The Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indy was a worthy venue Wednesday night for the Best Places to Work Awards. Schmidt Associates and Edward Jones topped the list, being named the best places to work in their respective categories. However, a plethora of Indiana businesses of varied sizes were awarded at the gala, which featured a delicious dinner and a whole lotta maraca shaking.

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.

There is success – and then there is a "100% grand slam, we did everything we intended to do" outcome.

The latter sums up Tuesday for Indiana Business for Responsive Government (IBRG) , the political action arm of the Indiana Chamber. IBRG is in the business of electing state legislators focused on a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda. It endorsed 16 candidates (nine in the House and seven in the Senate). All 16 were winners.

Among the highlights:
* IBRG was part of a coalition supporting challenger Wes Culver (R-Goshen) against incumbent John Ulmer, also of Goshen, in House District 49. Culver earned a most impressive 70.7% of the vote

* IBRG was active in the re-election effort of Dan Leonard (R-Huntington), who collected more than 58% of the vote in handily defeating two challengers in House District 50

* An open-seat Senate race saw IBRG help Republican Jean Leising (a former state senator from Oldenburg) collect more than 48% of the vote in a four-way battle in District 42

IBRG bases its endorsements on legislator voting records (as documented in the Legislative Vote Analysis) and candidate interviews. There won’t be too much time for pats on the back, however, as the general election awaits – as does the effort to elect legislators ready to work for an economic climate that rewards Indiana companies and their employees.

UPDATE: Indiana political blog Hoosier Access has also taken note of IBRG’s success, heralding the PAC as the big winner on election night.

Are you an educator who’s worried that your students think Johnny Appleseed was Indiana’s first governor? Do they believe Jefferson County was named after Weezie? Or are you concerned your pupils might perceive John Mellencamp as their state representative? Granted, "the Coug" is a staple around these parts, but as of yet he only sings at political events; he doesn’t campaign at them.

If any of these are true, then you have a Stage Five educational emergency. Any medical apprentice at Conner Prairie will tell you the traditional remedy for this has long been the Indiana Chamber’s Here Is Your Indiana Government book. Since its development in 1942, this book has been used by the community and hundreds of thousands of students at all levels to learn about Indiana and how Hoosiers govern themselves. It’s ideal for political and government teachers looking to add to their curriculum in the fall semester.

As Mr. Mellencamp poetically put it, "this is our country." So let’s all do our part by learning about it.

Indiana Chamber president Kevin Brinegar recently discussed the Chamber’s Legislative Vote Analysis on Inside Indiana Business. This analysis outlines how Indiana’s legislators voted on key issues that impact Indiana business. Brinegar invites you to use this as a guide to either encourage your legislators’ efforts, or to let them know they should work harder toward fostering a better business environment.

Copies of the report are sent to all Indiana Chamber members, thousands of businesspersons, all legislators and other community leaders across the state.

The Economic Club of Indiana is about to close out the 2007-2008 season with Walter Williams on May 9. Our last speaker, Steven Hayward, generated more comments, prior to his talk, than any previous speaker in recent memory. I appreciate all views and remarks forwarded on. While putting differing view points on specific points and arguments may not be possible, the Club does present a general balance of opinions, ideas and theories. 

For this season about to end, we have brought in a member of the Clinton administration, two university presidents, a superintendent of a major school system, president of one of the nation’s largest not-for-profits and an advocate of tougher emission standards. As the 2008-2009 season takes shape, we will continue to promote an interest in, and enlighten to attendees on, important governmental, economic and social issues. We do so across a broad spectrum with speakers we both agree and disagree with. 

The Economic Club is highly regarded nationally for its role in bringing local, national and international speakers to our state since 1974.

Summitville may have a small-town feel, but one local business has hit the bigtime in its field. R&R Engineering has maximized a dedication to technology, efficiency and market diversification into becoming a national leader in the manufacturing industry.

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.

Even though an "ESOP" may sound like a Far Eastern rice dish or some kind of crazy wizard-varmint found in a J.K. Rowling tale, it’s actually an acronym for "Employee Stock Ownership Plan." And as Indiana businesses look for more ways to reward their employees, ESOPs are becoming more attractive for those who fit the criteria. In fact, Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock is leading a charge to promote ESOPs throughout the state as a way to benefit employees and keep businesses in the state.

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.