Shown in photo from left to right: Bowen Center, Senior Vice President Operations Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center – Marshall County Director Lindie Leary, School Counseling Initiatives Director – Inspire Success Aimee Portteus, City of Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter, Co-Owner SRKM Architecture Brent Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Hospital of Bremen Dave Bailey, Bowen Center President and Chief Executive Officer Kurt Carlson
Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
MARSHALL COUNTY — The Bowen Center gathered together for their first Board of Directors Annual Dinner in years this Wednesday.
The Bowen Center honored President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kurt Carlson on his 33 years of service and dedication to the organization as he approaches retirement this summer.
Bowen Center Senior Vice President Operations Dr. Rob Ryan will be assuming the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Carlson officially retires at the end of June.
Bowen Center – Marshall County Director Lindie Leary introduced the awards presentation. “The saying ‘it takes a village’ applies to more than just raising children. Working in the world of total health, there is no way that Marshall County with it’s 100 plus staff could have provided 60,000 services to our patients in 2021. It required the assistance of our village – our community partners and their forward thinking in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, community and economic growth.”
Carlson presented Co-owner of SRKM Architecture, LLC Brent Martin with the “Building Brighter Futures Award”.
Carlson discussed the new housing not-for-profit to make a positive impact on housing in Marshall County and Kosciusko County “Housing for Hope”. “Brent Martin was one of the people asked to be on that committee and he without question agreed to do that. He attends every meeting and he’s a great contributor.” Martin is a graduate of Ball State University and holds two degrees, one in Design and the other in Architecture. He also attended Harvard for Design School. Carlson shared Martin’s academic statement of purpose: “Using my talents to serve the underprivileged of the world.” Carlson said after reviewing his resume and contributions that Martin has fulfilled his purpose in his career. Martin has been part of community housing, senior housing, assisted living, special-needs housing, homeless veteran housing, supportive housing for families and domestic violent shelters. He has also collaborated on community centers and senior centers.
Leary added comments on Martin’s contribution to Serenity Place, Marshall County’s permanent supportive housing project that opened this year and welcomed eight tenants and families last week. “He was amazing through our process. We started in 2017 and it was a fight to where we got to today.”
Martin shared that housing opportunities not only changes lives, but it often saves lives.
City of Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter was honored with the “Leading a Community where People and Businesses Thrive Award.” Leary introduced Senter. Senter served as a Trooper and an Indiana State Police Detective from 19790to 2007. He has served as the Mayor of Plymouth since 2008. “He continually works to serve our community holistically.” Leary detailed the enhanced physical health initiatives in Plymouth including new bike trails, new parks and additions to the existing parks. Senter has contributed to economic growth by creating new jobs in industrial, retail, fitness and food businesses which have resulted in numerous new employment opportunities. Housing growth has included town houses, apartments and supportive housing under his leadership. She noted that Senter treats each project with importance. “He is present during the instruction and renovations, he is at the grand openings, and he continues to be an advocate, advertiser and a patron no matter how big or small the initiative is.”
Leary highlighted Serenity Place noting that even a state dignitary from the housing authority noted Mayor Senter’s critical support. Senter thanked the Bowen Center not only for the award, but for their involvement in making Serenity Place a reality. “I am very proud of what we’ve been able to do the past 14 years. It’s been truly a team effort. Thank you again.”
Don Starky, Therapist for the Bowen Center presented President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Community Hospital of Bremen Dave Bailey with the “Visionary in Meeting the Needs of Rural Communities Award”. Bailey worked regionally and across the nation in various hospitals and programs to provide mental health care and addiction recovery support to individuals and families in need. Bailey established a satellite office for the Bowen Center to provide therapy with a counselor on-site once a week. Now the Bowen Center is present four days a week within the hospital with three therapists serving five counties.
Bailey said it has been an honor to provide a much needed service to the community in partnership with the Bowen Center.
Julie Kelch who works in Business Development with the Bowen Center presented Director of School Counseling Initiatives at Inspire Success Aimee Portteus with the “Achieving Excellence for Students and Community Award”. Portteus began her career teaching French and English in the Bremen School system. “While she was there she was encouraged by her principal to expand her abilities in to a Guidance Counselor position. She followed that advice and we are so happy that she did.” From Bremen she worked for Plymouth Community School Corporation where she developed and implemented a building-level school counseling program. “This involved coordination about programs throughout the entire corporation in grades K through 12.” She shared her passion with her school, surrounding school counselors, task force committees and community organizations for over two decades. “Bowen’s mission and ability to provide services relies entirely on relationships that we create and grow. I can’t think of a finer example of an advocate for education as well as a total health advocate for her students, staff, fellow community members, and partner.” In her current role, Portteus now shares her passion for continued growth, education and health across the state.
Portteus said, “It’s been my honor and my privilege to live out my calling here in this community for more years than I care to admit. When I look back on my time here, my partnership with my friends from Bowen has been awe inspiring. They were always there for us no matter what we needed and we knew we could count on them.” She thanked Bowen Center for the support and partnership. “I want to thank you for honoring us as a school and I venture to say that any one of my co-workers could be standing here tonight. But we do appreciate the partnership. We do appreciate just knowing that we can count on you when we have to ask tough questions and when we have to face the tougher answers. You are always there for us so thank you.”
Bowen Center started as a non-profit Community Mental Health Center in northern Indiana in 1961. The Center now serves most of Indiana treating patients in-person, or by tele-health with emotional health care, along with addiction recovery services and primary health care clinics located in Fort Wayne, Huntington and Warsaw, IN. Bowen Center strives to strengthen its communities and to improve the health and well-being of those it is privileged to serve. For more information visit BowenCenter.org.
