Meet the People Who Make it Happen
Our Steadfast Team on the Ground
About Robert P. Elmore
Robert P. Elmore is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and leader with extensive experience in higher education operations, specializing in financial management, regulatory compliance, and student support services. Over his 37-year career, he has demonstrated a unique ability to navigate the complex dynamics of higher education institutions, driving improvements in student matriculation, retention, and institutional growth.
A first-generation college graduate, Robert has a deep passion for helping underserved and under-resourced students pursue education and successfully complete their programs. He uses a student-centered philosophy to guide decision-making, ensuring that institutional strategies prioritize student success and equitable access to education.
Robert is a hands-on leader who possesses the knowledge and skills to support all functions of the organizations he serves. He actively engages with students, mentors, donors, and community organizations, fostering a collaborative environment that strengthens institutional impact and community relationships.
Robert’s leadership at The Chatfield Edge (formerly Chatfield College) as President and Executive Director has been marked by transformative initiatives, including enhancing student support systems, strengthening community engagement, building financial stability and resources to support a growing number of student scholars, and managing the daily finance and administrative functions of the corporation.
Throughout his career, Robert has maintained a steadfast commitment to regulatory compliance and financial integrity. His expertise in managing federal and state financial aid programs, ensuring SFA Title IV compliance, and liaising with regulatory bodies has consistently safeguarded institutional operations. He combines strategic financial planning with operational excellence, ensuring that resources are effectively aligned with institutional goals.
A collaborative and data-driven leader, Robert prioritizes student success and organizational sustainability. He is actively engaged in community service as a board member for the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection (GC3). His dedication to advancing higher education and financial leadership continues to make a meaningful impact in the institutions he serves.
About David Hesson
David Hesson brings over 30 years of educational experience to his role as Director of Programs for The Chatfield Edge. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive Communications from Mt. Vernon Nazarene College and a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling from the University of Dayton. From his student teaching in rural Knox County to his roles in higher education, David has worked with many demographics including rural, urban, dual-credit, traditional, and non-traditional students ranging from middle school to middle-aged adults! To these experiences, David brings strong communication and relationship building skills to create a personalized experience for all students.
A public-school teacher for nearly 20 years in the North College Hill and Monroe Local school districts, David taught English, drama, speech, Shakespeare, and American literature. He participated in curriculum mapping and the Building Leadership Team and was extremely involved in sponsoring extracurriculars.
David then moved to the college level where he worked in a variety of areas including Faculty Development, Student Services and as Director of Education. He was involved with the students from orientation through graduation, creating course schedules, overseeing academic advising, participating in campus management and working with professors on classroom instruction.
Hired by Chatfield College as Assistant Academic Dean, David oversaw the Brown County campus and created class schedules and served as an academic advisor. He provided oversight for the dual credit program for Chatfield’s Brown County and Over-the-Rhine campuses. A member of the Campus Leadership Team, David worked collaboratively to create and support new programs, ensuring that support services, academic courses, and degree programs met the needs of faculty members and students.
As Director of Programs, David uses his varied background to connect with and support every student scholar at The Chatfield Edge. He believes passionately in the mission and that education builds strong communities and strong individuals.
About Kelly Smith Taylor
Kelly Smith Taylor is a dedicated fundraising and nonprofit development professional with a passion for driving year-over-year fundraising success and program impact through strategic planning. She finds inspiration in seeing organizations, teams, and individuals unlock their full potential.
Prior to her current position, Kelly served 15 years in development, leading fundraising efforts for public policy non-profits in Kentucky, Connecticut, and Nevada. During that time, she served as Director of Development and Vice President of Strategic Partners and helped organizations raise over $10 million.
Kelly graduated in 1995 from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. As an undergraduate, she spent two summers in Washington D.C., first with the congressional office of John Boehner and then with the House Conference Committee. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in business, Kelly worked with elected officials in Cleveland and Columbus as Finance Associate under the Director and Deputy Director, including helping to organize the successful 1998 Governor’s Gala for then Governor Bob Taft. In 1999, Kelly returned to her hometown of Troy, Ohio to work as Field Representative for Congressman John Boehner until 2004. She was responsible for the congressman’s yearly Farm Forum event that brought together farmers and agri-businesses from all over Ohio.
Her expertise includes grant writing, event planning, strategic planning including systems and automations, high dollar direct mail programs, and high dollar prospect acquisition. What she enjoys most about her work in development is connecting with and listening to those she meets, understanding their vision, and finding alignment between mission and potential funders. Kelly is a creative thinker, focused doer, and connector who excels at distilling essential information to turn ideas into impact.
Throughout her career, Kelly has been active with many organizations reflective of her love for faith, civic responsibility, education, and history. She served as interim curator for the Troy Overfield Tavern Museum and served as a guest judge for the Ohio Historical Society’s National History Day which was held in Piqua, Ohio until 2020.
As a first-generation college graduate herself, Chatfield’s mission is close to Kelly’s heart. She finds joy in helping donors align their passions, priorities, and resources to help eliminate barriers to education faced by many student scholars at The Chatfield Edge.
About Amy Rodgers
Amy brings a wealth of experience in customer service, banking, and higher education to her role at The Chatfield Edge. She spent nearly a decade at Wilmington College, where she assisted students and parents with financial aid, billing, and registration, providing guidance and support throughout their college journey. During her tenure at Wilmington, Amy worked with a wide variety of students, including those with traditional, non-traditional, and international backgrounds.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix.
Dedicated to delivering excellent service and fostering positive experiences, Amy’s focus is on supporting our Development and Program Services functions to enhance organizational efficiency and information management.
Our Dedicated Board of Directors
Officers
Chair – Tommie L. Lewis, Jr. (Make It Plain Consulting, LLC)
Vice-Chair – Keith Spiller, JD (Thompson Hine, LLP)
Secretary/Treasurer – Stephen J. Pohlman (YMCA of Greater Cincinnati)
Immediate Past Chair – Victoria Parlin (Retired, The Seven Hills School)
Ex Officio
Robert P. Elmore, CPA (President/Executive Director, The Chatfield Edge)
Members
Mary Ellen Betz, EdD (Professor Emerita)
C. Bradley East, CPA (Navigate Capital Partners)
Patricia Homan, OSU (Ursulines of Brown County)
Maureen Kiley, MAPC (Retired, Child Focus)
Justin Pappachan (Student, University of Cincinnati)
Erika M. Peterman, MBA (LyondellBasell)
Karen Ristau, PhD (Retired, National Catholic Education Association)
Mark S. Schlachter, MLS (Independent Design Professional)
Gerry Schumacher (Retired, First State Bank)
Kitty Strauss Rosenthal (Retired, Cincinnati U.S.A. Regional Chamber)
Carol Tierney (The Christ Hospital Health Network)
Katie Wittich (Nielsen Company)
