Staff

President
E-mail: nlashutka@ohiochildrenshospitals.org

Nick Lashutka brings more than 16 years of public policy experience working in the private sector and state government to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association.

Most recently, Nick served as the first ever director of external relations for the Ohio Business Roundtable (BRT), a partnership of the chief executives of the state’s major businesses.  During his six years with the BRT, he partnered with policy leaders on a bipartisan basis to forge solutions to key competitiveness issues facing Ohio; including health care and Medicaid, P-16 education reform, comprehensive tax reform, civil justice reform and technology based economic development.

Prior to joining the BRT, Nick represented organized medicine on behalf of the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) and their 20,000 physician members.  At the OSMA, he was instrumental in leading organized medicine’s legislative efforts over a seven-year period on a range of issues including prompt pay, Medicaid, insurance and managed care reform.

Nick is a 1990 graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where he studied both government and history. Nick and his wife Megan are the parents of sons Kuyper and Duke and live in Upper Arlington.

Melissa Bacon

Director of Public Policy & Advocacy
E-mail: mbacon@ohiochildrenshospitals.org

Melissa Bacon brings more than 15 years public policy experience in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association. Her areas of expertise range from Medicaid Policy to constituent communication.

Most recently, Melissa served as Medicaid Policy Specialist for three years in the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus, following her work as a Policy Assistant with a focus on areas such as insurance, health and human services, children’s services and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule and Review. Melissa also served as a Legislative Aide to former State Senator Merle G. Kearns and former State Representative Marilyn Reid.

Melissa is a volunteer with the Autism Society of Ohio, Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence and AutismSpeaks’ Columbus Walk Now for Autism. She also volunteers at Hawthorne Elementary School.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The Ohio State University. Melissa and her husband, Kevin, and their three daughters live in Columbus.