The Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2025–2026 will present highlights of their community projects during a Graduation Celebration on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at º£½ÇÔ´´ at Tuscarawas. The event will recognize 35 participants for successfully completing the 10-month leadership development program.
Each year, Leadership Tuscarawas participants collaborate on community-based projects designed to enhance the quality of life for those who live and work in Tuscarawas County. This year’s class completed seven projects: Empower Tusc: Membership Engagement; American Red Cross: Community Awareness and Visibility; º£½ÇÔ´´ Tuscarawas Engineering Program: Enrollment Management; TuscBDD: Building an Inclusive Community Accessibility Project; Tuscarawas County Health Department: Newcomerstown Blessing Box Initiative; Rainbow Connection: Financial Literacy; and TuscLands: Tuscarawas County Green Space Plans.
Project teams will present summaries of their work during the evening program. A graduation ceremony will follow, featuring remarks from Dr. Brad Bielski, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at º£½ÇÔ´´ at Tuscarawas, and presentation of the Alumni Award of Excellence.
In addition to project work, participants engage in monthly program days focused on servant leadership, community awareness, and professional development. Sessions explore key sectors such as agriculture, justice, manufacturing, tourism, and government, and include site visits, a countywide tour, and engagement with local leaders and organizations.
Graduating Class Members:
Jami Bailey, City of New Philadelphia; Daniel Bias, The Commercial & Savings Bank; Anne Bruno, Bruno Consulting, LLC; Andrew Burrell, The Timken Company; Becky Clough, Mako's Market; Michael Cornell, Groovfold, Inc.; Rachel Dunfee, Common Pleas Court, Tuscarawas County; Chris Edwards, SIMONA Boltaron; Kurtis Eisermann, º£½ÇÔ´´ Tuscarawas; Samantha (Sam) Farmery, Tuscarawas County BDD; Bobbi Jo Gadfield, First Federal Community Bank; Nicole Gardner, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union; Jessica Garren, First National Bank of Dennison; Alicia Hall, TuscoMFG; Kris Howell, Philosophy of Pie; Richard (Chuck) Leffler, R&J Cylinder and Machine; John Lewis, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District; Audrey Mattevi, Pageantry Innovations, LLC; Brandon Meinke, Dover Chemical Corp.; Caitlin McCaslin, Allied Machine & Engineering; Kelsey McConaha, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union; Catherine (Cathie) McCulloch, First Federal Community Bank; Madison Moore, Tuscarawas County Senior Center; Rose Paul, Buckeye Career Center; Christopher (Chris) Pleska, The Commercial & Savings Bank; Christine Quickel, Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Trista Recchiuti, Baltic State Bank; Christina (Tina) Romell, Tuscarawas County Probate and Juvenile Court; Monica Roush, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital; Dylan Sayre, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District; Aleisha Stout, Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board; Tonya Thomas, ALCO Services, LLC; Emma Triplett, Tuscarawas County Health Department; Andrea Tyson, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center; and Erin Wright, Spicer Group.
The community is invited to attend the celebration at the º£½ÇÔ´´ Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program. To RSVP, contact Dr. William H. Beisel at wbeisel@kent.edu.
Leadership Tuscarawas operates in partnership with º£½ÇÔ´´ at Tuscarawas.