Podcast
Building Ideas
Building Ideas is a podcast joined by passionate designers, leaders, and innovators who believe design and relationships have the power to make the world a better place. Join us as we discuss trending topics, innovative techniques and deep-seated traditions in the design, non-profit, and business worlds that leave a lasting impact on our lives and our communities. Subscribe to hear the latest monthly updates and special guest appearances on Wednesdays.
Building Ideas is a podcast brought to you by MSA Design, an award winning national architecture and design firm headquartered in the Midwest committed to designing exceptional experiences and spaces.
- Episodes
- 109
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 49 min
- On air since
- 2020
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
109 episodes, newest first
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42 min
Episode 108_Sean Comer
Season 6, Episode 108
Show notes
Sean Comer is the Vice President of the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.
Sean directs Leadership Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati region’s flagship civic leadership program for seasoned leaders, and oversees Leadership Center, the Everyone Belongs Here Initiative, University Partnerships, business focused events, and program sponsorship. Over the past few years, Sean has led the effort to grow the Leadership Center’s offerings, reach, and impact by launching new concepts with the team such as: Hello Cincy: Executive, Breathe, Leadership Cincinnati: Youth, and Leadership Sprints. Engaged with leadership programs across the country, he has presented at the annual conference for the Association of Leadership Programs with partner organization, Cloverleaf, and serves on the Steering Committee of the National Community Leadership Collaborative.
Prior to joining our team, he taught in the Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (PPP) program at his alma mater, Xavier University, and spearheaded the campus’ government affairs efforts. He helped launch and manage efforts aimed at communicating on difficult and charged topics at Xavier, including “Beyond Civility: Communication for Effective Governance.” Sean loves to seek balance in life, spending time outdoors with his family, traveling to new places, and experimenting in the kitchen.
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44 min
Episode 107_Erin Mignano
Season 6, Episode 107
Show notes
Erin Mignano is Vice President and General Manager of Turner Construction, Cincinnati.
After graduating from The George Washington University with a major in mechanical engineering in 2005, Erin joined Turner and has held a variety of assignments and positions in the delivery of the company’s work; however, the majority of her career has been spent in the field on projects before moving into leadership roles as Project Manager and SPD/Interiors Manager. Under Erin’s leadership, Turner has expanded its resume with award winning projects in Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, and Commercial Interiors.
Because of Erin’s unique management style, over the years she was consistently nominated for projects that require highly technical insight and a collaborative approach to project execution. She is skilled in helping all team members understand the importance of working together and finding strategic ways to make projects successful. Erin remains actively involved in all aspects of the Turner and Local Community. She is married and has a young son at home that keeps her on her toes.
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56 min
Episode 106_Cradle of Coaches Documentary
Season 6, Episode 106
Show notes
Scott Thompson and Jesy Herron are both storytellers, they just come at it a little differently.
Scott is the Founder and Team Champion of RESLV, a filmmaker and big-idea guy who’s always looking for the story beneath the surface. Jesy leads client partnerships, hosts Rediscover Your Story, and brings the energy, curiosity, and instinct for what will actually connect with people.
Together, they’ve helped build RESLV into an Emmy Award-winning creative agency. Now they’re telling one of their biggest stories yet.
Their upcoming documentary, Cradle of Coaches, explores the incredible coaching legacy of Miami University and the people who helped shape the game far beyond Oxford.
In this unique episode of Building Ideas, we’re going behind the scenes of how that story came together, and why it’s about a lot more than football.
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45 min
Episode 105_John Heater
Season 6, Episode 105
Show notes
Meet John Heater, a Christ-centered servant leader with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. Alongside his professional work, John has faithfully served in a variety of roles within his local church and brings a deep heart for ministry and people.
John will begin serving in a dual role as Regional Director of Board and Donor Advancement, providing leadership and support to the SEC region. He will also continue supporting the Northwest Kentucky Metro Area ministries, helping ensure continuity, strength, and alignment. With extensive experience in donor and board development, John is passionate about cultivating strong donor relationships and building engaged, effective boards. He is excited to extend his gifts and talents through the impactful ministry of FCA.
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42 min
Episode 104_Robert McDonald
Season 6, Episode 104
Show notes
Rob is Co-Chair of Taft’s Sports Law Group and Chair of the firm’s Cincinnati Business practice. He is widely recognized as principal counsel to private equity and venture capital funds, growth-oriented companies, sports franchises, and research institutions. His practice focuses on leading equity financings, securities offerings, complex commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives. Rob regularly advises global and national clients on the structuring and execution of significant business transactions.
