Medical Mutual and Smart Business welcome you to the Pillar Awards for Community Service. For more than two decades, the Pillar Awards have recognized organizations and individuals that are making positive impacts in their communities through volunteering, charitable giving, pro bono work and more.

As Medical Mutual celebrated our 90th anniversary in 2024, we challenge ourselves every day to “Be the Difference” — for our members, for each other and for the community. This is rooted in our mission: Uniting with our partners to help people live healthier through all stages of life. That mission drives the work we do with our nonprofit partners to improve the physical, financial and mental health of people across Ohio.

Our efforts address needed access points to care, connect community members with resources that assist in daily living and help remove the obstacles many Ohioans face, such as food insecurity, financial barriers to education and access to high-speed internet.

Foundational to Medical Mutual’s community support is our SHARE program. Through this volunteer initiative, our employees support dozens of nonprofits and community groups across the state each year. It’s an important way that Medical Mutual continues to give back to our communities as we mark 90 years, and one of the annual Pillar Awards recognizes a company whose employees best illustrate the values of the program.

This year’s Pillar Award recipients bring the strongest commitment to their communities. As we look ahead to another 90 years serving our communities, Medical Mutual is pleased to join Smart Business in honoring these organizations and individuals.

On behalf of Medical Mutual and Smart Business, congratulations to the 2025 Pillar Awards honorees. ●

 

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Pillar Award Honorees

 

Led by Mark Ryan, president, Bank of America Cincinnati, the bank works with and supports many organizations in the area. Since 2019, local employees have contributed more than 24,000 hours of volunteer time and donated over $1.1 million in employee funds.

One of the bank’s signature programs, Student Leaders, offers paid internships to select local juniors and seniors to work with Cincinnati nonprofits during the summer. For 2024, the program placed several students with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.

The Neighborhood Builders program is another key initiative. Each year, the bank selects two local nonprofits and provides each with a $200,000 grant in general operating support, plus leadership training. This year’s recipients were the Talbert House and Cincinnati Toolbank. The bank also gave a $500,000 anchor grant to the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre for the reimagination of the Emery Theatre.

Bank of America is guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better. Team members drive meaningful and sustainable progress to help address society’s biggest challenges by aligning resources, including financing, client services and philanthropy. Through local partnerships, the bank also supports vulnerable populations, enabling them to move toward their goals. ●

 

 

Commitment to the community is a defining principle for public accounting and consulting firm Barnes Dennig. Managing Director Jay Rammes and team members work tirelessly to enhance and enrich the communities where they live and work.

In addition to conducting annual campaigns that raise tens of thousands of dollars for United Way, ArtsWave and the American Heart Association, the firm holds a yearly Outreach Day. Each October, Barnes Dennig closes its doors and sends the entire firm into the community for a day of volunteering at deserving agencies across the region. The dedication of time, energy and resources goes beyond numbers to help organizations achieve their goals. The firm has donated more than 8,000 hours to local nonprofits.

Barnes Dennig also believes in empowering youth in the community, as they are the key to a successful, thriving future. The firm supports Junior Achievement with financial contributions, an annual Bowl-a-Thon and volunteer hours. Team members also participate in the Corporate Work-Study Program with DePaul Cristo Rey, a Cincinnati Catholic high school with a mission to educate young people who have the potential to go to college but struggle with limited financial means. Additional volunteer efforts and sponsorships support scholarships and skills training for multiple industries. ●

 

 

BRG Apartments’ profound impact on the local community is evident through the company’s unwavering support of numerous organizations. Led by Executive Chairman Jeffrey March, BRG has been influential in the success of many local outreach endeavors. BRG also has an internal employee assistance fund to provide a hand-up to employees who experience hardships. During the pandemic, the firm supported residents in need with rental assistance.

BRG and its principals contribute more than $250,000 annually to over 50 deserving local organizations. The company actively engages in various volunteer contributions, demonstrating its commitment to giving back to the community. Individuals dedicate time to volunteering at local food pantries and participating in back-to-school backpack drives, ensuring students have the necessary resources for a successful academic year. During the holiday season, BRG decorates the Fisher House and donates toys to children in the community. Additionally, the company has organized and participated in food drives, charitable 5K walks and meal service for seniors.

