CEOs You Should Know - Mansfield

Paul Smith is the executive director of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. The structure was built in the 1800's and remained a prison until 1990. The movie Shawhank Redemption was filmed there in the mid 1990's and has been a huge attraction for OSR and the Mansfield area. The facility has had music video's and other movie's filmed at the site. Plus, a haunted prison each October and a huge...

Steve Kurtzman is the co-owner of Innovative Recycling, which is located in North Central Ohio. Steve's father started the sanitation part of the business back in the late 1970's, while they added recycling in the early 1990's. Also, the portable toilets and now tire recycling is something they do now too. They have facilities in Crestline and Galion and about 60 total employees. Learn more about...

Beth Owens was elected in November of 2022, as Richland County Domestic Relations Court Judge. Owens was sworn in the 1st week of January 2023 and will serve a 6 year term. Beth has been an attorney for 18 years in private practice and was born in Canton, Ohio. Owens grew up in Southern Ohio and attended Ohio University. She is married with kids and you can learn more about her path to becoming ju...

David Lay is the Chief of Police in the city of Ashland. Lay has been with the Ashland PD in several roles dating back to 1993. David was born in Crawford County and went to Col. Crawford High School. Learn about his education after high school, family all about the Ashland Police Department and how much they are involved in the Ashland Community on the podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Lance Combs is the Police Chief in Shelby and has been in the role since 2015. Lance was born in Florida, but grew up and graduated from Shelby. Lance shares some history about the department, which has been in operation for over 100 years. Learn more about Shelby Police and Lance Combs on the podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lt. Jason Murfield is the post commander of the Mansfield Highway Patrol. Jason has been in the role for a year, but overall has been with the patrol for 16 years. Jason was born in Delaware Ohio and went to high school at Buckeye Valley. Learn all of the various facets of the patrol, along with exactly what they do from the ground to the air. Jason, also shares about an upcoming hiring event at t...

Bob Bender and his wife Karen are both Majors and run the Mansfield Salvation Army. Bob and his wife came to town in 2021 and run the location at 47 South Main Street. The Salvation Army has been in Mansfield since the late 1800's and operates a food pantry and many service locally to help those in need in the community. Learn more about the Red Kettle Campaign and the Salvation Army on the podcas...

Stacy Schiemann is the Executive Director of the Ashland County United Way. Stacy is entering her 6th year in the role and says they have an annual campaign to raise around $850,000 to support 14 partner agencies, which in turn helps 25 community programs. Stacy Schiemann was born in Illinois and later moved to North Central Ohio, graduating from Ashland High School and attended Ashland University...

Tom Hill is the Chief of Police in the city of Ontario and is in his 5th year in the role. Tom has been with the Ontario PD since 1998 in various roles before becoming chief in 2017. Tom was born in Marion and grew up in the town of Upper Sandusky, where he went to high school. Hill went to Findlay College and is married with two kids. Learn more about the Ontario Police Department and their leade...

Jodi Scott is the general manager of the Richland Mall. Jodi has spent the last 17 years in the role and shares about the history, which dates back more than 50 years. Learn more about events they have been hosting, how many stores and recent additions like Avita on the podcast. Jodi is from northeast Ohio and is a graduate of Malone College, now Malone University. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Lee Tasseff is the president of Destination Mansfield Richland County and has been with the organization for 32 years. Lee is from Stark County and was born in Orrville. He went to High School in Navarre at Fairless before attending then Findlay College. Learn more about Lee and what all his group does to promote events and draw people to the Richland County area on the podcast. See omnystudio.com...

Tom Zellner is one of the co-owners of the Warehouse Tavern in downtown Mansfield. Tom's brother Rod Zellner and nephew Michael Zellner, own and operate the Industrial bar on East 4th Street, which has been open since 2018. Learn more about the Warehouse Tavern and what all they offer on the podcast, plus the story of how it all got started. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Carlos Campo is the president of Ashland University, who has been in the role since 2015. Dr. Campo was born in Miami, graduated from high school in Las Vegas and went to college at UNLV. Learn about all the improvements that has been made on campus and more planned for the future, along with finding out more about Carlos on the podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Herman is in his 6th year as Superintendent of the Lucas Local School District. Brad was born in Orrville and grew up in Fredericksburg in Wayne County. Herman graduated from Waynedale before going to the University of Akron and Ashland University. Brad is married with 3 children and enjoying being outside in his spare time. Learn more about the projects currently going on and everything in t...

