FC Cincinnati Foundation Board Members

Jeff Berding is Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, who, with Carl H. Lindner III, founded the club as a USL franchise in 2015. With three seasons of record-setting success on and off the field in the USL, Berding led the club’s expansion efforts that successfully resulted in the club’s ascension to Major League Soccer for the 2019 season and then the opening of TQL Stadium in 2021. Prior to founding FCC, Berding spent more than 19 years as an executive with the Cincinnati Bengals where he led the Sales and Public Affairs efforts for the NFL team. Berding also previously served for three years as volunteer president of Kings Hammer Soccer Club. Berding was first elected to the Cincinnati City Council in November 2005, and was then twice re-elected in 2007 and 2009, where he chaired the Rules & Government Operations Committee and was vice-chair of the Finance Committee. Berding is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian, born and raised in Westwood where he attended St. Xavier High School. He graduated cum laude from Miami University, and earned his MBA from Xavier University with honors.

Kelly Blake is President/Owner of Lumen Marketing Consultancy, a marketing firm that helps clients achieve greater success through strategy, planning, and execution. Kelly began her career with Ford Motor Company, spending time in Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Upon relocating back to Cincinnati, Kelly worked for AHS, Inc. as Executive Vice President and for Intrinzic Marketing & Design as Director of Marketing Services.

Kelly held a variety of leadership roles in the Cincinnati Chapters of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). She was also a member of the Cincinnati Business Courier 40 Under 40 Class of 2010. Born and raised in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, Kelly has grown up in the Greater Cincinnati community and resides in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.

Lindsey is the Chief Financial Officer at FC Cincinnati and serves as the Club’s Chief Business Officer for all MLS matters. She leads the organization’s financial strategy and enterprise business operations, ensuring the Club’s resources, decision‑making processes, and long‑term planning support sustainable growth. In this dual capacity, Lindsey helps guide FC Cincinnati’s evolution from a rapidly scaling, start‑up‑like organization into a more disciplined, professionally operated club, while driving alignment around the ambitious strategic plan that positions the team for long‑term success in the world's sport - soccer.

In nearly seven years with FC Cincinnati, Lindsey has developed a deep understanding of the operational and structural elements required to run a successful professional sports organization. She oversees the Club’s core administrative and enterprise functions, including Accounting & Finance, People & Culture, Technology, and Business Intelligence, ensuring strong organizational alignment, financial discipline, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Lindsey began her career in public accounting at Grant Thornton after graduating from Xavier University and earning her master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. A Certified Public Accountant, she brings a rigorous financial foundation and a strategic, people‑first leadership style to her role.

 
Passionate about service and mentorship, Lindsey maintains close ties to her alma mater, Xavier University, where she has mentored students and served on the Accounting Advisory Board. She is also part of Leadership Cincinnati Class 49. 
 
Lindsey is married to her husband, Robert, and they are the proud parents of a joyful and energetic toddler who brings endless laughter and perspective to their lives.

Max Fisher is a Partner and Market Lead at Associated Insurance and Risk Management Advisors, one of the largest privately held insurance and employee benefits brokerage firms in the U.S. After over a decade in Michigan, Chicago, and New York City—including strategic roles at two Fortune 1000 insurance firms—Max returned to his hometown of Cincinnati in 2020 to open and lead Associated’s local office, now a growing team based in Over-the-Rhine (down the street from TQL Stadium). He advises large, privately held businesses nationwide on property & casualty and employee benefits strategies, with expertise spanning real estate, private equity, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing. Deeply committed to the Cincinnati community, Max serves on the boards of JVS Careers and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. A proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School and the University of Michigan, Max lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Chelsea, and their two young children

Christopher Griffin is a community organizer and the Vice President of the West End Community Council in Cincinnati, where he leads efforts to strengthen and uplift one of the city's most historic neighborhoods. Known for his hands-on approach, Christopher has worked closely with residents - especially youth - to tackle critical issues such as housing stability, gun violence, and neighborhood revitalization. 

