Hamilton County Business Magazine April/May 2012

Focus: Health and Wellness

April • May 2012

The Wright Brothers Band Still Rockin’ at 40

Harold Kaiser Recognized for Lifetime Achievement

Whistleblowing is Good for Business

Blu Moon Café

(L to R) Keith Claghorn, Bryan Chrisman, Emily Gosser, Tom Wright, Lauren Bower, Tim Wright, John McDowell, Frank Bradford

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Entrepreneur

Ethics

Guest Column

Management

Dining Out

The Pitch-In

Chamber Pages

Hamilton County History

Business Resource Directory

Feat

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12 Wright Brothers

16 Free Clinics

Harold Kaiser receives the Carmel Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor as Mayor Brainardholds the award.

Harold Kaiser1 4Phot

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Hamilton County Business Magazine/April • May 2012 5

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Subscription $20/yearTo subscribe or advertise, contact Mike Corbett at

[email protected] 2012 Hamilton County Media Group.

All rights reserved.

Creative DirectorMelanie Malone ~ [email protected]

CorrespondentsRobert Annis ~ [email protected]

Deb Buehler ~ [email protected] Curts ~ [email protected]

Rosalyn Demaree ~ [email protected] Held ~ [email protected]

Chris Owens ~ [email protected]

w w w. h a m i l to n co u n t y b u s i n e s s . co mPublished six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group

PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 • 317-774-7747

Editor/PublisherMike Corbett ~ [email protected]

ContributorsEmmett Dulaney DBA ~ [email protected]

Chris Gilmer ~ [email protected] Heighway ~ [email protected]

Tiffany Lunsford ~ [email protected] Thompson ~ [email protected]

Dr. Charles Waldo ~ [email protected] J. Wilhelm PhD ~ [email protected]

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Editor and Publisher


Letter from the Editor/April/May 2012

Mike CorbettEditor and Publisher

When Harold Kaiser was growing up in Cicero, there actually was a Red Bridge there. Today there’s a park named after the Red Bridge but Morse Lake inundated the creek so the bridge is gone. Eventually Harold was gone as well…moved south to Carmel where he opened a real estate business. Today Kaiser Land Company signs are planted on empty lots throughout the county.

This magazine wasn’t more than a few issues old when I received a voice mail from Harold about a subscription. My circulation strategy is to distrib-ute to business people as a benefit of belonging to your local chamber, so I wasn’t receiving a lot of subscription inquiries. Although Harold realized he received a copy at the office, he wanted his own delivered to his home.

This was a few years ago when the recession was just taking hold and ev-erybody was cutting back. Harold could have saved $20 and read the office copy but he chose to support a fledging business with his subscription. That’s the kind of gesture that sticks with you and it is why I wasn’t surprised at all when the Carmel Chamber decided to name its lifetime achievement award after Harold Kaiser. We are honored to offer a profile of Harold in this edi-tion. I am impressed by his humility and unassuming manner. I believe he sets an example for us all in the way he conducts his life and his business.

Still Rockin’I’ll bet a good portion of us dreamed of being rock stars at some point dur-ing our high school years. I know my friends and I did as we set up garage bands and tried to duplicate the sound of our favorite rockers. It’s shortly after graduation when most of realize the market for our particular sound isn’t quite large enough to generate the funds to pay a mortgage, and we end up pursuing more traditional careers.

Which is what makes the story of the Wright Brothers Band remarkable. They actually did find the right sound to sustain a career in rock and roll music, and have been at it for forty years now. Deb Buehler profiles this Hamilton County-based musical ensemble that has managed to make a living in a very challenging business.

Sales InspirationOne of my favorite sayings is: “nothing happens until someone sells some-thing.” Salespeople have taken a beating in this tough economy and (being a salesperson myself) I’m always open to a good pep talk. Read Tiffany Lunsford’s column and go get em’!

There’s lots more great reading here…enjoy it.

See you around the county…


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Emmett Dulaney

Entrepreneur

Five Important Elements of a Business PlanThese nuts and bolts will keep your business focused

I don’t think much of texts that tell you exactly how to write a business plan and walk you through the process step by step. I believe every plan, just as every business venture, should be unique so there isn’t one cookie-cutter approach. As long as it starts with an executive summary and ends with a set of financials, the author of what’s written between should not have to follow a scripted formula any more than a novelist has to write the exact same thing between “It was a dark and stormy night” and “The end.”

That said, I recently came across a booklet which deviates from this approach only slightly but has elements in it that I really like. The Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans by Michael H. Morris can be found for free online from a number of sites.

My favorite part is the “Forty Issues to Die For.” Here, forty questions/topics/concerns (with a great deal of repetition between them) are presented as items to think through and address somewhere in your plan. Five stand out from the others and are worth dwelling on.

Whenever you hear of “unmet need” you have to wonder what the customer is spending their money on right now. Why is there an opportunity out there that no one else has chosen to fill and how long will it be before someone else does fill it? With legal protection in the form of patents, you can make a case that the window can stay open for quite a while. Barring that protection, you have to entertain the scenario that those currently filling the need will adapt to offer similar products/services to what you are propos-ing once the opportunity is recognized. Develop a simple model of customer buying behavior for this product or service. How long is the buying process? Who is the decision-maker? Why do they buy? It is a high or low involvement purchase? How loyal are customers to exist-ing vendors/products?A diagram of the customer’s buying pro-cess from start to finish is invaluable for it

Develop a diagram of the value-added chain and the approximate number of firms at each level, and indicate the proportion that are large firms or chains.There are two reasons why I like this one. The first is that it is indeed important to be able to identify the value chain and know who adds what where. The second is that thinking visually – developing dia-grams, charts, tables, etc. – often makes it much easier for you to be able to explain it to an investor or anyone else. No reader wants to read three pages of text explain-ing a value chain if you can do so with a diagram. The same can be said for many other sections of the plan as well.

Identify at least three ways that companies are differentiating themselves in this industry.If the only answer you can come up with is price, you’re in a market where profits either don’t exist or won’t exist for long. Ideally, you can easily identify three differentiators between competitors as well as your own. While you’re at, name the first three customers who will buy from you and why. This not only proves that you know the market but that your deviations from what is currently there are wanted.

What is the set of forces creat-ing the opportunity? What is the likely window of opportunity?

If your only differ-entiator is price, you’re in a market where prof-its either don’t exist or won’t exist for long.

To further interest in entrepreneur-ship, Anderson University is hosting its fourth camp for high school juniors and seniors from June 18th-21st. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. More information at: http://www.EntrepreneurshipCamp.com.


Emmett Dulaney teaches entrepreneurship and business at Anderson University.

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can highlight areas where you excel or are weak. The diagram should show how the customer will learn of your product (web-site, friend, ad campaign), who they will consult with before making a purchase (parent, spouse, boss), how they will pay (charge card, purchase order, cash), how you will handle returns (online, in person), and so on. This topic crosses two sections of most plans – operations and marketing – and thus falls through the cracks of most.

Have you developed an integrated communications mix that matches your selling process to the customer’s buying process? Summarize the company’s com-plete mix of customer commu-nications, including personal sell-ing, advertising, sales promotion and publicity. Explain how they will be coordinated and managed as a mix.All too often, the customer receives mixed messages. A coupon says something on it, but the website says something a bit different, and the company representative is contradicting the others. This inconsis-tency leads to confusion and uncertainty about whether or not you really know what you’re doing. Sometimes, you can’t help but have communication slip-ups in the real world, but there is no excuse for not being able to put on paper a plan for keeping them to a minimum. Having a documented plan in place shows that you are aware of the possibility of the prob-lem, the seriousness of it, and the need to address it.

The answers to these five questions will help solidify a business plan, and help keep the business focused and on track. That makes The Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans worth reading, no matter how one feels about formulaic approaches.


most common detection method, fol-lowed by management review and internal audit. This is compelling enough reason to encourage whistleblowing, yet it is shock-ing how it is often perceived and treated in business settings.

A 2011 National Business Ethics Survey revealed that nearly half of U.S. employees observed a violation of the law or ethics standards at work. Among those who re-ported the misconduct, 22% said that they experienced some form of retaliation, like exclusion from decision and work activity by supervisors or managers, verbal abuse by supervisors, being passed up for promo-tions, and physical and psychological ha-rassment. When all employees were asked whether they could question management without fear of retaliation, 19% said it was not safe to do so.

Business owners and managers need to take heed of these statistics and focus attention on implementing non-retaliatory fraud reporting systems. The economic advan-tages are obvious given the two reports cited above, and the law also supports such programs. The revised Federal Sentenc-ing Guidelines for Organizations (FSGO)

stipulate that all organizations should have a formal system for employees to anony-mously report potential criminal conduct without fear of retribution.

In my business ethics courses I use a starter activity on the topic of whistleblow-ers. Each student writes on an index card the first thought that comes to mind whenthey see the word “whistleblower.” Invari-ably the majority of responses are negative, such as “tattle-tail,” “rat,” “fink,” and “spy.” There are usually a few responses such as “truth,” “moral,” and “good,” but they are always a minority.

