In these COVID-19 times, the Indiana Chamber team – like many others – has experienced a dramatic shift in focus over the past six weeks. But in one sense, business must go on. When it comes to the IN Chamber podcast, that is in the form of two intriguing conversations this month.

Available now: Max Brickman, manager director of Heartland Ventures.

It can be said that the key to a good education is finding what works for each individual student. For Brickman, what worked was being an entrepreneur – while in both high school and college.

“I found out that it (running businesses) just clicked with me much more than what I was learning in school,” he shares.

Heartland and Brickman focus on bringing together successful, often closely held Indiana operations with coastal developments. All can benefit – from the Hoosier companies’ access to technologies and potential customers to some of those national organizations “feeling like they are missing out on something in the Midwest” and at times setting up additional operations here.

Brickman is 28 years old. Heartland has invested in seven organizations through its $15 million first fund. Expansion is taking place. Learn more in this conversation.

Coming on April 28: Rob Martens, Allegion.

We like to give Martens a bit of a hard time over his many roles – futurist; chief innovation and design officer; president, Allegion Ventures; and principal, Pin & Tumbler Studio. The important thing is that he aces them all.

Martens talks about the technologies in the door and access control space, the Allegion partnerships that are paving the way for the “next big thing” and the Pin & Tumbler strategy that is dramatically reducing the time to market for new products.

Like Brickman, Martens notes the added attention that is coming Indiana’s way. Hear the full conversation with Martens on April 28.

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Adam H. Berry is vice president of economic development and technology at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He joined the organization in 2019.