Hamilton County Business Magazine Feb/Mar 2014

Focus: TransporTaTion

FEBrUarY • MarCH 2014

Plus…• Wild Birds takes off in Carmel • Farm to Table-The Local • 5 Website Blunders

Westfield MayorAndy Cook

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February / March 2014

Features

Management

Feedback

Ethics

Marketing

History

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10

11

12

34

Columns

4 February • March 2014 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Wild Birds Unlimited owner Jim Carpenter holds a patented bird feeder he designed.

Cover photo by Mark Lee

Grand Park

Profile-Renner Nixon

Focus: Transportation

Dining Out-The Local

Retail Roundabout

The Pitch-in

Chamber Pages

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20

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11 Wild Birds Unlimited

Business Resource Directory

www.hamiltoncountybusiness.comPublished six times per year by the

Hamilton County Media GroupPO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061

317-774-7747EdiTor/pUBlisHEr

Mike Corbett [email protected]

CrEaTivE dirECTorMelanie Malone

[email protected]

Christine Bavender [email protected]

Deb [email protected]

Stephanie Carlson Curtis [email protected]

Jeff Curts [email protected]

Rosalyn [email protected]

Shari [email protected]

Samantha [email protected]

Patricia Griffin [email protected]

ConTriBUTorsDavid Heighway

[email protected]

Patricia [email protected]

Robby [email protected]

Dr. Charles [email protected]

Joe [email protected]

William J. Wilhelm [email protected]

Please send news items and photos to [email protected]

Submission does not guarantee publication

Subscription $20/yearTo subscribe or advertise,

contact Mike Corbett at [email protected]

Copyright 2014 Hamilton County Media Group.

All rights reserved.

Correction: Due to an editing error in our Dec13/Jan14 issue, a sentence in Bill Wilhelm’s column was wrong. The first sentence of the second paragraph on page 10 should have read: “Similarly, laws that enhance the human condition are moral laws and laws that demean or degrade the human condition are immoral laws.” We apologize for the error.

February • March 2014 • Hamilton County Business Magazine 5

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Letter from the EditorFebruary • March 2014

Mike CorbettEditor and Publisher

With this edition we part company with Emmett Dulaney, who has contributed a column on entrepreneurship for every issue since our first. He simply feels tapped out and that can happen after five years. We thank him for his consistency and insightful writing. I will miss his email in my inbox (always BEFORE deadline). I always looked forward to seeing what was on his mind.

Entrepreneurship is an important and interesting topic, so I would like to continue running regular or even occasional columns addressing it. If you or someone you know is interested, please write and let’s talk: [email protected].

Hamilton County Reporter Last January, Jeff Jellison (son of longtime Hamilton County journalist Don Jellison) announced at a Sheridan Chamber luncheon meeting that he was launching a new newspaper. He felt the existing players weren’t getting the job done and wanted to offer a different style of journalism. That’s not the kind of announcement you hear every day so I was intrigued. We put an item about it in the Pitch-In section of this magazine and kept an eye on Jeff and his new paper. Well, the Sheridan Reporter found an audience and some advertisers, so Jeff expanded to Arcadia, Atlanta and Cicero, changing the name to Hamilton North Re-porter. Last summer, Don (the dad) stopped in my office to let me know he had quit his job at the Noblesville Times and was going to help Jeff launch the Noblesville Reporter, a further expansion of Jeff’s paper.

Don told me he was looking forward to building the paper but didn’t feel comfort-able as an ad salesperson, and asked if I was interested in selling ads. Now, I admire anyone who’s willing to chuck it all for the sake of dream and I’m a huge newspaper fan but I also have my own business to run, so I said I would help but I couldn’t do it full time. In the next edition, I was listed as the ad director.

It’s a title I’m proud to hold even though I put in a fraction of the time that Don, Jeff and their only employee, Richie Hall, do. In November they changed the name to the Hamilton County Reporter, thinking it better reflected the market they were serving, and in January they launched an online edition that is emailed daily (ex-cept Mondays), making it a daily newspaper (weekly in print, daily by email).

That’s right, three people are putting out a daily newspaper, which is an amazing feat. But they are committed and ambitious enough to make it happen, so I am delighted to be playing a small part in their success. It’s a classic case of seeing an opportunity, coming up with a solution, and working hard to make it happen. It is what makes the free enterprise system so great and it’s the kind of story we love to tell in these pages. Keep an eye on these guys. If you are interested in subscribing to the Reporter, go to hamiltoncountyreporter.com. If you are interested in advertising, contact the ad director. That would be me.

Best wishes to my friend and Noblesville Chamber President Sharon McMahon, who is retiring.

See you around the county,

Editor and Publisher



Contact: Jeff Laughlin 317.250.0705

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erable influence in his piece of the organization. And being an effective change agent (aka “leader”) at a low level can help bring advancement to the next level. Here are ten things you can start doing right now to be a more effective change agent right where you are:

1. Be really good at the technical aspects of your job. No one is going to listen to your suggestions for change if you don’t do very well what you are primarily paid to do. Also, be dependable and reliable.

2. Be a team player, not a lone wolf. Cooperate and collaborate with your colleagues. Departmental change doesn’t happen solo; you’ve got to work with others towards a common goal.

3. Be able to clearly demonstrate the benefits of the change for oth-ers versus retaining the status quo. WIIFM? (“What’s In It For Me?”) is a logical and legitimate question peo-

ple ask (either out loud or to them-selves) when a change is suggested. Self-interest is a significant motivator pro or con.

4. Be willing to accept and imple-ment changes suggested by others. Build up your “change bank account” with them.

5. Get input from others before trying to sell your idea too hard. Float it around. What do others think? Can they add improvements so they, too, have ownership in the project? Someone once said, “Wonderful things can happen when no one worries about who gets the credit.”

6. Know and understand the likes and “hot buttons” of those who must buy-in, especially your boss. How do they like to hear about new ideas? In writing, orally, informally? Do they like to reflect on suggestions for a while before going ahead? Do they want to get others’ input be-fore proceeding? Do they have to get other’s input or approval?

7. Be persistent. Changes, whose logic or benefits seem so apparent to you, are almost always initially questioned, if not outright resisted. If you don’t suc-ceed at first (and you probably won’t), try and try again. Keep pushing and perhaps try different tactics.

8. Don’t try to revolutionize the whole organization from thebottom or middle. The French Revolution may have started in the streets but it’s not likely to happen in the typical large corpo-ration. Stick to your piece of the pie. If you are effective, the “slices” will get bigger.

For a number of years before I retired last year from Anderson University’s Falls School of Busi-ness, I led a section of the “Manag-ing Change” course in the MBA program. The students, all working adults, especially enjoyed hearing from speakers, usually company presidents, who graciously came to class to share their “secrets of achiev-ing change.” In the post-presentation sessions held with just the students, I regularly heard comments like: “Well, it’s easy for him to bring about change. He’s the president. Everyone has to do what he says. But I’m a long way from the top. I don’t have that kind of clout.”

I asked Chuck Dowd, former president of Masco Corporation’s Delta Faucet Company and then a Masco Group President, to address this feeling. He told the students: “Don’t be so naïve to think that just because I give an order it is going to get carried out… If employees don’t want something bad enough, it is not going to happen. I spend lots of time getting them in-

volved and getting their buy-in. I have less clout than you might think.” Then the surprise: “And you have more clout than you might think.”

It is true that a president has a lot more formal power than a front-liner or “middler.” However, that doesn’t mean a front-liner can’t have consid-

Charles Waldo, Ph.D.Management

Anyone Can be a Change AgentYou don’t have to be in charge to change things

“If you aren’t a risker you won’t be much of a changer”


9. Small, incremental (“kaizen”) type changes are a lot easier to achieve than transformational (major) change. Go for small wins, building a track record as an effective change agent. Many small changes are usually far less costly and traumatic to imple-ment, yet can add up to significant total benefits.

10. Finally, recognize that to be a change agent is inherently risky. Louis Lahr, former CEO of the 3M Company which is one of the most prolific new product developers in the world, said that “Behind every major new product 3M ever de-veloped lay a champion, someone who often did the initial develop-ment work on his own time in his own home lab and literally put his career on the line to get the product accepted.” Even the fabulously suc-cessful Post-It Notes took more than ten years to push through in-house

hurdles. If you are not a risker, you won’t be much of a changer. And you must be enthusiastic about your idea. If you aren’t, why should any-one else be?

Some organizations, most notably Japanese companies such as Toyota and Honda, have developed a living culture and mentality of constant change. I once consulted with a U.S. based Toyota supplier helping them build their Kaizen system, getting their front-line employees up to implementing an average of twelve suggestions per year per employee. That totaled over 5,000 suggestions per year and, while most were very small, they added up to significant, overall “hard” and “soft” benefits. Occasionally, a tiny Kaizen would blossom into a huge winner.

Virtually all executives understand the competitive necessity for change. But the truth is, in most organiza-

tions significant change usually comes hard and slow, if at all. The bigger the change and the more people involved, the tougher it is. Most major change initiatives either fail totally or don’t reach their goals. It’s a risky business, especially if your company or department is the first to try a new venture. But change we must to remain competitive; it’s just a fact of life. I hope these ideas help you become a better change agent even if you’re not on top. And, if you are “on top,” I hope you strive for an environment that is open to the creativity and suggestions of all employees, as well as customers and suppliers. If not, you are leaving a lot of potential benefits on the table. HCBM

Charles Waldo, Ph.D. is Professor of Marketing (ret.) from Anderson University’s Falls School of Business. He can be reached at [email protected]


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Hold Experts Accountable for their “Facts”

Sharon Rose HamptonFeedback


Reader responds to Bill Wilhelm’s column on Defense of Marriage Amendment

Editors note: Bill Wilhelm’s original column is accessible at www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com/

First, HCBM is a standout amid the many publications that fill my mailbox. The talent and efforts, along with pro-fessional image Hamilton County busi-nesses present, is an asset to the area and solid articles can be found within the marketing aspect of the publication.

