Fishers Chamber Nov 2012

Conner Prairie

Nationally recognized museum

Premiere Issue | Fall 2012

ARCHER’S

Inside Fishers’ oldest business

Ambassador

house serves guests rich history

Embroidery business keeps community in stitches

Student entrepreneurs

TRUE leader for FORUM

A new voice for Fishers.

www.fisherschamber.com 317.578.0700

www.thejmetzgergroup.com 765.744.4303

CARDIOVASCULAR | ORTHOPEDICS | SPINE CARE | EMERGENCY SERVICES

Local care with a national reputation.

As part of the only healthcare system in Indiana to be named to the U.S.News & World Report National Honor Roll, Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital is proud to offer your community the highest level of orthopedic, cardiovascular, spine and emergency care. Find us conveniently located just off Exit 210 in Fishers.

2012-2013 U.S.News & World Report rankings

Discover the strength at iuhealth.org/saxony or find a doctor by calling 317.678.DOCS (3627)

Š2012 IU Health 09/12 HY014112_5943

14112_5943_7.25x9.75_4c_FBI_CommunityDay_v3.indd 1

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 |3 9/26/12 2:49 PM

contents departments

7 10 24 20 31

success story

Cindys’ in Stitches Two women thriving in their 10-year-old unique embroidery business .

did you know?

Ambassador House A community’s hard work and devotion preserves hidden treasure.

learning Curve Hamilton Southeastern Schools Administrators turn to 21st century ideas to guide academic changes.

member profile Conner Prairie Popular living history park adds science, math, and technology to the experience.

by the numbers Graphics and lists Community statistics including population, employment, and education.

from the cover

14 Doug True: FORUM Credit Union’s Chief Executive Officer leads his team humbly and with creativity.

STORY by Rodney Richey PHOTOS by Chris Bergin 4 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

20 in every issue

16 director’s cut A welcome by Fishers Chamber of Commerce President Dan Canan.

17 board room

A report by Chamber Chairman of the Board Anthony Gutwein.

13 fresh faces

Meet new members of the Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce board.

features

Volume 1, Issue 1 Fall 2012 PUBLISHER Dan Canan, President/CEO Fishers Chamber of Commerce www.fisherschamber.com dcanan@fisherschamber.com

22

Firefighter competition More than 70 put their skills to the test while competing in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.

EDITORIAL DIRECTION The JMetzger Group Juli Metzger John Metzger www.thejmetzgergroup.com 765.744.4303 | 765.729.1391 CONTRIBUTORS Design: Tammy Pearson Writers: Darrel Radford, Rodney Ritchey Informational Graphics: John Metzger Photography: Chris Bergin, Chris Bergin Photography 317.514.8408 | chris@chrisberginphoto.com Maria Strauss, www.mariaclarestrauss.com Advertising sales: Bob Jonason PRINTING: Priority Press www.priority-press.com To advertise, contact The JMetzger Group at 765.744.4303 | thejmetzgergroup@gmail.com

24

Student profiles Meet three technology-savvy students who have entered the business world before graduating from high school.

29

To subscribe, contact the Fishers Chamber of Commerce at 317.578.0700.

Fishers Chamber Magazine is the voice of Fishers Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

It is a product of The JMetzger Group and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of The JMetzger Group and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce and may not be used without written consent.

Copyright 2012: The JMetzger Group and The Fishers Chamber of Commerce.

The JMetzger Group specializes in custom publishing, corporate communications and social media solutions.

Learn more: www.thejmetzgergroup.com

Archer’s Meats Learn about one of Fishers’ oldest and best-kept secrets.

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 5

presents The 11th Annual Wednesday, January 16, 2013 FORUM Conference Center “Celebrating Business Excellence” Business of the Year Sponsor: Cambria Suites

▶ More than 25 employees ▶ Provides superior customer satisfaction ▶ Exhibits community spirit ▶ Provides a positive economic impact

Small Business of the Year Sponsor: StarMedia

▶ 25 or fewer employees OR ▶ Home-based business ▶ Provides superior customer satisfaction ▶ Exhibits community spirit ▶ Provides a positive economic impact

Entrepreneurial Spirit Sponsor: Duke Energy

▶ Has a uniquely innovative product OR ▶ Provides a service on the cutting edge of technology

Employee of the Year

▶ Individual employed by a member business.

Lifetime Achievement Sponsor: Community Bank ▶ Charter Member

www.fisherschamber.com | 317.578.0700 6 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Dan Canan d i r e c to r ’ s c u t

Chamber magazine tells stories about what we are most proud of __ you

Y

ou’re holding the premiere issue of Fishers Chamber Magazine, the new voice for Fishers, Indiana. Volume I. Issue I. This publication is designed with you in mind. It’s about giving the best possible value to Chamber members. You deserve it. And, frankly, we have too many good stories to keep them to ourselves.

This publication will continue in 2013 and will feature Chamber members and be supported by Chamber members. It’s exclusive to you. We’ll be telling you stories about what makes our colleagues successful and about their secrets to good business practices.

When it came time to select stories for this issue, we knew immediately what the cover story should be. Doug True, CEO of FORUM Credit Union, is a local guy. He personifies what so many of us in business strive for – excellence in our professional and personal lives.

At a time when so many executives stay a brief time then move on, Doug is as local as it gets. He’s never lived outside a 20-mile radius.

He didn’t plan that. It just happened. And lucky for us it did.

We’ll strive to include features about our schools, our town, our local businesses and industry in each issue of Fishers Chamber Magazine.

There is so much to be proud of in our business community that it became clear we needed a new way to tell your story. I invite you to spend some time with Fishers Chamber Magazine and tell me what you think. The Chamber is here to serve you, our members, and part of that service is telling your story. Enjoy. ■ Dan Canan is President of the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.

s u c c e s s s to ry

sews

Cindys’ In Stitches

PERSONALITY

into Fishers’ community fabric WRITTEN by Darrel Radford PHOTOS by Maria Strauss

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 7

Two Cindys.

Laughter is a part of the embroidery business for owners Cindy Hannon, left, and Cindy Johnson, right.

When the phone rings on a typical day at a certain Fishers custom embroidery and promotional product business, the question is generally the same.

“Is Cindy there?” a voice on the other end inquires.

“Which one?” is the common answer.

Customers who have supported Cindys’ In Stitches for the past decade have come to know that it really doesn’t matter whether Cindy Hannon or Cindy Johnson picks up the phone. They are going to receive professional, cheerful and prompt service with either one.

And before the conversation is over, chances are they will not only be satisfied, but laughing as well. Joyful, effervescent, personable and professional, the two Cindys have done their job so well, they don’t need to use the promotional products they provide for others.

“We’re in the name recognition business,” Cindy Johnson said. “We take it personally when they are walking out the door. The best advertising is always a referral.”

“We’ve been in business for 10 years and have done very little advertising,” Cindy Hannon said.

This tale of two Cindys happened quite by accident. The two are not related and actually came to Indiana from different states – Cindy Johnson is from Tennessee and Cindy Hannon is a Michigan native.

