Drouillard has more than 25 years of experience in finance, operations, commercial lending and strategic development in the insurance industry. Previously, she owned her own consulting and professional services company that specialized in structuring capital transactions in the insurance industry and consulted on hundreds of insurance agency acquisitions.

“Providing insurance agency funding is a niche service and there aren’t a lot of professionals who know the business,” commented Rick Dennen, CEO of Oak Street Funding. “Kelly is one of only a few people in the country who truly have expertise and grasp the intricacies of the insurance industry. We look forward to furthering our capabilities to enhance insurance agency value with her on our team.”

A graduate of Kansas State University, Drouillard earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. She holds CPCU and CPA designations and is a licensed property and casualty agent and surplus lines agent in more than 40 states.

About Oak Street Funding
The Carmel, Ind.-based Oak Street Funding (www.oakstreetfunding.com) is a family of diversified financial services companies that offers commission-based commercial financing exclusively for insurance professionals and third-party loan servicing for financial institutions. Oak Street Funding utilizes industry knowledge, proprietary technology and passion to deliver top-quality service and capital products to insurance and finance professionals nationwide.
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 “This is a fantastic affirmation of all of our team’s hard work,” said Lee Wenninger, franchise owner of the Express Indy North office.

In winning the award the Chamber recognized Express for helping over 4,000 employees find work and over 300 companies find great people since its opening in 2005.

“We’re grateful to the companies that allowed us to help them grow and the people who have trusted us to help them find work,” said Wenninger.

In addition, Express was also cited for its commitment to community involvement, including raising money for Children’s Miracle Network and Hamilton County Meals on Wheels.

The Hamilton County Express Employment Professionals office services Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield. The office has grown steadily and is one of the top 50 offices in the Express organization.

Express provides expertise in evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources. With over 550 offices in four countries, Express is committed to the vision of helping as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.

For more information about jobs or employment solutions, call (317) 596-9370 or visit www.expressindynorth.com.

For the first time, entrepreneurs engaged in a Global Startup Battle, pitting their startups against others from events around the country and around the world. Each of the seven companies in Indy pitched their ideas to a panel of local judges to earn the right to compete in the next round. After a pitched battle, team Stats Squared, a Twitter analytics package, was victorious.

The businesses resulting from the Indy Startup Weekend included:

• EatDrinkIt, a mobile application that rates restaurant dishes http://eatdrink.it
• Scigle, a new academic cross-referencing database http://www.scigle.com
• WaitMate, an application to make taking orders in restaurant faster and easier for waiters, cooks, and customers
• StatsSquared, a Twitter analytics tool http://statssquared.com
• Likedity, a social network to help you find people with similar interests
• NoteSee, a system for aggregating conference notes http://notesee.co
• GnomadDesk, the only physical product of the group, a portable laptop desk that attaches to roller bags http://www.gnomaddesk.com

For more complete descriptions, please visit http://indianapolis.startupweekend.org/companies-fall-2010/.

“The companies and projects which came out of the weekends are fantastic,” said Lorraine Ball, the event’s organizer. “But the main goal of Startup Weekend is to build community and give participants entrepreneurial experience they can apply in these and future ventures.”

About Indy Startup Weekend: Startup Weekend (startupweekend.com) recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects. Founded in 2007 by Andrew Hyde, the weekend is a concept of a conference focusing on learning by creating. It is known for its quick decisions, ‘out of the box’ thinking, unique facilitation technique and letting the founders show what they can do. The program has already met with success in Boulder, Toronto, New York, Hamburg, Houston, West Lafayette, Boston, DC and many more.

Lorraine Ball

Lorraine@roundpeg.biz

317-569-1396

The event will take place in the Purdue Technology Center, 5225 Exploration Drive, Indianapolis. Startup Weekend Indy coincides with Global Entrepreneur Week, an initiative designed to expand the global economic and entrepreneurial environment. One winning startup will be selected from the Indy weekend, and will be invited to create a one-minute video to be shown to an international judging panel for the chance to win a prize package.

During Startup Weekends, a diverse group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more gather to create and develop innovative new products, projects, and companies. Many times, a viable company emerges, including Pocket Tales, a company which turns reading books into an interactive game.

“Although real businesses do emerge from Startup Weekend, it’s not a startup factory,” said Lorraine Ball, a member of the planning committee. “Startup Weekend is an entrepreneur factory that creates a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Startup Weekend is still looking for additional sponsors. Several local organizations, including Purdue Research Park, the 21^st Century Fund, and Roundpeg are already sponsors.

The cost for the event is $50, including all meals. Students can receive discounted admission by contacting Lorraine Ball at Lorraine@roundpeg.biz or by calling 317-569-1396.

To register or for more information about Indy Startup Weekend, please visit www.indianapolis.startupweekend.org.

