Muncie Magazine March 2023

MAGAZINE

MARCH 2023

Walls Furniture Introduces Studio 48

A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY BUSINESS MINDED

Muncie-Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce Helps to Lift Up Local Businesses

FLAVOR FOCUS

Puerto Vallarta Serves up Tasty Local Mexican Fare

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Muncie-Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce Helps to Lift Up Local Businesses

ecoREHAB Seeks to Transform Houses and Develop Career Paths

BUSINESS MINDED

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Explore Muncie’s Diverse Business Networking Options

Puerto Vallarta Serves up Tasty Local Mexican Fare

KNACK FOR NETWORKING

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RE/MAX Realtor Bethany Raymond Talks Tips for Finding a Great Agent

WALLS FURNITURE INTRODUCES STUDIO 48 A Family-Owned Business Supporting the Community

KEY CONTRIBUTORS CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING AIMEE MACARTHUR DAVID FENNIG / KYLEE WHITE

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Muncie-Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce Helps to Lift Up Local Businesses Writer / Kylee White Photography Provided

businesses together for networking and discussion of community issues.

Walker also started the organization to bring awareness of issues for the black community and black-owned businesses in Muncie to politicians.

The Muncie-Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce is taking strides to help minority businesses, and working hard to provide help for those who need it in the community.

“My role is to make sure things happen that we’ve got spelled out in our mission “The Muncie-Delaware County Black statement and our goals for the year,” Chamber of Commerce is a not-forWalker says. “We do a lot of workshops, profit organization,” says Jason Walker, seminars and meetings with new president. “Our mission for the Chamber businesses that are just getting started, is just to serve as an information resource, trying to help them move into that for developing black, minority and next level, or even old businesses that women businesses in Muncie-Delaware have been in existence for a while that County.” need that platform or step into the right direction to move to the next level.”

Walker started the Chamber back in 2020, while looking for ways to bring minority TownePost.com / MARCH 2023 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / 7

George Foley Jr. handles public relations as well as marketing and graphic design for the Chamber. He works alongside Walker, dealing with interviews and radio promotions for different organizations.

Due to their start in 2020, planning events for the community was a bit of a challenge, because there was no chance to do in-person events until 2022. This past year, however, they were able to host their first annual membership luncheon, as well as other events.

“In November we threw our dinner award banquet at Ball State at the Alumni Center, which had a great turnout, and so we were able to honor some other businesses that had never been honored

before,” Foley Jr. says. “We had a mixer last March. We did that at Tonne Winery, and the purpose of that mixer was just to introduce businesses and people who never knew each other.”

The Chamber has welcomed speakers to help with certain aspects of business ownership. The Chamber has also been

able to link organizations together through Ball State and Ivy Tech, in order to provide businesses with resources they might not have had before.

“We gave them a chance to meet some of these people who have small businesses, and then just say what type of resources they had to offer some of

those businesses,” Foley Jr. says. “Moving forward, we’re still planning for 2023 but we have a lot of great events coming up.”

Those wanting to help by becoming a member or donating can visit mdcblackchamber.org for additional details.

Also email info@mdcblackchamber.org for more info.

KNACK FOR NETWORKING EXPLORE MUNCIE’S DIVERSE BUSINESS NETWORKING OPTIONS Writer / Aimee MacArthur Photographer / David Fennig

At any age in life, and at any point in a career or business, finding a networking group and making contacts is never easy. It can take a while to find the right business group worth the time and effort, and even longer to build dependable relationships. Fortunately, Muncie offers a handful of high-quality, vetted and trusted networking groups for owners who would like to expand their businesses.

Community Business Connections (CBC) Jeshua Morgan, president of Asset Consulting & Safe Money Solutions, Inc., is a member and vice president of CBC, a networking group located in Muncie. CBC meets every Wednesday at noon. Morgan, who’s been a member of CBC since its beginnings in 2015, explains CBC’s origins. “It was an idea to get local businesses together to network to help each other out,” he says. “It was to help people build their businesses within the community.”

There are some requirements to become a member of CBC. They allow only one seat per profession or occupation, so there is not any competition between occupations.

For example, there can only be one lawyer or one hair-salon owner in the group. Members can only miss one meeting per month.

