Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Ohio for 2023. With its strong manufacturing sector, prosperous agricultural output, and emerging service industries, the Ohio economy is portrayed as a complex and diverse structure. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Ohio's GDP reached $703 billion in 2020, making it the seventh-largest state economy in the United States.
The economic landscape of Ohio has witnessed a substantial transformation due to the involvement of women in leadership positions. Women hold high-ranking positions across various sectors, including government, education, healthcare, and corporate organizations. This shift is not only a result of increased gender equality awareness but also due to the proven benefits of having diverse leadership teams.
Women leaders bring new perspectives, innovative ideas, and inclusive decision-making styles that contribute to better problem-solving and enhanced organizational performance. Ohio's economy is thriving as it embraces this positive change and recognizes the crucial role women play in driving economic growth and success.
Among the recipients of this year's award is Ramona Hood, President and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical. With her unwavering focus on continuous process improvements and targeted growth strategies, she has achieved remarkable growth and improved profitability throughout her career. To fill a significant role in the list of awardees is Marina MacDonald, Red Roofs Chief Marketing Officer, who plays a crucial role in achieving the company's goals through her leadership in Sales, Marketing, Communications, ESG, and Distribution programs.
Also awarded is Shannon Blandford, Kroger's Vice President of Customer Product Experience, who is renowned for her outstanding aptitude for spearheading growth and launching new products and capabilities through diverse channels like web, mobile, and in-store digital experiences.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Ohio for 2023. These women's dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence serve as a shining example for all aspiring professionals.
2. Katy Moeggenberg
Vice President, NA Beauty, Procter & Gamble
As Vice President of Information Technology and Digital Commerce for Procter & Gamble, Katy Moeggenberg leads digital strategy for the company’s North America Hair Care portfolio. In this role, she leads eCommerce sales and media buying, digital innovation, data, and analytics, all helping more consumers meaningfully connect with and purchase from brands like Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Aussie, and Old Spice Hair Care. Moeggenberg regularly consults on future-facing digital and data capabilities across P&G Beauty plus guides P&G’s brand and sales teams on staffing and skill integration that helps them remain at the forefront of digital innovation.
In her previous role as a senior global marketing technologist, Moeggenberg led an organization of 100+ Digital Commerce experts embedded across P&G’s brand teams, with a focus on digital innovation and results, skill development, and career planning. Her passion for developing the capability of those on her team enabled P&G’s 2018 recognition by an accredited industry organization OMCP for marketing technologist training excellence. Moeggenberg joined P&G in 2004 as a digital marketing manager for baby care, working since then across several of P&G’s global businesses to grow their digital commerce businesses. Her results-driven efforts and innovative approaches have resulted in her co-authoring 3 US patent approvals. Valedictorian of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering Computer Science program, Moeggenberg lives in Cincinnati with her husband, where they share a mutual passion for fitness and wellbeing.
3. Ramona Hood
President & CEO, FedEx Custom Critical®
Ramona Hood is President and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical®. A leading North American Transportation provider that offers a range of transportation capabilities for expedited ground, temperature-control shipments, and industry-specific solutions. She currently serves on the board of Brinker International, one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies and home of Chili’s® Grill & Bar, Maggiano’s Little Italy®, and virtual brand: It’s Just Wings®. Ramona is a member of the Audit, and Talent and Compensation committees.
Ramona’s company advancement and professional success span a range of areas including sales, marketing, compliance, and operations with increasing responsibility and scope. She has managed P&Ls in numerous FedEx operating companies including FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Supply Chain, and FedEx Truckload Brokerage. She has consistently driven growth and improved profitability through continuous process improvements and targeted growth strategies. Her track record leveraging technology to drive the customer experience and establishing processes to enable self-regulation have improved process efficiency and effectiveness through modernization and technology deployment. Her growth strategies are diverse and include lowering costs and increasing market efforts to gain market share, targeting new market segments, and 4 integrations.
A leader in the transportation industry, Ramona has received numerous recognition and awards, She is a prolific public speaker and presenter on the transportation industry and leadership. Additionally, Ramona serves The Knight Foundation, The Kent Area Chapter (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and chairs fund development, and national appointments to the Philanthropy Committee and Governance Council. Ramona holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and an undergraduate degree in business management from Walsh University.
5. Marina MacDonald
Chief Marketing Officer, Red Roof Inn
Marina MacDonald serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Red Roof®, helping Red Roof achieve its goals by leading its Sales, Marketing, Communications, ESG, and Distribution programs. She spearheads a company-wide initiative to support women in hospitality through Red Roof's Forum on Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs, for which AHLA awarded her the Paving the Way award. She is Past America’s Board Chair for HSMAI, has been named among the Top 30 Most Influential Women by Hotel Management, is an AdWeek CMO Award Winner, and was named by International Hospitality Institute amongst their 25 Most Influential Women. Marina is a member of CHIEF, a network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.
Previously, MacDonald was an SVP of sales & marketing at Remington Hotels and before that an SVP of sales & marketing at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. MacDonald earned an MBA in business innovation from The Aji Network in California and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Bradford School.
