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Career Pathways Program

2025 Career Pathways Nominees


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Brian Banks - Custom Woodworker

Name: Brian Banks

Job Title: Custom Woodworker

Organization: Hazelwood Millworks

Education: Apprenticeship/ Years of Experience in the Field

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Coordinating/ communicating with clientele
  • Designing/ drawing furniture or cabinet concepts & shop drawings
  • Project estimating
  • Acquiring materials
  • Machining, milling, building, cutting, sanding, carving
  • Staining/ painting/ finishing
  • Delivery/installation of projects

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Sketching designs for clients and laying out designs. Executing technically difficult and delicate cuts/joinery. The satisfaction when a really unique piece is complete and it came out great.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

This field generates Ohio’s natural resources of beautiful hardwoods, and a rich tradition of woodworking.

Was this your original career?

I’ve always wanted to live a creative life. My journey began as a visual artist, attending CCAD, but I left without graduating due to personal reasons. After some small art gigs, I felt a strong desire to be physically creative and shifted towards the trades. I started at a custom furniture shop, working my way up from sanding to finishing, learning every stage of the process. Eventually, I moved to a second-generation architectural millwork company where I learned hand-carving, making arched windows, and more. Later, I transitioned to commercial woodworking, managing multi-million dollar projects and learning the business side of the industry. However, the fast-paced, impersonal nature of the commercial world led to burnout, and I knew it was time to go out on my own. With the support of my wife and kids, I took the leap and started my own business. It was a tough start, but through connections, word of mouth, and perseverance, I built a steady flow of work. Now, I run a business where I get to do dream projects, set my own pace, and charge fair prices. I focus on quality, honesty, and treating every client with respect, which brings peace of mind and the kind of work I’m proud of.


Colleen Cross - Project Manager

Name: Colleen Cross

Job Title: Project Manager

Organization: CK Construction

Education: Trade/Vocational School, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Team Coordination & Leadership
  • Project Planning & Scheduling
  • Budget & Cost Management
  • Site Management & Quality Control

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Seeing my work materialize in a physical building, Building for my community.

Anything Else to Share:

I moved to Ohio after college for my job. I will have been with CK for 10 years in August '25

Was this your original career?

I had a love for architecture starting in grade school and initially thought I wanted to be an architect. In high school, I loved physics and match, which initially lead me to pursue Civil Engineering in College. I was also a natural leader when it came to extracurricular activities or group projects. During the process of interviewing for jobs, I was looking for something hands on that I could make an immediate impact. Someone suggested that I give project management in the construction industry a try, and I've been here ever since.

Anything unique about your career path?

I grew up in Pennsylvania, but a portion of my degree was paid for with a 529 account. I also took dual enrollment courses in high school (free through my public school system). That combined with AP credits, allowed me to reduce about 1 semester of college courses off. This allowed me the flexibility to take additional courses that interested me and work an on-campus job during college.

Audrey Davis - Residential Solar Asset Analyst

Name: Audrey Davis

Job Title: Residential Solar Asset Analyst

Organization: IGS Energy

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Pulling, analyzing, and reporting on data on IGS' solar systems
  • Supporting the asset management team with monitoring solar system performance and the creation of Field Service Dispatches during a system outage/issue
  • Researching & determining common points of failure in solar systems to prevent issues in IGS's solar fleet
  • Collaborating with IT to continuously improve IGS Solar's platforms
  • Supporting the Billing, Quality Assurance, & Operations teams
  • Continuous education on Codes and Standards that impact solar projects

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Data analytics & monitoring of system performance. Learning & understanding the technical side of solar. Knowing I am working with an amazing team aligned on the same goal of getting more solar installed & operational to help homeowners save & put more clean energy on the grid.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

This position is technically remote, but the Residential Solar Asset Management team goes into the office weekly. Although not a requirement to be in Ohio, as an Ohio company headquartered in Dublin being local to the area and going into the office promoted my career by allowing me to organically meet individuals across the company. In addition, there is a need for more solar in Ohio & policy change to support solar. Having a local company like IGS to promote & educate Ohioans on solar can help end the stigma against it.

Was this your original career?

Like many other college students, I was not sure what I wanted to do post-graduation. I had a few internships in the environmental field & some student jobs, each very different from the other. My first internship was with Clean Harbors in Denver, CO which is a hazardous waste company. I also interned for American Structurepoint, a civil engineering firm, in the Columbus area. I was glad to get unique experiences & knew I wanted to have a career in the environmental field making an impact to combat climate change, however, that goal was very broad and overwhelming. Through a Career Fair at OSU I heard about the Rotation Program at IGS which gave me the opportunity to continue to explore where exactly I wanted to end up. This is a post-graduate program designed to teach young professionals about the energy industry, about IGS, and help them determine what department at IGS they fit in. The rotation program at IGS taught me about the energy industry and allowed me to explore different departments within the company, making connections along the way. This program was ultimately what led me to my current position, and I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in the energy industry.

Anything unique about your career path?

I had the opportunity through my high school to take College Credit Plus & AP classes that allowed me to graduate a year early from OSU. Graduating a year early helped me kickstart my career at IGS in the Rotation Program and ultimately led me to where I am today as a Residential Solar Asset Analyst. 


Brad Deering - State Apiarist/Plant Health Entomologist

Name: Brad Deering

Job Title: State Apiarist/Plant Health Entomologist

Organization: Ohio Department of Agriculture

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Monitor overall health of honeybee colonies in Ohio
  • Conduct inspections of honeybee colonies for pests and disease
  • Enforce state laws regarding beekeeping
  • Educate beekeepers on best management practices
  • Insect pest identification
  • Invasive pest surveys.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Meeting beekeepers from around the state.

Anything Else to Share:

Honeybees are vital to the production of food

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Honeybees are managed in every part of Ohio. Including both urban and rural settings.

Was this your original career?

This was not my original career goal. My degree is in Wildlife Management and my original plan was to be a wildlife officer in Ohio. I have always been very interested in insects too so while at Ohio State I took courses in entomology for fun. When I graduated from Ohio State, I immediately started working for a wildlife nuisance company for a few years. I wanted to find a job that involved insects in some way. That is when I started my career at the Ohio Department of Agriculture as a nursery inspector. I worked for 17 years as a nursery inspector until the opportunity to become the state apiarist came along. It has been very fulfilling working with beekeepers and bees.

Anything unique about your career path?

Growing up I was part of 4-H and took several projects that involved an insect collection. While at Ohio State I took advantage of the Work Study program. Through that I was able to work at the Ohio State insect lab at the Biological Sciences Greenhouse. I have always found a way to make insects part of my life.

Regina E. Dorfmeyer - Freelance Visual Artist

Name: Regina E. Dorfmeyer

Job Title: Freelance Visual Artist

Organization: A Touch Of Red By R.E.D.

Education: Art School or Self Taught

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Daily checking of emails, messages and texts for orders.
  • Updates of products on websites
  • Promotion of sales
  • Creation of products
  • Follow-up with clients and colleagues
  • Photograph and publish completed works and projects
  • Check bookings for Live Shows and Demonstrations
  • Prepare for shows, workshops, or demonstrations
  • Create artworks to be exhibited in galleries, museums and other public spaces.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

I set my own schedule and hours and decide my subject matter or decide how to approach commissioned work. I decide what jobs I accept and set my own prices and what work I will publish or sell. I am always learning something new about the artworld, and art techniques while also always learning something new about myself.

Anything Else to Share:

Artists with disabilities are essential to the community. We enrich cultural understanding, challenge stereotypes, and promote inclusivity by sharing our unique perspectives and experiences through art, encouraging a more empathetic and diverse society.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

I am listed with Ohio Arts Registry. I am a visual artist with a disability. That should promoted and shared! Creating and teaching others to create should definitely be promoted throughout the community. There is always a need for visual artists in the community, especially the urban areas and inner cities of Ohio. Youth and seniors both need the arts and music. Art is needed in the community for youth and seniors as it provides an outlet for expressing feelings in a positive way. Art can reduce depression and anxiety in seniors. It can also improve health, well-being and independence.

Was this your original career?

In high school, I was voted most likely to be a singer, but my counselor and insecurities held me back. I was told I wasn’t college material, and my poor eyesight added to the stigma. Later, I graduated cum laude from CSU with a degree in social work, but my career took a turn when I began working for the Cleveland Sight Center. There, my art was selected five years in a row for the agency’s greeting cards, leading to my first exhibition win with Art Possible Ohio. Since then, I’ve been a freelance artist, teaching and demonstrating Fingerpainting and textural painting. Discovered by Ed Gallagher of the Beck Center for The Arts, I’ve found purpose in inspiring others to pursue their dreams. At 69, I continue to teach and show people the potential in their creative abilities.

Anything unique about your career path?

My career path is unique in that, I was trained to be a Social Worker, not an Artist. Also, I am a visually impaired textural finger, painting artist. That is pretty unique. I am self taught, and I am constantly learning. I constantly enter exhibitions and I apply for grants. I have been blessed to receive grants that enabled me to advance in my career.

Michelle Flick - Gilt Selection Technician

Name: Michelle Flick

Job Title: Gilt Selection Technician

Organization: Hord Family Farms

Education: Anywhere from High School Diploma to a Master's Degree! Depending on company requirements

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Oversee and improve operations at gilt finishing sites.
  • Maintain relationships with grower/farmers owning gilt finishing barns.
  • Monitor pig health and well-being; select quality gilts for sow farm replenishment.
  • Coordinate with external companies to supply gilts.
  • Collect health samples and ensure animal welfare at each site.
  • Assist growers in loading out gilts, ensuring proper protocols.
  • Communicate with logistics for safe and efficient gilt movement.
  • Receive and monitor piglets at 21 days of age, ensuring comfort and health.
  • Tag gilts with unique ID numbers.
  • Track barn data on pig movement, treatment, and tags

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Networking! Creating positive relationships with each grower. Having the opportunity to share my knowledge with others in the swine industry. Having daily interactions with the pigs. Travelling between barns - the ability to be outside during the day! Variety, no day is the same.

