Top Talent Joins Statewide Leadership Development Organization
Leadership Ohio today announced the addition of four new members to the Board of Trustees: Shon Christy, Kendra Smith, Randy Cole, and Stephanie McManus.
With extensive leadership experience, the new trustees bring unique expertise to Leadership Ohio. In their new roles, they will provide governance and responsibly steward the organization for an initial term of three years.
"We are delighted to welcome Shon Christy, Kendra Smith, Randy Cole, and Stephanie McManus,” said Dr. Lisa Duty, Leadership Ohio’s Executive Director. "As we enter our thirtieth anniversary year, the voice and vision of our new Trustees will ensure we continue to make a positive impact on Ohio. Each will be a tremendous asset to the Leadership Ohio organization and alumni network.”
Shon Christy
Shon Christy boasts over 20 years of marketing experience and is the Founder and President of Shon Christy Social Media. In 2010 he opened Christy Creative, Ohio's first niche social media marketing firm, and has founded and sold two firms since. His work has been featured in Inside Business, Smart Business, the Akron Beacon Journal, Spirit of Philanthropy and The Young Professional Roadmap, as well as in the book Under the Rustbelt – Revealing Innovation in Northeast Ohio. Ever the entrepreneur, Christy has even launched Beckett’s Buddies, a fundraising group to support those with Down syndrome, in honor of his 11 year-old son Beckett. The organization has raised more than $100,000 for local causes since inception.
Shon has a rich history steeped in philanthropy. He regularly donates a portion of his company revenues to the Up Side of Downs, a nonprofit advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome in NE Ohio. He is a past president of The Rotary Club of Akron, and has served as the Chili Open co-chairman, PR chairman and President-Elect. Additionally, Shon has served on the Board of United Disability Services, The Stow-Munroe Falls Library Foundation, The LuMind Foundation (Down syndrome cognition research), The Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, The Greater Akron Chamber and the United Way of Summit County, where he was also the past Young Leaders Society Chairman. Shon is a member and Vice President of the 31st class of Leadership Akron and serves on the boards of the Greater Akron Chamber where he sits on the Executive Committee and Chairs the Small Business Owners Council, Jobs For Ohio’s Graduates, Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, The University of Akron College of Business Marketing Advisory Board, and a Vice Regent on the National Board of Directors of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He is also a 4-term and current president of The Stow Schools Foundation.
Shon has been bestowed with the Greater Akron Small Business Councils Excellence in Business – Emerging Business Award, the Distinguished Sales and Marketing Executive Award from SMEI, and the Summit County Pinnacle Awards – Andrea R. Teodosio Rising Star Award. In 2012, the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network recognized Shon with the 30 For the Future Award for his community service and business leadership. Additionally, Shon has been honored with the 2015 Young Philanthropist Award by the United Way of Summit County, the 2016 Summit County Board of Developmental Disabilities Community Impact Award and the 2017 JOG Community Leader of the Year Award. Shon is a graduate of Leadership Ohio Class of 2021.
Kendra Smith
Kendra Smith, AICP serves as Vice President, Community Health with Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH). As a national thought and practice leader in community development, affordable housing development, urban planning, and social determinants of health, she provides direction and oversight on collaborative community health priorities, community investment strategies and efforts that address social determinants of health and health inequities in BSMH Ohio and Kentucky markets.
Previously, Smith has served in executive and leadership roles with ProMedica, Preferred Properties, Inc., and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning leading community-based initiatives focused on financing and constructing affordable and accessible housing, community engagement, land use and housing policy, community investment, health equity and partnership development.
A Cleveland native, Smith is currently completing a Master of Public Health degree from Kent State University and holds a master’s degree in urban studies with a focus on neighborhood and community development from Cleveland State University with additional degrees and certifications from Ohio University, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and La Universidad Pública de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Kendra enjoys being active in the community. She serves on the board of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), the Rotary Club of Toledo, holds an appointed seat on the Federal Reserve Board Community Action Council, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Kendra is a 2017 recipient of Toledo’s 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, and an alumna of Leadership Ohio Class of 2020 and the 2021 cohort of McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program.
Randy Cole
Randy Cole has an extensive record of public service and private sector accomplishment. He served as Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike 2014-2019, Controlling Board President and Policy Advisor to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management from 2011-2014. He was Director of Audit Services and Technology from 2009-2011 in the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office.
Randy is currently President of 233 Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm that partners with organizations to maximize their potential, mentor leadership and improve their success by strengthening collaborative relationships, especially with government agencies with an emphasis in the areas of technology, energy and transportation. His previous private sector experience includes six years as a sales and marketing executive at FirstEnergy Corporation and four years as President of a technology company that developed online applications for government.
His community service includes serving on committees or as a board member for over 20 local non-profit organizations. Randy has written extensively on innovation in the delivery of government services and noted public speaker in the areas of disruptive technologies, emerging transportation technology and shared services in government.
Randy is a graduate of Leadership Ohio, Class 7 in 2000 and Leadership Akron, Class 14 in 1998. In 2018, he was inducted into the Buckeye Boys State Hall of Fame for his career of service to Ohio citizens. Government Technology magazine named Randy as one of the nation’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers in 2013. The Greater Akron Chamber named Randy on of the “30 for the Future” in 2008 and he received the “Urban Light Award” from The University of Akron, Department of Public Affairs and Urban Studies in 2007.
Randy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Policy Management from the University of Akron and completed graduate coursework at The Ohio State University. He and his wife Cyndra reside in Aurora, Ohio and are members of Parkside Church in Bainbridge. They are proud parents of five children.
Stephanie McManus
Stéphanie McManus-Renda was named Director of Development for BalletMet in July 2021. BalletMet is a world-class professional ballet company and academy located in downtown Columbus, Ohio sharing the joy of dance with more than 100,000 each year through local performances, touring shows, academy classes and extensive community engagement. Born in Montréal, Quebec and raised in both Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. McManus-Renda recently served as a senior consultant for Purpose Possible based in Atlanta, Georgia managing a capital project feasibility study in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. McManus-Renda previously served as Major Gift Officer and Interim Co-Chief Development Officer for the Ohio History Connection in Columbus. While with the Ohio History Connection, she managed campaigns for the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, the Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites and the effort to inscribe the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio to UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List. Prior to this role, Ms. McManus-Renda served as the Director of Development for The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, a Smithsonian Affiliate located in Newark, Ohio. When first arriving in Ohio in January 2014, she served as the Alumni Relations Officer and Government & Foundation Relations Officer for the Columbus College of Art & Design. Ms. McManus-Renda is a proud alumna of the 2019 Leadership Ohio statewide executive leadership program and recently completed 6 years of service on the Board of Directors for Explore Licking County representing the City of Newark, Ohio. Ms. McManus-Renda has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Auburn University, completed the majority of her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the Savannah College of Art & Design and is currently earning her Master of Public Administration from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Ms. McManus-Renda and her husband, Greg Renda, live in Newark, Ohio. [Photo credit: Jennifer Zmuda]
To learn more about Leadership Ohio visit leadershipohio.org.
Nominations for 2022 Leadership Ohio Fellows are currently being accepted.