6. Tracey James
Chief Operating Officer, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy
Tracey James is currently a member of the executive leadership team of AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, one of the largest specialty and home delivery pharmacies in the US. She leads the pharmacy services division as Chief Operating Officer of the company. AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy is a specialty and home delivery company that strives to provide exceptional care throughout a patient's treatment journey with the medications they need every day. Formed in 2017, the pharmacy offers tools and resources for patients, providers and health plans to ensure optimal health outcomes. A subsidiary of Walgreen Co., AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy holds various accreditations from several national accrediting bodies.
An accomplished pharmacy leader, James has spent more than 20 years learning and excelling in various aspects of the healthcare industry. Her strong and varied background includes experience in specialty pharmacy, oncology solutions, pharmacy benefit management, pharmacy compliance, clinical practice, program start-up and implementation, and managed care. James graduated from The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in pharmacy.
11. Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska
VP for Knowledge Enterprise, The Ohio State University
An accomplished educator and researcher, and a seasoned academic leader, Dr. Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska is a Distinguished University Professor, Lowber B. Strange Endowed Chair and Professor in Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University (OSU). She serves as Vice President for Knowledge Enterprise at OSU’s Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. She previously served as Chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering and Associate Dean for Research, in the College of Engineering at OSU. Dorota’s research accomplishments are in the Global Positioning System and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) high-accuracy algorithms, multi-sensor integration for assured navigation in GNSS-challenged environments, sensors, and algorithms for indoor and personal navigation, image-based navigation using AI.
In recognition of her academic accomplishments, Dr. Brzezinska was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, elected a Fellow of the Institute of Navigation (ION), a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is the recipient of many academic and leadership accolades, among them: 2016 ION Johannes Kepler Award “For sustained and significant contributions to satellite navigation”, 2023 IEEE/PLANS Richard B. Kershner Award, the 2005 and 2015 US Geospatial Information Foundation Academic Research Award “For sustained and significant contributions to advancing the state-of-the-art in GEOINT relevant to national security, and for educating future GEOINT leaders”, the 2018 International Association of the Institutes of Navigation John Harrison Award, which is a life achievement award given to one individual every three years. She is the first woman to receive this award, and also the first woman to receive a prestigious ION Thomas Thurlow Award in 2005. Dorota is particularly proud of the award she received in 2017 from the Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund Award for Outstanding Service, in recognition of her “commitment to preserving the voices and ideas of threatened scholars worldwide”.
Dr. Brzezinska served as President of the ION, and President of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) Commission 4, Positioning and Applications, and is an IAG Fellow. Dr. Brzezinska currently serves as principal investigator of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Visioning Alliance, an ideation platform and multi-sector-all-engineering organization that identifies future engineering research directions. In January 2023, she was appointed by President Biden to serve on the National Science Board. She currently serves on the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board and served on the US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
13. Jill Marcotte
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Dealer Tire
Jill Marcotte is partner and part owner of the Dealer Tire enterprise of companies totaling over $3B. As the Chief Supply Chain Officer, she built the supply chain organization from scratch and helped create the overall corporate strategic and tactical foundation for the highly successful wholesale distribution company that Dealer Tire has become. As part of her executive role, Jill serves as the board chair of the enterprise’s strategic investment in distribution through digital channels, Simple Tire. Simple Tire services both B2C and B2B customers through a unique and disruptive business model with a zero-inventory approach, leveraging a nationwide network of suppliers and installers. Through Jill’s leadership, Simple Tire has more than tripled revenue and achieved record profitability.
In addition, Jill currently serves on two private boards – Crescent Electric Supply Company and Ozinga. She is currently serving on the Finance & Audit Committee, Technology & Cybersecurity Sub Committee, and HR/Compensation Committee and has previously served on the Governance and Board Member Search Committees. Jill also serves as an Industry Expert for Carleton McKenna Investment Banking Services based in Cleveland, Ohio. Most recently, Jill was named Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine and Top 100 Women in Supply Chain by B2G Consulting. Jill has also been named Director to Watch by Private Company Director in 2020, Inspirational Women in Supply Chain by SCM Nowin 2019, and Woman to Watch in The Tire Industry by Tire Industry Association in 2015.
With over 35 years of work experience, Jill has served in a variety of sectors having held leadership roles at Brach’s Confections, Inc., Andes Candies, Inc., Nestlé Foods, and General Motors. She has a wide range of successful US and international customer and supplier relationships across multiple industries and has led successful negotiations with key companies including Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Target, Walmart, Prologis, FedEx, BMW, and Toyota. As a strong executive and philanthropist, Jill enjoys sharing her supply chain, leadership, and board expertise to benefit the community. Throughout her career, Jill has served on several nonprofit boards, including most recently for the Cleveland Sight Center. She was a member of the Executive Board of Directors and chaired the Strategic Planning Committee from 2010 until May 2021. She is a sought-after conference speaker, panelist, and moderator of topics on leadership, business growth, company culture, and boardroom skills.
View the complete list of awardees
16. Dawn Anderson-Butcher
Executive Director of Teaching/Learning & Research, The Ohio State University
Dawn Anderson-Butcher is a sports scientist by training and a licensed clinical social work worker. She has dedicated her career to promoting healthy outcomes for young people, especially those from socially vulnerable circumstances. Her current role is Professor of Social Work and Affiliate Faculty in Kinesiology at The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, she serves as the Co-Executive Director of Ohio State’s LiFEsports Initiative, overseeing the research, curriculum development, and training components of this nationally recognized sports program.