Anything Else to Share:

I have a passion for the swine industry, and I think that makes a world of a difference. I love my job and the company I work for. I enjoy meeting individuals who share the same passion as me!

Was this your original career?

No, my original career goal was to work in HealthCare. I was pursuing a degree in HealthCare Management after High School. My childhood was spent on the family farm, so I was familiar with a variety of farm animals, and the amount of work it takes to care for each of them. With my background in Agriculture, I decided to work at Hord Family Farms based out of Bucyrus Ohio, as a job while in college. My passion for the swine industry was uncovered and I knew I would not be happy in the career I was going to college for. I quickly became more serious about my career in the swine industry. Eventually I switched my major to Agribusiness and have been working on that degree since. I started as a technician on a sow farm in Marion Ohio, as I gained more knowledge, I was transferred to another larger sow farm and eventually promoted to gilt selection technician. A position outside of the sow farm. This position is full of variety, as the company grows this position grows as well. I have enjoyed taking on more responsibility as my knowledge deepens and I hope to continue on the pathway of growth.

Anything unique about your career path?

I was a certified Pharmacy Technician when I graduated High School and was entirely set on paying for my HealthCare Management degree as I was in school. Now, with the help of a tuition reimbursement program at Hord Family Farms I can study for a degree more suitable to my career while working for the same company.

Gregg E. Fogle - Small Ruminant Research Center Manager

Name: Gregg E. Fogle

Job Title: Small Ruminant Research Center Manager

Organization: The Ohio State University

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Trade/Vocational School, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Oversee Daily care and management of Sheep and Goats belonging to Ohio State.
  • Provide animals for classes in Columbus, Wooster, College of Vet Medicine, State 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging contests and clinics.
  • Manage 2-4 employees
  • Assist with classes in small ruminant production
  • Provide animals for biomedical research as needed
  • Assist with research projects using sheep at OARDC

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Something different most days. Always good to get your hands on a newborn lamb or goat and we have them about 5-6 months out of a year. Shearing sheep is a very rewarding job where hard work definitely pays off. Having the opportunity to work with your people is very rewarding

Anything Else to Share:

Also was Assistant Manager of the Beef Cattle at Ohio State main campus from 2002-2019

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

I have been at Ohio State for over 30 years having the privilege to work with Sheep, Goats and Beef Cattle. Has been fun to see so many faces come through the University and now seeing the next generation come through is even better. Having the opportunity to travel all over the state to shear sheep and pass through so many small Ohio towns.

Was this your original career?

I started working at the OSU Sheep Center in Columbus in August of 1994 as a student. I started fulltime in April of 1998 until I took a full time position the day I graduated from OSU 12/2/2000.

Anything unique about your career path?

Started shearing sheep as a college side job in Fall of 1994. Have sheared sheep for over 30 years.

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, LPMT, MT-BC - Music Therapist

Name: Lisa Gallagher, PhD, LPMT, MT-BC

Job Title: Music Therapist

Organization: Cleveland Clinic

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Create session plans
  • Conduct individual music therapy sessions (in-person or virtual)
  • Conduct group music therapy sessions
  • Document on the sessions in the patient medical record
  • Communicate with physicians, psychologists, OT, PT, speech therapy, social work, nursing, etc. regarding the patient, their progress, and any significant problems
  • Conduct research on the effects of music therapy
  • Publish my research in medical, music therapy, psychology, nursing, etc. journals
  • Present at conferences on my work and my research

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Making a difference in patients' lives
  • Helping people learn to cope with their chronic pain
  • Conducting research to further demonstrate the benefit of music therapy

Anything Else to Share:

It was my honor to have started the music therapy program at Cleveland Clinic over 30 years ago. It has been great to see the program expand to include over 14 medical music therapists, 9 medical art therapists, and a performing arts program since that time. It has been amazing to help so many patients, families, and employees over the years. I have also been honored to be adjunct faculty at five different universities, including three in Ohio: Baldwin Wallace University, College of Wooster, and Ohio University. It has been thrilling to help train new generations of music therapists.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

In the last year music therapy has become a licensed profession in the state of Ohio, so now in order to call one's self a music therapist they need to be board certified and licensed, with credentials of LPMT, MT-BC. This is now required to be hired as a music therapist in Ohio.

Was this your original career?

In college, I initially pursued a double major in music therapy and music education, but after my first year, I focused solely on music therapy. To prepare for the broad range of clients I might work with, I minored in psychology, took special education classes, and earned a certification as a QMRP. My internship at a psychiatric hospital confirmed my passion, but I struggled to find a job in the field initially. I eventually worked as a QMRP for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where I was able to incorporate music therapy. Three years later, I joined The Music Settlement, where I was contracted to various agencies, including the Cleveland Clinic. I became their first music therapist in 1994, working in palliative care with terminally ill patients—something I once thought I’d never do. I fell in love with this work and also got the chance to conduct research. In 2010, I became Cleveland Clinic's first full-time music therapy manager, and in 2016, transitioned to manage their Arts & Medicine research program while still practicing music therapy.

Eric Gordon - Large Animal Veterinarian and Professor, Clinical

Name: Eric Gordon

Job Title: Large Animal Veterinarian and Professor, Clinical

Organization: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Education: Graduate Degree - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Provide Medical and Surgical Care for all types of Large Animals
  • Provide Preventive Medicine Recommendations for Food Animal Producers
  • Teach and train veterinary students to prepare them for careers in veterinary medicine
  • Manage a large animal veterinary hospital with a team of six veterinarians and four staff

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Helping animal producers care for their animals and be successful by providing veterinary services and consultation. Driving around the countryside visiting farms, the animals that live on those farms and meeting the great folks that produce our food. Seeing animals that I've cared for live and thrive.

Anything Else to Share:

Veterinary medicine offers a unique opportunity for vast number of career paths. I couldn't have chosen a more rewarding, satisfying, and fulfilling job.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Agriculture is Ohio's number one industry. I am proud to have a part in that by caring for the large animals that provide us with food, fiber and companionship.

Was this your original career?

I have wanted to be a large animal ambulatory veterinarian since the 7th grade. When the vet would visit our farm, I thought he had the coolest job in the world. Now I have the privilege of living that every day. Growing up on a farm in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and being active in 4-H helped tremendously in shaping my career goals and the path I took to achieve those. I am especially thankful to my parents and my family for their support and encouragement.

Anything unique about your career path?

I spent all of my holiday breaks from college shearing sheep and doing construction work to help pay for my undergraduate education as well as veterinary school. I also was fortunate to have many scholarships to help with the first few years of college. My advice to young people planning for college and career is to work hard in high school, challenge yourself to be your best, apply for every scholarship opportunity you can find, and spend time shadowing professionals in the field you are considering. You can accomplish more than you think!

Marlene Gundlach - Math Intervention Specialist/Data Coach

Name: Marlene Gundlach

Job Title: Math Intervention Specialist/Data Coach

Organization: New Albany Plain Local Schools

Website: www.napls.us

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Use data to determine which students need math support
  • Work with small groups of students in grades 1-3 to support any unfinished learning they have in math
  • Evaluate and monitor student progress
  • Meet with our building team to discuss support for students not progressing as expected
  • Manage math data for the building

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Supporting students who struggle and seeing them grow and thrive.

Anything Else to Share:

I also enjoy doing math professional development in my building and at conferences across the country.

Was this your original career?

I always wanted to be a teacher, but started with a minor in English. When I returned to teaching after staying home with my children, I worked as an educational assistant in math intervention. I was hooked and teaching math became my passion.

Jamie Hannen - Associate Principal Scientist, R&D

Name: Jamie Hannen

Job Title: Associate Principal Scientist, R&D

Organization: T. Marzetti Company

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Developing new products performing research projects, cost savings projects, implementing formulas in the manufacturing plant and finding efficiencies for current products.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Developing something new and seeing it on a grocery store shelf, making something easier or more efficient for the manufacturing plant

Anything Else to Share:

Food science is awesome! It is such a hidden field that the general public doesn't know about. They don't think about how their products get to the grocery stores or restaurants.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

That T. Marzetti Company is a local Columbus business and people should support it by buying our products. Also that we use a ton of soybean oil and other farmed ingredients that are grown right in Ohio to make our products. New York Texas Toast is a brand Marzetti owns and it is in the Cleveland, OH area.

Was this your original career?

I had a great high school chemistry teacher so I majored in chemistry in undergrad at Wright State University. I discovered food science right before graduation, worked as a chemist for a year, and then went to grad school at The Ohio State University for Food Science & Technology. I was interested in flavor chemistry but ultimately found product development within the R&D department at Marzetti. I have held various roles at Marzetti ever since and have been given many opportunities to develop and grow over the years.

Anything unique about your career path?

I got a couple minor scholarships but mostly my family helped me pay my way through and I also worked part time all through undergrad and graduate school.

Natalie Harp - Director of Compliance

Name: Natalie Harp

Job Title: Director of Compliance

Organization: Nature Pure - Outward Farms

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Oversee and maintain compliance of the animal welfare programs, food safety program, organic certification, state and federal regulations.
  • Facilitate audits and inspections associated with our certifications and regulatory requirements.
  • Facilitate scheduling and submission of any required samples pertaining to the birds and regulatory requirements.
  • Flock planning and scheduling.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

The chickens! There is always something going on, the workday is never boring or monotonous. I get to interact with multiple departments, and I can see the impact my job has which is rewarding.

