Last Thursday at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities (BCBDD) Board Meeting, we proudly recognized two remarkable individuals for their years of dedicated service: Board Member Jackie Phillips-Carter and Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologist Tricia Weingartner. Both are retiring from their positions, leaving behind lasting legacies of leadership, compassion, and impact.

Jackie Phillips-Carter, who also serves as the Health Commissioner for the City of Middletown, reflected on her time with BCBDD and the value of board service.

“As the Health Commissioner for the city of Middletown, I have always valued opportunities to serve on boards that promote health and well-being for all our residents,” Jackie said. “Serving on a board allows you to truly understand an organization from the inside out—the financial challenges, the consumers and families, the systems that intersect with its work, the dedicated staff, and your fellow board members. The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been, and continues to be, one of my favorite boards to serve on. The individuals we support are vulnerable yet strong, fragile yet resilient, different yet so alike, tough yet kind. It has been an honor to witness and contribute to this incredible work. I want to thank the County Commissioners for selecting me, and the entire BC Board of Developmental Disabilities for the privilege of serving these past eight years. It has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

Tricia Weingartner began her career with BCBDD in March of 1994, shortly after earning her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Over nearly 32 years of service, Tricia witnessed and helped shape significant changes in how early intervention services were delivered.

She began working on a “school calendar,” providing center-based preschool and early intervention services at the Janet Clemmons Center. Over time, her work expanded to traveling throughout Butler County, delivering speech therapy in preschools within the Fairfield, Ross, Hamilton, and Edgewood school districts. Most recently, Tricia supported children and families through a year-round coaching model, providing speech therapy directly in their homes.

Reflecting on her career, Tricia shared several heartwarming moments that have stayed with her.

“I loved the moments when parents would reach out and send pictures of their child heading off to kindergarten,” Tricia said. “It allowed me to reflect on the days we worked on their speech together when they were just 2 years old! Another moment that I will never forget was when I was eating at a restaurant and a waiter came up to me and thanked me for helping his son. Honestly, I did not recognize him. He continued to tell me he remembered me and that I had helped his son with his speech at Fairfield. When I asked him how his son was doing, he told me he was graduating from college and doing well! Working with these children over the years and watching their progress has certainly been profoundly gratifying!”

We are deeply grateful to both Jackie and Tricia for their years of service, leadership, and dedication to the individuals and families we support. Their contributions have made a meaningful difference in our community and will be felt for years to come.

We wish Jackie Phillips-Carter and Tricia Weingartner all the best in their well-earned retirements.