Evansville Business December 2023/January 2024

Lloyd Winnecke’s NEXT CHAPTER // Building Evansville WASHINGTON COURT APARTMENTS A publication of Evansville Living & Tucker Publishing Group

The

Reality of

Retail

As a regional hub for shopping, Evansville’s East Side outpaces the competition DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 4.95

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MASONRY • TUCKPOINTING • CLEANING CAULKING • CHIMNEY REPAIR

VOLUME 22 / NUMBER 6

A Publication of Tucker Publishing Group

PUBLISHER

Todd A. Tucker

EDITORIAL

Troy Schreiber and Tammy Evans, Owners Third Generation Family-Owned Business MASONRY CONTRACTOR SINCE 1946

Kristen K. Tucker Editor Jodi Keen Managing Editor John Martin Senior Writer Maggie Valenti Staff Writer

DESIGN

Laura Mathis Creative Director Morgan Dean Graphic Designer and Advertising Administrator

Deaconess Aquatic Center

Hadley Mitchell Digital Marketing Coordinator

ADVERTISING

Jessica Hoffman Senior Account Executive Drake’s

Jennifer Rhoades Senior Account Executive Logen Sitzman Sales and Marketing Coordinator

CIRCULATION

Gregg Martin Distribution and Circulation Manager

Rapp Granary

CONTRIBUTORS

Greg Eans, Michelle Mastro, Zach Straw Engelbrecht Carousel

TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP

nmbungeinc.com

Todd A. Tucker President

812-424-2704 troy@nmbungeinc.com

Kristen K. Tucker Vice President

2 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Tucker Publishing Group 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 200 Evansville, IN 47708 812-426-2115

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Evansville Business is published bimonthly by Tucker Publishing Group, 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 200, Evansville, IN 47708, and printed at KODI Collective, Lebanon Junction, KY. Any views expressed in any advertisement, signed letter, article, or photograph are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Evansville Business.

Copyright © 2023 Tucker Publishing Group.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Tucker Publishing Group.

Contents

DECEMBER 2023/ JA N U A RY 2 0 2 4

11

Featured

Regulars

26 PURCHASING POWER

4 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Observers describe Evansville’s retail market as resilient, especially on the East Side, which has remained strong even as online buying accelerates.

Here’s what developers and experts say could be coming next.

9

SECOND GLANCE

PUBLISHER’S LETTER Indiscriminate Thoughts

Farm Boy and CRS OneSource combine forces

11 SPACES Ziemer Funeral Home gets a fresh interior look

12 NICHE BUSINESS Dive into the deep end with Gold Medal Swim Academy

16 13 BUILDING EVANSVILLE

Take a tour of the revamped Washington Court Apartments

14 MODEL CITIZEN

A love for his community led Ron Boren to help these foundation committees

14 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This succession plan moved at the speed of MetroNet

72 BUSINESS LIFE 74 IN THE NEWS 80 BACK TALK

Tara Barney prepares to step away from E-REP

22 Departments 16 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Lloyd Winnecke closes out 12 years as Evansville’s mayor

22 CAREER PATH

Get a bird’s-eye view with local medical helicopter teams

Special Advertising Sections 35 FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

Family-owned and -operated businesses share their history and success

ON THE COVER Many of Evansville’s most visited spots are in its commercial East Side district. The North Burkhardt corridor and retail stores in The Promenade development attract shoppers from nearby communities and beyond, fueling the area’s economy. Photo by Zach Straw EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 3

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

Indiscriminate Thoughts

H

ere we go again. I promised the Tucker Publishing Group team that this time I absolutely would not wait until the last day of deadline to write my letter. As I am a man of my word (when convenient), I find myself writing this letter damn near half a day early. Every November since 2005, I have written my final letter of the year for Evansville Business.

Throughout the years, topics have included politics, local personalities, family, pets, death, travel, and — probably my most often chosen subject matter — litter and trash. This year, I have elected to write about some recent community observations.

• Our city has been fortunate to have two excellent leaders over the last 20 years between two-term Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and three-term Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. As retired Old National Bank CEO Bob Jones says in “Onto the Next” beginning on page 16, Winnecke has led in the same public/private collaborative style as Weinzapfel.

I believe that collaborative style has become a staple over the last two decades of their collective governance, which has eliminated much of the distasteful partisan politics of the past and helped our city move forward together.

• In a community that often views itself as resistant to change, Mayor-Elect Stephanie Terry has made history as the first female mayor and first Black mayor of Evansville. Terry is eminently qualified with 13 years of Vanderburgh County Council experience and 13 years running the nonprofit Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville. Terry ran a positive campaign and gained voter trust while demonstrating a firm grasp of the issues.

Early signs suggest she will be a success as mayor.

• Love him or hate him — and most Hoosiers loved him — Robert Montgomery Knight was a force of nature. I enjoyed growing up during his nearly fourdecade tenure as the men’s head basketball coach at Indiana University, and he truly was a larger-than-life legendary figure. Coach Knight played by the rules, players went to class, and most loved him. Mistakes were certainly made in his later years, but I along with many other Hoosiers were sad to hear of his passing Nov. 1 at age 83.

• I am a proud University of Evansville graduate, and it has been a very exciting time to be a UE men’s basketball fan. (Yes, I know it’s still early in the season.)

As of this writing, the Aces are 4-0, and what a difference a year makes. Men’s Head Coach David Ragland and his staff have the Aces playing the epitome of team basketball, and Director of Athletics Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried and Associate Athletics Director for Revenue Generation Logan Belz have brought much-needed enthusiasm and energy back to the program. Attendance is up, and fans are talking about Aces basketball again.

• I have considerable faith that there are many bighearted people in our community. Each Christmas, the Keep Evansville Beautiful board of directors shops for a family from Ark Crisis Children’s Center. The children in this year’s family are all boys ages two to four. Their wants are clothing items we take for granted, along with a few simple requests: a football, Spider-Man pajamas, etc. But what hit me like a ton of bricks was this matterof-fact statement: “You will be providing the only items the child will receive for Christmas.’

I am going to do something about it. If you would like to help, please contact me at Tucker Publishing Group at 812-426-2115 or Executive Director Angie Richards Cheek at Ark Crisis Children’s Center at 812-423-9425 or angierc@ arkcrisis.org. This season, let’s pause, consider others, and make the holiday season better for Tri-State families.

I guess I must have some room left in my tiny heart.

As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.

Todd A. Tucker, President

P H OTO O F TO D D T U C K E R BY L AU R A M AT H I S

4 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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ILLINOIS

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Planning your family business’ exit strategy? Scan to learn helpful tips to ensure a successful transfer to your children.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FULFILLING FUTURE

Thank you for helping us celebrate our 25th anniversary with an item donation for our Silver Lining Gala. Youth First programs and services are the “silver lining” promise of hope for youth in stressful times, and you are helping us make them accessible to all.

Shelby Southard, Youth First Inc. ADVOCATE FOR ALL ABILITIES

As a longtime advocate of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, Kelly and her team are doing an outstanding job of providing much-needed services to the Tri-State (Back Talk, October/November 2023).

James Riddle via Facebook GROWING THE TALENT POOL

I am so proud of you, Rick Miller!

Not because you’re on the cover of a magazine (although that’s pretty dang cool), but because you are constantly working on being the best version of yourself, including getting your degree while working full time (“Manufactured Future,” October/November 2023).

Kat Mykals via Facebook DEDICATION TO DIVERSITY

Awesome coverage and recognition of our local Latino community in Evansville Business (Diversity and Inclusion, June/ July 2023)!

Abraham Brown via LinkedIn PUMPED-UP ADVERTISING

When I ran my house pumpkin scheme in Evansville Living, it was my first foray into print advertising. To help generate additional leverage, I created a winning opportunity for those who shared my post. Congratulations to Roger and Misti Cohen on winning their house carved into a pumpkin!

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Philip Hooper via Facebook MEANINGFUL MENTORS

Our member and mentor Sarah Thomas has been featured in Evansville Business (Leading Women in Business, August/September 2023)!

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SCORE Mentors Evansville via LinkedIn

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 7

Introducing a New Wave of Expertise to Field & Main Insurance For over a century, we’ve been not just your insurance agency but your neighbors, friends, and at times, your confidantes, spreading our roots deep into the heartlands of Kentucky and Indiana.

It’s an exciting day at Field & Main Insurance Agency, and if we could, we’d have you all over for a meet-and-greet with some fresh faces in our family! Imagine a cozy work family, where each member rolls up their sleeves, puts their thinking caps on, and dives into the world of policies and plans - not for us, but for you, our treasured clients. From individual plans that have your back to business policies that build a secure tomorrow, we’ve strummed many a melody in auto, home, and health insurance.

Megan McCarnan Whitledge, Insurance Producer | Brandon Adams, Insurance Producer

We’re Not Just Insurance; We’re Assurance!

Welcoming Our New Shining Stars:

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Megan McCarnan Whitledge, our new Insurance Producer is all set to sprinkle her magic. A seasoned sales professional, Megan’s here to charm new clients, weaving sturdy relationships and unearthing brilliant opportunities to bolster our insurance department.

Our advisors, are with you through every twist and turn of your life and business, ensuring your policies adapt, whether you’re shifting from an apartment to a home, welcoming a new partner into your business, tying the knot, sprucing up your space, dealing with a teen’s first car (yikes!), or shaking up your employee benefits plan.

Brandon Adams, Insurance Producer, brings with him four dazzling years of sales experience, especially from his stint at Cintas (where he bagged a spot in the Summit Club twice and frequented the weekly Best of the Best list!), he’s geared to carve new business avenues for us.

Onwards and Upwards Together!

With Megan and Brandon injecting fresh energy into our squad, we’re pumped to elevate everything you know and love about Field & Main Insurance. Our journey unfolds, with deeper relationships, bolstered insurance solutions, and explorations into newer realms of client service.

So, join us on this exhilarating ride toward a future where every twist, turn, and straight path is safeguarded by a century-old legacy, fueled by innovative expertise and wrapped in a blanket of personalized service. Here’s to crafting secure, assured, and vibrant tomorrows, together!

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SECOND GLANCE

Come to the Table

The merger of Farm Boy and CRS OneSource combines the trusted legacies of the area’s top food distributors Alan Clark and Mark Bonenberger

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

F

arm Boy Food Service leadership reconsidered the company’s future once the COVID-19 pandemic – like in many industries – presented new challenges.

“For us to stay around and find another building for manufacturing, that’s a huge investment,” says Mark Bonenberger, the third-generation operator of the 70-year-old food service provider.

Farm Boy still wanted to bring value to its independent operators (as profiled in December/January 2013 Evansville Business) and found a solution by merging with Owensboro, Kentucky-based CRS OneSource.

“We want to keep things local, for our valued customers and for us,” says

CRS CEO Alan Clark. “That decision affects health care facilities, daycares, schools, and the places we all love to eat and to socialize: our local independent restaurants and taverns.”

For Clark and Bonenberger — both longtime Evansville residents spearheading family companies — a merger made sense. CRS could assure the quality that Farm Boy clients like Kipplee’s, Nellie’s Restaurant, Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar & Grill, Gerst Haus, Sauced, House of Como, and Rolling Hills and Evansville country clubs have come to expect from the company’s selection of meat, dairy, dry goods, frozen foods, and more. CRS, in turn, expanded its customer base with the addition of high-volume customers

like the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp, West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, Frog Follies, and the Vanderburgh County Fair.

“We’d been friendly competitors for decades,” Clark says. “We are now stronger and better equipped to service these legendary establishments.”

The merger has affected Farm Boy’s manufacturing — which CRS outsources — and the availability of certain products.

“I constantly get asked,” Clark says of Big B Barbecue, which sold out of its Farm Boy-produced bottles this summer. “We’re trying to find someone to make it to the same standards, but we haven’t found the right person yet.”

“But it’s not gone,” he adds. “No way.”

CRSONESOURCE.COM P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY C R S O N E S O U R C E

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MAKING A SPLASH P. 12 HISTORIC RENOVATION P. 13 COMMUNITY INVESTOR

BUSINESS FRONT

P. 14

S PA C E S

‘A Place for Respite’

Ziemer Funeral Home gets an updated look BY JOHN MARTIN Daniel and Jennifer Ziemer

Z

iemer Funeral Home had two goals in mind when renovating its East Side location: functionality, and a soothing sense of style.

“A comfortable gathering place — a home,” is how Operations Director Jennifer Ziemer describes it.

The Ziemers worked with designer David Oldham-Heidenreich of Elements Interior Architecture to carry out their vision. He proposed a mid-century modern design, abstract art, soft lighting, and flexible spaces with several options for families to gather.

Ultimately, the design professional was allowed to take the wheel. That was the correct move, the Ziemers say, because he captured the calming, tasteful vibe the family wanted.

The property at 800 S. Hebron Ave. hosts about half of Ziemer Funeral Home’s services, with the remaining half split between two locations on North First P H OTO S BY Z AC H S T R AW

Avenue. The interior had been untouched since the 1980s, and it showed its age.

Jennifer’s husband, Daniel, co-owns the business with his father, Jerry. The Ziemers were referred to Oldham-Heidenreich by Evansville real estate agent and property owner Stacy Stevens.

Oldham-Heidenreich was surprised to hear from the Ziemers because he had never worked on a funeral home project before.

He was intrigued and told the Ziemers to be prepared “because I promise it won’t

David Oldham-Heidenreich of Elements Interior Architecture

look like a funeral home when I’m done.”

With a color combination of SherwinWilliams’s Tin Lizzie gray and cornflower blue with amber accents, the design’s touches include comfortable seating, soft lighting with attractive fixtures, and the ability to host meals or even bar service if a family chooses.  EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 11

BUSINESS FRONT

NICHE BUSINESS

Beyond the Lanes Gold Medal Swim Academy breaks down every stroke

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

“I said the Queen of England isn’t coming here for a funeral, so why are we decorating for that?”

— David Oldham-Heidenreich of Elements Interior Architecture

The previous look, according to Oldham-Heidenreich, felt too ornate.

“I said the Queen of England isn’t coming here for a funeral, so why are we decorating for that?” OldhamHeidenreich says.

The updates, he says, invoke “comfort, healing, everyone being welcome, a place for respite.”

“One of my prime goals was to create a space for all people that lent itself to a wide variety of religious expression or not,” he adds.

Now, he’s tasked with weaving a similar redesign plan, with slightly different color schemes, at the company’s other two locations.

The job he did at the Hebron Avenue location will be tough to top. The Ziemers say it’s an environment where a family can mourn while having a celebration of life.

“It’s a little more modern, a little more sophisticated,” Daniel says. “I wanted it to be like walking into a nice hotel — it can become almost a cocktail party where people can tell stories.”

It’s been four months since Aaron Opell started Gold Medal Swim Academy on Evansville’s East Side. There, you can find not just swim lessons but more advanced practices that focus on form and technique to improve performance.

“My vision is to make a profound impact on the swimming community,” Opell says.

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. didn’t introduce high school swim teams until 2000, prompting Opell’s family to move to Newburgh, Indiana, so he could compete at Castle High School and on the local swim club team, the Sea Creatures. His resume grew on Indiana University’s men’s swim team, and while he earned his master’s degree, he competed on USA Swimming’s National Team.

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2010, Opell enjoyed helping coach at IU and for the SwimMAC Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. He returned to the Tri-State, coaching local 2016 Olympic gold medalist Lilly King and 2020 Paralympic gold medalist Mikaela Jenkins.

Eventually, Opell pivoted to an area in which he felt there was a need in the community: swim instruction. After searching for local pools to hold lessons, he found Rehab for Life at 6215 E. Florida St., which offers physical rehabilitation services. Opell says he and Jan Stamps, owner of Rehab for Life and the Canine Aquatic Center next door, hit it off.

“It’s an all-around very nice setting. I knew from the get-go I wanted to make this happen,” he says. “Little did I know how effective the pools would be at teaching individuals how to swim.”

Two warm, smaller pools slightly over four feet deep are perfect for teaching young swimmers. For more advanced swimmers, adjustable artificial currents allow them to better swim technique in a fraction of the time it takes in a normal pool. As of Aug. 7, GMSA has offered swim school for children three and older, triathlete technique to help competitive swimmers reduce their risk of injury, and semi-private or private peak performance lessons for those who want to drop their times and reach their goals.

“I fell in love with teaching swimming. I decided to come home to give Southern Indiana something to be proud of,” Opell says.

GOLDMEDALSWIMACADEMY.COM Emily and Aaron Opell Swim School Class

ZIEMERFUNERALHOME.COM

12 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

P H OTO S BY Z AC H S T R AW

B U I L D I N G E VA N S V I L L E

What’s Old is New

Washington Court Apartments is the latest Haynie’s Corner complex to be revamped BY MAGGIE VALENTI

T

he U-shaped Colonial Revivalstyle building at 111 Washington Ave. has housed tenants since 1924.

Now, Mike Martin’s challenge is to retain Washington Court Apartments’ historic integrity while making the complex fit for 21st-Century living.

“I’ve always been attracted to this building. It has a ‘Melrose Place’ vibe,” says Martin, founder of Architectural Renovators, which purchased the historic property in 2020.

Renovations to the F. Manson Gilbert-designed complex took longer than planned. Similar to other properties AR has renovated, there were unique challenges.

“With any historic building, there are always unforeseen items that come up.

(We had) structural issues, some underground drainage issues, but overall, it was a solid building. We are thrilled with the outcome,” Martin says.

AR modernized each of the 22 one- and two-bedroom apartments, adding quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, luxury vinyl wood floors, new cabinetry, and updated light fixtures. AR restored each 750-square-foot apartment’s trim, iron stairwells, and balconies — including

P H OTO S BY Z AC H S T R AW

Rapunzel faux balconies — which feature the original true divided lite French doors.

Modern amenities include video surveillance and keyless entry system.

Orange Moon Art Studio in Newburgh, Indiana, also touched up paint on the inset cherubs adorning the three Greek Revival-influenced courtyard entrances, which greeted residents when the building opened for tenants in November 2022.

Also injecting new life into the property is the energy from the surrounding Haynie’s Corner Arts District, which

Christina Newell, a new hire with AR, says is popular with residents.

“The nightlife and community atmosphere of Haynie’s Corner being within walking distance is definitely a big draw,” Newell says.

ARCHITECTURALRENO.COM Architectural Renovators has transformed the Colonial Revival building on Washington Avenue into a modern apartment complex that boasts state-of-the-art amenities tucked into its historic architecture. Many of the original aspects of the building, including the interior iron stairwells, French door balconies, and exposed brick, were left intact.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 13

BUSINESS FRONT

MODEL CITIZEN

A Foundational Shift Ron Boren invests in the community

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

T

hroughout Ron Boren’s 41 years as a financial advisor and managing director — first with Hillard Lyons, then Baird — he has helped clients build and maintain wealth through estate and retirement planning. But perhaps one of his greatest contributions to the community has been through his work helping direct funds for foundations.