BRG’s commitment to consistently delivering reliable services extends not only to core business operations but also to the company’s dedication to giving back. The company is tangibly living out its mission by volunteering for local organizations and donating to meaningful causes. ●

 

 

Rob Cybulski and Angie Apple founded Finit Solutions with a clear ethos: prioritizing people over profit and dedicating themselves to serving others. Today, Cybulski, co-founder and CEO, continues to lead a company culture that promotes individual philanthropic expression so that individuals can support the organizations and causes that are meaningful to them. For example, each year, Finit offers its employees an opportunity to donate “sweat equity” to organizations that impact their lives in meaningful ways by providing opportunities for them to donate their time both individually and through corporate volunteerism programs. Each Finit employee is granted eight hours per year to volunteer at an organization important to them.

Finit’s philanthropic policy has always been to support the communities local to employees and corporate events. This approach also allows Finit to impact countless people and organizations in cities across the country through a variety of activities. Thus, the company’s efforts have positively impacted organizations and communities in Cincinnati and in over 26 states, many of them smaller, lesser-known community organizations that rely solely on charitable donations.

There are also additional community service programs for which Finit employees are engaged. ●

 

 

Founded in 1919 with two attorneys, Frost Brown Todd LLP is now one of the two largest law firms in Greater Cincinnati. Led by Cincinnati Partner-in-Charge Chris Habel, a team of 300 attorneys and business professionals reflects the city’s philanthropic culture, partnering alongside clients and neighbors to support communities where they live and work. Individually and collectively, team members volunteer and advocate for a diverse group of worthy organizations that enrich the lives of fellow community members.

Frost Brown Todd has a longstanding commitment to service and civic responsibility, with more than a third of the office’s attorneys volunteering with the Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio and dozens of other charitable organizations. Team members serve as powerful advocates for clients and difference-makers in local and global communities.

Frost promotes building a pipeline of diverse attorneys in the local legal community by supporting students in their education and exploration of the law. The firm also invests significant funding and volunteer hours in organizations focused on equality and inclusiveness.

In 2024, it was recognized by United Way of Greater Cincinnati as No. 17 on its list of the area’s Top 25 “Workplaces That Care” in 2023. ●

 

 

Bob Myers serves as president of Phillips Edison & Company (PECO), a leading national owner and operator of grocery-anchored shopping centers with corporate headquarters in Cincinnati and regional offices in Atlanta and Park City, Utah. PECO IMPACT, the company’s business resource group, fosters a culture of giving and volunteering among its associates. Under the leadership of Kat Hamilton and Victoria Hirschfeld, the group consists of dedicated volunteers who use their time, skills and expertise to make a positive difference in their communities. The group’s mission is to encourage community engagement in the neighborhoods that PECO serves and help team members support causes that are important to them. Events in 2024 included a Family Nurturing Center Snack Drive through which over 100 boxes of snacks and toys were collected, with an additional $200 donated. With Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, PECO volunteers cleaned up and beautified an outdoor learning space for Pleasant Hill Academy. Over 75 attendees made a significant impact for students. At the Ronald McDonald House Taste of Hope Events, the group prepared meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, serving approximately 1,000 meals in 2024.

PECO IMPACT will continue giving back in 2025, fulfilling the group’s core value to “Do The Right Thing.” ●

 

 

Today, and every day, ProAmpac team members strive to team up with the company’s neighbors to make the communities where it operates even better. One example of local involvement is the company’s decade-long support of the Mason Challenger League in Mason, Ohio. The adapted baseball program was started 10 years ago by Chad Murdock and his family to help kids with physical and developmental challenges enjoy America’s pastime. Today, the league serves over 100 players from six surrounding communities. ProAmpac is the lead uniform sponsor of the Mason Red Stockings and is proud to be united with such an inspiring organization. 

On August 27, the Mason Red Stockings Challenger team played against a team from San Jose, California, in an exhibition game hosted by the Little League World Series. The two teams picked to play in this game were chosen among 13,000 teams across the globe. The team was visited by hall of famer, Rickey Henderson, to pass out medals after the game.

This is just one of the many ways ProAmpac team members, led by CEO Greg Tucker, are making an impact through their generosity to local communities, joining with neighbors to improve the communities where they operate. ●

 

 

Rumpke Waste & Recycling is a family-owned business headquartered in Colerain Township. Its team is dedicated to providing safe and reliable waste and recycling solutions for millions of customers throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and West Virginia.

