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PROFILE ANNIE-O’S: Party planner’s plan: Help others celebrate Personal losses helped owner appreciate the good times

“I don’t find that some direct-mail piece says what I do,” said Dezelan, owner of Annie-O’s event planning. “I think a lot of what sells myself is me-my personality.” That’s why, Dezelan said, most of her new business comes via word-of-mouth, from people who’ve met the energetic 36-year-old with the big, bright personality. Her marketing efforts try to reflect that personality. Dezelan recently revamped the Annie-O’s Web site so that “it’s like a party at your desk,” she said. On…

VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: After 5 years, it’s time to think about changing SOX

Almost five years ago, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or SOX, was passed in haste, largely in response to the large-scale securities frauds and market dislocations surrounding Worldcom, Enron and other large accounting scandals involving public firms. It imposed new federalized standards for internal controls, corporate governance, accounting independence and review, whistle-blowing and legal review. It represented the most important change to the federal securities laws since the passage of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of…

Finish Line’s buy praised, panned

Athletic retailer The Finish Line Inc. had cultivated a reputation for conservative play calling, keeping clean books with
minimal debt. Then on June 18, the Indianapolis-based retailer called a surprise audible. The $1.3 billion company agreed
to acquire Nashville, Tenn.-based Genesco Inc. for $1.5 billion.

State begins modernizing case-management systems: Moving from paper to electronic records a big task

Beside a marble counter in the Appellate Clerk of the Courts office at the Indiana Statehouse, a one-room storage area known as “the vault” is the storehouse for paper case files. Each is bound by string and has case numbers written on an attached tag, and they only move to be carted between floors and buildings when a court needs to review a file. While the clerk creates an electronic docket at the appellate level, that system remains largely unconnected…

‘Find your niche ‘:

His goal was to provide the proverbial one-stop shop, a place where “honey do” lists got done. Before long, he realized he may not have been aiming high enough. It seemed homeowners with not-so-handy honeys weren’t the only customers interested in what Schneller was selling. He also got calls from real estate agents who needed some last-minute home repairs completed before a sale could close. “They came to us with a laundry list of items,” Schneller said, ticking off an…

Court reporters in short supply: School closings lead to openings

Tom Richardson credits fictional defense attorney Perry Mason and the climactic trials on the long-running television series for prompting him to become a court reporter more than 30 years ago. But the romance of participating in a high-profile court case or deposition and translating riveting testimony seems to be lost on the younger set. Industry experts say the dwindling number of licensed court reporters and the closure of a number of court-reporting schools have mired the profession in a severe…

A&E: Building connections at IU Museum

This week: An architectural art show at IU, Kurt Vonnegut’s board game, “Sissies” on stage, and an Indy Jazz Fest question. An art museum exhibition doesn’t have to be a multi-room blockbuster to be enormously satisfying. Case in point, “Architecture, Real and Imagined” (running through Sept. 2 at Indiana University Art Museum). It’s a must-see for architects and architectural students, but also an accessible show for anyone interested in where we live and how we adorn and perceive our environments….

STARTUP THE SLEEPY HOLLOW STORE LLC: Irvington book store starting small

STARTUP THE SLEEPY HOLLOW STORE LLC Irvington book store starting small Type of business: books, music, art supplies and gifts Location: 5535 E. Washington St. Phone: 354-8000 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.sleepyhollowstore.comor www.myspace.com/sleepyhollowstore Founded: April 2007 Owner: Bobbie and Joanna Zaphiriou Owners’ backgrounds: Bobbie Zaphiriou, 25, has worked in bookshops since she was 16. Sister-in-law Joanna Zaphiriou, 31, graduated from IUPUI with a degree in anthropology, and managed Hollywood Bar and Filmworks, where she learned about running a business. Why…

Tax hike may finally settle police pension problem: Measure could end 30-year battle over public safety

The Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council is considering a proposal from Mayor Bart Peterson to raise at least $85 million annually for public safety through an increase in local income taxes. Since Democrats control the Council 15 to 14, the measure is expected to pass by the end of July and take effect Oct. 1. The tax hike would finally settle a 30-year battle that constantly pitted public safety’s immediate needs against its longterm pension obligations. Much of the revenue generated…

New management brings youth, profit: Industry experience makes hotel more professional

After unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day 2005, Colleen Fanning got something else from her dad: an offer to run the small inn he bought in 2002. Bill Fanning spent more than two years tearing down, rebuilding and expanding the Brick Street Inn, a fixture on Main Street in Zionsville. But it struggled financially after reopening in the fall of 2004, and his patience was at an end. “He told me: ‘Either I’m going to sell the inn or you can…

Commentary: Chasing after the younger crowd

A couple of weeks ago, I ate lunch with an attorney friend who was telling me about his eldest daughter-born, raised and now living in Indianapolis. A 27-year-old registered nurse, she was preparing to move to Chicago because she thinks “there is nothing to do here” for people her age. This really hit home for me because I have two daughters in the same age range living here, and both are starting to talk about moving away for a while,…

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS: What’s your favorite economic indicator?

