Meet the Commissioners

Meet The Far East Area Commission Commissioners

We are volunteers committed to empowering our residents, strengthening our neighborhoods, and protecting our community.

Gene Tyree

Secretary

Commissioner District III Email: GTyree@FarEastAC.org

Gene Tyree has lived in Columbus with his wife, Nina, and daughter, Kelly, since August 1993. He is currently in retirement from the State of Ohio. His work history includes Military Police for the United States Air Force, Correctional Officer for the City of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Penal System, Detention Center, Police Officer for the Ohio State University, a Construction and Industrial Safety Consultant with the Industrial Commission, Division of Safety and Hygiene (Columbus Office), and a Loss Prevention Manager for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Division of Safety and Hygiene. His past community engagements include Secretary, Government Liaison Committee for the Community of Yorkshire, a member of Woodcrest Elementary School Site Base Council, wrote the draft Mission Statement for the Greater Eastside Coalition, assisted the Greater South East Area Commission on providing an information table at Yorktown Middle School Parent-Student Day, and organizing Community OKM Self Defense Workshops. His current engagements include being a block watch member for the Community of Yorkshire, attending Pride Team and Block Watch Coordinators Meetings, assisting with registration for the Fire Fighters 4 Kids Toy Drive, and Commissioner with Far East Area Commission where he has held duel positions as Secretary – Treasurer, currently serving as Secretary.

Darrell Holmes

Vice Chair/Treasurer

Commissioner At Large Religious Email: DHolmes@FarEastAC.org

Darrell Holmes is a retired Presbyterian Minister who has served in Washington Court House and Canton, Ohio, Pueblo Colorado, Moorcroft, Torrington and Gillette Wyoming. H moved to Blacklick in 2014 to be closer to his grandkids. He holds a Bachelor of Art from Lamar University, Master of Divinity from Austin Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity from McCormick Seminary. As a trained strategic planner and conflict manager, his community involvements in the past have included, the Chair of Planning and Land Use Commission, member of Campbell County Planning Commission, Chair of County and City Joint Commission establishing an EMS system in the county, State EMS examiner, Member of Fayette County Ohio Committee that brought one of the first Publicly owner ISP in conjunction with Great Oaks Vocational, Ohio State Supercomputer Center and National TeleComputing Network, Facilitated transfer of Rotary owned swimming pools to the City of Washington Court House, Fayette County Sheriff’s Chaplin.

Susan Johnson

Commissioner District III/Election Committee Chair Email: SJohnson@FarEastAC.org

Susan Johnson has been a resident of Columbus, Ohio for over 40 years. She received her B,Sc and MA at The Ohio State University and was an elementary school teacher for the Reynoldsburg City Schools for 47 years. She is currently the Block Watch Coordinator for Walnut Hill Park. A lover of music, she has been a member of the Worthington Civic Band for 46 years, and a performer with the handbell choir for Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church and with the Adult Steel Band at the Canal Winchester High School. She has also been an election poll worker, and a volunteer with the T.O.U.C.H. mentoring program, Herbert Mills Elementary, COSI, CAPA, and Pro Musica.

Keith Dodley

Zoning Chair

Commissioner District II Email: KDodley@FarEastAC.org

Keith Dodley was born and raised here in Columbus OH, and am a graduate of Columbus East High School. He joined the US Army in 1986 serving in many locations throughout the United States, Germany, Korea, and Iraq, with multiple MOS’s. He served as a Military Police Officer for 24years. He attended Grantham Univ. and retired in 2016 with 30 years of service.

After retirement, he rejoined with workforce as a Federal Police Officer for 2 years, until diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Keith then started a nonprofit, Teacher of Men, assisting men and their families with the entire process of Prostate Cancer. He currently works for the Federal Government in logistics, supporting our military thought-out the world. Heis an active member of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, Masonic lodge #7, and The Men of Courage. These organizations allow him to work within the communities’ through-out Columbus. As part of Men of Courage org. they mentor young men throughout the state of Ohio. He enjoys being an active member of The First Church of God in Christ, and Men of Valor ministry. During, his free time he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, parents, golf and fishing.

