Absolute Living

Absolute Living

AUGUST 2021

McKINZIE ROTH CONVERSATION WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER

STRETCH IT OUT

CATELLO'S ITALIAN ART CUISINE

MEN AT WORK

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CONTENTS

12

STRETCH IT OUT

26

MEN AT WORK

18

McKINZIE ROTH

40

CATELLO'S ITALIAN ART CUISINE

IF YOU AREN'T ALREADY STRETCHING EVERY DAY, YOU SHOULD BE.

CONVERSATION WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER

MEET SOME OF THE AREA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL MALE ENTREPRENEURS.

SITTING DOWN WITH CHEF CATELLO AVAGNALE

Volume 14. Issue 8. (#163)

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@absolutelivingmagazine

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Photography GABRIELLE CHEIKH NOEL JES NIJJER EDUARDO PEÑA PAOLA WILLIAMS

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Stretch It Out

By Susan Salaz

If you aren’t already stretching every day, you should be—or better yet, have someone else lend you a hand at StretchLab.

J

Just as no two bodies are the same, no two stretches at StretchLab are either. The new wellness studio focuses on customized, assisted stretching techniques for increased flexibility, mobility and recovery. “One-on-one stretching is about identifying tightness and imbalances in your body and customizing a stretch routine that is just for you,” says Matt Maloney, who owns StretchLab Carmel with his wife Susan. Having good flexibility and range of motion is an integral part of the overall health and wellness of the human body, and StretchLab's aim is to keep bodies moving as they were intended, and to give clients a renewed energy and freedom through the personalized, assisted stretching techniques and packages offered at the studio.

With the use of MAPS, a 3D body scanning tool, the StretchLab team can measure the mobility, activation, posture and symmetry of a body so that every stretch session can be specifically tailored to the individual needs of each client. Here, trained and certified Flexologists do the stretching for you on one of the custom designed benches in the open, fun and communal environment. Each Flexologist brings their own experience and expertise in bodywork to help clients meet their flexibility goals and has a broad range of stretches they utilize. The StretchLab team includes personal trainers, massage therapists and yoga instructors to name a few, who implement Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), an advanced stretching technique that increases blood flowing to the muscles, allowing for a deeper stretch and maximum benefits. Because the body is interconnected, they seek to address the entire body, but will spend more time in areas with tightness or imbalance. “With the help of our Flexologists you will get a better, deeper and more thorough stretch than you could ever achieve on your own,” says Rod Julian, owner of StretchLab North Indy.

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The benefits of stretching are well documented and include decreased stress and tension, reduced muscle and joint pain, enhanced sports performance and improved posture.

Even greater results come with having the assistance of a trained professional on a consistent basis. Julian says assisted stretching is usually recommended once or twice a week, depending on current flexibility level and mobility goals.

StretchLab offers 25 or 50- minute stretches, along with a variety of monthly membership options to suit various needs.

primary goal of their business is to help people. “Whether you are 9 or 90 years old, StretchLab can help you improve your range of motion and flexibility so you can move, feel and live better,” says Susan.

Matt, Susan and Rod are excited to bring StretchLab to the Carmel and North Indianapolis community and look forward to making a difference in the lives of their clients, saying that the

StretchLab North Indy, owned by Rod Julian, is at 2727 E. 86th Street in Indianapolis, online at stretchlab.com/location/ northindy, or @stretchlabnorthindy on social media.

StretchLab Carmel, owned by Matt and Susan Maloney, is located at 2462 E. 146th Street in Carmel. Find them online at stretchlab.com/location/carmel, or follow @ stretchlabcarmel on Instagram and Facebook.

ABSOLUTELIVING

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McKINZIE ROTH Conversation with an Entertainment Insider

By Susan Salaz Every afternoon, McKinzie Roth brings the latest show business scoop “from Hollywood to the Heartland” on WISH-TV. But this McKMogul is bringing much more than entertainment news to the Circle City.

