Clearly Kosciusko

Ryan Hill – Building community in the gym in a community he loves

Warsaw native, Ryan Hill, a life-long athlete with two world titles for martial arts, and owner of CrossFit Haymaker in Downtown Warsaw, shares why he chose to return to the area and how staying active and building community was a big part of it. 

 

Show Notes

• Ryan Hill is a Warsaw native, and owner of CrossFit Haymaker (since 2013) located in Warsaw.
• Ryan grew up in a family devoted to martial arts. Ryan has two world titles for Taekwondo, and of his five family members growing up, they have six titles.
• After spending sometime on the west coast and choosing to return to Warsaw, Ryan said, “[My] roots are here, I absolutely love this area.”
• Ryan encourages you to checkout the charm of Downtown Warsaw. and Ryan suggests trying Biryani Kitchen, 110 Craft Meatery, and Rua downtown; and Light Rail Café and Trailhouse Bicycles in the Village at Winona.

Mindy Truex – ”All things eggs” and a nationally ranked family business

Mindy Truex, President of Creighton Brothers LLC and Kosciusko County native, shares insight on her journey as a leader of a nationally ranked business, producing roughly 3 million eggs per day. And hear why Mindy still chooses to call Kosciusko County home.

 

Show Notes

• Mindy Truex is a Kosciusko County native and President of Creighton Brothers LLC. Ranked 28th in the nation for egg production, Warsaw-based Creighton Brothers produces roughly 3 million eggs per day!
• Kosciusko County is home to Mindy. She was born and raised south of Atwood, IN. She spent time in West Lafayette when she attended Purdue University, and later ventured to Washington State to garner some new experience at a farm south of Tacoma, but returned home to be a part of the family business.
• Creighton’s doesn’t typically selle ggs directly to consumers, however you can purchase them when you visit Creighton’s Crazy Egg Café.
• You’ll have to tune-into hear from Mindy what came first, the chicken or the egg, AND Mindy shares some fun facts about the shelf life of eggs and some baking hacks!
• Mindy recommends The American Egg Board (www.incredibleegg.org) as a resource for “all things eggs.”
• One of many things Mindy appreciates about Kosciusko County is its diversity, from its roots in agriculture, to the lakes, and being a “year-round” community that offers so much during every season.

Rod Wildman – A mission to empower families and disrupt the cycle of poverty

Rod Wildman, a Kosciusko County native and co-founder of 2nd Mile Missions, shares his story about building an organization that serves people in the Dominican Republic, to spread the love of Christ, and provide children and adults with educational resources, spiritual enrichment, and employment and business opportunities.

 

Show Notes

• Rod Wildman is a Kosciusko County native, and co-founder of 2nd Mile Missions.
• The organization began after Rod and his wife, Nancy took a trip to the Dominican Republic. The mission of the organization is “To spread the love of Christ by disrupting the cycle of poverty in the communities we serve. We will do this by providing children and adults educational resources, spiritual enrichment, and employment and business opportunities.”
• 2nd Mile Missions opened its first school in the Dominican in 2007, serving 60 children. Today, they serve more than 1,000 kids at school, and would like to build a new high school in the next couple of years.
• Vida Plena, also part of 2nd Mile Missions, was created to give women dignified employment. Support these women through the Vida Plena on-line store.
• Rod expressed his gratitude to the Kosciusko County community, sharing that around 90% of the sponsorships for students come from donors/sponsors in Kosciusko County.
• When asked what kind of transformation Rod has seen in the community throughout the years, he said The Village at Winona and Grace College have really grown and evolved in positive ways.
• Rod recommended checking out the local mountain bike trails, and Trailhouse Village Bicycles. Jody and Rod both noted that if you talk to Barry at Trailhouse, he will help connect you to people and places if you have a passion for the trails and biking.

Kylie Kehres – Diving into new opportunities and planting roots to call K-County “home”

A Hoosier at heart, Kylie journeyed from Fishers, Indiana to Warsaw 12 years ago for an internship opportunity. Hear why Kylie made the choice to plant roots here and call K-County home.

 

Show Notes

• Kylie Kehres came from Fishers, Indiana to Warsaw for the first time nearly 10 years ago for an internship opportunity with Zimmer (now Zimmer-Biomet). To grow in her career and open herself to new opportunities, she made the decision to plant roots in Warsaw.
• Today, Kylie serves as the Director of Finance at Warsaw-based business, Network Partners, and resides in Warsaw with her husband and two-year-old daughter.
• What does Kylie think is special about the community?Sheemphasizedthatbusiness leaders solve problems together, and help set one another up for success. Business owners and leaders are willing to share knowledge and experiences to support the next business.
• Kylie and her family love visiting the wide variety of unique local restaurants, and spending time at the lake. She and her husband recently purchased a lake cottage and look forward to creating more family memories together. (Kosciusko County has 100+ lakes and 600+ miles of streams).

Lyle Schrock – Creating Smiles, connecting with others, and experiencing K-County to its fullest

Hear from a local entrepreneur about why he chooses to do business and life in Kosciusko County...all while "Creating Smiles." 

