Search Results for Innovation connector

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—As you know, the Innovation Connector has been the home to many startup businesses and organizations in the Muncie community. Mark Slusher’s company, Endpoint Creative, is one of them. The company specializes in digital video production, visual marketing,  and high-end live video streaming. Slusher was born and raised in Delaware County and attended Delta High School. “I like Delaware County,” he said. “There are a lot of great things happening here.” An avid community volunteer, Slusher received the 2010 VIVA award for his volunteer work in emergency management. Slusher has been affiliated with the American Red…

By: Tammy Allen, The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center— Muncie, IN—Each year United States businesses lose over $1 trillion of revenue due to fraudulent accounting practices and embezzlement. Small business owners are invited to attend an anti-fraud workshop to learn 10 No-Cost Ways to Reduce Financial Fraud Risk. “Financial fraud closes companies, eliminates jobs, and damages the perceived integrity of the U.S. market. If we can prevent one company from experiencing this, our workshop will be a huge success,” said Abigail Grenfell, MBA, CFE, CIA, CPA, President, Internal Control and Anti-Fraud Experts, LLC. Grenfell is leading the workshop, which was developed…

By: Tracy Dishman & Mike Rhodes — Muncie, IN—Over the last few months, MuncieJournal.com has featured a series of articles about the Innovation Connector and how it “connects” entrepreneurs, businesses and community organizations with each other. By now, you’ve probably learned that the Innovation Connector is a primary “place of connection” for people needing business development resources. When you walk into the Innovation Connector, your first point of “connection” will often be the smiling face belonging to Alexis Dishman. Alexis is one of the Innovation Connector’s “key connectors.” She helps make connections for clients, stakeholders, and partners within the components of…

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—In February of 2012, author Victor Hwang published a book titled: The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley. The book relates innovation in business and entrepreneurship to random propagations of life in the rainforest. It also happens to be one of Ted Baker’s favorite books. Ted is the executive director of the Innovation Connector in Muncie. “If you fly over a rainforest, pretty much all you see is the tops of the trees,” said Ted. “But, what is really happening down there? There’s an entire ecosystem under those trees. You’ve got the trees, the bushes…

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Many entrepreneurs, while knowing their product or industry inside and out, are occasionally inexperienced in knowing what it really takes to successfully launch and grow a business. Generally speaking, entrepreneurs are often very passionate about their business idea, but can lack the expertise to market their business, understand and keep financial records, analyze their sales and profitability and make meaningful decisions in order to grow and sustain their business. This is where the Innovation Connector can become a big help to entrepreneurs and those with existing businesses. Yes, the Innovation Connector offers modern, well-equipped office space…

By: Ted Baker— Muncie, IN—The Coding Connector, Them LLC, and TechWise Academy have collaborated to create the first ever Roblox Training Camp in Indiana. Learn from one of the top game designers on the Roblox platform as well as the owner of THEM Magazines in an all-day course to be held at the Innovation Connector in Muncie on Saturday, February 17th from 9am – 5pm.  Roblox is the largest social platform for play that allows people to imagine, create, and play together in immersive 3D worlds.  All the games and experiences on Roblox have been created by the players themselves….

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 year ago, Ted Baker, executive director of the Innovation Connector, decided to take a hard look at the Innovation Connector’s…

By: Tracy Dishman— Muncie, IN—“Entertaining tiny humans and trying to get dinner made can sometimes feel like a noteworthy feat. Sometimes you need a new idea. Sometimes toys just lose their appeal and you have to get creative.”  ~ From the blog of Ashley Runkle “Getting creative” is exactly what Ashley Runkle and her husband, Bob, did just over a year ago when Ashley decided to be a stay-at-home mom after their second daughter was born. An art major from Ball State University with 10 years’ experience in technology, Ashley and her children were making a birthday card for her…