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Minority Business Highlight: Chef Borel’s Kitchen 

Hanna Rauworth
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Minority Business Highlight: Chef Borel’s Kitchen 

In Indianapolis, Chef Borel’s Kitchen brings a bold mix of Cajun and Creole flavors to the Midwest, infusing the local food scene with vibrant dishes and a rich cultural flair. This minority-owned gem is a must-try for anyone craving an authentic taste of the islands and the bayou. 

Founded by Chef Teresa Borel, Borel’s Kitchen is an online-only ghost kitchen that fuses the taste of New Orleans, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Spanish and native American cuisines to form Louisiana Creole dishes. 

Typical creole dishes offered range from jambalaya, seafood gumbo and oxtail stew to crawfish boil and oysters Rockefeller. 

One review said, “Delicious food, lunch combo was way bigger than I expected, and each part was amazing. Plus, the service was super friendly!” 

chef borel food
Chef Borel’s Kitchen food

Catering services and consultations for those looking to spice up their next event are also available. Menu options range from seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and red beans and rice to Hennessy pound cake and bread pudding with spiced rum sauce. 

In addition to their diverse menu offerings, the kitchen also provides meals for the hungry through their Medicaid Meals program and Meals for All programs. 

Chef Borel’s Kitchen, although online only, is a professional food preparation and cooking facility that is serviced through Menufy, DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats. The restaurant is not a storefront, and they do not offer indoor dining. 

Orders can be placed Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For catering inquiries, email borelchef@yahoo.com. To place an online order, visit chefborel.com. 

To read more like this, click here.

Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth. 

Recorder Media Group announces 2025 Champions of Diversity Awards winners

STAFF
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Recorder Media Group announces 2025 Champions of Diversity Awards winners

Recorder Media Group has announced winners of the 2025 Champions of Diversity Awards. Winners will be recognized during the group’s annual awards dinner on January 17, 2025, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST.

Now in its 18th year, the Champions of Diversity Awards celebrate individuals and organizations across multiple industries who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion. This annual event brings together a diverse group of leaders and influencers to recognize those making a profound impact on their communities through their dedication to equity.

“I am extremely excited to continue the Champions of Diversity tradition,” said Robert Shegog, president and CEO of Recorder Media Group. “This year will be our biggest celebration yet. The growth of Champions of Diversity is a direct result of the community’s increasing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in every aspect of life. People want to align themselves with an event that stands for something meaningful, and Champions of Diversity does that by shining a light on those who lead with purpose.”

The 2025 Champions of Diversity Award Winners include:

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award – Dennis E. Bland, President, Center for Leadership Development
  • Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award – Shannon Williams, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, The Mind Trust
  • William G. Mays Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award – Reginald and Tracey Jones, Owner Operators, McDonald’s
  • Lifetime Education Achievement Award – Andrea L. Neely, President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Youth Foundation, Inc.
  • Amos Brown Community Advocate Award – Marshawn Wolley, President & CEO, Black Onyx Management
  • President’s Choice Award – Deana Haworth, Chief Executive Officer, Hirons
  • Community Impact Award – Fred Payne, President & CEO, United Way of Central Indiana
  • Social Innovation Mastermind Award – Tamira Chapman, CEO, Storehouse in A Box LLC
  • Visionary Leader Award – Dr. Lorenzo L. Esters, President, The Indianapolis Foundation
  • Sapphire Diversity Maverick Award – Sharon Barner, Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, Cummins
  • Civic Empowerment Award – Kanwal Prakash “KP” Singh, Founder & Owner, KP Singh Designs (A Partnership)
  • Master of Finance Award – Clarissa Nowlin, Chief Financial Officer & Controller, Professional Management Enterprises, Inc.
  • Distinguished Business Achiever Award – Daryle L. Johnson, Vice President of Strategy, Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council
  • Bridge to Impact Award – Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) – Melina Kennedy (Chief Executive Officer) and Latoya Alexander Botteron (President & Chief Financial Officer)
  • Rising Star of Excellence Award – Darryl Lockett, Health Equity Director, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Indiana
  • Innovation in Tech Leadership Award – Dennis Trinkle, Senior Vice President, Talent, Strategy and Partnerships, TechPoint
  • Changemaker Award – Tamara Cypress, Associate Director, Communications & Creative Design, Carrier Corporation
  • Breaking Barriers Award – Travis Brown, Founder + CEO, Mojo Up Marketing + Media
  • Golden Heart Award – Patrina Williams, CEO, Cherishing Lives Personal Care Services
  • Stewardship Young Leader Award – Leon Williamson, Market President iHeart Media Multiplatform Group, iHeartMedia Indianapolis
  • Beacon of Hope Award – Intend Indiana – Steven Meyer (Chief Executive Officer) and Stephanie Quick (President)
  • Social Justice & Equity Award – Zachary Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Exemplary Service Award – Katie Lucas, President, Lucas Oil
  • Emerald Leadership Award – Seth Morales, Chief Executive Officer, Morales Group, Inc.
  • DEI Trailblazer Award – Tracy Ellis-Ward, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Pacers Sports & Entertainment

