DEC. 9-15, 2022
Simon Property Group is getting a leg up on the emerging trend of online-only retailers moving into brick-and-mortar stores, a strategy that analysts say could have a big payoff for the Indianapolis-based shopping mall giant as it looks to develop new tenants. Mickey Shuey has more on its partnership with Chicago-based Leap Services. Also in this week’s issue, Peter Blanchard has a preview of the 2023 Indiana Legislature and its four-month, budget-writing session. And Dave Lindquist connects with media mogul Jeff Smulyan about his new book, a career retrospective titled “Never Ride a Roller Coaster Upside Down.”
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Simon turns to Chicago partner to bring online stores to malls
The Indianapolis-based shopping mall giant is getting a leg up on the emerging trend of online-only retailers moving into brick-and-mortar stores, a strategy analysts say could net the company a big payoff as it looks to develop new tenants.
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For startup, helping people connect on LinkedIn is big business
Kennected, which expects to book $10 million in revenue this year, has about 140 employees in the United States and India. As of mid-November, the company was bringing in just over $600,000 in monthly revenue, a figure that’s growing 10% each month.
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Jeff Smulyan revisits highs, lows of storied media career in new book
A new book is capping a year of tremendous transition for the Emmis Corp. founder whose roster of former employees includes David Letterman, Mike Pence, Isaac Hayes and Ken Griffey Jr.
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Hamilton County looks to ease rural digital divide
The county has some of the most affluent, highly connected cities in Indiana. It also has rural areas that lack widespread access to reliable high-speed internet.
Read MoreQ&A: Filmmaker Jerald Harkness shines light on trailblazer
Johnny Bright was considered a leading candidate to become the first Black player to win the Heisman Trophy in 1951, when his season at Drake University was derailed after an Oklahoma A&M player broke Bright’s jaw in an on-field attack perceived as being racially motivated.
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Derek Schultz: ’Tis the season for gloom and sad tidings
In the time of year that is supposed to bring joy and glad tidings, this season brings Colts fans neither. It’s like this franchise is stuck in the chimney, with a fire roaring under its snow boots.
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IU plans science and tech corridor in Indianapolis to boost STEM degrees
The IU SciTech corridor will begin at the corner of Michigan and West streets, one of the main entrances to the downtown campus and house both IU and Purdue programs, President Pamela Whitten told the university’s board Friday.
Read MoreHogsett appoints city’s first chief diversity officer, reorganizes cabinet
A pre-election revamp of the mayor’s cabinet includes the appointment of the first diversity officer, a new senior adviser and new deputy mayors.
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Carmel-based developer looking to build 70 townhouses in Lebanon
The development, called Onyx Point, would consist of 12 two-story buildings on 5.7 acres at 2620 N. Lebanon St.
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Eli Lilly’s report card on racial justice effort shows $15.6M in donations
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker released a report card Thursday that outlined its progress “to support effective solutions” to racial inequity and social injustice. In addition to donations, the company has committed tens of millions of dollars to other diversity efforts.
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Noblesville City Council approves incentives for $30M SMC expansion plan
SMC Corp. of America plans to expand its total workforce in Noblesville to 1,157 by 2032.
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Funding for education, public health expected to dominate 2023 Legislature
Also looking for state support are initiatives related to workforce training, road funding, energy standards and affordable housing.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
Editorial: It’s time to raise the cigarette tax
Indiana’s high smoking rate and poor health rankings demand a solution that lawmakers have avoided for far too long.
Read MoreNate Feltman: Indiana must prioritize gains in public health
Indiana’s ability to remain economically competitive for job-creating investments in the future faces significant challenges, one of the biggest being the health of Hoosiers.
Read MoreMike Dodd: Public-private efforts are building field of dreams
The seed of $280 billion has already triggered an industry investment nearing twice that, at $477 billion.
Read MoreScott Stump: Indianapolis, thank you for supporting the future of FFA
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who helped the National FFA team take good care of the 69,000 students entrusted to us during our annual convention.
Read MoreTiffany Sauder: Drop perfection. Instead, seek vulnerability.
As a young businesswoman, I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to be perfect. Perfectly prepared. Perfectly dressed. Perfectly presented. Perfectly on time.
Read MorePete the Planner: So you’ve been laid off. Here are your first steps.
Income, expenses and benefits are the issues that create the headaches. And they have this supernatural way of amalgamating themselves into this seemingly insurmountable problem, which oddly can be solved only if you’re able to separate them back into individual challenges.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: War powers are a public good that must be scrutinized
We want a military strong enough to defend us, but we also don’t want it to trample on our personal freedom.
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New Indiana professional licensing agency boss named
Lindsay Hyer has been named executive director of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, succeeding Deborah Frye, who is retiring after seven years in the role.
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Inotiv plans to close two Indianapolis facilities in consolidation
The pharmaceutical testing company said it plans to close two isolator facilities in Indianapolis and consolidate them with existing facilities in the United States.
Read MoreWomen’s Fund of Central Indiana names new president
Tamara Winfrey-Harris has been with the CICF for more than six years, most recently as vice president of people, culture & brand.
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Indiana City Brewing looking for buyer
Indiana City Brewing Co. owners say their on-site taproom on the city’s near-east side will remain open and fully operational throughout the sale process.
