1950s 

Will Ziegler ’53 (Ziegler & Schneider, P.S.C.) received The Horizon Award (presented by Horizon Community Funds) at the NKY Chamber of Commerce Annual Celebration Presented by Fifth Third Bank. The Horizon Award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of an individual who exemplifies dedication, integrity, and honorable service to Northern Kentucky through community leadership. Recipients are individuals who have devoted their time, talents, and expertise to serve the public good, and who have made significant, demonstrable, and direct contributions to the community’s well-being.

1970s

Congratulations to Dr. Patrick J. McCauley ’71, voted a top dentist in 2020 by NKY Magazine. Five Thomas More alumni made the top doctor/dentist lists. For more information, visit tmuky.us/2020topdentist. 

Chuck ’74 and Julie Geisen ’76 Scheper were awarded the Devou Cup (presented by The Greater Cincinnati Foundation) at the NKY Chamber Annual Celebration Presented by Fifth Third Bank. The Northern Kentucky Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation created the Devou Cup to honor the generosity of individuals who make a profound difference in the quality of community life in Northern Kentucky, now and into the future.

Dr. James Connor, Jr. ’75 is part of the team that is exploring the differences in glioblastoma between males and females. Connor and his team have secured $10.4 million in five years from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute to pursue this study. Visit tmuky.us/jamesconnor to read more.

D. Lynn Meyers ’77 was named one of the most powerful local business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine in this year’s Cincinnati 300. Four other Thomas More alumni and President Joe Chillo made the list. Congratulations to them all! Visit tmuky.us/cincinnati300 to read more.

Tim Maloney ’79 was named one of the most powerful local business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine in this year’s Cincinnati 300. Four other Thomas More alumni and President Joe Chillo made the list. Congratulations to them all! Visit tmuky.us/cincinnati300 to read more.

After three decades of management, Butch Wainscott ’79, proprietor of Greyhound Tavern, sold this iconic and award-winning restaurant in fall 2020 to One Holland Restaurant Group, a company founded by fellow alumnus Gary Holland ’93. To read more, visit tmuky.us/greyhound. Holland has big shoes to fill as the Greyhound was named Kentucky’s Most Legendary Restaurant by MSN in early 2021.

 1980s

Congratulations to Dr. Anthony Alvarez ’86 voted a top doctor in 2020 by NKY Magazine. Five Thomas More alumni made the top doctor/dentist lists. For more information, visit tmuky.us/2020top. 

Garren Colvin ’86 was named one of the most powerful local business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine in this year’s Cincinnati 300. Four other Thomas More alumni and President Joe Chillo made the list. Congratulations to them all! Visit tmuky.us/cincinnati300 to read more.

Mark Donaghy ’86 retired as CEO of Greater Dayton RTA in April 2021. Donaghy helped modernize the transit agency and oversaw the rebuild of its electric-trolley system. For more information, visit tmuky.us/donaghy.

Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Esselman Story ’87, voted a top dentist in 2020 by NKY Magazine. Five Thomas More alumni made the top doctor/dentist lists. Visit tmuky.us/2020topdentist for more information.

1990s

Wonda Winkler ’90 became the president and CEO of Brighton Center in February 2021. Winkler announced a new senior leadership structure. “I look forward to leading Brighton Center into the future with great hope and optimism,” shared Winkler. To learn more, visit tmuky.us/winkler. 

Gary Holland ’93 founder of One Holland Restaurant Group, purchased the Greyhound Tavern from fellow alumnus Butch Wainscott ’79 in fall 2020. Visit tmuky.us/greyhound to read more about the transition.  

CFO and VP of Administration of the Cincinnati Museum Center Jill Berkemeier ’94 was selected as a winner for the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2020 C-Suite Awards. Visit tmuky.us/berkemeier to read more.

Brent Messmer ’94 celebrated the 20-year anniversary of The Matrix Companies in December 2020. Founder and CEO Messmer was featured in a Saints Spotlight as he shares how his experience at Thomas More influenced its founding and continued success. To read a segment of the interview, CLICK HERE.

John Cioffi III ’96 has opened a new Italian restaurant and wine bar in Mount Lookout (Cincinnati). “We wanted to bring a concept to Mount Lookout that was a little bit on the higher demographic end.” This is Cioffi’s second restaurant. Visit tmuky.us/cioffi for more information.

Congratulations to Dawna Panko ’96 for receiving the St. Elizabeth 20 Year Service Award!

Sarah Tomes ’99 was named as one of the most powerful local business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine in this year’s Cincinnati 300. Four other Thomas More alumni and President Joe Chillo made the list. Congratulations to them all! To find out more, visit tmuky.us/cincinnati300.

2000s

CEO at United Way of Greater Cincinnati Moira Weir ’00 was selected to the Business Courier’s 30 New Bosses to Watch in 2021. Weir previously was CEO at Hamilton County Department of Jobs and Family Services. To read more, visit tmuky.us/30newbosses. Weir was also named one of the most powerful local business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine in this year’s Cincinnati 300. Four other Thomas More alumni and President Joe Chillo made also made that list. Visit tmuky.us/cincinnati300 for more information.

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Schuler ’01, voted a top doctor in 2020 by NKY Magazine. Five Thomas More alumni made the top doctor/dentist lists. Visit tmuky.us/2020top for more information.

Yvan Demosthenes ’04, CEO of Hamilton Demo and Alumni Board member, launched #InterviewsWithYvan. He sat down with Christopher Owens, MBA, of Taylor Oswald, where they discussed risk management, the importance of being invested in the nonprofit sector, and the advantages of partnering with a #minorityowned business. To watch Demosthenes in action visit tmuky.us/demosthenes.

Congratulations to Tara Monday ’04, DO, FAAP, voted a top doctor in 2020 by NKY Magazine. Five Thomas More alumni made the top doctor/dentist lists. Visit tmuky.us/2020top for more information.

Noah Welte ’05 has been promoted to assistant vice president for university operations at Thomas More, effective March 16, 2021. Welte has been serving as the director of legal affairs and auxiliary services for the University since 2018. 

Tom Haggard ’06 was voted in as a new member of the Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education. 

Gee Horton ’06, visual artist and founder of Gee Horton Studios, is one of seven African Americans honored during The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber campaign – We Are Making Black History. Congratulations! For the complete story, see tmuky.us/blackhistory.

GetWITit Cincinnati has welcomed Heather Ackels ’07 to the National Board of Directors. Ackels will serve as VP & Conference Operations Committee chair. Congratulations! For more information, visit tmuky.us/ackels.

Patti (Turner) Talbert ’09 married Aaron Talbert on December 7, 2019, at Hotel Covington. They welcomed their first child, a son, Ace Talbert, on August 28, 2020. 

2010s

John Bovard ’11, owner of Incline Wealth Advisors, created a series, “The Financial Incline,” where business owners and athletes share advice on how they have been able to win with their money. To learn more, visit tmuky.us/bovard.

Aaron Monk ’11 was named partner at Kohnen & Patton, LLP in Cincinnati. Monk is a member of the firm’s Business and Transactions Practice Group and his practice focuses on a broad range of corporate law issues, including company formation, mergers and acquisitions, business planning, and venture capital financing. To find out more, visit tmuky.us/monk.

Congratulations to Kayla Ritter Rickels ’11 who joined the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA). She is serving as the senior manager of community engagement for myOptions.  

Melissa Greenlea-Reed ’15/’17, the current finance manager for Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in Ohio, took time to be featured in a Saints Spotlight. Melissa earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree through the Thomas More Accelerated and Graduate program, and is working on a doctorate in pursuit of her ultimate goal to teach at the collegiate level. Melissa talks about what prompted her to return to college and how the Thomas More program benefited her. To hear the Saints Spotlight, CLICK HERE.

On October 17, 2020, Lucas Nare ’15 and Katrina Hlebiczki ’17 were wed at Saint Thomas in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The wedding party included Thomas More alumni: Best Man Kevin Nare ’07, Matron of Honor Alexa (Hlebiczki) Baudendistel ’12, Groomsmen Galen Curry ’14, Nick Kohrs ’15, Chris Blaut ’15, Zack Kurtz ’15, and Bridesmaids Nadia (Hlebiczki) Osterbrock ’04 and Janie Hils ’16. 

Alexander Furman ’17 started a new position with Fidelity Investments as a financial services representative. 

Congratulations to Kelsi Goins ’18 who accepted the new position of assistant director of admissions at the University of Cincinnati. 

2020s

Congratulations to Mark Goshorn ’20 who has been promoted to vice president for finance at Thomas More University and will assume the roles and duties of CFO upon Senior Vice President Robert Munson’s retirement in June.

Congratulations to Ashley Roderick ’20 who is celebrating her one-year anniversary with Odyssey Financial Advisors. Roderick walks new clients through the onboarding process and ensures updated contact information.

Rachael Sampson ’20 was named senior vice president and director of Key4Women. Sampson leads a nationwide network to promote and support women business owners and clients toward growth. Sampson was previously at KeyBank for 15 years, serving as relationship manager in commercial banking for the Cincinnati market. For more information, visit tmuky.us/sampson.