Our Team
Rigel Behrens, Community Development Planner
Before joining WIN’s staff, Rigel worked as a self-employed artist for 19 years. Rigel earned a BA in Political Science from Northern Kentucky University and a Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. In 2011, Rigel joined WIN’s staff to manage data collection and analysis of Hamilton County foreclosure trends, and produced WIN’s foreclosure reports for several years. She has also provided outreach and technical support for resident-led community building and neighborhood revitalization. In addition to working with the community directly, her work also includes grant writing, action planning, mapping, developing and maintaining relationships with partner organizations and universities.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 103 or rbehrens@wincincy.org
Myra Boggs, Financial Literacy Coordinator
For over 21 years as a HUD approved Housing Counselor, I worked with families preparing them for home ownership opportunities which included extensive budgeting and credit counseling. I also provided Financial Literacy workshops on a variety of topics that was of interest to families. In my current role as the Senior Financial Literacy counselor, I work with senior citizen homeowners to develop ways for them to be more comfortable in their homes.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 125 or rmdboggs@wincincy.org
S. Barbara Busch, Executive Director
S. Barbara Busch, SC, co-founded Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) in 1978 and continues as its Executive Director today. WIN provides financial education and homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income residents throughout greater Cincinnati. Originally started with a $14,000 budget, the organization now has an annual budget of $1.4 million and employs 21 staff members. A Cincinnati native, S. Barbara has worked for over 40 years to help low and moderate income residents shape their communities.
She is a member of the Sisters of Charity. S. Barbara has a Master of Social Work from University of Michigan and is a Licensed Independent Social Work Supervisor.
Under her direction, WIN has built or rehabilitated and sold 167 homes to first-time homeowners. WIN has developed relationships with local and national lenders, which has resulted in over 7,000 low-income families owning their homes. WIN developed the WIN Economic Learning Campus in the heart of S. Cumminsville. The Campus offers financial training and counseling for homebuyers, leadership training, enrichment programs for youth, and 18 apartments for senior citizens. In 2014 WIN began its effort to move 40% of S. Cumminsville out of Poverty in a generation through six targeted efforts and includes 50 near net zero energy homes.
Tammy Edwards, Housing Counselor
Tammy began her WIN career in 2021. She is a HUD certified Housing Counselor. She provides one on one housing counseling and coaching to customers to attain and maintain stable housing. She also teaches group education on home buying and general financial literacy. Prior to working at WIN, she worked in banking and financial planning services. Tammy earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Finance from Thomas More University. "WIN is a godsend", says Tammy "Every day I come to work thinking 'One more day I can be a blessing!' Tammy continues to seek out new opportunities to learn. She now shares with many WIN customers one of her core beliefs: "When you gain knowledge you share knowledge".
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 127 or tedwards@wincincy.org
Cozette Evans, Administrative Assistant - Youth Programs Coordinator
Cozette Evans, Administration Assistant & Youth Coordinator, has been employed by Working In Neighborhoods for 19 yrs. Myself and my siblings have been volunteering at Working In Neighborhoods for over 30 years. I have been working with the youth program for over 20 years. Before joining the WIN Staff, I bought my first home from Working In Neighborhoods. I am a resident of the South Cumminsville Community for 23 years. I have three adult children and four grandchildren.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 100 or cevans@wincincy.org
Logan Fedders, AmeriCorps VISTA
Logan joined WIN’s team as an AmeriCorps VISTA envoy in July 2023. Logan helps with data organization and community outreach efforts at WIN. He believes strongly in the agency’s commitment to environmental sustainability and giving back to communities that have frequently been passed over by public policy and private enterprise. He’s working on housing, environmental sustainability, and community engagement during his time at WIN. Logan graduated from Thomas More University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 101 or lfedders@wincincy.org
Kai Jones, Housing Counseling Intake Specialist
Kai and her husband moved from Detroit, MI to Cincinnati, OH in 2015. She has an extensive background in customer service and the mental health field with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from the University of Phoenix. Kai came to a Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) Homebuyers class in 2016. Thanks to the knowledge and confidence she gained from the class, and WIN’s housing counseling program she and her husband closed on their home in 2017. Kai’s WIN career started in April 2023 when the open position of Housing Counseling Intake Specialist came up on her Indeed job feed. She applied for and was offered the position and is now happily assisting customers to navigate through the WIN intake process. Kai loves and lives by the motto of “Treat Others The Way You Want To Be Treated.”
