We are creators, storytellers, and community activators.
Chelsie Walter
Executive Director
Chelsie is the executive director and co-founder of Women of Cincy. She’s a Cincinnati transplant, DAAP grad, and freelance graphic designer. Chelsie is also a passionate storyteller and photographer who loves thrifting, gardening, old homes, and porch sitting. She lives with her husband Cody, daughter Nora, Goldendoodle Mötley, six chickens, and way too many plants.
Email: chelsie@womenofcincy.org
Team Directors
Olivia Taylor
Residency Director + Community Mix Editor
Olivia is a Cincinnati native, U.C. graduate, nature lover, and pasta connoisseur. She believes in the power of storytelling to create a more empathetic community and kinder world. She is happiest with a book in her hand and her cat and dog, Samwise and Lola, by her side.
Email: otaylor17@gmail.com
Alice Merryman
Volunteer Culture Director
Alice is a native Hoosier and recent Cincinnati transplant who is passionate about learning other’s stories, wine, and the great outdoors. She graduated from Purdue (Boiler Up!), works in market research, and loves to explore the city in her free time. She and her fiancé live downtown with their fur babies, Butter and Havok.
Email: alicemerryman32@gmail.com
Kelsey Johnson
Founder
Kelsey is an Indiana native turned proud Cincinnatian, firm believer in Oxford commas, and lover of Nordic noir crime drama series. When she's not editing stories for Women of Cincy or her agency job, you can find her ogling over the gorgeous 19th-century architecture in her Mount Auburn community, eating cheese, or curled up with a book and her two cats, Minerva and Dahlia.
Sandra Okot-Kotber
Communications Director
Sandra is a University of Central Florida human communication graduate. After a decade in Florida, she relocated to the Queen City to explore the realm of life’s possibilities. She is a creative at heart with a passion to help those around her and generations to come.
Email: sokot23@live.com
Volunteer Team
Kiersten Wones
Original Co-founder
Kiersten is passionate about challenging “the way things have always been done”; investing in young people; music; culture; and all things Cincy. When she’s not at school working towards a master’s in psychology, you can find her chasing her 5-year-old son; behind the bar at the iconic Blind Lemon; and singing at bars and cafes around Cincinnati.
Email: kiersten.wones@gmail.com
Gina Regan
Writer
Gina has called Cincinnati home ever since she graduated from Xavier University with a B.A. in history. She is an enthusiastic college basketball fan (Go X!) and loves traveling and learning about other cultures (once upon a time, she even knew how to speak Spanish). She is the development manager for the Corporation for Findlay Market, and lives with her husband and dog in their newly rehabbed historic home in OTR. You can find Gina paying late fees at the library, hunting for the best baked goods in town, or trying to convince herself that she likes running.
Devan Vaughn
Ambassador
Devan is a native Ohioan, but is newer to Cincinnati. She works at UC and has a background in social psychology, which has driven her passion for social justice. She enjoys the outdoors, billiards, and meaningful conversation. She believes in the powerful saying "lift as you climb" and aims to live it every day.
Alex Larrison
Photographer
Alex is a photographer who runs Larrison Photography with her husband, Corey, and their two cats. Alex is passionate about reading, reality cooking shows, and flowers. She is determined to create enduring, authentic, and spirited photography and videography in Cincinnati.
Stacy Wegley
Photographer
Stacy is a change maker focused on healthier, more equitable and sustainable communities. She’s a master campfire starter and marshmallow roaster who loves to use her camera to tell stories.
Tracy P. Van Wagner
Writer
Tracy moved to Cincinnati in order to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy at U.C. She has successfully completed her Ph.D. studies and has decided to make Cincinnati her home! She enjoys spending time with her husband, friends, and family; meeting people and hearing their stories; reading; and staging and editing pictures on her phone.
