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Partnering with Orr Fellowship to Develop the Next Generation of Talent

Posted on by Joe Ball

At The Heritage Group, we believe in betting on talent — whether it’s an intern just getting started or a seasoned employee driving innovation. Big ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. That’s why we’re committed to growing and developing the next generation of talent. 

Our internship programs for high school and college students help prepare young people for the workforce. But what about those who have just graduated? 

In 2019, The Heritage Group proudly began partnering with Orr Fellowship — a two-year, post-graduate program that connects versatile, high-achieving college graduates with future-focused Indiana businesses. Founded in 2001 and named after former Indiana Governor Bob Orr, the program is designed to foster the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

Today, Orr Fellowship partners with more than 70 organizations across Indianapolis and Evansville, supporting 120 fellows from more than 30 colleges and universities across the country. Backed by an alumni network of over 650+ professionals, fellows gain access to tools, training and mentorship to launch meaningful careers. 

Since joining the program, The Heritage Group has helped develop program participants and welcomed many Orr alumni into full-time roles across our family of companies. Over their two-year commitment, THG Fellows complete three 8-month rotations, gaining exposure to a wide range of industries, leadership styles and team dynamics. This unique structure allows fellows to explore personal and professional interests while making an impact from day one. 

By investing in programs like Orr Fellowship, we’re proud to help shape Indiana’s workforce — and support the growth of driven, curious and collaborative young professionals. 

What current Orr Fellows have to say about THG: 

“Coming out of college, I was unsure of what career path I wanted to take. The partnership between THG and Orr helped solidify my direction and build confidence in my next steps.” — Adam El-Khalili, Orr Fellow Class of 2023 

  

“I have developed a deep sense of community at THG full of people who not only support me but want to see me succeed. I am constantly encouraged to explore new opportunities and pursue ideas that matter to me.” — Madeline Feeman, Orr Fellow Class of 2023 

  

“What makes THG’s Orr Fellowship program stand out is the sheer variety of opportunities. Through the different rotations, we have access to a portfolio of more than 50 operating companies, which provides us with a glimpse of the professional world through multiple lenses.” — Zeke Skulski, Orr Fellow Class of 2023 

  

“Rotating through different roles has pushed me to adapt quickly, step outside my comfort zone and bring my voice to every room. For someone like me who was unsure what path to pursue after graduation, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore.” — Brylee Koontz, Orr Fellow Class of 2024 

  

“What drew me to THG was the people. As a former intern, I’ve always felt supported. No matter the challenge, there’s someone ready to help.” — Dan Sullivan, Orr Fellow Class of 2024 

  

“The way THG invests in young professionals — offering real responsibility and meaningful support — is truly second to none.” — Mateo Cedano, Orr Fellow Class of 2024 

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Fueling Innovation, Preserving Legacy: The Heritage Group and the Reimagined IMS Museum

Posted on by Joe Ball

The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery | Photo by Zach Dobson, IMS Museum

At The Heritage Group, we’ve always believed that innovation and legacy go hand in hand. That belief is why we’ve long supported the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—an institution where history, technology and culture collide in spectacular fashion. Now, that commitment continues in a bold new chapter: the reopening of the newly renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Following a $60.5 million, 17-month transformation, the Museum has reopened its doors with 40,000 square feet of new exhibit and experience space. It’s not just a facelift—it’s a full-on reimagination of what a museum can be, with immersive galleries, interactive experiences and hands-on STEAM learning zones designed to inspire fans of all ages.

The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley features seven garages, representing different eras of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that highlight the stories of each time-period through cars, decor, and immersive audio and visual elements. | Photo by Zach Dobson, IMS Museum

As a proud supporter and partner, The Heritage Group is honored to help bring this vision to life. Our name lives on inside The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery, where guests can take a walk through racing history, exploring seven era-themed garages filled with vehicles, artifacts and stories from the track. From the earliest days of the Speedway to modern safety innovations, this gallery brings the past roaring into the present.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is grateful for The Heritage Group’s support. Our two institutions both believe in the importance of innovation and inspiring the next generation to get involved with careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery is the perfect representation of that, as guests take a stroll through the history and technology advancements from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s beginnings to modern day,” said Joe Hale, IMS Museum President.

However, our support goes beyond exhibits. It’s about sparking curiosity, fueling imagination, and honoring the spirit of ingenuity that defines both the IMS and The Heritage Group. Whether it’s a child experiencing their first pit stop challenge or a lifelong fan rediscovering their love for racing, we’re proud to help create moments of discovery and delight.

