top of page

PANELIST BIOS.

We are constantly updating this page as panelists are confirmed. Please note that panelists are subject to change.

Ohio's Brownfields: Catalysts for Neighborhood Rebirth (Tues. 3/7, 10am)

​

Chris Jones

Christopher Jones provides firm clients with a seasoned perspective on government relations, environmental and regulatory issues, as well as a unique understanding of both state and federal environmental law enforcement agencies. Chris has nearly 20 years of environmental experience -- six years as director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, four years as chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Section and five years as an environmental attorney in the private sector prior to joining Calfee in 2005. Chris’ accomplishments include being the only two-term elected president of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), a national organization of all of the directors of state environmental agencies.  

​

Joe Koncelik

Joseph P. Koncelik, chair of the Tucker Ellis Environmental and Renewable Energy Group, has more than two decades of experience practicing in the areas of environmental law, property development and remediation, and oil and gas. Joe has 12 years of government regulatory experience gained as Ohio EPA director and chief legal counsel in Governor Taft’s administration and as an assistant attorney general in the Environmental Enforcement Section. Joe provides counsel and representation on environmental due diligence for real estate and business transactions with particular emphasis on brownfield redevelopment. The Best Lawyers of America, a respected peer-reviewed legal publication, has named Joe as a “Best Lawyer” in the area of environmental law for a number of years.

​

Rep. Rick Perales

State Representative Rick Perales is serving his third term in the Ohio House. He serves the 73rd House District, which includes the western portion of Greene County, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Representative Perales retired from the United States Air Force in 1997, his military career culminating as Commander of the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. As the sole member of the General Assembly inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Representative Perales has been awarded numerous military awards and honors including three meritorious service medals. Representative Perales earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction from Auburn University, and a Master of Science degree in International Relations from Troy State University.

​

Diana Rife

Diana Cooke Rife is the Revitalization Project Manager for JobsOhio, the privatized economic development corporation responsible for helping create jobs and attract new capital investment for the State of Ohio. Before joining JobsOhio in early 2014, Diana led the Asset and Property Management Services section for Crawford Hoying Real Estate Services. Prior to this she was involved in international commercial real estate development with Hines Interests.  Her career experience encompasses most facets of real estate, including land development, leasing, construction, asset and property management and financial analysis.  She is from Columbus and has a degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University. Diana has spent a majority of her career in Ohio.

​

Susan Thomas

Susan E. Thomas is Executive Vice President at the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority where she provides leadership on strategy, policy, programmatic, and capital funding matters for both the Port Authority and the Hamilton County LandBank.  Susan has developed innovative structures to attract over $13 million in impact investments to finance the Port Authority’s work.  She also led the transformation of the Port Authority’s public finance program into an innovative real estate finance entity.  Previously, Susan was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley in New York.  She holds a BA in Public Policy from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale.

​

​

​

Bouncing Back: Revitalization in Ohio’s Small and Medium-Sized Legacy Cities (Tues. 3/7, 10am)

​

Torey Hollingsworth

Torey Hollingsworth is Manager of Research and Policy with the Greater Ohio Policy Center, where she manages and carries out research projects and contributes to policy development related to GOPC’s mission of promoting revitalization and economic prosperity. Torey is currently pursuing her Masters in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University, where she is focusing on policies and practices that help develop strong neighborhoods in Ohio’s legacy cities, including her hometown of Dayton. She received her BA from the University of Chicago.

​

Mayor Larry Mulligan, Jr.

Larry Mulligan, Jr. is the Director of Community Development Lending for First Financial Bank. He manages lending programs designed to meet the needs of low and moderate income areas across the bank’s three-state footprint. Previously, from 2013 through 2016, Larry served as President of the Butler & Warren County Markets for the bank. In the Middletown community, Larry serves as the city’s Mayor. He was appointed to city council in 2006 to fill the unexpired term of the second ward representative. In 2007 he ran for office to be the city’s first directly elected Mayor in over 80 years. In November 2011 he was re-elected by a large margin, and ran unopposed in 2015.

