Meet the Board

Board Member -Roy Bieber (term ends 6/2012)

Board President – Bill Case (term ends 2012)

Bill is a retired attorney, having practiced law with the Thompson Hine law firm  in Columbus for over 30 years. A native of Hudson, Ohio (also a  historic community),  he attended Ohio Wesleyan University and  University of Akron, receiving  his bachelor’s degree from the latter institution. After receiving his law degree from Ohio Northern University College of Law, he practiced in Akron before moving to Upper Arlington in 1977. During his career, Bill litigated employment discrimination suits and defended electric utilities on liability claims. Bill still keeps his hand in the law serving as a volunteer mediator with the United States District Court,  as well as an arbitrator on fee  disputes  that come before the Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations.

Bill moved to German Village in 1997 intending to  merely   ”camp out” for a year or two, but the pull of GV was too strong to resist!  Prior to joining the Society’s Board, Bill and  his wife Lisa (a  German Village Commission member)  have been active on the  Historic Preservation Committee,  House und Garten,  Huntington Garden fundraising, GV farm and SPOT.

During his time in Columbus, Bill  served  terms as chairman of the Ohio State Bar Association litigation section, a trustee of OPERAColumbus, and a member of the  vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church. He also headed up his law firm’s pro bono activities in Columbus for several years. Bill enjoys competitive golf, basketball, biking and traveling. He and Lisa try to take UK golf trips every summer. They also have fun watching their Corgi dog, Angus, frolic at the new dog park at Audubon. Bill has a daughter, Hadley, who is married and living in Miami Beach , employed as Miami editor for  “944 Magazine.”  Bill looks forward to working with all of the people and organizations that make German Village such a special  place..

Board Treasurer – Nick Cavalaris (term ends 2014)

Board Member – Sarah Irvin Clark (term ends 10/14)

Sarah Irvin Clark owns Irvin Public Relations — a PR agency that focuses on event publicity with a touch of corporate, arts and association clients in the mix. In her capacity as the media director for several beloved Central Ohio events, including Red, White & BOOM!, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and Komen Columbus Race for the Cure, she has developed the media campaigns that have powered the success of each of these events. Additionally, Sarah is the publicist for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice for Feld Entertainment in five markets throughout Ohio.

In addition to serving on the German Village Society Board of Trustees, Sarah and her husband, Kelly Clark, chaired the 2008 German Village Haus Und Garten Tour. She also tutors at Stewart Avenue Elementary and is a founding board member of See Kids Dream, a service learning program that empowers elementary school children across Columbus to be empowered citizens; and a past board member of Dine Originals Columbus.

Board Member – Darci Congrove (terms ends 10/14)

Darci has lived in German Village since 1993, working her way up from renting half of a double with on-street parking to a small house with a parking space, and finally, a larger house with a garage.  She and her husband, John Pribble, currently reside at 756 Jaeger Street with their dog, Cookie.  Darci loves to garden, cook and entertain, and is known for making all of the food at her Haus und Garten Pre-Tour dinners.

Darci and John opened the German Village Guest House, an upscale bed and breakfast, in 2005.  The Guest House operates in two properties:  748 Jaeger Street and 177 Whittier Street, and was awarded the Fred & Howard Ambassadorship Award by the German Village Society in 2008 in recognition of the positive national press that the business has garnered for the German Village historic district.

In 2010, Darci became the managing director of GBQ Partners, Columbus’ largest local public accounting firm of approximately 120 associates.  She is a CPA and has worked as a tax professional for 17 years, advising middle-market businesses and their owners on tax and financial matters.

Darci sits on the Board of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, and is a long-standing member of the Advisory Board of the Conway Center for Family Business, an educational organization.  Darci is a charter member of the United Way of Central Ohio’s Women’s Leadership Council, and has been a United Way Young Leadership Group member for more than 10 years.  She is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Columbus, was recognized on the Business First 40 Under 40 list in 2002, and was named as one of the twelve Women You Should Know in 2010 by WELD (Women for Economic Leadership & Development).

Emeritus Board Member – Bill Curlis

Board Member – Beth Ervin (term ends 5/13)

I have a vivid memory of the day I moved into German Village in 1978. After moving furniture and unpacking boxes, I celebrated with drinks and dinner at the Old Mohawk.  I knew I had found my home. I worked with Aaron Leventhal (now my husband) to help bring the Oktoberfest back to German Village in 1986 and spent four years as the event’s coordinator.  I have been a volunteer for the Haus und Garten Tour, Gallery Gala and several ad hoc committees.  I have worked at Experience Columbus, the region’s convention and visitors bureau, for 17 years. As director of communications, I am responsible for public relations, community relations and publications that market Columbus to attract leisure tourists and conventions.  I have a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University.  Aaron and I live on City Park Avenue with our two cats Annie and Nelson.

