2025 Annual Dinner celebrates community, business champions

Wabash County, IN – Grow Wabash County hosted its 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 9, to celebrate another incredible year of growth in Wabash County and to recognize some of Grow Wabash County’s greatest champions and supporters.

The event was emceed by Roderick Schram, who kept the show running smoothly and recognized the many sponsors who made the night’s event possible.  

Before handing out awards, Grow Wabash County Board Chair, Tod Minnich, highlighted some of the great things happening all over the Wabash County community, thanks in part to the work being done by Grow Wabash County.

Following his remarks, Minnich then called upon the Grow Wabash County board members in attendance to convene their annual meeting and complete necessary business that included renewing board terms for Minnich (Term 3), Howard Halderman (Term 2), Kristi Lundquist (Term 2), and Roger Cromer (Term 1).

After the annual meeting of the Grow Wabash County Board of Directors was adjourned, Tenille Zartman, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County presented her annual State of Grow Wabash County. During her remarks she made sure to introduce and recognize the entire Grow Wabash County team for their hard work over the past year as well as spotlight some of that great work that has been and continues to be done by the organization.  

Zartman’s speech also included some exciting announcements including new businesses and projects that have made the decision to invest in Wabash County.

“Our Annual Dinner is a celebration of the people and partnerships that make Wabash County thrive. Every success story we shared is made possible by those who invest their time, energy, and passion into this community. Each year, I leave this event inspired by the people in this room. Their stories, their leadership, and their dedication reminds me why this work matters so much. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant Wabash County for generations to come.”  Tenille Zartman, President and CEO, Grow Wabash County, said in her remarks.

The annual event also included time in the agenda to honor some of the organization’s partners that have gone above and beyond in supporting GWC’s mission and commitment to helping our communities grow.

Zartman presented the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award to Howard Halderman who currently serves on the Grow Wabash County Board of Directors and has also been a longtime member and chair of Grow Wabash County’s Salute to Agriculture Committee.

Jana Thibos, Investor Services and Events Project Manager for Grow Wabash County as well as chair of the Young Professionals of Wabash County steering committee, was then invited to the stage to present the 2025 Emerging Leader Award to Eric Seaman. Seaman, who currently works as the corporate relations manager for Honeywell Arts & Entertainment, is very involved in the Wabash County community, including as a member of the Wabash Kiwanis Club and as a Grow Wabash County ambassador.

Minnich then returned to the stage to spotlight the 2025 Business of the Year, Intrasect. The company, recently celebrating 25 years in business, has been a local leader in providing IT, software and cybersecurity services to companies and organizations all over Wabash County as well as across the State of Indiana.

For the event’s finale, as is tradition, the 2025 Distinguished Citizen was named. Dennis and Carol Horn, who received the Distinguished Citizen award in 2024, shared facts and stories about this year’s recipients before announcing that the 2025 Distinguished Citizens were yet another pair of incredible people: Ellen and Bill Stouffer.

Grow Wabash County would like to thank all the businesses and organizations that sponsored this year’s Annual Dinner Celebration.

Platinum Sponsors: BioNutrients Ag, LLC; Intertech Products

Gold Sponsor: Crossroads Bank

Social Hour Sponsors: City of Wabash; The Hagerman Group; Honeywell Arts & Entertainment

Silver Sponsors: Beacon Credit Union; Community Foundation of Wabash County; First Merchants Bank; Ford Meter Box Company; Josiah White’s; Kalenborn Abresist Corporation; MPS Egg Farms; Nuway Construction; Towne Market

Bronze Sponsors: Bowen Health; Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management; Hoosier Jiffy Print; Level365; Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate; Parkview Wabash Hospital; Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana; Town of North Manchester; Tulip Tree Title; Wabash Carnegie Public Library

Copper Sponsors: Pro Resources Staffing