Westwood Works’ board guides our efforts to create a brighter, more inclusive community. Learn more about the team making it happen in Westwood.
Originally from Central Ohio, Stephanie (she/her) and her husband, David, moved to Westwood in 2006 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. They immediately fell in love with the neighborhood because of its walkability, architecture, and proximity to downtown. Sixteen years and two children later, they have happily put down long-term roots in Westwood. As Managing Director, Stephanie brings years of experience in Development and Event Planning to the organization. Previously, she served on the Westwood Works Board as Vice President, sat on the Governance Committee, and was a Project Manager for several Westwood Works events.
A long-time supporter of Westwood Works, and the first Executive Director, Kevin Tolan (he/him), is the Sponsorships and Fundraising Manager for Second Saturdays and the Westwood Art Show. In this role, he spreads the word of Westwood’s growth to larger businesses and institutions and cultivates relationships with partners, sponsors, and donors.
In this role, he brings strong connections and experiences working with organizations like the Covington Business Council/Urban Partnership, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in New York City.
Please welcome Andrew Haynes as he joins the Westwood Works team as Real Estate Project Manager. Andrew’s background in urban planning and economic development guides his approach to facilitating the connections that communities need to adapt and thrive.
Andrew will be responsible for real estate development and acquisitions for Westwood Works, along with assisting Westwood business owners with City programs like façade improvements, new business development, and management of active projects.
With his diverse background, Andrew finds that he thrives at adaptation. He’s propelled his own career forward using observation, determination, and passion. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys spending time with family, exploring new restaurants with friends, coaching youth football, and volunteering for different events around town.
Autumn (she/her) is a new face in Westwood! She and her husband Zach bought their first home here just three short years ago, moving from Downtown Cincinnati with their three animals. She fell in love with the neighborhood after going to her first Westwood Works meeting. She knew that she wanted to get involved with an organization that had such a positive role in the community; a community where she wanted to plant her family’s roots.
Autumn has her own boutique branding side business and also serves as the Senior Experience Designer at an agency based in Minneapolis. She is excited to use her design and marketing talents to amplify the work that Westwood Works is doing in the community.
John (he/him) and his wife Sue are life-long residents of Cincinnati and live in the community of Westwood with their two daughters Jane and Anna. They are both active in the Saint James church and the Westwood community. John has a passion for improving the quality of life in his community and the city, a passion that began in 1976 at Saint William’s school in Price Hill. John is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and works for KZF Design as the Project Manager in the Government Division. He is also one of the original co-founders of Westwood Works.
Originally from central Illinois, Terry (he/him) came to Cincinnati as a student at the University of Cincinnati. After graduating, he lived in Northside for 3 years before moving to Westwood. He has lived in Westwood for 47 years.
Terry is retired, having worked for Cincinnati Public Schools for 37 years. He worked in several schools throughout the system as a Physical Educator and Visiting Teacher (now called School Social Worker). He was the Head Varsity Soccer Coach at CAPE High School and Head Varsity Girls Softball coach. Terry also coached girls’ and boys youth soccer at Gamble-Nippert YMCA.
Terry became active in Westwood Works after noticing the hard work being done by Works to put on events such as Second Saturdays. It is an honor to be a part of this hardworking group. Terry and his wife, Debbie, can often be found enjoying the new restaurants and businesses in Westwood. He has a daughter, 2 sons, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Attracted by the diverse housing stock, rich history, and lush tree canopy, Barrett (he/him) and his husband, Kevin DiNarda, moved to Westwood seven years ago. Barrett loves the neighborhood’s community spirit, where neighbors stick together, watch out for each other, and are always ready to share a cup of flour or a glass of bourbon.
Barrett works for Ford Motor Company as Director of Global Learning Strategies, and he brings his passion for forward thinking and creating connections to his board seat at Westwood Works. For fun, he cooks and bakes, gardens, explores cool new Cincinnati attractions, and collects found grocery lists. Barrett and Kevin also throw amazing parties in their beautifully decorated home. They have two dogs, Ted and Daniel.
