Leadership & Advisors
- Brain Health
- Brain Skills
- Human Flourishing
- Stronger Communities
- Ohio’s Future
- Team
Leadership & Advisors
Building brain capital requires more than one profession, institution or point of view. OBCA is guided by leaders and advisors whose experiences span healthcare, law, research, education, ethics, business, public policy, marketing, and community well-being.
- Leadership
Meet Our Leadership
Co-Founder and Director
Tatyana Norman-Webler
Tatyana Norman-Webler is a former ICU nurse and attorney whose work is grounded in service, impact, and a belief that solving modern suffering means treating root causes, not just symptoms—bridging silos and building coordinated, collaborative solutions. Her multidisciplinary experience and personal commitment to healing and human flourishing drive her mission to build brain capital as critical infrastructure for Ohio's future.
Co-Founder and Director
Arielle Lester
Arielle Lester is a comparative historian, healthcare attorney, and certified futurist whose lived experiences with neurological vision impairment, neurodivergence and family members affected by neurodegenerative disease shaped her commitment to early health prevention, life sciences research and systems change for human sustainability. She sees brain capital as a key framework to align Ohio's institutions and resources to more effectively promote and support long-term human potential and well-being.
- Board of Advisors
Guidance Across Disciplines
Dr. Krystal L. Culler
Dr. Krystal L. Culler, DBH, MA is a holistic brain health expert with nearly twenty years of experience working with individuals with brain-related diagnoses, their families, providers, and advocacy organizations. She is a Doctor of Behavioral Health with an educational background that spans the behavioral sciences, including psychology of aging, gerontology, and sociology. She is the Founder of the Virtual Brain Health Center and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute. Collectively, through her educational training and applied experiences, she has received numerous international and national awards for innovation in brain health programs and services with a global impact. She is the author of "A Kids Book About Brain Health" and host of a top-ten-ranked 'best brain health podcast', "Let's Talk Brain Health!" She is driven by her commitment to promoting brain health equity to individuals of all ages and the communities she serves across the world. Her mission: Brain care for all.
Dr. Kim Garchar
Dr. Kim Garchar is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Kent State University and a Clinical Ethics Consultant at Akron Children's Hospital. Her PhD is from the University of Oregon, and she specializes in ethical theory, clinical ethics, death and dying, and pragmatism. She is the co-editor of "Philosophy for Girls: An Invitation to the Life of Thought" (Oxford, 2020) and has published articles and book chapters on clinical ethics, death and dying, and pragmatism.
Joseph (Trey) Meeks
Joseph (Trey) Meeks is a consulting professional with 14 years of experience specializing in organizational design, enterprise transformation, and program management. He has focused primarily on public sector clients, emphasizing the delivery of critical US federal work to benefit public health, safety, and representation. Trey believes in the power of government and smart public policy to advocate for its citizens and promote a better quality of life. He believes the Ohio Brain Capital Alliance will be a key partner in delivering better outcomes at the intersection of workforce, education, and mental health. Trey lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife and three kids.
Dr. Krystal Sexton
Dr. Krystal Sexton is a global leader in brain health who founded Cognitive Capital Group to help organizations foster cultures of employee brain, mental, and social well-being. She is a Senior Advisor for Workplace Initiatives at the UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth and consults with leaders across all sectors to bring brain health to the forefront as a driver of business outcomes. Dr. Sexton has presented at the United Nations, G7, World Economic Forum, and brain health summits across the world.
Dr. Peter Whitehouse
Peter Whitehouse is a transdisciplinary geriatric neurologist, cognitive neuroscientist, and environmental bioethicist who serves as a Professor at both Case Western Reserve University and Johns Hopkins University. As a transmedia speaker and intergenerational educational designer, his research focuses on lifelong learning, brain and mental health, and the intersection of dementia with environmental and planetary health. Through his work in bioethics, he explores how these diverse fields can inform a more holistic understanding of human aging and well-being. He believes that radically transforming our economies through organizations like OBCA is a critical step in creating viable and thriving ecocivilizations.
Chris Keller
Chris Keller is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience, driving high-impact innovation and research initiatives across executive education, experiential learning, and community engagement. He specializes in cross-functional project management, grant writing, and stakeholder collaboration, drawing on past leadership roles with MAGNET, The Entrepreneurs EDGE, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Currently an independent consultant working with both startups and established companies, Chris holds a Master’s in Elementary Education and remains committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders through purpose-driven programming.
Dr. Jeanine Mincher
Dr. Mincher is a Professor of Dietetics in the Department of Human Performance and Rehabilitation Sciences at Youngstown State University and is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. She has fifteen years of experience in clinical nutrition and twenty-five years of experience in higher education. At the present time, she is a Co-PI on a CDC REACH grant and has a research focus on Interprofessional Education and Community Wellness.
Jay Fischbein
Jay Fischbein is a Director in Dean Dorton’s Tax Practice, bringing more than 27 years of experience in corporate taxation. Before joining Dean Dorton, Jay served as Vice President of Tax for Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical Division, where he led complex tax strategies and initiatives for a global life sciences organization. Jay’s expertise encompasses tax governance and internal controls, supply chain planning, tax compliance, tax provision and reporting, ERP implementations, and ESG-related tax matters. He has extensive experience partnering with executive leadership to align tax strategy with business objectives, manage risk, and drive operational efficiency. With a deep background in the life sciences sector, Jay has worked extensively with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, helping organizations navigate the unique tax, regulatory, and operational challenges facing the industry. Jay earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Taxation degrees from the University of Akron and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Kentucky. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Dr. Michael Platt
Michael L. Platt is Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and the James S. Riepe University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in marketing, neuroscience, and psychology. His research examines the biological mechanisms behind decision-making and social interaction, and he applies those insights to leadership, management, innovation, and performance in organizations. He is the author of The Leader's Brain (2nd edition, 2025, Wharton Press) and more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, which have been cited over 28,000 times. He serves as Senior Advisor to the United Nations Strategic Planning Network, served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Brain Science, and previously directed the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. An Ohio native whose family was touched by mental illness and addiction, compounded by financial precarity, Michael describes his life's work as neuroscience in service of society and is excited to give back to his home community.
