Meet Smith from Leadership Coshocton County Class of 2025
Taylor Smith is a Coshocton native – born and raised in Coshocton. She is a 2017 graduate of Coshocton High School, where she was a four-year letterman cheerleader. Her focus was on “school and cheer, that’s it,” as she was completing her post-secondary coursework at the same time.
By the time she started at Kent State University main campus, she had two-full years of her prerequisites taken care of. She started as an education major, stating, “I thought I’d like to teach middle school English until I student-taught one semester.” Smith then changed majors to psychology, with the goal to be a “school counselor or mental health counselor and help with mental health and wellness of her community.” In 2021, she completed her degree and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She would eventually like to go back and get her master’s degree.
While she was in college, Smith worked at Wal-Mart as a cashier then stocked shelves. Upon graduation, she worked “a tad longer” as she “didn’t know what she wanted to do.” In April 2024, she saw the job as business coordinator for Ohio Means Jobs and “didn’t know what to expect.” Since starting, she has “made so many connections” and is “thankful” for her job “every day.”
In her position as business coordinator, Smith serves as a liaison between the business community; job seekers and Ohio Means Jobs. As she is still new in her position, Smith is still “figuring it out.” She manages and plans job fairs; assists businesses with job openings and hiring employees; host workshops for job seekers on interviewing and resume’ writing. She also researches and disseminates information on the labor market to businesses.
When she’s not at work, Smith is a cheer coach for the varsity football and basketball squad at Coshocton High School. She is “trying to delegate” more and using what she is learning in leadership to “be a good leader and let others follow.”
Smith decided to participate in Leadership Coshocton County as she recognized being a young woman in the business field would be a challenge. She is hoping to “make connections for a smoother, easier transition” with local businesses, as well as strengthen her ability to represent herself and her employer with businesses. She also wanted to “force herself out of her comfort zone and make connections with new and different people.” She has also used the “Real Colors” personality assessment, which is a resource that she has collected from Leadership Coshocton County, with her cheer squad .
Smith appreciates the generosity of the community, that “when things get tough, we all have each other’s back.” She’d like to see more support for the community, however, at all times, not just during times of tragedy or great need.
When asked what would make the county stronger, Smith was unsure, stating, “With being young, it’s hard to envision what Coshocton County was like before and what it could be.” She also pointed out that while we support one another during times of tragedy and loss, she’d like to see more day-to-day interaction among neighbors and community members.
Smith would recommend Leadership Coshocton for others, stating, “It is great as a means of furthering your career and professional development and it has created meaningful personal relationships. It’s like a family that you didn’t know you had. Everyone in the class has been wonderful. I try to talk to people in different occupations and share experiences. It’s nice to hear from others with similar problems or experiences. We can share information and resources. During the chapter reviews, I enjoy working with different people and bounce ideas off them. I will always have my classmates as resources. I’m a blue, ‘people’ is everything to me.”
Smith is a “big sister to seven younger siblings; has four cats and is an avid reader.”
Category: People & Places