“We’re proud of our roots here in Indiana. Our long partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is something we truly value. Supporting the new IMS Museum—and especially the Gasoline Alley Gallery—is a way for us to celebrate innovation and history at the same time. We hope it inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers and builders to dream big and keep pushing forward,” said Sara Morris, Director of Strategic Giving at The Heritage Group.

Our continued investment in the IMS Museum reflects who we are: a family of companies driven by purpose, committed to building a safer, more sustainable and more innovative future—both on and off the track.

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Teaming Up for Tomorrow: How THG’s Shaping Sustainability at The Children’s Museum

Posted on by Joe Ball

As The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis celebrates its 100th anniversary, they’re planning for the next 50 years, both in infrastructure and in programming to include an emphasis on sustainability, and The Heritage Group is there to help their efforts as sponsors of the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC). Here’s how our Sustainability Shared Bet is making a difference for people, planet and community, reaching beyond our own offices to influence future generations of museum visitors.

The 24-member ESAC included perspectives and sources of expertise from across The Heritage Group — Chris Ames, Daniella Bianchetti, Kelly Geckler, Ben Woodworth, Anne Smith and Tom Doherty — along with interested parties from around the state of Indiana, all tasked with making recommendations related to environmental sustainability practices and policy. For two years, the group met quarterly with museum representatives to explore ideas and options for reducing the museum’s carbon footprint and teaching others to do the same.

“The committee helped provide insight and information, connections and resources for the museum to better understand where we are and how to make informed decisions going forward,” said Ryan Lewis, who leads the Facilities Operations Department at the museum. “What we learned is there are some really bright people out there who know sustainability and who are willing to share ideas.”

They also learned, through some facility condition assessments with the committee, they have a tremendous amount of work to do. This didn’t surprise Ryan, given that the building has been through nine expansions over nearly 50 years at this Illinois Street location, but the committee helped him see the site with fresh eyes. This new perspective led to new improvements to infrastructure.

The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council under the museum’s giant water clock.

Infrastructure: Now

Some of the steps they’ve taken on the property:

  • Converted to LED occupancy lighting in the parking garage
  • Started recycling on the staff side, with targets for the visitor side in the future
  • Benchmarking current levels of solid waste and recycling so that improvements can be accurately measured
  • Working toward standardization of signage around waste and recycling containers, making them easy for museum visitors to recognize

Ryan’s team is also working to reduce waste in their exhibit builds. When selecting materials for their new exhibits, they’re choosing those that can be reused or recycled over specific, single-use materials. And they are standardizing the size and shape of exhibits and kiosks using a template so those pieces can be reused or repurposed as one experience closes and another opens.

“We’re keeping something in operation by applying new paint or graphics to it rather than breaking it down and putting it into a waste or recycling stream,” Ryan shared. “We’d also like to share with smaller organizations some of our pieces that still have life, but we know we aren’t going to use again, so we’re working on developing a kind of network for those elements.”

“It’s a slow process with an organization our size operating a building that’s half a million square feet,” he said, “but we’re making progress.”

Infrastructure: Future

The timing of the committee’s work was ideal: As the museum approaches their centennial celebration, there’s been a lot of reflection on where they’ve been and where they want to be. They’re currently drawing up an infrastructure renewal plan and can now see that plan through a sustainability lens.

“With the committee’s help, we were able to understand where we are as a building, as a structure and as an infrastructure,” said Ryan. “We put together a 10-year infrastructure plan that renews approximately 80% of our mechanical and electrical infrastructure. This brings our 1980s-era building up to date.”

Ideas they’re investigating include EV charging, rooftop solar power as well as heat and energy recapture opportunities to reduce emissions and overall energy consumption. In the food court, they’re talking to the food service providers about ways to move away from single-use items and minimize food waste.

On the programming side, Morgan Hoffman, The Children’s Museum’s Sustainability & Youth Programs Manager, recognizes the museum’s potential influence on visitors. Over 1.3 million children and their families engage with museum learning experiences each year through on-site exhibits, camps and community- or school-based programs like Family Nights.

Programming: Now

A Family Night is an outreach program that brings a hands-on educational experience to a school for an evening. The newest and most popular topic is one developed with ESAC’s input: STEM City.

“Every activity gets kids to think about different aspects of living in a city,” said Morgan. “The kids think, ‘OK, if I’m the city planner here, how am I going to construct my city?’”

