2026 -2027 Board of Directors
Executive Board
Andy Wendt
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 Southwest 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 with over 35 years of operation. 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 thirty-five years and is the President of the company.
Rick Lawson
Vice President
Born in Middletown, Rick is the son of Donnie and Arlene Lawson. 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 over 30 years.
Rick Lawson currently serves as the Middletown Historical Society’s Vice-President after joining the Board of Directors in 2012. Over his time with the society, Mr. Lawson volunteers weekly at the Canal Museum and wherever 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, he volunteers with the Middletown Pioneer Cemetery, the Shalom program of Middletown and the HEAL program at Atrium Medical Center, and is a member of the Trenton Historical Society. Rick, DJs weddings and special events.
Deb Morrison - Snider
Secretary
Born December 7, (Pearl Harbor Day), and raised in Middletown Ohio, Deb graduated from 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 and is the current Chairwoman of the Middletown Cemetery Board.
Mrs. 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.
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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.
Kristen Fisher
Treasurer
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, Kristen has been proud to call Middletown home since 2015, when she moved to the city with her son. They share a love of learning about local history and visiting museums. She looks forward to discovering more about Middletown’s rich history and the people and stories that have shaped the community.
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Kristen spent 10 years working in the accounting and bookkeeping department of a local Middletown company before advancing her career. She currently works for an engineering and manufacturing company in Dayton, Ohio.
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She is honored to serve on the Middletown Historical Society’s Board of Directors as Treasurer. Kristen looks forward to giving back to the city she and her son call home and helping preserve Middletown’s history and heritage for future generations.
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She is also a proud member of The American Legion Middletown Post 218 and Middletown Moose Lodge 501. Outside of work and community involvement, she enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time in nature. She especially loves visiting nature preserves, where she can enjoy two of her favorite things: butterflies and birds.
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A devoted dog lover, Kristen adores her two little companions, Peanut, a miniature pinscher, and Pistachio, a Chihuahua.
Sam Salmon
Past President
Mr. Salmon works in real estate property management for Cushman and Wakefield. He began his career in property management in 2011, focusing initially on residential markets and later expanding into commercial markets. Throughout his career, he has received multiple awards for top sales and top property performance, and he has successfully managed and developed numerous high-quality properties.
In 2011, at the age of 24, Mr. Salmon became the youngest Trustee of the Middletown Historical Society Board of Directors. He later became the youngest serving President at the age of 31. Additionally, he has served as the Webmaster and co-chaired the Annual Fundraising Dinner for several years.
Over the past decade, Mr. Salmon has also served on advisory boards for various community paramedicine organizations.
Born and raised in Middletown, Mr. Salmon is descended from the Doty and Vail families, two of Middletown's founding families, along with other notable pioneer families of Butler and Warren County. He has a keen interest in early Middletown history, particularly its early pioneers.
In his free time, Mr. Salmon enjoys genealogy and traveling. He is working on his Genealogy Certificate the Boston University. In addition, he has completed numerous genealogy projects and is currently writing two books about Middletown's founding families.
Recently, Mr. Salmon started a business called Cincy Ragdolls, LLC, where he breeds the highly sought after Ragdoll kittens for families who appreciate this specific breed.
Trustees
Sam Ashworth
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. In addition he has also served Board Chair of the Butler County Visitors Bureau and was member of the advisory committee of Heritage Hall in Hamilton. Currently, Sam is serving as the Chair of the Bicentennial Committee for the Miami-Erie Canal in 2025.
Jeffrey Diver
Jeffrey Diver is a direct descendant of the Doty and Vail families – Middletown’s founding families. He has been a Trustee of the Middletown Historical Society since 2002, serving two terms as President of the Board. Throughout his career, he has actively served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees.
He currently is a consultant for nonprofit organizations, providing strategic planning, training and consulting. He is retired executive director of SELF (Supports to Encourage Low-income Families), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income families become self-sufficient.
He has been recognized with 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 2005; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award from the Middletown Ministerial Alliance in 2008; the President’s Award from the Middletown NAACP in 2017; and MLK “Purpose” award by the Feed the Hungry Project in 2019.
Before coming back to this 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. He and his wife, Angela, have four children.
Lisa George
Lisa George was born in Summerville, South Carolina, and has called Middletown home since 1980. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to serving families in times of loss, with a particular focus on compassion, guidance, and honoring the memory of loved ones.
Mrs. George worked at The Pines Pet Cemetery, where she received extensive training in grief counseling and developed a deep understanding of supporting individuals and families through difficult periods of loss. She also volunteered with Middletown Hospice, furthering her commitment to providing compassionate care and support to others.
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Mrs. George later retired from Dodd’s Memorials in Middletown, where she served as a memorial designer and customer consultant. In this role, she worked closely with local families to create meaningful memorials that honored the lives and legacies of their loved ones. Her compassionate dedication and commitment to the families she served earned recognition from both the company and members of the local community.
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Beyond her professional career, Ms. George remains actively involved in the Middletown community. She currently serves on the Middletown Cemetery Board and the Veterans Memorial Board at Woodside Cemetery, helping preserve and honor the community’s history and those who have served our country. She is also an active member of the Event Center and belongs to the YMCA.
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Mrs. George is married and has one son and two identical twin grandsons. She is also a devoted dog owner to Winnie and Birdie. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, and walking her dogs.
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Through her professional career, volunteer service, and continued involvement in the community, Mrs. George has demonstrated a lasting commitment to serving others and preserving the memories and legacies of those who have helped shape the Middletown community.
Kayla Hocz
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 Financial Center located in the heart of Downtown Middletown and close to Middletown’s Historic 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 Tzus, Roosevelt “Teddie” and Vada Mae 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.
Nicki Linville
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 several reasons, she has always had a love for Middletown and its history due to her family (the Finkelmans) 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 adorable cats, Cookie and Tonto. Even though she has moved from Middletown, it will always be home for her.
Jim Stabler
Apart from 2014 and 2023, Jim has been on the Board since 2008. He served two years as Vice President and two years as President of the Society.
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Jim has been a Docent since 2000, after "retiring" from a career of 25 years in Industrial Television/Communications industry. After 4 years in the US Army Security Agency, he was employed by Armco for 14 years and then NCR for 15 years. Currently, he volunteers at the Middletown VA Clinic and with our Society as part of the archiving team. Mr. Stabler has also served on the Citizen’s Advisory Board for the Middletown Police Department and the Historical Commission through the City of Middletown.
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As a lifelong resident, Mr. Stabler loves all of Middletown history, and what he enjoys most is researching to identify and date old Middletown and Armco pictures and memorabilia.
Ova Wireman
Ova Wireman, Jr. was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, and has maintained a deep connection to the community throughout his life. He is a retired employee of Graphic Packaging and currently works in the Lawn & Garden department at Lowe’s, where he continues to enjoy working with plants and helping customers with their outdoor projects.
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A lifelong resident of Middletown, Ova has a twin and is the proud father of two daughters. He also shares his home with his beloved Great Danes. In his free time, he enjoys photography, gardening, landscaping, exploring yard sales, and visiting thrift stores, museums, and historic sites.
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Ova has a particular passion for local history and has spent many years photographing and documenting the people, places, and stories of Middletown. In recognition of his efforts, he was honored with the 2019 Middletown Historical Society History Preserver Award for his work as a photographer and recorder of the city’s history.
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Today, Ova continues to serve his community as the newest member of the Board of Directors of the Middletown Historical Society, where his dedication to preserving the past helps inform and inspire future generations.
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