#weareindy

Indy Chamber member Bosma Enterprises has a mission to create opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Opening in 1915, Bosma Enterprises has since grown to provide resources such as job training and rehabilitation, and proactively seeks to change misconceptions about those with a visual handicap. 

People who are blind or visually impaired have a 70 percent unemployment rate. Recognizing that employment builds confidence and independence, Bosma Enterprises works with employers and employees to identify needs, such as special screen reading software, to successfully place blind or visually impaired people into the workforce. “Diversity is so important in the workforce. Approaching problems with a different way of thinking, blind and visually impaired workers bring a unique skillset to the workplace. Everyone deserves a chance at success. We just give them the opportunity,” explains Anthony Scott, Communications Specialist at Bosma Enterprises. The majority of the visually impaired lose their vision later in life. In fact, only 30 percent of people the visually impaired are completely blind. Because the majority of people that turn to Bosma Enterprises for help are adjusting to vision loss, Bosma offers a statewide rehabilitation program that teaches Braille and how to live independently. At their Indianapolis facility, Bosma has an apartment simulation that their clients can use to practice every day tasks. 

Some people have a passion for sports, cars, or music. Other people have a passion for the finer things in life. For example, Fons Smits has an intense passion for the art of cheese making.

Originally from the Netherlands, Fons Smits has traveled the world as a dairy plant consultant and landed in Indianapolis to start Tulip Tree Creamery. After Fons paired up with the business savvy Laura Davenport, the dynamic duo founded Tulip Tree Creamery in 2014. Since then, the small business has hit the ground running and is now distributed both locally and regionally in farmers markets and specialty stores.

So how exactly does one make cheese? We took an exclusive tour with Laura to find out.

To make the cheese, the first and most basic ingredient is milk. Tulip Tree Creamery purchases their milk from Lot Hill Dairy Farm in southern Indiana that does not use antibiotics or growth hormones on their herd. After the intake process at Tulip Tree Creamery, the milk is combined with other ingredients for the specific taste and firmness and then is placed into molds so that it can set up.

After the molds are removed, the cheese is then aged in Tulip Tree Creamery’s aging rooms and goes through different processes based on the type of cheese being made. For instance, beer cheese is repeatedly washed in a beer rinse to get the beer flavor! Fun fact: before electricity, cheese was aged in caves because it was the coolest place to store it. In a homage to this practice, the aging rooms at Tulip Tree are fondly referred to as “The Caves”.

After the aging process, the cheese is scrubbed to perfection and is wrapped by hand and sent to distributors or local farmers markets! To see a full listing of cheeses offered, click here.

Great! How can I learn more?

We are glad you asked. Tulip Tree Creamery offers classes so that you can become an expert cheese artisan too. Check out their full website at tuliptreecreamery.com.

Being an Indy Chamber member has its perks.

A proud Indy Chamber member, Tulip Tree Creamery takes advantage of networking opportunities to get connected to the business community and relies on the Indy Chamber to help raise awareness about Indy’s small business community and to provide resources to entrepreneurs.

“We are proud to be a part of the small business community in Indy. It is such a collaborative environment! We partner with several local breweries for our beer cheese, and sell our products in several small businesses throughout Indy,” explains Laura Davenport, Sales and Marketing Manager at Tulip Tree Creamery.

Get your hands on this cheese!

Check out where you can purchase Tulip Tree Creamery’s artisan cheeses!

Akilah Darden had never thought much about Indianapolis. She had never visited. Did not know anyone who lived here and admits did not have the city on her bucket list. Until she got a call about TriVersity Construction, a 10 year old construction management and general construction firm with offices in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. “I was so attracted to the culture of mentorship and diversity and discipline at TriVersity,” says Darden.

When it came time to grow a larger presence in Indianapolis, Mel Gravely, TriVersity’s President and CEO, saw an opportunity to recruit an operations leader that embodied TriVersity’s values. “Akilah Darden was an ideal fit,” Gravely says. “The right construction background. The right passion for the business and the right mindset for our culture.”

