2022 Annual Conference Presenters

Sarah Allan

Sarah Allan began at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Toledo in 2015. As a Senior Program Officer, she works to support neighborhood revitalization with a focus on economic development investments, including commercial district, real estate, and small business development.  In addition to providing technical assistance to for-profit and non-profit partners, Sarah is responsible for economic development lending, which includes underwriting small business, commercial, and mixed-use loans. She also participates in the Toledo Business Growth Collaborative – a partnership among 13 Business Development Organizations to build a more inclusive and equitable ecosystem for entrepreneurs.  Before joining LISC, Sarah was the Assistant Director of Greater West Town Community Development Project in Chicago, Illinois and gained international development experience working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Guatemala. She has her Master of Arts from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Women’s Studies from the Ohio State University, and an Economic Development Professional Certification from the National Development Council. Lastly, she serves on the Ohio CDC Association Board of Trustees. Sarah is a Toledo native (East Side to be exact!) and, in her spare time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and being with family.

Jen Aultman

Jen Aultman is the World Heritage Director for the Ohio History Connection. She leads the effort to add eight of Ohio’s iconic American Indian earthworks to the international World Heritage List. She formerly served as Curator of Archaeological Collections at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and is a dedicated education advocate who seeks to grow awareness of Ohio’s American Indian heritage among children across the nation.

Polly Lynam Bloom

Polly Lynam Bloom is the strategic planner for Perspectus’s Historic Architecture practice. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and has had a successful career working in senior leadership, communications, and marketing positions. Polly recently earned her MA in Historic Preservation.

Polly is a practical and strategic thinker with a drive for quality and results. She brings great enthusiasm to her role and works tirelessly, hand in hand with leadership and the historic studio to implement creative strategies that guide long-term business decisions and provide superior client service. Polly is friendly, articulate, well-informed and has exceptional networking skills that have enabled her to both nurture existing relationships and foster new business opportunities for our historic studio. She is also an accomplished writer, which coupled with her deep knowledge of historic preservation, makes her an excellent resource for project, proposal and presentation writing.

Tim Bockbrader

Tim Bockbrader is a principle with EDGE, where he is the managing partner of the Toledo office.   Mr. Bockbrader has over 28 years of experience as a Landscape Architect with a diverse experience and background in all phases of planning and landscape design, construction documentation, and construction management.  His projects range from large scale master planning, institutional, commercial, and urban planning and design, as well as parks and recreation planning and design.

Tim’s diverse experience and holistic approach to planning, design, and implementation fosters communication and collaboration between clients, stakeholders, and consultants to produce visionary designs and solutions to complex projects.

Tim has been certified in (CPTED) Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles, where he studied environmental and social behaviors that reduce crime in the public and private environments through space planning and design.  Tim is also a LEED accredited Professional with a strong working knowledge of sustainable site practices.

Donald Boerger

A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in City & Regional Planning, Donald currently serve on Marysville City Council. Boerger previously served on boards and commissions for Union County and the City of Marysville. Donald researches and assists local leaders in zoning changes, land use planning, and master plans. He live and breathe cities, with interests in areas that are connected with city planning, such as Community Identity, Historic Preservation, Social Justice through Community Development, Arts & Entertainment Planning, and Sustainability. We must create cities which welcome all.

Brian Broadus

Brian Broadus, AIA, is a senior project director in Perspectus’s Historic Preservation Studio. Brian sees historic architecture and building rehabilitation as a means of keeping and enhancing community, and as a method of public service. He comes to Ohio from Virginia, where his architectural achievements—two of his restorations won AIA Virginia Preservation Honor Awards—and his leadership in local preservation organizations led to his gubernatorial appointment to the Commonwealth Board of Historic Resources, the body that designates Virginia Historic Landmarks and that guides the state government’s archaeological and curatorial work.

Lisa Brownell

Lisa has been the Program Manager for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program at the Ohio Department of Development since 2018. She earned an MA and PhD in geography from the University of Kentucky with a focus on cultural landscapes, historic preservation, and community values for places. After beginning her lifelong love of abandoned places with exploring derelict farmsteads around her home in Southwestern Minnesota, then finding a niche in Kentucky mapping abandoned railroads, she can’t believe people keep paying her to creep around in abandoned buildings. She is thrilled to be working with communities to revitalize beloved places.

