The Business Connection Fall 2023

ON THE MOVE

n Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, has named Olivia Porcaro as his new communications director.

Originally from Florida, Porcaro graduated from Florida State University before beginning her career on Capitol Hill. She previously served as press secretary for Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-New Jersey.

n Weichert Realtors-Home Group has announced April Poe has joined its Columbus office.

Weichert Realtors-Home Group is an independently owned and

operated affiliate of Weichert Real Estate affiliates Inc.

n Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced several appointments to various state boards and commissions.

among them, Rick Silvers of Columbus, president and CEO of Centra Credit Union, has been named to the board of depositories until March 31, 2027.

also, Mike Kutsko of Columbus and deputy chief of the Columbus Fire Department was appointed to the Integrated Public Safety Commission.

Dan Wright of Vernon, former mayor of Vernon, was appointed to the Southeast Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

Skye Zakrzewski of Seymour, who represents federal and stateinspected plants, was appointed to the State Egg Board.

n Jeff Jewett has joined Weichert Realtors-Home Group, according to a company announcement. The company is an independently owned and operated affiliate of Weichert Real Estate affiliates Inc.

ON THE MOVE

n The board of directors for German a merican Bancorp Inc. (G a BC) announced their next steps in leadership succession by appointing current Director and Chief Executive Officer Neil Dauby to succeed the retiring Mark Schroeder as chairman of the board and Brad Rust as president for the holding company and the bank.

Dauby joined German a merican Bank in 2001. Before becoming the CEO on Jan. 1, 2022, he served in various capacities as affiliate and regional president roles and corporate positions, including executive vice president-chief commercial banking officer and president and chief operating officer.

Prior to joining German a merican, Dauby, a graduate of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was a CPa with 16 years of leadership experience with regional public accounting firms in various Kentucky markets, including Bowling Green and Owensboro, which are a part of German a merican’s footprint. In addition to being responsible for the overall vision, strategy and execution of the company, as CEO, Dauby will provide leadership, administration and oversight to the board.

Rust joined German a merican in 1999, in connection with the company’s merger with First Bancorp of Vincennes. He has more than 30 years of banking experience, having previously served as a federal bank examiner and in various capacities within the accounting and finance functions for First Bancorp and German

a merican Bank. Rust, who has been German a merican’s chief financial officer (CFO) since 2005 and chief operating officer (COO) since Jan. 1, 2022, currently serves as senior executive vice president for the company. In his expanded role as the president, he will provide executive oversight over all operations while also continuing in his present role as CFO, whose duties include mergers and acquisitions, institutional research and shareholder relations.

n Melinda Huffer has joined Greater Horizon Financial Group as an associate financial representative. Huffer graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received the Chartered Financial Consultant Designation from The a merican College.

Greater Horizon Financial Group is part of the Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group — a small subset of the company’s most elite advisors and teams. In her new role, Huffer will assist in creating individualized financial plans for new clients and serve as a primary point of contact for ongoing service requests.

Huffer joins Greater Horizon Financial Group with more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining the firm, Huffer previously served in several roles, including senior manager with a merican Funds Service Company, client service director for a top-tier financial planning and asset management firm and vice president of client service at a company specializing in philanthropy.

n Horizon Bancorp announced Kevin Ahern and Brian Maass will serve as independent directors of its board for its wholly-owned subsidiary Horizon Bank. With these additions, the Horizon Bank Board will expand their directors, 12 of whom are independent. a hern has 35 years of experience as an executive, entrepreneur and operator in the financial services industry. He is a co-founder and managing partner of Brush Creek Partners, a private equity company and its subsidiary bank, Centennial Bank.

He currently serves on the board of directors of InBank Corp., a New Mexico and Colorado-based bank holding company, Bancorp 34 Inc., an a rizona-based bank holding company, ERI Group Inc., Gemini XIII llC and is chairman of Investment Trust Co.

Maass operates as a consultant, finance executive and strategic business partner to CEOs, executive teams and board directors. He has 25 years of experience across the disciplines of corporate finance, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, balance sheet and interest rate management, accounting and capital markets.

Most recently, Maass served as executive vice president CFO for TCF Financial Corp., a bank holding company and its subsidiary bank, TCF Bank. Prior to TCF, Maass held various positions at Wells Fargo Bank, culminating as senior vice president — Treasury Global Funding.

Horizon Bancorp, with a location in Columbus, is an independent

commercial bank holding company serving Indiana and Michigan.

n Thrive a lliance recently appointed Alison Simo to the position of dementia care coordinator assistant. The dementia care coordinator assistant works within the IU School of Medicine/a rea agencies on aging Dementia Capable System as outlined in the a lzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative. The purpose of this program is to develop and implement interventions to support program participants with a lzheimer’s disease and related dementias so they can remain independent in the community.

