Plainfield Magazine February 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

MAGAZINE

PlainfieldMag.com

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MY PLEASURE: PLAINFIELD CHICK-FIL-A OWNER TALKS FAMILY, COMMUNITY & GIVING BACK

Just prior to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Chris Spires and his wife, Julie, were faithful missionaries in Houston, Texas, helping homeless youth and young moms. The couple left the mission field two days before September 11, 2001, and moved to Indiana. A year later, Spires took a job with Chick-fil-A and the pair began talking about starting a family.

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EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

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FEBRUARY WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Jon Shoulders Josh Brown

FEBRUARY PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne / Michael Durr Ron Wise

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6 Level Two: New Coworking Space

26 Portillo’s Continues Indiana

Opens in the Shops at Perry Crossing

10 Strides to Success: Local

34 My Pleasure: Plainfield Chick-fil-A

Organization Uses Equine Therapy to Help People Overcome Trauma & Learn Valuable Life Skills

17

Expansion With New Avon Location

Owner Talks Family, Community & Giving Back

38

Fostering Love And Care: The

Children’s Bureau’s Foster Parent Business Spotlight: Sharper Plastic Program Helps Children Feel & Reconstructive Surgery Accepted

The Plainfield Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Plainfield area residents. Magazines are distributed to more than 11,000 Plainfield area homeowners and businesses each month.

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22 Larger Than Life: Local Artist

Pamela Bliss Talks Painting the Iconic, 60-foot Tall Reggie Miller Mural In Indy

PlainfieldMag.com TownePost.com 4 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

Melanie and Family, Plainfield

As a personal trainer, triathlete and avid climber, Melanie has no problem keeping up with her active family. But when a hip injury threatened to slow her down, she knew she could count on Hendricks Regional Health to get her back in action.

Don’t let an injury keep you from doing what you love. Schedule an appointment with a sports medicine physician at Hendricks.org/BeActive.

PlainfieldMag.com / FEBRUARY 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 5

Level Two New Coworking Space Opens in the Shops at Perry Crossing Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

The concept of co-working incubators have been around for quite some time, but several years ago businessmen and women, along with community leaders in Hendricks County, began talking about how to create one locally.

As these conversations began to grow, different people entered the picture, including John Anderson of Anderson Financial Planning, Andrew Clinger, Plainfield Town Manager, Lora Steele of the Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership (HCEDP) and Brandy Perrill of Hendricks College Network (HCN).

co-working space in Plainfield that’s designed to serve the Hendricks County community by offering entrepreneurs, small business owners, commuters and those looking to establish business and community connections a place to work, complete with all business amenities. Their mission is to create an environment that spurs progress through a collaborative culture, educational opportunities and community support.

Their vision is to nurture business development, motivate and encourage entrepreneurs and create a stronghold for economic growth.

“We finally got to the point where we were ready to sit down and talk concepts,” says Steele, Program Implementation Director for the HCEDP. “What are the things we’ve been envisioning? Do they mesh? Where could we find a space? How do we get this started?”

The Town of Plainfield provided all initial funding to get Level Two up and running with the agreement that they split the funding over the course of three years.

After getting all their ducks in a row, nine members started Level Two — a

“The anticipation is that by the third year when those funds taper off, we’ll be self-sufficient and sustainable,” says Steele, noting that the cool thing about the project is that everyone has their own take on who it will benefit.

“I think we’ll reach a diverse group of people — small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as being an incubator for start-ups who aren’t ready to make a full commitment to multiple employees or a full location of their own,” she says.

Level Two is a hub for people outside of the community to be able to gather, work and collaborate. Given the exploding development in Plainfield, out-of-town brokers and potential developers are in search of a place to meet for conversation — somewhere other than a Starbucks or hotel lobby.

“At the core of it all, we want this to be a place to foster community in Hendricks County and to make networking connections,” Steele adds.

To rent a space monthly costs $75 or

6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

annually for $750. They are also offering opportunities for corporate members who may have a business that has a solid location but perhaps is looking for a remote workspace for some of their employees.

In addition, they have opportunities for foundational and corporate sponsors.

The 5,000 sq. ft. space includes boardrooms, private meeting rooms and conference rooms. They also offer highspeed Internet with secure walls as well as technology services through a local tech company called C2It. The space is fully furnished with standing desks, comfortable booths and couches and desks with partisans to offer privacy. In the future, to aid in privacy, they plan to install phone booths so that folks can have access to space to take calls. In addition, there is a kitchen with full-service snacks.

“We’re working on partnering with Milk & Honey, a local bakery, to supply treats,” Steele says. “We’ll have local roasters served in there, too.”

