3CDC has nearly 150 full-time employees working across all lines of business for the organization. In addition to a robust development staff that works on the organization's real estate development projects, 3CDC also has large staffs dedicated to event management & marketing, operations, and finance & accounting, as well as smaller teams focused on asset management, communications and HR & administration.
Steve Leeper
President & CEO
Stephen Leeper was appointed President & CEO of Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) in April, 2004. He leads 3CDC's efforts to revitalize Cincinnati's Center City including the financing, development and management of real estate within Downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Leeper's responsibilities also include the management of $146 million in local, corporately-funded, revolving loan funds. Since 2004, Leeper has managed 3CDC's investment of $1.7 billion in Downtown and OTR.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Leeper served as executive director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) from September 1998 - April 2004, responsible for the development and financing of PNC Park, Heinz Field, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the North Shore Riverfront Park, public parking facilities and related road infrastructure. These developments represent over $1.1 billion in private and public funding and have resulted in new mixed use development for the city of Pittsburgh. Leeper has also served as director of development for the City of Pittsburgh and director of the Department of Housing for Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Leeper is a native of Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor's degree from Ohio University and a master's degree from the Ohio State University.
Adam Gelter
Executive Vice President, Real Estate
Adam Gelter joined the 3CDC team as an intern in 2005. He later assumed the position of Development Manager, and in 2011 was promoted to Executive Vice President of Development. In his current role, Gelter leads the development team with the main priority of developing strategies and implementation plans for underutilized real estate within Cincinnati’s center city. Gelter plays an important role in all of 3CDC’s endeavors.
Most recently, Gelter oversaw the development of the $92 million Court & Walnut project, an 18-story mixed-use development that includes the new 45,000 square-foot Kroger On the Rhine grocery store, a 560-space parking garage and 139 residential units.
Prior to joining the 3CDC team, Gelter received his Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Vanderbilt University and Master of Community Planning with an Economic Development concentration from the University of Cincinnati.
Tim Szilasi
Senior Vice President & CFO
Tim Szilasi joined 3CDC in 2012 as an accounting manager, after spending two years as a member of the organization's external audit team. Soon after, he was promoted to Senior Accounting Manager, spending several years in this role. In late 2015, Szilasi served as interim CFO for a period of four months before being appointed Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of the organization in February of 2016. At the start of 2017, he was promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.
Szilasi is responsible for the financial and administrative functions of the organization, including budget development and management, accounting and reporting, audit management and oversight, internal controls, tax compliance, capital management, loan portfolio management, human resources, risk management, and information technology.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Szilasi obtained his CPA license and spent seven years as an auditor with accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati.
Christy Samad
Senior Vice President, Event Management
Christy Samad joined 3CDC in 2008 as part of the communications team after earning her Bachelors in Marketing & International Business from the University of Cincinnati. Following a four-year stint in her initial role, Samad transitioned to the Events Team, where she remains today. At the start of 2017, she was promoted to Vice President of Event Management, and in 2018, Senior Vice President of Event Management -- a role in which she provides the leadership, direction and focus necessary to ensure 3CDC’s vision for civic spaces is achieved.
Currently and throughout her tenure, Samad has managed the programming of 3CDC’s civic spaces which include Fountain Square, Washington Park, Memorial Hall and Ziegler Park. She oversees all aspects of the programming, staffing and financial management that allow each of 3CDC’s civic spaces to thrive. In addition, Samad works closely with the communications and operations teams to make certain the venues are promoted properly, and safely and actively managed.
Mike Dumbauld
Vice President, Finance
Mike Dumbauld joined 3CDC in 2016 as a financial analyst, where he was responsible for analyzing and assessing the financial performance of 3CDC’s real estate assets, as well as assisting in the management of the 3CDC-managed capital funds. At the beginning of 2019, Dumbauld was promoted to Finance Manager, and at the beginning of 2020, he was promoted again to Senior Finance Manager. In 2022, Dumbauld was once again promoted, this time to Finance Director.
In his current role, Dumbauld leads a team that is responsible for managing the financial reporting and analysis of 3CDC’s real estate assets and capital funds, 3CDC’s Risk Management program, and ongoing compliance reporting to third-party lenders. Additionally, his team works directly with the Development team to structure, close and unwind financial transactions of development projects.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Dumbauld spent six years working in commercial lending at multiple banks in the Cincinnati market. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialty in Finance from Ohio State University.
