Staff

Michael D. Morgan, J.D.

Mike Morgan, became Executive Director of the Over-the-Rhine Foundation in May 2007. Morgan is a graduate of Ohio University and the University of Toledo College of Law. He moved to Cincinnati and established a law practice in Over-the-Rhine in 1999. Morgan began phasing out of the full-time practice of law in 2004 and started selling urban real estate with a focus on Over-the-Rhine. He also started becoming active in the neighborhood, assuming the volunteer role of primary Bockfest organizer in the winter of 2005, and becoming the first Director of the Brewery District CURDC in 2006. That same year, Marge Hammelrath decided to retire as the OTRF's only previous director in its 15 year history. The OTRF board decided that Morgan was a clear choice to assume the role. Morgan handles all aspects of the OTRF's administration and public communications, and manages most of its substantive projects. Still a licensed attorney, Morgan also conducts pro bono work related to historic conservation and city zoning. Morgan is active in the community beyond the OTR Foundation, serving as one of the founding members of the OTR Alliance, a board member of the OTR Community Council, as well as a member of the board of the Central Vine Street Business Association and the Brewery District CURDC.

Jones

Jones is the Assistant Director of the Over-the-Rhine Foundation. She is a large calico cat. Her primary skills involve sitting on the heater and looking out the front window, walking on the conference table during meetings, and greeting visitors. Jones began living on Morgan's back porch in early 2007. Strangely personable and affectionate for a stray cat, her name was inspired by The Book of Jones, an illustrated work by Ralph Steadman about a large, white cat that mysteriously arrived at late author Hunter S. Thompson's ranch and made itself at home. Like her namesake, Jones began walking into the house and assuming a monarchist role over Morgan's yard. Also like Thompson's Jones, her gender was an initial mystery. (Unknown to Morgan at the time, roughly 98% of all calico cats are female.) In the late fall of '07, neighbors started threatening Jones' life. These threats and dramatically cold nights both caused Morgan to fear for Jones' safety, but other domestic animals made it impossible to move her into Morgan's home. She was provided "temporary" shelter at the OTR Foundation office, but the rest of the history should be obvious. While Jones clearly needs to lose a little weight, her size is the result of growing up on the street without regular feeding. While cats are typically quite reliable at self-regulating food intake, it is taking Jones a while to adjust to regular meals and understand that a full bowl does not require a race to the bottom. The point is that while Jones may look like a "fat cat" her origins and her position in life are quite humble. In fact, sustaining her home means sustaining the OTR Foundation. We hope that you will donate to the OTR Foundation because of our work and not our cat, but we do want you to know that Jones thanks you for your support as well.