Nashville, Ind. has been nationally recognized as one of America’s best small towns, securing a spot on Smithsonian Magazine’s “20 Best Small Towns 2015” list. Highlighting Nashville’s lush landscape, arts heritage and festive environment, Smithsonian Magazine selected Nashville for its one-of-a-kind atmosphere and history.
Calling the region a “bucolic, woodsy paradise for country music fans and art lovers alike,” Smithsonian Magazine gave a shout out to the Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, the Brown County Art Gallery, historic homes, handmade treasures and fall colors at the Brown County State Park.
When Indianapolis- based entrepreneur Karlisha Russell created The Good Hustle Project under the umbrella of her business, Bridges to Freedom LLC, she wanted to establish a unique, memorable brand that captured the attention of the youth.
With a big idea and a small budget, she was able to build an effective marketing plan with a few simple tools. First, she began with the right name. “I wanted a name that clearly conveys the work we were doing and was also easy for customers to remember,” she said.
The Good Hustle Project was the right choice for her urban youth entrepreneurship education program, which teaches inner city youth to rely on their talents and hard work as a bridge out of poverty.
Next, she chose a logo that was cool, urban and youthful. To help get the word out about her project, she utilized free services provided by Constant Contact, an online resource that helps small businesses grow by providing free marketing campaigns using emails, surveys and newsletters.
She hired local design firm, Design Crate to build her website and also used social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to build an online audience. Next, Russell received a grant from SmallBox, an Indianapolis-based full service creative agency that offers marketing, branding and culture consulting to a variety of industries. “Cultured power marketing” is the phrase that defines the agency’s method of operation. “It is marketing from the inside out,” explains Chief Culture officer Sara McGuyer.
For Smallbox, brand building is about creating a people centered culture where employees are part of a team who feel connected with the company’s core values. Those who work within an organization are respected as being the best ambassadors for the organization’s brand.
Not surprisingly, when a business organization consults with Smallbox, they receive consultation that involves foundational layering that first fleshes out the organization’s mission and values. Once the key message is established, Smallbox helps to project that message through visual branding like logo and website design. Because Smallbox is enthusiastic about their culture-centered revolutionary way of marketing, they are willing to lend a hand to organizations large and small.
“We love small businesses and entrepreneurs,” McGuyer stated. Russell can attest to the need for small businesses like hers to have a memorable brand. She praises social media for its ability to take your product or service right where people are, but also recognizes the importance of having traditional marketing to assist interested customers.
This is where tools like a clean and quality built website, a logo, and a branded email address become priceless. Russell further explains that a website, where viewers go to view all of the information about your business, is similar to a storefront. “Most consumers will come in contact through your brand before they come in contact with you, so your brand must be memorable,” she said.
Danita Johnson Hughes believes people want to celebrate the milestones of their lives, and a good place to start those celebrations is with a visit to her store Party Masters in Portage, Ind.
Do you need decorations for a 90 year-old’s birthday party? Party Masters has it. A piñata for a 15 year-old’s quinceañera? That’s also available. Red, white and blue banners to launch a Fourth of July cookout or even a political campaign? The vote is aye.
Party Masters also has décor for weddings, baby and bridal showers, and anniversaries. Located at 6538 U.S. Highway 6, the store officially opened in May 2012. The primary reason for its existence, however, was “to take the opportunity to become an entrepreneur and establish a family business,” said Hughes.
Her daughter Kyla Parker is the store manager. Currently working on her master’s degree in business administration, Parker said she enjoys her job. “I like making my own decisions for a business,” said Parker, who also has more than a decade of experience working in other companies. “Plus, I have good employees.” “I want to leave a legacy for my family,” said Hughes. “And to show them that a good work ethic is fundamental to a business and just about everything in life.”
In addition to the title of business owner, she is also the COO of Edgewater Behavioral Health Services, an organization offering the full continuum of health care services for mental and emotional health. Starting in 1995, she worked her way up at Edgewater. When she took the CEO office, she had to conquer some challenges to stabilize the nonprofit and set it on its path for success. She sees the experience as beneficial for starting and leading her enterprise.
Plus, she views the economic climate in Portage as being “fairly good.” “We’re located in a community of working people with some disposable income,” Hughes said. Plus, she said the number of businesses in northwest Indiana has plenty of potential.
These corporate prospects have recently inspired Party Masters to venture into providing promotional items. The store now offers options for items custom printed with a company’s name, logo or slogan. This year also saw another initiative undertaken by Party Masters. In January, Hughes and staff applied for Minority-owned and Women-owned Business Enterprise Certification.
