Community Hospital Anderson is being honored for 50 years in business at the MCC Annual Awards Gala.

A new name, a new focus, and a new award nomination...Element212's owners, Tammy and Todd Rimer, share their thoughts and feelings as business owners as well as finalists for the Madison County Chamber 2012 Emerging Business of the Year Award.

"We are humbled to be nominated along-side our peers Weeks Communications and State Farm-Amy Turner," says Tammy. "Both companies are very deserving of this award."

MCC: What year was your company founded?

Rimer: 2008

MCC: What are the primary products/services of your company?

Rimer: Brand buiding, Brand audits, Brand management, Marketing Strategy

MCC: Why did you choose this industry?

Rimer: There was a large need in Madison county for a professional marketing company and we were excited about meeting that need.

MCC: What is your company vision?

Rimer: To be known as a professional branding company and to be top of mind for any business looking to build better brand recognition and improve their marketing strategies.

MCC: What are the greatest challenges of your work?

Rimer: Time – there is a lot of work involved in building solid branding strategies and we always strive to deliver the best results possible – so we are always fighting against having enough time to get everything done that we hope to in a given day. The other challenge is educating business owners on the long term value that they will experience in building their brand awareness. Many business decision makers do not understand the difference between building their brand vs. marketing their services. Our goal is to educate business owners on how the two are different yet how they work together to grow a business.

MCC: What was your greatest achievement as a company in 2011?

Rimer: Refining our company focus, defining our services more specifically, integrating improved business processes and a smart project management system for our workflow and growing our revenues over 100%.

MCC: What are your company goals for 2012?

Rimer: We would like to retain more clients who are looking for brand building and management services. We are working to get out of project based accounts and are focusing on growing our retainer accounts for long term sustainability and growth.

MCC: What would be your ideal vision of your company in 2025?

Rimer: By 2025 I would like to have brand recognition throughout Indianapolis through Delaware county as the company to call for all things branding. I’d like to have 20 solid ongoing accounts that we manage monthly. I’d like to have a solid team of marketers that see working for Element212 as one of the best places to work in our area and I’d like to expand our services to help businesses better integrate the other touch points they share with their clients (like sales and customer service) into their brand management portfolio.

MCC: Why Madison County?

Rimer: Because there is a need for a company like ours. There is not a lot of competition, we like the culture of people here and feel lifted up by our peers in this area and mostly we want to be part of the growth and positive change in this area. Moving away and simply going somewhere nicer is easier – but is certainly not as fulfilling. Staying and trying to help improve an area that has such potential is exciting and very gratifying. I want Element212 to make a positive impact in Madison County.

MCC: What is one interesting fact about your company (or company president) that most people don't know?

Rimer: Our company started out as an economic development effort for Madison County and within the first year changed its focus to marketing due to the strong need we encountered in talking with businesses on the economic development side.

MCC: What single word best describes the culture or attitude of your company?

Rimer: Respect, we all have a great respect for one another which makes our culture one that is safe, fun and creative as everyone feels very free to share their opinions and concerns. Because we have such respect for one another no one ever feels “put down” but rather trusts the feedback from the team because we are all after the same goal which is to have Element212 become a great, successful company.

MCC: Mac or PC in your company?

Rimer: MAC all they way baby….pc’s stink!

MCC: What do you and/or your staff donate time to?

Rimer: Second Harvest Food bank, Wesley Free Methodist Church, Exchange Club. Every year we choose 2 non profits and donate some design time to them.

Element212 will be honored as finalist and possible award winner of the 2012 Emerging Business of the Year Award at the Madison County Chamber Annual Awards Gala on March 1, 2012 from 6 to 9 pm at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Anderson.  Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Cameron Weeks, President and CEO of Weeks Communications (a.k.a. Weeks Geeks!) is perhaps one of the youngest entrepreneurs to incubate a business through the Flagship Enterprise Center...and perhaps Madison County.  With four years under his belt, this Purdue student offers insights on starting a business, his vision, and greatest achievements in an interview with the Madison County Chamber as a finalist for the 2012 Emerging Business of the Year Award.

MCC: What year was your company founded?

Weeks: 2007

MCC: What are the primary products/services of your company?

Weeks: Phone service and client/relationship management software

MCC: Why did you choose this industry?

Weeks: Actually, it was the furthest from my mind when we first started building a phone system but over time my business partner, Bracken, and I figured out this was an industry where we could save our customers a ton of money and could turn telephony into something that was innovative and fun. We had a chance to build something from scratch that would change the way phones systems help a business.

MCC: What is your company vision?