Dawn also serves as the Executive Director of the Community and Youth Collaborative Institute, a center focused on building the capacity of the multiple social settings that serve youth (such as schools, afterschool programs, sports, etc.). Dawn is an internationally renowned scholar and has amassed over 120 publications over the course of her career. She served over 10 years as the chair for the Mental Health Education Integration Consortium, a national think-tank focused on school mental health practice, policy, and research. Additionally, her collaborative work has touched the lives of over 10,000 youth over the years in Central Ohio.
Her work has been honored by many. Dawn was the first person at Ohio State to be inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. She also is a Research Fellow in both the Society of Health and Physical Educators and the Society of Social Work Researchers, as well as received the School Social Work Association of America’s Gary A. Shaffer Award for Academic Contributions to the Field of School Social Work. Dawn earned a PhD in exercise and sports psychology and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. She has a master's degree in exercise science and undergraduate degrees in psychology and exercise science from Miami University of Ohio.
21. Nwaka Onwusa
Music Historian & Enthusiast, Curator, Creative Director
Nwaka Onwusa is a music historian and curator who is developing experiences through music, culture, and tech. She previously joined the Rock Hall in 2019 as the Director of Curatorial Affairs and eventually Vice President and Chief Curator of Curatorial Affairs.
Onwusa developed various Rock Hall exhibits, including “Induction All Access: Photography by Kevin Mazur" and “The 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibit.” Onwusa was also the lead curator for the museum’s award-winning exhibit, “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope and Empowerment.” An exhibition highlighting how legendary artists responded to social injustice opened at the Rock Hall on July 25, 2020.
Onwusa’s experience included a decade of work at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. She has specialized in emphasizing diversity in music. Onwusa graduated from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in organizational leadership and from the University of California, Riverside with an undergraduate degree in sociology.
22. Gina Logozar
VP of HR & Organizational Effectiveness, Core BTS
Gina Logozar is an experienced executive human resources leader with a demonstrated history of partnering with leaders and team members to create positive workplace experiences. Gina excels in fostering a thriving workplace culture that aligns with organizational goals. She is skilled in strategy, coaching, compliance, employee relationship management, and conflict resolution.
At Core BTS, Gina oversees the people and HR operations functions, talent acquisition and learning, and development of organizations. She is responsible for driving strategy, culture, and engagement, managing policy and compliance, total rewards and benefits, as well as implementing talent management best practices.
Gina advocates for diversity, inclusion, and belonging by working to create inclusive workplaces that value the unique perspectives and contributions of every team member. She is known for her innovative HR strategies that enhance team member well-being and drive business success. Gina has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a minor in business from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in human resources, and an MBA from DeVry University. She been with Core BTS since 2016.
24. Sabrina Ingram
VP of People Operations, Relevate Health
Sabrina Ingram is a passionate advocate for people. As the Vice President of People Operations at Relevate Health, she brings over 20 years of expertise in HR Operations to the table. Sabrina is a results-focused leader who excels in talent acquisition, retention, and motivation, harnessing the full potential of Relevate Health's most valuable asset – its people. Since 2019, she has played a vital role in creating a positive company culture that places the employee experience at the forefront.
Dedicated to fostering a robust corporate culture, Sabrina is committed to driving continuous business growth and cultivating customer loyalty by empowering and motivating employees to reach their full potential and deliver exceptional results. She possesses a deep understanding of leadership development, organizational change, employee relations, strategic planning, and acquisition management, enabling her to seamlessly align processes, initiatives, talent, and competencies to drive business performance and enhance talent development.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sabrina finds joy and fulfillment in her personal life. She has been happily married to her best friend for 21 years, Brian and is the proud mother of two amazing children, Ty and Aubrey, who share her passion for people. Sabrina's personal journey as a two-time cancer survivor, battling Lymphoma in 1999 and more recently facing Breast Cancer, has taught her the power of resilience and the limitless potential within each individual. Her mission in life is to share her story as a beacon of hope and triumph for others facing their own struggles, igniting a fire within others on the incredible journey called life.
25. Tiffany Mattingly
VP of Clinical Strategies, The Health Collaborative
Tiffany Mattingly is responsible for leading high-quality, equitable, clinical initiatives through a diverse lens of clinical, programmatic, quality, and operational experiences, providing strategic guidance across communities, programs, and stakeholders. Tiffany serves as the Clinical Advisor across The Health Collaborative’s organizational matrix, supporting all service lines and professional service structures. For over 15 years, Tiffany has been a noteworthy leader in the clinical initiatives space, engaging in multiple initiatives either influenced by or influencing health equity, health policy, healthcare workforce, health data information, and value-based payment.
Tiffany served as Project Director of Comprehensive Primary Care Plus, the largest payment demonstration project launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. She led the technical assistance strategy and data assistance for 550 primary care practices across the state of Ohio/Northern Kentucky for the duration of the five-year program. Recognized as a leader and trusted health expert, Tiffany is responsible for the coordinated COVID-19 pandemic response for 16 counties in Southwest Ohio, Southeast Indiana, and Northern Kentucky. Through this coordinated, multi-agency effort across local health systems, hospitals, and public health officials have the data and resources needed to make actionable decisions. Recognized nationally, Mattingly and other local leaders met with Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, as he sought best practices from across the county. Throughout the pandemic, Tiffany serves as a liaison to state leaders to ensure barriers to equitable and high-quality health care related to COVID-19 are addressed. Through Hamilton County CARES funding, Tiffany developed and ran a no-cost testing and vaccination program available to all residents and employees of Hamilton County.
