Columbus Chamber’s Elevate Cbus Initiative Offers Career Advancement
The six-month professional development program provides leadership and communication skills to workers at all career levels.
Many employees have a strong desire to improve their skills and get better at their jobs. Often, they are among an organization’s top performers.
Central Ohio has a variety of workforce development options, including those offered by colleges and universities, trade associations and for-profit companies. Nonprofit business organizations also are contributing training opportunities, including the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s Elevate Cbus program, which started in 2019, is designed to equip professionals with communication and leadership skills they can use to advance their careers. The six-month development initiative is facilitated by Andrew Kingery, founder and CEO of the White Stone Consulting Group. While many participants are young professionals, Elevate Cbus is open to workers at any career stage.
In partnership with the chamber, Columbus CEO is recognizing the two most recent Elevate Cbus cohorts, who participated in the program over the last year. Information in this story was submitted to the chamber by the participants during their session. Read on to see who participated, and—for a bit of fun—what their favorite local restaurants are.
To learn more about the program or to register for a future session, go to columbus.org/programs/elevate-cbus.
Elevate Cbus Tenth Cohort
January to June 2025
Nikki Adkins
Director of operations, A Plus Staffing
Favorite local restaurant: Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
Cory Aycock
Dispatch supervisor, IMC Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Tacos and Beer
LJ Boggs
Account specialist, Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Favorite local restaurant: La Tavola
Christine Boucher
Director, Columbus Region Logistics Council, Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Favorite local restaurant: Any diner, but I love Delaney’s Diner!
Blaique Brown
Litigation associate, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Favorite local restaurant: Modern Southern Table
Nyota Brown
Records and risk manager, FST Logistics Inc.
Favorite local restaurant: Vaso
Nina Cannon
Property accounting manager, Crawford Hoying
Favorite local restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
Savannah Cannon
Senior HR coordinator, CASTO
Favorite local restaurant: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Molly Chapman
Marketing coordinator, Danis
Favorite local restaurant: Did not disclose
Brenden Colopy
Consultant, CGI
Favorite local restaurant: Did not disclose
Nicholas D’Andrea
Executive director, We Amplify Voices
Favorite local restaurant: Moretti’s
Brian Davis
Owner/founder, The Clean Plate Club
Favorite local restaurant: Huli Huli Tiki Lounge
Danny De Los Santos
Assistant project manager, The Ruhlin Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Joyas
Patrick Dewey
Consultant – software engineer, CGI
Favorite local restaurant: Paulie Gee’s
Anthony DiMichele
Virtual CIO/senior network architect, EasyIT
Favorite local restaurant: The Avenue Steak Tavern
Charbel El Berry
Assistant controller, the W.W. Williams Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Kitchen Social
Clare Fibbi
Mechanical/biomechanics consultant, S-E-A Ltd.
Favorite local restaurant: Graeter’s
Heather Gillespie
Associate creative director, TENFOLD LLC
Favorite local restaurant: Brassica
Dalton Hartley
Associate director of carrier sales, FST Logistics
Favorite local restaurant: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Dawn Koch
Procurement manager, Central Ohio Transit Authority
Favorite local restaurant: The Guild House
Justin Meek
Project manager, Berglund Construction
Favorite local restaurant: The Avenue Steak Tavern
Aaron Meese
Project manager, Dupler Office
Favorite local restaurant: Did not disclose
Drew Miller
Senior project manager, Skilken Gold
Favorite local restaurant: Harvest Bar + Kitchen, Clintonville
Bill Mullett
Senior project manager, Ruscilli Construction Co.
Favorite local restaurant: [I] don’t have a favorite as I like to try different places.
Breanne Parker
HR business partner, CASTO
Favorite local restaurant: Fukuryu Ramen
Laurie Radeloff
Senior account manager, Dawson
Favorite local restaurant: Lindey’s
Ethan Ridgeway
Senior financial analyst, the W.W. Williams Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Kitchen Social
Maureen Robins
Office manager, Cardinal Transportation Ltd.
Favorite local restaurant: Melting Pot
James Sanderson
Purchasing manager, Together & Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Paulie Gee’s
Hayley Schechter
Property accounting manager, Crawford Hoying
Favorite local restaurant: Cento
Amber Shafer
Design manager, Loth Inc.
Favorite local restaurant: Kitchen Social
Josh Shipley
Senior event designer, Together & Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Lindey’s
Emily Spitzer
Bid excellence manager, DHL Supply Chain
Favorite local restaurant: Harvest Pizzeria
Terri Stevenson
Program manager, Columbus Urban League
Favorite local restaurant: Eddie Merlot’s
Kelsey Strope
Business development specialist, A Plus Staffing Solutions
Favorite local restaurant: Veritas
Siana Talley
Head of fraud operations strategy, Discover Financial Services
Favorite local restaurant: Flavor 91 Bistro
Londale Towns
Therapist, We Amplify Voices
Favorite local restaurant: SuperChef’s (now closed)
Ciara Walker
IT procurement administrator, Central Ohio Transit Authority
Favorite local restaurant: Lindey’s
Paige Wietholter
Senior workplace consultant, Loth Inc.
