How did Stephanie Ringer, co-owner of Workshop – The Creative Workplace, get her start as a team-building coach?

Business First free-lance writer Whitney Harrod found out during a recent interview for the Small Business Snapshot that appears in this week's print edition.

It turns out that Ringer learned about team building while working at the Indiana Department of Corrections. She helped revamp the department's emergency-preparedness units.

Ringer said she saw the need for team development in that department revamp. Others in the group did not catch the vision of what she had in mind, referring to what she proposed as "the pom-pom thing," Ringer said. "But it turned out to be the core of the whole program."

Then, in 2005, she took her team-building experience into the business world at Aflac Inc.    Aflac Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Aflac Chairman Dan Amos' total comp trimmed 8%Ethisphere: UPS, Aflac among most ethical in worldGeorgia's most profitable employees Follow this company

As a regional manager for Aflac, she applied her leadership experience and developed a successful team. "By week 18 of 2006, we were No.1 in Kentucky and stayed at that spot till week 52," Ringer said.

She then opted for business ownership, and Ringer and co-owner Jenness Bunn bought Workshop in 2007.

They changed the company's focus from training people in how to lead creative sessions to actually facilitating those creative sessions.

Their success in leading team-building efforts resulted in Workshop being named one of the top six places to think creatively in 2010 by Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine.

As noted in the Small Business Snapshot, Workshop also has business groups use its Butchertown facilities for out-of-office meetings.

Louisville's own Humana Inc.    Humana Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Focus Panel on Health CareCogito's human emotion technology aims to improve health outcomesProgram puts employees on wellness path Follow this company as well as Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Co.    Kellogg Co. Latest from The Business Journals SBA working to connect small San Antonio firms with corporate worldSBA connects small businesses with major corporationsMyBuys helps retailers customize online pitch Follow this company and Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods Inc.    Tyson Foods Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Nashville marketing firm launches national play with barbecueWebco Manufacturing plans M plant, office facility in OlatheAWARD - Energy: Solazyme Inc. algae-based jet fuel takes flight into unchartered territory Follow this company are among the businesses that have brought in staff members from Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin to use Workshop's facilities.

"Team is in everything we do," Ringer said.

Carol Brandon Timmons oversees Business First's news department.