Niswonger receives top Chamber award

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert native Scott Niswonger became the first individual to ever receive the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone Award during the Chamber’s annual banquet on Thursday. There have only been four recipients of the award in the local Chamber’s 96-year history. Other recipients include the Van Wert County Agricultural Society (fair board), Central Insurance Company, and Van Wert County Hospital.

Local attorney Chuck Koch made the introduction for the award, noting Niswonger’s “Learn, Earn, and Return” mantra and his contributions to the local community, including his efforts on behalf of the performing arts center that bears his name, to which he donated $3 million and provided the vision for the current facility, Franklin Park, which he developed along with the Van Wert County Foundation and City of Van Wert, and new efforts to create a residential subdivision near the local schools on Ohio 118.

“Tonight, we honor his vision,” Koch said.

A 1965 Van Wert High School graduate and the CEO of Landair Freight and co-founder of Forward Air Freight — companies that reported total revenues of more than $1 billion in 2017 — Niswonger has repaid the investment Van Wert made in him during his years of growing up in the community many times over.

Niswonger received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd at Wassenberg Art Center after the award’s announcement.

During his speech that followed, Niswonger talked about his years growing up in Van Wert, noting that his family, teachers, friends and neighbors, and an active church life at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church “molded the Van Wert values that continue to guide me yet today.”

A noted philanthropist himself, Niswonger also talked about the legacy of philanthropy he remembers growing up in Van Wert. and which has guided him in his endeavors.

“Everyone in this room are the beneficiaries of visionary philanthropists,” he said. “John Brumback, George Marsh, Charles Wassenberg, Gaylord Saltzgaber: they are wonderful examples of what servant leaders and servant leadership is about.”

Niswonger also talked about the things he has learned in starting two successful companies, as well as his time as a corporate pilot for Magnavox Corporation after earning an engineering degree at Purdue University, which has also been a recipient of his philanthropy.

He also talked about what he still sees as assets of the Van Wert community.

“My opinion of Van Wert, other than being a wonderful place to grow up, is that you have great underpinnings,” Niswonger said, and especially noted the key role played in the community by the Van Wert County Foundation.

“How many communities around you, and around me, would kill to have the Van Wert County Foundation,” he said to an ovation from the audience.

Niswonger concluded that the strength of Van Wert was in its businesses and people and urged Chamber members to network with each other and to be mentors for local entrepreneurs who want to start businesses. He said he was also excited to be a part of a new subdivision being planned for the former Dickinson farm behind Chief’s Supermarket.

Niswonger also urged business people to continue to volunteer in the community with their time and leadership.

“Time and leadership are as important as money,” he noted, speaking of both business and community involvement.

Also honored on Thursday was Ray Miller Award recipient Louise Hartwig for her vision and individual efforts in creating the Children’s Garden at Smiley Park, and Central Insurance Company, which was again honored as the Crystal Image Award winner for its many business and philanthropic activities in the community.

Those honored for having milestones in 2017 were the following: Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio and First Bank of Berne, 10 years; The Van Wert independent, 15 years; Computer & Network Technology, 20 years; Cooper Farms, 25 years; Braun Industries, 45 years; Federal-Mogul Corporation, 75 years; Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, 80 years; Pond Seed Company, 90 years; the United Way of Van Wert County, 95 years; and the YMCA of Van Wert County, 105 years.

Also honored for significant financial projects completed in 2017 were the following: 133 Bistro, Cooper Farms, Family Healthcare of Northwest Ohio, Federal-Mogul, Humble Bumble, PLC Health Clinic, Village of Ohio City, and the Van Wert County Agricultural Society.

Chamber President/CEO Susan Munroe also honored outgoing board members and 2017 board chair Jon Stoller, while 2018 board chair Leah Treece talked about some of the Chamber highlights in 2017.

Premier sponsors for the event were Alexander & Bebout, Apex Clean Energy, Central Insurance Companies, Integrated Talent Solutions, Federal-Mogul Corporation, and Centralsoft Water Systems.