Lunch with Brinegar: The Tour Continues

Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar is once again hitting the road as part of the statewide Lunch with Brinegar series. He will travel across the state to present information to members about major policy issues and the 2012 election. You will also learn more about Chamber offerings to ensure you are receiving the full return on your investment.

The tour kicked off May 16 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with subsequent stops in Fort Wayne and Valparaiso. Joining Brinegar is Tim Brewer, Chamber vice president of membership, with details on products and services available to you as members of the state’s largest broad-based business association.

Upcoming dates:

August 2 – West Lafayette at Purdue University, Ross-Ade Pavilion
August 16 – South Bend at the University of Notre Dame, McKenna Hall
August 28 – Evansville at the University of Evansville, William L. Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall

Each event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time. The luncheons are free to Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Register for any of the luncheons online.

Hey Indiana, Get on the Bike!

Indiana is home to seven of the 214 U.S. bicycle-friendly communities, according to the League of American Bicyclists. There are only three communities in the platinum grouping. In Indiana, Bloomington is a silver designee, with the following in the large bronze category: Carmel, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Goshen, Indianapolis and South Bend. Governing reports:

The United States is now home to 214 bicycle-friendly communities in 47 states, according to a new list released Monday by the League of American Bicyclists.

Municipalities are evaluated based on their efforts to promote bicycling, investments in bicycling infrastructure and bicycling education programs, the league said in a news release. They must apply to be considered for the list. Localities are also divided into four categories: platinum, gold, silver and bronze.

Boulder, Colo., Davis, Calif., and Portland, Ore., remained the only three communities to earn the platinum distinction on the 2012 list. All three ranked in the top 10 for their percentage of commuters who bike to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey, as Governing previously reported.

The league also singled out Durango, Colo., and Missoula, Mont., which were moved up from a silver to a gold designation.

More than 7 percent of Missoula’s commuters bike to work, according to the league’s report, well above the national average of 1 percent. The city has recently installed protected bike lanes, added bike path signage and created more bike parking. Durango has constructed more than 300 miles of mountain biking trails and continues to invest in city biking lanes, the league noted in its release.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans who use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation has doubled in the last decade, up to 730,000.
 

Polish Pride: Michiana Enjoys Another Dyngus Day

While families everywhere were celebrating Easter this weekend, many Hoosiers with Polish heritage are extending festivities to today in honor of Dyngus Day. Most popular in the northern part of the state, the day features a combination of revelry and politics — and some rather interesting rituals (if you’re a guy, keep an eye out for flying plates headed in your direction). WNDU.com reports:

Michiana is celebrating Dyngus Day on Monday. The Polish holiday is the unofficial kick-off to the political season.

The West Side Democratic and Civic Club in South Bend will serve Polish food and allow people to meet political candidates face-to-face.

The event kicks off at 9:00 a.m. The club is located at 617 South Warren Street. There will be political guests stopping by all day, including Democrat and gubernatorial candidate John Gregg.

St. Joseph County Republican Headquarters is hosting a pancake breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence and congressional candidate Jackie Walorski will make an appearance.

The headquarters is located at 4133 South Main Street in South Bend.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will continue the tradition of renaming streets starting at 10:00 a.m. He’ll reveal the "Dyngus Day" sign at the corner of Ford and Warren and the "Solidarity Day" sign at Western and Laurel. The annual "Solidarity Day" celebration takes place at the Elks Lodge in South Bend afterward. "Solidarity Day" started back in 1971 as a way to unite people of all races.

Monday also marks Mayor Buttigieg’s 100th day in office.

For more on the history of Dyngus Day, read this write-up about where it came from and what it entails.

Dem Leader Bauer: State Surplus is ‘Gimmicky’

Indiana House Democratic Leader Pat Bauer issued the following statement yesterday. I’m posting it in full here and simply asking, "Do you agree with him, or do you think Gov. Daniels’ efforts in creating — and now touting — the over $1 billion surplus are commendable?" Let us know in the comments section:

Indiana House Democratic Leader B. Patrick Bauer of South Bend today issued the following statement on the fiscal year closeout of the biennial state budget:

“For an administration obsessed with nothing more than the bottom line, the news that we have a budget surplus of more than $1 billion must be very gratifying.

“But thinking people should take the time to ponder a few points.

“From even the most cursory examination, it is apparent that this budget surplus has not been built on a strong economy keyed on job creation. That’s because this administration has no such program.

“Instead, it is obvious that this surplus owes a great deal to budget reversions and other accounting tricks that this administration frowned upon when it took office. Without the past use of federal stimulus dollars, the continual demand for trimming agency budgets, and the occasional raid on dedicated funds, our financial picture would not be as rosy as the governor and the auditor would like.

