The NEI Pioneer Podcast

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Sep 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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October 14, 202638 min

Mandee Mikulski & Ali Butts: Inside the Famous Science Central Museum

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett welcomes Science Central's Executive Director Mandee Mikulski and Events and Partnership Manager Ali Butts! Mandee and Ali highlight what Science Central offers, but can't cover everything, there are over 200 exhibits in the building! They also discuss how involved the community is with Science Central and how so many people rediscover their childhood when they walk through the doors of the building. On November 6th, Mixology is Science Central’s gala celebrating the craft of cocktails. Attendees have the opportunity to try a lineup of original, themed drinks conceived by elite mixologists from around the city. To learn more about Science Central: https://www.sciencecentral.org/ Register for Mixology here: https://www.sciencecentral.org/event/mixology/ Register for Winter WonderLab: https://www.sciencecentral.org/event/winter-wonderlab/ The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally acclaimed biweekly 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/ ▶︎ Check us out on social media! Follow for the #NEIPioneerPodcast and #ThePioneerPath: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/pioneerstartshere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pioneerstartshere Facebook: https://facebook.com/pioneerstartshere X https://twitter.com/PSH_NEI Follow for #NEI & Economic Development Updates: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/neindiana X: https://twitter.com/NortheastIN ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #science #astronomy #education #mixology

September 23, 202640 min

Edwin Chow: Serial Entrepreneur Builds City's First Climbing Gym For Community

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett welcomes the owner of Summit City Climbing Company and our 2026 Pioneer of the Year, Edwin Chow! Edwin has created a culture of community with Fort Wayne's first rock climbing gym. As the son of two immigrants, he was drawn to Northeast Indiana and its culture of people who love helping others. Now, he is taking what he's learned and passing it along in his new venture as a youth pastor at a local church. To watch Edwin's Pioneer Video: https://youtu.be/12wdbsyICnI?si=8j8xtdffZvz43AQ3 To learn more about the Summit City Climbing Co.: https://www.summitcityclimbing.com/ The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally acclaimed biweekly 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/ ▶︎ Check us out on social media! Follow for the #NEIPioneerPodcast and #ThePioneerPath: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/pioneerstartshere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pioneerstartshere Facebook: https://facebook.com/pioneerstartshere X https://twitter.com/PSH_NEI Follow for #NEI & Economic Development Updates: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/neindiana/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeast_in/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/neindiana X: https://twitter.com/NortheastIN ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #pastor #church #faith #mentor #climbing #gym

September 9, 202652 min

JA of Northeast Indiana: Innovative Education Starts Here

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcomes three experienced team members from Junior Achievement, including Karen Cooper, Vice President of Experiential Learning Centers, Ashley Adamson, Work Readiness Director, and Nicole Winans, 3DE Senior Director! They give us an inside look at everything Junior Achievement offers, including JA Biztown, Finance Park, 3DE, and Legacy Park. Junior Achievement designs unique learning experiences with the end in mind: real outcomes for students. To learn more about Junior Achievement: https://northernindiana.ja.org/ The NEI Pioneer Podcast is an internationally acclaimed biweekly 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 #juniorachievement #ja #education #experientialeducation #job #career #work #school

August 26, 202647 min

Dawn Rosemond: The Journey of Being the First

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Multimedia Manager Callie Herring welcome Firm Strategic Pillars Partner at Barnes & Thornburg, Dawn Rosemond! Part of Indiana legal history, Dawn is the first African American woman to rise from associate to equity partner at Barnes & Thornburg and, reportedly, in the state of Indiana. Dawn is a published author of Boss Presence and a national keynote speaker on leadership, mindset, and professional development. She also serves as Counsel to the President of the Indiana State Bar Association. What we find out from her is why she wanted to be a lawyer at the age of 11, how she ended up at Barnes & Thornburg, how she created her own role at the firm, and how she found her purpose along the way. To learn more about Dawn and Barnes & Thornburg: https://btlaw.com/en 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 ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #law #lawyer #purpose #author #culture #integration #sponsorship

September 16, 202647 min

Kody Tinnel: The Impact of Arts & Culture on Economic Development

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Senior Director of Regional Initiatives Jacob Ihrie welcome Arts United Vice President of Community Development Kody Tinnel! Kody's background has taken him from the human resources department at the largest school district in Indiana to a vice president role at Arts United. He's also involved in too many boards to count, but it all comes back to making his corner of the world a better place. Kody talks about the renovation at Arts United, being student body president as a freshman at IPFW, and what's next for the arts and culture scene in Northeast Indiana. To learn more about Kody and Arts United: https://artsunited.org/ T aste of the Arts on Aug. 29: https://artsunited.org/taste/ Creative Economy Announcement: https://neindiana.com/blog/northeast-indiana-awarded-10-6-million-for-the-lei-arts-and-culture-initiative/ 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 ▶︎ Visit https://neindiana.com/ to learn more about NEI. #nei #mynei #pioneerstartshere #fortwayne #podcast #accessibility #arts #culture #artsandculture #creative #tree #economicdevelopment #community #development

July 22, 202653 min

Becca Graf: This Place Will Be a Housing Model Used Nationally

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcomes Becca Graf, Executive Director of CASS Housing! Becca talks about how CASS Housing and its unique housing solutions empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maximize their potential and grow in their independence. She discusses how CASS Academy started and how important the program is to the success of their organization. Finally, she tells us how CASS Housing can be a model for other organizations doing similar projects around the country. To learn more about Becca and CASS Housing: https://www.casshousing.org/ 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 #accessibility #disability #advocacy #inclusionmatters #inclusion #housing #housingmarket #house #academy #learning #lifeskills

July 8, 202633 min

Zach Groth: The Scoop Behind the News Reporter

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Copywriter and Brand Strategist Brice Vance welcome Zach Groth from @21AliveNews ! Zach is a Media Executive and Lifestyle Host with 21 Alive, and he shares how he got his start in broadcasting at a young age, how he got to Fort Wayne, and why he decided to put down roots in Fort Wayne. He also tells his favorite stories and if he still gets the itch to stand on the sidelines on a Friday night in Northeast Indiana. To learn more about Zach: https://www.21alivenews.com/authors/ZachGroth/ 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 #news #newsroom #21alive #broadcast #sportsnews #lifestyle #highschoolsports #illinois

June 24, 202639 min

Sea Grandon: A Place to Live Local & Work Global

On this episode of The NEI Pioneer Podcast, Chief MarCom and Brand Officer Jonathan Sackett and Senior Director of Regional Initiatives Jacob Ihrie welcome Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Board President Sea Grandon! A contemporary art advisor, Sea also owns Atelier, a contemporary art gallery located in Warsaw, Indiana. She talks about her journey from practicing law to selling art, as well as her path from New York City to Warsaw, Indiana. Sea is the living truth of the phrase "live local and work global." To learn more about Sea and Atelier: https://www.seagrandon.com/ To learn more about the Wagon Wheel: https://wagonwheelcenter.org/ 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 #art #gallery #theater #wagonwheel #artist

June 10, 202643 min

Mark O'Sullivan x Parkview Mirro Center: Ground Breaking Medical Technology & Research

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