In this program, kids turn a crank to generate the energy for the city’s lights, which helps them think about possible power sources, including solar. They play Grocery Games, which gets them thinking about food and how it is sourced. They build habitats for Indiana wildlife, so they consider environmental impacts humans have on animals and plants.

Sustainability is woven through the curriculum and also influences its implementation. “We’re now being very cognizant of our day-to-day practices,” said Morgan. “With STEM City, we were conscientious, thinking, ‘Are these consumable supplies or can we find an alternative we can use repeatedly?’ That thinking is bleeding into other programs that aren’t necessarily about the environment.”

The Heritage Group hosts our annual Kids Science Camp in partnership with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Other programming wins so far:

  • Added even more sustainability activities to our own Kids Science Camp plan
  • Created a homeschool program called Sustainable Living
  • Developed summer camp lessons on farm-to-lunchbox and ecology
  • Expanded the Earth Day offerings at the museum

Committee members helped Morgan, who came to the Indy area from a fellowship in Utah in 2022, form a whole new network of local resources so that she can continue to learn about environmental impacts and incorporate them into lesson plans.

Programming: Future

The committee looked at current exhibits and gave ideas on how to weave in some related sustainability topics.

“What I’m moving towards now is creating a guiding framework and a plan for the next … however long … based on all that we’ve absorbed and started implementing,” said Morgan. “This is so that the committee’s help with getting us started is informing our future work.”

“The committee was a great starting point for the museum’s plan,” said Chris Ames of Envita Solutions. “We let them know that they were on the right path. And we helped them create a network of our connections too. Now they have a bigger toolbox to draw from.”

“This collaborative group helped The Children’s Museum identify actionable opportunities,” said Anne Smith, Senior Director of Sustainability for The Heritage Group. “We believe small steps can make a big impact — change doesn’t have to be massive to be meaningful. It’s about putting one foot forward and beginning the journey.”

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Envita Solutions: Turning Waste into Opportunity

Posted on by Joe Ball


Formerly known as Heritage Interactive Services and launched by The Heritage Group in 2001, Envita has grown into an industry leader in environmental services and total waste management.

Sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. With over 2 billion tons of waste generated globally each year, businesses play a crucial role in reducing environmental impact. In the U.S. alone, that number reaches 292 million tons annually—with more than 50% of it ending up in landfills. But what if waste wasn’t wasted? What if plastic, metal and cardboard didn’t just get tossed aside but got a second life instead?

That’s exactly what Envita Solutions is making possible. Envita Solutions is leading the charge, transforming waste into valuable resources through innovative recycling, material recovery and reuse programs. For over two decades, they’ve helped businesses streamline operations, cut costs, meet sustainability goals and gain better insight into their waste streams—turning challenges into opportunities for a greener future. Partnering with companies across North America, Envita has helped over 250 facilities achieve Zero-Waste-to-Landfill status, proving that sustainability isn’t simply good for the planet—it’s good for business. The impact? A better planet for generations to come.

A Year of Big Wins for Businesses and the Planet

Last year, Envita Solutions helped divert 885,652 tons of waste from landfills—giving discarded materials a new purpose. Here’s what that looks like:

  • 136,000 tons of metal recycled—That’s the same as 9 billion soda cans, enough for every person on Earth to crack open a cold one.
  • Plastic recycling volumes that equated to 2.5 billion plastic bottles—Laid end to end, they would stretch from Earth to the moon… and back again!
  • Cardboard recycling efforts comparable to saving 1.8 million trees —That’s the equivalent of preserving 100 Central Parks’ worth of trees.
  • 16 customer facilities achieved Zero-Waste-to-Landfill status, bringing the total to 256 facilities since 2011

These aren’t just numbers. They represent businesses making sustainability a core part of their operations with the help of environmental gurus from Envita. Instead of being discouraged by complex waste challenges, they are inspired to create sustainable solutions.


People Power Everything

Behind every ton of recycled material is a team of experts making it happen. Envita Solutions recognizes that groundbreaking ideas stem from a culture that nurtures talent and encourages innovation. By investing in employee development and fostering a collaborative environment, Envita empowers their team to challenge conventional waste management practices and explore sustainable alternatives. This focus on people is integral to their ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions. As their values say, bet on people and they will surprise themselves!

This level of commitment speaks to more than just job satisfaction. It reflects a shared belief that sustainability is more than an environmental responsibility—it’s an opportunity to build a better future. Just as Envita invests in cutting-edge waste solutions, they invest in their people, ensuring they have the training, resources and support needed to drive meaningful change.

