June 23, 2025 • 16 mins
Jim Cutright is the President and CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. The organization now in their 30th year making grants and scholarships to benefit the Ashland community. Jim, better known as "Cutty", is in his 13th year in the role and has been living in Ashland for the last 45 years. Cutright was born in Mansfield, attended Plymouth High School and is a graduate of the University of Akron. The Community Foundation is located on College Ave, near Ashland University and has a great staff that helps improve the quality of life in the local community. You can learn more about Jim Cutright, and the foundation, on the podcast.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by Witcomb and Hess CPAs and financial advisors.
Our guests this morning as with us in studio and
are featured CEO you should know this week is Jim Cuttright.
You may know that name very well. He is the
president and CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. I
(00:24):
know I've chatted with him in previous years. Jim, good morning,
Thanks for coming.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
In morning, Eron, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Appreciate it, appreciate its.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Platform for me because I have a face made for ratio.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right the god Well, Jim, as we dive in and
people may know about your organization, but I love to
start this program the same every time for everybody, because
there are people moving into north central Ohio. You know
that that aren't from here, and they're they're learning about
the area. So somebody hears the Ashland County Community Foundation
(00:58):
explain to us, tell us about well.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The Ashton County Community Foundation is a charitable organization, and
community foundations are practicing a rather unique model of philanthropy.
So when folks who are charitably minded might make a
gift to us, we are not simply passing those dollars
through as perhaps folks that are familiar with the United
(01:21):
Way arrangement are. Nor are we an end user of
those dollars. We're not one of the hard working nonprofits
boots on the ground meeting the needs of the community.
So the metaphor I often use is that we're like
a charitable bank of the community. So when we receive
a gift, we're investing those dollars, We're protecting the principle
of that gift for all time. And then from the earnings,
(01:44):
we're making grants and scholarships to benefit our community.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And let's get a little history. I know it's been
around for quite a while, but give us a little
dates and in history, are you guys have been out.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We're a little young in terms of in community foundation world.
This is our thirtieth year, so we're observing our thirtieth anniversary.
But for example, Richland County has had a community foundation
for eighty years, so they've got a fifty year head
start on us. But you know, we're working hard to
make an impact in our community. Community foundation model is
(02:16):
actually over one hundred years old, with the Cleveland Foundation
being the very first community foundation. So back in the
mid nineties, we realized that we were a little bit
behind the curve. So there was a county wise strategic
planning initiative that took place, and so the establishment of
a community foundation became sort of a paramount pillar of
(02:36):
that plan. And so a lot of committed folks got
together and decided it was the opportunity to try to
capture some of the wealth that had been created in
our community for the good of our community.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And we were chatting this morning. The voice you hear
is Jim Cutt. Right. He is the president and CEO
of the Ashland County Community Foundation, but many people don't
call him right. You have a nickname that every time
I talk.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
To you, I'm probably some people say also known as
but I'm probably mostly known as Cutty. It's one of
those nicknames because my last name being cut Right, that's
several decades ago was I was blessed with that, And
it's really kind of fun because even my son and daughter,
now my grandson have inherited that Cutty nickname.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So's that one down right exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's a legacy in the field.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Terrific. Now, Jim, how long have you been in your
role of president and CEO.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, I came into the role back in twenty twelve.
You know, I'm originally I've been working and living in
Ashland for about the past forty five years, but I
was originally born in Mansfield, raised in Northern Richland County,
educated at Plymouth High School and then later the University
of Akron. Spent most of my career in construction management.
(03:54):
So thirty two years at Gunthor Mechanical in Ashland and
tired there in twenty twelve as the chief operating officer.
