Community Committee

Laura Abu-Absi is a public policy professional focusing on health and human services of interest to Ohio counties. She has two children at Colonial Hills Elementary School and has called Worthington home since 2012. Laura is looking forward to helping ensure community input and vision is reflected throughout the comprehensive plan.

David Chang moved to Worthington in 2024 to be closer to family (now walking distance to 11 family members!). His professional work in computer science has included founding a startup and supporting digital transformation solutions at the White House. He looks forward to connecting with fellow Worthington residents in his role on the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Working as an architect and interior designer I have a passion for design and have gained years of experience navigating zoning guidelines working with various municipalities. My husband and I moved to Worthington in 2020 in hopes of starting and raising a family here and we quickly fell in love with our neighborhood and the community. Now as a mother of two young daughters, we also love to explore our Worthington community by finding the best parks and family-friendly activities.

My family has lived in our home in Old Worthington since 1998 and our sons graduated from Linworth Alternative High School. I have been a registered Architect in the State of Ohio since 1982. I am the Chair of the Architectural Review Board and the Municipal Planning Commission for the city of Worthington and have been an active volunteer on various city committees as regards the planning and growth of Worthington almost from the time we moved into our home in Worthington.

Elizabeth Dekker has been a proud part of the Worthington community for over 12 years, serving as the city’s Tourism Director while living just outside Old Worthington with her husband and two kids. A longtime advocate for the arts, she is a founding member of Wild Goose Creative, a ceramics instructor at the McConnell Arts Center, and the driving force behind the annual Art Walk that enlivens the historic district. Whether she’s showcasing Worthington’s charm or fostering its creative spirit, Elizabeth is deeply committed to celebrating the people and stories that make this community so special.

Reese J. Flowers IV is a devoted husband and father of three, balancing family life with his successful career. With over 10 years of experience as an executive chef, he has honed his skills and passion for creating exceptional dining experiences. Beyond the kitchen, Reese is deeply committed to his community, constantly seeking ways to give back and make a positive impact.

Sara Gallaugher is passionate about sustainability and has been a part of the Worthington community for several decades. She has resided in Worthington Estates with her family since 2016. She started her own business helping people reuse and eliminate waste, previously worked as the Watershed Coordinator for FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) and currently works as a Food Waste Program Administrator for SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio). Sara currently serves as the Worthington Partnership Board President, leads the Worthington Partnership Green Team, and is on the Worthington School District Sustainability Committee.

Garrett Guillozet has served on the Board of Zoning Appeals since 2020 and is currently serving as Vice-Chair. He is the Delaware County Health Commissioner and received his Masters of Public Administration from Kent State University.

Faith Halaiko has spent more than a decade specializing in high-impact communications and leadership for the public sector. She currently serves as a senior advisor at the Peace Corps and has worked at the federal, state, and local levels. Faith is a member of the 2024-2025 Leadership Worthington cohort; she and her husband Brian, a 2003 Thomas Worthington grad and former Cardinal girls’ lacrosse coach, live just south of Old Worthington with their daughter and two rescue dogs.

Ms. Hermann has lived in Worthington since 2002, is a mother of two, and is married to a 1986 Worthington High School graduate. Rebecca Hermann has served on Worthington City Council since January 2022 also serving as the ARB/MPC Council Liaison since January 2024. She holds an MBA with a concentration in finance and has a background in economic development as a Business Development Director. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Worthington and a 2020 Graduate of the Worthington Police Citizens Academy.

Kate LaLonde is in her eleventh year as the Executive Director of the Worthington Historical Society, and she's been with the organization for 19 years in various capacities. She works closely with Society volunteers to preserve the Society's three properties, present engaging exhibits and events, research Worthington's past and share the stories of the community. Kate also serves as the Treasurer and Outreach co-chair for the Ohio Local History Alliance, an organization that works to advance the field of local history in Ohio through education, advocacy, and collaboration, representing over 300 member organizations ranging from small neighborhood historical societies to large history museums.

Nick Linkenhoker is the Executive Director of the Worthington Resource Pantry. He has served as a member of the Community Relations Commission since 2017 and is on the board of the McConnell Arts Center. He and his wife Jeanine have a daughter in Worthington Schools and have lived in Worthington for 10 years.

I am a 10-year resident of Worthington, by way of Alexandria, Virginia and Shaker Heights, Ohio. I'm a wife, Mom of 2 and Grandmother of 5, and before retiring I was a High School English teacher and a small business owner. I currently serve on the Community Relations Commission and the Age-Friendly Worthington Steering Committee and am a member of the Harmony Project.

Annina Parini is President & CEO of the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, leading efforts to support local businesses and promote Worthington as a vibrant, business-friendly community. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Worthington Partnership, where she directed award-winning programs like the Worthington Farmers Market and led initiatives including the city’s first DORA ordinance and community website. A lifelong community advocate, Annina lives 4 blocks from High Street with her husband, three boys, and rescue dog.

As VP of Programs and Housing, Hope is responsible for the oversite of COCIC’s Initiatives offering a repurpose and disposition strategy for underused, abandoned, tax delinquent, and foreclosed properties. She has also been instrumental in implementing initiatives to support housing stabilization and community reutilization efforts. Currently, in partnership with the City of Columbus and Franklin County, Hope administers the Central Ohio Community Land Trust; a subsidiary of COCIC which focuses on permanently affordable homeownership development and serves as President of the statewide organization, the Ohio Community Land Trust Network.

My wife, Carmen, and I have lived in Worthington for 43 years. We have been parishioners at St. Michael Catholic since 1979. We raised our two sons in Worthington, and both attended and graduated from Worthington public schools. I am employed as a financial planner with Osaic Financial Advisors and currently I am serving a second term as a member of the City of Worthington's Community Relations Commission.

Maria Ramirez is a 23-year Worthington resident. She is trained as an architect and urban planner, and she is interested in the intersection of design, planning and community development. She is the Public Art Coordinator at the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and she has served on the Worthington Community Relations Commission since 2020.

Michael Sharvin grew up in Worthington and graduated from TWHS. He enjoys biking around town with his three kids and wife. Michael is a real estate attorney by trade and enjoys seeing the growth and development of Central Ohio and looks forward to the future of Worthington as a thriving, inclusive, and healthy community, through purposeful planning and preparation.

Matt has served as President/CEO of the Worthington Area Chamber since August 2021, where he has been a driving force behind initiatives in workforce development, women in business, DEI, and community-driven growth, all aimed at igniting positive change for Worthington’s businesses and community. His strategic leadership in business advocacy and stakeholder collaboration has earned him recognition as a Forty Under 40 honoree by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and as the 2023 Chamber Professional of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio. Outside of work, Matt is a proud husband, father of two, veteran of the United States Coast Guard, and co-host of the award-winning Dadass Podcast.