Press release provided by 20 Under 40 program Toledo, Ohio, September 25, 2018 - Aaron Montz, Mayor of the City of Tiffin, received a 2018 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Monday, September 24 at the 23nd annual 20 Under 40 ceremony.  He was selected from a record number of 255 candidates.

Montz was elected to Tiffin City Council in 2007 at age 22. In 2011 at age 26, he was elected Mayor, becoming the youngest Mayor in Tiffin’s history. He was re-elected in 2015 with slightly over 85% of the vote, the highest percentage of any challenged campaign in Tiffin’s history. During his tenure, the unemployment rate has dropped from 9.9% to 3.9, and Tiffin has ranked in the top 10% of nearly 600 micropolitans nationwide each year by site selection magazine.

He founded and served as president of the Seneca County Young Professionals, an organization that has grown from 3 to 130.  He formed a “Student Advisory Council” comprised of students from both Tiffin University and Heidelberg University to provide feedback and lend assistance to make Tiffin more of a college town.

In 2017, Montz received the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation’s President’s Award. In 2013, he was appointed by Governor Kasich to the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission, and serves as president of Northwest Ohio Mayors and Mangers Association.

He serves on the board of the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services, Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation, Seneca Regional Planning commission, Seneca County Young  Professionals, Tiffin downtown Development, and is the Seneca County Director on the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council.

Montz earned a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Political Science from Heidelberg University.

The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel of judges selects the 20 candidates for recognition.  It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 460 young, community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.

Program sponsors include Eastman & Smith; Fifth Third Bank; Plante Moran; The Andersons, Inc.; University of Toledo Alumni Association and Sauder Woodworking Co.  The Toledo Business Journal serves as the media partner, Leadership Toledo serves as the community partner and The Creative Block is the website partner.  Community support is provided by EPIC Toledo, The Toledo Symphony, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Opera, Toledo Zoo, Ulrich Pinciotti and the Valentine Theatre.