Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Home Blog Page 79

Diversity is amplified for entrepreneurs

Editor
-
0
Diversity is amplified for entrepreneurs

 

By Emily D. Tisdale

 

Diversity is an asset for an entrepreneur, but it often starts with feeling like the “other.”

Most business owners become entrepreneurs because they’re driven to be different — to provide services differently, to have a different quality of life and more. The problem with “different” is that it usually starts with the perception that you’re outside of the norm.

If you’re trying to start your own business, the pain of exclusion can be a discouraging roadblock to your success.

But entrepreneurship is ideal for those who are “different”! In fact, entrepreneurs often delight in the fact that there’s much more diversity than they initially thought.

 

Lose the labels

The traditional labels we use to define “diversity” no longer apply in the world of entrepreneurship. Each entrepreneur is unique — and the routes for entry into business ownership are more inclusive than ever before.

Consider the traditional issue of the workforce gender gap.

While most entrepreneurs today are men, current trends show that more and more women are pursuing entrepreneurship. Something as basic as being male or female in the workplace is no longer relevant for an entrepreneur.

By nature of their independence, entrepreneurs themselves set the cultural and financial norms for their own ventures.

These days, you’re going to encounter a variety of entrepreneurs. Some are single; some are married. Some have kids; some don’t. Some work from home; others work in an office. Some aspire to stay small; others want a global enterprise.

And thanks to the current technology, more people can pursue entrepreneurship today in ways never available before.

Undeniably, in the real world, diversity is amplified among entrepreneurs.

 

Pitch the cookie-cutter mindset

If you don’t feel a sense of inclusion within the corporate world, chances are you’ll choose entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship is a perfect fit for minds that stretch outside the box and for leaders who long for a dream fulfilled. It’s meant to be a solution manifested by one individual’s dream.

But entrepreneurship was never supposed to be a one-size-fits-all endeavor. So why do we try to make it a cookie-cutter experience?

The beauty of entrepreneurship today is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. We get to make the journey our own, tossing out the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset.

By entering the world of entrepreneurs as a business owner yourself, you “join the club.” You’re including yourself in the diverse community of business owners fueling their dreams with action. You’re becoming part of the community.

 

Support your peers

Independence is magnetic, and the autonomy of business ownership is a powerful draw for those eager to transform vision to reality.

As an entrepreneur, you can choose to do business with anyone. You have the ability to support small, and minority, business owners — and your support strengthens them to become powerful themselves.

Be diverse in how you support other businesses. Don’t automatically go for a big name just because you know the brand. Instead, explore opportunities to work with organizations that are local to your community. Think about how you can support more businesses like yours.

Most importantly, support these businesses with your actions and dollars, both personally and professionally. Your support of other entrepreneurs will create a ripple effect of growth within the entrepreneurial community.

Business owners are a diverse community of thinkers, doers, dreamers and planners. It takes all kinds of different people to make entrepreneurship happen, and the growth of the field illustrates its inclusiveness for people who aspire to independence in business.

And that’s a great way to measure progress in our communities and our economy.

 

Emily Tisdale is the founder of LEAP For Women, an online community founded in Fishers, Indiana, for woman-to-woman business networking. Learn more at leapforwomen.com.

Leadership: Creating an environment of ongoing success

Editor
-
0
Leadership: Creating an environment of ongoing success

 

By Darrell Brown

 

“Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers are people who do things right,” said the late Warren G. Bennis, an expert on leadership and a distinguished professor of business administration at USC.

The word “leadership” brings to mind a variety of adjectives. A leader needs to be passionate, caring, empathetic, confident, creative, inspiring, dynamic, motivational, innovative, trustworthy, visionary, enthusiastic, transformational, a good listener — just to name a few important leadership traits. An exceptional leader should be a trailblazer, not afraid to take prudent risks and to be a “change agent” for his or her organization. Leaders help themselves and others in their organizations do the right things the right way. They set the tone and direction for the organization, their employees and their customers. Leadership is about inciting a team to reach and strive for newer heights while developing a win-win philosophy for all involved.

