Our Team

Mary has worked in the Lower Price Hill community since 2010 as an educator, organizer, and non-profit leader.  In 2014 she co-founded Community Matters alongside the leadership of Education Matters, where she previously served as Vice President.  As a community organizer, she believes in the power and potential of the Lower Price Hill community. Mary leads Community Matters with a focus on innovative social entrepreneurship rooted in community. Mary holds a BA in International Affairs, with a focus on international economic development, from Xavier University. In addition to her work at Community Matters, Mary currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Sedamsville Community Development Corporation.

e: mary@cmcincy.org

Emily worked in the nonprofit sector for 6 years before joining the team at Education Matters in 2008. She is driven by a strong passion for people and community. Her belief in complete transparency in the non-profit sector makes her one of the strongest professionals in non-profit finance. On a daily basis, Emily manages our accounting and finances. She holds a BS in Communications from Cumberland College.

e: emily@cmcincy.org

Nikki joined the team after spending thirteen years as a marketing and business development professional in the architectural industry. She holds a BA degree in Journalism from Northern Kentucky University. Nikki is active in the community, and she recently volunteered as the campaign manager for the reelection of Dr. Sammarco, the county coroner. She was awarded the Cincinnati SMPS 2017 Business Developer of the Year and is a member of C-Change Class 12. She describes herself as a momma of two, avid knitter, lover of crime drama, once a poet, and a future world traveler!

e: nikki@cmcincy.org

Patty holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Berea College and a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Walden University. It was while living in Berea that her passion for empowering communities through service began. Her previous nonprofit experience includes program and project management, event planning, grant writing, and marketing, public relations, and graphic design for art, public art, environmental, and local history organizations. A native of western Pennsylvania, her personal interests include hiking, photography, bird-watching, and cooking. Patty formerly served as our Director of Community Programs.

e: patty@cmcincy.org

Jenna holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Xavier University and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. She is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. Her previous direct service experience includes providing emergency assistance to immigrants and case management for men and women experiencing homelessness. Her indirect work experience includes program design, implementation, and evaluation. Jenna is passionate about empowering community members to create change through relationships and shared strengths. Jenna is originally from middle Tennessee, and she enjoys crocheting and camping in her free time.

e: jenna@cmcincy.org

A lifelong resident of Cincinnati, Stella graduated from Miami University (Ohio) with a dual degree in Psychology and Family Studies. In 2013, she joined our sister organization, Education Matters, as an AmeriCorps member in the College Bridge Program. Her heart was won over by the people and places of Lower Price Hill, and she became committed to being a part of the community. This foundation of serving others with dignity and respect made Stella an important teammate at Education Matters, and now, Community Matters. Her experience has allowed her to strengthen her planning skills and foster her “get-it-done” attitude, which she now uses to coordinate events in The Sanctuary and oversee the operations of the Saint Michael’s Campus.

e: stella@cmcincy.org

Nora moved to Cincinnati four years ago from Phoenix, AZ where she earned her BA in Global Health from Arizona State University. Nora’s first year in Cincinnati was spent working with Freestore Foodbank as a community organizer and AmeriCorps VISTA. From there, she went on to work in Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital conducting home visits with at-risk families enrolled in a co-parenting program. Now she strives to be a source of hope and help for the residents of Lower Price Hill.

e: nora@cmcincy.org

Shannon spent more than 10 years in the financial services industry, where she was able to develop and implement market-wide fundraising and volunteer events for veterans and first responders. She was also able to develop a corporate partnership with the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Program. After spending a few years home with her children, Shannon was missing the ability to make an impact in the community. Upon learning more about Community Matters and the opportunity to help the community of Lower Price Hill thrive, Shannon was drawn to utilize her previous experiences and skills to join the Community Matters team.  Shannon looks forward to building relationships inside and outside of Lower Price Hill to elevate the impact Community Matters has in the LPH community.

e: shannon@cmcincy.org

As a resident of LPH for 3 years, Alicia is excited to be working in the place she calls home. Getting to see how our work directly impacts individuals and families inspired her to join our team. After studying art and social justice at Bellarmine University, Alicia spent two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer, serving at Community Shares and Price Hill Will. During this time she developed a passion for fostering empathetic community relationships, which she continues to employ through the LPH Community Gardens and LPH Artist Collective.

e: alicia@cmcincy.org

Previously, Karla had a 30 year career in television news and worked in newsrooms in Cincinnati, Dallas,  and San Francisco before moving abroad to work as a TV news manager on Grand Cayman island in the Caribbean. She’s experienced a myriad of stories- some sad, some uplifting. Karla believes that she has been blessed to see much of own her own country first hand, meet many different kinds of people, and also to view the United States from afar through the eyes of people from other nations.

Now, Karla is back in the city she loves, Cincinnati, working at a job she loves and that gives her the opportunity to support families in our community.

e: karla@cmcincy.org

e: cheryl@cmcincy.org

e: shabria@cmcincy.org