Salute to Industry

2016

Salute to INDUSTRY Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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1-800-288-2269 • www.jomory.com Commercial • Industrial • Residential • Electrical • Heating • Air Conditioning • Ventilation • Plumbing • Sheet Metal Fabrication • Fire Protection • Duct Cleaning • Process Piping • Design Build • Engineering • Indoor Air Quality • Control Panels • Video/Locate Service • Construction Management • Service Plus Agreements • Equipment Manufacturing

24 Hour Emergency Service No Job Too Large or Small Since 1892

Pictured left to right: Paul Anglin, Mike Rowe, Kerry Nott, John Goelz, Jay Becker, Carl Cox, Ed Harpel, Curt Friend, Mike Kugler, Duane Worman, Time Williams, Mark Little, Joe Treesh, Josh Garman, Dave Traster, Ryan Nott and John Mory.

May 14, 2016

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Entrepreneur without peers made an impact Eugene Mory had foresight KPC NEWS SERVICE

SOUTH MILFORD — The word “visionary” is often used to describe northeast Indiana businessman and developer Eugene L. “Gene” Mory, 88, who died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014.

“He was a visionary,” said Kendallville Local Development Corp. President Jerry Mr. Mory Stienbarger. “He had foresight into northeast Indiana economic development.”

Mr. Mory was a pivotal member of the founding board of directors of the LaGrange County Community Foundation, said foundation executive director Laura Lemings.

Along with his wife of 69 years, AnnaLee, he started the South Milford Little League.

He was instrumental in the expansion of the new addition to the South Milford Cemetery.

He was a founder of LEAP of Noble County, which promotes literacy.

“He had a vision of trying to help others, which included trying to provide affordable education to the functionally illiterate,” said Denise Lemmon, former LEAP of Noble County executive director.

He was instrumental in expanding his business, J.O. Mory, into other states such as Illinois.

With his partners he developed the Fairview shopping center and Best Western Motel in Kendallville, and as a member of the Kendallville Local Development Corp. he was a positive force in attracting Performance Food Group and Courier Corp. to Kendallville.

“Eugene L. Mory was an entrepreneur without peers, developing many businesses in northeast Indiana,” said

former schoolmate Philip L. Conklin.

“Gene Mory’s impact on the Kendallville community is probably equal to the old McCray and Flint and Walling families operating manufacturing facilities in the city.”

Mr. Mory was born at home in South Milford on July 26, 1926, to the late John Olin Mory and Thelma (Perkins) Mory. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1944 and married AnnaLee Mae Houck on Jan. 26, 1945, at the Church of Christ in South Milford. She survives.

In 1945, he began working at the family store, which was then known as Mory & Son, and now as J.O. Mory Inc., and was chairman of the board.

His grandfather started the store in 1892. The business continues in South Milford.

Grandson Kerry Nott described his grandpa as a positive, intelligent and simple man with a good amount of patience. He remembered his grandpa telling him about the small debate he had with former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, saying, “Grandpa mentioned he was impressed with the skill and smoothness Mr. Cheney used to dance around his questions without really answering.”

Nott said his grandpa could give a look that could say everything about a moment without saying a word, adding, “In the funny moments, he could give a look that reminded me of the late-night TV host Johnny Carson.”

Stienbarger recalled those nonverbal cues when he and Mr. Mory sat next to each other for about 10 years on the Kendallville Local Development Corp.

“He sat on my right, and when we were discussing projects and construction plans, he would just nod or slowly shake his head. If the discussion got too long, he would say it’s time to move on,” Stienbarger said.

Stienbarger worked for J.O. Mory for 10 years. “I never heard Gene raise his voice to an employee,” he said. “His voice was a teaching voice.

I’ll never forget what he told me one day — taking care of business is doing

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A bronze plaque that honors Mory is mounted on a brick pedestal in the rest area on Parkview LaGrange Hospital’s walking trail.

business.”

A visionary? Stienbarger recalled the day he was looking at blueprints at J.O. Mory in South Milford when Mr. Mory stopped by his desk and declared: “We’re going into the electrical business. Order 200 electrical service meters.”

Former J.O. Mory employee Gene Cooper said he enjoyed getting to know Mr. Mory during his time with the company, adding, “He was a great man and an honest man to work for.”

Lemings said Mr. Mory was asked to help put a governing board together for the community foundation so LaGrange County could participate in the first Lilly Endowment challenge offered in 1991 to rural Indiana counties.

