Bird to receive Legacy Award

An IU Health executive will be honored for service to the community.

The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce announced that Dr. Jeff Bird will be the recipient of its 2025 Legacy Award. It will be presented on Sept. 18 during the Legacy Dinner at Horizon Convention Center.

The honor goes to those who “have made extraordinary, sustained and positive contributions to the Muncie-Delaware County community at large, and who have provided leadership in the development of programs, events and/or new traditions that promote goodwill and community pride.”

Bird is president of the IU Health east central region, which includes IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, IU Health Jay in Portland and IU Health Blackford in Hartford City. He was chief resident at Ball Memorial Hospital.

“Dr. Bird is the embodiment of what the Legacy Award is all about,” said Elizabeth Rowray, president and CEO of the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, in a press release. “As someone who was raised in Muncie and has spent most of his career giving back to this community, he is exactly the kind of person the Chamber wants to recognize with the Legacy Award.”

College honored

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recently named Ball State University as an Opportunity College and University.

The honor comes through the new Student Access and Earnings Classification, developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. Colleges are evaluated based on their “ability to serve students from the communities they represent and on how alumni earnings compare to peers in their regional job markets.”

“We are grateful to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education,” said Anand R. Marri, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at BSU, in a press release. “This designation is a meaningful affirmation of our commitment to student success and the real-world impact of a Ball State education. It also reinforces our mission of empowering our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service.”

Three earn A grade

The Leapfrog Group gave A grades to Bluffton Regional Medical Center and two other Lutheran Health Network hospitals.

The grade is based on 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as  systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. Leapfrog is an independent national nonprofit watchdog with a focus on patient safety.

“This achievement reflects the commitment of our team members to providing safe and

high-quality care to our patients through dedication and consistency,” said Bluffton Regional Medical Center chief administrative officer and chief nursing officer Julie Thompson in a press release. “We’re truly honored by this recognition but the real reward is knowing our work is making a difference.”

Other network hospitals with A grades were Dupont and Lutheran Downtown.

Flight takes off

Indianapolis International Airport celebrated its inaugural Aer Lingus flight to Dublin.

The flight will serve as a connection to other destinations, including Paris, London and Rome.

Training available

Indiana Chamber of Commerce will host Forklift Safety: Train the Trainer from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.

The event offers in-person and virtual options and will be held at the Indiana Chamber Conference Center in Indianapolis. Participants will learn about training staff on forklift operation.

For more information, or to register, visit indianachamber.com.

Hosting drive

Menards stores are holding a pet supplies drive through the end of May.

Supplies needed include food, treats, feeders, collars and beds. Items collected will be donated to local humane associations.

Donation boxes will be near the next doors at Menards locations, including in Muncie, Richmond and Celina, Ohio.

Nominations open

Nominations are open for the Indiana Manufacturers Association 2025 Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

The awards honor Indiana companies and individuals for their contributions to the manufacturing industry. They are open to all manufacturers in Indiana.

Anyone can make a nomination by visiting indianamfg.com/2025-manufacturing-excellence-awards. The deadline is Sunday, Aug. 31.

Applications sought

Tyson Ventures, a branch of Tyson Foods, is seeking applications for Tyson Demo Day 2025.

The event will focus on advancing artificial intelligence in food technology, emphasizing brand engagement, innovation in research and development and reimagining product development processes. There will be a focus on artificial intelligence this year.

“This year, we’re spotlighting the transformative potential of AI to enhance how we connect with customers and consumers, design innovative products, and deliver exceptional experiences,” said Doug Kulka, Tyson Foods chief information and technology officer, in a press release.

Firms that are selected will pitch their innovations at Tyson Demo Day in July.  

Nomination opens

The state is now accepting nominations for the Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Awards.

The awards honor businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have “demonstrated a commitment to serving the community.”

Criteria for the award includes:

Continuous operations in Indiana for 100 or 50 years by Dec. 31, 2024.

Participation in the same line of work for the duration of its operations.

Having its base in Indiana since it was founded.

Applications are available at iedc.in.gov/program/century-and-half-century-awards. The deadline is Friday, May 30.

Conference set

The Indiana District Export Council will host the Doing Business with North America conference from 11:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Newfields Art Museum in Indianapolis.

Speakers for the event include the General Consuls for Canada and Mexico and

leaders from Eli Lilly, Greater Indianapolis Foreign Trade Zone (INzone) and Indiana University.

Tickets are available at indianadec.org.

Training offered

ServSafe training will be available at John Jay Center for Learning in Portland.

The next session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.

An additional session is scheduled for June 24.

The certification course is open to all food service employees and emphasizes safe food- and beverage-handling practices to minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses.

For more information, or to register, call (260) 729-5525.