NCHC Chamber Magazine Spring 2016

New Castle | Henry County

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting:

P P P

Citizen of the Year.

Businesses of the Year.

Chamber Magazine

And one special Milan guest who made New Castle history.

Spring 2016

Main Street

CULTURAL DISTRICT

legacies HENRY COUNTY BUSINESS

REMC |

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Your Health Celebrating National Recognition For Excellence

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County torchbearers light the way for run

H

enry County will mark the state’s bicentennial this summer along a customized route with local torchbearers on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016.

The New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce is coordinating activities for the Bicentennial Commission Celebration and with the help of our board members and volunteers, we’ve planned a route and activities that highlight the best of our community.

In the style of the Olympic torch EXECUTIVE run, the Henry County torch run DIRECTOR begins with a community celebration in historic Knightstown at the Hoosier Gym or the town square. From there, the relay continues: • Through the growing municipality of Spiceland.

• Then by the New Castle Motorsports Park, a popular tourist attraction that brings racers and spectators from many foreign countries.

Missy Modesitt • Then on to the Boar’s Head Provisions plant, the shell building and TS Tech, all three major economic development accomplishments showing that Henry County is “open for business.”

• Next comes a brief stop at the “Largest and Finest High School Fieldhouse in the World,” where the torch will travel inside and down onto the basketball court.

• Then into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Then there will be brief stop in New Castle’s downtown, where county and city officials will address the crowd.

• Then the relay moves to the Wilbur Wright Trailhead.

• And finally a stop in the beautiful and historic Memorial Park with a community celebration.

The entire route will be broadcast ‘It’s been a live on statewide television and video of the relay and all of its privilege to recordings stops will be available. The relay will be a part of employ other modes of conveyance are symbolic of the history this process.’ that and heritage of Indiana, including watercraft, farm equipment, a racecar, horse and wagon, antique automobile, and others. The relay will pass through all 92 of the state’s counties, covering 2,300 miles over a five-week period, averaging 72 miles per day.

Henry County’s 20 torchbearers were chosen from more than 50 nominations. Their names will be announced June 1. There are 19 hand-off locations and every corner of Henry County will be represented. We’re working with a number of residents and businesses, as well as the Knightstown Chamber of Commerce. In New Castle, we’re partnering with the Henry County Saddle Club and New Castle Main Street Organization to coordinate the final celebration.

It’s been a privilege to be part of this process. Our community and its people will be highlighted in this once-in-alifetime event. You won’t want to miss it!

Missy Modesitt is Executive Director of the New CastleHenry County Chamber of Commerce.

4 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

New Castle | Henry County

Chamber Magazine Volume 6, Issue 1 PUBLISHER Missy Modesitt, Executive Director, New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce info@nchcchamber.com DESIGN AND EDITORIAL DIRECTION The JMetzger Group Juli Metzger | juli@thejmetzgergroup.com John Metzger | john@thejmetzgergroup.com www.thejmetzgergroup.com 765.744.4303 CONTRIBUTORS Writing: Dawn Fluhler, Doug Gruse, Martha Strauss Photography: Kurt Hostetler, Tim Underhill To advertise, contact The JMetzger Group: 765.744.4303 | john@thejmetzgergroup.com For subscription information, contact Missy Modesitt at 765.529.5210.

Chamber Magazine: The voice of New Castle-Henry County Chamber businesses. It is a product of the New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group, and may not be used without written consent.

Copyright 2016: The New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group.

The JMetzger Group specializes in branded content, custom publishing and social media solutions.

Learn more: www.thejmetzgergroup.com

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New Castle | Henry County

Chamber Magazine TABLE OF CONTENTS

New Lisbon

14

10

REMC power

18

Annual Chamber meeting

22

Main Street

History of PCE

25

ON THE Josh Estelle, owner of Pfenninger, COVER: Claxton & Estelle Insurance Group 6 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

Generous members help reach ambitious goals

T

he last year has been a very active year for your Chamber. While we worked hard to meet our goals, we also made time to laugh often and enjoy our community together.

First, thank you for your support. To our employers who have employees who sit on the board, thank you for allowing them time to participate on Chamber committees and help out with other events.

To our board members, thank you for your willingness to serve on the board, to take time out of your busy schedule to attend meetings and to assist with events. It has been very rewarding to work with so many wonderful people and get to know each of you better.

Our board members continue the tradition of being a working board and you will see them at various Chamber events that are hosted BOARD throughout the year. We have established PRESIDENT subcommittees that focus on specific areas and set goals on a yearly basis.

Here are some highlights: • In 2015, we saw a membership income growth of 40 percent year over year.

• Our event income increased by 9 percent year over year.

• We picked up five new corporate sponsors.

• We had the most successful Cash Bonanza to date.

