special advertising section women in business · special advertising section women in business ......

72 Bloom | June/July 2014 | magbloom.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WOMEN INBUSINESS

Women have not only come a long way, they have arrived, opening their own businesses, making their mark in professions from medicine to finance, law to architecture, education to the arts, and all the while contributing mightily to the vitality of our community. Herein are the stories of 29 such successful women.

Cherie Wilson: Owner, Studio Cherie

Taking a brave step into the world of business, Cherie Wilson recently opened Studio Cherie, a teaching studio at 114 S. College where women can discover the

artist within. “There’s not only an interest, but also a need for creative expression,” she says. Wilson says she draws inspiration from her faith and from Creation itself.

Bravery may be a bit of a theme at Studio Cherie, where the central focus of Wilson’s workshops is intuitive painting.

“Intuitive painting is about getting brave with color, abandoning ideas of perfection and rules,” she says. “It’s about

painting what comes naturally and focusing on the process rather than the end result.” While Wilson will offer other classes — art journaling, stitching, fabric drawing — she

says everything she teaches will have the same individual focus and free-form approach. “It’s all going to be very intuitive,” she says with a laugh.

The studio is an outgrowth of Wilson’s own artistic journey. “I’ve volunteered helping women and teens through art over the last 10 years,” she says. “From bookmaking in France to traveling across the United States, I’ve been connecting with other creatives along the way.” Wilson says her husband, Mike, has been very supportive of her creative exploration and in her decision to open the studio, as have many others. “I’m so grateful to have had the help of so many loved ones who have offered their skills to help me get started. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when community comes together.”

Wilson says Studio Cherie, with its brick walls and wood floors, will have a “flavor of France” that reflects her travels. To contact Wilson, view classes, or sign up, visit studiocherieart.com or find her on Facebook.

women in business

Cherie Wilson.

by Carmen Siering • photography by Brian Krecik

magbloom.com | June/July 2014 | Bloom 73

Denise HolteOwner, Financial Advisor, Integrity Wealth Solutions

he past year has brought big changes to the life of Denise Holte, and the owner of Integrity Wealth Solutions couldn’t be happier. As a financial

advisor for 25 years, she’s always worked for larger investment firms. Now she has her own company, providing financial advice to individuals, families, and business owners seeking help with everything from managing their investments, saving for college, planning for retirement, or small business concerns. Holte also got married to Andy Holte in 2013, just before starting the business in May. “People thought I was taking on a lot at one time but I knew these were two good things, so I just went for both of them,” she says with a smile. “And they have been two of the best things I have ever done.”

Holte is quick to point out her pride in another “best thing” in her life — daughter Katie Banks, who works with her at Integrity Wealth Solutions as a client relationship manager. Banks recently passed the General Securities Representative Exam, commonly referred to as the Series 7 Exam, which one must pass before becoming a financial advisor. Banks started working with her mom when she was just 20 years old. “I would see her at her job, and she had such a conviction to give great customer service,” Holte says. “I thought she would be just great in this business. And she is.”

Banks, now married to husband Brandon Banks and mom to three kids of her own

— Logan Banks, 12; Drew Shields, 8; and Brooklyn Banks, 2 — says working with her own mother isn’t difficult, but it might be a little different than working with someone else. “We get along really well, but I can probably get away with a little more than a typical employee,” she says. Banks says her father’s death when she was young created an exceptional bond between mother and daughter. “It’s just been the two of us since I was 12, so we’re really close.”

Holte and Banks are joined at Integrity Wealth Solutions by financial advisor and partner Sean Lewis. The three of them are committed to helping clients feel comfortable with their financial planning decisions. “I’m the kind of person who goes to people’s homes and sits at the kitchen table with them. I get to see pictures of their grandkids and I get to know their dogs,” Holte says. “I think you have to make that effort to get out of the office and really get to know people in their environment so you can understand their lives and what they really need to do to plan for their future.”

They feel it’s that kind of commitment that sets Integrity Wealth Solutions apart from other financial planners. They form real relationships with their clients. “We really get close to them, and they get close to us,” Banks says. “When I had my daughter

two years ago, I didn’t just get cards, I got handmade gifts from clients.”

While the business is just a year old, Holte’s years of experience have already earned her notice. In April she was named Transamerica Financial Advisors Top New Advisor for 2013 and inducted into the group’s Circle of Honor Society. It was a great way to top off a great year. “We always planned on being successful, but this first year has exceeded our expectations,” Holte says.

To learn more about Integrity Wealth Solutions, visit integritywealthsolutions.com where you’ll find articles and videos about estate planning, business solutions, and other financial advice. Clients can also download the Integrity Wealth Solutions app for Apple or Android devices.

Denise Holte with her daughter, Katie Banks.

