Small Biz Success

Indy Chamber News Archives

Shane Conner, a small business owner from Lebanon, Indiana, walked into Katy Perry’s dressing room at Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona to fix her cable. “I was nervous. Her dog Butters wouldn’t leave me alone,” he said laughing. “When her parents walked in, I realized that in the end, we’re all just people.” This concept of equality is one that he applies to his business. 

Aside from being a husband and father of four, Conner is also the Owner/President of Advanced Technologies in Electrical and Communication, Inc. (ATEC), a full service electrical and communications contractor. ATEC has formed a business relationship with many customers, including Eskenazi Health and the National Football League (NFL).

Selected as the Indiana Small Business Person of the Year for 2015, Conner is no stranger to hard work. Conner started Advanced Technologies in Electrical and Communication, Inc. (ATEC) in 2005 as a side business while working as an electrician, but quickly realized that it would require his full-time attention. “You have to put time and effort into your business. You have to do what’s right and be fair to customers,” Conner says. “Business owners who say they don’t have time for anything are the ones who fail.” 

Conner followed his own advice, and reached out to the Indy Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council to help grow as a small business owner. The Hispanic Business Council (HBC) offers a Mentor Protégé program that pairs Hispanic-owned businesses with larger, successful mentor firms as part of their commitment to growing Hispanic business enterprises.

Conner was paired with Messer Construction’s Ryan Steinert to help him become a more successful entrepreneur. Reflecting on his experience, Conner said, “the biggest benefit of the mentor protégé program is being able to build relationships. Successful people want other people to be successful.” He credits the mentor protégé program, friendly and helpful people, and diversity in Indianapolis as key factors in his personal success.

To learn more about the Hispanic Business Council and the Mentor Protégé Program, contact Gustavo Escalante at [email protected].