Our Staff
Our team works each day to live out our values of 1) Being Outcome Focused, 2) Thinking Creatively, 3) Having Integrity, 4) Investing in Our Work, and 5) Seeking Knowledge and Learning Opportunities.
Please call our office at 216.692.1161 or use our online form to reach us. We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you!
Shannon Deinhart
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Kinnect
Shannon Deinhart has over 25 years’ experience advancing kinship care, foster care, and adoption. She has led the way in advancing Family Seach and Engagement efforts in Ohio, including implementing best practices in counties and the successful implementation of Kinnect to Family. Shannon led Kinnect’s partnership with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, in the development and implementation of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator Program (OhioKAN). She has a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
Kimberly Bell
Chief Operations Officer
Kinnect
Kimberly Bell joined Kinnect in March 2025 as Chief Operating Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in operations, compliance, and strategic program management across government and nonprofit sectors.
A Cleveland native, Kimberly most recently served as Board President for Kinnect’s Board of Directors. She previously held leadership roles focused on streamlining systems, strengthening teams, and driving growth in mission-driven organizations.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University and is a Certified Ethics and Compliance Professional.
Kristi Burre
Chief Strategy Officer
Kinnect
Kristi Burre joined Kinnect with over two decades of experience in child welfare. Most recently, she served as the Director of Children’s Initiatives for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Prior to that, she served as the Director of the Office of Children Services Transformation at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. She came to state service with nearly 20 years of experience in children services at the county level in Fairfield and Franklin Counties. She continues to serve on the senior faculty of the Safe & Together Institute as a trainer and coach and has experience as an executive coach with the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. She holds a triple bachelor’s degree from Capital University in Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology as well as a master’s degree from Ohio University in Sociology.
Nekiesha Taylor
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kinnect
Nekiesha joined Kinnect as Director of Marketing and Communications in September 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and ethnic studies from Bowling Green State University and a Minority Executive Leadership Certification from the Center for Nonprofit Resources. With almost 20 years' experience in leading marketing initiatives, Nekiesha has successfully led educational campaigns advocating for women’s reproductive rights, contributing to the passage of Issue 1 in Ohio, and managed multi-channel fundraising campaigns that raised over $1 million. Additionally, she has enhanced nonprofit media exposure, developed content for DEI initiatives, secured grant funding for a training center in energy efficiency, and implemented strategic marketing plans for client growth across multiple states. Outside of her work, Nekiesha is committed to caretaking and nurturing her family and feels that they give her reason and purpose each day.
Kerry Bollman
Accounting Manager
Kinnect
Kerryanne Bollman joined Kinnect with over ten years of accounting experience. Most recently, she served as the finance director for a management company which included overseeing the financials for an education service provider and a behavioral health organization as well as several smaller companies. Her background also includes tax experience which has been especially beneficial with payroll taxes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Dayton.
Shawna Borkoski
Operations Manager
Kinnect
Shawna has extensive experience in team support, kinship navigation, data management and event planning. She was previously a director for community-based programs and is an experienced kinship navigator. She holds a master's degree in Human Services from Capella University and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Kent State University.
Erin Thompson
Operations Coordinator
Kinnect
Prior to joining Kinnect, Erin worked at the University of Findlay as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of University Advancement. There she did a bit of everything, including managing multiple calendars, meeting with donors, and planning over 15 university events each year. She has also operated her own business, Errands By Erin, and worked as an executive assistant in the music industry in Nashville, Tenn. While in Nashville, she volunteered as a wish granter for Make-a-Wish Middle Tennessee. Erin holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication with an emphasis on print journalism and public relations from Wright State University.
Michael Ettorre
Office Coordinator
Kinnect
Prior to joining Kinnect, Michael worked as a Senior Executive Specialist at Youth Opportunities Unlimited. There, he served as a right hand to the Chief of Programs. Michael has also worked as a political consultant and advocacy advisor in Washington D.C., where he supported public officials, political candidates and non-profits. He holds an Associate’s Degree from Cuyahoga County Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and International Relations from George Mason University.
Erika Blockson
Human Resources Manager
Erika Blockson joined Kinnect in 2025 with over 20 years of Human Resources experience providing strategic HR leadership and aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals. Erika has developed HR programs including performance management, compensation, talent development, and employee relations. Most recently, Erika served as the Director of People and Culture and Director of Workforce Management for Parkwood and the Mandel Foundation where she had a reputation for building strong business partnerships.
Jo Ellen Simonsen
Manager, KinFirst
Kinnect
Jo comes to OhioKAN from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, where she served for 17 years, most recently as the Family Systems Advocacy Director. In her work at ODVN, she nurtured cross-system and multidisciplinary partnerships, managed a federal demonstration project serving young victims of crime, developed and designed programs, supervised and trained staff, and more. Jo also privately consults as an expert witness on domestic violence in civil and criminal cases. She earned a BA from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and holds training certifications from the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program and the National Council for Behavioral Health, among others. Jo is a Harvard University-trained dramatist and has volunteered for the Star Players Community Theater in Columbus.
