Our advisory board helps us move forward while remaining true to our heritage. We genuinely applaud their contributions of time, resources and expertise. Please take a few minutes to get to know more about the top shelf individuals that make up our advisory board.

 

KATHY ALEXANDER
Chairperson

Community Volunteer

Kathy Alexander joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1992. She currently serves as the Public Relations Chair and past Secretary of the Board. The Public Relations Committee handles the media information, event planning such as the Civic Dinner, and the newly designed website. The Public Relations committee meets once a month. Christmas is a very busy time for the committee with the Kettle Campaign, Adopt-A-Child Tree and the newly initiated Red Kettle Society Campaign.

Kathy is active in many organizations throughout the area. She serves as a Board of Trustee of the Flesh Public Library, Secretary of the Board of the Northern Miami Chapter of the American Red Cross, and past board member of the YWCA, Upper Valley Medical Center Auxiliary, and Piqua Arts Council. Kathy is a Girl Scout leader and a member of the Hotel Library Legacy Alliance, a 17-million-dollar restoration project of the Fort Piqua Hotel.

Kathy has three children. Prior to raising her family, Kathy was a business and financial analyst for Dun & Bradstreet and a Credit Analyst for the Hobart Brothers Company.

 

JO ANN ASHER
Community Volunteer

 Jo Ann Asher is a retired teacher - having taught kindergarten for 30 years in Cleveland, Springfield, and Piqua.  She joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1995.  She serves on the PR Committee, organizes the Salvation Army Bridge Tournament to raise money for our summer feeding programs, volunteers for the Summer Feeding Program, and was awarded the William Booth Award for her services.

Jo Ann was also on the first advisory board for the local Head Start program.  She was on the advisory board for the Green Street United Methodist Church Preschool. She was a member of the Piqua Arts Council, a volunteer for the art in the schools program, and was chairman for that program for several years.

After retiring from the Piqua City Schools system - Jo Ann spent 10 years as a docent at the Dayton Art Institute.  She is a member of The Columbian Club and The Fortnightly Club, serving as President for two years.

Jo Ann has been married to Chuck Asher for 52 years, 44 years of which he spent as head football at several schools.  Her claim to fame was being the oldest cheerleader in Ohio at one time.

Jo Ann and Chuck have two children, Kent, who is a teacher and administrator in the Cary, Ohio school system, and Amy, who teaches history and social studies at Covington High School in Ohio.

    

CONNIE BROWN
Member Emeritus

Connie brown moved to Piqua from Cleveland, Ohio in January of 1990 and joined the advisory board in January of 1991.  She developed a program for senior citizens.  The first weekly gathering was June 5, 1991 and the group is still growing and thriving.  She was involved with the first three civic dinners when they were held at the Citadel.  She was advisory board chairman in the mid 1990's.  She initiated the annual golf outing and the annual bridge tournament in order to fund expenses for a separate house for our officers.

Before becoming semi-retired, Connie was very involved with the Piqua Arts Council, creating programs for children in elementary grades in art, music and poetry and developing a writing program for children in the junior high level.  She served on the foundation board of Piqua Memorial Medical Center until the hospitals merged.  She was a volunteer at the hospital working with "the flower girls" who made flower arrangements for the gift shop.

In Cleveland, Connie served as a trustee of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and is now a member of the hospital's leadership committee.  She has been and continues to be very involved with the Rainbow Chapter of the cystic fibrosis foundation, especially fund raising projects and served as a member of the national board of the cystic fibrosis foundation.  Her granddaughter now serves on the national board.

Connie and her husband of 55 years, Jim, have 6 children, 16 grandchildren and one great grandson.  She spends her winters in savannah, Georgia and her summers in Findlay Lake, New York but calls Piqua her home.