 

Lisa Ramsey

Lisa Ramsey is the Assistant Director for Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership (TNP), a non-profit community development corporation that facilitates resident driven neighborhood revitalization in Warren, Ohio. At TNP she manages fiscal responsibilities for the organization and develops resources for blight remediation, demolition and land use, homeownership opportunities, local food and land use, public art, and community building events that are directly invested into Warren’s neighborhoods. She is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a degree in Geography and of Hiram College with an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Community Development and Public Art.

 

Jim Ritsema

Jim Ritsema was appointed City Manager of the City of Kalamazoo in November 2013. Mr. Ritsema has over 25 years in public services; serving as Finance Director in the cities of Marshall and Battle Creek, MI and as Assistant City Manager in Battle Creek, MI. He is a Credentialed Manager of The International City Management Association and a member of Michigan Municipal Executives. Mr. Ritsema holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Calvin College and a Master of Public Administration Degree in Program Evaluation, Urban Administration and Finance from The Ohio State University, School of Public Policy and Management.

​

Jeff Sprague

Jeff Sprague is the President and CEO of the Allen Economic Development Group. Before moving to the Allen Economic Development Group, Jeff was the Director of Workforce Development at Rhodes State College from 1997 to 2008. Jeff also briefly worked at the Ohio Department of Development as a Regional Workforce Coordinator. Jeff is currently on the board of Marimor Industries, the Port Authority of Allen County, St. Rita's Medical Center, Allen County Workforce Policy Board, Downtown Lima, Inc., and the Ohio Energy & Advance Manufacturing Center.

​

​

​

How Do We Build the Right Mix of Housing for Ohio’s Cities? (Tues. 3/7, 1:15pm)

 

Myia Batie

Myia Batie joined the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH) in April 2016 as Coordinator of Policy and Programs. Prior to joining OCCH, Batie worked as the Program and Policy Manager in the Office of Planning, Preservation and Development at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency where she was responsible for planning and policy development across the multifamily housing development programs including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, Housing Development Assistance Programs, Housing Development Loan Program and Multifamily Bond Program. Batie is a member of the American Planning Association and is certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.

​

Jim Durham

Jim Durham is the Director of Homeownership at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). He joined OHFA in June 2014 after more than 30 years in the banking industry. Under his leadership, the Office of Homeownership works with mortgage lenders throughout the State of Ohio to assist First-Time Homebuyers with low- to moderate-incomes by providing Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance, Grants for Grads, Ohio Heroes loans Save the Dream Ohio which manages the Hardest Hit Fund's (HHF) preservation programs to reduce foreclosures and. Active in the community, Durham has volunteered at the North YMCA in Columbus for more than 20 years and served as Chair of the Consulting Board. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Mount Union and resides in Worthington.

​

Jeanne M. Golliher

Jeanne Golliher has served as President and CEO of the Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF) since July 1998, following 16 years in community lending and advocacy as Vice President of Community Development for KeyBank. CDF is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) which underwrites and services community development real estate loans that result in the creation or preservation of affordable housing, or revitalization of urban communities. Ms. Golliher serves on the boards of Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Greater Cincinnati LISC, Homesteading and Urban Redevelopment Corporation, Woodward Trust, Economic Development Committee of Hamilton County Development Corporation.

​

Bill Sanderson

Bill Sanderson currently works with Knez Homes Inc. as VP, Land and Production. In this role he is charged with acquiring, planning, building and selling infill and unique residential homes and town homes in the Cleveland, Ohio Near West Neighborhoods of Tremont, Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway. Knez also develops larger infill sites for sale to third party builders in Inner Ring and Suburban Communities. Knez has successfully created public-private partnerships focused on for sale market rate single family homes using primarily land bank lots, city owned properties, private acquisition of distressed properties, private investment capital and tax abatement to enhance the value of the homes being built and ensure their rapid and profitable sale. Bill has over 35 years of residential land development and building success selling market rate, for sale lots and homes in suburban, urban and urban infill markets in six states and DC.