‘I’m the kind of person who goes to people’s homes and sits at the kitchen table with them.’

women in business




women in business

Barbara Leininger

Andi Haynes

Penny Armstrong

Franchisee, Arthur Murray Dance Center

Andi Haynes Pet Care Services

Owner, Splurge Skincare

Going to work each day is a joy for Barbara Leininger. The Arthur Murray Dance Center franchise owner opened her Bloomington studio in 1994 and says being in the dance business is an opportunity to make a living doing something she loves. “I see how it transforms people’s lives,” she says. “We can help shy people gain confidence, or help someone get back a social life after a spouse passes away. Dance is joyful, and it can be life changing.”

Leininger’s also passionate about giving back to the community. For the past seven years she’s donated her time and talents to the local Dancing with the Celebrities event, helping to raise more than $700,000 for nonprofit organizations. “Not only am I the dance instructor, but I put on my ballroom gown and my dance shoes and I get up and dance,” she says. “I’m proud of the show we put together and the money we raise for local charities.”

Growing up in Miami, Florida, Leininger says she never thought she would move to Indiana, but the success she’s had here tells her she made the right decision. “When you’re a business person, if an opportunity opens up, you take a step out in faith,” she says. “People with an entrepreneurial spirit are willing to take those kinds of risks.”

For Andi Haynes, owner of Andi Haynes Pet Care Services, making the transition from a career in social work to owning a pet care service wasn’t all that difficult. Not only had she been pet sitting on a part-time basis before opening her business, but she sees a connection between the two jobs. “Being a social worker, I worked in a position of trust,” she says. “Now, I’m in a similar position of trust. I’m going into people’s homes, and they trust me to take care of their pets, who really are members of their family.”

Haynes, 52, started the business in December 2013. Unsure how things might work out, she continued to work part time as a social worker. That didn’t last very long.

“I thought the business would need a year before it was self-sufficient, but it’s just gone gangbusters,” she says.

She knows she provides a necessary service, especially given the stories she hears from clients. “I hear about pet sitters who didn’t show up,” she says. “This is my livelihood; when you hire me, I’m going to provide you with the best possible service. My reputation is important to me.”

For more information visit andihaynespetcareservices.com or call 812-360-8490.

Penny Armstrong says she’s always had a keen interest in the beauty industry. After working as an aesthetician at Mira Salon for several years, Armstrong began thinking about opening her own skincare business. “It took me over a year to make the decision,” she says. “But I loved the idea of being the owner of a small business, of being in charge of the services I offer and the product lines I carry.” In May 2005 Armstrong took the leap and opened Splurge Skincare in her residence at 1217 E. Thornton Dr.

She says having a day spa in her home allows her to create the atmosphere she feels clients are looking for. “I want to offer a private setting where women can come and relax,” she says. “I want them to feel free to come in yoga clothes and no makeup.” She offers a variety of spa treatments, including microdermabrasions and peels using cosmeceutical products, as well as facials and waxing.

Armstrong says she knows clients often visit spas while on vacation, and she’s gratified when they tell her they got a massage but they won’t let anyone else give them a facial. “I’m invested in my clients and I’m invested in their results,” she says. “This isn’t a one-shot deal. It’s a relationship.”

For more information or to book an appointment, call 812-327-6653.

Barbara Leininger.

Andi Haynes.

Penny Armstrong.



women in business

Mary KrupinskiOwner-Architect, Kirkwood Design Studio, P.C.

All cultural change starts somewhere. In architecture it might be starting with Mary Krupinski. “I’ve worked in Indianapolis, Boston, and Bloomington, and in all of those places, architects are expected to work 50 hours a week or more,” says the owner of Kirkwood Design Studio. “I wanted to create a business that would have a more respectful approach to its employees while nurturing a collaborative work environment with a strong focus on design.”

Employees at her firm find a lot of flexibility, from full-time status at 30 hours a week (allowing them to qualify for benefits) to a “no questions asked” policy if they need to leave during the workday. “What happens is when people are here, they are very focused,” she says. “They put in extra effort when something needs to get out the door.”

Krupinski sees this approach as something that benefits both men and women, though her firm has historically been predominantly female. She recognizes the need to provide a strong female role model for daughters Avery, 18, and Alexi, 13, and tries to mentor other women in a profession still dominated by men. Krupinski’s willing to take risks, and do things differently. It’s paying off. “I think we’re the premier design firm in south-central Indiana,” she says.

“And we’ve done that while providing an atmosphere of work-life balance.”

Mary Krupinski.

Vickie Temple DavisonOwner, Bloomington Hardware

Vickie Temple Davison may not have planned to own a business, but when the opportunity presented itself, she rose to the occasion. Bloomington Hardware had been in her husband John Temple’s family since 1928, so when he needed a business partner in the early 1980s, she stepped up, investing all her financial assets. It wasn’t without risk, and she knew it. “When we started at the new location, it was a gamble,” she says. “We didn’t know if we were going to make it. If we didn’t make it, we didn’t just lose the business, we lost our home, everything.”