 

Joseph W. Brown
President, Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Joe joined Hartzell Propeller Inc. immediately after his graduation from college in 1990.  He trained in several departments and became an assistant to the vice president of manufacturing.  In 1995 Joe became vice president of manufacturing and in 2000 became co-president of the company with his brother, Jim.  In 2007, Joe assumed the role of President of Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Joe joined the Salvation Army in 1996. He helped set up a program with Ed Fry, which replaced paid bell ringers with volunteers from the David Brown Youth Center. This program has created dramatic savings over the years.  Joe has assisted with the Barn Blast and was the vice president of the advisory board until his job became so demanding that he has had to limit his service to The Army. He anticipates returning to a more active role.  He is the recipient of the William Booth Award.

Joe served as chairman of the United Fund Campaign and president of the MainStreet Piqua Board.  He was active with the Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development. He was an intern at Upper Valley Joint Vocational School after completing the Leadership Piqua course and thinks the UVJVS is a great resource for young people.  Joe and his brother Jim did some fund raising for Edison's recent building program.  He has been very involved in Hartzell Propeller Inc.'s partnership with Bennett School and prior to that with South Street School.

Joe and his wife Kristen have four children.

 

ANDRE H. BURNER, JR.
Community Volunteer / Substitute Educator

Andy Burner joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in Piqua in 1979. He retired in mid 2009 from public service after 32 years in various management positions in the Piqua City Manager's office. He was last in the position of Deputy Assistant City Manager and was the city's 1st Community Development Director. He served as Advisory Board Secretary from 1982-1990. He has served on most committees through the years, and worked on the 1988 Capital Campaign. He helped establish the Senior Center program in 1995.

Andy returned to Piqua, where he was born and educated, in 1977 joining the City of Piqua city management team. He received a B.A. degree in government and secondary education from the University of Notre Dame and pursued graduate studies in public administration at the Ohio State University. Currently, he serves as a substitute educator many days each week in grades K-12 in various public and parochial schools in Miami and Shelby County School Districts and volunteering throughout the community.

With public service always having been a core value and source of fulfillment, Andy serves or has served on a variety of community boards, including the Miami Valley Boy Scout Council, American Red Cross, United Fund, County YMCA, Piqua Rotary, Piqua Jaycees, the St. Mary Parish Pastoral Council and Piqua Catholic School Board. He is involved as a coach and on committees at Lehman Catholic High School. He chairs the Rotary Educational Partnership Committee with our Kindergarten.

He has been named a Jaycee International Senator, a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow and a Life Member of the Ohio City/County Management Association. Andy is a member of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Dayton, the Knights of Columbus and is a long-time volunteer with St. Mary Catholic Church.

Andy and his wife, Dianna, a nurse in surgical services at Upper Valley Medical Center, reside in Piqua. Their daughter Meghan is a senior at Lehman Catholic High School. Both Dianna and Meghan are active in the community, school and the parish.

 

ARTHUR R. DISBROW
Community Volunteer

Art is a retiree of Hartzell Propeller.  He joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1983.  In the late 1980's Art served as Capital Campaign Chairman to raise funds for the all-purpose building.  He has also served on and chaired various committees including Fund Raising, Property and Christmas Kettle.  Art received the William Booth Award in 1991.

An engineer by background, Art held engineering management positions at General Motors and TRW Inc. prior to being appointed President of Hartzell Propeller in 1981, a position he held until retirement in 1997.  During his tenure at Hartzell Propeller, he served on the Board of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association from 1981 to 1997.

Art currently serves on the UVMC Hospital Board, the Hospice of Miami County Board and the Miami County Unit Board of the American Cancer Society.  He has served as Board Chair of each of these organizations.  He also serves on the UVMC Foundation Board.

Previously he served on the Piquarea United Fund Board as both Board Chair and Campaign Chairman, the Piqua Rotary Board, the Piqua Chamber of Commerce Board, Miami County AAA Board and Leadership Piqua Board.   Art received the Piqua Order of George Award in 1993.

Art and his wife, Joanne, have been married since 1997.  Art has four children and Joanne has three children.  Together they have 15 grandchildren.