As a University of Southern Indiana Foundation board member, Boren has helped establish and fund scholarships, both at his alma mater and with private clients.

“Two clients, at my encouragement, have established trusts with Baird so that half the money is given to USI and half to the University of Evansville,” says Boren, who hails from nearby Owensville, Indiana. “One client didn’t have any family, so each year, I’m invited to meet the scholarship recipient. It’s been really cool to see somebody’s lifelong work and savings help students.”

He also personally invested in a sculpture designed by his friend and neighbor, the late John McNaughton, outside USI’s Screaming Eagles Complex. For his contributions to the

university community, Boren was honored in September with the Alumni Service Award.

Boren also is a 27-year member of the West Side Nut Club and a foundation board member for the last eight.

“The idea of the Nut Club foundation is that if something prevents us from having the Fall Festival, we can reach into the foundation and still give money to the agencies that need us,” he says.

“I’m proud to be on both foundation boards due to the fact that they do so much for the community that we serve,” he adds, “to not only know that the foundations are there for the community, but see people benefit from what we’ve done.”

EVANSVILLE.BAIRDWEALTH.COM

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Moving at the Speed of MetroNet Evansville-based telecom ushers in a new era with leadership change BY JODI KEEN Two years into doubling its reach to 250 communities in 16 states, Evansvillebased fiber-to-home company MetroNet is setting the stage for more growth.

Dave Heimbach took the reins as Chief Executive Officer on Oct. 1, with former Executive Vice President Sarah Overbaugh becoming Chief Financial Officer, and prior CFO Lohn Weber becoming Executive Vice President-Capital Markets,

MetroNet’s Evansville headquarters

14 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

a new position. Former CEO John Cinelli will serve as Executive Chairman.

Heimbach, a Cincinnati, Ohio, native and telecommunications veteran of 25 years, came on board in 2021.

“John and I formed a quick relationship, and we got comfortable with the idea that someday it might make sense to come together and join forces,” Heimbach says.

“Dave is a super nice guy, down to earth,” Cinelli says. “Our plan was he would eventually become CEO, but he had to earn it. He did, faster than my expectations.”

Heimbach, who lives in Virginia with his wife and five children, will remain based on the East Coast but anticipates traveling often in his new role.

Cinelli, meanwhile, says he plans to “be involved and help with the direction and vision and guidance” as the company continues to grow.

“This year, we doubled the pace of the preceding three years. Our target was to build half a million fiber passes, and we did just that. We launched 17 new markets last year, and we’re planning 34 markets this year,” Heimbach says. “We foresee a time we’ll be in 20 states in the not-too-distant future. Our growth platform is as long as we can go.”

METRONET.COM

R O N B O R E N P H OTO BY L AU R A M AT H I S . P H OTO O F M E T R O N E T BY Z AC H S T R AW

CONGRATULATIONS

TO OUR CELEBRATION OF IMPACT AWARD WINNERS!

JIM SANDGREN, OLD NATIONAL BANK

Niel Ellerbrook Community Service Award

ANCHOR INDUSTRIES

MAYOR LLOYD WINNECKE, CITY OF EVANSVILLE

Spirit Award

President’s Award

The dedication of these distinguished leaders sets them apart in helping our community thrive. Thanks to their passion for service and support of United Way, we are better equipped to address our community’s most pressing issues.

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

unitedwayswi.org

COMMERCIAL SALES AND LEASING • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

RICHARD CLEMENTS SCOTT HYATT TYLER RABEN MISTI ALVAREZ COHEN 812.426.1070 • summitrealestate.us EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 15

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS E M AYO R W I N N E C K E

Onto the Next

Lloyd Winnecke finishes three terms as Evansville’s mayor

BY TODD TUCKER AND JODI KEEN

“People in Evansville have a genuine appreciation for people who put themselves out there to improve the community.

And I’m really grateful for that.”

— Mayor Lloyd Winnecke

we’re doing things behind the scenes to make connections with the right people that can fix things.”

“One of the things that I feel really good about is that, over the years, we’ve been and we’ve shown a really empathetic ear to everyone who’s called,” he adds. “That’s not to say everyone who’s called has gotten the desired action they’ve wanted, but we’ve listened to people, and we’ve tried to assist and tried to coordinate a response of some kind that would benefit or to address whatever their concern is.”

“Lloyd cares about his city and his community. This is his home,” says retired Old National Bank CEO Bob Jones of the mayor, who is a Central High School and University of Evansville graduate. “Even when he was at Fifth Third Bank and I was at Old National, it wasn’t about Old National versus Fifth Third. It was about what’s best for the community.”

That empathy, Winnecke says, has led to a mutual respect with his constituents.

“There aren’t many things I won’t miss. I enjoy practically every aspect of this job. There are one-offs that get to be a pain in the neck, but they are outweighed by the good things. I’m always grateful for people’s Mayor Lloyd Winnecke at reactions when they see me and Carol,” he says, referthe Deaconess Aquatic encing his wife Carol McClintock, president of Team Center, October 2023 McClintock at F.C. Tucker Emge. “I can’t really tell you a time when we weren’t received anything but n Dec. 31, Mayor Lloyd Winwarmly, whether that’s at a Fall Festival parade or necke will bid goodbye to more walking into Mass on Sunday mornings. People in than just 2023. He’s also waving Evansville have a genuine appreciation for people The mayor in his office at the start of his first term, January 2012 farewell to elected office. who put themselves out there to improve the comHis schedule for the past 12 years munity. And I’m really grateful for that.” has been packed, a mixed bag of ribbon cuttings, crisis meetings, Several projects championed by Winnecke’s administration ceremonial first pitches, and closed-door negotiations. Each one have succeeded — among the most heralded are the Deaconess is important, whether the people involved are property develAquatic Center and the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences opers, public safety officials, business leaders, or citizens. And — but some also have stalled. After years of delays related to Winnecke knows the best way to make an impact is to show up. developers and the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for the Fifth & “The biggest misconception in the case of a mayor is that a Main project have passed a crucial test by securing bonds from mayor can fix everything. And frankly, there are a lot of things a Evansville’s City Council. Others, such as the renovation of Mesker mayor cannot do,” he says. “In cases where we can’t do anything, Amphitheatre, still face an uphill battle.

O

16 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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“For the school of medicine, the mayor had a vision, he knew the right players, and we met and worked together to lay the groundwork.”

— Retired Old National Bank CEO Bob Jones

“The challenge is it doesn’t sit in a redevelopment district, so there’s no readily available funding stream that can go to it without adversely affecting other projects,” he says. “And it’s expensive. I would love nothing more for that to be an outdoor performance venue but to bring it up to ADA compliance, it’s probably $12 to $15 million, if not more today. READI funds could be used for it, but you can’t just use exclusively READI funds. There has to be private sector investment and public sector investment to leverage to get that. You have to find someone who’s literally going to put their skin in the game to the tune of a lot of money.”

“We don’t want it to not be something in the future, but we just haven’t been able to crack that one,” he continues. “We’ve been able to have a lot of success with a lot of projects, and it’s just been frustrating.”

Pulling together a talented team of connectors helps get those projects moving. The three-term Republican mayor long has emphasized the significance of working together to benefit the community as a whole. But he doesn’t just preach it — he employs it.

“This style of public-private partnership started with Jonathan Weinzapfel and came through both administrations, but it really accelerated with Lloyd,” says Jones, who Winnecke recruited to pitch in with developments such as the Stone Center and DoubleTree by Hilton hotel Downtown.

“For the school of medicine, the mayor had a vision, he knew the right players, and we met and worked together to lay the groundwork,” Jones says. “The mayor pulled together a collaborative process. He has an ability to make everyone feel important. He’s been the engine behind all this.”

Winnecke credits a community spirit of collaboration for the region’s success.

“Our best-kept secret is our ability to collaborate as a community,” Winnecke says.

“You can call people and say, ‘Hey, Bob, can you do this?’ It’s that cooperation and collaboration that really makes it special. … People outside of our region see it. When I talk to the governor, he talks about what he sees in

Lloyd Winnecke and wife Carol McClintock in their Main Street condo, January 2014

Mayoral candidate illustration, September 2015

Inside the construction of the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, May 2017

With Kenny Page at a Clean Evansville event, August 2017

At the Deaconess Aquatic Center groundbreaking, December 2019

Attending the NCAA Division II men’s basketball championship game at the Ford Center, March 2022

Diane Clements Boyd, Kori Miller, and Winnecke at the Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards, November 2023

CO N D O P H OTO BY J E R RY B U T T S . S TO N E FA M I LY C E N T E R CO N S T R U C T I O N , D E ACO N E S S AQ UAT I C C E N T E R , A N D D I V I S I O N I I G A M E P H OTO S BY Z AC H S T R AW. M AYO R A L C A N D I DAT E I L L U S T R AT I O N BY DA N K I S N E R . C L E A N E VA N S V I L L E A N D D I V E R S I T Y AWA R D S P H OTO S P R OV I D E D

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 19

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regional collaboration in terms of economic and community development.”

Jones also has assisted Winnecke with matters related to behavioral health initiatives, which he says links directly to the mayor’s concern for his hometown.

“He’s a great human being and a terrific individual for pulling together everybody at the table,” he says. “For Lloyd, it’s not a political issue. It’s an Evansville issue, a regional issue.”

Winnecke’s emphasis on collaboration extends to the type of message he wants to send state and national officials about Evansville.

“What I’ve seen is when there is a good initiative and they see that the community’s been given an opportunity to buy into whatever that initiative is and have some say, and then there’s good leadership and a good approach, that’s when things like the Deaconess Aquatic Center get done,” Winnecke says.

Those connections and that spirit of collaboration will serve Winnecke in his next role. Instead of returning to the news media where he started his career or corporate communications in the financial industry, he will employ his skills learned as mayor as the next CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership.

“Our board went through a pretty deliberate process. When you get right down to some of the big things we have going, he just rose to the top as being able to both understand them and not only lead and continue to lead what we’ve been doing, but to take it to the next level,” says outgoing E-REP CEO Tara Barney, who will retire in early January 2024.

“Tara has been a very, very good colleague and a good friend. She has done a really brilliant job of building this organization after the merger of all the original organizations,” Winnecke says. “I think E-REP has earned a lot of credibility in really a short amount of time because the leaders were determined to create an organization that could do really impactful work for the region. And the fact that I’ve been on the board … I think it’s a natural transition, a short learning curve. I think because of the way we have approached relationships within the region, there is already trust from outside the city with how I will interact with the broader community.

“Carol puts it this way. She goes, ‘I think it’s going to be just like being mayor, but without the potholes and the snowplows,’” he laughs. “I quote her every time because I think it’s brilliant. It’s spot on, and I think that’s how it’s going to be.”

CAREER PATH E A I R E VA C L I F E T E A M 4 6 A N D S TAT F L I G H T 6

Flying for Life

Emergency medical flight teams take their skills to the sky BY MAGGIE VALENTI

N

o one knows what will happen during an emergency medical flight shift. A machinery accident removes a worker’s arm, or a motorcyclist skids across the road during a collision. A patient in critical condition needs a transfer to another hospital. Once the “tone” sounds, flight teams are the only ones trusted to save these lives.

“We’re taking care of people on the worst day of their life,” says Lacee Combs, a Flight Nurse with Air Evac Lifeteam 46.

Two emergency medical flight providers serve the Evansville area. Air Evac Lifeteam 46 is based at Deaconess Midtown Hospital, while StatFlight 6 works as the primary provider at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville. Lifeteam 46 also answers calls as needed at Ascension St. Vincent.

22 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Locations for Air Evac Lifeteam and StatFlight — both operated by private contractors — are staffed by four teams made up of a pilot, nurse, and paramedic. Nurses and paramedics work 24-hour shifts, while pilots take 12-hour shifts per federal law.

They airlift patients from “scene calls” at the site of grave injuries or via hospital “transfers.” Lifeteam 46 typically retrieves patients within a 70-mile radius, while StatFlight 6’s reach extends 90 miles.

To work on emergency medical flights, nurses need at least three years in a critical care environment, emergency department, or intensive care unit. Paramedics need three years with Advanced Life Support emergency medical services.

Pilots must have 1,500 hours of helicopter flight experience. Lifeteam 46

Being on an emergency medical flight team is the career pinnacle of many paramedics, nurses, and pilots. Just ask Paul Cross, Dan Cook, Lacee Combs, Ron Guth, Chase Brittain, Paul Schroader, and Emily Kate Taylor, who are part of Air Evac Lifeteam 46 serving Evansville’s Deaconess Health System. “We’re taking care of people on the worst day of their life,” says Combs, a Flight Nurse.

pilot Paul Schroader accrued those hours between 2013 and 2023, which he says is an accelerated time frame. As a former flight instructor for the U.S. Army, he was in the air almost every day.

Those are just the minimum prerequisites. In the most stressful, timesensitive, and traumatic situations a first responder can experience, having the right temperament for the job is crucial.

Brian Short, senior program director with Air Evac Lifeteam, says he lets P H OTO BY Z AC H S T R AW

“Knowing you are capable of taking care of the sickest or most hurt patient you’ve ever seen with your partners, you’re confident in your skills.”

— Lacee Combs, Flight Nurse with Air Evac Lifeteam 46

every candidate know what they are signing up for.

“A critical care air environment is very different from ground or hospital environments,” says Steven Weber, the air medical base supervisor for StatFlight 6. “You have to have someone who is confident. They almost have to like chaotic situations.”

“You can’t pull them off the street and throw them in a helicopter,” Short says.

JUST THE BEGINNING What are they in for? “A rigorous process,” Combs says.

There is a week-long orientation for paramedics and nurses to learn compliance, processes, and safety. New hires go to Air Evac Lifeteam’s headquarters in O’Fallon, Missouri. StatFlight’s new hires train at parent company PHI Air Medical’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.

Combs gets Lifeteam 46’s new hires up to speed on operations with 8 a.m.-5 p.m. shifts and mock flights. Recruits also complete 24 hours of online education and participate in scenario-based simulations with a regional Air Evac Lifeteam educator.

Then comes a six-month internship with a preceptor, or trainer. Every Air Evac Lifeteam paramedic and nurse must keep current with around 20 certifications, including CPR cards, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Neonatal Pediatric Transport, and more.

“Knowing you are capable of taking care of the sickest or most hurt patient you’ve ever seen with your partners, you’re confident in your skills,” Combs says.

At StatFlight, new hires go through two to four months of training after orientation. Paramedics and nurses must maintain 14 certifications to ensure they possess advanced skill sets above those

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“I felt like I could be doing more.

Air Evac Lifeteam allowed me to accomplish more in my career.”

— Ron Guth, Lifeteam 46’s assistant program director and Flight Paramedic

of their paramedic and nurse colleagues in hospitals or ambulances.

“I really liked nursing, but I missed being out on scenes,” says Weber, a nurse of 23 years who started in EMS. “I have more autonomy and a bigger skill set on an aircraft than at hospitals.”

“I felt like I could be doing more,” says Ron Guth, Lifeteam 46’s assistant program director and Flight Paramedic, who worked ground EMS for 15 years in Vanderburgh County. “Air Evac Lifeteam allowed me to accomplish more in my career.”

Pilots must have commercial and instrument certifications. Air Evac Lifeteam onboarding pilots receive three weeks of training. StatFlight requires three weeks of live flying and simulated flights mimicking engine failures and hard landings.

Each team picks up patients within their radiuses in Indiana, Kentucky, and

24 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Illinois, and most flights return to the Evansville area. Pilots also regularly fly to regional drop-off locations in Nashville, Tennessee, Saint Louis, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois. Weber says the approaches at each location are different, so practicing and learning who is on the radio as they approach landing pads is imperative.

Both contractors encourage flight teams to continue their education with regular studying and evaluations. Each paramedic and nurse must pass quarterly evaluations. Pilots, Shroader says, take yearly written and flying evaluations.

DIVING INTO THE DAY “When you come to work, you never know where you’ll end up in the afternoon. Every day is an adventure,” Guth says. “Watching the helicopter land is like the first time every time.”

Each shift starts with a brief meeting between the outgoing and the incoming teams, which typically stay the same, allowing members to build a rapport.

“Those meetings set the tone for the day,” says Paul Cross, a Lifeteam 46 Flight Paramedic.

There’s never a dull moment for medical flight teams, who may spend their shifts studying for recertification, holding educational seminars, or taking multiple trauma calls. It’s far from thankless work, though. Steven Weber, StatFlight 6’s air medical base supervisor shown at far right with Karla Smith and Matt Campbell, recalls when a man whose arm was removed in a machinery accident later visited StatFlight 6’s base at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville to thank the team for their lifesaving work.

The oncoming team performs safety checks on all equipment and the helicopter, checking everything is charged and stocked.

Air Evac Lifeteams ride in a 4,450-pound Bell 206 with a single Rolls Royce engine typically filled with 82 gallons of fuel for a maximum speed of 110 miles per hour. StatFlight operates an EC 135 P2 Plus helicopter weighing around 5,500 pounds fully fueled, with two turbine Pratt and Whitney engines propelling it up to 130 miles per hour. Mechanics regularly replace parts.

The teams also check the temperature of the blood products they have stored in a specifically designed refrigerator, which they move to a cooler on the helicopter when a transfer is needed. Lifeteam 46 carries packed red blood cells and liquid plasma, while StatFlight 6 transports units of whole blood containing red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Weather conditions change constantly in the Ohio River Valley, P H OTO BY M I R A N DA M E I S T E R

P H OTO BY Z AC H S T R AW

so forecast checks are important since the conditions limit when they can fly. Schroader says Air Evac Lifeteam pilots are barred from landing if they cannot see the ground or taking off with limited visibility.

“The company is very pro-safety in that regard,” Schroader says.

StatFlight’s pilots can rely on instrumentation to land in low-visibility or novisibility conditions. They cannot fly in lightning storms, ice, or high winds.

The views also are one of a kind.

Whether from the top of a high-rise landing pad or in the clouds, “you don’t get better views from your office,” Short says.

“The things you get to see are not what most people see in their lifetime,” Combs says.

While workers are encouraged to rest, teams spend their on-duty hours studying for exams and evaluations.

“Sometimes, you’re doing education all day, and some days you don’t touch a computer,” Weber says.

Educating the community and other emergency responders is just as important.

