The Ahola Family
Jeff Ahola
 Jeffrey B. Ahola was born on November 4, 1955. He graduated in 1977 from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelors Degree in Information Systems. He later earned his Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California in 1983.
Beginning his professional career at The Progressive Insurance Company in 1978, he was Computer Operations Manager at corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Regional Sales Representative in Los Angeles, California and Regional Sales Manager in Atlanta, Georgia during his time with Progressive.
In 1984, Jeff joined his family at The Ahola Corporation as Marketing Manager. He now serves as CEO as well as maintaining his role as sales and marketing manager.
Jeff is an avid golfer. He has two children, Sonya and Brian.
Marja Ahola
Marja L Ahola was born November 12, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan. She was an active member of the National Honor Society while attending Avon Lake High School (Ohio). She played baritone in the marching, stage, and symphonic bands, eventually becoming band president. She became only the third sophomore ever chosen to the first chair.
Graduating in 1976, she moved on to the University of Akron, where she majored in accounting and joined the marching band. As a freshman, she had the opportunity to march at a bowl game for the Zips football team. A highly decorated bowler in her prime, she won a collegiate tournament as a senior, allowing her the opportunity to represent Ohio and Michigan in Seattle, WA.
After college, she continued bowling and won the Cleveland All Events Title in 1984. In 1994, she was the first woman in Lorain County to average over 200 for an entire season, finishing with a 202.
She joined The Ahola Corporation in June of 1980. She has held many positions at Ahola, most recently in the role of Payroll Manager. Marja oversees a highly trained payroll staff, which is kept abreast of frequently changing federal, state and local payroll rules through weekly education sessions. Her expertise in payroll data processing provides the Ahola Corporation management team with requisite oversight capabilities.
For each new client, the initial cycles are personally handled by Ms. Ahola to assure that all details are correct before the payroll is assigned to a payroll specialist. Additionally, Ms. Ahola oversees Customer Relations and frequently reviews all protocols used by her staff to handle problems and suggestions. Her one-on-one approach assures clients of quality, timely production of all reports and paychecks.
Mark Ahola
Mark Ahola was born June 17, 1954 in Highland Park, MI, graduating from Avon Lake High School (Ohio) in 1972.
In 1974, he graduated from Lorain County Community College with an Associates Degree in Business. He started working at The Ahola Corporation on a part time basis while attending Cleveland State University, taking over day-to-day operations when Chet Ahola retired in 1986. He has worked in all facets of the payroll business, processing, sales, collections, and tax services.
He helped test one of the first electronic payment systems, TAXLINK, the predecessor to EFTPS, and also worked closely with the state Treasurer’s office and the Ohio Department of Taxation. The Ahola Corporation was the first payroll service to work with the state voluntarily, maintaining its proactive approach to technological advancement.
He returned to Cleveland State University in 2000 and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 2002.
He enjoys golfing in his spare time. Mark and his wife of 30 years, Michelle, have a seventeen-year-old son, Cameron.
Scott Ahola
Scott Ahola brings twenty-five years of experience in computer software development to The Ahola Corporation management team. His innovative systems approach has garnered the company multiple IRS Magnetic Media awards for electronically filing over 500,000 tax returns without error. He was enrolled in the Social Security Administration’s MMREF pilot program, which is designed to create a more complete file format for electronic transmission of W-2s. This program has now gone live to companies all over the country. Ahola has led the systems team in making the company the first voluntary electronic filer of Ohio Withholding tax. He worked with RITA in a pilot EFT program that went live May 1st, 2000.
By overseeing development and implementation of our Generations Payroll system, Ahola provides businesses with greater flexibility, control and choice in its payroll approaches. The Generations software can be installed at the client’s site, thereby letting them transmit data via the Internet for greater choice and mobility; these programs especially benefit small business owners who conduct accounting chores both at the office and at home. His software engineering team is currently developing Family Pay, which will provide further unprecedented security to family owned and operated businesses.
Mr. Ahola holds a B.S. of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, 1982, with a major in Management Information Systems.
Mr. Ahola continues to develop pioneering approaches in software design, aiding clients in creating accurate, timely payroll and HR data.
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