A Full-Circle Moment on Kamm Island

Some moments in public life sneak up on you in the best possible way.

Today, I experienced one of those moments on Kamm Island, where Mayor Dave Wood and the City of Mishawaka dedicated a new performance stage in my honor. It was meant to be a surprise—and it truly was. I was humbled, overwhelmed, and deeply grateful.

Kamm Island has been part of my professional journey since my earliest days working for the City of Mishawaka. As Zoning Administrator, I was first introduced to the island through neighborhood concerns. Later, as Community Development Director, I had the opportunity to help negotiate its acquisition by the City. From there, we worked to envision what the island could become—navigating legal challenges, planning improvements, and ultimately transforming it into a vibrant public space along the St. Joseph River.

What stands there today—with its bridges, riverwalk connections, lighting, landscaping, and now a permanent stage—is a testament to what can happen when a community shares a vision and stays committed to it.

But the story of Kamm Island stretches back much further.

The island is named after Adolph Kamm, a German immigrant born in 1842, who became a central figure in Mishawaka’s early industrial history. Kamm purchased a brewery originally established on the adjacent site in 1853 by John Wagner. Alongside his brother-in-law, Nicholas Schellinger, the Kamm & Schellinger Brewery produced its well-known pilsner beer there until 1951. In later decades, the former brewery evolved into an entertainment destination, featuring apartments, a hotel, restaurants, and shops during the 1960s and 1970s.

Like many historic places, time brought change and decline. Today, however, that story is evolving once again. A developer has proposed a $41 million investment to revitalize the former brewery site. The continued success of Kamm Island is not just important as a recreational asset—it is vital to the broader redevelopment of this historic corridor along the river.

For me, this place is not just professional—it’s personal.

There was a time in my life when I made a commitment to improving my health. That journey often took me to the Riverwalk and across Kamm Island—first walking, then running. What made those moments special wasn’t just the exercise. It was seeing people, day after day, enjoying a place we had worked so hard to create—families gathering, people fishing, couples taking photos, neighbors simply enjoying the river. Those daily reminders reinforced the purpose behind the work.

The recognition I received last week is deeply meaningful, but it is not mine alone. I was fortunate to work alongside an extraordinary team of dedicated public servants during my 17 years with the City. I’m also grateful for the support of the City Council, the Redevelopment Commission, the Plan Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission—groups that played critical roles in shaping this project.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to the late Mayor Bob Beutter, a visionary leader who entrusted me with significant responsibility early in my career and helped set the course for so much of the riverfront development we see today.

And Mayor Dave Wood—thank you. Your leadership over the past 16 years has been extraordinary. Not just here in Mishawaka, but across Indiana. You’ve built on that strong foundation and continued to move this city forward in meaningful ways. More importantly to me, you’ve been a trusted colleague and a dear friend. I’m deeply grateful.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank the citizens of Mishawaka. Thank you for trusting me to serve as your Mayor and for the support, advice, and counsel you offered throughout my 17 years with the City. It was one of the greatest honors of my life.

I’m deeply humbled that my name will somehow be connected to this. Truly. But if there’s anything I hope people think about when they see it, it’s not about me—it’s about what can happen when a community works together and believes in its future.

Mishawaka is a special place. It’s always been home to me, and it always will be. It’s a dynamic, resilient, and forward-looking city—and I’m simply proud to have played a small role in its story.

Thank you all very much. This means more to me than you know.