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Ridgway native Shamus McMahon serves as an IT risk manager at Forest City Enterprise, a $10 billion dollar real estate development and management company headquartered in Cleveland.

By Joseph Bell
Record Staff Writer

As an IT risk manager at Forest City Enterprise, Ridgway native Shamus McMahon quickly learned the importance of working hard.
"Growing up in Ridgway, I think it really taught me the value of hard work," McMahon said. "Even with my education and certifications, I still have a very blue collar 'roll-up-my-sleeves' management style and overall work ethic."
A 1993 Ridgway Area High School graduate, and son of Denny and Patty McMahon, Shamus earned a degree in business management from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1997. He has since earned his master's degree in business administration in 2002 from Cleveland State University of Ohio.
But while attending high school, McMahon said no one individual inspired him to enter into his chosen field, other than his parents.
"My parents subtly nudged me along through my various education levels and fluctuating levels of motivation," McMahon said. "I think it was more or less not feeling pressured during high school to have any idea about my chosen field.
"I didn't really decide on my chosen field until my junior year in college and that turned out to be a single class I took as an independent study coarse at Clarion."
Currently, McMahon serves as an IT risk manager at a $10 billion dollar real estate development and management company headquartered in Cleveland.
"I manage a team that performs security, audit, and risk assessments of the information technology environment at Forest City," McMahon said. "Over my 13 year career I've worked in financial services, international grocery retail, and real estate.
"I've had the opportunity to work in France, Belgium, and India. I've enjoyed the pace of continuous learning of new businesses, technology, and constantly going outside of my comfort zone."
But still today, McMahon remembers Ridgway as a safe and comfortable place to live.
"I miss the overall pace," McMahon said. "It's always relaxing to return on visits compared to spending two hours commuting to work everyday and taking 30 minutes to get to a grocery store."
McMahon, who enjoys traveling, golfing and archery hunting, currently resides in Medina, Ohio with his wife, Leah, and a daughter, Meara, who is three and a half years old.
McMahon's parents still reside in Ridgway as does his brother, Shawn, an attorney; a sister, Heather, currently serving as high school principal; brother-in-law Rick Vargas, owner and operator of Cenni's Distributer; and two nieces, Ella and Emma Vargas.