 

JOANNE DISBROW
Community Volunteer

Joanne Disbrow is a retired homemaker, joining The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2001.  She currently serves on the Public Relations Committee and assists with the annual Bridge Tournament.

Joanne previously worked for a home mortgage company in Cleveland, family-owned Mid-America Surfaces Inc., a physician's office and Chelsea Clothiers in Troy, retiring in 1997.

 Joanne has served as a volunteer on several advisory boards and committees including the Miami County Unit Board of the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life for over ten years, Miami County Friends of Hospice, Healthy Horizons Mobile Learning Lab of UVMC and UVMC Auxiliary.  She is currently a member of the Miami County Republican Women's Club and will be serving as First Vice President for the year 2008. 

Joanne and her husband, Art Disbrow, have been married since 1997 and reside in Troy.  They have seven children and by February, 2008, will have 15 grandchildren.

 

ARLENE D. EVANS
Office Manager/Paralegal

Princi & King Co., LPA

Arlene joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board member in 1995 as Corps Representative.  She serves on the Property Committee, assists with the annual Bridge Tournament and with the Christmas projects as needed.

Arlene has been a life member and leader of The Salvation Army Corp in Piqua.  She has been a Corps Sergeant Major and previously was Young Peoples Sergeant Major for several years, Sunday School Teacher and is a member of the local brass band.  Arlene has attended several Salvation Army conferences including international conferences in London, England in 1990 and another in Atlanta, Georgia.  As a young person growing up in the Salvation Army she participated in most of the offered activities as well as attending Divisional programs in Ohio and Territorial programs in New York.  Arlene's parents and grandparents were very active volunteers with the work on The Salvation Army in Piqua and her mother, Marcella Denman last year received a 75 year award for her leadership.

Arlene is the office manager and a paralegal for Princi & King Co., LPA.  She started in the legal field in 1956 working for Attorney Richard A. Goater, who became Probate Judge and has continued working in that field for over 52 years.

As an active member in the community, Arlene has served on numerous committees in the Piqua Community including: City of Piqua School System PTA Council President, PTA President at Bennett Jr. High School, Secretary for the Music Boosters, the initial Renew Piqua Committee, and was active in the committees for the swimming pool at Pitsenbarger Park, the Piqua High School as well as helping the football programs for Piqua Athletic Boosters when her children were in school.  She and her husband also welcomed exchange students from Guatemala into their home at various times during a three year period and Arlene visited with their families in Guatemala in 1976.

Arlene has resided in Piqua her entire life, she and her husband have been married for 52 years.  They have two grown children who are married, with 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson whom they enjoy very much.

 

CHRIS L. EVANS
Retired

Hobart Corporation/ITW

Chris has been a member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board in Piqua, Ohio, since November 14, 1982.  Chris received the William Booth Award, the highest honor one can receive as a member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board.  Chris became a life member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2008, but remains an active member.  He was Chairman for a four year period during which time the addition was made to the local building in 1990.  Chris is a member of the Property Committee and has helped with other committees including the golf tournament and putt-putt golf fund raiser. 

Chris worked for Hobart Corporation/ITW for over 40 years retiring in 1995.  He also was a basketball and football official for 19 years, and served as President of the West Central Ohio Officials Association.  

In the community, Chris was a member as well as President of the Piqua Park Board and Piqua Golf Board for many years.  Chris was also active with the Piqua High School Athletic Boosters including serving as President.  He participated in the promotion of the swimming pool at Pitsenbarger Park and served on the Committee to build Piqua High School building.

Chris has resided in Piqua his entire life, and he and his wife, Arlene have been married for 52 years.  They have two grown children who are married, 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.

 

L. EDWARD FRY
Community Volunteer

L. Edward Fry joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1988.  He currently serves on the Property Committee and is a past Board Chairman.  Several years ago he and board member Joe Brown initiated the annual David Brown Youth Center's, Christmas Kettle Program and continue to head up that program.  Ed is a past recipient of the William Booth award.

