Episoder
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Luke Blocher is General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer for the Cincinnati Development Fund. The CDF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending institution that fills a gap not covered by traditional lenders. They provide funding for real estate development in under-served markets in the Greater Cincinnati area. They also offer facilities and equipment funding for nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region.
At CDF Luke is responsible for legal and strategy functions, including management of the affordable housing lending and New Markets Tax Credit programs. He oversees compliance, data collection and reporting required by all CDF funders. He joined CDF in 2022. His previous experience includes working in the Attorney General's office of the State of Ohio, Senior Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Deputy City Solicitor, City of Cincinnati.
A Cincinnati native, he is an alumnus of St Xavier High School, Amherst College and Columbia Law School in New York City. He resides in Cincinnati's Clifton neighborhood with his wife and family.
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LaNae Barnes is the Local Market Executive for Bank of America in Cincinnati and works in partnership with the market President leadership team to help connect businesses, families and individuals to the banking and investment teams that will help improve their financial lives. She deploys Bank of America’s resources in the market to address social and economic concerns and build strong communities. More specifically, LaNae is responsible for the development and execution of the market plan, designed to drive revenue growth, employee engagement and corporate reputation. In addition, she oversees community partnerships, sponsorships and philanthropy in Cincinnati. LaNae is a native of Dallas, and an accomplished full scholarship track & field athlete at Syracuse University, where she was training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She and her husband live in Cincinnati with their twin daughters.
Scott Thompson is the founder of RESLV. He founded the agency in 2016 with a vision for elevating his clients' businesses by producing high-quality content that highlights their unique characteristics. He has grown the company from its humble roots to an Emmy award-winning agency whose reach extends around the world. Scott leads his team with a foundational commitment to transparency, creativity, and respect, valuing each team member's expertise and insights as they provide innovative content to their clients. Scott currently serves as a Chair of the Evanston Business Association in Cincinnati and was recently elected to the NATAS Ohio Valley Board of Governors, the organization that oversees the Emmy awards. Storyteling is his passion, and he and his team are commited to showcasing the very best of Cincinnati.
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A strong advocate for people, Keizayla Fambro is a seasoned political strategist and community leader with a passion for social justice, policy, and community engagement. Keizayla, is the Chief of Staff in the office of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. She strategically supports and manages the Mayor's administration, while also serving as the Mayor's top advisor. Prior to this role, Keizayla served as the Senior Political Advisor for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, running one of the country's largest voter registration efforts while strategizing and managing campaigns. She also was the Political Director for Mayor Aftab's mayoral campaign. Keizayla resides in Mt. Airy, with her daughter Kylie and dog Bentley!
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Damian Hoskins is the Executive Director of Elementz, the premier Hip Hop Cultural Art Center in, Cincinnati. Elementz is committed to fostering talent, igniting potential and inspiring possibilities, particularly for underrepresented youth in the Greater Cincinnati region. Previously, Damian was the Vice President of Arts Impact at ArtsWave, the leading fundraiser and promoter of the arts in Cincinnati. Damian is also a 20 year teaching veteran and teaches a course on Hip Hop Studies at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Damian is also an oil painter, graphic designer and furniture maker. As an educator and artist, Damian firmly believes that his purpose in life is to inform and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers.
Damian holds a bachelor’s degree in English education from Central State University and a master’s degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
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As President and CEO of Visit Cincy (formerly known as the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau), Julie Calvert leads the region’s destination marketing and management organization. Her strategic vision and collaborative approach help maximize the size and impact of Cincinnati’s visitor economy and expand the region’s travel, tourism, and convention industries.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Calvert served as Executive Director of Source Cincinnati (Cincinnati Experience), where she led the charge to connect the region with national media and elevate the “Cincinnati Story” into the global spotlight. In that role, she created a coalition of like-minded, visionary funders. She built and engaged a board of directors and tapped our best regional resources and outside experts to establish Source as the region’s only organization focused solely on global reputation management.
