Events

A deep dive into the trends and impact of the nonprofit sector

This presentation will highlight the services offered for families and youth in Kettering through the Youth and Family Resource Coordinator including upcoming initiatives, ways to get involved, and the launch of neighborhood bridges.

Laura Tran joined the district as the City of Kettering/Kettering City Schools jointly-supported position of Youth and Family Resource Coordinator in the summer of 2024. She is a licensed social worker with experience working in the nonprofit field. Her wide range of experience includes serving as the training coordinator and adoption coordinator for a foster care agency and as a domestic violence social worker in the Dayton area shelter system She has nearly ten years of experience in social work, dedicated to connecting our community with essential resources and supporting families from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and is the new Area Director for neighborhood bridges, launching soon in Kettering! Audiovisual needs. 

 Laura.Tran@ketteringschools.org, 937-499-1496

While Kayleigh has been passionate about service for as long as she can remember, it was during her time serving as a United States White House Intern alongside Laura Bush and staff that she truly began to understand the true value in her potential to make a positive impact. Kayleigh joined the Girls on the Run of Dayton staff in 2017 and has served as Executive Director since 2018. She has led the organization through tremendous growth and the COVID-19 pandemic with the commitment to serve EVERY girl that wishes to participate. She considers her position a privilege and honor to work alongside so many amazing individuals, working together to inspire the next generation of women to be changemakers.

In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her son, Jack and their Aussiedoodle, Penny. 

A look back through the facinating archives of our club. Brenda and Ted will share a treasure trove of items we were given. We'll have a presentation and pass around some amazing documents, magazines, letters, newsletters etc. We'll lead a discussion with members to help celebrate our 62 Years of service. It's going to be fun!

Guest of Jana

This program features the stories of famous area haunts, such interesting stories as the location of a mob execution, the gazebo a murdered bootlegger’s wife still frequents and a famous building built on the graveyard of children—where some of the departed little ones still roam. I will also reveal some conclusions about how spirits interact with the living, drawn from my research on ghosts I’ve completed in writing my series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries. And, of course, I have several documented intriguing photos of famous ghosts to ponder. One of these ghosts may be right around the corner.

BIO:

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

Jeff Johnson has served as the Director of Business Services at Kettering City Schools since 2022. With a career spanning over 20 years, Jeff previously held leadership roles as Business Manager and Human Resource Director at Franklin City Schools, Edgewood City Schools, and Great Oaks Career Campuses. Prior to transitioning to the education sector, he spent 15 years in retail and business management.

A Dayton area native, Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Walden University and his Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton. He also holds both Business Manager and Treasurer licenses. In 2018, he participated in The New and Aspiring Superintendents Academy, and in 2019, he was honored as Business Manager of the Year by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials.

In his current role, Jeff oversees the leadership of the Buildings and Grounds, Food and Nutrition Services, and Transportation departments. He also collaborates closely with the safety team to ensure the well-being of Kettering City Schools’ staff and students. Jeff is known for  his commitment to sound business practices and for fostering a collaborative work environment where team contributions are valued.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys watching baseball, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Guest of Ted 

You will be absolutely amazed by what happens to the items you put into your recycle bin.  Saundra Crocker is an education specialist and community relations assistant for Rumpke.

Rachel Bane is an author, speaker, coach, and podcast host.  She is the host for the Wildly Becoming podcast, the President and Founder of Wild & Free Coaching, and  Sunshine Book Club, a nonprofit book club providing books to children made vulnerable to poverty. Overcoming trauma and grief and loss in her personal life, she has a passion for instilling hope in others through her books and her speaking engagements.  

Ashely's Guest