Silence to Speech Campaign -

About

Who We Are

Ohio Valley Voices is an early intervention program located in Southwest Ohio that teaches children with hearing loss to listen and speak through the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants. We believe that every child has the right to communicate. By offering a data-driven curriculum in a nurturing, language-enriched setting, our team of specialists gives children the tools they need to talk and reach their full potential.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded according to the Moog oral education philosophy, Ohio Valley Voices is one of the best early intervention programs of its kind in the country. We serve children who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth to eight years old. Our campus draws families from throughout the Cincinnati and Dayton region, across the United States, and around the world. Simply put, OVV is more than a program—we are a family.

“Within the first few minutes of entering the building, you can feel the love that the OVV staff has for the children in their care. These people are passionate about leveling the playing field for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.” – Jack Wild, Board Member

History

Ohio Valley Voices was founded in 1999 when three Cincinnati families—the Burns, Gartners, and Murphys—came together for a common cause: all three had a child who was born deaf or hard of hearing and had received a cochlear implant. Hoping to start an oral education school where children like theirs could learn to listen and speak, they raised funds and sought the advice of experts. Their journey eventually led them to Maria Sentelik, a passionate advocate for deaf education then studying at the University of Cincinnati. The families asked Maria to be Executive Director and she eagerly accepted. With the help of a grant from the Oberkotter Foundation, the founding families and Maria began developing a program modeled on Jean Moog’s oral education philosophy that would teach children from birth to eight years old.

Since then, Ohio Valley Voices has served over 200 families, earning a reputation as one of the best programs of its kind in the country. Constantly innovating to meet the needs of our community, we added an onsite audiology clinic in 2003 and moved to our current Loveland campus in 2006. Throughout these changes, OVV’s core mission has remained the same: to create a supportive, language-enriched learning environment where all children can acquire the skills they need to listen, speak, and reach their full potential.

“When our child was diagnosed deaf, I thought we were going to have to move away from Cincinnati. We had never heard of OVV. It turns out that OVV is one of the best programs of its kind in the world, and it’s right here in Cincinnati. OVV is one of our area’s best-kept secrets.” – Jon Westerman, Parent and Board Member

Board Of Trustees

We are proud and grateful to have these esteemed community leaders, including relatives of past Ohio Valley Voices students, represented on our Board of Trustees.

Jon Westerman (President), Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc./Parent of OVV Graduate


Nancy Creaghead, PhD (Vice President), Professor Emerita, University of Cincinnati


Lydia Ritze (Treasurer), Cassady Schiller CPA’s & Advisors


Thomas Fischer, MD (Secretary), Cincinnati Children's Hospital- Retired


Valerie Bogdan-Powers, President, Hub Heartland, Hub International


Christopher F. Bolling, MD, Pediatrician- Retired


V. Ruth Klette J.D., L.L.M. Tax, CAP, Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation Trustee/Klette, Klette Montel Attorneys


Kathleen Lutz, MBA, CPA, Integra Group


Barb Molloy, Retired Marketing Professional/Parent of OVV Graduate


Anjali Narayanan, Procter & Gamble/Parent of OVV Graduate


Joseph Snider, Turner Construction Company


Tony Sottile, Esq., Sottile & Barile, Attorneys at Law


Jacqueline Sweeney, Retired Business Owner/Community Volunteer


John Wild, Hilltop Research- Retired


Board Committees

The Governance Committee steers the Board of Trustees in its development of a strategic plan while also evaluating the Board’s effectiveness. The Governance Committee searches for, interviews, votes on, and onboards new candidates for the Board.

Members: Kathleen Lutz (Chair), Nancy Creaghead, and Valerie Bogdan-Powers.

The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing the overall planning of all financial matters at Ohio Valley Voices including investments, capital expenditures, budgets, and appropriations, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect thereto.

Members: Lydia Ritze (Chair), Jon Caulfield, and Michael Wolf.

