Business

Muncie-based company recognized for growth, profitability and asset quality Muncie, Ind. – Forbes has released its 2018 list of “America’s Best Banks,” and one of Indiana’s legacy financial institutions has reason to celebrate. First Merchants Bank – the largest financial services holding company in Central Indiana and second largest in the state – sits fourth in the annual ranking of the country’s 100 largest banks, ahead of peers like JPMorgan Chase, Fifth Third Bancorp and Citigroup. “This is a momentous…

By: Mike Rhodes, Publisher and Managing Editor— This morning, I received an inquiry to speak to a local business group about the Muncie Journal. I was thankful for the invitation and relished the opportunity to talk more about the Muncie Journal project. Muncie Journal is my passion and I’m proud of what we do here on behalf of Muncie and Delaware County. From time-to-time I get the opportunity to present to local groups, but I have not really extended an…

By: Shawn Rogers— Muncie, IN—A ukulele plays and a furry, blue monster hand comes on-screen and paints the words Paint By Monster and then, the monster himself greets us: “Hello everyone and welcome to Paint By Monster with me, your host, Easel Monster!” And with that, we are in the studio of a monster artist. Paint By Monster is a YouTube show about Art and being an artist, and is the creation of local artist Dan Wright, who, at 51 years…

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Chef Megan VanDerHeide will join the Horizon Convention Center as the new Executive Chef on January 1, 2018. Chef Megan VanDerHeide is a Muncie Central graduate and has an Associates Degree in Hospitality Administration with a concentration in Culinary Arts and Event Management from Ivy Tech Community College. She received her Chef Certification from the American Culinary Federation in 2011.  ACF certified chefs have gone through numerous practical and written examinations. A panel of ACF certified chefs…

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—When you think of branding your business, what comes to mind? Do you think about how you are perceived by others? How do you want to be perceived by others? What do you really do day-to-day in your business? Answers to these kinds of questions take time and considerable thought. But getting them answered is worth it, as your branding strategy is key to marketing your company and helps you define your on-going marketing tactics. About a…

By: Joe Loughmiller— Cold weather with single-digit low temperatures is forecasted across much of the state for the Christmas week and Indiana American Water is urging customers to secure homes and businesses against freezing pipes to avoid costly repairs. “Although the winter season can pose many challenges to a homeowner, one of the biggest and most costly is the risk of frozen pipes. When ice expands inside pipes, it can crack and burst the pipe, leaving homeowners with a costly…

By: Mike Rhodes, Publisher and Managing Editor— Muncie, IN—Economic development activity in Delaware County topped Muncie Journal’s most viewed stories list for 2017. Of the thousands of articles published in 2017, the announcement of the opening of the Daleville Town Park topped the list this year. The story was continually viewed daily for months. According to Trina Morgan, deputy clerk and park event coordinator for the Town of Daleville, an estimated 28-30,000 people attended the park throughout the inaugural 2017 season. You’ll find the rest…