Photography By Gabrielle Cheikh Noel | Artwork By Eduardo Peña You probably know McKinzie Roth from television—perhaps you have seen her as a spokeswoman in the Andy Mohr Automotive commercials or anchoring her daily entertainment program, All Indiana. You might also recognize her voice—she reports entertainment headlines for RadioNOW 100.9FM (where she used to host a morning show) and does two podcasts for WISH-TV's All Indiana Podcast Network, “Behind the 8” and “Better Every Day.” It could be that you follow her (and her stunning selfies) on social media, or you may even be familiar with McKinzie as a Carmel native and current Carmel Arts and Design District resident. Chances are, if you have encountered McKinzie’s passionate energy, you haven’t soon forgotten her.

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“The best compliment I have ever received is that my energy is beautiful,” says McKinzie, adding that energy is everything and that she protects hers at all costs.

She loves making TV magic and is flattered every time she hears that a viewer feels like they really know her personally from watching her on TV. When that happens, she is certain she is doing something right. While her magnetism has aided in her achievements, it is her strong work ethic, personal drive and determination that have been the keys to her success.

With a degree in broadcast journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, McKinzie lives and breathes pop culture and entertainment news, so much so that WISH-TV created the role of Indiana’s first and only Entertainment Insider just for her. As busy as the job keeps her—from scouring the Internet for breaking news, researching stories and booking interviews, to writing scripts, meeting with producers, filming, and catching up with her colleagues at Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition—she manages to thrive while juggling the position along with her many other projects. “I jump at opportunities that excite me,” McKinzie explains, saying that she does tend to take on a lot, but she recognizes when she is getting overwhelmed and is quick to reel it in, realign and refocus.

McKinzie strives for balance in her life and acknowledges the struggle of managing it all as a single mom, and she relies on several strategies to keep her grounded.

Her family, especially her daughter, is at the top of that list. “Lucy is a quick-witted 11-year-old beauty who couldn’t care less that Mom is on TV and talking to famous people,” she attests. Exercise is also a vital part of McKinzie’s day, not just for her physical health, but also for her mental well-being. It helps her gain mental focus and combat any anxiety or stress that comes her way. She meditates and enjoys being in nature to clear her mind, and she believes that self-care and self-love are worthy endeavors, both professionally and personally. In order for her to perform at an elite level, McKinzie says she must be in alignment physically, mentally and spiritually. “I have interviewed hundreds of highly successful celebs, athletes and CEOs and have found many commonalities in their daily routines,” she tells me, elaborating that they are up early, make their bed, meditate, exercise and keep gratitude journals, to name a few daily rituals McKinzie has implemented into her own routine as well.

An average day for McKinzie might involve tangoing on set with Chris Kattan or trading hair secrets with John Stamos, and while she is grateful to glean any fortuitous advice on life from these interactions, she is clear that most celebs are regular people just like you and me. She loves country artists like Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood because they are so down to earth, and some of her favorite celebrity interviews have been big stars such as Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Kevin James and Mario Lopez. “Bill Nye the Science guy taught me a dance from Dancing with the Stars and confessed he owned over 500 bowties,” she laughs.

No matter what each day brings, McKinzie meets it with positivity. She has immense gratitude for everything in her life, and she considers even the hardships she has faced, along with the challenging people she has encountered, to have taught her incredible lessons and kept her moving forward.

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McKinzie Roth grew up in Carmel and earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington. Currently Indiana’s first and only Entertainment Insider for WISH-TV, McKinzie is building her brand (and her McKMogul status) with her skills as a spokesmodel, radio personality, podcast host, and television anchor.

McKinzie believes that rejection is redirection and goes on to say, “Whatever is meant for you cannot pass you by, so don't sweat it if you don't get something you thought you wanted. Chances are, something even better is on the way!” She insists on finding what brings her true joy and building a foundation upon that, and she hopes to inspire others to be bold in life, because, as she says, “This is not a dress rehearsal.”

Being present to enjoy the moments, making real connections with people, and remaining authentic are what really matter to McKinzie in all of her ventures, and that has become her brand. If you like what you see, keep an eye out for “Blonde After Dark,” a hot new project she is developing that she is sure her followers are going to love. “It will be released when the time is right and will be worth the wait,” she says of the endeavor, currently in the works. Until then, you can always catch McKinzie every afternoon from 4-5pm anchoring WISH-TV’s All Indiana broadcast or follow her on social media, where she is @mckinzieroth on Instagram, @ McKinzie on Twitter and @mckinzieindy on Facebook.

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Television personality McKinzie Roth is known for her striking fashion.

Elegant jewels (from Moyer Fine Jewelers), killer abs (compliments of her beloved Peloton and personal training sessions with Kitty Markusfeld) and a sophisticated backdrop (provided by Hotel Carmichael in Carmel) complete the exquisite ensemble seen here.

MEN AT WORK

By Susan Salaz

Meet some of the area's most successful male entrepreneurs.

Photography By Gabrielle Cheikh Noel and Paola Williams | Artwork By Eduardo Peña

Entrepreneurs are not your average business people. They are always in pursuit of an opportunity, and throughout history, they have risen to the top of business success.

Passion, resourcefulness and resiliency are all common traits of thriving entrepreneurs, along with a willingness to take risks and a comfort with failure. But as you will see from the 11 men we have highlighted here, all with different backgrounds and unique experiences, many of the entrepreneurs in our city share a common path towards making this community a better place.

Owning and operating a successful business involves a lot of minutia, from business plans to finances to daily operations. A true entrepreneur will look well beyond all that, trailblazing toward progress without focusing solely on perfection. Success doesn’t happen overnight, as all of the businessmen here will attest, and it doesn’t happen alone.

With the help of family, friends, employees and clients, each man here continues to map out a strategy to succeed and is a driving force in his industry. Read on to see how they got where they are, and what keeps them moving forward.

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ENTREPRENEURS ISSUE

Gary Nance Gary Nance Design “I was once told I needed to slow down and smell the roses. It’s true—you can go through life a mile a minute, and then all of the sudden the years are gone. You need to take time to see the person next to you. You have to pull back and find a balance.”

From his earliest memories, Gary Nance knew he wanted to pursue his passion of art and design. He grew up sketching houses, studying home planning guides and working with a homebuilder. His passion became purpose when he began studying architecture at Ball State University, where he exceled in the art, but struggled with engineering and math due to then undetected dyslexia. Despite the setback, Nance was driven to a career in architectural design, and stuck with the program, eventually graduating and taking a job with a major architectural firm in downtown Chicago.

Nance has since made a name for himself in Indianapolis and around the country designing state of the art luxury homes and lake cottages. Gary attributes much of his success to his family, especially his wife Nancy who has stuck by his side through the highs and lows, and his children Nick and Taylor.

Today, his daughter Taylor is a key factor in his business, facilitating daily operations. “I am blessed to have that relationship with my daughter,” he says.

Last year, Nance miraculously survived COVID-19. He spent 18 days on a ventilator and couldn’t even hold a pencil afterwards.

The ordeal gave him a chance to look at life differently, and he credits the Carmel Fire Department and Emergency Services who arrived at his home in minutes and St. Vincent Hospital for saving his life. The Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) brought his mobility back, and he now sits on their Board of Directors. “They helped save my life and get me back on my feet through rehab,” says Gary.

Gary Nance Design is located in the Indiana Design Center at 200 S. Rangeline Road, Suite 214 in Carmel. You can visit garynancedesign.com online or follow @ garynancedesign on Instagram.

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Rob Klein Conceptual Kitchens & Millwork “Always listen and don't think about what you are going to say next. An uncomfortable pause is easier to explain than not listening to your client.”