Simo has been a registered nurse since 2007 and has extensive

experience in direct care, clinical care, chronic disease management, clinical instruction and project management. Most recently, she served as a RN certified diabetes care and education specialist for Majors Health Partners in Shelbyville. She has previous experience with Eli l illy and Co. rural and urban hospital systems, and as an instructor at IUPUC. a graduate of Indiana University School of Nursing, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 2007 and her Master of Science degree to become an adult gerontologist clinical nurse specialist ( a PRN) in 2013.

n Josh Shelly, Horizon Bank’s Vice President, District Manager is pleased to announce Shana

Quattrocchi as branch manager of Horizon Bank’s Greenwood office.

With her experience in the banking industry spanning twelve years, Quattrocchi brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to her new role. She began her career as a teller and was later promoted to personal banker. Quattrocchi then advanced to assistant branch manager, and most recently, held the role of branch manager where she set her focus on building customer relationships. In her new role, Quattrocchi will oversee day-to-day branch operations while building rapport with customers and the community.

— Staff Reports

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JCBank receives Five-Star Award

JCBank has been honored as a FiveStar Member of the Indiana Bankers association.

The award was presented on april 4 by laurie Rees, IBa vice president of education and training, in recognition of JCBank’s association involvement throughout 2022.

The Five-Star Member designation recognizes those IBa member banks which demonstrate outstanding commitment to the association in five areas: political awareness, issues advocacy, life-long learning, IBa volunteerism and preferred service provider utilization.

The Indiana Bankers association supports Indiana banking through issues analysis, professional education, and products and services that help member banks serve to serve their communities.

Gaylor Electric honored for safety

Gaylor Electric has won the Outstanding Project Safety award for Project INCOG BioPharma by Coalition for Construction Safety (CCS). This 60,000-square-foot, over $4 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, located in Fishers, is recognized for its exceptional safety achievements in the industry.

along with individual awareness and education, Gaylor Electric craft professionals maintain the highest level of safety through the process of fabrication in their Innovation Center and by implementing the Gaylor Value Inspector Program, daily safety huddles, pull planning, performing high-level trade coordination, tableau (data-driven decisions), pre-task

safety planning, Gaylor Safety mobile app notifications and bi-weekly toolbox talks.

Winners were announced at the 30th annual CCS anniversary and awards Celebration on april 27 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

Robbins named to Forbes’ list

Edward Jones financial adviser

Eric M. Robbins, CFP, of Columbus, has been named to the 2023 list of Best-in-State Wealth advisers in Indiana by Forbes and SHOOK Research.

Robbins ranked no. 49 in Indiana. He has served area investors for the past 13 years.

To compile the list, research analysts conducted more than 17,500 interviews with nominees. The criteria included revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and use of the best practices and approaches to working with clients.

Robbins is one of 154 Edward Jones financial advisers to be named to the list.

Carothers named to advisers list

Northwestern Mutual Columbusbased Wealth Management advisor Matt Carothers has earned a ranking on the 2023 Forbes Top Wealth advisers “Best-In-State” list.

Forbes receives more than 30,000 adviser applicants annually, and only a small percentage are named among the best wealth advisers in their state. Forbes Best-In-State Wealth advisers are nominated by their firms and undergo a series

of comprehensive interviews, questionnaires and vetting by SHOOK Research. SHOOK considers a variety of qualitative and quantitative metrics when evaluating nominees, including industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced and assets under management.

Carothers has been with Northwestern Mutual since 1990. Carothers’ practice, Greater Horizon Financial Group, focuses on financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment strategies, investment planning and special needs planning.

JCBank has Decatur County groundbreaking

Seymour-based JCBank had a groundbreaking this week for a new 4,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art banking center at 1035 N. lincoln St. in Greensburg.

among those in attendance were Mayor Joshua Marsh, many Decatur County community leaders, representatives from Duke Commercial, who is serving as general contractor for this project, Crossroad Engineers and members of JCBank’s board of directors and leadership team.

In addition to personal banking services, the banking center will feature commercial and mortgage lending and wealth management services. The banking center is the thirteenth for JCBank in seven south central counties with locations in Seymour, North Vernon, Bedford, Bloomington, Brownstown, Columbus and Greenwood.

Ferril receives dementia care certifications

Jane Ferril, caregiver coordinator/ dementia care coach for Thrive

alliance in Columbus, recently earned certification as a CaRES dementia specialist and certified dementia practitioner.

CaRES is an award-winning series of 10 online training programs developed with the association.

