I joined LINC in 2016 in Wellington’s fight against the opioid epidemic. LINC began as a group of emergency services, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, the mayor’s office, and volunteer citizens who partnered to assist those struggling with debilitating substance use issues to find detox and rehabilitation programs.

In 2022, I became LINC’s President. During my tenure, I have focused on fulfilling the mission of providing addiction education, overdose prevention, and stigma reduction while getting life saving tools into as many hands in our communities as possible. Together with its alliance of mental and behavioral health partners, LINC is continuing to fight for the lives of those who struggle with addiction, until they can fight for themselves.

Outside of LINC, I am the owner of multiple for-profit businesses, a government contractor working nearly four decades in aerospace and a management consultant to notable Fortune 100 firms. I bring significant administrative experience to the LINC mission and surround myself with a fantastically capable board of directors who represent a broad range of health, emergency, business and faith sectors.

I serve as chief of the Wellington Fire District in Lorain County, Ohio. The Fire District, consisting of 1 Village and 5 townships, protects 13,000 citizens over an area of 125 square miles in southern Lorain County, and is still the third largest District in the State of Ohio.
I was born and raised in Wellington, and a 1986 graduate of Wellington High School. After graduation I went to work at Shiloh Industries. Completing 25 years in manufacturing. In 1986 I also joined the Wellington Fire District and South Lorain County Ambulance District and worked concurrently in both the public and private sector for the next 25 years. In this time with the Fire District, I promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief, while maintaining my certification as an Emergency Medical Technician with the ambulance district.
In 2011 I interviewed for, and was awarded the job of Full-time Fire Chief. As Fire Chief, I am responsible for overseeing all operational and administrative activities of the 31 member combination department.
I have a multitude of certifications that classify me as an expert in his field. I am a member of the Ohio Fire Chief’s Assn., the Northeast Ohio Fire Chief’s Assn., the Tri-County CISD Team, and also serve as President of the Lorain County Fire Chief’s Association. In addition to my district duties, I also sit on the advisory boards of the Lorain County Fire Chief’s Training Academy, the Lorain County Joint Vocational School’s high School and Adult Education safety services training boards, and the Ohio Region 2 Technical Rescue Board. I serve as Vice President of the Lorain County Local Emergency Planning Committee, a Lorain County Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) member, and chairs the Lorain County Active Shooter and Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Committee, and Fire Chief’s 911 Sub-committee.
I am one of the original founding members of LINC. LINC was realized through many discussions between the safety service leaders regarding the number of Opioid related deaths in and around our community. "I would sit and think of how many deaths I had seen in the earlier part of my career versus the amount of death our newer, younger firefighters were faced with, knowing that sooner or later it begins to take it’s toll."
I am a member of Kiwanis and stay active with certain Salvation Army events. I reside in the Village with my wife Beth and together we have three grown children Hayley, Hunter, and Haven.

I serve as the Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ. In this work, I provide theological reflections, sermon preparation, bible studies, and worship resources for the denomination and Christian faith communities around the world. I am a contributing author to Those Sisters Can Preach: 22 Pearls of Wisdom, Virtue and Hope and Lesser Evils: Daily Reflections on Seeking Wisdom. My consulting work through Cheryl A. Lindsay Ministries specializes in developing worship planning communities, revitalizing liturgy and worship design, infusing worship with the creative arts, and coaching worship leaders. Since 2019, I have been called as pastor and teacher for First Congregational UCC of Wellington, Ohio.

Vocationally, I represent the United Church of Christ in the Consultation of Common Texts (Revised Common Lectionary), and hold a membership in the North American Academy of Liturgy, Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Academy of Religion. Active in the community, I serve on the boards of the ACLU of Ohio, League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland, Community Life Collaborative, Oberlin-Wellington Theatre Project, and Wellington LINC (Local Initiative Networking Compassion). I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc .