Hamilton County Business Magazine April/May 2023

• How AI will change your business

• How AI will change your business

• Pros and Cons of Parental Leave

• Pros and Cons of Parental Leave

• History of Public Transportation in HC

• History of Public Transportation in HC

Caitie Gehlhausen CEO & Founder Lock-It

www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com

Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-985-6427

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Mike Corbett mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bridget Gurtowsky bridget@gurtowskygraphics.com

CORRESPONDENTS

Chris Bavender crbavender@gmail.com

Ann Craig-Cinnamon jandacinnamon@aol.com

John Cinnamon jlcinnamon@aol.com

Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com

Patricia Pickett pickettwrites@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS

David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net

Cari Sheehan cari.sheehan@btlaw.com Ricardo L. Guimarães rlguimar@iu.edu

Please send news items and photos to news@hamiltoncountybusiness.com

Submission does not guarantee publication

To advertise, contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com

Copyright 2023 Hamilton County Media Group. All rights reserved.

The AI Avalanche

Artificial intelligence will change how we all do business

Nothing is more novel, exciting, perplexing, and frightening than the smashing artificial intelligence (AI) wave taking the news today. All the business possibilities for this technology are becoming overwhelming and hard to keep up with.

The big tech companies (Apple, Alphabet-Google, Amazon, MetaFacebook, and Microsoft) investments are making unprecedented bets in AI technology platform-shifting. Overall, research and development (R&D) for these companies had more than doubled in three years to 2022. As noted by The Economist magazine in a recent article, not all of the R&D and capital expenditures of these companies went into cutting-edge technology, but one could imagine a good chunk has been pumped in the effort to bring AI technology forward. Just the pace of mergers, acquisitions, and investment in venture capital and private equity companies related to AI technology is unheard of. Since the start of 2022, the big tech has made roughly one investment a month in AI specialists. The pace is so ludicrous that a letter signed by over a thousand AI specialists and executives, including Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk and AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, are calling for a 6-month moratorium in developing more powerful AI technologies so safety protocols can be added to the development of the technology.

The concerns here are understandable, as mentioned by Peggy Noonan in a column in The Wall Street Journal late March, “the whole thing is almost entirely unregulated because no one knows how to regulate it or even precisely what should be regulated. However, regulation is just one area of concern; also to be considered are circumstances around ethics, safety,

bias toward certain groups or ideas, and autonomy, to name a few. How can a moratorium hold this avalanche of resources rolling into research and acquisitions? Just among the big tech companies, between 2020 and 2022, around twenty-one thousand papers were written on AI research. Just Alphabet employees alone have published more papers in the period than any other corporation or academic institution.

diverse number of different industries. What about small businesses? I think there is a unanimous agreement that AI represents a game changer that can boost efficiency and creativity in small and medium businesses. AI can automate tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering customer queries, and even managing finances. With AI, small business owners can free up their time (and that of employees as well) to focus on other important tasks, such as growing their business and improving customer experiences.

Let’s take a simpler example like ChatGPT. As a member of the generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) technology, it is a multimodal large language model created by OpenAI (Microsoft). It was recently in the news with the launching of its new version ChatGPT-4. This is not an independent thinking machine, but as part of a large language model, it is very good at predicting what kinds of words tend to follow others. It predicts by learning and searching a large public and thirdparty licensed data.

But at this point, you must be thinking —yeah, all good information, but it is all about the big corporations. Few companies can match the economic power of big tech. That’s true, but applications of AI are becoming more common everywhere. In healthcare, AI is being used to diagnose diseases, analyze medical images, and develop new treatments. In finance, AI is being used to detect fraud, analyze risk, and automate trading. In transportation, AI is being used to improve traffic flow, optimize routes, and develop autonomous vehicles. The list goes on in agriculture, banking, academia, and a

GPT-4 can take images as well as text as input; this gives it the ability to describe the humor in unusual images, summarize screenshotted text, and answer exam questions that contain diagrams. GPT-4 demonstrates aptitude on several standardized tests and writes codes, creating an intense discussion among scholars. Several companies are using the technology, including small businesses.

Take, for example, the case of a sole proprietorship documentary company owned by a producer close to me. The owner is leveraging ChatGPT technology to develop extensive grant applications to fund projects, elaborate detailed project budgets, organize activities, write

ChatGPT can recognize and interpret graphics as well as text

statements, prepare templates, organize business trips, etc. It all requires review, but the amount of time saved in the process is colossal. Nevertheless, the efficiency gains are measurable and relevant, allowing the owner to redirect scarce resources to more productive tasks, such as prospecting customers, devoting more time to innovation and

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creation, and intelligence gathering. Who would want to spend less time on value-added activities?

