CDF-Ohio Staff Members

Ronald Browder ( )
Director

Ronald Browder joined Children's Defense Fund-Ohio in July 2004. Ron came to CDF-Ohio with more than twenty-four years of administrative and program experience with Family and Children Service organizations. Before joining CDF-Ohio, Ron served as Bureau Chief for Child and Adult Protection, Adoption and Kinship, within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Prior to his tenure with the State, Ron was a caseworker with the Franklin County (Ohio) Department of Human Services.  Ron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ohio State University and a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton. In 2003, Ron received the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ National Adoption Excellence Award.

Vacant

( )
Deputy Director

Reverend Mylion Waite ( )
Senior Manager Cleveland Office

The Reverend Mylion Waite is an ordained minister in the American Baptist  Churches, USA.  She is a graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary  and earned an MSSA from Case Western Reserve University in Social Work Planning and Administration.  She has worked for more than twenty years in ecumenical circles, at the local,  national and international levels.  She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work in the community and religious circles as a advocate for social justice issues related to  health care, children’s issues, poverty, homelessness,  the death penalty, the African American Family, and the role of church  and society.  In addition, she has designed social  service programs to address the needs of people in the community, particularly poor children and their families.  Reverend Waite is a trained  Black Family Consultant and certified Diversity Trainer.  She began her work for the Children’s Defense Fund in July 2006, as the Senior Manager of the Cleveland Office.

Marian Hann ( )
Administrative Assistant

Marian joined Children's Defense Fund-Ohio in February 2005. She is responsible for assisting staff members with all office needs. She also does preliminary research for grants. Marian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Akron. Marian has held executive and administrative assistant positions to the Directors of Development and Human Services in city government as well at the federal level with the Judge Advocate’s office. She retired from the City of Columbus, Fire Division.

Lisa DeGeeter ( )
Community Volunteer
Covering Kids and Families Project Director

Lisa joined CDF Ohio in October 2006. She has previously served as the Assistant Director of the Ohio Task Force on Family Law and Children and is a faculty member for the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Center’s Guardian ad Litem training. Lisa holds a J.D. and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. As the Health Policy Advocate she is responsible for monitoring state and federal legislation; identifying health trends and emerging issues; building relationships with key community partners and making recommendations for CDF-Ohio's response to critical child health issues.

Barbara Turpin( )
Senior Policy Advocate

Barbara joined Children's Defense Fund-Ohio in March 2005. She is the KIDS COUNT Director and also serves as the senior policy advocate. Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and has completed her Master’s core for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. Barbara spent the last sixteen years as the primary program developer at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for the Title IV-E Adoption Assistance/ Foster Care program. She also coordinated Ohio’s Kinship program, including the Statewide Kinship Advisory Council. Prior to her work at ODJFS, Barbara spent fifteen years at the Ohio Department of Youth Services as a group leader and social worker.

Sandy Erb-Wilson( )
Health Policy Advocate

Sandy Erb-Wilson joined CDF Ohio in November 2006. Sandy brings a diverse background of public health, child welfare and policy experience in addition to her Appalachian roots. She previously served as Regional Policy Coordinator with Tobacco Free Ohio and remains involved in the movement as a volunteer. She is an advocate at heart having been named the Tobacco Policy Advocate of the Year in 2003. Sandy believes policy is a critical piece of creating sustainable change around social issues. Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ohio Valley College. She takes an active role by serving on the Governor’s Child Care Advisory Council, Council on Healthy Mothers and Babies Board of Directors and Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Center Legislative Committee. As the Health Policy Advocate she is responsible for monitoring state and federal legislation; identifying health trends and emerging issues; enhancing relationships with community partners and opinion leaders and making recommendations for CDF-Ohio’s response to critical child health issues.

Matt Kosanovich( )
Benefits Outreach Coordinator

Matt Kosanovich joined Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio in January 2006. As the Benefits Outreach Coordinator, he is responsible for managing community-based initiatives that raise awareness of, and increase access to, the Earned Income and Child Tax credits. His work includes: educating the community about tax benefits; building broad-based support for outreach efforts among business, government and community leaders; and leveraging resources, such as free tax preparation services, to assist local residents. Prior to arriving at CDF-OH, Matt coordinated community outreach, education and service-learning efforts for Worcester State College in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Corey Ferguson ( )
Health Outreach Coordinator

Corey Ferguson has consistently worked as an advocate for and supporter of children and disadvantaged populations in a variety of locations and diverse programs.

Corey graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in Health & Sports Studies studying specifically within disciplines of children’s health, wellness, behaviors, and disparities. Directly after college, Corey worked with low-income children & families in public housing developments in Covington, Kentucky focusing on children’s health and youth development. In 2004 he moved to Greeley, Colorado were he served as Youth Services Specialist for the City of Greeley overseeing an array of multi-faceted community children’s programs & activities, and also served as a Commissioner for the Greeley Youth Commission.

Corey continues to strive by his favorite quote, which he consistently finds to be true- “Dedicate your life to a cause greater then yourself, and your life will be a glorious adventure.”

Linda Bess ( )
Office / Grants Manager / Juvenile Justice Advocate

Linda Bess joined the Children's Defense Fund-Ohio in March 2005. Linda retired from the public service with the State of Ohio after approximately 30 years of administrative and program experience.  Linda was the Deputy Director, Child Welfare, at the Ohio Job & Family Services and Deputy Director, Parole, Courts & Community Services with the Department of Youth Services.  While with the Youth Services, she also held positions as Training Administrator, Institution Superintendent (at minimum and maximum security institutions); Business Administrator and Personnel Officer.  While with Youth Services, Linda also took on special assignments at Training Institute Central Ohio (TICO), Circleville Youth Center and Cuyahoga Hills Youth Center, while managing the institution(s) where she was Superintendent.  Linda serves as a Juvenile Justice Advocate and Office / Grants Manager for CDF-Ohio

Gwen Shealey ( )
Administrative Assistant

Gwen joined Children's Defense Fund-Ohio in January 2005. She is responsible for assisting the Executive Director and staff members with all daily activities. Gwen holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science from the University of Toledo. Gwen retired from the Ohio Department of Youth Services where she held numerous executive positions, including Superintendent of Scioto-Riverview Juvenile Complex.

Susan Horwitz ( )
Volunteer

Susan began serving as a volunteer for Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio in early 2006. She holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Barnard College. Susan has practiced law in the private sector in the areas of estate planning and estate administration. She also has worked in the Office of Management Analysis for the agency monitoring the New York City foster care, adoption, preventive and protective service programs. Susan has also been a volunteer for Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York City where she provided clients with assistance in the preparation of their estate plans.

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