Biznet June 2019

Page 1

1 ÜĄ ãÜÛ ²

JUNE 2019 VOL. 32, NO. 6

A Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Publication

In this issue: Advocacy Update ..........................................................2

“Diamonds say what we can’t. Very few gifts you are able to give have that kind of power and sentiment.”

Chamber Voices............................................................3 YPB News .....................................................................4 Chamber Briefs .............................................................5 Franklin Initiative Update...............................................6 In Our Own Backyard ...................................................7 Chamber Launches ‘3 Things’ Podcast......................11

—Christian Lawrence, Gold Casters Fine Jewelry

Chamber’s Annual Meeting.........................................11 Women Excel Bloomington Awards............................12

Christian Lawrence, Gold Casters Fine Jewelry. (Chris Howell / Herald-Times)

Spotlight: Gold Casters Fine Jewelry

JUNE

By Kasey Husk

T Coming in July: The ‘Right Hands’ of Bloomington

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

o Christian Lawrence of Gold Casters Fine Jewelry, selecting an engagement ring – or any other piece of fine jewelry – isn’t buying just any gift. It’s making a statement. “Diamonds say what we can’t,” Lawrence says, adding that “very few gifts you are able to give have that kind of power and sentiment.” Since the company’s founding in 1984, the Lawrence family has been dedicated to helping its clientele make those kinds of statements with highend products and dedicated customer service. Today, Lawrence says that Gold Casters – whose sole location is on the corner of Second and Washington streets in Bloomington — is the largest jewelry store by volume in south-central Indiana. “We pride ourselves on offering a selection that rivals the one you’d find in a store in Indianapolis,” Lawrence says. “We carry brands you wouldn’t usually see in a store in a town the size of Bloomington, that are not typical for a town of 80,000 people.” The company has come a long way since its founding in 1984 when Lawrence’s father, Brad Lawrence – who he describes as “the visionary” and a

SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 14

12 Chamber Golf Scramble, The Golf Club at Eagle Pointe 20 Business After Hours, Hearthstone Health Campus 27 YPB, Switchyard Brewing Co.

JULY 16 Business After Hours – Graduate Bloomington 25 10 Under 40 Awards, Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington

In Our Own Backyard: Highlighting some unique local businesses

See page 7

ADVOCACY+Update The Chamber represents business interests to local, state and federal representatives, serving as an advocate on behalf of all businesses for the issues critical to the future of our community. If you need assistance with a business advocacy issue, please contact your Advocacy Team at the Chamber.

General Assembly Update The Indiana General Assembly wrapped up its 2019 budget session in April. Besides the budget, the Chamber tracked legislation of interest to the local business community, including a few bills listed below. For the full list of state advocacy issues, visit the Chamber’s website. SB 198: Bias Crimes This bill, signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on April 3, allows judges to impose longer sentences for crimes motivated by bias. Previously, Indiana was one of only five states without a bias crimes law. The House amended this bill to include language from a House bill that had not been heard in committee and a reference to an existing list of characteristics in Indiana statute. The list is not complete and leaves off many characteristics such as gender, sex, age and gender identity. SB 285: Regional Transit Expansion This bill would have allowed counties to impose an additional local income tax to

Key changes include: • Four new zone districts • Minimum lot sizes reduced in multifamily and mixed-use districts to allow more walkable and efficient development • Building envelopes control dwelling density - not dwelling units per acre or conversion factors • Availability of PUDs narrowed • Urban Agriculture now allowed in all zone districts subject to standards • Downtown height limits go back to what they were before the interim ordiHB 1625: Housing Cost Information nance of December 2017 This bill would have required state and • New Minor Site Plan process allows local governments to prepare a housing smaller projects to be approved by staff if impact analysis for new rules that have an they meet the UDO impact on the development, construction, • New Minor Modification process cost or availability of housing in the state. allows staff to approve minor deviations It also required municipalities to annually from some UDO to address unique site prepare and pass a housing affordability conditions report and a housing fee report. The bill Changes to Student Housing: passed the House and was referred to the • New definition - any multi-family Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy, building with any 4- or 5-bedroom units, but no further action was taken. or more than 1/3 3 bedroom units, is a “Student Housing or Dormitory” • In all zone districts (except one), student housing or dormitories are subject to A consolidated draft of the UDO is now o Lower height limits available on the City’s website. The cono Maximum floorplate limits (footsolidated draft incorporates changes based print) on input from previous UDO meetings. A o 300 foot spacing Chamber subcommittee reviewed the draft, o And sometimes conditional use made recommendations and continues to approval monitor the process. fund the operations of a public transportation corporation and the operations of a rural transportation assistance program. The Chamber has been supportive of this bill over the years. The recent version called for a referendum to impose the tax. The ability to have an option for an additional tax would allow communities that need expanded public transit services the ability to have funds to do so. This session’s final action was referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

City’s UDO Updates

o The exception - a new Student Housing zoning district to allow larger/taller buildings with 4-5 bedrooms in locations where comprehensive plan says student housing is appropriate Affordable Housing: • New definition of student housing will relieve pressure on other forms of multi-family housing • New R-4 district allows smaller lot sizes for new development and replats (4,200 sq. ft.) • Reduced minimum lot sizes for new development in multi-family and mixeduse districts to allow more efficient, walkable development • Removed dwelling unit per acre density limits in multi-family and mixed-use districts • Duplexes, tri-plexes, and four-plexes allowed on corner lots in current R-S and R-C (and others) subject to standards • Accessory dwelling units permitted without conditional use approval Affordable Housing Incentives: • At least 20% restricted < 120% AMI = 1 additional floor • At least 10% restricted < 80% AMI and 10% < 120% AMI = 2 additional floors • Not available to Student Housing or Dormitory

ADV0CACY UPDATE

continued on page 15

Have questions about Chamber advocacy? Contact Mary Morgan 812-336-6381 mmorgan@Chamber Bloomington.org

F2 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

In Our Own Backyard

CHAMBER VOICES

Dear Members,

Erin Predmore. Courtesy photo.

One of my first memories of Bloomington was the excitement that other, longertime, residents expressed when they found out we had moved to town. It was the summer of 2014, and as I met new people and made friends, others would excitedly ask, “Isn’t it so great to be here?� No one knew us well enough yet to know if they were excited to have us in town, but they DID know that we were lucky to live here. The longer we have lived in Bloomington, the more this initial response makes sense to me. Residents are happy to be here, and they are happy when newcomers recognize some of the wonderful and unique aspects of being here. From our Lighting of the Square and sweaters for trees, local festivals and the B-Line trail, we have amazing local character. There is a sense of place in Bloomington that I have not experienced anywhere else. I’ve recently met with many different people throughout our community to better understand our potential as a Chamber, as well as issues that may be on the horizon that we need to be prepared to respond to. In those interviews, I asked people “what are the three things that mean Bloomington and Monroe County to you?� Their responses centered around different themes, and are summarized in the following list according to frequency: 1)

Quality of life (arts, culture, education, outdoor recreation)

2)

Indiana University

3)

Community Pride

4)

Small Town Feel

5)

Quirkiness

6)

Diversity/Inclusion

7)

Vibrancy

8)

Progressive Values

9)

Lake Monroe

10)