To assume this role, I call it my encore career
as the president's CEO of the Community Foundation.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Big Red Graduate.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Tremttous right right.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Jiff Cott rights with us in studio, our featured CEO
this week. So where's the Ashland County Community Foundation actually
located at in Ashley.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
We're at three hundred College Avenue, just down from the
university and in a building that we acquired back in
two thousand and two. Raised the money to be able
to give us a permanent home because we know that
it's really important for the sake of stability and to
be observed as an anchor institution our community that we
have a home Back in twenty seventeen, as the foundation
(04:47):
was growing, we put an addition on the east side
of the building that we call the Ford Wing in
honor of our founding president CEO, doctor Lucille Ford. And
now our growth is continuing. In our thirtieth year, we're
actually going to put an addition on the west side
of the building that we are affectionately calling the Cutty Wing.
We had a committed group of donors who are making
(05:10):
that possible.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, all right, terrific, good stuff. Well, we're going to
keep Chim with us this morning by talking more about
his organization, nonprofit in Ashland County, the Ashland County Community Foundation,
where he is president and CEO. So, you guys, scholarships, grants,
you do a lot in the community. Could you share
with us a little bit. I don't know if you
have a I know everything can change year to year,
(05:33):
but you guys provide a lot. You help a lot
of people.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Look, we do we have a number of grants programs.
Probably our most overarching one is called our Community Grants Program,
where it's offered twice per year, spring and fall. We
also have, thanks to doctor Ford as the founder, she
came out of the world of education. So scholarships are
really important to her and thanks to that effort, last
(05:59):
year we we wore to three hundred scholarships for just
under half a million dollars. We have a Women's Fund
stearing committee that manages an endowment that we call the
Women's Fund. They're making grants to benefit and empower women
in our community. And we have a really unique program
that I started ten years ago that we call our
(06:21):
Impact Youth Council. Impact was an acronym in this setting
that I dreamed up that stands for imagine making philanthropy
in Ashland County tradition. And so we have a group
of high school age students whom we have given full
decision making authority over a pool of dollars, and they're
making grants to benefit youth with needs in our community.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Terrific this morning as we learn about Jim Cutt right,
better known to many as Cutty, President CEO of the
Ashland County Community Foundation. I mentioned this at the start. Jim,
you know, somebody just moving to the area and learning
about your organization anything, they would know that you guys
have had what I would say, have had a hand
in maybe a big project, maybe something upcoming, something recent,
(07:04):
maybe everything you could share.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, Well, about three years ago an effort started by
our Women's Fund Steering Committee to address the need for
accessible and affordable childcare in our community. Took on the
challenge of raising money. They ended up raising four and
a half million dollars over a two year campaign and
(07:25):
built a new child care facility. It's called Foundations Community Childcare.
It's located in our industrial park in Ashland, and that
was an amazing effort that had a lot of different
parties involved. We had dollars donated to us from the
County Commissioners, from private donors, we had grants from both
state and federal to put that project together. So that
(07:47):
was a really unique effort that was done a few
years ago too, right after the pandemic. We had just
been observing our twenty fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, that happened in
twenty twenty and so you know, it didn't quite turn
out like we had hoped with the pandemic, but we
were able to pivot a bit and provide ongoing support
(08:08):
to many of our nonprofits and so as part of that,
there was a revitalization project in downtown Ashland where a
building had been demolished and we wanted to create a
place where community could happen, and so we made a
sizeable grant there to create a plaza space that is
now known as Foundation Plaza.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
People may know that very well. Talk with the mayor
all kind of events around exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
You just got new public restrooms put it we did, right, Yeah,
I know that was one of his many projects, right.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, no donor names on the restrooms, but yeah,
very much needed.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Well, Jim. As we talked with Jim cuttwright for a
few more minutes this morning, President CEO of the Ashland
County Community Foundation, are featured CEO. You should know this
week you talked about the childcare industrial park. I'm sure
strategically you guys wanted it there, right, industrial park. A
lot of people were working, they have kids, you know,
able to drop them off there, go to work right
and pick them up after. I'm sure that was planned
(09:05):
that way.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Sure, that was a very strategic part of that plan. Actually,
and then we turn out to be extremely blessed that
we had the developer and Jerry Baker from Worcester, who
owned three acre parcel was willing to donate that right
in the middle of the industrial park, so we feel
as though we're placing needed childcare close by to folks
(09:27):
who need it.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Well, well, I mentioned keep you for a few more minutes.
