[email protected]
495 Metro Place South
Suite 350
Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614-410-8092

Michelle Francis is the Executive Director of the Ohio
Library Council, the professional association that represents Ohio’s 251
public library systems, including their administrators and staffs,
trustees, and Friends groups. The OLC is acknowledged as one of the
leading statewide library associations in the country and is
consistently recognized among professional associations in Ohio for its
outstanding advocacy efforts, information resources, and member
services. As the chief executive officer for the OLC, she is responsible
for working with the OLC Board of Directors to establish and execute the
strategic direction of the organization and the day-to-day direction
and management of its 10-member staff. Michelle was named the Executive
Director in June 2019. Prior to that,she served as the OLC’s Director of
Government and Legal Services where she monitored state and federal
legislation affecting public libraries, directed OLC’s lobbying efforts,
and assisted members with legal questions. She has been with the
organization since 2014. Before joining the OLC staff, she served as the
Deputy Director of Legislative Services for the Ohio School Boards
Association where she represented Ohio’s public school districts for
nine years. Michelle holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Capital
University Law School and is a graduate of Morehead State University
with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

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495 Metro Place South
Suite 350
Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614-410-8092

[email protected]
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-7090

Susan Willeke is an accomplished government - relations professional with more than 20 years’ experience in public affairs, communication and public speaking.  Susan joined the Ohio Ethics Commission in 2005 as the Education and Communications Manager where she oversees and conducts educational and communication outreach.  In that position, Susan presents approximately 200 speeches annually, develops information strategies regarding agency programs and represents the Ethics Commission to Ohio citizens, the media and the Ohio legislature.  Prior to joining the Commission, Susan served in the communications office at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives.   

Susan is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio.  In 2011, she was selected to present at TEDx Columbus, a conference for “Ideas Worth Sharing” and identified as one of Central Ohio’s “Leading Thinkers and Doers.”

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4016 Allston Street
Suite 4
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Phone: (513) 758-8494

Ryan has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry with extensive knowledge concerning fixed income markets. For the last 18 years, he has specialized in assisting public entities and other agencies with their fixed income needs. Ryan leads business development at RedTree and oversees the firm’s investment process. His dedication to delivering unmatched service is evident by the many long-standing client relationships he maintains. 

Prior Experience
•  Baird Public Investment Advisors, Director and Portfolio Manager
•  Seasongood Asset Management, LLC, Chief Investment Officer 
•  Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., Fixed Income Portfolio Manager 

Speaking Engagements
Ryan speaks regularly at professional development and continuing education training events, including those offered by the Ohio Treasury’s Center for Public Investment Management (CPIM). He is a sought-after speaker on financial topics and frequently presents to industry groups across the midwestern U.S.  Ryan’s speaking topics include:  Economic outlook, Interest rates, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 135 Allowable Investments, and The Federal Reserve.

Education

Master of Business Administration, Xavier University

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Kentucky

Certifications

Chartered Finance Analyst (CFA)

Series 7, 24, 65 (inactive)

[email protected]
4016 Allston Street - Suite 4
Cincinnati, Ohio 45209
Phone: 888-596-2293

With over five years of experience in the investment industry, Joe has had exposure to both equity and fixed income markets. Much of this time has been spent working with fixed income products and portfolios. He brings a focused and detailed approach to portfolio management. From developing investment strategies, risk management, and portfolio analysis, Joe is determined in his work to provide investment counsel to the highest degree.

Prior Experience

• Fidelity Investments, Financial Representative
• Wedgewood Partners, Internship
• Parkside Financial Bank & Trust, Internship

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Economics, Saint Louis University

Certifications

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)®
• Series 7, 63 (inactive)

[email protected]
88 East Broad Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3402

Special Investigations Unit (SIU)

The mission of the Special Investigations Unit is to promote transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, to expose fraud and corruption where it exists, and to assist law enforcement and prosecutors in the pursuit of justice.

Composed of forensic auditors, investigators and attorneys, the team has decades of experience and working relationships with law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels. Their expertise allows them to take a case from initial complaint through conclusion. In cases where local officials have conflicts that make them unable to conduct investigations, the SIU brings independence.

[email protected]
88 East Broad Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3402

Special Investigations Unit (SIU)

The mission of the Special Investigations Unit is to promote transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, to expose fraud and corruption where it exists, and to assist law enforcement and prosecutors in the pursuit of justice.

Composed of forensic auditors, investigators and attorneys, the team has decades of experience and working relationships with law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels. Their expertise allows them to take a case from initial complaint through conclusion. In cases where local officials have conflicts that make them unable to conduct investigations, the SIU brings independence.