But fate literally stitched the two together when they both were employees at the Omni Hotel in Indianapolis.

Cindy Hannon was director of operations at the Omni Hotel. Cindy Johnson was the director of sales.

“Which are naturally conflicting positions,” Cindy Hannon said with a laugh.

The two not only struck up a friendship but also shared their talents for embroidery. Their employer soon discovered their skills.

“We had done this as a hobby. Then we used to buy these products when we were

Two bubbly personas.

8 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

“When we had to do

365 shirts

on a single

machine,

we decided it was time to expand.”

in the hotel business,” Cindy Johnson said.

Once, when doing it for their families, the dynamic duo was asked “why can’t you do this as a business?” It was a good question.

The answer was Cindys’ In Stitches.

“It was a natural transition for us,” Cindy Johnson said. “Neither of us has sisters.

We share the same work ethic. We’re both fast-pace people. We don’t feel the need to lollygag.”

So it began out of Cindy Hannon’s house for the first two years. But their skill, personality and teamwork soon made working there impractical.

“When we had to do 365 shirts on a (single) machine, we decided it was time to expand,” Cindy Johnson said. “We literally took turns on the couch. One would sew, the other would sleep, then the other would sew and the other would sleep.”

So, Cindys’ In Stitches was born. Two Cindys, two bubbly personas. Touché to the competition.

“We work hard and we play hard,” Cindy Johnson said. “We’re always laughing but we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves. We share the same vision.”

“We are both so customer-service oriented,” Cindy Hanson said.

These trendy Cindys keep their customers focused on the latest promotional products and find what their customers want, even when they walk through the door not knowing what they want.

Among the things they offer are custom embroidery, screen printing, promotional products and rhinestone apparel. They do “literally anything you can print your name on.” Shirts, jackets, shorts, hats. Hundreds if

not thousands of items are available.

“We try to find a product that will stay in front of a customer for a long time,” Cindy Johnson said.

“Our answer is never ‘no we can’t do it.’

It’s ‘here’s what we can do,’” Cindy Hannon said.

Two of the things they do best are laugh – and make others laugh.

“Sometimes, when it gets tense, the best thing to do is laugh,” Cindy Johnson said.

So many walk in as customers and become their friends, the Cindys say.

“Most like to do business with people they know,” Cindy Hannon said.

The two Cindys are known not only at their Fishers store but also out in the community through their active support of community efforts and sports teams.

“Everyone is a potential client,” Cindy Johnson said. “A corporation, a school, a doctor’s office, a mom in charge of a school event.”

Each Cindy has been married for 19 years.

Cindy Hannon has 6-year-old twins, Eli and Tessa, and is married to husband, Matt.

Cindy Johnson has a 23-year-old son, Nick, and is married to husband, Scott.

That two people, not related, from different states, with different skill sets are now working together seems to be fate shining like one of the rhinestones on their customers’ shirts.

Sometimes the phone will ring at this growing Fishers business, and either Cindy will do – because of what they’ve done.

“We so love it when a customer calls and tells us we saved the day,” the Cindys say. ■

Serving Central Indiana since 1906

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For more than a century, attorneys at DeFur Voran have been protecting the rights and interests of corporate and individual clients in Central Indiana.

www.defur.com

8409 Fishers Centre Drive, Fishers Fishers: 317.585.8085 • Muncie: 765.288.3651 New Castle: 765.521.0656

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 9

DID YOU K N O W

The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens in Fishers.

When it came time for the people of Fishers to save a piece of the town’s history, it took dedication and work to move

The Little House Down the Road

10 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

o The Ambassador House in Fishers was once a former summer home for Addison Harris, U.S. Ambassador to Austria-Hungary from 1899-1901 and his wife, India. It is now a historic house and available to rent for events.

WRITTEN by Rodney Richey PHOTOS by Chris Bergin

n Nov. 19, 1996, motorists in Fishers must have been curious about the two big trucks trundling down the road, each carrying half of an old house.

Moving houses is nothing new, but this house was special.

It had been built more than a century and a half before. Today it is a meeting and event venue owned and managed by the town: The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens, at its current location of 106th Street and Eller Road.

Back home again for India

Descendants of Thomas West erected the house, originally a log structure, in 1826. Perched on an impressive spread of more than 200 acres at what is now 96th Street and Allisonville Road, it later became the summer home of Addison and India Harris.

Addison and India were what today would be called “a power couple�: He, a prominent attorney

see PAGE 12

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 11

A Greek Revival Renovation

from PAGE 11

in downtown Indianapolis, and she, his legal assistant, one of the few women back then to graduate from college. Their main residence was at 14th and Meridian streets.

“In fact, their neighbor was Joshua Lilly,” says Pete Feeney, vice president of the board of directors of the Ambassador House.

Harris was named U.S. Ambassador to AustriaHungary in 1899, holding the post for two years, thus the current name.

According to Feeney, vice president of sales for Robert Dietrick Co. Inc., Addison Harris “was looking for a place to get away during the summertime. He was an outdoorsman, so he wanted something that was close to White River.”

But the two-story house was scarcely the home of a respected attorney or U.S. ambassador. So Addison and India set about to renovating it into a Greek Revival home of magnificent beauty. In fact, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Purpose driven

When the Town of Fishers moved it in 1996, the house was days away from being leveled by developers.

Once it was relocated, however, one question remained: What would the town do with it?

“It sat there for the better part of 10 or 12 years without much going on.” Feeney said. “Finally, the town got some funding and started renovating it. It opened for business in June 2009.”

The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens is a meeting venue, suitable for business or social events, including weddings, receptions, and reunions. The gardens themselves are scrupulously maintained and attract photographers from all over, Feeney said.

Behind the house, in almost the same vicinity to it, is a stone house, not yet renovated, that had been 12 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

the Harrises’ summer kitchen. In the basement, several original logs are on display for tour groups, and some original beams are exposed.

“They talked about making it a museum at one time,” Feeney said. “The problem with museums is, they can be pretty static. People go through them once, and then that’s it.” Creating a multi-use venue was seen as the best plan.

In its brief current incarnation, the house has been a success, with events scheduled well into 2013.

“We’ve had over 100 events of some type or other, maybe 120, since it was opened in 2009,” Feeney said. “With the average attendance being 80-100, over 10,000 people have been there to use that house.”

A turning point

Feeney sees the property as a “lost treasure” for Fishers.

“It carries a lot of history, on top of the architecture and the fact that part of it was built from an old log cabin.”

With renovation and preservation efforts ongoing, including more weatherproofing and plans for a pathway down to White River, Feeney says the house has a lot of meaning for the town.

“Some people think of Fishers as a bedroom community to Indianapolis that just kind of sprang up all on its own,” he said. “There are not that many homes in the Fishers area that have historical connections. So the decision to protect it and preserve it and relocate it is really kind of a turning point.