CBC allows members to send a designated substitute from their business in their place.

Morgan recommends attending a few meetings to gain an overall understanding about CBC before completing a membership application. Annual membership dues are $75, and this amount is applied to renting the room for meetings. Any leftover funds are placed in an account used for acts of kindness to other members, such as sending flowers to a member who might be ill or recovering from surgery.

Morgan recommends patience when joining a networking group. “People do business with people whom they know, love and

trust,” Morgan says. “You have to have the expectations right away that it takes time to build relationships. The expectations need to be set. The more you show your face, the more business you’re probably going to get over time.”

The CBC team envisions possible plans for expansion, with chapters in other cities.

Morgan says joining CBC is an ideal way to meet others and help grow a business. “Many are spending thousands on marketing a year to people they don’t know,” he says. “Why not come join the group and get to know people that can open a door for you - a warm introduction. It’s not just about business, it’s about lifetime relationships. It’s a good opportunity for people to be a part of a fun, relaxed atmosphere, and they’re able to network and make business connections and lifelong friends.”

representative per industry in each chapter,” Owen says. “For example, you can only have one commercial real estate agent or one residential real estate agent, so there’s not competition within the group.”

There are meetings every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. “You have to attend as many of the meetings as possible, or delegate a substitute to come if you can’t attend meetings,” Owen says. “There’s a basic conduct code that we all follow, representing our industries to the best of our ability and following all ethical guidelines, so that when we refer business to other people in the group, we know that those are high-quality referrals.”

Membership dues for BNI are considerably more than some other networking groups, but Owen believes the higher dues are worth the investment. “If you know that everybody is actually putting something into the To learn more about CBC, visit their Facebook experience, that they have something at stake, page at @cbcmuncie. people are much more likely to show up, to be there on time, to really put in the work to Business Network International (BNI) give each other referrals, and to meet with the If a business owner is looking to join a national other members and really get as much value as networking group with chapters in Muncie, possible,” she says.

BNI might be the right fit.

Michele Owen, communications director Owen is pleased with her involvement in BNI for the City of Muncie, is the visitor and recommends joining Cardinal Success. coordinator and a member of one of BNI’s “It’s a really trustworthy group,” Owen says.

Muncie chapters, Cardinal Success. There “I have always felt that if I refer any of my are requirements to be a member of BNI, like friends to somebody for services, I know that CBC’s requirements. “They only allow one they’re going to be really well taken care of.

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For more information about H.O.P.E., visit their Facebook page @hope. delawarecounty.

It’s a great way to meet people who you’re able to help and who can help you in sometimes unexpected ways.”

For more information on BNI including membership dues, visit bni.com. Explore the Cardinal Success site at bni-indiana.com/ in-central-cardinal-success, and visit their Facebook page @cardinalsuccessbni.

H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Every Day) For those looking to join a nonprofit networking group, Owen is a member of

HOPE. “It’s more of a philanthropic group,” she says. “It’s actually a nonprofit 501(c)(3).

We do fundraising events throughout the year to benefit other service organizations.

We do volunteering events. It is a less structured group. We don’t have dues. It’s kind of a come-as-you-are organization. We organize about four fundraisers throughout the year and do some other community service with that. That’s also a great group of people.”

G.R.O.W. (Growing Remarkable Opportunities With Women) For business owners trying to find a women’s networking group, there is a new group in Muncie called G.R.O.W. Brittany Scott, owner of a personal-training business in Muncie, co-founded G.R.O.W. with River Lin, owner of Zokawa yoga and meditation center in Muncie, and Katadyn Connerley, a real estate appraiser. “We all own our own businesses and we’re all kind of in the same spot in business life,” Scott says.

One factor that sets G.R.O.W. apart from other networking groups is that they hold members accountable for checking in on each other by setting and meeting individual goals. “One of the big things is accountability,” Scott says. “It’s great to say you have goals, but if there’s nobody checking in on you to see if you’re actually reaching them, they can just be the same thing week after week.”

G.R.O.W. holds meetings every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is a $50 initiation fee to join G.R.O.W. and a $20 monthly membership fee. Members receive a toolkit, which is a binder filled with a year of accountability worksheets to write and maintain goal information, and handouts from the educational portion of each meeting.

