Local business named on ‘Indiana Companies to Watch’ list

Employees of Bloomington business Option Six, Inc. have more reason to celebrate than their approaching 8-year anniversary. Option Six will be honored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation on Aug. 27 as one of the 2009 Indiana Companies to Watch.

Option Six develops computer-based training for large corporations all over the country, including Microsoft, Toyota, Hewlett-Packard and large pharmaceutical companies. The training can be used to teach employees a specific skill or continue training already in process.

“Companies don’t have to send people to classrooms, so there’s no travel expense,” said Bill West, Option Six president and co-founder.

West said Option Six can create a one-hour online training session for a company, allowing employees to learn straight from their desktops. Option Six can also help track how well the employees are doing with the training sessions.

Bill West said members of the 65-member staff are specially trained in different fields and enjoy what they do. Many are IU graduates educated in the Schools of Education, Journalism and Informatics. Bill West attributed the success of the company to the passion of its employees.

“The fact that we can allow people to do what they love and studied is huge,” he said.
This award is the 12th that Option Six has won at the state or national level. Bill West believes the awards are recognition of the trained and enthusiastic staff.

“We are able to handle complex subject matter that most of our competition cannot,” Bill West said. “We have a cast of people that are exceptional at what they do.”

Along with Option Six, 49 other Hoosier companies will be honored as companies to watch by a panel of judges from the Economic Development Corporation that picks from nominated companies. This year marks the second year of the list, which the IEDC plans to continue every summer. Nominations began in the spring, when companies could either nominate themselves or be nominated by others.

“The judging committee looks at employees and sales growth, leadership in entrepreneurship, technological advantages and long-term competitive advances in their services or product,” said IEDC media relations director Blair West.

Other types of businesses on the list include companies working in the fields of aerospace and defense, candy-making, life sciences and financial services.

“Indiana has a number of very impressive innovations happening all over the state,” Blair West said.

Kelley Brown, director of marketing and business relations with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said awards often mean better business to local companies.

“They certainly help with credibility, especially when given by a reputable organization,” Brown said.