2022-2023
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wendt, Andy – President
Born in Middletown, Andy has been a lifelong resident. He is a graduate of the Middletown High School class of 1982 and attended Anderson College as well as Miami University to study Systems Analysis and Business.
Andy was brought up in a small middle class family, with his mother staying home to raise he and his sister, while his father, Robert E Wendt, was employed by IBM and primarily stationed at the ARMCO General Offices. His family moved from Monroe Street to the east side of Middletown in time for him to attend first grade at Creekview Elementary.
Andy's parents were both descendants of German immigrants whose families moved into South West Ohio in the early 1900's to take work in the steel and construction industries.
In 1989 Andy took his first full-time position with CFR Inc., a Middletown-based business technology firm now in their 35th year of operations. While attending Miami University, and prior to joining CFR Inc, Andy worked for the City of Middletown, Computer Sciences Corporation, and NCR.
Andy has now been with CFR Inc. for 33 years and is the President of the company.
Lawson, Rick – Vice President
Born in Middletown, Rick currently still resides there. Mr. Lawson graduated from Middletown High School in 1981 and is an Eagle Scout. Rick has a History Degree from the University of North Dakota. He works in landscaping and has done so for 30 years.
Rick Lawson currently serves as the Middletown Historical Society’s Vice-President. He joined the Board of Directors in 2012. Over his time with the society, Mr. Lawson volunteers weekly at the Canal Museum and where ever he is needed. He tends to the landscaping needs for the Shartle House, and Rick heads up the rental of the Shartle House venue.
In addition to being involved with the Historical Society, Rick, DJs weddings and special events. He also volunteers with the Shalom program of Middletown and the HEAL program at Atrium Medical Center.
Petrocy-Hammond, Cam – Secretary/Facebook Administrator
Cam, an area native, grew up in Monroe and was a LMHS Graduate. Over the years, Mrs. Hammond worked in the legal field as a Legal Assistant for Casper & Casper; Pratt, Singer & Thomas; and Thomas, Botros, Kollin & Schulte, L.L.C. She also was a secretary for the Middletown-Monroe School System. She coached Boys’ Tennis for Monroe High and was a Drill Team Advisor for the Madison High School Marching Band.
Cam is very proud of her family. She has been married to her husband Larry for 42 years and they have two wonderful children: Benjamin and Laura. Her family includes the Ritters, who founded the Ritter Harness & Buggy/Leather Company. Aunt Joan and Cousin Eileen Ritter danced and sang at the Paramount, Strand and Gordon Theaters in Middletown. Later they were members of the Roxyettes and performed USO tours with Bob Hope for the U.S. troops.
Cam serves as the Secretary and Facebook Administrator for the Historical Society, joining the Board of Directors in 2012. She has championed the Facebook page getting 5,000 followers in just 2 ½ years.
Howard, Brenda - Treasurer
Brenda was born in Middletown and resided there until recently moving to Monroe. She is a proud member of the Middletown High School Class of 1964. Brenda received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting from Miami University.
Brenda worked for Armco Inc. as a Tax Accountant for 30 years. She also computerized Armco’s Federal and State Income Tax returns. Immediately after retiring from Armco, Brenda worked as a Systems Administrator for former Armco executives at Bob’s Truck Service. She streamlined their systems and set up a computerized dispatch system. When Armco and AK merged, Deloitte & Touche hired Brenda to work in the Tax Department at their client AK Steel. Deloitte was looking for Brenda’s background with the tax history of Armco and with her computer and programming skills. Brenda retired from Deloitte on Halloween, 2008.
“Nerd girl” is a nickname that Brenda applies to herself. She likes nearly everything digital. Brenda always has at least one murder mystery checked out digitally from Mid-Pointe Library. She is also a dedicated wine lover and can be seen at wine tasting throughout the area. She was former Treasurer of the Manchester Manor Condominium Association. She is a Trustee of the Middletown High School Class of 1964 Memorial Scholarship and is Communications Chair and (sometimes) Events co-Chair for the Class of 1964.
Salmon, Sam – Past President / Trustee
Mr. Salmon is a Multi-Family Property Manager and has been in this industry since 2011 currently managing with PLK Communites. During his time in the industry, he has been a recipient of multiple Top Sales performance awards.
Sam was the youngest Trustee, joining the Middletown Historical Society Board of Directors in 2011 at the age of 24, and was the youngest President at the age of 31. He has been the Webmaster of the Website and co-chaired the Annual Fundraising Dinner from 2014 - 2017.
Over the last decade, Sam has also served on Advisory Boards for different international community paramedicine organizations.
Born and raised in Middletown, he is descended from both the Doty and Vail families, two of Middletown’s founding families, along with other prominent Butler county families. He is most interested in early Middletown history including its pioneers.
In his free time Sam loves genealogy and traveling. He has completed numerous genealogy projects and is currently writing two books showcasing Middletown’s founding families.
Ashworth, Sam – Trustee
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Sam Ashworth graduated from Eaton High School and from Miami University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He was employed in the design department of Armco Steel Corporation for fifteen years, including a three-year term in the United States Army. In 1979, Sam started his own graphic design studio.
