Client News
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana – In a time described as a “pivotal moment in broadband history,” Smithville received national recognition as a leading broadband enterprise as one of America’s top 100 national broadband companies, according to Sean Buckley, editor-in-chief of Broadband Communities magazine.
“Smithville was selected for this national recognition in part because of its continued commitment to finding creative solutions to expand broadband service, especially in underserved rural areas of Indiana,” said Buckley. “As the Rural Broadband Association noted, the industry is on the precipice of ‘once-in-a-generation funding,’ and Smithville demonstrated through past performance that it is well-equipped to take advantage of this new opportunity for the people, businesses and institutions of Indiana.”
Buckley noted that standards are high for selection in the top 100. Requirements to be selected in the intense annual competition include deploying networks, services and products that are intended to transform local economies or improve communities’ quality of life and for introducing advanced technologies with “game-changing potential,” including “exceptional service quality and standards.”
The 2022 selection of Smithville represents the 14th consecutive time the company has been recognized with this national honor, the only Indiana-based company so named.
Described as “Indiana’s most prominent independent telecom company” in the Top 100 award overview, Smithville was singled out for its continued innovative expansion of fiber and related services. The review described how Smithville was positively “leveraging significant private investments with catalytic funds from Indiana’s rural Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program” to bring gigabit-level fiber in north-central Indiana near Sharpsville and a creative joint initiative in Monroe County with the South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Cooperative (REMC).
MEK was privileged to conduct pro bono media relations in honor of the WWII combat veteran George Dingledy. The below media brief helped generation coverage on WTTV CBS4 and FOX 59.
INDIANAPOLIS – From WWII Pacific theater combat veteran to mayor of Wabash to oldest active Rotarian in Indiana, George Dingledy has led – and continues to lead — a remarkable life. With a formal presentation of the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Eric Holcomb (presented on behalf of the Governor by Rotarian Elaine Bedel, Secretary and CEO of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation) and additional recognition by the current mayor of Wabash, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis will celebrate the life and accomplishments of 64-year Rotarian and club member, George Dingledy, Tuesday, August 9 at their weekly mid-day meeting in the Tunisian Room at the Murat Shrine, 510 New Jersey Street, Indianapolis.
Dingledy, one of the oldest World War II combat veterans in Indiana, will be honored for his 33 months of active duty in the Pacific Theater (1943-1945), 64 years of Rotary involvement (1958-present), as well as his distinguished business career and civic involvement in the cities of Wabash and Indianapolis.
The program, organized by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis’ history committee, will include highlights of Dingledy’s service in the United States Army and his service to the world through his 60 plus years of membership in Rotary International as a club president and Rotary District Governor in 1987-1988.
Special presentations will be made by fellow Rotarians, the Honorable Scott Long, the mayor of Wabash, IN, and
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis meets each Tuesday. All are welcome at Rotary programs.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – With a focus on “strategically and ethically driven solutions that deliver best outcomes,” True Rx Health Strategists has achieved an annual national growth rate of 30%, “well exceeding our initial growth forecast,” said Mark Williams, CEO. The national pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company has hired 86 employees since 2020, when it first announced plans for the construction of a $1.8 million facility now open on the east side of Washington near I-69. (see Inside Indiana Business coverage)
True Rx, which serves patients and employers in all 50 states, now has 107 employees in its new 15,000 sq. ft. facility and “anticipates hiring several more people through 2022 to serve our network of more than 65,000 pharmacies,” added Williams. The pharmacist-led and family-owned company was named a 2022 “Best Places to Work” leader by the Indiana Chamber, which Williams said “reflects the positive environment and corporate culture at True Rx that is helping to drive our growth.”
“Hoosier companies like True Rx form the bedrock on which Indiana will continue to build on its economic momentum and position the state for long-term growth and success,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. “I was privileged to be at the initial ground-breaking for this important new facility, and I offer congratulations to True Rx for its success, both now and in the future.”
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Supporting much-needed safe relief for Ukrainian children and rebuilding bomb damage in homes, LifeNets International committed an initial $132,000 to directly support critical projects in war-torn Ukraine this summer. One project has brought nearly 100 children from devastated Chernihiv – including orphans and children without parental care – to a safe summer campground facility on the Transcarpathian/Romanian border.
