several unresolved issues. Gabe Gloden, the professional theater’s managing Duke Energy has proposed a rate hike, filing its request The Chamber continues to advocate for the new 4th St. director, presented results of the study at the Chamber’s with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) garage and spoke in favor of it at the July 8 meeting. kickoff Speaker Series on July 2. The IURC is required to approve this kind of After hearing from city staff, project managers and the on July 18. The analysis utility rate adjustment. public on July 8, Commissioner Brad Wisler moved to focused on three organiOn average, commercial customers would see a 16.7% continue the hearing until August. He said he supported zations: Cardinal Stage, increase. Rates for industrial customers would increase Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the project but didn’t like the design. (“The design feels on average between 11.3% and 16.3%, while residential typical,” he said. “Bloomington is not typical.”) Some and the Ivy Tech Waldron customers would have an average rate increase of 19% (or Arts Center. The economic commissioners, including Wisler, also expressed concern about $23 more per month). about the eminent domain process, and the fact that the impact of the entire arts If approved by the IURC, rates would be phased in city is asking for several variances. Some noted that most sector is even greater, over two years beginning in the spring/summer of 2020. projects don’t move through the process in one night, Gloden noted. Before then – possible as early as the fall of 2019 – the especially with conditional approval. The study was conducted in the spring of 2019 by IURC will schedule public hearings to gather input on the As proposed, the structure would be a six-floor, 510graduate students of the Indiana University O’Neill proposed increases. space building with nearly 12,000 square feet of retail/ School of Public and Environmental Affairs. To read the office space facing Walnut. Entrances are off of both 3rd full report, go to the Cardinal Stage website at cardinalADV0CACY UPDATE and 4th streets. The plan calls for 50 bicycle spaces/lockstage.org. continued on page 15
4th St. Garage – Plan Commission Weighs In
Report: Performing Arts Sector Adds Jobs, Millions of Dollars to Local Economy
Duke Energy Proposes Rate Increase
F2 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
Emerging Leaders/YPs
CHAMBER VOICES
Erin Predmore. Courtesy photo.
Dear Reader, As we complete an amazing month at the Chamber, I’m excited to share this issue of BizNet with you, which specifically celebrates the Chamber’s 2019 10 Under 40 award winners. Our awards ceremony and celebration on July 25th was funny, energetic, and moving, and it is an honor to recognize these powerful and impactful young professionals for their work. They were selected by a committee of their peers from a pool of 83 nominations, the most the Chamber has ever received for this award. Each of this year’s winners is a member of an important subset of our community – under 40 years of age, working in Bloomington and Monroe County, and making an outstanding impact. They also represent highly skilled young professionals that we need to keep in our community. According to the recent Monroe County Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction Plan, these young professionals are “actively searching for the right community to call home for their talents.� The survey found that young professionals love our community and its amenities, but their struggles with stagnant wages and inability to find affordable housing mean that other communities begin to look more attractive. They also reported that our community’s limited diversity and its student-centered culture makes it difficult for them to find their place socially and in civic life. I met a friend the other day that I had not seen in a while that I will call Joan. The last time I saw Joan, she excitedly told me that her son had moved back to Bloomington for a job, and she was very
happy he was planning to build his career in his hometown. Joan talked of future grandchildren, community and family connections, and how much she liked that he would be close by. Last week when I saw Joan, I asked how her son was settling in. She bristled a bit at the question, which was clearly a touchy subject, and launched into a defense of her son (“How can he be expected to live on that salary as a grown man?�) and his struggles (“He had to get a roommate to afford an apartment!�). She was suddenly and personally aware of the difficulties young professionals face every day, and she expressed a feeling of helplessness about the entire situation – her son was already starting to talk about moving to Indy to find a better fit. What will our community do if we lose our talented, highly skilled young professionals to other cities? Our 10 Under 40 award winners are just a small sample of this group of valuable community members. We must acknowledge that their presence and engagement in our community makes us stronger and more resilient. Elected officials must tackle our workforce housing problems directly and with urgency, and we must begin to talk more about wage stagnation and its impact on professional growth for employees. Other excellent recommendations are in the Monroe County Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction Plan, available on the Community Foundation’s website (cfbmc.org). After you finish this edition of BizNet, you should grab a copy of that, too. It’s a good read. Best, Erin
Emerging Leaders/YPs Making their mark on the Bloomington community
CONTACT BIZNET If you are a Chamber member who would like to announce promotions, expansions, community events, or other news in the “Chamber Briefs� section, please contact info@ChamberBloomington.org or 812-336-6381.
/ChamberBloom
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Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce 400 W. 7th St., Suite 102 • P.O. Box 1302 • Bloomington, IN 47402 Phone 812-336-6381 • ChamberBloomington.org
STAFF, PARTNERS & BOARD MEMBERS The Chamber invites its members to contact these individuals with comments or questions regarding Chamber activities. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DIRECTORS
Erin Predmore, President and CEO Serena Duke, Member Services Coordinator Christopher Emge, Manager of Talent and Education Mary Morgan, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy Jim Shelton, Government Relations-County Tammy Walker, Director of Member Services
Bruce Calloway, Duke Energy Lauren Dexter, Bloomington Health Foundation Pat East, Hanapin Marketing Amy Somers Kopp, RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties Cullen McCarty, Smithville Vanessa McClary, Kiwanis Club of South Central IN Dan Peterson, Cook Group Scott Shishman, Old National Bank Brian Shockney, IU Health Bloomington Donna Walker, Hoosier Energy Kirk White, Indiana University Jim Whitlatch, Bunger & Robertson Andy Williams, Rogers Group, Inc.
