Meet Dotson from the Leadership Class of 2025
Seth Dotson was born at the Ohio State University but has lived in Coshocton all his life, right outside town. He attended Lincoln Elementary through second grade. When his family moved to a home on his grandfather’s farm, he then attended Plainfield Elementary and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 2010.He said he enjoyed his time in school being involved with Ridgewood FFA. He earned his State FFA Degree as a junior and served as an officer including vice president of the chapter his senior year.
Starting in his freshman year, he also served on the junior fair board for five years. The year following graduation, Dotson earned his American FFA Degree. This is the highest degree that can be bestowed on an FFA member. He is still involved with FFA as a Ridgewood alumnus.
Of this experience, he said, “FFA is a worthwhile program, and I would encourage all students to consider it. There are opportunities for leadership roles and developing skills that you can use later in life. The agricultural education curriculum offers many different program areas and gives students the opportunity to focus on what interests them.”
After high school Dotson attended COTC Coshocton and earned an associate degree in business management. During this time he worked part-time for Ridgewood Schools as a groundskeeper, custodian and bus driver. He also completed his internship requirement with the IT department at Ridgewood.
In June 2013 he began working for CCMH/Coshocton Regional Medical Center in registration. He moved into the IT department, which oversaw supporting the main hospital and the associated clinics, in an entry-level position. He began as a help desk specialist doing basic stuff such as answering the phone, putting in tickets and doing basic troubleshooting. He advanced to PC analyst and finally to application analyst.
In addition to what he had done at the help desk with troubleshooting and fixing computers, printers and peripherals, he also was in charge of application upgrades for various systems the hospital and clinics utilized and the servers. After the reduction of staff in the department, he also picked up supporting telecom services and additional duties.
Most of his training came on the job with each new position and the additional responsibilities. In 2019 he was nominated by Coshocton Regional Medical Center and received the Rotary Coshocton County Employee of the Year. He remained at the hospital for almost 10 years before starting at the Coshocton County Department of Job & Family Services as a computer technician and MIS Specialist 2. His job responsibilities are similar in that he is still responsible for troubleshooting and fixing the day-to-day issues with computers, printers, peripherals and software as they arise.
Additionally, he is the technical point of contact and local security coordinator for the local county JFS office for the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. In these roles he is responsible for managing and supporting the state IT equipment issued to the office by ODJFS. He also is responsible for user access management including building new users and ensuring they have the appropriate level of access for the various systems the office uses. He ensures the office completes yearly IT trainings and is in compliance with the IT policies and procedures set by ODJFS. He is the liaison for the office to the local county IT department as well.
Other duties include IT equipment procurement and inventory, performing yearly asset reconciliation, and various other projects.
Dotson tries to minimize downtime for employees during the transition from old to new systems or equipment. He also helps where needed, whether it’s answering phones or assisting clients.
He said, “I want to make sure the people I’m helping understand what I’m doing to help them. I try to use layman’s terms they can understand. It’s all about service and being able to empathize with their situation. I treat everyone with respect, and there is never a stupid question.”
Dotson also has served on the senior fair board for 11 years, volunteering for four years with the junior fair while also running for senior fair board. He got on the fair board to serve the community.
Over the years he has served on the horse department and oversaw the horse and pony pulls, junior fair nonlivestock, advertising, sound, IT, and the kiddie pedal pull, which is conducted by the Ridgewood FFA. He also has served on the junior fair auction committee and Friends of the Junior Fair auction.
Dotson also is a member of the Plainfield Masonic Lodge, where he currently serves as treasurer and assistant secretary; Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge; and Ridgewood FFA Alumni.
Dotson said he had always heard about Leadership Coshocton and what a great program it was and decided to participate so he could further develop the leadership skills he already had, see areas for improvement, and build upon his skills and traits.
When asked his view of the community, Dotson said, “We live in a great small-town community. It has a hometown feel; everyone knows each other. People step up to help each other, and the community comes together. Fair time is like a family reunion. Friends come to the fair and you pick up where you left off. It’s the same for the Village of West Lafayette Homecoming Festival — rekindle old friendships. These events give people that opportunity. It’s a good place to raise a family.”
To make the county stronger, Dotson said, “The community as a whole needs more industry — not that the current industry is not important. The loss of so many businesses has had a negative impact on the economy. New industry would encourage people to move here and allow them to sustain themselves here. We saw at the hospital the doctors would ask, ‘Where is my spouse going to work?’ Different businesses or industry would also be able to support the community in different ways.”
Dotson would recommend LCC for others. “It forces you outside your comfort zone and to learn about yourself. It forces you to improve the skills you already have and to become a better leader at work and in the community.”
Category: Clubs & Organizations
