Under the direction of our Board of Directors and Overseers, we are enhancing justice to end intimate partner violence.
Pat Byron, President Emeritus
Pat Byron was thrust into advocacy work for victims as a result of her daughter Mary's murder in 1993. She was named the 2005 recipient of the Eastern Kentucky University's College of Justice and Safety Dean's Award. She also received the HER (Honoring Excellent Role Models) from Today's Woman Magazine in 2006. Her work educating young people about dating violence led to the Supreme Court of Kentucky honoring her with the 2011 Law Related Education Award of Achievement.
Ms. Byron continues to use her expertise to speak in communities throughout the nation about dating violence and crime victims' rights. She served as President of the Mary Byron Project from 2000-2008 when she was designated President Emeritus. She recently was appointed to serve on the Kentucky Corrections' Commission.
Phyllis Florman, President of the Board
Attorney-at-Law
Phyllis Florman is an attorney and an arbitrator and mediator in Louisville, KY. She graduated from Russell Sage College and then received her J.D. from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She has served as President of the Louisville Bar Foundation, the Law School Alumni Association and the Family Place. Ms. Florman has been Vice-Chair of the Kentucky Commission on the Status of Women and served on the National Association of Commissions on Women.
Marcia Roth, Treasurer of the Board
Marcia Roth's interest in ending violence against women and children began in the late '70's and 80's when she became involved in volunteer and political advocacy. She worked in and led a variety of grass roots organizations trying to call attention to these crimes.
In 1991, she was asked by Jefferson County Judge/Executive David Armstrong to become the Executive Director and form the 1st Office for Women in Kentucky. She accepted and defined the mission of the office to enhance the status of women in Jefferson County and to change policies and minds toward ending intimate partner violence.
In 2000, she was tapped to be the founding executive director of the Mary Byron Project (MBP). Ms. Roth retired from the Executive Director role in 2019, but continues to serve on the Board of Directors.
Ms. Roth has received numerous awards for her leadership as well as her devotion to ending intimate partner violence. Additionally, she has served as the President of the Board of the Kentucky Community and Technical College Systems, Commissioner for the KY Commission on Women, President of the Jewish Community Federation, Founding Board Member of the Louisville Waterfront Development Corporation, and a member of board for both the Louisville Foundation and the Metro United Way.
Jerry J. Bowles, Secretary of the Board
Jerry J. Bowles is a retired Circuit Judge formerly presiding in the Jefferson Family Court. Currently, he is a partner with Bowles & Byer, Family Law Mediation where he provides mediation services in divorce and custody cases. Judge Bowles has done extensive work in the area of domestic violence and trains judges and other domestic violence interveners, both, nationally and internationally on the topic. He serves as the Chair of the Louisville Metro Fatality Review Committee and throughout his career has been appointed to numerous state and national boards and committees where he provides his expertise on issues of domestic violence and coercive control.
Mike Davis
Mike Davis is CEO and co-founder of Appriss, Inc., a technology company specializing in helping criminal justice agencies serve and protect their citizens. He and Yung Nguyen joined forces in 1995 to launch and create the market for the nation's first automated victim notification system known as VINE®. Mr. Davis has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurship as well as his devotion to helping victims. In April, 2009 he was awarded the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Award from the US House of Representatives.
Gerina Whethers
As Secretary, Gerina has led the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet in the development of innovative policies, and procedures protecting the health and well-being of over 29,000 state employees. Prior, Secretary Whethers served as Executive Director of Senior Protection and Mediation for the Office of the Attorney General recovering over millions in goods and services for consumers. She created programs and trainings for Kentucky’s seniors, including intimate partner violence. She also served four years in the Attorney General’s Office as Executive Director of Victim Advocacy. While there, she partnered with others in the community to create the Commonwealths 1st Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review data report and summation. Gerina also served in Jefferson County as Assistant County Attorney for the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. Gerina has been involved with veteran families recovering from intimate partner violence. Gerina has dedicated her adult life in the development of programs and services regarding intimate partner violence.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Louisville and JurisDoctorate from the Brandeis School of Law. Among her community activities, Gerina is a member of the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Emerge KY, Susan G. Komen, and St. Stephen Church. She is also a Board Member of Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana.
Jenny Recktenwald
Jenny Recktenwald is the Communications Manager for Appriss Insights. In previous roles, she has supported the Mary Byron Project’s Celebrating Solutions Program, VINE Protective Order VAWA grant, and Arise to Safety Project. She helped to launch and later served as Interim Director of OneWest, community development corporation economic development in west Louisville. She was named an honoree in Business First of Louisville’s 2017 “20 People to Know in Economic Development.” Ms. Recktenwald has extensive community service and nonprofit leadership experience, including her work with Volunteers of America Mid-States, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and Leadership Louisville’s Bingham Fellows. Ms. Recktenwald has a Master’s Degree in English and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Louisville.