St. John Man Honored as Leader of Tomorrow

BY PATRICK GUINANE
Wednesday, December 17, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS | St. John entrepreneur Joshua Lybolt was one of a dozen 20-somethings honored Tuesday as recipients of the sixth annual Governor's Award for Tomorrow's Leaders.

The awards, coordinated by the governor's office and Indiana Humanities Council, recognize Hoosiers age 30 and younger who have made significant contributions to the state.

"The roots you are planting in Indiana make us stronger every day," Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman told the recipients.

For Lybolt, 30, the leader of tomorrow tag might not last long.

"I'm very partial to Indiana," Lybolt said. "I am dedicated and will continue to serve here and plan on running for office soon."

Lybolt, who grew up in Munster and now lives in St. John with his wife, Magdalena, did not say which office he has in mind. He now is regional director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, a regional resource office coordinated in partnership with the state's economic development agency.

Lybolt said he previously started five region businesses, including a drug screening company for employers and several real estate firms, which his wife now runs. He said his mentor, Purdue University Calumet finance professor Pat Obi, nominated him for the award.

Lybolt also serves on several local boards of directors and helped develop two undergraduate real estate courses at Purdue Calumet, where he has taught as a visiting professor.

The leadership award, sponsored by NIPSCO, comes with a $1,000 grant, which Lybolt said he will donate to Kids Alive International in Valparaiso.Small business support has big impact

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St. John Resident Named to the Indiana Leadership Forum

Indianapolis: Joshua Lybolt has been selected as a member of the 2009 class of the Indiana Leadership Forum.  Developed in 1993 by the Indiana Republican Party, the Indiana Leadership Forum identifies emerging business and community leaders and provides continuing political leadership training to encourage citizen activism.  Joshua Lybolt successfully completed a competitive application process to gain one of 22 coveted spots in this year’s class.

Joshua Lybolt is the regional director of the NWI SBDC and an entrepreneur.  His most recent ventures include Prime Real Estate, Premier Development, Lybolt Testing Services, and Marketing Executives.  Prior to joining the SBDC, Joshua was a visiting faculty member at Purdue University Calumet in finance and economics.  He holds an MBA from PUC and is currently pursuing a CBA from the University of Toledo.  Joshua also serves on the boards of several not-for-profit and community organizations. 

The Indiana Leadership Forum is a 501 C3 political education program.  Classes begin in November and meet once a month until June.  Participants learn about the mechanics of the political process, campaign techniques, and media relations, as well as meet with local, state and national political leaders.  There are over 330 graduates in 42 counties across Indiana who have increased their participation in politics and government as a result of this program.  For more information and a complete list of graduates, visit our website at www.indianaleadershipforum.com.

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Small Business Support has Big Impact

BY JOSHUA LYBOLT
Regional director, Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center | Sunday, November 23, 2008 |

BY JOSHUA LYBOLTRegional director, Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center

Standing in front of the crowd at the recent Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards luncheon, I was awed to see so many supporters of the small business community.

This support is exactly what we need to help boost the economy as we continue to watch the Dow Jones Industrial Average fluctuate and read bleak business headlines on a daily basis.

Small businesses and organizations, such as the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, need our support now more than ever. By backing entrepreneurs, we encourage economic activity, creating an increase in production levels and spurring businesses to add jobs. These new employees will spend their earned wages on goods and services that are produced by these firms, further adding to production levels. This cycle continues, prompting additional economic growth. Likewise, any reduction in small business support will decrease overall economic activity and can shrink the overall economy.

But why is it vital to focus on small businesses and not the larger companies? It's these small companies that continue to adapt and change and grow.

Research by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy shows that small businesses create most of the nation's net new jobs. It also revealed that small businesses are 13 times more innovative, and they bring dynamic ideas and fresh products to the marketplace.

It is this innovative mindset that landed Terry Daniel and Lou Pringle of Exhaust Productions Inc. in the limelight. The entrepreneurs were honored with the 2008 Small Business Person of the Year Award at this year's luncheon. When manufacturing started to shift to China, the team decided to switch gears by moving into the performance motorcycle industry and Rush Racing products.

By taking the time to recognize companies, such as Exhaust Productions Inc., the Northwest Indiana SBDC is continuing to foster the development of small businesses and spotlight the entrepreneurial spirit. It is our mission to have a positive and measurable impact on the formation and growth of small businesses in the region and state. We have workshops, one-on-one consulting, referrals, training and other essential business tools to help guide small business owners toward success.

The entrepreneur is a risk-taker. It takes courage to make the leap, which is why community support and resources, such as the NWI SBDC, can make such a big difference.

Joshua Lybolt is regional director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, a small business economic development organization serving the needs of entrepreneurs in the seven-county region. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.

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Small Business is a Big Deal

BY JOSHUA LYBOLT

Dell. Microsoft. Wal-Mart. McDonald’s.  What comes to mind?  Each of these companies started as small businesses that eventually became big businesses, very big successful businesses.  Collectively they inject billions of dollars and millions of jobs into our world economy.

