The first two interviews traveled the green spectrum – one person describing active involvement in a community recognition program for environmentally-friendly practices; the other admitting to not having greenwashing and carbon footprint on her radar screen.

What do you think? Do you feel a personal responsibility to alter the way you operate at home, work and play to try and make a difference for future generations? Or, despite Al Gore’s best efforts, are you unconvinced about global warming and man’s direct impact?

 Let us know what you think. I’d like to add your perspective to our BizVoice® report and analysis.

Additionally, attendees were privy to the release of the May/June 2008 edition of BizVoice magazine following the dinner, which includes the final placing and several articles about recognized companies.

And if you’d like for your business to throw its hat in the ring for next year, click here to learn more information about the program and application process.

While cranking out eight times the production capacity of its competitors, R&R uses its profits to reward employees with bonuses for performance and attendance. In fact, R&R offers a $1 an hour bonus each week if an employee works 40 full hours with no tardiness.

The company also understands the importance of family, and only works one shift between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. All this in spite of the fact that a competitor recently went out of business even though it had nearly three times as many employees working three shifts, six days a week.

To learn more about this thriving Indiana business, click here.

While many businesses in the Midwest do see ESOPs as a viable option, the adoption process can be complicated. Because of this, financial advisors stress the importance of being diligent when implementing ESOPs, as negligence in the beginning stages can beget myriad headaches in a business’ future.

For the full story in BizVoice magazine, click here. 

And as the cost of living continues to rise, so do tuition prices for many Indiana parents hoping to help their children aspire for higher learning. One way to combat this financial scourge is simply for students to spend less time at school. Leading the charge in the Midwest, Manchester College has applied its three-year Fast Forward program to all 55 of its majors.

While critics argue the program deprives students of the full college experience, Manchester claims some Fast Forward students can still study abroad and take part in many extracurricular activities, depending on the major. 

To read more about the program, turn to the Chamber’s BizVoice magazine. 

If you’ve added the word green to your daily vocabulary and cannot be accused of greenwashing, there will be plenty of interesting stories and analysis for you too. In fact, you might want to promote your organization’s products and services to 15,000 others who have already made the leap or are planning to be on the green team.

The July/August issue will contain the most comprehensive focus on one topic in the 10-year history of the magazine. Among the subject areas to be covered in staff-written articles are:

• Low-cost programs/policies companies can implement as a green strategy starting point
• More comprehensive green efforts that include a higher up-front investment but potential cost savings down the road
• Going green and the energy industry
• Short profiles about companies, communities and universities with innovative green initiatives
• A Community Focus on BioTown and the effort to turn an Indiana community into a self-sustaining energy provider
• A roundtable discussion with industry leaders and an invited national expert
• An Indiana Ingenuity feature on a Hoosier company that is a national player in its field                                 

Business owners, presidents and CEOs will be reading about going green. Jim Wagner has the information advertisers need to know.

The idea behind Anson: it’s a place where people can “work, shop and play.” Its industrial side will house businesses such as Medco Health Solutions, whose automated prescription distribution center will create approximately 1,300 jobs. Both Duke Realty and Browning Investments are major players in the Anson project.

Other developments? Lebanon became the new U.S. headquarters for a prominent power tool manufacturer. Also, a global publisher is expanding its distribution center in the Lebanon Business Park. Learn more about these developments and others that made 2007 “a very good year” for Boone County in the current issue of BizVoice magazine.

Timely graduation is just one focus of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s developing strategic plan. The title is Reaching Higher: Strategic Directions for Higher Education in Indiana. The other areas of emphasis are access, affordability, college preparation and contributions to Indiana’s economy.

No, you’re not at some high falootin’ Silicon Valley headquarters. You’re right here in the Hoosier state at Fort Wayne’s Sweetwater Sound, one of Indiana’s greateast success stories. Read all about this thriving business, which began in an old van, in the Chamber’s BizVoice magazine.

Wellness is a frequent topic at Chamber conferences, finds its way into several publications, is a frequent topic in BizVoice magazine (nutrition tips for eating on the go are offered in the current issue) and a popular program for our organization. Lunch hour yoga, kickball (yes, I said kickball), a walking club, healthy snacks, health screenings and more are helping the Chamber and its staff.

There are numerous resources to help you get started or enhance an existing program. Let us know how we might be able to help.