Wabash County, IN – Grow Wabash County’s sixth annual State of Our
Communities event on Thursday, Feb. 16, once again hosted a slate of community leaders to
share their plans and optimism for the future of Wabash County.
The community speakers featured were: John Krhin from the Town of LaFontaine, Kristie
Bone from the Town of Lagro, Adam Penrod from the Town of North Manchester, Bob
Ferguson from the Town of Roann, Mayor Scott Long from the City of Wabash and Brian
Haupert from the Wabash County Commissioners.
Keith Gillenwater, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County, emceed the annual event.
During his welcoming comments, Gillenwater credited the great work done by the Wabash
County community to the leaders and community members that continue to show and buy in
to the mission of growing a prosperous Wabash County. Gillenwater also provided a brief
update on the Imagine One85 initiative, introducing Alex Downard, director of Imagine
One85, to the audience.
“Every year I walk out of this event feeling energized,” Gillenwater said during his opening
remarks. “And I am confident that today’s event will likewise evoke those same feelings in you
as we hear from this dedicated group of community servants.”
The care and commitment our local leaders hold for their communities, and Wabash County
at large, rang true throughout the event. Attendees were given a glimpse into the exciting
things happening like a fundraiser for a new park in Roann and progress on the Eel River
Pavilion in North Manchester. Mayor Long even recounted his travels abroad with members
of the Grow Wabash County team to generate business development opportunities for the
county.
Following the presentations, speakers from the event also paid a visit to the Leadership
Development Wabash County cohort for small-group conversations between the leaders and
the participants.
We are thankful to all of the local companies and individuals that showed their support for
this annual event by signing on as event sponsors.
This year’s Breakfast sponsors include: City of Wabash; Duke Energy; Manchester University;
MPS Egg Farms; Senator Andy Zay; and the Wabash Plain Dealer.
Gold sponsors for this event included: Arc of Wabash County; Besiege LLC; Comfort Keepers;
Community Foundation of Wabash County; Downs, Tandy & Petruniw, P.C.; Josiah White’s;
Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate; Pathfinder Services, Inc.; Town of North Manchester; and
Wabash County YMCA
Silver sponsors for this event included: American Structurepoint; Beacon Credit Union; Bippus
State Bank; Bowen Center; Crossroads Bank; Flow-Tech Plumbing & Heating, Inc. ;Frontline
Pest Management; and Wabash Carnegie Public Library
Bronze sponsors for this event included: Downtown Wabash, Inc.; Ford Meter Box Company,
Inc.; Michael Barnett; MSD of Wabash County; NIPSCO; Our House Real Estate; Regional
Chamber of NE Indiana; Riverbridge; and Star Excavating
Copper sponsors for this event included: Groups Recover Together and Pro Resources Staffing
Services.
