ASHLAND — Ashland County Women of Achievement was founded more than 30 years ago by Kay Conrad.
Conrad founded the initiative to recognize women who have reached beyond themselves to contribute substantially to the quality of life in Ashland County.
Since its inception, more than 200 women in Ashland County have been recognized for their achievements in work, family and volunteerism.
On Oct. 22, the Ashland County Women of Achievement will host its annual induction ceremony and welcome the 2026 class of the county’s best and brightest leaders — five Women of Achievement and one Young Woman to Watch.
In 2017, the Young Woman to Watch was first awarded to celebrate the achievements made by Ashland County women under the age of 21.
Four years later, an endowment was established at the Ashland County Community Foundation, with gifts from previous Women of Achievement winners, to allow the organization to continue to gift the young woman they recognize each year.
This year’s honorees include Emily Grimm, Darla Plice, Brittaney Reep, Ann VanScoy, Jennifer Washock and Savanna Francis, who have each worked to better the community.
The public is welcome to attend the induction ceremony at the Mt. Vernon Estate Events Center for hors d’oeuvres, desserts and to watch these amazing women be recognized.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by sending a check to “Ashland County Women of Achievement” at P.O. Box 685, Ashland, Ohio, 44805, or by going to the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce website, www.ashlandoh.com, and clicking on the events tab, then scrolling down to the induction ceremony link.
Below are biographies for each of the six inductees:
Emily Grimm
There are people who fill positions and then there are people who transform
organizations. Emily Grimm is unquestionably the latter. Emily’s recent promotion to
vice president isn’t just a nod to her years at work.
Her vision, leadership and relentless commitment to service have made a lasting impact throughout Ashland. Emily has taken the Chamber’s motto of “connecting the dots” to a whole new level. Nowhere is this more obvious than at AYP, the Ashland Young Professionals.
Emily’s leadership of this arm of the chamber has taken it from a small social group and turned it into one of Ashland’s most influential organizations. What was once primarily a networking club has become a true community change-maker, where emerging leaders grow their own skills and support our community.
Emily’s brainchild, the AYP Putts 4 Pets Golf Outing, raises $14,000 to $15,000 annually for the dog shelter and the Cat House Feline Sanctuary. Emily doesn’t just stop there.
If she is sitting on your board, you know she is going to make a difference. Balloonfest, Foundation Community Childcare Center, United Way, Ashland Christian Health Center, and the dog shelter have benefitted from her leadership, support, perseverance and her heart.
Emily’s passion for supporting others is relentless. She has helped hundreds of young
people grow personally and professionally and yet she never seeks recognition for
herself.
Instead, she shines the spotlight on others; championing businesses, celebrating successes and constantly asking how she can help. Her heart is where Emily really is the most remarkable.
Emily feels deeply, loves wholeheartedly and wears her heart on her sleeve. If you are in her circle, as a friend, a family member, a business associate or even a casual acquaintance, you know that Emily will make you feel seen, valued and cared for.
Emily leads with kindness, serves with humility and inspires everyone around her to make Ashland a better place. She has dedicated her career, talents and heart to making our community stronger and countless people are better because of her.
Emily lives by her heart, loves without reservation and reminds us all that true achievement isn’t measured by what you accomplish; it’s measured by the lives you touch.
Emily has touched more lives than she will ever know and Ashland is a better community because of her.
Darla Plice
Darla Plice is a legend in our community and for good reason. She is a pioneer in the
Ashland sports world, whose leadership and love of our community has been recognized and embraced for decades.
Once upon a time, girls and women had little to no opportunity to participate in sports at the high school or college level (or beyond). Darla was on the forefront of changing
that. She was an exceptional three-sport athlete in high school and was the first
recipient of the Ashland High School Female Athlete of the Year award.
Her basketball prowess took her to Ashland College (now University), then to a professional basketball career for the St. Louis Streak, as well as a European tour as a part of Athletes in Action.
Her basketball records, of scoring 40 points in one game and 22 rebounds in another, still stand today. She was recognized for her outstanding contributions in sports by being named to the Ashland College Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, to the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and by having the Female Athlete of the Year Scholarship Fund established at the Ashland County Community Foundation in her honor.