Although leaders set the direction and vision for an organization, they must use their management skills of organizing, coordinating, directing and planning to guide people in the right direction to achieve the organization’s goals. Leaders need to have good communication, collaboration, financial and critical thinking skills (the ability to solve problems under pressure logically while using meaningful data to draw the right conclusions), while building a solid foundation for their organizations to maximize efforts. Leaders bring about positive change to improve and maintain organizational and employee performance. A good leader needs to be efficient and effective while leading his or her organization to higher standards.

Leadership means different things to different people around the world, and it means different things in different situations. Although there are a number of leadership theories that have been espoused over the past century, I am personally a proponent of servant leadership.

Robert K. Greenleaf stated, “The servant-leader is servant first. … It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.”

We serve our families, our churches, our places of employment and our communities. Leaders enhance leadership knowledge and skills, if he or she is a servant first.

The Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership in Indianapolis promotes “servant leadership as a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and, ultimately, creates a more just and caring world.”

According to the center, servant-leaders focus primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities in which they belong. The servant-leader shares power while putting the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform to the highest levels they can. Leaders recognize this, and they work hard throughout the organization to connect their visions with people’s individual needs, goals and aspirations. This motivates people to work hard to achieve success, because they expect to enjoy rewards, both intrinsic and extrinsic, as a result.

A leader will also ensure team members have the necessary skills and knowledge to do their jobs and achieve their goals. Leaders can also motivate and influence people through their natural charisma or their position to pay bonuses or assign tasks. However, good leaders don’t rely on the power of their positions to motivate and inspire others; they lead by training and developing their people to improve both individual and team performance.

Good leaders also must look for others to lead by developing leadership skills within the organization and by creating an environment of ongoing success. That is a true measure of great leadership. It was Dwight D. Eisenhower who said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

 

Darrell Brown, Ph.D., is a clinical associate professor of management and director of diversity at Indiana University Kelley School of Business — Indianapolis.

 

Plan your work, work your plan

Editor
-
0
Plan your work, work your plan

Staff Report

 

The phrase, “proper preparation prevents poor performance” is more than just a cliche. Going into a new year can be an exciting yet anxiety-ridden time for business owners and professionals — especially those looking to level up.

According to Daniel Wesley, founder/CEO of Quote.com, “failing to plan for growth is a great way to put a ceiling on your business’s potential.”

Read on for Wesley’s four tips for planning ahead as you scale up your business.

 

Be Every Employee

To understand your future needs, you must understand what your current employees do. Educate yourself on the roles of each staff member and learn their individual challenges. If you have 10 employees and only a vague idea of how each one contributes to the whole, schedule recurring one-on-one meetings to keep up with the evolution of each role as your business grows.

For me, taking an inventory of my employees meant giving up control of some tasks I did myself. It can be tempting to micromanage, but if you want to build a stronger workforce, delegate more tasks and give your employees chances to show what they can do.

 

Train Less, Do More

The last thing any business owner wants to do is spend days or weeks learning how to use software that’s supposed to make life easier. If the seller takes a long time to describe what the software does and even longer to explain how to use it, you might be better served going with the option that doesn’t require a doctorate to understand.

I’ve noticed that while our business can always make more money, it can never make up for lost time. Many software options are available to young companies for project management, financial reporting and more, but time spent learning a tool is time that could usually be better spent pursuing the company’s primary goals. Don’t be change-averse, but recognize when a learning curve outweighs utility.

 

Outsource Specialized Skills

How much control you have over your business is your decision, but you must relinquish part of that control at some point or risk becoming a bottleneck for decisions.

If you need a service — for instance, financial planning — and don’t have someone on staff trained in it, don’t try to learn a new skill overnight and put one more thing on your plate. Look outward for resources that could help you. We have our accounting service provide financial reporting because it helps to have someone who specializes in the numbers and taxes reviewing our books.

 

Don’t Activate Autopilot

Just because your business is doing well now doesn’t mean it can’t improve. Complacency has been the death of many promising companies, and failure to create new opportunities for growth leaves you open to getting run down by scrappy competition.

