Les, second person from the left, is pictured here with his Human Services Day team of the Class of 2023
For Les Murphy, joining Leadership Geauga’s Signature Adult Program in 2023 began as a professional development decision – an opportunity to strengthen his business and become more involved in his community. What he didn’t anticipate was how profoundly the experience would reshape his outlook, deepen his understanding of Geauga County, and ultimately lead him and his family down a life-changing path.
Like many participants, Les found the program days to be eye-opening. Each session built on the last, expanding his appreciation for the county’s history, resources, and needs. “Each experience was better than the one before it,” he shared. “History Day opens your eyes to everything that Geauga County has to offer, and from there it just builds. You just want to see how far Geauga County will take you.”
His awareness of foster care and youth needs began even before Human Services Day, sparked through early conversations with his classmate Tim Kehres, who works closely with foster youth through the Family First Council. Human Services Day, which Les helped plan, brought that need into even sharper focus and left him wondering how he could do more.
Leadership Geauga also transformed how Les approached relationships. Understanding different personality styles helped him communicate more effectively and adapt in both personal and professional settings. “My outlook has changed greatly. It really changed how I approached my professional and personal interactions,” he said.
Les, Karen, and their family
A New Chapter
That shift opened the door to a new chapter. After Human Services Day, Les spoke with Tim about how he could get involved, and Tim encouraged him to volunteer with Torchlight of Geauga County, formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters. Les and his wife, Karen, began attending Torchlight’s community-based mentoring events to support local kids who needed connection and encouragement.
“We didn’t know what we were getting into,” Les admitted. “We wanted to help kids in Geauga County. We weren’t in a place to add another child to our family—or so we thought.” But as they met more youth and built relationships, they felt drawn to do more. “We would have taken all of them home if we could.”
That’s how they met Bethany, a young girl who would soon become a significant part of their lives. Volunteering grew into fostering, and the Murphys were open to adopting her if that was the right path. But adoption wasn’t what Bethany ultimately wanted—and Les emphasizes that this in no way diminished the experience or the connection they built. For him, the most rewarding part was simple: “Just getting to see her grow and thrive outside of the Geauga Youth Center.”
Touring the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center
Bethany’s own journey with Leadership Geauga continued when she joined the Youth Institute Class of 2025. Although she was hesitant at first, Les reassured her that feeling unsure was normal and their oldest son, Aidan, had felt the same at the start of their programs. Before long, she found her place. Her favorite experience was job shadowing at the Geauga County 911 call center, where she watched dispatchers handle real calls and learned how emergency response works behind the scenes. Through the Youth Institute, she discovered that she is “more capable than I thought I was.”
Being part of Les and Karen’s family has given her opportunities and stability that widened her sense of what’s possible. As she looks ahead, she’s excited for the next chapter and “getting out on my own and living life!”
Les’s story is one example of the ripple effect Leadership Geauga can create. What begins as a single program day can spark awareness. Awareness can inspire meaningful action. And that action can transform lives – sometimes in ways no participant could have predicted.
This is the power of Leadership Geauga: when learning becomes purpose, and purpose becomes lasting community impact.