Sarah Mighell
Coordinator, KinFirst
Kinnect
Sarah has worked with children in a variety of roles throughout her career. She provided quality services to families and staff as a daycare administrator, worked with children ages 6-12 as a summer daycare teacher at First Baptist Church, and co-taught a second-grade class at Heartland Christian School. Previously, she was a preschool leader for an evening Bible club and trained as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth. Her favorite part of the job is letting people know they are heard, valued, and cared for. Sarah holds a bachelor’s of History from the University of California, Davis.
KinnectU
Casie Burke
Trainer and Replication Manager
Kinnect
Casie Burke joined Kinnect as the Trainer and Replication Manager in August 2024. Casie graduated from Capital University, obtaining her bachelor's degree (BA) and went on to earn her master's degree (MSEd) from the University of Dayton. Additionally, she is licensed as a Professional Counselor (license is inactive status). With her she brings twenty years of experience in child welfare, having worked in a variety of roles, both casework and supervisory, including Parenting Time/Visitation, Parent Education, Intake and Assessment, Ongoing Services, and Kinship/Family Finding (Kinnect to Family). In addition to her career in child welfare, she is a faculty member of the Safe and Together Institute where she provides model training to child welfare professionals and mentors/coaches other trainers throughout the United States and abroad. Casie is proud to have started her family finding work when Kinnect to Family was 30 Days to Family® and was part of the first team to bring this model to Ohio.
Richard Dencer
Trainer
Kinnect to Family
Rick Dencer has over ten years of experience working with children and families in settings that touch on child welfare, mental health, educational advocacy and juvenile justice. At Kinnect, Rick first served as a coach, providing technical assistance and ensuring model fidelity. He now trains child welfare professionals in intense family search and engagement values and strategies that empower families and produce lasting results for connecting young people to their families and kin. Rick is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He joined Kinnect in 2018. Rick is a diehard Cleveland sports fan, and during the football season, you can find him in the stands cheering on his beloved Cleveland Browns.
Heather Jamison
Trainer
Kinnect
Heather (she/her) brings over 13 years of dedicated expertise in public child welfare. Holding an MSW from Case Western Reserve University and a BSW from Ohio University, Heather's commitment is underscored by her immersion in the field. She's elevated her impact, now focused on LGTBQ+ advocacy and SOGIE comprehension through her role at Kinnect, a Cleveland-based nonprofit. Heather's versatile background spans casework, supervision, and training, enriched by her specialization in the Kinnect to Family Model, revolutionizing family connections.
Roxana Bell
Trainer
OhioKAN & Youth Navigator Network
Roxana began her volunteer work and love for learning when she served two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Olympia, Washington, after receiving her B.A. in Cultural Studies and Literature from The Evergreen State College. Roxana then went on to complete her MSSA as a Leadership Fellow from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and also received her LSW. Her concentration was direct clinical practice with children, youth, and families. Her graduate internships were in early childhood mental health at OhioGuidestone and in school social work with CAPA at Brecksville-Broadview Heights schools. After graduation, Roxana began her career with the Mobile Crisis Team at FrontLine Service conducting clinical assessments to children and youth experiencing suicide crisis in Cuyahoga County. After joining Kinnect, Roxana worked as the statewide program coordinator for OhioKAN and then took the next step in her career to become a trainer for both the newly formed Youth Navigator Network and OhioKAN programs. She continues to guide new and existing staff through unique training sessions and ensure positive experiences for all who engage in learning.
Teresa Campeotto
Trainer
OhioKAN
Teresa has an eclectic background working with progressive organizations invested in giving power back to the people they serve. She has a range of customer service and teaching experiences, primarily in the disability service and culinary arts industries. Throughout her career, Teresa has developed and implemented curricula, including culinary education for home cooks, life skills classes for adults with developmental disabilities, and summer work experiences for youth in collaboration with local businesses. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from Baldwin Wallace University.
Kinnect to Family
Stephanie Beleal
Program Director
Kinnect to Family
Stephanie Beleal directed the successful implementation of Kinnect to Family (previously 30 Days to Family), in the initial 18 Ohio participating counties, as well as the expansion to additional counties. She has served as the program director for the statewide management and expansion of Youth Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT). Stephanie is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Akron and a BA in Social Work from Malone University. Before joining Kinnect in 2018, she served on the leadership team at Stark County Children Services for ten years.
Alyse Almadani
Project Manager
Kinnect to Family
Alyse Almadani has over fifteen years of experience working with families and children concentrated in the mental health area. Before joining Kinnect, she served in clinical roles with Kaleidoscope, Inc., a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to child and family wellbeing. She holds a master’s degree in Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University. She also has advanced training in child parent psychotherapy, trauma and domestic violence.
Shannon Ward
Program Manager
Kinnect to Family
Shannon (she/her) joined Kinnect with over 13 years of experience serving children and families. Shannon earned an undergraduate degree in Human Development & Family Studies as well as a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kent State University. Her area of clinical focus has included children, adolescents, and emerging adults, trauma, and gender-expansive identities. Currently, Shannon is pursuing a second master’s degree in Business Administration and looks forward to further leadership development. She enjoys reading, bike riding on the Metroparks trails, and traveling to the beach with her family.