I told you off the air. Many of our listeners
know I visit with the Mayor of Ashland, Matt Miller,
every month, and I always joke with him but being
serious at the same time. You always have good news.
There's always things going on in Ashland. You know, Amazon's
coming to town. They're building a new facility, jobs, housing, working,
whether it's you know it's a new home, it's an
(09:49):
apartment condo or whatever. There is just and you would
know this well because you know you're all over the
county with the Community Foundation. There is a lot of
good things happening.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Absolutely, and Matt, as Matt Miller or mayor, is just
an amazing individual. He's quite visionary, and I've often said
Matt is very unique and that not only is the visionary,
but he knows how to put the pieces together to
execute the vision. And sometimes those two things don't always
necessarily go together. So we work closely with Matt and
(10:21):
we're just always pleased when we can collaborate on projects
and make good things happen for our community.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, I know, the pump House District and all of
that fun I know. I said, there's just ongoing great
things happening over in Ashland. Jim Cutt right, better known
as Cuddy our guests this morning featured CEO this week
President CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. All right,
so I do want to mention staff wise for you
guys at the Community Foundation, how many people kind of
(10:49):
help things roll every day.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Have an amazing staff. I have six other young ladies
that help us execute our mission each day of just
trying to improve the quality of life in our community.
Many of them are part time, highly credentialed, highly skilled.
We currently have a succession plan in place. I'm not
going to be in this role forever, and so we've
identified Kristin aspen As. She's currently served as our chief
(11:14):
operating officer, been a long time employee there. So we're
in the process of running that relay race together where
we're about to hand off that baton here in a
couple of years. So really excited about the future potential.
People often ask me what's my favorite chapter in ACCF history,
(11:35):
and I often say it's the next chapter. I'm always
super excited to see about where we're headed. And I
can tell you the future looks really bright.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Ye, well, that is terrific to hear. Before I let
you go, a couple of things quickly. We found out
born in Mansfield, Plymouth High schooling University of Akron. Did
you ever think one day you would be in this
role now? Because you mentioned you were in construction different things,
you know, your whole life, But did you ever think
you'd be in this role?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Not really, I mean, it's not a typical pathway into
one of these positions. But I always served on a
lot of nonprofit boards and construction industry boards as well,
because I always believe in giving back to my industry
or my community. And so after having served on the
Community Foundation board for five years, I call it my
apprenticeship where I observed doctor Ford and how she did things.
(12:22):
When the opportunity was presented to me, I felt like
I knew what was needed to take us to the
next level, and so it wasn't something I imagined doing,
but once it was offered then I really didn't want
anyone else to do it.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Now, I heard you again, Jim Cutt, right with us
this morning, President CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation.
I heard you say I know at least one son,
and you mentioned grandkid. So tell us a little more
about the family.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Oh well, I have a son who is married, lives
in Avon, Ohio, and he has two children, Jj, my
grandson who is eleven, and Logan my granddaughter who is eight.
And then I have a daughter who lives in Austin, Texas,
and in fact, my wife and I are headed down
there soon to visit with her. And so yeah, we've
been very really blessed with a great family.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
All right, terrific. So what do you like to do
when you're not working? I'm sure traveling Texas right seeing
the kids they're traveling.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
You know, in younger days, I had a few more
interesting things, golfing, I had a motorcycle for a while,
went through midlife crisis with that. We used to snowski
and that sort of thing. But right now it's pretty
much focused on our kids and the grandkids' activities.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
All right, terrific. Well, I know I got to let
you go. We've taken up a bunch of this morning,
but I do want to ask one more kind of
important question or let you share Jim Cutt right again,
President and CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. What
if somebody listening wants to get involved with the Community Foundation,
they want to donate that, they want to help a project,
(13:50):
they want to learn more, how do they, as I
would say, get the ball rolled?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah? Absolutely well. One of the easiest ways remotely is
to log into our website, which is schlunfood dot org
Ashland f O R Good dot org. And when you
visit our website it's pretty robust and up in the
upper right hand corner we'll see a donate button. If
someone we're inclined to make a donation and want to
(14:15):
help with our mission, certainly can do that with an
online gift phone numbers four one nine to eight one
four seven three three welcome to give us a call
at any time or simply stopping at our office at
three hundred College Avenue. Night.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Now, is there anything I missed that we didn't say?
