Covington reveals the initial group of 30 participants for the Mayor's Academy, set to convene in August
The City of Covington has announced the 30 individuals selected for the inaugural Covington Mayor's Academy, an eight-month immersive program designed to educate, involve, and engage residents and stakeholders in the workings of local government.
The diverse group of participants hail from various neighborhoods of Covington and bring a wealth of professional experiences to the table. They represent local universities, major health networks, public agencies, large employers, and small businesses.
Among the selected individuals are Stevie Smith, an outreach programmer at Kenton County Public Library, and Kelly McCollough, a senior instructional designer at the University of Cincinnati. Other notable members include Laura Menard, a hospital librarian at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and Michael Lange, a real estate and construction professional.
The selection process attracted almost 100 applicants, and the final 30 were chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of Covington’s neighborhoods and professional backgrounds.
Mayor Ron Washington highlighted that these members embody the diversity and commitment to strengthening the community that the city values.
The program will run from August 2025 through April 2026, with monthly sessions led by city department heads and elected officials. Participants will tour city facilities, hear directly from department directors, explore behind-the-scenes operations, and attend public meetings.
Topics covered in the program include city administration, budgeting, public safety, public works, parks and recreation, legal and human resources, and neighborhood services. The goal is not just to educate, but to build lasting relationships between the City and its residents.
Upon graduation, it is hoped that the community leaders will continue to shape a brighter, more vibrant future for Covington.
Some other notable members of the inaugural class include Sarah Flem, an insurance executive at Great American Insurance, Melissa McQueen, the executive assistant to CEO at CHNK Behavioral Health, and Tracey Rowe, the VP of early childhood services at Learning Grove.
The participants reside in various neighborhoods of Covington, from Mainstrasse to Latonia. For example, Amanda Arelle, a software engineering manager at Availity, and Connor Boland, a property manager at UC Health, both hail from Eastside.
The program also includes individuals like Samuel Greenhill, a children's librarian at Kenton County Public Library, Cari Maria Garriga, a professor at Thomas More University, and Gregg Hothem, who is retired.
Maureen Eiting, the chief of staff/VP sales ops at DentalXChange, and Lydia Noll-Giska, a social worker at NKY Children's Advocacy Center, are also part of the inaugural class.
Other members include Nicole Tepe, an attorney at Frost Brown Todd, Dan Francis, a retired minister at Latonia Baptist Church, April Coffee, a business coach at the Small Business Development Center, Emily North, the marketing and communications Manager at Christ Hospital, Chad Ragan, the chief of staff at DuBois Chemicals, and Leroy Hodge, the executive director at Neighborhood Investment Partners.
The program will also welcome individuals like Tami Burgoyne, a senior complex claims specialist at W.R. Berkley Corporation, Kelly Harper, the career center director at Cincinnati State, Bil Spicer, who is retired, Alexander Willet, a realtor at Sibcy Cline, Shelley Volpenhein, a business owner at The Fieldhouse, and Brittany Humphries-Chapman, a donations coordinator at LifeCenter.
Over the course of the Academy, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the City's operations and functions, fostering lasting relationships between the city and its residents. Upon graduation, these community leaders are expected to continue shaping a brighter, more vibrant future for Covington.
[1] Cincinnati Business Courier
[2] Cincinnati Enquirer
- The inaugural Covington Mayor's Academy, a program designed for local engagement and government education, has selected 30 participants from Covington and its surrounding areas, including Stevie Smith from Kenton County Public Library and Kelly McCollough from the University of Cincinnati.
- Among the diverse group of participants, there are individuals from various professional backgrounds, such as real estate and construction, hospitals, universities, and insurance industries, representing the city's schools, health networks, businesses, and public agencies.
- The eight-month program, which runs from August 2025 through April 2026, covers topics like city administration, budgeting, public safety, public works, parks and recreation, legal and human resources, and neighborhood services, aiming to forge lasting relationships between the City and its residents.
- Upon graduation, the community leaders are expected to contribute positively to the development and vibrancy of Covington, with notable figures like Sarah Flem, Melissa McQueen, Tracey Rowe, Maureen Eiting, Lydia Noll-Giska, and many more who reside in various Covington neighborhoods, from Mainstrasse to Latonia.
- The program has attracted much attention from regional media outlets like the Cincinnati Business Courier and Cincinnati Enquirer, highlighting the potential impact these community leaders could make on public safety, business, and education-and-self-development within Kenton County and Covington.
