Observations, insights and sightings: What the Ada Icon means to Ada
By Monty Siekerman
As I see it, Fred Steiner is an Innovator.
He began The Ada Icon a mere four years ago. In that short time, his efforts at founding this online means of communication garnered him and his wife Mary the award Business of the Year in Ada.
He accomplished that feat without being here 50 or 100 years. It took less than four years. Why?
Because The Ada Icon (and The Bluffton Icon, too) are effective in many ways.
The Icons build a sense of community in a village. People often report to me, "I didn't know all of that was happening in Ada."
This village is only about one square mile in size, but much goes on here.
With the Ada Icon, local residents know what is occurring...and a lot does happen here. Businesses come and go. Government and schools make news. Civic clubs, the community center, the library, and others sponsor many activities, which are fun and educational, for all ages.
ONU students, faculty, and staff have a positive effect on the community from trimming shrubs at the park, to raking leaves for widows, to presenting health information...their contributions are endless.
They even plunge into frigid water to raise money for the American Red Cross.
Nowadays, much of their good work is reported in The Ada Icon for all to participate in. And, The Icon gives credit to leaders for their efforts.
Fred's style of management is: give the reporters/photographers freedom. He would have made it big in Silicon Valley where freedom and innovation go hand in hand, making some of those companies the most valuable in the world.
But Fred and Mary chose to live and work in the small towns of Ada and Bluffton, bringing their good ideas, Christian faith, hard work, and innovation to us here. The Chamber recognized this and honored them for their efforts.
To Fred and the Chamber: well done.
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Stories Posted This Week
Friday, June 6, 2025
- Logan Jolliff places 11th in OHSAA D3 preliminaries
- Canadian wildfire smoke could impact NW Ohio
- Save the Date: July 12 Park in the Park
- Ada Board of Education to hold special executive session on June 11
- Park board hears plans for concessions stand
- May 2025 land transfers in the Ada School District
Thursday, June 5, 2025
- Can you name the location of Pat's News Stand?
- June 9 ice cream social at Ada FUMC
- Land of Confusion: Is cannabis weed-ing out your ability to think clearly?
- Blacksmithing demonstrations on June 14 at Schumacher Homestead
- Content creators wanted for Ada Icon
- Crime Victim Services hosts Anti-Violence Teen Summer Retreat
- ACE Day coordinators seek projects for August 23
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
- Dwight Thomas Friesner served in the U.S. Army
- BlufftonIcon.com headlines for June 3
- Congratulations to Officer Michael Bollinger
- Chance R. Watkins worked at PlastiPak Packaging
- Public meetings scheduled for Ada committees, commissions
- Aggregation letters sent to Ada residents not enrolled in electricity programs
- Upcoming APL events, June 2-7
- Sign of the times