“It is publicly owned by the Town of Fishers, and it’s in a public park. And it really helps to connect the folks in Fishers, to let them know there is history in Fishers. “There’s been quite an effort to preserve this little corner of history and make it usable as a resource to the public.” ■

fresh faces ANH Media

10305 Allisonville Rd. Suite 110 Fishers, IN 46038 (888) 756-2541 www.anhmedia.com Ashley Hardy

BKD, LLP

201 N. Illinois Street, Suite 700 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 383-4000 www.bkd.com Jason Myers

CruiseOne

10919 Innisbrooke Lane Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 813-4670 www.TheDestinationStation.com Ann Craig-Cinnamon

Edna Lucille Public Relations P.O. Box 7059 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 410-8127 www.ednapr.com Sonya Beckley

Elaine’s Salon

First Advantage

9800 Crosspoint Blvd., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46256 (317) 813-0488 www.fadv.com Valerie Osinski

Flaherty & Collins Properties

8900 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1200 Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317) 816-9300 Chris Kirles

Get In Shape For Women

11720 Olio Road, #800 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 242-8709 www.getinshapeforwomen.com David VanWye

Indiana Vein & Laser Center/ The Medical Spa

11481 Olio Road Fishers IN 46037 (317) 915-8323 Rikki Krumma

Jason’s Deli

4026 E. 82nd Street 11559 Cumberland Road, Suite 400 Indianapolis, IN 46250 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 578-0543 www.jasonsdeli.com (317) 407-3788 www.elainessalon.net Stephanie Lonski Robin DeTrude

Extreme Pizza

8936 E. 96th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (574) 538-9205 Bruce Mathews

Kentwood Office Furniture 7226 East 87th St, Suite E Indianapolis, IN 46256 (317) 288-2678 www.kentwoodoffice.com Robert Koehne

board of directors Anthony Gutwein, Edward Jones: Chair Kelly Novak, E.F. Marburger: Chair-Elect Dr. Brian Smith, Superintendent, H.S.E. Schools: Secretary Kurt Meyer, Baseline, Inc.: Treasurer Tanya Foster, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Salon Brandon Gorin, Marco’s Pizza Jeff Hagerman, The Hagerman Group Angie Jaynes, Community Health Network Mark Kosiarek, VAI Technology Jon Kroehler, Sallie Mae Dan LaReau, St. Vincent Carmel Hospital Paul Piltz, Vantage Business Services

La Fuente Mexican Grill & Cantina

RoomPlace

9773 E. 116th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 841-0555 www.lafuentemexicangrill.com Maria De Los Angeles Mireles-Delgado

Latitude 39

4016 East 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46240 (561) 702-0109 www.latitude360.com Michael Biagiotti

Mitchell Professional Window Cleaning

8962 E. 96th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 841-3155 www.promartialarts.com Jason Pulliam

Touch of Life Church

3951 N. Blue Heron Drive Warsaw, IN 46582 (574) 453-7995 www.touchoflifechurch.com Rick Cooper

Ty’s Detail

P.O. Box 591 Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 319-4765 www.mitchellwindowcleaning.com Erick Mitchell

Pro Martial Arts

5651 East 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46250 (317) 595-5951 www.theroomplace.com Anthony Marino

P.O. Box 473 Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 627-8869 www.tysdetail.com Kelsey Taulbee

Wendy’s

13708 Olivia Way Fishers, IN 46037 www.wendys.com

Wishes Dance Studio

12810 Ford Drive Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 435-2541 www.wishesdancestudio.com Kelley Richards

Why join the Fishers Chamber?

Membership with the Fishers Chamber of Commerce is an investment in the future of your business. Research by the Shapiro Group shows the value of belonging to a Chamber of Commerce.

“When a company is active in its local chamber, it is doing the right thing not only for the community, but for its own success as well,” said study authors.

What does chamber membership show consumers about your business? In this scientific web-based survey of 2,000 adults nationwide, respondents showed the real value of Chamber membership: ► 70% said it shows a business uses good business practices ► 69% said it shows a business has a good reputation ► 64% said it shows a business cares about its customers ► 63% said it shows a business is involved in the community

11601 Municipal Drive | P.O. Box 353 | Fishers, IN 46038

317.578.0700

membership@fisherschamber.com www.fisherschamber.com FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 13

CO V ER STORY

DOUG TRUE, a humble, glass-halffull kind of guy, leads the team at FORUM Credit Union in Fishers.

TRUE FORUM to

WRITTEN by Rodney Richey PHOTOS by Chris Bergin

14 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

TRUE

Credit union CEO builds creative energy

D

oug True, chief executive officer of FORUM Credit Union, leads a visitor into his office in the company’s Fishers headquarters. The lair boasts a commanding view of his beloved Indiana countryside, hardwood floors, some furniture and little else. The décor is as unpresumptuous as the man.

“Maybe you can help liven me up,” says the 46-year-old True, who was named CEO in November 2011. “I’m pretty boring. When the (interview) request came through, I thought, ‘Really?’ ” Only a fool would take such a man at his word. After all, it was True who was behind the development of TAPS, the lending software that FORUM sold off in 2008. True was the sole creator of the “decision engine” that drove the automation of the decision making for consumer loan requests.

True has been part of FORUM nearly as long as it has been around in Fishers. In 1976, Indiana Telco Federal Credit Union bought a plot of land and built its headquarters in Fishers.

“There was hardly anything here. It was a farming community,” True recalled.

“Even when I started here in 1988, there were really only two places to eat: McDonald’s and Archer’s Deli. And that was about it. And Fishers is part of what has made FORUM what it is today, because we were fortunate enough to have this headquarters here and be part of this community.”

TRUE’S ADVICE TO PEOPLE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE: “Find work that you love doing. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning and dread going to work.”

According to John Dierdorf, chairman of FORUM’s board of directors, his keen insight worked in his favor when he was selected to his new post.

“Doug has been a key part of FORUM’s culture for many years, so he has participated in creating the current environment,” Dierdorf said. “He is open and responsive to questions and new ideas. He brings a creative energy and a contagious enthusiasm to the entire organization.”

A close friend, Tim Miller, agrees.

“Sometimes people get successful and they forget where they came from,” said Miller, project manager for Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates and a friend of True’s for several years.

“As (Doug) has risen through his career, he has always remembered his roots. It’s always about doing the right thing, being honest, and doing the best you can. I think you’ll find that a lot of successful CEOs have those same characteristics.” see PAGE 16

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 15

TRUE ON HIS TEAM: “We have a team of six ... and I believe that we have six CEOs here, not just one.

We can confront each other and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a different opinion on this,’ and boom, work it out.”

from PAGE 15

“He’s a very humble individual, said Jeffrey Buck, director of MBA programs at Anderson University’s Falls School of Business.

“He’s a high achiever and well respected among everyone he’s associated with. But, still, he’s a pretty humble guy.”

It would be difficult for True to forget his roots – they are all around him. Born in Greenfield, he lives in New Palestine with his wife, Sharon, and their two children: Matthew, 12, and Megan 16.

