WAEDC Board and Members


It takes a strong local partnership to guarantee your company success.


It’s an exciting time when a community has achieved a major accomplishment and received national attention in doing it. That is exactly what’s happening in Wapakoneta, Ohio.


After more than a decade of planning and steadfast investment to create a world-class industrial park, the Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council has completed its mission. The West Central Ohio Industrial Center (WCOIC) at the intersection of Interstate 75 and US 33 is now one of the largest rail-served, shovel-ready industrial parks in the country.


Since the Job Ready Site grant was awarded in 2007, the State of Ohio and City of Wapakoneta have invested more than $7 million in developing, testing, and analyzing the site. The process is now complete and WCOIC is ready for development. Being ready saves your company both time and money.


Our local economic development council (WAEDC) serves both companies and site consultants as the single point of entry to the West Central Ohio Industrial Center.

Joshua J Bloomfield

Executive Director

In Progress




WAEDC Board Members

Michael Burton

Michael A. Burton is a partner with Jauert & Burton LLP and has practiced in Auglaize, Shelby, Allen, and Mercer Counties since 1995. He worked as a Certified Public Accountant at Price Waterhouse in Columbus for five years. Mike’s practice focuses on administration of estates; medicaid and elder law planning; commercial, probate, and domestic litigation; and municipal law. Mike also devotes significant time to real estate, tax and debt resolution matters. Mike graduated from Ohio University in 1986 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. He received his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1995. Mike is a member of the Ohio and Auglaize County Bar Associations. Mike serves on the board of the Wapakoneta Family YMCA and served as vice president of WAEDC 2005-2010.

Andrew Farley

Andrew Farley is a Senior Vice President, Regional Executive, for The State Bank and Trust Co. Andy has assisted many business banking relationships in the Wapakoneta region with opportunities to use both conventional & government loan and account programs to help grow or start their business activity. Andy attended Wright State University and graduated through Excelsior University with a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing. A longtime resident of the neighboring Lima/Shawnee area, Andy has been working and serving the Wapakoneta area through volunteer activities and initiatives since 1991.

Chad Doll

Chad Doll is a high school social studies teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, and quiz bowl coach at St. Marys Memorial High School. Chad earned his BA in Political Science and BS in Social Studies Education at Miami University and a Master's Degree in Education at Bluffton University. Chad is Chair of the Communications & Rules Committee and also serves on the Lands, Buildings & Building Code Committee and the Finance Committee. Chad and his wife Kristin have three children, John, Lauren and Nathan. Following spending time with his family, Mr. Doll's other favorite interests include reading, following sports, and trivia.

Open

In Progress

Bob Hager

Bob’s nearly 34 years of entrepreneurial and professional management experience includes years working internally inside organizations as well as outside through sales development, speaking and consulting experiences. He has been President of Miller’s Textile Services since 1998 leading the company thru successive years of increasing growth and expansion. Personally, Bob is an accomplished martial artist and enjoys spending time with his wife Lorrie and their four children. Other pursuits include travel, college sporting events, fly fishing, snow skiing, and reading.

Aaron Rex

Aaron Rex is the Superintendent of Wapakoneta City Schools. He has worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator in the Wapakoneta School System. Aaron received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University where he majored in Social Studies Education and Educational Administration. He is a member of Rotary, Sertoma, and the Lions Club. In addition he attends and is a member of Harvest Baptist Church. Aaron has three children, Layne, Lydia, and Ella, and he is married to Kami. He is proud to be a Redskin!

Jackie Martel

Jackie is the Executive Director of the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce. She has over 20 years experience in management and consulting for international organizations and start-up businesses. Jackie holds degrees from Xavier University and the University of Akron in Industrial Psychology and Business. Active in our community, Jackie is a board member of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, the Greater Grand Lake Region Visitors Bureau and the Wapakoneta Community Development Center. She enjoys being the adviser to the high school Octagon Club and a member of the Rotary and Sertoma clubs.