OFFICERS Ron Walker, CFC Properties, Chair Jennie Vaughan, Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington, 1st Vice Chair Mike Richardson, Midwest Color Printing/FASTSIGNS, 2nd Vice Chair Cindy Kinnarney, First Financial Bank, Secretary/Treasurer Tony Stonger, Edward Jones, Immediate Past Chair
To advertise in BizNet, please contact Chad Giddens at 812-331-4292 or cgiddens@heraldt.com. Be sure to ask about discount rate packages for Chamber members! For subscription information or customer service, please contact info@ChamberBloomington.org or 812-336-6381. Please send press releases to info@ChamberBloomington.org. Thank you for your interest in BizNet!
AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F3
Young Professionals Bloomingon
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oung Professionals Bloomington (YPB) is having a fantastic summer. Last month we featured two intern-related events in hopes of retaining young talent to our community. First, we hosted a “Bring Your Intern to Lunch” at Cook Medical. The program featured presentations by the Chamber and Visit Bloomington to over 50 Cook Medical mentors and interns. A panel of YPs also gave their perspectives on living, working, and playing in and around Monroe County. This summer the Chamber also hosted “Bring Your Intern to Switchyard Brewery.” We welcomed over 40 mentors and their interns for games, food, and fun. The networking allowed interns to ask questions about the community and what it is like to live here after being a college student. YPB has the following events coming up: • Networking 101 – Wednesday, August 14th 6 p.m. at Fourwinds Lakeside Inn, 9301 S. Fairfax • IU Football Tailgating – Saturday, September 7th 1:30 p.m. South Lawn • Bring Your Boss to Lunch: Avoiding Burnout – Wednesday, September 18th 11:30 a.m. at Meadowood, 2455 N. Tamarack Trail Does your place of work have young professionals you are hoping to retain? YPB regularly does presentations at workplaces to inform your YPs and entire office on what we do, how you can join, and how to get involved in our wonderful community. Contact Christopher Emge at 812-336-6381 or cemge@chamberbloomington.org for more information. To learn more about YPB and sign up for our email list, please visit ChamberBloomington.org/YPB.
• Deckard, Debby, J. CPA, P.C. • Domino’s of Bloomington • E & B Paving • Eco Friendly Mechanical • Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping • ForthPhaze Technology, INC • Fox Construction Co., Inc. • Fresh Thyme Farmers Market (West) • Gordon Flesch Company, INC
• Harrell-Fish Inc. • Hazen Insurance Agency LLC/Shelter Insurance • Holden Wealth Management • Indiana Voice & Data Inc. • IU Health Bloomington • Jenny Burton Agency • Jim Gordon Inc. • JLW Properties • Kroger Co. #J928 (East) • M.S.P. Aviation, Inc. • MacAllister Rentals • Peggy Mayfield, State Representative • MCD Machine Inc.
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The Chocolate Moose 405 S Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Jordan Davis 812-333-0475
Litwin Cosmetic Solutions 3901 E Hagan St, Suite A Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Shaena Litwin 812-606-6733
Posh Boutique 118 S College Avenue Bloomington, IN 47404 Contact: Laurel Nardine 812-822-2690
Southern Indiana Family Practice Center 1403 Atwater Avenue Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Katrina Miller 812-339-6744
Rachel Kearney/Realtor, eXp Realty LLC Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Rachel Kearney 812-327-8590
Mainstay Suites of Crane 7834 Progress Way Newberry, IN 47449 Contact: Sandra Heshelman 812-863-2520
Sleep Inn of Crane 7834 Progress Way Newberry, IN 47449 Contact: Mike Hicks 812-863-2520
Hoosier Healing Innovation 919 S College Mall Road Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Sara Chestnut 812-698-1695
NutritionHQ 919 S College Avenue Bloomington, IN 47404 Contact: Markus Barnett 812-287-8030
• C3 • Cardinal Stage • Carlisle Industrial Brake and Friction • Carmin Parker P.C. Alpha Energy Solutions B&H Electric and Supply • Charles Schwab • City of Bloomington Bloomington Iron & • Clean Machine Car Wash Metal, Inc. • Closets, Too!, Inc. Bloomington Salt Cave • Comprehensive Bloomington Shuttle Business Brokers Service/Go Express Travel • Cook Group Brookdale Bloomington Incorporated Bub’s Burgers and Ice • Coyne, Lynn H. Cream • Crane Credit Union Business And Professional Exchange MEMBER RENEWALS
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NEW MEMBERS Alpha Energy Solutions 7200 Distribution Dr Louisville, KY 40258 Contact: Mark Mitchell 317-697-1101 Brookdale Bloomington 3802 S Sare Road Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Jacqueline Routt 812-330-0885 Events by Leah Brown Bloomington, IN 47402 Contact: Leah Brown 812-219-6446 F4 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
Mentors and interns enjoy a beer at “Bring Your Intern to Switchyard Brewery,” a YPB event that happened last month. (Courtesy photo)
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Midwest Color Printing Milestone Contractors LP Millican Realty Monroe County Humane Association Peoples State Bank, The (Main) Plato’s Closet Quick-Dry Carpet Cleaning Ray’s Trash Service, Inc. RCV Roofing & Seamless Gutters Republic Services The Salvation Army Shine Insurance Agency
Volonte 899 S College Mall Road Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Julie Miranda 812-269-1084
• Soft Touch Moving and Storage Co. • SPAAH! • State Farm InsuranceMike Weston • Stone Belt Freight Lines, Inc • Stone Crest Golf Community • Super 8 Motel of Bloomington • TWO MEN AND A TRUCK • Samuel L. Vaught, C.P.A. P.C. • Charlotte Zietlow
Wingate by Wyndham 1722 N Walnut St Bloomington, IN 47404 Contact: Mike Patel 812-339-1919
CHAMBER BRIEFS
New Hires and Promotions JA Benefits has announced the promotion of Jaren Hornbeak to Benefits Advisor. Hornbeak joined the team in June 2019 as a Business Development Associate. For more information visit jabenefits.com.
