Carmel Magazine July 2023

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CARDIO QUEEN

CHRISTI DEE IS REACHING MONUMENTAL MARATHON MILESTONES

It turns out that people really can catch the “running bug.” Just ask Westfield resident Christi Dee, an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher. The longtime runner has competed in 39 marathons held not only in the United States, but also in several foreign countries. The sport wasn’t always a passion in her life. Initially she had to be coaxed into doing it.

“In 2006 I had a group of eight friends who wanted us all to run the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon together,” Dee says. “I thought they were insane, but in the end peer pressure won out. The feeling I had at the finish line made me want to chase it again. It all started from there.”

In 2008 Dee ran her first marathon in Chicago. Today, entry is through a lottery system, but at that time, if an individual was one of the first to log into the site, they had a place at the start line. It was then that Dee heard about the Abbott World Marathon Majors. She was intrigued by the idea of having a bucket list of events to run.

Sponsored by Abbott, a health care company, the World Marathon Majors Six Star race series is a set of some of the most famous marathons in the world. According to Dee, below .001% of marathon runners ever finish them all. The three held in the United States are the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services New York City Marathon and Boston Athletic Association Boston Marathon.

“On Monday, April 17 I ran the 127th Boston Marathon, which completed my Six Star journey,” Dee says. “This achievement is something less than 12,000 people worldwide, and less than 1,300 American women, have done. The Boston Marathon is the strictest to get into. Unlike the other marathons with a lottery system, it has a time requirement. It is the Super

Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided

Bowl for runners. People train for a lifetime to qualify for it. If you get in, you feel like you have made it.”

The three other marathons in the series are the BMW Berlin Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services London Marathon and Tokyo Marathon. Even though the drastic time changes were a challenge, Dee didn’t let that deter her from participating. She acclimated herself even when first getting on a plane by sleeping when it was nighttime at her destination.

“The time change in Tokyo affected me most because it’s such a dramatic difference,” she says. “But I thrive off any marathon setting and the vibe. You are surrounded by people that you share something in common with. You have all worked hard at a training cycle to get there.”

Dee hopes that the discipline and dedication she has shown toward accomplishing her goal, even when setbacks

occurred, is a good example to others. She has found ways to give back to the running community by participating in Ainsley’s Angels, recently pushing a stroller for an individual with Down’s syndrome across a race finish line. In the future she would like to complete marathons in continents she has not visited.

“Running a marathon is so humbling,” she says. “It can break you down, yet make you feel on top of the world when finishing. I don’t know if I’ll ever get any faster, so I am finding fulfillment in other ways. I love to volunteer at smaller races. For me it’s the camaraderie in supporting other runners by inspiring and encouraging them.”

For more information on the Abbott World Marathon Majors, visit worldmarathonmajors.com.

Follow Dee on Instagram @this_blonde_runs.

HELPING HAND

HAMILTON COUNTY AREA NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT IS TACKLING LOCAL HOUSING NEEDS

Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development (HAND), Inc., a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to addressing the housing needs of low- and moderateincome individuals, families and senior citizens in the community. On May 4, the results of a Hamilton County housing study

commissioned by the Hamilton County Housing Collaborative were presented to the public during HAND’s 2022 Suburban Housing Conference. The study is important not only because of the statistics it reports, but also because it includes recommendations that involve immediate and long-range action at a time when funding is currently available.

“The study revealed that more housing of all kinds is needed from high to low end,” says Andrea Davis, executive director of HAND. “However, housing in Hamilton County is becoming less affordable to more people. The fastest-growing industries are the lowest paying. In 2019 the top five jobs that employed the most people in the county were fast food/counter workers, retail sales,

Writer / Julie Yates

Photography Provided

customer service representatives, office clerks, and laborers/stocking/freight. None of these pay well. $16.60 an hour is the average. These incomes aren’t keeping pace with the increasing price in housing, which rose 63% from 2010 to 2019.”

“There is a stigma attached to affordable housing, such as people don’t want to work or they are trying to get money from the government,” Davis continues. “In reality it’s different. People who need housing aren’t coming from outside the county. They already live here and they are working more than one job.”

