Life in the Spotlight

Tiffany Butterfield grew up in Portage, and attended Portage Township Schools from preschool until graduation. In a full circle, she now works for Portage Township Schools as an attendance specialist for Portage High School (PHS). “Our attendance team …

For Wheeler High School’s Varsity Basketball team in 2010, Mike Jones was the hero that brought the school to its first ever state championship title. Jones believes that year solidified the notion that great moments are achieved through strength of …

For Katie Bowering, every custom creation is an opportunity for her to turn someone’s vision into a lasting memory that they can cherish forever. Creativity has always been a constant throughout Katie Bowering’s life, but it wasn’t until …

Lots of women wear many hats, but Jill Vagner makes you wonder if she has a superhero cape tucked away somewhere. Between teaching, coaching, running businesses, staying deeply involved in her community, and being a mom, Vagner seems to find time for just …

Dorota Janik serves as Executive Director of Reins of Life, Inc., which has two locations, one in South Bend and one in Michigan City. The organization uses equine-assisted services, leveraging mounted programs (therapeutic riding, carriage driving …

Rachel Bontrager knew from a young age that she wanted to spend her life helping people. As she grew up, she was drawn to education, but she didn’t know exactly what that would look like for her. “I went to Western Michigan University. I thought I wanted …

For Adele Smith, baking has always been more than a hobby. Inspired by vendors in her local community and fueled by years of experimenting with recipes and techniques, the Mishawaka native turned her passion for homemade desserts into a growing business …

Sonya Lindgren and her husband Dave met when they stood as part of a wedding party many years ago. Shortly after, the two started dating and would go on to be wed. Later in life, the pair would find unique ways to expand their family. “We have been so …

After years of perfecting pliés, pirouettes and eight-counts, Chelsea Doss is now calling the counts at Crown Point High School. For Doss, dance has been a lifelong journey. She has spent nearly 15 years coaching and has just been promoted to head varsity …

Since 2018, Northwest Indiana local DJ Karner has owned and operated his Hebron-based business, Kash Kustoms. His window tinting business services a wide array of vehicles, ranging from well-worn cars to multi-million dollar yachts. His passion for window …