As a classically trained artist, Rob Klein took his eye for design to the next level with Conceptual Kitchens & Millwork, the design firm he started in 2001. After studying economics and fine art at Kenyon College in Ohio, the Carmel native went to work for his father, a builder and developer with a relentless drive to offer the best design and products available. That concept spilled over into what Klein does now. With a clear understanding of proportions, along with a belief that each project should be specifically tailored to each client’s individual needs, Klein has garnered success in an industry he loves. “The amount of raw talent that is in the design industry is what is really keeping me passionate about what we do,” he says. “We also have great clients that will trust us with the most complex designs.”

In 2012, designer Amy Kreutz joined the company, and Klein says they continue to push one another, elevating their business, design and implementation. He believes that in order to be a successful entrepreneur you need to understand what you are good at and be willing to hire someone better than you in other areas.

Beyond work, there’s what Klein calls his “second full-time job,” at home as a parent, where he and his wife are raising three polite and productive children. When he needs a break, though, he takes to the skies. This summer, Klein will reach a milestone of 4,000 skydiving jumps, which he considers to be a kind of fear management. “In design, we take all kinds of risks, and it’s really stressful,” he says. “Jumping out of a plane is a totally different kind of relaxation for me.”

Conceptual Kitchens & Millwork is located in the Indiana Design Center at 200 S. Rangeline Road, Suite 116 in Carmel. You can find them online at conceptualkitchens. com or follow @ckandm and @rob_klein_ design on Instagram.

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Dan Moyer Moyer Fine Jewelers “Learn everything you can about your subject and work, and be open to learning regardless of the number of years you've been in business. Don't be afraid to take risks—in fact, I encourage it.”

Dan Moyer has been in the jewelry business since he was a kid, when he began selling wholesale jewelry for a family friend while in high school. He continued the trend through college, selling to beauty salons and sorority houses at Purdue and then Indiana University, where he earned a degree in Finance. His success in college led him to the decision to make a career out of selling jewelry.

Although his first storefront was inside one of the beauty salons he originally sold to, Moyer Fine Jewelers has been at their current location at “the top of the town” in Carmel since 1993.

Moyer believes that simple, yet sincere values like working hard and being considerate are what can really a business apart. After more than 40 years in the industry, he says the most rewarding part of his work is succeeding at giving clients excellent service and an unparalleled experience. His team works hard every day to stay ahead of the trends and continue to impress their clients.

In addition to his ambitions as an entrepreneur, Moyer has spent much of his career as a philanthropist. The Moyer Open Pro-Am Golf Tournament benefiting St. Mary’s Child Center at Crooked Stick Golf Club has raised over $1M since Moyer began organizing the event over 35 years ago.

Moyer Fine Jewelers contributes to numerous local and national charitable organizations including the Human Society of Hamilton County and the Indy Honor Flight, among others. “It's very important to me personally to give back to the community,” says Moyer, adding that he encourages members of his staff to do the same.

Moyer Fine Jewelers is located at 14727 Thatcher Lane in Carmel. You can find them online at moyerfinejewelers.com or follow @ moyerfinejewelers on Instagram.

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Paul Aréchiga Verde Flavors of Mexico “If you have the slightest inclination of starting something—just go for it. There will be obstacles and setbacks, but in the end, your accomplishments are the best reward you will receive.”

Paul Aréchiga comes from a business-minded family, and says he inherited an interest in establishing his own business when he was very young. Aréchiga opened the Verde Flavors of Mexico restaurants with his parents and brothers, who he counts as his mentors from the beginning. Now, with three Verde locations in the area, Aréchiga grabs inspiration from all the people that surround him, including friends and even customers.

“Our guests are definitely the fuel that keeps me motivated,” he says.

Verde Flavors of Mexico is an upscale Mexican restaurant chain that focuses on a contemporary interpretation of authentic Mexican food and beverages, and the concept is part of a bigger restaurant group that reaches throughout the Indianapolis metropolitan area as well as the Chicago west suburbs. To Aréchiga, seeing the impact each of his team members has on the operation as a whole is very rewarding, saying, “From the person who greets our guests and directs them to a table, to our amazing servers, bartenders, bussers, cooks and everyone else, we are all part of a “big machine” and no job is too small. We all play in important part.”

