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.

Jennifer Chamberlain

Chair

Commissioner, At Large Business

I am a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Married to Jonathan Chamberlain with a daughter, Charlotte. I 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. I am currently self-employed as a Consultant.

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

Summer

Vice Chair

Commissioner District IV/Communication & Outreach Committee Chair

I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and joined the Air Force in 1999. I left the AF a disabled veteran and moved back to Ohio from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. I have worked as a transcriber for an insurance adjusting firm and a BMV clerk, and I am the creator and Coordinator for the Tussing Block Watch. I have served on the planning committee for the Neighborhood Best Practices Conference, as a member of the Far East Area Commission Task Force, and on the Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus. I spend much of my time volunteering as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, a trained CERT member, a mentor with Children’s Services, with the Firefighters 4 Kids Toy Drive, with Friends 4 Life Animal Haven Rescue, assisting with wild animal rescue and rehabilitation, and as the coordinator for the Peeps 4 Pumpkin Search Group. I am also an alumni member of the Columbus Citizen’s Police Academy and Save A Warrior. In 2011 I was awarded both the Jefferson Award for my leadership of the Tussing Block Watch and the Columbus Police Department’s Meritorious Pubic Service Award for coordinating the 2011 National Night Out Kick Off for the City of Columbus, and in 2016 I was awarded the Pickerington Education Association's Friend of Education Award for my volunteer work with the Pickerington School District. When I'm not busy with community work, I love to travel with my family, kayak, snorkel, hike, dig for crystals in Arkansas, and visit our state and national parks.

Gene Tyree

Secretary

Commissioner District III/Health & Wellness Committee Chair

I have lived in Columbus with my wife, Nina, and daughter, Kelly, since August 1993. I am currently in my 11th year of retirement from the State of Ohio. My 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. My 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. My current engagements include being a block watch member for the Community of Yorkshire, attending Pride Team and Block Watch Coordinators Meetings, assist with registration for the Fire Fighters 4 Kids Toy Drive, and Commissioner with Far East Area Commission where I have held duel positions as Secretary – Treasurer, currently serving as Secretary.

Darrell Holmes

Treasurer

Commissioner At Large Religious/Transportation Committee Chair

I have lived five years in Columbus and 28 years in Ohio. I am a retired Presbyterian Minister who has served in Washington Court House and Canton, Ohio, Pueblo Colorado, Moorcroft, Torrington and Gillette Wyoming. I hold 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, my 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.

Derek Abner

Zoning Chair

Commissioner District IV/Zoning Committee Chair

Susan Johnson

Commissioner District III/Election Committee Chair

I have been a resident of Columbus, Ohio for over 40 years. I received my B,Sc and MA at The Ohio State University and was an elementary school teacher for the Reynoldsburg City Schools for 47 years. I am currently the Block Watch Coordinator for Walnut Hill Park. A lover of music, I have 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. I have 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

Commissioner District II/Planning & Development Committee Chair

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

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

Glen Tuomaala

Commissioner, Education At Large

My wife and I moved to East Columbus and we love the people. As a member of the Far East Commission my goal is to represent the needs of students, parents and teachers within the Far East Commission. I want to make our schools the best in Ohio because I love students and I love teaching. I graduated from Bowling Green State University as a double major in Music Education and French Horn Performance. I am also a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Masters degree in Music Education. As a teacher I 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.

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

Vacant

Commissioner, District I

The Far East Area Commission is looking for someone to fill this spot! Please visit our Get Involved page for more details on how to become a commissioner.

Vacant

Commissioner, District I

The Far East Area Commission is looking for someone to fill this spot! Please visit our Get Involved page for more details on how to become a commissioner.

Devin Reese

Commissioner, District II

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.