“I tell everyone, it’s all about people and culture,” said Greenwood. “Culture eats strategy for lunch. If you get the people right and build a great culture, the rest will follow.”
In a world hungry for integrity, humility and purpose in its leadership, Cedarville University is responding with action. CU Lead — a new leadership initiative grounded in biblical principles — is equipping students and professionals to serve others, foster trust and deliver lasting results.
After a decades-long career in banking that culminated in leading a division of nearly 7,000 employees, Cedarville University alumnus Jon Greenwood has returned to his alma mater with a clear mission: to develop the next generation of Christ-centered leaders.
Greenwood, a 1985 graduate of Cedarville University and former collegiate golfer, is now the director of CU Lead.
“I just want the next phase of my life to matter,” Greenwood said. “If we can start something here that helps students, business leaders and churches grow and lead better, then we’ve done something meaningful.”
Greenwood’s journey to Cedarville wasn’t direct. Though his family had roots at Taylor University, God, Greenwood says, had other plans. “I don’t even know why, but I pivoted,” said Greenwood, recounting how a last-minute visit to Cedarville and a golf tournament redirected his path.
After graduating with a degree in organizational communication, Greenwood entered the banking industry. He started at a small community bank and eventually built a 30-year career at Huntington Bank, rising to executive vice president and director of branch banking. At one point, he oversaw more than 1,000 branches across 11 states.
One year ago, at age 61, Greenwood felt compelled to start something new. After a brief retirement and time spent traveling with his wife, he received a call from Dr. Jeffrey Haymond, dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Cedarville University. The call was an invitation to help design a new leadership initiative that would have a profound impact on Cedarville students and the business community.
The idea aligned perfectly with Greenwood’s passion for people development and legacy building.
“I spent a long time chasing bottom-line results,” said Greenwood. “But people and culture always mattered more to me than quarterly profit. Now I get to focus entirely on people and building a winning culture.”
CU Lead is built on a three-pronged strategy: developing students, hosting thought-provoking leadership events and engaging directly with the marketplace.
The first component centers on Cedarville students. Beginning in the fall semester, leadership development programming will roll out within the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, and it will expand across campus by 2026. Greenwood said the goal is to help students identify their God-given leadership wiring and begin sharpening those skills early in their academic journey.
The second prong, leadership conferences, will include a speaker series and potentially a podcast. CU Lead launched its speaker series in the spring with John D. Beckett, CEO of the R. W. Beckett Corp., a multinational company, and plans to bring at least four additional leaders to campus in the coming academic year. These events will be livestreamed and archived online to reach a wider audience, including churches and businesses across the region.
The third and most innovative leg is Cedarville’s direct engagement with the marketplace. CU Lead will offer leadership training and development to small and mid-sized companies, educators and churches.
“We’re going to be a valued resource,” said Greenwood. “It’s not just about preparing students anymore. It’s about building bridges into our communities and coming alongside them with biblical leadership principles.”
Much of Greenwood’s career success stems from a philosophy grounded in relationships.
“I tell everyone, it’s all about people and culture,” said Greenwood. “Culture eats strategy for lunch. If you get the people right and build a great culture, the rest will follow.”
That mindset is now shaping CU Lead’s vision and its role at Cedarville.
Greenwood sees himself as a connector — someone who can open doors in the community, link Cedarville to new partners and advance the university’s mission beyond campus walls. That includes small efforts, like helping the golf team secure Springfield Country Club as its new home course, and larger ones, such as bringing CEOs to campus, paving the way for greater connectivity between Cedarville students and employers.
“I just want to help Cedarville be present and relevant in local markets,” said Greenwood. “Not just as a place that educates students but as a place that invests in people.”
While Greenwood acknowledged he will only lead CU Lead for a season, his focus is on building a solid foundation that others can grow.
“I want this to be impactful. And when I step away one day, someone else can take it to the next level,” he said. “But we’ve got an opportunity here — an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of students and leaders across the region.”
For Greenwood, this next chapter is less about retirement and more about a redirection — one rooted in faith, people and a vision for lasting impact.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.