Mary M. (Baker) Stewart was a hard-working, resourceful entrepreneur with a successful business in Southeastern Indiana.  The owner of Tudor Square Realty, Mary was also the mother of three daughters, and the wife of Nicholas Stewart.  Sadly, on March 15, 1998, cancer took the life of this wonderful wife, mother and outstanding business leader.  The program that was circulated at her funeral stated, 

    "Her selfless approach to life was a comfort and inspiration to all.  Mary had a caring and gentle heart which meant she always had time to lend an ear or a hand to help a friend.  Her real estate career was much more than selling houses, it was placing families in a comforting home."

    The Southeastern Indiana Board of Realtors, Inc. presented a plaque "In Loving Memory" to Mary, naming her 1998 Realtor of the Year. 

In April, 1998, twelve individuals met at the Batesville Memorial Public Library to organize a center for entrepreneurial and small business information and resources, dedicated to Mary Stewart's memory. The library is providing a room for this purpose, with public access computers and collections of books, magazines, audio and video tapes, eBooks, CD-ROMs and pamphlets for the entrepreneur or person with a small business.  Notices of upcoming programs and educational opportunities are displayed, and a series of seminars for entrepreneurs is planned. 

The organizing committee: 
    Bill Abplanalp, Mayor, City of Batesville 
    Greg Coker, Delta Air Lines 
    Connie Combs, Small Business Development Center, Madison, IN 
    Lisa Dorrel, Franklin County National Bank 
    Chris Fairchild, The Bookshelf & Batesville Chamber of Commerce 
    Charlie Gillman, True Value Hardware 
    Lakish Hatalkar, Proctor & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH 
    Mike Kruse, Batesville Memorial Public Library 
    Jim Lancaster, Consultant 
    Peter Mack, CPA, Rettig, Blankman, Mack and Seale 
    Nick Stewart, Batesville Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees 
    Karen Witt, Purdue University Cooperative Extension for Agriculture & Natural Resources, Brookville, IN
 

Community leaders and residents of Ohio and Southeastern Indiana celebrated the dedication and opening of the Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship at the Batesville Memorial Public Library on April 30, 1999.
    Robert D. Hisrich, Ph.D., Professor and A. Malachi Mixon III Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University was guest speaker.  Dr. Hisrich has authored or co-authored twelve books and has written over 150 articles on entrepreneurship, international business management, and venture capital.  Besides designing and delivering management and entrepreneurship programs to U.S. and foreign businesses and governments, particularly in transition economies, Dr. Hisrich has instituted academic and training programs such as the university/industry training program in Hungary, a high school teachers entrepreneurship training program in Russia, an Institute of International Entrepreneurship and Management in Russia, and an Entrepreneurship Center in Ukraine.

 

The library celebrated the Second Anniversary of the dedication of the Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship on Monday, April 30, 2001.
    Our special guest speaker was James Chan, Ph.D., President of Asia Marketing and Management, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and author of Spare Room Tycoon: Succeeding Independently, the 70 Lessons of Sane Self-Employment.  Dr. Chan entertained and challenged several audiences during his visit: 350 students and teachers at Batesville Middle School, an evening audience at the library, and an afternoon Rotary Club meeting.  Our sincere thanks to Dr. Chan for his inspiring message and book.

Programs presented by the Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship

A local inventor and entrepreneur talks with teens at our TeenBiz program.

Howard Kellman, voice of the Indianapolis Indians, presents "How to Become an Outstanding Salesperson."

Howard Kellman autographs a copy of his book.

Sue and Dave Jones of West Winds Alpaca Ranch talk about raising and breeding alpacas.

Cindy Monnier of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce presented three "Libraries Mean Business" sessions at the library.

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