13th Annual Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State of the Region Conference: Building Thriving Communities
Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State of the Region Conference
May 13, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
΅ΫΝυ»αΛω,
Baker University Center Ballroom
Athens ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω
The Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State of the Region Conference brings public officials, economic development experts, business and organizational leaders and others to discuss different issues related to economic growth in the Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω region. The event is part of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center project.
2025 Conference Schedule
Monday, May 12 - Networking at ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Inn | |
| Time | Session |
| 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | NETWORKING - Pre-registration required (must be selected during conference registration. Due to limited capacity, walk-ins cannot be accommodated) |
Tuesday, May 13 - Conference in Baker Center Ballroom | |
| Time | Session |
| 8:30 AM β 8:50 AM | REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING |
| 8:50 AM β 9:15 AM | WELCOME REMARKS |
Dean Tracy Plouck, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω John Carey, Director, Governorβs Office of Appalachia G. Jason Jolley, Master of Public Administration Director and Interim Associate Vice President for Research Partnerships Misty Crosby, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service Senior Executive in Residence for Local Government Services | |
| 9:15 AM β 10:20 AM | HOUSING |
Matt Abbott, President and CEO, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωSE Ian Beniston, Executive Director, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation Ralph Kline, Assistant Executive Director of Planning, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (ILCAO) Kerry Pigman, Executive Director, Athens County Foundation Moderator: Kathy Zook, Appalachian Regional Commission Program Manager, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments | |
| 10:20 AM β 10:40 AM | BREAK |
| 10:40 AM β 11:45 AM | TOURISM |
Audrey Martin, Deputy Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Jan Ramer, Senior VP Animal Care and Conservation, Columbus Zoo and The Wilds Meghan E. Reed, Executive Director, Trumbull County Historical Society Melody Young, Executive Director, Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau Moderator: Stephanie Gilbert, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Valley Regional Development Commission | |
| 11:45 AM β 12:15 PM | LUNCH |
| 12:15 PM β 1:20 PM | CHILDCARE |
George Dolney, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program Manager/, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA) Dawn Hall, Head Start Director, Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center Jamie L. Nash, Superintendent, Buckeye Hills Career Center Jeffery Van Deusen, Assistant Director, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Children and Youth Moderator: Vicki King-Maple, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Mid-Eastern Governments Association | |
| 1:20 PM β 2:25 PM | DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT |
Craig Gossman, Principal and Owner, Gossman Group Jessica Keeton, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (ILCAO) Mick Schumacher, Monroe County Commissioner Jim Timonere, City Manager, City of Ashtabula Moderator: Matt Wiederhold, Executive Director, Heritage ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω | |
| 2:25 PM β 2:30 PM | CLOSING REMARKS |
Bios
Matt Abbott
As President & CEO of , Matt Abbott is committed to spurring economic growth and moving the entire Southeast ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Region forward. As a lifelong resident of the region and with a career in public service through public education and local economic development, Matt is passionate about prosperity in the region.βββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώβ
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In that capacity, he was part of a team that drove in close to $1B in Capital Investment and saw over 1,000 new jobs created.βββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώββββο»Ώββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββο»Ώββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβο»Ώβο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββο»Ώββββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβο»Ώβββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώββββββββο»Ώββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώβββο»Ώβββββββο»Ώο»Ώ
Ian Beniston
Ian Beniston, AICP, HDFP is the Executive Director of the(YNDC) and has been a part of the organization since the idea of YNDC was conceived in 2008. He is responsible for YNDCβs consistent achievement of its mission and day to day operations. He has twenty years of neighborhood planning, development, and finance experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. He has guided more than $85 million in direct neighborhood investment in Youngstown's neighborhoods. Ian holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from The ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Youngstown State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a Grow America Housing Development Finance Professional. He resides in the City of Youngstown with his wife and daughter.
John Carey
An experienced lawmaker, John Carey served nine years in the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω House of Representatives and eight years in the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Senate. He is one of the few legislators in history to serve as chairman of both the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee. Prior to his work as a legislator, Carey was mayor of the City of Wellston and was an aide to former Congressman Clarence Miller of Lancaster. As a legislator, Careyβs focus on education and job creation led to numerous awards and accolades from organizations such as the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Development Association, the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Bankers League, the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω School of Osteopathic Medicine. Chancellor Carey is a graduate of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω with a degree in political science, and is a first-generation college graduate.