Rebecca Gonya • We added additional vendors and activities to the Chamber Christmas Walk.

• And we raised more than $2,800 toward our scholarship fund at the Henry County Community Foundation.

This year will be no less ambitious. Your Chamber is working hard every day to bring you value that helps your business and our community succeed.

Here are some Chamber goals for 2016: • Ensure the benefits we offer members continue to match or exceed expectations.

• Increase donations to our scholarship fund so that we may be able to assist local students as they continue education beyond high school. Our goal is to raise $7,000, which would endow the fund and permit annual withdrawals. You can donate by visiting the www.henrycountycf.org. Be sure to designate your donation to the “Chamber Scholarship Fund.” If every Chamber member donated $22, we’d reach our goal!

• Foster positive and supportive relationships with our city and our county governments, our local economic development corporation and our local convention and visitors bureau.

• Provide opportunities to our members, extending their business networks through various events and training workshops throughout the year.

When my family moved here 18 years ago, my husband’s employer requested that we relocate anywhere in the state of Indiana or Ohio.

We chose Henry County because we liked the feel of this small town.

We loved the pride and patriotism we saw in this community.

The people we met had a genuine love and concern for those around them. We wanted to raise our boys in a community that felt safe, and that provided them an opportunity for a good education as well as positive and supportive relationships.

My sons have been fortunate to meet some wonderful role models over the years. This community and many of the people who are a part of it helped mold them into the young men that they are today.

They will always carry a piece of Henry County in their hearts. For that, and so much more, I am grateful.

Rebecca Gonya is president of the Board of Directors for the New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

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Opportunity could be blowin’ in the wind

W

ind farms represent change. Change is hard.

Reasonable people will disagree about the aesthetic value of a wind farm. However, this difference of opinion should not cause myth to be confused for fact.

For example, it has been recently suggested that wind farms will negatively affect home property values by 80%. This is a myth. Two independent studies from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found wind farms have no impact on residential property values. Reliable EDC DIRECTOR and independent research exists on many topics related to wind energy. A starting point is www.energy.gov.

Wind energy represents opportunity for Henry County. It provides diverse income sources for interested landowners and substantial new tax base (capital investment) for Henry County. A growing tax base helps all property taxpayers.

The discussion of wind energy in Corey Murphy Henry County has occurred over the last six years. Since that time, more than 50 newspaper articles have appeared in local newspapers and more than 10 public informational meetings have been held.

The local approval process has been completed for one proposed wind farm. This public process involves the Henry County Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners and Henry County Council. At minimum, this process includes two public hearings, six votes and four different public meetings. Henry County’s website www.henryco.net is a resource for contact information and meeting schedules.

Henry County is attractive for wind farms because of the

available wind resources, proximity to electric transmission infrastructure, interested land-owners, and a fair local regulatory approval process.

East Central Indiana is a relative newcomer to wind energy.

Benton County, Indiana (northwest of Purdue University) is home to the state’s first wind farm constructed in 2007.

According to the wind industry trade association, Indiana has 1,096 turbines installed (through 2014) and is ranked 12th in the nation by the number of turbines.

The recent history of wind energy demonstrates an industry harnessing the best science to improve technology and reduce cost. Early human uses of wind include crushing grain and pumping water on the farm. In the U.S., the first wind engine company was established in 1850 and by 1893 visitors to the Chicago’s World Fair could visit displays from fifteen different windmill companies. The high oil prices of the 1970s spurred wind energy research and development. In 1981, NASA scientists developed a method to predict the performance of wind turbines that is still used today.

If we analyze this industry like a financial stock, it has strong historical performance. From 1975 to 2013, more than 800 wind farms have been constructed in the U.S. that produces enough power for 15 million homes. This represents 60 gigawatts (1 gigawatt = 1 billion watts) of wind capacity. The projected growth trends of this industry are robust. The U.S. Department of Energy projects 224 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. This is an increase of 273%!

East Central Indiana has a proud manufacturing and agriculture history. Harvesting the wind represents a new chapter of opportunity.

Corey Murphy is President and CEO of the New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corp.

Providing services for Eastern Henry County, Western Wayne County and Western Randolph County Broadband Internet • Telecommunications Service • Business IP Phone Service • Video •Security Systems

8 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

New Lisbon Telephone Company.

NEW LISBON TELEPHONE COMPANY MILESTONES 10 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

1901 1906 1950 1951

1952

New Lisbon Telephone Company is incorporated.

Company acquires Millville Telephone Company.

Company purchases Straughn Telephone Company.

A Central Office is built to house office, switching and garage for its only service truck.

Company granted first Rural Electrification Administration telephone loan in the U.S., used in conversion of the exchange to a dial operation.