I decided to give it a chance myself too. My wife, sons, and I will visit Portugal this summer vacation. Guess who created the itinerary with places to stay, see, and dine? Chat GPT. I will let you know how well it worked in the next column! HCBM

Ricardo L. Guimarães is a Lecturer in Management at Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis, with over 30 years of experience in business management internationally in a large American chemical conglomerate. www.linkedin.com/in/ ricardolguimaraes

With AI, small business owners can free up their time (and that of employees as well) to focus on other important tasks, such as growing their business and improving customer experiences.

Promoting the Family Structure in Business

The pros and cons of parental leave

Parental leave is a policy that allows parents to take time off work to care for a new child. This can be a crucial benefit for families during this transitional time and is typically offered by progressive employers. The ethics of parental leave have been a topic of discussion for some time, as it relates to a host of issues including gender equality, work-life balance, and employee rights.

Gender Equality and Family Values

Parental leave can be seen as a way of promoting gender equality and family values. By providing parental leave to both mothers and fathers, employers can promote a more equitable distribution of child-rearing responsibilities. This can reduce the burden on women, who are often expected to take on the majority of the child-rearing responsibilities. It can also demonstrate to employees that the employer values their family responsibilities and supports their efforts to balance work and family life.

Parental leave can also raise ethical concerns related to fairness and equity. Employers who offer more generous parental leave policies may be seen as more ethical than those who do not, as they prioritize their employees’ well-being and family values over the bottom line. Conversely, if employers provide inadequate parental leave policies or restrict the use of parental leave, they may be seen as ethically questionable, as they prioritize profits over the well-being of their employees and their families.

Employer/Employee Misuse

Parental leave is also ripe for abuse or misuse by employees. Employers

may worry that employees will take advantage of their parental leave benefits by using them for reasons other than those intended, such as taking a sabbatical or extended vacation. Employers can use parental leave policies as a way of promoting ethical behavior in the workplace. For example, employers can offer additional parental leave days to employees who demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical behavior, such as reporting ethical violations or participating in training programs related to ethics and compliance. Conversely, employees may worry that taking parental leave will be seen as a sign of weakness and may affect their job security or promotional opportunities. To address these ethical concerns, employers should establish clear policies and guidelines around parental leave. These policies should outline the reasons for which employees can use parental leave, how much parental leave is

or limitations. For example, employees who adopt a child may require the same parental leave benefits as those who give birth, and employers should ensure that their policies accommodate these needs. Similarly, employers should be aware of the impact of parental leave policies on employees with disabilities or chronic illnesses and ensure that their policies accommodate these needs as well.

Work-Life Balance

The amount of parental leave that employers should provide is a matter of debate and depends on a variety of factors, including the employer’s resources and the needs of their employees. However, research has shown that longer parental leave periods can have a positive impact on employees and their families.

In many countries, the government has established minimum standards for parental leave, such as the 12 weeks of unpaid leave guaranteed by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the United States.i However, many employers choose to provide more generous parental leave policies to attract and retain top talent.

available, and the process for requesting and approving parental leave. Employers should also communicate these policies clearly to their employees to ensure that they understand their parental leave benefits and responsibilities.

Employers should also consider the impact of parental leave policies on different groups of employees, including those who may have different needs

A study by the Boston Consulting Group found that the optimal parental leave period for both mothers and fathers is between 6 months (24 weeks) and 1 year (52 weeks). This allows parents to bond with their child during the critical early months of development and return to work with a better work-life balance. Additionally, longer parental leave periods have been shown to reduce postpartum depression in mothers and improve the health outcomes of both parents and children.

...research has shown that longer parental leave periods can have a positive impact on employees and their families.

Of course, not all employers can offer parental leave periods of 6 months to 1 year, and most do not offer anywhere close to that amount. Most employers offer between 6 weeks to 16 weeks parental leave; however, some employers only offer 2 weeks if the employee is not the one giving birth to the baby. This is normally paid leave for a certain portion of the time off, but employers are not obligated to provide paid parental leave. Employers with fewer resources may need to balance the needs of their employees with the financial viability of their business. However, even shorter parental leave periods can have a positive impact on employees and their families. Ultimately, the amount of parental leave that employers should provide should be determined by a variety of factors, including the employer’s resources, the needs of their employees, and any legal requirements in their jurisdiction. Employers who prioritize the well-being of their employees and their families are likely to see benefits in terms of employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity.

Conclusion

The ethics of parental leave policies are complex and multifaceted. From an ethical perspective, providing parental leave can be seen as a way of promoting gender equality and family values. However, parental leave policies can also raise concerns related to fairness, equity, and potential abuse or misuse. In addition, there is always an overarching question of how much leave time is appropriate and/or adequate. To address these concerns, employers should establish clear policies and guidelines around parental leave, communicate them clearly to employees, and consider the impact of parental leave policies on different groups of employees. By doing so, employers can promote ethical behavior in the workplace and create a positive organizational culture that values employees’ wellbeing and contributes to their overall success. HCBM

iThe FMLA applies to public agencies, including local, State, and Federal employers,

and local education agencies (schools); and private sector employers who employ 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year –including joint employers and successors of covered employers.

