Gov. Braun Celebrates Main Street Entrepreneurship with Century, Half Century Business Awards
Last Updated on August 18, 2025 by Cass County Communication Network
| INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun welcomed representatives of Indiana’s entrepreneurial and small business community to the Indiana Statehoue on Aug. 14, 2025, awarding the Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Award to 32 Hoosier businesses that have been supporting the state’s economy and communities for more than 100 and 50 years, respectively. “As entrepreneurs ourselves, my wife Maureen and I understand the dedication and commitment needed to start and sustain a small business,” said Gov. Braun. “These Hoosier businesses and organizations have not only been pillars of their communities for 50 or 100 years, but they have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact on their employees and their neighborhoods.” The Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Awards honor Hoosier businesses and organizations that have remained in operation for a minimum of 100 or 50 consecutive years, respectively, and have demonstrated a commitment to community service. More than 1,280 Indiana companies have been recognized during the award’s 33-year history. This year’s honorees, along with their years in operation, are outlined below. 2025 Century Award honorees: Batesville is a leading manufacturer serving deathcare professionals across the U.S. and Canada. The company has grown to become a trusted leader for high-quality burial and cremation products, technology solutions for funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories, physical and digital merchandising systems, and unique personalization and memorialization offerings. 141 years; Ripley County Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company has been a cornerstone of American firefighting for more than 120 years and offers more than 2,000 high-performance products used by fire departments, industrial sites and military forces worldwide. The company, which is now a part of Clarience Technologies, continues to operate independently in Elkhart and remains committed to serve those who protect and respond. 122 years; Elkhart County Herff Jones is the nation’s leading provider of handcrafted graduation and educational achievements products, dedicated to inspiring success, creating memorable student experiences and building lasting connections with students, families and educators. 124 years; Marion County Indiana Credit Union League, which was the Midwest’s first credit union association, is a central hub and champion of credit unions, with Indiana’s 126 credit unions serving 2.8 million members statewide. From helping members save and borrow to navigating the complexities of modern financial solutions, the association continues to uphold its founding spirit: empowering people and building stronger communities through member-owned, not-for-profit credit unions and the member-centric solutions they offer. 100 years; Marion County Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards has expanded from 40 acres to now more than 700 acres of farmland, growing super sweet corn, pumpkins, apples, cabbage, squash, peaches and a variety of other produce. The business has been operated by the Kercher family for more than 100 years, proudly providing fruits, vegetables and family-friendly activities to its community through six generations. 102 years; Elkhart County Kern Brother’s Shoes is a third-generation family-owned business first started by William Ray Kern and Paul Kern in Frankfort. Today’s store, owned by William’s grandson, William Robert, has been operating in Zionsville for 50 years, offering a wide variety of name-brand footwear, and cherishes the family legacy it was built on. 100 years; Boone and Clinton Counties Lassus has grown from humble beginnings with one location to a trusted name in the convenience store industry with 35 locations across northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. The company is a faith-based organization committed to providing quality gasoline and convenient foods with caring service in an environment that encourages employee, community and company growth. 100 years; Allen County Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home offers a range of personalized services to help families honor their loved ones. The company has remained a family-owned business for more than 100 years, first established by the Laws family and passed down through three generations before being purchased by the Carr family and then the Moore family, which has operated the funeral home for 51 years. 123 years; Ripley County Lebermuth, which began by bringing peppermint oil to market, has since grown into a global manufacturer with a diverse portfolio of essential oils, fragrances and flavors. Headquartered in South Bend, the fourth-generation, family-owned company remains committed to its home state and founding principles while positioning itself for future growth. 117 years; St. Joseph County The Lerner Theatre originally opened in 1924 with Vaudeville acts and silent films playing to packed houses. The theatre, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, operated as a movie theater for nearly 80 years and was purchased in 1990 by the city of Elkhart. Since its renovation in 2008 and reopening in 2011, The Lerner has been a cornerstone for live entertainment and events and a source of civic pride for the Elkhart community. 100 years; Elkhart County Meyers Funeral Home has been serving the Batesville community since the early 1900s, providing quality service to bereaved families with dignity and compassion. The company, which was first started by the Meyers family, is now led by Rodger Meyers – the third generation of Meyers to lead the business – and his wife, Taaron. 100 years; Franklin/Ripley County Siebert’s Clothing has been in business since 1922, providing tailoring services that have been passed down through four generations of the Siebert’s family. The company has long been a staple of Jasper’s Main Street since Wilbur Siebert opened the store on the same street corner it occupies today. 102 years; Dubois County 2025 Half Century Award honorees: American Plastic Molding (APM), an employee-owned company, is an innovative engineering and manufacturing organization focused on product realization. The company, founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1974, has since grown into a leader in the injection molding industry, investing in cutting-edge technology while remaining focused on its guiding values: hard work, innovation and a customer-first approach. 50 years; Scott County Area Five Agency on Aging & Community Services is an independent not-for-profit organization serving north central Indiana. Governed by its core values of advocacy, compassion, problem solving and teamwork, the organization is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the community by providing programs and services that benefit low-income, disadvantaged and older persons. 50 years; Cass County Asher Agency began as a government relations firm and quickly evolved into a full-service creative and media agency. Over five decades, Asher embraced dramatic shifts in the marketing landscape, blending timeless strategy with cutting-edge digital innovation. In 2022, the company became women-owned, joining the 1% of agencies nationwide with female ownership. 