But, after reading Dr. Wilhelm’s article on the Defense of Marriage legislation in the Dec-Jan 2014 issue, I felt compelled to respond. I am concerned that his cre-dentials might unduly influence readers.

Although I respect his right to his opin-ion, I don’t think his credentials insure that all of his opinions rise to the level of “fact”. Opinions are based upon a foundation of information. If this base of information is flawed then the opin-ion will be flawed.

The basis for his opinion is stated in the 11th paragraph of page 10, of the Dec-Jan 2014 issue. [Some legislators lay claim to morality as articulated in religious scripture.] After the shock of that statement subsided, along with the implied superiority of his view over those of state legislators, the reader was treated to an even more insightful view. [But is our government founded upon religious beliefs and interpretations of religious scripture? Of course not!]

This denial by Dr. Wilhelm does not make it so. Although he is entitled to his opinion, it appears he may intend for us to consider it an “expert opinion”, based upon his credentials in Ethics.

As a Certified Document Examiner, I know experts can be wrong. Experts, who hold “expert opinions”, must look to the foundation of their information to support those expert opinions. It is a high standard and requires the opin-ion to be tested for accuracy and rated for certainty.

Expert opinions can often be proven to be accurate with 100 percent certainty. In the case of a cut and pasted signa-ture, if a “questioned signature” is an exact duplicate, then it is regarded as a non-genuine signature. When, a docu-ment’s “cut” signature shows up “pasted” on another document for the purpose of deception, the evidence can be viewed, proven, and support, a claim of 100 percent certainty.

If, Dr. Wilhelm had proof of his asser-tion our government is not founded upon religious beliefs and interpreta-tions of religious scripture, the reader might be able to consider it as fact. But in the absence of proof, and Supreme Court rulings dating to 1789 in support of the belief of a Spiritual being, I must respectfully disagree based upon my foundation of information.

Try to apply his opinion to the actual historical facts of our nation. Would we find America was founded as a godless country? Wouldn’t the sheer mentioning of religious freedom, support the idea of God. If we are not a godless country, then we must look to The Bible as a resource. Accepted by the ages as a his-torical record, the bible contains scrip-ture. Scripture formed men’s thoughts and their thoughts formed our nation of laws. This is just my non-expert opinion.

Many people can pile on an idea. That proves nothing. HCBM

Sharon Rose Hampton is the Ethics Chair for the Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE). Reach her at [email protected]

Bill Wilhelm response to Sharon Rose Hampton’s column

I thank Ms. Hampton for offering a response in critique form to a statement I made in my last column. The statement to which I refer was: “But is our government founded upon religious beliefs and interpretations of religious scripture? Of course not!” Ms. Hampton challenged the factual basis upon which I based my statement.

Because of space limitations that I am asked to adhere to in my columns, I did not expand upon the statement with supporting details. I assumed that the principle of the separation of church and state as delineated in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amend-ment Establishment Clause was common knowledge. This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits gov-ernment actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion. This interpretation led me to make my statement that our government is not founded upon religious scripture. I stand by that assertion.

Neither my statement, as Ms. Hampton implies, nor the First Amendment Establishment Clause logically lead to a conclusion that we are a “godless country.” The First Amendment’s express purpose is to deny efforts to allow any specific religion to be the guid-ing principles of our democracy. To that end, if Ms. Hampton’s statement that “If we are not a godless country, then we must look to The Bible as a resource,” were formalized into governmental policy it would be a direct violation of the First Amendment. -BillWilhelm

As we enter 2014 many of us resolve to change certain less-than-desirable personal behaviors in the New Year by making resolutions. Many of us don’t make New Year’s resolutions perhaps because we have not succeeded with them in the past. Others may believe they don’t need to make any major changes in their behavior. Still others may just think it’s silly. Be that as it may, there is one simple activity that we can resolve to do that is really quite easy to accomplish. It involves using a tool that we already use probably every working day of our lives: the mirror.

The Ethics of PrudencePeter Drucker, the renowned manage-ment consultant, educator, and author, referred to the mirror test; a simple activity in which you look in the mir-ror in the morning as you are getting ready for work and ask yourself “What kind of person do I want to see in the mirror?” Drucker expanded upon this management philosophy in his book, The Ecological Vision: Reflections on the American Condition (Transaction Publishers, Rutgers University, 1993, paperback 2000) in which he described the “mirror test” in detail as “The Ethics of Prudence.”

The Ethics of Prudence, Drucker wrote, “does not spell out what ‘right’ behav-ior is. They assume that what is wrong behavior is clear enough – and if there is any doubt, it is ‘questionable’ and to be avoided. Prudence makes it an ethi-cal duty for the leader to exemplify the precepts of ethics in his own behavior.” Drucker contends that the manager must avoid the behavior or act that would make one the kind of person one does not want to be and does not respect. He uses a rather colorful but accurate example for explanation. “If you don’t want to see a pimp when you

look in the shaving mirror in the morn-ing, don’t hire call girls the night before to entertain congressmen, customers, or salesmen.” Separate Ethics for BusinessDrucker also warned about what he felt was a mistaken concept of “business ethics.” He argued that there should be one code of individual behavior in which the same rules apply to everyone alike. Drucker feared that to construe ethics as a distinct concept of “business

ethics” might give managers license to launch their own brand of “ethics.” For instance, they might reason that they were meeting their social responsibili-ties in the context of business by fram-ing their justifications for questionable decisions as “protecting jobs” or “gener-ating wealth” for shareholders. “Ethics

for them is a cost-benefit calculation,” he writes. We know from the classic ethical failure by Ford Motor Company executives in the decision not to recall the exploding Pinto automobiles that cost-benefit analysis can easily fail the ethical test requiring the protection of human rights.

While the mirror test is not as thorough as is in-depth ethical analysis for more complex decisions, it does hold promise for stopping unethical behavior before it happens. It is an intrinsic check that we can easily employ on a daily basis to put ourselves in a frame of mind to be a better person and thereby enrich the lives of others whom we affect – both in our workaday lives and in our personal lives. So, maybe in 2014 just try this one simple resolution for the New Year. In the morning when you are peering at yourself in the bathroom mirror, ask yourself, “What kind of person do I want to be today?”

Happy New Year, everyone! HCBM

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

In the morning when you are peering at

yourself in the bathroom mirror, ask yourself,

“What kind of person do I want to be today?”

A Time for Self-Assessment


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The Mirror Test is a quick check on unethical behavior

William WilhelmEthics

Hamilton County’s Only Locally Owned Bank

830 Logan Street • Noblesville • 773-08008 Convenient Hamilton County Locations

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Is Your Website Working For You?

Marketing Pat Pickett

Avoid these five blunders

There’s little doubt that a website has become an integral tool of doing business in the 21st Century. It’s estimated that 80 percent or more of all buying decisions — including finding service providers — begin with an Internet search.

Thinking about a new company website in 2014? If you expect 21st Century results – like potential customers and clients finding your company on the Internet – avoid these five big blunders that will sabotage your website.

1. You spent too much You’ve spent $15,000 on a website, which seems quite reasonable compared to the $25,000 you probably spent a decade ago. And after that kind of cash outlay, you’re going to lay low on your marketing spend because you can’t afford anything else.

Unless you are a large corporation with multiple locations, have the need for exceedingly secure purchasing transactions or more money to spend than what you know what to do with, the need for a $15,000 or even $10,000 website is questionable. A website professional who is familiar with one of many content management platforms (WordPress or Joomla are both good ones) can create something both amazing and functional for a fraction of that cost.

Building a beautiful website and not doing anything with it (like a marketing strategy that includes backlinks from your social media site, other industry partners, blogs, etc.) is like buying a luxury car and leaving it in the garage – you really don’t reap the rewards and no one knows you have it. You must budget for a marketing effort that will drive folks to the site. Yes, if built properly, as detailed below, you will receive organic searches through Google and other search engines. But businesses

need to be cognizant of driving traffic to that site through measurable market-ing programs.

2. You didn’t spend enough (aka, “Your nephew developed your website during his spring break.”) Not that there’s anything wrong with your nephew or his technological prowess. However, it’s highly unlikely he’s creating a website that is in line with your measurable objectives of success for your business. There’s a big gap between, “This is cool” and “I generated 50 percent of my business from my website.” While a student is capable of building a website, it’s doubtful that it will be cost effective in the long run.

3. What is SEO again? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the way in which websites are detected by search engines (like Google, Bing and YouTube) and placed “in order.” So if someone is searching for “widget maker Carmel Indiana,” they are provided a list of closest results. Typically, those companies landing closest to the top have the best chance of attracting potential customers.

The best way to achieve this goal is to 1) do keyword research before creating your website 2) create specific website titles and meta descriptions and 3) (really important!) regularly update the content of your website with blogs and social media interaction.

Laymen’s translation: When you look at your “about” page on your website, the URL at the top shouldn’t say, www.widget.com/about … It should say something that describes your company (that the search engines can find) like, www.widget.com/custom-widget-production-carmel. Likewise with your meta descriptions – these should be filled in with unique, page specific info.

Confused? Theoretically, this is why you are going to hire a professional to do this; but if your professional tells you it’s not needed, get a new professional. And don’t fall prey to randomsolicita-tions of companies promising a front-page ranking!