Calvert has spent her career developing and executing strategies that drive awareness, build reputation, mobilize resources, and spark economic vitality in the region. She started as a media reporter and editor, worked as a senior advisor at one of Cincinnati’s top communications firms and served as Vice President of Communications and Strategic Development for the CVB from 2001-2016. While there, she was the driving force behind the CVB’s national marketing, communications and reputation-building strategies and was instrumental in the Bureau’s record-setting results in attracting and hosting some of the world’s most high-profile conventions.
With a profound appreciation of our region’s rich diversity, Calvert has a track record of finding ways to celebrate the varied voices, backgrounds and viewpoints that make up our Cincinnati tapestry. She helped build the CVB’s Supplier Diversity Program and multicultural marketing channel. And she made diversity a key part of Source Cincinnati’s strategic vision, from the people it engages to the stories it tells about the region. In 2019, she was honored with the APEX award from Black Meetings & Tourism.
In 2015, Calvert spearheaded civic communications efforts for the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game hosted in Cincinnati, raising the city’s national profile during one of the signature events in all professional sports. In 2019, Calvert was included in the Cincinnati 300, a compilation of the city’s top 300 business leaders, along with a spot in the Power 100, a list of the 100 most influential business, political and community leaders in the Cincinnati region.
In 2020, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Calvert was tapped to chair the Ohio Governor’s Statewide Task Force on Travel and Tourism to craft safe reopening strategies and protocols for the industry.
She serves on board of Destinations International, the Hamilton County Commission on Women and Girls, the Board of the Cincinnati Music Festival, a former Cabinet Member for the ArtsWave Annual Community Campaign and has volunteered in leadership roles with several other regional non-profit organizations.
Calvert earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and resides in Anderson Township with her husband Chris and two sons. -
Kate Schroder joined Interact for Health as its fourth President and CEO in January 2022. In this role, she works with Interact for Health’s staff and board to provide leadership, direction, and vision to the organization and to develop strategies to address some of the most pressing health needs in Greater Cincinnati. A native of Cincinnati, Kate has experience leading health initiatives locally and internationally. Prior to joining Interact for Health, she oversaw a regional collaborative effort to increase COVID-19 vaccination throughout 14 counties in Greater Cincinnati and to address disparities in vaccination rates while working at The Health Collaborative.
In 2020, Kate was a candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 1st District, running on a platform to expand access to affordable health care and economic mobility. For 12 years before that, she held various leadership roles with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, a 1,400-person organization spanning 35 countries. As a Vice President leading child health programs, she helped reduce drug prices by 40% and increased the number of children receiving correct treatment by 50 million in four focus countries: India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. She led teams with 75 staff members and budgets of more than $80 million.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Results from her work to reduce childhood mortality and to strengthen health systems in low-resource settings have been published in several academic journals, including the British Medical Journal and The Lancet.
In 2011, Kate was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, an experience that she says helps fuel her passion for improving health care—knowing firsthand what it feels like when one’s survival is dependent on access to quality care. She remains active in patient advocacy and helping to support research as a member of the Executive Leadership Committee of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Kate and her husband, John Juech, live in Cincinnati with their two children. She is active in community and civic affairs and served on the Cincinnati Board of Health from 2016 to 2022. Outside of the office, she coaches youth soccer and concentrates her service around her passions for health, children, education, and building stronger communities. She serves on the boards for the Cincinnati State Foundation and OneNKY Alliance and the advisory board for the NKU Institute for Health Innovation.
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Rob Zimmerman is in his third year as Head of School at his alma mater, Cincinnati Country Day School. He was born in Dallas, lived in Atlanta as a young child, and grew up in Cincinnati since the 3rd grade (residing in Indian Hill, literally across the street from CCDS, where his parents still live and host Sunday family dinners). He is a proud 1998 graduate of Country Day, attended Vanderbilt University for his undergraduate degree (BA, English), and continued his studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law (JD).
Rob practiced as a commercial litigator at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP for 16 years, handling a wide range of business disputes, including breach of contract, corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, and real estate matters. He served on the board of trustees at CCDS for a number of years and stepped in as Interim Head of School in 2021. Following a national search process, he was appointed as Head of School. To quote Rob, "I feel outrageously lucky to be able to do what I do every day."
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Tianay Amat is the President & CEO of Cincinnati Works. She believes in the resiliency of the human spirit and is passionate about eliminating poverty through education and employment.