Weeks: Our motto is...Everything we do must create value. And our vision is along those lines as well. We will continue to build and provide features/benefits to our software and phones to meet the needs of growing client base. Continually build and develop a product that is sought after, helpful and affordable.

MCC: What are the greatest challenges of your work?

Weeks: I would say getting people to understand that although we are a smaller team, we are all we need. With the majority of our processes being automated, we have eliminated the need for a huge support staff. Many issues fix themselves automatically. Many people have the misconception you need to have a huge support team to manage a phone system which in our case is untrue. Another issue is proving we are what we say we are. Clients typically ask, "So whats the catch? How can you be this cheap?" We are willing to prove to them it is just as simple as we lay it out to be but so often that lengthens our selling cycle which we want to shorten.

MCC: What was your greatest achievement as a company in 2011?

Weeks: Building an amazing team and really developing some sustainability processes that we had never outlaid before....

MCC: What are your company goals for 2012?

Weeks: To dramatically expand our footprint beyond Indiana.

MCC: What would be your ideal vision of your company in 2025?

Weeks: To be one the leading national Hosted Communications platforms

MCC: Why Madison County?

Weeks: It was important to Bracken and I to give back to the community where we were raised. We both grew up here which helped but Madison County, specifically, Flagship Enterprise Center offered us an opportunity we couldn't refuse. Plus it was a heck of a lot cheaper and the commute was much shorter than when we were in Indianapolis.

MCC: What is one interesting fact about your company (or company president) that most people don't know?

Weeks: I, Cameron President/CEO, am one of the companies youngest employee's

MCC: What single word best describes the culture or attitude of your company?

Weeks: Ever-changing.....

MCC: Mac or PC in your company?

Weeks: All Mac's, is that a question? It's kind of like when someone asks do you prefer monopoly money or real money?

MCC: What do you and/or your staff donate time to?

Weeks: Development from an educational standpoint. (expand on online training, classes, etc). And many of our team members are very strong in their faith. We are involved in our churches and the various volunteer opportunities that arise through that. Our team is also VERY big on reaching out to students to let them know its OK to be a geek and its worth it to try a start-up. We have spoken at elementary schools, college campuses, organization meetings; attended coalitions, job fairs and networking events; and brought on interns, externs and nearly everything in between to reach out to, not just students, but many other individuals as well.

Weeks Communications will be honored as finalist and potential winner of the 2012 Emerging Business of the Year Award at the Madison County Chamber Annual Awards Gala on March 1, 2012 from 6 to 9 pm at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Anderson.  Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

When asked WHY Madison County, Randy Good - owner of Madison County icon Good's Candy Shop and finalist for the Madison County Chamber 2012 Small Business of the Year award - responds: "WHY NOT Madison County!" And he means it.

MCC goes behind the counter with Randy Good in the following interview:

MCC: What year was your company founded?

Good: 1981

MCC: What are the primary products/services of your company?

Good: Fine Chocolates, Nuts, Brittles, Fudge, Super Premium Ice Cream and Service of our guests.

MCC: Why did you choose this industry?

Good: My family has been in the candy business since 1940. Family members entered into the business in some fashion every few years. I had the opportunity to buy from my parents. I never worked a day in the business until the very day I purchased it; however envisioned its possibilities.

MCC: What is your company vision?

Good: Growth, it is a way of life for everyone associated with Good’s Candy Shop. We persevere with our steady, solid and planned growth. Each passing year creates opportunities for our associates and we like to see them grow with us. We all are committed and diligent in our 3 P’s, preserving, protecting and promoting our brand. We all understand that how we succeed is just as important as if we succeed.

MCC: What are the greatest challenges of your work?

Good: We really don’t recognize challenges. We see hurdles. But who wants to jump a hurdle? We are in business not track and field. Leave the jumping to the athletes. We see the hurdle as an opportunity and then try to change the game by going around it. This allows us to move with more confidence, a clearer vision and increase our chances of success. We’re constantly moving our brand forward and compete only against ourselves. We want to be better than last year, last month, last week and yesterday. In business you have to adapt. If we get a sense of control, like Mario Andretti says,” we probably aren’t going fast enough.” Sure we stumble, but try to fall forward. What was your greatest achievement as a company in 2011? It was the most profitable year we’ve had.

MCC: What are your company goals for 2012?

Good: To continue to be better at what we do. We will promote the growth of our new snack line and trademarked chocolate Cocoa Love. Each will place us in a different demographic which insulates us against market changes and peoples ever evolving buying habits. Cocoa Love, with its various health benefits, presents us with more opportunity to have a national presence. We also will remodel the candy shop side of our business to enhance the shopping experience for our guests.