Nate Coffman

Nate Coffman is executive director of the Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA), a non-profit trade association for community development corporations that work to revitalize rural and urban communities. Prior to joining OCDCA in late 2009, he directed the revitalization efforts of Cleveland’s historic Ohio City neighborhood with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation. For eight years he served as executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland (HBA). At the HBA, Nate helped bring the organization and the membership to invest and develop in many underserved urban neighborhoods working in partnership with local CDC’s. He also worked several years in Columbus for U.S. Senator John Glenn and as an aide at the Ohio Senate. He is a native of southeastern Ohio and a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Diamond Crowder

Diamond Crowder, Underrepresented Communities Survey & National Register at the State Historic Preservation Office. Diamond has a B.A. and M.A. in History, University of Toledo (with major areas of study Early American History, African American History, and Women and Gender History) and is currently finishing her doctoral dissertation that specifically focuses on African American women post Emancipation (University of Cincinnati).

Stephanie Elton

Stephanie Elton serves as vice president of Blue Water Communications, a boutique public relations agency that works exclusively with museums, architecture firms and destinations. She has nearly 20 years of arts and culture storytelling experience, with a particular focus on content development and data marketing communications for record labels, art museums, performing arts organizations and libraries. Stephanie works side-by-side with clients to find strategic ways to amplify their stories and to connect with audiences in impactful and meaningful ways. She serves on the boards for both Courageous Community Services and Press Club of Toledo and previously served on the AAF Toledo board of governors.

Adam Eltrich

Adam Eltrich is the Grants Manager for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection. Adam has been in this role for nearly five years. Prior to working in the State Historic Preservation Office, Adam worked for the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service and the State of Ohio, Department of Commerce. He has an BA in History and Political Science from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH and an MA in Public Administration from the University of Akron. Adam resides in Hilliard and is originally from Lorain.

Megan Ernest

Megan Ernest is the Administrative Manager at Newark Development Partners. Her role includes email marketing and website management, working with current and potential tenants at two locations, serving as a contact for local businesses in our Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, and other administrative and project management tasks. Prior to working at Newark Development Partners, Megan worked in the development office at The Dawes Arboretum. She is an alumna of Walsh University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing in 2018.

Nancy Finegood

Nancy Finegood was executive director of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network from November 2002 through April 2019. Nancy is also a Board Member of Preservation Action Foundation, The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation and Board Treasurer of the National Preservation Partners Network. Finegood served for over ten years on the Advisory Boards of Oakland County Main Street and Michigan Main Street programs. She is a founding member of Michigan’s Sense of Place Council.

She has been honored as an honorary affiliate of the AIA Michigan. In 2020, Finegood was awarded the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions’ Renaud Award of Excellence for her work as a trailblazer who has advanced historic preservation at the state and local levels.

As director of St. Croix Landmarks Society she ran three historic museums and the island wide historic preservation society. She graduated from Wayne State University with a BA in secondary education in 1975, where she also earned an MBA with an accounting concentration in 1998.

Nancy serves as a Director of the Jeffris Family Foundation and advises on the development of projects in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Marc Folk

President and Chief Executive Officer, Marc D. Folk, began with The Arts Commission in 1996 as an instructor in the Young Artists at Work program and has since worked with passionate dedication to advance the arts, culture and community development in the Toledo region. Marc represents The Arts Commission on various national and regional committees to advocate for and promote the development of the arts. He served for three years as the president of the Ohio Citizens for the Arts, is past co-chair of the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders (TACL) and is an active member of the United States Urban Arts Federation. He is a 2006 recipient of the 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, the 2009 winner of the Ohio Arts Council’s Governor’s Award for Arts Administration and in 2010 he was recognized as the University of Toledo’s Outstanding Alumnus in the Arts. In 2018 he was awarded the Ray Hanley Innovation Award by the Americans for the Arts in recognition of outstanding individual contributions to arts and culture in American cities. He has served as a four time grants panelist for the National Endowment for Arts, most recently for CARES Act. Marc is a 1998 graduate of the University of Toledo, with a BFA in Sculpture and a minor in Printmaking. He is a DJ and avid record collector and lives in Toledo’s Old West End with his son Holden.

Tom Gibbons

Tom Gibbons is the Director of the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions and has over 29 years of planning experience.  Tom joined the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions in 1995 as a planner. Since that time, he has been a Community Development Director for the City of Sandusky and has worked on numerous planning projects for the City of Toledo. Prior to employment at the City of Toledo, Tom was a Planner with an engineering firm in northwest Ohio.  He holds a Masters of Arts & Science Degree in Geography and Planning and a Bachelor of Education from The University of Toledo.

Craig Gossman

Craig Gossman is a principal at the Gossman Group. Craig has over 40 years of experience in historic preservation,  architecture, planning and urban design. He has worked with a variety of clients including municipalities, developers, and historic property owners. Gossman Group is currently working on mixed-use infill developments in several cities in Ohio and Texas and downtown & neighborhood master plans in Ohio, Illinois, and West Virginia. Craig has a passion for mid-sized communities and enjoys helping city leaders explore the possibilities through strategic planning, historic preservation, architecture & urban design.  Craig currently serves as a board trustee for Heritage Ohio.

