fishers chamber nov 2012

Premiere Issue | Fall 2012 TRUEleader for

FORUM

Studententrepreneurs

serves guests rich history

houseAmbassador

Inside Fishers’ oldest business

ARCHER’S

Conner PrairieNationally recognized museum

Embroidery business keeps community in stitches

A new voice for Fishers.

www.thejmetzgergroup.com765.744.4303

www.fisherschamber.com317.578.0700

FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012 | 3

CARDIOVASCULAR | ORTHOPEDICS | SPINE CARE | EMERGENCY SERVICES

Discover the strength at iuhealth.org/saxony or � nd a doctor by calling 317.678.DOCS (3627)

Local care with a national reputation.

2012-2013 U.S.News & World Report rankings

As part of the only healthcare system in Indiana to be named to the U.S.News & World Report National Honor U.S.News & World Report National Honor U.S.News & World ReportRoll, Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital is proud to offer your community the highest level of orthopedic, cardiovascular, spine and emergency care. Find us conveniently located just off Exit 210 in Fishers.

©2012 IU Health 09/12 HY014112_5943

©2012 IU Health 01/12 HY14112_59437.25” x 9.75” Full PageBuilt at size (100%)

14112_5943_7.25x9.75_4c_FBI_CommunityDay_v3.indd 1 9/26/12 2:49 PM

4 | FISHERS CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

Cindys’ in Stitches Two women thriving in their 10-year-old unique embroidery business .

Ambassador House A community’s hard work and devotion preserves hidden treasure.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools Administrators turn to 21st century ideas to guide academic changes.

Conner Prairie Popular living history park adds science, math, and technology to the experience.

Graphics and lists Community statistics including population, employment, and education.

14 Doug True: FORUM Credit Union’s Chief Executive Officer leads his team humbly and with creativity.

director’s cutA welcome by Fishers Chamber of Commerce President Dan Canan.

A report by Chamber Chairman of the Board Anthony Gutwein.

board room

Meet new members of the Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce board.

fresh faces

from the cover

departments

success story7

10 did you know?

24 learning curve

20 member profile

31 by the numbers

20in every issue

16

13

17

contents

story by rodney richeyphotos by chris bergin


features

Student profiles Meet three technology-savvy students who have entered the business world before graduating from high school.

24

Firefighter competition More than 70 put their skills to the test while competing in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.

22

Archer’s Meats Learn about one of Fishers’ oldest and best-kept secrets.

29

PUBLISHER Dan Canan, President/CEO Fishers Chamber of Commerce www.fisherschamber.com [email protected]

EDITORIAL DIRECTION The JMetzger Group Juli Metzger John Metzger www.thejmetzgergroup.com 765.744.4303 | 765.729.1391

CONTRIBUTORS Design: Tammy Pearson Writers: Darrel Radford, Rodney Ritchey Informational Graphics: John Metzger Photography: Chris Bergin, Chris Bergin Photography 317.514.8408 | [email protected] Maria Strauss, www.mariaclarestrauss.com Advertising sales: Bob Jonason

PRINTING: Priority Press www.priority-press.com

To advertise, contact The JMetzger Group at 765.744.4303 | [email protected]

To subscribe, contact the Fishers Chamber of Commerce at 317.578.0700.

Fishers Chamber Magazine is the voice of Fishers Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. It is a product of The JMetzger Group and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of The JMetzger Group and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce and may not be used without written consent.

Volume 1, Issue 1Fall 2012

Copyright 2012: The JMetzger Group and The Fishers Chamber of Commerce.

The JMetzger Group specializes in custom publishing, corporate communications and social media solutions.

Learn more: www.thejmetzgergroup.com


ou’re holding the premiere issue of Fishers Chamber Magazine, the new voice for Fishers, Indiana. Volume I. Issue I.

This publication is designed with you in mind. It’s about giving the best possible value to Chamber members. You deserve it. And, frankly, we have too many good stories to keep them to ourselves.

This publication will continue in 2013 and will feature Chamber members and be supported by Chamber members. It’s exclusive to you. We’ll be telling you stories about what makes our colleagues successful and about their secrets to good business practices.

When it came time to select stories for this issue, we knew immediately what the cover story should be. Doug True, CEO of FORUM Credit Union, is a local guy. He personifies what so many of us in business strive for – excellence in our professional and personal lives.

At a time when so many executives stay a brief time then move on, Doug is as local as it gets. He’s never lived outside a 20-mile radius. He didn’t plan that. It just happened. And lucky for us it did.

We’ll strive to include features about our schools, our town, our local businesses and industry in each issue of Fishers Chamber Magazine.

There is so much to be proud of in our business community that it became clear we needed a new way to tell your story. I invite you to spend some time with Fishers Chamber Magazine and tell me what you think. The Chamber is here to serve you, our members, and part of that service is telling your story. Enjoy. ■

Dan Canan is President of the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.

chamber magazine tells stories about what we are most proud of __ you

dan canan

d irector’s cut

www.fisherschamber.com | 317.578.0700

The 11th Annual

presents

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

FORUM Conference Center

“Celebrating Business Excellence”Business of the YearSponsor: Cambria Suites▶ More than 25 employees▶ Provides superior customer satisfaction▶ Exhibits community spirit ▶ Provides a positive economic impact

Small Business of the YearSponsor: StarMedia▶ 25 or fewer employees OR▶ Home-based business▶ Provides superior customer satisfaction▶ Exhibits community spirit▶ Provides a positive economic impact

Entrepreneurial SpiritSponsor: Duke Energy▶ Has a uniquely innovative product OR ▶ Provides a service on the cutting edge of

technology

Employee of the Year ▶ Individual employed by a member business.

Lifetime Ac hievementSponsor: Community Bank ▶ Charter Member

Y


sewsP E R S O N A L I T Y

i n t o f i s h e r s ’ c o m m u n i t y f a b r i c

c indys’ in st itches

written by darrel radfordphotos by maria strauss

success story


“Is Cindy there?” a voice on the other end inquires.

“Which one?” is the common answer.Customers who have supported Cindys’

In Stitches for the past decade have come to know that it really doesn’t matter whether Cindy Hannon or Cindy John-son picks up the phone. They are going to receive professional, cheerful and prompt service with either one.

And before the conversation is over, chances are they will not only be satisfied, but laughing as well. Joyful, effervescent, personable and professional, the two Cindys have done their job so well, they don’t need to use the promotional products they provide for others.

“We’re in the name recognition busi-ness,” Cindy Johnson said. “We take it personally when they are walking out the door. The best advertising is always a referral.”

“We’ve been in business for 10 years and have done very little advertising,” Cindy Hannon said.

This tale of two Cindys happened quite by accident. The two are not related and actually came to Indiana from different states – Cindy Johnson is from Tennessee and Cindy Hannon is a Michigan native. But fate literally stitched the two together when they both were employees at the Omni Hotel in Indianapolis.

