| New Business Honor Roll |
NEISBDC Assists in Start-Up of 30 Regional Businesses in 2009
The Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (NEISBDC) had a very productive year in 2009, serving a total of 508 clients who provided more than $4 million in capital infusion for Northeast Indiana's economy. Of those clients, 397 were new in 2009, and the NEISBDC assisted in the start-up of 30 new companies in the region. Congratulations to the NEISBDC clients who founded these new businesses last year:
|
Company Name |
Products and Services Offered |
Location |
|
All City Supply |
Sales of Medical, Safety & Commercial Maintenance Supplies |
Fort Wayne |
|
Anabolic Addiction, LLC |
Custom Supplements for Body Building & Health Enthusiasts |
Huntertown |
|
B & B Electric Motors, LLC |
Small Motor Repair |
Fort Wayne |
|
Back in the Game Sports |
Sporting Goods ReSale Store |
Auburn |
|
Blue Collar Benefit Monitor |
Benefits Advocacy Web Site for Autoworkers |
Fort Wayne |
|
Brick Ark Inn |
Bed and Breakfast |
Albion |
|
Cale's Custom Landscaping |
Landscaping Services |
Huntington |
|
Care 2 Learn Tutoring, LLC |
Tutoring and Small Group Instruction |
Fort Wayne |
|
Chain Reaction Bike Center, LLC |
Bicycle Shop |
Monroeville |
|
Crumps Services |
Power Cleaning of Commercial Kitchen Range Hoods & Fans |
Wabash |
|
Duct Doctors |
Air Duct & Ventilation System Cleaning |
Ossian |
|
Esquire Cigar Club, LLC |
Private Cigar Club & Retail Cigar Sales |
Fort Wayne |
|
Farm Fresh Beef, LLC |
Mobile Meat Shop Featuring High-Quality Beef |
Kendallville |
|
Hassig Photography |
Photography |
Col. City |
|
Gemm, Inc. |
Laser Etching & Engraving for the Medical Industry |
Col. City |
|
Heavenly Breads & Sweets |
Full-Service Bakery |
Angola |
|
Lawn Improvem't & Landscap'g |
Landscaping and Lawn Care Services |
Fort Wayne |
|
Lynn David Handbags |
Handmade Designer Handbags |
Ossian |
|
Market Street Guitar |
Guitar and Music Shop |
Bluffton |
|
Michele Jones, MS, LMHC |
Private Psychotherapy for Adults |
Fort Wayne |
|
Mongo River Run, LLC |
Canoe and Kayak Rentals |
Mongo |
|
Nightenhelser Properties, LLC |
Property Investment |
Huntington |
|
Northern Indiana Imaging |
Medical Imaging Services and Medical Staffing |
Fort Wayne |
|
Qualitex, Inc. |
State-of-the-Art Design, Engineering and Prototyping |
Col. City |
|
Ruth G. Davis, LCSW |
Mediation Services, Consulting and Training |
Fort Wayne |
|
Sewing By Sue |
Custom Sewing and Embroidery |
Fort Wayne |
|
Simpler Times Bakery & Antiques |
Bakery and Antique Shop |
Bluffton |
|
SureSchott, LLC |
Internet Sales of Retail Multi-Media Products |
Fort Wayne |
|
The Body Carpenter, LLC |
Fitness & Wellness Training in Huntington & Allen Counties |
Andrews |
|
The King's Place |
Farmer's Market, Gift Shop and Bakery |
Bluffton | |
| Client Survey |
Survey Results Give Insight on Typical Client of the Northeast Indiana SBDC The Indiana Small Business Development Center network distributes surveys to all of its clients statewide to learn more about their needs and their impression of SBDC services. Those clients who completed surveys from the Northeast Indiana SBDC region in 2009 provided the following information:
- 40 percent of the region's clients were already in business when they first met with NEISBDC staff. 27 percent of the respondents said they started a business after meeting with the NEISBDC.
- The primary business activity that was most common for clients who completed the survey was service, with 33 percent of them involved in a service industry of some type.
