Sara Patrick is the Executive Director of the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce.
In that role, she’s proven a passionate and knowledgeable advocate for the organizations and people of LaGrange County. For more about Sara and the Chamber of Commerce, read on:
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A: I am a LaGrange County girl, born and raised, and several generations deep. My husband’s family is much the same, so LaGrange County is home in more ways than one. I have been the Executive Director for nearly 2 ½ years. My great passion is culminating the influencers of LaGrange County into a force to be reckoned with that promotes the welfare of our communities in which we live and serve. The Chamber is an engine that generates that work, and I’m proud to be at its helm. I’m wife to James and mom to Colt, age 7, and Joelle, 19 months. In my free time, I enjoy playing music on all kinds of instruments: my “baby” (a Taylor acoustic guitar), drums, piano, and more. I also love camping and homesteading.
Q: Can you tell everyone more about what the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce is and what you do there?
A: A Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization designed to drive local commerce and advocate for the business community. We are a countywide Chamber, which is a great benefit to our members, in that we get to drive commerce across the entire county, connecting businesses to LaGrange County people and beyond. We are a business-action organization in which we aim to be a champion of generational prosperity for LaGrange County. Our mission statement is “Fostering hometown culture, Driving exponential success.” In short, we’re in the business of building legacies, so that LaGrange County will be a place that people love, live, work, and enjoy for generations to come.
Q: What is the most interesting thing you get to see or do in your position with the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce?
A: I’m a hometown girl, but I still get to learn something new about our county almost every week. I get to meet business owners from companies large and small and hear their stories of grit and resilience. I also get to rub elbows with some of the greatest leaders and influencers of LaGrange County history. It is inspiring to see the whole picture, if you will—that while there may be some tough components to the county (no county is perfect), there is an army of goodwillers out there, working hard to make a difference. That’s inspiring.
Q: Is there anything coming up in 2024 that you’re particularly excited about?
A: YES – so many things. We are hosting our 2nd annual ConnectHER Conference next week, March 20. It’s a one-day, local professional development opportunity for women. It’s inspiring to see so many lean-in to personal and professional growth. We’re hosting our 2nd Field of Dreams Career Expo, in partnership with the Northern Indiana Educational Service Center, on April 18 and showcasing to 1,300+ LaGrange County students, grades 8-12, the career opportunities they have available to them here in their hometown communities. We’ll host a Small Business Workshop in June, providing local and affordable training for small business owners and entrepreneurs. And, we host the Power of the Purse in November, which is a fundraiser for our county school backpack programs, feeding students who need extra sustenance on the weekends and school breaks. Plus, everything in between. 😊
Q: What do you love about living and/or working in LaGrange County?
A: LaGrange County is special. The people here are genuine. They’ll give you the shirt off their back if you need it, will stop and have a conversation, wanting to know more about you and how you’re doing. They support their competition. And they work hard, day in and day out. My job is not hard because of that. I love getting to help share the stories of our people and the work that they’re doing.
(Photo: Sara Patrick with Ian Mullen, Office & Communications Manager for the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce.)
If you or someone you know are interested in joining the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, click here!