We have in our cultural DNA revulsion to the notion of our peers or colleagues “telling on” us to a superior authority. This revulsion is due to a misplaced loyalty to protect our friends or our colleagues from possible retribution. Empathy also plays a role because we do not want to be informed upon if we misbehave ourselves. We therefore feel guilty when we think about informing on another. But is this revulsion justifiable in a business setting where fraud and theft can cost businesses major monetary and reputational losses? I think we should encourage and facilitate whistleblowing in our organizations.

The Economic ArgumentAccording to the Association of Certi-fied Fraud Examiners, theft of money and

tangible assets is the most common form of fraud, representing 90% of the cases and causing a median loss of $135,000. The study determined that tips were by far the

Your whistleblower policy should be written into an organizational code of ethics, and employees at all levels need to be trained to use it. While examples of whistleblower policies can be found online and through many trade and industry associations, the components are quite straightforward:

IntroductionArticulates the importance of the whistle-blower policy, how it fits with the code of ethics, its applicability to all levels of per-sonnel, and its support at the highest level of the organization.

Reporting ChannelsAlthough an employee’s supervisor may be the obvious first choice, anonymous alternatives should be offered in case the supervisors are perceived to be involved and, more importantly, when employees are fearful of reporting at all. Open-door policies to higher authorities are essential. Hotlines (voice and online) are very helpful as alternate reporting channels.

Feedback to Reporting EmployeeThe Compliance Officer must ensure that all complaints are given expedient at-tention and that the reporting employee is given prompt and regular feedback regarding the disposition of the case and any pending action.

No RetaliationA clear statement about the rights and pro-tections afforded the whistleblower needs to be made explicit. The policy should encourage employees to report violations internally to help preclude external report-ing (such as to legal authorities or news me-

“Whistleblower” is not a ‘dirty’ word!Your code of ethics should encourage it

Bill Wilhelm

Ethics

Tips are by far the most common method of detecting fraud...


Dr. William J. Wilhelm teaches business ethics and social responsibility management courses at the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University, Reach him at [email protected].

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dia), which can prove more detrimental to the organization than if reported internally at the outset.

Compliance OfficerCompliance Officers, by directive under FSGO, must have direct access to the high-est authority in the organization, such as the audit committee of the Board of Direc-tors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Compliance Officer is often the chair of the audit committee.

Reporting in Good FaithIndividuals making knowingly false or malicious claims are severely detrimental to the integrity and morale in an organization, and such acts must in themselves be identi-fied as violations of the code of ethics.

Anonymity and ConfidentialityEmployees who report suspected viola-tions directly to their supervisors or to another manager with an open-door policy cannot be guaranteed anonymity. They can, however, be assured of confidentiality. Revealing a reporting employee’s identity without that employee’s knowledge and permission should itself be a violation of the code of ethics. It can lead to retaliation on the whistleblower, which has resulted in innumerable lawsuits. A thorough investi-gation often requires confidentiality.

Incorporating a whistleblower policy into your code of ethics will uphold the universal personal right to freedom of conscience. This freedom, articulated in U.S. organizational law as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ensures employees the right to act on infor-mation that is contrary to good conscience and accepted practices of moral behavior. This right, when articulated into organiza-tional codes of ethics and enforced at all levels in the organization, can prove to be monetarily and morally beneficial to any size organization.

perform their first night for the person in charge of hiring bands for all 14 Ramada Inn show rooms.

He hired The Wright Brothers Overland Stage Co. on the spot for all of the Ramada Inns. They were officially a road band.

“During the first five years, Ron Perry was a marketing genius,” Tom said. “It was unbelievable.” It was Perry’s idea to buy a truck for hauling all of the band’s equip-ment. He had the truck’s sides painted with the band name and a giant stage coach. Parked in front of every early venue across the country, the truck brought people in to hear the group play.


om and Tim Wright grew up with music. Their parents Connie and Bill both played instruments (the piano and guitar respec-tively) and the family sang and performed together in church.

Bill was a survey crew engineer who helped lay out I-465. In 1967, as he became more involved with the highway and bridge con-struction he moved his family to Fishers.

Tom, the oldest of the Wright children, began his adult career in 1971 by perform-ing with friend Don Larson. The duo called themselves “Synergy” and played regularly at the Bavarian Alpine Inn near the India-napolis Airport and at a new north hotspot – the Stable Innfluence.

While Tim was busy finishing high school, Tom was teaching for Hamilton Southeastern and perform-ing with Syn-ergy. By 1972, he and Don asked Tim to join them. At the time,

inns were the place to play – Anderson’s Innterurban, and the State of Inndiana among others.

Not long after, they were approached by entrepreneur Ron Perry who saw their potential and suggested they put together an act. With Perry’s vision and marketing expertise it was easy to consider how they might really pursue a band career.

Tom said his parents were involved in early conversations. After all, the group would need to borrow money to move forward. “We were able to borrow money based on our relationship with a banker who loved the band,” he said. “We borrowed based on a stack of contracts. That’s all.”

After they decided to go for it, the band went to Kokomo for three weeks where they put their act together. Tom explained that they assembled suits and equipment and learned how to perform. By the time they returned to Hamilton County they had become the Wright Brothers Overland Stage Company.

A big break Not long after starting the band, a Ramada Inn opened on west 38th street with a restaurant called The Hanger. Hired as the opening act, the band happened to

By Deb Buehler

T

The Wright Stuff

January 1983

Career HighlightsPerformances with:Dolly Parton Bob Hope Hee Haw Grand Ole’ Opry Dallas, Indianapolis and Minneapolis Symphony Orchestras

And at these venues:Clowes Hall Starlight Musicals Emens AuditoriumFine hotels including the Bonaventure in LA, the Carlton Dinner Theater in Minneapolis and the Greenbrier in West Virginia

Tom Wright and Don Larson 1970 -71 Tim Wright, Karl Hinkle, Tom Wright 1982--83Wright Brothers Overland Stage Co. 1973Tim Wright, Steve Walker, Tom Wright, John McDowell 1986 - 87

Early special effects The Wright Brothers Overland Stage Co. became known for a signature piece the band performed at the end of every show. The song Dawson and the Rainmaker had extravagant special affects for the ‘70s – the stage rocked by a thunderstorm rolling in. People may not have remembered the name of the band – but they did remember the music and special effects!

13Hamilton County Business Magazine/April • May 2012

time, the brothers found that the business of being a band involvedlots of expenses. But they were making a living in their dream jobs: performing full time without having to work day jobs.

“Nobody did this like we did,” Tom said. “With the truck and all our gear we were ahead of the game before we even struck a chord.”

And, though special bonds are common among band members, Tim feels the Wright Brothers bond was unique: “I think that treating everyone as an equal, and not just “hired sidemen” has been one of the ingredients that has al-lowed us to survive this long as a band.”

Slowly the music industry began to change; during the ‘80’s major show rooms where bands performed were replaced by discos and comedy clubs. In the midst of chang-ing music trends they still enjoyed surpris-ing opportunities. 1987 brought the invita-tion for a cameo appearance as a band in a bar scene in the movie Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

The band spent the 80’s in Nashville, seek-ing that big break, but although they got close, they never did record a hit record. Says Tim, “That is when we chose to get off the road. With no records on the radio, there was no reason to be away from our families 265 days a year any longer.”

All of the changes brought challenges and opportunities for each band member. To-day both Tom and Tim have solo careers. You may find Tom performing at Jazz Squared in Noblesville on a summer night

or Tim as a part of a bluegrass trio.

40 years and counting “The years have passed so fast,” ex-

claimed Tom. “I know its cliché to say, but it’s true. When we get together now, we still act like the boys we were. We tease and call each other the same nicknames.”

He went on to say that Hamilton County and Carmel have been good friends to the Wright Brothers. Hamilton County has been home, refuge and launching pad for their careers in music. “Starting at Steckley’s Old House to playing at Carmel Fest to playing for a sold out house at the Palladium and being Grand Marshals of the 4th of July Parade in 2011, Hamilton County has been home.”

And Tim has no regrets. “We chose to enter a field that is pretty much a gamble: no union guarantees, no pension plans, no medical insurance, no golden umbrella - just your own determination to make it where few succeed in a big way. We’ve been able to make a living and provide for our families just because we love to play those guitars and sing songs. That is a certain kind of success that I may not be totally content with, but very thankful for. So, I continue to go to Nashville, recording with session players there and writing songs that may one day just complete the story - a hit song on the radio.” v

With a growing following, things happened quickly. One of the band’s first big concerts was at Emens Auditorium in Muncie. It was followed by college campuses includ-ing a performance with Bob Hope at Mis-sissippi State in 1974.

Over the early years band members came and went including Don Larson, Karl Hinkle and John McDowell. The Wright brothers remained the constant of the band until they broke up in 1977.

Changes bring new opportunities Five months after closing out The Wright Brothers Overland Stage Co., Tom and Tim joined forces again with Karl Hinkle and started playing under the name Wright Brothers in the spring of ’78. Later John McDowell rejoined and has now been the with the band for 32 of their 40 years.

Business opportunities for bands were growing across the country; soon the Wright Brothers were being booked in hotels and casinos with large show rooms. From Opryland Hotel to Lake Tahoe to the Bonaventure in LA to the Carlton Dinner Theater in Minneapolis, the group started wintering away from Indiana.

“We were only home about three months a year,” Tom explained. “It took a toll on everyone to be gone that much. When we were home there were lots of things to do.” The group’s home base continued to be Hamilton County though – it was an easy place to travel in and out of, and made sense to all of the members.