“Gene understood the value of building an endowment for the purpose

of creating a better future for our community,” she said.

In 1997, he received the Ernst Young Lifetime Achievement Award as the Northern Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year. He was named citizen of the year for LaGrange County in 2011.

South Milford’s Little League baseball field is called Houck-Mory Park after Gene and AnnaLee. The LEAP of Noble County Staff Member of the Year Gene Mory Service Award was named in his honor.

His visions of the future have become our present day.

“It’s not what the vision is, it’s what the vision does.”

— Peter Senge, senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Business Management

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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LaGrange County REMC, Noble REMC and Steuben County REMC Products/Services What are the main products or services your company provides?

We provide safe, reliable, affordable electricity.

Who are your primary customers or clients?

Member-owners in each respective service area.

How are your products made or your services performed?

The cooperatives purchase electricity from their power supplier, Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA), and distribute it to nearly 26,500 members throughout northeast Indiana.

How have your products or services changed/improved in recent years?

Electricity is the same no matter where you purchase it. Our service is what sets us apart from others. Phones are answered by a live person, with no phone tree to navigate. Our response to power outages is quick and efficient.

Each cooperative has an energy advisor on staff to help educate members about the efficient use of electricity. We provide free residential energy audits for members.

We have rebates and incentives to help members defer the cost to install efficient lighting, heating/cooling equipment and water heating. We also offer refrigerator/freezer

recycling. These and others are all offered through our Power Moves program.

What quality or service standards or awards have you received?

In the ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index), the three northeast Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, REMCs, have higher “overall satisfaction ratings”’ from their customers, several points above the average for both Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) and municipals throughout the United States.

Where are your products or services delivered or distributed?

Electricity is delivered to our members throughout our distribution systems, primarily in LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and DeKalb counties.

Company History How long has your business been a part of the community?

LaGrange County REMC, Noble REMC and Steuben County REMC are Touchstone Energy Cooperatives who have been delivering electricity for more than 75 years.

Who is the company’s founder?

Community leaders in our rural communities in each of the cooperative’s counties combined

their efforts to establish a Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC). This was supported by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s national REA loan program.

This was a result of the investment-owned utilities (IOUs) choosing not to deliver power to farmers in northeast Indiana.

Who is the current owner (give background)?

Current owners of the cooperatives are still the members or individuals who purchase their electricity from the cooperatives.

How has the company grown over the years?

The service territorial boundaries were set many years ago by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The cooperatives grow when businesses and people build within the REMC’s service territories.

What changes have been significant in the growth of this company?

Expansion of cities and towns into the rural areas of the county.

Employees How many employees does your company have?

The three cooperatives combined have

80 employees.

How do the employees contribute to the service, quality and values of your company?

The employees are engaged in their cooperative. They live and breathe the seven cooperative principles and embody the cooperative spirit.

How do the employees contribute to innovation or the future direction of your company?

Employees regularly attend continuing training opportunities to stay abreast of the latest technology within their field.

How do the employees “make a difference” in either the way they do their jobs or in the way they serve their communities?

Employees provide exceptional service to members. They are involved in their local communities and serve on various boards and committees, coach youth sports and are active in local churches.

Do employees have opportunities for continuing education, advancement opportunities and ecognition?

They regularly attend conferences and training sessions to stay abreast of the latest technologies and business practices, attend monthly safety meetings and attend section meetings of their peers at Indiana Electric Cooperatives in Indianapolis. Employees can participate in certification programs, including the cooperative’s own “Rural Electric Leaders in Training Exchange” leadership program.

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

Wible’s U- Pick Hardwoods is in its 6th year of business operating a retail location for the attached 3rd generation run Wible Lumber. Our U-Pick store is the contractors, woodworkers and homeowners destination for high quality hardwood products with prices straight from the manufacturer.

The employees that support the U-Pick retail location are talented individuals who specialize in each of their fields including kiln drying, lumber grading, panel manufacturing, and moulding. The 45 employees each work with quality in mind to make sure each stick of lumber leaving the store represents the best of their work.

Our operation is the finished product of receiving, drying, and milling of hardwoods from around the area, with a specific eye to top quality products stocked at all times.

The U-Pick store is the perfect location for the general public to come and browse our moulding selections to plan for the new house project.