Tiffany holds an associate degree in nursing from the Good Samaritan College of
Nursing and Health Sciences, and an undergraduate and master’s degree in nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She serves on multiple local boards including the Mental Health and Recovery Board serving Warren and Clinton Counties, PreventionFirst!, and HealthSource of Ohio. In addition, Tiffany commits both personal and professional contributions to the Hamilton
County Addiction Response Coalition, the Oral Health Coalition, and the Cradle Cincinnati Advisory Board. Tiffany is a volunteer with the Ohio Medical Reserve Corps, is a member of the Ohio Organization of Nurse Leaders, the American Nurses Association, and the Ohio Nurses Association and is an active licensed Registered Nurse through the Ohio Board of Nursing.
28. Jillian Froment
EVP & General Counsel, American Council of Life Insurers
Jillian Froment is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). She is responsible for merging and optimizing general counsel and policy development into ACLI strategy that supports the life insurance industry, ACLI members, and the consumers and communities they serve. Froment is a member of the executive management team and oversees a professional team of lawyers, actuaries, and policy experts. As a former insurance commissioner, Froment understands regulators’ perspectives and provides industry leaders with thoughtful insights and trusted counsel on emerging issues in insurance and industry innovation.
Appointed by two Ohio Governors to lead the Ohio Department of Insurance, an agency that oversees the 6th largest insurance market in the US, Froment fostered a competitive and stable market for 260 domestic and 1600 total insurers and 270,000 agents and agencies. Through active engagement and leadership in national organizations, she has shaped national and international regulatory models and standards on issues such as cyber security, big data, accelerated underwriting, AI, rebating, pandemic impacts, and best interest standards of conduct for agents and insurers. She served as a member of the NAIC Executive Committee, the chair of the Life Insurance and Annuities Committee, and as a member of the Innovation and Technology Task Force. Additionally, she was a member of the Federal Advisory Council on Insurance and a steering committee member for the EU-US Insurance Dialogue Project. She also served two years as the chair of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.
Jillian currently serves as an independent director for the Harford Mutual Insurance Group and a member of the Advisory Council for The Institutes Griffith Insurance Education Foundation. She also serves on the executive committee for DownSyndrome Achieves, a nonprofit organization supporting biomedical research to elevate the standard of care for health conditions that co-occur with Down Syndrome. Froment earned a JD from Capital University and an undergraduate degree in engineering from The Ohio State University.
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29. Jacqueline Wilkins
Professor, The Ohio State University
Jacqueline Wilkins has nearly 30 years of progressive and diversified experience in higher education, as well as profit and nonprofit management and consulting aimed at building organizational and community capacity. Until recently returning to her professor role at one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities, Jackie served as the first-ever female associate dean and director for the Ohio State University Extension in its over 100-year history at The Ohio State University. In this role, she provided leadership for carrying out the vision, mission, and values of OSU Extension; established priorities for investment in OSU Extension by local, state, and federal government; and provided oversight of an approximately $77M annual budget. Jacqueline spearheaded OSU Extension’s mission of bringing research-backed information from the university to communities across the Buckeye State in the broad areas of agriculture and natural resources, community development, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development.
Prior to serving as associate dean and director, chair, OSU Extension, Jacqueline also served as director of operations for OSU Extension, where she was responsible for providing leadership to statewide Extension operations, comprised of 88 counties and over 800 professionals, including all matters affecting personnel, finance, and business operations. In each of her roles at the university, Jacqueline has remained committed to promoting a culture of inclusivity, supporting efforts to build a diverse workforce and stakeholder base, and growing and supporting Extension employees to bolster the scholarship of Extension engagement both within and outside of the OSU Extension system. Jacqueline enjoys working with her OSU Extension colleagues to bring the resources and partnership of the university to the people to co-create solutions to address Ohio’s most complex issues.
Jackie received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Ohio Dominican University, and her master's and doctoral degrees in human development and family science from The Ohio State University. She began her career at Ohio State in 1994 as an Extension associate in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. In 2000, she became the parenting state Extension specialist. Jackie also served as the Northeast Region director for Extension, where she provided leadership to 31 counties on personnel, finances, public relations, and business operations.
Her research interests include prevention education, family policy, and organizational capacity building. She has received more than $6.5M in local, state, and federal funding to conduct research and provide prevention programming for Ohio's children and families. Jackie also has experience in the public sector as the owner of a business management consulting firm, where she designed and implemented many strategic planning initiatives and organizational analyses of efficiency, compensation, workflow, attrition, communications, and IT. Her clients included city and county governments, nonprofits, court systems, United Way agencies, philanthropic entities, and for-profit businesses.
30. Jess Walpole
Chief Technology Officer, Fortress SRM
Jess Walpole serves as the Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the global cyber security program and technical services at Fortress SRM. She has over 28 years of Security, IT, and Governance experience with Fortune 1000 companies. Throughout her career, she has established and executed strategies to enable digital business transformation to support revenue generation, operational efficiency, and risk management.
Jess earned an undergraduate degree in finance and business administration from Malone University and is an FBI Citizens Academy Alumni holding the following professional certifications: CISM, CISA, and CGEIT. Jess is an Ohio native committed to the community and serves on the NEOCC Board and NEO InfraGard. She also actively participates in professional forums and serves as a mentor with CollegeNow.
33. Lisa LaBanc
President & CEO, PSI Product Specialists
Lisa LaBanc’s passion is seeking out opportunities that bring ideas to fruition. She continues to launch and run successful businesses. She recently partnered with beauty brand marketing executive Carol Mehas to launch two exciting new brands. StellaVia launched in 2022. Lisa acts as COO/Co-Founder. StellaVia creates products for women to help meet their hormonally-based needs holistically.
Additionally, she launched arbOUR Products last year. Shortly thereafter, arbOUR Products was named in Forbes Magazine’s 31 Things Your Home Needs This Fall. arbOUR Products creates uniquely formulated, extremely effective, household cleaning and laundry products that are safe for people, plants, and pets.
Lisa also continues to run PSI Product Specialists (PSI). Her first business, PSI was started over 33 years ago and is a successful manufacturing and distribution company. PSI was just named manufacturer of the year in Chesterland, Ohio. She also founded and runs an amazing state-of-the-art fitness facility. Elements Fitness Studios, located in Chesterland, Ohio, opened in late 2018 and is a unique, one-of-a-kind fitness and wellness boutique studio that also houses a wine bar.
Lisa is a passionate entrepreneur who loves to collaborate with others. She is a proud mom of 2 amazing sons who also share her entrepreneurial spirit. Her mission in life is to teach people how the universe gives back what you put out, and that it is infallible! She loves to work out, especially hot yoga, which is part of her everyday routine and sanity. Lisa says if/when she retires, she and her husband Joe plan to “travel, shop, and have cocktails” in the finest places all over the world!
34. Andrea Burton
Managing Attorney, Community Legal Aid
Andrea Burton joined Community Legal Aid Service in January 2018 and is the Managing Attorney for the Advancing Reentering Citizens project which removes barriers to employment and other services. She also manages their Immigrants and Refugees project, Debt Relief Project, and Learning is for Everyone (LIFE). Previously, she was a member of Legal Aid’s Legal Assistance to Victims team where she worked closely with survivors of intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking, helping them secure protection orders and end the cycle of abuse.
Outside of her role at Legal Aid, Burton is a graduate of the OSBA’s Leadership Conference. In 2020, Burton joined the Women of Color Caucus as a member of the executive board. Her focus is educating the Ohio Legislature regarding proposed legislation and its impact on people of color who are survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. She provides educated and nuanced feedback on these vulnerable populations which are typically underrepresented and mostly marginalized. In 2020, Burton joined the Anti-Oppression Committee for the state of Ohio, working on the policy committee in providing position statements regarding new state legislation that may affect or influence the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in the state of Ohio.
Burton received her law degree from the Akron School of Law. She graduated from Youngstown State University with an undergraduate degree focusing on pre-law with a minor in journalism. She then went on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earning her master's in library and information sciences. Burton began practicing in Mahoning County as a court-appointed attorney to indigent criminal defendants and as a Guardian ad Litem in the Mahoning County Juvenile Court. She was a member of the Nathaniel R. Jones Inn of Court from 2015 to 2018. Attorney Burton is on the Legal Redress Committee of the Youngstown chapter of the NAACP, seeking to provide counsel and advice to members of the community and connecting those in need with local resources.
36. Kim Spurgeon
CFO & Director of Operations, The Dayton Art Institute
Kim Spurgeon is an experienced financial director with a demonstrated history of working in manufacturing and the education industry. She is keen on using her extensive financial knowledge to support her passion for the arts and educational programs that promote diversity accessibility to all. As the CFO and Director of Operations at Dayton Art Institute, Spurgeon has spearheaded the COVID recovery plan that ensured all employees earn livable wages. She has also made interactive & digital exhibits possible via routers installed throughout the museum. Her specialties include finance, facilities, IT, and retail/rental operations.
Prior to her current position, Spurgeon was director of finance at Maumee Valley Country Day School where she oversaw budgeting on infrastructure upgrades, independent studies, and overall upgrades to prior systems. She is successful at working with diverse teams to develop comprehensive approaches to daily operations, auditing, financial analysis, and business operations partnerships. Kim earned an undergraduate degree focused in accounting and finance from The University of Findlay.
37. Courtney Walton
Chief Learning Officer, UNDIVIDED
Courtney Walton has worked in the nonprofit ministry sector for over 14 years and currently serves in the role of Chief Learning Officer for UNDIVIDED, the movement behind the LivingUNDIVIDED and WorkingUNDIVIDED curricula. Courtney was recognized as an influential female leader receiving the Greater Cincinnati YWCA Rising Star Award. She is a part of the Harvard LIFE Convening cohort. She is a TEDx speaker, Social Impact Global Fellow with MovingWorlds, certified Trauma Competent Care trainer and conference speaker.
Courtney received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Elon University and her master's degree in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Northern Kentucky University in Educational Leadership focusing her dissertation research on examining anticipatory and acculturative stress in Black women and understanding how to mitigate the impact of racialized trauma and racial battle fatigue. Courtney is also a proud aunt, daughter, sister, and friend.
38. Crystal Davis
Vice President of Policy & Strategic Engagement, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Crystal M.C. Davis joined the Alliance for the Great Lakes as Policy Director in 2016. Based in Cleveland, Davis leads the Alliance’s policy and advocacy efforts related to Lake Erie and manages the organization’s Ohio office. She has played an integral role in the Alliance’s emerging work around drinking water and developing a people-centered model for protecting the Great Lakes. Davis enjoys connecting individuals and communities to the lakes and freshwater resources we all rely on. She brings to the Alliance more than a decade of experience in government affairs, advocacy, and public policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
Before joining the Alliance, Davis spent eight years in government relations with Kent State University (KSU). She served as federal relations director for KSU’s Office of Government & Community Relations in Washington, DC, where she established the university’s office on Capitol Hill. Davis has also worked for the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Even as a self-proclaimed “indoor girl,” Davis has a deep appreciation for her Great Lake, Lake Erie. She is passionate about connecting urban communities with opportunities to advocate for our freshwater resources. Davis is a graduate of Kent State University and winner of the 2015 Ohio TRiO Trailblazer Award.
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39. Stephanie Wolf
Vice President, Rebuttal
Stephanie Wolf is the Vice President of Rebuttal, the only communications firm dedicated to serving the plaintiffs' bar. For more than 15 years, the nation's leading plaintiff law firms have turned to the Rebuttal team to create winning communications campaigns, ranging from billion-dollar mass torts and class actions to positioning attorneys in their markets to grow their businesses and make a bigger impact. Wolf is a seasoned communications professional with a proven track record of leading teams and navigating intense media environments during high-stakes litigation.
Wolf has a deep background in plaintiff-side litigation spanning a diverse set of subject matter including sexual abuse, environmental justice, product liability, and healthcare. She began her career at a DC strategic communications firm where she worked on high-profile issues at the intersection of litigation and public affairs. During her time at a Columbus-based PR agency, she worked on communications strategy for law firms, B2B companies, and consumer services.
Prior to joining Rebuttal, Wolf worked at Ohio’s trial lawyer association, the Ohio Association for Justice, where she led the organization’s digital communications and marketing efforts. While she has worked in numerous communications roles on a variety of subjects, the high stakes and important social justice issues that are the core of Rebuttal’s mission have always been the work about which she is most passionate. Wolf especially enjoys working with plaintiffs who are facing extremely difficult circumstances, getting to know them and their stories, and advising their legal representatives on a strategy to successfully navigate the court of public opinion. Wolf is a graduate of Ohio University and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
40. Catherine Tijerina
Co-Executive Director, The RIDGE Project
Catherine Tijerina is a catalyst for change. She is an author, nationally renowned speaker, and Co-Executive Director of The RIDGE Project, a nonprofit organization that she founded with her husband, Ron. Catherine is a passionate advocate for struggling families. This passion was born in the crucible of her own personal tragedy when her husband was convicted of a crime he did not commit. At that moment she discovered that there was little to no support for vulnerable families, especially families who had a loved one in prison – a group that she terms “Forgotten Victims.”
Currently, Catherine and her husband Ron, speak in venues across the country carrying a message of hope for all families. Their work has resulted in numerous awards including the SMART Marriages Impact Award, The White House’s designation as a Champion of Change, and the Director’s Award from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Most recently, the Tijerinas have authored HIGH FIVE Love Never Fails which presents a recipe for healthy families built on 5 time-tested principles. They regularly appear in local, state, and national print, radio, and televised media.
41. Adrianne Nittala
CEO & Principal Director, Specialized Medical Billing
Adrianne Nittala is the CEO and Principal Director of Specialized Medical Billing. Established in 2012, SMB is a medical billing and practice management consulting company committed to delivering unrivaled accuracy with the utmost integrity so that practitioners can focus on what matters most: PATIENT CARE. They pride themselves in being the best partner to handle all back-office functions for health-centered practitioners, creating the opportunity to achieve the highest level of revenue. Nittala has demonstrated success in the healthcare field, both as an administrator of orthopedic practices and as a founder and leader of a successful Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) company. With more than 25 years of experience in billing, collections, coding, and physician practice management, Nittala brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the medical field.
Before founding Specialized Medical Billing & Consulting (SMB) in 2012, Nittala served as a practice administrator for a local orthopedic practice, where she was responsible for developing and implementing efficient processes, business improvement plans, managing multiple facilities, preparing budgets, maintaining the profit and loss statement, responsible for all human resource functions, and monitoring activities for compliance in health industry regulations. Nittala has a strong desire and passion to help others and is very interested in children’s advocacy and being a mentor to adolescents. She has served on the NovaCare Rehabilitation Advisory Board since 2012 and the Liberty Tree Elementary Parent Teacher Organization Board since 2016. She has also been a Girl Scout troop leader since 2019. Nittala graduated from Franklin University with an undergraduate degree in human resources management and personnel administration.
42. Denisha Porter
Executive Director, All-In Cincinnati – Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Denisha Porter currently serves as Executive Director of the All-In Cincinnati Equity Coalition at Greater Cincinnati Foundation. The 150+ member coalition is working to dismantle racial inequities in health, housing, education, economic mobility, and justice, with the goal to uplift Black women in Hamilton County. All-In Cincinnati seeks to co-create and implement an equity action plan to transform our tri-state community, and Porter is the driving force leading the coalition’s work to shape that vision.
