Dubois County Names 2026 Business Hall of Fame Laureates Kaiser, Schwenk

Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana revealed its 2026 Dubois County Business Hall of Fame laureates at a press conference Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Dubois County Museum. Bill Kaiser and Raymond “Ray” J. Schwenk will be formally inducted on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET at the Huntingburg Event Center. A monument featuring a citation and image for each laureate will also be displayed at the Dubois County Museum.

“The JA Dubois County Business Hall of Fame is a celebration of leadership, vision, and community impact,” said Angie Richards Cheek, President of Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana. “Bill Kaiser and Raymond Schwenk exemplify the qualities we hope to inspire in future generations: business excellence, courageous thinking, and commitment to giving back. We are honored to recognize their contributions and preserve their legacy for years to come.”

Raymond “Ray” J. Schwenk spent 42 years with Jasper Engines and Transmissions, retiring as treasurer, and remained active across local civic organizations. His involvement extended to Anderson Woods, the Dubois County Community Foundation, the Boy Scouts and Junior Achievement. Schwenk’s long tenure at a major local employer and his service on community boards reflect a sustained link between manufacturing leadership and civic stewardship in the county.

Bill Kaiser serves as Office Managing Partner in Dentons Bingham Greenebaum’s Jasper office and is co-chair of the firm’s national Corporate Practice group. He is noted for extensive pro bono work and for local leadership roles including service on the Dubois County Election Board. His civic contributions include involvement with projects such as Legacy Living and philanthropic support for the Mother of God Grotto and the Dove Recovery House for Women.

The Hall of Fame recognition highlights the role of individual leaders in mobilizing private resources for public needs. Laureates’ work on nonprofit boards, recovery and housing projects, and legal and financial stewardship can influence local capacity for services that support workforce stability and community wellbeing. For residents, the inductions are both symbolic and practical: they preserve institutional memory through the museum monuments and signal priorities for future private-public collaboration on housing, recovery services and civic infrastructure.

The April 30 induction will offer an opportunity for local officials, nonprofit partners and business leaders to acknowledge those contributions and to discuss how continued community leadership can address long-term challenges in Dubois County’s economy and social services.