About CCMS
Jack E. Lechner, Jr., CFSP, M.S.
President & CEO
LFD/LE (Ohio, Virginia), Certified in Thanatology, Certified Funeral Celebrant, Certified Crematory Operator, Crematory Operator (Ohio permit)
Mr. Lechner was appointed as the President of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in January of 2016. Immediately prior to coming to CCMS he was the Integrated Logistics Systems Division Chief at Headquarters, Department of the Army, Pentagon where he was responsible for ensuring the integrated logistics support for the entire lifecycle of all the Army’s combat platform acquisitions of more than $480 million during a fiscal year or procurement of more than $2.79 billion for the life of the program.
One day after his retirement ceremony from the Army, Colonel Jack E. Lechner, Jr. was asked to revoke his retirement orders and accept an assignment from the Secretary of the Army to Arlington National Cemetery. He reported in June 2010 as part of a new leadership team empowered to restore honor to Arlington National Cemetery following a serious scandal in 2010. He served as the Executive Officer, Cemetery Administrator, Deputy Superintendent, and culminated his five-year tenure by serving as Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery until 10 August 2015. Mr. Lechner has been a licensed death care provider since 1976.
Jerome Webster, Ph.D.
Dean
Certified Funeral Celebrant
Dr. Jerome Webster currently serves as the Dean of the College at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He previously served as president of Terra State Community College where he oversaw a realignment of curricular programs, focused on determining the distinctiveness of each academic program so that they were signature in design, attractive to a broader community, and drew students to enroll. Under his leadership, course completion rates improved to an all-time high of 91% in 2016. During his tenure, the College established four fully on-line degree programs; established the Fremont Early College with Fremont City Schools, and other similar partnerships; opened a new conference center; established a Veteran’s Center; and created a new campus entrance off the main State Route. While president, the College hosted a United States Vice President, state and federal legislators, and national and international entertainers and performers, all to provide students a quality learning experience.
Dr. Webster served as Vice President for Student and Administrative Affairs at Terra State Community College prior to his presidency, and as an adjunct instructor/faculty affiliate in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Toledo. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources from Olivet College in Michigan where he also served as a Residence Hall Director and Housing Coordinator. He received his Master and Doctoral degrees from the University of Toledo while working in various positions in university housing. In 1999, Dr. Webster was awarded a fellowship with the Community College Presidential Fellowship Program, offered jointly by The University of Toledo and five area community colleges in northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan. He served as Dean of Students at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan and as Dean of Student Affairs with Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio before returning to Terra State. He has been active in various State and regional organizations in higher education and community organizations including serving as the president of the Ohio Association of Community College’s Chief Student Affairs Officers; Rotary Club International; as a Board Member of the Sandusky County American Red Cross; and on the development committee for the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH. Dr. Webster also served on the Board of Trustees of CCMS prior to his appointment as interim Dean. Dr. Webster is a certified funeral celebrant.
Holly Hoffman
Assistant Dean/Director of Admissions
513-618-1929
Holly Hoffman is a lifelong resident of northwest Ohio with a short hiatus in Florida. Holly earned her MBA from Tiffin University. During her hiatus in Florida, Holly was a Lifestyle Director at River Strand Golf & Country Club. Prior to her move, she spent almost 10 years at Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio in several positions including Administrative Assistant to the President, Manager of Conference & Event Services, Adjunct Faculty in the hospitality program, and most recent Coordinator of Workforce & Community Education.
Holly has relocated to the Cincinnati area with her husband Randy. She has a son Chris, two stepsons Matthew and Jarrod (Wife Raven and children River and Forrest), a stepdaughter, Jennie (Husband Tom and daughter Eva). Holly enjoys spending time with her friends and family and in her spare time, she loves cooking, crafts and working in the flowerbed!
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Mark Ivey
Program Director
Mark Ivey is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who graduated from CCMS in 1990. Mark is returning to CCMS after having served as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the college from 2018 to 2021. In addition to being a funeral home and crematory owner, Mark has extensive experience in end-of-life services. He has served as a manager for combination funeral and cemetery properties, large funeral organizations, family-owned businesses as well as a cremation service, taught courses at CCMS, and has a background in hospitality management. Mark earned his MBA from Thomas More College in Kentucky. He brings a unique set of skills and experience and the college is excited that Mark has decided to return to CCMS as the Program Director.
Teresa Hoskins
Executive Assistant to the President
513-938-8470
Teresa (pronounced Teressa) comes to the College from The Christ Hospital where she served as an Executive Assistant. She has 10 years experience in healthcare and over 25 years of Executive Assistant experience. Teresa is a native of Cincinnati, OH and grew up in the Madisonville area. She has a number of hobbies and interests such as motorcycles, crafts, travel and spending time with loved ones and is excited to be a part of the CCMS family!