Brain Balance of Plainfield

They’re hoping to ultimately attract between 160 Plainfield Village Drive Suite 141 300-375 members, though both members Brain Balance of Plainfield Plainfield, IN 46168 and non-members can rent out the space for 160 Plainfield Village Drive company events and fundraisers.

Suite 141 Saturday, February 9th from 10a-12p Brain Balance Plainfield, IN 46168of Plainfield “The Cunningham Restaurant Group Childcare is availableVillage to the first 10 160 Plainfield Drive (CRG) Event Center is a huge venue, and families, so please be141 sure to RSVP. Suite Saturday, February 9th from 10a-12p area restaurants have smaller rentable Plainfield, IN 46168 spaces,” Steele says. “We hope to be that Childcare is available to the first 10th middle ground.”

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constructed apartments, people will be able to live, work and play literally within a mile of everything.

“I think the town really wants to focus on developing this area as more of a business professional kind of space,” Steele says. “This is the perfect timing as it fits really well with a lot of the development that’s going on in Plainfield.”

The nine-member board envisions offering regular training and workshop opportunities to the community as well as teaching and learning experiences for businesses and entrepreneurs.

“We have a chance to learn from others and use the strength of our community to help raise others up,” says board member Brandy Perrill, Executive Director for HCN. Breaking the monotony can be helpful as well.

“Getting outside of a home office or regular office space provides fresh scenery and gets the creative juices flowing, not to mention it’s a great tool for community building,” Steele says. “This is a place to meet new people and find out what they’re up to, what businesses they’re involved in, what organizations they love.”

"Getting outside of a home office or regular office space provides fresh scenery and gets the creative juices flowing, not to mention it’s a great tool for community building" -Lora Steele

this facility to be a service to all of Hendricks County.”

Perrill, who has extensive experience in nonprofit education, notes that every board member has their own area of expertise.

Steele, a marketing expert, is in economic development. Their liaison Andrew Klinger is with the Town. Brad DuBois is with the Chamber and represents the business interests in the community. Heather Olinger, an attorney with expertise in the leasing area, has donated a lot of her time pro bono to Level Two. Lynn Driver is well versed in business planning & startups and evaluation of business goals. Jessica Elston wears many community hats as she comes from the Plainfield Public Library and is also involved with the school system. She has a good financial background.

Brian Wheeler is an entrepreneur and wealth advisor. John Anderson of Anderson Financial Planning, an entrepreneur, rounds off the team.

“Level Two is a team effort. That’s why the Town Council invested their dollars in it,” Perrill says. “They saw that it’s not one or two people leading it but rather a joint venture.”

Level Two Coworking is located at 2498 Perry Crossing Way, Suite 240. For more information, visit leveltwocoworking.com.

According to Steele, close to 90 percent of Hendricks County businesses employ 20 or fewer people.

“That tells you that we are a community that’s run by a lot of small to medium-sized businesses,” Steele says. “I think that’s why this is something that appeals to the majority of businesses in Hendricks County.”

And keep in mind that Level Two is a resource for anyone. Just because it’s located in Plainfield doesn’t mean that residents in neighboring towns can’t utilize it.

“Lots of commuters are hoofing it every day up and down 70 or 36 or 40 just to get to Indy or wherever,” Steele says. “We want

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Strides to Success

or years Debbie Anderson had a vision of one day using animals to assist in therapy that they might provide learning opportunities to strengthen and develop character in both youth and adults. When her in-laws, who had owned a farm for three generations, asked if she and her husband, John, would continue maintaining the farm, their wishes paired nicely with Debbie’s vision. In June 2004, the couple opened Strides to Success, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that combines a research-based learning model with metaphoric experiences that encourage personal growth, development and healing.

“A lot of times when people have been hurt by life, whether that’s due to divorce, the death of a loved one or some other trauma, they find it difficult to open up in traditional talk therapy,” Debbie says. “Telling your story to a horse is a lot easier than telling it to a human because people are usually the cause of the hurt.”

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Strides to Success is a 10,000 sq. ft. stateof-the-art facility that has classrooms, therapy offices, a heated indoor arena, an

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

outdoor arena, a horse playground and plenty of pasture. Strides employs several therapists, all of whom specialize in something different. One is well trained in ADHD and attachment disorders. Another is an art therapist. A third specializes in college-aged youth.

Thirteen horses live on the farm — all with different personalities.

“Some are pushy, some are sweet. Some make friends easily and others don’t. Some trust freely and others don’t,” Debbie says.

“We use all those different metaphors to help clients learn life skills they need in order to solve their problems.”