Lifeteam 46 works with fire departments and EMS to acquaint them with best practices before deploying for emergencies. Often,

Check, then check again. That’s the motto of medical emergency flight crews, who must be ready to fly out at a moment’s notice. This includes readying instrumentation, parts, and medical equipment and supplies that go on the aircraft. The three-member flight teams begin their daily checks immediately following a report from the crew signing off.

fire departments are the first on the scene of trauma incidents, where there could be debris or downed power lines, so Lifeteam 46 teaches them how best to prepare a landing zone for the helicopter. StatFlight also offers ride-a-longs for those thinking about

a career in emergency medical flights — and recruits always are welcome.

“It’s a team effort in so many ways,” Combs says.

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EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 25

STRENGTH IN SHOPPING

E V A N S V I L L E ’ S R E TA I L S C E N E S H O W S PERSEVERANCE AND GROWTH POTENTIAL

BY JOHN MARTIN

AS THE LARGEST CITY in a mostly rural three-state region, Evansville is a long-

established retail hub. That’s especially true on the city’s East Side, where commercial corridors continue to sprout new developments, and Eastland Mall — now 42 years old — remains vibrant enough to draw more vehicles than any other local destination.

There have been setbacks. Some stores have closed or relocated, with abandoned spaces still awaiting new occupants. Locally and across the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic kicked storefront shopping in the teeth and accelerated the trend toward online buying. Hiring also is a challenge for many retail establishments.

Despite those headwinds, observers say the Evansville area’s overall retail environment has stayed strong when compared to other communities. They say it can get even stronger.

P H OTO S BY L AU R A M AT H I S

Dillard’s

26 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Dillard’s

Macy’s

Eastland Mall is the number one destination in the overall market.

WHY THE OPTIMISM? One answer is obvious — the expected completion of an Interstate 69 Ohio River crossing in the next several years will make traversing the area easier. Observers predict Evansville’s East Side, as well as Warrick County and Henderson County, Kentucky, will see new developments.

Even without the bridge, though, those same observers say the region’s retail scene is on solid footing.

Located in a pocket between major cities like Indianapolis, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, and Saint Louis, Missouri, Evansville is “a must” for many national retailers, says Ken Newcomb, president of F.C. Tucker Commercial.

Newcomb notes that Evansville is a regional destination for not only shopping and dining, but also medical care and other services. Large facilities in the Ascension St. Vincent and Deaconess health systems sit on Evansville’s East Side and along Warrick County’s western edge.

“We don’t see a significant slowdown in retail competition.

There is room for more growth, and a lot of this is driven by the fact that Evansville has two award-winning hospitals in this area that keep expanding.”

— KEN NEWCOMB, PRESIDENT OF F.C. TUCKER COMMERCIAL

When out-of-town guests arrive for care, they and their loved ones often make multiple stops.

“We don’t see a significant slowdown in retail competition,” Newcomb says.

“There is room for more growth, and a lot of this is driven by the fact that Evansville has two award-winning hospitals in this area that keep expanding.”

E A S T L A N D M A L L P H OTO BY Z AC H S T R AW. K E N N E WCO M B P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY S O U R C E

The Promenade, a sprawling, mixeduse property between North Burkhardt Road and Cross Pointe Boulevard, has boomed in recent years. Costco Wholesale opened in June 2019, drawing bulk shoppers from roughly a 75-mile radius.

That is a much bigger draw than other retailers, according to SVN The Martin Group, which markets The Promenade.

A slew of other stores recently have populated The Promenade, including Academy Sports. Costco and Academy Sports are the 10th and 11th most-visited destinations in the area, according to a 2022-23 report by research firm Zartico commissioned by Explore Evansville.

Lest anyone think Costco’s presence has hurt nearby Sam’s Club, think again — Sam’s is third in the same ranking.

“Sam’s has not been affected at all,” says Steve Martin, managing director of SVN The Martin Group. “Costco is doing better than they projected, and they projected it to be a strong, aboveaverage store for Costco.”

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 27

“There are areas of The Promenade that we have not opened to the market at this time so we can attract large and exciting projects. I think it is important to recognize we have ample acreage for growth in the areas that we have opened up to the market.”

— STEVE MARTIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SVN THE MARTIN GROUP

Location analytics from tools used by SVN show The Promenade’s nationally known stores regularly attract unique visitors from a circle extending more than an hour from Evansville.

They arrive from Terre Haute, Indiana, Clarksville, Tennessee, and even much larger Louisville.

There’s more to come at The Promenade. SVN says those projects include Wash Boss Car Wash, two retail centers, and Class A premier office buildings, and the market is not slowing despite higher interest rates.

SVN officials cite a close relationship between housing and commerce, and they believe the 220-unit luxury apartment complex under construction at The Promenade will help existing businesses and lure new ones.

They also noted the extension of Vogel Road, which will give vehicles an easier route between Burkhardt and Cross Pointe, is nearly complete.

The Promenade still has ample empty lots — only half of the property is developed.

“There are areas of The Promenade that we have not opened to the market at this time so we can attract large and exciting projects,” Martin says. “I think it is important to recognize we have ample acreage for growth in the areas that we have opened up to the market.”

28 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Developers believe The Promenade on Evansville’s East Side is primed for even more growth in the coming years. Retail destinations such as Fresh Thyme, Academy Sports, and Marshalls have helped spur its success, bringing in restaurants and other services and attractions. Developers say the addition of a 220-unit apartment complex will help retain and attract business to The Promenade, and the extension of Vogel Road through the development will make it easier to reach Costco Wholesale and other retailers in the area.

Online buying isn’t going away, but neither are storefronts, observers say.

Andy Martin, SVN senior advisor, says many retailers are using storefronts for dual purposes — for walk-in sales as well as online order fulfillment.

Another trend, he says, is that online-based retailers are finding value in storefronts. He cites research from the International Council of Shopping Centers showing that digital retailers notice a 37 percent increase in web traffic after opening a physical location in a market.

“It just shows the strength of brick and mortar,” Andy Martin says. “There may not be as many as the future comes, but having brick-and mortar-stores in the right locations is vital for a lot of these retailers.”

Eastland Mall officials would agree. Many of the mall’s tenants have found success in combining online and in-person shopping — customers will order an item online and pick it up in the store.

“You can get your items faster that way, and if there’s a problem, say, with size, the store is right there to help you,” says Sean Ferguson, the mall’s marketing manager. “To me, that’s using technology to further promote great customer service in the stores. It’s a great tool and something a lot of our stores are using.”

Evansville’s status as a Tri-State shopping destination helps Eastland Mall’s major tenants — Dillard’s, JCPenney, and Macy’s, among others — keep their doors open, even as those chains have downsized elsewhere.

Ferguson says the mall uses social media to promote its stores, and the property’s owner, Macerich of Santa Monica, A E R I A L P H OTO S BY Z AC H S T R AW. S T E V E M A R T I N P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY S O U R C E

“We like the idea of being the traffic driver for the region, and we think other retail benefits from that immensely. We are happy when we see other retail coming into the market because it drives more business to us.”

GETTING THE WORD OUT Tourism CEO eyes East Side visitors center

BY JOHN MARTIN

WELL AWARE THAT SO MANY VISITORS

to Evansville congregate in East Side commercial areas, the city’s visitors bureau is considering how to steer more of those guests to other local attractions: Think Mesker Park Zoo, the LST-325, the city’s museums, Bally’s Evansville casino and Alexis Berggren hotel, and more.

It’s something that’s been on Explore Evansville CEO Alexis Berggren’s mind for a while, and she’s interested in establishing a visitors center at Eastland Mall, which is the region’s most-visited location.

“It’s something I am aggressively pursuing,” Berggren says.

She is working on a business plan for the concept, which would be subject to approval by Explore Evansville’s board. She says the visitors center would be “experiential,” with information about the area’s hotels and events, in addition to its attractions. It would be staffed and have branded merchandise for sale.

Berggren wonders how many visitors to the commercial East Side know what else Evansville offers. Zartico, a research firm that prepared a report for Explore Evansville on the East Side’s visitation and economic impact, encouraged the visitors bureau to team up with Eastland Mall.

Such a partnership, the report says, “would further educate and inspire visitors to engage with other areas/local businesses throughout the destination.”

Berggren is working on a proposal for her board’s consideration.

“The data speaks for itself, and I am very resolute in thinking that this is a strong play for us,” she says.

— SEAN FERGUSON, EASTLAND MALL’S MARKETING MANAGER

California, encourages a community approach that includes support of local nonprofit agencies.

Ferguson says youth sports tournaments at nearby facilities such as Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Sports Park boost Eastland Mall business and help the property keep its status as the Evansville area’s most-visited destination.

“We love that,” Ferguson says of the top ranking. “We like the idea of being the traffic driver for the region, and we think other retail benefits from that immensely. We are happy when we see other retail coming into the market because it drives more business to us.”

The research conducted by Zartico for Explore Evansville shows that more than 50 percent of visitors to the region visit the East Side’s commercial district, and 15 percent of the area’s visitors stop

by Eastland Mall.

The same data show that local residents also visit the mall, and the larger East Side area, with high frequency.

Ferguson says Eastland Mall businesses employ more than 1,500 people annually, and its management strives to keep the property fresh.

“We have several things in the works,” he says. “We are always trying to change things, whether it’s how the mall looks and feels from an aesthetics standpoint to the tenants we have in it.

It’s important to bring in new concepts and new looks.”

Also on the list of most-visited places is East Side retailer Meijer (No. 13), plus the popular chain restaurant Texas Roadhouse (No. 8). To Newcomb’s point, Deaconess Gateway Hospital Complex

(No. 2) and Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Hospital (No. 7) on the East Side are other frequented stops.

Evansville’s East Side continues to grow, and western Warrick County is booming along with it, says Evan Beck, CEO and managing broker with Woodward Commercial Realty. He notes Warrick shows the region’s most substantial population growth — increasing from 59,689 in the 2010 Census to a 2023 estimate of 65,185.

S E A N F E R G U S O N A N D A L E X I S B E R G G R E N P H OTO S P R OV I D E D BY S O U R C E S .

E A S T L A N D M A L L P H OTO BY L AU R A M AT H I S

Beck says the new I-69 bridge is the Evansville region’s “most critical and transformational” project because of the new development possibilities it will bring.

Communities along major northsouth interstate highways historically fare better economically than those on east-west routes, Beck says, and if the new I-69 bridge boosts jobs and housing in the area, additional retail will follow.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 29

TOP POINTS OF INTEREST (POI)

Overall Market & East Side Commercial More than one-third of the top visited POIs for the overall destination reside in the East Side Commercial Region, including Eastland Mall.

1. Eastland Mall

2. Deaconess Gateway Hospital Complex 3. Sam’s Club

4. Bally’s Casino Evansville 5. University of Evansville 6. Ford Center

7. Ascension St. Vincent Evansville (3700 Washington Ave.) 8. Texas Roadhouse

9. Evansville Regional Airport 10. Costco

11. Academy Sports

12. Deaconess Sports Park 13. Meijer Market

14. Deaconess Midtown Hospital (600 Mary St.)

15. Doubletree by Hilton Evansville S O U R C E : Z A R T I CO

Newcomb says a completed I-69 corridor “is just another economic driver” that will enhance area retail and make “access to Evansville and distribution areas easier.”

While statistics — as well as the eye test — show the economic impact of Evansville’s East Side on the region, other areas also have varying degrees of retail strength.

Observers describe the city’s North Side and West Side as areas of neighborhood-based retail, frequented by nearby residents but not as much by the larger Tri-State.

Residential growth on the city’s North Side, and in suburban areas such as McCutchanville, is leading to some uptick in retail presence.

“Commercial growth in northern Vanderburgh County is remaining strong, with over 650 homes in four major subdivisions, and more in the planning stages,” Newcomb says. “Residential growth is always followed by retail.”

The West Side has a commercial strip along Lloyd Expressway and Pearl Drive and locally owned shops on West Franklin Street, but future new retail possibilities are limited by the area’s topography and a scarcity of available land, according to area brokers.

They noted that many of the West Side’s recent retail projects have involved razing a structure and then rebuilding on the same lot.

While Evansville’s East Side receives the area’s most traffic, support for locally owned small businesses is vital to having the strongest possible retail environment, observers say. Evansville has an eclectic mix of small businesses in its revived Downtown area, such as River City Coffee + Goods on Main Street, where shoppers can buy drinks as well as a bevy of Evansville-branded shirts and other items.

30 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

“Time and time again, when we have events, we hear from people who say they’ve lived here for years and didn’t know about this shop.” ­— ADAM TRINKEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Downtown Evansville, meanwhile, occupies a unique place in the area’s retail landscape. It features many locally owned businesses on Main Street and crossing streets, with clientele including Downtown residents and workers, plus those coming to the area for entertainment and special events.

Support for those businesses is vital to a healthy Downtown, says Adam Trinkel, executive director of the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District.

Downtown hosts more than a dozen events each year, and each one has an intentional focus to “introduce and reintroduce” attendees to businesses in the district, he says.

“Time and time again, when we have events, we hear from people who say they’ve lived here for years and didn’t know about this shop,” Trinkel says.

Retail “isn’t dying, but is evolving,” Trinkel says, and for Downtown businesses, a key to ongoing success is offering a personal type of shopping experience that larger stores do not.

“We’re trying to drive home that message, and we feel like we’re the leader in sharing that story about the importance of shopping local and shopping small,” Trinkel says.

Brokers say the Evansville area’s diversity of neighborhoods, its place on the map, and its rent prices — which are below those in major markets — mean that residents and visitors will continue to have multiple attractive shopping options.

Plus, they say, there’s still plenty of land to build on — especially on the East Side and in Warrick County — as well as other spaces throughout the community for retailers to occupy.

“Overall, the retail outlook for our area is strong,” Newcomb says.

A DA M T R I N K E L P H OTO BY AU D R A S T R AW. R I V E R C I T Y P H OTO BY E M M A B AY E N S

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Design • Install • Maintain

Vincennes

Evansville

(800) 659-0719

3729 N. Camp Arthur Road

829 Canal Street

www.dallasfoster.com

(812) 882-0719

(812) 423-7098

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 31

The Tomorrow’s Workforce Program is an outreach to business and community leaders to support the Evansville Catholic High Schools and their mission to educate students academically, socially and spiritually. Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial High Schools work hard to provide quality graduates who will become our future employees and commerce leaders of the Evansville community and beyond.

PARTNER

SHAREHOLDER

PRINCIPAL

Evansville Regional Business Committee, Inc.

INVESTOR Azzip Pizza Berry Global Andrew J. Cosgrove Andy Goebel Happe & Dubord Construction, LLC Hermann Family Foundation Dennis Lamey ProRehab, PC David K. Robinson South Central Inc.

ASSOCIATE Banterra Bank Anchor Industries Matthew Brockman Bussing - Koch Foundation, Inc.

Freeman, Will & Niemeier, Inc. Greg Riedford

Jim Keller Midwest Roofing Sheet Metal

Hahn Kiefer Real Estate

NFP

Happe & Sons Construction, Inc.

Father David H. Nunning

Daniel Hoefling

Orthopaedic Associates, Inc.

Indiana Cardinal

Pierre Funeral Home

Dunn Hospitality Group

J W Associates School Equipment Specialists, Inc.

Schultheis Insurance Agency, Inc.

First Bank

Keller Schroeder

Sign Crafters, Inc.

Catholic Diocese of Evansville Donut Bank Bakeries, Inc.

The Hollander Group at Baird Thyme in the Kitchen Traylor Construction Group/Sterling Industrial Tri-State Orthopaedics University of Southern Indiana Bill and Sarah Vieth Water Street Partners Christopher Wolking Ziemer Funeral Home, Inc.

MEMBER All in the Family Dental Ronald W. Angermeier Aramark Corporation Mike Blake Capital Electric, Inc. Mark Daily Diehl Consulting

Butch Feulner German American Hafer Associates PC Hasgoe Cleaning Systems Henderson Chevrolet Wayne F. Henning Libs Finer Chocolates Inc.

Manion Stigger, LLP Midwest Mechanical Services, Inc. Niehaus Lumber Niemeier, Norb & Madonna Jane Perkins Promark

Michael W. Reffett

Credit Union

Riverside Capital Management Group

Stephen Thomas

Shetler Moving & Storage, Inc. Southwestern Healthcare, Inc. Sterling United Federal

Jim and Karen Will Drs. William and Mona Wooten

WE KNOW EVANSVILLE.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Visit evansvilleliving.com or scan the QR code

Providing expertly managed IT solutions for over 35 years

AT PARRISH CONSULTING (PCS), we strive to provide dependable and consistent information technology services to our customers. We take the stress of managing technology, which is always evolving, off your shoulders by being your partner in providing secure, confidential, and cost-effective solutions to your business.

MARKETING

SECURITY

PRODUCTS

Need a website to advertise your company? Want to set up an online store? What about branding your company or help with social media?

We can help! Whether you are starting from scratch or you come with an existing business, we are here to help you meet the challenges to help you grow. PCS will work with you to create all the aspects of a successful marketing strategy and can even help you manage it all!

We recognize the value of our clients’ resources, both tangible and intangible. As such, we will work with you to design, acquire, install, and support a surveillance solution that meets your requirements and exceeds your expectations. Every customer is different, and we do not believe in the motto “one-size-fits-all.”

PCS can customize a solution to fit your needs.

Are you in need of new equipment for your business and want to make sure it will last? We can help reduce the total cost to your business through implementing hardware and software standardization, best practices, and asset management. We are an authorized/certified partner for most major technology brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Cisco, Fortinet, Netgear, and Avaya. Because of these relationships we can purchase highend equipment for our customers at below-retail prices.

• Custom Website Design • Website Management • Social Media Design & Management • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) • Logo Design & Branding • Graphic Design Service • Business Cards • Letterhead & Envelopes • Brochures & Flyers • Posters & Banners

We are partnered/certified with great companies within the IT/security field:

• ACTi • Panasonic • GE/Interlogix • Hikvision • Synology • Ubiquiti • ...And more!

