Kip Tom and Tom Farms were inducted for their entrepreneurship in the agricultural aspect for the county. Shown are Kyle Tom, Kassi Rowland, Kip Tom and Kris Tom.

Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation recognized seven individuals who were innovators and entrepreneurs in the county and the six company’s which were the result of their innovations and entrepreneurship. The  second annual Induction Ceremony and dinner was held Thursday.

Jan and John Rinker and Rinker Boats, Tobias Buck and Paragon Medical, Adele De Berri and Da-Lite Screens, Miles Igo and Medtronic Spinal Business, Wallace E. Stouder and Penguin Point, and Kip Tom and Tom Farms were those inducted for 2012.

Jim Orbik accepting the award for Nautic Global, owner of Rinker Boats.

George Robertson, KEDCo president, was master of ceremonies for the evening. Robertson explained KEDCo board felt as a county there was a need to celebrate the county’s tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship associated with the county’s history. That started the creation in 2010 of the Kosciusko Entrepreneur and Innovation Hall of Fame.

Last year the awards reflected on the history and current strengths of the county economy. The first inductees reflected two substantial wealth generators in the county – agriculture production, processing and equipment and the orthopedics industry. This year’s inductees was an expansion outward.

While two orthopedic companies – Paragon and Medtronic – along with an agricultural company, Tom Farms, were also recognized, so were a broad range of other manufacturers including Da-Lite Screen and Rinker Boats, even those from the retail community, including Penguin Point.

Approximately 190 attended the presentation held at 2517, Warsaw.