Leadership Ohio Welcomes 36 Visionaries Committed to Bipartisan Solutions and Statewide Prosperity

Columbus, Ohio – February 20, 2026 – Leadership Ohio is excited to announce the members of its incoming Class of 2026. Following a rigorous selection process that saw nearly 200 nominees from every corner of the state, 35 visionary leaders have been tapped to examine Ohio’s most vital issues and collaborate on initiatives that bolster the state’s civic vitality and long-term success.

Leadership Ohio is a nonpartisan organization that cultivates leaders’ knowledge, perspective, and connections from a community to a state-wide level. It is Ohio’s first and most prestigious statewide leadership development program. Since its founding in 1992, Leadership Ohio has convened 730 Fellows who now serve in key roles across government, business, healthcare, education, law enforcement and nonprofits.

“This cohort represents some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in our state,” said Kevin Smith, the newly appointed CEO of Leadership Ohio. “As the need for effective leadership continues to grow, we are honored to welcome this cohort of talented, geographically and professionally diverse  leaders into our fellowship program, each of them to be united by a commitment to community improvement.”

The 2026 Fellows hail from a wide array of professional backgrounds, spanning the private sector, healthcare, legal fields, and scientific research, as well as public administration. Key organizations represented include the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Wooster Chamber of Commerce, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. This year’s group is further bolstered by leaders from foundations, industry, education and corporate sales.

Over the course of a year, these leaders will participate in high-impact monthly sessions across Ohio with policymakers, industry leaders, and community organizations. They’ll focus on pivotal topics such as workforce retention, national security, the judicial system, and childcare accessibility.  By bridging ideological divides and fostering meaningful dialogue, the program aims to cultivate a network of leaders capable of driving Ohio toward a more prosperous future long after their fellowship concludes.

“Leadership Ohio’s Class of 2026 embodies the kind of leadership our state needs now and in the future,” said Shon Christy, President of the Board of Trustees. “These Fellows are committed to building trust, strengthening communities, and advancing Ohio through thoughtful, collaborative leadership.”

For more information about Leadership Ohio and its transformational programming, please visit www.leadershipohio.org. Nominations for the Class of 2027 will open in Autumn 2026.

Meet the Leadership Ohio Class of 2026 - Read their bios HERE

Akron MSA

• Travis Bornstein, President and Businesses Representative Local No. 24, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• Steven Flaughers, Owner, Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing
• James Hill, Vice President of Sales, Evantic
• Carol Kilway, Mayor, City of Tallmadge
• Jody Rearick, Principal Real Estate Agent, Jody Rearick and Associates
• Janice Simmons-Mortimer, Executive Director, Portage Foundation

Canton-Massillon MSA

• Terri Peterman, Director of Special Projects, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates

Cincinnati MSA

• Geoffrey Milz, vice-President, Midwest Region, Pennrose, Vice President of American Planning Association, Ohio Chapter

Cleveland-Elyria MSA

• Michael DeAloia, General Manager, Signal Ohio
• Abhi Goyal, Chief Executive Officer, Blink Signs, BlinkSwag and Blink Global
• Kathy Sullivan, President and Owner, Talent Principles
• Katina Stone-Jones, Associate Director and chief Operating Officer, VA Northeast Healthcare System
• Renee Willis, Executive Director, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
• Jason Zygadlo, Founder and President, build.your.own.brand.

Columbus MSA

• Parag Agrawal, Chief Mobility and Development Officer and Senior Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)
• Vanessa Butler, Senior Director of Community Relations, Groundwork Ohio
• Willie Cook, Assistant Principal, Bexley City Schools
• Maryann Crist, Executive Director, Midland Theatre
• Theresa Groth-Joynt, Strategy & Partnerships Manager, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
• Ryan Heck, Director of Client Strategy, OnSite Partners
• Adam Hodnichak, Executive Director, Union County Foundation
• Asia Pope, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Buckeye Ranch
• Jasmine Ramaradjou, Chief Information Officer, Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Scott Satterlee, International Representative, Business Development, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• Maggie Spear, Chief Human Resources Director, Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Taylor Tomu, Outreach and Engagement Manager, America 250-Ohio Commission

Dayton MSA

• Brian Hays, Associate Director, Chief Operating Officer, Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
• Eric Henderson, Deputy Director and Deputy Chief, Dayton Police Department 
• Toni Overholser, Director of Projects, Dayton Development Coalition

Mansfield MSA

• Samira Zimmerly, President & CEO, Wooster Chamber of Commerce

Eastern Ohio Nonmetropolitan Area

• Jackee Pugh, Executive Director, Belmont County Tourism

Southern Ohio Nonmetropolitan Area

• Therese Egbert, Assistant Director, Scioto Foundation
• Carly Leatherwood, Chief of Staff & Special Assistant to the President, Ohio University

Youngstown MSA

• Dan Flanagan, National Director of Channel Sales, Group Management Services, Co-Founder and President, Brain Enrichment Initiative.
• Juan Santiago, Vice President and Community Development Officer, Farmers National Bank, Member, Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association