1234.

Get my shoes in.

Out the door.

Five.

I'm lost.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Feels great.

I'm gonna shine.

After I do what I'm gonna do.

I do it again.

Yeah.

Look at the sky with the beautiful color.

But never just for me.

You gotta share it with another.

I got to show, to give.

Let I want singing show.

Take a look and say a beautiful morning that turns into a beautiful evening.

And together make beautiful art.

And if you wanna see that, come along with me.

That's right.

Welcome to Experience Michiana.

It is still cold outside, but there is also still a lot to do in the Michiana area.

We're heading over to Elkhart to get a tour of the NIBCO Interactive Museum with Courtney.

We're also going to find out about an open house for the Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame.

But first up, Dell Star VR.

It's way more than just gaming.

So right now I'm out on Jefferson and South Bend, and I'm inside the United Way of Saint Joseph County, which I wasn't expecting to find this company in here, but I'm here with Adele.

Tell me a little bit about what your company is and why we're here in this building.

So, I started my company in 2021 as a virtual reality arcade.

Yeah.

But we've since pivoted into the the mental health space.

Right?

Using virtual reality to facilitate mental health treatment.

But we also do some skills training.

But ultimately, our goal is to build a VR based mental health platform where we can connect clients with therapists in virtual environments.

So I've known about your company in the arcade space because I remember seeing about it.

And so when I walked in here today, and I thought, we're going to do an interview, first of all, I was like, why is it inside United Way?

I couldn't figure out.

And then when we sat in here and I thought, this like, this looks like mental health more than, you know, an arcade that side of things is really, actually fascinating to me, just as I learned about that, even just in the last few minutes.

Like talk a little bit about that because, online therapy wasn't even a thing before the pandemic, right?

I mean, I don't even know if it was allowed, actually, you know, it it was, but it wasn't it wasn't as prevalent.

Right.

But post-Covid, like 90% of therapists only see virtually.

Right.

They found out it was it was just more efficient.

Right.

Yeah.

But that takes away a level of engagement and connection that people need when seeking mental health treatment.

On top of the fact that like 56% of people that never get mental health treatment don't because they they fear looking at somebody in their eyes, telling them their deepest, darkest secrets.

And so that's what we're kind of mitigating with, with virtual reality.

Right.

Because we can put you in these virtual spaces as an avatar and it's not really you.

Right.

So you don't feel as you don't feel judged.

You don't feel embarrassed about it, right?

Yeah.

It's it's kind of weird, right?

Like, I feel like we're going through this space, like, I'm 42, and I feel like I'm going through this space of, like, I understand what it was like to just have, like, the only game on your phone was snake.

Yeah, but now we're also, like, at this space of like, it's.

I almost resist like therapy on on virtual reality.

Seems like just do you get as much out of it?

But then actually as you talk to people locally, it's really hard to even get in to see a therapist.

That's another thing.

So so virtual reality.

But you talk about this being an avatar or is there like is there proven methods to doing this or using this or like is it a completely new space?

So it's it's not a it's not a new space.

I, I know certain doctors and psychologists who, have been doing this since like early 2000.

Right?

They were using virtual reality to see the difference that black people receive information from a doctor, whether he's white or black.

So they put him in these, these medical scenarios and have the information given to them with a white doctor versus a black doctor.

And what they found is black people retain that information a lot better when they received it from black doctors.

So it's been around for a long time.

But as you said, for a lot of people, opening up is difficult or being in the right kind of environment to open up is different.

Whereas with virtual reality, you can kind of, you know, so for me, therapy, I'm the only reason why I started my business is because I started to take my own mental health seriously.

Right?

Yeah.

But I had an unrealistic expectation of what therapy was right off of TV.

Watching TV.

I thought I was gonna sit on this couch.

Yeah.

And and, you know, tell it, lay back and, you know, have this, this.

If I, if I had a really bad day, my therapist might meet me at the coffee shop or something like that.

But that don't happen in real life.

Right.

But in virtual reality, we can make that happen.

We have sessions in luxury cabins, loft spaces.

