May 5, 2026 • 32 mins
In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Shasta Mast, Director of Leadership Holmes County at the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, to discuss developing leaders, strengthening communities, and building connections that last.
Shasta shares the story behind Leadership Holmes County and how the program was created to address a real need: developing confident, capable leaders in a growing but tight-knit community. The discussion walks through what the program looks like in practice, from monthly sessions and leadership-focused discussions to immersive experiences across industries like education, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism.
The conversation also explores the deeper impact of leadership development. Shasta explains how the program helps individuals grow in confidence, expand their perspective, and build relationships that continue long after the program ends. Lindsey and Shasta also dive into the real challenges leaders are facing today, including hiring, generational differences, housing, and maintaining the identity of a community while it continues to grow.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- How Leadership Holmes County develops leaders across industries and experience levels
- Why connection and community are essential to effective leadership
- The long-term impact of building a strong peer network
- Challenges leaders are facing today, from hiring to workforce expectations
- Why leadership growth requires both learning and action
This episode offers a practical and community-centered look at leadership development, especially for organizations investing in their people and individuals looking to grow into greater influence.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
So much so much.
SPEAKER_00 (00:23):
Welcome back to Torch Talk, the show where we
spotlight bold leaders growingtheir businesses and communities
with grit and purpose.
Today's guest is Shasta Mast,Director of Leadership Homes
County through the Holmes CountyChamber of Commerce.
Welcome, Shasta.
Thank you.
A program focused on empoweringlocal leaders and strengthening
our community throughconnection, insight, and
(00:43):
intentional growth.
She brings years of experiencein building leadership,
fostering collaboration, andhelping people discover how they
can make a greater impact in theplaces they live and work.
So I am so excited to dive intoeverything with you today.
Thanks.
I wanted to I want to hear aboutall the things Leadership Hums
County.
I know Rachel, who's the CEOhere at Fierce, did it last year
(01:05):
and she just raved about it.
It was like one of the bestexperiences she's ever had.
So I guess why don't you tell usa little bit about what the
program is and what that lookslike, and then we'll get into
everything.
SPEAKER_01 (01:17):
Great, thank you.
Having Rachel was in the in theclass was lovely.
She contributed so much.
She has so much positive energy,so much curiosity, and we just
thoroughly enjoyed having her inthe class.
So this is my second full yeardoing the class.
And Leadership Homes County wasreally born out of a desire to
build capacity.
(01:38):
And I started at the chamberback in 02, and it was in its, I
think, second full year.
So I really saw it from theground up.
Leah Miller has to be creditedwith building it into the
program that it is today.
She did it its first 25 years.
And Holmes County is such asmall community, but so vibrant,
(02:01):
so strong, and has so manyorganizations that want to and
are making a difference.
And those organizations needleaders.
And when you have schools thatneed leaders, you have
businesses that need leaders,you have community
organizations, you havechurches, you know, PTOs.
(02:23):
There are so many groups thatrequire strong leaders.
And when you have back then35,000 people who live in your
community, you're really alwayssearching for the right person
to lead a project or lead anorganization or make a
difference.
(02:43):
And those people don't alwaysfeel comfortable stepping into
those leadership roles.
For some people, it comessupernaturally, they feel
confident right from thebeginning, they don't mind
taking risks, they understandfailing is an opportunity, but
for some people that's reallyscary.
(03:04):
And when you consistently havethe lowest unemployment in the
state of Ohio, when youconsistently have businesses
that are growing and need moreemployees, when you consistently
have people who want to make adifference in nonprofit
organizations to raise money fordifferent causes, then you have
to have good, strong leaders.
(03:25):
And you have to have a way totrain them and a way to succeed
them once a leader moves on froma position.
So really that's what HomesLeadership Homes County grew
from.
And over the last 26, 27 years,it's just been growing apace
right along with the community.
SPEAKER_00 (03:46):
So what does the program look like from kind of
start to finish?
Like walk us through what that,like if I was going to
participate in the program, whatwould it?
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
So it's a nine-month program.
It meets the first Thursday ofthe month, and the the class is
structured.
It has between um 20 and 25employees we have or class
members.
We have 25 class members thisyear.
It's the largest it's ever been.
And those folks come from allwalks of life, all ages.
(04:16):
They can be folks who are juststarting their careers, and it
can be we once had a countycommissioner who was in his,
let's say, final 10 years of hiscareer, where he just really
wanted to expand his leadershipskills.
And in the mornings we meet andwe focus on uh texts like
(04:38):
Leadershift by John Maxwell, um,Start with Why by uh Simon
Sinek, Upstream by Dan Heath,and we discuss uh things that
are happening in the world,examples of great leadership,
examples of terrible leadership,um, and also what these folks
(04:59):
see in their daily lives thatthey see as leadership
challenges or places where theywould like to make a difference.
Um, because they do come from across-section of the businesses
and organizations in HolmesCounty, all ages, um we really
get to see differentperspectives that a lot of us
(05:20):
don't see on a regular basis.
So that so the discussion isvery invigorating, it's
challenging, it becomes a reallysafe place for these uh leaders
to stretch, to um spitballideas, to maybe make brash
(05:40):
statements and then talk aboutthose and really hash things
out.
So we we do that in the morning,and then every afternoon of the
class is structured around adifferent segment of Holmes
County's economy or community.
So one month is tourism, onemonth is manufacturing, one
month is education, one month ismedical and emergency.
(06:02):
And that way, not only are wetalking about leadership, but we
are meeting leaders where theylive, where they work, in the
middle of the work that they do,and we're hearing about not only
their organization and its rolein the community, but we're also
learning about their personalleadership journeys, how they
(06:24):
got to where they are.
You know, did they wake up onemorning and want to be a
superintendent of a schoolsystem?
Did they, is this somethingthey've always wanted to do, or
was it a a very circuitousjourney, and then the class gets
to discuss that the next time weget together, and it it it
really helps bring freshperspectives.
SPEAKER_00 (06:44):
I love that.
Is there so you've been doingthis for two years?
Tell us what you were doingbefore that.
What like what has been yourevolution to bring you to where
you're at now?
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
Um, I went to school in Columbus, ended up living in
Columbus for 10 years, workingfor the government downtown, had
some great experiences.
I was a started out as a writer,editor, event planner, marketer,
communicator, that sort ofthing, and wanted to move home.
I was gone for 10 years and andjust found that Holmes County
was calling me home.
(07:15):
And I moved home and actuallyran an inn for three years while
I was trying to figure out whatI wanted to do when I grew up.
And an opening as the marketingmanager at the Chamber of
Commerce became available, and Ibegan that role, and within a
couple months the currentdirector had a heart attack,
(07:35):
things happened, and so I veryquickly became the director and
did that job for 17 years.
So Leadership Homes County waspart of my responsibilities, but
we had the very capable leader,uh Leah Miller, who was actually
running the program at the time.
And then I took the program, Ibelieve it was the 03-04 class,
a very long time ago.
(07:56):
And one of the main things thatI got out of it that I believe
is so valuable is those peoplewho were in my class are still
people today that I can pick upthe phone and and say, What do
you think of this?
