Meet Ashley Guthrie: Port Authority office manager and member of Leadership Coshocton Class of 2026

Ashley Guthrie was born and raised in Coshocton and attended Coshocton Christian School for much of her life. She spent some time at River View Middle and High School before returning to the Christian school, where she played volleyball and basketball, graduating in 2013.

After high school she attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University, taking general education coursework. With no specific major in mind, she decided to take a year off to explore her options and began working as a nanny, a job she found she truly enjoyed, and continued doing child care for eight years.

In 2019 Guthrie became a mom and remained at home to care for her daughter while also babysitting other children. When life circumstances shifted in 2022, she pivoted in a new direction and accepted a teller position at Home Loan Savings Bank.

Guthrie wasn’t necessarily looking for other work when another opportunity presented itself. Encouraged by three different friends in the same week, she decided to take a leap of faith and applied for the office manager position with the Coshocton Port Authority. The role, newly combined with a former executive assistant position, works closely with Director Tiffany Swigert.

Today, Guthrie manages the finances for the Port Authority including funds related to the Joint Economic Development District, Transportation Improvement District, their revolving loan fund, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and grant reimbursement tracking and record-keeping. She also handles annual reporting for partner agencies, takes meeting minutes and helps relay information to the Port Authority's board.

The position has grown since Guthrie started. She works to maintain clear communication across the team, ensure alignment with policies and procedures under the Ohio Revised Code, and “keep the positivity going,” which she views as a strength of hers.

Much of the Port Authority’s work happens behind the scenes, what Guthrie calls the invisible things, such as preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment or facilitating conversations between potential businesses and local landowners.

She describes their role as a bridge between local, state and federal agencies, helping local businesses and manufacturers connect to funding and resources that support economic growth. Recent projects such as the Good Boy Bakery expansion, All Ohio Future Fund award and the newly finished Coshocton Collaborative are just a few examples of those efforts.

“We try to keep money flowing into Coshocton County for continued growth and improvement,” she said.

Guthrie previously served on the board at Coshocton Christian Tabernacle and will join the Coshocton County Breastfeeding Network. She is looking forward to getting more involved with the community, but outside of work, she spends most of her time with her three daughters — age 6, 3 and 7 months — and her fiancé Thomas.

When Guthrie was hired at the Port Authority, Tiffany Swigert told her she would be participating in Leadership Coshocton County. At first, the idea was intimidating.

“I thought leadership was for bosses, and I’m not a boss,” she said. “But I’ve already learned that leadership is a set of skills anyone can develop to positively influence the world around you.”

Through the program Guthrie hopes to build local connections, strengthen her communication and leadership skills, and continue her personal growth.

“I’ve already found it easy to come out of my shell in the class. We’re all here for the same reason, and it’s been encouraging to find so many similarities with my classmates,” she said.

Guthrie said Coshocton feels like home and called it a great place to have a family.

“I was born and raised here, and I want to raise my kids here. It has that small-town feel but with big opportunities. We have beautiful spots like Roscoe Village and Clary Gardens, a great winery scene, and plenty of family activities at the KOA, our Court Square and local parks. Coshocton has good, hard-working people, and I never feel limited by choosing to stay here,” she said.

To make the county stronger, Guthrie encourages more community buy-in. “Be a tourist in your own town,” she said. “Learn what’s going on, find the hidden gems and get involved. There are so many things to do. Invest in where you live, have an optimistic outlook, educate yourself on what’s happening locally and ask questions instead of relying on hearsay. Be gracious and stay positive.”

Guthrie recommends Leadership Coshocton to others. “Leadership is a skill set that benefits everyone,” she said. “There are situations in both your professional and personal life where those skills are valuable. The class has been great for learning those skills, making connections, and putting faces to names across local organizations and businesses. Get more informed, involved and connected to multiply your impact for the community. Leadership isn’t just for bosses; we all have room to grow.”