Barrett is excited about Westwood Works’ ability to create the conditions that build bonds and connections between neighbors. He is also a member of the Workplace Equality Committee with the Greater Cincinnati Human Rights Campaign. Barrett’s belief in the power of positive social connections is summed up by one of his favorite sayings: “If you look at the people in your circle and you don’t get inspired, you don’t have a circle—you have a cage.” (Nipsey Hussle)
Marie Jones, AKA “Mama J” (she/her), has been a member of the Westwood community for almost 50 years. She and her husband Richard (Mr. Pickleball) have been married for 51 years, raising five intelligent, caring, creative, and responsible human beings in Westwood. As a member of the first class to graduate from McAuley H.S. (now Mercy/McAuley), she has always been a member of a ‘trendsetting’ crowd, and Westwood Works is a continuation of that mindset.
Mama J graduated from Mt. St. Joseph with a degree in art education. She followed that thread of creativity through decades of teaching on the junior high level, first at White Oak Jr. High, then at St. Catharine School. Even before retiring from a formal position, Mama J volunteered with Tukandu, a cycling club that pairs vision-impaired/blind members with sighted captains. She has been taught what it is to trust in others who share similar interests and passions. Volunteering for more than a decade with Habitat for Humanity has taught her to work constructively (pun intended) with teams of people with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Caring for our community has led to stints on the Town Hall gardening team, chairing the Adopt-a-Pot program through the Westwood Civic Association, and serving disadvantaged neighbors through her parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Mama J has always believed in Westwood, its people, and its potential, and she is delighted to see so many positive changes in the neighborhood she loves. She has been blessed and privileged to play a small part in its growth and encourages others to join in our shared visions!
Rachel (she/her) and her husband, Joe, moved to Cincinnati in 2015. They lived in Over-The-Rhine for five years and, after exploring various neighborhoods in Cincinnati, decided to make Westwood their home in 2020. They were drawn to Westwood by the incredible sense of community and the residents who are striving to make their neighborhood better. The passion for Westwood’s continued growth is contagious, and Rachel looks forward to playing a role in the community’s continued success.
Rachel is an attorney and serves as a Guardian ad Litem representing children’s best interest in Court. She is the Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and also serves on the Social Media/Marketing Subcommittee.
Andi (she/her) and her husband, John, have lived in Westwood for a little over 2 years. With two children under 5, she loves that their grandparents live nearby.
Andi has a BFA and works as a freelance graphic designer and a full-time stay-at-home mom. Her love of creativity translated into several years of involvement with the City Flea, Crafty Supermarket, and Midwest Craft Con. She is also working towards a Manicurist License.
She is obsessed with plants and sits on the Westwood Grows board. Her children Sage, 2, Xavier, 4, and her dog Scout keep her very busy, but she finds serenity in the mountains when she can get away. Andi draws inspiration from a favorite James Baldwin quote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
John (he/him) moved to Westwood with his wife, Andi, in the summer of 2020. He loves the diversity of the neighborhood and the way it reflects his multi-ethnic family. As a lifelong westsider, he also loves the cultural history and beautiful architecture of the area. He has built deep community ties through active participation in the Westwood Library, the YMCA, and CRC activities at Westwood Town Hall. These thriving resources were pivotal in John’s decision to raise his family here.
John is the reading specialist at James N Gamble Montessori High School, where he has taught for 8 years. He is a Secondary Montessori Certified teacher with a background in literacy intervention and support. He serves on the Positive School Culture Committee and has been a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and Local Schools Decision-Making Committee. He received his undergrad degree in English at Ohio University, and his master’s in Middle Childhood Education at UC. He completed his Montessori certification at Xavier.
When it’s time for fun, John enjoys golfing, playing poker with friends, watching UC football and Xavier basketball, and attending the occasional horse race. He has two children, Sage and Xavier, and a dog named Scout. A former paddler and hiker, he once summited Mt. Katahdin in Maine three times in one summer.
Emily Reynolds (she/her) is the board chair of Westwood Works. A 15-year resident of Westwood, Emily has been actively engaged in community building for 10 years. She loves Westwood for its passionate residents, walkability, vibrant energy, and the plethora of trees and greenery. Her role with Works allows her to share her enthusiasm for bringing old and new neighbors together to create a better neighborhood for everyone.
Emily is a senior graphic designer for Marketvision Research, where her work is fueled by the same creativity and optimism that fuel her dedication to our community. Speaking of creativity and optimism, Emily is a plant lover, a gardener, and a maker of beautiful things. She shares her Westwood home with her husband, son, two big dogs, and many, many plants. Her recipe for successful relationships within her family and community is always making plans together.