A MWBE status means Party Masters has greater opportunities in bidding on state contracts. Plus, corporations wanting to illustrate a diverse roster of vendors may also be attracted to companies with MBE/WBE certification. Hughes recognizes the status opens up another possibility for an income stream.
The money and challenges of business ownership are just part of the equation in calculating Party Masters’ existence. As Parker explains, “starting the business just sounded like fun.”
The Indiana Minority Business Magazine, the state’s leading publication that focuses on business, lifestyle, and diversity is searching for freelance writers for its upcoming issue. The quarterly publication is most effective in reaching diverse populations and those interested in the importance of diversity. There is information for everyone from the small business owner, to the large corporation and even the young professional who’s just embarking on their professional career.
Potential freelancers should have strong writing and verbal communications skills. We prefer our freelancers to reside within the State of Indiana, however some assignments do not require research done within the state. Freelancers may be assigned lead profile stories or given other assignments from sections of our magazine such as Hoosier Marketplace, Startup, Skill Set or others. Payment is based upon word count and writers are paid once the magazine is published.
If interested, please send an email to newsroom manager, Victoria Davis at victoriad@Indianapolisrecorder.com introducing yourself and submit a resume along with writing samples. We look forward to hearing from you.
IMBM wants you to join our team as a blogger
The Indiana Minority Business Magazine is searching for two online bloggers for our website, indianaminoritybusinessmagazine.com. Bloggers will contribute one blog post per week, which will be market on the publication’s social media platforms. Bloggers should be well versed in the business industry and have an interest in minority businesses in the state.
This position is unpaid, however, bloggers will have their work published weekly online and possibly receive letters of recommendation upon request.
If interested, please send an email to newsroom manager, Victoria Davis at victoriad@Indianapolisrecorder.com introducing yourself and submit a resume along with writing samples. We look forward to hearing from you.
Join us at Borel’s Cajun and Creole Cookery as we launch the second quarter of the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. Delicious Food, Fun Giveaways, and More!
John Wise and Octave Chanute were some of the first in Indiana to test the theories of flight on Hoosier soil. Wise sought out balloon travel beginning in Crawfordsville, Ind. and Chanute, one of America’s foremost civil engineers, built a glider and conducted test flights in what is now Gary, Ind.
Although these individuals may be known as leaders of flight in the state, they weren’t the only ones to contribute to Indiana’s rich aviation history. Wilbur Wright, Lawrence Bell, Blanche Stuart Scott, and Amelia Earhart all began their journeys in the Hoosier state, as well as several others.
Today the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known for racing cars, but at one time they raced balloons in 1909. The home of many aviation firsts, Indiana has now come to be known as state with several universities that have dedicated departments to aviation such as Purdue University and Indiana University as well as a state that achieves some of the highest rankings.
The Indianapolis International Airport has been recognized as the “Best Airport in North America” for the fourth time by Airports Council International as part of its annual Airport Service Quality awards for performance and excellence.
While Hoosiers have been taking flight for centuries, many residents and organizations are finding their path on the journey to discovery.
National statistics indicate that American employees, whatever their background, age, or marital status, are experiencing increased stress and conflict in work, family, and life.
One reason for this is the explosive growth in the use of portable electronic devices, including tablets and cell phones. Now our boss and our co-workers can contact us at all hours at home via email, while our families and friends in turn can easily text us at work.
As a university professor and an organizational consultant and leadership development expert, I have led training and change efforts for leaders and teams. Members consciously work to change the culture and structure of work to give employees more boundary control and have clear times they are on and off line. Employees also work to back each other up so that the work gets done. Taking a team approach makes it more possible for individuals to set boundaries and share preferences as part of team-structured dialogue. Think about how your workplace can develop processes for groups and individuals to discuss personal needs for support and control over how to best synthesize work and nonwork for positive dual engagement on and off the job.
I have developed several evidence-based leadership tool including one called “flexstyles” that promotes inclusion by increasing boundary control to support diversity in work-life preferences. Flexstyles are the different ways individuals manage work-life boundaries and interruptions from use of cell phones, e-mails, texts, social media, and other electronic communications Based on a book I co-authored, CEO of Me: Creating a Life that Works in the Flexible Job Age, this assessment measures an individual’s perceptions of their work life identity fit and control. It builds an individual’s capabilities for increasing self-regulation to control work-life boundaries. Feedback is given on varying preferences in boundary management styles and differential work/engagement patterns.
Whether integrating work and family throughout the day; separating work and private life as much as possible; or cycling back and forth between work focus and an emphasis on home life, the strategies for how to achieve work-life balance are diverse as today’s workforce.
