Episode 12 -- Dr. Jennifer Kulics '09
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Jennifer is a longtime higher education leader, former student-athlete and coach, and current development professional with the American Heart Association. In her conversation with Andra, Jennifer shares her journey from growing up in Mahoning County to becoming a Division I student-athlete at Bowling Green, and how her passion for sports and mentorship led her to Kent State University, where she spent 25 years building a career in athletics, student affairs, and philanthropy. She reflects on how sports served as a “microcosm of life,” shaping her leadership style and deep commitment to...
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Episode 11 -- Ryan Shackelford '15
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Ryan is the Director of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency and a lifelong Portage County resident whose career has been shaped by service, preparedness, and a deep commitment to community. In his conversation with Andra, Ryan shares his journey from growing up in rural Portage County to serving in the Air Force Reserves and working across the country before returning home to take on a leadership role in emergency management. He reflects on how a passion for weather, combined with military training and a willingness to seize opportunity, led him to a career focused on protecting...
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Episode 10 -- Brian Adams '22
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Brian is the Chief Operating Officer at UH Portage Medical Center and a longtime healthcare leader who has spent more than 20 years with University Hospitals. In his conversation with Andra, Brian shares his journey from growing up in Northeast Ohio to beginning his career as an occupational therapist, and how his clinical experience continues to shape his leadership approach today. He reflects on the value of staying with one organization over time, the importance of strong mentorship, and how seeking out leaders who align with your values can open doors for growth and advancement. Brian...
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Episode 9 -- Amanda Cole '24
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Amanda is the first Executive Director of Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce and a dynamic advocate for inclusive workplaces and thriving small businesses across Northeast Ohio. In her conversation with Andra, Amanda shares what drew her to Leadership Portage County’s inaugural Class of 2024, her journey to Kent through family and caregiving, and her deep commitment to building community where she lives—not just where she works. Amanda explains the mission of Plexus as one of only 55 LGBT chambers of commerce in the United States, describing its role as a connector between LGBTQ...
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Episode 8 -- Janice Simmons-Mortimer '25
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Janice is the Executive Director of the Portage Foundation and a passionate advocate for community connection and service. In her conversation with Andra, Janice shares how serendipity led her to the Foundation at a pivotal moment in life, when her two daughters were heading off to college and she found herself asking, “What’s next?” After years of championing her family and community in different ways, Janice discovered an opportunity to serve Portage County in a broader capacity—first as Outreach Manager and later as Executive Director. Janice explains the role of a community...
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Episode 7 -- Ted St. John '20
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Ted is a lifelong Portage County resident, veteran, entrepreneur, and community leader whose professional journey spans military service, personal training, health club ownership, national steel sales, and—most recently—the recovery and behavioral health field. In his conversation with Andra, Ted reflects on growing up in Windham, leaving the area for military service and work opportunities, and ultimately returning home with a deeper appreciation for community, mentorship, and purpose. He shares how early career experiences and informal mentorships helped shape his confidence, resilience,...
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Episode 6 -- Keleigh Veraldo-Zucchero '23
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Keleigh Veraldo-Zucchero, Leadership Portage County Class of 2023, is our guest for episode six of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever! Keleigh is a longtime Kent resident, community volunteer, and real estate advisor who spent more than two decades in elementary education before transitioning into real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her conversation with Andra, Keleigh shares her personal journey of putting down roots in Kent after attending Kent State University, meeting her husband Sean, and raising their daughter in the same community that has come to feel like home. She...
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Episode 5 -- Randy Griffith '05
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Randy Griffith, Leadership Portage County Class of 2005, is our guest for the fifth episode of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever! As the Superintendent of Maplewood Career Center, Randy is a leader in public vocational education. In his conversation with Andra, Randy describes his winding professional journey, starting with his undergraduate experience in computer programming at the University of Akron, and then moving toward education, as he became a certified middle school math and history teacher while coaching in Southwest Ohio. Randy shares how he returned to Northeast Ohio to work...
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Episode 4 -- Shannon Zemba '25
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Shannon Zemba is our guest in Episode 4 of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever. Shannnon is a member of Leadership Portage County's Class of 2025. Shannon is a wife, mother, and owner of downtown Kent's Over Easy at the Depot. Shannon shares with Andra her experience growing up in Streetsboro, graduating from Maplewood Career Center, and then moving to St. Croix to assist her mother and stepfather with managing hotels and restaurants they owned there, eventually falling in love with the service industry. Shannon describes the process of returning to Portage County in 2010, her goal of owning her...
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Episode 3 -- Leighann Fink '22
Best Leadership Podcast Ever
Leighann Fink from the Leadership Portage County Class of 2022 is our guest for our third episode of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever! Leighann is a mom, wife, and accomplished attorney who works at Ohio's Ninth District Court of Appeals and who regularly volunteers throughout the county. She is the President of Leadership Portage County's Board of Directors while also serving on the boards of Habitat for Humanity of Portage County and CASA of Portage County. Leighann describes her experience growing up in a coalmining family in eastern Pennsylvania and then shares how she moved to...
info_outlineJanice is the Executive Director of the Portage Foundation and a passionate advocate for community connection and service. In her conversation with Andra, Janice shares how serendipity led her to the Foundation at a pivotal moment in life, when her two daughters were heading off to college and she found herself asking, “What’s next?” After years of championing her family and community in different ways, Janice discovered an opportunity to serve Portage County in a broader capacity—first as Outreach Manager and later as Executive Director.
Janice explains the role of a community foundation as a bridge between donors and the causes they care about, emphasizing that philanthropy is not reserved for the wealthy. Whether through donor-advised funds, scholarships, rapid response efforts, or targeted initiatives like the Portage Pride Fund, Janice highlights how every dollar and every voice can make a difference. She and Andra discuss the importance of listening to community members, responding to emerging needs, and recognizing the power that exists when people come together with shared purpose.
Throughout the episode, Janice reflects on growing up as the youngest of nine children in a family rooted in service and humility—values that continue to guide her leadership today. She shares her mantra of “embrace failure,” encouraging authenticity over perfection and reminding young professionals that success is rarely a straight line. Janice also speaks about the importance of “showing up”—wherever you are in life—and being present, engaged, and open to others’ experiences. In discussing Portage County’s strengths, she celebrates its diversity, resilience, and deep sense of care, while urging residents to focus less on criticism and more on connection and contribution.
Check out The Portage Foundation at https://portagefoundation.org.
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The Best Leadership Podcast Ever is a project of Leadership Portage County in Northeast Ohio and showcases alumni from the program. Guests share stories of leadership successes and challenges. Follow The Best Leadership Podcast Ever wherever you get your podcasts.