Woodworkers and hobbyist that are looking for a supplier of hardwoods including red oak, hickory, cherry, walnut, maple and poplar regularly find what they need in stock with material planed down to one inch and two inch thick pieces . Through the process of milling the lumber, we also find the unique varieties

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Wible U-Pick Hardwoods of hardwoods including rustic hickory, wormy soft maple, and spalted hard maple.

The lumber is regularly stocked in eight to twelve foot lengths with a variety of widths available.

Other available products we supply include dimensional lumber in 1X2 thru 1X12’s in select variety of species. Our milling process for the dimensional lumber makes them paint and stain ready with minimal preparation saving customers time and money. Local contractors use our dimensional lumber in a variety of ways and enjoy the ability to select top quality products without the hassle of searching for straight and top quality pieces.

Over the last several years since opening, Wible’s U-Pick has expanded the inventory to include woods from outside of the United States and stocks African and South American exotic species. We regularly have species such as bloodwood, tigerwood, wenge, and African mahogany on hand.

These woods finish beautifully with vibrant colors without the use of stains.

Wible’s U-Pick Hardwoods can suit a need for every hobbyist, homeowner, and contractor with the top quality products milled right in South Milford, Indiana. Stop in and talk to Kevin to see how we can help you.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Open to the Public Monday - Thursday 8am to 5pm • Saturday 8am to 12pm

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Impact Institute What are the main products or services your company provides?

We provide 14 career training programs to high school juniors and seniors and we also provide adult basic education classes to adult learners as they work toward obtaining a High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma.

Who are your primary customers or clients?

Impact Institute serves high school students in 13 schools in the five counties of Noble, LaGrange, DeKalb, Steuben, and Whitley in 14 career training programs: • Automotive Technology • Auto Body Collision and Repair • Computer Aided Drafting • Cosmetology • Criminal Justice • Culinary Arts • Construction Trades • Electrical, Plumbing, & HVAC • Health Occupations Education • Interactive Media • Marine Mechanics • Precision Machining • Primary Health Care • Welding Additionally, Impact Institute offers free classes to adults in the following areas: • High School Equivalency (HSE) (formerly called the GED) preparation and testing

• Credit Recovery (for those needed to earn 6 or less credits to obtain a high school diploma • End of Course Assessment (ECA) Remediation & Testing • “Brush-Up” classes for those who have a high school diploma How are your products made or your services performed?

Career training programs are offered in Kendallville, LaGrange, Angola, and Auburn.

Those students spend half of the school day in the training program and the other half of the day at their home high school taking the academic coursework necessary for graduation.

Adult education classes are offered throughout the counties served and at a variety of times in order to provide a high level of flexibility to people seeking those services.

How have your products or services changed/improved in recent years?

An Interactive Media program was added in the Fall of 2012 that now serves 52 students.

A revamped Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC program was reintroduced in 2014. New dual credit courses and certifications have also enhanced the high school career training programs.

A major change took place in adult education in 2014. The State of Indiana moved away from the GED and now offers the HSE. Along with that change in credential came a change in the test to earn the diploma. The new test is more rigorous and will increase in difficulty over the next few years. There is also a greater focus on transitioning adult learners to post secondary, vocational training, and employment opportunities.

Where are your products or services delivered or distributed?

Career training programs are offered to high schools students from the following schools: Angola, Central Noble, East Noble, Westview, Fremont, Hamilton, Lakeland, Prairie Heights, DeKalb, Eastside, Garrett, and Churubusco.

These programs are located in Kendallville, LaGrange, Angola, and Auburn.

Adult Education services are offered in Noble, DeKalb, Steuben, LaGrange, Whitley, and Huntington counties.

Agency History How long has your business been a part of the DeKalb, Steuben, Noble, or LaGrange

County community?

Impact Institute (formerly Four County Area Vocational Cooperative) began in June 1969.

Who is the company’s founder (give background)?

Impact Institute, (formerly Four County Area Vocational Cooperative) was formed by a joint service agreement between ten school corporations in June 1969. In 2004, Impact was pleased to add Westview Schools and in 2013 added Smith-Green Community School Corporation to its membership. The twelve school corporations are located in five northeast Indiana counties: Noble, DeKalb, LaGrange, Steuben and Whitley.

