Suzie Light received the Community Catalyst award.

Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — Suzie Light was presented the 2025 Community Catalyst Award during the 2024 KEDCO Annual Meeting and 40th anniversary celebration. Light was among the 17 community members and businesses receiving award recognition during the celebration Thursday, Oct. 24.

Light was presented the Community Catalyst Award, which honors one individual who stands out as both a business leader and a dedicated public servant, and as a difference-maker and catalyst for the community, making positive change happen in the places people live and work.

Blaine Conley, current KEDCO board chairman and Brad Jackson, incoming board chair, presented the award.

“This beloved individual is a shinning example of generosity as she consistently looks for ways to cheerfully and humbly pour into our community,” said Conley. He noted Light consistently seeks ways to give generously, most often behind the scenes.

Suzie Light encourages everyone to become involved in being a champion for the community. Looking on are Brad Jackson, incoming KEDCO board president; and Blaine Conley, current KEDCO board president.

“She serves on various charitable boards, clubs and committees throughout the years, including the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Kiwanis, Kosciusko Development Land Trust, H.E.L.P. Kosciusko, Live Well Kosciusko, OrthoWorx, Warsaw Main Street, Warsaw Public Arts Commission and she’s a player to be named later in a trade with the Cubs, I think,” Conley said jokingly, but added it would have to be fact checked.

Light received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2018. She’s played an integral part in role and leading the Critical Corridor Connections Initiative to develop an inclusive economic development agenda for the area and Warsaw. She recently joined forces with the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams to volunteer on the Lake Doctor podcast. She served as a consultant for KEDCO the past four years and fearlessly helped us steer the ship in the interim period prior to Peggy (Friday) joining the team. Thank God for that.” said Conley.

He further stated for nearly 27 years, Light dedicated herself to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, leading as CEO for 25 of those years and growing its assets from $400,000 to more than $60 million. When she retired the foundation honored her legacy by establishing two endowments in her name. “You guys know who I’m talking about. The Suzie Light Visual and Performing Arts Fund and the Suzie Light NonProfit Excellence Leadership Fund, reflecting her deep passion for these causes,” said Conley.

“If you know Suzie, you know she’s not afraid to use her voice for good and she encourages others to do the same. If you know Suzie, you are blessed.”

Jackson stated it was his honor to introduce his long time friend, Light as the recipient.

Diana Diaz-Barriga, Zimmer Biomet, was one of the Rising Leader award recipients.

Thanking KEDCO for the recognition, Light joked she had picked up the awards, but never opened the boxes.

Light stated “I hope you all heard important messages tonight. We need you to be the voice of championing our community. I’ve done this for a long time. I need your help. You all need champion our community for developments. For good things that are happening, and we’re not doing it for us. We’re doing it the future of our community. Thank you, guys.”

Additional awards were presented that evening. Recipients received a unique Kosciusko County Shaped plaque, created by Whetstone Woodenware, Silver Lake.

“One of the unique charms of Kosciusko County is how the community rallies around those who make a difference,” said Ryan Zimmerman about the Rising Leader Award. “This award honors professionals under the age of 40 for everyday exceptional leadership in the workplaces and within the community. These individuals could be influential entrepreneurs, outstanding employees or achieve  contributions making Kosciusko County an even brighter place to live, work and thrive.”

Recipients of the Rising Leader Award are: Diana Diaz-Barriga, Zimmer Biomet; Michael Pahl, Winona IT; Ben Logan, Habitat for Humanity; Jessica Shilling, Community Insurance Partners; Josh Silveus, Silveus Insurance Group; Casey Trombley, Kosciusko County Jail; and Gabriella Tucker, SYM Financial Advisors.

Emily Illingworth Kosnik presented the Business Impact Awards, which celebrates local businesses for investments in the community, “that are driving growth and prosperity by investing in our community. Whether launching or expanding a business, creating jobs or making  innovative workplace contributions, these companies are making a lasting impact,” she said.

The five business recipients are: Core Mechanical Services, Danco Medical, Warsaw Cut Glass, Winona Powder Coating and Plug and Play.

Gabriella Tucker, SYM Financial Services, was one of the Rising Leaders Award recipients.

Kosnik also presented the 2024 Community Impact Awards. “The Community Impact Award shines a spotlight on the transformative projects, programs and visionary leaders driving them for Kosciusko County to make it a more vibrant and growing community,” she stated. There were four projects or special programs recognized.

Award recipients are:

Cardinal Services and CTB Inc., who teamed up to create the CTB Inc. Opportunity Lab at Cardinal Services.

POLYWOOD for partnering with Wawasee Community Schools to establish the POLYWOOD Academy as part of the pathways career and technical education cooperative.

OrthoWorx, which partnered with Warsaw Community Schools to introduce the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Pathway.

Kosciusko Leadership Academy for serving and developing leaders in the county for the past 43 years.

The celebration evening also included a brief business meeting, a 40-Year Reflection presented by Light; highlights of KEDCO presented by Peggy Friday, CEO; featured speaker Brandon Noll, Plug and Play Indiana director; and a keynote speech by Ralph Meyer.

Meyer, entrepreneur and grandson of Ralph Teetor, 1890-1982, shared the story of his grandfather’s life. Teetor was an inventor, industrialist and visionary and is featured in the documentary “Blind Logic.”