CINCINNATI – April 1, 2025 – 60 leaders from a variety of organizations in the Cincinnati region have been accepted for Class 20 of Cincy Lead, a 10-month leadership development program produced by the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and presented by Fifth Third.
C-Change is designed for advancing mid-career leaders in the Cincinnati region. The curriculum combines leadership development with community engagement opportunities, increasing participants’ capabilities for current and future leadership roles. As part of the program, participants also lead meaningful community projects that improve their connectivity to the region while providing an opportunity to positively impact it.
“C-Change is a dynamic program unique to our region,” said Andrea Mersmann, Director at the Leadership Center, “Through it, participants not only build their leadership skills, but they have an opportunity to learn how to influence our community in a positive way that drives vibrancy and growth for everyone.”
Members of C-Change Class 20 include:
• Abby Grimm – Director of Engagement & Experience, Cintrifuse
• AJ Terpak – Director of Accounting, Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
• Alex Mattingly – Senior Associate Attorney, Bricker Graydon
• Alexander Beck – Associate Attorney, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
• Amy Dedden – HR Supervisor, TEMA ISENMANN, Inc.
• Annie Wissemeier – Senior Manager, Sustainability, 80 Acres Farms
• Anthon Oestergaard – Vice President , RKCA
• Ashley Davis – Senior Underwriting Manager, Cincinnati Insurance Company
• Bao M Nguyen – Board President, Asianati
• Benjamin Suer – Senior Manager, IGS Energy
• Brad Martin – Associate Director, Care Innovation & Community Improvement Program, UC Health
• Brendan Bergen – Director of Communications and Social Media, Xavier University
• Brian Beaudry – Project Manager, REDI Cincinnati
• Brian Bowling – Assistant Vice President | Branch Manager, U.S. Bank
• Brian Hiles – Director of Admissions, Elder High School
• Britney Hammoor – IT Application Manager, Great American Insurance Group
• Caroline Curran – Senior Communications Manager, 3CDC
• Chris Collett – Lead Architect, Associate, BHDP Architecture
• Chris Quigley – Accounting Director, Messer Construction
• Chris Tassone – Partner – Business Attorney, Taft Law
• Christen Lubbers – Executive Director, Design LAB: Learn + Build
• Dan Swormstedt – Account Executive, HUB International
• Eric Woll – Principal Marketing Automation Analyst, Paycor
• Evan Arnold – Sales Manager, MassMutual Ascend
• Francisco Cousin – Director of Marketing, FC Cincinnati
• Grant Freking – Manager of College Communications and Marketing, UC Lindner College of Business
• Irene Tsai – Vice President, Business Development Officer, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
• Jack Johnson – Partner, AMEND
• Jay Chung – General Liability Claims Manager, Kroger
• Jen Gruber – Sr. Consultant, Strategic Relationships, Cincinnati Children’s
• JL Muething – Marketing and Development Manager, CCAC
• Julie Wellington – Director, Policy Service, Western and Southern Financial Group
• Justin Ellis, CFA, CFP® – Wealth Advisor, Bartlett Wealth Management
• Kara Driscoll – Director of Marketing & Events, The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center
• Kate Morris – Program Officer, Ignite Philanthropy
• Kenia Yenser – Director, Implementation, Paycor
• Kylee Alter – Gift Officer, Corporate Relations, Cincinnati Nature Center
• Laena Burns – Supply Chain Inventory Leader, GE Aerospace
• Laila Ammar – Associate Project Architect & Project Manager, MSA Design
• Landon Peterson – Portfolio Analyst, Johnson Asset Management
• Lisa Cox – Insights and Strategy Leader, The Kroger Co.
• Matt Woebkenberg – Wealth Advisor, Constellation Wealth Advisors
• Megan Shields – Director of Data Partnerships, 84.51°
• Mike Brech – Regional Director, Conservation and Parks, Great Parks of Hamilton County
• Mike House – Sr. Director, Finance, E. W. Scripps Company
• Nathan Hatfield – Vice President of Human Resources, Enerfab
• Nathan Louden – Director, Support Services, First Financial Bank
• Nedra Ward – Police Sergeant, Cincinnati Police Department
• Nick Melillo – Director, Engineering & Asset Management, Duke Energy
• Nicole Rogowski – Ms., Cincinnati Children’s
• Nicole Spooner – Director, Grants & Contracts, Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
• Nora Banoun – Division Director, trak group
• Rich Estok – Senior Director, Technology and IT Support, EW Scripps
• Rick Martin – Lead Product Owner, Fifth Third Bank
• Sam Jadhav – Senior Preconstruction and VDC Engineer, Skanska USA
• Sarah Kaising – Membership Development & Engagement Specialist, Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Sarah Ohman – Project Manager, Trade31
• Simon Svirnovskiy – Partner, Frost Brown Todd LLP
• Stephanie Temeles – Manager, Institutional Partnerships, Greater Cincinnati Foundation
• Susan VanVleet – Commercial Operations Director, Prysmian
• Vicki Volp – Director of Special Events, Cincinnati Reds
To inquire about future C-Change classes, please contact Andrea Mersmann, amersmann@cincinnatichamber.com. More information about the program can be found at C-Change – Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
About the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
The Cincinnati Regional Chamber is the premier business and civic organization dedicated to growing the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. To achieve its vision that Cincinnati is a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs, the Chamber seeks to grow our economy, grow our population, and grow our cultural vibrancy — with the foundation of a strong business community — to foster a welcoming environment for all. The Chamber’s membership offerings, signature leadership programs, government and regional advocacy efforts, community events such as BLINK and Oktoberfest as well as key partnerships with organizations like Cincinnati Experience, Cincinnati Compass, Cincinnati Minority Business Accelerator, and the Workforce Innovation Center lead the way in making that vision a reality. For more information, visit cincinnatichamber.com.
Media Contact:
Amy Fitzgibbons, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Cincinnati Regional Chamber afitzgibbons@cincinnatichamber.com | 513.579.3106
