The YES! Columbus Executive Board is compromised of young professionals in our community who have a passion for empowering others through service, professional development, and networking.
All elected Board Members are required to complete a Board Member Application and be voted on to the Board through a majority vote.
Brenna Bartlett | President | Ohio Department of Education
Brenna Bartlett (she/her) serves as an Assistant Director in the Office of Career-Technical Education at the Ohio Department of Education, overseeing work-based learning and workforce equity initiatives for the state of Ohio. Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Brenna attended Northern Kentucky University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. Upon graduating, Brenna served as the Special Projects Coordinator for Dress for Success Cincinnati and developed a lifelong passion for the mission of women’s empowerment. Now a full-time resident of Columbus with her husband Ryan and their dog Bobbie Dylan, Brenna has served on the YES Executive Board since 2019.
Makyla Zimmerman | President-Elect | OhioHealth
Makyla (she/her/hers) is an Instructional Designer – Systems Analyst at OhioHealth. In this role, she creates the training and resource guides used by associates. She has a passion for helping others, which has led her to becoming involved with Dress for Success and YES! Columbus. After meeting other ladies in this organization and attending the volunteer events, she could not wait for an opportunity to become more involved. In her free time, you can find her taking a class at System of Strength (SOS), traveling, or planning for her upcoming wedding!
Brittany Savko | Secretary-Treasurer | The Ohio State University
Brittany (she/her/hers) joined the YES Executive Board in 2019 and is thrilled to continue involvement as Secretary-Treasurer. In her professional life, Brittany works at The Ohio State University in Undergraduate Admissions. She previously supported students in their personal & career development journey, and that passion, along with a desire to be more civically engaged in Columbus, led her to Dress For Success and YES. Raised in Columbus, Brittany is a proud Buckeye having earned three degrees from Ohio State, including a master’s degree in workforce development & education. In her free time, Brittany enjoys traveling, exploring Columbus Metroparks, and searching for unique murals and vintage comic books.
Morgan Poczekaj | Communication | M+A Architects
Morgan Poczekaj (she/her/hers) is currently on the marketing team at M+A Architects. A local architect firm in Columbus, Ohio, Morgan oversees the marketing needs for the private market sectors and the internal and digital marketing efforts. Serving in her third year of the YES! Columbus Executive Board, Morgan is excited to help elevate the group by bringing fresh and new ideas to the board as the 2022 Communications Chair. She is passionate about making new connections to YES and the Dress for Success mission.
Jessica Meadows | Events | Tailored Management
Jess Meadows (she/her/hers) is a professional with over 10 years of experience growing, coaching, and leading high-achieving and diverse teams. She is a Senior Client Relationship Executive at Tailored Management, founded in Columbus, Ohio, and is responsible for the development and success of several programs while serving as a dedicated leader to her team and others in the organization.
Jess is passionate about serving her community and has volunteered with Dress for Success and YES! Columbus for over 5 years and is eager to contribute as a board member in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys being a dog mom to Chip and Olive, checking out all of the best patios in town, traveling, and is eagerly awaiting the return of live music.
Jenn Chao | Programming | SERS Ohio
Jenn Chao (she/her/hers) is a certified digital marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in digital communications and social media management in the public sector.
Jenn is passionate about helping her community, volunteering with several groups in the Central Ohio area. She is honored to be serving on the YES Board in 2022 and helping to further the mission of Dress for Success in supporting women in Columbus. Jenn is excited to create opportunities for the YES community to connect, support, and empower each other.
A proud Taiwanese American, Jenn is a self-described foodie who enjoys traveling, photography, yoga, running, and exploring different events around the city.
Dr. Rachel Palmer | Advocacy | Yavitch & Palmer Co., LPA
Dr. Rachel Palmer (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Circleville, Ohio, and earned her PhD in Human Services with a specialization in Criminal Justice. She has a passion for learning and wears many hats. She has an extensive background with sales, management, marketing, and criminal justice.
Rachel was recently crowned as the 2022 National Captivating Ambassador Queen, where she plans to make over 120 appearances during her reign and share the message of Captivating Pageants. Rachel’s charity involvement includes the Columbus Buddy Walk and she volunteers on the event committee annually, Mid Ohio Foodbank, and other local volunteer groups. Rachel is wife to her wonderful husband Steve, Stepmom/Bonus Mom to Drew and Matt, and Dog Mom to Dexter. Dr. Palmer was featured on the cover of StepMom Magazine in May 2021. She has also created and implemented a Stepmom support group where she can help other Stepmoms navigate through their Stepmom journey.
Dr. Palmer is excited to connect all of her passions to her YES! Columbus position and help others become successful.
Laura Bice | Member-At-Large | Bold Penguin
Laura Bice (she/her) has been a Human Resource professional in Columbus for over 10 years and is excited to put her eclectic working experience to use as a Member-at-Large with the 2022 YES! Columbus executive board. Her other community passion projects involve supporting the United Way of Delaware County Women’s Leadership Network and the Delaware County Against Human Trafficking Coalition.
As a SHRM Certified Professional & an HR Partner for Columbus-based Insurtech startup; Bold Penguin, Laura diligently champions and supports workplace equality initiatives for absolutely everyone.
Laura lives in Delaware, Ohio with her husband James and daughter Emily. She enjoys socializing, talking about Love Languages, blogging, watching football & spending quality time with family; including her two adult step-children, Katie & Brayden.
Sarah Kahler | Member-At-Large | Right Way Medical
Columbus native, Sarah Kahler (she/her/hers) oversees all marketing functions at Columbus-based medical supply distributor, Right Way Medical.
Sarah’s passion for Dress For Success grew from her first suiting consultation in 2019. She has felt the incredible sense of community within the organization and is honored to further the great work of YES through leadership on the 2022 Executive Board.
In her free time, you can find Sarah spending time with her family (most notably her toddler niece and nephew), taking group fitness classes with friends, or trying new restaurants around Columbus.
Chelsea Kempton | Member-At-Large | Beam Dental
Chelsea Kempton (she/her) serves as the Market Development Executive for Central Ohio at Beam Dental. Beam is a dental insurance provider in downtown Columbus that focuses on wellness and prevention to create a smarter dental experience. While she is originally from Mount Vernon, she attended Capital University and has resided in Columbus for 8+ years. After graduating, she worked for the Columbus Blue Jackets and remains a major sports fan to this day. In her free time she enjoys painting, reading, and traveling to new cities on her quest to find the “best milkshake in America”.
Chelsea joined YES! Columbus in 2020 in an effort to find a way to support women in the Columbus community and is honored to be serving on the board this year. She is most looking forward to collaborating on new events, networking, and raising funds for the mission.
