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.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITY
The word has already gotten out that Ed Kominowski is back in Morgan County. The Martinsville native has been away for 10 years generating fundraising success for universities and colleges in Florida. This after beginning his career working on capital campaigns and pursuing regional gifts for the Indiana University Foundation.
ENGINEERING ART
Nestled in the back of the Flagstaff Business Industrial Park across from a wide field of corn is a quiet Mooresville multimillion dollar business that touches some of the most prestigious organizations and structures in the nation. Robert Sloan and investors took ownership of the company in 1996 and he remained on as president when the company was sold to Mestek in 2012.
IMPROVING TODAY, READY FOR TOMORROW
Endeavor Communications is committed to providing state-of-the-art Internet and telecommunications in Morgan County
Community Driven
What gets you up and out of bed every morning? At first that sounds like an easy, casual kind of question, but in reality, it is a pretty deep and challenging question. When first posed with that question, real estate entrepreneur Shane Williams simply said he was a blessed, happy person. But then he stopped and after a moment, he said, “Really, we are trying to find ways to expand out. Maintaining and growing, looking for continuous improvement and expansion; that’s a challenge, but a great adventure, too. You want to build on, but you want to build it right. I guess hunting opportunities and the puzzle of it all. That’s what I really enjoy.”