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Our Team

Board of Directors

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‍ Bob Herring, President

Bob’s involvement began in 1993 through a school exchange program with Kharkiv. As President, he works to strengthen educational, cultural, and community partnerships between the two sister cities.

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Susan Neaman, Vice President 

Susan joined CKSCP after hosting Ukrainian guests and later traveling to Ukraine. As Vice President, she continues to support exchange programs and build meaningful connections between the two communities.

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Mike Burns, Secretary

Mike has been involved with CKSCP since the early 1990s, coordinating local government programs and hosting numerous Ukrainian visitors. A retired local government administrator, he currently serves as Board Secretary.

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TJ White, Treasure 

TJ serves as Executive Director of The Center for Local Government and has worked with Kharkiv delegations since 2015. He is passionate about sharing local government expertise and strengthening international partnerships.

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Jay DeWitt

Jay became involved with CKSCP following a professional exchange in Kharkiv in 2002. His experience sparked a lasting interest in Ukraine and a commitment to supporting educational and professional partnerships.

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Sasha Etlin

A native of Kharkiv, Sasha has been involved with CKSCP since 1991. As an interpreter and cultural ambassador, he has helped facilitate countless exchanges between Cincinnati and Kharkiv.

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Ann Lampe

Ann became involved with CKSCP after hosting Ukrainian visitors in 2010. Through years of hosting and volunteer service, she has developed lasting friendships and a strong commitment to the partnership.

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Bob Derge, Jr.

Bob first visited Ukraine with CKSCP in 2013 as part of a local government exchange. He values the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with partners in Kharkiv.

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Guennadi Maslov

Guennadi’s relationship with CKSCP began in 1990 through a photography exchange that eventually brought him to Cincinnati. For more than 30 years, he has contributed to numerous cultural, artistic, and educational initiatives.

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Viktoriya Mariniuk

A native of Kharkiv, Viktoriya has supported CKSCP programs since 2001 as an interpreter and community connector. She joined the Board in 2023 and is dedicated to supporting Kharkiv’s future recovery and growth.

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Joel Schindler

Joel is a marketing and research executive with extensive nonprofit leadership experience. Having traveled to Ukraine several times, he brings strategic insight and a strong commitment to international engagement.

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Frank Clark

Frank joined CKSCP after traveling to Kharkiv in 2000 to document a delegation visit on video. Since then, he has hosted delegates, supported exchange programs, and remains committed to fostering international friendships.

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Gail Bason

After hosting several visitors from Ukraine, Gail developed a deep appreciation for the people and culture. She joined CKSCP to help strengthen connections between Cincinnati and Kharkiv and proudly supports the partnership’s mission.

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Sean Pollock

Sean is a historian and university professor whose work focuses on Eastern Europe. He supports CKSCP through educational collaborations and international academic partnerships.

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Yuliya Johanningmeier

A native of Ukraine and philanthropy professional, Yuliya is passionate about building relationships and supporting her homeland. She brings expertise in fundraising and community engagement to the CKSCP Board.