Lann Field
Vice President, Development
Lann Field joined 3CDC in 2008 as a Development Officer after earning her Masters in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. She was subsequently promoted to Senior Development Officer, then spent two years in the role of Development Manager prior to being named Vice President of Development in 2015. In her current role, Field wears many hats, as she is responsible for overseeing aspects of everything from property acquisition and project planning to real estate finance and construction management.
During her tenure, Field has overseen or worked on projects totaling $425 million, highlighted by the $73.4MM Mercer Commons project and the $50.5MM Willkommen project.
Prior to joining 3CDC, she received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee, and a diploma in Alternative Design Studies from Archeworks, a multidisciplinary design school in Chicago.
Joe Rudemiller
VP, Marketing & Communications
Joe Rudemiller joined 3CDC as a Communications Officer in 2014. He began overseeing the non-profit real estate developer’s communications efforts in 2016 and became the organization’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications in 2019. In this role, Rudemiller leads communications-related activities pertaining to 3CDC’s real estate development work, as well as the overall promotion of Downtown Cincinnati. His responsibilities include media relations and oversight of all corporate communications – including email marketing campaigns, grant applications, and tenant marketing support, as well as managing 3CDC’s website and the websites of each of its five subsidiaries.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Rudemiller spent seven years as a Human Resources Communications Consultant. He received his Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University.
David Vissman
Vice President, Operations
David Vissman joined 3CDC in 2011 as Site Manager at Fountain Square. As 3CDC grew its operational portfolio to include three additional civic spaces – Washington Park, Memorial Hall, and Ziegler Park, Vissman spearheaded the opening of each site. In 2014, he was promoted to Senior Operations Manager, before being named Vice President of Operations in 2018.
In his current role, Vissman oversees the day-to-day management of all four 3CDC-managed civic spaces and 20 Operations team members. His role also includes oversight of the Over-the-Rhine District Management program, which was developed to ensure a safe and clean streetscape over 35 blocks in the OTR neighborhood. Additionally, he manages 3CDC’s six public parking garages and ancillary parking lots, comprising over 3,500 parking spots.
Before joining 3CDC, Vissman earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.
Sara Bedinghaus
Development Manager
Sara Bedinghaus joined 3CDC in 2010 as a development officer, where she managed various residential and mixed-use developments, commercial buildouts, and historic preservation projects. Bedinghaus was promoted to Senior Development Officer in 2012, where she currently oversees the development and sale of 3CDC’s condominiums, and manages acquisition and disposition of vacant properties.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Bedinghaus was Project/Program Coordinator for Portland Development Commission, based in Portland, Oregon, and marketing specialist for Procter & Gamble.
Bedinghaus received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Cincinnati, and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University.
Becca Callen
Accounting Director
Becca Callen joined 3CDC in 2016 as a staff accountant for Treasury Management. In 2017, she transitioned to a financial system analyst where she implemented a new organizational ERP system. Callen again transitioned to Senior Financial Analyst where she managed 3CDC’s financial portfolio.
In 2020, Callen was promoted to Account Manager for the Operations department, where she oversees reporting for 3CDC’s commercial assets, civic spaces, garages and self-improvement districts. Callen’s previous experience includes other non-profit and governmental agencies, including the Ohio Auditor of State’s office and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
Callen has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Management from Miami University. She subsequently became a CPA in 2019.
Brandy Del Favero
Development Director
Brandy Del Favero joined 3CDC in 2012 as a development officer. She later assumed the position of senior development officer, before being promoted to development manager in 2019, and development director in 2021. Her responsibilities include real estate project management in the reinvestment and redevelopment of Cincinnati’s Central Business District (CBD) and Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Prior to joining 3CDC, Del Favero served as the owner representative for 3CDC on the $47 million renovation and expansion of Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine.
Del Favero recently managed the redevelopment of the Court Street Pedestrian Plaza along with restoring several buildings along Court Street into for-sale condominiums and first-floor commercial spaces. She has previously managed many other notable projects on behalf of 3CDC, including 4th and Race, the Central Parkway YMCA and the $42 million Homeless to Homes project. These projects all include underwriting the financing and maintaining relationships with project partners, stakeholders and potential investors/developers. Del Favero has overseen these projects from inception to completion, serving as an integral piece to their overall success.
Del Favero comes from a General Contracting and Construction Management background, having previously worked as a project manager for over six years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. Her construction project manager experience and education in architecture allow her to balance the importance of design while considering material durability and project constructability while working within a project budget.
