Meet the Board
Michelle Crabtree
President
​
Second grade teacher, Centerville City Schools
​
I have been married to my husband, Jason, for 25 years. Together we have three beautiful daughters. We enjoy camping together as a family.
My passion for A Special Wish Foundation began in 2010, when our oldest daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was granted a Wish. Ever since then, I have made it my mission to give back and pay it forward for other children and families through A Special Wish Foundation.
April Womack
Vice President
​
Strategic account executive,
Henry Schein One
​
My fiancé and I and our dog (Beau) live in Sugarcreek Township. We love to travel. Most important, we value staying involved in our community. My father is a pediatric dentist and has had these special children as his patients. The things they all seem to have in common are hope and grace. My favorite part of being a board member is the holiday party. I love seeing the children able to be carefree: playing, picking presents, and leaving exhausted but happy—full of smiles and hugs for everyone.
Jayne Gmeiner
Secretary
​
Chief nursing officer,
Dayton Children's Hospital
I am a nursing leader with over three decades of nursing leadership experience in adult and pediatric health care environments. I enjoy time with family and friends, attending sporting events, reading, and, especially, the beach! I serve on this board to help create resources for special events for the children in our region who are experiencing very difficult life-threatening illnesses. I am motivated by creating fun family memories for these children and their families.
Elizabeth "Liz" Downer
Treasurer
​
Tax manager,
Flagel Huber Flagel
My husband, Cameron, and I love to travel and stay active. We enjoy hiking, biking, mountaineering, skiing, and photography. The team at A Special Wish truly works to make a child's Wish as special as possible. I love that they include the entire family in the Wish and offer the family a moment of "normalcy" during a time of uncertainty.
Christopher Beesecker
Senior project manager,
Berger Construction Services
​
I grew up in Greenville, Ohio. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, learning about American history, trying new local restaurants, and traveling.
​
I helped grant a Wish in 2022 and felt the impact. I love seeing deserving children receive an experience or gift that helps bring them happiness.
Mukund Dole, M.D.
Program director, Hematology/Oncology, Dayton Children's Hospital
​
My hobbies include golfing, photography, gardening and spending time with family and friends. I work with many families who are recipients of Special Wishes and I see firsthand how they impact the families that I work with.
Rebecca Gulden
News director, WKEF/WRGT
I’ve been in the news industry for nearly twenty years, starting my career as a producer. I grew up in the Dayton area and have lived in many other cities during my career. I moved back to Ohio in 2013 and love being home. My hobbies are playing tennis, hiking, traveling, podcasting, and spending time with loved ones.
I’m honored to be part of A Special Wish and to help children and families who are going through an unimaginable time.
Anne Keeton
Managing shareholder,
Freund, Freeze & Arnold
My husband, Mark, and I are proud to have raised our two boys in Kettering. We spend more time than not watching and/or playing basketball and are huge fans of UVA basketball. I remember one summer shuffling down the aisle of an airplane, heading with our little family to Disney. I noticed the family seated on either side of us. It was so clear to me that it was a Special Wish family, and their daughter was so excited! It touched me so much, and I’m so glad to play a part in helping to make those kinds of family experiences possible.
Brandon McClain
Montgomery County Recorder
​
I am an avid chess player and love karaoke—especially if I don't know any words to the song. I graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a bachelor 's degree in criminal justice; I have a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati and a juris doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law. I am a member of the Rotary Club of Dayton and a founding member of the Northmont Kiwanis Club.
Carol Murray
Nurse practitioner,
Transitional Care Unit, Dayton Children's Hospital
I have been married to my husband, Chris, for 30 years and we have four adult children and also serve as foster parents. We love to explore all things in the great outdoors. I also enjoy running, reading, and sporting events. I love to hear stories and see pictures of families that I have worked with during prolonged hospitalizations. enjoy a family event or vacation.
Dylan Romans
Senior audit and accounting manager, Brady Ware and Company
I am native to the Dayton area and enjoy spending my free time with my wife and son, traveling, and visiting all of Dayton’s awesome craft breweries. I really enjoyed seeing Nathan’s wish for the ultimate Cleveland Browns experience come true in October 2022. Even as a Bengals fan, it was amazing to see how welcoming the Browns organization and players were and to see Nathan’s joy in getting that experience.
Brooke Schleben
Attorney, probate, estate planning, and elder law, Pickrel, Schaeffer, and Ebeling
​
I love spending time with my fiance, Katie, and our four fur-babies: Zeus, Skyler, Seamus, and Catticus Finch. My hobbies are coaching girls basketball for Centerville's middle school program and teaching law and criminal justice at Sinclair's Prison Program. I have witnessed many of my adult family members battle cancer, and have tested positive for the BRCA gene. I have seen what a terminal illness has done to my family, and I could not imagine it being a child. I want to help grant every child I can with a Special Wish, just to see them smile.
Advisory Board
Mr. Gary Auman
Judge Anthony (Tony) Capizzi - Chair
Ms. Jana Collier
Ms. Deborah Feldman
Mr. Derek Forward
Judge Jeffrey Froelich - Past-Chair
Mr. Jim Heikes
Ms. Helen Jones-Kelley, Esq.
Mr. Brian McNiece
Mr. Tony Oritz
Mr. David Roer, M.D.
Mr. Craig S. Thiele, M.D.
Emeritus Board Members
Charles Manker
Ruth Wiles
Immediate Past President
Abigail Riedel, Dayton Children's Hospital
Staff
Executive Director
David Seyer
937-641-4267
SeyerD@childrensdayton.org
Wish/Marketing Director
Tyler Gregory
937-641-4265
GregoryB@childrensdayton.org
Admin Manager
Judi Newell
937-641-4263
NewellJ@childrensdayton.org
code #844837 or ASWF