It’s easy to miss great opportunities because you aren’t prepared to take advantage of them. I maintain a savings account specifically for cases of unexpected revenue drops or unplanned expenses. These aren’t always bad: for instance, I once dipped into this fund because a prime opportunity to advertise in a major publication appeared, and I had not taken that possibility into account when I planned for that quarter. Be prepared at all times for growth opportunities, because you won’t always see those opportunities coming.

Know your business inside and out, value your time and always be ready to take a chance on a big opportunity. Growth doesn’t have to be a struggle; you just have to set the stage first.

 

A stogie for all scenarios

Editor
-
0
A stogie for all scenarios

How to recommend cigars to others

By Sal Domingo, Famous Smoke Shop

 

As a “share and share alike” kind of guy, it’s always been important to me to help point cigar smokers new and old in the right direction. Cigar tastes are subjective — you may hate a cigar that I love, and vice versa — which is why recommending cigars can be so difficult.

Being that I am so gracious when it comes to sharing my opinions on cigars with other cigar smokers, I’ve compiled a few hypothetical scenarios that might help when you’re in a bind and needing some guidance for both the newbie and more experienced herfer.

 

Scenario 1: You’re on the golf course or just sitting around playing garage poker. Your friends are complete cigar newbies, and they’re looking to you to figure out what to smoke.

When it comes to new cigar smokers, I like to start them off with something rolled in a Connecticut Shade wrapper. These cigars tend to be mellow in taste, lighter on the palate and sweet in aroma. Think about it this way: You wouldn’t start a prospective wine drinker with a full-bodied cabernet or an extremely dry pinot grigio, because a rookie would not have the palate to enjoy the finer details of those wines. Follow the same basic rules when recommending stogies. Some good milder “starter” cigar brands with Connecticut Shade wrappers include: Macanudo, Montecristo Classic, Ashton, Avo Classic, Romeo y Julieta Capulet, Alec Bradley Connecticut, CAO Gold, American Classic, La Floridita, Rocky Patel American Market Selection, and Baccarat, to name more than a handful. Baccarat and Macanudo cigars are two of the bestselling cigars in the U.S.

 

Scenario 2: You’ve got a friend who’s been enjoying mild cigars for a while but is ready to make the leap to more full-flavored cigars.

So, they’ve played in the sandbox long enough and are now ready to move to the beach. It’s time to nudge them along to the medium-bodied stuff. The key is letting your graduate cigar smoker figure out his own path while you deftly guide his hand (or palate, as the case may be) to the strength and aroma you think might appeal to his individual tastes. You might want to suggest cigars with wrapper leaves such as Cameroon, Sumatra, Habano, Corojo and Broadleaf Maduro. Some tyros may be a bit hesitant to try the darker wrappers, but maduro wrappers are not necessarily stronger; in fact, they’re often sweeter in flavor due to the extra time they spend in the sun, which produces more sugar in the plant. For example, the Romeo y Julieta Montague is a nice medium-bodied maduro smoke that I enjoy quite often. But, if you’re still skeptical about the dark side, cigars such as the Arturo Fuente Hemingway series, La Gloria Cubana, Gran Habano #3 Habano, Oliva Cain Daytona, Perdomo Sun Grown, Olivia Serie G, Rocky Patel The Edge Lite, Nub Habano, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, Hoyo de Monterrey Maduro, CAO CX2, and the Avo Maduro will do right by you.

 

Scenario 3: Now you have an experienced cigar smoker who’s got a few notches on his belt but is still curious about what else is out there with more flavor, body, strength and complexity. They’re ready to make the leap into the world of super-premium cigars and luxury-class cigars.

