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Small Business
PROFILE: Silverback Consulting Group: Consultant helps clients navigate tech jungle Silverback looks to diversify health care,
bank business
December 3, 2007
Ed CallahanSilverback Consulting Group Consultant helps clients navigate tech jungle Silverback looks to diversify health care, bank
business In the jungle that is today's business world, businesses can't survive without information systems. And if they need
help finding their way through all the technological underbrush, a local consulting firm wants to be the 500-pound gorilla
that clears a path for them. Silverback Consulting Group was founded in 1997 to help businesses upgrade their internal computer
and phone systems. Its consultants plan...
MoreVets serve country, customers: Franchises offer breaks to would-be entrepreneurs leaving the military
November 26, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonOn Veterans Day this year, retired U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert Flores didn't attend parades or reminisce with friends.
Instead, he worked from open to close at his Little Caesars Pizza store at 11530 Westfield Blvd. "I've been here every day
since we opened," Flores said, who debuted the Carmel shop Oct. 31 after receiving assistance from a Little Caesars program
created to help veterans become franchise owners. As part of the program, Flores, 45, received a discount of...
MoreFull incubator widens reach: Tech center to help non-tenants
November 26, 2007
Scott OlsonThe "no vacancy" sign hanging at an Indiana University business incubator has prompted officials to launch a program in which
startup companies can gain access to support services without renting space. IU's Emerging Technologies Center, on West 10th
Street near the Central Canal, houses 25 companies in about 44,000 square feet of space. The center has been operating at
full capacity the past two years and has a waiting list of four companies. For those who can't get into the...
MoreNiche firms thrive despite anonymity: Some small businesses don't need storefronts to keep customers coming
November 26, 2007
Marc D.Whimsical Whisk isn't your neighborhood bakery. Pastry chef Clare Welage never wanted it to be. She started the patisserie
in 2004 with plans to differentiate herself from the competition by making desserts from scratch using all-natural ingredients,
designing items specifically for the customer and-just as important-going without a storefront. "I've always felt that if
you open up a storefront and you have a specialty product, something somewhere gets compromised," Welage said. "Ultimately,
it's the quality of the product or it's...
MoreDog walker throws leash around new career
November 26, 2007
Emily GroenAmanda Briggs weaves in and out of the bustling lunch crowd in downtown Indianapolis, keeping a close eye on her canine clients
Griffen and Isabella. Briggs, 25, continues her walk through the busy streets, heading to the American Legion Mall and some
much-needed grass. Such is the life of a professional dog walker and pet sitter.
MoreFine arts programs prepare students for real world: Artists taught how to deal with galleries, market work
November 5, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonMost fine arts students used to exist in a bubble-running to class in paint-splattered clothing and practically living in
their studios, channeling their muse and honing their craft. Once they graduated, those who were driven enough to try to make
a living off their talent still had a lot to learn about running a business. But now many universities are doing more to make
sure art students graduate with the business skills they need. Local photographer Ginny Taylor Rosner graduated...
MorePROFILE: Roundpeg: Narrowing its focus helped Roundpeg find the right hole Networking also makes a difference for marketing
firm
November 5, 2007
Marc D.Roundpeg Narrowing its focus helped Roundpeg find the right hole Networking also makes a difference for marketing firm Lorraine
Ball is a human energy bar who seems to have more ideas than there are minutes in a day. She left her job as vice president
of creative services for Conseco Inc. in early 2002 to start her own business focusing on team building and strategic planning
for large companies-only to discover that in the post-9/11 world, big companies weren't investing...
MoreRETURN ON TECHNOLOGY: Is your Web site a cost or an investment?
October 29, 2007
Tim AltomI don't particularly like to shop, but I like seeing how other people shop, especially online. There are always so many surprises.
Of course, the big research is in e-commerce, where buyers spend money online. Studies show the number of people willing to
buy online is growing steadily. The Census Bureau shows a consistently upward trendline through August 2007 (www.census.gov/mrts/www/ecomm.html).
Most experts seem to believe that not only are more people throwing down their plastic electronically, but established shoppers
are...
MoreFeds OK women's biz centers: Program wins affiliation with SBA; details on set up, funding to come
October 29, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonAfter a 19-year run as a pilot program, a national initiative aimed at helping women start businesses finally has earned a
seal of approval from the federal government. As an official U.S. Small Business Administration program, the Women's Business
Center concept gains the stability that supporters had been seeking for nearly two decades. And that's good news for women
like Krista Bermeo, an Indianapolis artist who makes melted glass jewelry in her namesake Fountain Square studio. Bermeo sought
help from...