We can go to a park, we can go to a drive with whatever you can think of or imagine.

It can be built in virtual reality.

Do you find people like the concept of virtual reality?

Maybe for younger people might be a bit easier to just grasp straight away, like even myself or people older than me, do you think like for them, it's a bit harder to like to want to get into that space or just, so it's different for everybody, right?

Yeah.

My, my whole purpose is to reach those who would never originally go.

Yeah.

Because of that factor.

Yeah.

Right.

And so all of my clients right now, they're they're adults.

They're from 25 to I actually had a 71 year old.

Yeah.

Client at one point.

So it just depends on the person, how willing they are to, like try something new.

But once we get them in there, I've never had anybody not come out and feeling like like it was an amazing experience.

This is one part of what you're focusing on is the mental health aspect.

Is that part of the reason why you're inside this building, or is this just, you know, inside United Way?

Is there any partnership with them or is it just literally a space?

Yeah.

So so I would say it's definitely a kind of an unofficial partnership.

Yeah.

They definitely support what I'm doing for the community.

We're actually running a pilot through the state where we're providing resources for formerly incarcerated and returning citizens.

Okay.

And people are just as impacted.

Yeah.

So we're we're getting them therapy, right?

We're giving them we're, skills training with our, CDL program.

Okay.

So nice.

You talking about the CDL program next door?

Because, you know, as much as I like talking about this, I also like driver.

I like doing things.

So you've got, another unit next door that we're going to go and have.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's, All right.

You need to see how good of a driver I am.

Yeah.

So right now we're just, setting up the game.

Let's see.

I got a good truck in here.

Can you explain a little bit what's going on, what you're doing?

Yeah.

So this is a this simulator that I use.

It's a relatively, relatively, you know, available, Sam, that you can just buy off a steam, right?

Yes.

But it's very realistic.

A lot of professional truck drivers, they have, YouTube channels using this software, so it's highly recommended.

Nice.

We use this personally just for, like, air brake test.

So it allows you to do the actual air full air brake test.

Oh, procedure.

When you take your skills test, it allows you to do it in here where the gauges actually move exactly the way okay.

They would move in real life.

Also you know the practice backing in docks or parallel parking or offset, offset backing.

Right.

We can have them doing this in this sim.

It is very realistic as you can see.

Right.

Look out the window.

Oh so cool.

Yeah.

That like look back.

Oh yeah.

Like if you were trying to back up like look out.

Oh yeah.

I can see everything.

That's so cool.

Even the rain on the, Yeah.

So just hit the gas and it should start.

Yeah.

This is like my lifelong dream coming true here, because I always wanted to be a truck driver.

My brother back home in Ireland is a truck driver.

Tell me a little bit about, you talk about wanting to expose people to skills and this, like, CDL skills.

How much of this can actually be logged?

Like, so technically, none of this is officially lockable right now for for me, right now, it's just a way to expose them to it, to reduce anxiety right before they actually get into the cab.

Right?

Yeah.

And actually go through certain maneuvers.

Like I say, we can put them in a situation where they can learn how to back into a dock, which is something you have to do when you take those tests.

Offset backing, paralleling in a box truck.

Yeah.

Just just to kind of alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with it.

I don't stop for stop signs.

This is cool.

Yeah.

And then again, like, so that the air brake test, when you take your skills test, that air brake procedure.

Yeah.

That's where everybody fails.

90% of people fail at that.

Right?

If you miss one part of that, it's over or, you know, and keep them from crashing like that, like you just did in the real truck.

Right?

So you crash and tear this one up before you do have a real truck.

But, like I was saying, that air brake test is, you can't miss anything on it.

Yeah, right.

So we can go over that procedure again and again and again in SIM.

So they, when they get into the actual trunk is second nature.

Well, so I know so much of this, is educational and, overcoming fears, but I find it really fun.

And I know that you have a whole trailer full of fun.

So we're going to talk a little bit about that too, before we leave here today.

So because I know that you do have that side of the arcade side.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So let me just take this off for now.

And oh.

So yeah, that was cool.