Looking Ahead: A Bigger, Bolder Future

With a strong foundation built on talent and innovation, Envita Solutions is poised to amplify its impact in 2025. Having the right people in the right positions with the right technology has helped Envita solidify their position as the leader in total waste management across North America. More businesses are embracing sustainability, more waste is being diverted from landfills and more facilities are achieving Zero-Waste-to-Landfill status, and Envita is ready to assist.

A Glimpse into Envita’s Culture

Take a closer look into Envita’s culture and how their people fuel growth:

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Mitch Black: Leading HG Ventures’ New Entrepreneur-in-Residence Role

Posted on by Joe Ball

Bringing Vision and Experience to New Entrepreneur-in-Residence Role


HG Ventures, the investment arm of The Heritage Group that partners with early stage to growth stage companies, recently appointed Mitch Black as the first-ever Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR). This new role highlights a fresh approach to venture investment, startup support and incubation within the company and represents a unique opportunity for both HG Ventures and The Heritage Group.

Traditionally, EIRs in venture capital are temporary leaders who step in to help startups grow or solve specific problems, often acting as interim CEOs or experts. Recently, though, the EIR role has changed. Instead of short-term help, EIRs are now seen as permanent team members, bringing ongoing value by advising, mentoring and supporting companies over the long term, helping them face different stages and challenges.

For The Heritage Group, this transformation in the EIR role aligns well with their New Ventures strategy, which centers around HG Ventures and their portfolio of investments. Founded in 2018, HG Ventures has made significant strides in supporting startups through investment and collaboration, focusing on innovation within and beyond The Heritage Group’s core markets. Over the past six years, the venture arm has invested in 35 companies, helping them develop transformative technologies.

As HG Ventures matures, their portfolio companies are evolving, each entering different stages of growth. This has led to a need for more structured and consistent mentorship, particularly for early-stage founders navigating complex growth phases. Mitch’s role as EIR will support this by providing hands-on guidance and commercial insights that complement The Heritage Group’s technical resources. His appointment represents an opportunity to deepen the support offered to portfolio companies beyond financial investment—by mentoring and advising on challenges that new and seasoned founders alike face.

For Mitch, this appointment marks a culmination of a career that has spanned a mix of entrepreneurial and executive experience that fits well with what The Heritage Group needs. He’s led several companies funded by venture capital and private equity, so he knows what it takes to grow a business from startup to successful company. While his background is in tech and software—different from The Heritage Group’s focus on hardtech—he sees this as a positive. His experience as a founder and leader gives him fresh ideas and practical advice, traits essential to the role he now holds. “I have found a lot more satisfaction in helping others through mentorship work over the years, and I decided this was the trajectory I wanted to take my career,” noted Mitch.

Mitch’s role as EIR represents an opportunity to elevate The Heritage Group’s venture ecosystem, as he supports HG Ventures and potential internal startup projects. His mission is to create value across the board, from mentoring young startups to advising growth-stage companies. This involves a broad range of activities—from helping companies refine their market strategies to advising on operational efficiency, financial planning, and positioning for exits. For him, success isn’t one-size-fits-all; it looks different for each founder and company. He aims to help businesses identify and pursue their unique paths to growth, ensuring that each leader he works with receives personalized, actionable guidance.

Ultimately, Mitch will serve as a bridge, connecting The Heritage Group’s technical expertise with the commercial insight and strategic direction needed for long-term success. “I have a lot of commercial experience, having been through the various stages in a business trajectory. I aim to be helpful to young entrepreneurs, challenging them to look at and think differently, so they refine their go to market strategy,” said Mitch.

This appointment is an exciting next step for The Heritage Group’s New Ventures division. It shows our commitment not just to funding innovation but to actively nurturing and scaling it through hands-on mentorship and strategic guidance. For Mitch, this role is a natural evolution, allowing him to leverage his years of experience to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs.

In the coming years, Mitch’s impact on The Heritage Group and its portfolio companies could set a new standard for how corporate venture arms support early- and growth-stage companies. His appointment underscores a growing trend in the venture world: that sustainable success requires more than capital. By bringing in leaders like Mitch, The Heritage Group is positioning itself as a valuable partner for startups, capable of offering both the financial resources and the mentorship required to help companies achieve their potential. For entrepreneurs within The Heritage Group ecosystem, this new EIR role may provide a crucial edge, offering them the tools and insights they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

 

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A Week of Service, A Year of Impact

Posted on by Joe Ball

For almost a century, we’ve been dedicated to building stronger communities by tackling some of the most pressing needs. One way we do this is through our annual United for Service initiative, where we come together to fight hunger and make a meaningful difference for families across the country and beyond.

