Departments
Symmes Township Board of Trustees
Phil Beck
Phil is honored to have served all residents of Symmes Township as their Trustee since 2008, and he takes great pleasure in providing professional leadership and experience to solving residents’ concerns and making continuous improvements to all aspects of our Township. Phil is committed to: Public Safety; Quality of Life; Economic Development; Fiscal Responsibility; and Tax Payer Savings.
Phil is a dedicated husband to Suzanne for 28 years and father of three children (all graduates from the Indian Hill School District). A Navy (Seabee) Officer for 20 years, Phil is a proud Veteran of both Iraq (Ramadi) and Afghanistan (Kandahar). Phil is a registered Architect in Ohio with over 35 years of project management experience on large public development, design and construction projects (totaling over $4.3 Billion), most currently the Project Executive for The Banks project reinventing Cincinnati’s riverfront for generations to come. Phil earned a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in Construction Management from the University of California at Berkeley. Phil is an Eagle Scout with over 30 years of volunteer experience in the Boy Scouts of America.
Phil would appreciate hearing from you at beckfortrustee@fuse.net.
Jodie Leis
Jodie was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2001 and is honored and humbled that she has been able to serve the residents. She takes this responsibility very seriously and is committed to providing a strong voice for your family and our community. Jodie is dedicated to doing her best, being accountable, accessible and serve with integrity.
Jodie is married to a Loveland/Symmes Firefighter, Jack George and they have raised three children in the Loveland School District--McKenzie, Bailey and Remington. Working for the Hamilton County Adult Probation Department as a Director for over 32 years, Jodie has spent her career fighting chemical dependency, mental health and homelessness. Family is key to a great community and she brings us together through sidewalk programs, special events (Operation Santa, The Great Symmes Egg Hunt, Symmes Honors Veterans, Fall for Symmes, Yoga in the Park) and our beautiful parks.
Keeping our community safe is Jodie’s main priority. The Township contracts with the Loveland/Symmes Fire Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff. The fire department has the best ISO rating in the country, lowering insurance rates. The sheriff’s department brings resources that a township run department would not have access to. Shared services lower taxes.
During her time as Trustee, Jodie is proud to have developed three parks: Meade, Hopewell and Home of the Brave. She believes a well-maintained park system is an investment and is innovative to find grants for park improvements.
To promote literacy and educational programs, Jodie partnered with the Hamilton County Library to install book boxes in the parks, added Story Walk and story time at Meade Historical Preserve.
Jodie is passionate about environmental conservation to protect the Township’s future. Her goal is to make the township sustainable. She coordinates One Stop Drop programs (partnering with different charities to reduce waste), recycling programs (Christmas trees, Christmas lights, cell phones, paper and plastic), hazardous waste programs, promoting pollinator gardens and removing invasive species and replanting native plants.
Committed to preserving a successful road resurfacing, road widening and prompt snow removal programs, Jodie communicates that Symmes Township is a quality community and a desired place to live which enhances property values.
“As Trustee, I pledge to work hard, be honest, transparent and maintain quality serves while being fiscal responsible.”
Jodie can be reached at jodie.leis@gmail.com.
Kenneth N. Bryant
Originally from Northern Kentucky, Ken Bryant has lived in the Calumet Farm subdivision in Symmes Township for over 27 years. He has been a Symmes Township Trustee for the past 12 years and was reelected on November 7th, 2017 to serve another four year term.
Ken graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and has completed an additional 2 years of post-graduate study in both personnel and project management. He is a 2017 Graduate of the Ohio Township Association’s Leadership Academy.
Ken and his wife, Jean, have been married for 47 years and enjoy being active in many community activities and charitable events. Ken's two adult children--Angela and Gregory-- and his granddaughter, Jordyn Bryant, are all graduates of Sycamore High School.
Ken has a wealth of business experience. Prior to his retirement from industry, he had a long and successful career both as a Manager and a Senior Staff Engineer with GE Aircraft Engines in both Evendale, Ohio and Lynn, Massachusetts. His 35 years of Engineering and Management experience included both Personnel and Program Leadership in both Product Design and Engine Systems Integration. During his industrial career, Ken successfully managed several multi-million dollar contracts and technical programs.
Ken states, “He absolutely loves the Ohio Township form of government. He feels it is an example of true “grassroots” governance. Trustees must meet and discuss township business in open session and the three Trustees must decide any issue by majority vote. These Trustees are your neighbors and are accessible on the street, in the grocery, or by telephone. Taxes cannot be raised by the Trustees without a levy being placed on the ballot and the Township Residents agreeing by majority vote. The State Legislature sets compensation rates for the elected officials and no one can vote a raise for themselves. The legislature clearly defines what a Township can and can’t do through the Ohio Revised Codes.”
Ken is an active member of the Montgomery Community Church and loves golf, volleyball, DIY projects and family travel. He can be reached at (513)489-1886 or email at new_1email_18for_21ken@yahoo.com.