Awards and Designations Greg Boyer, Financial Services Representative with Bill C. Brown Associates, has been named the 2019 Jack Peckinpaugh Award Recipient. This award is a very prestigious honor given annually to only one insurance and financial services representative in the State of Indiana. Greg has been with Bill C. Brown Associates for 27 years.
Located in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana, Litwin Cosmetic Solutions offers premium services designed to help people achieve the look they’ve always wanted. Each and every person has their own unique appearance and is deserving of exceptional results. Modern techniques are used to create the most realistic, successful results possible. Extensive continuing education ensures that all services provided are completed with the most efficient, up to date methods possible. This, combined with a genuinely friendly atmosphere, creates a truly remarkable experience. Visit us at 3901 E Hagan St, Suite A or call (812) 606-6733
As a Verizon Authorized Retailer, Wireless Zone combines the power of Verizon with the dedication of a local business. We exclusively provide Verizon products and services including Unlimited Data plans, Family and Single Device plans, No Contract plans, Business plans, Total Mobile Protection, device activations, upgrades and more. Visit us at 4011 S Old State Road 37 for competitive prices on today’s most popular phones, tablets, smartwatches, connected devices, and accessories. We look forward to serving you!
The three Bloomington Rotary clubs have selected Cary Curry, local businessman and philanthropist, as the honoree for the 5th Annual Bloomington Rotary Toast. The event will be held on Friday, November 1, at Woolery Mill. Curry is the president of Curry Auto Center, established by his family in 1915. For more information contact Jodi Hoagland at 812-320-2375. WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television earned a combined 24 awards in recent regional and national competitions. WTIU received five NATAS Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards at the 2019 Emmy Gala in Cleveland. On the same evening as the Emmys, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated presented WFIU News with two PRNDI awards at
Nameless Catering makes catering simple. No hidden fees or long winded menus to search through. We have served over 1 million hoosiers since 2014! Call or text (317) 344-8449 for more information.
Nutrition HQ prides itself in being locally owned & operated. We offer a variety of vitamins and supplements from all across the world. We value the idea of bringing the customers a large variety to choose from. Our staff has numerous years in the fitness world and are capable of assisting anyone from any background in achieving their goals. Visit us at 919 S College Ave!
CHAMBER BRIEFS continued on page 13
IU Athletics celebrated the remodel of Memorial Stadium with a ribbon cutting and behind-the-scenes tour on Tuesday, June 25. Attendees enjoyed seeing training areas, player facilities and spending time on the IU Football field. Visit IUHoosiers.com for more.
Congratulations to Endwright East Community Center on their ribbon cutting! The center is located inside College Mall between Macy’s and Express and will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information call 812-876-3383 or visit www.area10agency. org.
Welcome to Bloomington, Posh Boutique! The women’s boutique held a ribbon cutting on July 12. Stop by 118 South College Avenue or call 812-822-2690!
AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F5
The Franklin Initiative Update
Class of 2023 Leaps into New Workforce Development Graduation Requirements
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ov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Legislature have put the K12 education focus on workforce readiness. Incoming freshmen – the class of 2023 – will now be required to complete the “Graduation Pathways,” which stress the importance of employability over standardized testing. The “Graduation Pathways” is part of a larger push to move beyond just college and look at other postsecondary tracks to ensure employability. This could include a technical license or an apprenticeship at a plumbing company. The new system replaces the math and English exams. The change comes at a time when retaining and attracting a qualified workforce has become a major issue, not just in Bloomington but around the country. The goal then is to provide tools to succeed for every K-12 student in this rapidly evolving global economy. One example: 85 percent of projected jobs in 2030 do not even exist today, according to a recent Dell Technologies report. “The high school diploma is no longer the finish line,” states Alicia Keilmovitch, the State Board of Education Policy and Legislative Director. “Not all students are
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F6 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
prepared for the rigors of higher education when they arrive.” These requirements seek to ensure that every student who graduates from high school will have 1) a broad awareness of and engagement with individual career interests and associated career options, 2) a strong foundation of academic and technical skills, and 3) demonstrable employability skills that lead directly to meaningful opportunities for postsecondary education, training, and gainful employment. How that translates to a pathway is through project/ service/work-based learning experience. In addition, students will be required to have proven one of nine postsecondary-ready competencies. This approach provides districts with the ability to implement the requirements as they see fit. “We are very excited about the new Graduation Pathways,” states Dr. Markay Winston, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Monroe County Community School Corp. “It expands opportunities for our students and also meets their unique needs and interests. The pathways help enhance what we are already doing to help prepare our students
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he Chamber’s Human Resources Conference launched in 2018, and we are looking forward to the 2019 event on Friday, August 23! The HR Conference is designed to help small business owners and managers, as well as those professionals who wear a variety of hats in the workplace, hear and learn from HR and legal experts. If you are a business manager, a nonprofit director or another leader in your organization, this is the conference for you! The half-day event will offer a keynote address along with group sessions for attendees. Topics will include handling tough conversations, legal issues, IT problems, mental health and substance abuse at work, and supervising difficult people. The Human Resources Conference will be held on Friday, August 23, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, 245 N. College Ave. in downtown Bloomington. For details and to register, check out the Chamber’s website at chamberbloomington.org/human-resourcesconference.html.
for whichever path they choose after high school… college, career, or military.” This endeavor will still require buy-in from teachers and parents to ensure that these changes are meaningful and real student investments. Putting minors in adult work environments opens a myriad of issues that could arise. Equally as relevant, this places students with disability at a big disadvantage, one where deliberate steps will need to be taken to ensure their graduation. From the Franklin Initiative (FI) perspective, this is a real opening to work with Monroe County school districts to provide a larger, more tangible continuum of career awareness and development that starts at a younger age. This includes exposing elementary students to the wonders of local businesses through hands-on field trips. Chamber members will have a larger role and responsibility in ensuring that the education pipeline meets the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. If you are interested in volunteering for the Franklin Initiative during the 2019-2020 school year, please contact Christopher J Emge at cemge@ chamberbloomington.org.
