Make-A-Day Board of Directors
Kyle Barger
CO-FOUNDER, BOARD PRESIDENT
What doesn’t Kyle do? You can find him either running around events, engaging in push up contests, checking in on guests, or sharing a laugh.
Outside of service, Kyle is a social entrepreneur leading Barger Property Ventures, Vohnt On-Demand Car Care, The Champion Trading Group, and loving on his girls Lisa, Charlie, and Cleopatra.
Alex Emrich
CO-FOUNDER, BOARD SECRETARY
Alex is the man behind the meal. Serving up award winning Burgers and Fries from his food truck Street Thyme (vegan options too!). Alex has a passion for bringing people together through food.
When Alex isn’t creating the next mind blowing menu item he enjoys CBJ hockey, frisbee golf, his pup Riley, live music and his little lady Lauren.
Rebekah Lowe
CO-FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER
Rebekah and her team are the engineers behind the smiles, confidence and joy from each of our guests after their street salon experience.
When Rebekah isn’t serving she runs B.Rose Beauty Bar, Mom’s 3 beautiful babies and teaches salon owners and stylists all over the country how to level up!
Alison Forche
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
As part of Gerber’s business development and relationship management team, Alison works hard to develop strong referral relationships with area business leaders and strategic partners. A people-person with boundless energy, she enjoys meeting new people, and attending local networking events. She loves the energy in the downtown entrepreneurial space and enjoys being close to family and friends while supporting locally owned businesses.
Alison earned a BA in psychology from The Ohio State University, and a Juris Doctorate from Capital University School of Law, graduation Summa Cum Laude with both degrees.
Before joining the Gerber team, Alison was the Practice Manager and Marketing Director for Rob Forche Orthodontics, her husband’s business, and an attorney with Forche Law and Mediation - Divorce and Custody Mediation and Eldercare Planning and Mediation, where she still practices.
Alison was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up in east Columbus and graduated from Walnut Ridge High School. She married Rob, her high school sweetheart, in 1995, and they’ve resided in Pickerington ever since. They are the proud parents of daughter Ashley, who is a digital marketing strategist, son Dylan, an Asset Analyst with JP Morgan and son-in-law, Matt, an Engineer.
When she’s not at work, Alison spends her time with family and friends, exercising and volunteering. She enjoys teaching Yoga, writing, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, meditation and walking with friends. When she finally sits down, Alison loves to listen to non-fiction, business and self-improvement podcasts and books, and attends as many continuing education/training opportunities as possible. In both her personal and professional lives, Alison strives to be the best she can be.
Christina Brown
BOARD TREASURER
Christina Brown has been with Huntington National Bank for the past 13 years and is currently the regional director of community philanthropy and engagement. She specializes in strategic leadership of community partnerships, grant programs, and colleague engagement with nonprofit organizations.
Shauntae Green
BOARD MEMBER
Shauntae Greene currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Contract Management with Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Shauntae has 16 years of affordable and market rate housing experience which she leveraged when starting her own consulting company. Shauntae is a proponent of higher education, having earned her Associate of Arts in Accounting, Bachelor of Arts in Finance, and Master of Business Administration from Morehead State University.
Shauntae is passionate about mental health advocacy and efforts to improve affordable housing opportunities within marginalized communities.
Make-A-Day Staff
Christy Hayes
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Christy is a passionate and dedicated executive leader with 20 years of non-profit experience developing programs and leading projects in housing, early education, mental health, and youth justice. Christy values diversity and inclusivity and is known for creating solutions that transform and improve organizations. As a former foster youth, she understands the value of finding home.
Christy is a recent Ohio transplant and lives with her partner, Alyssa, and their two dogs. You can find her running races in costume, hanging out in her library, or watching Supernatural.
Wade Biglin
HOUSING RESOURCE SPECIALIST
An Ohio native and OSU Alumni, Wade is MAD’s Housing Resource Specialist. After years of volunteering in the Columbus community and seeing the gaps our most vulnerable fall into, he was drawn to help with the emerging housing crisis. You can find him at our events assisting those with housing instability in finding creative solutions to their housing problems.
When he isn't fighting for affordable housing, Wade enjoys scuba diving, video games, good books, woodworking, game nights with friends, and tinkering on bikes in the garage.
Anthony Brown-Varner
SOCIAL SERVICES NAVIGATOR
As a Michigan native, Anthony is passionate about serving individuals in need, regardless of their background. Throughout his career, he has worked in diverse settings, which include direct care for persons with disabilities, mental health and substance abuse, homelessness, and re-entry.
In his role at Make-A-Day, Anthony seeks to provide empathetic, non-judgmental, and encouraging support to those served by the agency. Additionally, he looks forward to being client-centered and developing connections in the community that will help set clients up for success. What he brings to the table – in order to achieve this aim – is a background as a certified Peer Support Specialist and a chemical dependency counseling assistant (CDCA) certification.
Anthony lives in the greater Columbus area with his husband and their rescue dog, Solomon.
When away from work, he enjoys attending church, cooking, bike riding, walking, playing UNO, and spending time with family.
Amanda Radke
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Amanda is Make-A-Day's newest AmeriCorps VISTA, serving to build up MAD's volunteer program. Although originally from the State Up North, she was raised an OSU fan and received a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Otterbein University in the spring of 2024. There she also ran track, hosted a radio show, and served as a first-year mentor.
When not serving, Amanda enjoys traveling, reading books of all genres, tending to her plants, and taking advantage of all the adventures Columbus offers.