Was this your original career?

Not at all where I thought I would be and was the result of a lucky opportunity! Going into college I just knew I wanted to end up in a job that was active and involved animals and/or nature. After dabbling in multiple different majors and being humbled in my inability to succeed in higher level math classes I ended up with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts comprised of 3 minors in Environmental Studies, Geography and Communication. I had a degree but still no clear career path. Lucky for me my friend from high school and eventual roommate in college was the daughter of an organic egg farm owner near Marysville, OH. I knew the family well by this point and they knew I had a lot of experience with animals and a passion for them from growing up with my mom being in veterinary medicine so after college I was asked if I was interested in a position at the farm overseeing the animal welfare program. I was more than happy to accept and thus kicked off my start into farm compliance. It turns out I found my niche and over the last 9 years I have assumed ownership and management of nearly all our certification and regulatory programs as well as worked to build out new programs and obtain new certifications as the farm has grown and evolved.

Tova Herskovitz - Food Safety Specialist 2

Name: Tova Herskovitz

Job Title: Food Safety Specialist 2

Organization: ODA Division of Food Safety

Education: Bachelor's Degree and licensed as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist or Registered Environmental Health Specialist In Training.

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Ensure that regulated farms/establishments produce a safe product by executing appropriate inspection methods, determining non-compliance with regulatory requirements, documenting noncompliance, and initiating enforcement action, where warranted.
  • Review Records, observe farm/plant operations and conduct hands-on verification to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and prepare detailed documentation of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Communicate with farm/plant managers, owners, and others to explain legal/regulatory requirements.
  • Administer training for fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Travel and the stories I get to hear

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Educational opportunities

Was this your original career?

I intended to become a Registered Dietician. It's honestly a long story as to how I got here…

Anything unique about your career path?

I attended Cuyahoga Community College for the first two years. They had an affiliation and scholarship program with the University of Akron, who discounted my tuition by 50% upon transferring to complete my Bachelor's Degree.

Kami Hisey - Program Director

Name: Kami Hisey

Job Title: Program Director

Organization: Scouting America

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Plan council wide programs
  • Oversee council training courses
  • Oversee STEM activities and STEM Camp
  • Oversee council day camps

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Love seeing kids being outdoors and overcoming fears that they may have

Anything Else to Share:

Even though the job is long hours and can be very stressful, it is so rewarding

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Boy Scouts have multiple councils in Ohio.

Was this your original career?

My original career goal had nothing to do with my current job. I grew up in Scouting, starting in Girl Scouts and then at 14 joined Boy Scouts. I turned 18 and knew I wanted to stay involved with Scouting as a volunteer. I then graduated college and had a job in a different career field that just wasn't for me. Timing worked out that the person in this position before me ended up leaving and I talked to a couple people and applied for the job. 5 years later and I still love what I do.

Anything unique about your career path?

I worked here as an intern when I was in college as I needed a way to stay involved and I think that helped me succeed in my position.

Jonathan Juravich, Ph.D. - Elementary Art Teacher, Host of "Drawing with Mr. J"

Name: Jonathan Juravich, Ph.D.

Job Title: Elementary Art Teacher, Host of "Drawing with Mr. J"

Organization: Olentangy Schools, WOSU Public Media

Website: wosu.org/mrj

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Dream, plan, and facilitate artistic experiences for my students in grades K-5
  • Support students through their artistic process
  • Clean up messes (ha) and advocate for the power of a strong arts education
  • Mentor new educators throughout the state (and country)

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Watching a young student show perseverance and grasp a difficult concept, seeing the inspiring creativity that my students bring to their work, to engage students with the world beyond their classroom while celebrating their local community.

Anything Else to Share:

Beyond being an elementary art teacher, I serve as the district elementary art department chair and host the WOSU PBS digital drawing series "Drawing with Mr. J" which is Emmy Award Winning.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

I am the 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year (one of four finalists for 2018 National Teacher of the Year). I am the 2024 Ohio Art Educator of the Year and the 2023 National Art Educator of the Year. I am a proud member of the Ohio Art Education Association.

Was this your original career?

Both of my parents are artists and from a very young age, I showed artistic potential. So, everyone thought I would naturally fall into the family business. However, I always wanted to work with people, in a different capacity. Through my teenage years I considered roles in the health industry but ultimately realized that I was destined for a career in education. I considered how I could use my creativity while supporting my young students to learn about themselves and the world around them. Art education became the ideal profession for me, and I haven't looked back... now in my 20th year of teaching. Each day is filled with such possibility and there is never a dull moment.

Anything unique about your career path?

1. I came to Ohio to pursue a degree, and thought I would leave after graduation. 20 years later, I still call Columbus home.

2. Recently a young preservice (undergrad) educator told me that they were afraid if they followed a career in education, they would have to give up their other passions. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have so many interests and skills that I continue to pursue beyond my elementary classroom including teaching at the college level, serving as a leader in a several organizations, volunteering, authoring a book, hosting a PBS series, being a husband and dad, and more.

Drew Karram - Schmidt’s Expo Inc General Manager / Owner


Name: Drew Karram

Job Title: Schmidt’s Expo Inc General Manager / Owner

Organization: Schmidt's Expo Inc.

Education: All The Above!

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Managing/ Leading a Team
  • Weekly Scheduling
  • Product Ordering
  • Food/ Labor Cost Management
  • Product Projections
  • Sales Projections
  • Creating Standard Operating Procedures

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Working with my Family

Anything Else to Share:

My first ever job duty at Schmidt's was actually during the Fair cleaning tables when I was 10. I have worked in almost every position Schmidt's has to offer (Restaurant, food trucks, catering, fairs & festivals, concessions). I have a vast knowledge of all facets of the hospitality industry from my years of experience learning different aspects of the Schmidt's business portfolio.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Schmidt's has been in business and a rich part of Ohio's history since 1886. While most of our business is conducted in Columbus, we travel all over the state with our fairs & festivals division as well as our Food trucks. We launched a fleet of Food trucks in Cincinnati last year and plan to expand into other cities. We source as much as we can from local, family-owned businesses all throughout Ohio.

Was this your original career?

My career goal was to own Schmidt's Sausage Haus, starting as a kid bussing tables at the Fair. I worked my way through the restaurant in various roles, from hosting to bartending, while earning a degree in Restaurant Hospitality. After graduating, I became the General Manager of the Fairs & Festivals division, managing 30 events across Ohio. I also secured concessions at Lower.com Field and Nationwide Arena.

During the 2020 pandemic, I shifted to the Food Truck/Catering business and learned a new side of the industry. In 2024, I became the General Manager of Schmidts Expo Inc., following our successful bid for the Ohio Expo Center Food & Beverage contract. In 2025, I achieved my goal and became an owner alongside my cousins Matt and Kyle Schmidt. As 5th-generation family members, we’re excited to carry on the Schmidt’s tradition.

Anything unique about your career path?

I think working in a family business is definitely unique. I think my path is especially unique (and maybe not the best choice) because I have worked at Schmidt's my entire life. I believe in hindsight it would have benefitted me to go out and work in other fields. However, what I did gain was extensive knowledge of the industry as a whole as well as making a ton of amazing connections over the years.

Ali Lachey - Product Development Specialist

Name: Ali Lachey

Job Title: Product Development Specialist

Organization: Nestle Professional Solutions

Website: Nestlé in the United States | Nestlé USA

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Collaborate with chefs to formulate innovative recipes at the benchtop/kitchen scale
  • Conduct sensory evaluation tests to showcase recipes to the business or consumers and adjust the recipes based off their feedback
  • Work with suppliers to source ingredients and packaging materials
  • Collaborate with production staff to scale up production of new recipes
  • Renovate existing recipes and ensure they meet our food safety and quality standards

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Learning the science of food and creating recipes for new, innovative food and beverage products and doing so in a way to leave the products and the world around us in a better place.

Anything Else to Share:

Food is fun and is crucial to sustain life and our world's growing population.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Ohio has many food companies across the state. Nestle is located in Solon, Marysville, and Batavia. You can enter a role in product development with Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field. If you seek a Food Science degree in Ohio, The Ohio State University is the only university in Ohio with a Food Science program.

Was this your original career?

Working in product development was my original career goal, dating to my first day at The Ohio State University. I went to the Food Science Club meeting to learn more about Food Science. I learned about two classmates' internships - one at Keurig Dr Pepper where she worked to remove artificial flavors and replace with natural flavors, and the other was at Nestle Gerber where she worked to infuse pasta with vegetables. I was so excited about the possibility of having a hand in the food we eat and making food better for you. Through OSU's Industry Visit program, I ended up interning at both of those companies and earning my first job in product development at Nestle Professional Solutions in Solon, OH in 2020. Since, I have supported brands like Nestle Tollhouse, DiGiorno Pizza, Hot Pockets, and Stouffer's. In 2023, I had the great opportunity to do a mission at Nestle's headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland for 7 months where I worked on an Accelerator project for Nespresso to bring honey to shop test on a short timeline.

Anything unique about your career path?

I was able to get college credit for 3 classes in high school--Calculus, Psychology and English. This reduced the amount of pre-requisite classes I had to take at OSU and gave me the option to graduate a semester early. The College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences and in particular, the Department of Food Science and Technology at OSU had many scholarship opportunities while I was in school, enough to cover my tuition in full for two years and in part the other two years of my bachelors. Ohio State's Industry Visit program also connected me with local work opportunities. While in school, I got a job at The Wendy's Company where I was a sensory technician supporting consumer sensory studies at their headquarters in Dublin, OH.