People often assume that equine therapy means patients mount their horses and chat during the ride. Not so. For the most part, clients participate in “ground work” wherein patients learn steps on how to build a healthy relationship with a horse — how to be comfortable, how to be a leader, how to be kind yet fair and how to be satisfied with small accomplishments rather than setting ridiculously high expectations.

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“It’s not about riding a horse,” Debbie says.

“It’s about entering into a relationship with a horse — learning how to speak their language, how to be clear and consistent.

Through those processes, clients make discoveries about their own voice, inner strength and talents.”

who are grappling with a major life shift.

When one arrives at Strides to Success, they are greeted by the resident office manager Bear, a soft and snuggly Goldendoodle.

Another big demographic they serve is veterans. Debbie recalls a veteran who came to Strides after going to talk therapy at the VA for quite some time with little success. Homeless and hopeless, she decided it was best she end her life. She had a gun. She had a plan. But then one day a picture on a brochure caught her eye. It was of a horse, and the pamphlet described the Strides to Success program.

“Bear puts people at ease. In fact, he goes straight to those he senses are the most anxious,” says Debbie, who shares the time a girl came in sobbing and unwilling to enter her therapist’s office. Bear walked over to her, put his head on her knee and patiently stared up at her weepy eyes. With Bear by her side, she felt safe to engage in therapy.

Many of the clients at Strides to Success are children who struggle with depression or anxiety. But they also see empty nesters

“They don’t know what to do moving forward. This therapy helps them find direction,” Debbie says. “Working through changes and problem-solving are things horses can teach us.”

“I decided to come out and see the horses,” she says. “Turns out, it saved my life.”

Now healed, this woman has a home and a job in Hendricks County.

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

During the initial assessment process, clients are asked, “If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about yourself, what would it be?”

Some say they’d like to find their courage or their energy. Others say they’d like to learn to trust people again. The bottom line is that they want to move past whatever trauma occurred. That’s why at Strides they work on life skills such as courage, intention, honesty, confidence and balance.

“For children, we demonstrate respect by using animals,” Debbie says.

That demonstration may happen by way of a game. For instance, on the farm lives a miniature donkey named Spark Plug. The staff brings him out, along with a chest full of clothes, masks, hats and boas and invite the children to dress him up.

“He’s a congenial type of guy, but he has his opinion about things and has to approve

of what he’ll wear,” Debbie says. “If the kids get all excited and rush towards him, he’s going to react and move away from them.

That shows them, ‘Oh, I have to think about someone else’s feelings. I can’t just do what I want when I want.’”

The takeaway is that compromise is an integral part of making friends. Because what happens when your friends don’t want to do what you want to do? Do you have a temper tantrum? Do you force them to play your way? Do you shut down? Or do you take their feelings into consideration and compromise?

“We all have our own agendas,” Debbie says.

"Sometimes we don’t pay enough attention to how they affect those around us.”

The group work promotes healthy decision making and problem-solving, getting kids to think outside the box.

“We help them see that if they’re doing the same thing with the same outcome, it may be

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wise to change that pattern of behavior,” says Debbie, noting that the local school system conducted a survey that found two distressing things. One, children were feeling stressed as early as third grade. And two, students avoided trying new things because they were afraid of failure.

According to Debbie, a big part of overcoming these issues is immersing oneself in nature.

“You know that feeling of tranquility you have when you stare up in the clouds as they’re floating by? Or the peace you feel when you hear the wind rustling in the trees?” Debbie says. “Those connectors are getting further away from us due to the fast-paced world we live in. Mix in technology and all the expectations that are put upon us and it’s just too much.”

Some children who come to Strides have spent very little time outdoors, but when they do, they thrive.

“It’s like they’re finally in a space where their nature matches their nurture,” Debbie adds.

Even the “city kids” quickly adapt to the sights, sounds and smells of the farm.

This is because nature enables us all to regenerate and reconnect. Animals provide the same therapeutic antidote.

Debbie shares the story of a young girl who came to Strides three years ago and has been so impacted by the program that she has plans to study equine therapy in college.

“Having kids work through trauma and then want to give back in the same way they were healed is pretty special,” Debbie says.

Strides to Success is located at 1350 Terry Drive in Plainfield. For more information, visit stridestosuccess.org or email info@stridestosuccess.org.

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

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When Dr. Jaime Harper and Dr. Stanley Harper were trying to determine the best Indianapolis location in which to open Sharper Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, they were drawn to Avon—not only because it was a rapidly growing community but also because, at the time, it lacked the types of services that they wanted to offer.

“Patients were driving from the west side to the north side for treatment,” Jaime says.

“It was clear that people would benefit from having services on the west side.”

