top of page

PLENARY BIOS.

The Road Ahead: Ohio’s Biennium Budget and the Legislative Process 

 

Wednesday, March 8th, 12:30pm

​

Get the inside scoop from those who have been on the front lines of developing and implementing state budgets, including the main operating and transportation budgets, and learn what the 2017 budget process will mean for Ohio’s cities and regions in the next two years and beyond. 

​

Please note that plenary speakers are subject to change.

​

Andy Chow
Andy Chow is a state government reporter for Ohio Public Radio’s Statehouse News Bureau. He covers a variety of issues including environment, energy, agriculture, and education. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV, then became a government reporter for Hannah News Service. Andy also participated in the Legislative Service Commission’s Fellowship program as a production assistant for “The Ohio Channel.” Andy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting at Otterbein University.

​

​


Mike Dovilla

Mike Dovilla is the former Majority Whip of the Ohio House of Representatives. He serves as Principal of The Dovilla Group, a strategic consulting firm founded in 2006 to engage in government relations, public policy advocacy, and leadership development. From 2011 to 2016, Mike represented Cleveland’s southwestern suburbs in the Legislature, where he served as Chairman of the Public Utilities and Oversight Committees. Among his accomplishments, Mike authored 15 state laws designed to spur economic development, strengthen education, protect senior citizens, support veterans, and improve government transparency.

​

​

​

Cheryl Grossman

Cheryl Grossman served in the Ohio House for eight years. During her tenure in the House, she served as Majority Whip and Assistant Majority Whip. During her last term, she was the Chair of the Transportation Sub-Committee. Prior to her service in the House, she was mayor of Grove City from 1996 to 2008. She currently serves on the YMCA Metropolitan Board, Southwest Education Foundation Board, Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation Board and the Fallen 15 Board. She most recently was co-chair of the Transportation Task Force of the Ohio Legislature. She served in the past on the MORPC Board, was vice-chair of the Public Works Integrating Committee as well as ENRAC. Her past service also included the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Transportation Integrating Committee. She is a lifelong Ohio resident.

​

​

Debbie Phillips
Debbie Phillips joined Rural Action in 2017 as the Development Director after serving as the 94th District’s representative in the Ohio House for 8 years. As a House member, she served on the House Finance Committee, House Education Committee, House Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. Prior to that, Debbie served the 4th Ward on the Athens City Council. She was also the founding Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, which was hosted through Rural Action and worked to promote quality public education. Debbie is a graduate of Ohio University and lives in Albany with her husband Jim and their three children.

​

​

​

Tom Roberts

Tom Roberts currently serves as Advisor to the Sinclair Ohio Fellows at Sinclair Community College. Previously, he represented Ohio’s 5th District (Dayton) for 22 years as a member of the Ohio General Assembly, serving as both a State Representative and a State Senator.  In 2009, Mr. Roberts was appointed to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission to serve as a Commissioner by then Governor Ted Strickland. Mr. Roberts is the Political Action Chairman for both the Dayton Unit of the NAACP and the Ohio Conference of the NAACP. He was born in Montgomery County, where he has resided and served ever since. 

​

​

bottom of page