Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly - Aug. 9, 2013

AUGUST 9-15, 2013 Daily updates at www.fwbusiness.com $1.00

Business WeeklyPAGE 3

GREATER FORT WAYNE

n INSIDELeading the choirBackground, teamwork allowed Beights to expand programs

PERSONAL BUSINESS EDUCATION

PAGE 10

Under reviewLegislators to take another look at ‘A-F’ school grades

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Local news ....................3-7BizView ..............................8Real estate ........................9Personal Business ...10-11Education ...................12-14Top List............................ 17BizLeads.....................18-21

Report faults VACampus had suspended services

Vol. 9 Issue 32

LOCAL NEWS

Edgy ads cut through clutterConsumers less worried about what may have once been deemed offensiveBY RICK [email protected]

The play-on-words commercials were hard to ignore.

One touting a T-shirt company in Auburn used the phrase “oh, smit,” and contextually it sounded distinctly like, well, something else. Two other commercials promoting a national retailer alternately used the phrases “ship my pants” and “big gas savings,” and “ship” didn’t sound like a mailing and “big gas” clearly inti-mated a bulbous body part.

For years, sex and sensuality have been used in advertising to draw attention to products and companies. The new entries — which could be construed as sophomoric or savvy or both — represent an elevated edginess that some observers suggest illustrates an expanding tolerance of what’s acceptable among listeners and viewers.

For Smit-T’s in Auburn and Kmart, there likely was only one desired effect and at least one of the companies said the commercials achieved that: increased business.

“It got a really good response,” said Dakota Smith, owner of Smit-T’s. “I didn’t have anyone saying anything bad about it. People n See EDGY on PAGE 22

Smit-T’s owner Dakota Smith, modeling a T-shirt specifi cally

made for this story, said his compa-ny’s daring messaging in a radio

commercial brought more business to the Auburn store.

RICK FARRANT

Taking shapeLiving center will expand residential options at HeritageBY LINDA [email protected]

Viewed from the height of Interstate 469, the new life center complex under construc-tion at the Heritage of Fort Wayne seems impressive.

From street level, off St. Joe Road, the new building that will house independent and assisted-living apartments, a nursing home, rehab center and memory-care units, is enormous.

The living center is part of a development by the nonprofi t United Methodist Memorial Homes, which also operates the Heritage of Huntington and Heritage Pointe in Warren.

A new building at the Heritage of Fort Wayne will serve multiple purposes. It’s expected to be completed next year.

LINDA LIPP

n See HERITAGE on PAGE 23

Ivy Tech Corporate College continues to do what it does best—

responding to the needs of our northeast Indiana economy. We are now

offering commercial driver’s license, or CDL, training. This is in response

to a need in our region’s logistics companies to train skilled drivers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for 21 percent more drivers

from 2010 to 2020—that’s more than 330,000 employees!

• Training consists of classroom time, hands-on driving time, and

pre-trip inspection and lab work

• Classes are eight-weeks in length and are located at SIRVA’s Fort

Wayne office, 5001 U.S. Highway 30 West

• Program cost: $3,995 (covers instruction, materials, Department of

Transportation physical, application for learner’s permit and license,

and first attempt at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles skills test)

For more information or to register, call (260) 480-4118.

IvyTech.edu/CorporateCollege

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Fort Wayne International. Drive our economy.

PAGE 2 fwbusiness.com GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly n August 9-15, 2013

Vera Bradley hasn’t met job numbers promised for previous tax abatementsBY LINDA [email protected]

Vera Bradley Inc.’s request for a tax abatement for its proposed investment of more than $26 million to expand two build-ings on its campus southwest of Fort Wayne could come under additional scrutiny from the Allen County Council.

“There definitely will be questions asked when they come before us,” Council Presi-dent Darren Vogt said Aug. 7.

The handbag and accessories manufac-turer has three other county abatements on the books but has fallen far short of the number of jobs it promised to create in conjunction with those projects.

According to the most recent abatement compliance forms the company filed with Allen County, it created just 17 percent of the promised jobs on one abatement, 66 percent on the second and 43 percent on the third.

Together, the 149,000-square-foot expansion of its design center and the 10,000-square-foot addition to its distribu-tion center Vera Bradley announced Aug. 2 are projected to create 128 jobs over the

next four years. The requested tax abate-ment — or tax phase-in, as the county now terms it — would save Vera Bradley an esti-mated $2 million in property-tax payments.

The Fort Wayne City Council has adopted a tougher stand toward tax-abate-ment compliance, voting in July to rescind abatements on 11 projects that had not produced the promised results. Vogt said he didn’t think the County Council would be likely to follow suit, in part because he said county projects have had a better record of compliance.

“I think ours did a pretty good job of living up to expectations,” Vogt said.

At the end of the day, he added, the tax break a company gets is based on the increase in assessed valuation a project creates, not the amount of the investment itself. Like investing $2,000 to put a new engine in an old car, the value of the car isn’t increased by the amount spent, Vogt explained.

Vera Bradley’s expansion is slated to be completed late next year. About $10 million of the project’s cost will be in the compa-n See VERA on PAGE 7

August 9-15, 2013 n GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly fwbusiness.com PAGE 3

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Report raises concerns about VA campus’ servicesOffi cials had called for suspension to address issuesBY RICK [email protected]

Offi cials at the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System Fort Wayne campus were already working on addressing issues raised in a recently released Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general’s report, a spokeswoman said.

The report, released Aug. 2, was sought last November by Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., in the wake of a self-imposed suspension of some inpatient services to review processes and provide training for staff.

All of those services have since been reopened with the exception of the four-bed intensive-care unit, which drew signifi cant

attention in the inspector general’s report.Among the key fi ndings of the report:• Prior to the suspension, the facility

failed to consistently engage sound clinical judgment and deliver quality care.

• Crucial clinical positions at the facility were vacant.

• The competency assessment process for nurses was inconsistent.

• The intensive-care unit was categorized as a Level 3 unit but was operated as a less-comprehensive Level 4, if that.

Donnelly and Stutzman were sharply critical of the pre-suspension conditions at the facility, calling them “unacceptable” and “inexcusable.”

CONTRIBUTED ILLUSTRATION

KPC Media Group launches community news website

KPC Media Group Inc. on Aug. 5 launched a new website to deliver arts, entertainment and community news to its audience in the greater Fort Wayne area.

INFortWayne.com features story-driven new and traditional media with content from the Times Community Publications and Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, which are owned and published by KPC Media Group.

INFortWayne editor Ryan Schnurr, who earned degrees in communication studies and fi lm from Huntington University, brings a unique perspective to community news coverage. His intimate, documentary-style videography and photography will spot-

light more obscure stories from within the community.

“I am interested in the smaller, everyday stories,” Schnurr said. “There’s defi nitely value in covering the major stories, and there are people doing that very well. But there’s also value in the smaller stories, the daily life stories. We’re making a point to introduce you to people, places and events you might not otherwise come in contact with in an effort to help demystify those narratives.”

Each week, Schnurr will release new videos and photo galleries featuring topics

n See VA on PAGE 7

n See WEBSITE on PAGE 7

Why buy when you can rent?The National Association of College

Stores said nearly all of its 3,000 college bookstore members now offer students the chance to rent textbooks rather than buy them. Students spend an average of about $662 on course materials each year, and print rental programs allow students to save 45 percent to 66 percent on text-books.

Across the country, rentals saved students a total of about $450 million during the last school year, the associa-

tion said.Surprisingly, 77 percent of students

continue to prefer the print version of a textbook over the digital. Renting a printed book also is often less expensive than the digital format, the association noted.

w w w.naihd.com

Local Experts. Global Resources.

Chad Glassburn, CCIMSales Associate

[email protected]

as the newest member of our commercial real estate team. Chad carries over 13 years of experience in commercial real estate ownership and sales. A graduate of Indiana University, Chad specializes in investment properties, focusing on multi-housing and senior care investments.

Call Chad for all your commercial real estate needs.

We are pleased to welcomeChad A. Glassburn, CCIM

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Rent-a-book Retail adds jobs; economist calls numbers ‘lackluster’

R e t a i l e r s accounted for 46,800 of the 162,000 new jobs created in the U.S. in July, according to fi gures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It was the sector’s strongest month of job growth since November, with increases coming in partic-ular in the gener-a l -merchandise , food and beverage and building and garden supply store categories.

“Contrary to the record increases on Wall Street, employment continues to be a lagging indi-cator of the recovering economy,” said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation. “Despite the underwhelming and discouraging job gains in July, NRF expects the economy to pick up in the third and fourth quarters. The employment trend is positive yet lackluster.”

COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL PERMITS EXPERIENCE GROWTH

The value of construction permits issued in Allen County through the end of July was up $73.3 million, or 24.3 percent, from the fi rst seven months of 2012.

The year-to-date increase was driven by a $22-million, or 17.5-percent, increase in the value of residential building permits issued; and a $51.3-million, or 29.3-percent, increase in the value of commercial permits, according to data provided by the Allen County Building Department.

DIRIG SHEET METALDirig Sheet Metal was awarded a

contract to install heating, ventilation and air-conditioning ductwork for Indiana Tech’s new, 63,000-square-foot academic center. The project is expected to be completed in August 2014.

BND COMMERCIALKarl Behrens represented the tenant,

Shambaugh & Son LP, in the lease of 100,000 square feet of space at 2219

Contractors Way from Seigle Fort WayneInvestments LLC, which was representedby Steven Zacher and John Adams of Zacher Co./CORFAC International.

Shambaugh also is leasing 75,000 square feet of a storage building from Seigle and will sublease 30,000 square feet of space toFerguson Enterprises, a longtime tenant.

Ron Conrad Jr. represented the tenant,Rebekah Miller, doing business as Polished by Bekah Miller, in the leaseof 1,080 square feet of retail space at 901 Cardinal Court, Auburn, from Cenway.

Brian Fleming represented the buyer, MidWest America Federal Credit Union, in the purchase of a 3,160-square-foot offi ce building at 1220 Medical Park Drive.Dave Stemen represented the seller, Curry Group LLC.

Behrens, David Dumas and Roger Koehlinger represented the landlord, RMD Resources LLC, in the lease of 42,250 square feet of space at 2704 Goshen Roadto Home Acres Building Supply Co. LLC.

Phil Knapke and Steve Wesner repre-sented the seller, MKB Products LLC, in the sale of the 35,000-square-foot building at 4532 E. Park 30 Drive, Columbia City. The buyer, Breyden Products Inc., wasrepresented by Knapke.

David Norton represented both the seller, NSS Properties LLC, and the buyer, Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity Inc., in the purchase of 40 acres of land at 4308 W.Cook Road.

ZACHER CO./CORFAC INTERNATIONAL

Alfred Zacher represented the landlord, GAA Investments LLC, in the renewal of alease of restaurant space at 1050 E. Coli-seum Blvd. to Ruby Tuesday.

Dan Reese represented Innerpack Inc.in the purchase of a 17,254-square-foot industrial building at 1430 Dividend Roadfrom Mike Sorg SRA.

John Adams represented the tenant, the city of Auburn Electric Department, Fiber Division, and Adams and Steven Zacherrepresented the landlord, Signature Prod-ucts, in the lease of an 8,000-square-foot warehouse space in the industrial building at 1000 Auburn Drive, Auburn.

Adams represented the seller, EMG Prop-erties LLC, in the sale of a 22,900-square-foot industrial building at 205 E. Collins Road to PBK Properties LLC.

Fletcher Moppert and Steven Zacher

n Reporter’sNOTEBOOK

REAL ESTATE & RETAIL

Linda Lipp

n See REAL ESTATE on PAGE 7


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City employee pens romance e-book set in Fort Wayne

Karen Morris never intended to write a book, much less get one published.

But in the summer of 2010, the Fort Wayne mother of two found herself side-lined with a broken finger from playing ball with her sons and looking for something to occupy her down time.

“I’m sitting there with a cast on my hand and I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do with myself?’ I found that I loved writing.”

The result of her writing is her first novel, a romantic suspense e-book titled “Armed With Steele” that was published by Lyrical Press and officially released Aug. 5.

The novel, which features a bare-chested man on the cover, is set in Fort Wayne and, according to Morris, is tasteful when it comes to scenes of intimacy.

“There’s some romance in there,” she said. “But it’s not flagrant. It’s not ‘50 Shades of Grey.’”

She didn’t mention the salty language, which was evident during a cursory review of the manuscript.

