Indianapolis Business Journal

Harrison Painter, 55, has been a lot of things over the course of his career: a sailor, an automotive production worker, a real estate broker, a marketer and now an artificial intelligence consultant, teacher and writer. The constant in all of this: Painter is at heart an entrepreneur, and he doesn’t mind the many painful lessons that entrepreneurism can impart. The latest lesson is that you can train AI to do the jobs of dozens of employees, but that isn’t necessarily the healthiest choice for a solo entrepreneur. In IBJ’s latest Q&A feature, Painter explains how a self-described “hillbilly from New Whiteland” ended up taking a small step back from the entrepreneurial grind and Silicon Valley’s narrative of success. (See link in comments)

Our Emmy Award-winning coverage is back, giving you a front-row seat to the deals, strategies and partnerships fueling the motorsports industry and the Indiana economy. Presented by LIUNA, this is where business and racing unite. Join us as we go behind-the-scenes to explore the decisions shaping the future.

The Indianapolis Business Journal committed an error earlier this month that created significant problems for one of central Indiana’s most important not-for-profit organizations. In the interest of transparency, IBJ Editor Lesley Weidenbener explained in her latest column how the error occurred and how that affected the organization. The column opens a window to the workings of the IBJ newsroom and the potential for multiple editors to miss a red flag when moving quickly to break news. For this week’s episode of the IBJ Podcast, host Mason King recruited Weidenbener to throw open the curtains and give you an even broader look inside IBJ. In this week’s episode, she addresses the error, some of the questions posed regularly about IBJ’s financial health, and how its leaders maintain barriers between the newsroom, advertisers and the politics of IBJ’s owner and CEO. (See link in comments)

🚨 LAST CALL 🚨 Reserve your spot for Leadership in Law on May 26 with The Indiana Lawyer before registration closes. Seats are filling quickly for this celebration of the individuals shaping Indiana’s legal community — and this is your final chance to be part of it. From emerging talent to respected leaders, Leadership in Law recognizes the professionals making a lasting impact not only in the legal field, but across the communities they serve. It’s a morning dedicated to the leadership, integrity, and influence driving Indiana forward. 📍 Indiana Roof Ballroom ⏰ Networking + breakfast program Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/loXm50Z1fTG

A new $60 million Indianapolis recycling facility will help finally launch universal curbside recycling in the city while also creating a circular economy that provides recycled materials to Indiana manufacturers that need them. Environmental advocates in the Indy area have long hoped to create a system in which items that end up in wastebaskets can be reused in local manufacturing. WM, the Houston-based waste management giant, opened the new recycling facility last fall on the city’s west side but recently held a grand opening during which leaders of WM, formerly known as Waste Management, laid out how the new facility would work. \ IBJ’s Taylor Wooten tales us on two journeys — first, tracking the path of recyclables through the upgraded system, and then mapping the city’s long road to universal curbside recycling (set to begin in 2028). (See link in comments.)

Do you know someone in their 20s who’s already making a real impact? The ones building, leading, creating—and doing it now, not someday. We’re looking for the innovators, the go-getters, and the future leaders who are shaping their communities in meaningful ways. This is your chance to put them in the spotlight and give them the recognition they deserve. Nominate them today: https://ow.ly/Gc7I50YZutI

As Eli Lilly and Co. celebrates its past, CEO David Ricks is also focusing on the future of the company. This week, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker is marking 150 years since Col. Eli Lilly founded his company on May 10, 1876, in a two-story building near the corner of Meridian Street and Pearl Street in Indianapolis. During his speech Tuesday at Lilly’s “150 Years of Medicine” event, Ricks said he breaks the company into three chapters: the first when Col. Lilly and his son, J.K. Lilly Sr., established the company’s footing; the second when J.K.’s sons, Eli Lilly Jr. and J.K. Lilly Jr., managed the company through the introduction of insulin and antibiotics; and the third when the company developed Prozac, GLP-1 medications and put a focus on endocrinology and immunology. “Each era was built on the last,” Ricks told the audience. “None of it was inevitable.” IBJ's Daniel Bradley has more on Lilly's current path and Ricks' timeline. (See link in comments.)

Join The Indiana Lawyer on May 26 for Leadership in Law, a celebration of the individuals who are truly shaping Indiana’s legal community. From emerging talent to respected leaders, this event recognizes the professionals making a lasting impact—not just in their work, but across the communities they serve. It’s a powerful reminder of the leadership and integrity driving the legal field forward. 📍 Indiana Roof Ballroom ⏰ Networking + breakfast program Mark your calendar and be part of a morning that honors excellence across Indiana’s legal landscape: https://ow.ly/j42A50YYUe5

It was just nine years ago that Rachel Leslie, who was working in external affairs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, began hunting for a new opportunity. She planned to leave Terre Haute to further her career in public affairs and government relations, but a trusted mentor told her to stay. So she launched RJL Solutions — a consulting firm focused on government relations, marketing and communications, economic development and association management. It gave Leslie an integral role in advancing the state’s west central region, which she said had untapped potential. Fast forward a few years, and RJL Solutions is now one of the most well-represented lobbying firms at the Indiana Statehouse, in addition to having offices in Evansville and Washington, D.C. In IBJ’s latest Q&A feature, Leslie discusses what it took to build a robust lobbying firm, her focus for the future and how she keeps grounded despite rapid growth. (See link in comments.)

We’re revving things up this May 🏁 Business at the Brickyard is back—our Emmy Award-winning coverage diving into the business behind motorsports. Presented by LIUNA, we’re taking you inside the deals, strategy, and big moves happening at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Trust us—you’ll want a front-row seat for this one. Check your listings now and join us this May! https://ow.ly/2tzR50YYmYJ