Women in Business
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Darrell Skaggs Talks About His Breast Cancer Journey and Raising Awareness
Darrell Skaggs Talks About His Breast Cancer Journey and Raising Awareness
JORDAN AND STEPHANIE YANT OPEN THEIR SECOND CABIN COFFEE CO. LOCATION
O C T 1 19 | 8 A M -1 P M
Hummel Park – West Side, 5373 Sugar Grove Road - Plainfield
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Fees are charged for the recycling of TVs ($20/$25), appliances ($5/$10), and certain tires. Cash and check only.
Call ( 317 ) 858 - 6070 or visit RecycleHendricksCounty.org formoreinformation.
PUBLISHER
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
MELISSA GIBSON
CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING AMY PAYNE
Darrell Skaggs Talks About His Breast Cancer Journey and Raising Awareness
Jordan and Stephanie Yant Open Their Second Cabin Coffee Co. Location
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pproximately 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and for more than 500 of them, the diagnosis will be fatal.
Hendricks County resident Darrell Skaggs is making it his mission to spread
the word and encourage men to rid themselves of the stigma surrounding the disease. Skaggs was diagnosed for the first time in 2010.
“I had gall bladder issues and they did a CAT scan,” he said. “The gall bladder
was bad, but they also found a mass in my left breast and they wanted me to get a mammogram.”
The appointment to get the mammogram required him to walk into the women’s center, and Skaggs was reluctant. His wife of more than 50 years,
Wanda, suggested most of the people would think the appointment was for her and she was right.
Skaggs said the only question on the form pertaining to a man was the line to place his name.
“After the mammogram they wanted an ultrasound and then they did a biopsy that same day, and three days later my doctor called me and said it was breast cancer,” Skaggs said.
Skaggs received the news at work and headed home, but he didn’t want to call his wife; he would wait until she came home that afternoon. It was a long wait and gave Skaggs plenty of time to think.
“I graduated high school in 1969 and served with the United States Army in Vietnam in the early ‘70s,” he said. “I’m a military guy and a sports guy. This is embarrassing for a man. I felt like I had a woman’s disease, and it affected my whole family.”
After talking and praying with his wife that afternoon, they began researching and Skaggs was in the surgeon’s office two weeks later.
They removed the tumor, but found a second surgery was needed to take additional lymph nodes. After the surgery he underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and took preventative medication for five years, eventually being told he was in the clear.
Those years were transformative for Skaggs and his family. Not only were they dealing with their own emotions and concerns, but they were also still mulling over the facts concerning men and a breast cancer diagnosis.
“For about a year I didn’t want to talk about it,” he said. “I didn’t want anyone to know, but my family kept encouraging me to talk about it because other men need to know about this. My son said there was a contest with Major League Baseball, picking an honorary bat girl for
each team. He suggested I enter it and I said, ‘That’s for women.’ He said, ‘Send in the application anyway,’”
Skaggs was chosen, and soon after, more and more organizations began reaching out to him to represent the men.
“I got a call from Susan G. Komen and they wanted to share my story in their monthly magazine,” he said. “Then in 2012, Ford Motor Company did a Warriors in Pink campaign and I was chosen along with 10 other breast cancer patients to participate. We traveled to New York and L.A., modeled clothing and other items, and had ads in magazines. There’s a nice documentary about it and all the money raised went toward breast cancer research.”
Churches, nonprofits and other organizations in the community began asking Skaggs to speak at their breast cancer awareness events and the
American Cancer Society enlisted him for their Reach for Recovery program.
“Reach for Recovery is for other men diagnosed,” he said. “I have a very supportive family but I needed another man to talk to, another guy that’s been through this, and it’s helpful to see a guy who has gone through what you’re going through today.”
He’s currently talking to five men all over the country who are looking for a mentor, and one who knows the ropes.
The biggest problem, according to Skaggs, is finding symptoms far too late. If men have discounted the symptoms, or shrugged them off as a strained pectoral muscle or an injury from work, they put off going to the doctor for far too long.
“When the doctor found my cancer, I had no symptoms at the time,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for my gallbladder, by the time it was found it would have been way too late, and a larger percentage of men die because we’re ignoring it.”
Symptoms include soreness around the breast, nipples draining or changing color, a lump or swelling in the breast, and more.
Unfortunately, Skaggs’ journey hasn’t been as standard as chemo, radiation and a clean bill of health.
In 2019 he received his second breast cancer diagnosis.