He obtained his bachelor’s from Indiana University-Purdue University

at Indianapolis, heading back to college 10 years later for his MBA at AU. (He had told his parents as a teenager that he wanted to attend Stanford.)

“It just worked out that way,” True says of his life’s path thus far. “One thing that’s sad – I don’t think it’s sad, but some people may think it is – is that I have never lived outside of a 20-mile radius. I didn’t plan for that. It just happened.”

It didn’t just happen. Decidedly loyal, True attended IUPUI because he worked at a Sears store whose manager didn’t want him to move off to an outof-state school.

“So instead of going away to school,

FORUM CREDIT UNION Founded: 1941 Assets: $925 million Employees: 285 Annual payroll: $8.75 million Branches: 12 (4 in Hamilton County)

The FORUM Corporate campus is larger than 180,000 square feet and includes a state of the art fitness center for employees and tenants to use.

A multi-use conference center is available for business meetings or wedding receptions.

Other amenities include a large employee recreation room and training facilities.

16 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

The conference center can seat 500 people in a round table seating format and as many as 750 in a lecture style seating arrangement.

The conference center includes a foyer for intimate events or prefunction gatherings and the conference center can also be configured to small seating sections for small group events.

I went to IUPUI, stayed at home, worked full-time at Sears,” True said.

He says he might have stayed at Sears if not for a want ad in the paper for new hires downtown. “We didn’t have the Internet or Monster.com back then.”

The business was Indiana Telco Credit Union, but the ad was a blind one, seeking a “management trainee.”

When True arrived for his interview in 1988, his appointed inquisitor was not in the office. So he spent his interview with then-CEO John Jeter, who retired in 1998.

“I had a lot of offers to consider,” True says. “But after the interview with Mr. Jeter, I knew this is where I wanted to be. I walked out of there and said, ‘I really want to go to work for this man.’ He was just very inspirational, and I kind of felt like I could find myself here.”

Little did he know.

“I like the credit union philosophy of being a not-forprofit cooperative,” True admits. “My dad was always a big supporter of Naval Avionics Credit Union, which is now Family Horizons. So the credit union thing kind of compelled me.”

True met his wife, Sharon, a Purdue student, who was working as a summer teller at FORUM’s eastside office. The stay-at-home mom was named 2012 Volunteer of the Year at New Palestine Elementary School.

“She’s remarkable, and obviously, I’m her biggest fan,” True said. “I’m so proud of her, because she’s over there all the time. She just does whatever is needed. She’s part of the fabric of that school.”

True occupies his free time with involvement in his kids’ lives. His daughter is involved in 4-H and his son loves sports. Even in his new role as CEO, True still enjoys some things in life that are simple and basic.

“I still like reading an actual newspaper,” True says. “I’m a technology fan. But there’s something about newspapers and magazines that I absolutely love.”

He plays tennis on occasion with his athlete son, and the freshly minted chief executive has even taken up golf.

Again.

“I’ll be honest; I had shied away from the golf course,” True says with the rueful smile of a former golfer. “Of course, in the CEO role, golf is sometimes important.

There’s business done on golf courses. So I picked it back up.”

True smiles again. “And it’s testing my patience.”

What’s also tested his patience is the turmoil that has rocked the financial industry in the past decade. The bad behavior of a few, he says, has tarnished the good efforts of many.

“And everyone suffers because of it,” he says. “Not just consumers, but even players in the financial area that are good actors. We see that through regulation. And that’s fine.

That’s part of the game that we’ve got to adhere to.”

What True takes from the situation is the determination to do his job better. And to do that, he says, one has to keep one’s life – and one’s faith – in perspective. “(Faith) comes first,” True says. “We coined a phrase here (at FORUM Credit Union) as a team: ‘Faith, family and FORUM,’ in that order. We tell our employees that. And that’s the way it should be.

“It’s simple, but it’s a constant reminder for me.” ■

anthony gutwein board room

Chambers’ mission is to deliver value to our community

A

s Chairman of the Board for 2012, I’m very thankful as I look back on yet another successful year for our Chamber and even more excited about what’s ahead. Our mission to deliver value to our members and the community through political and economic advocacy, exceptional service and responsive leadership hasn’t changed. However, the pace at which we adapt to our members needs is accelerating.

We have evaluated how we connect with our members and the Fishers Chamber Magazine is a result of that effort. You’ll find people like yourself; people who make a difference in Fishers. It will include key statistical data that visitors and newcomers tell us they want to know. It will be here that you can count on depth and perspective from your business community colleagues. It’s one of many highlights in 2012.

Additionally, our luncheon continued to draw talented speakers such as Clark Kellogg and Mike Ahern. Our Saturday morning Farmers Market continued to grow, providing exposure opportunities to our members, and serving the community at large. We have changed direction with a few of our events and will be focusing our resources to “go big” on others.

On the political front, your Chamber remained vigilant throughout the election season.

We worked hard to educate and inform on issues like our very form of government in Fishers and took steps to make sure our members’ voices were heard. No matter the outcome, know your Chamber is prepared to advocate for our members with our elected officials.

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to thank our members, volunteers, and staff for helping to create a culture of collaboration. I’m proud of our Chamber and wish you all the best for 2013. Enjoy Fishers Chamber Magazine; I think you’ll find it worth your time. ■ Anthony Gutwein is the 2012 Fishers Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board.

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 17

M E M BER P RO F I L E

Conner Lili Manley, 5, looks at a goat in the Animal Encounters barn.

Prairie:

Museum adds science and technology to experience WRITTEN by Darrel Radford PHOTOS by Maria Strauss

A

young boy looks incredulously at a man dressed in funny clothes who offers him pennies to walk from Indianapolis to Cincinnati and pick up some merchandise for the general store.

A young girl has fire in her eyes when told by the same man that in the time period she’s entered, women aren’t allowed to hold office or vote.

Ooohs and ahhhs emanate from a barn where doting youngsters feed baby farm animals. Shrieks and screams come from a Civil War experience that simulates the divided and dangerous state Indiana found itself in during those turbulent years.

Kids play store with a cash register, shoot a ball at a peach basket, and take turns experiencing what it was like to milk a cow.

And nowhere in sight are signs that say, “Do not touch.”

Such is a typical day in the life of Conner Prairie, an interactive history park that’s creating a new business model for the future.

Since 2006, the outdoor venue has generated some impressive numbers to go with its intriguing and engaging exhibits.

How have they done it? Ellen Rosenthal, the president and chief executive officer, sums it up in a sentence. see PAGE 20

18 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Conner Prairie CEO Ellen M. Rosenthal learns about the occupation roles of 1836. She has been the CEO at Conner Prairie since 2005.

The Conner Prairie Science Lab features handson learning activities indoors.

Annie Sichting, left, and Lucas Taylor, middle, watch as Earl Evans creates a 1836 style gun. Visitors experience American life during 1836 through hands-on activities.

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 19

CONNER PRAIRIE MILESTONES SINCE 2006

320,000 The number of visitors during 2011 – approximately 259,000 of whom came from outside Fishers.

