VANTAGE AGING - Key Persons


Amina Hall

Job Titles:
  • Director of Community Engagement
Amina joined the VANTAGE Aging team in June of 2020 as a Director of Community Engagement. She is responsible for the agency's public relations and advancement efforts and establishing and maintaining all community partnerships. Amina's passion for connecting community partners to the causes they care about led her to launch several successful campaigns and fundraising events for multiple nonprofits. She believes in importance of developing meaningful and long-lasting community partnerships. She previously worked as a Marketing and Development Director at Family and Community Services Inc. (FCS). Before her time at FCS, Amina held number of leadership positions at Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center in Summit and Medina Counties. She is a graduate of Leadership Portage County class of 2019. Amina currently serves on the Board of Director for CANAPI-Community Aids Network/Akron Pride Initiative and for Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Ann Manby - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Ann Manby is responsible for financial planning strategies and the development and implementation of fiscal policy. Ann also oversees the administration of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) which is funded by the Department of Labor and the Ohio Department of Aging. Prior to joining VANTAGE, she was Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Summit County. She received a Woman of Distinction award from Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio in 2017, the 30 For the Future award from the Greater Akron Chamber in 2010, the Volunteer of the Year Award from Victim Assistance Program in 2009, and the Outstanding Communications Volunteer award from the American Red Cross of Summit and Portage Counties in 2006. She is a member of the Leadership Akron Class #33, serves as the vice president of the Akron AAA board, and is the leader of her daughter's Girl Scout troop. Ann earned her CPA designation and Bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Barbara Venesy

Job Titles:
  • Attorney

Brenda Scurry

Job Titles:
  • Comfort Keeper

Chris Parrish

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Vice Chair / Aultman Hospital

Claudia Denaro - CHRO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Human Resources
Claudia has over 30 years of Human Resources experience in banking and retail, including Wendy's International and Consolidated Stores (Big Lots). Claudia's extensive experience in Human Resources enabled her to have a direct impact on the employee benefits and worker's compensation costs at VANTAGE Aging, leading to her promotion to full-time Human Resources Manager and eventually Director of Human Resources at VANTAGE Aging. Prior to VANATGE Aging Claudia focused on talent recruitment and startups on national and international levels. Her area expertise include benefits and compensation, compliance, and HR best practices.

David Ionno

Job Titles:
  • Financial Advisor at PNC Investments

Gretchen Eagle

Job Titles:
  • Manager of RSVP

Jay Varnes

Job Titles:
  • Director of Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio
Jay joined Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties in 2014 as the Dietary Manager. He was promoted to Director of Operations shortly after, where he oversaw the production of up to 1,600 meals per day and received the Champion Chef award at the 2017 Faith in Action Health and Wellness Fair Cook-Off. After the agency merged with VANTAGE Aging in 2019, Jay was promoted to his current position as Director of Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio. He is now in charge of meal production for Summit, Stark, and Wayne Counties. Jay has his Associates of Business from Rasmussen College of Business, and is pursuing a B.S. in Business Management. Jay brings a history of community involvement and volunteer experience, having served several years as the Vice President of the Wayne and Holmes County Soap Box Derby Board as well as a coach for the West Holmes School District youth baseball, football, and wrestling teams.

Jennifer Kanney-Beebe

Job Titles:
  • Director of Home Wellness Solutions and Customer Care
As Director of Home Wellness Solutions and Customer Care, Jennifer Kanney-Beebe coordinates intake for the Meals on Wheels 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. She also works as a subcontractor in a counseling practice, and her previous experience includes 18 years as a medical social worker. 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 (PCC).

Leah Santalucia

Job Titles:
  • Manager of RSVP

Leann Schaeffer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Chairman / the University of Akron

Lisa Mascellino

Job Titles:
  • Director of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
  • Director of RSVP
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.

Pamela A. Hawkins

Job Titles:
  • Retired from AMHA

Richard Hawkins

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Treasurer / Timken

Ron Van Horn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Secretary / Schauer Group

Safaraz (Sef) Mohammad - CIO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Information Technology
  • Director of IT
As a Director of IT Sef oversees the IT operations at VANTAGE Aging. He utilizes technology to improve the agency's efforts to support the aging population more efficiently. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems with a double major in E-Business Technologies from The University of Akron.

Ted Watko - CEO, COO

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Chief Operating Officer
Ted joined VANTAGE Aging as the chief operating officer in January of 2019, following the merger of Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties with VANTAGE Aging. He previously worked five years as the chief executive officer at Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. Before his time with Meals on Wheels, he worked nearly 20 years at Diebold Nixdorf, assuming roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as the director of human resources. Ted earned a B.A. in Accounting & Finance from Walsh University and M.B.A from Miami University. Ted brings community and nonprofit experience, including participation on the Board of Trustees: Development Fund of the Western Reserve Advisory Board, Diebold Foundation, Greater Stark County Urban League, the American Heart Association, CommQuest Services, and the Society for Human Resource Management. He was appointed by Mayor Horrigan to the Commission on Aging for the City of Akron.

Tessa Engelhard

Job Titles:
  • Manager of RSVP