CHS principal honored – The Indiana Association of School Principals recognized Carmel High School Principal Thomas Harmas as the 2019 State High School Principal of the Year. District High School Principals of the Year are elected by their peers. One principal is honored from each of the 12 districts. Harmas will represent Indiana at the National Association of Secondary School Principals Recognition Program in the Fall of 2020.
Commission appointments – Gov. Eric Holcomb recently made several appointments to boards and commissions. Carmel residents appointed include Ellen Dunnigan, Governor’s Commission on Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises; and Melissa Keyes, Indiana Schools for the Deaf and Blind or Visually Impaired Advisory Committee.
Donations for pets, vets – Carmel Realtor Julie Cromer is hosting a holiday donation drive for Working Dogs for Vets, which matches disabled veterans with dogs from local shelters through its No Veteran Left Behind program. Donations may be dropped off at RE/MAX Ability Plus, 200 S. Range Line Rd., in Carmel. See a donation wish list at bit.ly/AmazonWorkingDogsForVetsWishList.
Lugar series – Cathy Boggs of Carmel has been selected for the 30th class of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series. The series is a not-for-profit women’s leadership development program designed to increase the preparation, influence and number of Republican women in local, state and national elective and appointive offices. For more information, visit LugarSeries.com.
Mini-houses events – The Museum of Miniature Houses, 111 E. Main St., will present Miniatures by Candlelight from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7. Admission is free to see the museum’s displays at night. Carolers will perform throughout the evening and light refreshments will be served. At noon Dec. 11, the museum will present Celebrations of Creativity and Craftsmanship featuring painter Carrie Wild. Admission is free.
Indiana Humanities – State Rep. Jerry Torr of Carmel has been appointed to the Indiana Humanities board of directors. Indiana Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that encourages Hoosiers to think, read and talk by participating in humanities programs and activities. The organization is in the midst of a two-year INseparable initiative, which explores real and perceived differences among urban, suburban and rural Hoosiers.
Coat donations needed – Second Presbyterian Church is seeking winter coat donations of all sizes for its annual Christmas Benevolence program. Donations may be dropped off at the church, 7700 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis. For more information on the program, visit secondchurch.org/cb.
Altrusa Christmas party – Altrusa International of Hamilton County will hold a Christmas party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 918 Range Line Rd. Dinner costs $20 and begins at 7 p.m. Reserve a spot by Dec. 5 by contacting Carol Rader at [email protected]. Attendees are encouraged to bring a food item or cash donation for HVAF.
Surveyor elected VP – Hamilton County Surveyor Kenton Ward was elected second vice president of the Association of Indiana Counties Board of Directors. He began his term on Nov. 1. Board elections were held during the AIC’s 61st Annual Conference in Orange County. Ward has served as the Hamilton County Surveyor more than 40 years. He is the past president of the County Surveyors Association of Indiana and the National Association of County Surveyors. He resides in Noblesville with his wife, Robin.
Winter Market – The Carmel Winter Market is under way from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Wire Factory, 510 3rd Ave. SW. Vendor offerings include flavored oils, homemade noodles, baked goods and much more. Learn more at carmelfarmersmarket.com/wm-home.
Best and Brightest – Junior Achievement of Central Indiana is seeking nominations for the 16th annual Indy’s Best and Brightest event, which will honor 100 of central Indiana’s most outstanding young professionals, age 40 and under, in 10 different industry categories. Ten finalists from each category will be chosen by a selection committee and announced in September. One winner from each category will be announced during the event on March 11, 2020, at Hilbert Circle Theatre downtown Indianapolis. Visit indysbestandbrightest.org to submit a nomination through Nov. 25.
Governor’s Fellowship – Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28 for the 2020-2021 Governor’s Fellowship, a highly selective experience in Indiana state government that places fellows in various state agencies on a rotating basis throughout the year. The program is open to college graduates who receive their bachelor’s degrees in either the fall 2019 or spring 2020. Fellows are paid, full-time employees who participate in the day-to-day activities of state government. Learn more and apply at in.gov/gov/fellowship.htm.
Newcomers Club – Newcomers Club of Carmel, a nonprofit social club, connects its members with friends, engages in fun activities and explores the community. Monthly activities include a welcome coffee, a luncheon event and 32 interest group meetings. Membership represents Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville and Indianapolis. For more, visit carmelnewcomers.com or call 317-564-8349.
Top Law Firm – U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers has named Barnes & Thornburg LLP to the 2020 Best Law Firms list with 97 top rankings, including 12 nationally. Appellate practice and real estate were added this year to the firm’s list of national Tier 1 rankings.
enVista expands – Carmel-based enVista, a global software solutions and consulting services firm, has expanded into the Asia-Pacific region with added offices in Singapore and Sydney, Australia. enVista is increasing its APAC presence because of growing demand for enVista’s supply chain and omni-channel commerce solutions and expertise.
CrossCountry makes hires – CrossCountry Mortgage has added two team members at the company’s growing Midwest branch in Carmel. Seth Hensley joins the branch as a loan originator. His goal is to guide new homebuyers through the mortgage process in a way that protects them and eliminates common mistakes. Adolphus Fifer is the new business development specialist who will work with the branch’s loan originators to nurture and cultivate their growing client and referral base.
Firm adds attorney – Hollingsworth Roberts Means has added attorney Michelle Baldwin Skaggs to its expanding law firm. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Skaggs will lead HRM’s Estate Planning & Elder Law Practice Group within HRM’s Divorce & Family Law and Business Law teams, working from the firm’s Carmel office.
Jiffy Lube honored for art – Jiffy Lube of Indiana recently received the Americans for the Arts’ national Arts and Business Partnership Award, one of only 10 U.S. companies honored and the first company in Indianapolis to receive this award. Jiffy Lube of Indiana’s “Every Part Matters” project started as a way to cover up graffiti at a local store and has progressed into partnership with the Arts Council of Indianapolis. In addition to supporting and hiring local artists, they’ve also created a new apprentice program that will give paid experience to emerging artists. Two of the murals are in Carmel.
Book drive – The Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites along with Liberty Mutual Insurance are conducting a children’s book drive through Dec. 13 to support the Child Life Program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Books may be dropped off in the hotel lobbies or main entrance of the Liberty Mutual office on Meridian Street.
Loan originators hired – Merchants Mortgage has hired Jan Olmstead and Steve Clark as mortgage loan originators in Carmel. Olmstead brings more than 25 years of residential lending, title insurance and real estate services experience to the Merchants team. Clark, an Indianapolis native and Indiana University Bloomington graduate, returns to Central Indiana and joins the Merchants team after holding various roles in other industries. As a mortgage loan originator, he will consult with clients and prospects regarding their home borrowing needs across a variety of mortgage loan types.
Accounting firm grows – Katz, Sapper & Miller announced that Indianapolis-based Caskey & Daily, P.C. has joined the accounting and consulting firm. Caskey & Daily’s notable healthcare practice will enable KSM to expand its own healthcare practice, which serves as a provider of tax and accounting services, consulting, fair market value assessments, transactions, and valuations for the complete spectrum of healthcare organizations. Caskey & Daily will move to KSM’s Carmel office at 800 East 96th Street, Suite 500.
Hearing loss group – The newly-formed Indianapolis Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America holds meetings from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month at Irvington Public Library, 5625 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis. Learn more at hlaa-indianapolis.org.