Ms. Amat also has over two decades in public education. She has served as an Interim Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Principal and Teacher in both urban and suburban school districts.
Ms. Amat was recognized as the Administrator of the year by the Cincinnatus Association, Community Builder of the Year by the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council, and received Teacher of the Year by New York City Board of Education.
Ms. Amat holds a Master of Science in Education from the State University of New York at Cortland and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. -
Roger David is president and CEO of Gold Star Chili, Inc., an iconic Cincinnati business with two well-known brands in its portfolio of companies – Gold Star and Tom & Chee.
Roger leads a team of dedicated professionals working to continue to build the brand his father and uncles started more than 50 years ago. Since being named president and CEO, Roger has grown Gold Star Chili, Inc. to include Tom & Chee, the famous grilled cheese and soup restaurant chain that rocketed to stardom thanks to an appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
Under his leadership, Gold Star has completed strategic updates to all areas of its business in order to drive success and growth for the next 50 years and beyond. A $30 million investment translated into a new restaurant look, menu and guest experience for its 70+ locations throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Roger believes restaurant brands are built tableside and has advanced the companies training and development efforts. The company also made a deliberate investment into facility efficiencies in order to build environmentally-friendly restaurants, which pays off for its franchise owners who are realizing improvements in labor costs, energy usage and employee productivity. Gold Star is in the process of bringing those same strategies to the Tom & Chee brand in order to position it for success for years to come.
Earlier in his career, Roger served as CEO of national sports restaurant franchise Buffalo Wings & Rings; director of brand strategy at Brandimage, a brand design and consultancy serving fortune 500 clients; and vice president of marketing at Gold Star. He has served a member of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation board, President of the Music Resource Center, Vice President of the Council on Child Abuse, and ArtWorks Big Pitch mentor and judge. Roger is currently in Leadership Cincinnati Class 47.
Roger holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Xavier University. He is married to Ceci and has three children: Liza, Alex and Margo.
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Karl Kadon, a lifelong resident of Cincinnati, is an alumnus of Walnut Hills High School, Miami University, and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Since 2006, he has served as a Criminal Chief, a federal prosecutor, stationed at the Cincinnati branch office of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
In his role, Kadon dedicated a significant portion of his federal career to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, focusing on pursuing major drug dealers and drug cartels. In 2019, he was appointed as the Deputy Criminal Chief overseeing the Task Force. Shortly thereafter, he assumed the position of Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he took charge of all investigations and criminal cases. Over the past two decades, Kadon has either personally litigated or supervised some of the most notable federal prosecutions in the Southern District of Ohio, earning several awards and recognitions for his contributions.
Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Kadon served as the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Prior to that, he held the position of Deputy City Solicitor for the City of Cincinnati, where he was responsible for managing all civil litigation and criminal prosecution matters. In 1987, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, serving as a Judge Advocate ("JAG") in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps until his retirement in 2015 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His military service included mobilization for Operation DESERT STORM, deployment as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Special Operations Component of U.S. Central Command during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, with assignments in the Gulf, Afghanistan, and other regions.
Beyond his professional and military commitments, Kadon has actively participated in youth soccer and the Boy Scouts. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Dan Beard Council of the BSA and currently holds positions on the Board of Directors of the FC Cincinnati Foundation and the Miami University Alumni Association Advisory Board.
