Susan has a wealth of knowledge and experience in health care and human services policy and financing. Susan currently provides consulting services to clients through Brighton Strategies, LLC. Susan spent five years at Sellers Dorsey, including serving as Managing Director for the Ohio practice for the last three years. In this role Susan worked with health systems around the country and in Ohio to secure additional Medicaid funding to preserve access and improve care and outcomes for Medicaid patients. She also worked with providers, advocacy organizations, and state universities to implement strategies to improve services and health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees. Susan was the Executive Director for the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC), a legislative agency created to increase the legislature’s role in setting direction and policy for and increasing oversight of the state’s largest program. While there she provided research and analysis for the Legislature on major program changes including the carve-in of foster children, behavioral health services, and dual eligible enrollees into managed care. Susan held a leadership role with the Ohio Association of Health Plans (OAHP) where she was the Director of Regulatory Services. While at OAHP, Susan worked with the plans and the State on the expansion of managed care coverage for children with special health care needs and low-income childless adults, program design for the dual eligible demonstration, and on the implementation of value-based programs including patient-centered medical homes, behavioral health homes, and episodic payments. Susan has also held leadership positions with the Center for Community Solutions and the Ohio Office of Budget and Management.

Jen Brauer, Director of Partnerships, Prenatal to 5 at Preschool Promise, brings experience in elementary and early childhood education, business and consulting with a focus on building teams and new programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her non-profit committee service includes Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, Ohio Diaper Bank Coalition and Dress for Success. In addition, she also serves on the Board of Directors at The Blanket Crew and New Foundation Savings Bank.

Tara Britton joined The Center for Community Solutions in October, 2010, and currently serves as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Edward D. and Dorothy E. Lynde Fellow. Located in the Community Solutions’ Columbus office, Britton leads Community Solutions’ public policy team, engages with state policymakers, and serves as an author for a variety of reports on different blogs and reports on a variety of health and human service topics. Britton serves on the Public Policy Committee of the United Way of Central Ohio, is a co-chair of Advocates for Ohio’s Future and is on the board of the Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus. Prior to joining Community Solutions, Tara was an assistant for three years at a Columbus consulting firm, with a focus on the state legislative process. In that role, she tracked legislation and provided reports on hearings in the Ohio House and Senate. Ms. Britton obtained a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from The Ohio State University.

Julie DiRossi-King is the Chief Operating Officer for the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers. Julie joined OACHC in 2006 and works closely with the President & Chief Executive Officer in the administration and execution of OACHC’s strategic plan. Her work includes leading the association’s COVID-19 efforts, coordinating value-based payment reform, and overseeing OACHC’s public affairs agenda, member technical assistance, and external partnership development. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance, Oral Health Ohio, Buckeye Health Plan, and is a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s Legislative Committee. Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and lives with her family in Dublin, Ohio.

Dr. Dorman is a Developmental Psychologist who has been working on behalf of children and families for the past 40 years. Her positions have spanned the academic, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government sectors and always included a special focus on families at risk. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Brandeis University and received her doctorate from Cornell.

As the director of community and public health programs, Ryan provides oversight for the programs impacting community health, in support of the OHA Institute for Health Innovation's core strategies. He oversees OHA’s efforts in partnering with hospital, state, and community partners around maternal and infant health in Ohio. Ryan builds upon quality and population health successes to cultivate a comprehensive approach to support community level management of acute and chronic disease. He also provides support to the operations of quality and patient safety programs. Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science degree and his master's degree in Public Health with a focus on health behavior and health promotion from The Ohio State University. Ryan joined OHA in 2014 and is originally from North Canton, Ohio.

Debbie Gingrich is the Chief Clinical Officer for Best Point and leads the agency’s programs under Best Point Behavioral Health. She has led innovations for maternal mental health, created a 24-hour crisis hotline for our most vulnerable, and led the opening of an on-campus pediatric mental health urgent care. Debbie leads a group of over 250 mental health professionals who deliver behavioral health counseling, care coordination, school-based day treatment and infant and early childhood mental health care. Debbie earned the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty under 40 award in 2013 and is a BOLD graduate program sponsored by the Leadership Council for Nonprofits. She earned her undergraduate degree from Miami University, OH, in Interdisciplinary Studies and her Master of Social Service degree from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia.

Paula Grieb, DNP, RN is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital. Prior to her current role, Paula served in several key executive leadership roles including Vice President Patient Care Services Metro Region Hospitals, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer ProMedica Bay Park Hospital and ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. Paula has a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master of Science from The Ohio State University and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Spring Arbor University. She is the president of the Toledo Area Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership (TAOONL) and a board member for the Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership. Paula serves on the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association Board and the Ronald McDonald House of NWO Board. Paula has been married to Mike for over 30 years and has 3 beautiful adult children, Jeffrey, Justin and Danielle, and is a Gigi to baby boy Oliver.