• Computers • Networking • Mobility • Software Licensing • Printing • Managed Services • Surveillance • Security • VoIP & PBX

100 N Gibson St., Princeton, IN 47670 • (812) 724-3334 • parrishconsulting.com

SPECI A L A DV ERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS Bauerhaus, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Full Throttle Automotive . . 40, 41

McMahon Exterminating, Inc. . . . 62

Bodyworks Massage Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Fulton Interior Systems & Fulton Tile and Stone . . . . 42, 43

New Horizons Financial Consultants . . . . . . 63

Bosse Title Company . . . . . . . . . 52

H & H Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Rug Merchant, The . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Business Communication Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 37

Hasgoe Cleaning Systems . . . . 58

Signarama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Howard’s Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 49

Southern Business Machines, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Clean Air of Evansville . . . . . . . . 51 Colonial Classics, Inc. . . . . . . . . 54 Diamond Equipment, Inc. . . . . 55 Ebike-Escapes . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 39 Evansville Garage Doors . . . . . 56 Evansville Hearing Aid Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

HR Solutions, Inc. . . . . . . . . . 44, 45 J.E. Shekell, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Southwest Grafix & Apparel Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Jack R. Kinkel & Son Architects, PC . . . . . . . . . . 61

SVN The Martin Group . . . . . . . 68

Kor-X-All/Resource Services, HBW Hawkins Bailey Warehouse Companies . . . 46, 47

Wellmeier Electric . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Ultimate Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Ziemer Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . 71

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 35

ONE SOURCE, MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS Business Communications Solutions (BCS) is the area’s best-kept secret. BCS specializes in offering commercial technology at all levels which includes telecommunications, A/V, security and fire alarm, CCTV, network cabling and fiber optics, and national account management, with passions for school security and community service. BCS delivers these services at a very high-quality level because most projects are handled completely in house, without the use of sub-contractors. BCS is capable of projects from $3,000 to $10 million. BCS is also unique in this field as one of the very few companies that does not require contracts for its services (although they are available upon request). BCS is the only company in the area that offers all of these services.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS BCS was founded as a telecommunications company, and we continue to grow and evolve with the industry.

We offer everything from self-owned systems to systems run completely through the internet.

A/V From small conference rooms to large corporations with networked training rooms to video walls to houses of worship, BCS has you covered.

SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM BCS can design, approve, and submit fire alarm design to the city and state levels in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and many more states. We save customers money by monitoring fire and security, simultaneously eliminating the need for multiple monitoring agreements.

CCTV BCS holds the highest certifications and dealer statuses from our camera manufacturers. BCS offers U.S. government-approved NDAA compliant camera solutions.

NETWORK CABLING AND FIBER OPTICS Cabling is at the heart of any technology-driven project. At BCS, we are manufacturer-certified and proudly feature quality, superior products backed by industry-leading warranties.

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT There are a lot of companies with national and international coverage based out of our area. BCS sends techs out to those locations when necessary and otherwise works with our network of strategically placed partners throughout the country.

SCHOOL SECURITY One of our biggest passions, school safety systems, are optimized to meet the needs of each school. These systems are designed to initiate alerts in the event of weather warnings, tragedies, or school closings. Each system can be customized, determined through a detailed evaluation and consultation.

BCS Corporate Headquarters

BCS Warehousing and Distribution Center

bcsservice.com•812-422-4955•

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS 1708 N. SPRING ST. | 81 2 -4 2 2-4 9 5 5 | BCS SE R V I CE .CO M Founded by Stephanie and Jason Buchanan in 2001, Business Communications Solutions is the leading business technology firm headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, specializing in commercial technology solutions including fire and security alarms, access control, CCTV, telephones, radios, networking, A/V, cabling, and more both locally and through its national accounts. BCS offers its customers complete, costeffective solutions that eliminate finger-pointing and streamline the installation process while delivering world-class technology and security solutions.

Top row, left to right: Noah Buchanan, Jason Buchanan, and Alex Buchanan Bottom row, left to right: Ben Buchanan, Stephanie Buchanan, and Katie Buchanan

How did Business Communications Solutions get its start?

BCS was started in 2001 when owner Jason Buchanan decided, after interviewing with other local companies, that he could deliver a better product himself. BCS started out as a telecommunications company that quickly added muchneeded services to its customer base.

How has Business Communications Solutions expanded?

It became clear that as our client base grew, so did the need to have a home base that could accommodate the changing needs of our operations. As a result of this growth, BCS now occupies a state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and technology center that allows us to provide an even higher level of service for our customers. Increased and improved inventory management is combined with leading-edge dispatch and service personnel. The result? Simple. Some of the highest customer satisfaction rates and quickest service dispatch times in the region.

How do your custom-designed solutions work?

BCS will custom design your solution, choosing from our many options of manufacturers and products. We explain the options in plain English and not geek-speak. This makes it less confusing and ensures that you get what you really want. We have a detailed project-planning process that allows us to work with your business in a way that is easy to understand and keeps your project on schedule.

Each and every installation is managed by a professional team. These team members use a detailed, coordinated plan to manage and direct every aspect of your project. We make every effort to complete the installation quickly and with as little disruption to your business as possible.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

We wish more people were aware of the diversity that we offer in regard to technology. Our team is simply the best around and you cannot beat the levels of service that we deliver. We can very easily implement multi-million-dollar projects, and we can just as easily implement $10,000 projects.

tory in Evansville to meet the needs of our customers in a timely fashion in this sporadic post-COVID world.

How does Business Communications Solutions set up employees and clients for success?

BCS spends a lot of time evaluating personalities and which people work together well for the best results in our projects.

That is also backed up by project management, scheduling, and field supervision.

What makes Business Communications Solutions unique?

BCS is the only local company that offers all the services we do in this area. BCS warehouses millions of dollars in invenEVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 37

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

EBIKE-ESCAPES 13 10 1 DA RM STA DT ROA D, DA RM STA DT, I N | 81 2-3 1 9-8 74 7 | E B I KE -E SC A PE S .CO M

Ebike-Escapes Electric Bicycle Shop is a small family business in Darmstadt, Indiana. Oldschool customer service is at the heart of what owners Holly and Dan Adams provide. Their passion for helping adults of varying ages and abilities “Get Out and Ride” shines through from the moment you step into their shop!

How did Ebike-Escapes start?

Our business was born during the 2020 pandemic. Dan and I were looking to upgrade our exercise bike in an effort to stay active during lockdown. While searching for a more comfortable bike seat, we quickly learned bicycle parts were as hard to come by as toilet paper!

We ended up doing a deep dive into the world of “ebikes” and saw a unique opportunity to create a fun way for people of all ages and skill levels to get outdoors and enjoy being active together. We started our business as a mobile rental fleet of six ebikes and learned all we could about the ebike industry, which led us to become the ebike experts we are today. We’ve since grown into a brick-and-mortar shop where we help our riders find the perfect ebikes and accessories to fit their lifestyle, as well as service a growing number of ebike brands.

What is Ebike-Escapes’ spectrum of products and services?

We are an authorized sales, assembly, service, and warranty center, so all of our products and services revolve around that. We’re best known as stocking dealers for Aventon, but we’re also dealers and affiliates for other popular ebike brands. We offer a wide range of service options including warranty inspections, tune-ups, and repairs.

We try to keep things simple by only

Kendall Pilcher, Holly Adams, and Dan Adams

stocking from brands we know and trust. We also carry accessories that make sense for our ebikers: mirrors, saddle seats, smart communication helmets, bike locks, and ebike rated hitch racks. Our riders’ safety and enjoyment are our top priorities!

What are customers saying about their experience buying from Ebike-Escapes?

Our riders’ testimonials really capture what we’re all about. We take the time to get to know you, your unique wants and needs, and work with you to find the best solution. We love seeing our riders’ happy faces whether it’s after their first test ride, or when they stop in to tell us they reached more than 3,000 miles! We truly want our riders to enjoy their new adventure, and we’re here to help them all along the way.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

It’s something we hear almost every day, “I had no idea you guys were here!” Most of our advertis-

ing is done via word-of-mouth, and while we might seem hidden away, the town of Darmstadt has been the best place for us to grow and learn first-hand the challenges our local cyclists encounter daily.

Because of this, we met with the Evansville Trails Coalition to begin discussions about revitalizing the Evansville-Princeton Interurban Traction Line into a dedicated multi-use rail trail for pedestrians and cyclists. We are very excited about the opportunities ahead to grow our cycling community! If readers would like to learn more about safe trails in our area, stop by your friendly, neighborhood ebike shop — we’d love to chat!

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 39

Welcome to Full Throttle Automotive!

We repair domestic and foreign vehicles and are proud to be the #1 Evansville auto repair shop for maintenance of your vehicle and fleet vehicles. When it comes to your car, we do it all!

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE • OIL CHANGES • TIRES • CUSTOM EXHAUST • DIAGNOSTICS • AND MORE

Meet Our Team Our staff performs high-quality, guaranteed service you can trust at a fair price. We work on both gasoline and light duty diesel engines, using the latest diagnostic equipment to guarantee your vehicle is serviced correctly while maintaining your manufacturer’s warranty. We only use quality replacement parts, and our technicians are ASE-certified.

From our family to yours, thank you for choosing our Evansville, Indiana, auto repair center! Full Throttle Automotive is here for all of your vehicle maintenance and repair needs.

Come see why we’re voted the #1 Evansville Auto Repair Shop!

9515 Seib Road • Evansville, IN 812-706-3313 • thefullthrottleautomotive.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

FULL THROTTLE AUTOMOTIVE 9 51 5 SEIB ROA D | 812-70 6-33 1 3 | T H E FU L LT H ROT T L E AU TO MOT IV E .CO M How did Full Throttle Automotive get its start?

Our names are Brandi and Edward Caswell, and we started the business just over nine years ago after a side gig in our garage became more than our home could handle. Edward taught at North High School and worked on cars during the evening hours and summer months to supplement our income. The politics within the school system made his job less enjoyable, and our home was overflowing with cars from late-night visitors. I finally told him it was time to take the plunge and open a business. So, with minimal funding, three young kids in tow, and a dream, Full Throttle Automotive was born!

What are Full Throttle Automotive’s core products and services?

We offer quality automotive repair. Everything from oil changes and maintenance, tires and alignments, to custom exhaust and performance builds. Our goal is to provide the highest quality possible. We strive to meet dealership standards while still maintaining the feel of a family-oriented business based on Christian values. We want to build trustworthy relationships with our customers that last a lifetime.

What are Full Throttle Automotive’s core values?

We value our long-lasting relationships with our customers, community, and suppliers. We strive to promote trust and reliability through our honesty and integrity. Our goal is to be an industry leader in providing unmatched quality automotive products and services. We want to consistently improve our customer service by listening to our customers and learning where we can focus on innovation and team development.

How has your business expanded since the early days?

We started out by leasing a small building on Covert Avenue with only three bays, two lifts, and one employee. After a couple of years, we relocated to a more hightraffic area on the corner of Weinbach and Oak Hill Road. It was a tight space with absolutely no parking, but we added a few more techs and built a wonderful customer base there. In 2019, we took the plunge and decided to expand where we’re now blessed with 18 bays, 15 lifts, and 17 employees.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

The automotive industry can often have this stereotype of your typical greasy mechanic who only turns wrenches.

Truth be told, this field has become extremely diverse and demands a high level of technical knowledge. We are proud to have a crew that not only cares about our customers but strives to keep up with the constantly changing industry.

Edward and Brandi Caswell

What’s the advantage of bringing your car to Full Throttle Automotive?

There are many amazing automotive repair shops in the area, but our attention to detail through digital inspections, cutting-edge equipment, and superior customer service make us your trusted automotive repair facility. With digital inspections, we provide pictures and videos that help us educate our customer on what their vehicle needs to stay on the road safely and maintain its dependability for years to come. Our equipment is less abrasive and helps us to service vehicles quickly and accurately. Our team of service advisors take time to not only look through every digital inspection to develop a clear plan for the life of the vehicle but also make it a priority to know and understand our customers’ individual needs.

What has contributed to your company’s success?

First and foremost, Full Throttle would not be where it is without the opportunities and blessings that God continues to provide. We’ve spent time building honest and transparent relationships with our customers. When we make a mistake, we own it and do whatever it takes to make it right.

We always want our customers to know they are valued and cared for like family.

We also feel that our connection to the community has been a huge driver; we try to plug into the community with outreach events, sponsorships, and an annual car show that raises funds for scholarships to help students further their education in the automotive industry.

How does being a family-owned business benefit customers?

We care! We realize that cars are usually the second biggest investment an individual makes, and if you are like us, we don’t want to spend money fixing them. We do our absolute best to help our customers in making the right decisions for all of their automotive needs. Our customers are more than a job ticket, they’re family. We take the time to get to know them on a personal level which allows us to better serve them.

What is the most rewarding part about running a family-owned business?

Hands down, it’s the relationships. We love the opportunities we’ve been blessed with to pour into our customers, employees, and community. God continuously puts individuals and opportunities in our lives, and we love the freedom of being able to share His goodness with others. We’ve grown so much as individuals and as a business over the past nine years because of the relationships we’ve built.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 41

EVANSVILLE’S PREMIER CERAMIC TILE, SOFT FLOORING, WALL & CEILING CONTRACTOR

With over 100 years of combined experience, Fulton Interior Systems, Inc. specializes in: Metal Stud Framing, Drywall & Sheathing, EIFS - Dryvit and STO Systems, Acoustic Ceilings & Sound Panels, and General Contracting.

Check out our partner company Fulton Tile and Stone for Soft Flooring, Hard Tile, Fireplaces, Custom Showers, Back Splashes, Installations, and Repairs.

1750 W. FRANKLIN ST., EVANSVILLE, IN • 812-402-2232 D2FULTON@FULTON-INTSYS.COM • FULTONTILEANDSTONE.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

FULTON INTERIOR SYSTEMS/ FULTON TILE AND STONE 175 0 W. F R A NKLIN ST. | 81 2-4 26-2 7 7 5 | FU LTO N -I N TSYS .CO M Fulton Tile and Stone is a full-service commercial flooring contractor that specializes in all types of hard tile, natural stone, largeformat tile panels, as well as all types of soft flooring and accessories like carpet tile and LVT. We have some of the most highly skilled and highly trained installers in the region and can offer you the best quality and versatility in the flooring industry. Let us show you why we have set ourselves apart from everyone else.

What are Fulton Interior Systems’ core services?

Danny Fulton, Estimator & Project Manager: We are a full-service commercial contractor specializing in walls, ceilings, ceramic tiling, and soft flooring. We have some of the most highly skilled and highly trained installers in the region.

What made you want to start your own business/carry on the family business?

DF: Personally, there was never anything else that I truly wanted to do. I’ve grown up around this business since I was a kid and I always appreciated the workmanship of the guys who taught me. Looking back at projects that we have completed over the years, it’s pretty impressive what our guys can do. Keeping the Fulton name going in this industry was always something that I wanted to continue.

What is the most rewarding part about running a family-owned business?

DF: In my opinion, it’s the family aspect of this place still being intact after all these years. I still make my way to my dad, Dan’s, office almost every day to talk about something.

Whether it’s work-related or not, having him right down the hall is something that I cherish.

What have you learned from running Fulton Interior Systems/Fulton Tile & Stone?

DF: This business is mostly about relationships. Relationships with the general contractors that we work for all the way to our relationships with our own employees. So much of what I do relies on having great relationships with the people that I work with.

What business achievement are you most proud of?

DF: We have tackled some really incredible projects, some of which have landed us in national publications.

We have partnered with major manufacturers who have created new products for the tile industry through our field testing and feedback.

Dan Fulton, President, and Danny Fulton, Estimator & Project Manager

What is something you wish more people knew about Fulton Interior Systems?

DF: That as big as we are, in regard to our volume of work and the area that we cover, we are still a really small family-owned company. On any given day you will find me, Dad, or my mom, Gayle, in this office keeping things humming along.

Have you expanded into other areas of expertise other than Fulton Interior Systems?

DF: Yes, we founded Fulton Tile and Stone in June 2000.

Since that time, we have grown our expertise in both the ceramic tile industry, as well as the soft flooring industry.

We have also taken on other scopes of work within Fulton Tile and Stone that have led to us really expanding our services. We have tackled major projects with our tile roofpaver systems, submersible pool tile, and even terrazzo stair treads and landings.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 43

100 N. Saint Joseph Avenue • (812) 476-3180 • hrsolutions-inc.com

HIRING NOW! • Staffing (Contract and Temp-to-Hire) • Executive Recruiting • Corporate Outplacement • Executive Coaching

Vicki Hubiak

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

HR SOLUTIONS, INC. 10 0 N. SA INT JOSEPH AV E . | 81 2-4 76 -3 1 8 0 | H R SO LU T I O N S -I N C .CO M

Meet Vicki Hubiak, President and Owner of HR Solutions, Inc. Vicki successfully grew this business to one of the largest recruiting and staffing companies in the Tri-State.

Celebrating 29 years in the Tri-State, HR Solutions, Inc. continues to provide the highest quality resources to businesses to help them grow and find employees for their workforce. HR Solutions provides an array of services that include staffing, executive recruiting, corporate outplacement and executive coaching for corporations, companies of any size, and individuals.

How did HR Solutions get its start?

Founded in 1994, HR Solutions has grown from a onewoman operation to one of the Tri-State’s leading staffing and executive recruiting agencies.

Vicki Hubiak started HR Solutions in her basement after resigning from Peabody Energy, the only employer she had known since attending the University of Evansville. She set up a desktop computer in the walk-out basement of her Henderson, Kentucky, home and went to work as a human resources consultant and certified resume writer.

What are HR Solutions’ core services and how has the business evolved?

Now 30 years later, the woman who took a leap of faith in becoming an entrepreneur has turned a business in her basement into a successful and growing company that serves businesses and individuals with five core services: staffing, executive recruiting, outplacement, executive coaching, and training.

Did your sons always know they wanted to work with you?

Vicki: Nicholas and Scott Hubiak both had successful careers outside of HR Solutions. They had no idea they would eventually work with me. They both have grown and have added so much to the success of our company.

What does HR Solutions’ newly founded Public Charity do?

We are excited to announce the formation of Empowering Careers, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings our comprehensive career transition services to individuals in need of meaningful employment and career advancement.

In recent years, we’ve seen an overwhelming need for this service, and Vicki had a vision to share the techniques and connections acquired through her business so that every person, no matter their experience or age, can find long-term professional success and personal fulfillment. If you’ve ever benefited from job placement

Nicholas, Scott, and Vicki Hubiak and Peppa the cat

support, a friend who’s helped you network, or a mentor who’s helped you with resume and cover letter writing or job interviewing practice, you have a sense of the need.

At HR Solutions, my team and I have learned over three decades how to speak with employers to get a highly detailed and comprehensive understanding of what a particular job will entail. We then “match” with someone who may not by themselves have qualified or imagined themselves qualifying for such a job. We’ve developed a proven model for training, coaching, and follow-up communication with both employers and new employees. This includes our dedicated support for needs like housing, legal help, affordable childcare, clothing, and gear that can truly transform lives.

What have you learned from running your business?

