This Week's Paper

JUNE 17-23, 2013
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In this week's issue, we detail allegations in an explosive lawsuit filed by one of the best-known families in the Indianapolis corporate world, against one of the biggest names in retailing. Tomisue Hilbert has accused hardware-store magnate John Menard Jr. of pressuring her to have sex with him. The suit claims that Menard then launched a battle to remove her husband, Steve Hilbert, as CEO of the Indianapolis-based private equity funds the three of them started in 2005. Also in this issue, we take a closer look at Carmel-based developer Mainstreet Property Group and how it has tapped government support to help grow its portfolio of skilled nursing facilities. And we present the "Indiana 100," our annual compendium of the biggest and fastest-growing companies in the state, both private and public.

Front Page

Suit: Menard pressured Tomisue Hilbert for sexual favors

The lawsuit charges Tomisue Hilbert's rejection of the billionaire is the real reason he launched a bitter battle to remove her husband, Steve Hilbert, as CEO of the Indianapolis-based private-equity funds the three of them started in 2005.

Hamilton County wants squirrels on paradeRestricted Content

Inspired by more than 100,000 migratory squirrels that swarmed through Westfield and Fishers in the 1820s, a group of up-and-coming Hamilton County leaders is working on a public-art initiative celebrating the bushy-tailed rodents.

Veteran custom homebuilder taking prefabs downtown

Ursula David is out to dispel the perception that modular homes are little more than glorified double-wides. David, who started Ursula David Homes 20 years ago, is concentrating on a new project, Indy Mod Homes, and is targeting an unlikely place for the prefabs—the urban core.

Top Stories

Governments helped fuel nursing-facility developer's riseRestricted Content

Carmel-based Mainstreet Property Group has built 13 nursing homes in Indiana and Illinois since 2008. Six of the dozen Indiana properties benefited from municipal-backed credit or tax breaks, and a seventh received a reduced-impact fee. Mainstreet also received $345,000 in state economic incentives.

Young & Laramore finds app draws eyeballs to brandRestricted Content

Indianapolis ad agency Young & Laramore's recent project for footwear giant New Balance included developing a video game intended to reach young consumers who’ve grown up with a smartphone as a bodily appendage.

Low-key charitable foundation facing turning point

The low-profile but high-impact Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is at a key juncture after 15 years and more than $200 million in grants. Founding CEO Harriet Ivey plans to retire at the end of January, and one of her top lieutenants, Michael Twyman, just departed.

Indianapolis moving forward with startup land bankRestricted Content

The executive director of the Land Bank of Indianapolis anticipates working with the city to issue a request for qualifications aimed at charitable and for-profit entities interested in acquiring properties.

ITT Educational branches into charter schoolsRestricted Content

The for-profit educator won approval last month to start a charter school for 11th- and 12th-graders inside one of its ITT Technical Institutes in Indianapolis.

Out-of-state developer pitches $75M Carmel project

Baltimore-based Atapco Properties wants to redevelop 34 acres of land at Carmel Drive and Guilford Road, converting a portion of the commercial property to residential use with hundreds of apartments.

A&E, etc.

LOU'S VIEWS: Going for seconds at Carmel gallery walk

Carmel's Arts & Design district has grown to represent nine galleries. It's Second Saturday walk has grown into a popular social event.

DINING:A two-handed sandwich highlights south-side menu

Third in a month-long series of D-restaurant reviews.

BENNER: Group bringing golf to the masses lands alum at U.S. Open

The First Tee is making golf accessible to kids who will benefit from the game regardless of whether they ever make the tour.

Opinion

EDITORIAL: Fishers, Noblesville make the right callRestricted Content

We’ve heard the lament for years: Center Township is home to Indianapolis’ greatest concentration of institutions that pay no property taxes.

MORRIS: WGU Indiana steps up to provide higher ed for HoosiersRestricted Content

The online university offers an affordable opportunity for post-secondary education as opportunities decline for those who never went beyond high school.

KENNEDY: Mom-and-pops keep skin in the gameRestricted Content

Sometimes, the more we learn, the more complicated things get.

STUART: Spend more on quality pre-K educationRestricted Content

Fundamental to the American experience is the belief that our children have opportunity to reach whatever heights to which they aspire.

Hicks: Manufacturing turns out remarkably good newsRestricted Content

Skarbeck: Skyrocketing student debt looms large over economyRestricted Content

Student loan debt has increased at a 14-percent annual rate since 2005 and now totals more than $1 trillion—more than credit card and auto loan debt.

ALTOM: Safeguarding data isn't a perfect processRestricted Content

The risk of a breach is inherent in almost any security approach, but there are steps you can take to diminish risk.

New light on lightbulbsRestricted Content

I felt it necessary to fact-check Sheila Kennedy concerning her [June 3] column about conservative reaction to the environment.

Maurer gets it right on marriage equalityRestricted Content

I’m amazed at how many don’t understand the difference between civil marriage—the one that government sanctions—and religious marriage, the one ordained by religious institutions [Maurer Commentary, May 27].

In Brief

Indiana Landmarks nearing $25M fundraising goal

Preservation group Indiana Landmarks kicked off the public portion of its $25 million capital and endowment campaign Thursday evening, entering the homestretch of a fundraising effort that began in 2010.

Caponi to step down as St. Vincent system CEO

After overseeing 15 years of massive growth via mergers, Vince Caponi will become an executive of St. Vincent Health's parent organization.

Head-swap performed on WTHR general managerRestricted Content

Someone apparently forgot to tell Pablo Pereira, the weatherman at Fox affiliate KTTV-TV Channel 11 in Los Angeles, that he’d been promoted to president and general manager of WTHR-TV Channel 13 in Indianapolis.

Woodard sells Canterbury Hotel to Ohio firm

Local businessman Turner Woodard had owned the upscale downtown hotel since 2010. Terms of the deal with Columbus, Ohio-based RockBridge Capital LLC, a hotel investment firm, were not disclosed.

Carbon Motors’ Chapter 7 filing marks official end for firm

The once-promising firm that had planned to build high-tech police cars at a Connersville plant filed for bankruptcy Friday, listing liabilities of $21.7 million.

Good news, bad news for Cook stent business

While Bloomington-based medical-device maker won approval for new bile duct stent, it has recalled its hot-selling arterial stent from all global markets.

Special Sections

Mortgage firm is fastest-growing private companyRestricted Content

Stonegate Mortgage Corp. returns to the top 10 for a second year thanks to geographic expansion—it now does business in more than 30 states, up from 20 at the end of 2011—and a couple of significant transactions.

Most of Indiana's largest public companies enjoyed strong 2012Restricted Content

Angie's List turned a profit for the first time in nearly two decades.

Temp workers are both canaries, spring robins

The job category is getting more scrutiny from economy-watchers.

JBS United among top hog feed companiesRestricted Content

The industry is more than a decade beyond the sweeping consolidation of the '90s that forced out thousands of family farms as corporations took advantage of new techniques to enable raising hogs in huge, factory-type complexes.

People

People in the news - June 17, 2013

People listings are free.

Records

Records - June 17, 2013

Records listings from the June 17, 2013, issue of IBJ.

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