COVA welcomes five new members to the Board of Directors |
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| Financial consultant Patrick Knott has 23 years of experience within the financial community, five of which he spent consulting with companies in distress situations. Patrick looks forward to providing insight and direction in COVA’s future growth, and hopes to offer his skills and background as part of the Financial, Building and Facilities, and Planning committees. “COVA is an organization that I believe provides a valuable service,” he said in his membership application, “and I wish to be a part of its future.” |  Patrick Knott |
| Sandra Cannon, LISW, recently retired as the Chief of the Office of Forensic Services for the Ohio Department of Mental Health, where she has worked for more than 20 years. Her position at ODMH required her to coordinate statewide forensic psychiatry programs and policies and to develop a system of care for forensic individuals across Ohio. Sandra is involved in several mental health committees, including the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Advisory Committee on Mental Illness in the Courts. She is consulting now with both the state and Franklin County Children’s Services. |  Sandra Cannon |
| Leah Basobas O’Carroll, J.D., has 10 years of experience as a social worker, seven of which she spent at COVA, first as a Vocational Program Manager and then as a Community Assessment Coordinator. In 1999, she began attending Capital University Law School. Since graduating, Leah has worked for CASA of Franklin County, as well as in the Civil Rights and Health and Human Services sections of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. “I am so proud to have worked at COVA and have watched it grow and develop all these years,” she said. “Serving as a member of the Board would give me an opportunity to again contribute to COVA and to help fulfill its mission.” |  Leah Basobas O'Carroll |
| Pat Halaiko is president of Custom Air, a local heating and cooling contractor. COVA and Pat worked together refurbishing the HVAC system when COVA relocated to its current home in Clintonville. Pat has joined the finance committee and will also play an integral role advising the board on facilities issues. |  Pat Halaiko |
| Karen Twinem is executive vice president of Paul Werth Associates. She has an extensive career in public relations and journalism and currently leads the public relations practice with several national clients at Paul Werth. Karen is active in the NAMI Family-to-Family program and has already assumed leadership of the Board’s Resource Development Committee. |  Karen Twinem |
COVA staff shares expertise at professional seminars• The Benefits Consultation team hosted the Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) at Job Leaders in April and will be doing four more locations in 2009. Program Director Julie Koehler and Senior Benefits Consultant Ron Swain introduced the array of work incentives available from the Social Security Administration. Ron also presented to the Franklin County ADAMH Family Advisory Council. For information on future WISE, contact Karie Urban at 614-294-7117 ext. 287 or kurban@cova.org. |
 Senior Benefits Consultant Ron Swain explains benefits equations at the COVA-sponsored WISE. |
• Betsy Nofziger has been spreading the word about COVA by attending several conferences on its behalf. Career Developer Angel Peppers joined Betsy at the DiversAbility Conference in the fall, where the two gave a presentation on managing psychiatric disabilities in the workplace. Betsy also attended the Riverside Hospital DiversAbility Conference with Board member Katie Feick to participate in a panel that discussed psychiatric disabilities and perspectives of employees and employers. • In May, the Ohio State School for the Blind invited COVA to the Technology and Resource Fair. Ron Swain presented on work incentives and Social Security benefits to an audience of parents, students and teachers from across the state. Benefits Consultant Karie Urban staffed an information booth and answered audience questions. • Pathways Program Director Meg Griffing and Benefits and Financial Consultation Program Director Julie Koehler were invited to Washington, D.C. by the National Service Inclusion Project, a Corporation for National and Community Service training and technical assistance provider. There, the two provided expertise on benefits impacted by the passage of the new Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (HEART) legislation, which deals with military, taxes and jobs. • The Social Security Administration invited Meg Griffing to give a presentation on promising practices in benefits consultation and community outreach. Meg covered information that would help area work incentive coordinators who work with disabled individuals returning to work and using their Ticket to Work benefits. |
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