1709 E. Prospect Rd, Ashtabula, Ohio 44004
MEET OUR TEAM
Benjamin Schwartfigure
Executive Director
(440) 964-8498
BMSchwartfigure@ashtabulacounty.us
Ben is a 20-year retired Army veteran. He served in overseas locations such as, Germany, Bulgaria, and Afghanistan. His stateside services include, Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and Fort Stewart, GA. Ben enlisted in 1997 and served honorably through his retirement in 2017. He is a decorated combat veteran who served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He and his spouse, Danise Schwartfigure (Mozingo) married in 2004 and have three boys together. Ben’s successes both, in the military and since retirement has been in large part due to the immeasurable faith, strength, perseverance, and unconditional love his wife has provided.
​
Ben is a graduate of Conneaut High School’s class of 1997. During his service, he attained his Bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Grantham University. After being away for over 22-years, he moved his family back home to Ashtabula County in 2019. In September 2019, he applied for and was hired into the position of Executive Director and County Veterans Service Officer with the Commission. Since that time, he has made community outreach his focus with the goal of bringing acknowledgement to veteran community by highlighting the sacrifices that all veterans make for their country, family and friends.
​
His hobbies include woodworking and making up for lost time with his wife and children. Ben is a life member of both, AMVETS and the Disabled American Veterans. One of his favorite quotes is “To be the best, you have to beat the best. To beat the best, you have to walk that aisle!” – Rick Flair.
Carol A. Hoyt
Executive Assistant
(440) 964-8324
CAHoyt@ashtabulacounty.us
Carol grew up in Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School. She went on to get her Bachelor’s degree in Business from Baldwin Wallace College. She worked for Union Carbide/Eveready Battery Company in Westlake for 28 years. Carol returned home and went to work for Ashtabula County, first at Job & Family Services before transferring to the Veterans Service Commission, now in her 16th year with the county, 14 of those years at the Commission. In her spare time, Carol is an avid golfer and recorded her first hole-in-one in 2016. She also enjoys jigsaw puzzling with her sisters. Carol takes great satisfaction in greeting and joking with the veterans at the reception desk and is truly grateful to them for their service and sacrifice. She has always been extremely patriotic and loves our country. USA!
Libby L. Jenkins
Senior County Veterans Service Officer
(440) 964-5962
LLJenkins@ashtabulacounty.us
Libby grew up in Ashtabula County where she attended schools in Rock Creek, Grand Valley and Geneva. She graduated from Geneva High School and the Ashtabula County Vocational School (Administrative Secretary Program) in 1985. She enlisted in the U.S. Army through the Delayed Entry program her senior year and left for basic training one-month after graduation. Libby served two years active duty as a 31V- Tactical Communications System Operator and Mechanic in the 124th Military Intelligence Battalion at Ft. Stewart, GA. She spent one year in the Army Reserves before joining the Texas Army National Guard where she separated at the rank of Sergeant (SGT) in 1992.
​
Libby’s long career as a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) began in Ashtabula in 2002 where she spent nine years before taking a position as a CVSO at Wade Park VAMC in Cleveland. She spent the next ten years in Cleveland before returning to Ashtabula in May 2021. Libby is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accredited representative of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Ohio Department of Veterans Services and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She is tremendously passionate about assisting veterans and their families with obtaining benefits they earned through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Libby and her partner Tony, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps have a blended family of six grown children and eight grandchildren. They enjoy fishing, being outdoors and spending time with their precious family.
​
Libby’s bucket-list accomplishments include: Austinburg Country Days Maiden twice, Vo-Ed Ambassador 1984, 2nd place Toughman Boxing Competitor in Texarkana, AR 1991 & 1992, racing circle track and demolition derby.
Thomas J. Lucas Jr.
Senior County Veterans Service Officer
(440) 964-8489
TJLucas@ashtabulacounty.us
Tom grew up in Plymouth Township where he attended school at Plymouth Elementary and graduated from Ashtabula High School. After graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving from 1986-1991. His duty stations included MCCDC Quantico, VA and Camp Lejeune, NC.
​
After completing his term of service, Tom returned to Ohio to attend Kent State University where he simultaneously completed the Paramedic Education program through University Hospitals. He served over 30 years within Ashtabula County in the Fire Service, with 21 of those years at the Saybrook Township Fire Department. Tom has three children and still resides in Plymouth Township. He has also been a Boy Scouts Leader for more than 25 years, and was the Camp Director at Camp Stigwandish until it closed. He has made a career out of serving his country and community and carries a profound passion towards serving veterans and their families.
​
Tom became a County Veteran Service Officer in February 2011. He is a Department of Veteran Affairs accredited representative of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Catholic War Veterans, National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Ohio Department of Veteran Services, and American Ex-Prisoners of War. He is also active in the local veteran community, being a life member of the Marine Corps League, Past Commandant and current Adjutant of Detachment #782. He also carries life memberships with the Disabled American Veterans and AMVETS.