If you like to hear news about the economy, the information age has been a boon. Leave your television set on one of the financial networks, and you’ll see tickers, graphs and animations whizzing by as talking heads digest and dissect every morsel of market and economic information. Tell your computer to alert you to any news about a company, a country or an industry and it will pop up with tidbits all day long. And for a few bucks,…

BULLS & BEARS: Reflect if you must, but look ahead, too

Let’s peer back to a time a few years ago to see if there are any similarities to today. “Back then,” corporations were buying back their own stock as never before and pundits talked about the massive liquidity flowing into stocks. “Back then,” the U.S. market hit new all-time highs in the first half of the year, although professional investors were skeptical since the strongest global economy was in Asia. “Back then,” the economy was in the fifth year of…

SPORTS: Hoosiers will finish the revival Coach Hep started

It’s just not fair. Life and death aren’t always. Nonetheless, I consider myself fortunate to have been among those on hand this year for what was one of Hep’s last public speaking experiences, at an NCAA function. Per usual, Hep was witty, inspirational and ultra-enthusiastic as he talked about his program. If I didn’t have season tickets already, I would have rushed out and bought some. My last memory of him is a great one. I knew Hep going back…

Bigger not best for all: drophead Many attorneys find greener pastures in smaller practices after leaving major firms

not Bigger leaving best for red all tape drophead Many attorneys find greener pastures in smaller practices after leaving major firms When lawyers Debra Miller and James Fisher fled legal powerhouse Ice Miller LLP and the prestigious partner status they had earned, their stable of coworkers swiftly sank from nearly 250 to none. Yet 15 months later, after the pair left the largest law firm in the city, they say they’re quite content practicing together at Miller & Fisher LLC,…

Ice-sculpting experts carve lucrative niche in growing business

Once reserved for upper-crust weddings, ice sculptures-and their creators-have gone mainstream, finding their way to business
meetings, personal parties and hotel receptions nationwide. Of the 500 U.S. professional sculptors who design the icy artwork,
10 practice their craft in Indiana.

STARTUP MOBIUS LABS: Software tester tries training, too

STARTUP MOBIUS LABS Software tester tries training, too Type of business: software testing Location: 9229 Delegates Row, Suite 290 Phone: 218-7709 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.mobiuslabs.com Founded: March 2007 Owner: Alan Wlasuk Owner’s background: Alan Wlasuk, 56, has a bachelor’s degree in math from Drexel University and a master’s in computer science from Ohio State University. About 20 years ago, the software developer founded two local enterprises for AT&T. Then 14 years ago, he created software-development firm Wlasuk, Delporte and…

NOTIONS: When in the car, thou shalt do as I command

The Vatican did something unusual last week. It issued a new set of Ten Commandments. Unlike the originals, these aren’t for everyone. They’re just for motorists. They weren’t delivered on stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God, either. They were issued at a news conference by the Vatican’s office for migrants and itinerant people. Why drivers’ commandments? Well, according to the Associated Press, the Vatican believes cars can be “an occasion of sin,” particularly when used for dangerous passing…

INVESTING: Rising interest rates not a reason to get defensive

Investors the world over are in an uproar about the increase in U.S. interest rates over the last month. Fundamental guys are screaming that the cost of capital is now prohibitive to further growth. Technical guys are screaming that 25- year support levels were broken and now the floodgates are open to much higher rates. Somewhere a voice of reason needs to be heard. You’ve come to the right place. The fact is that interest rates have been trending higher…

Bar program takes aim at loan debt: Legal aid attorneys can get relief

In 2037, Melody Goldberg will be 57 years old and eligible for membership in AARP. While the lawyer at Indiana Legal Services Inc. has difficulty relishing the thought, she can at least look forward to the time when she’s finally liberated of her student loans. But for now, Goldberg, 27, can take solace as well knowing she’s content at the public service job she enjoys without worrying about how she’s going to make her next loan payment. The 2006 graduate…