Staff - Ottawa County Improvement Corporation

Jamie N. Beier Grant

Director

Jamie Beier Grant began her career in economic development in 2001, working for the Ohio Department of Development in the International Trade Division and Economic Development Division and began her move back home to Northwest Ohio in 2002 when she joined the Regional Growth Partnership in Toledo as a Business Development Representative and Director of the Toledo Area International Trade Association.

In 2004, Ms. Beier Grant was hired as Director of the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, the County’s lead economic and workforce development agency. Since 2004, Ottawa County has seen new project investments of $790+ million and the creation of more than 750 jobs, including investments by Davis Besse, Materion-Brush Inc., Fenner Dunlop, USG, and ARES, Inc. As Director, Mrs. Beier Grant has leveraged $25+ million in financing and incentives for local business investments. In 2008, Ms. Beier Grant led construction of a $1.5 million 50,000 square foot speculative industrial building, which is now home to more than 150,000 square feet of space.

In 2013, Ms. Beier Grant was integral in establishing the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council (BAC), one of Ohio’s only comprehensive efforts to connect education and business leadership together to ensure our future workforce needs can be properly met. The BAC initiative has touched the lives of 1,600 local students and has been highlighted throughout the state and on a national HR level, and was a featured presentation at the 2015 United Way Worldwide Conference.

Ms. Beier Grant was appointed to the Ohio Tax Credit Authority by the Ohio Legislature and has served in leadership roles with the Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development Association (NORED) and the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA). Ms. Beier Grant’s professional experience and goals in leadership capacities with NORED and OEDA focus on the creation of a vibrant business climate for Ottawa County, Northwest Ohio, and the State of Ohio.

In addition, she holds board positions with Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands, United Way in Ottawa County, and the Ohio Economic Development Association. Ms. Beier Grant also sits on the School Advisory Council for St. Boniface Catholic School, and has volunteered as a mentor to elementary students and a county-wide supervised visitation program, Joyful Connections.

Jamie Beier Grant is a 2010 20 Under 40 Leadership recipient, received the 2012 NORED Flame award for leadership, and was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Economic Development Leader in North America in 2015. She is a graduate of Denison University in Granville, Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in German and was accepted into the the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Leadership Program in 2017. She resides in Oak Harbor with her husband and two sons.

Gaye L. Winterfield

Business & Workforce Development Manager

Email: gwinterfield@ocic.biz

Gaye Winterfield began her career working as the Grants Administrator for the Seneca County Commissioners and the Seneca County Regional Planning Commission. During her 13-year tenure she assisted the county in competing and securing Federal, State and Local grant dollars. In 2002, Ms. Winterfield left her position with Seneca County to work as a grants consultant and raise her family. She worked for North Coast Strategy Group and taught grant writing classes at Terra State Community College.

In 2013, Ms. Winterfield worked for Judge Kathleen Giesler in the Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Courts. She served as the Specialized Dockets Coordinator and was instrumental in developing and gaining State certification for three Specialized docket programs.

Ms. Winterfield was hired as Business & Workforce Development Manager for the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation in 2014. Since then, she has built positive relationships with local businesses and has been part of numerous activities within the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council, including the Career Engagement Opportunity (CEO) Internship Program and the annual Ottawa County Career Showcase. Ms. Winterfield works closely with OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County to assist employers with their hiring needs, including the On-the-Job Training program.

In 2015, in cooperation with Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services, Ms. Winterfield coordinated a layoff aversion campaign, which included ads in radio, T.V. and social media to educate employers about available assistance. The campaign demonstrated success in gaining $388,000 additional state dollars to assist a local business in averting layoffs and keep 16 jobs within the company.

Ms. Winterfield holds board positions with WSOS Community Action Commission, Ottawa County Safety Council, Ottawa County Workforce Development Board and Area 7 Workforce Investment Board.

Ms. Winterfield is a graduate of Morehead State University, Morehead, KY with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism & Government Studies, and is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies. She resides in Oak Harbor with her husband and their three children.

Jessica E. Kowalski

Program & Office Coordinator

Email: jkowalski@ocic.biz

Jessica Kowalski was hired as the Administrative Assistant of the OCIC in September 2011 and was promoted to Program & Office Coordinator in June 2014. In Ms. Kowalski’s capacity as Program & Office Coordinator, she performed daily tasks such as: customer service, answering and directing phone calls, scheduling, maintaining, and recording Resource Centre room usage, maintaining office files, typing reports, meeting minutes and memos, and maintaining office inventory and supplies.