Some came from as far away as Louisville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.

340 The number of full and part-time employees Conner Prairie has, making it one of Fishers’ largest employers, generating a payroll of more than $4.4 million and creating $274,000 in state and local tax dollars.

11 According to The Indianapolis Business Journal, Conner Prairie is now the 11th most-popular attraction in the Greater Indianapolis area.

1 The number of museums in Indiana that are Smithsonian affiliates, a distinction held only by Conner Prairie. In 2010, the museum not only received the National Medal, the nation’s highest honor for museums, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, but was also named one of nine “Magnetic Museums” in 2010 by the American Alliance of Museums. from PAGE 18

“It’s not just history, it’s an experience,” she said.

Rosenthal explained that the goal for this, the first “living” history museum in America, is to have visitors really see what living in the 19th century was like.

And so, the emphasis is not on artifacts or objects sitting in a glass case. Rather, it’s on the visitor experience.

“We want you to be a part of the experience rather than simply listening to us talk about it,” said Cathryn Ferree,

20 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Conner Prairie’s vice president of exhibits, programs and facilities.

Youngsters learn here that William Conner, the statesman and fur trader this facility is named after, built the first brick home in central Indiana. They are sure to remember that Conner married an Indian woman from a Lenape tribe, bringing home the fact that Indiana is so named because it was once the “land of the Indians.”

Conner Prairie offers a roadmap to the future drawn by the way it celebrates the past.

They aren’t likely to forget because of the opportunity to throw tomahawks during their visit, just one of many handson activities that engage youngsters in science, technology, engineering and math – the make-up of what is known as STEM learning. Often, it happens without the youth even realizing it.

“You never know what’s going to spark a child’s interest,” Ferree said. “Our main job is to promote curiosity. Once they experience it, they want to come back. Kids wonder ‘how’d they do that?’ It’s a multi-layered approach.”

A helium-filled balloon can take them 350 feet in the air while an impressive Civil War program can make them duck for cover as they are introduced to Morgan’s Raiders, a band of confederates who brought the great national conflict to Indiana and divided the state more than many may realize.

“People have a whole new appreciation for Indiana’s role in the Civil War,” Ferree said.

The new Civil War experience is just another reason why a trip to Conner Prairie is as personal and unique as the 30,000 historic artifacts that are here.

“Everybody comes with their own agenda,” Rosenthal said. “It’s our job to pick up on that and follow their interests.”

A visitor might see children learning how to make candles or feeding milk to baby animals.

Kevyn Miller, whose family has been in the agriculture business for many generations, said he enjoys talking to youngsters about farming and showing them a variety of animals.

“I get paid to play show-and-tell,” he said with a laugh.

Miller said what Conner Prairie does, however, is bring history to life. By transporting visitors of all ages back in time, they are creating a brighter future.

“What they are really doing is keeping history alive,” Miller said.

The hunger for history is literal here. Families can actually come and sign up for “Hearthside Suppers.” In this experience, they actually make a four-course meal together – the old-fashioned way, churning butter, making, noodles by hand and baking homemade bread – with no drive-through window in sight.

From a community business standpoint, Conner Prairie offers much food for thought about the way to treat customers – a roadmap to the future drawn by the way it

Maci Hylton, 10, dips a candle into a pot of melted wax during her visit to Conner Prairie.

celebrates the past.

“You’ve heard in schools about the inquiry-based learning replacing more traditional means of lecture instruction,” Rosenthal said. “We would say we follow the same path at Conner Prairie. We found that most of the conversation between visitor groups and families was happening when staff was not present because they were so busy providing information.”

There is a certain rhythm to activities here – in more ways than one.

For more than three decades, Conner Prairie has also served as one of the most unique concert venues around.

It celebrated the 31st year of the popular “Symphony On the Prairie” events this past summer, a series featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

But the best kind of music is the sounds excited, engaged kids make here on a daily basis. They are proof positive that, contrary to what some might have previously thought, history doesn’t have to be boring and it should be everybody’s “business” to learn from it. ■

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 21

TOP: Fishers Firefighter Jay Updike competes in the hose advance portion of the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge in Fishers. The challenge showcases the talents, skills, and athleticism of America’s firefighters.

RIGHT: Fishers fire inspector D’Nyeal Banks helps Henry Lambert, 7, in the kids portion of the challenge. / Photos: CHRIS BERGIN

FIREFIGHTER 22 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

70 OF THE AREA’S BRAVEST COMPETE IN 1ST CHALLENGE The renowned Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, which showcases the skill and athleticism of firefighting, came to Fishers for the first time in August. The FCC motivates, identifies and celebrates America’s “best of the best” firefighters.

“The firefighter combat challenge promotes health and wellness among our firefighters and showcases some of the skills we use on a daily basis,” Fishers Fire Chief Steven Orusa said. “And we wanted to promote our beautiful community and give them a glimpse of what is required in our job to serve them. “

TOP: A crowd cheers on firefighters during the challenge.

ABOVE: Fishers firefighter Troy Hines carries Rescue Randy during the victim rescue challenge.

Presented by I.U. Health Saxony Hospital, the event drew about 70 local competitors from Hamilton County, and thousands of local fans.

The FCC travels throughout the country every year simulating essential firefighting skills including climbing a five-story tower in full gear, dragging and hoisting a fire hose and racing around obstacles. Orusa said he expects the event to return to the area in June of 2013.

CHALLENGE

The new

21 CENTURY ST

ABOVE: Aaron Gurin, 17, left, Elliott Williams, 17, middle, and Ben Dennis, 17, right, hold iPads and a laptop while catching up with each other. Gurin, Williams and Dennis all earn money from their website businesses or freelance technology-based services.

24 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

L E A R N I N G CUR V E

SCHOOLS EDUCATE NEW GENERATION OF CRITICAL THINKERS

T

oday’s young entrepreneur isn’t waiting for college graduation to get ahead. He isn’t even waiting for college.

Just look to Hamilton Southeastern Schools for proof. Students Aaron Gurin, Ben Dennis and Elliott Williams already have started their own business ventures or are working for high-tech companies honing skills that will carry them beyond the classroom.

CEO WRITTEN by Rodney Richey PHOTOS by Maria Strauss

And where do these students get their inspiration? Perhaps from the administration itself, challenged by unprecedented growth, and pushing hard for advancements in technology.

“It’s really amazing,” said Leonard Gurin, vice president of cash and investments at USA Funds and father to Aaron, a senior at Fishers High School. “Just the encouragement to bring the kids who are going to be the end users into the process, to me, as a business owner, it is money well saved.”

Recently, Dr. Brian Smith, superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, refocused plans for the organization, not only on the building end, but also on the teaching end.

A new elementary school was tabled, while a new junior high was smith built. More significantly, though, an idea for a third high school – a “collegiate high school” – was greeted with mixed reviews from parents.

The school was later turned into two “academies,” one each for the two high schools, where some students even earn a portion of their freshman year in college, tuition-free.