New Lisbon TELEPHONE COMPANY

Small company answers the call for rural services in big way STORY BY DOUG GRUSE

W

|

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

hen the New Lisbon Telephone Company first formed in 1901, its founders brought the latest communications technology to rural Indiana. More than a century later, the small company continues to keep less-populated communities in the region connected.

Although the company’s name harkens back to the dawn of the telephone age, it continues to move ahead.

“Telephone companies have changed considerably since the early 1990s,” said CEO John Greene. “That’s when the Internet first started taking off. Today, the name implies that we are a telephone company, but in reality, we are a multifaceted communications provider. We have a tagline that we use. It says we are anchored in the past and focused on the future.”

With an emphasis on broadband, the company continues to evolve. “We provide a lot of different services, including digital TV,” Greene said. “We deliver services over fiber, over DSL and provide fixed CEO John Greene. wireless services in two to three counties. We are also hoping this year to get into the home automation and security business.”

But the small company isn’t trying to compete head-to-head in larger communities with the big providers, like AT&T or Comcast. In fact, its mission is quite the opposite. By focusing on Henry County and the surrounding rural areas, the New Lisbon Telephone Company is bringing stellar service to a region overlooked by the telecommunication giants.

“Quite frankly, the big guys don’t worry about the small towns,” Greene said. “They don’t tend to invest in their rural networks because the population density isn’t there. They have bigger fish to fry and their services in rural areas are less than satisfactory.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

1967 1971 Company first offers colored phones at a cost of $6.

Previously, only black phones were available.

Plant rebuilt and consolidated into one exchange serving Henry County communities of New Lisbon, Straughn, Millville. Extended area local service is offered to nearby communities of New Castle, Spiceland, Lewisville and Mooreland using REA funds.

1986 2004

2006

2009

2011 2015

Company installs Northern Telecom DNS-10 digital switch office with customcalling features.

Company constructs new office building on the north side of old structure. Company installs ultra-modern Nortel C1500 IP Softswitch, the first in the United States.

New wireless tower is constructed to offer highspeed Internet to the north and northeastern sections of Henry County.

Company enters the design and engineering phase for its first Fiberto-the-home broadband services.

High-speed DSL offered to the 332 exchange community.

Company purchases assets of Wireless ISP in Wayne County, doubling its customer base.

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016 | 11

JOHN GREENE

J

OHN GREENE TOOK OVER AS CEO of the New Lisbon Telephone Company in 2014 after serving as a chief engineer for Great Plains Communications in Nebraska. Greene, a native of Tennessee, is a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He has a background in general science and a networking certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.

FROM PAGE 11

But those markets are desirable for Greene’s company.

“For a small company like New Lisbon, it makes good sense for us to build into a town of 2,000 people. That’s a huge sandbox for us to play in,” he said.

The company offers personalized customer service the conglomerates can’t. According to Greene, service is more important than cheap pricing for New Lisbon customers.

“Our price is not what makes us competitive,” he said. “We are more reliable, more robust and more customer friendly.

If you pick up the phone and call us, you reach a live person — and 99 percent of the time, that person lives right here in New Lisbon. We don’t farm calls out overseas or out of state.

Customers like that.”

Expanding its reach in rural areas has allowed the company to bring new technology other providers couldn’t offer.

“The existing phone companies are working over copper networks, which is harder to provide upgrades. Copper has its limits,” Greene said.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE HEAD POSITION OF NEW LISBON?

“

It has been a dream of mine for about 15 years to be a CEO of a small telecommunications company and be in the position where I can shape the company’s future. I wanted to be able to guide the strategies, goals and initiatives. I saw this company, and I thought it had tremendous opportunities and growth potential. I liked the challenge of building the revenue stream into a much larger company.

”

“Because we are building into these areas brand new, we don’t have the baggage of an existing network. Everything we build new is 100 percent. It is expensive for us, but it is futureproof. In 10 years, we can still provide state-of-the-art services over fiber connections.”

Since Greene joined the company in 2014, New Lisbon has nearly doubled its customer base and revenue. He expects the growth to continue for the next 3 to 5 years.

Although the company’s technology continues to evolve, its business roots reach back more than 100 years.

“The New Lisbon Telephone Company is a privately owned stock corporation, with about 160 shareholders. Many of those shareholders are people who have inherited their shares generation over generation, dating back to 1901,” Greene said.

When Greene took over as CEO, he had five employees. As the company expanded, the staff size has nearly doubled.

“I feel like I have as good a group as anyone could ever hope for,” he said. “They all row in the same direction at the same time. We all know what the job is, and we all pull equally.” ■

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CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016 | 13

REMC upgrades

move power company into new industrial office & warehouse park

A

STORY BY DAWN FLUHLER

lmost a year ago, the Henry County REMC leadership announced plans to build a new headquarters.