Aréchiga hopes to establish a business that elevates the concept of Mexican food in the area. “I’m proud of what we present and the experiences we provide for our guests.

More than that, we are also very proud of representing the Carmel community and the high standards for food, beverage and entertainment our amazing town has.”

Visit Verde Flavors of Mexico at 2727 E. 86th Street at Ironworks in Indianapolis, at 11680 Commercial Drive in Fishers, or at 1111 W. Main Street in Carmel. You can also find them online at verdeflavorsofmexico. com or follow verde_flavorsofmexico , verdeflavorsofmexico_carmel and verde_ flavorsofmexicofishers on Instagram.

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Jimmy Dulin RE/MAX Ability Plus “Establish a mission for your life and build a business that fulfills your mission. Mine is to inspire people, create opportunities, and support dreams.”

Real estate is what Jimmy Dulin is known for around Indianapolis. He operates the successful RE/MAX Ability Plus firm, but, comprised of eight overlapping companies including TruBlue Total House Care and White Truck Getaways vacation rentals, RE/MAX Ability Plus is more than your average agency. Dulin, whose role focuses on strategic growth and building the organization, loves the diversity of running several entities that support one another.

Dulin is keen at seeing a problem, figuring out a solution, and creating an opportunity. “I like putting the pieces together—figuring out a way to solve needs and continue to serve our customers over time,” he explains.

Dulin looks forward to going to the office each morning. With over 200 employees (and growing), he says RE/MAX Ability Plus feels big, especially since he started from nowhere, but it is still a small business. Dulin says he is proud to have created something that can provide for his family, and his entire family is involved. His Mom is a Real Estate agent, and his father the company courier. His wife is the training coordinator and has filled many roles at different times as new entities launch, as have both of his children.

Since becoming excited about real estate in the early 1990s, growing his business and building a successful leadership team, Dulin has always made charitable donation a priority. To date, RE/MAX Ability Plus has raised nearly $2M in donations to Riley Hospital for Children, and as a licensed auctioneer, Dulin donates his time to many charity auctions in the area.

RE/MAX Ability Plus is located in the Indiana Design Center at 200 S. Rangeline Road, Suite 129 in Carmel or online at jimmydulin. com. Dulin’s book, I Want More (released in 2019) is available on amazon.com.

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Chad Bruick Outdoor Environments Group “In 2007 I saw a [Tony Robbins] quote and a light bulb went off. ‘Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.’ That is what made me take the step in starting OEG, and I am thrilled I did.”

The great outdoors has always been a significant part of Chad Bruick’s life. As a child he spent a lot of time outside with his father, and continues the tradition with his own family today. Melded with his two other passions: business and design, Bruick has found a niche with his company, Outdoor Environments Group, building, designing and nurturing outdoor living spaces. “From the pursuit of landscaping, I have been able to pursue all of my passions at one time,” he says. Since starting the company almost 15 years ago, Bruick is an engaged and hands-on owner who remains very involved in the design and construction aspects of each project.

Although he has had many influences throughout his life, Bruick credits his entrepreneurial drive to his grandfather who was also a business owner. Today he stays passionate about his industry because of the challenges it offers and the creative and unique projects his team is able to tackle.

The primary focus of OEG is creating outdoor spaces that place high value on the human experience, in residential, commercial and nonprofit settings.

For Bruick, building a team and creating opportunities for them to grow and develop and build valuable skills is a gratifying part of being a business owner. “I also love the end result of what we create,” says Bruick, adding that completing a project is just the beginning in most cases. “Families get to enjoy that space and make memories because of what we created.”

Outdoor Environments Group is located at 4929 Robinson Road in Indianapolis. You can find them online at oeggroup.com or follow @oeggroup on Facebook.

