Leadership Worthington Graduates Class of 2001

Jennifer Lynn Button
Jennifer graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She has recently retired from the Reynoldsburg City Schools to be a stay-at-home mom. She was 1994 Teacher of the Year at Graham Road elementary School in the Reynoldsburg school district. Jennifer volunteers for Kinder Key of Children's Hospital and for the Colonial Hills Civic Association as Secretary/Treasurer. She is married and has a young son and a dog. Jennifer enjoys hiking, exercising and gardening.

Darrell L. Cheatham
Contact Lens Technician, Drs. Albright and Schnulo
Darrell graduated from Glenville State College with an A.A. degree in Music Education. He attends Columbus State Community College seeking nursing certification. Darrell has received several theater awards and recognition as Outstanding Choir Member from high school and college. He enjoys singing, bike riding, camping, running and crafts. Darrell has one son.

Josh M. Dunn
Corporate Recruiting Coordinator, Worthington Industries
Josh is a 1998 graduate of Grove City College with a B.A. in Business Management. He has interest in many sports, especially football and baseball. He has coached varsity football and baseball at East Palestine High School (OH). Josh says, "I am looking to get involved in as much as I can, since I am new to the area."

Ranae Adkins Friend
Site Administration Supervisor, Borden Foods Corporation Innovation Center
As a professional office administrator and executive administrative assistant, Ranae has worked for senior management at the York Steak House Systems, Inc., Pediatric Neurology at Children's Hospital, R.A.L. Auto Parts, Profit Management Consulting, Borden Italian Foods Marketing and Borden Foods Corporation Innovation Center. She has volunteered for the United Way as a site key worker, Community Care Day, Bowl for Kids Sake, and the Assembly of God Youth Group. Ranae has two grown daughters and enjoys reading and live theater.

Bill J. Ferguson
Director of Operations, Made From Scratch
Graduate of North Union High School with college education from Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University. Bill worked for Sanese Services 11 years starting as prep cook and worked his way up to Assistant General Manager. His last role with Sanese was to oversee all the catering and operations of the Honda Marysville Auto Plant, supplying daily service to 13,000 associates with a staff of 200+. Planning parties for 2 people to 5000 people. From Sanese Bill worked for Grand Rental Station in Bellefontaine, planning parties and managing the rental division. Worked with clients from Honda to Abercrombie and Fitch. Bill did sales and marketing for T-Rriffic Table Linen, a full service processing and rental company designated to specialty linens. In October, 1999, Bill joined Made From Scratch, Inc., a full service event planning and fine catering company. His responsibilities include directing the delivery staff, overseeing the service coordinator, securing all rental equipment, and making sure the execution of events is successful from a management standpoint. Bill is currently a member of the International Special Events Society, as well as The American Rental Association. He is studying for certification in the special events industry, to sit for his test in February, as a Certified Special Event Professional. Bill currently volunteers with The Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps.

Cris Gillespie
agent, Cam Taylor Co. Realtors
Cris graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. and M.S. in Social Work. He has worked for Omnilife Systems, Inc. and served as Executive Director of Westminster-Thurber Retirement Community. Cris is past president of the downtown Kiwanis Club and a member of the board of trustees for the Harry C. Moores Foundation, Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Mohen Heath Center, and the Columbus Kiwanis Foundation. He is married (Dede) and has three sons. Cris enjoys reading, jogging, and basketball officiating.

Debra M. Harper
Manager, Assistant Vice President, Fifth Third Bank
Debra graduated from Franklin University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration/Finance. Prior to her employment with Fifth Third Bank, she worked for National City Bank as a bank officer. Debra has been awarded a Management Performance Award in 1997, Peak Performance Award in 1998, and the Shoe Leather/Special Projects Award in 1999. She is active in Worthington Area Business and Professional Women as a career mentor and the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been a member of the Franklinton Business Association, Junior Achievement, Olentangy Rotary Club, Gladden Community House and Network Professionals, Inc. She also volunteers with the National Multiple Sclerosis Association.