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ou’re invited to join us on Tuesday, August 20, for the Chamber’s annual Health and Business Luncheon! This year features an update on the status of Monroe County. Our guest speakers are Penny Caudill, Health Administrator for the Monroe County Health Department; Carol Weiss-Kennedy, Director of Community Health for IU Health South Central Region; and Pam Pontones, Deputy State Health Commissioner and State Epidemiologist. The event will be held at the Bloomington Country Club, 3000 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN 47403. Non-member individual seats cost $36. For Chamber members, the discounted cost is $29. A sponsored table with eight seats is $450. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the program begins at 11:40. The event wraps up at 1 p.m. For more information and to register, go to chamberbloomington.org/health-and-business. html.
Emerging Leaders/YPs Making their mark on the Bloomington community By Kasey Husk
W
hen Zerina Razic first laid eyes on Bloomington, the Bowling Green resident was on her second interview for a job she very much wanted. She didn’t know much about the town but, she figured, it was just as good a place as any to start her career. Two-and-a-half years later, however, Razic – a financial planning associate at Hurlow Wealth Management Group in Bloomington – can’t imagine living anywhere else. “I just think, who would want to leave a place like this?� she jokes. While Bloomington may be well-known as a destination for college students thanks to Indiana University, the city has become increasingly attractive to young professionals like Razic, who say Bloomington’s welcoming atmosphere, opportunities for professional development and big-city amenities paired with a small-town feel make it a place where they want to stay long-term. And as these emerging leaders put down roots of their own, they are doing their part to make sure Bloomington retains what makes it special. “Everyone cares so much about the community here,� Razic says. “And Bloomington is so loving. We all want the best things for our community.� Now, four emerging leaders in the Bloomington business community are sounding off about how they are making their mark on the Bloomington community already – and giving advice on how others can do the same.
Zerina Razic, financial planning associate, Hurlow Wealth Management Group. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
“When I did my leadership program, I got to meet professionals in the community who I wouldn’t necessarily have met. It was so cool to work with people I never would have interacted with on a regular basis.� — Zerina Razic, financial planning associate, Hurlow Wealth Management Group
Zerina Razic Whether she is networking with other professionals, applying for a job or just trying out a new volunteer opportunity, one thing has always been crucial for Razic’s success: getting outside her comfort zone. “I think I do a good job of trying things that make me uncomfortable,� she says, stressing the importance of pushing herself. As early as high school, Razic was jumping at opportunities to join organizations and clubs that allowed her to learn more about the business world and to meet and learn from professionals in their field. Now, two-a-half-years into her career at Hurlow Wealth Management, Razic continues to seek out new opportunities for professional growth and networking through her involvement with various groups in the community, including sitting on the steering committee for Young Professionals Bloomington. “When I did my leadership program, I got to meet professionals in the community who I wouldn’t necessarily have met,� she says. “It was so cool to work with people I never would have interacted with on a regular basis. “There was a common theme: everyone values and loves this community,� she adds of the group. It’s a tactic that Razic recommends to all newcomers to Bloomington, both on a personal and professional level. While Razic had nerves about moving to a place where she knew no one, getting involved with EMERGING LEADERS/YPs continued on page 10
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AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F7
THE GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TEN UNDER 40 Congratulations to the 2019 Ten Under 40 honorees! The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and its YPB — Young Professionals Bloomington — program created the Ten Under 40 awards to honor 10 upwardly-mobile young professionals who exemplify the qualities found in Bloomington’s younger generation. They are proof that our community’s future is in good hands.
Leslie Abshier,
Gavin Everett,
Resource Development Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington
Branding and Community Liaison, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? It’s all about relation(Courtesy photo) ships. Getting to know people is the most important tool to having success. Anticipating questions, needs, barriers, etc. that people may have and being prepared to support people to give them what they need is important. What advice do you have for other young professionals? “Do it afraid.” Never allow fear to stop you from taking action. Act with confidence and allow yourself to be authentic and vulnerable if you make a mistake, but never let the fear of those potential mistakes or failures keep you from acting. Go for it!
Kate DeWeese, Attorney, Bunger & Robertson What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? Get involved in the community, whether (Courtesy photo) it’s in a networking group or on a nonprofit board. It gives you the opportunity to give back and to learn new things about the community in which you reside and work. What has been a highlight or proud moment of your career so far? One highlight was being selected for and participating in the Indiana State Bar Association’s Leadership Development Academy, which gave me the opportunity to learn more about Indiana’s communities and to connect with young lawyers across the state.
What has been a highlight or proud moment of your career so far? I am always most proud (Courtesy photo) of the times where unintended success stories for others are created and fostered through activities and events I am able to be a part. What is your favorite “thing” about Bloomington? My favorite thing about Bloomington is the community. Bloomington is full of wonderful and passionate people that make up the tapestry of our community. It is constantly evolving and trying to improve itself. If you had eight extra hours in the week to do anything you wanted, where would you spend your time? I would take that time and invest it in myself. I would spend it on any of our wonderful trails and pathways, either on foot or on bicycle, then visit a local restaurant for some food and refreshments.
Lauren Rapacki Keenan, Education Specialist, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) What advice do you have for other young professionals? It sounds a bit cliché, (Courtesy photo) but find something you love to do and then figure out a way to do it every day and potentially get paid for it. If you do what you love then you won’t just have a job but rather you will have a career and extracurricular life that pays you back in more than just money, which is far more valuable. My passion for people and mathematics education continues to drive the work that I do in both my professional and volunteer life and it does more than help feed my family, it feeds my soul.
What has been a highlight or proud moment of your career so far? Besides winning this award, it was receiving the “Most Inspirational Teacher” award by Horizons students in Connecticut in 2003; an award voted on by my 8th grade students early on in my career. It is certainly humbling when colleagues and friends recognize your work but when I received that honor from my middle schoolers it was overwhelming and confirming in that it helped me know that I was on the right career path and the many extra hours I was putting in were worth it.
Jason Moore, Chief, City of Bloomington Fire Department What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? Find a mentor and be (Courtesy photo) a mentor. Building a diverse support network is a major key to overcoming obstacles. External perspective can drastically reduce the learning curve of dealing with new challenges or situations. What advice do you have for other young professionals? Be open to saying “Yes.” Opportunities will randomly present themselves and some of my best adventures began with a yes. Learn to silence the internal voice that tries to keep you in your comfort zone by saying “no.” If you had eight extra hours in the week to do anything you wanted, where would you spend your time? I would spend more time building positive memories with my family. Work/ Life balance is the one aspect I have the hardest time with and that needs the most attention.
TEN UNDER 40 continued on page 9
F8 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
THE GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TEN UNDER 40 TEN UNDER 40 Continued from page 8
Melissa Stone,
Sarah Ragonese,
Social Worker, Bloomington Police Department
Licensed Psychologist, Ragonese Psychological Services & MCCSC What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? (Courtesy photo) One of the best pieces of advice that I have ever received from a mentor was to feel confident and secure of when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” In my early years as a psychologist I felt the need to say “yes” to every opportunity presented, which often left me overextended. As a mother to 5 young children, a full-time psychologist within MCCSC, and business owner, I am constantly going non-stop and have little time that is unscheduled. Having the reassurance to trust my instinct when it comes to business opportunities was incredibly helpful and reassuring to me. What advice do you have for other young professionals? One piece of advice that I would offer to other young professionals is to ensure that your job, regardless of what it is, constantly challenges you and pushes you outside of your comfort zone on a regular basis. I am a firm believer that this is when the greatest professional and personal growth occurs.
Trish Surfus, Brand Consultant, IU Communications and Media What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? Who you surround (Courtesy photo) yourself with is who you become. Choose your friends and who you work with wisely. Be relentless with surrounding yourself with those who bring out the best in you. Your direction in life depends on it. What advice do you have for other young professionals? Get uncomfortable! If you stay in your comfort zone you are going to miss out on a lot of great experiences and people.
What advice do you have for other young professionals? My advice would be to be genuinely inten(Courtesy photo) tional with developing relationships with the people around you — your supervisor, supervisees, interns, colleagues, etc. Learn their likes, dislikes, fears, goals, etc. and help them with their next steps, whatever they are. We all win when we raise each other up! What has been a highlight or proud moment of your career so far? A highlight of my career so far has been accepting the role as Social Worker for Bloomington Police Department. It just felt like all of my experiences, personally and professionally, led me to this position. Having the opportunity to grow a program that will make such a difference in the community fills my heart and soul! You’re hosting a dinner party and you can invite anyone you want. Who would attend? I’m certain the answer to this question would change depending on the day, but right now I would say I would invite the US Women’s National Soccer Team to celebrate not only their recent championship, but also their passion for elevating women and social justice!
Lisa Simmons Thatcher, Evaluation Coordinator, IU Center for Evaluation, Policy and Research What advice do you have for other young professionals? (Courtesy photo) Not always, but often, somebody is already doing what you want to do – so find them and find out how you can fit in. You don’t need to invent the wheel and trying to do so often leads to burn out. Instead, find how you can help shape what is already present. Build upon old foundations but renovate for the future.
What is your favorite “thing” about Bloomington? Connectivity! After completing LBMC, I returned as a speaker and they asked me to describe myself in two words – I picked Social Connector. I love helping people find their place in the web of Bloomington – groups, business, social services, volunteer opportunities, special interests – there is somebody here to connect with – there is a group already in place or waiting to form. You’re hosting a dinner party and you can invite anyone you want. Who would attend? My grandparents – so that they could meet their great-grandchildren…and Billie Holiday…because Billie Holiday.
Keyandra Wigfall, Graduate Assistant, IU School of Public Health Office of Diversity & Inclusion What is one piece of important advice you have received from a mentor? (Courtesy photo) The best piece of advice was a mantra that our office created: “If you can’t be good, be great. If you can’t be great, be magnificent. If you can’t be magnificent, settle for legendary.” This statement meant to me that in whatever I do, I should never settle for “the bare minimum,” but to always go above and beyond. What advice do you have for other young professionals? To run your own race without worrying about those alongside of you because everyone’s journey is going to look different, but your race, it was built JUST FOR YOU. What is your favorite “thing” about Bloomington? The people of Bloomington are my favorite, they have become more like family, and have made this town feel like home.
AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F9
EMERGING LEADERS/YPs Continued from page 7 professional groups and volunteering with various local organizations have helped make Bloomington feel like home, she says. “You have to be willing to invest time into your community and love the city as your own,” she says. Meeting people in the community can also help young professionals find those mentorship relationships that can be so valuable as one is launching a career, she says. Her own mentors, she says, include Hurlow managing partner John Hurlow and partner Mike Carson, as well as some of her other coworkers. However, she seeks to learn what she can from everyone she meets. “Always be willing to just get to know somebody,” she advises.