Or, you know, I I just had thisidea, or I see this problem in
our community.
What if we approached it fromthis perspective?
(08:17):
What do you think?
And I think every class developsthat camaraderie and they grow
this group of peers that theythey will have for the rest of
their careers.
And and I think that's sovaluable.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
So Especially in an age when it's hard to make
connections and it's hard tolike that's just getting worse
and worse.
So to have that ability to likehave somebody who's not a
competitor to you, and you canjust call them and say, Hey, I'm
struggling with this.
What what do you think?
Yes.
And you learn you know you learnthe same thing.
So that is great.
SPEAKER_01 (08:48):
It is, and what I saw last year, which was my
first full year doing it, by theend, our last class together, I
of course had an agenda, thingsI wanted to cover.
And as they were coming in thatmorning, so many of them
confided in me something bigthat was happening in their
lives, hard or whatever.
And I scrapped the agenda forthat day, for that morning, um,
(09:13):
because there were so many bigchallenges that they were all
facing, it seemed like, all atonce, and they wanted to talk
about them.
Well, what a better group ofpeople to talk about some
challenges in your lives whereyou need some leadership advice.
And so we re we hashed out reallife, some of it was work, some
of it was personal, some of itwas church, some of it was
(09:35):
really heavy, you know, medicalthings.
Um, but it it gave them a greatplace and a great hive mind to
discuss those issues.
And I I think it it brought themall together, and and I think
they'll be people that they relyon for the rest of their lives.
SPEAKER_00 (09:54):
I love that.
I do too.
Are there any standout um,because you know you've only led
for the last few years, butyou've been around enough.
Are there any standout likesuccess stories you can think
back on of somebody who wentthrough the program or like I
don't know, I just think abouthow impactful it must be in even
taking it yourself, like youstill know the people.
(10:16):
Um, any any highlights, I guess,in just going back?
So many.
SPEAKER_01 (10:20):
I mean, we've had folks who who took the class,
you know, basically right out ofschool, whether that's high
school or college, and then theyend up being CEOs or bank
presidents, or you know, runningso many people who've run
organizations or got elected tooffice.
Um, another great connective wayLeadership Homes County unites
(10:42):
people is for years, well,really since the beginning of
the program, I received calls,and I still do to this day, from
organizations who are lookingfor leaders.
And they'll say, Hey, anybodystand out from your years around
Leadership Homes County that wecould call?
So it's it's a way not only toget involved in a volunteer way,
(11:03):
but in some cases it's led toemployment and really great
opportunities.
So I think the leadership alumniare a great group of people to
tap into really at any time tofind people who care and want to
make a difference because that'sreally what being a leader is
about.
It's about making a differencein people's lives.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
Of all of the material that you guys go
through, what is your favorite?
Like, is there a certain bookthat you're like, oh, I'm
excited to go through this bookthis month?
SPEAKER_01 (11:35):
You know, I love Simon Sinek.
Um so I really like Starts withWhy, and I I like, you know, I
sh when I share things that Iread with the class, and I
encourage them to bring thingsin that they're reading.
And so some of my favoritethings, and I can't even think
of the names over the years, butone of my favorite things is
when someone else brings in abook that they're reading and
(11:56):
says, You guys have got to readthis, you know, this is
life-changing, or listen tothis.
Um something that has stuck withme, and I'm rephrasing it
because I I rephrased it in away that I can remember it.
I read one time, a long timeago, in one of the leadership
texts that we study, that um theantidote to anxiety is action.
(12:20):
I just read that.
And I that has really stuck withme, and I say it all the time in
my personal life, in myprofessional life, when an
organization is really spinningits wheels and is worried about
making the wrong choice,sometimes you just have to move.
You just have to have to be inaction.
(12:42):
Um, so that's something, atidbit that has really stood out
to me over the years.
But there's there's really beenso many, and I get fired up the
most when someone in the classgets fired up by either
something we're reading orsomething that somebody else
brings in.
SPEAKER_00 (12:58):
Okay, so I know that you said you have all different
types of people, all differenttypes of backgrounds, but if we
have employers who are listeningto this and they're saying,
okay, why would I pay not onlyyou, but then also my employee
to go participate one day amonth in this program?
Like, what would you expect?
You know, like what I guesswhat's the return on investment
do you see for an employeeemployer investing in the
(13:21):
employee?
And then on the flip side, thenwhat it what really what is the
employee learning?
Do you think?
What are like some of the higherlevel things that you would
expect somebody to come out ofthe program with?
SPEAKER_01 (13:31):
I certainly expect them to come out of the program
with increased confidence.
And I think confidence is oftena barrier, particularly to new
or young leaders.
Um, one of the well, there's acouple things.
We have folks in this year'sclass from Delaware County,
(13:51):
Ashland County, Tuscross County,Wayne County, and Ashland
County.
SPEAKER_00 (13:54):
But they all work in Homes County.
SPEAKER_01 (13:56):
In addition to Holmes County.
Okay.
And they all work in HolmesCounty.
So when we are a net importer ofjobs, of employees to fill jobs,
I should say, um, we haveemployers who really need help,
maybe onboarding their theirrising stars, because they don't
(14:19):
understand our culture, ourorganizations, the way things
work in Homes County, or theydon't know a lot of people.
And so this is a fantastic wayto really immerse somebody who
didn't grow up here, doesn'tunderstand.
100% it's it's a it's a clicheto say it's unique, but it is so
(14:42):
different than anywhere else.
SPEAKER_00 (14:43):
Honestly, even if you grew up here, it was the
first time Rachel had been toBihalt.
Right.
Like how many of the people wholive here, I mean, we all know
about the Amish and a little bitof the story, but to like get
the full picture, I know thatthat was super impactful for
her, even though she's local.
So I we also bring a lot ofemployees from outside the area,
and I was just thinking aboutthat while you're talking.
I'm like, we try to, I get somany questions about Amish.
(15:05):
I'm like, I don't know.
Because but I mean, I knowenough, but like, you know, even
though they're just from Canton,it's not that far away, but they
didn't grow up here.
So there's a certain contextthat, you know, going and
visiting the local businessesand doing the tours of that
museum and all of the different,it gives them a better view of
(15:25):
of what it is like here, whichalso helps them not only
understand the community better,their organization better, but
uh probably their customerbetter too.
Like who it if especially iftheir customer is local, it's
just it's a good connection allaround.
100%.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
And it's always shocking to the class what our
businesses are doing, howinnovative it's a little bit
undercover.
It really is, and it's it'samazing.
And even though I've beenimmersed in it since 02, I'm
still surprised and and justamazed at what our businesses
are doing.
The innovation, the uhcreativity, the uh business
(16:07):
acumen uh uh is uh uh reallymind-boggling.
And we have folks that come hereand study it because on paper we
should not be as successful aswe are.
We don't have any of the thingsthat economists say we need to
be a thriving uh community andgrowing and whatever.
(16:28):
They say you need access tofour-lane highways, they see say
you need rail, they say youneed, you know, all these things
that we just don't have.
And uh we've been studied byeconomists from Ohio State,
written up in the Wall StreetJournal, and nobody understands
it.
