The Midwest Flourish

In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, Manchester University President Dr. Stacy Young joins host Rick Farrant to discuss what the future of higher education looks like and why innovation doesn't have to come at the expense of community. From personalized student experiences and liberal arts education to AI-powered learning, stackable credentials, and workforce development, this conversation exp...

What does the future of manufacturing talent look like, and how do we prepare for it today? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Laura Macknick, President & CEO of the  @DonWoodFoundation  , to explore a bold vision for workforce development in Northeast Indiana. From a $50 million investment in next-generation manufacturing talent to the launch of the Lear...

In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Chuck Surack — entrepreneur, philanthropist, musician, and one of northeast Indiana’s most influential community builders. Chuck shares the story behind his journey from selling potholders as a child to launching a mobile recording studio from the back of a VW bus, eventually building Sweetwater into one of the most successf...

What does it really take to build a successful startup and why do so many fail? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with John McDonald, President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community (NIIC), to unpack the realities of entrepreneurship. From the shift from “innovation center” to “innovation community,” John shares how building connections (not jus...

How does tourism actually impact economic and workforce development in small communities? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Tera Roughley, Executive Director of the Huntington County Visitor Bureau, to explore the powerful (and often misunderstood) role tourism plays in growing local economies. From attracting visitors to inspiring people to relocate, Tara s...

In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Matt Truty, co-founder and CEO of Fort Wayne-based BT Pro Solutions, to talk about what it really takes to build a modern tech company. They explore software consulting, product development, entrepreneurship through acquisition, and how AI is rapidly transforming the way software is built. Matt also shares his thoughts on th...

There are major changes on the horizon for Indiana’s workforce system. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Rob King, Executive Director of the South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, to discuss the evolving future of workforce development across the state. Region 8 serves eight counties in south central Indiana, including Bloomington and the surrounding rural...

What if cost wasn’t the barrier to higher education? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Bushnell, President & CEO of the Questa Education Foundation, to discuss how students across Northeast Indiana are accessing college, certifications, and career pathways, with less debt and more support. Since 1937, Questa has helped students pursue educa...

How do you help young people move from dreaming to doing?   In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Megan McClellan, Executive Director of Believe in a Dream in Fort Wayne. Since 2010, Believe in a Dream has provided more than 5,000 immersive, hands-on experiences to middle and high school students across Northeast Indiana completely free of charge. From music and...

Career & Technical Education (CTE) has been opening doors for students for decades and it’s evolving fast. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Jim Walmsley, Director of the IMPACT Institute (a career center serving northeast Indiana) and past president of the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education Districts, to talk about what CTE looks like...

Ann Arbor is providing access to millions of dollars for business startups, in this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant talks with Mike Flanagan, Vice President of Capital Programs at Ann Arbor SPARK, who breaks down how it all works. Mike explains how SPARK began as a public-private partnership, what “the Valley of Death” really means for early-stage founders, and how pre-seed/seed...

Latino students in the Midwest often face extra hurdles on the road to academic and economic success, from uncertainty around immigration policy to language barriers and limited access to guidance. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant talks with Steve Corona, Executive Director of Latinos Count, about how the organization helps students build a clear “exit strategy” after hig...

Warsaw, Indiana may look like a small Midwestern community, but it’s home to one of the most powerful medical device ecosystems in the world.   In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Dr. Allyn Decker, Vice President of Operations & Engagement at OrthoWorx, to explore how Warsaw became known as the Orthopedic Capital of the World and how leaders are working to...

How do communities help young people thrive beyond high school? On this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Park Ginder, Ph. D, former school superintendent and now Executive Director of Grow Allen in Allen County, Indiana. Grow Allen connects education, business, and industry to open real-world opportunities for students, from workforce tours to internships to career...

What does it really take to be an entrepreneur? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Dr. Andrew Roberts, a practicing physician, entrepreneur, and chair of the SCORE Northeast Indiana leadership team. Dr. Roberts shares: - his unconventional path from medicine to entrepreneurship - why he launched and exited a successful addiction recovery business - the core t...

How can a community build a sustainable workforce while keeping its economy growing? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant talks with Adam Welch, Vice President of Economic Development at Greater Fort Wayne Inc., about the Made By Me initiative — a powerful collaboration between educators, employers, and students aimed at closing the skilled trades gap in Allen County, Indiana...

How does a region truly grow its workforce, economy, and sense of community? For Bob Quick, President and CEO of Commerce Lexington, it comes down to two things: connection and trust. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant explores how Lexington, Kentucky, a region known for its horses, bourbon, and bluegrass pride, is also a model for collaboration, talent attraction, and entr...

Getting a government contract can feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Jeff Andelin, Northeast Indiana’s APEX Accelerator Counselor, to uncover how businesses can navigate the complex world of federal, state, and local contracting. Jeff explains what APEX Accelerators are, how they’re funded by the Department of Defen...

What does it take for a rural Midwest community to thrive in today’s workforce landscape? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Lauren Buchanan, Workforce Development Manager for Van Wert Works, to explore how Van Wert County, Ohio is tackling some of the biggest challenges facing rural America. Lauren shares candid insights about changing perceptions of vocatio...

Women often face unique hurdles when starting or growing a business—access to capital, caregiving demands, cultural barriers, and the inner work of valuing your own expertise. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, Rosalina Perez, Director of the Women’s Business Center at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), shares a practical playbook: 1:1 coaching, skill-building workshops, and war...

How do you rebuild trust, spark civic engagement, and make neighborhood planning actually work? Dan Baisden, Director of Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods, shares the city’s “embedded planning” approach—meeting residents on front porches, at coffee shops, and in grocery aisles to co-create small wins that add up. We talk civic vs. HOA associations, recruiting local champions, funding projec...

In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Marie Mackintosh, President & CEO of EmployIndy, the largest nonprofit regional workforce development organization in Indiana. Marie shares how EmployIndy is redefining talent development vs. workforce development, bridging gaps in K–12 and postsecondary education, and creating experiential learning opportunities through...

Noble County, Indiana, ranks among the top counties in the nation for manufacturing concentration, but what happens when an economy depends too heavily on one sector? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant talks with Melanie Kellogg, Executive Director of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation (Be Noble), about how the county is: - Growing entrepreneurial ecosystems...

What if high school wasn't about tests and grades, but was about solving real problems, building businesses, and discovering your passion? In today's episode of The Midwest Flourish Podcast, Riley Johnson, director of the AMP Lab at Electric Works in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rick Farrant to share how this innovative, entrepreneurial learning program is changing how students experience educa...

Can rural communities thrive again? Entrepreneur and economic development leader Eric Doden believes the answer is yes—and he’s proving it. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, Eric unpacks his innovative financial model that’s breathing new life into small towns across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. From Butler to Van Wert, his approach blends private equity, federal and state tax credits, and...