Throughout this series, Forge ECI is highlighting East Central Indiana entrepreneurs featured in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Entrepreneurship Indiana 2025 publication and our 10th edition of Livability East Central Indiana. Each story celebrates the innovators, problem-solvers, and business leaders whose work strengthens our regional economy and showcases the entrepreneurial spirit that makes East Central Indiana a great place to build a business.

Behind every successful small business is someone helping tell its story.

For Christy Ragle, founder of WholeHeart Communications in downtown New Castle, that has been her mission for more than a decade. Her work helping entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community organizations grow recently earned statewide recognition in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Entrepreneurship Indiana 2025 publication.

Ragle’s story is about much more than marketing. It’s about helping organizations uncover what makes them unique and ensuring those stories reach the people who need to hear them.

Helping Small Businesses Find Their Voice

Founded in late 2014, WholeHeart Communications was created with a simple purpose: provide professional marketing, public relations, social media, content creation, and strategic communications services to organizations that may not have the resources to hire a large advertising agency.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Ragle works closely with each client to understand their goals, challenges, and story.

“Every business is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all plan,” Ragle shared in the IEDC profile. “Things we learn from one client can often be tailored to benefit other clients in completely different industries.”

That personalized approach has allowed WholeHeart Communications to serve businesses and nonprofits throughout East Central Indiana while adapting to the changing needs of every client.

A Business Built on Community

Ragle’s passion for helping others began long before she launched her business.

Growing up in Battle Creek, Michigan, she watched her parents build her father’s excavation company and saw firsthand how a locally owned business could positively impact an entire community. That experience inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship with a focus on helping others succeed.

Today, one of her favorite parts of the job is celebrating her clients’ accomplishments.

“One of our favorite things is getting the word out about successes our clients have achieved and how they’ve improved people’s lives,” she said.

Over the years, WholeHeart Communications has helped many organizations transition from traditional advertising methods into today’s digital marketing landscape, giving small businesses the tools they need to remain competitive.

Growing Alongside Downtown New Castle

In 2022, WholeHeart Communications relocated to The Hub in downtown New Castle, placing the business in the heart of the community it serves.

The move reflects a broader trend happening across East Central Indiana as entrepreneurs continue investing in downtown districts, creating vibrant spaces where businesses can collaborate, innovate, and connect.

Strong downtowns depend on businesses that not only provide services but also contribute to the energy and identity of their communities.

The Power of Partnerships

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Ragle credits collaboration as an important part of her journey.

The East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center was her very first client and has remained one of her strongest supporters, encouraging her to expand her business and connect with new opportunities. She also points to Business Networking International, the New Castle Henry County Economic Development Corporation, and the local chamber of commerce as valuable partners that have helped WholeHeart Communications grow.

These relationships demonstrate something Forge ECI sees every day: entrepreneurship thrives when communities build strong support networks for small business owners.

Always Learning, Always Growing

Entrepreneurship requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to keep learning.

Ragle believes successful entrepreneurs should never become complacent.

“To me, being an entrepreneur means never being satisfied with the way things are and always looking for opportunities to level up,” she said. “You have to constantly keep learning. Find your niche. Figure out what you can do better than anyone else, and then just knock it out of the park.”

It’s advice that reflects the entrepreneurial mindset helping shape communities across East Central Indiana.

At Forge ECI, we’re proud to celebrate entrepreneurs like Christy Ragle, whose work extends beyond building a successful business to helping countless other organizations tell their stories, reach new audiences, and make a lasting impact.

Congratulations to Christy and WholeHeart Communications on this well-deserved statewide recognition. Her story is another example of how East Central Indiana entrepreneurs are creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and building a brighter future for our region.

To read Christy’s full profile, explore page 135 of the Entrepreneurship Indiana 2025 publication from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.