And so if you're not from here,but you have to work here, uh
(16:50):
you really need a good, quick,immersive study into Holmes
County 101 and leadership HomesCounty is that.
But like you mentioned, if youare from here, have you been to
the Kilbuck Valley Museum?
Have you been to Bahalt?
Have you immersed yourself insome of the things that we take
for granted as being from HolmesCounty?
SPEAKER_00 (17:12):
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_01 (17:14):
And you know, have you ever eaten at the at the
jail?
You know, the Holmes Countyjail.
Um when was the last time youhad a school lunch?
I mean, we do those kinds ofthings to give this the class
members uh a completelydifferent perspective.
Homes County from a completelydifferent perspective, in
addition to all the leadership.
SPEAKER_00 (17:35):
Yeah, I think that both sides of that are are
really valuable.
On the um other side of that, Idon't this this might be
derailing or a little bit moreoff topic than what I'm
thinking.
I just know from an employerperspective, like, you know,
training and developing our teamis really important to us.
We work a lot on training, butum we're a fairly young
(17:57):
organization and we're just nowgetting to the point where we
need to have like a leadershiptraining program.
So absolutely Leadership HomesCounty is on our radar because I
know how valuable the programis.
But what about after?
Like, what about like is theremaybe this is something that we
need to talk about the idealater, but I feel like there
needs to be like post-employersupport for how do I continue
(18:19):
this?
Or, you know, because you don'tjust go and meet with your class
that you feel super safe with,and then it's kind of like
getting that good idea.
It's kind of like going onmission trip and coming back on
fire, and then you go in yourorganization, and now how do I
apply this?
Are there any post leadershipstories that you've heard about
that?
Is there like what are employersdo to help support after they've
(18:40):
been through the program anemployee that they've sent
through?
Like, what would you say hassets somebody up for success for
application and all of thosetypes of things?
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
I know from experience through the program
that a lot of times um employersdo send someone that they have
an eye on for promotion.
And so their next step when theyget back is, you know, maybe
interviewing for a a jobopportunity within.
Um and I I've seen that work somany times there.
(19:11):
They they come out of LeadershipHomes County on fire, maybe with
a different perspective, withsome more confidence, some more
skills than they went into it,and they are ready to take a
next step in their business.
Um we are also brainstormingright now at the chamber, and
I'm working on a plan to devisea way to keep those leaders
(19:33):
connected once they graduate.
Uh like reunions?
Like reunions, but more morethan just a social reunion.
Getting together maybe twice ayear with a meaningful I don't
know what it is.
Accountability, like, hey, howare things going?
What have you applied?
And also maybe a really dynamicspeaker about leadership that is
(19:54):
something that's exclusive tothe leadership alumni that they
uh they're the only ones thatget invited to go.
Something that keeps themconnected, something that keeps
them on fire, yeah.
Something that um, you know,really makes it even more
meaningful to be a part of thatgroup of leadership homes
camping.
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Right.
I mean, because it doesn't stop.
Leadership homes are not gonnabe able to do it.
It doesn't like the world'sevolving, workforce is evolving,
like there's all you so manychanges every day.
It's sometimes exhausting.
Like, can we just have a second?
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
Right, exactly.
And and I've had people makecomments to me since I am a
let's say seasoned leader, um,you know, that now I'm a leader,
or you know, now I've arrived.
No, I haven't arrived.
I have so much more to learn,and I learn every time I go on
these tours, I learn somethingnew from these incredible
(20:49):
leaders out there doing thework.
I learn from the class membersevery time, you know, even not
just on class days, when theyemail me behind the scenes or I
run into them and they I learnso much from them.
And and there's just so muchmore to learn.
There's so many more books toread, there's just so much more
to do.
And if I have a small part inkeeping that fire in people,
(21:15):
then I feel like, you know, I'vedone what I what I will continue
to do and to make a difference,which is all I really want to
do.
SPEAKER_00 (21:23):
I love that.
And that's really the heart ofthe whole program and the
purpose of it in the firstplace.
Are there any trends that you'reseeing right now, like as
talking about changes?
So, like what do you see some ofthe most common challenges like
the leaders are talking about inthe workforce right now?
SPEAKER_01 (21:41):
Um, I mean, generational differences.
SPEAKER_00 (21:44):
I just talked about this because we're we're we have
an event coming up, we're gonnado a young um on a young
professionals panel, but I saidI don't really want to talk
about like I understand thegenerational differences are
still an issue, but like I thinkthey're kind of sick of hearing
about it.
unknown (21:59):
True.
SPEAKER_00 (22:00):
Same as when millennials, which I am we just
talked about this.
I'm the oldest millennial.
Garrett, our videographer, isthe youngest millennial, so
we're fully covered here.
I'm an exer.
Well, I'm right on the line.
So we just had that wholedebate.
But I'm like, you know,everybody hated the millennials
when they're coming, they're solazy.
And why would you want purposein your work?
And like I remember all of thosethings clearly stuck with me.
That was a long time ago.
(22:21):
I think that um this generationis going to feel the same way
because there's been a lot oftalk.
Certainly 100% real challenges.
I have a very young team.
Like we have 20 people, morethan half of them are under the
age of 28.
So there's the way that theywere raised, different
technology, social media, likethat highly impacts their life
experience year to date or lifeto date is totally different
(22:44):
than what I had until I was 25.
But I don't, you don't want tobeat a dead horse either.
Right.
Like they're real people.
SPEAKER_01 (22:51):
Right.
And and and I see that these areyoung people who are maybe
managing for the first time.
Yeah.
And so they're seeing it fromthe other perspective now, where
they were the ones thateverybody was sick of dealing
with because they were young andyou know, had the stereotype
that they didn't want to work,they were living in their
parents' basement, all thosekinds of things.
(23:11):
But now they're maybe newmanagers.
SPEAKER_00 (23:13):
It's kind of like parenting, like you don't really
get behind a view behind thescenes until you do it, and then
you're like, oh likeleadership's kind of like that.
Like, yeah, oh, I have to holdpeople accountable.
That's why we have consistencyand rules, and oh, because
right.
SPEAKER_01 (23:28):
And so we do discuss that, and it and still there's
finding people.
Um, you know, that's I thinkalways going to be a problem.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
Hiring in Holmes County is always do you have any
advice for employers who arelooking to hire?
Is there anything that you seeof somebody who's doing it
really well?
SPEAKER_01 (23:44):
Yes.
Um, the people who are doing itreally well are dealing with
those soft issues that makepeople's lives easier and more
fulfilling.
You know, you look at theprovias of the world, you look
at the Kime Lumbers of theworld, they are really the
mavens of the world.
They're really making um thespace their workers inhabit
(24:11):
friendly and um nurturing andand they're they're dealing with
the whole person instead of justthe the worker.
And they their employees workhard.
Don't get me wrong.
They're not they're notlessening the requirements or uh
the expectations, but they areconsidering the whole person
(24:35):
rather than just the the how doyou think that they're finding
those people?
SPEAKER_00 (24:39):
Do you think are their hiring processes
different?
Like, or do you because thoseare all bigger organizations, so
do you feel like they'reattracting people because of
their known reputation, or doyou think that there's something
different?
