YNDC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Grass Cutting and Clean Up Team Member
Adam Wagner is a Grass Cutting and Clean Up Team Member for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Adam collaborates with a team of professional and labor staff in the implementation of large scale grass cutting and clean up of vacant homes, boarding of vacant housing, vacant lot management, basic construction, and other field and maintenance projects to improve the quality of life in strategic Youngstown neighborhoods.
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- Housing Counselor
Alex Viglio is the Housing Counselor for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Alex implements financial empowerment programming, including outreach, intake, scheduling, file management, counseling of clients, and reporting.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Glenwood Fresh Market Associate
Anika Jacobs-Green is a Glenwood Fresh Market Associate for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Anika assists in the operation of the Glenwood Fresh Market and creates a welcoming environment to achieve program service goals including: increasing access to fresh food, inspiring healthy eating, and maintaining a clean, organized and functional environment.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Neighborhood Stabilization Program Assistant
Dalton Bosze is the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Assistant. Dalton assists the Neighborhood Stabilization Director with a variety of tasks necessary to clean up and stabilize vacant properties in Youngstown's neighborhoods and to organize residents and community partners around quality-of-life issues affecting neighborhoods. This work includes a variety of office, research, planning, grant writing, and field assignments.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Glenwood Fresh Market Associate
Henrietta Lewis is a Glenwood Fresh Market Associate for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Henrietta assists in the operation of the Glenwood Fresh Market and creates a welcoming environment to achieve program service goals including: increasing access to fresh food, inspiring healthy eating, and maintaining a clean, organized and functional environment.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Reports to YNDC 's Board of Directors
Ian Beniston is the Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and reports to YNDC's Board of Directors. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Ian spent five years as YNDC's Deputy Director. Ian is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. He is also responsible for the day to day operations of the organization. His duties include management of program staff, development of innovative programming, resource development, budgeting and finance, marketing and communication strategies, development of strong partnerships and relationships among diverse stakeholders, and organizational development.
Ian has eighteen years of urban planning and neighborhood development experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Ian holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Youngstown State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has obtained Housing Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council.
Ian's community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Community Corrections Association and ACTION. Ian was selected as a 40 under 40 award recipient in 2009, a 25 under 35 award recipient in 2013, a Next City Vanguard, 40 under 40 making an impact in cities across America, in 2014, OCDCA CDC Staff Member of the Year in 2015, and a 25 under 35 MVP award recipient in 2018. Ian resides in Youngstown with his wife, Krista, and daughter, Eleanor. REVITALIZE.
Ian Beniston is the Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and reports to YNDC's Board of Directors. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Ian spent five years as YNDC's Deputy Director. Ian is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. He is also responsible for the day to day operations of the organization.
Job Titles:
- Neighborhood Stabilization Director
Jack Daugherty is the Neighborhood Stabilization Director for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. He leads a team of professional staff in the implementation and planning of neighborhood stabilization programming, pursuit of grant funding and other new funding sources, and the development of strategic initiatives.
Jack was born and raised in Youngstown and was employed in Buffalo, New York working on a HUD Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan before joining YNDC. Jack also served as an intern for YNDC in the summer of 2011.
He is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo with a Master of Urban Planning and also holds a B.A. in Geography and Sociology with a certificate in GIS. He has also obtained Housing Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council. Jack resides in Youngstown.
Jack Daugherty is the Neighborhood Stabilization Director for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. He leads a team of professional staff in the implementation and planning of neighborhood stabilization programming, pursuit of grant funding and other new funding sources, and the development of strategic initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Neighborhood Stabilization Intern
Jacob Stanko is the Neighborhood Stabilization Intern for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Through the Nonprofit Leadership Fellowship Program at YSU and the Raymond John Wean Foundation, Jacob performs tasks aligned with the following Summer Fellowship activity areas: community outreach, community development, fundraising, marketing, information management and technology, program planning and evaluation, and volunteer management. Activities include, but are not strictly limited to, all of the following: Neighborhood Cleanup and Improvement Projects, Neighborhood Organizing, Glenwood Fresh Market, and Youngstown TreeCorps.
