Board of Directors
2026 Board Officers
About Corey
Corey Alton joined Park National Bank in June 2003 as a Summer Teller. During his time with the bank, he has held other positions including Credit Analyst and currently Vice President of Commercial Lending. Corey has experience in all areas of commercial lending, but has a particular niche for Long Term Care Lending.
In addition to serving as a board member for GROW Licking County, Corey is a former Board Member for Journey Church Daycare as well as a youth leader for Jr./Sr. High with Journey, past Heritage Associate Member for the betterment of downtown Mount Vernon and served as a volunteer for the Will Graham Celebration.
Corey received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Taylor University and has completed the Ohio Bankers League Bank Management School.
Corey Alton
Board Chair
About Jennifer
Jennifer became the Director of Licking County Job & Family Services (LCJFS) in January 2023. LCJFS is a triple-combined agency that includes Protective Services (child and adult), Workforce Development, and Public Assistance. Prior to that, she proudly served as the Assistant Director since July 2017.
Jennifer has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Human Resources and Finance from Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU). She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from MVNU and an Associate Degree in Business Management from Central Ohio Technical College. In addition, Jennifer is a graduate of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Professional Development Academy and the Licking County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.
As the Assistant Director for LCJFS, Jennifer provided direct oversight of the Administrative Division, which includes Human Resources, Fiscal, IT, Program and planning, and Building and facilities. In his absence, Jennifer assumed the role of Director. Prior to serving as Assistant Director, Jennifer was the Human Resources Administrator for LCJFS. She also serves as the Agency’s Civil Rights Coordinator, Risk Management Chair, Council on Accreditation Coordinator, and Safety Team member. Jennifer has been with the Agency for 28 years.
Jennifer is an active member of professional and community organizations. She is currently serving in the National Leadership Academy for Public Health. Jennifer serves on the Ohio Job & Family Services Director’s Association Fiscal and Legislative Committees. She is a member of the Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association and Job & Family Services Human Resources Association. She serves on the Licking County JFS Planning Committee and the Children Services Levy Committees.
Jennifer Ellis-Brunn
Board Vice Chair
About Erin
Erin Grigsby serves as the Director, Finance and Compliance with the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority.
Erin joined the team at the Port Authority in July 2009. While her primary focus is on the daily financial needs of the Port Authority, Erin also oversees safety, human resources and other compliance related functions.
Erin graduated from Capital University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in accounting.
In 2017, she was named “20 Under 40” by the Newark Advocate.
She and her husband currently live in Newark.
Erin Grigsby
Board Treasurer
About Amy
Amy Dell has worked for the Licking County Foundation as Program Officer since 2015, responsible for the creation, oversight, and management of external programs, including grants, scholarships, and other community initiatives. Before joining the Foundation, Amy worked for 15 years with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in Ohio and 10 prior years with youth service organizations and schools in Vermont.
Amy has lived in Licking County since 2007 and previously volunteered on PTO, as a Girl Scout troop leader, youth sports coach, and education foundation trustee within her local community, always focused on services and programs that support children. Amy currently volunteers at Licking County Emergency Warming Center activations.
Amy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Administration and Management, and a Master's Degree in Education.
Amy Dell
Board Secretary
2026 Board of Directors
About Tim
Commissioner Bubb began his community career working as a Staff Executive at the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce in 1974. He worked for and mentored with longtime Chamber of Commerce Executive Director C. Allen Milliken.
During his eight year Chamber of Commerce career Bubb worked to bring new business and industry to the community, and established a wide range of business support programs while at the Chamber.
In the early 1980's he served three years on the Commander's Staff at the former Newark Air Force Station, serving in a communications capacity.
Bubb has been dedicated to improving literacy through better public library service in the community. He served as a Newark Public Library Trustee for 20-years and Board President for 10-years. In 1998 he led the community effort to fund and construct a new $9-million state-of-the-art Library in downtown Newark. Tim worked developing and improving regional library service at facilities in Hebron, Utica and Johnstown.