Annabelle Coffman is the director of Magnolia Trails at the Waterford at Mansfield, which is a specialized memory care community opening October 5th ( 4 pm - 7 pm). The Waterford is located on Trimble Road in Mansfield. Learn all about Magnolia Trails and their director, Annabelle Coffman, on the podcast. She will share how Magnolia Trails is a home like environment and has many great amenities fo...

Dr. Michael Benson is the new executive director of the Richland Academy of the Arts, which is located in downtown Mansfield. Benson was born in Arkansas and attended Rice University. He shares about his love of music since the age of 5 and his journey to where he is today. Michael is married with one child and talks about all of the great programs going on and the history of the academy on the po...

Dr. Ben Gregg is an Orthodontist and the CEO of Gregg Orthodontics, which has 3 locations in North Central Ohio (Ashland, Wooster and Shelby). Ben was born in Ashland, went to Ashland High School and Miami University and Ohio State for dental school. Gregg is married with 3 children and shares his business and how it all got started on the podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Catherine Puster is in her 6th year as Superintendent of the Loudonville-Perrysville Local School District. Catherine was born in Wooster, graduated from West Holmes High School and Akron University. Catherine is engaged and will be married soon, so take a listen to her podcast to learn all about her career and all about the district - plus the great things happening. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Jim Grubbs is in his 2nd year as Superintendent of the Crestview Local Schools. Jim was born in Shelby and grew up going to School in the Mansfield area. Grubbs is a graduate of Mansfield Senior and Ohio State. Jim has spent time at Galion and Tiffin schools and is married with 6 children. Learn more about Jim Grubbs and the great things happening in the Crestview Schools on the podcast. See omnys...

Chelsie Thompson is the president and CEO of the Renaissance Theatre in downtown Mansfield. Chelsie has been president since 2018 and has been with the organization since 2010. Thompson was recently named CEO and says the offer a wide variety of shows each year and the Theatre is in its 94th year. Chelsie was born in Ashland County, attended Hillsdale before college at Capital University and the U...

Dr. Cy Smith is the Superintendent of the Mansfield Christian Schools, who is in his 15th year leading the district. Cy was born in Mansfield and attended Mansfield Christian before college at Toledo and Ashland University. Cy has been with the district for more than 30 years, which in 2021 celebrated their 60th year. Cy has two children and enjoys golf in his spare time. The school has several im...

Keith Strickler is the new Superintendent in the Ontario Local School District, which has nearly 1,900 students and around 100 teachers. Total staff right now is approaching 200 and will see the new school year begin on August 17th. Keith was born in Mansfield, graduated from Ontario and Bowling Green. Hear his entire story and about his family and how much he loves the Ontario Schools on the podc...

Prior to forming Jet It, Glenn provided transportation solutions as the Regional Sales Manager for the Eastern United States for Honda Aircraft Company. In this role, Glenn developed and executed a sales, communication, marketing business plan, and strategy to sell Honda’s first venture into aviation, the $5M+ HondaJet. Preceding his efforts with Honda Aircraft Company, Glenn performed a sales sup...

Melissa Eber is the owner of Swavory in downtown Mansfield, which sells gourmet popcorn, handmade crepes, salads, salt water taffy and more. Melissa started the business back in 2018 and shares the story of how she got started and landed in Mansfield. Learn her entire story and more about her family - plus her expanded menu - on the podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Schag is in his 8th year as mayor of the city of Shelby. Steve was born in Mansfield and graduated from Madison before going to College at Massillon Baptist College. Schag has married with 3 children and several grandchildren and has been the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby. Steve also shared about projects going on in town and school district, plus about some of Shelby's history....