Greater Hilltop Area Commission

2009-2010 Commission Members

	Chuck Patterson, Chairman Chuck Patterson assumed chairman duties in 2008 and was subsequently re-elected by fellow commissioners to that position for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 commission years, Chuck is a life-long resident of the Greater Hilltop community of central Ohio, a graduate of Columbus West High School, the American School of Broadcasting and Hondros College. He is a award winning columnist for the Columbus Messenger newspapers, a radio personality, a working voice-over talent, and working Realtor and he serves on the board of Imagine Schools Harrisburg Pike Community School and Sullivant Ave. Community School. Chuck was 2006 President of the West/Southwest Area Reality Association, a former Board Member of Youthbuild Columbus charter school, a former member of the Columbus Commission on Ethics and Values and past president of the Greater Hilltop Resource Center. Chuck has been recognized several times by the Ohio House of Representatives and Columbus City Council for his community service work. Married in 1991, Chuck is a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and he shares his home with his wife, four children and cats that contemplate his demise.
	Dave Horn, Vice Chairman Dave moved to the Hilltop in 1994, having grown up in east Columbus. Dave is a graduate of Judson College in Business Administration and a business owner. He is passionate about building community and taking positive steps toward economic redevelopment in the hilltop. Dave is an active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and a Westgate resident. In addition to serving as treasurer, he is the chair of the GHAC Zoning committee.
	Judy Manley, Secretary Judy is a lifelong resident of the Hilltop and a graduate of Columbus West High, The Ohio State University(BSBA), and Xavier University, Cincinnati OH(M.E.D). In addition to being a commissioner with the GHAC, she serves on the board of several other Hilltop Community groups, volunteers at Children s Hospital, is a graduate of Leadership Columbus, is listed in several of the Marquis' publications, is a member of Westview C&MA church, and is a graduate of the Columbus who's who publications, is a member of Westview C&MA church, and is a graduate of the Columbus Citizen's Police Academy.
	Justin Boggs, Treasurer Justin is the co-coordinator of the Ogden Avenue Blockwatch. He has organized neighborhood clean-ups, meetings, and the annual National Night Out celebration held by his blockwatch. He also publishes the blockwatch newsletter. Justin was a member of the steering committee that organized the Hilltop Safety Symposium in 2006. He won the Columbus Dispatch Jefferson Award in 2005 and was also on a recipient of Kohl's Kids who care award in 2005. Justin is the Assistant Editor of Cougar News, Columbus State's student newspaper, and works as a Science Presenter at COSI Columbus, where he had previously volunteered for several years. Justin has lived on the Hilltop all his life. He currently chairs the GHAC Public Safety Committee.
	Druelton Bagley Dru was born in Columbus, Ohio and was raised in Chicago, Illinois where she attended Englewood High School and Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. Dru worked for the State of Ohio, Department of Health for-30 years where she retired in May, 2005. Dru is a graduate member of the Columbus Citizens Police Academy, and past vice president of the Greater Hilltop Resource Center and the Hilltop Residents Council. Dru was recently re-elected to the Greater Hilltop Area Commission where she has served for six years and served as chair and Coordinator, for the Liquor Permit Ad hoc review Committee where she developed the procedures for reviewing problematic liquor permits for the GHAC. Currently she is Chair of Human Services and Education Committee where for the past four years she has conducted a series of violence Prevention Activities within the community recreation centers, Highland Elementary after-school program and Common Ground Community Church. She organized Three back-To-School events for which the last event encompassing a rally and wellness fair. Dru Co-Chairs the Westside Community Health Advisory Committee, is a member of the AFSCME Retiree Chapter, a member of the Immigrant and Refugee Connections Committee, the City of Columbus Public Health Minority Health Local Planning Committee and most recently appointed to be a member of the Residential Community Reinvestment Housing Council.
	John Contonio Originally from Worcester Massachusetts John moved to Columbus twenty years ago. John lives with his wife of sixteen years and their three children, nine year old twin daughters and seven year old son. John works in the Member Services department of the school Employees Retirement System. John has been a block watch captain, organized Special Olympic events, is an adoption advocate and has been a volunteer Big Brother. John has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources from Franklin University.
	Lisa Grazier Ms. Grazier is a community activist who has resided in the Hilltop since 1996. Her current leadership roles include service as president of Friends of Westgate Park and coordinator of Camp Chase Blockwatch. She also serves as a board member for Friends of the Hilltop, the J. Ashburn, Jr. Youth Center, and the Westgate Neighbors Association. She is a graduate of the Citizen's Police Academy and writes a regular column entitled "The Blockwatch Beat" for the Westside Messenger. In addition to her community activities, Ms. Grazier is a homemaker. She is married and has three children who are home schooled. She is involved in local home school organizations and has been a workshop presenter at the Home Educator Training Conference. She is a member of Hilltop Lutheran Church.