In June 2002, NHS graduate Bubb received the Newark High School "Alumni Citizenship" Award at the annual Newark High School Commencement ceremonies at White Field.
In October 2003, Tim received the prestigious "Friend of Agriculture" Award from the Licking County Farm Bureau Federation.
Bubb was overwhelmingly elected Newark City Treasurer in 2002 and served three years in that capacity, handling all City income tax income and investing public funds.
Elected as Licking County Commissioner in 2004, Commissioner Bubb has been a leader in County government and has served as President of the Board of Commissioners since August 2005.
Tim Bubb
About Mike
Mike Compton has been Mayor of Pataskala since 2012, first serving on the council for two years.
Mayor Compton is also a member of Pataskala Rotary, Pataskala Area Chamber of Commerce, West Licking Fire Fighters Association, and the Summit Station Lions Club. Mike is extremely active in community events including The Annual Fireworks Display, The Street Fair, and the Pataskala Antique Power Show.
Mike Compton
About Brandon
Brandon is a newly appointed member of the GROW Licking County’s Board of Directors in 2022.
He was a member of the Shai Team in July 2015 as an agent, became an associate broker in June 2018, and a partner in Shai-Hess Commercial Real Estate, LLC in September 2018. He also continues to serve as Executive Vice President of Mattingly Enterprises, LLC.
Brandon has a degree from Ohio University College of Business with a major in accounting. He is also very committed to the community and enjoys donating his time, knowledge,e and skills whenever possible. He currently serves as Trustee of Zane State College, Past President for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Licking County, Past Chair of Licking County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for Salvation Army, member of Licking Memorial Hospital Development Council, President of the East Central Ohio Business Park in Frazeysburg, President of the Newark Catholic Green Wave Booster Club and newly appointed Board Member of Grow Licking County.
Brandon Hess
About Mark
Mark Johns serves as Mayor of the City of Heath and has done so since 2009.
In addition to his role as Mayor of the City of Heath, Mark is heavily involved within the Licking County community. During his time serving with GROW Licking County, Mayor Johns served as board secretary for three terms, as vice chairman, and as chairman of the board in 2016. Beyond Mayor Johns' work with GROW Licking County, Mark volunteers his efforts to promote and serve in various capacities for the City of Heath's Star-Spangled Celebration & Oktoberfest. During the fall, you will also find Mayor Johns proudly calling the home football games & boys basketball games for the Heath Bulldogs.
Mayor Johns is a proud graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
GO BOBCATS !!!
Mark Johns
About Jennifer
Jennifer has been employed with the Licking County Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years, first as the Director of the Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau, then VP of the Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as the President & CEO of the organization since fall of 2016. As President, she provides strategic leadership in the areas of membership services, economic development and government relations. Professionally, she is a board member and Past-Chair of GROW Licking County Community Improvement Corporation, Past-President of the Newark-Heath Rotary Club, Board Trustee of The Works Museum, Board Member of Newark Development Partners, Board Member of The Newark Midland Theatre, member of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio Advocacy committee, member of the COTC Business Management committee, and serves on the Heath City Schools Strategic Planning committee. She is a former Board of Education member of Heath City Schools and C-TEC.
Jennifer majored in Marketing at Central Ohio Technical College and received an ABA in Business Management and IOM designation from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management. She is a recipient of the "Vocational Service Award" by the Newark-Heath Rotary, recognized as the "Outstanding Alumni" by COTC in 2016, named "Chamber Executive of the Year" by Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio in 2020 and "Distinguished Alumnus Award" by Ohio Association of Community Colleges in 2022. Personally, she enjoys traveling, snow skiing, listening to live music and spending time with family and friends. She is married to Shawn and they have 2 sons, Austin and Parker. She also shares her home with two cats - Charlie and Claire, as well as a hobby farm with 12 Angus cows.
