Geauga Growth Partnership (GGP) was founded in September 2010, supported by a grant from the Cleveland Foundation Lake/Geauga Fund, and life-long Geauga County resident Frank Samuel served as its first president.
The Board of Directors and Mr. Samuel established GGP’s 501(c)3 non-profit status, by-laws, committees and task forces, and a charter membership. The mission was established for the fledgling organization to “enhance the business climate, encourage job creation, strengthen economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for all Geauga County residents.”
In October 2014, while returning from a meeting with the Ohio Council on Higher Education to promote the GGP Internship program, Frank Samuel was killed in an automobile accident. The community was stunned. The beginnings of the Frank Samuel Workforce Development Fund were formed as gifts and were sent to Geauga Growth Partnership in his memory.
Now, one year later, the GGP Board of Directors determined it would be prudent and honoring to establish the Frank Samuel Endowment Fund “to support education, career development and innovation.”
“The Frank Samuel Endowment Fund for Workforce Development is a fitting tribute to an outstanding leader and visionary. Frank Samuel saw the possible and made the possible a reality. This Fund is ongoing and expected to grow over time,” says Richard J. Frenchie, Endowment Committee Chair and GGP Board member. “We anticipate this inaugural fund will serve as a catalyst for others to follow.”
“Frank was absolutely the best person to lead this young Partnership and develop the foundation that was needed to build a highly successful and respected organization dedicated to growing Geauga’s economy,” said Tracy Jemison, GGP’s current President.
Mr. Samuel was passionate about building a Growth Partnership for Geauga and he did lead the organization for three years before stepping down to become President of Columbus-based VentureOhio and passing the GGP baton to Jemison. Under his leadership, Frank Samuel drove many initiatives, but was most passionate about the Youth Internship program, which began in 2012, and Career Readiness programs in 2013.
Through these career readiness programs Geauga Growth Partnership strives to meet the needs of Geauga businesses as well as participating high school students by teaching students soft skills, resume writing, problem solving, while providing practice interviewing and other skills so critical to success in the work environment. The Internship Program places qualifying students with sponsoring employers for real-world paid summer internships.
The High School Internship Program has grown from 9 students matched with employers in 2012 to 38 students in 2015. Since the program’s inception, daylong Career Readiness workshops for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, and 8th grade Career Awareness days were added. Over these three years, the programs have served more than 1000 students in ten school districts.
Reaching beyond the student workforce training, the income derived from the Endowment Fund will be distributed to support programs and services, and workforce development training. Eligibility for grant awards will be based on criteria established under the leadership of the Endowment Fund Committee, according to Mr. Frenchie.
Distributions from an endowment fund are generated only from interest on the principle investment. Because of the outpouring of memorial gifts to the Frank Samuel Workforce Development Fund, the new fund has a start. The GGP hopes to raise the remainder of the seed money required to open an endowment during a live auction at its 3rd Annual HomeGrown Geauga event and fifth anniversary celebration on Sept. 26. The event is to be held at the Federated Family Life Center, Chillicothe Road, Bainbridge, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Interested persons may register online or by contacting the GGP office at 440-564-1060 or info@geaugagrowth.com.
