WSCO

Dr. Sarah Parker has worked in higher education for 20 years beginning as an English instructor at a community college in Virginia. Her passion to serve small communities led her to southeast Ohio. She worked as an Academic Dean at Hocking College while also co-founding a small non-profit educational farm that grew food for local food pantries. Sarah has been the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Washington State College of Ohio for the past six years and now also serves as the College's Interim President.

BB2C

Tasha Werry started her career as a teacher and then a grant coordinator for Marietta City Schools. Through the grant work, she realized a need for deepening the relationship between the community, local businesses, and the schools in the county. Building upon existing efforts, Tasha supported the founding of BB2C in 2012 to connect students, teachers, and parents to business and community in order to increase career connections for students. She went on to complete her Educational Doctorate in 2016, with BB2C as the focus of her research, and is now the Executive Director. BB2C is currently scaling the concept in other regions and states.

OhioSE

Kara Willis is the Regional Talent Manager serving OhioSE’s 25 county region. She provides human resource solutions in the development and implementation of new or expanding company’s talent strategy. Over the past 20 years, Kara has gained experience in workforce development, higher education, and economic and community development through prior positions with the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), University of Rio Grande, Ohio Department of Development and Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission.

MORGAN LSD

While I was born in Oklahoma, I grew up in Athens, Ohio I received a bachelors and a masters from Ohio University. I also completed many graduate courses beyond the masters at Ohio University. Outside of one year spent substituting for Athens City Schools and Tri-County Joint Vocational Center, I have spent my entire career at Morgan Local. I taught Home Economics (now known as Family Consumer Sciences) for 18 years, served 3 years as a High School Assistant Principal/Career-Technical Director and 15 years as High School Principal. I currently serve as the Director for Secondary Education. As a recovering workaholic, I am happy to say that I now enjoy spending my free-time boating and camping with my husband, Joe.

MORGAN LSD

After graduating from Muskingum University with degrees in Middle Childhood Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Katie became an educator at Morgan East Elementary. She primarily teaches fifth grade language arts and social studies. She also works with students learning English as a second language and focuses on working with struggling readers. As an educator, her main goal is to bring “Literacy and Justice for All” and is specifically passionate about making reading accessible to the Appalachian population. In her free time, she enjoys being a 4H advisor, playing flute, traveling, and spending time with her cat, BooBoo.

CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK/MORGAN COMMUNITY FUND

Kelsey Wells, a lifelong Morgan County resident, is the current Chairwoman of the Morgan Community Fund where she has been on the board since 2016. Kelsey has been a board member and treasurer of the Morgan County Community Improvement Corporation since 2014. Kelsey is the Executive Vice President of The Citizens National Bank of McConnelsville and serves on the Next Generation of Bankers Advisory Board for the Ohio Bankers’ League.  She has been with the bank since 2014 after graduating with her undergraduate degree from Marietta College. Kelsey is passionate about bringing new opportunities to Morgan County. She has advocated for economic development in the area to build a community with more employment opportunities and a convenient healthcare option for all.  She has been married to her husband, Stephen, since 2012 and they have two children: Elijah and Lilly.  In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys hunting, gardening, and baking.

LOGAN-HOCKING SD

Brice Frasure is the Director of Student Programs for Logan-Hocking Local Schools where he oversees district testing, advanced education programs (AP & College Credit Plus), blended learning programs, career readiness, and whole-child initiatives. He has worked in the K-12 education setting for 30+ years and has served in several educational roles. Brice began in education as a teacher and coach at the MS & HS levels for 10 years. Later, he served in the role of a building Principal in Elementary, Middle, and High School settings for another 15 years before serving as a district director. Brice resides in Hocking County with his wife Lisa and is the proud parent of 2 LHS graduates.

LOGAN-HOCKING SD

Christine Woodgeard is the Project Director for Logan-Hocking School District working school climate, PBIS and College and Career Readiness. She serves as the Handle With Care Hocking County Coordinator. Under the Ohio Handle With Care model, law enforcement officers and other first responders encountering a child during a call, are asked to forward that child’s name and three words, Handle With Care, to the school before the bell rings the next day so that the school can implement trauma-sensitive strategies to ensure potentially traumatized children are “handled with care”. Piloting an internship program allowed Christine to incorporate her work with PBIS, Handle With Care/ trauma-informed strategies and college and career readiness to create a unique opportunity for Logan-Hocking students. She is able to utilize her previous experiences in higher education as the Director of Enrollment Management and Director of College Credit Plus to help students find their career path collaborating dual-enrollment, internships, career speaker series, and career fair opportunities for the students at Logan-Hocking. As a first-generation college student from Southeast Ohio and a parent of three college-aged children, Christine is passionate about removing barriers so that students can participate in college and career experiences.

MORGAN LSD

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Allison Ricket (she/her) has lived in Appalachia for most of her adult life and currently works as Assistant Professor of Research and Director of Analytics of the Impact Measurement and Management group at Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Her areas of interest include community and career connected learning, rural community economic development, ecosystems approaches to community well-being, and trail running.