 

Show Notes

• Lyle Schrock, local business owner of The Lab in Downtown Warsaw, is originally from neighboring Elkhart County, Indiana. Although rooted in the Hoosier State, Lyle also lived in Wisconsin for a while, but chose to come back to the area.
• Lyle shared that he grew up in the Amish community, so he’s self-taught in many areas. This sparked some of his curiosity to learn new things, while experiences in other jobs and industries also had him searching for a way to make a meaningful impact in the community.
• The Lab was born from Lyle’s natural knack for fixing things, and his desire to serve the community. The Lab is a local electronic repair shop for anything from phones, computers and tablets, to drones and other devices.
• With the unique tagline for an electronic repair shop, “Creating Smiles,”Lyle and his team create inviting and memorable experiences for each and every customer.
• Outside of work, Lyle enjoys spending time outdoors running on the trails and at the many local lakes (Kosciusko County has 100+ lakes and 600+ miles of streams). Here are some trails to experience in Kosciusko County.
• “Kosciusko is always going to be my home base because it’s really just incredible here,” said Lyle.

Lucas Fonseca & Elise Young – Supporting entrepreneurs and building community through language & communication

Lucas Fonseca Arriagada, local business owner of Language Matters LLC in Winona Lake, and Elise Young of gener8tor business accelerator program, chat with us about supporting entrepreneurs, and bolstering the community by creating more connection through language and communication. 

 

Show Notes

• Lucas Fonseca Arriagada, originally from a large city in the country of Chile, came to Kosciusko County with a scholarship to attend Grace College in Winona Lake.
• After studying several different languages in school while living in Chile, Lucas came to Grace to pursue business, and his passion and support from mentors, helped unfold new opportunities. Lucas founded local small business, Language Matters LLC which offers language services including Spanish, English and French. The company is in the process of offering additional languages, so stay tuned.
• Language Matters partners with individuals, businesses and schools to teach and equip people with language services to remove communication barriers, and increase connection within the community.
• Elise Young, Director, gBETA MainStreet Bloomington–Columbus for the nationally recognized gener8tor program, shared insight about gener8tor and how she connected with Lucas and Language Matters. KEDCO connected Lucas and Elise after hearing of opportunities for a small business accelerator program and partnership between gener8tor and the Indiana Small Business Development Center. Lucas was one of just five chosen for the program, from more than 50 applicants in Indiana.
• Lucas said, “Being able to be in a community where people are willing to receive your ideas and take them to the next level, is really something I value. And I see it as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs in communities like ours to develop their idea, their business, because there is a support system that exists...”
• Language Matters is a program that builds connection, bolsters the community, and increases quality of life for individuals. When people are challenged with language barriers, they’re not able to experience the amazing Kosciusko County we’re all able to experience together.

Ben Higgins – Generous Coffee, a hometown with open arms, and building connection in a world that can feel isolating

Hear from Warsaw native Ben Higgins about how his journey and experiences from the midwest to L.A., and places in between, have helped him discern his passions, and inspire his encouraging book, "Alone in Plain Sight."

 

Show Notes

• Generous Coffee Co. began when Kosciusko County native Ben Higgins and long-time friends, Drew Scholl and Riley Fuller followed their passions to bring change to the world. Generous Coffee Co. is a “for purpose” company that sells life-changing coffee because 100% of the profits go to nonprofit organizations.
• Three-year-old startup, Generous Coffee Co. has locations in both Denver––where Ben currently lives––and Lightrail Café and Roaster in Winona Lake. Kosciusko County Native, Tyler Silveus serves as CEO of the company.
• Although Ben resides in Denver now, he has a special place in his heart for Kosciusko County, and still returns home to visit. “It’s wild how no matter where I move to, this area continues to pull me back in, in the best of ways,” Ben said.
• When comparing and contrastingDenver and the Warsaw-area Ben said, “Life moves slower here, and I say that in the best of ways. You feel like you have time to go to coffee with somebody. You have time to go get drinks with somebody, to sit down for a dinner, or to watch the sunset or sunrise.”
• Rooted in the northeast Indiana region and Midwest, Generous Coffee is roasted and shipped locally from Fort Wayne.
• When asked what the best way is to support Generous Coffee, Ben encourages people to switch their usual morning cup(s) of coffee to drinking Generous Coffee. And you can easily order it online at generouscoffee.com.
• Along with Generous Coffee, Ben is also an author and podcaster. His book Alone in Plain Sight, released in February 2021, was written to help people find authentic connection. After playing a role on a popular television show several years ago, Ben at first experienced an “infatuation” with the idea of fame, but to his surprise, it eventually led him to feel completely isolated. “I wrote this book because I wanted people to feel less alone,” Ben said.
• Ben also serves as co-host on iHeart Radio’s “Almost Famous”podcast. With a pop culture focus, Ben admittedly shared that his co-host Ashley is one who is more well-versed in pop culture. Ben also hosts the “Hope Still Wins” podcast which has a theme of hope. The podcast offers insights from thought-leaders on topics such as faith, music, mental health, and racial injustice.

