Innovate Northeast Indiana - Fort Wayne

Mark K. Music came to the company with a vision that shunned convention and pursued a fresh new approach to mortgage banking. In 2007, he set out to make Ruoff the #1 choice of the top talent working in the industry as well as the top choice of consumers needing assistance in achieving their home ownership goals. This philosophy saw Ruoff grow from 18 employees at Music’s arrival to over 700 team members in 2019. The company also went from one location in Fort Wayne (still our headquarters today) to 56 lending centers. Under Mark’s leadership, Ruoff has streamlined operations with the implementation of cutting-edge software and processes. All of this ensures the company’s ability to impress its client base with superior, on-time service. Through his direction and leadership, the Ruoff financial services team has established an outstanding reputation throughout the Midwest.Validation of a proven strategy came in 2017 as Music received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the category of Financial Services.

Dan Starr serves as CEO of Do it Best and True Value. Since joining Do it Best in 2005, he has held multiple leadership roles, including executive vice president and chief operating officer, and later president and CEO. Before joining the company, he was a partner at a Midwestern law firm specializing in business transactions and M&A. Dan earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law and currently chairs the Parkview Health Board of Directors.

Chuck Surack is the Founder and Chairman of the Board for Sweetwater, the No. 1 online retailer of musical instruments and pro-audio equipment in the United States. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1979. With nothing but a deep passion for music, a VW bus, and a guiding principle to “always do the right thing,” Chuck launched Sweetwater Sound as a 4-track recording studio. Today, Sweetwater employs more than 2,800 team members and serves more than one million customers annually.

Chuck’s commitment to unmatched customer service extends beyond Sweetwater and into Surack Enterprises, a diverse collection of companies with a unified goal of strengthening and investing in communities throughout the Midwest. Among them, SweetCars, Sweet Aviation, Sweet Helicopters, Longe Optical, and The Clyde Theatre are all based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Surack Enterprises employs more than 500 people, with more being added to the team every week.

Through Sweet Real Estate, Chuck has made transformative additions to Fort Wayne’s cultural landscape. The Pearl and Pearl Street Arts Center provide space for local artists, families, and businesses to flourish, further demonstrating Chuck’s dedication to community growth and enrichment. Chuck and his wife Lisa also choose to give back through the Surack Family Foundation, a nonprofit supporting more than 600 empowering organizations across Northeast Indiana.

Outside of his busy professional life, Chuck still finds time to play the saxophone with various groups at small venues in Fort Wayne. He’s also an avid helicopter pilot. But what Chuck and Lisa value most is family time, weekly setting aside time for dinners with their two grown sons, daughter, and two granddaughters.

Brenda Gerber Vincent serves as Chief Growth Officer at Greater Fort Wayne Inc., an organization recently recognized as the 2025 "National Chamber of the Year". In her role, she is dedicated to enhancing quality of place through economic development, leadership programming, and meaningful community engagement. Brenda is passionate about partnering with people and organizations who share her vision for building a stronger, more vibrant community.