The two met during their first year of medical school and married during their first year of general surgery residency. They moved to Carmel in 2010 and after practicing in another plastic surgery practice on the northside for several years, Stanley opened Sharper Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, providing the complete breadth of reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic offerings such as Botox, fillers, breast augmentation and mommy makeovers, which typically involve tummy tucks, breast lifts, liposuction or body contouring.

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“It’s all about getting mothers back to feeling like they did in their pre-pregnancy state,” Stanley says.

Obviously, skin care is another important part of the practice.

“It doesn’t do a lot of good to inject a wrinkle with Botox and ignore the quality of the skin,” Stanley says. “It’s best to improve the whole package — the health of your skin, in general, and also treat the lines, wrinkles and folds that

Dr. Jaime Harper and Dr. Stanley Harper

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

generates the optimal result.”

They recently remodeled their office, adding a medical spa where clients can get facials, chemical peels, microneedling and other treatments in a relaxing environment. Clients can even join a monthly facial club to keep their skin looking great without implementing invasive treatments.

“You can go get a treatment — perhaps Coolsculpting, a non-invasive fat reduction — and spend the day hanging out at the medical spa,” says Jaime, whose original passion lies in emergency medicine (she also works in the emergency room).

Through the years, she has witnessed the harmful effects of the obesity epidemic that is plaguing our country.

“I see so many patients in the E.R. who need a hip replacement or who are suffering back pain and can barely walk or are diagnosed with diabetes or suffer a stroke from high blood pressure,” Jaime says. “These are all preventable things.”

She felt compelled to do her part to combat obesity so as to ward off such ailments before they take their toll. She now offers medical weight loss in the practice as well. Board certified in obesity medicine, Jaime consults with patients who struggle with their weight, providing diet & exercise regimens, as well as using medications to help them meet their goals. The doctors see this as a complimentary aspect to their plastic surgery offerings because the closer someone is to their ideal body weight, the better their ultimate results will be across the board.

“By offering both of these services, we supply the complete package for a patient who is interested in improving themselves,” Stanley says.

“When you feel good about yourself, it gives you that extra boost of confidence.

Your attitude is reflected in your happiness.”

-Dr. Jaime Harper

The Harpers have three young children: Jackson (8), Sarah (5) and Aaron (2).

“Jackson is our deejay, which means we listen to nothing but Imagine Dragons,” Jaime says. “Even the baby knows the words to Thunder.”

In their free time, the family enjoys watching movies — mostly Marvel and Star Wars related.

They’re also big Colts fans and love playing with their two dogs Millie (a pug) and Ruby (a golden retriever).

“We are two working parents with three kids so we get the reality of life,” Jaime says. “We know how hard it is to diet and exercise and look and feel your best.”

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Though in this industry, there is lots of talk about the best way to achieve the ideal body, Jaime is quick to point out that the ideal body looks different for everyone.

“We don’t believe in cookie-cutter medicine,” Jaime says. “Every patient has his or her own needs, which is why we take the time to get to know each of our patients on a personal level.”

During free cosmetic consultations, the staff meets with clients so they can share their concerns, expectations and desires.

“We ask, ‘When you look in the mirror, what bothers you? What can we do to mitigate or improve those areas without generating a fake look?’” explains Stanley, recognizing that this is the Midwest where people want to look natural.

“I don’t treat patients to the point that they can’t smile with their eyes,” says Stanley, who was drawn to the field of plastic surgery during his rotation in med school.

“I absolutely fell in love with the fact that in plastic surgery, we’re able to help a patient from head to toe,” Stanley says.

He’s found that his favorite work involves breast reconstruction following mastectomies.

“Being able to offer cancer survivors the ability to retain their femininity by having breasts post-mastectomy is so fulfilling,” Stanley adds.

Twenty years ago, women had to have their breast removed and live for a certain amount of time before getting implants. Now the expanders are placed and when a woman wakes from surgery, they don’t feel deflated and defeated.

“Instead they wake up, look down and see they still have volume and breasts. Seeing that the breast reconstruction has begun already is really rewarding from a mental and psychological standpoint,” says Stanley, who recalls a patient who was initially not offered

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reconstruction at the time of her mastectomies (she had two of them).

“This woman spent a year and a half not once looking in a mirror because she was so bothered by the fact that she didn’t have breasts,” Stanley says.

Fortunately, someone referred her to Sharper Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery where Stanley was able to reconstruct her breasts.

“It’s exciting to see how confident she is now,” Stanley says. “She strolls in here, twirls and says, ‘Look at me!’

She’s an entirely different person now.”

Another life-changing surgery Stanley performs is breast reduction to eliminate back and neck pain, among other problems. Even something as simple as Botox and fillers can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem.

