Check Out Kimberly Luse’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Luse.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Medical Imaging Professional. I began my career as a Radiologic Technologist, and then worked in the Cardiac and Peripheral Angiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging specialties. I began to teach in my field, and was the founding faculty member in the Advanced Medical Imaging Department at the University of Cincinnati where I built out the Magnetic Resonance Imaging tract. After serving in the faculty ranks in Higher Education, I transitioned into administration, serving as the Chief of Staff at my undergraduate Alma Mater, Northern Kentucky University. I started my own business, Strategic Ethical Solutions, in 2015, and have worked with my clients providing Executive Coaching for top executives and their leadership teams, with a focus on organization and board relations, human resources practices to attract, recruit and retain top talent, strategic planning, executive audits, trauma-informed care training, and emergency planning and training. My work often found me serving clients in the non-profit arena. In 2023, a unique opportunity came to my attention to serve as the Executive Director for Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc. (FNHI). FNHI is a non-profit whose mission is to support the guests and operations of the three Greater-Dayton Area Fisher Houses. These houses are compassionate care facilities that are available at no charge to our military men and women during times of medical need. This role combined three areas that I deeply care about – non-profit work, support of our greatest national treasure, and the medical field. I continue to be blessed to lead this non-profit today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am a first-generation college graduate. When I began college, I was quite intimidated by the coursework, and honestly the whole idea of how I could fit into that environment. I was very lucky to have amazing parents, and faculty and staff that cared about me at Northern Kentucky University. A few truly extraordinary faculty members took special interest in my successs, and provided me with the guideposts I needed to continue to move forward in my educational career. I learned very early that connecting with mentors was fundamental to making progress in every area of my life. Whenever I was discouraged, or off-track, these mentors helped me to find my way back so I could begin again. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I refer to my Mother as my first, and greatest, teacher. I dedicated my first book to her, and used that exact phrase. She is gone now, but I continue to stand on the foundation she built for me. That foundation continues to serve me well, and has been strengthened by my mentors, family, and most notably, my husband, Evan.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am honored to work as the Executive Director for Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc. (FNHI). You can learn about this non-profit by visiting our website at www.fnhi.org. In this role I friend and fund-raise to support the work of the three Greater-Dayton Area Fisher Houses. There are more than 100 Fisher Houses across the country, and abroad, and they were built to serve our military men and women at no cost during times of medical need. Non-profit groups, known as “Friends” groups have been established across the country to support the houses in their geographical areas. There are two Fisher Houses on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, serving the Medical Center there, and one in front of the Dayton VA Medical Center. I have the pleasure of working with the house managers and staff there to identify needs for the guests and operations of the houses. The Governing Board of FNHI considers these requests for support and responds. Our non-profit provides monetary support for needs at the houses, but it goes much deeper than that. We have a major focus on raising awareness for this resource so our military family knows it is there. We also do things like show up and help move furniture when there is a necessary upgrade or renovation at one of the houses. All of us work together with one goal in mind. We are there to support our greatest national treasure during times of medical need, which can be some of the most difficult times in their lives. One thing that I am very proud of, and very grateful for, is the relationships I have developed throughout my service in this role. We really work together, as one big family, and the passion for the work is contagious. I also have formed deep connections with both the guests of the houses, and with amazing donors and supporters. The Fisher House Foundation, who builds the compassionate care houses, are another group of people who serve with their whole hearts, and I am blessed to call them friends.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Greater-Dayton is such a vibrant community. I had the opportunity to participate in the Leadership Dayton Class of 2025, I learned so much about the work that is done in so many areas-the history of Dayton, education, healthcare, the justice system, and so many others. One special session focused on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its significant value to our region.

Something else that I deeply value about Dayton, Ohio is the accessibility that there is to all areas of leadership. From the President of the Chamber of Commerce, to the Office of the Mayor, to the representatives from the Governor’s Office, to the Commander of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, I have been welcomed, and supported in my work. There are too many to highlight everyone, but I am grateful to each of them.

Challenges that are particularly close to my heart include food insecurity and insufficient literacy rates that exist throughout the city. Whenever I am given the chance, I volunteer to work with those groups that are addressing these two areas.

Pricing:

• Opportunities to support FNHI can be found here: https://fnhi.org/how-to-help/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fnhi.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FisherNightingale/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-luse-b9b96b33/
• Other: https://www.strategicethicalsolutions.com