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Siobhan Taylor believes that transformational education changes not only students but also families and communities. She was named the second president of DePaul Cristo Rey High School (DPCR) in Cincinnati in August 2020.A Cincinnati native, Siobhan is a graduate of Ursuline Academy, Miami University and the University of Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and anthropology, a master’s degree in social work social policy, and completed additional studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She has held several education leadership positions including at the Springer School and Center, and James N. Gamble Montessori High School. Prior to taking the leadership position at DPCR, she served as Head of High School at Marburn Academy in New Albany, Ohio. As President & CEO of DePaul Cristo Rey High School, Siobhan is passionate about providing opportunities for students to secure their futures, and is equally committed to fostering each student’s spiritual development. DPCR serves students who aspire to go to college but whose families have limited financial means. As a Catholic, college preparatory high school with a unique Corporate Work Study Program, DPCR gives students the experience of working in businesses and organizations throughout their high school careers. Siobhan was named a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47 in 2023; as a Power 100 Rising Star in July 2023; as an Ohio Top 500 Leader in 2022 and 2023; and among Greater Cincinnati’s Forty under 40 list of emerging leaders in September 2021. Her interests in and passion for education, female empowerment, and mental health advocacy have led her to make an impact through significant volunteer work that has an international reach. She serves on the Ambassador Council of the Eating Recovery Center and frequently serves on mental health panels with a particular interest in those that address mental health and spirituality issues in diverse communities. Siobhan is committed to support youth and women locally and globally through multiple organizations: Compassion International, where she sponsors religious life and education for four children in multiple countries; Montana de Luz, a Honduran orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS; Miami University Regionals Community Advisory Board; and Women in Christian Leadership, where she supports programming for Christian, women and business leaders. Drawing upon her love of young people and God, she also serves as the Founder of Conflicts of the Heart, a Christian women's small group ministry and blog. She is currently working on a devotional and other opportunities to share God’s love with others.
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Rico Grant is the founder of Paloozanoire, creator of Gallery At Gumbo - the inclusive barbershop art gallery collaboration in the heart of OTR which hosts the regional focused podcast Gumbo Talks. Rico also serves as Executive Director of SoCap Accelerate based out of Northern Kentucky University, is the creator behind the Emmy award winning Black & Brown Faces art exhibition previously on exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and the new regionally focused youth awards program "17 Under Seventeen" in partnership with The University of Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, CVG. and Duke Energy
Known as a connector throughout the city, Rico serves on several non-profit boards and advises for several startups and foundations around the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. In 2022 Rico launched Cinema, a premier bar & lounge dedicated to 90’s R&B and Classic Black Filmmakers as well as Fundnoire, a $1.5M fund dedicated to launching 24 new black owned small businesses throughout the city. In 2023, Rico launched his second bar and lounge LoVe which is located on 4th street in the central business district.
https://paloozanoire.com/
https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/art/exhibitions/black-brown-faces-verified/
https://www.loveonfourth.com/
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Michele A. O'Rourke - CEO of O'Rourke Wrecking Company
Michele A. O'Rourke is the visionary CEO of O'Rourke Wrecking Company, a leading name in the demolition and environmental industry. Since taking the helm in 2019, O'ROURKE has consistently ranked among the Top 15 largest demolition contractors in the United States according to ENR Magazine. What began as a small excavation firm in 1962 has evolved into a nationwide powerhouse specializing in demolition, environmental remediation, and recycling.
Michele's illustrious journey at O'ROURKE spans nearly three decades, encompassing diverse roles, from Accounting and Bid Coordination to Project Management, Operations, Business Development, and ultimately the prestigious CEO position. Her unwavering dedication and tenacity have propelled O'ROURKE to undertake iconic projects, including the IRS site, Millennium Hotel, US Playing Card World Headquarters, FC Cincinnati, and many more.
In 2021, Michele was honored as the "Construction Woman of the Year" by Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), a recognition that underscores her trailblazing accomplishments in the male-dominated construction industry. Beyond her corporate duties, she actively contributes to organizations like the Spirit of Construction Foundation, Ohio Valley Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Allied Construction Industries (ACI), National Demolition Association (NDA), Mercy Health Foundation, Cincinnati Regional Business Committee (CRBC), American Heart Association- Hardhats with Hearts, and has previously served on the SPCA Cincinnati Board of Directors. Michele's commitment to community and industry growth is truly exceptional, as she tirelessly challenges industry perceptions and passionately advocates for the construction sector.
Mike O'Rourke - President of O'Rourke Wrecking Company
For over two and a half decades, Mike O'Rourke has served as the President of O'Rourke Wrecking Company, a pioneering force in the demolition and environmental remediation industry. Founded in 1962, O'ROURKE's journey has seen it evolve from a small excavation company into a multifaceted firm, offering services ranging from demolition and sitework to abatement, environmental remediation, and recycling.