James A. King, Partner
Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP
Jim graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in History and received his law degree from The Ohio State University. He is a partner with the law firm of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur. Jim is active in the National Veterans Legal Services Project, the Reserve Officers Association, and is a member of the Republican National Committee. He also is a graduate of Leadership Columbus He enjoys running, swimming, and golf. Jim and his wife, Geri Hewitt, have two boys, ages 1 and 5.

Linda Angela Mercandante
Professor of Theology and Clergy, The Methodist Theological School
Linda graduated from American University with a B.A. in English Education, Regent College with a M.C.S.. in Biblical Studies, and Princeton with a Ph.D. in Theology and History. She has post-graduate credits from the University of California (Berkeley). She is a professor of theology, ordained Presbyterian minister, and author of three books and numerous articles. She has won numerous teaching and journalism awards. Linda's major volunteer activities are with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. in various clergy activities as well as editing, writing, reviewing and consulting. She is a volunteer naturalist at Highbanks Metro Park, member of the Louisville Institute, American Academy of Religion, Center of Theological Inquiry, and Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research. She has one son and enjoys hiking, biking, film and cross-country skiing.

Eric W. Reisch
Vice President, Commercial Lending, National City Bank
Eric graduated from Miami University with a B.S. in Business and the University of Dayton for his M.B.A. His previous positions with National City Bank include Branch Manager of the Northwest Square office, Branch Manager at the Tremont-Fishinger office, and Credit Underwriter. Eric is a member of All Saints Lutheran Church were he serves on the Support (Finance) Committee. He also is a graduate of the Upper Arlington leadership program and served as a member of the Board of Trustees. Eric is an active participant with National City's Ohio Avenue Adopt-a-School program serving as a tutor for elementary students. Eric enjoys all sports, especially golf. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Megan (3 years old) and Maren (4 months old).

Judith Lynn Schomaker
sole proprietor, JLS
Judy graduated from Miami University with a B.A. in English/Journalism. She has worked for the Ohio Department of Health as an Public Information Specialist and WCI Appliance Group, where she was also newsletter editor. As a self-employed graphic designer, Judy is active in numerous associations and volunteer organizations: Worthington Area Business and Professional Women, Evening Street Elementary School (Junior Achievement, Classroom Art Gallery and past Carnival Co-chair), Ronald McDonald House, CCD Teacher and the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys large and small adventures, bringing together her family history, children's issues and outdoor activities.

Jonathan Carl Siehl
Director and Psychotherapist, The Wellness Institute
Jon has a B.A. degree in Philosophy and German from Muskingum College, his M.Div. in Theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, his M.A. in Philosophy and M.S.W. in Social Work from The Ohio State University. He has been a program director for the Center for Individual and Family Services and a clinical case manager at Harding Hospital. He currently operates a private practice in mental health counseling. He has had numerous church staff positions and is currently a parish associate at the Overbrook Presbyterian Church. Jon has published a paper for the Legislative Service Commission "Human Organ Transplantation: Legal/Ethical Issues." He is a board member of Westminster Thurber Retirement Center, a member of the Columbus Symphony Chorus and Symphony Chamber Chorus, Orange Johnson Singers, and member and team captain of the Worthington Cardinal Men's Tennis Team. Jon and His wife have 2 children and one cat. He enjoys music, reading, ocean beaches, and evergreen forests.

Regina Smith
Leadership Worthington, Administrative Assistant
Gina has worked for the Worthington Public Schools Board of Education for the past 15 years. She has been Leadership Worthington's fabulous do-everything person for a year. Gina has also worked for Acacia Life Insurance Company and Clyde-Green Springs Schools. She volunteers for Worthington Kilbourne High School and their Marching Band, also McCord Middle School and as a student tutor. Gina is active with All Saints Lutheran Church and acted as the Leadership Worthington liaison for Service Day. Gina and her husband Keith, who have two daughters, Brittany and Mandy, have taken up golf together.