Jennifer McDonald
John Berry, PhD
John M. Berry, PhD, assumed the role of COTC president on January 1, 2019, and is the college’s second sole president. The COTC Board of Trustees unanimously selected him after a nationwide search.
Having previously served as director of student life at COTC, Berry returned to the college after positions at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina; Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio; and most recently, BridgeValley Community and Technical College in Montgomery, West Virginia.
After starting his own education at a community college, Berry went on to earn a doctoral degree in higher education administration from The Ohio State University.
John M. Berry, PhD.
About Mark
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Bachelors Degree from Ohio State University (BSBA in Accounting and Real Estate Finance)
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Currently serve as Director of Economic & Community Development for the City of Newark, Ohio
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Served as Board member of Newark Development Partners; i.e. local Community Improvement Corporation.
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Board member of (2) area Joint Economic Development Zones
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Oversee Newark’s (6) Tax Increment Financing districts, (4) Community Reinvestment Areas, (1) New Community Area, and Newark’s Enterprise Zone.
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Alternate Board member for the Licking County Land Bank
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Chairman of the Newark Certified Local Government committee
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Served on Downtown Newark Association’s Economic Development committee
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Oversee City’s Brownfield sites, grants, and reclamation projects.
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Oversee City of Newark’s Fair Housing Program
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Past Board member of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce.
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Served as a County Commissioner Appointee serving on the Licking County Board of Building Standards.
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Served 15 years on the Board of Directors for the Buckeye Valley Building Industry Association, serving 5 central Ohio counties.
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Devote time to various Church and local non-profit organizations.
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34 years as Owner of a local residential building & remodeling contracting company.
Mark Mauter
About Robert
Robert Montagnese, B.A., M.H.A., C.P.A., is President & CEO of Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS), which is Licking County’s primary healthcare provider and one of the largest employers with over 2,200 employees. He joined LMHS on a full-time basis in 1993 and served as Controller and Accounting Manager, Senior Vice President Financial Services, and Executive Vice President before attaining his current position in 2006. Under his leadership, Licking Memorial Hospital expanded with the new John & Mary Alford Pavilion surgery and emergency care addition, three community off-campus Urgent Care facilities, the North Newark physician practice location, the Licking Memorial Medical Campus on West Main in Newark, and the acquisition of the Licking Memorial Hospital – Tamarack location. Through his direction, LMHS incorporated numerous cutting-edge technologies to benefit patients, including the installation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System and the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.
Mr. Montagnese holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Wittenberg University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from The Ohio State University. He is also a certified public accountant and a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
He currently serves as the Chairman of the Central Ohio Technical College Board of Trustees, formerly serving as Vice Chairman. He is Treasurer and Past President of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Foundation Board, Past President and Lifetime Honorary Member of the BBBS Board, Chairman of the Newark Campus Development Fund, Past President of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Chairman of The Works Board, and a Board Member for First Federal Savings, GROW Licking County, Our Futures in Licking County, and the Institute for Health Innovation. He also serves as a member of the Newark Rotary Club and the Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board. He previously served as a member of the Ohio Medical Quality Foundation Board.
Mr. Montagnese is a former Board Member of the Ohio Hospital Association, Kendal at Granville and Midland Theatre. He has served as Chairman of the Salvation Army Capital Campaign, the Citizens for Parks, Paths & Trails levy campaign for the Licking Park District, and the 2020 American Heart Association Licking County HeartChase.
In 2007, Mr. Montagnese was named to Columbus Business First’s Forty Under 40 list to honor a select group of community and business leaders in the Greater Columbus area. He was awarded the John W. Alford Memorial Award in 2009 for his community and civic involvement and his interest in cancer research. In 2012, he was named a Hometown Hero by the American Red Cross of Licking County to recognize his positive impact on the community. In 2014, Rob was a top 10 national finalist for the Modern Healthcare Community Leadership Award. He received the Bravo Award for Community Service from the Newark Rotary Club and was named one of Becker’s Nonprofit Hospital & Health System CEOs to Know list in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Also in 2016, Rob was named Executive of the Year through the Columbus CEO HealthCare Achievement Awards and was added to the Licking Valley Hall of Pride, a special recognition for outstanding graduates of Licking Valley High School who have contributed to the civic, cultural, religious, and economic vitality of the community, at the local, state or national level. In 2017, Rob was named a Columbus Business First C-Suite Honoree.