Mark Jarvis 

Mark Jarvis is President and owner of The Building Company of Wapakoneta and of Mark R. Jarvis Management Company and the President and founding member of Health Professionals Management Company. Since 2007, Mark has also worked as realtor for Yocum Realty, focusing on Commercial and Industrial Sales and Leasing. Prior to earning his MBA from Tiffin University in 2002, Mark worked in education at the secondary and post secondary levels, including Vice President and Chairman of the University Cabinet at the University of Northwestern Ohio. Mark is very active in the local community, serving on the Wapakoneta City Schools District Leadership Team, Home Savings Bank Board of Directors, Wapakoneta Area Job Ready Sites Community Improvement Corporation, and Allen County Visionaries Board of Trustees. Mark has lived in Wapakoneta for twenty years.

Alan Davis 

Alan Davis is a Nationally Recognized Financial Services Professional with over 35 years of experience. Alan is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors or "NAIFA". Alan is a member of Life Underwriter Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF), a Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP), Has Series 6 and 63 licenses, and is also a member of the Million Dollar Round Table or "MDRT" the Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Alan's success is just one of the pillars reflective of MDRT levels of excellence. Members like Alan must meet a certain level of proven success each year, and must also adhere to strict ethical standards. Alan enjoys helping others with their financial needs and to help ensure his clients are prepared in the event of a catastrophe. Alan's goal is to help provide peace of mind, save lives, and protect the futures of clients. Has a staff of 12 dedicated specialists to help clients with all of their financial, employee benefits, and risk management needs.

Erica Preston

Erica Preston is the County Administrator for Auglaize County. Erica grew up in Wapakoneta and returned to the area after spending seven years in the Columbus, Ohio area where she practiced law at an international law firm. Erica graduated from Wapakoneta High School in 2000 and obtained both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Ohio Northern University. Erica is on the board of directors for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Lonnie Pedersen

Lonnie Pedersen has a long history in the telecommunications field, and he currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at TSC, Wapakoneta's local telecommunications provider. Lonnie serves in many leadership roles around the community, including Board of Director positions for Com Net Inc., Minster Bank, Telcom Insurance Group and OSLECA, Ohio Small Local Exchange Carrier Association. Lonnie earned a degree in business administration from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. He moved to Wapakoneta in 1990 from Spencer, Iowa.

Kirk Azbell

Kirk Azbell is the Vice President of Sales and Procurement for the G.A. Wintzer & Son Co. Prior to his employment with G.A. Wintzer in 1993, he was the Vice President of Rex Douglas Corporation inFt Lauderdale, FL. Kirk studied business and logistics at Wright State and Ohio State and spent several years with PepsiCo, immediately following college, in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago, and Detroit. Kirk and his Wife, Gayle reside in Wapakoneta.

Natalie S. Bice

Natalie S. Bice is a Certified Public Accountant and an Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent. Natalie serves as an Accounting Manager with J M Green & Associates, CPA and is the Business Services Manager of WAJ Management Co. since October 2017. Prior to moving back to Wapakoneta, she served as a Tax Senior Manager with Ernst & Young US, LLP, a multinational professional services firm (“Big Four” accounting firm) for 12 years serving the Dayton and Cincinnati middle market communities.


Natalie has over 15 years of experience in Federal Tax Consulting, Accounting for Income Taxes, and Corporate and Individual Tax Compliance experience. She has deep tax compliance knowledge in partnership, S-Corporation and C-Corporation tax areas. She holds a B.S.B.A. degree in Accounting and an M.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. She is a member of America Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). Additionally, she serves as Treasurer and on the Board of Trustees for West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) headquartered in Lima, Ohio.


Natalie and her husband Rick, a General Foreman with the Dayton Ironworker’s Union, reside in Wapakoneta with their children.

Ryan Place

Ryan has been licensed to sell real estate since 2005. Primarily working in the Residential, Investment, Commercial, and Agriculture real estate industry. Through the years he has developed his real estate marketing skills, combining progressive technology and traditional real estate marketing. His pursuit of an advanced marketing platform through real estate technologies such as Websites, Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Photography and Video, Google Apps platform, E-Mail, and vast understanding of various other online marketing platforms has led to the founding of Merritt Real Estate Professionals in 2012. 

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