​

Jason Segedy

Jason Segedy is Director of Planning and Urban Development for the City of Akron, Ohio, where he is responsible for overseeing capital budgeting, comprehensive planning, development services, housing, and zoning for the City of Akron. Segedy currently serves as a member of Mayor Daniel Horrigan's cabinet and previously served as Director of the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. Segedy is committed to working with public sector colleagues, the private sector, non-profits, and the citizens of Akron to make the city a better place to live, play, and do business.

​

 

​

Thinking Outside the Pipe: Modernizing Ohio’s Water Infrastructure (Tues. 3/7, 1:15pm)

 

Misty Casto

Misty Casto has served as the Executive Director of Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District since 2007. She has been with the organization since 1990. Representing the Midwest Region of the country, she serves as Secretary for the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Board of Directors. Castro also serves with The Development District Association of Appalachia where she has served as its President and remains Chair of the Training committee.Additionally, Misty serves on The Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre Association Board of Directors and is also a member of The Ohio Association of Regional Councils and The Executive Order of the Ohio Commodore.

​

Jon Honeck

As a Senior Policy Fellow with the Greater Ohio Policy Center, Jon is responsible for managing large research projects and developing policy strategies to finance infrastructure development. Since joining GOPC in March 2016, Jon has led GOPC’s efforts to develop innovative financing strategies for “gray” and “green” water infrastructure that will address the full range of needs facing Ohio’s cities. Jon has 17 years of professional experience with state policy issues, particularly in taxation and state budget analysis. He served for seven years as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy in the Columbus office of The Center for Community Solutions. 

​

Tony Mancari

Tony Mancari is the Director of Corporate Development for Aqua Ohio, an investor owned water and sewer utility with 130 years of experience serving municipalities throughout Ohio with affiliates in 8 other states. Previously, he was the area manager of Aqua’s Lake Shore Division in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining Aqua, Tony was the assistant City Engineer for water resources for the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Tony graduated the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY with a BS in Civil Engineering and is pursuing an MBA through Lake Erie College. He has a passion for finding creative solutions to the daunting infrastructure challenges facing cities across Ohio and the United States.

​

Jerry Rouch

Jerry Rouch has worked for Ohio EPA for over 25 years, initially in the Division of Construction Grants, and currently in the Division of Environmental & Financial Assistance. Jerry is the Assistant Chief overseeing the Office of Financial Assistance, which administers the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, Ohio EPA’s Recycling & Litter Prevention Grants Program, and the Wastewater Compliance Assistance Unit. Jerry’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from Gannon University, and master’s degrees in Natural Resources and Political Science from Ball State University.

​

John Trujillo

John Trujillo is Stormwater Coordinator for the City of Newark. Mr. Trujillo has more than 28 years of experience in the field of environmental management.  He has managed projects that include stormwater permitting, management, design, and construction, water and wastewater permitting, management, design, and construction, solid waste, hazardous waste, and other environmental projects.  Mr. Trujillo has worked in over 16 states and three countries for federal, state, and municipal government, industrial, and commercial clients. Mr. Trujillo has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management.

​

​

​

21st Century Strategies for Supporting Competitive Workforces and Regions (Tues. 3/7, 2:45pm)

​

Bethia Burke

Bethia Burke is the Director of Strategy and Resource Allocation for the Fund for Our Economic Future, a philanthropic collaboration in Northeast Ohio that works to advance economic growth and improve access to opportunity through job creation, job preparation and job access efforts. In this role she works with Fund members to identify and shape new opportunities, conduct due diligence and review performance outcomes of grantee partners. Bethia is a boomeranger; after growing up in Shaker Heights she spent her early career in the greater Washington, D.C., area conducting cost risk reviews of major defense programs while earning her master's degree in applied economics. Bethia was compelled by the mission of the Fund to return to Northeast Ohio.

