Government

Mary A. McDonald is the Mayor of the City of Trotwood, Ohio, and has served on City Council since 2005. She is an entrepreneur who has served the Miami Valley for over 40 years. Mary has worked with various cosmetic companies such as Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Revlon, Flori Roberts, and many others. Her passion to serve people led her to work with cancer survivors in restorative imaging and challenges from cancer, and with women facing other medical conditions.

Mary is passionate about Trotwood and has ignited the City of Trotwood with new energy and a “can-do” spirit. Her tireless work has seen millions of dollars in new capital investment throughout the City.

Mary’s leadership and vision has positioned the City as a regional leader in home ownership and financial stability. In her first year as mayor, economic development within the City of Trotwood experienced a dynamic resurgence due to the repurposing of many retail structures and the relocation of several major corporations to the area. She initiated improvements to the City’s parks, specifically John Wolfe Park, and other recreational areas in the City of Trotwood. One of Mary’s major initiatives was the renovation of the former Trotwood Community Center, which is now home to the Trotwood Community and Cultural Arts Center. Through her efforts, the City of Trotwood has experienced several partnerships with state and federal leaders that will provide positive benefits to the City’s residents. Under Mary’s leadership, the City has had a balanced budget with no deficit spending and has been recognized by the Ohio Auditor of State for financial accuracy. Mary’s vision continues to position Trotwood as a leader in the Miami Valley.

Mary serves on the Goodwill Easterseals Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), the Discover Classical (88.1 and 89.9 FM) Board of Trustees, and as Co-Chairperson of the Trotwood Community Improvement Corporation (TCIC) Board of Directors. She is a member of the Mayors Association of Ohio and several other professional organizations.

Mary is the proud recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community & Justice of Greater Dayton, the Gospel SuperFest Community Service Award, the Delta D.E.A.R. Community Service Award from the Wilberforce Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Community Service Award from the Dayton Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

The Better Business Bureau’s Women in Business Networking (WiBN) program recognized Mary as one of the 25 Women to Watch in Dayton and the Miami Valley and Mary is a 2021 Leadership Ohio Fellow, one of the state’s most prestigious and longest-running statewide leadership program.

Mary is a proud mother of two children, Alexandra “Kate” Rivers (Shamel) and Daniel Caldwell, as well as Gigi of the dynamic Sydney, London, and Zahra Rivers.

Yvette F. Page is serving her second term for the City of Trotwood as the elected Council Member for Ward 2. She was also elected to serve as the Vice Mayor for two years beginning January 3, 2022.

Background

Vice Mayor Page has three adult children; sons Anthony and Brent Page, and daughter Monique Clark, as well as three wonderful granddaughters and one grandson that also reside in Trotwood.

Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Vice Mayor Page was educated through the Public School System. She graduated from Pearl High School with honors where she was President of her Senior class. She attended Fisk University with a four year scholarship and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Economics.

Professional Experience

With aspirations of finding better employment after working for U-Haul Inc. and Associates Financial in Tennessee, she moved to Ohio in 1979 where she has been a resident of Trotwood, Ohio, for 43 years. Vice Mayor Page's first employment opportunity was with Elder Beerman Department Store as a Supervisor. Today, she is retired from Reynolds American Incorporated, where she worked for over 37 years. Vice Mayor Page is also the Vice President of Phillips Temple Missionary Society and a member of their Mass Choir.

In the first speech given by Vice Mayor Page, she quoted Socrates, "If man should move the world, He must first move himself". This was her call to run for office, but her main objective was to be the voice of the people of Trotwood.

Professional Experience

Tyna R. Brown is currently a Licensed Real Estate Title agent with 24 years of experience working directly with the community, realtors, developers, and business leaders.

Councilwoman Brown’s core values of integrity, selfless service, dedication, and respect for others serve the Trotwood community well. Her enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment to clear and regular communication with the public allow her to bring a high level of understanding to the City Council.

