Portage County Roots

Joe Bica knows Portage County. He grew up here, went to school here, started his business here, and raised his family here. He knows our values and shares our belief in the importance of honesty, hard work, and being a good neighbor.

Joe’s passion for service was instilled by his father, Joseph Bica, who worked hard to build his small business, provide for his family, and serve his community. Joseph taught his son the importance of honesty, hard work, integrity, service, and – most of all – education. He worked hard to provide his family the opportunities he never had – sending Joe to Immaculate Conception School in Ravenna and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville.

Joe studied electronics at Maplewood Area Joint Vocational School (now Maplewood Career Center) before earning a certificate in Vocational Education from Kent State University. Joe also studied robotics, industrial automation, and industrial electricity at Terra Technical College in Fremont, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Malone University in Canton, continuing his education with an Executive Masters in Business Administration from Kent State University. Joe is also a licensed School Business Manager through the State of Ohio.

Joe decided to stay in Portage County and raise his family here, settling in Ravenna with his wife Dona, a neonatal intensive care nurse at Akron Children’s Hospital. Joe chose to stay in Portage County because he loves it here. He knows it was the best place to start his business, raise his daughter, and provide a quality life for his family. Joe Bica is committed to making Portage County the best it can be, and his life is defined by service to the community that has given him so much.

Joe harnessed the entrepreneurial spirit that defines America to build US Wine Exports from the ground up – working tirelessly to cultivate a successful business in the international wine trade. Today, Joe manages the day-to-day operations of the company, overseeing facilities in Ravenna, Ohio and Windsor, California. Doing business in both states provides a unique perspective that Joe will bring to the Treasurer’s office. He’s seen first-hand the impact that burdensome government regulations, crippling taxes, bureaucratic inefficiency, and government overreach can impact a business.

Joe Bica is the Treasurer we need. He will bring common-sense, data-driven leadership to the Treasurer’s Office. He will bring the same approach he brought to Ravenna as Mayor: cut waste, reduce spending, and improve efficiency without impacting services or citizens. Joe firmly adheres to traditional economic disciplines: financial modeling, balanced budgeting, and strategic planning and will apply business best practices to government administration. Joe strives to be a responsible steward of your hard-earned tax dollars, with a fiscally conservative record that proves: Joe Bice is the Treasurer We Need!