CDP certification represents that a front-line staff and health care professional has received comprehensive knowledge in the area of dementia care, completed the alzheimer’s disease and dementiacare course and met the NCCDP requirements for certification.

Ferril provides caregiver and dementia-care education and support through Thrive service area.

Centra opens new branch location

Centra Credit Union’s new location at 111 Market St., Charlestown, has opened and includes a drive-up, interactive teller machine with extended hours.

at the new location, customers will enjoy the renovations performed on the interior and exterior and the ability to conduct transactions with Centra in areas ranging from mortgage lending, financial services and business and commercial

The Center Rider Stacker is capable of performing the work of a center rider, order picker and counterbalanced forklift. It has a lift capacity of up to 2,500 pounds and a lift height of up to 72 inches.

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Vermillion receives association award

Dr. Daniel Vermillion, Columbus, has received the Indiana Veterinary Medical association’s Certificate of Excellence award in recognition of achieving 31 hours of continuing education in calendar year 2022.

Curd receives ‘Emerging Leader’ award

Jessica Curd, a part-time social worker for Columbus Regional Hospital and a volunteer at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, has received the national PDIa Social Work and Hospice Palliative Care Network award for “Emerging leader.”

Curd, a Columbus native, operates a local, private therapy practice and lives in Greensburg.

Two from Columbus honored by Conexus

Conexus Indiana announced the newest members of the Conexus Indiana Rising 30 Program, an exclusive group of young professionals who are recognized for their accomplishments in the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

Two honorees are from Columbus, Francisco Torres Diaz, senior additive manufacturing engineer at Cummins and Kelsey Van Scyoc, procurement manager at Toyota Material Handling.

The Rising 30 Program is in its third year and is part of Conexus Indiana’s mission to strengthen Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

Rising 30 honorees represent diverse professions, including quality specialists, entrepreneurs and business owners, engineers, educators, CEOs and software designers. The companies they work

for range from massive international companies to local start-ups located in cities and towns all across the state, from Bristol to Columbus and from Indianapolis to Princeton.

Rising 30 honorees are nominated by their employer or an industry representative, and winners are selected based on their early career accomplishments. In the coming year, the Rising 30 honorees will participate in Conexus Indiana’s work by serving as thought leaders on subjects ranging from emerging technology, smart manufacturing, public policy and talent development.

Dwight named Sagamore of the Wabash

Horizon Bank’s Chairman and CEO Craig M. Dwight was named a Sagamore of the Wabash for his civic leadership and significant contributions to his community.

It was presented by state Sen. Mike Bohacek and state Rep. Jim Pressel and is considered the highest distinction in Indiana for those who have rendered distinguished service to the state.

Dwight has been active in United Way of laPorte, the local hospital board and the local economic development corporation. He has chaired fundraising campaigns, including the United Way, Salvation army, Boys and Girls Club, The Martin luther King Center, Michigan City area schools and the laPorte County YMCa

He has served on the Michigan City aviation Commission, the Michigan City Economic Development Commission, Purdue North Central advisory Board and the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s Community Financial Institutions Counsel and One Region Board of Directors.

He was named one of Northwest Indiana’s top CEOs by Northwest Indiana’s Business Quarterly, was inducted into Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame, awarded leaders in Banking Economic Development lifetime achievement award and received the Most Influential People award from the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Rumpke named ‘best managed’ company

Rumpke Waste & Recycling was named a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal for the fourth consecutive year, making Rumpke one of only 17 firms in the country to achieve Gold Standard Status.

The U.S. Best Managed Companies Program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their teams. The 2023 designees had to demonstrate excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic culture, as well as strong financials.

Rumpke Waste & Recycling has been in business for more than 90 years. The company employs nearly 4,000 environmental experts servicing millions of customers across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The family-owned company operates 14 landfills and 13 recycling facilities, including the Bartholomew County landfill and Medora landfill and Recycling Center in Jackson County.

Toyota celebrates National Forklift Safety Day

Toyota Material Handling is celebrating the 10th annual National Forklift Safety Day by reinforcing the importance of operator safety training, technology and forklift safety practices.

National Forklift Safety Day, sponsored by the Industrial Truck association, is an annual event that serves as the focal point for forklift manufacturers to educate customers, policymakers and government officials about the safe use of forklifts and the importance of proper operator training.

IUPUC honors Arroyo for service

assistant Director of Student affairs Shelley arroyo has been named Employee of the Quarter at IUPUC for the second quarter of 2023. Since 2016, IUPUC has recognized an employee every quarter for contributions above and beyond regular work responsibilities.

arroyo is responsible for student clubs and organizations and leads Welcome Week and the airPark Campus food pantry. She also assists with graduation and other campus events; plus, she works with students to help them acclimate to college life and feel part of the Crimson Pride.

arroyo is especially proud of the holiday meal giveaway she managed, which fed 250 people in the community. She also spearheaded an immersion trip to the Muhammed ali Center in louisville for Martin luther King Day.