Curiosity

11)

Caring

/ChamberBloom

/ChamberBloom

/ChamberBloom

Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce 400 W. 7th St., Suite 102 • P.O. Box 1302 • Bloomington, IN 47402 Phone 812-336-6381 • ChamberBloomington.org

STAFF, PARTNERS & BOARD MEMBERS The Chamber invites its members to contact these individuals with comments or questions regarding Chamber activities. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DIRECTORS

Erin Predmore, President and CEO Serena Duke, Member Services Coordinator Christopher Emge, Manager of Talent and Education Jim Inman, Director of Marketing and Communications Mary Morgan, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy Jim Shelton, Government Relations-County Tammy Walker, Director of Member Services Alison Zook, Events Coordinator

Bruce Calloway, Duke Energy Lauren Dexter, Bloomington Health Foundation Pat East, Hanapin Marketing Amy Somers Kopp, RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties Cullen McCarty, Smithville Vanessa McClary, Kiwanis Club of South Central IN Dan Peterson, Cook Group Scott Shishman, Old National Bank Brian Shockney, IU Health Bloomington Donna Walker, Hoosier Energy Kirk White, Indiana University Jim Whitlatch, Bunger & Robertson Andy Williams, Rogers Group, Inc.

OFFICERS Ron Walker, CFC Properties, Chair Jennie Vaughan, Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington, 1st Vice Chair Mike Richardson, Midwest Color Printing/FASTSIGNS, 2nd Vice Chair Cindy Kinnarney, First Financial Bank, Secretary/Treasurer Tony Stonger, Edward Jones, Immediate Past Chair

Those early welcomers had it right – it is so great to be here. We are a unique and wonderful place to be. This month’s issue of BizNet celebrates some businesses that add to the uniqueness of Bloomington’s character. “In Our Own Backyard� article features some local businesses that are not found in every community, and some only exist in Bloomington. I hope you get a chance to enjoy the rest of BizNet this month, and when you get a chance, email me to tell me what “three things mean Bloomington and Monroe County to you� – I would love to add to my list. Best, Erin

CONTACT BIZNET If you are a Chamber member who would like to announce promotions, expansions, community events, or other news in the “Chamber Briefs� section, please contact Jim Inman at the Chamber: 812-336-6381 or jinman@ChamberBloomington.org. To advertise in BizNet, please contact Chad Giddens at 812-331-4292 or cgiddens@heraldt.com. Be sure to ask about discount rate packages for Chamber members!

For subscription information or customer service, please contact Jim Inman at 812-336-6381 or info@ChamberBloomington.org.

0

0

Please send press releases to info@ChamberBloomington.org. Thank you for your interest in BizNet! 1Â?Â€ÂŚĂŠĂœĂœÄ„Â?²

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F3

The Value of Summer Interns By Christopher Emge, manager of talent and education

A

goal of higher education is to adequately prepare students to achieve success in their future careers. While tackling a tough level of academic rigor and gaining important life skills can be considered crucial aspects of career preparedness, a more important aspect is being placed on the value of experiential learning. What does not get discussed to the same degree is the importance of internship programs for the companies themselves. First, employers can gain immediate rewards without a hiring commitment. They obtain a fresh, youthful perspective. This sometimes comes from doing some of the

MEMBER RENEWALS • All Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning • Andrew Davis Clothiers • Barton Performance Group, LLC • Bloomington Public Transportation Corp.

mundane projects other employees do not want to do. As it relates to Young Professionals Bloomington (YPB), interns are an opportunity to retain needed talent in our community. In the past 10 years, as the labor market tightened, the competition for employees has become much more competitive. These intern programs provide companies a unique and extended opportunity to expose the next group of YPs to their brand and unique aspects to their culture. “As the labor market continues to tighten,” said Anne McCombe, vice president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, “we see more employers who have open positions, but find some difficulty in filling those open positions. Internships are a fantastic way to introduce future employees

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, The • Building Associates, Inc. • C S Property Management • Caregiver Homes of Indiana • Coghlan & Hrisomalos Dentistry • Comprehensive Financial Consultants • Edward Jones

• Evangelical Community Church • F.C. Tucker/Bloomington, REALTORS • Garden Villa • Gates Insurance, Inc. • Griffin Realty Holdings, LLC • Hampton Inn • Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari • Irish Lion Restaurant & Pub, The • Irving Materials Inc. (IMI)

NEW MEMBERS AppleTree Staffing 1781 W. 3rd St., Suite F Bloomington, IN 47404 Contact: Kenny Geiersbach 812-772-5681 Covenanter Hill Neighborhood 3101 E. Covenanter Drive Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-323-8021 F4 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

to your company culture as well as introduce them to the greater Bloomington community. The younger workforce is just as interested in the community outside of work as they are in a company’s culture.” In a recent article in The HeraldTimes, Rebecca Reott, Human Resource Director for Hanapin Marketing, said the company has become the envy of other companies, not by direct perks but rather being transparent and responsive to its employees, the community and the clients themselves. Their culture is what retains their employees. Cook Group regularly takes on 50 interns each summer at their Bloomington office. They use this two-month period to invest in them with the goal of retaining those that do great work for the company.

YPB NEWS

continued on page 15

The painting of a mural at Blueline Media Productions’ office by Zerina Razic during YPB’s “Connecting with Creatives” event. (Courtesy photo)

• Jamar Property Management LLC • Jerry’s Diagnostic Center Inc • The JuanSells.com Realty Co. • La Vie en Rose Café • LRAP Association, Inc. • Mann Plumbing, Inc • Manufactured Housing Heating & A/C, Inc. • Mirwec Film Inc. • Monroe County Commissioners

• Monroe County Fair Association Inc. • Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame • Monroe County United Ministries, Inc. • MutualBank (Bloomfield) • Outback Steakhouse • Mark Oyler • Quality Collision Inc. • Rapid Roofing and Restoration • Richland Bean-Blossom Health Care Center

• Rubicon Construction LLC • Scholars Inn Bakery • Technology Service Corp. • Teders & Quackenbush Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors • Trinitas Ventures • Underground Printing • Visiting Angels • West Side Tractor Sales • Wildman Imprints

HighGrove 3809 S. Sare Road Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-650-4426

Porto Flats 3105 S. Sare Road Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-650-4200

Scholar’s Rock 1300 N. Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 47404 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-330-1123

MeadowCreek Neighborhood 36321 S. Cheekwood Lane Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-333-2280

Scholar’s Quad 2716 E. 10th Street Bloomington, IN 47408 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-323-7359

Verona Park Neighborhood 2725 E. Boathouse Lane Bloomington, IN 47401 Contact: Eric Dainton 812-650-4200

CHAMBER BRIEFS

New Hires and Promotions Chandler Checklist LLC proudly welcomes two new personal assistants, Lindsay Brewer-Brown and Allegra Hill. Lindsay joins the team with years of experience in healthcare, administration, event design, project management, travel coordination, and photography. Allegra is a part-time student working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Entrepreneurship and Psychology. Her experience ranges from marketing and event planning to animal care and home construction. Chandler Checklist is excited for the future with Lindsay and Allegra – learn more at chandlerchecklist.com.

industry as well as pharmaceutical sales. For more information call 812-3296048.