Ed also serves as board member of The Piqua Community Foundation and the Miami County Home Builders and is also an Ambassador of the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce.  Past board positions include: The Rehabilitation and Neurological Development Center; Greene Street United Methodist Church; Piqua Country Club; Miami County YMCA; Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce; Miami River Stone Corporation and Republic Materials, Inc.; Northwood Group Companies.

Ed and his wife Cathy live in Piqua and have been married since 1980.  Together they have three children; Farrah, John and Ben.

 

DOUGLAS R. HOEFLING
Life Member

Doug Hoefling is a general dentist in Piqua, Ohio who has been practicing dentistry for over 34 years.  He joined the Salvation Army in 1979 and served as its chairman for 4 years during the time of the building expansion.

During his years of dental practice, Doug has been a member of many professional societies and is a past president of the Western Ohio Dental Society.  He has been a member of the board of directors of Superior Dental Corporation (a dental insurance company) for the past 21 years and currently serves as treasurer of the board.

Doug and his wife, Linda, have 4 grown children and currently have 9 grandchildren.

 

TRENTON KARN
Project Manager, Hemm's Glass Shop

Trenton Karn joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in May/June of 2007.  He currently sits on our Educational Committee and the Red Kettle Society Committee.  Trenton was born and raised in the city of Piqua and is highly motivated to serve on our board.

After graduating from the University of Dayton in 2002, Trenton started working as a project manager for R.C. Hemm's Glass Shops in Piqua.

Trenton has strong ties to the Piqua community and serves on the Piqua Area United Way board.  He has served as Industrial Chairman for the United Way campaign for the last 2 years and currently served as this year Pacesetter Chairman.

Trenton and his wife, Andrea, reside in Piqua where they have one daughter, Aubri, and another child on the way.

 

STEPHEN W. KING
Attorney, Princi & King Co., LPA

Stephen joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2001.  He currently serves on the Property Committee and, as an attorney, assists when needed in other areas.    

Stephen graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's degree in Arts.  He furthered his education and graduated Cum Laude from The Ohio State University Law School in 1972 and received his Ohio Supreme Court license on November 4, 1972.  Stephen served in the United States Army.  He was honorably discharged in November, 1972 as a 1st Lieutenant Quartermaster Corp. 

Stephen is a current practicing attorney in Ohio.  His law office is located in Troy, Ohio.  He is a part time public defender as well as Guardian ad Litem for several counties in Ohio. Previously, Stephen was City of Piqua Prosecutor from May 1974 until January 1981.   

Stephen and his wife reside in Piqua, Ohio.  Stephen has four grown children and one grandson.

 

DON MASSA
Community Volunteer

Don joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1996. He has been an active member of the Annual Salvation Army Bridge Tournament committee, focusing on fund raising and soliciting bridge prizes for guest participants. He received the William Booth Award in 2007.

Don obtained his BSME from Purdue University in 1949, received its Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1977 and Outstanding Mechanical Engineer in 1991.

Prior to retiring as president of Jackson Tube in 1988, Don was employed in engineering and management positions with the Copeland Corporation, American Standard and the General Electric Company.

Don was a long time member of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce, serving as chairman of the first Retention and Expansion Committee in 1991. He has also been active as chairman of the 1995 United Way Campaign, 1991-92 president of Rotary and member of the Edison Community College Foundation.

In December 2008, Don celebrated his 63rd Wedding Anniversary with his wife Lois. They have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

 

JERRY McCULLOCH
Life Member

 

JULIE MONNIN
Marketing Manager, Unity National Bank

Julie Monnin joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in September 2006.  She currently serves on our Public Relations Committee helping to promote and support the Salvation Army's extraordinary contributions to the community.  She is also very active on the Annual Golf Outing Committee helping to coordinate the fundraising event and is also a member of the Nominating Committee.