Kelly Mager – An entrepreneur offering connection for moms and families with ‘things to do’ in Kosciusko County

Kelly Mager wears many hats as an entrepreneur, mom and wife. She and her husband came to the Hoosier state seven years ago, and today Kelly has become connected in the community by offering connection to other moms with young kiddos. 

 

Show Notes

• Kelly Mager, a talented woman with many hats––some including entrepreneur, wife and mother––moved to the area with her husband from New York seven years ago. The reason for coming to the Hoosier state? Warsaw, The Orthopedic Capital of the World®.
• After starting a family and becoming a mom, Kelly found it challenging to know when and where activities for children were offered in the community. After doing some informal customer discovery with other moms, Kelly started Mini Mischief Managed. It’s a resource for local families to find kid-friendly activities––primarily for kiddos between the ages of 0-5.
• When asked about favorite things to do in the community, Kelly and her family enjoy anything outdoors from cycling on the trails and around the lakes, and visiting nearby parks and public beaches. They also visit the Warsaw Community Public Library often, and recommend checking out camps and activities offered by the parks and recreation department.
• Kelly recommends checking out The Treehouse indoor play place, inside North Webster Church of God, along with Main Street Coffee Co. And when asked about additional spots or activities more families could enjoy, Kelly said more indoor spaces like The Treehouse would be useful for parents.
• Be sure to checkout Kelly’s book “15 Ways for New Moms to Manage Stress and Stay Sane” for useful tips for easing into motherhood.

Nate Bosch – Diving deep into the 100+ lakes of K-County

Did you know Kosciusko County is home to more than 100 freshwater lakes? We chat with Dr. Nate Bosch of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams about 'all things lakes' and how the lake landscape is incredibly unique in K-County. 

 

Show Notes

• Nate Bosch, PH.D is the director at the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College.
• Unique to Kosciusko County, the mission of the Lilly Center is to make the fresh water lakes and streams clean, healthy, safe and beautiful. The organization conducts research, provides valuable resources, engages with and educates residents and businesses, and collaborates with local partners.
• Born in Holland, Michigan, Nate spent ample time around the Northern lakes. He and his family moved to the area after he accepted the director position with the Lilly Center, and they haven’t looked back.
• With family living at Winona Lake, and knowing his grandparents traveled from Michigan to Winona Lake for entertainment years ago, Nate and his family enjoy spending time on Winona. He was quick to add that ALL of the lakes in the county have something unique to offer– whether you’re looking for good fishing spots, the best areas to swim or enjoy recreation on the lakes.
• In addition to being a great gathering place, Nate said, “Our lakes truly are remarkable for recreation.”
• When asked how unique the lake landscape in Kosciusko County is, Nate said very unique.“ We have over 100 lakes in our county, we have the biggest natural lake in Indiana [Lake Wawasee]. Lake Tippecanoe is the deepest natural lake in Indiana, and the Tippecanoe River goes right through the county and is considered one of the top 10 streams in the U.S. by the Nature Conservancy,” Nate said.
• The lakes in Kosciusko County have a $300M economic impact each year.
• The lakes have a rich history. You may have heard bits about some of the ‘legends of the lakes’ including an alleged WWII plane sunken in Tippy Lake, and Al Capone hiding out and gambling at Lake Wawasee years ago.
• One best-kept secret is the Great Blue Heron Rookery about 3⁄4 mile off U.S. Hwy 30 and State Road 15 behind the Kohl’s store. In the spring, you’ll find over 100 nests of Great Blue Heron.

Dan Davin – From Big City living to lake living...sunrise to sunset

In Episode 22, we chat with Dan Davin, Vice President of Operations at MRP a ServIT Company, located in Warsaw. Dan and several of his employees recently left Chicago to start a new chapter in Kosciusko County...and they haven't looked back.

Show Notes

• After spending most weekends in the summer on Webster Lake for the past 15 years, Dan Davin and his wife recently became “primary” residents of Kosciusko County––yay!
• The couple started an IT company 25 years ago in Chicago. And after a recent merger (April1, 2021) with ServIT in Warsaw, Dan, his wife and several of his employees made the move from Chicago to Warsaw...and they haven’t looked back. The company is now known as MRP a ServIT Company.
• Having spent 15 years at the lake, when the merger was announced, Dan shared with his employees the advantages of living in Warsaw versus Chicago. An obvious difference he shared was the 22% - 25% difference in cost of living.
• Several employees and their families made the plunge and moved to Kosciusko County. Dan shared that when walking through the warehouse every now and then he jokes with employees asking, “Do you want to thank me now?” He said the response is always “yes.”
• Dan’s perspective on the greatest advantages to living in Kosciusko County:
  • Lake living––you can find it all over Kosciusko County with more than 100 lakes
  • You feel safe wherever you go in the community
  • It’s a laid-back atmosphere with friendly neighbors
• Dan said, “My view in Chicago was my neighbor’s garage. Now my view is looking over Lake Webster and watching the sun come up. It’s extremely peaceful.”
• Foodies–Don’t underestimate K-County’s offerings. A few of Dan’s nearby favorites are 26th Street Mexican Grill, Maria’s (Dan recommends the skillets), Oswalt Family Bakery & Café.