Rob is actively engaged in civic and professional leadership at both the national and local levels. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and is a board member of the FC Cincinnati Foundation. Reflecting the international scope of his practice, he also serves on the Board of Interlex, a global association of leading law firms. In Ohio, Rob is a member of the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and has previously served as Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Cincinnati.
Rob earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. During his undergraduate studies, he completed comparative law coursework at New College, Oxford University. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where he also clerked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during his final term. Rob grew up in Kobe, Japan.
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45 min
Episode 103_Geoff Mearns
Season 6, Episode 103
Show notes
President Geoffrey S. Mearns serves as the 17th president of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. This 21,000 student institution competes at the NCAA Division 1 FBS level in the Mid American Conference. In addition to its' acclaimed programs in the Estopinal College of Architecture & Planning, the College of Communication Information & Media, Honors College, and the Miller College of Business - the Ball State's Teachers' College is a world-renowned leader in teacher education.
After joining the University in May 2017, President Mearns helped to develop a new strategic plan. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path established a long-range vision for the University that sets priorities across five key areas: undergraduate excellence, graduate education and lifetime learning, community engagement and impact, scholarship and societal impact, and inclusiveness and institutional excellence. A refreshed version of the plan, which upholds these five long-term goals, was approved by members of the Board of Trustees in 2025.
During his tenure, President Mearns has pursued initiatives that have sustained and expanded the University’s enrollment, despite the adverse impact of the pandemic, and increased alumni engagement and fundraising. President Mearns has also strengthened the University’s relationship with the community, most notably through its innovative partnership with Muncie Community Schools and its ambitious plan to revitalize The Village through a $200 million mixed use academic village redevelopment. During his tenure the University continues to invest in core academic, student life, and athletic facilities.
A former elite collegiate distance running athlete and distinguished attorney and federal prosecutor, he previously served as President at Northern Kentucky University and Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University. He and his wife Jennifer have five adult children and multiple grandchildren.
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33 min
Episode 102_Terri Hanlon-Bremer
Season 6, Episode 102
Show notes
Terri Hanlon-Bremer, MSN, RN, was named TriHealth’s incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective in late June 2026.
In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Terri worked closely with clinical and administrative leadership teams to continue to elevate operational performance while driving the continued integration and acceleration of TriHealth’s leading population health strategy.
Under Terri’s leadership, TriHealth’s operational rigor has been enhanced to ensure top performance in quality, service and financial strength. She has led system transformation through clinical redesign, achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness in care delivery. Additionally, Terri has spearheaded TriHealth’s consumerism efforts, aimed at evolving care delivery to meet the changing needs of patients. Her passion for delivering the TriHealth Way signature experience to every patient has contributed to TriHealth’s emergence as the region’s leading and most trusted healthcare provider. Her leadership in driving TriHealth’s population health initiatives continue to redefine healthcare delivery by improving patient outcomes and bending the cost curve.
A registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing administration, Terri has more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She started her career in 1987 as a cardiac nurse and joined TriHealth’s leadership team in 2007. Since then, she has assumed roles of increasing leadership responsibilities, including leading TriHealth’s population health strategy and overseeing its successful COVID vaccination program.
Through balanced and thoughtful leadership, Terri’s ability to manage complex operational and strategic initiatives across TriHealth’s expansive delivery system has resulted in improved patient outcomes, industry-leading team member and physician engagement, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Terri has received regional and national awards and recognition for her achievements at TriHealth, including Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators Award in 2022, and is a sought-after national voice on TriHealth’s population health journey. She is a member of Class 48 of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Leadership Cincinnati program, the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and the Mason Port Authority Board. Terri formerly served as Chair of the Cincinnati chapter of the American Diabetes Association. She dedicates her time and leadership skills to several community initiatives, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati as well as her church, further demonstrating her commitment to service and leadership.
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36 min
Episode 101_Doug Steimle
Season 6, Episode 101
Show notes
Doug Steimle is Operations Leader and Principal at Schaefer, a Cincinnati headquartered Structural Engineering design practice.
Doug is one of Schaefer’s senior level engineers with 23+ years of experience. He is recognized in the design of tall wood and hybrid-frame buildings both for mixed-use + multi-residential, and has shared his knowledge through presentations to architects and engineers across the country through Woodworks, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineers Association of Ohio annual conference. Doug is passionate about the future of the wood industry and has emerged as a heavy timber advocate; he has designed 20+ mass timber projects, including the first and second CLT hotels in the United States.
