![]() Brian Richardson, Chief Removal Officer of Veteran Hauling, is a veteran-owned junk removal and demo company providing dependable services, with military precision, to businesses, property managers, and overwhelmed souls and has been operating since 2020. Veteran Hauling is one of the Chamber's veteran-owned business members. Brian has owned businesses most of his adult life. Financial services, business newspaper, loss prevention and now junk removal. He loves creating businesses. It’s just how he's wired. You can find Veteran Hauling on Facebook, on their website (veteranhauling.com), or by phone at 812-900-HAUL. You can even email them at [email protected].
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![]() Lisa Thomas, owner with Bloomington Blooms, started her business just about a year ago. Bloomington Blooms' motto is "We “grow” where you need us. We are a pop up shop and travel to your event." It is one of the Chamber's women-owned business members. Lisa not only does Lisa have a love for flowers but she enjoys seeing people appreciate them. "Flowers seem to put everyone in a good mood. Who doesn’t like flowers?" says Lisa. Bloomington Blooms is different because isn't the typical flower shop. She is a pop up shop so they “grow” where you need them. Bloomington Blooms goes to dance recitals, businesses holiday parties, graduations ext. They decorate tables for events and they even do monthly subscription for homes and business. ![]() Faye Pfenninger, Owner & Boutique Photographer with Pfenninger Photography, started the business in 2019. Pfenninger Photography is a locally owned boutique style portrait photography that focus on moments that can be displayed on your walls instead of in your phones or computers. Pfenninger Photography is one of the Chamber’s women-owned business members. Faye's husband bought her a professional camera in 2018 for Christmas and it changed her life. She grew a passion for it right away. She always loved taking photos of events in life and people in her life, but never thought of it as a career to pursue. Then, Faye's friends started seeing her work on Facebook posts and started asking her to do photos for them. It began as a hobby in fall of 2019 and grew to a business after having their daughter in October 2020. She began to really dig deep and self teach herself (with the help of her husband) in 2020 while on bed rest while pregnant. In 2021, she began doing it part time. While still working full time, she got a studio as her clientele grew. ![]() Geng Wang, CEO & Co-founder of Civic Champs, started the business in April 2019. Civic Champs was created to change how nonprofits operate and engage with their supporters. Their web and mobile platforms automate volunteer management and help nonprofit organizations convert their volunteers to donors. The technology eliminates manual data entry and other time-intensive tasks so nonprofits can focus on doing what matters most. Civic Champs is one of the Chamber’s Asian-Pacific Islander-owned business members. Geng grew up in Vermillion, South Dakota. He attended Michigan State University where he got a dual degree in Supply Chain Management and International Relations (where he met his wife, Stephanie). He then continued that education further when he got my Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Professionally, Geng started his career in consulting at McKinsey & Company, and has founded two startups in addition to Civic Champs (Rent Jungle and Community Elf). He and his family moved to Bloomington 7 years ago when Stephanie accepted a position at IU’s Kelley School of Business as a professor. Both of their boys, aged 3 and 7, were born here in town and he says it’s been a fantastic place to raise a family. They have found the community to be incredibly welcoming, and are excited to see the growing support ecosystem for startups, such as the Dimension Mill. ![]() Nichelle Whitney, the CEO & Founder, established The Guarden four years ago. The Guarden is a diversity, equity, and inclusion training group that focuses on education, accountability, and grace. They create tailored training programs for teams that are committed to diving deep into understanding intercultural competence and the importance of transforming and dismantling barriers to health, education, and wealth for historically excluded populations. The Guarden is is one of the Chamber’s women-owned, and Black-owned business members. Nichelle is originally from Indianapolis, but she moved to the Bloomington community in 2011 to start her education at IU Bloomington. She has enjoyed serving Bloomington and Monroe County for the last 10 years, and Nichelle couldn’t think of a better place to call home for The Guarden. Nichelle has been working in DEI consulting spaces for over 10 years; however, she formally established this work under The Guarden about 4 years ago. ![]() Janie Wilcox, President of JB Screening Partners, Inc., started the business in 2016. JB Screening Partners, Inc. is a hiring and leasing partner to help you secure the top talent or finding the perfect tenant. JB Screening Partner’s Inc. is one of the Chamber’s women-owned business members. Janie started out her professional career after being a stay-at-home mom for 12+ years. “The most rewarding job of my life!” she says. In her forty’s she went back to college and obtained a second degree in Computer Information Systems. That decision led her to a position at Smithville Communications working the night shift as part of their newly expanded Technical Support Department. From that job, she worked her way through the company to end her career with Smithville Communications as the Operations Manager Telecom Residential and Business Solutions. After leaving Smithville Communications, Janie went back to school and received her certification in Project Management. It was at the end of this schooling that John Bethell contacted Janie and offered her the opportunity to be part of a new background screening company. Today Janie is the owner of JB Screening Partners, Inc. “And as they say… the rest is yet to come,” she said. ![]() Sarah Perfetti, Real Estate Broker of Perfetti Realty, has been running the day-to-day operations of Perfetti Realty since 2020. She joined forces with her mom, Sheree Perfetti, the owner, and broker of the business, in 2019. Their brick-and-mortar was then purchased in 2021. Perfetti Realty is a women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and Indigenous-owned Chamber member business. Sarah has a Master in Public Affairs in nonprofit management from Indiana University, a B.A. from Florida International University, and is a life-long competitive athlete. Born in Lowell, Indiana she became a swimmer in first grade learning the values of goal setting, hard work, and team building. She co-founded the nonprofit organization, Bloomington PRIDE in 2013 where she served as Executive Director for four years and then co-founded a women’s empowerment organization, Be Golden in 2017 which she still co-leads with her wife in Bloomington, IN. With her career of volunteerism and service, Sarah loves to help people and serve each person’s unique needs allowing them to achieve their goals. She is a member of the Bloomington Board of Realtors, Greater Northwest Indiana Realtors Association, the Indiana Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. In her free time Sarah loves to explore hiking trails with her wife and dogs, instructs indoor cycling and rowing, raises backyard chickens, loves to cook, occasionally swims competitively, and is a board member for the Indiana University LGBTQ+ Alumni Association. ![]() Alexis Green, Owner and Esthetician at Orchids Esthetics, started her business in June 2019. Orchid Esthetics offers results-driven facials and chemical peels, as well as full body waxing, lash lifts and tints, and brow tints. Orchid is perfect for those looking to improve their skin concerns, including signs of aging, acne, and sensitivity. Orchid Esthetics is a women-owned and Latin/Latina/Latinx/Hispanic-owned Chamber member business. Alexis has several years’ experience in customer service. She graduated school for Esthetics in 2016, and worked for Ulta and Massage Envy as an esthetician. |
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