Frederic Bertley, Ph.D.

President and CEO

Center of Science and Industry (COSI)

Dr. Bertley is a scientist, scholar, immunologist and educator. His passion for science and innovation brings the joy of discovery to people of all ages where they live, learn and lounge.

His innovation has led to experiences including the COSI Science Festival, The Color of ScienceTM and EiPIC, as well as the COSI STEM kits. Under his leadership, COSI has been voted the nation’s #1 science museum for four consecutive years in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and been awarded the prestigious 2023 IMLS National Medal.

After graduating from McGill University where he studied Physiology, Mathematics and the History of Science, and earned a Ph.D. in Immunology, Bertley worked internationally in preventative medicine and basic vaccines. He continued this focus in a research group at Harvard Medical School, focusing on the development of DNA vaccines for HIV/AIDS. Before COSI, Dr. Bertley served as SVP for science and education at The Franklin Institute.

Bertley co-created and hosts the prime time television show QED with Dr. B, in partnership with PBS-WOSU Public Media. He also created the animated online series, Dr. B in 3. These science literacy creatives have won a combined six EMMYTM awards.

He has presented at The United Nations, The White House, the National Academy of Sciences, NASA and in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Dr. Bertley has received honors including: the Spirit of Columbus Award, the George Washington Carver Award, Columbus CEO of the Year and blooloop 50 Museum Influencer (UK). He was also awarded honorary degrees from Otterbein University, Columbus State and the Presidential Medal of Service from The Ohio State University.

Heather Popio

Director of Visitor Experience at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Heather leads the Visitor Experience, Membership, and Retail Operations teams at Franklin Park. Special projects Heather oversees include: IT systems for Franklin Park’s CRM, point of sale, ticketing and space management software as well as leading the evolution of Franklin Park’s security function.

Growing up in western New York, Heather came to Columbus to attend Ohio State. After earning her degree in Philosophy, she began her non-profit career at COSI. During her 14 years at COSI, she directed adult and youth audience engagement, led the volunteer program, and created the popular adult-only program, COSI After Dark. Heather also served as the Director of Operations for United Way of Central Ohio.

Heather’s passion to give back to her community has led her to serve on the following boards: the Worthington Educational Foundation, Franklin County Children’s Services Volunteer Advisory Council, and Volunteer Administrators’ Network of Central Ohio. She lives in Worthington with her husband and two children.

Kevin Ach

Managing Principal

Impact Risk Partners a Division of EPIC

Kevin Ach is a Managing Principal for IMPACT Risk Partners which focuses on providing clients with a comprehensive suite of performance-based consulting solutions that reduces operational risks at an enterprise-wide level. IMPACT’s process is a distinct departure from the siloed approach commonly practiced in today’s risk management environment. This team of consulting experts is integrated across four core solutions: Casualty Cost Reduction, Training and Awareness, Operational Risk Reduction, and Analytics to create a holistic process that generates significant financial gains in risk management and operations.

As the Managing Principal of the Training & Awareness and Profit Protection divisions, Ach is responsible for the operational fulfillment of all client services across the practice. He brings over 25 years of experience to EPIC. His experience and leadership have been, and continue to be, focused on delivering optimized solutions that drive profitable revenue growth and minimize organizational risk for his clients.

Prior to joining EPIC, Kevin was the Senior Director of Retail Loss Prevention and Safety for Office Depot Inc., overseeing loss prevention and safety activities for over 1,500 retail stores. Kevin has also held varying management positions in supply chain, international retail operations, B2B, and internal audit during his career.

Kevin earned his B.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and proudly served our country for four years as an Officer in the US Army’s Signal Corps branch. Kevin is a Board Member of the West Point Society of the Palm Beaches. He holds the LPC certification through the Loss Prevention Foundation.

Tammy Wharton

President & Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts

Tammy Wharton became President & Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland in November 2008; a councils that serves 18,000 girls in 30 Ohio counties. Prior to this position, Ms. Wharton served as CEO of Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio Council and led the council through a successful merger process. From 2005 until her return to Girl Scouts in 2007, she had a successful tenure as Columbus Literacy Council’s Executive Director.

Tammy enjoys advocating for the most critical issues in order to forward the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Her deep knowledge of the Council and of Girl Scouting coupled with her strength in organizational development, strategic planning, and financial management helped energize the organization during the most recent transformation.

“Tammy is respected in the community and among her peers,” said Suzy Swanson past Board Chair. “She brings with her a passion for the mission of Girl Scouts, as well as the professional leadership skills and experience required to lead an organization serving over 18,000 girls.”

Clearly, responding to challenges is nothing new to Tammy. In fact, she has always been enthusiastic with these new opportunities. During college, she achieved national recognition as a USA National Team competitive synchronized swimmer and four-time NCAA National Champion. Her drive toward excellence continues throughout her career and was recognized in 2002 through Business First’s 40 Under Forty award, 2013 Non-Profit Executive Director of the year and 2017 WELD Calendar inductee.

In 2017, Tammy was integral in bringing the Girl Scouts of the USA National Convention, G.I.R.L. 2017 to Columbus. More than 10,000 people attended this girl-centered event from around the country. Attendees saw first-hand how Central Ohio roles the green carpet out to our visitors.

As evidence of her philosophy of the importance of education, Tammy earned a Master of Science in Human Services with a specialization in non-profit management and an undergraduate degree in Communication from The Ohio State University.

Ms. Wharton is currently Dreaming Big for girls, youth and the community as she works to realize a transformational initiative that will reimagine the 220-acre Camp Ken Jockety. This campus will include a STEM Leadership Center, Maker Space and many cutting-edge programmatic additions aimed at providing youth the tools necessary to learn new skills for future success.