Elements in place to keep IMS under family ownership
Thanks to a savvy tax-avoiding maneuver by late track owner Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr., his descendants appear poised to lead the Indianapolis Motor Speedway into the next era.
Family Business
Articles
Jonathan Byrd’s diversifies, moves north
Jonathan Byrd’s has for years been quietly expanding beyond its successful restaurant and catering company in Greenwood. Now, it is shifting most of its attention to Hamilton County.
Battered Auer mutual fund soldiers on
From the Auer Growth Fund’s debut in late 2007 through the end of 2015, its average annualized return was negative 5 percent, while the overall market rose an average of 6.3 percent annually.
Musicians Lily & Madeleine evolving from niche act to stardom
Seeing Madeleine and Lilly Jurkiewicz backstage before a performance, you might think they are preparing for a college talent night. But the sisters are launching a tour in support of their third album, one that could make the difference between a future as an indie niche act or a breakout success.
Mother-daughter home rehab team gets shot at HGTV gig
Karen Jensen and Mina Starsiak, owners of Two Chicks and a Hammer, will be featured in a TV pilot airing Monday on the network. They could parlay the appearance into a 12-episode season.
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.
Zionsville shop’s niche draws orders from antiquers worldwide
In July, Tiffany Turner and her husband, Steve Young, bought Kennedy Hardware, a three-decade-old enterprise that’s a superstar in its sales niche—supplying highly specialized bits of hardware for rehabilitating antique furniture.
Star caterer Jack Bayt on upswing after tumble
Six years after having the area’s largest catering business sold out from under him, Jack Bayt is back, leading a revamped Crystal Catering. But the new iteration is much smaller than in the days when Bayt and his partners wanted to become a regional or even national player.
Family peanut-butter venture sees sales take off
B. Happy Peanut Butter is a hit at the summer market—and then some. Available at more than a dozen retail outlets in central Indiana, its seven varieties of hand-packed PB could produce sales of $100,000 this year.
Tricky transition: Pillows balance family, business as son preps to take over
Even before taking over, Eddie Pillow is making changes at the logistics and courier company his dad started in 1988.
Herb Simon: $160M Pacer deal helps heirs
Herb Simon, 79, says the $160 million deal the city struck with the Indiana Pacers this month for operating costs and stadium improvements is an outgrowth of negotiations that began way back in 2007.
Beck’s Hybrids prospers against far bigger firms
When Lawrence and Francis Beck planted six acres of hybrid corn on their Hamilton County farm almost eight decades ago, the father and son sowed the seeds of a family business that’s still growing despite widespread industry consolidation.
Irsay arrest spurs talk of Colts succession plan
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay gave a clear signal in 2012 about his long-term succession plan by naming his three daughters vice chairwomen and co-owners. His March 16 arrest might hasten the launch of that plan, or at the very least give Colts fans a glimpse of what it will look like.
After 9-year hiatus, Caplinger family opens new fish market
Veteran seafood operators Nick and Andrew Caplinger opened a shop in December at East 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue that boasts a wide variety of fresh fish.
Noblesville company taking on industry giants with healthier snacks
The Darlington snack company for 30 years peddled sweet treats to large institutional users—think schools, hospitals and nursing homes. But growing concerns over America’s obesity epidemic have the small Noblesville company hanging its hopes on healthier fare: all-natural, whole-grain-rich snacks.
‘Prototyper’ sees business gain fizz
TWeatherford Inc. was launched in 2006 as a reseller for additive manufacturing equipment, often called 3D printers or rapid prototypers. It has done well with the machinery sales and rentals, but has begun providing actual manufacturing services on a larger scale.
David and Marilyn Shank are survivors in PR industry
Over the last quarter century, the husband-wife duo has outlived a number of bigger and slicker competitors, even as the Great Recession decimated some bigger PR and advertising shops.
Glass magic coming to end for venerable Fox Studios
Fox Studios Inc., the venerable stained glass company whose work is on display at countless churches throughout the state and even the Indiana Statehouse, is closing.
Tiny Lebanon firm prevails in multimillion-dollar patent case
In the past 18 months, Larry Durkos—who invented a machine that attaches metal bed box springs and coils to wood frames—has scored two stunning victories over Leggett & Platt Inc., a Missouri-based box-spring conglomerate.
Indy startup sees green in cheaper 3D printing
Launched in January, 3D Parts Manufacturing joined a recent surge in rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing operations known as 3D printers. Rather than screwing and gluing parts together, operators plug digital designs into machines that shape plastic and metal powders from the bottom up, one microscopic level at a time.