- Business problems most often addressed by the NEISBDC were business startup/acquisition (27%); sources of capital (24%); and marketing/sales (13%).
- Where did clients come from? According to the survey, they heard about NEISBDC counseling services primarily through three sources: Chambers of Commerce (24%), Local Economic Development Offices (20%), and friends (20%).
- How did the NEISBDC rate? Most of the clients were pleased with the services provided by the center. An "excellent" rating was given by 56 percent of the respondents, and a "very good" rating came from 29 percent of the survey takers.
The Northeast Indiana SBDC, which is hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, serves 10 counties in the region. A total of 508 clients from Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties were served by NEISBDC staff in 2009.
|
| SBDC New Business Profiles |
Wabash County Entrepreneur Opens Padgett Business Services Franchise
 Urbana, Ind. -- Wabash County entrepreneur Nancy Whitmer, of Urbana, has opened a franchise of Padgett Business Services to offer small businesses in Wabash, Allen and Kosciusko counties with a variety of services including financial reporting, payroll, and tax consulting. "Padgett Business Services has the reputation of knowing what the owner-operated business needs," said Whitmer, who is a client of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center. "I am looking forward to providing this service to our small business community and I am confident I can meet their financial reporting and tax needs."
Whitmer's Padgett office offers a personalized monthly profit-and-loss statement, payroll processing, on-going tax planning and business consulting, as well as pick-up and delivery services. In addition, Padgett offers preparation services for individual, partnership, and corporate income tax returns.
Whitmer is a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in economics and finance. For the past 25 years, she has provided financial management, financial analysis and accounting services to businesses, successfully turning around several failing businesses into profitable ventures during that time. She also managed and operated her seventh-generation family farm until 2006.
As a client of the Northeast Indiana SBDC, Whitmer met with NEISBDC Regional Director Ken McCrory through the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce to prepare for opening her franchise. Padgett Business Services was named by Accounting Today as a Top 100 Firm and was number one in the category of Business and Financial Services in Entrepreneur.
Click here for more information on the services offered by Padgett Business Services, or call Nancy Whitmer at 888-458-9595.
Firm Helps HVAC Suppliers & Distributors 'Go Green' by Selling Surplus Equipment
 Fort Wayne, Ind. -- HVAC distributors and electrical suppliers wondering what to do with their excess equipment and products now have a source to sell them. A new Fort Wayne venture, HvacForSale.com, provides online consignment sales of surplus HVAC equipment and electrical supplies to help area companies clean out their warehouses of surplus inventory and "go green" by recycling -- or selling -- it to interested buyers. Fort Wayne entrepreneur Richard Jones, a client of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, co-founded HvacForSale.com with his son, Bryan. Jones has 35 years of experience in the HVAC field and also owns HVAC Systems Service, Inc., a local heating and air conditioning company that services commercial clients in Allen County. The goal of HvacForSale.com is to help out other businesses during hard economic times, according to Jones. "The site is designed to help sell the excess, overstock, unused equipment, tools and items that we all have at our business locations, gathering dust and just waiting to be disposed of or written off," he says. "Our clients can sell these items to help increase their income and bottom line and our customers will be able to take advantage of many great bargains." HvacForSale.com offers a turn-key type of operation, according to Jones. Once a company lists consignment items with HvacForSale.com, Jones and his son take pictures of the equipment to be sold, write product descriptions, and list the items on their Web site, where it can be viewed by buyers throughout the world. HvacForSale.com will initially serve companies in Fort Wayne and a 50-mile radius. Eventually, as the site grows, the Joneses plan to franchise their business, which will result in more cities being added to their listings. As a client of the Northeast Indiana SBDC, Jones has been consulting with Regional Director Ken McCrory and Marketing Coordinator Mary Popovich on marketing strategies for his two companies. For more information on the Joneses' online storefront, visit www.HvacForSale.com, or call 260-969-0566.
