June / July 2015

Into The Deep

Sixteen years ago during a highly advanced technical cave dive, Evansville native Larry Babcock was swimming in an underwater cave called Little River in Branford, Florida, when the steel twin cylinders of air he was wearing hit the cave ceiling and busted a manifold. Babcock then broke several cardinal rules of cave diving, including adventuring off line, a guideline a diver follows to return to the surface. In zero visibility, he managed to isolate the leak and save one cylinder.

Jon Mark Hall

Hometown: Murray, Kentucky Job: Director of Athletics at the University of Southern Indiana Resume: Assistant athletic director at the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, 1994 to 1995; assistant athletic director at the University of Southern Indiana, 1995 to 2002; head men’s tennis coach at USI, 1995 to 2002; director of athletics at USI, 2002 to present. Family: Wife, Patti, five sons, Nathan, Garland, Ty, Owen, and Calvin, and one daughter, Mary Claire.

Greyhounds Can Run

A question often posed to me regarding our business is twofold. The first generally is “Do you really do anything down there?” and the second is “How do you come up with story ideas?”

In with the New

Since last year, changes can be seen from inside and out of Eastland Mall on N. Green River Road. A new entry sign greets the mall’s 10 million annual visitors. The shopping center also has bid farewell to some stores.

All In The Twist

After a year as owner of Tell City Pretzels, Brad Smith was asked to autograph a tin full of the famous snack. “It was right after we opened, and I said to the customer, ‘You realize I’ve only been doing this for a year,’” says Smith. “He said, ‘I want the person who’s making Tell City Pretzels to sign it.’ That’s what people think of them.”

Piano Man

Evansville native Matt Clark is at the top of his game. Newly married, he carries himself like a man who has found his center. Wander into the recently renovated Cavanaugh’s at Tropicana Evansville on one of the “14 or 15” times he plays there a month, and you’ll feel it, too.

Information Inventory

Whose Site Is It? As the tourism organization serving Evansville and Vanderburgh County, the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau provides information to visitors on hotel accommodations, travel, dining, and entertainment.

This Time It’s Personal

It could be said Robert Jarrett II is a version of James Bond. He can install and use surveillance equipment, ignite explosions, and offers a Bond-worthy cocktail. Jarrett just happens to work as an entrepreneur, owning three companies in the Evansville area. Jarrett Security Solutions, 4031 E. Morgan Ave., sells security and surveillance equipment to local residents and businesses. The store originally began as CDS Video Security, but Jarrett changed the name when he purchased the company in 2007.

Philanthropic Ways

Robbie Kent Sr. is a man who has a hard time saying no. Known for his philanthropic acts, the 67-year-old says the one thing he believes in most is giving. “You have to sacrifice for your family, for your fellow man,” he says. “The ones who are more fortunate need to continue to assist those less fortunate.”

Electronic Lullaby

When it comes to restless babies, many parents turn to the same practice. They drive their child around the neighborhood block a few times. But local sound engineer and musician Mike Boren wondered why the habit was so effective and if he could invent a device to eliminate late night drives. That’s when Lullafi was born.

Princeton Platform

As Executive Director Eric Heidenreich promotes the attractions in Gibson County, he finds his workplace also is on many visitors’ must-see lists. The Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau, 702 W. Broadway St. in Princeton, Indiana, is located in a former train depot used by the former Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad and CSX Transportation today. The building, constructed in 1875, is considered a landmark for residents and notable for its caboose, historic brick walkway, and position next to the still-functioning railroad tracks that run through Princeton.

A Century of History

When the Wells Fargo Advisors of Evansville – formerly Thomson McKinnon – opened in 1915, a gallon of gas cost $0.25. In the financial world, the Dow Jones Industrial average would close around 99 points. Over the next 100 years, through the rising and falling economy, Wells Fargo would continue to grow in the Tri-State. “We are the oldest brokerage firm in the city of Evansville,” says Nancy Bach, branch manager. “We’re excited about 100 years, but we also are excited about the fact we have the longest tenure within the city.”

Honorable Admiration

Wayne Geurin walks back and forth in his garden, tending to the tomatoes he plants. He gives many of them away, showing his devotion to serving others. But one small detail about him displays a different type of service. He wears a cap that reads, “Seabees,” representing his time serving the Navy Seabees. As a member of the 61st Battalion in the Philippines, he helped repair landing strips during World War II. On May 30, he and some of his fellow veterans had the opportunity to be recognized the way they deserve.

Bull Market

Tucker Publishing Group collaborated with Dr. Marie Bussing, assistant professor of economics at the University of Southern Indiana College of Business, to give 35 students in her Economics 361 Money and Banking course, an upper level class of juniors and seniors, an opportunity to be published in Evansville Business. Students were asked to write about Ben Bernanke, who presented “A Conversation with Ben Bernanke” during the Romain College of Business Innovative Speaker Series on March 23 at USI.

Evansville Business