Rumpke strives to do the right thing by actively giving back to the communities it serves. Led by President and CEO William Rumpke Jr., the company supports local students by offering dozens of scholarship opportunities. Rumpke also partners with hundreds of nonprofits and civic organizations on community events and fundraising. Many locations host open house events to share about daily operations or offer food and family activities. 

Rumpke partnered with the Cincinnati Museum Center to open its latest interactive exhibit in the Children’s Museum. A kid-sized replica of a Rumpke truck lets children of all ages explore materials that can and cannot be recycled.

Partnering with the Hefty ReNew program, Rumpke is offering a solution to keep hard-to-recycle plastics out of landfills. Participants purchase orange Hefty ReNew bags at Kroger or online to fill with accepted items, including candy wrappers, chip bags, plastic bags, bubble wrap and foam peanuts. Rumpke is excited to offer families engaging ways to learn about how recycling helps the planet. ●

 

 

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Kroger Co. is one of the largest retailers in the U.S. based on annual sales. Led by Chairman and CEO W. Rodney McMullen, the company believes in the power of business to serve America. Kroger’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, Thriving Together, highlights how the company is advancing positive impacts on three key pillars: People, Planet and Systems.

Kroger strives to reflect the communities it serves, inspire collaboration and feed the human spirit. The company serves its neighbors daily by providing convenient access to affordable, nutritious food and other essential products and services. In 2022, Kroger directed $336 million in charitable donations of food and funds to local and national nonprofit organizations. Of this, $253 million focused on feeding families in need in communities where the retailer operates.

In 2017, Kroger introduced its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan to help create communities free of hunger and waste. The company achieved its goal of directing 3 billion meals to communities more than two years ahead of schedule, thanks to donations of in-kind and surplus food, and $1.3 billion in charitable giving. Kroger also accelerated its zero-waste vision with progress on waste diversion, food waste reduction and packaging goals. ●

 

 

Founded in 1978, The RDI Corp. is a privately held contact center and IT firm committed to elevating the customer experience through its dedicated outsourced environment.

RDI actively gives back to the community through various initiatives, including donating to local nonprofits, supporting Meals on Wheels and sponsoring events like the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament. Often, the company focuses on initiatives like food drives and helping local families in need. RDI is consistently recognized for its significant community involvement and has received awards for its efforts to make a positive difference.

RDI encourages employee participation through company-matching donations, paid time off for volunteering and opportunities to support causes close to employees’ hearts. The company has been recognized for donating to St. Xavier High School, assisting the Greater Cincinnati chapter of GSLEN and participating in initiatives to address food insecurity and senior isolation.

In preparation for the school season, incredible teams across RDI sites held Back to School drives throughout August. Collectively, sites donated over 3,000 school supplies and 200 backpacks, along with clothing, food and funds for students in need. The company is committed to setting students up for success as they embark on their educational journey. ●

 

 

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Medical Mutual Share Award

 

Health Carousel is a total talent management company with a leading portfolio of health care staffing solutions: Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Travel and Health Carousel International. Led by CEO John Sebastian, 400 employees in four offices work to staff highly qualified professionals across a range of in-demand health care fields.

Team members strive to ensure every patient in the U.S. has access to a qualified health care professional — when and where they are needed. The company’s purpose is to improve lives and make health care work better. Since its founding in 2004, Health Carousel’s health care professionals on assignment have impacted more than 14 million patients nationally.

As Health Carousel celebrates its 20th anniversary, the company has doubled down on its commitment to communities. The HC Gives Back program encompasses four main areas of giving: philanthropy, diversity and inclusion (with an emphasis on health equity), employee well-being and recognition. Health Carousel aims to ensure that operating practices and initiatives are ethical, legal and profitable. Team members strive to be good corporate citizens, contributing resources to local and global communities, advocating for the worldwide migration of talent and supporting ethical practices in international recruitment.

Each year, Health Carousel’s signature initiatives and opportunities align with the company’s higher purpose. Leaders and employees infuse their values of teamwork, integrity, excellence and service into support for communities through charitable giving, corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations, employee volunteerism and board service.

