1. Tell us a little about yourself personally and professionally
I was born (1957) and raised in Cincinnati. My family moved from Westwood to Kenwood when I was seven years old. After graduating from Indian Hill High School, I attended Miami University (Oxford) where I majored in Marketing and pledged Tridelt. I graduated in 1979 and started working at Cincinnati Bell two weeks later. I worked at CB for almost 32 years in various Sales, Support, Marketing and Management roles before retiring in 2011. In 2013, my daughter Casey (U of MI graduate) and I opened Power Ryde (Wards Corner at I-275 in Loveland), an indoor spinning studio with the Real Ryder tilting bikes. We just had our nine-year anniversary & have since added TRX strength classes.
My husband and I have two daughters (Casey, 32, and Kelly, 29), a 7-month-old granddaughter and two Bernese Mt Dogs (120 & 140 pounds). If you lived in Cincinnati 19 years ago, some of you may remember Casey as she was the 13-year-old girl who was stabbed by a neighbor while jogging through Indian Hill. Casey (Ward) now lives in Terrace Park with her husband Wade and daughter Wren. Kelly (OSU grad) just moved to Destin, FL where she works for ALDO Shoes.
We love to hike and travel. For our family Christmas gift, we used to go away on a vacation for two weeks to somewhere warm. All were great, but some of the favorites were Australia, Costa Rica & Tahiti. I also love horseback riding (although I haven’t ridden in years), reading, going on historic house tours, and I have a passion for colonial antiques. In the summer (when the Canadian border is open) we drive the 10-hour drive to Pointe Au Baril, Ontario, where we kayak and read tons of books! Our cabin is over 100 years old, having been passed down through my husband’s family.
We love to hike and travel. For our family Christmas gift, we used to go away on a vacation for two weeks to somewhere warm. All were great, but some of the favorites were Australia, Costa Rica & Tahiti. I also love horseback riding (although I haven’t ridden in years), reading, going on historic house tours, and I have a passion for colonial antiques. In the summer (when the Canadian border is open) we drive the 10-hour drive to Pointe Au Baril, Ontario, where we kayak and read tons of books! Our cabin is over 100 years old, having been passed down through my husband’s family.
2. What excites you about being an Impact 100 member?
I love all the new people I have met, as well as those I have reconnected with through Impact 100. I also have loved learning about ALL the great nonprofit organizations in Cincinnati. Power Ryde has raised over $105,000 for local people and charities by doing fundraisers (one being for NEST in Loveland which was also an Impact 100 grant recipient several years ago.) I thought I knew about a lot of Cincinnati organizations, but there are SO many more that I had no idea existed. I also enjoy seeing the impact/difference the grants can make in people’s lives. And I like the fact that with Impact 100 you can spend as much time as you have (or don’t have) and not feel guilty.
3. Could you provide a brief description of your favorite Impact 100 moment or experience?
I have many good memories of Impact 100, but one I am most proud of is helping Janet Sullivan as a site coordinator at Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, a grant recipient last year! I was so impressed and proud of all of the ladies who built Seven Hills into what it is today. I also loved going on all the hikes last year and meeting new people.