A Cincinnati native and graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Doug and his wife are raising eleven children.
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50 min
Episode 100_Jeff Mitchell_Season Six Premiere
Season 6, Episode 100
Show notes
Jeff Mitchell was introduced as the Cardinals’ Director of Athletics on February 6, 2023. A respected administrator with more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration, Mitchell is currently in his third year as a member of the Ball State University senior executive team and leads an athletics department that sponsors 19 programs with more than 450 student-athletes.
During his first two years at the helm, Mitchell’s leadership fostered significant competitive success, new standards of academic excellence, increased commitment to community engagement, enhanced growth in philanthropic support and revenue generation, and investment in comprehensive facility improvements. In 2024–25, Mitchell led Ball State to secure its first-ever Carol A. Cartwright Award, signifying the Mid-American Conference’s best overall athletics program, recognizing academic excellence, athletic success, and civic engagement.
Ball State has claimed 10 conference championships under Mitchell’s leadership. Academically, Ball State established a new benchmark in 2024–25 as all 19 varsity programs recorded a team GPA above 3.0 in both semesters. The department achieved its highest spring semester GPA in the past decade (3.487) and its highest full-year GPA in 10 years (3.46). In the community, the Cardinals logged more than 4,200 hours of service in Muncie and across East Central Indiana.
In addition to these competitive and academic milestones, Mitchell negotiated a new multimedia rights deal with Peak Sports MGMT valued at more than $10 million. Fundraising for Ball State Athletics also recorded its highest two-year total ever, with more than $17.9 million raised. Nearly all Ball State sports venues have undergone significant updates over the past two years, with completed or approved construction projects accounting for approximately $25 million in facility enhancements.
Mitchell is the co-author of the textbook Sport, Ethics and Leadership, published in 2017, and previously served as an adjunct professor of business leadership at the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (2001) and Master of Business Administration (2003) degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005, where he also served as a graduate assistant in the external relations unit, primarily working with the Ole Miss football and men’s basketball programs. Mitchell and his wife, April, are parents to a daughter, Harper Wynne (17), and a son, Carson (12).
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58 min
Episode 99_Colleen Reynolds
Season 5, Episode 99
Show notes
Colleen is a Partner at DSD Advisors LLC, the government relations consulting affiliate of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP that partners with public, private, and nonprofit clients to achieve their public policy goals at the local, state, and federal levels. She is responsible for advocacy and communications strategy development and execution on behalf of all DSD clients.
Before joining DSD Advisors, she served as director of communications & community affairs for a Cincinnati City Council Member. Her experience includes shaping and guiding the city’s $1.4 billion annual budget, managing constituent services and internal stakeholder relationships, directing both internal and external communications, and advising on legislative policy and issue management. She also created, executed, and oversaw office initiatives that received national recognition.
Colleen holds an Honors B.A. in the Philosophy, Politics, and the Public Program from Xavier University, where she served as student body president. She also holds a B.A. in Theology with minors in History and Peace Studies. She is active in the community, serving as President of the Oakley Community Council Board of Trustees, Vice President of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library Board of Trustees, and Member of the Groundwork Ohio River Valley Board of Directors. She is also an elected Precinct Executive serving on the Hamilton County Democratic Executive Committee. She resides in Oakley.
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51 min
Episode 98_Dan Driehaus
Season 5, Episode 98
Show notes
Born into family committed to public service, Dan Driehaus has been civically involved since birth. He continues to serve his community on Wyoming City Council, in addition to non-profit boards, public boards and through his own children's activities and schools.
Dan earned his B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University in 1994. Following graduation, Dan served as the Volunteer Coordinator of the Joel Hyatt for Senate Campaign, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Following the campaign, Dan began his insurance career at Cincinnati Insurance Company, where he served as a commercial underwriter.
As an insurance agent, from 1998 to 2012, Dan built a client list consisting of public entities, school systems, civic organizations, commercial accounts, non-profit entities & personal lines accounts. Since 2012, Dan has started his own firm, Driehaus Insurance Group.
The insurance agency profession lends itself to community involvement. Dan enjoys serving with community members on several boards & civic organizations.
From 2014 to 2019, Dan served on the Cincinnati Planning Commission, eventually serving as Board Chair. During his tenure, Dan presided over 142 Planning Commission meetings, approved 23 updated community plans and hundreds of development projects, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital Expansion, the Anthem Walnut Hills Mixed-Use Development, Uptown Gateway Project and much more - as envisioned by residents and planning professionals.