Misty Crosby
Misty Crosby joined ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service as a Senior Executive in Residence for Local Government Services in September 2022. In this role, she will assist in supporting local governments, most notably those members of the Mayors Partnership for Progress; work to strengthen relationships with key partners and organizations, and intentionally seek ways the Voinovich School can support the efforts of key partners and organizations.
Crosby previously served with the Buckeye Hills Regional Council and retired as Executive Director in August of 2022. In this role, Crosby led a 65-member team in their efforts to bring resources and affect positive change in state and federal policies and programs important to local governments and communities in rural Southeastern ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. Under her leadership, Buckeye Hills Regional Council facilitated the investment of more than $625 million in its eight-county region from 2007-2021.
Representing the Midwest Region of the country, Crosby serves as President of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Board of Directors and as President of the NADO Research Foundation. Crosby has served as President of The Development District Association of Appalachia and also served as Chair of the Training Committee. Crosby also was appointed to ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs Board of Trustees as its first Regional Trustee. She was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Advisory Council on Aging and she currently serves on The Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre Association Board of Directors and is also a member of The Executive Order of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Commodore.
Crosby holds a Bachelorβs Degree in Organizational Management from ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Valley University and earned Executive Women in Leadership Certification from Cornell University. She also holds an Associateβs Degree in Accounting from Washington State Community College.
She resides in Belpre, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω with her husband Dave.
George Dolney
George Dolney comes from the private sector with an already established professional career in sales, marketing, management, and communications. George is also a very successful entrepreneur who has owned and operated several small businesses within the State of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, including a brick and mortar on Main Street in his hometown. George made the decision to shift his career from the private sector of sales, marketing, and management in 2021 after seeing first-hand the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on families, small businesses, and communities. At the (OMEGA), George is the Revolving Loan Fund Program Manager and the Office Manager.
George received his Bachelor of Science from Muskingum University where he majored in both Psychology and Political Science; and minored in Business and Accounting. George has also worked for over 15 years as a Teacher of the Arts both independently and for several private studios, as well as with several non-profit organizations as a teacher and as a designer of curriculum for both children and adults. George feels he is very uniquely qualified to be a Childcare Services panelist not only due to his professional history in being a teacher of kids of all ages, but also in being a father of two (now teenaged) children.
Stephanie Gilbert
Stephanie Gilbert is the Executive Director of the (OVRDC), where she leads regional planning efforts to support economic development, infrastructure improvements, and community growth across southern ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. With a background in Business Management from Shawnee State University, Stephanie spent most of her career in management within the manufacturing sector before transitioning to OVRDC. Over the past 12 years, she has worked her way up through the organization, gaining experience in strategic planning, project management, and collaborative leadership. Helping communities find the funding they need to move projects forward is what drives her to love the work that she does at OVRDC. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and grandkids.
Lori Stewart Gonzalez
Lori Stewart Gonzalez, Ph.D., began her service as the 23rd President of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω on July 1, 2023. President Gonzalez joined OHIO from the University of Louisville where she served as the executive vice president and university provost and completed a year of service as interim university president.
Dr. Gonzalez received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in speech pathology and audiology, a Master of Arts degree in communication disorders from Eastern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in communication disorders from the University of Florida.
She began her academic career at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1988. In 1991, she returned to UK as an assistant professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. She then spent 20 years in roles as a professor and associate dean of Academic Affairs. In 2005, she was appointed dean of the College of Health Sciences, a position she held for seven years. In 2011, Dr. Gonzalez moved to Appalachian State University, where she served as provost and executive vice chancellor for three years, followed by a year as special advisor to the senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina System. From 2015 until the spring of 2021, she served as the vice chancellor for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. In April of 2021, Dr. Gonzalez was appointed executive vice president and university provost at the University of Louisville. In December of the same year she began a one-year term as interim university president.
A native of the Appalachian region, Dr. Gonzalez was born and raised in the small town of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. She credits her commitment to public education to her parents, who believed in the transformative power of education and instilled in her a responsibility to give back to her community.
Craig Gossman
In 2013 Craig Gossman founded Gossman Group design & planning in Cincinnati, OH to pursue architecture, urban design, and historic preservation projects. Gossman Group has developed strategic vision plans, urban revitalization plans and master plans for numerous towns and private developers.
