100 Years and Counting: E.F. Marburger

In 1913, E.F. Marburger found himself seated at the lunch counter at a corner drugstore in downtown Indianapolis. The mid-day break from his job in the flooring department at Block’s Department Store would prove fateful in ways young Eli could not have imagined. The druggist, familiar with Eli’s line of work, asked him to measure out a new flooring project for the store. Ever resourceful, Eli rolled up his sleeves and started calculating.

When he returned to Block’s, Eli’s manager was waiting. “He asked my grandfather why he was late returning from lunch,” remembered Ron Marburger, president and CEO of E.F. Marburger Fine Flooring in Fishers. “Granddad described the customer service he’d given the drugstore owner. What came next hit like a ton of bricks,” continued Ron. “The manager said, ‘Mr. Marburger, Block’s is big enough that if anyone wants flooring, they will come to us. You’re fired.’” Ron said his grandfather would later explain that while heading home that day, he realized there was a better way to market flooring: going beyond the store walls.

That was the path taken by the company patriarch, who opened an 800-square-foot flooring store at 1021 North Illinois Street, providing customer service whenever and wherever it was needed. A century later, E.F. Marburger is among Indiana’s premier flooring and home furnishings companies. “I don’t know where I’d be today if my grandfather hadn’t gotten fired – let’s put it that way,” Ron shared. “It was devastating, but we’re German, and Germans have a way of toughing it out.”

Step foot into the Marburger showroom on Allisonville Road and you’re immediately surrounded by beauty – from kitchen and bath concepts to ceramic tile and granite counter tops to carpeting and hardwood flooring. Store designers have created a shopping experience that is equal parts inspiring and, for some people, intimidating. “Sometimes customers think that such high quality must carry a high price tag. That’s a misconception,” said Marburger. “We are very competitive with price because we do a lot of direct buying, and we know what the market will bear.”

The original E.F. Marburger & Son storefront at 1021 North Illinois Street in downtown Indianapolis.

His advice? “This is like an art gallery. Enjoy the experience and absorb the beauty. Just come in and look around – there’s no pressure. We want to help you see what can be done in your home without breaking the bank. I don’t care if I don’t sell a dime as long as visitors have a great shopping experience,” declared Marburger.

Fewer than 40 companies in Indiana have reached the 100-years-in-business plateau. Two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the current depressed economic climate have taken their toll, especially on family-owned businesses. “Those [difficult circumstances] are great teachers; they help you manage tough times,” Marburger explained. “Bridging those gaps says something about our company and team.”

E.F. Marburger is located at 9999 Allisonville Rd Fishers, IN 46038.

Marburger said his business survived with an unwavering commitment to hard work, deep product knowledge, and great customer service. “In our sales meetings, I say that we don’t just want satisfied customers, we want overjoyed customers. A client’s minimum expectation is satisfaction – and it should be. I want a customer that says, ‘Wow, am I glad I shopped at Marburger’s!’”

Ron’s face lights up most when talking about his two daughters and grand-daughter – the fourth and fifth generations of Marburgers now working in the business. “My dream is that maybe my grandchildren’s children can celebrate a 200-year anniversary,” he reflected. “If granddad and dad (Donald) came into the store today they’d say, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I don’t think either could have imagined it would grow and become what it is today. That’s a driving force – that’s why I work hard. It’s an important legacy to be passed on.”

Torc You Very Much: 7e Fit Spa

Steve Neilsen, CEO of 7e Fit Spa, at his first location at Geist Reservoir. The franchise now has 7 locations and growing.

Eureka! The Fountain of Youth has been found in the Winslow Wellness Center, and it has nothing to do with Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon and his mythical spring.

Instead of magical, restorative waters, this fountain is a stream of electrical pulses that mimic the body’s natural bio-electricity to work out abdominal and other muscles. Proponents say the result of a “Torc” session, as it’s called, is an eyebrow-raising reduction in waist size that leaves them feeling, well, younger, and infused with vitality.

Drop by 7e Fit Spa at 2000 East 116th Street, and instead of good ol’ Ponce, you’ll likely bump into Stephen Neilsen, the entrepreneur responsible for bringing bio-electric body contouring therapy to Carmel. “Our biggest customers are people ages 35 to 55 who want to maintain their youth,” explained Neilsen, 7e Fit Spa’s CEO. “They’re Baby Boomers who don’t want to get old – who want to live longer and healthier and look better doing it.”

Here’s the skinny (pun intended) on how bio-electricity and a Torc session works. After a discussion with a spa technician about the client’s desired outcome, two Velco bands are wrapped around the body’s mid-section. Wire leads snaking from the Torc machine are attached to the bands at various contact points. It looks a bit like the rig used for an EKG heart exam, but this procedure is all about dropping a pant size or two, not arrhythmia.

