The Lift Bridge Community Association
Meet the LBCA Board of Directors
Tara Rhodes
As a lifelong Ashtabula County resident, Tara Rhodes is deeply proud of this community and the people who make it special. She believes wholeheartedly in its potential and is passionate about helping individuals and families find places they truly love while contributing to the continued growth of our area.
Community involvement is at the core of who she is. Currently, Tara serves as President of the Ashtabula County Realtors, and Chair of the Lift Bridge Community Association. She volunteers at her children’s school, and regularly jumps in on local clean-up efforts. Tara loves connecting people with resources and being part of the positive momentum happening all around us.
Before real estate, Tara’s career began in public service. She earned an associate degree in human services and a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies, with minors in sociology and criminology, from Kent State University, and spent several years working in the public sector. Her Bridge Street journey started long before real estate as well — bartending and serving at Briquettes Smokehouse for nearly a decade — being a proud cheerleader for our waterfront community ever since.
Board Chair
Jamie Perkins-Bilovus
Jamie Perkins-Bilovus brings a thoughtful, action-oriented perspective to her work with LBCA, serving on the Strategic Planning Committee where she helps turn long-term vision into practical, achievable initiatives. With a professional background in operations, finance, and organizational planning, Jamie supports efforts that strengthen local businesses and build a vibrant, year-round Harbor community.
Deeply committed to giving back, Jamie is an active volunteer and passionate supporter of Harbor events—you’ll almost certainly spot her in a volunteer shirt at most LBCA activities, lending a hand and helping bring the community together!
Board Member
Christine Seuffert is happily retired and enjoys volunteering within the Ashtabula community and beyond. Currently she serves the Lift Bridge Community Association, the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association, Ashtabula County Lights on the Lake, and Cleveland Playhouse Square as a Red Coat. She chooses to imagine an Ashtabeautiful!
Board SecretaryChristine Seuffert
Born and raised in the City of Ashtabula, Jim Timonere learned early on the value of hard work, teamwork, and perseverance. He graduated from St. John High School and went on to Kent State University. Jim graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, all while working full-time.
He returned to Ashtabula after college and began to see the potential the City possessed. He became involved; attending Council and School Board meetings and even began coaching High School Football at St. John. In 2005, Jim became the President/CEO of the Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce where he worked to promote businesses and economic development throughout Ashtabula County before becoming Ashtabula's City Manager in 2011.
Jim is no stranger to serving his community. At one time, he served on a total of 15 Boards and Committees throughout Ashtabula County and the State of Ohio. It has always been important to Jim that the City of Ashtabula and the County are both represented across the State of Ohio.
Jim's parents taught him the importance of hard work, education, community, and family. He is the fourth generation of Timonere’s to purchase a home and raise his children in this community. Jim's grandfather, James S. Timonere, proudly served as the City's Ward 2 Councilperson for 26 years. He shares his passion for creating a vibrant City.
Board TreasurerJames Timonere
Born and raised in Ashtabula, Jacq is a 5th generation native. School took her to NYC for a BFA in Fine Arts. In the 10 years of living and working in the city, she he met her husband Cole. Together they moved to San Francisco and started a successful brewery/cocktail bar/restaurant called Black Sands.
As their family grew, they dreamed of living in a small town. Lake Erie was calling and they soon made the Ashtabula Harbor their home. They started Nights & Weekends Pizzeria on Bridge Street in 2021 featuring authentic wood fired pizzas, and housemade small plates, salads and desserts. Jacq designed the N&W brand from the ground up and proudly keeps the place humming by baking the crowd-pleasing desserts and creating menu specials throughout the year. You can find her baking, creating content, and raising two 6th generation little ones in the harbor.
Board MemberJacqueline von Tesmar
Justyn Olivarez is a dedicated community advocate and member of the Events Committee with LBCA. He has spent much of his life working with charitable organizations to raise funds, build community, and create accessible opportunities for youth and families.
Justyn was previously involved with Feed the People, a music and art collective that collaborated with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland, the Tamir Rice Foundation, Peel Them Layers Back (a men’s mental health organization), and Feed the Vets, among many others. Through these partnerships, he helped organize events that blended creativity, community engagement, and social impact.
With LBCA, Justyn’s primary focus is creating smaller-scale events and gatherings that provide young people with safe, welcoming spaces to connect, express themselves, and simply enjoy being kids. His work is driven by a strong belief in the power of community-based experiences to inspire, support, and uplift the next generation.