The company’s growth over the years has fueled a theme of building a better way – an idea resting on three core values: the customer experience, the power of diversity, and discipline throughout the business. TriVersity has built a $68 million company specializing in serving healthcare and corporate clients with on-going construction needs and with community based organizations.

“People talk about values but I’m inspired by the fact TriVersity is living them. For example, 35% of the construction management roles are held by women and over half of the company’s employees are minority. It’s not what many people would imagine a construction company to be like, but it’s that focus on bringing diverse groups of people together that makes it special.”

Darden spent the last 17 years as a construction manager on the East Coast in the Bethesda and Baltimore areas. There, she built an impressive resume leading building projects from $35 million to $200 million and as the spearhead for both Women in Construction and Young Professionals programs. With such an extensive resume, Darden could have stayed on the East Coast, building her career where she began it. But with the opportunity to do groundbreaking work with TriVersity in a city like Indianapolis that’s primed for new ideas and growth, she knew a move to Indy was the right one. Now, eight months as a citizen of Indianapolis, she loves the vibrant city and warm, welcoming people. Darden is now focused on taking her passion (and TriVersity’s!) for innovation and empowerment and building new relationships in a city that’s just as focused on building something new.

“Construction is an exciting field,” says Darden. “You need people with so many different skills: engineering, design, project management, just to name a few. I see so much potential for skilled individuals to really thrive in the industry, as long as we can pave the way for them.”

For Darden, that’s exactly what this leadership opportunity means. By changing the way people think about the construction industry, she’s creating new opportunities for TriVersity Construction to offer something to their clients that the competition just can’t.

“A big part of why I joined TriVersity was for the mentorship opportunity with Mel Gravely our President and CEO,” says Darden. “Mentorship has been a big part of my life, and it’s been great to see that play such a big role in the Indy Chamber’s programming.”

Through Indy Chamber events like the Women in Business Retreat in February, Darden has begun building her own local community and a support network of mentors and peers to help her in her mission to open up doors for herself and for her company in Indianapolis. Akilah is also actively involved with the Indiana Construction Roundtable, Indiana Subcontractors Association and Mid States Minority Supplier Development Council.

Akilah has been in Indianapolis for eight months. During this time, she has participated in the career fair at Smoky Row Elementary School and was a panelist for the Women In Green Luncheon by the USGBC. She is also active on two Boards and an ACE mentor at North Central High School.

“The world is changing,” says Darden. “We need to change with it.” Together with the Indy Chamber, Darden is excited to lead the way as TriVersity Construction changes their corner of the world in Indianapolis and beyond.

Did we mention, Akilah has four children: two sons – Travis, Jr (JR) 6, Aiden 4, and identical twin daughters Alana & Tiana who recently turned 2. She and her husband Travis have been married for nine years.

After cracking open his first two home brew bottles, TwoDEEP founder and Director of Brewing Shenanigans Andy Meyer knew he was in too deep to turn back on his love for home brewing.

In 2011, after countless home brews and encouragement from friends and family, the former media salesman decided to open TwoDEEP Brewing Co. in downtown Indianapolis. Craft beer has become just as much a staple in Indianapolis as the Colts or the Pacers, so Meyer hoped that opening a brewery downtown would be a successful endeavor. TwoDEEP opened its doors in August of 2014.

Two years later, Meyer’s optimism and hard work continues to pay off. Specializing in malt-forward beer, TwoDEEP brews traditional European true-to-style beers. If you aren’t quite sure what that means, you’re in luck. TwoDEEP enjoys educating anyone that walks into their TapRoom about the different styles of beer and how they are brewed.

Reminiscent of a rustic lodge, TwoDEEP’s TapRoom is inviting with brick and wood laden interior, complete with a cozy fireplace to round out the woodsy feel. If you don’t consider yourself a beer person, TwoDEEP is unique in the fact that it also sells wine and liquor in the TapRoom. Designed with everyone in mind, their TapRoom is a space for gatherings, business meetings, networking events, and even fundraising events. TwoDEEP has partnered with local charities including College Mentors for Kids, the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, and Regeneration Indy in the past and has donated 20 percent of pint sales to their cause.

