Articles by Mike Rhodes

By Tina Black— MUNCIE, IN— Mid-West Metal Products Company, Inc. has announced the promotion of two company executives. Effective January 1, 2026, the Board of Directors has approved the promotion of Chad Smith to President & Chief Executive Officer of Mid-West Metal Products Company, Inc., reflecting the scope of operations across four Muncie locations and international facilities. John W. Smith will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Division. With this leadership team in place, Mid-West Metal Products will continue to build upon its 105-year legacy as a family-owned and operated manufacturing company, advancing growth both domestically…

By Gary Thomas and Michael Thomas, Owners of Leap Managed IT— MUNCE, IN—If you lead a business, a government agency, or a non-profit here in Indiana, you’ve likely felt the shift. Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) isn’t coming, it’s here. It’s writing emails, analyzing spreadsheets, and changing how work gets done. We also know A.I. isn’t perfect (and it may never be). We’ve all seen A.I.-generated graphics with an extra thumb or answers so far off-base you have to laugh. One of our favorite parlor tricks is asking A.I. to pick a random number between 1 and 50. Don’t be surprised if…

Editor’s note: A number of local utilities have sent MuncieJournal.com updates and advice on how to handle the upcoming winter storm. We have combined them all into this one article. Indiana and Michigan Power As a blast of extreme winter cold and snow is expected this weekend, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) wants to help customers stay safe and warm while keeping costs as low as possible. There When You Need Us If there are power outages, I&M employees will respond as safely and quickly as weather conditions allow. Crews have strengthened the local electrical system ahead of winter weather by…

By Erin Moore— MUNCIE, IN—Open Door Health Services’ president and CEO, Bryan Ayars, has announced his intention to retire in mid-2026. Ayars has served as Open Door’s CEO for nearly a decade, guiding the organization through significant growth and the COVID-19 pandemic. He will continue to serve as CEO while the Open Door Board of Directors completes a national search and identifies his replacement. “Professionally, I’ve long held the belief that a decade leading an organization is about the right amount of time for the entity’s health. I also recognized I have spent 50 years involved in some type of…