Meet the Board & Staff
CCAC Board
The CCAC Board has approached its startup, mission, renovation planning, and sustainability planning with a level of diligence typically applied to for-profit corporations. The Prospective Project Review report conducted by the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission states, “From the information given in the Business Plan, the Board of Directors for the CCAC appears to have the expertise of a financially healthy organization” and “appears to contain members with requisite experience in fundraising, construction, legal and financial disciplines, among others.”
The Board’s careful, collaborative approach to planning has propelled CCAC forward continuously since 2004 and is evidenced by its relationships with established arts organizations, strategic partners, and community leaders.

CCAC Staff

Leslie Mooney – Executive Director
Leslie Mooney joined the CCAC in October 2013 as the second executive director in its five-year history. Leslie brings ten years of experience in non-profit and museum management to CCAC, having most recently held the position of Director of Development of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. After completing her bachelor’s degree in history at Georgetown College, Leslie lived in Temuco, Chile where she taught English to kindergarten through high school aged students. She has also held research and education positions at the United States Department of Justice and the Boston History & Innovation Collaborative. She received her master’s degree in Public History from Northeastern University, with a focus in non-profit management and women’s history.
Her passion for the arts began at a young age surrounded by a family who was always singing and performing. She was a member of several community productions in and around her hometown of Dixon, Kentucky as a child and received a partial theater scholarship to Georgetown College. Leslie began her career in educational programs and exhibition interpretation and has a personal mission to educate, connect and inspire communities to create a deeper and more fulfilling human experience.
In addition to her love of art and theater is a love of sports, food and wine. She is an avid fan of UK basketball, the Reds (and Red Sox), the Bengals (and, alas, the New England Patriots). Her husband, Brendan, is a Massachusetts native, chef and father extraordinaire to their three sons, Graeme, Colin, and Quinn. They have happily resided in Clifton for the last six years.
You can reach Leslie at leslie.mooney@cliftonculturalarts.org.

Emalene Benson – Programs & Communication Manager
Emalene Benson became a part of the CCAC team in July 2013. She came to CCAC after a year spent obtaining her TEFL Certification in Florence, Italy and working as an ESL instructor for The New British Centre in Rome. A born and raised Cincinnatian, Emalene is thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the thriving cultural arts community in her hometown.
Prior to her European adventure, Emalene attended Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY and received her bachelor’s degree in arts administration. She’s previously worked for the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center in Louisville. As Mellwood’s Administrative Coordinator / Galleries Director, Emalene managed artists and artwork in 5+ galleries as well as oversaw the online marketing and promotional aspects of Mellwood’s private and public events.
Emalene is actively involved in our city’s vibrant arts community: you may see her around town singing with the Young Professionals Choral Collective, participating in flash mobs with DANCEFIX by HBDC, or attending a production by one of the many wonderful theatre groups that call Cincinnati home.
You can reach Emalene with creative class and community programming ideas at emalene.benson@cliftonculturalarts.org.

Debbie Ollinger Bernloehr – Finance Associate
Debbie joined the CCAC in February, 2016, and manages various financial and development responsibilities. Debbie was born and raised in Cincinnati, but also lived in New York and Chicago while she pursued her Marketing career. She previously worked as a Brand Manager at Quaker Oats and H.J. Heinz, then shifted gears to become an Account Director at LAGA, a package design firm in Cincinnati.
She became a stay-at-home mother when her second child was born, and has been busy with volunteer activities ever since. She currently volunteers with the Cincinnati Zoo, and has previously held leadership positions with the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Kindervelt and various community groups and school organizations.
She received her undergraduate degree in International Business from Hofstra University in New York, and her MBA from Indiana University. She is the proud mother of three grown children and has been married to her husband, John, for over 25 years.
Debbie has always been interested in working with a non-profit and is thrilled to be part of an organization that is so dynamic, educational and just plain fun. Its focus on the arts and outreach to the community is a treasure for the entire city of Cincinnati.

John Leo Muething – Marketing and Development Manager
John Leo joined CCAC in October 2021 after a lifetime of love for theater and the arts. He completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Durham in northeast England and received a Professional Fundraising Certificate from Boston University. He has five years of nonprofit experience, previously working at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Ohio Valley Voices, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. His marketing knowledge comes from providing freelance support to organizations like Matinee Musicale in Cincinnati and an Australian science website.
You can reach John Leo at jl.muething@cliftonculturalarts.org.

Emily Versoza – Office Coordinator
Emily Versoza joined the CCAC team in July of 2017. Previously, Emily attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati, graduating in 2013 with a degree in Fine Art and Art History, and dedicated much of the years in between to cultivating her own studio practice. Born and raised in Clifton, Emily is delighted to be able to be a participant (in a more behind the scenes capacity) in the arts community of Cincinnati.
Outside of her duties as Office coordinator, Emily can be found traveling with her husband Joey, compulsively researching future travel, pursuing carbohydrates, or participating in a wide spectrum of visual culture.
You can reach Emily at emily.versoza@cliftonculturalarts.org.
CCAC Advisory Council
The Clifton Cultural Arts Center (“CCAC”) Advisory Council is an impartial, objective advisory body separate and distinct from the CCAC legal governing body, the Board of Directors. The Advisory Council serves to advance CCAC’s Mission and Guiding Vision.
Murray Sinclaire
Founder, Ross, Sinclaire & Associates
Carolyn Miller
Community Volunteer
Brian Taylor
Lead Pastor, Bethel Cincinnati
Jim Huizenga
Senior Program Officer, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (retired)
Mary McCullough-Hudson
CEO, ArtsWave (retired)
Herb Robinson
Associate Director Worldwide Quality Assurance, The Procter & Gamble Company (retired)
Jamie Easterling
Executive Director, Good Samaritan Hospital
Roxanne Qualls
Former Mayor, City of Cincinnati
Paul Mueller
Mueller Architects
Robert Probst
Dean, College of Design, Art, Architecture & Planning, University of Cincinnati
Beth Robinson
President & CEO, Uptown Consortium, Inc.
Mary Jo Vesper
Community Volunteer
John Pepper
CEO & Chairman, The Procter & Gamble Company (retired)
Ron Kull
Senior Associate, GBBN Architects