When her husband died in 1991, Davison was left to run the business on her own. She had no doubt she could do it, but others weren’t as confident in her abilities. Lenders tried to recall loans, and vendors weren’t always willing to deal with a woman. “I remember going to a buying market in Chicago and being told to send my husband over to look at the tools and they would be happy to talk to him,” Davison says.

None of it daunted her. Davison has always believed in herself, and while she never planned on owning a hardware store, she loves what she does. “We’re helping people with logical stuff, and that’s the part of the business I really like,” she says. “I’d rather help someone deal with changing the flapper on their toilet than deal with financials. There’s instant gratification in that. I love solving problems.”

Nearly half of her employees are women, though she says that’s not been intentional. “When we hire someone, we hire on their abilities and their attitude,” she says. “I want to make sure I hire people who want to help our customers.” Three full-time women employees who are ready, willing, and able to help are cashiers Pam Perkins and Missy Sunderland, and Rose Grace, a floor supervisor and department head of plumbing.

For Davison, what’s important isn’t that Bloomington Hardware is a woman-owned business but that it’s a generational business, dating back to her grandfather-in-law. Now daughter Kristi works as payroll clerk, bringing granddaughter Zoe and grandson Gavin to the store with her. Davison sees the importance of balancing it all. “Home is important and work is important too,” she says. “I have two amazing kids, three amazing step-kids, and seven amazing grandkids. For a long time you had to choose between work and family. Now women, and men too, don’t have to do that. We can celebrate our families and be successful in business.”

(back, l-r) Rose Grace, Missy Sunderland, (front, l-r) Gavin Hill, Kristi Hill, Zoe Hill, and Vickie Temple Davison.



ttorney Betsy K. Greene says she has always had a passion for the law, and she hasn’t ever wanted to do anything else. Growing up in

Indianapolis, she was really into stories about crime and read every book the library had on crime labs, every Perry Mason book, “just the most gruesome stuff,” she says with a laugh.

At nine years old she decided she wanted to be a lawyer, and she’s never wavered from that goal.

In 1975, Greene moved to Bloomington to start her first year at Indiana University, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1979, and went on to put herself through Maurer School of Law. She’s been a deputy prosecutor and worked for a big law firm, but it’s where she is now that seems to be an ideal fit. She says Greene & Schultz, the law practice she started with law partner Fred Schultz in 2005, is “a family affair,” where husband Jeromi Quade works as bookkeeper and Schultz’s wife, Jennifer

Schultz, is of counsel with a disability practice. Greene says she and Fred Schultz are the best of friends, and the two families are close as well. “We all support each other, and we’re like-minded,” she says. It’s here that she’s found a way to balance her very full life, offering personalized attention to her clients while still finding time to attend her kids’ important events. She’s even found time to train for a marathon or two.

A duty to do what’s rightShe began her legal career as a deputy prosecuting attorney with the Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office in 1983, serving as a chief

women in business

Betsy K. GreenePartner, Greene & Schultz, Trial Lawyers

Betsy K. Greene.

‘I’ve been a lawyer for 31 years, and I really know what I’m doing.’



deputy prosecuting attorney from 1985-1988. “I had always been interested in criminal law and found that I enjoyed trying cases and investigating crimes,” Greene says. “I also appreciate the ethics of it. You have a duty to do what’s right, to look at the facts and make the right decisions.” She says at the time she thought she would be a deputy prosecutor forever. A phone call changed that.

Asking trial judges for the best local attorneys, in 1988, personal injury lawyer Ken Nunn sought Greene out and offered her a job. While she was reluctant to leave the Prosecutor’s Office, Greene was living on 12 acres in the country in Morgan County. Working for Nunn meant a move back to Bloomington, a city she loves. And she found she enjoyed being a personal injury lawyer. “It was hard to leave, but I made the transition from the Prosecutor’s Office to being a civil trial lawyer pretty easily,” she says. “And interestingly enough, both sides bear the burden of proof.” In 1990, she became a

partner in the Nunn & Greene Law Office. Soon, she was trying cases all over the state

— she says her motto was “Have Briefcase, Will Travel” — and was starting to feel the strain.

In November 2004, Greene attended a regional seminar of the Trial Lawyers College. A firm believer in continuing education, Greene says she had attended a lot of seminars, but there was something about this event that had a profound impact on her. “I had a marvelous experience. The college has a beautiful mission statement, and something got me back in touch with why I became a lawyer in the first place,” she says.

“Afterwards, I went in and quit my job of 16 years. It didn’t suit me anymore.”

Time for a changeIn January 2005, Greene opened her own practice in Fountain Square Mall with legal assistant, Diana Patton. “She’s been with me 12 years and we’ve never had a harsh word,” Greene says. Six months later, Fred Schultz agreed to become her partner, and in June 2005 the two formed the law firm of Greene & Schultz Trial Lawyers.

