Women Impacting Mason-Deerfield Panelists
November's event will feature speaker Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt and event moderator, Abigail Melampy, both with Duke Energy. She will share her personal and professional journey, offer advice on overcoming challenges and achieving success. Attendees will have the chance to network and engage in a Q&A session with the guests, as well as participate in small group discussions. We encourage men and women to attend this event.
Abigail Melampy
Government & Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy
Abigail Melampy, Government and Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky (DEOK), serves as a community partner to Butler, Clinton, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren counties helping to bridge the gap between operational matters and community needs as well as assisting with economic development opportunities for the region. Prior to her current role on the Community Relations team, Abigail held various roles throughout the Human Resources function including Talent Acquisition, Workforce Development, Training and Development, and Diversity and Inclusion since joining the company in 2015.
Abigail proudly serves on the boards for BCW (Butler, Clermont, Warren) Workforce (Vice Chair), United Way of Warren County (Allocations Committee), and Area Progress Council of Warren County (Membership Committee). Abigail is Chair of the DEOK Business Women’s Network, having served as Vice Chair in 2022. She graduated from Leadership Warren County in 2023.
A native of Cincinnati, Abigail is a proud alumna of the University of Cincinnati where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Organizational Leadership. She was recently accepted into Northern Kentucky University’s MBA program with a start date of mid-November. Abigail still lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons (5 and 2). In her spare time, she likes to attend Bearcats games, try new restaurants, read novels, and volunteer.
Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt
VP of Community Relations, Duke Energy
Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt, VP of Community Relations, Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky (DEOK), oversees a team that engages with local government officials and community leaders on a variety of matters related to Duke Energy. From 2018 to 2022, she also oversaw Economic Development for DEOK. Rhonda previously held positions in community affairs, large account management, shareholder services, investor relations, strategic planning, and corporate foundation, since joining the company in 1992.
In 2011, she established the Duke Energy Urban Revitalization Initiative, which has awarded Duke Energy Foundation catalytic grants for over 100 urban redevelopment projects across Greater Cincinnati, totaling over $3 MM.
Rhonda serves on the boards for ArtsWave, REDI Cincinnati, BE NKY (fka Tri-ED), the Workforce Council of SW OH, the NKY Catalytic Fund, the Greater Cincinnati YWCA and the NKY Chamber Board of Advisors. As NKY Chamber board chair (2017-2018), Rhonda spearheaded the launch of GROW NKY, a comprehensive workforce development effort, and is still engaged on the Advisory Council and Executive Committee for what has morphed into NKY Works. She has held a variety of leadership positions with some current boards and many other boards in the region, and in 2011, Rhonda was the first woman to Chair the NKY United Way Campaign, raising over $4M, a 5% increase over 2010.
A native of SW OH, Rhonda has been the recipient of several local and regional awards, including Outstanding Woman of Northern Kentucky Award in 2012, United Way of Greater Cincinnati 2016 “Strengthening Our Region Leader” Award, Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2018 Women Who Mean Business award, and the NKY Chamber 2024 Walter L. Pieschel (MVP) Award, among others. Rhonda has graduated from several regional leadership programs (including Leadership Warren County), along with the statewide Leadership Kentucky program. She earned bachelor’s degrees in both political science and public administration from Miami University. She is married and has two adult children, two adult stepchildren and two grandsons, and resides in Kenton County, Ky.