Vicki: One of the most important things I have learned is that we can make such a significant impact when we show compassion and care about others. I also learned that when you go above and beyond, and exceed expectations, you connect with people.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 45

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE SPECIALISTS SINCE 1934

Dear Valued Customers, It is with great pride that I announce Kor-X-All has been acquired by HB Warehouse LLC. I am proud to have carried into a third generation the services of Kor-X-All Company, which was founded by my grandfather in 1934. I feel fortunate to have enjoyed a strong and trusted relationship with so many companies in the Evansville area.

As some of you may know, I recently celebrated the arrival of a new grandson. As a result, my wife and I have been thinking about spending more time with our three children who now live in different parts of the country.

In recent years, I’ve worked closely with Damon Bailey who is both an Indiana basketball legend and the owner of HB Warehouse LLC. When Damon expressed an interest in expanding his business in the Tri-State, it seemed like an excellent opportunity for both of us.

I am privileged to introduce you to Damon and his company. As of October 4th, Kor-X-All has been integrated into the HB Warehouse family of companies. Damon and I are committed to providing the dedicated service that you have counted on for decades.

Wishing your business continued growth and prosperity,

Mark Senzell

Damon Bailey

216 N.W. 10TH STREET • P.O. BOX 53 • EVANSVILLE, IN • 812-422-4191

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

HB WAREHOUSE, LLC. dba RESOURCE SERVICES/KOR-X-ALL 21 6 N.W. 10TH ST. | 81 2-4 22 -4 1 9 1 | KO R X A L L .CO M Owned by Damon Bailey, HB Warehouse, LLC dba Resource Services/Kor-X-All is your one-stop shop for janitorial supplies, food services/break room supplies, safety, and facility maintenance. We offer name brands at competitive prices. If you have cleaning matters or office supply needs, give us a call. We have trained staff members to help solve any concerns as well as save our customers money.

We service the entire state of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and parts of Tennessee.

How did Kor-X-All get its start in Evansville?

Mark Senzell, Owner: In the 1930s, my grandfather, Max, was a janitorial supply salesman traveling from his home in Atlanta. He wanted to settle down and thought Evansville, which was the most northern city in his territory, would be a great spot to set up a cleaning supply business. Max and his wife, Freda, set up shop at 21 Main Street next to Joe Larvo’s restaurant and National Cash Register. My grandmother, Freda, was the businesswoman behind Kor-XAll, while Max hit the streets to solve cleaning problems. At that time, Kor-X-All was manufacturing most of its products. The family also had a Kor-X-All on Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute, Indiana.

What are Kor-X-All’s core products and services?

MS: Product lines include floor maintenance equipment, paper supplies, can liners, floor cleaners, waxes, disinfectants, degreasers, matting, carpet cleaners, brooms, brushes, deodorants, ice melter, and restroom supplies. The company also carries a line of Green Seal-certified products.

What is a piece of business advice that your father passed along to you?

MS: My Dad, Irv, would always say, “When you help customers, you keep customers” and “If you can do something for a customer - do it.

Make it happen.”

What are you most proud of during your time serving as President at Kor-X-All? MS: I’m extremely pleased that we have been able to get to know and help so many Tri-State businesses thrive. Some distributors may be larger than us, but I don’t think you will find any that are more dedicated to the end-user.

What excites you most about expanding your business in the Evansville market?

Damon Bailey, President: We are extremely excited to expand our physical presence to the large market in Evansville. We have done business in the Tri-State area for years, but adding the team members of Kor-X-All to our Resource Services members will only make for a stronger company. Being able to “hit the ground running,” with the good reputation of Kor-X-All and the vast product lines of Resource Services, will allow the Bailey family to continue building on the Senzell family legacy in the Tri-State area.

Brayton Bailey, Alexa McCullough, and Damon Bailey

How did your children get started in the business?

DB: I have three children, Alexa, Loren, and Brayton. My oldest, Alexa (Bailey) McCullough, and my youngest, Brayton, are both now learning the ideals and traits of the trade that I have learned over the last 30 years of being in business. Loren decided to help educate our youth as a kindergarten teacher. Being able to compete in the business world with your children is extremely rewarding as a father.

What does the future of your company look like?

DB: As we work together to grow our brand, we plan to keep our core values at the forefront. Having the mindset of putting our customers first and keeping up with the demands of customers is always going to be what we strive to achieve. The consolidation of janitorial supply companies by national firms has created opportunities for smaller locally owned companies to provide the service our customers need and deserve.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 47

31 Years of Serving the Tri-State!

THE TOP GOLF CLUB BRANDS IN GOLF Do you have the right equipment in your bag? Without testing a variety of clubs you’ll never know. That’s why we carry products from the top manufacturers.

At Howard’s Golf you will find the best clubs that match your swing.

Maximize Your Potential with a Club Fitting

Howard’s Golf Indoor Driving Range

Get the most out of your golf game by having an expert club fitting! Our data-driven technology helps you find precision and distance in your swing. Let us show you what improvement looks like!

Golf club testing has never been easier. Howard’s Golf has a multi-bay indoor driving range that allows you to hit multiple brands in a session.

Want to see your results on a golf launch monitor? No problem. We’ve got a Flight Scope & Skytrak swing monitor for you to use.

Scan the QR code to visit our website and learn more information.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY: Great selection, friendly staff! Wonderful to have such a well stocked, local golf shop!

-Katie G.

The whole staff is knowledgeable and very helpful.

The prices are right and extremely competitive for a small business. I have been to other small golf shops in the area and they can’t compare to Tom Howard’s Golf Superstore. Whether you are a seasoned player or just beginning, they can help you get what you need for the course.

-Kevin W.

Great place to be fitted for clubs. Very accurate in what they do. I’ve bought several things from Tom. I am now on my second set of Callaways.

I’m sure there will be more in the future!

-Steven P. Best Golf Store... PERIOD! -Daniel H.

4401 East Morgan Ave. • howardsgolf.com • 812 476 4500 • Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sun. Noon-4 p.m.

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

HOWARD’S GOLF 4 4 01 E . M ORGA N AV E . | 81 2 -4 76-4 5 0 0 | H O WA R DSGO L F.CO M Howard’s Golf, the leading golf superstore in Evansville, offers an unparalleled fitting experience with four hitting bays and top-of-the-line launch monitors. Discover a vast selection of equipment, accessories, and high-quality golf apparel for both men and women, catering to every season. Established in 1992 and locally known as Tom Howard Golf Store, we are your ultimate one-stop shop for all your golfing needs.

How have you seen the game of golf evolve in recent years, and how has that impacted your business?

The evolution of golf has been dramatic, with technology playing a pivotal role.

The industry was driven by a simpler retail experience when Howard’s Golf opened its doors back in 1992. However, as golf equipment has advanced, with weight distribution improvements, innovative materials like composite and titanium, and shafts designed for specific swing speeds, the game has become more personalized and technical.

This transformation has directly impacted our business, prompting an evolution from a basic retail model to a sophisticated service-oriented approach. By investing in the right fitting equipment, we ensure that golfers don’t just purchase clubs but find the perfect match for their unique swing and style.

This dedication to keeping pace with technology underscores our commitment to customer satisfaction. It positions Howard’s Golf as a vital resource for players looking to optimize their game with the latest advancements.

What role do you see local golf shops playing in the broader golf community beyond just selling equipment?

Local golf shops offer more than just equipment sales — they are an essential part of the golf community. These small businesses provide customized club fittings using advanced technology to match golfers’ unique swing characteristics, resulting in improved perfor-

mance and the ability to test the latest club models in real playing conditions. In addition to equipment expertise, local golf shops offer instruction from PGA professionals, valuable tips, and guidance on course conditions that improve golfers’ scores.

Moreover, they build community and camaraderie by providing gathering places for golfers to connect and share experiences through events like demo days, club fittings, and putter fittings.

In essence, local golf shops are the heartbeat of their golf communities and supporting them is critical for the industry’s growth.

Chris, Kim, Tom, and Erik Howard

What sets your golf shop apart from other local retailers?

Our golf shop distinguishes itself by providing an unparalleled fitting experience supported by a significant investment that ensures golfers have access to a premium testing facility. The installation of four hitting bays with cutting-edge launch monitors from Foresight Golf is a testament to our commitment to precision and quality. By offering fitting carts from the top manufacturers, we bring convenience and customization right to the Tri-State’s doorstep. This combination of technology and accessibility not only sets Howard’s Golf apart, it also positions us as a destination for serious golfers looking for a tailored experience that can elevate their game.

sor rather than just a retailer. Golfers tend to appreciate it when their unique needs are prioritized over pushing a particular brand.

How do you maintain customer loyalty and satisfaction in a competitive industry?

Maintaining customer loyalty and satisfaction in a competitive industry such as golf hinges on the integrity and quality of the service provided. The fitting experience is the cornerstone of our business. We’re not just selling golf clubs; we’re offering a personalized journey toward game improvement. Our brand-agnostic approach, letting data and customer feedback drive the selection process, is a breath of fresh air in an industry often perceived as driven by hard sales tactics.

This honesty fosters trust and establishes Howard’s Golf as a reliable advi-

What is something you wish more people knew about Howard’s Golf?

Howard’s Golf is the premier destination for golf enthusiasts seeking personalized fitting solutions. With our state-of-theart GC Hawk launch monitors, we can quickly and accurately assess each customer’s unique swing requirements. Our expert staff is committed to ensuring that every golfer leaves with perfectly fitted clubs at competitive prices. As authorized dealers for top brands like Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway, our customers have access to a wide range of options. Furthermore, all special orders come with the full backing of the manufacturer’s warranty, providing an added advantage for choosing Howard’s Golf.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 49

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THE BAUERHAUS 1 3 6 0 5 DA R M S TA DT ROA D • 812- 8 6 7 - 3 1 69 • TH E B AU ERH AU S.COM How did The Bauerhaus get its start?

Michael Bauer, first generation, was a resident of Darmstadt, Indiana, and over his lifetime was a member at both churches in the town. Elders from those churches contacted him and asked if they could use his 32-acre property, Bauer’s Grove, which was perfectly situated between the church steeples. So, the property became the Sunday afterchurch gathering place for local residents and their families to enjoy a potluck lunch and social time together. Today, we are blessed to still serve both churches in our town and have expanded into serving all towns within a 100-mile radius.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

The biggest challenge for our company is educating the public about the diversity of services and event styles that we can

help with. People know us from their own personal experiences like a family picnic, wedding or corporate holiday party they might have attended. But, we can host groups of all sizes for all occasions; we've even hosted an intimate dinner party for 12 next to the fireplace!

We'd also love for people to think of us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner business meetings, team building events, and lunch and learns.

What makes The Bauerhaus unique?

The Bauerhaus has five generations of the same family in ownership and 143 years of experience serving the events industry. What makes us unique is our current service team. This team of individuals, with widespread skill sets, embrace our service motto and truly care about the happiness of each and every client. Gathering a team together with that same vision is unique today!

CE L E BR A T ING 1 44 YE AR S Picnics, Private Events, Weddings & Receptions, Holiday Parties, Business Meetings, & More

thebauerhaus.com • 812-867-3169 50 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

CLEAN AIR OF EVANSVILLE 2 2 0 6 N . G R A N D AV E . | 81 2 - 4 24 - 7 8 7 8 | C LE A N A IRE VA NSV ILLE .COM How did your family start Clean Air of Evansville?

The company was started by Floyd Tryon in 1974. Barbara Otto started working for the Tryons in 1988. After seven years of employment, John and Barbara Otto acquired the company from Floyd in 1995.

What air filtration products and services do you offer?

We offer a full line of HVAC filtration products. We can manufacture special size, odd size, and custom air filters to order. We also offer many filters for paint, water, and grease applications. We offer a filter changeout service for commercial, industrial, and restaurant businesses in the extended Tri-State area.

How has your company evolved since opening in 1974?

Our stocking inventory has increased dramatically in the last 49 years. Clean Air was started mainly as an air filter

service company. We have expanded our on-hand inventory to assist local businesses with quicker delivery and walk-in customers with great options.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

We are here to help with any filtration questions or issues that may arise. We offer delivery throughout the Tri-State area. On most orders, we can deliver within the week.

What are the main benefits of a commercial client buying a filter from you? A residential client?

Commercial clients benefit from quality products and services at reasonable prices.

We do not charge broken carton fees for standard filters.

We stock many filters for residential applications. Walk-in customers are always welcome. If we don’t have your particular size filters, we should be able to get it for you at a reasonable price.

Scott and Barbara Otto

YOUR SOURCE FOR ALL AIR FILTRATION NEEDS

FILTERS

INDUSTRIAL FILTERS

ACCESSORIES

2206 N. Grand Ave. • 812-424-7878 • cleanairevansville.com EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 51

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

BOSSE TITLE COMPANY T WO LOCATIONS | 812-421-4000 (NE WBURGH) AND 812-7 72-2078 ( TELL CIT Y ) | BOSSETITLE.COM

Bosse Title Company is a familyowned business that serves as a reliable real estate title company for the Tri-State.

Offering real estate closing services throughout Indiana and Kentucky, we make sure your property is truly yours and work to protect you from any ownership issues. Contact us today, and you’ll see why we’re an excellent choice for real estate agencies throughout the area.

How did your company come to be?

An Evansville native, Jeffrey A. Bosse started practicing law in Evansville in the mid-1970s. From there, his practice evolved into solely doing real estate and title work, including real estate closings. The name has changed a few times over the years, but the core group

of employees has remained the same.

Jeff A. Bosse’s son Jeff H. started in the family business in 2003 after earning his MBA at Butler University and currently serves as president, while his father serves as chairman of the board.

How has your company changed since its beginning?

When we first started, there was no fax machine, internet, or email. Running a business today without any of these basic business tools would be impossible. As technology advanced, so did we.

How has the business expanded over the years?

Jeff H. Bosse

BTC has needed to move a few times over the past several decades as our increased business has necessitated more staff and space. Over the years, BTC had acquired some smaller title companies, but in 2011, we acquired Evansville Titles Corporation, which dramatically increased business. In 2018, we acquired

a title company in Tell City, Indiana, and opened our second location. The biggest recent change is that BTC just moved from downtown Evansville to 4799 Rosebud Lane in Newburgh, Indiana. It’s a new look and feel, but we’re still providing the same great service that we’ve maintained for more than 30 years.

Isn’t it time you got to know Evansville’s premier, all-inclusive title company?

Local Bosse Title Company is a family-owned & operated title company that’s served the greater Evansville, IN area for the last three generations.

Flexible We’re committed to staying versatile & flexible to meet your needs at any stage of homeownership.

Convenient We know that convenience is all about making life easier for you. That’s why you can get started on your title without ever leaving your home by placing an order directly from our website.

4799 Rosebud Lane Newburgh, IN

(812) 421-4000

52 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

titleorders@jeffbosse.com

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

BODYWORKS MASSAGE THERAPY & INSTITUTE 2 8 0 9 L IN CO L N AV E . , S T E . 110 | 812- 4 9 0 - 9 0 0 9 | BW M A SSAG E .COM

Owning a small business is challenging. Sustaining a small business for 25 years shows a level of commitment and dedication that only a visionary can endure.

Founder Cecile Martin carries a work ethic that stems from her upbringing on a family dairy farm and knows how to thrive in everchanging circumstances.

Family, work, and commitment are words familiar to Cecile Martin, Leah

Martin, and Emily Sandullo, owners of Bodyworks. Since 1998, Cecile has laid the groundwork for providing massage therapy services and training massage therapists, now blending Leah and Emily’s management styles into the business.

The mother/daughter team of Cecile and Leah know each other’s thoughts before they can think them. Emily, though

not family by blood, has become an element of the Bodyworks family that intuitively knows the next step to take.

“Being part-owner of a family-owned business that shares my intention of helping people feels like home to me. With each passing year my commitment to this business, as well as my relationship with Cecile and Leah, has deepened. The fact that they are mother/daughter makes this partnership even sweeter,” says Emily.

Leah adds, “I feel proud to be a part of a business my mother worked hard to build. So much of her life, heart, and energy has gone into Bodyworks, and we are what we are today because of her love of massage therapy. Emily and I joke that she is our 'fearless leader' and we hope to follow her footsteps and share our love of massage therapy and massage training.”

Strong, trusting, family-like relationships with clients, therapists, students, and graduates of our massage training program are what always, and will continue to, keep Bodyworks moving forward.

Providing Massage Therapy Training and Therapeutic Services since 1998

Cecile Martin Leah Martin & Emily Sandullo

bwmassage.com 812-490-9009

MASSAGE THERAPY & INSTITUTE

2809 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47714

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 53

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

COLONIAL CLASSICS, INC.

GARDEN CENTER, LANDSCAPE, AND POOLS 3 6 33 E P W OR T H ROA D, N E W B U RG H , IN DI A N A | 812- 8 5 3 - 6 6 22 | COLONI A LNE W BU RG H .COM

Colonial Classics is the locally trusted expert with a 65year tradition of horticultural excellence to care for all your outdoor dreams and needs.

We have the largest and most diverse retail garden center in the Tri-State and offer a full complement of landscape services, swimming pool design and installation, and yard maintenance.

How did your family start Colonial Classics?

Colonial Classics has been locally owned and operated in Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana, since 1958. The McCarty family has been involved in the horticultural industry for three generations, starting with the J.A. McCarty Seed Company in the 1930s. In 1958, Jim McCarty Sr.

ventured into the relatively new field of retail garden centers and opened Colonial Classics Landscape & Nursery, Inc.

What makes Colonial the Tri-State leader in gardening and landscaping?

Our staff IS the difference. Many of our customers have worked with their favorite garden center specialist and landscape designer for years. We are proud to have master gardeners, highly trained horticulturists, designers, and crews who provide our customers with the most trusted advice, plants, and services.

We also have the largest nursery and diversity of plant material in the area.

Whether our customers are looking for annual flowers, perennials, shrubs, or trees up to 15 feet, we stock the finest quality inventory sourced locally and nationally.

Over the last several years we have seen tremendous growth throughout the country in the number of people who have become

interested in gardening and have the desire to create additional outdoor living spaces. To meet our customers’ needs, we design and install swimming pools, pergolas, patios, fire pits, and lighting.

Our goal is the same today as it was 65 years ago, to provide excellent service and value for a range of budgets.

Colonial Classics Garden Center Staff

Landscape Design, Pools & Lighting RETAIL GARDEN CENTER & NURSERY SMART PERGOLAS • OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING: FIBERGLASS POOLS KITCHENS • FIRE PITS

Landscape Maintenance

Garden Center & Nursery Monday - Saturday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

3633 Epworth Road, Newburgh IN • (812) 853-6622 • colonialnewburgh.com 54 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

DIAMOND EQUIPMENT, INC. 1 5 0 1 LY N C H ROA D | 81 2 - 4 2 5 - 4 4 28 | DI A MONDE QU IPMENT.COM

Founded in 1969, in part by Terry Clement, Diamond Equipment Inc. is a premier dealer of Case Construction Equipment.