Emily Mullen - Owner/Operator

Name: Emily Mullen

Job Title: Owner/ Operator

Organization: The Mullen Dairy & Creamery

Website: http://sites.google.com/view/themullendairyandcreamery/home

Education: Associate’s degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Caring for 200 Head of Holstein Cows
  • Growing All Feed for The Cattle
  • Planting Corn and Producing Hay
  • Overseeing Sales, Marketing, and Development of The Creamery

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Genetics are a big part of our operation, it’s always fun seeing a newborn calf that is going to outperform their mother. Watching the robot milk the cows. Helping customers in the store learn the story behind the refrigerator. Raking hay when it is 80 degrees outside.

Anything Else to Share:

With the addition to being a farmer, the storefront offers the opportunity to be a storyteller as well. It gives me the opportunity to defend the cow’s way of life and answer hard and uncomfortable questions with honesty and transparency.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

The average age of farmers in our industry is about 65 years old. In northern Ohio, there are tons of Dairy Farms, some of them just looking for help. If you think that working with livestock sounds like the kind of job you’re up for, there are plenty of folks looking for people to help them carry on their legacy. Join 4-H club or an FFA chapter and find yourself some connections within the industry that might just lead you to a lifelong career.

Was this your original career?

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be in agriculture, starting with horses and eventually falling in love with cows. By middle school, I knew I wanted to take over the family farm. In high school, my FFA advisor taught me that I needed a new approach, especially when cash flow became a challenge. Inspired by a JFK quote, I started getting retail prices for my milk and, after graduating from Ohio State, returned home to build our genetics program and start a creamery to sell directly to the community.

Despite doubts from others, I believed in my vision and pushed through the obstacles. Success has come with sacrifices, but I've learned that when you refuse to quit, there's no limit to what you can achieve.

Anything unique about your career path?

I was fortunate to receive a scholarship through The Ohio State University ATI. If it weren’t for the scholarship provided by The Douglas family to the Dairy program, I would’ve never had the opportunity to attend college. I must say at the beginning I didn’t think that it was going to be a big deal to further education, I can tell you with 100% certainty that if I wouldn’t have gone to college my farm would not be nearly as successful as it is today.

Katie Nowack - Manager, Ohio History Center Programs

Name: Katie Nowack

Job Title: Manager, Ohio History Center Programs

Organization: Ohio History Connection

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Master’s degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Manage interpretive team, volunteers, and interns
  • Assist with daily operations of running museum
  • Collaborate with other museum departments
  • Help develop programming partnerships with community members
  • Manage immersive school field trips

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Interacting with our youngest learners
  • Getting creative while building programming
  • Learning new things every day

Anything Else to Share:

Museum Interpretation/Education requires a wide array of skills that can prepare you for almost any career out there. You learn to be flexible, to think on your feet, to communicate with diverse audiences, and find joy in all the work you do!

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

This job works with many significant organizations and departments that preserve Ohio's history, including the State Historic Preservation Office, America250 Commission, the Ohio State Fair, and the State Archives and Library.

Was this your original career?

Museum Education was not my original career goal, but I realized through my volunteer experience and passion for teaching and history that this would be a natural fit. As a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist, but over time I discovered that I loved to help other folks learn about history and engage with the past. In college I majored in History, and from there I decided to attend graduate school for a Master's in History with a concentration in Public History.

Anything unique about your career path?

I volunteered and interned at a LOT of different organizations. It's a great way to support the work of history organizations while also discovering what particularly interests you, and the experiences you gain provide a lot of insight as you go through your career search!

Bill Patterson - President, Patterson Farms, Inc and President, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Name: Bill Patterson

Job Title: President, Patterson Farms, Inc and President, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Organization: Patterson Farms, Inc and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Website: pattersonfarm.com : ofbf.org

Education: No Formal Schooling Requirement

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • For Patterson Farm
    • Work with family to set strategic direction of 7 generation family farm that provides a best-in-class customer ag-experience, creates a desired staffing environment and pursue the highest quality produce and products.
    • Manage Farm Market
    • Manage Wholesale Cider Operation
    • Manage Event Center
  • For Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
    • Lead Board of Directors in setting direction and strategy to provide true grassroots value to 65,000 farm family members focusing on advocacy, leveraging trends, on farm business solutions and personal/professional development.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Patterson Farm--working directly every day with our customers/consumers to provide our on-farm experience.

Ohio Farm Bureau--working directly with and representing over 65,000 farm family members to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

The strength of rural Ohio and the agricultural economy is the backbone of this state. Whether it is working with our farm customers to tell our story or helping to facilitate conversations with our members and their legislators, it has never been more important that agriculture and our food supply remain strong and resilient. It is through these types of relationships that we will maintain credibility and promote continued confidence in our industry.

Was this your original career?

Through high school and into college I tended to believe I would be involved in agriculture. Entering the College of Agriculture (now, CFAES) at Ohio State during my junior year opened up the true possibilities and importance of the world of agriculture and strengthened my resolve to grow and strengthen our industry.

Anything unique about your career path?

I would stress the importance of community and industry involvement. It is one thing to build a strong business, it is next level to build the environment where your strong business can thrive. From helping to represent your school district to meeting with your U.S. Senators, you are building a strong community that will generate dividends for generations to come.


Catherine Wolcott - Farmer

Name: Catherine Wolcott

Job Title: Farmer

Organization: G.A.R. Horizons LLC

Website: garhorizons.com

Education: High School Diploma/GED -- Online Marketing Course to enhance my digital marketing efforts via the newsletter and effective social media content creation

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Farm Owner/Operator: Sole decision-maker, manage livestock chores, haul grain and implements, and oversee row crops (excluding planting).
  • Store Manager: Build strong customer relationships, greet customers, and manage day-to-day operations.
  • Marketing Director: Handle social media, create bi-weekly newsletters, and represent G.A.R. Horizons in local tourism groups.
  • Financial Manager: Reinvest income, purchase new stock, oversee the construction of five new buildings, and place weekly meat orders.
  • Vendor Coordination: Manage 26 vendors, arrange orders and deliveries, and coordinate with local butchers for meat processing.
  • Livestock and Crop Management: Select livestock, scout crops, and monitor grain markets, working with local cooperatives for orders.
  • Labor Management: Supervise spouse and part-time store employees, ensuring smooth operations year-round.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • I enjoy the flexibility of setting my own schedule and not having a 9-to-5 job.
  • Being my own boss while working alongside my husband is fulfilling.
  • The relationships with customers and the community are my top priority; I love watching their children grow up and remembering their preferences.
  • I’m driven by our customers, doing what I do for them.
  • I love working outside and the daily learning experience, especially since I had no agricultural background.
  • We built this farm from scratch, starting as a hobby in 2009 and launching the business in 2015.

Anything Else to Share:

Being a female farmer in a male-dominated industry hasn’t been easy. I've faced doubts and been belittled, but my journey as a first-generation farmer shows resilience. I started with nothing and built something more than I ever imagined. I run my business on faith, believing it's all going to work out for a reason. I advocate for agriculture by sharing my story on social media and encouraging youth to get involved. My bi-weekly emails to over 1,600 subscribers share farm life, livestock, and new store items, with many praising my honest approach. As an active community member, I proudly represent GAR Horizons, donate to local fundraisers, and serve as a township trustee, advocating for rural preservation amidst urban growth. I’m also proud that my business has grown enough for my husband to join me full-time on the farm. Despite the challenges, I wouldn’t give up this lifestyle. Not everyone believes in me, but I have faith in what I’m doing.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

  • G.A.R. Horizons is community focused. All of the vendors we work with in the on-farm store are local. We strive to promote buying from local farmers and businesses through the store.
  • We work with the local farmers markets and look at the Ohio Proud website to bring new vendors in to the store.
  • We are also encouraging the next generation to get involved in agriculture through our community engagement and through the local tourism groups.

Was this your original career?

In high school, I initially wanted to be a history teacher, but I always knew I wanted to own my own business. My experience working at an apple orchard and being involved in 4-H led me to start a hobby farm after graduation. Not coming from a farming background, I learned through raising pigs, goats, ducks, and other animals, selling to friends and family. I worked at a gas station and hardware store, where I continued selling meat from my farm by word-of-mouth, eventually putting up a sign and selling from our porch.

After meeting my husband, who had agricultural experience, we grew the business together. I learned a lot, including how to grind our own feed. I sold at farmers markets for three years, managing one I started in our township. In 2018, I opened our year-round on-farm store, which became even more vital during the pandemic when grocery stores had limited meat. Since then, our store has doubled in size, and our vendor count grew from 5 to 26. I raise 40 beef cattle, 40 hogs, and over 2,000 chickens per year, selling retail cuts directly to consumers. I also manage 150 acres of corn and soybeans and always seek new local products for the store. Our farm store is open year-round, and it’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come from selling meat off our porch to running a full-fledged store.

Anything unique about your career path?

I started college in business management but soon shifted my focus to agriculture. I attended Women in Agriculture conferences at Ohio State Extension, which inspired me and helped me realize that as a woman in agriculture, I’m not just supporting the farm—I’m part of it. Over the past four years, I’ve taken on crop farming, learning about diseases and crop management, often as the only woman in the room. I’ve received invaluable support from our local co-op, Ohio Farm Bureau, and various seminars. Ohio Farm Bureau even encouraged me to apply for the Outstanding Young Farmer award, which I won in 2024. Now, my goal is to inspire the next generation to explore the diverse opportunities in agriculture, whether as farmers, veterinarians, or agricultural engineers.