After 70 years in its current location, which is in need of additional space, costly repairs and updates, as well as technology and energy upgrades, the energy co-op has purchased land and begun plans to better serve its membership, and to provide energy to its own headquarters.

A non-profit organization incorporated in 1936, REMC is a locally owned and controlled, membership-based power company with local board governance. It currently serves 9,625 meters, or 10 meters per mile of line served over a total of 1,027 miles of energized line. Service areas are broken into 12 districts, each led by its own local, memberelected director.

However, REMC has run out of space for its administrative needs and for its much-needed larger utility trucks, as well as storage for material inventory. Plus, its current headquarters is powered by traditional power company Duke Energy, rather than REMC energy.

|

PHOTOS BY TIM UNDERHILL

“One of my first assignments was to create a 5-year plan for facilities,” said President and CEO Shannon Thom.

“We started putting together that 5-year plan and we had to answer a bunch of questions. We did a work flow analysis to find out exactly how much time we are spending doing things that we might be able to do more efficiently.”

A number of items were taken into consideration throughout the process. Currently REMC is fulfilling material needs out of four different warehouses, requiring trucks to go from one warehouse to the other to the other to get equipment. The addition of employees has forced the repurposing of a boardroom into cubicles. The trucks needed to reach the taller poles used today won’t fit in the warehouse because the overhead doors aren’t tall enough. Technology upgrades in a building built in the 1930s presents challenges, as well. A couple of other significant problems impacted the 5-year plan and decision to build.

“One is we buy our power from Duke here for this location. If we move outside of Duke’s service area, we can provide power to our own building much more cost effectively,” Thom said. “We are right in the middle of a residential neighborhood here. I wish I had a dollar for every

SHANNON THOM

H

ENRY COUNTY REMC’S PRESIDENT/ CEO Shannon Thom is originally from Findlay, Ohio.

He and his wife Sherry have three sons: Mark, Zach and Tanner. They also have three grandchildren: Olivia, Noah and Zoe. Thom earned his Bachelor’s degree in Technology from University of Toledo and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

14 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOU HAD ON REMC? ANSWER: My biggest

impact is just being able to communicate well with the directors and the employees and getting everybody on the same page and making the tough decisions and heading in the right direction.

time the little ones are out playing in our parking lot. We have had several close calls with utility trucks and little ones playing in the parking lot. I don’t want to be responsible for somebody getting hurt – it’s a safety issue.”

To meet the organization’s needs, REMC has purchased 22 acres between the Steve Alford Inn and Gillman Home Center, back to the corner point of Executive and Commerce Drives in Henry County. There, roughly 17,000 square foot of office space and ‘I think we 35,000 square foot of warehouse are going space will meet to build its growing needs, something including an industrial park to meet the atmosphere needs of this accommodating organization to the larger REMC trucks and today and in tractor/trailers, the future.’ as well as the fact - Shannon Thom that REMC will be able to supply its own energy.The new place will have a boardroom and a community room that will seat 100+ people for community events and member training.

“I think we are going to build something to meet the needs of this organization today and in the future.”

Thom said. “We are trying to have a little forward vision to build a facility big enough to house the equipment that we need in the future and also to keep our employee base so we don’t have to close off the board room or build on another building. We are trying to be cognizant of the future when building now.”

How REMC membership works

REMC is a non-profit membership-based power company serving rural areas.

Membership is available through an application process. The only qualification is to live within REMC’s service area (REMC and Duke have exclusive service area rights). There is a $25, one-time membership fee.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

WHAT IS YOUR WHY DID YOU BECOME THE CEO AT REMC? ANSWER: I came to REMC in July 2013. I was the vice GOAL FOR REMC? president of technology at an electric cooperative in Ohio. I

WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?

term goal is to continue to grow, implement new technologies as they come, improve efficiency in the operation and improve reliability. And keep the costs low.

It took a little bit of time after I got here, but this feels like home. I just got back from a meeting out of state, and man, I couldn’t wait to get back home. My intention is to stay here. I don’t have any aspirations to go anywhere else. I hope to be here until I retire, and continue to lead the coop in the right direction.

ANSWER: Our long-

had worked there since 1996. I had furthered my education and received an MBA. I wanted to move into a CEO position. The guy ahead of me there had another 10 years before he was going to retire. I made the decision to look outside of that cooperative, and this was a good opportunity for me. I wanted to work for a place that was a good fit for me but I also had to be a good fit for the cooperative.

Culturally, it made sense. We have a very similar set of values here. Everyone has been very welcoming.

ANSWER: I want to be here a long time.

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016 | 15

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16 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

Each office is independently owned and operated.

FROM PAGE 15

An added benefit of membership is the Co-op Connections Program, which provides instant discounts on health care items such as prescriptions, dental care, vision, hearing aids, lab work and chiropractic visits. According to program literature, “Touchstone Energy cooperative members have saved over $41 million with prescriptions discounts alone.”

