Brownsburg Magazine March 2019

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MARCH 2019

Reaching New Heights BROWNSBURG HIGH SCHOOL POLE VAULTING COACH TEACHES STUDENTS TO SOAR ON & OFF THE FIELD

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Jennifer Willis Miller, MSN, RN Director of Emergency Department

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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: BROWNSBURG HIGH SCHOOL POLE VAULTING COACH TEACHES STUDENTS TO SOAR ON & OFF THE FIELD

Valerie Randall

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

It can be argued that middle school track & field is part recreation and part social. It’s a way for 12 and 13-yearolds to mix and mingle while also dabbling in the wide range of activities the sport offers. Chris Fowler admits that it was the social aspect that initially drew him to track when he was in eighth grade.

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MARCH WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Jamie Hergott

MARCH PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne

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7 Reaching New Heights: Brownsburg 25 Hendricks County Meals on Wheels High School Pole Vaulting Coach Teaches Students to Soar On & Off the Field

13 Taking The Leap: Sky Zone

Plainfield Owner Talks Creating a Family-Fun Environment & Giving Back

18 Keep Sleeping Babies Safe 20 Touching Home: Former MLB Player

Joey Vandever Talks Passion For Sports & Life in Hendricks County

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29 Reaching The End Zone: Former

Colt Jim Sorgi Talks Life After Football & Living In Brownsburg

34 Membership 101: Brownsburg

Chamber Executive Director

Talks Exciting Changes & Member Benefits

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37 Business Spotlight: Mathnasium

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WELCOME TO BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE 15,000 copies of the new Brownsburg Magazine have gone out to you and your neighbors throughout the Brownsburg community this month.

Each month you’ll receive our FREE magazine by mail highlighting the local happenings, people and businesses in Brownsburg as well as points of interest throughout Hendricks County.

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On behalf of the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce, I would like to welcome the Brownsburg Magazine to our community. We have seen a lot of growth in our town over the past few years and we continually welcome new businesses who wish to be part of our success story.

In the coming months, Brownsburg Magazine will be a leading source to read about this growth and bring some of the human stories into our homes. We look forward each month to learning more about the people in our community and reaffirm that Brownsburg is a great place to live, work and call home.

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BROWNSBURG HIGH SCHOOL POLE VAULTING COACH TEACHES STUDENTS TO SOAR ON & OFF THE FIELD Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

It can be argued that middle school track & field is part recreation and part social. It’s a way for 12 and 13-yearolds to mix and mingle while also dabbling in the wide range of activities the sport offers. Chris Fowler admits that it was the social aspect that initially drew him to track when he was in eighth grade.

“I had no clue what I might like so I tried running hurdles and did well,”

Fowler says. “Then I noticed that there was this event where a few crazy kids ran full-speed ahead and hurled themselves over a pole. I was immediately intrigued.”

He gave pole vaulting a whirl and found that he was pretty good at it.

In fact, he liked it so much that he continued with it all through high school.

8 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / BrownsburgMagazine.com

“I love the entire sequence of pole vaulting,” says Fowler, who, for the past three decades, has coached hurdles and pole vault at several Indiana high schools. “I call it ‘the event of 37 steps.’”

Once an athlete gets the feet correct when he is running, then he can move on to another step of manipulating his grip height and working on techniques like holding and running with the pole

and driving to plant it.

“Doing that when you’re running at top speed is not necessarily easy,” says Fowler, a Hendricks County resident since 2007 who, in the past, has coached at the middle school level in both Mooresville and Avon. Five years ago, he began coaching pole vault at Brownsburg High School (BHS).

“Working on the progression of each of those components to achieve higher levels of competencies,” Fowler says.

Once a student masters their steps, Fowler teaches the mechanics of learning the swing-up and how to turn and clear the bar in a safe manner.

“It’s not a complicated thing, in theory, but putting all of the pieces together to really excel at it is more in depth than one might realize,” Fowler adds. “It’s been a joy communicating the different steps to the kids, then watching them really take off with it.”

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Through the years, he’s seen the popularity of his favorite event really explode. According to Fowler, most schools have anywhere from 6-10 vaulters. BHS, however, has had as many as 20 vaulters per season. Fowler attributes part of that interest to the fact that students have fun using an instrument to perform.

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“Having to manipulate the pole is a fascinating element of the sport,” Fowler says.

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The poles are weight-rated, which means that a student needs to be under that weight to use that pole. They range in length as well, with beginning poles being 10 ft., and longer poles 14 ft. or above. They also have a flex rating to indicate how flexible a pole is or where it bends.

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athlete’s stride length to rate of speed to height of the pole at the time of the plant, in the force of energy that is put into the pole that the vaulter will feel as the pole releases.”