Before joining IUPUC, arroyo worked for 14 years at her alma mater, IU Bloomington, in Residential life. She’s originally from Columbus and has enjoyed being back in her hometown.

Chiropractic office donates $5,000

Family Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 1405 Washington Street, donated $5,000 to Just Friends adult Day Services in June 2023.

Each year, Family Chiropractic and Wellness partners with

local non-profit organizations to fulfill their mission of “changing the health of our community” by donating a portion of each “new patient” appointment. Just Friends provides an engaging and safe place to enhance dignity, uniqueness and independence for adults who are aging with challenges.

Smith receives achievement award

Ivy Tech Community College’s vice president of advanced manufacturing, engineering, and applied sciences, Sue Griffith Smith, received the 2023 Jean Koch Technical Education award, the american Technical Education association’s (aTEa) highest award for achievement and impact in technical education.

The Jean Koch award recognizes an individual who has made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of postsecondary technical education and the aTEa The award is presented to an individual who has made contributions or achieved prominence in technical education at the local, state and national levels.

Smith, who authored the United States Department of labor’s Industrial Internet of Things apprenticeship Expansion Grant (IIoTaE), developed the Smart Manufacturing and Digital Integration Program for Ivy Tech with support from the aTEa.

In addition to her role at Ivy Tech, Smith is also a member of the National Coalition of advanced Technology Centers and National Council of Workforce Education, as well as the american association of Community College’s (aaCC) Workforce Development Institute, where she frequently presents on innovative best

practices in technical education and emerging technology adoption.

Smith has previously served as aTEa’s board president from 2019-2021 and board chair from 2015-2019, where her innovative approach to leadership introduced the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence sector tracks to national conferences she has led as chair. Smith is expected to join the aTEa’s Past Presidents Council, which is responsible for recommending the next line of the aTEa’s vice presidents.

Walmart upgrading distribution center

Walmart has announced a multi-million-dollar investment in high-tech automation is coming to its regional distribution center (RDC) in Seymour.

“Walmart’s Seymour Distribution Center has been a pillar in our community for over 30 years. adding robotics, automation and aI-powered software systems to this facility will revolutionize an already impressive operation, fundamentally changing the way we distribute products to stores,” said Mike Baecke, general manager, Regional Distribution Center #6017. “This isn’t just an investment in our facility, but also in our associates, our community and our future.”

Regional distribution centers (RDCs) are a strategic part of Walmart’s supply chain network and exist to keep its more than 4,700 stores stocked with ambient merchandise such as food items, home goods and tech gadgets.

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and supports local business across the state, spending $1.1 billion with Hoosier suppliers in fiscal year 2023 and supporting 33,300 Hoosier supplier jobs.

Dwight named IBJ Media’s most influential people

IBJ Media has named Craig Dwight, chairman of Horizon Bancorp Inc. & Horizon Bank, to the 2023 class of Indiana 250, a list of the most influential and impactful business and community leaders in Indiana. Dwight was included in the Financial & Business Services category for his work and dedication to the community.

IBJ Media launched the Indiana 250 program last year, with plans to update it annually. Feltman said developing this year’s list was even more difficult than putting together the inaugural Indiana 250 last year.

He has been inducted into the Times of Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame, received a

lifetime achievement award from Michigan City Economic Development and was honored with a Banking Excellence award from the Indiana Bankers association.

Under his leadership, Horizon Bank was named on the “american Banker’s Best Banks to Work For” list in both 2021 and 2022. and, most recently, he was awarded the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award for his civic leadership and significant contributions to his community.

Franciscan named among best hospitals

Franciscan Health Indianapolis was recently announced as one of america’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023 by Healthgrades Operating Company Inc., the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients. Franciscan Health Indianapolis is in the top five percent of hospitals nationwide for clinical performance and is the only hospital in Indiana to receive this distinction in 2023.

Nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country were evaluated for patient mortality and complication rates by Healthgrades and Franciscan Health Indianapolis was recognized as one of america’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care for two years in a row, one of Healthgrades 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care in 2023, one of Healthgrades america’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery for four years in a row, and one of Healthgrades america’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care in 2023.

The hospital has also received gold status from the International Cardio-oncology Society Center of Excellence, Foundation for the accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FaCT) accreditation, an accreditation from the Commission on Cancer, National accreditation Program for Breast Centers and National accreditation Program for Rectal Cancers.