Members also receive communication and education about energy-related topics, such as conservation, clean air and advocacy issues. “We are the only industry in the world that tries to bring attention to and get everybody to use less of our product,” Thom said. “But it’s important to conserve energy. I think everybody understands that. The less energy they use, the more that is available for others, and the less their electric bill will be.”

Community membership benefits

Through a program titled Operation Round-Up, Henry County REMC members can opt to round up the amount of their monthly bills to the next dollar. With an average round-up of $6 per year per membership family, about $45,000 annually is given back to the REMC service territory, and are used to support local needs for food, shelter, clothing, education and other vital community services, according to Operation RoundUp literature.

Additionally, as part of the State Co-op, REMC focuses on youth development through participating in an annual calendar of student art contest, encouraging Indiana State Legislature Page Day experience, providing Touchstone Energy Camp, honoring students in grades 5-8 through Youth Power and Hope Awards, and sponsoring senior high school students to tour Gettysburg and Washington D.C. each summer.

Since 2008, Henry County REMC has awarded scholarships

to high school seniors. Though the program has changed over the years in number of recipients and the award amount, currently six students – three males and three females – receive one-time $1,000 scholarships.

State and Federal government level advocacy work directly addresses the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to force the higher costs of environmental controls on power companies. Cooperatives like REMC go to bat for members.

REMC background

Henry County REMC is a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative.

Touchstone Energy Homes are built with some of the most energy-efficient features in the industry, including: R-42 ceiling insulation, attic ventilation, house-wide moisture control, double-pane/low-E windows and more. As part of Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, four values are the foundation of REMC’s service to its members: Innovation, Accountability, Integrity and Commitment to Community.

Henry County REMC participates in EviroWatts Earth Friendly Energy Alternatives, giving its members the opportunity to purchase green energy, or renewable energy, to contribute to a cleaner environment. Though the cost of renewable energy is slightly higher than that of traditional energy sources, the monthly cost is about the same as a hamburger.

Co-Op facts

With the help of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who established the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935, friends and neighbors banded together to create electric co-ops.

Henry County REMC serves Henry and parts of Fayette, Rush, Hancock, Madison, Delaware, Randolph and Wayne Counties. ■

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2016

NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Annual Chamber meeting honors citizen and businesses of the year STORIES BY THE JMETZGER GROUP PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

|

Denny Adams’ parents

Denny Adams

N

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

ew Castle’s Denny Adams is the kind of guy who sees a problem and fixes it. He gets involved. He helps people. His heart guides his head.

On a warm evening in March, he wasn’t expecting more than enjoying the fellowship at the annual meeting of the New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce. Instead, he left feeling the love and respect of a community he has long embraced. He was named the 2015 Citizen of the Year.

“I’m humbled,” Denny said about his award. “I love this community and I love being a part of this community.”

The list of accomplishments is impressive. He is: • active in his church and business and non-profit community.

• dedicated to faith, family and friends, often taking the time to listen to others who have trouble.

• tireless worker on efforts to brighten up the downtown.

• an encourager for the 2002 opening of a retail store in downtown New Castle that is still going strong today.

• the “go-to” float and banner maker in high school, ever ready for a parade or big game.

Denny, 66, was a postal carrier for more than 31 years. He remains an active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, serving as the secretary for many years.

He’s been a member of the Knights of Pythias for 48 years, 18 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

Denny Adams

Lee Marcum’s family and friends

serving as the lodge’s secretary for 38 of those years and living the lodge’s creed of charity, friendship and benevolence.

Among his greatest accomplishments was creating New Castle’s downtown holiday festival. Now 26 years running, the event is a staple in the community. Denny continues to play a major role in the festival and efforts to light up the downtown.

Denny is a member of the Sulphur Springs Masonic Lodge No. 348, serving as past master three times; he’s a member of the Sulphur Springs Lion’s Club and the Sulphur Springs Christian Church, where he serves on several ministry teams.

He also is a supporter of the local men’s homeless shelter, The Guest House. He has been the voice of the Anderson Speedway for 36 years, winning the national and prestigious Tom Carnegie Announcer of the Year Award in 2014 for the best short track announcer. He has spent the past 45 years carrying out his “Jolly Old Elf Ministry,” visiting several families each year at Christmas. In some cases he sees the third or fourth generation of the same family.

In his nomination, daughter Jodi wrote: “For him, it is more than just “playing” Santa. It is serving the community thru his ministry. He sees many kids who are sad and don’t have much or they are going through heartbreaking times. Many times they will tell “Santa” their troubles and my dad always takes the time to listen to them and remind them that Jesus loves them and so does Santa.”