Through organizing block parties, cleanups, and advocacy initiatives, he has helped create spaces where community nembers feel heard, connected, and empowered. Christopher's work is driven by a belief that sustainable change comes from within the community itself. He is committed to building partnerships, developing future leaders, and ensuring the West End continues to grow without losing its identity.

Carly Knue is the Assistant General Counsel at Trew. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Carly spent her youth playing competitively for Cincinnati United Premier and collegiately at Emory University. Carly has also devoted her time to coaching youth soccer and has been a supporter of the West End Pride. Carly is active in the Cincinnati community and spends her free time playing Pickleball and cheering on the local sports teams.

Christie Kuhns is a dynamic, deeply engaged, passionate and trusted corporate and community leader. She was recently awarded the Jeffery Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Cincinnati, she has been named a "Forty Under 40" by the Cincinnati Business Courier, one of the "100 Rising Stars in the Nation" by The Business Journals, selected as a member if Leadership Cincinnati Class 43, a "New Century Community Service honoree" by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, she recieved the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President's Award, the Cincinnati NAACP President's Award, A Making Black History Honoree by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and was named one of the Region's Most Powerful Business Leaders by Cincinnati Magazine. 

She began her career in leadership at a small not-for-profit organization. She attended law school and practiced at both a major law firm and Fortune 500 company. In 2015, Christie was elected as an Ohio State Representative in the 131st General Assembly, 32nd District. She then gained experience in the healthcare sector at UC Health, as Vice President of Operations and Community Relations, and Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer. All while volunteering in the community, including 16 years in the Avondale Community.

Christie holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Cincinnati and attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law to earn her Juris Doctorate. There, Christie was part of the Moot Court Honor Board and inducted into the Order of Barristers, a national honor society. She also possesses an impressive record of volunteer engagement, including inaugural member of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Cincinnati Reds Diversity Advisory Board, the Ohio Poverty Law Center Board of Directors, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, the Library Foundation of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the YWCA Board of Directors, Vice Chair and the Board of Bethesda, Inc.

Christie is currently the President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, with a mission to help Black people and historically underserved communities to achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, civil rights, and justice.

Don is a native Cincinnatian. He graduated with Summa Cum Laude in Finance from Ohio University in 1973. Don spent his entire 43 year professional career in Cincinnati working for American Financial, Great American Insurance Company, and the Lindner family, rising to become President & Chief Operating Officer for Great American before retiring in 2017. Don has significant corporate and non-profit Board experience and currently serves on three boards, including his role as Chairman of the Board of the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson, WY. He and his wife Lynn have been married 40 years and enjoy their retirement lifestyle split between Cincinnati, Jackson, WY, and Sarasota, FL.

Shellie Leder has spent her career in commercial real estate and development in Greater Cincinnati. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Engineering, Shellie returned to West Chester at a time of significant growth in the northern corridor. She focused on continuing and enhancing development in that corridor for 20-plus years while also being heavily involved in numerous charitable and community-driven causes. It has always been important to Shellie to give back to her community. As a young professional she served on the Board of The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty (now the Northern Cincinnati Foundation) and was instrumental in founding the Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association. During this time Shellie co-founded the Shamrock Shuffle in West Chester and served as Race Chair for 10 years. Additionally, Shellie co-founded the Union Centre Food Truck Rally. Both events still serve as community builders and fundraisers. Since starting a family and settling into her home in Indian Hill, Shellie has been an active participant in the Indian Hill Recreation Commission, serving as Soccer Chair for many years and currently as Vice President. She is passionate about youth sports and the important roles they play in fostering childhood mental and physical wellness and community vitality. Shellie has coached various youth sports since she was in high school and currently is a recreational and club volleyball coach. Shellie believes coaching is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to her community. In her spare time, Shellie enjoys spending time with her three children and husband, much of this time is spent watching and participating in sports.

