YWCA announces new class, new leadership of Rising Star Equity Leadership Program
CINCINNATI -- YWCA Greater Cincinnati announces the 19th class of the YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program. Along with 42 new members, the program is also celebrating new leadership in 2025.
The YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program empowers and equips high-performing women to become equity leaders by strengthening leadership skills and preparing participants for non-profit board service while connecting them to a powerful network of accomplished woman leaders. In the spirit of the YWCA’s pioneering history of leading racial justice initiatives, the program presents very direct and specific training on eliminating discrimination and promoting racial and gender equity.
The 2025 YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program class includes:
Blaire Bartish, University of Cincinnati, Program Manager, Inclusive Excellence & Community Engagement
Rae Becker, Cincinnati Children's, Clinical Director
Tara Calhoun, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Physician
Hannah Carver, bi3, Director of Communications
Lei Chen, Procter & Gamble, Senior Director, R&D
Audrey Doepker, Al. Neyer, LLC, Senior Manager, Construction Systems
Kaeanna Dzialo, UB Greensfelder, Attorney
Leanne (Annie) Efkeman, First Financial Bank, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Distribution
Alicen Franks, Madison Design, Project Manager
Morgan Ford, Habitat for Humanity, External Relations Officer
Erica Garrett, Collective Empowerment Group, Executive Director
Erica Gordon, Wholistically Divine, Community Doula
Kaeli Halbauer-Erskine, Scripps Howard Fund, Philanthropic Development Manager
Morgan Hartman, Great American Insurance Group, Business Technology Analysis Manager
Alexa (Lexie) Hodge, Messer Construction Co., Marketing and Communication Manager
Lynn Howitz, The Kroger Co, Sr. Regional Construction Manager
Kasey Jastrzembowski, P&G, Global Fem Care Engineering Technical Director
Xiyanna Kellogg, Grey/Townhouse, Associate Producer
Shayla Kendricks, Frost Brown Todd LLP, Associate
Brianna (Bri) Ledsome, The Patty Brisben Foundation for Women's Sexual Health, Development Director
Ilaisah Martinez, University of Cincinnati, Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Kenetra Mathis, Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Deputy Director
Payton Mays, Hard Rock Cincinnati, Employee Relations Specialist
Alyssa Muffet, Cintas Corporation, National Human Resources Director
Gabrielle (Gabi) Nichols, University of Cincinnati, Program Manager
Shannon O'Neill, American Red Cross, Regional Recovery Manager
Meredith Ostoich, Paycor, Vice President, Client Sales
Ebony Pratt, CityLink Center, Volunteer Manager
Te'Airea Powell, Independent Contractor, Public Relations Consultant
Brooke Rapp, Uptown Consortium, Inc., Director of Community Development & External Relations
LaChe' Roach, LISC Greater Cincinnati, Senior Program Officer
Ashley Rouster, Junior League of Cincinnati, Managing Director
Andi Saylor, PNC Bank, Portfolio and Trust Administrator
Ariel Shaw, Caracole, HIV Health Educator
Chanta Walker, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, CAA Head Start Policy Council President
Evanda Steele, Talbert House, Workforce Developer
Sonya Swift, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Administrative Specialist
Breaona Tolbert, YWCA, Intervention Coordinator
Nia Thomas, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, Social Justice Advocacy Manager
Tiffany Thomas, Talbert House, Vice President
Leslie Touassi, Mt Healthy School District, Student Services Coordinator
Billie Vega, Sweets & Meats BBQ, Office Operations Manager
Chanta Walker, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, CAA Head Start Policy Council President
Charmaine Webster, Black Girl Strategies LLC, Owner
The program was founded and was led for many years by dedicated volunteer and Board Chair Emeritus Kathy Beechem and includes 680 distinguished alumnae. The 2025 class will be the first led by two former Rising Stars, Jamila Watson and Yvette Simpson, both of whom have a long history with the organization.
Watson is the YWCA Greater Cincinnati Vice Board Chair and was a Rising Star in 2011. She is an Insights & Research Advisor at FedEx, with more than 25 years of marketing research, branding and innovation experience. Jamila is a community leader with a passion for servant leadership, evidenced by her leadership in many local nonprofits, including Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Metropolitan Club, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Delta Gateway Foundation. She is also a graduate of other local leadership programs WE Lead, Northern Kentucky Chamber's Leadership NKY program and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s leadership development program for women.
Simpson is a 2005 Rising Star and was named a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in 2014. She is the Founder & CEO of Yvette Simpson LLC, Your Power Unlocked, a strategic consulting firm focused on executive and political strategy, communications, and diversity, equity & inclusion. A licensed lawyer, Yvette is also a political contributor for ABC News, a panelist for NPR and Director of Culture & Belonging with UB Greensfelder law firm. She also served six years on Cincinnati City Council, including four years as President ProTempore.
The 2025 class will receive Equity Leadership Facilitation led by Dr. Karen Bankston, a 2001 Career Woman of Achievement, Dr. Whitney Gaskins, a 2021 Career Woman of Achievement, and Dr. Littisha Bates, a 2018 Rising Star. Additionally, 14 volunteer presenters will share their expertise with the new class over the entire year.
The Rising Star Equity Leadership Program takes place from January-June of 2025, and graduates receive a “Board and Equity Leader” certification. Anyone can nominate a deserving professional woman for this competitive program; members of the class are chosen by a selection committee.
Click here for more information on the program.
About YWCA Greater Cincinnati
Founded in 1868 as the fifth YWCA association in the United States, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. The agency was at the forefront of racial justice advocacy in the region, establishing the first integrated cafeteria in Cincinnati in the 1950s. Since the 1970s, YWCA has provided direct services to families surviving intimate partner violence and operates the only domestic violence survivor shelter serving Hamilton, Clermont, Brown and Adams counties. The organization executes its mission through programming and advocacy that advances the health and safety of women and girls, women's economic empowerment, and gender and racial equity in the Greater Cincinnati area. For more information, visit www.ywcacincinnati.org.