The Winery at Spring Hill Bios

Partners

James Pearson, President
James Pearson has spent his entire career in public service, joining the City of Geneva as a police officer in 1974. After just nine years he was promoted to Executive Captain. The next year was appointed to the position of Chief of Police. After becoming a member of the cities management team, he spent the next fifteen years working to make the Geneva Police Department a well-respected organization. James decided to retire in December of 2000. His retirement was short lived though. In August of 2001 he was re-employed by the City of Geneva as City Manager. As City Manager, James is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Seven department managers report to him. He oversees one hundred full and part time employees.

James graduated from Geneva High School, and received an Associate Arts degree from Kent State University in Law from the prestigious Rural Law Enforcement Academy in Arkansas in 1995. Throughout James’s career with the City of Geneva, he has attended countless conferences and seminars, receiving training related to employment issues, budget management, and leadership.

Tom Swank, Vice President
Tom Swank graduated from Annandale High School in Virginia in 1980. After graduation, he moved to Ohio from the Washington, D.C. area. In 1984, he graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture from the College of Agriculture. At this time he joined the family business, Spring Hill Orchards and Farm Market, full time. The business, started in 1953, was now a third generation family business. Helping to expand the fruit plantings and to diversify, Tom became General Manager of Spring Hill in 1984. He oversaw the production of many specialty crops including apples, peaches, plums, cherries, strawberries, both red and black raspberries, and wine and table grapes. In addition to overseeing the crop production, Tom is in charge of the juice processing facility. He produces fresh apple cider, grape juices, and 100% juice blends. Tom is a three time Grand Prize winner in the statewide Ohio cider competition.

Tom was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He has also been involved in 4-H. He is a member of the Ohio Fruit Growers’ Society, Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce, Ashtabula County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ohio Wine Producer’s Association. He has been a board member of the Ashtabula Soil and Water Conservation District, Grand River Partners, Inc., Harpersfield Township Zoning commission, Geneva Chamber of Commerce, OSU Grape Branch Advisory, and the Ashtabula River Steering Committee. Tom has attended many training sessions and conferences for education in fruit and vegetable production, marketing, food processing and safety, viticulture and wine making conservation.

Cindy Swank, Vice President of Food Service
Cindy Swank graduated from Geneva High School. In 1989 she received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the Ohio State University. As part of an internship, Cindy spent 3 months working at Nill Holzofenbackerei, a bakery in Zurich, Switzerland. In the spring of 1990, Cindy returned to Geneva to join the family business at Spring Hill Farm Market. Cindy expanded the bakery at Spring Hill to include decorated cakes, wedding cakes, fancy pastries and cookies. Cindy has gained additional management experiences as a substitute Meal Site Manager for Geneva Area Seniors. She has delivered Meals-On-Wheels to area residents for Ashtabula County Center for Aging Administration since June 2002. Cindy has also decorated cakes and trained employees on cake decorating for Baskin Robbins in Geneva. Cindy is an active member of International Cake Exploration Society and Northeast Ohio 4-H Camps, Inc., serving as a board member, secretary and committee chair.

Richard Trice, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
Richard Trice is a pharmacist by trade. He is currently the Senior Director of Operations at University Hospitals, Geneva Medical Center. As Senior Director of Operations, Richard is responsible for the daily operations of this 25-bed Critical Access Hospital. Richard owned and operated two successful pharmacies in Madison, Ohio from 1987 through 1997. Prior to the sale of the pharmacies to the Rite Aid Corporation, the gross sales were +$3M and 45 employees were employed. Richard graduated from Geneva High School, received a B.S. in Pharmacy and Minor in Business Administration from Ohio Northern University. Richard received a Master’s in Business Administration in health care from Baldwin-Wallace College. Richard is actively involved in the Geneva community, including serving on the Geneva Area City Schools Board of Education.