Hunger is an issue that affects every community, including here in the U.S., where about 34 to 37 million people—including 11 million children—face food insecurity. Food insecurity means not having consistent access to enough affordable, nutritious food. It might look like skipping meals, eating less, or relying on cheaper, less nutritious options. As Nick Reich, Executive Director of Pack Away Hunger, explained, “Food insecurity and hunger have a disproportionate impact on women and children. Through our partnership with The Heritage Group, we are able to help hungry residents of Central Indiana, especially during the holiday season.”

The success of United for Service wouldn’t be possible without our amazing partners who share our commitment to this cause. Pack Away Hunger, for example, relies on partnerships to pack and distribute nearly 1.5 million meals each year. “During their campaign, The Heritage Group packed just over 20,000 meals to support families in Central Indiana,” said Nick. “We literally couldn’t do the work, or have the impact, that we do without partners like them.”

This year’s campaign, which coincided with our 94th anniversary, was our biggest yet. Across 17 states, one Canadian province, and with more than 80 community organizations,1,119 Heritage Group volunteers worked together to make a real difference. Altogether, we contributed 1,845 hours of service, saving nonprofit organizations the equivalent of 230 days of payroll costs.

Over the past three years, our team has donated 4,456 hours to this initiative, resulting in thousands of meals packed, served and delivered to families in need. But the impact goes beyond the numbers. Volunteering brings our team closer together, offering employees the chance to collaborate with colleagues in new ways and strengthening connections across our businesses. It’s not just about giving back—it’s about growing together as a team while making a tangible difference in the places we live and work.

Heritage volunteers also play an essential role in the coordination of hunger relief, from preparing meals to delivering them. As Linda Broadfoot, CEO of Second Helpings, shared, “When companies like The Heritage Group bring volunteers to serve at Second Helpings, it helps us not only get food prepped and out the door but also builds the framework for future collaboration.”

United for Service is more than a hunger relief program—it’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together. Through teamwork, community partnerships and a shared purpose, we’re helping ensure every family has access to nutritious food. As Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development at Eastern Illinois Food Bank, said, “We know the solution to alleviating hunger lies in the support of our community. Partnerships with companies like The Heritage Group make our mission possible.”

From the Midwest to the Gulf Coast, our Heritage family came together united in our fight against hunger. As we continue to look for opportunities to strengthen communities, we strive to shape a future where no one goes hungry and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

What some of our hunger relief partners are saying:

 

Just some of the numbers of our United for Service efforts:

  • 20,000 Meals Packed: This year, volunteers joined Pack Away Hunger in Indianapolis helped prepare over 20,000 meals for families in Central Indiana. Midwest Food Bank, one of our distribution partners, picked up over 5,600 meals, ensuring that they reached food pantries and families in need by early January.
  • 207 Backpacks Filled: At Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend, Milestone Contractors employees prepared 1,247 frozen meals. These were packed into 207 backpacks, ensuring children had reliable and nutritious food for their weekends.
  • 54 Kids Served: US Aggregates created take-home snack bags for 54 children who otherwise would have lacked access to healthy food during their winter break.
  • 1 million Meals Distributed: Our partnership with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank contributed to their ability to distribute over 11 million meals last year, including fresh produce for families across 18 counties.
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Empowering the Next Generation

Posted on by Joe Ball

When picturing young and emerging professionals in the workplace, college interns and recent college graduates are typically the first things that come to mind. However, there is a large demographic of young talent that is not often considered — high school students. One of the leaders championing high school talent at The Heritage Group is Workforce Planning and Talent Development Partner, Andy Cassler.  

As part of the Early-In-Career Talent Team, Andy oversees The Heritage Group’s high school programs, including the Pillars of Potential summer program and a work-study partnership with Providence Cristo Rey High School. These programs offer students from local high schools the opportunity to receive meaningful mentorship and career exposure with THG’s portfolio of companies. 

To Andy, mentoring emerging professionals is just a part of his day-to-day life. Prior to joining THG, Andy worked with college students as a Career Advisor at Butler University. He also worked with students as a middle and high school English teacher. His background in fostering youth development ties perfectly to his role at THG. “Working with young and emerging talent has been the cornerstone of my career journey so far,” Andy said. “This role was a perfect next step in my career.” Since joining the team in August 2023, Andy received his Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification for his creation and execution of the Pillars of Potential program as well as an award from Providence Cristo Rey High School recognizing his efforts in going above and beyond in supporting their students. 

