GRIT Days of Learning

Dr. Shannon Smith, M.D., is a dedicated physician who has focused her career on unraveling the challenges affecting children’s mental and physical well-being in today’s world of abundance. Through extensive research and clinical practice, she identified healthy communication, connection, and problem solving as the cornerstone of thriving families and communities. Driven by this revelation, she founded ‘Own Your Focus,’ a platform aimed at assisting others in enhancing their communication, connection, and problem solving skills. In her capacity as a Leadership Strategist and Communication Coach, she collaborates with individuals, families, organizations, and businesses, providing integrative strategies complemented by actionable tools and accountability measures. Dr. Shannon’s remarkable journey reflects her resilience, as she transformed past trauma into strength. Today, she thrives as a global speaker, accomplished writer, and influential social media figure, eager to share her invaluable insights with the world.

Prior to Future Plans Dr. Reading founded Global Corporate College in 2007, to build the bridge between Fortune 500 C-Suite Corporate and Higher Education Executives, helping build solutions that support worker competency and skill development through training and education. Dr. Reading was recognized as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young Ohio, for her founding of Global Corporate College.

Prior to GCC, Dr. Reading served as the President of Corporate College at Cuyahoga Community College, and served in numerous roles at Baldwin-Wallace University including Vice President of Student Affairs.

Some of Dr. Reading’s other social innovations include founding/co-founding/co-creating

• The SPROUT Program at Baldwin Wallace University, supporting teen mothers in the completion of a college education
• The Baldwin Wallace University Scholars Program preparing urban, African American, young men for college.
• The Key Entrepreneurship Center at Cuyahoga Community College/Corporate College
• The NIA program, helping post foster care women seek education and economic freedom through the Strategic Planning Committee of YWCA of Cleveland

Dr. Reading in the recipient of numerous awards including being recognized as Outstanding Alumna by both Bowling Green State University and Kent State University.

In her spare time, Dr. Reading is a play-write who directs and performs in her own comedic and poignant one-woman shows: “The Ladies of Last Chance,” “I Am The Daughter of a Cattle Rancher Among Other Things,” and “It’s All About the Hair.”

State Representative Jay Edwards is serving his fourth term as state representative. He represents the 94th Ohio House District, which includes all of Athens, Meigs and Morgan Counties and a southwest portion of Washington County.

Representative Edwards is the Chairman of the House Finance Committee, which is responsible for producing the state’s main operating budget and capital budget. He also serves on the House Rules and Reference Committee.

Representative Edwards was born and raised in Nelsonville and attended Ohio University on a football scholarship receiving his degree in Mathematics. While in college, he started investing in local real estate. Through educated decision making, hard work, and conservatism, Rep. Edwards was able to grow that business throughout his college career and also got a real estate license to start representing buyers and sellers in the area. He is a small business owner, a realtor, and a property investor.

Recently, Representative Edwards began working in medical sales, within the drug abuse/treatment market. With an understanding about addiction and health insurance, Representative Edwards knows that this is a critical issue for Ohio’s 94th District.

Representative Edwards resides in Nelsonville and is active within the community.