BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS"From the Desk of Commissioner Pat Geissman"
|
~ About Commissioner Pat Geissman ~ Pat was elected in 1992 as Medina County's first female commissioner and was re-elected in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. Previously, she was elected to the Lodi Village Council in 1977 and served 5 years. She also served Medina County as the executive director of the American Cancer Society for 8 years during the 1980s. Pat was a licensed realtor for 20 years and also served for over 20 years as a volunteer with the Lodi Fire Department as an emergency medical technician. Commissioner Geissman is a board member of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the Ohio County Risk Sharing Authority (an insurance pool for 62 Ohio counties that are self-insured) and she has served as president of both state organizations. In December 2003, she was selected by Attorney General Jim Petro to serve on a 2004 Elder Abuse Task Force to bring awareness of elder abuse to communities in Ohio. Pat Geissman has been recognized by many organizations and agencies for her commitment and dedication of service to Medina County. In 2008, Pat was selected as the Buckeye Central High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame recipient. The HANDS Foundation of Medina County honored Commissioner Geissman for "Contributions in Enhancing the Quality of Life for Senior Citizens in Medina County". The Medina County Railroad Safety Task Force presented Pat with a bronzed rail spike to thank her for her work in organizing the task force and for her leadership in their accomplishments. In 2002, Pat was recognized by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association and was given the Outstanding Community Leadership Award in advancing the county school systems of Ohio. The local YWCA honored Pat as a Woman of Distinction in 2000 for her leadership in the county. These are just a few of the honors that Commissioner Geissman has received over the years. Pat is a member of many organizations and involved in numerous community activities. She belongs to several local chambers of commerce, the Farm Bureau, Townships Association, Leadership Medina County, Lodi Ruritan Club (past president), and she is a Hospice volunteer and serves on numerous boards & committees. Commissioner Geissman's long list of projects she has worked on include the establishment of Medina County's first Battered Women’s Shelter, the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Medina County Jail, just to name a few. In 2002, Pat formed a railroad safety task force to evaluate and prioritize grade crossings to obtain foundation and state-funded grants for gates and lights at dangerous crossings. Twenty crossings have already been approved for funding with 16 of those completed and operational. She also started a free farmers' market for low-income senior citizens, as well as the Medina Square Farmers' Market. Commissioner Geissman recently organized two task forces as a result of the stagnant economy. The Foreclosure Prevention Task Force educates families on their ability to negotiate with their mortgage holders to refinance their homes, enabling them to possibly stay in their homes. The Food Pantry Task Force has created the "Feeding Medina County" initiative that provides free food to hundreds of needy families in Medina County. In 2000, Pat organized and introduced the Medina County Commissioners' Charity Ball to the community that has raised about a quarter of a million dollars for local charities over the past 12 years. Pat and her husband, Lee, live in Lodi. They have four sons and daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. Provided in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. |