Awards and Designations Edward Jones was recently ranked No. 1 on “Top 100 Places to Work in Indiana” by BizVoice magazine. BizVoice magazine teamed up with the Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, Pa., to rank the state’s best employers. Companies named Top 125 Places to work in Indiana for 2018 were divided into 13 “major” companies, with 1,000 or more U.S. employees, 25 large companies, 30 medium companies and 57 small-sized companies by the number employees in Indiana. Learn more at www.edwardjones.com.

Congratulations to Bloom Magazine on receiving 15 Society of JA Benefits is excited to welcome Collin Hartman as Professional Journalists a Benefits Advisor. A gradu- “Best of the Best in Indiana ate of IU’s School of Public Journalism” awards — more and Environmental Affairs, than any other magazine in and a former member of the the state. Malcolm Abrams, IU men’s basketball team, CHAMBER BRIEFS Hartman brings experience in the financial consulting continued on page 15

Congratulations to Bloomington Hardware Company, Inc. on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated their Grand Re-Opening with a new store layout by providing demos, sales and giveaways. Visit them at 2700 E. Covenanter Drive or call (812) 339-7575.

The Nashville Spice Company sells fresh herbs, spices, spice blends, select gourmet food and mixology items. In doing so, we aim to expand the interest and enthusiasm of everyday cooks in their own kitchens. Visit us at 58 E. Main St. #4 in Nashville, IN or call (812) 200-3400 for more information.

UNVEILED is a women’s portrait studio specializing in boudoir and modern glamour. Our Signature Session includes photo-ready hair and makeup, wardrobe guidance, an hour in front of the camera with up to three outfits, and a same-day image reveal. That’s right—you can see and order your edited images on the same day as your shoot. We work hard to give you an all-inclusive experience in one day. Start to finish, it’s all about you! For more information call (812) 329-5355 or visit www.unveiled-photo.com

Congratulation to Creative in Bloom, LLC on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated the opening of their new studio with an Open House. For more information on custom paperie and event branding call (812) 360-0807 to make an appointment.

Jeff Ferree Builders is a local family-owned business where our tradition for over 30 years has been “customizing to your needs.” Building over 100 homes in the Bloomington, Monroe County and surrounding areas, Jeff Ferree Builders are locally experienced & trusted. From Custom homes to room additions and remodeling, Jeff is an on-site & hands-on builder, specializing in his own workmanship on every project. From the first contact, working with your plans or drawings, using quality materials, reputable subcontractors, siting your lot or working with the planning & building department. Every step of your project is completed from start to finish. Call (812) 8242552 to set up an appointment today!

AppleTree Staffing is a collection of the most experienced professionals in the employment industry. In our experience, the employment industry is full of horror stories of mistreated employees and employers. Over 20 years of industry experience have taught us what it takes to be successful and how to treat both employees and employers the right way… the AppleTree way. Visit us online at www.appletreestaffing.com

Congratulations to Lola & Company on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated the reopening of their new store location. Visit them at 114 N. Walnut St or shop online at www. shoplola.net.

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F5

The Franklin Initiative Update Franklin Initiative Finishes the School Year Strong

T

Michelle Seidenstucker, the manager of learning and development at Smithville Fiber, discusses the career prospects at her company to an interested student at last month’s BHSS’s Career Exploration Fair. (Courtesy photo)

he Franklin Initiative (FI) wrapped up another successful 2018-19 school year. FI was able to reach countless students on career exploration, financial literacy and occupation next steps. This would not have been possible without the support and dedication of our tremendous core of volunteers. FI completed with two high profile events last month. First, the Bloomington High School South Career Exploration Fair. Over 400 students interacted with nearly 40 different companies around the community. In the past, small groups of volunteers would enter the classroom to talk about their professional arc. This year the format was changed to create a more fair-like atmosphere with individuals at tables as full classes entered to interact one on one. “All the teachers and students were

extremely pleased with the variety of careers and knowledge that was present,” stated sophomore English Teacher at BHSS Ashley M. McGinnis. “Student feedback over the past few school days has been extremely positive, and students overwhelmingly recommend having the Career Exploration Fair again next year!” “I thoroughly enjoyed the day I got to spend with the sophomores at BHSS,” noted Smithville Fiber Employee Michelle Seidenstucker. “It was exciting listening to them talk about their future, as well as share my experiences. I think most of them were surprised what diverse job opportunities a local company like Smithville has to offer. There were a surprising number of students who had no

FRANKLIN INITIATIVE UPDATE

continued on page 11

Nominate a Young Professional Today!

T Congratulations to United Way of Monroe County on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated their recent relocation of their office space. During the event, Tim Ellis spoke on the history of the Adams Houses and memorabilia from United Way throughout the years was displayed. Visit them at 431 S. College Ave. or call (812) 334-8370.

he Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for recipients of the 9th Annual 10 Under 40 Awards. The 10 Under 40 Awards recognize and honor individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 years old who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their workplace and community involvement. Through the actions and initiatives of these local young professionals, they serve as an inspiration, helping others to excel. Award Eligibility: • The nominees must be younger than 40 years of age before August 1, 2019.

Congratulations to Commercial Service of Bloomington, Inc. on their ribbon cutting! They celebrated their new location on the west side of town. Visit them at 4710 W. Vernal Pike or call (812) 339-9114.

F6 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

• Nominees must make a significant impact within their organization through their leadership and work ethic, while

also giving back to the community through civic involvement. • Chamber membership is not required; however, nominees who live outside of Monroe County must be a Chamber member in good standing. • Self-nominations are accepted.

Bloomington a great place to live, work and play, and the Chamber • The nominees must not have is excited to spotlight some of those doing the most in our won a 10 Under 40 award in the community.” past (see list of past recipients Nomination forms are due on online). or before Monday, June 17, 2019, at 5 p.m. An online nomination “Each year the 10 Under 40 Awards introduce the community and downloadable PDF option is to a variety of young professionals available at ChamberBloomington. org/YPB. Nominations may be doing amazing things in their submitted electronically as an careers,” said Erin Predmore, email attachment to cemge@ president and CEO of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of ChamberBloomington.org Commerce. “There is no shortage or by mail to P.O. Box 1302, of young professionals who make Bloomington, IN 47402.