Fowler estimates that halfway through the season he will see a good number of his athletes achieve a level of competency where they will start to see big gains and set personal records.

“It’s when they are willing to attack the entire approach and run with more confidence that they improve,” Fowler says. “As their confidence grows, they move up higher on the pole itself.”

Fowler, who worked as a youth pastor for 19 years, became a chaplain with Heart to Heart Hospice in Hendricks County in April 2018. Working for 25 years in the field of ministry translates well to knowing how to interact with others. Sometimes the patients he visits with seek closure. Others seek reconciliation. Sometimes they simply want conversation.

“I encourage them in their faith. I work with them through a difficult time,” Fowler says. “I feel like God has given me a relational heart that enables me to love people where they are.”

It’s a gift that comes in incredibly handy when working with students. That’s why Fowler tries his best to always be an active listener as listening is a huge part of healing.

“When there are 20 pole vaulters in line on the runway, that provides plenty of chances to talk,” says Fowler, who loves coaching the Brownsburg Bulldogs.

“Every student has the opportunity to make progress and set personal records every time they go out on the field,” Fowler says. “Top athletes recognize that you have to put forth your best effort not only in competitions but also in practice.

‘Practice makes perfect’ isn’t enough. It’s got to be quality practice at your highest level. That’s what’s going to give you 10 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / BrownsburgMagazine.com

those personal gains.”

Fowler points out that one of the joys of track is that even if a team doesn’t perform well, an individual still can. And that’s to be celebrated.

“That’s definitely one element that’s distinctive about track,” Fowler says.

“Swimming and tennis fall under that category as well.”

Given his youth ministry background, Fowler has always loved working with students, and he embraces them all, whether they are seasoned athletes or fresh to the sport.

“Almost every year I get at least one student who has never touched a pole before,” Fowler says. “I love to watch them go literally from ground zero all the way up to who knows how high.”

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BHS is in one of the toughest conferences when it comes to pole vault competition. For instance, they face Carmel and Hamilton Southeastern, two of the most consistent schools to make it to the state meet each year. This year, however, three of Fowler’s top vaulters are returning so he’s predicting a strong season for Brownsburg.

Fowler has been married to his high school sweetheart, Teresa, for 32 years. Together they have two daughters: Julianne (a freshman at IU) and Emma (a freshman at BHS).

Years ago, Chris and Teresa had their very first conversation at track practice. So it seems that the social aspect that initially drew Fowler to the sport really worked in his favor as he fell in love with the track and on the track.

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Sky Zone Plainfield Owner Talks Creating a Family-Fun Environment & Giving Back Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

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G

ary Kingery had always wanted to run his own business.

With a background in chemical engineering and an MBA in finance, it might be surprising he ended up owning Sky Zone Plainfield and Sky Zone South Indy, but for Kingery, the “jump” was easy.

“This is a place of fun,” Kingery says, gesturing to the 21,000 square foot warehouse behind him, which houses 113 trampolines built for multiple activities. “People don’t come in here to be upset or to do work. They come in here looking for fun so I get to see a lot of smiles and a lot of happy faces.”

The process is simple. People can purchase chunks of time for jumping (60, 90 or 120 minutes), purchase special jump socks (that they can keep and bring back the next time), and then simply play at any one of the several features offered: the Warped Wall, Freestyle Jump, Sky Slam, Dodgeball, Foam Zone or the Sky Ladder.

Kingery’s path to Sky Zone franchise ownership seems a little serendipitous. In his career in corporate finance, Kingery had a co-worker who was building the Sky Zone Fishers location, which was the first one in Indianapolis. Kingery was able to see the growing pains of starting up a company firsthand as he watched his co-worker walk through the startup process.

Once Kingery moved on from his corporate job, he did what any self-professing entrepreneur would do. He asked himself the question, “What business can I start?” He called his old coworker and began to talk more realistically about what it would look like to own a franchise of Sky Zone.

“I really got to see the growing pains of starting it, operating it and maintaining it,” Kingery says. “She shared more with me about the process of building and how it needs to be run.”

Kingery decided to visit Sky Zone headquarters in Los Angeles for a learning day to see if he was a good fit for the Sky Zone brand. Once Kingery was qualified, he began to scout out locations. But nothing seemed to be what he was looking for.

That’s when his connection with his old co-worker provided another opportunity, and he decided to buy the Plainfield location.

He’s been the owner and operator of Sky Zone Plainfield since 2014 and Sky Zone Indy South since 2016.

Kingery takes a lot of pride in the culture of fun and exercise at Sky Zone. It’s not just a place to go jump. He loves providing a fun experience to customers and team members alike. Coming from the corporate world, this is a big switch.

Kingery also finds fulfillment in leading his team members in a light-hearted environment. Many Sky Zone employees are young, and this is their first job.

