The granddaughter of company founder William F. Reineke Sr., who purchased his first dealership in 1960, Suzie Reineke had other plans upon graduating from Ohio State University in 2010 with a degree in fashion and retail studies and marketing.

"I honestly had no ambition to come back, but I wanted to try it out and see if it was a fit for me," she said. "Ultimately, I fell in love with it."

Reineke started her career in sales. She then moved into marketing, where she created a marketing department for the Reineke Family Dealerships then eight stores. Before that, marketing and advertising were handled by individual stores.

Now, as a brand manager overseeing the group's three Lincoln stores, she's using her education in ways she hadn't imagined.

"Having that fashion background, you just have more of an appreciation for the materials and what goes into all of these vehicles," she said. "That helps sell the vehicles if you have that passion behind it."

Reineke, a recent graduate of the NADA Dealer Academy, would like to continue working in the family business. She is interested in becoming a partner, helping to build upon the family legacy along with other third-generation members of the Reineke family.

Reineke's father, Bill Reineke, an Ohio state legislator, currently operates Reineke Family Dealerships with his father, two brothers, and a brother-in-law.

"I'm very proud of her," said Bill Reineke. "It's very exciting because growing up she never really showed any interest in the business."

Outside of work, Suzie Reineke enjoys traveling and investing in her hometown of Tiffin. She and her husband, Weston Reinbolt, are rehabilitating buildings in the city's downtown. She's also involved with the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association and has held seats on the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention Committee and NADA NextGen Thought Leadership Committee.

Kathryn Grasz has served North Central Electric Cooperative and Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative as their Director of Key Accounts and Economic Development since April 2019.

Grasz earned a degree in Business Administration from Ohio Northern University and successfully managed the Wyandot Chamber of Commerce for nine years, helping local small businesses and entrepreneurs with marketing and branding services.

Grasz earned her Certified Key Accounts Executive (CKAE) in her first year with the cooperative family. She has completed the Ohio Electric Cooperative’s Leadership Edge Program in 2020 and the Cooperative Management Internship Program (MIP) in 2021. 

Kathy is actively working to develop the cooperative owned, Spencer Industrial Park, Spencer, Ohio (Medina), and supporting the efforts to extend access to rural broadband to the cooperative’s members.

Kathy served on the Medina County Economic Development Corp. board and currently serves on the Legislative Committee.  Kathy is the Chairman of the Ohio Electric Cooperatives’ Key Accounts Association and the Vice-Chair of the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership’s Economic Development Strategic Committee.

She is a member of the Ohio Economic Development Association, Wyandot County, Crawford Partnership, and the Fostoria Economic Development organizations. The cooperative funded the successful Ohio Rural Industrial Park Program application to construct a spec building in Fostoria, Ohio, a cooperative served industrial park.

Kathy is married to Rex Grasz, and they have two children and one granddaughter. 

Chamber/Small Business Director for the Fostoria Chamber of Commerce

J. Anthony Gorrell, CPA

· Employee of Sutton Bank since December 1993

· Chief Executive Officer of Sutton Bank and President of Sutton Bancshares, Inc. since October, 2019

· Executive Officer of Sutton Bank since March 1994

·  Director of Sutton Bank & Sutton Bancshares, Inc. since 2008

· Member of Asset Liability & Investments, Loan, Third-Party Vendor Risk, Nomination, Marketing, Payments Risk, ·

· Technology and Planning Committees

· Co-Trustee of Sutton Bank Employee Stock Ownership & 401K Plan

· Member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants

· Member of Independent Community Bankers Association Payments & Policy Committee

· Member of Community Bankers Association of Ohio Legislative Committee

· Former Adjunct Professor Tiffin University

· Resides in Tiffin, Ohio with his wife Robin; they have one grown son, Bryce.

Ashton Hemminger is a CEO alumnus from the class of 2022, the first inaugural year of Seneca CEO. Ashton has always been passionate about running her own company; therefore, learning about an entrepreneurial program coming to Seneca County was exciting. 

"I was committed to moving away to attend a four-year degree in a big city until I became completely invested in the CEO program my senior year of high school. I had no intentions of moving back to Tiffin, however, now I am so anxious to move back." 