Cindy Hannon was director of opera-tions at the Omni Hotel. Cindy Johnson was the director of sales.

“Which are naturally conflicting posi-tions,” Cindy Hannon said with a laugh.

The two not only struck up a friendship but also shared their talents for embroi-dery. Their employer soon discovered their skills.

“We had done this as a hobby. Then we used to buy these products when we were

two cindys.

two bubbly personas.

when the phone rings on a typical day at a certain fishers custom embroidery and promotional product business, the question is generally the same.

laughter is a part of the embroidery business for owners cindy hannon, left, and cindy Johnson, right.


in the hotel business,” Cindy Johnson said.Once, when doing it for their families, the

dynamic duo was asked “why can’t you do this as a business?” It was a good question. The answer was Cindys’ In Stitches.

“It was a natural transition for us,” Cindy Johnson said. “Neither of us has sisters.We share the same work ethic. We’re both fast-pace people. We don’t feel the need to lollygag.”

So it began out of Cindy Hannon’s house for the first two years. But their skill, per-sonality and teamwork soon made working there impractical.

“When we had to do 365 shirts on a (single) machine, we decided it was time to expand,” Cindy Johnson said. “We literally took turns on the couch. One would sew, the other would sleep, then the other would sew and the other would sleep.”

So, Cindys’ In Stitches was born. Two Cindys, two bubbly personas. Touché to the competition.

“We work hard and we play hard,” Cindy Johnson said. “We’re always laughing but we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves. We share the same vision.”

“We are both so customer-service ori-ented,” Cindy Hanson said.

These trendy Cindys keep their custom-ers focused on the latest promotional prod-ucts and find what their customers want, even when they walk through the door not knowing what they want.

Among the things they offer are custom embroidery, screen printing, promotional products and rhinestone apparel. They do “literally anything you can print your name on.” Shirts, jackets, shorts, hats. Hundreds if

not thousands of items are available.“We try to find a product that will stay in

front of a customer for a long time,” Cindy Johnson said.

“Our answer is never ‘no we can’t do it.’ It’s ‘here’s what we can do,’” Cindy Hannon said.

Two of the things they do best are laugh – and make others laugh.

“Sometimes, when it gets tense, the best thing to do is laugh,” Cindy Johnson said.

So many walk in as customers and be-come their friends, the Cindys say.

“Most like to do business with people they know,” Cindy Hannon said.

The two Cindys are known not only at their Fishers store but also out in the com-munity through their active support of com-munity efforts and sports teams.

“Everyone is a potential client,” Cindy Johnson said. “A corporation, a school, a doctor’s office, a mom in charge of a school event.”

Each Cindy has been married for 19 years.

Cindy Hannon has 6-year-old twins, Eli and Tessa, and is married to husband, Matt.

Cindy Johnson has a 23-year-old son, Nick, and is married to husband, Scott.

That two people, not related, from differ-ent states, with different skill sets are now working together seems to be fate shining like one of the rhinestones on their custom-ers’ shirts.

Sometimes the phone will ring at this growing Fishers business, and either Cindy will do – because of what they’ve done.

“We so love it when a customer calls and tells us we saved the day,” the Cindys say. ■

“when we had to do

365 shirts on a single

machine, we decided

it was time to

expand.”

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When it came time for the people of Fishers to save a

piece of the town’s history, it took dedication and work to move

The Little HouseDown the Road

the historic ambassador house & heritage gardens in fishers.

d id you KNoW


the ambassador house in fishers was once a former summer home for addison harris, u.s. ambassador to austria-hungary from 1899-1901 and his wife, india. it is now a historic house and available to rent for events.

o n Nov. 19, 1996, motorists in Fishers must have been curious about the two big trucks trundling down the road, each carrying half of an old house. Moving houses is nothing new, but this house was special.

It had been built more than a century and a half before. Today it is a meeting and event venue owned and managed by the town: The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens, at its cur-rent location of 106th Street and Eller Road.

Back home again for IndiaDescendants of Thomas West erected the

house, originally a log structure, in 1826. Perched on an impressive spread of more than 200 acres at what is now 96th Street and Allisonville Road, it later became the summer home of Addison and India Harris.

Addison and India were what today would be called “a power couple”: He, a prominent attorney

see PAGe 12

written by rodney richeyphotos by chris bergin


in downtown Indianapolis, and she, his legal assistant, one of the few women back then to graduate from college. Their main residence was at 14th and Meridian streets.

“In fact, their neighbor was Joshua Lilly,” says Pete Feeney, vice president of the board of directors of the Ambassador House.

Harris was named U.S. Ambassador to Austria-Hungary in 1899, holding the post for two years, thus the current name.

According to Feeney, vice president of sales for Robert Dietrick Co. Inc., Addison Harris “was looking for a place to get away during the summer-time. He was an outdoorsman, so he wanted something that was close to White River.”

But the two-story house was scarcely the home of a respected attorney or U.S. ambassador. So Addison and India set about to renovating it into a Greek Revival home of magnificent beauty. In fact, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Purpose drivenWhen the Town of Fishers moved it in 1996, the

house was days away from being leveled by develop-ers.

Once it was relocated, however, one question remained: What would the town do with it?

“It sat there for the better part of 10 or 12 years without much going on.” Feeney said. “Finally, the town got some funding and started renovating it. It opened for business in June 2009.”

The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens is a meeting venue, suitable for business or social events, including weddings, receptions, and reunions. The gardens themselves are scrupulously maintained and attract photographers from all over, Feeney said.

Behind the house, in almost the same vicinity to it, is a stone house, not yet renovated, that had been

the Harrises’ summer kitchen. In the basement, several original logs are on display for tour groups, and some original beams are exposed.

“They talked about making it a museum at one time,” Feeney said. “The problem with museums is, they can be pretty static. People go through them once, and then that’s it.” Creating a multi-use venue was seen as the best plan.

In its brief current incarnation, the house has been a success, with events scheduled well into 2013.

“We’ve had over 100 events of some type or other, maybe 120, since it was opened in 2009,” Feeney said. “With the average attendance being 80-100, over 10,000 people have been there to use that house.”

A turning pointFeeney sees the property as a “lost treasure” for

Fishers.“It carries a lot of history, on top of the architec-

ture and the fact that part of it was built from an old log cabin.”

With renovation and preservation efforts ongoing, including more weatherproofing and plans for a pathway down to White River, Feeney says the house has a lot of meaning for the town.

“Some people think of Fishers as a bedroom community to Indianapolis that just kind of sprang up all on its own,” he said. “There are not that many homes in the Fishers area that have historical connections. So the decision to protect it and preserve it and relocate it is really kind of a turning point.

