An Ohio native, Delilah Lopez moved to Columbus in 2003 from Toledo. She has a 17-year career with various health and human service and environmental organizations focusing on promoting their initiatives, commitment to diversity and inclusion, public policy agendas, increasing community and volunteer engagement and driving revenue generating efforts. Delilah has raised nearly $60 million through diverse fundraising efforts, influenced marketing and communication brand standards for a leading global brand, has published two research reports focused on challenges and opportunities facing Central Ohio children and is, arguably, most comfortable when public speaking. Not only has she been listed in several editions of Who’s Who Latino Columbus, Delilah was on the cover of and featured as a “Game Changer” in the 6th Edition. When not working or volunteering in the community, Delilah loves to travel, watch sports, spend time with her cat, Charlie, and spends the warmer months on the fresh water quarry at her home in Northwest Columbus swimming and kayaking.
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Nancy Kotting holds an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University and has been active in both rural and urban preservation initiatives for over 22 years. Formerly a resident of Detroit and Leland, Michigan, Ms. Kotting has interfaced with non-‐profits, local preservation groups, statewide organizations, SHPO’s and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was a founding board member and preservation counsel for a National Register listed farmstead in Northern Michigan for over a decade. This past year, she advocated effectively in blocking proposed legislation that threatened Historic Districts throughout her home state. Ms. Kotting has personally restored several residential properties in Michigan and Florida and has supervised the successful relocation and adaptive reuse of several barns. A lifelong equestrian and dog lover, Ms. Kotting spends her off hours training and competing in the art of Dressage and attempting to train her wily Jack Russell ‘Kali’.
Chelsey Craig is a proud Columbus native with a passion for fostering community growth and involvement. She is a graduate of the Ohio University with dual degrees in Environmental Geography and Communication Studies. At Ohio University Chelsey played lacrosse and she continues her love of the sport by serving as the head coach for the Westerville Middle School Lacrosse team. She enjoys traveling, live music and painting. An animal lover, Chelsey has a dog, Riley, and two cats, Alonzo and Bernadette.
Jena is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Anthropology and minors in Business and English. Her passion is learning about people from all over the world and loves to talk to anyone and everyone! In her spare time, she loves movies, reading, and cuddling with her two dogs, Colt and Ellie. Having been an intern in college with German Village Society, Jena is excited to continue working with and learning about all of the great neighbors of German Village.
John and his wife Robin moved to German Village in 2001 from Northwest Columbus and have never looked back. They are active volunteers for the Haus und Garten Tour every year and have co-hosted PreTour dinners and love driving the golf carts on Tour day. Other volunteer activities include the Art Crawl, Village Lights and Monster Bash. John is a CPA and has over 35 years of experience in both public accounting as well as private industry and is currently a principal at Clark, Schaefer, Hackett, a large regional public accounting firm. John’s professional experience brings added financial expertise to the Board. He is proud to call German Village home and being a part of helping to keep the Society vibrant, which will benefit the community, its residents and members as well as to the many visitors.
Dennis has been a member of German Village Society since 1990 and served as development committee chair since 2012 — in addition to participating in the streetscape committee and as a Haus und Garten Tour volunteer. As a trustee, he brings to the table a graduate degree from Ohio State University in city and regional planning, 30 years’ experience locally and globally in planning and designing communities, campuses and facilities, and frequent work with senior leadership and boards. Dennis was appointed and then elected as a member of the Clintonville Area Commission. He has an appreciation for the qualities that make for sustainable communities, both physically and socially. The above gives him insights and life experiences that he credits with making him patient, inclusive and diplomatic.
Terri Dalenta joined the GVS board in January 2018. She moved to the Village after joining Grange Insurance in May 2016 as executive vice president, chief financial officer. In this role, Terri leads Grange’s financial management, strategy and enterprise risk management, as well as maintains the company’s financial strength. An insurance industry veteran, Terri has more than 30 years in the P&C and Life insurance business. She most recently served as SVP of Property Product Management for Allstate Insurance, where she was responsible for the company’s $9 billion property portfolio. Prior to Allstate, Terri served as EVP and Chief Risk Officer for Aviva North America and then served in the company’s London headquarters as Risk Framework Director. She was also Chief Risk Officer and Corporate Chief Actuary for Safeco Insurance and held senior positions with Deloitte Consulting, LLP and Travelers Insurance. Terri currently serves on the board of Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, a mutual insurance company that insures all nuclear power plants in the United States, Belgium, and Spain for property risk. Terri has previously served on non-profit boards that serve victims of domestic violence and inner city youth. Terri is a graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas where she obtained degrees in applied mathematics and public speaking. Terri is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Certified Enterprise Risk Analyst. Terri lives in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio with her significant other David, their son Arthur, their dog Molly, and three cats – Jack, Ruby and Merlin. They love to ride bikes, go for walks, and bake.
Greg Gamier co-chaired the German Village Business Community for two years and continues to lead Art Crawl and Village Lights with his husband and business partner, Jeff Lowe. They own Village Pet Supply. In addition to GVBC, Greg has helped organize the Pet Parade for the past 12 years and volunteered for the Haus und Garten Tour for years. He has also been involved with the Village Singers for over 10 years either as a singer or working behind the scenes. Greg views his primary role on the Board to serve as facilitator between residents and business owners in the historic district, both of whom contribute so much to the fabric and desirability of the neighborhood.
Nelson joined the Board in October 2018, after serving as Chair of the Civic Relations Committee since 2011. Civic Relations is responsible for dealing with government agencies, and Nelson and staff worked on the plan for extensive capital improvements to S. Third St, running from Livingston to Reinhard. Civic Relations also planned the use of over $1 million in funds allocated by the City from its Urban Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which were used to fix brick streets. While the Third St. project did not get funded by the City of Columbus, Nelson hopes it will come back to life some day and he can use his planning experience to move it forward. Nelson is a lawyer and practices at the Strip Hoppers firm, located across the street from the Meeting Haus. He has lived in the Village since 2007, after raising 3 kids in Bexley. He and his wife Carole, a Curator at the Columbus Museum of Art, and a large red Goldendoodle named Oliver live near Schiller Park and enjoy walks there and in all the Metro Parks. Nelson tries to play golf, although badly and the family enjoys skiing in Colorado, where their children and grandchildren live. Carole serves on the Arts Committee of the German Village Society, and their home on E Whittier has been on the tour two times. Nelson will try to bring his problem solving skills and experience from other volunteer boards (Columbus Bar Association, where he was President in 2007-08, and the Jewish Community Center where he chairs the Aquatics Committee) to look at local issues.
Brittany Gibson is a writer and German Village resident who loves helping to improve and advocate for the neighborhood. She first joined the board in 2013 and has since served as the Monster Bash and Haus Und Garten Tour event liason to the board, the 2015 and 2016 HGT program editor and the Long-Range Planning Committee liaison to the board. Before that, Brittany co-chaired the 2012 and 2013 Monster Bash Halloween parties. She also volunteers as a weekend greeter in the Visitor’s Center, welcoming travelers and neighbors alike and sharing her favorite places to visit (which include Frank Fetch Park, Kittie’s Cakes, Helen Winnemore Craft and Club 185, to name just a few). When she’s not out and about with her husband, Joe, in the village, she’s often spotted walking the brick sidewalks with her bright-white lab mix, Nilla. Please stop and say hello! Brittany works at Lane Bryant as a senior copywriter in the marketing department, writing everything from store signage to social media. Before that, Brittany worked in a similar role at Victoria’s Secret and as a reporter for Columbus Alive. She graduated from Ohio University in 2007, and the brick buildings and streets of OU’s Athens campus was definitely part of German Village’s initial allure for Brittany. She still supports the student newspaper there as past president and board member of The Post Alumni Society.
Marie Logothetis has called German Village home since 1998 when she relocated to Columbus from Toronto. Among the things she most cherishes about living here are the neighborhood’s deep commitment to historic preservation and its ongoing evolution as a thriving urban community. Marie and her husband, Dan Kline, were the Chairs of the 2014 and 2015 Haus und Garten Tours. They have also had their former home on Tour in 2011 and have hosted numerous PreTour dinners. She currently serves on the 2018 and 2019 German Village Haus und Garten Host Committee as well as the Brick Sidewalk Improvement and Visitor Center Task Forces. A geophysicist, Marie is the vice president of operations for K. Petroleum Inc. in Gahanna. In that capacity she oversees the operations of the company’s oil and gas holdings in Appalachia as well as shaping the company’s future through her involvement in ongoing acquisitions, exploration and development. She is proud to serve on the Board of Trustees and play her part in the continued and future development and success of this very special community.
From serving on the Communications Task Force to Long-Range Planning Commitee to hosting Monster Bash stops, Josh has thrown himself in all things German Village. An Engagement Manager for SumTotal Systems by profession, Miller carries this skill set over to his community involvement, constantly looking for ways to improve events and projects for the community. Josh also serves as a Board Member of the Columbus Film Council as well as a Coordinating Committee for the Columbus Arts Festival.