Cheri Hottinger

Cheri Hottinger is a vice president in the Commercial Lending area with Park National Bank. She joined the bank in October of 2016 after serving as President & CEO for the Licking County Chamber of Commerce since 2004. Cheri currently serves as treasurer of Newark Development Partners CIC and is a board member and treasurer of the Downtown Newark Special Improvement District. In addition, she serves on the board of Buckeye Lake Regional Corporation, is vice chair of the Education Committee of the Development Council for Licking Memorial Hospital and is the co-chair of the Capital Campaign for the Licking County Humane Society. Prior to taking the position at the chamber, Cheri served on Newark City Council from 2000-2003.

Michael R. Hurwitz

Michael R. Hurwitz is the co-founder of TELESOLVE, a business that develops and implements customized theatrical and media seminars throughout the United States. He has been a practitioner of professional technical theatre for the past fifty-six years, accepting his first backstage job in 1966. Michael has worked in virtually every phase of the backstage crafts, from make-up and wardrobe, to lighting, sound, carpentry, and props. Working with national companies of touring Broadway shows, he is recognized nationally for his expertise in technical theatre. Michael has conducted feasibility studies for various theatrical venues and has lectured on the subject of theatrical restoration of historic theatres.

Michael graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts with an Associate’s Degree. He holds a BA in theatre and film from the Ohio Dominican University, an MA in History and Film from California State University and a Professional Degree from the British American Drama Academy and Julliard. Michael is a documentary filmmaker of note. His tenth film, The Great Southern Theatre, Revival of a Legend, premiered in 2009. It focuses on the history and renovation of the Great Southern Theatre, a Victorian architectural masterpiece, in Columbus, OH

Beth Johnson

Beth Johnson is the Executive Director of Cincinnati Preservation Association. Prior to the non-profit world, Beth served the public in local historic preservation offices in Covington, KY, Austin, TX and Cincinnati, OH working with various design review boards. Johnson is a graduate of Ball State University where she received a degree in urban planning and history with a minor in historic preservation. She received her master’s degree in historic preservation planning from Cornell. When Johnson isn’t working on a preservation project, you can find her enjoying life in her hexagon house, hiking with her dog, raising monarch butterflies, drinking lots of coffee from Cincinnati roasters, or traveling near and far to spend time with her friends and family.

Maura Johnson

Maura Johnson is a cultural resources group manager at The Mannik & Smith Group. Maura is responsible for scoping, budgeting, supervising and executing all types of historic/architectural and archaeological projects at the Mannik & Smith Group. She holds a M.A. in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University, and has worked for over 35 years in the preservation field. Maura has successfully completed thematic studies, tax credit certification projects, management plans, and National Register nominations for clients in the non-profit and private sectors. Prior to her position at MSG, she was the Northwest Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and, before coming to Ohio, was the Community Development Coordinator for a Certified Local Government program in Liberty, Missouri.

Lindsay Jones

Lindsay Jones is the owner of Blind Eye Restoration.

Lindsay’s background in construction and historic preservation has blended over more than a decade of experience into a dedication to the specific repair and restoration of historic buildings and public artwork.

For her undergraduate degrees, she studied both architectural history and construction management at The Ohio State University, and she later earned her MS in historic preservation from the University of Oregon.

Professionally, she has been lucky enough to be able to work all across the country. Her background includes both construction management and hands-on historic conservation roles, with a special focus on introducing subcontractors to historic preservation practices. Restoration projects Lindsay has participated in include the Salmagundi Club in New York City, Stanford University’s Cantor Art Museum in Palo Alto, the U.S. Courthouse in Ft. Wayne, IN, and Greenlawn Abbey in Columbus, Ohio.

Graham Kalbli

Graham Kalbli is a confident, professional leader in planning, design, and implementation of real estate development projects focusing on mixed-use, historic preservation, urban infill, multi-family, affordable housing, market-rate housing, and single-family developments. He has over twenty-five years in professional practice, delivering architectural, planning and development projects ranging from $40,000 to $40,000,000. Graham has led multiple award-winning historic rehabilitation projects since founding New Republic Architecture in 2014, including Trevarren Flats, Paramount Square, Perseverance on Vine, and the Reakirt Building.

