Elevating the Community Together: Duane and Kathy Jebbett, Rowmark, UF

Duane Jebbett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rowmark, LLC, a plastics manufacturing company in Findlay, sees the Findlay community as a collaborative area. “We all elevate the community together,” he said. He and his wife Kathy recently announced their gift to support the new Center for Student Life and College of Business building at The University of Findlay. He sees the new facility as an asset the community really needs. “It will raise the level of business expertise in Hancock County and in the Findlay community,” said Jebbett. “It will really help the employers too because we’ll have better qualified people. We feel that this is a great investment.”
Jebbett also announced that Rowmark will make a major contribution to support the project. His commitment to giving back and supporting the community, Jebbett explained, started with Rowmark’s founder Fred Kremer. “My mentor Fred Kremer, who was the CEO of Hancor and founder of Rowmark, showed me the importance of being involved in order to the know the community. He said, ‘Leadership is best demonstrated by giving back to others.’”
Rowmark and Jebbett first became involved in giving to The University of Findlay through the Businesses Affiliates Scholarship Program. Through the program and working with interns and graduates from the University, Jebbett sees the benefits for UF students and for his business. “The University produces rock stars,” says Jebbett. “These folks are so smart, and they bring such enthusiasm and passion that it elevates everyone in the business. Most importantly they bring a great base set of skills that can be leveraged and built upon so they can become a strong part of our business.”
“Findlay has a dynamic campus that’s growing,” he said. “I see a lot of the University team out there giving back to the community in their own way as well.” Duane and Kathy Jebbett have also been on campus for a number of concerts, events and functions at the Mazza Museum, which add to the “culture of the Findlay area” he said.