Heather Willins
Ambassador
Heather Willins is a dedicated educator within Cincinnati Public Schools. When she is not helping students to expand their worlds, she is working for Women of Cincy to spread the good word about female empowerment through photography and social media. When she’s not teaching or on the move, she enjoys learning foreign languages (Spanish and German, currently), embroidery and most of all, travel. Her husband Micah, two pets, friends, and family give her the strength she needs to keep calm and carry on.
Angie Lipscomb
Photographer
Angie is a UC DAAP grad and Cincinnati native who decided fixer-uppers, rescue dogs, and hopeless optimism were a solid plan. Her first love was illustration, but she once traded her graphite for cameras and never looked back. She lives in a house-in-progress with her guitar-slinging husband, three busy kids, and two pups.
Judy Zitnik
Board VP + Editor
Judy is a marketing strategist, pharmacist, and recovering Diet Coke addict. She is passionate about empowering and supporting women in business, politics, and the media. As the chauffeur for two teenagers, she is thankful for podcasts and audiobooks.
Courtney Reynolds
Writer
Courtney is a change making, feminist, single mama working for equitable communities in the great Queen City. A traveler since birth, born in the rolling hills of central Kentucky, reared in the Virgin Islands, and settling in the Cincinnati area, place is an important part of her work – both creatively and academically as she pursues her doctorate. She’s an LGBTQ+ advocate and ally, working with The Living with Change Foundation and within her own community. With a reporter’s roots established early on in her career, telling the full story is her passion.
Caroline Wiita
Writer
Caroline is a Queen City native and Ohio University alumna. A writer, editor, defender of the Oxford comma, and now a member of Women of Cincy, she has covered topics ranging from local events and businesses to engineering and home design. If she’s ever not writing, you can find her on Twitter as @TheWiita, where she shares her love for baby Fiona and her opinionated film/television reviews.
Ella Barnes
Photographer
Ella is a photographer who has been based in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, for all of her life. She loves traveling, art, and going on hikes with her two dogs. She hopes to further use her photography to capture people’s stories all around the world.
Sara Skaggs
Writer
Sara is a senior at the University of Cincinnati studying to receive a bachelor's degree in creative writing, as well as a certificates in journalism and copyediting & publishing. Sara can be found reading the newest young adult book, doing nature photography, freelance writing, or working on her first novel. Sara also works as a server at Texas Roadhouse and is an assistant coach for 15-year-olds at AiR CiTY CHiCKS Volleyball Club.
Nicole Mayes
Photographer
Nicole is a local photographer and true "people watcher.” A native Cincinnatian and UC alum, Nicole is the mother of two boys, ages 7 and 8, and cat mom to Ava. She loves helping and supporting women entrepreneurs. Girls rock!
Suzanne Wilder
Writer
Suzanne is a full-time people-manager by day and blogger by night. She lived in Winchester, Virginia, and Chicago before boomeranging back to her hometown of Loveland, Ohio, where she currently raises two boys. She writes about modern adulthood, parenting, and more at The Smart Domestic and on Twitter @thewildertweets.
Katie Gravely
Writer
Katie is a full-time writer, editor, and multi-passionate entrepreneur. When she's not writing, running two network marketing businesses, or tweeting @katiemgravely, she's spending time with her husband or dancing down supermarket aisles while grocery shopping.
Kristyn Wyche
Editor + Writer
Kristyn is a Minneapolis native who moved to Cincinnati after receiving her English literature degree from Knox College. She's a mom, an entrepreneur, and owner of Krystal Clear Editing LLC. She has a passion for good food, deep conversation, and anything that feeds the soul.
Abbey Bruce
Writer + Volunteer Culture
Abbey is a recovering HR professional and a recent Cincy transplant. She craves creative stimulation and opportunities to nurture her entrepreneurial spirit and that of others. Abbey, her husband, and her soon-to-be teenage daughter love adventures outdoors and exploring everything their new city has to offer.