Memberships

Councilwoman Brown is a member of Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as the President of the Usher Board and is a member of the Finance Committee. She has been a member of the Ohio Land Title Association since 2010.

Councilwoman Brown is the mother of one daughter, Aryanne Jefferson.

Council Member Rhonda C. Finley, a lifelong resident of Ohio, holds a bachelor's degree and a Master of Science Degree from Wright State University.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ms. Rhonda C. Finley has over 20 years of practical experience in management and leadership capacities with major corporations in the service industries. She entered federal civilian service in 2016 after serving the City of Trotwood for 15 years as the economic development director where she attracted the largest private investment to the City of Trotwood to date—the former GM distribution facility, which now houses Stratacache. During her tenure with the City, she worked to attract businesses and bring jobs to Trotwood, including the United Theological Seminary, Nenonene Medical Center, Fresenius Dialysis Center, O’Danny Boy Ice Cream Distribution Company, Advanced Window Cleaning, Allen Refrigeration, Alliance Manufacturing Services (formerly Chiappa), and EPIX Tube Company.

Ms. Finley currently serves as the Command Country Manager for the Air Force Security and Cooperation CENTCOM Directorate at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. She is responsible for developing and maintaining international partner relations and managing a $2.97 billion portfolio while leading a multifunctional integrated product team of engineers, logisticians, contractors, and other subject matter experts.

Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Finley served as the Mission Planning System Program Manager, Cybersecurity Testing Program Manager and System Integration Lab Program Manager supporting a $2.38 billion acquisition project for the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) Directorate at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. She also served as the Geospatial Architectural and Acquisition Deputy Program Manager for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where she was responsible for the management of a contract portfolio of $30 million and oversight of over 125 contracting personnel.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

• Program Management: Defense Acquisition University Program Management
• Geospatial Professional: Defense Acquisition University GEOINT Professional Certification (GPC) – Conferred by Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
• Certified Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Advanced Technical Intelligence Center
• Civilian and Acculturation Leadership Training (CALT), Maxwell Air Force Base
• Emergency Management Certification, International Association of Emergency Managers

AWARDS

• Air Force Outstanding Civilian Contributor Category II Achievement Award
• Intelligence Community Team Innovation Award – Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• DNI National Intelligence Community Award: National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation
• Wright Patterson AFB Performance Awards
• Esther & Candace Award for Public Service, Kingdom Authority Fellowship Inc.
• MLK Humanitarian nominee

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Council Member Finley has been very active in the community. She championed the development of Trotwood's first Community Garden and volunteered for a number of organizations, including the Trotwood Chamber of Commerce Board, Friendship Village Judging Committee, Trotwood City Schools Reading Program, Mayor's Annual Golf Outing, Dayton Youth Golf Association, NAACP Youth Council, and Film Dayton. She is also the church secretary volunteer at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Ms. Finley has also served as Council’s representative to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Public Safety Committee, and Trotwood Madison School Board.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Finley is one of seven daughters born to the late Robert and Connie Allen. Her parents instilled in her the principles of hard work, integrity and strong family values. She is the devoted wife to Anthony Finley and the proud mom of one son, Matthew.

Bettye Gales first served on the Trotwood City Council as a member at-large, and she currently represents the citizens of Ward 1. She has been a Trotwood resident for over 40 years and is married to Waverly Gales. They have two children - Michael and Michele - and seven grandchildren. Both of their children are successful graduates of Trotwood-Madison High School.

Experience

Councilwoman Gales is a retired civil servant, having served at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for 28 years. She has also worked for Prudential Insurance Company, the State of Ohio Unemployment Bureau, AFLAC, and Richard Allen Schools. She is currently teaching at the Trotwood-Madison High School as an Intervention Specialist.

