Alumni Highlights
Doreen Berts, CNM '98, released a book on April 21, 2008. When Change Occurs is a nonfiction book that allows each individual to have an understanding of how one goes from utilizing poverty resources to make ends meet to becoming self sufficient. When Change Occurs can be purchased on line at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.
Steve Bossart, MNO '01, recently completed his second term as International President of the Delta Chi Fraternity, Inc., a nonprofit membership association with 130 chapters and over 90,000 alumni. He will now remain a member of the national board for two years as Retiring President. Bossart turned over the reigns at the international convention on August 2 in Las Vegas.
Yvonne M. Brake, MNO '01, and her husband Darryl were recently informed by the local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority that they will receive a "Life Time Achievement" award for their charitable work. Yvonne is active in Because He Cares and Haven of Rest Ministries, and Darryl will receive the award for his work with Because He Cares and Summit County Community Partnership.
Matthew Charboneau, MNO '06, is the new Arts Network Leader for the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE). Matthew joined COSE in mid-August after having directed an arts-based nonprofit organization in Cleveland Heights for the past two years. As COSE Arts Network Leader, Matthew is in charge of directing the professional and business resources of COSE to those in Northeast Ohio's creative workforce. He designs education and professional development programs, serves as an advocate for artists and arts nonprofits, and helps connect the 540+ Arts Network members with the local business community and nearly 16,000 general members of COSE and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. www.cosearts.org
Jean E. Fell, MNO '96, and her husband, completed their three-year term as lay executives of Lutheran Marriage Encounter for North America last summer and were elected as Facilitators for the Interfaith Board of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. This 40-year-old organization has been enriching the marriages of couples round the world, and in 87 countries. Twelve different faith expressions are currently on this Interfaith Board.
Teresa Goldfarb, MNO '07, in July 2008 was made program director for the Look Up To Cleveland program at the Cleveland Leadership Center. Look Up To Cleveland (LUTC) is a high school leadership development and diversity awareness program that serves approximately 160 tenth and eleventh graders from public, private and parochial schools throughout Cuyahoga County each year. The goal of LUTC is to develop and enhance those skills related to student leadership while fostering an appreciation for the community in which they live. In 2006, LUTC became a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center. Its mission is to build and engage a continuum of civic leaders committed to Cleveland's excellence and to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the greater community. For more information please visit www.cleveleads.org.
Adriennie Y. Hatten, MNO '96, joined the staff of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland on June 9, 2008 as the Program Officer, Education. Her focus is on education and health disparities in the Central Neighborhood, as well as education policy and planning that impacts the region. The announcement is on the website www.socfdncleveland.org.
Sheryl Hoffman, CNM '00, accepted the position of Director of Major and Planned Gifts at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History in late February 2008.
Maria Kaiser, CNM '88, took her oath to become an American citizen this September. Maria, born in Canada, was featured in the Plain Dealer for her decision to become a U.S. citizen so that she could vote in this year's election.
Rona Kaplan, CNM '06, became the President-Elect of the American Music Therapy Association in January 2008. She will serve in this position for 2008 and 2009. For 2010 and 2011 she will be President, and then Past President for 2012-2013.
Jill Kennedy, MNO '05, has recently accepted the position of Executive Director for the Abortion Care Network (ACN) in Washington, D.C. This organization is a national membership group that represents the educational networking needs of independent abortion providers throughout the United States. The Abortion Care Network also includes a sister organization, the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, a 501(c)(4) that serves the unique political interests of ACN members. Since graduation Jill has worked in Chicago for the Loyal Order of the Moose's charitable wing, Moose Charities, where she held the position of Director of Development. After moving to D.C. in 2007, she worked as the Deputy Director for the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation until accepting the aforementioned position with ACN. She lives in northern Virginia and spends her free time with her foxhunting horse in Middleburg, Virginia.
Jenita McGowan, MNO '08, began her career in Cleveland's nonprofit sector as a professional modern dancer. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Jenita earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Magazine Journalism from Kent State University. She had several internships in journalism before accepting her role as Full-time Company Member and Educator for The Repertory Project/Verb Ballets in Cleveland Heights. Jenita earned a Master of Nonprofit Organizations degree at Case Western Reserve University and worked most recently as both an Assistant to Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman and as Co-Founder & Program Director of Neighborhood Players, a fine arts after-school program.
Yvette McMillan, MNO '01, was invited to serve on the self sufficiency work group for the Governor's Anti-Poverty Task Force. She also serves on the Task Force's community engagement work group. A total of five work groups have been organized to develop short and long term goals addressing poverty issues in Ohio. These goals will be presented to the Task force for modifications and then submitted to Gov. Strickland. In addition, Yvette is Chair of a sub-committee of the Social Case Management Planning Committee in Summit County. This sub-committee will explore the implementation of the "Bridges out of Poverty Model" in Summit County.
Michele Murphy, MNO '93, joined the Mandel Center staff this year as Director of Professional Development Programs. Michele was a consultant for the Mandel Center for 10 years and she also served as Program Associate and Lead Facilitator for Leaders' Links, the Center's premiere professional development program for nonprofit leaders. Michele has been an Adjunct Faculty member with Ashland University since 2002. She also served for 15 years as Executive Director for two Cleveland area nonprofits. During her tenure with Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County, Inc., she was the first woman named Person of the Year by the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs' Association. Michele also started The Investigators' Task Force, an education/networking organization for law enforcement investigators from the federal, state, county and municipal levels.
Stacey Picard, CNM '07, has co-founded SDG Advisors, a Cleveland Heights-based consulting firm that works with small to midsize nonprofit organizations, primarily Catholic K-12 schools, to help them strengthen their infrastructure so they can better fulfill their mission.
Leslie Price (Swegart), MNO '93, recently became the Vice President for Nonprofits at eNews Edge, an online company that helps organizations receive steady, consistent monthly income/donations using their enewsletter. By attaching 17 different social networking applications to the newsletter and charging a small monthly fee, eNews Edge helps keep donors engaged with the nonprofit and provides a reliable monthly income. If you would like to know more, please contact her at enewsedge.price@gmail.com.
Arlene Sheeran, MNO '99, joined the Mandel Center staff at the end of 2007 as Director of Marketing and Development. Arlene has an extensive background in both marketing and development, and has honed her skills in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her experience includes designing and managing the development department for the Shaker Schools Foundation, serving as the Director of Community Services for the Visiting Nurses Association, as well as managing marketing and relations functions at Meridia Health Systems and the Ohio Dental Association. Arlene has also worked with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations on numerous projects as both a consultant and volunteer.
If you are a Mandel Center alum and would like to have an announcement featured in this portion of Nonprofit E-Notes, email Nicole Rothstein at njr6@case.edu - be sure to send your name, degree and graduation year, as well as the information you would like to have included in the next issue.
