Policy Matters promotes two staff members
Posted February 06, 2023 in Press Releases
Policy Matters Ohio today announced the promotion of two staff members to new roles in the organization. Ali Smith has been hired as operations specialist and Ben Stein as communications director.
“We’re committed to making Ohio the best state for working people, which includes making our organization a great place to work,” said Executive Director Hannah Halbert. “I am proud that we are moving current staff into leadership positions and that Ali and Ben are rising to the challenge.”
Before accepting the operations specialist position, Ali Smith coordinated work among Ohio's developing network of worker centers in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. Ali has been the communications coordinator for the Central Ohio Worker Center since 2016, and a board member there since 2019. Her work has included social media strategy, immigrant rights campaigns, project management, development, and helping get a wage theft ordinance passed in Columbus in 2020. Smith was born and raised in Stark County, to a family supported and empowered by union steelwork. She now lives in the Hocking Hills area and is passionate about building power for all workers, particularly marginalized groups, including those in the Appalachian region and other rural communities.
Ben Stein started with Policy Matters as an intern and has held various roles since 2018, most recently serving as communications manager. Before coming to Policy Matters, Stein worked as an educator for 12 years, teaching high school English in Massachusetts and college writing in West Virginia, New England and Cleveland. A proud product of public schools, Ben holds degrees from the State University of New York, West Virginia University, and the University of Massachusetts.
“Ali and Ben are examples of the brilliant and committed people working every day all around Ohio to bring smart, compassionate policy to our state,” Halbert said. “Policy Matters is proud to be part of the movement to create an Ohio that works for all people, of every race, place and background.”