The study, which began in 2021 and was completed in January of 2022 by Greenstreet Ltd., indicated that a lack of appropriate housing for the entire workforce could jeopardize Hamilton County’s quality of life and economic health. If a section of the labor force is unable to afford living in the community, certain jobs could be unfilled, tax revenue could decrease and economic growth

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could be slowed. It could be harder to attract companies willing to invest in the community, in addition to people and jobs.

“The county government has allocated $5 million towards helping to fund affordable housing,” Davis says. “It’s time to make some long-term investing in developing some plans. We asked that the consultants take a look at other communities and see what they do, so the next time a study is done, we can see some improvement.”

HAND already has a track record of developing affordable housing on a small scale. Stakeholders from multiple local organizations and nonprofits were in attendance at the packed May 4 conference. The study recommended that these groups, the public sector, development and builder communities, as well as realty companies, partner together. It recommended that the partnerships focus on four areasreducing the cost of development, removing the cultural stigma attached to income-based housing, stabilizing and supporting individuals and families most at risk, and increasing funding for attainable housing.

“We hope to see some improvement in the next 12 to 18 months,” Davis says. “It’s a group effort. HAND can’t fix these problems all by itself.”

HAND, Inc. is located at 347 South 8th Street, Suite A in Noblesville. Call 317-674-8108 or visit handincorporated.org for more info.

A Brush With Joy

DRINK IN

A

FUN

EXPERIENCE

AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST

Story Provided Photographer / Whitney Moore

Everyone could use a night out with friends, a loved one, or just a night away from the house. Add a glass of wine, beer or soda, some music, and throw in paint and a canvas, and you have Painting with a Twist in Carmel, America’s original and largest paint-and-sip franchise brand with more than 250 locations nationwide.

“We’re an instructor-led party with paint, canvas or wood board, and a beverage,” says Kerry Sawyer, owner of the Carmel and Lafayette locations. “We have studio painting classes that are open to the public that include family classes, black light, trivia nights, Girls’ Night Out and date nights, as well as offering private parties, kids camps, team-building events, virtual classes, takehome kits, and off-site events. Guests, after reserving online, come in, have a glass of wine or soda, paint and de-stress, while in a lively environment full of positive energy.” Private parties are popular at Painting with A Twist.

“Our private parties are a great way to celebrate birthdays, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, anniversaries, company parties or team-building events,” Sawyer says. “They get to choose their painting from our art gallery of over 11,000 paintings. Then our instructor guides them step by step through the entire process.”

Sawyer knows from experience that teambuilding events are a great way to improve company culture and engage outside of work. Prior to purchasing Painting with a Twist, Sawyer was one of the studio’s best clients. Sawyer owned 45 haircut locations and would host her team appreciation

something she could make profitable while making her soul happy. Painting with a Twist was a perfect match for her.

Her locations now offer do-it-yourself candles, where you can make your own soy candle before your painting class. “It’s such a fantastic addition to what we do,” Sawyer says. “When you come in for your painting experience, you can make a candle prior to class, choosing from 24 different scents and 15 different labels. Customers make their candle and while they are in their painting class, the candle cures. When their class is over, they not only leave with the painting they created, but they also leave with their candle they made.”

She found another surprising benefit of ownership - Painting with a Purpose.

“It’s a fun and creative way to give back and support the causes I love,” Sawyer says. “Once a quarter we hold a Painting with a Purpose fundraiser at my studios, raising money for charities such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Dogtopia, Prevail, and Heart and Soul Free Clinic, to name a few. One of my favorite things about our franchise is giving back to the community.”

“Painting builds selfesteem and is very therapeutic,” Sawyer says. “Painting with a Twist produces a relaxing, open environment where painters feel safe to explore their own creativity. We truly are helping people. Customers come into my studio and they literally transform in the two hours they’re here. They come in unsure, not thinking they can create the artwork chosen, or they’ve had a bad day and they leave ecstatic, relaxed and revived. We’re creating a carefree escape for people to reconnect, de-stress, rejuvenate and rekindle spirits. At the same time, I’m allowing artists that I employ to pursue their passion.”

