Tianay Amat is the President & CEO of Cincinnati Works. She is a mission driven leader that serves and inspires her team to help eliminate poverty by supporting others to advance to economic self-sufficiency through employment.

In 2021, Ms. Amat was the Interim Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), Ohio’s third-largest school district, serving more than 35,000 students. Prior to being named Interim Superintendent, Ms. Amat also served as CPS Deputy Superintendent. Her responsibilities included supervising curriculum and school principals.

During the 2012-2017 school years, Ms. Amat was the principal of Hyde Park School in CPS. Ms. Amat was recognized as the Administrator of the year by the Cincinnatus Association in 2015 and the Community Builder of the Year by the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council in 2016.

Previously, Ms. Amat taught at Rockdale Academy, held administrative positions in Lakota and Princeton school districts and was a teacher within New York City public schools.

Ms. Amat’s journey has equipped her to strategically help to eliminate poverty in the City of Cincinnati through education and employment. She believes in the resiliency of the human spirit and continues to remove systemic barriers to allow for meaningful change.

Ms. Amat holds a Master of Science in education degree from the State University of New York and a master of science in education administration degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Brent Billingsley is an artist and an empowering voice behind challenging youth. He is also a Behavioral Health Specialist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center/Psychiatry. Other endeavors include Independent Contracting Therapeutic Mentoring and the co-founder of 2 non-profits geared toward the utilization of therapeutic artistic engagement and the performance arts. Brent says a nihilistic state of being inspires him the most because some canvases must be repurposed and then re-primed before the painting can begin. He graduated in 2013 from Miami University with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a concentration in Printmaking and from the University of Cincinnati in 2015 with a Masters in Social Work. This artist’s intention is to help all whom he is blessed to come in contact with realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves and that their part matters. The goal is to utilize art as rhetorical vernacular and encourage people to do something they have never done before, acknowledge the exertion, forfeit maladaptive ideations and upon one’s own artistic epiphany; act on it. Brent believes that the world can be changed through art; 1 PIECE at a TIME!

Rocky Boiman is the co-host of the “Eddie and Rocky Show” 3-6pm on 700WLW as well as a College Football analyst for ESPN. Prior to this, Rocky was an eight year veteran linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, earning a Super Bowl ring with the Colts in Super Bowl 41. Rocky played college football for the University of Notre Dame and served as team captain his senior year. Boiman graduated in 1998 from St. Xavier High School in his hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Boiman also served as Green Township Trustee from 2011-2014. He is also current Board member at the Life Learning Center, a facility devoted to offering second chances to people in need.  Rocky is also the author of a book titled "Rocky's Rules: A Playbook For Becoming Your Best in Challenging Times."  Rocky currently resides in Harrison, Oh with his wife Kelli and three sons Beau, Bronson, and Bryce.

The Board of Trustees appointed Deborah S. Brant President and CEO of Cincinnati Ballet in March 2024.

For many years, Deborah has fostered a deep and meaningful relationship with Cincinnati Ballet and has been one of the organization’s biggest supporters. Deborah is the former Chair of the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees and The Cincinnati Ballet Foundation and led the capital campaign committee that secured funding to construct the 62,000 square foot, $32 million Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills.

Ballet has been central to Deborah’s life since childhood in Akron, Ohio, where she began lessons at age nine. She stopped dancing after high school and began studying American Studies and Art History at Brandeis University. She went on to create a successful fundraising career that included work in Washington, D.C. and New York City as a fundraiser and grants writer for The Kennedy Center | National Symphony Orchestra, as well as a fundraising consultant for New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Jacob’s Pillow, among others.

Deborah moved to Cincinnati in 1998 where she continued as a fundraising consultant for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Prospect House, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Philanthropy is a family tradition, one Deborah learned from her parents and grandparents who were themselves dedicated volunteers. In addition to her tireless philanthropic work for Cincinnati Ballet, Deborah is also a former Board Chair of the Mayerson JCC, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and Most Valuable Kids of Cincinnati, Inc. (MVK). Brant is a past recipient of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year Award, the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cincinnati Chapter, and Volunteer of the Year Award from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

Siri Imani is quickly emerging as one of the Midwest’s foremost young, black voices. Her poetry and music are infused with hard truths, tough love and visions of a better tomorrow.

Never has an artist been more open and honest on the stage than Siri Imani. She weaves together song and poetry to tell powerful stories of love and liberation; state and personal violence; social, environmental, racial and sexual justice; women’s empowerment and human transcendence.

Siri Imani is a boundary-breaking soul sister who has sharpened her art as a tool for popular education, community organizing and personal transcendence. She is a warrior woman writer not afraid to tell her personal truths while making biting social commentary on the world we live in.

Elizabeth Pierce has earnest passion to fuel curiosity, unleash wonder and celebrate knowledge. As the President & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center, she sees limitless potential to evoke a spirit of discovery, creativity and critical thinking for people of all ages. At the heart of her leadership is a deep understanding of CMC’s impact on the lives of people in this community and across the globe.

She is an advocate for early childhood education and lifelong learning, beginning her career at Chicago Children’s Museum. She carried that passion to Cincinnati in 1999, serving as a communications consultant to Cincinnati Museum Center in 2001. Her relationship with CMC grew deeper through regular visits to Union Terminal with her young sons. She joined The Children's’ Museum Advisory Board in 2004, serving as the chair of the advisory board and as a CMC trustee before joining staff as vice president of marketing & communications in 2007. She has been a key member of the senior leadership team for the past 18 years, driving financial success through robust museum admissions revenue, OMNIMAX® films and blockbuster featured exhibitions.

During her 25-year career in the museum field, Elizabeth gained experience in the photo archives department of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.; public program development at The Corcoran Gallery of Art; special events and fundraising at The National Endowment for the Arts and the Chicago Children’s Museum. She stepped outside the museum industry for a period of time gaining strategic communications skills, community engagement and media relations expertise.

Elizabeth Pierce deeply treasures the unique range of subjects that CMC presents. Her personal and family experiences have given her a healthy fascination with biology and the natural world; an enthusiasm for geography and an appreciation for layers of context revealed by history. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and studied at the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg. Her experiences overseas as a student of history, architecture and economics ultimately inspired her to pursue a museum career. She holds a Masters of Museum Studies/Administration and American Studies from The George Washington University.

Kurt joined the Freestore Foodbank on July 25, 2011. He is an innovative and results-oriented executive with over 40 years of diverse experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Prior to joining the Freestore Foodbank Team, Kurt served on the Board of Directors from 1996 to 2010 and was chairman of the board during his last 4 years. Before devoting his work fulltime to Freestore, he served as senior vice president of the Real Estate Capital Group of KeyBank for 29 years. Kurt was elected by his Feeding America peers to serve as the Chair of the Midwest Region for Feeding America’s National Council. Kurt has served on many boards and committees including: Hamilton County Special Olympics, Forest Hills Foundation for Education, Financial Stability Impact Council for the Greater Cincinnati United Way, and Human Services Chamber of Hamilton County. Currently, Kurt is serving on the Boards of Taste of the NFL, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, Hamilton County JFS Advisory Board, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and Feeding Kentucky.

