Alliance Industries
Alliance Industries
  • Home
  • Our Journey to Now
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Community Involvement
  • Employee Spotlight
  • Photo Gallery
  • More
    • Home
    • Our Journey to Now
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Employee Spotlight
    • Photo Gallery

  • Home
  • Our Journey to Now
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Community Involvement
  • Employee Spotlight
  • Photo Gallery

Our History

How We Started

When We Set Up Our Roots

In the 1950s, there was no place for parents to find education and work experiences for their children with disabilities in DeKalb County.

When We Set Up Our Roots

When We Set Up Our Roots

Parents established a school for children with disabilities with the help of community members.  By 1957, the DCARC had nine students, and within two years, it had grown to 25 students.  Additional space became necessary.

How We Evolved

In 1963, the community had raised the funds to address another need: providing each individual with hands-on work experience.  It was through this that Wee Haven Workshop was formed.

How We Got Where We Are Today

Over the years, the need for the school declined as public schools began accepting disabled children into their special education classes.  In 1997, with continued growth driven by a focus on workforce development, another expansion became apparent.  In August of that year, building expansion and renovation were completed, and the employees chose our new name, Alliance Industries.

What We Do Today

What We Do Today

Alliance Industries’ mission is to provide job training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Northeast Indiana. This initiative is designed to create lasting opportunities. 

Alliance Industries offers full- and part-time, meaningful employment to forty-seven individuals with disabilities, ages 18 to 60+.  We specialize in hand packaging work and light subassembly kits for area manufacturing companies like Rieke Corporation, Fastenal, Dekko, SCP Limited, Hendrickson, and Eaton. We offer a safe and needs-based work environment, assigning tasks that match each employee's skill set. 

We believe in promoting employee independence by offering a wage. This approach helps our employees recognize their value and promotes positive self-esteem, purpose, and fulfillment by enriching their life skills through meaningful and sustainable relationships within a framework of security.

Learn More About Our Next Steps

Alliance Industries, the 2021 Duesy Awards Non-Profit of the Year

Our Team

Our staff is a vital part of our job skills training.

Executive Director

Erin Potter


Direct Support Professionals Members:

Beth Jehl

Lorenza Mendez

Kayla Hamilton


Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors plays a crucial role in establishing policies and fundraising efforts.


Officers:

Marcus Wagner- President

Eugene Fuhrer- Vice President

Kari Minch- Secretary 

Jennifer Kuder- Treasurer 


Directors:

Bridget Ortiz

Kim Clark

Dana Hedrick

Denny Winebrenner

Ashley Cordial

Aliya Lebamoff

Our Community Believes In Alliance Industries

Tyler Cleverly, Executive Director of the United Way of DeKalb County

Tanya Young, Executive Director of the Community Foundation DeKalb County

Tanya Young, Executive Director of the Community Foundation DeKalb County

“Alliance Industries benefits individuals and families in DeKalb County by providing a stable, supportive work environment for people with disabilities and providing a needs-based support system.”

Tanya Young, Executive Director of the Community Foundation DeKalb County

Tanya Young, Executive Director of the Community Foundation DeKalb County

Tanya Young, Executive Director of the Community Foundation DeKalb County

“When donors are making investments in a business or charitable organization, they look for the same things; a strong leadership team with vision, a good plan, efficiency, the ability to execute and deliver results and a mission that can change the world. Alliance Industries has the whole package.”

Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.

Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Copyright © 2025 Alliance Industries - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Employee Spotlight

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept