Greater Hilltop Area Commission

2008-2009 Commission Members

	Chuck Patterson, Chair With the departure of Gary L. Baker, II to serve on the Columbus Board of Education, Chuck Patterson assumed chairman duties in 2008 and was subsequently re-elected to that position for the 2008-2009 commission year.. Chuck is a life-long resident of the Greater Hilltop community of cental Ohio, a graduate of Columbus West High School, the American School of Broadcasting and Hondros College. He is an award winning columnist for the Columbus Messenger newspapers, a former radio personality, a working voice-over talent, a CLEAN stand-up comedian and a working Realtor. He served as 2006 President of the West/Southwest Area Realty Association, and is Past President of Southfield Village homeowners 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. He currentlyu serves on the board of Imagine Schools Harrisburg Pike Community School and Sullivant Ave. Community School. 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 an active and enthusiastic member of Hillcrest Baptist church and he shares his life and home with his wife, four children and two cats that contemplate his demise. While the time for hobbies and leisure activities is minimal, Chuck enjoys time with his children and “playing star” with his karaoke machine.
	Dave Horn, Vice Chair 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 at 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.Ed). 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' Who's Who publications, is a member of Westview C&MA church, and is a graduate of the Columbus Citizen's Police Academy.
	Mark Potts, Treasurer Mark graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science in1994. He spent nearly eight years as a Legislative Aide to various State Representatives in the Ohio House. Mark also served as a Legislative Analyst for the County Auditors' Association of Ohio and as a Legislative Liaison for The Ohio Department of Aging under Director Joan Lawrence. Mark currently serves the citizens as the Chief Deputy County Auditor to Delaware County Auditor Todd A. Hanks.
	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 ½ 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 the 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 Women’s Health Project, the Columbus Neighborhood Health Center’s Community Capital 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.
	Justin Boggs 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 a recipient of a 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's Public Safety Committee
	John Contonio Originally from Worcester Massachusetts, John moved to Columbus in 1987. John lives with his wife of 14 years, Stephanie, and their three children, eight year old twin daughters and a six year old son, all three children attend Westgate Elementary. John works in the Member Services department of the School Employees Retirement System. John has served as blockwatch caption for the WOW (N. Wheatland, N. Oakley, and N. Wayne) blockwatch, organized Special Olympic events, is an adoption advocate and for three years was volunteer Big Brother. John is presently working towards a degree in Business Management and Human Resources from Franklin University. John’s philosophy is: it is not enough to live in a community; you need to become part of that community.
	Tasha Corson Tasha graduated from Columbus South High school in 1987 and married west-sider Greg Corson. They have two children and have called the Hilltop home for more than 17 years. Tasha is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and she has been involved with several area organizations, including the Hilltop Business Association, where she served as secretary and volunteer coordinator for the Historic Hilltop Bean Dinner. She was one of three founding members of the Greater Hilltop Resource Center, Inc. and founder of Camp Chase Block watch where she served as coordinator for the first five years. She is a graduate of the Citizens police academy, past member of friends of the Hilltop, Ohio crime prevention association, Safe Kids Collation, Columbus community safety board, G.H.A.L.A., The Williams Syndrome Association, and the National Spelogicial Society. Currently, Tasha enjoys service to the community. She is the owner/operator of TLC Home Services.
	Joe Decker Joe is a writer who lives in Westgate with his wife, Kristi, and daughters, Jocelyn and Sophia. In addition to volunteering at Westgate Alternative Elementary where his daughters attend school, he also coaches in the St. Mary Magdalene Summer Baseball League. Joe was brought up in a family with a strong sense of community and dedication to service. He is hoping to be able to further serve his community through election to the Greater Hilltop Area Commission.
	Steve Hermiller Mr. Hermiller was born in the rural farming community of NW Ohio. He Graduated in 1995 from the University of Toledo and currently is a Professional Civil Engineer in 5 States. He served as past president and officer in ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers-Cincinnati Chapter); Alumni of the City of Columbus Chamber of Commerce- "Leadership/Focus Columbus"; he is active in many societies ie. NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties), ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and ULI (Urban Land Institute). He is an annual judge for students statewide at the "Future City Competition" at COSI each year. Steve moved with his wife to Westgate in 2003 to start their family. He is a member of "The Potter's House"-Church of God" and is a "care ministry" team leader for those in need. He enjoys sports, woodworking, skiing and mostly spending time with his family. Steve hopes to use his skills and client resources to assist Greater Hilltop in having its voice heard and shortening the timeframe for redevelopment, sparking economic growth within the community.
	Jennie Keplar Jennie has spent most of her life on the Hilltop and is proud to be a second generation member of the GHAC. A West High School graduate, Jennie has been very active in the community for most of her life, serving as a volunteer for Hilltop Historical Society, Columbus Metropolitan Libraries, Music on the Hill, Hilltop Reunion Committee, COSI, Project Open Hand Columbus, and The American Red Cross. Jennie currently works as Imaging Specialist in the OSU Department of Graduate & Professional Admissions.
	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 block watch. 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 serves as Chair of the Recreation and Parks 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 Ohio State baseball games on The Ohio News Network and WMNI Radio. Bob and his wife Sarah have two children; Sydney and Brady.
	Stanley Thornburgh I have been a Hilltop resident for almost 3 years. I am the co-founder and co-coordinator of Westgate Heights, which currently includes N. Roys, N. Chase and N. Powell Aves. Our motto: "Community Spirit Moves!" helps maintain a common thread of promoting a community focused on community bonding, awareness, security, pride, and overall empowerment on addressing issues of crime, illicit activities and personal and property security. I hope to bring these ideas and especially the energy as a commission member to the Greater Hilltop Area Commission.
	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.