In its remarkable 60-year history, O'ROURKE has demolished over 20,000 structures, encompassing a wide array of projects, from professional sports stadiums and multi-story buildings in major metropolitan areas to airports and shopping malls. Mike's hands-on experience began at the tender age of 12, starting as a Laborer, and during his high school and college years, he dedicated his weekends and summers to working on various jobsites. He attended the University of Cincinnati and successfully graduated with a BS in Business Management and Real Estate in 1990, all while working full-time.
In 1994, Mike took on the role of President after the untimely passing of his father at the age of 52. By 1998, he gained controlling interest in the company, leading to a name change to O'Rourke Wrecking Company, more accurately reflecting the firm's core business. Since then, O'ROURKE has continued to flourish, taking on demolition projects nationwide, including notable implosions and conventional demolitions of iconic structures. Mike's dedication to the field of demolition has been unwavering, and his leadership has played a pivotal role in the company's ongoing growth and success. -
Dr. David Lawrence was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and is a 1984 graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He has more than 27 years of experience in public education, having served in a variety of roles throughout his career.
Dr. Lawrence has taught at Edwin Joel Brown Middle School, Meadowdale High School, has served as Assistant Principal at Stivers School for the Arts, and Principal at Thurgood Marshall STEAM High School. He has also served as the Chief Academic Officer for the Dayton Regional STEM School, Chief of School Innovation for Dayton Public Schools, and Principal of Northmoor Elementary School. In September 2022, he returned to Dayton Public Schools to serve as Business Manager, and in July 2023 was selected to serve as Interim Superintendent.
As Interim Superintendent, Dr. Lawrence immediately implemented new guiding principles for staff in an effort to improve culture and morale. These principles, known as the “5 C’s,” include culture, commitment, communication, competence, and collaboration. -
Robert A. Bedinghaus (Bob) currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Cincinnati Federal and its holding company, Cincinnati Bancorp, Inc. He is a former Hamilton County Commissioner (1996-2001) and served as Director, Business Development, for the Cincinnati Bengals, from 2004 until 2019. Additionally, he currently serves on the board of trustees for Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC), a not-for-profit organization that focuses on providing extracurricular activities for students in the Cincinnati Public Schools. He has served as an advisory member of the Kenton County Airport Board, Vice President of the Hamilton County Township Association, and President of the Hamilton County Family and Children First Council. -
On this weeks' episode, we are joined by two senior officers of a university, as well as by MSA Design's Director of Preservation and Historic Rehabilitation to discuss a mid-century modern national landmark - the Mater Dei Chapel in Cincinnati. Learn more about the Chapel by clicking this link: https://www.msj.edu/about/facilities/mater-dei-chapel/index.html
Jeffrey Briggs is the Chief Financial Officer of Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, Accountancy, and Management Information Systems from Miami University, an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant. After a career in public accounting with EY, Jeff has worked in Higher Education finance roles for nearly 20 years. He has been in his current role at the Mount since 2017. Jeff has served several not-for-profit Board of Trustees and finance committees.
In his spare time, he can usually be found at the Westside Brewery on Tuesday nights for trivia with his fellow dad-bros on "Team Bad Dad Joke." He resides in Green Township, Ohio with his wife Judith and their two college-aged daughters.
Sister Karen Elliott is the Chief Mission Officer of Mount Saint Joseph University. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Sister Karen attended Julienne High School prior to attending Wright State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis on Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders. During these years she earned eight varsity letters in volleyball, basketball, and softball. In 1980 Karen entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Her graduate studies include a master’s degree in theology from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont received in 1993, and a Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Sacred Scripture from Barry University in Miami, Florida in 2004.
Sister Karen has ministered as a teacher, Director of Religious Education, a youth minister, an athletic director, campus minister, as well as collegiate positions as chair of religious studies and full professor. Sister Karen has served as a faculty presenter on Sacred Scripture in the Lay Ministry Formation Program and a homiletics assessor for the Permanent Diaconate Program in the Diocese of Toledo. Sister Karen was a visiting professor Mumbai, India and was a presenter for the Australian Catholic University’s Campus Ministry Team in Melbourne. She authored the book, Women in Ministry and the Writings of Paul, published in 2010 by Anselm Academic. In a non-theological aspect of her life, Sister Karen was inducted into the Dayton Amateur Softball Commission’s Hall of Fame in September 2006 in recognition of her softball career.
