Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz to resign, serve as president & CEO of TSEP

Tiffin, Ohio — The City of Tiffin and Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) announced Friday that Aaron Montz has been named the new President and CEO of TSEP.

Montz, who is currently serving in his third term as mayor of Tiffin, will officially begin as President and CEO of TSEP on July 5.

The youngest mayor to be elected in Tiffin’s history, Montz took office in January 2012 at the age of 26. Prior to being mayor, he worked in the private sector running retail stores and had served on Tiffin City Council since 2007.

While in office, Montz served on the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), Northwest Ohio Mayors and Managers Association (NOMMA), Seneca Regional Planning, North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments (NCORcog) and was appointed by former Gov. John Kasich to the State of Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission in 2013.

“I am so grateful for my time with the City of Tiffin, a community I love and have loved leading for these past 10 years,” Montz said. “I am choosing to leave now because the timing feels perfect the foundation has been set for the next mayor to be successful. I’m proud to say that today the City is in one of its best ever financial positions and we have an incredibly strong team at City Hall that I trust to continue our forward progress.”

“It is certainly bittersweet, but I felt this opportunity at TSEP will allow me to contribute to my hometown in a new way, and couldn’t resist the challenge of helping to guide economic development for the future.”

Following Montz’s resignation, Tiffin City Council President Bridget Boyle will step in as interim Mayor. By Charter, Boyle has the right to remain in office for the remainder of the unexpired term or Tiffin City Council shall choose a replacement.

Montz replaces David Zak who led the organization before taking a leadership position with Crawford Partnership for Education and Economic Development in May. TSEP Board of Trustees put a Search Committee together which reviewed more than 30 applications following a national search.

Lillian Schumacher, Chair of the TSEP Board of Trustees and President of Tiffin University, said she is excited that TSEP has selected Montz to lead the organization.

“I have had the privilege of working with Aaron on many projects, both in my capacity at TSEP and at Tiffin University, and I wish him the best in this new role as he helps chart the course for the future of our community,” Schumacher said.

Seneca County Commissioner Mike Kerschner, who served on the Search Committee, echoed Schumacher’s comments.

“Aaron has been instrumental in the spirit of collaboration that has led to our success here in Seneca County. I think he will do great things at TSEP and look forward to working together in this capacity,” Kerschner said.