“I get a lot of joy working with them, teaching them what’s

expected out in the workforce and doing it in a fun atmosphere,” Kingery says.

The demand and pace at a place like Sky Zone is a little different than at a fast food restaurant or waiting tables, but that’s what makes it unique, Kingery adds. Young employees can learn about working in the real world in an environment that’s fun and generally a positive experience.

“Also, people don’t realize how much they’re exercising when they do this,” Kingery says, mentioning that most adults will feel it 10 minutes into jumping, not to mention how sore they are two days later.

“Everyone’s always looking for new ways to exercise,” he adds.

“This is one way, and it’s sure to get your endorphins going.”

Fun is a small word to encapsulate all that Sky Zone offers.

According to Kingery, the top three features of Sky Zone are the Warped Wall, a 10-foot and 12-foot steeply ramped wall inspired

by America Ninja Warrior, Dodgeball, the age-old game played on, you guessed it, trampolines and the Freestyle Jump Area, a wideopen court of 34 trampolines, some of them even along the walls.

Another popular feature is Sky Slam, an area where trampolines

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are situated directly under basketball goals so that patrons can practice their dunking skills.

In fact, regulars visit quite often to enjoy the pricing of a 30-day or 90-day pass. Shane Shewmake’s teenage son Brayden is a regular who prefers to spend his time at the Sky Slam basketball goals.

“Brayden absolutely loves Sky Zone,” Shane says. “As a parent, I like it because it provides a safe and healthy environment for him to go to as opposed to sitting in his room playing video game.”

Shane also appreciates the Sky Zone staff, who have always been pleasant and respectful to him and Brayden.

In the spring, Sky Zone typically works with the Sheltering Wings Youth Council made up of high schoolers from each of the Hendricks County schools to help build awareness for teen dating violence. In the past, Sky Zone has opened up the park and allowed them to publicize a spirit night where all proceeds go to Sheltering Wings. Currently, their spring plans to support Sheltering Wings are still being put together.

What many might see as just a place for kids really has a lot more heart and soul. Kingery upholds and takes pride in his business that offers health, community, friendship, fun, safety, generosity and happiness.

“The great thing about Sky Zone is that it’s a place anyone can go and have a great time,” Shane adds. “Young or old, it doesn’t matter.”

If bringing joy and fun to the world isn’t enough, Kingery uses his business in order to support local groups and non-profits, too.

Spirit nights are always a fundraising option for school systems or youth groups. Three dollars from each ticket sold goes back to the fundraising group.

In October, Sky Zone Plainfield donated $1 from every sock,

t-shirt and spirit night ticket to the American Cancer Society in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In fact, all seven Indiana Sky Zone locations banded together to collect and donate a total of $17,000 that month to ACS.

“If someone is looking for some healthy fun come burn up some energy and have a great time with the family,” he says.

“This is for all ages. If you’re comfortable on a trampoline, then come on out and jump.”

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Keep Sleeping Babies Safe In 2016, more than 3,600 sudden unexpected infant deaths occurred in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These deaths occur among infants less than one year old and have no immediately obvious cause. A safer sleep environment can reduce this tragic risk, and Dr. Emily Pittman, hospitalist at IU Health West Hospital and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics for the IU School of Medicine, is sharing recommendations to help make sleep as safe as possible for your baby.

Follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep: All by myself, on my Back, in my Crib.

of Pediatrics (AAP). In addition, remove soft bedding, including pillows, blankets and other soft objects, from your baby’s bed.

Choose a Firm Sleeping Surface A firm mattress in a bassinet or a safety-approved crib, covered with a fitted sheet, is safest for your baby. Sleeping furniture should not have drop sides, and slats should be spaced less than 2 3/8 inches apart. Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and the crib or bassinet sides. Never put your baby down to sleep on a couch, armchair, waterbed or a regular mattress, even with portable bed rails.

On my Back: Babies are less likely to choke when lying on their backs – there is less of a risk of spit up getting in the windpipe.

Although babies should be put down to sleep on their backs, it is important for babies to have “tummy time” while they are awake.

During “tummy time,” monitor your baby closely and make sure they are awake for their own safety.

In my Crib: Sleeping flat in cribs, bassinets or playpens is safest.

This keeps your baby from “slumping” and blocking her airway.

Keep the crib empty so your baby does not suffocate. Many swings and rockers have an incline and are not a safe sleep space for infants.