Darla is not just an athletic talent, she is a musical one as well. Darla is a worship
leader at Grace Church and is a published song writer. Her scripture songs for the Sunday school children help them to learn their Bible verses in a fun and engaging manner.
She has accomplished all of this while caring for not one, but two members of her
family; first her father and then her brother. Her brother Doug’s Parkinson’s diagnosis
galvanized Darla and her leadership became apparent in another venue when she
took an active lead in the Parkinson’s Support Group of Ashland.
She has also helped coordinate the Brethren Care Foundation’s Annual Charity Golf Outing to benefit the Parkinson’s Support Group, an event now in its 12th year.
We can add another sport to Dala’s athletic resume; she has been a leader in the creation of the local pickleball courts and in this year’s inaugural PIcklefest. As a clinician, she has taught hundreds of people how to play the game.
Darla Plice is a legend whose recognition continues today. Her professionalism, optimism and diligence in all she does are common themes from the basketball court to the pickleball court.
From her unending athletic prowess, to her position as a clue card in the 175th Anniversary of Ashland game, Darla is a trailblazer, of whom our community is justly proud.
Brittaney Reep
When you have Brittaney Reep at your table, you know that there is someone sitting
with you who is about to make a profound impact on your organization.
Brittaney has the most amazing ability to evaluate a situation, recognize challenges and formulate solutions that are both simple and ingenious. When she is with you, you are in good hands.
While Brittaney is a CPA and chief financial officer of the Ashland County Community
Foundation, she brings much more than number crunching to her volunteering. She
has served in numerous roles at United Way, from board member to co-campaign
chair to treasurer, where her steady approach helped that organization work through
complex issues with clarity and confidence.
From her time in front of United Way in her rock star wig, helping to lead a successful campaign, to her current role behind the scenes, leading the largest special event fundraiser at United Way, Brittaney has helped advance important work, work that supports local non-profits, responds to community needs and improves the quality of life in Ashland County.
On the Ashland Public Library Board, she has helped shape that organization through thoughtful planning, sound financial stewardship and a commitment to wellbeing and growth.
At Rotary, Brittaney leads one of the organization’s most impactful fundraising opportunities, which supports students’ educational and career opportunities. Downtown, you can see her hand in building the future of Ashland, as a partner in the revitalization of a downtown building, as well as the expansion of one of the businesses it houses.
You can also see her hand making so much popcorn, working behind the concession stand to support the Ashland High School All-Sports Booster Club. She has even stepped up as a ballet instructor in our community. It is no surprise that before being recognized as a Woman of Achievement, Brittaney was awarded a 4 Under 40 Award by the Ashland Young Professionals.
Brittaney is a force. She is thoughtful, intelligent, pragmatic, creative and always
focused on the mission. She has the rare ability to see both the forest and the weeds,
to understand the broader vision while also recognizing the details that must be
addressed to move the work forward.
She has a rare combination of qualities; she is warm, approachable and fun to be around, while also being taken seriously and being deeply respected. Brittaney is humble, dependable and collaborative.
Her leadership is not driven by recognition, but by a sincere desire to strengthen the organizations and community she serves. Brittaney represents the very best of Ashland County; capable, committed and influential.
Ann VanScoy
Shortly after Ann VanScoy was congratulated for becoming a Woman of Achievement,
she said, “I don’t understand why I’m getting special recognition for doing something I
love.”
Ann has been doing what she loves for year without question. She has touched and influenced so many lives while doing so.
Ann has been an educator for almost four decades, leading students in classrooms, on
football fields and on stages. Most of us have seen the results of her hard work and
teaching at Ashland High School musical groups and events or at the Ashland YMCA
Department of Dance, but we may not know how she has transformed those events and
their participants.
Ann does more than teach kids the dance steps. She makes sure her time in front of them builds their skills as people, too. Ann creates choreography, teaches it to her students and inspires her students to achieve their best performances, over and over and over again.
More than that, her students learn from Ann how to problem solve, how to work independently, how to listen and how to grow their self-confidence.
Ann VanScoy doesn’t just make better dancers; she makes better people.
Ann’s skills and talents have taken her across the country, as she has created and led
choreography in Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Her students have ranged in age from
4 to 80. She has made sure that all the attendant needs of a performance, including the
venue, scheduling, costuming and more, is addressed and secured. She has taken
that leadership, education and organization to Trinity Lutheran Church, where she has
volunteered in the choirs, small group leadership, vacation Bible school and more.
