Steve Matheny stood behind his desk in the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce office on Elm Street, a large wooden mirror to his left. Before taking his portrait, he ran his hands through his wispy hair and adjusted his glasses.
Matheny picked up a Granville Blue Aces baseball cap in his hand and fixed it to his head. He then rested his left arm on his swivel chair and smiled.
“Mmm, no,” Matheny said, removing the hat. He was worried that people would not recognize him with it on. He rarely wears one.
Matheny, 72, is a soft-spoken man often found strolling the grassy patch in Raccoon Valley during the summer’s Granville Farmers Market, in a village council meeting or walking alongside of a parade. Matheny has dedicated decades to supporting local businesses and families, nurturing a healthy environment for those he works with.
Although Matheny was born in Louisville, Kentucky, his family’s roots are in Ohio.
“My father worked for International Business Machines [IBM] in sales and was moved around a lot,” Matheny said.
When he was an infant, his family moved to Columbus, Ohio, before quickly turning to upstate New York, where they bounced between Westchester County and Rochester.
After graduating from high school in Rochester, Matheny went to Albion College in Michigan where he earned a Bachelor’s in psychology.
Matheny married his college sweetheart, and they lived in Dearborn, Michigan.
“I worked in downtown Detroit at the National Bank of Detroit for a decade,” Matheny said, “Then we divorced, unfortunately, and I came back to Columbus.”
When Matheny left Michigan, his parents lived in Columbus, so returning to Ohio was a full-circle moment. There, Matheny joined his father to work in a “headhunting” position.
“I then joined Highlights for Children and worked in their HR department,” Matheny said. “I worked my way to Vice President of that department.”
At this point, Matheny was remarried and living with his wife, Kris, in Clintonville. They owned a home with a small grassy yard and were heavily involved in dog rescue work.
“We figured we ought to get more space for our dogs, so we started looking all around,” Matheny said, sitting in a low-seated leather chair, “Morrow County, Hocking County, all the way out to Licking. We found our house eight miles north of town [Granville].”
The couple moved east, and after 23 years with Highlights, Matheny retired — though his retirement lasted only a few days.
“I knew I wasn’t ready to fully retire,” Matheny joked. “I started networking [in Granville], thinking I’ll end up commuting to Columbus, doing HR work, but when I stopped at the Chamber of Commerce, that changed.”
When Matheny arrived, the chamber had no one in the role of executive director. There was an interim director, but no permanent prospects.
“I said, ‘well, tell me more about that job,’ and they did,” Matheny explained. “I thought to myself, I could do that.”
He applied for the job in September 2014 and has held the role ever since.
Eleven years later, Matheny is still dedicated to this work. To his left, sprawling shelving holds nearly 50 pamphlets, magazines, and inserts from businesses supported by the Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce is not a government organization — a common misconception, according to Matheny.
“We are a member service organization,” Matheny explained, “so our role as a Chamber of Commerce is to support and help our member businesses succeed. That’s job one for us, whatever that may be. Our role is to attract members of businesses and get to know them, find out their challenges, and then see how we can assist them to overcome those challenges.”
Michelle Newman was one of several people who nominated Matheny for this very reason.
“In [Matheny’s] time, he has steadily grown the membership to its stretch goal of over 300 members while raising the profile of the chamber and benefitting the Granville community as a whole,” Newman said.
Other aspects of the Chamber of Commerce’s mission are to support the business community in general. The Chamber facilitates the Granville Candlelight Walking Tour – a decades-long holiday tradition that overtakes the village in December each year – and the Granville Farmers Market, which runs on Saturday mornings from May to October in Raccoon Valley Park.
“When I first started, I was full-time, but now I’m part-time,” Matheny paused, then said, “at least on paper anyway,” with his eyebrows raised.
The chamber has a staff of three supporting 300 businesses.
“I’m probably guilty of trying to make everybody happy,” Matheny joked. “My nature is to try to please everybody. But that isn’t necessarily what’s needed to move things forward. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions and, you know, ruffle feathers, break some eggs, those cliches.”
Matheny’s work has a fragile balance between the give and withhold; Although he is there to support businesses, he has to make tough decisions.
Bryn Bird, who co-owns Bird’s Haven Farms in Granville, said she nominated Matheny because, “He hears everyone. He truly hears concerns, he gives me counterarguments, he pushes my understanding and preconceived notions. He always works to ensure everyone is included and wants to be a neutral space for all businesses to thrive.”
Matheny creates a space where any business can thrive. He is genuinely these businesses’ biggest fan. He even kick-started the Granville Magazine as part of the chamber’s efforts to support local. The annual publication, released in July, is all about Granville and the businesses supported by the chamber.
Bird participates in the summer farmer’s markets, setting up a stand for the produce from her family’s farm. If a group of strangers is ever near Bird, and Matheny is present, he cannot help but shout out her business.
“Steve is the first to say, ‘Do you know Bryn? Bird’s Haven Farms? I am sure you all can find a way to work together,’” Bird said.
In the low-lit private room of West Church Social, The Reporting Project celebrated the 10-over-60 winners, with thick slices of pizza on paper plates and chocolate-covered strawberries, and friends and family.
When a friend approached, Matheny sat at one of the green cushioned booths. They had written him a poem. As they read aloud, Matheny was naturally touched, taking in the sincere gratitude for his dedication.
Steve Matheny, A Tribute
“A Leader In Deed”
In Granville’s heart, where kindness grows,
A fearless leader, everyone knows,
Steve Matheny, with humble grace,
Brings light and warmth to every space.
Brown eyes gleam with steady care,
A beard that speaks of wisdom rare.
Wrinkles frame his thoughtful face,
Each line a story, each fold a trace.
His small smile hints at a quiet pride,
But never boastful, he steps aside,
To lift us up, to guide our way,
Helping others shine each day.
The Farmer’s Market is his domain,
A place of joy, where dreams sustain.
Under his watch, each person is deemed,
A helping hand is often seen.
He’s always on time, no task too small,
A rock of support, a name to call.
Through seasons of change and moments dire,
Steve fuels the spark, fans the fire.
Now “10 Over 60” names him true,
An honor earned and overdue.
For Steve, the humble, steadfast soul,
We celebrate you, your heart, your goal.
Here’s to the man who helps us achieve,
Granville’s treasure, our dear Steve.
Brin Glass wrote for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.