All by myself: The safest way for babies to sleep is alone. This helps prevent smothering. To keep your baby close, put the crib or bassinet next to your bed. Having your baby sleep in your room — on a separate surface — can reduce risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) significantly because parents are nearby to feed, comfort and monitor the infant. Room sharing, but not bed sharing, is strongly encouraged by the American Academy

Finally, don’t rely on devices that promise safety, and think twice about devices marketed to make bed-sharing “safe” or that claim to reduce the risk for SIDS. For questions about safe sleep habits for your baby, or for more ways to improve your child’s safety, check with your child’s doctor.

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Touching Home Former MLB Player Joey Vandever Talks Passion For Sports & Life in Hendricks County

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joey Vandever came from a close family with two older brothers who were both athletic.

All three boys loved passing the time playing football and baseball. As a kid, Vandever gravitated more towards football as he was attracted to the physical nature of the sport. Though he had scholarship opportunities to play football at a number of universities, when he graduated high school, he stood just 5´10´´and weighed 150 pounds.

“I remember my dad looked at me and said bluntly, ‘Dude, I don’t know that you’re cut out for football,’” recalls Vandever with a chuckle. He visited Ohio, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern, contemplating his options

before ultimately choosing to attend junior college for two years, then later transferring to the University of Evansville for two more years. During his freshman year of college, Vandever began focusing on baseball. Ironically, that same year he grew four inches and put on 40 pounds.

Though the growth spurt and weight gain made him better equipped, physically, to play football, he stuck with baseball, and it paid off. During his senior year, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.

“It was pretty fulfilling not only as a player but also for my family because I was the first to graduate college and go on to play professional ball,” Vandever says.

What many people don’t understand, however, is the arduous drafting process in Major League Baseball.

MARCH 2019

“When you get drafted by the NFL, you’ve made it,” Vandever says. “There is no minor league system. With baseball, though, it’s a grind all the way up until you make it into the Majors.”

He’s not exaggerating. Minor league athletes play 160-plus games each year, and the travel is exhausting.

“We would be at the ballpark from 9 a.m. until midnight, then jump on a bus, take a 10-hour road trip to our next destination, and do it all over again,” Vandever says. “If you don’t have a strong work ethic, if you don’t have a drive or passion or love for the game, you’ll get swallowed up pretty quickly.”

People say to Vandever all the time, “Wow! You played pro baseball! That had to be a blast!” In many ways, it was,

however they don’t recognize how the grueling schedule can take a toll on one’s health. During his rookie year, for instance, Vandever dropped a whopping 45 pounds due to the intense heat, crazy hours, exhausting workouts, demanding drills and sheer number of games.

“It’s hard on the system,” Vandever says. “It’s easy to get homesick, too, living out of a suitcase.”

As is the case with many pro athletes, injuries plagued him, too. He tore his labrum, and — even more painful — his glut.

“The issue with injuries is that you have to play through them because if you sit out, another guy may come along and shine.

Then you may be out for good,” Vandever says.

Nevertheless, he insists that his pro baseball

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experience prepared him for the rigors of life. The long days he endured and adversity he faced instilled an amazing work ethic.

“That’s probably why I don’t think anything of working late these days to get the job done,” he says. “It’s what I’m used to.”

After six seasons of playing for the Cardinals, Vandever chose to hang it up and start a life of his own. He married Sarah and started a family. They have three boys: Cannon (13), Carson, (10) and Caleb (8).

Though he doesn’t miss living in hotels and maintaining a harried schedule, he does miss the camaraderie of his teammates and playing the game.

“I also wish that my kids had gotten to see

me play,” he says.

Following his baseball career, Vandever transitioned into the mortgage industry, briefly co-owning a company with one of his brothers. Next, he worked for a medical distribution company that distributed bracing, pharmaceutical, soft goods and other medical supplies to high school, collegiate and pro sports teams. Though that career was a better fit for him, he still yearned for something more.

In 2012, Vandever, who has a degree in business management, met former Colts player Jim Sorgi when Sorgi was in transition from the New York Giants. They got to talking and realized they shared many MARCH 2019

of the same interests, not to mention a pro sports background. In 2013, they decided to combine their resources and become co-owners of Sorgi Sports, which provides physical therapy and skills improvement equipment to the general public at an affordable price.

In late 2018, the pair also launched a new business venture that’s part of Sorgi Sports called ProTeam Tactical Performance. In partnership with the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD), they provide all triage, rehab and recovery for IFD as part of IFD’s new health and wellness initiative.

“This means that an injured firefighter would report to our facility, see one of our

athletic trainers — either Ned Shannon or Anna Foster — and if we can treat them, we keep them in-house and provide them our athletic training services,” Vandever says.

Sorgi Sports plays a vital part in supplying the firefighters with innovative, state-of-theart equipment that’s needed for take-home, recovery purposes, or for pain, swelling and mobility. They’ve also partnered with Ortho Indy to provide other orthopedic services such as surgeries, diagnostics, imaging and testing.