— Staff Reports

May Orinoco

1570 Central ave. Commercial Remodel $15,000

Contractor: John Counceller

Texas Roadhouse 2780 Merchant Mile Commercial addition $150,000

Contractor: VMC facilities

Flambeau Products

4325 Middle Road

Commercial Remodel $440,000

Contractor: Centimark Corp.

Charleston Square Partners 2410 Charleston Place

Commercial Remodel

$45,000

Contractor: abplanalp Restoration llC

Charleston Square Partners 2410 Charleston Place, Unit 21

Commercial Remodel

$22,500

Contractor: abplanalp Restoration llC

Charleston Square Partners 2410 Charleston Place, Unit 88

Commercial Remodel

$45,000

Contractor: abplanalp Restoration llC

8030 W. Goeller Road

Commercial Remodel

$15,000

Contractor: Owners – Neal, James & Roese Douglas

Thornton’s 12001 N. U.S. 31

Commercial Remodel

$205,000

Contractor: Jirsa Construction

Nla Columbus

1960 N. National Road

Commercial Demolition No cost

Contractor: Casey-Bertram Construction

BarTHOlOMEw cOuNT y cOMMErcial BuildiNg PErMiTs

Contractor: Casey-Bertram Construction

Eastlake Woods llC 1250 Thornton Court

Commercial Remodel

$300,000 Holt Construction Group

Eastlake Woods llC 1260 Thornton Court

Commercial Remodel

$150,000 Holt Construction Group

June

11691 N. Executive Drive

Commercial Remodel – Five Below

$739,548

Contractor: Hunter Building Corp.

588 S. Country Club Road

New Commercial Building

$2,000,000

Contractor: Dunlap General Contactor

745 Washington St.

Commercial Remodel – Columbus

Regional Shelter

$232,700

Contractor: Taylor Brothers Construction

3060 N. National Road

Commercial Remodel - Kroger

$906,130

Contractor: Gilliatte General Contractor

4105 Vickers Drive

Commercial Remodel – Columbus Behavioral Center

$185,000

Contractor: Strauser Construction

1637 N. National Road

Commercial Remodel

$10,000

Contractor: Indy Hoods

6045 State St.

Commercial Remodel – St. Paul’s lutheran Church

$250,000

Contractor: Drift-

wood Builders

3060 N. National Road

Commercial Remodel – Kroger

$10,000

Contractor: Ideal Heating & air Conditioning

14671 N. 250 W.

Commercial addition – Dyno One

$800,000

Contractor: Owner

2920 10th St.

Commercial Remodel –

Developmental Service Inc.

$30,000

Contractor: Koors Heating and Cooling

1637 N. National Road

Commercial Remodel

$109,000

Contractor: Owner

5559 S. Inwood Drive

Commercial Remodel – Toyota Material Handling

$140,000

Contractor: Force Construction Co. Inc.

Painting on

Bruce Otte Painting continues a family legacy

STORy By DAN CASH | PHOTOS By ANGELA JACKSON

WWhen Luke Otte took over ownership of the family business, Bruce Otte Painting, on January 1, 2022, he wanted to build on the legacy and service established by the company’s founder, his father, Bruce. Bruce Otte painted his first house 51 years ago and worked parttime as a self-employed painter from 1980 to 1989. He transitioned his business to a full-time enterprise in 1989, and from those humble beginnings to today, Bruce Otte Painting has grown to employ thirteen people on its payroll.

While ownership and day-to-day management of the business has transitioned to a second generation in Luke; Bruce Otte still works for the business three days a week. And, Luke’s mother, Jeanette Otte, continues to serve as the company’s bookkeeper. The continuity in leadership has made Bruce Otte Painting a trusted contributor to the Columbus and Bartholomew County business community for over 40 years.

The company works in both residential and commercial arenas. Approximately 70%

of the business is residential, with 30% on the commercial side. Services offered for residential homes include interior and exterior painting, cabinet refurbishing and power washing. Log home staining is another field of expertise the home services company has perfected over the years.

Commercially, Bruce Otte Painting engages with

multiple clients, including an established proven track record with churches. Luke Otte said they have taken on many church sanctuary painting projects over the years. These jobs are usually detailed projects that feature unique challenges like high ceilings and ornate fixtures and features. According to Luke, it’s rewarding and, at times, challenging work, which his

business is always grateful to have entrusted to them. Serving others is part of the foundation on which Luke Otte plans to continue building his business. This is not just lip service for Luke. He is a member of the Jackson Township Advisory Board, assists his local church as a trustee and continues to serve in the Indiana National Guard.

dylan patterson, luke otte, and bruce otte.

When asked what he finds most rewarding as a business owner, Luke responded with, “Helping people with their projects, and providing an income for the 13 families the company supports.”

