YWCA 2024 Career Women of Achievement Luncheon

Igniting Change Decorative bullet May 8, 2024

Meet Our 2024 Honorees

Tracey Artis

CEO

I Hear Music

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Tracey Artis

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Tracey Artis

Bridgit Chayt

Executive Vice President, Head of Wholesale Payments

Fifth Third Bank

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Bridgit Chayt

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Bridgit Chayt

Chara Fisher Jackson

Executive Director & CEO

Cincinnati Preschool Promise

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Chara Fisher Jackson

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Chara Fisher Jackson

Christie Kuhns, Esq.

President & CEO

Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio

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Christie Kuhns, Esq.

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Christie Kuhns, Esq.

Kimm Lauterbach

President & CEO

REDI Cincinnati

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Kimm Lauterbach

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Kimm Lauterbach

Jill Miller

President & CEO

Bethesda Inc./bi3

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Jill Miller

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Jill Miller

Alicia Reece

President

Hamilton County Commission

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Alicia Reece

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Alicia Reece

Kristen Schlotman

Executive Director

Film Cincinnati

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Kristen Schlotman

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Kristen Schlotman

Alicia B. Townsend

Vice President, Regional Community Development Manager

U.S. Bank

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Alicia B. Townsend

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Alicia B. Townsend

Kelly Wittich, CFP

Senior Vice President – Wealth Management

FTB Financial Services, UBS Financial Services

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Kelly Wittich, CFP

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Kelly Wittich, CFP

Tracey Artis

CEO

I Hear Music

As an African American Woman in a male dominated industry, Tracey is a role model for success. She is the first woman to reach over 40 number one songs on the Billboard Gospel Charts and the first African American VP of gospel promotions for GospoCentric Records. She also served as VP of gospel promotions at Sony Music. Her own firm represents high profile artists, paving the way for women of color to pursue award-winning opportunities. While Black Family Reunions in other cities have diminished, Tracey is determined to continue this Cincinnati tradition in her additional role as Executive Director of Cincinnati’s annual Midwest Black Family Reunion.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Honoree, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber “We Are Making Black History,” 2024
  • Recipient, John F. Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Award, 2023
  • Inductee, African American Chamber Women’s Business Hall of Fame, 2023
  • Honoree, NAACP Cincinnati WIN Award, 2023
  • Board, LHOI, and member, Cincinnati Chapter of the LINKS Inc.

Bridgit Chayt

Executive Vice President, Head of Wholesale Payments

Fifth Third Bank

Bridgit oversees Treasury Management (TM) and Commercial Payments. She is one of four executive leaders in the Commercial Bank area and the only female executive VP in that business line. Recently, TM and Commercial Payments represented 9% of Fifth Third’s total revenue and 23% of the bank’s total non-interest income. Businesses of all sizes use her team’s technology. Her superiors believe it’s led to business growth, a story shared with investors and Wall Street.

She launched Fifth Third’s Women in Treasury Management (WITM) for officer-level women’s networking and personal growth. Since 2021 participants received nine prestigious President’s Circle Awards and 50 members were promoted.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Founder, Women in Commercial, 2023
  • Awardee, One of 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker, 2023
  • Chair, Fifth Third’s ArtsWave Campaign exceeding fundraising and participation goals with $1 million pledged and an 84% participation rate.

Chara Fisher Jackson

Executive Director & CEO

Cincinnati Preschool Promise

Chara Fisher Jackson is an integral part of the Cincinnati community. Since she moved to Cincinnati from Atlanta, she has served as executive director and interim President & CEO of a mid-size nonprofit to her current role as Executive Director & CEO of Cincinnati Preschool Promise, managing multimillion-dollar budgets in each organization. Her legal skills, strategic thinking, advocacy, and advances in civil rights and equity reflect her deeply personal mission to improve her community and innovate early childhood education.

Over 240 Providers and 10,000 children have benefitted from Cincinnati Preschool Promise's work. Chara's goal is to make sure every child has a chance to thrive by supporting the early childhood education ecosystem. She goes beyond traditional boundaries to encourage broader involvement in supporting the youngest learners in Cincinnati.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Board, Leadership Council for Non-Profits, 2021–present
  • Board Chair and Current President, Found House (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network), 2020–present
  • Board, Holly Hill, 2023–present
  • All-In Cincinnati Equity Coalition, 2015–present

Christie Kuhns, Esq.

President & CEO

Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio

In her current role Christie aims to disrupt generational poverty and drive equity and financial empowerment. She oversees a $13.5 million dollar budget and staff of over 80 to advocate, educate, and encourage economic development in the community. An experienced attorney, Christie served in the Ohio House of Representatives on behalf of the 32nd District. She went on to use her background as VP of UC Health. Her many contributions also include: the Cincinnati Planning Commission, former Chair of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce Board, and the City of Cincinnati Human Services Advisory Committee. She is a founding member of the Avondale Development Corporation.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Advisory Board, Major League Baseball Cincinnati Reds Diversity, 2012–present
  • Board of Directors, Bethesda, Inc., 2021–present
  • Board, Ohio Poverty Law Center, 2020–present
  • Ohio Black Caucus Foundation, 2018–present
  • Board of Directors, YWCA Greater Cincinnati, 2021–2023

