Leadership Worthington Graduates Class of 1997

Vincent Joseph De Francisco
Realtor, Cam Taylor Co., Realtors
A 1984 Graduate of Worthington High School, Vince later attended Ohio University where he received his B.A. in Economics. Prior to becoming a Realtor at Cam Taylor, Vince was in new home sales at C.V. Perry Builders and M/I Homes. Vince is the co-founder and past president of Society Ties, an extension of the Leukemia Society and The Merrick Society, a Catholic volunteer group. In his spare time he enjoys reading, working out and golfing.

David L. Dunham
Director of Development, United Methodist Children's Home
David has a B.A. in Political Science and Psyshology from Baldwin Wallace College and a special certificate in Non-Profit Management from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked in fundraising and marketing positions over the last decade. His highest achievement in this short time was the implementation of Habitat for Humanity's national capitol campaign for $200 million. His major volunteer role is providing fundraising leadership for the Middle East Preervation of Safe Travel Sites, an emerging agency which has applied for member status in the UN. He has also been active with the Northern Ohio Dressage Association, Organic Theatre, Kaleidoscope Foster Care Agency, and the United Methodist Church. His hobbies include singing, song writing, and scuba diving. David is looking forward to putting his skills to use in Worthington.

James Burton Farmer
Business and Commercial Law Counsel, Borden Services Company
Jim graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Government, from The Ohio State University with a M.A. in City/Regional Planning, and cum laude from The Ohio State University Law School. He and his wife Sue have two sons, Brian, 12, and Derrick, 14. He is a member of Worthington Presbyterian Church, Central Ohio American Corporate Counsel Association, Ohio Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association program, and program chair for the Dublin-Worthington Rotary. He also serves on the Troop Committee for Boy Scout Troop 299. Among his hobbies are golf and home remodeling. He said that as a member of the Leadership Worthington Board of Trustees, he wants to know what he is helping to run. "The best way is to get involved."

Lisa L. Fierce
Senior Planner, City of Dublin
Lisa graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology and a Masters of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. She is currently the project manager of a $1 million Community Plan Update and authored Dublin's Southwest Area Plan. Lisa helped with the beautification of Lake Erie effort and tries to participate in Kindercare activities. She is interested in becoming more involved with civic planning in Worthinton and taking part in her community through active participation. Lisa is married to Greg and they are enjoying the thrill of parenting with their two-year old Adam.

Chuck D. Gibson
Technology Coordinator, Wothington Public Library
Chuck is a graduate of Adams State College (Bachelor of Arts) in Colorado and Emporia State University (Masters of Library Science), School of Library and Information Management, Emporia, Kansas. He has received the Beta Phi Mu Academic Achievement and Professional Promise Award. Chuck admits that he is very interested in community service and leadership in the Ohio Library Council, but this is the first professional position he has held with the flexibility to allow this type of activity. He says, "I hope to gain community contacts and a better understanding of the community leading to better service."

Rhonda Sue Hocker
Optician, Doctors Albright, Albright & Schnulo
Rhonda attended Ball State University and has compiled numerous continuing education credits in Optometric Education. She has traveled extensively as an Air Force wife and worked not only in the Optometric field but as a substitute teacher and office manager. Her most recent volunteer contribution has been to start a program of opticians cleaning, adjusting and repairing eyewear at Karrington in Worthington. Wherever Rhonda lived, she was involved in volunteer activities including The American Red Cross, Parents In Education, numerous PTO and PTA groups, MADD, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, and participating as a Sunday School Teacher and a Girl Scout Leader. Rhonda enjoys working with young children to help them build self esteem and reach their potential. Rhonda and her husband Jerry have two children.

Kathy Lynn Hull
Homemaker, Dental Hygienist, employed part-time by Thomas E. Hull, DDS
Kathy graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Sociology and Dental Hygiene. She is a member and past Deacon of Worthington Presbyterian Church, has been a volunteer in Worthington Schools (Wilson Hill and Worthingway Middle School) from 1978 until the present. She is currently volunteering in the Guidance Office at Thomas Worthington High School. Kathy is in training as a new volunteer at Riverside Moethodist Hospital. Other past activities include Worthington Community Coordinating Board, Childhood League, PTO and PTA. She was the After Hours Chairman for the Worthington Activity Club in 1994. Kathy and her husband Tom have two children, Heather, 23, and Jason, 20.