As a small business in Indy, TwoDEEP finds the business climate thriving.

“People in Indy want to buy and support local goods and services. Since revitalization started in Indy, a lot of great things are happening here. People want to walk, bike, and explore downtown!” says Lizzie Hineman, Marketing Manager at TwoDEEP.

TwoDEEP is a self-distributed brewery, which gives them the opportunity to create a close relationship with all of their accounts in Indiana. Maintaining a very organic business model with a do-it-yourself attitude, all of their beer is canned in-house as well. Locally, you can find their beers poured at bars and restaurants including the Rathskellar, Bru Burger, BurgerHaus, and Bourbon Street Distillery.

“As an Indy Chamber member, we enjoy the networking opportunities and events where we can connect to other people and businesses,” Hineman says, “We are looking forward to hosting the Indy Chamber’s Lagers and Leaders event this summer!”

It’s undeniable, Hoosiers are passionate about their food.

Luckily for Central Indiana, Market District in Carmel bases its entire philosophy around a love of food. Market District is more than just a grocery store; it’s a gathering place for on-the-go people who value fresh, quality food in a convenient setting.

As a gathering place for the community, Market District offers an in-store restaurant, Table, which features dishes using products sold within the adjacent store. Table showcases Market District’s culinary artists, who are encouraged to use their creativity to expertly craft signature dishes, as well as the quality of products sold within the Market District store.

In addition to Table, Market District offers an event space that provides another opportunity to combine food and community. The space is open to the public for rental and also hosts Sunday brunch featuring food made from items in Market District. In fact, the Indy Chamber used this event space for our Business After Hours event in February 2016! In addition to its event space, Market District also offers full service catering, from classic offerings like fried chicken, boxed lunches, sushi, cheese and charcuterie platters and more, to fully customized event menus and service.

“Since we are new to the area, a partnership with the Indy Chamber allows us to understand the people in our community as well as connect and partner with other businesses to improve our neighborhood,” says Jim Griffith, executive store leader at Market District. “We are a cause-conscious organization that cares about our community, and an Indy Chamber membership allows us to grow our relationships with other cause-oriented businesses.”

Also, Market District’s freshly prepared foods department allows consumers who are on-the-go to pick up a quick and healthy lunch or bring a nutritious dinner home to their family. The in-house culinary artists that prepare the food are free to bring their individual styles to their creations, so you know you won’t get a typical, bland recipe!

Lastly, as the bread and butter of Market District, the grocery store provides endless selections of fresh fruits and vegetables, a vast seafood selection including a fresh “catch of the day,” a bakery featuring made-from-scratch items, a deli stocked with fresh cut meats, and an expansive alcohol assortment. Offering both local and non-local products, Market District stocks its products to please an educated palate.

“Moving into the Indianapolis market, we weren’t sure what exactly to expect,” explains Griffith. “It’s a more diverse area than what we thought it would be, with foodies who want more than a typical Midwest menu. We’ve learned that family and an active lifestyle is important to Hoosiers, and they are always willing to try new foods!”

As a transplant from Columbus, Ohio, Griffith has quickly fallen in love with the Central Indiana region.

“Downtown Indianapolis has always been a favorite destination of mine, even when I was still living in Columbus,” says Griffith. “It is such a walkable and entertaining city. There is great food, fantastic venues and good opportunities for anyone who lives here.”

The next time you are looking for a place to gather with friends or just explore by yourself, head over to Market District. To learn more about this one-of-a-kind culinary destination and opportunities to save money on your next trip to the store, visit www.marketdistrict.com.

On-street bike lanes, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, public greenways and trails…as Indy becomes more increasingly bike friendly, local non-profit Nine13sports is working harder than ever to ensure that the youth of today never lose their love for cycling.

Founded in 2012, executive director and founder Tom Hanley and his crew at Nine13sports utilize cycling as a tool for promoting youth health and fitness. Through their Kids Riding Bikes® program the team works with central Indiana schools to bring bikes to the classroom for a little friendly competition and physical fitness. The program gives students a chance to ride stationary bikes and use simulators to replicate a course that is reflective of an actual bike ride with inclines and declines.

