Culture in organizations: The power of listening and aligning perceptions

In the world of business, the word 'culture' is abundant. Leaders discuss it; employees desire it. But amidst all the chatter, what does culture truly entail? At its core, culture represents the values, beliefs, and behaviors that underpin how an organization functions. It's the unwritten rule book that everyone implicitly understands.... Read More

Grow your business: Get SMART in 2024

Setting goals should be nothing new for the successful business owner or manager. But how you go about achieving those goals can be critical in their success or failure. Consider trying a new approach for goal setting.... Read More

Why Japan matters to Indiana

Last fall, Knox County officials and I joined Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for a week-long trade mission in Japan.  Some may ask, why are focused visits like these vital to Indiana - and particularly southern Indiana? Here’s a key fact: Indiana has the highest concentration of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States from Japanese companies. What does that mean?... Read More

Connecting older Hoosiers to free fresh produce to improve health outcomes

Many Indiana seniors report having difficulty maintaining a healthful diet, which increases risks of chronic diseases and reduced quality-of-life. Low-income older adults across the state not only aren’t getting enough to eat, many don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This access to nutritious food is a key driver of health that impacts quality health outcomes. ... Read More

Career development as a catalyst for change in incarcerated lives

The journey of career development within the prison system is not merely a professional endeavor; it is a profound catalyst for personal transformation and societal redemption. As the Business Resource and Outbound Operations Director at a company that works with and employs currently and formerly incarcerated workers, I have been privileged to witness the transformation of individuals society often dismisses. It is my belief that with the right tools, incarcerated individuals can redefine their futures through career development, skill-building, and leadership training.... Read More

Business of golf: It’s about more than just the game

In business, we have many tools that we can leverage, but I would argue that my golf clubs are the most valuable. While many may look at a bag of golf clubs and imagine themselves hitting the links, we can’t dismiss the tremendous opportunity that pairing a set of clubs on the fairway with three other golfers can have on the trajectory of our careers.... Read More

Elevating quality of life on a fiber foundation

As regional efforts work to address Hoosier workforce attraction, especially in the WestGate@Crane Technology Park regional microelectronics expansion, key elements come into play to elevate quality of life. The higher the quality of life, the more attractive the region becomes to qualified talent. A key fact? High-speed fiber connectivity forms a key foundation on which to build up quality of life, especially in rural areas.... Read More

Indiana’s mortality rates are unacceptable; doulas can help

The lack of sufficient maternal health care is killing Hoosier women and children, but having a doula during pregnancy and child birth has the ability to save lives, according to advocates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana is the ninth highest state in infant mortality. Our maternal mortality rate is even more dire, as we have the third highest in the nation.... Read More

Developing & sharing your legacy plan

Too often individuals pass away before sharing personal information with spouse, children, other trusted individuals, and/or the individual settling their estate, which can complicate the estate settlement process. Losing a loved one is difficult and having time to grieve is necessary for the healing process. That’s why it’s so important to educate another about what you have and what you want to happen should you fall ill or pass away while you can.... Read More

Your organization’s actions speak volumes

We’ve all heard the old proverb, “Actions speak louder than words.” In today’s high-tech society, the phrase takes on new meanings, including actions on social media, chats, marketing, and other communications. ... Read More

Upending your public image

Your marketing leadership has devoted many hours of work and significant budget dollars to develop, establish and maintain an impactful and effective brand, capturing your company’s image in ways that support your business objectives. And then someone ordered those golf shirts.... Read More

Our family’s commitment to emerging leaders

Just a few months ago, we announced Class XLVII of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series. It is an annual tradition that applauds the role emerging leaders play in our city. It is a time of celebration and optimism. But what many people may not know, is that SKL was born out of tragedy.... Read More

Building a stronger education ecosystem

In the world of education, the headlines often scream about the shortage of teachers. Many entrepreneurs have sought to create education technology to solve this structural issue by creating solutions for the buyer (educational institutions). A key consideration that appears absent in many of these solutions is identifying the difference between the buyer and the end user. ... Read More

Did the Federal Reserve stick the (soft) landing?

When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell began increasing interest rates in early 2022, few economists predicted a resilient economic response. It wasn't a matter of "if" we would be pushed into a recession but how bad the recession would be. Nearly two years into the steepest increase in interest rates in over 40 years, can we now say we've achieved a soft landing? Or is this a delayed economic response with a 2024 recession certain to come?... Read More

More than ever, we need strong, diverse community financial institutions

For almost a century, credit unions have been an integral part of the American financial landscape. During the Great Depression, as the U.S. financial system was faltering, people came together around the concept of cooperative community finance as an alternative solution. What resulted was an entirely different approach to consumer and business banking that operates in peaceful parallel with conventional banks of all sizes.... Read More

Grow your business: Learn from failure

Basketball phenom Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is no stranger to losing, much less failure, even though he is one of the most successful professional basketball players of today. His record-breaking career has had countless ups and downs.... Read More