	Greg Large Greg Large has been a Hilltop resident for over 50 years, a West High School graduate, and serves on the Reunion Committee for his class. Following high school attended The Ohio State University, then served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for 8 years. Licensed real estate agent since 1978 and is a member in good standing with the Columbus Board of Realtors, The Ohio Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. An active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and has served on many boards within the church in various capacities including Chairman of Trustees, Chairman of the Finance Board and Church Moderator. Most importantly though, the PROUD father of two children, a son who works at National City, a small business owner and serves in the Air National Guard and a daughter who attends Columbus State Community College.
	Sue Laughlin Sue is a long time resident of the Westside and a graduate of Franklin Heights High School and Ohio State University, where she majored in Sociology. She is a board member of Friends of the Hilltop and has participated in numerous neighborhood clean up efforts. She is a block watch captain for the Camp Chase blockwatch. Her interests lie in working to improve the quality of life for all Hilltop residents and to contribute to efforts to help the Hilltop achieve its full potential. As a member of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission, she servers as Chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee.
	Mark Potts Mark graduated from The Ohio Sate University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1994. He spent nearly eight years as a Legislative Aide to various State Representatives in the Ohio House. Mark also served as a Legislative Liaison for The Ohio Department of Aging under Director Joan Lawrence.
	Nancy Rhynard A Columbus native, now residing in Brown Township with her two teenage children, Nancy has been involved in Hilltop Community efforts for 5 years to include commercial property ownership. Her civic volunteerism includes starting the Highland West Merchants and Residents Blockwatch, active roles in the Hilltop Business Association as Treasurer and Economic Development issues primarily on the West Broad and neighboring corridors. Currently an active member of the Columbus Board of Realtors. Nancy's philosophy in community strength is bringing commercial business and residents together to build vitality in the community. A graduate of Otterbein College and Master's from The Ohio State University, Nancy spent 17 years teaching college and continues with active roles in youth activities, 4-H, and scholarship foundations for youth. Currently GHAC chair of Liquor Ad Hoc Committee.
	Bob Spears Jr. Bob is a fourth generation funeral director with Jerry Spears Funeral Home. His interests in joining the commission come from his desire to see improvement in the areas of economic development, public safety and a great interest in the history and pride of the west side. He graduated from St. Cecilia School, Bishop Ready High School and Ohio State University. Bob is a member of the Hilltop Business Association, Moose Lodge #11 and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. In addition to his duties at the funeral home, he is a color analyst for the Ohio State baseball games on The Ohio News Network and WMNI Radio. Bob and his wife Sarah have two children, Sydney and Brady.
	Greg Watson Columbus resident since 2005-Greg Watson relocated to Columbus from rural Northwest Ohio in 2005 after serving as a Sergeant in Iraq with the Army Corp of Engineers. Shortly after moving to Columbus Greg pursued goals that included attending The Ohio State University-(majoring in sociology) and earning his Ohio Real Estate License. Prior to moving to the Hilltop, Greg spent much of his spare time volunteering for Veterans organizations in the Hilliard area, most notably American Legion Post 614. While serving as finance officer for Post 614 Greg helped to organize various fund raisers and to further refine as well as create new revenue generating activities. Greg Watson currently works as a real estate agent with Real Living HER. Since moving to the Hilltop(Westgate Park) Greg has focused more of his volunteering efforts toward local community organizations such as the Westgate Neighbors Association, Friends of Westgate Park, and now the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. Watson says, "I was drawn to the Hilltop by its affordable housing, diverse population, and economic potential. I always find it very rewarding to work with committed groups and individuals such as the ones that we have here in the Hilltop"
	Karen Whitman Karen has lived on the Hilltop for more than 50 years. She attended Westgate Elementary and West High School. She spent most of her career working in the Greater Hilltop Area. In addition to owning property and businesses in the community, Karen was a real estate agent for almost 15 years. Karen has served as a member of the GHAC for more than 15 years and she has been involved with National Night Out since 2000. Karen was also a member of the Hilltop Resource Center, Inc. She has served as Chair of the GHAC Safety Committee and she helped in the organization of the Hilltop Safety Symposium that was held at West High School. Karen is currently the executive secretary for the Hilltop Business Association. She lives on Wicklow Road and hopes to continue serving the Hilltop community for many years.
2009 - 2010 GHAC Back Row: Dave Horn, Greg Watson, Steve Hermiller (resigned), Justin Boggs. Chuck Patterson, Greg Large, Mark Potts, Bob Spears Front Row: Sue Laughlin, Dru Bagley, Karen Whitman, Judy Manley, Lisa Grazier, Nancy Rhynard Not Pictured John Contonio