E. Douglas Beach
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
Education: Doctoral degree, North Carolina State University; master’s degree, The Ohio State University; bachelor’s degree, Kenyon College
First Job: My first job was working for a farmer. The 2,000-acre property included corn and soybeans, 1,500 head of cattle and 1,000 hogs.
How I Motivate Others: I believe in knowing your people and motivating through experience. I best motivate by first establishing a connection, finding a common place and giving an anecdote.
What I’d Tell 16-Year-Old Me: “Study less and meet more people. Do not get me wrong, education is important. But it’s really the people you experience things with who shape moments in your life.”
Fun Fact: My great-aunt’s father was the gentleman who founded 4-H. I participated in 4-H from about the age of 8 through my early 20s.