I you know, as I said, I've always wanted to drive a truck.

So besides hitting that stop sign, which, you know, it's fine, it'll be all right.

But you also have your trailer as well.

Is that like for going out, like, can people rent that out somewhere?

So we, I so I built a 30ft mobile gaming unit.

Right.

And so in that we have two full motion racing simulators.

So just like what you experience but we use race cars.

They race Ferraris and Porsches and whatever.

It's it's for full motion.

So the whole seat and everything moves with you.

We also have PlayStation fives, we have Xboxes, new Xboxes.

It's heated as cool.

So I can just pull it anywhere, park it, and, you know, have a whole experience.

That's cool.

I mean, I love the side of it that you're using it to help people with their mental health.

You know, that's really cool space that I would have never thought about with virtual reality.

But, you know, a lot of people do telehealth, but this seems to be taking it to a whole different level.

Yeah.

So cool.

Thanks, man.

No problem.

Appreciate you.

Show me around anytime.

Raise your hand on the show in your shoes.

They're not virtual.

That's real.

They are real.

Thanks.

We.

Always looking for really cool spaces, especially for the entire family.

And if you head over into Elkhart, there's a newer place, the Interactive Museum.

If you will, and Ashley here with Nipsco.

You're going to show us all that there is to offer here at the new Nipsco Interactive Museum.

Now, this is a beautiful space.

When I walked in, it's so bright and cheerful in here.

And this is really a tribute to your family and all the wonderful work they've done with the business over the years.

Oh well thank you.

I really wanted to start the museum to be able to celebrate our 120th anniversary, which is in 2024.

So I gave our team a short timeline that we are planning something.

I think we had about 18 months.

That is very fast.

Yeah, the museum together.

I'm sure my my team is wonderful.

They did a great job.

But we wanted to be able to celebrate that that milestone of 120 years, and highlight, you know, all we've done in Elkhart, but all we've done in all of our locations across the United States and internationally.

Absolutely.

And for those people who maybe aren't sure.

I mean, we've seen them go everywhere because you guys are very philanthropic.

Thank you so much for being so.

But what exactly is the business?

What do you guys do?

What's your heart and soul?

Yeah.

So we are a fitting and valve manufacturer.

So we make fittings out of copper, plastics, ABS, Qube and PVC.

But we make valves and we make iron valves.

Bronze valves, in several of our plans.

Okay, okay.

That's a lot of, is it mostly gearing toward plumbing or are you guys into music?

Like, where does all of that go to?

So we started how we ended up in Elkhart, Indiana is my great, great grandfather, had foundry skills.

That was he.

And he wanted to start a business.

And he went to Chicago and they said, we don't have a need for that here.

But Elkhart, Indiana, they make musical instruments there and you should go there.

They need your skills.

So in the beginning, in 1904, we made cornet keys for musical instruments.

And that's here on the timeline.

Yes, that is okay.

Yes.

It was started here in 1904.

Look at that.

Yeah.

It's just so clever how you guys did this.

Yeah.

Doesn't that look great and highlights our products?

It's that one of our newer press, rod copper fitting products.

Oh, are you actually one of your products?

Yeah.

That's it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yes.

That's.

So that is one of our products that we make in store straps.

Virginia.

But yes, it goes through the timeline and highlights.

Some of, you know, some of the key things we've done throughout, our time.

Like I said, we started in musical instruments.

But my great grandfather, Ross Martin, he wanted to have us have him cool, have our own products.

Okay.

And not be an OEM, just an OEM manufacturer.

So he saw, indoor plumbing coming to the United States, and, so he saw that is, how we could help.

And so he had an opportunity, right?

Yes.

So, he transformed us into working, in fittings and in the indoor plumbing.

And he actually helped, you know, bring that technology to the United States.

Yes.

Amazing.

And I love I'm one of the people at the museum.

I will stop and read everything like I need hours at a museum.

So I love that you do have that.

Yes.

Out.

We have lots of information, so and it will take you a long time if you read through all.

So give yourself some time to be here, especially if you are a museum reader.

