While the Power 100 shines the spotlight on the 100 most influential people in the Tristate, there are many more people who are making their mark on the region. The third annual Rising Stars feature shines the light on these individuals.
Those nominated represent all facets of the Tristate economy, many in the early stages of their careers, and have demonstrated they are continuing to reach new heights in the impact they make for their organizations and the community at large. From politicians to entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders to educators, 2025-2026’s Rising Stars is a diverse group of leaders who are working to improve our region and communities.
Business
Deepak Aggarwak
Managing Director Tri State CPAs
Kristen Bailey
Co-Founder & CEO Sweets & Meats BBQ
Adam Bankovich
CEO Rhinegeist Brewery
Noah Berkheimer
Chief Support Officer Beneficial Talent Source
Andy Blankemeyer
CEO Monte Nido
Karla Boldery (Cardenas-Alvarez)
Local Sales Manager Urban One
Gabriella Burch
General Manager Jamestown
Brendan R. Carter
Senior Director, Corporate Human Resources Cleveland-Cliffs
Meghan Clarke
Owner and Principal M E Clarke Consulting
Keith Dailey
Group Vice President, Corporate Affairs Kroger
Justin Doyle
Owner, President & Founder Justin Doyle Homes
Austin Dunbar
Principal/Partner Durham Studio/Wenzel Distillery
Brady Duncan
Co-Founder MadTree Brewing Company
Ryan Eten
Vice President of Marketing & Experiences Jolly Enterprises
Jason Finch
Region President – South Fischer Homes
Dominic Franchini
Partner HUB International
Pat Frew
Executive Director Covington Business Council
Sarah Fry
Managing Director Intrinzic
Ellen Glasgow
Project Manager H. Glasgow Construction
Andrew Gray
Branch Manager, Assistant Vice President The North Side Bank and Trust Company
Nicholas J. Heekin
Executive Vice President Corporex Companies, LLC
Brad Heter
Vice President, Employee Benefits Alliant Insurance Services
David Hornberger
Managing Partner Robert Louis Capital
Sam Hubbard
Founder Sam Hubbard Foundation
Emily Johnson
Director of Sales and Marketing AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks/Pyramid Global Hospitality
Steven J. Johnston
Chairman & CEO Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Trisha Kassner
Founder & CEO Panoptica Financial
Mindy Kershner
Director of Communications Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport
Tata Kersting
Director of Lending Victory Mortgage
Dave Knox
Executive Director Blue North
Tracy Kocher
President & CEO Travel Butler County
Paul Koop
CEO & Founder Builder Backed
Adam Kuehne
President HGC Construction
Kelly Lanser
President & CEO Findlay Market
Katie Lauber-McCann
Co Owner/Principle Agent Lauber & Will Insurance
Alishia Lee
CEO Me By Lee Designs
Patrick Longo
President & CEO Alloy Development Co.
Niki Lunsford
Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs Citi
Moira G. Lyon
Market Leader Oswald Companies
Kara H. Lyons
Managing Partner Lyons & Lyons Co., LPA
Jonathan Main
Vice President – Commercial Capital Alloy Development Co.
Edward Mathis
Vice President Republic Commercial Real Estate
Gemma Maxwell
Market President – Northern Kentucky Fischer Homes
Romain Mayambi
Photographer Redbox Ctudios
Michael Shawn McCabe
Founder & President McCabe Media LLC
Robert W. McDonald
Partner Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Ed McMasters
Marketing Manager Transducers Direct
Britney Ruby Miller
CEO Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment
Julie D. Mueller
President & CEO Custom Design Benefits
Steve Mullinger
Ohio Market President Truist
Christopher Owens
Senior Insurance Sales Executive Huntington Insurance, Inc.