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Scott says G.R.O.W.’s members are thrilled to be a part of a women’s networking group and are looking forward to G.R.O.W.’s first workshop. “March 11, we’re going to hold our first intensive, which is going to be a one-day, eight-hour workshop on marketing,” Scott says.

Scott and her co-founders are excited about G.R.O.W.’s future. “We’d love to have branches of G.R.O.W. open up all over,” Scott says.

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To learn more about G.R.O.W., visit growmastermind.org, or their Facebook page @growmastermindnetworking.

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DONE DEAL RE/MAX Realtor Bethany Raymond Talks Tips for Finding a Great Agent Writer / Kylee White Photography Provided

not just Muncie, but even in East Central Indiana.”

As a realtor in Delaware County, Bethany Raymond has been working with RE/MAX since early March of 2021.

Raymond has been able to work with several individuals throughout the two years she has been a part of the company.

She believes that developing a relationship between the buyer and seller is important when looking for a house to buy.

“Being with RE/MAX Real Estate Groups here in Muncie has been super incredible,” Raymond says. “We have over 40 agents here and we’re the top-producing office in

“I’ve had clients who are relocating from

12 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / MARCH 2023 / TownePost.com

out of town that set up a FaceTime call or a Zoom chat, just to kind of interview the agent and see if their personality matches,” Raymond says. “Do you guys see eye to eye? Do you communicate? Those are really important things and it’s not necessarily the same for each individual buyer.”

Raymond also recommends taking time to research your realtor and look at previous work they have done. Along with making

sure personalities fit, knowing about their previous work will help in choosing the correct realtor.

“I think when it comes to choosing a real estate agent, as a buyer or a seller it comes down to definitely asking around, but maybe looking into the reputation of the agent or agents that you’re considering,” Raymond says. “You can find recommendations, or reviews on Facebook, Zillow, realtor. com and Google, and hear firsthand from other people what their experience was with that agent.”

Being able to work with a trustworthy realtor will help in the long run when looking for a house in any market.

Making sure a realtor is informed on the market and keeps the buyer in the loop is valuable.

“An excellent agent can talk with you about comps, how competitive bidding might be for a property, and where you fit best and feel most confident pricewise,” Raymond says. “There is also more to an offer than price. I talk with buyers about how their loan type, lender, earnest deposit, approach to inspections, and other details can affect the strength and appeal of an offer beyond just the price itself.”

Raymond has doubled her production from 2021 to 2022, and has had more than 29 transactions ranging from $13,000 to $650,000. She has also earned the 100% Club award from RE/MAX, and was named Emerging Agent by her office in 2021.

Visit bethany-raymond.remax.com, or email Raymond at bethanyraymondremax@ gmail.com, for more info.

TownePost.com / MARCH 2023 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / 13

Jason Haney standing in The Yard

RESTORING THE PAST, RESHAPING THE FUTURE

ECOREHAB SEEKS TO TRANSFORM HOUSES AND DEVELOP CAREER PATHS Writer & Photographer / David Fennig

14 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / MARCH 2023 / TownePost.com

O

n a cold, snowy morning in January, the crew for ecoREHAB is already hard at work demolishing the front room at 615 North Jefferson Street. It’s an old, beautiful home, dilapidated from decades of abuse and neglect, and the crew is restoring it to its former glory and beyond. The hardwood scrollwork, the beautiful bannisters sweeping alongside the stairs, and the original wood floors covered in dust speak to the quality of craftsmanship that ecoREHAB is devoted to keeping from being lost to a landfill.

and is also used for assembling large art installations.

The Yard wasn’t ready to be used when ecoREHAB moved in.

“The wood that built Muncie homes came through here,” says Jason Haney, executive director of ecoREHAB. “It’s encouraging that it will be put to good use again.”

“It was like you were going through a jungle with a machete,” Haney says. “The railroad owned it and they were literally weeks away from doing away with all of it - just using a bulldozer and tearing it all down.”

ecoREHAB is a nonprofit organization that invests in abandoned houses, and rehabilitates them into inviting and energyefficient homes.

The Yard consists of three acres, pole barns, the original lumberyard, an old house and lots of open space.