Mary Gasper Jensen
Dental Hygienist, employed by Thomas E. Hull, DDS
Mary received her certificate of Dental Hygiene and a B.S. in Education from The Ohio State University. After teaching for four years and then being an at-home mom she decided to pursue the clinical side of dental hygiene. This October she will be celebrating her 20th year working for Dr. Hull. She has been a volunteer counselor for Pregnancy Distress Center and this year is working on donations for the annual PDC Silent Auction. She was president of the Columbus Dental Hygienists' Association (1994-95) and recently has been volunteering for the Center for New Directions. Last year she became a Licensed Social Worker. In her spare time she is learning to play golf with her new husband Jim, who works for Ashland Chemical. Mary has two grown sons, both graudates of Worthington High School.

Jeffrey Dean Jones
HIV-Prevention Education Consultant, Ohio Department of Education
Jeff received his Bachelors Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University and holds a Masters Degree in Adult Education from Michigan State University. He has worked with Honda of America in as a consultant/trainer and was Director of Education for the Columbus AIDS Task Force. He is past president of Stonewall Union and has been active in numerous human rights oganizations and political campaigns. Jeff was recently elected to the vice presidency of the State of Ohio Trainers Association. In his free time Jeff enjoys golf, volleyball, tennis, going to auctions/estate sales, and spending time with his family.

Chuck Lopez
Managing Editor, the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
Chuck studied English and Journalism at Sinclair College (Dayton) and at The Ohio State University. He has worked as a staff reporter for theColumbus Dispatch, as Managing Editor for Billian Publishing in Atlanta, and as Editor of Periodicals for the Institute of Industrial Engineers, a not-for-profit society also based in Atlanta. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Fairfax, Virginia-based Quality Observer. Before joining Nationwide, Chuck was the Editor of Materials Evaluation, of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. Chuck volunteers as a Cub Scout den leader and as a coach for several sports sponsored by the Worthington Youth Boosters. He and his wife have a seven-year-old son. He is active in the Colonial Hills Civic Association and is currently Editor of the Colonial HillsCourier. His hobbies include astronomy and seeing how much sawdust he can make with woodworking tools. Chuck hopes to gain a greater awareness of community needs.

Marilee T. Lowery
Realtor, King Thompson Realty
Marilee has her M.Ed. from The Ohio State. She taught in the Columbus Public Schools for 16 years, was a Resource Consultant in the Columbus Public Schools for 18 years, and was a summer school tutor with Harding Hospital. In 1989 she received her realtor license and GRI in 1995. She has been active in Pi Lambda Theta and Alpha Delta Kappa, education honoraries, and the Woman's Council of Realtors. Marilee has received the Martha Jennings Teaching Award, the Human Relations and Leadership Award from Battelle Institute, and the Quality Choice Award from King Thompson. She is especially interested in education and the arts in the Worthington Community. Marilee was married to the late Frank Lowery, teacher at Thomas Worthington High School; they have two sons, Frank and Ralph.

Matrid K. Ndife
Matrid has her B.S. with honors in Horticulture from Rutgers University, her M.S. in Postharvest Physiology of Vegetable Crops from Cornell University, and her Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Arkansas. She has worked for American Maize Producr Company in Hammond, Indiana and the Kellogg Company in Michigan before joining The Ohio State University Food Science Department. She is particularly excited about motivating yough scientists to challenge their abilities and frow to their fullest potential. She has received a Fulbright Fellowship and will be the 1996-97 Chair of the ohio Valley Institute of Food Technologists. Matrid is also the Project Director for the USDA grant program for food safety education.

Thomas Kenneth Piecenski
Assistant Vice-President-Mortgage Division, The Fifth Third Bank
Tom is attending Franklin University and has completed the degree program at American Bankers Association Institute of Banking. He has achieved the distinction of being in the top 1% of the bank's loan officers in sales and receiving The Fifth Third's Business Development Award for three consecutive years. Tom was named to Who's Who Worldwide - Business Leaders in 1994. He is active in F.O.R.C.E. (Friends Organized to Revitalize the Community Environment), the United Way of Dublin, Worthington Presbyterian Church (Deacon), and NetCare Corporation (Board Member). Tom says, "I continue to have a strong desire to be active within the community."