“At that point, it is prudent to wonder at the cost extracted by these gimmicks. What services are suffering as a result of the obsessive need to maintain a $1 billion surplus?

“These questions are not new. A year ago, they were asked and the administration’s response was turning over hundreds and hundreds of pages of documents that offered a recipe for dandelion wine, but nothing concrete about budget cuts. That information only came when the cuts began to have a human impact and people were hurt.

“Indiana House Democrats continue to be concerned about the toll that’s being extracted here. What kind of effect does this obsession with the bottom line have on helping Hoosier families, providing quality schools and creating jobs with decent wages?

“Our schools have paid a heavy price already: hundreds of millions of dollars in lost state support, cut at the governor’s demand. Now they will lose even more funding as this administration pursues its grand social experiment to gut public schools in favor of private programs and schools available only to a select few.

“But we aren’t taking enough time to consider the impact on families.

“Consider the fact that we have gradually moved away from a system of funding government services that relied upon a combination of personal and business taxes toward one that places the greatest burdens upon individuals and families. Business taxes get cut – something that happened again this year – while families find themselves paying more fees and charges and taxes.

“At some point, we have to think about what we can do to help them. A good place to start would be placing a greater priority on finding them jobs, rather than talking about it.

“Families are more important than a $1 billion bottom line, particularly when that bottom line crunches them the most.”
 

Keeping a Close Watch on Hoosier Success Stories

The BizVoice magazine team is hard at work on profiles and stories related to the 2011 Indiana Companies to Watch program. That included a Monday trip to Warsaw to conduct a roundtable discussion with the leaders of four of this year’s 43 honorees.

It’s always great to sit down and learn what makes organizations shine. Some (maybe a lot of) passion, willingness to take risks and deep caring for the people within their companies are a few of the common attributes typically seen. And Monday was no exception.

I don’t think the 2011 honorees have been officially released yet. But we gathered in Northern Indiana to bring in business leaders from Fort Wayne, South Bend, Elkhart and Rochester (thanks Sam, Bernie, Gregg and Rex). Three of the companies were formed in the last 11 years, while the fourth goes back to 1984. They may be diverse in their types of work, but similar in the good news their success means for their employees, families and communities.

Here is our 2010 Indiana Companes to Watch coverage in BizVoice. The 2011 edition will debut at the August 25 awards event.

There is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch — and More

When Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar wants to buy you lunch, you should take advantage of the opportunity. Now, don’t misinterpret that to mean the leader of the state’s largest broad-based business association doesn’t spring for a good meal every now and then.

Brinegar is buying lunch for Chamber members in six communities across the state this summer. He and other Chamber staff are coming to your town to share the latest on Chamber programs and benefits, important legislative accomplishments and more. Your questions and feedback are always welcome.

Where’s the action this summer? It starts June 14 in Fort Wayne, with subsequent events in Evansville, New Albany, Indianapolis, South Bend and Valparaiso. Check out the details here — and enjoy that lunch, networking with local leaders and Indiana Chamber hospitality.

Purdue Helps Students Get “World-class” Degrees Near Home

It’s almost graduation time for college students across Indiana. Some of the least heralded gems are those mined right in our local communities, thanks to the Purdue College of Technology Statewide, with 10 locations across Indiana. Students stay home, continue their careers and get a world-class degree they can put to work right in their hometown.

In South Bend, 46 Purdue students will earn their bachelor’s on May 14. Class responder Curtis Damon, a major in industrial technology, paired his classes with a job as associate project engineer for PEI-Genesis in South Bend. And he plans to stay there.

"The College of Technology trains local professionals and young adults on new advanced topics in engineering, quality and design," he explains. "I have personally witnessed many individuals who are not looking for a particular degree but are taking classes for advancement at work and/or for a direct improvement at the workplace they are currently at. The classes in lean manufacturing and production, Six Sigma and inventory management are very straightforward and make it easy to take what you learn and implement it directly into your workplace.

"The College of Technology also allows individuals to stay at home, advance their education and build careers. This is a great benefit to both students and the local businesses in the area. It allows the local community to hire people who are from the area, who are highly educated and motivated to work. You can’t beat hiring individuals who don’t need relocation packages, know the area where they live and the community around them, and have the knowledge and education to help companies succeed."

You can read more about Curtis here. Statewide Technology is an extension of the College of Technology. Its degree programs follow the same curriculum requirements as the programs on the West Lafayette campus. Classes are taught by Purdue faculty or those approved by academic department heads. More than 1,350 students are enrolled at its sites in Anderson, Columbus, Greensburg, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond, South Bend and Vincennes. Of those, 53% attend full time.