Because you guys and I always talk with people about,
you know, what makes your organization special unique? You mentioned
all the projects you're involved in. Did we miss anything
this morning? You want to leave the listeners with, Well, just.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Our thirtieth anniversary has been quite an interesting year. Our
arc of growth we've had over the past few years
has just been tremendous. So as we approached our thirtieth year,
I was trying to think of an idea that came
up with sort of a thirty for thirty idea where
we took some un restricted dollars, offered a series of
five thousand dollars matches to any individuals or agencies with
(15:08):
whom we had not previously had an endowment relationship to
try to create some new relationships, and that simply opened
the floodgates. We had no idea how overwhelming the response
would be to that end result is we created ninety
three new endowment funds just in the course of six months.
And so we're just super excited about this milestone along
(15:30):
with the breaking ground on the new edition. So it's
been a good year.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, in the future looks real bright as you it does,
all right for sure. Website Ashland for Good dot org.
As he mentioned Ashland flor Good. So Ashland for Good
dot org and give that phone number one more time.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Four one nine to a one four seven three three.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
All Right College Avenue in Ashland, and again our guest
this morning, Jim cuttwright better known to many is Cutting,
maybe better known to all Right Cutting, President and CEO
of the Ashland County Community Foundation. Great to visit with
you and catch up. Thanks for being with us. We
wish you continued success.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
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area leaders.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
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Speaker 1 (16:22):
We are excited to highlight dynamic CEOs from middle Ohio.
Visit us at whitcomb dot com
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by Witcomb and Hess CPAs and financial advisors.
Our guests this morning as with us in studio and
are featured CEO you should know this week is Jim Cuttright.
You may know that name very well. He is the
president and CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. I
(00:24):
know I've chatted with him in previous years. Jim, good morning,
Thanks for coming.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
In morning, Eron, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Appreciate it, appreciate its.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Platform for me because I have a face made for ratio.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right the god Well, Jim, as we dive in and
people may know about your organization, but I love to
start this program the same every time for everybody, because
there are people moving into north central Ohio. You know
that that aren't from here, and they're they're learning about
the area. So somebody hears the Ashland County Community Foundation
(00:58):
explain to us, tell us about well.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The Ashton County Community Foundation is a charitable organization, and
community foundations are practicing a rather unique model of philanthropy.
So when folks who are charitably minded might make a
gift to us, we are not simply passing those dollars
through as perhaps folks that are familiar with the United
(01:21):
Way arrangement are. Nor are we an end user of
those dollars. We're not one of the hard working nonprofits
boots on the ground meeting the needs of the community.
So the metaphor I often use is that we're like
a charitable bank of the community. So when we receive
a gift, we're investing those dollars, We're protecting the principle
of that gift for all time. And then from the earnings,
(01:44):
we're making grants and scholarships to benefit our community.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And let's get a little history. I know it's been
around for quite a while, but give us a little
dates and in history, are you guys have been out.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We're a little young in terms of in community foundation world.
This is our thirtieth year, so we're observing our thirtieth anniversary.
