RISE Advisory Council
These community leaders have dedicated their time and genius to designing the RISE program. They work in collaboration with a myriad of stakeholders to inform the program design and incubate the innovations that the Community Impact Alliance will test pilot.
Lisa Becher
Lisa Becher, MBA is director of the Small Business Development Center supporting entrepreneurs in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding and Williams Counties. She has also served as a business faculty member of Northwest State Community College (NSCC) since 2002. Becher stands at the junction of academia, entrepreneurship and community development. Her combination of business ownership experience, teaching credentials and leadership of a regional SBDC puts her in a strong position to guide organizations through practical challenges—business planning, marketing, financing, growth strategy.
Jill Bunge
Jill Bunge is the Executive Vice President of Impact at United Way of Greater Toledo, where she leads collective impact work across a three-county region in northwest Ohio. She oversees community engagement with local partners, manages a data-driven philanthropic grantmaking process, and directs the 2-1-1 information and referral service, which connects more than 80,000 residents each year to health and human services.
Jill brings a deep background in hunger and food insecurity to her role. She previously led a grassroots hunger organization and has spent her career coordinating regional initiatives that improve food access. Her work is grounded in trust-based philanthropy, the power of relationships, and a strong belief in mission driven organizations. She advocates for the essential services and infrastructure that the nonprofit sector provides to support both people and communities.
Jill is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna and holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College. She was selected as a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow in 2024 and completed her Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in 2025 with a focus on food systems.
Audrey Burkholder
Audrey is the founder and owner of AB Digital Marketing, a small marketing consulting firm that helps small businesses and organizations tell their story through their brand, website, social media, advertising and more. After serving as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Heidelberg University for 10 years, Audrey started her own business to allow for more time with her family. She and her husband have three children and were licensed foster parents for 8 years. Audrey attended Bowling Green State University and she holds a BS in Visual Communications with a minor in Marketing and a Masters in Technology Education.
Patricia Galdeen, PhD
Dr. Galdeen holds a Masters of Organizational Leadership and a Doctorate of Management. Her work experiences includes; teaching preschool and kindergarten, working in business operations, teaching as an adjunct for Lourdes University, full time professor and head of Business at Defiance College, V.P. of Research for a consulting company and currently professor of Corporate Social Responsibility and other business courses at Southern New Hampshire University.
Brett Loney, JD, CFRE, ACFRE
Brett Loney serves as Vice President of Development at Live Arts Toledo where he is responsible for leading the fund‐development strategy of the organization. Loney is a seasoned fundraising and development executive with an extensive background in educational and nonprofit advancement having served prior at the University of Toledo Foundation, Wright State University, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy and Chaminade Julienne High School.
Brett holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Fordham University; and a Juris Doctor from the College of William & Mary. Additionally, he is a credentialed Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive.
Kirstie Mack
Kirstie is a life-long resident of rural Defiance County, growing up in Ayersville, Ohio, a ‘07 Ayersville High School alumna. She took a few classes at Northwest State Community College pursuing a career in healthcare, but her passions took her in a different direction. Mack served the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau for 15 years, having served that term as the Executive Director where she led the vibrancy and visibility of Defiance County. Currently, Mack serves as the Marketing Director for Grube Inc., a restaurant franchise-operating company recognized as the world’s largest privately owned Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee.
Mike McCann
Mayor Mike McCann, a lifelong resident of Defiance, Ohio, has served as Mayor since his election in 2015. Mike has devoted his career to both business leadership and public service, consistently demonstrating a commitment to the advancement and well-being of his community. His public service includes roles as President of City Council, and membership on the City Park Board, Planning Commission, and Charter Review Committee. Mike also serves on numerous boards and committees that support and enhance the community. As Mayor, McCann has focused on improving city services, addressing blight, supporting economic development, and advancing housing and neighborhood revitalization. He and his wife, Laurie, are parents to five children and grandparents to twelve grandchildren.
Kim Partin
Kim Partin brings more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, including 19 years as the executive director of a Toledo-area nonprofit organization. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio Regional Foundations, supporting Defiance Regional, Fostoria Community, and Memorial Hospitals.
Kim earned her undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University. She is passionate about working in small communities and bringing people together to create meaningful, lasting impact. Kim has been married to her husband, Jeff, for 25 years, and they are proud parents of two daughters—Amanda, a teacher, and Alexis, a nurse.
Aileen Meyer, MOL, CFRM
Aileen Meyer is foundress and CEO of the Center for Community Impact. She has been serving the social sector industry in a variety of sectors for over 25 years, helping social enterprise organizations leverage the best-in-class methods to grow their organization. She has extensive experience in management and draws from her years of experience serving as the Executive Director of the American Heart Association, Northwest Ohio, President of the Junior League of Toledo and Director of Development, Alumni Relations and Major Gifts of Lourdes University as well as several board and other volunteer positions. Prior to Center for Community Impact, Meyer served Holy Cross Catholic School as Director of Marketing.
Her career has given her the opportunity to practice, experiment, test and study a diversified range of fundraising strategies. She has dedicated herself to learning and implementing innovative fundraising practices.
Meyer has a BS in Visual Communications, Masters of Organizational Leadership and is a graduate of the Certified Fundraising Management program at IUPUI Lilly School of Philanthropy, Charity University Certificate from the Ohio Attorney General Office and is BOLD Certified by Dan Pallotta.
Lindsey Keller
Advisory Council Member Role Overview
Purpose:
To build a rural social impact sector that leads the national conversation on sustainability, dignity, and innovation; where communities no longer survive on scarcity but thrive through measurable mission impact.
Advisory Council Commitment:
- 12 months (October 2025 – October 2026)
- Attend a group viewing of the film Uncharitable or watch on your own time
- Monthly meetings (virtual or in-person, 60 minutes)
- Examine top systemic barriers in rural social impact work
- Design barrier-breaking strategies
- Participate in research, outreach, messaging, mentoring or strategy
- Additional time commitment: approx. 1–2 hours/month
- Confidential, financial contribution of your discretion to the project operating budget
Join Us
If RISE Northwest Ohio and the Advisory Council sounds like something you could see yourself taking part in, contact Aileen Meyer at 567-218-0928 or rise@centerforcommunityimpact.org.