Diversity expectations for segmentation, integration, and having the ability to shift patterns of control to more or less integration at different times of the week or year can be linked to sexual identity, cultural values, gender, immigrant status, or generational cohort.
For example, an individual who is gay and who is not “out” in the workplace or wishes to keep his or her personal life private may choose to segment work and personal life.
An immigrant employee who works for a university during the school year, may desire to do his job remotely in his native land during the summer months when not teaching, and work remotely while living with elderly parents. Diversity of work-life balance may simply be a function of day-to-day values and sleeping patterns shaping when one works best. A Gen-X employee may wish to integrate work and personal life by taking a long lunch hour to exercise and might be a night owl who arrives to work at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. and work until 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.
Your organization will likely reduce turnover and increase engagement by training leaders how to support diversity in work-life working time and availability needs, and giving employees greater flexibility, to increase positive control over where, when, and how work is done. My research demonstrates the importance of job control and schedule control for employee well-being. When individuals perceive high work-life control, they report greater time adequacy to be engaged at work and home, have higher well-being, and experience lower work-family conflict.
Dialogue between leaders and employees; employees and co-workers and teams; and employees and family members is increasingly needed to ensure shared values regarding individual work-life boundary management needs. I have conducted work life training with employees in many occupations: doctors, faculty, scientists, business leaders, and full-time students. More research and practitioner collaborations are needed on how to design, implement and evaluate positive workplace change efforts to reduce work-life conflicts in ways that reflect the growing diversity of employee references for work-life support and control. The workplace has a powerful impact on societal health and well-being. Think about how you can help your workplace implement initiatives and promote leader action to foster inclusion for all members to enable individuals to thrive in joint participation in employment and family and personal roles.
Ellen Ernst Kossek (Ph.D., Yale) is the Basil S. Turner Professor of Management and Research Director of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Elected the 2014 President of the Work Family Researchers Network, her research has won awards for advancing the work-life field and understanding of gender and diversity in organizations. Kossek is the author of a popular book on control of work-life boundaries, CEO of Me: Creating a Life that Works in the Flexible Job Age http://www.amazon.com/CEO-Me-Creating-Flexible-paperback/dp/0132480581. She can be reached at ekossek@purdue.edu.
As deputy commissioner of the Indiana Division of Supplier Diversity, Terrie Daniel’s professional focus is the promotion of businesses owned by minority, women and veterans. Below is a FAQ checklist created especially for the Indiana Minority Business Magazine —frequently asked questions and answers — that Daniel fields in her daily workweek.
Question: What motivates you to promote diversity?
Answer: Supplier diversity and inclusion on all levels creates a climate of economic development in our community for everyone. It is our responsibility as diversity champions to change the mindsets of those who may not recognize valid opportunities for minority, women and veteran business enterprises. Inclusion is not just something to do to meet a percentage or a goal on a contract, it’s just the right thing to do. Through our diverse culture we can draw upon relevant features of individual backgrounds and better serve clients and constituents.
Q: How does your agency make a difference in this regard?
A: The Indiana Division of Supplier Diversity promotes, monitors and enforces standards for certification of minority, women and veteran business enterprises. State officials formed the division in 1983 in response to Public Law 34 (I.C. 4-13-16.5 and 25 IAC-5) to provide equal opportunity to minority and women enterprises in the state’s procurement and contracting processes.
Public Law 34 also created the Governor’s Commission on Minority Business Development, which is now known as the Governor’s Commission on Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (MWBE). Commission members work to advocate minority and women’s enterprises in state contracting in their respective regions.
Q: Do you set specific goals for the percentages of contracts awarded to diverse businesses?
A: The current weighted average goal for minority business enterprises’ (MBE) participation is 6 percent of the state’s competitive contracts for purchase of goods and services. The goal for women’s business enterprises (WBE) is 7 percent. Finally, the goal for veterans’ business enterprises (VBE) is 3 percent.
Q: As you said, the state formed a division more than 30 years ago to promote contracts with minority-owned businesses. Is the emphasis on veteran-owned businesses something more recent?
A: Yes. On April 25, 2013, Gov. Mike Pence established the Indiana Veteran Business Enterprises Program when he signed SEA 564. The goal is to provide additional economic opportunities for men and women who return home after serving their country to start or expand their own businesses.
Q: All these initiatives are part of state law, then?
A: Yes. The program is governed by Indiana Code 4-13-16.5.1-9, which defines the role of the minority and women business enterprises and provides an overview of state requirement and grievance procedures. Specifically, 25 IAC 5-1-1; 5-1-3; 5-2-1; 5-3; 5-4 detail the certification standards for certification application review, certification acceptance and denial.
