Editor’s note: Twenty under 40! is a collaborative effort between the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s ystark! and the Canton Repository. It recognizes young professionals in Stark County. This year’s honorees are being featured each weekday leading up to the awards celebration, which will be June 25 at the Cultural Center for the Arts in Canton.
Andrew Burton has a desire to contribute to the Stark County community — whether it’s through his work as an attorney or volunteering.
“I want to be someone who helps move our community forward,” he said.
Burton, 28, serves as an attorney with Schulman, Roth & Associates in Canton. He also serves on the board of the Stark County Humane Society, coaches law students on trial skills and presentation as part of the University of Akron School of Law Trial Team, and is president of the Stark County Association of Justice.
Burton, who grew up in Canton and Jackson Township, now lives in North Canton with his husband. He ran unsuccessfully for North Canton City Council in 2025.
He graduated from Jackson Local Schools and received a degree in philosophy, political science and economics from the University of Akron in 2018. He then received his law degree from the UA School of Law.
“My goal is to continue building a career that allows me to make a meaningful impact for the people, businesses, and organizations I serve,” he said. “I want to keep growing as an attorney, taking on challenging work, and using my skills to help people solve problems during important moments in their lives.
“Beyond my professional goals, I hope to continue finding ways to serve Stark County and contribute to the community that has given so much to me.”
Who nominated Andrew Burton for the Twenty under 40! honor?
Richard Reinbold, a former Stark County Common Pleas judge, and Kristen Moore, a Stark County Common Pleas magistrate. nominated Burton for the Twenty under 40! honor.
“What sets him apart is not only the sophistication of the matters he handles, but the real-world impact of his work,” Reinbold wrote in his nomination. “Most notably, he helped recover more than $10 million for consumers defrauded in solar panel cases, reflecting both high-level advocacy and a genuine commitment to protecting people who have been taken advantage of. He handles serious matters with composure, preparation, and maturity well beyond his years and is an asset to the Stark County community.”
Moore agreed, writing that Burton “combines courtroom skill, professionalism, and civic engagement in a way that is exceptional for someone under 40. He is a polished advocate who has earned substantial responsibility early in his career, yet he has also remained deeply involved in Stark County through bar leadership, public service, mentoring, and nonprofit work. From both a professional and community perspective, he represents the kind of emerging leader this award is intended to recognize.”
Here are some of Andrew Burton’s professional achievements
Here are some of Burton’s professional achievements:
The Canton Repository posed several questions to Burton about living and working in Stark County. Here are his answers:
What advice would you give the younger generation when it comes to advancing in their careers or strengthening Stark County?
My advice to the younger generation is to slow down and enjoy the season of life you are in. I have spent a lot of my life running toward career goals — working and studying hard in high school, graduating college early, going straight into law school, and filling most summers with work.
I am grateful for where that path has taken me, but I do wish I had taken more time to enjoy being young, spend time with friends, and experience life without always rushing to the next goal.
There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but life gets serious quickly. You only get one chance to be young, so work hard, but do not forget to have fun, make memories, explore the world, and take things a little less seriously while you can.
What motivates or inspires you to better the community?
What motivates me most is the people in our county. My family has been in Stark County for generations, and I grew up seeing this community as a place where people from different backgrounds, neighborhoods, races, and walks of life still find ways to come together and show up for one another.
Our cities, villages, and townships each have their own identities, traditions, and school rivalries, but what makes Stark County special is that we also understand we are part of something larger.
I have always had a passion for helping people in our community, and I feel fortunate that I get to show up for others in a place that means so much to me. Whether that means representing people in our community, supporting local organizations, or volunteering my time, seeing the firsthand impact of that work is one of the biggest reasons I love Stark County and remain motivated to keep our community moving forward.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
The best career advice I have ever been given is to be authentic — flaws and all. You can and should learn from people you admire, seek out mentors, and adopt the qualities you respect in others, but you should not lose yourself trying to become someone else. People can tell when you are not being genuine, and trust is difficult to build without authenticity.
I have also learned that you will never be truly confident in what you are doing if you are not honest with yourself about who you are. The goal is not to appear perfect; it is to keep growing, work hard, treat people well, and build a career in a way that feels true to you.
List three to five things people might not know about you.
Why do you think Stark County is a great place to live and work?
