Rick Chouteau
President
Adopt A Class Board of Directors
www.aacfoundation.com
Making connections
Rick Chouteau makes sure students have positive role models through Adopt A Class Foundation
Under his leadership as the first president of the board of directors of Adopt A Class Foundation, Rick Chouteau has overseen the group’s growth from three members in 2008 to 12. But that’s not all. AAC has increased its number of participating schools from nine to 24, increasing the number of students served by 167 percent.
And that’s a welcomed situation by the organization’s benefactors — preschool through eighth grade students in Greater Cincinnati schools with at least 65 percent of students eligible for free or reduced lunches. With that focus, the organization fosters personal, sustained connections between members of the business and civic community and the students with the purpose of developing practical and social skills as they provide positive role models and build the culture of philanthropy and teamwork for business and civic groups.
Aside from the demands on Chouteau’s time and talent as a senior vice president at Paycor Inc., he finds time to meet the needs of his community. Chouteau was an inaugural board member when the organization was founded 10 years ago alongside founder Bill Burwinkel and one other community member.
In 2012, AAC hired a full-time director under Chouteau’s direction. With a staff person now in place, Chouteau and the board are mapping out a strategic plan for the future growth and sustainability of AAC. His corporate experience and business skills have been essential in helping to create a vision of independence and sound financial sustainability for the program. ●
Dennis Barron
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Secretary, Board of Directors
www.cincinnatigoodwill.org
Decades of service
Dennis Barron has been a guiding light at the Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
During his service for the Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, Dennis Barron has donated more than an estimated 20,000 hours of his time, effort and energy toward governing the organization. He began serving in 1965 and has had more than 40 years of service, including roles as secretary and chairman. In that time, the Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries has grown from $1.6 million in annual revenue to more than $40 million.
As a result of this growth, the agency is now able to serve a diverse population that includes veterans, the homeless and people with cognitive, physical and sociological challenges.
In addition to growing revenue to such a substantial level over that time period, the organization has served more than 60,000 people with disabilities.
Goodwill’s program for the homeless, under Barron’s guidance, now serves more than 650 veterans and other at-risk individuals. The agency each year serves 3,100 men and women with disabilities and assists more than 800 to obtain employment.
During Barron’s tenure, the organization expanded its partnerships with the developmental disabilities agencies of Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties. The result allows Goodwill to serve more than 650 individuals a day.
As a board member and former chairman of the board, Barron has offered counsel on the day-to-day operations of the facility and financial guidance on the operating budget.
This expansion of services is a tribute to Barron and his contributions to the growth of the Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries over the past four decades. ●
