2024 OPRA Leadership Summit

A native Ohioan, Mary Beth has worked in Texas, Illinois, and Ohio. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University where she competed on the women’s swim team. During her time at Kettering, the department was awarded the prestigious National Gold Medal by the National Recreation and Parks Association. As director, she oversaw efforts to refurbish much of the city’s parks, recreation, and cultural arts infrastructure and led the effort to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Kettering Parks Foundation.

Antony is responsible for the day-to-day operations, guest experience, ticket operations, and project management. His scope additionally includes all venue operations under the Cleveland Cavaliers organizational umbrella. He joined the Cavaliers as Vice President of Facility Operations in June 2010 after serving as Assistant General Manager for the San Antonio Spurs and AT&T Center. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in collegiate athletics at Stony Brook University, New York. Antony earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Leadership and Management from Stony Brook.

Eugene recently joined Pinterest bringing nearly two decades of expertise in transforming procurement operations for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. Previously, he served as Sr. Director of Global Marketing, Meetings & Events, and Travel Sourcing at Salesforce. Throughout his career, he has consistently delivered multimillion-dollar savings while scaling operations and driving innovation. Eugene excels in building high-performing teams and fostering strategic supplier relationships, combining hands-on experience with visionary leadership. His diverse background spans established industry leaders and dynamic startups, equipping him with a comprehensive skill set to tackle complex sourcing challenges and drive organizational success.

Julie Cromer is entering her fifth year as Ohio University’s Director of Athletics. Cromer’s involvement in the advancement and improvement of college athletics has earned her national recognition, highlighted by co-chairing the NCAA Transformation Committee. She has earned numerous accolades. Most recently, Cromer was named to the Sports Business Journal 2022 Game Changers class, the 2023 Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports and was one of the 2023-24 NADCA AD’S of the Year. Prior to her tenure at OU, the Missouri native held positions at Wright State University, Indiana University, the University of Arkansas and the NCAA.

Melissa and Amanda are both professionals in the field, overseeing recreation programming, sports leagues, special events, community outreach, and administration for their respective departments. Both graduates of The Ohio State University, they bring a combined 43 years of experience and passion to their roles. Amanda and Melissa create unforgettable experiences and moments that bring joy and lasting impact to people’s lives. Even on days when their philosophy leans towards “What I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me”.

David burst onto the national political scene as campaign manager for then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton during his 1992 Presidential campaign. Following his election, President Clinton tapped Wilhelm to serve as Chair of the Democratic National Committee, making him the youngest national party chair in American history. His career has spanned the worlds of energy, finance, politics, academia, and public policy. Today, he is a Partner at Hecate Energy, where he leads efforts to link solar project development to job creation in places ranging from the coal fields of the Ohio River Valley to the high plains of Central Tanzania. He is also founder of Empower, an energy technology company promoting energy efficiency strategies and shared solar projects.