​

Catherine Crosby

Catherine “Katy” Crosby is the Executive Director of the Dayton Human Relations Council. The Council conducts civil rights enforcement by investigating and adjudicating discrimination complaints; provides business and technical assistance including certifying minority, women and small disadvantaged companies; and administers initiatives and projects to include the Welcome Dayton initiative to make Dayton more immigrant friendly, improve community-police relations and the Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence (CIRGV). She has also played a leadership role in advocating for bank public benefit agreements that support low-to-moderate income communities successfully assisting with negotiating multiple agreements totaling over $64 billion combined.

​

Sue Lacy

Sue Lacy has worked relentlessly over the last 30 years to bring residents, companies, community leaders and policy-makers together to inform decision-making. She mediates large-scale public meetings, helps design and facilitate strategic planning and culture-change initiatives, and leads cross-sector collaboration within organizations and communities. Sue's work has helped to inform the rebuilding of New Orleans, the redesign of Cleveland schools and numerous other community-building efforts. Her involvement with ConxusNEO began in 2015 with her support of the late County Executive Russ Pry’s efforts to build a more demand-driven talent system. Serving as the Fund for Our Economic Future’s Akron Manager for Growth & Opportunity, Sue was inspired to get even more involved and accepted a leadership position at ConxusNEO. â€‹

​

Janice Urbanik

Janice Urbanik is the Executive Director of Partners for a Competitive Workforce, a strategic initiative of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.  Her focus is developing the talent supply chains to meet the demand for skilled workers in targeted industry sectors. She serves on Boards or Leadership Councils for the National Skills Coalition, Womens Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation,  Jostin Construction, the National Network of Sector Partners, and the Spirit of Construction Foundation and is also heavily involved in efforts to increase the number of women in non-traditional careers. Janice and her work teams have been recognized nationally for their work in assisting under-represented populations attain and retain employment in growing industry sectors in the region.  She is also a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 40.

​

Kevin Alin

Kevin Alin is the director of regional engagement for the Fund for our Economic Future. Working across Northeast Ohio, Kevin is responsible for promoting a shared civic understanding of Growth & Opportunity principles that are key to equitable economic transformation. Prior to being a Growth & Opportunity champion, Kevin came to the Fund with a background in education where most recently, he was instrumental in redesigning central office operations at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District through his service as the executive director of school choice & enrollment. Additionally, Kevin co-founded Citizens Leadership Academy, a high-performing middle school in Cleveland. Previously, Kevin served as a Coro fellow in public affairs in San Francisco where he discovered his passion for policy and public service.
 

​

​

Laying the Cornerstone for Growth: Municipal Budgets in Challenging Times (Tues. 3/7, 2:45pm)

​

Leanna Abele
Leanna Abele is the Assistant Chief Deputy Auditor of Operations in the Chief Deputy Auditor Section of Auditor of State Dave Yost’s Office. The Chief Deputy Auditor Section oversees the operations of the Financial Audit, Local Government Services, the Center for Audit Excellence, and the Medicaid Contract Audit sections at the AOS. Prior to assuming her role in the Chief Deputy Auditor Section, she served various roles for the Auditor’s Office in her 29 year career. Leanna is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Government Financial Manager.

 

William Brock
City Manager of the City of Monroe since March 2003, Wiliam Brock previously served as the Assistant City Manager/City Engineer since September of 1999. Prior to Monroe, he worked for the City of Dayton as Senior Engineer in the Department of Planning and Community Development. He 
received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1991 from the University of Dayton, and his Masters of Business Administration, Project Management in 1998 from Wright State University. He is a member Monroe Historical Society and serve on the Board of the Middletown Community Foundation.

