Courtney Thraen stepped into the Executive Director position at GVS in March 2025. Hailing from Coal City, Illinois, Courtney participated in the Navy ROTC program at The Ohio State University, where she received her commission into the U.S. Navy. Courtney’s active-duty service extended for seven years, including two overseas deployments as Ship’s Navigator aboard the USS MOMSEN (DDG 92) and as an instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Courtney supported fellow veterans as a disability claims processor at the Boston VA Regional Office, where she was named the employee of the year. She later served as a program coordinator within the City Planning division at Boston University, and she earned her city planning certification through the American Planning Association in 2021. For over four years, Courtney was Executive Director of Downtown Framingham, Inc., a non-profit Main Streets organization that demonstrated continued, measured success in placemaking, forging productive partnerships, demonstrating best practices for business attraction and retention, and amplifying area marketing. In this role, Thraen received numerous awards and citations, including the Emerging Leader Award from the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce and the Woman Making History Now Award from Framingham State University. Courtney has also served as the Economic Development Manager at the City of Gahanna. Courtney most recently was the Director of Sector Partnerships at Aspyr (The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio), where she facilitated the Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio that won Ohio’s best workforce project in September 2024. Courtney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, a Master of City Planning from Boston University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and an Executive MBA from the Fisher College of Business.
Rachel Lewellen joined the German Village Society after relocating to Columbus in the summer of 2021 with her husband and two daughters, following two decades in Los Angeles. There, she worked in Education and Public Programming for a renowned botanical garden, developing a passion for connecting people through learning and shared experiences. Rachel holds a B.A. in Performance Arts and an M.A. in Human Development, studies that continue to shape her creative and people-focused approach to community engagement. A longtime admirer of German Village, where her parents have lived for 25 years, Rachel has always been drawn to its unique sense of place and vibrant neighborhood spirit. Now as part of the GVS team, she’s excited to strengthen those community connections, engage members, and share the stories that make German Village so special.
Ariana Riccardi graduated from Wilmington College in 2021 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and history, concentrating in Race, Gender, and Ethnicity Studies. During her time at Wilmington, she took on numerous leadership roles, serving as Student Body President, President of the Resident Student Association, and President of the Peace Corps Prep Club, among others. She was recognized for her work in community and economic development, as well as civic engagement, setting several records in student mobilization and advocacy. Her advocacy experience includes serving as a delegation leader for Wilmington College and as an Advocacy Corps member with the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Over three years, Ariana mobilized more than 500 students and community members to Washington, D.C., led grassroots lobbying campaigns, trained students and community members on writing Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds, and conducted meetings with State Senators and Representatives. Ariana also values immersive learning experiences. She studied abroad in Cartagena, Colombia, living with a host family, attending the local university, and studying Spanish - an experience that deepened her understanding of advocacy, intercultural competence, and human connection. After graduation, she moved to Cardiff, Wales, not speaking the language or knowing anyone. Ariana describes this experience as life-defining: she traveled extensively, conducted research at both Oxford and Cambridge University, served on the executive board for the School of Law and Politics, and participated in many UK traditions. Now based in Westerville, Ohio, with her fiancé, Laurence, Ariana speaks four languages: English, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. She has attended over 200 concerts and maintains an extensive vinyl collection. She is thrilled to join the German Village Society, where she looks forward to combining her passions for advocacy and history, building strong relationships with members, fostering community engagement, and developing a network with the City of Columbus.
Anthony Meyer has been a proud renter, landlord, and owner in the village for over a decade. He seeks ways to foster friendship comradery and community with all neighbors. Mr. Meyer wants to champion the rich history of our architecture and the efforts of our preservationists. Anthony participated on the team and led the '20, '21, & '22 Holiday Lights Competition app. Anthony and his husband Tyler had their home at 626 S 5th on the Haus und Garten Tour in '19. Anthony served as a member of the '17 Monster Bash committee and the winning stop in '18 & '22. Anthony has honed leadership skills and program/project management tools and techniques necessary to execute on time and within budget. He completed 5 years as Chair of PROUD ERG where he developed teams and strategies. Anthony most recently chaired the 2022 Haus und Garten Tour and co-chair with his husband Tyler the 2023 Haus und Garten PreTour.
