Dr. Veronica Motley is originally from northeast Ohio. She attended the University of Akron, where she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and later her doctorate in educational administration. She has served students and their families for 35-plus years.

Dr. Motley has served in four culturally and economically diverse school districts, which has allowed her to hone her skills and expertise. She has also continued to educate and inspire future educational administrators by serving as an adjunct instructor at the University of Akron, Kent State University and the University of the Bahamas, and by earning the prestigious title of Professional Fellow at Ashland University. She has also presented for multiple local, state and national organizations.

Dr. Motley has stated on many occasions that she feels it is a privilege to serve as Superintendent of Sylvania Schools. She feels honored to lead a district that truly believes in "Excellence Through Opportunity as we continue the legacy of investing in our number one asset…our children."

As a seasoned educator, Veronica has devoted her career to public education and the sense of pride and tradition it creates for the community and future generations. Dr. Motley enjoys spending time with her partner, Johnny, and her furbaby, Cricket the Cavapoo.

Vince DiPofi, PE, is the Chief Executive Officer of SSOE Group, a nationally ranked architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. ENR ranks SSOE as one of the Top 5 firms in the country, in the design of Manufacturing, Automotive and Semiconductor facilities. In 2025, Fortune Magazine named SSOE as one of the Top 25 professional service organizations in the country.

With over 40 years of professional experience, Vince has built a career defined by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to innovation. Under his leadership, SSOE has launched a technology-driven strategic plan that positions the firm as a thought leader in artificial intelligence and design automation.

Vince is widely respected for his collaborative leadership style and his focus on developing the next generation of leaders. He’s passionate about helping organizations navigate change, strengthen their culture, and connect their success to the communities they serve. Whether he’s talking about strategy, innovation or the power of great teams, Vince brings a grounded, real-world perspective shaped by decades of hands-on leadership experience.

A licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio and Michigan, Vince holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo, where he was named a Distinguished Alumni in 2019. He was honored as the Toledo Society of Professional Engineers’ Engineer of the Year in 2022 and received the Ernst & Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2024.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Vince is deeply engaged in community service. As a survivor, he has been a passionate advocate for the American Heart Association, including serving as chair of the 2026 Toledo Heart Walk campaign. He is also a board member of the United Way of Greater Toledo, and ConnecToledo economic development organization.

Neil A. MacKinnon III is a lifelong Rossford resident, civic leader and business professional whose career reflects a deep commitment to community, service and thoughtful growth. A graduate of Rossford High School’s Class of 1986, MacKinnon went on to attend Defiance College, further shaping the values of leadership and service that have defined both his professional and public life. In 2024, he was honored with Rossford High School’s Award of Distinction for his meaningful contributions to society.

Professionally, MacKinnon serves as a project manager and new business development officer for his family’s company, Nordmann Roofing, a commercial roofing firm established in 1931. In this role, he combines operational leadership with a forward-looking approach to business development, helping guide a multi-generation company rooted in quality and longevity.

In public service, MacKinnon has made a lasting mark as Mayor of the City of Rossford, first elected in 2011, reelected in 2015 and 2019, and running unopposed in 2023. His tenure has been defined by steady leadership, community investment and an emphasis on safety, recreation and infrastructure. Under his administration, the city has expanded recreational opportunities through park upgrades, the addition of pickleball courts and the dedication of John Folcik Park. He has also overseen significant improvements to the Rossford Marina, including a dedicated kayak launch and a new facility providing concessions, restrooms and showers for boaters and visitors to Veterans Park along the river.

MacKinnon’s leadership has extended to practical, quality-of-life improvements across the city, including road, curb and sidewalk projects designed to enhance pedestrian safety and family-friendly connectivity. With a consistent focus on public safety and civic preparedness, he was instrumental in creating, renovating and dedicating the Mark G. Zuchowski Safety Planning and Zoning Annex, honoring a former mayor and longtime city servant while strengthening the city’s operational capacity.

Beyond his professional and elected roles, MacKinnon remains deeply engaged in the Rossford community. He is an active member of the Bulldog Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing student experiences through teacher grants and educational opportunities. He is also the proud father of two children, Neil and Nadia, both Rossford High School graduates, continuing a family legacy closely tied to the city he serves.

Ed Ewers is the Superintendent of Penta Career Center, a career-technical education institution serving more than 2,700 high school students and thousands of adult learners across five counties in Northwest Ohio. A lifelong educator and native of the region, Ed has spent over 25 years advancing student-centered, workforce-aligned education that connects learning to real-world opportunities.

Ed began his career as a social studies teacher and coach with Montpelier Exempted Village Schools. He later served as principal of Montpelier High School for more than a decade, leading efforts to strengthen academic rigor, expand student support and deepen community partnerships. In 2011, he became Superintendent of Edon Northwest Local Schools, where he continued to prioritize personalized learning and career readiness.

In 2015, Ed joined Penta Career Center as its first Assistant Superintendent, a role created to accelerate the school’s strategic growth and expand partnerships with K-12 districts, higher education institutions, and regional employers. He was appointed Superintendent in 2020.

Ed earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Findlay and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University. He is an active member of the Ohio Association of Career and Technical Superintendents and other statewide workforce and education coalitions.