Craig employs a holistic approach to strategic planning and design by considering the balance between social and economic goals and their impact on physical design, for long-term sustainability and timeless placemaking. He brings creative problem-solving solutions to his clients to align with urban repositioning and economic restructuring challenges.
Craig is a registered architect in numerous states with NCARB certification. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture Degree from THE ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω.
When not cooking up a downtown strategic plan or working on an important architectural commission, Craig can be found playing guitar with one of his bands, playing golf, or traveling to the great cities of the world.
Dawn Hall
Dawn Hall is a current Head Start/Early Head Start Director for the in rural southeast ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω serving 276 children in Gallia and Meigs counties. Dawn has a BA degree and license in Early Childhood Education. Dawn began her work for head start in 1998 as a Family Advocate. Throughout her 27 years in the head start program, Dawn has served as a teacher, center manager and education coordinator. She has spent the past 10 years as the program director.
During her time as the head start director, Dawn has successfully expanded head start to include early head start slots to provide services for children birth through 5 years of age. The head start program has expanded its reach from 3 centers to 11.
Dawn takes pride in the work that has been done with school district collaborations. The head start program is currently in collaboration with all five of its receiving school districts, with each one having its own uniqueness. The collaborations have been effective in building stronger school/community relationships and the ability to provide enhanced services.
As a result of the collaborations, Dawn has been recognized for the following:
- Recognized as Exemplar of Collaboration by the Office of Head Start
- Recognized as Exemplar of Engagement by ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Education
- Participant of National Head Start Collaboration Demonstration Project.
Dawn has had the privilege of sharing her work on collaborations at various speaking engagements including the following:
- Fall Leadership Institute in Washington DC
- The Council of Chief State School Officers Conference in Minneapolis, MN
- ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Education Literacy Academy in Columbus OH
- ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Education βHeading to Kindergartenβ transition program.
Dawn is also currently working as the director for Little Buckeyes Early Learning Center which is a part of Buckeye Hills Career Center located in Rio Grande OH. The learning center provides childcare service for high school and adult education students who attend the career tech center and also serves as the lab for the Early Childhood program.
G. Jason Jolley
G. Jason Jolley, Ph.D. serves as Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Creative Activity at ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω where he coordinates economic development activities across the university. In his faculty role, he serves as Professor of Rural Economic Development and MPA Director at ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. He also directs the Center for Economic Development and Community Resilience. Prior to joining ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω in 2013, Dr. Jolley spent seven years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Kenan Institute/Kenan-Flagler Business School where he co-led the largest state sponsored study of the effectiveness of economic development incentives for the North Carolina General Assembly.
Dr. Jolley has served as principal investigator on over $10 million in sponsored research funding and co-led efforts to secure an additional $2 million in federal funding and $1 million in state funding for regional economic development partners. His portfolio includes funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Appalachian Regional Commission, Small Business Administration, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Governorβs Office of Workforce Transformation, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Jobs΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, among others. Dr. Jolley also leads ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω portion of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Economic Development Institute (OEDI), in partnership with the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Economic Development Association (OEDA) and Jobs΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. OEDI provides state level certification to ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω economic developers.
Dr. Jolley serves as Executive Director of the Mid-Continent Regional Science Association and is a former board member of the University Economic Development Association. In 2022, he served as an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on their Anchor Economy Initiative to better understand the role of higher education institutions and hospitals (eds and meds) on regional economies. In 2016, Governor John Kasich, and the leadership of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Senate and ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω House of Representatives appointed Dr. Jolley as the stateβs Nonpartisan Census Liaison. In this role, he led Voinovich School staff in building the redistricting database used to draw legislative districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω House of Representatives, and ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Senate districts.
Dr. Jolley maintains an active service portfolio. As the father of daughters with developmental disabilities, he is a passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities. He serves as Vice-President of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities; on the Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities; and on the Board of Trustees and Vice-Chair of the Arc of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. Dr. Jolley is a leader in the multi-stakeholder public, private, and nonprofit ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Developmental Disability Crisis partnership that promotes long-term financial sustainability of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs developmental disabilities system.
Jessica Keeton
Jessica Keeton has served Lawrence County as the Assistant Director of Community Development at the since March 2023. Prior to her role at ILCAO, Jessica spent nearly 13 years working as the Economic Development Coordinator at the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Valley Regional Development Commission. She has spent her career facilitating hundreds of community and economic development projects across Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, including 21 projects across 19 communities as part of an historic Appalachian Community Grant Program investment to enhance riverfront communities from New Richmond to New Philadelphia.
Jessica is a graduate of Shawnee State and resides in Minford, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. In her free time, she enjoys camping, fishing, and exploring the regionβs vibrant and historic downtowns with her husband Randy and their two young children.
Vicki King-Maple
Dr. Vicki King-Maple serves as Executive Director of OMEGA: , an economic development district serving ten counties within the eastern and southeastern ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω footprint. Over the years, she has led extensive economic resiliency plans, workforce priorities projects, educational skills gap analyses, and occupational forecast assessments throughout the Appalachian region and across the nation. Vicki is an accomplished state and national presenter, panelist, editorial contributor, internationally published researcher, and consultant. Prior to her leadership role at OMEGA, she served as Vice President for Economic Development and Workforce Solutions at a community college in central ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω; plus, she was national senior director for a consultancy with a focus on economic resiliency, workforce strategies, and higher education solutions. Vicki was honored this past year among ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Business Magazineβs 2024: ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω 500 Most Influential Leaders. She further serves as Vice President of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Association of Regional Councils (OARC) and Treasurer of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Rural Development Alliance (ORDA); plus, she will begin her term serving on the Heritage ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Board of Directors in 2025. Vicki has led the OMEGA team through a record-breaking 214 grant application submissions with nearly $55million being awarded to the OMEGA region in 2024 alone. She brings future-thinking, consensus-building, and creative solutioning skills with a dedication to expanding the pursuit of prosperity and resiliency for the Appalachian region she is proud to call home.
Ralph Kline
Ralph Kline joined the in 1981 as the Agency Planner and later became the Director of Housing and Community Development. In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Executive Director over Planning and Development. He currently oversees the areas of housing, economic development, downtown and community revitalization, infrastructure improvement, and strategic planning for Lawrence County, the City of Ironton, the CAO and its subsidiary corporations. Ralph is very active in the community at large, serving on multiple local and regional boards and advisory groups, including for 30 years on the local Ironton Catholic School System board. Ralph has led a dynamic team in obtaining various state and local grant awards and accolades for projects, in 2007 was named Lawrence County Person of the Year, and has helped lead the growth of ILCAO into a $40 million a year community service organization with over 440 employees.
Mr. Kline is an ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω graduate with a Masters Degree in Geography concentrating in Economics and Rural Development. Mr. Kline resides in Ironton, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω and has a son, Carl Nathaniel Kline, and three active grandchildren.
Audrey Martin
Audrey Martin has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including owning and operating a lodging business and retail shop. For the past 12 years, she has served as Deputy Director of the , where she has led key initiatives, including community events, membership development, the new satellite visitor center and retail shop, Homegrown on Main and the remodel of the . She also oversees the annual visitor and adventure guides. Audrey is dedicated to sustainable tourism, continuing her education through George Washington Universityβs Sustainable Tourism program, and Leave No Trace training. Audrey actively serves on multiple community boards and, in her free time, enjoys creating one-of-a-kind glass art.
Jamie Nash
With 31 years of experience, Jamie Nash has held various educational roles, including instructor, administrator, and director. Since 2018, he has been the Superintendent of the award-winning (BHCC), overseeing operations and collaborating with schools in Gallia, Jackson, and Vinton Counties. BHCC serves about 600 high school and 300 adult students, with several satellite programs reaching an additional 2600 students. Mr. Nash's collaborative leadership focuses on fairness and consistency. He proudly implemented the Drug-Free Clubs of Americaβs S.T.A.N.D. program, with 85% of students enrolling, and achieved a 92.3% post-program placement rate and 94.1% graduation rate for the 2023-2024 school year. His vision continues to propel BHCC to become a leading career center in the state.
Kerry Pigman
Kerry Pigman serves as the Executive Director for the , and is passionate about creating, cultivating, and sustaining opportunities for Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωans. Kerry is a former entrepreneur, having co-founded and led a venture backed education services company based in Nelsonville, OH for 18 years. Kerry has also served as Executive in Residence with the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Voinovich Schoolβs Social Enterprise Ecosystem Project where she worked as a business advisor to social enterprises and was a founding member of the Impact Innovation Group (IIG)- a collaborative focused on creating funding opportunities to help launch, grow, and sustain businesses in Appalachian OH and WV. Kerry serves on the Board of Directors and Community Advisory Council and the Steering Committee where she is Co-Chair of the Foundation group.
Tracy Plouck
As Dean of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Tracy Plouck oversees two academic programs (public administration and environmental studies) and more than $16 million in funding focused on addressing the unmet needs of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω and its 32 Appalachian counties. Prior to this, Plouck served as Assistant Clinical Professor with OHIOβs College of Health Sciences and Professions. In this role, she worked to support the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Alliance for Population Health, a network of more than fifty organizations that partner to address various population health challenges across the state. As a part of this effort, Plouck assisted local communities to build capacity through grant writing, training, workforce development planning, and project management.
From 2011 to 2018, Tracy Plouck was Director of the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. During that time, she also served as President of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and as Vice Chair of the Council of State Governmentsβ Justice Center. For more than 20 years, Plouck held a variety of leadership roles for the State of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, having served twice as the stateβs Medicaid Director and as deputy director of both the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Office of Budget and Management and the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Developmental Disabilities. Plouck has served as a member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) National Board of Directors. She earned a BA from Kent State University and an MPA from ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State.
Jan Ramer
Dr. Jan Ramer is the Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation for the and . Jan has worked in the field of zoological conservation for her whole career. She was a primate keeper at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for 10 years before she made a mid-life career change, receiving her DVM from the University of Wisconsin in 1995. Jan was a veterinarian at the Indianapolis Zoo for 14 years. She then found her passion in conservation medicine as Regional Manager for the Gorilla Doctors, where she led a team of African veterinarians in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo for 3 Β½ years. Jan returned to the United States to start her work at The Wilds in 2015, first as the Director of Conservation Medicine, and later as Vice President for The Wilds. In early 2021 Jan moved into her current position. Jan has had the honor and privilege to work alongside many hard working, talented, and dedicated colleagues throughout her career. Jan loves spending time with her family, especially her 4 grandchildren!
Meghan Reed
Meghan Reed is the Director of the in Warren, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, where she leads public programming, placemaking initiatives, fundraising, and strategic planning while overseeing a collection of more than 30,000 historic artifacts. She holds a Masterβs degree in Public History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is dedicated to developing museums as dynamic community assets. Following the Trumbull County Historical Societyβs acquisition of more than 500 props from Modern Props, the renowned Hollywood prop house founded by Warren native John Zabrucky, Reed is spearheading the creation of the Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts in Warren. This institution will be the first in the United States dedicated exclusively to these genres. Beyond her work in museum leadership, Reed is actively engaged in community development. She serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and the W.D. Packard Foundation, which contributes to capital improvements at Packard Music Hall and Packard Park. Originally from Pittsburgh, Reed is now a proud resident of Warren, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω.
Mick Schumacher
Following high school Mick Schumacher studied at The Columbus College of Art & Design. He was employed at Conalco/Ormet Aluminum as a carpenter/ painter for 28 years. He is currently serving his fourth term as : 2001-2005, 2014-2018, 2018-2022, 2022-2026.
Schumacher is one of the founding board members of the in 1994 and serving since that time. He has served as president since 2018. Schumacher has also served on the Monroe County Historical Society board since 1990.
In October of 2017, Schumacher was a recipient of the prestigious Jenco Award presented by former Governor Bob Taft. In October of 2023, Schumacher was selected for the Joyce Barrett Preservation Hero Award from Heritage ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω. In 2024, Schumacher was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to serve on the
Schumacher and his wife Ashley are original members of the Monroe Theatre Committee which began in 2016 upon acquisition of the Theatre. The couple has been personally engaged in every aspect of operations, promotion and renovating the Historic Monroe Theatre.
Jim Timonere
Jim Timonere was born and raised in the City of Ashtabula. He returned home after graduating from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. In 2005, Jim became the President and CEO of the Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce. In his six years at the Chamber, Jim worked to promote local businesses in the community as well as market this area to outside businesses and visitors. In November 2011, Jim was elected and officially took office on December 1, 2011. He continues to serve on numerous boards and committees throughout the community. He realizes the need for local officials to work together in order to create positive growth and change within our community.
Jim is a strong advocate for this community and understands the importance the next generation will play in forming a stronger, brighter future in Ashtabula. He also credits much of his success to his department heads and staff members as well as City Council who have worked diligently to make the City of Ashtabula an even better place to live, work and visit.
Jeffery Van Deusen
Jeff Van Deusen has over 25 years of experience leading, driving, and implementing policy, operational, cultural, and programmatic change across public and non-profit agencies whose mission is to provide services and supports to children and families.