Music as business The challenges of working in the music industry were many. In addition to being away from their families for extend-ed peri-ods of

Left to Right - John McDowell, Tom Wright, Ron Perry, Tim Wrightfront - Steve Walker, Rex Thomas - 1975

Early success permitted the Wright Brothers Overland Stage Company to purchase advanced musical equipment and a promotional truck, photographed here in the early 70s in the desert near Tucson, AZ

I


Profile: Harold Kaiser

One of a Kind

Carmel Chamber names its Lifetime Achievement Award for Harold Kaiser

By Jeff Curts

photos by Mark Lee

Harold admitted he was shocked and “almost had a heart attack” when presented with the recent award in a ceremony so secretive that his wife and daughter-in-law didn’t attend, so as not to tip off the surprise.

Asked about the growth of Carmel, Harold’s bullish on the development, he in part, helped to create. “It’s wonderful. The leadership has made us prominent in the world with the arts center. The only downside is traffic. It takes longer to get around.” He chuckled about a recent complaint regarding the congestion

when traveling with friends. “They said to me, Realtors started the whole thing.” Along the same lines, Kaiser supports the idea of implementing mass transit, but cautions that Carmel needs to keep its citizens shopping local to support home-grown merchants.

The Early YearsKaiser began his decades long real estate career innocently enough. After finishing high school and working in a Noblesville bank, he served in World War 2. Upon returning, he took a job in Indianapolis where he became acquaint-ed with a co-worker who dabbled in real estate on the side. Fascinated with the industry he describes as “a people business” and knowing he wanted to oper-ate his own company, Harold devised a plan to make his dreams a reality. He accepted a part-time position as a rural mail carrier to increase his knowledge of the area and used his spare time to pursue his real estate license, which he obtained in 1955.

Harold admitted he was shocked and “almost had a heart attack” when presented with the recent award in a ceremony so secretive that his wife and daughter-in-law didn’t attend, so as not to tip off the surprise.

Asked about the growth of Carmel, Harold’s bullish on the development, he in part, helped to create. “It’s wonderful. The leadership has made us prominent in the world with the arts center. The only downside is traffic. It takes longer to get around.” He chuckled about a recent complaint regarding the congestion

when traveling with friends. “They said to me, Realtors started the whole thing.” Along the same lines, Kaiser supports the idea of implementing mass transit, but cautions that Carmel needs to keep its citizens shopping local to support home-grown merchants.

The Early YearsKaiser began his decades long real estate career innocently enough. After finishing high school and working in a Noblesville bank, he served in World War 2. Upon returning, he took a job in Indianapolis where he became acquaint-ed with a co-worker who dabbled in real estate on the side. Fascinated with the industry he describes as “a people business” and knowing he wanted to oper-ate his own company, Harold devised a plan to make his dreams a reality. He accepted a part-time position as a rural mail carrier to increase his knowledge of the area and used his spare time to pursue his real estate license, which he obtained in 1955.

It seems like something out of a movie or a fictional novel. Yet, the real-life story of Harold Kaiser is very real, balanc-ing a life filled with both service to the community and his fellow man.

Feted recently by the Carmel Chamber of Commerce with a Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor, Kaiser reflected on his wide-ranging real estate career that helped transform Carmel from a sleepy, non-descript town to a bustling metropolis. He recalled earlier attempts to form a chamber in the early 60’s with a group of Carmel business associates when the community’s population hovered slightly above 1,000. As the organizers approached area merchants, Kaiser said they were heartily rebuffed. “Of the 10-12 businesses we spoke with, they all told us they had enough business and didn’t need a chamber.”

Not one to easily give up on a good idea, Kaiser and his group persevered, officially launching the organization in 1970 when the city’s population had swelled to 6,500. Harold served as a board member and treasurer for many years, beginning his 41-year association with the chamber. His selfless attitude prevented him from serving as President, as he wintered in Florida and didn’t want to shirk the responsibility of being available on a full-time basis to members and associates. At 91, he regularly and faithfully attends the monthly meetings, though he admits the faces are becoming “less familiar.”

It seems like something out of a movie or a fictional novel. Yet, the real-life story of Harold Kaiser is very real, balanc-ing a life filled with both service to the community and his fellow man.

Feted recently by the Carmel Chamber of Commerce with a Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor, Kaiser reflected on his wide-ranging real estate career that helped transform Carmel from a sleepy, non-descript town to a bustling metropolis. He recalled earlier attempts to form a chamber in the early 60’s with a group of Carmel business associates when the community’s population hovered slightly above 1,000. As the organizers approached area merchants, Kaiser said they were heartily rebuffed. “Of the 10-12 businesses we spoke with, they all told us they had enough business and didn’t need a chamber.”

Not one to easily give up on a good idea, Kaiser and his group persevered, officially launching the organization in 1970 when the city’s population had swelled to 6,500. Harold served as a board member and treasurer for many years, beginning his 41-year association with the chamber. His selfless attitude prevented him from serving as President, as he wintered in Florida and didn’t want to shirk the responsibility of being available on a full-time basis to members and associates. At 91, he regularly and faithfully attends the monthly meetings, though he admits the faces are becoming “less familiar.”


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With the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Harold opened Kaiser Real Estate in 1960 with a clear vision to provide professional real estate services in the growing Carmel and Hamilton County community. Located at the corner of Range Line Rd. and Main Street, he remained there for 25 years until a lack of available parking necessitated a move. Continuing his civic involvement, he also helped create the Hamilton County Realtors Association, where he served as the group’s first chair and later was named “Realtor of the Year.” Harold ran the business until turn-ing things over to son Craig in the early 80’s. The Kaiser family tradition still continues today as Coldwell Banker Kaiser consistently ranks near the top of residential real estate agencies each year in the Indianapolis and Carmel area.

As father and son shared a moment together in the offices recently, it was evident there was mutual respect and admiration. “Dad has always led by example,” offered Craig. “Active in the church, active in the commu-nity, and active in business was the way he

did things, so I learned early on the proper way to conduct myself. People were always telling me things my dad was doing, and it made me proud. He cut a path for others to follow, yet always kept his ethics and did things the right way.” For his part, Harold says Craig, who upon graduation from Butler changed his mind from pursuing a law career to joining the family business “has taken the company to heights I had never foreseen.”

A Community ManBut career success alone doesn’t define Harold Kaiser. He believes in giving back to the community. For 25 years, he was a fixture at the information desk at Carmel’s St. Vincent Hospital, a role he cherished and approached with the same dedication as the real estate business. A self-described “people person” who loves to talk, he loved meeting and talking with new people and the variety

of the position. “It was something different each day,” he stated fondly. Harold also found time to be involved with other organiza-tions, including the Kiwanis, Carmel Friends Church, and the Masonic Temple.

When he isn’t tending to business or donat-ing his time to a good cause, Harold and his wife of 70 years, Ermina, have enjoyed traveling the world, especially on cruise ships. The Kaisers were once away for 55 days. He’s finally decided to slow down and cut back on some of his extra-curricular activities. The pace is slower, and the days are spent visiting with family and friends, as well as an occasional visit to the office and the monthly chamber meetings.

Looking back, for someone who grew up in the midst of the Great Depression, Kaiser proudly states, “it’s been a wonderful life.” v

With son, Craig

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June • July 2011/Hamilton County Business Magazine16 April • May 2012/Hamilton County Business Magazine16

by Rosalyn Demareephotos by Mark Lee

Focus: Health and Wellness

When Health Care is out of Reach

Hope Clinic, Cicero

Heart and Soul Clinic, Westfield

Trinity Clinic, Carmel

Hamilton County’s free clinics are so busy they struggle to close at the end of the day due to the number of patients needing care.

Trinity Free Clinic in Carmel, Hope Fam-ily Care Center in Cicero, and Heart and Soul Clinic in Westfield saw around 4,200 patients last year. They were people in pain from acute conditions − sore throats, infec-tions, injuries − and a chronic problem: no health insurance.

Demand is sure to grow.

“The majority of people we saw at first were from a cycle of poverty,” said Maggie Charnoski, director of Trinity, open since October 2000 when it saw 500-plus patients in the first 18 months. “Now the majority are the working poor, people who never before

had access to free or reduced care. They ran businesses and had staffs.”

It’s humbling for people to admit they can’t afford health care.

Patients’ appreciation is equally humbling to the mostly volunteer staffs. An unemployed couple needing physicals for job applica-tions, for instance, donated $15 a month to Trinity for about eight months after they started working.

“Patients are so grateful we’re here,” said Sandy Kirsch, Heart and Soul president and executive director. She recalls one turned away by 22 doctors who wouldn’t give her an appointment because she was on Medicaid.

“And that’s what’s going to happen more,” Kirsch predicted. “Medicaid doesn’t pay doctors enough to cover the costs.”

The number of patients Hope saw in January and February this year tripled the number seen the first two months of 2011. Despite the demand, each clinic wants to help more people.

Free clinics fill prescription for county’s uninsured

The majority (of the people we see) are the working poor, people who never before had to access free or reduced care. - Maggie Charnoski, Executive Director, Trinity Free Clinic


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Each wants more help, too. Including those who do clerical and maintenance jobs, Heart and Soul and Hope have about 30 volunteers apiece. Trinity has more than 500, but with its specialty care for vision, podiatry and other practices, they are stretched to have enough. Particularly needed are Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and Russian translators.

