The NEI Pioneer Podcast

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcome Zach Groth from @21AliveNews ! Zach is a Media Executive and Lifestyle Host with 21 Alive, and he shares how he got his start in broadcasting at a young age, how he got to Fort Wayne, and why he decided to put down roots in Fort Wayne. He also tells hi...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Senior Director of Regional Initiatives Jacob Ihrie welcome Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Board President Sea Grandon! A contemporary art advisor, Sea also owns Atelier, a contemporary art gallery located in Warsaw, Indiana. She talks about her journey from practicing law to selling art, as well as he...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and guest co-host Ethel Massing, Director of PSE and Innovation at Parkview Health, welcome Mark O'Sullivan of NeuroBell! NeuroBell is a medical device company based in Ireland, and Mark discusses how the collaboration between NeuroBell and Parkview is driving better outcomes for some of healthcare's most f...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett welcomes David Geders, Owner of Copper Chord Music in Huntington! David is also the owner of Japanese Guitar Company. He discusses starting the YouTube channel @GuitarsintheBank , touring with the band Sons, why he started his own music shop, and how he came to own the largest collection of vintage Japanese...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett welcomes Drew Flamm, President of Grace College, and Ryan Christner, President & CEO of OrthroWorx! Drew and Ryan discuss the partnership between their two entities, including how it got started and what the future holds for both. Additionally, they talk about ALL IN Koscuisko, and how they are leaning...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Marketing Content Producer Callie Herring and Videographer Hannah Hanagan welcome GROW WIWO Founder Brittany Scott! Brittany found that resources for women were lacking, and she wanted to change that. She discusses her background and how it shaped a powerful business that helps women connect and grow. Then she talks about how she defines success, offers...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker! NEI is not affiliated with any political party, and wherever you may fall, we feel you will still enjoy this conversation. Mayor Tucker has been the mayor of Fort Wayne since April 2024. She gives her thoughts on the potential casino coming to the region, how she got into politics,...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Senior Director of Regional Initiatives Jacob Ihrie welcome President of Northeast Indiana Works Edmond O'Neal to the show! Edmond talks about his leadership style and the different parts of NEI Works, and how each impacts different areas of the population. He also discusses his journey, which took him from Flint, Mich...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Brotherhood Mutual President Mark Robison and Senior Vice President Scott Figgins to the show! Mark and Scott discuss how to mix faith in the Christian church with insurance. They share great stories about how Brotherhood Mutual helped churches across the country address issues and advance their faith. Additionall...

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Rob Mitrevski, President of Golden Dome Strategy and Integration for L3Harris! Rob discusses how L3Harris became a leader in the defense industry. Their portfolio includes technology for everything from undersea to sea to ground to air to space. The conversation moves into how L3Harris tracks and defends against e...

On the Season 3 Premiere of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Matt Truty and Caleb Bertsch from BT Pro Solutions! Matt and Caleb discuss their perspective on AI Integration, work-life balance, and employee satisfaction. BT Pro is a tech consulting and product development company, offering an alternative approach to the consulting experience. To learn more about BT P...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, it's the Season Two Recap! Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett, Digital Content Producer Callie Herring, Videographer Hannah Hanagan, and Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance come together to wrap up the second season of the show! The hosts discuss the lessons learned along the way, their favorite stories and guests, and what to expect from the show i...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcome Get Indiana founder Nate Spangle! Nate Spangle is a lifelong Indiana resident who has been captivated by the stories woven into the fabric of our communities. As Indiana's hype man, he discusses some of the great stories he's heard over the last year on the Get IN pod...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcomes Do it Best CEO Dan Starr! Dan makes his appearance on the podcast four months after being named the 2025 Pioneer of the Year! Dan shares his story of climbing up the ranks at Do it Best, the merger with True Value, and the culture of the business. Nominate for the 2026 Pioneer Awards: https://pioneerst...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Michelle Kimpel and Reggie Beer from Turnstone to the show! Turnstone is hosting the 2025 WPV Sitting Volleyball World Cup from October 12–18, 2025 in Fort Wayne. This event is being hosted for the first time in the United States and will bring nearly 500 athletes, delegates, and officials from 25 countries. Miche...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Ryan Twiss, Chief Strategy Officer of Mission B.U.I.L.D., back to the show! Ryan held numerous titles with NEI over the course of 15 years. He has played a critical role in shaping Northeast Indiana’s regional identity and advancing key community, workforce, and economic development initiatives. Ryan discusses the...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Kelly Lynch, the Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society! Kelly has been involved with the organization in some capacity for 20 years and has seen the organization grow significantly. He discusses how his love for trains got started, the different types of train rides they offer, including...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Marketing Content Producer Callie Herring welcome the founder of Sammie's Buddy Bench Project and our 2025 Junior Pioneer Award Winner, Sammie Vance! Sammie discusses starting her Buddy Bench project at the age of eight. Her project started in Fort Wayne and is now global, with buddy benches as far as Ghana. Buddy Benc...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Marketing Content Producer Callie Herring welcomes local artist and entrepreneur Andi Sherman! Andi discusses her transition from a bridal beauty stylist to running The Kingsbury in Howe and the nonprofit, The Howe Historical Society. She talks about the businesses in The Kingsbury and how it's a space for people from many different walks of life to gath...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter Brice Vance welcome Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana CEO Josette Rider. Josette discusses her background before outlining the various programs offered, the process for getting involved, and the future of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter Brice Vance welcome National Soccer Hall of Famer DaMarcus Beasley and Chief Operations Officer Scott Sproat from Fort Wayne FC. DaMarcus and Scott discuss the beginnings of Fort Wayne FC, the club's progression up the professional ranks, and the new stadium set to open in May 2026. Additionally, DaMarcus ta...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, it's the whole MarCom team! Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett, Digital Content Producer Callie Herring, Videographer Hannah Hanagan, and Copywriter Brice Vance come together to discuss the 2025 Pioneer Event before the event gets underway! The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes Mike Terzo and David De Silvo, the co-founders of HeavyTech! Mike and Davide discuss how HeavyTech is reshaping the future of manufacturing and construction machinery by innovating through the use of electric technologies. Both Mike and Davide bring a high level of experience and expertise to the industry, and the...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter Brice Vance welcome the owner of Poptique Popcorn, Gary Hively! Gary discusses the beginnings of Poptique Popcorn with his daughter Lindsey, the variety of flavors Poptique has, and continuing on Lindsey's Legacy. To learn more about Poptique, visit: https://www.poptiquepopcorn.com/ The NEI Pioneer Podcast i...

On this edition of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Head of MarCom Jonathan Sackett welcomes The League's President and CEO, John Guingrich! John discusses growing up with a disability and how he had to make tough decisions on his own. Then, John helps us explore the power of disability identity, self-advocacy, and the work being done by The League and other organizations around the region to create a mor...