Foundation Staff
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Dean L. Jacob, President & CEO
Dean L. Jacob has been Marion Community Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer since 2014, following careers in law and education. He is a graduate of River Valley High School in Marion County. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctorate degree from The Ohio State University College of Law. He had been an attorney in private practice since 1986, concentrating much of his practice in estate planning and probate. In 1998, Dean changed to a part-time law practice and became a teacher at River Valley Middle School. He is active in the community having previously served as president of the Marion County Bar Association, Marion Noon Kiwanis, Marion Rotary Club, the River Valley Education Foundation, and St. Mary Parish Pastoral Council. He is a past member of the board of directors of United Way of Marion County, the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Wopat Family YMCA. Dean and his wife, Sue, were born and raised in Marion. They have two adult children, Kate and Austin.
Favorite Thing about MCF: Meeting our generous donors, learning their stories, and helping them put their philanthropy in action to do good things in our community.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: DeanJacob@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Julie Prettyman, Vice President & Director of Programs
Julie Prettyman is Vice President/Director of Programs for Marion Community Foundation. Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from The Ohio State University and has previous experience with volunteer development, grants program management, and donor relations at the Ohio 4-H Foundation. Since 2014, she has brought her extensive background in marketing and communications, project management and office administration, organization and process development, and strategic and business planning to Marion Community Foundation. In addition to the Ohio 4-H Foundation, her career includes positions at CT Consultants (formerly Floyd Browne Group), Goodwill, March of Dimes, and The Ohio State University at Marion. Julie and her husband, Cy, reside in the New Bloomington area.
Favorite Thing about MCF: Witnessing the connections and collaborations among Marion’s nonprofits. It is inspiring to see how community volunteers and leaders try to use the strengths of each organization for the best results.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: JuliePrettyman@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Diana Rinesmith, Operations Manager
Diana Rinesmith is Marion Community Foundation’s Operations Manager. Diana is one of the Foundation’s most long-standing staff members, having joined the organization in June 2001 after serving as office manager for a local dentist and an administrative assistant for Customization Services with Exact Macola Software. She handles all aspects of data management and fund operations for the Foundation’s philanthropic endowment funds and donor records. Diana was raised in Marion and has family, Terra and Justin, locally.
Favorite Thing about MCF: Marion Community Foundation is a wonderful, loving, and giving family. No one is a stranger. The staff, our donors, board members, and our community all help one another. And, our efforts help others, bringing Marion and our surrounding communities to success!
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: Diana@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Lori S. Stevenson, Community Relations Manager
Lori S. Stevenson is the Community Relations Manager for Marion Community Foundation. She holds a journalism degree from Bowling Green State University and has made a 30-year career in nonprofit public relations. Her areas of expertise include marketing communications, media relations, publications, and social media management. Prior to joining the staff in 2014, Lori served as a marketing consultant to the Foundation beginning in 2004, helping to launch its newsletter, Legacy, and serving as editor for nearly 20 years. A life-long resident of Marion, she and her husband, Jim, have three children.
Favorite Thing About MCF: Our close-knit team that is so dedicated to the success of Marion and its quality of life. We all love Marion and the wonderful things our donors do to make it even better. I am delighted and honored to get to tell their stories – where they came from, what motivates them, and the positive impact giving has made on their lives.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Emai: LoriStevenson@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Diane Mault, Bookkeeper & Internal Auditor
Diane Mault is the contracted bookkeeper and internal auditor for Marion Community Foundation, having served since 1999. A lifelong resident of Marion County, Diane and her husband, Richard, have owned and operated a local bookkeeping and tax preparation business for 35 years. Her community involvements include: the Marion County Historical Society, Marion Speech & Hearing Center, Stengel True Mansion, Aspire Ministries, and Marion Investment Trust, among others. The couple has three married children and seven grandchildren.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: dlm@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Kathy Conley, Data Manager
Kathy Conley is Marion Community Foundation’s Data Manager. Since 2020, she has maintained the Foundation’s databases, mailing lists, and reports, as well as assisting all other staff. Her areas of expertise are systems, finance consolidation reporting & variance analysis. A Marion resident since third grade, Kathy holds an associate degree from Marion Technical College and has previously worked at the former Community Memorial Hospital and 40+ years in the telecommunications industry. She has two adult children in the area.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: KathyConley@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Cheryl Wickersham, Administrative Assistant
Cheryl Wickersham serves Marion Community Foundation as our Program Assistant. While her primary focus is supporting the scholarship and grants programs, she assists the other staff in a broad capacity. Our newest staff member, she has been with us since early 2023.
Cheryl is a Marion native and graduate of River Valley High School and the University of Findlay. She came to us after a lengthy career with United Church Homes. She serves on the boards of Downtown Marion, Inc. and the Ohio Women’s Affordable Network. She and her husband, Steve, have two married daughters and five grandchildren.
Favorite Thing About MCF: I love the commitment our donors, Board & staff have to the community. Our little part of the world is being made a better place through their efforts. And, I enjoy having our office housed within a museum. It is important to remember our past in helping to create our future.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: CherylWichersham@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
John Colla, Chief Investment Officer
John Colla serves Marion Community Foundation as Chief Investment Officer on a contract basis. He is a Managing Director with Cleveland-based Clearstead, an independent institutional and wealth advisory firm. John has nearly a decade of experience with investment markets, is a CFA Charterholder, and holds degrees and certificates from the University of North Carolina, Youngstown State University, and Hiram College.
E-mail: jcolla@clearstead.com
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: info@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Kate McCleese, Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) Coordinator
Kate McCleese is Marion Community Foundation’s Volunteer Coordinator for Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) Program. This program works with selected high school students from each of Marion’s five high schools and gives them a better understanding of philanthropy and charitable work being done in the community. Kate is a cum laude graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. Kate and her husband, Michael, and their children live in Waldo.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-387-9704
Email: YEP@MarionCommunityFoundation.org
Learn More: About | Board of Directors | Contact | FAQ’s | Audit & 990