US Representative Marcy Kaptur

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur proudly represents the working people of Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District. She is currently the longest serving woman in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives and ranks among the most senior Members of the 117th Congress. Congresswoman Kaptur, a native Toledoan, lives in the same modest house where she grew up. She is a Polish-American with humble, working class roots. Her family operated a small grocery store and her mother later served on the original organizing committee of a trade union at the Champion Spark Plug factory in Toledo. After graduating from St. Ursula Academy, she became the first member of her family to attend college, earning a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin (1968) and later a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. After working for 15 years as a city and regional planner, primarily in Toledo and Chicago, she accepted an appointment as a domestic policy advisor to President Jimmy Carter. During his Administration, she helped maneuver 17 housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through Congress. In 1981, while pursuing a doctorate in urban planning and development finance at MIT, she was recruited by the Lucas County Democratic Party to run for Congress against a first-term Republican. Although she was outspent by a 3-to-1 margin, Kaptur parlayed a strong economic message during the 1982 recession to stage a nationally-recognized upset. In Washington, Kaptur fought vigorously to win a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. Today she serves as the first woman to Chair the influential House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which she considers an honor given the Ninth District stretches much of the southern Lake Erie coastline. Kaptur also serves as a senior member of House Veterans Affairs Committee. She uses this assignment to advocate for veterans who have served our nation faithfully. In 2021, she was named to the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which she is focused on highlighting the plight of the hardworking men and women of the Industrial Heartland who have too often been left behind. In 1993, Congresswoman Kaptur was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Toledo in recognition of her “effective representation of the community.” St. Ursula Academy named Kaptur Alumna of the Year in 1995.She is recipient of the Taubman College Distinguished Alumna award from the University of Michigan, making her the first woman so recognized and the first graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning Program to be so honored. Kaptur recently received the Director’s Award from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at
Georgetown University for her commitment to increased understanding and appreciation of the peoples and cultures of Eurasia, Russia and East Europe. She was named the National Mental Health Association’s “Legislator of the Year” for her championing mental health and received the 2002 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Kaptur is also the author of a book, Women in Congress: A Twentieth Century Odyssey, that was published by Congressional Quarterly in 1996.

Kathleen Kovacs

Kathleen recently retired as the Program Director for the Home Preservation Initiative of the Lucas County Land Bank. A graduate of Waite High School, Kovacs has Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science in Community Economic Development from the Southern New Hampshire University. Previously, Kovacs was the Deputy Director of the Department of Neighborhoods for the City of Toledo and Senior Program officer at Local Initiative Support Corporation and Director of Neighborhoods In Partnership community development corporation.

Tony Maruca

As Project Manager at the National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC), Tony is responsible for underwriting and closing historic and new markets tax credit transactions. He has 10 years of experience working in community development finance.

Before joining NTCIC, Tony was Director of Finance at Civic Builders, a not-for-profit developer and lender for facilities for high-performing charter schools, where he raised construction and permanent debt for turnkey charter school development projects. He helped source over $75MM in QLICI debt for development deals and deployed over $60MM in NMTC allocation during the years he managed Civic’s CDE.

Tony earned a master’s in City and Regional Planning from the Bloustein School at Rutgers University and a bachelor’s in studio art and economics from Williams College.

Jonathan McCracken

Jonathan McCracken is the USDA Rural Development State Director for Ohio. McCracken is a native of Wilmington, Ohio. For the past 15 years, he has held various legislative positions related to agriculture, rural development, food, nutrition, energy, and environmental policy. Most recently, he served as a Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Prior to working for Senator Brown, McCracken began his career working for Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and earned a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School

Aaron Montz

Aaron Montz was selected to lead the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership in July 2022. The Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership is a 501c3 nonprofit public-private partnership that drives and leads economic, downtown, and community development for Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio.

Prior to his role with the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, Aaron Montz was first elected Mayor in November 2011 after serving a four year stint on Tiffin City Council representing the city’s second ward. Upon his election, Montz was Tiffin’s youngest elected councilman at 22 years of age and youngest elected Mayor at 26 years of age. During his eleven-year term, Montz presided over a renaissance in Tiffin.

Elizabeth Corbin Murphy

As a Principal of Perspectus’s Historic Architecture Studio, Elizabeth is dedicated to preservation and restoration technology and design. She consults with building owners and architects regarding state and federal rehabilitation tax credits, design and adaptive use related to old or historic structures, detailed restoration specifications, historic interiors and design guidelines for historic urban centers. Her specialized talents in preservation, restoration, technology and design often overlap with several market sectors including academic, government, hospitality and even healthcare.

Elizabeth is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and recipient of the AIA Ohio Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed on an individual in the profession. As past president of AIA Ohio and past chair of the AIA National Historic Resources Committee, Elizabeth is a strong advocate for the architectural profession. She also enjoys sharing her wealth of knowledge and guiding younger architects. She serves as a Professional Peer for the GSA Design Excellence and First Impressions programs and frequently speaks at historic preservation conferences.

