Meet the Board
Audrey Jarvey - Governor
I am Audrey Jarvey and I began my Soroptimist journey in 1987 when a dear friend invited me to a meeting of the Fond du Lac Club. I was at first in awe of this group of very professional businesswomen, and thought to myself – I surely would never fit in here! But they were all very open and friendly and I felt drawn to become a part them. I attended another meeting and was then invited to become a member – it was one of the best and most life-changing decisions I have made.
Being a Soroptimist and part of my club has helped me grow professionally and personally. I became involved right away in chairing the TAP Award committee (now the WOA). Throughout the years I have served on almost every committee we’ve had-I’ve co-chaired Chocolate Fantasy and have served on the board for as many years as I can remember, first as Recording Secretary, as a Director at Large, President-Elect, President and Past President.
Working together with these awesome women, making lifelong friendships and helping other women has definitely made me a better person. Professionally, I have become a better speaker; I’ve made excellent networking contacts, and have a confidence that has evolved as I continue to move forward.
Being a member of the Region board is such an opportunity to expand my Soroptimist involvement to the next level. I enjoy working with the other board members from the region. I think that I have really gotten a better feel for the “big picture” of our mission and the amazing work that is being done and all of the positive results of that work. And, best of all, getting to know the women of region and the friendships that develop – that’s the icing on the cake!
My professional background is in Accounting and am now Very happily retired!
Personally, I had just met my husband Don around the time I joined Soroptimist. We were married in 1989 and are continuing our adventure in retirement. He is a very dedicated Soroptimister!
Ruth Waggoner - governor elect
I am Ruth Waggoner and have been a member of SI Kenton/Hardin County since 2007. I have served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Delegate at the club level and been on several committees in our club. At the Regional Level, I am continuing as District II Director and I also served as chairman of the Dream It Be It program.
My husband Bill and my family have supported me in all my roles as a Soroptimist. They know how passionate I am about Soroptimist and what it means to me. We have five children and eleven grandchildren who keeps us every busy. Three in college, three in high school, two in middle school and three in grade school, so lots of activities to go to.
Bill and I are both retired now from farming and I also worked and retired from Huntington Bank as a Universal Banker. We like to travel and we were snow birds in Florida for twelve years and decided to sell our home down south.
Being District Director has allowed me to get to know the clubs better in my district and to watch them grow and become successful. It also has allowed me to make many more new friends.
lINDA ALPERS - TREASURER
I’m Linda Alpers and am a charter member of SI Northeast Suburban Franklin County. Over the last 25 years, I have served in all office positions in my club and have been the registration chair for the region since 2010. For the last year I have also been the webmaster for simwr.org.
I have worked at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for the last 32 years and am currently a Clinical Applications Consultant working with their electronic medical record application. I plan to retire at the end of 2022 and will then have more time to dedicate to Soroptimist and the position of treasurer.
I am currently the sole caregiver to my parents who now live with me and my 3 fur babies.
Karen Kier - Secretary
Karen is a leader in pharmacy education, ambulatory care, practice research, and promoting public health. She is passionate about training students and residents and has published or presented over 30 research papers and 8 textbooks. In 2024, Karen was awarded the Bowl of Hygeia Award recognizing a pharmacist who possess outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities and encourages pharmacists to take active roles in their communities. She writes a weekly newspaper column published in 5 local Ohio newspapers on health and medicine. Karen is the co-chair for the Hardin County Service Unit for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. Karen has been a Soroptimist since 2007 and has served as Treasurer, Vice President, Delegate and President of the SI Kenton/Hardin County club. She is a SIA Stargazer and a member of the Laurel Society. Karen lives with her husband Tom and black lab Violet in Ada, Ohio. Her daughter, Erica, is a bioengineer who designs facial prosthetics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, knitting, sewing, and traveling.
Connie Gindt - District I director
I have been a member of Soroptimist International of Fond du Lac since 1990 and have enjoyed 30 plus years of awarding women and girls financial assistance through our educational awards. We’ve assisted our community in many other ways, including redecorating a bedroom for a women and her children at the local shelter, participated in Light Up the Night, worked to women’s build for Habitat for Humanity, Team Trivia Night for Literacy and donated funds for so many local programs that needed our help.
Our fundraiser have been unique to say the least; Landmark ornaments, Chocolate Fantasy, Rummage Sale, Brat Fry, Antique Appraisal Night, style show, international dinners and raffles to name a few.
The bonus part of my Soroptimist membership is the lifelong friendships I have gained through working side-by-side with these wonderful women. We each have different life experience and are able to trust and share with each other those differences and remain friends. Plus it's great fun!
With a 42 plus year career in customer service, I truly believe that teamwork and good communication is key to making a difference; at home, at work and in our organization. I recommend new members especially volunteer for committee work right away and get to know your fellow members. You will find them a fascinating group!
I look forward to serving as your District I Director. My email is always open (voicemail - not so good with that).
Let’s make this a rewarding and fun biennium.
Becky Mentzer - sECRETARY
Becky Mentzer became a member of SI-Bloomington-Normal in 2018 because the mission of Soroptimists resonated with her in many ways that were played out in her career. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), she helped women as a vocational counselor, addictions therapist, and professional development trainer. In between those last two jobs, she worked at both Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University as an academic advisor, instructor, and career counselor.
