Meet Our Leadership Team
Terry Darnell
President
Terry is currently a Polygraphist detective with the Dayton Police Department, where he has served in multiple roles over the past 12 years. His past positions include working as a violent crimes and narcotics detective, recruitment officer, and community engagement officer. During his time with the department, Terry created a program that provides officers with snacks and resources to engage youth while on duty.
Before his career as a police officer, he worked for Montgomery County as a job coach and rehabilitation specialist for adults with special needs for 12 years. A proud product of Dayton Public Schools, Terry graduated from Dunbar High School in 1998. He went on to complete his AA degree at Sinclair Community College and earned his BS at Wilberforce University.
Terry is the founder of The Unit, established in 2009, which offers free health and fitness classes for all community members and provides monthly opportunities for members to serve in their communities. Since its inception, The Unit has had thousands of participants in fitness classes and has contributed thousands of community service hours throughout Montgomery County.
In addition to his professional work, Terry’s hobbies include real estate, fitness, and encouraging others. His commitment to community engagement and support is evident in all he does.
Allison Scott
Board Chair
Allison is currently a registered nurse at a local pediatric hospital. She has served in multiple positions within the organization over the past 13 years. Within her current position, Allison supports strategic initiatives and performance improvement. Past positions included serving as a bedside nurse, nurse educator and assistant nurse manager.
Allison is from South Carolina and has resided in the Dayton area for the past 21 years. She completed her BSN at Wright State University and MSN at Indiana Wesleyan University.
She joined The Unit in 2011 after participating in one of the free fitness classes. During her time with The Unit, Allison has served many roles. One her favorite and most exciting roles was steering the “Snack Back Our Streets” program. This was a partnership with the Dayton Police department to bridge the relationship between police officers and youth residents within Dayton communities.
Allison is very invested in community engagement initiatives to support the optimal health of community residents along with their community.
Her hobbies includes physical fitness, traveling and spending time with her daughter.
Jonathan Hairston
Board Member
Jonathan is originally from Chicago but currently lives in the Dayton area. He has been an active participant in The Unit since 2019 and has loved every moment, even the challenging minutes after a tough workout. He heard about The Unit during a difficult time in his life when Joely, who was an associate at the time and has become an amazing friend and family member, invited him to an outdoor workout. Jonathan recalls, “I almost died during the warm-up,” but the inspiring group didn’t let him quit. He often says, “I came for the workout, but I stayed for the positivity and love.”
In addition to being on The Unit’s board, Jonathan serves as a trainer and enjoys inspiring and motivating those around him. A true Taurus, he is a life member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., and a graduate of Central State University. One of Jonathan’s favorite memories is the yearly group trip to Miamisburg Mound. Not only is it a great group challenge to travel up and down the mound, but the UNO games afterward provide bragging rights for the entire year.
For Jonathan, community engagement means bringing a group of individuals together for a common purpose and goal, fostering both individual improvement and community enhancement.
Shannon Roberts
Board Member
Shannon Roberts resides in the City of Dayton and has been with The Unit since its creation. She was brought on board by Terry, seeing it as a chance to exercise, meet new people, and engage in community service.
With 24 years of experience in finance, Shannon helps individuals understand credit, build it, and navigate loans. She loves assisting others in achieving their financial goals. Her son is her world, her heart, and her joy, and they are active in a volleyball league in Dayton, as well as enjoying basketball together.
Shannon has volunteered for two years with Kettering Hospital and has also participated in community cleanups through the United Way. For her, community engagement means coming together to help others and creating an environment where people can enjoy activities and connect with one another.
John Riegel
Board Member
John is from the City of Dayton and joined The Unit in September 2024 after Terry invited him to get involved. His hobbies include running, hunting, and exploring historic houses. For John, community engagement means addressing unmet needs and filling gaps that others might overlook.
Joseph Staley
Bootcamp Lead
Joe has been a valued member of The Unit since 2017, having been invited by a coworker.
He has served as a trainer for a couple of years and has helped coordinate workouts. Originally from Piqua, Ohio, Joe graduated from the University of Dayton in 2016. He enjoys spending time with his family and recently married the wonderful Joely Rodriguez (Staley), who keeps him on track and isn’t shy about reminding him when he needs it! In his free time, Joe loves playing basketball, reading nonfiction, and traveling to new places.
Choosing a favorite memory from his time at The Unit is tough for Joe, but highlights include helping with the Dayton Police Academy camp for youth, volunteering with Shoes 4 the Shoeless, and working out during challenging weather conditions, whether in a downpour or the snow. Joe believes community engagement means actively contributing to making the community a better place through service, civic involvement, and collaboration.
Jennifer Campbell
Community and Social Services Lead
Jennifer, a Dayton native, has been with The Unit for 12 years. She learned about it from a teammate on her co-ed softball team. Jennifer has a variety of interests, including biking, hiking, traveling, and donating platelets, and she enjoys spending time with family. She is also passionate about supporting nonprofits and running her pet sitting business.
One of her favorite memories from The Unit is running a boot camp with a kids club she used to lead. For Jennifer, community engagement means people coming together for a purpose greater than themselves, fostering support, upliftment, and giving back among like-minded, servant-hearted individuals.
Joely Rodriguez
Social Event Lead
Joely Rodriguez, also known as Mrs. Staley, has been a member of The Unit since 2016, first getting involved during boot camp that summer. Over the past six years, she has had the privilege of participating in community events, leading boot camp sessions, and assisting with birthday celebrations and social gatherings.
As a licensed social worker, Joely is deeply passionate about supporting others in realizing the best version of themselves. Some of her favorite memories with The Unit center around the genuine support, laughter, and care that members provide one another during different seasons of life. She believes this unconditional care is what makes their community special, as they encourage and push each other to exceed their own physical limits.
Joely often reflects on the quote, “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” She feels blessed to have connected with a variety of members who have positively impacted her life.
For Joely, community engagement is about building inclusive support systems that create lasting change in Dayton. By collaborating and working together, they strive to make a meaningful impact in their community.
Kamryn Memmer
Marketing Lead
Kamryn Memmer joined the unit in August 2024, inspired by her best friend who discovered The Unit on Facebook. Initially, during the warm-up, Kamryn found herself questioning what she had signed up for, but soon realized it was the best workout she had ever experienced. The warm and welcoming atmosphere made a lasting impression.
With her background in marketing, Kamryn quickly became involved in creating a website for The Unit, reflecting her belief in community engagement—bringing people together to work toward a common goal while giving back. Kamryn enjoys working out, photography, taking her dog for walks, and watching movies.
One of her favorite memories from the unit is when Terry asked her how important she felt on a scale from 1 to 50. Choosing 50, she was surprised to learn it meant 50 reps!
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