Q: Obviously, these programs help minority, veteran and female business owners. Do others benefit as well?
A: Absolutely. Working with diverse suppliers can improve customer satisfaction. Companies and government entities benefit from having more options and flexibility within the supply chain by working with diverse suppliers. Utilization of diverse suppliers can result in cost savings and better service. Finally, through a diverse culture, we can draw upon valuable features of individual backgrounds and better serve clients and constituents.
We are better because of our differences — not despite them. I am committed as the leader of the state’s supplier diversity efforts to do what I can to make sure those differences are celebrated and businesses have an opportunity to grow in our state and globally.
Q: So how do people get their businesses eligible for consideration?
A: Minority and women business enterprises that wish to provide goods or services to state agencies as a sub-contractor should be certified by the Division of Supplier Diversity.
There are eight basic steps for Indiana based businesses to become MWBE-certified. Those steps are:
Register your company with the Indiana Secretary Of State. Note: Sole proprietors are not required to register with the Secretary of State; only those firms that are incorporated.
Obtain a Bidder Registration Number by registering with the Procurement Division. Your Bidder Registration Number will create a unique identifier for your company in the state’s system, allow you to log on to the state’s website to maintain your profile and access important information.
Obtain a certification application and read about program requirements or call (317) 232-3061.
Include your Bidder Registration/Bidder ID Number (BRN) on page 1 of the application.
Use the application checklist to confirm that all required documents are included with the application. **Items most often omitted from M/WBE Certification Application.
Complete and return your application. There is no processing fee.
Applicants may schedule a consultation for assistance. As to help as many new applicants as possible, have your application and application documents ready for review at the time of your appointment.
The MWBE Division will conduct a site visit to verify application information.
Q: How about out-of-state firms?
A: Based on the outcome of the Governor’s Commission meeting held on Jan. 12, 2009, the Division of Supplier Diversity will only consider applications from out-of-state companies that are based in a state that recognizes Indiana MWBE certification from the Indiana Department of Administration Division of Supplier Diversity. For additional information on out-of-state certification procedures, please visit http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/2492.htm.
Q: Is there a different process for a veteran-owned business?
A: Yes. To be considered a VBE with the state of Indiana, a firm must:
Register with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Register your company with the Indiana Department of Administration. For bidder registration assistance, contact Luther Taylor, (317) 232-3061 or email Indianaveteranspreference@idoa.in.gov.
Applicant must provide a letter from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to verify VA classification to the prime contractor.
Indiana Department of Administration Division of Supplier Diversity will validate applicant information, contact client with any additional questions and add company to listing of Veteran Business Enterprises.
Q: What does a business gain by becoming certified?
A: A business may qualify for MBE, WBE and VBE subcontracting opportunities on state contracts. It receives notification of state business opportunities and upcoming events. It may qualify as an MBE/WBE/VBE for purchasing by casinos and state universities, as well as other public and private partner organizations.
Also, certification means a business receives priority registration and display preferences at all Division of Supplier Diversity events statewide, including regional business conferences that feature expert educational content and access to partner organization (public and private) procurement decision makers.
A certified business also may receive one-on-one business development consultation assistance. Appointments must be scheduled for these sessions.
Q: What if a business needs help navigating all the necessary steps?
A: Free step-by-step training for MBE, WBE and VBE certification is available the third Wednesday of each month for new applicants. To register or learn more about clinics and other outreach programs, visit the Division of Supplier Diversity “News and Events” webpage located at http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/2749.htm.
Q: Last fall, there was talk of an upcoming disparity study? What’s that about?
A: In November 2014, the state of Indiana Department of Administration Division of Supplier Diversity commissioned BBC Research and Consulting to conduct the 2010 disparity study. Following is specific information outlining the parameters of the study:
Q: Who will be included in the study?
A: The partners included in the study are state agencies, including Indiana Department of Transportation, and state educational institutions including Indiana University, Indiana State University, Purdue University, Ball State University, Vincennes University, University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Hoosier Lottery.
Q: What is a disparity study?
A: Disparity studies examine whether or not there is evidence of discrimination in the utilization of minority- and women-owned firms. Disparity studies are a way for government agencies to examine whether programs are needed to assist small businesses and/or minority- and women-owned businesses in government contracting and purchasing.
The purpose of the 2015 State of Indiana disparity study is to compare the actual number of minority and woman-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) that exist in the state against the actual number of MWBEs being utilized in state government contracts. A disparity exists when there is underutilization of available MWBEs.