Friend Sherry Goldsberry wrote this in his nomination: “Dennis Adams is a very hard worker for a lot of different causes, always for someone else, not himself.”

For Denny, 2015 began in an agonizing way. In January, he lost his beloved wife after 43 years. Denny turned to his close-knit family and the community for support. “You are my support system. You are my hometown,” Denny said. “There is no place like New Castle. There is no place like home.” ■

I

t’s unusual for two companies to be named Business of the Year but that’s just what happened in March when the New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce announced 2015 winners.

It’s fair to say victory for this year’s winners was particularly sweet. Good’s Candies and Jack’s Donuts are multi-generational companies that have been in operation for more than 50 years.

“My parents set the bar so high, “ Lee Marcum, the third generation owner of Jack’s Donuts, told a packed house at the 2015 New Castle Henry County Chamber annual meeting. “All

Good’s Candies ‒ The Original remains at their original location in Kennard, Indiana. Kevin maintains the timehonored tradition of hand-dipped candy making. Kevin, a fourth generation confectioner, chocolatier and show owner does all of the cooking, preparing each batch of flavorful centers for dipping, just as he was taught by his grandfather. His wife, Kathy, is a classically trained Le Cordon Bleu Chef, and has the distinction of being the last person trained in hand dipping by her mother-in-law, Terry Vickery. According to the Good’s Candies website, Deilah Lowery or “Aunt Dee” as she was called,

Good’s Candies BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Kevin Vickery with family and friends

Lee Marcum

Jack’s Donuts BUSINESS OF THE YEAR I wanted to ever do was what my dad did, to take care of my family, to go a little further in the business, to build upon the gifts I was given.”

Good’s Candies owner Kevin Vickery represents the fourth generation of the five-generation family business. “All we wanted to do was to make the very best peanut brittle and stay in Henry County,” Kevin said to a delighted crowd. “I accept this on behalf of the three generations who came before me. I’m at a loss. This is much appreciated.”

Key to success of these businesses is the lasting contributions to the community.

“They’re just good people,” said Missy Modesitt, Executive Director, New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

“These are families who have given so much for so long to our community, it was time to recognize their good work. It is an honor to have them among our selected businesses of the year.”

At the end of each week, for 50 consecutive Fridays, the owners and staff of Good’s Candies select a worthy non-profit organization and a check for $50 is mailed to that charity.

Charities include Little Red Door, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Henry County, God’s Grain Bin, VFW, 4-H of Henry County.

‘These are families who have given so much for so long to our community.’

- Missy Modesitt, Chamber Executive Director

learned the art of hand-dipped candy making in the late 1920s.

She and her husband, Garret Lowery, known to the family as “Uncle Beanie,” opened their own candy shop in their home in Muncie to begin the family tradition in the 1940s. In 1964, when Aunt Dee and Uncle Beanie sold their candy business, they sold their famous recipes to Uncle Beanie’s sister, Pauline (Lowery) Good and her husband, John. At the time, John and Pauline’s daughter, Nelda (Good) Coon also learned the fine art of handdipping chocolates from Aunt Dee. John or “grandfather John” raised turkeys on their farm north of Kennard and during the fall of 1965, in a converted garage, he and Pauline began selling peanut brittle and the Original Good’s Candies was born.

The Original Jack’s Donuts Shoppe, located on New Castle’s 14th Street, is a third generation business. The fourth generation of the family works part-time at the shop. Today, there are four other locations including a just-announced franchise on the west side of Muncie.

“The family has always operated under the philosophy “whether it’s helping the local elementary school raise money for a field trip or showing local law enforcement how much they are appreciated with complimentary coffee, we set an example of what it means to take care of your neighbor,” Modesitt said at the Chamber meeting. “Through their “Jack’s Special Delivery” program, each week Jack’s delivers free donuts to a deserving business, organization, or individual who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help out in their community.” ■ CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016 | 19

NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2016 Annual Dinner

t

he New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce joined the rest of the country in the frenzy of March Madness during the 2016 Annual Dinner.

Indiana’s favorite sport took center court with a basketballthemed celebration of 2015 in the most appropriate of all venues: The basketball floor of the Church Street Gym, the one-time downtown YMCA .

Chad Niccum, known as “The Voice of the Trojans” because of his many years as the announcer for New Castle High School athletic events, introduced the “home team,” The Board of Directors.

Niccum, marketing director for New Lisbon Telephone Company, also surprised many with an artistic talent: his 3 hand-painted basketballs that were auctioned during the evening.

Guest speaker Bobby Plump might not be a household name just

anywhere, but Indiana basketball fans know that Plump made the winning basket when tiny Milan upset Muncie Central in the 1954 state championship.

The classic David-and-Goliath

sports story was the basis for the 1986 movie “Hoosiers” starring Gene Hackman.

