2009-2010 Commission Members
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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"
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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.
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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
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