Board + Leadership

Meet the People Driving Action for Children Forward

Our leadership team and board of directors keep Action for Children moving toward our goals of supporting the community and making high-quality child care and parenting programs accessible to everyone in central Ohio.

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Senior Leadership

"Pass the Mic" Interviews with our Leadership Team

Get to know our Directors!

Visit our blog to learn more about each Leadership Team Member!

Board of Directors

Officers

  • President – Matthew Sharp – SVP, Sr. Actuary; Guy Carpenter
  • Vice President – Matthew Bell – Director of Corporate Strategy; Kimball Midwest
  • Treasurer – Alex Anthony – Chief Administrative Officer; BeecherHill
  • Secretary – Tamar Williamson – Owner, Operator; iFoam
  • Past President – Dr. Mary Kay Irwin – Associate Vice President of School Health Services; Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Board Presidents

1972 - Present
  • 1972, Cecilia “Cee” Cullman
  • 1973–1974, James Horan
  • 1975, Shirley Rhodes
  • 1976, Elizabeth Schilling
  • 1977, Nappy Hetzler
  • 1978, Ann Hughes
  • 1979, Russell Jordan
  • 1980-1981, Betty MacIntosh
  • 1982-1983, Floradelle Pfahl
  • 1984-1985, Muriel Tice
  • 1986-1987, Donald Bender
  • 1988-1989, Lou Briggs
  • 1990-1991, Mary Lazarus
  • 1992-1993, Samuel Koon
  • 1994-1995, Judy Fountain
  • 1996-1997, Ann Pizzuti
  • 1998-2000, Adam Troy
  • 2000-2002, Tanny Crane
  • 2002-2004, Steve Johnston
  • 2004-2006, Mary Cusick
  • 2006-2008, Carole Watkins
  • 2008-2011, Rhonda Fraas
  • 2011-2014, Jeffrey Cullman
  • 2014-2015, Jane Grote Abell
  • 2015-2017, Holly Stokes
  • 2018-2019, Andrew Alderman
  • 2020-2021, Diana Westhoff
  • 2022-2024, Lisa Cochran
  • 2024-present, Mary Kay Irwin

Executive Directors

1972 - Present
  • 1972-1973, Ray McFarland
  • 1973-1976, Dorothy Reynolds
  • 1976-1980, Hannah Dillard
  • 1980-1983, Margaret Hamilton
  • 1983-2013, Diane Bennett
  • 2013-2024, Eric Karolak
  • 2024, Ann Lockett (Interim CEO)
  • 2025-present, Tasha Booker

Members

  • Jennifer Halas – Vice President, Associate General Counsel; Huntington National Bank
  • Joyce Chen, Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies; The Ohio State University;
  • Rebecca (Becky) Ciminillo – Vice President of Youth Development; YMCA of Central Ohio
  • Lisa Cochran – Vice President, Wealth Strategist; PNC Bank
  • Joanne Goldhand – Partner; Ice Miller, LLC
  • Holly Stokes – Private Bank Market Leader; PNC Bank
  • Joy Bivens - Deputy County Administrator; Franklin County Board of Commissioners
  • Becky Love – Retired; Franklin County Board of DD
  • Tasha Booker - CEO; Action for Children

Members

  • Jennifer Halas – Vice President, Associate General Counsel; Huntington National Bank
  • Joyce Chen, Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies; The Ohio State University;
  • Rebecca (Becky) Ciminillo – Vice President of Youth Development; YMCA of Central Ohio
  • Lisa Cochran – Vice President, Wealth Strategist; PNC Bank
  • Joanne Goldhand – Partner; Ice Miller, LLC
  • Holly Stokes – Private Bank Market Leader; PNC Bank
  • Joy Bivens - Deputy County Administrator; Franklin County Board of Commissioners
  • Becky Love – Retired; Franklin County Board of DD
  • Tasha Booker - CEO; Action for Children

Officers

  • President – Matthew Sharp – SVP, Sr. Actuary; Guy Carpenter
  • Vice President – Matthew Bell – Director of Corporate Strategy; Kimball Midwest
  • Treasurer – Alex Anthony – Chief Administrative Officer; BeecherHill
  • Secretary – Tamar Williamson – Owner, Operator; iFoam
  • Past President – Dr. Mary Kay Irwin – Associate Vice President of School Health Services; Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Board Presidents

1972 - Present
  • 1972, Cecilia “Cee” Cullman
  • 1973–1974, James Horan
  • 1975, Shirley Rhodes
  • 1976, Elizabeth Schilling
  • 1977, Nappy Hetzler
  • 1978, Ann Hughes
  • 1979, Russell Jordan
  • 1980-1981, Betty MacIntosh
  • 1982-1983, Floradelle Pfahl
  • 1984-1985, Muriel Tice
  • 1986-1987, Donald Bender
  • 1988-1989, Lou Briggs
  • 1990-1991, Mary Lazarus
  • 1992-1993, Samuel Koon
  • 1994-1995, Judy Fountain
  • 1996-1997, Ann Pizzuti
  • 1998-2000, Adam Troy
  • 2000-2002, Tanny Crane
  • 2002-2004, Steve Johnston
  • 2004-2006, Mary Cusick
  • 2006-2008, Carole Watkins
  • 2008-2011, Rhonda Fraas
  • 2011-2014, Jeffrey Cullman
  • 2014-2015, Jane Grote Abell
  • 2015-2017, Holly Stokes
  • 2018-2019, Andrew Alderman
  • 2020-2021, Diana Westhoff
  • 2022-2024, Lisa Cochran
  • 2024-present, Mary Kay Irwin

Executive Directors

1972 - Present
  • 1972-1973, Ray McFarland
  • 1973-1976, Dorothy Reynolds
  • 1976-1980, Hannah Dillard
  • 1980-1983, Margaret Hamilton
  • 1983-2013, Diane Bennett
  • 2013-2024, Eric Karolak
  • 2024, Ann Lockett (Interim CEO)
  • 2025-present, Tasha Booker

Reach Out Today

To learn more about the people leading our organization, reach out to us today.

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