Our Team
Meet the people and teams that lead inclusively with passion, integrity, and fun in service of the businesses and people who call the Cincinnati region home.
Business Services Team
Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, and Information Systems. This is the team that serves the team that serves you.
De-Ajura Bess
513.686.2958
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Dee is our Human Resource Director. Her career spans 25 years with her most recent tenure being at TriHealth in Human Resources. Prior to that, she had a long career with Macy’s Inc. in Management…
Dee is our Human Resource Director. Her career spans 25 years with her most recent tenure being at TriHealth in Human Resources. Prior to that, she had a long career with Macy’s Inc. in Management, Operations, and Human Resources. She is a graduate of Wilberforce University and obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Miami University. She enjoys watching movies and traveling to see live concerts, with her favorite being Beyoncé in both Chicago and L.A. during The Formation World Tour. Of course, she also has a soft spot for New Edition, who she sees annually.
Molly Cates
513.579.316
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Molly is our Payroll Specialist – HR Coordinator. She attended Ball State University and has worked in HR and payroll for more than 38 years. She moved to Cincinnati in 1986, where she worked for…
Molly is our Payroll Specialist – HR Coordinator. She attended Ball State University and has worked in HR and payroll for more than 38 years. She moved to Cincinnati in 1986, where she worked for Iacono Productions for 34 years. She loves her job because she can engage and connect with people. She loves working downtown where she can admire the architecture and feel the energy of the city. Molly has been married to her husband, Steve (who she met on a blind date), for 35 years. She has two daughters, Mandy and Libby, four grandchildren, and two Golden Retrievers, Ellie and Rigby. She loves spending time with her husband traveling, gardening, and watching movies.
Alexandra Greene
513.579.3100
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Alexandra is a member of our Reception and Office Coordinator Team. She has been working in the Downtown Cincinnati area for over the last…
Alexandra is a member of our Reception and Office Coordinator Team. She has been working in the Downtown Cincinnati area for over the last 10 years. The last 5 years were spent with 3CDC holding multiple positions including leading events in the local civic spaces and managing garages that the company owns and operates. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in Sports Administration and Women’s Gender Studies. Since recently moving to the downtown area, you can find Alexandra walking around looking for new food spots and attending local events. She is also a big Bengals fan, so during the season you can spot her at tailgates and watching games at The Banks!
Kay Harmeyer
513.579.3109
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Kay is our Finance Specialist. She primarily focuses on accounts payable. She is a proud graduate of the University of Dayton with her degree in Industrial Engineering. Kay worked as an engineer at General Motors…
Kay is our Finance Specialist. She primarily focuses on accounts payable. She is a proud graduate of the University of Dayton with her degree in Industrial Engineering. Kay worked as an engineer at General Motors and the Gap Distribution Center and then chose to stay home and raise her four children, Katie, Will, Mike, and Kiley. Before joining our team, she worked as a math teacher’s aide and coached high school tennis. Kay enjoys being active with many sports, but you will most likely find her on a tennis court or jogging around the city. Kay, her husband, Greg, and four kids live in Liberty Township.
Steven Kabin
513.579.3197
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Steve is our Grants and Fundraising Leader. He came to the Cincinnati Chamber in 2021 from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center where he served as Grant Manager, writing grants that focused on racial…
Steve is our Grants and Fundraising Leader. He came to the Cincinnati Chamber in 2021 from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center where he served as Grant Manager, writing grants that focused on racial equity and social justice. Previously, he worked as Grant Administrator for the Community Action Agency, writing grants for Head Start and Early Head Start. Steve also served as Director of Quality and Compliance for Cincinnati Union Bethel’s early childhood education programs, Anna Louise Inn, Off the Streets, and Cincinnati Scholar House. Steve has won a lifetime total of more than $100 million in grants from federal, state, and city governments and corporate and private foundations. He attended University of Pennsylvania and University of Tennessee, Knoxville (B.A. with honors), with graduate studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and Cincinnati. He is a member of the Grant Professionals Association. Steve and his wife Renee live in Finneytown with their cat, Bugsy.
Mueni Nzioki
513.579.3100
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Mueni is a member of our Reception and Office Coordinator Team. She attended the University of Cincinnati graduating with a degree in…
Mueni is a member of our Reception and Office Coordinator Team. She attended the University of Cincinnati graduating with a degree in Public Health in 2023. She has worked alongside her father at his local small business since she was a teenager and has developed a fondness for people-centric roles and servicing people. Prior to working at the Cincinnati Chamber, she interned at the Northern Kentucky Health Department where she gained many skills and experiences. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew, watching new TV shows and rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals and FC Cincinnati!
Michelle Rayburn
513.686.2947
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Michelle is our Director of Operations. She’s a self-proclaimed data nerd with a passion for all things business, tech, and community. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s in marketing and…
Michelle is our Director of Operations. She’s a self-proclaimed data nerd with a passion for all things business, tech, and community. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s in marketing and management, Michelle got her start at the Greater Boston Chamber – automating business processes and connecting the bustling tech sector with established corporations – before joining a high-growth e-commerce startup as Business Manager/Chief of Staff. After spending two years in Denver, Michelle brought her talents back to Cincinnati in 2019. With a focus on integrated cloud-based solutions, Michelle has led multiple data migrations and new system implementations for the Chamber, including Sage Intacct, Pardot, Salesforce / Fonteva. She lives in Anderson, is a member of New City Presbyterian Church in Norwood, and regularly volunteers for Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity.
Kathy Schloemer
513.579.3116
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Kathy is our Finance Specialist. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in English and earned her master’s in Education at the College of Mount St. Joseph. She has 15 years of…
Kathy is our Finance Specialist. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in English and earned her master’s in Education at the College of Mount St. Joseph. She has 15 years of banking experience along with 9 years of teaching at the elementary level. Ironically, her very first job was at 3 E. 4th Street 37 years ago! Kathy has lived in Cincinnati her whole life but loves to travel with her husband and twin sons. She also spends time riding bikes on various trails around Cincinnati, enjoying backyard firepits, spending time with family, and playing with her very spoiled kitty!
Danielle Steffen
513.762.8450
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Danielle is our Director of Finance & Accounting. She has a master’s in Business Administration. She has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, having previously worked for Buechner Haffer law…
Danielle is our Director of Finance & Accounting. She has a master’s in Business Administration. She has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, having previously worked for Buechner Haffer law firm as their Accounting Manager. Danielle was born and raised in Northern Kentucky. She currently lives in Madisonville, LA with her husband, Joe, son, Tyler, daughter, Olivia, and dog, Coco. She enjoys traveling, trying new food, cooking, going to concerts, and spending time with family.
David Stevens
513.579.3146
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David is our Controller. He joined our team after 17.5 years working for a local public accounting firm, where he focused in accounting and auditing and worked with many local not-for-profit organizations and private…
David is our Controller. He joined our team after 17.5 years working for a local public accounting firm, where he focused in accounting and auditing and worked with many local not-for-profit organizations and private companies. He graduated with a degree in Accountancy from Miami University and earned his CPA designation soon after starting his career. Born and raised in Cincinnati, he loves the region and now raises his son and daughter with his wife in Blue Ash. Despite his love for Cincinnati, he enjoys traveling with his family and is always up for an adventure, from taking a seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park to a helicopter through Waimea Canyon in Kauai. He even participated in breaking a Guinness World record while paddling on a dragon boat.
Connect With Us
Whether you’re a business leader, community leader, or just seeking to get more engaged in the region, we want to connect with you. Get in touch to learn more.