AMA Cincinnati Agency Volunteers Support Local Nonprofits and Startups

Over the past six months, dozens of Cincinnati-area marketing professionals chose to live intensely: volunteering their time, expertise, and passion to empower local nonprofits and startups. On June 10, 2026, AMA Cincinnati Agency celebrated their incredible achievements.

AMA Cincinnati Agency is a six-month program that matches marketing volunteers with local nonprofits and startups to help them with strategic projects that grow our economy and strengthen community resilience.

The marketing volunteers worked tirelessly to help organizations strengthen their messaging, reach new audiences, and dramatically grow their impact. Together, the volunteers donated an estimated $250,000 value in marketing services.

“I’m so grateful to our team for taking all of our ideas and hopes, and distilling them into messaging that will help us reach even more people,” said Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder of Thrive Empowerment Center. “I learned so much about brand voice. We will be overhauling our entire website and customer communications because of their help.”

“We knew our website needed navigational help to encourage quick decision-making, but we couldn’t see the path ourselves. Our AMA team showed us how to simplify without losing substance,” said Jasmine Hughes, Director of Marketing & Development at Aviatra Accelerators. “We’re already using the templates and are excited to implement the clearly mapped execution of our newest offering — our VIP membership!”

Marketing is a unique discipline that requires both the exact science of analytics and the intuitive art of human connection. By combining strategic thinking with creative execution, our volunteer teams helped the organizations reach new levels of maturity.

“Working with this team of professional marketers, I learned incredible lessons and saw different points of view,” said Ever Quinonez, a marketing volunteer.

“It’s so interesting to see the different workflows of other marketing professionals, all while getting to the same effective outcome,” agreed Claire Farrell, another marketing volunteer.

Whether you are a local marketer looking to donate your skills or a nonprofit or startup organization ready to reach the next level, AMA Cincinnati Agency is waiting for you. Together, we can continue to transform visions into reality and ensure our community’s future is anything but tepid.

A Look at the 2026 AMA Cincinnati Agency Beneficiaries

This year, AMA Cincinnati Agency teams supported seven outstanding organizations:

• Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP)
  • Team: Betty Dannenberg, Chris Grabarkiewicz-Davis, Janell Manzon, Carrie Stigler, Katie Peyton, Grants Project Manager at AIMP
• Thrive Empowerment Center
  
  • Team: Francesca Balducci, Kamran Hameed, Audrey Ronis-Tobin, Michelle Taut, Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder Thrive Empowerment Center, Lindsay Falcon, Co-Founder Thrive Empowerment Center
• Know Theatre of Cincinnati
  • Team: Dominic Altier, Hope Conrad, Sherri Ehlers, Christopher Laird, Pam Rezai, Christina Teed, Katie Hartman, Marketing & Communications Manager, Cincinnati Fringe Festival Producer
• Aviatria Accelerators
  • Team: Claire Farrell, Liz Foreman, Myrna Guiot, Lynn Luebberst, Jasmine Hughes, Director of Marketing & Development at Aviatra Accelerators
• Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC)
  • Team: Dirk Commandeur, Deb Kalus, Claire Khmelev, Ever Quinonez, Colleen Riddell, Miska Spaulding, John Leo Muething, Executive Director Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Jason Carter, Marketing Manager at Clifton Cultural Arts Center
• Galia Collaborative
  • Team: Lisa Devine, Lauren Dupuis, Mahtab Jahanpour, Andy Noller, Travis Scott, Ashley Solomon, Founder Galia
• Black Art Speaks
  • Team: Nicole Accordino, Dennis Devlin, Islam Gouda, Ben Morrill, Alandes Powell, CEO Black Art Speaks

How to Get Involved

Future Volunteers: If you are a marketing professional looking for a tangible way to use your skills to give back, AMA Cincinnati Agency is it! This is more than just an opportunity to build your resume; it’s a chance to roll up your sleeves and directly contribute to a stronger, more resilient Greater Cincinnati. Plus, you’ll work in a team and collaborate with other marketing professionals. Volunteers are the true essential ingredient for the success of this program, and we invite you to bring your unique experience to this program! Applications open in September, and the program runs from January through June.

Future Clients: If you are a startup or nonprofit leader, you know how hard it is to stretch limited resources. AMA Cincinnati Agency provides you with a dedicated team of marketing experts to help solve your most pressing challenges. Nonprofit organizations and startups may apply for selection beginning in September, and the program runs January through June. Organizations selected must commit a dedicated resource with up to 20 hours a month and pay a minimal fee in order to participate.

More details can be found online at https://www.amacincinnati.org/get-involved/ama-cincinnati-agency/.