Sandy Kirsch with patient Mike Thorburn, Heart and Soul Clinic

Making patients comfortable If your mental picture of a free clinic is a ramshackle building where clean needles and birth control are distributed, erase that 1960s image. These clinics are in attractive, comfortable buildings; their care mimics what primary care offices provide.

Hope and Heart and Soul resemble coun-try doctor offices. They’re in cottage-like homes that have converted living rooms to

Waiting Room, Heart and Soul Clinic

Exam room, Heart and Soul Clinic

Front Desk, Hope Clinic

Treating patient at Hope Clinic


reception areas, bedrooms to exam rooms. Furnishings are welcoming, a far cry from institutional.

For four years, Hope used Cicero Christian Church classrooms, moving exam tables in and desks out each time the clinic was open, said Mike Jenkins, board president. When it opened its own facility in 2010, a couple of full-time staff were hired.

Its nurse practitioner, volunteer nurses and doctor accept patients from any county. A $5 donation is requested, but no one is turned down and staff ensures that patients will have enough money for low-cost prescriptions before they make a donation. Through Reach Out and Read, every child leaves Hope with a book.

The newest clinic, Heart and Soul, has oper-ated from a city-owned building in Westfield since late 2009. Its birth came when Kirsch, an RN who had been working for a social ser-vices agency, “got a nagging feeling that God had something he wanted me to do.” Among the first patients was a man with diabetes. He’d not had his blood sugar tested for three years when he first appeared at the clinic.

Renovating the building that was slated to be razed was the biggest obstacle to opening. Volunteers came from as far as Brownsburg

to knock down walls, paint and tear out linoleum. An enclosed porch became a play room, and three exam rooms were created. As at Trinity, Heart and Soul doesn’t request a donation and limits its care to county residents. Patients are uninsured or pay such high deductibles they can’t afford visits for routine services like blood pressure checks.

Trinity opened in 2000 by using Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School classrooms. The first week, it had 15 patients. It later converted a convent into a standalone clinic, and last

Plaque outside front door, Trinity Free Clinic

Front Desk, Heart and Soul Clinic

Don’t miss the next generation of LPGA superstars in this inaugural tournament contested by 144 professional women golfers from around the world.

Visit MyMarshGolfClassic.com for volunteer opportunities, sponsorship, and tournament details.

Proceeds benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)

Experience the Excitement

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year relocated to a building it shares with a pantry. It has six medical exam rooms, six dental exam rooms, rooms for podiatry, vision and other specialty services, a chapel, and pharmacy. In 2011, it had more than 3,500 patient visits.

Funding is a constant challenge for all three clinics, which depend largely on business and personal contributions, foundation grants, and proceeds of fundraisers that include a 5K, a tea and fashion show,and a gift card program. Hope and Trin-ity also get substantial support from their founding churches.

Expanded care planned While demand for medical care has been great, the call for dental care has been explo-sive. About half of Trinity’s patients last year required a dentist

“The need is astronomical,” said Joannie Kinnamon, a nurse who proposed starting the dental clinic. “People are in pain, and oral health affects the whole body.”

She tells the gruesome story of a man who developed an abscess. The hurt was so ex-cruciating, he used a toothpick to puncture his swollen, aching gums.

Kinnamon would like to see the dental clinic provide preventative care, but people in pain are the priority. Patients sometimes get turned away. “We can’t keep up with the need,” Kinnamon added.

Hope will open a dental clinic this year, and the folks at Trinity stand ready to refer patients to it.

Kokomo dentist Dr. Walter Brown has joined the Hope board and is guiding the dental practice’s development. He explains that furnishing a dental office requires a great deal of costly equipment that needs plumbing and other hook-ups. Cicero Chris-tian Church members skilled in trades are doing much of the work.

Jenkins explained that the church and its clinic have a goal to be open eight hours a day, five days a week with a full-time staff of nurse practitioners and assistants. It may take 10 years, he said, but “I think that we can meet the goal.”

For patients without insurance and in pain, that day can’t come soon enough. v

Finding free careThe county’s free clinics see patients on a first-come, first-served basis. They offer similar care to treat minor illnesses and non-emergency needs, including physicals. Heart and Soul plans to add vaccinations this year; they are available now at Hope and Trinity. Grants, donations and fundraisers support the clinics. For information, visit their websites.

Heart and Soul ClinicOpen 9 a.m.-noon, second and fourth Saturday of the month202 Penn St., Westfield(317) 804-5782 ~ www.HeartAndSoulClinic.org

Hope Family Care CenterOpen 9 a.m.-noon, first and third Saturday of the month270 W. Jackson St., Cicero(317) 984-3444 ~ www.HopeFamilyCare.org

Trinity Free ClinicOpen 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday. Call about specialty clinics for vision, foot, asthma/allergy and women’s health care. 1045 W. 146th St., Carmel(317) 819-0772 ~ www.TrinityFreeClinic.org

Mike Jenkins weighs in at Hope Clinic

Hope Clinic


the key to building a successful relationship. You never want price to be the deciding fac-tor. Instead learn how to sell value.

Flawless performance gains customer loyalty. Don’t step forward with the mind set, “just sell it and figure it out later”. In today’s economy and business environment the details count. Your goal should not be to make a quick buck, but to gain customer loyalty. Sales associates have a tendency to want to over promise and under deliver. Out of desperation, we want to make false guar-antees. We want to say or do anything to get the “pink inked.” Not only is this damaging to your reputation, but when it comes time to renew or purchase new, those clients will not return to you based on their experience.

Sell yourself as well as your product or ser-vice. Know that the customer not only buys the product or service but they are buying you as the face of the company. Be hon-est and never sacrifice your integrity. Your character should not have a price tag! Keep this in mind: Do you want to have to hide in the local grocery store because you happen to bump into the owner of a company you failed to provide what you promised? In the past, we’ve always had to be concerned with news traveling fast by word of mouth. Today, we’ve added social media to the mix. If someone has a bad experience they instantly “post” about it in the height of their fury. No one, in any industry, can afford any type of negative impact. Also, do not sell a client and then disappear; that only gives the cus-tomer buyer’s remorse. Make sure you check in with them during and/or after the deliv-ery or installation. You want to continue to build that relationship. If you skip this step it’s like biting the hand that feeds you!

Maybe you’re the person who hates to be sold something. Maybe you’re the person that thinks sales might be your next job. Or maybe you’re the business owner trying to figure out the best way to guide your team. Regardless of your position or title, we are all aware of the sales stereotype: we are pushy, obnoxious, harassing, dishonest etc. Not all sales associates are evil people and I’m here to tell you that if you are in sales, you don’t have to be any of those things to win the race! While we face the constant pressure to stay on top of the mountain, there is always a time and place to step back and evaluate our methods. Here’s what I have found to be the foundation of a successful sales career. Take a dive into my perspective.

Position yourself as an expert and a consultant. Gain a deeper understanding of your prospect’s wants, needs, and concerns before trying to sell them anything. This gives your recommendation credibility. With this information you can build a custom

solution instead of a generic one. One size does not fit all! It’s easier to put your arm around someone and guide them than it is to push and pull them uphill. Regardless of the amount of money a person is spending, in this economy it is hard to part with. Be sensitive to that fact and know that trust is

Get creative and be passionate about what you can bring to the table. I try to remember that my position is what brings income into the business. Have pride in the thought of taking ownership. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Statistically, you will be rejected much more than you will actually gain a sale. If you need instant gratification, this is not the opportunity for you. Patience and persistence are two of the most valuable skills to learn. There is power in your atti-tude! It’s important to wear a thick skin and many hats! The best advice I’ve ever received pertaining to my career was to “listen to what they mean, not what they say.” This is especially useful when overcoming objec-tions. Everyone’s initial reaction is to say no. We’re taught to have the mindset to be skep-tical. It is so important to empower yourself with as many tools and skills as possible so that you can handle this delicate piece of the sales cycle.

Sales is not a true career opportunity un-less you truly embrace it. If you strive to be average, you most likely will not survive. Find what motivates you and force yourself to face it every day. For me, I am a visual person. So looking at my goal hanging on the wall daily is a constant reminder of what I need to accomplish and drives me to perform daily activities. Do what you need to do to keep yourself on target. There is a reason that sales is one of the most difficult careers to pursue but it is also one of the most rewarding opportunities. I hope some of my tips and tools are applicable and will help you advance your career to the next level. Happy Selling!

It All Starts with the SalespersonHere are five tips to ensure your sales process delivers results

Tiffany Lunsford

Guest Column

Tiffany Lunsford is a Xerox Account Associate at Indiana Business Solutions

If you need instant gratifica-tion, this is not the opportunity for you.


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Charles Waldo

Management

Do You Kaizen?Continuous Improvement can be your Competitive Advantage

I suspect that you have heard of the term “Kaizen.” But I also suspect you have but a passing acquaintance with its true mean-ing and underlying power.

I didn’t have a clue back in 1989 when “Joe” Maasumi slapped a copy of Kaizen: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success, by Masaaki Imai, on the table in front of me. Joe was the GM of a Japanese transplant, brought to Indiana to supply key elec-tronic components to Toyota’s Camry assembly plant in Georgetown, KY. I was reviewing the supervisory development training I had just done for Joe’s plant when he asked me to read the book and teach Kaizen to his associates. With that I was off and running.