Jenelle has spent the last decade dedicated to public policy and healthcare advocacy. Throughout her time as an employee of the State government and non-profits, she has worked diligently with a focus on healthcare reform and quality improvement. She has worked with federal, state and local governments on issues spanning from behavioral health, child welfare, Affordable Care Act, and long-term services and supports. Her time spent on Capitol Square has given her significant experience in legislative affairs and executive administration in her roles of Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. Jenelle has worked for the Ohio House of Representatives, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, Job and Family Services, the Department of Medicaid, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus. In her current role at the Healthcare Collaborative (Health Impact Ohio), Jenelle has taken on the role of Executive Director of the Central Ohio Pathways HUB. Health Impact Ohio is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to transforming the quality, delivery, and affordability of healthcare to ensure that all people in the Columbus region have the best healthcare experience possible. Through the HUB model, HCGC ensures that all at-risk individuals in Central Ohio are able to access care and services to better support a positive health outcome and quality of life. Outside of her professional development, Jenelle and her husband, Steve, live in Dublin with their two sons and two dogs. She is actively engaged in the community and enjoys playing with her family, traveling, running, and reading on her porch swing.

A leader who has helped guide and influence major aspects of Ohio’s health policy and Medicaid funding structures over the past 20 years, Juenger joined OACB in October of 2022 from Molina Healthcare of Ohio, where she served as Director of Government Contracts since April of 2019. Prior to joining Molina, Juenger served for eight years as Director of Stakeholder Relations in the Office of Health Transformation (OHT) under former Governor John Kasich, where she oversaw the design and implementation of the state’s value-based initiatives, encompassing 11 health plans, more than 15,000 health care providers, and approximately $60 billion in annual health care spending.

Hope Lane-Gavin joined the Ohio Association of Foodbanks in January 2023 and serves as their Director of Nutrition Policy and Programs where she focuses on strengthening access to public assistance programs aimed at eliminating food insecurity. Prior to this role, Hope served as the Health Equity Fellow with The Center for Community Solutions where she led their maternal health, racism as a public health crisis and nutrition access portfolios statewide. Hope also has extensive legislative experience having both worked for the General Assembly as both a staffer and lobbyist. Hope is a graduate of both Kent State University and The George Washington University and currently resides right outside of Columbus, in Grove City with her yellow Labrador, Ella-Barker, her husband Mark and her stepson, Mark Jr.

Anna is the Early Childhood Program Manager at the Ohio Children’s Alliance. She manages three new projects focused on promoting excellence and advancing evidence-based practices in the Early Childhood Mental Health field. She has over 20 years of experience in special and early childhood education. Anna is receiving her Master’s Degree in Early Intervention and Child Development.

Sonia Minnes is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS). She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in psychology and a doctorate in social welfare from MSASS. Her research interests are in the study of child development and the multiple factors that affect cognitive and mental health outcomes. Dr. Minnes is particularly interested in the study of risk and protective factors both biologic and environmental that interact to affect long term developmental outcome. Biologic risk factors of interest include prenatal drug exposure (cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and tobacco) and elevated blood lead levels (pre and postnatally). Environmental factors of interest include exposure to ongoing stress, maternal psychopathology and substance use, caregiver placement and other conditions related to socioeconomic status. Dr. Minnes is the Principal Investigator of a longitudinal study of prenatal cocaine exposure funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This study, now in its fifth phase of data collection and funding has followed a group of over 400 caregiver infant pairs since the children were born during 1994-1996. Dr. Minnes is currently assessing the study subjects as emerging adults, and will evaluate their substance use and antisocial behaviors, the development of mental health problems and their adaptive functioning. Through her work with multirisk, prenatally drug exposed children she has recognized the importance of health disparities among inner city children, particularly in regard to exposure to environmental hazards including lead found in old housing stock in the city of Cleveland.

Bio to come

Brittany is a visionary executive leader with over 15 years of experience driving transformation in healthcare, education, and community sectors. Known for her strategic mindset and inclusive approach, Brittany has a track record of fostering organizational cultures focused on equity, continuous learning, and sustainable growth. Currently serving as Assistant Vice President at OhioGuidestone, she leads The Institute of Family & Community Impact, pioneering evidence-based practices that bridge clinical research, advocacy, and training. Her work extends to public policy influence, innovative program development, and multi-stakeholder engagement to address health disparities and enhance workforce equity. Brittany's commitment to social justice and community empowerment is reflected in her numerous board roles, including her active leadership at Benevolent Love Ministries and advisory roles with the Center for Maternal & Young Child Health. Brittany is dedicated to advancing equitable healthcare and educational access, particularly for underserved communities. Through her expertise in fund development, organizational development, and strategic planning, she brings transformative impact to every initiative she leads.

Twinkle French Schottke, MA ECMH Twinkle was the co-founder and Director of Moms2B with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Moms2B, a community-based education program that worked with pregnant Moms to have healthy babies in central Ohio, in the 8 areas that had the highest rates of infant mortality and grew to Dayton. Prior to working at Ohio State, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for twenty years in numerous roles, helping babies and young children in the community. She has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education and a certificate in Infant Mental Health Twinkle also served as a Consultant for Zero to Three with Military Projects, in which she provided trainings at military bases across the United States on the effects of deployment, grief, loss, injury, and reunification to professionals who work with babies and young children. She is Past President of the Association of Infant Mental Health in Ohio (AIMhiOH) and serves on the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and Groundwork Advisory Board. Twinkle is excited to grow infant mental health in Ohio to help assure that each baby born is welcomed into the world and has a space in someone’s heart to grow.