By now, you’ve spent days with your newfound cigar buddy filling his ear with your favorite smokes, flavors and wrappers, and he’s finally ready to step into the big leagues. You might suggest some Brazilian wrappers like Mata Fina and Arapiraca, Dominican Corojo, Nicaraguan Maduro and Oscuro, as well as cigars that have more high-priming ligero fillers, or potent Nicaraguan Ometepe tobacco. By this time, you’re likely going to be helping them along into the subtle changes in both the depth, balance and complexity of the cigar, for example, learning how to identify a variety of flavors in the blend, such as coffee bean, wood flavors like cedar and charred oak, bittersweet chocolate, graham cracker, floral notes and even citrusy flavors. Some excellent examples of the more complex cigars include the Perdomo 20th Anniversary series, Tatuaje Miami, La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, Montecristo White, My Father Le Bijou 1922, Kristoff GC, Davidoff Escurio, San Lotano Maduro, Rocky Patel Decade, Oliva Serie V Melanio, and Padrón 1926. I know that’s a lot, but the list could go on almost ad infinitum. To keep matters simple, pick any three of the brands above, and you’re off to a great start.

 

I encourage you to take a spin around the blogosphere, maybe watch a YouTube video and see what else is available on social media. Being a cigar connoisseur, as it were, I always try to be neutral and remind other cigar smokers that the experience is often a personal one. The reason I suggest social media is so you can reach out to the community, start a discussion and see what other cigar smokers are smoking out there.

Better together: Inclusivity training can benefit all employees

Editor
-
0
Better together: Inclusivity training can benefit all employees

By Keshia McEntire

 

Training in inclusivity and diversity has been common in most American workplaces since the late 1900s. Today, almost all Fortune 500 companies and about half of midsize businesses require diversity training. When done correctly, churches, not-for-profits, government institutions and businesses large and small can benefit from inclusivity training. However, according to a Harvard Business Review study titled “Why diversity programs fail,” many of these training sessions have proven at best ineffective or at worst detrimental. According to the study, these required trainings often trigger biases or cause backlash against underrepresented groups of people. Because of this, many organizations that conduct inclusivity training are taking a new approach.

The Society for Diversity is one such company. Based in Indianapolis, The Society for Diversity has served corporate, nonprofit, government and educational institutions across the nation ranging from local school districts to the US Air Force. Today, they claim to be the nation’s largest professional association dedicated exclusively to diversity and inclusion training.

Leah Smiley, the founder and president of the Society for Diversity, has done diversity and inclusion consulting for the past 13 years. She said one of the major ways the field of inclusivity training has evolved is in the notion of the training being only for the benefit of people of color and other underrepresented groups. When she does inclusivity training, she makes it clear how it will benefit the entirety of the organization.

“Be inclusive in your inclusivity training. Inclusion is not just making sure underrepresented groups are at the table; it also means we aren’t going to exclude individuals who are in dominant groups, such as white guys. Inclusion is for everyone to have an equitable experience in the workplace,” Smiley explained. “One of the challenges while doing diversity training is you have leaders who may be white men, and they are not really comfortable with understanding what diversity really is. They don’t really see how it can benefit them. Being able to connect with individuals on an inclusive level means helping people understand that even though they are white, they can benefit because they are diverse themselves. Only then will they say, ‘Let me learn more about what this is,’ and not assume, ‘It will only support some group I am not a part of.’”

In addition to the challenge of getting employers interested in inclusivity training, another roadblock is getting companies to see their need for it. Smiley thinks many companies see themselves as more inclusive than they are.

“They have an exaggerated view of their level of inclusion. They look at the organization and say, ‘Wow! We have a huge diverse population with women, minorities and immigrants!’ Those individuals are typically in lower-level positions. You may have a lot of African-Americans, but they are working in administrative positions and have not been able to rise to levels of leadership.”

Ascend, an Asian-American professional organization based in New York, would agree with Smiley’s assessment. In their study titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: Asian American Leaders in Silicon Valley,” they found that white men and women are 154 percent more likely to be an executive compared to their Asian counterparts.

“Having diverse people groups in lower levels creates an illusion of inclusion, but just because you have diversity doesn’t mean you are inclusive,” Smiley said. “Inclusion means communication, opportunity and interaction among different groups so that everyone has an equal opportunity to not just get in the door, but also advance through different levels of an organization.”

The end goal in inclusivity training should be a better work environment for employees and more productivity for the organization. And that, Smiley says, is something all organizations can get behind.

“When we do diversity training, we ask what the objective is. Every organization needs to think of how this training can help with their objectives, including making money, saving money or achieving organizational goals. It should result in concrete skills for employees to use to help the business,” said Smiley.