Kurt and his incredible team at Freestore Foodbank recently concluded a successful capital campaign and under his guidance, Feeding America recognized the Freestore Foodbank for its work in capacity development for its community partners and its innovative work in workforce training. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber recognized Freestore Foodbank as 2019 Nonprofit of the Year; LEAD Cincinnati partnered with VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm and recognized Freestore as the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year, and most recently Freestore was inducted into Feeding America’s Advocacy Hall of Fame.

Kurt graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with his BA in Economics & Finance, and received his JD and MBA from the University of Toledo. He is a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class #36 and Leadership Northern Kentucky 2017. Kurt was named, 2020 Nonprofit CEO of the Year by the Business Courier and received the People of Vision Award from Prevent Blindness in 2022. In addition to being a very active member of the community, his most recent passion is competing in half-marathons. Kurt and his wife Karen have three adult children and seven grandchildren with an eighth grandchild due in October!

Rickell Howard Smith is a relentless advocate for civil rights, racial justice, and the empowerment of women and children. With a steadfast commitment to equity and justice, Rickell serves as a beacon of hope and change in her community and beyond. As the President & CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, Rickell leads with compassion and determination, driving forward initiatives that dismantle systemic barriers for women and people of color in our region.

Her journey began as a Legal Aid attorney, fearlessly representing clients in eviction and housing discrimination cases, laying the foundation for her unwavering dedication to justice. Transitioning into roles such as Director for the Prison Litigation project at the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, Rickell continued her crusade for civil rights, filing groundbreaking cases in Federal court on behalf of incarcerated individuals in Ohio. Her tenure as Litigation and Policy Director at Children's Law Center saw her championing the rights of children in Federal court, and spearheading policy initiatives to improve the lives of families involved with child protection and juvenile justice systems.

Before her tenure at YWCA Greater Cincinnati, Rickell served as the first Executive Director for the Center for Social Justice at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of social justice advocacy.

Rickell's commitment extends into the heart of her community. As former Chair of the Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Board of Trustees and through her involvement with organizations like the Hamilton County Human Services Chamber, Lighthouse Community School Board, Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board, she continues to shape policies and initiatives that drive meaningful change.

A proud native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rickell holds a B.B.A from Howard University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law. She resides in Cincinnati with her husband, two children, and two furry companions.

Drew Sample, tight end for the Cincinnati national football team, and his wife Angela, are passionate supporters of Cincinnati Children's Hospital. For the past five years, they have organized an annual toy giveaway for patients and their families, a cause close to their hearts after their two daughters received care at the hospital. Drew and Angela are committed to giving back to the community and helping bring joy to the children and families undergoing treatment, ensuring they feel supported during challenging times.

After a national search, ULGSO announced Christie Kuhns as its permanent president and CEO with a unanimous board vote in 2022. Described as “a visionary leader skilled in community development, business and public policy” by the board, Kuhns served as interim president and CEO of the Urban League for several months prior to being granted the role permanently. Born and raised in greater Cincinnati, Kuhns most recently was the vice president of operations and community relations and chief of staff for the COO at UC Health.

She has also been deeply committed to an equitable and inclusive public policy landscape in the region, formally serving as an Ohio state representative. As interim president and CEO, Kuhns helped launch an initiative designed to double the number of MBEs (Minority Business Enterprises) with two or more employees in Cincinnati over the next five years. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Cincinnati and attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law to earn her Juris Doctorate.

Keith Pandolfi is a James Beard Award-winning journalist, former senior features editor at Serious Eats, and a former senior editor at Saveur. Born and raised in Ohio, he’s spent time working as a journalist in New Orleans, and took up food writing after a move to Brooklyn. His work, which has been anthologized in multiple issues of Da Capo’s Best Food Writing, often focuses on restaurant history and the appeal of everyday orders like cheap pancake house coffee or potato skins from T.G.I. Fridays.

Now a food and dining writer for The Cincinnati Enquirer, Keith’s work has also been published by The New York Times Magazine, Boston Globe, Cooking Light, Eater, and Epicurious, among others. He’s a frequent featured speaker and panelist at events like the Southern Food Writing Conference and brakes for gumbo, potato skins, and Cincinnati chili.

Damian Hoskins is the Executive Director of Elementz Cincinnati, Hip Hop Cultural Art Center, in Cincinnati, OH. Elementz is committed to exposing young people of color to college and career pathways in the creative fields and works to build the next generation of creative problem solvers for the region and the world.

Candice Matthews Brackeen is the Founder and CEO of Lightship Foundation, the Cincinnati, OH-based portfolio service firm including accelerators Hillman and NewMe, and venture capital fund Lightship Capitol, where she serves as Managing Partner. She is a big advocate for elevating opportunities for the African American community and female advancement and is launching the Women in Tech Conference in Cincinnati next year.

Lighthouse companies work together in support of underrepresented, early-stage, transformational businesses. As CEO of Hillman, the first accelerator in the Midwest to provide support exclusively to this demographic, she has influenced state policy around economic inclusion in addition to establishing meaningful partnerships with companies like Proctor & Gamble, Kroger, and Chase, in support of Hillman’s work. She has over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience and founded the Cincinnati Chapter of the Black Founders Network (BFN) to address the need for increased diversity and inclusion efforts in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Cincinnati and was a Hewitt-Kautz Fellow.

Moira Weir is President and CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati. She became the organization’s first female leader in 2020 after more than a decade as Director of Hamilton County Job & Family Services. Weir advocates for new voices and new solutions to decades-old community challenges, focusing on three key areas: educational success, financial empowerment and housing security.

Chef José Salazar is a chef and restaurateur in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a number of restaurants and concepts locally.

He was born in Colombia and raised in Queens, New York. Salazar worked at some of New York's most popular restaurants before attending the New York Restaurant School, graduating in 2001. He worked with some of New York's most celebrated chefs, including Thomas Keller, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Geoffrey Zakarian. He was the executive chef at The Palace Restaurant at the Cincinnatian Hotel, where he received several accolades, including the 2011 award for "The People's Best New Chef: Great Lakes" from Food & Wine Magazine. He was a finalist for a James Beard Award twice, and his restaurant Mita's was nominated for Outstanding Restaurant in the United States in 2023.

JPS Restaurant Group was founded in 2013 by husband and wife team José and Ann Salazar. Eager to create his own culinary outpost, José developed his first namesake concept, SALAZAR, which opened in the fall of 2013 in Over-the-Rhine and later evolved into Safi, a Moroccan-inspired wine bar. José’s second restaurant, Mita’s, opened in September 2015, serving Spanish and Latin American fare. He’s also known for the restaurant Goose and Elder, which operated for five years near Findlay Market. He also owns Daylilly, a bodega in Columbia Tusculum.

The "Peoples Champ," Don Juan Fasho, is taking the airwaves by storm with the liveliest intro that rings through your speakers every evening on the number one Afternoon show in the city, on the #1 station for R&B & Old School 100.3! Don Juan attended The Ohio Media School located in Cincinnati, Ohio, back in 2001. While in school Don Juan Fasho acquired an internship with the city’s Hip Hop and R&B station – 101.1 The Wiz, where he was later hired and brought on board full-time after graduation.

Dedicating years of hard work, persistence, and passion for radio, Don Juan Fasho was promoted to the Assistant Program Director of the cluster/ Midday Personality position with a prime day part every Monday through Friday from 10:00-3:00 PM, but of course, it doesn’t stop there. Because of his constant visibility in the community, Don Juan Fasho has also been recognized for his many accomplishments as a Y.M.C.A. Black Achiever, a nominee for “Best Radio Personality” at the Ohio Hip Hop Awards, and the title of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s #1 Radio Disc Jockey in the tri-state area, also was given a Proclamation from the city of Cincinnati for 14 years of service in Radio and all his hard work in the community by Mayor John Cranley who has declared March 10, 2016 as Don Juan FaSho Day, just to name a few.

Don Juan has also been one of our Industry Pro instructors at the Ohio Media School!

Payton Obert is the founder of Payton’s Lemonade Stand and a seventh grader at Saint Ignatius of Loyola School. In 2018, at age 6, Payton hosted her first lemonade stand in her driveway and donated the proceeds to charity. That lemonade stand has evolved into a successful nonprofit that has given away over $2.5 million since its inception in 2021. Payton has inspired thousands of kids to give back to their communities through their own lemonade stands.

Alandes Powell is a VP at Fifth Third Bank, an Immediate Past Board Chair of Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, a visionary of Cincinnati's Black Lives Matter Mural, and co-founder of Black Art Speaks.

Megan Mitchell joined WLWT in July of 2016! She is a weekday morning anchor and reporter after spending 7 years as a reporter and anchor for the Saturday and Sunday morning show!

In 2022, she was named Best TV Anchor and Best Journalist by the Best of Cincinnati Awards and came in 3rd place for Cincinnatian of the Year just behind the Bengals’ Quarterback Joe Burrow… and beloved hippo Fiona. She interviewed First Lady Jill Biden one-on-one at the White House, was among the first on the scene to report on the Fountain Square mass shooting, covered U.S. Presidents trips to our region and the Bengals’ journey to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. She received an Emmy Award in 2020 for her work covering teen mental health.

During the pandemic, Megan started posting on TikTok, and her account has grown to 1.9 million followers on the app. She received a Power of Her award from the Human Rights Campaign of Cincinnati and was named a TikTok 2022 LGBTQ+ Trailblazer. She loves emceeing events all around the Greater Cincinnati area and speaking with groups about her story of living an authentic life. Megan started her career as a weekday morning anchor and tribal reporter in Bismarck, North Dakota, for 2.5 years. She broke the story of the Standing Rock Reservation’s opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. In 2017, she received first place for a national journalism award from the NLGJA for a documentary she made on Two Spirit Native Americans. She received Best TV News Reporter from the North Dakota Broadcast Association and dozens of other local broadcast awards.

Megan moved to Dallas, Texas, in 2023 to work as an anchor/reporter at WFAA. She covered breaking news for the weekday morning show, but after 11 months, her love for Cincinnati brought her right back to WLWT.

You can find Megan hanging at really good restaurants all over the region, hiking at nearby parks with her massive doodle Dakota or literally driving around the entire area in her car, experiencing the culture of different neighborhoods and towns. After 5 years in Cincinnati, Megan started craving Cincinnati Chili and now eats a 3 way with hot sauce at least once a week. Some of Megan's favorite interests include geography, food and chef culture, interior design, fashion, science, musical theatre, sociology, politics, and Internet culture. She is a big advocate for women’s sports! She grew up in Brookfield, CT, and graduated from Emerson College in 2014 with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism.

Li has played an active leadership role in building strong AAPI communities and developing Asian talents in Cincinnati and beyond. He co-founded and has been co-chair of the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association (GCCCEA) since 2017. GCCCEA’s mission is to celebrate Asian American culture, foster cross-cultural dialogs, and support diversity and inclusion in the tri-state area.

Born and raised in China, Li moved to London, the United Kingdom, to pursue his Ph.D. research in Microbiology/Biotechnology at King’s College London. He joined Procter & Gamble’s R&D in England in 1992 after completing his Ph.D. During his study and work in London, Li was actively involved in building the Chinese community such as teaching Chinese to Chinese English kids, serving as dean of the Ealing branch of the Chinese Sunday School in London, organizing Chinese New Year celebrations, etc. From late 1998 to early 2000, Li was on international assignment with P&G in Kobe, Japan in charge of building external collaboration with universities and entrepreneurs in Japan and China. Li played an active role in coaching and developing young Asian talents during his assignment in Japan.

In the Spring of 2000, Li and his family were relocated to Cincinnati by P&G. In the past 24 years, Li has played an active leadership role in building strong AAPI communities and developing Asian talents. He founded the R&D AAPI new hire training program at P&G to help young Asian professionals jump-start their careers in the company. In the past 15+ years, Li has focused on training and developing R&D AAPIs in P&G (in addition to his full-time R&D management job), and he won the most prestigious P&G North America AAPI award in 2021, which recognized his leadership and sustained contributions in developing API talents and driving equity and inclusion in the company.

Li served as Chairman (2007-2009) and Vice Chairman (2011-2012) of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce (later called Midwest US Chinese Chamber of Commerce). Under Li’s leadership, the chamber grew its membership from a couple of dozen to ~300 members, including many small and medium-sized local American companies. During those years, Li led the chamber’s effort to build business connections and enable business collaborations between the U.S. and China. During his Chairmanship, the chamber enabled several local American companies to build connections and develop business in China.

Li co-founded and has been co-chair of the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association (GCCCEA) since 2017. GCCCEA’s mission is to celebrate Asian American culture, foster cross-cultural dialogs, and support diversity and inclusion in the tri-state area. In partnership with the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, GCCCEA launched the Annual Cincinnati Moon Festival, which has become one of the largest celebrations in the Asian community. It has become an iconic annual event in Cincinnati to celebrate Asian cultures and connect the Asian community with the broad community in this region. Li secured funding from P&G to expand GCCCEA’s programming, which now includes a comprehensive AAPI Heritage Month series and extensive partnerships with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library and local schools. He also helped bring the Chinese Railway Workers’ Photo exhibition to the Cincinnati downtown public library from Stanford, offering residents a rare opportunity to learn about Chinese American history. In 2021, Li co-led the Anti-Asian hate rally with the GCCCEA board to provide a platform for Asian Americans to share their voice.

Li has been an active volunteer for over 20 years, helping the Cincinnati Chinese Sunday School, the Cincinnati-Liuzhou Sister City, and the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Music Society in various capacities. He helped organize major Chinese cultural festival celebrations, hosted teachers from Liuzhou to study English at public schools in Cincinnati, and organized Chinese New Year concerts.

Li is passionate about education and local community building. He has been a standing member of the Sycamore Superintendent Advisory Council since 2011, where he actively advises the superintendent and his leadership team on strategies and development programs for Sycamore Schools. Leveraging his strong connections with the superintendent and API leaders in the school district, Li initiated and enabled quarterly meetings between the superintendent and the AAPI community leaders to explore solutions to driving awareness of Asian cultures and increasing API representation in the Sycamore school administration, faculty, and staff.

Li is married to his wife, Ling, and they have two grown children, Rachael and Henry. His hobbies include gardening, cooking, and beekeeping.