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 126 or kjones@wincincy.org
Molly Lohr, Fund Development Director
Molly joined WIN's team in the spring of 2022 as Fund Development Director. WIN's core values of empowering people through education, building community through partnerships, speaking out for housing justice and environment sustainability are values she shares. Our community is experiencing an affordable housing crisis and as a native Cincinnatian, Molly enjoys knowing that her work plays a role in providing solutions. At WIN, Molly is involved in working with staff members and volunteers to increase awareness of WIN's mission and developing relationships to increase financial support. Molly has more than thirty years of experience in nonprofit leadership and received a BA in English from the University of Cincinnati.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 128 or mlohr@wincincy.org
Mary Metzmeier, Community Organizer
Mary Metzmeier is our lead organizer. She helps low and moderate-income people build power by coming together and working strategically to change public policy and business practices. Mary has worked on housing, quality of life issues, environmental issues, and building neighborhood involvement. After 21 years in the field, Mary’s favorite part of organizing remains helping people who feel powerless begin to see that by working together, we can make real, sustainable change.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 105 or mmetzmeier@wincincy.org
Rick Morency, Construction Coordinator
I’m Rick Morency the Construction Coordinator here at Working In Neighborhoods. I came to be involved with this organization in the spring of 2023 and hope to be here contributing to our goals far beyond. I plan, stage, prepare and execute construction projects with an eye toward zero carbon emissions while tailoring homes towards green energy standards and platinum energy ratings. I was introduced to home building and renovations by my father, to whom I owe much of my construction knowledge. He has been very influential in my development as a building professional by instilling the character, knowledge, and acumen required of a successful contractor. I’ve spent 15 years in the construction industry and I’ve enjoyed the challenges and accomplishments I’ve had in that time. And I thank WIN for the opportunity to continue developing new skills and perfecting a craft that I have great respect for.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 136 or rmorency@wincincy.org
Melissa Navarra, AmeriCorps VISTA
Melissa is a recent graduate of Xavier University where she earned a BS in Economics with minors in Peace & Justice Studies and Music Performance. She joined the WIN team in 2023 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member to help with capacity building while also training to become a HUD-certified housing counselor. After her year of service, Melissa plans to attend law school with a focus on affordable housing and community development law.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 110 or mnavarra@wincincy.org
Jeff Smith, AFC® Housing Counselor
Jeff Smith is HUD Certified Housing Counselor at Working in Neighborhoods. He began his non-profit career in 2021, bringing with him 7 years of coaching and people development experience. Prior to joining WIN, Jeff coordinated a free tax preparation program that served families across 8 counties in Northern Kentucky. In his current role, he will primarily provide housing counseling to renters in homes owned by the Port Authority with the goal of transitioning them into homeowners. Jeff earned the Accredited Financial Counselor® designation in 2022 and has a Bachelor's in History and Philosophy from the University of Kentucky.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x.124 or jsmith@wincincy.org
Leila Stacey, Fund Development & Marketing Assistant
Leila joined WIN in 2023 after receiving a BA in Telecommunications from Ball State University. While at BSU, she minored in French and Marketing. In her role as Fund Development and Marketing Assistant, Leila enjoys being able to connect people with the resources they need and educating community members, donors, and volunteers on WIN’s impact.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 111 or lstacey@wincincy.org
Shannon Wedig, Accounting Assistant
Shannon Wedig is WIN’s Accounting Assistant. She began working at WIN in February of 2020. She handles the majority of the accounts payables and receivables. Before joining WIN she worked in corporate accounting departments for over 15 years. She is a resident of the westside of Cincinnati.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 122 or swedig@wincincy.org
Hope E. Wilson
Hope Wilson is the Director of Operations/Housing Program Manager for Working In Neighborhoods (WIN). Prior to her current role she worked as the Community & Housing Development Manager and was involved in the development process for 45 single family homeownership units and 18 senior rental units. Hope was involved in the acquisition, rehab, new construction, and sale of WIN’s homes that are sold to low-moderate income first time homebuyers. In addition she has been a Housing Counselor & Homebuyer Educator helping families attain and maintain homeownership in the Greater Cincinnati region. Hope joined WIN in 2000 as a Community Organizer focused on housing & lending issues. Hope has a Masters in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 132 or hwilson@wincincy.org
Barb Woelfel, Accounting Director
I began working at WIN in 1992. A few years after graduating from Mount St. Joseph with a Bachelor degree in accounting. I have watched WIN grow and change in many ways during my time here. But the foundation of WIN’s mission and work has always remained focused on our neighbors. I also have grown with WIN, from a staff account to a senior staff member and part of the management team. In my early days I was focused on maintaining WIN’s financial records and learning about WIN. Now I am involved in some manner in almost everything WIN does. One of my main focuses these days is on grants, from budgets to reporting and compliance.
Contact: 513-541-4109 ext. 123 or bwoelfel@wincincy.org
Our History
In 1978, as the nation faced high unemployment, spiraling interest rates, inflation and an energy crisis, Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) was born to help Cincinnati’s low and moderate-income residents.
WIN joined with local residents to create an organization that would help them gain a voice in issues affecting them. By working side-by-side with residents and training them to become leaders, WIN helped residents impact issues including utility reform, quality, affordable housing, and quality-of-life issues, such as decreasing crime.
Led by resident’s desire to live in decent homes and to physically improve their neighborhoods, WIN began developing homes in 1985. In order to educate residents about purchasing a home, WIN began offering homeownership classes and counseling. WIN also developed partnerships with local banks which have yielded over $300 million in investments for WIN’s neighborhoods.
In 1986, WIN collaborated with Cincinnati Gas & Electric to ensure that low and moderate-income residents could afford their utility bills. Through this partnership, WIN developed a program so that low-income residents pay no more that 30% of their income for utilities. By working with CG&E, WIN’s energy program has become an effective resource for helping people manage their energy usage in an efficient and cost-effective way. WIN currently serves low-income utility customers in an 11-county radius.
Over the years, WIN has offered leadership training to organizations in 16 low and moderate-income neighborhoods from West McMicken to Mt. Healthy. We have sold over 160 homes to low and moderate income working families and educated thousands of first-time home buyers about how to purchase a home.
In 1999, WIN began developing the WIN Economic Learning Campus in South Cumminsville. The 5-building property on the site of the former St. Pius Church, is home to a community computer lab, financial literacy seminars and counseling programs, as well as youth enrichment programs including the South Cumminsville Youth Summer Camp and after-school tutoring. In the fall of 2006, WIN developed 18 units of housing for senior citizens in the former St. Pius School.
Visit Working In Neighborhoods Guidestar Profile, including recent 990s and Annual Reports.
WIN in the News
- Working In Neighborhoods — WVXU
- Port Short: Working In Neighborhoods And Price Hill Will — Cincinnati Port — August 6, 2023
- Cincinnati Outbid Corporate Buyers To Keep Houses Affordable. But Fixing Those Houses Will Take Time — Next City — January 12, 2023
- City of Hope: A new mission to expand home ownership in urban neighborhoods — Soapbox Cincinnati — November 22, 2022
- Partnerships: Price Hill Will and Working In Neighborhoods (Video) — HURC — November 8, 2022
- It’s harder to buy a house. This city fought back by outbidding corporate landlords — NPR — November 3, 2022
- Stormwater damaging homes in Cincinnati — Cincinnati Enquirer — May 16, 2022
- More funding proposed to help first-time, lower-income homeowners — WLWT News 5 — March 30, 2022
- Port buys almost 200 family homes for $14,5 million from struggling out-of-town landlord — Cincinnati Enquirer — December 8, 2021
- Two advocates push to improve neighborhoods, Black homeownership in Cincinnati — WKRC Local 12 — November 18, 2021
- $11.5 Permanent Supportive Housing Community Opens in Cincinnati — Affordable Housing Finance — August 30, 2021
- South Cumminsville: For the Love of the Neighborhood — Urban Roots — July 16, 2021
- EPA Awards Cincinnati-based Working In Neighborhoods $120,000 for Better Watershed Management — EPA — November 5, 2020
Join Our Team
Mission of Working In Neighborhoods: Empowering people to make informed choices for themselves and their neighborhoods through community building, homeownership and economic learning. Working In Neighborhoods is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must be able to pass a drug screen and background check.