Writing books, especially in the romance genre, doesn’t seem to coincide with Morris’ decidedly technical occupa-tion. She is program manager in the city of Fort Wayne’s water pollution control maintenance department.

But there are apparently two shades to Morris.

“I can do the technical stuff,” she said, “but you go cross-eyed every once in a while. So you know how people are left-brained or right-brained? Well, I think I’m just stuck in the middle.”

Morris, 38, is now at work on more novels, presumably under the pen name she used for the first one: Kyra Jacobs.

She decided to use a pen name to achieve some anonymity, which, she acknowledged mid-interview, “is totally out the window now. My thinking was: If the book tanks, I can walk away and every-body will forget about it.”

WFFT HIRES SPORTS ANCHORChristina Aguayo, most recently

weekend sports anchor/reporter at WABG-TV in Greenville, Miss., has joined WFFT-TV in Fort Wayne as weekend sports anchor.

She replaces Courtney King, who departed for WITI-TV in Milwaukee.

Aguayo is a native of Elizabeth, Colo., and served two internships while in college, including one at KUSA-TV in Denver.

NEXSTAR HAS RECORD REVENUENexstar Broadcasting Group Inc.,

parent company of WFFT-TV, reported record revenue for the second quarter, but a drop in net income.

Nexstar had net revenue of $126.2 million for the three-month period ending June 30 compared to $88.9 million for the same period a year ago — an increase of 42 percent. But net income slipped 27 percent from $8.8 million in the second quarter of 2012, or 29 cents per diluted share, to $6.4 million for the same period this year, or 20 cents per diluted share.

Perry Sook, chairman, president and CEO of Nexstar, attributed the income decline to one-time legal, accounting, professional and other expenses associ-ated with acquisitions and other growth strategies.

If you have items of interest for the media and marketing column, please contact Rick Farrant at [email protected], (260) 426-2640, ext. 308, or at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, 3306 Independence Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.


MEDIA & MARKETING

Rick Farrant

Study to look at bringing back translation servicesBY LINDA [email protected]

Starting over in a new community is difficult. Starting over when all the paper-work that documents your birth, educa-tion, marital status and work experience is in another language is a special challenge.

For years, many new immigrants to the Fort Wayne area turned to the Multicul-tural Information Exchange, a program of the Northeast Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross that provided translations of 48 different languages into English. Though highly regarded in the commu-nity, the program fell victim to budget cuts imposed on the local chapter and folded at the end of 2012, leaving a void that has not been filled.

“How can you really begin a new life here when you need your documents trans-lated and you don’t have the money to pay for it?” asked Max Montesino, associate professor in organizational leadership and supervision at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and president of the Hispanic Leadership Coalition. “You can’t even get a driver’s license.”

Some other social-services agencies have stepped in to provide translation services for new residents — as well as those already in the area — but they have only been able to pick up a little bit of the slack.

“There is a need that is not being met by anybody else … Probably 95 percent has been left hanging,” Montesino said.

There are private translators in the community providing the service, some-times at exorbitant fees. But outside the court system, there are few standards or qualifications for translators, so the quality of the work might be suspect, noted professional translator William

Klemme.Through its staff members and roster of

more than 100 volunteers, MIX provided a one-stop shop for those needing trans-lation services. The translators had been vetted on their language skills, so the MIX stamp on a document meant the quality of the translation provided was assured.

“They were reliable service, a quality service, they had developed a great program,” Montesino said.

Steve Hoffman, president and CEO of Community Action of Northeast Indiana, learned about the impending demise of the MIX program last November, as did many others in the community. There was a flurry of activity as the Red Cross and other agencies scrambled to find a new host and funding source that would preserve the program, “but it was kind of late in the game at that point,” Hoffman said.

CANI subsequently obtained funding from the Foellinger Foundation and United Way of Allen County to help finance a study of the need in the commu-nity for translation services and develop a plan to meet them. It hired a consulting firm, True North, which is surveying area agencies and conducting focus groups and is expected to have a report completed by the end of this year.

Among the questions the study will address, Hoffman said, are: What is the need? Where will the program live? How will it be structured? And perhaps most critically, how will it be funded?

MIX, for example, did not charge indi-viduals with limited English for trans-lation and interpretation services. Some agencies paid fairly small fees while other partners, such as Fort Wayne Community n See STUDY on PAGE 6

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fwbusiness.com GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly n August 9-15, 2013

Medical Protective reaches centennial with Protector

Medical Protec-tive has reached the centennial mark with the Protector, its risk-manage-ment journal for the health-care industry.

An announce-ment on the publi-cation’s 100-year anniversary said Fort Wayne-based Medical Protective has been providing health-care malprac-tice insurance for more than 110 years and is the nation’s highest-rated as well as oldest company in that business.

“While healthcare risk management and patient safety initiatives are relatively recent focus areas for some, MedPro has been committed to helping our healthcare providers reduce risks and improve outcomes for their patients for over a century,” Tim Kenesey, president and chief executive officer, said in the announcement.

The announcement said the Protector has evolved with the industry as it has under-gone transformation through advances in medicine and medical research, technology and procedures.

The publication that was focused on shorter commentary 100 years ago even-tually came to feature more robust articles and offer collateral risk-management tools and resources. Since 2011, medical profes-sionals have been able to earn continu-ing-education credits through its offerings.

“Over the years, Protector has focused on prevalent and emerging risk issues and offered risk management expertise and insight, best practices, risk-reduction tools, proactive strategies, and valuable resources to help insureds improve patient safety and satisfaction and minimize liability risks,” Theresa Essick, clinical risk management vice president, said in the announcement.

“The mission is clear,” Dr. Graham Bill-ingham, chief medical officer, said in the statement. “Investments that are made now in education, human factors engineering, patient safety, technology, and research will all serve to improve care and will pay great dividends in the years to come.

“Protector is designed to do just that — provide ‘lessons learned’ and actual cases

to prevent errors before they happen.”

ANNUITY BUSINESS BOOSTS LINCOLN NATIONAL EARNINGS

Strong performance from its FortWayne-based annuities business contrib-uted to 10-percent growth in Lincoln National Corp.’s income from operationsfor the second quarter.

The Philadelphia-based insurance andfinancial-services company that does busi-ness under the Lincoln Financial Group brand reported second-quarter income from operations of $351 million, up from$319 million for the same period last year.

The company’s second-quarter earnings fell 1 percent to $317 million, or $1.15 per share, from $321 million, or $1.09 per share, for the prior-year quarter.

“We had an exceptionally good earn-ings quarter, and the level and mix of saleswill help provide for future growth andfurther ROE development,” Dennis Glass, Lincoln’s president and chief executiveofficer, said in a report on the company’sfinancial performance for the period.

The annuities business segment reported second-quarter income from operations of$195 million, which was up 23 percentfrom $158 million for the year-ago quarter.

Income from life-insurance opera-tions was flat at $135 million; incomefrom retirement-plan services rose to $39 million from $38 million; income from group protection operations fell to $22 million from $27 million; and the loss from other operations increased to $40 million from $39 million.

‘SMART MONEY DAYS’ OFFER HOMEBUYER EDUCATION

South Bend-based 1st Source Bank plans to hold a couple of real-estate-related financial education events later this monthin Elkhart.

An announcement on the “Smart MoneyDay” events said the bank has scheduled them for 2-4 p.m. on Aug. 23 at its branchat 2020 E. Bristol St. and on Aug. 30 at its branch at 4594 Elkhart Road.

If you have items for the banking and finance column, please contact Doug LeDuc by e-mail at [email protected], by phone at (260) 426-2640, ext. 309, or by mail at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, 3306 Independence Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.


BANKING & FINANCE

Doug LeDuc

Schools, paid nothing.Both Montesino and Hoffman believe

there is still a need to offer at least some people translation services for free, or could accept the use of a sliding scale based on an individual’s or agency’s ability to pay, but Hoffman added a caveat.

“I think when it’s needed, clients will find a way to pay for the translations, but we have to think about what else in their lives is falling apart because they’re spending money on that translation,” he said.

Because their numbers in the commu-nity are greater, Latino and Burmese resi-dents probably have more options for translation services, Montesino acknowl-edged. “But what about the people from Chad? What about the people from Kosovo? There is a need there, too,” he said.

So efficiency is another issue to be addressed: Will the service be divided among different entities, with translations for different languages perhaps offered by different providers?

“It might make more sense to have it all together,” Hoffman said.

Montesino and several others who attended an Aug. 1 meeting of the Hispanic Social Services Network agreed there is no need to reinvent a structure for a new community translation service. They think the model MIX developed will do just fine. It just needs a new home and a more secure source of funding.

“Every single time we had a need, MIX was there,” Montesino said. “We need a program with the same strength as the MIX, but with less vulnerability (to funding cuts) … I am absolutely committed to helping what ever arrang-ment comes out of this.”

Continued from PAGE 5

n STUDY: Need to find secure source of funding

BRIEFLYALLEN COUNTY

FORT WAYNE CHOOSES FIRM FOR RIVERFRONT STUDY

SWA Group was selected by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry to head a $500,000 downtown riverfront develop-ment study that could lead to new projects along the city’s rivers.

The study is funded through Legacy Fort Wayne, which was established when the city sold its former electric utility to Indiana Michigan Power for $75 million.

SWA Group is headquartered in Sausalito, Calif., and provides land-scape-architecture, planning and urban-de-sign services.

In a statement, the city said the study will begin in September and take a year to 18 months to complete. The study is expected to consider: land use; engi-

neering and infrastructure investments; watershed issues; trail connectivity; river access; urban design guidelines; retail; entertainment; and housing.

SWA Group will receive assistance for the study from MKM Architecture + Design in Fort Wayne, as well as: Baltimore-based Biohabitats Inc.; Long Beach, Calif.-based Moffatt & Nichol; and AMEC, which is headquartered in London and has an office in Indianapolis.

“The riverfront provides a valuable opportunity to position ourselves for future growth and success,” Henry said in the statement. “We look forward to working with SWA and learning from them on ways to make downtown river-front development a sustainable reality for our community. The positive momentum we continue to see in our city is a tremen-dous indicator that we’re ready for trans-formational change.”


of local interest, beginning with “Phresh,” a look at Fort Wayne artist Theoplis Smith’s art brand Phresh Laundry.

“INFortWayne will explore our commu-nity with professionally produced multi-media that is unlike anything else being produced in the region,” said KPC Media Group digital media director Kelly Lynch. “KPC has invested not only in quality media production, but also in local talent, making for an opportunity to showcase our region’s stories meaningfully and creatively.”

In cooperation with Times Community Publications editor Garth Snow, INFort-Wayne.com also will feature content from weekly neighborhood newspapers Aboite & About, the Dupont Valley Times, the St. Joe Times and the East Allen County Times. Business-focused content will come from Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly in cooperation with editor Barry Rochford. One of the area’s most compre-hensive community calendars also can be found at INFortWayne.com, and users can submit their own event information via the “Events” tab.

“I am pleased KPC Media Group can bring such wonderful, insightful content

to the greater Fort Wayne area,” said KPC Media Group COO Terry Ward. “In the last few months we added some very talented people to our team. They’re more than just journalists; they have a passion for storytelling. They’ve invested time, energy and creativity into this project for several months and I am confident Fort Wayne will be thrilled with the end results.”

KPC Media Group, with offices in Kend-allville, Auburn, Angola and Fort Wayne, has been locally owned since its founding in 1911. It publishes three daily newspa-pers, The News Sun in Kendallville, The Star in Auburn and The Herald Republican in Angola, along with community news-papers in Garrett, Butler and Ligonier. It also publishes the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, the Times Community Publications in Allen County, the Greater Fort Wayne Family magazine and the Smart Shopper, along with phone books and real estate guides in northeast Indiana. The company also has commercial printing and direct-mail divisions and offers expanded digital services.

Visit the website at INFortWayne.com, find it on Facebook or follow on Twitter @INFortWayne.


n WEBSITE: Will present stories creatively

Neither congressman took into account any improvements that had been subse-quently made.

Donnelly spokeswoman Elizabeth Shap-pell said later: “The scope of the OIG report was on what led to the pause, not what actions have been taken since. Sen. Donnelly was commenting on the find-ings of the report, which were extremely concerning. He is committed to working together so that all issues can be addressed.”

Jennifer Baran-Prall, spokeswoman for the Fort Wayne VA facility, said officials there welcome the “congressional input and are committed to working with them to understand their residual concerns.”

