Meet Shample from the leadership class of 2025
Denise Shample was born in Cambridge but has lived her entire life in Coshocton County. She attended River View schools through the 10th grade when her family moved to the Ridgewood District. Shample attended the career center for 11th grade and 12th grade, taking accounting, and graduated in 1986.Following graduation, Shample entered the Army Reserves. She served during Desert Storm in an HQ Unit where she completed paperwork that assigned positions to members serving in Desert Storm. Shample served eight years total, six active and two nonactive. At that time she married her first husband, who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia with the Navy. They moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and eventually returned to Coshocton to be near her family. Not long after returning to Coshocton, Shample got divorced and remarried in 2002.
Shample initially worked at Clow/McWane Ductile for 10 years in accounts receivable, followed by inside sales. She then worked for Empire Plastics/Simona Boltaron in Newcomerstown as the credit and collections manager.
In 2007 Shample was faced with the decision of placing her parents into a nursing home due to their declining health. Her father passed while her mother was hospitalized, leaving her mother to be moved alone. After moving her mother and visiting, Shample said, “I realized I didn’t just want to collect a check for the rest of my life. I wanted to do something meaningful.”
During this time Shample completed her Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon and began working as the business office manager at Autumn Healthcare. She held this role for 10 months and then accepted a position at Riverside in Newcomerstown.
At this time Duane Shepherd agreed to be her preceptor, and on Jan. 1, 2008, Shample began her administrator-in-training program. This unpaid position has the administrator candidate working in every department of the facility. In July 2008, Shample was accepted to work for Kindred Healthcare in Newark in their administrator-in-training program, and she worked with Erin Kennedy.
Shample completed her Master of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and after many months of hard work, she received her licensed nursing home administrator and began working as the assistant administrator at Kindred Healthcare.
“This position,” she said, “basically started my career in health care.”
Shample worked for many nursing homes and rehabilitation centers in the area from her start in 2008 but always wanted to return home to Coshocton. In January 2024 she was offered this opportunity and began working as the chief executive officer/administrator at Roscoe Gardens Skilled Nursing and Rehab.
She said she is thrilled to be back in the area and part of Leadership Coshocton. In this role Shample manages the day-to-day operations of the facility, which includes management support for department heads including interviewing and hiring, performance evaluations, employee development and training, annual budget preparation, physician development, implementation of control systems to ensure department accountability, and marketing of the facility.
Shample said, “Ultimately, I am responsible for everything that goes on in the facility. I enjoy what I do. Every day is something different. I know my staff names and help. I know the residents’ names, and that makes a huge difference. We need to take care of our seniors. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here. They should be treated like gold, and caring is the key. I got into long-term care because of my parents. I am very happy to be back here and want to remain in the community.”
Shample is involved in the community as a member of AmVets, Business and Professional Women, Eastern Star in Newcomerstown, Kiwanis Club of Coshocton and Rotary.
When asked why she decided to participate in Leadership Coshocton, Shample said, “To be able to learn more about Coshocton County. I always lived here but wanted to learn the backside of the county. I wanted to participate in leadership but was pulled in many directions and unable. I want to give back to the county. Many people come here for the beauty of the county and to take advantage of everything the county has to offer. I want to grow within the community, both in my career and personally.”
Shample said she thinks the community is beautiful but could do a little bit more for the homeless of the community.
“A lot of people come to Coshocton from other areas for the different things we offer — Roscoe Village, Coshocton KOA, Schumaker’s,” she said.
To make the county stronger, Shample recommends a return of industry but also promoting the new small businesses already in Coshocton.
“It’s getting better. West Lafayette is a good example. We need to stay local, shop local, promote local, enhance and show the beauty we have in Coshocton County, promote what we have. The county courthouse light show is another good example,” she said.
Shample would recommend Leadership Coshocton County for others. “I just feel it helps an individual be able to grow and understand what leadership truly is. It pushes you outside your comfort zone. There is always something you can learn from Leadership Coshocton, no matter what your position,” she said.
Shample and her husband live in Fresno on 33 acres, which they lease for farming and hunting. They enjoy riding their motorcycle around the county. She has one son and is a grandmother of four. She enjoys traveling and seeing the world but always wants to come home to Coshocton. Shample said she might consider running for office someday.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
