Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS - At the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 36th Annual Awards Dinner Wednesday night, several awards were presented, including the Yamaha Community of the Year.
Kosciusko County accepted that award at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.
In a news release from the Indiana Chamber, President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders said, “The area’s vibrant ecosystem of public and private partnerships works together for the collective good and demonstrates inspiring servanthood leadership.”
More than 40 community members from across Kosciusko County traveled to Indianapolis to attend the event and celebrate the recognition together, according to a news release from ALL IN Kosciusko.
“This moment is big for our community,” said Ryan Christner, president and CEO of OrthoWorx. “For years, people have been pouring into Kosciusko County, and today, we get to celebrate all that hard work paying off.”
This award is presented each year to a Hoosier community that demonstrates significant contributions to its business climate, quality of life and overall image.
According to the release, the Indiana Chamber selection panel recognized Kosciusko County for:
• Strong collaborative leadership and public-private partnerships that drive growth and quality of life.
• Forward-looking initiatives such as the ALL IN Kosciusko campaign that bring people and organizations together around shared goals.
• Transformative redevelopment projects like the Slate Auto facility, which is converting the former LSC Communications plant in Warsaw into an electric vehicle production site expected to create about 2,000 new jobs.
• Its long-standing global reputation as the Orthopedic Capital of the World and its continued investment in advanced manufacturing and innovation.
• The deep roots and ongoing innovation of its agriculture community and agribusinesses, which play a vital role in advancing global supply chains and developing solutions that reach far beyond the county.
Reflecting on the recognition, Jim Lancaster, MedTech executive and leader with ALL IN Kosciusko, said, “It’s a great recognition of how Kosciusko County comes together to move our community forward and improve the lives and livelihoods of everyone here. This award usually goes to a city or town, but the way Kosciusko has come together in recent years sets us apart, and it’s showing.”
For Peggy Friday, CEO of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, the award represents more than a milestone.
“This honor shines a light on what’s possible when business, education, government and community leaders truly work together,” she said. “Kosciusko County’s strength has always been in its people. Innovators, builders and believers who care deeply about this place and its future. Tonight, that collective spirit was on full display.”
Rob Parker, president and CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, also praised the collaboration that made the recognition possible.
“We’re so proud of our community,” Parker said. “It took a lot of heart and teamwork to get here, and it’s amazing to see everyone come together to make it happen.”
Receiving the Community of the Year Award celebrates not only past achievement but also the momentum that continues to shape the county’s future, the ALL IN news release states. The recognition highlights Kosciusko’s ability to:
• Attract and retain innovative businesses in sectors such as medical technology and advanced manufacturing.
• Build strong collaboration between government, education, business and nonprofit partners.
• Reinvest in community assets and workforce development.
• Enhance quality of life and make the county a destination where people want to live, work and grow.
The Indiana Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner draws more than 1,400 business leaders, public officials and community representatives from across the state. This year’s program featured four major statewide honors: Business Leader of the Year (Jim Ryan, chairman and CEO of Old National Bank in Evansville), Government Leader of the Year (Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner), Dynamic Leader of the Year (Dan Elsener, president of Marian University in Indianapolis) and the Community of the Year (Kosciusko County). The keynote address was delivered by Daymond John, entrepreneur and branding expert from ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
“It was a wonderful evening honoring Indiana’s most influential contributors in the past year,” said Sinders. “We celebrated key leaders who have shaped our state’s economic growth and prosperity thus far and those who are paving the way for an even brighter future. The night was a true tribute to Indiana’s spirit of leadership, collaboration and innovation.”
Kosciusko County will continue to build on this momentum, strengthening partnerships, growing its economy and sharing its story with pride across Indiana and beyond, the ALL IN release states. Follow the journey at www.ALLINKosciusko.com and on the ALL IN Kosciusko social media channels.
Feature stories on all of the award winners are available in BizVoice magazine at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.
The speaker sponsor was Zimmer Biomet. The opening reception sponsor was PNC. Corporate sponsors were Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, AT&T Indiana, Ball State University, Eli Lilly and Company, French Lick Resort, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, NIPSCO, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Parkview Health, Polaris Marine and Tilson.
Contributing sponsors are AECOM Hunt, Cherry Bekaert, Connor Painting, Fineline Printing, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Inside INdiana Business – A division of IBJ Media, Maple Leaf Farms, Inc., Markey’s and Subaru of Indiana Automotive.