SPEAKER_01 (24:50):
I think they're attracting people because of
their known reputation thatthey've built over a long time.
SPEAKER_00 (24:55):
I I know as a smaller employer, something that
helps us a lot is our socialmedia presence.
So like people get a good viewof who we are from a culture
standpoint.
Yes.
I've talked about this with ourclients a fair amount.
Like, if you use social fornothing else other than to let
future employees know, I mean,if you're hiring a young
generation, you better believethey're gonna go to Instagram or
(25:16):
TikTok and see if you're onthere.
Right.
And I know they I know there'speople out there listening who
are like, ugh, they don't wantto hear that because it's not
something they want to do.
But um, like if you, you know,we're not all proveas.
So if you're not that and you dofeel like you have something
good to offer future employees,or and really also if you're
pulling people from outside thearea, then give them something
(25:38):
to look at.
And or make sure at least yourwebsite reflects your culture
really well.
Because if you're not gonna dothe social, then you gotta share
the story somewhere.
You're exactly right.
Yeah.
Um, any other challenges?
So we have like kind of thegenerational differences in
hiring, any other consistent Youknow, they're all I think
(25:59):
worried.
SPEAKER_01 (26:00):
Worried is too strong of a word.
But they're all tuned in to thedifferences as to what's going
on in the world and maybe thecountry as a whole versus what's
going on in Holmes County, andthey want to talk about that
because none of them, even theones who aren't from here, they
don't want to lose what is rightabout Holmes County and what
(26:21):
what makes it great, what makesit makes us this really special,
vibrant little bubble that weare.
And so we spend a lot of timetalking about that.
SPEAKER_00 (26:33):
So that we don't turn into myrtle or like
Gatlinberg 2.0 because that'swhat it feels like sometimes
when you're driving to.
There's a balance to thatbecause it is a part of what
makes us a thriving economy, butit's also you don't want to lose
the integrity of what we have tooffer here.
And so there has to be a balancethere.
SPEAKER_01 (26:49):
And then they want to also talk about some of the
some of the issues that nobodywants to talk about.
Because you know, we go to thejail, we go to the sheriff's
office, we talk to lawenforcement, you know, tomorrow
we're gonna be meeting with thejudges, and they have some ugly
stories to tell.
And some of the folks won't haveheard that before, and some of
the folks will have lived thatbefore.
And so next month we'll talkabout it.
(27:12):
And and they'll want to talkabout that too.
The challenge is they all wantto talk about housing.
SPEAKER_00 (27:17):
Housing is an issue everywhere, it's really it is
bad in homeschooling.
It is, and if you're young andstarting out, it's impossible.
I know because the team that Ihave, most of them live at home.
That's right.
Even if you graduate fromcollege and you're making decent
money, it's just I was justtelling somebody earlier today,
like my I've rented an apartmentin Worcester for 10 years and
it's triple the price.
(27:37):
Yeah.
Ten years ago, right?
It's not that long to go try.
I it's that it's more than mymortgage.
Right.
That this is the whole reason wehave a housing crisis.
So it is definitely a problem.
SPEAKER_01 (27:49):
And so if we're looking for these young vibrant
workers to come either to HolmesCounty for the first time or to
come back, if they're from hereand have gone away and gotten an
education, we want them to comeback.
There's no place for them tolive.
Yeah.
So they can't afford it.
We talk about that, and I amhoping you talked to Katie and
Megan about that.
Um I know, I know they're gonnatake a stab at that issue.
(28:12):
And so they all want to talkabout those kinds of relevant
things.
And so then we connect them whenthose issues come up, and if
there are people who arepassionate, like Laura
McCartney, who's in the classfrom Habitat with Humanity,
she's passionate about housing.
So she's plugged in with withKatie and Megan, and we can we
connect those kinds of people sothat if you if you care about an
(28:35):
issue and it comes up in theclass, then we follow up and
connect those people with theright people so that they can.
I mean, if your hair's on fireabout something, go go fix it.
And we want to help people dothat as best we can.
Just support them and point themin the right direction.
SPEAKER_00 (28:53):
Yeah, if if I'm actually joining the tourism um
council.
Great.
And it's like it's because Igrew up here.
So I grew up here, I've alwaysbeen a part, I remember 1990s
Berlin.
It was a lot different than itis now, but I had aunts and
uncles who used to live or theystill live in Texas and they'd
come home every summer.
So we'd have to go do all thetourist things.
So we did the tour at Shock'sAmish farm, and like I had to
(29:15):
ride in an Amish buggy.
I'm like, what are we doing?
I live here.
But tourism has always been sucha part of the local community,
and I have a passion for that,and I and it crosses over in
marketing.
And I've had people for twoyears saying, You really care
about this, you should join.
And finally, I'm listening tothem.
So great.
That is for sure a testament.
If there's something that you'relooking at and you're like, I
(29:36):
don't like why do I care aboutthis?
And it every time somebodybrings it up, it makes you like
feel a little like ooh, thatmeans maybe you should pay
attention to it, and it's acause you should go after.
SPEAKER_01 (29:46):
So right.
And I ran the tourism council aspart of the chamber for 17
years, and it you will, I think,really enjoy it.
It it's such a big industry, itmakes such a huge impact on our
community, and there's lots ofchallenges there and so many
opportunities.
And tourism is fun.
I mean, you know, my firstmarketing job was the Bureau of
(30:09):
Workers' Compensation.
So marketing, you know, tourismin Holmes County is a lot more
fun.
SPEAKER_00 (30:18):
Yeah, that's a lot easier to market than workers'
comp.
SPEAKER_01 (30:22):
For sure.
SPEAKER_00 (30:23):
Nobody wants to talk about that.
SPEAKER_01 (30:24):
Nobody wants to talk about that.
But it was it was baptism byfire, so it was all good.
But it is.
I think you'll really like it.
And you're you're in a perfectposition to make a difference.
SPEAKER_00 (30:33):
Okay, so tell people who are listening when does the
program open?
When are applications?
Like, what's the process tobecome a part of Leadership
Homes County?
SPEAKER_01 (30:41):
This class will graduate the first Tuesday in
June at the chambers membershipluncheon.
Um, so their last full classwill be the first Thursday in
May.
Um, applications will be openall summer.
We usually wind them downmid-August to late August, and
we take 25.
(31:02):
They have to be sponsored bytheir employer.
Um, fill out the application.
It's available online, it's alsoavailable at the chamber.
It's on the Homescone Chamberswebsite.
It sure is.
It will be updated this summer,but right now it's it's this
past year's application.
But that's it that's valid too.
They can still fill that out ifthey want to fill it out now and
(31:22):
send it in.
That's totally fine for nextyear.
And then it will start the firstThursday in September and go
till May.
Go till May.
SPEAKER_00 (31:32):
June graduation.
Yep, okay.
What's the cost for the class?
SPEAKER_01 (31:36):
It depends on if you're a chamber member or not,
and all that's listed onhomescountychamber.com.
SPEAKER_00 (31:40):
Check it out, that's where they go.
Yep, that's exactly right.