Ms. Kowalski’s fiscal responsibilities include QuickBooks and accounting functions, monitoring and recording expenditures, and creating and modifying office spreadsheets for events and activities. Ms. Kowalski has participated in annual internal Financial Audits from the period of 2010-2015, and in three State Financial Audits for year-end 2009-2010, 2012-2013, and 2014-2015.

In addition to these responsibilities, Ms. Kowalski also serves as the administrator to the Ottawa County Safety Council. Since she began administering the council in 2013, the Ottawa County Safety Council has since increased its membership, implemented several membership programs, and offered additional external trainings. The Ottawa County Safety Council received Honorable Mention for the 2016 and 2017 Safety Council of the Year, due to an increase in membership and monthly attendance.

Ms. Kowalski coordinates all internal and external marketing and communications of the OCIC, including the Ottawa County Safety Council and the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County. While managing 8 social media platforms, Ms. Kowalski creates video footage to help increase OCIC’s awareness, such as the Experience Ottawa County and the Ottawa County Career Showcase events. She continues to create digital marketing ads and infographics for a quick and clear visual representation of OCIC. In April 2017, Ms. Kowalski completely revamped OCIC’s website, allowing it to be more user-friendly. Later that year, she created the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County website.

Ms. Kowalski sits on the United Way in Ottawa County Advisory Council. She is a 2009 graduate of Port Clinton High School and Vanguard-Sentinel Career Center. She graduated with honors from Vanguard and majored in Business Software and Technology. In 2013, she received her Associate Degree of Applied Business from Owens State Community College. She is an Ottawa County native and resides in Oak Harbor with her fiancé.

S. Chrissy Ernsberger

Employment Resources Coordinator

Email: cernsberger@ocic.biz

Chrissy Ernsberger began her career in social services in 1999, working as an On-Going Caseworker for Sandusky County Children Services and later for Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus. Ms. Ernsberger left her position with Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus in 2003 to focus on raising her young children and in 2007, brought that passion for children to St. John’s Nursery School in Oak Harbor where she worked as a Teacher’s Aide.

In 2015, Ms. Ernsberger was given the opportunity to work for the Ottawa County Juvenile Court, as a Classroom Monitor/Tutor for the Student Achievement Program, where she combined her passion for helping students with her social services background. While working for the Ottawa County Juvenile Court, Ms. Ernsberger received an Honored Educator Award.

Ms. Ernsberger was hired as the Employment Resources Coordinator for the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County center in February 2018, immediately establishing positive relationships with job seekers and has developed new strategies to improve services within the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County network. She works with job seekers to create career plans, provides guidance with resume writing, conducts job searches to assist job seekers, and works with job seekers to build networking skills to help them successfully find career opportunities.

Ms. Ernsberger is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work. She lives in Oak Harbor with her husband and together they have four children.

Tricia G. Tallman

Employment Resources Assistant

Email: ttallman@ocic.biz

Tricia Tallman began her career working at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2009, working as Nursery School Teacher. In 2016, Ms. Tallman joined Kersten’s Korner Nursery School as a Substitute Teacher, where she furthered her passion for teaching and preparing children for kindergarten.

In 2017, Ms. Tallman was given the opportunity to work with adults as an Orientation Specialist-Aide with Vanguard-Sentinel Career Center. Working for Vanguard, Ms. Tallman focuses her efforts in the ASPIRE Program, which assists adults in acquiring the skills to be successful in post-secondary education and training, and employment.

Tricia Tallman was hired as the Employment Resources Assistant for the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County center in April 2018, immediately providing assistance with resume writing, unemployment services, and forming positive relationships with job seekers. She also works with job seekers to build networking skills to help them successfully find career opportunities.

Ms. Tallman has been a mentor for 5 years with the TNT Mentoring Program of Ottawa County and she recently started volunteering at Riders Unlimited, Inc. Equestrian Center.

Ms. Tallman is a graduate of Davis College with an Associate’s Degree in Marketing. She lives in Oak Harbor with her husband and together they have three children.