Parent Bill Dennis, chief financial officer for Linc Systems Inc., and father of Ben, a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School, sees the benefit of the iPad rollout.

“It has to happen, because that is where technology is going,” Dennis said. “The speed of information now is incredible.” see PAGE 26

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 25

from PAGE 25

Business leaders like Kurt Meyer, president of Baseline, Inc., a commercial real estate firm, say practical training is essential because it helps students advance more quickly in college and in the business world.

“These kids are on the ball and know how to make things happen,” Meyer said. “If I’m not hiring kids like this, then I’d definitely be investing in their companies.”

Gary Reynolds, president of Reynolds Farm Equipment, likes the idea of HSE students mulling their college years more intently, so they could have “at least some idea of the area they’re going to choose when they go to college, try to get some of that sorting out done.”

A table shaped like a stack of books rests in the Hamilton Southeastern Junior High School’s Media Center. The recently built school accommodates 7th and 8th graders.

21st-Century Skills Along with immediate, tangible plans, Superintendent Smith is wrangling with an urgent problem, one that some people might not even see.

“With globalization and 21st-century skills, we have to change the way we teach,” Smith said. It was the same topic he focused on at the September Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “We have taught the same way for a hundred years,” Smith continued. “And we’ve done a reasonably good job.

But the world has changed.

“So our shift needs to be from traditional lecturing to more inquiry-based critical thinking, asking the right questions. It needs to be project-oriented and still focused on standards, making it fun and getting kids to work on teams.

And that can start from the elementary and go on up.”

Smith paused, and then added with emphasis, “That’s quite a paradigm shift for teachers.”

And that’s the segment that Smith wants to teach first: the teachers.

“The teacher becomes a guide on the side,” Smith see PAGE 28

Elliott

WILLIAMS

TECH INTEREST: Design and usability.

MY WORK: I’ve worked a few years for OpenMRS (www.openmrs.org), an open-source, not-for-profit electronic medical record platform. We formed to respond to health care initiatives in the developing world. Today, our system is in use in many countries. We have a global community of volunteers contributing to the software, and my job is to coordinate and design that community of developers and volunteers.

WHY I LOVE IT: It’s the kind of user and usability research I enjoy, and

NAME: Elliott Williams

because it’s an excellent cause. I know that somewhere along the line my work is enabling people’s lives to be saved.

HOMETOWN: Fishers

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: School definitely is a huge chunk of my time. I

AGE: 17 SCHOOL: Fishers High School YEAR: Junior PARENTS: Mac and Linda Williams SISTER: Claire, 14, freshman at FHS HOBBIES: Amateur photography and video, playing music, video games, making coffee

do minimal things for them (work) when I’m in school, just because it’s really hard. If I’m actually going to go into the office, that’s a half-hour at least, both ways. So, it’s a lot of time, but it’s what I’m most invested in. But I feel like when I go to school, I’m a pretty normal student, I guess.

FUTURE GOALS: I really love where I am right now with work. I’m not a very money-focused person, but I do really like helping people, because I feel like, somewhere down the line, the work that I’m doing saves lives. And that’s very cool. ... Someday, I’d like to see myself probably out west, or on the East Coast doing something that is relevant or interesting. Those are pretty much the only limitations I’m placing on myself.

26 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Hamilton Southeastern Junior High students board buses after school.

Ben

DENNIS

TECH INTEREST: Leveraging technology to make business decisions.

MY WORK: I am the president of two companies. Dennis Tech, LLC (www.dennistech.com) is a mobile application development company that creates iPhone and iPad apps for individuals and other companies. Bitwise Fellows (www.bitwisefellows.com) is a web development firm run by high school students to help small businesses, community organizations, and local non-for profits gain a web presence and digital footprint.

WHY I LOVE IT: It is important to me to use technology to make people’s lives

NAME: Ben Dennis HOMETOWN: Fishers AGE: 17 SCHOOL: Hamilton Southeastern High School YEAR: Senior PARENTS: Bill and Sherry Dennis BROTHER: Grant, 22, finance analyst in Chicago

better and easier. I have always loved technology and been fascinated with ways to use it to do grand things. I love leading the Bitwise Fellows because I love being able to help people grow and develop their skills.

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: Actually, I think it’s really cool when I’m in class, and

I can connect something with what I’m doing outside of class. It’s like, “Oh, yeah, I was just doing that yesterday in my business class.” I actually got credit for my job at BitWise through the Academy of Finance programs.

FUTURE GOALS: I see myself living on one of the coasts. I don’t really do well with authority, so I kind of see myself running my own company or owning something. I want to build something I can call my own. Like sit and look outside my window and say, “I built this.”

HOBBIES: Music, politics, and the stock market FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 27

Aaron

GURIN NAME: Aaron Gurin HOMETOWN: Fishers AGE: 17 SCHOOL: Fishers High School YEAR: Senior PARENTS: Leonard and Robin Gurin BROTHER: Ben, 22, IU graduate, studying to become a rabbi HOBBIES: I do photography for fun and run the sound for the school plays. There’s some music thrown in there, but the two businesses keep me fairly busy.

TECH INTEREST: Computer science, web design and development MY WORK: I am currently working on programming for iPads, iPhones, and Macs.

I started Aaron Web Studios (www.aaronwebstudios.com) in seventh grade to handle web design and development. When not running my business, I am usually working at Ben & Ari’s (www.benandari.com), a miniature golf course and our family business for 14 years.

WHY I LOVE IT: I built my first computer in fourth grade and haven’t looked back

since. I sort of got thrown into web design when Ben & Ari’s current web designer wasn’t working out. I told my dad, “I think I can do that.” I really enjoyed both the design and development aspect. I really got drawn into software development because it is something that I love. I want to be able to change the world and work on products that people use. Software development allows everyday problems to be solved.

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: I think the main point of every student’s life is school and

school work, but I really don’t think we’re unique in doing something outside of school.

I’ve got a lot of friends who do marching band or a sport of some kind. So, basically, I just see my company as something I do on the side, I guess. I’ve never really thought school holds me back. I think it’s important to go to school, but I really do wish I could get more involved with work. On days when we have holidays, when we’re off school, I get up at 9 in the morning, work until 2, and still get more done than when I’m in school.

FUTURE GOALS: My biggest plans are to end up in California, in San Francisco or Palo Alto. I really want to do be able to wake up each day and do something to change the world, I guess. I really want to work on building some product that solves a problem and that people like to use. I want to love my job, love what I do, and work on something that affects the world. I want to work at Apple in the iOS department.

from PAGE 26

said, describing the theory. “You still have to teach the fundamentals, but then, beyond that, the application of those fundamentals really drives the standards home.

“The research is so clear: Kids remember what they do working in teams, by solving problems themselves, by using some critical thinking skills.”

To Smith, if we ask today’s students a question that can be answered by using Google, “We’re not asking the right questions.”

“Some of these young folks have told me, ‘The glory of this is, we don’t stop collaborating when we leave the classroom,’” Smith said.