Caitlin Felvus
Legal Director
Caitlin Felvus joined 3CDC in 2018 as the organization’s Development Counsel. In early 2022, she was promoted to Legal Director. In this role, Felvus advises 3CDC’s various departments including development, asset management, operations, and events and sponsorship.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Felvus worked as an attorney at the Cincinnati office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. While at Taft, Felvus founded a women’s initiative focused on recruiting, retaining and promoting female attorneys to leadership positions at Taft. Felvus also helped start Cynthia Blank’s Growing Hearts Through Art, a program named for Taft’s first female partner and helps bring an art curriculum to underserved pre-school classrooms.
Felvus sits on the board of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, and volunteers as a legal advisory to the UC Law small business clinic and as a high school mock trial coach. Felvus received a Bachelor of Science in journalism, summa cum laude, from Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, and earned her juris doctorate, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where she was the editor of the inaugural UC Law Review Blog. Before law school, Felvus spent time working on Capitol Hill in both senatorial and congressional offices.
Lindzie Gunnels
Commercial Leasing Manager
Lindzie Gunnels joined the 3CDC team in 2019 as Senior Commercial Leasing Officer. In this role, Gunnels manages the leasing activity for all retail, restaurant and office spaces, and oversees the commercial tenant buildouts and execution of strategies related to tenant relations. Her responsibilities include developing leasing policies and procedures, recruiting a diverse mix of businesses to Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District, managing commercial broker partnerships, creating commercial marketing strategies and maintaining a strong tenant engagement program.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Gunnels became a licensed real estate agent in Virginia and Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Cincinnati.
Mary Kohler
Senior Project Management Officer
Mary Kohler joined the 3CDC team in 2011 as a development officer, where she managed various projects under construction including the renovation of Music Hall, City Gospel Mission and 4th & Race. In 2016, Kohler was promoted to Senior Project Management Officer, where she manages construction of large development projects, including the $51 million redevelopment of The Foundry, and the $5.5 million Court Street Plaza project.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Kohler was a project engineer at Clark Construction Group in Washington, DC, where she worked on Walter Reed National Military Medical Center during her tenure.
Kohler has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Cincinnati.
Austin Kossoudji
Accounting Manager
Austin Kossoudji started with 3CDC in 2018 as an intern for the accounting team. After graduating, he transitioned into a staff role where he was overseeing more than 20 commercial assets for 3CDC. In 2022, Kossoudji was promoted to Accounting Manager where he oversees all 3CDC and Civic Space operations, as well as Downtown's two Special Improvement Districts.
Kossoudji graduated from the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business with a bachelor's degree of Business Administration in Accounting.
Sara Portman
Dir. of Sponsorships & Community Initiatives
Sara Portman joined 3CDC in 2020 as Sponsorship Sales Manager, where she focused on individual giving and corporate sponsorships. In 2021, Portman was promoted to Senior Manager of Sponsorship and Advertising, where she oversaw fundraising, sponsorship marketing, and individual contributions which fund the civic spaces in downtown Cincinnati. Now as Director of Sponsorships and Community Initiatives she works alongside her team to bring the vibrant programming to the civic spaces through national and community partnerships.
Portman received her B.A. in Art Studio from Coastal Carolina University in 2013.
A Chicago native by way of Cleveland, Portman moved back to the Midwest when she began working with 3CDC. You can find her in the civic spaces enjoying a beverage on the Porch at Washington Park, volunteering with the swim team at Ziegler Park, and participating in the 1,400 free events her team programs each year.
Marissa Reed
Senior Operations Manager
Marissa Reed joined 3CDC in 2019 as Operations Supervisor for the Over-the-Rhine District and was tasked with overseeing staff providing clean & safe services. When 3CDC merged with Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. Reed shifted her attention to the Central Business District to manage the Downtown Ambassadors program.
In her current role, Reed focuses on project planning, beautification, and managing relationships with public and private partners. She works with colleagues and partners to make improvements to the urban core and continues to work toward a clean, safe and beautiful Downtown. Prior to joining the team at 3CDC, Reed worked for Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and College Hill CURC. She received a Bachelor in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.
Alice Rolfes
Employee Benefits Director
Alice Rolfes has worked at 3CDC since September 2006, where she was an administrative assistant. Over the past 15 years, she was promoted to IT & Office Manager, HR Manager and finally Senior HR Manager. Working in Human Resources, Rolfes focuses on payroll, benefits administration and compliance for all 3CDC employees. She has PHR certification from the Human Resources Institute, as well as a SHRM-CP certification from the Society of Human Resource Management. Rolfes has a BA in Psychology from Northern Kentucky University, used to be a fourth-grade teacher in Over-the-Rhine and is a lifelong Cincinnatian.