With these values driving his company, in addition to his personal volunteer and vocational engagement, it’s no wonder the business has often donated or provided discounted work to some local non-profits, such as the Humane Society or to a congregation with limited resources.

Bruce Otte Painting’s service area extends throughout south central Indiana communities, including Columbus,

Nashville, Nineveh, Hope, Franklin, Edinburgh and beyond. By providing the same reliable quality of service and products to this geographic footprint of customers and clients, this locally-owned, family business continues to expand and thrive in today’s competitive homeimprovement market.

Bruce Otte Painting is happy to provide prospective clients with free estimates, which can be conveniently scheduled online through their website, bruceottepainting.com or over the phone at 812-3420735. Additional inquiries can be made via email at ottepainting@gmail.com

Bruce Otte Painting

Location: 2085 W. lewis Place, Columbus

Phone: 812-342-0735

Website: bruceottepainting.com

courtnie badgley and luke otte prepare equipment for a job.

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PHIlOSOPHY Timeless

Seymour furniture store carries on tradition

By JORDAN RICHART | PHOTOS By MELISSA VANDEPUTTE

SShawn Busby can remember a time when a local business owner reached out to him about one day buying the man’s family business.

It was in the early 2000s when Nick Greemann approached Busby about purchasing the store that has been a fixture in downtown Seymour since 1919.

Busby got to know Greemann through their membership in Seymour Noon Lions Club while he was still working in his previous career in marketing for a radio station when the idea was pitched to him.

“I kept saying that I didn’t know anything about furniture and I wasn’t really interested,” he said. “It wasn’t a category I knew much about, but then he told me that I didn’t need to know it, but he could teach me.”

By 2010, Busby decided it was time for a career change and knew he didn’t want to leave Seymour.

So he set out to find a different career path and spoke to multiple local businesses before he decided to restart the conversation with Greemann about buying the furniture store, which is located on 205 S. Chestnut St.

Busby began as the store manager so he could learn what Nick did for the business each day.

“That was doing everything as a small-business owner,” he said. “My main role on a dayto-day basis is customer service, scheduling deliveries, ordering and receiving product and I help facilitate the sales process sometimes.”

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Shawn busby

And Busby said Nick was right: what he didn’t know about furniture eventually took care of itself.

“I still would say that it’s more about customer service and having a good team in place,” he said. “If I’m able to continue to be successful, that will be what drives it.”

The purchase was not an easy decision, as Busby wanted to make sure he really wanted to make the business his future.

Nick retired in 2015, but was still the owner until Busby purchased it in 2018. Up until that point, Busby had managed the store.

“I think it was those three years that showed me I could really do it,” he said. “I don’t think either one of us thought it would take eight years, but I drug my feet because it was a scary thing.”

While Busby wanted to maintain the store’s excellent

customer service, offerings and standing in the community, he also was focused on keeping something else when he took over: the name.

“I never considered changing the name,” he said. “People know the name and it’s been around for generations, so that was part of it when I purchased the store; Nick and I had that conversation and I think he wanted me to carry on that tradition.”

That’s a tradition you will have to look back all the way to 1919 to find, when Harvey Greemann and his wife, Mary, opened Reliable Furniture on W. Second Street.

The business initially manufactured furniture and even operated a second factory location in Batesville prior to the furniture store.

Harvey retired from active management of the business in 1937. Harvey’s sons Wilford

(Bill) and Harvey G. Greemann took the reins. The business moved to its present location at 205 S. Chestnut St. in the fall of 1940, quadrupling its floor space.

The business continued until August 1942 when both Wilford and Harvey were called to serve in World War II.

During the war, the north side of the current showroom was occupied by the USO, providing a cantina, shuffleboard courts and a dance floor for use by the servicemen at Freeman Field.

Greemann’s Furniture reopened May 14, 1946, and thrived for many years while being managed by the two brothers. In 1977, Wilford bought Harvey’s interest in the company and became the sole owner.

Wilford retired in 1980, which is when Nick took over management of the store, continuing the legacy his

grEEMaNN’s FurNiTurE & MaTTrEss gallEry

grandfather and grandmother started so many years ago.

Busby said that history is something that is important to him and the rest of the staff.

“I didn’t see his father or grandfather before him operate the business, but I think I’m running it like Nick did, and I’m proud of that,” he said. “I think it’s a neat thing that we’re carrying it on even though I don’t have family ties.”

The retail furniture industry has moved more toward large box stores rather than independent stores like Greemann’s, Busby said. But Busby and the staff always focus on the customers, many of whom return from previous purchases.

“I like the clientele and the customers who shop with us,” he said. “I also love our great staff.”

Even though Busby has been at the store for 13 years, there are three employees who have been there longer. There are two full-time sales employees, two part-timers and with three delivery employees.