All right, awesome.
unknown (31:43):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (31:44):
Well, thank you so much for talking with me a
little bit, and we can shareabout that leadership, Homes
County.
I will be sure to, I think Ihave a leader I want to put in
for next year.
So we'll stay in touch.
Awesome.
And I appreciate the caneconversation.
Thank you so much, Lindsay.
It was a pleasure.
Thank you for tuning into TorchTalk.
If today's story sparkedsomething for you, share it with
a lead, community leader, orfuture change maker.
(32:07):
Until next time, stay inspired,stay intentional, and keep
inspired.
So much so much.
SPEAKER_00 (00:23):
Welcome back to Torch Talk, the show where we
spotlight bold leaders growingtheir businesses and communities
with grit and purpose.
Today's guest is Shasta Mast,Director of Leadership Homes
County through the Holmes CountyChamber of Commerce.
Welcome, Shasta.
Thank you.
A program focused on empoweringlocal leaders and strengthening
our community throughconnection, insight, and
(00:43):
intentional growth.
She brings years of experiencein building leadership,
fostering collaboration, andhelping people discover how they
can make a greater impact in theplaces they live and work.
So I am so excited to dive intoeverything with you today.
Thanks.
I wanted to I want to hear aboutall the things Leadership Hums
County.
I know Rachel, who's the CEOhere at Fierce, did it last year
(01:05):
and she just raved about it.
It was like one of the bestexperiences she's ever had.
So I guess why don't you tell usa little bit about what the
program is and what that lookslike, and then we'll get into
everything.
SPEAKER_01 (01:17):
Great, thank you.
Having Rachel was in the in theclass was lovely.
She contributed so much.
She has so much positive energy,so much curiosity, and we just
thoroughly enjoyed having her inthe class.
So this is my second full yeardoing the class.
And Leadership Homes County wasreally born out of a desire to
build capacity.
(01:38):
And I started at the chamberback in 02, and it was in its, I
think, second full year.
So I really saw it from theground up.
Leah Miller has to be creditedwith building it into the
program that it is today.
She did it its first 25 years.
And Holmes County is such asmall community, but so vibrant,
(02:01):
so strong, and has so manyorganizations that want to and
are making a difference.
And those organizations needleaders.
And when you have schools thatneed leaders, you have
businesses that need leaders,you have community
organizations, you havechurches, you know, PTOs.
(02:23):
There are so many groups thatrequire strong leaders.
And when you have back then35,000 people who live in your
community, you're really alwayssearching for the right person
to lead a project or lead anorganization or make a
difference.
(02:43):
And those people don't alwaysfeel comfortable stepping into
those leadership roles.
For some people, it comessupernaturally, they feel
confident right from thebeginning, they don't mind
taking risks, they understandfailing is an opportunity, but
for some people that's reallyscary.
(03:04):
And when you consistently havethe lowest unemployment in the
state of Ohio, when youconsistently have businesses
that are growing and need moreemployees, when you consistently
have people who want to make adifference in nonprofit
organizations to raise money fordifferent causes, then you have
to have good, strong leaders.
(03:25):
And you have to have a way totrain them and a way to succeed
them once a leader moves on froma position.
So really that's what HomesLeadership Homes County grew
from.
And over the last 26, 27 years,it's just been growing apace
right along with the community.
SPEAKER_00 (03:46):
So what does the program look like from kind of
start to finish?
Like walk us through what that,like if I was going to
participate in the program, whatwould it?
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
So it's a nine-month program.
It meets the first Thursday ofthe month, and the the class is
structured.
It has between um 20 and 25employees we have or class
members.
We have 25 class members thisyear.
It's the largest it's ever been.
And those folks come from allwalks of life, all ages.
(04:16):
They can be folks who are juststarting their careers, and it
can be we once had a countycommissioner who was in his,
let's say, final 10 years of hiscareer, where he just really
wanted to expand his leadershipskills.
And in the mornings we meet andwe focus on uh texts like
(04:38):
Leadershift by John Maxwell, um,Start with Why by uh Simon
Sinek, Upstream by Dan Heath,and we discuss uh things that
are happening in the world,examples of great leadership,
examples of terrible leadership,um, and also what these folks
(04:59):
see in their daily lives thatthey see as leadership
challenges or places where theywould like to make a difference.
Um, because they do come from across-section of the businesses
and organizations in HolmesCounty, all ages, um we really
get to see differentperspectives that a lot of us
(05:20):
don't see on a regular basis.
So that so the discussion isvery invigorating, it's
challenging, it becomes a reallysafe place for these uh leaders
to stretch, to um spitballideas, to maybe make brash
(05:40):
statements and then talk aboutthose and really hash things
out.
So we we do that in the morning,and then every afternoon of the
class is structured around adifferent segment of Holmes
County's economy or community.
So one month is tourism, onemonth is manufacturing, one
month is education, one month ismedical and emergency.
(06:02):
And that way, not only are wetalking about leadership, but we
are meeting leaders where theylive, where they work, in the
middle of the work that they do,and we're hearing about not only
their organization and its rolein the community, but we're also
learning about their personalleadership journeys, how they
(06:24):
got to where they are.
You know, did they wake up onemorning and want to be a
superintendent of a schoolsystem?
Did they, is this somethingthey've always wanted to do, or
was it a a very circuitousjourney, and then the class gets
to discuss that the next time weget together, and it it it
really helps bring freshperspectives.
SPEAKER_00 (06:44):
I love that.
Is there so you've been doingthis for two years?
Tell us what you were doingbefore that.
What like what has been yourevolution to bring you to where
you're at now?
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
Um, I went to school in Columbus, ended up living in
Columbus for 10 years, workingfor the government downtown, had
some great experiences.
I was a started out as a writer,editor, event planner, marketer,
communicator, that sort ofthing, and wanted to move home.
I was gone for 10 years and andjust found that Holmes County
was calling me home.
(07:15):
And I moved home and actuallyran an inn for three years while
I was trying to figure out whatI wanted to do when I grew up.
And an opening as the marketingmanager at the Chamber of
Commerce became available, and Ibegan that role, and within a
couple months the currentdirector had a heart attack,
(07:35):
things happened, and so I veryquickly became the director and
did that job for 17 years.
So Leadership Homes County waspart of my responsibilities, but
we had the very capable leader,uh Leah Miller, who was actually
running the program at the time.
And then I took the program, Ibelieve it was the 03-04 class,
a very long time ago.
(07:56):
And one of the main things thatI got out of it that I believe
is so valuable is those peoplewho were in my class are still
people today that I can pick upthe phone and and say, What do
you think of this?
Or, you know, I I just had thisidea, or I see this problem in
our community.
What if we approached it fromthis perspective?
(08:17):
What do you think?
And I think every class developsthat camaraderie and they grow
this group of peers that theythey will have for the rest of
their careers.
And and I think that's sovaluable.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
So Especially in an age when it's hard to make
connections and it's hard tolike that's just getting worse
and worse.
So to have that ability to likehave somebody who's not a
competitor to you, and you canjust call them and say, Hey, I'm
struggling with this.
What what do you think?
Yes.
And you learn you know you learnthe same thing.