In 2024, Health Carousel continued to focus efforts on initiatives where its purposes and employees’ needs intersect. The company once again partnered on a Fall Mental Health Series and the 5th Annual Raffle for a Cause with the nonprofit IN5, an organization bringing evidence-based suicide prevention and mental health programs to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

During the 5th Annual Raffle for a Cause, Health Carousel team members generously donated items and experiences, such as sports tickets, flights, golf outings, gift cards, personalized swag, Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets and more. For the first time, winners were announced during an in-person raffle at Cincinnati Music Hall during the company’s 20th Anniversary Gala. More than 275 employees purchased 8,000 raffle tickets. All proceeds were donated to 1N5 to fund their work in supporting local mental health initiatives and ongoing mental health education.

That evening, Health Carousel leaders announced they would match $25,000 in donations, bringing the total funds raised to over $59,000 ($17,000 more than the previous year). ●

 

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Nonprofit Board Executive of the Year Awards

 

Tom Hayes has profoundly impacted Best Point Education & Behavioral Health as a member of the board of trustees. His contributions have been both significant and exceptional.

During a time of staff transition, Hayes played a vital role in creating and finalizing the organization’s four-year strategic plan, which has become its roadmap through 2028. His dedication, expertise and attention to detail have been instrumental in setting the direction for Best Point Education & Behavioral Health and ensuring long-term success.

Hayes’ extensive expertise in training and teaching has been incredibly valuable. He has partnered with the organization’s training team to design and implement their Leadership Academy, which aims to develop the next generation of Best Point Education & Behavioral Health leaders.

Hayes and his wife co-chaired the 2022 Rockin’ at Riverfest Gala, Best Point’s largest fundraiser. Their leadership and hard work greatly contributed to the philanthropic event, which has been crucial for sustaining programs and services for those in need.

While serving on multiple committees, Hayes’ insights, ideas and commitment have been essential in driving the organization forward and fostering strong partnerships within the community. Over the past three years, his impact has been felt across all facets of the organization’s work. ●

 

 

After a 30-year career in human resources and leadership at Macy’s, Anne Mulder serves as board chair for YWCA Greater Cincinnati. She served the YWCA as a board member for eight years beginning in 2016, and has served as the board president for the past two years. During this time, Mulder has led the board through a number of challenges with grace and professionalism. 

During COVID-19, the YWCA moved families staying in the domestic violence shelter into area hotels to offer a safe and socially distanced environment. This move for families and staff was vital to their health and safety but doubled expenses. Under Mulder’s leadership, the organization was able to secure private and public funding to cover these new expenses. 

The YWCA Greater Cincinnati is in the quiet phase of a capital campaign to build a racial justice institute and a new domestic violence shelter that will incorporate trauma-informed design based on learnings from the pandemic. Both are vital projects for the community.

A natural leader who inspires those around her, Mulder continues to be a generous donor to YWCA Greater Cincinnati with her time, treasure and talent. ●

 

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Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year Awards

 

Last Mile Food Rescue began with a simple belief: Good food belongs to people, not landfills. Volunteers, called Food Rescue Heroes, use a mobile app to pick up donations and deliver them to partner agencies that direct them to those in need. Since 2020, those Food Rescue Heroes have rescued over 11 million pounds of food, providing more than 9 million meals to the community.

CEO Eileen Budo brings a powerful blend of corporate expertise and community-focused dedication to Last Mile Food Rescue, driving significant impact. As a transformational leader, Budo combines strategic thinking, collaborative teamwork and a pragmatic approach to decision-making that maximizes both team and organizational potential.

Budo is a seasoned executive with a background in global business partnerships, developed in senior leadership at P&G, where she secured multi-million-dollar partnerships with suppliers worldwide.

An Air Force veteran, she served with distinction in the Air Force Systems Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Her extensive expertise spans business strategy, organizational design, team development and complex problem-solving, empowering her to create a resilient and effective nonprofit model that continues to expand its reach and impact. ●

 

 

CEO Sonya Fultz’s tireless efforts to advance Adopt A Class (AAC) are prevalent in every facet of her work as she dedicates 100 percent of her heart and energy to the organization’s mission, growth and development. A great example of Fultz’s community-building mindset is the collaborative Volunteer Day she executed this past spring. Her leadership brought together several corporate and civic partners to participate in P&G’s Global Volunteer Day. AAC’s event was held at ADC Studio in the West End, where students from Hays-Porter School and Withrow University High School were exposed to the arts and encouraged to create their own artwork, which was displayed in the West End community.

Fultz has improved AAC by developing and implementing a new team management strategy that emphasizes the students and schools while fostering corporate and civic partner relationships. She often coordinates and leads ongoing educational opportunities for the AAC staff, board members and mentor teams.

