Wendy Zucal, Executive Director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum has been selected as the recipient of annual Alumni of the Year award winner.
Says Wendy’s nominator, Ethan Zucal, “It’s an honor to have had the opportunity to nominate Wendy Zucal for the 2025 Leadership Tuscarawas Alumni of the Year Award. As a graduate of the inaugural class, Wendy deeply values the mission of Leadership Tuscarawas and the role it plays in shaping strong, community-focused leaders.”
Wendy's contributions to Tuscarawas County over the past 36 years have been nothing short of extraordinary. As Executive Director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, she has not only preserved and promoted local history but brought it to life—especially for children, through creative initiatives like the Patriot Rally. She has served as a driving force behind programs such as the Women’s Success Series, the 40 Leading Ladies of Tuscarawas County, and the cherished Christmas Tour of Homes. A leader in tourism and economic development for over 25 years, Wendy has activated hundreds of volunteers and welcomed thousands of families and train enthusiasts to the region through Ohio’s only Polar Express train excursion. Under her leadership, the county earned its first national historic landmark designation with the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, and she has overseen the operation of three museums.
She also made history as the first and only female board president of the Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation, continuing her lifelong commitment to breaking barriers and building opportunity. In addition, Wendy has served on numerous state, regional, and local boards and commissions—always leading with vision, collaboration, and heart.
Wendy Zucal exemplifies the highest qualities and personifies the very definition of servant leadership.
For more information, please contact Dr. William H. Beisel, Executive Director, Leadership Tuscarawas at 330-308-7437 or wbeisel@kent.edu.
Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2025 to Celebrate Graduation and Community Impact (5/13/25)
The Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2025 will celebrate the culmination of their 10-month leadership development journey at the Graduation Celebration on May 13, 2025, at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. The event will highlight the achievements of thirty-three class members, with each receiving recognition for their dedication to leadership growth and community service.
As part of the program, class members collaborated on five impactful community projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Tuscarawas County.
This year’s projects include Tuscarawas Arts Partnership: Cultivating and Supporting the Arts Landscape for Our Community; Tusc Lands: Preservation of County Farms and Greenspace; Empower Tusc—Male Suicide Prevention; Growing Engineering Technology Enrollments at Kent State Tuscarawas; and, Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Youth Leadership Board Project. Each group will present an overview of their project during the evening celebration. Following the presentations, a graduation ceremony will feature Dean Brad Bielski of Kent State Tuscarawas as the keynote speaker.
Throughout the year, Leadership Tuscarawas participants engaged in monthly program days focused on servant leadership, community awareness, and professional development. The experience also included networking opportunities, tours of local facilities and businesses, and educational sessions on key sectors such as agriculture, justice, tourism, and government.
The Leadership Tuscarawas program continues to inspire local leaders to contribute meaningfully to their communities while fostering a deeper understanding of county-wide challenges and opportunities.
Members of the graduating class include: Nathan Aldergate, Kraton Chemical; Elaine Booth, Tuscarawas County Senior Center; Jamie Carlisle, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District; Shyanne Carroll, Buckeye Career Center; Kathryn Cooper, The Commercial & Savings Bank; Andrew Cornell, Groovfold; Karen Crase, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union; James Devore, TuscoMFG; Brianna Dewalt, First National Bank of Dennison; Elizabeth Dorto, First Federal Community Bank; Paige Dugan, Access Tusc; Tracy Fawcett, First Federal Community Bank; Max Feller, Investment Partners, LTD; Ashley Galati, Kent State University at Tuscarawas; Gia Harmon, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center (ECO-ESC); Troy Johnson, SIMONA Boltaron, Inc.; Kari Klaserner, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital; Cate Kurtzman, Allied Machine & Engineering; Katie Lee, Lauren International; Alexis Lindsay, Aultman Health Foundation; Freda Martin, Workforce Initiative Association and Ohio Means Jobs of Stark & Tuscarawas Counties; Brennan Mathias, Dennison Depot Railroad Museum; Marley Miller, Tuscarawas County Senior Center; Mike Morrison, National Association Supply Cooperative; Janette Murphy, Dover Chemical; Zachary Phillips, New Philadelphia City Health Department; Jason Schrock, Belden Brick; Mark Sclater, Allied Machine & Engineering; Megan Shaheen, Tuscarawas County YMCA; Jennifer Stidd, First National Bank of Dennison; Jennifer Swigert, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union; Erica van Pelt, American Red Cross; and Charity Waugh, Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
The community is invited to celebrate the graduating class at Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center Tuesday, May 13th starting with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Dr. William H. Beisel at wbeisel@kent.edu.