Born and raised in Logan County, Ohio, Joe is a 1973 graduate of Indian Lake High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Otterbein University in 1977. After teaching for the West Liberty Salem Local Schools for 6 years, Joe earned a Master of Music Education from Bowling Green State University in 1984. He was Director of Bands for the Bellefontaine City Schools for 29 years and retired in 2013. Under his direction, the BHS Band developed into a state and nationally recognized program.
Joe has a long history of public service in addition to his teaching career, including chairmanships of the major committees at the First United Methodist Church of Bellefontaine and the City of Bellefontaine Tree Commission. He is an active adjudicator for the Ohio Music Education Association, Principal Tuba and Section Leader of the Dublin Silver Band, and has served as guest clinician and conductor of area honor bands. Joe has been an adjunct professor at Urbana University since 2013.
In addition to his responsibilities as Commissioner, Joe is Finance Chair and Steering Committee member for the Logan County Republican Party. He has been county chair for several state-wide Republican candidates. He is the Commissioners’ representative for the Logan County Collaborative and is working to encourage further trust and positive communication between the Commissioner Board, other elected officials, and county citizens.