While mentoring high school students may be a different experience than working with seasoned professionals, Andy emphasized how vital the connection is in growing the next generation of professionals. “It’s difficult for a young person who has never worked before to understand what it means to engage in productive work disconnected from academic grades,” Andy said. “Mentorship in a work context shows students the value in developing both personal and professional skills that go beyond classroom learning to the real world.”  

Mentoring high school students requires a specific skill set and intentional planning. However, with proper preparation and the right mentor, these relationships have the potential to further a student’s personal and professional development. To guide this process, Andy provided some tips on how to best lead emerging professionals.  

Practice patience and empathy  

“Working with high school students requires more understanding and patience because most students at this age have never worked before. They are just starting to learn the skills and competencies expected in a work environment. These are proficiencies that most of us take for granted but that young people need to be taught.” 

Support students when they fail and succeed 

“There must be space for failure. Rather than thinking something must be done perfectly the first time, or even every time, mentors should help students grow in their immunity to failure: How will they respond when mistakes are made? Will they choose defeat or resiliency as their reaction to failure? Good mentors know when to step in to correct mistakes so future attempts aren’t persistently thwarted by inaccuracy. When mentors can guide students to work in the freedom of imperfection, their fear of failing will subside.” 

Grow students’ networks 

“Mentoring high school students looks like making new connections across departments, disciplines and companies for young people to gain an understanding of collaboration. This is especially relevant with our value of building long-term relationships and mutual trust. When mentors show the importance of partnering and communicating well with others, high school students will begin to see connections in familiar places within their own contexts in a new light.” 

Show interest in students’ professional and personal goals  

“Developing a great relationship with their mentee is the first step to ensuring students receive both practical and aspirational advice. If the student believes that their mentor is indifferent to their success and well-being, then no advice will ever matter. Additionally, when mentors are transparent about previous challenges or mistakes, then their advice makes a greater impact.”
 

Focusing on the future, The Heritage Group strives to invest in young talent. Mentorship provides lasting benefits to the student, the mentor and the company. “Investing in young and early-in-career talent is vital to a company’s present and future success,” Andy said. “More people should consider engaging with young talent in the workplace.” 

To learn more about THG’s commitment to early and career talent, visit https://thgrp.com/young-professionals/ 

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The Power of Innovation: Why The Hardtech Showcase is a Game-Changer

Posted on by Joe Ball

The Power of Innovation: Why The Hardtech Showcase is a Game-Changer

In the ever-evolving world of technology, breakthroughs don’t just happen in Silicon Valley or within the confines of software. Hardtech—where tangible, physical innovations come to life—plays an equally pivotal role in shaping the future. From cutting-edge materials to groundbreaking solutions in transportation, energy and manufacturing, hardtech startups are laying the groundwork for the next wave of industrial transformation. But for these founders to take their innovations to the next level, they need more than just brilliant ideas—they need the right platform, connections and support. That’s why events like The Heritage Group Accelerator’s Hardtech Showcase are not only vital but transformative.

The Heritage Group understands that groundbreaking ideas can come from anywhere. By hosting a dedicated showcase for hardtech startups, we’re creating a bridge between the visionaries who are developing next-gen technologies and the industry leaders and investors who can propel those visions into reality.

“The Heritage Group Accelerator taught us how to tell our story,” said Mark Collins, CEO and founder of Emission Free Generators as well as an alumni of the Accelerator. Storytelling is not only key to a successful showcase presentation, it makes an impact with investors as well. For Collins, that meant standing out among over 180 applicants to secure support from the Rocket Fund.

The value of this event is its ability to bring together two worlds that need each other: startup founders, who are often pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with limited resources, and industry giants, who have the experience, capital and infrastructure to turn those possibilities into scalable solutions. For the founders, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to present their innovations to an audience that can fuel their growth. Whether it’s a new material that will revolutionize construction or a breakthrough energy storage solution that could reshape the renewable energy sector, the ideas on display at the showcase have the potential to change entire industries.

For investors and industry leaders, the Hardtech Showcase is a front-row seat to the future of hardtech. Having access to these innovative startups can make all the difference, and these decision-makers get to see first-hand the ingenuity behind the pitches. The chance to interact directly with the minds behind the innovations—hearing their stories, understanding their challenges and seeing their solutions up close—provides a level of engagement far beyond reading reports or reviewing portfolios. It’s also an opportunity to see how the Accelerator makes an impact on founders.