“We have a lot of fun,” he said. “I have enjoyed the staff a lot, so I think I’ve enjoyed the people the most whether they’re staff or customers. It’s been great being here, and Nick and I talked about how important it was to the both of us to make sure our employees feel respected.”

Busby said while he initially thought he didn’t know enough about furniture, he has learned quite a bit and enjoys keeping up on the new trends each year at the largest trade show in North Carolina.

“I want to make sure our store is representing the current trends and colors people are looking for,” he said. “I kind of enjoyed that part of it and the challenge of maintaining the sales.”

‘‘

“We have a lot of fun. I have enjoyed the staff a lot, so I think I’ve enjoyed the people the most whether they’re staff or customers.”

— Shawn Busby

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Greemann’s Furniture & Mattress Gallery

Location: 205 S. Chestnut St., Seymour

Phone: 812-522-2397

Website: greemannfurniture.com

That’s not the only way Busby keeps this more than 100-year-old business fresh. He also has invested in making a bright new space for outdoor products.

“We have simply called it our Outdoor Space,” he said.

The new outdoor space is located across the street behind the Greemann’s Furniture location. The building had been used for office space and storage since Busby purchased half of the building in 2021.

“At that time, the pandemic had driven up sales in this industry and it was tough to get a lot of goods, including furniture,” he said.

Greemann’s Furniture was aggressive in ordering inventory, knowing the store needed more merchandise to meet the needs of customers and the business, Busby said.

He considered leasing the space for offices, but in 2021 they had expanded to offer outdoor furniture for the first time in a while, and sales

were strong that year and the following year, as well.

“So we decided to convert this space and expand our offering,” he said. “It’s going well and I think people like it.”

The space is bright and contemporary, and shows people what the outdoor furniture can look like situated in back yards, patios and decks.

Busby has liked how good the space looks with its brighter lighting that he has made plans to make some changes to the store.

“The way this space looks has inspired me to do a remodel of the first floor of our store later this year,” he said. “We want to enhance the lighting a bit and repaint the whole downstairs and do a few updates. We want some fun changes to give it a little bit of a facelift, if you will.”

Keeping things modern while focusing on customers will continue the Greemann’s philosophy.

“That’s brought this business this far, and we hope to continue it,” he said.

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BErksHirE HaTHaway

From left, mike burchyett, Sandy Sherman, leigh burchyett, molly Sherman and barry czachura.

through

Success diversity

The Burchyett Realty Group comes from a variety of backgrounds

By BARNEy QUICK | PHOTOS By CARLA CLARK

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The Burchyett Realty Group is a team of five individuals who came from a variety of other fields and harnessed the strength of their experiences to become a powerhouse in real estate. Although they are not Columbus natives, they exude enthusiasm for the community in which they operate.

Their story began with Leigh Burchyett, who, as of 2010, was the owner of VIP Staging and Design, a firm in the business of preparing properties to be shown. That year, she felt it was a natural segue into real estate. Her husband, Barry Czachura, had been in real estate many years before, but had done a variety of things since then, most recently serving as director of business development for Analytical Engineering, a Columbus firm focused on engine dynamometer and vehicle development, measurement and test equipment and research and development.

Leigh and Barry came to Columbus from Chicago, by way of a few years in Valparaiso.

After two years, Leigh was established enough for Barry to join her. Leigh’s brother, Mike Burchyett, who had been working in property management in Michigan, moved to Columbus in 2013. The original plan among the three was for Mike to renovate houses for flipping.

“With changes in the marketplace, it made sense for me to get my real estate license,” he said. “At that point, it started snowballing.”

Cheryl Stuckwish, who owned the Columbus and Seymour offices of Coldwell Banker, then joined the team. Her agency fell under the umbrella of Prudential, which

was subsequently bought by BerkshireHathaway, an Omahabased conglomerate with nineteenthcentury roots in a New England textile operation.

“Cheryl was instrumental in nurturing us,” said Mike. “She was responsible for Leigh being as successful as she was.” And her success was impressive. She was Crossroads Association of Realtors realtor of the year in 2016, and the association’s president in 2017.

Mother-and-daughter team Sandy and Molly Sherman had been in Columbus since 2000. The family previously lived in Washington, D.C. and felt the urge to live elsewhere.

“My husband and I literally

put our finger on a spot on a map when deciding where to move, and it was Columbus,” said Sandy.

Since coming to Columbus, she has worked for Our Hospice and Garland Brook Cemetery. In those roles, she garnered experience working with people who were selling the homes of recently deceased relatives who had lived in them for a long time. She began moving toward the real estate field and paid particular attention to what the Columbus Berkshire Hathaway office was doing.