Glen Tuomaala

Commissioner, Education At Large Email: GTuomaala@FarEastAC.org

Glen Tuomaala and his wife moved to East Columbus and we love the people. As a member of the Far East Commission his goal is to represent the needs of students, parents and teachers within the Far East Commission. He wants to make our schools the best in Ohio because he loves students and teaching. Glen graduated from Bowling Green State University as a double major in Music Education and French Horn Performance. He is also a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Masters degree in Music Education. As a teacher he was lucky to have taught students from kindergarten to the university level at both public and private institutions. The most fun (and exhausting) has been teaching 2nd graders. They are surprising.

He is the Owner and Editor of www.ForteMusicPress.com and recently had his work Amusement Park Etudes reviewed by the International Horn Society. When he's not publishing music or helping the Far East Area Commission you will find him writing music, taking photographs, painting, gardening and woodworking. With thanks to the most important teachers of his life: Herbert Spencer, Horn Professor Bowling Green State University; Elizabeth Wing, Chair, Graduate Music Education, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; his wife, his parents, and all of his former students.

Devin Reese

Commissioner, District II Email: DReese@FarEastAC.org

Devin Reese has been an education professional for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor’s of Arts in

Economics from The Ohio State University. And he obtained his Masters of Education and Professional Teaching from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Devin began his career in education as a math teacher and then became a Behavioral Intervention Specialist before transitioning into his role as an Assistant Principal. He has served as Assistant Principal at Ridgeview Middle School in Columbus City Schools for the past five years.

Devin has been featured in Who’s Who in Black Columbus, Pioneer in Education for the Central Ohio Sports Youth Magazine, and nominated as “Architect of the Future” by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Devin has been recognized as Most Valuable Teacher of the Year by the Upward Bound Enrichment Institute. Devin is married and has one adorable daughter. He resides in a Columbus community where he has served as the Homeowner’s Association Board president for one term.

Devin is just not a professional educator; he is dedicated to educating his neighbors about the ongoing issues affecting their community.

Darryl Jacobs

Commissioner, District I Email: DJacobs@FarEastAC.org

Darryl Jacobs recently retired as Director of Quality Assurance for the Wendy's Company after 21 years and transitioned to a full-time real estate investor. The transition has afforded Darryl time to giveback to his wonderful community that has served him so well. He relocated from Tampa, Florida 18 years ago and moved to Blacklick, Ohio. He is currently a member os COREE (Community of Real Estate Entremreneurs), OHSSA (Ohio Self Storage Association), Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce. He previously served on the Cedar Run HOA Board, The Board of the Ohio Food Safety Advisory Committee and several FDA Food Safety Committees. Darryl was also Co-Chair of the National Restaurant Association Food Safety Task Force and CoChair of a DEI Employee Resource Group.

Jon Dufford

Commissioner, District I Email: JDufford@FarEastAC.org

Jon Dufford has lived in Columbus for 52 years and all 52 years have been in the far east side. He grew up in the Pine Hills area and attended Walnut Ridge High School, Sherwood Middle School, Scottwood, Old Orchard, and Woodcrest Elementary. He is retired from 30 years in the HVAC Industry. Currently, he is the HOA President and Blockwatch Coordinator of my community-Crawford Farms in the Waggoner Corridor. He is an outdoors man and enjoys hunting, camping, and fishing with his two daughters and wife.

Jennifer Chamberlain

Chair

Commissioner, At Large Business Email: JChamberlain@FarEastAC.org

Jennifer Chamberlain is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Married to Jonathan with a daughter, Charlotte. She moved to Columbus in 1992 to attend The Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and Master of Architecture. Fundamental experience includes residential, commercial tenant improvement, educational facilities, and medical office space with emphasis in Building Code and zoning & design and planning. She is currently self-employed as a Consultant.

Her community service began in 2008 as Coordinator of the Cedar Run Block Watch, and later the Cedar Run Civic Association. Currently she is a board member for the East Columbus Business Association. She is the Co-Creator and Chair of Far East Area Commission and currently sit on the Advisory Board of the Greater Eastside Coalition (GEC).