She said the facility has improved clin-ical oversight, is resolving the nurse compe-tency assessment issue and has filled a

majority of the vacant clinical leadership positions, although a few remain open.

“There are,” she said, “a variety of reasons leading to the difficulty in filling these positions, and they range from a lack of interest in the geographic region or VA (to) applicant qualifications and compensa-tion packages.”

The intensive-care unit issue, mean-while, remains largely unresolved, although Baran-Prall said the ultimate determination regarding the ICU will not adversely affect the viability of the facility.

“We continue to refer and pay for veterans’ care in community hospitals for ICU services,” she said, “and are committed to exploring our options about ICU designa-tion and services and making an informed decision as we move through our restarting of the service plan.”


n VA: ICU decision won’t affect facility’s viability

ny’s 2014 fiscal year, so its previously disclosed capital expenditure guidance will rise to about $30 million from about $20 million, the company said in its announcement of the plans.

As a result of the expansion, 253 current Vera Bradley employees who work at facilities on Production Road and Industrial Road eventually will be moved to the southwest campus. The company also has a production facility in New Haven, and

“Down the road, our plan is to bring all northeast Indiana employees to one campus,” spokeswoman Melissa Schenkel said.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has offered up to $1.75 million in performance-based tax credits to the company.

Vera Bradley sells its products through 79 company-owned retail stores and 14 outlet stores, as well as more than 3,000 specialty stores and the Dillard’s department store chain. It has 2,800 employees, 1,000 of them in Allen County.


n VERA: Workers will be relocated

represented the landlord, Indiana Beck-nell Investors 2011 LLC, and Moppert represented the tenant, GTA Acquisition Inc., doing business as GTA Automation, in the renewal and expansion of a lease for 48,000 square feet of space at 4422 Airport

Expressway.

If you have items for the real estate and retail column, please contact Linda Lipp by e-mail at [email protected], by phone at (260) 426-2640, ext. 307, or by mail at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, 3306 Independence Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.


n REAL ESTATE: Transactions completed

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n BizView n

Former Indiana superintendent of public instruction Tony Bennett resigned recently as Florida’s educa-tion chief after The Associated Press brought to light emails documenting he had pressed his staff in India-napolis to change the school grading formula he had championed, which transformed Christel House Acade-my’s “C” to an “A.”

Finally, there was at least some accountability for the man who preached it.

Bennett maintains he did nothing wrong. Christel House’s founder, Christel DeHaan, has been a major contributor to Indiana Republicans, including Bennett, to whom she gave $130,000. Last year, as Bennett and the state Department of Education were preparing to release the “A-F” letter grades for schools across Indiana — a practice he had instituted in 2011 — a member of Bennett’s staff pointed out Christel House’s just so-so score.

Bennett, who had been using Christel House as an example of how education reform was working in Indiana, became alarmed. “They need to understand that anything less than an A for Christel House compromises all of our accountability work,” he wrote in an email.

Oh, the irony of that sentence now.The school grading formula was

massaged, then massaged some more, and fi nally Bennett got his “A” for Christel House. We don’t know yet how the school grading formula was changed to refl ect Bennett’s desired outcome. But we do know that with the publication of Bennett’s emails, he seems less a proponent of school accountability and more an advocate of juicing the books so the numbers suit his needs.

Bennett said Christel House, an Indianapolis K-12 charter school, isn’t the only school that benefi ted from the formula manipulation, but he has not identifi ed the other schools that saw their grades climb. He also hasn’t fully explained why the formula — which his own staff created under his super-vision — needed to be changed.

Now the state is left with an abso-lute mess. The entire “A-F” grading system, which, among other things, can be used as justifi cation to take over a so-called failing school, has about as much authenticity and veracity as a forged absence slip.

In the spirit of Bennett’s emails, we would like to take this time to adjust his grade as superintendent of public instruction. He gets an “F.”

Anything more compromises all of our accountability work.

Bennettt’s grade infl ation

I have just returned from a trip to the former East Germany and the current Czech Republic. Both were under communist rule for 40 years and they both, in different ways, are working toward the benefi ts and pitfalls of capitalism.

A tour guide in Prague summarized the situation well when he said, “Under communism, we had little freedom, but life was, in many ways, easy. Under capitalism, we have freedom and the responsibility that goes with freedom. Many long for the easy life, but most rejoice in having freedom.”

Under communism, people did not have the freedom to say what they thought or travel where they wished. But everyone had a job. It was against the law not to have a job. Everyone worked and the rewards were meager, but everyone had “enough to survive.”

The communist governments did not invest in infrastructure, and the investments they did make were often on the cheap side. Hence many buildings today have been or should be torn down if they cannot be restored. Since the fall of the communist governments, major investments have been made in highways and public transit. These wise spending programs improve commerce and facilitate the interchange of people within and between nations.

Under capitalism, people do have the freedom to say what they please, but there should also be a responsibility to know and to speak the truth. More shocking than anything on the trip was the ignorance and blatant acceptance of nonsense by some of those from the United States in our traveling party.

It was not only that they were ignorant about Europe. They were ignorant about America and believed the most obvious lies about our federal government — the American fl ag no longer fl ies over the White House.

Under capitalism, as we know it, people are free to travel, in the manner and to the extent they can afford it. Freedom to improve one’s self by preparing for the type of job one prefers was limited under communism. Under capitalism, freedom means job seekers must be aware of what the market wants and what sacrifi ces they are willing to make for the jobs they want.

Communism made life easy because it removed the need to feel responsible for one’s self. It was the bureaucrats, the leaders, always someone else who was responsible for your condition in life.

Capitalism, as we know it, demands individual responsibility. Life is not easy. Economic and political currents toss our personal boats over uncertain waters.

Yet, personal responsibility seems to be the last thing many of us want. Many would like an easy life with the guarantee of a well-paid job. We don’t want the central control of a communist state, but we also don’t want the instability endemic to capitalism. We expect government to be all powerful, but we don’t want a powerful government.

This paradox, the desire for ease and the need for individual respon-sibility, is a universal characteristic not limited to former communist states. It applies here at home just as well.

MORTON J. MARCUS is an independent economist, writer and speaker formerly with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He can be reached at [email protected].

Ease vs. responsibility

n

EYE ON THE PIE

Morton J.

Marcus

n EDITORIAL

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW?Want to share your thoughts on something you’ve read? Business Weekly welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns. E-mail them to [email protected], fax them to (260) 426-2503 or mail them to Business Weekly, 3306 Inde-pendence Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Business Weekly reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length.

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GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly n August 9-15, 2013

Commercial Real EstateAugust 9-15, 2013 n GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly fwbusiness.com PAGE 9

(Bloomberg) — McDonald’s Corp., already struggling to sell burgers in the U.S., now must contend with a brewing franchisee revolt.

Store operators say the company, looking to improve its bottom line, is increasingly charging them too much to operate their restaurants — including rent, remodeling and fees for training and software. The rising costs are making franchisees, who operate almost 90 percent of the chain’s more than 14,100 U.S. locations, less likely to open new restaurants and refurbish them, potentially constraining sales.

McDonald’s is “doing everything they can to shift costs to operators,” said Kathryn Slater-Carter, who in June joined other franchisees in Stockton, Calif., to brainstorm ways of getting the chain to lessen the cost burden. “Putting too much focus on Wall Street is not a good thing in the long run.”

Asked if McDonald’s is shifting costs to franchisees, Heather Oldani, a spokeswoman, said in an email: ‘‘We are continuing to work together with McDonald’s owner/operators and our supplier partners to ensure that our restaurants are providing a great experi-ence to our customers, which involves investments in training and technology.”

Cooperation between McDonald’s and its store owners is dete-riorating, according to an April 11 letter from a franchisee to other store owners reviewed by Bloomberg News.

“Many of you have said that you don’t feel that the top manage-ment understands the economic pressures that we face,” the letter said. “The tone has become much more controlling and less inclu-sive.”

This isn’t the fi rst time the world’s largest restaurant company has found itself at odds with the people who own and operate its stores. McDonald’s in the mid-1990s alienated U.S. franchisees when it expanded too quickly and new stores began cannibalizing other locations, said Dick Adams, a former McDonald’s store owner and restaurant consultant in San Diego.

Under pressure from franchisees, the company slowed the expansion. It opened 1,130 net new domestic restaurants in 1995; by 1998, it had cut that number to 92.

“There was a time at McDonald’s when the franchisee morale was extremely low and everyone was extremely upset,” Adams said. “We’re getting there again.”

Today’s tensions between Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald’s and store operators coincide with the company’s struggles to grow after consumer confi dence fell in July after increasing for the past three months and with the unemployment rate stalled at 7.4 percent or higher. On July 22, the shares fell 2.7 percent, the most in nine months, when McDonald’s reported second-quarter profi t and revenue that trailed analysts’ estimates. Chief Executive Offi cer Don Thompson said economic weakness would hurt results for the rest of the year.

The Big Mac seller, which owns or leases most of its U.S. stores, has been generating more income from franchisees. Revenue from franchised stores, which includes rent and royalties, increased 8 percent on average during the past fi ve years, while total revenue rose 4 percent.

Some franchisees are paying as much as 12 percent of store sales in rent, according to notes of an April 23 meeting attended by store operators. Instead, they want the company to return to a historic rate of about 8.5 percent, the document shows.

U.S. McDonald’s restaurants average about $2.5 million in annual sales, according to Chicago-based researcher Technomic Inc. That means franchisees who have recently renewed leases are paying an average of $300,000 a year, up from $212,500 at the 8.5-percent rate.

At the April meeting at a community center in Paramount, Calif., a group of franchisees spent fi ve hours discussing ways to get the company to reduce rents and other costs. Another cadre of McDonald’s store owners met in Stockton in June to discuss similar issues. The group in Paramount suggested reducing rents, royalty rates and creating a regional real-estate team of store owners to help set lease rates.

Rent is “the fi rmest of fi xed expenses,” said John Gordon, prin-cipal at San Diego-based Pacifi c Management Consulting Group and a consultant to restaurant franchisees. “You pay that before you remodel, you pay that before you take owner salary out.”

As a result, some run-down stores aren’t getting fi xed up, which in turn is alienating customers, he said.

“People don’t want to be in an old space, even if they’re going through the drive-through,” Gordon said. “You get better employees, you just get a better vibe if it’s a newer store.”

n InFocus n

BLOOMBERG NEWS

McDonald’s franchisees rebel as chain raises its store fees

A customer carries a tray with food as others wait in line to place their orders inside a McDonald’s Corp. restaurant in Oak Brook, Ill.

BRIEFLYWHITLEY COUNTY

CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING

Construction has begun on a new 75,000-square-foot shell building in Whitley County’s Rail Connect Business Park, which is expected to be available for lease or sale in the fourth quarter.

The shell building is being devel-oped by Whitley RC Investments LLC, which is a partnership between local businessman Simon Dragan and Harbor Investments LLC of Fort Wayne. Dragan is president of Whitley Manufacturing Co. Inc. The building will have 70,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 5,000 square feet of offi ce space on more than 14 acres in the Rail Connect Business Park near U.S. 30 and County Road 600 East. The park is certifi ed shovel-ready.

According to an announcement from the Whitley County Economic Develop-ment Corp., the building can be expanded to 190,000 square feet.

RE Crosby Inc. is general contractor for the project, and CBRE Sturges will represent the building.

The Whitley County Council on Aug. 6 approved a 10-year tax abatement for the building, which will join Triad Metals International and Indiana Mate-rials Processing in the business park just outside of Columbia City.

The Whitley County EDC will market the building and look for businesses that would be suitable for it.

ALLEN COUNTY

FRANKLIN ON THE MOVEFranklin Electric Co. Inc. has begun

moving into its new, 120,000-square-foot headquarters and tech center on the southwest side of Fort Wayne.

The fi rst employees were moved in late July, and the process is going to be spread out over a period of several weeks, said spokesman John Haines.

Some research-and-development equipment also will be relocated from the space the company leases in Bluffton. That will take longer, but the entire process should be completed by the end of August, Haines said.

n PersonalBusiness n

What first got you started working in the nonprofit sector?