So that is great.
SPEAKER_01 (08:48):
It is, and what I saw last year, which was my
first full year doing it, by theend, our last class together, I
of course had an agenda, thingsI wanted to cover.
And as they were coming in thatmorning, so many of them
confided in me something bigthat was happening in their
lives, hard or whatever.
And I scrapped the agenda forthat day, for that morning, um,
(09:13):
because there were so many bigchallenges that they were all
facing, it seemed like, all atonce, and they wanted to talk
about them.
Well, what a better group ofpeople to talk about some
challenges in your lives whereyou need some leadership advice.
And so we re we hashed out reallife, some of it was work, some
of it was personal, some of itwas church, some of it was
(09:35):
really heavy, you know, medicalthings.
Um, but it it gave them a greatplace and a great hive mind to
discuss those issues.
And I I think it it brought themall together, and and I think
they'll be people that they relyon for the rest of their lives.
SPEAKER_00 (09:54):
I love that.
I do too.
Are there any standout um,because you know you've only led
for the last few years, butyou've been around enough.
Are there any standout likesuccess stories you can think
back on of somebody who wentthrough the program or like I
don't know, I just think abouthow impactful it must be in even
taking it yourself, like youstill know the people.
(10:16):
Um, any any highlights, I guess,in just going back?
So many.
SPEAKER_01 (10:20):
I mean, we've had folks who who took the class,
you know, basically right out ofschool, whether that's high
school or college, and then theyend up being CEOs or bank
presidents, or you know, runningso many people who've run
organizations or got elected tooffice.
Um, another great connective wayLeadership Homes County unites
(10:42):
people is for years, well,really since the beginning of
the program, I received calls,and I still do to this day, from
organizations who are lookingfor leaders.
And they'll say, Hey, anybodystand out from your years around
Leadership Homes County that wecould call?
So it's it's a way not only toget involved in a volunteer way,
(11:03):
but in some cases it's led toemployment and really great
opportunities.
So I think the leadership alumniare a great group of people to
tap into really at any time tofind people who care and want to
make a difference because that'sreally what being a leader is
about.
It's about making a differencein people's lives.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
Of all of the material that you guys go
through, what is your favorite?
Like, is there a certain bookthat you're like, oh, I'm
excited to go through this bookthis month?
SPEAKER_01 (11:35):
You know, I love Simon Sinek.
Um so I really like Starts withWhy, and I I like, you know, I
sh when I share things that Iread with the class, and I
encourage them to bring thingsin that they're reading.
And so some of my favoritethings, and I can't even think
of the names over the years, butone of my favorite things is
when someone else brings in abook that they're reading and
(11:56):
says, You guys have got to readthis, you know, this is
life-changing, or listen tothis.
Um something that has stuck withme, and I'm rephrasing it
because I I rephrased it in away that I can remember it.
I read one time, a long timeago, in one of the leadership
texts that we study, that um theantidote to anxiety is action.
(12:20):
I just read that.
And I that has really stuck withme, and I say it all the time in
my personal life, in myprofessional life, when an
organization is really spinningits wheels and is worried about
making the wrong choice,sometimes you just have to move.
You just have to have to be inaction.
(12:42):
Um, so that's something, atidbit that has really stood out
to me over the years.
But there's there's really beenso many, and I get fired up the
most when someone in the classgets fired up by either
something we're reading orsomething that somebody else
brings in.
SPEAKER_00 (12:58):
Okay, so I know that you said you have all different
types of people, all differenttypes of backgrounds, but if we
have employers who are listeningto this and they're saying,
okay, why would I pay not onlyyou, but then also my employee
to go participate one day amonth in this program?
Like, what would you expect?
You know, like what I guesswhat's the return on investment
do you see for an employeeemployer investing in the
(13:21):
employee?
And then on the flip side, thenwhat it what really what is the
employee learning?
Do you think?
What are like some of the higherlevel things that you would
expect somebody to come out ofthe program with?
SPEAKER_01 (13:31):
I certainly expect them to come out of the program
with increased confidence.
And I think confidence is oftena barrier, particularly to new
or young leaders.
Um, one of the well, there's acouple things.
We have folks in this year'sclass from Delaware County,
(13:51):
Ashland County, Tuscross County,Wayne County, and Ashland
County.
SPEAKER_00 (13:54):
But they all work in Homes County.
SPEAKER_01 (13:56):
In addition to Holmes County.
Okay.
And they all work in HolmesCounty.
So when we are a net importer ofjobs, of employees to fill jobs,
I should say, um, we haveemployers who really need help,
maybe onboarding their theirrising stars, because they don't
(14:19):
understand our culture, ourorganizations, the way things
work in Homes County, or theydon't know a lot of people.
And so this is a fantastic wayto really immerse somebody who
didn't grow up here, doesn'tunderstand.
100% it's it's a it's a clicheto say it's unique, but it is so
(14:42):
different than anywhere else.
SPEAKER_00 (14:43):
Honestly, even if you grew up here, it was the
first time Rachel had been toBihalt.
Right.
Like how many of the people wholive here, I mean, we all know
about the Amish and a little bitof the story, but to like get
the full picture, I know thatthat was super impactful for
her, even though she's local.
So I we also bring a lot ofemployees from outside the area,
and I was just thinking aboutthat while you're talking.
I'm like, we try to, I get somany questions about Amish.
(15:05):
I'm like, I don't know.
Because but I mean, I knowenough, but like, you know, even
though they're just from Canton,it's not that far away, but they
didn't grow up here.
So there's a certain contextthat, you know, going and
visiting the local businessesand doing the tours of that
museum and all of the different,it gives them a better view of
(15:25):
of what it is like here, whichalso helps them not only
understand the community better,their organization better, but
uh probably their customerbetter too.
Like who it if especially iftheir customer is local, it's
just it's a good connection allaround.
100%.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
And it's always shocking to the class what our
businesses are doing, howinnovative it's a little bit
undercover.
It really is, and it's it'samazing.
And even though I've beenimmersed in it since 02, I'm
still surprised and and justamazed at what our businesses
are doing.
The innovation, the uhcreativity, the uh business
(16:07):
acumen uh uh is uh uh reallymind-boggling.
And we have folks that come hereand study it because on paper we
should not be as successful aswe are.
We don't have any of the thingsthat economists say we need to
be a thriving uh community andgrowing and whatever.
(16:28):
They say you need access tofour-lane highways, they see say
you need rail, they say youneed, you know, all these things
that we just don't have.
And uh we've been studied byeconomists from Ohio State,
written up in the Wall StreetJournal, and nobody understands
it.
And so if you're not from here,but you have to work here, uh
(16:50):
you really need a good, quick,immersive study into Holmes
County 101 and leadership HomesCounty is that.
But like you mentioned, if youare from here, have you been to
the Kilbuck Valley Museum?
Have you been to Bahalt?
Have you immersed yourself insome of the things that we take
for granted as being from HolmesCounty?
SPEAKER_00 (17:12):
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_01 (17:14):
And you know, have you ever eaten at the at the
jail?
You know, the Holmes Countyjail.
Um when was the last time youhad a school lunch?