Sarah Urmston
Writer
Sarah is a Cincinnati-based writer with an avid desire to learn every human story within arm’s reach. Her experience in empathic research and freelance journalism make in-depth conversations easy and naturally put small talk under the radar. She also enjoys running, her dogs, “Bob’s Burgers,” saving the planet with her reusable coffee cup, and true crime podcasts.
Christina O’Donnell
Writer
Christina is passionate about many things, including running, education, and gardening. Although her days job is running youth enrichment, after school, and summer programs, her favorite hobby is writing poetry. She finds poetry to be the best way to process emotions and share how she feels. She hopes others will connect to her poetry when they can't find the words themselves. She is also an avid runner and support of the organization Girls on the Run.
Blaire Bartish
Writer
Blaire M. H. Bartish has only lived in major metropolitan areas that start with “C”: Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, back to Chicago, and now Cincinnati. She lives on the West Side with her husband, Dave, and their kids, Louie and Rosie. A lifelong learner, she has been involved in numerous educational endeavors and loves reading, attending live theater, visiting museums, and freezing things with liquid nitrogen.
Moriah Kenton
Photographer
Moriah is an emotional storyteller with a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Great books, strong coffee, and passionate conversation that changes hearts and minds are her love languages. Having spent the past six years traveling and discovering her love of photography, she settled back in the Queen City where her roots could grow deeper. Her devotion is to creating imagery that elicits deep emotion and connection, while fostering the idea that peace begins with empathy.
Abby Farr
Writer
A creative free spirit, Abby revels in a good story, from telling it to untapping it in others. She loves connecting people with one another and with causes they love. Personally, she jumps at social justice issues like fighting human trafficking. From generating taglines to creating social media and blog content for her small business, bringing inspiration to others through writing energizes her soul. Global travel, hiking, and tapping into the light in everyone also drive her spirit.
Amanda Watt
Volunteer Culture
Amanda is a woman that has been all over the Midwest but landed in Cincinnati about 15 years ago. She loves exploring different brunch spots and going on adventures. She graduated from Kent State with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management and a Master's degree from Indiana Tech in Marketing. When she's not planning a party and helping others, she's usually relaxing at home, playing in makeup, or being forced to do something active (there is no in-between).
Chelsea Weaver
Writer
Chelsea is a Cincinnati native who returned after completing her law degree at Ohio State University, where she also attended for undergrad. Chelsea loves a good non-fiction book of short essays, a homemade pasta with pesto, and her doggo Greg. When not doing lawyer-y things, Chelsea is an advocate of intersectional body respect through anti-diet/intuitive eating.
Venita Thomas
Writer
Venita “Vee” Thomas is a graduate of (The) University of Cincinnati and Xavier University where she has earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, Master of Labor (Law); Employment Relations, as well as Master of Education, respectively. Venita is on the Ph.D. journey as a candidate at Union Institute and University; certified Diversity & Inclusion Specialist via University of Kentucky. Venita acknowledges the time served in the United States Army as the catalyst for learning great leadership skills, and her dissertation which focuses on the art of transitioning into civilian life. Venita understands the process of reintegration of military to civilian life due to a medical discharge. "
Shamekko Early-Coleman
Ambassador
Lifelong Cincinnati native Shamekko is a self-proclaimed marketing geek and a two-time graduate of UC. During the day, she utilizes her degrees as a project manager, and by night she’s a superhero of sorts, supporting fellow entrepreneurs through her two companies SNE, LLC and DVRS Stock. When she’s not volunteering or working, she loves spending quality time with her husband and exploring local coffee shops.
Tiffany White
Writer
Tiffany is a Cincinnati native and a senior documentation analyst for a health insurance company. She specializes in all things tech. She recently completed her technology management masters at Georgetown University. When she is not reading about the latest tech and design trends, she is chasing after her young son and experimenting with new recipes, courtesy of Pinterest.
