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We’re a mission-driven team. By partnering with us, you improve the lives of your workers, boost the success of your business, and strengthen the foundation of our region.

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Our Advisory Board

The Cincinnati region is host to a litany of successful businesses. The Workforce Innovation Center is fortunate to benefit from the expertise and experience of our Advisory Board.

Karen Cooper Headshot

Karen Cooper

Retired President and Co-Founder of Onebridge

Full Bio
Brian Hodgett Headshot

Brian Hodgett

Vice President, State Government Relations & Ohio Community Relations, The Procter & Gamble Company

Full Bio
Tim Massa Headshot

Tim Massa

Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources and Chief People Officer, The Kroger Co.

Full Bio
Jill P. Meyer Headshot

Jill P. Meyer

CEO, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

Full Bio
Julia Poston Headshot

Julia Poston

Immediate Past Chair of the Board

Full Bio
Liza Smitherman Headshot

Liza Smitherman

Chief People Officer, Jostin Construction, Inc.

Full Bio
Tom Williams Headshot

Tom Williams

Chair of the Board, President and CEO, North American Properties

Full Bio

Founding Workforce Innovation Center Advisory Board Members

Dan Meyer

Founding Board Member, CEO, Nehemiah Manufacturing

Dave Herche

Founding Board Member, Chairman and CEO, Enerfab, Inc.

Ellen Katz

Founding Board Member, President/CEO, Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Our Mission is Your Success

We’re a mission-driven team. By partnering with us, you improve the lives of your workers, boost the success of your business, and strengthen the foundation of our region.

View our Services

Our Mission is Your Success

We’re a mission-driven team. By partnering with us, you improve the lives of your workers, boost the success of your business, and strengthen the foundation of our region.

View our Services
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Karen Cooper Headshot
Karen Cooper
Retired President and Co-Founder
Onebridge
Linkedin

With extensive IT experience and a passion for recruiting, Karen built Onebridge, a company offering specialized IT solutions and known for the highest level of service, value and integrity. Since 2010, INC. 500 has ranked Onebridge as one of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies in the U.S. In May 2020.

Karen “walks the talk” with a deep commitment to philanthropy and community. Onebridge has a record of 100% employee giving with the United Way. The company also supports more than 50 charitable organizations in the Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas.

She earned Woman Business Owner of the Year recognition from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

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Brian Hodgett Headshot
Brian Hodgett
Vice President, State Government Relations & Ohio Community Relations
The Procter & Gamble Company
Linkedin

Brian has extensive experience in leading charitable giving efforts for Procter & Gamble. He was responsible for all government and civic affairs in Massachusetts and New England for the Gillette Business Unit of P&G. In his current role, he oversees all charitable giving, government and community outreach, and legislation and regulatory strategy.

Dedicated to giving back, Bryan serves on a variety of executive boards and communities, including Cintrifuse, 3CDC. REDI Cincinnati, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee.

Brian has a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in political science from Florida State University.

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Tim Massa Headshot
Tim Massa
Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources and Chief People Officer
The Kroger Co.
Linkedin

Joining The Kroger Co. in 2010 a, Tim first served the company as Vice President of Talent Development. After several promotions, he now leads all HR and Labor Relations efforts. He previously worked for Procter & Gamble in several HR leadership roles for 21 years.

He is a member of the Cincinnati Zoo board of trustees, American Health Policy Institute advisory board member, Human Resources Policy Association member and a 2021 American Cancer Society Cincinnati chapter honoree.

Tim received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications from the University of Dayton and received a Future HR Leaders accreditation from Cornell University.

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Jill P. Meyer Headshot
Jill P. Meyer
CEO
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Linkedin

Jill has been a long-time and effective advocate for business growth. As an attorney. she served as Member-in-Charge for the Frost Brown Todd LLC Cincinnati office. She now leads the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber to grow vibrancy and prosperity for the region.

She’s also a dedicated volunteer for a variety of civic and community causes. She currently serves on the boards of 3CDC, CincyTech, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Art of the Piano and is a member of the United Way’s Tocqueville Society and ArtsWave Women’s Leadership Roundtable.

Jill received her J.D. at Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Joseph University. In 2016, Mount St. Joseph University awarded her a Doctor of Humane Letters.

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Julia Poston Headshot
Julia Poston
Immediate Past Chair of the Board
EY
Linkedin

Known for her integrity and inclusiveness, Julia blazed a trail as one of the most successful and respected women in public accounting throughout her 37 years at Ernst and Young LLP (EY). As EY’s Office Managing Partner in Cincinnati, she led a $160M cross-functional service line practice employing 400 professionals.

Julia thrives on empowering teams, businesses and people to succeed. She was an early sponsor of EY’s Gender Equity Taskforce and Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee. As an influential civic leader, she’s led efforts with the Cincinnati Child Poverty Collaborative Steering Committee and Cincinnati Women’s Executive Forum in additional to the Workforce Innovation Center.

Julia earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Miami University, is a CPA, and a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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Liza Smitherman Headshot
Liza Smitherman
Chief People Officer
Jostin Construction, Inc.
Linkedin

Liza founded Jostin Construction – a first-generation, family-owned business – in 1998 to create and provide diverse opportunities for all area workers. With more than 100 employees, 65% of Jostin’s workforce are minorities and women.

Passionate about diverse and inclusive leadership, she develops growth strategies and plans for human resources and workforce development.

Liza is also an active community volunteer as a member of the Board of Trustees for Easterseals Tristate, City Gospel Mission, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Xavier University.

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Tom Williams Headshot
Tom Williams,
Chair of the Board
President and CEO
North American Properties

Tom is a well-known Cincinnati executive, serving as President and CEO of North American Properties, Vice-Chairman of the Cincinnati Reds and a principal owner of Skyline Chili, Inc. Along with Dan Meyer, he co-founded Nehemiah Manufacturing.

In addition to serving on numerous boards, Tom is also a member of the Commission for Inclusive Capitalism, co-chair of the Child Poverty Collaborative and a member of the RESTART Task Force. He is one of the founding members and past chair of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee and serves on the Economic Development, Education and Government Affairs committees.

Tom is also a board member of Accelerate Great Schools and Teach for America.

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Let’s Work together
The Workforce Innovation Center has released “Gen Z in the Workforce in the Cincinnati Region,” a report that focuses on Gen Z in our region who are currently in university or who have a university degree and are in the workforce. Interested in a copy? Please fill out this form.
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