“They’re so grateful that they look years younger, which, in turn, boosts their confidence,” Stanley says.

As you might imagine, Mommy Makeovers go over well, too. Women report back to Stanley that their husbands look at them in a way they haven’t in years.

Though they have much to offer at Sharper Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the physicians are not interested in selling treatments to anyone. They simply want to listen to and educate their clients, then present them with options.

“The idea of going to a plastic surgeon is intimidating to the average patient. I’m a big fan of dipping my toe into the water before diving in,” says Stanley, noting that for a patient who is new to cosmetic or plastic surgery, it’s wise to start slow. For instance, one might start with Botox and return a few months later to explore other options.

“When you feel good about yourself, it gives you that extra boost of confidence,” Jaime says. “Your attitude is reflected in your happiness.”

Sharper Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery is located at 10090 E. US Highway 36, Suite D, in Avon. For more information, visit sharpersurgery.com.

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

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Local Artist Pamela Bliss spent more than a month completing the Reggie Miller mural.

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Local Artist Pamela Bliss Talks Painting the Iconic, 60-foot Tall Reggie Miller Mural In Indy Writer / Josh Brown Photographer / Michael Durr

As Pamela Bliss walks by the now famous 60-foot tall mural of Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller she stops, like most people who pass by, and stares up at the work of art. Her admiration for the mural is a bit more personal than the average passerby.

Bliss is the local artist who was tasked with painting the Reggie Miller mural. After more than a month of hard work, she completed the masterpiece in mid-October. Now, for those who see the intricate detail of the massive mural portraying Reggie lining up a three-pointer with his trademark jump shot, it might be hard to believe that Bliss didn’t even start painting until she was 30 years old.

Her uncanny knack for art all started with a turkey.

“My mother will tell you I started drawing when I was two years old,” Bliss says. “I painted a turkey at Thanksgiving, and she said it wasn’t the typical scribble that a child might make. You could really tell it was a turkey, and that was unusual for a two-year-old. For as long as I can remember, I always had a pencil and paper in my hands. I never considered it could be a career, though. But by the end of college, I knew I wanted to go into art. I’ve always paid great attention to details.

“I had a teacher in high school that told me I couldn’t paint. She was an English teacher filling in as an art teacher that year. I always knew I could draw, but I never knew really if I could paint. I took a four-day workshop when I was 30 years old, and I realized that I could. I just needed to be shown how to mix paints.”

Bliss grew up in New Castle and went to high school in Cambridge

City, Indiana. Aside from moving and finishing her last two years at a high school in California, Bliss has been a lifelong Hoosier. She earned her undergraduate degree from IU’s east campus and her masters from IU Bloomington. She has been an Indianapolis resident since 2001.

Earlier last year, Bliss was approached

by Ben Jafari — the owner of the office

building at 127 E Michigan Street — about possibly painting a mural on the side of his building. Jafari, a lifelong Pacers fan, knew he wanted a Pacers legend to be painted. The decision for the mural to be Reggie Miller came quickly, but the process took much longer. Jafari and Bliss had plenty of hoops to jump through to get the mural approved, between approval from Miller himself for the use of his

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likeness, the city of Indianapolis to the Indiana Pacers and the NBA. Bliss worked on the mural many hours a day, often from early morning up until dark, for more than a month. She says the hardest part, aside from dealing with cold or rainy weather, is being up so high to paint the mural.

“It’s the tallest mural I’ve ever done,” Bliss says. “I have a fear of heights actually. I just have to zone out. I always get butterflies in the beginning when I start. I use a lift to get up there and all of them are different.

Some are jerky. After a few days, I realize I’m not going to die, and I can carry on and focus more on the painting. I start from the top down because paint drips.

So I’m high up from the very beginning, which helps get the highest part over with.”

This isn’t the Hoosier artist’s first rodeo with murals. Those walking along Mass Ave have marveled for years at the detailed mural of one of Indy’s most famous authors, Kurt Vonnegut. Hoosiers have Bliss to thank for that masterpiece as well.

Bliss has also painted the jazz musicians that can be seen along Indiana Avenue.

She has even worked with the Pacers in painting a Hall of Fame mural, which resides in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

But her most recent mural might be her favorite of all.

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“I’ve been wanting to paint Reggie for years,” Bliss says. “He deserves it. I’m just honored to have been selected to do it.

This isn’t just a mural of Reggie Miller.

It also depicts a moment in time when Hoosier hysteria was at its height with the Pacers. This mural ranks No. 1 for me. Part of the reason I wanted to move to Indianapolis back in 2001 was to paint large murals around the city.”

