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Jim Hess
Jim Hess has been owner and publisher of the Morgan County Business Leader since 2011 and owner and publisher of the Town Planner Community Calendar since 2008. In both businesses Jim aspires to connect, promote and support the local small business community. As a successful small business owner himself, he knows the challenges entrepreneurs face, the thrill of achievements reached, and the appreciation felt for support and encouragement. That understanding, along with his mission of building relationships, is reflected in the purpose and pages of his publications. Jim’s success began when he graduated from Olivet Nazarene University and embarked on a career with Northwest Airlines. While there, he received numerous awards for his work including the 2003 President’s Award for Employee Support and Inspiration. Several years later, he accepted a position in the manufacturing industry where he was tasked to manage corporate relationships with many different entities ranging from the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. to employee relations. Jim continually strives to contribute to the business community through his participation in civic organizations such as the Mooresville Chamber of Commerce where he has served as both vice president and president. Jim can be reached at jim@morgancountybusinessleader.com.
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Elaine Whitesides
Elaine Whitesides brings a unique perspective to her position as writer for the Morgan County Business Leader. With an extensive background in real estate finance and the restaurant industries, she understands the corporate and business perspective of small business owners and entrepreneurs. As an elementary school educator, she has the skills to take the complex and make it simple and clear. As a writer, she loves nothing more than to tie all the information about an enterprise up into a story that reflects not only the business, but the business owner as well. Elaine held management positions for First Financial Savings and Loan and Inland Mortgage Corporation, a division of Inland Real Estate, before obtaining her teaching credentials. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, both from National Louis University. After leaving the education field in 2003, Elaine pursued her interest in writing. It evolved into a business, Whitesides Words, LLC, which she has owned and operated since 2009.
![Positively Impacting a Grade “A”](https://www.morgancountybusinessleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MC-Feb14-1.jpg)
Positively Impacting a Grade “A”
William Butler Yeats, a noted figure of 20th century literature, said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”.
![It Was The Right Thing To Do](https://www.morgancountybusinessleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MC-Feb13-1.jpg)
It Was The Right Thing To Do
Whether you believe leaders are born that way or hone their skills as they mature, you know when you have been in the presence of a real leader – someone who has made a difference. One such person in Morgan County is Charles “Bud” Swisher.
![Ward’s Apparel](https://www.morgancountybusinessleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MC-Jan13-1.jpg)
Ward’s Apparel
Independent business is tough business. Operating an independent retail clothing store – in today’s era of big-box retailers and plentiful online vendors – is even tougher still. But that’s exactly what Jack and Carolyn Ward, owners of Ward’s Apparel in Mooresville, have done for the past 41 years.
![Plugged into the Community](https://www.morgancountybusinessleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MC-Dec12-1.jpg)
Plugged into the Community
Mooresville Banker & Community Servant reflects on 45 years of doing what he loves.
The saying goes that when you love what you do, you never go to work. John Ehrhart feels blessed that over the last several years, he had the opportunity to experience exactly that sort of job satisfaction. On the eve of his retirement, John reflected back on a distinguished career in banking that reaches back over 45 years, and looked ahead to the next chapter in his life.