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Gilmore Jasion Mahler CPA Amanda Lewis recently went back to school. Well, sort of. A Consulting and Assurance Manager with GJM, she’s a member of this year’s Hancock Leadership class. The nationally recognized 9-month program offered by the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce is designed to foster professional and personal growth and encourage participants to further embrace community service.

And, there’s no doubt Amanda experienced all of that, and more.

With GJM for almost seven years, it is safe to say that she already has a strong professional network. But Amanda says being a part of the 2021 class helped with further professional development, allowing her the opportunity to network and meet a number of professionals across various occupations.

"A great experience..."

“I think it’s been a great experience to learn more about the community and meet others. I was so impressed with how the Chamber presented our sessions. Even in the middle of a pandemic, sometimes wearing masks, or meeting virtually, I really felt like I got to know my fellow classmates and learned so much,” she says.

Chamber Executive Director Dionne Neubauer oversees Hancock Leadership. She says early on in the program, Amanda took on a leadership role as committee chair, overseeing fundraising efforts for the History Walk, this year’s class project.

“While her classmates drew on her financial skills, Amanda’s ability to engage and empower her committee led to exceeding the project goals,” says Neubauer. She describes Amanda’s involvement as one of the key drivers in the success of the class project. 

About History Walk

“Our class project is a History Walk at Brucklacher Memorial Park (by the little red schoolhouse),” says Amanda. “It was completed in partnership with The Hancock Historical Museum and Kiwanis Club of Findlay. There are 12 stations along the walk that each feature a panel with a description of a historical event specific to Hancock County.”

The class not only oversaw fundraising for the History Walk, but also handled construction of the path, including landscaping and donor recognition displays.

While seeing their project come together was exciting, Amanda says on a personal level, probably the most rewarding part of being involved in Hancock Leadership was learning more about the Findlay-Hancock County community as well as connecting with her classmates. The class met once a month for nine months to learn more about core community information and organizations. Topics and sessions ranged from economic development to agriculture to the justice system.

Amanda says some of the most enjoyable sessions for her personally included the Findlay Airport session, and going out on the runway, as well as justice and law day. She says the class was able to tour several county facilities and sit down and speak with a number of county officials. One of the more interesting things she learned was that Findlay has two large water reservoirs outside of town that she was unaware of. One session day they traveled by bus to the reservoirs and drove around them.

Asked if she would recommend the Hancock Leadership experience to others, Amanda said most definitely. She described it as a great experience to learn more about the community and meet others.

Many other GJM staff members are prior graduates of Hancock Leadership, including Andrea Jennex, Mike Brough, Chuck Stumpp, Cindy Larrigan, Kit Augsburger, Matt Long and Tracy Kennedy. Many other GJM staff are graduates of Leadership Toledo.

Congratulations to Amanda and her classmates, who graduate on June 8^th. If you think you know of someone who might be a good candidate, Hancock Leadership is currently accepting applications for the upcoming class year. Applications are due on June 9. To learn more or download the application, visit Findlay Hancock Chamber.com/HancockLeadership.  

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.