​

April C. Davis

April serves as Chief Project Manager for the Southwest Region in the Auditor of State’s Local Government Services Section.  She has 27 years of experience with the Auditor of State, serving local governments in areas of fiscal distress, financial statement preparation, reconciliations, reconstructions and training.

​

George Levendis

President of Council, City of Campbell

​

​

​

Neighborhood Bus Tour: The Impact of Housing Investments in Weinland Park (Tues. 3/7, 2:45pm)

​

Susan Colbert

Susan Colbert currently serves as an Ohio State University Extension Program Director in the University District, Columbus, Ohio. Susan has over 20 years of impressive experience in the area of Community and Economic Development in the state of New York and Ohio. She has a strong work ethic and is passionate about helping the economically disenfranchised. She assisted in the development of a publication for an Urban Agriculture Overlay Project, which was supported by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Challenge Grant. She is the recipient of numerous local, collegiate, county, state and national Awards for her community development work in the central Ohio area.

 

Erin Prosser

As Director of Community Development, Erin Prosser is responsible for Campus Partners’ neighborhood engagement with residents and stakeholders as well as Ohio State students, faculty and staff, and news media. She also facilitates the community development work of Campus Partners throughout the University District neighborhoods including the housing investment in Weinland Park and the commercial development along the High Street corridor. Erin joined the Campus Partners team in April 2010. Prior to Campus Partners, Erin was an Urban Planner with MKSK and a Long Range Planner for the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department.

​

Michael Wilkos

Michael Wilkos is Director of Community Research at the Columbus Foundation. He is responsible for research, development, and implementation of effective social investments that strengthen and improve the Columbus community. He provides leadership to advance the Columbus Foundation's efforts currently focused on the Weinland Park neighborhood. Michael's depth of knowledge and experience in urban planning and community development helps position the Foundation to be one of Columbus' leaders in this area of community need. Prior to joining The Columbus Foundation, Michael served as senior impact director for United Way of Central Ohio and also held positions with The Danter Company, Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, and the City of Columbus.

 

Joe Williams

Joe Williams, a life-long Columbus resident, has been involved in Central Ohio commercial real estate development for 20+ years. Joe graduated from The Ohio State University in 1989 with a degree in Real Estate and Urban Analysis. His professional background includes: Director of Real Estate for Campus Partners at OSU, Director of Acquisitions for National Church Residences and Real Estate Director of the national commercial developer Opus North. Joe is LEED-AP accredited and sits on the Columbus ULI Advisory Board.

 

​

​

Bus, Bike, or Walk: Achieving a Competitive and Cost-Effective Transportation System (Wed. 3/8, 10:15am)

​

Chuck Dyer

Chuck Dyer is the Administrator with The Office of Transit at The Ohio Department of Transportation. As the Administrator he supports the Office mission to advocate personal mobility by supporting, coordinating and funding public transportation as a critical element of a world class transportation system. Chuck graduated in 2004 from The Ohio State University, and has been with ODOT for over 6 years.

 

Kevin L. Futryk

Kevin L. Futryk has been a Statehouse lobbyist since 1984. He has spent his entire professional life in government, beginning with his election to the Seven Hills City Council in 1977 at the age of nineteen. An independent lobbyist for 32 years, Kevin has represented private and public sector interests before the Ohio General Assembly, the Governor's Office, various state agencies and departments, and local governments. Kevin is a three-time recipient of the Ohio Lobbying Association (OLA) Presidents Award, awarded for outstanding service to the lobbying profession. Kevin is the only OLA Member to receive this honor three times. Kevin is also an OLA Certified Lobbyist.

​

Pete Metz

As the Transportation Policy & Coalition Manager for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Pete Metz oversees a coalition of business leaders advocating for expanded investment in transportation that connects people to jobs and supports a talent rich workforce. The Chamber is focused on communicating the business case for expanded transportation, including investment in infrastructure projects like the Brent Spence Bridge and Western Hills Viaduct along with expanding access for public transit. Prior to joining the Chamber, Metz was the chief of staff to Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Mann where he worked on a wide range of issues, including housing, economic development, and transportation and is a veteran of both local and statewide political campaigns.