These school corporations are Central Noble Community Schools, DeKalb County Central United Schools, East Noble School Corporation, Fremont Community Schools, Hamilton Community Schools, Lakeland School Corporation, Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, Prairie Heights Community School Corporation, Westview School Corporation, Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools, and DeKalb County Eastern Community Schools whose district also serves as the Local Education Agency (LEA). Since the inception of Impact Institute in 1969, consortium members have had the vision to utilize the services of the cooperative to create positive change in the delivery of career/technical and adult education in a way that is unique in the state of Indiana.

FREE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA CLASSES! (formerly called the GED) Call today to register for our next orientation.

1-888-349-0250 HIGH SCHOOL CAREER & TECHNICAL PROGRAMS Auto Body Collision & Repair Automotive Technology CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) Cosmetology Culinary Arts

Criminal Justice Welding Precision Machining Interactive Media Marine Mechanics

Construction Trades Primary Healthcare Health Occupations Education Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC

Interested High School Students... Contact Your Guidance Counselor TODAY!

www.impactinstitute.net

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May 14, 2016

Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

NOBLE COUNTY DISPOSAL

le, b o N g n i v lb r a e K S e ,D e s g e n i t a r n u G Residential & Commercial o La C n e b u s e r t a S e y d 0 an 4 r e v for o 3, 4 & 6 yard Clean up Containers Electronic & Fluoresent Drop Off Location 1973 E US Hwy 6, Albion www.NCDisposal.com

800-292-9098

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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“Over the last 44 years … we started with one truck and one route. Today we have 11-13 trucks running per day with nine daily routes. We also provide temporary containers for cleanup purposes, recycling options, and have an on-site Bonded Recycling Electronic facility.”

Noble County Disposal, Inc. Products/Services What are the main products or services your company provides?

Trash hauler for all of northeast Indiana.

We specialize in residential, commercial, cleanup containers, roll-off and recycling needs.

Who are your primary customers or clients?

All of northeast Indiana.

How are your products made or your services performed?

Weekly for residential customers.

Commercial accounts we can service monthly, weekly or bi-weekly.

How have your products or services changed/improved in recent years?

Over the last 43 years … we started with one truck and one route. Today we have 11-13 trucks running per day with nine daily routes. We also provide temporary containers for cleanup purposes, recycling options, and have an on-site Bonded Recycling Electronic facility.

What quality or service standards or awards have you received?

We are a bonded facility with the state of Indiana for electronic recycling.

Company History How long has your business been a

We have part of the over 30 community? employees.

We have How do been a familythe employees based business contribute to for 43 years. the service, Who is the quality and company’s values of your founder company?

The They go company was above and founded by G. beyond for good W. Potee from quality service.

Brimfield, the Our employees father of Myrna are like part of Arnold.

“We donate services for youth ball the family and Who is leagues, school events, Relay for have adopted the current our principles owner?

Life, Harvest Festival, Kendallville of quality It is a Car Show, just to name a few.” service. family-based How do business being the employees run daily by the contribute to innovation or the future Arnold family — Myrna and Sam Arnold direction of your company? along with Chad, Brice and daughterThey take pride in their work and in-law Amy. Grandchildren are also respect that fact we like our facility and showing an interest in the business. trucks clean at all times.

How do the employees “make a Employees difference” in either the way they do How many employees does your their jobs or in the way they serve their company have? communities?

They are kind and caring. If they see someone in need, they do not mind helping out. That has always been known of the Arnold family, and that sets us apart from other haulers.

Future How is the Internet playing a role in your company’s future?

We have our own website. www.

NCDisposal.com It tells about our different services, us in general, and you can pay your bill online.

Mission Statement/Philosophy/ Community Activities What guiding principles or philosophy does your company take pride in?

The Arnold family and Noble County Disposal are both very community-service oriented.

How is your company involved in the community?

We donate services for youth ball leagues, school events, Relay for Life, Harvest Festival, Kendallville Car Show, just to name a few. We are members of chambers of commerce for Kendallville and Albion. We are also a major contributor to the United Way.

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce Products/Services What are the main products or services your organization provides?

The Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce provides promotion, communication and networking opportunities for our members. Contracted by the city of Kendallville, the chamber also promotes Kendallville as a great place to live, work and play for relocating new businesses, families and promoting tourism to our area.

Who are your primary customers or clients?

Members of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce and community events.

How are your products made or your services performed?

Various forms of media are used to promote and communicate events and announcements of our members, including radio, newspaper, website and email. Many events are hosted by the chamber throughout the year to bring members together to network with each other.