“It is publicly owned by the Town of Fishers, and it’s in a public park. And it really helps to connect the folks in Fishers, to let them know there is history in Fishers. “There’s been quite an effort to preserve this little corner of history and make it usable as a resource to the public.” ■

from PAGe 11

A Greek Revival Renovation


La Fuente Mexican Grill & Cantina 9773 E. 116th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 841-0555 www.lafuentemexicangrill.com Maria De Los Angeles Mireles-Delgado

Latitude 39 4016 East 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46240 (561) 702-0109 www.latitude360.com Michael Biagiotti

Mitchell Professional Window Cleaning P.O. Box 591 Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 319-4765 www.mitchellwindowcleaning.com Erick Mitchell

Pro Martial Arts 8962 E. 96th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 841-3155 www.promartialarts.com Jason Pulliam

RoomPlace 5651 East 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46250 (317) 595-5951 www.theroomplace.com Anthony MarinoTouch of Life Church 3951 N. Blue Heron Drive Warsaw, IN 46582 (574) 453-7995 www.touchoflifechurch.com Rick CooperTy’s Detail P.O. Box 473 Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 627-8869 www.tysdetail.com Kelsey TaulbeeWendy’s 13708 Olivia Way Fishers, IN 46037 www.wendys.comWishes Dance Studio 12810 Ford Drive Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 435-2541 www.wishesdancestudio.com Kelley Richards

ANH Media 10305 Allisonville Rd. Suite 110 Fishers, IN 46038 (888) 756-2541 www.anhmedia.com Ashley Hardy

BKD, LLP 201 N. Illinois Street, Suite 700 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 383-4000 www.bkd.com Jason Myers

CruiseOne 10919 Innisbrooke Lane Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 813-4670 www.TheDestinationStation.com Ann Craig-Cinnamon

Edna Lucille Public Relations P.O. Box 7059 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 410-8127 www.ednapr.com Sonya Beckley

Elaine’s Salon 11559 Cumberland Road, Suite 400 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 407-3788 www.elainessalon.net Robin DeTrude

Extreme Pizza 8936 E. 96th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (574) 538-9205 Bruce Mathews

First Advantage 9800 Crosspoint Blvd., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46256 (317) 813-0488 www.fadv.com Valerie Osinski

Flaherty & Collins Properties 8900 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1200 Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317) 816-9300 Chris Kirles

Get In Shape For Women 11720 Olio Road, #800 Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 242-8709 www.getinshapeforwomen.com David VanWye

Indiana Vein & Laser Center/ The Medical Spa 11481 Olio Road Fishers IN 46037 (317) 915-8323 Rikki Krumma

Jason’s Deli 4026 E. 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46250 (317) 578-0543 www.jasonsdeli.com Stephanie Lonski

Kentwood Office Furniture 7226 East 87th St, Suite E Indianapolis, IN 46256 (317) 288-2678 www.kentwoodoffice.com Robert Koehne

fresh faces

Why join the Fishers Chamber?

11601 Municipal Drive | P.O. Box 353 | Fishers, IN 46038317.578.0700

[email protected]

Anthony Gutwein, Edward Jones: Chair Kelly Novak, E.F. Marburger: Chair-Elect Dr. Brian Smith, Superintendent, H.S.E. Schools: Secretary Kurt Meyer, Baseline, Inc.: TreasurerTanya Foster, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Salon Brandon Gorin, Marco’s Pizza Jeff Hagerman, The Hagerman Group Angie Jaynes, Community Health NetworkMark Kosiarek, VAI Technology Jon Kroehler, Sallie Mae Dan LaReau, St. Vincent Carmel Hospital Paul Piltz, Vantage Business Services

board of directors

Membership with the Fishers Chamber of Commerce is an investment in the future of your business. Research by the Shapiro Group shows the value of belonging to a Chamber of Commerce.

“When a company is active in its local chamber, it is doing the right thing not only for the community, but for its own success as well,” said study authors.

What does chamber membership show consumers about your business? In this scientific web-based survey of 2,000 adults nationwide, respondents showed the real value of Chamber membership:► 70% said it shows a business uses good business practices► 69% said it shows a business has a good reputation► 64% said it shows a business cares about its customers► 63% said it shows a business is involved in the community


trueto ForuM

doug true, a humble, glass-half-

full kind of guy, leads the team at forum

credit union in fishers.


coVer story


trueForuM

doug true, chief executive officer of FORUM Credit union, leads a visitor into

his office in the company’s fishers headquarters. the lair boasts a commanding view of his beloved indiana country-side, hardwood floors, some furniture and little else. the décor is as unpresumptuous as the man.

“Maybe you can help liven me up,” says the 46-year-old True, who was named CEO in November 2011. “I’m pretty boring. When the (interview) request came through, I thought, ‘Really?’ ”

Only a fool would take such a man at his word. After all, it was True who was behind the development of TAPS, the lending software that FORUM sold off in 2008. True was the sole creator of the “decision engine” that drove the automation of the decision making for consumer loan requests.

True has been part of FORUM nearly as long as it has been around in Fishers. In 1976, Indiana Telco Federal Credit Union bought a plot of land and built its headquarters in Fishers. “There was hardly anything here. It was a farming community,” True recalled. “Even when I started here in 1988, there were really only two places to eat: McDonald’s and Archer’s Deli. And that was about it. And Fishers is part of what has made FORUM what it is to-day, because we were fortunate enough to have this headquarters here and be part of this community.”

According to John Dierdorf, chair-man of FORUM’s board of directors, his keen insight worked in his favor when he was selected to his new post.

“Doug has been a key part of FORUM’s culture for many years, so he has participated in creating the current environment,” Dierdorf said. “He is open and responsive to questions and new ideas. He brings a creative energy and a contagious enthusiasm to the entire organization.”

A close friend, Tim Miller, agrees.“Sometimes people get successful

and they forget where they came from,” said Miller, project manager for Ber-nardin, Lochmueller & Associates and a friend of True’s for several years.

“As (Doug) has risen through his career, he has always remembered his roots. It’s always about doing the right thing, being honest, and doing the best you can. I think you’ll find that a lot of successful CEOs have those same characteristics.”

credit union ceo builds creative energy

true’s advice to people entering the workforce: “find work that you love doing. life’s too short to wake up in the morning and dread going to work.”

see PAGe 16


Founded: 1941

Assets: $925 million

Employees: 285

Annual payroll: $8.75 million

Branches: 12 (4 in Hamilton County)

The conference center includes a foyer for intimate events or pre-function gatherings and the conference center can also be configured to small seating sections for small group events.

The conference center can seat 500 people in a round table seating format and as many as 750 in a lecture style seating arrangement.

A multi-use conference center is available for business meetings or wedding receptions. Other amenities include a large employee recreation room and training facilities.

The FORUM Corporate campus is larger than 180,000 square feet and includes a state of the art fitness center for employ-ees and tenants to use.

ForuM credit uNioN

“He’s a very humble individual, said Jeffrey Buck, director of MBA pro-grams at Anderson University’s Falls School of Business.