MONTROSE GROUP

Nate Green is the Managing Director, Economic Development at the Montrose Group. Nate has over 25 years of economic development experience, and provides economic development entitlement and incentive services, corporate site location services, and economic development advice, and strategic planning services to developers, communities, companies, and organizations. Prior to joining Montrose, Nate was a Vice President, Public Finance for Piper Jaffray, was a director at JobsOhio, and served as Director of the Strategic Business Investment Division at the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Nate also served as Economic Development Director for the Pickaway Progress Partnership, served as Corporate Finance Manager at the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, and began his career at the ODOD. Nate earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Ohio University. Nate lives in Bexley, Ohio with his wife Heather, son Sam and their 2 dogs Robin and Otis.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Steve graduated from the Ohio State University with a BA in Political Science in 2003. Upon graduation he worked as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives for four years before moving on to continue his career in public service at Columbus State Community College where he served as the administrator for off-campus education programs. Since 2011, he has been with the Ohio Department of Commerce as the Bureau Chief of the Wage and Hour Administration section, which oversees the enforcement of Ohio’s minor labor, prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws. Steve currently serves as the President of the Interstate Labor Standards Association, which represents labor enforcement officials from all 50 states, Canada and Taiwan. He is a proud resident of Licking County, where he is active in local politics and youth athletics.

NADO

Experienced director of community development with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in nonprofit organization operation, cartography, ArcGIS, local government services, policy analysis, advocacy, and spatial analysis. Strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Political Science from Marietta College and a Masters of Public Affairs from the Truman School at the University of Missouri.

OH DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

Photoola Mathers is the Business and Human Resources Administrator for the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 10. She started with ODOT in November 2022 and oversees HR, Safety, Finance, IT and Facilities. Photoola moved to the Mid-Ohio Valley in 1985 and started her career in HR with Quantum Resources in 1996 where she held the positions of Business Development Manager, Recruiter and ultimately their Branch Manager. She left Quantum in 2008 and joined International Converter, a manufacturer in Caldwell, Ohio, as their Human Resources and Safety Manager. Photoola holds a SPHR-CP and PHR Certification. She has raised two children in Marietta, Ohio where they attended Marietta public schools. She continues to reside in Marietta with her husband, Jason and their dog Charlee.

PSE

Sean is a Regional Lead System Engineer for Power System Engineering, Inc. He joined PSE in 2009 and is responsible for leading all distribution study work for PSE’s Marietta, Ohio office, including electric distribution system planning, system protection studies, distributed generation interconnection and hosting capacity studies, and other projects, primarily for electric Cooperative systems. Sean is active in power distribution and rural electric power industry groups, having authored and presented papers at the IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference and written articles for NRECA and CRN publications. He was Chair of the 2023 REPC in Cleveland, Ohio. Sean is also active in his community, seeking to encourage and guide local students toward careers in engineering by planning and participating in job shadowing, in-school presentations, and events such as Discover Engineering Day. Sean earned his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton at Dayton, Ohio. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in thirteen states.

FUTURE PLANS

Sarah is originally from Noble County OH but is now based in Portsmouth, OH. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Voinovich School of Leadership at Ohio University. With a strong expertise in program and project management, she excels in balancing efficiency with effectiveness. Currently, Sarah serves as the Senior Program Manager at Future Plans, where she oversees the GRIT Summer Programs, GRIT Days of Learning, and other key projects. She is committed to the advancement of rural Appalachian communities and is a firm believer in the power of collaboration for achieving collective success.

WCCC-ADULT TECH

Lori Smith is the Marketing and Recruiting Specialist at the Washington County Career Center, Adult Technical Training, a role she has excelled in since 2011. As the first to hold a position focused solely on both marketing and recruiting specifically for Adult Technical Training, Lori has been instrumental in transforming the school's outreach efforts. During her tenure, Lori has forged strong relationships with area high schools, significantly impacting the average student age, which has decreased from 48 to 28. Her priority is building connections and developing strategies to attract a younger audience. Lori collaborates with local businesses and agencies to provide hands-on learning experiences at schools, fairs, and special events. Leveraging her marketing expertise, Lori has also crafted targeted ad campaigns aimed at parents, recognizing their pivotal role in influencing their children's career decisions. Outside of work, Lori is an outdoor enthusiast and avid hiker, enjoying all things nature has to offer.

Warren LSD

Jenny Higgins is an experienced educator with over three decades in the field, including 26 years in mathematics instruction. She is currently teaching CCP education courses and acting as a career specialist at Warren Local Schools. She is dedicated to empowering students to find their true career interests and explore various options.

WSCO

Prior to entering the higher education environment, Dr. Kincaid worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician at various hospitals and reference labs in the Mid-Ohio Valley. She began teaching at WSCO in 1993. After being a faculty member and Director of the Medical Laboratory Technology program for 22 years, she now serves as Dean of Health & Sciences, a position she began in 2015. Dr. Kincaid holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, a Master's degree in Education and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration.