Some people know Kaizen as “constant improvements,” “incremental improve-ments,” “operating lean,” and so on, but it’s more than that. It’s a single term that carries a lot of meaning when fully understood. Specifically, “Kaizen” defines improvements which: 1) Are very small and incremental2) Are derived and implemented by frontline workers or small teams3) Are applied just to the employee’s own work site

great ones, started to flow at once. Frankly, the supervisors and engineers had a harder time adjusting away from their traditional roles of being the “experts” and “bosses” to one of being “assistants to.” I found this phenomenon in virtually every company with which I later consulted. In some cases supervi-sors just couldn’t give up their control and tried to sabotage the new system. They weren’t around too long. I even had the president of a small company sabotage the effort because he felt he had all the brains and all he wanted from his workforce was their brawn. I didn’t stick around very long.

Twenty years ago most American firms aimed for big returns on each suggestion while most Japanese transplants focused on a constant stream of Kaizens….incre-mental changes and returns. Today, more U.S. organizations have gotten on board but I sense they still prefer swinging for the “home run” improvement while Toyota, Honda, and their suppliers plug along with a constant stream of “singles” which, over time, pile up.

The Payoff In terms of measureable, hard savings, “home runs” do generate much larger savings per adoption, perhaps 20 or 30 times as much as each adopted Kaizen. But the total number of measureable Kaizens adopted add up to overwhelm the “home runs” by 20 to 30 times overall. What doesn’t show up in the financials is the positive impact of “soft Kaizens” – those improvements related to safety, convenience, morale, fatigue, and so on that can’t be measured in dollars but

4) Cost very little or nothing to develop and implement5) Can be quickly tried out with little or no red tape6) Carry little risk (psychologically to the worker or financially to the company)7) Are done throughout the organization, not just in the manufacturing arm. Kaizen can be done in all types and sizes of organizations, for-profit and not-for-profit. The foundations for developing a successful Kaizen culture revolve around these beliefs:A) Everything the company does and produces can – and must – constantly change and improve if they are to stay competitiveB) Quality (delivering what the customer wants and expects) trumps Quantity; C) A bone-deep belief by managers that workers can and will come up with plenty of ideas for improvement if given the chance, training, tools, and rewardsD) Motivational rewards are much more psychological (recognition, “atta boys,” etc.) than financialE) The role of supervisors and engineers is to help workers develop and implement their ideas rather than impede themF) The improvement system must be easy to understand and implement.

As we implemented Kaizen, we found the front line workers, mostly women from nearby small towns and farms, got the message at once, loved the idea of having some control over their work place and process, and liked actually being listened to. The suggestions, and there were some

…the supervisors and engineers had a harder time adjusting away from their tradi-tional roles than the front line workers.


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common sense says they are good for workers and lead indirectly to higher quality and lower costs. The good firms I worked with, both Japanese and Ameri-can, regard these “soft” factors as just as important to contributing to overall qual-ity as “hard Kaizens.”

Space limits going any deeper here. If you want to learn more about the phi-losophy and practice of Kaizen, grab one of the many books available and start reading. A few suggestions are: Masaaki Imai’s Kaizen mentioned at the begin-ning of this article; How to do Kaizen, by Bunji Tozana and Norman Bodack; The Toyota Way by Jeffrey Likert; and Kaizen Teian 1 and 2 from Productivity Press. The Employee Involvement Association is a good source of experiences and ideas from American practitioners.

A WarningMany readers will find Kaizen intuitively appealing. But it’s a philosophical and cultural thing before a practice thing, often a major shift. Employees usually love Kaizen and jump in with both feet but it will be disasterville if management just gives lip service and really operates in its traditional bureaucratic or authoritar-ian ways.

Finally, Kaizen can’t start as a “program” since programs have beginnings and end-ings. Kaizen must become part of “what the organization is.” It is not easy. Those who initiate the Kaizen effort often move on or retire. If their replacements are not also of a Kaizen mind-set, the organiza-tion will over time revert to a traditional, bureaucratic or autocratic operating mode. I saw this happen at my first Kai-zen client when Joe headed back to Japan after three years and employees were averaging over 24 implemented Kaizens per worker per year. The #2 person, an American, took a job with another com-pany to start Kaizen there. His American replacement was promoted from within, knew and bought into Kaizen, and was ready to carry on. Unfortunately, Joe’s Japanese GM replacement was not a

plant manager started Kaizen at his new operation and I had the pleasure of pro-viding training assistance.

Do you want to try Kaizen? It takes com-mitted, tenacious, people-centered leader-ship. Do you have it? Only time and effort will tell. Good luck.

people person and the Kaizen culture began to peter out. Quality began to drop and product shipment dates began to be missed. Toyota soon pulled half their production and the decline in quality prevented the plant from picking up new business elsewhere.

Now the plant is closed and with it over 300 U.S. jobs are gone. The GM returned to Japan for early retirement. The former

Dr. Charles Waldo is a retired Professor of Marketing at Anderson University’s Falls School of Business


Dining by DesignBlu Moon Cafe

Dining Out

By Chris Owens

variety and fresh-ness. Two years ago, Pedcor, the developer of the Indiana Design Center, approached the Jordan’s and Blu Moon Café came to life. Brian and Shel-ley operated the two restaurants simulta-neously for almost a

year before moving to Carmel full time.

The Blu Moon Café concept differs a little from the original store. Where Noblesville was more of a family setting, Carmel is more of a contemporary place with a faster pace and different feel. The driving force behind both locations is a diverse menu with local food.

The move from Noblesville, where the couple lives, presented some challenges, but has accounted for growth and expansion from, in Shelley’s words “a one person shop” to a full winter staff of ten with potential additions this summer.

The menu has expanded as well. It is ever evolving, having recently been expanded with lunch options. Newer breakfast choices coming soon will feature as much local produce as possible. No dish, sandwich, or salad is permanent and all are subject to change if warranted by customer reaction or a new inspiration.

Blu Moon Café also offers catering. I attend-ed one of their catered events and ended up using them to cater an event of my own with outstanding reaction from our guests. Their services vary from event catering to an impressive lunch catering option perfect for an office appreciation lunch and more.

he Indiana Design Center is home to designers, artists, and by their own website’s description, “there’s inspiration around every corner.” I found myself there recently on a random Tuesday afternoon to talk with Shelley Jordan, co-owner and founder of Blu Moon Café. The Center’s only restaurant is housed on the south end of the building located on Range Line Road, within the Carmel Arts and Design District. In a building so full of creativity, ideas and activity, the café served as a nice reprieve during a crazy day as I enjoyed a cup of cof-fee, listening to Eric Clapton’s Third Degree playing through their speakers, while I worked away from the office.

Shelley and her husband Brian met in culi-nary school in Charleston, South Carolina. Their background is extensive in the food service industry and their training is very formal, both having graduated from John-son & Wales University. The couple’s career paths have taken them from high end din-ing and wineries to catering and restaurant sales through other various positions. When it came time to start their family, they landed in Noblesville seven years ago.

At that time they opened Logan Street Marketplace. That is where I first met Shel-ley and quickly became acquainted with their food. I was always impressed with the

The greatest compliment I could pay them is directly related to the quality and fresh-ness of the food they serve. It’s top of mind and they clearly get how important that is. In Shelley’s words “what sets us apart from every other restaurant is that every single thing is made in-house. All of our bread is made in-house. All of our desserts are made in-house. We make our mayonnaise and everything is made here. That’s our big-gest thing; I want to go as fresh as possible because that’s how we eat. I want to make sure everyone else that comes in enjoys that like we do.”

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the couple open a similar café elsewhere in the near future or maybe even a new concept of-fering the same level of service and same quality of food. Find Blu Moon Café online at blumooneats.com or look for pictures and menus on Facebook.

Edamame Salad

T

The Entrepreneurship Advancement Center is sponsoring its third annual Business Plan Competition. Registration deadline is April 16. More at www.goentrepreneurs.org.

A new trade group called the Technology Association of Hamilton County, is form-ing to help elevate technology’s presence in the marketplace and create opportunities to help member companies grow. Any business where technology is a vital part of its service or operating structure is welcome to join. More info: Jeff Burt, Hamilton County Alliance (317) 573-4950.

The Carmel Clay Histor-ical Society and the City of Carmel are hosting a Founders Day Dinner Gala April 13 at the Ritz Charles to celebrate the city’s 175th anniver-sary. Steve Inskeep, host of NPR’s program Morning Edition, and

Carmel High School grad, will be the guest speaker. More at www.carmel175.org.

Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a na-tional outplacement firm, reports 2011 was dismal year for start up businesses among unemployed managers and executives. A record low of about 3% of job seekers in that category started businesses last year, half the rate of even the dot.com bust in 2001. It blames the inactivity on a miserable business environment but sees promise in 2012.

CGC also notes that the just 7.5% of job seekers finding employment relocated for their new positions in the second half of 2011. That’s a near record low and half the normal rate during a healthy economy. The firm blames that on the still struggling housing market, as employees are unable to sell their undervalued homes and the labor market isn’t tight enough that new employ-ers are willing to cover the shortfall. Both findings are based on interviews with 3000 job seekers.