4. Mobile, shmobile … really, who uses their phone to look at my website? According to a Pew 2012 survey, 31 percent of mobile Internet users mostly go online using cell phones; and mobile traffic is estimated to increase by 3.5 percent per month. The good news: You don’t have to have a whole separate mobile site built! Using a platform like WordPress or Joomla, a mobile plug in is as easy as a flip of a little (free) button.

5. You’re an Internet TeaseYou don’t want a lot of information on your site — you want potential customers to contact you. Just tease them with some superficial information, make them download even more superficial white papers to get the information they seek, and then put their contact information in a database so you can send them incessant emails until they unsubscribe.

You know better than this, right? This just isn’t the way folks want to engage with companies any more. They are looking for valid content and information — and so, by the way, are the search engines. Regularly updated informational content — including case studies, white papers, blogs and videos — are the way to attract customers. And remember, the content needs to be informational, not just pushing your products! HCBM

Patricia Pickett owns Pickett & Associates, a Hamilton County based public relations and marketing firm. Reach her at [email protected].

Jim Carpenter


inter birds gather in the cold sunlight to feast on black oiled sunflower seeds. From titmice to juncos to nuthatches and black-capped chickadees, attracting and watching backyard birds has become a lifetime hobby for many local Hoosiers.

For more than 30 years, bird enthusiasts

have sought out seeds, feeders, bird baths and more from Carmel-based Wild Birds Unlimited. The retail resource launched by CEO and founder Jim Carpenter offers more than seeds – franchise owners and employees alike are knowledgeable about attracting and feeding native bird species across the country.

Enthusiasm turned business venture

After working for a couple of years in a garden center, Carpenter decided to

turn his love of watching and feeding

birds into a business. The first Wild Birds Unlimited stored opened in the Broad Ripple area in 1981.

“About a year later, a relative of an employee stopped by to visit and asked me how to do what I was doing,” Carpenter said. “I told him to come back in 6 months and I’d sell him a franchise.”

Along with wife Nancy and a local business partner, Carpenter developed the franchise model, selling the first one to the interested relative who opened a location in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For the next six years, Wild Birds Unlimited grew steadily, opening about 5 stores a year. By 1989, the

Carpenters were able to buy out the business partner and became the sole owners of the corporation. In the years that followed the company grew by twenty to thirty stores a year, becoming the largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores. Now more than 300 Wild Birds Unlimited stores can be found across the U.S. and Canada.

W

Carmel businessman grows his love of birds into a national brand

By Deb Buehler

Store photos by Mark Lee

Bird photos courtesy Wild Birds Unlimited

A Fine Feathered Franchise

“…fifty to sixty million people feed birds in

their back yards” –Jim Carpenter

Downy Woodpecker

Jim Carpenter


Education and ExpertiseKathy and Dave Williams purchased their first franchise in 2001, opening a Wild Birds Unlimited store on Michigan Road and then opening a second location in Westfield in 2003.

“We’ve had a great franchise exper-ience,” Kathy Williams said. “Jim Carpenter is down to earth and hard working – he and his staff are regular folks who are passionate about nature and birds. They are constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas which are why Wild Birds Unlimited is a leader in the industry.” Williams said Hamilton

County has a lot to

offer bird enthusiasts. She explained that every season produces different birds, keeping the hobby interesting. By changing seed offerings, bird watchers can attract both year-round residents and migratory birds.

“Right now, birds need foods that are higher in fats to stay warm. Feeders can be filled with seeds and suet to attract winter birds,” Williams explained.

Education is an important part of offerings available at Wild Birds Unlimited. Williams said that her staff is comprised of knowledgeable experts available to answer questions and

troubleshoot challenges backyard birders encounter. Because the hobby attracts people of all ages, Williams and her staff work with beginning birders to experienced backyard feeders. She often invites people to bring in a picture of their yard from the window where they will be bird watching. This is a great way to consider what type of bird resources will help them attract a diverse collection birds. When clients come in wondering what bird they are seeing, Williams said they get bird books out and help identify them. Williams said

she’s always learning – that’s her favorite part of store ownership.

Retail Innovations As the November 2012 franchisee convention approached, Carpenter

and his staff decided it would be a good time to rebrand the Wild Birds Unlimited look and feel. Together

with a staff team, Carpenter set the goal of improving every

facet that impacts the customer

experience.

“We think our brand is what makes us different from other specialty retailers,” Carpenter said. “The staff team began to explore what we could do to create an appealing environment in the stores interior. We want people to have a great time, learn a lot about birds and the hobby of bird feeding and watching.”

The new branding inspires customers through the five senses, plus what Wild Birds Unlimited calls the sixth sense: energy and the emotional impact of the in-store experience.

Carpenter explained that after many meetings, the design team identified best practices for Wild Birds Unlimited stores in support of a great customer experience. The team chose an approach that is helping store owners integrate what they already have with cost effective upgrades for a new look.

“We put it all together,” Carpenter said. “A color pallet, flooring selections and digital marketing assets.” A new warm color scheme includes grey, brown and blue, bringing the feeling of the outdoors into the store with a pallet that works well in every region of North America.

The new store design was unveiled at the Wild Birds Unlimited location at 4040 E. 82nd Street in Indianapolis. Highlights of the rebranding include new signage in the seed department enabling customers to select the best blend based on the birds they wish to attract. The cash wrap area shares Wild Birds Unlimited patented bird feeder history and expertise in bird feeding. Customers are also finding ways to access and share information about the hobby in the form of videos, hobby information and streaming live web cams. The community board has been enhanced to communicate more local


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information while giving customers a place to post photos of birds they’ve seen in their own backyards.

“Today fifty to sixty million people feed birds in their back yards,” Carpenter said of the hobby. “The hobby is enjoyable to all ages and backgrounds. All someone needs is a small yard or wild area nearby – from apartments and condos with small decks to new subdivisions where farmland has been transformed for neighborhoods; birds can be attracted with no mess at all.” Carpenter said that now he knows customers who have been coming to the story for 30 years. He considers it gratifying to know that these customers have inspired their friends and children to get involved in the hobby too.

“It is our mission to bring people and nature together and we do it with excellence,” Carpenter concluded. “We do it through bird feeders and by challenging ourselves to improve our ability to serve our customers.” HCBM

American Goldfinch

Tufted Titmouse

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Cardinal

Eastern Starling Song Sparrow

NorthernFlicker

attracting birds to a backyard feeder can be a fun family activity. Keep track of your bird feeder sightings and watch for new arrivals as milder weather returns this spring. a bird book can come in handy for birds you’ve never seen before.

Visit http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/CWBO_Bird_Checklist_0109.pdf to download an Indiana Bird Checklist and to learn more about birds you might see while exploring in Indiana or watching your backyard feeder.

Here are some birds typical to Indiana in the winter months:


Cover Story

By Shari Held

W ith 26 baseball diamonds and 31 multi-use fields, West field’s 400-acre Grand Park Sports Campus will take the City of Westfield one giant leap forward to making good on its claim to be the Family Sports Capital of America. It will be virtually booked for 2014 (approxi-mately 7,000 matches) when it opens in March, beginning with two soccer tournaments slated for its debut month. More than 5000 baseball games are already scheduled for this year.

While the opening of the facility is an accomplishment in itself, the big home run will be Grand Park’s impact on the city’s economic development.

Grand Park was initially proposed as a facility for expanding local youth and recreational sports. But Westfield Mayor Andy Cook and other city leaders saw the potential to enter into the business of travel team family sports, a $6.5 bil-lion industry nationwide.

The city provided the $45 million to construct Grand Park, but the two primary tenants, the Indiana Soccer As-sociation and the Indiana Bulls baseball club, collect the revenue and use it to maintain and operate the self-sustain-ing facility.

Cook is banking on the million-plus sports enthusiasts who will trek to the sports park each year to create a new industry the city can rally behind. “Grand Park will create an appropri-ate environment for our industry to expand,” Cook says. “And that industry is hospitality—hotels, restaurants, shop-ping and entertainment.”

Capitalizing on Hoosier hospitalityWhen it opens Grand Park will be the largest sports campus in the United States. “But largest doesn’t mean a thing if folks don’t have a good experi-ence,” Cook says. “Our work will just be beginning.”

Existing businesses need to be prepared to embrace the hoards of tourists as well as the onslaught of chains and other businesses Grand Park is anticipated to attract. And the entire community needs to adopt a culture of hospitality if Westfield is to create an experience guaranteed to incite visitors to keep coming back.

Grand Park is Westfield’s national stage

Sports The Family

Capital


Fortunately, Westfield’s got a lot going for it. For one thing, it’s within a day’s drive for two-thirds of the U.S. popula-tion. In addition, the upgrade of U.S. 31 to freeway status through Westfield will make access to and from I-465 a matter of minutes. “It’s going to be a challenge for a couple of years, but what a gift that is,” Cook says.

Perhaps most importantly, Westfield residents are onboard and ready to make the most of the opportunity. “They’re not only excited about the sports park, they’re excited about the

recognition Westfield will receive na-tionwide,” Cook says.