PERRY & ASSOCIATES

Allison Wentz, M.Ed., SHRM – CP, brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her role as the Human Resource Associate at Perry & Associates CPAs. Since joining the firm in September of 2022, she has been instrumental in managing internal human resources operations, ensuring the seamless functioning of HR processes at Perry. Allison excels in fostering inclusive environments and understanding the unique needs of all employees. Her professional journey is marked by a rich tapestry of experiences, including her prior engagements with multicultural groups working at Cleveland State University’s Center for International Services and Programs. Allison's expertise spans various facets of human resources management, with a particular focus on recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement.

ALLIANCE INDUSTRIES

Human Resources and Management Professional with 25+ years' experience leading organizational development and human resources initiatives. 15+ years of Human Resources & Safety in Manufacturing and the remaining with Operations in Retail. In Operations Management and Human Resources Management professional positions I have used my experiences to help analyze, develop, and build policies, procedures, training, and new practices in challenging environments. I enjoy the challenge and responsibility of developing employees to bring out the best in them and raise the culture and standards of work through continuous improvement and implementing policies and processes for the organization's goals. I am confident that there will be careers in manufacturing for years to come and we have much exciting work to do. With the right people, the right training, and the right skills, we can accomplish anything.

WARREN LSD

Jenny Higgins is an experienced educator with over three decades in the field, including 26 years in mathematics instruction. She is currently teaching CCP education courses and acting as a career specialist at Warren Local Schools. She is dedicated to empowering students to find their true career interests and explore various options.

ROLLING HILLS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Madeline Fraley is currently in her 3rd year as the Career Navigator for the Rolling Hills Local School District. She graduated from the University of Mount Union with a double major in Marketing and Human Resource Management and is a certified Career Development Specialist. She worked in the staffing industry before she moved into education and was the HR Assistant at OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center over the 2024 summer to build their high school programs. In her current role, Madi enjoys working with students to help them find their next steps in life, as well as, building out programs in her district to offer her students a variety of opportunities during their High School careers. She is able to help students with general career advice, resume building, internships, job searches, industry tours, job shadowing, and all things careers. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses and reading.

FEDERAL HOCKING HIGH SCHOOL

This is my 6th year as the Federal Hocking High School internship coordinator, although the program started 30 years ago. I enjoy helping students gain practical hands-on experiences to better navigate their career paths. I have two teenage daughters and enjoy gardening, mountain biking, hiking and traveling.

OHIO VALLEY ESC

My name is Sandy Doudna. I am the Career Navigator for the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and I am based in Monroe County. I serve Switzerland of Ohio School District and have been a Career Navigator for nine years.

FORT FRYE LSD

Barbara Sleek is currently a middle school math teacher in the Fort Frye Local School District. This is her 30th year in education. During her school day, she teaches a 7th grade career exploration class where the students are introduced to as many careers as possible, but also focus on job skills, resumes, interviews, eye contact, and even handshakes. The partnership with the BB2C has been a lifesaver for this new program at Fort Frye Middle School as it has allowed for wonderful speakers and business men and women to share their stories and ideas with her students. Barbara is married to another Fort Frye High School math teacher (Andy) and they have 2 sons (Colby and Decker), 1 daughter (Catie), and 1 daughter-in-law (Maddy). Barbara lives in Waterford, Ohio. Barbara also serves as the assistant executive director in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference as well as a past president for the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

PERRY & ASSOCIATES

Allison Wentz, M.Ed., SHRM – CP, brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her role as the Human Resource Associate at Perry & Associates CPAs. Since joining the firm in September of 2022, she has been instrumental in managing internal human resources operations, ensuring the seamless functioning of HR processes at Perry. Allison excels in fostering inclusive environments and understanding the unique needs of all employees. Her professional journey is marked by a rich tapestry of experiences, including her prior engagements with multicultural groups working at Cleveland State University’s Center for International Services and Programs. Allison's expertise spans various facets of human resources management, with a particular focus on recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement.

PEOPLES BANK

I started my career journey at a Career Training Center in Highschool. I knew that I wanted to be a hairdresser and was able to find a job at a salon before I graduated. While I enjoyed this path for a few years, my focus shifted to something that better suited my goals. I started my Banking career in 2013 as a Teller at Peoples Bank in Vienna. Because I enjoyed working with the public, being a teller was a great fit. As I grew in my role, I became extremely interested in the financial industry. Not only did I love building relationships with my community, but I was also able to make an impact. Over the years I have gained experience in all areas of retail banking including lending, business banking, and management. In 2023 I completed my Bachelor of Business Management, and I intend to continue to grow within the Banking industry.

MEMORIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

Jarrett Stull is an accomplished leader and philanthropic strategist, currently serving as the Executive Director of Memorial Health Foundation (MHF). In this role, he leads the fundraising team, driving strategies that support MHF's mission to foster a healthier community. With over 20 years of experience in fundraising, Jarrett's expertise is highly esteemed. Before joining Memorial Health System in October 2020, he held pivotal roles, including Associate Vice President for Philanthropy at Guilford College and Executive Director of Major and Planned Giving at Marietta College. Jarrett holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Louisville and a master's degree in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has completed a certificate in fund raising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. Committed to community service, Jarrett is actively involved in his local community, where he is a member of the Marietta Noon Rotary, Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce, Building Bridges 2 Careers and Veritas Classical Academy. Jarrett also serves on the Ohio Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Board of Directors.