Anne McGee has lived in German Village since August 2017. Having spent most of her life in Huntington, WV. Anne and her husband, Bill, moved to Columbus for his job at Encova Insurance. They have three sons who are partially launched and living in Chicago, Washington DC, and Huntington, WV. Anne, a graduate of Boston College and the University of Cincinnati College of Law, briefly practiced law in WV with a primary focus on commercial litigation. Over the years Anne has volunteered in many capacities and served on multiple community nonprofit boards. As a former director and founder of a community coalition, Anne has experience in communications, grant writing, organizing, facilitating community outreach, and strategic planning. Since moving to Columbus, Anne has volunteered weekly in the visitor center and has performs house history research for the GVS plaque project.
Cynthia Watson “Ohio roots, Buckeye heart and Family soul.” Personally, she enjoys shopping, travel, cooking, working out and spending time with family and friends. Cynthia loves to garden, and she and her husband Jeff are in their 4th home in the German Village area. She is a fan of all things GV: events, volunteer opportunities, local businesses, historic preservation and interesting walking experiences. Professionally, Cynthia is a retailer thru and thru. She studied fashion merchandising at THE Ohio State University and has worked in the Ohio area at several major retail companies! Look for her around the Village!
Scott & his wife Kristy moved to German Village in 2021 after raising their family in Upper Arlington. They’ve enjoyed participating in “Village life” through GVS events, Prost!, and neighborhood gatherings. Scott serves on both the Finance and Organizational Development Committees. Scott joined LBrands in 1994 after starting his career in consumer products at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. He was the Chief Financial Officer at Lane Bryant for many years, and he now works with smaller, privately-owned businesses and private equity firms as a consulting CFO. Scott graduated from Miami University with degrees in economics, French, and international studies and has been a guest lecturer at Miami’s Farmer School of Business. Philanthropy and community involvement are a top priority for Scott. He was a long-time board member and Treasurer of the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus and a member and President of Miami University’s Alumni Board of Directors. He currently sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Business Advisory Council, and he has been very engaged with Pelotonia as both a rider and a team captain. He and Kristy attend First Community Church and have two grown children (Jacob, 27 in Columbus, and Kate, 23 in New York City). He enjoys cycling, golf, theater, travel, and reading.
Robert Caplin has called German Village home since 2019 and is deeply involved in nearly every corner of the neighborhood. He currently serves as Chair of the Civics Pillar and Chair of the German Village Business Community (GVBC), and previously chaired the Historic Preservation Committee. He has also served on the Maifest and Haus und Garten Tour Committees. You might spot him volunteering with the German Village Garten Club, contributing to German Village Magazine, managing social media for Friends of Schiller Park, playing vintage base ball for the German Village Hobnobbers, or decorating his home, which won Best House in the 2025 Monster Bash. A husband and father of two Saint Mary School students, Robert is committed to preserving and enriching life in this historic district, both online at @germanvillagers and in person. By profession, he is a seasoned editorial and commercial photographer who spent fifteen years in Manhattan. His clients have included The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, and brands like JP Morgan, Abercrombie & Fitch, WWE, and American Electric Power. Robert’s long-term documentary of Justin Bieber’s early rise appears in Bieber’s autobiography First Step 2 Forever and was the visual foundation for his Paramount film Never Say Never.
Michael Cornelis is a GVS Past President, board member emeritus, and co-chair of the Quality-of-Life committee. He is a founding member of Maifest: Legends and Landmarks. He is a current member of the Village Engagement Committee, Maifest Committee, Boogie for the Bricks Committee, and player/manager of the German Village Hobnobbers vintage baseball club. Michael and his wife, Susan Riley, served as Co-Chairs of the 2001 Haus und Garten tour, and have lived in German Village for 34 years.
Jess grew up in Canton, Ohio, and moved to Columbus in 2006 to attend graduate school at The Ohio State University. She progressively moved south and landed in German Village in 2014. She loves everything about this neighborhood, including the beautiful homes and gardens, the access to amazing coffee shops and restaurants, and most importantly the people. The ease in which to make friends and to be able to walk to their homes is such a perk of living in German Village. As a board member, Jess wants to promote community involvement and connectivity within German Village because she believes this is what makes this neighborhood so special. She co-chaired the 2023 Haus und Garten Tour and enjoyed engaging with friends and neighbors to benefit the German Village Society. Jess is an avid runner and biker and has also taken up playing squash at the Athletic Club of Columbus. At the Athletic Club, she also serves on the Membership Committee and considers the club her home away from home. She has worked as a cancer researcher at The James Cancer Center for a little over a decade and is passionate about developing personalized therapies for cancer patients.
