Janet E. Jackson 鈥�75, Managing Co-Chair
Recently retired president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, where she served for 13 years, Ms. Jackson was the first woman and the first African American to lead the agency in its 80-year history. She was also the first woman elected Columbus City Attorney. In addition, Jackson was the first African-American judge in Franklin County. She earned her law degree from George Washington University School of Law. She has been a member of the Wittenberg Board of Directors since 2016. Her son followed in her footsteps in attending Wittenberg.
Wes Bates 鈥�70, Co-Chair
Mr. Bates is CEO and chairman of the board of Stanley Steemer International. Recipient of the Alumni Association鈥檚 most prestigious recognition, the Class of 1914 Award, given to individuals who have served Wittenberg above and beyond what might be expected of any contributor to the college鈥檚 welfare, he is currently chair of the Enrollment & Marketing Committee of the Wittenberg Board of Directors. Appointed to the Board in 2007, he is married to Ann Sammel Bates 鈥�70, and together they have a son and a daughter. They were also the lead donors for the new Health, Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex, and its centerpiece, The Steemer.
Sarah Hagen McWilliams 鈥�88, Co-Chair
Ms. Hagen McWilliams is a community leader and philanthropist who majored in art history at Wittenberg before earning her master鈥檚 degree in clinical social work from Case Western Reserve University. For several years, she worked with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She and husband Bruce also worked for many years as the owners and proprietors of The Inn at Gristmill Square, a boutique respite and restaurant in Warm Springs, Virginia. In addition, she has volunteered as a fundraiser and grant writer, and served her alma mater on the Board of Directors. She has been a member of the boards of The Erie Community Foundation in Erie, Pennsylvania, Bath Community Hospital, and the Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs, Virginia. Hagen McWilliams comes from a long line of Wittenberg graduates including her mother, the late Susan Hirt Hagen '57, and her grandfather, H.O. Hirt, class of 1911, for whom an endowed chair in history at Wittenberg is named. H.O. Hirt went on to found Erie Insurance Exchange (now Erie Insurance Group) in this hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
David Atkins 鈥�00
Mr. Atkins is vice president and municipal short-term trader with U.S. Bank. He previously worked as an associate/analyst with DEPFA First Albany and as a fundraiser for the RNC. At Wittenberg, he was an American Studies major and a member of the men鈥檚 lacrosse team.
Derrick Braziel 鈥�09
Co-founder of Mortar, a Cincinnati organization devoted to helping entrepreneurial residents of up-and-coming neighborhoods advance along with their surroundings, Braziel was selected by the Obama Foundation to join its second-ever class of Obama Fellows, one of only 20 fellows selected in 2019. tarting with Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine in 2014, Mortar has since branched out to three other locations in Cincinnati with another in Milwaukee. Braziel is also founder of the Indianapolis-based non-profit Dreamapolis, which continues to support hundreds of Indianapolis entrepreneurs. His work has led to recognition from the Indianapolis Star, YES! Magazine, Next City, Politico, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and NBC Nightly News. He has also been included on Forbes鈥� 30 Under 30 list for Social Entrepreneurs and the Cincinnati Business Courier鈥檚 2018 40 under 40 list. He is an Echoing Green and 2016-17 BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) Fellow and a 2018 Next City Vanguard.
Bill Edwards 鈥�89
Mr. Edwards officially became Board chair in July 2020. He is a partner with Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cleveland, Ohio, and serves as the chair of the law firm's Employment and Labor group. Mr. Edwards has been recognized numerous times by Best Lawyers in America and Ohio Super Lawyers. A history major and a member of the football team during his time at Wittenberg, he earned his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University in 1993. Mr. Edwards' family has a lasting legacy at Wittenberg, starting with his grandfather, also William 鈥淏ill鈥� Edwards, who served as Wittenberg鈥檚 legendary head football coach and athletics director from 1955 until his retirement in 1973. Bill Edwards Drive, the road running directly in front of the Wittenberg Stadium and new Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex, is named for Mr. Edwards' grandfather. He was appointed to the Board in 2015.
Laurie Heckler Griffin 鈥�79
A certified public accountant, Ms. Griffin has worked for Coopers & Lybrand, Physics International, and Epiphany Lutheran Church. She has volunteered with the Cub Scouts, EarthQuest, local schools, and Centerville, Ohio youth programs. A 2017 recipient of the Wittenberg Alumni Citation Award, she served on Wittenberg鈥檚 Alumni Board from 2007-2016. She is married to David Griffin, class of 1979.