I had graduated from music school in August, and all of the teaching positions had been filled by that time. So I looked for a “gap” job until I could teach. My first job was at the American Heart Association as a fundraising associate. I worked there nearly a year and conducted fundraising events in the counties north of Allen County. Then the next school year I secured a teaching position as the band and choir director at Bishop Luers High School. The kids and families were great, but it just wasn’t my thing. Around the same time I was ending my year of teaching, my mom died unex-pectedly. That was a turning point in my

life, and I decided I wanted to work some-where that helped other young women not lose their mothers at such a young age. At that point, I went to work at the American Cancer Society. I also worked for four years at Lincoln Financial Group, but I have pretty much worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector for most of my career.

What is it about nonprofit work that you find the most rewarding? What is the most challenging?

I love working in the nonprofit sector. I know at the end of the day, I can put a face on my work; I know my work helped a specific child be a part of the program, or to enhance the community through

our program-ming. It’s very rewarding. I also get to tell stories all day about our who we are, who we serve and how others can get involved. The most challenging is raising enough funds to carry out the mission. There are very real barriers to acquiring s u s t a i n a b l e funding. We’ve been very successful at the children’s choir to develop r e l a t i o n s h i p s with donors throughout the community, but our board and staff are always dreaming bigger, and therefore, I have to raise more and more to make that happen.

What did you learn from the corporate world that you have applied to the nonprofit world? What are the biggest differences between the two?

I learned that standing up for what’s right is always the right thing to do. Early in my tenure in management in the corpo-rate world, I had a manager who stood up for me, who believed in me. She taught me a valuable lesson, and one that I have paid forward. Your team will support you and go to the end of the line for you if you support them. She took a risk on me and it paid off. I have never forgotten how important that one manager was to my trajectory at that company and to my career. When the chips are down, you go to bat for your team. Period.

As well, I have come to realize that corporate America and the nonprofit world aren’t that far apart. The desire to be more effective, to dream, to grow — all are aspects that are in both sectors. The biggest difference I found was the ability to


CAREER PATH

Name: Denice Beights

Organization: Fort Wayne Children’s Choir

Title: executive director

Length of time there: four years

Website: www.fwcchoir.org

Education: bach-elor’s degree in music education from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; certificate in fundraising manage-ment from Indiana University School of Philanthropy

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“Standing up for what’s right is always the right thing to do”

As executive director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Denise Beights can take advantage of her background in education and music, and her experience working at nonprofits.

n See BEIGHTS on PAGE 11


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impact the end user. During my time in the corporate world, I felt like I worked really hard and did a good job, but I didn’t get the chance to interface with the end user (the policy holder or agent). I was just part of a large machine chugging along. It was important work, but I didn’t get to know or understand who I was impacting with my work. In the nonprofi t sector, I can see and talk with those we serve. I can learn their stories. I can use what they tell me to implement course corrections in our direc-tion. I feel like I’m making a difference in a specifi c person’s life. It made all the difference for me.

What does your work with the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir entail?

I am the lead staff for the organization. I work with the board of directors and senior leadership to form and implement the stra-tegic direction for the organization. I lead the marketing and fundraising functions for the organization and manage all adminis-trative staff. We have an 18-member staff comprised of administrative and artistic staff and serve over 250 families annu-ally. During my tenure at the children’s choir, I’ve lead efforts to increase commu-nity awareness, solidify our branding and marketing strategy, raise more funds through foundation and corporate support, grow our community choir programs and establish our own children’s choir festival for choirs from the Midwest.

I also work alongside a great artistic director who is leading our artistic program-ming, and we are changing children’s lives through music education. It’s been an exciting four years. However, I couldn’t have led any of these efforts without the work of a great team. This staff works hard, has great ideas and makes us really think and stretch as we are serving the youth in our community. It’s a great job for me, one in which I can merge my education and background in music education and my experience in nonprofi t management and fundraising.

Why did you form DKB Solutions and what services does it provide? Where do you see that business going in the future?

DKB Solutions started very humbly.

I was working at the American Cancer Society at the time as the director of volun-teerism. In this role I was working with staff across Indiana and Michigan and working with them on how to recruit, retain and reward volunteers. I was doing lots of staff training. A friend of mine was in the Junior League of Fort Wayne. We were talking about our respective careers, and I mentioned the training I was doing. She asked if I could come and share that training (volunteerism) with the Junior League. From there, I picked up one or two training opportunities that following year, just through word of mouth. After a while, the opportunity presented itself to do one of the trainings for IPFW Continuing Studies. I loved it. So I’ve continued to keep fi ve to six sessions a year. Sometimes I get the chance to do a few more depending on needs in the community.

Currently through DKB Solutions I’m leading professional development sessions that revolve around developing indi-vidual management and leadership poten-tial, including all aspects of performance management, as well as facilitating the DiSC behavioral assessment. I think DKB Solutions will continue to be a side busi-ness, but maybe one I can expand sometime in the future.

What advice would you give a young person thinking of a career in the nonprofi t world?

I fi rmly believe all students should take advantage of internships. I hope that all young people will do an internship in a nonprofi t sometime during their college career, or immediately after their college experience. You can learn so much during an internship and decide what is the right fi t for you. Nonprofi ts are always looking for interns. We have big dreams, and some-times not enough paid staff to make the big dreams into big reality. Interns are perfect for those roles.

I believe the old adage is true, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That doesn’t mean that work is play: If it were play, it wouldn’t be called work. I also don’t believe you can force it. But take the time to fi nd a job, and a career, about which you can be passionate.

By Linda Lipp. To suggest an idea for “Career Path,” call (260) 426-2640.


n BEIGHTS: Started professional development fi rm

Follow Business Weekly on Twitter: @fwbusiness

EducationPAGE 12 fwbusiness.com GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly n August 9-15, 2013

(AP) — Indiana’s top lawmakers are creating a task force to review the state’s “A-F” school grading system following the revelation former state schools superin-tendent Tony Bennett changed the grading formula for a Republican donor’s charter school.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long, Fort Wayne, and Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma announced Aug. 2 the creation of an independent task force to review the school grading system. They noted their previous concerns with the school grading system, but Bennett’s efforts detailed in emails obtained by The Associ-ated Press raised new concerns for them.

“Since then, the issue has been brought to the forefront in negative ways and our concerns about the previous assessment system are increasing,” Bosma and Long wrote in a letter Aug. 2.

The two enlisted John Grew, a former aide to then-Democratic Gov. Frank O’Bannon, and Bill Sheldrake, the former head of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, to review the grading system. The pair are expected to complete that before Labor Day.

The pair will evaluate the “A-F” formula, determine the validity of the grades awarded and make recommendations to the state Board of Education and General Assembly.

Bennett resigned from his job as Flori-da’s schools chief Aug. 1, a few days after emails were published about his efforts to change the school-grading formula for the Christel House charter school in Indianap-olis.

Bennett attributed the revelation about the grades to political attacks from oppo-nents and has maintained he did not grant special treatment to Christel House. The school’s founder, Christel DeHaan, has also said she did not seek special treatment and the emails show no request on her part.

Democratic state schools superintendent Glenda Ritz said her offi ce is conducting an internal review. Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, said he is waiting to see what Ritz’s assessment uncovers before making any decisions.

“The most important thing we can do moving forward is to have an independent and fair assessment of the A-F school

grading process,” Long said in a statement Aug. 2.

Indiana’s school grades are used to determine how much money schools get and whether “failing” schools are taken over by private operators, like Charter Schools USA. They also have become crit-ical economic-development tools in recent years, used in part by homebuyers picking locations based on the quality of their schools.

Indiana teachers unions and local school superintendents called for the immediate suspension of the grades Bennett’s offi ce issued last year. But Statehouse leaders from Ritz to Long and Bosma have hesi-tated to make any immediate decisions.

Bosma said state lawmakers already had decided earlier this year to scrap Bennett’s “A-F” formula and return to the drawing board. Local superintendents frequently complained last year about an inability to get straight answers from the Department of Education on the formula used to deter-mine their grades.

Bennett’s emails fi ll in some of those answers, although it’s still unclear exactly how he changed the grading formula last year.

n InFocus n

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

State to review grading formula

Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett announces his resignation at a news conference on Aug. 1 in Talla-hassee, Fla.

PUBLIC RECORDS KEY IN BENNETT GRADE SCANDAL

(AP) — In algebra, students are required to show the steps taken to come to their answer, in part because teachers need to see whether they grasp the concepts.

Indiana’s former state superintendent Tony Bennett hid his calculations when coming up with the school-grading formula last year, working backward to make the equation fi t a predetermined answer: an “A” for Republican donor Christel DeHaan’s charter school. His staff was quietly asked to fi gure out the rest.

The only reason the grade-changing scandal was unveiled was because it was detailed in emails he never deleted from his computer.

The fallout has cost Bennett his seven-month tenure as education commissioner in Florida and launched a pair of state reviews into the validity of a school-grading system that’s at the center of a national education overhaul movement.

Bennett called the reports last week “malicious and unfounded” as he resigned in Florida, but school superintendents in Indiana said the emails fi nally began to give them the answers they so desperately searched for last year from Bennett and his team.

In Indiana, the state protects emails as public records. Jim Corridan, state archi-vist and director of the Indiana Commis-sion on Public Records, points out that most emails must be saved for three years. Emails and other fi les dealing with policy can be required to be preserved permanently at the State Archives.

For the most part, emails can be legally “destroyed” after the three-year time frame, and not every trivial note — like if Bennett had written to his wife to say he’d be late for dinner — must be preserved.

But actually obtaining copies of crucial emails is a tough task, as state offi cials often rely on the “work product” excep-tion to argue the missives should not be released.

BY KATE [email protected]

Gov. Mike Pence discussed strategies for improving Indiana job opportunities and economic stability at a roundtable talk with local leaders during a visit to Kendallville Wednesday, The News Sun reported.

Pence outlined a four-part strategy, including: a more balanced budget; a pro-business envi-ronment; improved infrastructure; and education reform with an emphasis on work-force innovation.

Pence, who took offi ce in January, spoke with a group of local industrial leaders, city and state elected offi cials and economic-de-velopment specialists. The group met at Courier Corp.’s Courier Digital Solutions plant in the East Industrial Park.

The biggest goal is to connect jobs and education, Pence said. He advocated for a partnership between industry and schools to create a curriculum that benefi ts career pathways in this region.

“We really believe that Indiana’s pros-perity should be built on foundations of education,” Pence said. “I’m determined to make career vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana. We want to work with employees to identify where the real needs are for skill sets and try to steer adults into that kind of education.”

Rick Sherck, executive director for the Noble County Economic Development Corp., agreed, saying, “We’ve got to get education back on board to encourage people to go out and get jobs.”

This story originally appeared in The News Sun, which is published by Business Weekly owner KPC Media Group Inc.

Pence: State must do better in connecting education to jobs

n “We’ve got to get education back on board to encourage people to go out and get jobs.”

Rick SherckNoble County

Economic Development Corp.


YOU DON’T HAVE TIMEFOR A DEAD-END JOB

indianatech.edu/cps

Telling yourself it’s time for a change? Indiana Tech offers master’s degrees to help you reach the next level, including an MBA program with several

concentrations to suit your goals. Online and classroom courses are available to help you build a schedule that fits your life. Get started at Indiana Tech today.

Call 800.288.1766 for graduate classes forming now.

Ivy Tech helps prepare Hoosiers for success

In May 2003, I became the first sibling in my family to graduate from high school. My father encouraged me to take a summer job in the factory he was employed with at the time to understand what it was like. His hopes were that it would create a drive in me to apply to college and build a career that would have meaning and purpose. I knew I was going to apply; however, what I didn’t know was where and for what degree would be most interesting to me.

As my summer job came to an end, I began to do some collegiate research and learned that Ivy Tech Community College was a strong possibility to begin my college term. After visiting with faculty and getting a campus tour, I knew it was a great fit.

The small class sizes created more one-on-one time with professors, and the flexibility of the class scheduling helped tremendously, as I was working on two different startup businesses at the time. I was able to apply much of what I learned in school to both companies, and because of the low-cost tuition I was able to pay my school debt off before I graduated.

After graduating from Ivy Tech, I stayed true to my commitment and applied to Trine University to complete a bachelor’s degree. Since graduation, I have gone on to sell one business and created four new startup companies in different industries. I was also honored to be chosen as Ivy Tech’s 2012 New Venture Competition business-plan contest champion for my custom clothing line DeRossi.