“He’s a high achiever and well respected among everyone he’s as-sociated with. But, still, he’s a pretty humble guy.”

It would be difficult for True to forget his roots – they are all around him. Born in Greenfield, he lives in New Palestine with his wife, Sharon, and their two children: Matthew, 12, and Megan 16.

He obtained his bachelor’s from Indiana University-Purdue University

at Indianapolis, heading back to college 10 years later for his MBA at AU. (He had told his parents as a teenager that he wanted to attend Stanford.)

“It just worked out that way,” True says of his life’s path thus far. “One thing that’s sad – I don’t think it’s sad, but some people may think it is – is that I have never lived outside of a 20-mile radius. I didn’t plan for that. It just happened.”

It didn’t just happen. Decidedly loyal, True attended IUPUI because he worked at a Sears store whose manager didn’t want him to move off to an out-of-state school.

“So instead of going away to school,

true on his team: “we have a team of six ... and i believe that we have six ceos here, not just one. we can confront each other and say, ‘hey, i’ve got a different opinion on this,’ and boom, work it out.”

from PAGe 15


I went to IUPUI, stayed at home, worked full-time at Sears,” True said.

He says he might have stayed at Sears if not for a want ad in the paper for new hires downtown. “We didn’t have the Internet or Monster.com back then.”

The business was Indiana Telco Credit Union, but the ad was a blind one, seeking a “management trainee.”

When True arrived for his interview in 1988, his ap-pointed inquisitor was not in the office. So he spent his interview with then-CEO John Jeter, who retired in 1998.

“I had a lot of offers to consider,” True says. “But after the interview with Mr. Jeter, I knew this is where I wanted to be. I walked out of there and said, ‘I really want to go to work for this man.’ He was just very inspirational, and I kind of felt like I could find myself here.”

Little did he know. “I like the credit union philosophy of being a not-for-

profit cooperative,” True admits. “My dad was always a big supporter of Naval Avionics Credit Union, which is now Family Horizons. So the credit union thing kind of com-pelled me.”

True met his wife, Sharon, a Purdue student, who was working as a summer teller at FORUM’s eastside office. The stay-at-home mom was named 2012 Volunteer of the Year at New Palestine Elementary School.

“She’s remarkable, and obviously, I’m her biggest fan,” True said. “I’m so proud of her, because she’s over there all the time. She just does whatever is needed. She’s part of the fabric of that school.”

True occupies his free time with involvement in his kids’ lives. His daughter is involved in 4-H and his son loves sports. Even in his new role as CEO, True still enjoys some things in life that are simple and basic.

“I still like reading an actual newspaper,” True says. “I’m a technology fan. But there’s something about newspapers and magazines that I absolutely love.”

He plays tennis on occasion with his athlete son, and the freshly minted chief executive has even taken up golf. Again.

“I’ll be honest; I had shied away from the golf course,” True says with the rueful smile of a former golfer. “Of course, in the CEO role, golf is sometimes important. There’s business done on golf courses. So I picked it back up.”

True smiles again. “And it’s testing my patience.”What’s also tested his patience is the turmoil that has

rocked the financial industry in the past decade. The bad behavior of a few, he says, has tarnished the good efforts of many.

“And everyone suffers because of it,” he says. “Not just consumers, but even players in the financial area that are good actors. We see that through regulation. And that’s fine. That’s part of the game that we’ve got to adhere to.”

What True takes from the situation is the determination to do his job better. And to do that, he says, one has to keep one’s life – and one’s faith – in perspective.

“(Faith) comes first,” True says. “We coined a phrase here (at FORUM Credit Union) as a team: ‘Faith, family and FORUM,’ in that order. We tell our employees that. And that’s the way it should be.

“It’s simple, but it’s a constant reminder for me.” ■

s Chairman of the Board for 2012, I’m very thankful as I look back on yet another suc-

cessful year for our Chamber and even more excited about what’s ahead. Our mission to deliver value to our members and the community through political and economic advocacy, excep-tional service and responsive leadership hasn’t changed. However, the pace at which we adapt to our members needs is accelerating.

We have evaluated how we connect with our members and the Fishers Chamber Magazine is a result of that effort. You’ll find people like yourself; people who make a difference in Fishers. It will include key statistical data that visitors and newcomers tell us they want to know. It will be here that you can count on depth and perspective from your business community colleagues. It’s one of many high-lights in 2012.

Additionally, our luncheon continued to draw talented speakers such as Clark Kellogg and Mike Ahern. Our Saturday morning Farmers Market continued to grow, providing exposure opportunities to our members, and serving the community at large. We have changed direc-tion with a few of our events and will be focusing our resources to “go big” on others.

On the political front, your Chamber re-mained vigilant throughout the election season. We worked hard to educate and inform on issues like our very form of government in Fishers and took steps to make sure our members’ voices were heard. No matter the outcome, know your Chamber is prepared to advocate for our mem-bers with our elected officials.

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to thank our members, volunteers, and staff for helping to create a culture of collaboration. I’m proud of our Chamber and wish you all the best for 2013. Enjoy Fishers Chamber Magazine; I think you’ll find it worth your time. ■

Anthony Gutwein is the 2012 Fishers Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board.

chambers’ mission is to deliver value to our community

anthony gutwe in

boArd rooM

A


young boy looks incredulously at a man dressed in funny clothes who offers him pennies to walk from indianapolis to cincinnati and pick up some

merchandise for the general store. A young girl has fire in her eyes when told by the same man that in the

time period she’s entered, women aren’t allowed to hold office or vote.Ooohs and ahhhs emanate from a barn where doting youngsters feed

baby farm animals. Shrieks and screams come from a Civil War experience that simulates the divided and dangerous state Indiana found itself in during those turbulent years.

Kids play store with a cash register, shoot a ball at a peach basket, and take turns experiencing what it was like to milk a cow.

And nowhere in sight are signs that say, “Do not touch.”Such is a typical day in the life of Conner Prairie, an interactive history

park that’s creating a new business model for the future. Since 2006, the outdoor venue has generated some impressive numbers

to go with its intriguing and engaging exhibits.How have they done it? Ellen Rosenthal, the president and chief

executive officer, sums it up in a sentence.

ConnerPrairie:museum adds science and technology to experience

see PAGe 20

written by darrel radfordphotos by maria strauss

lili manley, 5, looks at a goat in the animal encounters barn.

MeMber ProF iLe

A


conner prairie ceo ellen m. rosenthal learns about the occupation roles of 1836. she has been the ceo at conner prairie since 2005.

the conner prairie science lab features hands-on learning activities indoors.

annie sichting, left, and lucas taylor, middle, watch as earl evans creates a 1836 style gun. visitors experience american life during 1836 through hands-on activities.


1The number of museums in Indiana that are Smithsonian affiliates, a distinction held only by Conner Prairie. In 2010, the museum not only received the National Medal, the nation’s highest honor for museums, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, but was also named one of nine “Magnetic Museums” in 2010 by the American Alliance of Museums.