With over 15 years of experience in community engagement, community mobilization, and coalition building, Denisha is responsible for directing policy and advocacy actions promoting the All-In Cincinnati mission; building strong relationships with local nonprofits, city officials, government agencies, and community partners; and facilitating meetings, communications, and recruitment with the All-In Cincinnati Core Team and Coalition members. With a current size of 60-90 members in attendance at monthly meetings, All-In Cincinnati leaders provide feedback on racial equity initiatives. They examine barriers that impede collaboration between the for profit and nonprofit sectors and city and county governments to build a more equitable Hamilton County.
Denisha, who has previously served as the Director of Health Promotion and Worksite Wellness as well as the Director of the Creating Healthy Communities Coalition for the Cincinnati Health Department since 2010, has dedicated her career to public service. She also maintained over 100 collaborative relationships between public, private, and civic entities including schools, churches, and nonprofit agencies to promote public and population-based health. Denisha worked with the United Dairy Farmers to carry fresh produce in food deserts. She assisted the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority in creating and implementing a smoke-free multi-unit housing policy that now protects over 13,000 residents from second-hand smoke.
This year Denisha Porter was recognized by the City Council for being an outstanding leader. In 2021, she was selected to participate in Leadership Cincinnati USA. Porter received the Cincinnati’s 2019 Forty Under 40 Award by the Cincinnati Business Courier. In 2018, she was recognized by the Cincinnati Herald for her dedication to the community with the Cincinnati Herald’s Nefertiti Award. Denisha is a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School. She received her undergraduate degree in microbiology from Miami University and her MPH from Wright State University. Denisha is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and her motto in life is “do good even in the face of adversity.”
43. Jessica Miller
Director of Academics, Workforce Opportunity Services
Jessica Miller is a trailblazing academic operations director with a wealth of experience in learning and development, particularly in the context of organizational workforce development. Her current role as the Director of Academics at Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS), a prominent nonprofit committed to solving today’s DE&I workforce challenges, highlights her exceptional leadership in the field. Miller oversees critical academic operations, including curriculum development, collaborations with academic institutions, and the implementation of innovative programs aimed at empowering marginalized communities. In addition to spearheading a range of live, online training programs, she leads the development and administration of the learning management system, a crucial tool that has ensured continuity during the transition to remote training.
Throughout her entire career, Miller has consistently harnessed the profound impact of education, evident in her roles at WOS and her prior dedicated work as a mentor and mathematics teacher. Her academic journey has fortified her for this leadership role. Miller holds an MA in anthropology and education from Teachers College of Columbia University and a BS in integrated mathematics education from Kent State University. Her dedication to education and workforce development shines as she continues to shape the future of untapped talent in underserved communities.
44. Sasha Harris
Director of Category Management - Women’s Health, CVS Health
Sasha Harris is currently the lead director for Women’s Health categories at CVS Health while supporting its enterprise-wide Women’s Health and Wellness Blue Chip and the WIC program. Sasha is a force to be reckoned with and her servant leadership shined as she navigated unprecedented, nationwide supply challenges. With a diverse background in retail, she specializes in crafting consumer-focused and intentional solutions that breathe new life into product categories while launching impactful campaigns.
Her career journey serves as a testament to her strategic mindset and unwavering determination. Her professional journey began as an intern in store management, steadily ascending the ranks with a burning aspiration to become a buyer. Armed with a BS from Indiana University and an MBA in marketing she gained experience in various critical roles, including merchandising, inventory planning, assortment planning, and store operations. It is at CVS that she continues her dream of curating assortments tailored to community needs and spearheading initiatives aimed at enhancing equity for underserved populations.
Throughout each chapter of her life, Sasha's heart-led, people-first approach embodies the spirit of innovation, leadership, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. Her entrepreneurial spirit drives her to seek and seize opportunities, transforming them into profitable ventures. She is not merely a name but a unique influencer and social butterfly who thrives on relationship-building, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Sasha's journey remains an enduring source of inspiration, leaving an indelible mark on the world of retail and beyond.
45. Laurajeanne Fligor
Director, KPMG
Laurajeanne Fligor is a Director in KPMG’s Advisory Services practice with more than 19 years of management advisory and business experience. She has extensive experience in
business model innovation, mental health and substance abuse benefit design, care coordination, and utilization management. She also has practical knowledge of the design and implementation of next-generation healthcare solutions.
Laurajeanne is a healthcare transformation leader focused on Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance, regulatory compliance, and operational improvement of health insurers and pharmacy organizations. She specializes in mental health compliance, care coordination, behavioral health benefit design, and value-based care. She has worked with government and private payers and providers to envision, design, and implement the next-generation, compliant health insurance solutions, and payment models that are focused on improving mental health and substance abuse, reducing the total cost of care, increasing member engagement and wellbeing, and improving operational efficiencies that lead to sustainable business outcomes.