Codi Kindoll, CFSP
Clinical Director
Faculty / Clinical Faculty
B.M.S, LFD/LE (Ohio, Kentucky), Certified Crematory Operator (Ohio permit), Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, Alumnus
513-618-1921
Codi Kindoll is a lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky and is currently a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Kentucky and Ohio, a licensed crematory operator in Ohio, certified funeral celebrant and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner. He has been working in funeral homes since he graduated from high school in 2012, where he discovered his passion for the funeral service profession.
Codi earned his AAS degree from CCMS in 2014 and was awarded the Joel E. Crandall Award for excellence in the art of restoration. Later, he returned to CCMS to earn his BMS and his celebrant certification. Codi served his apprenticeship at a local funeral home in Northern Kentucky and reciprocated his Kentucky licenses to Ohio in 2021 to open the door for more career opportunities.
Codi returned to CCMS in May of 2022 as a faculty and clinical faculty member and teaches courses dealing with management and regulatory compliance. Codi is passionate about funeral service and is equally as passionate about teaching stating:
"It is our obligation as licensees to pass on our knowledge and experience to future death care professionals for the purpose of continuing to provide service through our profession. Giving students the tools to serve their communities and become outstanding members of our ever-evolving profession is truly an honor."
In Codi's spare time, he enjoys DIY home projects, which often involve "up-cycling" of everyday home items. He enjoys spending time with his loveable cat, Finn, and caring for his reef aquarium and koi pond. Codi also enjoys gardening, often growing plants from seeds or seedlings or propagating them from existing plants.
John Vinnedge
Faculty/Safety Officer
M.Ed., LFD/LE (Ohio), Certified Crematory Operator, Alumnus
513-618-1922
John Vinnedge is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Ohio having served in funeral service since 1998. He is also a veteran of the United States Army having served with the XVIII Airborne Corp in Fort Bragg, NC from 1995 to 2003 in both active and reserve duty status.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from CCMS in 2012 and earning his professional licenses in 2013, John has returned to join the Faculty as Clinical Lab instructor, as well as teaching Embalming Theories I & III, Microbiology & Pathology, and Cemetery & Cremation Fundamentals. John is a CANA certified crematory operator and authorized to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the guidelines of the courtesy card Act (KRS 316.14). John earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati.
John is a proud dad of two children and cherishes his time as a husband and father. In his spare time he enjoys film, literature, and spending time in the great outdoors for both sport and leisure.
“Confidence tempered with humility. Graceful competence and bountiful empathy. Love for humanity and appreciation for the value of life. A funeral director requires all of these. Since 1882, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science has assembled quality individuals with these traits and set them on the most worthy of paths; service to those in need.”
Brittany Marcum
Registrar
513-761-2020
Brittany Marcum has held several positions at the College including Front Desk Administrator and Accounting and her newest role as Registrar. Along with her bubbly, inviting personality and love of meeting new people, Ms. Marcum also strives to provide assistance to both current students and alumni.
She joined CCMS after serving in pre-K education as a preschool teacher with Child Focus. She and her husband along with their four amazing children reside on the east side of Cincinnati. In her free time she loves to travel, hike, and explore the world with her family.
In her spare time, she also serves as a front desk administrator with US Martial Arts Academy several evenings during the week. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home with four dogs and a cat.
Teresa Dutko, M.A.
Faculty
Fellow in Thanatology, Death and Grief Studies Certificate, Certified Funeral Celebrant/Trainer, Certified Crematory Operator
513-618-1928
Teresa Dutko, M.A., FT, is Academic Chair and faculty member at CCMS. For over 35 years she has taught the College’s social science curriculum, including courses such as Social Aspects of Death and Dying, Professional Relationships in Funeral Service, Psychology of Grief and Counseling and Aftercare in Funeral Service. Teresa coordinates the College’s assessment program designed to ensure student learning and improve institutional effectiveness. She also serves as the College’s liaison to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB).
Teresa holds the Fellow in Thanatology (study of death, dying and bereavement) advance-practice credential through the Association for Death Education and Counseling and a Death and Grief Studies Certificate through the Center for Loss and Life Transition. A certified funeral celebrant for 17 years, Teresa is also one of the celebrant trainers for CCMS bachelor’s degree students.
In her leisure time, Teresa enjoys reading, cooking, and practicing yoga. She is married to writer and educator, Louis Martinelli. Together they enjoy hiking, canoeing, playing golf, and traveling.
Wanda Mullins Lee, CFSP, M.S.
