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 over 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 earning her PhD 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, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. – President
Nancy Creaghead, University of Cincinnati – Vice President
Sandra Mills, Union Institute and University – Treasurer
Dr. Thomas Fischer, Cincinnati Children's Hospital (Retired) – Secretary
Valerie Bogdan-Powers, Horan and Associates
Jody Johnson, Procter & Gamble
Dr. Robert Keith, University of Cincinnati
V. Ruth Klette, Elsa Sule Foundation
Kathleen Lutz, Integra Group
Lydia Ritze, Cassady Schiller CPA’s & Advisors
Jacqueline Sweeney, Philanthropist and 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, Colleen Swanson, 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: Sandra Mills (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), Dr. Thomas Fischer, Jody Johnson, Dr. Robert Keith, Anjali Narayanan, Jacqueline Sweeney, Andrew Sweeny, 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: Laura Carr, Jody Johnson, 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)
The Fashion Show Committee secures sponsorships, acquires silent auction items, performs various marketing and public relations tasks, handles guest registrations and check-ins, schedules and coordinates volunteers, and works with the boutique fashion vendors that participate in the event.
To become a member of the Fashion Show Committee, contact Development Coordinator Anne Neuville at aneuville@ohiovalleyvoices.org.
The Gala Committee secures sponsorships, acquires live and silent auction items, performs various marketing and public relations tasks, handles guest registrations and check-ins, schedules and coordinates volunteers, and decorates to create the perfect ambiance for the event.
To become a member of the Gala Committee, contact Development Coordinator Anne Neuville at aneuville@ohiovalleyvoices.org.
Executive Staff
Maria Sentelik – Executive Director
Molly Weber – Associate Director
Wendy Pace – Business Director
Carey Ratliff – Program Director
Jeanne Jentsch – Director of Development
Meredith Craven – Director of Special Services
Staff
Katy Baron – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Discovery Center 1)
Alysia Becker – Family Center Teacher
Julie Carter – Discovery Center 2 Teacher
Haley Dennison - Substitute Teacher
Daria Denysenko - Development Associate
Ashley Domek – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Learning Center)
Michelle Ellis – Program Administrative Coordinator
Sarah Frazier - Learning Center Teacher
Emma Frye - Listening and Spoken Language Provider
Kaitlyn Gilfert – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Discovery Center 2)
Kristen Haught – Speech-Language Pathologist/Tester
Keri Hinkle - Learning Center Aide
Robin Hoernschmeyer – Development Associate
Emily Johnson – Executive Administrator
Selina Kissell – Discovery Center 2 Aide
Katie Krekeler – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Family Center)
Ruth Lamphier – Administrative Assistant
Erin Lipps – Audiologist
Melissa Martin – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Discovery Center 1)
Breanna McClendon – Family Center Aide / Extended Day Provider
Saira McMullen – Accounts Receivable and Billing Specialist
Eriana Murphy-Trice - Behavioral Aide
Anne Neuville – Development Coordinator
Alexi Parsons - Exploring Center Teacher
Julie Paulson- Listening and Spoken Language Provider
Lauren Pier - Listening and Spoken Language Provider
Molly Piller - Family Center and Discovery Center Aide
Leslie Raulie – Family Center Coordinator
Jill Rewerts – Discovery Center 1 Aide
Danielle Simmons – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Learning Center)
Megan Stercula – Learning Center Coordinator
Michael Sweeny – Marketing Associate
Hannah Tully – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Discovery Center 2)
Rachel Wade – Audiologist
Kari Weinheimer – Listening and Spoken Language Provider (Learning Center)
Kathy Wesson - Audiology Clinic Office Manager
Hali Zorb – Discovery Center 2 Coordinator
Job Opportunities
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