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46. Andrea M. Oyanadel
Director of Transformation Enterprise Project Management Office, Conduent
Andrea Oyandel began her professional career with Ernst & Young. She has a deep passion for enabling change through the implementation of new technology and processes. Today, she is a Director of Transformation at Conduent. Conduent is a business services provider company that offers technology-led business process outsourcing solutions (BPO) for businesses and governments. Since joining Conduent in 2020, Andrea has led initiatives across various functional areas. She currently works with product strategy, sales & marketing, and technology teams to enable revenue growth objectives across the government and healthcare sectors.
Her early career success as a management consultant with CapGemini, leading large-scale, business-critical projects for client organizations across retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government contracting industry segments led her to a role with a major personal care brand, Bath & Body Works (BBW). Her 10+ years tenure at BBW afforded her the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of this business vertical. She takes pride in global cross-functional team building within fast-paced, changing, and ambiguous work environments. Andrea is fluent in Spanish (Castilian Dialect) which has taken her to South America and Mexico for work assignments. She’s a graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business and a native New Yorker who loves to travel.
47. Carey L. Spencer
National Director of Family Governance, Key Private Bank
As the National Director of Family Governance at Key Private Bank, Carey Spencer is responsible for serving as the family wealth thought leader on all family dynamic, philanthropic, and family governance issues including all strategies related to developing and preparing family members to responsibly manage generational wealth. She closely coordinates with the family wealth team to deliver exceptional family legacy, educational, and philanthropic experiences. Previously Carey served as a family wealth strategist working exclusively with individuals and families of significant wealth across generations. She leveraged her experience and expertise to manage complex estate, tax, and integrated investment strategies. She also ensured that her clients received access to the full array of our family office capabilities.
Carey worked closely with her clients to understand their goals and priorities. Her in-depth knowledge of investment management and trust strategies ensured that the best solutions were carefully planned and implemented. Carey joined Key in 1986 and has been providing financial planning services for more than 30 years. She earned a BBA from Cleveland State University and an MFP from David Myers University. She holds RFP®, CWS® and HDP designations, and is an award recipient of the Achiever’s Club, President’s Club, and Signature Circle. She is a member of the board of trustees for the Cleveland Institute of Art.
48. Kym Parks
Director of Marketing, Air Transport Services Group
Kym Park’s career has consisted of building industry-leading brands and impactful marketing teams. Her path to the marketing role has been a little more a jagged line than a straight one starting with her BS in agriculture from The Ohio State University. She has laid the foundation at companies such as R+L Carriers, Crane Fencing Solutions, Airborne Maintenance, and Engineering Services, and in her current role as Director of Marketing for Air Transport Services Group the World’s Largest Lessor of Freight Aircraft.
Kym’s team is responsible for building a pipeline for talent starting with middle school students. The ATSG Aviation Camp has been the crown jewel of this program which is an immersive summer camp for youth wanting to learn more about careers in aviation. They provide hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing, aviation maintenance, safety and flight operations, airport operations, and pilot training. Their other opportunities include their manufacturing tours that take place from October to March, Girl Scout Patch Day for Girls in Aviation Day in September, and Speakers Bureau available to colleges and school programs, which allows them to introduce aviation to nearly 2,000 students each year.
Kym has been honored for her leadership within her company and community. She was honored by the Wilmington Community for the prestigious 4C Award in two categories, the ATSG Silver Pinnacle Award, and the Farm Bureau Distinguished Member Award for her work recognizing Women in Agriculture.
49. Beth Samenuk
Head of Business Development & Marketing, Eyelation Technologies
Beth Samenuk began her professional career 13 years ago. Today, she is the Head of Business Development and Marketing at Eyelation Technologies. She has become the go-to hire for up-and-comers in the eyecare industry. Building companies, teams, and strategy are at the core of her skillset.
Beth has a knack for seeing the big picture but also has the ability to build a precise roadmap and establish specific initiatives, creating unity and synergy between all business units. She is a natural leader and understands how to motivate a team and “unstick” roadblocks that prevent forward progress. Over the years she has worn many hats and worked many different roles and her network and connections are extensive, both of which make her an asset to any organization. As a leader, she is an exceptional communicator who can hit the ground running and get people rallied behind her quickly.
Samenuk first got her start in 2010 as a medical sales rep at Innovative Medical Group - Biomet Trauma/Orthopedics - EBI. From there, she went on to Alcon, before eventually rising to VP of business development at Waldo Contacts, her most recent position prior to joining Eyelation Technologies. Samenuk graduated from The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in English and professional writing.
50. Bridget Redeker
Director of Operations, Distinctive Details
Bridget Redeker began her professional career 13 years ago. Today, she is the Director of Operations of Distinctive Details. With over 100 years of combined experience in the automotive aftermarket, the Distinctive Details team has created one of the most expansive and quality-driven reconditioning product lines in the nation. Passionate about offering their customers unparalleled service, their US plant formulates and manufactures to meet both customer needs and market trends.
Redeker is an accomplished LPGA Futures Tour Golf Professional who hung up her clubs to utilize her business management degree from Siena College to own and run a company for 10 years before successfully selling it. Coming back to her roots, Bridget became a part of the Distinctive Details family in 2019 and is valued by her peers and customers alike for her business acumen, attention to detail, and positive attitude. At Distinctive Details, Bridget creates and manages strategies and policies to create company growth, monitors the financial data, recommends solutions to improve profitability, and ensures all systems operate smoothly and align with company quality standards.
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