Staff Directory

Meet our Staff!

Office Coordinator – Russ Arledge (rarledge@germanvillage.com)

Russ was born in the “South End” of Columbus, in an area now known as German Village. Russ and his wife currently reside on Mohawk Street in the family home his parents purchased in February 1951 when he was five months old. Russ attended Stewart, Barrett, and South (also CCAD, OIT/Devry, and Capital University). The last 25 years of his career have been devoted to the public, private, non-profit historical society and museum business. During the few years Russ lived away from German Village, he served as a Trustee of the Canal Winchester Historical Society, Chairman of the Historic Landmarks Commission, and was elected Village Mayor. Russ was employed as an Objects Conservator, Collections Manager, and Facilities Manager of the Ohio Historical Society, and as Registrar, Curator, and Director of the Ohio History of Flight Aviation Museum. Russ currently volunteers for the Columbus Historical Society, and of course, currently works as the Office Coordinator for the German Village Society.

Historic Preservation Officer – Jody Graichen (jgraichen@germanvillage.com)

Jody Graichen has served as the Director of Historic Preservation Programs for the German Village Society since 2005. In that capacity she has staffed the Historic Preservation, Long Range Planning, and Streetscape Committees, served as a liaison between German Village residents and the German Village Commission, and written a weekly column in the German Village edition of ThisWeek Community Newspapers. She holds a graduate degree in Public History from the University of South Carolina and a dual bachelor’s degree from Miami University; before attending graduate school she did campaign and communications work for a New Jersey legislative caucus. In addition to her work for the German Village Society, Jody is drafting a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for a WPA-era school and working with USC Press on a publication related to her graduate research. Since moving to Athens, Georgia in August, 2009 Jody has worked part-time for the Society.

Office Volunteer – Bob Jackson (volunteer@germanvillage.com)

Bob Jackson volunteered for the first Society-sponsored Oktoberfest, in 1989, and has participated in the event most years following.  He became a Visitors Center volunteer in 1994, the year he retired from AEP.  Shortly afterward, he began leading walking and bus tours of the neighborhood, entertaining and educating thousands of visitors.  He also served in 2001-2003 on the Society’s Board of Trustees, leading the Civic Relations Committee.  Bob is currently serving on the Historic Preservation and Membership Committees and is the GVS Membership Coordinator.