Madeline "Maddie" Williams is the Director of Preservation and Historic Rehabilitation at MSA Design. Maddie leads the Historic Preservation practice firm wide for MSA and serves as a resource to building owners, contractors, architects, and agencies on strategies to renovate and redevelop historic structures. This includes advising on historic building assessments, grant applications, historic tax credits, and developing strategies to rehabilitate historic buildings.
A native of Connecticut, her junior ice hockey career led to a scholarship at Lake Forest College in Chicago. While at Lake Forest, she was named captain of the Forester Varsity Women's Ice Hockey Team. Her interest in Preservation was sparked while surrounded by the architecture of Chicago and led her to complete a bachelor's degree in architectural history. She then went on to earn a Master's in Historic Preservation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
A self-proclaimed "Liberal Preservationist", Maddie believes that historic buildings should 'tell their story', but also be free to be adapted for modern uses. Maddie, her husband, and two daughters reside in a small, historic town on the east side of Greater Cincinnati.
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Kent Wellington has a diverse practice with an emphasis in litigation and labor/employment law, and advising start-ups, having run his own family foundation for the past 16 years. Kent has tried cases to favorable jury verdicts in all the local state and federal courts, but prides himself on avoiding litigation and getting cases resolved quickly and cost effectively. Kent is a former member of the Firm's Executive Committee, past chair of the Litigation Group, and currently serves as Cincinnati Market Leader.
Professionally, he is most proud of the strong client relationships and client friendships he has developed over the years. Kent was described by the GM/CEO of one large publicly traded client as follows: “What has always impressed me about Kent is his emotional intelligence. He exudes a great deal of confidence and he is aggressive in his pursuit of any issue, yet he is compassionate and caring in the process. He is able to make all kinds of people feel very comfortable around him.” Based on client comments like this and the grading and comments of his peers, Kent is recognized with an AV Rating, the highest rating given to lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell.
Since 2005, Kent has been recognized every year as a “Super Lawyer” (or “Rising Star”). Only 2.5 percent of Ohio lawyers receive this honor. In 2004, the Cincinnati “Business Courier” named Kent (along with his late wife, Karen) two of Cincinnati’s top “Forty under 40.” Kent also has received awards from the American (1997), Ohio (2000) and Cincinnati (2008) Bar Associations, The Ohio State University College of Law (2001), the Cincinnatus Society (2002), the Cincinnati Park Board (2015).
Kent has two primary passions outside of work: mentoring vulnerable kids (for the past 30 years) and putting some FUN on the calendars of families LIVING with cancer (for the past 16 years). The leader of our Bricker Graydon on Main Office, Kent also spends a significant amount of time in our downtown OTR neighborhood through Saturday Hoops, Dribblethon, CYC mentoring, and other not-for-profit, entrepreneurial, and faith-based groups. On September 26, 2006, President George W. Bush presented Kent with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Kent also received leadership and advocacy awards in 2004 from both The Arc-Hamilton County (MR/DD) and W.E.B. DuBois Academy (OTR), from St. Aloysius Orphanage (in 2011), the “Linda K. Heines Award of Inspiration and Hope” (with his two children) from the Breast Cancer Alliance in 2013, and the "Clement L. Buenger Award for Leadership" from the United Way in 2018. Kent is also a graduate of the United Way BOLD program, the Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (“CALL), and Leadership Cincinnati (Class 39), and gave the keynote address at Beechacres Parenting Center's 170th anniversary (in 2019) and a TedX talk in 2020.
Several years ago, Kent relocated to Covington, KY with his wife Alexia, and his son Robby and daughter Angeline live nearby. Kent also enjoys biking, running, swimming and coaching basketball. He has competed in triathlons since the early 1990’s, including three Escape from Alcatraz triathlons and several 1/2 Ironman’s. -
Bill Connelly began his life in the sports business as an Athletic Trainer for the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association and wrapped it up as a Special Projects Manager for FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer. However, the majority of his storied career was spent with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League - where he retired in 2017 as the team's Director of Operations.