Westfield is also leveraging several resources to achieve its goal. Allison Melangton, who headed the successful Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Com-mittee, is sharing her expertise, as is Visit Indy, which runs Super Service, a hospitality training program geared to organizations such as the Indiana State Fair. The Hamilton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has been a key player since Grand Park’s inception. Hospitality is so integral to the project’s

success, the City of Westfield created an Office of Hospitality, and expects to have a hospitality coordinator in place this month. “The hospitality coordinator will be the one who makes sure the visitors to Grand Park are getting served the way they should be served,” says Erin Verplank, director of communications for the City of Westfield. That includes developing and promoting other activi-ties to keep tourists happily occupied at Grand Park and elsewhere in the area.Providing easy access to information about the city’s other amenities and nearby attractions such as the Palla-

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City isn’t offering tax abatements to these people,” he says. “We aren’t talking about assistance with infrastructure on their properties. We’re not investing in their business, which is the way a lot of economic development is conducted.”The payoff for nurturing a profitable environment for the tourism industry is a more diversified tax base that will eventually translate into lower taxes for Westfield residents.

On deck!Looking ahead, Cook predicts Grand Park will be influential in bringing ad-ditional industries to Westfield such as sports medicine, sports research and other sports-oriented businesses.

In fact, Wellbrooke of Westfield, a center for health and wellness, opened last June at 186th Street and Wheeler Rd. in anticipation of capitalizing from its location near Grand Park. “They are there because we created a unique environment for them to market,” Cook says. HCBM

dium at the Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Conner Prairie, the India-napolis Motor Speedway, NCAA Hall of Champions and Lucas Oil Stadium is a boon for visitors.

“We want to offer people more to do than they can possibly handle in one visit,” Cook says. “It’s all about creating that great experience, but ultimately it’s to create an industry of tourism in the City of Westfield.”

Fostering the hospitality industryCreating an instant hospitality indus-try is a tall order for a city of 32,000 that currently has only one hotel and a handful of restaurants.

The fact that everything’s ready to go—the land’s zoned, utilities are in place and infrastructure is in progress—is a plus.“I’ve seen a number of people coming in on weekends and the draw that Grand Park will have already,” says area broker Craig Kaiser, who’s been fielding calls from hotels and restaurants expressing interest in the properties he has listed. “We haven’t yet had any direct sales be-

cause of Grand Park, but once it opens in spring, many people are going to realize they’re already late. Restaurants and hotels should already be open.”

Cook says the city has a commitment from six hotels to build, and he’s optimis-tic several will break ground this year.

Meanwhile a few fast-food chains are gearing up to feed the influx of tour-ists. McDonalds is relocating to the area around S.R. 32 and Wheeler Rd. and a new Dairy Queen, Subway and liquor store are in the works. Taco Bell relocated there last fall. This spring construction will start in Grand Park Village, home base for much of the hos-

pitality industry. First up is a two-story, 34,000-square-foot, multi-user retail building on the boardwalk overlooking a 15-acre pond.

Projections indicate that development of the 1400 acres in and surrounding Grand Park will create about 10,000 jobs.Cook is pleased the private sector sees the potential of this development. “The

Mayor Andy Cook says the city has a commitment from six hotels to build, and he’s optimistic several will break ground this year.


Steve Renner jokes that he doesn’t want repeat business. His custom-ers only come to him when they have an accident, he reasons, and when they come back it’s because they’ve had another one. Like the time a lady picked up her car after a $7,000 repair and returned 25 minutes later with $4,000 damage to the same vehicle from another accident at the exact same intersection as the first.

Fortunately, those repeat stories are rare for this third generation body shop man. Renner learned about cars as a kid hanging out with his dad at his grandfather’s shop in Indianapolis. He knew his life would be working with automobiles.

Learning the RopesA 1963 graduate of Noblesville High School, Renner served in the Navy and the reserves before returning to Nobles-ville, working with his father in the body shop of Newby Buick and Pontiac, where he polished his talent. Stints at Foxworthy Ford in Sheridan and Jack Tidler’s body shop in Elwood led him to open his own business in 1992 on 146th St. in Noblesville, just west of Allisonville Road.

When he acquired the property it was uninhabitable and unsuitable for oc-cupancy. He reconditioned both the exterior and interior with the same care he uses on cars, and he’s grateful for the time and effort donated by his friends and a few paid licensed contractors. The location is still not without peril as it’s located in a flood zone. When the White River overflows its banks, he occasion-ally has to move vehicles, tools and equipment out of harm’s way.

Steve’s life was enriched when he married Linda Renner 25 years ago. “She transformed my personal life,” stated Renner. She worked at the First Na-tional Bank in Noblesville, where Steve was a customer. Linda noticed that this guy liked to kid and laugh with the staff, and that appealed to her. They later met officially at a party and they just clicked. They have four kids and four grandkids.

Looking to the FutureLast year, Renner took on Jim Nixon, a ten year employee, as a partner and re-named the business Renner Nixon Body Works. They knew each other for ten years prior as Renner used to take cars to Nixon for wheel alignments, steer-ing and suspension repairs. Nixon and his wife have two grown children and the fit has been perfect. “Steve is a great person with a huge heart who taught me about life and business,” says Nixon. When Renner wants to retire, Nixon will take over the shop.

Renner, Nixon and all their technicians enjoy Saturday afternoons after the shop closes. Sometimes even Renner’s pals join the group as they gather to watch TV, exchange stories and talk of old memories. “It is reminiscent of a time in small town Indiana which had the general store and potbelly stoves in which to gather” said Renner.

He values his family, friends and em-ployees and believes in “giving back to the community” by purchasing adver-tisements, fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club, grammar school sports and Guerin High School. He is a 20 year member of the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce and a long time member of the Elks 576 Chapter. He is a member of the Friends Church in Noblesville. Faith is a part of his life that has paid big dividends.

About 25 years ago, Renner was return-ing a customer’s car in Noblesville when a drunk driver slammed into the car and threw him out of it. Both cars were totaled and Renner and the other driver ended up in the hospital. Fortunately neither one was critically hurt but Steve recalls that moment of flying out of the car as a second chance as it well could have been fatal. And, despite his own misfortune in that incident, he marvels at the generosity of others: the people whose car he was driving came to the hospital and paid him for the work he did on the car he had just fixed and was now totaled. Now that’s loyalty. HCBM

Faith, Family, Friendsand Fender BendersRenner Nixon Body Works

Profile

Story and photo by Patricia Griffin

s the population of Hamilton County flourishes, the concept of public mass transit is promoted as a viable way to meet the needs of a growing community. Propo-nents say the transit plan is a catalyst to economic development and an efficient method of getting people to work.

“Public Transportation, both regional and local, is a fundamental ingredient of the most successful cities…largely missing from the Indy-Carmel region,” said Mike Hollibaugh, Director of Community Service for the

City of Carmel.

Getting to WorkCurrently, Hamilton County has few commuter options beside the automobile. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority operates Indy Express Bus, which serves Carmel and Fishers from park and ride loca-tions. CIRTA released the RED rap-id transit line executive summary report in December, which found that there is a need to enhance service for those who currently use the bus system, and to attract new riders, making transit more com-petitive with personal cars. “On a typical Monday, over 77,000 people come to work in Hamilton County, but live elsewhere…over 87,000 people live in Hamilton County, but work elsewhere,” said Jeff Kingsbury, managing principal of Greenstreet Ltd., an Indianapolis based strategic planning and real estate practice. According to the American Community Survey, of a total 146,398 workers in Hamil-ton County, 85% drive alone and 7% carpool. The remainder work from home, walk, bike or take public transit. “Compared to auto trips, which are only about 20% for work,” says Kingsbury, “about 60% of transit

trips are for work, so a good transit sys-tem is focused on connecting employ-ment centers in order to move tens of thousands of workers to jobs.”

Christine Altman, Hamilton County Commissioner, president of CIRTA and a proponent of local mass transit, believes it is irresponsible not to explore ways to accommodate growth and explore what is going to be necessary in the future. “Public transit gives employees a choice as to how they get to work and where they can work while businesses realize the benefit gained when their employees have a way to get to their jobs in a reli-able fashion.”

The RED LineThe proposed RED bus line would be 25 miles long and run from Carmel through Downtown Indianapolis, to Greenwood south of the city. It would connect to key destinations, including Broad Ripple, Butler University, the Children’s Muse-um, the IU Health Hospital Complex, Eli Lilly, and the University of Indianapolis. The corridor connects some of the fastest growing population and employment centers in the region and serves one of the key commuting corridors.

Carmel’s City Center is one of the slated stops on the RED line. Business owner

Giving Commuters Another Option Focus: Transportation


Story and photo by Stephanie Carlson Curtis

HC’s proposed Rapid Transit promoted as economic development tool

A

The Red Line route

Commuters alight from the Indy Express Bus in Carmel


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Kevin Rider operates Divvy Restaurant at City Center and contends the run schedule will determine how transit affects his business. “If the Red Line service times run late enough, it will give employees a new and convenient option of transportation,” said Rider. “It will need to show a high quality of service with consistent and regular service times to make it convenient for diners to use.”

In addition to the Red Line, Indy Con-nect is studying recommendations for a Green Line that would follow the former Nickel Plate rail line running from No-blesville through Fishers to downtown via bus transit or light rail service.

Paying For ItThe most recent transportation study recommends local funding, which is not currently available, to build and oper-ate the Red Line. Senator Pat Miller is writing a bill to be presented during this year’s General Assembly that focuses on funding needs and options, and may authorize a referendum where voters choose whether or not to move forward with the proposed transit plan.

“There is not a one-size-fits-all fund-ing strategy,” said Jeff Kingsbury. “The primary source of funding comes from user fees…and the rest comes from a combination of federal, state and local sources. In the United States, the most common form of taxation for transit is the sales tax, where statewide or county sales tax provide a significant amount of transit funding

According to State Senator Luke Ken-ley, potential funding may include an income tax increase that would pay for 65 percent of the upgraded bus transit system combined with bus fares that would cover 25% of operating ex-penses, as well as financial contributions from businesses.