“We have a very different business model,” Greene says. “We like to say we’re ‘lean and mean.’ We don’t need a thousand cases.” Greene & Schultz is very service-oriented and prides itself on giving each case individual attention. “We don’t have case managers. When you call or come in, you’ll talk to your lawyer,” she says. “I’ve been a lawyer for 31 years, and I really know what I’m doing. I’m so much happier handling my own cases.”

Making that change also allowed Greene to find more time to devote to her family, especially daughters Katherine Speer, 22, and Summer Quade, 14. Having her own practice also meant finally finding time to exercise. A friend suggested running and Greene has never looked back. She completed her first half marathon in May 2005, and has completed 20 more since. In November 2013 she ran the New York City Marathon, her fourth full marathon. “I’m a goal-oriented person, so racing is good for me,” Greene says.

Since its beginning, Greene & Schultz has been involved in supporting community agencies and events. Its latest endeavor combines Greene’s love of running with community involvement. “We’re partnering

with Indiana Running Company to sponsor the Hoosier Half next spring,” Greene says.

“We’re excited to be a part of wellness in the community, and it reflects who I am. I started running when I started out on my own.” It also reflects the firm’s business philosophy:

“Fred and Betsy — we’re in it for the long run,” Greene says with a smile.

Paying it forwardAfter helping her make such a life-changing career decision, the Trial Lawyers College continues to play an important role in Greene’s life. She first attended the college, located in Dubois, Wyoming, as a student in July 2005, and served on its board of directors from 2009 to 2011. In 2009, she was invited to join the faculty. She teaches at the college in July and September, and also teaches at regional seminars. Greene has taught at IU as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy, and teaches seminars for the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum.

Greene also offers time to professional organizations. She’s the past president (2006-2007) of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and currently serves as co-chair of the Public Education Committee for the Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus of the American Association for Justice, something that takes her a little by surprise. “For a long time I didn’t want to be a ‘female’ lawyer,” Greene says. “I wouldn’t be in any group that had ‘female’ or ‘woman’ in the name. I just wanted to be one of the guys. But as time went on I came to realize I was standing on the shoulders of the women who came before me and it’s important to pay it forward.”

Another important contribution Greene makes is as the incoming chair of the Monroe County YMCA Southeast Council. “I’ve been president of just about every organization I’ve been involved with, so I’ve got a knack for doing it,” Greene says of taking the council position. In addition, the Y is an important organization for her personally — she started, and continues, her running training with the Endurance Training Group. Greene acknowledges taking on leadership of the council is a big commitment, but doing so fulfills a need she has, one that led her to become an attorney in the first place: “I just have a compulsion to fix the world.”

(above) Opening her own practice allowed Betsy Greene to take up running in her spare time. Courtesy photo

(below) Betsy Greene with law partner Fred Schultz.


Pinnacle SchoolDenise Lessow, Executive Director & Taylor Wittmer, Community Relations Director

hat education is an issue doesn’t seem to be in question, but just what type of issue it is sometimes seems to be up for grabs. Not for Denise Lessow,

executive director of Pinnacle School: “It’s a social justice issue,” Lessow states clearly.

“When you see great potential in a child, and they haven’t been able to tap into it, then clearly we need another way to reach them. That’s our whole focus at Pinnacle School. And we have a wonderful group of people who work long hours to get the job done.”

The school’s website has a banner that reads: “Where students who think differently get to learn differently.” It’s a place for visual, hands-on learners, a school where those with dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, and other learning differences find encouragement and the classroom environment they need to succeed, even if they haven’t found success in the past. That’s due in no small part to the leadership of Lessow, who came on board 10 years ago.

“The whole way I’ve approached Pinnacle is the way I’ve approached everything,” says Lessow, who has a doctorate in Education from Indiana University Bloomington and more than 25 years of experience as an educator and consultant. “I gather the right people and the right resources to solve the problem. I wasn’t looking for a job when I was recruited, but I came in, talked to everyone, and figured out what was needed. We needed our own location; we needed to get the word out about what we do.”

Getting the word out is what brought Taylor Wittmer on board as community relations director in March. Wittmer came to Pinnacle School after a stint as assistant volleyball coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and while the two jobs might seem worlds apart, it was while in that position that Wittmer developed

a passion for education. “One of the reasons I was intrigued by this job was because of mentoring my student athletes, getting them involved in nonprofits, and helping them see they needed to give back and share their talents in the larger community,” Wittmer says. Her job at Pinnacle School involves getting students out into the community and getting the community into the school.

One example of how that works was SpringFair, a showcase of arts, crafts, science, and entrepreneurship. The entire school was involved, with students running the event, handling everything from scheduling to concessions. Students in classes such as aquaponics, jewelry making, and woodworking set up booths to sell their goods, and small businesses and entrepreneurs from the community were invited to join them. “It was a great way for the students to learn that hard work pays off,” Wittmer says. “They learned to plan, to communicate with adults from the community, and to represent the school — it taught them a lot of important skills in one day.”

