Josh has been an active member for 6 years in good standing with everyone in the club, save for possibly Dave Stillwagon. Read more about him below!
Name: Josh Prest
Years in Rotary: 6
Resident of: Cleveland
Hometown: Youngstown
How long have you lived here? I’ve been in Cleveland for nearly 5 years.
What brought you here, or kept you here? I am able to travel all over Ohio (mostly Northeast Ohio) for my job, which keeps me in both Cleveland and Youngstown most of the time. Family, friends, work and Rotary keep me involved in Youngstown. I work and live in Cleveland as well as stay engaged with community groups there, too.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Youngstown State University
Occupation: District Representative for U.S. Senator Rob Portman
Who is in your family circle? Smaller family with just my parents, a handful of aunts, uncles and cousins and numerous close friends.
Do you have any pets? No pets, unfortunately ... maybe a lab one day!
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? Cycling, golfing, reading, attending numerous concerts and sporting events when there isn't a global pandemic and spending time with friends and family. Oh, and I also make sure to come up with new magic routines for the next Rotary event to set Dave Stillwagon through the roof.
Why did you join Rotary? Scott Schulick forced me against my will (but for real).
Why do you remain a Rotarian? I love having this connection still to the Youngstown area and I feel it is important to serve your community, either the one you live in or the one you are from, or both! I have made so many friends from Rotary and the work we do is very fulfilling for the community.
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? Beerfest, because I was able to watch it grow from an idea on a napkin to a fundraiser that has raised more than $40,000 to directly benefit the community. I also truly enjoy Operation Warm and the direct benefit it has on children in Youngstown.
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? It is something I think about before making any sort of decision.
What would you be doing on Wednesdays if you didn't attend the weekly luncheon meeting? Probably another lunch meeting somewhere in NEO.
Which type of Rotary socials do you prefer - black tie affairs or casual attire? Casual, but both are fun.
A Rotary tradition is to have sing-alongs during meetings. Would you ever lead us in a song? Absolutely not. No one wants to hear that!
What do you think of Scott Schulick's Rotary pants, and would you wear a pair? I was not surprised in the least when I saw them for the first time. Would I wear a pair? Probably ... not.
What's a story of yours that you don't get to tell often enough? There are plenty from concerts, like meeting (U2 lead singer) Bono in Pittsburgh on a whim and seeing Bruce Springsteen 11 times, including one 4 hour and 15 minute show in Philly. There are also some from the many political events I have been to, like meeting President George W. Bush and being pulled between him and my boss during a photo line -- by President Bush, mind you -- when I was walking away from the photo line. President Bush was excited to hear I was from Youngstown, and we had a brief 30 second conversation about the political landscape of Youngstown, which was incredible. You will have to ask me about that, though, in person.