Photography Hobby Turns into Business with Help from Northeast Indiana SBDC
 Fort Wayne, Ind. -- A local entrepreneur has turned a long-time hobby into a business by opening her own photography studio. Lisa Nicole Vickrey, a client of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, named her business Studio 631 Photography by incoporating the 631 firefighter badge number of her husband, John Vickrey, who is a member of the Fort Wayne Fire Department.  Vickrey has been taking photographs since she was 16 years of age, while a student at Edgerton High School in Edgerton, Ohio. From there, she attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where she received an associate's degree in photography and won a variety of awards for her work. She has since worked in professional photography for around five years, capturing portraits and events for numerous individuals and companies. "There is nothing I love more than seeing joy in people's faces. Just going out for a couple of hours or even spending the whole day with a client to capture their big moment is a fun and amazing experience," she says. Vickrey believes the key to good photographs is taking time with each of her clients so she gets to know them and they feel comfortable around her. A full range of photographic services is available through Studio 631. Photographs can be taken indoors at the company's portrait studio or on location, as well as at a variety of outdoor and natural settings. Vickrey plans to specialize in weddings and high school senior photos, and she offers both posed images and freestyle or candid shots of adults, teenagers, children, babies, families and pets. Product images for business marketing campaigns are also available through Studio 631. To get her photography business off the ground, Vickrey attended a workshop on Business Planning through the Northeast Indiana SBDC. From there, she became a client of NEISBDC Business Advisor Jane Rich. "We've been focusing on a business plan to figure out how to market my business and find my target area," she says. "The SBDC offers amazing services and if I had known about them sooner, I probably would have come here a long time ago." One of Studio 631's first projects will be working on some photography-related fundraisers for the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Vickrey has been active as a community volunteer, offering her services at firefighter events and participating in other fundraisers like the Walk Now for Autism. Click here to view Vickrey's photography and to learn more about the services available through Studio 631, or call 260-450-6785.
|
| Recognition & Contests |
ISBDC Seeks Second-Stage Businesses for 2010 'Companies to Watch' Nominations
The Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) has opened up nominations for the 2010 Indiana Companies to Watch designation. Indiana Companies to Watch celebrates high-performing, second-stage Hoosier businesses. The designation is given to a wide range of industries from all corners of Indiana based on their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, unique processes and/or philanthropic actions. "This is not an award of the 'top' or 'best' companies -- the companies selected each year make a point about Indiana's diverse economic landscape," according to the ISBDC Web site. "They make an astounding impact on the state's economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars of revenue." If you know of a second-stage company that's worth watching, or would like to nominate your own business, you are encouraged to apply directly. Click here for directions and more information on how to nominate a potential Company to Watch. The nomination deadline is March 29, and the 2010 Indiana Companies to Watch designees will be announced on August 26 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne Women Nominated for 2010 Torchbearer Awards; Ceremony is March 4
Three women from Fort Wayne are among the nominees for the 2010 Torchbearer Awards. The local nominees are Jane Avery, executive director of the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana; Dorian Maples, owner of Dorian Maples Associates, Geriatric Care Management; and Joan Uebelhoer, a long-time activist with the Fort Wayne Feminists who serves as a limited-term lecturer in the Women's Studies program at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Torchbearer Awards, the State of Indiana's most prestigious recognition for women, are given annually by the Indiana Commission for Women (ICW) to honor exceptional role models. "Torchbearers are women who have been pioneers throughout their lives and have stepped forward as leaders by breaking down barriers to women's full participation," according to the ICW. The 2010 Torchbearer recipients will be announced in an awards ceremony on March 4 at the Indiana Statehouse. The event is open to the public; click here and RSVP by March 2. Purdue Announces 'Elevator Pitch' Contest
Have you developed an outstanding elevator pitch to promote your business? Then consider participating in Purdue University's annual Elevator Pitch Competition on April 2. The event is open to Purdue students and faculty, as well as entrepreneurs from Purdue Research Parks in West Lafayette and across Indiana.