The responses from the community, as you can imagine, have been overwhelmingly positive for Bliss. Indy residents, tourists visiting the city and more have flocked to stop by and see the mural, and they never leave without first taking a selfie.

The response has been so positive, Jafari says they may soon add a selfie station on the corner for guests that stop by. The building owner couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

“Only Reggie could fill this space,” Jafari says. “I always see people stopping to take pictures. It has really been great for the community of Indianapolis.

I’m just honored to have the mural on our building and grateful to Pamela for creating this amazing piece of art.”

Perhaps the highest praise for Bliss came from Miller himself. After seeing images online of the finished mural, the Pacers legend took the time to reach out to Bliss and congratulate her.

“He called me one day and said, ‘This is fantastic. I can’t wait to come back and see it in person and give you a huge hug,’” Bliss says. “That was really amazing.

Most people are critical about pictures of themselves, much less a painted portrait.

I was surprised, honestly, when Reggie even gave the approval for me to do it. I’m very happy that he is happy with it.”

As for the future, Bliss isn’t sure what will be next. She says she would love to paint other legendary Indiana sports figures like Peyton Manning or Tamika Catchings, among other non-sports figures. For now, she is happy to have her most recent masterpiece completed.

Either way, she’s sure to have a paintbrush in her hand for whatever project comes next.

The Reggie Miller Mural is located downtown at 127 E Michigan St. For more information on Bliss or to view more of her artwork, visit pamelabliss.gallery.

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Portillo’s Continues Indiana Expansion With New Avon Location Writer / Jon Shoulders Photography / Ron Wise

Portillo’s officially opened the doors to its most recent Indiana restaurant on East U.S. Highway 36 in Avon last September, further demonstrating its commitment to building a lasting presence in the Hoosier state.

“It's going really well here,” says General Manager Jessica Roberts, who joined the Portillo’s team in May of 2018 and trained for three months over the summer at the company’s Chicago headquarters for the Avon position. “The team has been really excited and I think it’s working out as a great location.”

Located on the site of a former Sears Appliance and Hardware store, the 9,000-squarefoot restaurant, which features a prohibition-style interior visual theme and employs approximately 130 full and part-time staff members, includes seasonal outdoor seating, drive-through lanes and an interior capacity of 200. Known for its hot dogs, burgers, Italian beef and desserts, Portillo’s has launched four additional Indiana locations to date in Merrillville, Mishawaka, Fishers and Greenwood.

During the September 24 grand opening, Portillo’s Avon held a hat and t-shirt giveaway, hosted local officials and Chamber of Commerce representatives for a ribbon cutting ceremony, and company owner Dick Portillo was on site to take pictures with patrons. Roberts says Avon was a natural choice for the next Portillo’s

FEBRUARY 2019 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Indiana location, and the town had been on the company’s radar for a few years prior to the fall opening.

“We very much have a family-type customer base, and Avon has that feel of being an up-and-coming area on the west side of Indianapolis,” Roberts says, adding that Avon’s retail presence and resulting combination of residential and business customers, was a significant factor in the company’s decision.

“From a marketing and business standpoint, Portillo’s wanted to be able to hit all sides of Indy with Fishers, Greenwood and now the Avon store,” she adds. “This location is another example of how committed the company is to serving Indiana.”

Avon crowds have taken to most Portillo’s menu items with enthusiasm in the restaurant’s first six months of operation according to Roberts, particularly its signature chili dogs, burgers and Italian beef sandwiches.

“We've also found out that Avon people love their desserts, so we go through a lot of our strawberry shortcake and chocolate cake on a daily basis,” she says. “It’s fun to see what people go for and what becomes popular.”

Roberts says her customer base has grown steadily since September’s grand opening, and she and her staff enjoy seeing new faces stop in for lunch or dinner week after week.

“We're still getting new people in who have heard about us, which is a good sign that people are still talking about it in the Avon community and throughout the city of Indy,” Roberts says. “We've already built up some regulars who are on a first name basis with us, and that's a fun experience for the staff.”

Portillo’s, which began as a modest hot dog stand in Chicago back in the early 1960s operated by Dick Portillo known as The Dog House, now includes more than 50 locations nationwide, and Roberts says Hoosiers shouldn’t be surprised if additional Indiana locations pop up in the coming years.

“As a company, we spend a lot of time investing in our staff, and it shows in how every customer is treated and their overall experience coming here,” she explains. “Yes the food is fantastic, and we're going to get it to you fast and hot, but ultimately we realize that we are also in the people business along with being in the food business.”