Malinda Hamm
Regional Director, S
Kinnect to Family
Malinda Hamm, LSW is a regional director at Kinnect. She has over fifteen years of experience as a social worker serving children and families, including direct child welfare experience and experience in home- and education-based mental and behavioral health services. She has guided implementation of Kinnect to Family in the southern half of Ohio. She also facilitates Kinnect to Family training as well as training for county partners throughout the state through learning communities.
Malinda holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from the University of Washington. She joined Kinnect in 2018. Malinda is a mother of three young adult children and several grand fur babies. Malinda enjoys live music, meeting interesting people, and spending time with friends and family.
Rene' King
Regional Director, N
Kinnect to Family
Rene' King has a wealth of experience in child welfare, including both direct child welfare experience and training. After beginning her career in intake and assessments, her child welfare experience includes being a supervisor, director, and training manager. She also served as a differential response manager in Ohio and Maryland, traveling the state and training professionals on readiness and implementation of differential response.
Rene' holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Ohio University. Rene’ also served as an adjunct professor at Ohio University where she developed course curricula and taught classes in African American Studies.
Elizabeth Radcliff
Coach, SE
Kinnect to Family
Elizabeth Radcliff joined Kinnect with over 8 years of direct child welfare experience, serving as both a caseworker and supervisor. Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Child and Family Services. While completing her degree, she completed a two-year internship at The Child Protection Center of Ross County.
Shelbe Brown
Coach, SW
Kinnect to Family
Shelbe Brown has over nine years of experience as a victim advocate, forensic interviewer, and counselor. As the Ohio Start Family Specialist, she utilizes her experience and passion for continuous learning to engage family members in meaningful ways, keep children out of foster care, and invite new counties to new counties to participate in this pilot program between Ohio Start and Kinnect to Family. Before joining Kinnect in 2021, she served as the anti-trafficking coordinator at Crime Victim Services in Lima where she supervised advocates in nine counties. She also served as the mental health education coordinator at The University of Dayton, where she gained experience teaching and presenting on mental health, sexual violence, and bystander intervention. Shelbe holds both bachelor’s degree in Social Justice and Public Policy and a master’s degree in Professional Counseling.
Donikea Austin
Coach, NE
Kinnect to Family
Donikea Austin has over 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector serving children and families. She has worked to create change within organizations to recognize the benefits of stepping beyond empowering families to sharing power with families to create healthy partnerships for positive outcomes. Donikea is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College and has been trained in both Fundamentals of Mediation as well as Divorce and Family Mediation.
Sherri Rogers
Coach, NW
Kinnect to Family
Sherri Rogers joined Kinnect in 2022. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, focusing on children’s healthcare and disabilities. She has worked in a hospital setting and for the United Way of Greater Toledo. Sherri is skilled in relationship building, education, community affairs, advocacy, and youth leadership. She is a long-time volunteer with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo, having served as president and now board member emeritus. Sherri holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo.
Cait Proctor-Frazier
Evaluation Manager
Kinnect to Family
Cait is responsible for establishing and maintaining key performance indicators, consistent measurement systems, and the appropriate infrastructure to ensure compliance and sustainability of programs. Before joining Kinnect, Cait worked at the Center for Evidence-Based Practices, a technical assistance center within Case Western Reserve University, where she coordinated and executed fidelity reviews on a national scale for mental health and substance use organizations. Beginning her career in nonprofit and government settings, Cait combined her passion for human services with a desire for data-driven decision making and continuous quality improvement by obtaining a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership.
Stephanie Sokoni
Family Specialist-Branch, C
Kinnect to Family
Stephanie joined Kinnect in July 2024 as the Branch Specialist in the Central Region for the Kinnect to Family program. She completed her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice and a minor in public administration from the University of North Florida. Stephanie is continuing her education as she is currently working on her master’s in business administration at the University of Toledo. In her current role as a Branch Specialist, she brings a background and the experience of a dedicated community professional with more than a decade of experience aiding clients from various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Stephanie is particularly adept at building strong relationships with individuals and collaborating with other organizations. Her skills and knowledge demonstrate abilities in multitasking, problem-solving, adaptability, conflict resolution, care coordination, mediation, time management, communication, and relationship building. Stephanie thrives on collaborating with others and forming strong connections with different entities and looks forward to working with families, young people and children at Kinnect.
Kaitlin Frisch
Family Specialist-Branch, NW
Kinnect to Family
Kaitlin Frisch began her work as a Family Specialist for the Kinnect to Family program in January 2024. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Caregiving and Counseling from Oral Roberts University and went on to complete her master’s degree in Christian Ministry and Missions. It is this educational background, along with her previous work experience as a case worker and family liaison for a school district and mental health agency, that lends her the skills and expertise she brings to Kinnect. Connecting children and families with needed community resources, basic need supports, and overall connection is a staple in the work Kaitlin is knowledgeable in providing. In her off-work hours, Kaitlin voluntarily serves on a board for a non-profit organization that works in Haiti to provide respite, basic needs, education, job support, and general care to community families and orphaned children. She also has a unique and empathetic perspective that she can bring to her work at Kinnect as she comes from a large family that has provided kinship, foster, and adoptive care. Kaitlin is happily married and has two young sons that light up her world.