320,000 The number of visitors during 2011 – approximately 259,000 of whom came from outside Fishers. Some came from as far away as Louisville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.

340

The number of full and part-time employees Conner Prairie has, making it one of Fishers’ largest employers, generating a payroll of more than $4.4 million and creating $274,000 in state and local tax dollars.

11According to The Indianapolis Business Journal, Conner Prairie is now the 11th most-popular attraction in the Greater Indianapolis area.

conner prairie milestones since 2006

“It’s not just history, it’s an experience,” she said.Rosenthal explained that the goal for this, the first

“living” history museum in America, is to have visitors really see what living in the 19th century was like.

And so, the emphasis is not on artifacts or objects sitting in a glass case. Rather, it’s on the visitor experience.

“We want you to be a part of the experience rather than simply listening to us talk about it,” said Cathryn Ferree,

Conner Prairie’s vice president of exhibits, programs and facilities.

Youngsters learn here that William Conner, the states-man and fur trader this facility is named after, built the first brick home in central Indiana. They are sure to remember that Conner married an Indian woman from a Lenape tribe, bringing home the fact that Indiana is so named because it was once the “land of the Indians.”

from PAGe 18


They aren’t likely to forget because of the opportunity to throw tomahawks during their visit, just one of many hands-on activities that engage youngsters in science, technology, engineering and math – the make-up of what is known as STEM learning. Often, it happens without the youth even realizing it.

“You never know what’s going to spark a child’s interest,” Ferree said. “Our main job is to promote curiosity. Once they experience it, they want to come back. Kids wonder ‘how’d they do that?’ It’s a multi-layered approach.”

A helium-filled balloon can take them 350 feet in the air while an impressive Civil War program can make them duck for cover as they are introduced to Morgan’s Raiders, a band of confederates who brought the great national conflict to Indiana and divided the state more than many may realize.

“People have a whole new appreciation for Indiana’s role in the Civil War,” Ferree said.

The new Civil War experience is just another reason why a trip to Conner Prairie is as personal and unique as the 30,000 historic artifacts that are here.

“Everybody comes with their own agenda,” Rosenthal said. “It’s our job to pick up on that and follow their interests.”

A visitor might see children learning how to make candles or feeding milk to baby animals.

Kevyn Miller, whose family has been in the agriculture business for many generations, said he enjoys talking to youngsters about farming and showing them a variety of animals.

“I get paid to play show-and-tell,” he said with a laugh.Miller said what Conner Prairie does, however, is bring

history to life. By transporting visitors of all ages back in time, they are creating a brighter future.

“What they are really doing is keeping history alive,” Miller said.

The hunger for history is literal here. Families can actually come and sign up for “Hearthside Suppers.” In this experience, they actually make a four-course meal together – the old-fashioned way, churning butter, making, noodles by hand and baking homemade bread – with no drive-through window in sight.

From a community business standpoint, Conner Prairie offers much food for thought about the way to treat customers – a roadmap to the future drawn by the way it

celebrates the past.“You’ve heard in schools about the inquiry-based learn-

ing replacing more traditional means of lecture instruction,” Rosenthal said. “We would say we follow the same path at Conner Prairie. We found that most of the conversation between visitor groups and families was happening when staff was not present because they were so busy providing information.”

There is a certain rhythm to activities here – in more ways than one.

For more than three decades, Conner Prairie has also served as one of the most unique concert venues around. It celebrated the 31st year of the popular “Symphony On the Prairie” events this past summer, a series featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

But the best kind of music is the sounds excited, engaged kids make here on a daily basis. They are proof positive that, contrary to what some might have previously thought, history doesn’t have to be boring and it should be every-body’s “business” to learn from it. ■

conner prairie offers a roadmap to the future

drawn by the way it celebrates the past.

maci hylton, 10, dips a candle into a pot of melted wax during her visit to conner prairie.


FireFiGHter cHALLeNGe

TOP: Fishers Firefighter Jay updike competes in the hose advance portion of the scott

Firefighter Combat Challenge in fishers. the challenge showcases

the talents, skills, and athleti-cism of America’s firefighters.

right: Fishers fire inspector d’nyeal banks helps henry lam-

bert, 7, in the kids portion of the challenge. / photos: chris bergin

FireFiGHter cHALLeNGe

The renowned Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, which showcases the skill and athleticism of firefighting, came to Fishers for the first time in August. The FCC motivates, identifies and celebrates America’s “best of the best” firefighters.

“The firefighter combat challenge promotes health and wellness among our firefighters and showcases some of the skills we use on a daily ba-sis,” Fishers Fire Chief Steven Orusa said. “And we wanted to promote our beautiful community and give them a glimpse of what is required in our job to serve them. “

Presented by I.U. Health Saxony Hospital, the event drew about 70 local competitors from Hamilton County, and thousands of local fans. The FCC travels throughout the country every year simulating essential firefighting skills including climbing a five-story tower in full gear, dragging and hoisting a fire hose and racing around obstacles. Orusa said he expects the event to return to the area in June of 2013.

70 of the area’s bravest compete in 1st challenge

TOP: A crowd cheers on firefighters during the challenge. ABOVE: Fishers firefighter Troy Hines carries Rescue Randy during the victim rescue challenge.


the new

21st ceNtury written by rodney richeyphotos by maria strauss

above: aaron gurin, 17, left, elliott williams, 17, middle, and ben dennis, 17, right, hold ipads and a laptop while catching up with each other. gurin, williams and dennis all earn money from their website businesses or freelance technology-based services.


today’s young entrepreneur isn’t waiting for college graduation to get ahead. he isn’t even waiting

for college.Just look to hamilton southeast-

ern schools for proof. students aaron gurin, ben dennis and elliott williams already have started their own business ventures or are working for high-tech companies honing skills that will carry them beyond the classroom.

And where do these students get their inspira-tion? Perhaps from the administration itself, chal-lenged by unprecedented growth, and pushing hard for advancements in technology.

“It’s really amazing,” said Leonard Gurin, vice president of cash and investments at USA Funds and father to Aaron, a senior at Fishers High School. “Just the encouragement to bring the kids who are going to be the end users into the process, to me, as a business owner, it is money well saved.”

Recently, Dr. Brian Smith, super-intendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, refocused plans for the or-ganization, not only on the building end, but also on the teaching end.

A new elementary school was tabled, while a new junior high was built. More significantly, though, an idea for a third high school – a “collegiate high school” – was greeted with mixed reviews from parents.

The school was later turned into two “acad-emies,” one each for the two high schools, where some students even earn a portion of their fresh-man year in college, tuition-free.

Parent Bill Dennis, chief financial officer for Linc Systems Inc., and father of Ben, a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School, sees the ben-efit of the iPad rollout.