About Startup Weekend: Startup Weekend recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects. It is an amazing opportunity to connect with other passionate and skilled individuals, and perhaps even find a co-founder or two to ideas into reality.

Every year, American businesses lose more than $81.6 billion to lost productivity due to drug and alcohol abuse. Additionally, drug use in the workplace can lead to injuries, theft, and absenteeism.

“It’s an honor to be awarded this grant,” said Senior Vice President James Wellnitz. “A drug-free workplace can make a huge difference in the lives of workers and their families. We look forward to helping to build safer workplaces, safer communities, and safer schools.”

Over the two year life of the grant, Figment Group will offer companies technical and financial assistance, including employee and supervisory training, testing services setup, reduced fee drug tests, a school drug-free poster contest, and more.

“I was proud to support Figment Group, Inc.’s application for the SBA Drug-Free Workplace funding because of the company’s dedication to the betterment of our Hoosier small business community,” said Congressman Joe Donnelly. “It is through initiatives like this that we will build a more capable, alert, and safety-conscious work force.”

This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, please visit http://www.drugfreehoosiers.com.

About Figment Group, Inc.

Since 2001, Figment Group, Inc. has been a leading provider of drug-free workplace, federal regulatory consulting, and safety compliance services. Figment Group is the go-to consulting and training resource for companies interested in safe, efficient and drug-free work environments.  They are a 24-7 source for substance abuse testing, regulatory compliance and human resource solutions. Figment Group is a certified Women Business Enterprise.

Lorraine Ball

317-569-1396

Lorraine@roundpeg.biz

www.roundpeg.biz

The white paper discusses the benefits of marketing and branding outcomes such as awareness, credibility and reputation and their ultimate impact on the value and sale of a company. Companies that establish themselves as market leaders are well positioned to demand a premium for their products and services. Zucker sites one example where a client sold a business for 20 percent more than asking price due to the strength of the brand and outbound marketing and lead generation program.

“If you are even thinking about buying, selling or merging your business with another organization, you should engage an experienced marketing/public relations expert as soon as possible,” advised Zucker. “There are many proven marketing and PR strategies to elevate your company’s presence with potential buyers, increase the valuation of your business based on the strength of its brand and impact the final sale price. Through the years we have successfully supported dozens of companies through merger, acquisition and succession deals.”

During Synergy Marketing Group’s history, the marketing/PR agency has helped numerous companies in the technology, medical, healthcare and manufacturing industries develop their brands and marketing programs based on defined exit strategies and financial goals. The firm’s work has included creating corporate brands that yield higher business valuation and final sale prices in mergers/acquisitions and successions. In addition, Synergy specializes in strategically announcing mergers and acquisitions. This includes handling the public relations, investor relations, internal/employee communications and customer communications. To-date Synergy has helped dozens of companies and their executive teams plan for and promote mergers, acquisitions and ownership/leadership changes.

About Synergy Marketing Group, Inc.

Synergy Marketing Group is one of the industry’s top marketing and advertising firms/agencies in Indianapolis and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. The firm also is known as one of the most experienced public relations firms/agencies in the Indianapolis and Dallas/Fort Worth markets. Our team of marketing, advertising and PR experts provides strategic counsel and hands-on support to help our clients generate awareness, build credibility, create demand and meet revenue objectives. We leverage quantifiable marketing processes and proven best practices to deliver measurable results. Synergy differentiates itself through our partnership approach, dedication to client satisfaction, culture of accountability, and commitment to quality and excellence. Synergy is a certified Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE). We offer the following services: traditional and online advertising, strategic marketing, brand strategy, corporate event planning and promotion, lead generation, market research, public relations, media relations, custom Web site design and development, Internet marketing and search engine optimization. Synergy specializes in healthcare/medical marketing and PR, technology/software marketing and PR, biopharmaceutical marketing and PR, consumer marketing and PR, higher education marketing and PR and restaurant/retail marketing and PR. To learn more about the firm, please call 888-284-0555 or visit http://www.synergy-mg.com/.

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The seminar focuses on the challenge faced by entrepreneurs in the new television show, Shark Tank. In the show, aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to five investment “sharks” who make quick decisions on whether they will fund the business and if so, on what terms. Few are successful in getting the sharks to invest.

“With today’s challenging business landscape, raising capital for your business can feel like you are a little fish in a shark tank,” said Cathy Langlois, Executive Director of the EAC. “We hope that this seminar will help clear the waters for Hoosier entrepreneurs.”

The program will feature local business experts Faraz Abbasi, a Partner with Centerfield Capital, and Jim Jay, President and CEO of Techpoint. Their advice will help equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to secure capital to start or expand their business.

For more information, please visit www.goentreprenuers.com.

About EAC: The Entrepreneurship Advancement Center is a part of the Hamilton County Alliance. The EAC is committed to enhancing the economic health of the Hamilton County community by fostering and advancing entrepreneurship interest and success.