Governor Daniels is suggesting a strategy known as contractor financing that would speed up the construction of US31 in Hamilton County. The proposal would bundle the remaining work into one contract and accelerate construction so the project would be completed by the end of 2015, three years early.

St. Vincent Health was identified in the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: 15 Top Health Systems study as one of 15 best health systems in the nation, the only one in Indiana and the Midwest to be honored in the large health system group.

Legacy Fund announced the following board changes: Peggy Monson, Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, elected Board Chair; Corby Thompson, Thompson Land Company, elected Vice-Chair; Ann O’Hara, Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim elected Secretary; and Mike Daugherty, Key Private Bank, named Treasurer. Larry Sablosky, retiring chair, remains on the board as Past Chair.

The Town of Atlanta received a $600,000 Community Focus Fund grant for the instal-lation of a storm water system.

The City of Carmel released Carmel ‘round about right, a coffee table book about its growth and develop-ment. The book is available in book stores and at www.

carmelbook.com.

Hubbard and Cravens Coffee Company, The Bike Line and Jack & Jill Children’s Shoppe are opening in Carmel City Center. In the Arts and Design District, Atlas Fantasy Art House, a three-story art gallery specializing in Science Fiction and fantasy art opened on Main St. and Harrison Co, a store specializ-ing in fine jewelry opened in Sophia Square.


Notes from all over the county…Campbell Kyle Proffitt was selected as gen-eral counsel for the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), the quasi-governmental organization working on a mass transit plan.

Conner Station Pub and Eatery is opening in mid-April on the corner of Conner and 9th St. on Noblesville’s Square. HG Studio (hair stylist) is moving to Logan St. down-town from the Big Lots Plaza on Conner St.

The Fishers Chamber of Commerce presented the 10th Annual Pillar Awards. Business of the Year: St. Louis DeMontfort Catholic School Small Business of the Year: Express Employment Professionals Entrepreneurial Spirit: Herbal Art Employee of the Year: Jenny Bruce, Defur VoranLifetime Achievement Award: Bert Cook, Fishers Do-It Center

Carmel based Current Publishing is expanding its footprint to Boone County. Its weekly tabloid newspapers are mailed to households in Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville and Fishers in Hamilton County and will now also mail to Zionsville, for a total distri-bution of 104,339.

Save Our Veterans (SOV), a non-profit organization that helps homeless and unem-ployed veterans get a fresh start, is planning a Hamilton County Spring Fashion Show April 14. More a LocalSpringFashion.com

First Merchants Bank acquired the assets of SCB Bank of Shelby County after SCB was shut down by federal regulators. Its four loca-tions will become First Merchants Banks.

Westfield–based IMMI is expanding its Burrton, Kansas location, adding 30 jobs after the Collins Bus Co. agreed to make its SafeGuard XChange™ seats standard on all its School buses.

The Pitch-In

Steve Inskeep


Interview

Hamilton County Business Magazine: Regional collaboration is a big subject. How does it apply to the six chambers in Hamilton County?

Ted Abernathy: Both re-gionalism and collaborative leadership are big topics, especially in the economic development world. Some of the talk is driven by the need to look for new ideas

and tough times, but I think the main driver is the changing competitive environment that we are all facing.

The biggest topic among Americans today is the search for future jobs. Today, when companies are deciding where to stay, expand

or relocate the top factors they consider are not usually confined to a political boundary. Labor markets, infrastructure, supply chains, even the overall cost of doing business are re-gional in nature. So we know we need to work together, to collaborate, but we are all learning how best to do it. Groups like the chambers in Hamilton County, once they know they want to collaborate, have to decide on the what, and how, and the who. I plan to share some thoughts on what has worked in other places and where the prob-lems are hidden.

HCBM: I can see how the county would have more to offer than an individual commu-nity. Can you give me an example of problems that arise?

Abernathy: Lack of specific roles and unachievable expectations are usually two big ones.

HCBM: Can you give us an idea of what kind of expectations the individual communities could have if they took a regional approach?

Abernathy: Not until I do a little research…In general branding is easier, lobbying the state for priorities is easier and there can be efficiencies in service delivery.

HCBM: What are the biggest barriers to regional cooperation?

Abernathy: Usually resources and something specific to cooperate on. v

County-Wide Monthly Luncheon in AprilBy Mike Corbett

On April 18, all six Hamilton County Chambers of Commerce will hold the first ever county-wide luncheon at the Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel. The topic? Regional collaboration. I got a preview from our

presenter Ted Abernathy, Executive Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, a think tank that provides economic development research and advice for 13 Southern states.

April • May 2012/Hamilton County Business Magazine28carmelchamber.com 317.846.1049 21 S. Rangeline Rd., #300A Carmel

April & May Events

April 18: Monthly Luncheon - All Hamilton County Chambers 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Mansion at Oak Hill (details below)

April 26: Business After Hours - Joint Event w/Indy & Fishers 5 to 7 p.m. | Prairie View Golf Club

May 9: Monthly Luncheon 12 to 1:30 p.m. | The Fountains

May 10: Network Breakfast - All Hamilton County Chambers 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Bridgewater Club

May 10: Arrows Young Professionals After Hours Network 5 p.m. | Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

May 17: Arrows Young Professionals Lunch & Learn 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Location tba

April May

News & Updates

ADDBAC

American China Society of Indiana

Atlas Fantasy Art House

B&W Plumbing & Heating

Braden Business Systems

Carmel American Legion Post #155

Community Management Services Inc.

Construction Process Solutions Ltd.

Diabco Life Sciences LLC

Dreamtime Dental

Dunbar, Cook & Shepard P.C.

Environmental Laboratories, Inc.

Fetch! Pet Care

Finance Center Federal Credit Union

Home Services Unlimited/Etelcare

Hunter Law Office

ITEX in Indiana - The Cashless

Marketplace

Kohler Realty

ModSpace - Mobile & Modular

Office Rental

Mueller Consulting Group, Inc.

My Mobile Fans

Platinum Financial Recruiting

Scentsy Wickless -

Dianna Napariu

School of Rock

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Swan Software Solutions LLC

TechPro

The Local Eatery and Pub

The Next Step

TRIphase Technologies

ValuScript Pharmacy

Wednesday, April 18 | 12 to 1:30 p.m. Mansion at Oak Hill

New Carmel Chamber Members

Join the Carmel Chamber today and enjoy . . .

Access to informative speakers & educational programs Networking & promotional opportunities | Exclusive member referral service | Voice in business issues | YP Group

We’ve moved!

Interested in growing your business?

Our new address is . . .

21 S. Rangeline Road, Suite 300A | Carmel, IN 46032

Events are subject to change. Visit carmelchamber.com for updates and to register for events.

ValuScript Pharmacy

102 E. Carmel Dr.

The six Hamilton County Chambers welcome Ted Abernathy, Executive Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, to their first joint luncheon.

Abernathy will speak on collaborative efforts, global economic trends and changing leadership models. His 32-year economic development career has included work for cities, counties, regions and the private sector.

Chamber members and non-members are invited to attend. Space is limited, and reservations are required.

Reservations: 317.846.1049 or carmelchamber.com

Ribbon Cutting

All-County Chamber Luncheon New Members Welcomed at January Luncheon

(l. to r.)

David Bowers, Centier Bank

Sarah Reynolds, ITEX

Jenn Kampmeier, EventzPlus

Janet Pillsbury, My Toy Garden

$18 for members of any Hamilton County Chamber

$25 for non-members


EVENTS and NEW MEMBERS

www.FishersChamber.com 317.578.0700

APRIL11th/Wed Morning MotivatorNetworking and More Breakfast 8:00am-9:30am($10 pre-paid and pre-registration only)Hilton Garden Inn9785 North by Northeast Blvd.

12th/Thurs Navigating the Chamber(no fee; please RSVP)3:00pm-4:00pmInformational session for new members, and new and current contactsFishers Train Station11601 Municipal Dr.

13th/Fri Lunch and Learn 11:30am-1:00pm($29 members; $49 non-members)Motivational Leadership/Dale Carnegie TeamIndiana Tech, Fishers Campus10765 Lantern Rd.

16th/Mon Legislative Breakfast 7:30am-9:00am($15 members; $20 non-members)Mansion at Oak Hill5801 E. 116th St.SE corner of Hazel Dell Pkwy & 116th St.

18th/Wed Monthly Luncheon*All Hamilton County ChambersPresenter: Ted Abernathy“Economics and Competitiveness”($18 pre-paid members; $25 non-members)12:00pm-1:30pmMansion at Oak Hill5801 E. 116th St.SE corner of Hazel Dell Pkwy & 116th St.

25th/Wed Business After Hours(no fee)4:30pm-6:30pmStratosphere Quality, LLC12024 Exit Five Pkwy.

2012 CALENDAR of EVENTS

MAY10th/ThursLunch and Learn 11:30am-1:00pm($10 members; $15 non-members)Business ValuationCliftonLarsonAllenFishers Train Station11601 Municipal Dr.

10th/ThursNavigating the Chamber(no fee; please RSVP)3:00pm-4:00pmInformational session for new members, and new and current contactsFishers Train Station11601 Municipal Dr.