Board MemberJustyn Olivarez
LaDonna Smith joins our community bringing a wealth of fresh perspectives shaped by 35 years of executive and technical leadership in the metals industry across the US. As a career professional, LaDonna is applying her expertise to the LBCA board by immediately becoming active on the Strategic Planning committee, Event planning support, and kicking off new Fundraising initiatives. She is invested in the success of the Historic Harbor community and inspired by the energy of our vibrant neighborhood and passionate LBCA membership.
Board MemberLaDonna Smith
A Harbor High School graduate, Larry Mills proudly served in the United States Navy, immediately following his graduation. During his time in the Navy, Larry reached the rank of E5, and also became a Search and Rescue Swimmer (SAR). Larry was deployed on two tours of duty, bringing him to the Persian Gulf, Beirut, Grenada and Panama. After his service, Larry was honorably discharged and returned home to Ohio. He began working for Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, where he worked for 36 years as a Trouble Lineman/Leader prior to retiring. While at the Illuminating Company, Larry was also a union representative and executive board member for the local 270 Utility Workers Union of America for 36 years. An entrepreneur himself, Larry owned and operated M2 Enterprises and Construction, as well as owned and rehabbed numerous homes and rental properties. Married in 1997 to Jodi Mills, the couple has one child, Amanda, and two grandchildren, Connor, age 5, and Claire, age 2.
Board MemberLarry Mills
Ronald Harvey is a 20 plus year retired veteran of the US Air Force. During his service, he was an Aircraft Avionics maintenance technician working on multiple large body aircraft; Satellite Systems Operator, maintaining the nations $2.2 billion defense satellite constellation; Superintendent on the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System; Superintendent, Space Surveillance Operations, managing the upgrade of the USAF satellite communication network.
After his retirement from the service, he worked at NASA Glenn Research Center as a contractor for nearly 20 years as the Data Systems Manager; IT Security Manager; PACE Contract Program Manager; and Program Manager at the NASA Safety Center. His has educational degrees from Regis University with a BS in Computer Information Systems (summa cum laude), Northern Maine Technical College, AAS, Small Computer Repair, and Community College of the Air Force AAS, Electronics Engineering Technology.
He one of the owning partners of Maple Ridge Vineyard and enjoys golfing and woodworking. Ron serves on the Membership committee, Strategic Planning Committee and the Events Committee.
Board MemberRon Harvey
Karey Lunghofer has called Ashtabula home for nearly all of my 54 years, and this community means a great deal to her. She has had the privilege of serving on the Academic Booster Board for Lakeside High School and truly values opportunities to support others. Karey is excited about this new opportunity to work alongside such a great group of people. She loves serving and helping, and she’s hopeful to give back by supporting the LBCA in whatever ways she is able.
Board MemberKarey Lunghofer
Pam Goodell is a former Plant Controller and CPA with a background in budgeting, financial reporting, variance analysis, cost control, and process improvement. She worked on trail and park development projects for a conservation group and volunteered as a tax preparer for low-income and elderly clients for four years post-retirement. Pam is eager to contribute to advancing the Historic Ashtabula Harbor community as an attractive and dynamic tourist destination along Lake Erie.
Board MemberPam Goodell
Chip Goodell is an Ashtabula native who has retired in the Harbor at his family home with his wife Pam after 28 years of flying for the US Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard. Chip also earned a Master’s degree in Architecture and managed government and commercial projects for an architecture firm in Columbus while serving in the Air Guard. Currently a member of the City of Ashtabula Planning Commission and Ashtabula Historic Preservation Commission, Chip looks forward to leveraging these roles to strengthen collaboration between the LBCA, the missions, and the City of Ashtabula.
Board MemberChip Goodell
Joseph Brobst was born and raised here — Ashtabula County and the Historic Ashtabula Harbor are his roots. Joe graduated from Ashtabula High School and has accumulated many hours and certificates from Cleveland State University for landscape design and lawncare. Joe has owned and operated his landscape and maintenance business, Brobst Maintenance Inc., for over 20 years. While doing so, Joe carries several licenses for vegetation control and lawn management. Joe takes great pride in community projects and was involved in beautification for the first Wine and Walleye festival. Most recently, Joe was awarded the Community Outreach Person of the Year 2025 presented by the Ashtabula Chamber of Commerce. Supporting locally is very important to Joe, and he looks forward to future projects with LBCA!
Board MemberJoe Brobst
5 Year Strategic Plan
“What’s different about the Lift Bridge Community Association, different from a typical merchants association, is that our vision is a large vision. It is not simply ‘how do we advertise to get more people to come to the harbor and my store’, it is to become a major regional destination for tourism, recreation, and entertainment. That’s a big goal, and I think it has inspired people to see what is possible.”
Ren Carlisle
LBCA Founder