Saving Lives Until Not One Life Is Lost

Tony is the Executive Director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). As ED, Tony leads the charge to support community-based efforts in Ohio to reduce the stigma of suicide, promote education and awareness about suicide prevention, provide training and development, and increase resources and programs that reduce the risk of lives lost to suicide. Prior to joining OSPF, Tony served as the Director of Programs and Services for the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, where he managed Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care, the Statewide Advocacy Network, and the Committee to Address Suicide for the organization. He has also served as the Director of State and Local Affairs for Smart Approaches to Marijuana and as legislative director for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Toledo.

Austin Lucas serves as the Associate Director for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) and has been with the organization since 2018. Over the years, he managed suicide prevention programming, training, events, education, and resources for federal, state, and foundation grants.

As the Associate Director, Austin is involved with statewide advocacy efforts, working to ensure suicide prevention funding and policy are in the best interest of Ohio’s community members and those impacted by suicide. Austin’s experience managing a variety of suicide prevention programming also helps him provide support and guidance to OSPF’s Programs Staff.

Austin continues to lead Ohio’s local and state suicide fatality review and psychological autopsy infrastructure. Additionally, Austin was the project lead for the Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio Implementation Team, which ensures the goals and objectives in the Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio are met and exceeded.

His passion for suicide prevention derives from his personal struggles with depression as well as having many friends and family members that live with mental illness. Austin is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant (OCPSA), Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Master Trainer, and a Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Instructor. Austin currently lives in Westerville, Ohio with his family and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University.

Kerry Shaw serves as the Chief of Staff for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, overseeing internal initiatives and strategic organizational development. Kerry has worked in the nonprofit space for over 25 years. Kerry has a deep-rooted passion for the collective impact, success, and sustainability of nonprofit organizations. She has served in various leadership positions over the last 15 years and is an expert in financial forecasting and oversight, budgeting, operations, grant writing, grants and contract administration, fund development, communications, outcomes and evaluation, program management, and team growth. Kerry has as a B.S. in Communications from Ohio University and a M.S. in Non-Profit Management from Franklin University. She is also a certified grant writer.

As the Director of Statewide Prevention and Expansion at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Daniel Bennett supports the ongoing growth and development of Ohio’s network of Suicide Prevention Coalitions while working on the Ohio Coalition Institute and the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. In addition, he serves as an ambassador for the Life Side Ohio campaign, is a regional trainer for Sources of Strength, and provides Q.P.R. Gatekeeper training. Daniel also works on advocacy and legislative issues, organizing OSPF’s partners to help advocate for suicide prevention. He is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist, having worked previously in universal school-based suicide prevention and coalition work. Daniel has a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Akron. When he isn’t at work or coaching baseball, his free time is dedicated to the outdoors.

Stephanie Beougher serves as the communications director at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, spearheading the organization’s strategic communication initiatives.

With a background as a television and radio news reporter, Stephanie developed a passion for human interest storytelling. This drive has propelled her to craft inventive public and media campaigns throughout her tenure in communication positions at notable organizations such as the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Supreme Court of Ohio, and the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department.

A proud alumna of Ohio University, Stephanie graduated with a degree in communication and public advocacy.

Rachel Tilson is the Director of Development for Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and a graduate of The Ohio State University, she began her fundraising career in 2017 as an intern on a United State Senate campaign. While working as a fundraising consultant she found a love for building relationships and fulfilled her competitive spirit by setting and achieving ambitious goals. As a suicide attempt survivor, she has always felt called to the mission of suicide prevention. Her love for the Buckeye state and spreading hope and love to others led her to Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. She has a deep passion for the mission of OSPF and is relentless in the pursuit of what sets her soul on fire. Rachel loves to spend her free time with her big family, her 14 nieces and nephews, and her Golden Retriever, Poppy.

Jason Hughes is the Program Manager and Veteran Liaison for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). He is the Program Manager for the ARPA First Responder Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Instructor Training grant. This project aims to equip key first responder personnel with the confidence and competence needed to initiate conversations about suicide with colleagues, instill hope, and refer at-risk colleagues to appropriate mental and behavioral health resources. He serves as the OSPF Veteran Liaison and co-leads the Ohio Governor's Challenge Team, which aims to prevent suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF). This team works closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Ohio Army National Guard, and the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. After 22 years of service, he retired from the U.S. Army in 2019. He is a published author, a Life Side Ohio advisory committee member, a Frontline Freedom: Adventure Therapy board member, a certified VitalCog: suicide prevention in the workplace instructor, and a QPR instructor.

As the Youth Program and Policy Manager at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Evi Roberts supports OSPF’s advocacy efforts and manages projects related to youth suicide prevention, including Be Present Ohio and Sources of Strength Ohio. She is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist and a provisional trainer with Sources of Strength with over five years of experience in Ohio’s prevention field at the state and local levels. Evi has a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in cultural anthropology from The Ohio State University. An advocate for youth and youth empowerment, Evi values the prevention field’s commitment to “nothing about us without us” in its efforts to address societal problems.

Megan Rowe is Communications Coordinator at Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and spends her time communicating our important messages via social media and publications. She is a 2023 graduate of Bowling Green State University and is actively involved in PRSA.

Julia Kozlowski is a dedicated Prevention Program Specialist at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), that is committed to supporting the effort to prevent suicide in our veteran populations, particularly through drug abuse prevention. Her role as a Sergeant in the Ohio Army National Guard, a position she has proudly held since 2020, is a testament to her dedication and service. She is part of a team the National Guard has called Counter Drug – Drug Demand Reduction Outreach as a Civil Operator, providing invaluable support to community-based organizations, such as OSPF, and drug-free coalitions throughout the state. In addition, she is a certified instructor for Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM).

Monaé James is Project Coordinator for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), where she manages the success of multiple grant-funded programs aimed at reducing suicide in vulnerable populations. A native of Columbus, Ohio, she began her career in Suicidology through an internship for high school seniors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). There, she studied youth suicide risk factors, namely impulsivity and aggression, and family history of suicide. After receiving her Psychology BA from The Ohio State University in 2017, Monaé accepted a full-time Research Assistantship at NCH and was quickly promoted to Research Coordinator, where she managed two R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health, co-wrote academic manuscripts, and onboarded new staff while she continued research appointments and family referrals to mental health resources. In 2021, Monaé transitioned her skills and knowledge to a virtual position at Veterans Affairs in Canandaigua, New York. As a Senior Level Research Assistant, she trained new staff and supported two research aims: educating Veterans living with chronic pain about non-opioid pain treatments and asking Veterans to share their opinions on how to improve suicide prevention campaigns. In her current position as Project Coordinator at OSPF, Monaé is excited to use her research background to serve her home state in a new capacity. When she isn’t working, Monaé enjoys the performing arts, spending time with family and friends, and convincing anyone she can to join her for hot yoga!

Annie Bellware is the Office Coordinator for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. Born in Montreal, Canada, she made her way to Columbus in 2008, after graduating from Concordia University with a degree in Political Science. After school, her goal was simply to help others – however and wherever that may be. She worked in Customer Recovery for 15 years, making sure the right resolution was found for each person she worked with. During her career, her passion for helping others grew as she managed a 20-person team. She discovered a passion for guiding, teaching and supporting those who needed help finding the right path. Ultimately, her passion for others’ wellbeing led her to OSPF where she could make a significant impact in the lives of others in her community. Annie enjoys spending time with family watching movies, baking, and is a serious hockey and rugby fan.