16th/WedMonthly Luncheon($20 pre-paid members; $25 non-members)11:30am-1:00pmClark Kellogg, Indiana PacersBasketball Analyst CBS SportsFORUM Conference Center11313 USA Pkwy.

17th/Thurs Spring FlingFishers & Noblesville Chambers(no fee)5:00pm-7:00pmLogan Street Signs1720 S. 10th St., Noblesville

23rd/Wed Business After Hours(no fee)4:30pm-6:30pmIU Health Saxony Hospital13000 E. 136th St. (I-69/Exit 10)

Welcome New Chamber Members

Mike GarveyBlue Key Technology

Brad KlineHaute Taste Catering

Jessica LyonsPinheads

Nick RobinsonBlue Key Technology

Gus RojasFive Star Catering

To take advantage ofcoupons and discountsvisit:www.FishersChamber.com/Coupons

*Pre-pay for lunch by 10:00am Friday prior to the luncheon for reduced price.

REGISTRATIONTo register, please visit: www.FishersChamber.com or call 317.578.0700.

Hannah JessDrury Suites

Lee ClouseCommunity Mgmt Svcs

Marcus ColsonInterface Financial Group

Shanna OhOld National Bank

Todd McBrideEvolution Business Solutions

Stephanie TorrThe Hagerman Group

John WrightMediaWright Photography

One small fee gets you the following:Spa Services and shoppingAll day beveragesLunch and dinnerRaffle prizesTake away gift

Ladies Day on the Links

Not interestedin playing golf

on June 1st?

How about a day just for you at the clubhouse.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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Upcoming Events!APRIL 2012Tuesday, April 10HNCC Luncheon ~ 11:30 amRed Bridge Park Community Building

Wednesday, April 18Joint Hamilton County Chamber Luncheon ~ 12:00 pm The Mansion at Oak Hill

HamiltonNorth Chamber

70 N. Byron StreetCicero, IN 46034

317-984-4079

MAY 2012Thursday, May 10All County Networking Breakfast ~ 7:30 amBridgewater Club

Thursday, May 17“Taste on the Lake” beer and wine tasting event ~ 6:00 - 9:00 pmHidden Bay Clubhouse, Cicero

VisalusShane Crabtree107 N. East StreetArcadia, IN 46030(317) 407-5508

a beer and wine tasting event featuring taste sampling of area restaurants/caterersThursday, May 17 ~ 6:00 - 9:00 pmHidden Bay Clubhouse, CiceroOpen to the publicCall the Chamber Office for $25 advance sale tickets

Tony Cook, Superintendent of Hamilton Heights School, addresses chamber members

Ivy Tech Corporate College - Business Spotlight for January

NEW MEMBERS

JANUARY CHAMBER LUNCHEoN

fEBRUARY CHAMBER LUNCHEoN

TASTE oN THE LAKE

Bruce Kettler (left) and Jan Henderson (right) of Beck’s Hybrids accept the Bell of Recognition from Carmen Clift, Ambassador Committee Chair

30 April • May 2012/Hamilton County Business Magazine

Chamber members learn more about the Chamber website

Miller’s Merry Manor Business Spotlight for February

Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting at Kid Again, Inc. children’s resale shopMembers of the Chamber’s Executive Board and Cicero Town Council help celebrate the opening with Jamie, Jennifer and Brandon Davis

GRAND oPENING RIBBoN CUTTING

Karl Fettig, US Architects, recently joined

the Chamber

NO

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Noblesville Chamber601 Conner Street

Noblesville, IN 46060317-773-0086

APRIL 2012 MAY 2012UPCOMING EVENTS!

May 10 – 7:30 a.m.Network Breakfast (All County)The Bridgewater Club

May 17 – 5:00 p.m.Business After HoursLogan Street Signs

May 22 – 11:30 a.m.Membership LuncheonHarbour Trees Golf Club

May 22 – 1:00 p.m.Chamber Golf OutingHarbour Trees Golf Club

April 12 – 4:30 p.m. Business After HoursThe Farmers Bank

April 18 – 12:00 p.m.Membership Luncheon (All County)The Mansion at Oak Hill

Dyane Roesler and Chris IronsHome Instead Senior Care

341 Logan Street, Suite L 100 Noblesville, IN

CoMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD WINNERS foR JANUARY AND fEBRUARY 2012

NEW MEMBERS

fEBRUARY Community Pride Award Winner Ginger’s Café1804 E. Conner St., Noblesville, INMikki Perrine, owner and operator of Ginger’s Café


JANUARY Community Pride Award WinnerReynolds farm Equipment, Inc.126th & S.R. 37, off I-69, NoblesvilleFamily Owned and Operated Since 1955Gary Reynolds, President

NEW EMPLoYEES AT THE NoBLESvILLE CHAMBER

Zachery Rennaker and Brian BarrettAutomated Payroll Services

10401 N. Meridian Indianapolis, IN 46240

Bill JohnstonHome Helpers

54 N. 9th Street, Suite 260

Noblesville, IN

Christopher Lingren Neverland Adventures

Travel, LLC10607 Sienna Drive

Noblesville, IN

Robynn WilsonStaples

16751 Clover Road Noblesville, IN

Scott Martin (not pictured)Meineke Car Care Center1395 S. 10th Street, Noblesville, IN

Cathy Berghoff and Alaina Shonkwiler have joined the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce office staff.

Cathy is the Member Services Coordinator and Alaina is the Program Coordinator.

“We are genuinely pleased to welcome both Cathy and Alaina in joining our Business Develop-ment Director, Mary Noble, and me to serve our Chamber membership. Both bring exceptional skills and experience to our staff and will assist us in enhancing programs and services to our

members,” said Chamber President and CEO Sharon McMahon.

Cathy joined the Chamber in October 2011. Alaina joined the Chamber in February 2012

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Sheridan Chamber407 S. Main Street

P.o. Box 202Sheridan, IN 46069

317-758-1311

APRILApril 26th: Member LuncheonSheridan Public Library Speaker: Susan Brooks, Candidate of Congressin Indiana’s 5th DistrictMembers $12Contact Patty Nicholas at 317-758-1311 to register

MAYMay 24th: Member LuncheonSheridan Public LibrarySpeaker: John Swisher, Chairman & CEO of JBS UnitedMembers $12Contact Patty Nicholas at 317-758-1311 to register

JUNEJune 28th: Member LuncheonSheridan Public Library Speaker: Mark LaBarr, Duke EnergyMembers $12Contact Patty Nicholas at 317-758-1311 to register

Save the DateJuly 11th: Annual Sheridan Chamberof Commerce Golf Outing.

Be sure to visit the Sheridan Chamber Website, www.sheridanchamber.org for information on all upcoming events!

The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce welcomed two guest speakers to February’s Member Luncheon: Kevin Jones, Business Advisor at the Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, and Cathy Langlois, Executive Director at the Entrepreneurship Advancement Center.

Jones provided some statistics regarding small businesses. He stated that 67% of all businesses are started without borrowing money (U.S. Department of Commerce). He also stated the 90% of businesses are started with less than $10,000 of capital (Inc. magazine). Jones went on to say the businesses tend to fail not specifically because

of money, but because of a lack of planning. He encouraged Chamber members who need help to go to www.isbdc.org to learn more, take an online business assessment and schedule an appointment with the Central SBCD office.

Langlois informed the Chamber about a loan program that is available to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and $1 million in revenue. The program called S.E.L.F. (Small Enterprise Loan Fund) has funding available from a grant issued by the USDA, and is administered by the E.A.C. More information about the S.E.L.F.,

businesses should contact the ISBDC at www.isbdc.org and the E.A.C. at www.goentrepreneurs.org.

Two Speakers Welcomed at Sheridan Chamber Luncheon

2012 Upcoming Events

Jack KoningKonehead DesignIndianapolis

Robbie WebsterTwisted Sisters Beauty SalonWestfield

Susan Hunter/Lee FlaugherHunter Law OfficeFishers

New Members


Sheridan Chamber New Website

The Sheridan Chamber has a new website. Jack Koning of Konehead Design built the site which now includes an event calendar, and local news. Check out the new site at www.sheridanchamber.org.

Ashley NeffSheridan Auto SalesSheridan

Wanda LyonSnyder Strategy RealtySheridan

Pastor Josh KennedyIssachar ChurchSheridan

The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce is selling Wood Wind Golf Club Value Cards again this year. The 2012 Wood Wind Value Card provides the following benefits: 2 Complimentary 18-Hole Rounds of Golf: Monday – Friday (1) Complimentary 18-Hole Round of Golf: Weekends & Holidays after 11am, (5) Two for the Price of One 18-Hole Rounds of Golf: Mon. – Sun. (available after 11am weekends holidays) (1) $80 Golf Lesson for $25: At the Doc O’Neal Golf Academy at Wood Wind (one offer per person per year) Go to www.sheridanchamber.org for more information.