But you guys have a lot of of different kind of components here too.

So talk about that planning process and what went into deciding what elements you are going to include here at the Interactive Museum.

Obviously, we want to highlight our history.

That's a very important piece to us, but I also want it to be looking forward.

So I want, you know, schools and children to be able to come visit.

So I wanted it to be interactive where they could learn, understand a little bit more about, you know, manufacturing, engineering and the trades in general.

And how it all goes together and works in a house, but also, commercial buildings and just and generally speaking, I know there's such a push, more so even now today for the trades themselves.

And that's why this really is important, especially for our younger generation too.

Yes, we wanted to make it interactive so they really could see how it's used.

I'm a visual learner and so I, I need to see it.

Right.

Exactly.

And so one of the things we wanted to have was our products highlighted in, you know, a house so you could see it.

There's a house here.

Yeah.

Let me go check it out.

Go check it out.

Check that out.

And look at you have.

Oh, there's so many historical artifacts in here too.

Yes, there's a lot of history.

So, like I said, if you're a reader, there's lots of reading you can go through everything.

But we are very lucky that, a lot of people preserved our history.

And so we have a lot to be able to show some people.

Yes, especially, I mean, obviously your great great grandfather.

Yes.

That's the original.

I know you weren't there when he was there, but, I mean, that's history for your family, too.

Itself.

Exactly.

Yes.

But this is, interactive plumbing house.

Yes.

Like I said, we wanted to be able to show where our products go because normally this, you know, has drywall over it.

So you're not able to see most of the time our product.

Right.

Okay.

Because they're behind the wall, they're very functional and needed, but most of the time you just don't see them.

So most people don't think about it okay.

Okay.

So talk to us a little bit about I know this kind of has some interactive components.

So we tried to highlight it.

So these are our DIY fittings.

So you can see it's taking you know the drain vent and carrying it out of your house.

So this is taking things away from your house.

So it highlighted it lights it up.

But then also you can come on here and it'll tell you more about the system as well.

Yes.

Oh and how can you hear that.

Can you hear that.

Oh that's awesome.

Very clever way to showcase this.

Yeah.

So you can see it in well these are the ones I can press.

Yes.

You can push it.

Yeah.

Oh look at any changes.

Different color.

Yeah.

And so it shows you, where our products are and what it's helping to do in your house.

So that's a gas powered water heater.

So it's delivering hot water to you, which comes in which right now everyone needs since it's so cold outside right now, it is an A reminder.

Don't use the toilet.

This is for display only, right?

Yeah.

I hope you sealed it shut.

No, you did not.

There's no water running through it.

Okay, but this is really clever and really unique way to take the space and showcase, you know what exactly your products are doing and how they are incorporated in the home.

I know you guys are more commercially designed as well too.

Yeah.

Our, our, products do go into commercial applications.

So more, you know, hotels, tall buildings, even data centers, a lot of our products go into, but we just thought the house was a nice visual representation of what we do.

Absolutely.

Now, let's go head back out into that space over here.

So you guys have museum space.

Talk about the original building itself, because this is not what it looked like.

You guys remodeled this space.

It wasn't a new build.

Yes.

So we had this building, and I believe originally it was, musical instrument store.

Okay.

And then when it came for sale and bought it, since it's right next to our corporate headquarters, and we actually left the Red cross.

This is their office for a while.

And then when they moved out, maybe ten years ago, we didn't do much with it after that.

And so we just had this empty building.

And, when our 120th anniversary was approaching, my dad had talked about he always wanted a museum.

Okay.

And so as that time approached, I thought, oh, well, we have a building, we have this great anniversary coming up together.

This makes sense.

So it used to be a lot of offices in here.

And so we did have to come in and tear down, walls and make it more, conducive to what we are trying to do.

And we want it to be open, like you said, it was light and nice when you come in, and that's what we want.

We want a water feature here, right?

And we want to, we just wanted it to be a space where people and kids, so, like, they can come in and interact with different elements.

And that's what's great, is this is really for all ages, would you say?

Yes it is.

It is meant for all ages.