“The Accelerator pushed the limits of what I thought was possible,” said Nick McRae, Chief Executive Officer of BroadLoop and another program alumni. “It’s changed the way that I operate the business, the way I think about growing more quickly and what’s possible for our company.”

New ways of thinking are at the heart of The Hardtech Showcase, which goes beyond pitching to foster a true collaborative environment. It’s not just about attracting investment—it’s about building relationships. Founders leave the event with invaluable feedback, mentorship and potential partnerships. In turn, industry leaders gain insights into emerging trends and technologies that can keep their companies and products ahead of the curve.

At its core, The Heritage Group Accelerator’s Hardtech Showcase is about celebrating innovation in its most tangible form. It’s about recognizing the immense value that comes from building solutions that are not only visionary but practical and world-changing. For the startup founders, it’s a moment to be heard and supported. For investors and industry leaders, it’s an opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves—supporting the kind of innovation that doesn’t just influence industries but transforms the way we live and work. While the Hardtech Showcase is the culmination of an intensive 13-week program, it’s also the start of a brighter, more innovative future, all thanks to the hardtech visionaries who dare to dream—and the platforms like The Heritage Group that help make those dreams a reality.

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Under the Hood: The Story of HG Ventures and Battle Motors

Posted on by Joe Ball

Battle Motors, a company transforming the heavy-duty commercial vehicle landscape, has a close partnership with HG Ventures. Following a recent visit to the company’s Ohio production facility, HG Ventures Managing Director, John Glushik, explains what makes this opportunity so special.

At HG Ventures, we often talk about investing in people as much as technology, and that has certainly been the case with Battle Motors. When I first met Mike Patterson, Battle Motors’ CEO, he was already a successful serial founder. So, when he approached us with his vision for a new venture, I was immediately interested. The Heritage Group has always bet on people, and Mike exemplifies the kind of leader we want to support. The values and standards that drive him and his team are consistent with how we do things at The Heritage Group, and it was clear early on that this was a great fit.

Mike saw a unique opportunity: take an existing company, an established refuse vehicle manufacturer, and scale it rapidly by introducing new technologies, unmatched reliability and a growth-oriented team. It was an easy decision to invest in Battle Motors in mid-2021, and as part of the deal, I joined the board. The timing couldn’t have been better.

John Glushik, Managing Director of HG Ventures, walks the Battle Motors facility with Mike Patterson

Thoughtful Innovation at the Forefront of the Electrification Revolution

The commercial vehicle industry, and refuse trucks in particular, have been dominated by diesel for decades, and in some areas, there’s been a shift towards compressed natural gas (CNG). However, electrification offers performance-improving technologies for a range of industries. With that in mind, Battle Motors has taken an established vertical in the commercial vehicle space—specifically, refuse trucks—and launched electrified trucks.

You can’t just dive into electrification overnight. It’s an evolution, and at Battle Motors, they’re approaching it thoughtfully. Battle Motors has built a diverse set of products, so customers can evolve into it as they see fit—whether staying with best-in-class diesel, bringing in CNG, mixing technologies or going 100% electric.

Refuse trucks are a perfect application for electric commercial vehicles. With known duty cycles and routes, there’s no range anxiety—something that often holds back electric vehicle adoption. You can send out a truck with a battery that lasts 100 miles on a 20-mile route, and you’ll never have to worry about charging. This predictability also makes it easy for fleet managers to calculate ROI on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis, further strengthening the case for electrification.

Battle Motors’ growth tear isn’t stopping with just refuse trucks, and the company is rapidly expanding into a wide range of heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The Battle Motors facility in New Philadelphia, Ohio

Leveraging Existing Relationships

One of the smartest moves Mike made was acquiring and transforming an existing business with established customer relationships, rather than starting from scratch. Battle Motors is the evolution of Crane Carrier Company, a legacy business that had been operating for decades. Through Crane Carrier, Battle Motors already had relationships with most of the major municipalities in the U.S. who were buying diesel trucks along with an established dealer network.

By leveraging these existing relationships, Battle Motors has quickly positioned itself in front of major cities and waste management companies across the country. This has been a key factor in accelerating the company’s growth and ability to gain traction in the market.

A Worthy Investment

The company has expanded the existing Ohio plant and increased production capacity by more than 8X since our original investment, and touring the facility recently was truly exciting. For us, the ideal investment prospect combines many factors, and Battle Motors hits on all of them. It’s a company that embodies what we look achieve with an investment by HG Ventures.