“It has to happen, because that is where tech-nology is going,” Dennis said. “The speed of infor-mation now is incredible.”

schools educate new generation of critical thinkers

ceo21st ceNtury written by rodney richeyphotos by maria strauss

see PAGe 26

LeArN iNG curVe

sm ith


ellio

tt

WiLLiAMs

NAME: Elliott WilliamsHOMETOWN: FishersAGE: 17SCHOOL: Fishers High SchoolYEAR: JuniorPARENTS: Mac and Linda WilliamsSISTER: Claire, 14, freshman at FHSHOBBIES: Amateur photography and video, playing music, video games, making coffee

TECH INTEREST: Design and usability.

MY WORK: I’ve worked a few years for OpenMRS (www.openmrs.org), an open-source, not-for-profit electronic medical record platform. We formed to respond to health care initiatives in the developing world. Today, our system is in use in many countries. We have a global community of volunteers contribut-ing to the software, and my job is to coordinate and design that community of developers and volunteers.

WHY I LOVE IT: It’s the kind of user and usability research I enjoy, and because it’s an excellent cause. I know that somewhere along the line my work is enabling people’s lives to be saved.

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: School definitely is a huge chunk of my time. I do minimal things for them (work) when I’m in school, just because it’s really hard. If I’m actually going to go into the office, that’s a half-hour at least, both ways. So, it’s a lot of time, but it’s what I’m most invested in. But I feel like when I go to school, I’m a pretty normal student, I guess.

FUTURE GOALS: I really love where I am right now with work. I’m not a very money-focused person, but I do really like helping people, because I feel like, somewhere down the line, the work that I’m doing saves lives. And that’s very cool. ... Someday, I’d like to see myself probably out west, or on the East Coast doing something that is relevant or interesting. Those are pretty much the only limitations I’m placing on myself.

Business leaders like Kurt Meyer, president of Baseline, Inc., a commercial real estate firm, say practical training is essential because it helps students advance more quickly in college and in the business world.

“These kids are on the ball and know how to make things happen,” Meyer said. “If I’m not hiring kids like this, then I’d definitely be investing in their companies.”

Gary Reynolds, president of Reynolds Farm Equipment, likes the idea of HSE students mulling their college years more intently, so they could have “at least some idea of the area they’re going to choose when they go to college, try to get some of that sorting out done.”

21st-Century SkillsAlong with immediate, tangible plans, Superintendent

Smith is wrangling with an urgent problem, one that some people might not even see.

“With globalization and 21st-century skills, we have to change the way we teach,” Smith said. It was the same topic he focused on at the September Chamber of Commerce lun-cheon. “We have taught the same way for a hundred years,” Smith continued. “And we’ve done a reasonably good job. But the world has changed.

“So our shift needs to be from traditional lecturing to more inquiry-based critical thinking, asking the right ques-tions. It needs to be project-oriented and still focused on standards, making it fun and getting kids to work on teams. And that can start from the elementary and go on up.”

Smith paused, and then added with emphasis, “That’s quite a paradigm shift for teachers.”

And that’s the segment that Smith wants to teach first: the teachers.

“The teacher becomes a guide on the side,” Smith

from PAGe 25

see PAGe 28

a table shaped like a stack of books rests in the hamilton southeastern Junior high school’s media center. the recently built school accommodates 7th and 8th graders.


ben

deNNis

NAME: Ben DennisHOMETOWN: FishersAGE: 17SCHOOL: Hamilton Southeastern High SchoolYEAR: SeniorPARENTS: Bill and Sherry DennisBROTHER: Grant, 22, finance analyst in ChicagoHOBBIES: Music, politics, and the stock market

TECH INTEREST: Leveraging technology to make business decisions.

MY WORK: I am the president of two companies. Dennis Tech, LLC (www.dennistech.com) is a mobile application development company that creates iPhone and iPad apps for individuals and other companies. Bitwise Fellows (www.bitwisefellows.com) is a web development firm run by high school students to help small businesses, community organizations, and local non-for profits gain a web presence and digital footprint.

WHY I LOVE IT: It is important to me to use technology to make people’s lives better and easier. I have always loved technology and been fascinated with ways to use it to do grand things. I love leading the Bitwise Fellows because I love being able to help people grow and develop their skills.

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: Actually, I think it’s really cool when I’m in class, and I can connect something with what I’m doing outside of class. It’s like, “Oh, yeah, I was just doing that yesterday in my business class.” I actually got credit for my job at BitWise through the Academy of Finance programs.

FUTURE GOALS: I see myself living on one of the coasts. I don’t really do well with authority, so I kind of see myself running my own company or owning something. I want to build something I can call my own. Like sit and look outside my window and say, “I built this.”

hamilton southeastern Junior high students board buses after school.


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Aar

on GuriN

NAME: Aaron GurinHOMETOWN: FishersAGE: 17SCHOOL: Fishers High School YEAR: SeniorPARENTS: Leonard and Robin GurinBROTHER: Ben, 22, IU graduate, studying to become a rabbiHOBBIES: I do photography for fun and run the sound for the school plays. There’s some music thrown in there, but the two businesses keep me fairly busy.

TECH INTEREST: Computer science, web design and development

MY WORK: I am currently working on programming for iPads, iPhones, and Macs. I started Aaron Web Studios (www.aaronwebstudios.com) in seventh grade to handle web design and development. When not running my business, I am usually working at Ben & Ari’s (www.benandari.com), a miniature golf course and our family business for 14 years.

WHY I LOVE IT: I built my first computer in fourth grade and haven’t looked back since. I sort of got thrown into web design when Ben & Ari’s current web designer wasn’t working out. I told my dad, “I think I can do that.” I really enjoyed both the design and development aspect. I really got drawn into software development because it is something that I love. I want to be able to change the world and work on products that people use. Software development allows everyday problems to be solved.

HOW SCHOOL FITS IN: I think the main point of every student’s life is school and school work, but I really don’t think we’re unique in doing something outside of school. I’ve got a lot of friends who do marching band or a sport of some kind. So, basically, I just see my company as something I do on the side, I guess. I’ve never really thought school holds me back. I think it’s important to go to school, but I really do wish I could get more involved with work. On days when we have holidays, when we’re off school, I get up at 9 in the morning, work until 2, and still get more done than when I’m in school.

FUTURE GOALS: My biggest plans are to end up in California, in San Francisco or Palo Alto. I really want to do be able to wake up each day and do something to change the world, I guess. I really want to work on building some product that solves a prob-lem and that people like to use. I want to love my job, love what I do, and work on something that affects the world. I want to work at Apple in the iOS department.

said, describing the theory. “You still have to teach the fundamentals, but then, beyond that, the application of those fundamentals really drives the standards home.

“The research is so clear: Kids remember what they do working in teams, by solving problems themselves, by using some critical thinking skills.”

To Smith, if we ask today’s students a question that can be answered by using Google, “We’re not asking the right questions.”

“Some of these young folks have told me, ‘The glory of this is, we don’t stop collaborating when we leave the classroom,’” Smith said.