How have your products or services changed/improved in recent years?

New events have been added, and our new, user-friendly website has an enhanced member directory, complete with a Google

map to take people right to our members’ doors. It shows more resources by providing economic development links to describe and promote our community.

Where are your products or services delivered or distributed?

We are one of five chambers in Noble County. Our marketing services are delivered to the Kendallville area.

Company History 1. How long has your organization been a part of the community?

The chamber was founded on Oct. 6, 1925. It has always been located downtown Kendallville.

Who is the organization’s founder?

In the United States, the first chamber of commerce was created in 1768 in New York City. Its stated objectives encompassed “encouraging commerce, supporting industry, adjusting disputes relative to trade and

navigation, and producing such laws and regulations as may be found necessary for the benefit of trade in general.”

Who is the current owner?

The Kendallville Area Chamber is a member organization that currently has 16 board members. Board members represent the professional, service, industrial, retail and agricultural business categories. Two are permanent media positions, held by the local newspaper and radio station.

How has the organization grown over the years?

In 2012, we added a representative from the agriculture industry on our board to represent the large number of farm businesses in the area. Our chamber membership overall has seen a 10 percent increase in the past five years. We’re seeing members come back that had most recently dropped, and we foresee them staying long-term. Many of our industrial members are seeing significant growth that began last year. However, 75 percent of our members are small service and

retail businesses with one to 10 employees.

What changes have been significant in the growth of this company?

Face-to-face communication with our members is well received as we deliver membership folders each year. This personal touch gives us a chance to “check-in” with our members’ concerns and needs. We remind them of the membership benefits and upcoming events each year. We also use several forms of media; email, newspaper and radio to promote our members.

With our Member To Member discount cards, managers can offer a FREE benefit to their employees. Member businesses offer discounts to other members when they show their card. The Office Depot Chamber Member Advantage Program was added last year and gives all of our members large volume pricing on office supplies, cleaning supplies and break room products. All at no additional cost!

Employees How many employees does your organization have?

The Kendallville Area Chamber is one of five chambers in Noble County. We are the largest, with two full-time and one part-time staff.

Coming September 10th, 2016 10 AM - 2 PM Products and services from local businesses are showcased in and around the Merchants Building at the Noble County Fairgrounds.

Food - Entertainment - Prizes Open to the public!

Come and see what Kendallville has to offer!

Contact the Chamber to Showcase your Business!

260-347-1554

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

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LaGrange Products Products/Services

Lagrange Products, Inc. is implementing new strategies within the pressure vessel industry, which is driving our growth. We are currently seeking experienced talent for metal fabricators, engineers, and welders for opportunities within the company. Over the years, we have come a long way from where our products began by offering customers a solution to improve their products and add extra value to enhance our customer relationships. We have several certifications including; ISO 9001:2008, (PED) Pressure Equipment Directive, AS 1210 for Australia, CRN for Canada and A.S.M.E. “U,” “UM,” and “R.” We service primarily throughout North America, however, through our Original Equipment Manufacturer customers we do have products overseas.

Company History

Beginning from the ground up, the starting founders were three intelligent, savvy men including Ralph Blue, Lloyd Junker and Charles Sparks. They originally started in LaGrange, Indiana,

in 1962, which is how we established our name. Relocating to Fremont in 1963 and growing strong since, we have two locations in Fremont, with our home office at 607 S. Wayne St. Lynn A. Blue is the current and second-generation owner who grew up in the area as the son of Ralph Blue. The company is now into its third generation with Lynn’s two sons, Mark and Ryan Blue.

Over 54 years in business there have been many changes. Technology has been a key part of our growth in running the business, with changes over the years.

Internet plays a major role. Through our current upgrading of our website, we hope to keep up with the growth of social connection and our company in the media for the public to better reach us for their needs. From the original key market in the 1990s as compressor manufacturers, we have diversified into supplying air and liquid filtration transporters, to highly custom, large-diameter products to our customers.

Future Plans/Expansions The expansion of our facility to a

secondary location has significantly expanded our lifting and capacity capabilities, giving us the ability to provide more substantial products for our customers.

We recently expanded into the former Salga building at 601 W. Water St. in Fremont, Indiana, which was built in 1980 and is about 64,000 square feet. We continue to reinvest in the company with new laser and machining technologies.

in that manner. We provide job-specific training in which we send employees to get detailed training for the specific job being performed as well as promoting from within when possible. Without our employees across the entire company, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We take great pride in our employees as part of our family at LaGrange Products.