PSE

Sean is a Regional Lead System Engineer for Power System Engineering, Inc. He joined PSE in 2009 and is responsible for leading all distribution study work for PSE’s Marietta, Ohio office, including electric distribution system planning, system protection studies, distributed generation interconnection and hosting capacity studies, and other projects, primarily for electric Cooperative systems. Sean is active in power distribution and rural electric power industry groups, having authored and presented papers at the IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference and written articles for NRECA and CRN publications. He was Chair of the 2023 REPC in Cleveland, Ohio. Sean is also active in his community, seeking to encourage and guide local students toward careers in engineering by planning and participating in job shadowing, in-school presentations, and events such as Discover Engineering Day. Sean earned his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton at Dayton, Ohio. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in thirteen states.

CALDWELL EXEMPTED VILLAGE SD

Alexis Hesson is a pk-8 STEM teacher in the Caldwell Exempted Village School District. This year, for the first time, she is implementing Real World Problem Scenario and Career Speakers in her classroom.

MARIETTA CSD

Austin Gardner is in his third year as the Student Success Coordinator at Marietta High School. In his current role he is dedicated to guiding students through their high school career, focusing on graduation requirements, personalized success plans, and opportunities for academic and career advancement. Austin also plays a crucial role in connecting students with employment, job shadowing, and real world internship experiences to bridge the gap between education and the professional world. I have also been tasked this year with more administrative duties further enhancing contributions to the school's leadership and strategic initiatives. Austin also has experience as a workforce development coordinator for a non-profit organization in northwest Ohio along with several years of coaching college basketball at Bowling Green State University.

WSCO

After more than a decade in higher education, Carrie can best sum up her professional career as “expect the unexpected.” No two days or students are the same. Regardless of her official job title, she is first and foremost a problem solver and prides herself on finding the answer because that’s what students & families deserve— clear communication, compassionate care (which sometimes means having difficult conversations), and advocacy for the student experience. Carrie is a lifelong child of Appalachia. She resides in Marietta, Ohio with her husband, two daughters, and their Jackabee (Jack Russell & Beagle) rescue pup. Each day, she strives to be the kind of person her dog thinks she is.

WC CAREER CENTER

Originally from the Chicago area, I received a BS in Chemistry from Illinois State University and worked for Amoco Chemical Company for 10 years before becoming a stay at home mom. I went back to school and earned a masters degree in teaching and taught chemistry for 8 years in Illinois before moving to Marietta in 2016. Now at the Career Center, I oversee students earning credits through our online credit recovery system. These students oftentimes need individual help and just want to feel successful. I tell all of my studens that my classroom philosophy is "If you're cool with me, I'm cool with you". I try to give my students as much choice as I can and treat them with respect, which goes a long way to make an inclusive, safe, environment for them. I tell them that I consider all of them "my litttle ducklings" and that I'm very protective of them and our classroom culture. I strive to make our classroom a space where they feel safe, comfortable, and heard. In addition to monitoring the credit recovery students, I am also the Students Solving Problems (SSP) advisor, as well as the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) advisor and the BB2C liasion for the Career Center. Through all these roles, and monitoring the cafetria in the morning, I feel that I get the chance to connect with students every day in a positive manner. With all the stresses that students experience these days, I want them all to know that they have someone in their corner who cares.

AOMC

George Bilokonsky leads AOMC in academic and workforce development, he is known for his extensive experience in planning, developing, marketing, and implementing strategies that drive growth and innovation. His career is marked by a proven track record of success in addressing industry needs, managing complex programs, and fostering strong professional relationships. George served as the Dean of Engineering, Business, Technology, and Workforce at Washington State College of Ohio from 2020 to 2023. In this role, he was instrumental in overseeing daily operations, managing programs, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements. His efforts in developing and implementing new programs were crucial in meeting the evolving needs of the workforce. Prior to this, George held the position of Associate Dean of Engineering and Workforce at Cuyahoga Community College from 2003 to 2020. He also directed the Youth Technology Academy (YTA), the Advanced Technology Academy (ATA), and the Summer Pathways Project (SPP). During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping the career trajectories of numerous students and developing programs that aligned with industry demands.

FUTURE PLANS

BELPRE HIGH SCHOOL

I am entering year 33 of teaching, the last 11 of which have been at Belpre City Schools. This is my third year of teaching STEM classes as well as being our high school's BB2C Teacher Liaison. I am also the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturer's Coalition representative for our district. I became a first-time grandma this year to a grandson that I absolutely adore!

