Staff
Co-Director
Kristen Barker is a social entrepreneur and the President and Co-Founder of Co-op Cincy and is a Co-Founder of 1worker1vote. She designs and leads participatory education events with English- and Spanish-speaking co-op workers, and helps worker-owners make their businesses more successful. Kristen also helps our design team determine the feasibility of potential co-op businesses, helps retiring business owners determine whether they can sell their business to their employees, and helps viable co-ops access the capital they need to leverage their ideas.
Kristen has done groundbreaking work in adopting the Mondragon model to the U.S. context, and hosts delegations from around the country, including the participants in our biennial Union Co-op Symposium. Kristen is a 2016-2018 Business Alliance for Local and Living Economies (BALLE) Fellow.
Before becoming Co-op Cincy’s Executive Director, she worked for 12 years fostering partnerships between people of faith, union members, and community members of diverse backgrounds. Kristen is a graduate of Xavier University and a lifelong Cincinnati resident—except for two years in El Salvador! Kristen is a single mother of a resilient daughter with special needs.
Co-Director
Ellen Vera has organized people from diverse backgrounds to improve their workplaces for more than a decade, and became a Co-Founder of Co-op Cincy and of 1worker1vote in 2011 to develop a more sustainable model of organizing, economic democracy and wealth-building with marginalized communities. Ellen oversees new co-op organizing projects, the launch of Co-op Cincy’s education arm, Co-op U, and makes sure we have the resources we need to be successful.
Ellen’s experience as part of a family with mixed immigration status deepens her perspective and her passion for organizing with immigrant worker-owners and worker-owners of color. Prior to accepting a position with Co-op Cincy, she helped people organize and strengthen their labor unions, as the National Organizing Coordinator for the manufacturing arm of the Communication Workers of America, and for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 75.
Ellen earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Northern Kentucky University, which she uses to oversee our design team’s work producing feasibility studies, business plans, capitalization campaigns and the initial management of cooperative enterprises.
Racial Justice Educator and Co-op Developer
With a professional career spanning 4 decades, Cynthia Pinchback-Hines has provided leadership to corporations, universities, and public school teachers striving to improve training, diversity, and equity.
Cynthia holds a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, and has taught at Virginia State, Delaware State, and Northern Kentucky University, where she served as Associate Dean of African American Affairs & Ethnic Services providing academic, cultural, and social support to African American students. Cynthia has served also as a community activist and organizer, educator, organizational development consultant, diversity leader, entrepreneur, and board member to several nonprofits, including Co-op Cincy since its inception.
Cynthia is most proud of her role as educator. She has taught thousands of students from higher education institutions to correctional institutions, presented at numerous professional conferences, and conducted many workshops. The Cincinnati Enquirer named her one of the ten most influential educators in Cincinnati and presented her with a Diversity Leadership Award.
Business Legacy Fund Acquisition Program Manager
Christopher Bennett is an entrepreneur focused on creating transformational wealth and change through business equity and acquisitions. Formerly employed by Procter & Gamble, he currently serves as the Business Legacy Fund Acquisition Program Manager for Co-op Cincy and is responsible for the strategic development, management, and execution of the program. Prior to joining Co-op Cincy, Chris created value across numerous for-profit and nonprofit roles spanning marketing, sales, business development, curriculum development, corporate strategy, and internal audits.
Chris has an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College (a HBCU) as well as Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Management Information Systems degrees from the University of Alabama.
Co-op business developer
Meghan Elizabeth is a People, Operations & Organizational Strategy leader with more than 15 years of experience building equitable, data-driven systems that strengthen teams, transform culture, and enable sustainable growth. Known for her blend of operational discipline and deep commitment to people, Meghan partners with organizations to design the structures, processes, and leadership capabilities they need to thrive.
Her work spans organizational design, leadership development, HRIS implementation, compliance, benefits equity, financial operations, and large-scale change management. She has led transformative people, systems, and financial initiatives across mission-driven organizations, as well as a range of social-impact enterprises through her consulting practice, Meghan Elizabeth Consulting.