In Our Own Backyard:

Highlighting some unique local businesses By Jonathan Streetman

S

everal years ago, when Ben Romlein went looking for a quality cider in the area, he was left disappointed. Everything that was out there already was way too sweet. In order to get a good dry cider, he realized he’d have to make it himself. So he made his first gallon of cider in the basement of his house, and then made another and another after that. Friends brought apples from their trees and helped squeeze them down. Romlein kept experimenting. Soon demand among friends and family started to grow, so his batches grew, too. “We had a really good time doing that so we decided to try and scale it up. From there we kept going until we had about 200 gallons going in the basement,� Romlein said recently from the Friendly Beasts Cider Co. located at 222 W. Second St., facing the B-Line Trail. “We looked around and knew there was nothing else available, and we were getting some good feedback from our friends and family, so we opened up this place and scaled it up yet again.� Friendly Beasts officially opened in the fall of 2017 and has been committed to fermenting and blending here in Bloomington with only Indiana apples. Romlein runs the cidery with his wife, Fatima Carson. Romlein says Bloomington is full of people looking to try something new, so his ciders – which are constantly rotating through the tap room – have proven to be a popular refreshment along the B-Line Trail. “Walkers and cyclists see the sign on the garage door, or they see the doors up and people inside and are like, ‘Oh man, I’ve gotta check that place out,’� Romlein said of his varied customer base. “We do get a lot of people that come in every week or every other week, the regulars that sort of gravitate around it. It’s neat to see the community pop up and see who’s into it, and who they bring in.� Romlein said they’re happy with their location now, but may need to scale up at least once more sometime in the future. “Bloomington is an adventurous place with people wanting to try something new, and I think cider feeds into that,� Romlein said. “I think it’s a great place for experimentation.� There are more than 6,000 registered businesses in Monroe County, according to the Indiana Small Business Development Center, many of which are locally owned by individuals experimenting and taking a risk. Many are makers, filling a niche that would have otherwise gone unfilled, and are being bolstered by the community in one way or another. We have artisan woodworkers and metal fabricators, bakers of gourmet brownies and, of course, a variety of ciders right along the B-Line. Others have found their niche in often overlooked roles, such as Consider It Done Transition Services, who treat the process of moving a loved ones’ belongings with respect. Bloomington’s small business scene is a hodgepodge of services connected by one idea – that the community is the reason for their existence and for their growth. For Joni McGary, the support she has received from community resources has been so instrumental in the creation and growth of Lucky Guy Bakery, she says the company wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without them. “Our story is very much a Bloomington story. When I decided to do this on a whim, I was able to not do the whole brick and mortar thing, and produced straight out of the One World KitchenShare,� McGary said, lifting her baking IN OUR OWN BACKYARD continued on page 8

Ben Romlein, Friendly Beasts Cider Co. (Jonathan Streetman / Courtesy photo)

“We do get a lot of people that come in every week or every other week, the regulars that sort of gravitate around it. It’s neat to see the community pop up and see who’s into it, and who they bring in.� — Ben Romlein, Friendly Beasts Cider Co.

1Â?ĂœÂƒÂƒÂŚÂ€ĂŠÂ?²

!! !! ! !

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F7

IN OUR OWN IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

Continued from page 7

Josh Smith, Clutch Fabrication. (Jeremy Hogan / HeraldTimes)

“We do a lot of railings. Every place needs a rail. We also do a lot of interiors for restaurants around town and businesses, signs, things of that nature. We handle a lot of the design work, as well — that’s one of our biggest selling points.” — Josh Smith, Clutch Fabrication

#3. # 3/ / ;#3Á enÓ @üb ne [@ e I ×á@án , @¥¥ ¥ b ,ÓªQ@án I 1Óì×á×b @¥e ì× ¥n×× 1Ó@¥×@[á ª¥× I ªÓ @á ª¥Á

ĄĄ 9Á Ûá /áÓnnáb /ì án ²²Ą ªª ¥ ᪥b ! Û Ą Q ªª ¥ @üÁ[ª

½s²é¾ ÜÛÜ ÜĄãĄ

ª ááne ᪠QÓ ¥ ¥ þªì Èì@ áþ n @ ×nÓû [n× á @á [ª¥× enÓ á n ì¥ Èìn ¥nne× ª| þªìb þªìÓ |@ þ @¥e þªìÓ Qì× ¥n××Á

“Being around 40 years, people know me. I feel pretty confident that there is still a demand for high-quality, handmade products. And what would I do if I retire? Probably more woodworking.” — Jay Richardson, Richcraft Wood Products

Jay Richardson, Richcraft Wood Products. (Courtesy photo)

1 ܲãs ¦ ²

F8 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

business off the ground from the 24/7 rental kitchen space. She’s also been able to sell her all-natural dark chocolate brownies out of Bloomingfoods, generating word-ofmouth business early on that would have been hard to get otherwise. “Without those two businesses it would have been really hard to grow and scale our business,” McGary said. Her brownies can now be found in coffee shops all across town, several in Indianapolis and a children’s museum in North Carolina, of all places. But their big break came during a Today Show appearance on December 16, 2017. The company received roughly 20 seconds of air-time, which generated 850 orders that very day. All of which needed to be shipped out in four days. “We really had to flip on the production switch after that,” McGary said. McGary is looking to grow not through large chain grocery stores but instead through custom online orders. The support she’s received in Bloomington, she says, is what’s making this leap possible. “I think Bloomington loves local made,” McGary said. “Maybe it’s like that in other communities, but Bloomington is pretty groovy that way.” Other local businesses, such as Richcraft Wood Products,

have been creating han handmade an andmade products for generations. Jay Richardson took over er the woodworking business in 1999 after his father died, d, marking m 20 years of ownership now, and the third generation rati ti to make his livingg as a woodworkerr tion in the area. “It’s gone by so fast as I really haven’t thought about it ast being so long,” Richardson ardson ar ards dson said. sai aid. d. “II still stil illl have ha a passion passi sion for for woodworking after 40 years of doing it.” Richcraft’s work can be seen around town, and all throughout Indiana University’s campus – one of their biggest clients over the years. Richcraft has been making solid wood bookcases for IU for decades, and just last year Richardson made mahogany desks for the purpose of trustees meetings in the Indiana Memorial Union. Through his connection with the university, he’s also been able to sell bookcases to Purdue and North Dakota State. “Professors are probably my biggest client base,” Richardson said. “If it wasn’t for the IU, Richcraft wouldn’t exist.” His cabinets, chairs, tables and bookcases decorate many homes around Bloomington, and even a few far beyond statelines. He once found one of his own bookcases while perusing an antique store in Madison, Wisconsin, and recently had a former IU professor commission a set of bookshelves for her new home on Mercer Island in Washington state. “I told her the freight would be more than the bookshelves are worth, but she said that was fine,”

Richardson said. Richardson said most of his new business comes from referrals. “Being ng around 40 yyears, people know w me,” he said, now 58 and still hoping to grow the business a little bit more. “I feel fe el pretty conf confident nfid ident that th the there here iis stil still illl a demand for high-quality, handmade products. “And what would I do if I retire? Probably more woodworking.” Clutch Fabrication are makers, too, purveyors of custom metal furniture with their own loyal customers. If you’ve ever visited Cardinal Spirits or several restaurants along the courthouse square, you’ve likely sat on some of their stools or admired one of their signs. Clutch has been owned and operated locally by Josh and Rose Smith since October 2012. In that time they’ve outfitted not only local restaurants, but also residential homes. “We do a lot of railings. Every place needs a rail. We also do a lot of interiors for restaurants around town and businesses, signs, things of that nature,” Josh Smith said. “We handle a lot of the design work, as well — that’s one of our biggest selling points.” Smith says he started the business after previously working as a body piercer for about 10 years. “I was just building things for fun and having a good time doing that. It wasn’t too long before I discovered that

there was a market. The market steered me in this direction n more than I steered the direction of the market,” he said. d. The local market has been kind to Clutch Fabrication,, in large part, Smith believes, because of the level of craftsmanship and respect they put into each job.. Bloomington “I think Blooming ngton is jjust a place that can reallyy make and/or break you if you get in with the handful of right people. It can be a fantastic place. If you treat them right, they will help you grow and push,” Josh Smith said. “If you don’t treat them right, it will not take long for people to hear that, especially in the building community.” Bloomington’s vast appetite for fresh and local ingredients has spurned on growth in business across county lines. Nashville Spice Co., located in the small Brown County town known for tiny shops and pedestrian foot traffic, benefits greatly from customers from Bloomington looking to try new ingredients in their cooking, owner Greg Fox said. “We get quite a few customers from Bloomington. It’s actually one of the larger areas we pull from,” Fox said. “I think it’s the quality and diversity of our products. People could probably order the same ingredients online, but they like the experience of coming in and being able to smell everything and see how fresh it is.” The store, which Fox runs with his partner, Mark

