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Jeff Mitchell was introduced as the Cardinals’ Director of Athletics on February 6, 2023. A respected administrator with more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration, Mitchell is currently in his third year as a member of the Ball State University senior executive team and leads an athletics department that sponsors 19 programs with more than 450 student-athletes. During his first two years at the helm, Mitchell’s leadership fostered significant competitive success, new standards of academic excellence, increased commitment to community engagement, enhanced growth in philanthropic support and revenue generation, and investment in comprehensive facility improvements. In 2024–25, Mitchell led Ball State to secure its first-ever Carol A. Cartwright Award, signifying the Mid-American Conference’s best overall athletics program, recognizing academic excellence, athletic success, and civic engagement. Ball State has claimed 10 conference championships under Mitchell’s leadership. Academically, Ball State established a new benchmark in 2024–25 as all 19 varsity programs recorded a team GPA above 3.0 in both semesters. The department achieved its highest spring semester GPA in the past decade (3.487) and its highest full-year GPA in 10 years (3.46). In the community, the Cardinals logged more than 4,200 hours of service in Muncie and across East Central Indiana. In addition to these competitive and academic milestones, Mitchell negotiated a new multimedia rights deal with Peak Sports MGMT valued at more than $10 million. Fundraising for Ball State Athletics also recorded its highest two-year total ever, with more than $17.9 million raised. Nearly all Ball State sports venues have undergone significant updates over the past two years, with completed or approved construction projects accounting for approximately $25 million in facility enhancements. Mitchell is the co-author of the textbook Sport, Ethics and Leadership, published in 2017, and previously served as an adjunct professor of business leadership at the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (2001) and Master of Business Administration (2003) degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005, where he also served as a graduate assistant in the external relations unit, primarily working with the Ole Miss football and men’s basketball programs. Mitchell and his wife, April, are parents to a daughter, Harper Wynne (17), and a son, Carson (12).

Colleen is a Partner at DSD Advisors LLC, the government relations consulting affiliate of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP that partners with public, private, and nonprofit clients to achieve their public policy goals at the local, state, and federal levels. She is responsible for advocacy and communications strategy development and execution on behalf of all DSD clients. Before joining DSD Advisors, she served as director of communications & community affairs for a Cincinnati City Council Member. Her experience includes shaping and guiding the city’s $1.4 billion annual budget, managing constituent services and internal stakeholder relationships, directing both internal and external communications, and advising on legislative policy and issue management. She also created, executed, and oversaw office initiatives that received national recognition. Colleen holds an Honors B.A. in the Philosophy, Politics, and the Public Program from Xavier University, where she served as student body president. She also holds a B.A. in Theology with minors in History and Peace Studies. She is active in the community, serving as President of the Oakley Community Council Board of Trustees, Vice President of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library Board of Trustees, and Member of the Groundwork Ohio River Valley Board of Directors. She is also an elected Precinct Executive serving on the Hamilton County Democratic Executive Committee. She resides in Oakley.  

Born into family committed to public service, Dan Driehaus has been civically involved since birth. He continues to serve his community on Wyoming City Council, in addition to non-profit boards, public boards and through his own children's activities and schools.  ​ Dan earned his B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University in 1994. Following graduation, Dan served as the Volunteer Coordinator of the Joel Hyatt for Senate Campaign, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Following the campaign, Dan began his insurance career at Cincinnati Insurance Company, where he served as a commercial underwriter.   As an insurance agent, from 1998 to 2012, Dan built a client list consisting of public entities, school systems, civic organizations, commercial accounts, non-profit entities & personal lines accounts. Since 2012, Dan has started his own firm, Driehaus Insurance Group.   The insurance agency profession lends itself to community involvement. Dan enjoys serving with community members on several boards & civic organizations. ​ From 2014 to 2019, Dan served on the Cincinnati Planning Commission, eventually serving as Board Chair. During his tenure, Dan presided over 142 Planning Commission meetings, approved 23 updated community plans and hundreds of development projects, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital Expansion, the Anthem Walnut Hills Mixed-Use Development, Uptown Gateway Project and much more - as envisioned by residents and planning professionals. ​ From 2013 to 2018, Dan served on the board of Cincinnatus. From 2013 to present, Dan has served on the board, and eventually chaired, the Cincinnati Area Senior Services.   Dan is also proud to serve as the Immediate Past Board Chair for Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky, a Board Member of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Chair of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, Chair of the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club, and is a member of the Leadership Cincinnati Class 45. ​ As a member of Wyoming City Council, Dan serves on the Planning Commission, the Community Improvement Corporation, and is Wyoming's representative on the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Regional Council of Governments.