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Ed Cheikh Houseworks “The key is to start. It’s easier to steer a car in motion than one that is parked. Surround yourself with good people and success will come from pure perseverance.”

Ed Cheikh has always had an appreciation for good design and architecture. Traveling the world as a senior trade executive for an international marketing firm, he was cognizant of the styles in Europe and abroad, but when he moved to Indianapolis in the early 1980s and set out to furnish his home with what he loved, he was hard-pressed to find anything interesting here in the way of modern furniture. That void, along with the desire to get off the road and stay home with his growing family, turned into a business plan, and Cheikh opened the first Houseworks store in Castleton in 1985.

In the beginning, Indianapolis was not quite ready for modern, but Cheikh stuck with it, building on the lessons and work ethic he had learned from his immigrant father, who owned several businesses including a hotel and clothing company during Cheikh’s childhood in Chicago. As Houseworks has evolved, so has Indianapolis, growing into an international community that has come to embrace the clean lines and timeless appeal that classic modern furniture offers.

Cheikh loves the independence that comes with being a business owner. It allows him to pursue his passion while empowering people.

He counts on his Houseworks “family,” many of which have been with the company for 15 plus years, as one of the most rewarding aspects of the business. They have each contributed in some way to the success of Houseworks.

Houseworks is located at 4905 E. 82nd Street in Indianapolis. You can find them online at houseworks.biz or follow @ indyhouseworks on Instagram.

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Ben Diallo J. Benzal Menswear “Passion is great, but there is no substitute for hard work. When you have a vision, you have to be committed to seeing it through.

There are no short cuts to success—you just have to put in the work and persevere.”

A problem solver at heart, Ben Diallo describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. “I love finding business solutions to everyday problems,” says the native of Guinea, West Africa. “Most of my businesses were born out of trying to solve some problem.” A graduate of Butler University, Ben and family returned to Indianapolis after several years in New York City—where he fell in love with fashion.

He launched J. Benzal Menswear in 2009, a private label menswear boutique specializing in Italian suiting, and has since expanded his product line to include all aspects of a man’s wardrobe and fashion accessories.

In addition to J. Benzal, this past spring Diallo opened L.A. Tacos (a north side restaurant pushing the boundaries of street and specialty tacos), and is the co-founder of tech startup CashSwap (a peer-to-peer currency exchange app that connects travelers to safely exchange currency). Diallo says being an entrepreneur and executing his visions brings out the best in him, and he finds being a job creator to be a rewarding part of the role. He believes that if you take care of your employees, they will take care of the business like it is their own. “Great people are the heart of any successful business,” he says.

Diallo calls Indianapolis home and is a committed community member, serving on several board for downtown business owners.

He is using his problem solving skills to work through the challenges of the pandemic and think about what different businesses in the city need to rebuild.

J.Benzal Menswear has locations at 22 E. Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis and in the Fashion Mall. You can find them online at jbenzal.com or follow @jbenzal on Instagram.

L.A. Tacos is located at 3367 E. 86th Street in the Keystone Shoppes and online at latacosrestaurants.com. You can find out more about Diallo’s tech company CashSwap at cashswapapp.com.

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Robert Haecker TRIPhase Technologies “Invest in your people and your team, and treat them the way you would want to be treated. Do the right thing and it will come back to you tenfold. We have always done that and after 25 years we are very blessed to be where we are.”

An entrepreneur from an early age, Robert Haecker has come a long way since he started his first business Trixx Skate Shop at age 14. The skateboard and apparel shop, which first rented space inside a mini-mall toy store and eventually grew into a free standing building, had a regional following in the days before the Internet, and solidified Haecker’s desire to become a business owner.

When he entered the Ball State Entrepreneurship Program, Haecker parted ways with the skate shop and took a side job at an audio-visual retail store. He began to offer personal delivery and installation as part of his sales pitch, and the idea for TRIPhase was born. He wrote the business plan while attending Ball State, and initially opened the business in Cicero, renting a small building with an office below and a showroom above.