Clients lie comfortably in a private room where a spa technician sets the appropriate Torc level. Immediately, a sensation of tingling, massage-like waves pulse across the body’s mid-section as muscles are systematically constricted. The Torc’s intensity is slowly ramped up, but never beyond the comfort level. “Torc is an FDA-approved device that contracts muscles, simulating exercise about 150 times more effectively than with exercise,” said Neilsen. “First-time users can lose one to three inches around the waist. We can also apply the Torc to your thighs or buttocks which has been very popular with women.”

Elastic bands hold digital pads in place at the top and bottom of the muscle and use electro magnetic stimulation to contract the muscles without exercise.

According to 7e Fit Spa’s website, Torc utilizes several proprietary waveforms for a strong, yet comfortable, contraction and relaxation of the muscles producing intensified results in a short period of time. It helps to flatten your stomach, reduces cellulite on thighs, and improves posture by strengthening your core muscles. Clients swear by its effectiveness.

Neilsen says a 30-minute Torc session produces remarkable results, but only for people who try it. “That’s probably the hardest obstacle – getting people to believe that there is actually technology out there that can contour your abs and take off an average of three inches in 30 minutes,” said Neilsen. “That’s because it’s almost unbelievable. But, after the first session, 80% of people purchase more sessions. The cost of trying it out is cheaper than a personal trainer.”

7e Fit Spa takes its name from eastern medicine and holistic values, including the Seven Life Energies and Seven Dimensions of Wellness. Neilsen discovered the Torc technology while researching Johari Digital Healthcare Ltd., an Indian manufacturer of medical and spa equipment. After 25 years in the health spa industry, he said the U.S. market had developed a sameness about it, and that he wanted to differentiate from the competition. With Torc, Neilsen believes he’s found the answer. “We’ve established a model in Carmel that can be replicated,” he said. “We have stores in Geist, Florida and Arizona, and our growth will be as fast as we can handle. Already, we’ve done more than 10,000 treatments in Indy in our first year.”

7e Fit Spa also is aggressively pursuing franchise agreements locally and across the country. Neilsen explained that he’s looking for operators who have a passion for helping people. While a spa/fitness background is ideal, it’s not required. Instead, the company is targeting people with drive and ambition and who understand what it takes to be successful. The entry fee is $50,000 and includes a lease program for equipment with a lifetime warranty. “A lot of applicants are doctors,” said Neilsen. “Health care reform – Obamacare – has caused decreased revenues, and they’re looking for investment options.”

Additional information about 7e Fit Spa is available online at www.7efitspa.com.

Malt Madness

Mike Sale (shown here) and Ryan Coyle conceived the BrewBracket Challenge in 2011.

It’s no surprise the idea of launching a live competition to crown Indiana’s best craft beer brewers began germinating at a local watering hole. Such a wholly appropriate setting is where Mike Sale and Ryan Coyle envisioned the BrewBracket Challenge. As the co-founders sipped – well, beer – they brewed up a full-bodied, flavorful idea: Create a bracket-style, single elimination tasting tournament. “The purpose of BrewBracket Challenge is to bring people together to taste and determine the very best craft beers,” explained Sale. “It also serves to promote the brewery that makes it to the top.”

In spring, 2011, the inaugural BrewBracket Challenge was held. “We did some small tastings and quickly determined that we could do this on a larger scale,” remembered Sale. About 150 people are expected to attend the fourth BrewBracket event, Bourbon Barrel Aged Beers, Saturday, September 29, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Tomlinson Tap Room in City Market, downtown Indianapolis. Tickets are priced at $45.

Eight brewers will compete, this time with a new twist, er, taste. Each is required to have stored their beers in wooden barrels donated by Harrison Bourbon Company, a southern Indiana distillery. “These premium beers will have set in the barrels about three months soaking up the flavor and color of the bourbon,” explained Joe Eaton, brewer and owner of Barley Island Brewing Company in Noblesville, and the winner of the most recent BrewBracket Challenge. Eaton described the bourbon taste as “strong, alcoholic – a more in-your-face flavor. These beers will pick up some additional components from the barrels.”

Ryan Coyle pours a draft during the BrewBracket Challenge.

Acting as both public tasters and judges, attendees sip and compare the tastes of two beers, picking a favorite. The randomly-seeded beers are served in two identical tasting glasses; tasters have no way of identifying the brewers. “A big component is making it a blind taste test. It strips away any bias,” said Sale.