Youth-Centered Permancency Roundtables (YCPRT)
Katherine Mueller
Program Manager
Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables
Katherine has over fifteen years of experience working with youth, families, and communities to address socioeconomic and health disparities that disproportionately affect individuals. She has worked in education, non-profit and government settings to apply multidisciplinary, collaborative approaches to continuous quality improvement, program delivery, community engagement and information dissemination. At Kinnect, Katherine currently manages the Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtable Program and also supports pilot efforts to expedite relational and legal permanency for youth in congregate care settings. Katherine is a graduate of Tulane University with a master’s degree in International Health and Development and bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology. She joined Kinnect in 2022. In her spare time, Katherine loves frequenting coffee shops, listening to cover artists, and enjoying the great outdoors.
Bashia Price
Regional Director
Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables
Bashia joined Kinnect with experience in the education sector, specifically in college access and higher education. The focus of her work has consistently been working with and supporting youth to overcome barriers and achieve goals. Bashia earned her bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Science from The Ohio State University and her master's degree from the University of Miami, where she studied Community and Social Change.
Jami McClure
Statewide Facilitator
Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables
Jami McClure joined the Kinnect team in January 2025 as the YCPRT Statewide Facilitator. Jami brings over 26 years of social services experience serving the community in various capacities throughout her career, including Job and Family Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Program Management at a Juvenile Detention Facility, and working with an innovative pilot program in the private sector serving older adults. Jami’s passion of working with children and families lead her to the field of child welfare in 2018. Jami brings a comprehensive perspective of child welfare after serving in both caseworker and leadership roles on the intake, ongoing, and permanency teams. Most recently, Jami held the position of Permanency Supervisor which included facilitation of permanency meetings. It was during this time that her passion to continue this work on a broader scale across the state emerged. She is excited for the opportunity with Kinnect to continue to advocate for youth while helping advance permanency efforts for youth in care. Jami holds a Bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management from Northwest Missouri State University. Jami’s considers her greatest treasure her family, which includes her husband of 30 years, two incredible young adult children, the recent addition of a wonderful son-in-law and many fur babies.
Jaelin Wilkerson
Family Specialist-Congregate Care Reduction
Kinnect to Family
Jaelin Wilkerson joined the Kinnect team as a Kinnect to Family Congregate Care Specialist in December of 2023. As a graduate from The University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in deaf studies, she brings along skills from previous work with adults and children who have experienced mental health and behavioral needs. Her interest in community corrections brought her to a career path in social work where she has spent time navigating the child welfare system by contributing and utilizing strategies to preserve and reunify children and families within the system while also bringing along over five years of experience working directly with children and families. In her role with Kinnect, Jaelin hopes to continue bridging the gap between underserved communities and their accessibility to resources while working to overcome systemic barriers. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and being a mom while getting creative with do-it-yourself activities for all to enjoy.
OhioKAN
Julia Donovan
Program Director
OhioKAN
Julia Donovan is the program director for the OhioKAN. She is a visionary leader with a passion for direct service and programmatic excellence. Prior to joining Kinnect, she served as the employment services director at LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities, and Potential) for the eight years. At LEAP, Julia redesigned programs and services to exceed budget expectations, created a regional job coach training model and sat on the board of the Employment Collaborative of Ohio. Julia is a graduate of Hiram College and holds an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Britney Breidenstein
Associate Program Director, Community Practice
OhioKAN
Britney is a committed nonprofit leader who has dedicated her career to serving both youth and adults with disabilities by expanding meaningful community partnerships and program initiatives. She served as the business development director and program director with Easterseals of Northeast Indiana for ten years. She also worked as a principal growth strategist with Uplinked LLC where she specialized in helping businesses develop and grow relationships in the community. Britney holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Indiana Tech University and an MBA from Western Governors University Indiana.
Maria Laib
Associate Program Director, Family Practice
OhioKAN
Maria has spent her entire career working in social services in diverse areas across child, adult and family systems. Prior to accepting the role of Director, Maria served as Region 9’s Coach. She has worked in direct service and in various levels of management at Hamilton County Juvenile Court, Sojourner Recovery Services in Butler County and most recently as a Regional Clinical Supervisor for Path Integrated Healthcare before joining OhioKAN. Additionally, she has taught social work courses at the graduate level. Maria is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (LISW-S) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Xavier University, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She enjoys all things nature, has a love of learning, and spends most of her free time with family and friends.
Jamie Dalla Costa
Data Coordinator
OhioKAN
Jamie Dalla Costa joined Kinnect in January 2025 as the Data Coordinator for OhioKAN. He earned his master’s degree sociology from the University of Colorado Denver. His previous work experience in the nonprofit sector included data analysis and evaluation. Using data to quantitatively and qualitatively work on programmatic goals, understanding outcomes and advocating for access to services for those in need are important aspects to Jamie’s work overall. In his free tme, he enjoys reading, skateboarding, and spending time with his cat Arlie.
Paula Oliver
Benefits Coordinator
OhioKAN
Prior to OhioKAN, Paula served as a Career Coach for Jewish Family Services. There, she mentored, coached, and empowered adults with disabilities in their journey towards employment. She also spent time as an Ombudsman at The MetroHealth System advocating for patients and their families. Over the last several years, Paula has volunteered at Dress for Success and iServe for C.H.A.N.G.E. Both are nonprofits that provide education and support to various communities. Paula has a Masters in Adult Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Nonprofit Administration, both from Cleveland State University. She is excited to be a part of OhioKAN/Kinnect and looking forward to helping families along their journey as kinship caretakers and adoptive families.