Joni McGary, Lucky Guy Bakery. (Jeremy Hogan / HeraldTimes)

“I think Bloomington loves local made. Maybe it’s like that in other communities, but Bloomington is pretty groovy that way.” — Joni McGary, Lucky Guy Bakery

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD continued on page10

“We get quite a few customers from Bloomington. It’s actually one of the larger areas we pull from. I think it’s the quality and diversity of our products. People could probably order the same ingredients online, but they like the experience of coming in and being able to smell everything and see how fresh it is.” —Greg Fox, Nashville Spice Co. Nashville Spice Co. owners Mark Schmidt (left) and Greg Fox. (Courtesy photo) 1 Ûã²Û ²

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F9

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

Continued from page 9

— Cheryl Smith, Consider It Done Transition Services

Join the Chamber today!

$G VJG $QUU

For more info, email: info@Chamber Bloomington.org

7Â…Ăž ĂƒĂŒ>Ă€ĂŒ vĂ€ÂœÂ“ ĂƒVĂ€>ĂŒVÂ… ĂœÂ…i˜ ĂžÂœĂ• V>˜ LĂ•Ăž >˜ iĂƒĂŒ>LÂ?ÂˆĂƒÂ…i` LĂ•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ Ă€i>`Ăž ĂŒÂœ ĂƒiÂ?Â?Âś 7i Â…>Ă›i ĂŒÂ…i Â?ÂˆĂƒĂŒÂˆÂ˜}Ăƒ] Ăœi Â…>Ă›i ĂŒÂ…i iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi >˜` Ăœi Â…>Ă›i ĂŒÂ…i ĂŒÂœÂœÂ?Ăƒ ĂŒÂœ }ÂˆĂ›i ĂžÂœĂ• ĂƒĂŒĂ€>ˆ}Â…ĂŒ vÂœĂ€Ăœ>Ă€`] …œ˜iĂƒĂŒ }Ă•Âˆ`>˜Vi ĂžÂœĂ• V>˜ ĂŒĂ€Ă•ĂƒĂŒ° 8+5+6

F1

NO. 1 VOL. 32, NO JANUARY 2019

“People really struggle when they go through big life changes, especially with our aging senior population. Our focus is to take all of that off of people’s plates. We’ve definitely found a niche for that and have grown quite a bit in the past couple years.�

1Â?ĂœĂ›Ă›ÂƒĂœÂ€Â?²

F10 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

Chamber of Commerce

1Â?€ŒssÛÛÂ?²

Publication

....22 ........................... ...........................2 ............................... .................................... ........................... Update ............................... Advocacy Update.................. .3 ......3 ...... .............................3 ................................ ........................... ............................... Chamber Voices .....4 ............................... hYPe News ............................... 5 ............................... Chamber Briefs .............................. Chamber to Host

Legislative Preview

The Franklin Initiative The Business of

one “There’s really no out there who can’tit dance And learn to dance. best will be one of the things you’ve ever yourself.� done for yourself.�

F1

owner, —Barbara Leininger, Arthur r Bloomington’s Arthu Murray Dance Center

...........................6

.......6 Upd ................................ Update

................7 Beauty ............................... 2 .............................1 S Retail Summit!

received the Lloyd Left: Barbara Leininger from Service Award Olcott Community photo. 2016. Courtesy The Chamber in

Make Plans for the

A Greater Bloomington

In this issue: Advocacy Update

Spring Cleaning................................ .............................7

Spring Cleaning

Publication

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

y:

Spotlight: Terry’s Cater ing

By Kasey Husk or Terry’s Catering co-owner Andrea catering is about Cockerham, more than just providing food an event. for It’s about playing occasion just right, a role in making someone’s special gala or a business whether it be a wedding or a funeral, a meeting. For more than 30 owned by Andrea years, Terry’s Catering — jointly Cockerham and Lillie Cockerham, founders Terry and her parents-in-law just that. A fixture — of the local catering has been doing Catering prides scene, Terry’s itself exceptional service, on providing excellent food and all Andrea Cockerham. “We want everybodywith a family touch. Photo by Chris Howell. “We’re family-operated to be happy,� Cockerham said. and we cater We care, basically.� tremendously to (our customers’) The business dates needs. back to at least Lillie Cockerham the mid-1980s, — a musician when founders and seamstress respectively at that Terry and time —

Building A Business

SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 14

The Business of Beauty:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FEBRUARY

F

Coming in March:

1Â?ĂœÄ„ÂƒĂŁĂŠsÂ?²

JANUARY Series, Opioid Lunch-and-Learn The Pourhouse CafĂŠ Club Bloomington Country 18 Legislative Preview, Chumley Theater 21 hYPe, Buskirk at Woolery Mill Hours, One World 24 Business After

9

Husk tremendouByslyKasey even “two left “no rhythm� or to (our customers dance because ’) you have hink you can’t needs.� to bet you are wrong. feet�? Leininger is prepared said Leininger, instructor Barbara learn to dance,� Dance —Andrea out there who can’t Center franchise. no one Cockerham, “There’s really they are Murray Dance Arthur Terry’ s Catering new skill set because she owner of Bloomington’sallow themselves to learn a fools of themselves,� “Most people don’t look funny or awkward or make instructors, a wonderful going to afraid they are But we have wonderful you feel comfortable a lot of people. We will make said. “That stops to dance. And how to dance. Ashley Abram and Jasonpeople everyone can learn of teaching Kirkman, method two make you realize for yourself.� of the three chefsfor you and fun on staff at make it Terry’s and Catering. you’ve ever done been doing just that at the bestisthings of pictured oneNot of third chef, Leininger has will be it Dave Bacso. different types Photo by Chrisof a century, learn about 20 Howell. month, For almost a quarter of all ages can she said. Next where students do as a couple,� can you Arthur Murray, where she’s taught “almost anything in Bloomington, ballroom dance, her 25th anniversary SPOTLIGHT Leininger will mark continued on page 14

T

Update ................................ .......6

Coming in Februar

Chamber of Commerce

ght: Arthur Murray Spotli “We want everybody to be happy. We’rer of Bloomington Cente family-ope Dance rated and we cater

............................... ...........................2

Chamber Voices............................... .............................3 YPB News ............................... ............................... .......4

Chamber Briefs ................................ .............................5 Primetime 2019 ................................ .............................6 The Franklin Initiative

13 Opioid Lunch-and-Learn Series, The Pourhouse CafĂŠ 18 Federal Focus Luncheon Hollingsworth, Alumni with Rep. Trey Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union 5