Jacob Stanko is the Neighborhood Stabilization Intern for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Through the Nonprofit Leadership Fellowship Program at YSU and the Raymond John Wean Foundation, Jacob performs tasks aligned with Summer Fellowship activity areas.
Job Titles:
- Property Maintenance Manager
Jeff Kramer is the Property Maintenance Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Jeff is responsible for maintenance of YNDC's rental properties and facilities and works on the construction team to complete housing rehabilitation projects to improve the quality of life in strategic Youngstown neighborhoods.
Jenn Evans is the Housing Program Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Jenn collaborates with a team of professional staff to implement YNDC's Emergency Repair and Roof Replacement programs and assists with the administration of YNDC's Strategic Acquisition and Rehabilitation program.
Joshua Potkay is a Construction Team Member for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Joshua works with a team to complete housing rehabilitation projects to improve the quality of life in strategic Youngstown neighborhoods.
Liz Ifill is the Office Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. She is responsible for running the office in an efficient and effective manner, handling necessary administrative, organizational, communication, and other functions for this fast paced and growing community development organization.
She also assists with all aspects of the organization's work under the direction of the Executive Director.
Job Titles:
- Training Manager
- Corps Arborist and Training Manager
Lola Lewis is the Arborist and Training Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Lola provides overall guidance and manages all training activities as part of Mahoning Valley TreeCorps, a large-scale urban tree canopy restoration, management, and workforce training program in the cities of Youngstown and Warren, Ohio that involves multiple staff, organizational partners and volunteers.
Luis Garcia is a Forestry Team Member for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Luis works with a team to implement tree planting, tree maintenance, property maintenance, and related neighborhood improvement projects to improve the quality of life in Youngstown's neighborhoods.
Job Titles:
- Housing Project Inspector
- Project Inspector
Matthew Shelby is a Housing Project Inspector for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Matt screens properties for necessary repairs, writes up project specifications, inspects completed repairs, and communicates deficiencies.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Corps Project Manager
Mike Long is the TreeCorps Project Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Mike is responsible for managing Mahoning Valley TreeCorps, a large-scale urban tree canopy restoration, management, and workforce training program in the cities of Youngstown and Warren, Ohio that involves multiple staff, organizational partners, and volunteers.
Mike Ondo is a Construction Team Member for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Mike works with a team to complete housing rehabilitation projects to improve the quality of life in strategic Youngstown neighborhoods.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice President of Operations at Boak & Sons
Chris White is the Vice President of Operations at Boak & Sons and has been involved in commercial construction since 1995.
Chris lives in Berlin Center with his wife Stephanie. He received my Bachelor's
Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. Chris is also an Associate Pastor at his church,
Upper Room Ministries in Austintown and is a part of their Upreach program. He has also been an adjunct professor for YSU
Job Titles:
- Community Development Manager
- Member of the Board
- Vice President
- Vice President of the Board
Juan Santiago is the Community Development Manager with Farmers National Bank.
In this capacity Juan sees to it that the credit needs of Low to Moderate Income individuals, small businesses, and small farms are met in the areas in which the bank serves. In addition to having served on a number of boards and committees, Juan most recently has joined the board of the Ohio Bankers League Foundation, and serves as vice chair of the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority's board.
Juan is a lifelong resident of the Mahoning valley, and currently resides in Boardman with his wife Zaida, and their three sons.
Julius Bennett is a lifelong resident of Youngstown who grew up on a family farm on the East Side and has lived in the Idora Neighborhood for over 40 years.
He has served on the boards of the Associated Neighborhood Center, Southside Ministries, and the United Methodist Community Center. He currently serves as a board member of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and is actively involved at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Julius Bennett is a lifelong resident of Youngstown who grew up on a family farm on the East Side and has lived in the Idora Neighborhood for over 40 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Secretary
- Special Projects Manager
Phil Kidd is the Special Projects Manager for Northwest Neighborhoods CDC in Cleveland, OH.