Amber Robinson
Benefits Coordinator
OhioKAN
Amber began her career in the mental health field as a Referral and Information Specialist with Frontline Service’s Mobile Crisis Team in Cleveland. There, she was responsible for addressing crisis situations, providing information and referral services to peers, families, friends, caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. She also served as the Helpline & Volunteer Coordinator at National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Cleveland, where she provided oversight, vetting, and support to volunteers within the organization. Amber is certified by NAMI to lead family support groups, has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Cleveland State University and is completing a master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. Amber is so excited to serve as the statewide Benefits Coordinator at OhioKAN!
Arlene Jones
Program Manager
Youth Navigator Network
Arlene Jones came to Kinnect with a broad arrange of experience in human services, all tied to her lived experiences in the child welfare and housing systems. Using her lived experience to benefit others, she has served as a founding member of the OHIO Youth Advisory Board, a Court Appointed Special Advocate, a child welfare caseworker, a youth housing specialist, and a workforce development program coordinator. She has also worked with the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program as a trainer, consultant, and curriculum content developer. Arlene also works with the Capacity Building Center for States as a senior family consultant, providing coaching support and technical assistance and identifying opportunities to integrate the perspective of persons with lived experience. Arlene joined Kinnect as the Youth Navigator Network Program Manager in 2022. A very proud graduate of Wright State University, Arlene holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She enjoys being in nature & outdoors, working out, exploring new places, music, and spending time with her husband and their five sons.
Marissa Tuma
Coach
Youth Navigator Network
Marissa joined Kinnect with over 7 years of experience working with young people. She has worked as a secondary school educator with Cleveland City Schools, as well as working at a youth-centered non-profit focused on career readiness. She has also coached high school volleyball and basketball for 8 years. Marissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Baldwin Wallace University and an MBA from Ohio Dominican University.
Deb Knaup
Regional Director, Community
OhioKAN
Debby is a seasoned professional who has worked at Muskingum County Children Services and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Zanesville. In these two organizations, she spent 10 years developing a passion for serving families and building strong relationships within her community.She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Ohio University. She also serves as the president of her local Kiwanis club.
Damita Kniceley
Regional Director, Community
OhioKAN
Damita has over 20 years of experience working with families and children in various roles, including Community Outreach, Workforce Development, Family and Youth Advocacy, OWF/SNAP and Medicaid Case Management, Kinship and Adoption, and working with survivors of domestic violence. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Organizational Communications and a Family Development Certification from the University of Iowa. Damita’s passion is working with individuals and helping them become self-sufficient.
Lisa Banks
Regional Director-Regions 1 & 2
OhioKAN
Lisa M. Banks is a licensed social worker trainee (SWT) currently completing a Master of Social Work (MSW) program. She possesses a robust background in behavioral health and social services, having held leadership roles in various organizations focused on supporting vulnerable populations.
Throughout her professional journey, Lisa has successfully developed policies and pro-social curricula aimed at at-risk youth and their families, emphasizing community engagement and access to educational resources. She has held executive positions in agencies where she supervised behavioral health programs and facilitated the transition of families and individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing (Leading Families Home/Toledo). Additionally, her experience includes working in both inpatient youth and adult psychiatric facilities for ProMedica (Toledo/Defiance/Monroe, MI), as well as Ohio Link Corrections & Treatment (Toledo) a residential community correctional facility, where she implemented innovative treatment programs in collaboration with local courts.
Lisa holds a Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Health, a Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security (Criminal Justice), a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management, and a Bachelor of Business with a Major in Marketing and a Minor in Management. She is a certified First Aid and CPR facilitator through the American Red Cross, a certified facilitator in The Aegis System for de-escalation, and serves as a Youth Mental Health First Aid facilitator through the National Council of Wellbeing. Additionally, Lisa is a member of the Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. With a dedication to education and empowerment, she is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing challenges – which is what has brought Lisa to OhioKAN.
Kamilah Cunningham
Regional Director-Region 3
OhioKAN
Kamilah Cunningham is a graduate from Case Western Reserve University’s Masters of Social Administration program (MSASS). She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminology. Kamilah is a certified Master Usui Holy Fire Reiki Practitioner, with over 13 years of experience in social work and social services working with community partners in the Greater Cleveland area with children and families, neighborhood collaboratives, mental health agencies, and the Cuyahoga Department of Children and Family Services. Kamilah is the Convening Chair for the National Family Support Network, which works with national committees and networks to develop strategies and implement a framework for strength-based services for family resource centers. In 2019 Kamilah founded JayJor Enterprises, LLC working in partnership with groups, individuals and professionals such as social workers, doctors, healers and practitioners to assist in the creation of evaluations, treatments and implementation of programming from a decolonized lens to unlearn ways that cause intentional harm to black people through systemic racism and oppressive systems while improving the health and wellness of self and the community.