2024 Career Pathways Nominees


Show all

Pierre Agostini - Professor Emeritus of Physics

Name: Pierre Agostini

Job Title: Professor Emeritus of Physics

Organization: The Ohio State University

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctorate Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Engaging in Physics Research
  • Mentoring Physics Graduate Students
  • Teaching Physics to Undergraduate College Students
  • Communicating Physics Discoveries to the Public

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Learning new things, having the opportunity to be curious and try something new

Anything Else to Share:

I’m very grateful to the Ohio State Physics Department for having given me this position. I hope that my work will inspire young scientists to keep exploring. Physics is far from being all discovered and understood. Use your imagination and your passions and your will to understand things.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Physics impacts so many of our growing industries and exciting endeavors in Ohio: from NASA Glenn to the growing semiconductor industry to the shifting needs of our electrical grid.

Was this your original career?

When I started university, I wanted to do math. They discouraged me. They said, ‘Math is too hard.’ So, I tried physics.

Anything unique about your career path?

You never know what will be useful. The road is success can be a long one. A trick I discovered in 1979 wound up being used in the research that won the 2023 Nobel Prize. One of the most important innovations to make our research possible was a disc with a hole in it. It’s been a random walk.

Bonnie Ayars - Dairy Program Specialist at Ohio State and Dairy Judging Coach

Name: Bonnie Ayars

Job Title: Dairy Program Specialist at Ohio State and Dairy Judging Coach

Organization: The Ohio State University

Website: ohio4-H.org; https://cfaes.osu.edu

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

Teaching, mentoring, recruiting, coaching, and assistance with Ohio 4-H dairy programs

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Connecting with and mentoring student development

Anything Else to Share:

It is the greatest job in the world as I observe growth and maturity.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Education, like Ohio, is the "heart of it all." and our land grant university is pivotal in the progress of careers that include hands on experiences and research. However, our extension outreach is second to none with 4-H being a major force in positive youth development that is sustained in multiple generations of Ohio citizens.

Was this your original career?

In my youth, there was nothing more important than my involvement with 4-H. I had dairy, sewing, and junior leadership projects. One of my dairy cows was quite special. The choice was made to sell her and that cow named "GiGi" sent me to college. It was a first in many ways for my family. Today, whenever I am a speaker at events, I mention that cow and 4-H as my ticket to a future career.

In 4-H, I was a delegate to Ohio 4-H Club Congress, National 4-H Club Congress, National 4-H Dairy Conference, a 2x state award winner, and 6 years as a camp counselor including State Leadership camp. Beyond 4-H, I also had a musical background that led me to perform at Club Congress where I met Dean Kottman of Ohio State. Through a long and winding career path, I eventually graduated from OSU from the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. Fast forward to 34 years as a Home economics teacher and now 18 years at Ohio State, I have lived a career specializing in connections with youth. I have also been a 4-H advisor, volunteer, and longtime advocate since I grew up in the county where 4-H was created.

Family life and life on our farm is integral in my life. My husband John and I have been married 52 years and became the parents of 4 sons. They too carried on a proud tradition of 4-H involvement and Ohio State. Along the way, we were inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame and also received the Dairy Science Hall of Service award and now have two endowed scholarships at the university in honor of a deceased son. Giving back has and will continue to be one of our primary goals.

So many stories and other life honors could be shared, but the one basic theme here is that a career path should be about pursuing a passion. I have often said that "students have defined my life, and yet at other times, they have saved my life".

Anything unique about your career path?

At 73 years of age, most of my pathways have clearly become outdated! That is why my resume is like reading War and Peace. However, I can remember a gentleman first year teacher in 1973 earned more than I did as he was considered the "breadwinner." When I had the first child, there was no maternity leave and insurance only covered hospitalization. Times have changed and I have adapted with them, around them, and for the good of the cause. Not quite the story you were looking for, but relevant. Also at a time when others retire, I still work at OSU, do barn chores every morning and night on our dairy, own and manage our ice cream business, and manage our farm's event center where we host many elementary field trips. My husband and I both have been blessed with good health.

Abbey Cohen - Assistant Director Initiative Development and Processing

Name: Abbey Cohen

Job Title: Assistant Director Initiative Development and Processing

Organization: Ohio Department of Higher Education

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Assist in the development of new Military Transfer Assurance Guides (MTAGs) by conducting ongoing research and collaborating with faculty members and other resources
  • Conduct ongoing research to see if see military-specific credentials can fit into the Industry-Recognized Credential Transfer Assurance Guide (ITAG) structure
  • Assisting with the administration of military, apprenticeship, and transfer initiatives
  • Pursue the feasibility of adding state-registered apprenticeship programs as potential ITAGs by conducting research and collaborating with faculty and apprenticeship resources

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Being able to collaborate with other teams within the agency
  • Form professional connections with individuals all over the state of Ohio in higher education
  • New opportunities for professional growth
  • Each week is different, there are always new and exciting initiatives and ideas
  • Knowing that I am helping students

Was this your original career?

My career goal has always been to be in a position where I could help others, whether that be through a non-profit organization or a government agency. I was enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard for 6 years and ultimately wanted to help active-duty service members, veterans, and other military-connected individuals become aware of their benefits and utilize them. While I was completing a bachelor's degree in International Relations, I learned of a job opening at the Department of Higher Education thanks to the Office of Military and Veterans Services at Ohio State. The position included assisting with military and transfer initiatives—two topics I was familiar with as an active-duty transfer student. Because of my military background and passion to help others, I am delighted that I am now in a position where I can assist military-connected and transfer students in reaching their educational goals.

Anything unique about your career path?

As a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, I obtained my bachelor's degree without accumulating any debt, thanks to the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP), Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA), and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. By earning college credit for my military training, I was able to expedite my degree. The military has offered me diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth, allowing me to explore various career paths alongside my academic pursuits. Despite graduating with a degree in international relations, I discovered a passion for cybersecurity and information technology. I've chosen to pursue a Master of Science in Information Technology to further develop my skills in this area and take advantage of the various educational opportunities in the state of Ohio.

Logan Eisenhart - Primary Care Provider & Professor

Name: Logan Eisenhart MSN APRN FNP-C

Job Title: I have two jobs, Professor at a State University and Primary Care Provider in Family Practice

Organization: Kent State University, PCP at Axesspointe Health Center

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Medical Provider in an outpatient family practice office
  • Educator of Nursing students in a Bachelor of Nursing program

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Positively impacting the community by providing healthcare services and training the nurses of tomorrow.

Anything Else to Share:

To anyone who was ever told that they couldn't do something... yes you can. Let that negative talk be the gas that lights your fire on your road to success.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Project Learn is an affiliate of the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Aspire program.

Anything unique about your career path?

Yes, I received a grant to take my GED through Project Learn that covered the cost of the test. I also got several scholarships in college that were for GED graduates only. Project Learn is an affiliate of the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Aspire program.

Was this your original career?

From GED to PCP

At the age of 17, I moved out on my own and dropped out of high school for personal reasons, including a difficult family life. Despite the uncertainties that lay ahead, I felt this was the healthiest choice for me at the time. This decision marked the beginning of a journey characterized by resilience, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth.

Obtaining my GED in 2011 through Project Learn in Akron, Ohio, was a pivotal moment in my life. It represented a significant milestone, reaffirming my commitment to education and opening doors to new opportunities. However, the transition to higher education was not without its challenges. Despite being financially independent, I encountered obstacles that hindered my access to college due to the lack of formal emancipation. I could not go to college until the age of 23.

In response to these challenges, I immersed myself in the restaurant industry, where I gradually ascended the ranks and assumed leadership roles. My tenure as a General Manager at the age of 22 underscored the valuable skills and resilience I had developed through my unconventional path.

I recognized a calling to pursue a career in healthcare and managed to find the BRIDGES program at Kent State University where I met a mentor, Carrie White, who encouraged me to give nursing a try. Graduating from Kent State University's RN ADN program in 2018 marked the culmination of years of hard work and determination.

Entering the healthcare profession, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact of preventable chronic diseases on individuals and communities. Motivated by a desire to address the root causes of these health disparities, I embarked on a journey of continuous

learning and professional development.

Earning my BSN in 2019 and subsequently completing my MSN online in 2022, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforced my commitment to advancing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. Serving on the frontlines as an ICU and ER level one trauma nurse during this unprecedented time further solidified my dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate care to those in need.

Today, as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care, I am honored to leverage my knowledge and expertise to empower individuals to take proactive steps towards better health. I also have the privilege to treat those in my community who struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol in our outpatient MAT treatment program.

In addition to my clinical practice, I am privileged to serve as a faculty member in the BSN program at Kent State University, where I have the opportunity to inspire and mentor the next generation of nurses. I treasure the time I spend with the students and love seeing those "lightbulb" moments in class.

My journey from dropout to nurse practitioner serves as a testament to the transformative power of resilience, determination, and a steadfast commitment to lifelong learning. Each obstacle I encountered along the way served as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, ultimately shaping me into the compassionate, skilled healthcare provider I am today. I hope by sharing my journey, others can see they can do it too.

I am also currently working on my doctoral degree. My doctoral degree of study is a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a concentration in Leadership. My estimated graduation is December of 2025.

Lyda Garcia - Associate Professor / Extension Meat Specialist

Name: Lyda G. Garcia

Job Title: Associate Professor / Extension Meat Specialist

Organization: The Ohio State University

Website: https://ansci.osu.edu/our-people/lyda-g-garcia

Education: PhD

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Teaching
  • Extension
  • Research
  • Serving community needs
  • Educating the masses

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Working with People
  • Talking about Meat Science and its role in the meat industry
  • Witnessing the A-Ha moments

Anything Else to Share:

I also serve as the meat judging coordinator / coach

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Meat Science is a critical component to the production of food animals. Meat science lets producers know whether adjustments should be made or not regarding management practices. One who understands the basics of meat science will be one step ahead. Those involved in raising food animals should have a good understanding of the end product; this can only work in their favor.