He previously served as the City of Youngstown Director of Events & Special Projects; Senior Organizer with the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative; Staff Consultant for the YSU Journalism Department; Associate Director of Youngstown CityScape and; was owner of Youngstown Nation and author of the blog, Defend Youngstown.
Mr. Kidd was also a co-founder of the former City Club of the Mahoning Valley and is a Community Affiliate with the YSU Center for Working Class Studies.
He has a Masters Degree from Youngstown State University in Criminal Justice. His thesis focused on the effect of neighborhood-based community development's impact on crime in older industrial cities by way of a case study of YNDC's efforts in the Idora neighborhood. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Studies & Public Affairs at Cleveland State University.
He is a graduate of PICO Community Organizing Weeklong Training; Cleveland Neighborhood Leadership Institute's Community Facilitator Training; Racial Equity Institute Training; Leadership Mahoning Valley; and the Mahoning Valley Local Government Leadership Academy.
Phil Kidd is the Special Projects Manager for Northwest Neighborhoods CDC in Cleveland, OH.
Steve is retired from serving as the Planning and Natural Resources Director for the Mill Creek MetroParks. Steve is also an active member of Freedom Church Canfield and serves as a board member for Hope for Renewal Inc.
Steve is retired from serving as the Planning and Natural Resources Director for the Mill Creek MetroParks.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the Board
- Community Development Trust Officer at Farmers Trust Company
Debbi is Community Development Trust Officer at Farmers Trust Company working with nonprofits toward long term sustainability.
She is the former president of Interfaith Home Maintenance Services. She lives in Liberty Township.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board Member of the Western Reserve Foundation
- Director of Community Health for Mercy Health Youngstown
Leigh is currently the Director of Community Health for Mercy Health Youngstown, beginning her journey with the ministry May 31, 2021. Leigh graduated in 2020 with her master's in social services administration with the concentration: Community Practice for Social Change from Case Western Reserve University.
Prior to her position with Mercy Health, she was the director of the Youngstown Office on Minority Health for the Youngstown City Health District. Her role in the position was to inform, educate and empower the minority populations to take a more preventative and proactive role in their health. She is the co-chair to the Greater Youngstown Community Dialogue on Racism (GYCDOR).
To her credit she co-produced with members from GYCDOR and MY Baby's 1st the video "Dads Do Matter" (that can be found on YouTube). The video project specifically targets at risk fathers, by providing education and real-life experiences of young fathers. Leigh was a navigator for Access Health Mahoning Valley enrolling individuals without insurance into the ACA. For 18 years she worked as the Social Service Director for a skilled nursing facility.
Leigh is currently a board member of the Western Reserve Foundation, Healthy Community Partnership, as well as being involved in equity and maternal coalitions. Leigh is member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Youngstown Alumnae Chapter and the National Association of Social Work. She is a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Her joy is that she is the mother of two adult sons David and Desmond.
Her passion is to enhance the work of the office, concentrating her efforts on health equity, removing barriers to access care, and improving social determinates as it relates to quality of life for residents living in Youngstown and surrounding areas.
Leigh is currently the Director of Community Health for Mercy Health Youngstown, beginning her journey with the ministry May 31, 2021.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Assurance Partner at Cohen & Company
Lisa is an Assurance Partner at Cohen & Company specializing in the real estate and construction industry including HUD compliance and employee benefit plan audits. Lisa was one of the first YNDC board members and has remained an active member of the YNDC finance committee before re-joining our board this year.
Lisa has a Masters in Business Administration from Youngstown State University and is a registered certified public accountant. Lisa is an active member of the Ohio Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Affordable Housing Association of CPAs.
Lisa also serves on the board of REVITALIZE Home Mortgage as well as the Youngstown State University Honors College Advisory Board and the Williamson College of Business Administration's Dean's Advisory Board.