“Man, that’s huge, because right now, that bell rings, and you’re gone.

“That’s not what the world’s going to be anymore. It’s going to be more 24/7 and working in teams. That’s what I mean by 21st century skills.” ■

from PAGe 26


reputation of fishers’ oldest business etched in marbling

back when Archer’s Meats first opened in the mid-’60s, fishers was little more than a bump in the road along i-69.

Today, Archer’s, run by owners Ron and Michelle Archer, is the oldest business in downtown Fishers, behind only Reynolds Farm Equipment as the oldest business in Fishers, period. (A second store in Greenwood is run by one of the couple’s four sons.)

In the past a slaughterhouse, today Archer’s offers retail cuts of meat and catering services.

Running herd, so to speak, is manager Denise Weaver, a friendly, engaging woman with a broad smile and a no-nonsense approach.

“The problem is that, Fishers has probably grown a thousand percent,” Weaver said from behind her work-ing desk at the store’s 116th Street location. “Most of these people don’t know anything about us.”

That could be changing, Weaver says. She recently ar-ranged a Groupon promotion for the store, and the results were more than encouraging. (Groupon is an online coupon business.)


freshly ground beef ready for sale at archer’s meats in fishers. the shop and slaughter house has been in operation since 1960 and offers expert butcher-ing and packaging of meat.

see PAGe 30


“We sold 3,500 Groupons in 17 hours,” Weaver said, laughing. “Michelle said to let it ride, but I shut if off because I got nervous.”

When one hears the term “retail butcher shop,” one might think of boutique pricing and that Archer’s Meats might be more expensive than what one might find in a supermarket.

Not so, says Weaver. “Michelle gave me full rein to do the retail cases,” Weaver

said. “I’m Greek, and there’s a Greek saying that, roughly translated, ‘It’s better to make a penny off a hundred people than to make a dollar off of one.’ So we operate on a small margin, and our prices are consistently the same or better than you can find at a grocery store.”

While Weaver chatted in her office, a young couple was excitedly checking out with a package of steaks. It was obvi-ous they had heard of the Archer’s reputation.

“We only sell FDA Choice product out of the retail store,” Weaver says, adding that the ground beef sold in the case is fresh ground from muscle, from cattle that can be traced.

“We’re the only place around here that does that,” she said. “Every grocery store gets it in tubes, pre-ground and semi-frozen from the packing houses. You could have a thou-sand (different) beef in one tube. Once you have our ground product, you’ll never go back to the other stuff.”

Archer’s also offers its own line of sausages: hot Italian, sweet Italian, Wisconsin brat, Andouille, chorizo, fresh Pol-ish, maple breakfast links, sage breakfast links, all made on site.

As autumn rolls around, Archer’s becomes a deer check-in station for hunters, who bring in their bounty. Archer’s then turns it into a variety of products: summer sausage, hot sum-mer sausage, and a chew very much like a Slim Jim. (Weaver said she got the recipe from her parents, Perry and Katherine Pappas. They operated Perry Packing in Daisytown, Pa., for 50 years before closing in 2011.)

Problem with that is, Archer’s is also known for butch-ering animals (it’s still a slaughterhouse) for Jewish and Muslim customers, who expect products that meet kosher and halal standards.

“You have to be respectful of everybody’s different be-liefs,” Weaver said. “We’re under USDA inspection five days a week. We have a state inspector here all the time.

“There’s a hierarchy at which you can cut. You can cut goats, lambs and beef at the same time. Once you move to pork, you can’t go back. And if you cut any poultry, you can’t even go back to pork.”

And during deer season, deer comes after everything else, since it is not inspected. The facility is cleaned and sanitized each night, by a maintenance worker for whom it is a full-time job.

Deceptively small looking, the property is a city block in size. The building is about 18,000 square feet, including Archer’s new catering kitchen. (There’s even a smokehouse on site.)

And all of it is Denise Weaver’s domain.“I love my job because this is my comfort zone,” she

said. “What I like most about this is, it’s not the same thing every day. One day, you’re pulling pork. Another day, you’re wrapping, waiting on customers. Tomorrow, there’s a lot of catering.

“Sometimes, when I look up at the clock and go, ‘Oh, it’s four o’clock, and I haven’t even left for lunch.’ But we’ve got a really good crew, and I like what we do.” ■

from PAGe 29

ron archer, owner of archer’s meats in fishers cuts the fat off a piece of indiana beef.

“once you have our ground product, you’ll

never go back to the other stuff.”


Population Projections

80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115(Population in thousands)

92,3002015

2020 100,840

2025 109,148

2030 117,130

Households

Population2010 total 76,794Median age 31 years

Total number of housing units 28,511Average household size 2.9Number of subdivisions 363

Population over time

In 2003, officials from the town of Fishers requested a special census from the U.S. Census Bureau to accurately measure rapid

population growth since 2000. The special census was completed in 2004,

and total population in Fishers numbered 52,390, a 38% increase in less than four years. Fishers fast facts

s o u r c e s

Town of Fishers Hamilton County Alliance

Hamilton Southeastern School District

ocated in Southeastern Hamilton County, just 20 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis, with convenient access to major transportation

routes, such as I-465, I-69, I-70, I-74 and I-65, Fishers is a very convenient place to live and do business.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport is located in the area and the Indianapolis International Airport can be reached in just half an hour. Cincinnati, Louisville, and Chicago are all within 180 miles of Fishers, and are easily accessed by nearby interstate highways.

Fishers fast facts

Fishers:a growing community with a strong history of family values and successful businesses.

by tHe NuMbers

L


>Town Council Meets the first and third Monday of the month in the Fishers Town Hall Auditorium at 7 p.m.>Town Council Members Scott A. Faultless, President; Mike Colby, Vice-President; Renee Cox , Stuart Easley, David George, Pete Peterson, John Weingardt>Town Hall Administration ........................................ 317-595-3100 Dept. of Development ............................. 317-595-3120 Parks and Recreation Dept. ..................... 317-595-3150 Public Works Dept. .................................. 317-595-3160>Town Manager Scott Fadness .......................................... 317-595-3101>Town Judge Daniel Henke ........................................... 317-595-3130>Clerk-Treasurer’s Office Gaye Cordell ............................................ 317-595-3145

>Delaware Township Office Manager Marilyn Schenkel ..................................... 317-770-4439>Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell ........................................ 317-842-8595>Fall Creek Township Trustee Jeff Hern .................................................. 317-841-3180>Fire Department EMERGENCY ............................................. 911 Fire Administration Office ....................... 317-595-3200 Fire Dispatch (non-emergency) ............... 317-773-1282>Police Department EMERGENCY ............................................. 911 Police Administration Office .................... 317-595-3300 Police Dispatch (non-emergency) ........... 317-773-1282 Crime Tip Line ......................................... 317-595-3305>Bureau of Motor Vehicles 3 Municipal Dr., Fishers ........................... 317-842-0480>Fishers Chamber of Commerce ............. 317-578-0700>Hamilton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau ................................. 317-848-3181>Indianapolis Metro. Airport .................. 317-849-0840>Library ................................................. 317-579-0300