Jake Oberlin

Jake Oberlin is a managing partner at Confluence Investments. Jake began his career in banking, working in asset and trust management for two publicly traded banks.  In 2019, he transitioned into venture/private equity, and currently holds stakes in over a dozen private businesses, and holds an operations role in two private equity funds.  Jake sits on the Board of Directors for Keller Logistics Group, and on the Board of Trustees for the Defiance Area Foundation, serving as the President of Project 2030, an investment-based approach to bringing a large community project to Defiance in the year 2030.  Jake is a former City Councilman for the City of Defiance.  He and his partners have held the Stone Front building since 2018. 

Mariangela Pfister

Mariangela Pfister, department head and deputy state historic preservation officer for technical preservation services at the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection , heads the Technical Preservation Services Department which manages the Building Doctor program, answers questions about care of older buildings, and works with applicants for the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit and the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit. She has developed a wood conservation presentation, has written articles on preservation topics, and continues to work on a series of fact sheets entitled “Fast Facts” on common old-building maintenance issues. Pfister holds a master’s degree in history from The Ohio State University and bachelor’s degrees in history, English, and secondary education from Capital University.

Barbara Powers

Barbara Powers, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for Inventory and Registration for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection, has 39 years of experience with historic survey and the National Register of Historic Places programs in Ohio. Powers serves on the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center Commission. She was the state coordinator for the Society of Architectural Historians online publication Archipedia Classic Buildings. Barbara has written and lectured on Ohio architectural history topics. She has conducted numerous tours of Columbus architecture and civic spaces and has given courses on Discovering Ohio Architecture: Early Settlement to Modern Ohio and Early 20th Century Trends in Architecture.

Frank Quinn

Frank returned to Heritage Ohio in January 2007 as program manager, after serving as Heritage Ohio’s director of historic preservation 2002-2003. As Director of Preservation, Frank provides program support for Heritage Ohio’s preservation initiatives, including the easement program, and Save Ohio’s Treasures. Frank serves on the Ohio Historic Sites Preservation Advisory Board and on the Ohio National Road Association board. He previously was the main street manager in Marshall, Michigan, and was community preservation specialist with Indiana Landmarks. Frank graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 with a master’s degree in historic preservation planning. He also completed the Building Preservation Technology associate degree program at Belmont College in St. Clairsville in 1997. Frank didn’t know it at the time but he was destined to become a preservationist after reading The House With a Clock In Its Walls in fourth grade.

Daniel Roberson

Daniel Roberson is the PNC Bank Vice President of Community Development Consultant for Northern Ohio serving Akron, Cleveland, Toledo and Youngstown markets. As the Northern OH Community Consultant, his focus is economic and workforce development, affordable housing, financial education, community services, and a drive for revitalization for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) communities.

Roberson has been an employee of PNC Bank for over 12 years. In his current role, he loves working to connect the bank’s resources to LMI communities through employee engagement and volunteerism, financial literacy, effective banking solutions, community development lending and community investing.

Roberson was born in Akron, Ohio, earning his associate degree, bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management Supervision, and workplace communication certification from the University of Akron. He currently serves on two separate boards in the Akron non-profit community, and multiple committee positions in northern Ohio, believing that community support starts with being a part of community solutions.

Antonin Robert

As a principal and member of the executive team, Antonin Robert leads GBX Group’s advocacy, government and community relations. Focusing on federal, state and local programs that are indispensable to the company’s real estate investments, Antonin works with the preservation community, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure continued support for the preservation and rehabilitation space.

Antonin has over 25 years of experience in executive, finance, operations and marketing management. His fluency in five languages has helped his career in a number of international positions which include executive positions with Citibank in Germany, Spain, Mexico and the United States.

A frequent speaker at industry events on topics related to historic preservation and its impact on economic development, Antonin serves on various boards related to community development, business improvement districts, and historic preservation. He works closely with numerous historic preservation advocacy groups around the country.

Antonin received his Bachelor of Science in International Business and Marketing from the American University. He completed his post graduate studies at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he earned his Master in International Management with a concentration in international finance.

Brandon Selhorst

Brandon Sehlhorst serves as Director of Economic Development for the City of Toledo. In this role, Brandon is primarily responsible for facilitating major development projects, managing the City’s real estate portfolio, and increasing job creation and investment through attraction, expansion and retention of private sector companies.

Under his leadership, the City has sold over 400-acres of underutilized property that has led to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs and $130 million of investment. The City has also been nationally recognized by Site Selection magazine who has ranked Toledo in the top 10 for mid-size metros excelling in economic development for the past six years. The City clinched the #1 spot in the ranking for the first time in 2021.