But for example, Richland County has had a community foundation
for eighty years, so they've got a fifty year head
start on us. But you know, we're working hard to
make an impact in our community. Community foundation model is
(02:16):
actually over one hundred years old, with the Cleveland Foundation
being the very first community foundation. So back in the
mid nineties, we realized that we were a little bit
behind the curve. So there was a county wise strategic
planning initiative that took place, and so the establishment of
a community foundation became sort of a paramount pillar of
(02:36):
that plan. And so a lot of committed folks got
together and decided it was the opportunity to try to
capture some of the wealth that had been created in
our community for the good of our community.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And we were chatting this morning. The voice you hear
is Jim Cutt. Right. He is the president and CEO
of the Ashland County Community Foundation, but many people don't
call him right. You have a nickname that every time
I talk.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
To you, I'm probably some people say also known as
but I'm probably mostly known as Cutty. It's one of
those nicknames because my last name being cut Right, that's
several decades ago was I was blessed with that, And
it's really kind of fun because even my son and daughter,
now my grandson have inherited that Cutty nickname.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So's that one down right exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's a legacy in the field.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Terrific. Now, Jim, how long have you been in your
role of president and CEO.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, I came into the role back in twenty twelve.
You know, I'm originally I've been working and living in
Ashland for about the past forty five years, but I
was originally born in Mansfield, raised in Northern Richland County,
educated at Plymouth High School and then later the University
of Akron. Spent most of my career in construction management.
(03:54):
So thirty two years at Gunthor Mechanical in Ashland and
tired there in twenty twelve as the chief operating officer.
To assume this role, I call it my encore career
as the president's CEO of the Community Foundation.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Big Red Graduate.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Tremttous right right.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Jiff Cott rights with us in studio, our featured CEO
this week. So where's the Ashland County Community Foundation actually
located at in Ashley.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
We're at three hundred College Avenue, just down from the
university and in a building that we acquired back in
two thousand and two. Raised the money to be able
to give us a permanent home because we know that
it's really important for the sake of stability and to
be observed as an anchor institution our community that we
have a home Back in twenty seventeen, as the foundation
(04:47):
was growing, we put an addition on the east side
of the building that we call the Ford Wing in
honor of our founding president CEO, doctor Lucille Ford. And
now our growth is continuing. In our thirtieth year, we're
actually going to put an addition on the west side
of the building that we are affectionately calling the Cutty Wing.
We had a committed group of donors who are making
(05:10):
that possible.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, all right, terrific, good stuff. Well, we're going to
keep Chim with us this morning by talking more about
his organization, nonprofit in Ashland County, the Ashland County Community Foundation,
where he is president and CEO. So, you guys, scholarships, grants,
you do a lot in the community. Could you share
with us a little bit. I don't know if you
have a I know everything can change year to year,
(05:33):
but you guys provide a lot. You help a lot
of people.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Look, we do we have a number of grants programs.
Probably our most overarching one is called our Community Grants Program,
where it's offered twice per year, spring and fall. We
also have, thanks to doctor Ford as the founder, she
came out of the world of education. So scholarships are
really important to her and thanks to that effort, last
(05:59):
year we we wore to three hundred scholarships for just
under half a million dollars. We have a Women's Fund
stearing committee that manages an endowment that we call the
Women's Fund. They're making grants to benefit and empower women
in our community. And we have a really unique program
that I started ten years ago that we call our
(06:21):
Impact Youth Council. Impact was an acronym in this setting
that I dreamed up that stands for imagine making philanthropy
in Ashland County tradition. And so we have a group
of high school age students whom we have given full
decision making authority over a pool of dollars, and they're
making grants to benefit youth with needs in our community.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Terrific this morning as we learn about Jim Cutt right,
better known to many as Cutty, President CEO of the
Ashland County Community Foundation. I mentioned this at the start. Jim,
you know, somebody just moving to the area and learning
about your organization anything, they would know that you guys
have had what I would say, have had a hand
in maybe a big project, maybe something upcoming, something recent,
(07:04):
maybe everything you could share.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, Well, about three years ago an effort started by
our Women's Fund Steering Committee to address the need for
accessible and affordable childcare in our community. Took on the
challenge of raising money. They ended up raising four and
a half million dollars over a two year campaign and
(07:25):
built a new child care facility. It's called Foundations Community Childcare.
