Christine Flohr Of Visit Wabash County - Everyone Is Able To Make A Difference In A Small Town.
There are roughly 19,500 small towns, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, all over America that are nestled in-between vast lands of corn fields, wide open plains, and mountains; yet, there is still an intolerance to the importance they each hold. Society’s mind has been poisoned by the belief that the description gives value rather than the who and what is held within those county lines. The shift that must happen is the realization that the description should not cause indifference to the ability that a community has. The building of a community is no “small” feat. Nor is the continuation of the legacy and economic growth. What if the we describe our homes, the place where our family create memories and generations are born, with language that instills hope rather than poisons the root of growth. The future is not held simply within the palms of a few individuals, we all hold this responsibility. There is nothing more powerful than a community that champions and revels in the sweet endurance of their own town. Christine Flohr alongside the team of individuals at Visit Wabash County has waved the banner of hope for our community and continues to rewrite the narrative.
Christine Flohr with her dog at her office in Visit Wabash County - October 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.
Christine Flohr has been the Executive Director for Visit Wabash County for over 14 years. She is a well known community member and on top of that, a well respected leader. Sitting down in her office inside their storefront in Downtown Wabash, Indiana; she instantly gave all the glory to God when we spoke about her journey to where she is now. A winding road with twist and turns and an untraditional career path that lead her here. As Flohr looks back now she states,
“I look back at all the people who have poured into me. I have had leadership that I learned what I didn't enjoy. I had leadership that spoke truth into me, that made me more aware of how I could develop and grow professionally. I've had people who've loved me in the hard and because of their steadfastness and belief in me, and that list is so long, I get emotional today thinking about he number of people who took a chance. I really believe that with the people that God puts in your life, there become a choice; you can choose to learn from or ignore. You can turn your back or face. Even if it's uncomfortable, there is something in it that God can use through you for the greater good and for a good purpose.”
After graduating from Southwood High School, Flohr was torn between becoming an attorney and an English professor.
“Totally two different professions but they both involved talking.” Flohr jokes.
Flohr spoke honestly about her years attending Ball State University. “I wasn’t a good student to be honestly. I didn’t take my time there seriously. Then my mom was diagnosed with cancer so I decided to move back home.”
Working hard in factories and working her way up, she knew deep down this what not the career she wanted to have. Flohr went on to work for Jeff Kellum and his commercial construction company as the operations manager. Learning everything from rebar to finishing cement, she found herself in a hard hat with a whole new set of experiences. After meeting her husband and becoming pregnant, it was time to hang up her hard hat and walk through yet another door that began to add to the pieces to the puzzle of her life, career, and calling.
Flohr began working for the Honeywell Center as a hospitality coordinator where the job and the ability to feel fulfilled began to meet.
“They do a tremendous job about their educational outreach. They have a bus program where they'll have kids come to the center and they'll load in all these young elementary kids into the Ford Theater. They’ve had the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and so many other incredibly talent artist come and perform for them. One of my favorite parts about it was, I would stand on the platform back by the soundboard, in the back of theatre, and there was this moment when the orchestra instruments would be getting tune and getting ready to start. The theater gets really quiet and the orchestra changes from tuning into performing. They begin to start, and you see this sea of children getting exposure to incredible music in one of the best world-class performing art centers in the country. I got to witness that. It still gives me chills to think about it and looking back, working for the Honeywell Center.” Flohr explains.
It was in this point of the interview when the spark of pure passion was shown in her eyes. I have to believe that the person who was about to open the door to yet another incredible stepping stone saw the same spark as I.
“ The Wabash County United Fund was looking for a new executive director and someone on their board thought that I would be a good fit.” Flohr paused, “ Now Lorynn, I don't know why. I've never done fund development in my whole life, never ran a nonprofit. I worked for one, the Honeywell Center, but never ran a nonprofit. I applied for the position and I was really blessed to be selected for that role. And again, my relationships just kept growing and through that I learned how to fund develop. We had campaigns where we were raising collective resources, collective donations to help local nonprofits. It was another way to fundraise for nonprofits that serve the community.” Flohr explains.
Her career was rolling down the hill of empowerment so fast that the building of momentum, skills, and relationships created a powerhouse affect that went before her. When the tourism office announced a position for hire, one of the board members pursued her to apply thinking she would be perfect for the job.
“I didn’t know anything about tourism but I was honored that some of the members from the board at that time, thought I would good for the job.” Flohr continued, “ I loved the fact that each day would be something different and I applied. They had candidates flown in but yet again God and his timing.” Flohr explains.