The Carmel Chamber of Commerce sup-ports legislation that allows residents to vote on the transit proposal. “No transit system currently in place in the country is self-sustaining through fares. They are all supported in some way,” said Mo Merhoff, president of the Carmel Cham-ber of Commerce. “The reason gasoline costs are so much higher in many other

nations, even though the price per barrel of oil is the same world-wide is because they choose to tack on an ad-ditional tax and utilize that to subsidize transit. The return on the investment is in the economic development potential of having transit.”

“In addition to costs, we have to look at benefits, both community-wide and to the individual. In addition to connecting people to jobs, there’s reducing conges-tion, improving air quality, optimizing land use and economic development,” said Kingsbury. “For a typical Hamil-ton County household, transit-served neighborhoods can shift about $8,500 in annual transportation expense to more discretionary spending. For most households, transportation is the second largest expense after housing. A two-car family in Central Indiana earning the median household income of about $53,000 can save thousands every year if they can get to one car with an option to take transit, walk or bike.” HCBM

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Dining Out

If it’s true what they say about opposites attracting, Derek Means and Craig Baker are a match made in restaurant heaven.

“He’s very business oriented and I’m the more creative, artistic one – he says he’s the wall and I throw stuff against it and he sees what will stick,” Baker said with a laugh. “There are times I get a crazy idea and he looks at me and says ‘That’s not going to work,’ and we talk about it. Or I may have an idea and think it’s not so great but he puts a spin on it and it works.”

“He’s very creative – one of those types who doesn’t sleep but instead rests his

mind by dreaming up more stuff,” Means explained. “He’ll text me at 3:30 or 4:30 in the morning with ideas.”

Farm to TableThe business partners met through another venture sev-eral years ago.

“We wrote the business plan but when that (the restaurant) didn’t happen we got spun,” Baker said. “We kept plugging away and looking for a space and saw a niche we could develop and went from there.”

That niche – The Local, opened in 2011. Centrally located, the restaurant is on 146th in Westfield, with Nobles-ville across the street and Carmel on the corner.

Baker is no stranger to the restaurant business. He owned a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, which he sold in 2005 to move to Indianapolis with his wife, Jennifer and their two children.

Means, married with four children, was in real estate but had put him-self through Purdue bartend-ing, and worked as a general manager of a restaurant for a short time.

“We’d kind of started develop-ing the idea of doing farm to table,” Baker said. “Three years ago the only farm to table in the area was fine dining. If you have kids with you and want to have some interesting food – something besides a hamburger – there wasn’t re-

ally a place to do that. That was kind of the catalyst for the restaurant and how we developed the menu and format.”

Sense of AdventureWith its concrete floors, calming blue tones and featured local art – most of which is for sale - The Local can seat 173 inside and 224 when the patio is open. Every two weeks 30 to 35 percent of the menu changes.

“We have some sandwiches and burgers that stay on at all times and have been there since we opened,” Baker said. “If we try to take them off I hear about it.”

The one thing that will never come off the menu – the ever popular Mac n’

Developing a Local Food CultureThe Local

By Chris Bavender

Photos by Mark Lee

“We do things most wouldn’t try but our customers trust us enough to go ahead and give it a shot.”

-Derek Means

Derek Means

Lamb Burger

Goat Cheese Panini

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Cheese – a best seller even when it’s 90 degrees out, according to Means.“It’s very rich with a lot of depth of fla-vor,” he said. “It’s comfort food at its best.”

At The Local it’s all about finding unique ways to use local produce.

“We might be a farmer’s last stop with what they didn’t sell at the farmer’s market so they’ll stop by the back door and say ‘I have a 100 pounds of beets, what can you do with it?’” Means said. “Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew because of quick spoilage. Once we had too many tomatoes so we made tomato bacon jam.”

“It pushes us in the kitchen to find ways to utilize products,” Baker said. “Derek is my base palate. I will say ‘Try this’ and if it makes it to the table it’s usually because he was okay with it.”

Unique offerings have included blood sausage and sweetbreads.

“It’s about being creative and using everything they’re willing to bring us,”

Means said. “We do things most wouldn’t try but our custom-ers trust us enough to go ahead and give it a shot.”

It’s that sense of adventure - and knowing where their products come from - that make The Local work.

“We get to know the people producing food for us and that’s incredibly impor-tant because we know we have quality ingredients,” Means said. “That, and having someone with amazing talent like Craig who can take those quality ingredients and make great dishes so our menu always evolves.”

As does the business partnership. Plans for the future include a production brewery in South Broad Ripple and a

downtown Indianapolis restaurant set to open in late February still featur-ing the food to table concept but on a smaller scale and with a heavier focus on seafood and pasta. HCBM

The Local14655 N Gray Rd., Westfield317.218.3786www.localeateryandpub.com.

Retail Roundabout

Northern Hamilton CountyWoody’s Restaurant is moving from its 103 W. 3rd Street location in Sheridan to a new building at 3810 W SR 47. Stuart’s Steakhouse is under new management and is changing its name to MiIlwood and Friends. Anthony Padgett Gallery opened at 110 W. Jackson St. in Cicero. Arcadia Developmental Center at 303 Franklin Avenue was closed by the State of Indiana and all residents were trans-ferred to other assisted care facilities in the area. Arcadia Wine and Spirits on Main St. has closed.

Carmel Plans are moving forward for a new Dunkin Donuts, gas station and Dairy Queen to be built on property at 9800 N. Michigan Road. Gateway Shops, a new multi-tenant retail center, is planned for 10725 N. Michigan Road.

Equus Capital Partners has purchased the 3-building Meridian Corporate Plaza office complex just north of I-465 between Meridian Street and College Avenue with plans to add a conference facility and fitness center. Zeller Realty Group bought the 3-build-ing Meridian Plaza office park north of Meridian and 103rd streets and plans to renovate and lease vacant office space in the property.

Pittsburgh-based grocery chain Giant Eagle chose Carmel for the first of several planned Indiana stores. The new grocery store will be in The Bridges development on 116th Street between Spring Mill Road and Illinois Street.

Vitality Clinic has moved into its new office at 1200 W. Carmel Drive. Horizon Bank has plans to build a new branch at the northeast corner of Old Meridian Street and Carmel Drive. The owners of the Meijer at 1424 W. Carmel Drive are erecting a retail building along Pennsyl-vania Street for a future tenant.

In early 2014 Theta Chi Fraternity is moving its headquarters from College Park in Indy to 865 W. Carmel Drive. Eye Level Learning Center is moving into 12545 Old Meridian Street. Whiskey & Honey Salon at Sola Salon Studios

opened in September at 726 Adams Street.

In mid-January Integrated Planning and Wealth Management moved from 160 W. Carmel Drive into a bigger office

at 650 E. Carmel Drive. Centier Bank isopening a new branch at 568 E. Carmel Drive. Midwest Academy has moved into the new facility that they built at 1420 Chase Court. Jersey Mike’s Subs is coming to Merchants Pointe at 116th Street and Keystone Avenue.

Kolache Factory is coming to the 116th Street Centre at 890 E. 116th Street. Shopping center Elliott’s Mohawk Place, on Rangeline Road north of 126th Street, has been renamed Monon Square.

Burger bar and craft beer purveyor The Pint Room is moving into Sophia Square at 110 W. Main Street. Carmel Utilities has moved from 760 Third Avenue SW to 30 W. Main Street above Evan Lurie Arts Gallery. 28 Star Studio at 25 W. Main Street has closed. Architectural firm Edmonds International, USA is moving its North American headquarters to 2 W Main Street, on the NW corner of Main and Range Line.

Carmel Winter Farmers Market has moved from Carmel City Center to the underground parking garage in the Indiana Design Center for its 3rd season. Park Lane Apartments & Townhomes at 221 E. Main Street was purchased by St. Louis-based SMFG.

J. Hamman Prime steakhouses (formerly Mo’s A Place For Steaks), at Clay Terrace and in downtown Indy, changed its name for second time in 2013 to become Prime 47. Clay Terrace is welcoming new tenant Hot Mama in March. TGI Friday’s at 146th Street and US 31 has closed. A Ricker’s Gas Station &

Convenience Store is slated to be built at 7729 E. 146th Street, west of River Rd. The Mattress World at 2438 E. 146th Street has been rebranded as PureSleep. Bridgewater Corporate Village is add-ing another 3,600 SF office building at 4661 Lisborn Drive.

FishersMadame Royale Salon and Spa is moving into the space at 8970 E. 96th Street that was formerly Natural Nails. Endodontic Specialists is opening at 10078 Lantern Road. BlueBridge Digital graduated from Launch Fishers and has opened its own office next to BlastMedia in the Forum Credit Union headquarters on USA Parkway.

Construction company Meyer Najem Corp plans to build a new office down-town on Maple Street adjacent to the library, with plans to relocate from its current leased location at SR 37 and 131st Street in late 2014. Verizon Wireless is joining Pizza Hut at the new multi-tenant building at 11722 Allisonville Road.

Jewelry Gallery moved down the street from the corner of Allisonville Rd. and 116th to Fishers Town Center. Right next door, Rooster’s Men’s Grooming Center is open. Owned by Darrell and Annette Cousert, it’s the first Roosters in Indiana. The Regis-owned franchise has 70 loca-tions nation-wide.

SimplySkin MedSpa is moving to a dif-ferent building at Cumberland Center at 9879 E 116th Street. Health Spot Vita-mins is opening soon next to Fresh Mar-ket at 9777 E. 116th Street. Andy Mohr GMC underwent a major renovation at 131st Street & SR37.