“I wasn’t feeling well again and I went to the ER,” he said. “They sent me to my oncologist and the cancer was back. They started me on another drug that had a lot of side effects. It was new but about as bad as the chemo. I was in remission three years later.”
In April of 2024 it returned - this time as stage four.
“Stage four is the worst,” Skaggs said. “It’s bad. There are new drugs and you don’t know what the side effects will be. Whether you do the drugs or the chemo, both are terrible. I was sick forever. But I know God and I know he’s not going to give me anything worse than I can handle. It’ll be sad. I think about my boys, my grandkids and my wife, but I try to stay positive.”
Even through his own worries, Skaggs and his family agree that he shouldn’t shy away from the mission. The veteran and sports nut wants men to know they shouldn’t be embarrassed or frightened. The earlier they find it, the better the outcome.
He said eventually, the need to warn other men to be diligent and check symptoms with their doctor outweighed his own embarrassment or nervousness.
“Other men need to know about breast cancer,” he said. “At first it was tough to talk in front of a big group, but after a while it got easier. If sharing my story
means one person gets something checked out, it was a win.”
He’s still fighting.
Skaggs takes a daily pill and gets two injections every four weeks that put him in bed for three or four days afterward. He wants as much time as possible with his wife, two sons, two daughters-in-law
and four grandchildren.
This October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, he wants to save one more man through learning about male breast cancer.
Men and women can learn more at komen.org.
DR. VICKI CRUM
In the fall of 2020, the Indianapolis Colts participated in an NFL initiative called My Cause, My Cleats, for which players made known a cause that was near and dear to their hearts by writing it on their shoes.
Owner Jim Irsay’s family chose to pen the phrase “Kicking the Stigma” on their footwear to bring awareness to the stigma associated with mental health. That same year they also invested in a national PSA campaign, letting the world know that the Colts view mental health as a critical issue that should be regularly addressed.
Soon thereafter, the Colts launched an official Kicking the Stigma campaign that focused on increasing awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders in our communities, and to raise and distribute funds to nonprofits and other organizations that expand treatment and research in Indiana and beyond. The Colts’ goal for 2024 is to focus on how best to start conversations around mental health.
“We asked, ‘How can we use the power of the Colts platform to encourage people to treat mental health like anything else - say, a migraine or a broken arm?’” says Brett Kramer, director of Kicking the Stigma for the Indianapolis Colts. “If someone is feeling anxious or down, we want these to become normal conversations to share.”
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Where do people tend to gather for connection, check-ins and chats? Coffee shops!
Kramer had been following the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) coffee sleeve campaign, so she reached out to the AFSP Indiana chapter to
see if there was a partnership opportunity between their two brands.
“The conversations surrounding the coffee sleeves, our respective organizations, and mental health and suicide prevention have felt very natural and organic,” says Brandon Puszkiewicz, Indiana programs
manager for AFSP.
As a result of this collaboration, approximately 60 coffee shops, businesses, and other offices and organizations will distribute 75,000 coffee cup sleeves across Indiana during September (National Suicide Prevention Month) and October (National Depression Awareness Month). This will cover areas of Indiana like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, northwest Indiana, Ellettsville, Huntingburg, Shelbyville, Cumberland, Rockville, Terre Haute, Muncie, Evansville, New Palestine, West Lafayette, Richmond, Hanover and more. These sleeves aim to normalize conversations about mental health, as well as connect the community to mental health resources such as the 988 suicide Lifeline.
“We’ve found through research that stigma, without a doubt, is one of the highest barriers for people seeking help for their mental health,”
Kramer says. “The Indianapolis Colts, under the umbrella of the NFL, has an incredible platform. Our reach in our market is ginormous so we’re trying to be responsible stewards of this platform.”
Not only do the Colts have the incredible example of the Irsay family, but they also have an entire locker room of players who have lived experiences with mental health or have a loved one with such experience. Sharing their stories lets others know that vulnerability equals strength.
“These incredible athletes are going through emotions and tribulations,” Kramer says. “They are all great ambassadors of Kicking the Stigma. We’re grateful that they’re transparent in their journeys since so many people of all ages look up to them.”
Because let’s face it…mental health doesn’t discriminate.
“It doesn’t matter where you live, what you’re doing or what your net worth is, it impacts everyone on some level,” Kramer says. “We want to encourage people to be open and honest about how it affects their lives.”