The contest, organized by Purdue's Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, gives each participant two minutes to describe a business venture to judges, and three minutes to answer follow-up questions. "A solid, well-crafted pitch about the promise of your business can make a difference when trying to attract the attention of customers and funders, particularly during tough economic times," according to Natalie Durval-Couetil, director of Purdue's certificate program and associate director of the Burton Morgan Center. "In one or two minutes, the pitch should describe your product or service, your market, your competitive advantage, how you plan to make money, and why someone should invest in you or your team." Click here for more information or to register for the Elevator Pitch Competition, or e-mail Sascha Harrell of Purdue's certificate program. |
| Monthly Workshop |
SBDC to Partner in Presenting Workshop Feb. 18 on 'Keys for Business Start-Up'
The Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center will be presenting a free workshop on the Keys for Business Start-Up on Thursday, February 18, in partnership with the City of Fort Wayne, Women's Enterprise (WE), SCORE, and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.
The workshop, scheduled for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Omni Room on the second floor of the City-County Building, will cover the following topics: Business Legal Structure; Programs Available through the City; Business Planning; Financial Tools and Cash Flow; Banking and Credit; and Funding Sources and Strategies. The topics are designed for people who are thinking about starting a business or have recently launched a new venture and have questions.
The workshop's presenters include Ken McCrory of the Northeast Indiana SBDC; Ola DeGabriele representing the City of Fort Wayne; attorney Joshua Burkhardt of Beers, Mallers, Backs & Salin, LLP; and Bill Causey, Les Baggett and George Schenkel with SCORE.
Other monthly workshops planned for 2010 include: March 18 - Procurement; April 15 - Franchising; May 20 - Business Expo; June 17 - Commercial Kitchens; Aug. 19 - Taxes and Record Keeping; Sept. 16 - Keys for Business Start-Up; Oct. 21 - Importing & Exporting; Nov. 18 - Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights; and Dec. 16 - Keys for Business Start-Up.
All workshops except October's importing and exporting session will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Omni Room of the City-County Building. Reservations are not required. |
| About N.E. Indiana Small Business News... |
The Northeast Indiana Small Business News is published by the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (NEISBDC), located at 4312 Hobson Road, Suite B, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46815. For more information, call 260-481-0500 or visit www.isbdc.org.
Click here to contact Editor Mary Popovich
 The Northeast Indiana SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Indiana, and our many local partners, including the City of Fort Wayne and host Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
How to Reach Us at the Northeast Indiana SBDC
To reach the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (NEISBDC), call the main line at 260-481-0500, fax 260-481-0499, or directly contact one of the staff members listed below:
Ken McCrory, Regional Director, mccroryk@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0496
Scot Goskowicz, Business Advisor, goskowis@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0493
Jane Rich, Business Advisor, richj@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0495
Ola DeGabriele, Business Advisor and International Trade Specialist, degabrio@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0498
Mary Popovich, Marketing Coordinator, popovicm@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0494
Billie Wunderlich, Office Manager, wunderlb@ipfw.edu, 260-481-0500
PICC Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Gil Perry, Counselor/Trainer, fgperry@piccorp.org, 260-413-1109
 The Northeast Indiana SBDC is hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). | |
|
|
|
| SBDC Partner Profile: Bill Konyha of EDG of Wabash County, Inc. |
|
 Bill Konyha is the President and CEO of the Economic Development Group (EDG) of Wabash County, Inc., an organization whose mission is to create economic and employment opportunities for the people and businesses of Wabash County. Along with the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, the Wabash EDG works closely with the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (NEISBDC) to serve business clients in Wabash County. "We are truly partners," Konyha says. "The SBDC does all of our training and business plan development for our Entrepreneurship Development Program." The program is comprised of Wabash County entrepreneurs recruited by the EDG who in many cases receive loan guarantees upon completion of the program, according to Konyha. "We value our relationship with the SBDC and believe that it brings great value to our organization and to the people that we serve," Konyha says. NEISBDC Regional Director Ken McCrory and his staff travel to Wabash on a regular basis to work with clients from the area. Konyha has led the Wabash EDG for more than three years. Some of his group's recent economic development successes include Poet Energy of North Manchester, with $110 million in capital investment and 40 employees; Living Essentials, $20 million in capital investment and 227 employees; and Cinergy MetroNet, which brought $15 million in capital investment and 16 employees to Wabash County. Prior to joining the Wabash EDG, Konyha had served as executive director of economic development organizations in Fayette and Tipton counties and in leadership positions with Eastside Community Investments, Inc. and Comparato Industries, Inc., all in Indiana; and, earlier in his career, in executive positions with three Ohio companies. A native of Ohio, Konyha grew up in Hinckley and graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. To reach Konyha and the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, call 260-563-5258 or send an e-mail to wkonyha@edgwc.com. |
| IPFW Courses |
|
The Northeast Indiana SBDC partners with the Division of Continuing Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) to offer a variety of courses to help with business and personal development. Upcoming offerings include the two-part "Understanding Financial Statements" course on February 17 and February 24. Click here for more information and to view the online catalog of available courses. |
| SBDC Workshops |
 |
How to Start a Business (March 10 and the second Wednesday of each month, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the NEISBDC in Fort Wayne). This one-session workshop provides an overview of basic topics to consider before starting a business. Interactive participation is encouraged with a mix of discussion and exercises. Cost: $25, includes business feasibility software. Register through learn.ipfw.edu or by calling 260-481-6619.
