Our People are Expanding Businesses & Benefiting our Community
These community leaders are representative of our industry sectors and geographics, and represent both public and private interests to improve communication and understanding on local economic issues across this common divide.
STAFF

AARON PAULY
Economic Development Coordinator
Aaron Pauly was born and raised in Ashland County. He is a graduate of Ashland City Schools and The University of Findlay (’18 BS – Managerial Accounting). Currently, he serves as a member of the United States Army Reserves.
Aaron is also a member of the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center Advisory board.
apauly@growashland.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MATT MILLER
President
Matt Miller was sworn in as the 54th Mayor of the City of Ashland on January 1, 2018. A former city councilman, Matt is no stranger to our Ashland municipal government and currently serves, or has served, on a number of boards throughout the Ashland community.
Born and raised in the Ashland area, Matt is a graduate of Ashland University where he was both a Presidential Scholar and Ashbrook Scholar at the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs. In 2007, Matt received the Ashland University Outstanding Alumni Award.
Matt and his wife Melanie are active in their church, and continue to volunteer with numerous organizations throughout Northeast Ohio.

MIKE KELLY
Treasurer
Mike Kelly is the Chief Operating Officer of Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc./Hedstrom and has been a resident of Ashland County for 22 years. By background, he is an accounting undergraduate of DePaul University, CPA, and holds a masters in management from Northwestern University. Mike has worked in accounting capacities for more than 40 years.
Currently, he is a board member with University Hospitals/Samaritan, District Treasurer for the Ohio Lions – District 13-OH2, and Treasurer for the Hayesville Lions.

BJ HARVEY
Secretary
B.J. Harvey is a lifelong citizen of Ashland County. He is a graduate of Ashland City Schools and The Ohio State University (’07 BS – Financial Management, Real Estate). Currently, he is the General Manager of the local manufacturer Ohio Carbon Industries, Inc. and the Business Development Administrator for Magnum Metals.
B.J. also is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Smile Foundation, a non-profit organization that benefits area children.

KEITH BOALES

MIKE WELCH
Mike Welch has served as an Ashland County Commissioner since 2002. Prior to his service to the County, Mike served as a Jackson Township trustee from 1996-2002. He is the acting President of the County Employees Benefits Consortium of Ohio. Mike also serves on the 911 Advisory Committee, Ashland County Land Bank Board, Records Commission, and the Community Corrections Board.
Outside of Mike’s public service, he is a dairy and grain farmer at UDEAN Farms of Polk. He has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for 35 years. They have two children, Jonathan Welch and Ashlee Marie Lucas, and one grandson, Jayden Flanagan.

BEN USELTON
Ben Uselton is the President/Founder of BCU Electric, Inc. Ben has been a part of the electrical industry for 40+ years. During this time, he has completed an IBEW electrical apprenticeship, become a master electrician with electrical licenses in multiple states, and established BCU Electric, Inc. in 1990.
Ben is a active member in the Ashland Community. He is very active at Grace Brethren Church and his company, BCU Electric, Inc. is a Pacesetter for United Way of Ashland County.
JORDAN LANCE
Jordan Lance is the President of the Mohican Area Growth Foundation in Loudonville. He is a native of Ashland County and a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Economics. Currently, he is the Business Development Manager for Europe & the Middle East for the J.M. Smucker Company in Orrville, OH.
In his free time, Jordan likes to spend his time mountain biking in Mohican State Park and traveling with his family. Jordan and his wife, Becky, live in Loudonville with their two boys.