The Society for Diversity offers in-person training sessions, webinars and diversity certification. For more information on the Society for Diversity, visit societyfordiversity.org.

Develop an exit strategy

Editor
-
0
Develop an exit strategy

How to plan your finale performance like a star

By Erica Pierce

 

There comes a time in all careers when we either feel stagnant or simply long for more. We lose our happy, and once that’s lost, it makes the work situation tolerable, yet undesirable. The first thing many people think to do is simply quit their job; this isn’t the best option, as it doesn’t allow ample preparation, nor does it give you anything to fall back on.

It’s time to plan your exit strategy. Here are a few tips to help:

 

  1. Proper planning prevents poor performance. Dust off your resume and give it a nice review. This is where you can update it as needed and add the bells and whistles to really show off your abilities. If you have a website and/or portfolio of your work, is everything current and presentable on demand? Is your online presence user friendly and SEO-optimized? These are a few questions that you may want to ask yourself to make the necessary changes if needed.

 

  1. Pack lightly. This is the perfect time to slowly and discreetly start taking items home from your office space. Be careful, as you don’t want your imminent departure to be obvious, especially if you haven’t discussed the change with your employer. This is also a critical time to get any and all essential files that you may need backed up for personal access.

 

  1. Don’t burn your bridges. You never know when you’ll need to cross them again. This is the perfect time to reach out to those former business colleagues, employers and any potential references. Not only does this allow you to “put a bug in their ear,” but it also opens the door to potential opportunities.

 

  1. Pinch those pennies. Don’t spend frivolously, as you may or may not have a job lined up. Even if you do, now isn’t the time to spend. Choose to save instead!

 

One great quote that comes to mind is, “Before you quit, remember why you started.” Sometimes all it takes is a reminder or reassurance that you’re where you need to be. Other times, it’s that wake-up call that you’ve been ignoring, but now it’s simply time to answer.

It also never hurts to talk about your concerns with your employer to see if there’s an alternative to resigning altogether. This is where compromise comes into play. If after discussing your exit plans with your employer, you still don’t feel as though your needs are being met, this is when you can submit your professional resignation. It’s always wise to resign by providing at least two weeks of notice and with another job opportunity on the backburner; however, things don’t always happen this way. With proper planning, you should be able to resign from one position and transition into a new one without hindering yourself from advancement on either end. Your exit strategy may only be a discussion and a resume (or two) away.

Hoosier made: Five products to make you proud to be a Hoosier

Editor
-
0
Hoosier made: Five products to make you proud to be a Hoosier

By Kelly Patrick Slone

 

Bootmakers USA, a certified minority and women-owned business in West Lafayette, Indiana, specializes in riding, polo and dress boots for women, men and young adults. Bootmakers offers a platform for designing riding boots that are custom-fit to each customer’s measurements. Bootmakers On Demand lets schools, universities and other organizations create custom designs.

 

 

The Sani Seal Waxless Toilet Gasket was created by friends Bob Grimmett and Joe Miller who set out to solve the problem of water damage caused by leaky wax toilet rings. The flexible, waxless and repositionable gasket is sold nationwide in Home Depot and Lowe’s, and hardware stores in Canada and other countries also carry the product.

sani_seal_2

 

Crazy Charlie’s Salsa offers a line of salsas, chili sauces and queso made with fresh Indiana tomatoes and no sugars, sweeteners or preservatives. Crazy Charlie’s products have won awards nationwide, though the company calls Fishers, Indiana, home. Customers can find these sauces on shelves across Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.

 

 

An award-winning line of children’s toys by SmartNoggin in Noblesville, Indiana, aims to provide parents and caregivers with toys and information to encourage early milestones. The company was founded by Marcia Haut, an educator and mother who struggled to find the right developmental toys. The research-based line of toys includes the NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle, NogginRings Reaching and Grasping Rings and the NogginSeek Peek & Seek Rattle.

redhots

G.A. Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which opened in its present location in 1891, is one of the oldest continuously operated, family-owned candy businesses in the United States. Cinnamon Red Hots are Schimpff’s signature piece and have been made in Jeffersonville since opening day. Schimpff’s Candy Museum and demonstration area offer a glimpse into the world of historic candy making, packaging and advertising.

