JUNE 17-23, 2013
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.
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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.
Read MoreHamilton County wants squirrels on parade
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.
Read MoreVeteran 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.
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Governments helped fuel nursing-facility developer’s rise
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.
Read MoreYoung & Laramore finds app draws eyeballs to brand
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.
Read MoreLow-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.
Read MoreIndianapolis moving forward with startup land bank
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.
Read MoreITT Educational branches into charter schools
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.
Read MoreOut-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.
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EDITORIAL: Fishers, Noblesville make the right call
We’ve heard the lament for years: Center Township is home to Indianapolis’ greatest concentration of institutions that pay no property taxes.
Read MoreMORRIS: WGU Indiana steps up to provide higher ed for Hoosiers
The online university offers an affordable opportunity for post-secondary education as opportunities decline for those who never went beyond high school.
Read MoreKENNEDY: Mom-and-pops keep skin in the game
Sometimes, the more we learn, the more complicated things get.
Read MoreSTUART: Spend more on quality pre-K education
Fundamental to the American experience is the belief that our children have opportunity to reach whatever heights to which they aspire.
Read MoreHicks: Manufacturing turns out remarkably good news
I am always reluctant to fill this column with my recent research, but last week’s release of the annual Conexus Manufacturing Scorecard begs comment. Indiana did much better in the cost of worker benefits and continued to lead in the size of manufacturing and logistics. Indiana also ranked third in the pace of manufacturing recovery […]
Read MoreSkarbeck: Skyrocketing student debt looms large over economy
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.
Read MoreALTOM: Safeguarding data isn’t a perfect process
The risk of a breach is inherent in almost any security approach, but there are steps you can take to diminish risk.
Read MoreNew light on lightbulbs
I felt it necessary to fact-check Sheila Kennedy concerning her [June 3] column about conservative reaction to the environment.
Read MoreMaurer gets it right on marriage equality
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].
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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.
Read MoreCaponi 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.
Read MoreHead-swap performed on WTHR general manager
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.
Read MoreWoodard 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.
Read MoreCarbon 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.
Read MoreGood 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.
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