NEST Executive Director and Board Of Directors

Evangeline “Van” DeVol catches the eyes, ears and hearts of every audience when speaking passionately about the plight of children experiencing poverty, educational challenges, and trauma. These are the children that Van has a tireless all-in commitment to and, serves every day. She has launched, or helped launch, several non-profits all of which serve at-risk children. Currently she is the Founder and Executive Director of NEST Community Learning Center and the recently founded non-profit, The Varner Foundation for Children and Families. Under her leadership of NEST, this non-profit has garnered six prestigious awards and recognition in the past five years including recognition at the State level and in Cincinnati’s Best. Van herself, has professionally received eight awards and recognitions at the State level and locally by communities, schools, affinity groups and local leaders. Her work has been featured in magazines and on television.

Born in London, England, growing up overseas and then working with immigrant families and children in poverty in London, Washington D.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio, she has been able to bring a unique perspective and insight into the ongoing blight of at-risk children. Studying in Oxford, England then at that University of London’s teaching college and finally at the University of Maryland, Van is an expert in non-profit management and the demographics that NEST and the Varner Foundation serve. She is also an expert in education and the neurobiology of trauma in children.

Laurie Bryant earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Miami University and a Master’s degree in special education from the University of Cincinnati. She has been teaching for 18 years and has taught in a diverse range of communities. Laurie has taught in a general education classroom, as an intervention specialist, and worked as a reading tutor. She has also delivered training on special education information and reading programs to local school districts and the NEST staff. Laurie and her husband have been residents of Loveland for 10 years. She is excited to use her knowledge of reading education while on the board of NEST to help the students served.

John Cummins, a Loveland resident for over 30 years, has a BA from Northwestern University and a JD from The Ohio State University College of Law. He retired in 2022 after 35 years practicing in state courts and federal bankruptcy courts in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. John has coached youth sports and been involved with youth in numerous capacities at the St. Columban Church and School. He and his wife raised three children in Loveland. (Hamilton County, OH).

Karin Eppert has a master’s degree in education and currently works as a high school Library Media Specialist at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Karin started volunteering with NEST in 2018 and worked both in the office and out in the communities. She and her husband have two sons in high school and were residents of Loveland for 10 years. They currently reside in Butler County.

Nick Winnenberg is an owner and franchisee developer representative for Express Employment Professionals. He directly owns one franchisee, and his developer team mentors 19 other locations. He is also the co-founder of OnBrand Podcast Studios, where he helps companies make digital marketing content. Most of his duties involve janitorial work, making impressive excel workbooks, and having the same meeting at least three times.

He has served on the NEST Community Learning Center Board since 2019, the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Board since 2017, and started Loveland Young Professionals in 2016. He has a problem saying “no” to people, which is something he’s working diligently on.

He graduated from Ohio University with an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Management Program at Ohio University, mostly because he wanted to give Ohio University more of his money.

He’s married to the lovely and famous Rami Betts Winnenberg, and together, they are raising their toddler Leon Winnenberg. He’s trying very hard to be an only child. They also have two dogs, two cats, a woodshop, a travel addiction, and an entire virtual reality rig in their house; because, overall, they are giant nerds.

Pat Morgan is a 30-year veteran of advertising & design agency life. As a former Wisconsinite and card-carrying cheesehead, he grew up watching his Dad earn his keep as a Boilermaker repairing ships on Lake Superior. Through him he learned the value of dedication, personal accountability, putting in a hard day’s work, and having a little fun while you do it. He has helped build and grow brands of all shapes and sizes, from fast-growing startups like CycleBar to internationally known consumer packaged goods like Tide, Febreze, and Gillette. A longtime agency leader, he is now a partner and the Chief Creative Officer of Freshwater Creative. Pat lives in Anderson Township with his wife and two children.