“Man, that’s huge, because right now, that bell rings, and you’re gone.

“That’s not what the world’s going to be anymore. It’s going to be more 24/7 and working in teams. That’s what I mean by 21st century skills.” ■

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28 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Call or visit today: Anthony L. Gutwein, AAMS ® Financial Advisor 11415 Overlook Drive Fishers, IN 46037 317-842-3645

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Member SIPC

REPUTATION OF FISHERS’ OLDEST BUSINESS ETCHED IN MARBLING

B

ack when Archer’s Meats first opened in the mid-’60s, Fishers was little more than a bump in the road along I-69.

Freshly ground beef ready for sale at Archer’s Meats in Fishers. The shop and slaughter house has been in operation since 1960 and offers expert butchering and packaging of meat.

WRITTEN by Rodney Richey PHOTOS by Chris Bergin

Today, Archer’s, run by owners Ron and Michelle Archer, is the oldest business in downtown Fishers, behind only Reynolds Farm Equipment as the oldest business in Fishers, period. (A second store in Greenwood is run by one of the couple’s four sons.)

In the past a slaughterhouse, today Archer’s offers retail cuts of meat and catering services.

Running herd, so to speak, is manager Denise Weaver, a friendly, engaging woman with a broad smile and a nononsense approach.

“The problem is that, Fishers has probably grown a thousand percent,” Weaver said from behind her working desk at the store’s 116th Street location. “Most of these people don’t know anything about us.”

That could be changing, Weaver says. She recently arranged a Groupon promotion for the store, and the results were more than encouraging. (Groupon is an online coupon business.) see PAGE 30

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 29

from PAGE 29

“Once you have our ground product, you’ll never go back to the other stuff.”

“We sold 3,500 Groupons in 17 hours,” Weaver said, laughing. “Michelle said to let it ride, but I shut if off because I got nervous.”

When one hears the term “retail butcher shop,” one might think of boutique pricing and that Archer’s Meats might be more expensive than what one might find in a supermarket.

Not so, says Weaver.

“Michelle gave me full rein to do the retail cases,” Weaver said. “I’m Greek, and there’s a Greek saying that, roughly translated, ‘It’s better to make a penny off a hundred people than to make a dollar off of one.’ So we operate on a small margin, and our prices are consistently the same or better than you can find at a grocery store.”

While Weaver chatted in her office, a young couple was excitedly checking out with a package of steaks. It was obvious they had heard of the Archer’s reputation.

“We only sell FDA Choice product out of the retail store,” Weaver says, adding that the ground beef sold in the case is fresh ground from muscle, from cattle that can be traced.

“We’re the only place around here that does that,” she said. “Every grocery store gets it in tubes, pre-ground and semi-frozen from the packing houses. You could have a thousand (different) beef in one tube. Once you have our ground product, you’ll never go back to the other stuff.”

Archer’s also offers its own line of sausages: hot Italian, sweet Italian, Wisconsin brat, Andouille, chorizo, fresh Polish, maple breakfast links, sage breakfast links, all made on site.

As autumn rolls around, Archer’s becomes a deer check-in station for hunters, who bring in their bounty. Archer’s then turns it into a variety of products: summer sausage, hot summer sausage, and a chew very much like a Slim Jim. (Weaver said she got the recipe from her parents, Perry and Katherine Pappas. They operated Perry Packing in Daisytown, Pa., for 50 years before closing in 2011.)

Problem with that is, Archer’s is also known for butchering animals (it’s still a slaughterhouse) for Jewish and Muslim customers, who expect products that meet kosher and halal standards.

“You have to be respectful of everybody’s different beliefs,” Weaver said. “We’re under USDA inspection five days a week. We have a state inspector here all the time.

30 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

“There’s a hierarchy at which you can cut. You can cut goats, lambs and beef at the same time. Once you move to pork, you can’t go back. And if you cut any poultry, you can’t even go back to pork.”

And during deer season, deer comes after everything else, since it is not inspected. The facility is cleaned and sanitized each night, by a maintenance worker for whom it is a fulltime job.

Deceptively small looking, the property is a city block in size. The building is about 18,000 square feet, including Archer’s new catering kitchen. (There’s even a smokehouse on site.)

And all of it is Denise Weaver’s domain.

“I love my job because this is my comfort zone,” she said. “What I like most about this is, it’s not the same thing every day. One day, you’re pulling pork. Another day, you’re wrapping, waiting on customers. Tomorrow, there’s a lot of catering.

“Sometimes, when I look up at the clock and go, ‘Oh, it’s four o’clock, and I haven’t even left for lunch.’ But we’ve got a really good crew, and I like what we do.” ■

Ron Archer, owner of Archer’s Meats in Fishers cuts the fat off a piece of Indiana beef.

BY T H E N U M BERS

Fishers: A growing community with a strong history of family values and successful businesses.

L

ocated in Southeastern Hamilton County, just 20 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis, with convenient access to major transportation routes, such as I-465, I-69, I-70, I-74 and I-65, Fishers is a very convenient place to live and do business.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport is located in the area and the Indianapolis International Airport can be reached in just half an hour.

Cincinnati, Louisville, and Chicago are all within 180 miles of Fishers, and are easily accessed by nearby interstate highways.

Fishers fast facts Population over time

2010 total Median age

Population Households

Total number of housing units Average household size Number of subdivisions

76,794 31 years 28,511 2.9 363

Population Projections 117,130

2030 2025

I

n 2003, officials from the town of Fishers requested a special census from the U.S. Census Bureau to accurately measure rapid population growth since 2000.

The special census was completed in 2004, and total population in Fishers numbered 52,390, a 38% increase in less than four years.

109,148 100,840

2020

92,300 2015 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 (Population in thousands)

Fishers fast facts sources

Town of Fishers Hamilton County Alliance Hamilton Southeastern School District

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 31

BY T H E N U M BERS

Academics (kindergarten-college) Residents are pleased with the high quality of academic education offered by Hamilton Southeastern Schools, which includes 12 elementary, three intermediate, three junior high schools and two senior high schools. The high schools belong to the prestigious North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools. The school district has achieved significant successes in academic competitions, sports, music, arts, and other extracurricular activities. Fishers also has a number of private schools available.

For more Fishers schools information and data, see page 34.

It started with a man named Fisher

The Fishers story starts in 1872, when a man named Salathial Fisher platted land near what is now 116th Street and the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad. Because it’s near a railroad, he named his land “Fisher’s Switch.”

Soon the little town had a post office, a Methodist Episcopal church and three taverns.

Two years later, in 1893, the decision was made to drop the apostrophe, making the name “Fishers Switch.”

It wouldn’t be until 1908 that the word “Switch” was dropped from the appellation. From then on, the area was known simply as “Fishers.” No “Switch.” No apostrophe.