Henry County’s connection to “Hoosiers” runs deep: The scenes in the fictional Hickory gymnasium were filmed in the Knightstown school gymnasium.

Introduced by – who else? – Chris May, Director of The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Plump recounted his experiences and noted the many liberties taken by Hollywood in the film.

And while the “shot heard around the state” continues to resonate in memories statewide, Plump stressed a more lasting impact: Because of the notoriety of that historical game, more Milan students had the opportunity to attend college than ever before.

Photos by Kurt Hostetler

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016 | 21

love. hope. hug.

Downtown cultural district honors renowned artist and New Castle native Robert Indiana.

T

STORY BY MARTHA STRAUSS

hanks to a grant from the state of Indiana, the Robert Indiana Arts & Cultural District in New Castle is receiving a lot of LOVE and HOPE this year.

In January, the City of New Castle received a $24,500 grant from the state’s Office of Tourism Development and Office of Community and Rural Affairs through the Place Based Investment Fund. The grant application was made by New Castle Main Street, an organization dedicated to downtown growth and renewal, led by executive director Carrie Barrett.

“We asked for $50,000 and only got partially funded,” she said, “but I think the city will match the $24,500 we received.” She hopes to secure enough funds from other sources to reach a total of $75,000 for revitalization work being done this year along a section of

22 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2016

|

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

15th Street from Broad Street to A Avenue. “We did receive $5,000 from the Henry County Community Foundation,” she said. “And I just applied for another grant from the Indiana Arts Commission for $5,000, so we hope it will all eventually add up.”

The idea for the cultural district came from a downtown strategy plan created last year by Vandewalle & Associates Inc., an urban planning firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. Brian Vandewalle, the CEO and president of the company, is a Ball State graduate with a degree in urban and regional planning. “I was very pleased with the work they did,” said Carrie. “They planned out a five-year strategy for New Castle Main Street.” Some of the ideas were very simple ones, she said, like re-landscaping empty lots and providing free wifi downtown. Others, like the cultural district, involve a lot more planning.

The idea to build the district around Robert Indiana, a renowned artist and New Castle native, was a natural one, said Carrie. “Last year, Aaron Dicken,

the former director of the Henry County Art welding program, she explained, will design, Association, got 15th Street renamed as the cut out the metal letters and weld it all together Robert Indiana Parkway. And then it was just a to the appropriate size. The building trades natural progression to make it the Robert Indiana students will provide bases for the sculptures.

Cultural District.”

And culinary arts students will make a birthday The district is home to the Henry County cake for a celebration of Robert Indiana’s 88th birthday this September at Murphey Park.

Art Association, the Artisan’s Annex, the Arts The September event, said Barrett, will be “a Park, the New Castle Public Library, Murphey little festival to let Robert Indiana know that we Park and the Henry County Historical Society. appreciate him and his body of work.” Barrett is Recent improvements include new crosswalks, hoping that a video of the event can be created sculptures, bike racks and Robert Indiana style and sent to Robert Indiana so he can see how murals depicting the words LOVE, HOPE, HUG his birthplace is honoring him. and EAT. Last June, the artist agreed to meet with The next phase of the project, said Barrett, will Aaron Dicken and Dick Bouslog, an art collector focus on the first two blocks beginning at Broad and retired New Castle school principal, at Street, with curb and sidewalk improvements, as his home in Vinalhaven, Maine. They brought well as new signage, on the way. Plans also call ‘I’m just excited several gifts representing New Castle and told for rain gardens – landscaped areas that help him about the community’s plans to honor him reduce storm water drainage. to shine up our Other upcoming developments for the cultural amenities.’ with the arts district. Making everything happen has been a community effort for New Castle. district are a new entrance for the Historical - Carrie Barrett Among those involved are the Convention & Society off of 15th Street, a segment of the Rose City Trail for walkers and bikers and a sculpture Visitors Bureau, the Economic Development area in Murphey Park at the corner of Grand Avenue and south Corporation and the Art Association. Sears pitched in to 15th Street. Two of the sculptures, to be created by students sponsors banners to help identify the district, and Barrett hopes from the New Castle Career Center, will be replications of other businesses will also get involved.

Robert Indiana’s famous LOVE and ART sculptures.

Between the Jennings Building project on 14th Street and the Robert Indiana Arts & Cultural District, Barrett thinks that a lot To get the grant money from the state, said Barrett, “you of excitement about downtown New Castle is building up. “I’m had to have a youth component – so many hours of volunteer just excited to shine up our cultural amenities and let everyone work from youth (under 18) in your community.” So Barrett know what we have here.” ■ turned to the New Castle Career Center. Students from the

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100heritage years of

F

STORY BY MARTHA STRAUSS

‘Mom-and-Pop’ mentality drives growth for local insurance firm

|

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

or Pfenninger Claxton & Estelle Insurance Group, the last 10 years have been a period of accelerated growth ‒ from office expansions and new partnerships to mergers and acquisitions.

