The Geauga Growth Partnership announced the election of Directors and Officers for terms beginning on July 1, 2014. The elections took place at the 4th Annual Meeting of Members held on June 17 at Fowler’s Mill Golf Course. All Directors will begin their three-year terms on July 1.
Newly elected as Director of the Partnership:
- John Wilhelm
Re-elected as Directors of the Partnership:
- William Conway (Fairmount Minerals)
- David Ford (The Federal Improvement Co.)
- Lee Imhof (Troy Chemical Industries)
- Christian Klein (Company 119)
- Doug Hogan (First Energy)
- Keith Tompkins
Partnership Members also re-elected for a one-year term as Officers of the Partnership:
- John Epprecht (Great Lakes Cheese), Chairman
- John Steigerwald (Bechem Lubrication Technology), Vice Chairman
- Richard J. Frenchie (The Frenchie Group), Secretary
- Jay Giles (Middlefield Bank), Treasurer
John Wilhelm, Geauga Growth’s newly elected director, is not only is a native Clevelander, but also a dedicated family man who is devoted to his community. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1961 with a BA in economics and then received his MBA from Case Western Reserve University in 1964. During this time, he also married his wife of 51 years, Virginia. He has three children and two grandchildren.
He operated his family business, Skidmore-Wilhelm Manufacturing Co., until it was sold to two local entrepreneurs in 2006. In addition to this, he was a member of the Orange Board of Education for four terms. As a ten year resident of Russell, he was able to assist with the West Geauga levy campaigns, keeping true to his community driven persona and his dedication to education.
The Annual Meeting event was heavily attended by the Geauga County business and the educational community, including many elected officials who enjoyed two solid presentations on STEM education, the stock market and the economy.
This event is the premier event for the Geauga business community and was sponsored by leading businesses in Geauga County and the region including Bechem Lubrication Technology, Ohio Senator John Eklund, Fairmount Minerals, Federal Improvement Company, First Merit Bank, First Energy, Geauga Credit Union, Glenmede, Honest Scales Recycling, Oswald Companies, POV Communications, Raymond James, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring, Troy Innovative, UH Geauga Medical Center and Universal Disposal.
Geauga Growth Partnership, Inc. is a business-led organization dedicated to the retention, growth and attraction of jobs, investment and economic growth in Geauga County. For more information visit the website or call 440-564-1060.
