J. Rita McNeil Danish, Esq., Vice President

As vice president of government affairs, McNeil Danish engages business and community leaders in planning and executing the Chamber’s long-range public policy agenda, and provides leadership for the Chamber at the regional, state and federal government levels aimed at improving the regional business climate.

Before joining the Chamber, McNeil Danish served as Solicitor for the City of Cincinnati, providing legal counsel for Mayor Mark Mallory, City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr., City Council and more than 15 city departments.

Before joining the City of Cincinnati staff, she served as director of law for the City of Dayton from 1998 to 2002 and worked as section chief for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights Section, from 1996 to 1998.

Other positions have included: associate with Crabbe Brown Jones Potts & Schmidt in Columbus, 1995-96; magistrate for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, 1994-1995; legal writing adjunct professor, The Ohio State University, 1993-95; chief legal counsel for the Ohio Department of Commerce, 1992-94; acting superintendent for the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate, 1993-94; assistant deputy legal counsel for the Office of Ohio Gov. George Voinovich, 1991-92. She began her legal career with the law firm of Schottenstein, Zox and Dunn in Columbus, 1987-1991.

McNeil Danish received her juris doctor degree from the College of Law at Ohio State, where she earned a number of honors, including: the John J. Adams Memorial Award, the George R. Benerman Memorial Award, the OSU College of Law Merit Scholar and chief justice of the Moot Court Governing Board. She graduated cum laude from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

She has earned bar admissions with the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Her affiliations have included: board of directors of the International Municipal Lawyers Association; vice president of Ohio’s Minority Development Finance Advisory Board; president of St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Pharmacy Board; Leadership Cincinnati Steering Committee and a member of Class XXVII; the American Bar Association; the Council of Delegates with the Ohio State Bar Association; and the Cincinnati Bar Association.

Tom Ewing, Senior Legislative and Policy Analyst

As the Chamber’s Senior Legislative and Policy Analyst, Tom Ewing reviews all federal, state, and local legislation affecting the regional business community and determines which of the Chamber’s issue committees will best analyze the legislation.

Tom has been with the Chamber since August, 1992.

Jason Kershner, Legislative Analyst

As a Legislative Analyst, Jason Kershner works with issue committee members to review legislation affecting the regional business community.  His responsibilities also include building and maintaining relationships external to the organization in order to drive committee membership and member engagement as well as event programming and member communications.

Steve McDevitt, Legislative Analyst

As a Legislative Analyst, Steve McDevitt works with issue committee members to review legislation affecting the regional business community.  His responsibilities also include building and maintaining relationships external to the organization in order to drive committee membership and member engagement as well as event programming and member communications.