​
His hobbies include archery, hunting & fishing, golf, campfires, karaoke, attending concerts and spending time with his family. In his spare time, he has a personal business to keep busy. He is extremely proud to say that one his sons has become a third generation Marine.
​
Tom's Favorite Quote – “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they’ve made a difference to this world…The Marines don’t have that problem.” -President Ronald Reagan
Aimee M. Borcicky
County Veterans Service Officer
(440) 964-8429
AMBorcicky@ashtabulacounty.us
Aimee grew up in Geneva, Ohio. She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1999 as a Radio Operator. She was stationed in Scott AFB, IL for 4 years. She then went to Charleston AFB, SC where she was given the opportunity to serve in Germany, Turkey & Qatar. She served for 9 years and got medically retired in 2008. Since her time in the military, she worked at the Geneva Public Library for several years and got an Associate of Arts Degree at Lakeland Community College in 2019. She is a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO), accredited with National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Ohio Department of Veterans Services, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Jewish War Veterans of the USA. She currently lives in Geneva, OH and enjoys spending time with friends and in the Word.
Lisa M. Knoll
County Veterans Service Officer
(440) 964-8494
LMKnoll@ashtabulacounty.gov
Lisa resides in Jefferson, Ohio with her husband of fifteen years and two daughters. Originally from Roseville, Michigan, she served in the U.S. Army from 2009-2013 as a Motor Transport Operator. She was stationed in South Korea for two years and Ft. Drum, NY for a year. In 2014, she joined the Army Reserves and currently serves as a Non-Commissioned Officer.
In 2015, Lisa and her family relocated to Ashtabula County. She worked for the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad for six years, while simultaneously earning her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. She also enjoyed spending one year as a teacher with Head Start in Ashtabula. In 2022, she took advantage of an opportunity to work with Lifebanc, which she did successfully for two years, facilitating tissue and eye donation throughout Northeast, Ohio.
She is an active board member of the Jefferson Area Girl's Softball, volunteer with Feed the Vets in Ashtabula, D-Day in Conneaut and the Transplant House of Cleveland. Lisa has volunteered with the Wall that Heals in Delaware, Ohio, which inspired a dream of bringing that same wall to the local area someday. She is a huge supporter of organ, tissue, and eye donation. In her spare time, she likes to hang out at the beach, snowmobile, listen to music, and spend time with her family and cats.
One of her military heroes is WWII medic Desmond Doss. He was the first conscientious objector awarded the Medal of Honor for saving 75 men at Hacksaw Ridge. Her other heroes include both grandfathers and her husband who all served in the U.S. Army. Her favorite quote "If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving." Martin Luther King Jr.
Lisa loves her Country and is eager to continue helping Veterans and their families as a County Veterans Service Officer.
Gregory S. Elliott
Financial Assistance Officer
(440) 964-6059
GSElliott@ashtabulacounty.gov
Greg is a lifelong resident of Ashtabula County. He entered the Navy upon graduation from Harbor High School and the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School in 1991. While in the Navy, he served onboard the USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27) until it was decommissioned in 1994, and then the USS Nassau (LHA-4) until leaving the Navy in 1995.
Upon leaving the Navy, Greg found his way to the Financial Services industry, becoming licensed in life and health insurance before transitioning to banking. He spent more than 21 years in the banking industry, with some additional experience as a Housing and Urban Development and Financial Literacy Counselor through Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County.
Greg enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He is married with two sons and has one daughter-in-law. He is a current resident of Geneva where he is an active member of the Geneva Area Music Boosters Association and the American Legion George Call Post 124. He also serves as a Finance Committee member for the Geneva United Methodist Church and as Treasurer for the Geneva Boy Scout Troop 750.
CONTACT VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION
VISIT US
1709 E. Prospect Road
Ashtabula, Ohio 44004
CALL US
Office: (440) 964-8324
Fax: (440) 964-3582
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
Shane M Graham
Driver & Administrative Assistant
(440) 964-8324
SMGraham@ashtabulacounty.us
Shane is a 6-year Army veteran. His service included locations such as Iraq, Fort Campbell Kentucky and Fort Polk Louisiana. He is a decorated combat veteran serving with distinguished merit under the 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division. He married Holly Kruczewski Graham December 15th 2006 and started their Army journey supporting both the military and each other. After completion of his service, Shane moved back to Ashtabula County. They have a household of 4 children consisting of 2 beautiful daughters, Sarah and Skyler , 2 nephews Michael and Gabrial.
Shane is native to the county. He is a graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School class of 1997. Shane is educated in automotive and motorcycle tech. He graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute for Harley Davidson in 2004. Then, received his second degree through Newcastle School of Trades in 2017. His hobbies include: spending time with his family, motorcycling, welding/fabricating, fixing just about anything, gardening, and hunting for beach glass with his wife. Shane’s passion compels him to continue helping anyone he can. His favorite quote is “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway”- John Wayne.