Brendon Cull is the president & CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, after holding the positions of COO, EVP, and Chief Strategy Officer at the organization since 2015. Cull is leading one of the largest metro chambers of commerce with a strategy focused on growing the region’s economy, population, and cultural vibrancy.

Brendon’s journey in Cincinnati began in 1995 when he enrolled at Xavier, and in the nearly thirty years since, he has had deep experiences in the government, corporate, and non-profit sectors. His leadership was pivotal in the efforts to expand transportation and infrastructure funding in Hamilton County, grow BLINK into a $127 million economic impact experience, and steer the region’s business community through the pandemic via the RESTART Task Force. At the Kroger Co., he led Government Affairs for nearly a decade, developing business-oriented legislative action plans and advising executives on vital policy and political issues. During a critical moment in the City's history from 2000-2005, Cull was the legislative director and press secretary for Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken.

Brendon graduated from Xavier University with a degree in Organizational Communication. He is also a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Cincinnati Class 36 and Building Cultural Competence program.

Alecia Kintner serves as Chief Executive Officer of ArtsWave, Cincinnati’s engine for the arts. Under her leadership, ArtsWave has developed a 10-year community impact strategy for 100 arts organizations; created a multi-faceted diversity, equity, inclusion and access plan; launched an African American performing arts series; piloted first-ever cultural tourism marketing campaigns; and successfully advocated for $14 million in federal dollars for arts relief during the pandemic. Recently she has directed the launch of a five-year countdown to ArtsWave’s Centennial Anniversary in 2027.

Alecia has been named a 2023 “Career Woman of Achievement” by the YWCA and as one of 2020’s “10 Women Who Mean Business” by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Alecia is a board member of Visit Cincy and the Cincinnati Experience (CX); a member of the Cincinnati Women’s Executive Forum; and past chair of the Private Sector Council of Americans for the Arts. She is the recipient of AFTA’s 2004 Michael Newton Award for innovation in united arts fundraising.

Alecia is a Southern California native, with career stops in Moscow, Russia; NYC; Hartford, Connecticut; Roatan, Honduras; and finally Cincinnati, her home for the last ten years.

Bao Nguyen is one of the partners of The Lang Thang Group, which owns Pho Lang Thang, Quan Hapa and The Hi-Mark. He is also one of the founders of the Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati (AACAC), which founded the Asian Food Fest and Asianati. His latest project, Asianati, serves as a resource to showcase Asian things in the city. Asianati has built a team of volunteers and interns to contribute to new ideas and host a series of events from meetups to a night market. Whether it be through business or non-profit organizations, he has a passion to share the Asian culture to and with the Cincinnati community through food and entertainment.

Billy Thomas is a free-thinker and passionate about creating a more inclusive, equitable and culturally fun world. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Billy has devoted much of his time to instilling these qualities in his hometown.

Through his work with the Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Billy led efforts to make access to quality preschool a reality for every child in Cincinnati. In 2014, he co-founded MORTAR Cincinnati with the goal of creating more opportunities for minority entrepreneurs and changing the face of entrepreneurship. He now spends most of his time with Cincy Nice, a company he co-founded in 2019 to create a more culturally rich and welcoming city.

Billy was recognized in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Social Entrepreneurs and the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2018 40 under 40 list for his efforts to drive social change, fight inequity and create opportunities for others to turn their ideas into reality.

Billy hopes to continue to create a freer world for more people to be themselves, feel safe and follow their dreams.

Bob Herzog joined the Local 12 team at the end of 2005. He anchors Good Morning Cincinnati with Sheila Gray. Bob is a Cincinnati guy. More specifically, he’s a proud West Side guy. As a hometown guy, he takes special pride in getting involved in community events and, on any given day, you will find him in a different pocket of a Cincinnati neighborhood emceeing a local fundraising event, performing as a star cast member in a Children’s Theatre production or showing up to support his fellow Cincinnatians. Bob is always inspired to see neighbors helping neighbors and friends helping friends. He graduated from Oak Hills High School and Xavier University. Bob also obtained a law degree from Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. Bob loves all kinds of music and movies and has a passion for basketball, but his number one hobby is spending time with his wife and four children.

Chowdown Cincinnati is a community of like-minded Cincinnatians who are passionate about supporting the local food industry in an exclusively positive way. With over 200,000 people in the positive-only community; Chowdown Cincinnati has transformed the local food industry by infusing their brand of positive reviews and recommendations to over 29 million people in 2022 alone. As a “thank you” to their faithful community, Co-founders Brandon Quillen and Travis Setter have introduced an app that offers 10 percent off at over 50 local restaurants.

Colleen Houston has served as CEO & Artistic Director at ArtWorks in Cincinnati since 2020. Prior to this, Colleen served as Chief Program Officer, Vice President of Programs & Operations, and Director of Programs – all key leadership roles in the organization over the past 20 years.

The award-winning nonprofit creates community-based public art that provides career opportunities for artists of all ages. ArtWorks creates jobs for more than 300 artists annually, including young artists ages 14 to 24 in a signature apprentice program earning a living wage. Since 1996, ArtWorks has employed over 4,000 youth and 3,500 creative professionals, completing more than 14,000 public works of art, including sculpture, light-based installations and 250 permanent outdoor murals, contributing to the region’s global reputation as an arts destination.

Colleen launched the ArtWorks mural program in 2007. This mural program helped Cincinnati to win the 2010 City Livability Award at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and be recognized in the top 20 most vibrant art and cultural cities in 2020 and 2022. Cincinnati was also selected as Second Best City for Street Art by USA Today in 2021 and 2022.

Colleen holds a degree in Public and Social Art from Warren Wilson College. She is the 2020 Distinguished Alumni honoree for Warren Wilson College, received a Legacy Next Generation Leader Award and was honored as a Cincinnati Business Courier C-Suite honoree. Colleen is a graduate of Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Greater Cincinnati’s EXCEL, Leadership Council for Nonprofits’ BOLD (Board Orientation + Leadership Development), Leadership Cincinnati and Strong Cincinnati. She is currently attending Harvard Kennedy School toward certification in Nonprofit Leadership. Colleen serves on three boards: Creative Ohio (formerly Ohio Citizens for the Arts), Leadership Council for Nonprofits, and WavePool. In 2022, Colleen guided ArtWorks through Ellequate, an award-winning certification program to become a certified Equitable Workplace.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Kenyatta Smith (aka: DJ Vader) grew up digging through the crates of records in his parents' collection. He started DJ'ing in 1992 spinning at house parties and producing mix tapes for friends. His career gained momentum as he became a favorite in Cincinnati nightlife, corporate events, weddings and Greek events in the early 2000s. In his 25-year career, DJ Vader has provided the sounds for hundreds of private parties, corporate events, weddings and for some of Cincinnati's biggest weekends such as Blink, The Cincinnati Music Festival and Cincy Soul. He has worked with some of the world's most energetic artists and entertainers, such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, the late Biz Markie, Rick Ross, Slick Rick, Naughty by Nature and Cedric the Entertainer to name just a few. DJ Vader was the 2021 and 2022 DJ of the Year in Cincinnati, and two-time winner of “Cincinnati's Best DJ“ competition. His podcast WTFURadio.Podomatic.com has held the number one slot and top 10 in its Hip Hop category for several years.

