Stephanie Byrd

Regional Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie W. Byrd is the Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region, responsible for a region of five chapters, covering 47 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.  

“Like many people, I am drawn to the Red Cross mission because it’s a beacon of light in very difficult times for people dealing with disasters,” said Byrd.  “It brings hope to people who need life-saving blood, helps veterans, service members and their families with the challenges of military life, and provides training to assure that skilled people can respond when emergencies strike.” 

Byrd continued, “I will always remember my first deployment to Hurricane Florence when I encountered a woman on the roadside in Goldsboro, NC. She was distraught over not having her medications or a place to stay. By simply providing her with information on the closest shelter and the services that would be available, I saw the worry in her eyes get replaced with relief. This is what our volunteers do each day. They are the best part of a person’s worst day.”  

As a career non-profit executive, Byrd owes her interest in serving others to an upbringing that instilled in her the importance of making a positive difference in the lives of others.   

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Miami University and earned a Master’s degree in Health and Hospital Administration from Xavier University. Her accomplishments have resulted in numerous awards and recognition, including YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and Cincinnatian of the Year. Most recently, Byrd was recognized as a 2022 “Black is Excellence”, Unsung Hometown Hero by the city of Cincinnati.  The campaign seeks to acknowledge, celebrate and promote the contributions of Black and African Americans for the contributions they make to the community.

Wendy Yarbrough

Regional Donor Services Executive 

Wendy Yarbrough is the Regional Executive of Donor Services for the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region, responsible for the Red Cross blood program covering 47 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In her role she oversees collections and recruitment operations for the region to ensure excellent service at blood drives.

“Early in my career at the Red Cross, I met a recipient that used over 300 units of blood products due to a car accident and the subsequent surgeries he needed due to his injuries,” said Yarbrough. “Throughout the years, his story has always motivated me to ensure that blood is always on the shelf in times of need.”

Yarbrough originally joined the American Red Cross in 1996 after graduating with her Licensed Practical Nursing degree from Mid-East Vocational School in Zanesville, Ohio. In her early days she worked as a collections specialist before rising up to collections team supervisor in 2002, where she led until 2006 when she was promoted to a district manager role focused on recruitment.

For 13 years Yarbrough excelled in her district manager role, including being a recipient of the 2018 American Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence in Biomedical Services, before her appointment as regional executive of donor services in 2019. Yarbrough is originally from Newark, Ohio.