The organization is now based out of The Yard, a lumberyard that was built in the late 1800s in the historic west end. It was turned into an event space and building site for Ball State woodworking students and nonprofits,

Haney describes The Yard as more than just a cooperative work space. “It would be beneficial to have, for other nonprofits, shared resources all under one roof to create a nonprofit hub, and to have a place where we can host events,” Haney says.

“We’ve already hosted an Oktoberfest,” Haney says. “For a first-time event we had 500 people show up. We had beer vendors from all over the state.”

Like the homes the team rehabilitates,

At first Haney was just looking for a pole barn, but when the opportunity came along to save the lumberyard, he seized it. Haney has lots of plans for the future of the space and the organization.

“I started with ecoREHAB in the fall of ’19,” Haney says. “I was with Habitat for Humanity for about 10 years. I ended up being the executive director for Hamilton County and we merged with Indianapolis.

I’m from Muncie so I really wanted to do something that impacted Muncie locally.”

When he took over leadership at ecoREHAB, the nonprofit went from taking

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says. “That was our pilot. We were one of 25 organizations nationwide to get a YouthBuild grant, which allowed us to add many more layers to the STEP program.”

The program focuses on giving at-risk students, many of whom never finished high school, opportunities to be exposed to a variety of jobs, earn their high school equivalency certification and build careers in profitable trades.

14 months to finish a project, to finishing a project in five to six months. It’s about more than just saving houses for Haney. It’s about people.

“We run a program called STEP - Skilled Trades Education Program,” Haney

“It’s meaningful work,” Haney says. “That’s what we preach to our guys. You can make good money doing construction work and you’re doing work every day that benefits someone. The dollar amount, the economic impact is one thing. The social impact that it has on these students is immeasurable.” ecoREHAB is located at 723 South Council Street in Muncie. They can be found online at ecorehab.org, and reached by phone at 765-749-4115.

16 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / MARCH 2023 / TownePost.com

FLAVOR FOCUS Puerto Vallarta Serves up Tasty Local Mexican Fare

Writer & Photographer / Kylee White

Located along Tillotson Avenue, Puerto Vallarta is serving residents of Muncie authentic food and quality service.

The restaurant originally started as an idea, and that idea began blooming in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Eventually the goal was to start branching out, and the business began to grow and finally reached Muncie.

“One day my brothers took I-69 and said ‘OK, this is Muncie,’” says Lupita Murrillo, general manager of Puerto Vallarta Muncie. “They saw just one restaurant, La Hacienda, and they said, ‘Well, it’s where the university is, the hospital, and there are a lot of general jobs for young people.’”

Murrillo has been working with the restaurant since 2005. Her brothers came up with the idea to start their own restaurant after working as dishwashers TownePost.com / MARCH 2023 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / 17

when first coming to the U.S. Since working with Puerto Vallarta, she has been able to connect with the community.

“I like to communicate with people, be friendly and things like that,” she says.

The staff members work hard to ensure that those who visit leave having had quality food and service.

“We are always making sure they cook exactly what people want,” Murrillo says.

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“I know that sometimes things happen, but we try our best to make sure the customer is always happy and enjoys their time here.”

Another aspect that makes Puerto Vallarta a great addition to Muncie is the people who work for the restaurant.

Their enjoyment on the job helps to give customers a good experience, which Murrillo believes plays a big role in how successful the place has been so far.

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“A lot of times, in my opinion, I see people sometimes that just come to us for a job, but they don’t care,” she says. “They go just for the money. I’ll tell people, ‘If you really don’t enjoy your job, that’s not for you.’ The job is supposed to be something that you enjoy at the same time, because we do something different than what others are doing.”

You can visit Puerto Vallarta at 508 South Tillotson Avenue in Muncie, and visit their website at puertomuncie.com. Call 765-288-5825 for more info.

Owner Craig Robbins

Robbins believes his customers do not want the same furniture for years. Robbins thinks most customers may have the desire to redecorate their homes or want to change furniture after wear and tear. Spring is an ideal time to restyle and refresh the interior of a home with a few new pieces of furniture.

About 90% of Walls Furniture’s inventory can be delivered within the 48-hour timeframe, except for some mattresses, which may take a few weeks.

