Sharon Rastatter, Commission Chair
Terms: October 2019 – September 2021, October 2021 – December 2024
Sharon is a native Central Ohioan, growing up on the east side of Columbus and graduating from Gahanna Lincoln High School. She attended Bethany College, Bethany, WW, where she majored in Communications, before transferring to The Ohio State University where she received her B.A degree in Journalism (News Editorial sequence) with a concentration in Political Science. She spent several years during college and after graduation as a newspaper reporter for daily newspapers in Springfield, Ohio; Martinsburg, WV; and Williamson, WV, in addition to freelancing for the Associated Press, Charleston, WV, Bureau. In addition, she was a reporter for ThisWeek Newspapers before moving into corporate communications. In more recent years, Sharon worked at Meadow Park Church in Columbus, designing the church bulletin, website content, flyers and other communication pieces. In 2015, she started volunteering with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America for the MGFA’s local public awareness campaigns.
She and her husband have lived in the Far West Side area since October 1994, first in Cross Creek Village (1994-99), then in Westbrooke (1999-present), and have two daughters, ages 20 and 17. During her daughters’ elementary school years, Sharon served as a Girl Scout troop co-leader and PTO volunteer. In her neighborhood, Sharon was a trustee and newsletter editor for the Westbrooke Subdivision Homeowners’ Association (2008-2016). For the past several years, she has been Co-Coordinator of the Westbrooke Watchers Block Watch and the Community Relations Coordinator (volunteer) for the Columbus Division of Police 15 Precinct since 2016. She became involved in local rezoning issues in August 2016, and upon learning of the need for an area commission to represent Far West Side residents, took on the challenge of leading that effort.
Debi Hampton, Commission Vice Chair
Terms: October 2019 – September 2021, October 2021 – December 2024
Debi graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Industrial Design, Visual Communications. She is a Freelance Graphic Designer and author of, “CANCER: Reflections on Life with Cancer and Finding the Good in Any Challenge.” A 10-year survivor, Debi is a wife and mom of three amazing kids, ages 21, 16 and 12. She strives to prioritize family first, while juggling home, work and volunteer opportunities. Her faith guides her to champion people and causes that give hope and focus on a better quality of life.
After mentoring with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, her family fostered a baby when his mom struggled with addiction. She is a Youth Leader at CenterPointe Church in Grove City and serves on multiple ministry teams. Debi is Program Coordinator for Columbus Tutoring Initiative at Hilliard Crossing Elementary, inspiring students to love reading. She is a core member of HART – Health Awareness & Recovery Together, joining with others to bring awareness to mental health, alcohol and drug use concerns.
Debi is President of the Cross Creek Village Civic Association, since 2011, and leads a team of dedicated residents to improve the neighborhood with social events, beautification efforts and unity within the area. She is Co-Chair of the Cross Creek Block Watch, involved for 18+ years. She is active in multiple PTOs and committees within Hilliard Schools. She has been a team leader in local efforts regarding development, diversity, safety and more. She is an active member of the Far West Side Area Task Force.
Kelley Arnold, Zoning Committee Chair
Term: October 2019 – December 2022, January 2023 – December 2025
Coming to us from Northwest Indiana, Kelley is a born and raised Region Rat. She worked in the Chicagoland area as purchasing assistant and later as a major account representative for a radiation dosimetry firm while attending Purdue University Calumet. After moving to Ohio in 1996, she continued her studies at The Ohio State University majoring in Political Science and Japanese.
Kelley and her family moved to the Cross Creek Village neighborhood in 2000. While working as a Census Bureau field representative, she was also actively involved in the local school, Hilliard Crossing Elementary, when her son began his journey there in 2003. After a brief departure from the community to live in Japan in 2005, Kelley and family returned to their home in Cross Creek Village in 2008. Since returning, she has been an active member of the school community serving as treasurer for a number of PTO groups, including the Inter School PTO (ISPTO). She has also served on a number of the district’s committees, including the Student Housing Project and the Technology Task Force. Kelley has also been involved with the creation of the neighborhood Cross Creek Village Civic Association.