Teaching this way is representative of the school’s education philosophy. There’s

a lot of what Lessow calls “stealth learning” going on. Using activities involving cooking or engineering as a “lesson,” students learn things like planning, math, and reading.

“They learn the same skills, but in an applied context where retention is higher,” Lessow explains. Focusing on the strengths of each individual learner and how each student learns best is what is most important to the teachers at Pinnacle.

After nearly 30 years as an educator, Lessow says she’s learned some important lessons herself. “You have to respect your students, to believe they have the right to pursue a passion,” she says. “Maybe it won’t last, but if you don’t give them the chance to try, you’ll never know. You have to help them discover what they’re good at and, by doing that, you’ll give them the self-confidence they need to be successful in other endeavors as well.”

For more information on Pinnacle School, visit pinnacleschool.org.

(above) Denise Lessow and (right) Taylor Wittmer.

women in business



SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

women in businessAllison Chopra Rebecca Carter

Margarete Disque Nowak

Owner, Urban Fitness Studio Owner, Rebecca & Me

Owner, MarDon Salon

Allison Chopra opened Urban Fitness Studio at age 25 because she saw a need and wanted to fill it. While there were plenty of gyms in town, she wanted to offer a private, inviting space for those people who weren’t already into exercise — the “anti-gym.” “We cater to those people who don’t look at exercise as a hobby, people who really need a trainer to encourage them,” she says. “We’re ideal for anyone who enjoys a client-focused, individualized program.” In the past five and half years, the business has grown, adding three more trainers and making the leap to a new location.

Chopra’s ready to make a big leap, too — into the political arena. In 2015 she’ll be running for the District 3 City Council seat. She and her husband, Chris Chopra, have lived in Bloomington since they were undergraduates at Indiana University. With two sons — Dev, 4, and Tommy, 3 — Chopra feels even more connected to the community. “I have children who will be going to school here,” she says. “As a business owner, I have a good grasp of the city’s economic climate, and I appreciate

Bloomington’s unique culture. I want to support local business owners and I think we can offer better

incentives for them. I love this city and I would love to represent the people

in our district.”

As a student at Indiana University, Rebecca Carter first majored in theatre, then in art. The owner of Rebecca & Me, located at 333 S. Lincoln St., sees those interests coming out in the store she calls “a big girls’ variety store.” The shop features an eclectic array of merchandise — everything from clothing and jewelry to children’s gifts and books to artful greeting cards and outrageous refrigerator magnets. She sells what she likes and hopes other people like it too. “It brings out the artist in me and lets me put things together creatively,” she says. “And, in a way, I think this space has become my stage.”

Until 2011, Rebecca & Me had been located in Covenanter Plaza. Prior to that, Carter had been in business in Nashville, Indiana. Moving to Lincoln Street seemed to bring everything full circle. “When I started my first business back in 1980, I was in a little Victorian cottage,” she says. “Now I’m back in a little house with wood floors. It gives my life a bit of continuity.”

Connecting with people is what is most important to Carter. “This is more about a lifestyle than making a living,” she says. “I like the interaction. I want people to come here for the experience and leave feeling better, whether they buy something or not.”

When you meet Margarete Disque Nowak, 33, you soon understand she’s completely sincere when she says her business, MarDon Salon, is based on family values. Even the name is based on family, a combination of her name and her mother’s, Donna Disque, the salon’s general manager. It’s clear her mom is her best friend, and she soon divulges she was equally close to her dad, Stephen Bruce Disque, who died in 2007.

Disque Nowak says it was with her parents’ encouragement and support that she opened her first salon, Les Champs Elysees, in 2003, when she was just 22. Three years later she opened a second salon, John Edward, which became MarDon. Last year, the two salons merged.

She knows how lucky she’s been. “If I didn’t have my parents to guide me at a young age, I wouldn’t be the strong woman I am today,” Disque Nowak says. “So I’ve learned to take that full circle.” She supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, recently taking two children to lunch at the Country Club as a reward for their outstanding achievements. She also tries to encourage the teachers at St. Charles School, most recently with a massage day. And she keeps mom close. “Not that I couldn’t stand on my own,” she says, “but why would I want to do it without her?”

Rebecca Carter.

Margarete Disque Nowak.

Allison Chopra.



women in business

Karen Pacific and Teresa KinderOwners, Operators, artful blooms

When they met more than 30 years ago, Karen Pacific and Teresa Kinder were both teachers with a passion for gardening. That delightful coincidence soon turned into Dancing Dog Flowers at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, then into artful blooms, florist by appointment, in 1991. Now they consider themselves best friends as well as business partners.

They specialize in weddings and are often booked up to a year in advance. “First the couple needs a venue, then they need to book us,” Pacific says. “I feel we view floral designs with originality and through a different lens. Even as we peruse flower catalogs, we’re thinking about how we can offer something new with our ‘artful blooms flair.’” With flower fields and a greenhouse at their disposal, they supplement their designs with unique enhancements. “We get a lot of inspiration from our own gardens,” Kinder says.