50 years; Allen County Christy’s of Indiana is a family-operated, full-service license auction gallery with a commitment to achieving top dollar for its clients. The company, which boasts both tradition and innovation, is one of the Midwest’s largest and most respected auction venues, leveraging the latest marketing and auction techniques to ensure success for each auction. 50 years; Marion County Commonwealth Engineers Inc. has earned a reputation as a top-tier water resources firm providing award-winning, cost-effective planning, permitting, design and construction engineering solutions to protect water quality and the quality of life of Indiana communities. The company now supports eight offices, including seven in Indiana; has been named one of IndyStar’s Top Workplaces for the past seven years; and consistently earns industry accolades from the Professional Services Management Journal and the American Council of Engineering Companies. 50 years; Marion County Fort Wayne Door & Dock has been a trusted provider of high-quality garage door and dock solutions for homes and businesses across the Greater Fort Wayne area since 1975. The company, which is family owned, prides itself on providing locally based expertise and solutions tailored to its customers. 50 years; Allen County Holbert Engineering Co. Inc. Provides exceptional tooling, fixturing and automation designs, focused on integrating turnkey solutions for industrial automation, integration and labor optimization. The company, which remains a family-owned business lead by the founder’s son, Jack Holbert, has grown from a local design house to now serve customers across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. 60 years; St. Joseph County Indiana Electric Cooperatives represents the state’s not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives that serve 1.3 million Hoosiers across 89 counties. Established as the first electric cooperative service organization, IEC supports its members with services such as job and safety training, government relations, regulatory compliance, professional development and communications. 89 years; Hamilton County LoveWay Inc. is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization working to empower children with disabilities through compassionate, equine-assisted services. LoveWay was founded by Gary and Sandy Weatherwax in memory of their 16-year-old daughter who dreamed of starting her own therapeutic riding centers to help individuals like her father, who became paraplegic after a car accident. Today, the organization is the second-oldest equine center in the nation, serving 164 students weekly from 16 schools across Elkhart County at no cost to them. 51 years; Elkhart County Max’s Barber Shop is a third-generation, family-owned business and one of the oldest businesses in Gas City. The company plans to continue serving the community for years to come by providing quality barber services to its customers. 51 years; Grant County Original Tractor Cab has been providing weather protection products since 1939. Today, the company is a third-generation, family-owned business that continues to manufacture affordable weather protection products, including snow cabs, windbreaks, walk behind cabs, sunshades and accessory items, for the agricultural and lawn and garden industries. 85 years; Rush County Pizza Haus is a second-generation, family-owned business. The restaurant, named to emphasize the German heritage of its community of Batesville, is now owned by Kirk Yorn and his wife, Ginny, and is committed to the company’s tradition of good food at good prices. 50 years; Ripley County Pizza Palace is one of the oldest locally owned family restaurants in Seymour and is proud to have had five generations of family working in the store since it opened in 1971. The business is a staple in the area and is committed to giving back to its community through regular donations and community service. 53 years; Jackson County Porter-Starke Services is a not-for-profit community mental health center with offices across northwest Indiana providing mental health services, substance use treatment and primary healthcare for adults, families, adolescents and children. The organization treats all clients with individual plans of care, tailored to specific needs, in order to serve its community. 55 years; Porter County Rohrman Automotive Group has provided consumers with the highest quality new and pre-driven automotive products, combined with excellent customer service in sales, leasing and vehicle maintenance services for more than 60 years. A family-owned business operated by the third generation, Rohrman Automotive Group, a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplace Award Winner, is reimagining the dealership experience for modern-day customers and employees, focusing on innovation and team-focused leadership, while carrying on the Rohrman legacy. 62 years; Tippecanoe County Schindler’s Garage, which is now operated by the third generation,is the oldest family-owned auto repair facility in southern Indiana. The company, which has been operating as Schindler’s Garage since 1972, traces its roots to 1965 when brothers Jerome and Bobby Schindler opened Schindler’s Brother Service Station based on their love of racing and working on cars. More than 50 years later, the business remains committed to serving its community by running an honest and transparent shop. 52 years; Floyd County Stage 1 Dance Academy, which was originally started by Beverly Smithey in her basement when she was just 15 years old, is dedicated to building community and partnering with families to cultivate an environment for sound character development. Today, the company is operated by one of Beverly’s former students, Katie Stahlhut, and continues to serve students of all ages in the Greenwood community. 62 years; Johnson County Stuckwisch Appliances is a family-owned major household and laundry appliance store and service provider in Brownstown. The company, which also offers furniture and bedding products, still operates out of the same building since its establishment on Jan. 1, 1965. 59 years; Jackson County Town & Country Hardware has been providing hardware and other essential items to the Chrisney community since 1972. Today, the company is owned by the second generation of the Dickens family and is known for its good, old-fashioned service and friendly staff located on the town’s Main Street. 52 years; Spencer County Twin City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat was first opened by Don Trout in 1974 and has been family-owned ever since. Twin City, which officially became part of the Chariot Automotive Group in 2013, is active in the community and driven to serve the people in the area, hosting events like a car seat safety clinic and food drives, and serving with Food Finders Fresh Market, which recognized the company as a volunteer champion in 2024. 50 years; Tippecanoe County “Indiana entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Hoosier economy, and celebrating these longstanding businesses that have been in operation for so many decades squarely aligns with Governor Braun’s vision for economic development,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Adams. “We’re incredibly grateful for their dedication to Indiana and look forward to supporting them for years to come.” To learn more about the many resources available to Indiana entrepreneurs and small businesses, visit iedc.in.gov/entrepreneurship. |
| About the Indiana Office of Commerce The State of Indiana’s Office of Commerce was created by Governor Mike Braun to align and accelerate the state’s economic development efforts and is led by Indiana Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams. |
SOURCE: News release from Indiana Office of Commerce / IEDC