Preston Cherouny: A Steady Hand in Leadership and Life
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 24
- 3 min read
Preston Cherouny was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1965, but his childhood unfolded in Canton, a small town outside Hartford, Connecticut. His parents, Richard and Mary Cherouny, moved the family there in the early 1970s. Canton gave him a sense of community and a place to grow up with close family ties.
He attended Canton Elementary and middle schools before heading to Avon Old Farms School. By the time he graduated in 1984, his outlook was already shaped by structure and perseverance.
“I grew up just outside Hartford, in a town called Canton,” Cherouny recalls. “I’m okay with sharing really any information that may be online from this period in my life.”
Education and Building Blocks
After high school, Cherouny enrolled at Skidmore College. He majored in American Studies and graduated in 1988. Along the way, he also played a season of college golf, an early glimpse into a lifelong passion.
College taught him more than academics. It helped him see the value of hard work and persistence. “I write my goals down both short and long term and try to work systematically to achieve them,” he explains.
Moving Into the Workforce
Preston Cherouny began his career in Connecticut but made a life-changing move in 1992 when he relocated to Washington, D.C. Soon after, he married his wife, Merrell, in 1993 at St. John’s Church. Their family grew with the births of their daughter Grace in 1997 and their son Hayden in 1999.
His values—family, friends, and faith—remained the foundation for his career. “In my adult life, I value my family and friends,” he says. “They are everything to me.”
A Career at St. John’s Church
Cherouny’s professional highlight came in 2017 when he began working at St. John’s Church. What started as a role as Financial Secretary grew into bigger responsibilities. He later served as Interim Parish Administrator and eventually became Chief Operating Officer.
Leadership at St. John’s was about more than administration. It was about trust. He managed finances, guided operations, and ensured the institution ran smoothly during times of transition.
“I am okay with failure so I slow down and take my time to do my best,” he says. That steady mindset carried him through challenges and earned him respect in his role.
Leadership Philosophy and Lessons
Cherouny believes leadership is not about perfection. It’s about honesty, humility, and persistence. “My big mistake is obvious. I failed big time,” he admits. “The success is in accepting you failed and forgive yourself and try to be a better person.”
He credits his wife Merrell for being his inspiration. “She stood by me when things got really bad,” he says. Her support gave him strength to push forward, to learn from setbacks, and to keep growing as a leader.
Hobbies, Community, and Balance
Outside of work, Cherouny is an avid golfer. He is a member at the University of Maryland Golf Course and also stays active at Crunch Gym in Friendship Heights.
He gives back, too. In 2025, he donated $3,000 to Avon Old Farms School to support teacher housing. He also contributed $1,000 to the Friends of the University of Maryland to help maintain the golf course he enjoys.
These acts reflect his belief in giving back to the communities and institutions that shaped his life. “By having humility, being honest, valuing the people in your life. Being able to laugh and love others,” he says. “Finding the good in people, not judging them.”
What Success Means to Him
For Cherouny, success is not about titles or outcomes. It’s about the process. “Success to me—it’s in the work,” he explains. “When you are on, it’s the process, not the outcome, that makes me feel good. Success is all about the learning for me.”
He admits balance is critical. Without it, he knows the risks of burnout or failure. “This balance is everything,” he says. “Without it I will fail again.”
A Life of Steady Values
Cherouny’s story is one of perseverance, humility, and quiet leadership. From his early days in Connecticut to his role as Chief Operating Officer at St. John’s Church, his journey shows the value of persistence and integrity.
His lessons are simple yet powerful: be honest, work hard, value family, and accept failure as part of growth. As he puts it: “By being able to forgive myself, realize what is most important in my life—family. Overcame obstacles by not giving up.”