While Pacific and Kinder do almost everything, it isn’t easy. Their better halves often help out. Pacific’s husband, David Shipley, is a sculptor of wood and stone, and Kinder’s husband, Ned Cunningham, is a renowned limestone carver. Really, it’s a look at their mission statement — “Quality built on passion” — that gives you insight into their success. Pacific and Kinder agree:

“We want everyone’s expectations to be exceeded, each and every time!”

For more information visit artfulblooms.com.

Teresa Kinder (left) and Karen Pacific.

Dr. Lisa JerrellsCEO & Founder, Joie de Vivre Medical

For Lisa Jerrells, M.D., mixing the old with the new is a way of life — something that started early, is exhibited in her medical practice, and is carried over into her parenting. She opened Joie de Vivre Medical in 2008 in Renwick Village Center. This unique practice is a blend of family medicine and medical spa. In just five years the practice has grown to 4,000 family practice patients.

Dr. Jerrells grew up in rural Brown County. “From the age of 5 until I was 14 I lived in a house with no electricity and no running water,” she says. Her father, a Vietnam veteran, was determined his children would learn to be self-sufficient. Dr. Jerrells says the experience wasn’t without its benefits. “It shaped who I am today,” she says. Watching her parents work to earn

degrees from Ivy Tech encouraged her to become a first-generation college graduate.

Dr. Jerrells attended Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her family practice residency in 2000 with Palmetto Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. While working with a large, multi-specialty medical group, she realized she needed to do something different. “I had a philosophy of medicine that was more patient focused,” she says. “I decided to hang my shingle and go out on my own.”

Dr. Jerrells says she is trying to practice old-fashioned medicine with the convenience of modern technology. “I want the focus to be on the relationship between the patient and the physician,” she says. The treatments she offers are a blend of traditional and alternative medicine. “I enjoy improving how patients feel by managing male and female hormones and thyroid hormones,” Dr. Jerrells says. “I also find incorporating cutting-edge technology into both my family practice and the medical spa setting extremely rewarding.”

That blend of old and new infuses her private life too. Even with a busy practice, Dr. Jerrells still tries to get home each evening to cook dinner for her two daughters — Megan, 14, and Melaina, 11. “I’m

obviously a strong, independent woman, but it’s important for me to empower my

girls with traditional family values,” she says. “Time together is paramount.”

The joy of living infuses every aspect of Dr. Jerrells’ life. “Joie de vivre – that’s

what I’m about. I want to help each patient achieve their personal joy of

living,” she says. “By the grace of God I get to go to work

each day and do what I was put on the earth to

do — take care of my patients. There’s real joy in that.”

Dr. Lisa Jerrells.


Stacy Thompson, Pamela Hensler, Belinda Johnson-HurtadoPartners, Clendening Johnson & Bohrer, P.C.

he legal profession has changed over the past several decades, and now the number of women entering law school is

nearly equal to that of men. Even so, the number of women partners in law firms is well below 20 percent. Stacy Thompson, Pamela Hensler, and Belinda Johnson-Hurtado are an exception: All of them are partners at Clendening Johnson & Bohrer, P.C.

“We are three of the five partners,” Thompson says. “As women, we are in the minority in our profession, but we are the majority of the business owners in our firm. And we are running it together.” Hensler says that might surprise some people. “There may be a perception that women are in competition with each other, but I don’t see that,” she says. “In 2014, I feel there is room at the table for everyone.” They see what they have in common — their goals for the firm and their strong emphasis on family — as more important than any differences they may have. “Where we come from might be different, but we are all going the same way,” explains Johnson-Hurtado.

Thompson, a Bloomington native who graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, concentrates her practice in the representation of health care professionals. Her husband, Tyler, teaches at Bedford Middle School, and they have two young children — Luke, 9, and Liv, 6.

Johnson-Hurtado is also an Indiana University Maurer School of Law graduate. Her areas of practice include insurance defense litigation and commercial litigation, among others.

She also works closely with the firm’s international and Spanish-speaking clients. She’s married to Eduardo Hurtado and together they have four children: Kelsey, 24; Kristie, 22; Lalo, 19; and Montse, 18. They also have three grandchildren.

Hensler graduated from Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis, and specializes in construction law, creditors rights, and real estate litigation. She has been with her significant other, Kyle Atkinson, a teacher at Eastern Greene High School, for 22 years.

While each partner has her own area of professional expertise, and their family lives are very different, it is the fundamental way they approach both that makes the partnership work.

“Whatever circumstances we are in, we all tend to solve problems. Whatever it is, we try to fix it,” Hensler says. Thompson adds, “We are problem solvers in our jobs, and that carries over into our family lives.”