Many of us close to Ivy Tech Commu-nity College have been following stories in the media over the last couple months, and as a proud alumnus of the college, I feel

n

JON-PAUL CAPITO

n See CAPITO on PAGE 14


strongly about what Ivy Tech provided me as well as what it has the ability to provide to the nearly 200,000 students it serves on an annual basis — with adequate support.

Since the college became the community college of Indiana in 2005, its funding gap to support its growing student body has continued to increase. The state funding has not kept pace with demand. At the same time the General Assembly reined in funding for all higher education during the recession, Ivy Tech’s enrollment soared by 71 percent across the state and 59 percent in northeast Indiana.

Also, a state report in June concluded that the college was doing a poor job of closing the state’s skilled-worker gap. The report said that only 4 percent of first-time, full-time students in the Ivy Tech system graduate within two years, and 23 percent earn diplomas within six years.

On the surface, that seems troubling. But they don’t tell the entire story, especially as they pertain to Ivy Tech-Northeast. Only 429 — or 3.7 percent — of the 11,213 students enrolled at Ivy Tech Northeast are first-time, full-time students.

At Ivy Tech, most students are like me: working individuals with many other things going on in life, which all play a part in getting to graduation.

The amount of support and knowledge I obtained from Ivy Tech has been overwhelming, as I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without it. It gave me the chance that no other university would have been able to provide me, and it thoroughly fulfilled its commitment to providing me with a quality education.

There are thousands of Hoosiers who need the same support — and more — I received. Indiana, let’s embrace our community college. I embraced it, and it changed my life.

JON-PAUL CAPITO is an Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast grad-uate, with a degree in business administration.


n CAPITO: State report’s findings don’t tell the entire story

BRIEFLYALLEN COUNTY

STUDENTS REACH BIZ PLAN COMPETITION FINALSIvy Tech Community College-Northeast named three finalists in

its 2013 New Venture Competition, which provides the winner with $20,000 in startup funding.

Ivy Tech-Northeast students wrote business plans for the compe-tition, now in its third year. The winner will be named at an event at 5 p.m. Sept. 19 at Ivy Tech-Northeast’s Coliseum campus, 3800 N. Anthony Blvd.

The three finalists and their business plans are:• Robert Bibbo of Fort Wayne, who studies computer information

technology. He submitted a business plan for American Combat Veteran Clothing, a clothing line designed and made by combat and disabled veterans.

• Faith Maslonka of Anchorage, Ala., who is a general-studies major. She submitted a business plan for Outdoor Gear Fitters, which provides gear packs to campers, from novice to expert.

• Adara Fath of Fort Wayne, who studies business administration. She submitted a business plan for Addie Fath Photography, which specializes in doing lifestyle portraits for customers.

“Our student-entrepreneurs presented a wide range of business models, demonstrating creativity and excellent marketing research,” Jim Tolbert, who heads the competition for Ivy Tech-Northeast, said in an announcement.

There’s a lot of hype about social media. Too often, style wins out over substance, and the next big thing is presented as a panacea when it’s really not all that different than what came before.

When you look beyond the hype, however, there’s an undeniable business case for social media driven by a very real shift in our communication and marketing environment. Knowing how this affects your customers is central not just to the success of your social media efforts but to the very future of your business.

Understanding why social media matters begins by acknowledging how it’s different than other marketing and communication tools you’ve used in the past. Consider this definition from consultant Marta Kagan: “Social media is people having conversa-tions online.” This is pretty simple, but it’s also profound in that it highlights the most important word in social media, the key difference between social media and other forms of of marketing and mass media communication: conversations.

Why is the word “conversations” so critical? First, it’s an excellent reminder of the fact that social is the first mass-media channel that gives consumers a voice equal to that of brands. Other forms of marketing communication have been somewhat like communicating via a megaphone, wherein you simply craft the message you think the audience wants to hear, pick up a “megaphone” (television, print or radio, for example), point the megaphone in the general direction of the audience and shout your message at them. Want to reach more of them? Simply turn up the volume by spending more money or increasing reach or frequency.

Today’s consumers will no longer tolerate that approach. They have too much choice in where they can direct their atten-tion. If they don’t immediately discern how a message is relevant to them and they don’t see an opportunity to participate, they’ll go elsewhere. In short, they want a conversa-tion, not a monologue. Furthermore, they want those conversations to be tailored to them on a personal level. Gone are the days of broadly marketing the same message to everyone. The digital age has ushered in the ability to target our messages to specific audiences to make them relevant and there-fore resonant.

It’s also important to understand that consumers prefer to source answers from their peers more so than brands. They always have, in fact, but historically it was very difficult for them to do so — and that’s part of the reason they used to tolerate the marketing megaphone. The branded mega-phone message wasn’t a reliable source of answers, but what they could get from their peers wasn’t much better.

Why? Until very recently, soliciting information from your peers was only possible via face-to-face interaction, phone calls, or email. Not only was this labor intensive, but you could only access infor-mation from those you knew. The difference with social media is that it has now become incredibly easy to reach those you trust quickly and effectively, while also allowing

you to reach beyond those you know.It may seem like brands would be shut

out of this conversation, but they don’t have to be, not if they truly understand social media. In this environment, brands have the opportunity to listen, respond, engage and — most importantly — help customers and prospects solve problems. What consumers won’t tolerate is a one-sided conversation that ignores their needs. And why would they, when they can get exactly what they want elsewhere, anywhere, at any time?

This phenomenon is affecting businesses of every kind. It’s not just restaurants and retailers but also business-to-business enti-ties, health-care companies, governmental bodies — anyone who has customers, in fact. When you consider the implications of a better informed consumer who has a voice

equal to that of your brand, you can quickly see how this is a different time requiring a different approach.

The fact is the battle is over, and consumers have won. Their collective voiceis now more powerful than your brand’swill ever be. If you think social media is allabout getting your message out, you maynever make the most of social media.

ANTHONY JULIANO is a marketing and social media strategist, teacher, trainer and writer. He is vice president of marketing and social media strategy at Asher Agency in Fort Wayne, and he teaches social media and marketing classes at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Connect with him at LinkedIn.com/in/anthonyjuliano or via e-mail at [email protected].

Coming Soon.... All private rooms Rooms will be “same-handed” to promote

State-of-the-art Radiology Department, with


A conversation about why social media matters to your businessn

ANTHONY JULIANO

n Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly TopList

n


n BizLeads nPAGE 18 fwbusiness.com GREATER FORT WAYNE Business Weekly n August 9-15, 2013

NEWBUSINESSESM Clingerman Enter-prises LLC3804 N. 350 WestAlbion, IN 46701Michael Clingerman

Wickliffe Wildlife Removal LLC812 E. Hazel St.Albion, IN 46701Samuel Wickliffe

Steuben Lakes Environ-mental Consortium LLC6580 W. South Lake Gage DriveAngola, IN 46703Allen Lefevre

Lucky Radio Controlled Hobbies Co.285 S. 600 WestAngola, IN 46703Patrick Lowe

SST LLC4330 W. 250 NorthAngola, IN 46703Ronald A. Sanders

Angola Post No 31 The American Legion Inc.1450 S. 418 WestAngola, IN 46703James N. Timpe

Jagged Edge 2 LLC9205 E. 40 S.Angola, IN 46703Jody Porter

Automated Maintenance Solutions LLC1508 Hammel DriveAngola, IN 46703C Mcgee

Lifebridge Ministries Inc.60 Lane 201 A, West Otter LakeAngola, IN 46703Dana Slack

Southern Michigan Bank & Trust3305 N. 300 WestAngola, IN 46703Trisha Pawloski

Marina of Clear Lake LLC114 E. Maumee St., Suite 102Angola, IN 46703Michael L. Morrissey

Warriors from the Sky Inc.502 Williamson CircleAngola, IN 46703Kent Alwood

MB Lake House LLC5975 C.R. 31Auburn, IN 46706Megan Moss

Nagel Arms Inc.530 North St.Auburn, IN 46706Benjamin Nagel

MTA Sales Corp.1401 S. Grandstaff DriveAuburn, IN 46706Jeffrey L. Turner

Subler Properties & Investments LLC659 Hendricks St.Berne, IN 46711Kathryn M. Subler

Forest Ridge Tree Service LLC2670 S. 650 West-1Bluffton, IN 46714Joe A. Isch

Gerber Fuel Inc.515 S. State Road 201Bluffton, IN 46714Chad E. Gerber

Harry Byers Trucking LLC0125 Linn RoadBluffton, IN 46714Harry F. Byers

T&R Investment Group LLC0505 N. 100 WestBluffton, IN 46714James E. Miller II

Carmen LLC1100 N. 450 EastBluffton, IN 46714Rosa Bravo

Aimee Ronquillo-Cortes LLC1211 Lancaster St., Lot 2BBluffton, IN 46714Aimee R. Cortes

All Things Power LLC425 E. Silver St.Bluffton, IN 46714Nick Hale

HGI-Midwest I LLC1390 S. Adams St.Bluffton, IN 46714HGI-Indiana LLC

DTM International Corp.53259 Monterey DriveBristol, IN 46507Michele L. Olson

Bravo International Inc.19319 C.R. 8Bristol, IN 46507Mitchell Bender

A-Square LLC53201 Sylvan CourtBristol, IN 46507Vijay A. Mehta

High Bonding Coatings Consulting Service LLC50924 Cornwall RoadBristol, IN 46507Leif Bouskill

Jackson Aviation LLC11273 W. Syracuse Webster RoadBristol, IN 46507Bradford L. Jackson

Ganesh Enterprises Inc.53201 Sylvan CourtBristol, IN 46507Vijay A. Mehta

JB Yoder Logistics LLC3382 C.R. 59Butler, IN 46721Joel B. Yoder

Washler Real Estate LLC7420 S.R. 8Butler, IN 46721Donald M. Washler

WKJ Enterprises Inc.101 Ivy LaneButler, IN 46721Willis K. Jack

Zettabit LLC13025 McDuffee RoadChurubusco, IN 46723Robert J. Green

Eagle Fleet Washing LLC5298 S. C.R. 15Claypool, IN 46510Debra Sevrence

Debt Droppers LLC5988 S. Red Bud Lane-57Columbia City, IN 46725Jeffrey Rood

Iam Holdings Inc.51265 W. Countyline Road NorthColumbia City, IN 46725Aman Yehdego

Prez’s Aircraft Service LLC4501 W. 275 NorthColumbia City, IN 46725James Prezbindowski

Bel Sogno Community Association Inc.116 N. Main St.Columbia City, IN 46725Terry L. Smith

DL Miller Trucking LLC4570 W. LincolnwayColumbia City, IN 46725Darin Miller

Unlimited Fleet Service LLC7385 N. 350 WestColumbia City, IN 46725William C. Merritt

Allstruct LLC995 N. Johnson RoadColumbia City, IN 46725Wesley T. Geisler

Sanctified LLC5524 S. Raber RoadColumbia City, IN 46725Joseph A. Gomez

Rhinestones-N-Rodeo LLC7130 S. 400 EastColumbia City, IN 46725Jody Ratliff

B3 United LLC1129 Stoneridge DriveColumbia City, IN 46725Theresa Curry

Greaf Enterprises LLC5025 S. 500 E.Columbia City, IN 46725Janice L. Greaf

Orion Computer Consulting & Repair LLC0804 C.R. 32Corunna, IN 46730Edward Kemph

Back 40 Fencing LLC2097 C.R. 9Corunna, IN 46730Travis W. Fry

Spoonwater LLC927 C.R. 32Corunna, IN 46730Aaron M. Sponhower

Auslyn Auto Sales LLC110 S. 13th St.Decatur, IN 46733Tyler Hirschy

4C Realty Investments LLC1321 Eagle Glen CourtDecatur, IN 46733Walter C. Coshow

Hoehn Engineered Prod-ucts LLC5853 N. Piqua RoadDecatur, IN 46733Richard Hoehn

B&C Golf Cart Parts LLP7218 N. 100 EastDecatur, IN 46733Rick Cover

Personalized Picture Clocks LLC10478 N. 200 WestDecatur, IN 46733Jerry L. Gerber

My Hood Needz Me Inc.3521 E. Jackson Blvd.Elkhart, IN 46516Talisha Sanders

Star Hotel Group LLC58382 S.R. 19Elkhart, IN 46517Sajid Chaudhry

Garmen Transportation Inc.29690 Prairieview Farms Blvd.Elkhart, IN 46514Brent L. Lehman