Lorraine Ball

317-569-1396

Lorraine@roundpeg.biz

www.roundpeg.biz

David Guetta, who won a Grammy this year and has had two songs on the Billboard Top 50 for over 30 weeks, will help launch ChaCha.me while performing this week at the 25th Annual Winter Music Conference. He is the first of many celebrities who will have their own featured page on ChaCha.me where fans can ask questions and receive answers from their favorite personalities.

“David Guetta will answer numerous questions from fans and followers every day this week,” says Scott Jones, CEO of ChaCha. “Some people might ask personal questions, but others may be interested in learning a lot more about how this superstar from France is transforming the music business in the United States. Featured on the cover of Billboard Magazine this month, David should be a very exciting first guest on ChaCha.me!”

The core functionality at ChaCha.me is simple. Anyone can ask a question of anyone who sets up a profile there: people and businesses. Subsequently, the owner of the page can decide whether to answer the question which will then be seen by all. It’s an interview format that is as intriguing for individuals as it is for well-known celebrities.

ChaCha.me further extends ChaCha’s ask-a-friend Facebook app, launched in 2009. In coming weeks, ChaCha.me will include mobile functionality that augments the online version launching today.

“One of the most fundamentally appealing qualities of social sites like Twitter and Facebook is the notion that people care about what celebrities and friends are doing and sharing. ChaCha.me provides this forum for users, but also takes it to the next level with intimate Q&A interaction,” adds Mr. Jones. “These ChaCha.me answers may flow into ChaCha’s broad database so that those who are asking for answers from ChaCha will receive, in effect, certified answers directly. For example, ChaCha will now be able to return certain answers about David Guetta, directly from David himself.”

Having answered nearly half a billion questions since launch, predominantly from teens and young adults, ChaCha already receives millions of entertainment-related questions. Answers are provided in real-time, for free, on virtually any mobile or social platform.

ChaCha (www.chacha.com) has emerged as the #1 way for marketers to engage teens and young adults. Through its unique “smart friend” platform, ChaCha has answered nearly 500 million questions since launch from approximately 15 million unique users per month via SMS text (242-242™), online (http://www.chacha.com), Twitter (@chacha), Facebook app, iPhone app, and voice (1-800-2-ChaCha™). Working with major brands such as Paramount, AT&T, Palm, Johnson&Johnson, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and presidential political campaigns, ChaCha.com is one of the fastest growing mobile and online publishers according to Nielsen and Quantcast.

ChaCha was founded by proven innovator and entrepreneur, Scott Jones, and is funded by Bezos Expeditions; Morton Meyerson, former President and Vice Chairman of EDS as well as Chairman and CEO of Perot Systems; Rod Canion, founding CEO of Compaq Computer; the Simon family; and Jack Gill, Silicon Valley venture capitalist.

Sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the database will allow Indiana manufacturers to streamline operations, reduce transportation costs and better manage oversight by connecting with Indiana suppliers through an internet portal. Indiana Supplier INsight is a free service provided by Conexus and the IEDC.

“Indiana has attracted record levels of investment in advanced manufacturing and logistics over the last several years,” said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.  “These firms don’t just create new jobs and investment within the walls of their own facilities, but also for their suppliers. By keeping these dollars in the state, we’re multiplying our efforts to grow Indiana’s economy.”

Indiana Supplier INsight is a ‘matchmaking’ system developed on a software platform by Supplier Gateway, a national firm that provides supply chain networking services to clients including Chrysler, Home Depot and Boeing, among others.  The platform stores information on registered businesses and allows manufacturers to search for Indiana suppliers using categories such as capability, location, industry categories and women-or minority-owned certifications.

“Indiana Supplier INsight opens the door for Hoosier businesses,” said Steve Dwyer, president and chief executive officer of Conexus Indiana.  “Manufacturers look at suppliers all over the country, often unaware of qualified firms right here in their own backyard. This initiative shines a light on Hoosier businesses.”

Other public sector partners, including the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office and Indiana Department of Administration, are also working to connect the state’s manufacturing companies with local suppliers through Indiana Supplier INsight.

Companies interested in taking part in Indiana Supplier INsight can contact Lisa Laughner, program director at Conexus Indiana, atllaughner@conexusindiana.com, or visit https://app.suppliergateway.com/conexus to sign up online.

About Conexus Indiana
Launched by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Conexus Indiana is the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics initiative, dedicated to making Indiana a global leader in high-growth, high-tech industries.  Conexus is focused on strategic priorities like workforce development, creating new industry partnerships and marketing our competitive advantages. For more information about Conexus Indiana, please visithttp://www.conexusindiana.com.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.  For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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Media Contacts: 
Chris Watts (Conexus) – 317.464.2237 or cwatts@cincorp.com
Blair West (IEDC) – 317.232.8873 or BWest@iedc.in.gov

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Link to this event: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/51933.htm