Experienced, Dedicated Teamwork
Brandi Slaughter
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Brandi’s work has focused on developing and implementing policy that impacts children and families. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School with a concentration in Child and Family Law.
On the outset of her career, she offered direct service to children and families—mainly those considered high-risk youth at several Columbus settlement houses. She worked in the Ohio Senate as a legislative staffer and lobbied on behalf of the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. While at Public Children Services of Ohio, she advocated on behalf foster youth and county children services agencies. It is in these capacities that she has been instrumental in developing and implementing public policy at both the state and federal levels.
At Voices, Brandi continues to improve the well-being of those that society often neglects. She empowers youth and child advocates across the state with training and tools for effective advocacy. Her policy expertise includes juvenile justice, child welfare, after-school/out-of-school time, and youth development.
Beth Waldren
Director of Development
Beth joins the Voices team with more than ten years non-profit fundraising experience. Most recently, Beth worked as the Director of Development for the Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen. She has extensive experience in developing corporate partnerships and stewarding individual donors.
Prior to her career as a non-profit fundraiser, Beth was a public affairs consultant. Her clients included The Ohio Prosperity Project; LBrands and Pfizer. She also spend several years as an event planner. A highlight in her career included eight years in the Office of the Governor during the George V. Voinovich administrations. During her tenure there she served as a liaison between the Governor and his senior staff/Cabinet members.
Beth lives in Galena, Ohio with her husband Tom and two daughters, Grace and Abigail.
Dana Schmersal
Executive and Advocacy Coordinator
Dana Schmersal joined Voices for Ohio’s Children in August as the new Executive and Advocacy Coordinator. In this role, she provides support to Voices’ CEO and Board of Directors, coordinates events such as the annual Kids Health Conference, and performs research and analysis as a member of both the Policy and Communication Teams. With an academic background in both social work and criminal justice, Dana brings to Voices a broad range of experience in diverse organizations such as the Nebraska Attorney General’s office and NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. Most recently, she served as Programs and Policy Associate at the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter where she managed professional development programming, provided legislative advocacy support, and ran the Social Work Advocacy Group. Dana earned her Bachelors of Social Work and Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice from Dana College in Nebraska and her Master of Social Work from the Ohio State University. She is excited to join Voices because she understands the value, necessity, and impact of nonprofit advocacy. Sound, compassionate social policy changes lives and inspires optimism in human potential.
Shelly Beiting
Nutrition, Health and Wellness Policy Analyst
Shelly Beiting joins Voices with a deep experience in hunger, poverty and early childhood sectors. Most recently she served as the Chief Operating Officer at Children's Hunger Alliance where she oversaw the agency's efforts to expand USDA nutrition programs across Ohio. Her work also included increasing access to nutritious food and safe physical activity, increasing opportunities for nutrition education for families and strengthening partnerships around the state with those who have a vision for healthy children. Before her 13 years at Children's Hunger Alliance, Beiting also had experience in clinical dietetics as well as public health and international efforts in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Beiting holds a B.A. from Goshen College and a M.P.H. in Public Health Nutrition from the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
Thomas Scheid
Health Policy Consultant
Thomas Scheid brings extensive experience in public policy development and program implementation at state and county levels. His responsibilities with Voices for Ohio's Children are primarily in working with home visiting programs and implementing the Voices for Ohio's Children health care policy agenda.
Tom has held administrative and program development positions in several departments of state government, as well as in county government. He has worked with a focus on Medicaid, early care and education and developmental disabilities. As a former director within a large Job and Family Services agency, and active involvement with the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association, he has an in-depth understanding of what it takes to implement human services programs.
Tom serves on several boards and advisory groups, including the Help Me Grow Rule Revision Leadership Team and Early Childhood Finance Workgroup, and as treasurer for Early Care and Learning. He is a founding member and board member for the Clintonville Rotary and serves as coordinator for the Small Business Network on Health Care.
Tom holds a master's degree in education research and design from The Ohio State University. He and his wife live in Columbus, and the family includes six grown children.