A Toledo, Ohio native, Stacy Scott, Ph.D., MPA, Executive Director, Baby 1st Network, and founder of the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center, is a 30-year public health advocate and infant safe sleep expert who’s worked from the government agency level to ground zero spearheading numerous community outreach programs nationwide to end health disparities and reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant deaths. Scott serves as the executive director for Baby 1st Network. Baby 1st Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to uniting families, caregivers, and researchers with government, business, and community service groups to reduce infant mortality to the lowest level possible in Ohio and support families who have lost a child from sudden unexpected infant death. In her role, she has facilitated a series of community forums and implemented a community-based mini-grant program designed to fund outreach activities promoting safe infant sleep messaging and practices in urban and rural areas. Scott also serves as a state of Ohio spokesperson for the “ABC of Safe Sleep” campaign. In July 2018, Scott was elected to co-chair the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality (OCPIM), a statewide partnership formed to eliminate infant mortality and advocate for equity in birth outcomes. OCPIM’s mission is to eliminate preventable infant mortality and improve the health of all women of childbearing years throughout Ohio by sharing data and best practices, community engagement, and advocacy. Scott is a member International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death. She received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a master’s degree in Public Administration at Bowling Green State University, and a doctoral degree in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. She also holds a certificate in Social Justice from Harvard University.

In September 2020, Maureen L. Stapleton became the Executive Director of CelebrateOne, the City of Columbus initiative to reduce infant mortality. CelebrateOne is a public private partnership and the backbone of a collective impact process born out of the recommendation from the 2014 Greater Infant Mortality Task Force. Under Ms. Stapleton’s leadership, CelebrateOne has embarked on “CelebrateOne 2.0” the second strategic planning process to set the next goals of the organization with a focus on interventions that address the Social Drivers of Health and the persistent health inequity and disparities in infant mortality and maternal health outcomes found in the African American community. Prior to September 2020, Maureen spent her adult career successfully making organizations stronger and positively affecting people’s lives as an entrepreneur and public servant. This included a 30-year career in public service in local government and nonprofit administration, program management and operations in the Midwest including leadership positions with the Detroit Public Schools, City of Detroit, City of Indianapolis, Wayne County (Michigan) governments and Central City Integrated Health a FQHC in Detroit, Michigan. In addition to a Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University, Maureen has completed graduate coursework at Wayne State University and has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development and Change from Bowling Green State University.

Julie Stone is the Executive Director of the Ohio Head Start Association, a professional membership organization that represents Ohio’s sixty Head Start and Early Head providers. The Association is dedicated to leadership, professional development, research and advocacy. Julie has been with Head Start for over 26 years and is committed to building and strengthening strategic partnerships that support Ohio’s most vulnerable children and families

Kelly is the Senior Health Policy Associate for Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio. Her focus is on maternal and child health with an emphasis on improving Ohio’s child uninsured rate. She worked very closely on Ohio’s decision to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum and is currently working on Medicaid coverage of doula services, and continuous Medicaid eligibility for children through age 5. Before joining Children’s Defense Fund, Kelly was Associate Director of Government Affairs for the Ohio Children’s Alliance, the Ohio Pharmacists Association, and the Ohio State Medical Association.

Melissa Wervey Arnold has over 23 years’ experience in the association management, fiscal oversight, event planning and development field. In her current role as the CEO of the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, she provides leadership to the Chapter and its membership, as well as serves as the head of Ohio AAP Foundation. During her tenure, the Ohio AAP has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Chapter of the Year Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics every year eligible in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018, and has increased its operating revenue from $300,000 per year to over $4.8 million, and has established a successful lobbying program that has advocated for the passage of various child health legislation. In 2019 she was named the Healthcare CEO of the Year from Columbus CEO as well as a member of the Columbus CEO Future 50 inaugural class, and in 2015 she was recognized by the Association Forum as a National Forty Under 40 honoree. Previously in 2006, she was recognized as one of the Forty Under 40 honorees from Business First in Columbus for her outstanding professional accomplishments, awards in her professional field, and commitment to community service. Ms. Arnold lives outside of Columbus, Ohio with her two children and two dogs. She serves on the emeritus Board of two Columbus non-profit organizations, serves in the leadership role and trustee of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees, is an emeritus member of the Board of Directors for the Ohio University Alumni Association, and is a sustainer for the Junior League of Columbus.

My name is Brooke Yager and I’m currently the Director for HARCATUS Head Start. We serve Early Head Start Home Base along with Head Start Home Base and Center Based programs. Our service area is very rural covering the Harrison, Carroll and Tuscarawas Counties. Before working for Head Start I worked for over 12 years at a privately owned child care. I have been in the education field for almost 19 years. I’m looking forward to getting involved with Groundwork Ohio and helping make a difference in the Education field.