It's located in our industrial park in Ashland, and that
was an amazing effort that had a lot of different
parties involved. We had dollars donated to us from the
County Commissioners, from private donors, we had grants from both
state and federal to put that project together. So that
(07:47):
was a really unique effort that was done a few
years ago too, right after the pandemic. We had just
been observing our twenty fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, that happened in
twenty twenty and so you know, it didn't quite turn
out like we had hoped with the pandemic, but we
were able to pivot a bit and provide ongoing support
(08:08):
to many of our nonprofits and so as part of that,
there was a revitalization project in downtown Ashland where a
building had been demolished and we wanted to create a
place where community could happen, and so we made a
sizeable grant there to create a plaza space that is
now known as Foundation Plaza.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
People may know that very well. Talk with the mayor
all kind of events around exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
You just got new public restrooms put it we did, right, Yeah,
I know that was one of his many projects, right.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, no donor names on the restrooms, but yeah,
very much needed.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Well, Jim. As we talked with Jim cuttwright for a
few more minutes this morning, President CEO of the Ashland
County Community Foundation, are featured CEO. You should know this
week you talked about the childcare industrial park. I'm sure
strategically you guys wanted it there, right, industrial park. A
lot of people were working, they have kids, you know,
able to drop them off there, go to work right
and pick them up after. I'm sure that was planned
(09:05):
that way.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Sure, that was a very strategic part of that plan. Actually,
and then we turn out to be extremely blessed that
we had the developer and Jerry Baker from Worcester, who
owned three acre parcel was willing to donate that right
in the middle of the industrial park, so we feel
as though we're placing needed childcare close by to folks
(09:27):
who need it.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Well, well, I mentioned keep you for a few more minutes.
I told you off the air. Many of our listeners
know I visit with the Mayor of Ashland, Matt Miller,
every month, and I always joke with him but being
serious at the same time. You always have good news.
There's always things going on in Ashland. You know, Amazon's
coming to town. They're building a new facility, jobs, housing, working,
whether it's you know it's a new home, it's an
(09:49):
apartment condo or whatever. There is just and you would
know this well because you know you're all over the
county with the Community Foundation. There is a lot of
good things happening.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Absolutely, and Matt, as Matt Miller or mayor, is just
an amazing individual. He's quite visionary, and I've often said
Matt is very unique and that not only is the visionary,
but he knows how to put the pieces together to
execute the vision. And sometimes those two things don't always
necessarily go together. So we work closely with Matt and
(10:21):
we're just always pleased when we can collaborate on projects
and make good things happen for our community.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, I know, the pump House District and all of
that fun I know. I said, there's just ongoing great
things happening over in Ashland. Jim Cutt right, better known
as Cuddy our guests this morning featured CEO this week
President CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. All right,
so I do want to mention staff wise for you
guys at the Community Foundation, how many people kind of
(10:49):
help things roll every day.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Have an amazing staff. I have six other young ladies
that help us execute our mission each day of just
trying to improve the quality of life in our community.
Many of them are part time, highly credentialed, highly skilled.
We currently have a succession plan in place. I'm not
going to be in this role forever, and so we've
identified Kristin aspen As. She's currently served as our chief
(11:14):
operating officer, been a long time employee there. So we're
in the process of running that relay race together where
we're about to hand off that baton here in a
couple of years. So really excited about the future potential.
People often ask me what's my favorite chapter in ACCF history,
(11:35):
and I often say it's the next chapter. I'm always
super excited to see about where we're headed. And I
can tell you the future looks really bright.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Ye, well, that is terrific to hear. Before I let
you go, a couple of things quickly. We found out
born in Mansfield, Plymouth High schooling University of Akron. Did
you ever think one day you would be in this
role now? Because you mentioned you were in construction different things,
you know, your whole life, But did you ever think
you'd be in this role?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Not really, I mean, it's not a typical pathway into
one of these positions. But I always served on a
lot of nonprofit boards and construction industry boards as well,
because I always believe in giving back to my industry
or my community. And so after having served on the
Community Foundation board for five years, I call it my
apprenticeship where I observed doctor Ford and how she did things.
