Blume named to Business Weekly’s Forty Under 40

FORT WAYNE — Jason Blume, executive director of Innovation One at Trine University, has been named to the Class of 2018 for Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s Forty Under 40 Awards.

Award winners were announced Friday, Feb. 16. The Forty Under 40 Awards honor 40 individuals 39 years of age and younger who go above and beyond at work and in the community to make a difference. KPC Media Group, which sponsors the awards, said these young northeast Indiana professionals were chosen by a panel of distinguished judges from a record-breaking number of entries.

In his work at Innovation One, Blume leads the university’s business and idea incubator, building relationships with industry and entrepreneurs. He also coordinates the university’s Employment Resource Center and STEM outreach efforts to area school corporations. His accomplishments at Innovation One have included directing Swim Reaction Lights, now used to start swim meets around the world, from concept to commercialization, and coordinating student projects that have included a redesigned toboggan for the run at Pokagon State Park.

Blume serves on the board of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation and the Steuben County Enterprise Center Advisory Committee. Outside of work, he is active with the Boy Scouts of America, the Avilla Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, and Trine University’s Delta Chi Fraternity Housing Corporation.

He is a 2004 Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and 2017 Master of Science in engineering management graduate from Trine. He received the university’s Distinguished Service Young Alumnus Award in 2007.

“Jason’s work not only benefits the university, but has a positive impact on the entire region, with the potential to pay dividends for years to come,” said Mike Bock, senior vice president. “He truly puts the ‘innovation’ in Innovation One, tirelessly looking for new opportunities to utilize the skills and resources of Trine University to assist area businesses while providing our students with hands-on experience.”

Many other prominent companies are represented in the Business Weekly Forty Under 40 Class of 2018, including Sweetwater Sound, Visit Fort Wayne, MKM Architecture + Design, Lutheran Life Villages, World Baseball Academy Inc., Parkview Health System, STAR Financial Bank, Lutheran Hospital, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, The Salvation Army and Indiana Michigan Power.

"These young professionals work hard and challenge the status quo every day," said Randy Mitchell, chief executive officer and publisher for KPC Media Group.

The winners will be honored at an awards dinner Thursday, March 29, from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum Conference Center, the official venue for all 2018 Business Weekly events.

"Attendees will leave this delightful red carpet event inspired and asking what more they can be doing to make a difference in northeast Indiana," said Mitchell.

 

A special publication will highlight the winners in the March 30 issue of Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, featuring profiles of each of the Forty Under 40 honorees.

Published by KPC Media Group Inc., Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly is a business journal covering the 12-county region surrounding Fort Wayne.

KPC Media Group has been locally owned since its founding in 1911. With editorial and business offices in Kendallville, Auburn, Angola and Fort Wayne, Albion and Churubusco, it publishes daily, weekly and monthly newspapers along with websites, phone books and real estate guides throughout northeast Indiana. The company also has a digital services division including commercial printing, design, direct mail, websites, marketing, promotions and more.