VERITAS CLASSICAL ACADEMY

My name is David Veres, I am an Administrator / teacher at Veritas Classical Academy in Marietta, OH. I was born and raised in New Jersey where I spent the first part of my career working in the Emergency Service field. After getting married we moved to Cincinnati, OH where we lived for twelve years. While in Cincinnati, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from DeVry University. During this time, I had the privilege of volunteering / working in both the public and private school settings. That is when I discovered my passion for teaching. I also had the honor of serving on the school board at St. Mark’s Lutheran School. In that position, I was able to help make improvements at the school, which included the start of a four million dollar building expansion project. In November 2022, we moved to Marietta, OH where I was able to get back in the classroom by volunteering with my son’s kindergarten class at Warren Local Schools. In August 2023, I was hired at Veritas Classical Academy to teach the first-grade class.

RURAL ACTION

Erik Peterson is the Resilient Communities Program Director for Rural Action, and works closely with the Builder's Club of Somerset in Perry County, a fledgling community makerspace. Erik has been an entrepreneur since starting his first business in 2016, and has a wide range of experiences in small business development and project management. Erik and his wife, Olivia, with their daughter Samara, steward a verdant permaculture farm, venue, campsite, and soon to be Ohio farm winery, eatery for high quality farm to table fare, and community hub just south of Somerset.

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Mr. Nathaniel Berger, Co-Principle Investigator, has been providing entrepreneurial support for well over a decade, with a focus on early-stage venture and enterprise support with a special focus concerning information technology, prototyping, and creative applications in the commercial and educational realms. Mr. Berger is an Executive Coach in the Social Enterprise Ecosystem program, and directs the Ohio University Impact Enterprise Team.

MAYSVILLE LSD

Zachery Goldsmith is in his 15th year of teaching at Maysville Local School District. He began working in the special education field before creating the CTE Program at the middle school, then the Makerspace lab and curriculum at the high school before being named the Creative Technologist for the district in 2022. He works closely with the Makerspace and Pathways teachers and students to develop courses, projects, and behind the scenes work to keep the Makerlab functioning and to expand into other areas of the school and district. When he is not creating in the lab, Zach can be found searching every antique store and estate sale for comic books or LEGO. Zach enjoys an exciting life of adventure with his Wife Amanda and two children.

MAYSVILLE LSD

Brandon German is entering his 20th year of teaching at Maysville Middle School. He is PLTW certified and has been teaching various STEM classes at the middle school since 2011. With the addition of Makerspace curriculum he has additionally taught several Makerspace classes at the middle and high school level since 2019. He works closely with both highschool and middle school Makerspace teachers to initiate, develop and refine Makerspace curriculum, lab space and equipment. He was the MVESC Exemplary Educator representing Maysville Local Schools in 2016 after guiding a group of 8th grade students through a project to create an arm brace for a friend and fellow educator suffering the effects of radiation therapy. He married to his wife Ashley of 18 years and they have three children: Sydney (11), Camryn (7) and Cooper (5).

BB2C MAKERSPACE

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Dr. Jacqueline Yahn is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Ohio University where she teaches Regional Higher Education students across five campuses. Yahn’s research focuses on: (1) the impact rural industries (e.g. resource extraction, farming, manufacturing) have on school funding and community capitals, (2) societal issues relevant to rural schools and communities, and (3) the theory and practice of community and career connected learning (CCCL) in rural schools. She is currently the Teacher Education assistant department chair, a fellow in the Institute for Measurement Methodology in Rural STEM Education (IMMERSE) at the University of South Carolina, and the director of the OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship. Yahn’s recent honors include the 2024 RHE Outstanding Tenure-Track Faculty award, 2022-23 Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools Outstanding Middle Childhood Educator Award, and the 2022-23 Ohio University Professor award.

CAMBRIDGE CITY SCHOOLS

This is my 29th year teaching for Cambridge City Schools. Most of those years were spent in 6th grade teaching Language Arts. For the past 3 years I have been the Career Exploration teacher for 8th graders. This class is a semester long and I have had the freedom to come up with some of my own curriculum. Some topics we focus on are the 16 career clusters, money management, banking, soft skills, job applications and we conduct mock interviews. My students are also in charge of our school store. Last year we started a community project to help our local dog shelter, and we will continue to expand upon that this school year. I am our middle school athletic director. I coach varsity track and I have a daughter in college studying education and a son who is a senior this year. My husband also coaches for Cambridge as the tennis coach. My favorite place to be at the beach.

UNION LSD

Dr. Katie O'Brien began her teaching career in the Switzerland of Ohio school district. She then spent a decade in higher education in various teaching and administrative roles before returning to K-12 teaching in the fall of 2015. Currently, Dr. O"Brien teaches 9th grade English at Union Local High (Belmont County) as well as College Credit Plus composition and speech courses through Belmont College. When she's not in the classroom, Katie can be found advising the Color Guard, Diversity Club, Improv Club, or playing saxophone in The BrassetHounds, a brass band based in Wheeling, WV.

MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS

I have dedicated my career to inspiring the next generation of STEM pioneers. Growing up on a farm in Belpre, Ohio instilled in me a deep appreciation for the natural world and a passion for science education. After graduating from Warren High School in 2001, I earned an Associate of Applied Science from Washington State Community College. I then embarked on a career as a respiratory therapist at Camden Clark Medical Center. I then transitioned into the field of education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Childhood Education from Marietta College. Since 2008, I have fostered a love of scientific exploration and discovery in my middle school science students at Marietta City Schools. In 2012, I earned my Master of Arts in Education from Marietta College, where I researched the Draw a Scientist at Work (DASAW) Test. I subsequently obtained my Teacher Leader Endorsement from Ohio Dominican University in 2017 and received the Master Teacher Designation from the Ohio Department of Education. Balancing my passion for teaching with the joys of family life, I cherish time with my husband, Justin, and our two sons, Axelton and Aronn, in our Marietta, Ohio home.

OHIO UNIVERSITY

I am Brenen Craig, I attend Ohio University Eastern in Saint Clairsville Ohio, where I am currently a Senior. I am obtaining a degree in middle childhood education, focusing on Social Studies and English Language Arts. I am currently working directly with Dr. Yahn and BB2C as the Lead Junior Fellow, within the Rural Teacher Fellowship.

LITTLE MUSKINGUM KETTLE FARM

A Marietta, Ohio native, Caroline Perruci returned to her hometown in spring of 2020 after 13 years away to start the Little Muskingum Kettle Farm—an herbal tea farm where she grows, harvests, and packages all of her products onsite. Although farming is Caroline’s dream job, it was a long and meandering path that led her to this point. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2011, she served 5 years in the Navy as a Civil Engineer before realizing how much she missed submersing herself in the natural world. This led her to begin working on farms and trail crews in Vermont, Montana, and Israel at the conclusion of her military service. Foraging and cultivating herbs for tea had been a burgeoning hobby during this time, and when she felt she had enough knowledge to start her own farm, Little Muskingum Kettle Farm was born! She currently sells her teas in multiple shops and festivals throughout Ohio.

FUTURE PLANS

Amy Jo Queen, Community Outreach Partner Future Plans/GRIT Project Amy Jo resides on a small farm in rural Appalachia between Peebles and Seaman, Ohio. Amy earned a master’s degree in social science from Shawnee State University, where she worked in the School of Education before joining the GRIT team. Her love of the community, educational and business backgrounds, and life-long residency in Adams County help create the perfect fit with her community outreach role at Future Plans/GRIT Project. The connections between education and business are the pillars that help support her position with workforce development and community collaboration through the GRIT Project.

APPALACHIAN CHILDREN COALITION

Anna Reed serves as the Director of Workforce Development. Born in the Youngstown area, she attended Youngstown State University for both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, with the latter being in Student Affairs and College Counseling. She began her career working in higher education as the Assistant Director of Wellness at Bradley University in Illinois, where she implemented a holistic wellness model as well as wellness initiatives, programs, and assessments for the campus. She then moved back to Ohio as Admissions Counselor for the Job Corps program, a Department of Labor program. As the Director of Workforce Development, Anna leads engagement strategies with high school students and young adults. Her main role is to build awareness of behavioral health career opportunities among high school and young adult populations including directing high school and young adult internship placements. She currently lives in Tallmadge, Ohio with her husband and twins.

MCCLAIN HIGH SCHOOL

Hailing from the Great State of Michigan, Mark currently resides in Southern Ohio employed as the Career Navigator and McClain Virtual Learning Coordinator at McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio. Mark guides the district with Career Connected learning and work experience opportunities for students in the Middle and High School levels. Mark a member of the Highland County Business Advisory Council and and the Tri-County BAC. Mark also owns and operates a small family farm with his wife and 4 children and as well as Team Mechanical Solutions, a subcontracting company for the Farnham Equipment Bleacher Company.

MCCLAIN HIGH SCHOOL

Professionally, I have been a Computer Science and Technology teacher at Greenfield McClain for 11 years now, teaching Computer Science, Digital Electronics, and Robotics. I have been involved in many other areas of McClain High School including athletics, advising, and leading clubs. Personally, I am a lucky guy, having been married to my wife Brandy now for 10 years now and raising two awesome kiddos, Bennett (8) and Kyndall (5). I am co-owner of my "side gig," New Limits Ag LLC, in which we apply agricultural pesticides using drone technology. We were able to employ 3 students this year through the BB2C program!

SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Dr. Amanda Hedrick has dedicated 24 years to Shawnee State University, starting as a classroom teacher at the Children’s Learning Center and a faculty member in the School of Education. She later became the Center’s Director, managing operations, before advancing to Executive Director of Campus Partnerships and the Center for Lifelong Learning, where she oversaw community-focused grants, PK-12 partnerships, and non-degree programming. Dr. Hedrick co-created the AmeriCorps program, Project BEAR, aimed at improving early literacy skills for kindergarten readiness. Her doctoral research focused on enhancing AmeriCorps service member experiences to boost recruitment, retention, and program outcomes. She also directed Verizon Innovative Learning, promoting STEM education among middle school students through emerging technologies like AR/VR, AI, and robotics. Dr. Hedrick holds a Bachelor’s in Human Ecology from Ohio State University and a Master’s and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Morehead State University. Residing in West Portsmouth, Ohio, she is a proud wife, mother, and “Grommy” to her grandchildren. As a lifelong Scioto County resident, Dr. Hedrick is now the Executive Director of the Kricker Innovation Hub, where she continues to champion local entrepreneurship and innovation.