Lori has been a member of the German Village community for 7 years and is committed to the preservation of its rich history and building a vibrant future. Lori’s involvement with the German Village Haus & Garten Tour began in 2022 when she volunteered her home for the tour and has been hosting pre-tour dinners in the years since. Lori’s experience on various non-profit boards and community organizations reflects her deeply held belief that lasting change begins at the local level—one person at a time. She has served as a student coach with Handshake America, a board advisor for the W. Edwards Deming Institute, and a volunteer facilitator and mentor with Denison Consulting. Lori is a 30-year management consultant with 16 years at Deloitte. She brings expertise in cybersecurity program delivery and operations and is currently working in state government, where she leads a team that secures the data of more than 11 million citizens. She also has 20+ years’ experience in organizational change management, governance, organization strategy and design. Lori has 2 grow children – Benjamin, 26 in Florida; and Sarah, 24 in Columbus. Lori has a B.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Workforce Development and Education both from Ohio State University.
As a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Historic Preservation Committee, Michael Gallaugher is dedicated to preserving the historic character of German Village while fostering a thriving and engaged community. Before joining the board, Michael spent three years working to revitalize the Historic Preservation Committee when it was at risk of fading away. His dedication helped reestablish its purpose, involve more community members, and strengthen preservation efforts, ensuring that the architectural and cultural heritage of German Village remains a priority. With a background in problem-solving, strategic planning, and leadership, Michael has spent his career bringing people together to tackle challenges and accomplish shared goals. His ability to work with neighbors, local organizations, and community leaders directly supports the German Village Society’s mission. As a board member, Michael remains committed to expanding preservation efforts, encouraging community involvement, and ensuring the long-term success of The German Village Society, keeping its legacy alive for generations to come.
A resident of German Village for 5+ years, but a recent addition to the board, Jeff's love of German Village began decades ago with his love of Actors' Theatre of Columbus, the group that puts on "Shakespeare in the Park" in Schiller Park every summer. He still makes a point of seeing at least one performance of each of the four shows they put on every summer. Jeff's home is often a stop for Monster Bash ("The Pirate House" and "The Moulin Rouge House"). He is actively involved in many of the technology initiatives of German Village; chairing the Technology Task Force before joining the board, joining efforts to refresh the website, and creating the package system (which he wrote the computer programming for). Jeff is an active member and supporter of Germania, the Athletic Club of Columbus, and Actors Theatre of Columbus. Professionally, Jeff is the Chief Technology Officer of DOmedia, a software company headquartered here in Columbus.
In 1977 Jim purchased his home in German Village and has been active in the community since then. He quickly gained an appreciation for the GVS (German Village Society) mission, especially historic preservation, and the many community activities. Jim Nichols and Tammi Hall were the Presenting Sponsors for the 2021 German Village Garten Tour. Jim has volunteered for over 30 years for the Haus und Garten Tour, mostly in tickets and cash management with several years in operations. Tammi and Jim’s home was on the 2016 H&G Tour, and they hosted H&G Pre-Tour dinners. He also volunteered for 20 years for Octoberfest, mostly as Chair of the Volunteer Check-In Committee (10 years) and Chair of the Tickets and Cash Management Committee (8 years). Jim is one of the founding Board members and sponsors of Village Connections. As well as supporter and sponsor for GV Garden Club, Tea 43206, Friends of Schiller, GVS H&G Tour and Village Connections. Art Crawl volunteer. Tammi and Jim have provided items for the GV organizations silent actions. He is a past and current GVS Board member, GVS Finance Committee (29 years), GVS Long Range Planning Committee (20 years), GVS Meeting Haus Maintenance Committee (1 year) and GVS H&G Planning Committee (1 year). Long time Chair of the GVS Elections Committee. Graduate of The Ohio State University with a major in Finance from the College of Business. Jim retired from a long career in finance and management and currently does consulting for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Jim is currently and, in the past, has served on several Central Ohio non-profit Boards and for-profit corporate Boards. Through the years he has acquired an in-depth knowledge about the GVS and the GV community. Mr. Nichols states, “I strongly believe in maintaining/increasing property values, increasing community safety, improving our infrastructure and quality services for the GVS members in addition to continuing GVS fiscal integrity and transparency.” Jim hopes to continue to promote GVS members and community engagement while serving on the board.
April 28, 2023
April 25, 2023