Puszkiewicz says seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
“Many people face challenges with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, and it’s important to understand that these feelings are not just common, but also valid,” he says. “It’s OK to not be OK, and reaching out for support, whether through friends, family or mental health professionals, can be a crucial step towards healing.”
Going into football season, the Colts are naturally integrating Kicking the Stigma into all they do. For instance, their preseason game on August 17 against the Arizona Cardinals was dedicated to mental health awareness. Prior to the game, both teams wore Kicking the Stigma gear to help normalize mental health conversations. During this game, the Colts invited students from Bring Change to Mind clubs
throughout the state of Indiana to line up at the Colts’ horseshoe banner during team introductions.
In addition, during the Colts’ October 20 game against the Miami Dolphins, mental health professionals from across Indiana will be special guests following a thankyou breakfast.
“We want to show our appreciation for the behavioral health workforce because they are the true champions in this space, making an impact day in and day out,” Kramer says.
The Colts are happy to be cultivating so many mental health partnerships. For instance, this past May they partnered with the Indianapolis Indians for a Mental Health Awareness night for one of their games.
“We’re trying to utilize our partners and champions throughout the community in
talking about mental health and bringing awareness in these spaces,” says Kramer, who expects collaborations to grow.
“We’re grateful we’ve been supported by the community and mental health organizations across the state who have come alongside us in this journey. We can’t do this alone, and we’re not doing this alone.”
Kramer is quick to point out that she’s not a mental health expert. She and her team, however, are experts at using the power of the horseshoe to bring people together, to set an example and to elevate the mental health experts in this space.
“A lot of these organizations don’t get the credit they deserve for the incredible work they’re doing,” she says.
Puszkiewicz encourages all of us to strive to foster environments where open conversations about mental health are encouraged and supported.
“Mental health issues can feel isolating, but no one has to face them alone,” Puszkiewicz says. “Your mental health matters. There is always hope and help available.”
To learn more, visit colts.com/kickingthe-stigma.
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For 50 years, Godby Home Furnishings has been providing Central Indiana with quality furnishings at affordable prices. When my dad, Jim Godby, started this company back in 1974 he never dreamed we would grow to be as big as we are today. It was his friends and family who helped him get started back then, and it is your loyalty and support today that have helped us reach this milestone. We are truly grateful to be a part of this community with you! Please join us as we celebrate you, our friends and family, and this great accomplishment of 50 years as a locally owned and operated business.
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Team members at IU Health West Hospital spend each day caring for patients in their local communities through their work at the hospital. That drive to help others has led several team members to take that mission beyond the hospital walls, and serve people in other areas of the United States and abroad. From Kenya to Turkey to Jamaica and more, we sat down with a few IU Health West clinical team members to chat about their recent experiences, and the “why” behind their trips.
JENNIFER BOSTON
Physical Therapist
Eighteen years at IU Health West
How many trips have you been on?
When and where did they occur?
Eight medical trips to work with Missions of Hope International in Nairobi, Kenya. 2012-2018, and 2024
How did you help medically during the trips?
Physical therapy with special-needs children. I was able to provide physical
assistance to the family while showing to the community that these children have value, and they aren’t a “curse” on their family.
What inspired you to go?
I initially went to Kenya to try to be a blessing to the people there, not realizing that I would be the one who was blessed. Working with kids with disabilities in the Mathare Valley of Nairobi was totally out of my comfort zone, but when Missions of Hope International asked me to work with
these kids, I agreed, and my life has changed. The people have very little, but the joy they have because of what Jesus has done in their lives is beyond comprehension.
LESLIE GIBBS
Lead Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner Seven years at IU Health West
How many trips have you been on? When and where did they occur?
More than 20 (not sure of exact number). 2015-2022. Multiple refugee camps across Greece and Turkey; long-term Tibetan refugee medical care in Zanskar, India; Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota; multiple migrant camps on the U.S.-Mexico border.
How did you help medically during the trips?
Medical provider, primary care and urgent/emergency care; team leader; board member, medical non-governmental organization.
What inspired you to go?
I believe all humans should have access to health care when they need it, and in the obligation of those with resources to share with those without.
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ERIC PEAK
Team Lead, Pharmacist
Fourteen years at IU Health West
How many trips have you been on?
When and where did they occur?
Ten trips total (eight non-medical and two medical). Guatemala, India, and Liberia were non-medical trips from years past. 2023 - served on a medical clinic boat that traveled along the Amazon River in Brazil. 2024 - served on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic with practitioners and a group of health care students from Butler
University. Included daughter, Carli, a Butler student studying public health and psychology; she is also a trained EMT.