DJ Vader is also a radio personality for Urban One Radio where he currently hosts the “Saturday Night Boom Box Side B” on RnB Cincy (WOSL 100.3FM) drawing thousands of listeners weekly. Outside of the DJ booth, DJ Vader is an award-winning, second-generation career Cincinnati firefighter and paramedic; a community leader focused on giving back through mentorship and art programs; and a legendary firehouse chef and published author of the cookbook, “Rescupies: Dishes to Save Your Night!“

Ebony Young is the Senior Vice President of Impact for The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio (ULGSO), whose mission is to help Black people and historically underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, civil rights and justice.

Now leading the largest division at the Urban League, Ebony oversees a budget of over $3 million and is focused on driving strategic programmatic outcomes in areas which include: Workforce Development, Youth Programming, and ULGSO’s Financial Empower Center. Ebony also serves as a key representative of the Urban League within the community as the Executive Director for the Community Partnering Center whose focus is community engagement and violence interruption.

Ebony serves on several boards including, the Community Advisory Board; Our Tribe, a grassroots initiative created by members of the Black Autism Community to uplift families and mitigate the poor outcomes that disproportionately affect Black people diagnosed with autism; the African American Ambassadors for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing (AAEAPN), a non-profit with a mission to provide leadership, empowerment, mentorship and education to the African American Nurse Practitioner; Supply Chain Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana (SCOKI), a nonprofit 501c3 that helps youth and unemployed find job opportunities and education to strengthen the job market and create the next generation of Supply Chain in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Ebony has over 20 years of progressive healthcare and human resources experience. Prior to joining The Urban League, she held the position of Project Administrator and served as Chief of Staff for the SVP and Chief HR & Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. There she played an integral role in institution-wide strategic planning and organization-wide initiatives. Prior to her time at Children’s, she worked as a Senior Network Account Manager for United Healthcare where she was responsible for negotiating physician contracts and partnered with physician groups to help achieve population health key performance outcomes.

A Cincinnati native, she attended the University of Cincinnati, where she received her undergraduate degree in HR Management and Development, as well as her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She resides in Forest Park with her husband, Donny, and three children, Taylor, Donovan and Hillary.

You can count on seeing Jimmie Foster, also known as “Bengal Jim,” at Paycor Stadium on game day supporting his beloved Cincinnati Bengals. The 2021 Bengals Super Fan of the Year has maintained a 30-year tailgate experience coined the “Before the Roar Tailgate,” attracting thousands of fans at home and away games. Outside of his full-time job as Vice President of Sales and Consulting at locally-owned CAI Insurance Agency; he also co-hosts the popular Cincinnati football podcast “Talking Football with Bengal Jim and Friends.” Much like his tailgate, the podcast attracts thousands of listeners every episode and regularly hosts notable city leaders, Bengals players and coaches. In addition to bringing the city together through a love for the Bengals, Jimmie is also well known for his dedication to helping those in need. Jimmie has led countless fundraising initiatives to support local charities like the Ken Anderson Alliance, Madi’s House and the Greater Cincinnati Alzheimer’s association to name just a few. This past season, Jimmie raised over $130,000 for more than 25 charities with the help of his four comrades, James, Tony (Da Tiger), Craig and Del. Jimmie’s motto, “my city, my team, there’s always a way” is lived out in full display through his commitment to the team, to his city and to everybody he comes in contact with – serving as an inspiration to so many Cincinnatians.

Joel Lam (he/him) loves Gold Star and always brings out-of-town guests to enjoy Cincinnati-style chili, which is obviously the best. He is honored to join Gold Star to celebrate several important anniversaries in 2023.

Joel serves best at the intersection of individual empowerment and diversity, which he supports inside and outside of work.

At work, Joel serves as Chief Financial Officer for our local Urban League (ULGSO), which focuses on financial and social empowerment of Black and historically underserved communities. Our local Urban League is proud to celebrate their 75th anniversary this year. As CFO, Joel focuses on empowering decisions, maintaining stakeholder trust, and delivering excellent talent to the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton regions. Prior to the Urban League, Joel oversaw all financial and administrative activities at The Trevor Project and developed his leadership at Macy’s, Verizon, and the global accounting firm PwC.

Outside of work, Joel spends his time volunteering. He is Board Treasurer and oversees all financial matters for Cincinnati Pride, which celebrates their 50th anniversary this year. He is also Board Secretary for Cincinnati Black Pride, which celebrates their 5th anniversary this year. Joel serves as a volunteer crisis counselor at The Trevor Project, which provides suicide prevention and crisis services to LGBTQ+ youth, and celebrates their 25th anniversary this year.

Joel is a Southern California native, who stopped in New York City before settling at home in Cincinnati. He currently lives in Northern Kentucky with his partner (Kenneth), cat (Isis), and puppy (Xena). They celebrate 10 years in Greater Cincinnati this year.

Pam Kravetz is a mural makin’, street paintin’ quilt sewin’, yarn bombin’, curatin’, flash mobin’, tutu wearin’ rootin’ tootin’ art monster. She is a regionally and nationally recognized visual artist and arts activist with more than 50 art exhibits and installations.

To Pam, Contemporary Art is not a spectator sport. It is understandable, accessible, interactive and community-oriented. She is inspired by the beauty in the chaos of the everyday. Her artwork ranges from street art, Artworks installations at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital to monumental Memory Quilts in the lobby of the Contemporary Arts Center.

Recently, Pam was the Art Director for The Blink Parade; and a Board Trustee for Artworks, The Art Academy of Cincinnati and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). She is currently Co-liaison for the National Council for the Ceramics Arts (NCECA) Conference in Cincinnati. She is the creator and face of CAC-TV and the curator of live art performances. Her alter ego, “Pinky Shears,” is the notorious mastermind of the BombShells of Cincinnati’s Yarn-Bombing Collective and performance art collective, The Polyester Spy Club.

Pam created an installation at the Cincinnati Art Museum Rosenthal Education Center: “Ace Ramone, Mr. Doodle-Boy, The Peanut and You” as the first artist-in-residence. She also uses her voice and platform to talk about her family, her Jewishness and antisemitism through her work – as evidenced in her recent interactive exhibit, “I Think My Uncle Gershun Was A Golem” at The Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati. She currently has an installation at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center in the Creativity Center’s UnMuseum titled “Pinkolicious Pajama’s House of Wonder and Silly Scooter’s Playhouse.”

Pam was named City Beat Best Artist of 2022 and one of Cincinnati Enquirer’s Cincinnati Women of the Year in 2017. She has numerous awards and recognitions as both an artist and art educator. Pam recently retired from her art teaching career at Harrison High School teaching “the coolest kids and having the support of the greatest administration, teachers, staff and community.” Pam co-created the grown-up synchronized swim team, The Rhinestones, at her home pool; and in light of a lifeguard shortage, passed her lifeguard certification to help keep a community pool open. She loves community, art, our city and, you guessed it, Gold Star. Pam is always up for the next larger-than-life bonanza of celebration of joy, art, activism and community. And being a 2023 Gold Star Chili “Flavor Maker” is just the bonanza she’s been waiting for!

