Executive Committee

Andrea Rees
Executive Committee Chair

Andrea is an Area Leader, Educator and 4-H Youth Development for the Ohio State University Extension Office. Andrea has been an instrumental piece of several KSAAT projects such as Hidden in Plain Sight and Drug Take Back Day. Andrea is committed to the Knox County community and strengthening parent and youth relationships.

Emily McConville
Communities Coming Together Conference Coordinator

Emily Morrison is the coordinator of the Communities Coming Together Conference. A compilation of the previous Knox Addiction Conference and Focusing on Youth Issues (FYI) Conference. CCT is a 1-day conference offered in August that provides opportunity for professional development and community collaboration.

Afet Kilinc, Ph.D., PCC-S

Dr. Kilinc, Ph.D., PCC-S joined the Freedom Center as Executive/Clinical Director in 2019. She is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of the organization’s operations and programs. She has over 22 years of experience working in behavioral health, accreditation, managed care, and government sectors. Before joining the Freedom Center, she served as the Director of Behavioral Health for Aetna Better Health of Ohio where she helped to implement Ohio’s Duals Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care Demonstration. Afet is a Professional Clinical Counselor with 20 years of clinical and management experience. She earned a doctorate degree in Counselor Education from the Ohio State University in 2001.
Afet was born and raised in a large family of farmers in southern Turkey. She became an American citizen in 2009 after immigrating to the United States. She enjoys gardening, bird watching and spending time with her family and friends

Mayor Matthew Starr

Matt came to Knox County in 1991, then to the city, in 1995. Originally, from Indiana, Matt graduated from Manchester University and entered graduate school at Kent State University, where he received his Master’s Degree. He started in Knox County working for the Mount Vernon Developmental Center, then as a part-time instructor for Central Ohio Technical College, an Assistant Football Coach for Kenyon College, and then started a corporate film and video production company where he is the Executive Producer. Matt is also an actor in various platforms such as TV, film, and the stage. He has served on many non-profit boards and volunteer agencies in the community, as well as, Mount Vernon City Council. He and his wife, Joanne, have been married since 2004.

Debbie Ruggles

Debbie joined the Chamber in April 2018 and is the Program Coordinator. Debbie serves as the Chamber's representative to the Knox County Safety Council, is a member of the Kiwanis International and serves on several committees in the community. Debbie resides in Mount Vernon with her husband, Cliff.

Zach Green

Zachary Green, MBA, was named Health Commissioner in March 2022 and officially assumed the position in July '22 with the retirement of Julie Miller.
Zach has been with Knox Public Health for 6½ years. He was named deputy health commissioner in August 2020. Prior to that he served as emergency preparedness coordinator for the agency.
A native of Knox County, Zach is a graduate of Mount Vernon High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in public safety management from Franklin University, an associate degree in law enforcement from Central Ohio Technical College and a master’s degree in business administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Prior to working at Knox Public Health, he worked at Knox County Juvenile Court and Fredericktown Police Dept.
Zach and his wife, Katie, have three children and live in Centerburg.