Before Cheryl had even seen a concert at Memorial Hall, before she had taken a seat in its historic theater, she felt something resonate deeply within her. “I was running a business incubator—Bad Girl Ventures—that hosted events in Memorial Hall,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I could be a part of that.’ Although, it wasn’t even about the music at first. It was the building. The energy. The potential.”
That sense of potential quickly transformed into action.
FINDING A PLACE—AND A PURPOSE
Cheryl’s involvement with Memorial Hall began with a phone call out of the blue. “Bill Baumann reached out,” she says. “We kind of knew each other from the [Cincinnati] Art Museum. He was looking for new board members to step in for those retiring in 2012.”
At the time, she hadn’t even attended a concert at the venue. That changed with Rosanne Cash. “The acoustics were amazing. It was unbelievable.”
Still, her early focus remained squarely on the business side. “We brought in a strategic planner and honed in on our mission. It had to be formalized to succeed. That planning process helped deepen our relationship with 3CDC and led us to identify how to put the right people in the right roles.”
FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE HALL
When asked what made her fall in love with Memorial Hall, Cheryl lights up. “The intimacy of the theater was so beautiful. Even before it was remodeled, I remember going up the stairs and thinking—there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. That feeling never left.”
That emotional connection, coupled with her business acumen, fueled her years of dedicated service. But she’s quick to admit the programming didn’t always match her personal tastes.
“I’m a rocker,” she laughs. “I love heavy rock. American roots music? Not really my jam. I was honest about that from the start. I wasn’t going to attend all seven or eight concerts a year. But I could still promote Memorial Hall and its preservation. That was where I felt I could contribute most.”
PIVOTAL MOMENTS AND FORWARD MOMENTUM
Among the most impactful decisions during her tenure was the introduction of a strategic plan. “You have to formalize things to be successful,” she says. “That clarity helped us work better with 3CDC, align the board, and plan for the long-term health of the building and organization.”
Cheryl outlines a bold vision for Memorial Hall’s future, centered on three major phases:
Roof Restoration – Securing the physical structure of the building.
New CRM System – Investing in tools that support deeper engagement and data-driven growth.
Sustainable Endowment Planning – Building a fund for perpetuity that supports ongoing growth and artistic excellence.
And of course, more concerts. As the relationship grows with 3CDC, the vision to host more concerts, and in turn, reach a larger audience, will be the future.
ADVICE AND A CONTINUED LEGACY
“To this day, I’m still shocked when people say they’ve never heard of Memorial Hall or have never been inside. We need to keep getting the word out.”
Though she’s now officially a trustee emeritus, Cheryl remains deeply connected. “I look forward to mentoring. I still care about what’s going on at the Hall. I love the venue.”
She’s also continuing her work in the community—as President of the Board for the Cancer Vaccine Coalition and through her involvement with the Art Museum. “It’s time to give back,” she says simply. Thank you, Cheryl, and congratulations on being named Trustee Emeritus!
—Kyle Fugate
