OUR BOARD & STAFF

Lisa White- Executive Director of Business, Marketing & Education

Lisa, along with her husband Todd, and their family moved to Preble County in 2014. Lisa has her Associate in Applied Business Degree and has been a professional photographer for over 25 years. She is a proud mom of two kids. Tatum recently graduated from Miami University and is now a full-time 9th-grade English teacher. Jake is currently a Senior at Miami University studying Media and Communications. In her spare time, she enjoys coaching for Eaton High School with the Colorguard & Winterguard Programs. Lisa started at PCHS in July 2020 and has been enjoying her time ever since. 

Brittany Corwin - Director of History & Collections

Brittany has lived in Preble County her entire life. She often tells people that she grew up at PCHS, attending events with her dad as well as a student at Eaton. She attended PCHS on school field trips as a young child and is now leading the museum in her adult life. Brittany is currently a full-time student at Miami University studying history and art history.  She has been instrumental in organizing the collection process and creating new exhibits for guests to enjoy. Brittany started in 2021 as an intern and is now a part-time staff member. 

Anna Irwin - Collections Team Intern

Anna became a volunteer for the collections team in February of 2022 and continued until May of 2023 with the total of 190 hours. This earned her 2022 Volunteer of the Year! Thanks to her hard work and dedication, Anna was promoted to an intern in the summer of 2023 and has been working since! Anna does everything from cataloging our historical collections into our database as to cleaning gravestones for our restoration projects. Although she does not wish to pursue a career in history, Anna loves to learn and experience firsthand the historical items in our collection. 

Paytin Mobley- Technology & Marketing Intern

Paytin started at PCHS last year and is loving being a part of the team. He spends his time helping with Book keeping and various other tasks. Paytin is a Senior at Eaton High School. He participates in Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Color guard, Winter guard, and multiple club organizations. Paytin plans to pursue a career in Education at Earlham College in the upcoming spring while he is still with us. Paytin is a great addition to the team!

Harold Niehaus- Board President

Harold Niehaus has been an active Preble County resident since 1984 as an educator, volunteer, and member of various community boards. He enjoys serving on this Board as he has seen a strong collaboration among ALL the board members, volunteers, and donors which is ensuring a bright future for the Preble County Historical Society and Nature Reserve.  He encourages others to visit and become involved! 

Shawn Dougherty- Board Member

Shawn commenced volunteering for the PCHS (Preble County Historical Society) in the late 1990s in association with Boy Scout Troop 25 from West Elkton. Demonstrating his dedication, Shawn's involvement extended to joining the board of the PCHS in 2018, while simultaneously maintaining his passion for embarking on hiking across the trails offered by the PCHS. In addition to his community engagement, Shawn boasts a commendable military background as an Army Veteran, having completed two deployments in Iraq. Academic excellence accompanies his professional profile, as he successfully obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Miami University in 2019. Complementing his multifaceted accomplishments, Shawn cherishes a fulfilling personal life with his wife and three children. Currently, Shawn applies his skills and expertise in his employment at MolsonCoors. Although his pursuit of nature and botanical interests remains a personal endeavor, it inevitably permeates Shawn's professional and personal life, reflecting his genuine passion for the environment and plant life. 

Laura Cottingim- Board Treasurer

Laura Cottingim is new to the PCHS Board, joining in January 2024.  Laura grew up in Preble County and was a 1992 graduate of Eaton High School.  After many trips to the historical society for hikes and to attend events, she decided to join the Board as Treasurer to help share with others what PCHS has to offer the community!   Laura also works full-time as Assistant Treasurer of Preble County ESC and Darke County ESC. 

Stephen Bruns- Board Member

Stephen Bruns grew up in New Paris and graduated from National Trail High School in 1976, America’s Bicentennial year. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati and the Ohio State University College of Law. In 1983, he began practicing law in Eaton. In 2008, he was appointed Magistrate of the Preble County Common Pleas Court and in 2018, was elected the Judge of that Court. He has been a member of the Preble County Historical Society Board since 2016 and has served as a member of the Eaton School Board and the Preble County Board of Elections. His wife, Lisa (Lange) Bruns, an interior designer, is a Twin Valley South and Miami University graduate, and also previously served as a PCHS board member. They are the parents of two children, Andrew, a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Keker, VanNest, and Peters, and Molly, who is employed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

Jim Hildebolt- Board Member

Before retirement, Jim Hildebolt was a Marketing Specialist for 45+ years. Jim grew up on their family farm, which is located southwest of Eaton, Ohio. He graduated from Eaton High School in 1974. Jim will bring a great deal of enthusiasm for History and help the Preble County Historical Society keep our Legacy strong for generations! He wants to spread the word that the Preble County Historical Society is the best in the State. And always remember, tell a friend. 

Nancy Tincher- Board Member

Nancy Tincher has been a lifelong resident of Preble County. She graduated from Preble Shawnee in 1977, and she attended Miami University, where she received a BS in Elementary Education and an M.Ed in Teacher Leadership and Curriculum. She retired in 2019 after teaching 22 years with the Preble Shawnee Local Schools. She and her husband, Jim, reside in Camden and are the parents of three children and grandparents of five grandsons. Throughout the years, Nancy has been involved in many school and community organizations. She started volunteer work at PCHS in November of 2022 and has been on the Board of Trustees since July of 2023. 

In her “ spare” time, Nancy enjoys traveling, reading, cardmaking and scrapbooking. She also enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. 

Tim Lane- Board Member

Tim has served on the Preble County Historical Societies Board of Trustees for more than ten years. Tim now enjoys volunteering with the Preble County Special Olympics. He grew up in Preble County and attended National Trail High School. 

Jodi Wolf- Vice President

For over a decade, Jodi and her husband Jesse have built a life filled with love, laughter, and a shared appreciation for  Preble County’s culture and history.

She has served as a teacher at Tri-County North. She is committed to education and has shown that commitment by acquiring a Master's In Curriculum and Teacher Leadership from Wright State University and serving on various committees within her district. 

Beyond the classroom, Jodi's passion for history finds expression in her volunteer work with the Preble County Historical Society. Since 2021, she has been preserving the county's heritage, by scanning archival materials to ensure future generations can continue to learn about the county’s culture and history.

In her personal life, Jodi finds joy in simple pleasures. Camping trips with her family, losing herself in the pages of a good book, painting landscapes inspired by the county's natural beauty, and creating digital scrapbooks filled with cherished memories are just a few of the activities that bring her happiness.

Barb Cox - Longtime Volunteer 

Barbara “Barb” Cox, is well-known in the community for being a kind, generous, and passionate person when it comes to both teaching and learning. Barb, now a retired teacher, taught kindergarten and first grade for 30 years at Eaton Community Schools. She served as a substitute teacher for an additional 16 years and was on the National Trail School Board for 13 years. Barb is an active member of the Commodore Preble County DAR, the Preble County Youth Foundation, Preble County Council on Aging, Campbellstown Church, Preble County Art Association, has two booths at the New Paris Antique Mall, and, of course, is a member and loyal volunteer at the Preble County Historical Society.