Being former pro athletes, Vandever and Sorgi understand the importance of getting healthy as expeditiously as possible in order to return to the job at hand.

“We view firefighters as tactical athletes, which is why we’re committed to getting them healthy by creating an efficient process of daily rehab rather than, say, two times a week for 12 weeks,” Vandever says.

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“Firefighters are just like athletes. They don’t want to be home on the couch. They want to be at the station doing their thing. These guys have a love and passion for what they do.”

Like Vandever and his brothers, Vandever’s three sons love sports as well —particularly basketball, football, wrestling, baseball and lacrosse. When sports aren’t taking up their time, Vandever takes the crew hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and dirt biking riding.

“We’re always outdoors, often in southeast Indiana where we own some land,” says Vandever, an Avon resident who appreciates all of the great connections he’s made through school, sports, work and activities.

“I love what this community is all about,” he says.

With his suitcase-living days behind him, Vandever feels right at home in Hendricks County.

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Hendricks County Meals on Wheels Provides Warm Food & Welcome Fellowship Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

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T

hough Meals on Wheels has been around for 45 years, the Hendricks County Meals on Wheels operates as an independent corporation outside of the national organization, partnering with Hendricks Regional Health in Danville.

The hospital prepares all the meals (Meals on Wheels is a client who pays for this service). According to Sue Cox, Program Director of Meals on Wheels of Hendricks County, Hendricks Regional Health is more of a philanthropic supporter as they provide office space, computers and other equipment.

“We don’t have the overhead that a lot of non-profits do,” Cox says. “We are lucky in that aspect.”

Utilizing roughly 100 volunteers, they deliver meals throughout all of Hendricks County. They are on track to deliver 21,500 meals this year, up a bit from last year. Cox attributes climbing numbers to the fact that, increasingly, people are wanting to age in their own homes. She regularly talks to family members who tell her that their elderly parents don’t want to enter assisted living or nursing homes. Adult children strike a deal, allowing their parents to continue living independently if they sign up for Meals on Wheels.

“It gives families peace of mind to know

MARCH 2019

that their folks are getting a nutritious meal five days a week,” Cox says. “Just as importantly, they like knowing that someone is checking in daily.”

Compassionate ER care when you need us most

Monday through Friday, Meals on Wheels delivers one hot meal in the early afternoon that consists of a protein, a starch and a vegetable. For the most part, everyone gets the same meal unless there is a dietary restriction.

They have a rotating seven-week hearthealthy menu that includes things like chicken, turkey, pork, carrots, peas and potatoes. A sample meal might be roast turkey, sweet potatoes, broccoli, coleslaw, apple cobbler, a slice of whole wheat bread, a pat of margarine and a carton of milk — all for just $5.13. For those who wish to receive both a hot and cold meal, they can pay $9.08 a day.

“Some clients like having additional food for the weekends,” Cox says. “All are low-sodium meals, which is not always what our clients want, but it’s what they need to be eating.”

Those who sign up for the program may do so on either a short-term (e.g., following a hospital stay) or long-term basis (e.g., for homebound members or those who prefer not to cook). Though many of Cox’s clients are physically able to still prepare a meal, they’re tired. The median age of those who utilize the program is 80. In addition, preparing a nutritious meal for one is hard.

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Some volunteers deliver once a week, others once a month. But many community members have been

© Ascension 2019.

MARCH 2019

volunteering since the 1970s.

what to bring to the party? what to bring to the party?

Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N ’ AT I T Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N ’ AT I T

“The volunteers are what makes this program run like a well-oiled machine,” Cox says. “They are the wheels that make this program run.”

The majority of the volunteers are retired. Others are hospital staff who deliver during their lunch hour. Some are realtors, bank employees and stayat-home moms. The elderly especially love it when volunteers bring along their children or grandchildren during deliveries.

“I’ve got one volunteer who is in her 30s.

She delivered when she was young with her grandmother and now she sits on our board of directors,” says Cox, who has been pleased by the low turnover in volunteers.

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“The longevity is amazing, and I think that’s party because of the bonds that develop between volunteers and their clients,” Cox adds. “To be honest, many of our clients are signed up for the program for the daily interaction more than they are for the food. Our volunteers may be the only person they see all day or all week.”

Meals on Wheels of Hendricks County, Inc., is located at 1000 E. Main Street in Danville. Volunteer applications can be found at hendricks.org/mealsonwheels.

Donations are welcome via mail to Meals on Wheels of Hendricks County, P.O. Box 409, Danville, IN 46122.

FORMER COLT JIM SORGI TALKS LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL & LIVING IN BROWNSBURG Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographers / Amy Payne & Indianapolis Colts

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hen my children were young and I was trying to teach them proper behavior for play inside the house, my ongoing mantra was, “Don’t hit. Don’t kick. Don’t throw.”

