Board Member

Rick is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, leading its legislative team and public policy agenda. He previously served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, including as Assistant Majority Floor Leader, and chaired committees such as the Ohio Retirement Study Council and House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education. A Columbus native, Carfagna holds a B.A. in Political Science from John Carroll University. He resides in Genoa Township with his wife, Jill, and daughter, Isabella.

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Board Chair

Lisa is the president of Ohio Excels. Her career has been dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of ALL of Ohio’s students. Prior to leading Ohio Excels, Lisa had her own consulting practice specializing in public policy development, government relations, advocacy, strategic planning, and project management—with emphasis on public education.

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Board Member

Randy Leite is executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition. In that role, he leads capacity-building efforts to expand access to health services and supports for children in Ohio’s Appalachian region. During his time as director, the Coalition has facilitated more than $85 million investment in programs in the region. Prior to assuming his present role, Leite served as dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. He first connected with Groundwork Ohio more than 20 years ago while leading a family policy institute at Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Theresa are the parents of three children and grandparents to two (soon to be three) grandchildren.

Board Member

Ron Rees is a retired social justice advocate who most recently served as the Executive Director for COAD, the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, in Athens, Ohio. He also served as the Executive Director of the Washington County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Board for nearly 18 years. Prior to that, Ron spent time in San Diego as part of the Department of Social Services.

Board Member

Laura is the Senior Program Officer for Education for the GAR Foundation with the role to refine and lead the implementation of the Foundation’s education strategy, rooted in collaborative, interconnected grant-making work and systems-level change initiatives. Most recently, Laura served as Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health. Laura also practiced law in the private sector for nearly 20 years, becoming a national expert on state & local taxation and litigating matters in more than 35 states and the US Supreme Court.

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Board Member

Rev. John C. Jones, a Toledo native, became HOPE Toledo president in 2020 and CEO in 2022. With a passion for education's transformative power, he previously worked at ProMedica’s Social Determinants of Health office, focusing on mentoring, youth training, and HOPE Toledo's vision. He has led initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion and the Urban League. An ordained minister, Jones serves at Christian Temple Baptist Church under his father, Rev. Charles E. Jones. He holds an EMBA from the University of Toledo and resides in Toledo with his wife Charity and their four children.

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Board Member

Robyn is Executive Director at Preschool Promise. Robyn also serves on the Governor's Early Childhood Advisory Council. She has led complex projects in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, including at IBM, Chicago's Willow Creek Community Church and Evenflo. Robyn has a business degree from Wake Forest University​​​​.

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Board Member

Cheryl is a partner with Constellation Wealth Advisors, advising business owners and families of significant wealth. Prior to Constellation, Cheryl spent over 20 years leading investment management and wealth businesses for 5/3 and PNC Banks. Cheryl is a passionate advocate for expanding early childhood access in our communities. After serving on the board of Success by 6, Cheryl helped lead the effort to make the Cincinnati Preschool Promise become a reality and was an inaugural Trustee and its Treasurer.

Board Member

Dr. Dorman is a Developmental Psychologist and founder/principal of Kadima Consulting LLC.  She has been working on behalf of children and families for the past 40 years in positions that have spanned the academic, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government sectors. Most recently she served  as Director of Invest in Children, a public-private partnership in Cuyahoga County and Director of the Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood for thirteen years. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Brandeis University and received her doctorate  from Cornell University. ​​

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Board Member

Eric is President/CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce and has had a career in law, business, and politics. As a state senator, Eric served as Ohio Senate Minority Leader. On a national level, Eric was a member of President Barack Obama's national finance committee when he ran for U.S. Senate and President. Eric has been a leader in Ohio's legal community and is a managing partner of Kearney & Kearney, LPA.

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Board Member

David is regional president for PNC Bank in Dayton, Ohio. Melin has overall client, community and employee responsibilities, which include Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management covering a 12-county territory across the Miami Valley area. He has over 30 years of executive leadership experience.