Kurt Miller grew up in a small town in northwestern Ohio and moved to Cincinnati in 2007 to study architecture at the University of Cincinnati. While attending UC, Kurt completed numerous co-ops and was able to live and work in cities with deep architectural, historic preservationist, and social institutional roots such as Savannah, New York City, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2011 and then again in 2014 with a Masters of Architecture. He moved Columbus in April 2014 and has been working as a licensed architect with the architectural firm, Meyers + Associates Architecture. Kurt joined the German Village Society September 2014 and has been participating primarily in the Long Range Planning committee while also being plugged into the Historic Preservation committee. He has volunteered with the Haus and Garden Tour, the Brick Sidewalk Replacement Program, and various LRP events. He is interested the intersection of architecture and the nuances of place and character with the evolution of development and community enhancement, that ultimately build upon existing traditions, relationships, and experiences. Kurt is also involved with the American Institute of Architects and acts as a designer, builder, and volunteer for the Independents' Day Arts and Music Festival. In his free time, Kurt enjoys sketching, photography, bicycling, and exploring the beguiling nooks and crannies of both cities and nature alike.
Jim Penikas first came to Columbus as an OSU student in 2005 and has lived in German Village for more than 7 years. He began volunteering at the Haus und Garten tour, Meeting Haus Tailgate series events and a Sidewalk Repair, Bricks 102 Workshop. This led to him joining the Long Range Planning Committee and Monster Bash Planning Committee. Jim currently serves on the Organizational Development Committee, the Vision Task Force and as co-chair for German Village’s annual Monster Bash along with his wife, Sarah. Jim is a process engineer in the chemical industry where he works on continuous improvement efforts. He takes that same approach with his community involvement, always looking for ways to increase the charm of German Village to both residents and visitors for many years to come.
Robin and her partner Mary Wilson have been members of the German Village Society for the past three years. They enjoy both the walkability and historic nature of German Village. They share their home with an English Retriever named Bentley and 2 cats, Sam (laid back domestic) and Luna (crazy Siamese). Robin is the owner and senior partner of the law firm Williams & Strohm, LLC, and has been practicing community association law since 2004. Ms. Strohm graduated from Capital University Law School and The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!). Robin enjoys college football, animals of all types, walks with Bentley and Mary, gardening, and when time allows, traveling.
As an active Realtor on The “4ForU” Team with Street Sotheby’s International Realty, Susan meets and welcomes perspective German Village residents every day. Her focus has been to share the benefits of living in German Village and participating in the German Village Society. With extensive knowledge about German Village, neighboring communities and urban living in Columbus, Susan believes she has much to offer the German Village Society and its Board of Trustees. She has lived in German Village since the late 1980s and has volunteered for events such as hosting a stop on the Haus und Garten Tour, in addition to numerous pre-tour dinners. Serving on the membership committee and as a neighborhood representative, Susan is actively engaged in reaching out to potential German Village Society members. She also enjoys serving on the ODC Commitee - Oranizational Development Committee. Susan’s depth of years of experience in retail buying for Federated Dept. Stores, Madison’s of Columbus, The Longaberger Company and Tween Brands as well as in sales & corporate marketing at Dominion Homes has provided essential business strategies. Her past retail and current real estate professions provide the skills needed to handle numerous tasks while succeeding in getting the job done. Susan is committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of a member of the German Village Board of Trustees. Susan will be moving to her new home on Beck street in the near future with her Standard Apricot Poodle Barton. With any given moment of free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking and entertaining.
A native of the Buckeye State, Joshua Zimmerman was born and raised in Bellevue, OH while he’s called Columbus home for the past 11 years. In 2005, Joshua graduated from Miami University of Oxford, OH with a BA in Marketing and Communications. Joshua moved to Washington D.C. to intern and work full time for Edelman Public Relations. For the next three years, he would work as the Marketing and IT Manager for RW Setterlin Building Company until an indelible entrepreneurial spirit, honed by an accomplished family-owned business, would surface. It was at this time Joshua earned his real estate license from Columbus State Community College and quickly began a successful career change with Coldwell Banker King Thompson. It didn’t take long for his desire to be self-employed to skyrocket. In 2010, Joshua became the owner/operator of what is now the largest-growing Jimmy John’s franchise group in Columbus. His tremendous work ethic and passion for providing upstanding customer service spilled over into his personal life as well. A big supporter of the LGBT community, Joshua coaches for the CLGSA and participates in various other like programs. His dedication to his residential community is best highlighted by his involvement with the annual Haus und Garten Tour and his dedication to the completion of Third Street renovation. Nestled comfortably between good neighbors and the familiar businesses which are frequently patronized, Joshua and his partner Justin, along with their dogs Izzy and Vixen, enjoy life in the village to the fullest.
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