—www.fishers.in.us

Numbers to know Town of Fishers 1 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038 www.fishers.in.us 317-595-3111

>Town Council Meets the first and third Monday of the month in the Fishers Town Hall Auditorium at 7 p.m. >Town Council Members Scott A. Faultless, President; Mike Colby, Vice-President; Renee Cox , Stuart Easley, David George, Pete Peterson, John Weingardt >Town Hall Administration......................................... 317-595-3100 Dept. of Development.............................. 317-595-3120 Parks and Recreation Dept....................... 317-595-3150 Public Works Dept.................................... 317-595-3160 >Town Manager Scott Fadness........................................... 317-595-3101 >Town Judge Daniel Henke............................................ 317-595-3130 >Clerk-Treasurer’s Office Gaye Cordell............................................. 317-595-3145

A great place to raise your business Fishers’ growing business community offers an outstanding array of goods and services, and features more than 1,800 businesses. Ranging from corporate headquarters and distribution centers to professional practices and manufacturing, business has grown with Fishers’ population, each supporting the other.

Recent awards for Fishers 2012:

► “Top 100 Best Places to Live in America” (#12) — Money Magazine ► “11th Best Place to Move” — Forbes Magazine ► “10 Best Towns for Families” — Family Circle Magazine ► “Playful City USA Community” — KaBOOM! ► “Safest City in the Nation” — CQ Press

2011:

► “Green Community” — Indiana Association of Cities and Towns ► “#1 Top 10 Cities for Families in U.S.” — The Learning Channel (TLC) ► “Certificate of Excellence” — Center for Performance Measurement ► “Top 100 Places to Live” — Relocate America ► “Top 25 Suburbs for Retirement” — Forbes.com

>Delaware Township Office Manager Marilyn Schenkel...................................... 317-770-4439 >Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell......................................... 317-842-8595 >Fall Creek Township Trustee Jeff Hern................................................... 317-841-3180 >Fire Department

EMERGENCY.............................................. 911 Fire Administration Office........................ 317-595-3200 Fire Dispatch (non-emergency)................ 317-773-1282 >Police Department

EMERGENCY.............................................. 911 Police Administration Office..................... 317-595-3300 Police Dispatch (non-emergency)............ 317-773-1282 Crime Tip Line.......................................... 317-595-3305 >Bureau of Motor Vehicles 3 Municipal Dr., Fishers............................ 317-842-0480 >Fishers Chamber of Commerce.............. 317-578-0700 >Hamilton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.................................. 317-848-3181 >Indianapolis Metro. Airport................... 317-849-0840 >Library.................................................. 317-579-0300

32 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

>Post Office............................................. 317-913-7902 >Voter Registration................................. 317-776-9632

>Utilities Cable TV AT&T........................................................ 888-944-0447 Brighthouse Networks............................. 317-972-9700 Comcast................................................... 877-858-7701 Electricity Duke Energy............................................. 800-343-3525 Gas Vectren..................................................... 800-227-1376 Sewer Town of Fishers........................................ 317-595-3141 Hamilton SE Utilities................................ 317-577-2300 Trash Waste Management................................. 317-635-2491 Republic Services..................................... 317-917-7300 Ray’s Trash Service.................................... 317-539-2024 Water Indiana-American Water.......................... 800-492-8373 Citizens Water.......................................... 317-639-1501

BY T H E N U M BERS

Quality of life

Parks and recreation

According to a March 2010 BusinessWeek survey, the town of Fishers was named first out of the top 10 best affordable suburbs in America. Fishers offers a variety of housing in many price ranges including single family homes, condominiums and apartments, in order to attract a wide-ranging population of workers, executives and families. More than 350 subdivisions provide a choice of housing to meet varied lifestyle and financial needs.

Fishers also offers active adult communities.

Recreation and leisure abound with 14 parks, more than 83 miles of walking paths, several golf courses, community pools, a state of the art YMCA and an extensive youth sports organization. Nearby Geist and Morse Reservoirs provide convenient access to water recreation. The area has more than 50 churches representing most major denominations and many outstanding community service organizations enriching the quality of life in Fishers.

Fishers fast facts Workforce

Top Fishers Employers

Sallie Mae

Number Company Employed Sallie Mae

1,800

HSE Schools

800

Roche Diagnostics

500

US Food Service

450

Wiley Publishing

418

Town of Fishers

350

First Advantage

350

Conner Prairie

340

I.U. Health Saxony

300

FORUM Credit Union

285

Income comparisons (2010)

Fishers Town Hall

I.U. Health Saxony

Unemployment: September 2012

Median household income

Fishers Indiana United States $87,740 $52,822 $55,970 Average household income

Fishers Indiana United States $103,398 $65,853 $74,974 Per capita income

Fishers Indiana United States $36,838 $26,040 $28,779

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Statistics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Miscellaneous

Number of businesses........................................1820 Number of parks.................................................... 14 Miles of walking trails..........................................83+

Fishers fast facts sources

Town of Fishers, Hamilton County Alliance Hamilton Southeastern School District

Infographics by: www.thejmetzgergroup.com

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 33

BY T H E N U M BERS

Fishers schools and education Elementary (K-4) Brooks School Elementary 12451 Brooks School Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4250 Cumberland Road Elementary 13535 Cumberland Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4170 Durbin Elementary 18000 Durbin Road Noblesville, IN 46060 Phone: (317) 594-4840 Fall Creek Elementary 12131 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4180 Fishers Elementary 11442 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4160 Geist Elementary 14051 E. 104th Street Fortville, IN 46040 (317) 915-4260

Harrison Parkway Elementary 14135 Harrison Parkway Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4210 Hoosier Road Elementary 11300 East 121st Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4240 Lantern Road Elementary 10595 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4140 New Britton Elementary 8660 East 131st Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4130 Sand Creek Elementary 11420 E. 131st Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4270 Thorpe Creek Elementary 14642 E. 126th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4310

Other: K-8

St. Louis de Montfort Catholic 11421 Hague Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 842-1125

High School (Grade 9)

Hamilton Southeastern High School Freshman Center 12001 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4390

High School (9-12) Fishers High School 13000 Promise Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4290

High School (10-12)

Hamilton SE High School 13910 E. 126th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4190

Fishers High School

Intermediate (Grades 5-6)

Fall Creek Intermediate 12011 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4220 Riverside Intermediate 11014 Eller Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4320 Sand Creek Intermediate 11550 E. 131 Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4230

sources

Town of Fishers, Hamilton County Alliance Hamilton Southeastern School District

Fishers Junior High 13257 Cumberland Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4150 Hamilton SE Junior High 12278 N. Cyntheanne Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4120 Riverside Junior High 10910 Eller Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4280

Hamilton Southeastern School District Enrollment 2012-13 19,812 2009-10 17,797 1999-2000 7,979 1989-90 2,845 1979-80 2,186

Educational attainment Some college/ Assoc. degree

Hamilton Southeastern High School Fishers fast facts

Junior High (Grades 7-8)

21%

H.S. diploma

11%

Infographics by: www.thejmetzgergroup.com

34 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Less than H.S. diploma

3.3%

B.A. degree

46.2%

M.A. degree+

18.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

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