Cassidy Brage
Photographer
Cassidy is a Los Angeles native who just recently took her photography business full time. She loves health, sports, spending time outside, painting, and writing poetry. She is eager to build a strong network of empowered women and is excited to experience all Cincinnati has to offer!
Michaela Rawsthorn
Writer
Michaela is a ravenous reader, never met a dog she didn’t like, and uses her talents as a writer and researcher for social change whenever she can. Her specialties include: transforming complicated topics into highly readable content that motivates, moves, and entertains; and digging into data to deliver useable insights. Michaela lives on the Westside with her three kids, three dogs, guinea pig, lizard, and tortoise.
Clara Matonhodze
Writer
Clara is a business owner who is #UnapologeticallyRadical about being a podcast junkie – which she blames on her reporter’s D.N.A., a career cut short by migrating to the U.S.A. When not listening to podcasts, Clara manages her own digital marketing business where she is on a mission to get every small business an online marketing strategy. Her other purpose is to enhance the image of immigrants and refugees in Cincinnati, by showcasing all the great work they do behind the scenes. She is a MOST (Mother of Super Twins) and enjoys taking in the sights and sounds of the Queen City with her husband.
Kelsey Graham
Writer
Kelsey is a Cincinnati transplant who proudly calls the Queen City home. A loyal Bearcat, she recently completed her master’s in professional writing at the University of Cincinnati, where she previously graduated with a bachelor’s in art history. She spends most of her time being a mom/assistant to both her daughter and two cats. Her interests include journalism, design, reading, baking, barre and yoga, female empowerment, and creating a connection through words.
Janet Chu
Writer
Originally from Hong Kong, Janet is a creative problem-solver who is passionate in storytelling and improving experiences. She is pursuing a master’s degree in professional writing at the University of Cincinnati. She is an advocate for the arts and environmental sustainability, with a focus on sustainable fashion and zero waste living. She loves reading, worshipping mother nature, and exploring Cincinnati in her free time.
Melanie Schmid
Writer
Originally from a small town in southeast Georgia, Melanie has called Cincinnati home for the last 13 years and loves it here! For her career, she is a non-profit fundraiser, but also has a passion for writing and volunteer work, which led her to her involvement as a writer for Women of Cincy. In her free time, she enjoys trying new local breweries, spending time with her dog Abby, and running.
Jill Cleary
Volunteer Culture
Jill is Cincinnati-based artist & designer with East Coast Roots. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and specializes in graphic design, illustration, and mural painting – amongst other skilled crafts and trades. She is a creative problem solver and loves to take on new projects. You can find her painting a wall somewhere in Cincinnati, camping out by a fire, or getting some queso at the Comet in Northside.
Sophia Epitropoulos
Writer
Sophia is an ever-evolving tender soul with a passion for art, raw human connection, and the color black. Running outside, oil painting, and listening to (a wide range of) music are the top activities that make her feel alive. As a writer by therapeutic necessity, Sophia discovered that the art of transforming feeling and experience into words is a powerful gift — she hopes to lend readers a peek inside her mind through her work and that they develop a new perspective on interpersonal communication while doing so.
Desiree Smith
Writer
Desiree is a Cincinnati native whose voice has been heard in her community since she was in high school. Desiree is now an Author who inspires people to stay motivated with their lives. She is a mother of a little girl named Dawn. Desiree is also an independent contractor owning her own LLC’s and sole proprietorships. Desiree’s goal is to help as many people free themselves from past trauma while creating a positive, abundant lifestyle that’ll last for generations to come.
Heather Colley
Photographer
Heather is a Cincinnati transplant, fine arts grad, and T.V. newscast director. She is currently pursuing her dream of starting her own photography business. She loves capturing intimate moments and the special quirks of those she photographs. She’s passionate about saving animals and photographs rescues to help them find their new homes. Heather is a lover of traveling and exploring the unknown. She lives with her daughter, Emma; her labradoodle, Luna; and a lot of half-dead houseplants.