RDT Global Solutions LLC56620 Sapphire BlvdElkhart, IN 46516Robert D. Thrapp

Sudds Express Inc.29200-5 C.R. 20Elkhart, IN 46517Roger L Suddarth

SSC Real Estate Hold-ings LLC1522 Greenleaf Blvd.Elkhart, IN 46514Scott R. Chakan

MNFL Property Manage-ment LLC1440 Cedar St.Elkhart, IN 46514Mark Neterer

Northridge Dollars for Scholars Inc.121 W. Franklin St.Elkhart, IN 46516Randall Hesser

Sam Cell Zone Inc.3701 S. Main St.Elkhart, IN 46517Arooj Kamal

Wolf Pack LLC57805 Ninth St.Elkhart, IN 46517Ignacio Perez

Sigma Rho Alpha Inc.904 W. Franklin St.Elkhart, IN 46516Marie Hunsberger

Star Hospitality Design LLC58382 S.R. 19, Suite 106Elkhart, IN 46517Sajid Chaudhry

Jarvisworx LLC57024 Copper TerraceElkhart, IN 46516Douglas L. Jarvis

Jarvisworks Inc.57024 Copper TerraceElkhart, IN 46516Douglas L. Jarvis

Guardian Order Inc.825 Edwardsburg Ave.Elkhart, IN 46514Andrew Vanmarter

Crossfit Raze LLC2218 Grant St.Elkhart, IN 46514Bobbie Sage

MSNF LLC228 W. High St.Elkhart, IN 46516Lisa G. Schoetzow

Charles Habic LLC1340 Wade DriveElkhart, IN 46514Charles Habic

Miguel A. Ponce LLC505 W. Washington St.Elkhart, IN 46516Miguel A. Ponce

Welformed Materials LLC358 S. Elkhart Ave., Suite 200Elkhart, IN 46516Cassidy C. Fritz

Tri-State Construction & Remodeling Inc.50783 C.R. 5Elkhart, IN 46514Craig D. Clark

Chapter Two Invest-ments LLC55340 Falling Water DriveElkhart, IN 46514David B. Baker

Shine Plus Automotive Detailing LLC350 Concord Ave.Elkhart, IN 46516David Army

Advanced Power Washing LLC54329 Lagoon RoadElkhart, IN 46516David D. Fiant

Divine Enterprises LLC57883 Sunbury DriveElkhart, IN 46517Krysten Shoulders

Five Star Life Inc.2204 California RoadElkhart, IN 46514Seth Maust

Sabnis Inc.56829 Bolton CourtElkhart, IN 46516Raj Sabnis

LRT Inc.25738 Lake DriveElkhart, IN 46514Rachel Benedict

Hulva Acoustics LLC53569 Michael CourtElkhart, IN 46514Mitchell A. Hulva

Photo-Video Jorge Inc.2621 Decamp Ave.Elkhart, IN 46517Jorge Fernandez

RLGold LLC27217 C.R. 6 WestElkhart, IN 46514Russell Golden

PMC Real Estate Holdco LP121 W. Franklin St.Elkhart, IN 46516James V. Woodsmall

Yiyo’s Towing LLC137 Wagner Ave.Elkhart, IN 46516Jorge F. Fernandez Jr.

Engineered Interiors LLC57628 Hawthorne St.Elkhart, IN 46517Steve Laplace

Shadow of His Hands Inc.51361 C.R. 11Elkhart, IN 46514Janice Braun

Nazario Hernandez LLC58390 Valley View DriveElkhart, IN 46517Nazario Hernandez

Marin Brothers Inc.5251 Distribution DriveFort Wayne, IN 46825Abel Marin

The Chameleon LLP2842 Northgate Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46835Rick Butts

Bright Owl Educational Services LLC600 E. 600 SouthFort Branch, IN 47648Rachel L. Burek

Social Rocket Co. LLC15016 Indian Creek RoadFort Wayne, IN 46814William B. Smits

Blanchette Mechanical LLC7526 Regina DriveFort Wayne, IN 46815Jason Blanchette

CD & F Grease Recycle Inc.5111 S. Camden DriveFort Wayne, IN 46825Fa De Zheng

Artistic Arrangements LLC4022 Avondale DriveFort Wayne, IN 46806Sheila Murphy

Brainy Beagle LLC3715 Highland DriveFort Wayne, IN 46804Benjamin C. Messick

R&K Detailed Installs LLC1723 Black Bear DriveFort Wayne, IN 46808Kenneth J. Mccartney

Product & Service Solu-tions LLC9815 Dawson’s Creek Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46825April S. Grunden, Esq.

Firstsite Properties LLC7021 Homestead RoadFort Wayne, IN 46814Angela Butler

Eco World Auto Corp.1510 Fairfield Ave., Suite 228Fort Wayne, IN 46802Meghan Kumzi

JDL Realty Investors LLC9439 Crystal Spring DriveFort Wayne, IN 46804John Leichty

Prime Life Properties LLC7021 Homestead RoadFort Wayne, IN 46814Jamie Lewis

UB Photography LLC10505 Tesoro CoveFort Wayne, IN 46845William G. Frederick

PAGES 18-21

READER’S GUIDE BizLeads is a collection of information gath-ered from northeast Indiana courthouses, state government offices and informational Web sites. These listings are intended to help companies find new customers as well as stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.

New Businesses lists firms that were recently incorporated in the state of Indiana. Information is gathered from the Indiana Secretary of State. Addresses listed may not be the actual address of the business.

Building Permits are issued by the Allen County Building Department during the specified period of time.

Real Estate is a list of agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential real estate sales recorded by the state of Indiana.

Bankruptcies are from the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Indiana. For complete data involving a particular filing please access the The PACER Service Center, the Federal Judiciary’s centralized registration, billing, and technical support center for electronic access to U.S. District, Bankruptcy, and Appellate court records. Its Web site URL is http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov.

Patents include the following: Patent number, local inventor and assignee, brief description, filed date and approved date. Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Listings may vary due to information availability and space constraints.

New Wineskin Academy LLC2925 Hoevelwood DriveFort Wayne, IN 46806Ebene Burney

Top Shelf Games LLC6742 E. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46815John Rhoad

Santiago Garcia LLC4519 Winter St.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Santiago Garcia

Bac Homes LLC3414 Covington Reserve ParkwayFort Wayne, IN 46804Rebecca Clendenen

Asertek Ventures LLC4305 Fairlawn Pass Suite 100Fort Wayne, IN 46815Kevin Morgan

The Nines Clothing Co. LLC4904 Woodmark DriveFort Wayne, IN 46815Ryan M. Shull

Pinkmonkeys Boutique LLC6906 Beaty Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46809Clint Lightbourne

Ruiz Projects LLC3508 Charger CourtFort Wayne, IN 46818James M. Ruiz

Eck’s Mobile Marine LLC5208 Landford LaneFort Wayne, IN 46815Thomas J. Eckrich Jr.

East Washington Subway Inc.3217 E. Washington Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46803Aman Dasson

Dry Indiana Inc.7201 Engle RoadFort Wayne, IN 46804Jeremy V. Senk

Jose Angel Atilano-Zara-goza LLC259 Northeast DriveFort Wayne, IN 46825Jose A. Zaragoza

Lisbeth Vivar Torres LLC2805 Smith St.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Lisbeth V. Torres

Shadow Trucking LLC4435 Monroeville RoadFort Wayne, IN 46816Gregory Anderson

COMMERCIALBUILDINGPEMITSFORT WAYNEWASHINGTON TOWNSHIPWitwer Construction Inc.5230 Value Drive$520,000

RESIDENTIALBUILDINGPERMITSFORT WAYNEABOITE TOWNSHIPColonial Homes Inc.7904 Sky Breeze Court$226,452

NEW HAVENADAMS TOWNSHIPDelagrange Homes LLC9135 Sunriver Court$202,700

ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIPDelagrange Homes LLC1526 Dunnagans Way$149,400

ALLEN COUNTYABOITE TOWNSHIPLancia Homes727 Henlock Court$165,330

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.308 Union Station Drive$173,900

Lancia Homes1017 Almdale Drive$225,113

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.329 Victoria Station Way$152,000

J&K Contractors15226 Candlestick Court$290,000

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.838 Beal Brook Pass$152,000

CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIPGranite Ridge Builders Inc.11643 St. Joe Road$311,242

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIPOld Dutch Homes by Steury Construction6405 Franke Road$245,600

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIPGranite Ridge Builders Inc.13286 Branstrator Road$220,405

MADISON TOWNSHIPBremer Homes, LLC11014 Franke Road$240,000

PERRY TOWNSHIPGranite Ridge Builders Inc.12490 Tocchi Drive$214,783

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.15460 Towne Park Run$132,836

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.15453 Towne Park Run$143,361

Granite Ridge Builders Inc.13519 Galloway Cove$265,321

ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIPHeller & Sons Inc.7126 Holden Drive$224,000

REAL-ESTATETRANSACTIONS4678311301 Miramar CoveFrom Rod A. and Rhonda S. Zollinger to Larry E. and Benita L. Foster$234,000