[email protected]
60 East Broad Street
Suite 350
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 461-4177

Dr. Howard B. Fleeter received his Ph.D in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990.  He was a faculty member in the School of Public Policy and Management at Ohio State University from 1989-1999, where he taught courses in Public Sector Economics, Public Finance, and State and Local Government Finance.  He was a four-time recipient of the School’s “Faculty of the Year” award for excellence in teaching.  Dr. Fleeter was also a faculty member in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1999-2001, where he taught courses in the Economics of Education and School Finance.  In 2002 he joined with Richard Levin and Bill Driscoll to form the state and local government finance and tax policy consulting firm Levin, Driscoll & Fleeter.  After the retirements of Mr. Levin and Mr. Driscoll, the firm is now known as Howard Fleeter & Associates. 

Dr. Fleeter's research has focused on issues of education finance, education policy, and state and local tax policy and he is the author of numerous policy studies and academic journal articles on these topics.  Since his 1992 report, "Equity, Adequacy and Reliability in Ohio Education Finance" for Governor Voinovich's Education Management Council he has been one of the state’s leading experts on Education Finance.  He has worked extensively with Ohio education policy-makers to improve the state's school funding system for more than 25 years.  He currently serves as a research consultant on education finance and policy issues for the Ohio Education Policy Institute. 

[email protected]
88 East Broad Street 5th floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 1-800-443-9275

From 2001-2018, Auditor Faber served Ohioans in the state legislature, including time as President of the Ohio Senate.  He earned a reputation for restraining state spending, lowering taxes and advocating for more transparent, accountable government. 

Faber earned his undergraduate degree from Oakland University and his Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  After working in the private sector, he opened his own law firm, Faber and Associates LLC.

[email protected]
88 East Broad Street 5th floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 18004439275

tbd

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206 Boradway Street
Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: 419-434-1479

Serving in the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library for 21 years in a variety of capacities, most recently as Assistant Director and Adult Services Manager. Experience in library and departmental budgets, management, strategic planning, staff development and collection development. Additional leadership and project management experience developed through roles at statewide and local organizations.

[email protected]
325 N Michigan Street
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419-259-5260

Jason Kucsma’s 13 years of leadership in libraries comes after nearly a decade leading a nonprofit independent media organization and publishing an internationally distributed politics and culture magazine while living in northwest Ohio. Kucsma is a born-and-raised Ohioan who earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication and master’s degree in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University. He earned his master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Arizona before moving to New York City to work with public, academic, school, and special libraries as Executive Director of the Metropolitan New York Library Council. Kucsma returned to Ohio in 2015 to assume the role of Deputy Director at Toledo Lucas County Public Library. He was appointed Executive Director in August 2019 where he helms a leadership team and staff of nearly 400 employees providing world-class library services to the diverse communities of Lucas County. His work in libraries is informed and driven by his dedication to the role public libraries play in building strong communities through equitable access to information and technology—and the expertise library staff bring to help navigate both.

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485 Metro Place South
Suite 200
Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614-923-7700

Andrew A. Esposito is a Shareholder and serves as Manager of Client Development. Drew advises clients in human resource management, labor relations, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, discipline, and policy development. He regularly conducts training on a variety of human resource and labor relations issues such as social media and technology in the workplace, supervisory principles and practices, performance evaluations, FLSA, FMLA, and discriminatory harassment.

Drew joined Clemans Nelson in 2011 after working for two of the most preeminent law firms in Cleveland. He received his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and his B.S. from Ohio University in Political Science and Biology.

[email protected]
88 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 42315
Phone: (800) 345-2519

David B. Thompson, CPA, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting.    He is a Certified Public Accountant and has over thirty five years of governmental experience. Most of that experience is with the office of Auditor of State dealing with complex accounting, budgetary and reporting issues of local governments in the State of Ohio. Dave also served as Chief Project Manager of the Southwest Region of Local Government Services for over twenty years. 

[email protected]
101 Central Plaza South
700 Chase Tower
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (800) 443-9272

Joey is the Chief Auditor for the East Regional Office with Auditor of State Dave Yost’s office and is responsible to help manage a staff of 68 employees and oversees the completion of 685 audits for AOS clients and IPA clients in the region. Joey has been with the Auditor of State’s office for over 23 years and has been entertaining audiences (training) for 15 years.   

Joey has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management from Kent State University. Joey is a member of the National Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the GFOA Certificate Special Review Committee, the Ohio GFOA, and the Ohio Society of CPAs.