MARCH

18th Annual Educators of the Year Award Ivy Tech’s Shreve Dinner, Hall

Spring Cleaning:

Rejuvenate your business, home and community

See page 7

Be part of

EQORDD EQO 61 .'#40 /14'

A Greater Bloomington

In this issue:

FEBRUARY 2019 VOL. 32, NO. 2

Cheryl Smith, Consider It Done Transition Services. (Courtesy photo)

Schmidt, has become a haven both for established foodies and wanna-be home cooks looking to try out new ingredients. There’s a camaraderie, Fox says, between customers when they come and begin smelling their way through the store. “It’s more than just coming in and buying something, it’s an experience,� Fox said. “It’s been fun sharing ideas and learning from each other.� One local business that is finding success meeting a need in the marketplace doesn’t want to sell you any products. In fact, they’ll help you get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore, and then help you move the rest of your stuff to a new home. Consider It Done Transition Services was started by Cheryl Smith in 2014 in order to provide move management, home and office reorganization, senior relocation, while also assisting with the process of moving a loved ones’ belongings after their death. “People really struggle when they go through big life changes, especially with our aging senior population. Our focus is to take all of that off of people’s plates. We’ve definitely found a niche for that and have grown quite a bit in the past couple years,� Smith said. Smith says her time in education, and a stint in the funeral industry, have trained her to help walk people through these types of transitions while also making the sure the end result is respectful to the client’s needs and wants. “I think it’s a new market, but we have a lot of people coming into it with the number Baby Boomers. It’s definitely niche,� Smith said. “You want to find something unique but also helpful. This just kind of fell into my lap, and it goes right along with what I’ve done. Writing a lesson plan for fifth graders is the same thing as creating a move plan for somebody, so there’s a lot of similarities in what I do now and what I did for 20 years.� Smith said she has already moved some families twice, and is constantly getting business from referrals. She also regularly gets hugs from former clients when they see each other around town. “I don’t work this job because that’s what I need. It’s nice to get your bucket filled every once in a while, but that’s one of my favorite things in life, is that we fill each other’s buckets,� Smith said. “It’s just that sense that they’re (senior clients) in a new space, and I know they’re going to be safer and happier and healthier – there’s just a lot of things they’re going to have that they didn’t have before — to be able to provide that for people, and enjoy doing it, is hard to put into words.�

A century of better business, better community

1915-2015

1Â?ĂœÂƒÂƒsĂ›ÂƒÂ?²

A Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Publication

Call to advertise: (812) 331-4291

Save the Date – The Chamber’s Annual Meeting, Thursday, September 26, 2019

Y

ou’re invited to join us for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on September 26 at the Convention Center. We will be celebrating our member businesses in the following categories: • New Business of the Year (in business under 5 years) • Community Anchor Award (longtime business that has contributed greatly to our community) • Morgan Hutton Visionary Award • Lloyd Olcott Community Service Award • Workforce Development Award • Nancy Howard Diversity Award • Diane Breeden-Lee Catalyst Award • Franklin Initiative Golden Key Award • Lifetime Achievement Award More details will be announced in early July when the nomination window opens! Additionally, we will be voting on our incoming Chamber board members. The following have been nominated to serve: Lisa Abbott – Bloomington Board of REALTORS Dave Ferguson – Ferguson Law Ellen Rodkey – Indiana University Foundation Don Weiler – Bailey & Weiler Design/Build Kirk White / Tony Armstrong – Indiana University* * Kirk White is on deployment overseas. Tony has agreed to serve in his place until Kirk’s return in 2020.

FRANKLIN INITIATIVE UPDATE

Continued from page 6

idea what they wanted to do ‘when they grew up’. This was also a wake-up call to those students who have not thought a lot about their future.� Second, FI matched 35 high school freshmen’s job career interests with local employers for a four-hour job shadowing session. This was for Joann Novak’s “Prepare for College and Careers� class at The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship. Students learned the skills used for this job, how their host Freshman Walter Richardson was even more interested in woodworking after finishing his job shadowing stint at contact got started in the field, what a typical day of Loren Wood Builders. (Courtesy photo) work includes and what type of decisions they make on a day to day basis. Ms. Novak was highly pleased with the event. “Students come back from this experience excited and sharing a variety of stories from the day’s events. This is the one day of the year when parents ask what you do today and the students simply cannot stop talking,� stated the ninth-grade teacher. “I love the fact that each student will take something away from the experience, even if that something is that they now know that this is something they are no longer interested in pursuing.“ “I appreciated the opportunity to have a student job shadow my lab as a Quality Control (QC) Scientist,� remarked Will Hatcher of Catalent Pharma Solutions. “He received a real-life view of what a day in the life of a QC Chemist is like in a pharmaceutical company. I believe it was very beneficial for both parties. He was a great guest and hopefully learned quite a bit.� Congratulations to all the 2019 high school graduates – Oh, the places you’ll go!

Chamber Launches ‘3 Things’ Podcast

T

he Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has launched a podcast — 3 Things. The idea behind the name came from the three elements of the podcast — a one-onone conversation with a local professional, a panel discussion on an important topic relative to business in the community and an overview of important Chamber events and matters that impact

members and the community. The podcast, hosted by Chamber president and CEO Erin Predmore, is available on iTunes and wherever you download your podcasts, as well as on The Chamber’s website. The community and Chamber members are invited to subscribe to the podcast, to stay informed on local matters. The first episodes focus on the recent primary election, housing in

Bloomington and sustainability. For more information, please contact Erin Predmore at 812-336-6381 or epredmore@ chamberbloomington.org.

1Â?ĂœĂŠs²Ă›ĂŠÂ?²

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F11

THE GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEB AWARDS The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce created the Women Excel Bloomington awards to honor women leaders who influence the growth of others in the community and/or in their organization. The awards celebration launched in 2010 to facilitate networking and professional growth among women in the community. Read on to learn more about this year’s winners.

Above: Ten years of Women Excel Bloomington honorees gathered together for a group photo at the 2019 Women Excel Bloomington Awards. (Schweikhardt Photography / Courtesy photo). Right: 2019 Winners – The 2019 Women Excel Bloomington honorees include l-r Maranda Richardson, Nancy Richman, Brandi Hamilton, Mary K. Wheeler and Jane Martin. Insets – Kimberly Carballo and Rachael Jones McAfee. (Courtesy photo)

Kim Carballo Opera Coach and Collaborative Piano Faculty, IU Jacobs School of Music; Founder and Director, Reimagining Opera for Kids (ROK)

Kim Carballo. (Courtesy photo)

(9(5

6XPPHU &DPS DW WKH <0&$

1 Üsã ²

%HVW 6XPPHU &DPSV IRU HYHU\RQH $ 0 H[WHQGHG GD\ DW QR DGGLWLRQDO FRVW 5HVWULFWLRQV DSSO\

0RQURH&RXQW\<0&$ RUJ

F12 • BIZNET | JUNE 2019

What was your first job and what did it teach you? My first job was playing for voice lessons. I was still in elementary school when I started, so it was like a game to me to read whatever pieces people brought to their lessons. I learned confidence in those skills, and learned how good it felt to be able to support people from the piano bench in all kinds of performances.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? Seeing my child start to find his passions, which are quite different than mine, but bring him joy and fulfillment.