We want it to be, kid friendly.

There's a lot of different things that move.

And there's even, like, games we have on a, a board over there.

So we do want it to be interactive.

I love it, and I know not everybody.

We want to show them everything.

We wanted you guys to come and check out this space to.

Do you guys have kind of event space in here?

Do we?

Do?

So we are really big on training.

So we do have a training area where we bring in, contractors and our associates to get hands on training, for our valves and for our fittings.

And then we also have classroom space as well.

Oh, that's clever really utilizing the space exactly to be able to, have all different types of learning in the building.

I love it.

This is really catching my eye.

Yes.

This is.

And I have to turn the handle I have.

Is it do I have to be really strong?

It just depends.

My gosh.

Okay.

So this one is one you're turning and this is, a representation of our second largest valves that we have.

But you can take selfies in front of look at valves.

Look at that now.

Okay.

Now it's getting tougher.

There it goes I did it.

Yeah, not much to do here.

What are your guys's hours?

You're.

Can people visit?

So we do have one two month, hours that we are open to the public.

But if you would like to schedule a time to visit with a group, you can email museum and co.com and schedule some time to come.

Wonderful.

And is there a cost to visit?

Nope.

It is free to everybody.

You guys are amazing!

Thank you so much for showing us some this time.

I hope you guys get your group together.

Come on over and do a visit and check out all the other cool things.

I see some more stuff.

Let's go try to one.

I am here at Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame with Brandon and Kelly.

Brandon is the president of the organization and Kelly is the director of marketing.

And we're standing right now in one of the units, of their expansion that's coming up, which we're going to talk a little bit about.

And thank you so much.

I would actually love to live in here.

This is pretty beautiful in here right now.

Yeah.

I just don't think you're old enough.

So what do I have to be?

55 or 62 and older?

I was 62 and older.

Okay.

And I know that on February 24th, you have an official launch coming up about your expansion, which we will talk about as well.

But for anyone who doesn't understand, can you give me a brief overview of what Holy Cross Village is here?

Because, you know, many people probably pass by on 933, but I've never come in.

Well, yeah, I imagine that anybody who's from South Bend, Indiana, is driven by us a thousand times and never even knew we were here.

But Holy Cross Village, we are, about 300 residents, and we serve folks 62 and older here in the community in what we call a continuum care retirement community.

So we serve folks from independent living, assisted living, and all the way through skilled nursing and and whatever level of care that they might need.

And what about the history of here?

You know, because I know that.

Is it the only one in the country that was started by the brothers?

Is that correct?

Yeah.

So we're founded by the congregation of Holy Cross, the Brothers of Holy Cross.

But the only community that we know of, nonprofit community in the country started by an order of brothers.

Okay, so the brothers came with father Soren from Vincennes, Indiana, back in the 1840s.

And that's what started the University of Notre Dame.

But they founded Holy Cross College next door, 1960s and the 1960s, at the same time founded Holy Cross Village.

Well, the start of Holy Cross village, right, Dewsbury House, which serve their aged and infirm brothers.

Yeah.

And then in the 1990s, brother William Dean had this vision for a community that could serve not just brothers, but everybody here in South Bend Michiana area.

And that's how holy Cross Village came to be.

And what you see of today.

I know when it comes to this space retirement, independent living, assisted living, it's just it seems to be one of those areas that people don't necessarily want to talk about, or it has a bit of a, you know, so I know on February 24th, you're going to have the official launch of the expansion that's happening.

And Kelly, for somebody watching who maybe they're not at the moment that they need to retire or they don't think maybe this is what they want.

What would you say to them about watching about wanting to attend on February 24th?

What's going to go on?

So I think it's just important for people to have a better understanding of senior living as a whole.

And we are having an expert, David Slack, join us.

He is an industry expert.

He has been in the senior living, industry since 1974, so has a depth of experience.

And he will help everyone better understand, the continuing care retirement community concept and some things that are specific to us as being a nonprofit community and just the benefits of being here.

So it should be very educational and help everyone at least have a better understanding of the options.