There’s an app for that

Editor
-
0
There’s an app for that

Busy professionals turn to technology to find balance

By Glendal Jones

Professionals and business leaders often have a never-ending to-do list and not nearly enough hours in the day. Just ask flight attendant Becky Conley of Brownsburg, Indiana, who flies for Indianapolis-based regional airliner Republic Airlines. As a busy professional, she never knows when she’ll be needed to fly out of town at a moment’s notice. One of her must-haves is an app called “Crew Life,” which manages report times, flying schedules and more.

“It gives notifications and changes and has been a life saver,” Conley said. She also uses the app to view scheduled trips, track the hours she’s worked, see who’s flying with her and report times. “It makes my life so much easier, as I don’t have to manage it, especially with weather changes, which can happen frequently. It’s right in palm of my own hand.”

The app, which Conley has used for the past couple of years, has also alleviated most of the dreaded 3 a.m. phone calls she used to get in the past. An electronic flight manual on her mini iPad also makes it easier to check flight policies, announcements and more.

Even social media apps like Facebook play a part. Republic Airlines has a crew page where flight attendants can ask questions of other flight professionals, get updates from the union and even check with other flight attendants about swapping trip responsibilities.

Using social media has also helped Nicole Hoellein, owner of her family business Rudy’s Watch and Jewelry Repair, also located in Brownsburg. Hoellein, the mother of a 6-year-old active son, says you have to balance all aspects of your life. As a business owner, she agrees having a digital communications network makes all the difference, right down to making grocery lists through apps offered from retailers like Kroger and Marsh, to managing her son’s schedule, exercise classes, church and more. She said specifically, Facebook has made her life easier.

“You have to realize not everything you have going on can get accomplished, but you can manage them as best as you can and not be too hard on yourself,” she said. From using her cellphone, to accessing websites where she found a great swimming program for her son Rudy, named after the business she took over 20 years ago, it’s been easier.

“I learned about a Chapel Glen Swim youth program website from a customer, and I was able to choose the class, sign up my son and pay for it all at one time.” That saved time and money. Hoellein says she uses Facebook a lot to search for events and other activities.

After work, Hoellein says she starts her most important job of being a mom. Cooking tips come from online applications she downloads, and managing her schedule on her phone helps her get Rudy ready for the next school day.

“I can’t imagine how I did it all before,” she added, “but with social media, customers, friends and my family, it’s been a great combination of support.”

Deposits made for community strength

Editor
-
0
Deposits made for community strength

Design Bank invests in community

By Terri Horvath

 

The origin of Design Bank in Indianapolis began with a question: “How can I change the world through design?” It was asked by Will Marquez, who then teamed up with NaShara Mitchell to create “a center for mutual cooperation.” Their primary mission was to bring design skills where they never existed before.

Design Bank2 copy

Design Bank officially opened in February 2015 in a converted bank building on East 38th Street; the founders chose to concentrate on teaching design and entrepreneurship in an area where the residents didn’t have access to the necessary tools. Marquez draws on his experience as a designer and founder of W/Purpose, a studio focused on architectural and urban design. Mitchell has had a diverse career in the higher education field and as the founder of Studio B, a facility that concentrates on women and social entrepreneurs.

An example of their efforts at the Design Bank is the four-week summer program for young people, when participants design and develop a product. Part of their education involves learning the skills to transfer their ideas onto paper and apply 3D printing techniques. Then they have to sell the product before a panel, similar to the “Shark Tank” approach, for funding and distribution. The idea is to encourage “learning through doing,” said Marquez.

One participant in the summer program was Simi Matemachani. In 2015, the then-14-year-old learned how to convert some of his drawings into 3D reality. He decided to sell his output as ornaments for the holiday season and sold out within two weeks. His 2016 edition had similar results.

Young people aren’t the only ones learning through the Design Bank; adults have also seen their ideas spring to life. “We support professionals, students and hobbyists by helping them retool or advance their design thinking, fabrication or market impact,” according to the center’s website. For example, jewelry designers have used the center’s tools. Another is an entrepreneur who has created special clips for consumer use.