Dr. Tom Brady and Betsy Brady are entrepreneurs, philanthropists and community leaders whose work has influenced business, education and the arts across northwest Ohio. As co-founders of Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI), they built a global leader in plastics packaging, while also dedicating decades of service to higher education and cultural institutions.

Tom earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Plastics Engineering from the University of Michigan. In 1985, he founded PTI, which became internationally recognized for innovation in sustainable packaging and collaboration with global consumer brands. His career later included service as Interim Dean of the College of Education at the University of Toledo, where he applied his entrepreneurial expertise to advancing academic programs.

Betsy, a graduate of Smith College with a degree in English, guided PTI’s growth for more than 35 years as Vice President of Finance, Administration, Human Resources, and Corporate Affairs. She was responsible for the company’s organizational strength and culture, ensuring PTI’s success as both a business and an employer. In addition to her corporate leadership, Betsy has been a prominent civic leader, serving in key roles for organizations across the region. Most notably, she chaired the Board of Directors for the Toledo Museum of Art, championing the museum’s accessibility and community impact.

Together, Tom and Betsy have extended their leadership into philanthropy and education, with a focus on preparing the next generation of professionals. Their most recent initiative, the Brady Educator and Social Services Academy with Toledo Public Schools, will create pathways for students pursuing careers in teaching and social services. This reflects their shared belief in education as the foundation for community and economic growth.

The Bradys’ legacy is defined by innovation in business, leadership in education, and dedication to cultural and civic institutions. Their partnership has created a lasting impact across industries and communities, ensuring that future generations have opportunities to learn, lead and succeed.

Brian Treece is the president & CEO of the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. In this role, he provides leadership and direction to fulfill and advance the Foundation's mission. He is responsible for leading the Foundation in its achievement of its operational and strategic goals, including the success of the Foundation’s fund and donor development, fiscal management, grants and program operations, board relations, human capital management, community leadership and administrative matters.

Before this role, Brian served as program director for Community and Organizational Development and Evaluation at The Community Foundation. Before coming to the Foundation, he was the assistant dean of students at the University of Findlay for many years.

Brian has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and a doctorate in organizational leadership. Brian has been recognized for his achievements locally and regionally and has served on a variety of nonprofit boards in the community.

Jami Williamson, M.S., CSCS, TSAC-F is a professor and program facilitator of Exercise Science at Owens Community College, where she brings more than 30 years of experience in health, fitness and education to the classroom. A passionate educator and mentor, Jami was honored with the 2025 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition from the American Association of Community Colleges, a national award that celebrates faculty who consistently go above and beyond for their students.

Jami holds a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Eastern Michigan University, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toledo, and completed undergraduate coursework in nursing at Ohio State University. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

At Owens, Jami teaches a wide range of courses, including Introduction to Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning, Exercise Physiology and Personal Wellness. She is also a mentor in the Honors Program and actively contributes to curriculum development, course scheduling and advisory board leadership. Prior to joining Owens full-time, she taught at Monroe County Community College and worked as an exercise physiologist, personal trainer and strength coach in both clinical and athletic settings.

Jami believes in empowering students through education, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the body adapts to exercise, tailoring programs to individual needs and developing effective communication skills. She is passionate about preparing the next generation of health and wellness professionals to meet the evolving needs of the industry—and helping every student discover what’s possible for their future.

Dr. Karen A. Stout has served as president and CEO of Achieving the Dream since 2015. Achieving the Dream is a network of over 300 community colleges working to become profoundly accessible hubs of learning, credentialing and economic mobility that eliminate inequities in educational and workforce outcomes.

Dr. Stout has received national recognition for her achievements and accomplishments in higher education innovation and leadership. In 2022, she was awarded the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Leadership Award and entered the organization’s Hall of Fame. She was named the American Association for Women in Community College’s Woman of the Year in 2017, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education’s Leading Women in 2018, one of Washington Monthly’s 16 most innovative higher education leaders in 2016, to Washingtonian’s 500 most influential people list in 2023, and one of Ed Tech’s 30 higher education IT influencers to follow in 2023. She is the recipient of the Robert Zemsky Medal for Innovation in Higher Education, among many recognitions. Dr. Stout has also earned honorary degrees from Miami Dade College and Montgomery County Community College. In 2023 she was recognized by the Harford County Historical Society as one of 50 most Notable Athletes in the 250-year history of the county.

Dr. Stout currently serves as chair of the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research Advisory Board at North Carolina State University, as co-chair of the University of Maryland Global Campus Doctorate of Management in Community College Policy and Administration Advisory Board, and is a member of the Common App Board of Directors, College Promise National Advisory Board and the Community College Research Center Advisory Board. In 2022, Dr. Stout was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate to serve a six-year term as a member of the National Council on the Humanities.

Prior to serving as president and CEO at Achieving the Dream, Dr. Stout was president of Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) (PA) from 2001 to 2015, where she led the college through a transformation process to improve student success. Prior to her presidency at Montgomery, Dr. Stout held leadership positions at Camden County College from 1994 to 2001, including vice president/campus executive officer. She started her community college career at her hometown community college, Harford Community College, in the admissions office. Dr. Stout taught for 15 years as an adjunct faculty member at Harford and Camden in marketing and management and later at Montgomery as part of the college’s honors colloquium.

She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware. In recognition of her public service contributions, in 2014, the University of Delaware awarded her the prestigious President’s Leadership award.