Register for the Annual Dinner: Legacy & Promise: A Celebration of Leadership | February 27, 2025

What We Do >

Membership >

Leadership Center >

Advocacy >

About >

Events >

< Back

What We Do

Grow our Population

We strengthen civic ties and create meaningful and fruitful connections for those who are here. We work with government, businesses, educational institutions, and community partners to ensure a welcoming environment that helps newcomers find success and opportunity in our region.

Grow our Economy

Through bold leadership, advocacy and partnerships with city, county, state and federal policy makersthe Cincinnati Regional Chamber advances a pro-business and pro-development policy initiatives that stimulate and grow our regional economy.

Grow our Cultural Vibrancy

With hundreds of thousands of attendees each year, we create events and experiences that drive vibrancy in our region. Beyond what we produce, we’re deeply engaged and invested in growing the region’s cultural vibrancy by supporting arts, culture, sports, and entertainment assets and investments.

A Strong Business Community

We create member experiences, connections, and programming that meet the unique needs of businesses in our region. We’re a driver of regional collaboration, ensuring that our diverse civic and business communities are aligned, engaged, and have their voices heard.

Recognition & Awards
Affiliate Organizations
Recognition & Awards

< Back

Membership

Feature your business with a Member Spotlight in our Weekly Connection Newsletter

These events offer members points of connection, timely insights, and solutions

Member Benefits 101

Monthly Member Briefing

Explore membership and discover growth opportunities for you and your business

Join the Chamber

Why Chamber Membership

< Back

< Back

About

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values

Meet the diverse group of leaders passionately supporting our mission

Meet the people serving our region inclusively with passion, Integrity, and fun

Interested in joining our team? Check out our current openings

FAQ

Questions? Here’s a list of things we think you may want to know

Read articles and learn more about the Cincinnati Chamber through our related news articles

Cincinnati Regional Chamber Announces 2025 Festival Information Calls for Vendors, Volunteers, and Sponsors Now Open
Delivering on the Promise: Metro’s Reinvention Continues

< Back

Events

Roddell McCullough

2025
Title: Chief Corporate Officer
Current / Past Place of Employment: First Financial Bank
How many years have you been in the region? 38

Roddell McCullough is Senior Vice President, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for First Financial Bank in Cincinnati, OH. In his current role, Roddell has responsibility for the bank’s Corporate Responsibility functions including Community Development, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Supplier Diversity, and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) framework.  Roddell also serves as Treasure for the First Financial Foundation, and under his leadership First Financial Bank achieved the bank’s first “Outstanding” CRA Performance Evaluation rating.

Roddell joined First Financial Bank in June 2010 as the Director of Operations Director. Prior to joining First Financial, he held several senior level positions in the Financial Services industry at organizations such as US Bank, and Fidelity Investments.

Passionate about giving back to his community, Roddell serves on several boards and committees including the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, where he served as board chair, Greater Cincinnati Micro-Enterprise initiative (GCMI), Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), University of Cincinnati Business Advisory Council, Housing Partnership, Inc. (HPI Louisville), and Cincinnati Aspire Scholarship board that is focused on providing college scholarships for African American males attending HBCU schools.

Roddell is a 1990 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, married to his wife Tracy for 33 years, has 3 daughters…Taylor, Tyler, and Terrin, and one grandson, Tyron.


In 30 seconds or less, tell us who YOU are. This is not your professional bio, but rather, your response should reflect how you are uniquely you.
I am the son of the greatest woman on earth, Mildred McCullough, who instilled in me the value of family and helping other.

What is something that most people do not know about you?
I have three beautiful daughters, two of whom are twins.

What are your personal core values?
Belief in God
The importance Family
Strong Work Ethic
Helping my fellow man/woman
Supporting the Community

What is the primary motivation of your leadership?
To motivate and develop my team to be the next leaders of our function and in the organization. We should be preparing the next generation of leaders.

What has been the cornerstone of your life journey that influenced your personal mission and purpose?
Fuel for the fire for me has been to prove those that have doubted me wrong. If you say that I can’t, then my purpose becomes to prove to you that I can. However, as I have matured that has led to me wanting to have a positive impact in my community, be a positive example to my children, and to leave a legacy that is valued and appreciated.

Who has had an immense impact on you as a leader? How did this person (or people) impact your life?
I have had several that helped to shape the type of leader that I am, but the most significant was a former manager, Mike Bull. He was one that believed in me as a leader and was willing to give me opportunities to prove the talent/capabilities that I have, while mentoring me along the way. Not only was he a dynamic leader, but he was a man of faith that did not hide it in the workplace, even being an executive leader in the company.

What piece of advice have you received along the way in your career or life journey that has stuck with you?
Treat people with respect, and the way that you want to be treated. Regardless of anyone’s level within the company, they deserve to be treated respectfully, and that is generally returned back to in an even greater way. Along with that is to “never burn bridges” when dealing with others because you never no when you will have to cross it again. This is a small world (especially in Cincinnati) so you will cross paths with people many times, and you always want people to remember the positive interactions they had with you.

What one thing makes you most proud?
The awards, like Making Black History, are confirmation of the positive impact that I’m having in my community. What I do is not for the recognition, it is for the positive impact it has in the lives of individuals supported by the many boards I serve on, and the organizations I support. Also, the recognition received is a positive example for my daughters to want to achieve and follow in my footsteps.

What’s one thing you do every day (or with consistency) to be a better person?
The one thing that I do every day is pray. Prayer is important because I always thrive to do the right thing, and it’s my opportunity to ask strength, knowledge, and wisdom to meet that mark. It’s an opportunity to give thanks for the things that have gone well, but ask for forgiveness for the things I may not have done to my best ability.

What are a few resources or behaviors you would recommend to someone looking to grow into a better leader?
A great resource is the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. It gives you insights in what have made other leaders successful. Beyond that is to be willing to roll you sleeves up and learn every aspect of what your team is doing, regardless of the level of the individuals doing them, Be and effective communicator and listener, and finally be empathetic because your team needs to know you care.

How do you define success?
Success for me is when others respect and appreciate my contributions. And, that the organization or someone is better as a result.

Why do you choose to make the Cincinnati region home?
After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, I have continued to make Cincinnati my home because of the career opportunities, the great neighborhoods and weather, the many amenities (parks, sporting events, restaurants, etc.), and its friendliness to raising a family.

In what ways are you involved in the Cincinnati community outside of your professional endeavors?
I am a member of several boards (YMCA, Greater Cincinnati Micro-Enterprise Initiative (GCMI), Local Initiative Support Corp (LISC), University of Cincinnati Business Advisory Council, and The Cincinnati Aspire Scholarship Foundation.

What do you imagine for the future of the Cincinnati region?
I think the future for the Cincinnati region is bright. We have great employers, great neighborhoods, great activities to do, and a tremendous philanthropic community that cares about the wellbeing of its citizens.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
I want my legacy to be one that the community respects my contributions, knows that I worked hard to make the community better, saw that I cared about my fellow man.

Roddell McCullough

Nominate an Honoree

Help us elevate, empower, and support our region’s Black leaders today, tomorrow, and all year long by nominating someone for #MakingBlackHistory.