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Small Business
Indiana Avenue looks for more than history: Cultural district faces redevelopment challenges
September 5, 2005
Tammy LieberBroad Ripple has clubs and shops. Massachusetts Avenue has galleries and theaters. Indiana Avenue has history. But history
alone doesn't necessarily draw visitors and their dollars, something the organizers of the Indiana Avenue Cultural District
know well. With the third annual Indiana Avenue Renaissance Festival, scheduled Sept. 9-11 at the Madame Walker Theatre Center,
the cultural district hopes to capitalize on that history. Although the jazz and blues festival lasts only a weekend, it's
a step toward creating a neighborhood...
MoreVOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: The world might be flat, but construction costs aren't
September 5, 2005
Don AltemeyerFor the most part, construction has been a local story, a story about local workers building buildings in our community. But
the story isn't so local anymore. Global economic forces have begun to intersect with local issues at the construction site.
The result: a significant and ongoing increase in construction costs across central Indiana and the rest of the United States-an
increase that shows no signs of slowing. Through the first quarter of 2004, construction costs increased at a calm...
MoreTrio use experience to start consultancy: State-government veterans met while at FSSA
August 29, 2005
Scott OlsonThree veterans of state government have pooled their years of management experience to launch the women-owned business consultancy
Engaging Solutions LLC. Led by Venita Moore and Debra Simmons Wilson, the company set up shop in the Indiana Black Expo building
on North Meridian Street this spring to provide fiscal management, strategic planning, outreach, training and economic development
services. They and part-time principal Tammy Butler Robinson say the firm's focus on serving government agencies, not-forprofits
and faith-based organizations fits their backgrounds....
MoreDeal giving edge to unions muddies midfield contracts: Non-union contractors question whether bidding on project is worth
the trouble
August 15, 2005
Chris O\'malleyA construction agreement that requires union wages, work rules-and union workers-at the midfield terminal project has big
and small businesses alike concerned they'll be shut out of all but the tiniest contracts on the $300 million building. Unless
Janet South's painting firm Deco Group agrees to accept those terms, she'd only qualify for projects of $75,000 or less-the
threshold at which the agreement kicks in. That limitation, contained in the project labor agreement attached to the midfield
terminal, contrasts with...
MoreSpecial Report: Buying blind: Lack of oversight leaves state in dark on real estate deals The state of Indiana knows how much
it's spending to lease property statewide -nearly $40 million a year. But it doesn't know if that's too much.
August 15, 2005
Tammy LieberThe state of Indiana knows how much it's spending to lease property statewide -nearly $40 million a year. But it doesn't know
if that's too much. State contracts for third-party real estate services give government officials few safeguards to ensure
they're paying a fair price for office, laboratory and storage space outside of state-owned buildings, those in the industry
say. And state administrators have no control over seven-figure commissions paid to two Indianapolis real estate brokers in
the past decade,...
MorePottery by You: Firing up the entrepreneurial spirit Pottery shop owner puts love for art to work
August 8, 2005
Susan RaccoliPottery shop owner puts love for art to work "Don't sell this place without telling me first," Katie Laux implored Pottery
by You founder Liz Welter as they wielded brushes together late one night last fall. As they discussed the fun of owning a
small business, Laux shared her enthusiasm for the paint-your-own pottery shop where she'd worked off and on since 2002. She
loved the friendly atmosphere and the pleasant surprise when customers discovered their own creativity, and she...
MoreHow well does your firm communicate with clients? MARKETING Kay Millar: Businesses that serve customers effectively offer
a welcome reminder of how things ought to be handled
July 25, 2005
How well does your firm communicate with clients? MARKETING Kay Millar Businesses that serve customers effectively offer a
welcome reminder of how things ought to be handled Having spent four months with my husband preparing one house to sell and
another to move into, I'm sharing our observations on the behaviors of small businesses - using as examples our contractor,
carpenter, electrician, painter, roofer and mason. Hopefully, this will help managers of other businesses review their own
practices. Communication with...
MoreResearchers seek fuel-cell answers: Universities, companies see long-term potential in alternative power device
July 18, 2005
Scott OlsonThe figure-eight slot-car track in the basement laboratory at IUPUI looks out of place amid the expensive computer equipment
surrounding it. But when research assistant Alan Benedict fumbles with a few wires and the cars come to life, it becomes clear
the racetrack is more than just a toy. The miniature cars operate on fuel cells and are part of Purdue University's exploration
into the alternative power source. Scientists across the country are studying the clean power alternative, stoked by...
MoreCIWBC director has worked in both the corporate and small-business worlds:
July 11, 2005
-Kathy MaeglinIf Sharon O'Donoghue isn't the most ideal person to run the Central Indiana Women's Business Center, she has to at least be
in the top five. O'Donoghue's varied background, which includes working for a Fortune 500 company, as well as running a small
business, is one of her primary assets. But her passion for helping women business owners identify and reach their goals is
almost palpable when she talks-enthusiastically and endlessly-about what she's doing as director of the CIWBC. "I...
MoreEducating entrepreneurs: Women's Business Center offers basics as well as individual counseling services
July 11, 2005
Kathy MaeglinJoann Robinson was unhappy working in corporate America, so she started her own business, Balloons by Design, which delivers
balloon bouquets and does on-site balloon decorations. The Indianapolis woman had been in business for about a year when she
sought assistance in January from the new Central Indiana Women's Business Center. Since then, with CIWBC help, Robinson has
gone from having about 15 customers to about 50. Robinson is one of many women who have benefited from the services offered...
MoreGrowth in big supply at 3-year-old Milor: Entrepreneur taps experience to land big clients
July 4, 2005
Tracy DonhardtreporterMichelle Taylor's first customer was a north-side hotel that ordered 3,000 janitorial gloves a month. She got up at 3 a.m.,
processed the order out of her garage, and delivered the gloves in her car. Less than three years later, Indianapolisbased
Milor Supply Inc. delivers 36,000 gloves a month, plus janitorial equipment and supplies and safety equipment, to universities,
city and state governments, hospitals and a host of other industries across the country. The 35-year-old black female entrepreneur
has moved...
MoreDirector leaves small-biz agency: Disagreement over host sponsor helped sway decision
June 27, 2005
Scott OlsonThe head of the Central Indiana Small Business Development Center resigned this month following a rift over who might host
the agency. Mary Jane Gonzalez, who came on board as executive director of the Central Indiana SBDC in July 2003, left to
become director of business development at Mezzetta Construction Inc. Gonzalez's departure leaves the Central Indiana SBDC,
where budding entrepreneurs can seek advice without paying high consulting fees, without a leader for the third time in roughly
three years....
MoreTaking the pulse of life sciences: Experts weigh in on whether Indiana is keeping up in the economic development race
June 27, 2005
IBJ: Is Indiana gaining ground against other states in the race to grow as a life sciences hub? What are some specific benchmarks
that underscore your opinion? JOHNSON: Indiana is gaining ground, but Indiana already starts on really very substantial ground.
There are a lot of outside validations of that and I think it's important for this audience to hear a couple of them because
there is nothing like having people on the outside pay attention to what we're doing...
MoreECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Until Indiana diversifies, economy will struggle
June 20, 2005
Patrick BarkeySure, General Motors Corp. is in trouble, and quite a few Indiana communities are directly in harm's way. The headlines say
it all. Plant closings-above and beyond those already planned-are on the way. GM bonds are rated as junk. Its market share
is at an historic low. And it's discounting just about everything on the lot. For a company that has been the No. 1 automaker
in the world for four generations, its recent stumbles have to be humbling. Pressed...
MoreJester Promotions LLC: Keeping promotions on the cutting edge Advertising specialty firm also always on the lookout for inexpensive
merchandise
June 20, 2005
Jo EllenAdvertising specialty firm also always on the lookout for inexpensive merchandise Back in days of old, jesters were the eyes
and ears of the power brokers. "They knew everything the king knew," said Rick Atkins, co-founder of Jester Promotions LLC,
a specialty advertising company. That's the know-how Atkins said he brings to the table: up-to-the-minute knowledge about
the latest trends in promotional activities and where his clients can get the best price for their items. He toyed with naming
the...
MoreLong commute for former Lt. Gov.: Kathy Davis to lead South Bend tech firm
June 6, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerHer days as lieutenant governor are finished, but it didn't take Kathy Davis long to find a new management role. She's accepted
a job leading South Bend-based telecommunications connectivity provider Global Access Point. "After we lost [the election]
and I knew I'd be looking for a job, I thought it would be ideal if I could find some entrepreneur who was very technical
and needed some help on the management side," Davis said. "Then I was fortunate that opportunity came...
MoreHSAs picking up steam: Enrollment tops 1 million; biz tax breaks proposed
May 30, 2005
Scott OlsonEarlier this year, employees of Indianapolis-based N.K. Hurst Co. became part of the growing fraternity of workers in the
United States who are eligible for health savings accounts as part of their benefits package. As of March, the membership
in HSAs numbered more than 1 million people, twice as many as the estimated 438,000 in September, according to a study by
America's Health Insurance Plans. The Washington, D.C.-based trade association for insurers said enrollment numbers are growing
because more companies...