Paul Daugherty has been writing sports opinion in Cincinnati for 35 years, first at the Cincinnati Post and for 28 years (1994 to 2022) at the Cincinnati Enquirer. Daugherty retired from the Enquirer in July 2021, but still writes regularly on his website, The Morning Line, which can be found at themorningline.substack.com. He's also the author of five books, including An Uncomplicated Life, a memoir of raising his daughter Jillian, now 32, born with Down syndrome.

Raven Fulton is a Cincinnati-based cultural event curator, currently serving as Event Director of Paloozanoire. Since 2019, Raven has been working with Paloozanoire; a social impact organization centered on enriching the lives of Midwest people of color through creativity, corporate leadership and entrepreneurship. The organization’s main initiatives include the Black & Brown Faces Art Exhibition and Juneteenth Block Party, creating experiences for over 50,000 guests.

Throughout the past five years, she has also served as Event Producer for programs including The Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky 17 Under Seventeen Youth Awards, the 101.1 The Wiz 30 Under 30 Gala, and Gallery at Gumbo, an inclusive barbershop with an art gallery in the back of the shop. Additionally, she served as Executive Producer for Gumbo Talks, a community-based podcast that ran out of Gallery at Gumbo for the last two years.

Raven was essential in opening and managing Cinema OTR, a premier bar and lounge dedicated to 90s R&B and Classic Black films. Before her role with Paloozanoire, she served as a digital liaison and producer at Radio One Cincinnati.

Raven is a Kent State University graduate, obtaining a degree in broadcast journalism with a concentration in television. Her illustrious career fuels her passion for digital storytelling, media production and creating spaces for others who look like her in arts and entertainment.

Anastasia Mileham is the executive director of Cincinnati Experience, an area initiative that earns national media stories about the Cincinnati Region and is charged with growing and implementing Cincy brand standards and messaging. Working with the region’s diverse civic and non-profit organizations, small businesses, and corporations, she tells the Cincy story to prospective talent, business, and tourists through print, broadcast, and social media. She currently serves on the boards of Cincy Red Bike and Strategies to End Homelessness, and has dedicated her career to helping grow our vibrant urban core.

Christian Gill commenced his culinary journey at the age of seven in Lexington, Kentucky. Beginning in his grandmother’s kitchen, the desire to create was fostered by the teachings of women in his family and, later on, perfected through experience: trial by knife. Executing his knowledge and passion for flavor, Christian welcomed ranging culinary opportunities, from corporate chains to local catering, even leading him to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Molded by experience, Christian’s journey led him to Cincinnati, Ohio for his debut Executive Chef role at the Cincinnati Art Museum and curator of Rhinegeist Brewery’s Chef recipes. In 2016, PJ Neumann approached Chef Christian with an offer he couldn’t refuse, the opportunity to share his grandmother’s biscuit recipe with the world. In 2018, Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey opened its doors, elevating the essence of comfort food and delivering culinary gold. In 2019, Chef Christian was named one of the top six chefs in Cincinnati. Under his leadership, Boomtown was named the 2019 Cincinnati Best New Restaurant by City Beat.

The Cincinnati Bengals exceeded every expectation going into this season, finishing the season as AFC Champions and playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years. The Team put on an inspiring performance on the field and energized the entire city with its confidence, adeptness, teamwork and fearlessness. We honor all of the players, coaches and staff for the electrifying season and making us all so proud to be Bengals fans. It’s STILL us. WHO-DEY!

Elizabeth Blackburn is responsible for strategic planning, engagement initiatives and future growth opportunities for the Cincinnati Bengals. Blackburn spearheaded several high-profile initiatives recently, including the unveiling of the Bengals Ring of Honor and the introduction of new uniforms for the first time in 17 years. Blackburn played a major role in the Bengals’ partnership with BlaCk OWned Outerwear in 2020 to design a limited-series retail collection called "Stripes Don't Come Easy." Proceeds from the collection went to a local program called MORTAR to support the next generation of aspiring urban entrepreneurs.

A native of Cincinnati and graduate of Dartmouth College, Blackburn joined the Bengals in February 2020 after previously working at the private equity firm KKR in New York City, and the consulting firm Bain & Company in San Francisco. Blackburn also spent six months working at the league office in New York, where she focused on NFL Management Council and Corporate Strategy groups.

Gee Horton is a Cincinnati-based, self-trained hyperrealist visual artist whose artistic practice began roughly three years ago. He earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Thomas More University in 2006 and a master’s in social work from Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville in 2008. He often incorporates his education and life experiences into his art to achieve a kind of power that for many triggers emotional associations. In the summer of 2020, Horton left his job in the non-profit sector to focus on creating art full-time. In a relatively brief career as an artist, Horton has set an ambitious agenda showcasing his artistic talents through exhibitions and public projects. In 2020, he was a participating artist in the Black Lives Matter Street mural project in downtown Cincinnati on Plum Street and was also featured in the group exhibition Black and Brown Faces presented at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 2021, he was awarded a Truth and Reconciliation grant from ArtsWave and was featured in a group exhibition at the National Underground Freedom Center featuring all of the recipients. In addition, he was awarded a mural commission from 3CDC as part of the Court Street Plaza renovation project, and most recently his work has been featured on Amazon Prime’s new TV series, “Harlem” which features Hollywood stars, Whoopi Goldberg and Megan Good. In 2021, Horton served as an Artist-in-Residence at The Mercantile Library where he was commissioned to draw a six-foot portrait of the famed Black abolitionist and writer, Peter H. Clark. In November of 2021, Horton debuted his first solo exhibition entitled, “Coming of Age: Chapter One” at the Alice F. & Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Horton also serves on the community based nonprofit board of ArtWorks and WavePool.

As a Cincinnati native, Maria Lees-Dunlap is committed to making our community a better place. After a 59-day hospital stay with her daughter Vivian, her life took on new purpose. Leaving the hospital without Vivian, Maria wanted to be a support to other families while their child received medical care. The response to that desire is Reviv Family Support Foundation. At Reviv, families can receive practical and emotional support while navigating life during and after their child's medical diagnosis. Since the inception of Reviv in 2014, over 6,000 families have been impacted by its mission. With our community's continued support, Reviv will continue to be a part of families’ medical journeys with their children and a staple of what makes Cincinnati special. Maria lives on the West Side with her husband and seven children.

Michael Cortrell (aka: Brooklyn Steele-Tate) is a decorated community activist and one of the most popular drag queens in the Queen City. Michael has a long history of involvement in his community, serving as the past President of Cincinnati Pride and fundraising chair for I.S.Q.C.C.B.E, where he played a key role in raising over $1.3MM for Cincinnati non-profits. Michael continues to serve as the festival co-chair for Cincinnati pride and is the house emcee at The Cabaret, Cincinnati’s premier drag club. The club offers must-see entertainment and is affiliated with many local LGBTQ+ empowerment groups. Additionally, Michael serves as a chair member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk board, which serves to create a culture that is smarter and more open about mental health.