​

Carrie Woody

Carrie Woody is Director at Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit.  In addition to her role as Director she serves on the following Executive Committees: Ohio Public Transit Association, RIBAC, Kiwanis Club of Lancaster, and Prevention Works of Fairfield County. Carrie also serves on numerous committees throughout her community. She lives in Lancaster with her husband and four children.

​

 

​

Financing Recovery in Ohio’s Neighborhoods: Emerging Partnership Models (Wed. 3/8, 10:15 am)

​

Dione Alexander

Dione Alexander is President of Village Capital Corporation (VCC), a leading community development financial institution (CDFI).  Alexander is responsible for advancing VCC’s mission of investing in underserved neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining VCC, Ms. Alexander served as a Principal of RoundBox Consulting, an impact solutions consulting firm dedicated to the philanthropy, nonprofit, and community/social finance sectors.  She previously served as the V.P. of the Midwest Region and the V.P. of National Capital Asset Development for Nonprofit Finance Fund (“NFF”), a national CDFI.  Ms. Alexander has also held executive level positions in banking and the public sector. She is a graduate of the School of Business and Industry at Florida A & M University and the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

​

Nate Coffman

Nate Coffman is Executive Director of the Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA), a non-profit trade association for community development corporations that work to revitalize rural and urban communities. Prior to joining OCDCA in December 2009, he directed the revitalization efforts of Cleveland's historic Ohio City neighborhood with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation. For eight years he served as executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland (HBA). At the HBA, Nate helped bring the organization and the membership to invest and develop in many underserved urban neighborhoods working in partnership with local CDC's. Nate serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA).

​

Bryan Kieler

Bryan Kieler was recently promoted to the Director of Lending of Ohio for IFF. At IFF, Bryan is responsible for managing borrower relationships and obtaining, underwriting, getting approval, facilitating closing, monitoring loans to IFF clients, and overseeing IFF’s overall outreach throughout Ohio. Previously, Bryan was Vice President for Huntington Bank in their Community Development Lending Group. He was responsible for the portfolio management of the community development loans involving low income housing tax credits and new market tax credits. Bryan has held different leadership positions on boards ranging from the Walsh College Alumni Association, Community Health Charities, Venture Inc, Midtown Detroit Inc, and Neighborworks of Toledo.

​

Robert Klein
Robert is the Founder and Chairman of Safeguard Properties. Under Robert's leadership as CEO, Safeguard grew from a handful of employees in 1990 to over 1500 today. Robert developed Safeguard around the motto "Customer Service = Resolution" with the mission of creating a company focused on client satisfaction and strong business relationships. Safeguard is acknowledged to be the leading mortgage field servicing company in the United States.

Since Safeguard's inception, Robert has developed and maintained a reputation as an innovator and is recognized as an industry pioneer and advocate for the property preservation industry. Robert’s vision and ingenuity continue with the creation of Community Blight Solutions, a company focused on understanding, solving, and eliminating the problems of communities experiencing blight. 
 

​

 

Aggregating Ohio’s Strengths: Regional Economic Development Initiatives (Wed. 3/8, 11:30am)

​

Kevin Alin

As director of regional engagement at the Fund for Our Economic Future, Kevin is responsible for promoting a shared civic understanding of Growth & Opportunity principles that are key to advancing our regional economy.  Prior to joining the Fund, he was instrumental in redesigning central office operations at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) through his service as the executive director of school choice & enrollment. Previously, Kevin served as a Coro fellow in public affairs in San Francisco.

​

Marvin Hayes

Marvin Hayes is the Director of the External Relations Division of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. His professional background and experience to date has been focused on urban economic policy, and the social, economic and political dynamics of development in urban communities. Mr. Hayes has a special interest in the development of older industrial communities and the specific economic and social challenges they face. In his work with the Northeast Ohio regional transportation planning organization, NOACA, Mr. Hayes has the opportunity to view the challenges of development from the regional perspective.

