A top national honor means much more to Tim Scales than just recognition for the television program In Your Business that he has been hosting for more than 18 years and 500 episodes.

It means success, leadership and longevity.

It means forging a time-tested pathway for other educational institutions to follow. “It’s a dream come true to see your work actually impacting people around the world,” said Scales, who is a business and economic instructor and director of the Indiana University East Center for Entrepreneurship and the Center for Economic Education.

“I could not be more proud right now. It’s come so far.”

In Your Business is recorded monthly at Whitewater Community Television. It was a top-three finalist for North America in the Talent Category of the 2023 Awards of Excellence by the Universities Economic Development Association. It also was a finalist in 2020.

The prestigious annual competition draws finalists from major universities across the United States – such as Oklahoma, Kansas and Kentucky–that each have enrollments of about 30,000 students.

Scales gave a presentation at the UEDA Summit in early October in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He was notified that he was a finalist again on August 11 and then took part in an awards presentation preparation webinar.

He is no stranger to winning awards from the UEDA. His 16-year-old program Business Opportunities for Self Starters (BOSS) took first place in UEDA’s Talent Category in 2020.

A spinoff BOSS program called Cash Equals Opportunities (CEOs) also was a finalist that year.

In Your Business started as a weekly program that included on-site visits to successful local businesses.

Now, Scales conducts one-on-one sit-down interviews with small-business owners in the WCTV studio. “We are still going strong, as strong as ever,” he said. “The reach is so much greater than it’s ever been before.”

Episodes are available on Whitewater Educational Television as a free service for the business owners and to highlight positive happenings in the community. The publicity is wonderful for a small business, says Maria Haber, owner of Paint the Towne in Richmond, who has been featured twice on In Your Business.

Scales is knowledgeable, engaging and encouraging about small businesses, Haber said. “He popped in and introduced himself,” she recalls about their first meeting.

Scales soon asked if Haber could sit and talk with him about her success story on his program that runs for a half hour. “It’s nice to have such support,” Haber said. “He does a great job highlighting small businesses and making connections with owners.”

The personal connection resulted in a second feature last summer; “a recap of how it’s going,” she said. “He’s come in every once in a while (since) to see how the business is going.”

To take it a step further, Scales introduces new graduates from IU East to Paint the Towne as part of his BOSS Experience, which offers a week-long immersion into entrepreneurship.

It started as a pilot program in 2022.

The graduates visit about a dozen successful local businesses and listen to their owners’ success stories during busy 11-hour-days. On campus, they formulate business plans and create their own brochures and business cards.

They also eat together at local restaurants.

“He’s allowed me to be part of that,” Haber said. “They get to paint while they are here. Two (graduates) have even applied for jobs here. It’s nice to make those connections.”

Scales said In Your Business is designed for two main purposes: First, exposure to the business. “Almost all had increases in sales after the show aired,” he boasts.

And then, training and teaching opportunities. The episodes are used in IU East and some classes at high schools across the region. “When they ask me to come in and talk, I do it every time,” Scales said.

He has strong backgrounds in both arenas, having spent his entire working career in banking and education.

The December In Your Business – currently showing on WCTV – features Cathy Hillard of Smiley’s Pub in downtown Richmond. She and her husband, Terry, bought the popular spot in 2017 and have revitalized it.

Visit WCTV’s schedule of shows for more information and links to previous programs.

Scales said he has been paying attention to the growth of Smiley’s in the last year: “A big part of it is identifying the guests,” he said. “Cathy is the perfect subject for us. Her story needed to be shared.”

The story reveals that Smiley’s is far more than just a bar. “It’s a lunch spot and a big catering business,” Scales said. “She’s catering at DOT Foods four to five times a week.”

DOT Foods is located in Cambridge City, Ind.

Each guest talks about what their business is doing, how it started, ideas that have proven successful and a lot more. “Every episode offers a unique perspective,” Scales said. “We try to change the kinds of businesses up each month.”

Recent episodes have featured owners talking about Roehler’s Christmas Tree Farm, Harley-Davidson Center (now Shade Cycles), Olympian Candies, Tivoli Gardens and Clay Pot Cafe.

Scales said the January program will feature business consultant Colton Toms of New Paris, Ohio, a 2022 graduate of IU East. “He was in the BOSS Experience last year,” Scales said. “He’s a problem-solver. He helped one company find warehouse space, then helped hire 40 people.”