Chamber honors McCarter with Community Service Award

Friday, April 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM

By Wes Dehne

RTC Communications President Joe McCarter has a lot to be proud of, with both him and his company taking home awards at this year's Awards Ceremony presented by the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce.

Despite the overwhelming generosity he's shown to the community or the monumental undertaking of a countywide fiber build he's overseen, McCarter delivered a short and humble speech in accepting the chamber's 2025 Community Service Award. This after RTC was recognized as Business of the Year at the ceremony, held Thursday afternoon at Rochester Moose Lodge.

"It means a lot," McCarter repeated throughout his speech after choking up at the start. "It means a lot to me because I know the people who have won this award. I'm certainly not deserving."

The chamber's selection committee, including award presenter Mart Smith, certainly didn't agree.

"Sometimes, special people come along that bring a combination of business acumen, who are generous to a fault with both time and money and have a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get in the trenches and do work for all of us," Smith said of McCarter.

He noted the criteria for the Community Service Award hasn't changed since its inception in 1967. That being to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions of a continuing nature toward bettering the citizens of Fulton County, which McCarter has exemplified through his company, in serving the Rochester Lions Club and Rochester School Board and in coaching. He’s also involved with First Baptist Church of Rochester and serves on the board of Promise Indiana, helping families save money for college.

"When I moved back to Rochester, it allowed me to get involved in the community that I grew up in, which I never had the opportunity to in my previous career," McCarter said. "I married a spouse who puts up with me going to a lot of different stuff, and that support has certainly been appreciated over the years."

The recognition was particularly special for McCarter, as his grandmother, Amelia Ewing, and parents, Phil and Katie McCarter, were named Community Service Award winners in the past.

"I'll never forget when my parents won this, my mom's last comment was that there's a lot more to do and we're not done," he shared before a final thank you.

After the ceremony, he spoke highly of the late Jim Straeter, who was posthumously awarded a Shining Star Award. The two previously served together on the school board.

"Jim showed me the difference between being on a board, being on a committee, versus serving," McCarter said. "That was a lesson early for me, that if you're going to do something, you do it right."

He added that it was very appropriate the chamber recognized Straeter, as one could look around the room and see just how many people he positively impacted.

The Shining Star Award was presented by Chamber Board President Chuck Gibbons, and Straeter’s family was present to accept on his behalf.

RTC's recognition as Business of the Year highlights its effort in providing fiber access to all homes and businesses in Fulton County. The project, launched in August 2022, represents the install of more than 680 miles of fiber in the county to date and an investment of over $20 million, made possible with the support of Next Level Connections grants from the state. Its reach continues to grow with fiber services now available in 10 surrounding towns beyond Rochester.

The award also recognizes RTC's contributions to local schools, organizations and events, as well as providing public WiFi in recreational areas to help close the digital divide. Last year, the company donated to more than 50 local clubs and organizations.

Also recognized was former Northern Indiana Community Foundation Executive Director Jay Albright, who was named Business Professional of the Year.

He teared up as staff members of the foundation, those he has worked with for the last 12 years, shared kind words about his giving nature, compassion and commitment to serving the community.

"I can't think of anybody that more deserves this award than Jay," new NICF Executive Director Corinne Becknell Lucas said. "Here in the Community Foundation, he's brought our endowment up to $66.4 million, and he's done that by being just a great guy, a person that people love to talk to and creating a culture in our office that has just been outstanding."

Others emphasized the remarkable impact Albright has made not only in the county, but also in the lives of each of his employees over the years.

Joe’s Hope Foundation, with humble beginnings as a Fulton County Relay for Life team in 2011, received the Emerging Business Award. Its board president, Dustin Shidler, was present to accept the award for the nonprofit, which has been dedicated to supporting and providing assistance to local cancer patients and their families.

Shidler said it was an honor to even be nominated and added that his late brother, Joe, for whom the foundation is named after, would be proud.

Joe was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in late 2010 at the age of 16. His battle with cancer tragically ended on Feb. 18, 2014, at the age of 19.

"We've lived that nightmare, so when people come to us, we know that pain, we know that feeling of not knowing where to turn," Shidler said, adding that he's excited to see the organization grow and help more people along the way. "Thank you to the whole community for being so supportive of such a small organization that we are. I know my brother Joe would be just so proud to see how far we've come and how far we're going to take it."

Other highlights of the awards ceremony included performances by the Caston High School Jazz Band, led by Director Jon Allender, and Rochester High School Manitou Singers, led by Director Megan Allen. The chamber's new executive director, Tiffany Lukens, also was introduced and special recognition was given to outgoing director Jillian Smith, NICF's new marketing associate.

"After seven years of leading the chamber, Jillian had made the decision to move on to the next chapter of her career," Gibbons said. "Although she will be greatly missed, we know she will continue to do great things and have a positive impact on Fulton County and wish her nothing but the best."