Now approaching her 15th year with Visit Wabash County, Flohr has seen many changes within the non-profit as well as the community itself. What started as a small room in the Wabash County Museum, where brochures were at the ready, to opening a store front office that features over 55 different local vendors. There is little understanding about the hard work behind the scenes of what makes Wabash County so successful in tourism and community events. Countless events, programs, and more happen each year; never do they just happen. With hard work and extensive planning, Flohr and her team deliver riveting experiences for the whole community to enjoy.
“It always starts with an idea and Jennifer Long-Dillon and Stephanie Rogers are idea queens. I love my team, we all balance each other well.” Flohr explains, “The focus always is, does it hit our mission? Is it something that leverages our local assets and does it draw attention to increase visitor-ship and visitor spending, visitor stays? The byproducts, sometimes, of each of our programs can range a little bit. Then its is marketing, sponsorship, and execution of it all. Biz Bishop and Britney Riner market the event. It a complete team effort.”
Christine Flohr inside Visit Wabash County Welcome Center in Downtown Wabash, Indiana - Showcasing over 55 local vendors. - October 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.
But there is far more than just events that happens each year.
“We as a team work on our annual operating plan. Each team member, Jennifer, Stephanie, Biz, Brittany, and myself, all write an operational plan for the calendar year. All the things that we need to do over the next 12 months. So we've already started drafting our next year's operational plans. (What pieces we need to control when they're due.) Inside of that, we add our own goals. What five goals do we want to accomplish. Biz and Brittany have a responsibility of not only marketing our programs and events but also the county as a whole. Flohr continues, "We’re marketing Wabash County as an overall destination, as well as maintaining our key foundational pieces like the website and the destination guide. Making sure that we're staying ahead and marketing well. I think that is one of the key reasons why we're so successful at executing projects, programs, and events, is because we plan our work and then we work our plan.
There is no mistake that their dedication to Wabash County is of the purest intent to cultivate prosperity in relationships, as well as economic. The truth of the matter is there are countless businesses, leaders, and behind the scenes workers who care about our community. Yet, there is still a call to action for all individual community members. The ability to cultivate is not characteristics of them alone, it continues with us and how we steward this place we call home. In talking with Flohr we discuss the heart ache that comes with the commentary around our community.
“Those individuals who feel like there's nothing to do here or tare down Wabash County, that hurts my heart to be honest. I have interviewed several people on our podcast and I myself have given my time, and almost my entire professional career, to building Wabash County; to supporting Wabash County, to being a part of what makes it thrive. So when I hear or receive feedback like there’s just nothing to do here or this town terrible; I start to think to myself that they are missing it. When you miss it then you shorting yourself of joy. It isimportant to recognize that there are so many people working continuously. Not only working to make Wabash County to be a destination place but to also call it home and to build a business. There are countless hours that goes into building relationships in order to be and do what we do.”
Now there are simple steps that we as community members can do. Christine Flohr’s encouragement for us is quite simple but powerful.
“We take that ambassadorship seriously. Wabash County is a small pond where the small fish can make a difference. Just know you are always an ambassador. Every single person who lives here is an ambassador. Whether you're at Walmart walking down the aisle, you choose whether you want to be a positive ambassador or a negative ambassador. It starts with yourself. It starts with how and what type of ambassador you want to be, because you already are one.”
Want to learn more and get involved? Don’t be shy, Flohr says, “ If you want to dip your toes in the water then stop by here at Visit Wabash County! Then I can help connect you with an organization that might fill you, or I can help make that connection. Then the other part of it, is go to common gathering places, coffee shops all over the county, and just sit there and support. Its a great start.” Flohr continues, “To build relationships outside yourself starts with putting down that digital device in your hand and looking up. So I encourage people to look up. You will see the things you've passed a hundred times differently because you're looking up and you're choosing to look beyond what's on the surface. Then you start to see the potential, not only within your community, but ultimately within yourself.”
Let us gather more, support more, and build strength within our community. Thank you to Christine Flohr and everyone at Visit Wabash County for everything that you do in our community. We are extremely blessed to have organizations and people such as yourselves that are determined and truly care.
A special thank you to Christine Flohr for taking the time sit down with me. It was a great honor to get to know you further and sit across the table as you radiated such joy. Make sure you head over and listen to this wonderful podcast! There is so much more to learn about my guest and this wonderful organization. You will not want to miss it!
Episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qve9NLAbUGaXxBzn6p9aN...
https://podcasts.apple.com/.../here-in-my.../id1858774701...
LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:
Website: https://visitwabashcounty.com/
Podcasts: https://visitwabashcounty.com/podcasts/
MY SPONSORS:
A Simple Farm LLC:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asimplefarm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayinthesimplelife/
Turn The Page Books and Music Store
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057158751423
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnthepagebooksandmusic/
