City Year Columbus Board of Directors
Local community and business leaders work together to advance our mission to ensure public schools are places all students can thrive.
Derek graduated from the Ohio State University in 2014 with a degree in economics and a passion for education, which led to him serving with City Year Columbus at Mifflin High School during the 2014-2015 school year. He spent two years in public school administration with Columbus Collegiate Academy and KIPP Columbus prior to joining Deloitte Consulting in their Government & Public Services practice. There, he primarily serves state health & human services and children services agencies as they undergo significant organizational changes and strategize how to more effectively deliver on their missions. His time with City Year taught him personal and professional skills, provided an invaluable network of support throughout and after service, and showed him the power of a small group of motivated agents for positive change. He hopes to pay that forward through ongoing service on the City Year Columbus Board and Alumni Board.
Josh Cochran is a Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager with Huntington’s Commercial Banking team. In this role, he manages relationships with businesses whose revenue ranges between $50 million-$500 million, and he has provided over $600 million of financing to middle market businesses for the purposes of acquisitions, capital expenditures, working capital and owner-occupied real estate. He has also assisted businesses in managing over $500 million in deposits and helped them to achieve cost efficiencies through streamlining their payments and payables processes.
Matt has spent over 10 years in project management and strategy-related roles supporting mission-driven organizations. In his work at IGS Energy, Matt manages a portfolio of strategic cross-functional projects supporting IGS' residential gas and electricity business. Outside of his work at IGS, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, Anna, and their dog, staying active, and volunteering. Matt is a "Double Buckeye," having graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor’s degree in public Affairs and Nonprofit Management (2014) and earning his Master's in Business Administration from The Ohio State University (2024). In 2022, he was named a 40 Under 40 award recipient from Columbus Business First.
Brad Griffith is a lifelong entrepreneur. He grew up working for his dad's veterinary hospital, learning the joys and challenges of business ownership. He believes in the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to drive meaningful change in our community. Brad is now President of Buckeye Innovation; the web strategy and engineering team he started in 2009 to amplify the impact of innovative businesses and organizations through exceptional web engineering and design. His team of 14 includes designers and developers who love building and supporting websites, web applications, and mobile applications. Their clients span many industries and include tech startups, libraries, and local and county governments among others.
Prior to starting Buckeye Innovation, Brad spent several years consulting and developing web applications in-house for a variety of companies including JPMorgan Chase, QUALCOMM, and the Go Big Network. He earned his Master's in Business Administration after completing his Bachelor's in Electrical and Computer Engineering with honors, both at The Ohio State University. Brad has more than 25 years of web development experience and has worked from coast to coast with small and large companies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to build innovative web solutions. He lives in New Albany with his wife and two young daughters. Brad was selected in 2020 to the inaugural class of the Columbus CEO Future 50.
Anthony King is an accomplished educational leader with over a decade of experience in fostering academic excellence and developing transformative school cultures. His career spans various pivotal roles, including Math Teacher, Head Coach, Instructional Math Coach, Assistant Principal, and Principal, all within secondary education. A native of Montgomery County, Maryland, King holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Minor in Coaching from Frostburg State University. He also earned a Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University and is currently pursuing an Executive Master’s in Business Administration at Howard University.
Beyond his school-based roles, King serves on several boards, where he advocates for policies and practices that enhance educational equity and community engagement. In addition to his board service, King is the CEO of The Student Stakeholder, LLC, a Consultant and Leadership Coach, collaborating with educators and organizations to build leadership capacity and improve student outcomes.
John Jackson has thirty years’ experience as a corporate attorney and investment banker, leading corporate transactions, including securities and debt offerings and mergers and acquisitions. John currently serves as Associate Vice President – Mergers & Acquisitions for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. In this role, John is responsible for leading the evaluation of potential acquisition targets and the execution of mergers and acquisitions transactions for all Nationwide companies. Prior to this role, John served (i) 18 months as Associate Vice President – Staff Administration for Kirt Walker, President of Nationwide and (ii) 4 years as Associate Vice President, Associate General Counsel, where he led the Corporate Legal Team, which was responsible for all corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions transactions and other joint ventures.
Prior to joining Nationwide, John spent five years at Cardinal Health, Inc. (as Senior M&A attorney), four years at Nash Finch Company (as Senior M&A and Securities attorney), and three years as an associate attorney at the Popham, Haik, Schnobrich & Kaufman law firm. John received his Juris Doctorate degree from The Ohio State University College of Law and received dual degrees in Finance and Accounting from Miami University (Ohio). John has been active with various non-profit organizations with a specific focus on youth, including serving on the Board of Directors for City Year, Inc. (Columbus) and Children’s Hunger Alliance. John has also served as the President and Mentoring Chairperson for 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, Inc. In his spare time, John enjoys playing basketball, traveling, cycling and DJing.
