Contact: Marita Salkowski
513-477-1694 | Marita.salkowski@redcross.org

December 3, 2025 — Today the American Red Cross announced the retirement of Stephanie Wright Byrd, Regional Executive for Central & Southern Ohio, after seven and a half years of dedicated service. Byrd has been a driving force behind the Red Cross mission in the region leaving a lasting impact on the 47 counties in Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

During her tenure, Byrd supervised the Red Cross disaster response efforts for the Dayton tornadoes in 2019; the Goshen tornado in 2022; the Indiana Lake/Miami Valley tornadoes in 2024; the Oregon District mass shooting in 2019; and the various flooding events in Newark, Ohio, Cincinnati and Columbus areas.

Four new blood and platelet donation centers were built in the region during Byrd’s leadership in Delaware, Ohio; Newark, Ohio; Lancaster, Ohio; and Cincinnati. These donation centers are strategically located to provide more consistent and convenient locations for blood and platelet donors.

Through her leadership, fundraising results for the Central & Southern Ohio region have doubled--despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in relationship between the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the American Red Cross.

In addition to her work locally, Byrd also made an impact on the national level. She personally traveled to other states to assist in disaster recovery efforts including to North Carolina following Hurricane Florence, to Mississippi in response to the 2023 tornadoes and Western Kentucky in the aftermath of flooding in 2025.

She was the national co-sponsor for the Red Cross Umoja Team Member Resource Group Byrd was also a member of the Black Executive Steering Committee which advised then Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder and created the Legacy Circle Mentoring Program for members interested in advancing their careers.

Before coming to the Red Cross, Byrd spent 14 years in leadership positions at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, including being the founding Executive Director for Cincinnati’s Preschool Promise and for Success by 6. Byrd also held executive roles at the Drake Center, the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, HealthSpan, and The Christ Hospital.

Her accomplishments have resulted in numerous awards and recognition, including an Honoree Doctorate of Humane Letters from Miami University, the YWCA Career Woman of Achievement, 4C Champion for Children and Cincinnatian of the Year in 2017.

Byrd has served on many non-profit boards, including most recently the Miami University Foundation, Fifth Third Community Advisory Forum and currently chairs the 4C for Children Board.

To schedule an interview with Stephanie, please contact Marita Salkowski 513-477-1694.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.Redcross.org/centralandsouthernoh and join us on X and Facebook @ARCcsor.