Five OHIO alumni elected to The Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees

Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees is honored to welcome five new trustees who are committed to accomplishing the Foundation’s goal of “Philanthropy in Service and Education.”

At the Foundation’s June meeting, Karen Bailey, Timothy “Tim” Busch, Casey Christopher, Phyllis Kohler, and Stephen Muck were elected to the board. In November, they will gather for their first official Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees meeting.

“We are eager to welcome this outstanding group of dedicated alumni to the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of The Ohio University Foundation and vice president of University Advancement. “I am confident that each of these individuals will excel in their new role of promoting the transformational nature of an OHIO education, while working to bring that experience within the reach of all those who seek it. I look forward to seeing what these distinguished alumni will accomplish together as they create a brighter future for Ohio University.”

Karen Bailey

Karen Bailey is a graduate of the College of Business and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1981. After graduation, Bailey started working for Georgia Pacific, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of paper products. During her career, she was vice president of global food service accounts and vice president of regional sales for the east region and Canada. After retiring from Georgia Pacific in 2016, Bailey became the chairman of the Ronald McDonald Charities Board of Directors in Atlanta, Georgia. She also serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the OHIO College of Business. Bailey has received numerous awards for her accomplishments, including the OHIO Achievement in Business award in 2018 and the Women of Achievement award from the Atlanta YWCA in 1999. Bailey and her husband, James, reside in Roswell, Georgia.

Timothy “Tim” Busch

Timothy “Tim” Busch is a 1985 graduate of the Scripps College of Communication where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication. For 20 years, Busch has worked with Nexstar Broadcasting, where he now serves as its president. Previously, he was the executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at Nexstar. For his success throughout his career, Busch was awarded the First Amendment Award from the Radio Television Digital News Foundation in 2015. Busch has served on several boards, including the Upstate New York Advisory Board for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the CBS Affiliation Association Board. Today, he and his wife, Margaret, reside in Pittsford, New York. 

Casey Christopher

Casey Christopher graduated from the Scripps College of Communication in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. Christopher currently is the chief empowerment officer for Quontic Bank. Previously, she has served as vice president of business development and member relations at Independent Community Bankers of America and was vice president of business development at CenterState Bank and Silverton Bank. She is a dedicated OHIO alumna, serving as chair of the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors and an Alumni Association representative with the OHIO Board of Trustees. Christopher has served on boards beyond OHIO as well, including the New York League of Independent Bankers and the Junior League of Bergen County. In 2012, she received the Dr. C. Arnold Matthew Honor Graduate Award from the Florida School of Banking. Today, Christopher resides in Westwood, New Jersey.

Phyllis Kohler

Phyllis Kohler is a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, and she received her Bachelor of Arts in English in 1969. She is a retired school board member for Edina Public Schools located in Edina, Minnesota. When Kohler was an undergraduate at OHIO, she was a member of the Marching 110 and was involved in the Tau Beta Sigma sorority. After leaving Athens, Kohler maintained her connections to OHIO by acting as chapter leader of the Minneapolis OHIO Alumni Chapter from 1978 to 1985. After finishing her time as chapter leader, Kohler joined the Ohio University Alumni Board of Directors and was involved from 1987 to 1989. Today, Kohler resides in Edina, Minnesota.

Stephen Muck

Stephen Muck received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of Business in 1984. Muck started his career with Brayman Construction Corporation in 1992 and is now its chairman and CEO. This is just one example of Muck’s many leadership roles, as he is also the current CEO of Grouse Ridge Capital and AirQuest Aviation. In addition, he is the co-founder and president of Advanced Construction Robotics and president of Almax Development. Due to his success with these companies, he has received multiple awards, including the Engineering News-Record Award of Excellence in 2017, the Pittsburgh Business Times Innovator Award in 2018, and the Associated General Contractors of America Innovation Award in 2018. He currently resides in Butler, Pennsylvania.