Sandy Honigford
Regional Director-Regions 4 & 5
OhioKAN
Sandy has a wealth of experience, most recently serving as assistant director of Delaware County. She serves on the Central Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board and has also served as the Family and Children First Coordinator for Van Wert County, on the boards of Westwood Mental Health and Life Links Charter School. Sandy earned an associate’s degree in Accounting from Northwestern University, a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Administration from Indiana Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University.
Torrie Avey
Regional Director-Region 6
OhioKAN
Torrie has dedicated her career to helping families and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in her community. She served as a senior caseworker with Miami County Children’s Services for the last fifteen years. In addition to her child welfare expertise, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Bowling Green State University.
Jessica Wenig
Regional Director-Region 7
OhioKAN
Jessica joins the OhioKAN team with 15 years of experience in leadership and program management roles spanning clinical, educational, and community settings. Currently serving as an Adjunct Faculty member and ABA Graduate Program Mentor at Simmons University, Jessica provides tailored instruction to students in the Behavior Analysis graduate program. In her previous role as a Clinical Program Manager at Hopeful Journeys Educational Center, Jessica oversaw a team of Clinicians and Therapists, ensuring high-level supervision, effective training, and quality improvement. She led initiatives to enhance client care, staff work-life balance, and communication with families. Jessica's expertise also extends to delivering staff and parent training and spearheading projects to increase safety in the workplace. As the Clinical Director at Advances Learning Center, Jessica served as a clinical leader for service delivery quality assurance, staff development, and quality improvement initiatives for home-based and school-based youth, adults, and families. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a license as an Applied Behavior Analyst with a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Jessica is excited to bring her experience in program management, team supervision, volunteer work, and enhancing client outcomes through data-driven decision-making to the OhioKAN team. She has presented at multiple conferences on topics ranging from designing a culture of innovation to incorporating iOS applications into effective behavior programming. Her background in direct family services has provided her with insights and empathy for understanding the challenges faced by families in crisis. She looks forward to her role within this program as it allows her to make a meaningful impact on the lives of families in the region.
Mandie Kender
Regional Director-Region 9
OhioKAN
Mandie comes to OhioKAN having previously worked at site partner Beech Acres Parenting Center in Cincinnati. There she was the Director of Parent Connext ® and Community Partners. At Beech Acres, she designed and drove the Parent Connext business model, implemented research-based best practices, supported and monitored team productivity, and secured multi-year external funding to support the success of Parent Connext. Mandie has a Master’s in Counseling and is a Certified Transformational Parent Coach. Outside of work, she is also a Branch Advisory Board Member for the YMCA. Mandie is excited to continue the work of supporting caregivers so they can focus on the important work of nurturing children!
Cari Laws
Regional Director-Regions 8 & 10
OhioKAN
Cari has dedicated over 15 years of her career to serving children, youth, and families through local government, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Her experience also includes more than 12 years in leadership roles focusing on oversight and implementation of successful treatment interventions and aftercare strategies for youth, development of agency-wide admissions procedures involving the creation and oversight of a new department, and most recently business development and management of clinical and administrative operations within behavioral healthcare. Cari has experience in and a passion for streamlining access to critical resources and supports. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wright State University and a master’s degree in Psychology from Walden University.
Natalie Reynolds
Coach-Region 1
OhioKAN
Natalie most recently served as a 30 Days to Family Specialist with Allen County Children Services, where she once also held the role of Intake and Assessment Caseworker. She has had tenures in adolescent and adult developmental disability services, with Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Service and Support Specialist and with Bittersweet Farms as a Community Outreach Specialist. Natalie was a dedicated volunteer in the United States Peace Corps program, serving in the role of Youth and Community Development volunteer based in Swaziland, Africa, and is currently Board President of West Central Ohio Abilities Collaborative, among other ongoing community engagement work. Natalie is a Licensed Social Worker and holds a bachelor’s of Social Work from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Lexi Haas
Coach-Region 2
OhioKAN
Lexis Haas joined Kinnect in March as a Coach for the OhioKAN program in Regino 2. Lexi has spent her career primarily in nonprofits, starting as a Teacher in Head Start before moving to Service Coordinator then Developmental Specialist in Early Intervention at Help Me Grow. She was also an Associate Director at the Center for Nonprofit Resources, a Client Advocate at Advocating Opportunity working with survivors of human trafficking, a Case Manager at Toledo Legal Aid Society, and finally a Care Coordinator with Unison Health in the OhioRISE program. Lexi has a Bachelor’s in Science from Bowling Green State University with a major in Human Development & Family Studies, and a minor in Health Promotion. She has volunteered at Toledo Children’s Hospital doing Child Life activities, previously volunteered with Sparrow’s Nest, a local woman’s homeless shelter, doing intake, and previously volunteered at Cherry Street Mission, serving meals to the unhoused population. She currently volunteers at her church Trinity Episcopal doing meal service for the downtown unhoused population, participating in Pride activities and serving as their Parish Life Coordinator. Lexi fostered through Lucas County Children’s Services from 2016-2020 and adopted her daughter through foster care in 2018. She is thrilled to work with emotionally intelligent techniques and strategies to provide families connections, services, and support in a way that is unique to each of them.
