Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 September 2000 — Page 27

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2000 ■ PAQED1

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INSIDE*D*SECTION*CLASSIFIED*REAL

E S T A T E

Many people anxiously look l] forward to their wedding day, J . hut dislike the actual planning ^ 3hd decision making associated with picking invitations or selecting music for the ceremony. /the Little Chapel of Weddings, jocated in an office building at i48. E. Market St., eases the worries of future wives and husbands, delivering an elegant and ‘intimate atmosphere for ex-

changing vows.

^/Brenda Carpenter created Little Chapel of Weddings three years .ago, and recalls frequent discussions with friends about Wedding options. As a chHd, >■ her grandmother decorated and

made desserts for marriage ceremonies, which exposed Carpenter to various stages of planning a wedding. Friends occasionally debated over expenses and location of their weddings, she says, recognizing her goal to establish a business that addressed such con-

v &fems.

, “When I first started, I wasn’t sure how the cbmmunity would receive (the chapel) because I did not want to be compared to Las Vegas (chapels). We have a more personalized touch here. I personally deal with every bride and groom. This is not degrading the sanctity of marriage by doing it here,” she „ added, acknowledging that local residents • have eagerly supported her business. -; - The chapel delicately features green plants : Sprouting out of cerarruc angel plant holders on the walls, and firmly positioned statues . accompany the decorations. White bells and flowers beautifully create a peaceful arena. Couples exchange heartfelt nuptials in a room

The Little Chapel of Weddings hosts at least IB ceremonies'each month, and provides a pleasant atmosphere for couples and their families. (Photo/Ken Skelton) iuu* vaUa. . u. ; j'J !./«* . - >.ot miM-j b;:.;

filled with adequate seating for family members and friends. Traditional and contemporary musical selections can be heard throughout the chapel, setting the stage for the bride’s entrance. Before the actual wedding day, Carpenter meets with each couple and their family. Details such as expected guest numbers and ceremony colors must be discussed to organize a perfect wedding. “We’ve got something for every price range,” assures Carpenter, referring to the chapel’s wedding packages, which include a photographer. While April kicks off the busiest wedding season, the chapel has hosted seven ceremonies in one day. Clients encompass diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and the youngest bride was 17 years old. Most people become familiar with Little Chapel of Weddings through local sources such as the public wedding guide and referrals from previous clients.

By Associated Press . * - A partnership among business, education and government ^Jleatfers is moving quickly to encourage technology development.across Indiana. the Indiana Technology Partnership, whose formation was announced earlier this year, has hired Thomas P. Miller as its o* president and has begun a 14-city tour to document the state’s oo technological resources and gather suggestions, ebn; The 700-member group also decided to focus on a narrow aihgroup of issues, including reversing the state’s brain drain and Isnimproving the state’s “connectivity” through the adoption of finOayJight Savings Time and air travel, ni “Our chairman, Scott Jones, set a goal of making Indiana wuhe Midwest technology leader by 2005, and he’s serious *i»«bout making that happen. So, we’ve had to get right to work,” Miller said. f*>Mi Jones also is chairman and chief executive of Escient Inc., dsn Indianapolis-based consumer electronics company. ’toll The partnership began as an Indianapolis-area initiative, Li but Jones and other business leaders felt a statewide organiza«riJt»on would be more effective. o >Iv. WH1 Davis, president and co-founder of Ontario Systems, a Y'iWuncie software-development company, said the success of I'fftfee partnership is critical for Indiana. •«bl. “We’ve been very pleased with what we’ve seen so far,” .’BRavis said. “Scott Jones has done a good job of whipping up interest and awareness on a statewide basis — and we do think it ’ s important that this be a statewide, not just an Indianapolis,