Ann had numerous people step up to share stories of why she is deserving to be a
Woman of Achievement, and among all of the letters of praise, there is a common
theme; Ann is not only an inspiration in what she does, but she inspires those around
her to do and be better, better than they may have thought possible.
Ann gives her all to those around her. She brings joy to people, whether they are a student on stage, a neighbor who could use some support or a parishioner who needs a hug. Ann seems to know instinctively how to lift the people who surround her and she does so selflessly, without reservation.
You may not know you needed Ann VanScoy in your life, but your life is better when she is in it.
Jennifer Washock
It turns out that we see Jennifer Washock all over town, because she is all over town,
helping and supporting and making the lives of Ashlanders better, without reservation and without any thought of public recognition.
Jennifer is the definition of service; a woman who has given back and brought up people in every organization she touches. Jennifer steps forward for our community in countless ways.
She volunteers at events and for groups (the Ashland Christmas Parade, Make Ashland Sparkle, Ashland BalloonFest, Paid in Full, St. Edward Hunger Center and the Ashland Cancer Association, just to name a few) and in leadership roles (the Ashland County CROP Hunger Walk, United Way, Ashland Kiwanis and the Homeless Coalition).
These aren’t board positions that look good on Jennifer’s resume; these are long and arduous volunteer times when Jennifer is in the trenches, standing next to and helping those in need.
Jennifer has worked as both emergency assistance case manager and now as the
director of social services at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, where she takes her
extensive skills and knowledge to help members of our community at some of the most
difficult times in their lives.
She does this with compassion and with her always-encouraging smile, helping to care for people and giving them hope for their future.
This is work that takes her both behind a desk and out into the community, helping
families make connections with agencies in our community that can help them, as well
as bringing organizations together to help support people when they are their most
vulnerable.
She marries this face-to-face work with her skills and experience behind the scenes, making sure to expose all available assistance opportunities. Jennifer is both a
leader and a teacher; she oversees and mentors numerous employees, volunteers and
students who learn accountability, compassion and empathy by watching her and
learning from her work.
Working beside Jennifer shows people not what to do, but how to do it, with respect and with dignity.
The impact of Jennifer Washock’s work cannot be measured solely through statistics or
job titles. Families have found hope and stability because of her advocacy.
Students have discovered a passion for service through her mentorship. Community
organizations have flourished through her partnerships and leadership. Volunteers
have been inspired by her example. Ashland is a stronger, more compassionate and
more connected place because of her dedication.
Jennifer understands that meaningful change happens through relationships, collaboration and a willingness to show up for people when they need it most.
Savanna Francis
Our Young Woman to Watch, Savanna Francis, has overcome incredible personal
adversity to both flourish in and support her adopted community.
Seeing her now, you would never know of the hardship Savanna began with, facing
both illness and hospitalization in orphanages in Ethiopia.
Today, she is an exceptional student, excelling in advanced placement and honors classes at St. Peter’s School in Mansfield, where she also serves on student council, Academic Challenge, JV and Varsity cheer, Math Club, and Key Club.
She has earned the Spartan Award for exemplifying her school’s core values. She is recognized by her teachers and school administrators for her upstanding character, quiet strength, grace and the positive example she provides to those around her.
Savanna is an integral part of her school as a volunteer, as well. She raises money for
the Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry and volunteers at American Red Cross blood
drives. She contributes to the Salvation Army in numerous capacities, from helping with vacation Bible school to packing gifts at Christmas time.
She is a responsible and reliable member of the Kroc Center staff.
Savanna’s aptitude in science and engineering has been recognized at the state level;
she was accepted as one of 15 middle schoolers to attend the Young Women’s
Summer Institute, hosted by the Ohio Supercomputer Center at the Ohio State
University.
She has participated in the GLOBE Midwest Earth System Science Student
Research Symposium and was selected to serve as a youth speaker last year on a
panel at the National Girls Collaborative Conference on the State of Girls in STEM.
Savanna Francis is an excellent student who is an exemplary member of our
community, giving back with both head and heart. We look forward to watching how
she continues to impact others with her leadership and service.