The Jasper Chamber’s 72nd annual luncheon brought business, civic and health leaders together Friday, Nov. 7, spotlighting local volunteerism and a policy conversation with statewide consequences. Jason Nord, vice president of people services at Jasper Holdings, received the Chamber’s 2025 President’s Community Excellence Award in a surprise presentation. Board President Dalton Meny cited Nord’s long service with Crisis Connection, WorkOne, St. Joseph Parish and local youth programs as the basis for the honor.

The award recognizes sustained civic engagement across organizations that touch many aspects of community life: crisis support, workforce development, faith‑based services and youth programming. For Dubois County, such cross‑sector service plays a practical role in public health and social stability, connecting people who need mental‑health assistance, job training, pastoral support and positive outlets for young people.

The luncheon also marked a leadership transition for the Chamber with the introduction of incoming board president Pedro Mendez of Deaconess Memorial. That connection between the Chamber and a major regional health institution frames the broader conversation that followed: a question‑and‑answer session with Gov. Mike Braun and Brian Schutt, director of entrepreneurship and innovation. Their discussion focused on infrastructure, efforts to reduce health‑care costs, utility rate reform and support for Main Street businesses—topics that directly affect families, employers and service providers throughout Dubois County.

Healthcare costs and access were central to the policy portion of the program, underscoring concerns that local residents and employers face rising expenses and constrained provider resources. Reducing costs while preserving quality care is a key public‑health priority for rural communities, where hospital capacity, mental‑health services and preventive care can be more limited. The presence of both a Chamber leader from a health organization and state policymakers signals attention to aligning economic and health objectives.

Infrastructure and utility rate reform were highlighted as foundational to community well‑being. Reliable roads, broadband and affordable utilities support emergency response, telehealth, small businesses and workforce retention. For Main Street establishments that form the backbone of Jasper and surrounding towns, changes to utility rates or infrastructure investment can determine whether businesses thrive or struggle to survive.

The luncheon illustrated how local leadership and statewide policy intersect in ways that shape daily life in Dubois County. Honoring a community volunteer like Nord reinforces the value of long‑term civic commitment to public health and social supports, while the policy conversation pointed to practical areas where municipal and state action can improve health equity and economic resilience.

As Pedro Mendez assumes the Chamber presidency, residents and business owners will be watching how the organization prioritizes these issues—particularly efforts that bridge health care, workforce development and small‑business support. The event made clear that sustaining community vitality will require coordinated action across civic, health and business sectors, and that local volunteers remain central to that work.