Jason Toth was named senior associate vice president for administration for the University of Toledo in January 2019. He oversees the University's Facilities & Construction and Supply Chain offices. In his role, Toth leads the planning, directing, and monitoring of facilities operations and maintenance for the physical plant of the University. He is also responsible for the coordination and management of capital construction projects, aligning them with the University's Strategic and Campus Master Plans. Additionally, Toth leads the supply chain management division which handles University procurement, Shipping/Receiving/Mail Services/Surplus Property, along with the University of Toledo Medical Center's central distribution and linen services areas. Toth joined the University in 2011 as the Director of Facilities/Civil Engineer. He oversaw the re-engineering of the department's Construction Project Management Team. He applied his expertise to streamline processes and create efficiencies resulting in increased customer satisfaction and a reduction to the University's deferred maintenance liability. In 2012 Toth was promoted to University Chief Engineer, in 2013 to Associate Vice President, and in 2019 to Senior Associate Vice President.  Under his leadership the departments for which he provides oversight strive to provide exceptional environments, deliver top end service, and promote the University's mission to improve the human condition. Prior to joining UToledo, Toth spent 13+ in the construction management field working for Bostleman Corporation. Toth received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is a LEED accredited professional and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Institute for Educational Management. Jason has been happily married to his wife Janell for 27+ years.  They have 5 children – Addison, Broc, Carson, Delaney, and Eli (ABCDE) and two adorable grand children (Julia – 5 and Sadie – 2).  In his free time he enjoys walking, hiking, cycling and has been coaching youth sports for nearly 30yrs.

Justin Brookhart is the Executive Director of Public Art and Placemaking at AGAR, an experiential marketing and creative agency specializing in cultural storytelling and immersive brand experiences. In this role, Justin leads a national portfolio of transformative public art and placemaking projects that fuse creativity, culture, and community. Overseeing everything from concept development and artist curation to fabrication, installation, and vibrant programming, he brings large-scale works to life in cities across the country. Justin excels at building dynamic public-private partnerships and managing complex, multi-million-dollar initiatives, ensuring each project becomes an immersive experience that engages and uplifts diverse communities. Prior to AGAR, he served as Executive Director of BLINK, the nation’s largest public art festival, which drew over 2.2M attendees and earned national acclaim. Justin holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Film Arts from the University of New Orleans. His visionary leadership has been recognized with honors including the Ohio Arts Council’s Irma Lazarus Award (2025), CODAworx Creative Revolutionary (2023), and helping Cincinnati earn USA Today’s Best City for Street Art (2024). Through his work, Justin helps shape places that resonate far beyond their physical spaces, leaving a lasting mark on both people and culture.  

Annette DiTommaso, Executive Director  Annette DiTommaso is the Executive Director of the Blue Line Foundation, where she leads efforts to support first responders, uplift at-risk communities, and drive impactful urban revitalization projects throughout Greater Cincinnati. With over a decade of expertise in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management, Annette is deeply committed to fostering strategic partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and spearheading initiatives that improve community infrastructure, promote neighborhood safety, and expand affordable housing. Before her role at Blue Line, Annette held key leadership positions at altafiber, including Senior Manager of Employee Experience and Corporate Impact and Employee Engagement Manager. There, she developed comprehensive global CSR programs, established charitable foundations, and significantly boosted employee engagement and corporate philanthropy. Annette began her career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, specializing in ethical investing and strategic charitable giving, before moving into relationship management at United Way of Greater Cincinnati. A proud Indiana University alumna, Annette holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management. Recognized as a YWCA Rising Star, she combines strategic vision, data-driven solutions, and passionate leadership to create lasting, positive change in the community.   Charlie Williams, President  Charlie Williams is a seasoned financial professional and Director of Wealth Management at LS Financial Group, with nearly two decades of experience guiding clients through strategic financial planning, investment management, retirement strategies, and estate planning. At the Blue Line Foundation, Charlie serves as President and leverages his extensive financial expertise to help drive strategic decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability, supporting the Foundation's critical mission to uplift first responders, enhance community safety, and foster urban revitalization. In addition to his role at LS Financial Group, Charlie previously served as a Financial Consultant at A.G. Edwards & Sons, bringing a wealth of experience in wealth-building and client relations. He also contributed to public service as the Campaign Manager for Debbi Alsfelder for Congress, underscoring his commitment to community and civic engagement. A proud graduate of Miami University, Charlie holds degrees in Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. He is recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager and maintains several financial certifications, including Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Charlie is passionate about applying his financial acumen and strategic insight to make a lasting positive impact in his community.