BErksHirE HaTHaway

“For eight years, Leigh, Barry and Mike had been in the top 2 percent nationwide of Berkshire Hathaway agents,” said Sandy. “I’d been watching them for a while.” Molly became a young adult and likewise became a realtor.

Now, the team is five strong, and looking to add more agents soon.

In 2022, Stuckwish sold the Columbus and Seymour agencies to a business team, Craig West and Andrew Braun, who also own fourteen other Berkshire Hathaway agencies in Indiana. Their combined sales that year were around $1.7 billion.

The five members of the Burchyett group are a diverse but cohesive bunch. They speak authoritatively about each other’s particular strengths. They agree that Leigh has a nurturing personality and an orientation to details, honed during her interior design years. Barry has a construction background and approaches things with an engineer’s mindset. Sandy brings to the table the know-how about how organizations can leverage resources to help people with particular situations. Molly, according to Mike, “makes our business generational and begins our continuation.”

The team members become quite effusive when talking about Columbus’ appeal to realtors.

One reason for that is the number of multinational corporations that either have headquarters or a strong presence here, which creates many people having to relocate to Columbus.

“I’ve had clients with whom I’ve done five or six transactions,” said Leigh. “They’ve moved away, back and away again.”

“I got a call the other day from somebody in Wyoming

wanting to move to Columbus,” Molly said.

Mike, who has resided in a lot of locales, said, “There’s not a place I’ve been to or lived in that I’d trade for Columbus. Here in south-central Indiana, we have this great pocket of cultural diversity.”

“How many cities this size have two symphony orchestras?” Barry added. “The density of agents in this area is really high. You need a way to differentiate yourself.”

To that end, the Burchyett Group has made itself known as a clearinghouse for local resources, ranging from attorney services to house washing to carpet laying.

“When you need something and don’t know who to call, call us,” said Leigh.

There are often a few things left on a property after a sale before new owners get settled

in. The Burchyett group has a good working relationship with Love Chapel, which takes any cleaning supplies left behind.

“Our mindset is finding someplace to take anything,” said Leigh. “We have vehicles for hauling away things from food to appliances. We helped install a washer and dryer in a house for a Turning Point client.”

Other forms that this outreach takes include a school supplies drive for the Firefly Children and Family Alliance, donating time and money to United Way, and Mike and Barry’s participation in the Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride for motorcyclists. They see that activity fitting seamlessly with the business they’re in. It’s all about getting people situated well.

Mike said, “It’s not really giving back. It’s giving forward.”

How to attract the best candidates for your business

By STATEPOINT

As most business owners know, one of the most valuable assets your enterprise needs to thrive is top-notch talent.

HIRING TIPS »

With one in four U.S. adults currently looking for a new job, the right people are out there, it’s just a matter of connecting with them. According to CareerBuilder, here’s how to make your company attractive to job seekers and how to leverage tools to find them:

n Make room for growth: A recent survey from CareerBuilder and Morning Consult finds that when it comes to what’s most important to job seekers, it’s “good salary/benefits and interesting work.”

Give potential employees confidence that working for you will allow them to take care of their finances, provide for their families and do work that they are proud of.

Before posting the position, first seek out industry insights to ensure your compensation package is competitive.

Also ensure that you’re offering a clear path for growth. During

the interview process, let candidates know that if they are hired, you will invest the time and energy in seeing them develop professionally.

“Employers must get creative in their approach to skill development and training as a way to fill the existing skills gap and accelerate promotions,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer, CareerBuilder.

n Find your purpose: A people-oriented, purpose-driven work culture can help you not only attract great job candidates but retain employees.

“Companies with a powerful mission, who also value their employees will stand the test of time. Creating an environment where people can thrive is equally important,” says Kelley.

n Be flexible: If the nature of your business allows for it, consider embracing new technologies that allow you to implement flexible work experiences, such as remote or hybrid work. Giving your employees the option to work from home is a key benefit that

will attract talent, plus it could potentially broaden your pool nationwide or even internationally.

n Turn to easy-to-use hiring platforms: Finding the best fit for a given position can be extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming. However, hiring software featuring industry-leading technology can make the process much smoother and more efficient. For example, CareerBuilder offers recruiting solutions that allow you to target your ideal job seekers with custom campaigns, build your talent pipeline, and source and screen candidates in a fraction of the time. The platform allows employers to quickly create highly visible job postings in one central hub where 140 million resumes and social profiles reside, search for job candidates 50% faster and reduce the overall hiring time by more than 30%.

Talent acquisition is just one of a business owner’s many priorities. With the right mindset, strategies and tools, you can attract the best candidates for your business and bring them on board quickly.