NORTH WEBSTER - It was Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday night, but KEDCO was the one handing out awards to community members and businesses that have had an impact on the community.
Blaine Conley, current KEDCO Board of Directors chair, and Brad Jackson, incoming board chair, surprised Suzie Light with the 2024 Community Catalyst Award.
“The Community Catalyst Award honors the individual who stands out as both a business leader and a dedicated member of the community,” Conley said. “As a difference-maker and a catalyst for the community, this person makes positive change happen where we live and work. As always, we’re recognizing one special individual with this award.”
He said Light is a shining example of generosity as she consistently looks for ways to humbly pour into the community. He said she consistently seeks ways to give generously, most often behind the scenes.
Light has served on various charitable boards, clubs and committees throughout the years, including the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Kiwanis, Kosciusko Development Land Trust, HELP 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, joking at the end.
In 2018, Light received a Sagamore of the Wabash from the Indiana governor. She’s played an integral part and role in leading the Critical Corridor Connections Initiative to develop an inclusive economic development agenda for the Warsaw and surrounding area.
She recently joined forces with the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams to volunteer as a co-host on the Lake Doctor podcast. She served as a consultant for KEDCO for the past four years and “fearlessly helped us steer the ship” during the interim period before Peggy Friday joined KEDCO as its CEO. “Thank God for that,” Conley stated.
For nearly 27 years, Light dedicated herself to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, leading as the CEO for 25 of those years. She helped grow the foundation from $400,000 to more than $60 million. Upon her retirement from the foundation, Conley said her legacy was recognized with two endowments in her name.
“If you know Suzie, you know she’s not afraid to use her voice for good, and she encourages others to do the same,” Conley said. “If you know Suzie, you are blessed.”
Jackson introduced Light as the award recipient.
Upon receiving the award, Light said, “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 to champion our community for development. For good things that are happening, and we’re not doing it for us. We’re doing it for the future of our community. Thank you, guys!”
Seven people received the 2024 Rising Leaders Award, presented by Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman said the award recognizes professionals under the age of 40 for everyday exceptional leadership in the workplaces and in the community.
“These individuals could be influential entrepreneurs, outstanding employees or achieve contributions to making Kosciusko County an even brighter place to live, work and thrive,” he said.

    Ben Logan, Habitat for Humanity, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.
  

Award recipients included 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 2024 Business Impact Awards, which celebrates business in Kosciusko County that are driving growth and prosperity by investing in the community. Whether launching or expanding a business, creating jobs or making innovative workplace contributions, these companies are making a lasting impact, she said.

    Winona Powder Coating received one of the Business Impact Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

The five “outstanding” businesses are Core Mechanical Services, Danco Medical, Warsaw Cut Glass, Winona Powder Coating and Plug and Play.
Kosnik then 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 ... community,” she stated.
The first award recipient was Cardinal Services and CTB Inc. for teaming up to create the CTB Inc. Opportunity Lab at Cardinal Services.
Polywood received the award for partnering with Wawasee Community Schools to establish the Polywood Academy as part of the pathways career and technical education cooperative.
OrthoWorx this year partnered with Warsaw Community Schools to introduce the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Pathway (RAMP).
Kosciusko Leadership Academy was the final recipient of the Community Impact Award for serving and developing leaders in the county for the past 43 years.
The night’s event also included a short business meeting; a reflection on the past 40 years of KEDCO by Light; KEDCO highlights by Friday; featured speaker Brandon Noll, Plug and Play Indiana director; and a keynote speech by Ralph Meyer. Meyer is an entrepreneur and the grandson of the late inventor and industrialist Ralph Teetor (1890-1982), who is the subject of the documentary “Blind Logic.”

    Warsaw Cut Glass received one of the 2024 Business Impact Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

    Polywood received one of the 2024 Community Impact Awards at the KEDCO annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

    Plug and Play received one of the 2024 Business Impact Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union

    OrthoWorx received one of the 2024 Community Impact Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

    Michael Pahl, Winona IT, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

    Kosciusko Leadership Academy, represented by Allyn Decker, received one of the 2024 Community Impact Awards at the KEDCO annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

    Josh Silveus, Silveus Insurance Group, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union

    Gabriella Tucker, SYM Financial Services, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

    Diana Diaz-Barriga, Zimmer Biomet, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

  

    Danco Medical received one of the Business Impact Awards at the KEDCO annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.
  

  

    Core Mechanical Services received one of the Business Impact Awards at the KEDCO annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.
  

    Casey Trombley, Kosciusko County Jail, received one of the 2024 Rising Leaders Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.
  

    Cardinal Services and CTB Inc. received one of the Community Impact Awards at KEDCO’s annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union