Diamond Equipment, Inc., a family-owned company, is now in its third generation, led by its President/CEO, Dave Clement, and has been since 1999. The third generation is an integral part of the business. Chase Clement is the Director of Telematics based in the Evansville corporate office, and Travis Clement is the General Manager of the Nashville, Tennessee, location.

How has the company expanded since the early days?

Diamond Equipment has five locations: Evansville, Indiana; Terre Haute, Indiana; Mount Vernon, Illinois; Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Nashville, Tennessee. Each branch is a full-service location providing parts, in-shop and on-site service and repair, construction equipment sales, and rentals. After 54 years, Diamond Equipment built a new state-of-theart corporate location in its hometown of Evansville. The new facility boasts over 27,000 square feet of space including a 13,000-square-foot shop, which includes up to 12 working bays, a 10-ton overhead crane, an indoor wash bay, and the latest tools and diagnostic equipment to help serve our customers’ service needs.

What kind of construction equipment does Diamond Equipment, Inc. offer?

We are a multi-line dealer of construction equipment supplying the brands of Case Construction, Takeuchi, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, XCMG, Rokbak Articulated Haul Trucks, Noram Graders, SkyJack, Imperial Trailers, Towmaster Trailers,

Dave Clement, President/CEO

Rammer Hammers, Indeco Hammers and Processing equipment, along with a multitude of attachments for any construction equipment need.

What sets you apart from large corporate competitors?

Diamond Equipment provides a family atmosphere for its entire team, customers, and vendors. The founding premise provided by Terry still holds true today, “Treat people the way we want to be treated and make them realize they are our friends.”

PERFORMANCE YOU CAN COUNT ON SI NC E 1969

5 LOCATIONS: Lynch Rd. in Evansville, IN • Mount Vernon, IL • Bowling Green, KY • Terre Haute, IN • Nashville, TN 812-425-4428 • DIAMONDEQUIPMENT.COM EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 55

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

EVANSVILLE GARAGE DOORS 808 DIVISION ST. | 812-402-3667 | EVANSVILLEGARAGEDOORS.COM How did Evansville Garage Doors get its start?

Evansville Garage Doors was started by Bob Rothschild, who realized it was more advantageous to sell/install/service garage doors in lieu of building the entire garage from the foundation up.

How has your business expanded since the early days?

Originally, we offered only about 10 doors.

Now, we have HUNDREDS of doors in stock. We started with one install truck; now, we are at two full-time service vans, four residential installation trucks, four commercial installation/service trucks, and two wholesale delivery trucks. Also, EGD was started with 4-5 employees; we currently employ 43 people.

What are your core products and services?

Evansville Garage Doors is the market leader in garage doors, openers, and parts. We pride ourselves in educating the

customer on all things garage doors, from installation to repairs. We understand the importance of a garage door. When it doesn’t work properly, this can lead to security issues, as well as affect a customer’s ability to enter and leave the home. We often can provide same day service to our customers, emergency service, and repair 24 hours a day.

What has contributed to your company’s success over the years?

Exceptional customer service. We strive to make sure every customer is satisfied with their service/install/garage door needs.

What’s the advantage of shopping with Evansville Garage Doors?

From the beginning, our customers are not overwhelmed by sales staff pressuring them toward a decision. When the job is done, our installers are making sure the garage floor is swept entirely, making sure it is left better than it was before we got there. We are the ONLY local garage door company to offer a lifetime warranty on our torsion springs, as well as a full one-year labor warranty. We

For over 60 years, Evansville Garage Doors has been the area’s leader in service and installation for residential and commercial garage doors.

812-402-DOOR • evansvillegaragedoors.com • 56 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Jeff Rothschild, President

work with the best manufacturers, who stand behind their warranties and have the best warranties in the industry.

What is the most rewarding part about running a family-owned business?

The most rewarding part about operating a family-owned business is the relationships we have built over the years with our employees, our customers, and vendors, as well as stability and commitment for our employees.

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

EVANSVILLE HEARING AID CENTER 24 24 S T R IN G TO W N ROA D | 81 2 -42 4 - 5 11 6 | E VA NSV ILLEH E A RING A IDC E NTE R .COM

Evansville Hearing Aid Center provides personalized attention along with the diagnostics, education, customized products, and rehabilitation necessary to make sure your hearing health care needs are met both short and long term.

How would your customers describe you?

Evansville Hearing Aid Center is known for its outstanding customer service.

Many of our reviews state phrases such as “went above and beyond,” “goes out of their way,” “they are about helping people not money,” “rewarding and successful experience,” “honest,” “extremely helpful,” “explains options,” “very knowledgeable,” “great listeners,” and “great service.”

Do you have any new products and what are the latest advancements in hearing health?

Starkey Hearing Technologies' new Genesis AI is so smart they think like we do. Hearing loss might start in the ear, but it happens in the brain. Genesis AI hearing aids mimic our cerebral cortex-processing sounds the way a “normal” auditory system does and fills in the gaps produced from years of hearing loss so fast that they adapt before we can! Packed with the industry’s most sophisticated technology, they make over 80 million adjustments per hour, automatically, without you needing to do a thing. The result? Clearer, more distinct, and more true-to-life sound quality than ever before.

and models of hearing aids. We can also offer many different options when selecting a new pair of hearing aids as they are not “one size fits all,” allowing us to fit customers experiencing a very mild hearing loss up to a very profound hearing loss.

We also offer many other custom products such as a full line of hearing protection for hunters and industrial workers, sleep earplugs, swim earplugs, musician stage monitors, newscaster molds, and racecar receivers.

What is a service offered that you would not typically find at other hearing aid offices?

At Evansville Hearing Aid Center, we work with all major hearing aid manufacturers.

This allows us to repair almost all makes

2424 Stringtown Rd., Evansville, IN evansvillehearingaidcenter.com 812-424-5116

Hearing Wellness Starts Here With over 50 years of experience, we are the oldest, most trusted hearing aid center in the Tri-State Area. Committed to leading the hearing healthcare industry, we strive to exceed our patients’ expectations by providing hearing solutions at competitive prices and offering excellent customer service.

Brett Mattingly and Amanda Cates Bennett

FREE

Complete Hearing Evaluation. Call Today!

812-424-5116

We Provide • Free Hearing Evaluation and Consultation • Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting • Premium Hearing Aids • Cutting Edge Hearing Technology • The Best Value on Hearing Aids

• Hearing Aid Repair • Financing • Batteries and Hearing Aid Accessories • Yearly Testing for Fine-Tuning of Hearing Aids • Lifetime In-Office Care of Hearing Aids • Custom Made Hearing Protection EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 57

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

HASGOE CLEANING SYSTEMS 901 KECK AVE. | 812-464-2402 | 515 SALEM DRIVE, STE. 6, OWENSBORO, KY | 270-684-0535 | HASGOE.COM

As the top Evansville, Indiana, environmental cleaning and restoration company, Hasgoe Cleaning Systems, Inc. has been servicing the Tri-State since 1984. We are proud of the reputation we have earned as a forward-thinking company that strives to exceed our clients’ expectations with services that are tailored to their individual needs. We offer a wide variety of services in Evansville and the surrounding Tri-State area, which include but are not limited to: fire/smoke restoration, water/flood restoration, mold remediation, commercial cleaning, health care facility/ hospital cleaning, air duct cleaning, hard floor care, and carpet and upholstery cleaning.

Joyce Hassler (left) and Faye Goebel in the early days of Hasgoe

How has your business expanded since the early days?

How did Hasgoe Cleaning Systems get its start?

In 1984, sisters Faye Goebel and Joyce Hassler founded the company by combining the first syllable of their last names for the company’s moniker. They started a small janitorial service, cleaning businesses and office buildings to help put food on the table for their large families. In 1989, Faye and her husband, Jim, bought the company outright, and in 1993, their son Matt (the third of 12 children) joined the firm. Hasgoe continued to grow, and in 2009, Matt and his wife, Shannon, purchased the company from his parents. In June 2023, they were proud to announce that their son Isaac (the third of five children) had chosen Hasgoe as his career and became the third generation to be a part of the company.

Since starting as a janitorial service with Joyce and Faye as the only two employees, Hasgoe has grown to more than 130 employees with offices in Evansville and Owensboro. Celebrating its 40th year in business in 2024, the company now has several service offerings including fire/smoke restoration, water/flood restoration, mold remediation, commercial cleaning, healthcare facility/hospital cleaning, air duct cleaning, hard floor care, and carpet and upholstery cleaning.

EXPERIENCE THE HASGOE DIFFERENCE!

• Fire/Smoke Restoration

• Water/Flood Restoration

• Mold Removal & Remediation

• Commercial Cleaning

• Healthcare Facility/Hospital Cleaning

• Duct Cleaning

• Hard Floor Care

• Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning CONTACT US TODAY!

812-464-2402 HASGOE.COM

58 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

H&H MUSIC 1313 WASHINGTON AVE. | 812-487-0185 | HANDHMUSIC .NET

Your complete music store since 1955. Our staff of professional musicians are ready to help you with instruments, accessories, sheet music, repairs, and lessons. Visit us in-store and experience old-school customer service.

Pianos • Digital Pianos, Synthesizers • Keyboards • Band • Orchestra • Guitars, Basses • Mandolins • Ukuleles • Drums, Percussion • Sheet Music, Accessories • Lessons • Professional Repair H&H Music Staff

H&H Music now carries Yamaha keyboard products.

Which categories do you have available?

What other products and services does H&H Music offer?

The categories we offer are: • Acoustic Grand Pianos • Acoustic Upright Pianos • TransAcoustic Pianos • Silent Pianos • Disklavier • Clavinova • Stage Pianos • Synthesizers • Yamaha Digital Pianos • Portable Digital Pianos • Portable Electronic Keyboards

We also continue to carry band and orchestral, guitars, ukuleles, drums and percussion, portable sound and PA, sheet music, and much more. Lessons and repairs of almost every instrument are available.

Is special pricing available on the Yamaha acoustic pianos and Clavinovas?

Yes, for all in-stock Yamaha selections we offer zero percent APR for 18 months. Available through January 2, 2024. Visit us in-store to experience the quality of Yamaha at H&H Music.

THE TRUSTED NAME IN MUSIC

Authorized Acoustic Piano and Clavinova dealer for the Tri-State!

GRAND PIANO GB1K-PE

CLAVINOVA CVP-905B LOCALLY OWNED

CELEBRATING 68 YEARS! UPRIGHT PIANO - P22D-SE

1313 WASHINGTON AVENUE • EVANSVILLE, IN 47714 • (812) 487-0185 OR (800) 442-1313 STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. • 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM • WWW.HANDHMUSIC.NET EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 59

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

J.E. SHEKELL 424 W. TENNESSEE ST. | 812-425-9131 | SHEKELL.COM

J.E. Shekell, Inc.’s fleet of trucks around town and the Tri-State gives evidence of the company’s reach in residential and commercial work today. Since John E. Shekell served his first customer in 1978, the company’s team has steadily grown and now is led by John’s son, president Kevin Shekell. Now in their 45th year, they’ve come a long way from their humble beginnings of one man with one van.

What has contributed to J.E. Shekell's success over the years?

The fact that J.E. Shekell is a one-stop shop makes it easy for customers to call about HVAC, electrical, and plumbing needs. This diverse product portfolio, available to both residential and commercial customers, succinctly is summed up with the motto: “If it moves water, air, or electricity, then we can work on it.”

How does J.E. Shekell adapt and stay at the forefront of technology?

Due to the diverse and individual nature of each job, it is imperative the company is constantly looking forward. By liaising closely with vendors, they keep up with the latest technology, and the company also places considerable value on its own development team.

Kevin Shekell

President

Kevin Shekell

John Shekell

What qualities set J.E. Shekell apart from the competition?

One of the things that sets our company apart is quality, whether it’s in the products we install, the service(s) we provide, or the experience of our 60-plus licensed and trained service technicians. With 110 vehicles on the road, the company can provide rapid service to those in need.

The business continues to base its operations on John’s original cornerstones of 100-percent customer satisfaction and doing the job right the first time.

THE COMMITMENT CONTINUES John Shekell founded J.E. Shekell, Inc. in 1978 as one man with one van. His commitment: John Shekell

is continuing the legacy of excellence built by his dad with a committed team of trained HVAC, plumbing and electrical professionals. For 45 years, the experts at J.E. Shekell have valued working with commercial, industrial, and residential customers across the Tri-State and look forward to serving families and businesses well into the future.

60 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

Founder

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

JACK R. KINKEL & SON ARCHITECTS 312 N.W. M A R T IN LU T H E R K IN G J R . BLV D., STE . 10 0 | 812- 4 2 5 - 6 8 0 3 | KINKEL-A E .COM For three generations since 1945,

our firm, Jack R. Kinkel & Son Architects, has enjoyed being part of the fabric of Evansville. Established by Jack R. Kinkel, Architect, just after World War II, the firm went on to design more than 550 projects of various building types and budgets, including schools, hospitals, hotels, automotive dealerships, churches, office buildings, armories, a high-rise apartment building, and so much more for 78 years.

The family firm was propelled on by Jack H. Kinkel, Architect, when he joined in 1964 and “& Son” was added to the name. Jack H. continued the tradition of designing quality buildings for a wide range of clients, with a commitment to careful listening, great attention to detail, and commitment to budget. He concerned himself with all aspects of the building while delivering awardwinning designs.

Jack T. “J.T.” Kinkel, PE, returned to Evansville in 1998 to learn under

Jack R. and Jack H. Kinkel. “Spending time in a design studio with your father and grandfather is the greatest education any design professional could ask for,” J.T. Kinkel says. He is most thankful the opportunity came after some prior design experience so he could better appreciate the lessons and aspirations he received.

Learning from the previous two generations, the Kinkel team understands that committed listening, creative problemsolving, meticulous follow-through, and a commitment to budget provide the best built environment for each client. This is the foundation of Jack R. Kinkel & Son Architects.

We are very proud to be a family-run professional design firm, privileged to work with so many magnificent clients trusting us with their buildings. While Jack R. Kinkel and Jack H. Kinkel are no longer alive, their inspiration and values live on.

Thank you to Evansville Business for helping us share a portion of the 78-year family business story that is Jack R. Kinkel & Son Architects.

J.T. Kinkel and the late Jack H. Kinkel

PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY DESIGN SERVICES SINCE 1945 kinkel-ae.com EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 61

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

MCMAHON EXTERMINATING, INC. 1 6 0 5 T H E AT E R D R IV E | 812- 4 7 5 - 110 0 | MC M A H ONC A N.COM

McMahon Exterminating, which began in 1971, has grown from one man and one truck to 31 employees and 25 service vehicles. We are all about family. We celebrate five father and son teams along with a husband, wife, and their nephew. The family atmosphere resonates loud and clear among our team members. The culture of “Family First” is the cornerstone of our company.

How does your team work together to provide a high level of customer service?

Our full team meets every week for training. Our management team, along with our staff entomologist, works with our technicians, and our owner, Charlie McMahon, works with our full team. Training is the backbone of who we are as a company. Every day we start off with this statement, “Let’s make certain that we give every customer an Outstanding Customer Service Experience today!”

Tell us about your new service coming Spring 2024.

Look for our team member Richard to be riding a new piece of equipment we purchased this fall to help us with our very popular Mosquito Program. This piece of equipment will transform the way we treat those nasty mosquitoes.

Richard and Charlie are looking forward to spring 2024.

Are there any unique services you are offering customers?

Our scent detection team has once again gained national recognition with NESDCA (National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association) certification! Our trainer/handler Shelby, the only female in the Tri-State that is NESDCA accredited, has been instrumental in helping train and teach not only our canines, but also our handlers, Trevor and Jake. We now can pinpoint exactly where bed bugs are hiding. Reports show that humans are approximately 30 percent successful in finding bedbugs. Essentially, the tech must see an actual bedbug, whereas our canine counterparts can smell bed bug scent even when that rascal is hiding inside an electrical outlet, behind a baseboard, deep inside the box spring of the bed, inside a book on the nightstand, or on the bottom side of the nightstand drawer. Canines are also 97-98 percent accurate, making them the best option for successful eradication of the dreaded bedbug.

Raven, Sparrow, and Indiana "Indy"

Check out our NEW re-designed, state-of-the-art website by scanning the QR code or visiting mcmahoncan.com!

1605 Theater Dr, Evansville, IN 47715 | 812-475-1100 | mcmahoncan.com 62 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

NEW HORIZONS FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS 1112 S . E . F I R S T S T. | 81 2 -61 8 -9 0 5 0 | AB @ NEWHORIZONSFC .NET | NH F C PL A N YOU RF U TU RE .COM What made you want to start your own business?

Growing up, I was always interested in the stock market. My dad helped me to invest in some stocks to understand the process when I was in high school. I attended Purdue University and found myself majoring in Financial Planning and Counseling. I didn’t know then, but looking back, it was a perfect fit. I started my career shortly after graduation.

A few years later my father passed, leaving my mother widowed at age 57. I saw firsthand how important it is for women to be involved and empowered with their finances.

What are New Horizons Financial Consultants’ core services and values?

Mission: To educate and empower our clients with sound, solid financial information, options, and strategies designed to improve their financial lives. We help our clients use their wealth to improve what's important to them. We are especially concerned with helping women feel empowered and confident about their finances and making financial decisions that will benefit them and those they love.

Core Values: Integrity, Honesty, Professionalism, Confidentiality, and Service Excellence. Having integrity above all else. I hope our services help our clients to be comfortable with their finances so that they don’t lose sleep. Having integrity, being a fiduciary, and putting our clients’ needs above our own, that is what we strive for. That to me covers honesty and professionalism. Confidentiality is another top priority.

Danielle Andrews, Amy Bouchie, and Julie Hill

Finances are a personal issue for many people.

Evansville is a small town. We want our clients to know that we value their relationships and keep everything confidential that we discuss. We strive for service excellence so that every interaction our clients have will lead them to feel valued and confident in our services.

Are you on the

RIGHT PATH

to pursuing your goals and dreams?

Call today to schedule a consultation to determine if you’re heading in the right direction.

Amy J. Bouchie, CFP ®, CDFA®

CEO, Financial Advisor 1112 SE 1st Street | Evansville, IN 47713 812-618-9050 | ab@newhorizonsfc.net nhfcplanyourfuture.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/ SIPC. Investment advice offered through Western Wealth Management, a registered investment adviser. New Horizons Financial Consultants and Western Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 63

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

THE RUG MERCHANT 1019 L IN CO L N AV E . | 81 2 - 42 3 -2 3 3 8 | TH ERU G ME RC H A NTE VA NSV ILLE .COM

When a customer visits the Rug Merchant, their initial reaction usually is one of surprise. With thousands of rugs in all shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and styles, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the selection. But beneath the surface of patterns and styles, lies a deep passion for the product we offer you.

fine, handmade, antique, and new area rugs and high fashion broadloom carpet, but we’re the only certified rug appraiser and expert rug repair. We want you to enjoy your rug for many years to come.