LOGAN-HOCKING SD

Christine Woodgeard is the Project Director for Logan-Hocking School District working school climate, PBIS and College and Career Readiness. She serves as the Handle With Care Hocking County Coordinator. Under the Ohio Handle With Care model, law enforcement officers and other first responders encountering a child during a call, are asked to forward that child’s name and three words, Handle With Care, to the school before the bell rings the next day so that the school can implement trauma-sensitive strategies to ensure potentially traumatized children are “handled with care”. Piloting an internship program allowed Christine to incorporate her work with PBIS, Handle With Care/ trauma-informed strategies and college and career readiness to create a unique opportunity for Logan-Hocking students. She is able to utilize her previous experiences in higher education as the Director of Enrollment Management and Director of College Credit Plus to help students find their career path collaborating dual-enrollment, internships, career speaker series, and career fair opportunities for the students at Logan-Hocking. As a first-generation college student from Southeast Ohio and a parent of three college-aged children, Christine is passionate about removing barriers so that students can participate in college and career experiences.

TOTAL MEDIA

LOGAN-HOCKING SD

WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION

I have been a lifelong resident of Washington County and have served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners since 2021. I am a 1992 graduate of Fort Frye Local Schools and a 1994 graduate of Hocking College with a degree in Police Science and Criminology. My wife Karri were married in 2000 and have 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) ages 22, 20, 10 and 7. We reside in Beverly. I have been a small business owner in Washington County since 1996 and currently own a real estate holdings company. I served 8 years (2011-2019) on the Fort Frye Local School Board of Education. My family attends Saint Bernard's Catholic Church in Beverly.

MILLER HIGH SCHOOL

I'm a Morgan County, Ohio native in my 11th year of teaching. I have taught French for the full eleven years, but started teaching Leadership Skills when my previous district, Heath City Schools, became a 7 Habits of Highly Effective People school. The 23-24 school year was my first experience with Real-World Problem Solving and I would like to incorporate it every year for the rest of my career after seeing how much my students enjoyed participating!

MORGAN LSD

After graduating from Muskingum University with degrees in Middle Childhood Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Katie became an educator at Morgan East Elementary. She primarily teaches fifth grade language arts and social studies. She also works with students learning English as a second language and focuses on working with struggling readers. As an educator, her main goal is to bring “Literacy and Justice for All” and is specifically passionate about making reading accessible to the Appalachian population. In her free time, she enjoys being a 4H advisor, playing flute, traveling, and spending time with her cat, BooBoo.

NOBLE LSC

Trevor Tom is the principal at Shenandoah High School in Sarahsville, Ohio. Before becoming a principal, he taught science at both the high school and middle school levels. He is passionate about STEM education and works to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for the future. Trevor is dedicated to serving his community and creating a positive, supportive learning environment for all students.

SOUTHERN LSD

I have dedicated my career to empowering youth, with a deep-rooted passion for community involvement. After gaining experience in social services and a brief stint in the corporate world, I returned to Southeast Ohio to contribute meaningfully to my community. I joined a non-profit, Kids Summer, as the Program Coordinator, then as the Program Director for Southern Perry Unified Recreation, all under the umbrella of Sunday Creek. I then began working at the Perry County Community School for at risk youth. In 2009-2011, I worked at Trimble Local Schools as the Program Director for Ohio University Kids on Campus, and later, in 2012 with TRIO at Miller High School. For over 14 years, I have had the privilege of being the College and Career Readiness Coordinator at Miller High School, guiding students toward their individual pathway to success.

MICRO MACHINE WORKS, INC.

MORGAN LSD

I am a 5th year Agricultural Educator at Morgan High School. I teach a variety of courses including Agricultural Business Management, Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, Livestock Selection Nutrition and Management, and Animal and Plant Science. I have a wonderful husband and a baby boy. When I am not at school or FFA events you can find me with my family on our farm where we raise show goats!

NADO

CALDWELL FOOD CENTER EMPORIUM

OHIO NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTE

Shawn Toy is the Education and Workforce Development Manager with the Ohio Natural Energy Institute (ONEi). Shawn worked in the public education sector for nearly 20 years prior to joining the team in 2019. Shawn travels across Ohio on behalf of the industry to ensure individuals know about the importance of the natural gas and oil industry and how it affects our daily lives. She and her team ensure students know why and where it’s in the ground, how to get it out of the ground, the careers involved in the process and the importance of the more than 6000+ products we use every day. Shawn also manages the scholarship and teacher workshop programs for the organization.

EAST CENTRAL OHIO ESC

Keri Rosser is the Workforce Development Coordinator for the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center. She has been employed by ECOESC for over five years. Keri has worked in the CTE realm as well before moving to ECOESC. She specializes in career-based education options and is responsible for educating school districts, community members, and students about these options including pre-apprenticeships, credentialing, internships, etc. Keri assists in implementation of these programs by helping schools make connections with businesses in the area. Keri earned a BA in Business from Muskingum University and an MBA from Chadron State College. She is also a certified Career Development Specialist through the A.S.C.A. Keri lives in Cambridge with her husband, Chase, and their two daughters, Annabelle and Aliza.