David Arthur Vogt
Vice-President - Real Estate Credit Office, Huntington National Bank
David has a degree in Accounting from The Ohio State University. As a Certified Public Accountant he has also worked for Pickett Hotel Company and SCOA Industries, Inc. His major volunteer responsibility is the 1995 Chairman of Finance Committee for the Worthington United Methodist Church managing the fund raising campaign for the annual operating and the capital debt retirement. He is also a trustee of the Village at Worthington Civic Association and facilitated the implementation of the Slate Hill Elementary School "word of the week" program. David says, " I would like to gain additional relationships, skills and understanding of how to participate and play a roll in the direction of the Worthington Schools."

Jill Wallace
Diirector, Marketing and Communications, CareNet Systems, Mount Carmel Health System
Jill graduated from Mount Carmel School of Nursing and received a B.A. in Business Administration from Otterbein College. She is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations and holds the volunteer board position of Vice President: Membership for the Ohio Society of Healthcare Public Relations with the Ohio Hospital Association. During the past two years, she has chaired a statewide public relations competition for this organization. Jill is currently active in TWIG 248 and the Olentangy Highbluffs Civic Association. She is married to Steve who works for the City of Columbus. Her daughter Lija Kalnins graduated from Thomas Worthington and is a junior at Miami University, and her son John is a first grader at St. Michael.

Charles E. Wigton III
Vice President, National City Bank - Private Client Group
Chuck graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in Political Science and Capital University Law School with a J.D. degree. He started his career as a special agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has been with National City Bank for 15 years as Vice President in trust and investment management services. Chuck is an Executive Elder at Grace Brethern Church of Columbus and helps oversee the business and spiritual issues of the church. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Crittenton Family Counseling; Chairman, Trust, Law and Probate Committee, Oho Bankers Association; and President, Columbus Estate Planning Council #2. Chuck is also active in the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, the Athletic Club of Columbus and Worthington Hills Country Club. He and his wife Leigh have four children, ages 6-14. In his spare time he likes to play golf and basketball, jog and garden.

Charles Eugene Wolfe
Fund Raising Consultant, Charles Wolfe
Chuck graduated from Salem Teiyko University in West Virginia with a B.A. in Human Relations and Political Science. He held several positions with the Boy Scouts of America in Long Island, Heidelberg, Germany, Baltimore, and Columbus and was Executive Director of Ohio Business Week Foundation. He is listed in Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities, received the Distinguished Kiwanian Award from the Worthington Linworth Kiwanis, and is a member of Chief Winners Circle, Boy Scouts of America. Chuck is vice president of the Brandywine Civic Association and works with residents on zoning, security, and neighborhood issues. He was president of the Worthington Linworth Kiwanis, chair of the NOW Democratic Policy Council, a member of Columbus Convention Bureau, National Society of Fund Raising Executives, Ohio Association of Association Executives, and the Unitarian/Universalist Church. Chuck is married to Toni, who is a teacher with the Columbus city school system.

Thomas Edward Wright
Certified Financial Planner, Lauterbach & Eilber, Inc.
Tom has a B.S. Degree in Economics from Boston College. Before joining Lauterbach & Eilber, he worked for IDS American Express and Accelerated Financial Planning. Tom played hockey for Boston College and continues this interest as a program instructor for The Ohio State University and Chiller teams. Tom and his wife are new to the community and they want to become better acquainted with Worthington and where their talents and skills might fit into volunteer activities.

Janet Yore
Supervisor, Special Education, Worthington Public Schools
After graduation from Worthington High School, Jan received her B.S. (Social Studies) and Master's (Special Education - Developmentally Handicapped)degrees from The Ohio State University. She also has a Master's degree in Supervision from Ashland University. With the exception of a year as an Ohio Bell Service Representative, Jan has been a special education teacher and supervisor at East High School, Harding Campus School program, and the Worthington schools. Jan has two grown children, Carrie and Scott, and a beloved dog, Gunner. She loves to read, water and downhill ski, travel and shop.