Rachel DesRochers is the founder of Grateful Grahams, an artisanal graham cracker company; the Incubator Kitchen Collective, a non-profit providing kitchen space, business support and mentorship to food entrepreneurs; founder of The Good People Festival, an annual free music festival; and In Gratitude, a podcast of tools, tidbits and chats on living a life in gratitude. Rachel recently launched Head to Heart Mentorship where she is using all the tools she’s learned as an entrepreneur to support other makers and creatives to live a life of joy! Her most recent project is Power to Pursue, a one-day women's entrepreneurial and empowerment conference. Rachel has received numerous local awards and was a semifinalist for Martha Stewart’s American Made Award, awarded the Local Luminary from Slow Foods Cincinnati, earned a spot on the 2020 40 Under 40 from the Cincinnati Business Courier and in 2021 was named one of the Emerging Leaders for Outstanding Women of NKY. Rachel is a passionate believer in the power of gratitude and the role of food in creating community. Her mission goes beyond making a great cookie: she also wants to impact her community with positivity and action. If that wasn’t enough, she is also a mom to three and works side by side with her husband in building these businesses.

When it comes to being a Flavor Maker, Regina is definitely what's hot. As an influential award-winning TV journalist, Regina gave us a front row seat to the cultural offerings in the city of Cincinnati for more than 15 years on FOX19. This former beloved broadcaster turned arts ambassador/ marketer turned entrepreneur, now helps CEOs tell the diverse stories of the region as founder and CEO of the strategic communications agency, RRight Now Communications.

Rico Grant is the founder of Paloozanoire and creator of Gallery at Gumbo, the inclusive barbershop art gallery collaboration in the heart of OTR that hosts the regionally-focused podcast Gumbo Talks. He serves as executive director of SoCap Accelerate based out of Northern Kentucky University and is the architect behind the Emmy award-winning Black & Brown Faces art exhibition previously on exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum (returning in 2022). Rico helped develop the new regionally-focused youth awards program “17 Under Seventeen” in partnership with The University of Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati and CVG. Known as a connector throughout the city, Rico serves on several nonprofit boards and advises for several startups and foundations around the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky region. In 2022, Rico is set to launch Cinema OTR, a premier bar and lounge dedicated to 90s 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.

Celebrating his 16th season working with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT), Roderick Justice is the artistic director of the nation’s oldest children’s theatre. He’s a proud member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and was recognized as one of The Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 in 2020. His work is driven by a passion for storytelling and the impact arts have in childhood development. An award-winning director, choreographer, actor, costume designer and theatre educator, Roderick has dedicated his life to exercising childhood imaginations. Since becoming artistic director of TCT in 2015, he has produced and commissioned over two dozen new musicals, plays and world-premiere adaptations. Outside of TCT, Roderick shares his passion as a guest artist, director and choreographer for other organizations, including many in the region, such as his alma mater, Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts (SOTA), the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), the Commonwealth Theatre Center, The Carnegie, Cincinnati Landmark Productions, and The Lincoln Amphitheatre in Lincoln City, Indiana. Some of his favorite credits include Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins JR. (Broadway World Award), Legally Blonde (LCT Award), Church Girls, I Love a Piano (Acclaim Award), Seussical (LCT Award), Urinetown (Acclaim Award), Jesus Christ Superstar (CEA Nomination), Spamalot (LCT Nomination), The Top Job (off-Broadway) and The Velveteen Rabbit (Telly Award-Directing Online Content and Broadway World Award-Choreography). Off stage, he and his partner Ian are enjoying the renovation of their historic Swiss Chalet-style home in North Avondale and sharing the journey through their Instagram @Swiss_Misters.

Toilynn O'Neal Turner doesn't remember a time when art and activism were not a part of her life. She grew up with her well-respected and well-known artist and activist father, Robert O'Neal. She remembers his struggles to change the community and speak through his art. Her mother, however, was a scientist. She inspired Toilynn to pursue the science world as well. In college, Toilynn studied Zoology, Veterinary Science, Fine Art and Non-Profit Management, giving her a unique background that allows both her creative side and her analytical side to work together with community leaders to affect change.

In 2005, Toilynn accepted a position at the Cincinnati Art Museum, where she worked as Education Coordinator for Community Engagement for six years. Toilynn continued her focus on arts education, diversity and inclusion by working as the Diversity Trainer and Educational Consultant for Rice Education Consulting, before moving to her new role as Director of Diversity at St. Ursula Academy, where she developed diversity initiatives and programs for staff, parents and students alike.

Toilynn's unending dedication to the city of Cincinnati drives her passion for community collaboration, diversity and cultural education for her city. Her extensive list of current volunteer positions includes membership on the board of the Cincinnati Arts Association, The Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Museum Center African Cultural Fest Committee, the African American Chamber of Commerce, Walnut Hills Area Council, the Nrityarpana School of Performing Arts and on committees for the Freedom Center Martin Luther King Breakfast, the University of Cincinnati Diversity Officer Roundtable, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati School, the Mayor’s Commission of Gender Equality, the National African American Museum Association and the Freedom Center/ Youth Conference Planning Committee. Along with her many accolades and awards, perhaps one the most prestigious was given to Toilynn in 2019 when she received the MAC Award for Diversity and Leadership in the Arts from the Multicultural Awareness Council (MAC) of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Currently, Toilynn is the Executive Director of Queen City Foundation, a non-profit organization whose vision is to provide educational opportunities to minority students through independent college preparatory schools.

Her latest venture is to secure a permanent location for the Robert O'Neal Multicultural Arts Center (ROMAC) in honor of her late father. As Founding Director of the ROMAC, Toilynn works to celebrate, advance and preserve African American culture and achievement through the arts, history and education, while also uplifting the rich diversity of artists and cultures of Greater Cincinnati.

Tyran Stallings is the founder and executive director of The D.A.D. Initiative (Directing Adolescent Development) and co-founding partner of Buildwell Development Group.

Since 2014, The D.A.D. Initiative has served thousands of students, families and communities in the Greater Cincinnati area, providing programs both during and after school that provide mentoring, cultural exposure and 21st century skills training. DAD also leads community-based programs that focus on health, employment and parent advocacy.

Buildwell Development Group, a black-owned residential and commercial development company co-owned by Stallings, creates new and renovated housing throughout Cincinnati while providing employment and growth opportunities to minority contractors. The company’s priority on alleviating blight has resulted in community improvements in several Cincinnati neighborhoods through the rehabilitation of dilapidated and abandoned properties. Tyran has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Hamilton County Community Action Agency, Children, Inc. and currently Learning Grove, where he is chair of the governance committee. His work has garnered him numerous local and national awards and recognitions, some of which include Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati, ULYP Affirmed honoree designation, Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s 2021 Making Black History Award and WIZFM’s 2021 Pillar of the Community Award. He has been featured on countless local and national panels to lend his expertise on developing African American youth. Tyran is also a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 45. His most important roles, however, are being a husband to wife Rachel and father to his son Tariq.

