LaGrange Chamber Celebrates Success at Annual Luncheon
SHIPSHEWANA – One of Indiana’s most vibrant chambers of commerce celebrated a year of success and kicked off a prosperous 2025 with a luncheon Thursday at the Blue Gate Garden Inn.
The LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce – 410 members strong – holds well-attended monthly luncheons. The annual meeting in January includes Legacy Awards.
Educator of the Year for 2025 went to Kurt Stump, a fifth-grade teacher at Westview Community Schools. Chamber Executive Director Sara Patrick said the educator award elicited the most nominations – from colleagues, students, parents and the public. Stump rose to the top.
“His influence will be felt for all eternity,” Patrick said.
Nonprofit of the year went to the LaGrange County Council on Aging and its transportation service LCAT (LaGrange County Area Transit). Patrick said its administrators go “above and beyond the call of duty.”
Small Business of the Year was Music’s Heating and Cooling, Howe. Music’s is known for its “random acts of kindness for those less fortunate,” said Patrick. It provides vocational training for Lakeland High School students and has hired graduates.
Large Business of the Year went to J.O. Mory, in operation since 1892. It has 110 employees at the South Milford and Fort Wayne locations. Last year alone, it brought $100,000 in economic development to South Milford, making it “a true partner in the community’s growth and success,” said Patrick.
LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation Vice President of Community Development and Engagement Emilee Buller was selected as Young Professional of the Year. Patrick noted her impact on her peers, employers and employees and her “natural leadership skills.”
“She has thrown herself into everything and has not looked back,” Patrick said.
Lakeland School Corporation Superintendent Traci Blaize received Professional of the Year. She is a “true advocate for the future generation,” said Patrick.
After reviewing attendance and participation data for the year, Sabrina Miller was chosen as the chamber’s Director of the Year. Ambassador of the Year was Denise Landers.
Members at the annual meeting selected four directors from a slate of six. Andrea Howe of Farmers State Bank, Christina Blaskie of Parkview LaGrange and Austin Miller of Tire Star of Wolcottville were re-elected. David Young, vice president of Hostetler & Young Insurance Agency, was chosen as a new director.
The LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce gained 42 new members last year, officiated 10 ribbon cuttings and moved to a new location with the EDC. It was a finalist for Indiana Chamber of the Year.
“LaGrange County just gets it,” said Patrick. “That’s what makes LaGrange County and this chamber special.”
The people of LaGrange County are in the business of “legacy creation,” said Patrick, supporting each other and local stores and services.
The chamber bolsters the community with purposeful programs geared toward building the workforce, advocacy and commerce development. In 2024, 126 women attended the second-annual ConnectHER Conference. The Chamber forged a partnership with Arc of LaGrange County, which serves disabled people, and hosted the Field of Dreams Career Expo for local high school students. It hosted the Small Business Workshop for the second year in a row, drawing around 90 entrepreneurs, and quarterly Woman2Woman Roundtables that brought together 125 female professionals.
The LaGrange County Chamber joined six other chambers of commerce in the Northeast Indiana Regional Connect With the Candidates Form, featuring nearly 30 political hopefuls.
Patrick’s Coffee With the County column branched off into quarterly forums. The goal is to avail businesses to educational systems, elected officials and current topics.
The Chamber’s 15th annual Power of the Purse broke a record, raising almost $49,000 for school nutrition programs at local schools.
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