SOUTHEAST TECH PREP REGIONAL CENTER

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you Katie is the Chief Administrator of the Southeast Tech Prep Regional Center, and has led this work for the previous 7 years. The Southeast Tech Prep Regional Center serves 25 counties in Southeast Ohio and provides assistance in expanding access to high quality Career Technical Education, connecting Business and Education, bolstering our area Business Advisory Councils, and providing universal Technical Assistance and Professional Development around CTE and Career Development.

MUSKINGUM VALLEY ESC

Eastin Lewellen is the Director of Workforce Development at the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC), where he also leads the Business Advisory Council. His work focuses on preparing students for their future careers by connecting education with workforce needs. Before joining MVESC, Eastin was the Assistant Executive Director at Foxfire Schools, gaining valuable experience in educational leadership. He is dedicated to developing programs and partnerships that equip students with essential skills for success in the workplace. Through his role, Eastin fosters collaboration between schools, businesses, and community organizations, helping young people transition smoothly from school to work.

SOUTHEASTERN OHIO PORT AUTHORITY

Jesse C. Roush serves as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. His career began with a decade of service in the energy sector, during which he collaborated with a diverse group of stakeholders to consistently deliver projects on time and within budget. Transitioning to a role in economic development in 2016, Roush has led a suite of local and regional initiatives, including the acquisition and revitalization of two former coal-fired power plants. Over his two-decade career, Roush has provided mission-critical support for over $100M in site and infrastructure development projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a Lean Green Belt, Certificates in Management and Leadership, and Technical Project Management, and a Master of Science in Project Management, from Ohio University. Roush also serves as President-Elect for Marietta Noon Rotary, on the Warren Local Board of Education, and as a board member for four local nonprofits.

NOBLE LOCAL SCHOOLS

FAIRFIELD LSD

With 15 years of experience in public education, Mrs. McCoy has served as a coach, teacher, curriculum director, and superintendent at Fairfield Local School District. She is recognized as a visionary instructional leader, dedicated to enhancing student engagement and achievement. Mrs. McCoy brings a wealth of expertise in gifted education, problem-based learning strategies, and the development of career readiness programs. Mrs. McCoy holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in education from The Ohio State University, as well as a master's in Educational Administration from Scranton University. She is currently completing her dissertation, titled 'Does Integrating an Embedded Career Readiness Program Influence the Development and Enhancement of Partnerships Between Schools and Businesses?', to fulfill the requirements for her doctorate from Miami University. Beyond her professional achievements, Mrs. McCoy is a devoted wife to her husband, Wilson, and the proud mother of five wonderful children. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, attending her children's events, and spending quality time with friends and family.

PROJECT RISE

My name is Amy Robinson, and I am a Career Pathway Specialist with Project RISE, part of the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center. I grew up in Southeastern Ohio, attended Federal Hocking Local Schools, and earned a bachelor of science degree from Ohio University. After college, I relocated to Atlanta, GA. After 14 years, I returned to Ohio to raise my three children so they could grow up experiencing the same Appalachian culture that I did. Throughout my career, I have always focused on helping children and adults. Working for Project RISE allows me to work closely with students, educators, and business professionals to create opportunities for experiential learning, internships, and job placements. Their innovative approach to career education emphasizes the importance of real-world experiences, helping students understand the demands of the job market and develop the skills necessary to succeed. My main focus is on developing community and career-connected learning opportunities in various career pathways so our students can take advantage of those opportunities that will allow them to live a fulfilling life in Southeastern Ohio.

BROWN COUNTY ESC

My name is Kim Adams. This is my 38th year in education. I spent twenty three years as a classroom teacher where I learned the importance of creating real world learning experiences for students in the classroom with the support of businesses and organizations. I'm currently the Work Force Development Coordinator at Brown County Educational Service Center.

BROWN COUNTY ESC

Stephanie Wagoner serves as a Curriculum Specialist for Brown County ESC, where she leads innovative educational initiatives, including STEAMology. Under her direction, over 100 educators in two years have engaged with STEAMology, resulting in the creation of STEAM labs in three buildings and the development of a STEAMology Library containing over $10,000 in resources for educators. Stephanie is a seasoned presenter at national, state, and local levels. She is certified in OTES 2.0, OPES 2.0, and serves as a Mentor State Trainer and OSCES State Lead Trainer. Her active involvement in professional organizations, including the OCTM, NCTM, and the International Society for Technology in Education, underscores her commitment to advancing educational practices. A Google Level II educator and recipient of multiple educational badges, Stephanie recently completed her LETRS for early literacy and collaborates with NWEA to foster data-driven cultures. As the team leader for County Inservice, the organizer of Teacher of the Year, and a regional lead for the Resident Education program, Stephanie continues to make a significant impact on education. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education from Morehead State University, a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University, and administrative and superintendent licenses from Xavier University and Miami University respectively.