A Summary of Recent Retail ActivityBy Samantha Hyde


Roosters/Jewelry Gallery

Future Centier Bank

Construction has begun on a new 60-acre city park at 101st & Cyntheanne Road with plans to open in the fall. Construc-tion is also underway on the Fishers High School Senior Academy expansion at 13000 Promise Road. A new Culver’s is being built at 13691 Olio Road just off I-69’s Exit 210.

NoblesvilleRZ Automation is planning to move from 15223 Herriman Boulevard to new building in Noblesville Business Park at 146th Street and Cumberland Road. Jump N Play opened in October at 1710 Pleas-ant Street. Mattress World at 17015 Mer-cantile Boulevard has been rebranded at PureSleep.

Downtown salon hg Studios, located at 930 Logan Street, is expanding its services and refurbishing its upstairs space for skin care, waxing and massage. Nobles-ville Family Chiropractic is now open at 953 Maple Avenue. Jiana Gifts & Tea has moved into downtown at 853 Conner Street. Indiana American Water is mov-ing its Noblesville offices from downtown to Herriman Blvd. Downtown women’s clothing store J’Ann & Co. is moving to Zionsville. Martha Janes is closed and Blue Angel Antiques is closing.

Chain restaurant Wings Etc. is opening in the former Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders location at 135 Sheridan Road. Pul-liens City Cafeteria is opening at the other Mancino’s location at 17901 River Avenue.

A new State Farm agency is moving into 5540 Pebble Village Lane. Rio Grande Fresh Mexican Restaurant recently opened at 20805 Hague Road. Hip women’s clothing chain Charlotte Russe is coming to Hamilton Town Center. Com-puter Corner opened on Clover Road.

WestfieldSkinFix Spa in downtown Westfield at 116 N. Union Street has closed. The McDonald’s and Dairy Queen that were

displaced by construction on US 31 will be rebuilt on Tournament Trail near the southern entrance of the new Grand Park. Other businesses planned for the area include a Subway and a new liquor store.


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Pullien’s

The Black Plum Cafe opened at 303 E. Main Street.

Westfield Yamaha Suzuki is expanding its facility at 18128 Market Court. Trac-tor Supply Store is planning to move later this year from its current location at 18160 US 31 N to the new development Springmill Pointe at SR 32 east of Spring Mill Road. Shoe Carnival is moving into 2001 E 151st Street. HCBM

The Black Plum Café


The Pitch-In

Notes from all over the countylocated its North American headquar-ters in Carmel, creating up to 100 jobs this year. The company was spun off from Ingersoll-Rand and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

The Carmel Allstate Insurance Agency awarded five $1000 grants from the Allstate Foundation to local beneficiaries in 2013. They included Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Hamilton County Meals on Wheels, Carmel Rotary Club (Rotary Foundation), Carmel Clay Library Foun-dation and Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors Foundation.

Grand Park Sports Campus received 90 trees on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of the NASCAR Green Clean Air Tree Planting Program.

The Anderson University School of Theology received a grant of $248,772 from the Lilly Endowment to address economic issues facing future ministers.

Ram North America, featured in the Oct/Nov 2012 edition of HCBM, has completed the exterior of the Big 10 headquarters in suburban Chicago. RAM, based in Arcadia, specializes in custom terra cotta cladding.

A state tourism study reveals that tourism is the third largest industry by employment in Hamilton County, attracting more than 4 million visitors annually, who spent $375 million here and accounting for more than 10,000 local jobs.

Forbes Magazine ranks the Indianap-olis-Carmel area as the 9th fastest-growing area when it comes to the creation of jobs in the technology sector.

Allegion PLC, which manufactures and markets locks under the Schlage and Von Duprin brands among others,

What is just as important as the quality of professional services you utilize for your business?

How they work together.Don’t compartmentalize your professional business services.

Coordinate them. Because to thrive, you must have an integrated approach so all areas of your enterprise are working towards your

ultimate goal. Whitinger & Company has helped organizations do so for more than 80 years and we can help yours do the same.

• Accounting Services

• Assurance Services

• Benefit Plan Audits

• Management Advisory

• Forensic Accounting

• Strategic Planning

• Corporate Tax

• Small Business Services

• Business Valuation

• Not-for-Profit Services

• Estate Planning

• Real Estate HUD/LIHTC/RD

• Investment Management

• Retirement Planning

8411 Fishers Centre Drive | Fishers, IN 46038 | 317-436-7488 | whitinger.com


WE DO CAD

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From complete outsource solutions to providing the labor, tools or both - Miller Consulting can speed

your product development time or simply cut cost.

• Design Engineering Services •• CAD Pipeline-Your place or ours • Training

Purdue University is partnering with the Gallup organization to find out how well a college degree leads to a better life and job. The Purdue-Gallup Index will measure five key dimensions of well-being: purpose, social, physical, financial, and community by sampling its own graduates. Other schools are encouraged to participate.

Kurt Meyer, President of Baseline, Inc., a commercial real estate company, is the Chairman of the Fishers Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2014.

Corrie Meyer, a Certified Urban Plan-ner, was appointed to the Carmel Redevelop-ment Com-mission , which oversees the City’s

redevelopment projects.

NextGear Capital & Salsbery Broth-ers Landscaping were named Car-mel Chamber Businesses of the Year. Joshua Carr, Northwestern Mutual, was presented the Young Professional of the Year award. The Harold Kaiser Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to John Schuler. Ranjit Puthran of Allstate Insurance Carmel Agency is the Chamber’s Most Valuable Volunteer. Look awards for renovation went to Wedgewood Building Com-pany for the renovation at 32 First St. Northeast and for new construction to Kite Realty Group for the Range Line Crossing Project at 116th and Range Line. Carmel City Utilities won the Green Award for their city-wide trash and recycling program. In Noblesville, IDI Composites In-ternational is Business of the Year and T&T Sales and Promotions is Small Business of the Year. Noblesville Schools won Best New Construction for their new administrative offices, Darren Peterson of Peterson Architec-ture is Businessperson of the Year and

Alaina Shonkwiler is Young Profes-sional of the Year.

The Duke Energy Foundation award-ed $20,000 to the Fishers Youth As-sistance Program, which works to keep students in school and out of the juve-nile court system, and $10,500 to Janus Developmental Services in Noblesville, to help workers with disabilities develop their job and social interaction skills.

Jan Jamison is the new Artistic Direc-tor for Carmel Community Players.HCBM


carmelchamber.com 317.846.1049 21 S. Range Line Rd., #300A Carmel

February & March Events

February Feb. 5: Arrows Young Professionals Lunch & Learn | Eddie Merlot’s | 12 to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 6 : All-county Network Breakfast | Bridgewater Club | 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 12: February Luncheon - Chamber Update | The Fountains | 12 to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14: Legislative Breakfast | Mansion at Oak Hill | 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 19: Arrows Young Professionals After-hours Network | tba | 5 to 7 p.m. Feb 27: Member Orientation | tba | 8 to 9 a.m.

March Mar. 6: Business After Hours | Lake City Bank | 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mar. 12: March Luncheon | Mansion at Oak Hill | 12 to 1:30 p.m. Mar. 14: Legislative Breakfast | Mansion at Oak Hill | 7:30 to 9 a.m. Mar. 27: Arrows Young Professionals After-hours Network | tba | 5 to 7 p.m.

Business News

GreenLawn by Design

Wellbrooke of Westfield

Advanced Professional Counseling

Ballare Ballroom

Bolduc Golf Academy

European Wax Center

Outback Steakhouse

A Formal Affair

The Applied Behavior Center for Autism

Brain Balance Center of Indianapolis

Brown & Brown of Indiana

BuildSmart Construction

Choose Your Time Appliance Repair

Compass Commercial Construction

Group

do-tique

Hamilton County Chiropractic

Indianapolis Roofing and Sheet Metal

Corporation

Keith Pemberton Agency - American

Family Insurance

Linda Tanella Fitness - Health and

Wellness Coach

National Association of Certified

Non-Smoking Employers

PERL Mortgage, Inc. - Duffy Mullen

Pizzology Craft Pizza & Pub

Total Hearing Solutions, a division of

Northside ENT

Ribbon Cuttings

New Members

A Formal Affair

635 Hanover Pl.

Midwest Academy

1420 Chase Ct.

About the Carmel Chamber

The Carmel Chamber

• Advocates on behalf of business.

• Collaborates to maximize impact.

• Communicates issues and positions.

• Grows the voice of business through membership.

Chamber Facts

• Serves 750 members located primarily in Hamilton, Marion and Boone counties.

• Represents diversity of business from corporate headquarters to sole proprietorships.

• Has been working for businesses for 43 years.

Advocacy & Business Issues

On behalf of our members, we are committed to advocating for a business-friendly

environment on issues that impact business locally, regionally and statewide.

Find out more

To learn more about the Carmel Chamber or the Hamilton County Business Issues

collaborative efforts, contact us.