“At Recorder Media Group, it is our mission to empower and educate our community,” Shegog said. “Champions of Diversity is a significant way we can do that. These awards continue to inspire a new generation of leaders and advocates who prioritize inclusion and equity as core values in their professional and personal lives. Businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to attend and invest in the future of diversity by supporting the event through sponsorship or participation.”

For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit www.indianapolisrecorder.com or contact us at ChampionsofDiversity@IndyRecorder.com or (317) 924-5143.

Minority Business Highlight: City Dogs Grocery

CHLOE McGOWAN
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Minority Business Highlight: City Dogs Grocery

In the heart of Fountain Square, City Dogs Grocery is an independent, woman-owned pet boutique focusing on health and wellness.

Owner Christi Rider bought the store in 2017 after having worked as a pediatric nurse for 20 years. Rider’s passion for animals drove her to switch careers and focus on providing Indy-based pet owners with the best quality products and services — from nutritional counseling to healthy food and treats, grooming supplies, toys and accessories — for their beloved dogs and cats.

City Dogs Grocery focuses on pet nutrition and supplements, and each of the products are hand-picked by Rider before going on the shelf. The store carries a wide range of all-natural and holistic brands, including Bocce’s Bakery, Chilly Dog, Austin and Kat, Barkworthies, Boxiecat, Earth Animal, Feline Natural, Haute Diggity Dog and more.

The pet boutique, which has been voted “Best Local Pet Supply Store in Indy” three times frequently gives back to local animal rescues and shelters. City Dogs Grocery hosts in-store adoption events and fundraisers to help animals in need find their “forever homes.”

City Dogs Grocery is at 1028 Virginia Ave. For more information, visit citydogsgrocery.com. To get in contact, call 317-492-9770 or email christi@citydogsgrocery.com.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.

Minority Business Highlight: Skinn & Zenn Beauty Bar

Noral Parham
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Minority Business Highlight: Skinn & Zenn Beauty Bar

Skinn & Zenn Beauty Bar, located in Indianapolis, is a minority-owned business offering various beauty and wellness services tailored to meet client needs.

The beauty bar’s offerings include skincare treatments, body waxing, brow services and other personalized beauty regimens designed to enhance the natural beauty of its clients.

What sets Skinn & Zenn apart is its holistic approach to beauty. By incorporating wellness elements, the beauty bar emphasizes the importance of self-care beyond aesthetics. Clients can expect a tranquil environment aimed at fostering relaxation and rejuvenation, complementing their physical treatments with a sense of mental and emotional renewal.

Owned and operated by local entrepreneur Sunshine Davis, Skinn & Zenn commits itself to creating a welcoming space for all, especially those of color.

The business’ focus on customization allows clients to receive treatments that are best suited for their skin types and beauty goals. From routine maintenance to targeted treatments, the beauty bar strives to offer a unique experience.

Skinn & Zenn Full Beauty Bar is at 387 Shadeland Ave Suite G, Indianapolis, IN., 46219. You can contact the business via phone number at 317-717-2379. To learn more about this business, visit their website at allthingssbeauty.com.

Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.

Pacers Sports announces 2024-25 guest chef program participants

Hanna Rauworth
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Pacers Sports announces 2024-25 guest chef program participants

Pacers Sports & Entertainment rolled out the newest food offerings, and eight of the nine new chefs were selected to participate in this season’s KeyBank Guest Chef Program.

New technology at concession stands, including QR codes for easy ordering and pick-up, will also be available at select locations.

HotBox Pizza, Please & Thank You Cookies and beatbox beverages will also be available starting this season.

