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.
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.
The Complimentary Community Calendar that gets Compliments
If you’re like most people, you receive your share of free calendars in the mail. Most are generic, with grids of empty space, decorated with boring images trying to speak to everyone—and therefore speaking to no one.
Soft Touch Auto Wash celebrates fourth anniversary
February 13 marks four years since Soft Touch Auto Wash opened for business. “My brotherin-law, Jeff Smith, owned his own car wash in Bloomington, and I learned about the business
when I’d go visit and help him,” recalled owner Mike Harrell.
Networking computers and people
Scott DeCoursey does a lot of networking these days—creating phone and computer systems and linking people together to grow businesses. Scott’s company, Nuance Inc., specializes in the installation of phone and computer network systems for small to mid-size businesses in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.
Taking the scientific approach to stain removal
If you have carpet problems, you should call Langenwalter Carpet Dyeing Inc. Mark Mauck, owner, was what you might call a “clean up” man for many years. “I left IDEM after 13 years of being a first responder for spills and environmental cleanup.