Merchants Bancorp
08/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/28/2026 13:40
2025 MPACT Awards: The People Behind the Impact
2025 MPACT Awards: The People Behind the Impact
August 28, 2026
At Merchants Bank, giving back has always been part of who we are. Even back in 1990, our co-founders Michael F. Petrie and Randall Rogers shared the belief that being a community bank meant investing in more than financial services. Fast forward to the present day and that thinking is central to how Merchants operates, committing to the people and organizations that help communities thrive.
The MPACT program, Merchants employees Positively Advancing Communities Together, was derived from this thinking in 2018. Through the program, employees are encouraged to volunteer their time, share their expertise, and support the causes that matter most to them. While our goals and program initiatives emphasize affordable housing, financial literacy, and community advancement, Merchants employees are empowered to make a difference wherever they see a need.
Over the life of this program, Merchants employees have logged more than 22,000 volunteer hours in support of organizations here in Indiana and across the country. Through individual volunteer efforts, company service projects, and charitable giving, our team members have helped strengthen communities while supporting organizations like Horizon House, RDOOR, Gleaners Food Bank, Purposeful Design, Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, and more.
As part of MPACT, employees are selected each year who exemplify our mission. This year we celebrate the following 2025 MPACT Catalyst Award recipients for their dedication to making a positive difference in their communities:
MPACT Award Winners
Matt Simpson - Merchants Bank; Indianapolis/Carmel
Alex Toroslar - Investment Real Estate; New York
Lin Slutz - Merchants Bank; Spartanburg
Aretha Hutchins - Merchants Capital; Indianapolis/Carmel
Bre Ford - Merchants Capital; Remote
We also recognize one employee whose extraordinary commitment to giving back has created a lasting impact on both our organization and local greater Indianapolis communities. The 2025 MPACT Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Carol Gassen in recognition of her years of service and the lasting impact she has made. Throughout her career, Carol helped build a culture of volunteerism that continues to inspire employees across our organization. As she recently retired from Merchants Bank, the award also celebrates the legacy she leaves behind: one defined by generosity, leadership and commitment to serving others.
Carol Gassen MPACT Winner
The impact of MPACT is measured in more than volunteer hours or dollars donated. It's reflected in the people who give their time, build lasting relationships, and strengthen the communities around them. Congratulations to this year's award recipients and thank you to every Merchants employee who continues to embody the spirit of MPACT through service.
Merchants Bancorp published this content on August 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 28, 2026 at 19:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]