Sarah House Board of Directors/Trustees
Join the Sarah House Board of Directors
We are currently seeking individuals to join the Sarah House Board of Directors. If you are interested in becoming a board member or for more information, please click on the attached application form.
Crystal Decker, Chairperson
Senior Public Relations Specialist, VITAS Healthcare
Crystal Decker is a seasoned public relations expert with more than a decade of experience in marketing and communications in local, regional, and national markets. Crystal’s board membership with Sarah House marries her previous professional work in the nonprofit sector at Talbert House, the largest social service agency in Southwest Ohio, with her current role at the nation’s largest hospice provider, VITAS Healthcare.
A Pennsylvania native and University of Pittsburgh graduate, she has called Northern Kentucky “home” since 2011. In her personal time, Crystal enjoys traveling, playing volleyball, attending live music events, sharing culinary experiences, and spending time with loved ones.
Zach Bohannon, Vice-Chair
Senior Field Representative, U.S. House of Representatives
Zach Bohannon is a Southwestern Ohio native and joined the Sarah House Board in January 2023. Zach first met Sarah Zepernick at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for advanced stage IV non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The two friends’ treatment schedules often coincided, and Zach was forever touched by Sarah’s bright smile, infectious joy, positive outlook on life, and resolve in the midst of hardship.
After the miraculous completion of his cancer treatments, Zach graduated from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) High School and went on to receive his Bachelors degree in Mass Communication/Radio Broadcasting and a Masters of Religion/Theology from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. His professional background includes non-profit, teaching and speaking at various levels, Christian higher education, and government/politics. He currently serves as Senior Field Representative for a United States Congressman from Ohio.
A resident of Lebanon, Ohio, and a member of Springdale Nazarene Church in Cincinnati, Zach enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, going to the gym, singing locally, being a connoisseur of 80s/90s pop culture, attending concerts, and experiencing the heartbreak and triumph of Cincinnati sports.
As a grateful cancer survivor, Zach hopes to honor Sarah’s legacy by serving children and families in need of compassionate care through his role on the Sarah House Board.
Ariel Schmid, Secretary
Strategy Analyst, VITAS Healthcare
Ariel Schmid is a Cincinnati native, receiving her undergraduate degrees from the University of Cincinnati and graduate degrees from Xavier University. She has healthcare experience ranging from EMT training, direct primary care clinic back office, and an administrative residency at VITAS Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading hospice organizations, where she now works as an analyst in the Innovation & Strategy department, creating tools to ease business processes, train staff on new applications, create business models and payment policy participation plans.
Ariel appreciates the integral yet undereducated end of the healthcare continuum that hospice and palliative care fall into and looks forward to contributing perspectives and ideas backed by experience and passion for patient experience and creating a dignified, peaceful care experience.
Michelle Locey, CPA, Treasurer
Managing Member, Locey, Mitchell & Associates
Michelle has a Bachelor’s in Accountancy from Wichita State University and over 30 years of public accounting experience, five of those with a Big Four Accounting Firm.
Michelle has dedicated her entire career to public accounting, focusing on the needs of the nonprofit and affordable housing industries. Michelle volunteers actively with Junior Achievement, Little Miami school district, and the Animal Friends Humane Society.
Elizabeth Arend
Deputy General Counsel, The Christ Hospital Health Network
A native of Northeastern Ohio, Elizabeth grew up on beautiful Lake Erie and received her undergraduate degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland. She obtained her law degree and met her husband at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Now, she and her family happily reside in Northern Kentucky. Elizabeth has practiced law in Cincinnati for almost 20 years and has provided legal support in a healthcare setting since 2013, including experience at a national hospice agency. Currently, she is a proud employee of The Christ Hospital. Elizabeth is grateful for the opportunity to support the mission of Sarah House.
Elizabeth enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts and the theater, playing piano, and spending time with family and friends.
John Francis
Retired, Executive Director and CEO of Redwood
John and his wife, Mary Nell, live in northwest Georgia near their three grandchildren. John retired at the end of December 2020 from Redwood in Fort Mitchell, KY, where he was Executive Director and CEO for nearly six years. John’s employment history includes inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse services; children’s residential treatment; foster care; special education; intellectual and developmental disabilities; clinical and administrative roles; and being a COA (Council on Accreditation) reviewer.
John enjoys paddling one of the cedar-strip canoes he has built, hiking, photography, camping, reading, playing banjo, and spending time with his family, especially the grandkids.
Amber Humphrey
Lead Analyst, Strategic Market Development, VITAS Healthcare
Amber Humphrey is a strategic development and communications leader with over ten years of experience leading strategic partnerships. Amber is a Cincinnati native who received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University and her law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She has worked in the nonprofit sector assisting wounded, ill, and injured veterans, first responders, and their caregivers. She currently works for VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s largest hospice provider.
Amber enjoys boxing, cycling, hiking, and spending time with her family and dogs.
Katie Prentovic
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Kirstin Springmeyer, MDiv, MS, BCC-PCHAC
Pediatric Chaplain, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Kirstin is a native Minnesotan who recently moved to Cincinnati to join The Center for Spiritual and Grief Care as a pediatric chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. An ordained Lutheran pastor, for over 30 years, Kirstin has served in a variety of congregational and hospital settings. She obtained her Master’s of Science in Palliative and Hospice Care-Psychosocial and Spiritual emphasis from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, and she is a Palliative Care and Hospice Advance Board Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Kirstin enjoys traveling, Pilates, walking, sports and arts venues, and spending time with her cat and dog.
Sarah House Advisory Board
Kim Marcum-Mercier, RN, Founder
Founder, Sarah House; RN Home Health Care and StarShine Hospice of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Rebecca R. Stringer, RN
Hospice Case Manager (27 years), All Caring Hospice
Rachel Thienprayoon, MD, Clinical Liaison
Medical Director of StarShine Hospice, Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Member of Palliative Care Team, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Norbert Weidner, MD, Co-Founder
Past Medical Director of StarShine Hospice, Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Member of Palliative Care Team, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center