2023-2024 Board of Directors
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Marion Community Foundation is a local organization governed by a board of directors — 15 dedicated volunteers who live or work in Marion County. The Board is comprised of attorneys, educators, financial experts, and business professionals who live and work in the Marion area and have the community’s best interest at heart. Directors serve 3-year terms which are renewable.
Dr. Chuck Speelman is Chair of the Board of Directors, which he joined in 2016. He serves on the Investment and Audit committees. Chuck is the superintendent of Tri-Rivers Career Center & Center for Adult Education.
Francis C. Voll is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors. He rejoined the Board of Directors in 2015, having previously served in 2006-08. He serves on the Outreach & Engagement committee. Francis has served as an educator, administrator, coach, and athletic director at the high school and collegiate levels.
Jody Demo-Hodgins is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and has been a member since 2019. She represents the Board on the Grants and Audit committees, chairs the Community Grants subcommittee, and co-chairs the Racial Equity & Justice grants subcommittee. Jody is the former executive director of the Crawford-Marion Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH).
Dr. Deepika Bathini joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She serves on the Racial Equity & Justice Grants subcommittee. Deepi is an internal medicine hospitalist and Vice President of Clinical Affairs with OhioHealth at Marion General Hospital.
Scott Knowles joined the Board of Directors in 2017. He serves on our Investment Committee. Scott is the CEO and General Counsel for Sims Brothers Recycling in Marion.
Hon. Matthew Frericks joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He serves on our Investment and Audit committees and Racial Equity & Justice Grants subcommittee. Matt is a judge with the Marion County Court of Common Pleas.
Grant Gates is Treasurer of the Board of Directors, which he joined in 2021. He serves on the Audit, Grants, and Outreach & Engagement committees and Community Grants subcommittee. Grant is the Wholesale Territory Manager for Morral Companies.
Dr. Kathy Clark joined the Board in 2023. She serves on the Grants committee and Community Grants subcommittee. Kathy is retired from the Marion Family Court and currently serving part-time as a social worker with The Tomorrow Center in Cardington.
Spencer Mathews joined the Board of Directors in 2021 and serves on the Scholarship and Outreach & Engagement committees. He has been the General Manager of Mathews Ford Marion automobile dealership since 2005.
Dr. Ryan McCall joined the Board of Directors in 2018. He serves on the Investment committee. Ryan is the president of Marion Technical College.
Pastor Jackie Peterson joined the Board of Directors in 2022. She serves on our Racial Equity & Justice subcommittee. Jackie is the pastor of Logos Christian Ministries in Marion and the International Chaplin for the Women’s Department for Kingdom Connection Fellowship International.
Sarah Rassell joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She serves on the Outreach & Engagement committee. Sarah is a Community Relations executive with her family business, Wilson Bohannan Lock Company.
Tom Schifer joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He serves on our Grants committee and Community Grants and TEACH Grants subcommittees. Tom is an architect in the Marion area.
Erin Slater joined the Board of Directors in 2022. She serves on our Scholarship committee and Racial Equity & Justice Grants subcommittee. Erin is the Coordinator of Recreation and Environmental Programming at The Ohio State University of Marion.
Kevin Smith is Secretary of the Board of Directors, which he joined in 2021. He serves on the Investment committee and Community Grants subcommittee. Kevin is the Regional President of The First Citizens National Bank.
2023-24 Board Committees & Programs
EXECUTIVE and GOVERNANCE & POLICIES
(includes nominating duties and Gift Acceptance committee)
Chuck Speelman – Chair
Jody Demo-Hodgins – Vice Chair
Kevin Smith – Secretary
Grant Gates – Treasurer
Francis Voll – Immediate Past Chair
INVESTMENT
Megan Queen, Chair (non-board member)
Matt Frericks
Charlie Garvin (non-board member)
Justin Hamper (non-board member)
Scott Knowles
Ryan McCall
Kevin Smith
Chuck Speelman
SCHOLARSHIP
Kathy Goodman, Chair
Olivia Davis (non-board member)
Larry Geissler (non-board member)
Sue Jacob (non-board member)
Ruth Johnston (non-board member)
Spencer Mathews
Erin Slater
Kevin Smith
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
Nikki Workman, Chair (non-board member)
Daniel Bradshaw (non-board member)
Grant Gates
Spencer Mathews
Elaine Merchant (non-board member)
Sarah Rassell
Francis C. Voll
AUDIT
Chuck Speelman, Chair
Matt Frericks
Jody Demo-Hodgins
Grant Gates (Board Treasurer)
GRANTS
Jody Demo-Hodgins, Chair
Kathy Clark
Grant Gates
Tom Schifer
Kevin Smith
COMMUNITY GRANTS SUBCOMMITTEE
Jody Demo-Hodgins, Chair
Kathy Clark
Kelly Garrett (non-board member)
Grant Gates
Henry G. Heinzmann (non-board member)
Tom Schifer
Kevin Smith
Nicolle Willis
TEACH GRANTS SUBCOMMITTEE
Nicolle Willis, Chair
Patricia Berry (non-board member)
Ed Crawford (non-board member)
Rhonda Dettra (non-board member)
Christine Gibson (non-board member)
Vidya Iyengar (non-board member)
Theresa Lubke (non-board member)
Stan Nicol (non-board member)
Tom Schifer
RACIAL EQUITY & JUSTICE GRANTS SUBCOMMITTEE
Jody Demo-Hodgins, Co-Chair
Nicolle Willis, Co-Chair
Deepika Bathini
Candace Floyd (non-board member)
Matt Frericks
Dana Hanif-Booker (non-board member)
Ide Okojie (non-board member)
Evelyn Olivos Lisiecki (non-board member)
Jackie Peterson
Erin Slater
YOUTH ENGAGED IN PHILANTHROPY
Kate McCleese (non-board member)
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