Marilyn Hyland

Marilyn Hyland was born in Cincinnati, raised in Clifton, and currently lives with her husband and four children in Indian Hill.

Ms. Hyland graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1965. That fall, she enrolled at the University of Cincinnati where she earned a Bachelors Degree in economic geography. While at U.C. she was named to the Ivy Chain, an honorary organization for outstanding junior women. She spent one summer in France working on a community development project. After graduating from U.C., Ms. Hyland continued her education at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her Master's work focused on economic geography and the psychology of perception.

Upon returning to Hamilton County, Ms. Hyland taught earth science at Covington Catholic High School. In 1972, she went to work for Kenner Products as the toymaker's Director of Marketing Research. In that capacity, she made corporate history as Kenner's first female Director. While at Kenner, Ms. Hyland helped introduce a new doll which quickly became the biggest-selling product in the company's history at that time. As a result of her dedication and hard work, Ms. Hyland was named one of the Outstanding Young Women of America.

Despite her examplary work record, Kenner replaced Ms. Hyland with a male executive at a higher salary. When Ms. Hyland took her case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she was demoted and later fired. Angered by this blatant act of discrimination, Ms. Hyland filed a lawsuit against Kenner in U.S. District Court. The case dragged on for two years, but Ms. Hyland eventually won a judgement against her former employer. The trial set three national legal precedents regarding women's rights in the workplace, which are still being cited today.

The Kenner case was not the only issue in which Ms. Hyland has championed equal rights. In the 1980's, she chaired the Cincinnati Committee on Alternative Work Schedules. The committee spent three years working on ways to implement more family-friendly workplace practices. Her involvement influenced many of the Tri-State's leading companies to offer such choices as flex-time, employer-involved child care, and job-sharing.

Marilyn Hyland is deeply committed to serving our community. Throughout her life, she has been involved in many diverse organizations. She served for more than a decade as a member of the Hamilton County Democratic Steering Committee and the Democratic Judicial Selection Committee. Ms. Hyland chaired the Independent Voters of Ohio from 1977-81. She co-chaired Jack Sherman's first judicial campaign in 1979. From 1984-90, she was a board member of the Clifton Town Meeting, a group dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood. Ms. Hyland has also served as a board member and vice president of the Clifton Theater Corporation. In that role, she created the marketing strategy that resulted in a successful campaign to keep the Esquire Theater from becoming a fast-food restaurant. That effort included raising $500,000 to put the Esquire back into business as a viable neighborhood theater.

Since 1978, Ms. Hyland has been president of the Marilyn Hyland Agency, a consulting firm that specializes in marketing, government, and development issues. In her role as a private consultant, she has worked with such clients as the City of Lawrenceburg, the Indiana and Ohio Railroad, the Central Railroad of Indiana, Longworth Hall, and "No Zoning for Whitewater Township," a citzen group whose goal is to preserve the rural nature of the area.

Ms. Hyland attends Indian Hill Church, and is a member of the Church and Community Commission, as well as the Stewardship Commission. She is also a representative to the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition, and is on the board of the Mallory Center, a center that coordinates services for citizens of the West End.

Email me at hyland@marilynhyland.org.