Julie is the Marketing Manager for Unity National Bank in Piqua.  She also serves as President on the Board of Directors for JUMP, Inc., which is a non-profit employability and life skill training service for youth in Miami County.  In addition she is a United Way volunteer as well as a library and cafeteria volunteer for her children's schools. 

Julie and her husband Andy reside in Piqua and have a son, Stephen and a daughter, Grace.

 

RICHARD "DEAN" MYERS
Treasurer

CPA (retired)

Dean joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 1994.  He currently serves as Treasurer, providing annual budgets and regular financial reports in order for the Board to make informed decisions and monitor progress of projects against the budget.

A retired CPA, Dean had his own business and was self-employed for a number of years.  This background gives him the essential qualities The Salvation Army finds so valuable in its Treasurer.

Dean is currently Treasurer for Partners in Hope, an agency that provides emergency assistance for rent, utilities, prescriptions, and other needs.  He is also a member of the Kiwanis and the Ohio Society of CPAs.

Dean is married and has two children and six grandchildren. 

 

Peggy Henthorn
Past Chairperson

Regional Manager
The Mid-America Management Corporation
Miami Valley Centre Mall

Peggy Henthorn joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2010 and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board.

Peggy is a Regional Manager for a commercial real estate company based out of Cleveland, Ohio. She has held this position since 1988 while working for the same company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Besides the Miami Valley Centre Mall, she also manages a shopping center in Dayton and another in West Chester.

Peggy has served on numerous boards including but not limited to The Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce, Edison Community College SBDC Advisory Board, YWCA Women of Excellence event co-chair, Miami County Visitors and Convention Bureau, and the Piqua Chamber Women in Networking. She is a Kiwanis Club member and an International Council of Shopping Centers' member.

Past awards include the Piqua Chamber Business Person of the Year, Hospice of Miami County Duke Award, Women in Networking Woman of the Year, Outstanding Service to the Chamber of Commerce and the Others Award presented by The Salvation Army. She also received the distinguished Esprit de Corps award from her employer, The Mid-America Management Corporation.

The mall received the Piqua Improvement Corporation Economic Development Appreciate Award for its contribution to the Economic Growth of Piqua in 1999.

Peggy is a strong advocate for Lupus research and has been a part of a nationwide study related to the genetics thereof.

Peggy is married to Dan and they have two grown children, Sarah and Scott, a son-in-law Seth Nickol and a granddaughter, Caroline. Scott will wed Mary Zimmerman in 2014. The Henthorn's had moved to Piqua in 1994 at the time her employer purchased the Miami Valley Centre Mall.

Peggy and Dan are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Piqua.

 

JIM SEVER
Vice President / Controller

PSC Crane & Rigging

Jim Sever is the Vice President / Controller of PSC Crane & Rigging who joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2008.  He currently serves on our Putt-n-For a Purpose Committee .

Jim was born and raised in Piqua.  He graduated from PHS in 1992 and then graduated from Wright State University in 1996 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management.

Jim has served on several boards of organizations throughout Piqua and Miami County including the Chairman of the United Way Campaign, Miami County YMCA, Piqua Chamber of Commerce, Piqua Improvement Corp. and is currently a member of Rotary.

Jim has also served on several boards related to his industry including the Governing Committee and the Labor Committee of Specialized Carriers and Riggers Association, the Ironworking Contractor's Allied Partnership, and Secretary of the Ohio Crane Owner's Association.

Jim and his wife, Melanie, reside in Piqua with their twin boys Devon and Dylon who keep them very active with school and sporting events.

 

JULIA "JUDY" TERRY
Piqua City Commissioner

Judy Terry joined the Salvation Army Board in 2006 as an intern after graduating from Leadership Piqua.  In 2007 she serves as chairman of the Education Committee.  She volunteered with the 2007 Summer Feeding Program.

Judy is retired from the Imaging Department of Upper Valley Medical Center after working in radiology for 25 years.  She is currently serving as 4th ward commissioner to the Piqua City Commission after being elected in November of 2005.  As commissioner, she serves on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Committee, the Plan It Piqua Steering Committee, and The Miami County Council.