The following chefs were selected to participate in the 2024-25 KeyBank Guest Chef Program:

  • Tasha Claytor – T Street Eatz
  • Adrian Samano – Samanos Taqueria
  • Mycoe Andrews – Spice Grille
  • Brady Foster – Foster catering
  • Marlon Ricardo Llewellyn and Bryce Anthony Llewellyn – Scotchy Jamaican Grill
  • Darryl Howard – T’Days
  • Christian Manansala – Pinoy Garden Café
  • Juszina Kendrick – Classy Diva Caters DBA Juszina Maria’s Catering Studio

The chefs will prepare their signature dishes for fans at The Kitchen concession stand, located on the Main Concourse near Section 17. Portions of the profits will be donated to local nonprofits.

“On top of all the great food and beverage options, we’re dedicated to improving the fan experience with new technology, upgraded ordering systems, and additional self-serve markets, as well as an emphasis on sustainability to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Chris Albano, executive chef at Gainbridge.

To buy tickets to the Pacers, visit nba.com/pacers/tickets.

To read more featured stories, click here.

Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.

Minority Business Highlight: Hank’s Smoked Briskets 

Hanna Rauworth
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Minority Business Highlight: Hank’s Smoked Briskets 

Time to put on your cowboy hats and saddle up for a serving of Hank’s Smoked Briskets, serving up a slice of Texas right in the heart of the Midwest.  

Founder Hank Fields moved to Indy in February 1973 from Henderson, Texas, a city about 120 miles east of Dallas. Not able to find any food resembling home, he opened Hank’s Smoked Briskets in 2004. 

Fields’ barbecue is characterized by smoking each brisket 8 to 12 hours over mesquite wood, which he buys from Texas. During the holidays, Fields smokes and sells turkeys and rib-eye steaks, which he says on his website “are probably better than the brisket!” 

The briskets are dressed with a mild, tangy sauce to not disrespect the process, Fields says.  

Served on sandwiches with sides of baked beans, mac n’ cheese, potato latkes or coleslaw, the brisket is the star of the show. Hank’s specialty dinners like the link dinner or the rib tip dinner feature a main and two sides for a larger portion, and potato dinners feature Fields’ creation atop a buttered potato with all the fixin’s.  

For those with a sweet tooth, Hank’s offers carrot cake, chess pie, apple cobbler, peach cobbler, cheesecake, sugar cream pie and sweet potato pie to complete your meal. 

Hank’s Smoked Briskets is at 3736 Martin Luther King Drive and is closed on Monday, open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. Catering is available to book by calling 317-925-1689. 

Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here. 

Minority Business Highlight: Pots & Pans Pie Co.

CHLOE McGOWAN
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Minority Business Highlight: Pots & Pans Pie Co.

Founded by local baker Clarissa Morley, Pots & Pans Pie Company first got its start selling sweet pies at farmers markets in the fall of 2016.

Until the spring of 2017, Morley baked all the pies and managed the business on her own, and it was not until the fall of that same year that her business expanded to include three different flavors of Take & Bake Pot Pies at farmers markets and select pop-ups around Indianapolis.

Pots & Pans Pie Company was so well received at the Broad Ripple farmers market that Morley was able to open a brick-and-mortar in that community, and in 2018, Pots & Pans Pie Company made its new home off North College Avenue.

The company partners with local farmers for all its ingredients and other shop offerings, including chicken, beef and pork from Becker Farms; fruit for sweet pies from Garwood Orchards; house plants from Schlegel Greenhouse, leaf lard for crusts from Gunthorp Farms and coffee beans for cold brew from Blue Mind Coffee Roasting.

Today, their menu features a variety of sweet and savory pastries and a seasonal sweet pies menu, which changes monthly and currently includes Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Pie, Apple Crumble Pie and Sugar Creme Brulee Pie.

The Take & Bake Pot Pies menu includes Classic Chicken Pot Pie, Beef and Mushroom Pot Pie, Biscuits and Gravy Pot Pie and Thai Chicken Curry Pot Pie.

Pots & Pans Pie Company is at 4915 N. College Ave. For more information or to order online, visit potsandpansindy.com. To get in contact, call 317-600-3475 or email  hello@potsandpansindy.com.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.

Minority Business Highlight: Objects of Essence

Noral Parham
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Minority Business Highlight: Objects of Essence

Founded in 2012 by Carl Martin, Objects of Essence is a minority-owned business offering fragrance and wellness products.

Based in Indianapolis, Objects of Essence has carved out a lane of its own by providing high-quality fragrance oils, colognes, perfumes, beard oils, lotions and a variety of health and wellness items.