 

Mayor Tom Johnson

After retiring from a career in International Investment Banking, Tom was elected Mayor of the Village of Somerset in 2009 and also serves as Director of the Perry County Community Improvement Corporation. He is focused on community-led development initiatives that have brought significant resources to his community and Ohio's Appalachian region. Tom also serves on the Board of the Ohio Arts Council, Perry County Community Foundation, and Chairs the Board of Hocking Technical College.

​

Mayor Nan Whaley

First elected to the Dayton City Commission in 2005, Nan was the youngest women ever chosen for a commission seat. She was proud to be elected as Dayton’s mayor in 2013 by a double-digit majority. Nan is a national leader among her peers serving on the Board of Trustees for the US Conference of Mayors as well as the Chair of the International Committee for the conference. She serves as a Vice Chair for the National League of Cities, Council on Youth, Education and Families. Nan is also a founding board member for the Ohio’s Mayor Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of Ohio’s 30 largest cities.

 

​

 

Leveraging Neighborhood Assets: Schools as Keys to Community Stabilization and Regrowth (Wed. 3/8, 11:30am)

​

Chad Aldis

Chad Aldis is the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s Vice President for Ohio Policy and Advocacy. In this role, Chad plans and leads Fordham’s Ohio policy, advocacy, and research agenda. He represents the Institute in its work with the media, state and local policy makers, other education reform groups, and the public. Chad has a strong background in Ohio education policy work having previously served as the Executive Director of School Choice Ohio and the Ohio State Director for StudentsFirst. Before moving to Ohio in 2008, Chad worked at the Florida Department of Education.

​

Erika Anthony

Erika Anthony is currently the Senior Director of Advocacy, Policy and Research for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP). In this role, she is responsible leading and shaping the policy and advocacy agenda for CNP’s core areas (Community Development Corporations, Economic Opportunity and Placemaking). Prior to CNP, Erika was the Director of Business Development at Oriana House, Inc., Project Coordinator for a pilot reentry program at the Centers for Families and Children and held various roles as a paralegal. Erika serves on a number of Boards in the area, including: Bike Cleveland, Ideastream’s Community Advisory Board, and EDWINS. Additionally, she continues to Co-Direct Cleveland VOTES and most recently has served as one of the founding members of Hack Cleveland.

​

Bro. Raymond Fitz, S.M. Ph.D.

Bro. Ray is the past-President of the University of Dayton and served in that position for 23 years. In that position he taught courses on leadership in building community, neighborhood and regional strategies for breaking the cycle of urban poverty, and the Catholic social tradition as a resource for justice in the metropolitan region. He was the founding chair of the Montgomery County Family and Children First Council. He is an advisory to Dayton Public Schools Neighborhood School Centers. He continues to serve on a variety of community and agency Boards. He works with different community agencies and neighborhood associations on issues of family stability, school readiness, and as an advocate for a two-generation approach for breaking the cycle of poverty.

​

Jason Reece
Jason Reece is an assistant professor, in the City & Regional Planning Program, at the Knowlton School of Architecture. His research, teaching and professional experience focuses on social equity in city planning, health equity and asset-based community development. Jason has acted as an advisor and capacity builder to foundations, non-profits, community organizations and government agencies. He has worked with partner organizations in more than 30 states in the US and acted as a capacity builder for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Sustainable Communities Initiative for four years. He currently is President of the Board of Directors for the Parsons Avenue Community Development Corporation. Jason was formerly the senior associate director and director of research for the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity, at The Ohio State University. 

 

​

​

Anchor 1
Anchor 2
Anchor 3
Anchor 4
Anchor 5
Anchor 6
Anchor 7
Anchor 8
Anchor 9
Anchor 10
Anchor 11

Photo credit: Dick Burry

bottom of page