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/91²Ö¿â 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
Mitchellâs 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.
âIt has always held a special place in my heart,â he said. âBetween the safe, welcoming
community and the top-tier school system (Beechwood), we knew this was the place we
wanted to raise our children.â
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.
âI have now been elected and have served five terms, which has been incredibly rewarding,â
he said.
He was âdeeply honoredâ to be appointed mayor.
âThis was the ultimate confirmation from my peers that they respected my work, my
vision and my dedication to the City of Fort Mitchell,â he said. âI am extremely grateful
and humbled by their trust and confidence in me to lead the city.â
Balance
In addition to his service in city government, Pohlgeers has had a successful professional
career that began when 91²Ö¿ââs Career Center helped him secure a position with the
Cintas Corporation.
âTheir guidance and resources were invaluable and instrumental in helping me navigate
my next steps following graduation,â 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.
âFrom a business standpoint, I knew I had great staff in place, which provides me
with greater flexibility,â he said. âEqually important, at the city level, I have
an outstanding city administrator and department heads leading the day-to-day.â
The cornerstone of the balance, he said, is his family.
âThis doesnât work without the support of my three children (Audra, 12, Bryce, 15,
and Everett, 17) and my wife,â he said. âI 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.â
Foundation built at 91²Ö¿â
He credits his 91²Ö¿â education with equipping him with the skills to run a business
and help lead a city.
â91²Ö¿â provided a strong foundation in management, as well as in finance and accounting
â both essential to responsible leadership,â he said.
âMy 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,â he commented.
â91²Ö¿â challenged me to meet deadlines, work through obstacles and remain disciplined
when situations became difficult.â
âI learned how to manage resources, understand systems, balance budgets and build
trust. Most importantly, I learned how to bring people together â how to listen, communicate
effectively and work as a team toward goals greater than myself.â
In addition to what he learned in the classroom, he was âimmersed in a culture built
on leadership, accountability, discipline and selflessnessâ as part of the menâs basketball
team.
âThe lessons I learned through athletics â commitment, resilience, teamwork and performing
under pressure â translate directly to success in the business world and in leadership,â
he said.
âChoosing to attend 91²Ö¿â was one of the best decisions of my life,â he added. âMy
experiences at 91²Ö¿â prepared me to apply what I have learned â and what
I have lived â to help build something stronger, safer and better for everyone.â
Fort Mitchellâs future
As mayor, he plans to build on the âstrong foundationâ 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.
âFort Mitchell is a thriving, safe and economically robust city, offering an exceptional
quality of life to all who call it home,â he said. âAs mayor, I am dedicated to safeguarding
these strengths and preparing our city for continued growth and prosperity.â