Jessica Wiley is the Marketing and Communications Specialist for Licking County Transit. A resident of Ohio since her middle school years, Jessica got her start in public transportation as a dispatcher and is now a rising young professional in helping build up the county’s public transportation system.
Jessica’s path to Licking was anything but a straight line, and is a good example of the type of career journey many young people face. She graduated from Notre Dame College in Cleveland with her first bachelor’s in communications and worked in food service and insurance for her early career. After moving to Zanesville, she decided to pursue a second bachelor’s in Graphic Design online, eventually finding work at Hunter Marketing, which consults for the Central Ohio Transit Agency. Finally, this led to settling into an administrative assistant position at Licking County Transit.
After several years of moving about, Jessica said working at Licking Transit was the job that finally made her want to stay. “I just knew this is where I was meant to be.” Jessica recalled, “Really evolving my position has been so much fun. Licking County is the place to be, it’s my home now.”
Jessica’s role as an administrative assistant evolved into being promoted to administrative coordinator six months later, and then to Marketing and Communications Specialist again six months later.
She attributes LCT Executive Director Matt Allison’s leadership and mentorship as a huge part in her flourishing at the department. “I remember he said ‘be you,’” Jessica said, “he told me ‘put your footprint on it. Make the position what you want it to be.’” Present day, Jessica leads all aspects of LCT’s public-facing work, designing billboards, promotional materials, transit guides, and coordinating with the Commissioner’s Office and local stakeholders like the Veterans’ Service Commission.
Jessica’s story resonates with many young professionals today, looking for a supportive and welcoming community to flourish and settle down in. When asked why she, after such a long journey, decided to stay in Licking County, Jessica responded that the friendliness and supportiveness of the community were a large part of her decision, as well as the region’s small-town atmosphere.
“You can really stand out here; there is a lot of room to grow.” She said. “I have definitely planted my roots here. I’m just getting started, and I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon.”