To make ends meet, Haecker slept in the showroom theatre on a pull out sofa, and his wife Shanna, who was still attending Ball State at the time, drove back and forth to handle the office. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without Shanna,” Haecker says, adding that she has been an integral part of TRIPhase since the beginning.

Haecker loves the ever-changing world of the technology industry, and has carved a niche with TRIPhase, offering turnkey, white glove, concierge style services for complete home automation and design. He remains involved with the Ball State Entrepreneurship Program as a mentor and board member, and in 2022 TRIPhase will host the program’s Evaluation Day and alumni reception.

TRIPhase Technologies is located at 10960 Bennett Parkway in Zionsville. You can find them online at triphase-tech.com or follow @TRIPhaseTechnologies on Facebook and triphasetech on Instagram.

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Anthony Lazzara Anthony's Chophouse and 3UP Rooftop Lounge “Culture is everything. Surround yourself with a great team because you are only as strong as the person next to you.”

Anthony Lazzara grew up in the hospitality industry and has been surrounded by restaurateurs his entire life, so it’s not hard to believe that he began writing his business plan for what would become Anthony’s Chophouse while still in high school. After working for his father and uncles at their various Carmel establishments as a young adult and graduating from the Ball State Entrepreneurship Program, Lazzara finalized his vision and opened Anthony’s Chophouse and 3UP Rooftop Lounge in 2018. With sweeping views of the town he has always called home, Lazzara seeks to create meaningful, lasting experiences for his guests with an exceptional atmosphere and the highest quality food and service.

The guests are what keep Lazzara passionate about the restaurant, and he loves that there is no monotony. “Every day is different with new stories and new faces,” says the hands-on owner, who can often be found on the floor, in the kitchen, or behind the bar assisting wherever he is needed. Lazzara counts his exceptional staff as the backbone of the business and one of the most rewarding aspects of work, always seeking to create a culture of family and mutual respect within the team.

When he isn’t at work, Anthony can usually be found enjoying time with his wife Kayla and two young sons, Vinny and Gianni. He enjoys golfing and cooking, and makes a point to give back to the community of Carmel through organizations like Hero’s Club and Discovering Broadway, saying, “We are here because of our community.”

Anthony’s Chophouse and 3UP Rooftop Lounge are located at 201 W. Main Street in Carmel. You can find them online at anthonyschophouse.com and 3uprooftop. com or follow @anthonyschophouse and @3uprooftopbar on Instagram.

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Barry Lantz A. Lantz Design | Barry Lantz Art “My mother always said, ‘Walk like you know where you are going.’”

Indiana native Barry Lantz began his career in design selling furniture for the compensation of $2.00 an hour. With a passion for art and design, he has since made a name for himself as an interior designer in the Hoosier state and across the country. “I have experienced every design and color trend since 1973,” he says. “And hopefully in my later career I have set trends of my own.” Influenced by his grandmother Goldie, his art teachers, and a family of business owners, Barry started his own design firm in the early 1980s, and his daughter Amanda took over as President of A. Lantz Design in 2015. Today he remains very active with the design side the business, but with Amanda now at the helm his role has significantly changed. “I love watching what Amanda is doing with the business.

Her younger thoughtfulness and fresh ideas are great and it is rewarding to see her implement how own plans and watch them become real.”

The shift has given Barry time to feed his artistic passion as a painter. Barry Lantz Art has become a business of its own. That, along with the creation of a fabric collection with Kravet, allows him to layer his design experience with other forms of expression and creative interests. His passions and hobbies all revolve around his profession as an artist and designer. Barry says he would like to think he has brought some style and artistic influence to many of the people he has worked with, and that he has awakened the artist in some and the lifestyle in many.

A. Lantz Design is located in the Carmel City Center at 800 S. Rangeline Road, Veterans Way Suite 250. You can find them online at alantzdesign.com or follow @lantzcollective on Instagram. To see Barry’s paintings visit barrylantzart.com.