Concluding her year as a CEO student, Ashton launched her company, AJ & Co. Marketing, in downtown Tiffin. AJ & Co. "Masters your Message" specializes in social media management, site/team photography, and digital advertising. 

Ashton's CEO experience changed her life forever, in the best way. She currently attends Columbus State Community College with a major in Marketing and an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2024. She fully intends to return her company to Tiffin, concluding her degree. 

Ashton enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family outside of work. 

Laura Kagy has a broad range of experiences as a practitioner and community member that shape her contributions to education. Laura is the superintendent of Seneca East Local Schools in Attica, OH.  Dr. Kagy has served in this role for the last nine years.  During that time, Kagy has guided the district through numerous educational and technological initiatives.  Recently, she wrote and was awarded the USDA Rural Distant Learning grant for $722,610.  As a result, these funds will upgrade classroom technology to take advantage of distance learning from around the world.    

Before serving as district superintendent in Seneca East, Kagy served as interim superintendent, assistant superintendent, and principal for the Clyde-Green Springs School District.  She started her career in education as a teacher and principal in Tiffin City Schools. 

Kagy's professional experience also includes workings as an adjunct professor for Concordia University.  Where she teachers courses for aspiring administrators.   

In addition to serving as an original board member of Seneca CEO, Kagy also serves on the board of the Northwest Career Ready Business Advisory Council, the Ohio Education Computer Network Management Council, and the North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments. 

Kagy is married to her husband of 28 years, Scott, and they have two children, Katrina and Caroline.  They live and farm in Bloom Township and enjoy traveling and sports in their free time. 

Teri Lease is a marketing/business & community development specialist with Bascom Communications. Her areas of focus include; community relations, marketing, member engagement, graphic design, and photography. 

As a former entrepreneur herself, Teri owned and operated a local screen-printing and graphics design company for numerous years. She brings over 20 years of experience to the board and can relate to the students from her own business experiences and other roles in the marketing and communications fields. She has an eye for design and enjoys developing aesthetically appealing content.

As a Seneca East alumnus with children attending Mohawk, Teri understands the need for programs like Seneca CEO and their importance to the rural school districts. Business education helps create real-world challenges that are truly meaningful. Their experiences will help them excel as members of their communities.

When not in the office, Teri can be found behind her camera lens or enjoying the outdoors with her husband and their two boys.

Michelle Snay is a school counselor at Mohawk Local School District for students in grades 7-9.  She has worked in the district for 23 years and has served in a variety of roles.  Currently, she also serves as the Freshman Class advisor, Junior High Quiz Bowl advisor, and National Junior Honor Society advisor.  Prior to becoming a school counselor, she taught 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade Math and Science at Calvert Elementary School (formerly St. Mary’s Elementary).

She has been married to her husband, Jay, for 27 years and they have three children, Austin, Kadin and Alexa.  They live outside of Republic and enjoy camping, traveling, and attending their children’s sporting events.

Michelle is excited to be a part of the CEO Board and to play a role in providing an entrepreneurial opportunity that students in the area wouldn’t otherwise get.

Ted Willman has spent over 30 years in education, all at Calvert High School. For 21 years he has worked in administration – first as Director of Athletics and currently as principal of the Calvert High School and Academy. Ted graduated from Tiffin University with a degree in Business Administration / Sports Management and has a Masters in Education from Heidelberg University.

He is a native of Seneca County, growing up on his family’s farm in Attica. Ted has participated in Leadership Seneca County, has served as a member of the Diocese of Toledo External Accreditation Committee, the National Federation of State High School Association Fundamentals of Coaching / Instructor for the Ohio High School Athletic Association and has been a basketball coach at various levels for over 30 years, Currently he is assistant basketball coach at Terra State Community College.

Ted is also owner of Willman Marketing Ag & Turf working with his family farm and various athletic complexes, volunteers with the SMYL mentorship program and at church. Ted has been married to his wife Michele for 21 years. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Ann Sergent is the dean of the Liberal Arts, Business and Allied Health division at Terra State Community College.  She started her career at Terra State as an adjunct instructor. She has held several different roels at the college including academic and cadreer advisor and Assistant Dean.  She loves working at a community college because of what it can offer not only students but the community. She is excited to be a part of the CEO Seneca County program and all that it brings to students and the community.