>Post Office ............................................ 317-913-7902>Voter Registration ................................ 317-776-9632

>UtilitiesCable TV AT&T ....................................................... 888-944-0447 Brighthouse Networks ............................ 317-972-9700 Comcast .................................................. 877-858-7701Electricity Duke Energy ............................................ 800-343-3525Gas Vectren .................................................... 800-227-1376Sewer Town of Fishers ....................................... 317-595-3141 Hamilton SE Utilities ............................... 317-577-2300Trash Waste Management ................................ 317-635-2491 Republic Services .................................... 317-917-7300 Ray’s Trash Service ................................... 317-539-2024Water Indiana-American Water ......................... 800-492-8373 Citizens Water ......................................... 317-639-1501

Town of Fishers 1 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038 www.fishers.in.us 317-595-3111

2012:► “Top 100 Best Places to Live in America” (#12) — Money Magazine► “11th Best Place to Move” — Forbes Magazine► “10 Best Towns for Families” — Family Circle Magazine► “Playful City USA Community” — KaBOOM!► “Safest City in the Nation” — CQ Press

2011:► “Green Community” — Indiana Association of Cities and Towns ► “#1 Top 10 Cities for Families in U.S.” — The Learning Channel (TLC)► “Certificate of Excellence” — Center for Performance Measurement► “Top 100 Places to Live” — Relocate America► “Top 25 Suburbs for Retirement” — Forbes.com

Numbers to know

Recent awards for FishersThe Fishers story starts in 1872,

when a man named Salathial Fisher platted land near what is now 116th Street and the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad. Because it’s near a railroad, he named his land “Fisher’s Switch.”

Soon the little town had a post office, a Methodist Episcopal church and three taverns.

Two years later, in 1893, the decision was made to drop the apostrophe, making the name “Fishers Switch.”

It wouldn’t be until 1908 that the word “Switch” was dropped from the appellation. From then on, the area was known simply as “Fishers.” No “Switch.” No apostrophe.

—www.fishers.in.us

it started with a man named fisher

by tHe NuMbers

A great place to raise your businessFishers’ growing business community offers an outstanding array of goods and services, and features more than 1,800 businesses. Ranging from corporate headquarters and distribution centers to professional practices and manufacturing, business has grown with Fishers’ population, each supporting the other.

Academics (kindergarten-college)Residents are pleased with the high quality of academic education offered by Hamilton Southeastern Schools, which includes 12 elementary, three intermediate, three junior high schools and two senior high schools. The high schools belong to the prestigious North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools. The school district has achieved significant successes in academic competitions, sports, music, arts, and other extracurricular activities. Fishers also has a number of private schools available. For more Fishers schools information and data, see page 34.


Fishers fast factsWorkforce

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Statistics

Unemployment:September 2012

Income comparisons (2010)Median household income Fishers Indiana United States $87,740 $52,822 $55,970

Average household income Fishers Indiana United States $103,398 $65,853 $74,974

Per capita income Fishers Indiana United States $36,838 $26,040 $28,779

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

MiscellaneousNumber of businesses .......................................1820 Number of parks ................................................... 14 Miles of walking trails ......................................... 83+

Fishers fast facts s o u r c e sTown of Fishers,

Hamilton County AllianceHamilton Southeastern School District

Infographics by:

www.thejmetzgergroup.com

I.U. Health Saxony

Sallie Mae

Fishers Town Hall

Top Fishers Employers NumberCompany Employed

Sallie Mae 1,800

HSE Schools 800

Roche Diagnostics 500

US Food Service 450

Wiley Publishing 418

Town of Fishers 350

First Advantage 350

Conner Prairie 340

I.U. Health Saxony 300

FORUM Credit Union 285

by tHe NuMbers

Parks and recreationRecreation and leisure abound with 14 parks, more than 83 miles of walking paths, several golf courses, community pools, a state of the art YMCA and an extensive youth sports organization. Nearby Geist and Morse Reservoirs provide convenient access to water recreation. The area has more than 50 churches representing most major denominations and many outstanding community service organizations enriching the quality of life in Fishers.

Quality of lifeAccording to a March 2010 BusinessWeek survey, the town of Fishers was named first out of the top 10 best affordable suburbs in America. Fishers offers a variety of housing in many price ranges including single family homes, condominiums and apartments, in order to attract a wide-ranging population of workers, executives and families. More than 350 subdivisions provide a choice of housing to meet varied lifestyle and financial needs. Fishers also offers active adult communities.


Fishers schools and education

Intermediate (Grades 5-6)Fall Creek Intermediate

12011 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4220

Riverside Intermediate 11014 Eller Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4320

Sand Creek Intermediate 11550 E. 131 Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4230

Brooks School Elementary 12451 Brooks School Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4250

Cumberland Road Elementary 13535 Cumberland Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4170

Durbin Elementary 18000 Durbin Road Noblesville, IN 46060 Phone: (317) 594-4840

Fall Creek Elementary 12131 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4180

Fishers Elementary 11442 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4160

Geist Elementary 14051 E. 104th Street Fortville, IN 46040 (317) 915-4260

Harrison Parkway Elementary 14135 Harrison Parkway Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4210

Hoosier Road Elementary 11300 East 121st Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 915-4240

Lantern Road Elementary 10595 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4140

New Britton Elementary 8660 East 131st Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4130

Sand Creek Elementary 11420 E. 131st Street Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4270

Thorpe Creek Elementary 14642 E. 126th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4310

Elementary (K-4)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

B.A. degree46.2%

Some college/Assoc. degree

21%

H.S. diploma11%

M.A. degree+18.5%

Less than H.S. diploma

3.3%Fishers fast facts

s o u r c e sTown of Fishers,

Hamilton County AllianceHamilton Southeastern School District

Infographics by:

www.thejmetzgergroup.com

by tHe NuMbers

Other: K-8St. Louis de Montfort Catholic

11421 Hague Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 842-1125

High School (Grade 9)Hamilton Southeastern High School Freshman Center

12001 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4390

Junior High (Grades 7-8)Fishers Junior High

13257 Cumberland Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 594-4150

Hamilton SE Junior High 12278 N. Cyntheanne Road Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4120

Riverside Junior High 10910 Eller Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4280

High School (9-12)Fishers High School

13000 Promise Road Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 915-4290

High School (10-12)Hamilton SE High School

13910 E. 126th Street Fishers, IN 46037 (317) 594-4190

Hamilton Southeastern School District Enrollment2012-13 19,8122009-10 17,7971999-2000 7,9791989-90 2,8451979-80 2,186

Educationalattainment

Hamilton Southeastern

High School

Fishers High School

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