Jeanne Norberg is a spokesperson for Purdue University.

Lunch With Brinegar: Coming to a Town Near You

Don’t miss your chance to listen, learn and communicate with the president of the state’s leading broad-based business association. At our Lunch with Brinegar stops around the state, Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar updates area business leaders on issues impacting your region, introduces Chamber programs and services that benefit your bottom line and answers your questions. Registration is FREE for Indiana Chamber members; $19 per person for non-members, and the events take place from 11:30- a.m.-1:00 p.m. local time.

RSVP: One of three ways
1. Our web site
2. E-mail tjames@indianachamber.com
3. Call Tom James, (317) 264-3793

Here are the locations currently on the schedule. Hope to see you there!

  • June 9 – Indianapolis (Conseco Fieldhouse)
  • June 30 – South Bend (1st Source Corporation)
  • July 7 – Terre Haute (Hulman Memorial Student Union)
  • August 4 – Muncie (Minnetrista Cultural Center)  
  • August 9 – Bloomington (Fountain Square Ballroom)
  • August 18 – Fort Wayne (Sycamore Hills Golf Club) 
  • September 8 – Merrillville (Centier Centre)

Surgery Center in South Bend Celebrates Milestones

Allied Physicians Surgery Center (an Indiana Chamber member in South Bend) is currently celebrating a couple of major landmarks. The physician-owned, multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center celebrated its 100,000th case last month, and will reach its 10th anniversary this Valentine’s Day.

"Reaching 100,000 cases in less than 10 years is pretty remarkable," explains Controller Thomasine Harrison. "We’ve actually reached over 12,000 cases in a year before."

She adds that while the economy has impacted the business to a degree, its challenges haven’t been as notable as those in other industries.

"The economy has impacted us a bit in recent years, although not as badly as some," Harrison says. "But because we’re close to Elkhart, we’ve seen our worker’s compensation cases go down."

Lagging economy notwithstanding, the past and future of Allied Physicians Surgery Center remains quite bright.

"When we first started, we had a smaller physician base, and we’ve added specialties over the years (including ophthalmology and facial plastic surgery)," explains Clinical Director Chuck Strasser. "Now we’re really helping the community as far as access, and we offer a cost-effective, safe environment."

Founded in 2000, the company has grown to host 90 employees and features a very low turnover ratio.

"I think we have a very happy staff," Strasser contends. "One nice thing we do is offer a productivity bonus each year based on our success, so people like that."

It seems that treating its staff well directly correlates to happy workers and customers.

"Doctors like to do their cases here because they can get on our schedule easily and our staff is well-trained," Harrison notes. "We average 99-100% satisfaction rating from our patients. They say our people genuinely care about their well-being."

The company also has an ardor for community service, taking part in programs with the United Way, Logan Center and the local fire department.

Allied Physicians is a member of the Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgery Centers and is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. If you require an elective surgery and want more information, contact Allied Physicians at (574) 243-9700.

Legislature Shooting in the Dark on This One

Do you want the factual or the emotional arguments against what has become an unfortunate Indiana General Assembly tradition in recent years — consideration of legislation to allow guns to be brought into the workplace? The Senate actually passed such a bill in 2009 (by a 42-8 vote) and it returns this morning in the Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee (in the form of SB 25).

Yes, individuals have a right to bear arms. But property owners certainly have the right — and obligation — to provide a safe workplace for their employees. The consequences are bad, often deadly, when guns and the workplace mix. Some of the facts that Chamber issue expert George Raymond will share in testimony:

  • October 2009 study by University of Pennsylvania researchers that shows people in possession of a firearm are almost 4.5 times more likely to be shot in an assault than people who are not in possession of a firearm. It cites a number of reasons why possessors of guns are in more, not less, danger.
  • A previous case study in North Carolina found that the "risk of a worker being killed at work was substantially higher in workplaces where employer policy allowed workers to keep guns … relative to those where all weapons were prohibited."
  • Texas, known for its straight and not-so-straight shooters, became one of the most recent states to "just say no" in 2009, rejecting bills that would have allowed guns in college classrooms and in cars in company parking lots.

If emotion is more your flavor, how about:

  • Last week’s St. Louis manufacturing company shooting that resulted in four deaths and five people being wounded.
  • The 2008 Henderson, Kentucky tragedy in which a disciplined worker retrieved a pistol from his car and proceeded to kill five people before shooting himself.
  • Two Northern Indiana incidents within four months of each other (in Goshen and South Bend in 2001 and 2002, which resulted in seven deaths and others being wounded).

Really, guns in the workplace? The goal should be to help Indiana companies and their employees prosper, not unnecessarily put them in the line of fire.