R. Gene Schuster

Founding Member & Board Chair

Worthington, Ohio Gene Schuster is President of Synger~Ed Associates, an educational policy, enrollment management and instructional technology consulting practice.  He serves as VP of Operations for the National Center of Higher Education Risk Management, and Board Vice Chair of Fund for Ohio’s Future (My School, My Choice).  At OSU, Gene served as Director, Office of CIO, as well as University Registrar.  For over six years, Gene has served as Chair of the Board for Ohio Connections Academy, a virtual charter school and is Chair of BCSB.

Eric S. Fankhauser

Founding Member & Vice Chair

Toledo, Ohio Eric is the Vice President and Co-Owner of Toledo Metal Spinning Company and has served for over twelve years as Board Chair for two charter schools: Life Skills Center of Toledo and OHDELA. He holds both a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bowling Green State University. Eric is service-oriented, generously giving his time to numerous organizations. In addition to his role on the BCSB Executive Committee, he is a trustee of the Toledo Rotary Foundation, and a trustee of the Toledo Community Foundation Board; Chairman of the Promedica Toledo Children’s Hospital Foundation Board; a member of Precision Metalforming Association (PMA); the Ohio and Toledo Chambers of Commerce; a longtime member of the Toledo Club. a past trustee of the St. Ursula Academy Board and past President of the Rotary Club of Toledo.

Winford Dearing

Treasurer

Columbus, Ohio Winford Dearing currently serves as the contract manager for Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation. In this role, he is Responsible for the procurement of all job training activities, contract certification and contract performance. Prior to his current position, he has had a long and successful career involving not only financial oversight, but also involvement in the field of behavioral health. In the charter community, he serves as the Board Chair for Focus East and Vice Chair for Focus Southwest, both drop out recovery schools in Columbus.

Kerry Hageman-Froelich

Board Member

Columbus, Ohio Ms. Hageman-Froelich received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Akron School of Law in 2009. Upon graduation she was awarded the National Association of Women Lawyers Award for the Outstanding Law Graduate of the University of Akron 2009. Ms. Hageman-Froelich was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in 2009. Ms. Hageman-Froelich is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association. As a board member of Great Western Academy since 2014, Ms. Hageman-Froelich currently serves as board chair since October 2016.

Rodney Hale

Board Member

Cincinnati, Ohio Rodney Hale is Vice President of Aegis Protective Services in Cincinnati, OH overseeing over 600 employees.  With a background in criminal justice and serving previously as Chief of Police, Rodney has over 30 years of experience in government, corporate business and volunteer services. For the last 7 years Rodney has served as Board President to Marshall High School and Cliff Park High School. He was also Board President at Clark Preparatory until June 2017 and now currently serves as a board member.

Mark Saffran

Board Member

Cleveland, Ohio Mark Saffran is a Major Account Consultant with Minute Men HR Services in Cleveland, OH. As a strong sales and marketing professional with experience in venture capital markets, Mark has managed sales for both Fortune 100 and early stage medical technology companies. Since 2012, Mark serves as head of the HR Committee and is a board member for Intergenerational School where he previously held board chair along with Near West Intergenerational and Lakeshore Intergenerational Schools.

Sally Perz

Founding Member & Administrator

Toledo, Ohio Sally Perz, President, Cardinal Learning, LLC., is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives and worked many years bringing charter schools to Ohio. Accomplishing that important goal, Sally’s legislative office became the state’s “go-to” center for information on these “new” public schools.  She launched the Ohio Charter School Resource Center which later merged with the Ohio Charter School Association.  She served on both Boards.  More recently Sally helped develop Buckeye Charter School Boards, Inc., a statewide association for Ohio’s charter school board members. Sally then was instrumental in the development of BCSB and continues to provide support to the Executive Committee.