Becky served as President of SIBN in 2020-2021; however, putting all the pieces together from her career journey has been a passion for Becky as Program Chair. She led the Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It programs, interacted with community partners, and recently developed a program for women at YWCA Labyrinth, a housing and support program for women who experienced incarceration.
Becky looks forward to her term as District 1 Secretary, while balancing her role of helping local women and girls.
Becky and her husband, Rob, have been married 47 years, have three grown children, who are married and have provided much joy through eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Becky and Rob enjoy spending time with them, traveling, and walking trails. She loves to knit, crochet and read in her downtime.
Laura Ferguson - District II Director
Laura Ferguson is serving her second term as District II Secretary and has been a member of SI/Kenton/Hardin County since 2012. She has held several offices in her club, including President and Virginia Wagner Award chair. She joined the club after asking then-Governor Missie Austin what was this Sophmorist thing that she belonged to? One meeting later, she was a new member and could pronounce Soroptimist correctly.
Laura graduated from the Ohio State University in 2001 with a BA in English. She then went on to serve in the US Peace Corps (RPCV/Bangladesh ’03-’05) before returning home to work in the family business. Since then, she has been active in her community as county deputy to the Ohio State Grange, member of the Ohio Knit Wits Knitting Guild, and various other community groups.
Megan Carpentier - District II Secretary
Megan Carpentier is the District II Secretary & member of Soroptimist International of Anderson. She has held offices of President, Treasurer, Live Your Dream Chair, & Dream It Be It Chair since becoming a member of SI of Santa Clarita Valley (CA) in January 2019. She was involved in redesigning the DIBI curriculum for SIA in 2019 & is passionate about mentoring & removing barriers to help woman & girls reach their full potential.
Megan currently is a US Dermatology Marketing Manager at Eli Lilly & holds a BS in Business Management from Long Beach State, Masters of Business Administration (MBA) & Masters of Marketing from Indiana University. She is also on the board of Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) a service sorority & member of the Youth Mentor Initiative, & Habitat for Humanity International.
In her free time she loves to relax with family & friends, travel (43 countries & counting + all 50 states), volunteer, go to sporting events, & is part of 4 book clubs.
She is so excited to get to meet more amazing woman & watch the clubs grow & thrive!
Gail Hutra - District III Director
Gail Hutra is the District III Director and is a member of SI of Monroe County. She has served as Secretary, Program Chair, Celebration of Women Co-Chair, Bylaws Chair, Delegate, Region Laws and Resolutions Chair, and District III Secretary. Gail had attended and volunteered at many Soroptimist events prior to becoming a member in 2010.
Gail spent 33 years in Retail Management and is now retired. She is the current Chair of The Salvation Army of Monroe Advisory Board, the Trustee of St. Michael’s We Care, and a member of the Special Events Committee for United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties.
Pricilla hUTRA - District III Secretary
Pricilla Hutra is the District III Secretary and is a charter member of SI Monroe County. She has been a member of this club for 43 years. Pricilla has held the offices of President (2X), Vice-President, Treasurer, Director, Program Chair, Membership Chair, Fundraising Chair, Public Awareness Chair, Celebration of Women Chair, Awards Chair, District III Secretary, Region Violet Richardson Award Chair, and Region Nominating Chair.
Pricilla spent 40 years working in the banking industry. She started as a Co-Op Student and ended her career as Head of the Bank Card Department and Assistant Vice-President.
She is a member of The Salvation Army of Monroe Advisory Board, Special Events Chair for The United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties, President of St. Michael’s We Care, and an Honorary Member of The Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
ALEXandra nicholis COON - District IV Director
Alexandra Nicholis Coon is the District IV Director for Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County and a member of the Canton/Stark County Club. She has previously served as the Region Public Awareness Chair, District IV Secretary, Region Virginia Wagner Award chair, and club president.
Nicholis Coon currently serves as executive director for the Massillon Museum and holds a BA in art history from Kent State University and an MA in art history through the joint program at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University. She has been with the Massillon Museum since 2001 and served as curator from 2003 to 2010. Coon served as board president for the Ohio Museums Association from 2017-2019, and is currently the board chair for Visit Canton. She is active on boards of the Cleveland Print Room, Massillon WestStark Chamber Foundation, and the Aultman Health Foundation. Museum Advocacy is near and dear to her heart; she has joined museum colleagues nationwide on Capitol Hill for eight years now as part of the American Alliance of Museums Advocacy Day. She has led two major capital projects for Massillon Museum, most recently a $6.2 million expansion.
She and her husband Joshua live in North Canton with their twin daughters.
AMY HURSEY - District IV Secretary
Amy Hursey is the District IV Secretary and a member of SI Zanesville where she serves as recording secretary and Public Awareness chair.
Amy joined Soroptimist after being introduced to the club by a friend, then was encouraged to become District 4 Secretary by former Governor Vicky Hicks. Amy is a true giver, with a heart for volunteering and serving. Amy has worked as a lab supervisor for 32 years. She is active in her church, serves as a board member at a local community center and after school program, and enjoys traveling with husband Shawn. In her spare time Amy likes to read, loves to cook and enjoys completing the Wordle puzzle every day.
Amy says, “ I have had so many new experiences since joining the MWR Board, and made many friends all across the region. What we Soroptimists do is important work and I am honored to be a part of it.”