Not so for Jim Sorgi, who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2009 as Peyton Manning’s backup quarterback. He spent much of his childhood hitting, kicking and throwing, and it served him well.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sorgi was the only boy living in a house with four sisters. Now the tables have turned as he’s raising three boys—Jimmy (12), Jackson (10) and Jace (4) — with his wife, Lana.

Growing up, Sorgi always had a ball in his hands — usually baseball or basketball, as football wasn’t his favorite initially.

“I was a tall third-grader so they asked me to play defense, but I wasn’t big and there was a lot of hitting and physical play,” says Sorgi, who quit, then picked up the sport again in middle school. Though he was still tall and thin, this time around he played wide receiver and running back, which was much more to his liking. In ninth grade, he transitioned to quarterback. Though he was thriving in football, he still played basketball and baseball all through high school.

“Football is more of a physical game. Baseball is a game of finesse,” Sorgi says. “Basketball is working in synchronicity. But they all teach something about working as a team.”

That’s why Sorgi is a big believer in kids pursuing multiple sports.

“Being able to switch gears and execute different game plans in order to achieve a goal translates to every aspect of life,” he says.

In his youth, Sorgi didn’t know what his path looked like. He simply knew he had an affinity for sports.

“I loved the kind of chess match — the game

within the game, so to speak,” says Sorgi, who played for the University of Wisconsin.

After graduation, he got drafted by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft. In 2010, he signed with the New York Giants.

After injuring his right shoulder, however, he was placed on season-ending injury reserve and the following year was released from his contract. Though he hoped to get signed elsewhere following surgery, it wasn’t meant to be.

“Every little boy who plays sports dreams of becoming a professional athlete,” Sorgi says.

“I got to live that dream in the NFL. We all wish we could play for 20 years, but seven is good.”

As Sorgi settled into the second chapter in

his life, he moved back to Hendricks County (the family had previously lived in Avon when he played for the Colts but now resides in Brownsburg, his wife’s hometown).

“This seemed like a good place to live,” Sorgi says. “A lot of my former teammates feel the same way about the Indianapolis area. It’s clean and full of friendly people.”

Plus, now he has more time to coach his sons’ sports teams and take his kids hunting and fishing. Sorgi, who used to vacation at his grandparent’s cabin in northern Michigan, was forced to take a sabbatical from hunting when he was playing pro football because the two seasons overlapped.

He still stays plenty busy with multiple work endeavors. Sorgi started doing pre-season television games in 2012 — the first year Andrew Luck was with the Colts. He’s now in his sixth year acting as color commentator for the radio — a job that entails doing pregame and post-game segments, along with a Monday evening radio show where he discusses the previous day’s game.

He’s often asked why he doesn’t pursue a job with CBS or the NFL Network. It’s simple, he’s perfectly content with where he is.

“I get to call the game of football on the radio while rooting for the team I formerly played for,” Sorgi says. “It’s a blast.”

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In college, Sorgi majored in Business Management, a degree he never thought he’d use once he got drafted. He was wrong. In 2013, he launched Sorgi Sports with business partner Joey Vandever, an Avon resident who played in the MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals. The pair provides physical therapy and skills improvement equipment to the general public at an affordable price.

“Everyone deserves to get back to good health, back to work, back to life as quickly as possible, whether you’re a professional athlete or not,” Sorgi says.

Throughout his career, Sorgi has witnessed guys who have endured concussions and other painful injuries. Some have suffered memory loss and have had to retire early.

He’s pleased, however, to see that the league is proactively taking steps to make the game safer by implementing new rules and regulations about hitting. For instance, players can no longer use the crown of their helmet to make a tackle on any part of the body, nor can they drive a player into the ground or hit a defenseless player without reason.

“These new rules are all designed to protect the guys so they don’t get injured or sustain concussions that could affect them down the line,” Sorgi says. “The NFL is also eliminating getting a running start on kickoffs and double-team blocks on kick-off returns.”

When Sorgi thinks back to his younger years, he recalls many sports idols he’s admired such as Ken Griffey Jr., who played 22 years in Major League Baseball.

“He looked like he was always having fun,” Sorgi says.

His football fave is Barry Sanders, a running back who played for the Detroit Lions.

“I loved when he would score a touchdown and there wasn’t a whole lot of flash,” Sorgi says. “He would just hand the ball to the official and sit down. I respected that.”

JANUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Sorgi appreciates seeing teammates bond as it inevitably steps up their performance.

During Sorgi’s six years with the Colts, he was fortunate to not witness much turnover.

“In the NFL, there’s always the distinct possibility that guys you count on are there one day, gone the next,” Sorgi says. “That makes it hard for a team to mesh. Luckily, we kept most of our guys around.”