D. Lynn Meyers is in her 25th season as the Producing Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre, where she has directed over 100 world and regional premieres, including Fun Home, Frog Princess, Ripcord, Hands on a Hardbody, Detroit ’67, I Am My Own Wife, Next to Normal, and world premieres including Cinderella, After Ever After, James and Annie, and The Dancing Princesses. She has directed Off-Broadway at the York Theatre with Marsha Norman’s Traveler in the Dark and James McClure’s Max and Maxie. Lynn has directed extensively throughout the US and Canada and began her career as the Associate Artistic Director at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. In addition to her directing work, she is a member of the Casting Society of America, having cast for PBS, CBS, BBC, HBO, MTM, Paramount, Netflix and MGM. Lynn’s favorite feature credits include serving as Location Casting Director for The Shawshank Redemption and recently Dark Waters,Carol, Miles Ahead, The Goat, The Public and Old Man With The Gun. Lynn was named one of four finalists for the Zelda Fichandler National Award in 2011, is a past recipient of the YWCA Career Woman of Achievement Award, and is the 2018 Rosa F. and Samuel B. Sachs Prize Award winner—honoring outstanding accomplishments in the arts. Lynn was honored in 2019 with a national board appointment to the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

Kick Lee is a music producer, Cincinnati native, and advocate of the musical arts. He is the founder and executive director of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator, an organization that is dedicated and focused on the development of music creatives, fostering and fueling place-making and striving for economic development and impact within the community it serves through the musical arts. Only 32-years-old, Kick has already worked in music for over 17 years and had his musical works licensed and placed in advertisements with brands such as Disney, Toyota, Samsung, Puma, Xbox and many others. In addition to being the executive director of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator, he operates KL Studios Inc. which specializes in audio recording, audio production, post-production and music licensing for TV, film, trailers, and commercials.

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey is a lifelong Cincinnatian and a 33-year veteran of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to being elected Sheriff in November 2020, she held the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major. Sheriff McGuffey took office on January 4, 2021 and is the highest ranking woman in the history of the Hamilton County, OH Sheriff’s Office. She has worked in nearly all facets of the Sheriff’s Office including as the Academy Commander for the Ohio Peace Officer Corrections Academy, serving as lead hostage negotiator for the Sheriff’s Special Response Team, and as Commander of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard. Sheriff McGuffey provided training for law enforcement officers throughout the State of Ohio and is an accomplished self-defense instructor. Sheriff McGuffey is committed to public safety and to ensuring accountability, transparency, and engagement with the community as the foundation of the work in the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff McGuffey is committed to building trust, to listening to department staff and the community’s ideas and concerns and to move forward together toward justice reform.

Molly is a self-taught mixologist born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She spent twelve years living and working in San Francisco and before returning to Ohio. Molly takes pride in her immense knowledge of the history and proper preparation of classic cocktails and fine spirits, which lead to her being awarded the Best Bartender/Owner in the Nation by Nightclub and Bar Media in 2019. She is now owner of Japp’s, founded in 1879, located on Main Street, in the heart of Cincinnati’s Historic neighborhood Over-the-Rhine.

Polly Campbell has been one of the most influential people in the Greater-Cincinnati food scene since she became the food writer at the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1996. She told the rich story of Cincinnati’s food scene both with weekly restaurant reviews and stories of the people who create unique, meaningful Cincinnati food. Readers loved her smart, yet relatable style. Polly dissected restaurants in detail, but her writing was ultimately uplifting to local restaurants and Cincinnatians, helping put the Cincinnati food scene on the national map. She is the author of "Cincinnati Food: a Culinary History of the Queen City.”

Jill Meyer leads the Cincinnati Regional Chamber on an aggressive course designed to grow the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati Region. Jill is well-versed in advocating for local businesses. As an attorney she practiced for twenty years at FBT LLC and served as the Member-in-Charge of the firms biggest office in Cincinnati. She’s a dedicated volunteer for many civic and community causes, currently serving on various boards in Cincinnati for the betterment of the city.

Dan McCabe has been an integral part of the Cincinnati music scene for more than three decades having started as a promoter and musician in 1990. Before artists like the White Stripes, Beck and Alabama Shakes became household names, McCabe brought those acts to Cincinnati. He still promotes great live music to this day as co-owner of Woodward Theater and MOTR Pub featuring performances seven nights a week in Over-the-Rhine. McCabe has served as the Executive Producer to multiple Cincinnati events, including MidPoint Music Festival, Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, BRINK New Music Showcase and The Lite Brite Film Test. Cincinnatians consider Dan a hero in the local industry – crediting him for keeping the Cincinnati music scene alive and well.

Alfonso Cornejo is a business consultant for companies doing business in Latin America. Mr. Cornejo has a well- rounded background in all facets of business with particular expertise in Manufacturing and Human Resources. Before entering the consulting field, Mr. Cornejo worked for a total of 30 years with several Fortune 500 Companies, i.e., Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Chiquita Brands. Mr. Cornejo is a Board member of several important boards in the community. Mr. Cornejo has been the President of the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA for the last 17 years, and is also the founder of Hispanics Avanzando Hispanics (HAH) that is a non-profit entity that among many other social service activities, also organizes the Cincy-Cinco Latino charity festival each year in Cincinnati. This charity festival has distributed more than $465,000 among organizations supporting Hispanic initiatives since startup 17years ago.

Kathrine Nero is a long-standing, respected voice of the community. You may recognize her for her incredible storytelling and reporting work at Channel 9 in Cincinnati for nearly 20 years. Now, Kathrine hosts “Coffee Break with Kathrine,” a daily Facebook Live segment hosted on the Cincinnati Enquirer Facebook page for those in the greater-Cincinnati area to catch up on all the latest news.

Crystal L. Kendrick, President of The Voice of Your Customer, is a true advocate for the African American community. She has more than 25 years of global and domestic marketing experience, specifically targeting underserved populations. She is also the publisher of The Voice of Black Cincinnati, a media company designed to educate, recognize and create opportunities for African Americans in the region. She serves on several boards in the area and is a volunteer Events Editor for the Cincinnati Herald. Crystal’s professional and philanthropic achievements have been recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier, Cincinnati Woman’s Magazine, Cincy Business Magazine, the YWCA and the Cincinnati Chamber.

Alicia is a long-time public servant who has held many roles on behalf of the citizens of Ohio. She was the former Vice Mayor of Cincinnati (2002-2007) and member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 33rd district. Alicia has been an inspiration to many Cincinnatians as she was the first African-American woman to win city, state and county electoral races. Alicia currently serves as the Hamilton County Commissioner and is a tremendous advocate for the betterment of Cincinnati.

Means Cameron is a native born Cincinnatian who began his love for entrepreneurship by selling clothing from his car. His passion eventually brought him to Miami University where he grew a following for his art and became the first African American to receive Homecoming Honors at the predominately white institution. After graduation, Means founded the clothing brand BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear. Since its launch in 2011, the brand has been recognized by various publications, including Cincinnati Magazine as a Top 3 Cincinnati Men’s Boutique. Means and his team are using their growing notoriety to create a brand that transcends race, generation and location. Through his contributions as an entrepreneur, it is Means’ goal to inspire the community to serve one another.

French-born de Cavel left New York City as the executive chef of the Plaza Athenée and came to Cincinnati in 1995 as chef de cuisine of the famed Maisonette. His success led him to open multiple restaurants in the Cincinnati area, including JeanRo Bistro, Pho Paris, Greenup Café, Lavomatic Café, Jean-Robert’s Table, French Crust Café & Bistro, and Le Bar a Boeuf. He was an avid fan of the Reds, Bengals, and FC Cincinnati and volunteered much of his time at local and national organizations. He set down roots in Cincinnati with his wife Annette and daughter Laeticia. Sadly, he passed away in late 2022, but he left an indelible mark on the Cincinnati food landscape and has forever influenced the flavor of the Queen City.