Governing Board

Harold Brown currently serves as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Browns’ position is one of very few of its kind at a major American orchestra. Harold guides the CSO’s action plan to tackle issues of diversity, equity and inclusion across the orchestra’s entire operation.

Prior to joining the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Brown was Vice President for Strategy and Policy at Interact for Health. In his role, Harold guided implementation of Interact’s strategic plan and supporting policy work, which focused its efforts on reducing tobacco use, addressing the opioid epidemic, and improving children’s access to healthcare through school-based health centers.

Harold has also served as Vice President of Community Strategies at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF). In that role, Harold provided executive leadership and vision for GCF’s comprehensive array of grantmaking programs, including developing an in-depth strategy to advance its community leadership work. In addition, he partnered with GCF donors to help fulfill their philanthropic goals by ensuring they are aware of our region’s greatest needs and opportunities.

For 16+ years prior to joining GCF, Harold served in a variety of leadership roles at KnowledgeWorks. In his most recent role of Senior Officer for the Advancement of Underserved Learners, Harold explored and developed opportunities for KnowledgeWorks to invest and partner in initiatives designed to dramatically improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth. His most recent initiative was a statewide effort to dismantle the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline” and support quality educational options (“alternative education”) for youth who have not succeeded in traditional schools or who may be reentering their communities following incarceration.

An Oxford, Ohio native and graduate of Harvard University, Harold began his career as a Senior Researcher at WGBH Boston and also directed Multicultural Enrollment Services at Miami University. Harold serves on a number of local boards, including the Mt. St. Joseph University Board of Trustees, Philanthropy Ohio Board of Trustees, GreenLight Cincinnati Advisory Board, and the St. Xavier High School Mission Promotion Committee.

René J. Cheatham III is a finance executive, entrepreneur, and community leader with deep experience in strategic finance, organizational leadership, and mission-driven growth. He currently serves as Co-Founder of Poti9n, a consumer brand built at the intersection of business, culture, and community impact, and is the former Chief Financial Officer of multiple nonprofit organizations, where he led financial strategy during periods of organizational transition, growth, and increased operational complexity.

René brings extensive board and governance experience across nonprofit, education, and community-based organizations, with a strong focus on financial sustainability, accountability, and equitable access to opportunity. His work consistently centers on creating pathways for individuals and families to achieve long-term economic stability through education, workforce readiness, and systems designed to reduce structural barriers to success.

In addition to his finance and governance work, René is the Co-Founder of CareerMinded, a career-readiness platform focused on increasing student engagement and access to mentorship, internships, scholarships, and real-world career exposure. CareerMinded is designed to meet students where they are, reduce pressure around traditional success pathways, and help young people translate education into meaningful post-graduation outcomes.

With a background spanning corporate finance, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship, René offers a pragmatic, results-oriented perspective to board service. He is particularly passionate about innovative education models that re-engage learners, align academic achievement with workforce needs, and equip students with the tools and confidence to thrive beyond the classroom.

René holds a strong commitment to service and believes education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of disengagement and unlocking human potential.

Christy Earls is currently the Senior Human Resources Business Partner for Amstan Logistics, a division of American Standard. She has worked directly with post-secondary education for 10 years in various student services roles prior to her current role. She brings workforce development knowledge as well as the desire for changing lives through education.

Christy is passionate about creating opportunities for non-traditional students and providing hope, direction and enthusiasm about career and workforce development.

She earned her BA in Public Relations. In addition to being a board member, she is also a committee member of Supply Chain OKI, Greater Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tri-State Logistics Counsel. She also partners with Ohio Means Jobs and the Veterans Alliance to promote workforce development in the tri-state area.

Myra Epps is an impassioned advocate for personal and professional growth. Epps is an integral member of the Visit Cincy team, where her role has steadily expanded to encompass vital aspects of the organization. She now serves as the driving force behind recruiting and employee engagement, creating an atmosphere where team members can flourish and contribute their best.

At Visit Cincy, Epps assumes the crucial role of overseeing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. With a deep-seated passion for inclusivity, she is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, and equality is embraced. Additionally, she champions the Vibe platform, a vibrant multi-cultural sales and marketing tool designed to showcase Cincinnati’s rich cultural tapestry and its profound diversity.

Epps’ commitment to the community extends beyond her role at Visit Cincy. She proudly serves on the board of directors for the Cincinnati Music Festival, Achieve Point Career Academy – Cincinnati, and is the president of her community’s homeowner’s association. As a committee member for Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati, she actively recognizes and celebrates the influential figures making a significant impact on the local community.

An unwavering proponent of training and development, Epps inspires and guides individuals to become the best versions of themselves. She is tirelessly working towards achieving her SHRM-Certified Professional certification, a testament to her commitment to excellence and her dedication to the human resources field. Epps already has her Master’s in Business Administration (M.B.A.) and holds the following certifications: Diversity Management Certified (DMC), Six Sigma Green Belt Certified (SSGBC), Certified Quality Event Planners (CQEP), and Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA). She has 14 years of financial industry experience and also has a background in account management, administration, sales and service.

Myra is a native of Detroit, MI and has resided in Cincinnati since 2011. She is married to Rodrico Epps and together they share four beautiful children: Derrick II, Adrian, Isabella, and Madeline. Myra enjoys spending time with family and friends, making others laugh, cooking, and being all God created her to be.

Ryan Cullen currently serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cullen Investment Group, a registered investment advisory firm. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked at Morgan Stanley and attended the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton and St. Xavier High School.

Ryan started his own firm in part to address the racial wealth gap. Ryan and his twin brother were raised by a single mother who struggled financially raising two sons on her own but she always made sure that they would have the best opportunities available and more opportunities than she had. It is that same sense of selflessness and service to others that was instilled in him by his mother that motivates him today. Ryan is passionate about helping those that, like himself, had the cards stacked against him, but was given countless opportunities by generous individuals and organizations and he wants to help afford those same opportunities to others in any way he can.

Ryan also sits on the Board of Directors and is the Treasurer of RENEW, a non-profit which provides resources, like affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, job training, reliable transportation and financial literacy to low-income individuals in the Cincinnati area. Ryan frequently provides financial literacy lessons and free financial planning to individuals within RENEW. Ryan has deep roots in the Cincinnati area and is committed to helping create a more equitable city that provides people with opportunities to succeed and that is exactly what AchievePoint Academy does for its students.