Andi Schultes
Director of Event Logistics
Andi Schultes joined 3CDC in 2012 as the Fountain Square Operations Manager, after years of traveling with international touring companies and seasonal theatrical contracts as a production stage manager.
In 2013, Schultes transitioned from Operations Manager of Fountain Square to Production Manager of Civic Spaces, which included Fountain Square and Washington Park. Since then, 3CDC has expanded to redevelop five civic spaces, with Schultes overseeing production at each.
Schultes has an undergraduate degree in Technical Theater.
Addison Shedd
Recruiting and Talent Mgmt. Director
Addison Shedd began working at 3CDC in May 2016 as a Civic Space Event Supervisor. Here, Shedd assisted the Events team with onsite management of events, bartenders and operations, and was promoted to Customer Service Manager in 2018 to help develop each civic space’s onsite teams, and in 2022, she was promoted to Senior Customer Service Manager. Shedd now supervises Civic Space Event Supervisors, Event Leads, and Bartenders.
Prior to 3CDC, Shedd worked for Miami University’s Event & Catering Services. There, she managed the catering team at Carillon Catering, which included events at The Marcum Hotel & Conference Center and high-stakes events at the President’s house.
Shedd graduated from Miami University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and French.
Joshua Steele
Senior Manager, Memorial Hall
Joshua Steele is the manager of Memorial Hall in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, where he hosts more than 250 performances and events each year. In addition to presenting 3CDC’s programming, Steele oversees Memorial Hall’s rental program and its more than a dozen resident ensembles, series and festivals. Notable performances and events since the 2016 renovation have included Graham Nash, Andrew McMahon, Victor Wooten, Del McCoury and The Moth, and awards programs including the Cincinnati Design Awards, the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, Cincinnati Advertising Awards, and the nationally broadcast Scripps Howard Journalism Awards.
Prior to joining the 3CDC team in 2016, Steele served as Managing Director of Theatre at The Carnegie in Covington, and General Manger of the Vocal Arts Ensemble. He also served as President of the League of Cincinnati Theatres from 2014 to 2016.
Apart from his full-time endeavors, Steele is an active performer, voice instructor for Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Theatre, and enjoys writing plays and musicals. He holds graduate degrees in Arts Administration and Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati, and a degree in vocal performance from The Ohio State University.
Emily Stowe
Senior Event Marketing Manager
Emily Stowe joined 3CDC as Event Marketing Manager in 2016, and in January of 2017 began overseeing the design and event marketing team as Senior Event Marketing Manager. In her current role, Stowe oversees the marketing and promotion of 3CDC’s civic spaces and events including Fountain Square, Washington Park, Memorial Hall, Court Street Plaza and Ziegler Park—including social media, email marketing, print and digital advertising, and radio, as well as managing the Civic Space websites and print signage.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Stowe spent six years in marketing at a project management agency. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ohio University.
Dana Sullivan
Senior Operations Manager
Dana Sullivan joined the 3CDC team in January 2018, where she acted as Operations Supervisor. In this role, Sullivan managed the Operations team for civic spaces, including Fountain Square, Washington Park and Ziegler Park. When 3CDC merged with Downtown Cincinnati, Inc., Sullivan took on more than 80 Operations team members, and helped them adjust to the merger.
In January 2020, Sullivan was promoted to her current role as Operations Engagement Manager. In this role, Sullivan handles employee engagement items including payroll, training, and scheduling, as well as employee growth and development on the Operations team.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Sullivan worked in Facilities managing the Stanford Boathouse for more than six years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from University of Tennessee, where she was a student athlete with a four-year scholarship in rowing, and a Master of Arts in Sports Management from University of San Francisco.
Reid VanPelt
Asset Management Director
Reid VanPelt joined the 3CDC team in 2016 as Parking Portfolio Manager. His responsibilities included overseeing day-to-day management of all 3CDC parking facilities and surface parking lots. VanPelt was promoted to Asset Manager in 2021, and Property and Facility Manager in 2022, where he currently oversees day-to-day management of commercial and parking assets for the organization.
Prior to joining 3CDC, VanPelt worked within the parking industry for 10 years, holding positions in valet management, facility management and operations management.
VanPelt obtained a Bachelor of Science from University of Cincinnati.
Katie Westbrook
Development Director
Katie Westbrook began her professional career in Real Estate Development at 3CDC. She joined the team in 2012 as a development intern and since then has served in multiple roles within the organization.