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Catello's Italian Art Cuisine Sitting Down with Catello Avagnale

Catello's fresh take on Old World cuisine surpasses all expectations.

T

ake one look at Catello’s antipasto selections, and it will come as no surprise that Catello Avagnale, owner and head chef at Catello’s two locations (Indianapolis and Pendleton), is the son of a cheesemaker. Everything at Catello’s is made fresh, including their mozzarella and burrata cheeses. But make your way down the menu— and I warn you, it’s easy to get lost in it—and you will find dishes with names you may or may not understand, and ingredients that will make your mouth start to water.

As it was with one Yelp reviewer, you might find yourself getting “emotional” over the food. And that’s before you even taste it.

Catello’s Italian Art Cuisine’s Indianapolis location lies in your average retail strip on the south side of the street about a mile east of Keystone at the Crossing. But step just inside, and any thought of 82nd Street vanishes into the lush ambience of linen-dressed tables and a striking Demilune bar at the back of the main room that stretches elegantly from one side to the other. Each night, live piano music provides a comfortable backdrop for conversations with friends and loved ones over your choice of Catello’s impressive selection of wines and Old World Italian dishes, brought to glorious and authentic life in the culinary artistry of Catello Avagnale and his team.

Catello Avagnale grew up south of Naples, in the community of Castellammare di Stabia, where he learned the roots of Italian cuisine from his own family. His father was a cheesemaker, and his family ran a hotel restaurant business. Having attended university in Bologna, in the North, Catello knows firsthand the wide variety of ingredients and preparations that one finds in different parts of Italy. When asked, though, what regions his menu at Catello’s is based on, he explains that he doesn’t design the menu by region, but by availability of ingredients locally. The culinary trip your tongue will take around Italy at Catello’s, then, doesn’t depend as much on the whim of the chef, as much as it does on what’s available by season here in central Indiana.

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Coming soon, Catello’s looks forward to inaugurating their Italian wine and movie nights at the 82nd Street location. “We’ll show a movie and serve dinner, paired with wines—and we’ll be making our cheeses right there in front of you, in real-time.”

So why did Catello Avagnale leave his homeland to start anew in Pendleton? He says it was at the urging of his best friend Matteo, founder and original owner of Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano in Noblesville.

“We grew up next door to each other, and it just felt like the right thing to do at the time,” Catello tells me. And so, Catello’s Mozzarella Bar opened in Pendleton in 2016, offering a selection of housemade mozzarellas, along with salads, paninis, pastas, and fresh pasta-to-go.

The eventual transition to Catello’s Italian Art Cuisine brought not only the fresh house-made cheeses, paninis and pastas that customers were used to, but a full menu of spectacularly prepared dishes of pastas, cheeses, meats and fish. Among the cheffeatured items on the menu, you’ll find la favetta, rigatoni with fava bean sauce, speck ham, shallots, aromatic herbs, extra virgin olive oil, salt and black pepper. There’s also the spigola and ceci, linguine cooked with seabass in a white wine sauce, with sundried tomato, garlic, parsley, and herbs, on a bed of garbanzo sauce. (Like I said, you might not recognize the words, but oh, what lies beneath the words.)

Visit their website, and you’ll find a review that declares Catello’s as the “best Italian food ever,” and admitting that the reviewer “gets emotional when eating their food.” And this is from a born-and-raised Italian, no less. I asked Catello how he feels about reviews like this. “They’re so gratifying to hear,” he says, “but they make me want to make my food and the experience even better.”

The experience—that’s what Catello Avagnale is going after, not only with his food, but with the art on the walls, the music in the air, the touch of white linen tablecloths. Catello wants each and every one of his guests to enjoy his culinary creations, and to let time and conversation pass in the Old World way, in their own, unhurried time. “I want our guests to come and enjoy everything we have to offer, to enjoy the ambience, and the wine, and the food—I want them to love their time here at my restaurant.”

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