A year and a half ago, Mason Beuhring, Communications & Program Services Director of Marietta Community Foundation, began his career at the Foundation. Heather Allender sat down with Mason to take a deep-dive into Mason’s story so far!

Heather Allender: So, Mason, I know you have had a bit of a crazy journey to get where you are today, would you mind sharing a bit of your back story with our readers?

Mason Beuhring: Absolutely! It’s definitely been a wild ride so far!

I’m from Huntington, WV, and attended Marshall University where I received a Bachelor's in Public Relations and a Minor in Marketing. I met my wife, Bethany, while attending Marshall. We went against the social norm and ended up getting married while we were still in college. We got married in August of 2014 and I graduated in the following December.

I wanted to be a pastor throughout my undergrad, so after I graduated from Marshall I began working on staff at a church part-time, going to seminary, and working construction full-time to help pay bills.

My wife graduated a semester after me and then started her Master’s while I still worked at the church and everything else. She had a full-time job lined up after her graduate degree was complete, which would allow me to focus on ministry and school… so everything was going smoothly!

However, that all changed when we found out we were going to have twins!

Eventually, our sons, Gideon and Judah, were born and we moved to Williamstown soon after, to be close to her family. I started working at The Workingman’s Store in Marietta, then I went to work at Ohio Valley University, and through a few connections, I was able to come on board with the Foundation at the end of 2018.

Although those boys changed our entire life-plan, I am so proud and honored to be their dad!

HA: They definitely are cute kids! And, you guys have been adding to your family, isn’t that right?

MB: We have been! After our boys, we had a daughter, named Jane-Grey, but we lost her through miscarriage. Through that loss, my wife and I knew we were prepared to love another child, so we became foster parents. This was not in any way an attempt to replace Jane, but rather a way to honor her. Since then, we received our first foster placement back in December, and we love him like our own.

We are also anticipating another “Baby Beuhring” in November! So we are excited…sleep-deprived, but excited none the less!

HA: That’s exciting! On top of that, you also recently reached an impressive milestone both personally and professionally. Would you mind sharing a little information on your accomplishment?

MB: I recently finished my Master’s in Visual Communication from Liberty University Online. It took about two years to complete, but I finished up this past semester. I’m excited to have my evenings back, and going to bed before 1 a.m. every night has been quite nice!

HA: What has been your favorite aspect of the Foundation?

MB: Honestly, I love being able to serve as the Foundation’s mouthpiece. The Foundation has accomplished incredible things over its 45-year history, but it never had anyone whose main focus is to share that narrative with the community.

I’ve been able to step into this role and share our story with the masses. The truth is the Foundation has reached incredible milestones long before I got here, but now I get to make sure they don’t go unnoticed!

HA: If there was one thing about the Foundation that you would want people to know, what would that be?

MB: Exactly how much thought goes into each decision we make. We stay in constant communication with our nonprofits and try to remain proactive in what we are doing year-round. We conduct research, speak to various sources, and try to look at any problems facing our community from every angle… that way we can find the best solution.

I think that’s why so many people in our community trust the work that we do… we want to steward the gifts entrusted to us. That’s why we strategize regularly to make sure we are doing our very best to impact Washington County in a positive manner.

HA: I know your life is busy outside of work, but when you find the time do you have any hobbies?

MB: I try to be eclectic in my hobbies, I like to bounce around from one thing to another. I enjoy sports and outdoor activities, I do freelance graphic design in my spare time, woodworking, and recently took up knife-making. I’ve taught myself guitar, so anything related to the arts I usually enjoy.

I also love to read. My favorite authors are probably J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle… I’m a huge Lord of the Rings nerd. And, not just the base series, but all of the lore and history of Middle Earth before those books take place.

HA: Mason, I can say on behalf of all of us here at the Foundation, we are glad to have you as a part of our team!

MB: And, I can say that I am blessed to be here!