effort. “It’s important, I think, that we change the way we think of ourselves as a state — that we think of ourselves as more than just a place for traditional manufacturing, say, or agriculture. If we’re going to succeed in establishing a technology economy, we need to think of ourselves that way,” Davis said. To help achieve that, the partnership has decided to focus first on three issues: • Connectivity. This includes encouraging more direct airline flights between Indianapolis and other major metropolitan areas and moving Indiana to Daylight Savings Time so its daily business cycle is in predictable synch with the rest of the nation, Miller said. • Increasing access to capital. Miller said the partnership has reached out to technology companies and venture capitalists in other states to interest them in Indiana investment opportunities. He said Cisco Systems Inc. has been particularly supportive and helped the partnership hook up with potential sources of venture capital. • Reversing the “brain drain.” The ptetnership is speaking with officials at the state’s largest universities about setting up an extensive network of internships with Indiana hightech firms for promising students. Studies have shown that internship opportunities are key to retaining a higher percentage of college graduates, Miller said. A second part of that equation, he added, is luring alumni of Indiana schools back to the state.

Alan Hill appointed a vice president at Franklin College

Alan P. Hill is the new vice president for enrollment management at Franklin

College.

A native of Indiana, Hill earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from DePauw University. Previously, he served as vice president of enrollment and student affairs at Alma College in Michigan. His career also has included working for IBM and serving in several positions at DePauw University, including assistant direc-

tor of admissions, director of financial aid, assistant to the provost and dean of student affairs. “Alan Hill will have leadership responsibilities for the college’sstudent recruitment, admissions and financial aid programs and services,” said Franklin College President Paul Marion. “His experience and abilities are outstanding, and I am confident that he will make significant contributions to our students and to the future of

Franklin College.”

Hill’s wife, Jennett, is an attorney, and they have two children. “I am very excited about becoming a member of the Franklin College community and President Marion’s leadership team,” said Hill. “Throughout the interviewing process, everyone conveyed their commitment and excitement about the college and the direction that it is going. I look forward to working with students, faculty, staff and trustees of Franklin College to build upon the extremely successful program that is already in place.”

Alan P. Hill will be in charge of enrollment

management

Even after witnessing numerous ceremonies, Carpenter admits that, “I cry at a lot of these weddings.” During her first year in business, Carpenter collaborated with Trish Jackson, and recently joined forces with Nathan Bluitt of Williams & Bluitt Funeral Home to expand advertising initiatives. Over the next five years, she hopes to acquire a larger building to accommodate up to 75 people, and set up chapels in other cities. Looking ahead to the future, Carpenter remembers the day she contemplated a name for her business. She read several business books and bypassed the idea of a fancy title for a simple, yet extremely sacred business. “I thought the simplicity of Little Chapel of Weddings says exactly what it is," she said, recognizing how the chapel contributes to the beginning of many blissful weddings. For more information about the Little Chapel of Weddings call (317) 917-9855.

Anheuser-Busch shows support of newspaper publishers during NNPA dinner

Group moves quickly to promote technology development in state

Wayman F. Smith III, vice prealdent of Anheuaer-Buach Cos., (third from left), attended the recent National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Awards Dinner with (left to right): John J. Oliver Jr., NNPA president and chairman of the board; the Rev. Al Sharpton, keynote speaker; and motivational speaker Les Brown, master of ceremonies. This year marked the 60th anniversary of the NNPA Convention, held in Chicago.

O’Bannon uses Toll Road as Indiana’s first ’information superhighway’ access ramp

Special to The Recorder Gov. Frank O’ Bannon is adding a new lane to the Indiana Toll Road that will carry advanced telecommunications rather than motorists along its 157 miles. “Quick and reliable access to the information superhighway and other highly advanced communications is key to success in our global society,” O’Bannon said. “By allowing telecommunications companies access to the land along our asphalt highways, we’ll help them install the infrastructure necessary to transport voice and data along an electronic highway.” He said, “Just like our natural gas, water and electric power industries, the telecommunications

industry depends on a delivery system to carry its products — voice and data communication — from one place to another.” The Indiana Transportation Finance Authority (ITFA), which owns the Toll Road, will solicit bids to use the state’s right of way' along the Toll Road as the pathway for a high-speed, broadband telecommunications infrastructure. O’ Bannon said he plans to open other interstates’ rights of way in the near future and that adding fiber optic routes along the Toll Road will improve communica--tion throughout the region. Lt. Gov. Joe Keman, who heads the Indiana Department of Commerce, said O’Bannon, Continued on D2