But who were these companies before they became household names?  Who were these owners before they became billionaires?  Michael Dell started Dell in his University of Texas dorm room in 1984 with just $1,000; it is now the world's largest PC manufacturer, growing to over $40 billion in revenue in only sixteen years.  Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard, started Microsoft and turned it into a $231 billion dollar software giant.  Sam Walton purchased a small retail store just after graduating from college in Arkansas; Wal-Mart is now the world’s largest corporation by revenue.  McDonalds took 13 years before the second restaurant was ever opened in 1953 and now serves over 47 million customers daily, worldwide.  

The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of small businesses to our economy.  With economic development organizations and communities focusing on the ‘Big Fish’ are we overlooking the enormous potential and opportunity of small businesses?  This significant group made up 97.6% of all Indiana businesses in 2006!  These 128,100 employer firms accounted for 57% of all Indiana employment, nearly 1.3 million.  In 2007, small businesses accounted for all the net new jobs created in the U.S. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

We cannot afford to overlook the contributions and the value that small businesses inject into our economy.  Our region has to continue offering opportunities, build programs that support and encourage innovation and risk taking ventures.  As the economy continues to stagnate, this support is crucial for small business survival and consequently the health of our regional economy.

There are a number of small business resources in the Region to assist small businesses start-up, expand and succeed.  For example, the NWI SBDC offers new and existing small business owners no-cost consulting services, low-cost workshops, tools and resources, as well as resource partner referrals.  There are also a number of business incubators locally to assist in ‘hands on’ development, as well as full-service office space such as the Hammond Innovation Center, Entech Innovation Center, Michigan City Entrepreneurship Center, and the Purdue Technology Center.  These resources mentioned, as well as others, are invaluable and can give that entrepreneur the extra assistance and direction to help them succeed and climb to new heights.

The stats give proof - we need these entrepreneurs starting and growing small businesses.  Luckily, we have no shortage of people looking to fill that gap, and demand will continue increase.  In a survey funded by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, it was found that nearly seven out of 10 youths (aged 14-19) were interested in becoming entrepreneurs.  The thought of being an entrepreneur now trumps the old adage of becoming a doctor or a lawyer. 

With communities creating entrepreneur friendly environments and resources such as SBDC, incubators and others, a Sam Walton or Michael Dell might emerge and become an e-giant.   If we truly want to develop the Region, provide future opportunity to our college graduates and prevent the ‘Brain drain’, let’s work together and focus on our locally grown small businesses. 

~ Never underestimate the power of small businesses!

Joshua Lybolt is Regional Director of NWI Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a small business economic development organization serving the needs of entrepreneurs in the seven county region of NWI. Visit the NWISBDC at www.nwisbdc.org
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Entrepreneurship promoters outline programs

BY ROB EARNSHAW
Times Correspondent | Friday, August 01, 2008

HOBART | Joshua Lybolt, the new regional director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, said he wouldn't be where he is today, both professionally and personally, without a statement he goes by in all of his dealings.

A business partner gave it to him a few years ago.

You're never going to reach the top unless you take others with you.

That statement basically was the theme of a program Thursday at the Avalon Manor in which the SBDC and the Purdue University Calumet Center for Entrepreneurship Success announced their newly revitalized initiatives and programs.

"I would like all of us to reflect on that statement while we reach for new heights and use that in our dealings here for the growth of the Northwest Indiana community," Lybolt said.

The event also was a way for business leaders to meet the new leadership of the SBDC -- Lybolt and Dushan Nikolovski, director of the PUC entrepreneurial center.

Nikolovski was particularly excited about one initiative, a joint venture with Mompreneurs Online to provide a national online certificate designed and tailored specifically for women.

"We're going to give women an opportunity to be educated in entrepreneurship and start their own business," he said.

Nikolovski also reintroduced a program, Opportunity for Indiana Business Plan Competition, which offers Indiana residents an opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship through the development and presentation of a business idea to a panel of judges.

"This program is truly a good way to cultivate and inspire entrepreneurship within Northwest Indiana," he said.

Another initiative, Business Opportunity Expo, is a chance for people to seek out various opportunities, Nikolovski said.

The expo will feature franchisers, home business professionals, financing and banking experts, along with various educational programs.

"It's a chance to learn the tricks of the trade from people who have already succeeded," Nikolovski said.

He also announced a Chinese Executive Leadership Program that will give local area business leaders a chance to discuss and exchange ideas with senior officials from Chinese businesses.

"We'll see the first group of participants this fall," said Nikolovski, who hopes to start a similar program with Nigeria.

The SBDC also announced that E-Day has returned. Nominations for a business person in Northwest Indiana for Entrepreneurial Business Person of 2008 are needed. For more information, visit www.nwisdbc.org.

The awards luncheon will be Oct. 16 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville.