Board of Trustees

Heather Campbell, President

Heather Campbell is the Director of Communications for First Federal Community Bank, serving Tuscarawas and Holmes counties. Heather previously served in executive and fund development roles for several area non-profits, most recently as the President & CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio (BBSECO). Heather currently serves on the ADAMHS Board of Directors, Ozer Ministries Board of Directors, Buckeye Career Center’s Hospitality Advisory Committee, as a Big Sister in the BBBSECO School-based mentoring program and is an active member of SHRM. Heather is passionate about education and enjoys being a part of an organization that provides scholarships that lead to professional advancement.

Ann Gano, Treasurer

Ann Gano is a Certified Public Accountant and owner of Keeping Tabs, Inc. Ann has spent the last 21 years working with farmers and small business owners, helping them with financial record keeping, income tax planning and preparation, cash flow planning, and other financial matters. Ann is proud to share that she was employed by Buckeye Career Center Adult Education 16 of those 21 years, as a Farm Business Planning and Analysis Consultant. Ann is also an active board member of the New Philadelphia Quaker Foundation, Buckeye Career Center Foundation, and Frontier Community Connections.

Chrissy Blackwell, Secretary

Chrissy Blackwell is the Business & Events Coordinator for the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce and owns a virtual assistance business. A BCC alumna and former Adult Educator, she is a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia and credits the education from BCC as the inspirational force behind her professional success.

Barb Chew

Barb served as the Student Services Coordinator at Buckeye Career Center for 11 years and Assistant Treasurer for 3. She retired in 2011 with 27 years of services (including 3 years at Tuscarawas Valley as Assistant Treasurer and 10 years at Conotton Valley as Elementary Secretary.) Barb came back to Buckeye’s Adult Education part-time as Financial Aid Assistant and continues in that capacity. She graduated from Ohio University with an AAS in Accounting. Barb serves on the Worship Committee and sings in the choir of Bowerston Trinity United Methodist Church. She is also currently the Vice-President of the Bowerston Women’s Club.

Meg Crites

Meg is currently the Staff Development Director at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover, Ohio.

Greg Kimble

Greg Kimble P.E. is the Senior Engineer at Kimble Companies with a B.S.E.E. from the University of Cincinnati and forty years of oil field experience in exploration drilling and production.

Dr. Kristi Leindecker

Kristi Leindecker, M.D., is a family practice physician in Dover, Ohio.

Frank Polen

Frank Polen is the Curriculum, Instruction & Adult Education Director at Buckeye Career Center. Prior to BCC, Frank served 8 years as the principal of Warsaw Elementary in the River View Local School District. Previous to that he served as a middle school teacher at both River View Junior High and Indian Valley Middle School. During each of those teaching assignments Frank also served as the varsity boys basketball coach at both River View and Indian Valley High Schools. Frank has an additional four years of collegiate experience at Ohio Dominican and Denison University. Frank earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education at Ohio Dominican University, and received his Master of Educational Leadership from Salem International University.

Erin VanFossen

Erin served as the Adult Education Director for Buckeye Career Center until 2015. She retired from Buckeye with 35 years of service. She currently is employed at Otterbein United Methodist Church and serves as a Trustee and on the Membership committee. She was instrumental in starting Friends of Adult Education in 2013.

Sean Smith, Legal Counsel – Ad Hoc Member

A practicing attorney for over 30 years, Sean is a lifelong resident of Carroll County, and currently serves as Carroll County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge. He received a B.A. from the College of Wooster and a J.D. from the University of Akron.

Steve Rippeth – Ad Hoc Member

Steve Rippeth is the Assistant Director of Adult Education at Buckeye Career Center.

Megan Zimmerman – Ad Hoc Member

Megan Zimmerman is the Adult Education Student Services/Financial Aid Coordinator at Buckeye Career Center.