Eastern Hills Exchange Club

This Friday at the Exchange Club, you do not want to miss our speaker.

Kirk Charlton is an artist and educator who went through incarceration and recovery, and then built something remarkable out of that experience. His program, Art Inside Out, is a trauma-informed creative program now running in prisons, recovery programs, shelters, and behavioral health settings across the country, including right here in Clermont County. It is helping people rebuild their lives, one drawing at a time.

Kirk's story is honest, hopeful, and the kind of thing you will be thinking about for days afterward.

Check out his website at https://artinsideout.net/

📅 Friday, June 5
🕗 8:00 AM
📍 Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Road, Cincinnati
Bring a guest. Invite a friend. This one is worth showing up for.

A great morning at the Exchange Club of Eastern Hills

This morning we had the honor of hearing from Chief Jamey Mills of the Milford Police Department and Chief Mark Baird of the Milford Community Fire Department. Both took time out of their Friday to sit down with our members and share an honest look at what it takes to keep our community safe.

The conversation covered everything from how their two departments work side by side, to the realities of staffing and serving a growing community in 2026, to the stories from the field that you only hear in a room like this. Exactly the kind of meaningful, community-rooted discussion our club is built for.

A sincere thank you to Chief Mills and Chief Baird for their time, their candor, and their service. We are fortunate to have leaders like them looking out for Milford.

This Friday at the Exchange Club of Eastern Hills
Join us this Friday, May 22 at 8:00 AM as we welcome two of our community's top public safety leaders: Chief Jamey Mills of the Milford Police Department and Chief Mark Baird of the Milford Community Fire Department.

Chief Mills and Chief Baird will share a behind-the-scenes look at public safety in Milford, including the stories, challenges, and partnerships that shape how their teams serve our community every day. Expect a candid conversation on community policing, the evolving role of fire and EMS, recruitment and staffing realities in 2026, and how residents and businesses can engage directly with both departments.

This is exactly the kind of conversation the Exchange Club is built for: civic-minded leaders, real stories, and meaningful ways to support the people who keep our community safe.

Breakfast and great company included.
Friday, May 22 | 8:00 AM
Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45230

Come out and see us. Guests always welcome.

What a morning at the Exchange Club of Eastern Hills!

We had the privilege of hearing from Benjamin Gunderson, City Manager of the Milford, Ohio , who pulled back the curtain on what it really takes to lead one of Greater Cincinnati's most distinctive and fastest-growing hometowns.

Benjamin shared an inside look at the role of a city manager, the major initiatives shaping Milford right now (infrastructure, economic development, public safety, parks, and community programming), and the City's commitment to growing thoughtfully while protecting the historic, walkable, riverfront character that makes Milford so special.

A huge thank you to Benjamin for spending his Friday morning with us and for the leadership he brings to a community we deeply admire. Milford's future is in great hands.

Thank you also to everyone who joined us at the Anderson Center this morning. These conversations are exactly why this club exists.

Take a look at what's coming up at the Exchange Club of Eastern Hills. We've put real work into bringing in speakers our members and guests will genuinely want to hear from, and the next several months are loaded. If you've ever wanted to bring a friend, neighbor, or colleague to a meeting, now is the time. Friday mornings, 8:00 AM at the Anderson Center.

May 8 — Benjamin Gunderson, City Manager, City of Milford
Sworn in as Milford's City Manager in December 2024, Ben is leading the city's biggest planning push in years, including a recently unveiled set of downtown development concepts that could top $100 million. A timely conversation if you live, work, or do business anywhere along the Little Miami corridor.

May 22 — Chief Jamey Mills (Milford Police) and Chief Baird (Milford Fire)
A rare back-to-back from the two leaders running Milford's public safety operations. Expect candid perspective on community policing, fire and EMS response, and what it takes to keep a growing city safe.

June 5 — Kirk Charlton, Art Inside Out
Kirk built Art Inside Out around a trauma-informed arts curriculum that has helped people across very different settings find their voice through creative expression. His story is one of the most personally moving you'll hear all year.

June 26 — Georgia Kent, Engraft Learning Network
Engraft is a national learning network led by Cincinnati Children's that connects 13+ pediatric and adult transplant centers to improve outcomes for patients undergoing bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy. A look at how Cincinnati is leading nationally on a problem that touches a lot of families.

July 10 — Barbara Lownsbury, The Dented Fender
Barb is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur who founded The Dented Fender, a ministry built on the idea that the dents in our lives don't define us. Her book, Using What's Broken to Boldly Shine, captures the heart of what she'll bring to the room.

July 24 — Bridget Behrmann, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati (M.E. Lyons branch)
Bridget has spent more than two decades in leadership roles across the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and now serves as VP of Operations. A great window into how the Y is showing up across our community far beyond the gym floor.

August 7 — OFFSITE: Tri-State Warbird Museum (11:30 AM start)
Mark this one. We're meeting offsite at one of the region's hidden gems, a private nonprofit aviation museum in Batavia dedicated to fully restored, fully operational WWII aircraft. Two 100x100 hangars, an active restoration shop, and a collection that has flown in films and at Oshkosh. Bring a guest who likes history, aviation, or a great story.

