MEET THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWNSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Spring Into Fun
Family Entertainment
Options in Hendricks County, Indiana
Fite-ing for a Cure
Erika Fite-Fraits’s Mission to Fund Breast Cancer Research
AND ENTHUSIASM Meet the New Executive Director of the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce
PUBLISHER
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
JOSH DUKE
MELISSA GIBSON AMY PAYNE
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
MANAGING EDITOR DEVON DEAN
COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE
Dr. Johnson & Dr. Lauren
ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM
MEET THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWNSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Owners of businesses large and small are excited to see the new addition to the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce. New Executive Director Tina Stansbury is on the job and, if you haven’t had a chance to meet her, you likely will soon.
Stansbury started her new position on January 6 and is jumping in feet first as she learns the ropes. Though she hasn’t worked at a chamber in the past, she brings a variety of business experience to the table.
“I have had bookend careers,” she said. “I started in accounting and spent 12 years with Gatorade/Quaker Oats and then landed at Simon Property Group for nearly 10 years. I moved into marketing and financial reporting, and in doing that, I found a niche in training marketing employees on how to do their financial reporting. I just found a love for corporate training.”
In addition, she’s had experience at a computer software company and in technology, consulting and recruiting before the position for the chamber became available.
“Overall, I’ve had a lot of experience in pretty much every department in corporate America,” Stansbury said.
Unfortunately, in January of 2023 she was one of 8,000 people at her previous company that were let go due to a reduction in work force, but she didn’t let that stop her. Stansbury began reaching out to past contacts and those familiar with her love of working with businesses.
Though Stansbury said it’s taken a while to find the perfect combination of her skills and her passions, she knows the chamber is everything she’s been looking for. Not only is it a great fit for Stansbury, but her skills will also be a great addition to the questions, concerns and challenges small-business owners face.
“I love it,” she said. “I need this to feel fulfilled, working in a diverse field and providing the tools, connections and resources to local businesses to be successful. I like to solve problems, help connect people and support them.”
The Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce
exists to support local businesses, promote networking opportunities, advocate for them and act as a voice for the business community.
It also strives to foster economic development, provide resources for existing and potential businesses, and add value in benefits and educational programs for members.
Stansbury is involved in civic groups as well, and enjoys learning about education, health, and community initiatives that guide the quality of life in Hendricks County.
Years ago she was introduced to the Rotary Club in South Bend, when her family moved there for her husband’s job. She’s continued attending Rotary in Hendricks County and said it’s helped her understand some of the organizations in the community.
“You get to meet so many people from all over the community and then learn about different aspects like the school system during their State of the Schools, for example,” Stansbury said. “I’m joining the Leadership Brownsburg program and I’m excited about learning all about the town and how it operates.”
As she works on organization, collaborating with leaders in the community and meeting small-business owners, Stansbury’s ideas are in full swing.
“I’d like to grow the chamber in membership and in opportunities,” she said. “I want to be a leader for Brownsburg and draw in a lot of participation from the community. I thrive when connecting with others. I want to meet businesses one on one, put a face with a name and see what we can do to help.”
She’s also working on various opportunities for the 300-plus individuals currently active at the chamber.
“We have a member luncheon, AM Connect and other networking opportunities,” she said. “The idea is to meet the
needs of all of the different businesses. Some can sneak away for an hour at lunch, but for others, meeting in the morning or after hours is better, so we’re working to create that availability for everyone.”
Most recently, the chamber hosted its first Small Business Roundtable event. The inaugural networking opportunity featured Nick Bell of Bell Bookkeeping, and shared information regarding managing income and expenses on QuickBooks.
In recent years there have been several changes to the executive director role, but Stansbury said she’s here to stay.
“I think people have been on hold for a little bit, but we’re getting organized and it’s really exciting,” she said. “I see so much potential and have so many ideas. I’m thinking about different events we could host, what kind of speakers we could bring in, and finding those businesses we’re missing - just tons of ideas.”
For now, she’s leaning on the chamber’s ambassador group and learning more about the current member base. She hopes to create a chamber that serves as an extension of the community.
“This is an amazing resource and people may not know about it,” she said. “Right now I’m looking at what we have to offer and the value we can offer to the local businesses. Once I’ve had a chance to talk to more businesses, I’ll be able to come in with a plan. I’m excited to immerse myself in Brownsburg. The people have been amazingly welcoming to me, and I think they’re excited about the chamber and what it has to offer.”
A calendar of events and additional information about Brownsburg Chamber membership can be found at brownsburg.com.
Brownsburg Chamber Luncheon with members.
LOVE THE GAME?
