Fred Berry

Fred Berry has been a lifelong resident of the Akron area, growing up in Sharon Center. He first became interested in AIDS related issues through the AIDS quilt which he learned about in his college Sociology class. The impact of the quilt has been with him ever since. 

Professionally, Fred has been working in the non-profit sector for over 10 years. He currently works at Info Line, Inc. as Housing Services Manager directly overseeing three programs which serve homeless and low income individuals and families in our community. In working with these programs he has become a very active member of the Akron/Barberton/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless and serves on many subcommittees including coordinating over 600 volunteers for Project Homeless Connect. 

He is an alumni of The University of Akron two times over recently completing his Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Non-profit Management in May of 2012 and graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management with an emphasis in Management Information Systems in August of 2006. He currently resides in Green with Steve, his partner of 18 years.

                                    

Nancy J. Brennan  

Nancy has been a lifelong resident of Akron, Ohio.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Akron.

After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, she joined The Brenlin Group as Human Resources Coordinator.  In 1990, Ms. Brennan founded Brennan Learning Services, an educational services and management company specializing in leasing, installing, and managing computer-based education and training centers. In 1996, Ms. Brennan also became involved with the Brennan Industrial Group serving as Vice President.  Finally, in 1998, Ms. Brennan merged Brennan Learning Services with White Hat Management, a professional education management company.  She is currently Vice-President of White Hat Management overseeing the special projects area.

Brennan’s past community involvement includes being past Co-Chair of the Akron Civic Theater Capital campaign from 2001 to 2003.  She is also active in the Our Lady of the Elms Parent Teacher Organization and is a 1994 graduate of the Leadership Akron community awareness and leadership development program sponsored by the Greater Akron Chamber.  Ms. Brennan is a 2004 recipient of the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award for Education.

Ms. Brennan’s current community involvement is as an Advisory Board member for 91.3 the Summit public radio station in addition to serving on the Board at Community AIDS Network.

Ms. Brennan resides in Akron, Ohio with her two children, Annie and Maggie, and two dogs, Simba and Casper.              

 

Chip Clupper

Chip Clupper is the Secretary of the Board. A life-long resident of Akron, Ohio, Chip graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, with a concentration in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership, from Walsh University. He is also certified in Business Management Technology from The University of Akron, and a lifetime member of the academic honor society Kappa Beta Delta. He is currently pursuing his M.B.A.

Chip is the founder and past president of The Stonewall Democrats of Summit County. Under his leadership, the organization successfully oversaw the adoption of non-discrimination ordinances within the City of Akron and the County of Summit. These ordinances provide protection for the LGBT community in the areas of employment, housing and intimidation.

Chip is presently employed by the County of Summit Department of Human Resources as an HR Specialist. He resides in Akron with his partner of 7 years.

Rodd Coker (picture and bio coming soon)

 

Getta Cornici

 

Getta Cornici has resided in the Akron area since age seven when her family relocated to the United States from Romania.

Getta attended Kent State University where she majored in Interpersonal Communications. She also spent a summer in London, England studying International Marketing. She currently works for the Battered Women’s Shelter as a court advocate.

Getta loves to travel for pleasure and service. Most recently spending four weeks in Costa Rica volunteering as a social worker in the Language and Cultural Immersion Program for Social Workers.

Getta is a dedicated community volunteer serving The Rape Crisis Center, Haven of Rest, Open M Health Clinic, Akron Art Museum, Project Homeless Connect, DECA, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She also serves as the event coordinator for two successful charity fundraisers; Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and The Halloween Charity Ball.  Getta is also a member of the 2012 Torchbearer’s class. 

 Frank D'Angelo (picture and bio coming soon)

 

  John D. Grafton
John is currently the vice-chair of the Board.  He retired from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in 2003 after spending 33 years in various technical marketing and sales positions, including Business Manager for the Air Springs SBU in the Engineered Products Division (now Veyance Industries).  Prior to Goodyear, John was Director of Housing for the University of Akron.

John spends many hours volunteering for the Community AIDS Network where he held past positions of  President and Vice-President, and Treasurer.  John was among the top five fundraisers for the AIDS Walk of Northeast Ohio in each of the years 2006-2009.  He in on the Advisory Board of the Gay Community Endowment Fund, the board of Weathervane Theatre, and volunteers at Coach House Theatre, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and GG9.  John is a member of Plexus and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

John holds a BBA from the University of Cincinnati where he was a member of Sigma Sigma, Metro, Cincinnatus, and Lambda Chi Alpha.  He resides in Bath Twp. with his partner of 31 years, Richard Worswick, and his two Great Danes.

 Candace Kim-Knox

Candace is a defense attorney and family law practitioner and has formerly worked in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. She is also a former paramedic. Candice is a member of Friends of Pets Animal Rescue, the Fraternal Order of Police Association, the Akron Bar Association, and a former member of Junior League of Akron, the Ohio Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Ohio Defense Attorney Trial Association. Candace has a BS in biology/premed from Kent State University and a JD from the University of Akron School of Law. She is a Delta Zeta sorority alum. Candace frequently advises the agency on legal issues and questions.

 

Kyle Magilavy 

Born and raised in Akron, Kyle Magilavy is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College where he studied computer science and music at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. Today, he works as a computer engineer in the Akron area. Kyle served as Chair of Technology for Baldwin-Wallace's Gay/Straight Alliance, has served on the Summit County Regional Arts Board for the past year, and currently serves on the technology committee for the Community AIDS Network.

Kyle has been an active member within the Akron chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) since 2007. His parents own the Diamond Deli in Akron and both serve on the board for Akron PFLAG. Kyle is proud of his family and the volunteer work they do and is excited to help move forward the great work that the Community AIDS Network does for the community.

J. J. Mesko-Kimmich

J.J. has a Bachelor’s Degree in Individual & Family Studies, and a Masters of Education in Community Counseling, both from Kent State University. While she pursued her M.Ed. she worked in the Office of Students Life helping undergraduate students pursue their educational goals. This led her to her position at White Hat Management. At White Hat Management she is the Director of Community Engagement. She works with various organizations from food banks to professional sports teams to find resources and positive outlets for the Hope Academy and Life Skills students. She also manages her families safety company, Akron Safety Lite & Equipment Company, Inc. as the G.M./C.F.O. that has been in business for over 53 years!

J.J. is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Ohio, a Certified Home Health Aid with Vishnia & Associates and a Certified Ohio Benefits Bank Counselor.

Ms. Mesko-Kimmich resides in Munroe Falls with her husband of over 10 years, their two daughters and their Jack-Russell, Jo-Jo.

  

 Phil Montgomery

Phil is the current Treasurer of the Board. In addition to CANAPI, he is a member of the Board of Directors for the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Services Board and Towpath Credit Union. Phil is also a former member of Akron City Council.

As a business professional, Phil spent several years working in the Internal Audit field and now works in operations at Time Warner Cable where he is a Senior Manager responsible for contract labor billings, payments and reporting.

Phil holds a BBA with a concentration in Business Information Systems from DeVry University and an MBA from Ohio Dominican University. He lives in West Akron with his partner Andrew.
 

 John Washington

 John is the current Chairman of the Board. He is recently retired from Allstate Insurance Company, after spending 32 years serving in various leadership positions including Human Resourses and Public Affairs. In his last position he was responsible for overseeing the execution of personal lines risk management policy for the company.

As a part of his personal commitment and to the community he has served on numerous boards including the March of Dimes, the Urban League, and Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Partners in Education.

John received his B.A. from Tougaloo College, Tougaloo MS and completed additional study at Jackson State University and the University of Missouri, Columbia