Executive Staff
Rickell Howard Smith
PRESIDENT & CEO
Rickell Howard Smith is a relentless advocate for civil rights, racial justice, and the empowerment of women and children. With a steadfast commitment to equity and justice, Rickell serves as a beacon of hope and change in her community and beyond. As the President & CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, Rickell leads with compassion and determination, driving forward initiatives that dismantle systemic barriers for women and people of color in our region.
Her journey began as a Legal Aid attorney, fearlessly representing clients in eviction and housing discrimination cases, laying the foundation for her unwavering dedication to justice. Transitioning into roles such as Director for the Prison Litigation project at the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, Rickell continued her crusade for civil rights, filing groundbreaking cases in Federal court on behalf of incarcerated individuals in Ohio. Her tenure as Litigation and Policy Director at Children's Law Center saw her championing the rights of children in Federal court, and spearheading policy initiatives to improve the lives of families involved with child protection and juvenile justice systems. Before her tenure at YWCA Greater Cincinnati, Rickell served as the first Executive Director for the Center for Social Justice at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of social justice advocacy.
Rickell's commitment extends into the heart of her community. As former Chair of the Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Board of Trustees and through her involvement with organizations like the Hamilton County Human Services Chamber, Lighthouse Community School Board, Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board, she continues to shape policies and initiatives that drive meaningful change.
A proud native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rickell holds a B.B.A from Howard University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law. She resides in Cincinnati with her husband, two children, and two furry companions.
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Juwana Glover
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
Juwana is an accomplished leader in social service with 20 years of experience, including 7 years supporting domestic violence survivors. She is dedicated to program development, community advocacy and equitable practices.
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Rene Cheatham
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Rene possesses extensive finance leadership experience in a variety of industries, including nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. He provides tactical long-term financial planning to support our programs and services.
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Alex Kuhns
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Alex brings a breadth of leadership experience in the areas of education and nonprofit management. He oversees general operations, including facilities, IT, HR and collaborates with the team to manage our real estate portfolio.
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Kat Steiner
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Kat is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with more than 20 years of experience leading fundraising campaigns for nonprofits and in higher education. She is a nonprofit executive and strategic visionary with an extensive track record.
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Yvette Johnson-Hegge
DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE SERVICES
Yvette provides administrative leadership and has supported the YWCA for over 18 years. She collaborates with our team and our Board of Directors on project management, communications and event planning.
Board of Directors
The primary role of YWCA Greater Cincinnati’s Board of Directors is to provide mission-driven, visionary leadership and strategic governance to promote and support the services and programs that directly impact our community.
2025 Officers
Jamila Watson, Board Chair - Insights & Design Research Advisor, Fedex
Paaras Parker, Vice Chair and Governance Chair - Chief Human Resources Officer, Paycor
Megan Hube, Secretary and Facilities Chair - Founder/Consultant, The Hube Group
Sarah Haines, Treasurer and Finance Chair - Chief Accounting Officer, Paycor
Anne Mulder, Immediate Past Chair - Human Resources Professional
Julie Courtney, Development & Communications Co-Chair - Founder & Partner, Madison Design
Dave Palm, Development & Communicaitons Co-Chair - VP Integration Master Planning, Kroger
Sophie Lake, Program Evaluation Chair - Owner, Sophie Lake Strategic Purchasing Consulting
Brandi Elliott, Racial Justice & Advocacy Co-Chair - Executive Director, Identity & Inclusion, University of Cincinnati
Directors
Deepika Andavarapu - CEO/Founder, DEEP Consultants
Rebeca Arbona - President & Chief Truth-Teller, Brand True
Carmen Gaines - CEO & Founder, Latitude Workbased Learning Solutions LLC
Michele Hawkins - Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer, Ft. Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Steve Kenat - Principal, Director Community Development, SHP
Heather Kesner - Executive Vice President, Branch and Small Business Regional Executive, U.S. Bank
Anitra Marsh - Associate Director, Brand Communications, Procter & Gamble Skin and Personal Care
Carolyn Pione Micheli - Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, E.W. Scripps Co.
Monica Mitchell - Sr Director, Community Relations; Professor, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Tashawna Otabil - Vice President Managed Care, UC Health
Aaron Parker - Senior Director, Human Resource Business Partners, The Hillman Group
Donna Robinson - Community Development Officer, PNC Bank
Sharon Spiegel - Occupational Therapist
Craig Young - Founder/Executive Director, Inspiring Service