Basics of a Winning
Business Plan (March
15, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the NEISBDC
in Fort Wayne). This one-session workshop presents the tips and tricks of writing a successful business plan. The workshop covers the need for and the basic elements of a winning plan, including what lending institutions require. The class format includes a mixture of discussions and exercises. Cost: $15. Register through learn.ipfw.edu or by calling 260-481-6619.
_________________
SBDC Workshops in Northeast Indiana
Business workshops are also offered in partnership with the nine SBDC outreach sites in northeastern Indiana located in Angola, Auburn, Bluffton, Columbia City, Decatur, Huntington, Kendallville, LaGrange and Wabash. Click here to inquire about specific locations, dates and times, or call the NEISBDC at 260-481-0500 for more information. |
| Networking |
|
Monthly Business Networking Events are available through the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. Click here to go to the Chamber Web site for information on the various events available in Fort Wayne. Networking Group List Shane Grantham of Grantham Consulting offers a comprehensive list of various networking opportunities available in northeastern Indiana. Click here to access the networking group list. |
| Ft. Wayne Chamber |
|
Landram Named as Permanent Chamber
President/CEO
Mike Landram, who has been serving as interim President & CEO of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Com-merce since June 2009, was promoted in January to the permanent position. He has been with the Chamber since 2004, previously serving as Vice President of Workforce & Business Develop-ment. Landram's promotion was announced soon after the 1920s-era Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce building was listed for sale. Plans are for the Chamber to co-locate with other community organizations -- such as the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance -- in another downtown location yet to be determined. |
| Chamber Day |
|
Members of the Northeast Indiana Chamber Coalition will be taking the voice of area business to the Statehouse on February 16. A full day of activities is planned, including a panel discussion on "What Does Ways & Means Mean?" and a meeting with the President Pro Tem of the Indiana Senate to discuss issues being faced by Northeast Indiana businesses. Click here for more information. |
| Inside Business |
|
'Inside Indiana Business' Offers InsightWant to learn more about the business climate throughout Indiana? Then sign up to receive The Inside Edge twice-daily electronic newsletter, a publication of Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick. Click here to sign up for a free subscription. In addition to providing business news from throughout the state, The Inside Edge also offers insightful articles written by Hoosier business leaders. One such example is a recent article called "Rising from the Ashes of Recession: Building a Thriving Business During Turbulent Times," written by business consultant Joe J. Wallace. Click here to read the article. Extensive archives featuring articles on a variety of business topics are also available through The Inside Edge. |
| Share Your News |
|
If your organization has news or events of interest to small business owners in Northeast Indiana, please e-mail your announcement to Editor Mary Popovich to be considered for possible inclusion in a future issue of N.E. Indiana Small Business News. The copy deadline is the third week of the month for the following month's newsletter. The editor reserves the right to exclude items that do not meet the content criteria or available space of the newsletter. |
| Our Mission |
 |
The mission of the Indiana Small Business Development Center network is "To have a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of small businesses in Indiana, and to develop a strong entrepreneurial community." Click here for more information on the ISBDC. |
|
|
