Dubois County Entrepreneurs and Innovators Exchange Ideas at Thyen-Clark Cultural Center

Jasper - For the first time, over 40 Southern Indiana entrepreneurs and innovators gathered at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center to exchange ideas, create connections, and hear from those who have been in their shoes.

The event, put on by the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, Dubois Chamber of Commerce, Dubois Strong, and many others, was aimed to help kick off the next wave of new small businesses in the area. Community support for these business owners can help them take the leap forward, says Jasper Chamber Executive Director Nancy Eckerle.

"People go through a lot of time, effort, finances, just a whole gamut of things when they start a business and it is important that the community supports that business," Eckerle said. "So they can succeed and be in business for many many years like a lot of our companies here are and have been in business for a long time. Maybe they started in a garage or with a little bit of an idea, and then they've grown that into a full-fledged big business with a lot of employees."

A featured speaker, Matrix Integration CEO and Co-Founder Brenda Stallings recalled being in the attendees shoes. Stallings' entrepreneurial journey began in 1971, securing a $3,500 bank loan to purchase Sound of Music in downtown Jasper, just years after completing high school. The event was not short on those willing to help, representatives from organizations formed a line to share their expertise and advice.

Though this may have been the first ever meeting for the group at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, Jasper Mayor Dean Vonderheide does not see it being the last. 

"It's not a one and only, I think it's the beginning," Vonderheide said. "We'd like to organize and have this done on a regular basis because there's people with great ideas just not knowing how to take it across the goal line, so we want to help them get there."

Just as the initial event was a success, the same goes for the venue - the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center.

"It's serving so many needs," said Mayor Vonderheide. "I think the count so far is that we've had as many people through this in the five months that it's been somewhat open, even with COVID, than we did in the previous five years at the other place."

At this time, a second meeting for the group has not been scheduled.