Martin started Objects of Essence with a vision to make premium fragrances accessible to everyone. He recognized that many consumers were looking for quality scents without the hefty price tag associated with luxury brands.

“When I started this business, I wanted to help people find a fragrance perfect for them and their wallets,” Martin told the Indianapolis Recorder.

By sourcing the finest ingredients and utilizing expert craftsmanship, Martin has succeeded in constructing a product line that meets the expectations of fragrance enthusiasts without breaking the bank.

A headshot of Carl Martin, the owner of Objects of Essence. (Photo via website)

Martin’s business and vision led him and Objects of Essence to become a finalist for PitchFeast. This competition helps minority-owned businesses get startup capital.

In an industry often dominated by high prices, exclusivity and a lack of diversity, Objects of Essence stands out as a beacon of accessibility and quality. With its affordable yet luxurious scents, this business not only enhances the lives of its customers but also exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of minority-owned enterprises.

“I want to provide a tailored experience for everyone,” Martin said.

You can learn more about Objects of Essence via their website.

Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.

Minority Business Highlight: Marie J Boutique 

Hanna Rauworth
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Minority Business Highlight: Marie J Boutique 

At Marie J Boutique, the mission is simple: to help women feel confident and empowered through fashion.  

This minority-owned business is known for its curated selection of stylish and affordable clothing, offering everything from casual wear to chic statement pieces. The boutique’s eye for fashion and commitment to inclusivity have made it a go-to destination for women of all sizes and backgrounds. 

The boutique is online-only and houses a variety of sections for guests to browse. Tops, bottoms, dresses, sets, jackets, jumpsuits and rompers are available in sizes extra small through 3X. The boutique offers heels and sandals in their shoe section and sunglasses and purses as accessories. All sales are final. 

Owner Janae Smith has always had an eye for fashion. Being creative and crafting new styles and combinations inspired her to follow her passion and start Marie J boutique.  

Customers who join the mailing list can access exclusive first and receive 10% off their first order. The fall sale is happening now through Oct. 31. Collections and stock vary by availability. 

To shop online and learn more, visit mariejboutique.com. To stay up to date on their newest collections and products, follow them on Instagram @mariejboutique. 

Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here. 

How Indianapolis’ New Chase Senior Business Consultant is Committed to Helping Entrepreneurs

Sponsored Content by JPMorgan Chase and Co.
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How Indianapolis’ New Chase Senior Business Consultant is Committed to Helping Entrepreneurs

By: JPMorganChase

Running a business is no easy task – and growing that business can be even more challenging. That’s why Chase is committed to helping entrepreneurs along their business journey through its Coaching for Impact program.

Launched in 2020, Coaching for Impact is a complimentary consulting program for established businesses, providing guidance and tools to help entrepreneurs in historically underserved neighborhoods manage and grow their businesses.

The program helps match small business owners with a Chase Senior Business Consultant, a financial services industry veteran. There are 74 Senior Business Consultants in 35 U.S. cities. Recently, Shellie Vernon joined the team as Chase’s Indianapolis Senior Business Consultant, bringing with her 12 years of experience in the financial industry.
Question: To start off, tell us a little about you. What brought you to Indianapolis?

Shellie Vernon: I’m a Hoosier at heart. Since I was three years old, I’ve lived in Indianapolis on the westside. Being a Senior Business Consultant in the place I call home inspires me to bring my best every day to serve those in my community. I’ve seen firsthand how Indianapolis has transformed and I’m committed to helping our small businesses grow with it.

Question: How would you describe your role as a Chase Senior Business Consultant?

Shellie Vernon: As a Chase Senior Business Consultant, my job is to build trust and deepen relationships with local business owners. I do this by meeting with them one-on-one to get a sense of their goals and any obstacles they’re facing over 2-4 months. Together, we come up with a plan to tackle specific issues like access to capital, customers, networks and other resources needed to grow and scale. I’m here to help businesses at any stage because we know when our local businesses succeed, we all succeed. I’m so proud to serve Indianapolis entrepreneurs.
Question: Who is eligible for the program and where can business owners go to get more information?

Shellie Vernon: There is no cost or formal criteria to participate in the Chase Coaching for Impact program – you don’t even have to be a Chase customer! While the program focuses on working with established businesses who have been in business for 2+ years, entrepreneurs at every stage can learn more about the program at Chase.com/CoachingforImpact.
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any individual. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy.
Deposit products provided JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

© 2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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