Board of Directors
The Board of Directors represents our community and includes parents, educators, healthcare professionals and county service providers.
Kathy Nash MEd, Board President and Intervention Specialist Representative
Kathy received her undergraduate degree from Ohio University and her graduate degree at Cleveland State University. Kathy started her teaching career in Sugar Grove, Ohio working with children with special needs in 5th-9th grade. Kathy has also worked with children with a variety of needs in the Berne Union City Schools (Grades 1-6) and Elyria City Schools (2nd and 3rd grade, 1st-3rd grade and preschool). For the past 12 years, Kathy has been a teacher in a Center Based Preschool Program at Hilliard Elementary in the Westlake City School System. Kathy was honored as a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar in 2005. When Kathy is not at school she enjoys spending time with family and friends and walking in the Metroparks with her dog Keegan. She can be contacted at kathynash@connectingforkids.org.
Rebecca Baker CPA, Board Treasurer
Rebecca is a Certified Public Accountant. She has a BSBA from The Ohio State University. For more than 10 years, Rebecca served non-profit organizations while working for a global accounting firm. She has served on various non-profit board of directors and finance committees. She and her husband have two children, a boy and a girl. In her free time she enjoys being with her family, golfing, reading and running!
Lisa Forshey MEd, Board Secretary and Teacher Representative
Lisa is a first grade teacher in the Westlake City Schools. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Mild/Moderate Special Education Curriculum and Instruction. Lisa was honored as a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar in 2009. Lisa also serves on Game On's Board of Directors. Lisa and her husband, Dan, have three children. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends. Lisa is excited to be a part of Connecting for Kids and can be contacted at lisaforshey@connectingforkids.org.
Laurie Demchak MA, CCC-SLP,Therapist Representative
Laurie is a speech-language pathologist and the therapist representative of Connecting for Kids. She has a BS in Speech and Hearing from Elmira College and an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from The Ohio State University. She has worked in an elementary, middle, and high school setting and provided outpatient pediatric services at the Cleveland Clinic for over 10 years. She and her husband have two boys and two girls. She enjoys watching movies, baking and eating cookies, and celebrating birthdays! She can be contacted at lauriedemchak@connectingforkids.org.
Julie Fisher JD, Board Member at Large
Julie is a Member at Large for Connecting for Kids. Julie uses her Harvard law degree to practice health care regulatory and transactional law. She has 15 years of experience working with health care providers, including many non-profit entities. Though she loves practicing law, she keeps it "part time" so she can enjoy her real sweet spots: her two active boys and her husband. When not spending time with family or pursuing her law career, Julie can be found running along the Chicago lakefront or getting her "Zen" on in a hot yoga class.
Christie Kimbler MEd, County Representative
Christie Kimbler is an Early Childhood Behavior/ Curriculum Intervention Specialist for the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities. She has a degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for the multiple handicapped. She also has a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education. She is trained in the P.L.A.Y. project and the IABA (Institute of Applied Behavior Analysis) for Functional Behavior Assessments. Christie also offers private behavioral consulting for families not eligible for Cuyahoga County Board services. She is married and has two children, a boy and a girl. She can be contacted at christiekimbler@connectingforkids.org.
Devlin and Kim Riley, Family Representative
Devlin and Kim Riley are the parents of four children. They represent the interests of families. They can be contacted at riley@connectingforkids.org.
Victoria Todd MSSA, Psychoanalyst, Health Services Representative
Victoria is a summa cum laude graduate of Case Western Reserve University with a B.A. in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Social Administration. A qualified child psychoanalyst, she completed her training at the Hanna Perkins Center for Research in Child Development. Based on her 25+ years of assisting children, adolescents and parents as well as her work as a preschool, elementary school, middle and high school consultant, she received the President's Award from the Junior League and was name in Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals in Mental Health-Honor's Edition, Who's Who Amon Executives and Professional Women in Healthcare and Who's Who Among American Women. To contact Vicki please visit her website at westpsychotherapy.com/contact/
Lisa Forshey and Laurie Demchaks' photographs were generously donated by Studio South photography. www.studiosouthphoto.com