Our county has the opportunities and resources of a larger community, but still feels personal like a small town. It is big enough that people can build meaningful careers, raise families, start businesses, and find their own path, but close-knit enough that relationships still matter and people feel connected to where they live.
That balance is what makes Stark County special. You can be part of a growing, diverse county while still feeling like you belong to a community where people know one another, support one another, and take pride in seeing their neighbors succeed.
What are your top three favorite things to do in Stark County when not working?
What’s your favorite sports team and why? (Could be high school, college or pro)
Cleveland Indians/Guardians. I think most people get attached to a team because of moments in their childhood. Some of my favorite memories growing up were going to baseball games with my dad and watching games on the weekend on the big tube TV that we had in our family room.
Describe your perfect evening.
My perfect evening is sitting outside by a fire with friends and, ideally, a glass of scotch and a cigar.
Name a personal hero and explain why you chose them.
My personal hero is my boss and mentor, Stacie Roth. She took a chance on me when she hired me as an intern just out of high school, and since then she has taught me so much about the law, advocacy, and what it means to serve clients well.
But what makes Stacie so important to me goes beyond the law. She has always looked out for me personally — encouraging me to take care of myself, pushing me to grow, and helping me come out of my shell from the quiet kid I used to be. She wants me to be my very best, and over the years she has become a mentor, role model and a true “work mom.”
What’s a food or drink that you couldn’t live without. Explain why.
Coffee from Carpe Diem. My office is right above Carpe Diem, and stopping there has become part of my morning routine.
I usually bring my dog, Arthur, to work with me, and every morning Cathy has my coffee and Arthur’s pup cup ready. It is a small thing, but it is the best way to start the day.
You can listen to only one musical artist for the rest of your life. Who is it and why?
CAAMP is currently one of my favorite artists. They are from Columbus, and I have recently been getting more into folk music, although I listen to all sorts of country, alternative, and rock.
My favorite song is “How I Got to Memphis” by Tom T. Hall because it is a reminder that all of life’s experiences — the good and the bad — help lead you to where you are, and that the choices you make today can change the trajectory of your life.
If you could plan your ultimate vacation — money isn’t a concern — where would you go?
I would plan a trip to Prague, Budapest, and Vienna. I am a bit of a history nerd, so I love visiting museums, exploring old cities, and learning about the places I travel. That part of Europe has so much history, beautiful architecture, and great food that it would be the perfect trip for me.
What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better?
A home-cooked dinner from my husband. He is an amazing cook, and most nights he makes dinner for us even though he’s working full time as an attorney, too. After a long day, being able to come home, wind-down, and share a meal together instantly makes the day better.
What’s a movie or TV show you can rewatch over and over?
“I Think You Should Leave.” It’s my exact type of dry comedy humor and we quote it all the time.
What’s one hobby or interest people might not expect from you?
I really enjoy trap shooting. My father-in-law is a national champion in trap shooting and I got dragged into the sport when I became part of the family.
What’s a tradition (big or small) you look forward to every year?
Every year before Christmas, we invite our friends over for a Sunday English roast dinner that my husband goes all out for.
What’s your favorite way to recharge?
My favorite way to recharge is laying on the couch with my dog, Arthur, and watching baseball or golf. More often than not, Arthur and I both end up taking a nap, which usually means it was a pretty successful recharge.
What’s a book you’ve read that stuck with you?
Most of my reading these days is case law, briefs, and legal filings, so reading does not always feel like leisure by the end of the day. One book that has stuck with me, though, is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” There is a moment when Atticus Finch tells Scout that you never really understand someone until you climb into their skin and walk around in it.
While that line is spoken in the context of racial prejudice, I think the lesson applies much more broadly. In my work, especially when preparing to tell a client’s story, I try to put myself in their shoes and understand what they have truly experienced. That perspective helps me be a better advocate and, hopefully, a more empathetic person.
What’s something on your bucket list you haven’t done yet?
I would love to take a cross-country road trip. There are so many parts of the country I have not seen, and I think it would be incredible to experience different cities, small towns, landscapes, and local cultures along the way.
Rick Armon is managing editor of the Canton Repository and Massillon Independent. He can be reached at 330-580-8310 or rarmon@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Twenty under 40! honoree Andrew Burton: ‘Be authentic – warts and all’
Reporting by Rick Armon, Canton Repository / The Repository
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