Was this your original career?

Originally, I wanted to join the Air Force out of high school. However, my mother (against me joining the military) convinced me to give college a chance, since I had received a full scholarship to judge livestock at a two-year college (Clarendon College). I quote (from my mother), "The air force will always be there, your scholarship will not."

Anything unique about your career path?

A uniqueness to my path is, I was not planning on going to college. But when I started, I could not stop. I found myself continuing to the next level as doors opened up for me. I could not help but to pay attention to the types of doors opening around me. With the help of great mentors, I took advantage of new opportunities regardless of the unknown. I did this simply by trusting the process. During my 11 year college journey, I did two internships with large scale meat processing facilities in the US, visited 32 states, and traveled to Mexico, London, and Ireland. It was not my plan to reach a level of a PhD, but doors kept opening along the way. It was during my PhD I realized how much I enjoyed, and was good at, teaching and working with livestock producers, adult learners and youth interested in this area (meat science). So, I took advantage of my strengths and have made a career out of it.

Allyssa Hedges - Meat Inspection Training Officer / EIAO

Name: Allyssa Hedges

Job Title: Meat Inspection Training Officer/EIAO

Organization: Ohio Department of Agriculture

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Coursework in biology, chemistry, animal science, agribusiness, and/or food business management

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Perform Food Safety Assessments (FSAs) and sample collection at meat and poultry production facilities that are licensed with the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Meat Inspection
  • Develop, modify, update, and deliver training for Division of Meat Inspection staff
  • Provide initial training for new hires and refresher training for established meat inspection staff including, but not limited to, humane handling, ante-mortem inspection of livestock and poultry, post-mortem inspection of red meat and poultry, sanitary dressing and pathogen reduction, sanitation, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system verification, product and environmental sampling, label verification, and communication
  • Monitor and assess training effectiveness and training needs for Division employees and plan training activities to meet those needs
  • Serve as a liaison with USDA-FSIS for FSIS training and IT support and with various ODA Divisions for state-administered training

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Going to all different types of food production facilities: Slaughterhouses, raw meat processors, facilities that make charcuterie-type products, meal providers, etc.
  • Working with livestock and seeing how the product gets from hoof to plate
  • Ensuring consumer confidence in the meat and poultry products that are produced at ODA-inspected meat and poultry establishments
  • Continuing to learn as policies, regulations, and technologies change
  • Traveling through all parts of Ohio to visit inspected facilities or meat inspectors

Anything Else to Share:

We have meat inspectors and state-inspected establishments in all areas of Ohio, so you do not need to live in a certain area to work in meat inspection.

Was this your original career?

I was originally planning to go to veterinary school, as I thought that was the only occupation where I could work with livestock and make a decent living as someone that didn’t come from a farming background. I worked at a mixed animal veterinary clinic in high school before getting my bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Purdue University. While in college, I continued to work at the animal clinic and a Standardbred breeding farm during the summers and worked at the Purdue Veterinary Lab Animal Care facility during the school year. After graduating college, I worked as a toxicology technician at a research laboratory for 3 years before applying to be a meat inspector with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. I was a meat inspector in Central Ohio for 3 years before taking a position as an Enforcement, Investigation, and Analysis Officer (EIAO) with the Division of Meat Inspection where I performed food safety assessment (FSAs) at state-inspected facilities throughout the state. After 4 years as an EIAO, I stepped into my current role as the Division training officer, but I still perform FSAs as needed.

Dr. Marci Howdyshell - Senior Director of Scientific Content and Research

Name: Dr. Marci Howdyshell

Job Title: Senior Director of Scientific Content and Research

Organization: COSI

Website: www.cosi.org

Education: Ph.D.

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • I am a scientist. I lead a team of scientists at COSI, Columbus’s hands-on science museum.
  • We work with other teams to ensure that all exhibits, programs, and products created by COSI are scientifically accurate, accessible, and engaging.
  • We work with STEAM experts from universities and organizations to help them share their science with the public.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Working together with all of the amazing people on the COSI team
  • Exploring and teaching about all areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)
  • Helping to improve exhibits at COSI
  • Learning new things every day
  • Meeting people who visit COSI!

Anything Else to Share:

I am a physicist by training. In my career at COSI, I get to explore and teach about all areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Was this your original career?

My career goals changed a lot through the years. I didn’t always dream of being a scientist. I enjoyed math and was very creative as a kid. Both of these skills serve me well as a scientist. When I learned that some scientists get to help museums better communicate science with the public, I knew I had found my dream job!

Anything unique about your career path?

I worked in several different fields before my job at COSI. I was an experimental physicist in graduate school at The Ohio State University. I taught in public schools during my postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University. I volunteered and worked at nonprofits. It took me a little while to find my current career, but all the experiences and skills I gained during that time made me better at my job today.

Melissa Kmetz - Third Grade Language Arts Teacher, 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year and 2024 Ohio Teacher Fellow

Name: Melissa Kmetz

Job Title: 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year/2024 Ohio Teacher Fellow/Third Grade Language Arts Teacher

Organization: Last year, I was Ohio Teacher of the Year. Year #2 of that process is a sabbatical. So, this year, I'm on sabbatical with the Ohio State Board of Education and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. I've been a teacher for 21 years, and next year, will be returning to my role as a third grade language arts teacher at Lakeview Elementary in Cortland, Ohio.

Education: Master's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

As the 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year:

  • Advocate for educational equity for Ohio's students
  • Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for the teaching profession
  • Make public speaking appearances statewide
  • Elevate issues teachers face, amplify educator voice, inspire others to join the profession, aid in retention of educators
  • Celebrate and encourage appreciation for the diverse abilities, qualities, and achievements of students everywhere
  • Collaborate with educators, colleagues, policy makers, government officials and advocacy groups to mobilize support for policy change and advocate for reforms that improve student outcomes
  • Meet with Governor DeWine to discuss issues that impact Ohio's students, educators and schools

As Part of the 2023 National Teacher of the Year program (through the Council of Chief State School Officers):

  • Network and engage in professional development opportunities with the other 54 State Teachers of the Year, five times, throughout the course of the year.
  • Attend the National Teacher of the Year orientation in Sunnyvale, California. There, educators travel to Google campuses for tours, undergo media, speaking and advocacy training, and participate in a fireside chats with educational leaders.
  • Visit Washington, D.C. to be honored at the White House, meet the President of the United States, First Lady and U.S. Secretary of Education.
  • Visit Capitol Hill to meet with elected officials
  • Attend NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, to participate in various space simulations, missions, team-building activities, and learn from former astronauts
  • Attend the Impact and Influence Conference in Princeton, New Jersey to plan next steps for after our year of service
  • Travel to the College Football Championship sponsored by the Extra Yard for Teachers to attend an educational summit, participate in a football toss to raise money for school districts, run in a 5K, and be announced on the field before the College Football National Championship game.

As the 2024 Ohio Teacher Fellow:

  • Work with the Office of Educator Effectiveness to continue amplifying educator voice and aid in educator recruitment and retention
  • Speak at various educational summits and conferences
  • Shine a spotlight on educators across Ohio by filming a video interview series where I interview the 2023 State Board District Teachers of the Year in their hometowns
  • Gain insight on and show my support for high quality literacy instruction following the Science of Reading through a partnership with the Literacy Team at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
  • Work with the Literacy Team to film a video series that captures high quality literacy instruction based on the Science of Reading in schools throughout Ohio
  • Engage in leadership and professional development opportunities

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Having a platform that allows me to make a broader impact on students, education, and the teaching community
  • Visiting schools to meet and speak with students and educators
  • Having the opportunity to travel and speak about things I'm most passionate about (truly seeing one another, equity, inclusion, diversity, leadership and legacy, change-making)
  • Being invited into spaces where educational decision-making takes place
  • Getting to work with my Ohio Teacher of the Year coordinator, cohort, and team
  • Working with my wonderful and talented team, at the State Board of Education, in the Office of Educator Effectiveness
  • My partnership with the incredible educators on the Literacy Team
  • Forming a family with the 54 State Teachers of the Year, who are some of the best and most talented educators I could ever meet
  • Having the support of the Ohio Education Association, and being asked to serve on OEA's Human and Civil Rights Committee
  • Meeting President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Secretary Miguel Cardona
  • Collaborating with Governor DeWine to ensure our teachers and students have what they need to be successful
  • Being given a voice to enact positive change
  • Traveling and meeting such wonderful people

Anything Else to Share:

  • In May, I get to travel to Washington, D.C. to receive the NEA Award for Teaching Excellence
  • This year, I get to give the commencement address at my alma mater, 25 years after graduating from there!

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Being 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year has been the greatest joy of my life. It's brought opportunities I never thought possible and has filled my heart in every way. It also allowed me to have a sabbatical year with the Ohio State Board of Education and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, where I've met and learned from the most talented, wonderful individuals. None of that would have been possible if the parent of one of my students hadn't nominated me for this honor.

Anyone can nominate a special educator for Ohio Teacher of the Year, and I encourage you to do so! It will mean everything to that educator!

Was this your original career?

As a child, I spent two weeks in a medically induced coma. After, I spent weeks in the hospital, and that experience really impacted me. When I was well enough to leave, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, I just wasn't sure how. For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a doctor so I could work in a children's hospital just like the one I'd been in. Then, I considered being a school psychologist. However, as I got older, I decided teaching was the path for me.