Prior to joining the City, Brandon worked for the Regional Growth Partnership where he proactively worked with communities to prepare sites for job creation projects. Before the RGP, Brandon worked at the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Economic Development and REDI Cincinnati where he led incentive negotiations for job creation projects in southwest Ohio.

Brandon graduated cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Urban Planning and a Master of Business Administration and Real Estate. He was also named Student of the Year by the University of Cincinnati’s Real Estate Center. His passion and determination for improving his hometown led him back to the Glass City several years ago. 

Brandon lives in South Toledo with his wife, son and dog. He’s an avid runner who enjoys live music, traveling and Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and Michigan football games.

Thomas Starinksy

Thomas Starinsky is an urban planning and design professional with over 20 years of experience, most recently as the VP of Urban and Design for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance in Ohio. Over the course of his career, Mr. Starinsky’ skill set spans community and economic development; city and multi-modal transportation planning; historic preservation and real estate development; business assistance and retail strategy; and public art and place enhancement strategies. His work relies heavily on community involvement and city partnerships. 

Through his work, he strives to enhance to quality of people’s life with creative ideas that give the city personality.  Two projects stand out among his recent successes.  Mr. Starinsky conceived led the development of Small Box in the Warehouse District – a project where three shipping containers where repurposed into retail stores as a part of a comprehensive strategy for the District.  In August 2022, Mr. Starinsky, completed the management of the design, funding, and construction of Lighthouse Park – a pocket park on the sit of Cleveland’s original lighthouse.  The park is an essential amenity for residents and employees in Downtown Cleveland that features a restored section of the wall and steps of the historic lighthouse, seating, bench swings, landscaping, and a creative light bar symbolic of history of the site.

Mr. Starinsky holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Cleveland Institute of Art in Sculpture and a Masters of Urban Planning, Design and Development from Cleveland State University.  He is active in the community through various volunteer endeavors including the City of Shaker Heights Landmarks Commission and Public Art Task Force.  Mr. Starinsky was a speaker at TEDxCLE where he spoke about historic preservation and how our collective decisions affect the evolution of cities.

Danielle Steinhauser

Danielle Steinhauser is a Community Development Specialist with CT Consultants. Danielle is a native to Ohio and loves all parts of her home state, especially rural downtowns. She has a passion for historic preservation and learned to write municipal and other grants to support preservation of historic commercial structures. She lives in Toledo with her husband, son and two feline fur-babies but can be found anywhere between Lake Erie and the Ohio River on any given week day. She works with dozens of communities throughout Ohio and northern Kentucky doing whatever it takes to make projects happen: planning, consensus building, funding, phasing, and finding whatever other resources are necessary to make dreams real.

Paul Sullivan Jr.

Paul Sullivan Jr. is a registered architect and owner of Paul Sullivan Jr. AIA LLC in Toledo. Paul previously worked for 18 years as an architect at The Collaborative Inc. Paul is a previous president of the Toledo chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and has served on the Citywide Historic Districts Commission, the Toledo Warehouse District Association, the Landmarks Preservation Council, the Property Preservation Board, the Old West End Historic District Commission, and the Maumee Valley Historical Society. Paul earned his BA from The University of Detroit, and has studied at The University of Toledo and Polytechnic University in Warsaw.

Kyle Sword

Kyle Sword is the Business Development Manager for Pilkington North America and heads the company’s interests in business development, marketing, and historic restoration.  Has worked for NSG Pilkington for 20+ years, mostly in glass manufacturing.  Ceramic Engineering degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento.  Kyle is involved with a variety of different technological developments in the glass industry including VIG, BIPV, and transparent conductive materials.  Main business function is to spread glass education and look for new opportunities to provide value for customers creating products with coated and flat glass products.

Leanne Tingay

Leanne Tingay is a senior training associate with Community Heart & Soul. Leanne, whose career started in the klieg lights of Broadway, combined her stage presence with her love of small towns and now holds audiences rapt as she shares her passion for Community Heart & Soul. Leanne has an extensive background in community revitalization including coordinating the Vermont Downtown Program. She was Director and CEO of Erie Downtown Improvement District in Erie, Pennsylvania, where her work included redevelopment of Erie’s Waterfront. In Warren, Pennsylvania, she was Executive Director of Warren Main Street and in Arizona was Executive Director of the Lake Havasu Uptown Association and was appointed to the Arizona Downtown Advisory Council.

Jennifer Tinkler

Jen Tinkler has been the Executive Director of Marietta Main Street since February 2022. Jen joined the Marietta Main Street Board of Directors in 2021 and was voted to the Executive Board as Vice President in November of 2021.