From 2013 to 2018, Dan served on the board of Cincinnatus. From 2013 to present, Dan has served on the board, and eventually chaired, the Cincinnati Area Senior Services.
Dan is also proud to serve as the Immediate Past Board Chair for Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky, a Board Member of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Chair of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, Chair of the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club, and is a member of the Leadership Cincinnati Class 45.
As a member of Wyoming City Council, Dan serves on the Planning Commission, the Community Improvement Corporation, and is Wyoming's representative on the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
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49 min
Episode 97_Jason Toth
Season 5, Episode 97
Show notes
Jason Toth was named senior associate vice president for administration for the University of Toledo in January 2019. He oversees the University's Facilities & Construction and Supply Chain offices.
In his role, Toth leads the planning, directing, and monitoring of facilities operations and maintenance for the physical plant of the University. He is also responsible for the coordination and management of capital construction projects, aligning them with the University's Strategic and Campus Master Plans. Additionally, Toth leads the supply chain management division which handles University procurement, Shipping/Receiving/Mail Services/Surplus Property, along with the University of Toledo Medical Center's central distribution and linen services areas.
Toth joined the University in 2011 as the Director of Facilities/Civil Engineer. He oversaw the re-engineering of the department's Construction Project Management Team. He applied his expertise to streamline processes and create efficiencies resulting in increased customer satisfaction and a reduction to the University's deferred maintenance liability.
In 2012 Toth was promoted to University Chief Engineer, in 2013 to Associate Vice President, and in 2019 to Senior Associate Vice President.
Under his leadership the departments for which he provides oversight strive to provide exceptional environments, deliver top end service, and promote the University's mission to improve the human condition.
Prior to joining UToledo, Toth spent 13+ in the construction management field working for Bostleman Corporation.
Toth received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is a LEED accredited professional and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Institute for Educational Management.
Jason has been happily married to his wife Janell for 27+ years. They have 5 children – Addison, Broc, Carson, Delaney, and Eli (ABCDE) and two adorable grand children (Julia – 5 and Sadie – 2). In his free time he enjoys walking, hiking, cycling and has been coaching youth sports for nearly 30yrs.
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49 min
Episode 96_Justin Brookhart
Season 5, Episode 96
Show notes
Justin Brookhart is the Executive Director of Public Art and Placemaking at AGAR, an experiential marketing and creative agency specializing in cultural storytelling and immersive brand experiences. In this role, Justin leads a national portfolio of transformative public art and placemaking projects that fuse creativity, culture, and community. Overseeing everything from concept development and artist curation to fabrication, installation, and vibrant programming, he brings large-scale works to life in cities across the country.
Justin excels at building dynamic public-private partnerships and managing complex, multi-million-dollar initiatives, ensuring each project becomes an immersive experience that engages and uplifts diverse communities. Prior to AGAR, he served as Executive Director of BLINK, the nation’s largest public art festival, which drew over 2.2M attendees and earned national acclaim.
Justin holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Film Arts from the University of New Orleans. His visionary leadership has been recognized with honors including the Ohio Arts Council’s Irma Lazarus Award (2025), CODAworx Creative Revolutionary (2023), and helping Cincinnati earn USA Today’s Best City for Street Art (2024). Through his work, Justin helps shape places that resonate far beyond their physical spaces, leaving a lasting mark on both people and culture.
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1 hr 7 min
Episode 95_Annette DiTommaso & Charlie Williams
Season 5, Episode 95
Show notes
Annette DiTommaso, Executive Director
Annette DiTommaso is the Executive Director of the Blue Line Foundation, where she leads efforts to support first responders, uplift at-risk communities, and drive impactful urban revitalization projects throughout Greater Cincinnati. With over a decade of expertise in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management, Annette is deeply committed to fostering strategic partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and spearheading initiatives that improve community infrastructure, promote neighborhood safety, and expand affordable housing.
Before her role at Blue Line, Annette held key leadership positions at altafiber, including Senior Manager of Employee Experience and Corporate Impact and Employee Engagement Manager. There, she developed comprehensive global CSR programs, established charitable foundations, and significantly boosted employee engagement and corporate philanthropy.
Annette began her career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, specializing in ethical investing and strategic charitable giving, before moving into relationship management at United Way of Greater Cincinnati. A proud Indiana University alumna, Annette holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management. Recognized as a YWCA Rising Star, she combines strategic vision, data-driven solutions, and passionate leadership to create lasting, positive change in the community.