How did you help medically during the trips?
In Brazil and the Dominican Republic, I worked as a pharmacist serving the popup medical clinics our team provided.
What inspired you to go?
My faith in Jesus has taught me to use my time, talent and treasure to serve others. In the past two years I have discovered opportunities to use my medical knowledge in service.
TONYA MITCHELL
Registered Nurse and Ambulatory Procedure Unit and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Day Shift Clinical Coordinator
Twelve years at IU Health West
How many trips have you been on?
When and where did they occur?
Five trips. February and July each year except February 2024. In Jamaica.
How did you help medically during the trips?
February trips - meet up with the preschools to pass out toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as teach dental hygiene. July trips - health screens and pass out Tylenol, ibuprofen, vitamins, ace wraps, triple antibiotic cream, knee braces, ankle braces and reading glasses.
An eye doctor’s office here at IU Health West gave me a lesson on how to interpret what reading glasses people would need, and we have given over 200 pairs of reading glasses. A lot of these have been donated by my nursing team.”
What inspired you to go?
The feeling of making a difference in someone’s life with the things we take for granted is humbling. My most rewarding times are when I do reading eye tests and give out reading glasses. Those smiles when they can see what they are reading warms my heart.
AARON AND SHANELE RHOADS (MARRIED)
AARON RHOADS
Registered Nurse in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab
Nine years at IU Health West
SHANELE RHOADS
Registered Nurse in Ambulatory Procedure Unit and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit; Also serves as Surgical Services Bereavement Coordinator
Eleven years at IU Health West
How many trips have you been on?
When and where did they occur?
Aaron has been on several mission trips, including: 2004-2005 - Mexico; 2005 - Costa Rica; 2012 - Kenya; 2016Uganda.
Shanele has been to: 2005 - Mexico; 2012 - Kenya.
How did you help medically during the trips?
Casa de Ninos (San Luis Potosí, Mexico): Spent time with the children and helped to repaint a building at a local Christian college. Traveled to neighboring cities to preach the gospel of Christ.
Agua Viva Ministries (Bri Bri, Costa Rica): Provided supplies and aid to remote villages in the Talamanca Valley after suffering from a devastating flood. Rebuilt and remodeled parts of the Agua Viva church.
Missions of Hope International (Mathare Valley, Nairobi, Kenya): Opened a
medical clinic to serve the Missions of Hope school children and the residents of the Mathare Valley of Nairobi. Spent time with the children who attended the school and visited with their families and others in the community.
What inspired you to go?
Aaron: By serving others, I have the tremendous privilege of reminding people of their immeasurable value - value that is not merit-based, nor is it attached to our race, gender, creed or bank account. My mission is to live out the words of Jesus, to love God and to love others.
Shanele: Mission trips help open your eyes to the needs of others outside the comforts of America, and provide the less privileged with things they would normally not have, like medical care, dental care, Bibles, toys and more. I was able to witness the power of Jesus through healing, kindness, labor, prayer and people.
1. Menu word
4. Cavities
8. Full house, e.g.
12. Well-put
13. Rephrase
14. Call from the bridge
15. Anonymous name
16. “Anything ___?”
17. Be judgmental
18. Capacitate
20. Book’s last word
22. Closing document
23. Castle dwellers
27. Pipe type
29. Clearly embarrassed
30. Kind of hour
31. Wasn’t straight
32. Palindromic turkey
33. Feature of some lions
34. Part of T.G.I.F.
35. Japanese bread?
36. Game played standing
37. Gas, to a Brit
39. Mention
40. Shade
41. Tied up
44. Bad driver’s shout
47. Mah-jongg piece
49. Time to look ahead
50. Bump from office
51. Abu Dhabi leader
52. Fall from grace
53. Pluck
54. To-do
55. Snaky
DOWN
1. Chinese gemstone
2. Aware of
3. Least shaky
4. Pie baker’s utensil
5. Went nowhere
6. Poetic contraction
7. Took the tiller
8. Tough
9. “That’s it!”
10. “___ so fast!”
11. Anil or woad
19. Bit of sweat
21. Doze
24. It may be heightened
25. Advanced
26. Understands
27. Radar screen image
28. Liturgy
29. Seek a seat
32. Strikes out
33. Better half
35. “___ rang?”
