The past few weeks in Seneca CEO have been anything but ordinary! 🚀

We’ve been out in the community—touring local businesses, hearing real stories from real leaders, and building meaningful connections 🔗

We had the privilege of meeting Ford Mennel, President & CEO of The Mennel Milling Company in Fostoria 🌾 He shared insights on the company’s growth, their people-first mission, and how great leaders know when to take on a challenge themselves and when strategic partnerships make more sense.

Next, the Seneca Conservation District hosted us for a farm-to-table breakfast and hayride at Proving Ground Farm in Republic. Two local farmers taught us firsthand what the agriculture industry looks like from both a lifestyle and business perspective 🐑

Finally, we visited Pan Yan Bookstore in downtown Tiffin, recently acquired by new owner Penelope Christian, where we learned the power of a personal touch in running a successful small business 📚

Key Takeaways:

💡Know your strengths, recognize where you need support, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

💡Mistakes are some of the best teachers—you often learn more from what goes wrong than what goes right.

We are so grateful for all the amazing firsthand experience we have gained from these community leaders and are excited to put our knowledge into action as we grow our own class business 🦴🐾

Hands-on learning. Real-world experience. Future-ready skills. 🙌