IU Health names new president

Indiana University Health has named Art Vasquez as president of its new north region.

Vasquez has worked for IU Health since 2016, most recently as president of its west region. He takes over for Jeff Bird, who recently retired as president of IU Health’s east central region.

Under IU Health’s restructuring, the north region includes facilities in Jay, Blackford, Delaware, Allen, Tippecanoe, White, Clinton and Tipton counties.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the exceptional teams at IU Health Ball, Blackford, Jay and Fort Wayne,” Vasquez said in a news release. “These communities have a long and proud history of delivering outstanding care. My focus is ensuring our teams have what they need to continue serving patients and strengthening local partnerships.”

Nominations open

Indiana Manufacturers Association is accepting nominations for its 2026 Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

The awards honor Indiana companies and individuals for their outstanding work, exceptional contributions and impact on the future of manufacturing. They are open to all manufacturers in the state.

Awards that will be presented this year include the Community Impact, Emerging Leader, Lifetime Achievement, Manufacturing Talent Champion, Outstanding Woman Leader in Manufacturing and Safety Champion.

Anyone can make a nomination by going online to indianamfg.com/2026-manufacturing-excellence-awards. The deadline is April 30.

New members added

Jay County Chamber of Commerce has added Elle & Em Boutique and Springer’s LLC as new members.

The chamber is also planning new features — Female-Founded Fridays and Small Business Saturday. 

A chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Two Mama’s on Tap, 2 W. High St., Redkey.

For more information about the chamber, visit jaycountychamber.com.

Leaders named

Bowen Health has filled several leadership roles.

Kim Richard was named director of nursing, with Esther Wilcox as director of clinical programming and Holly Hirschy-Hurd as clinical educator. Dustin Babb and Chris Watts were named regional facilities managers.

Richard previously served as a nurse practitioner at Bowen’s Wabash location. Wilcox spent a decade as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Hirschy-Hurd has worked for Bowen for 20 years as a therapist and clinical supervisor.

Bowen Health serves northeast Indiana including Jay, Blackford, Delaware, Adams and Wells counties.

STEM center launched

Ball State University has launched its STEM Education Center as a hub for advancing teaching and learning in Indiana.

The STEM Education Center will seek to expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction and train future teachers in those areas. Housed in BSU’s College of Sciences and Humanities, it will be a center for youth programs, school and community partnerships and faculty-led research.

“Indiana and the nation are facing a real shortage of qualified STEM teachers, and the STEM Education Center is designed to be part of the solution,” associate dean Andrew Gatza said. “This center brings together the people, partnerships, and research that already exist across Ball State — and gives us a stronger structure to expand what works: hands-on learning experiences for young students, support for teachers and schools, and a clear pathway that helps more Ball State students see themselves as future STEM educators.”

For more information or to inquire about partnerships, email [email protected].

Grant cycle open

Applications are open for CenterPoint Energy Foundation’s grants supporting non-profit programs and initiatives focusing on literacy, STEM and workforce development.

Grants are available for non-profit organizations located in CenterPoint’s service area. Priority is given to programs serving low-to-moderate income families and under-resourced communities.

“The CenterPoint Energy Foundation creates positive, meaningful change within the communities where we have the privilege to provide electric and natural gas service,” said Mike Roeder, president of CenterPoint Energy Indiana, in a news release. “The Foundation remains committed to initiatives and programs enriching the lives of those living and working within our service areas, while powering possibilities for a better tomorrow. We encourage qualified nonprofit organizations focusing on education to apply for a grant through Feb. 13.”

For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation. 

Training available

Ivy Tech Community College and Vision Corner Learning Center are teaming to offer learning opportunities.

A “Working Genius Workshop” is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 28. It will include an assessment for building better teams and learning about the “types of genius involved in getting anything done.”

Vision Corner is located at 202 N. Columbia St., Union City. The registration deadline is Jan. 21. Email [email protected] or call (765) 966-2656 ext. 4106.

Vision Corner will also host ServSafe training from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2. To register, visit inrla.org/events.

ServSafe classes set

John Jay Center for Learning in Portland will host a pair of ServSafe training courses in the spring.

Training will be available on Tuesdays, March 21 and May 19. John Jay is located at 101 S. Meridian St., Portland.

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

Courses scheduled

Indiana Chamber of Commerce will host its annual safety and health conference next month.

The Indiana Safety and Health Conference & Expo will be held from Feb. 23 through 25 at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Conference Center in Indianapolis. It will feature a variety of speakers as well as more than 60 educational sessions.

For more information, visit indianachamber.com.