Meet Jim Wright, Leadership Coshocton County Class of 2026 member

Jim Wright was born in Coshocton, attending the “old” Christian school on Walnut Street until fourth grade, when his parents divorced and he moved to Newcomerstown. Graduating from Newcomerstown in 1999, he ran cross country and track and playing basketball in high school. He took advanced classes in school and especially enjoyed math.

His senior year he only needed two classes to graduate, so he served as a teacher’s aide in the computer class. He also enjoyed fishing in the Tuscarawas River and would fish for bluegill, as well as set drop lines for catfish.

He said he was always doing something and worked at Darr Farms, had a paper route and mowed lawns during the summer months. He also worked for his father as soon as he turned 16.

Working for Wright Construction, he learned how to pour concrete and lay block. While he was offered a scholarship to run cross country, he had no interest in college, and at 18 years old, he moved out of his parents’ house to work full-time for his dad. By this time he was running his own crew, laying foundations and basements in Coshocton.

Wright started at McWane Ductile in 2004, when the construction business began to slow down due to the economy. He started as a laborer on the night crew in melting and still ran crews for his dad’s construction business during the daytime. He was promoted to nigh shift supervisor in 2008 while he was still running construction jobs.

In 2010 his father passed away suddenly, so Wright and his brother started Wright Brothers Construction, still pouring concrete. Throughout these changes McWane was always his top priority, and he said he never allowed the outside to affect his performance at McWane.

Eventually, his brother got out of the business, and Wright continued to run it on his own. Meanwhile at McWane, he was promoted to third shift supervisor, and in 2015 he was promoted to general foreman, where he oversaw the supervisors in the melting division.

McWane was looking for management trainees, and as a degree was needed for this position, Wright went to school at Central Ohio Technical College, earning an associate degree in business management. During this period he quit the construction business to focus on his education full-time, and when the melting manager retired in 2023, he was ready to take over, as he had been training to be the manager. As general foreman he had already been doing some of the work, so he could easily step into the position.

As melting manager Wright oversees all the operations involved with melting scrap iron into liquid to make the ductile iron pipe and poles McWane is known for. He also is responsible for the safety of the employees in the melting department, scheduling, budgeting, equipment maintenance and manufacturing components necessary for the efficient melting process.

Wright said he appreciates all McWane Ductile has done for him.

“McWane has been good to me and given me lots of opportunities. They were incredibly supportive when I was earning my degree and paid for most of my education. I have been to most foundries in the United States and, as a member of the American Foundry Society, have spoken to groups across the U.S. We are currently working to change the culture within McWane through the McWane Way. I have a good group of guys in our department to work with,” he said.

Wright currently does not volunteer with any organizations but has had the opportunity to work with building trades students from the Coshocton County Career Center, demonstrating how to pour concrete and lay block. He said, “If I could be of benefit to an organization, I’d be interested in serving.”

When Tom Crawford approached Wright about participating in Leadership Coshocton County, Wright said he didn’t know too much about it, but Crawford encouraged him to participate to improve his leadership skills and move up in the company.

Wright said he wants to be a better leader and meet new people, hoping that through networking it could lead to future things of benefit to him, McWane and the community.

Of the community, Wright said, “I like the small town. I could not live in a big city with the traffic.”

Wright said drugs are an issue, but that’s everywhere, and he would like to see nice places to eat and more things to do.

Wright said he enjoys the outdoors but doesn’t go many places except the woods. He said there are plenty of jobs here. "Anyone could get a job if they wanted one.”

To make the county stronger, Wright would like to see jobs that would encourage people to move here, and he thinks better dining locations would help as well.

Wright said he would recommend Leadership Coshocton for others. “It is one way to make Coshocton better. Get more people involved, and it will better the community. I will get better because of it, through networking, going places and completing the class project,” he said.