The Mission
The Dover City Schools Education Foundation is a community based trust which receives contributions from individuals, families, small groups, organizations and businesses. Funds are invested and income is disbursed to provide educational opportunities to students of all ages. The Foundation's primary intention is to provide permanent funding for improving the quality of education for Dover's youth.
The Foundation is financed by those concerned about enhancing the educational opportunities available to our young people. An independent Board of Trustees, comprised of nine people, governs the Foundation and its policies. Trustees include Dover alumni, community leaders and representatives and friends of the schools.
All donations to the Foundation are deposited into the general investment fund that is professionally managed for both growth and current income. A copy of the investment policy statement for the foundation is available upon request.
All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. As contributions accumulate year after year the fund will continue to grow and serve Dover's students and educators in future years.
Officers
President
Doug Bambeck
Vice President
Damon Stevenson
Treasurer
Scott Finnell
Secretary
Jim Nixon
Board of Trustees
Zack Feller
Zack is a 1991 graduate of Dover High School and a 1995 graduate of the University of Toledo. He is currently the Vice President of Miller and Miller Group Benefits Division where he has worked since 2000. Zack currently volunteers and serves on several boards in our community and has been the active President of The Dover Education Foundation since 2012.
Zack resides in Dover with his wife Summer and three children: Sam, Alyssa, and Emilyn.
James F. Contini II
Jim is a director of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A., and currently serves as a member of the firm’s management committee. His focus is primarily in estate planning, business succession planning, probate, estate and trust administration, elder law, business law, and real estate law. Jim is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law by the Ohio State Bar Association, and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Jim, a native of Dover, Ohio, received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Akron in Accounting in 1989 and his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law graduating cum laude in 1992.
Jim is a member of the Dover Tornado Club, and the game public address announcer for the Dover Tornadoes Football Team. Jim also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Tuscarawas County Senior Center and is a member of the Dover Rotary Club.
Jim, his wife, Abby, and their children, Cory and Chloe, reside in Dover.
Scott Finnell
Scott Finnell has served as Executive Vice President, Senior Lender, and Chief Credit Officer of First Federal Community Bank since 2001. He's been a local banker since 1991. Scott earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mount Union and his MBA from Ashland University. He has served on numerous Boards of Directors and has been active in many organizations and charities throughout the years. Scott has also enjoyed coaching youth sports for many years when his children were younger. He currently serves on the City of Dover Architectural Review Board, The Board of Directors of The Rainbow Connection, and The Tuscarawas County Business Factory. He is also a Member of the Dover-Phila Kiwanis Club.
Scott lives in Dover with his wife Amy, and three children: Josie, Emily, and David. Josie attends Miami University, Emily attends Ohio University, and David attends Dover High School.
Jim Nixon
Jim graduated Dover High School in 1994 and attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio. He graduated in 1998 with a bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Economics.
In 1999 he returned to the area after accepting a position with Lauren Manufacturing. In 2001 Jim was promoted to the position of General Manager at LMI Custom Mixing, Lauren International’s custom rubber mixing facility in Cambridge, OH. In 2003 he completed his MBA at Ashland University.
Today Jim lives in (is a proud resident of) Dover with his wife Melanie, and their three sons, Trent, Tommy, and Ryan.
Douglas Bambeck
Doug Bambeck is President of Investment Partners, a local investment firm and has over 20 years of experience in financial services. He is also lifelong resident of Dover., and a proud alumnus of Kent State University, where he majored in Political Science.
Doug believes strongly in education and giving back to the community. Doug has been a member of the Dover Exchange Club since 1997, helping to provide supplies, clothing, parties and opportunities for children in foster care.
Doug resides in Dover with his wife Faith and their two children, Max and Natalie.
Tricia Herzig-McKinnon
Tricia Herzig-McKinnon became a full time apprentice at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory upon graduating Cum Laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in March of 2005. Tricia is the fourth generation to join her family business as a fully licensed funeral director and embalmer. She completed her apprenticeship in March of 2006. Tricia was a 2003 graduate at Ashland University and a graduate in Dover High School's class of 1999.
Tricia is a proud, lifelong member of the community. She has become a familiar face while serving as a past secretary for Main Street New Philadelphia, a board member of the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, member of the 2005 Leadership Tuscarawas class. She is also an active member and volunteer for the Tuscarawas County Humane Society, where she serves on the fundraising and educational committees. Tricia has served as the "Toland-Herzig Team" captain to support the American Cancer Society's Relay for life for many years. She is a member of the Union Hospital Auxiliary and volunteers for the annual Warther's Christmas Tree Festival, which is one of her favorite community events. She is also on the board of the Dover Education Foundation and the Board of Directors for the Ohio Funeral Directors Association District #16.
She is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dover and attends New Pointe Community Church in Dover.
Tricia married Joel McKinnon on December 27, 2003. Together they have three children: Jack, Stone, and Klaire McKinnon.
Damon Stevenson
Damon graduated from Dover High School in 1991, and attended the University of Dayton, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1995 with a bachelor degree in Chemistry. After living in North Carolina for over eleven years, Damon and his family moved back to Dover, Ohio to raise a family.
Currently, Damon is employed by Dover Chemical Corporation as Global Business Unit Leader with P&L and sales responsibility for a dedicated line of products. Damon is also an active member of the Tornado Club and previously served on the board at Personal Family Counseling Services (now part of Guidestone).
He resides in Dover with his wife, Libby and their children, Tyler and Sydney.
Brooke Grafe
Brooke Grafe, Principal of Dover High School, has been an educator for eighteen years, serving seventeen of those years in Dover Schools. Beginning as a high school English teacher and Crimsonian advisor, Brooke then transitioned to Dover Middle School for two years as the assistant principal and then to East Elementary as the principal for three years. Brooke returned to the high school in 2018 as the assistant principal and is thrilled to now be serving as the high school principal.
Brooke earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Secondary Education, summa cum laude, from Baldwin Wallace University (formerly Baldwin-Wallace College) and her Master's degree in educational administration from Ashland University.
She and her family are active members of Immaculate Conception Church where she is an organist.
Brooke and her husband, Tommy, reside in Dover with their two daughters, Lauren and Peyton.
Kyle Stemple
Kyle earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Kent State University. He also earned a master's degree in business administration with a specialization in finance from Ashland University.
Kyle is currently a Principal at Rea & Associates. He specializes in consulting, tax and audit services. He is also a member of Rea's manufacturing team and has earned a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Kyle's professional memberships include The American Institute of CPA's and The Ohio Society of CPAs. He was also honored as a Top Business Professional Under 40 in Tuscarawas County in 2007. His community involvement includes the Muskingum Lake Chapter of the American Red Cross (past president); Kent State University Accounting Advisory Council.
Kyle and his wife, Lindsay, reside in Dover with their daughter Kora.