WEB AWARDS continued on page 13

THE GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEB AWARDS WEB AWARDS

Continued from page 12

Brandi Hamilton Director of Community Services, LIFEDesigns, Inc. What was your first job and what did it teach you? My first paid job was picking up trash for a local state Brandi Hamilton. park when I was 16. This job (Courtesy photo) taught me to work hard, work independently and with a team, and to be thankful I had a job because someone littered (but it’s still not ok to litter!) What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? I am most proud of becoming a wife and mom. My family is everything to me.

Jane Martin Past Board President, The Mill; Retired Venture Capitalist What was your first job and what did it teach you? 1971 as a Jr. Security Analyst at Allstate’s investment Jane Martin. (Courtesy department in Chicago. photo) I was one of 25 common stock analysts and the only woman. There was great skepticism about whether a woman could do the job but I learned that the ‘pony in this pile’ was that everything I did would be noticed. That mostly turned out to be an advantage. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? Marrying my husband and my 3 amazing kids, of course, but in my work/vocation life I’ve founded venture funds on both coasts and in Indiana which forward our innovation economy. I was something of a pioneer in Silicon Valley Venture capital. I stressed to every organization I’ve ever been involved with that ‘doing the right thing will also be the most profitable in the long run’. I’m now proud that I can focus in my retirement on lending what startup skills I’ve developed to non-profits focused on innovation, the environment, hunger and homelessness.

Rachael Jones McAfee

Nancy Richman

Director of Alumni Communities & Volunteer Management, Indiana University Alumni Association

Executive Director, Volunteers in Medicine

Please finish this sentence: Leadership is… Rachael Jones McAfee. … a lot like coaching. Build a (Courtesy photo) great team, inspire people to work hard because they want to (not because you say so), draw up plays that accentuate people’s strengths, celebrate when you win, study the film and learn from mistakes when you lose. Don’t forget to find and thank your cheerleaders and boosters, because they play an important role in the team’s success. What words of wisdom would you share with a young woman starting her professional career? You belong here. Do not let anyone make you feel unwelcome or unworthy. Earn your place at the table, and then bring other talented folks with you. Surround yourself with people you trust, who will tell you the truth, and gently correct you when needed. Be empathetic with others, listen, be kind, but lovingly (and sparingly) go toe-to-toe when needed. I used to tell my girls at Project School drop off, “Be brave! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be a leader.” That advice applies both to a 6-year-old and a 26-year-old.

Maranda Richardson Co-Owner, FASTSIGNS and Midwest Color Printing What was your first job and what did it teach you? My first job out of college was as a nursing technician Maranda Richardson. in a behavioral health (Courtesy photo) program. This job taught me how to listen and offer compassion to individuals in the darkest of situations. It was my first “reallife experience” with serving others. I will always be grateful for all that I learned from the people I worked with and those that were in our care. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? Being a mother to our two boys. Nothing I will ever do in my life will be as important as raising them to be the kind of people that make a difference in the world.

What was your first job and what did it teach you? My first job was working as a waitress. Being a Nancy Richman. waitress taught me about (Courtesy photo) the importance of customer service - showing the customer how important he or she is to you and the restaurant by interacting with him or her in a friendly, helpful and positive way. I loved being a waitress because I realized that with simple acts of kindness and friendliness I could change a person’s outlook on their entire day. Please finish this sentence: Leadership is… Leadership is like gardening. First you have to decide what type of garden you want to grow. That’s your vision. Then you clear the ground and prepare the soil, adding nutrients, compost, and so forth. When the soil is healthy, you plant the seeds – using the best, highest quality seeds you can afford. The plants need to be watered regularly, and on occasion there are weeds that need to be pulled. Along the way, the gardener provides whatever the plants need to do their best growing, maybe some mulch or more compost. At that point, what the garden needs most is for the gardener to GET OUT OF THE WAY and let the seeds grow. Seeds know how to grow without micro-management!

Mary K. Wheeler Assistant Manager and Volunteer, My Sister’s Closet What was your first job and what did it teach you? I first volunteered, then later got paid, in the activities Mary K. Wheeler. department at our local (Courtesy photo) retirement home. My small town of less than 600 people had a locally owned retirement home. In my teenage years I would go there and play bingo, help plan parties, do crafts and just listen to people’s stories. When I turned 18 it became my first job. It was like having 40 extra grandparents to help fill their day. Finish this sentence: Leadership is... Patience, kindness, perseverance, never giving up.

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F13

-

Gold Casters Fine Jewelry. (Chris Howell / Herald-Times)

SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 1

. "%%" - 8('. #("'. "- 8(5 & 8 '(2 '(2" &5 ( ' + 2,. 5. 7 . - 2 . & 6 %5 . "'2 -"28 %" '2.! -.2 5%25- .2-(' %" "' "6"' $ 2( (5 (&&5'"2" . ' (&&"2& '2 2( *-(6" "' 2 .2 ' ' " % 6" ' . -6" + . (5- ' & & 8 ' "' 52 (5- 6 %5 . - 5'7 6 -"' +

'"(- " - ." '2

." '2 - ' ' "%%" - 8('.

- ." '2

"-

494 (52 (%% 6 '5 %((&"' 2(' / 9 )4+334+0333 $& ! % " ! % !

1Â?ĂœÂ€Ă›ĂŁĂœĂŁÂ?²

“born entrepreneur� – opened up shop with just $5,000 and rented showcases. At that time, Brad Lawrence – newly graduated from a GIA Jewelry Arts and Gemology program – made each of his products to order based on wax models because he did not have the capital to stock products, his son says. The company has flourished, Lawrence ce says, because his father had a “fierce dedication to his customers� and “instills in all of us a desire to be our customers’ biggest advocate.� Every diamond and every ring that enters the store is hand-selected for quality and value, Lawrence says, noting that engagement and wedding rings are the store’s “bread and butter.� “We don’t cut corners,� he says. “We stand behind everything we sell. We aren’t just here to sell you an engagement ring, we are here to help you give her the symbol that says what you can’t say. We want to be part of that moment and every moment in the future.� Those efforts, Lawrence says, have earned the company a loyal customer base that returns again and again. The children of early Gold Casters customers who purchased their wedding rings from the store are now at an age to return and select their own at the same place that served their parents, something its longstanding staff finds deeply rewarding. Going the extra mile has always been a part of the business, Lawrence says, and being able to do so makes for some of his favorite moments on the job. In one case, that meant working with a very ill

“We don’t cut corners. We stand behind everything we sell. We aren’t just here to sell you an engagement ring, we are here to help you give her the symbol that says what you can’t say. We want to be part of that moment and every moment in the future.� — Christian Lawrence, Gold Casters Fine Jewelry

client who was in the hospital to design and deliver a piece of jewelry to surprise his wife on their anniversary. In another, it meant working with a soldier deployed overseas to surprise his wife. “The amount of gratitude your customers show for something as simple as making a delivery like that, those are the rewards you can’t put a price tag on,� he says. Over the past 35 years, the company has evolved and changed to meet changing needs and tastes. Like many retailers, the company has faced growing challenges from online businesses that seek to undercut prices seen in brick-and-mortar shops, Lawrence says. The key for Gold Casters, he says, has been offering greater value as a one-stop shop for customers’ needs, providing personalized attention, top brands, jewelry design, product servicing and repair, and the ability to set stones in house. “We are being more innovative in building that value proposition,� he says. “Just because I may not be the cheapest, doesn’t mean that I’m not the best value.�

SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 15

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Continued from page 2

• Not available to exceed Neighborhood Transition Areas (see below) • Administrative review for projects < 50 units not adjacent to R1, R2, R3, R4 Sustainable Development Incentives - 2 Options • Pick 5 of 7 sustainability actions = 1 additional floor OR • Get designed for LEED or other certification system = 1 additional floor

incentive = 1 additional floor up to half as big as the building floorplate Neighborhood Transitions • Adjacent residential district setbacks apply along shared boundaries • Within 50 feet of property: maximum height equal to adjacent residential zoning district • Between 50 and 100 feet: maximum height equal to adjacent residential zoning district plus one story (15 feet)

Free Childcare for City Council Meetings:

Both Options Combined The Chamber partnered with • If you earn affordable housing Compass Early Learning Center, a incentive and earn a sustainability program of Monroe County United

Ministries, to provide free childcare for all interested parents during the City Council meetings on March 27th and April 3rd. Recognizing that parent responsibilities may be a barrier to participation for some people, the Chamber used its resources to reduce that barrier. It was a big hit with parents and the community, and the room was staffed with two licensed child-care professionals for the duration of the City Council meeting. If your organization is interested in sponsoring this important community program, please contact Erin Predmore at epredmore@ chamberbloomington.org. We need help to keep it going!

SPOTLIGHT

The YPB Steering Committee participate in a photo-op in last month’s “Connecting with Creatives” at Blueline Media Productions. (Courtesy photo)

Coming Up! YPB will be hosting “Bring Your Interns to Switchyard” on Thursday, June 27th at the Switchyard Brewing Co. The goal here is for the interns to get immersed in our wonderful

company leaders see it as crucial to give back to a community that Continued from page 14 has supported them throughout That ability to set a diamond in the years. In their case, this house is often an important factor means extensive support for the arts, about which both Brad and for customers, especially those Christian Lawrence are passionate. purchasing engagement rings. Gold Casters is a major sponsor “People don’t have to wait,” of the Cardinal Stage theater Lawrence says. “If a young man company, in large part because of falls in love and picks out a ring the opportunity the organization and wants to give his young lady his ring by the end of the day, often affords children and adults through the region to be exposed to live I can make that happen.” theater. “Those are experiences that Working with a local company Bloomington as a community is often also means supporting a able to offer that a lot of towns our business that is truly invested in size don’t have the opportunity to the community, as Gold Casters is, Lawrence says. At Gold Casters, have,” Lawrence says.

Continued from page 5

Susan Brackney, Molly Brush and Craig Coley received awards for wellcrafted editorial content. Jeff Danielson, Naama Levy, Jeff Richardson and Stephen Sproull snapped up awards for captivating photography. And Mike Cagle, Wayne Manns and Emilee Stites drew the judges’ attention for creative illustrations and designs. Visit magbloom. com for more information.

Opportunities and Events

YPB

Continued from page 4 This includes working with YPB to host a professional development luncheon in order to immerse their interns into the transition from student to professional. “Attracting and retaining a talented workforce is a top priority for our company and community to grow,” states Nicky James, vice president of Human Resources and Talent Development at Cook Group. “Our internship program has proven to be a positive talent pipeline at Cook as many of our former interns have been hired as full-time employees.”

CHAMBER BRIEFS

community. To show them a unique public space and have them network with a burgeoning group of YPs here in town. You can register on the Chamber’s events page.

Businesses are “like a living thing, constantly evolving, constantly changing,” Lawrence says. In the future, Gold Casters will continue to maintain that flexibility as it seeks ways to grow. The store’s fundamental values, however, will remain unchanged as they have for the past 35 years. “That staunch commitment to customer service has always been the enduring vision,” he says. “Through many cycles, that has been the one constant that has allowed us to be successful in helping celebrate special moments in life.”

Office Easel and UNVEILED will host a joint open house and ribbon cutting on Wednesday, June 19, from 5-7:30 p.m. (with the ribbon cutting occurring at 5:15 p.m.). The community is invited to stop by 304 W. Howe St. to meet both businesses. The City of Bloomington Office of the City Clerk is accepting applications to fill vacant positions on the Animal Control Commission and the city’s Redevelopment Commission. The positions are available for city residents. The Animal Control Commission is tasked with formulating, adopting and implementing policies, principles, and standards for humane treatment and control of all animals in the city. The Redevelopment Commission oversees the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development which

include: Community Development Block Grant, HOME funds, Neighborhood Improvement Grants and Tax Increment Districts. Visit Bloomington.in.gov and click on “OnBoard” for additional details. The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s summer food service program again in 2019. Free meals will be available at the Banneker Community Center, 930 W. Seventh St., to all children 18 years of age and under, and to persons over 18 years who are enrolled in a state-approved education program for the mentally or physically disabled. Breakfast (9-10 a.m.), lunch (12-1 p.m.) and dinner (5:30-6:30 p.m.) will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, Monday through Friday, June 3 through July 26. Contact Erik Pearson at 812-349-3734 for more details.

Other Blue Burro Technology has announced the sale of its child care enrollment software, Just Fill Out, to ChildCareCRM. After seeing an opportunity in the child care space, Blue Burro leveraged its deep experience in document assembly software to create an online enrollment app and then grew it into the leading online enrollment solution for the U.S. childcare industry. Contact Jared Jones at 812-778-3325 for more information.

JUNE 2019 | BIZNET • F15

"

# "

! $$$ $$

!

!' . # ' , 1 ( .' , ( ! )* *" $ , ( (. , ,! , 1 , $ ! ! , ' , ! 1!. .(, / . !' , ,1 %. 1 0 , , ' , ! &( ! '( #$ $22 !0 '( # ( ' ( ' %. ' , '( # / ( !. ,$ ( !. , .(, (, ( !' ' ,! !# 1 , ! #'! . ,( !' ( '/ ($ $22 0 !, (( !' 0 , ' 0 ( !' !/ ' ' , ,' ( ' ., 0 ! , . ,! ' / ($ ( !. ' . , ' ( ! !. ,($ ' (

! , ! ( (. , ,! 0 , !., !, $ !' . # ' , 1 ( .' , ( ! )* *" !' , - 222$22 .# , '($ , ( (. , ,! , 1 , $ " 222 . ' %. ' ! ! 1 ' , ( / ( !. ,( ,!

/! # 1 "2 ! , 1 ( '/ $ ( 1 ' . ' ($ ' ( ! , ! ( (. , ,! 0 , !., !, $ !' . ' , ( / ( ! )* *" $ , ( ' (. , ,! , 1 , $ . !' - ! , ', , ( "2 222$22$ / ( ! ', , ( ' ! #!. 1 # ! , 1$ # ,1 !' ' 1 0 , ' 0 0 #!( $ ( *!' # , ( 1 ' . ' ($ ' ( ! , ! ( (. , ,! 0 , !., !, $

Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.