The NEI Pioneer Podcast

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Jun 2026

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The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of Northeast Indiana. It explores the journey of the pioneers of the region and how they got to where they are today. The target demographic of this podcast is multi-dimensional. It hopes to connect with business leader, as well as everyday people in the 11-county region it serves. It plans to also pique the interest of business leaders outside the region who are looking for a place to expand or relocate their business. Created and hosted by Jonathan Sackett.

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55 recent

June 10, 202643 min

Mark O'Sullivan x Parkview Mirro Center with Guest Co-Host Ethel Massing

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 fragile patients. The conversation highlights how advances in infant brain care are equipping clinicians with new tools to support vulnerable newborns at critical moments in their development. Also, Mark and Ethel discuss the authenticity and the history of the local Irish pub, JK O'Donnell's. To learn more about NeuroBell: https://www.neurobell.com/ To learn more about the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation: https://www.parkview.com/mirro-center The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally-acclaimed bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Grace College https://www.grace.edu/▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #infantcare #NICU #parkview

May 27, 202636 min

David Geders: The Story Behind Local Music Shop with a National Audience

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 guitars in North America.To learn more about Copper Chord: https://copperchordmusic.mymusicstaff.com/home The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally-acclaimed bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Barrett McNagny https://www.barrettlaw.com/ Grace College https://www.grace.edu/ ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #music #guitar #huntington #musiclessons #japaneseguitars #collection #collectors

May 13, 202640 min

Grace College & Orthoworx: Secrets of a Thriving Partnership with Drew Flamm & Ryan Christner

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 into making their community thrive. To learn more about Grace College: https://www.grace.edu/ To learn more about OrthroWorx: https://orthoworxindiana.com/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally-acclaimed bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Grace College https://www.grace.edu/ ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #gracecollege #orthropedics #education #nonprofit #medtech

March 18, 202644 min

Brittany Scott: Quipping Women to Grow and Thrive

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 career advice, and discusses the future of GROW. To learn more about Brittany and her work: https://growwiwo.com/ To register for The GROW Conference Fort Wayne 2026: https://events.humanitix.com/the2026growconferencefortwayne Special promo code for $50 of your ticket: NEIPOD To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #women #conference #growth

March 4, 202641 min

Mayor Sharon Tucker: Get to Know the Woman Making Fort Wayne History

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, and what impact she has made on the city during her time as mayor. To learn more about Tucker and her work for the City of Fort Wayne, visit https://www.cityoffortwayne.in.gov/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #mayor #politics #unhoused #casino #tomhenry

February 18, 202648 min

Edmond O'Neal: Opportunities to Thrive Here

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, Michigan, to Stanford, to Texas, and finally to Fort Wayne. To learn more about Northeast Indiana Works, visit https://neinworks.org/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #workforce #jobs #workforcedevelopment #career

February 4, 202643 min

Mark Robison & Scott Figgins: Insurance Built on Relationship

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. Additionally, they explain why their organization is consistently voted as one of the best places to work in Indiana. To learn more about Brotherhood Mutual, visit https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #insurance #brotherhoodmutual #christianity #specialtyinsurance

January 21, 202646 min

Rob Mitrevski: L3Harris is Fort Wayne's Connection to Space

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 emerging missile threats, adapts to rapidly advancing technologies, and applies decades of accumulated knowledge to stay ahead in a high-stakes global environment. Rob gives an inside look at what it takes to work at L3Harris, from engineering and security clearances to non-engineering career paths, as well as how the company collaborates with NASA and SpaceX on space-based missions. Additionally, Northeast Indiana continues to punch above its weight in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and defense. To learn more about L3Harris, visit https://www.l3harris.com/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Barrett McNagny https://www.barrettlaw.com/ Sweetwater https://www.sweetwater.com/ ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #defense #military #goldendome #nasa #weather #gps #missledefense #noaa #spacex

January 21, 202639 min

Matt Truty & Caleb Bertsch: Reinventing the World of Tech Consulting

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 Pro Solutions, visit https://btprosolutions.com/ To nominate to be a guest on the show, contact Vice President of Marketing and Communication Jonathan Sackett at jonathan@neindiana.com. The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. Do you know someone in Northeast Indiana with a story to tell? Nominate them to be a guest on the NEI Pioneer Podcast! Nominate here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana.com ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Barrett McNagny https://www.barrettlaw.com/ Sweetwater https://www.sweetwater.com/ ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #culture #indiana #worklife #worklifebalance #tech #realism #AI

December 10, 202550 min

Season 2 Recap Episode: Featuring the Hosts!!!

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 in 2026. If you know of someone who should be a guest on the show, nominate them here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/nominate/ The NEI Pioneer Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast powered by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Pioneer Starts Here platform. The podcast showcases and shares the stories of resilience and perseverance from Northeast Indiana. 🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://pioneerstartshere.com/podcast/ ▶︎ Follow Us on Social LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/pioneerstartshere/ X https://twitter.com/NortheastIN | https://twitter.com/psh_nei Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ | https://www.instagram.com/pioneerstartshere/ Facebook https://facebook.com/neindiana | https://www.facebook.com/PioneerStartsHere ▶︎ Thanks to our sponsors for making this podcast possible. Barrett McNagny https://www.barrettlaw.com/ Sweetwater https://www.sweetwater.com/ ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #recap #arianamcgee #navigatematernity #heavytech #railroad #fortwaynefc #futbol #soccer #chef #gordonramsey #disability #leadership #cooking #mentalhealth #popcorn #design #architecture