Lisa is an Assurance Partner at Cohen & Company specializing in the real estate and construction industry including HUD compliance and employee benefit plan audits.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President
- President of the Board
Marguerite Douglas is a long time resident of the Lincoln Knolls area located on the Eastside of Youngstown, Ohio.
Marguerite has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University. She currently serves on the Board of the Lincoln Knolls Community Watch as Financial and Correspondence Secretary. She is a community activist and advocate for residents in and around her neighborhood. Marguerite is an active and dedicated member of the Committed to Truth Gospel Choir. She is deeply passionate about assisting others spiritually, socially, economically and physically according to their needs to enhance their quality of life.
Marguerite Douglas is a long time resident of the Lincoln Knolls area located on the Eastside of Youngstown, Ohio.
Rosetta Carter is a lifelong resident of Youngstown and retired after more than 23 years with Huntington Bank as a loan officer and community redevelopment specialist.
She is currently the Executive Director of A.C.T.I.O.N., a faith-based grassroots community organization which seeks to unite faith groups, schools, unions, tenant councils, and other non-profits to work for social justice. Ms. Carter also serves on the board of MYCAP, Common Wealth, Healthy Community Partnership , Dress to Succeed, National Council of Negro Women's Association, and the Home for Good Returning Citizens.
Rosetta Carter is a lifelong resident of Youngstown and retired after more than 23 years with Huntington Bank as a loan officer and community redevelopment specialist.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Glenwood Fresh Market Associate
Patricia Tate is a Glenwood Fresh Market Associate for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Patricia assists in the operation of the Glenwood Fresh Market and creates a welcoming environment to achieve program service goals including: increasing access to fresh food, inspiring healthy eating, and maintaining a clean, organized and functional environment.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Housing Program Assistant
Sara Palowitz, Housing Program Assistant
Sara Palowitz is a Housing Program Assistant for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Sara collaborates with a team of professional staff to implement YNDC's Emergency Repair program.
Sara Tkac is the Digital Media Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Sara manages the completion of photographic documentation, social media posts, website updates, and publication layout and design. Sara is an FAA Part 107 certified remote pilot.
Sara loves Mill Creek Park and believes in Youngstown.
Sara brings a uniquely diverse portfolio of experience to YNDC, having previously worked as a photographer, a graphic designer, a videographer, a marketing specialist, and a professor. She has been an active member of the local arts community in Youngstown since 2001 and has exhibited her work nationally and internationally.
Sara holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, where she served as a part time faculty member in the College of Art and Design. She also worked in the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. Her undergraduate study was completed at Youngstown State University, with a major in Photography and minors in Graphic Design and Journalism.
Sara Tkac is the Digital Media Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Sara manages the completion of photographic documentation, social media posts, website updates, and publication layout and design.
Shawnice Morris is a Housing Program Assistant for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Shawnice collaborates with a team of professional staff to implement YNDC's Roof Replacement and Rental programs.
Job Titles:
- Market Manager
- Glenwood Fresh Market Manager
Susan Payton is the Glenwood Fresh Market Manager for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Susan manages operations of the Glenwood Fresh Market and is responsible for the facility operation and program service goals: including inspiring healthy eating, increasing access to fresh food, and managing a clean, organized and functional environment.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Housing Director
Tiffany is an active church member and deeply invested in supporting the youth in her community. She lives on Youngstown's south side with her dog, Fiona.
Tiffany Sokol is the Housing Director for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. She leads a team of professional staff in the development and implementation of housing programming, pursuit and administration of grant funding, financial management, and management of organizational communications and marketing.
Vi Aguirre is the 7th Ward Neighborhood Improvement Assistant for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Vi works with neighborhood groups to complete improvement projects, organize neighbors around property maintenance issues affecting their neighborhoods, conduct routine neighborhood property condition and resident surveys, and serve as a resource to property owners. Vi works with YNDC staff, neighbors, the City of Youngstown, and stakeholders to improve neighborhood conditions in the 7 th Ward.