Fultz’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is also a top priority. She led the team through multiple meetings and constructive conversations to develop the organization’s DEI and Racial Equity statements that showcase AAC’s values and underpin the board’s goals to increase diverse representation. ●

 

 

The Cincinnati Parks Foundation works to build partnerships, relationships and friendships that support 5,000 acres of the city’s parks and greenspaces. The organization connects people from all walks of life through education, advocacy and fundraising.

President and CEO Jennifer Hafner Spieser has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Spieser’s enthusiasm, dedication and authenticity foster goodwill on behalf of the foundation. She has ensured that their work is equitable and inclusive, advocating for causes like accessibility in infrastructure and programming.

Since 2015, Spieser and her team have raised more than $30 million on behalf of Cincinnati Parks. Her past roles include the head of development for the Cincinnati Fire Department, raising over $35 million. She also became the first female public information officer during her tenure.

Spieser has volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Give Back Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati Hamilton County Disabilities Services, the Cincinnati Recreation Foundation, the Cincinnati Ballet Academy, Artworks and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Women’s Fund. She is a founding member of the Women’s Committee of Cincinnati Parks and a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 45. She serves as a board member of the Cincinnati Children’s Theater, the National Association of Park Foundations, the Cincinnati Fire Foundation and as an advisory member for Duke Energy. ●

 

 

Dedicated hairstylist Vernon Jackson has emerged as a transformative figure in his community, particularly for children with special needs. Through his innovative program, the Gifted Event, he has created a supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges these children face during haircuts and empowers them to express their individuality through their hairstyles.

Jackson, the organization’s executive director, observed that many children with special needs encounter significant difficulties when getting their hair cut. Sensory sensitivities, communication barriers and anxiety often transform what should be a simple grooming task into a daunting experience. Recognizing this gap, he founded the Gifted Event, a program designed to provide personalized haircuts in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. This initiative is about fostering a sense of belonging and confidence among children who often feel marginalized in conventional settings.

The Gifted Event has revolutionized the haircut experience for many families, offering an environment where children can receive care tailored to their unique needs. Jackson’s approach emphasizes patience and understanding, ensuring each child feels valued and respected. As a result, he has been able to empower these children. The positive impact of Jackson’s work has resonated throughout the community, inspiring others in the hairstyling industry to adopt more inclusive practices and services. ●

 

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Kent Clapp CEO Leadership Award

 

Finit is Intentionally Different. That motto is lived out through the company’s investments in support of the Greater Cincinnati community and beyond.

It is often standard practice for companies to select a single foundation or cause in the community where the company is headquartered. However, Finit’s culture promotes individual expression. Co-Founder and CEO Rob Cybulski and his team believe allowing individuals to support personally meaningful causes is essential. The company’s philanthropic policy has always focused on communities that are local to employees and corporate events. This approach enables Finit to impact countless people and organizations in many cities nationwide. As a result, the company’s efforts have positively impacted organizations and communities in Cincinnati and over 26 states, many of them smaller, lesser-known community organizations that rely solely on charitable donations.

Each year, Finit offers employees an opportunity to donate “sweat equity” to organizations that impact their lives in meaningful ways. Every employee is granted eight hours per year to volunteer at a personally meaningful organization.

Through the Finit Matching Gift Program, the company joins employees in their commitment to charity. Finit matches monetary donations up to $500 per year, per employee, to any charitable organization with a Department of Treasury 501(c)3 public charity status.

The Finit Advocacy Donations Program encourages employees to recommend organizations to receive corporate donations. For 2025, the company expects to donate approximately $24,000 in response to donation requests. In January 2024, the company made donations to 32 charities selected by employees the previous year, totaling $24,000.

Traditionally, Finit hosts two all-staff company meetings each year in different cities. A key facet of this experience is creating opportunities for the team to engage with the local community during their short stay. Team members believe it is important to leave a city a little better than they found it. Last May, Finit partnered with SafeNest in Las Vegas to pack and provide backpacks full of camp supplies, including toiletries, towels, swimming goggles and journals. These were given to children in the SafeNest shelter attending a summer camp in San Diego.

When Finit’s founders and partners say, “people before profit,” they mean it. Everything the company does focuses on creating a positive experience and successful outcome for the people involved. While the bottom line does matter to continue to be a force for good, Finit trusts that positive financial outcomes will materialize organically as a result of taking care of others. ●