Favorite local restaurant: Tucci’s
Elevate Cbus Ninth Cohort
July to December 2024
Macie Adams
Corporate trainer, Palmer-Donavin
Favorite local restaurant: Local Cantina
Mercedes Aviles
Marketing coordinator, Pixel Park
Favorite local restaurant: Comune
Matt Bogan
Audit manager, Schneider Downs
Favorite local restaurant: Roosters
Loni Boothe
Senior operations manager, CaaStle
Favorite local restaurant: Lindey’s
Ashley Bring
Senior business development, Heapy
Favorite local restaurant: Brassica
Samuel Brody-Boyd
Marketing manager, Lower Lights Health
Favorite local restaurant: Brassica or Eastern Bay Chinese
Chris Cooper
Project manager, Ruscilli Construction Co.
Favorite local restaurant: Atlas Tavern
Crockett Crow
Senior associate, First Merchants Bank
Favorite local restaurant: The Avenue Steak Tavern or The Pearl
Colin Evans
Consultant, CGI
Favorite local restaurant: Local Cantina
Grace Figliomeni
Sales manager, Freedom a la Cart
Favorite local restaurant: Third & Hollywood
Brea Galvin
Retail marketing and sales manager, Crimson Cup
Favorite local restaurant: Marcella’s
Tavaunte Gibson
Office administrator, Uniglobe Travel Designers
Favorite local restaurant: Terita’s Pizza
Stephanie Gohring
Account Manager, PSI
Favorite local restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
Melissa Goines
Senior interior designer, Dupler Office
Favorite local restaurant: What’s the occasion? Brunch: Goood Friends at Jackie O’s. Don’t feel like cooking: Cap City. Special occasion: It’s a tie between Ocean Club and Jeff Ruby’s.
Morgan Griffith
Customer growth coordinator, Crimson Cup
Favorite local restaurant: High Bank Distillery
Kristen Haer
Project manager, Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op Inc.
Favorite local restaurant: Wendy’s
Stephanie Hall
Senior insurance sales professional, Sylvia A. Garrett & Associates Agency
Favorite local restaurant: The Pearl
Corinne Hardwick
Senior associate, Rea & Associates
Favorite local restaurant: Bistrolino (now closed)
Erica Howard
Director of leadership programs, Columbus Young Professionals Club
Favorite local restaurant: Cap City Fine Diner and Bar
Kirstin Jones
Grants and compliance director, Community Shelter Board
Favorite local restaurant: Depends on the day, and I’m still making my way around but generally any place that serves comfort foods or has really creative dishes. Joyas in Worthington is amazing.
Hailey Kimmel
Recruiting lead, Dawson
Favorite local restaurant: The Avenue Steak Tavern
Karen Landino
Office and events coordinator, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Favorite local restaurant: Domo
Sarah Lazzaro
Human resources manager, CASTO
Favorite local restaurant: Local Cantina
Lindsey Michel
OTR dispatch manager, FST Logistics
Favorite local restaurant: Emilio’s
Alecea Nichols
Office manager, Lead the Way Learning Academy
Favorite local restaurant: Condado Tacos
Aaliyah Phounsavath
Marketing specialist, Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Favorite local restaurant: Brassica, Barcelona, Brown Bag Deli, Loops, Jasmine’s Thai & Sushi, Tai’s Asian Bistro, Daruma, Fox in the Snow Cafe, El Ranchito
Andy Piccolantonio
Managing director of membership and business development, Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance
Favorite local restaurant: TAT Ristorante Di Famiglia
Stephanie Smiley
Senior associate, Rea & Associates
Favorite local restaurant: Ocean Club
Scott Smith
Assistant vice president of asset management, Crawford Hoying
Favorite local restaurant: Hunan Lion
MaKayla Tieu
Accounting and finance manager, TENFOLD LLC
Favorite local restaurant: Nada (now closed)
Zachery Vanaman
Senior project manager, Messer Construction
Favorite local restaurant: Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria
Daniel Wang
Consultant, CGI
Favorite local restaurant: bb.q Chicken
Angela Warf
Creative director, Hunter Marketing
Favorite local restaurant: Cafe Istanbul
Megan Wilcoxson
Manager, marketing and communication, CASTO
Favorite local restaurant: Bendi Wok N Bar
Johnna Woodsmall
Office manager, Danis
Favorite local restaurant: The Rail
Bailey Zidar
Operations manager, The Columbus Partnership
Favorite local restaurant: La Poblanita
This story appears in the July 2025 issue of Columbus CEO. Subscribe now.
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