Lauren Travis Lauren Travis, assistant sustainability director, City of Bloomington. (Rich Janzaruk / HeraldTimes)
“People are engaged and passionate about making their community better, which makes it an attractive place to live because you are working with a bunch of people who care about civic life. People are out and active in their community, and that’s a unique and special thing about Bloomington that’s not true everywhere.” — Lauren Travis, assistant sustainability director, City of Bloomington
August 15—Business After Hours, Oliver Winery August 20—Health and Business Luncheon, Bloomington Country Club August 23—Human Resources Conference, Hilton Garden Inn Sept. 19—Business After Hours, College Mall Sept 26—Chamber Annual Meeting, Monroe County Convention Center Details and registration at ChamberBloomington.org
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F10 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
If someone had told Washington native Lauren Travis only a few years ago that she’d be living and working in Indiana, she admits she might not have believed it. But the City of Bloomington’s new assistant director of sustainability is one of many Bloomington residents drawn to the community by Indiana University – Travis arrived in 2015 to pursue a master’s degree at the School of Public & Environmental Affairs – then charmed into staying by the city itself. “People are engaged and passionate about making their community better, which makes it an attractive place to live because you are working with a bunch of people who care about civic life,” she says. She adds, “People are out and active in their community, and that’s a unique and special thing about Bloomington that’s not true everywhere.” It certainly doesn’t hurt that Travis has already acquired the type of job that she hoped eventually to have “down the line,” she says. As the city’s new assistant sustainability director as of last month, Travis’ role is “about trying to make the city a leader in sustainability, and continue to network with other sustainability leaders across the country to make sure we are continuing to implement practices, programs and policies that reflect the best in sustainability.” It’s a job that Travis finds fascinating, in part because the field of sustainability is an emerging one; things have changed even since she graduated from IU. Working with the city, she gets to stay on the forefront of issues that matter deeply to her, such as climate change. It’s also a position Travis believes she could not have achieved without the contacts she made during her years in the Bloomington community, she says. People she met in her early days in Bloomington led to her first job, which made this newest position possible. “I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve gotten to this point as quickly as I have, and I think in part it’s because I’ve been here,” she says. “I’ve been really supported and it’s really facilitated my professional growth.” Other young professionals in the community should be prepared to roll with the punches and grab opportunities as they arise, Travis says. “Each job is a stepping stone,” she advises. “Have goals and aspirations, but be open to other things because your interest and awareness of what’s out there in terms of jobs is going to change, and your life circumstances will too. Be flexible, but focused on what you want to achieve.” In an ideal world, Travis says she’d love to travel across the globe meeting people and learning how climate change has impacted groups of people in a variety of ways. In the meantime, however, Travis hopes to “continue to serve this community and find creative and innovative ways to improve sustainability.” EMERGING LEADERS/YPs continued on page 11
EMERGING LEADERS/YPs Continued from page 10
Tyler Garzinski Bloomington, says Tyler Garzinski of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, is a place that has the best of both city and small town living. “It is a big small city,� he says. “You are still in a thriving city, but you have a tight-knit community feel as well.� It’s a refrain often repeated among young professionals in Bloomington, who find they have plenty of entertainment and dining options within the city, but are still likely to run into people they know every time they go out. For Garzinski – who grew up in the Indianapolis suburbs but says he didn’t realize everything Bloomington had to offer until he moved here – it makes the city a great place to launch his career because so many people are invested in helping each other. “It’s a place where everyone wants to see others thriving,� Garzinski says. “We are all trying to do our best for the community.� For the last 10 months, Garzinski has served as the events and communication coordinator for the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The position is Garzinski’s first full-time gig since leaving college – though he did have an internship with the Chicago Bears after his graduation in May 2018 – and in it he’s found a place where he can hit the ground running. “I found a good fit in Bloomington with everything the city has to offer and the job I have, too,� he says. “It gives me an opportunity to make an impact while I’m also gaining a lot of skills and experience and working on a lot of different things: marketing, event management and doing all our communications.� It’s a job that is allowing Garzinski to make his mark on the community through a cause close to his heart. “Working with Big Brothers Big Sisters gives me the opportunity to have an impact on the younger generations in our community,� he says. His goal, he adds, is to reach as many children as possible in the community and help them find the right path for the future. Bloomington’s status as the home to Indiana University is also likely to open up other avenues for Garzinski’s future because he is considering going back to school for either an MBA or a law degree at some point, he says. In the meantime, however, he says he is focused on learning on the job and especially from his mentor, Danell Witmer, executive director of BBBS. Regardless of where he ends up in his future career, he says, the lessons he’s learned from her will stick with him. “When she walks into the room, she commands attention,� he says. “That’s the kind of person I want to become in the business world.� EMERGING LEADERS/YPs continued on page 12
Congratulations to Kelsey Haislip with Bell Trace Senior Living Community who was named Ambassador of the Quarter! Kelsey deserves this recognition for her excellent volunteer work with our Ambassador Committee. We appreciate all your work to support Chamber members! (Courtesy photo)
Tyler Garzinski, events and communication coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
“I found a good fit in Bloomington with everything the city has to offer and the job I have too. It gives me an opportunity to make an impact while I’m also gaining a lot of skills and experience and working on a lot of different things: marketing, event management and doing all our communications.� — Tyler Garzinski, events and communication coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana
Join the Chamber today! For more info, email: info@Chamber Bloomington.org
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AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F11
EMERGING LEADERS/YPs Continued from page 11
Danielle Smith
Danielle Smith, inside sales, Indiana Limestone Co. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
“Our network of YPs is full of folks who are eager and willing to help you make connections to find a career if that’s what you need, make friends or find a cause that speaks to you.” — Danielle Smith, inside sales, Indiana Limestone Co.
Chamber Annual Awards: Make Your Nomination Today!
T
he Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Annual Meeting and Community Awards! Chamber members, YPB participants, community members and volunteers are encouraged to nominate a Chamber member business or employee for one of several awards to be presented on Thursday, September 26, 2019. To get a nomination form, go to chamberbloomington.org/2019-annualmeeting.html. Nominations are due Thursday, August 15, at 5 p.m. to The Chamber. You may drop off a nomination form, or mail the form, to 400 West 7th Street, Suite #102, Bloomington, IN 47404.
Award Criteria • The nominee must be a member of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, or employed by a member organization/business. • A person/organization may be nominated in more than one category. However, each nomination must be submitted separately. • Please share why the nominee is deserving of the award. (It’s better to include too much information than not enough.) • Do not let a deserving nominee be overlooked! Even if you are not certain of all of the information or if you do not have enough time to complete the form, complete what you can and Chamber staff will follow up.