Meghan specializes in developing job architecture, compensation equity models, performance management frameworks, and AI-enabled HRIS and project management workflows. She is also a trusted advisor in labor relations and legal operations, often serving as the bridge between People Operations, finance, and external counsel during sensitive or high-stakes organizational moments.
As a trained leadership coach, Meghan brings an equity-centered, strengths-based approach to developing leaders and empowering teams. She is passionate about creating workplaces where people feel psychologically safe and deeply connected to their contributions. Meghan’s hallmark is her ability to integrate people, systems, and strategy while building operational excellence that is both high-performing and empowering.
Special Projects Manager & Co-Op Business Developer
Phil Waller is driven by the belief that entrepreneurship can serve as a catalyst for individual transformation and community empowerment. With over 13 years of experience, he has dedicated his career to leveraging design thinking and asset-based approaches to foster entrepreneurship and social innovation within communities.
During his tenure as an entrepreneur support program director at SecondMuse, Phil honed his expertise in participatory research and design, while also gaining valuable experience in ecosystem development and capital innovation. His leadership in community and program design extended to diverse regions, including Philadelphia and Battle Creek, MI. Additionally, he contributed to Futureworks NYC, the nation's largest public incubator for hardware and advanced manufacturing startups.
Phil's passion for inclusive economic development has led him to work with various communities, ranging from rural farmers in the Caribbean to urban technologists in Philadelphia. His commitment to building economies that benefit all individuals has been a driving force throughout his career.
Phil holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on entrepreneurship and economic growth. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH.
Communications and Development Program Manager
Sidney Cherie Hilley is a dedicated Communication Manager with a passion for creative engagement and empowering individuals to utilize their own personal voice for entrepreneurial growth. With a rich background in storytelling through social media and marketing platforms, she brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and creativity to every project. Her passion for creating avenues for individual storytelling led her to community art engagement projects— jumpstarting community art pop ups and events throughout Cincinnati.
Having run her own art business, Sidney Cherie Studio, she leveraged her skills in writing, photography, and brand marketing to propel her brand into the spotlight. Through strategic communication initiatives, she successfully crafted compelling narratives that captured the essence of her brand and attracted attention from various media outlets. As a graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a BA in Creative Non-Fiction Journalism, her expertise extends to developing engaging content and fostering new ideas for communications for Co-op Cincy.
OFFice and project manager
Candace Winterbauer, is a Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical nutrition, corporate wellness, food production, and community leadership. She holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Physical Performance from Saint Louis University and brings a uniquely interdisciplinary background grounded in science, operations, and public service.
Candace has provided medical nutrition therapy in both cardiac rehabilitation and corporate wellness settings, delivering evidence-based care, health screenings, and engaging nutrition education programs. Her professional experience also includes leadership roles in food and beverage production, where she oversaw quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and process improvement initiatives.
In addition to her work in nutrition and food systems, Candace has served as a Ward 2 Council Representative for the City of Norwood, leading finance and economic development committees and contributing to infrastructure, housing, and parks initiatives. Her career reflects a deep commitment to public health, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Candace is passionate about empowering individuals, strengthening local communities, and creating sustainable solutions that support long-term well-being.
Board
Katy Heins, President
Co-Director, Bridge to Power
Flequer Vera, Vice President
CEO, Sustainergy Cooperative
Kristen Barker, Secretary
Co-Director, Co-op Cincy
Phil Amadon
Emeritus Member & Co-Founder of Co-op Cincy
Eric Britton
Treasurer, Retired Partner Shumaker Loop and Kendrick LLP
Brian Griffin
Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council
Jaime Love
Director of Programs, Climate Innovation at Movement Strategy Center
Carl Vineyard
Subdistrict 5 Director, United Steelworkers
Ashley Schleicher
Executive Assistant & Office Manager, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council
Cynthia Pinchback-Hines
Racial Justice Educator and Co-op Developer, Co-op Cincy
Ellen Vera
Co-Director, Co-op Cincy
Are you interested in serving on our Board of Directors?
Email Co-Director Ellen Vera at ellen@coopcincy.org to express your interest.
Our list of Board Member commitments is available here.