Currently, Jeff serves as the Assistant Director for the (DCY) where he works collaboratively with the agency Director to oversee key child programs and initiatives across ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, including early care and education, early intervention, maternal and infant vitality, early childhood mental health, and children services.
Prior to this role, Jeff spent 17 years at the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) where he served in various leadership roles, most recently as the Deputy Director of the Office of Families and Children directing the daily operation of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs children services system. Jeff was responsible for setting the strategic vision for the office, as well as leading the agencyβs execution and delivery of mission critical services and Governor Mike DeWineβs children services advisory council recommendations. Jeff also served as Bureau Chief within ODJFS, overseeing ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs child care licensing and Step Up To Quality programs.β―
As a recognized leader in various children and family systems, Jeff is passionate about collaborating with stakeholders and using data to drive systemic change. Jeff holds a bachelorβs degree in sociology from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and a masterβs degree in political science/public administration from ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω.
Matt Wiederhold
Matt Wiederhold has been involved in community development and revitalization for 20+ years and is a graduate of the National Main Street Institute. He is the executive director of , the official State-wide preservation and downtown revitalization non-profit organization, which oversees the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Main Street Program. Previously, he served as the executive director of Main Street Medina, in Medina ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω; project manager for the Gordon Square Arts District on the West Side of Cleveland, and an urban Main Street initiative in Toledo, OH. A 1992 graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in art history, focused on American art and architecture from 1860-1930, his passions for history, design, and revitalization run deep. His hobbies include gardening, thrifting, collecting American pottery, and studying old buildings and local history. He is currently restoring his twelfth historic home with his husband, Joshua, in Toledo.
Melody Young
Melody Young has been in the hospitality and travel industry for over 35 years after graduating from The ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω State University. She is currently serving as the Executive Director of the where she has worked for the past 13 years. She has an extensive understanding of the hotel industry after serving 25 years as a General Manager with a strong focus on revenue management. She is passionate about the community in which she was raised and honored to be able to tell the story of Chillicothe and the region to visitors. Collaboration is the key to success for the communities that she has served, so she participates on several state and local boards such as the ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω History Connection, Appalachian ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω, The Scioto Society β βTecumseh!β Outdoor Drama, the World Heritage Steering Committee, and the Majestic Theatre to name a few. Family is everything to Melody, when she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren and her 4 fur babies at home.
Kathy Zook
Kathy Zook has worked in public service for for over two decades and has served as the ARC Program Manager for the last 16 years. She is a founding member and acting Secretary of ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Rural Development Alliance (ORDA) and has been appointed to the Board of the Development Districts Association of Appalachia (DDAA) in 2022-2025. As the ARC Program Manager, Kathy works with communities in her 3-county district to identify and prioritize projects to utilize Federal and State Appalachian funding to make investments to support economic and community development, critical infrastructure, workforce development, job training, and improved access to health care. Kathy has a demonstrated history of working with local, state and federal elected officials, as well as, members of the public and private sectors to bring resources together to support projects with opportunities to improve the quality of life for the Appalachian region. She is a graduate of the University of Akron and lives in Cortland, ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω.
About the EDA University Center
΅ΫΝυ»αΛωβs Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service was first established as an U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center in 1996. The Voinovich School University Center is a joint project with Bowling Green State University which collectively serves 59 rural ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω counties: 32 Appalachian counties and 27 counties in northwestern ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω.
EDA University Centers are a partnership of the federal government and academia that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development community.
The ongoing support received through the EDA assists the Voinovich School in providing direct business assistance services, applied research initiatives and an annual State of the Region Conference. The overall result is the positioning of the region for economic growth.
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
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Sponsorship Opportunities
Vendor Table is included with each option*
Level | Description | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
BRONZE $500 |
| Sustainable ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Public Energy Council ΅ΫΝυ»αΛω Air Quality Development Authority |
SILVER $1,000 |
| ΅ΫΝυ»αΛωSE |
GOLD $3,500 |
| Appalachian Growth Capital |
PLATINUM $5,000 |
| Appalachian Partnership, Inc. |
*Must indicate interest in advance and commit to arrive early to set up and agree to tear down after the event concludes for the day.
Please contact Amista Lipot to inquire about or secure a sponsorship level: lipot@ohio.edu / 740-597-1558
Sponsors
Partners
Local Development Districts