Sam served as Executive Director of the Middletown Historical Society from 1998 to 2007 and has served as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Society. He is also Board Chair of the Butler County Visitors Bureau and a member of the advisory committee of Heritage Hall in Hamilton.
Carberry, Timothy – Trustee
Born in 1952, in Middletown, Ohio, Tim Carberry was raised near Red Lion and lived on a small farm. He is the son of Edward Carberry and Josephine Linkous. Like many other families in Middletown, his mother’s family migrated from Kentucky when work was not available there and his father worked in the Fabricating Department at ARMCO, shipping nuts and bolts to where they were needed.
A graduate of Springboro High School in 1970 and 1974 Miami University Graduate, Tim was a teacher for the Carlisle School district for many years. His expansive career spanned from 1974 until he retired in 2003. A previous resident of Franklin, Ohio, Tim has resided back in Middletown for over the last two decades and is very passionate about Middletown History.
Diver, Jeffrey – Trustee
Jeffrey Diver is the Executive Director of Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF), Butler County’s Community Action Agency dedicated to helping low-income families become self-sufficient. He has held that post since 1996.
Throughout his career, he has actively served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees. He has served on the Middletown Historical Society Board of Directors since 2002. He served two terms as President of the Board. He is a direct descendant of the Doty and Vail families – Middletown’s founding families.
In 2005, Mr. Diver was presented the Karen S. House Leadership Award for Dedication and Commitment to the Development of Leadership for Regional Collaboration by the West Chester Chamber Alliance. In 2008, he was presented with the MLK Drum Major Award from the Middletown Ministerial Alliance.
Before coming back to the area where he was raised, he was the field director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, based in Washington, D.C. and chaired by the former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. Mr. Diver and his wife Angela are the proud parents of four children, ages 16 years to 27 years old.
Hocz, Kayla – Trustee
Born and raised in Middletown, OH, Kayla Hocz graduated from Monroe High School in 2008. Kayla attended Miami University in Oxford, OH and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a focus on History, Economics, and Native American Studies. Kayla took great pride in completing her college coursework, as she eagerly maintained a place on the Dean’s List each semester. After college graduation, Kayla started a position with First Financial Bank in Middletown, OH as a teller. Today, Kayla is the Financial Center Manager for First Financial’s Downtown Middletown Retail Banking Center located in the heart of Downtown Middletown and close to Middletown’s Historical Main Street District. Kayla is proud to serve her hometown’s financial needs, while focusing on the preservation and growth of Middletown.
During Kayla’s formative years, she attended Roosevelt Elementary and then on to Vail Middle School, which contributed to Kayla’s love for history. After losing both historical structures in recent years, Kayla made it a personal goal to join Middletown’s Historical Society to assist in the protection of our historical buildings, and all the stories and memories that lied within. Kayla was welcomed to Middletown’s Historical Society in 2022, and truly looks forward to assisting the Society with her passion for history.
In Kayla’s free time, she enjoys traveling to new places to learn the histories and cultures. Kayla has a true passion for studying history and connecting the dots from past to present. Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, and her Shih Tzu, Roosevelt “Teddie” Hocz. Kayla also enjoys spending time out in nature, often going on hikes and day adventures with her family and friends. Due to Kayla’s love for her family, passion for history, and all things Middletown, she recently purchased her childhood home in the Sunset Park area and is currently renovating
Linville, Nicki – Trustee
Mrs. Linville works for Ballard Design Outlet, located in West Chester as a retail sales associate helping customers with decorating needs and advice. Mrs. Linville received her Interior Design Degree from Massey Junior College in Atlanta.
Nicki joined the MHS in 2003 and has served as Trustee and Treasurer. For a number of reasons, she has always had a love for Middletown and its history due to her family residing here and being a big part of the city's development dating back to the early 1900's when her family immigrated to the United States from Russia.
Nicki spends her free time being creative and enjoying her husband, Randy Linville, her dog Macy, and her cats. Even though she has moved from Middletown, it will always be home for her.
Morrison-Snider, Deb – Trustee
Born December 7, (Pearl Harbor Day), and raised in Middletown Ohio, Deb went to Middletown High School.
Deb has served on many Boards and Commissions in the City which include, Past President of the Butler County Ohio Genealogy Society. She volunteered 19 years for the Middletown Area Memorial Day Association with the Memorial Day and Independence Day Parades. She is current Secretary for the Veteran's Memorial Fund located at Woodside Cemetery and has served since 2000. Deb is also the current Chairman of the Middletown Cemetery Board.
Mrs. Morrison-Snider is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary 3809. and has served on various other boards including; Rolling Thunder Ohio Chapter 11 Dayton Ohio, Shaboom’s, Inc. and Friends of the Veterans.
Being on the Veteran's Memorial Committee has allowed her to compile two books: The Men and Women from Middletown who fought and died in the Korean War and The Men from Middletown, Ohio who died in Vietnam. She currently is working on another book about the men who died in WWI from Middletown. Being the daughter of a Korean War Veteran, it has become Deb's passion to make sure they are never forgotten.
Deb lives in Middletown has two children and three grandchildren.