You could have just said there was light lunch as well, because that's, you know, the light lunch part gets me as well.

No, it now, but it's true.

But it's obviously a part of life where you know, the conversations hard to have.

The finances can be difficult to figure out as well.

So having people like that come in and be able to share from an independent point of view.

And then again, if people move in here, if they move in here, but if not, they can still take that information with them.

Tell me a little bit about the expansion, like the unit we're in right now.

What what is going on?

You mentioned already having 300 residents in here.

So so what's the expansion going to bring?

Yeah.

So Kelly I'll let you take that.

So we are adding on, a an independent living apartment building which is very similar to some of the options that we have here now, but just will offer some specific benefits.

And townhomes, which is a newer option to us.

And we're just really wanting to enhance the options we have for people so that there's a very diverse amount of living environments that they can consider.

And something for everyone.

There's what's the living environment here like, Brandon, I know you're the president, but it's it's you know, sometimes people think about moving into an assisted living or, or independent living as like, like why would they do that?

It's like, why wouldn't you just live with family or, you know, so what's the real benefit?

Like, what's life actually like here for us?

I mean, how special is it that we could be right here in Notre Dame, Indiana?

And what makes us unique and I think different than anywhere else in the country is that Notre Dame, Indiana, typically you have to be a student or a member of the congregation to live here.

But here we offer folks an opportunity to experience athletic program events, performances at the music, DeBartolo Music Hall, anywhere else.

And we even have a program with Holy Cross College where residents can take classes for free.

This is a great, active environment for anybody that's looking to fulfill their personal goals.

Not just in January, but for the all year long.

And so maybe there's some Notre Dame fans from across the country watching as well, you know, but it would be actually kind of cool if you're a big Notre Dame fan to retire in Notre because you are technically in Notre Dame.

Right?

This is a you got the post code or the zip code.

Sorry.

That's my Irish coming out there.

The post code.

But but again and for what about the faith aspect.

Because obviously being a Catholic organization, is that something that is it only suited to people who are Catholic to come here, or is that, you know, is it open to everyone?

Well, I'm glad you you addressed that.

So we adopted four core values from the brothers, one of them being in hospitality.

And we are in the pursuit of something called radical hospitality, which is an unconditional sense of belonging.

And how can we provide that to you and to others, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey or faith, whether you have one or not?

Yeah.

Tell us that doesn't matter, because we're Catholic.

Sure, but we want to make sure you belong and that we're hospitable in doing so the way Jesus was.

Yeah.

That's right.

Absolutely.

Kelly, I know you're a director of marketing, but I almost want to turn you into a realtor right now.

Like, can you show me around a bit?

I really you love this.

You know, this unit, it's a lot bigger than I thought it would be.

So this space is just over 1400 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms.

We have a really nice, comfortable kitchen with full size appliances, which we maintain.

So that's the luxury of being here, that our maintenance team will support any issues and take care of those for everyone.

And then it does have a nice wide open living dining area.

It's beautiful to provide a good amount of space and stage it and bring your own things to make it your own.

We also have housekeepers coming in every other week.

Yeah, and vacuuming, mopping and cleaning bathrooms and changing the sheets with that service.

So okay, so February 24th, that's when you're going to be doing this launch.

One exactly what time is that happening?

When can people show up through the RSVP or how does that work so they can get on our website?

We do have the ability for them to sign up through the website.

The event itself for the launch starts at 1130, and we will provide a light lunch afterward.

And then a presentation by David Slack.

I know myself having, you know, an elderly mom and mother in law as well, that having that sense of community and other people around you that are similar and just not feeling alone is such a big thing, right?

And that's what's really offered here.

And having the socialization residents living here truly become friends and they look out for each other.

If they don't see one another, they will just let us know, maybe check on so and so because we just want to make sure they're okay.

But they definitely support one another and have experienced similar things and really rely on each other to build on strength.

Well, Kelly, thank you so much, Brandon.

Thank you as well.

So make sure you sign up.

We'll have all the details on our website as well.

Just sign up here and we'll come along to the open house on February 24th.

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