MoreClinton's 401(k) proposal receiving mixed reviews: Experts disagree on whether plan can spur savings
October 29, 2007
Scott OlsonRepublican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover promised a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage, leading everyone
to believe they would be prosperous under his administration. Fast-forward 80 years and a candidate from the other side of
the aisle, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is offering an incentive more fitting for the new millennium: a match on workers'
401(k) contributions. Time will tell whether Clinton becomes president and ultimately fulfills the pledge, but what prompted
it is Americans' reluctance...
MorePizza parlor, dog groomer among those going mobile
October 15, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonNeighborhood Pizza, which operates out of the back of a souped-up box truck equipped with a pizza oven and other necessities,
is among a growing number of startups that are hitting the road--literally.
MorePEOs bouncing back following shakeout: Professional employer organizations enjoying growth as companies seek better ways to
manage benefits
October 8, 2007
Scott OlsonEven though Sentelligence Inc. in Noblesville has only five employees, the tiny tech firm offers an appealing benefits package
rivaling that of a large corporation. The designer of diagnostic sensing devices for diesel engines has not discovered the
Holy Grail of human resources. Rather, it's using what's known as a professional employer organization. Companies contract
with PEOs to handle all the headaches of human resources, including payroll, payroll taxes, Worker's Compensation claims,
health plans, and other employee benefits, not to...
MoreLeader Corporation of Indiana: Chasing the American dream Couple dives into deep end from the start
October 1, 2007
Marc D.Couple dives into deep end from the start Tom Foreman had worked for other contractors, but in 1993 he decided the time was
right for him and his wife, Donna, to start their own business. So they founded Leader Corporation of Indiana, which provides
control systems (think temperature controls, security and automation systems) for commercial and institutional customers such
as Lucas Oil Stadium, the Conrad Indianapolis hotel and the Pendleton Correctional Facility. He was 53 at the time. Donna
was...
MoreHealth care fix may wait for '08: But other federal bills important to small business are making headway
September 24, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonThat's not what many NFIB members wanted to hear. "I've been a member of [the advocacy group] since 1985, and since 1985 the
top issue has been health care that is affordable for businesses and employees," said Barbara Quandt of Indianapolis-based
Quality Environmental Professionals Inc. The firm's health insurance costs increased by 33 percent in 2007, and Quandt said
company leaders are "quaking" with dread over what will happen in 2008. QEPI covers 75 percent of insurance costs for its...
MoreHome entrepreneurs test child-care waters
September 24, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonMotherhood is a common path to the home-based child care business, but more childless women looking for self-employment options
also are getting into the field. Nearly 3,000 Indiana child-care providers are licensed to provide services in their homes--including
469 in Marion County.
MorePROFILE: Lumasis.com: Finding its niche Focus on small business pays off for Web design firm
September 17, 2007
Della PachecoLumasis.comFinding its niche Focus on small business pays off for Web design firm When Zionsville native Jamie Brown graduated
from Purdue in 1995, most consumers were still in the dark about the possibilities the Internet could offer. Having been immersed
in the Web while studying electrical engineering technology at Purdue, Brown linked up with a local Internet provider and
started his first company, Computer Specialists. In 1997, the business morphed into Lumasis, a full-service Web site design
and hosting company...
MoreBRIAN WILLIAMS: Indiana needs to get energy-wise
September 10, 2007
As the 14th-mostpopulous state in the union, Indiana generates a gross state product that is 16th-largest of the 50 states.
Unfortunately, despite significant investments in equipment and processes by manufacturers and public-policy efforts to encourage
the attraction and growth of knowledgeand technology-focused industries, our economy remains energy-inefficient. In 2003,
Indiana was the country's sixthlargest consumer of energy per capita, according to the Indiana Energy Report. Ninety-seven
percent of Indiana's electricity is generated by coal. Indiana is the fifthlargest emitter of...
MoreMICKEY MAURER: No gala, but a glorious grand opening
September 10, 2007
In 2006, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. closed almost 200 transactions. Many recipients of the IEDC largess marked
the opening of their job-creation activities with hightech galas featuring products rolling down gangways accompanied by the
applause of dignitaries and well-wishers. Recognizing that attendance at these ceremonies was not an efficient use of time,
the IEDC adopted the mantra, "We don't cut ribbons, we just cut deals." With rare exception, ribbon-cutting was left to the
politicians. Last month, I participated in...