Her duties first focused on bringing 3CDC’s commercial leasing efforts in-house. Next, she moved on to serve as a Financial Analyst for 3CDC, where her work focused primarily on refinancing debt associated with completed development projects that had reached stabilization. Westbrook was promoted to Senior Financial Analyst in 2015 and, after serving in this role for one year, she transitioned back to the Development Team as Senior Development Officer in 2016. In January 2019, Westbrook was promoted to Development Manager, and in 2022, to her current role as Development Director. Her responsibilities include the overall management of the Development team, which includes managing the development staff, project management, underwriting of projects, closing permanent financing for construction, and management of the project team through completion.
Westbrook has directly managed the construction and financing for several of 3CDC's developments, including the headquarters for Empower ($17 million) and the Court & Walnut development featuring a new Kroger grocery store, 560-space parking garage, and 139 residential units ($94 million). Westbrook is currently focusing her time on the redevelopment of Foundry, where the former Macy’s department store was located ($51 million) and Willkommen, a large scatter-site mixed income/mixed-use project that includes the rehabilitation of 16 historic buildings and construction of four new building ($52 million). The financing of Willkommen combined New Market Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Low Income House Tax Credits, and Opportunity Zone Financing.
Prior to joining 3CDC, Westbrook received a master’s degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Ohio University. Westbrook currently lives in Over-the-Rhine near Findlay Market with her husband Mark and their dog, Penny.
Jenni Wilhelm, executive support & board governance manager
Brittany Methena, customer experience manager
Daniel Lancaster, recruiting coordinator
Deajah Baskin, training & engagement coordinator
Sarah Russell, administrative assistant
Chris Klenk, operations manager
Bryan Williams, district operation manager
Tina Caldwell, district operations manager
Dasia Brooks, civic space site supervisor
Matt Laugle, civic space site supervisor
Rob Ott, civic space site supervisor
Alex Martin, community engagement coordinator
Aubrea Atkinson, senior communications officer
Ashley Wilson, communications coordinator
Anna Barchick-Suter, senior development officer
Clare Healy, senior development officer
Rob Denham, senior development officer
Scott Betz, development officer
Simon Kaiser, development officer
David Taylor, project management officer
Kaliah Watterson, project management officer
Ryan Dattilo, senior property management officer
Anthony Neirouz, senior facility management officer
Aaron Pullins IV, parking facilities lead
Alex Greene, facility management officer
Brian Welch, facility management officer
Brittiany Lanier, facility management officer
Casey Kohake, facility management officer
Chris Schimmel, facility management officer
Joey Gamble, facility management officer
Ra’Niece Taylor-Benton, facility management officer
Thomas Van Auken, facility management officer
Larry Jones, asset management officer
Destiny Thomas, monthy parking administrator
Kenny Turney, maintenance assistant
Merrisha Dickerson, commercial leasing officer
Alex Mangas, event manager
Zak Kelley, event sales manager
Gladys Pope, program coordinator
Roza Gavriilidis, event coordinator
Bryce Addeo, event sales assistant
Brian Lloyd, technical assets manager
Caroline Curran, sales manager
Jared Webster, Memorial Hall box office & marketing coordinator
Joe Johnson, civic space site supervisor, Memorial Hall
Tarrah Wiehoff, graphic design coordinator
Will Wolf, multimedia intern
Alyssa Kimble, sponsorship intern
Tony Tufano, accounting manager
Joe Kemme, senior accountant
Jared Hoerner, staff accountant
Terry Herrmann, staff accountant
Jack Kander, accounting intern
Jillian Mounts, accounting intern
Spencer Lamb, accounting intern
Victoria Asiedu, accounting intern
Lynn O'Hara, accounting clerk
Toni Strauch, finance manager
Cameron Reynolds, senior financial analyst
Derrick Guthier, financial analyst
Alex Lott, financial analyst
Mark Summers, financial analyst intern
As 3CDC strives to strengthen the connection between Cincinnati’s central business district and Over-the-Rhine (OTR), the execution and success of its mission largely relies on recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining team members – including Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) – who have an eagerness to support the revitalization of Cincinnati’s urban core. 3CDC’s CSRs assist with the daily operations, maintenance, and programming at Fountain Square, Washington Park and the OTR district, and are integral to providing a quality experience and excellent customer service to each and every visitor at these locations. CSRs are on staff 24 hours a day to ensure that patrons always have access to a positive, dependable and enthusiastic resource during their visit.