Stay Connected

@CarmelChamber1

Facebook.com/CarmelChamber

Linkedin.com/groups/Carmel-Chamber-Carmel-IN

carmelchamber.com


MARCH6th – Thursday4:30pm – 7:00pmHealth, Wellness & Fitness Expo$5 at the doorFORUM Conference Center11313 USA Parkway

14th – Friday7:30am – 9:00amLegislative Breakfast$15 Members$20 GuestsThe Mansion at Oak Hill5801 E. 116th Street, Carmel, 46032Reservations Required

19th – Wednesday11:30am – 1:00pmChamber Luncheon “Mayoral Candidates”FORUM Conference Center$20 Pre-Paid Members$25 Pre-Paid Non-MembersReservations Required

20th – Thursday12:00pm – 1:00pm (New Time)Navigating the Chamber (no fee; please RSVP)Informational Session for New Members, New & Current ContactsFishers Train Station

26th – Wednesday4:30pm – 6:30pmBusiness After Hours (No Fee)Location: TBD

Speedway- Four locations in FishersImpressions for You PhotographyBricks 4 KidzCastle Mortgage CorporationDawson &Michael Realty, IncDream Weaver Salon and Day SpaESI Technology AdvisorsSeniors Helping Seniors7e Fit SpaSource Insurance Group and Financial ServicesHyland Leadership SolutionsHarley-Davidson of IndianapolisRealAmerica Development and Management

UPCOMING EVENTS

FRESH FACES

RIBBON CUTTINGS

BizCard Xpress7268 Fishers Crossing DriveFishers, IN 46038

Caliber Home Loans10022 Lantern Road, Suite 600Fishers, IN 46037

FEBRUARY6th – Thursday7:30am-9:00amAll County Networking Breakfast$15 Pre-Paid Members$20 Pre-Paid GuestsThe Bridgewater Club3535 E 161st Street, Carmel 46033Reservations Required

14th – Friday7:30am – 9:00amLegislative Breakfast$15 Members$20 GuestsThe Mansion at Oak Hill5801 E. 116th Street, Carmel, 46032Reservations Required 19th – Wednesday11:30am – 1:00pmChamber Luncheon “State of the Town”FORUM Conference Center$20 Pre-Paid Members$25 Pre-Paid Non-MembersReservations Required 20th – Thursday12:00pm – 1:00pm (New Time)Navigating the Chamber (no fee; please RSVP)Informational Session for New Members, New & Current ContactsFishers Train Station

26th – Wednesday4:30pm – 6:30pmBusiness After Hours (No Fee)Community Health NetworkLocation: TBD

Vom Fass13185 Harrell Parkway, Suite 150Noblesville, IN 46060

Pat’s Philly Pretzels8395 E. 116th StreetFishers, IN 46038

The Fresh Market9774 E. 116th StreetFishers, IN 46037


Upcoming EvEnts & HAppEningsH

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Hamilton North Chamber 70 N. Byron St. Cicero, IN 46034317-984-4079

UpCoMinG EvEnTs

FEBRUARY 20144th – Tuesday, 11:30amHnCC lUnCHEonRed Bridge Park Community Building

6th – Thursday, 7:30amall-CoUnTY nETWorKinG BrEaKFasTRed Bridge Park Community Building

14th – Friday, 7:30amlEGislaTivE BrEaKFasTThe Mansion at Oak Hill

MARCH 2014 4th – Tuesday, 11:30amHnCC lUnCHEonRed Bridge Park Community Building

14th – Friday, 7:30amHnCC lUnCHEonThe Mansion at Oak Hill

nEW MEMBErs10 WestBrett Morrow10 West Jackson St.Cicero, IN 46034(317) 606-8542 Lehman & Company, PCDonna Lehman1907 Conner StreetNoblesville, IN 46060(317) 776-9212

novEMBEr lUnCHEon

dECEMBEr lUnCHEon

TasTE oF THE HolidaYs aT 10 WEsT

Kay Hartley, Hartley Funeral Homes, asked Chamber members “What’s Your Exit Strategy?”

Hamilton Heights High School Choir entertained at the December Holiday Celebration


NO

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Noblesville Chamber

601 E. Conner St. Noblesville, IN

46060 317-773-0086

Upcoming EvEnts & HAppEnings

nEW MEMBErs

EnTErprisE aWard WinnErs

Mr. G’s Liquor 2209 E. Conner StreetNoblesville, IN 46060

Presented by the City of Noblesville and the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce

(From left to right) Alaina Shonkwiler, City of Noblesville - Young Professional of the Year; Jeff Bragg, Noblesville Schools - Best New Construction or Renovation; Jay Merrell of IDI Composites International - Business of the Year; Darren Peterson, Peterson Architecture - Business Person of the Year; Laurie Dyer of T&T Sales and Promotions - Best Small Business of the YearThis year’s event was sponsored by

T&T Sales and Promotions15330 Herriman BlvdNoblesville, IN 46060317-774-7106www.tntsalespromo.com

Pictures and Posters6039 Catlin LnNoblesville, IN 46062317-491-5746www.picturesandposters.biz

Edward Jones Investments14660 Herriman Blvd, Ste 500Noblesville, IN 46060317-774-8236www.edwardjones.com

FEBRUARY 20146th – Thursday – 7:30a.m. to 9:00a.m.ALL-COUNTY NETWORKING BREAKFAST TheBridgewaterClub3535 E. 161st Street, Carmel, IN$15/Members, $20/Non-Members

14th – Friday – 7:30a.m. to 9:00a.m.HaMilTon CoUnTY lEGislaTivE BrEaKFasT TheMansionatOakHill5801 E. 116th Street, Carmel, IN$15/Members, $20/Non-Members

19th – Wednesday – 4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m.BUsinEss aFTEr HoUrs aT CaMBria HoTEl & sUiTEs CambriaHotel&Suites13500 Tegler Drive, Noblesville, IN(AcrossfromHamiltonTownCenter)FREE to all Chamber members and guests

26th – Wednesday – 11:30a.m. to 1:00p.m.MEMBErsHip lUnCHEon State of the Schools (featuring Noblesville Schools Superintendent, Dr. Libbie Conner)HarbourTreesGolfClub333 Regents Park Lane, Noblesville, IN$18/Members, $22/Non-Members

MARCH 2014 14th – Friday – 7:30a.m. to 9:00a.m.HaMilTon CoUnTY lEGislaTivE BrEaKFasT Featuring Hamilton County LegislatorsTheMansionatOakHill5801 E. 116th Street, Carmel, IN$15/Members, $20/Non-Members

25th – Tuesday – 4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.a TasTE oF BUsinEss in noBlEsvillE HamiltonCounty4-HFairgroundsMark your calendars! Applications to participate will beavailable soon. Keep watching the Chamber’s websitewww.noblesvillechamber.com or call the office at 317-773-0086 to be sure you are on the distribution list.Open to the public. Tickets $5 at the door.

26th – Wednesday – 11:30a.m. to 1:00p.m.MEMBErsHip lUnCHEon State of the HospitalSponsored by Chamber Legacy Partner Riverview HospitalHarbourTreesGolfClub333 Regents Park LaneNoblesville, IN$18/Members, $22/Non-Members

Laurie Dyer Lori Koppold Joshua Timmerman, Financial Advisor

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!Noblesville Businesses Recognized at 10th Annual Enterprise Awards Luncheon on November 14th

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Sheridan Chamber101 E. Second St. PO Box 202 Sheridan, IN 46069317-758-1311

Upcoming EvEnts & HAppEnings

sPREAD THE WoRDAre there others in your business who would like to know what’s happening at the Chamber? Add them to our distribution list by sending their contact information to [email protected] or calling the office at 758-1311.

FEBRUARY 20146th - Thursday7:30am-9:00amall-CoUnTY nETWorKinG BrEaKFasTTheBridgewaterClub,WestfieldStructured networking event with members from all six Hamilton County Chambers. $15 members/$20 for potential members

14th - Friday7:30am-9:00amlEGislaTivE BrEaKFasTTheMansionatOakHill,Carmel$15 members/$20 for potential members

27th - Thursday11:30am-1:00pmMonTHlY lUnCHEonSheridanPublicLibrary

MARCH 201414th - Friday 7:30am-9:00amlEGislaTivE BrEaKFasTTheMansionatOakHill,Carmel$15 members/$20 for potential members

27th - Thursday11:30am-1:00pmMonTHlY lUnCHEonSheridanPublicLibrary

From the Desk of the Executive DirectorAs I write this amidst the deepest snow central Indiana has seen in decades my thoughts are focused on more spring-like concepts – rebirth and growth. The Sheridan Chamber is excited to have entered 2014 in the current climate, not the below 0

temperatures but the focus on re-development and planning for a prosperous future.

Obviously there are many challenges ahead. Funds are limited and needs are great but that is a situation faced by many municipalities. Sheridan has a number of assets and a bright future with many opportunities for success.

We have a thriving downtown Main Street. Although Sheridan is a small community, our downtown is busy all day. Storefronts are full and traffic is bustling.

We lie at the intersection of two state highways that bring a steady flow of traffic to the town’s front door. With the development of Grand Park, Westfield’s new sports complex, and the families traveling to the area for a variety of sporting events, this traffic is expected to increase.

We have a rich history of community support and thriving businesses that consistently demonstrate their commitment to the prosperity of the community.

We sit in one of the most successful and prosperous counties in the country with a reputation for great schools, good quality of life and access to metropolitan amenities.

And we have an excitement and enthusiasm for what is on the horizon.

The Sheridan Chamber looks forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our members and the community.

–KimberlyCoveney

CHAMBER EVENTSThe Sheridan Chamber of Commerce holds monthly luncheons on the fourth Thursday of each month

Be sure to visit www.sheridanchamber.org for information on all upcoming events!