Wood Wind Golf Club Value Cards

MAY 2012Thursday, May 10th ~ 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Networking BreakfastThe Bridgewater Club161st and Carey Road ~ Westfield

“Speed Date” with members of all the Hamilton County ChambersPower network as you rotate from table to table during this fast-paced event. Make contacts and build your client database - and enjoy a delicious breakfast at the same time. Come prepared with a two-minute “elevator” speech about your business and plenty of business cards and brochures to distribute. Reservations required by May 4th$10 for members; $20 non-membersRegister online at www.westfield-chamber.org

Thursday, May 17th ~ 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Business After HoursYou are invited to the 9th annual“Race Into Summer”Presented byNoblesville Trophies & Logan Street Signs & Banners1720 South 10th Street ~ Noblesville

Thursday, May 17th ~ 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Monthly Membership LuncheonThe Bridgewater Club161st and Carey Road ~ WestfieldUS 31 UpdateMembers with a reservation: $15.00Walk-ins, non-members, and all billables: $20.00RSVP by Friday, May 11th online at www.westfield-chamber.org

APRIL 2012Wednesday, April 18th ~12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. All County Membership LuncheonThe Mansion at Oak Hill ~ 5801 East 116th Street ~ Carmel, IN 46033

The six Hamilton County Chambers – Carmel, Fishers, Hamilton North, Noblesville, Sheridan and Westfield – will welcome speaker Ted Abernathy to an all-county luncheon in April to talk about regional collaboration.

“Economics and Competitiveness”Ted Abernathy is Executive Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, a 40-year-old think tank that provides economic development research and advice for 13 Southern states. Southern Growth specializes in the areas of technology and innovation, globalization, talent, civic engagement, alternative energy and leadership.

Pre-registered Members: $18.00; all others: $25.00. Registration due April 13th. Register online at www.westfield-chamber.org. Due to the recent increased attendance at Chamber luncheons, pre-registered guests will be seated first.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS Westfield Chamber130 Penn Street

P.o. Box 534Westfield, IN 46074

317-804-3030

NEW MEMBERSCarey Tavern Matt Schachte17421 Carey RdWestfield, IN 46074 317-867-0397

People First ConsultantsRichard Doran 16265 Howden DriveWestfield, IN 46074 317-896-4443

All Chamber event dates, times and locations are subject to change. Please call 317-804-3030 or visit

www.westfield-chamber.org for details.

Hamilton County Business Magazine/April • May 2012

Bragg Insurance AgencyBrian Bragg 3901 W. State Road 47, Suite 7Sheridan, IN 46069 317-758-5828 www.bragginsurance.com

Community Management ServicesLesley Stoeffler 941 East 86th Street Suite 115Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-631-2213

Eva Furniture Tamar David 3198 SR 32Westfield, IN 46074 317-804-5354

FirstMile TechnologyBart Saunders 750 Liberty DriveWestfield, IN 46074 317-600-7606 www.firstmile.net

Hunter Law OfficeSusan Hunter 10412 Allisonville Rd. Suite 113Fishers, IN 46038 317-863-2030 www.hunterlawoffice.net

Poblanos Mexican Bar & GrillRestaurant and barJessica Young17417 Carey Road Westfield, IN 46074

SAVE THE DATE!

When Saloons Weren’t Welcome in Westfield

Hamilton County History

David Heighway

The saloon had not been open long when a group of women came to the door. According to the Republican-Ledger newspaper, they requested that the owner close up his shop and offered to buy out his stock. He refused, whereupon the women

descended on the building, trashed it and dumped out all of the liquor that was available. However, Shaw considered this a temporary setback and soon had the place rebuilt and restocked. Since the building was little more than a shanty, the cost of decorating was low. He continued like this for about another month

Monday, August 14, was probably a fairly quiet day in Westfield – except for the forty women assembled at the Quaker

meetinghouse. They had decided it was time to send a message. As soon as they were all assem-bled, they picked up their axes and marched west to the railroad right-of-way where the saloon had been built. There were both Quaker and Method-ist women in the group. One eyewitness recalled how the drab gray and brown dresses of the Quaker women contrasted with the bright dress of the Methodist women. He also said the Quaker women were bareheaded, as the distinctive Quaker bonnet would only interfere with the action.

As the women approached the site, a wagon was seen driving in the opposite direction as fast as it could go. Shaw had attempted to stalemate the protest by removing most of his stock to a safe place. He also stood guard. The women, however, were undaunted. (They were the wives of some of the most respected men in the county. Had anyone physically confronted them, the situation would have gotten much uglier.) They brushed past Shaw and set ax to wood. This time, they didn’t go for half measures. In the space of a few minutes, the struc-ture was completely demolished. The women then took some last liquor bottles, poured them over the pile of scraps and set fire to them. The building was soon reduced to a heap of smoking ashes. The women hoped that Shaw would take the hint.

After the fire had died down, Shaw wanted to make a deal. He would give up his license and leave town if he was paid for damages and for the rest of his stock. The women then convened a meeting and $25 was offered to him as payment. He was also to promise never to open a saloon again. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. The rest of the liquor was then brought back and poured into the creek. Before adjourning the meeting, the women passed a resolution, which was printed in the local papers.

Whereas, we are informed that persons from a distance have asserted that they would set up saloons in Westfield, therefore, RESOLVED: That notice is hereby given that no saloons will be tolerated in our midst, and that all persons coming here to engage in the business will come at their peril. Mrs. M. H. Brown, President

Sometime after this, according to the Noblesville Independent newspaper, Shaw was seen sporting a blue ribbon on his lapel. Since blue ribbons were the insignia of a temperance campaign started by Francis Murphy in the 1870’s, somehow the incident had inspired him to take a pledge not to drink liquor.

Westfield would not allow alcohol to be sold until the 1970’s. By then, Hamilton County had become a very different sort of place. The site of Shaw’s saloon was eventually occupied by the world’s larg-est Dairy Queen. Although this kind of direct action is no longer condoned today, it put an interesting twist on the modern idea of community feedback.

F

David Heighway is the Hamilton County Historian

rom the beginning of its existence, the town of Westfield did not have businesses that sold alcohol. The staunch Quaker citizens did not use them and openly discouraged any that may have been built within the city limits. However, in 1882, the

Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad, later called the Monon, was being finished. It would cross the Midland Railroad just outside of the town of Westfield. This railroad crossroads would increase business and bring in a new kind of settler.

In the summer of 1882, a man named William Shaw decided to take advantage of this new population and established a saloon. Many saloons at this time were rough, board buildings where a plank across two barrels might serve as a bar counter. This is probably the sort of place that Shaw had, although he had gone to the trouble to get a proper liquor license from the government. The saloon was also built outside the city limits, which meant the city fathers were unable to take any sort of action. Therefore the city mothers decided to take matters into their own hands.

The Quaker women of Westfield were always known for being strong-minded. They were leaders in the Hamilton County abolition movement, the Under-ground Railroad, women’s rights, and other social issues. When it came to temperance and prohibi-tion of alcohol, their “intemperate” response to a saloon in their midst showed that they were willing to take physical action

August 14 was a quiet day in Westfield…except for the 40 women assembled at the Quaker meetinghouse.


David Heighway is the Hamilton County historian

Commercial Lease Space

River Edge Professional Centerand River Edge Market PlaceNoblesville, INCall John Landy at [email protected]

65,000 square feet of flexible floor plans. Design and build to your specifications. Time Share space available. Retail space also available from 1,600 square feet up.

Easy access and abundant parking! High speed internet. 3 minutes from Riverview Hospital.

Signs and Banners

Logan Street Signs & Banners1720 South 10th Street,Noblesville, IN317-773-7200 Open M-F 7-5www.loganstreetsigns.comwww.noblesvilletrophies.comwww.noblesville.com

Digitally printed signs and banners of any size, vehicle wraps and graphics, T-shirt printing, laser engraving. Great customer service, fast turn-around. Family Owned and Operated. Serving Noblesville and Hamilton County since 1992. Also home of Noblesville Trophies. 773-7391 Open M-F 9-6 Sat. 10-2

Rotary International

The Noblesville Midday Rotary Club is one of 32,000 local Rotary clubs throughout the world and six in Hamilton County. Open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed or politi-cal preference, Rotary brings together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encour-age high ethical standards in all voca-tions, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Each club meets weekly. For more information on the Noblesville Midday Rotary Club. Call Mike Corbett at 774-7747

Service Club

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We are serious about improving our clients businesses by updating office technology, managing office printing and streamlining critical business processes.

Sharp Business Systems of Indiana, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, can increase your company’s bottom line.

Business Technology

NExT EDITION: ADVERTISING DEADLINE: APRIL 24, MAILS MAY 26

AGRICULTURE/GREEN BUSINESSHamilton County Business Magazine/April • May 2012 35

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(317) 819-8355 ~ (317) 225-8125

Graduate EducationUniversity of Indianapolis1400 E Hanna AvenueIndianapolis, IN317-788-3340http://www.mba.uindy.edu/

The University of Indianapolis MBA Pro-gram offers a wide range of options to help secure your future. Our programs include on-campus programs in the evenings and on Saturday, off-campus programs including Carmel and Fishers, and we are the largest provider of on-site MBA programs in the area.

Design & Strategy for Communities and Living

Phone 31 7.694. 078 5 Glenn@ GMGA rchitects.com

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Lake ClearwaterNext to Killbuck Golf Course

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Sail PlaceAdjacent to the Indianapolis Sailing Club

Marina Village TownhomesAccess from the Geist Marina

Springs of CambridgeAcross the bridge from the Geist Marina on East 96th St

Canal PlaceOn Olio Rd just north of 104th St

Hampton CoveAcross from the Geist Marina

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Documents

Hamilton County Business Magazine April/May 2012