Whether your rug needs a simple repair or expert restoration, the Rug Merchant offers handmade repair for those heirlooms that need a little extra attention to get them back to good condition.

How was the Rug Merchant started?

Before getting into the rug business, Terry Lewis founded and operated Midwest Carpet Supply. While at the Carpet Market in Chicago, Illinois, Lewis wandered over to the International Rug Market, where he immediately fell in love. Although he had been in the floor covering business for nearly 10 years, there was still so much to learn about Oriental carpets. He spent the next year learning about hand-made rugs from retailers all over the Midwest and beyond and, in 1980, he opened the Rug Merchant.

What's the advantage of shopping with the Rug Merchant?

Exceptional service is our goal for every customer we serve. Our highly trained staff are continually on the lookout for the latest styles and lasting values. We’re not only the Tri-State’s only resource for

Celebrating

53 Years

of Interior Inspiration

Emily Provost, Lynne Lewis, Terry Lewis

812-423-2338 • 1019 Lincoln Ave. • Evansville, IN • therugmerchantevansville.com 64 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

SIGNARAMA 1 3 0 0 N . ROYA L AV E . | 81 2 - 4 7 7 - 7 76 3 | SIG NSOV E R A ME RIC A .COM

Signarama Evansville is a third-generation, familyowned business whose roots are firmly planted in the Tri-State. The company was founded in 1957 by Arthur and Benita Valiant, grandparents of the current owner and President, Casey Valiant. Casey has successfully led the family business in growth, innovation, and community service. Signarama Evansville is recognized as a trusted resource to help businesses look their best by offering commercial signs, vehicle graphics, design services, and more.

What founding principle is still a part of your business today?

Signarama Evansville was built on a foundation of service to the customer.

Providing the team with a fun and safe place to do meaningful work is key to business longevity. We want our entire team to be proud of the impact they make on our customers and this community every day!

How does your business give back to the community?

Signarama Evansville gives back to the community through the Signs of Support Grant Program. Since its inception in 2010, Signarama has awarded more than $300,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations to help provide them with signage, graphics, and displays. This community

depends on many of those organizations, and we have had the pleasure of helping them stand out while marketing their missions effectively.

What has contributed to your company's success over the years?

Signarama has an amazing team dedicated to serving its customers. That same dedication and commitment to excellence has been passed down from previous generations and is the key to Signarama Evansville’s history of success in the Tri-State.

Signs that STANDOUT! ADA signs Banners

Lot/site signs

Digital graphics

Trade show graphics

Vehicle graphics and more!

CALL TODAY! 812.477.7763 SIGNSOVERAMERICA.COM

Our hope is that the result and impact on the community will be magnified exponentially.

- Casey Valiant, President of Signarama Evansville EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 65

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

SOUTHERN BUSINESS MACHINES, INC. 2 0 4 0 E . D IV ISIO N S T. | 81 2 -475 -8 89 5 | SOU TH ERNBU SINE SSM AC H INE S.COM What distinguishes your company from other companies in your industry?

Over the last 34 years, Southern Business Machines, Inc. has established itself as a strong leader in the mailing/document distribution industry. As a family-owned and operated company, making a difference without name recognition meant building relationships and providing great customer service from the start. This was, and still is, the backbone of our company. When you call SBM, Inc., you are greeted with a friendly voice — not an automated system. Our team is courteous and professional, we want our customers to feel like they are important to us. They are not just another number in our system. We sincerely value our customers and appreciate the support this community has shown us since Jennifer and Vernon opened in 1989. We continue to give back to the community in a variety of ways and reciprocate business locally whenever we can.

invoices and statements are created and generated — before they ever see the inside of an envelope. Communication efficiency has become vitally important with employees working remotely.

“Dawn and I are looking forward to celebrating SBM, Inc’s 35th anniversary next October!”

-Vernon Stevens II

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

SBM Inc. offers more than just your “traditional” office equipment.

We can provide your organization with a full scope of products and solutions to ensure that your customer communications are sent in the most timely and efficient way possible. We help our customers not only in the mailroom, but in the warehouse with shipping and receiving packages, and in the back office where

Jennifer and Vernon Stevens

• Postage Meters/ Mailing Machines

• Multifunction Printers/Copiers

• Weight Platforms/Scales

• Folder/Inserters

• Letter Openers

• Shredders

Dawn, Drew, Stanley (dog), Vernon II, and Charlotte Stevens

2040 E. Division Street • Evansville • 812-475-8895 southernbusinessmachines.com 66 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

• Customer Communication Management Software

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

SOUTHWEST GRAFIX & APPAREL INC. 2 2 2 9 W. FR A N K L IN S T. | 812- 4 2 5 - 5 10 4 | SOU TH W E STG R A F I X .COM How did Southwest Grafix & Apparel get its start?

Mike and Roseann Weidner started business operations at their West Side home in 1989 inside their four-car garage, which served as their office and production and receiving area. When they outgrew the home office, they moved to the current Franklin Street location where they are today and have been for 30 years. When Mike passed away in 1999, their son Mark purchased the company. He and Roseann then continued to grow the business. Mark's brother, Mike, and his sisters Mary and Michelle have all worked for Southwest Grafix & Apparel over the years. Mary has been an instrumental part of the business since 1995. She takes on several roles, from accounting to sales to specializing in varsity jackets. Mark's wife Schelly joined the company in 2010 after cutting hair for 20 years and is a great catalyst between sales and production.

What are your main products and services?

Southwest Grafix & Apparel works with a wide range of industries such as schools,

health care, moving companies, and other local family businesses by providing first-rate silk screening, embroidery, and company-branded items to promote their business. Laser etching is a new service that puts logos on tumblers, coasters, leather patches, and even pet bowls. Customers can purchase a single item or over 1,000 items.

What are your core values?

The family prides themselves on great customer service and product delivery. Every item in the retail store has been screen-printed or embroidered by a family member or one of their hardworking team members. The exceptional art department meets with clients to help create designs to fit their needs.

What is something you wish more people knew about your business?

The business does a large amount of volume on the wholesale side, with only about 20 percent in retail. The 10,000-square-foot production facility on Fares Avenue has been a bustling part of the operation since 2005 when the Franklin location no longer had room to grow after already expanding to the second floor. The online store was introduced in 2017 for ease of ordering.

Blake and Nolan Weidner

What does the future of Southwest Grafix & Apparel look like?

Current owners Mark and Schelly Weidner have two sons, Nolan and Blake.

They plan to take over the business and work full time, taking the company into the third generation. Both boys have been around long enough to remember standing on buckets to clean screens!

The Weidner family thanks the many loyal and dedicated customers who have worked with them for 30-plus years and look forward to serving them in the many years to come.

Celebrating

30 Years!

Scan to learn more!

YOUR EXPERTS IN CUSTOM SCREEN PRINTING & EMBROIDERY! 2229 W. Franklin St. • 812-425-5104 • southwestgrafix.com EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 67

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

SVN THE MARTIN GROUP 4 0 0 4 E . M O RG A N AV E . , S TE . 10 1 | 812- 4 7 1- 2 5 0 0 | SV NM A RTIN.COM

Father and son duo John and Steve Martin began The Martin Group in January 1977 and have been involved in a variety of projects across the country. They currently manage the development of The Promenade, on Evansville’s East Side. They also own SVN | The Martin Group, a full-service commercial real estate company providing sales, leasing, property management, commercial maintenance, and economic development consulting for all property types throughout Indiana and Kentucky.

Steve’s father retired during COVID at 89 but still is involved on a limited basis at age 92 — he loves the family business. Steve’s sons, Alex and Andy, have both chosen to join as well along with Steve’s wife, Anne, who heads up our accounting department.

What is a piece of business advice that your father passed along to you and that you have passed on to your sons?

My father always shared that being successful isn’t about being the smartest because there will always be someone smarter, or being the most talented, because there are always more talented people at what you are doing. Success is about perseverance — about always moving forward and having the grit and determination to be the last person standing.

Andy, Steve, and Alex Martin

What is something clients should keep in mind when working with a family-owned business?

We are a close-knit group of people. We treat our employees and clients like family, and we are personally concerned with the well-being of everyone. Our family and business are built upon the power of collaboration, transparency, and a mindset of getting things done. We all want to prosper together. In Evansville, we are the only brokerage firm exclusively focusing on commercial real estate with a national brand. This provides us the opportunity to put our client’s listings in front of the widest possible audience while maintaining local expertise.

SALES • LEASING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TENANT REPRESENTATION CORPORATE SERVICES CAPITAL MARKETS ACCELERATED SALES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTATION

Commercial real estate needs?

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIAL LAND & DEVELOPMENT

CONTACT US TODAY!

MULTIFAMILY OFFICE

SVNMARTIN.COM

RETAIL SPECIAL PURPOSE

We have local offices in: Evansville: 812-471-2500 4004 E. Morgan Ave. Suite 101 Evansville, IN 47715

Indianapolis: 317-849-8001 11650 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46038

Louisville: 502-297-8797 12802 Townepark Way Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40243

PRINCIPAL BROKER - J. STEVEN MARTIN • IN #RB14007428 | KY #187083

68 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

ULTIMATE FIT 1 41 2 S . G R E E N R IV E R ROA D | 812- 4 3 1- 0 2 0 1 | U LTIM ATEF IT.BIZ

Since day one, you and your feet have been our number one priority, every time.

The Ultimate Fit FitZone scan captures your unique information our fitting specialists use to help select the correct active footwear that provides cushion, support, and proper fit whether you’re walking, running, or working.

How did Ultimate Fit get its start?

In the beginning, Curt was working at Gilles Cycling in Evansville. They had a shoe department in the store, and he and Scott Gilles went in together as partners in the shoe business. In 2013, The Jones family bought out Mr. Gilles, and in 2019, the store expanded and moved into the former Gilles Cycling space.

What do Ultimate Fit customers say about buying shoes from your team?

We are so fortunate to have the dedicated staff we have, they exceed our guests’ expectations daily. Because of them, we have more than 3,200 5-star Google reviews.

Here is what one guest had to say, “Best shoe fitting/buying experience I’ve ever had!! I would highly recommend this place to everyone. They truly go the extra mile to make sure you get what you want as well as need. They gained a customer for life with me!”

How does being a family-owned business benefit your customers?

We are hands-on. It is possible one of the owners is on the floor any given day to help with guests and their needs. Being hands-on, we work closely with our staff to make sure we are always evolving our shoe fitting process and service to help customers better.

LOCAL, FAMILY-OWNED & OPERATED | EST. 2010

Your Tri-State solution for 5 star customer service. We are here to assist with finding the best fit for your unique feet. Stop by and see our fit specialist to experience your ultimate fit.

Cindy, Curt, and Cory Jones

1412 S. GREEN RIVER RD. | 812-431-0201 | WWW.ULTIMATEFIT.BIZ EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 69

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

WELLMEIER ELECTRIC 81 2 - 4 5 4- 9 5 47 | W E LLME IERE LE C TRIC .COM

Wellmeier Electric is a local family-owned business established in 2022 by Sam and Sarah Wellmeier. While our business is new, our level of experience is not. We are a father/son team with a combined 27+ years of experience in the Evansville area and beyond. We are a full-service electrical contractor. We pride ourselves on the reputation we have built and the client relationships we have made.

What qualities set your company apart from the competition?

Our company delivers high-quality prompt services, with keen attention to detail, and offers a wide variety of services carried out correctly the first time. Our top priority is keeping our customers up and running and making sure they are satisfied with their care. These qualities give a win/ win situation for all involved.

What does being a family-owned business mean to you?

From being out in the field to our very own office we ensure that you are dealing with a Wellmeier from start to finish. We take pride in the fact that you will not be dismissed or lost in our company because we care and value each and every one of our customers.

"Sam has been a very valuable asset to our business. He is always dependable and readily available when we need him. He is a great problem solver and has been able to help us with many issues related to electrical work."

- WA RREN M I LLE R , FOUNDER A ND O W NER OF M IL L ER ’S B BQ

What has contributed to your company's success?

From the start of Wellmeier Electric, our customers have come to understand that we offer a high standard of integrity, and loyalty to our customers’ needs, budgets, and time, as well as having an extensive determination to provide quick solutions. Having a family-owned business allows us to know that our customers are getting exceptional knowledge and outstanding service from each and every Wellmeier.

With 27+ years of experience, Wellmeier Electric is dedicated to excellent customer service from start to finish. We strive to offer quality, honest and affordable service to our clients.

The Wellmeier Family

Scan the QR code to visit our website!

CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE! 812-454-9547 • wellmeierelectric.com 70 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

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FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS

ZIEMER FUNERAL HOME THREE LOCATIONS — EAST, NORTH, AND CENTRAL CHAPELS | 812-477-1515 | ZIEMERFUNERALHOME.COM

Ziemer Funeral Home has served the Evansville community since 1927. The professional and caring staff takes pride in providing meaningful ceremonies designed to meet the specific needs of each family. From funerals to cremation, Ziemer offers a complete range of high-quality and affordable services honoring many faiths and customs.

Are there additional benefits to pre-planning?

Pre-payment generally means saving money by being protected from inflation and price changes.

We deposit all pre-payments into a trust fund, where it remains until needed. Pre-paying also provides future financial peace of mind for your family. Should you move away, we keep detailed records of your pre-planned arrangements and pre-payments. They are easily transferable to any funeral home in the U.S.

Why is pre-planning so important?

What else should we know about pre-planning with Ziemer?

Pre-planning lets you create your own unique life celebration. Family members know that your arrangements reflect your desires. It relieves them of that burden, allowing them to focus on healing and remembrance.

The entire pre-planning process can take as little as 30 minutes. You don’t have to pay upfront for pre-arrangements, and monthly payment plans are available. The important part is to document your wishes. Things

like cemetery selection. Do you want cremation, burial, or both (have a casket funeral and be cremated afterward)?

What is your favorite flower, song, reading passage, etc.? All of this helps ensure your life celebration sparks fond memories for your family while alleviating the planning stress for them.

EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 71

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P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY R O B E R T H AY N I E

BUSINESS LIFE

P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY U N I V E R S I T Y O F E VA N S V I L L E

GRANTED’S HOUSE OF HOPE ANNOUNCEMENT Sept. 19, Creekside Baptist Church Jeff Purdue, Corey Eblen, Lauren Thompson, Roy Jorgensen, Amanda Jorgensen, Susan Washburn, Dan Dennison, Brooke McAtee, and Teri Barnes

PAST AND PRESENT HAYNIE TRAVEL EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE KATHY Sept. 26, Just Rennie’s Catering MOORE’S 50 YEARS OF SERVICE Front row: Judy Bartow, Amy Demello, Karen Timberlake, Karin Godeke, Rebecca Heldt, Kathy Moore, Kalah Clement, and Evaline Wannemuehler.

Back row: Carolyn Oglesby, Nancy Latta, Patsy Devault, Carol Montgomery, Amy Ketzner, Jan Voegerl, Gloria Orange, Susan Williams, Robert Haynie, Elizabeth Bennett, Alice Harker, and Hazel Carter.

FIRST OUTDOOR HYDRATION STATION UNVEILED Oct. 9, University of Evansville Collin Lloyd, Alyssa Chaffee, Ben Ziliak, Michael Heiger, and Jack Deig

72 DECEMBER/JANUARY | 2023-2024

1.

2.

GAF MOUNT VERNON CELEBRATES 50 YEARS Sept. 30, GAF Mount Vernon, Indiana 1. Greg Miles 2. Randy Bargfrede

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P H OTO P R OV I D E D BY J AC K D E I G

EVANSVILLE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDED 2023 COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AT E-REP ANNUAL Sept. 28, Ford Center MEETING AND DINNER Irais Ibarra, Jennifer Whitaker, Abigail Werling, Sylvia DeVault, Derek McKillop, Erin Lewis, Lisa Allen, Dina Willming, Stephanie Doneske, Renee Heil, and Christopher Pietruszkiewicz

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UNITED CARING SERVICES OPENS DIVERSION CENTER Oct. 25, United Caring Services LeeAnn Newman, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, Suzanne Seng, Va Cun, John East, Wyeth Hatfield, Maggie Taylor, Officer Josh Brewer, and Cyrus Williams

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TRI-STATE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ASSOCIATION INC.

YOUTH FIRST, INC. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS Oct. 24, Friedman Park Event Center, Newburgh, Indiana Parri Black, Dan Hoefling, Bob Griffin, Judy Griffin, and William Wooten

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TRI-STATE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ASSOCIATION RIBBON Oct. 12, Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association CUTTING Inc. Haley Rich, Tiffany Stepto, Heather Frederick, Joel Kerns, Joy O’Connor, Jody Donosky, Connie Romain, Debbie Hebbeler, Diana Sanner, Tina Reed, Payton Boyd, Taylor Ayers, and Micah Konkler

CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOUNDATION CHECK PRESENTATION Nov. 7, Wesselman Woods’ Nature TO WESSELMAN WOODS Playscape Jill Barrett, Amanda Schmitt, Zach Garcia, Jerry Rairdon, and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF EVANSVILLE’S WOMEN’S CONFERENCE Nov. 2, Old National Events Plaza AND LUNCHEON Pam Hight and Amy Canterbury, two of 20 winners of the Top Women in Business award EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 73

IN THE NEWS E W H O ’ S M A K I N G T H I N G S H A P P E N I N L O C A L B U S I N E S S A N D I N D U S T RY NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS

Steve Schaefer has

joined Garmong Construction as vice president for the Evansville region, effective at the end of STEVE SCHAEFER November. Schaefer has served as Evansville’s first deputy mayor and chief of staff to Mayor Lloyd Winnecke since 2012, and he has also filled the role of interim executive director of Evansville Parks and Recreation since 2021. Garmong, based in Terre Haute, Indiana, opened its Evansville office in 2014, and the company says it has since managed and delivered more than $500 million worth of work in public and private projects in Evansville area communities. The company employs more than 50 people in the region.

Audrie Burkett has

AUDRIE BURKETT

joined Woodward Commercial Realty Inc. as chief operations officer and executive vice president.

Her roles include leading the company’s marketing efforts, internal operations, and spearheading Woodward’s continued expansion into the real estate development and investment market across Indiana and Kentucky. She previously was chief operations officer and executive vice president with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership.

