Governor-Elect Amy Acton Announces Transition Co-Chairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 11, 2026

Governor-Elect Amy Acton Announces Transition Co-Chairs

Acton Pepper Transition Appoints Senior Transition Staff

COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Governor-Elect Amy Acton announced the co-chairs of the Acton Pepper Transition. Under Transition Chair John Haseley’s leadership, the co-chairs will guide the transition and prepare the incoming administration to deliver on Dr. Acton’s plans to lower costs for working Ohioans, fully fund public schools, end the cost of corruption, and build a state where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

Governor-Elect Acton also announced her senior staff for the transition, who will work closely with the transition co-chairs.

“I am honored to welcome my transition co-chairs and leadership team, a group of outstanding leaders whose extensive and diverse experience will serve Ohio well,” said Governor-Elect Amy Acton. “I look forward to working alongside this team as we fight every day to deliver solutions for working Ohioans and build a state where everyone can get ahead.”

Transition Co-Chairs

Elisabeth Hire, Transition Co-Chair for Operations: Elisabeth Hire brings decades of experience across campaigns and government. She served as Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to Dr. Amy Acton’s campaign for Governor of Ohio. Previously, Hire served as the Director of Scheduling and then Director of Operations for Vice President Joe Biden where she oversaw scheduling, advance, and administration in the Office of the Vice President.

Gale King, Transition Co-Chair for Talent: Gale King is an experienced independent director, retired C-suite executive, and community leader. As the retired - EVP - Chief Administrative Officer for Nationwide, she was responsible for Human Resources, Culture, Corporate Real Estate, Corporate Security and Aviation. She is a member of the Board of Directors for AutoZone and Unum Group and serves on the Compensation committee, Nominating and Governance, and Audit committees. She is a past director for JB Hunt, where she served on the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees.

Janetta King, Transition Co-Chair for Policy: Janetta King is an experienced policy expert currently focused on small business policy and advocacy across the Midwest. She is the founder and former President and CEO of Innovation Ohio and former Chief of Staff for Center for American Progress Action Fund. King previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and was his Chief Policy Advisor during the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. King holds a degree from Pepperdine University and has previously served on the Ohio University Board of Trustees.

Transition Team

Keary McCarthy, Senior Advisor to the Transition Chair: Keary McCarthy currently serves as executive director of the Ohio Mayors Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio's largest cities. McCarthy brings over two decades of experience in government and policy. He previously served as chief of staff to the Ohio House Minority Leader and communications director to the Ohio House Speaker.

Degee Wilhelm, Senior Advisor to the Transition Chair: Degee Wilhelm is a founder and managing partner at O’Connor, Haseley, & Wilhelm LLC. She earned her J.D. from the Chicago-Kent School of Law in 2002. After moving to Ohio, she served on the Ohio Elections Commission for eight years, stepping down as Chair at the end of 2018.

Tony Bishop, Senior Policy Advisor: Tony Bishop is a policy expert who most recently served as the Policy Director for the Acton campaign. He has also held posts in the White House, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Congress, and the Ohio General Assembly.

Virginia Schaus, Communications Director: Virginia Schaus is a communications professional with experience on campaigns, in government, and in the non-profit sector. She served as the Deputy Communications Director for the Acton campaign and previously worked at the Brookings Institution and the U.S. Department of State.

Melissa Sever, Senior Operations Advisor: Melissa Sever is a public health leader with more than 25 years of experience. She previously served as a Senior Advisor for Public Health Systems and Services at the Public Health Accreditation Board. She has previously held senior-level roles at the Ohio Department of Health, Columbus Public Health, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, and RAPID 5.

Yibo Shao, Senior Policy Advisor: Yibo Shao brings extensive experience in public health and healthcare policy both in Ohio and nationally, having previously served in senior-level roles at the Ohio Department of Health and the Service Employees International Union. She served as the Policy Advisor for the Acton campaign.