Last year’s deal to purchase Ameriana Insurance is the latest example.

But the 100 years before that were important, too, in laying the groundwork for the status of the agency today. “I’m very proud of the heritage of this business,” said owner Josh Estelle.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

PFENNINGER CLAXTON & ESTELLE INSURANCE AGENCY TIMELINE 1902 1915 1924 1930 1946 1972 1975 2000 2008 2010 2011 2012 2015 Hunt & Nixon insurance agency formed in New Castle by Frank W. Nixon and Clay C. Hunt.

Hunt dies and agency becomes known as Frank Nixon Insurance Agency.

Jacob J. (J.J.) Pfenninger opens an insurance business in New Castle called the Pfenninger Agency.

Frank Nixon dies, and Pfenninger purchases the Nixon agency.

Name changed to NixonPfenninger Agency.

J.J.’s son Paul becomes a partner in the business and the name is changed back to Pfenninger Agency.

Pfenninger Agency opens in its present location on 1220 Broad Street.

Steve Pfenninger, Paul’s son, joins the agency, taking over as owner beginning in the 1980s.

Josh Estelle, son-in-law of Steve Pfenninger, joins the agency.

Brady Claxton & Josh Estelle open the Claxton & Estelle agency in Shelbyville.

Associated Agencies merges with the Pfenninger Agency.

Merger changes name to Pfenninger, Claxton & Estelle (PCE). Josh Estelle becomes the majority owner.

PCE opens a small office in Muncie.

PCE acquires Ameriana Insurance, resulting in a second New Castle office and a location in Rushville.

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FROM PAGE 25

“For many years, this was a mom and pop operation,” said Estelle, where employees emphasized customer service and were very active in the community. “Today,” he added, “we still operate that way,” but with many more resources to offer.

Since Estelle joined the firm, the number of employees has increased from 7 to 31, a single office location has expanded to 5 locations, and the amount of business is about seven times greater than before. “I think both my father and grandfather would be extremely pleased (about company growth),” said Steve Pfenninger who has been part of the family agency for 40 years. “My dad got to see a lot of it because I was responsible for much of the customer base growth and then Josh just accelerated from that point forward.”

In 2008, Estelle decided to go into business with Brady Claxton, a Wabash College classmate and basketball teammate who had been working for a large insurance agency in Indianapolis. “Brady was ready to get back to Shelbyville where he was from and raise a family, so he and I bought a small agency down there.” Eventually, the two branding names were merged, leading to the current name of Pfenninger, Claxton & Estelle Insurance Group, or PCE, in 2011.

Another reason for recent growth, Estelle believes, is a membership in Keystone Insurers Group that began in 2006.

“Keystone is the largest agency franchise in the United States,” said Estelle. It means we “have a lot of products available that a lot of other agencies don’t have.”

Only 25 Keystone agents exist in Indiana, he added, since each one must go through a rigorous underwriting process in order to become a member. In 2010, another insurance company in New Castle, Associated Agencies Inc., joined the Keystone Insurers Group. Soon after, Associated’s owner, Gary Thornhill, formally merged his operations with Pfenninger as the result of common interests. “We represented a lot of the same carriers and could really take advantage of economies of scale,” said Estelle. “So Gary and I forged a friendship and it evolved into what it is today.”

The newest acquisition of PCE – Ameriana Insurance – happened very quickly and was an unexpected opportunity when First Merchants Bank bought Ameriana Bank last year.

“First Merchants didn’t want to be in the insurance business, so they put that part up for sale,” said Estelle. “From the time they announced the deal until they had a signed letter of intent with us – that all happened in a matter of six weeks. It was just the right opportunity for us.”

Yet the core mission of the agency is not about acquisitions, says Estelle, but about providing quality products and personal customer service. “We have been strategic about our acquisitions. It has to make sense for us to be able to offer all the things we do and pride ourselves on,” he said.

“In all of the acquisitions, we’ve kept the best people who know the communities and live in them,” he added.

Estelle also stressed the high level of knowledge that the agency offers. “We’re hiring people that are of an education and capability level to do a lot more than just processing and clerical work. And then for high-level stuff, we still have Steve (Pfenninger) who is as knowledgeable if not more than any person who’s ever been in the insurance business in Indiana.

My partner Brady is very tech savvy and oversees a lot of the operational stuff. Gary Thornhill loves to research court cases and policy language. And I take care of the financials and work with the sales staff.”

In the end, the agency’s success over the years may simply come down to some words of advice that Steve Pfenninger says came from both his father and grandfather: “They both told me, if you’re going to be involved in this business, be the best you can be.” ■

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