Todd Wildman, Treasurer
Terms: October 2019 – September 2020; October 2020 – December 2023; January 2024 – December 2026
Todd has been a resident of Ohio his entire life growing up in northern Ohio in Amherst and eventually moving to Columbus in 1990 to go to college at DeVry University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering. He has lived on this side of town since 1995 and moved into his current residence in 2000. Todd has worked as a network engineer for the same international company in Hilliard for nearly 26 years. He has volunteered at his local church since 2012 running the video switch and directing camera shots for the in-house television recording and for viewing on the Internet. Todd also volunteers for his son’s troop as the treasurer and has done so since 2015. He enjoys anything technology related and likes to fix computers as a hobby. Todd joined the West Side task force to form this commission in the fall of 2017.
Jeff Woodson, Secretary
Terms: October 2019 – September 2020; October 2020 – December 2023; January 2024 – December 2026
Jeff is a life-long resident of central Ohio. He was born and raised in Marysville, received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Kent State University and an M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Ohio State University. Jeff is a professor and program coordinator in the Engineering Technologies department at Columbus State Community college and have been employed there since 1990. He has have lived in either Hilliard or the Far West Side of Columbus for the past 25 years. Jeff and his my wife (Carrie) and have one child, a daughter, who is in graduate school at Ohio State. He has served on the Westland Area Commission when his family lived in Galloway in the early 2000’s and currently serves on the Education First Credit Union Foundation Board and the Tolles Career and Technology Center Engineering Program Advisory Committee. Jeff believes we have a great community and that an area commission formed to serve it could do many great things to improve the quality of life for all who live in it.
Jim Garrett
Term: November 2021 – December 2024
Jim is a life-long resident of Ohio who was born and raised in Cleveland. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY receiving Culinary Arts and Advance Bistro/Asian Certificates, and Columbus State Community College, Ohio Dietetics and Human Resources Certificate. He is the Co-Founder of the Restaurant hospitality management program at Ohio State University Executive Chef Instructor and is a Professional Member of the American Culinary Federation. Jim’s community engagement includes Special Olympics of Ohio (1993–2017) and served on the board of Farm to Table at The Ohio State University where he prepared catering services for our presidents and other dignitaries. He is also the Worship Tech Team-Camera Operator, Livestream Switcher, and Producer at Northwest Bible Church-Hilliard, Ohio Volunteer. Jim believes we have an amazing community and that the area commission established to serve it would accomplish a lot in raising each individual’s standard of living.
Awatif Elnour
Term: January 2023 – December 2025
Christoper Hodges
Term: May 2024 – December 2026
Chris Hodges has lived on the Far West Side of Columbus for over twenty years. In addition to being a resident and parent, he is a passionate advocate of service in the community. Outside of his corporate career, he serves on the Board of Directors for Wild Goose Creative and has devoted countless hours over the years to fostering the development of the City’s creative spirit through volunteering in a variety of capacities with numerous arts and culture organizations including working on GCAC’s Columbus Arts Fest, consulting on WOSU’s Broad & High music series, establishing FrontStage Fest in partnership with WWCD, and serving on the music committees for Independents’ Day, 934 Fest, and Blockfort Studios’ Alley Islands events.
Justin Fogt
Term: May 2024 – December 2025
Justin Fogt, LISW-S, has lived in Ohio for his entire life and in the central Ohio area since coming to Columbus to attend Ohio State nearly 25 years ago. He is a proud resident of the Hilliard community where he, his wife, and three children live and go to school. Justin works as a Social Worker and his work focuses on new parents within the community, including some families who live on the far west side. He is committed to being an advocate for his community and ensuring that all members of our community have an opportunity to live in a safe, vibrant, and growing environment. Justin enjoys running, golfing, and supporting the Buckeyes’ sports teams.