36. Sidetrack
38. Butler at Tara
39. Cuban singer Cruz
42. Like some grins
43. Disavow
44. Flight delayer, perhaps
45. Jointly owned, maybe
46. Industrial injury
48. Babysitter’s handful
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne
If you live in Hendricks County, chances are you’ve encountered Jordan and Stephanie Yant at one of their four businesses.
The couple opened their first Cabin Coffee Co. location in Avon in May of 2019. Then they partnered with another Hendricks County couple to open LumberjAXE in Plainfield last December.
This summer they took ownership of Danville’s beloved Danville Dips ice cream shop, and now they’re celebrating the grand opening of their second Cabin Coffee location in Plainfield.
For the past six months, faithful customers and soon-to-be customers have been
eventful. Not only did they adopt their 2.5-year-old son, JJ, in 2022, and 1-yearold daughter, Kacie, in 2023, but they also became the owners of four businesses across the county, and continue to inspire and bring unique offerings to the place where they’re raising their family.
The couple says it’s all about the connection to their community.
“I think it’s the people - the customers and our team,” Stephanie said. “We’ve had hundreds of people work with us over the past five years at Avon’s Cabin Coffee and I just love seeing the impact. Someone who worked with us when we first opened is now having her first baby. They become
original founders, Brad and Angie Barber, opened the first location in Clear Lake, Iowa. Unlike many chains, each shop is locally owned and operated, with a focus on community and family-friendly atmosphere. The Plainfield and Avon locations are currently only two of three in the state.
“A lot of coffee shops have transitioned to drive-through,” Jordan said. “We really care about creating a place people can gather. We do fresh coffee and roast it right on-site. The roasting room is in a visible area for everyone to see.”
Customers in a rush can also order through the Cabin Coffee app to have their drink ready to go when they walk in the door.
In addition to their fresh coffee selection, including their signature White Coffee drinks, Cabin Coffee offers a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwicheseverything from the Southwest Breakfast
Wrap to the Chicken Bacon Ranch, and even the kids (and adults) Mac & Cheese.
“We serve a good variety,” said Jordan. “Whether you’re looking for a great cup of coffee, a soup and sandwich, or breakfast, we have something for you.”
In addition, fans can pick up Cabin Coffee merchandise, or their favorite freshly
roasted coffee by the pound.
Back in 2019, both Jordan and Stephanie attended training in the original Iowa coffee shop. However, Jordan says it’s unlikely you’ll see him making coffee. They each have their own unique skill set, and it just so happens to create the perfect team.
“I spend a lot of time looking for locations
in Hendricks County,” Jordan said. “We want to be in the path of progress, and when I found this spot in Plainfield it was a destination. There’s connectivity in a walkable area. It was perfect.”
The Plainfield location on Vandalia Boulevard includes outdoor seating and sits right off of the Vandalia Trail, making it the perfect pit stop for cyclists, walkers and runners. The new building also includes a meeting room for organizations, large groups and businesses.
Though we know Jordan won’t be roasting the coffee, that training in Iowa does come in handy in many ways. For example, the opening of their second Cabin Coffee location is going to be that much easier, since many on the team already know the ropes.
“The chaos seems to come in waves,” Jordan said. “We have such a great leadership team who has enabled us to do this. This time around we’re very confident, because we have a team in Avon who has been trained and has years of experience.”
Stephanie is a businesswoman at heart. “As a teen I started at Chick-fil-A,” she said. “I loved that job and I went to college for business. It was always my dream to own my own restaurant or coffee shop. I just didn’t know it would look like this. Jordan was always supportive and we found Cabin Coffee a few years into our marriage.”
She can name several young people who have worked at Cabin Coffee, gone to college, and used what they’ve learned to build a future for themselves.
“I think one out of 50 teens who work with us might experience what I did and want to take this further,” she said. “We want people to leave better than they were when they started. For some, this will turn into a career.”
Not only are they hoping to impact employees, but they hope to impact the customer as well, by creating a great start to the day or the perfect spot to meet a friend for lunch.
“I always say the rewarding part of our industry is it’s easy to make people happy,” Stephanie said. “What’s easier than handing someone a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone? We love Hendricks County and we want to bring something to the community that it doesn’t currently have.”
From the get-go, the Yants have always planned to open multiple Cabin Coffee sites in their favorite county, but for now they can’t speak to future business. The current
plan is to settle in with the four businesses they have at the moment, with an emphasis on getting the Plainfield Cabin Coffee location running smoothly.
Who knows? They might be raising two future business managers or baristas.
For more on Cabin Coffee Co., go to cabincoffeecompany.com.