Employees are Our Key Asset

Mission Statement/Philosophy/ Community Activities

Here at Lagrange Products we have a great team. We currently have 114 employee’s, many who have been here for 15 years for longer. We participate in the Fremont Baseball League and like to share the opportunity for employees to be a part of the community and build better relationships. Our employees are a key component to the building of our products. At every step of the process, a vessel is personally touched and hand-built to create the final product.

We take into consideration everyone’s input. Sometimes there is someone who has a different view and can shed light on a technique that wasn’t being utilized

We take pride in quality products that provide value and building improved features in products we supply.

Our mission is for LaGrange Products to deliver products and services that, by measurement, meet or exceed customer expectations and are in every aspect superior to our competition. We will continually strive to add value to our company through process management, customer-focused improvement, operational flexibility and a companywide commitment to growth and innovation. By being quality-minded and customer-focused, we are assuring our success both now and in the future.

LaGrange Products 607 S. Wayne Street • P.O. Box Fremont, IN 46737 (260) 495-3025 www.lagrangeproducts.com

Manufacturers of A.S.M.E. Code and Non-Code Pressure Vessels Since 1962

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

13

LigTel Communications Products/Services What are the main products or services your company provides?

LigTel Communications offers high-speed Internet, digital television service and local and long-distance phone service.

Who are your primary customers or clients?

We serve residential, business, government and hospitality customers throughout Noble and LaGrange counties, as well as parts of Whitley, Kosciusko, DeKalb, Steuben and Elkhart counties.

How have your products or services changed/improved in recent years?

Over the last several years, LigTel has upgraded our high-speed Internet offerings in Ligonier from DSL technology to fiber-to-thehome service, offering higher speeds and the ability to bring clearer phone calls and high-definition television to customers on the fiber network. We have also built fiber to the home in Wawaka and Cosperville.

On the high-speed wireless side, we have been working to push out LTE technology to more customers, offering higher speeds and more reliable service. This LTE roll-out will continue over several more years, as the technology continues to evolve and our network grows.

Where are your products or services

delivered or distributed?

Our fiber-tothe-home offering, including fiber Internet and digital television, is availble in the Ligonier area as well as Wawaka and Cosperville. Phone services are available in Ligonier, as well.

Wireless Internet service is available throughout Noble and LaGrange counties, as well as parts of Whitley, Kosciusko, DeKalb, Steuben and Elkhart counties.

Company History How long has your business been a part of the community?

Ligonier Telephone Company, the parent company of LigTel Communications, was founded in 1896. We continue to be familyowned, by the same family, today. The company was founded in 1896 by Harry Inks.

The current owner is Harry’s late grandson’s wife.

How has the company grown over the years?

In 1896, the company offered local phone service only to the Ligonier area. Today, the company offers local and long-distance phone services as well as digital television and

high-speed Internet service in the Ligonier area, and high-speed Internet services throughout all or parts of seven counties.

What changes have been significant in the growth of this company?

Internet services have led to the largest amount of growth for the company and will continue to do so in the future as more customers continue to do more on the Internet and need more speed.

Employees How many employees does your company have?

We employ 25 full-time employees.

How do the employees contribute to the service, quality and values of your company?

Our employees answer the phones when customers call in, so customers don’t get caught in automated attendants. We send techs out to do installs for our customers so we know the service is installed correctly. We also send techs out for repair when customers have problems. Our employees enjoy working directly with customers whenever possible.

How do the employees contribute to innovation or the future direction of

your company?

Our employees are always looking at emerging technologies that we can implement for customers. We look at tech trends and how customers are using technology in their homes and try to shape our network in a way that will enable these technologies to work for everyone.

Future Plans/Expansions What are your company’s plans for future expansions?

We plan on continuing to expand both our fiber-to-the-home network and our high-speed wireless network to get more customers the higher speeds they are looking for. We also plan to continue expanding our business fiber offerings to more locations.

How is your company using technology to expand and grow?

Technology is the heart of our business. It affects the products we offer, how we offer the services and what our customers expect from us.

How is the Internet playing a role in your company’s future?

The Internet is the future of our business.

With customers expecting to stream more content and move more communications and business services online, the Internet services expected will continue to grow.

