Senator Michele Reynolds

Michele Reynolds is an American business owner, nonprofit CEO, and member of the Ohio Senate representing District 3. She is a lifelong Ohio resident who has dedicated her career to public service and community development. Reynolds is a woman of faith who, along with her husband Pastor Rick Reynolds, leads The Destiny Center church in Franklin County. She and her husband have six children and reside in Canal Winchester.

Reynolds represents Madison and Pickaway counties as well as portions of Franklin County, including communities such as Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, Grove City, Westerville, New Albany, Groveport, and parts of Columbus.

As a third-generation business owner, Reynolds operates multiple businesses across five Ohio cities: Columbus, Akron, Mansfield, Chillicothe, and Cleveland. Her professional experience spans over 25 years in business, government, and nonprofit management. Early in her career, she held positions in the public sector, including Assistant Clerk of the Board of the Hamilton County Commissioners and roles within the Mayor's Office of Economic Development in Akron. She was later appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine as Director of the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, where she managed a $13.5 million budget.

Reynolds has received numerous accolades for her humanitarian work, including a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from former President Barack Obama in 2016 and a 2019 Central Ohio Social Justice Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Education

Reynolds holds multiple degrees reflecting her diverse professional interests:

• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati
• Master of Arts in Public Administration and Urban Studies from the University of Akron
• Master of Law from Thomas Jefferson School of Law
• Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from CICA International University and Seminary
• All But Dissertation status for a doctorate degree in Business Administration from Northcentral University

She is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Ohio specializing in commercial real estate and served as an adjunct instructor at Kaplan College, teaching in the Criminal Justice Technology program for three years.

Political Experience

Party: Republican

Current Position: Member of the Ohio Senate, District 3

Reynolds was elected to the Ohio Senate in 2022, defeating incumbent Democrat Tina Maharath. She is serving her first term in the Senate.

Prior to her election to the state senate, Reynolds was elected Township Trustee for Madison Township in Franklin County in 2019. In that role, she worked to modernize the township, secured grant funding for the local police department, increased fiscal transparency and revenue, improved public safety, and created community engagement initiatives including a Citizens Advisory Committee.

Committee Assignments:

• Housing
• Judiciary
• Workforce Development
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Rules and Reference
• Small Business and Economic Opportunity

Notable Achievements

Reynolds has built a significant record of community impact, including housing over 5,000 returning citizens in affordable housing settings across Ohio, creating more than 200 jobs through eight successful businesses, and launching a business incubator to support entrepreneurs in Central Ohio. She is active in professional and community organizations including the National Association of Realtors, the Columbus Chapter of the NAACP, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.