David Peterson
Executive Director Madeira Chamber of Commerce
Jason E. Praeter
President, Consumer & Small Business altafiber
Sam Rossell
Business Development Manager APG Office Furnishings
Jake Rouse
Co-Founder & CEO Braxton Brewing Company
Jasmine Ruff
Event Planning Specialist Blush The Event Loft
Allison Schroeder
Founder Pomme Communications
Matt Sheakley
President Sheakley
Kyle Shumate
Chief Marketing Officer Clark Schaefer Hackett
Dale Silver
Vice President Client Services C Forward
Patrick Sledz
Senior Vice President UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Shannon C. Smith
Founder Law Offices of Shannon C. Smith, PLLC
David Spaulding
President Acendion Collective
Jason Staats
CEO SUN Behavioral KY
Aaron Stapleton
CEO Trinity In Home Care
Veronica Sterling
Senior Director, Relationship Management, Mobility Solutions Liberty Mutual Insurance
Chris Strong
President Watson’s
Daryle Tibbs
Attorney/Owner Tibbs Law Office
Brad Turner
Associate Media Director Fahlgren Mortine
Mitchell Vocke
Chief Lending Officer Universal 1 Credit Union
Jordan Vogel
Executive Director Allied Construction Industries
H. David Wallace
Chairman & CEO Heritage Bank
Alex Weidner
President Rudler PSC
Craig Wilks
President Wilks Insurance
Andrae Wills
Senior Manager, Program Management L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
Education
Jeni Al Bahrani
Visiting Assistant Professor Miami University
Kelli Beecher, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor/Family Nurse Practitioner University of Cincinnati College of Nursing
Lelia Keefe Kramer
President Saint Ursula Academy
Corrie Loeffler
Executive Director, Scripps National Spelling Bee The E.W. Scripps Company
William Sprankles
Superintendent & CEO Butler Tech
Siobhan Taylor
President & CEO DePaul Cristo Rey High School
Julie Thalman
Vice Provost for UC Online University of Cincinnati
Government and Politics
James Bass
Supervisor of Inspections City of Cincinnati
Mallory Greenham
Chief of Staff City of Hamilton
Brandy Jones
Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Cincinnati METRO
Michael McNamara
Treasurer Butler County
Pavan Parikh
Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, and Major, US Army Reserve Hamilton County
Mike Stater
Executive Director & Advisor Warren County Small Business Development Center & Alliance
Nonprofits
Cervilio Miguel Amador
Artistic Director Cincinnati Ballet
John Banchy
President & CEO Best Point Education & Behavioral Health
Rebekah “Becky” Beaulieu
President/CEO Taft Museum of Art
Nic Covey
Vice President, Strategic Relationships Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Maria Dehne
Senior Social Media Specialist Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Mary Delaney
Executive Director Community Matters
Meredith Delaney
President & CEO Scripps Howard Fund and Scripps Howard Foundation
Sarah Ditlinger
Director, Marketing & Engagement Taft Museum of Art
Tyler Gabbard
Theatre Director The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center
Evan Gidley
Executive Director Summermusik (Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra)
Michael Groat, PhD
President & CEO Lindner Center of HOPE
Travis Gulling
CEO & Scout Director Simon Kenton Council, Scouting America
Cody Hefner
Vice President, Marketing & Communications Cincinnati Musuem Center
Stacey Hill-Simmons
Superintendent Best Point Education & Behavioral Health
Paul S. Hoover, Jr.
President Kettering Health Hamilton
Colleen Houston
CEO & Artistic Director ArtWorks
Meera Kotagal, MD, MPH
Director of Trauma Services Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Justin Krueger
North Market President Mercy Health – Cincinnati
Brad McMonigle
CEO Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati
Jill Miller
President & CEO Bethesda Inc.
Sara Pattison
Executive Director Rotary Club of Cincinnati
Kat Pepmeyer
Executive Director Cincinnati Community ToolBank
Jock Pitts
President People Working Cooperatively
Kimberly Rossetti
Vice President of Economic Development BE NKY Growth Partnership
Trisha Sefakis
Director of Marketing & Communications Alloy Development Co.
Jennifer Hafner Spieser
President & CEO Cincinnati Parks Foundation
Jenetta Thomas
Founder & CEO Hearts in the Park
Sarah Templeton Wilson
Executive Director Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