Cari Sheehan is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics at IU Kelley School of Business –Indianapolis. She is also a local attorney and frequent seminar speaker focusing her practice on legal ethics and litigation. This article should not be interpreted as providing legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.

Young Hamilton County Entrepreneur Enjoys Success with Invention

By Ann Craig-Cinnamon

any of the world’s great inventions were discovered by accident. Everything from penicillin and the pacemaker to silly putty and potato chips came about while the inventor was actually trying to create something else. Typically though, necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and

that’s the case for a young inventor in Hamilton County.

Carmel resident Caitie Gehlhausen was a student at High Point University majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship when she discovered a product need. “One of my best friends in college had gotten a phone grip for Christmas, and was forced to take her phone wallet off of her phone case if she wanted to use her grip,” she said

adding that it caused her friend to have to carry things such as her license, student ID, and debit card in her pocket instead. As a result, she lost all her cards when they must have fallen out of her pocket one day.

Gehlhausen noticed that other friends and classmates also carried either their phone grip or their phone wallet but never both at the same time which led her to search for a product that

combined the two. To her surprise she found nothing available on the market. “It was at that moment that I began my mission to create a phone wallet that allows you to have it all,” she says.

And, thus, as a freshman in college in 2018, Gehlhausen created her first brand called Lock-it which is a patented cell phone accessory made in Elwood, Indiana. It is basically an adhesive cardholder for the back of a cellphone which allows people to use their favorite grip and hold up to 3 cards. The phone grip fits into the cardholder and locks the cards in place. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and are even customizable.

Walmart Open Call

The business quickly became a family venture, as Gehlhausen’s mother joined her and they became a Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified company.

To get the word out about her invention, Gehlhausen participated in and won dozens of pitch competitions and then in 2020 decided to go for the mother of all pitches: The Walmart Open Call for USA made products.

She was invited to the Walmart Open Call after submitting a vendor application in April of 2020 on RangeMe, the leading product discovery, sourcing, and purchasing platform that has more than 15,000 retail buyers and more than 200,000 suppliers. By the end of July 2020 she received notification that she was invited for a 30-minute virtual interview in October.

“I spent several months prepping for our Walmart 2020 Open Call interview. While I had pitched Lock-It in front of thousands of people on stages, in classes, and during competitions, I had never pitched to a retailer. The first rule of pitching is to know your audience, so I knew my pitch strategy needed to

shift for this interview,” she says. To understand everything she needed to include in the pitch she talked to a dozen people who had either been on the buying or selling side of retail to come up with a great presentation.

“I also wanted to understand what sort of questions I needed to be prepared in answering, and what I should expect to get out of the first 30-minute call. Across the board, each person who helped prep me would say the same three things: Don’t expect a yes or no answer on the spot; If they do say yes, they will probably test you with a small amount of stores; The whole process of becoming set up as a vendor will probably take between 8-12 months,” says Gehlhausen.

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“My biggest piece of advice for other entrepreneurs, is to remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out to get started. The most successful entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to fail quick and often. Learn as you go.”

Caitie Gehlhausen, CEO and Founder Lock-It

Fail Quick and Often

However, what actually did happen in her Open Call presentation was none of those things. “We were told “yes” on the spot, and that we were to launch in 3,000 stores, with all product to be arrived in just 4 short months! The Walmart commitment had exceeded all expectations of mine. Being accepted onto the biggest stage in retail was as surreal as it gets.”

Gehlhausen calls the Walmart Open Call experience intimidating because she was a novice in the retail space. “I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t talk the retail “lingo”. However, I knew that I was as prepared as I was ever going to be and that I needed to just show the passion I have for my business and that the rest will fall into place. Now, after participating in dozens of retail line reviews, I no longer feel that sense of intimidation and have become confident in my pitch.”

Today, Lock-It can be found in over 2,800 Walmart locations. Gehlhausen says they continue to have a great ongoing relationship with Walmart and she says the future is focused on continuing to expand their footprint through product innovation. In May of 2023, Lock-It will

be launching its new “2.0” version called, Lock-It Exchangeable, that allows for easy removability of the product which will enable wireless charging and phone mount compatibility.

Now at the age of just 24 and with this kind of success under her belt, Gelhausen knows she has found her calling. “Entrepreneurship is my passion. While Lock-It might not be my forever career, I don’t see a world in which I am not helping build and create brands. For now, I am focused on continuing to expand the Lock-It product lines that all center around our core mission: carrying your essentials with confidence and convenience,” she says.

