BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Erika Rich - Co-FOUNDER, president

Erika graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. After school she dove into her real estate career and moved to Nashville, TN where she is now a Buyers Agent with the Erin Krueger Team with Compass Real Estate. In March of 2019 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer that eventually Metastasized to her brain. Erika lives a life of spontaneity and never lets the severity of her diagnosis get her down. Which inspired her to start the Bloom Foundation gives with her sister, Co- Founder Jessi, and closest friends.

Favorite Quote: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” - Albert Einstein

Tobie weston - retreats & events director

Tobie Weston met these vivacious ladies while at Wittenberg University. Graduating with a degree in studio art, graphic design and minor in art history. Tobie found herself wondering what the heck next. Her drive for adventure led her up to Juneau Alaska where she worked as a kayak guide the summer after graduating. The mountains, the sea and the friends she made were too hard to say goodbye to and she landed another job in Juneau at an art studio for people with disabilities. In 2018 her boyfriend asked her to move to one of the most remote northern villages in Alaska for his teaching job and naturally she said yes. These experiences and many others have made Tobie realize she is truly happy in the service of others and have led her to pursue a second degree in nursing. She is back in Juneau, taking courses at the local university, while running, biking, snowboarding, and jet boating with her friends in her “free time.” Tobie seeks genuine experiences and lives by the motto: “Wherever you are, be there.”

Georgia mallory - fundraising and marketing director

Georgia graduated from (you guessed it) Wittenberg University with a degree in Communication and Business. Her journey has led her to real estate where she is a licensed agent with Keller Williams. While Georgia loves helping families buy and sell their homes, her passion is event planning and being with friends. Loyalty is her greatest attribute. One of her current adventures is actually navigating the United States Marine Corps where her new husband is an Officer.

Georgia’s first fundraiser was for Erika this past spring. She successfully raised over $9,000 for Erika and her treatment expenses. Not only did she have a blast, she was incredibly organized and it was a heck of a time - that we can’t wait to do again!

“Bloom where you’re planted”

Chelsea haas - education director

Chelsey graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Quickly following graduation, Chelsey received a 3rd grade teaching position at Saville Elementary in Dayton, Ohio. Five years later, Chelsey continues to teach at Saville, and has had the opportunity to transfer to a 1st grade teaching position. Chelsey was named Teacher of the Year in 2019, and continues to build relationships and connections with all her students. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, Marvin, focusing on health, wellness, and exercise, and finally Chelsey loves to spend time with her beautiful friends and family.

If Chelsey could offer you advice, she would tell you to read the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and truly digest the moral of the story.

Greg Gernetzke - financial director

Greg graduated from Wittenberg University with Erika where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Financial Economics. In over five years of working in corporate Finance, he has directly helped leadership teams at multi-billion dollar corporations such as Express, Inc. and Cardinal Heath conduct regular FP&A reviews, and long-range planning. He believes in helping people leverage the information and data from the world around them so that they can live more informed, enriched, and entertaining lives.

“Change before you have to.” – Jack Welch

Madison Straughn - POLICY & RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Madison (Maddy) Straughn graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Communication and Business Management. Following her heart and passion for learning, Maddy joined her family business in food processing and distribution after graduation. Here, she implements her passion for effective communication within a business to reach the highest levels of food safety/quality, customer satisfaction, and employee experience. One of her first accomplishments was assisting the organization in obtaining their BRC certification - A global food safety standard MDS Foods has now carried for three years.

Outside of work, Maddy enjoys hiking with fiance Landon and their dogs, gardening, boating, and reading Real Simple magazine. Most of all, Maddy enjoys the quality time spent with her family and friends.

“To whom much is given, much is required” - Luke 12:48