Board Member – Norm Hall

I have been a German Village resident for 20 years.  In addition to walking, running and motorscooting through the streets of German Village over the years, I have been involved in many Society events including chairing the 2009 50th Annual Haus und Garten Tour, H&G Committees, Pre-Tour co-chair, H&G homeowner, Holiday Tour, Art Crawl, Oktoberfest volunteer, Cookie Caper contributor (Grandma Hall’s Hermits) and have served on the Board since January 2006.  I currently work as a Human Resources Business Partner at Chemical Abstracts Service and look forward to the opportunity to bring my HR and business experience to the Board.  I am deeply committed to our wonderful and unique German Village.

Board Member – Jim Hopple (term ends 5/12)

Jim Hopple was appointed as a member of the Board and for many years has served as the Board attorney.  Formerly a long-time resident of the Village, Jim and his wife Cindy reside in Pickerington, Ohio, but plan and hope to return to the Village in the not too distant future.  Jim is a partner with Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn Co., LPA with a business practice.  Jim is the chair of the Orginizational Development Committee, and previously served as vice president of the Board.

Board Member – Chris Hune (term ends 2014)

I am the major accounts manager at Team Fishel, a national network installation and utility construction specialists.  Team Fishel provides physical network connectivity for major corporations as well as small independent organizations.  Team Fishel also provides long-haul connectivity for major telecommunication and utility carriers by installing literally millions of miles of fiber optics and copper to connect communities around the United States.

I’ve been a member of the German Village community since 1993 and active in a variety of committees, including Historic Preservation, Parks and Public Spaces, German Village Garten Club, German Village Cookbook “Share the Flavor” committee, and I most recently chaired the 2011 German Village Haus und Garten Tour.  I also serve on the Women’s Board of the Franklin Park Conservatory and previously the Women’s Board of the Columbus Museum of Art and am past trustee of the Junior League of Columbus and Leaderspark.

I have a BA from Otterbein College (now University) in Business and Organizational Communication.

Board Secretary – Jeanne Likins (term ends 10/14)

Jeanne M. Likins was born in Atlanta, Georgia, raised in Massachusetts, attended high school in Nashville, and graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College cum laude.  After this, she was a Rotary International Fellow, spending a year at the University of Western Australia and serving as an ambassador of good will to the Australian people.

When she returned to the States, she went to Washington, D.C., where she obtained her MA and PhD from The George Washington University and The American University respectfully.  She has lived in German Village longer than anywhere else and truly considers this home.

She moved to Columbus in 1984.  She was enthralled with German Village from her first look, and she decided that Columbus could be a fine place to live if German Village would be her address.  She has been happy to live here ever since.

Jeanne’s first career was in higher education student affairs and she served her national professional organization, the American College Personnel Association, in numerous positions, including as its vice president.  She has authored dozens of articles and a book in her original career.

She currently works in a variety of settings, including as a dispute resolution mediator and she operates a medical education and consulting company with her husband.  She also manages financial affairs and human resources in their medical practice.

A life-long volunteer and community organizer, Jeanne serves in many roles.  In German Village, she became involved as soon as she settled in.  She served the German Village Foundation as a trustee and as its president; she was one of two organizers of First National Symposium of Historic Communities and has chaired numerous committees of the German Village Society, including Parks and Public Spaces, the Enhancement Committee, the New Business Model Task Force and currently the Membership Committee.

In 2004 she was honored to join the ranks of villagers who have been honored with the Frank Fetch Award for service to the GVS.  In 2005, she was elected as a trustee of the German Village Society and in 2010 began service as its secretary.   Jeanne is enriched by her friendships and collaborations in German Village.  She believes deeply in the mission of the GVS, values her responsibility as a steward of its heritage, gladly gives her time For the Good of the Neighborhood and seeks to serve, with her fellow GVS members as a Caretaker of a Legacy.

Board Member - Brian J. Santin (term ends 5/13)

Brian J. Santin, MD is quite familiar with the Columbus landscape, having resided in the capital city for the past 12 years.  Dr. Santin was raised in Cleveland before moving to Columbus to pursue a degree in Economics followed by medical school at The Ohio State University.  During his undergraduate tenure, Brian was very involved in undergraduate student government, the intrafraternity council and was elected to OSU’s 2002 Homecoming Court.  After receiving his doctor of medicine, Brian entered General Surgery residency at Mount Carmel.  He has chosen to pursue a fellowship in vascular surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, which began in July 2011.

Dr. Santin is secretary for the American College of Surgeons, Resident and Associate Society and a Board member of the Columbus Medical Association.  Brian is actively involved in the German Village Society as chair of the Streetscape Committee, Co-Chair of Go Green, Go Grun, and webmaster for www.germanvillage.com.

Board Member and Immediate Past President- Michael Yarborough (term ends 5/13)

Michael K. Yarbrough is a member of Frost Brown Todd LLC and is the leader of the firm’s Product Liability Practice Group. He has extensive experience in the area of toxic tort litigation. He served as lead counsel in nationwide toxic tort litigation for a major lawn-care company, as well as representing defendants in other chemical exposure cases. He has tried numerous cases around the country on chemical exposure and product liability issues.Mr. Yarbrough has defended several class action suits involving claims for medical monitoring, personal injury and property damage. Mr. Yarbrough also has a broad background in products liability law and construction litigation.

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