Judy is an active member of Saint Mary Catholic Church, serving as a reader.  She is a past member of the St. Mary Parish Council and of the school PTA where she held various offices.  Judy volunteers in the Piqua Catholic school cafeteria and for Project WILL at Wilder Intermediate school.  She is a past volunteer for the American Cancer Society and United Fund campaigns.  She is a member of the YWCA.

Judy has been married for 43 years to Mike Terry.  They have resided in Piqua all their lives.  They have three children and three grandchildren.

 

JILL VENTURA
Secretary

Community Volunteer

Jill Ventura is a graduate of Piqua Catholic High School.  She came to the Salvation Army Advisory Board as a member of Leadership Piqua. She is currently secretary of the Advisory Board, a position she has held for several years.  Jill also serves on the Finance Committee.

Jill is retired after 30 years with Third Savings & Loan (now Unity National Bank).  She enjoys flowers and gardening and is a member of Four Seasons Garden Club of Piqua.  She helps plant the circles at Ann Mira Das Park, as well as the gardens downtown at the Veterans Memorial Way.

Jill is also an avid blood donor, donating over 150 times.

Jill is married to Ron, who retired from law enforcement and now sings with a barbershop quartet and teaches driver training.  They live across from Stillwater Prairie Reserve where they enjoy walking most every day.

Their son Doug and wife Suzanne, live in Mason with their six children, two of whom are adopted from Guatemala. Doug is Executive Vice President of Agil IT Company and a partner in a consulting firm.

 

TONY WENDELN
CEO, Murray Wells Wendeln & Robinson

Tony Wendeln is a Certified Public Accountant and joined the Salvation Army Board in 1989. Tony has served as Board Treasurer and organized the first golf outing fund-raiser for the Board in 1995. He chaired the event for seventeen years.

Tony is the CEO of Murray Wells Wendeln & Robinson CPAs with offices in Piqua and Troy, and is a member of MWWR Financial Services. Rounding out the companies in the MWWR group, Tony is a founding partner with Preferred Payroll Services.

A leader in the community, Tony has served as President of The Piqua Community Foundation, The Piqua Rotary Club, The Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce, The Miami County YMCA and the Piqua Catholic School Board. He chaired the capital campaign to build an addition to Piqua Catholic School and chaired the corporate division of the building expansion drive at Lehman Catholic High School. He has also served as Chairman of the Finance Committee at St. Mary Church since 1982.

In 1998, Tony was awarded the prestigious "Order-of-George" award by the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce for community leadership and later that year he was awarded the William Booth Award by the Salvation Army. He has twice been honored by the Piqua Rotary Club as a "Paul Harris Fellow." In 2011, Tony was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Trustee at Edison Community College.

Tony and his wife Karen reside in Piqua. Their son Mike and his wife Kendra are educators in Tallahasse, Florida, their son David and his wife Jenni are CPAs in the Chicago area and their daughter Kelly resides in Fairfield with her husband Ryan and son, Simon. She is a registered nurse and Ryan is an educator in Cincinnati.

 

LISA WHITAKER
Vice Chairperson

PSC Crane and Rigging

Lisa Whitaker joined The Salvation Army Advisory Board in 2007.  She currently serves on the PR Committee and the Educational Committee.

Lisa is a Past President of the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce and former Executive Director of the Piqua Area United Way.

Community driven, Lisa serves on several boards including MainStreet Piqua, CSS of the Miami Valley, The Piqua Education Foundation, Piqua Improvement Corp., and Grow Piqua Now.  In an advisory capacity she serves on the Edison Community College Community Service Initiatives Board, PHS Business Education Co-op Advisory Committee, and the Upper Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium.  Lisa is a member of the Piqua Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.  Other memberships include the YWCA of Piqua, The Piqua Columbian Club and the Piqua Arts Council.

Lisa and her husband Jerry reside in Piqua.  They have three grown children and one granddaughter.