Our Board of Directors

Executive Team

Richard Hawkins
President
Timken Steel

Ron Van Horn
Vice President
Schauer Group

Nathan Ritter
Treasurer
Aultman Hospital

Tim Gallagher
Secretary
ReliabilityFirst

Directors

Alex McCallion
Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Cynthia P. Bayer, Esq.
Summa Health Systems 

Chris Parrish
Aultman Hospital

David Ionno
Financial Advisor at PNC Investments

Elizabeth England
KAZ Company

Gary Davis

Gary Davis
Goodyear Tire and Rubber

Harvey Sterns

Harvey L. Sterns, Ph.D.
The University of Akron

Joan Davidson
Greenleaf

Kimberley Ray

Kimberly Ray
PNC Bank

Krista Dobronos
Westfield Bank

Leanne Schaeffer

Leann Schaeffer, PhD, RD, LD
The University of Akron

Susan Boggs
FirstEnergy 

Emeritus Board Members

William Belden, Jr.
Belden Brick Company

Thomas R. Fuller
Alpha Phi Alpha Homes

Pamela A. Hawkins
Retired from AMHA

Lee S. Walko, Esq.
Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Barbara Venesy
Attorney

 

Want to join our Board of Directors?

What does Board Service entail?  As a Board Member of VANTAGE Aging, you are asked to give of your personal and professional time, talent and treasure to promote the mission of the agency.  This includes three primary roles:

  1. Establish Organizational Identity: Members of the Board of Directors ensure effective planning and determine mission and purpose and advocates for them.
  2. Ensure Resources: Directors of the Board select the Chief Executive Officer, ensure adequate financial resources, build a competent board, and enhance the organization’s public standing.
  3. Provide Oversight: Board Members support and evaluate the Chief Executive Officer, monitor and strengthen programs and services, protect assets and provide financial oversight, and ensure legal and ethical integrity.

To read our Statement of Expectations for Board Members, click here

If you are passionate about the success of our aging population and interested in learning more, please contact our office at 330-253-4597 Ext: 130. Alternatively, you can complete an Initial Interest Form.

Our Staff

Kim Ventresca – Chief Executive Officer   •   330-253-4597 x130

Kim Ventresca joined VANTAGE Aging as CEO in March of 2023. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the social services and nonprofit sector serving a variety of populations, including aging adults. Prior to joining VANTAGE, she was the chief operating officer at Red Oak Behavioral Health in Akron and previously served as director of human resources and training for Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

Kim is a licensed independent social worker and holds a Master of Science degree in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in business administration from Baldwin Wallace University.

Credentials

  • Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) from Case Western Reserve University
  • Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory Designation (LISW-S)- State of Ohio

Tamara Lukes – Chief Financial Officer   •   330-253-4597 x208

As Chief Financial Officer, Tamara Lukes is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting to both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring strong internal controls, and integrating the programmatic goals and agency priorities into a comprehensive strategy.

Prior to her promotion to CFO, Tamara held various roles within the finance department during her 7.5 years with the agency. She most recently held the position of Director of Finance following the merger with Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. Tamara also has experience working on external audits when she was an Assurance Supervisor with CliftonLarsonAllen (formerly Bruner-Cox LLP) where she worked on mainly not-for-profit audit and agreed-upon procedures client engagements.

Tamara is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), alumnus member of the Torchbearers Akron Class of 2012, and former finance committee member for OPEN M.

Credentials

  • M.S., Accounting, Ball State University
  • CPA, Certified Public Accountant

Tammy Bigler – Director of Workforce Development   •   330-253-4597 x136

Tammy’s responsibilities include directing all SCSEP operations and developing strategic programmatic initiatives. Before advancing to her current role in June of 2023, she served as Director of Workforce Development Operations for 1 year, Manager of Quality Assurance for 4 year and as a Regional Director for the Canton Regional Office for 7 years.

Credentials

  • B.A in Political Science from the University of Dayton
  • Masters in Public Administration from The University of Akron

Tammy Bigler

Jennifer Kanney-Beebe – Director of Home and Community Based Services   •   330-253-4597 x123

As the Director of Home and Community-Based Services, Jennifer is responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of services for the Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio and Home Wellness Solutions programs. Previously, Jennifer was the Social Services/Case Manager for Meals on Wheels Stark and Wayne and was responsible for the administration of all social service programs.  Jennifer’s past experience is as a social worker at a local hospital for 18 years and she also provided mental health counseling services for 25 years. She is a licensed social worker in the State of Ohio (LSW). Jennifer holds a master’s degree in Community Counseling and is a licensed professional clinical counselor in the State of Ohio (LPCC).