Martha Lindner is a committed philanthropist who has a strong focus on education and a strong passion for helping impoverished children throughout the world. Lindner and her husband Carl, led efforts to found Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, a private, non-denominational Christian school offering grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Martha is an avid volunteer in the community, particularly with Back2Back Ministries, where she serves as a board member. This international Christian non-profit organization is dedicated to being a voice for orphans. In addition, Lindner has served as a board member of Stepping Stones and the Children’s Theatre. Lindner was also on the founding team of Horizon Community Church. She is a Cincinnati native and earned a Bachelor of Finance degree from the University of Cincinnati. Martha has been married to Carl H. Lindner III for 46 years and they are the proud parents of four and grandparents of six. Her husband, is Co-CEO of American Financial Group and the Managing Owner and CEO of FC Cincinnati.

Tabitha Lindner is originally from Rabbit Hash, Ky. and now lives in Cincinnati. Tabitha graduated with a B.A. in communication arts from Xavier University and has spent her career in staff recruitment and marketing with organizations including Landor Associates. At Landor, she managed the regional and global brand identity and packaging development for P&G Old Spice and global Oral Care (Crest, Oral-B, etc.) through concept ideation, design development and implementation. Lindner is active in the community with organizations including the Junior League, Boys and Girls Club of Wilmington, Del., Ronald McDonald House, Shelterhouse, Stepping Stones and Dress for Success.

Rob is the Chair of Taft’s Cincinnati Business practice group where he has garnered a reputation as principal counsel to private equity and venture capital funds, growth-minded companies, sports franchises, and research institutions. In doing so, he leads equity financings, securities offerings, significant commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other major strategic initiatives. In short, Rob works with global and national clients that are frequently structuring substantial and meaningful business transactions.

Nationally, Rob is the Chairman of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Board of Directors and serves on the Board of the League of American Orchestras. Due to the global scope of Rob’s practice, Rob also serves on the Board of the Interlex Group, an association of leading law firms around the world. Within Ohio, Rob serves on the Executive Committee of InnovateOhio, the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Main Street Ventures. Rob is the Immediate Past Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Past President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Cincinnati. Rob received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. While an undergraduate, he completed comparative law course work at New College, Oxford University. He earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, and during his last term of law school, he clerked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Rob grew up in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Japan. and Belgium.

Mandy Neeley is Chief Consumer Banking and Strategy Officer for First Financial Bank, headquartered in Cincinnati, OH. Mandy has spent her entire career with the Bank, beginning as a part-time teller during summers in college. After playing soccer and earning a Marketing degree at Bowling Green State University, she joined First Financial as Marketing Coordinator, setting her on a career path that has resulted in the leadership position she holds today. As Chief Consumer Banking and Strategy Officer, Mandy oversees the Consumer Banking division and the Marketing, Product, Communications, and Strategy teams. She is responsible for ensuring that First Financial meets the needs of consumers wherever and whenever they choose to interact with the Bank. Mandy provides leadership over the development of First Financial’s corporate priorities and key initiatives. She has led strategic developments in the Bank’s consumer segmentation and distribution strategies, and has played an integral role in the launch and evolution of the First Financial brand, the advancement of the Bank’s sales process and enterprise CRM, and development of a formalized strategic planning process. Mandy is a member of the Board of Directors for the Ohio Bankers League and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. She served as the Marketing Committee Chair for the United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s 2019 giving campaign, and was the Chair of First Financial’s 2020 United Way corporate campaign, the company’s most successful associate campaign to date. Mandy is a working mother, balancing the demands of a young family and a successful career in banking. She and her husband, Jeff, have two sons, Cameron and Charlie. She enjoys spending time with family, a challenging workout, and a good glass of wine.

Jamie currently is the Publisher/Market President of the Cincinnati Business Courier and has held that position since February 2011. He was previously Director of Advertising with the Courier since 2003. Jamie has over 36 years of media experience.