We focus on helping companies with tangible value, and Battle Motors is a prime example of putting that in place. We combine significant venture capital experience—helping build teams, serving as trusted Board members, and helping companies navigate growth challenges—with the unique value that The Heritage Group brings: decades of market expertise, technical knowledge, and strong relationships in key markets.

I’m incredibly honored to be part of a transformation that is set to revolutionize an industry to be more productive and sustainable. I am confident that Battle Motors’ dramatic growth in the commercial vehicle sector will have significant long-term impact, and I am proud we can play a role in that success.

This story was originally reported by HG Ventures and has been republished here with permission.

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Significant Steps in Our Sustainability Journey

Posted on by Joe Ball

If you’ve ever been to The Center on the northwest side of Indianapolis, you know what an impressive campus it is. The Center serves as The Heritage Group’s hub of connection, collaboration and innovation.

Both LEED and SITES certified, The Center campus is also a beacon of sustainability.

Boulders and stone, gathered from Indiana quarries, were incorporated into the building’s design.

Boulders, stone panels and aggregate came from our own Indiana quarries, native plants attract pollinators and provide habitat for birds and other creatures, solar panels power lighting on our entrance signage and rainwater gathered in ponds is used for irrigation. The Heritage Group thoughtfully designed this space to make the smallest environmental impact, and we continue on our sustainability journey, always looking to improve. It’s the right thing to do for our people, planet and communities.

Zero Waste to Landfill

In a concerted effort to reduce our waste, and in partnership with experts from our operating company Envita Solutions, we’ve spent the last year re-evaluating best practices, taking very detailed measurements and making improvements with this goal in mind: reaching Zero Waste to Landfill. Company leadership, employees and vendors all played a part in this win through these steps:

  • No more single-use plastics. Employees often carry reusable water bottles or compostable cups into meetings.
  • Compost food waste. Green with Indy takes our compostable products and turns it into compost for community projects.
  • Like-minded caterers. Meals are served using compostable or recyclable plates, napkins and flatware.
  • Construction “clean fill.” Because they won’t leach into the ground, materials from the lab such as asphalt mix and aggregate can be used as a clean fill material.
  • Waste to energy. Through our waste hauler, our reduced amount of waste is repurposed as fuel.

“Thanks to this teamwork, we’re now diverting 100% of our waste from the landfill,” said Anne Smith, THG’s Senior Director of Sustainability. “Plus, these steps also helped us earn six more points in our LEED recertification, bumping us up to the Silver level. We couldn’t be happier with this outcome!”

LEED Recertification: Silver Level

Onsite charging stations for electric vehicles.

When you walk into a LEED certified building, you see a badge proudly displayed that announces that status. This badge is hard earned and indicates that sustainability is a top priority for the building owners and occupants.

It’s not a one-and-done thing: LEED recertification happens every three years, so it’s an ongoing effort according to Todd Dobbs, Facilities Manager for THG, who led our most recent recertification. “Being recertified shows that we aren’t just putting a plaque on the wall. We’re continuing to live and work sustainably.”

The recertification work was boosted by an energy audit and recommendations on how to reduce our energy consumption. Following those recommendations, The Center invested in monitoring systems that evaluate energy needs and adjust lighting, temperature and ventilation controls to meet those needs without waste.

For example: In our lab, fans in the ventilation hoods were running at 100% all day, every day. Now, with occupancy sensors installed, controls dial fans back to a minimum level after 30 minutes of no occupancy. That means all night, all weekend, we’re saving energy.

Although we used LED bulbs in many areas of the building, we were able to convert 1,000+ bulbs to LED versions. Moves like this resulted in huge improvements in efficiency, reducing our reduced electrical consumption by 30% and natural gas by 40%.

Besides energy consumption, LEED includes measurements in other areas too:

  • There’s little room for improvement there, with motion-activated faucets and low-flow toilet tanks already in place.
  • We asked employees who work in The Center to share information about their commutes and what vehicles they drive. Thanks in part to the EV charging stations in the lot, we’ve grown from two employees with electric vehicles in 2017 to approximately 10 this year.
  • Human Experience. We also asked employees to share their impressions about their work environment, amount of daylight and outdoor spaces. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Our long-term goal is to continue our work in this area — we still have gains to make,” said Todd. “Maybe someday we’ll even hit Gold!”

Did you know?

LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are critical to addressing climate change, enhancing resilience and supporting more equitable communities.

SITES-certified projects help reduce water demand, filter and reduce stormwater runoff, enhance biodiversity, provide pollinator and wildlife habitat, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, improve human health, increase outdoor recreation opportunities and much more.