4678815562 N. State Road 1From Ruth E. Liechty to Seiler Family Farms LLC$236,666

18003 Cuba RoadFrom Phyllis E. Peters to Emanuel E. and Susann Graber$68,300

467974780 Legacy CoveFrom Woodburn Develop-ment LLC to Granite Ridge Builders$28,106

23504 Kammeyer RoadFrom William F. and Meta Kammeyer to Chad T. and Betsy L. Stuckey$104,000

4311 Elm St.From Freddie Mac to United Steel Workers Home Asso-ciation Local 715$30,500

468022064 Phenie St.From HUD to 1st Source Bank$65,882

203 E. Berry St. #904From AWB Holdings LLC to Maria R. Valcarcel$291,885

2218 Ontario St.From Mason Rosemary to World Cup Realty LLC$20,000

2530 Darlene CourtFrom CitiMortgage Inc. to Zipperzone Properties LLC$16,200

3521 Saginaw DriveFrom Stephen L. and Stacey A. Hammond to Robert P. Sandoz$189,900

113 W. Wayne St., #402From Elizabeth Miller to Carl M. and Marianne L. Miller$91,000

2120 Brooklyn Ave.From Armando E. Davilla to Natalia Lopez$60,000

1927 Taylor St.From Walter J. and Julie K. Smith to Rani Usha$25,000

468033309 Felician St.From Humberto and Maria M. Resendez to Kolin Young$11,000

1409 Division St.From DC&B Inc. to Silverio Romero and Maribel Barriga$17,900

468045823 Chase Creek CourtFrom Roger W. and Eleanor B. Maurer to Susan L. Bunatta$239,000

5332 Chippewa TrailFrom Steven E. and Suzanne Yentes to Ivan and Marlene K. Medina$142,000

2071 Pauline St.From HUD to Lexco Management$19,100

3903 Stone Creek RunFrom Michael G. and Marcia K. Vaught to Ashley and Thomas Meehan$128,500

2813 Bellaire DriveFrom John W. Ferguson to Gerard Grant$10,000

10107 Red Oak CourtFrom Catherine A. Petrill to Todd and Kimberly Martin$246,000

9126 Almond Tree CourtFrom Gary L. Durkes to Kenneth P. and Bethany J. Maurer$154,900

7911 Sky Breeze CourtFrom Colonial Homes Inc. to Charles R. and Carolyn A. Barnes$48,000

4635 Blue Water CourtFrom Michael R. and Joy R. Kitter to Tyler R. Freeland$105,000

9409 Woodstream DriveFrom David P. and Cassandra Marie Eccles to David A. Eccles$110,000

10728 Coneflower DriveFrom Michael McCarty to Charles M. Longworth$113,500

9521 Pinto LaneFrom Karen J. Morrow to Chad R. and Robert G. Imel$110,000

4314 Aboite Lake DriveFrom Amanda R. Jones and Benjamin T. Hughes to Mark E. Luarde$97,000

4211 Aboite Lake DriveFrom Florence Alexander to David G. and Ann E. Williams$92,000

2460 Randall RoadFrom Fannie Mae to Gregory J. Schenkel$85,600

9515 Camberwell DriveFrom the Suzanne C. Allen estate to Willaim A. and Lynn C. Ault$134,000

4220 Aboite Lake DriveFrom the Eugene Hoffman estate to Timothy J. McArdle$101,000

10625 Sheffield CoveFrom Mark F. and Amber L. Caesar to Kasie K. and Christopher R. Miller$246,000

8707 Ash Bourne DriveFrom Mark and Lori Bower to Jason R. and Alisa J. McPherson$122,500

8418 Hialeah LaneFrom Bonnie A. Stout to Kristen T. Hines$132,000

806 Nordale DriveFrom Linda S. Banks to Jesse T. Lammatzsch and Jessica L. Rorick$98,000

7132 Melody LaneFrom Eric J. and Rachel R. Manson to Brian L. Hull$95,500

1922 Red Oak RunFrom Gordon S. and Joyce M. Pixley to Donald C. and Dorothy M. Korte$146,000

8005 Shady Lake CourtFrom 3030 LLC to Granite Ridge Builders Inc.$48,000

8907 Stockbridge PlaceFrom Scott R. McMeen to William T. and Alyssa C. Grantham$210,000

9624 Crystal Spring DriveFrom Scott and Dawn Fritts to Traci Robinson$118,900

8023 Sky Breeze CourtFrom Connie R. Klinepeter to Michael J. and Jennifer E. Roth$183,000

8401 Pember Brook DriveFrom Tamyra R. Jackson to Nancy M. Stansberry$173,000

9711 Woodland RidgeFrom Paul F. and Beverly J. Hildebrandt to Jerome A. and Delores J. Ruefer$107,500

9440 Crestridge DriveFrom Jack K. Dunifon Jr. and Jennifer A. Dunifon to Benjamin A. and Chana N. Goodin$145,500

6130 Almond Bluff PassFrom Millennium Develop-ment Inc. to Denise V. Lloyd$306,000

10414 N. Westlakes DriveFrom Charles D. and Mary M. Lymburner to Heath K. and Megan A. Lisenby$247,000

536 Tattersholl CourtFrom Harold P. Schick to Margaret A. Savitska$117,500

1111 N. Hadley RoadFrom Lincoln Fort Wayne Associates LLC to Bruns-wick Corp.$6,850,000

618 S. Hadley RoadFrom WCC Properties LLC to Eric J. Augsburger$870,00

468053016 Crescent Ave.From Robert J. Spychalski to Robert Levandoski and Kathyrn Zamora$70,000

1609 Bayer Ave.From Melissa B. Mcfarland to Samantha R. Griggs$135,000

2813 Sherborne Blvd.From Allen County sheriff to Freddie Mac$34,200

2927 Westbrook Drive, B-420From Miranda J. Neuhaus to Jason S. Ehlerding$18,000

2012 California Ave.From Midfirst Bank to HUD$88,183

1831 Crescent Ave.From Midfirst Bank to HUD$82,367

1111 Crescent Ave.From Kyle Durnell to Joseph J. Branam$84,000

2709 Dodge Ave.From Allen County sheriff to Midfirst Bank$44,444

2433 Kenwood Ave.From Andrew C. Hathaway to Lynn M. Altevogt$64,000

2927 Westbrook Drive, Apt. 411From Freddie Mac to Jessica Montalvo-Anderson$17,900

3611 Spy Run Hill DriveFrom William L. Shaffer to Steven L. Weber$157,000

1415 Pemberton DriveFrom Peter J. and Miriam J. Kujak to Matthew A. Grabner$79,500

3510 Eleanor Ave.From Marcella M. Bordner to Steve and Kelly Bordner$80,000

2516 Beacon St.From Kraig D. Akey to Jerry D. Ford$69,900

854 Columbia Ave.From Robert G. and Doro-thea K. McCullough to Jason W. Delagrange$113,000

1815 Randallia DriveFrom David G. and Rose M. McComas to Russell M. Trainer$92,500

2307 Kenwood Ave.From Annette M. Bush to Katherine R. Horn$59,500

468064939 Mount Vernon Park DriveFrom Veryl C. and Norma L. Roth to Oak Properties LLC$19,428

3610 Robinwood DriveFrom Veryl C. and Norma L. Roth to Oak Properties LLC$19,428

3521 Robinwood DriveFrom Veryl C. and Norma L. Roth to Oak Properties LLC$19,428

1115 Milton St.From Veryl C. and Norma L. Roth to Oak Properties LLC$19,428

4519 Werling DriveFrom Regna and Alberto Saldana to Antonio Saldana$8,000

5214 Yorkshire DriveFrom Nationstar Mortgage LLC to R&B Enterprises LLC$46,000

www.NessBros.com260-356-3911 or 800-356-3911

For a Free Recorded Message, Call 1-877-297-7407 ID 6300

Statements made the day of auction take precedence over previous printed materials or any oral statements.

#AC39600001

AUCTIONResidential Real Estate

Donald Fisher - SellerSteve Ness - Auction Manager, Cell 260-417-6556

Inspect - Arrange Financing- Bid your price

1809 Rothbury Ct. - Ft Wayne, INThursday, August 29 @ 5:30

Executive 2 Story Home - 4868 Sq. Ft. Walkout Basement - 4 Bedrooms

5 Bathrooms - Master Bedroom w/FireplaceFamily Room w/Fireplace - 36 x 22 Garage

SWAC Schools

Executive Home in Sycamore Hills

Open House: Tues, Aug. 13 from 5 to 6 & Sun, Aug. 18 from 1 to 2


2718 Euclid Ave.From Allen County Commu-nity Development Corp. to Pedroza and Karla E. Campos$8,002

4315 Marquette DriveFrom Carl H. and Beulah L. Egly to Robert J. Murphy Jr.$36,500

1412 Eckart St.From Maria C. Rodriguez to Merlin Silvino and Maria J. Carmona$15,000

2937 Bowser Ave.From Farr Stanley to Rafael Flores and Patricia Nunez-Flores$7,000

3731 Brentwood Ave.From Emory D. Jeffers to Alice and Jackie Fultz$15,000

4507 Kenilworth St.From Allen County sheriff to JPMorgan Chase Bank$52,540

5306 Salem LaneFrom Barbara A. Dailey to Danny E. Boykin$82,700

3605 S. Barr St.From Meza Alicia to Arel-lano Guadalupe$7,000

4009 Oliver St.From Rouyes Property Management LLC to Keith and Sharlette Jimerson$15,000

3601 Hessen Cassel RoadFrom Allen County Commu-nity Development Corp. to Eugene Bonfiglio$6,228

4101 Hessen Cassel RoadFrom Herdrich Gift Alliance LP to Humaidi Group LLC$150,000

3333 Winter St.From LRB Holdings Inc. to Angel R. Martinez$40,000

4111 Reed St.From Jedehiah M. Davis to Steven L. and Geoffrey A. Burns$15,000

1502 E. Fairfax Ave.From Gregory and Panita Surfus to Hassan Saphilay$8,500

BANKRUPTCIESADAMS COUNTYSusan L. Lutz424 W. Water St.Berne, IN 46711Assets: $114,086Liabilities: $145,455

Heath A. and Katherine R. Thomas7581 N. Piqua RoadDecatur, IN 46733Assets: $3,385Liabilities: $72,352

Kelli R. Delagrange2577 E. U.S. 224Decatur, IN 46733Assets: $16,311Liabilities: $20,098

Brian D. Kershner8528 N. 700 EastDecatur, IN 46733Assets: $29,679Liabilities: $59,272

Kristiana M. Hooten6797 Second St.Linn Grove, IN 46711Assets: $2,528Liabilities: $19,487

ALLEN COUNTYAriel D. and Sarah M. Cooper4630 Wayne Trace Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $9,698Liabilities: $89,102

Lisa M. Dreher1431 N. Park DriveNew Haven, IN 46774Assets: $5,825Liabilities: $93,571

Philip E. Wilson122 Benwell PlaceYoder, IN 46798Assets: $19,650Liabilities: $45,313

Joe E. and Patricia A. Johnson420 Newton SquareFort Wayne, IN 46816Assets: $5,550Liabilities: $41,678

Carmen S. McAuley1515 Fairfax Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $6,700Liabilities: $19,320

Pamela L. Brown118 Eldorado Trail EastFort Wayne, IN 46825Assets: $9,550Liabilities: $64,281

Tamara D. Babani947 Buchanan St.Fort Wayne, IN 46803Assets: $1,310Liabilities: $30,139

Janet Carroll3301 Cedar Ridge RunFort Wayne, IN 46808Assets: $5,700Liabilities: $18,340

Dorothea F. Rogers9918 Blue Mound DriveFort Wayne, IN 46804Assets: $187,650Liabilities: $211,413

Gwendolyn D. Stalling3405 Bowser Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $86,600Liabilities: $153,115

James J. and Crystal N. Wolford1606 Boone St.Fort Wayne, IN 46808Assets: $5,600Liabilities: $116,609

Jeffrey S. and Rebecca L. LoePO Box 123Harlan, IN 46743Assets: $12,400Liabilities: $163,281

Carol A. Burgo21411 Howe RoadMonroeville, IN 46773Assets: $43,950Liabilities: $61,570

Jessica L. French10634 N. County Line Road E.Spencerville, IN 46788Assets: $206,600Liabilities: $251,160

Andrea S. Braden1636 Schilling Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46808Assets: $2,584Liabilities: $27,551

Kevin J. and Sheila K. Farabee5645 Centerhurst TerraceFort Wayne, IN 46835Assets: $108,650Liabilities: $139,786

Jerry L. Stalter and Clairerissa M. Thimlar1206 Columbia Ave., #2Fort Wayne, IN 46805Assets: $110,450Liabilities: $107,621

Jacqueline Wilson4611 Standish DriveFort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $4,915Liabilities: $23,588

Tracy A. Tilley2210 Valley Creek RunNew Haven, IN 46774Assets: $11,523Liabilities: $63,186

Tonya S.Thomas4635 Kaibab TrailFort Wayne, IN 46808Assets: $186,250Liabilities: $213,454

David J. and Amy M. Childers2019 Maplewood RoadFort Wayne, IN 46819Assets: $101,102Liabilities: $107,034

Robert L. and Evelyn E. Lowe10611 Monroeville RoadFort Wayne, IN 46816-9562Assets: $107,548Liabilities: $122,585

Francias N. Makridakis Sr. and JayLynn Makri-dakis7506 Saddlewood DriveFort Wayne, IN 46825Assets: $94,208Liabilities: $230,678

Sarah M. Poff5217 Eastwick DriveFort Wayne, IN 46815Assets: $8,986Liabilities: $14,260

Roosevelt R. Carlisle Sr.2710 Trentman Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $86,200Liabilities: $125,607

Brittany J. Fechner1668 Reed Road, Apt. AFort Wayne, IN 46815Assets: $11,145Liabilities: $42,681

LaWanda K. Hodge5948 Bunt DriveFort Wayne, IN 46816Assets: $5,400Liabilities: $63,366

Polly T. Taylor3216 Central DriveFort Wayne, IN 46806Assets: $16,800Liabilities: $12,246

Javar L. and Nicole L. Hamilton6418 Bellefiled DriveFort Wayne, IN 46835Assets: $90,150Liabilities: $152,805

Mary E. Lupica540 Professional Park DriveNew Haven, IN 46774Assets: $1,585Liabilities: $35,406

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Lance L. Coats1909 Black Bear DriveFort Wayne, IN 46808Assets: $12,260Liabilities: $42,700

Tasha M. Glover245 E. Hoover DriveFort Wayne, IN 46816Assets: $3,680Liabilities: $20,550

Mary L. Briggins3415 Pleasure CourtFort Wayne, IN 46815Assets: $102,235Liabilities: $140,619

Sandra S. Clark4917 Reed RoadFort Wayne, IN 46835Assets: $8,093Liabilities: $169,660

Amanda M. Potts3508 Turf LaneFort Wayne, IN 46804Assets: $3,350Liabilities: $63,971

Michael L. Yoquelet4421 Moorfield LaneFort Wayne, IN 46816Assets: $88,155Liabilities: $68,217

Julie E. McCoy6609 Salge DriveFort Wayne, IN 46835Assets: $34,337Liabilities: $200,744

Aundrea V. Ewing6014 Fairfield Ave.Fort Wayne, IN 46807Assets: $1,523Liabilities: $99,175

Rosemary Whitaker3619 Shadow Creek DriveFort Wayne, IN 46818Assets: $2,930Liabilities: $27,674

Richard R. Fiedler6354 C.R. 55Spencerville, IN 46788Assets: $3,050Liabilities: $28,416

DEKALB COUNTYCurtis A. and Samantha J. Bryant1202 Cristen Ave.Auburn, IN 46706Assets: $21,758Liabilities: $50,666