The University of Evansville has named

Shoe Carnival has announced Patrick

has announced several hires. New faculty members include Amanda Faucett, Angela Mamat, and Carnell “CJ” Tillotson in nursing, Robin Mallory in paramedic, and John-Morgan Phillips in psychology. Other new hires are Karen Oldham as executive administrative assistant to the chancellor and Cori Pendleton as accounts receivable clerk.

CARNELL “CJ” TILLOTSON

ROBIN MALLORY

KAREN OLDHAM

CORI PENDLETON

Edwards as the company’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, as well as secretary and treasurer of its board of directors. Edwards replaces Erik Gast, the former executive vice president, chief financial of-

Southern Expansion

BY JOHN MARTIN

O

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Ivy Tech Community College Evansville

Brook Moffat director of marketing. Moffat, a UE alumna, has nearly two decades of experiBROOK MOFFAT ence in marketing, communication, and events management in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. She most recently was Senior Manager of Integrated Marketing for Shoe Carnival in Evansville.

B BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

ld National Bank’s recently announced merger with Nashville, Tennessee-based CapStar Financial Holdings will grow ONB’s presence in the Volunteer State.

CapStar has 23 banking centers, including seven in Nashville and others in Tennessee cities such as Knoxville and Chattanooga, plus Asheville, North Carolina. Those facilities will become part of Old National once the merger clears all necessary regulatory approvals.

Old National hired a wealth management team in Nashville in 2022, followed by a commercial banking and lending team.

“We were invited to learn more about them and see if we had any interest, and obviously we were very interested once we learned more and did some due diligence,” says Jim Ryan, CEO of Evansville-

ficer, and treasurer. Edwards previously was the company’s chief accounting officer and secretary. He joined Shoe Carnival in 2019 after 18 years with Vectren Corp.

Silver Birch Living, which operates a premier affordable assisted living community in Evansville, has added two new executives. Dave Mazurek joins as the vice president for investments and growth strategy, and Colleen Wille will serve as the assistant vice president for sales and operations. Chicago, Illinois-based Silver Birch opened its Evansville campus in November 2018.

AWARDS/RECOGNITION

based Old National. “We will be more successful because of our relationship with CapStar, and I think it was a perfect marriage.”

CapStar had $3.3 billion in total assets, $2.3 billion in total loans, and $2.8 billion in deposits as of Sept. 30. Once the merger is complete, Old National will have $52.4 billion in total assets.

OLDNATIONAL.COM IR.CAPSTARBANK.COM

The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership held its 2023 Annual Meeting and Dinner on Sept. 28 and announced that Lloyd Winnecke, three-term mayor of Evansville, will succeed the retiring Tara Barney as CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2024. E-REP also presented three awards at the event — Barry Cox, owner of The Cox Group and president of Warehouse Services Inc., was named Distinguished Business Leader of the Year; Traylor Construction Group was honored as Business of the Year; and the Evansville Promise Neighborhood was recognized as Community Champion of the Year.

S T E V E S C H A E F E R P H OTO BY E M M A B AY E N S . O L D N AT I O N A L B A N K P H OTO BY L AU R A M AT H I S . A L L OT H E R P H OTO S P R OV I D E D BY S O U R C E

Winners of the 2023 Mayor’s Celebration

Deaconess Health System has been recog-

of Diversity Awards were named during the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission’s Annual Dinner.

The late Alice Weathers and the late Ira Neal were honored with the Sadelle Berger Award; former Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer Roseyn Hood received the Willie Effie Thomas Development Award; Gelina Mascoe of the Haitian Center of Evansville and F.C. Tucker Emge was recognized with the Leadership Award; Kelly Shapker of Autism Evansville garnered the Sue Woodson Community Relations Award; and Southwest Behavioral Healthcare received the Workforce Diversity Award.

nized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals in the nation for spine surgery, pulmonary care, and prostate surgeries. The health system received Specialty Excellence Awards for those three areas, as well as 11 five-star ratings for services in heart failure, spinal fusion surgery, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, carotid procedures, prostate removal surgery, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, sepsis, and respiratory failure.

Several D-Patrick auto dealerships have

contributed to local nonprofits. D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln donated $2,500 to the Isaiah 1:17 Project. D-Patrick Boonville Ford

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce has named its 2023 Women in Business Award winners. Henderson Distilling Co. cofounder and Head Distiller Meredith Powell received the Female Emerging Leader Award; 51st District Court Judge Leslie Newman was named Female Volunteer of the Year; the Female in Agriculture Award went to Cates Farm co-owner Amy Cates; Tamika Johnson of Kidz World Childcare received the Female Owned Business Award; the Female Non-Profit Professional Award went to Britney Smith of Habitat for Humanity; Gibbs industrial engineer Samantha Hering received the Female in Manufacturing Award; and Missy Vanderpool, executive director of Henderson Economic Development, was named Linda E. White Woman of the Year.

D-PATRICK FORD/LINCOLN

donated $1,000 to the Studio Bee Community Youth Center and another $1,000 to Bread of Life Ministry. WNIN received $1,500 from D-Patrick Honda during September’s Kids Fest. The dealership donated another $1,500 to Warrick County Young Life.

Melissa Nicholson, an

Edward Jones financial advisor in Newburgh, Indiana, has received the firm’s Spirit of Caring Award, recognizing MELISSA NICHOLSON those who exemplify the values, culture, and spirit of giving back. The award is given to one financial advisor in each of the firm’s 326 regions and is determined by a vote of peers.

The University of Southern Indiana Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education has earned a five-year extension on its accreditation for its chemistry and biochemistry programs from the American Chemical Society. The accreditation process is meant to ensure quality instruction, laboratory experiences, and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation.

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Multiple Evansville-area executives have been named to IBJ Media’s annual list of 250 influential business leaders in Indiana who have made a significant impact on the Hoosier State’s economy and people.

The Class of 2023 includes Tara Barney, the retiring CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership; Robert Koch, chairman of Koch Enterprises Inc.; Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess Health System; Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, president of the University of Evansville; Ron Rochon, president of the University of Southern Indiana; Ron Romain, executive chairman of United Companies; Amy Romain Barron, CEO of United Companies; Tom Salmon, recently retired CEO of Berry Global; Michael Schopmeyer, a partner at Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn; and Jim Ryan, CEO of Old National Bank.

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14101 Highway 65 • Evansville, IN 47720 • (812) 963-5024 Just north of Boonville New Harmony Road • strauboutdoorpower.com EVANSVILLE BUSINESS | 75

IN THE NEWS

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B BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Bill Bartelt of the Indiana Historical Society and Sean Georges of the Evansville Wartime Museum

Historical Significance

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

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year after the River City was designated a federal American WWII Heritage City, the Evansville Wartime Museum has earned the Indiana Historical Society’s Outstanding Historical Organization Award.

The museum shares this year’s award with Indianapolis’s Irvington Historical Society.

“We’re really excited,” says Sean Georges, the museum’s new executive director. “It’s a tremendous achievement.”

The rigorous process started early this year and involved a site visit and full review of the museum’s extensive offerings, including educational programs and tours, exhibits featuring rare equipment, and tank and aircraft rides.

Community leaders also wrote letters of recommendation.

Georges says what impressed the Indiana Historical Society was the remarkable story of Evansville’s dramatic response to World War II as told by the museum. Chrysler, for example, produced 3.5 billion rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, 96 percent of the country’s total .45 caliber production.

“Our museum tells an extraordinary American story,” Georges says. “This recognition is the fruit of the labor of our incredible volunteers and staff.”

EVANSVILLEWARTIMEMUSEUM.ORG

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The University of Evansville Dunigan

Family School of Nursing has received full accreditation status from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, effective through spring 2031. Students also can study abroad while pursuing their nursing education. UE also announced 14 students are part of its Class of 2025 Indiana Area Health Education Centers Scholars: physician assistants Katelyn Brown, Sydney Hirt, Aubrey Lankford, Hannah Myers, Chastity Reising, Natalie Schimp, Carlie Schultheis, and Yanyu Wei; nursing student Heather Mathis; exercise physiology major Samantha Moore; and physical therapy students Hannah Rawhoof, Kathryn Williams, and Keri Zumbahlen.

The Owensboro Convention Center in Kentucky has been recognized by Northstar Meetings Group as a Silver Medal winner in the 7th Annual Stella Awards. The facility’s Silver Medal was in the category of Best Convention Center - Midwest. The awards recognize winners in 16 categories across the U.S. and worldwide and are chosen for achieving overall excellence in the meetings and events industry.

The Men’s Fund of Vanderburgh County has awarded 2023 Impact Grant worth $30,000 to Holly’s House to use for technology upgrades.

Evansville Christian Life Center and Tri-State Food Bank each were awarded $5,000.

Ashley Chamness, a kindergarten-sixth grade technology instructor at Evansville Day School, has been selected to receive the VEX GO Grant from the TechPoint Foundation for Youth. This grant will equip Evansville Day School classrooms with a set of 10 VEX GO robots, bringing a hands-on learning experience to the school’s primary and middle school classrooms. The grant also includes a comprehensive specialty curriculum that will be integrated with second-semester coursework.

WIKY-104.1 FM has been named Small Market Radio Station of the Year by the National Association of Broadcasters. The station — owned since 2014 by Midwest Communications but rooted in Evansville since 1948 — received the honor at the 2023 Marconi Radio Awards on Oct. 25 in New York City.

HOLLY’S HOUSE, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER, AND TRI-STATE FOOD BANK

Six non-profits earned 2023 Impact Grants at the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County’s Annual Meeting. Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Holly’s House, and Youth First, Inc. received $35,000 each, while Ozanam Family Shelter, Evansville Christian Life Center, and Boys and Girls Club of Evansville each received $10,000.

ALBION FELLOWS BACON CENTER

HOLLY’S HOUSE

TIM HUELSING AND AARON SANTINI

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GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT

The District housing complex in Princeton, Indiana, is open, and leasing is underway.

The $21 million apartment project at 629 S. Second Ave. has 144 units and supports local employers. Wayne Kinney developed the complex, which received a grant from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).

McClarney Financial Group has announced its relocation to the Fifth Third Bank building at 20 N.W. Third St., Ste. 940, effective Nov. 1. Travis McClarney founded the company 13 years ago, with services in financial planning, wealth management, asset protection and risk management, and business planning.

TRAVIS MCCLARNEY

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Ivy Tech Community College says $340 million has been raised statewide over the last five years, and more than $16 million of those donations came from supporters of the Evansville campus, exceeding the local goal by more than $4 million. “A significant portion of the funds raised in Evansville will be dedicated to create new scholarships, enhance wrap-around services, and support program growth,” says Ivy Tech Evansville Chancellor Daniela Vidal.

The campaign concluded during the 60th anniversary of Ivy Tech’s founding.

The Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville welcomed its one millionth visitor on Oct. 12. A family of three first-time visitors from Northern Indiana received a basket of free books and games as part of the celebration. cMoe first operated from 1990 to 2004 as Hands On Discovery in a rented storefront in Washington Square Mall before opening the museum in 2006 at 22 S.E. Fifth St.

The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office has received a $700,000, threeyear federal grant to establish a law enforcement crime gun intelligence center. Its goal is to combat gun crime through intelligence, analysis, and sharing resources among agencies.

Prosecutor Diana Moers says her office sought the grant “because of the precipitous increase in violent crime and specifically gun-related crime” in the area.

CMOE

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IN THE NEWS

The University of Evansville and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. have announced a new partnership that will allow high school students interested in careers in education or health sciences to earn college credit and qualify for scholarships.

Students can enroll in one of two programs — the Academy of Science and Medicine or the Education Pathways Program and earn credits from UE, which are transferrable to other universities. Students who complete one of the programs and are admitted to UE will qualify for a minimum scholarship of $25,000, renewable for up to four years. As part of the partnership, the UE facility will work with EVSC high schools to provide opportunities such as campus visits, observational experiences, and potential research projects with UE faculty and students.

Vanderburgh County Commissioners celebrated the grand opening of the Oasis Playground at Burdette Park on Oct. 27.

The playground, designed to accommodate children of all abilities, features a Quaker Mill play system and was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Vincennes University has announced a $4.5-million state-funded expansion of its partnership with Indianapolis International Airport. By doubling the allowed enrollment of the Vincennes, Indiana, school’s Aviation Maintenance program, more high school students can earn dual credit at VU’s Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY

Hard Truth Distilling Co. — featur-

ing Master Distiller Bryan Smith, an Evansville native and William Henry Harrison High School graduate — has partnered with Mellencamp Whiskey to produce four collectors’ edition whiskeys to be released over 18 months.

The whiskey company owes its name to Bloomington, Indiana, native Hud Mellencamp, son of Hoosier musician P H OTO S P R OV I D E D BY S O U R C E

John Mellencamp. Smith is the first and only Master Distiller at Hard Truth since the company’s inception in 2015.

Romain Subaru has expanded with the grand opening of its new facility at 7605 E. Virginia St. Owned by the Romain family-led United Companies, the new location is near Romain Buick GMC’s dealership at 7600 E. Division St. Mark Senzell announced his company, KorX-All, was acquired by Bedford, Indianabased Hawkins Bailey Warehouse LLC,

owned by Damon Bailey — the renowned early 1990s Indiana University basketball player who played for late DAMON BAILEY coach Bob Knight — on Oct. 4. Kor-X-All was founded in Evansville by Senzell’s grandfather in 1934. Senzell cited a need to spend more time with family as a reason for the acquisition, while Bailey expressed a desire to expand into the Tri-State.

A DV E RT I S E R I N D E X Company................................... # Bauerhaus, The..........................................50 Bodyworks Massage Therapy......53 Bosse Title Company.............................52 Business Communication Solutions............................................36, 37 CenterPoint Energy Service Company, LLC....................BC1 Clean Air of Evansville............................51 Colonial Classics, Inc...............................54 D-Patrick Motoplex....................................1 Diamond Equipment, Inc......................55 Dyna-Kleen....................................................23 Easterseals Rehabilitation Center....................... 77 Ebike-Escapes...................................38, 39 Evansville Garage Doors.....................56 Evansville Hearing Aid Center.........57 Field & Main Bank.......................................8 First Bank.........................................................6 Full Throttle Automotive.............40, 41 Fulton Interior Systems & Fulton Tile and Stone...............42, 43 German American Bank......................21

Gold Medal Swim Academy..............25 H & H Music..................................................59 Hasgoe Cleaning Systems.................58 Howard’s Golf.....................................48, 49 HR Solutions, Inc...............................44, 45 J.E. Shekell, Inc............................................60 Jack R. Kinkel & Son Architects, PC.........................................61 Keller Schroeder......................................... 7 Kor-X-All/Resource Services, HBW Hawkins Bailey Warehouse Companies..........46, 47 Landscapes By Dallas Foster, Inc...................................31 Liberty Federal Credit Union........BC2 Lieberman Technologies.....................20 McMahon Exterminating, Inc.........62 Melmar Properties................................20 N.M. Bunge, Inc...............................................2 New Horizons Financial Consultants.............................................63 Parrish Consulting Services, Inc............................................34 Popham Construction.............................9 Ragle, Inc..........................................................18

RE/MAX/Richardson, Mike..............C2 Rug Merchant, The.................................64 Signarama....................................................65 Southern Business Machines, Inc..........................................66 Southwest Grafix & Apparel Inc...............................................67 Straub Mower Service, LLC............. 75 Summit Real Estate Services..........15 SVN The Martin Group..................17, 68 T.A. Dickel Group.........................................18 Tomorrow’s Work Force....................32 Tucker Publishing Group.....................................17, 33, 78, 79 Ultimate Fit...................................................69 United Way of Southwestern Indiana......................15 University of Evansville: Center for Advancement of Learning............10 Vowells & Schaaf, LLP...........................23 Wellmeier Electric...................................70 Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc.....................................................5 Ziemer Funeral Home............................71

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BACK TALK E BY T O D D T U C K E R A N D J O D I K E E N

Tara Barney EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Miami University, Miami, Ohio; master’s degree in public administration, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio RESUME: CEO, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, Davenport, Iowa; CEO, Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce; CEO, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (2021-present) HOMETOWN: Columbus, Ohio

“I

’ve actually paid attention to this chamber for quite a few years,” Tara Barney told Evansville Business in 2018 shortly after being hired to helm the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce. “When the Southwest Indiana Chamber won the Chamber of the Year award a few years ago, I was right there cheering for them.”

Barney has used her five years in the Tri-State to foster a collaborative spirit that reaches across county and state lines. The biggest impact has been the 2021 merger of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, and Southwest Indiana Chamber into one entity: the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. (The Evansville Regional Sports Commission also falls under E-REP’s umbrella.)

“This region will do itself a great favor as it has more recognition of our assets and confidence in our future,” says Barney, who will retire at the beginning of 2024 and plans to move into business consulting. “We are seeing that we can be a special place, and the more that we do, the better it’s going to be for all of us.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH LINES CAME TOGETHER TO FORM E-REP. WHY WAS THIS NECESSARY, AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT’S WORKED TO DATE? “Necessary” is a good descriptor. COVID was in many ways a catalyst for a good idea that we’ve spent the last 30 years having. We figured out how much more effective we could be if we unified a few organizations and were helpful to our businesses and stakeholders.

The most natural form of an economy is where people come and go to get to work, make money, and to go home and live. And it never lines up with state lines or city lines. All through the Midwest, there are these conversations about urban versus rural, and I think that’s a wrong way to think about it. Urban and rural have to be connected. We are, I hope, demonstrating good thinking in how we really are committed to making sure

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our whole region thrives. The rest of the region only thrives because it’s got a great center point. Everyone could tell you, and I would be the first to say, there are still lots of opportunities to do better, but I think we’re on a really good path.

WHAT HAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED YOU IN YOUR TIME HERE? I have found this community far more generally positive, far more interested in engaging and knowing people before they get down to business. I think it feels more genteel but still very interested in moving things along quickly and very pragmatic. There are not nearly as many sharp elbows as places I’d worked before.

NAME SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED. If there’s one thing I would love to have a bigger dose of, it’s blending our many new-

comers into setting the vision for the region.

The speed of change is getting faster, and I think we are punching above our weight and welcoming it. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is slow down and say, “Someone else sitting on an inland waterway like we are has probably asked the same question.

Let’s see what else is out there.”

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY PROUD OF? The thing I am most proud of that E-REP has had a big hand in is launching this riverfront strategy. That’s been an unrealized asset of our region for a long time.

We’ve always used it for commerce, but we’ve never figured out the intersection between commerce opportunities and its power and quality of place. I’m hugely thrilled with what the opportunity of looking at our whole river corridor, not just a few blocks, has for us.

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