Every play, every moment, every moveyou love being in the game! But when an injury puts you on the bench, it’s time to call the experts. Our sports medicine specialists can help you heal, prevent future setbacks and get you back out there–faster and stronger. DON’T SIT THIS ONE OUT! FIND A SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST
5
PAWS TO READ
11 AM – 12 PM
Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, 1120
Stafford Rd.
Practice your reading with a trained therapy dog! Please register for this event online. plainfieldlibrary.libnet.info
THE PHIL COLLINS EXPERIENCE
The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N College Ave.
8 BEETLEJUICE (TOURING)
7 - 8:30 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave.
He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost with the most is coming to your city. It’s showtime!
9 DISTURBED: THE SICKNESS 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
6:30 PM
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 N. Pennsylvania St..
10
STEVE TREVIÑO: THE GOOD LIFE TOUR
8 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.. Egyptian Room at Old National Centre.
11 CARLY PEARCE: HUMMINGBIRD WORLD TOUR PRESENTED BY CONUNDRUM WINES
8 PM Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.. Egyptian Room at Old National Centre. General admission is standing-room only. Riser seats include wait staff. ADA seating is available upon request.
13
THE TEMPTATIONS & THE FOUR TOPS
7 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Doors: 6:00 pm Show: 7:00 pm
21
JORDAN JENSEN
8 PM Helium Comedy Club, 10 W Georgia St. indianapolis.heliumcomedy.com 24 STAVROS HALKIAS: THE DREAMBOAT
7 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Doors: 6:00 PM Show: 7:00 PM
30 RIVERDANCE
7:30 – 9 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave. Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.
SPRING INTO FUN
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS IN HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA
Writer / Josh Duke
Winter is finally over, and it’s time to step out and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Fortunately, Hendricks County offers a range of family-friendly entertainment options that are not only closer to home but also more affordable than faraway destinations. Let’s take a closer look at these newer attractions and an older favorite with a fresh twist.
URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK
If you haven’t yet experienced this exciting family entertainment destination in Plainfield, you’re truly missing out. The gigantic playland offers thrilling activities suitable for all ages, including trampoline zones, an indoor zipline experience, and a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course. Additionally, guests can enjoy suspended ropes courses, climbing walls, a challenging Wipeout game, a tubes playground catering to younger guests, fogfilled laser tag arenas, and twisty Spin Zone Bumper Cars.
PINHEADS
An established name in Fishers, Pinheads Entertainment has recently made its mark in Brownsburg, captivating visitors with its array of attractions and activities. The venue boasts a luxury arcade, state-of-the-art bowling lanes, a social area featuring duckpin bowling, and a private event suite with a speakeasy vibe. Moreover, Pinheads offers an on-site full-service restaurant called Alley’s Alehouse, complete with outdoor seating during warmer months. Plans are also in place to expand the fun outdoors by adding miniature golf to their offerings.
TIE DYE LAB MOVE & EXPANSION
Since its establishment in Avon in 2017, The Tie Dye Lab has been enchanting families with its DIY tie-dye experience. In a recent move to a new location in the Beechwood Centre strip mall, the lab now offers private rental bounce house parties and occasional bounce house open play alongside its popular
tie-dye birthday parties, private events, and walk-in hours. It’s also transitioning to appointment-only hours from Monday to Thursday, managed through its Facebook page.
STAY UPDATED
For those eagerly seeking more entertainment, Brownsburg is set to welcome Slick City Action Park, its first venture into Indiana. Boasting enormous indoor slides and air courts, this indoor adventure park promises giant dry slides and a host of exciting activities upon its scheduled opening this spring. As Hendricks County continues to expand its offerings, Visit Hendricks County commits to delivering the latest news and information to residents and visitors through the Weekly Insider blog, Monthly Planner newsletters, and its various social media channels.
Stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to the Visit Hendricks County blog and newsletter at VisitHendricksCounty.com.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ACUPUNCTURE HELPS WITH:
Allergies
Sciatica
Tennis Elbow
BEll’s Palsy
Dr. Vicki Crum
EASTER DIRT CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 package (14 oz) Oreo cookies, crushed
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
TOPPINGS:
• 1 cup pastel-colored candy-coated chocolates
• ½ cup mini Oreo cookies (for topping)
• Optional:
• Sprinkles
• Mini chocolate chips
• Jelly Beans
• Reese’s Pieces
DIRECTIONS:
1. Crush the Oreo cookies in a plastic bag or using a food processor until they are finely crushed.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until thickened.
4. Fold the whipped topping into the pudding mixture until smooth and creamy. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread half of the crushed Oreo cookies as the base layer. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cookie layer.
5. Pour the pudding mixture on top of the cream cheese layer, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining crushed Oreo cookies over the pudding layer. Top with pastel-colored candy-coated chocolates and mini Oreo cookies for decoration. Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to set. Cut & Enjoy!
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FITE-ING FOR A CURE
ERIKA FITE-FRAITS’S MISSION TO FUND BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Amy Payne
Erika Fite-Fraits’ mother, Lisa Fite, fought breast cancer twice, passing away in 2021. Despite the pain and loss for the family, it was also the beginning of a new chapter for Erika - something she would have never seen coming.
“When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, we also found out she was a carrier for the mutated gene PALB2,” Fite-Fraits said. “It greatly increased her risk and was likely why she had a reoccurrence.”
Many have probably heard of the BRCA gene. It’s received a lot of attention lately and can warn physicians of increased risk for certain types of cancers. The PALB2 gene is similar. Both can show an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.
The family met with a genetic counselor and found Erika and her brothers were all carriers of the gene.
“Following her passing and receiving information from my genetic counselor, I started on my own journey of being an advocate for myself and trying to encourage others,” she said. “I’ve seen what breast cancer can do from several different angles.”
As president of Fite Plumbing in Plainfield, she’s using the business to create awareness
around breast cancer and proactive care.
“I think there’s a general distaste for giving money for cancer research because it’s hard to see the advancement in medicine,” she said. “This takes a lot of time and a lot of money, and unfortunately people have to die to get more research going. It’s a very humbling experience.”
After everything she’s experienced, FiteFraits began a campaign with the hashtag #FiteCancer.
“The biggest thing is education, and with
our position in the construction industry, we want to help get the word out there,” Fite-Fraits said.
They’ve hosted Lunch and Learn events with representatives from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. They participate in a 5K walk, and employees are wearing Fite Cancer hats and T-shirts.
They also collect donations throughout the year for breast cancer research.
Fite-Fraits was surprised by the continually
updated information she was receiving.
“When we first found out about this gene the risk was around 50/50 for me, but by the time of my mother’s passing, my specialist called with new research and said my risk was greatly increased,” she said. “She recommended a double mastectomy.”
That decision alone can be a difficult one. Paired with the passing of her mother and all of the emotions she was feeling, Fite-Fraits began thinking of other people in similar situations.
She underwent the surgery and reconstruction for herself and her family, and said there were plenty of ups and downs. It gave her the urge to share with others, encourage others and make others aware of the risks.
“I’ve done a lot of things with Arbonne beauty and health care,” she said. “I was always pro finding confidence in your skin, and it’s almost gone full circle, to trying to be confident in my own skin after the surgery. It just made me think, ‘How can I help others with this?’ I don’t want these experiences to go unused if they can benefit someone else.”
She also realized she had to be proactive. “I had to make the calls,” she said. “If I didn’t follow up, I might not have had this done. You have to advocate for your own body. You’re the one living it so if a doctor doesn’t listen, get a second opinion. Sometimes people make you feel like you’re just being
paranoid, but you need to listen to your instinct.”
After her own proactive journey, Fite-Fraits recommends talking to your gynecologist and bringing a family history with you.
“Not everyone has their family history, but it’s a huge key factor,” she said. “We had a very strong trend on my mom’s side. Make sure to have your mammograms, and with all of those things put together, in my case, my GYN referred me to a specialist.”
Fite-Fraits enjoys talking to people, hearing their stories and sharing her own. In fact, the T-shirt she wears around the community has often led to conversations with strangers.
“I think people are kind of embarrassed or assume you don’t want to talk about it, but once you’ve experienced it, you know how to ask questions to make others feel more comfortable,” she said. “It’s allowed me to build connections and see different perspectives.”
When her mother was fighting cancer for the second time during the pandemic, Fite-Fraits’ family moved in to help care for her.
“I thought the grandkids would be good for her, and we just hibernated together and got through this together,” she said. “It was an emotional roller coaster but I think so many people may be not have that kind of support. When your husband has passed away and the kids live out of town, who do you talk to?”
Fite-Fraits hopes to continue building momentum on her social media campaign and educational offerings. She wants to provide new outlets for those who have been diagnosed or have a loved one who has been diagnosed.
“Some of our hospitals have networks or classes, but I’ve always thought everything else is done in the hospital, and the last place you want to go to hang out and be comfortable is the place everything else is happening. I’d love to create a network in the community and provide meetings away from the hospital. I don’t want people to feel like they are alone in this.”
In the meantime, Fite-Fraits will continue to spread awareness in every way she knows how.
All events are posted on the Fite Plumbing Facebook page, and this year, look for a sublink on the page to show how much has been raised in the campaign.
“I just want to continue the conversation,” Fite-Fraits said. “I want people to talk about this and we’re going to use our platform at Fite Plumbing to do that.”
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IU Health Medical Center, the academic medical center of Indiana University Health, is ranked #1 in Indiana and recognized as highperforming in cancer care by U.S. News & World Report