Education

Councilwoman Gales earned a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management from Park University. When she began teaching, she earned a Master's Degree in Special Education (MEdS), a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (MEdL), and Ohio Principal Licensure from Antioch Midwest University (formerly Antioch University-McGregor). During her first year serving the community as a member of the City Council, she also started leadership classes at the National League of Cities.

Memberships

She actively participates in several other service organizations in the community, the most important being a member and appointed Trustee of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church. Ms. Gales is an Executive Board Member of the Trotwood Peace Place, a mentoring group for young adults involving conflict and resolution. She is also a founding member and Vice President of the Trotwood Women's Association. Other memberships include the Order of the Eastern Star and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Message Ms. Gales states, "I would like to advise and encourage all citizens to become involved in our city government."

Council Member Robert L. Kelley, Jr., is a native and lifelong resident of the Dayton, Ohio area and has been a resident of Trotwood since 1997.

Professional Experience

Mr. Kelley is the retired Director of the American Red Cross Family Living Center, formerly known as the American Red Cross Emergency Housing Program, Dayton Chapter. In that capacity, he was responsible for all housing/facilities management and support operations, financial transactions, supervision of staff, administration and interpretation of policies to staff, and interfacing with management, individuals, community, business organizations and legislators. Mr. Kelley is proud to have helped to serve over 10,500 families.

Memberships

Mr. Kelley serves on the Rev. P.E. Henderson, Sr., Family Life Center 501c Committee and on the Deacon Board of the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church. His career has been one of service and advocacy. He hopes to serve the residents of the city of Trotwood with that same energy and commitment.

Background

Mr. Kelley is a graduate of Roosevelt High School (Dayton) and Central State University (Wilberforce), where he earned a Bachelor of Sociology Degree in 1971. He has been a licensed Social Worker for more than 30 years.

Council Member Kelley is married to Hope Garland Kelley, his wife of over 40 years. They are the proud parents of three grown daughters. He hopes to channel is spirit of service into becoming a vessel for transparent communication and accountability between the residents of Trotwood and City Government, in the interest of positive change.

Ronald Vaughn is currently serving his sixth term for the City of Trotwood as the elected Council Member of Ward 3. Councilman Vaughn is married to Maureen and is the proud parent of four adult children and nine grandchildren. He has been a resident of Trotwood for more than 30 years.

Professional Experience

Councilman Vaughn was in the U.S. Navy for four years where he served on a Nuclear Polaris Missile Submarine as a Nuclear Auxilaryman and Navy Diver. Councilman Vaughn is retired after 25 years of service as a Public Safety Lieutenant, where he oversaw police, fire, and rescue activities as a Crew Commander. In 1982, Councilman Vaughn started Clipper Courier Logistics, which currently has offices in three major Ohio cities.

Memberships

Councilman Vaughn has served as a board member on several private and nonprofit organizations and he participates as a member of several area Chambers of Commerce, as well as service organizations.

Goals & Accomplishments

Councilman Vaughn's primary goals as a Council Member have been to see property values increase, improve the quality of life for Trotwood residents, and reduce homeowner tax burdens. During the past several years as the elected Council Member of Ward 3, he has been able to meet his 2001 campaign priorities on a variety of issues. Prior to Councilman Vaughn's 2002 election, Trotwood had a deficit budget of $1.67 million dollars. He helped create a balanced budget in 2003, 2004, and 2005. During his tenure, there have been no new taxes, and he has helped improve the city's accountability to citizens for the use of their tax dollars. Councilman Vaughn helped create Trotwood's Mission, Strategic Plan, and Vision, the Citizens Budget Review Committee, and the Comprehensive Financial Yearly Report. He helped reduce the cost of city services by approximately $900,000 for two years in a row by combining employee job duties and streamlining many city departments. Councilman Vaughn helped create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and helped leverage grant monies from county, state, and federal government sources. He also developed a partnership between businesses and city government to develop shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, educational facilities, and commercial / industrial developments to relieve homeowner tax burdens and fund improved city services.