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

May 14, 2016

Color Master Incorporated

Color Master is in its 25th year of serving businesses throughout the Midwest, the United States and Canada.

Color Master was established in 1991

by Mike Moor and six local businessmen who invested in his idea of providing the highest quality color concentrates with the shortest lead-times in the industry.

Company history

The first facility was located in Avilla with a handful of employees, and the company built a new facility in Butler in 1998 to focus on research and development of new materials. In 2005, the business was consolidated to the Butler facility in 2005, and in 2009, Color Master re-expanded back to Noble County with the purchase of its Kendallville facility, where PVC compounds are produced.

“Through a concerted emphasis on customer service, Color Master has been able to build the reputation of being the service leader in the industry,” company officials said.

“We take great pride in four big things at Color Master: providing the industry’s best service to our customers, having the highest quality products, treating our employees as members of our family, and taking care and supporting our communities.”

The Butler facility was recently expanded by 16,000 square feet, split between new offices, lab space and warehousing. In Kendallville, Color Master recently purchased a 72,000-square-foot warehouse adjacent to its current facility.

About Color Master Color Master produces color concentrates, PVC compounds, specialty resin and additive compounds and liquid colorant for a variety of customers who are sheet extruders, profile extruders, injection molders and blow molders.

Color concentrates are made by mixing colored pigments, additives, filler, and plastic resin then encapsulating the pigment inside the plastic through heat and sheer. Then it is extruded and pelletized.

PVC compounds are made by mixing PVC resin, filler, color concentrate or liquid colorant (if desired) and possibly plasticizer (if flexible PVC is desired).

Color Master’s PVC compounds come in clear, natural or colored variants.

Liquid colorants are made by dispersing powdered pigment into a liquid carrier resin.

Color Master is adding increased automation and PLC controls to lines at both facilities with a goal of increasing

810 S. Broadway, Butler

productivity, data tracking and the ability to be more predictive with maintenance.

Lab spectrophotometers and software are being updated to increase the data used to measure and monitor the color matching and quality control processes.

Employment, community involvement Color Master has 92 full-time and one part-time employees. Ownership is comprised of nine individuals. Phil Schlink serves as CEO and Kyle Skaggs is president. The business has been ISO certified since 1998 with ISO 9001:2008, and is in the process of converting to 9001:2015. Color Master holds NSF, UL and CSA certifications for many of its products.

Color Master is an active member of the DeKalb Chamber Partnership, with president Kyle Skaggs being a member on the board. Color Master actively participates in meetings with the Noble County EDC and the Manufacturing Education Alliance. Employees are allowed to take extended lunch breaks to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters “Lunch Buddy” program. In addition, Skaggs is heavily involved with the Youth For Christ (YFC) program in Auburn. Color Master also

sponsors local youth sports teams.

Employees are encouraged to explore ways to improve themselves, especially when it is in an area that will directly contribute to the effectiveness of their jobs. The average employee tenure is over 9-1/2 years. Skaggs began his career with Color Master as an extrusion line operator and has advanced his way through the various departments to reach his current position.

“Employees play an integral part of all of these aspects at every level of the company. Service, quality, and values are inseparable from one another at Color Master, as they are each a part of the same equation for success,” company officials wrote.

“Employees understand that everything we do revolves around servicing our customers and that having a quality product has to be a given in our industry.

Our service is what sets us apart from our competition, and we instill that in all of our employees on a daily basis.

“From every level of the organization, we want employees to feel as if they can make a difference. We do this by giving them a voice when it comes to identifying areas to improve productivity, efficiency, safety, service, and even how the company can improve on employee relations.”

4230 E. US 6, Kendallville

May 14, 2016

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com

Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

15

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Salute to Industry Noble & LaGrange Counties

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

May 14, 2016

15i Years and We’re Just Warming Up. S i n c e 1 8 6 3 C a m p b e l l & Fe t t e r B a n k

We are committed to helping improve the

has worked to make our community a

place we call home. That commitment

better place.

is shown in our solid bank services, a n d f ro m o u r unwavering support of not-for-

Better for People.

Better for Families.

Better For Businesses.

profit and community service programs.

15 years might seem old to some.

We’re just warming up for the next 15 .

Visit any of our locations in Kendallville, Albion, Angola, Auburn, Goshen, Ligonier and Warsaw.

Sensible Banking for Sensible Lives

TM

©201 Campbell & Fetter Bank

www.campbellfetterbank.com