The winning beers move on in their respective tournament brackets. Taster palettes are cleansed, and the process repeats until two finalists remain for the championship round. “People love brackets! That’s certainly some of the allure,” Sale said.

The winner receives the handsome Big Tap Trophy – and more importantly, bragging rights. “There’s a lot of camaraderie among the brewers. This provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, but no trade secrets!” explained Eaton. “It’s more about showing off products than it is winning.

Brewers participating in the Bourbon Barrel Aged Beers challenge include Barley Island Brewing, Bloomington Brewing, Flat 12 Bierwerks, The RAM, Bier Brewery, Figure Eight Brewing, People’s Brewing, and Triton Brewing.

Craft beer brewing is bubbling. In the early days, Indiana had 18 or 19 commercial craft brewers. Now there are 50, with another seven or eight in the planning stages. “There’s still room for growth,” said Eaton. “It’s been nice to see it hit big. People want quality, not quantity, in beers.”

Each BrewBracket has a featured charity that receives a portion of the proceeds. Additional information is available at www.brewbracket.com.

Net Literacy: Carmel’s Digital Difference Maker

Carmel native Daniel Kent (left) with his father, Don, started a global nonprofit while a student at Carmel Middle School to provide computers and access to the Internet.

Carmel native Daniel Kent remembers precisely when and where the idea came to him for a modest service project that would change his life. At the time, Daniel could hardly have imagined that Net Literacy would become an international model for communities, even governments, to boost computer literacy among under-privileged and under-served populations. He was 14 years old.

“It was 2003 and I was on an airplane returning from Washington D.C., where I’d received a national community service award for my volunteer work at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Carmel Clay Public Library,” Kent explained. “I left the capital reflecting on the many remarkable accomplishments of my fellow honorees, and it inspired me to do even more in my community.”

A member of the library’s Teen Volunteer Corps, Daniel had been serving as an instructional aide in computer classes for senior citizens. Before his D.C. visit, Dan had heard about a wheelchair-bound senior who wanted, but did not have access to, similar instruction at his retirement facility.

So, while cruising at 30,000 feet, Daniel engaged in some mental mixology. He took one part realization (lots of capable people don’t have, or don’t understand computers), and stirred in a dash of inspiration (why don’t I do something about it). The result was a sustainable formula to bridge the growing digital divide between older adults and computing.

Idea Into Action

“I thought that no one should be denied the opportunity to learn, especially computing skills,” said Kent, who at the time was an eighth-grader at Carmel Middle School. He put his idea into action by recruiting several like-minded, tech-savvy Hamilton County middle schoolers. Together they launched Senior Connects, matching tech-interested senior citizens with used computers donated by the public.

“We learned that a lot of retirement facilities didn’t have up-to-date computers, if any. So, we contacted local companies who, along with the library, agreed to donate their unused PCs,” Daniel recalled. The library also provided lesson plans that the teens modified, including enlarging text fonts to make on-screen reading easier for older eyes.

“Dan and his friends taught seniors how to search the Internet, and how to send and receive emails to stay connected with their families,” remembered Hope Baugh, young adult service manager at Carmel Clay Public Library.

Soon the teens were refurbishing dozens of donated computers, and also expanding their constituency to include K-12 students whose families were on public assistance or receiving subsidized school lunches. Computer labs were established at community centers, churches and synagogues offering instruction on Internet safety and financial and computing literacy.

“I believe it’s important that people give back, and serving those in need makes me feel more complete,” said Dan, now 21 and a senior at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. “By listening to the elderly tell their stories, we gain wisdom. It’s a great two-way relationship.”

Success Brings Growth

Over time, this kernel of an idea grew into Net Literacy, a Carmel-based umbrella organization with five core programs: Senior Connects, Safe Connects, Computer Connects, Financial Connects, and Community Connects.

Marvin Bailey, vice-chairman of Techpoint Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Techpoint, an Indiana technology advocacy group), said that Net Literacy’s programs dovetail nicely with the foundation’s goal to develop 21st-century skills in at-risk youth. “I think Net Literacy has only scratched the surface of what can be accomplished,” he said. And Bailey isn’t just paying lip service. Techpoint Foundation has funded several Net Literacy initiatives (disclosure: Bailey is vice-chairman of Net Literacy).

Initially, the group’s all-volunteer board was exclusively students. Today, it’s a 50-50 split between teens joined by community leaders, educators and information technology professionals. Indiana Senators Lugar and Bayh serve as honorary chairmen, and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman is a recent addition to the board.