Sorgi’s best memories center around the team’s camaraderie.

“It’s the bus rides, the plane rides, the locker room, smoking cigars after a big win, going to the Kentucky Derby after we won the Super Bowl [XLI against the Chicago Bears],” Sorgi says. “Those moments stick with you. They’re the ones that you wish you could go back and relive all over again.”

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Membership 101 Brownsburg Chamber Executive Director Talks Exciting Changes & Member Benefits Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

When Mike Arnould and his wife moved to Brownsburg in 1988, he started his own manufacturer's agency. He also got involved with the Chamber of Commerce so that he could become involved with the community. His job required him to travel a good bit around Indiana and Kentucky. After awhile, he tired of the grind so when he was given the opportunity six years ago to become the Chamber’s Executive Director, he jumped at the chance, eager to bring the Chamber into the 21st Century. One of the first changes made was to update the website.

“Our website is our face to the world so we wanted to make it modern, clean and accessible,” Arnould says.

Not only did they revamp the design of the site itself, but they also added a database, making it more efficient for members to navigate. In addition, they optimized it to make it accessible on mobile devices. Members can use the website to register for chamber luncheons as well as list any events they are hosting on the community calendar.

The new website includes a job board that allows members to upload “help wanted” information into the membership portal.

In 2018, the Chamber website had more than 8,300 online job posting views.

“Our members are using it, and in doing so, that’s driving traffic to the website,” Arnould says. “We love that we’re acting as an avenue for people looking for a job to connect with those who are hiring.”

In keeping with modernization of the Chamber, they also have become active on Facebook Live and other social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

“We use these things as a vehicle to share info with the community,” Arnould says. “We like participating in these live 34 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / BrownsburgMagazine.com

events so that folks who can’t break away from work or make the event can feel like they’re right there and still a part of it.”

The Chamber sends out a weekly newsletter, highlighting events their members are involved in, as well as listing job postings and member press releases.

“Brownsburg is a growing community,” Arnould says. “That’s why the Chamber promotes and supports new businesses by attending ribbon cuttings and grand openings.”

Speaking of growth, Arnould is amazed by the amount of change that has taken place in Brownsburg over the past 20 years.

“We’ve gotten away from being a sleepy bedroom town and have become an active community with a vibrant presence in Hendricks County,” Arnould says. “At the same time, even as it has grown, it has kept its small-town charm.”

Arnould says that when the new downtown is complete — with apartments and great businesses — it will be the hub of Brownsburg.

The Chamber, itself, has also flourished. When Arnould first became Executive Director, the Chamber had 135 members. Now they are up to 247. That’s due, in part, to the affordable membership cost (just $200 and offers a wide range of benefits).

The Brownsburg Chamber holds 10 luncheons a year on the third Wednesday of each month at the Brownsburg Fire Territory. Each

one attracts between 80-100 people. They use their members as caterers, including Dawsons Too, So Italian and Rusted Silo Southern BBQ & Brewhouse. Networking is from 11-11:30 a.m., lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., and the program kicks off at noon.

At the start of each year, they have the “state of the schools” address

by Dr. Jim Snapp, Brownsburg Superintendent, where he discusses the corporation’s plans for the upcoming year. The Town manager does a “state of the town” address in the spring.

“We invite all kinds of interesting speakers,” Arnould says.

For instance, in February they invited John McDonald, CEO of Clear Object, to speak. He discussed how artificial intelligence will affect our businesses and our world in the near future.

Once a year the Chamber invites 10 new members to share what they do. Last year the Chamber invited 47 new members. July is their nonprofit month where 10 of the Chamber’s nonprofit organizations share how they benefit the community. August is their “speed networking” luncheon where all the members have a chance to mingle for a longer stretch of time than at a typical meeting.

“People love having the chance to network in a structured setting,” Arnould says.

The holiday meal in December is an opportunity to tell members what the Chamber has done over the past year as well as plans for the future.

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“Usually we invite the Brownsburg High School’s Madrigal singers to serenade us with festive songs to usher everyone into the spirit of the season,” Arnould says.

As far as new endeavors, recently the Chamber launched a monthly morning networking program called “AM Connect,” targeted for those who have a hard time making it to the luncheons due to work conflicts. It’s from 7:30-9 a.m. at Best Friends Coffee & Bagels on Main Street.

“It’s just a low-key networking event that usually attracts about a dozen people,” Arnould says.

In addition, this month the Chamber plans to start up a young professional’s group. That’s because Arnould has noticed during his tenure with the Chamber that a lot of the managers coming into Brownsburg are of the younger generation.

“They are looking for an avenue to network among their peers,” Arnould says. “So once a month we’re going to gather 18 to 39-yearolds to let them figure out avenues for how they can give to the community.”