Jen is on the Board of Directors for the Marietta-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Harmar Bridge Company.

Outside of her role with Main Street, Jen is the President of the Catholic Women’s Club at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta and is active in the Foster Parent Program with Marietta College Athletics.

Kathryn Tucker

Kathy Tucker is the Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for PNC Bank’s Toledo Market. She is Chair of the Toledo Regional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, member of the Women’s Business Resource Group and PNC’s Black Leaders Forum. Previously, Kathy served as CEO of a local non-profit community development financial institution and HUD approved housing counseling agency. This organization helped hundreds of low-to-moderate income families become first time homebuyers. Kathy is a third-year law student at the University of Toledo College of Law pursuing her Juris Doctor, expected in 2024. Currently, Kathy serves as the board President for the Impact Coalition Foundation and Vice President of Women of Toledo, a global women’s empowerment organization. In 2021, Kathy was nominated and awarded the prestigious 20 under 40 Award for Northwest Ohio and South East Michigan. In addition, Kathy has been appointed to PNC’s Midwest Territory Leadership Council, where works on territory wide initiatives for the enterprise.

Sandra Hedlund Tunnell

Sandra Hedlund Tunnell has been the Executive Director of Ashland Main Street since it began in 2011.  During her tenure, the downtown has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places; downtown Ashland has been awarded over $2 million in local, state, and federal revitalization grants; occupancy of downtown buildings has gone from 75% to 95%;  and the organization has won three Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Culture and Recreation Business of the Year awards.  Sandra served two terms as the fourth ward Councilman for the city of Ashland.  In 2017, Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof appointed Sandra to the Ohio Public Works Commission, and in 2020, she was elected Commission Chair.  She has been a member of the Ashland Community Improvement Corporation for nine years. Sandra was named a 2011 Ashland County Woman of Achievement and is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Ashland. In 2014, she won the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of the Chamber award, and in 2018 she was recognized as the Leadership Ashland Outstanding Alumna. In 2020, Sandra was named Ashland Elks Citizen of the Year. She is serving her tenth year as president of the Ashland Public Library Board of Trustees. Sandra is a former professional football player, and currently teaches horseback riding lessons in Oberlin. Sandra grew up in Hudson, Ohio, and is a graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.

Cassie Turner

Cassie serves as the Community Engagement Officer for The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. Her responsibilities include facilitating the Heart & Soul process in Hancock County. Her responsibilities include Organizational Strengthening for area nonprofits, Community Conversations, supporting grant making, and facilitating the Heart & Soul process in Hancock County. She will be supporting past Heart & Soul Communities efforts and working on identifying and building relationships with the next village partner. Prior to coming to the Foundation, Cassie was a 4-H Youth Development Educator for 15 years with Ohio State University Extension. She especially enjoyed working with teen leaders to develop youth-adult partnerships that helped the camp and service 4-H programs thrive in Hancock County. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Findlay and her Master of Science from The Ohio State University in Human and Community Resource Development. She is a certified Real Colors Facilitator. Personally, Cassie enjoys volunteering for 4-H, is an active Kiwanian, and running. She lives in the country outside of Findlay with her dog Daisy.

Jennifer Van Horn

Jennifer Van Horn is the Director of Park Planning and Capital Projects at Metroparks Toledo. In that role, she will oversee the ongoing development of Glass City Riverwalk, which will turn the downtown Toledo riverfront into an active greenspace with amenities that are unique to the region.

She holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in architecture from Miami University. She serves as board chair of the Toledo Design Collective, and was a 2021 recipient of a 20 Under 40 Leadership Award.

Eric Van Renterghem

Eric is the owner of the Jones Mansion in Findlay. Eric was a history teacher for the Findlay City Schools from 1996-2019 and was an associate professor at The University of Findlay. He also works as a historic preservation consultant with Vintage Lines and currently serves on the Downtown Findlay Design Review Board. Eric previously served as a two-time board president of the Historic Preservation Guild of Hancock County and was a past board member of the Ohio Preservation Alliance.

Andy Verhoff

Andy Verhoff is the Ohio History Fund & Outreach Manager in the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection. An employee of the Ohio History Connection for more than 25 years, he has worn a number of “hats.” In addition running a grant program and serving as the SHPO’s social media liaison, he has led the Ohio Historical Markers programs, consulted with hundreds of local history organizations, interpreted Civil War-era life in Ohio Village, and managed two historic sites – the Campus Martius and Ohio River Museums in Marietta. Between stints at the Ohio History Connection, he was a curator at the Ross County Historical Society in Chillicothe.  He has an AB in History from Ohio University in Athens and an MA in Public History from Indiana University, Indianapolis. He lives in Columbus, but is from the northwestern Ohio village of Ottawa.  

