WHO WE ARE
Our Team
Chelsea A
Engagement & Retention Coordinator, Carol Stewart VIllage
Naki A
Youth Advocate
Bianca B
Grants Manager
Myah B
Youth Advocate
Marika B
Drop-In Center Manager
Nai C
Youth Advocate
Montrail C
Facility Manager
Margaret D
Clinical Therapist
Wendell E
Warehouse Coordinator
Barb E
Vice President of Operations & Programs
Jill G
Senior Manager of Social Services & Operations
Ilham H
Drop- In Services Supervisor
Davonni H
Youth Advocate
Melina H
Youth Advocate
Naima I
Housing & Engagement Manager, Carol Stewart Village
Joseph J
Youth Advocate
Kae J
Engagement & Expansion Manager, Park Apartments
Kaitlyn J
Youth Advocate
Brittany K
Administrative Assistant: Housing & Clinical
Paul L
Clinical Coach
Elizabeth M
Manager of Team Resources & Development
Louis M
Youth Advocate
Shanae N
Receptionist
Valerie P
Youth Advocate
Alonso P
Youth Advocate
Nikky R
Outreach & Connections Coordinator
Ciara S
Executive Assistant
Blake S
Clinical Coach
Ellis S-K
Clinical Coach
Ben S
Vice President of Community Development & Housing
Kenya T
Youth Advocate
Preshuslee T
Therapist
Asia V
Receptionist
Janeá W
Case Management Supervisor
Katie W
Therapist
Renea W
Vice President of Development
Nakai W
Drop-In Services Supervisor
Youth Advocate
Our Board of Trustees *Effective July 1, 2026
Carl H. Backes
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Pediatrician, Cardiologist
Jordan Byers
Byers Auto Group
Marketing Manager
Carrie Boyd
MA Design
CEO
Aja Dave
Telhio Credit Union
Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager
Gunnar Gode, Chair
NiSource Inc.
Chief Accounting Officer
Craig Hawley
Nationwide
President & COO, Nationwide Financial
Scott Koenigs
Independent
Chris Mitchell, Vice Chair
Lamarc
President
Lane Robilotto, Treasurer
PwC Private
Tax Director
Jamie Sohosky
Safelite
Chief Marketing & Experience Officer
Helen Speiser
Third Street Digital
Principal/Owner
Deanna Springs, Secretary
Independent
Christine Swies
Huntington National Bank
Vice President, Senior Talent Management Consultant
Mary Lou Hittle, Founding Board Member
Independent
Terry O'Connell, Board Member Emeritus
Time Warner Cable (Retired)
Committee Members *Updated September 2026
Julianne Brown
Bath & Body Works
John F. Finn
Gardner, Inc.
Mary (Bebe) Finn
Independent
Paige Green
Ebony Holt
Joe Huber
Bryan Lenzo
Andrea Lewis
Edith Lindsay
Andrea Magaña Lewis
Nationwide
John Mavrouleas
Huntington Bank
Lindsey Michaelides
Brian Meyer
OCF
Kobe Osei
KPMG
Jen Owens
Nationwide Insurance
Dan Smith
Cardinal Health
Mark Swanson
Stauf's Coffee Roasters
Ted Tinkler
Cody Commercial Construction
Chase Wagner
Our Founder
Natasha Slesnick, PhD
Natasha founded Star House in October 2006. She is committed to ending homelessness and its associated problems among one of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our country (youth experiencing homelessness). She has been working with youth experiencing homelessness since 1998. After opening a drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, NM, she moved to Columbus, OH and, because of a gap in services in Columbus, opened her second drop-in center.
Natasha is a professor of Human Development and Family Science in the Department of Human Sciences, and EHE Associate Dean for Research and Administration at The Ohio State University. Natasha is a licensed clinical psychologist and her research focuses on intervention development and evaluation with substance using youth experiencing homelessness and substance-using mothers and their children. She has consulted with multiple organizations on the best strategies for intervening in youth homelessness and adolescent substance use. She has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1998 and has written more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and books.
*Terry O'Connell
Terry joined Time Warner Cable in May, 1982 as a sales and marketing executive. He spent almost 30 years with the company while serving on the executive management team for the last ten years. As Executive Vice President, Terry was responsible for the Mid West Region of TWC providing residential and commercial voice, video and data to over 3 million customers in OH, KY, WI and MO.
Terry has served as a board member for Recreation Unlimited for the last 20 years. In addition, he formed and served as the Chair of the Star House Advisory Board early in the formation of Star House. Terry was instrumental in funding the new 14,000 sq ft. Star House facility in 2015. After serving on the Governing Board for Star House for approximately 5 years, he currently serves the board in an ex officio capacity.
Terry was born in Rochester NY, but spent the majority of time growing up in Simsbury, a suburb of Hartford, CT. He earned his BA majoring in Theology & Philosophy with a business minor at Xavier University. He currently lives in Dublin, OH with Cindy, his wife of 45 years. They have two daughters living in Central Ohio. Molly resides in Clintonville. Meghan, her husband Mike Barnhart and their two daughters live in
Dublin. His son, Dan is living in Littleton, CO. with his wife Julie and their two sons.