WABASH, IN – Honeywell Arts & Entertainment leadership is announcing promotions and new hires within the organization, as well as service awards for 18 individuals, recognizing their dedicated contributions. These individuals embody Honeywell Arts & Entertainment’s vibrant culture and contribute to the continuous expansion of the organization’s programs; their collective commitment and hard work have made a significant impact on the mission of arts, education, and entertainment for all.
“Promotions for existing team members and the growth of our organization that necessitates new hires reflects the vibrant culture that exists at Honeywell Arts & Entertainment,” says Jessica Hein, Vice President of Human Resources. “We truly focus on our strengths here and do our best to accomplish our strategic goals through those individual and team strengths. We are always looking for talented individuals who reflect our core values of teamwork, excellence, innovation, service, and stewardship and align with our mission.”
Promotions:
Abigail (Abby) Strange – Restaurant & Event Supervisor (effective 5/8/2023)
Abby has worked within the Hospitality team since 2022, serving as the former Hospitality Intern.
She graduated from Purdue University in 2023 with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism
Management with a Minor in Event and Meeting Management. Abby is responsible for creating an
outstanding restaurant experience for our guests.
Braden Williams – Head Flyman/Head Carpenter (effective 5/8/2023)
Braden has worked on the Programming team since 2018 and brings a great deal of experience to
his new role as Head Flyman/Head Carpenter at Honeywell Arts & Entertainment.
Josh Brandenburg – Sous Chef (effective 4/24/2023)
Josh joined the team as Kitchen Supervisor in 2021 and was recently promoted to Sous Chef. Josh
has held a long career as a Chef/Kitchen Manager prior to joining the team. He works closely with
the entire kitchen team to provide the best culinary experience for our guests.
Derek Hall – Lead Banquet Chef (effective 4/24/2023)
Derek joined the team in 2012 and has continued to grow within the organization, most recently
holding the title of Kitchen Supervisor and now as Lead Banquet Chef. He leads the exceptional
banquet experience at Honeywell.
Tyler Owens – Lead Restaurant Chef (effective 4/24/2023)
Tyler joined the team as a part-time prep/line cook in 2014 and has progressed to Lead Line Cook
and now to his new role as Lead Restaurant Chef. He creates an unforgettable culinary experience at
Eugenia’s, designing creative menu options for our guests.
In addition to the promotions, Honeywell Arts & Entertainment has hired four new team members.
New Hires:
Chris Ratay – Vice President of Hospitality (effective 6/9/2023)
Chris began his role as Vice President of Hospitality on June 9. Chris has a degree from Purdue
University in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management and a strong sales, business
development, finance, and hospitality background. His career includes extensive leadership at
hotels and restaurants in other parts of the country before settling in Indianapolis, where he was
Area Director of Sales and Marketing at Omni Hotels, followed by five years as General Manager
of St. Elmo Steak House, and time as General Manager at Le Meridien Hotel.
Chris Hawley – Maintenance (effective 2/13/2023)
Chris began his role as Maintenance on February 13. He brings a wealth of experience to his role,
including former experience as a US Navy Flight Deck GSE Troubleshooter and an additional
eleven years with NIPSCO as a Corrosion Engineer and Mechanical Equipment Operator —
Honeywell thanks Chris for his military service.
Christy Tomson – Accounting & Human Resources Administrator (effective 2/6/2023)
Christy began her role as Accounting & Human Resources Administrator on February 6. She brings
years of experience in accounting and administrative roles and also has teaching experience.
Jessica Bott – Communications Manager (effective 12/28/2022)
Jessica began her role as Communications Manager on December 28, 2022. She’s held the role of
Business Analyst for five years and gained valuable experience in marketing-related internships
before joining the team. Jessica received her degree from Butler University in Marketing with a
Minor in Strategic Communication.
In April 2023, the Honeywell Arts & Entertainment team gathered for the Annual Team Appreciation Event, where executive leadership shared appreciation and departmental highlights from the past year. The session ended with the distribution of service awards which highlight years of service to the organization; service awards are as of the end of March 2023.
Recognizing 25 Years of Service:
• Becky VanPatten
Recognizing 20 Years of Service:
• Tod Minnich
Recognizing 15 Years of Service:
• Nancy LaBonte
• Terry Pence
Recognizing 10 Years of Service:
• Cody Flager-Lee
• Taylin Halderman
Recognizing 5 Years of Service:
• Megan Bickel
• David Cattin
• Bruce Eltzroth
• Alex Evolga
• Jessica Hein
• Rodney Holmes
• Bill Kelley
• Eric Seaman
• Christina Shrock
• Christie Sparks
• Kristi Unger
• Cory Winkler
Tod Minnich, Honeywell Arts & Entertainment President and CEO, states, “Reflecting on the journey we have taken as a team at Honeywell Arts & Entertainment, I am humbled by the talent and loyalty that defines our organization. Our collective efforts have brought forth impactful accomplishments rooted in our mission to provide arts, education, and entertainment for all. As we celebrate these promotions, new hires, and service awards, I am filled with immense gratitude for our incredible team, and I look forward to witnessing the continued impact we will make together.”
Honeywell Arts & Entertainment’s organizational growth continues as it expands offerings in alignment with the mission of providing arts, education, and entertainment for all. To view a list of current career or volunteer opportunities, please visit honeywellarts.org/careers.