They also offer Twist at Home kits. “With COVID, we wanted to continue to extend that sense of peace to our community by offering them the opportunity to do that from home,” Sawyer says. “Our kits allow our customers to paint from the safety of their own home. Whether you choose to have a moment to yourself, plan a date night or make it into a family-fun event, Twisting at home is a great way to shift into that imaginative mode where worries seem to fade. Inside your Twist at Home kit,

you’ll have everything you need to create your very own masterpiece, including an instruction video.”

Sawyer is planning to open more locations, with the next location being in Greenwood.

“We offer so many different outlets for people to escape from the daily grind,” she says. “It’s time to plan something fun, therapeutic and out of the ordinary. Sip, socialize and create. Come in and give your night a Twist.”

The Carmel location is at 301 East Carmel Drive, Suite A-500. For more info, call 317810-1335 or visit paintingwithatwist.com.

"PAINTING WITH A TWIST PRODUCES A RELAXING, OPEN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PAINTERS FEEL SAFE TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN CREATIVITY."

Uptown Carmel

2271 Pointe Parkway (116th west of Keystone)

Uptown Noblesville 809 Conner Street (On the Courthouse Square)

Uptown Indy 6404 Rucker Road (64th & Binford)

Sunrise Fishers 9767 E 116th Street (116th & Cumberland )

Uptown Market

Enjoy our house-made items at home. Purchase breads, biscuits, muffins, rolls, salads, sauces, dressings, condiments, and more online at: www.uptowncafes.com/shop.

uptowncafes.com

Steve Jackson is a longtime loan officer and branch manager. Most recently, Jackson is the branch manager of the new GVC Mortgage office in Fishers.

GVC Mortgage has been in the business of assisting clients in the home-buying process for over 25 years. Founded in 1996, the Voyles children created this mortgage company to honor their late father, Gene Voyles. GVC Mortgage began in Pendleton and continues to be headquartered there.

Now, GVC Mortgage is licensed in eight states, and has over 40 branches with more than 320 team members. Fishers is one of the newest locations, and opened in January of 2023. Within this new branch, Jackson is not only working with clients for their home-

buying experience, but he is also recruiting loan officers, hiring new staff and overseeing the operations of the office.

But what exactly makes GVC Mortgage stand out against the rest?

“We have phenomenal efficiency at GVC,” explains Jackson. The operations of processing, underwriting and closing loans are outstanding. It’s superior service and communication with borrowers are why GVC Mortgage has become so reputable with their customers.

In addition to their great customer service, the GVC Mortgage office in Fishers has consultants fluent in other languages besides English. They have loan officers fluent in Spanish, Hindi and Arabic to better serve those in the community whose primary language is not English.

The company recognizes every customer is different. No matter what life stage you’re in, GVC Mortgage has a home loan to meet your needs.

GVC offers many loan programs, including Conventional, Jumbo, Doctors Loan, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The loan officers at GVC Mortgage are specifically trained with the right tools to save you both time and money. In addition to home-buying services, they also offer refinancing assistance. They are dedicated to making the process as seamless as possible by discussing the situation, reviewing options

and locking in the deal.

“Making the transaction as easy and simple as possible is the most important part of our business,” says Jackson. “There’s a lot of information when it comes to the loan process, and we want to make it as pleasant as we can for our customers.”

Are you interested in doing business with Jackson and the folks at GVC Mortgage in Fishers? The next steps to get started are easy.

First, call the Fishers GVC Mortgage location and schedule an appointment or phone consultation with a loan officer. This will consist of meeting your mortgage consultant, and they will ask some general questions, set up expectations and explain the next steps. The consultant will take the information you have given them and determine what program is best for you moving forward in your homebuying journey. Your GVC loan officer will issue you a pre-approval letter, at which point you can begin looking at homes with your real estate agent. If you are not working with an agent, your loan officer can refer you to one of the top agents in your area.

Simply put, Jackson and his team in Fishers are dedicated to creating a successful mortgage loan experience.

