News

The board of directors of the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty unanimously elected Ian Murray to serve as board chair at their April 27^th annual public meeting. Murray will succeed chairman Dan Benhase who stepped down from the position after two years. Benhase will continue to serve as a board member. Bill Schumacker was elected as vice chair and Tom Zenge as treasurer.  Shellie Leder was re-elected to serve as secretary. In addition, four community members – Dave Bruno, Chris-Xeil Lyons, Dr. Chetna Mital and Ray Murray – were newly-elected to the board.  

Ian Murray is president of SpotOn Productions and an active member of the West Chester/Liberty community. He currently serves as board vice president of Reach Out Lakota, and on the steering committee for the West Chester – Liberty Chamber Alliance’s NEXT Young Professionals group. He has received numerous awards for his leadership including Venue Magazine’s Great Leaders Under 40 and the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance’s Chris Worrell Emerging Leader award. Ian volunteers as a part-time firefighter and paramedic for the West Chester Fire Department. As a member of the Foundation’s board he has served on the Strategic Planning Committee as well as the Communications & Marketing Committee. Ian lives in Liberty Township with his wife, Rachel and their daughter, Avery.

“Ian is knowledgeable about the needs in West Chester and Liberty Townships and brings enthusiasm to philanthropy in our community,” said Foundation President & CEO, Erin Clemons. “He will be a great leader of the Community Foundation’s board and help us attain our goal of making a larger impact.”

Ian is joined by Bill Schumacker, who was elected as vice-chair, and Tom Zenge who will serve as treasurer. Bill is Senior VP and Trust Officer with Park National Bank and has been a member of the Foundation’s board since 2012. He is active on the Administrative Board of St. Mark’s Church, is a past president of West Chester Rotary Club and serves on the Foundation’s Strategic Planning Committee and Audit Committee. He and his wife, Lynne, are contributors to the Community Foundation’s Forever Fund Operating Endowment. Tom Zenge is retired from Procter & Gamble and has served on the Foundation’s Board since 2014. He has led the Foundation’s Investment Committee and is an active volunteer and past board member at the Boys & Girls of West Chester/Liberty. Tom and his wife, Judy, are also contributors to the Community Foundation’s Forever Fund.

Shellie Leder was re-elected treasurer. Shellie has served on the board since 2014 and has been chair of the Foundation’s successful Shamrock Shuffle 5k/10k Race & Block Party for 10 years. Under her leadership, the event raised more than $113,000 in 2016.

The Board of Directors welcomed four new members to fill vacant seats. Dave Bruno and Dr. Chetna Mital have both served on the Foundation’s Advisory Board since 2014. Dave retired from Procter & Gamble in 2009 and is actively involved in leadership roles for the Boy Scouts of America Dan Beard Council as well as Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio. He currently serves as Chief of Staff in support of his wife, State Representative Margy Conditt. Dave and Margy are donors to the Foundation’s Forever Fund Operating Endowment. Dr. Chetna Mital currently serves as Chief of Medicine at Fort Hamilton Hospital, as Medical Director or several area care facilities, and as Principal of Internal Medicine & Geriatrics Private Practice Group. She volunteers on the Foundation’s Key Event Planning Committee and has been the recipient of numerous award for her professional accomplishments and community service, including the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance Woman of Excellence Award. She and her husband, Anil, are also contributors to the Foundation’s Forever Fund.

Chris-Xeil Lyons is a life-long resident of West Chester Township. She is currently the Economic Development Director for the City of Sharonville and serves on the Foundation’s Key Event Planning Committee and Education Committee. Chris-Xeil has served on numerous non-profit Boards and Committees, including  12 years of service and past President of Butler County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).  She was recognized as a Woman of Excellence by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance and named among the Business Courier’s 40 under Forty.

Ray Murray has served on the Lakota School Board since his election in 2009 and is passionate about the community and education. His background includes nearly 20 years in law-enforcement, first as a police officer and then as a Drug Enforcement Agent with the Department of Justice. He transitioned careers to the hospitality industry and is currently part-owner of a company that specializes in acquiring and managing hotels in the Lexington, Cincinnati and Dayton areas.

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty works to encourage, support and facilitate philanthropy and improve the quality of life in West Chester and Liberty Townships.