Sweetwater’s Surack Receives Legends of Leadership Award

Sweetwater founder and president Chuck Surack has been awarded the Legend of Leadership Award by the editors of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.  

He was honored with the award at a breakfast event on Tuesday, February 14. The annual award honors a Fort Wayne business leader who for decades has shown what truly great leadership can accomplish.

The Business Weekly stated, “As a husband and father, entrepreneur, philanthropist, community volunteer, and musician, Surack has spent his career not only serving as a leader in his profession, but also as a “servant leader” for non-profits and the community.”

The Legend of Leadership breakfast featured speakers honoring Surack by providing accolades and anecdotes that paid tribute to him, and his wife Lisa, and his vast contributions to northeast Indiana. The speakers were Mayor Tom Henry, City of Fort Wayne; Bruce Boxberger, partner, Carson Boxberger; Joe Jordan, President and CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne; Eric Doden, CEO, Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.; and Brian Bauer, CEO, Lutheran Health Network.

Surack also took the stage to express his appreciation, and to offer thoughts on his commitment to Fort Wayne and leadership philosophy. He offered this advice to anyone thinking of starting a business: “Remember, it’s your passion and your idea. While there’s nothing wrong with getting input and information and support from others, at some point, if it’s what you believe in, you have to go for it.”

In addition to the event, Surack was featured in the Friday, February 17 edition of Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.

“Mr. Surack has made a significant impact on northeast Indiana,” said Randy Mitchell, chief executive officer for KPC Media Group, publisher of Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. “The editorial board of Business Weekly felt that his extraordinary leadership qualities and willingness to lend his influence, intellect and passion in helping to make northeast Indiana a better place to live and work made him the perfect choice for this annual award and we are privileged to honor him in this way.”