Portillo’s is located at 10444 East U.S. Highway 36 in Avon. Call 317-766-9955 or visit portillos.com for additional information including menus, catering details, a merchandise page and to sign up for the Portillo’s Birthday Club to receive a complimentary slice of double-layer chocolate cake on your birthday.

"We're still getting new people in who have heard about us, which is a good sign that people are still talking about it in the Avon community and throughout the city of Indy."

-Jessica Roberts

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My Pleasure Plainfield Chick-fil-A Owner Talks Family, Community & Giving Back Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Amy Payne

Just prior to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Chris Spires and his wife, Julie, were faithful missionaries in Houston, Texas, helping homeless youth and young moms. The couple left the mission field two days before September 11, 2001, and moved to Indiana. A year later, Spires took a job with Chick-fil-A and the pair began talking about starting a family.

“My wife and I always knew that we wanted to adopt. We talked about it when we were dating in college,” Spires says. “It was always part of the conversation because it was something on our hearts.”

Their intention was to try for a biological child, then adopt one, then have another biological child, and adopt another. Because Spires came from a family of three boys, he was intent on not having a middle child who can sometimes feel like a third wheel. Their grand plan was set in motion when Julie gave birth to Noel. Next, they adopted Preston, a baby boy from Guatemala.

“He was eight months old when we picked him up,” Spires says. “He was just a peanut.”

A few years later, they had Ezekiel. They sought to adopt their final child and were on a family vacation in Disneyland when they received a call from the adoption agency, asking if they would consider adopting twin girls from Ghana. They had to provide an answer within 48 hours.

“We prayed about it at Disney where there are no distractions,” says Spires with a chuckle. “We determined that we were meant to have a middle child after all.”

Noel is now 15, Preston is 12, Ezekiel is 8, and Gabrielle and Rachelle are 5.

While building their family, Spires was also busy building a career with Chick-fil-A. He started as a corporate employee before being

34 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

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asked to take on the Plainfield store for permanent ownership.

When he took over Plainfield, it was the lowest performing Chickfil-A in the chain by roughly 33 percent.

“I was crazy enough to take it,” Spires says. “I figured the only way to go was up.”

In the 14 years Spires has owned the restaurant, employee numbers have increased from 40 to 130.

“We’re a small business, but we’re getting to be less of a small business,” he says.

And in an effort to continue to improve, they recently closed for a major renovation. Though customers hated to not have access to a favorite dining establishment, it was worth the sacrifice. Outdoor seating was expanded. They also totally redid the interior and exterior of the dining room and façade.

“We added 600 square feet to the back of the building, which enabled us to add a buffer to food safety,” Spires says. “This means we have totally eliminated concern for cross-contamination of food.”

Kitchen staff appreciates the additional cooking space as the old kitchen only had enough room for three to five people. Now 9-12 employees can easily maneuver around the kitchen.

“The refurbished floor plan allows us to be more efficient,” Spires says. “It also allows room for growth by about 40 percent.”

Customers will be thrilled by the addition of a second drivethrough lane, which will improve traffic flow. Plus, they are the first store in Indiana to install canopies to offer protection from the rain and harsh elements.

In the old format, their record for serving drive-through customers was 166 cars an hour. Their goal now is to reach 200, not because they want to fulfill some random goal number but because, as Spires put it, “a carry-out customer is an unhappy drive-through customer.”

“Most guests who do carry-out do it because the drive-through lane is too long or too slow,” Spires says.

In addition, they totally redid their parking lot, adding parking spots and moving handicap spots to the other side of the building.

Changing the flow of the lot facilitates ease when entering and exiting the lot.

On a daily basis Spires challenges his staff to do all they can to have a positive influence on society. Therefore, during the five-week renovation, Spires continued to pay his entire staff their salaries but asked that they use their free time to volunteer in the community.

“We have such a wonderful community — not just in Plainfield but surrounding areas as well — so I thought this would be the perfect time to have our employees volunteer at organizations in and

36 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

around Hendricks County,” he says.

In total, employees volunteered at 28 different organizations and donated 5,000 hours of service time, working at places such as the Imagination Lab, Camp Camby, the Plainfield Aquatics Center, Active Grace, Hendricks County Senior Services, The Gathering Together, Indy Search & Rescue and several local churches. Some employees appreciated the change of pace while others were eager to get back to work at their home base, Chick-fil-A. “Overall, I think people had positive experiences with volunteering,” Spires says. “What’s great is that their eyes are now open to all of the wonderful opportunities that exist so I’m sure some of them will continue to volunteer in their spare time.”

A quick glance at social media posts on the Plainfield Chatter page reveals that customers regularly rave about the service they receive at Chick-fil-A. Though flattered, Spires is quick to not take credit.