Writer / Alli Donovan

Photographer / Sarah Browning

noblesville township signature event

wayne township signature event

changed over the decades. This will include a show-and-tell of artifacts. Inside the church, enjoy history displays about Clarksville and surrounding areas.

Outside, experience the Hamilton Southeastern Schools FFA “touch a truck” area with old tractors alongside new Reynolds farm equipment, and old Ford trucks and Model T’s alongside new trucks off the Don Hines dealership lot. Free refreshments, with the Wayne/Fall Creek Lions Club offering food for sale.

FALL PREVIEW signature events

FALL CREEK TOWNSHIP and DELAWARE TOWNSHIP will join forces and partner with Conner Prairie to create a permanent reminder of the Hamilton County Bicentennial! Attend the Bicentennial Marker Unveiling at Conner Prairie on SEPTEMBER 9.

CLAY TOWNSHIP organizers present Vintage Maps of Carmel, an artistic map of Clay Township’s farms and homesteads during the early 20th century. Maps are a keepsake and will be available for free THROUGHOUT

NOVEMBER

DREES HOMES CELEBRATES 95 YEARS OF BUILDING EXCELLENCE

DREES HOMES IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE 95 YEARS OF BUILDING DREAM HOMES FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

A FAMILY BUSINESS

The Drees Homes story began in 1928 when German immigrant Theodore Drees crossed the Atlantic with visions of a better life. Today, the first Drees home ever built, a brick cape cod in Wilder, Kentucky, still stands as a testament to Theodore’s dedication to craftsmanship. Theodore’s son, Ralph, joined the business in 1959 after serving in the Army. It was Ralph Drees’ philosophy of diversification and industry leadership that took the company into new markets. Today, Drees Homes builds in 10 different metros spanning the Southeast, Texas and the Midwest including Greater Indianapolis. Drees is the nation’s 19th

largest privately-owned home builder – the 36th largest overall.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF EXCELLENCE

When it comes to home building, every Drees home is built with a focused approach that always begins and ends with quality, personalization and customer service. In fact, this commitment to excellence runs four generations deep. Siblings Scott Drees and Alexa Drees Walker grew up with a passion for home building. Scott’s current role includes overseeing sales in the Indianapolis area, and Alexa is Corporate Director of Design. Their unique knowledge of the industry has cultivated a rich understanding that home is more

than a dwelling - it’s a personal expression of each and every customer, and their ultimate goal is to bring that vision to life. This commitment to excellence and customer focus has earned Drees Homes the Triple Crown of national home building awards, including “America’s Best Builder,” “National Builder of the Year,” and the “National Housing Quality Award.” Most recently, Drees Homes has been selected as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company, a program sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

DREES HOMES COMMUNITIES IN GREATER INDIANAPOLIS

Drees Homes builds throughout Greater Indianapolis, from Avon on the city's far

Story and Photography Provided

Theodore Drees First House

west side to Carmel just north of Indy to exclusive neighborhoods nestled around Geist Reservoir on the northeast. Shopping, dining and entertainment options are minutes away, and you can easily get to Indy's thriving downtown. Drees is very excited to announce the opening of their newest communities that are now selling: Albany Village in Carmel, Belle Crest in Westfield and Vintner’s Park in McCordsville. Trescott in Plainfield and Carramore in Westfield are both coming soon!

Each one of Drees Homes’ communities complements the area’s natural surroundings and an ample selection of floor plans are available to suit every need, ranging from single-family ranch and two-story layouts to low-maintenance paired villas. All plans are designed with open spaces and today’s most desirable features, plus energy efficiency and smart home technology. In addition to buildto-order homes, Drees offers new homes that are near completion so you can find a luxury home without the wait.

To learn more about Drees Homes, visit dreeshomes.com or call (317) 268-2988.

The Heroes Club funds a $400,000 accidental death policy for any firefighter, police officer, or public safety employee who falls in the line of duty within Clay Township and the City of Carmel. We also provide grants to afford these public safety officers the best possible means for safeguarding the places that enrich our lives and enhance our community.