Bryan Wagner

Bryan is the Neighborhood Services Manager for the City of Westerville. Bryan has 29 years of experience in the code enforcement profession including six years serving as the Chief Environmental Specialist of the Franklin County Environmental & Housing Court. He is passionate about public service and continuing education. Bryan currently serves as the Vice President of the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) and previously served as the 2nd Vice President of AACE. Bryan also serves as the Vice Chair of the International Code Council (ICC) Exam Development Committee (EDC). When not at work, Bryan is an active Rotarian and serves as the Secretary of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Foundation. Bryan also serves on the Steering Committee of Neighbor2Neighbor, a local volunteer association dedicated to spotlighting acts of kindness and compassion in the community. Bryan has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University and holds multiple AACE and ICC certifications. Bryan has been married to Amiee for 27 years, has 3 children, and 1 spoiled rescue Doberman.

Tina Skeldon Wazniak

Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak has served Lucas County citizens since December 2002 and is currently serving her fourth term. From 2005-2008, she was unanimously elected and served as the President of the Board of Lucas County Commissioners. She was re-elected President in 2015 through 2016.

Commissioner Wozniak began her public service career in 1997 when she joined Toledo City Council as the District 5 representative. While a member of council, Commissioner Wozniak chaired the Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Development, Health and Community Relations Committees and served on several other standing committees.

During the difficult economic recession that impacted all of Lucas County from 2008—2013, the Commissioners focused their efforts on delivering necessary county services while practicing prudent fiscal management. The Board successfully maintained a balanced budget and reserve balance without impacting critical public services and infrastructure for Lucas County residents. Currently, Commissioner Wozniak serves on the County’s Workforce Development Board which successfully initiated the Work Ready Lucas County, sponsored by ACT. The Work Ready Lucas County program is designed to assist in developing a workforce pipeline to provide skilled workers for employers by linking workforce development to education, matching individuals to jobs based on skill levels, and providing an ACT National Career Readiness Certificate to participants.

Over the past two years, Commissioner Wozniak and her colleagues have partnered with the local criminal justice system to pursue meaningful comprehensive criminal justice reform. Commissioner Wozniak has focused on increasing access to treatment for individuals with mental health conditions and/or substance abuse disorders.

Creating a sustainable Lucas County has been a priority for Commissioner Wozniak. She founded the Toledo Lucas County Sustainability Commission and led the community in developing a comprehensive sustainability plan called “Going Beyond Green.” In 2015, Commissioner Wozniak launched Clear Water 2, a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, which is working to build the public support needed to tackle today’s critical water quality issues and to serve as a resource for policy makers and the general public. She is also working with local partners to develop a watershed assessment that will guide our community in protecting the integrity of our water supply.

As Commissioner, Tina has been involved with many initiatives to make Lucas County a great place to live, work, and play. She has worked to combat the serious foreclosure crisis by co-chairing the Save Our Homes Task Force; launched CARE Team, a community resource network; coordinated the merger of the ADAS and Mental Health boards; developed College and Career Coach, a college and career readiness program; implemented “Ban the Box” for county job applications; and aided in the development of the Lucas County Land Bank, and currently serves as Vice Chair.

In addition to her work as an elected official, Commissioner Wozniak has taught core curriculum classes as a visiting professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Toledo. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University.

Commissioner Wozniak’s professional career over the last 30 years includes 15 years as a social worker and educator at the Toledo Hospital, several years as a guardianship investigator for adoption cases in Lucas County Probate Court, counselor, and case manager with the women offenders program at the Lucas County Correctional Center, and director of youth programs for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.

Commissioner Wozniak lives in West Toledo with her husband Russ of 40 years. They have three children: Aaron (Margaret), Sam, and Joe. The Wozniak family welcomed their newest member—granddaughter Annie—in 2014.

Megan Wood

Megan Wood is the executive director of the Ohio History Connection.

Wood joined the Ohio History Connection in 2006 as state coordinator for National History Day in Ohio and in 2011 became the visitor experience department manager.

From 2014-2015, she moved to the Historic Ford Estates near Detroit and served as the associate vice president for education and visitor experience.

In 2015, Wood returned to the Ohio History Connection as the director of museum and library services, which forged a deeper work connection with the organization’s site system. In that role, she also oversaw a major project to improve the state archives storage.

In 2019, she became director of cultural resources, overseeing all of the Ohio History Connection’s historic sites, collections items and exhibits.

Wood earned a bachelor’s degree in public history from Western Michigan University in 2003 and master’s degree in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in 2005.

She lives in Worthington with her husband and two children.