F12 • BIZNET | AUGUST 2019
For Danielle Smith, who works in inside sales at Indiana Limestone Co., there can be no understating the impact that Bloomington has had on her career development. “Without this community, I wouldn’t be who I am,” she says simply. Bloomington has provided Smith with the keys she’s needed to learn and grow as a young professional, she says – everything from free learning opportunities through the city, chances to volunteer with causes close to her heart and, above all, contacts with people eager to help the next generation succeed. Now, the lifelong Bloomington resident is dedicated to doing her part to continue to make Bloomington the kind of community where young professionals can live and thrive. “My path didn’t take me to college; instead, I got involved with various community organizations, volunteered and took classes offers by the city to gain experience and make connections outside of my 9-to-5 (job),” Smith explains. “I kept track of the events I attended, fundraisers I helped with, groups I participated in, and created a professional portfolio to portray my experience in a unique way.” Indeed, Smith was recruited to work for Indiana Limestone on the anonymous recommendation of someone she came across through these activities, she says. Now, she enjoys a rewarding career in which she is encouraged to take initiative in the workplace – especially since the company’s recent merger with Canadian stone company PolyCor, Inc. “When you are part of a company that is growing, you are growing too,” she says. “You are learning new things and adapting to the changes.” Smith has been involved with young professionals groups in Bloomington since at least 2012, and currently sits on the steering committee for the newly renamed Young Professionals Bloomington, or YPB. Joining the group, which meets monthly, is Smith’s first recommendation to young professionals in the community, she says. “Our network of YPs is full of folks who are eager and willing to help you make connections to find a career if that’s what you need, make friends or find a cause that speaks to you,” she says. Getting involved with one of Bloomington’s many volunteer organizations can also help make someone feel at home in the community more quickly, she notes. Mentors have always played an important role in Smith’s career development, she says, helping guide her when she is facing a challenging decision or is unsure of her next step. In turn, Smith has made it a priority to help others when she can, especially when it comes to offering advice to those looking to stand out from the crowd while job hunting. Long-term, Smith’s highest priority is giving back to the community by helping its most vulnerable citizens: children who have been displaced from their homes or are growing up in very poor conditions. She hopes to help launch a charity modeled after Dwell with Dignity, a Texas-based organization that improves the quality of life by decorating homes for those in need. “I’m a firm believer that children need comforting rooms that foster creativity and encourage reading and schoolwork,” she says. “Especially children who have experienced trauma. … For now, a little paint goes a long way, so I volunteer to paint murals and accent walls for kids’ rooms who are in need.” Smith is acutely aware of the criticism that her generation faces, but – like Travis, Razic and Garzinski – believes these portrayals are by and large inaccurate. “We aren’t entitled, we don’t think everything should come easy and we work really hard at our jobs,” Smith says. “(Millennials) are volunteering in the community, doing what needs to be done and trying to make the world a better place.”
CHAMBER BRIEFS Continued from page 5 its banquet in Washington, D.C. On May 21, the national Telly Awards named WTIU and IU Radio and Television Services the winners of 17 awards in its 40th annual competition, which honors excellence in video and television across all screens.
Opportunities and Events The Buskirk-Chumley Theater is pleased to present a sing along version of “Bohemian Rhapsody� at 7:30pm on Friday, August 30. All tickets are $8 and are available at bctboxoffice.org, at 812-323-3020, or at the BCT Box Office & Downtown Visitors Center at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. WTIU provided nearly 4,000 children in south central Indiana with access to learning applications related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), along with reading and vocabulary. The program - WTIU Kids Literacy Labs - was funded by a $15,000 grant from Boston Scientific. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department invites local and regional artists to submit an application for consideration for vending space at the annual Holiday Market, Saturday, Nov. 30, at Showers Common, next to City Hall at 401 N. Morton St. The 17th annual Holiday Market, with booth spaces both inside City Hall and outside on Showers Common, takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. LIFEDesigns will host a “Job-A-Palooza� event, granted by Duke Energy, on Wednesday, October 23, at The Warehouse. Community businesses and organizations looking for employees are invited to participate and attend. For more information contact LIFEDesigns CEO Russell Bonanno, 800-875-6551.
Volonte specializes in testosterone replacement therapy. Our therapy protocol has given our patients a new outlook on life. Low testosterone levels impact your daily living. Some effects of Low T are; decreased energy, weight changes, decreased libido, lethargy, and decreased muscle mass. We offer a FREE testosterone screening and consultation, no appointment necessary. We have staff onsite to answer any questions you have. Stop by 899 S College Mall Rd and get your FREE screening, It may improve your life! Monday and Thursday 7 am-5pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 8am-6pm, and Friday 8am-12pm.
To help celebrate WTIU’s 50th anniversary, the host and managing editor of PBS NewsHour is making a stop in Bloomington this fall to share her adventures and experiences as a journalist. Tickets are on sale to the public for An Evening with Judy Woodruff, presented by WTIU Public Television. The event takes place Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the BuskirkChumley Theater. Tickets are $25 and are available online at buskirkchumley.org, by phone at 812-3233020, or in person at the Buskirk-Chumley box office. The Buskirk-Chumley Theater will present the Vienna Boys Choir on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 8 p.m. Tickets for this show are $30-40 and can be purchased at bctboxoffice.org, 812-323-3020, or the BCT Box Office & Downtown Visitors Center at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Zen House Cleaning aims to be the highest quality house cleaning service in Bloomington among residential cleaning services. We provide general, deep, vacancy, move-in/moveout, house cleaning and much more! Contact us today at (812) 577-9936
Alpha Energy Solutions is a Commercial / Industrial Mechanical Service and Solutions Provider specializing in HVAC (Chillers, Boilers, Air Handlers, RTU’s), Building Automation, Security, Electrical, Plumbing, Sheet Metal and Equipment Rentals. Alpha is a Self-Performing Service Provider covering all or parts of Eight States – Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Missouri and Tennessee. Encompassing 260 Highly Skilled Service Technicians, we offer our clients the convenience of one company dedicated to a job well done. Visit us at www.alphamechanicalservice.com
Congratulations to Richardson Studio on their June 29 ribbon cutting! Stop by their studio at 1541 South Piazza Dr or visit them online at www.richardsonstudio.com to learn more!