With two children under the age of 10, Thompson’s problem-solving skills can be put to the test. “You have to be willing to live with some guilt, to be okay with telling people no and knowing they will be upset, whether that is your kids or your partners.” Johnson-Hurtado says finding work-life balance was harder while attending law school as a single mother, but “it is much easier now that the children are grown.” Hensler says her colleagues make it look easy: “For our younger associates, both male and female, they are great role models on how to get it all done,” she says.

They all advise young professionals to ask for help and to seek out mentors. Thompson says she enjoys helping women who are going through the same experiences she has had. “I understand what it is like to be an associate and pregnant or have a baby at home. For all of us, every day, we are figuring it out. Some days are better than others,” she says. “Some people look at professional women and think we have it all together. Sometimes we do, but sometimes people do not realize how hard we are working just to keep our heads above water.”

Different lives, different life experiences, but always a team.

(l-r) Pamela Hensler, Belinda Johnson-Hurtado and Stacy Thompson.

‘Whatever circumstances we are in, we all tend to solve problems. Whatever it is, we try to fix it.’

women in business




eeting Suzanne O’Connell, vice president of real estate for Cedarview Management, and Jana Voyles, the company’s vice president of finance, you are first struck by how different they are. O’Connell is

more outgoing, and she needs to be. Every year she deals with hundreds of college students, many who are renting for the first time. Her positive outlook and ability to turn even an unpleasant situation into a teaching opportunity have served her well since she joined Cedarview in 2010. Voyles is a numbers person and a bit quieter. Her steady presence in the accounting office keeps things rolling smoothly.

A part of the community In 1972, Sydell Lewis and her son Barney partnered to create Cedarview Management, and the family acquired, improved,

and built properties throughout the ’80s and ’90s. In the early 2000s, Sydell’s youngest son, Elliot Lewis, developed their first downtown luxury apartment complex, Tenth & College. Now the area between North College and North Morton Street is known as the Tenth & College Campus and includes six apartment complexes.

Cedarview Management has grown over the years. While it’s still a local, family-owned business, Lewis employs 15 staff members in addition to O’Connell and Voyles. “We’re still a small business, but it’s amazing how much we’ve grown since my first day in May 2010,” O’Connell says. Since then the company has added a lease coordinator, a maintenance coordinator, a full-time housekeeper for the Tenth &

College Campus buildings, two additional staff members in the accounting department, two new leasing agents, and two additional maintenance technicians. “We hear some complaints about all of the downtown development, but it really has been important for Bloomington economically,” O’Connell says. “These aren’t minimum wage jobs, they are good-paying jobs, right here in Bloomington. We employ a lot of people, and they like working here.”

Not what she planned, but she loves doing itO’Connell always planned to love her job, and she does. “I tell everyone that as long as I can come into work and laugh every day, I’m doing the right thing,” she says. And she laughs while she says it. But that doesn’t mean she planned to

Cedarview ManagementSuzanne O’Connell, Vice President of Real Estate & Jana Voyles, Vice President of Finance

women in businessSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Jana Voyles (left) and Suzanne O’Connell.



be a property manager. Her plan was to discover the next big band and manage it, right to the top of the charts. Armed with an individualized degree, a combination of music and business, O’Connell had accepted a music industry job in Chicago when she graduated from IU. A week before she was supposed to start, the job fell through. With no job, no place to live, and no money, she moved to Chicago anyway. She got a temp position as a property administrator. “Nothing glamorous,” she says. “I processed work orders, collected rent. But I found out I really liked property management, and I had a phenomenal mentor in my boss. She advocated that I replace her as general manager of the building when she left.” From sleeping on the floor of a friend’s rented room to managing a high rise on Michigan Avenue in the span of less than three years — not bad for not having a plan.

But she missed Bloomington. She moved back in 2001, living and working here until 2009, when she again moved to Illinois, this time to be closer to the man who is now her fiancé, Eric Fritz. “I sold my house, but I kept my property on Lake Monroe,” she says. “I knew I’d be back.” When a change in Fritz’s job made it possible for them to return to Bloomington, it just so happened Lewis had a job opportunity that was perfect for O’Connell.

“I love property management because there are so many things that go on,”

O’Connell explains. “You meet a couple hundred people a year, and dealing with this age group is fun. They’re making one of their very first adult commitments by signing a lease. If you approach it with the right spirit, even if you’re dealing with someone who has broken the rules, that’s what makes you good at your job.”

O’Connell sees herself as an educator, not surprising considering her mother was an elementary school principal. “Property management with the young adult population is about education,” she says. She also helps teach the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Renting 101 course, which is offered to low-income residents. “They learn how to find a place to rent, their responsibilities as a renter, how to read a lease,” she says. “And at the end, they are eligible to apply for a no-interest loan to help secure an apartment. We’ve helped more than 85 families through the program.”