Walls Furniture Introduces Studio 48 A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY Writer / Aimee MacArthur Photographer David Fenning

manufacturers that I’ve used and presented this idea to them,” he says. “What if you gave me your best-selling stuff, which is the stuff I pretty much sell and you let me stock it in a couple of different warehouses. So, when I sell it, I can just go get it.”

Craig Robbins did not plan on owning a furniture business. Robbins had a successful sales career working for a large corporation.

He was ready for a career change when he and his wife, Audrey, a professor at Ball State Robbins’ goal is for Walls Furniture customers University, decided to move back to Muncie to to be able to find an item they like, purchase be closer to family. it and have it delivered to their home within 48 hours. He does not want customers to wait “I came to the furniture business in 2008 and weeks or months for a couch, dining room I purchased the business from my mother-inset, recliner or other piece of furniture. Walls law and father-in-law last year,” Robbins says.

Furniture sells home accessories, furniture He is the owner of the Muncie location of for every room in the home, mattresses and Walls Furniture which opened in 1996. electronic products such as media and TV consoles. Robbins stocks items in limited As a second-generation owner, Robbins colors, so customers are not overwhelmed by decided to make some dramatic changes to a multitude of choices. He says customers are the Walls Furniture business model and how used to hearing from other stores that they will it handles inventory. “I went to all the big have to wait months for a piece of furniture.

TownePost.com / MARCH 2023 / MUNCIE MAGAZINE / 19

Robbins does not use any kind of sales tactics like marking up prices and then marking them down to what they would normally be and call it a sale. “When you come to Walls, you’re not going to be taken advantage of with a sale,” he says. “Whatever you buy, you know that we stand behind it.” Robbins says the shopping experience at Walls Furniture is meant to be pleasant, starting with Jimmy Buffett music which plays in the parking lot. He does not believe in high pressure sales and he and his staff try to set the tone with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Robbins stands behind the furniture and mattresses he sells and wants to make sure customers are happy with what they buy. He will try to fix any issues or problems and has been known to visit a customer’s home to replace an item under warranty. His hands-on ownership style translates into repeat business for Walls Furniture and customers who share their positive experiences with friends and family.

Robbins’ philosophy of going above and beyond to help customers extends to his strong belief in serving the community. He and his wife, Audrey, believe in supporting Muncie, where they both grew up and now raise their children. Robbins gives back by regularly supporting the YWCA shelter in Muncie with furniture and mattress donations, as well as providing sneakers and basketballs to kids at the shelter. He feels strongly about helping single mothers and their children, especially those who are struggling with homelessness. He also supports Christian ministries and Afghan refugees who are living in Muncie. Robbins believes Muncie is a city who helps those in need. “Muncie has a really good community.

Anytime there’s an issue or a need in Muncie, the people come together faster than any other community I’ve had business in,” he says. “We find a way and we get things done.”

As a father of four young sons, ages 5, 7, 10 and 12, Robbins spends his free time coaching youth sports teams. He was a former athlete and played baseball, basketball and tennis. He stays active and enjoys coaching and being a mentor to young athletes. “I remember every coach I had and I remember something about them,” he says.

“It gives me an opportunity to teach them a little bit about life. There’s more to baseball than catching or throwing.”

He motivates young athletes he coaches to be confident, keep their heads held up high, and be supportive of fellow teammates no matter if they fail or succeed.

When Robbins is not coaching or attending games with his family, he is hard at work at Walls Furniture, thinking and planning how to make the business the best it can be, which includes a possible expansion.

“My great futuristic plans would be to buy the field to the north of me and divide my current store into seven, 2,200 square foot units and rent them out, he says. “Then I would have a bigger store next store.”

The need for expansion is necessary since Walls Furniture customers travel from far away to visit the store. “We have customers come all the way from Ohio,” he says.

“We deliver to every surrounding state: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky.”

Robbins values his customers and looks forward to helping them find what they need to make their homes feel comfortable and spruced up with brand new furniture.

“When you’re a customer of mine, you’re more than a number,” he says. “You’re a person.”

Walls Furniture is located at 3611 North Nebo Road in Muncie. To learn more, visit wallsfurniture.com, call 765-286-5494, or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ wallsfurniture.

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