Making a Difference

Don Kent, 60, Daniel’s father, has been involved from the start and continues to serve as mentor, delivery van driver and all-around chief bottle washer. Over the years, he’s observed that Net Literacy’s programs provide great opportunities for teens to practice personal philanthropy. “Student volunteers learn teamwork and leadership skills, and have opportunities to provide meaningful public service in their communities,” said the senior Kent.

The Kents have come to understand that about a third of student volunteers are deeply committed to community service and also do well academically; a third are average students who find Net Literacy to be an extraordinary opportunity; and about a third are students who sometimes face challenges with difficult personal issues or feel isolated from their peers. “These are the kids who really benefit from the social interaction and who gain marketable job skills through volunteering,” explained Don.

It’s a value proposition that’s not lost on parents. Kent tells the story of moms and dads who, when picking up a donated computer for their child, shed tears of gratitude because such an expensive purchase is beyond their financial means. “They understand the importance of technology, and that their kids need to be computer literate to be competitive,” Don said.

Local to International

Word of Net Literacy’s service model has spread rapidly, and its accomplishments are impressive. Computer access has been provided to more than 150,000 Hoosiers in 20 counties, and chapters are up and running in three other Midwest states. Almost 13,000 refurbished computers have been distributed. Equally impressive are the more than 2,000 Hoosier students who have given more than 200,000 hours of voluntary service to their communities.

“Net Literacy’s student volunteers have taught senior citizens and provided computers to several independent living facilities in Carmel,” said Mayor Jim Brainard in a recent prepared statement. “We support these students who volunteer their free time on weekends and after school to help increase digital inclusion throughout Indiana.”

The U.S. Internet Industry Association has cited Net Literacy as the “best digital inclusion model” in America. A recent U.S. Broadband Coalition report included five references to Net Literacy programs and urged their inclusion as part of the nation’s broadband initiative. Daniel Kent was asked to serve on Broadband for America’s Adoption Committee and after a conference call with Daniel, the Federal Communications Commission cited three of Net Literacy’s programs in the National Broadband Plan presented to Congress in April.

Net Literacy’s footprint is also spreading globally. In 2009, Daniel and his father traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, as invited guests of the European Union’s Commission on Digital Inclusion. Having identified and studied the most workable models for digital inclusion in more than 30 countries worldwide, the E.U. named Net Literacy to its best-of-class list. This month, the duo will visit Hong Kong to share best practices and Net Literacy strategies.

A Socially Responsible Generation

The group’s nonprofit status was accomplished, in part, by an unusual and laudable sacrifice. Daniel had saved $4,000 to buy a car, but decided instead to use the funds to pay Net Literacy’s legal and organizational fees.

“When Dan told me about his idea, I felt that it was pretty ambitious,” said his father. “I worried he was spending all of his money on this passion, but also felt it would be a good lesson for him. Instead, it turned out to be a good lesson for me.” The lesson was that adults sometimes don’t fully appreciate the Millennial Generation’s capabilities. “They think, work and are engaged in ways my generation never was. They also have technology available that empowers them, that provides both the opportunity and the responsibility to make a significant impact,” Don said.

It is a sentiment echoed by Hope Baugh, the librarian. “These volunteers seem to have genuine commitments to acting in socially responsible ways, and seeing what they’ve accomplished gives me hope for future generations,” said Baugh.

As an example, Daniel and fellow board officer, Morgan Starks, lobbied the Indiana Legislature to pass legislation encouraging municipalities to engage with Net Literacy’s educational programs. “It’s important to us that the model be an open source and available to any interested party,” explained Daniel. “We never charge for our programs and have received inquiries from San Jose, Calif., Syracuse, N.Y., and Winnipeg, Canada among other cities.”

Father’s Day

June means Father’s Day, and Don Kent says part of his celebration will be the Hong Kong trip with Daniel. He also said that working closely with his son makes every day special. “Dan is a great role model in an environment where kids need student heroes who lead by example, and I believe it motivates struggling students to take another swing,” said Don. “He has a big heart, and I’m very proud of him.” Dan responded, “We’re still father and son, but also best friends. In many ways he’s just one of the guys.”

Looking Ahead

Daniel is on the proverbial fast track, having completed internships at the White House and Dept. of Labor, and is interning with the Dept. of Justice this summer. He’s considering attending law school to prepare for a career in public policy, but plans to always remain active with Net Literacy. “None of this would have been possible without the countless hours of work by many parents and their kids,” explained Dan. “I had no idea Net Literacy would become this big, but I’m confident it will grow nationally and internationally because the challenges aren’t going away anytime soon,” he added.

Oh, and that postponed car purchase? “We ended up with a family vehicle that I drive, and we also use it for hauling donated stuff,” Dan grinned. He wouldn’t have it any other way.