And as for those who might have a great product idea and want to take the invention leap like she did she has advice. “My biggest piece of advice for other entrepreneurs, is to remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out to get started. In fact, trying to learn before doing will just slow your momentum. The most successful entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to fail quick and often. Learn as you go!”

Lock-It is also available on their website lockitofficial.com HCBM

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Getting There: Hamilton County Stagecoaches and Buses

large part of how a community grows involves just getting from point A to point B. In the earliest days, it’s usually all personal transport by foot or by horse. Later comes the heavily industrial infrastructure for railroads and canals (HCBM Apr/May 2019). But there is also the middle ground of stagecoaches and buses.

The earliest map of the county in 1825 shows the mail routes, which were run by coaches. The main route in 1846 went from Winchester to Indianapolis, stopping in Hamilton County at Strawtown, Noblesville, “Connerstown” (William Conner’s house), and possibly the Thomas West cabin (the present northwest corner of the intersection of Allisonville Road and 96th Street). A later route went from Tipton to Indianapolis in 1850. Starting in 1851, these routes were replaced by the railroad network (HCBM Jun/Jul 2017) —which included the Nickel Plate, the Midland, the Monon and the Interurban.

May 1 and arrived three minutes ahead of schedule. The list of stops in Hamilton County were Sheridan, Bakers Corner, Lindley’s Crossing, Day’s Creamery, and Noblesville.

A larger company called Red Ball

Bus Line started a route north out of Indianapolis in 1924. The Hamilton County stops were Midway, Willow Terrace, Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, Bakers Corners, and Sheridan.

Interurban traffic was falling off by 1925 and so the Union Traction Company / Indiana Railroad began running buses. The Hamilton County route was Sheridan, Cicero Pike, Westfield, Carmel, and Noblesville.

Early Public Transport

At the beginning of twentieth century, gasoline engine technology improved, and the first automobiles and trucks began appearing. The first “auto bus” line in Hamilton County was created in April 1913 when Sheridan Buick dealer John W. Ridge announced he would begin running a Buick twentypassenger vehicle between Sheridan and Noblesville. The first trip by the Sheridan Motor Bus Line was made

Ridge claimed to have some success with the line, but sold it in July of 1914. There were often struggles with bad roads, and they had to change route in August and miss Baker’s Corners. Carmel was added to the route as an alternative to the Monon. The company began going through a variety of owners. An attempt was made to set up a route to Anderson. By 1922, the Sheridan Bus Line stops in Hamilton County were: Sheridan, Eagletown, Jolietville, Westfield, Noblesville, Carmel, and Fishers. Another company, Lloyd & Lloyd, set up a bus line between Noblesville and Indianapolis in July 1922. It was cheaper than the interurban and also ran to Sheridan. With the rise of bus lines and more automobiles, the Midland Railroad stopped taking passengers that year. The Lloyd line stopped running in December and in January 1923, one of their drivers, Guy Carraway, began a line connecting Noblesville, Westfield, and Sheridan. He used a bus made by the REO Company, who had some models of buses known as “Speed Wagons”.

Midway was a filling station halfway between Noblesville and Indianapolis, which was also mentioned in the newspapers for things like slot machines and bootleg liquor. Perhaps that’s why it was a stop on the bus line. There was another Midway station in the northwest part of the county. A popular stop south of Noblesville was Willow Terrace, which offered dining and dancing. It was near the present intersection of Allisonville and 146th Street.

Decline of the Bus Lines

There were substantial changes in public transportation in the 1930’s. In 1931, B&B Transit began running from Elwood to Noblesville and Indianapolis. The Hamilton County stops were Omega, Strawtown, Riverwood, Noblesville, Willow Terrace, and Midway. The Nickel Plate Railroad stopped passenger service in 1932, creating more demand for bus lines. A large company called the A.B.C. Bus Line took over some smaller lines in 1936. The Interurban ceased operations in Hamilton County in 1938. The rail lines were replaced by buses and the interurban station in Noblesville became a bus station.

Gas rationing and other government regulation during World War II had an impact on the local bus lines. While there was more need for mass transit, the companies had to contend with issues like tire shortages and high fuel prices. The Sheridan line was run by people like William King and Horace

David Heighway

1913 20 passenger bus

1923 REO bus

Roberts. After the war, this Sheridan Bus Line was one of the companies serving the School for the Blind in Indianapolis. The routes were run by various companies until the 1980’s. The last of the major lines to stop in this county were Trailways/Greyhound which had a stop in Westfield in the 1990’s. IndyGo has proposed routes to Carmel and

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1940s Sheridan bus line

Westfield. The only bus line in the county at present is Noblesville Public Transit.

David Heighway is the Hamilton County Historian.

1986 and 2023 Westfield Bus Station

1960s from the book, “Our Westfield”

Photo credit Sheridan Historical Society