“We want to be a center that produces producers, not just consumers,” said Marquez.

Some of that output is sold through the Design Bank’s Marketplace. This web-based service highlights products made by or in collaboration with participants in the company’s programming, as well as other items made by area residents. For the 2016 holiday season, the company also hosted a pop-up shop in downtown Indianapolis. With Design Bank’s sales commission, the founders reinvest in the community through youth job creation, program scholarships, community sponsorships and general economic development.

This connection to the community is also strengthened by the Design Bank’s readiness to rent space for special events sponsored by groups and organizations in Indianapolis.

Community gatherings, education, entrepreneurial outlets — these reflect a mission that the Design Bank hopes strengthens the community.

Enjoy Marvelous Madison

Editor
-
0
Enjoy Marvelous Madison

Southern city offers old-school charm with modern-day chic

 

Madison — a quaint city in southeastern Indiana on the north bank of the Ohio River and about 90 minutes from the state capital — is the perfect spot for travelers looking for old-school charm with modern sensibilities. The bustling river town is a short drive from both Louisville, Kentucky, to the south, and Cincinnati, Ohio, to the east. Home to one of the first Underground Railroad historic districts, several public parks, monuments and many other cultural points of interest, downtown Madison features more than 130 blocks of well-preserved, classically built structures.

Read on to see more of what this spectacular Hoosier gem has to offer:

 

Historic sites

Historic Eleutherian College

Founded in 1848 by anti-slavery Baptists, Eleutherian College offered educational opportunities to students regardless of race or gender. The college is located in Lancaster Village, and its name is derived from the Greek word “eleutheros,” meaning freedom or liberty. Today, the college is open for tours and attracts visitors from all over the country.

6927 IN-250, Madison, IN 47250

(812) 273-9434

eleutheriancollege.org

 

 

Lanier Mansion

James Franklin Doughty Lanier, an attorney who served as clerk of the Indiana General Assembly before moving on to the world of finance, was one of Madison’s pioneers and a big part of the state’s development. Lanier hired Madison architect Francis Costigan to build his home, now a famed mansion and landmark. The home features Greek revival elements, Corinthian columns and many other classical components. The Lanier Mansion is a part of the Indiana State Museum historic sites and is open year-round. Guided tours occur at regular intervals between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The gardens and grounds are open from dawn to dusk.

601 W. First St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 265-3526

indianamuseum.org/explore/lanier-mansion

 

Ben Schroeder Saddletree Company

In the Madison, Indiana, National Register Historic District stands the last of a foregone breed. For nearly a century, the Ben Schroeder Saddletree Company crafted thousands of wooden frames for saddle makers throughout the United States and Latin America, making it the nation’s longest lasting company of its kind. The company’s founder and namesake, John Benedict “Ben” Schroeder, a German immigrant, started the company in a small brick workshop in 1878. After Schroeder’s passing, his relatives began producing things like stirrups, work gloves and other products. In 1972, the factory closed and was left totally intact. Today, visitors and history lovers descend upon the space for a glimpse back in time.

The Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum is open to the public mid-April through October.

106 Milton St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 265-2967

historicmadisoninc.com

 

Food and drinks

Lanthier Winery

The Lanthier Winery is said to have “a far away feeling, close enough to taste.” Visitors to the winery’s tasting room are invited to partake in samples of cellar master and owner Chris Lanthier’s handcrafted, award-winning wines, such as Rivertown Red, a gold medal winning Baco Noir that pairs well with savory, spicy dishes; Cranberry Grande, a great choice for poultry or holiday meals; and Mill Street White, a sweet Niagara. The winery regularly hosts events. Each February, on Valentine’s Day or the Saturday before, lovers of romance can enjoy the annual Schocolade Celebration, also known as the “ultimate chocolate indulgence.”

Address: 123 Mill St., Madison, IN 47250

Phone: (812) 273-2409

lanthierwinery.com

 

 

Crystal & Jules

Chef and owner Andy Richmer’s eatery, Crystal and Jules — an amalgamation of his wife’s and his late mother’s names — boasts upscale dining with seafood (braised red snapper, crab-stuffed flounder), fresh handmade pastas (beef ragout, alfredo) and the city’s best steak and dessert.

