Our Mission
It is the mission of the Cincinnatus Association and its members to initiate, recognize, participate in, and promote projects that improve the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Cincinnati region through, among other things, the study of critical issues confronting the region, the engagement of community leaders, and the nonpartisan shaping of public policy.
Our Focus and Objectives
The Cincinnatus Association has approved a new focus, “The Cincinnati Dream.”
It represents our intention to follow up on our previous focus, “The American Dream,” with greater attention on local needs, as articulated in the purpose statement that accompanies the new focus: “We envision a just and equitable city – one where the benefits of our region are not the privilege of some but accessible to all. We will be citizen crusaders for this cause.” Our panels and committees are engaged in aligning their work with our focus and purpose statement.
We are a membership organization dedicated to understanding the issues facing our community and encouraging progress. The lifeblood of The Cincinnatus Association lies in its ability to bring the efforts, energies, and talents of our government, community Inclusion, and the arts.
We believe that the quality of life in our region is among the highest in the United States and can be further improved.
The Cincinnatus Association depends on its members to provide civic leadership in its efforts to improve the long-term vitality of the region.
Our History
The Cincinnatus Association, formed in 1920, was initially comprised of white Republican businessmen who aimed to reform the party’s committee structure. Its enduring objectives included holding regular meetings, inviting speakers, advocating for or against initiatives, and undertaking ventures. Over time, The Cincinnatus Association evolved to encompass the complexity and diversity of Cincinnati. The association’s assertiveness in advancing its agenda has been a subject of ongoing debate. Its significant influence and legacy in contributing to Cincinnati and its surrounding areas have earned it respect for almost a hundred years.
Current Officers
Alice Schneider
President
Alice Schneider
President
J.T. Spence
Vice President
J.T. Spence
Vice President
Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri
Immediate Past President
Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri
Immediate Past President
Ioanna Paraskevopolos
Secretary
Ioanna Paraskevopolos
Secretary
Josh Krekeler
Treasurer
Josh Krekeler
Treasurer
Elliot Grossman
Board Member Emeritus
Elliot Grossman
Board Member EmeritusCommittees and Panels
Arts Panel
Jeff Dey, Chair
Ellen Muse, Vice Chair
Education Panel
Al Beauchamp, Chair
Endia Crabtree, Vice Chair
Excellence in Government Panel
Melissa Currence, Chair
Julia Johnson, Vice Chair
Inclusion Panel
Matt Strauss, Chair
Valerie Daley, Vice Chair
Spencer Awards Committee
Susan Noonan, Chair
Cindy White, Vice Chair
Exellence in Education Awards Committee
Elliot Grossman, Chair
Sam Brewer, Vice Chair
Bylaws Committee
Melissa Currence, Chair
Membership Committee
J.T. Spence, Chair
Finance Committee
Josh Krekeler, Chair
Fundraising Committee
Jenna Reel, Chair
Community Fund Compliance Officer
Tom Beridon
Executive Committee Members
The business affairs are conducted by the Executive Committee, which consists of the Association’s officers, at-large members, and panel chairs. These are the 2025-2026 Executive Committee members:
Alpacino Beauchamp
Sam Brewer
Melissa Currence
Valerie Daley
Jeff Dey
Elliot Grossman
Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri
Josh Krekeler
Ionna Paraskevopoulos
Alice Schneider
J.T. Spence
Matt Strauss
Programming and initiatives are generally the province of our panels. Education matters, for example, are handled by the Excellence in Education Panel.
Cincinnatus Members
Richard Adams
Deborah Allsop
Alpacino Beauchamp
Noel Beyer
Harry Blanton
Douglas Bolton
Terana Boyd
Samuel Brewer
Robert Buechner
Edward Buyniski
Craig Carrington
Dot Christenson
Dr. Endia Crabtree
Melissa Currence
Valerie Daley
Marge Davis
Dawn Denno
Jeffrey Dey
Winston E. Folkers
John J. Frank Jr.
Larry Kissel
Kent Friel
Sarah Gideonse
Luke Greiner
Elliot Grossman
Ronald Hitzler
Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri
Julia Johnson
Cindy Jones
Juwan Jordan
Angela Klinedinst
Paul Komarek
Josh Krekeler
Ken Laake
Michael McGowan
Gary Meisner
Carolyn Miller
Harsh Minhas
Ellen Muse
William Muse
Barbara Myers
Mark Neikirk
Susan Noonan
Ionna Paraskevopoulos
John Pepper
Rose Marie Pryor
Amy Randolph
Jenna Reel
Kurt Reiber
Beth Robinson
Connie Roesch
Sonny Saeks
Jill Schiller
Alice Schneider
Julie Sellers
John Simpkinson
JT Spence
Matt Strauss
Virginia Tallent
Emily Thobe
Candice Tolbert
Moussa Toure
Charleston Wang
Jackson White
Lawrence Williams
Dr. Kathleen Winterman
John Young
Michele Young
Our Partners
2026 Spencer Award Recipients Announced
The Cincinnatus Association will present the Eleventh Annual Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Awards, honoring five Cincinnati area businesses and non-profits for promoting a commitment to prioritize serving diverse populations with equity and inclusivity. The awards dinner will be held on May 21, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. Retired WLWT5 anchor/reporter Courtis […]
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Gerrymandering distorts democracy
Cincinnatus President Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri speaks for the Association in the op-ed about Issue One, which is designed to counteract gerrymandering: “The consequences of not addressing gerrymandering with a fair process are dire. Faith in our democracy is undermined when voters believe their voices – their votes – don’t matter.”
Read the Op Ed
Cincinnatus celebrates Cincinnati
A statue of our namesake. A tower of bells. And a fanciful pig. Cincinnatus celebrates our city on the riverfront with a statue of Cincinnatus, A carillon (soon to play songs on demand), and a flying pig, Lucius Q. Cincinnatus. These projects on the city’s riverfront are in partnership with the Cincinnati Parks Board. A fourth project, a statue celebrating civil rights activist Marian Spencer, was an alliance led by the Woman’s City Club of Greater Cincinnati.
Visit The Park