MoreLESSONS LEARNED ALBERT RENE TREVINO Owner, Rene's Bakery:
August 27, 2007
-Tammy LieberLESSONS LEARNED ALBERT RENE TREVINO Owner, Rene's Bakery As most entrepreneurs can attest, the process of running a small
business includes facing plenty of challenges. But viewing those potential obstacles as opportunities has helped Albert Rene
Trevino build Rene's Bakery Inc. into a growing enterprise with a solid reputation. One of his biggest trials was getting
the doors to his Broad Ripple shop open. Trevino had just parted ways with a former employer in 2004 when he stopped by the...
MoreSmall biz tax bills rising, too: Extra expense narrows margins
August 27, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonArea homeowners weren't the only ones to get a shock when they opened their 2007 tax bills. Some small-business owners also
saw their bills skyrocket-putting a strain on entrepreneurs who often operate on razor-thin margins. "It's catastrophic for
some businesses," said Kevin Hughes, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business's Indiana chapter.
Mike Hutson, owner of Westfield Lighting Co., certainly feels the pain. The bill on his commercial property-several acres
and a 22,500-square-foot building-increased from $42,000 in 2006...
MoreAn update on three women-owned startups: Innovative ideas lead to business expansion
August 13, 2007
Invoke In addition to the yoga and pilates classes offered at Invoke, owner Amy Peddycord has added clothing from Lululemon,
a popular Canadian apparel brand. She also has established a relationship with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Yoga Works, which
has 14 studios throughout California and New York. Yoga Works will lead a teacher training program at Invoke in 2008. Peddycord
says hiring an office manager in 2006 was the best thing she's done. "Nicole [Schoville] quickly grew into the role and...
MoreSoftware startup Vyante measures online chatter: Two-man firm lands $200,000 in grants, readies for product launch through
beta tests with corporations
August 6, 2007
Peter SchnitzlerTo make money on new software, sometimes you have to give it away. Thanks to that counterintuitive approach, tiny local IT
startup Vyante Inc. has persuaded companies like Eli Lilly and Co., Roche Diagnostics, Dow Agro-Sciences and 5MetaCom to test
the beta version of its new software, which tracks and measures the impact of their brands online. Vyante hopes eventually
to convert the companies into paying customers. "We've persisted against the odds," said Vyante Senior Technologist Benjamin
Ranck. "It was...
MoreRETURN ON TECHNOLOGY: Cell phone technology still socially backward
August 6, 2007
Tim AltomI'm standing in the Convention Center downtown, looking down sourly at my cell phone. The designers of the phone have failed
me, and I want to know why. It was the IUPUI graduation last May, and the hallways were filled with thousands of people in
fancy dress and black robes. I was trying to contact just one of those thousands, but I didn't know his cell number. I knew
he was there, and probably within a hundred yards, but without...
MoreOpportunistic VMS builds event-planning powerhouse
August 6, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonLocal hospitality firm's early work with Lilly helped it carve out a major niche in the pharmaceutical market.
MoreSTARTUP GAZELLE WEB & CONSULTING LLC: Entrepreneur offers to help entrepreneurs
July 30, 2007
-Amanda GetchelSTARTUP GAZELLE WEB & CONSULTING LLC Entrepreneur offers to help entrepreneurs Type of business: Consults with startup and
growing companies Location: 885 Waveland Lane, Greenwood Phone: 450-7746 E-mail: lott.brandon@gmail.comWeb site: www.gazellewebandconsulting.comFounded:
December 2006 Owner: Brandon Lott Owner's background: Lott, 33, grew up in the south side of Indianapolis and graduated from
Indiana University in 1998 with a health care degree. He went to New York in 2005 to work as an operations manager for retailer
Alan Flusser Custom Shop, but...
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Can IBJ please stop referring to this property as "Kessler Mansion"? What a ridiculous title for the biggest, bloated, blight in our city. It's not a mansion. At best, it's an ideal site to shoot low-budget porn. Ahhh! Another business use!
Its stories like these that prove that a Ball State diploma is worth less than the paper that its printed on. A real institution of higher learning would have taken care of this long ago. No way should this crap be taught in a SCIENCE class.
It is such a shame that King Ballard has made Indianapolis into Chicago south with all of the rampant corruption.
How many of these 1,259 bills were actually heard and voted on on the floor vs how many were shot down in committee?
When a an arrogant young guy with essentially no experience and no qualifications for the job, was dropped into an Administrator position out of nowhere by his "mentor" in the Mayor's office things seemed fishy. Sometimes things are what they seem.