MCC: What would be your ideal vision of your company in 2025?

Good: To have one or all three of my grandsons involved in the growth and prosperity of Good’s Candy Shop. Working with and teaching them our techniques and methods. Watching them continue to spread our message and preparing to go to the Chambers’ award gala to be recognized for 50 years in business.

MCC: Why Madison County?

Good: It’s home and we love it. We’re close enough to major metropolitan areas but yet far enough away to enjoy our quiet lives. We can be on an airplane to nearly anywhere in two hours and yet meet with friends at our local venues. This area allows us to make the lives we desire with ease. We feel we have all the advantages here. The question is “why not Madison County?” We have wonderful supportive people, low crime and a clean city. Why wouldn’t a business want to experience the tax advantages, affordable housing and great location we have to offer?

MCC: What is one interesting fact about your company (or company president) that most people don't know?

Good: I was named after a game show host and have always wanted to be one. Also, I cut my own hair. That’s two if you are keeping score.

MCC: What single word best describes the culture or attitude of your company?

Good: Good!

MCC: Mac or PC in your company?

Good: Is this a commercial? I don’t do endorsements.

MCC: What do you and/or your staff donate time to?

Good: Good’s Candy Shop is proud to donate financial resources and product to nearly 100 causes and organizations each year. We focus our interests on child abuse prevention, other child related issues and domestic violence as it pertains to the same, education, the arts, veterans and the elderly. After a 60 – 70 hour work week, time is precious and reserved for the ones we love.

Good's Candy Shop will be honored as finalist and potential winner of the 2012 Small Business of the Year Award at the Madison County Chamber Annual Awards Gala on March 1, 2012 from 6 to 9 pm at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Anderson.  Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

"I am not in the insurance business; rather, I am in the people business!" states Amy Turner, owner of State Farm-Amy Turner and finalist for the Madison County Chamber 2012 Emerging Business of the Year Award.  Following is a transcript of Amy's interview with the Madison County Chamber.

MCC: What year was your company founded?

Turner: I opened the Agency in June 2011

MCC: What are the primary products/services of your company?

Turner: Insurance and Financial Services – Auto—Home—Life—Health—Retirement –Bank

MCC: Why did you choose this industry?

Turner: I have been working with State Farm since 1999. At that time it was an attempt to find an office job. Since then, I have found that what I am able to do is help people understand what insurance is and what it can do for them. What sets us apart is that we are a young office with a mostly female presence, so I focus on the youthful and female market. Not to say we don’t love and try to help everyone, we just want to make sure single ladies and young folks know they’re in the right place when they get here.

MCC: What is your company vision?

Turner: To grow and develop to create both personally and professionally, allowing me to provide the best experience for my clients and my team.

MCC: What are the greatest challenges of your work?

Turner: There are challenges—we see folks that aren’t necessarily having their best day. We strive to explain situations, set the tone and create the best experience possible. We know insurance isn’t what people deal with every day, so it can be stressful when you have to use it. Our job is to make it more user friendly.

MCC: What was your greatest achievement as a company in 2011?

Turner: Opening the doors and hiring my first four team members!

MCC: What are your company goals for 2012?

Turner: My goal for 2012 is to consistently build upon where we have come from—forward progression.

MCC: What would be your ideal vision of your company in 2025?

Turner: Ideally, in 2025 I want to have created an empire. I want to be in a position where I am leading, training, mentoring and growing my team to be the best they can be. I want to be someone that young women in the community can look up to for encouragement—to know that they can achieve what they set their mind to. I want to be the best agent I can be for my clients—helping them navigate their insurance and financial needs.

MCC: Why Madison County?

Turner: Madison County is home … I wouldn’t open shop anywhere else.

MCC: What is one interesting fact about your company (or company president) that most people don't know?

Turner: I worked for a State Farm agent for about 7 years, then worked in a training and marketing capacity within the company (supporting 35-40 agents in Indy). I wanted to do this for myself, to be my own boss, and do it my way. I have had the honor of working with some great agents, and everyone does it a little differently. I took the best from those agents and have tried to blend it to fit my style. This agency is me -- honest and straightforward. Whatever my clients need to discuss, that’s what we discuss. At the end of the day I want to make sure people are taken care of well—that’s what we’re here to do.

MCC: What single word best describes the culture or attitude of your company?

Turner: Energetic!

MCC: Mac or PC in your company?

Turner: PC ... with Wi-Fi and an iPad.

MCC: What do you and/or your staff donate time to?

Turner: At this stage of the game we’re ultra-focused on growing the agency, but within the year I hope to get involved with education initiatives. That is my passion, so I’ll start there.