Charlie Williams, President
Charlie Williams is a seasoned financial professional and Director of Wealth Management at LS Financial Group, with nearly two decades of experience guiding clients through strategic financial planning, investment management, retirement strategies, and estate planning. At the Blue Line Foundation, Charlie serves as President and leverages his extensive financial expertise to help drive strategic decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability, supporting the Foundation's critical mission to uplift first responders, enhance community safety, and foster urban revitalization.
In addition to his role at LS Financial Group, Charlie previously served as a Financial Consultant at A.G. Edwards & Sons, bringing a wealth of experience in wealth-building and client relations. He also contributed to public service as the Campaign Manager for Debbi Alsfelder for Congress, underscoring his commitment to community and civic engagement.
A proud graduate of Miami University, Charlie holds degrees in Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. He is recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager and maintains several financial certifications, including Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Charlie is passionate about applying his financial acumen and strategic insight to make a lasting positive impact in his community.
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47 min
Episode 94_Brendon Cull & Pete Metz
Season 5, Episode 94
Show notes
Brendon Cull
President & CEO, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Brendon Cull leads the Cincinnati Regional Chamber—the region’s largest business organization—where he drives a bold strategy to grow our economy, population, and cultural vibrancy. Since joining the Chamber in 2015 (after a decade guiding government affairs for The Kroger Co.), Brendon has steered game‑changing initiatives: championing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, co‑creating the Cincinnati Futures Commission, scaling BLINK into a $127 million economic juggernaut, and launching the Minority Business Accelerator Fund I.
A Xavier University grad (Organizational Communication) and Leadership Cincinnati alum, Brendon blends 30 years of government, corporate, and nonprofit experience. He’s an in‑demand strategist and civic ambassador, serving on boards for ArtsWave, CincyTech, the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Minority Business Accelerator, Visit Cincy, and Xavier’s Williams College of Business.
Away from the office, Brendon is an avid reader, runner, cyclist, and live‑music aficionado. He and his wife Becky are raising two daughters in Cincinnati’s Clifton neighborhood—never far from a great book or the next big idea.
Pete Metz
Vice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Pete Metz convenes businesses, civic leaders, and community partners to accelerate initiatives that make Greater Cincinnati thrive. As vice president of Civic & Regional Partnerships, he guides the Chamber’s Center for Research & Data and more than a dozen programs tackling economic development, housing, innovation, and the built environment.
Best known as the business community’s “transportation champion,” Pete has spent nearly a decade unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars for transformative projects—the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, expanded Metro funding, and the region‑spanning CROWN trail. He helped architect and pass Hamilton County’s landmark Move Forward levy, doubling transit funding while lowering Cincinnati’s earnings tax.
Pete cut his teeth in public service as chief of staff to Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Mann and on Capitol Hill shaping federal transportation and energy policy. He now serves on the boards of SORTA, OKI Regional Council of Governments, the Corporation for Findlay Market, and Northside’s NEST CDC.
A Clifton resident, Pete enjoys exploring city neighborhoods with his wife Becca and their two young daughters—always plotting the next connection that will move Cincinnati forward.
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39 min
Episode 93_Charley Wayman
Season 5, Episode 93
Show notes
Charley Wayman is the Director of Marketing at MSA Design, where she leads strategic marketing and business development initiatives across the firm’s architecture, interiors, and graphics disciplines. A proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP with a degree in Fashion Product Development, Charley brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and relationship-building to her work. She currently serves on the Board of Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, is an alumna of the Queen City Game Changers, and will soon graduate from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s WE Lead program.
Originally from Clarksville, Ohio, Charley now lives in Ludlow, Kentucky with her husband and their beloved dogs (and one cat). She’s a self-proclaimed book nerd (on a mission to read at least 40 books for her 40th year), bourbon enthusiast, sneaker collector, wannabe health junkie, and lifelong lover of leopard print. Before joining MSA, she worked with the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, supporting advocacy for the building industry. Charley thrives on trying new things, traveling, cheering on the Bengals as a season ticket holder, and leaning into her Enneagram 7 spirit. Her top strengths—Positivity, WOO, Achiever, Learner, and Strategic—are the heart of how she shows up in life and leadership.