(12:22):
When the opportunity was presented to me, I felt like
I knew what was needed to take us to the
next level, and so it wasn't something I imagined doing,
but once it was offered then I really didn't want
anyone else to do it.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Now, I heard you again, Jim Cutt, right with us
this morning, President CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation.
I heard you say I know at least one son,
and you mentioned grandkid. So tell us a little more
about the family.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Oh well, I have a son who is married, lives
in Avon, Ohio, and he has two children, Jj, my
grandson who is eleven, and Logan my granddaughter who is eight.
And then I have a daughter who lives in Austin, Texas,
and in fact, my wife and I are headed down
there soon to visit with her. And so yeah, we've
been very really blessed with a great family.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
All right, terrific. So what do you like to do
when you're not working? I'm sure traveling Texas right seeing
the kids they're traveling.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
You know, in younger days, I had a few more
interesting things, golfing, I had a motorcycle for a while,
went through midlife crisis with that. We used to snowski
and that sort of thing. But right now it's pretty
much focused on our kids and the grandkids' activities.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
All right, terrific. Well, I know I got to let
you go. We've taken up a bunch of this morning,
but I do want to ask one more kind of
important question or let you share Jim Cutt right again,
President and CEO of the Ashland County Community Foundation. What
if somebody listening wants to get involved with the Community Foundation,
they want to donate that, they want to help a project,
(13:50):
they want to learn more, how do they, as I
would say, get the ball rolled?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah? Absolutely well. One of the easiest ways remotely is
to log into our website, which is schlunfood dot org
Ashland f O R Good dot org. And when you
visit our website it's pretty robust and up in the
upper right hand corner we'll see a donate button. If
someone we're inclined to make a donation and want to
(14:15):
help with our mission, certainly can do that with an
online gift phone numbers four one nine to eight one
four seven three three welcome to give us a call
at any time or simply stopping at our office at
three hundred College Avenue. Night.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Now, is there anything I missed that we didn't say?
Because you guys and I always talk with people about,
you know, what makes your organization special unique? You mentioned
all the projects you're involved in. Did we miss anything
this morning? You want to leave the listeners with, Well, just.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Our thirtieth anniversary has been quite an interesting year. Our
arc of growth we've had over the past few years
has just been tremendous. So as we approached our thirtieth year,
I was trying to think of an idea that came
up with sort of a thirty for thirty idea where
we took some un restricted dollars, offered a series of
five thousand dollars matches to any individuals or agencies with
(15:08):
whom we had not previously had an endowment relationship to
try to create some new relationships, and that simply opened
the floodgates. We had no idea how overwhelming the response
would be to that end result is we created ninety
three new endowment funds just in the course of six months.
And so we're just super excited about this milestone along
(15:30):
with the breaking ground on the new edition. So it's
been a good year.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, in the future looks real bright as you it does,
all right for sure. Website Ashland for Good dot org.
As he mentioned Ashland flor Good. So Ashland for Good
dot org and give that phone number one more time.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Four one nine to a one four seven three three.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
All Right College Avenue in Ashland, and again our guest
this morning, Jim cuttwright better known to many is Cutting,
maybe better known to all Right Cutting, President and CEO
of the Ashland County Community Foundation. Great to visit with
you and catch up. Thanks for being with us. We
wish you continued success.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
The CEO you should know shares the background invasion of
area leaders.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Hi, I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of wickhaman Hess CPAs and
Financial Advisors helping you plan, grow and thrive in your
business and in life.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
We are excited to highlight dynamic CEOs from middle Ohio.
Visit us at whitcomb dot com
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