Leadership & Staff

Consortium Board

• John Prout, President and CEO of TriHealth, Inc. (Board Chairman)
• Thane Maynard, Director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
• Dr. Gregory Williams, President, University of Cincinnati
• Michael Fisher, President and CEO of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• Beth Robinson, President and CEO, Uptown Consortium, Inc.
• Robert Ambach, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, University of Cincinnati
• Tony Condia, Vice President External Affairs and Executive Director, University Hospital
• Beth Stautberg, Vice President and General Counsel, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• Will Groneman, Executive Vice President/System Development, TriHealth, Inc.
• Dave Jenike, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 

Beth A. Robinson:  President and CEO

Beth A. Robinson is President and CEO of the Uptown Consortium, Inc.  She leads the Consortium's efforts to revitalize Uptown Cincinnati including financing, real estate development, and advocacy. 

Beth served as the Interim President and CEO of Uptown Consortium for seven months as an executive on loan from the University of Cincinnati.  She has over 20 years experience in community and economic development with particular specialization in neighborhood revitalization, development financing, and business attraction and retention.   

Prior to joining the University, Beth served as the Director of Business Retention and Attraction for the City of Covington, Kentucky, where she was responsible for real estate development activities, Brownfield redevelopment, and small business loan products in addition to recruiting and retaining businesses.  Previously, Beth served as the Economic Director for the City of Springdale, Ohio and held various positions with the City of Cincinnati where she managed real estate development projects ranging in scale from large downtown commercial developments to small neighborhood-based infill projects. 

Beth is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and holds a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional designation from the National Development Council.  She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Administration from the University of Cincinnati. 

Janelle M. Lee: Director, Business and Community Affairs

Janelle M. Lee is the Uptown Consortium's Director of Business and Community Affairs. She has been with the Consortium since its inception in 2004.  Janelle is responsible for managing the human resource functions of Uptown Consortium and serves as the community affairs liaison to the Uptown neighborhoods.  Janelle collaborates with community representatives to plan events in Uptown, assists small businesses in developing retention plans, and oversees the Green Initiatives and Shop Local Committees. 

Prior to joining the Consortium, Janelle amassed over two decades of experience, including over 11 years in human resources at the University of Cincinnati and positions at Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., and Procter & Gamble Company. 

Janelle is involved with several community activities. She is a board member for the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, Lakota East High School Athletic Booster Organization, Feed The Hungry Project and a Trustee for the Cincinnati Ballet.  Janelle has served on the Executive Boards for the Butler County United Way’s Women’s Initiative and Black Career Women (BCW). She is a member of Alpha Tau Nu, Society of Black Women, a Notary Public for the State of Ohio, and a member of the Urban League's African American Leadership Development Program Class XV. Janelle graduated from the University of Cincinnati with an A.A.B. degree.   

Franz A. Stansbury: Director, Real Estate Development

Franz A. Stansbury serves as the Uptown Consortium's director of real estate development. In this position, he is responsible for the oversight, management, and general financial conditions of all real estate owned by the Uptown Consortium. He brings with him over 34 years of extensive, broad and successful professional experience in real estate development, development management, construction, operations, urban planning, and design.

Prior to joining the Consortium, Franz worked on with Diversified Development Services, working on diverse projects such  as high-rise resort hotels, golf courses, condominium towers, office buildings, sport and health club facilities, conference facilities, and residential developments. In addition to the Cincinnati region, Franz has completed development projects in North and South Carolina and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Franz has also dabbled in teaching as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Comprehensive Planning and Resort Development at the University of Cincinnati.

Franz earned a bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and a master's degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). Franz also has a certificate in Real Estate Finance, along with experience in financial management and managing project developments.

James A. Mathes: Corporate Controller

James A. Mathes is the Corporate Controller for Uptown Consortium and related affiliates. He brings over 30 years of experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations to his position. 

Prior to joining the Consortium, Jim spent six years as the Controller and CFO for a not-for-profit corporation that developed professional training programs for both state and federal departments, giving him extensive experience with government grants and contracts. He also has significant experience as a certified public accountant having practiced for over 15 years performing financial audits as well as managing a small business accounting and tax practice. Jim spent the first 12 years of his career working for Pitney Bowes and Cincinnati Milacron in a progression of management positions in both the corporate internal auditing and divisional accounting departments. 

A native of Cincinnati, Jim graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He received his status as a certified public accountant in 1986. Jim is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and serves as a legislative key person for the Society.

Anthony C. Saladonis: Accounting Manager

Anthony C. Saladonis is the Accounting Manager for Uptown Consortium and related affiliates. Tony joined the Consortium in September 2010 and brings over 20 years of experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations to his position. 

Prior to joining the Consortium, Tony spent five years as the Real Estate Accounting Manager for Miller-Valentine Group, a for-profit corporation that develops low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) multifamily properties, giving him extensive experience with federal, state and local tax credit financing. He also has 15 years experience as a financial analyst and job cost manager performing financial audits and corporate tax preparation as well as accountabilities in management reporting and consolidated financial statements. Tony spent the first 12 years of his career working for Hixson Architects, Federated Department Stores and Forest City Enterprises in a progression of analyst and accountant positions in both the corporate accounting, construction accounting and internal auditing functions. 

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Tony graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting & business management. He is currently preparing to sit for the certified public accountant exam.

Alex Lippert: Communications Intern

Alex Lippert is the communications intern at Uptown Consortium. Alex joined the Consortium in March 2012. She is responsible for writing organization material, updating the website and managing social network sites.

Currently, Alex is in graduate school getting her MA in Communications at the University of Cincinnati. In addition to school and her internship, she teaches two courses of Effective Public Speaking at UC. She has also been the Public Relations intern for Far-I-Rome productions and the admission intern for Up With People in Denver, CO.

After growing up in Cincinnati and finishing high school, Alex went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati with her BA in both Communications and Philosophy with high honors. Her current focus in graduate school is in nonprofit communications and social media effects.
 

John M. Peet: Urban Planning Intern

John M. Peet is the urban planning intern at Uptown Consortium. John joined the Consortium in June 2011. He is responsible for cartography, graphic communication and taking inventory of owned property. 

Prior to joining the Consortium, John worked as an intern at the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders in Bridge City, Texas where he took part in the reconstruction of homes destroyed by Hurricane Ike. John has also worked as an intern for the Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and The Heidelberg Project in Detroit, Michigan. 

A native of Dayton, Ohio, John will graduate from the University of Cincinnati in June 2012 with a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP).