KenMahler

This user has publicly declared that he has a conflict of interest regarding the Wikipedia article Hulbert Taft.

Cincinnati, the Queen City of the West

Introduction

Greetings, my name is Ken Mahler, a new Wikipedia contributor from Cincinnati, Ohio. I joined this community because of a deep interest in genealogy and local history, and specifically the Taft family’s contributions to this city.

Most people are aware of the fact that William Howard Taft, our 27th President, was born here. Cincinnati is where he began his long career in public service, but it's not common knowledge that his father, Alphonso Taft, was the first Taft to make a mark on this city. He was the patriarch of the Cincinnati Taft family, and was the first of many generations of Tafts to have a profound impact on this city.

I‘ve come across Wikipedia articles concerning the Taft family that contain errors or omissions that I feel compelled to correct and to elaborate on.  Additionally, there a re a number of Wikipedia articles that reference Taft family members, for whom no article yet exists. It is my desire to create these missing articles.

Background

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, and attended high school and college here.  My mother was very interested in local history, and taught me to have an interest and curiosity in it as well.  I have two college-age children from a previous marriage. I live with my incredible wife and two dogs in a suburb north of Cincinnati.

Education

I attended a local private high school, and graduated from Xavier University with a BA in Communication Art in 1987.

Professional experience

I worked in the technology industry in many capacities for nearly 30 years . My first positions were in software and hardware sales, but later focused on education and consulting, ending my technology career at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, a local college of art and design.

Volunteer/civic

Technology remains an interest, but I currently choose to focusing my time and energy in areas other than technology; specifically, in those areas that I previously mentioned.

Throughout my career, I have engaged in numerous volunteer  rolls, including the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Radio Reading Services of Cincinnati, and Ronald McDonald House, among other charitable endeavors.

I currently serve on the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the William Howard Taft Birthplace.