After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a degree in marketing he was an account executive for The Recorder Newspapers of Northern Kentucky and spent 11 years in sales management with The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Jamie lives in the Clifton Heights community and truly loves being a Cincinnatian and considers himself a huge connector in our community in both the business and civic spaces. He has three children: Michael 37 –doctor in Louisville, KY; Tyler 34– an architect in New York City and Mackenzie 29– an occupational therapist in New York City. He has two grandsons.

Jamie serves as chair of the board of directors for the Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon. He is on the executive committee of the Film Cincinnati Board and sits on the Board of Advisors for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Redi Cincinnati.

Jamie was a 2010 graduate of the Leadership Development program sponsored by the Courier’s parent company “American City Business Journals” and a 2013 graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 36 sponsored by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

He is an avid sports fan and has season tickets to FC Cincinnati, Xavier University Basketball and University of Kentucky Basketball.

President – Acendion Collective

David Spaulding is an accomplished construction and real estate development professional with extensive leadership experience across multiple facets of the industry. He is the President and Co-Founder of Acendion Collective, where he leads high-performing teams in the development of multifamily and mixed-use communities. His expertise spans strategic growth, operational execution, and large-scale project management, having played a pivotal role in some of the most significant construction and development projects across the nation.

David’s career began at Turner Construction Company, where he gained critical experience in legal strategy, market leadership, and global enterprise operations. This broad expertise shaped his deep understanding of risk mitigation, financial dynamics, and the intricacies of successful real estate development. Following his tenure at Turner, David served as the President of Lithko Contracting, one of the nation's largest concrete contractors, where he led major initiatives and organizational growth. His law degree from Chase College of Law, further strengthens his ability to navigate complex contracts and development strategies with precision and long-term focus.

In addition to his leadership roles, David serves on the Executive Committee of Fischer Homes, one of the nation’s leading home builders and is a Director on the Board of HBH Holdings, a privately held company specializing in fabrication, maintenance, and construction for utility and industrial markets.

Deeply committed to community impact, David serves on the Board of the FC Cincinnati Foundation and was appointed to the CVG Airport Board of Directors. David is also the incoming Chair of the OneNKY Alliance. He is active in the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, where he chairs the Regional Assets Committee and serves on the Executive Committee. David also contributes to the Central Bank Advisory Board and served as Chairman of REDI. His leadership extends to the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), to foster connections among leaders and innovators.

A passionate advocate for building strong communities, whether structuring multi-million-dollar deals or fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, his leadership is defined by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a commitment to making a lasting impact.

David holds a Juris Doctor from Chase College of Law and a Bachelor in Business from Marshall University, where he also played four years of Division 1 soccer.

He is married to his high-school sweetheart, and they have three children. He spends his free time with his family usually on the sidelines of the kid’s soccer games.

As a partner in the KMK Law’s Business Representation & Transactions Group, Allie Westfall’s insight and proven analytical skills help translate the complexities of the often-challenging securities laws. Allie’s counsel allows public and private companies to more efficiently raise money through both private and public offerings. Allie focuses her practice in the areas of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and business planning. Her practice includes representing corporate clients in a variety of business transactions, as well as advising publicly-held clients on matters related to SEC reporting and compliance, the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market, and corporate governance matters. Allie has experience reviewing and preparing filings under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, preparing Section 16 beneficial ownership filings, and in Rule 144 transactions. Allie also has experience in the private placement of securities for both publicly-held and private companies and preparing related state "blue sky" filings. Allie earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2013, where she served as an Article Editor on the University of Cincinnati Law Review. She served on the Editorial Staff of Human Rights Quarterly, as a Student Ambassador, and was also involved with Advocates for Children. Allie currently serves as co-chair for the KMK Women's Initiative and is a member of the firm's Associate's Committee and Diversity Committee.