Women have been shaping our culture since the beginning of time. We celebrate six strong and influential leaders who live, study and work among us in West Chester and Liberty. These culture changers see a future that is brighter and move toward that light with persistence and grace. With each choice they make and action they take, these extraordinary women are changing the world, simply by being themselves.
Katie Lee
Newly appointed as CEO of AP Tech Group Inc., a manufacturer headquartered in West Chester, Katie Lee puts people first. Having worked around the globe, she recognizes the strength that comes from a diverse team.
“I think it’s important to know that you aren’t going to always work with someone who is exactly like you,” she says.
AP Tech is a family business for Katie, who succeeds her father, the founder of the company. More than that, she considers her colleagues more than just co-workers.
“Being a smaller company, it has always been our culture to really be more of a family,” Katie shares. “It was incredibly important, especially last year, to maintain that focus. We value all of our employees so much.”
Katie looks forward to leading AP Tech into the future.
“I am thrilled that I’ve been given this opportunity to help our team execute our short- and long-term goals. We have a great team.”
Carolyn Mazloomi
West Chester artist, author, curator and organizer Carolyn Mazloomi uses her many talents to draw attention to social justice issues. Her journey includes a wide variety of careers, but her life’s work is to ignite change through art.
“The arts are important to us as human beings,” Carolyn explains. “It connects us with other people. It teaches us about things we otherwise might not know about. And it gives us joy and pleasure,” she says.
Her exquisite pieces tell stories in colors and textures held together with precise, tight stitches. They are beautiful snapshots, sometimes of difficult moments in U.S. history.
“Quilts are very important to me,” shares Carolyn. “People think of them as something to keep them warm, but I think of them as more than that. They are historical documents that tell the story not only of our nation, but the people that make them, the communities in which they live, their families.”
Carolyn is celebrated as the founder and a 40-year member of the Women of Color Quilters Network, a National Heritage Fellow and most recently, a United States Artists Fellow. Her pieces are held in museums and collections around the world, including the Smithsonian. See her work this summer at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.
Dr. Tisha Menchhofer-Grote
Lovingly known as “Mench” in the halls of Lakota East High School where she has taught for the past 20 years, Dr. Tisha Menchhofer-Grote was selected from hundreds of nominees as the American Legion Educator-of-the-Year for the State of Ohio. Students are drawn to her passionate teaching style as an instructor of Advanced Placement and College Placement Government.
“Ultimately, I want my students to feel like they are politically efficacious,” Tisha explains. “I want them to feel that they have a role in our society and community, that they do have a voice—that they should vote, and it actually does matter.”
She leads students to follow the news and forge a connection to politics, but in the end, Tisha is opening students’ minds to a world of possibilities.
“My goal is that they understand the processes of government, how things work, and that they do have a role in that. When they think, ‘That’s for old people,’ my ultimate goal is to change that thinking,” she says.
The award comes at a critical time, when Covid-conditions have warped classroom instruction.
“Particularly this year, I feel the weight of this award and recognition…it’s that silver lining—something I’ve been yearning for—in such a time of unanswered questions and stress,” shares Tisha.
Renee Bauer
The opportunity to earn the rank of Eagle Scout kind of snuck up on 18-year-old Renee Bauer. 2020 allowed plenty of time to collect 51 badges on her Scouting sash. As a founding member of Troop 1974, the first Scout troop in our area to welcome girls as members just two years ago, she wasn’t fazed by the fact that all of those who preceded her in earning the high honor were males. What got her attention was that a lot of the adults she encountered as she planned her project spoke of wishing they had followed through during their own Scouting days. Renee decided she didn’t want to have any regrets.
In August of 2020, Renee completed 101 hours of planning and labor to install a memorial site at American Legion Post 464 to honor soldiers. She’d already earned the top Gold Award as a Girl Scout, and now has added Eagle Scout to her list of achievements—the first female in Southwest Ohio to do so.
“Now, I’m double trouble,” Renee says with a smile, her chin held high.
Her words of advice are wise beyond her years.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but try your best to figure it out for yourself first,” she says. “Challenge yourself.”
Olivia Marshall
When Lakota East High School Junior Olivia Marshall was a freshman, she was nominated by her peers to join Hope Squad, a group that supports mental health and suicide prevention.
Now in her third year on Hope Squad, Olivia spreads positivity, encourages inclusivity and watches out for peers that might be at risk for harmful tendencies.
“We focus on positivity and work to change the culture of the school to start the hard conversations about mental health,” she says. “One of my biggest drives for Hope Squad is that I want people to feel less alone. I’m big on learning how to really listen and try to lead with love in everything I do.”
Last fall, the upbeat teen was surprised with the 2020 Inspire Award, recognizing the impact of her advocacy for mental wellness not only at East, but also as an Ohio representative on the National Hope Squad Council.
Kindness is Olivia’s default, and she works to make her school environment a safe place for all students.
Sarah AbuDakar
Lakota West High School Senior Sarah AbuDakar is a leader in a teen-led movement to step away from screens and step up to better connections with friends, family and even herself.
Sarah’s interest was sparked by a ninth-grade project about the impacts of social media and only grew as she learned more. She currently serves on the Leadership Council Board of the LOG OFF Movement, alongside teens from around the world.
“One of my biggest hopes is for people to be aware of their relationship with social media,” she says. “I’m a part of the team that is creating school curriculums...it’s important to teach our younger generations about the connection we should build with each other.”
Since logging off, Sarah finds more time to enjoy the things she loves to do.
“Instead of looking at what my friends are doing, I’m painting, playing the guitar and hanging out with my family more,” she says.
Sarah will attend the Ohio State University, where she will continue her efforts to inspire others to look up from their devices.