Teri Kerrigan has spent her 20+ year career advocating for brands, driving growth, and listening to the customer along the way. She joined American Electric Power in 2017 and is currently leading the corporate marketing and branding efforts across AEP’s 11-state footprint. Prior to joining AEP, she held various marketing and leadership positions at AAA in Tampa, Florida and Columbus, Ohio. During her tenure, she was responsible driving membership growth, increasing awareness of member programs and evolving one of the oldest and most respected brands in the country.
Teri earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. She is a member of the American Marketing Association, National Association of Advertisers and the Women's International Network of Utility Professionals. She resides in Westerville, Ohio with her husband Mike and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good crime thriller novel, long walks and cheering on her Dayton Flyers basketball team.
Charlie Hansen joined Columbus Metropolitan Library in 2014 as a Public Services Director and was promoted to the role of Chief Administrative Officer in 2018. In the CAO role, he was responsible for the Human Resources, Information Technology and Security departments at the library. Charlie next moved into the Chief Customer Experience Officer role in May of 2020 where he oversaw programs, services and staff across CML’s 23 locations. In 2025, his role expanded to include oversight of Collection Services and Outreach along with a title change to Chief Public Services Officer. Charlie is also a Board member for City Year Columbus. Prior to coming to CML, Charlie earned his Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University and served as the Director of Loudonville Public Library and Granville Public Library (both in Ohio), developing strategy, policy and managing operations for those two library systems.
Nicole Walt is an associate in the corporate group at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP in downtown Columbus. Her practice focuses on representing both public and private companies in corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, periodic reporting and disclosure (Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reporting and proxy statement disclosure) and corporate governance. Nicole received her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where she was an articles editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. She received her BSBA in finance from The Ohio State University.
Nicole lives in the Short North and enjoys exploring new restaurants, walks in Goodale Park, traveling, and watching sports – particularly the Buckeyes.
Justine is Regulatory Counsel at Owens Corning, where she advises on regulatory matters impacting the business. A graduate of Capital University Law School, she has prior experience with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. A Columbus native, Justine enjoys new challenges, from sprint triathlons to culinary experiments, and values time spent with loved ones.
Patrick Kielty is the incoming Director of the Master of Accounting (MAcc) program, effective August 15, and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. He teaches in the undergraduate, MAcc, and core MBA programs, specializing in auditing, financial reporting, and corporate diversity issues in the accounting profession. He was the 2025 recipient of the Daniel Westerbeck Teaching Award, presented annually to the top graduate-level instructor in the Fisher College of Business.
Patrick’s connection to City Year began in 2010–2011, when he served as a senior corps member in Little Rock, Arkansas. That year of service proved to be a formative experience, shaping his commitment to education and public service. He credits City Year with inspiring his path to higher education and his passion for mentoring the next generation of professionals. Patrick earned his PhD in Accounting from the University of Florida, a Master of Management Studies from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and BAs in Economics and Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He serves as Vice President of the Greater Columbus Rowing Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than 150 members, and as a non-officer director of the Massachusetts Rowing Association, which is seeking nonprofit status with the goal of funding the UMass Men’s Rowing Team, of which he is an alum.
Tanya Salyers is a dedicated advocate and leader with extensive experience in public policy, community relations, and communications.
Salyers rejoined the COTA team as the deputy chief of staff in July 2024 and became chief of staff in July 2025. She works directly with COTA's President/CEO to lead strategic outreach and initiatives to advance COTA's mission to move every life forward — including LinkUS, the region’s transformational mobility and growth initiative.
Before returning to COTA, Salyers served as director of advocacy at YWCA Columbus, leading the agency's efforts in promoting racial and gender equity, addressing systemic intersections of poverty, housing, education, childcare, and health. She also served as digital communications and engagement manager at Innovation Ohio and is the former marketing and communications manager at The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. Salyers serves as a commissioner on the Columbus Women’s Commission and a member of the Community Information Exchange’s Care Coordination Council. She formerly served on boards for New Leaders Council Columbus, OPAWL, Zora’s House, and the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus. She has also been honored several times for her commitment to the Columbus region. She was named a HerStory Makers Mover & Shaker by the Columbus Urban League in 2024, a YWCA Columbus Woman on the Rise in 2021, and among 52 Young Professionals to Know by the Columbus Young Professionals Club in 2018. Salyers is a graduate of Shawnee State University, located in the Ohio River Valley, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Tanya is from New Boston, Ohio, and has called Central Ohio home for the past two decades. She lives in Grandview Heights with her son, Calder.
Katrina Geyer is a dedicated advocate and community collaborator with over 20 years of experience serving underserved populations. Her passion for helping others is rooted in a deep commitment to teaching financial literacy and promoting advocacy, ensuring that individuals have access to the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to succeed. Katrina believes that everyone deserves autonomy and the opportunity to improve their lives, their families, and their communities.