709 W. Main St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 274-1077

crystalandjules.com

 

Key West Shrimp House

Looking for south Florida flavors without hopping a flight? Check out the Key West Shrimp House. Though the family-owned restaurant specializes in shrimp, they also offer other seafood options, steak and chicken. The chic dining spot overlooks the Ohio River and is housed in an 1800s-era button factory. Some of the menu options include grilled blackened mahi mahi, shrimp Orleans, chargrilled oysters and baked halibut oscar.

117 Ferry St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 265-2831

keywestshrimphouse.com

 

Lodging

Riverboat Inn and Suites

Riverboat Inn and Suites is located right in the heart of Madison. Visitors can see the Delta Queen, American Queen and other tour boats move down the Ohio River. Each of the 50 rooms is individually and uniquely decorated. Guests also have the option to stay in one of the nine condos on the property or even rent a private home. There is also a riverfront event space for special meetings and gatherings.

906 E. First St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 265-2361

riverboatinnandsuites.com

 

Clifty Inn

Clifty Inn offers comfortable accommodations and views of our state’s prehistoric beginnings.

Clifty Falls State Park, where the inn is located, features deeply cut gorges, sheet rock walls and plunging waterfalls. Both the Falls and the nearby Ohio River are products of the Ice Age. The inn is also located less than an hour away from Belterra Casino and Resort and the Kentucky Speedway.

1650 Clifty Hollow Road, Madison, IN 47250

Phone: (812) 265-4135

in.gov/dnr/parklake/2985

 

2 Sisters Bed & Breakfast

2 Sisters Bed & Breakfast, owned by sisters Mary and Madonna, is a gorgeous B&B housed in one of 400 Federal architectural-style buildings in the area’s historic district. Other elements include a kitchen featuring 12 hand-painted frescos by the famously elusive artist H.H. Meyer, a grand stairwell and spacious front parlor.

618 E. Second St., Madison, IN 47250

(765) 430-46762

sistersbandb.com

 

Azalea Manor

The Azalea Manor Bed and Breakfast is one of the oldest homes in Madison. The charming B&B showcases many touches indicative of the period (circa 1833): 10-foot double entrance doors, 12-foot ceilings, velvet-fringed drapes, old shutters and window cornices, antique furnishings and large Italian marble fireplaces. A large library boasts classic works of literature from the 1920s through the 1960s. Though the beds are new and the bathrooms are modern, much of the decor is antique. Guests are welcome to enjoy an abundant breakfast each morning and complimentary refreshments throughout the day.

510 W. Main St., Madison, IN 47250

(812) 274-4059

theazaleamanor.com

 

Entertainment

Folks looking for a way to honor their love of vino will have a great time on the Indiana Wine Trail. The tour of six local wineries will allow guests an opportunity to chat with winemakers and get an up close look at how the libations are created. Madison’s wine heritage stretches back two centuries to when Swiss immigrants planted vineyards in the nearby city of Vevay. In fact, the Ohio River Valley is known as the largest designated wine region in the nation. The six wineries featured are: Madison Vineyards Estate Winery, Lanthier Winery, Thomas Family Winery, The Ridge Winery, Ertel Cellars Winery and Stream Cliff Farm Winery.

(800) 559-2956

indianawinetrail.com

 

The Greiner Art Gallery at Hanover College brings an eclectic mix of visual art to visitors and residents of the community. The gallery regularly hosts special events such as lectures, demonstrations and seminars with nationally and internationally recognized artists. The gallery is located in the lobby of the Lynn Center for Fine Arts Building and is open to the public during exhibitions, during special events and by appointment.

517 Ball Dr., Hanover, IN 47243

(812) 866-7000

art.hanover.edu

1...787980...104Page 79 of 104

© Copyright 2023 Indiana Minority Business Magazine

Contact us: newsroom@indyrecorder.com

Website Created By: KI NuMedia

Translate »
Skip to content