Community Leaderboard

COMMUNITY Writer / Julie Yates | Photography Provided

LEADERBOARD

Hayden Carter

Coach Kokomo Jackrabbits Last summer was my first year coaching the Jackrabbits. We played 72 games in 78 days. The season was canceled this year due to COVID-19, but I’m busy getting the roster set and preparing for the 2021 season. I’m from Southern California and my biggest surprise here is how nice people. They say hello and ask how I’m doing. My advice to the players I coach is to stay in the moment, be positive and control what you can, but know you can’t control everything. Shawn Barker Barker’s BK I’ve lived in Kokomo my whole life and there’s never a dull moment. The best thing about it is the very wide range of people. My grandfather initially owned Barkers, but then my parents leased it out. I never thought I’d be in the business. Through a strange twist of events, I ended up buying the business 19 years ago. The community has been good to me and I try to give back. We donate to Shop with a Cop, We Care and various churches.

Jim Hunt

Kokomo Magazine Photographer I enjoy Kokomo’s quieter lifestyle, but also like that it is not too far away from Indianapolis and Chicago. When I’m on an assignment to photograph a business, I enjoy having a conversation with the owner because I learn a lot and realize what I need to take a photo of. One of the most interesting shoots was Kokomo Toys & Collectables. I’m a member of the Kokomo Amateur Radio Club and I really enjoy going to hear the Kokomo Park Band concerts on Wednesday nights. Dirk Webster Ruoff Mortgage I graduated from Kokomo High School and IU Bloomington. One summer, I worked as an intern at Central Bank and stuck there after it became First Farmers. I started off as a teller, then went on to customer service, compliance office and worked my way up. Lately, business has been great due to low rates predicted to stay around a while. I sit on the boards of IU Kokomo School of Business and Haynes Apperson Festival.

Michael Gasaway

Gaffney Insurance I’m from Kokomo and graduated from Northwestern High School. I love Kokomo’s small-town feel and how close everyone is. My family and I enjoy going to the Half Moon Restaurant & Brewery. We like anything that has to do with motorcycles or dirt bikes and we are at the motocross tracks every weekend. My four-year-old son just starting racing and my six-year-old daughter rides motocross and dances. In my business, I make sure everyone is being taken care of equally. Paul Wyman The Wyman Group I’m from New Jersey but after being stationed at Grissom Air Force Base, I stayed in the area. Midwest living is better than East Coast living! My wife, two children and I love the area trails to bike, run and triathlon train. We participate in park sponsored events. I’m board president for Turning Points and I’m also on the boards of Haynes Apperson Festival and Howard County Student Leadership Summit.

Blake Fogelsong

Grindstone Charley’s We love the loyal support customers have shown us. My grandfather ran the restaurant as a Rax, then my dad converted it over to Grindstone Charley’s. Kokomo is a very tight-knit community and we have people who have been coming in since it changed over in 1998. We donate 10 meals a year to the Kokomo Jackrabbits, feeding around 100 players and staff each time. Our Dine to Donate fundraisers support local schools. Our success is a

product of hard work and consistency.

Tyler Bowyer

Junkster’s Mini Dumpster I grew up all around Kokomo and Peru. Almost three years ago I noticed that most storage units were the size of a semi-trailer. I felt there was a niche for a smaller size. It was exciting to put in the effort and see where it took me. It’s important to do what we promise. Recently, we have been slammed with business. It says a lot about the community, that people want to stay productive at this time.

765-457-7558 | 1732 S. Washington St.