I mean, we do those kinds ofthings to give this the class
members uh a completelydifferent perspective.
Homes County from a completelydifferent perspective, in
addition to all the leadership.
SPEAKER_00 (17:35):
Yeah, I think that both sides of that are are
really valuable.
On the um other side of that, Idon't this this might be
derailing or a little bit moreoff topic than what I'm
thinking.
I just know from an employerperspective, like, you know,
training and developing our teamis really important to us.
We work a lot on training, butum we're a fairly young
(17:57):
organization and we're just nowgetting to the point where we
need to have like a leadershiptraining program.
So absolutely Leadership HomesCounty is on our radar because I
know how valuable the programis.
But what about after?
Like, what about like is theremaybe this is something that we
need to talk about the idealater, but I feel like there
needs to be like post-employersupport for how do I continue
(18:19):
this?
Or, you know, because you don'tjust go and meet with your class
that you feel super safe with,and then it's kind of like
getting that good idea.
It's kind of like going onmission trip and coming back on
fire, and then you go in yourorganization, and now how do I
apply this?
Are there any post leadershipstories that you've heard about
that?
Is there like what are employersdo to help support after they've
(18:40):
been through the program anemployee that they've sent
through?
Like, what would you say hassets somebody up for success for
application and all of thosetypes of things?
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
I know from experience through the program
that a lot of times um employersdo send someone that they have
an eye on for promotion.
And so their next step when theyget back is, you know, maybe
interviewing for a a jobopportunity within.
Um and I I've seen that work somany times there.
(19:11):
They they come out of LeadershipHomes County on fire, maybe with
a different perspective, withsome more confidence, some more
skills than they went into it,and they are ready to take a
next step in their business.
Um we are also brainstormingright now at the chamber, and
I'm working on a plan to devisea way to keep those leaders
(19:33):
connected once they graduate.
Uh like reunions?
Like reunions, but more morethan just a social reunion.
Getting together maybe twice ayear with a meaningful I don't
know what it is.
Accountability, like, hey, howare things going?
What have you applied?
And also maybe a really dynamicspeaker about leadership that is
(19:54):
something that's exclusive tothe leadership alumni that they
uh they're the only ones thatget invited to go.
Something that keeps themconnected, something that keeps
them on fire, yeah.
Something that um, you know,really makes it even more
meaningful to be a part of thatgroup of leadership homes
camping.
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Right.
I mean, because it doesn't stop.
Leadership homes are not gonnabe able to do it.
It doesn't like the world'sevolving, workforce is evolving,
like there's all you so manychanges every day.
It's sometimes exhausting.
Like, can we just have a second?
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
Right, exactly.
And and I've had people makecomments to me since I am a
let's say seasoned leader, um,you know, that now I'm a leader,
or you know, now I've arrived.
No, I haven't arrived.
I have so much more to learn,and I learn every time I go on
these tours, I learn somethingnew from these incredible
(20:49):
leaders out there doing thework.
I learn from the class membersevery time, you know, even not
just on class days, when theyemail me behind the scenes or I
run into them and they I learnso much from them.
And and there's just so muchmore to learn.
There's so many more books toread, there's just so much more
to do.
And if I have a small part inkeeping that fire in people,
(21:15):
then I feel like, you know, I'vedone what I what I will continue
to do and to make a difference,which is all I really want to
do.
SPEAKER_00 (21:23):
I love that.
And that's really the heart ofthe whole program and the
purpose of it in the firstplace.
Are there any trends that you'reseeing right now, like as
talking about changes?
So, like what do you see some ofthe most common challenges like
the leaders are talking about inthe workforce right now?
SPEAKER_01 (21:41):
Um, I mean, generational differences.
SPEAKER_00 (21:44):
I just talked about this because we're we're we have
an event coming up, we're gonnado a young um on a young
professionals panel, but I saidI don't really want to talk
about like I understand thegenerational differences are
still an issue, but like I thinkthey're kind of sick of hearing
about it.
unknown (21:59):
True.
SPEAKER_00 (22:00):
Same as when millennials, which I am we just
talked about this.
I'm the oldest millennial.
Garrett, our videographer, isthe youngest millennial, so
we're fully covered here.
I'm an exer.
Well, I'm right on the line.
So we just had that wholedebate.
But I'm like, you know,everybody hated the millennials
when they're coming, they're solazy.
And why would you want purposein your work?
And like I remember all of thosethings clearly stuck with me.
That was a long time ago.
(22:21):
I think that um this generationis going to feel the same way
because there's been a lot oftalk.
Certainly 100% real challenges.
I have a very young team.
Like we have 20 people, morethan half of them are under the
age of 28.
So there's the way that theywere raised, different
technology, social media, likethat highly impacts their life
experience year to date or lifeto date is totally different
(22:44):
than what I had until I was 25.
But I don't, you don't want tobeat a dead horse either.
Right.
Like they're real people.
SPEAKER_01 (22:51):
Right.
And and and I see that these areyoung people who are maybe
managing for the first time.
Yeah.
And so they're seeing it fromthe other perspective now, where
they were the ones thateverybody was sick of dealing
with because they were young andyou know, had the stereotype
that they didn't want to work,they were living in their
parents' basement, all thosekinds of things.
(23:11):
But now they're maybe newmanagers.
SPEAKER_00 (23:13):
It's kind of like parenting, like you don't really
get behind a view behind thescenes until you do it, and then
you're like, oh likeleadership's kind of like that.
Like, yeah, oh, I have to holdpeople accountable.
That's why we have consistencyand rules, and oh, because
right.
SPEAKER_01 (23:28):
And so we do discuss that, and it and still there's
finding people.
Um, you know, that's I thinkalways going to be a problem.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
Hiring in Holmes County is always do you have any
advice for employers who arelooking to hire?
Is there anything that you seeof somebody who's doing it
really well?
SPEAKER_01 (23:44):
Yes.
Um, the people who are doing itreally well are dealing with
those soft issues that makepeople's lives easier and more
fulfilling.
You know, you look at theprovias of the world, you look
at the Kime Lumbers of theworld, they are really the
mavens of the world.
They're really making um thespace their workers inhabit
(24:11):
friendly and um nurturing andand they're they're dealing with
the whole person instead of justthe the worker.
And they their employees workhard.
Don't get me wrong.
They're not they're notlessening the requirements or uh
the expectations, but they areconsidering the whole person
(24:35):
rather than just the the how doyou think that they're finding
those people?
SPEAKER_00 (24:39):
Do you think are their hiring processes
different?
Like, or do you because thoseare all bigger organizations, so
do you feel like they'reattracting people because of
their known reputation, or doyou think that there's something
different?
SPEAKER_01 (24:50):
I think they're attracting people because of
their known reputation thatthey've built over a long time.
SPEAKER_00 (24:55):
I I know as a smaller employer, something that
helps us a lot is our socialmedia presence.
So like people get a good viewof who we are from a culture
standpoint.
Yes.
I've talked about this with ourclients a fair amount.
Like, if you use social fornothing else other than to let
future employees know, I mean,if you're hiring a young
generation, you better believethey're gonna go to Instagram or
(25:16):
TikTok and see if you're onthere.
