Meal With A Mentor

Faith (Beale) Knutsen:MA 1992 in International Affairs with an emphasis on Africa. 

Current role: Director, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship - at the Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

Professional focus in Economic development program management

Bio:After finishing the Peace Corps service in 1989, I grew up in Athens, but I went off in my late teens and had a lot of interesting educational and work experiences both overseas and in the US before I came back here to raise my own kids (both of whom also got degrees at OU – one now lives in the UK, and the other one is in grad school).

For the last 17 years I’ve worked at the Voinovich School as an executive and mentor helping local small businesses and nonprofits get started and be successful.  For the last 5 years I’ve also taught Environmental Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship and grantwriting to undergrads and grads.  At the end of my in-person classes, I always offer the opportunity for a free coffee to the graduates (they seem to enjoy the conversations – but it might just be the free caffeine!).

I’m really committed to encouraging, supporting and helping to shore up sustainability for small, local, rural, mission-driven enterprises.  Most people know about Passion Works, which is a great example of the kinds of nonprofits that my team helps.  There are tens and tens of other ones that are also impactful in important ways: education, arts, workforce development, substance use, recovery.  I love bringing the experiences and lessons-learned that I’ve gained here, nationally and overseas to our own local entrepreneurial ecosystem.  I’d love to share stories and learn from each other.

Dr. Randy Price: Ph. D in Higher Education Administration 2013

Current Role:Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University

Bio:I have a Bachelor's degree in English, Master's degree in Counseling, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. I worked for many years in Counseling before transitioning to my current role. I truly value meeting with and interacting with students to help them discover their next steps after college. 

Matthew Roberts, 1993, 2002, BA- Political Science/History, MPA-Voinovich School

Current Role:Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for Ohio University 

Bio:Matt Roberts is the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at Ohio University. Prior to coming to OHIO, he spent 9 years in development at the OhioHealth Foundation. He also served as a resource officer, director and vice president of various non-profit organizations related to health, mental health, addiction treatment and prevention. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University and lives in Lancaster with his wife and family. 

Evan Wilkof- Bachelor of Business Economics (2011), Master of Higher Education Administration (2015) 

Current Role:Community Relations Officer, Ohio University Police 

Bio:I earned my undergraduate degree in Economics (2011) and returned for a graduate degree in Higher Education Administration (2015). Through involvement in leadership organizations and a variety of university-led committees, I developed a passion for Ohio University and the Greater Athens community. In 2014, I earned the position of Assistant Director of Operations with Ohio University Event Services. In 2019, I took a leap of faith and sought to engage with and help students in a much different way. I submitted an application with the Ohio University Police Department and earned the position of Police Officer in early 2020. It was off to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus through mid-2020. Following completion of training, I was entrusted at Ohio University in a completely different way. After several years on patrol and having engaged in incredibly meaningful ways with Bobcats, I earned the role of Community Relations Officer. Through dedication to being a lifelong learner, I am gaining the experience necessary to become the Public Information Officer for the department. Ambition is a skill paramount to success. I look forward to sharing how my ambitions and connections with Ohio University led me to life-changing experiences and has helped guide Bobcats alike in myriad ways. 

Annie Valeant, 2008, MBA/MSA

Current Role:Director Operation, Strategy and Partnerships Scripps College of Communication

Bio:Annie Valeant (MBA, MSA '08) is a proud OHIO Bobcat and member of the Athens community. Prior to joining academia, Annie worked in the sport and entertainment industry in revenue-generating and event-planning roles. Annie moved back to Athens in 2014 to serve as a non-tenured track professor in the Department of Sports Administration where she taught a variety of undergraduate classes and lead experiential learning programs such as the Southern Ohio Copperheads, San Diego Sports Consulting Project, and Germany GCP. Annie joined Scripps College of Communication in 2023 and serves as the Director of Operation, Strategy, and Partnerships.

“I love working with students and trying to help them find their way!”