Q: Why is a state disparity study needed?
A: The last Indiana disparity study was commissioned in 2009 and completed in 2010. The state has not completed an updated disparity study since then; per IC 4-13-16.5-2, the state is required by law to update its disparity study every five years. An updated disparity study must be completed in order to establish the legal validity for maintaining an MWBE program.
Q: Will the study be made public?
A: The results will become public record. The study results will also provide the basis for future state policy and procurement decisions that rely on current information for determining MWBE participation levels. To see progress of the current study or the results from the 2010 disparity study, please visit our website at http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/2674.htm.
Q: What will it cost to fund the study?
A: The cost of a disparity study ranges from approximately $1 million to $1.5 million based on studies commissioned by states of comparable size. It is estimated that Indiana’s disparity study would cost approximately $1.5 million based on the cost of the previous study performed and cost of other comparable state studies.
Q: How will the study be financed?
A: Indiana’s Minority and Women’s Enterprises Division, a program within the Indiana Department of Administration, along with other state agencies and quasi-government agencies, will share combined resources to fund the disparity study.
Q: What is the commission’s role?
A: The firm commissioned to complete the study will track capacity for Indiana MWBE firms vs. the entire population of firms, then assess utilization vs. that capacity. The firm will present findings to the Governor’s Commission on Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises.
Based on that presentation, it is the commission’s responsibility to set the participation goals for the year ahead. The company conducting the study does not make recommendations on what the goals should be.
Q: Are there ways businesses can help with you overall cause?
A: Of course! Share your experiences working in the local marketplace by visiting our website http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/2674.htm. You can also call our office directly at 317-232-3061 to leave responses in regard to your experiences.
Also, respond to our requests for an availability interview. If you are a business owner in Indiana, you may be contacted as a part of the availability interview process. If you are contacted for an availability interview, please help the study team by responding to the request in a timely manner.
A: I have challenged my team to come alongside me and make this one of the best – if not THE best — diversity programs in the country. I know that will take a lot of hard work, perseverance and support from the business community — and possibly legislation — but it can be done.
With the continued support from the community, our governor and lieutenant governor are committed to making Indiana a place where businesses want to be as well as taking the lead on making Indiana a state where businesses can grow. We are moving forward, taking this program from ‘good’ to ‘great!’
INDIANA BASED BUSINESS
Total number of firms – 482,841
Black-owned firms – 4.6 percent
Native American- and Alaska Native-owned firms – 0.5 percent
Asian-owned firms – 1.8 percent
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms – 0.0 percent
Hispanic-owned firms, percent – 1.8 percent
Women-owned firms – 26.8 percent
A Spice Above, located in Crown Point, Ind. carries 18 different varieties of all natural gourmet dips. The company boasts that its products are all natural, low carb and contain no MSG or preservatives. Their Beat the Heat Habanero dip is A Spice Above’s hottest product made with onion, Parmesan cheese, salt, spices, garlic, Habanero peppers, and paprika.
Horse-Eye Decorative Bowl – Dick Lehman Pottery
A variety of pottery dishes and vases can be found at Dick Lehman’s Pottery in Goshen, Ind. The Horse-Eye Decorated Bowl is inspired by Japanese potters in the Aichi Prefecture and a decorative pattern called “umanome” or Horse-eye pattern. This piece is priced at $295. For more information visit, Dicklehman.com.
Salty Carmel Swirl – 240sweet
Delicious, handcrafted artisan treats can be discovered in Columbus, Ind. where 240sweet can be found, a shop that specializes in marshmallow puffs. The shop’s most popular flavor is Salty Carmel Swirl, which is made with all-natural ingredients. A $10 Flavor Pack will buy you “A perfect pack of 10 petite puffs.”
White Hot Chili – U relish farms
Are you a crockpot fanatic? You may enjoy Cara Dafforn’s pre-mixed recipes, which are bagged and ready for cooking. Dafforn’s company, U-Relish Farms located in Indianapolis offers three lines of flavorful recipes totaling over 13 different meals. Her White Hot Chili includes 8 ounces of tasty ingredients; directions on the front of each bag for accurate preparation. The recipe mixes are preservative free. This product can be purchased at the Indianapolis City Market.
Victorian Rose- Bethlehem farm soap
Bethlehem Farm Soaps can be found in a variety of places in Southern Indiana as well as Kentucky. This family owned and operated business offers a line of handcrafted soaps, lip balms, lotions and candles. Their Victorian Rose soap is made with essential oils and is recommended for dry skin. To purchase, visit Bethlehemfarmsoap.com.
