January 2026 

January Birthdays

3 Bryan Zuniga-Ramirez 
4 QuaTauna Bostic 
6 Lakeesha Palmer 
12 Sandeepthi Balumuri 
14 Danielle Mitial 
15 Lakisha Cunningham 
16 Alaysha Brunner 
16 Navya Nalla 
17 William Benson 
17 Ynobe McCrae
18 Mandi Buchwald 
19 Alexa Bush 

20 Makale Bangoura 
21 Othello Banks 
21 Amos Li 
21 Natasha Battise 
26 Ashely Boylan 
26 LaiMari Spence 
27 Sheila Harrell 
28 Renee Owens 
28 K’Jayla Jones 
29 Wayne Deal 
31 Phyl Flanagan  

1 YEAR 
Ivelisse Cupid 
Fathi Mohamed  
Alessia Ross 
Cynthia Toler  

2 YEARS 
Regina McFarland  

3 YEARS 
Natasha Battise 
Elizabeth Brown 
Lakeesha Palmer 

January Anniversaries

7 YEARS 
Alexa Bush  

12 YEARS  
Deborah Turner 

20 YEARS 
Keith Hall  

26 YEARS 
Val Henthorn 

  • Doran Allen

  • Suzanne Clark 

  • Jessica Coyle 

  • Lakisha Cunningham 

  • Erniesha Guerrier 

  • Sheila Harrell 

  • Sara Hosni 

  • James Konah 

  • Leah Mahmoud

Welcome to the following teammates who joined the YWCA family in November & December:  

  • Aubree Manns-Stewart 

  • Mary Mitchell 

  • James Muhammad 

  • Banyan Olds 

  • Bradley Roberts 

  • Paige Storms-Cunningham 

  • Dontae Taylor 

  • Frances Tibbs 

People on the Move

Congratulations to the following employees who were promoted at the end of 2025! 

  • Betty Rickabaugh was promoted from Data Quality Assurance Coordinator to Data & Compliance Administrator 

  • Shelby Gayer was promoted from Data Quality Specialist to Data & Compliance Administrator 

  • Erin Scott was promoted from Human Resources Generalist to Senior Human Resources Generalist 

  • In honor of YWCA Columbus’ 140th anniversary in 2026, we’ve released a calendar that highlights important milestones and memorabilia from our 14-decade history, along with artwork from last summer’s art contest. If you have not received yours, yet, please reach out to Molly Kowaleski at mkowaleski@ywcacolus.org.  

  • Please keep a lookout later this month (January) to submit nominations for Employee of the Quarter through your ADP account. Start thinking about who you want to nominate for their hard work and dedication to YWCA Columbus.

  • Get ready for the first Third Thursday, happening Feb. 19! Our theme for this day will be "love" — so please wear red, pink, white, or anything else that you find that falls under that category! 

    Each Third Thursday, we’ll ask everyone to dress according to the theme, so keep an eye out for additional details throughout the year!

Team Announcements + Updates

Save the Date

  • YWCA Columbus’ Justice, Equity & Belonging team will join the Ohio Council of Churches Anti-Racism Team for an upcoming Zoom training on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m., entitled, “Telling the Truth: How the Church Handles Issues of Race.” Learn more and register here.  

  • Join YWCA Columbus at its newest Safe & Sound childcare site (27 West Jenkins Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43207) on Monday, Feb. 9, between 1 and 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided, and caregivers will have the opportunity to tour the space, meet the staff, and enroll their children (ages 2.5-5) in our gold-rated Step Up to Quality program!

  • Third Thursday is happening Feb. 19, and we’re asking everyone to dress in theme: "love" — so please wear red, pink, white, or anything else that you find that falls under that category!

  • Registration is now open for Women of Achievement 2026! Encourage your friends and family to purchase their pass and reach out to Alexa Molitor to learn about volunteering at this year’s event. This year, we will honor Janelle N. Coleman, Dr. Deepa Halaharvi, Tauana McDonald, Letha Pugh, Molly Rampe Thomas, and Catherine Strauss. 

If you have shout-outs to share for February’s newsletter, please submit them to Molly Kowaleski at mkowaleski@ywcacolumbus.org.

YWCA Columbus in the News

The Buckeye Flame shared news of Letha Pugh’s Women of Achievement honor following December’s announcement.  

Congratulations were issued to the Kathy Duffy Espy Leadership for Social Change 2025 graduates. Check out photos from the graduation ceremony here.  

YWCA Columbus proudly announced the 2026 Women on the Rise in December, emerging leaders who are creating meaningful social change and uplifting our community. They will be celebrated alongside the Women of Achievement at YWCA Columbus’ 41st Annual Women of Achievement luncheon on April 29, 2026.  

Our president & CEO, Elizabeth Brown, was named Columbus CEO’s 2025 Large Nonprofit CEO of the Year. We are grateful for her bold leadership, caring nature, and unwavering commitment to the mission of YWCA Columbus!

YWCA Columbus issued a statement following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, urging our lawmakers and community leaders to defend the constitutional rights of all people.

Looking for the last issue of YWConnect? Read YWConnect November - December 2025 here. Beginning in 2026, we’ll send our employee newsletter monthly instead of every other month.