Rachael Cathey, 2019 BSC - Integrated Media 

Current Role:Account Manager - Advertising Agency

Bio:Rachael Cathey is an Account Manager at The Adcom Group, a Cleveland-based marketing agency where she leads national campaigns, manages influencer partnerships, and helps big brands in the trades space connect with their audiences in fresh, creative ways. Whether she’s launching a new product, planning a brand experience, or strategizing social content, Rachael’s favorite part of the job is the mix of fast-paced problem-solving and teamwork. She’s a proud graduate of the Scripps College of Communication and now serves on the Young Alumni Council to stay connected with the Bobcat community. If you’re curious about agency life, want to break into the world of marketing, or just need someone to talk through your next career move.

Lex Tisdale is the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities for Kenworth Truck Company in Chillicothe, Ohio, a Division of PACCAR Inc.  Kenworth Chillicothe is a 700,000 sq. ft. assembly facility that produces 184+ class 8 trucks per day with approximately 2200 employees and is an Industry leader in quality.

Lex has spent his entire 35 year career working for Kenworth Truck Company in many engineering and leadership roles including Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management and Production Management with focus on automation, process improvement, and new product launch.  He is responsible for introducing robotics at Chillicothe in 1995 which has grown since to a 66+ robots in production today and his team still leads initiatives in new technologies to impact the cost, capacity, ergonomics, safety, and quality of building trucks. 

He received his BS in Industrial and Systems engineering from Ohio University in 1985.  While obtaining his degree at Ohio University, he was a 4 year starter for the Ohio University Bobcats Hockey team winning 2 league championships and three MCHL tournament championships and served as an assistant captain on two of those teams.  He is an active member of the Ohio University Hockey Blue line Board as the Hockey Alumni voting board member since 2008.

He served on the academic board of advisors for the Industrial and Systems Engineering department at Ohio University for 12 years and is a active member since 2014 on the Russ College of Engineering - Board of Visitors at Ohio University.

Brian Koscho is a media artist living in Athens, Ohio. He is the director and founder of Invisible Ground, a project centered on place-based storytelling in local history using a podcast and a series of augmented reality Immersive Historic Markers. Koscho completed his MFA in Communication Media Arts at Ohio University in April 2022. Along with his work in media, Brian is an adjunct instructor at Ohio University in the Scripps College of Communication, teaching podcasting at the School of Media Arts & Studies. Out in the community, he has taught Community Storytelling, Audio Storytelling, and Podcasting and helped with workshops on Documentary Film and Storytelling for high school students in Appalachian, Ohio. Koscho has produced multimedia work and collaborated in various forms with Stuart’s Opera House (where he worked from 2007-2019) and its Nelsonville Music Festival, Inside Appalachia, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, POV, WOUB Public Media, Mid Atlantic Arts, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Ohio History Connection, Ohio Arts Council, COAD, Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, the Southeast Ohio History Center, and many more organizations. 

Brigadier General Andrew Stone is the Special Troops Commander for the Ohio Army National Guard. Additionally, he is assigned in a dual-hat position as Deputy Chief of Engineers for National Guard Affairs at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

General Stone began his military career through an ROTC commission as an engineer officer. He spent his first few years in the active component as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, then transferred to the Ohio National Guard. He has commanded troops at the company, battalion, and brigade level, and served in a variety of operational and technical staff positions.

General Stone deployed twice to Iraq, for the initial invasion in 2003 then again in 2005-2006. He has responded to natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, and pandemics. Most recently, he deployed in 2020-2021 to CENTCOM as commander of the 16 ^th Engineer Brigade, leading troops in eight countries across SW Asia.

General Stone holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University, a master's degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio University, a master's of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Ohio.

In his civilian career, he serves as the Service-Safety Director for the City of Athens, Ohio. As the senior appointed official in the city administration, he oversees police and fire protection, code enforcement, public works and engineering, information technology, parks and recreation, and a host of other essential services. Previously in Athens he served as the City Engineer & Director of Public Works.