Press release and staff report
The former head of Ohio Mutual Insurance Group will be taking on a new leadership role at Tiffin University.
Dr. James Kennedy, who served as president and CEO of Ohio Mutual Insurance Group for 13 years until his retirement in 2015, was one of three people elected to Tiffin University’s Board of Trustees. He will be joined by Diane Courtright McCloy and Ann Hunnicutt, according to board chair Claire Johansen.
“We are very excited to welcome our newest trustees to Tiffin University’s Board,” said Dr. Lillian Schumacher, president. “Their vast experience will be especially valuable as we continue to expand our global emphasis on student success. When we work together, we learn from each other.”
James Kennedy
Dr. Kennedy is president and CEO of the Ohio Mutual Insurance Group since 2003 and has guided the company through a period of tremendous growth. Ohio Mutual, located in Bucyrus, Ohio, partners with some 400 independent insurers in seven states, writing more than $195 million in premiums each year. The nation’s largest association of independent insurance agents honored Ohio Mutual as its company of the year, with the coveted “National Company Award of Excellence.”
To name only a few, Kennedy was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young, the “Insurance Industry Person of the Year” by the Professional Insurance Agents Association of Ohio, and “20 People to Know in Insurance” by Columbus Business First.
While at Ohio Mutual, Mr. Kennedy’s vision and leadership have resulted in the company’s inclusion in the prestigious industry “Ward’s 50” as one of the top 50 insurers in the United States. Ohio Mutual has also been named “Best in Class” for overall employee satisfaction by Avatar HR Solutions–a national human resources research firm.
He has served on the Board of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and on the Board of the Ohio Insurance Institute.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Kennedy is no stranger to Tiffin University as he has previously served on the advisory committee of the School of Business, helping to set the course for future generations of business leaders. In 2015, Kennedy delivered Tiffin University’s keynote commencement address and was conferred a Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Diane Courtright McCloy
Diane Courtright McCloy, a resident of Dublin, Ohio, has been a radio and television spokesperson for twenty-five years. She is currently the spokesperson for FrontRoom
Furnishings and The Living Room Expert, focused on living and family room furnishings with locations in Columbus, Dublin and Springdale, Ohio.
She was a board member and chair of development of CAPA (a non-profit award-winning presenter of national and international performing arts and entertainment) for twenty years. She is also a past board member of the American Cancer Society, and the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and is currently a volunteer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
While attending The Ohio State University majoring in radio and television, Courtright McCloy was selected as Miss Ohio in the Miss America pageant. After college, she married George McCloy and raised their two children.
Ann Hunnicutt
Ann Hunnicutt, a resident of New Port News, VA, is president, CEO and owner of Westwood Contractors, CFO and corporate secretary for Pembroke Construction Co., Inc., and owner and vice president of Interlock™ Paving Systems, Inc.
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Hunnicutt served as a director for Webster Industries in Tiffin, Ohio from 1987 to 2016. She is a member of Christopher Newport University’s Real Estate Foundation, Christopher Newport School of Business, General Contractors of Virginia & America, the Interlock™ Concrete Paver Institute and the Hampton Roads Builders & Contractors Exchange.
She was named Hampton Roads “Inside Business” Top 20 Women in Business Achievement Awards and was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hampton respectively. The U.S. Small Business administration named Hunnicutt the “Small Business Advocate of the Year,” and Peninsula Sales & Marketing named her “Outstanding Business Leader.” She was awarded the “Four Star Award” by the Military Affairs Council of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.