Brendon Cull President & CEO, Cincinnati Regional Chamber Brendon Cull leads the Cincinnati Regional Chamber—the region’s largest business organization—where he drives a bold strategy to grow our economy, population, and cultural vibrancy. Since joining the Chamber in 2015 (after a decade guiding government affairs for The Kroger Co.), Brendon has steered game‑changing initiatives: championing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, co‑creating the Cincinnati Futures Commission, scaling BLINK into a $127 million economic juggernaut, and launching the Minority Business Accelerator Fund I. A Xavier University grad (Organizational Communication) and Leadership Cincinnati alum, Brendon blends 30 years of government, corporate, and nonprofit experience. He’s an in‑demand strategist and civic ambassador, serving on boards for ArtsWave, CincyTech, the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Minority Business Accelerator, Visit Cincy, and Xavier’s Williams College of Business. Away from the office, Brendon is an avid reader, runner, cyclist, and live‑music aficionado. He and his wife Becky are raising two daughters in Cincinnati’s Clifton neighborhood—never far from a great book or the next big idea.   Pete Metz Vice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships, Cincinnati Regional Chamber Pete Metz convenes businesses, civic leaders, and community partners to accelerate initiatives that make Greater Cincinnati thrive. As vice president of Civic & Regional Partnerships, he guides the Chamber’s Center for Research & Data and more than a dozen programs tackling economic development, housing, innovation, and the built environment. Best known as the business community’s “transportation champion,” Pete has spent nearly a decade unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars for transformative projects—the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, expanded Metro funding, and the region‑spanning CROWN trail. He helped architect and pass Hamilton County’s landmark Move Forward levy, doubling transit funding while lowering Cincinnati’s earnings tax. Pete cut his teeth in public service as chief of staff to Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Mann and on Capitol Hill shaping federal transportation and energy policy. He now serves on the boards of SORTA, OKI Regional Council of Governments, the Corporation for Findlay Market, and Northside’s NEST CDC. A Clifton resident, Pete enjoys exploring city neighborhoods with his wife Becca and their two young daughters—always plotting the next connection that will move Cincinnati forward.

Charley Wayman is the Director of Marketing at MSA Design, where she leads strategic marketing and business development initiatives across the firm’s architecture, interiors, and graphics disciplines. A proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP with a degree in Fashion Product Development, Charley brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and relationship-building to her work. She currently serves on the Board of Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, is an alumna of the Queen City Game Changers, and will soon graduate from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s WE Lead program. Originally from Clarksville, Ohio, Charley now lives in Ludlow, Kentucky with her husband and their beloved dogs (and one cat). She’s a self-proclaimed book nerd (on a mission to read at least 40 books for her 40th year), bourbon enthusiast, sneaker collector, wannabe health junkie, and lifelong lover of leopard print. Before joining MSA, she worked with the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, supporting advocacy for the building industry. Charley thrives on trying new things, traveling, cheering on the Bengals as a season ticket holder, and leaning into her Enneagram 7 spirit. Her top strengths—Positivity, WOO, Achiever, Learner, and Strategic—are the heart of how she shows up in life and leadership.  

Meet Scott Schuster, a passionate champion of education and lifelong learning whose visionary leadership is reshaping Cincinnati’s nonprofit scene. As Vice President of Philanthropy and President of the Cincinnati Museums Foundation, Scott spearheads bold fundraising strategies that help the Cincinnati Museum Center spark curiosity and wonder across science, regional history, and beyond. Under his guidance, CMC successfully wrapped its largest campaign ever—raising over $123 million to unveil 20 state-of-the-art exhibits, galleries, and research labs—and launched “Project Treasures,” a new $40 million initiative ensuring the museum’s historic and scientific gems remain protected for generations to come. A career fundraiser at heart, Scott’s talent for building authentic, mission-driven relationships has powered transformative projects everywhere he’s served, including Archbishop Moeller High School and the University of Cincinnati Foundation, where he played a pivotal role in a $120 million construction project for UC’s Lindner College of Business. Today, he continues to inspire the next generation of marketing leaders as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UC, while also serving as a Great Parks of Hamilton County Board of Park Commissioner. Named one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s “Forty Under 40,” Scott Schuster blends passion, expertise, and a commitment to community—making him a driving force behind nonprofit innovation and a must-listen voice for anyone interested in the power of philanthropy.

Kelly Bonnell is Chief Operations Officer of Constellation Wealth Partners.   Kelly brings expertise in process and strategic planning from a career dedicated to managing the organizational operations of scaling companies. She was instrumental in the success of her family’s business, BGR, Inc. where she led the company’s strategic planning and growth efforts in her position as COO.  In this role, she focused on integrating the major functions of the business to execute annual strategic plans and achieve the company’s financial goals. Kelly is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47. She was also a member of C-Change, Class 8 and WE Lead, Class 11 – all three leadership development programs offered by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. She was named one of Cincinnati’s Forty Under 40 by the Business Courier and winner of the 2018 Larry Grypp Rising Leader Award.  Kelly is a graduate of the University of Dayton and Xavier University’s Williams College of Business.   She lives in Greater Cincinnati with her husband Todd and two children.     