MoreBusy session for insurance forces: Compact passage highlights plethora of industry-related legislation considered by the General
Assembly
May 30, 2005
Tom MurphyState lawmakers also killed a bill that offers "mandate lite" health coverage and kept the topic of vicious dogs at bay during
the 2005 legislative session. Insurance lobbyists and regulators say they just wrapped up one of the busiest sessions in recent
memory. Topics ran a wide gamut and crowded committee calendars. Last year, five industry-supported bills made it through
the General Assembly, according to Dan Tollefson, corporate counsel for the state Department of Insurance. This year, 15 did,
and...
MoreTech fund set for overhaul: State shifts focus to commercial results; founders fear changes to peer-review process
May 30, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerIndiana's showcase program for new technology development is about to be redesigned. Version 2.0 of the 21st Century Research
and Technology Fund will direct more money to entrepreneurs. It will concentrate on projects whose commercial prospects are
clear. And as it distributes $75 million of taxpayers' money over the next two years, it will expect a return on its investments.
"The goal is, if a company does well, to get a return for the state," said Michael S. Maurer, president...
MoreRule changes to get scrutiny: State agencies now must consider economic impact
May 30, 2005
Scott OlsonIndiana's small-business owners will encounter a friendlier regulatory environment in July, when sweeping legislation takes
effect requiring state agencies to consider the impact of their policies on small businesses before adopting them. House Enrolled
Act 1822 should help ease the burden of what advocates consider unnecessary regulations on small businesses by requiring agencies
that intend to change or adopt a rule to provide an economic-impact statement first. The statement must include a regulatory-flexibility
analysis that evaluates alternative methods that could...
MoreMore than money: Inception puts emphasis on nurturing fledgling firms
May 2, 2005
Scott OlsonIf money can't buy love, as the Beatles sang 40 years ago, neither can it make a startup company prosperous. While David Becker
and David Doyle are no John Lennon or Paul McCartney, their wisdom certainly makes sense for locally based Inception LLC.
That's the consultancy, incubator and venture capital firm they founded in November 2000. "Entrepreneurs always think that,
if they had money, they would be successful [right away]," Doyle said. "That's not always the case. There are very...
MoreExperts see improving market: Higher occupancy rates, more construction projects mean good news for landlords, developers
April 25, 2005
IBJ: Is your sector of the construction or real estate industry better or worse off than a year ago and why? BURK: Overall,
I think the Indianapolis office market is better off than it was a year ago. The occupancy rate for the 29-million-plus square
feet of multitenant office properties in the market increased by about 2 percent last year, to 82.5 percent. There was positive
net absorption of about 600,000 square feet, most of which occurred in the suburbs....
MoreNew barter group begins: Rival files suit claiming execs stole trade secrets
April 25, 2005
Scott OlsonA new association offering business owners an opportunity to barter their services among a network of company members has
arrived in the city, but not without a legal challenge from a competitor. Tony Sandlin and David Treacy founded Barter Indiana
Group after working on a contractual basis at rival Henry Street Trading Co. The two barter organizations and another in the
city, the Californiabased franchise BXI Exchange Inc., coordinate the exchange of services among members without involving
cash. If a...
MoreErgo Office Furniture LLC: Workers sit, ergo offices need furniture Retailer deals primarily in used desks and chairs
April 11, 2005
Ed CallahanBusinesses sometimes need office furniture immediately. That's one of the reasons Ergo Office Furniture has thrived. Ergo,
at 2525 N. Shadeland Ave., sells, rents or leases office furniture to its customers. Though the company does carry some new
furniture, and can order whatever it doesn't have, co-owner Mark S. Kemper said 70 percent of Ergo's revenue is in used furniture.
The advantage of selling used furniture is that it's normally right there in the inventory. Brand-new furniture, in many cases,...
MoreAppnuity LLC: IT firm targets small businesses, not-for-profits Web-hosted services one of the company's fastest-growing areas
April 4, 2005
Della PachecoAppnuity founders David Eckel and Mark Castelli started their information technology business in 1999 specifically to serve
this client base. They provide a wide array of personal-computer network solutions, Web site application development, Web-hosted
services and structured cabling, which is determining the type of cabling needed to support current and future technology
needs. The partners' skills complement each other. Eckel, 33, who is president and CEO, has experience as a network technician
and sales consultant. Castelli, 34, is Appnuity's vice...
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Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.
Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.
I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.
The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!