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Mark Finney Male
Botswana

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Business Owners 1st Meeting

Replied Mar 25

Free seminar 4/2/08: Business Solutions: Balancing taxes between business & personal

Started Mar 25

Indianapolis Coffee Meetups

Replied Jan 16

 

Mark Finney's Page

Latest Activity

Jim Cota left a comment for Mark Finney Jul 10
Nancy Stimson left a comment for Mark Finney Apr 30
Mark Finney replied to the discussion Charcoal or Gas Apr 20
Mark Finney replied to the discussion IndyStar article on increasing mountain bike trails Apr 16
Mark Finney started 2 discussions in Hoosier Mountain Bike AssociationApr 16
Mark Finney replied to the discussion Got a Question for All of the Members Mar 31
Bob Hettel left a comment for Mark Finney Mar 29
Mark Finney left a comment for Bob Hettel Mar 29

Profile Information

How did you hear about Smaller Indiana?
Client
What is your greatest strength?
I can move from a broad overview of a situation and drill down to the nitty gritty to ensure that the little things don't become big stumbling blocks.
What are you working on?
I'm working on broadening my company's (PrintSource) client base. I'm also working on bringing more people on board with my (volunteer) efforts to create a strong mountain biking culture in Indiana.
How big is your business?
Self-employed
What is your Job Title
Owner
What is your alma mater?
Other / out of state
Why join Smaller Indiana? What are you hoping to experience here ?
I was invited by Nila Nealy, of Element Three. She described Smaller Indiana mission as: "to bring together the best, brightest, most creative minds in Indiana to support local business and culture, to connect and exchange ideas." We need this! I'm an entrepreneur (PrintSource is a commercial-printing brokerage firm), a volunteer (Board member of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association), a community activist (founder of the Hoosier Rails To Trails Council, which created the Monon Trail), and a supporter of public education (my daughter got a great education through IPS's Key Renaissance School and Ball State), and the arts (my wife & daughter are both successful working artists). All of these elements hinge on an energetic creative community!

Comment Wall (22 comments)

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At 10:04pm on August 5th, 2008, Mark Finney said…
Yep, I'm a bit behind, too. (nearly a month since you posted your comment...)

Glad you've been riding. I haven't gotten out as much as I'd like either.

Send me an e-mail at mark at printsource dot org and I'll put you in touch w/ our web guy.
At 3:11pm on July 10th, 2008, Jim Cota said…
Mark, it appears I've been a little busy. I've completely lost SI for the last few months and I'm just now finding a few moments to catch up. Finally got out on the bike the other day and got soaked in mud from head to foot. Ah, what fun! We'll ride once I get back in shape; I wouldn't want to hold you up.

As for the web site, I'd be happy to talk with you about ways/concepts of revamping it.

Hope all is well! /Jim
At 12:09pm on May 5th, 2008, Mark Finney said…
It wasn't just me. Tom McCain, Mark Finch, Tom Healy, Doug Smith, and a bunch of other folks did the heavy lifting. When the Monon Railroad was getting ready to abandon the right-of-way, they had the vision and started the Hoosier Rails To Trails Council ( incorporated in July '87). Once the rails and ties were pulled up, the folks whose properties abutted the tracks wanted them to cede the property to the individuals. The HRTC canvassed, lobbied, and generally started the "buzz" that the Monon could somehow become a public asset. Lots of people argued "great idea, but not in my back yard." Goldsmith stonewalled us. Then, one night the red bridge in Broad Ripple got decked, and people started USING IT!! It was kind of a Field of Dreams thing. Then the city jumped on board and claimed 'ownership' of the idea. :-/ Anyway, funding was found through the Urban Mass Transit Association, and more came from AT&T (for their fiber optic cables), and the rest is history.

The next time you're in the BR Brew Pub, look at the plaque on the wall with the gold-plated railroad spike.

Things like this don't "just happen," but the CAN happen!

PS: Friday the 16th is Bike To Work day, and all of May is Ride Your Bike month. More info from the Indiana Bicycle Coalition at http://bicycleindiana.org/
At 9:26pm on May 3rd, 2008, Nancy Stimson said…
Wow, Mark! You certainly have my curiosity up!

You have my undying gratitude for the Monon! I was busy either raising kids or going to seminary and doing youth ministry and wishing and dreaming for greenways back then, having seen them in D.C. and San Diego! I had no idea there was anything really happening.

And you're right - it takes a ton of "go to" to do something like that - or this!
At 11:13pm on April 29th, 2008, Nancy Stimson said…
Hey, Mark, reading your profile, I'd like to meet you! Keeping little things from becoming stumbling blocks... :-) And I'd like to strengthen the mountain biking (and every other biking) culture, too.
At 10:32am on March 29th, 2008, Bob Hettel said…
Thanks Mark, that is exactly where we are at. I'll send over the ideas we have later this weekend.
At 5:30pm on March 28th, 2008, Bob Hettel said…
Mark, we met at the business owners get together but I can't put my hand on your card. I have a potential printing need and I'd like to chat. If you send me your contact info. I'll give you a call - bob.hettel(at)searchlightsolutions.com
At 11:11pm on March 21st, 2008, Jim Brown said…
Is it time to ride yet?? Today was beautiful, but I picked work and college basketball over my bike.
At 8:48am on March 15th, 2008, Jim Cota said…
Mark, thanks for the kind words -- very thoughtful of you to share.

All the mountain biking talk here on SI has convinced me it's time to get the bike back out and ride...something I haven't done much of since the twins were born. Since they'll be four in a few months, I'm uncertain that they still count as an excuse!

We should organize a SI ride sometime soon.

Have a great weekend. /Jim
At 10:39pm on March 14th, 2008, Luke Barringer said…
Mark, I just want to introduce myself as a fellow mountain biker.

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