While it might not be the job she planned for while she was in college, being a property manager is the job she plans to stick with. “Will I be doing this when I’m 70? Yes,” she says without hesitation. “Will I be doing this with college students? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll be working with retirees. But I’ll always be in property management.”

‘We have a really good team’ Where O’Connell is outgoing and has a ready laugh that fills the Cedarview offices, Voyles’ quiet personality brings something different — but just as important — to the operation of the company. “She adds great balance,” O’Connell says. “She’s just been this very calming presence, and she’s been a wonderful addition to our team.”

After 20 years working as a public accountant where her main responsibility was to audit low-income housing projects, Voyles says she was ready for a change.

“I’ve been in real estate management and development, but it’s always been from the auditing side,” she says. “What’s made this job so interesting is that I’m involved in the day-to-day accounting. It’s not as dull as people might think accounting can be. Every tenant pays a bill, everything comes together, and, in the end, it all informs how the business is doing.”

Voyles and her husband of 30 years, Norman, live in Martinsville. Their son Kyle, 25, attends IUPUI; daughter Megan, 20,

attends the University of Evansville. She started working for Cedarview in July 2013. “Things have changed a lot just since I’ve been here,” she says, looking out the window of the Tenth & College office at the construction across the street. “I think this is the way things have been going for us, with new construction just about every year.”

As vice president of finance, Voyles is involved with making that construction a reality, and says that while she hasn’t ever felt there is much gender discrimination in the accounting field — “The firm where I worked before had both men and women partners, the staff was split about fifty-fifty between men and women” — she says having her title at Cedarview has been helpful. “It’s a powerful title,” she says. “And sometimes it gets results when I need an answer from someone.”

Voyles says making the move to Cedarview Management was a good one. “I like working here. We have a really good team and the days fly by,” she says. “My office is centrally located, so I hear people talking and joking around. You know, I think Suzanne has a lot to do with that — she always has a smile on her face.”

‘I love property manage-ment because there are so many things that go on.’

Jana Voyles.

Suzanne O’Connell.



women in business

Cheryl UnderwoodOwner, Aronis & Underwood Realty

Cheryl Underwood, a music teacher by profession, found teaching music joyous but very hard work for not much pay. She saw a lot of investment opportunity in the ’70s and ’80s, so she got a second job as a waitress and bought her first property at age 29. While continuing to teach music, she developed her real estate business to become sole proprietor of Aronis & Underwood Realty.

Underwood, 63, finds working in real estate ideal. “There’s not a day in my life I don’t want to come to work,” she says. “I love architecture, music, and the art of the deal. I’ve been able to do all three and have fun. Real estate is hectic and stressful but my time is my own. While it requires active thinking, I can work at the lake or anywhere. I can combine work and play, and in the office I can listen to whatever music I want.”

She’s proud of her advocacy for private property rights, pointing to the recent case in which the city reversed its decision to zone some private property institutional.

“Winning at each level all the way to the Supreme Court, this landmark case affirms that the city must notify an owner directly and provide a public forum before making zoning changes, and it upholds the value of owning private property,” Underwood says.

Cheryl Underwood.

Angela ParkerPartner, Carmin Parker, P.C.

Attorney Angela Parker’s career path has been a bit unconventional but a single thread connects it all: “Everything I’ve done professionally has somehow touched the law,” she says. “I’ve always been in a service job, helping people figure things out.”

Inspired by the television show Quincy, Parker entered Indiana University to become a forensic pathologist. She laughingly recalls how her first biology class taught her that science was not her strength. Even so, she got a degree in forensic studies and also graduated from

the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, serving as an IU Police Officer while an undergraduate. In January 1982 she started interning with the Monroe County Courts probation department, quickly becoming a full-time officer and working her way up to head the department. She stayed until August 1992, when she entered IU Maurer School of Law. A single mom — with Hannah, now 30 and Greg, now 27 — she finished in 27 months.

“When I graduated, people made certain assumptions about what I would do and I did none of them,” Parker says. In addition to business law, transactional work, banking and general real estate, Parker handles a lot of eminent domain cases these days. “Most importantly,” Parker emphasizes, “I am passionate about my clients and my work.”

With the number of female law partners below 20 percent nationwide, Parker brings something unique to her firm just by being a partner. The recent name change — from Andrews, Harrell, Mann, Carmin & Parker, P.C. to the simpler Carmin Parker, P.C. — highlights her contributions to the firm and comes at an opportune time. The firm is relocating to the Wicks Building downtown.

“We’re excited to return to the traditional lawyer’s office overlooking the courthouse square,” Parker says. “It is time to shorten our name — despite the tremendous respect we have for the three names that precede ours.”

The newly minted firm’s practice areas will concentrate predominantly on business law and litigation, banking, and general real estate, with full title services. “The idea of a more boutique law practice has great appeal in that it allows us to provide real strength of service and an excellent product,” Parker says. “We are grateful for the confidence our clients place in us and we truly honor that trust.”

Angela Parker.

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