The project, organized through the offices of Ukrainian governors of Vyacheslav Chaus (Chernihiv) and Viktor Mykyta (Transcarpathia), is providing a 60-day respite from shelling and living in bombed-out buildings from the Russian-Ukrainian war, according to Victor Kubik, founder of LifeNets International, a humanitarian organization.
LifeNets, a humanitarian not-for-profit (founded in Indiana), is also providing $17,000 in funds to staff workers of the Chernihiv Regional Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities and others to help repair windows and doors blown out by Russian bomb concussions. The humanitarian organization has also donated $40,000 for food relief for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
The Chernihiv Center served to house and feed children during the early Russian occupation of the region.
INDIANAPOLIS – It’s time to play ball! Plans are set for a time of great youth baseball fun at Forest Manor Park in east Indianapolis for kids ages 6-12 on Saturday, June 11. Hosted by the Indianapolis Indians and Indy RBI, the free four-hour event will include multiple stations offering fun for kids, including Bat & Ball Game (using plastic bats and balls), a Home Run Derby, base-running races and much more, according to Mike Lennox, executive director of Indy RBI.
Players from the Indianapolis Indians will be on hand, as will the popular Indianapolis Indians mascot Rowdie the bear. Participants can meet the players (and Rowdie) and have their photograph taken. Youth participants will receive a gift bag with plastic bats and balls.
“We are excited to help bring this year’s PLAY BALL event to Forest Manor Park, an Indy Parks urban park where the Indians and Indianapolis Indians Charities have completed substantial field renovations in recent years,” said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians President and General Manager. “Indians coaches, players and Rowdie are ready to play ball on June 11, and we look forward to seeing many young ballplayers join them for a day full of fun.”
TERRE HAUTE – “This is a critical time for health care, and we are pleased to now be working with the law firm of Krieg DeVault to help magnify the rural healthcare voice of Indiana and ramp up our already-established advocacy efforts,” said Cara Veale, CEO of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA), in announcing a new relationship with the Indianapolis-based national law firm.
“Over the past decade, more than 120 rural hospitals across America have tragically closed their doors, often because of continued severe regulatory and financial challenges,” said Veale. “Every Indiana rural hospital faces these challenges every day, and IRHA works tirelessly to help hospitals and clinics in rural areas stay strong and solvent – we look forward to tapping Krieg DeVault’s deep healthcare bench strength in achieving this.”
In addition to the serving on the Governor’s Public Health Commission with other Indiana health care leaders, Veale leads IRHA’s advocacy efforts to inform key community influencers and elected officials about the challenges facing rural Hoosier health care providers and practitioners. Attorneys and health care professionals from Krieg DeVault will now help support and expand those advocacy activities, magnifying the rural health care voice of Indiana.
Securing top place in highly competitive awards, the Hamilton-built interactive, immersive experience directly virtualized international facilities through insightful and engaging content for Dematic. The high-performing digital platform featured live support and virtual tours in eight different languages, generating critical sales leads.
NEW YORK – Dematic’s innovative and immersive Virtual Tech Tours struck national gold this spring with the multinational technology company pulling down the top Gold Stevie® Award Winner in the 2022 American Business Awards® (Web Achievement – Manufacturing Industry) and the 2022 top Platinum Hermes Creative Award (Strategic Marketing Campaigns: Interactive Brand Experience).
These major awards were complemented with the facts that Dematic previously won a German Stevie Award in the Best Event Marketing Experience category, as well as the German Brand Award in the Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation – Brand Communication – User Experience category.
Virtualizing two major international facilities, the multi-award winning Dematic platform digitally stitches together 46 panoramic 360-degree photos with 36 product and content videos for a high-impact, first-of-its-kind interactive online experience, all coupled with live digital tours (in multiple languages) by members of the Dematic international sales and marketing teams.
WASHINGTON – Growing momentum: a proposed $11 million housing development and additional projects set before the Plan Commission of the City of Washington May 11 “reflect a robust strategic trend emerging for new housing developments in Daviess County,” said Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation.
A proposed plan for an 11-acre development presented by Kerstiens Development Inc. at the Plan Commission meeting includes the possible construction of a variety of new single-family homes, condominiums, and market rate apartments. This proposed Kerstiens development follows on a $14.5 million project by Simplified Developments LLC to build more than 140 new apartment units on the east side of the city of Washington.