Leah Miller honored as she steps away from LHC

For a quarter century, Leah Miller has provided expert guidance and committed herself to developing leadership skills in young entrepreneurs throughout Holmes County through the Leadership Holmes County program.

Year after year classes full of bright, eager leaders were led through classes that developed their leadership skills and knowledge of Holmes County.

On Tuesday, May 7, Miller presented her final class of graduates, stepping into retirement, although retirement is not a word Miller would aptly choose to define her next phase of life.

“I don’t consider it retirement,” Miller said. “One never retires in life. One just keeps looking for new experiences and new opportunities. That’s all it is.”

Miller said one of the highlights of teaching tomorrow’s leaders has been taking them out into the community to introduce the students to and explore the many facets of Holmes County’s landscape.

She said while many of these young entrepreneurs may have been born and raised in Holmes County and think they know the community, there are always plenty of new avenues to explore, incredible people to meet and successful businesspeople who can help define what it takes to grow into a leadership role in the county.

The other aspect of the role she adored was being able to meet and connect with a group of people that she otherwise may never have had the chance to know because of different paths and age differences.

In doing so, she said she has grown to realize that the future of Holmes County is in very good hands.

“I really feel excited about the future of our county, with the people we have in leadership roles, their interests and how strong we are,” Miller said.

Miller’s resume and commitment to Holmes County is a blueprint of how someone can make an enormous impact on those around them when they give selflessly, serve others and commit to improving the lives of those around them.

Before teaching the leadership class, Miller played a key role as a Holmes County commissioner. She has been a West Holmes school board member and has been involved with planning commissions, farming institutes, the chamber and a handful of other institutes critical to the growth and betterment of Holmes County.

Miller said when she first moved to Holmes County many years ago, there were people who, much like herself, took her under their wings and provided the same type of guidance and leadership she has given to hundreds of young adults over the years.

She said people like R.J. Patterson, Dick Steimel, Arlie Rodhe, Fran Mast, David Kline and others provided her with inspiring and influential guidance, helping to prepare her for this role.

She said those people and others taught her to be selfless and giving.

“I didn’t grow up in Holmes County, but that’s how my folks were,” Miller said.

Shasta Mast, executive director of Holmes County Education & Community Foundation, said Miller has been a wonderful mentor for her for many years and, as one of the first members of the LHC class, she experienced firsthand how Miller’s guidance and teaching can impact young adults.

“She’s had such an impact on me and such an impact on so many people in Holmes County over the years,” Mast said. “It really can’t be measured.”

Tiffany Gerber, executive director of Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, said Miller exemplifies everything positive about those who dedicate themselves to serving others.

“You could probably look around at any nonprofit board meeting, community organizations, elected official gatherings and in the business area and see a multitude of lives whom Leah has touched or trained to be a leader,” Gerber said. “Leadership Holmes County was created to foster leaders in the community, and I don’t think there could ever be a better person to serve as a mentor to Holmes County. She has had her fingers in every single aspect of what makes Holmes County great.”

Gerber said now the goal is to find the ideal person to step into Miller’s shows and carry on the incredible work she has done. Doing so will not be easy.

“It has to be the right person to carry on her legacy,” Gerber said. “We have to continue to raise up the next leaders without missing a beat, and Leah set the bar high.”

Thus, as her final class took its bows during graduation on May 7, it was easy for those who have witnessed Miller’s dedication to education to honor her as she steps into a new phase of life.