Spires appreciates Plainfield’s growing community, calling it a “vibrant, positive place to live.”

“Everyone is so supportive of one another, whether it be the Chamber, the school system or the Parks Department,” Spires says.

“Plainfield is just a great place to live. That’s why we love having our business in our community.”

Chick-fil-A in Plainfield has won six top sales awards, resulting in receiving four vehicles from CFA corporate that say “Chick-fil-A award winner.”

“Corporate puts that phrase on the cars,” Spires says. “We’ve suggested that they add a ‘thank-you’ sticker, [acknowledging] the community support that makes those awards achievable. Our cars are not a way of boasting about our success so much as a symbol of the hard work of our employees and the support of our community.”

“I let our employees know that I don’t pay their paychecks. The customers do,” Spires says. “We treat them well because if we don’t have customers, we don’t have a paycheck. It’s not a threat in any way, just a clarification about who is most important.”

And when it comes to customer satisfaction, accuracy is paramount.

“Who cares if we get you through fast but the food is wrong?”

Spires says. “If that happens, you have to come back in and now have just doubled your time. So, accuracy comes first, speed second.”

Chick-fil-A partners with two area schools to hire special needs students on a part-time basis, too.

“These kids want to be producers in society,” Spires says.

“Working here allows them to be in a positive environment and gain skills they can use after high school.”

PlainfieldMag.com / FEBRUARY 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 37

FOSTERING LOVE AND CARE THE CHILDREN’S BUREAU’S FOSTER PARENT PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN FEEL ACCEPTED According to the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), at the end of July There was a time years ago when foster 2017, there were 104 children in foster care parents were advised not to attach to in Hendricks County — statewide, that the children they fostered because the number exceeds 15,500. The Foster Parent attachment followed by separation was program of the Children’s Bureau recruits presumed to be detrimental to the child. and educates foster families, then helps Now research shows the opposite to be true. families through the process of becoming a licensed foster parent.

“What’s most important for kids is to have at least one caring adult in their life, and “You have to remember that in addition sometimes that’s their foster parent who to any abuse or neglect that these children is there for a period of time,” says Brooke may have suffered, they were also removed Clawson, Vice President of Adoption & from their primary caregivers, which is Foster Care at the Children’s Bureau in jarring,” Clawson says. “We help foster Indianapolis. parents understand how that affects a child’s emotions, behavior, and the actual hard Clawson notes that bonding has a huge wiring of the brain.” impact on foster children’s ability to form future relationships.

A case manager is assigned to each child to ensure that their needs are being met.

“When a child learns to attach to a caregiver For instance, is she visiting with her birth in foster care, that’s a transferrable skill family? Is she registered for school? Does that he can use going forward with friends, she have a learning disability that needs coworkers, partners and family,” she adds. addressed?

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

To ensure that families have 24/7 access to a case manager, they also offer after-hours services.

“Most crises, tantrums and meltdowns don’t happen between 9 and 5. They happen at bedtime or in the middle of the night,” Clawson says. “It’s reassuring for a parent to know that if they need to call a case manager for support and guidance at 11 p.m., they can.”

The Children’s Bureau provides comprehensive support and education for all phases of the foster and adoptive journey by offering both formal and informal training. For example, if a child is diagnosed with autism, case managers educate the foster parents on the disorder, explain how best to approach the child, and share any community resources that might be of help.

“The most important piece of the puzzle, in my opinion, is the relationship we develop with the foster families,” Clawson says.

38 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

She mentions all of the red tape and hoops that must be navigated during the licensing process, including references, background checks, home visits, logging of training hours and even providing the immunization records of pets.

“We are there with them, holding their hand along this journey,” she says.

Clawson suspects that some folks shy away from pursuing foster parenting because the idea overwhelms them.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, I could never do that,’ yet those same people often end up being the best foster parent,” says Clawson, noting that one doesn’t have to be married or hold a certain religious belief to become a foster parent. “We’re just looking for people who want to wrap these children with love and care.”

When foster moms and dads provide that love and support, children are transformed.

Clawson recalls working with a teenager who was placed with a foster family for five years. Though she ultimately graduated from high school and aged out of the system, she chose to attend a local community college and leased an apartment close to her foster parents because she so adored them.

“They are absolutely family in every sense of the word. They just aren’t a legal family,”

says Clawson, who acknowledges that when someone commits to fostering, there’s always that risk of heartbreak. She’s quick to add, however, that there’s also an opportunity for great reward.

“Foster parents plant seeds in their children,” Clawson says. “There’s no telling how they will grow.”

For more information on the Children’s Bureau, visit childrensbureau.org.

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