Right.
And I know they I know there'speople out there listening who
are like, ugh, they don't wantto hear that because it's not
something they want to do.
But um, like if you, you know,we're not all proveas.
So if you're not that and you dofeel like you have something
good to offer future employees,or and really also if you're
pulling people from outside thearea, then give them something
(25:38):
to look at.
And or make sure at least yourwebsite reflects your culture
really well.
Because if you're not gonna dothe social, then you gotta share
the story somewhere.
You're exactly right.
Yeah.
Um, any other challenges?
So we have like kind of thegenerational differences in
hiring, any other consistent Youknow, they're all I think
(25:59):
worried.
SPEAKER_01 (26:00):
Worried is too strong of a word.
But they're all tuned in to thedifferences as to what's going
on in the world and maybe thecountry as a whole versus what's
going on in Holmes County, andthey want to talk about that
because none of them, even theones who aren't from here, they
don't want to lose what is rightabout Holmes County and what
(26:21):
what makes it great, what makesit makes us this really special,
vibrant little bubble that weare.
And so we spend a lot of timetalking about that.
SPEAKER_00 (26:33):
So that we don't turn into myrtle or like
Gatlinberg 2.0 because that'swhat it feels like sometimes
when you're driving to.
There's a balance to thatbecause it is a part of what
makes us a thriving economy, butit's also you don't want to lose
the integrity of what we have tooffer here.
And so there has to be a balancethere.
SPEAKER_01 (26:49):
And then they want to also talk about some of the
some of the issues that nobodywants to talk about.
Because you know, we go to thejail, we go to the sheriff's
office, we talk to lawenforcement, you know, tomorrow
we're gonna be meeting with thejudges, and they have some ugly
stories to tell.
And some of the folks won't haveheard that before, and some of
the folks will have lived thatbefore.
And so next month we'll talkabout it.
(27:12):
And and they'll want to talkabout that too.
The challenge is they all wantto talk about housing.
SPEAKER_00 (27:17):
Housing is an issue everywhere, it's really it is
bad in homeschooling.
It is, and if you're young andstarting out, it's impossible.
I know because the team that Ihave, most of them live at home.
That's right.
Even if you graduate fromcollege and you're making decent
money, it's just I was justtelling somebody earlier today,
like my I've rented an apartmentin Worcester for 10 years and
it's triple the price.
(27:37):
Yeah.
Ten years ago, right?
It's not that long to go try.
I it's that it's more than mymortgage.
Right.
That this is the whole reason wehave a housing crisis.
So it is definitely a problem.
SPEAKER_01 (27:49):
And so if we're looking for these young vibrant
workers to come either to HolmesCounty for the first time or to
come back, if they're from hereand have gone away and gotten an
education, we want them to comeback.
There's no place for them tolive.
Yeah.
So they can't afford it.
We talk about that, and I amhoping you talked to Katie and
Megan about that.
Um I know, I know they're gonnatake a stab at that issue.
(28:12):
And so they all want to talkabout those kinds of relevant
things.
And so then we connect them whenthose issues come up, and if
there are people who arepassionate, like Laura
McCartney, who's in the classfrom Habitat with Humanity,
she's passionate about housing.
So she's plugged in with withKatie and Megan, and we can we
connect those kinds of people sothat if you if you care about an
(28:35):
issue and it comes up in theclass, then we follow up and
connect those people with theright people so that they can.
I mean, if your hair's on fireabout something, go go fix it.
And we want to help people dothat as best we can.
Just support them and point themin the right direction.
SPEAKER_00 (28:53):
Yeah, if if I'm actually joining the tourism um
council.
Great.
And it's like it's because Igrew up here.
So I grew up here, I've alwaysbeen a part, I remember 1990s
Berlin.
It was a lot different than itis now, but I had aunts and
uncles who used to live or theystill live in Texas and they'd
come home every summer.
So we'd have to go do all thetourist things.
So we did the tour at Shock'sAmish farm, and like I had to
(29:15):
ride in an Amish buggy.
I'm like, what are we doing?
I live here.
But tourism has always been sucha part of the local community,
and I have a passion for that,and I and it crosses over in
marketing.
And I've had people for twoyears saying, You really care
about this, you should join.
And finally, I'm listening tothem.
So great.
That is for sure a testament.
If there's something that you'relooking at and you're like, I
(29:36):
don't like why do I care aboutthis?
And it every time somebodybrings it up, it makes you like
feel a little like ooh, thatmeans maybe you should pay
attention to it, and it's acause you should go after.
SPEAKER_01 (29:46):
So right.
And I ran the tourism council aspart of the chamber for 17
years, and it you will, I think,really enjoy it.
It it's such a big industry, itmakes such a huge impact on our
community, and there's lots ofchallenges there and so many
opportunities.
And tourism is fun.
I mean, you know, my firstmarketing job was the Bureau of
(30:09):
Workers' Compensation.
So marketing, you know, tourismin Holmes County is a lot more
fun.
SPEAKER_00 (30:18):
Yeah, that's a lot easier to market than workers'
comp.
SPEAKER_01 (30:22):
For sure.
SPEAKER_00 (30:23):
Nobody wants to talk about that.
SPEAKER_01 (30:24):
Nobody wants to talk about that.
But it was it was baptism byfire, so it was all good.
But it is.
I think you'll really like it.
And you're you're in a perfectposition to make a difference.
SPEAKER_00 (30:33):
Okay, so tell people who are listening when does the
program open?
When are applications?
Like, what's the process tobecome a part of Leadership
Homes County?
SPEAKER_01 (30:41):
This class will graduate the first Tuesday in
June at the chambers membershipluncheon.
Um, so their last full classwill be the first Thursday in
May.
Um, applications will be openall summer.
We usually wind them downmid-August to late August, and
we take 25.
(31:02):
They have to be sponsored bytheir employer.
Um, fill out the application.
It's available online, it's alsoavailable at the chamber.
It's on the Homescone Chamberswebsite.
It sure is.
It will be updated this summer,but right now it's it's this
past year's application.
But that's it that's valid too.
They can still fill that out ifthey want to fill it out now and
(31:22):
send it in.
That's totally fine for nextyear.
And then it will start the firstThursday in September and go
till May.
Go till May.
SPEAKER_00 (31:32):
June graduation.
Yep, okay.
What's the cost for the class?
SPEAKER_01 (31:36):
It depends on if you're a chamber member or not,
and all that's listed onhomescountychamber.com.
SPEAKER_00 (31:40):
Check it out, that's where they go.
Yep, that's exactly right.
All right, awesome.
unknown (31:43):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (31:44):
Well, thank you so much for talking with me a
little bit, and we can shareabout that leadership, Homes
County.
I will be sure to, I think Ihave a leader I want to put in
for next year.
So we'll stay in touch.
Awesome.
And I appreciate the caneconversation.
Thank you so much, Lindsay.
It was a pleasure.
Thank you for tuning into TorchTalk.
If today's story sparkedsomething for you, share it with
a lead, community leader, orfuture change maker.
(32:07):
Until next time, stay inspired,stay intentional, and keep
inspired.
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