Who We Are

CHRISTINE NEITZKE, PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

Christine Neitzke is an award-winning entrepreneur, marketer, and executive. An Ohio native and Miami University business graduate, Christine has put her skills in media relations, strategic planning, marketing, design, and events management to work in both the public and private sectors. After directing communications and public relations for two environmental agencies, Christine tapped into her creative side by opening her own interior design practice, which maintained a thriving clientele of over 30 private customers.

That’s when life changed for Christine. A devoted mother and wife, her life was turned upside down when her son, Matt, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age ten. Motivated by the lack of support some of Matt’s fellow pediatric cancer patients had in their lives, Christine, together with her best friend Ria Davidson, created The Dragonfly Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit devoted to bringing comfort and joy to young cancer and bone marrow transplant patients. Five years later, Matt Neitzke is cancer-free and The Dragonfly Foundation is renowned in the Cincinnati area for its dedication to its young charges. As co-founders, Christine and Ria have shaped The Dragonfly Foundation into the unprecedented success it is today.

Christine has been honored with the Jefferson Award (2016), Lead Magazine’s C-Suite Award, Venue Magazine’s Women of Influence (2014) and Civic Leadership Awards, Maureen Donnelly Courage Award from Cancer Family Care, and as one of Greater Cincinnati’s Leading Influencers by Lead Magazine. Under Christine and her best friend Ria Davidson’s guidance, The Dragonfly Foundation has been recognized as a finalist for the 2016 Business Awards in the Non-Profit Category by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Northern Kentucky Regional Chamber’s Emerging 30 (2015) Duke Energy Children’s Museum as a Difference Maker Award nominee in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014-2015.

Outside of her work as co-founder of The Dragonfly Foundation, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband, children and two dogs in their Mason, Ohio home.
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RIA DAVIDSON, VICE PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

Ria Davidson is a public relations and communications executive with more than 25 years of consultancy experience. Ria has been responsible for planning, managing and executing local, regional and national projects and campaigns, and her special areas of expertise include relationship, brand and image building; public awareness, education and involvement; stakeholder relations; reputation management; and crisis planning and response.

After she became the caregiver of her mother-in-law during her cancer battle and supporting Christine Neitkze’s family during her son’s treatment/recovery journey, Ria left her thriving public relations practice to help launch The Dragonfly Foundation. As Dragonfly’s co-founder and vice president, Ria has been honored with the Cincinnati Rotary Club’s prestigious Jefferson Award, Venue Magazine’s Women of Influence and Civic Leadership Awards, the West Chester/Liberty (OH) Alliance’s Women of Excellence award. She and Christine have also been recognized as one of Greater Cincinnati’s Leading Influencers by Lead Magazine. Under Christine and Ria’s guidance, Dragonfly Foundation has been recognized as a finalist for the 2016 Business Awards in the Non-Profit Category by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Northern Kentucky Regional Chamber’s Emerging 30 (2015) Duke Energy Children’s Museum as a Difference Maker Award nominee in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014-2015.

Prior to Ria’s involvement with The Dragonfly Foundation, she was named as one of Women In Business Networking’s Top 25 Women to Watch, the Top 10 Women in Public Relations and Marketing, and a recipient of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s “40 Under 40” award, among others.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Ria enjoys spending time with her husband and children, Jessica and Drew, and their dog in their Deerfield Township, OH home.
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STAFF (6 Full-time & 1 Part-time):

Colleen Berlinger, Director of Community Relations and Volunteer Management

Kathy Doering, Director of Accounts Receivable

Carrie Ellis, Director of Operations & Hospital Relations

Hannah Sliger, Grant Writer & Program Assistant

Kyle Weldon, Director of Development
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BOARD MEMBERS:

Marty Brennaman, Voice of the Cincinnati Reds on Radio & Dragonfly Spokesman

Robert Brown, Esq., Rendigs, Fry, Kiely & Dennis

Jim Browning, CEO, Marsh Brand Partners

John Burns, President, Encore Technologies

Peter Clayton, Executive Director, 
Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati/UC Health

Dave Cook, Executive Chairman, Trade Global

Corey Cover, Partner & General Manager, American WeatherTECHS

Matt Davidson, President, Singer Showroom

Ria Davidson, Vice President & Co-Founder, The Dragonfly Foundation

Dan deStefano, Sales & Marketing, W.V. deStefano Homes LLC

Trish Elam, President, Midwest Cactus, LLC

Chuck Fredrick, Market President, iHeart Media Cincinnati

Laurel Markley, Vice President, Fifth Third Securities

Peter Marrocco, Cincinnati Market President, Commercial Construction, Miller Valentine

Mark Matson, President, Matson Money

Melissa Matson, President, Matson Family Foundation

Kailee Nagengast, Marketing, Matson Money

Christine Neitzke, President & Co-Founder, The Dragonfly Foundation

Jim Neitzke, Chief Financial Officer, TTRI, LLC

Doris Owens, President, The Owens Group

Tony Ricci, Owner/Operator, Tony’s Steaks & Seafood

Carlos Sanchez, President, Continental Roof Co.

Scott Seger, Senior Vice President, Cincinnati Bell/CBTS

Donna Thorman, Vice President, Peoples First Savings Bank

Greg Vehr, 
Vice President of Government Relations, University of Cincinnati

Bob Wysocki, Network Simplification Leader, GE
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TECHNOLOGY TEAM ADVISORS:

John Owens, Cohesion, Dragonfly Technology Team Chair & Dragonfly Board Member
Greg Grewe, TGB Software LLC
Jude Schramm, General Electric
Dwayne Emerson, General Electric
Krishna Babu Mohan Babu, TCS
Dennis Carroll, Step Resources

LANDING DEVELOPMENT/CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR CINCINNATI

The Dragonfly Foundation in Cincinnati has organized a Landing Committee to initiate the process of identifying/building a new, more permanent location for The Landing in the region.  The committee includes:

Dan DeStefano, W.V. deStefano Homes, Chair & Dragonfly Board Member
Donna Thorman, Peoples First, Vice-Chair & Dragonfly Board Member
Jim Neitzke, Treasurer & Dragonfly Board Member
Margo Watroba, Secretary
Peter Marrocco, Miller Valentine & Dragonfly Board Member

The Committee, in partnership with Legacy Development Partners, has begun working on a location, budget and design. Legacy Development Partners is a team led by Peter Marrocco of Miller Valentine, JR Foster of Robert Lewis Group, and Greg Otis of AIA.
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