In high school, I saw how some of my teachers changed the lives of students who needed them the most. Witnessing the impact they had in the lives of others inspired me greatly. Then, my senior year, I was asked to sit on our school's Continuous Improvement Committee. There, I saw the change that could be made when dedicated individuals worked together. Both of those experiences inspired me to become an educator.

I went on to get a Master's Degree with a Specialization in Reading, and soon after, my sister joined me in our school! She is our school's guidance counselor. Now, there are two Miss Kmetzes in the building! You can oftentimes find my mom in our building, too. She is always there to lend a helping hand in my room!

I couldn't love being a teacher more! Every day, I get to inspire and empower my students to become leaders and world-changers. Then, as Ohio's Teacher of the Year, I was given the opportunity to inspire and empower on a much larger stage!

When we truly see each other, and work together to lift one another up, there's nothing we can't accomplish!

Anything unique about your career path?

I earned a full academic scholarship, from the Stavich Family, to Youngstown State University. This scholarship helped my family greatly, as it even covered the cost of books!

Jason S. Kong - Consumer Protection Laboratory Director

Name: Jason S. Kong

Job Title: Consumer Protection Laboratory Director

Organization: Ohio Department of Agriculture

Website: agri.ohio.gov

Education: Master's Degree, Chemistry or Microbiology degree preferred

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Oversees all chemistry and microbiology testing programs in agricultural commodities, human and animal foods, and livestock fair samples to support the state's regulatory division work
  • Manages supervisors, scientists, technicians and support personnel necessary for the laboratory to be successful in daily operations
  • Works with state and federal regulatory partners in communication, providing subject matter expertise and rapid response to emergencies affecting the state or nation
  • Oversees the operational and capital budgets, equipment and infrastructure of the laboratory to ensure laboratory operational readiness
  • Develops and enacts policies to ensure any testing performed in the laboratory is defensible, timely and safe

Favorite Part of Your Job:

I love that I can be doing anything on any given day! Whether I'm helping address a foodborne outbreak, working on a construction project or working with the best minds in the nation to guide future policies, I know that everything I do is to directly serve the public good.

Anything Else to Share:

As the Laboratory Director, I set the priorities and culture of the laboratory. I want every single person in the laboratory, whether administrative support, a technician, or a scientist to know that without their contributions we cannot protect Ohioans and others effectively!

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Analytical chemists and microbiologists are vital to supporting the mission of not just the Ohio Department of Agriculture, but many other agencies in the state!

Was this your original career?

I have always admired my father's ambition to be a public servant. As a civil engineer, he told me that being a public servant was the "most direct way to help people." This left a lasting impression on me at a young age and I have pursued a similar ambition ever since. After obtaining my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemistry, I served as an analytical chemist at the Office of Indiana State Chemist for five years, testing to protect consumers from mislabeled pesticide products and pesticide misuse. I started working at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in 2013 as a Chemical Laboratory Supervisor for the Consumer Protection Laboratory, overseeing the state's chemical testing on agricultural commodities such as feed and fertilizer. In 2019, I founded the agency's Hemp testing laboratory section and oversaw operations related to pesticide testing up until I was chosen to serve as the Laboratory Director in 2021.

Anything unique about your career path?

I received a Certificate in Public and Non-Profit Leadership from OSU's John Glenn College of Public Affairs, in 2021, fully funded by the state's employee development funds and just in time to begin my new position as a Laboratory Director.

Haley Palmer - Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

Name: Haley Palmer

Job Title: Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

Website: ohio4h.org or huron.osu.edu or extension.osu.edu

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Establish and maintain a comprehensive 4-H volunteer system by identifying, selecting, training, and evaluating adult 4-H volunteers.
  • Design, implement, and deliver educational programming in collaboration with volunteers and partner organizations.
  • Collaborate with committees, volunteers, and community partners to achieve program goals and establish partnerships.
  • Organize and oversee overnight residential camps annually, including camp counselor training, staff training and management, meal planning, and facility management.
  • Support county fair activities in collaboration with junior and senior fair boards.
  • Contribute to county, multi-county, and state Extension teams to advance the mission and values of Ohio State University Extension and 4-H Youth Development.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • I enjoy that my job is challenging yet rewarding, particularly in working with youth and witnessing their growth.
  • I enjoy the opportunity to work with older youth, such as 4-H Camp Counselors, and witness their hard work come to fruition.
  • I love being a part of nurturing tomorrow's leaders and witnessing the capabilities of our youth in the 4-H program.
  • I love that I get to collaborate with the community and our dedicated volunteers, acknowledging the privilege of leading such an awesome program.

Anything Else to Share:

There are so many different things we get to do in this position. No two days are alike! It’s always fun to explain to someone what my day to day looks like or what I do in my role because it is very vast in responsibilities. The diversity of tasks in this position keeps it dynamic and engaging. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities, whether it's processing volunteer applications, coordinating livestock tagging events for the county fair, collaborating with community partners on programming, working on statewide projects in Columbus, or training 4-H Camp Counselors. This variety is one of the reasons why I find this role so fulfilling and enjoyable.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

There is an Extension Office located in all 88 Ohio Counties, with Extension Educators like myself that serve the unique needs of their communities.

Was this your original career?

Growing up involved in 4-H and FFA, I always aimed for a career related to agriculture, working with youth, and serving the community. I earned my bachelor's degree in AgriScience Education from The Ohio State University, providing me with a teaching license. While the traditional career path for this degree is to become an agriculture teacher, I found my path leading me to non-formal education. I now have a master’s degree in Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership.

Anything unique about your career path?

Despite not growing up on a farm, I became involved in 4-H, challenging the misconception that one must be from a farm background to pursue a career in agriculture or be involved in 4-H. Often times when I tell people that I am a 4-H Educator they often ask if I grew up on a farm and I am happy to share my story with them.p

Van Parker - Freelance Musician

Name: Van Parker

Job Title: Freelance Musician

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Playing concerts with various orchestras and bands
  • Participating in recording sessions
  • Creating recital and concert programs
  • Teaching young musicians

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Bringing music to people all over the world

Anything Else to Share:

A career in music takes a lot of dedication and hard work but it is definitely worth the effort!

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Ohioans are lucky to have high quality professional orchestras all over the state making it a great state to work as a musician in.

Was this your original career?

I wanted to be a professional musician since my junior year in high school at Stivers School for the Arts. I practiced diligently and earned degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University before starting to take auditions for professional ensembles. Now I play regularly for the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Cleveland Opera Theater and the Firelands, Lima, and Youngstown Symphonies.

Anything unique about your career path?

Musicians begin training from a young age and I took advantage of as many youth and honors ensembles as I could including the Springfield Youth Symphony, Dayton Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and Dayton's Muse Machine.

John Payne - Pulmonary Services Site Manager

Name: John Payne

Job Title: Pulmonary Services Site Manager

Organization: Ohio Health

Website: Ohiohealth.com

Education: Associate's Degree, With State Licensure

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Breathing Treatments
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Care
  • Life Support Ventilators
  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Patient Rehabilitation
  • Neonatal Resuscitation

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Saving Lives/Improving Quality of Lives

Anything Else to Share:

Wonderful, rewarding field. As a Professional in Respiratory Therapy, you can always feel the benefit you provide for patients and the tremendous satisfaction of having bettered their lives.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Respiratory Therapy is in great demand. It is a field of critical needs and projections are for even more demand in the future! The health care industry badly needs more Respiratory Therapists!

Was this your original career?

Respiratory Therapy was not my original career goal. In fact, I had never heard of it. Often, the more traditional roles are much more well known. After exploring lots of different potential careers I began to consider Health Care. Upon researching the different options in Health Care I found that Respiratory Therapy had the perfect mix.

Anything unique about your career path?

Once deciding on Respiratory Therapy I learned as much as possible as quickly as possible. Diving into emergency and critical care helps establish the foundation from which to branch out into the many different areas of the Respiratory Therapy Profession. OhioHealth has extensive options for tuition paid education and internships.

Daniela Peña Hernández - Section Head, Virology

Name: Daniela Peña Hernández

Job Title: Section Head - Virology

Organization: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, DVM

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • I proudly serve Ohioans with my work at the Ohio Department of Agriculture!
  • We perform laboratory tests that look for viruses or antibodies against viruses
  • Our tests help veterinarians diagnose diseases in all kinds of animals, from pets and livestock to wild ranging white-tailed deer
  • I also collaborate with other animal health professionals in the development of new tests
  • When new diseases emerge in animals, we work as a team to identify them and control their spread

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Diagnosing a disease is like putting together a puzzle. The animal's history, the clinical signs, and the laboratory tests are all pieces of the puzzle. My favorite part is when the pieces come together! It's like CSI but with animals.

Anything Else to Share:

My research interests are viral diseases of poultry, emerging infectious diseases, and applied microbiological methods.

Was this your original career?

When I was in high school, I thought I was going to be an agricultural engineer! So no, veterinary medicine was not my first choice, but I always loved agriculture. When I was in vet school, microbiology was my favorite class. I enjoyed practicing veterinary medicine but I still looked forward to every opportunity to spend time in the lab. For that reason, I applied to an international research experience program, then to a clinical microbiology residency program, and now I work as a veterinary virologist for the Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. I could have never fathomed where I would be today when I was in high school, but as long as your decisions are true to your heart, they will lead you to the place you belong.

Anything unique about your career path?

During college, I worked part-time for the university. My work was 90% washing laboratory dishes at the Animal Nutrition lab. It helped me cover my meals. I obtained my first internship through a knowledge competition held by a private company. The award came with a cash price that I used to retire my sister's hand-me-down 10-year-old laptop. For the international research experience, a fully funded program was a must. And finally, during my residency program, I doubled as a research assistant to obtain a salary from the university. Not having a lot of money is not unique, but there are ways to avoid debt, and I encourage you to find them.

