Financial services executive Barbara Turner is appointed as Cincinnati State Trustee

Governor John R. Kasich has appointed Barbara A. Turner to the Cincinnati State Board of Trustees. She was sworn in as a Trustee at the special board meeting held Nov. 1, 2018.

Turner is the president and chief operating officer of Ohio National Financial Services, Inc.

A Cincinnati native, Turner attended the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the Wharton Securities Industry Institute and Leadership Cincinnati Class XL.

Turner’s financial services career spans more then 30 years. She joined Ohio National in 1997 and steadily rose through a series of executive positions, becoming president in November 2018.

“I selected the financial services industry as my vocation because I believe financial literacy and independence leads to freedom, flexibility and self-sufficiency. This improves the quality of life of families and sustainability of communities,” Turner said.

“My sentiments about education are similar,” she continued. “The education and training options provided by Cincinnati State bring freedom, flexibility, independence and hope to the students it serves. This ultimately improves the quality of life in the Cincinnati community and beyond.”

Turner is a member of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, and currently serves on the boards of American Red Cross Greater Cincinnati-Dayton Region, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Women’s Executive Forum, Northern Kentucky University Foundation, The Health Collaborative, and the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

She is also the 2019 Campaign Chair for American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Great Rivers Affiliate/Go Red for Women campaign.

“We are so happy to have Barbara as a fellow trustee for Cincinnati State,” said Mark Walton, chair of the Cincinnati State Board of Trustees. “Her extensive leadership experience and deep understanding of our community will be instrumental in helping to guide the future of this great college.” 

Turner and her husband Daman Turner have three adult children and three grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family, as well as traveling, cooking, reading and attending local arts events.

She has a special passion for mentoring at-risk teenage girls and single mothers, and helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency and financial independence.

“Cincinnati has been challenged with retaining talent in the region,” Turner said. “I believe Cincinnati State can help in this area by strategically partnering with local businesses to attract, place, and retain talent.”

(Article by Richard Curtis, Interim Media/Communications Coordinator, Cincinnati State)