Alicia Sweet Hupp 鈥�82
Ms. Hupp serves as CEO and president of the Springfield, Ohio-based Sweet Manufacturing Company. Active in the Springfield community, including serving on several area boards, she has been recognized repeatedly for her work and commitment to her hometown. In 2013, she was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. She most recently served as chair of the Advancement Committee of the Board and as a member of the Finance & Investment Committee of the Board prior to earning Board emeritus status in 2019. Thanks to her leadership gift in memory of her father, W. Dean Sweet, Wittenberg is now home to the new, highly popular COMPASS: Sweet Success Center, a first-stop, student-focused campus resource in Thomas Library.
Brian May 鈥�99
Mr. May, who holds an MBA from Otterbein College, is president and founder of Daymark Interactive, a data-driven digital marketing agency. He previously worked as a senior account manager with ClearSaleing, a senior search engine marketing strategist with BRC Marketing, and held several titles with AT&T. He serves as co-chair of membership for the Atlanta Chapter of Entrepreneurs鈥� Organization and has served as an Alumni Board member and Career Day volunteer for Wittenberg.
Bob Merzweiler 鈥�76
Mr. Merzweiler is the chairman and CEO of Landmark Plastic Corporation, an Akron-based firm he founded in 1984. The company focuses primarily in horticultural plant packaging and actively participates in sustainability efforts, including collection and usage of recycled plastics. He is a member of the Ohio Foundation for Independent Colleges (OFIC) and has been a member of the Akron Roundtable, the Akron Community Foundation, the Akron General Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Info Line Inc. Board of Trustees. He and wife Vicki live in Akron. His daughter, Lauren, is a member of the class of 2004. He was appointed to the Board in 2017.
Laurice Bargas Moore 鈥�95
A current member of the University鈥檚 COVID Response Team, Moore earned her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University, completed her pediatric residency at MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio, and practices in Canton, Ohio. She volunteers with a variety of community organizations and currently serves on Wittenberg鈥檚 Alumni Board. She is married to Steve Moore, also class of 1995.
Steve Neely 鈥�75
Mr. Neely serves as president of Springfield-based Armoloy of Ohio Inc., where he works directly with renowned companies such as Kraft Foods and Kellogg鈥檚. A community leader, Neely has served numerous organizations in the Springfield area, including the Springfield Foundation, the Clark State Foundation, and the Community Healthcare Foundation. He is also a past president of the Springfield Rotary Club, and it was through Springfield Rotary that Neely became involved in aiding orphaned children from the South African Kingdom of Lesotho after learning about the effort through Wittenberg. Appointed to the Board in 2018, he is married to Mary Alice Schryver Neely '75.
E. Christopher 鈥淐hris鈥� Olson 鈥�03
Olson is senior director, patient and health impact implementation lead, North America, at Pfizer Inc. Throughout the last 17 years, he has held numerous positions at the company in marketing, brand management, strategy, and business operations. A psychology major at Wittenberg, he is an active volunteer with the University, having served as a member of the Alumni Board, a chapter leader and class agent, and a participant in the Alumni Referral Award Program.
Gina Schaefer 鈥�93
Co-Founder and CEO of 13 Ace Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; and Alexandria, Virginia, Ms. Schaefer is a passionate entrepreneur who grew her company, Logan Hardware, from one to 11 stores over a 12-year period. With her husband, she leads a multimillion-dollar small business that employs 250 people. She has received numerous awards for her accomplishments, including the Women Who Mean Business Award from the Washington Business Journal and an industry Top Gun by the National Retail Hardware Association. Honored by Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of its Women Worth Watching, she has also been recognized by Hardware and Building Supply Dealer as one of 14 "People of the Year." Additionally, she serves on the Corporate Board of CCA Global and the nonprofit boards of House of Ruth and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Ingrid Sponberg Stafford 鈥�75
Stafford recently retired from Northwestern University after 42 years in various financial leadership roles including senior advisor to the senior vice president for business and finance and vice president for financial operations and treasurer. She is a director of Wintrust Financial Corporation, Wintrust Bank, and Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund. She holds an M.A. in applied economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Northwestern University. An emerita member of the Board of Directors, Stafford has served her alma mater as an Alumni Board member, Tiger Career Network mentor, and Admission and Advancement volunteer. Her husband, William, is a member of the class of 1973.
The committee will also include Wittenberg representatives Rebecca Kocher, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement, along with campaign advising from Melanie Norton, founder, Norton Philanthropic Counsel.
鈥淭he opportunity to work so closely with our alumni in moving a campaign forward is an honor,鈥� Kocher said, 鈥渁nd I am confident that their passion and commitment to serving in this capacity will lead to exceptional outcomes as we proceed with the planning and implementation.鈥�
The committee has already been meeting and will provide updates to the planning process as appropriate. For more information on the committee or to learn more, contact the Office of Advancement at 937-327-7430 or alumni@wittenberg.edu.