Because Nine13sports partners with corporate sponsors, their services are free for any school that wishes to give their students this experience. Nine13sports seeks to get connected with at-risk children by focusing on underserved populations of the Indy region. In the small group setting that the simulators provide, Hanley and his team are able to spend quality one-on-one time with the students.

“Bikes are the ultimate equalizer. There is 100 percent participation rate,” Hanley states, “When cycling is turned into a game, the kids don’t realize they are working out. It’s a fun, engaging, and interactive way to get all kids moving.”

According to surveys the Nine13sports team conducts when they travel to schools, 10 percent of students have never ridden a bike before and one-third of the students don’t even own a bike. After pedaling on the simulators, kids are excited about biking on their own.

Starting at the Speak Easy, which he credits for helping his business grow, Hanley firmly believes Nine13sports succeeded because it started in Indy. Hanley is passionate about Indianapolis and the momentum of businesses like the Indy Chamber working to make it better.

“I really believe Indy is the best city in the country for young professionals. Indy is the only market where you can make an impact and get involved with shaping policies and decisions. In other cities, I wouldn’t have access to presidents and CEO’s like I do here,” Hanley says.

At the Indy Chamber, Hanley is involved in the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Education committee that is composed of forward thinkers that wish to see positive change in the community. As a young entrepreneur, Hanley is excited for what the next generation of leaders can do for Indy.

To other entrepreneurs and small business owners, Hanley offers this advice, “No matter what age you are, realize you need genuine mentors in your life, and you have to be genuine too. Nothing ever happens quick enough, and you have to accept that.”

To learn more about Nine13sports and to see how your business can work with them, visit www.Nine13sports.org.

If bootleggers straight of the Prohibition Era could travel through time, a bottle of gin says they would end up at Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery. Reminiscent of days gone by, Hotel Tango is truly the one stop shop for sipping your favorite, local artisanal drink.

Opening their doors in 2014, Hotel Tango is the first disabled veteran owned distillery in the country and the first craft distillery in Indy. Returning home after three combat tours, former marine Travis Barnes took an interest in spirit distillation. Along with his closest friends he met in law school, Barnes noticed that Indiana liquor laws were changing to allow craft spirit manufacturers to sell directly to consumers, much like a brewery or winery. However, the artisan distiller’s permit being offered was only available for a limited time. With the time limit as incentive, Barnes turned to his friend Brian Willsey for business help.

When Barnes and Willsey first saw the building that is now Hotel Tango, they knew they had to have it. A former carriage house turned mortuary in Fletcher Place, Hotel Tango’s location is killer, all puns aside. Located right on the cultural trail, the building stands out as a rich piece of Indianapolis history. The fireplace in the center of the tasting room is a new welcome addition, along with the residence of local celebrity, Fletcher the Cat.

Opening its doors less than two years ago, Hotel Tango has already received accolades and medals for their spirits. After trial and error and consultation with experts, the team’s hard work is paying off. Barnes’ military background translates into his business style, with the team all jumping in where needed as a fully functioning unit.

“The hardest part about small business ownership has been facing the unknown. It is a new industry in Indy, and we are blazing a path for others to follow. We are really setting the standard. My favorite part has been starting with an idea, and seeing it through from conception to 19 people on the payroll. It’s been a wild ride,” Barnes says.

As a new business in Indianapolis, Hotel Tango joined the Indy Chamber to connect to the business community.

“As an Indy Chamber member, we have access to networking and introductions to the business community. The Indy Chamber is doing great things for Indy, leading the City in the right direction for the future,” Barnes and Willsey agree.

To those with an entrepreneurial spirit, the team at Hotel Tango gives some solid advice. “Just do it. Mistakes are inevitable. No one else can do it for you, You’ve got to figure it out on your own! Don’t talk about it, be about it.”

To learn more about Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery, please visit hoteltangowhiskey.com.