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1 hr 18 min
Episode 92_Scott Schuster
Season 5, Episode 92
Show notes
Meet Scott Schuster, a passionate champion of education and lifelong learning whose visionary leadership is reshaping Cincinnati’s nonprofit scene. As Vice President of Philanthropy and President of the Cincinnati Museums Foundation, Scott spearheads bold fundraising strategies that help the Cincinnati Museum Center spark curiosity and wonder across science, regional history, and beyond. Under his guidance, CMC successfully wrapped its largest campaign ever—raising over $123 million to unveil 20 state-of-the-art exhibits, galleries, and research labs—and launched “Project Treasures,” a new $40 million initiative ensuring the museum’s historic and scientific gems remain protected for generations to come.
A career fundraiser at heart, Scott’s talent for building authentic, mission-driven relationships has powered transformative projects everywhere he’s served, including Archbishop Moeller High School and the University of Cincinnati Foundation, where he played a pivotal role in a $120 million construction project for UC’s Lindner College of Business. Today, he continues to inspire the next generation of marketing leaders as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UC, while also serving as a Great Parks of Hamilton County Board of Park Commissioner. Named one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s “Forty Under 40,” Scott Schuster blends passion, expertise, and a commitment to community—making him a driving force behind nonprofit innovation and a must-listen voice for anyone interested in the power of philanthropy.
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1 hr 3 min
Episode 91_Kelly Bonnell
Season 5, Episode 91
Show notes
Kelly Bonnell is Chief Operations Officer of Constellation Wealth Partners. Kelly brings expertise in process and strategic planning from a career dedicated to managing the organizational operations of scaling companies.
She was instrumental in the success of her family’s business, BGR, Inc. where she led the company’s strategic planning and growth efforts in her position as COO. In this role, she focused on integrating the major functions of the business to execute annual strategic plans and achieve the company’s financial goals.
Kelly is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47. She was also a member of C-Change, Class 8 and WE Lead, Class 11 – all three leadership development programs offered by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. She was named one of Cincinnati’s Forty Under 40 by the Business Courier and winner of the 2018 Larry Grypp Rising Leader Award.
Kelly is a graduate of the University of Dayton and Xavier University’s Williams College of Business. She lives in Greater Cincinnati with her husband Todd and two children.
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51 min
Episode 90_Regina Carswell Russo
Season 5, Episode 90
Show notes
Regina Carswell Russo is Founder/CEO of RRight Now Communications, a strategic communications firm. Regina helps clients remove barriers to effective communication. With more than 30 years of communications, journalism, and media relations experience, Regina's clients include Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, The Port, Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools.
After retiring from broadcast journalism after 23 years, 15 years here in Cincinnati at FOX19, Regina transitioned to arts marketing as Director of Communications and Marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Chief of Communications at the Contemporary Arts Center, where the Cincinnati Business Courier recognized her accomplishments with a C-Suite Award.
Regina brings innovation and creativity to solve complex communication problems for her clients in crisis communication, media relations, media interview coaching, brand reputation, and multicultural stakeholder engagement. RRight Now Communications' fastest growing client base is C-Suite women, helping them craft and elevate their authentic voice in their corporate leadership.
Regina’s vast number of Board appointments and awards include:
• National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Nominee
• Five Associated Press and Michigan Association Broadcaster Awards
• Cincinnati Magazine/ 2021, 2022, 2023 Power 300-Most Powerful Business Leaders
• 2022 YWCA Career Woman of Achievement
• Board Trustee, Cincinnati Opera (Executive Committee, Nominating Commitee)
• Ragan Communication/ PR Daily Communicator of the Year Award 2021
Regina is a native of Detroit, and lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.
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55 min
Episode 89_Sean McGrory_Season Five Premiere
Season 5, Episode 89
Show notes
In this episode, we sit down with Sean McGrory, who has been the Board President of the Wasson Way organization since 2018, after joining in 2017. Sean is also a founding member of the CROWN Collaborative, which stands for the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network.
CROWN is an ambitious project aiming to create Cincinnati's first-ever urban trail loop—a 34-mile, multi-use paved trail encircling the city's urban core. This trail will connect over 350,000 people across 54 neighborhoods to key destinations such as parks, schools, employment centers, retail, recreation, and entertainment. The loop will be formed by linking several trails in development, including Wasson Way, the Ohio River Trail East, the Lunken Trail, the Little Miami Scenic Trail, the Ohio River Trail West, and the Mill Creek Greenway Trail.
In his professional life, Sean is a CPA and Shareholder at Clark Schaefer Hackett, where he leads the Real Estate and Construction practice. He is a graduate of Miami University, Xavier University, and Walnut Hills High School, and an alumnus of Leadership Cincinnati Class XXV.
Join us as we dive into the vision behind CROWN, the impact it will have on the city, and Sean's role in driving this exciting initiative forward.
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