Throughout her career, she has worked closely with diverse populations, empowering community members to take thoughtful, informed steps toward bettering their circumstances. Her approach emphasizes education and relationship-building, recognizing that trust and understanding are vital to meaningful progress. Whether collaborating with corporate partners or nonprofit organizations, Katrina strives to foster strong, productive relationships that can drive positive change within the Columbus community. Katrina’s extensive exposure to various sectors and her time working directly with at-risk populations have honed her ability to connect with people, understand their unique challenges, and support them toward achieving financial independence and stability. Her expertise as a Certified Financial Counselor further enhances her ability to deliver impactful guidance tailored to individual needs. When she's not working in the community or collaborating with partners, Katrina indulges in her hobbies and personal growth pursuits. She is an avid reader and audio book enthusiast, aiming to read or listen to at least 100 books each year. Her interests also include baking, cooking, singing, and playing the piano. Active and energetic, she enjoys playing on a beach volleyball team, tennis, and staying fit at the gym. Katrina’s overarching goal is to uplift and strengthen her community through education, partnership, and compassion. She believes that by working together—and fostering relationships rooted in trust and shared purpose—positive change can be achieved for individuals and the broader Columbus area. Her lifelong dedication to service, combined with her diverse skill set and passionate advocacy, continues to make a meaningful impact every day.
Satina, MPM/PMP/CSM, is a program manager for the Business PMO, Transformation Management team under Global Business & Financial Services at Cardinal Health. She has over 18 years of project/program management experience along with superb talent for relationship building and creating strong teams. She leads transitions, offshore strategic priorities, process improvements, and technology implementations. With more than 25 years of dedicated community service, she is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and equitable education. As the Founder and Executive Director of BLINGG Inc., a Media Literacy Youth Empowerment Program, she led initiatives that used media literacy education as a health prevention and promotion strategy—showing students how they can affect change in their communities.
Satina brings expertise in programming, fundraising, curriculum creation, and strategic project execution. Her leadership blends creativity with structure, translating big-picture vision into tangible impact. Known as a connector, she excels at forging partnerships across schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to amplify collective success. Satina’s lifelong commitment to empowering youth and building stronger communities aligns directly with City Year Columbus’s mission to support students and strengthen schools. She is eager to contribute her strategic insight, operational expertise, and passion for servant leadership to help City Year Columbus deepen its partnerships, expand its reach, and ensure every student has the support they need to thrive. Key Areas of Expertise: Youth & Community Development Program Design & Evaluation Project Management (PMP Certified) Fundraising & Resource Development Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration Curriculum Creation & Educational Innovation She resides in Reynoldsburg, Ohio and has been married to her husband Jerald for over 31 years. She is the mom of three adult children and has three grandchildren that she adores. She is an entrepreneur, travel enthusiast, and loves spending time with family and friends. She also loves to line dance in her spare time.
Dave has been involved in community and health improvement work for most of his career. In his current role as Director of Regional Wellness at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, he leads a team that implements strategies to improve pediatric health in 21 Southeast Ohio counties through partnerships with healthcare, education, and community partners. In this role, he oversees implementation of federal- and state-funded programs aimed at improving maternal child health and adolescent health outcomes as part of the hospital’s overarching population health improvement strategies. He also provides project management support in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research with day-to-day operations of the Ohio Integrated Care for Kids project, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services demonstration model.
Prior to this work, he’s held leadership roles in nonprofit management and philanthropy at several central Ohio organizations. In an immediate prior role spanning 10 years with a local United Way, his work focused on facilitating collaboration among community agencies, donors, and other key stakeholders around the development and implementation of community impact funding strategies. Dave has served on a number of local, state, and national committees and work groups involving healthy food financing, health policy, and collaboration between the education and health sectors. At the start of his career, he served in the corps and eventually directed all recruitment, selection, and planning activities within the admissions process for City Year Columbus -- a local nonprofit organization that pairs tutors and mentors with youth in schools to ensure they stay in school and on track. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio and is pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. He is married to Meighan and together they are raising three children. He enjoys cycling, paddling, and spending time close to home with immediate and extended family.
Jessica Jones, MBA, CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) is a seasoned risk management leader and the Sr. Manager of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at Greif, a global industrial packaging company headquartered in Delaware, OH. Jessica leads enterprise-wide risk strategy, governance, and program maturity. She partners closely with senior executives to embed risk-aware decision-making into strategic planning, enabling the organization to navigate uncertainty with agility and confidence.
Jessica is recognized for her ability to translate complex risk landscapes into clear, actionable insights. She has been instrumental in designing and enhancing risk assessment frameworks, facilitating cross-functional risk engagement, and developing governance structures that strengthen operational resilience and organizational performance. In addition to her professional expertise, Jessica is deeply committed to advancing inclusive work cultures for all. She is a founding member of the Greif Women’s Network, where she played a vital role in shaping the organization’s mission and long-term structure. Throughout her tenure, she served in several key leadership roles—including Diversity Chair, Vice President, and two terms as President. Through her leadership, membership expanded to beyond Ohio with the establishment of chapters in every region in which Greif operates. Jessica championed equitable talent development, created community-building initiatives, and helped create access and opportunities for women across the company. Her leadership contributed to increased employee engagement, broader participation, and enhanced visibility of women’s contributions within the organization. In her community, Ms. Jones serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at her church and leads the budget and finance committee. Jessica is the proud mom of one daughter, Imani.