Elizabeth A. Sommer
Vice-president, Business Loan Center, Huntington National Bank
Beth graduated from Miami University with s B.S. in Business Administration. She began working at The Huntington in 1980 in various roles in commercial lending, retail and in management. For 9 years she managed the banking office in downtown Worthington. Presently, Beth is a Team Leader in the Business Loan Center, overseeing the underwriting of business loans up to $100,000. She is currently a trustee for the Worthington Public Library. Beth has been active with the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, receiving the President's Award in 1994 and serving on its board from 1996-1999. For the past three years, she has taught Junior Achievement in Worthington schools. She is a member of the steering committee for the economic development plan for the City of Worthington and a member of Worthington Area Business and Professional Women. Her children, Lauren and Craig, are both in elementary school. In her spare time, Beth enjoys supporting her husband's hobbies, barbershop quartet singing and gourmet cooking.

Patricia Ann Stout
Associate Pastor, Worthington Presbyterian Church
Patricia graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. Ed. in Elementary Education; San Francisco Theological Seminary, Masters of Divinity; and completed a one year residency at the Stanford University Hospital. She founded Conscious Contact of Marin County, California, and served as Executive Director from 1990-98. She worked as the Interim Pastor in the Athens Presbyterian Church. Patricia has also been an adjunct member of the faculty of the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Patricia has two grown children, Todd and Amanda Miller, both living in California. She enjoys caring for her two dogs, cooking, ballroom dancing, hiking, reading and the symphony.

James A. Taylor
Special Projects Manager, CoreComm
James graduated from Heidelberg College with a B.A. in Economics. He also has graduate credits from Penn State toward his M.B.A. One of Jim's special projects for CoreComm has been leading his business team in their contract with Nationwide Arena and the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is past president of Bell Atlantic Toastmasters and has won numerous sales awards while at CoreComm. Jim volunteers with St. Brigid of Kildare and the YMCA as a baseball coach. He has been an Executive-on-Loan for the United Way. He has two children and enjoys watching them play Select Soccer and hockey in Dublin at the Chiller.

Leslie A. Tilton
Clerk/Treasurer, Operations Manager, Worthington Public Library
Leslie received her B.S. degree from The Ohio State University in English and Speech Communication Education. She has worked for Columbus Forge and Iron Company, Detco, Inc. and the United Methodist Children's Home as the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Leslie is a member of the Academy of Management.. Leslie is a member of the Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocates board of trustees. Leslie has one dog and enjoys renovating houses, landscaping, walking, reading and listening to music.

Donald Jarrod Valentine
Assistant Vice-President/Retail Banking Center Manager, The Ohio Bank
D.J. graduated from Marietta College with a B.S. in Marketing. He has worked for KeyBank as Retail Sales Manager and for the Huntington National Bank as a Personal Banker. D.J. is active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Gahanna Chamber of Commerce. D.J. is married to Dionne and enjoys fishing and basketball.

Gregory David Viebranz
Director of Communications, Worthington Public Schools
Greg graduated from the Ohio State University with a B.A. in Journalism with emphasis on public relations and photography. Prior to joining the Worthington Schools as Director of Communications, he served as Communications Manager for the South-Western City School District. Greg has received state and national recognition for his work, including the Crystal Award and Gold Medallion Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). These awards recognize the state's outstanding school communications professional and outstanding educational public relations programs across the country. Greg is a trustee with the State Board of Ohio United Way, president of the Ohio Chapter of NSPRA, and a Board member for Worthington's Partners for Citizenship and Character. His past leadership activities include serving as a trustee for both the Southwest Public Libraries and the Ohio PTA Executive Board. Greg and his wife, Caroline, have one child and are anticipating the birth of their second child in March. Greg enjoys golfing, reading, photography and spending time with his family.

Kevin L. Williams
Project Manager, Gilbane Building Company
Kevin graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.S., Civil Engineering. He is a professional engineer. He has worked in engineering and consulting as Department Manager for Professional Service Industries (PSI) and as Project Engineer for Hull and Associates, Inc. Kevin has spent the last four years in the construction management field, all with Gilbane. He is a member of the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio. Kevin enjoys golf and soccer.

Tonya LeAnn Zeigler
Director of Business Initiatives, Shared Resources, Inc.
Tonya attended Ohio University pursuing a degree in Physical Education before transferring to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to obtain an A.A. degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising. She has worked for Macola Software as an account manager, JD Hersey and Associates and Hudepohl and Associates as a recruiter. Tonya is married with two children (16,13). She enjoys sports, music and relaxing with family and friends.