Sheridan, Indiana Chamber of Commerce

@sheridaninchamb

Join us on Facebook and Twitter:


Upcoming EvEnts & HAppEningsW

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.westfield-cham

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Westfield Chamber of

Commerce130 Penn St.Westfield, IN

46074317-804-3030

MARCH 20142014 lEGislaTivE BrEaKFasT sEriEs • FEBRUARY 14• MARCH 14• APRIL 18 Join us for discussions with our legislators about the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee agenda and issues that are important to the business community. Find out what’s going on at the Statehouse during the current legislative session.Reservations are required and can be made online at www.westfield-chamber.org or by calling 317.804.3030. All Chamber members and non-members are invited to attend.$15/member of any Chamber in Hamilton County; $20/non-memberTheLegislativeBreakfastseriesispresentedbytheHamiltonCountyBusinessIssuesCommittee,whichincludesrepre-sentativesfromthesixHamiltonCountyChambersandadvocatesonissuesofimportancetolocalbusinessesandthecommunity.Theeventsprovideanopportunitytosharebusinessconcernswithelectedofficials,influencethedirec-tionofbusiness-friendlylegislationandconnectbusinessesthroughoutthecounty.

Legislative Breakfast Series Sponsor:

20th – Thursday11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.MEMBErsHip lUnCHEon TheBridgewaterClub 3535 East 161st Street Westfield, IN 46033ProgramPlease check www.westfield-chamber.org for detailsAgendaDoors open at 10:45a.m. for early registration, networking, time to visit showcase tables Registration officially begins at 11:00 a.m.Lunch and program begin at 11:30Registration$15 for members with reservations$25 for all others and those invoicedPre-paid reservations are required by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 17. Register online at www.westfield-chamber.org Questions? Call the Westfield Chamber office at 317.804.3030

FEBRUARY 2013nETWorKinG BrEaKFasTLooking for a unique opportunity to multiply your net-working power? Register for this fast-paced joint networking event and connect with members of six Hamilton County Cham-bers - Carmel, Fishers, Hamilton North, Noblesville, Sheridan and Westfield. There’s time for informal networking while you enjoy a delicious hot breakfast buffet then, rotating from table to table, you’ll have the chance to give a two-minute pre-sentation about your business. Bring plenty of business cards and brochures to distribute.Reservations are required by February 3 at noon. Reserve online at www.westfield-chamber,org or call 317.804.3030 All-countyChambereventsarepresentedthroughthecollaborativeeffortsofthesixHamiltonCountyChambersofCommercetoacknowledgecommonbusinessgoalsandrecognizethevalueofexpandedmarketsandnetworksacrossmunicipallines.

MEMBErsHip lUnCHEon 20th – Thursday11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.TheBridgewaterClub3535 E 161st Street – Westfield, 46033ProgramThis luncheon offers you the opportunity to meet and become acquainted with fellow Westfield Chamber members. We will conduct rounds of networking to allow our members to meet others while sharing their business information. This luncheon is a popular event that helps to bring our members together to form professional relationships early in the year. AgendaDoors open at 10:45a.m. for early registration, network-ing, time to visit showcase tables. Registration officially begins at 11:00 a.m. Lunch and program begin at 11:30Registration$15 for members with reservations$25 for all others and those invoicedPre-paid reservations are required by 4 p.m. on Monday, February 17.Register online at www.westfield-chamber.org Questions? Call the Westfield Chamber office at 317.804.3030

nEW MEMBErsWestfield Family Karate David Olsen 3114 SR 32 East Westfield, IN 46074317-896-3530www.westfieldkarate.com

WestPoint Financial Group Chad StevensLong Term Care Specialist900 East 96th Street, Suite 300Indianapolis, IN 46240317 208 6340www.financialguide.com/Chad Stevens

Krause DentalDentistDr. Kenneth Krause3247 East State Road 32Westfield, IN 46074Phone: 317 399 9329www.kenkrausedental.com

Christian Brothers AutomotiveAutomotive RepairRuss Miller14807 N Gray RdWestfield, IN 46062317 848 5511www.cbac.com

Hamilton County History

Stephen Roberts – another sort of stockbroker

David Heighway

Stephen “Steve” Roberts was born in Roberts’ Settlement to Stephen and Mary Roberts. Roberts’ Settlement was a Hamilton County community located in Jackson Township west of Arcadia. It was settled in the 1830’s by a group of free African Americans from North Carolina. They had left the slave holding area of the south for the free state of Indiana hoping to find a more amenable environment. Hansel Roberts and his brothers and their families were the first purchas-

ers and settlers in the community.

Steve’s grandfather Willis was one of the Roberts brothers who helped establish the settlement. Sources differ on Steve’s birthdate, but the 1900 census says that he was born in March of 1848. He was one of several children – his older brother Junius served in the Civil War - and he was only outlived by three of his sisters: Martha, Jennie, and Anna.

Going into BusinessHe started out in life as a farmer like his father, but soon after the Civil War, he began work-ing with white businessmen like Samuel Craig, Marion Aldred and others as a livestock buyer and shipper. Samuel Craig was a farmer and stock dealer while Marion Aldred eventually became a banker. Neither had problems working with an African American since Craig’s father was an aboli-tionist minister and Aldred had been a soldier in the Union army.

The era just after the Civil War was an excellent period for race relations in Hamilton County. Although segregation still existed – there was a separate “Colored” school in Noblesville – the returning veterans and area abolitionists sup-ported African American advancement. In 1871, the Sheriff deputized members of the Roberts Settlement to help catch some criminals in Adams Township, and in 1880, blacks were appointed to the county Petit Jury and elected City Constable of Noblesville. They were deeply involved in local politics and, also in 1880, Eli Roberts would run for County Recorder. (However, he did not win as there were still issues of prejudice in the county. Things would change radically for the worse after the turn of the century and no African Americans would be elected to office until the late 1960’s) .

Stephen’s business materials would be donated to the Library of Congress after his death and the collection gives an idea of how his busi-

ness was conducted. Among the materials are receipts for the “new” Exchange Stockyards and Manufacturing Company built in 1875 on south Kentucky Avenue in Indianapolis. This company eventually became the Union Stockyards and was one of the key businesses on the Belt Railroad that went around the city. (Today the site is part of the Lilly campus.)

The animals would be purchased from the farmers, put on the India-napolis, Peru and Chicago Railroad, (which was the only railroad in Hamilton County in the 1870’s), sent to Indianapolis and then to points east. His job gave him the opportunity to travel. Among the items in the collection is a drover’s pass to ac-

company a shipment of livestock on the railroad to Pittsburgh.

Personal LifeStephen had moved to Noblesville by 1880 and married Nancy Eliot that year. She was born sometime around 1852 and was the first African American child born in Noblesville. They had two children – James, who died young, and Leroy or Roy. Roberts was described in one newspaper

article as a big man with a powerful physique and while he had a fine friendly disposition, he was also “a man among men”. This is illustrated by


Robert’s son Roy (back row, second from right) played on an 1890’s Noblesville baseball team

The Indianapolis Belt Railroad and Stockyard Company

“…while he had a fine friendly disposition, he was also “a man among men.”

This Drover’s Pass allowed Roberts to accompany a cattle ship-ment to Pittsburgh (courtesy Library of Congress, Roberts Family Papers)

BUsinEss

rEsoUrCE dirECTorY

a newspaper story from 1882 which said that after a drunk had insulted Nancy, Stephen gave him what the paper

called a “sound trouncing”. His wife continued to work outside the home after the marriage, and did what we would now refer to as catering. She organized and cooked food for the finest weddings in the area in the 1880’s and 1890’s, put on by the community’s wealthiest citizens. She eventually became known as “Aunt Nan” and was as well re-spected by the people of Noblesville as her husband was respected by the farmers in the county.

Their son Leroy held a variety of jobs, played on the town baseball team in 1890’s, and was nicknamed “Frosty” by his friends. He was mar-ried in 1897 and had one daughter. However, he had a run of poor luck. In 1902, he lost part of his foot when he slipped under the wheels while he was trying to board a train. Later he contracted some sort of throat trouble which led to his death in 1924.

Stephen died in 1915 and was buried at Crownland Cemetery. However, his wife lived on for many years with the town putting on celebrations for her 90th and 99th birthdays. She died two weeks after her 100th birthday in 1952 and was buried alongside her husband and son.

David Heighway is the

Hamilton County Historian

CoMMErCial lEasE spaCE

river Edge professional Center and river EdgeMarket placeNoblesville, INCall John Landy at [email protected]

Sharp Business Systems of Indiana7330 East 86th St.Indianapolis, IN 46256317-844-0033www.sbsindiana.com

We are serious about improving our clients businesses by updat-ing office technology, managing office printing and streamlining critical business processes. Sharp Business Systems of Indiana, a division of Sharp Electronics Cor-poration, can increase your com-pany’s bottom line.

BUsinEss TECHnoloGY

Dave Snider - Owner - Master Barber

T H E P R O F E S S I O N A L B A R B E R S

Walk-in no waiting

Classic Barber Shop317-843-2500

2462 East 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032

Mon, Tues & Fri 9-6Wed & �urs 9-7 Sat 7-4

www.barberclassic.com nExT EdiTion: HEALTH/EMPLOYEE

WELLNESS

siGns and BannErslogan street signs & Banners1720 South 10th St.Noblesville, IN317-773-7200 Open M-F 7-5www.loganstreetsigns.comwww.noblesvilletrophies.comwww.noblesville.comwww.HamiltonCountyTV.com

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

rotary international

Rotary brings together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage 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


JONI CORBETT, REALTOR®

DIRECT: 317.985.6443

EMAIL: [email protected]

F.C. Tucker Company, Inc.

home staging consultation with every listing.Complimentary

Y O U RLOCAL AGENT

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.

Nancy Roberts in the 1930’s

Advertising Deadline:FEBRuARy 28

Mails: MARCH 31

County Rd. 360 N.

Lake ClearwaterNext to Killbuck Golf Course

Geist Reservoir

Anderson

Indianapolis

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

116th St

96th St96th St

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Hamilton County Business Magazine Feb/Mar 2014

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