Ronald R. and Katherine S. Fike565 Cedar St.Waterloo, IN 46793Assets: $19,670Liabilities: $112,386

Neil S. Justice713 Erie Pass

Auburn, IN 46706Assets: $141,587Liabilities: $235,513

Gary G. Weisbarth and Sandra J. Ruscoe-Weis-barth45 C.R. 24Corunna, IN 46730Assets: $166,756Liabilities: $120,353

Jennifer N. Smith411 S. Peters St.Garrett, IN 46738Assets: $72,600Liabilities: $97,376

Keith L. Johnson1263 C.R. 40Auburn, IN 46706Assets: $33,000Liabilities: $57,726

Nicholette V. Denham301 N. Clark St.Auburn, IN 46706Assets: $21,989Liabilities: $29,901

Kim R. CollingsworthP.O. Box 321Garrett, IN 46738Assets: $5,700Liabilities: $23,073

HUNTINGTON COUNTYJeffrey L. Gruwell1816 N. MeridianHuntington, IN 46750Assets: $20,350Liabilities: $29,290

Michael J. and Misty L. Earhart336 Hanna St.Huntington, IN 46750Assets: $2,500Liabilities: $121,923

Reynardo and Jill M. Leal246 Vine St.Huntington, IN 46750Assets: $138,701Liabilities: $146,506

Todd L. and Mariah R. Howard1512 Avon PlaceHuntington, IN 46750Assets: $9,850Liabilities: $28,334

LAGRANGE COUNTYStephanie N. Mickem0805 E. 200 SouthLaGrange, IN 46761Assets: $116,820Liabilities: $142,733

Ronald E. and Kimberly S. Frazier312 N. Detroit St.LaGrange, IN 46761Assets: $4,450Liabilities: $103,663

NOBLE COUNTYDaniel L. and Monica L. Rittenberry316 Glory Ave.Kendallville, IN 46755Assets: $152,970Liabilities: $176,407

Dreyden E. Troyer6012 S. Bend DriveFort Wayne, IN 46804Assets: $500Liabilities: $44,322

Jay D. and Angela M. Nordman1105 Terrain Ave.Kendallville, IN 46755Assets: $104,600Liabilities: $119,143

Keisha M. Handshoe210 Lions DriveRome City, IN 46784Assets: $4,273Liabilities: $64,706

STEUBEN COUNTYJeremy L. Hack and Jamie L. Peterson202 E. Railroad St., Lot 4Hudson, IN 46747Assets: $23,241Liabilities: $39,499

Bryan T. Hall330 Intertech Parkway, Suite 252Angola, IN 46703Assets: $3,120Liabilities: $85,019

WELLS COUNTYJustin A. and Angela M. Haler3123 S. Main St.Liberty Center, IN 46766Assets: $67,814Liabilities: $38,989

Victor M. and Jewell L. Bennett5205 E. 800 NorthOssian, IN 46777Assets: $98,119Liabilities: $146,828

Thomas J. and Jennifer R. Baatz106 S. Bunn St.Ossian, IN 46777Assets: $108,227Liabilities: $108,709

Betsy J. ChaseP.O. Box 135Ossian, IN 46777Assets: $3,643Liabilities: $28,231

WHITLEY COUNTYNancy L. Nesbitt5835 E. Schrader RoadColumbia City, IN 46725Assets: $67,430Liabilities: $14,570

David R. Frei1188 W. Stoneridge DriveColumbia City, IN 46725Assets: $144,959Liabilities: $178,185

Jerry L. and Paula C. Jackson515 N. Walnut St.Columbia City, IN 46725Assets: $107,091Liabilities: $102,777

PATENTS8,498,350Communication system incorporating physical layer waveform structureMartin A. Stern, Fort WayneThomas E. Young, Fort WayneMark A. Gloudemans, Fort WayneDavid E. Mussmann, Spen-cervilleRaytheon Co., Waltham, Mass.Filed: April 19, 2010Approved: July 30, 2013

8,496,881Chemical delivery assemblyJeffrey C. Pohl, Fort WayneJames A. Ritchie, Jr., Hunt-ertownJeffery A. Clark, GarrettGroup Dekko Inc., Kend-allvilleFiled: June 10, 2010Approved: July 30, 2013

8,496,546Rebounding apparatusRonald C. Bulloch, Fort WayneFiled: Aug. 24, 2010Approved: July 30, 2013

8,491,596Method for removal of boneJack Long, WarsawBrian Maroney, Fort WayneJose Guzman, Fort WayneFrank G. Alvine, Sioux Falls, S.D.Stephen F. Conti, PittsburghRoy W. Sanders, Tampa, Fla.Filed: March 9, 2009Approved: July 23, 2013

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loved it. People said to me it was some-thing different and it was something they’ll remember.”

Smith said his commercial, which ran in June and July on radio sports-talk programs aired by The Fan (106.7-FM and 1380-AM), brought in 10 to 15 new customers, including two traveling youth baseball teams.

A Kmart spokeswoman said the national brand’s two commercials, which debuted on YouTube several months ago and remain posted on the Internet, have also been successful. One of the commercials gradu-ated to cable television broadcasts.

The Kmart spokeswoman declined to say whether the commercials had led to increased business, but she noted the “ship my pants” commercial has generated more than 19 million YouTube views and the “big gas savings” ad nearly 6 million. She said the overall feedback from viewers has been positive and there has been little push-back from consumers.

That doesn’t surprise professionals like Matt Kelley, owner of the Fort Wayne advertising and marketing firm One Lucky Guitar, and John Cuneo, Chicago-based writer and director for Fort Wayne’s Punch Films.

“I haven’t done any studies, but my gut says Americans may be a little more liberal than the puritanical clothes we drape ourselves in,” said Cuneo, who has written scripts for print and broadcast promotions.

“We’ve been very genteel in our delivery for many, many years. Maybe (companies are thinking) it’s not the worst thing in the world to throw something out there that’s entertaining and is going to stick in the viewers’ minds.”

Kelly went so far as to say he liked the Kmart commercials “from a creative, craftsmanship perspective,” although he also cautioned that such commercials do present a risk.

“The risk in my mind is: Are you going to offend your core customer base, which probably is a little more conservative, to reach a new, younger (demographic)?” Kelley said. “I think their decision was let’s risk a little of that with the opportunity to

gain a larger audience.”And in the process, he said, cut through

the other advertising noise and position Kmart as a hipper brand.

“There are countless brands,” he said, “who have never tried to hip themselves up and they’ve fallen on their face.”

Not all brands, though, should consider straying from serious pitches in favor of choosing edgy humor to promote products, Kelley and Cuneo said. Some brands require a large measure of marketing restraint.

For Kmart, Cuneo said, going out on a linguistic limb was just fine.

“I mean, how serious do you want to take Kmart?” Cuneo said. “It’s not like it’s a new ad campaign by the Catholic Church to recruit priests. It’s Kmart. You’re going there to get a garden hose.”

Smith said the play on words was equally suitable for his kind of company.

“It does depend on what kind of business you have,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to hear (“oh, smit”) from a law firm. But I have a T-shirt company and the commercial was funny.”

For his part, Kelley doesn’t intend to go down the same road with his clients, and “I feel rather proudly that we have clients who don’t say, ‘Find something that will shock our audience.’

“I’m looking to make a connection on a deeper level — to become meaningful to the audience,” he said. “And to make a lasting connection.”

Often, he said, with funny, edgy commer-cials “you get a short chuckle and then it’s gone. It meant nothing.”

Nevertheless, Kmart may have sequels, the company spokeswoman said, although nothing is planned.

And Smith, whose company provides custom embroidery and silk-screening for apparel as well as banner and sign products, said he would consider running a similar commercial again — and again place it in a program slot that largely draws an adult audience.

“Times have changed,” he said. “People are loosening up a little bit and that funny stuff, people are remembering it. You can talk about how good your product is, but everyone can talk about that.”


n EDGY: There are risks to pushing boundaries

BRIEFLYKOSC IUSKO COUNTY

SYMMETRY SURGICAL HAS NEW PRESIDENT

Warsaw-based Symmetry Medical Inc. has appointed Ajey Atre president of its subsidiary, Symmetry Surgical, effective Aug. 12.

Atre will be responsible for leading the global Symmetry Surgical business, which is based in Nashville, and will report to Symmetry Medical CEO Thomas Sullivan.

Atre has nearly 20 years of experience in the medical-device industry. For the past five years, he was general manager of Zimmer Holdings Inc.’s trabecular metal technologies business.


The senior citizens residential project also includes winding streets lined with detached homes arranged around three small lakes, thus the name, the “Villas at Heritage Lakes.”

The villas were the first part of the project to begin construction, with the first one finished just over four years ago. Despite a weak housing market, 37 of the 56 lots now have completed homes or are reserved or under construction.

“I’ve always felt grateful we’ve done each year we’ve done at least five or six units despite the economy,” said Pat Hart, who coordinates sales, marketing and admissions for the Heritage of Fort Wayne.

In fact, the weak housing market may even have made the villas more attractive. Although each new one is built to suit its first occupant, the villas aren’t sold outright. Residents pay an entry fee, and then monthly rent and utilities, which are low because all the homes have geothermal heating and cooling.

Residents still get to customize the homes a bit to suit their tastes, but the buy-in makes the villas more affordable than a conventional purchase. And if and when they decide to move on, residents don’t have to worry about possible depreci-ation or the hassle of selling the home.

Lawn mowing, landscaping, snow removal, appliance services and mainte-nance also are included. And a clubhouse offers a meeting and party area as well as an exercise room that residents can use at no charge.

Should an individual or couple want or need later to move into the apartments, health-care center or memory-care units in the new complex, or at the Huntington or Warren complexes, there’s a discount based on their earlier entry fee.

Like the detached homes, which range in

space from about 1,400 square feet to more than 2,000, the apartments in the new life center building will be spacious — about 900 square feet for a two-bedroom unit. Apartments will have kitchens, but resi-dents also will be able to get meal service if they prefer not to cook. Housekeeping services also are provided.

The nursing center will have 66 beds, each in a separate room that has both a living and bedroom space. Memory care will be provided on two levels: as assisted living for those who qualify and as nursing for those who require a higher level of care. On on-site rehab center will provide inpatient and outpatient physical-therapy services.

The life center also will have a small bistro that Hart said could be serve up food and occasional entertainment for residents in the villas and the main building as well as outsiders.

Scheduled to be completed next spring, the life center will offer the same high level of care the facilities in Huntington and Warren do, Hart said. “We are very resident oriented; it’s very patient-centered service,” she said.

Residents in the villas and the main building must be 65 or older. Many come from Fort Wayne, but the Heritage also has drawn interest from people in other states because they have family in the area, Hart said. Residents in the villas plan frequent activities — bridge, euchre, carry-in dinners, coffees, restaurant jaunts, etc.

‘It’s a very social group. They get to know their neighbors and they watch out for each other,” she said.

The Heritage villas are being built by Colonial Homes. The life center was designed by MKM Architecture + Design, and its general contractor is Schenkel Construction.


n HERITAGE: Residents can customize homes

BRIEFLYELKHART COUNTY

THOR TO SELL BUS BUSINESS FOR $100 MILLION

Elkhart-based Thor Industries Inc. has reached an agreement to sell its bus busi-ness to Allied Specialty Vehicles Inc. for $100 million. The transaction, the latest in a series of deals involving the two companies, is expected to close by Nov. 1.

Thor’s bus business includes: Champion Bus Inc.; General Coach America Inc.; Goshen Coach Inc.; El Dorado National California Inc.; and El Dorado National Kansas Inc. Combined, the businesses had annual sales of about $450 million for

Thor’s fiscal year ended July 31. Thor will continue to own and operate the bus busi-ness until the closing date of the sale.

In May, Thor sold substantially all of the assets of its SJC Industries Corp. subsidiary to Wheeled Coach Industries Inc., a subsid-iary of privately held ASV, which is based in Orlando, Fla. SJC’s Elkhart plant closed as a result, a move that cost 165 workers their jobs. In June, Thor announced the purchase of the former Navistar International Corp.’s Monaco RV production facility in Wakarusa. Navistar had sold the assets of Monaco and its other RV businesses to ASV in May.

ASV owns Fleetwood RV in Decatur and has begun moving production there from Wakarusa.


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Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly - Aug. 9, 2013

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Transcript of Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly - Aug. 9, 2013