Employers in the Indiana Uplands are stepping up and creating action-oriented, innovative strategies that set the course for regional prosperity.
For that reason, Regional Opportunity Initiatives recognized not one, but two recipients with the 2026 Employer Innovation Award during its Annual Report to the Region on Oct. 2: CRAFTED by OFS and Hub 19.
CRAFTED by OFS: Investing in the next generation of talent
This year’s first recipient was nominated twice, once by a collaborating partner and once by a parent, signaling its value among the community and families.
Headquartered in Huntingburg, OFS is one of the largest wood furniture manufacturers in North America with more than 1,900 employees. The company is redefining workforce development through a locally designed program called CRAFTED by OFS.
This innovative partnership with Southridge High School prepares students for high-demand careers through authentic, hands-on learning. Rather than waiting to recruit graduates, OFS is investing earlier in developing the next generation of skilled professionals.
OFS has demonstrated its commitment by transforming a high school classroom into an advanced manufacturing environment that mirrors its production floor. The space includes industry-standard equipment for upholstery, welding, CNC machining, routing, and other technical work.
Company representative Jason Diekhoff works at the high school alongside Southridge instructor Sam Collins two days each week. Together, they deliver instruction that combines technical expertise with workplace expectations, ensuring students develop both career-ready skills and professional habits.
The program also creates seamless educational pathways by partnering with Ivy Tech Community College, allowing students to earn up to 18 dual credits in industrial maintenance and engineering programs.
Enrollment in CRAFTED by OFS has grown from 12 students in the first year to 23 students in year three, demonstrating both student demand and program success.
Beyond technical training, OFS has created a model that strengthens the entire regional workforce ecosystem. Students manufacture furniture that is used in buildings throughout Southwest Dubois School Corporation while gaining authentic industry experience, mentorship, and career connections.
As Southridge Principal Greg Gogel noted, CRAFTED by OFS is “investing in the next generation of talent. Students will graduate with technical know-how, the ability to communicate, to think critically, and to be problem solvers.”
Through this long-term commitment to workforce development, OFS has created a model that is helping retain talent, strengthen advanced manufacturing, and inspire similar collaborations across the Indiana Uplands. Co-developing talent while students are still in high school also helps drive home the message that meaningful career opportunities are close to home.
Hub 19: Building a talent development solution built to last
The second Employer Innovation Award recipient recognizes the impact of Hub 19 in Dubois County.
Hub 19 is an organization focused on workforce development, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a career. It is a collaboration between local employers and all four Dubois County school corporations.
Employers and educators stayed at the table for years to develop Hub 19 and turn it into a viable shared talent development solution built to last.
Today, nine founding partners support Hub 19’s regional talent development approach: Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Indiana Furniture, Seufert Construction, Farbest Foods, Inc., Kimball International, OFS, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, Deaconess Memorial Medical Center, and German American Bank.
Hub 19’s innovation lies in its shared infrastructure. It gives employers a central point of connection to schools and coordinates countywide career events and work-based learning experiences aligned with employer expectations.
More than 100 employer partners, postsecondary institutions, and regional workforce organizations work collaboratively to ensure that every student has a clear path to a meaningful career and every employer has access to skilled talent.
During the 2026-27 school year, 515 students are participating in meaningful work-based learning across 30 programs and a broad range of career sectors.
By combining sustained private investment, shared education-industry governance, and coordinated student experiences, Hub 19 is developing a stronger workforce talent pipeline while helping the Indiana Uplands attract, prepare, and retain its own talent.
Together, CRAFTED by OFS and Hub 19 demonstrate how employers and educators can work together to develop talent, strengthen workforce pathways, and create opportunities for students across the Indiana Uplands.
About the Award
The Employer Innovation Award recognizes Indiana Uplands employers who seek creative solutions to talent and workforce development challenges, support key sectors, and exemplify meaningful partnerships with K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and/or other employers.