The NEI Pioneer Podcast

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

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

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/ Taste 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

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

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