The Development Committee assists staff in developing a strategic plan for fundraising and marketing for Ohio Valley Voices and updates the Board of Trustees on the progress of the strategic plan. It sets fundraising and marketing goals, establishes strategies for successfully raising funds, recruits and assigns volunteers needed in the process, monitors the success of fundraising activities throughout the year, and requests Board assistance as needed.

Members: V. Ruth Klette (Chair), Chris Bolling, Dr. Thomas Fischer, Jacqueline Sweeney, and Jack Wild.

Working under the direction of the Development Committee, the Marketing Committee provides oversight and guidance for all promotion and marketing strategies with the goal of increasing awareness of Ohio Valley Voices and its mission.

Members: V. Ruth Klette, Chris Bolling, Barb Molloy, and Anjali Narayanan.

The Building and Grounds Committee is responsible for determining all maintenance and security needs for the interior and exterior of the school property and coordinating with the Finance Committee to ensure these projects are budgeted.

Members: Jack Wild (Chair), Grant Gilbert, Matt Peffly, and Mike Schuckman.

The Gala Committee secures sponsorships, acquires live and silent auction items, performs various marketing and public relations tasks, and helps decorate to create the perfect ambiance.

To become a member of the Gala Committee, contact Daria Denysenko, the Development & Event Coordinator at ddenysenko@ohiovalleyvoices.org.

Executive Directors

Maria Sentelik – Executive Director


Molly Weber – Associate Director


Wendy Pace – Business Director


Carey Ratliff – Program Director


Meredith Craven – Director of Special Services


Anne Neuville  - Director of Community Relations

Staff

Adrianna Borst – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Alysia Becker – Lead Toddler Teacher / Intervention Specialist


Julie Carter – Program Support Teacher


Brooke Chaney – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Daria Denysenko – Development & Event Coordinator


Keigan Detty – Teacher Aide


Grace Driscoll – Toddler Program Aide


Michelle Ellis – Program Administrator


Valerie Feldmeyer – Discovery Center Teacher


Lauren "Ren" Ferris – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Emma Frye – Parent-Infant Instructor


Molly Grippa – Family Center Aide


Kristen Haught – Speech-Language Pathologist/Tester


Natalie Heller – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Robin Hoernschmeyer – Development Assistant


Sarah Hogan – Learning Center Teacher


Allison Kinross – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Katie Krekeler – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Brooke Leo – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Dr. Rachel Liles – Audiologist


Crystal Magness – Front Office Administrator


Melissa Martin – Exploring Center Teacher


Belinda Matlock – Family Center / Extended Day Aide


Emma Mills – Event Support


Anne Neuville – Director of Community Relations


Matti Poole – Floating Aide


Leslie Raulie – Family Center and Parent Group Support Coordinator


Mande Roberts – Clinic Assistant


Julia Scherler – Listening and Spoken Language Provider


Jillian Shupert – Family Center / Extended Day Aide


Haley Snyder –  Listening and Spoken Language Provider / Parent-Infant Advisor


Kristin Stock–  Development Manager


Dr. Rachel Wade – Audiologist


Kathy Wesson – Audiology Clinic Office Manager

Job Opportunities

We're hiring!

Toddler Teacher: Lead small groups of toddlers (18 months through 36 months) in their daily instruction. Must hold an associate's degree or higher. Hours will be 8-1. Click here for more details.

 

Development and Event Coordinator- Click here to apply

Development

  • Support Development in donor relationships, (i.e. foundations, corporations, and individuals).
  • Send appropriate documentation to donors, foundations, and corporations.
  • Execute campaign events, fundraisers, prospect parties, receptions, etc.
  • Assist with website and social media.
  • Assist in creating the development monthly newsletter.
  • Support the grant writing process.
  • Assist with creating promotional materials.
  • Provides administrative support to the development department.
  • Assist with database management.
  • Assist in the production and mailing of all appeals.
  • Other duties as assigned by Director of Development.

Events

  • Support development relationship staff member in securing sponsorships
  • Works with Director of Development, volunteers, and staff to create unique and creative events that support OVV’s mission and fundraising objectives
  • Serves as primary point of contact for events
  • Manages events, fundraisers, prospect parties, receptions, etc.
  • Other assigned duties

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