He and his wife, Lauren, live in Licking County. The couple has one daughter, Ashley, and two sons, Robby and Brady. Mr. Montagnese has coached sports teams for many years in the Central Ohio area.
Robert A. Montagnese
About Robert
Robert O’Neill is President of Southgate Corporation, a comprehensive real estate development firm that specializes in industrial and commercial properties.
Robert is the past president of the Central Ohio Chapter of NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties) and a member of NAIOP’s Private Developers Forum. Robert currently serves as a Director of the Park National Bank and Park National Corporation. He also serves on the Newark Sport & Event Commission, Kendal at Granville, the OSU/COTC Newark Campus Development Fund, and the Real Estate Committee for the Licking County Foundation.
Robert is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Photography.
Robert E. O'Neill
About Jim
Jim Roberts is the Vice President for Hull and Associates, Inc., a civil engineering, land surveying, environmental, and energy firm, leading its Newark, OH office. Prior to this role, Jim was the City Engineer for the City of Newark. In his current capacity, Jim is the City Engineer for the Cities of Heath and Pataskala.
In addition to serving on the GROW Licking County CIC Board, Jim served on the Heath Board of Education for 16 years, 13 of which he was President. He is a member of the Licking County Planning Commission and the Licking County Board of Building Standards. Jim is an engineering instructor at COTC and serves on the Deans Executive Committee and the Curriculum Advisory Committee. Jim is also a member of the STEM Advisory Council at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, & Technology and serves as an Elder at the Heath Church of Christ.
Jim is a graduate of Heath High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University in 1984. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He is also a Registered Professional Surveyor in West Virginia.
Jim Roberts
About Joseph
Joseph Robertson, IV, Managing Director, Hilltop Securities (HTS) is responsible for business development in the capital markets division specializing in fixed income finance. Robertson’s strengths include developing financing plans, debt structuring, analytical modeling, and deal execution. During his 25 plus year investment banking career, Robertson has been involved in over 1,500 finance transactions with a par amount exceeding $6.0 Billion. Prior to joining HTS Robertson was one of eight ownership partners of the 118-year-old regional investment Bank, Seasongood & Mayer, LLC, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Robertson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Finance and Economics and a minor in Accounting from Ashland University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from The George Washington University. In addition, Robertson is a General Securities Principal, Municipal Securities Principal, Registered Municipal Advisor and holds other license designations administered by FINRA and the SEC.
In 1995, Robertson formed Stone Key Corporation (SKC) as a real estate design and construction company. Since that time SKC has developed, constructed, acquired, and financed over 1,200 multifamily units, 100 single family units and ten commercial properties in the central Ohio region.
In 2015, Joseph formed LDR MGMT, LLC to manage multi-family projects that are jointly owned by a small group of investors. LDR MGMT, LLC currently manages 18 properties with 720 units. In addition, Robertson through Fairway 57 Holdings, LLC manages another two properties with a combined 67-unit properties in Bellefontaine and Jeffersonville, Ohio.
Robertson previously served on the Board of Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. Mr. Robertson currently serves on the Johnstown Youth Athletic Association (JYAA), GROW Licking County Community Improvement Corporation Board (Treasurer) and is serving his fourth four-year term as Monroe Township Trustee, Licking County, Ohio.
A lifelong resident of Johnstown (Licking County), Mr. Robertson and his wife, Jennifer, have four children (Hillary, Grace, Ava, and Joseph Noah) and enjoy spending time at their farm in Alexandria (Timber Run Farm).