Regina Carswell Russo is Founder/CEO of RRight Now Communications, a strategic communications firm.  Regina helps clients remove barriers to effective communication. With more than 30 years of communications, journalism, and media relations experience, Regina's clients include Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, The Port, Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools.   After retiring from broadcast journalism after 23 years, 15 years here in Cincinnati at FOX19, Regina transitioned to arts marketing as Director of Communications and Marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Chief of Communications at the Contemporary Arts Center, where the Cincinnati Business Courier recognized her accomplishments with a C-Suite Award.   Regina brings innovation and creativity to solve complex communication problems for her clients in crisis communication, media relations, media interview coaching, brand reputation, and multicultural stakeholder engagement. RRight Now Communications' fastest growing client base is C-Suite women, helping them craft and elevate their authentic voice in their corporate leadership.   Regina’s vast number of Board appointments and awards include: • National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Nominee • Five Associated Press and Michigan Association Broadcaster Awards • Cincinnati Magazine/ 2021, 2022, 2023 Power 300-Most Powerful Business Leaders • 2022 YWCA Career Woman of Achievement • Board Trustee, Cincinnati Opera (Executive Committee, Nominating Commitee) • Ragan Communication/ PR Daily Communicator of the Year Award 2021   Regina is a native of Detroit, and lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.   

In this episode, we sit down with Sean McGrory, who has been the Board President of the Wasson Way organization since 2018, after joining in 2017. Sean is also a founding member of the CROWN Collaborative, which stands for the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network. CROWN is an ambitious project aiming to create Cincinnati's first-ever urban trail loop—a 34-mile, multi-use paved trail encircling the city's urban core. This trail will connect over 350,000 people across 54 neighborhoods to key destinations such as parks, schools, employment centers, retail, recreation, and entertainment. The loop will be formed by linking several trails in development, including Wasson Way, the Ohio River Trail East, the Lunken Trail, the Little Miami Scenic Trail, the Ohio River Trail West, and the Mill Creek Greenway Trail. In his professional life, Sean is a CPA and Shareholder at Clark Schaefer Hackett, where he leads the Real Estate and Construction practice. He is a graduate of Miami University, Xavier University, and Walnut Hills High School, and an alumnus of Leadership Cincinnati Class XXV. Join us as we dive into the vision behind CROWN, the impact it will have on the city, and Sean's role in driving this exciting initiative forward.

Chad Munitz joined FC Cincinnati in May 2022 as its Chief Development Officer where he manages the club's Real Estate growth ambitions including the creation of a large-scale mixed-use district adjacent to TQL Stadium.   Chad added oversight of the club's business development arm, Aligned Ventures, to his remit in January 2024, which includes all non-MLS soccer revenue initiatives.   Prior to FC Cincinnati, Chad held leadership roles in Real Estate and Economic Development with Towne Properties, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), the City of Cincinnati and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).   He has directed over $800 million in development and led transformative projects like Fountain Square and Washington Park, playing a key role in the revitalization of Cincinnati's downtown urban core.   Chad graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Information Systems.   He is a native of New Philadelphia, Ohio and resides in the City of Cincinnati neighborhood of Northside with his wife and daughter.

Tom Demeropolis serves as Editor-In-Chief of the Cincinnati Business Courier, the premier business media digital and print publication in Greater Cincinnati.    He leads the team in both the print and online editions. He is a University of Cincinnati graduate and has a master’s in journalism from Ball State University. Prior to joining the Courier in 2010, he was a reporter with the Dayton Business Journal, a sister outlet.   He was selected to be a part of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47.   He is a three-time American City Business Journals Eagle award winner.     A proud native of the Queen City, he lives in Cincinnati's Western Hills with his wife Lauren, and children.

Luke Blocher is General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer for the Cincinnati Development Fund.  The CDF  is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending institution that fills a gap not covered by traditional lenders. They provide funding for real estate development in under-served markets in the Greater Cincinnati area. They also offer facilities and equipment funding for nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region.   At CDF Luke is responsible for legal and strategy functions, including management of the affordable housing lending and New Markets Tax Credit programs. He oversees compliance, data collection and reporting required by all CDF funders. He joined CDF in 2022.  His previous experience includes working in the Attorney General's office of the State of Ohio, Senior Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Deputy City Solicitor, City of Cincinnati.      A Cincinnati native, he is an alumnus of St Xavier High School, Amherst College and Columbia Law School in New York City.    He resides in Cincinnati's Clifton neighborhood with his wife and family.