Katie Roland - Registered Respiratory Therapist

Name: Katie Roland

Job Title: Registered Respiratory Therapist

Organization: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Education: Trade/Vocational School, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Patient care profession
  • Assess, treat, monitor, follow-up and care for patients with lung and heart disorders
  • Care for a wide array of patients such as lung disease, heart disease, neuromuscular disease, trauma victims, premature babies, children, adults, and the elderly
  • Utilize high technology equipment for patient care such as ventilators and heart/lung bypass machines
  • Perform and interpret diagnostic procedures, such as lung function tests, blood gas analysis, heart function monitoring, tests related to sleep-related breath disorders, and airway hypersensitivity tests

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Each day that I work is different! Sometimes I am taking care of patients on their worst days when they are coming in as a trauma victim and other days I am taking care of patients who are getting ready to go home after rehabilitating from a long hospital stay.
  • I learn something new every day at work and get to work alongside others in a team setting.

Anything Else to Share:

Respiratory Therapists work in multiple settings including hospitals, clinics, patient homes, offices, and helicopters/ambulances. The profession offers many advancement opportunities, such as receiving additional credentials (such as a Neonatal Pediatric Specialist), management positions, and education positions.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

There are over 20 accredited respiratory therapy programs throughout Ohio offering Associates or Bachelor's programs. There is a need for Registered Respiratory Therapists in hospitals across Ohio.

Was this your original career?

I attended The Ohio State University where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy. While in college, I worked as a Respiratory Care Assistant at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Upon graduating college, I started working as a Respiratory Therapist at Nationwide Children's Hospital. I have worked at NCH for five years now. I have worked in multiple roles and shifts and now work as Night Shift Clinical Leader, which is a management position that allows me to lead my peers while still taking care of patients.

Anything unique about your career path?

A large portion of my college tuition was paid for through a College Advantage 529 Plan. I also received a scholarship from Nationwide Children's Hospital during my last year of college that provided tuition assistance as well as a job following graduation and licensure.

Doug Thornton - Technical Director / Senior Research Leader

Name: Doug Thornton

Job Title: Technical Director / Senior Research Leader

Organization: Battelle

Website: www.battelle.org

Education: Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Typically people in my role have at least a bachelor's degree. I personally have a Ph.D. There are many ways to develop and demonstrate skills and in fields where demand outstrips the talent pool, managers get creative. The higher the degree, the less practical demonstrated experience is required. Formal education certainly helps, particularly in deep technology areas and in written communications, but it is not the only path.

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Communication.
  • In this role you listen to people’s challenges, problems, inefficiencies, and pain points. Then you work to match up those needs with technical capabilities and limitations. And must do so at a high level of abstraction which involves considerable skill in estimation.
  • When you are trying to bring technology to bear on a problem, many reasons can keep a good solution from being adopted. Those could be technical, financial, regulatory, timing, and business processes. My goal is to rapidly identify as many of those factors as quickly as possible to see if investment in technology and the efforts to deploy those technologies will stand a good chance of success in carrying out our mission to translate scientific discovery and technological advances into societal benefit.
  • Once we establish the outward-inward communication to match what needs to be done, what can be done, and what should be done, my role is to continually reinforce that communication to drive a team to solve the problem and keep the customers interested in the forthcoming solution. Along the way, we have to make hard decisions about trade-offs, that is, is a feature worth it, or is an objective too hard to meet within the time or money given.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Seeing or hearing of a technology that we built from an idea impacting society.
  • Technology transition, that is, taking a concept from a laboratory into the real world, can be high-risk. Typically, only 1 out of 10 of even the best-thought-out technologies make it across what is considered the ‘valley of death.’ When we succeed with a new technology, it’s a great triumph and makes the 9 failures worth it.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Battelle hires in many areas, at all experience levels.

Was this your original career?

I’m a bit weird in that context. I don’t operate on long term goals. The world is too large and there are too many things not within my control for me to state ‘this is what I want to do and this is what I want to be’.

Instead, even since undergrad, I have assessed opportunities and failures as they have confronted me. While that may put me on a winding path, I also am not constantly fighting an opposing current. This is also why I have succeeded in customer development.

Throughout my career, I have listened to the challenges, listened to what others are telling me, and then used the tools I have to navigate the world's complexities. If you go into a discussion trying to sell a specific capability and focus on that, you may not hear what is being asked of you. The same can be true of life; people may be better at recognizing your talents than you yourself can, and listening to them can benefit all.

So, my story of how I got here starts at high school lacrosse practice. I was a moderate player, never a star, but started for 3 years in high school. At some point during my junior year, I thought to myself, “If I were in middle school and as skilled as I am now, I’d be a star player. I decided to do that with engineering. I started reading engineering books and building circuits on my own so that I had 2-3 years of experience ahead of my grade level. This allowed me to plow through internship and mission-critical tasks early on. That then led to task leadership and customer engagement. Along the way, I earned 3 degrees, 2 of which were because of the opportunity. I am now here.

Anything unique about your career path?

I worked. I had a job in food service since I was 14. I prioritized spending money and time on items that gave me skills and necessities. I bought a computer and software to build engineering skills. I bought a car to commute to my job. I bought books. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I didn’t have a job and school at the same time. Those jobs transitioned from food service to internships, and then I switched from full-time student part-time jobs to part-time student, full-time jobs after completing undergrad. Because I worked, earned some limited scholarship money, and had some support from my parents, I could complete 17 years of schooling without substantial debt.

Victoria Van Tassell - Space Operations Officer, Second Lieutenant

Name: Victoria Van Tassell

Job Title: Space Operations Officer, Second Lieutenant

Organization: United States Space Force

Education: High School Diploma/GED, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree is not required but preferred for advancement to Officer ranks of Major and beyond

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Serve the United States military in a leadership role
  • Formulate space operations policies
  • Coordinate space operations
  • Establish training requirements and performance standards for space systems
  • Plan, organize, and direct space operations programs
  • Provide guidance on proper use and care of sensitive materials

Favorite Part of Your Job:

I have not yet entered active-duty military in this role as I am currently completing my Master’s degree in aerospace engineering at The Ohio State University. I will enter active duty in June or July 2024 and will be able to answer this better in a few months.

Anything Else to Share:

A video interview is currently required for all USSF candidates.

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

Going through Air Force ROTC at any college in Ohio (I attended The Ohio State University) is one pathway to becoming a USSF officer.

Was this your original career?

I have always wanted to dedicate my career to serving others in a large-scale manner, and I credit this largely to being a Girl Scout for 12 years. I enjoyed learning about math, science, and problem-solving from a young age. I have been obsessed with learning about outer space, reading science fiction, and studying space travel technologies. Joining the Space Force specifically was not my original career goal because that opportunity did not exist until the USSF was established as a military branch in December of 2019.

Anything unique about your career path?

In high school, I did the following to set myself up for success in college which led me to this career path:

  • I used College Credit Plus and AP test scores to earn college credits
  • I applied for and earned an Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) scholarship at The Ohio State University
  • I held leadership roles on clubs and teams, such as Captain of the Swimming and Cross-Country teams
  • I consistently prioritized my physical fitness and academics
  • I was a Girl Scout for 12 years through which I avidly volunteered in my community and earned my Girl Scout Gold Award

In college, I did the following to continue setting myself up for success in my career:

  • I did not take out student loans or accumulate any type of financial debt
  • I held summer internships and research positions in engineering roles for 3 years during college
  • I continued to prioritize my physical fitness and academics
  • I stepped outside my comfort zone by public speaking as much as possible
  • I took on high-visibility leadership roles in Air Force ROTC
  • I made my advising Air Force ROTC Officers aware that I was interested in joining the Space Force when it became an official U.S. military branch
  • I applied for and received permission to earn my Master’s degree (on Fellowship at The Ohio State University) before entering active duty

Daniel Walker - Weights & Measures Administrator

Name: Daniel Walker

Job Title: Weights and Measures Administrator

Organization: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures

Education: Bachelor's Degree

General Job Duties and Tasks:

  • Plans, implements, evaluates, organizes and administers Ohio requirements regarding weights and measures as established in Chapters 1327, 901, 733 and 319 of revised code and by federal agencies (e.g., NIST, USDA, FDA, FTC, EPA).
  • Supervises managers engaged in laboratory metrology services, laboratory type evaluation services, license registration, field inspection and testing, rule review, policy development and services provided to local government jurisdictions.
  • Obtains and monitors budget, facilities, equipment, and supplies.
  • Directs state, county, and city inspections and tests of measuring equipment and field standards. The most common equipment that we regulate are gasoline pumps and retail scales which measure products being sold.

Favorite Part of Your Job:

  • Learning something new every day!
  • Helping to ensure that commercial transactions are fair and balanced. We help to ensure that customers receive the amount of product for which they pay, and that businesses are fairly compensated for the amount of products they sell.

Anything Else to Share:

Our motto is 'equity in the marketplace.'

Unique Facts (that directly relate from your career to Ohio):

In Ohio, each county employs their own Weights and Measures Inspector(s) who help ensure that measuring devices are accurate, and that packaged products contain the proper amount as stated on the label.

Was this your original career?

Not many people know that Weights and Measures exists! I know I didn't when I was making career plans early in life. I graduated college with plans to be an electrical engineer, but my first job as a field service engineer for a scale company quickly revealed the regulator side of the business. I truly enjoy using my skills to help protect Ohio's businesses and consumers.202

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