Isis Harbour
Coach-Region 3
OhioKAN
Isis attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. While in New York, Isis volunteered to assist students with disabilities with tutoring and note-taking, as well as mentoring adult learners from the community. She returned to Cleveland and began work as a job coach and then as an employment specialist for Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP). Her role was to identify and build on skills in youth and adults with disabilities to get them ready for the workplace while assessing needs and addressing barriers to success. She also developed and maintained relationships with community businesses to build a network for our individuals in an effort to reduce structural barriers to employment and find hidden opportunities. Currently, Isis spends time volunteering as a member of the Emerging Leaders Association with College Now of Greater Cleveland, an organization working to increase access to post-secondary education for low-income and first-generation students. She also volunteers during tax season with the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition, an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that offers free tax preparation services to moderate and low-income individuals and families in the greater Cleveland area.
Chelsea Semple
Coach-Region 4
OhioKAN
Before joining OhioKAN, Chelsea was a community psychiatric supportive treatment worker for 10 years at Greentree Counseling Center in Warren, OH. There, she led activities and interventions that increased the capacity of families and individuals to positively impact their environment, providing community resources and support, and collaborating with therapists to evaluate the mental health and behavioral needs of children and families. For many years, Chelsea has participated in The Buddy Walk, which celebrates the successes of people with Down Syndrome, such as her uncle. She holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Kent State University.
Emily Blanford
Coach-Region 6
OhioKAN
Emily Blanford joined the Kinnect team in February 2025 as a Coach for the OhioKAN program in Region 6. Emily earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Wright State University and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a Supervision designation. Emily has spent her career working with children and foster parents. She served as the Director of Foster Care previously and has a passion for working with young people who are not able to live with their primary parents. Emily shares that she feels every child deserves to have love, stability and permanency in their life, aligning with the mission of Kinnect.
Emily Phillips
Coach-Region 7
OhioKAN
Emily joins OhioKAN with over seven years of experience supporting children and families. She is a graduate of Ohio University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies. Emily is Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). Most recently, Emily was employed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital where she spent two years working as a Child Life Specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Perinatal Palliative Care Team. In this role, Emily helped infants and their families cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, trauma, and bereavement. Emily also worked at The Buckeye Ranch as a Child Protection Specialist and Kinship Support Specialist. In these roles, Emily worked to promote child safety, strengthen family bonds, and support permanency for youth. Emily’s passion for child development is the basis of her daily work. She strives to achieve the best outcomes for children and their families.
Karla Hall
Coach-Region 7
OhioKAN
Karla began her career with Muskingum County Adult and Child Protective Services as an Assessment Caseworker, and she conducted investigations for suspected abuse, neglect, and dependency concerns. She also spent time working with kinship families and children with delinquency issues and looks forward to growing her professional experiences in the nonprofit sector. Karla is a graduate of Muskingum University, New Concord, with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Lisa Remy
Coach-Region 8
OhioKAN
Lisa first joined OhioKAN as a navigator at Sojourners Care Network before joining the OhioKAN staff as a coordinator. Prior to OhioKAN, Lisa served as a housing transitional coordinator through the nonprofit’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. In this role, she provided support to young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness and helped them transition into permanent housing. Lisa has provided Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment (CPST) to young adults as a qualified mental health specialist and is currently serving as the Vinton County Low-Income Representative on the Board of Trustees for Jackson-Vinton Community Action, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Liberty University.
Brittany Oglivie
Coach-Region 9
OhioKAN
Brittany has worked in Cincinnati for almost a decade, most recently as a community health worker at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. There she worked with a multidisciplinary team coordinating care, collaborating with other agencies, and monitoring the needs of patients and their families. Previously she was also a probation officer at Hamilton County Juvenile Court, and an intake/investigative caseworker at Hamilton County Job and Family Services responding to child abuse cases. In her free time, Brittany has volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters and as a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati.
Kari Mehl
Regional Coach-Region 9
OhioKAN
Before joining Kinnect, Kari served as a navigator with the OhioKAN program in Region 9. Prior to that, she was a home-based care manager and foster care manager at Family Ark in Southern Indiana. There, she visited families in their homes and in the community, established relationships and helped them obtain support services, utilized trauma-informed care and taught independent living, self-care, and self-advocacy skills. She also served as a program supervisor at Maryhurst, a teenage girls’ residential facility in Louisville, KY. Kari has been a committed volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign, Professionals United for Sexual Health (P.U.S.H.), Planned Parenthood of SW Ohio, and Sophia’s 40-day challenge. She has a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from Wright State University.
Meredith Martin
Regional Coach-Region 10
OhioKAN
Meredith joined Kinnect in March 2025 as a Coach for the OhioKAN program in Region 10. Meredith previously worked at the STAR Community Justice Center as a Reentry/Vocation Manager. There, she developed, implemented and oversaw programs that supported incarcerated individuals as they prepared for reintegration into society. Meredith has a Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University and a Master of Social Work from Ohio University. She’s excited about being a part of an organization that makes a direct impact on families in a positive and helpful way!
