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. Christine later tapped into her creative side by opening her own interior design practice, which maintained a thriving clientele of more than 30 private customers.

Like most, Christine and her husband Jim never thought their family would be affected by pediatric cancer. Unfortunately, in 2010, their 10-year-old son Matt was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Fortunately, Christine, Jim, Matt and Sam, who was 12 at the time, had the support of family, friends, and the community; many other inpatients/families were not as fortunate. 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. Today, Matt Neitzke is cancer-free and The Dragonfly Foundation has grown to support thousands and thousands.

Christine, a leading influencer in Cincinnati, OH, has been honored with multiple awards, including the Jefferson Award, Lead Magazine’s C-Suite Award, Venue Magazine’s Women of Influence and Civic Leadership Awards, and the Maureen Donnelly Courage Award.

Outside of her work at The Dragonfly Foundation, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and their basset and bloodhound. She and her husband also relish every opportunity they have to visit their two boys at Miami University in Oxford, OH (Christine's alma mater).

Ria Davidson has more than 20 years of experience as a public relations consultant specializing in environmental communications and crisis/reputation management. Ria is an experienced public speaker who welcomes the opportunity to share Dragonfly’s mission and vision to as many people as she can.

Ria and her family directly experienced the challenges of cancer. In 2009, Ria's mother-in-law was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain and lung cancer, and Ria became the primary caregiver until her mother-in-law passed away six months later. The experience was incredibly traumatic for Ria and her family. A few months later, as they continued to process their grief, Ria's best friend’s little boy was diagnosed with Stage 3A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Again, Ria did everything she could to help. However, the little boy's cancer experience, as well as that of his family and their struggle to support him, was even more traumatic to watch. The situation opened her eyes to the emotional, relational, practical, and financial challenges that follow a life-limiting diagnosis, for the patient and the family. It also became clear that hospitals needed support to enhance quality of life programs for pediatric cancer patients and families. Not able to look away from this need, Ria and her best friend, Christine Neitzke, co-founded Dragonfly in 2010. Ria believes that everything in her career has prepared her to do what she is doing to support families affected by pediatric cancer through Dragonfly.

Ria has been recognized throughout her career for being among the top in her field. She has received numerous awards for her achievements, leadership/influence, ethics, and dedication. The honors she has received include: the Jefferson Award, Venue Magazine’s Women of Influence and Civic Leadership Awards, and the Women of Excellence award.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Ria enjoys spending time with her husband Matt, her daughter Jessica, her son Drew, and her sheepdog Leo.

Under Christine and Ria’s guidance, The Dragonfly Foundation has been recognized by Lead Magazine as recipient of the Emerging Business Award (2018), 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.

The Dragonfly Foundation in Cincinnati has organized a Landing Committee to initiate the capital campaign to support our new patient/family space at 506 Oak Street, Cincinnati, OH.

The committee includes:

Dave Cook, Capital Campaign Chair & Dragonfly Board Member

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