This St. Clairsville, Ohio native was inspired to pursue the sports business after the brutality of a full team "pile on tackle" in High School inspired him to switch his focus to become an Athletic Trainer (versus a full-contact Athlete). While a student at The Ohio State University, he had the opportunity to learn his craft under the staff of Coach Woody Hayes, which led to an introduction to the Bengals founder and legendary icon of football - Paul Brown. Over his 41-year career with the Bengals, Bill rose from Assistant Trainer to eventually becoming the Director of Operations for the team. He was described by the Bengals during his retirement celebration as the "Churchill of the Stadium" - doing any and all jobs to assure Bengals success, both on and off the field.
After retiring from the Bengals, Bill assumed the role of Special Projects Manager for FC Cincinnati, successfully working with the startup soccer Club to design and operate TQL Stadium and the Mercy Health Training Center - both heralded as the finest Soccer Stadium and Training Centers in North America. Bill is well known throughout the NFL and MLS communities as a team player, problem solver, mentor, advocate, and friend to all. He is a proud father, husband, and grandfather. He and his wife Terri reside in Cincinnati and Norris Lake, Tennessee. -
Keith Hall is Principal of the Columbus Studio and Owner at MSA Design, a national award-winning architecture, interior design, graphic design, and historic preservation firm. Throughout the nearly 40 year history of MSA Design, the firm has received 100+ design awards and been awarded the AIA Ohio "Gold Medal Firm" Award.
Keith is a Southwest Ohio / Northern Kentucky native, spending his childhood in and around Greater Cincinnati. He is a graduate of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati. Keith began his tenure at MSA Design immediately after graduation and has risen through the ranks of the firm to become an Owner.
In his 30+ years at MSA he has been involved in some of the most consequential clients and projects in firm history including the Cincinnati Reds Great American Ballpark, City of Blue Ash Summit Park, Houston Astros Minute Maid Park Renovations, John Glenn International Airport, and the Upper Arlington Community Center. He and the leadership team in MSA's Central Ohio office are currently involved in the design of some of the most significant civic and community-based projects in the region.
Keith is an avid runner (having completed over 50 marathons) and earned the title of a Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon "Streaker" - where he has run every year since the race's inception. He and his wife Jessica are raising two daughters and live in the Columbus suburb of Bexley. -
John Cunningham has proven to be the perfect fit for the Bearcats, packing win after win into his time on Clifton Heights since taking the helm at the University of Cincinnati in December 2019. In his first few months on campus, Cunningham led the Bearcats' response to the COVID-19 pandemic and created the Next Level Success Fund to provide the necessary resources to achieve competitive success and crucial support for UC's student-athletes. In 2021, Cunningham spearheaded Cincinnati’s charge to obtain an invitation to join the Big 12 and launched the $100 million Day One Ready Campaign initiative. The Day One Ready Campaign will raise money in the areas of student-athlete wellness, signature facilities and operational resources to compete for championships in its new conference, which Cincinnati will join July 1, 2023. The construction of a new indoor practice and performance facility, with architects Gensler and MSA Sport on board, on campus will serve as the anchor project of the campaign. Cunningham restructured his leadership team to provide a new focus on internal and external operations and tapped Wes Miller to lead the men's basketball program. The Bearcats’ football program found unprecedented success in 2021, winning a school-record 13 games and a second consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship en route to becoming the first non-“Power Five” team to take part in the College Football Playoff.
Cunningham has focused attention and resources on student-athlete-centric initiatives such as hiring the department’s first ever Directors of Sports Psychology and Sports Nutrition, while prioritizing student-athlete mental health and wellness and revamping the athletics department One Team DEI Committee. In the spring of 2021, Bearcats student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.369, marking the ninth-straight semester with a collective GPA of 3.3 or higher. Six student-athletes collected Academic All-America accolades for the 2021-22 school year, as well. Before joining the Bearcats, Cunningham oversaw the external operations at three NCAA Division I institutions, Boise State, Syracuse and Minnesota and served as a sport administrator for bowl teams, conference-championship teams and NCAA Tournament teams. Cunningham started his career in collegiate athletics as the compliance coordinator at the University of Maryland. A 2001 TCU graduate, Cunningham received a law degree from the University of Nebraska’s College of Law in 2005. He and his wife, Caitlin, have twin sons, Gus and Hank. - Se mer