August 21 — Joy Lytle, President & CEO, Clermont Chamber of Commerce
Joy leads a Chamber of more than 700 businesses, recently awarded 5-Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber. With 25+ years across business, nonprofit, and government, she brings a sharp read on where Clermont County's economy is heading.

October 9 — Dan McNally, VP Soccer in the Community, FC Cincinnati
Dan leads FCC's community work, including the mini-pitch program putting free, accessible soccer fields into neighborhoods across the region. With Milford's own FC Cincinnati roots and a new mini-pitch coming online locally, this one will resonate.

October 23 — Susan Graham, President & CEO, Child Focus
Susan leads one of the region's most important nonprofits, providing mental health, early childhood, and family services across Greater Cincinnati. Her perspective on what's working (and what's not) in how we support kids and families is one you'll think about for a while.

This is the kind of lineup that's worth showing up for, and even better when you bring someone with you. If you're a member, think about a friend, prospect, or community leader who would connect with one of these speakers, and invite them to come as your guest. If you've never been, this is a great window in.
Select Friday mornings, 8:00 AM, Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Rd. More at exchangeclubofeasternhills.org.

Today at Exchange Club of Eastern Hills, we welcomed Kim Farrell from the Anderson Park District for an inside look at one of Greater Cincinnati's standout park systems — 400+ acres of trails, athletic fields, dog parks, a skatepark, an amphitheater, disc golf, pickleball, and more.

A few highlights from Kim's presentation: 🏞️ Over 50 years serving the community 🏟️ A recently reopened Riverside Park with brand new turf ball diamonds 🤝 3,100+ volunteer hours logged in a single year 🏆 The only park system out of 92 Cincinnati neighborhoods to earn a perfect score in Cincinnati Magazine's Best Places to Live survey

Thanks to Kim for sharing the great work happening at Anderson Parks — and to our members for showing up and supporting another fantastic Friday lunch.

Learn more: andersonparks.com

🌳 This Friday at Exchange Club of Eastern Hills — You'll Want to Be There!

Did you know the Anderson Park District has been serving our community for over 50 years — and today manages more than 400 acres of parks, trails, athletic fields, dog parks, a skatepark, an amphitheater, disc golf, pickleball courts, and one of the best rec facilities in Greater Cincinnati?

This Friday, April 24th, we're thrilled to welcome Kim Farrell from the Anderson Park District as our featured speaker. Kim will give us an inside look at everything Anderson Parks has to offer — and trust me, there's more going on out there than most people realize.

A few fun facts to whet your appetite:
🏆 Anderson area parks once received a perfect score in Cincinnati Magazine's survey of the Best Places to Live in Cincinnati — the only park system out of 92 neighborhoods to earn it.
⚾ One of their ball fields is literally named after Marty Brennaman. That's a flex.
🌿 In a single recent year, volunteers logged over 3,100 hours of service across the parks. Talk about community.
🎾 They recently just completed a major capital levy-funded renovation at Riverside Park — brand new turf ball diamonds just had their grand reopening this month.
Whether you've walked the trails at Beech Acres, watched your kids play soccer at Juilfs, or just driven past and thought "I should check that place out someday" — this is your Friday.
Join us this Friday, April 24th. Lunch starts at noon. See you there!

🔗 Learn more: andersonparks.com

Reminder: Special Off-Site Meeting – Date Updated

Join the Exchange Club of Eastern Hills for a unique luncheon meeting at the ✈️ Lunch Among Legends: Exchange Club Luncheon at the Warbird Museum- Tri-State Warbird Museum on Friday, August 7th at 11:30 AM.

Please note: This date has been updated from what was previously communicated to better accommodate attendance — we’re excited to open this up to even more members and guests.

We’ll gather in an incredible setting surrounded by historic aircraft, enjoy lunch together, and connect with fellow members, guests, and community leaders.

This meeting is open to both members and non-members — if you’ve been curious about the Exchange Club or are looking for meaningful ways to get involved in the community, this is a great opportunity.

📍 Tri-State Warbird Museum
🍽 Lunch Provided
📩 RSVP or questions: [email protected]

Come for the history, stay for the connections, and leave inspired.

👏 Student Spotlight: Amelia Engle 👏

This week, our Exchange Club had the pleasure of hosting Amelia Engle, a student from McNicholas High School, who shared her inspiring journey in leadership, the arts, and service.

Amelia spoke thoughtfully about her involvement across multiple areas—demonstrating not only talent and discipline, but a genuine commitment to giving back and leading with purpose. Her passion, confidence, and maturity were evident, and she represents the very best of the next generation of leaders.

We are grateful to Amelia for taking the time to share her story and to McNicholas High School for encouraging students to engage, serve, and lead beyond the classroom.

Thank you, Amelia, for an outstanding presentation and for reminding us why investing in youth matters.

Today we were honored to welcome Jill Keefe from New Life Furniture Bank as our guest speaker.

New Life Furniture Bank is making a powerful impact across our region by providing essential furniture and household items to individuals and families overcoming homelessness, domestic abuse, and other significant life challenges — helping turn empty houses into welcoming homes with dignity and hope.

Thank you, Jill, for sharing your time, your heart, and the inspiring mission of New Life Furniture Bank with our club today. We’re grateful for the work you do in our community!