Succeeding, leading and serving: Trine alum Pohlgeers named mayor of hometown

Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, has always been home to Greg Pohlgeers, a place where he has wanted to serve and make an impact.

Now, the 2000 Tri-State/Trine University alumnus has the opportunity to do even more to help make the city a better place to live.

A member of the City Council since 2017, Pohlgeers was unanimously appointed Fort Mitchell’s mayor in late December.

Special place

Pohlgeers, who graduated with a degree in business management and management information systems, grew up in Fort Mitchell, a city of about 8,800 in the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

“It has always held a special place in my heart,” he said. “Between the safe, welcoming community and the top-tier school system (Beechwood), we knew this was the place we wanted to raise our children.”

As he and his wife, Amy, grew their family, he began volunteering at the school. He soon desired to have even more of an impact and decided to run for City Council.

“I have now been elected and have served five terms, which has been incredibly rewarding,” he said.

He was “deeply honored” to be appointed mayor.

“This was the ultimate confirmation from my peers that they respected my work, my vision and my dedication to the City of Fort Mitchell,” he said. “I am extremely grateful and humbled by their trust and confidence in me to lead the city.”   

Balance

In addition to his service in city government, Pohlgeers has had a successful professional career that began when Trine’s Career Center helped him secure a position with the Cintas Corporation.

“Their guidance and resources were invaluable and instrumental in helping me navigate my next steps following graduation,” he said.

 

Today he is president of Associated Management Systems, a medical billing service in Erlanger, Kentucky.

While juggling his responsibilities may appear daunting, Pohlgeers said he is able to leverage technology and manage his time to succeed in all his roles.

He felt it was the right time for him to step into the mayor position.

“From a business standpoint, I knew I had great staff in place, which provides me with greater flexibility,” he said. “Equally important, at the city level, I have an outstanding city administrator and department heads leading the day-to-day.” 

The cornerstone of the balance, he said, is his family.

“This doesn’t work without the support of my three children (Audra, 12, Bryce, 15, and Everett, 17) and my wife,” he said. “I was not going to toss my hat in the ring unless my family was all in. I am truly blessed with their unwavering support of this next endeavor.”

Foundation built at Trine

He credits his Trine education with equipping him with the skills to run a business and help lead a city.

“Trine provided a strong foundation in management, as well as in finance and accounting — both essential to responsible leadership,” he said.

“My education went beyond simply learning information. It taught me how to think critically, solve complex problems and lead when the answers are not always clear,” he commented. “Trine challenged me to meet deadlines, work through obstacles and remain disciplined when situations became difficult.”

“I learned how to manage resources, understand systems, balance budgets and build trust. Most importantly, I learned how to bring people together — how to listen, communicate effectively and work as a team toward goals greater than myself.”

In addition to what he learned in the classroom, he was “immersed in a culture built on leadership, accountability, discipline and selflessness” as part of the men’s basketball team.

“The lessons I learned through athletics — commitment, resilience, teamwork and performing under pressure — translate directly to success in the business world and in leadership,” he said.

“Choosing to attend Trine was one of the best decisions of my life,” he added. “My experiences at Trine University prepared me to apply what I have learned — and what I have lived — to help build something stronger, safer and better for everyone.”

Fort Mitchell’s future

As mayor, he plans to build on the “strong foundation” built by his predecessor.

His priorities will include maintaining a balanced budget, supporting responsible commercial development, keeping property taxes low, fostering transparency and open communication, investing in police, fire and public works departments and attracting new employers while supporting small businesses.

He will complete the remaining mayoral term this year and has announced his candidacy for re-election to the next four-year term.

“Fort Mitchell is a thriving, safe and economically robust city, offering an exceptional quality of life to all who call it home,” he said. “As mayor, I am dedicated to safeguarding these strengths and preparing our city for continued growth and prosperity.”