Faculty
LFD/LE (Ohio), Certified Funeral Celebrant/Trainer, Certified Crematory Operator, Medicolegal Death Investigator
513-618-1932
Wanda (Mullins) Lee is an Ohio licensed funeral director and embalmer, a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), a Certified Funeral Celebrant, a Certified Funeral Celebrant Trainer, and a Certified Indiana Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI). She is a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, the Greater Cincinnati Funeral Service Association, the Ohio Embalmers Association, the Indiana State Coroner’s Association, and the Funeral Ethics Association. Wanda is authorized to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the guidelines of the courtesy card Act (KRS 316.14).
Wanda is a 1996 graduate of CCMS where she earned her Bachelor of Mortuary Science Degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Indiana University, and a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University. Wanda has taught a variety of courses at CCMS, including Embalming Theory II & Clinical Embalming Lab, Restorative Art & Restorative Art Lab, Funeral Service Seminar: Ethics, Funeral Service Co-op, Capstone, Funeral Merchandising and Finance & Pricing. She also served as our Clinical Lab Director for 9 years, prior to her promotion to Registrar in 2022. Wanda has served the Franklin County, Indiana Coroner’s office in a variety of capacities since 1995. She served as Deputy Coroner, Chief Deputy Coroner, and 2010-2018 was the elected Coroner until term limitations permitted her from running for that office again. She still remains with the office as a Deputy Coroner. Wanda served on the Board for Franklin County Emergency Management Services (EMS) for 10 years, and was a member of the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency’s (EMA) Chief’s Association for 8 years. She also formerly served on Indiana’s Region 12 Child Fatality Review Team, aimed at identifying areas of risk and reducing child deaths.
Wanda lives in Franklin County, Indiana with her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Isaiah and Adam. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, reading and going to the occasional Cincinnati Reds game. Her all-time favorite activity, however, is attending her boys' sporting events.
Kiana Alford
Faculty/Clinical Instructor
Kiana is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Indiana, and is reciprocating her licensure and certifications to Ohio. She graduated from CCMS in 2022 with her Bachelor’s Degree and was awarded The Dodge Award for exceptional advancement in the art and science of embalming; she is also a Certified Life Celebrant and Crematory Operator in Indiana. She is earning her Masters Degree in Thanatology from Marian University – Wisconsin. She has background previously in sales and management.
Kiana is a Tri-State area native and served as a funeral director and embalmer for two local Indiana funeral homes, both of which she contracts for as an embalmer. She grew up with an interest in death care and later in life found her calling to the funeral profession in which she loves deeply and wants to help transform in order to take away the macabre stigma surrounding it. Kiana’s passion for the death care profession is apparent and she wants to give back to the students entering CCMS’s doors to help them become the best funeral directors and embalmers they can be.
In her free time Kiana enjoys reading, arts of all kinds, attending concerts, and being an aunt to her two young nieces and friends children.
Cyanna Westfall
Enrollment Services Assistant
513-618-1926
Cyanna Westfall is a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati! After attending the School of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (aka DAAP), she received her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She has done multiple co-ops in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mexico City, and Chicago, Illinois. Cyanna has assisted in designing hotels, large office spaces, commercial restaurants, and worked on designing Targets as well. Not only did she choose Interior Design as her degree because of her love of creating beautiful spaces, it's also because she loves people and bringing them to in said spaces. She is a born and raised Cincinnati native and the oldest of six siblings ranging from 23 (herself) to three years old. She is a pro at multi-tasking and being a big sister. In her free time she enjoys thrifting, reading, listening to music/going to concerts, trying new food, and adventuring to new places with her longtime boyfriend - Carlo.
Tausha Ross
Director of Learning Resources and Student Services
MLIS
513-866-4084
Tausha Ross is an alumna of Wilmington College (1998), Union Institute & University (2018) and Kent State University (2021). She has been in Higher Education for over ten years, which included previously working in an Academic library. She enjoys supporting the academic needs of students and faculty on a college campus and previously served as a Site Director and Associate Dean at Chatfield College assisting students in their post-secondary educational journey.
After earning her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University, Tausha decided to return back to what she loves best, which is working in a library. She loves books and considers it to be her happy space.
Tausha was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a large family. She enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling the many nieces and nephews that she has. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, reading, decorating, shopping at HomeGoods and traveling.
Tausha is excited to be apart of the CCMS family and looks forward to assisting students, faculty and staff in the Learning Resource and Student Services Center.
Kym Smith
Bookkeeper
513-618-1925
As bookkeeper, Kym is responsible for all day to day financial processes that take place at CCMS.
Kym graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's in Accounting. She has over 20 years of experience in this field, and is excited to bring her expertise to CCMS to forward their vision.
Kym and her family live on the east side of Cincinnati. She spends her time outside of work volunteering at her daughter's school, being a karate Instructor at the U.S Martial Arts Academy, or playing with her two loving cane corso dogs: Zeke and Onyx.