Kimm Lauterbach

President & CEO

REDI Cincinnati

As leader of the Regional Economic Development Initiative Kimm drives job creation and economic development through business attrition, retention and expansion in 15 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southwest Indiana. REDI’s projects created more than 40,000 new jobs and $2.2 billion in new payroll while retaining over 71,000 jobs and generating $4.8 billion in capital investment. Kimm ensures that REDI is inclusive, especially assisting under represented companies in distressed locations where 80% are either minority, woman or veteran owned. She has committed REDI to work with the Minority Business Accelerator. Through The Women’s Fund she helped create a toolkit to help companies change culture and uplift women in the workplace.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Woman of Influence, Venue/Lead Magazine, 2023
  • Board of Directors, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, 2024
  • Board of Directors, University of Cincinnati Research Institute, 2024
  • Board of Directors, Cincinnati Experience
  • Board of Directors, BE NKY Growth Partnership
  • Business Advisory Council, Federal Reserve, Southwestern Ohio/Northern Kentucky

Jill Miller

President & CEO

Bethesda Inc./bi3

As the inaugural leader in this position, Jill has made an indelible mark on Bethesda’s strategic structure for grant making and governance. She has captured national attention as the first funder in the region to practice trust-based philanthropy (TBP). This innovative approach encourages multi-year unrestricted funding, streamlined reporting and transparent, responsive communication. It also ensures that every person has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible, reflecting Jill’s passion for accelerating birth equality, improving youth mental health, and fueling health equity and innovation at Tri-Health. She credits her mentors for encouraging her to fight for pay equity to close the gender gap in organizational leadership.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Cincinnati Business Courier Women Who Mean Business, 2023
  • Cincy Business Magazine Rising Star, 2023
  • Venue Magazine Most Influential Women of Greater Cincinnati, 2023
  • Mercy McCauley Women Who Inspire, 2022
  • Smart Business Magazine Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service, 2021
  • Philanthropy Ohio Innovation Award, 2019

Alicia Reece

President

Hamilton County Commission

Alicia is the first local woman and first African American to successfully run in city, state and county races. Currently she oversees a $1.2 billion budget for Ohio’s third most populous county. Alicia served as vice mayor on Cincinnati City Council and four-terms as an Ohio state representative where she was elected president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and championed projects to increase funding for minority businesses. She collaborated to create the first Office of Small Business. More than $14 million in federal relief has been granted to over 1,400 small business owners due to her efforts. Alicia also served as deputy director of Ohio Tourism and host of “Alicia Reece Soulfood,” a national radio show and podcast.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Founder, Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, 2023
  • Founding Member, Cincinnati’s National Urban League of Young Professionals
  • Board of Directors, National Action Network With Rev. Al Sharpton
  • Member, NAACP
  • Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Cincinnati
  • Board of Directors, Cincinnati Health Collaborative
  • Board of Directors, Greater Cincinnati Health Foundation

Kristen Schlotman

Executive Director

Film Cincinnati

Kristen catapults Cincinnati into the international limelight by managing all aspects of Film Cincinnati. She woos producers to make their films here, reads scripts, scouts locations, identifies local crew and talent to employ, finds housing and acts as a liaison between the production and our region. Kristen weathered the pandemic and WGA and SAG strikes by organizing fundraisers, providing resources, and creating behind-the-scenes galas to showcase the film industry. Between 2019 and 2022, she brought 25 productions to the region resulting in $258 million in economic impact and 1,873 jobs. Kristen also works with Drew and Lea Lachey to produce the U.S. tour of the musical “Label:less” which showcases themes of inclusion and acceptance.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Erich Kunzel Queen City Advocate Award
  • Organizer, Women in Film, Cincinnati
  • Movie Maker Magazine Best Places to Live and Work in the Movies: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
  • 40 Under 40, Cincinnati Business Courier
  • 20 Women to Watch, Cincinnati Enquirer
  • Women Who Mean Business, Cincinnati Business Courier, 2018

Alicia B. Townsend

Vice President, Regional Community Development Manager

U.S. Bank

Extending to 16 states, Alicia drives strategy to mitigate reputation risk, ensures the bank meets the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements, and manages $5.3 million in philanthropic giving. A long list of women have supported her career journey, helping Alicia believe that giving back is a mandate; it is not an option. She has held numerous roles in her professional assent, starting with administrative assistant, assistant VP for Visa check cards, retail branch manager, and administrator in personal and corporate trust. Her growing wealth of experience and humble beginnings enabled her to establish programs for entrepreneurs that positively impact small business owners and the local economy.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Board of Directors, Brighton Center, 2024
  • Chair, YWCA Racial Justice Breakfast, 2023
  • Member, Economic and Community Development Institute, Columbus, Ohio
  • Member, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
  • Board Member, The Center for Closing the Gap
  • Board Chair, Affordable Housing Advocates
  • Board, Women Helping Women

Kelly Wittich, CFP

Senior Vice President – Wealth Management

FTB Financial Services, UBS Financial Services

Kelly is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services and works with FTB Financial Services team. They deliver financial planning and wealth management services for corporate executives and their families. FTB is ranked by Forbes among the top 100 wealth advisors in the nation, with an estimated $3.3 billion in assets under management. Early on Kelly earned her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Only 24% of CFPs are women.

In 2010, Kelly became the first female financial advisor on the FTB Financial Services team. As a mentor she invites colleagues, friends and clients to join her in community activities where she serves on the Board: ArtsWave and ProKids, a nonprofit where she was also a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer for children.

Achievements, Affiliations, Awards
  • Forbes America’s Top Wealth Management Teams, 2022–2023
  • Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors, Ohio, 2022–2023
  • Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams, 2023
  • Forbes/Shook America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors, 2020–2023
  • UBS President’s Council, 2021–2023