Derrick Beitzel
Community Engagement Coordinator
OhioKAN
Derrick has spent his career working in the mental and behavioral health fields, previously serving as a childcare worker for youth and young adults with severe emotional and behavioral needs in residential treatment. He has also served as a behavioral health technician at Mercy Health and St. Charles Hospital, and a technician for Community Mental Health’s Crisis Stabilization Unit. In addition, Derrick has experience working with people with developmental disabilities at the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities and held the role of chief of operations at Alco Services, providing respite care and other services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Derrick has lived experience as a kinship caregiver and now adopted parent of three children. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace College. In his free time, Derrick stays busy with his three active children in school and community functions.
Nicole Diaz
Community Engagement Coordinator
OhioKAN
Nicole comes to OhioKAN after previously coordinating six different health programs throughout Cuyahoga County as a Healthy Cleveland Coordinator for the City of Cleveland. She has a bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Cleveland State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Ohio University. Nicole is also a certified Spanish interpreter and Notary.
Shawna Turner
Coodinator-Regions 1 & 2
OhioKAN
Shawna joins OhioKAN after working in case management and health administration. In addition to her role as Coordinator, she works part-time as an Assistant Case Manager at Manring & Farrell, Attorneys at Law. There, she requests and submits medical records, files appeals to the social security administration, and handles all client correspondence. Previously, as a Coding Specialist at Lima Memorial Health System, she assisted the billing and denial teams with coding questions. She has also volunteered at the Orthopedic Institute of Ohio. Shawna has a Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration and an Associate’s in Health Information Technology from the University of Northwestern Ohio, plus an Associate’s in Office Administration from Commonwealth Bible College.
Alyssa Underwood
Coordinator-Region 3
OhioKAN
Alyssa is a recent graduate of Cleveland State University. There, she obtained her master’s and bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Alyssa has a background in community counseling as a behavioral health specialist, working with children and adolescents to overcome and manage their mental health needs. She has coordinated services, managed data, and offered collaborative opportunities for the clients she has served. Alyssa is very passionate and empathic about serving others. She has made it her life’s mission to advocate for children and their families as well as empower and influence others to do the same.
Jordan Bell
Coordinator-Regions 4 & 5
OhioKAN
Jordan has over five years of experience working with families and children. Before OhioKAN she was employed as a Health Educator at the Licking County Health Department in Newark, OH. In this role, she coordinated multiple programs including the Child Injury Prevention and Ohio Buckles Buckeyes programs. There, she taught concussion education to 3rd graders in Licking County schools, distributed car seats and helmets to Licking County families/children, properly installed and educated families on car seat safety, collaborated with community partners to provide referrals to families, and distributed materials to help educate and reduce child injury occurrences. She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Health Services Administration from Kent State University, and is a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). Her partner was taken in and adopted by his biological grandparents and she heard many stories about how scarce resources were during the time they needed them. Jordan was previously a Navigator for OhioKAN in Region 7, and is now excited to continue her work as the Region 4 & 5 Coordinator!
Royal Muhammad
Coordinator-Region 6
OhioKAN
Royal Muhammad joined Kinnect with over five years of experience serving multisystem youth and families as a care coordinator with the OhioRISE program as well as families in the autism community as a registered behavior technician. Royal earned her bachelor’s degree from Wright State University and her master’s Public Administration from Franklin University. She is passionate about helping others and effecting positive change in her community.
Lena Garner
Coordinator-Region 7
OhioKAN
Lena joins OhioKAN with seventeen years of administrative experience. Most recently, she was employed by The Buckeye Ranch, where she worked as the foster care billing specialist for nearly nine years. She also served as a foster care team lead, supervising two administrative positions. During her tenure at The Buckeye Ranch, Lena was responsible for working collaboratively with case managers, supervisors, and county agencies to provide accurate monthly billing for youth in foster care, invoicing foster parent trainings, reconciling payments, and completing dashboard tracking. Lena also oversaw her department’s relationship with a donor organization, assisted in event coordination, and participated in budget planning. In addition to her duties, Lena was a member of The Buckeye Ranch’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, serving for more than five years; she also helped facilitate the organization’s involvement in several pride parades as a pride parade ambassador. Lena also attended The Buckeye Ranch’s Leadership Academy and served as a member of the social media team, creating content for several platforms on behalf of the Foster Care team as well as the entire organization.
Janell Fisher
Coordinator-Region 9
OhioKAN
Janell previously worked as an economic support specialist at Jobs and Family Services of Dayton. There, she helped families determine their eligibility for support and processed changes so they would continue to receive services. She also worked as a secretary to the principals of Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton and Helke Elementary School in Vandalia. While serving at these schools, she also volunteered to help with numerous school events such as fundraisers. Janell has a degree in Business Information Systems.
Kimberly Dailey
Coordinator-Regions 8 & 10
OhioKAN
Previously, Kim was a coordinator for a staffing agency in southern Ohio. The best part of her day was making a great match for employment and being able to fill a need an employer had, while giving a candidate an opportunity to start a career. Being able to interact with the local community really had an impact on her. Kim’s most recent position was as an Insurance Verifications Specialist at Adena Health System for the Rehab department. Her duties were primarily back office functions such as submitting for prior authorizations, data entry, and communication with front office staff. There, she was profoundly impacted by seeing professionals who truly cared for people. Kim also co-leads a support group in Pike County called The Village. They meet monthly in person to help support parents and/or caregivers who are caring for a child or person with different abilities/neurodivergences.