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Josh Webb: Lawmakers should lower state taxes across the board
The problem is, this nanny-state, tax-hiking mentality is its own unhealthy addiction, and it won’t stop with cigarettes.
Read MoreBryan Hannon: For more public health funding, increase tax
Failure to invest in public health—and to raise taxes on all tobacco products—is not without cost.
Read MoreDr. Richard Feldman: Increasing the cigarette tax will improve health
It is well known from multiple authoritative sources that increasing the cigarette tax is probably the most effective single strategy for reducing smoking rates.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: It’s time to make bold decisions for public health
Indiana’s per capita spending on public health in 2019 was $55; the national average was $91.
Read MoreClaire Fiddian-Green: 4 steps Indiana can take to improve STEM outcomes
Science and math proficiency are critical to a student’s future success in the workforce.
Read MoreJim Shella: Journalism isn’t dead. Here, it’s getting a reboot.
It is clear the public wants news coverage. And through new business models, reporters can supply it.
Read MoreShariq Siddiqui: Here are the takeaways from my time at the Vatican
Far too often, discussions about philanthropy exclude religion or seek to think of it as tangential.
Read MoreUna Osili: Let’s keep the momentum for funding equity going
The past few years have offered insights into how donors and funders can deepen their commitments.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner Chartier: Thanks, Sen. Young, for ‘yes’ vote on marriage act
A whole lot of things had to go wrong for us to need the Respect for Marriage Act in the first place, but it turned out that dignity and respect are not partisan values.
Read MoreCurt Smith: Banks will emerge as front-runner for Senate seat
He is a consistent conservative voice and vote against the ‘Washington-knows-best’ government creep that so troubles most Republican primary voters.
Read MorePierre Atlas: November was not a good month for Donald Trump
The midterm elections showed Trump to be ‘The Biggest Loser,’ which gives cover for many Republicans to finally renounce and abandon him.
Read MoreKaren Celestino-Horseman: Election recounts will clear the air, prove no fraud
No amount of lies about the election process is going to change the vote totals.
Read MoreRep. Ed DeLaney: Another Republican education reform is coming
It has apparently been determined that our public schools and universities have lost their ‘value proposition.’
Read MoreAbdul-Hakim Shabazz: Here are a few post-election suggestions
Eliminate straight-ticket voting and implement ranked-choice voting.
Read MoreMarshawn Wolley: Subcontracting isn’t always beneficial to MBEs
My value to Daniel is not that I have assembled talented Black professionals on my team—it’s merely that I have an MBE certification.
Read MoreDana Black: More Indiana Democrats need to do the hard work
We need to ask constituents what they need before we ask them for their vote or donation, knowing those conversations can be very difficult.
Read MoreBrad Rateike: The art of a good meeting: it’s not always productive
There are few phrases I hear in the business world that are more vanilla.
Read MoreBrian Schutt: Lawmakers must act to protect kids on social media
Studies … show trends that paint a picture of a strong connection between social media usage and a teenage public health crisis.
Read MoreSpecial SectionsBack to Top
2022 CFO of the Year: Ann Elisabeth Dryer
Ann Dryer’s responsibilities at Commonwealth Engineers—a firm specializing in water resources—include overseeing the accounting department, managing financial performance, providing quality financial reporting for operational planning, working directly with project managers and clients, overseeing human resources, and assisting in internal controls as a member of the operating committee.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Josh Davidhizar
Josh Davidhizar is responsible for oversight of accounting and financial processes, policies and procedures at Indiana Oxygen Co.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Jenny Quinnette
Jenny Quinnette helps plan and execute the strategy of Vibenomics by providing recommendations based on insights gleaned through numbers.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Rodney Graham
Rodney Graham is responsible for the accounting, treasury and information systems teams for Co-Alliance—a nearly 100-year-old diversified agribusiness owned and controlled by about 12,400 members who are local farmers that produce or market farm products—and its subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Tony Firmani
Tony Firmani is CFO of MPI Corp. and its operating subsidiaries, which currently includes Small Parts Inc. and HTI.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Andrew J. Toth
As CFO of GEMCO Constructors—a mechanical, electrical, plumbing, building automation systems and service contractor—Andrew Toth oversees the finance, accounting, human resources and IT functions of the business, which has been named to IBJ’s Fast 25 list five years in a row.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Barry Gardner
Barry Gardner oversees five departments for the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, including finance, facilities, grounds and custodial services, child nutrition and construction.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Christopher A. Ruhl
Christopher Ruhl leads all financial management, business services, treasury, human resource, information technology, sponsored research programs and internal audit functions at Purdue University, which has a $2.5 billion annual operating budget across all its campuses and Purdue Global.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Mark Kern
As CFO, Mark Kern works with Firefly Children and Family Alliance’s CEO, management team and board to provide strategic and accurate financial management and recommendations to the agency.
Read More2022 CFO of the Year: Michael E. Johnson
As CFO of CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions—a not-for-profit dedicated to ensuring that seniors and people with disabilities live the best life possible—Michael Johnson provides strategic direction to assess new business opportunities and financial insight and collaborates not only with colleagues at CICOA but also other community organizations.
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