Cincinnati Opera announces new board officers, trustees, and Associate members

CINCINNATI (October 2, 2025)—Cincinnati Opera announces the election of officers for its board of trustees for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, as well as the addition of eight trustees and seven Cincinnati Opera Board Associates.

Officers were elected at Cincinnati Opera’s Annual Meeting on September 17, 2025. These officers were originally elected to serve a one-year term in September 2024 and were all re-elected to serve another one-year term as of the Annual Meeting. They include:

  • President Ronald T. Bates, Managing Director, 1919 Investment Counsel

  • Chair Melanie M. Chavez, Partner, Chavez Properties

  • Treasurer and Executive Vice President Robert Bitter, Partner, Deloitte

  • Secretary Charles E. Baverman III, Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl

Ronald T. Bates
President

Melanie M. Chavez
Chair

Robert Bitter
Treasurer & Executive Vice President

Charles E. Baverman III
Secretary

Also as of the Annual Meeting, new trustees and new members of the Cincinnati Opera Board Associates, a subsidiary of the board of trustees composed of young professionals, began their three-year terms.

New trustees include:

  • Amy Bixel, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Fifth Third Bank

  • Josh Blatt, President, John Henry Homes

  • Michael T. Dean, Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl

  • Michelle Goret, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Cintas

  • Brandon R. Jones, Audit Partner, Deloitte

  • David Paredes, Director of Marketing, Standard Textile

  • Buffie Rixey, community volunteer

  • Heather Z. Vecellio, Director of Brand, Design, and Production, HiNOTE

New Board Associates include:

  • Alicia DeVore, Marketing and Public Relations, Castellini Management Company

  • Caressa Layne Miles, Operations Coordinator and Gallery Director, Xavier University

  • Cara Nicolas, Marketing Coordinator, SHP, and Owner/Writer, Caniche Communications

  • Maddie Shanahan, Attorney, Calfee, Halter & Griswold

  • Carlin Twedt, Brand Manager, KAO

  • Lou Velazquez, Marketing Director, The BMW Store & Cincinnati MINI

  • Tobias P. Wright, Account Executive, Zoom


About Cincinnati Opera

Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. Our programming is made possible in part by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Cincinnati Opera also receives support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, and the H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, along with many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America. Learn more: cincinnatiopera.org.