Congratulations to Lennie’s Restaurant & Brewery on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated their new location downtown. Visit them at 514 E Kirkwood Ave or online at www. lenniesbloomington.com.
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AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F13
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The waiting area at the Monroe County Airport.. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
SPOTLIGHT Continued from page 1
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Upon arrival at the Monroe County Airport . . . I found a “tremendously maintained and operated airport� . . . with glowing FAA inspection reports.
fun. But we are a very serious commercial airport that connects — Carlos Laverty, Bloomington to the national director of aviation, community.� Monroe County Airport Laverty is a former Marine who worked as an avionics technician during his time in the service, then got a degree in aviation management ntt from the University of Southern Illinois. He worked for several airports before a brief foray in the private sector during which he “tried to convince myself I didn’t miss aviation.� When he learned about the opening at the Monroe County Airport, however, he knew it would be a great fit. Upon arrival at the Monroe County Airport, Laverty says, he found a “tremendously maintained and operated airport� with glowing FAA inspection reports. The facility boasts all the FAA-required navigational aids that would allow a plane to land in near-zero visibility, an air-traffic control tower that is manned from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and a firefighting team with a brand-new $800,000 aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) vehicle to provide greater safety to customer using the airport. The Monroe County Airport must meet more rigorous standards than many other county airports because of the amount and type of traffic that arrives there, Laverty says. The majority of the traffic comes from private corporate jets owned by businesses in the Bloomington area, though it also sees significant traffic from charter flights bringing teams to Bloomington for Big 10 sporting events. Its largest military customer – the airport’s main runway is large enough to accommodate virtually any military aircraft, he says – is the Kentucky Air National Guard, which frequently runs training exercises out of the facility. “There are over 100 based aircraft in Bloomington, ranging from small, single-engine Cessnas to multi-engine jets,� he says. “Some are owned by private individuals for recreation, and others are owned by corporations and
SPOTLIGHT continued on page 15
SPOTLIGHT Continued from page 14 relied on for daily corporate travel.” Several businesses already operate out of the Monroe County Airport, Laverty says, including those that offer charter services, flight instruction, fuel sales, aircraft maintenance and meeting facilities. In the main terminal, customers can even visit a barber shop where they can see planes come and go while they get a haircut. With about 1,200 acres of available space at the facility, however, Laverty sees room for so much more. What he’s most excited about, he says, is the “opportunity to go out and market the airport to the community, the region and even the nation to bring some economic development to the airport and to Bloomington community itself.” “We are going to try to attract large, aviation-related businesses that would bring more revenue and jobs for the Bloomington community,” he says. Laverty sees the airport as the ideal location for an aircraft fabricator to set up shop, he says. Another good fit, he believes, would be a business that offers aircraft
maintenance and overhaul. For both such businesses, customers would benefit from being able to fly the product directly in and out of the site. These efforts would help by “bringing economic development to the airport and developing the land we have to maximize the revenue and make the airport selfsustaining,” he says. “The goal is to use zero tax dollars to support this airport.” Laverty, a pilot himself, knows firsthand how much technology has transformed flight in the past few decades – and the opportunities that affords. Perhaps the most transformative aspect of flying in the last two decades, he says, has been technological breakthroughs, particularly when it comes to navigation systems. The difference between the earlier systems of using radios, charts and “dead reckoning” to set a course versus today’s GPS systems is “night and day.” “Now you can download an app for free, upgrade it for $200, and you have a world-class navigation suite,” he says. Pilots can take a plane that was built in 1963 using 1940s technology, add an iPad with these apps and then, “you have basically the same system as the guy flying a
A new firefighting vehicle recently acquired sits at the Monroe County Airport. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
747 for Southwest.” Along with bringing more economic development opportunity for the county, Laverty also hopes to simply raise the community’s awareness of the facility itself. On his radar, he says, are functions such as charitable events, aeronautical displays, question-and-answer sessions with pilots or even a run-walk event on the runway. “I want to open up the airport to the taxpayers and let them know that this is our airport, this is what we do, this is who we are, and you should be proud of it,” Laverty says.
“I want to open up the airport to the taxpayers and let them know that this is our airport, this is what we do, this is who we are, and you should be proud of it.” — Carlos Laverty, director of aviation, Monroe County Airport A helicopter prepares to take off at the Monroe County Airport. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
ADVOCACY UPDATE Continued from page 2 Duke Energy cites several reasons for the request: — Investments tied to growth in its customer base; — Transitioning to renewable energy sources and closing some of the company’s Indiana coal-fired plants sooner than previously planned; — Costs associated with increasing the system’s reliability and reducing power outages; — Complying with stricter federal rules that require closing the firm’s coal ash basins; — Installing “smart meters.”
Low-Interest SBA Loans Available for Disaster Assistance The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering businesses and residents low-interest disaster loans if their property has been hit by recent tornadoes, high winds or severe storms. Areas in Indiana covered by the SBA disaster declaration include the counties of Monroe, Brown, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan and Owen. September 3, 2019, is the application deadline for loans to cover physical property damage. Get details at DisasterLoans.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955.
Congratulations to UNVEILED and Office Easel on their joint Ribbon Cutting! They invited the community to help celebrate a double open house on their new location. Guests enjoyed complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages while touring each business. For more information visit www.oe-promo.com & www.unveiled-photo.com!
AUGUST 2019 | BIZNET • F15
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