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About Heights Parent Center - Who We Are

Board Members
Kari Elsila,President
Sherman Lee, Vice President
Melissa Lewis, Secretary
Donna Pacchioni, Treasurer

Lisa Berger
Patrice Blakemore
Emily Fletcher
Elizabeth Hagen
Arlene Jenkins
Jan Kious
Steve Marks
Christopher Momon
Martin Pangrace
Beth Sersig
Jim Vail

Nourish Breakfast
Kari Elsila, Margaret Cohen, Amy Switzer, Emily Fletcher,
Arlene Jenkins, Lisa Berger, Mary Frances Haerr & Steve Marks

Board Biographies

Sherman Lee, Vice President is the Director of Business Development and Planning Support for the Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals. He has a Bachelors of Science degree in Health from Ohio University and a Master of Health Service Administration from Ohio University. Before coming to the Cleveland Clinic, he served as a Strategic Planning Analyst for the Advocate Healthcare System in Chicago, IL focusing on Business Development.  In addition to serving on the HPC Board, Sherman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was recently inducted into Kaleidoscope Magazine’s 40/40 Club. Sherman believes “Life is not what you do, it’s who you are, and the character that drives the decisions you make.”

Melissa Widowski Lewis, Secretary is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, employed by the CH-UH School District. Ms. Lewis graduated from Kent State University with an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology and earlier with a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Ms. Lewis lives in University Heights with her husband Brian and their son Ben.

Donna Pacchioni, Treasurer is the CFO of Hawken.  Before arriving at Hawken, she held various management positions within National City Bank.  Donna serves on the board of Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and the Lyndhurst Community Presbyterian Church.  She lives in University Heights, with her husband Joe, who is an engineer.  Donna will serve as Treasurer of the Board.

Lisa Berger is a Vice President in Corporate Credit at PNC.  She has worked in commercial banking for the last five years and previously worked as an applied economist.  Lisa has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. Lisa and her husband Josh live in University Heights OH with their son Julian (age 3).

Emily Fletcher holds a Bachelors degree in Biology and American History from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.  Currently, she is the Manager of Camps, Classes, and Outreach at the Great Lakes Science Center.  She worked as the Head of Youth and Family Programs at the Rochester Museum & Science Center.  Emily is currently working on her Masters degree in Museum Leadership.

Elizabeth Hagen

Jan Kious

Steve Marks is a Comprehensive Financial Planner with Skylight Financial Group.  Between 2004 and 2007 he developed and operated Bix Foods, a high quality takeout and delivery restaurant in Beachwood.  Before becoming an entrepreneur, Steve worked at banks and financial firms.  He holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and lives in Shaker Heights with his family.

Beth Sersig

Jim Vail is the managing partner of Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond where he has practiced law for almost thirty years.  His practice is devoted to corporate and business law, employment law, civil litigation, and health care law.  Jim is a Director, and the Treasurer, of The Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology ("Ingenuity"). Jim was awarded the inaugural “Public Schools Advocate” by Reaching Heights, a public foundation supporting the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Public Schools.  He previously was named the Citizen of the Year in Cleveland Heights in recognition of his contributions to the community.

 


Michael Buescher, Kari Elsila & Diana Woodbridge


2009 Gala Attendees

HPC Gala
Sharon & Bill Bowen, Sherman Lee, Anita & David Rosenbaum

HPC Gala
Sarah & Kirk Dietrich, Christie Chicotel, Becky & Brian West, Krissy & Mark Gallagher and Dominick Chicotel

HPC Gala
Jim & Debbie Vail, Susie Kaesar, and Jerry Blake


 

Heights Parent Center Staff

Louisa Oliver - Executive Director
email:
loliver@heightsparentcenter.org

Louisa has been Director since 1999.  Before coming to the Center, she was Manager of Operations at Resource Careers.  She holds a Master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.  Louisa has long been active in CH-UH school and community non-profit organizations.  She and her husband, Solomon, have two grown sons who now live in New York City.

Louisa Oliver

Terry Moore - Office Manager
email: tmoore@heightsparentcenter.org

Terry has been the Office Manger at the Center since 2003.  Prior to joining the Parent Center, she held various management positions with Restaurant Associates.  She was employed at Key Bank for 18 years as an Administrative Assistant, belonged to Toast Masters and was a part of The Professional Secretaries organization.  Terry has two adult children, both residing in Cleveland Heights, and is the proud grandmother of Jordyn, Jalen & Jacob.

Heights Parent Center Office Manager

Ellen Barrett - Program Director
email: ebarrett@heightsparentcenter.org

Ellen has been at HPC since 1996.  After staying home for several years she came to HPC when her two children were in 1st and 3rd grade. Prior to her years as a stay at home mom, Ellen worked as a Home Health Care Aid and a nanny.  She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from John Carroll University.  Ellen is a life long Cleveland Heights resident and is involved in many partnerships that reflect her interest in strengthening our community. Her two sons are now both in college. 

Ellen Barrett


Tracy Hill - Family School Connection Coordinator and Family Liasion for -
Gearity Professional Development School & The Early Childhoood Center

email: thill@heightsparentcenter.org

Tracy joined HPC in 2006 as the coordinator of the school-based programs.  Tracy holds a Masters of Education from Kent State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College.  She taught special needs children for 10 years with the Positive Education Program, provided consultation services to numerous school districts throughout Northeast Ohio, and served as the Coordinator of Pupil Services for Strongsville City Schools.   Tracy lives in Cleveland Heights with her 2 children who attend CH/UH schools.

Sharon Bowen, Family Liasion - Noble Elementary School
e-mail: sbowen@heightsparentcenter.org

Charone Edwards, Family Liasion - Canterbury Elementary & Roxboro Elementary Schools
e-mail:
hpcroxbcanter@yahoo.com

Lorraine Thornton, Support Staff
e-mail: lolo070105@yahoo.com

Trena Saxon - Family Liaison - Boulevard Elementary
e-mail: t.saxon@sbcglobal.net

Keesha Tolliver, Family Liaison -
Fairfax Elementary & Oxford Elementary Schools
e-mail: hpcoxford@yahoo.com

Family School Connections
From left to right: Charone Edwards, Tracy Hill, Lynn Grimm, Trena Saxon, Sharon Bowen, Keesha Tolliver

Lynn Grimm - Program Assistant
email: atticusned@aol.com

Lynn started at HPC as a participant with her, now 10 year old, daughter at Baby and Me in 1998.  Early on, she began volunteering at HPC’s Toy Lending Library, where she was coordinator for 5 years.  In the Fall of 2003, Lynn joined the HPC staff working at Little Heights and working again with the Toy Lending Library.

Lynn attended Ohio University and studied film and anthropology.  She lives in Cleveland Hts. with her daughter, Erin and son, Jack.

  Greater Cleveland Family Support Consortium


Christie Manning - Director
14780 Superior Road, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118
(216) 321-0079 - Office (216) 321-7056 (Fax)

email: christie.manning@sbcglobal.net

Christie Manning