EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the seventh in a series of features on young professionals in the Ashland business community. Part VI was on Kelly Cooke. Part V was on Beau Carpenter. Part IV was on Melanie Fitch. Part III was on Angela Ringler. Part II was on Jake Coffy. Part I was on Ashland Young Professionals.
ASHLAND – On weekdays, you’ll find Ben Schnell working alongside designers and copywriters or helping out clients at Flight Media’s downtown Ashland office.
He works as an inbound marketer, helping generate sales leads for clients using tools like content marketing, search engine optimization and social media.
But it’s the diverse interests Schnell pursues on evenings and weekends that helps him connect with just about everyone he meets.
Schnell plays bass guitar in the local country band County Line, but his musical background includes jazz and metal. He also spends time fixing up old cars, riding motorcycles, building computers and snowboarding.
“I can’t really define myself as just one thing I guess,” Schnell said.
So perhaps it’s no surprise Schnell’s journey to a career in marketing included time as a music major and stops as a barista and a car detailer.
After graduating from Hillsdale High School in 2009, Schnell went to Ashland University to study trombone performance. By the time he left college about three years later, he was still playing bass in the jazz orchestra but taking mostly communications classes.
Schnell had stopped taking classes and was working both as a barista at Starbucks and a detailer at Bill Harris Auto Center when Flight Media founder Josh Coffy offered him a job. That was about three years ago, and Schnell has stayed with Flight ever since.
In addition to changing jobs, Schnell also shifted gears musically, joining Mansfield-based drummer Aaron Hill to play in a metal band called The Infantry for three years.
He recently switched genres again to join County Line, a country band started by two of his childhood friends, Joe Stimmell and Ted Grindstaff. The band regularly plays at venues like Thirsty Cowboy in Medina and just released a new single called “Lost in Love.”
“I liked the rhythmic aspects of metal and the energy that goes with it,” Schnell said. “But I think country is more relatable to more people and you can understand the lyrics a little more.”
Schnell also enjoys spending an evening playing a mix of country originals and covers for three or four hours at a time rather than a faster-paced 30-minute metal set.
Ashland Young Professionals ready to make a splash
Coffy finds passion, purpose in Ashland
Ringler embraces leadership at Ashland’s Advantage Marketing
Crestview grad credits Ag background for work ethic, leadership skills
AU alumnus combines passions for math, people
Kelly Cooke helps people make Ashland home
In his spare time, Schnell enjoys fixing up cars with his brother and taking his 1968 Oldsmobile Cutless to car shows. He also takes cross country motorcycle trips, skis and snowboards, spends time hiking and fishing and works on computers for fun.
Recently, Schnell decided to add giving back to the community to his lineup of activities. He volunteered serve as marketing and branding committee chair for the newly formed Ashland Young Professionals.
“I think our community needs something that has young people in it to help people in our generation connect more and be a part of the community a bit more,” Schnell said. “I think there’s also an entertainment factor for me. I want to give people in the community more events to go to and things they can engage in.”
AYP kicks off with its first event 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Mitchell’s Orchard and Farm Market. Anyone living or working in the Ashland area between the ages of 21 and 40 is invited. The group can be found on Facebook as well as online at www.ashlandyoungprofessionals.com.
