Can innovation be taught? Yep, say professors
What do the Indiana entrepreneurship programs—two of which are nationally known—have to show for their efforts?
Norm Heikens
Articles
New workforce thrust aims to boost Indy tech expertise
Businesses and other employers can anticipate more technologically literate college graduates—and see their existing employees raise their tech game—if a new program pans out.
Rolls-Royce plans massive modernization of aging plant
The defense contractor is on the cusp of investing hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize its Tibbs Avenue factory, Rolls-Royce officials revealed Tuesday at IBJ's aviation and aerospace event.
Will manufacturers move back to urban centers?
Effort in Indianapolis will try to entice manufacturers to rethink areas they abandoned.
Young firm aims to clean up in ‘green’ laundry niche
Brandon Evans and Andrew Insley hope their laundry detergent startup sets itself apart from the crowded field of competitors that say they use “natural” ingredients. Their point of differentiation: truly making good on that claim.
Strong dollar divides economy into winners, losers
Hoosier businesses and consumers face a dynamic not seen in a generation—a dollar significantly more muscular than many competing currencies. Experts predict the dollar’s clout and the pros and cons of that power will endure for a year and possibly as long as three.
How to beat the export blues? By playing up old strategies
An Indianapolis exporter that stood to take a hit from the strong dollar is faring well, thanks to a strategy honed in two prior cycles when the currency stood tall.
Indiana ports set records in 2014
Ports operated by the state set shipping records last year, according to Ports of Indiana, the quasi-government body that operates ports at Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, and at Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon on the Ohio River.
Indy maps out export plan
The Indianapolis area could see exports rise if a plan released Feb. 21 succeeds.
Cycling devotees embrace $450 pump
Josh Poertner, a Zipp Speed Weaponry engineer who helped prove bicycle fanatics would pay $3,000 for a pair of aerodynamic wheels, has turned his Steve Jobs-like obsession with technology and design to the lowly tire pump.
Indiana, U.S., shut out of new auto assembly plants
Every plant announced for North America since 2009 has gone to Mexico. The upshot is not only few assembly jobs, but fewer jobs and businesses that feed off of the massive operations.
EnerDel regroups after missing job targets
EnerDel Inc. is regrouping under a strategy of targeting niche markets, as Indianapolis and Hancock County officials press executives about the firm’s future and former pledges of local investment and job creation that failed to pan out.
Kiely to step down at Indiana Manufacturers Association
Longtime President Pat Kiely will retire July 1, the group announced Monday morning. In line to replace him is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Burton.
Battery maker EnerDel retrenches, dodges clawbacks
EnerDel is regrouping under a strategy of targeting niche markets—a plan that has convinced Indianapolis and Hancock County officials to back off threats to yank economic development incentives.
Forecast for 2015: Strategist says economy has juice
A Fifth Third Bank expert told attendees at IBJ's 2015 Economic Forecast on Thursday that the business cycle is maturing but still has some oomph left in it.
Maker of class rings may fetch $1 billion
Herff Jones might be on the verge of a sale for as much as $1 billion. The 94-year-old maker of class rings and yearbooks, quietly renamed Varsity Brands Inc. in June, has hired the investment banking firm Jefferies to explore a sale, unidentified sources told Reuters.
Not your typical corporate retreat spots
You know the drill—find a place where a contingent from your organization can fall back and talk about something important. (Or unimportant.)
The Interview Issue: Jim Hallett
Hallett rocketed from a modest childhood to lead one of Indiana’s largest companies.
The Interview Issue: Jeff Smulyan
Smulyan, a Democrat whose Emmis Communications Corp. owns radio stations relying on talk formats, has arrived at a principled acceptance of the phenomenon.
The Interview Issue: Jeffrey Johnson
The senior pastor of Eastern Star Church explains why preaching still belongs as a form of oratory in a day of social media and short attention spans.