Fun annual events include the fall golf outing, Trivia Night in the spring and the Festival of the Arts in the summer.

This July will mark the 41st Annual Festival of the Arts in Arbuckle Acres Park where 100 local artisans gather to sell their goodies. It’s a wildly popular event that typically draws around 2,000 people.

While this will only be the 2nd Annual Trivia Night, held at the American Legion Post in Brownsburg, it’s shaping up to be popular, too.

“We hope to have 20 tables of eight this year,” Arnould adds. “It’s a fun evening for people to network and have a night out.”

Arnould has noticed that younger families are moving to Brownsburg, and older generations (grandparents of those families) are following behind to live close to their offspring. Often these people drop by the Chamber office requesting restaurant, church or real estate info, a community map or a suggestion for a plumber or handyman.

“We love being a resource for our community,” Arnould says. “I also love being the community’s cheerleader.”

The Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce is located at 1411 S. Green Street on the 2nd floor of the medical building. For more information or to become a member, visit brownsburg.com.

36 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / BrownsburgMagazine.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: MATHNASIUM 315 W. Northfield Dr. Brownsburg, Indiana 317-754-MATH mathnasium.com/brownsburg

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Mathnasium, a franchise math learning center with more than 900 locations, provides students a place of support outside of school that serves their specific math needs. While some students need help catching up to their current grade level, others who are accelerated need enrichment help to push them to reach their potential.

When Drew Gehman suggested to his wife, Wendy, that they open a Mathnasium franchise in Brownsburg, she was intrigued.

A former public school teacher, Wendy knew from experience the gains students can make when they are given an individualized curriculum plan designed just for them.

Tutoring and Enrichment

2018, Mathnasium of Brownsburg opened. The instructors at Mathnasium are equipped to tutor any level taught in a standard grade-school curriculum. “We cover everything from adding, subtracting and generally manipulating numbers on a number line all the way up to precalculus,� Wendy says.

Open Mondays through Thursdays from 3-7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m., students can come in daily, though most usually opt to come 2-3 times a week for one-hour sessions. Mathnasium operates on a monthly enrollment basis rather than an hourly tutorial basis.

Each student has a custom curriculum that is contained in a binder The couple convinced their oldest son, Isaac, a recent Rose-Hulman and is kept on site (no Mathnasium work goes home). With a 4:1 graduate, to join them in running the business, and in August student-to-teacher ratio, instructors rotate around the Local Artist Pamela Bliss spent more than a month completing the Reggie Miller mural.

BrownsburgMagazine.com / MARCH 2019 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / 37

room, providing students one-on-one attention when they need it, touching base when a new concept is introduced, answering questions and then stepping back and giving students individual time to work and grow their confidence. And that’s a key component as instructors find that, overwhelmingly, confidence is these students’ biggest hurdle.

“It’s not that the students can’t learn math,” Wendy says. "It’s that they feel like they can’t learn math. They start telling themselves that the subject is hard and that they’re stupid.”

That’s why instructors nip self-defeatist thinking in the bud before it manifests itself as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Though sometimes parents try to tutor their own children or

recruit siblings to attempt to help in the process, learning usually goes more smoothly when an unbiased third party gets involved like Mathnasium.

“We’re trained to do this,” Isaac says. “We understand the material.

Plus, we know how to handle different attitudes. We make this into a positive space for students so they affiliate coming here with experiencing success.”

They’ve seen tears initially when kids first arrive at the center.

Within a few weeks, however, instructors begin to see big smiles, high-fives and altered attitudes. They even have a “Brag Board” where students can display math-related work they’ve done at school that they’re proud of.

In a nutshell, Mathnasium is all about encouraging and empowering students so that they learn they can do math on their own and even excel at it. Since they opened, the staff has already witnessed several amazing student success stories. For example, one girl who started at 2.5 grade levels behind, pushed through the first level in three-months’ time and is expected to be on track for where she needs to be well before the end of this school year.

“Now that she’s improved, it’s kind of exponential growth,” Isaac says. “She’s confident about it, she’s excited to keep pushing forward, and she realizes she has this potential within her and that’s made her accelerate so much faster than expected.”

Mathnasium offers free one-hour assessments so parents can find out their child’s current level as well as what may be done to enhance their growth. Parents receive a copy of their child’s learning plan and information about the program’s process.

“To me, that’s huge to be able to know that I’m sending parents back into the world with more understanding about their kid’s needs,” Isaac says.

Mathnasium is located at 315 W. Northfield Dr. in Brownsburg. For more information, visit mathnasium.com/brownsburg or call 317754-MATH.

BrownsburgMagazine.com / MARCH 2019 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / 39

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