Board Members

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Kyle Frias, Board President

Employee at Hancock County Veterans Service Office
Board Member since March, 2021

Kyle Frias is a County Veterans Service Officer of the Hancock County Veterans Service Office. Since he joined the county team in 2013, he has been instrumental in helping the office more than triple the number of veterans served locally, and the amount of VA expenditures for county veterans has increased by 8 million dollars.
During his four years in the U.S. Air Force, Kyle maintained cyber security systems for 13 bases globally and was responsible for a five billion dollar computer network. In 2010 after his discharge from the military, he returned to Northwest Ohio where he remains an active member of the community. In 2015, Kyle joined the Flag City Honor Flight board and in 2017 he graduated from the Hancock County Leadership program. He has served on multiple veterans organization boards and has previously served as a Findlay~Hancock County Chamber Ambassador.
Kyle resides in Findlay with his wife, Lindsay and his two sons Noah and Mason and their daughter Makayla . He earned his associates degree in applied science for architectural design and drafting.

Sarah Crisp-Ricker, Board Vice President

VP of Public Relations at Northwest Physical Therapy
Board Member since July, 2020

Raised in both Lima & Spencerville Ohio (ever heard of it? Probably not, it’s a farm town with a stoplight and a pop machine). Sarah moved to the BIG city of Findlay in 2004 to attend the University of Findlay, majoring in Psychology. Sarah founded Awakening Minds Art in 2009 to merge her interests of psychology and art. Sarah specializes in behavior processing and modifications, while adding an artistic flare. Sarah wanted to find a way to merge her love for all things brain with art, which is how the birth of Awakening Minds Art happened.
Sarah believes that everyone should feel accepted and understood, which is what every single person experiences from the second they walk in the doors of Awakening Minds Art.
During the Covid-19 pandemic Sarah had her first child, Zoe! She also became a volunteer executive director for Awakening Minds Art and joined the board (rather than an employee), Sarah is also a past Vice President of Hancock Leadership Alumni Association, a Findlay Elks Lodge- Six Bits Trustee and board member of Sunshine Institute. Sarah is a 2017 graduate of the Hancock Leadership program and one of the 20 recipients of the 2019 Toledo Area 20 Under 40 Awards.

Chris Scherley, Board Treasurer

Board Member since November, 2021

Chris Scherley is a native of Monroeville, Ohio and currently resides in Bellevue, Ohio. He has degrees in Digital Imaging/Web Design and Accounting from the University of Toledo. Chris has worked in public accounting in northwest Ohio for over 10 years including roles in audit, tax, and accounting services. His current role at the Findlay office of Clifton Larson Allen, Ltd. Is as a QuickBooks specialist for small businesses. Chris has a background in financial statement compilation and bookkeeping and hopes to leverage that to help AMA achieve its goals. QuickBooks assistance is also what originally brought Chris to discover and build an interest in AMA. His wife Saralyn, a speech pathologist, is a Director of Rehab Services and has been an inspiration for Chris in his journey to volunteer in the special needs community.
Chris is the treasurer of the Monroeville Football Alumni Association in his hometown and is an active volunteer with the football team. He is also helping to found an Academic Boosters program to support STEM programs in the Monroeville community.
Outside of work and volunteering, Chris and Saralyn are remodeling a former elementary school building, where they live with their three children: Victor, Evelyn, and Calvin.

Tamera Rooney, Board Secretary

Owner of Red Tornado Art Productions
Marketing & Communications Professional, Member since Dec. 2017

In addition to serving as the Strategic Planning Chair and Capital Campaign Coach on Awakening Minds’ Board, Tamera Rooney was most recently the Communications Director at United Way of Hancock County. She was responsible for all marketing and communications for the organization since 2004. In 2017, the organization raised $3.3 million dollars. Tamera is a long-term artist with a studio in the historical Jones Building in downtown Findlay. She is currently assisting several nonprofit organizations with marketing needs.
Tamera has been involved with Awakening Minds from its inception, serving as the Founding Board President and has returned for another term. She formerly owned an art gallery that served as a previous home base for Awakening Minds.
Tamera received the Outstanding Artist of the Year from the Arts Partnership; the first ever Go Local award from the Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards and was awarded the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award.

BOARD MEMBERS

Melody Rinker, Finance Team

Employee of Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Board Member since January, 2019

Melody Rinker is a native of Eubank, Kentucky, and an unapologetic Wildcat fan. At the University of Kentucky, she earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. Melody has worked in a variety of accounting roles, including audit, cost accounting, payables, receivables, and most recently corporate and general accounting. Her career, combined with her husband’s, has taken her through Lexington Kentucky and Canton, Ohio, as well as two times each to Robinson, Illinois and Findlay, Ohio. A spreadsheet enthusiast and an advocate for informed decision making and financial planning, Melody has a passion for helping AMA achieve its goals through sound financials and a forward-looking mindset. When she’s not crunching numbers, you might find Melody attending local Cedar Creek Church, or caring for her family. Melody and her husband, Justin, are parents to 4 children. Karson is a very active 8-year-old boy whose passions are endless. Landon is a 5-year-old with a severe neurological disorder, Lissencephaly. His twin, Nolan, passed away at the age of 3 from complications related to the disorder. Their youngest, 2-year-old Isabella, is overcoming an unexpected auto immune diagnosis that has impacted her development. To say Melody cares about the special needs community would be an understatement. “I am unreservedly proud to be part of an organization that can mean so many things to so many people”.

Katie Unverferth

Owner of Moose Landing Country Club
-Board Member since October, 2022
Graduate from University of Dayton, Bachelors of Science in Business
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Dayton (2018)

Katie Unverferth is the owner of Moose Landing Country Club north of Kalida OH where she and her husband Shawn reside with their mini golden doodle Reggie. Katie graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in Business and went back to earn her MBA from UD as well in 2018. Katie is an avid UD Flyers basketball fan in the winter months, Buffalo Bills and Ohio State football fan, and Cincinnati Reds fan in the summers. Katie currently volunteers as the President of the Kalida Area Chamber of Commerce to grow local businesses and gain them exposure. Also, she serves on the board of the newest USA Cares chapter located here in Northwest Ohio. "I am excited to continue to grow the already great AMA program and help raise awareness to this wonderful and ever-serving cause that means so much to so many!"

Shelby Cole

Community Relations Director at Taylor Place Senior Living
Board Member since May, 2023

Shelby Cole attended both Ohio University and Bowling Green State University, now holding a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Master’s in Business Administration. She comes to us with a wealth of knowledge in the senior living and elder care industries starting her career in college as a nurse's aide, then becoming an Assisted Living Activities Director, and has worked for the last two years on the sales and marketing side of the business. She is also involved with the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and is a member of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk Committee.
In her free time, Shelby enjoys spending time with her husband John and three dogs—Hank, Harlee, and Penny. Together they are working on remodeling their family’s farm house and are active in their church. Her other interests include traveling, event/party planning and interior decorating. On any given weekend, you might find her bartending/working events at either Alexandria’s in Findlay or Hull’s Trace in Arlington!
“I am excited to join the AMA board of directors because I have seen the residents that I work with every day reap the benefits of this organization's cause. The elderly are too often an overlooked, vulnerable population, and AMA enhances their lives in so many more ways than just painting. Attending class each month helps enhance their fine motor and cognitive abilities, but also boosts their confidence and provides a new and different opportunity for socialization. I am so grateful for the way AMA helps us serve seniors and for this opportunity to give back to a cause that has given my residents so much”

Rachel Fix

interested in joining our board?