Credentials

  • M.Ed. in Community Counseling from Kent State University
  • Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The College of Wooster
  • LSW, Licensed Social Worker
  • LPCC, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

 

Lisa Mascellino – Director of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program  •   330-253-4597 x166

As Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Lisa Mascellino oversees the nation’s largest volunteer network for people 55 and older in seven Ohio counties. She engages older Ohioans who want to give back, fosters meaningful relationships between volunteers and community-based organizations, and measures impact at local and national levels.  

She brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit, volunteer management, and community engagement to VANTAGE Aging. Previously, Lisa spent seven years as the Assistant Director of the Kent State University Alumni Association where she was responsible for the leadership of the alumni volunteer program. In this role, she was responsible for the organization of over 400 volunteers involved in an average of 75 events annually.  In addition, Lisa has held various community engagement positions in organizations such as OhioGuidestone and Jobs for Ohio Graduates. Lisa enjoys giving back to the community and volunteers at various local nonprofit organizations. Her most current volunteer activity is with the Akron Area Society of Human Resource Management where she serves as the Social and Community Outreach Chair on the executive board.  

Lisa holds an M.Ed. in Community Counseling from the University of Akron and a B.A. in Individual and Family Development from Kent State University. She also holds a State of Ohio School Counselor Certification from Walsh University and is a member of the Women’s Network Authentic Leadership: Leading with Strength Class #9.  

Credentials

  • M.Ed. in Community Counseling from the University of Akron
  • B.A. in Individual and Family Development from Kent State University
  • State of Ohio School Counselor Certification from Walsh University

Jenna Helmuth – Director of Human Resources   •   330-253-4597 x173

Jenna Helmuth serves as the Director of Human Resources for Vantage Aging. She brings 7 years of human resources and health care management experience, with a heavy emphasis on compliance and employee relations. Prior to joining the Vantage Aging team, Jenna served as the Director of Human Resources for AmeriWound, where she oversaw 100 employees, nationwide and previously served as the Manager of Human Resources at the Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio where she oversaw 500 employees across the state of Ohio. In Jenna’s experience she has successfully led a number of State and Joint Commission audits receiving accreditation, while leading initiatives for ‘A Great Place to Work Certification’.

Credentials

Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, associate degree in science, and a Workplace Communication Certificate from the University of Akron, Magna Cum Laude. 

Jenna Helmuth

Lisa Mansfield – Director of Development and Community Partnership   •   330-253-4597 x160

As Director of Development and Community Partnerships, Lisa is responsible for the agency’s public relations and advancement efforts and for establishing and maintaining community partnerships aligned with the agency’s mission.

Prior to joining Vantage, Lisa served as Community Outreach Specialist with the Summit County Probate Court and brings a lifetime of service to Akron and Summit County.  In addition to her work with the court, she served as Managing Director of Weathervane Playhouse after first working in the education and box office departments.  She was elected three times (12 years total) to serve on the Akron Board of Education, which included two years as the board’s president and two as vice president.

While serving the Probate Court, Mansfield took great pride in shepherding the transformation of the historic Summit County Courthouse via a visual art installation funded by a Knight Arts Challenge grant and matching funds.  She oversaw an additional grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help improve cooperation between the Court, Prosecutor’s Office, and Adult Protective Services, addressing the protection of some of Summit County’s most vulnerable citizens.  She also helped create the annual Senior Summit event with a committee of agency leaders from various private, public, and non-profit sector organizations. This annual conference and biannual expo bring unmatched services and information to area older adults and relevant stakeholders.

Lisa is a graduate of the Leadership Akron Class #33.  She serves on the Board of the Cascade Locks Park Association.  Awards include the Akron Beacon Journal Woman of the Excellence in 2005, and Woman of the Year for Courage in 2022 by the Summit County History Project. 

Sarfaraz Mohammad – Director of Information Technology   •   330-253-4597 x194

As the IT Director at VANTAGE Aging, Sarfaraz oversees the strategic planning and management of the organization’s technology infrastructure. He excels in developing robust security programs, analyzing capacity requirements, and ensuring the health and performance of production systems. His primary objective is to provide secure and accessible technology solutions that support VANTAGE Aging’s mission to enhance the lives of seniors. Sarfaraz is passionate about researching and implementing new technologies and optimizing legacy processes. With extensive experience in technical support within educational institutions and the banking sector, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.

Credentials

  • Bachelors in Management Information Systems from The University of Akron


As a testament to its unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQ+ older adults, Vantage Aging achieved its SAGECare Credential in 2024. 

SAGECare awarded Vantage Aging with its SAGECare Credential after a rigorous assessment of policies, practices, and staff training to create an inclusive and welcoming space for all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Vantage Aging staff has completed Dementia Friends training to better serve individuals experiencing dementia and their loved ones.

Dementia Friends is a social action movement developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom. To become a Dementia Friend, participants need to understand the five key messages and then commit to dementia-friendly actions.