In November, Adoption Network Cleveland’s board welcomed five new board members: Kim Dyckes, Carla Lanier, Jeffery Rohrs, Kirsten Simonton, and Christine Zanoni. Ron Copfer joined the board earlier in 2023. We think, after reading, you will join us in congratulating our Board’s Leadership Development Committee for working to recruit such mission-centered, professionally diverse, and ready-to-serve individuals!
Meet our new members in alphabetical order:
Ron K. Copfer Jr. – Retired Technology Entrepreneur
A pioneer and veteran of the digital economy and serial entrepreneur, Ron has founded or co-founded 16 firms and led design and implementation of online configurators, electronic catalogs, content, knowledge, digital asset and document management systems as well as eLearning and digital marketing strategies and technologies. Additionally, he has worked on advanced, Internet-based information systems for Parker Hannifin, Eaton, Cleveland Clinic, Lubrizol, Goodyear, KeyBank, Alcoa, Career Education Corp., InfoCision, SAP, CBIZ, Omnova, BF Goodrich, Noveon, Kinetico, InfoCision, Diebold, Babcock Wilcox, Cardinal Health, the Ohio State University, SalesForce and many others. In addition, Ron has been deeply involved in multiple nonprofit and community efforts in Cleveland. A few of Ron’s past board memberships include the Cleveland Institute of Art, The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. He also served on a Case Western Reserve University, TiiME Program Advisory Board supporting the country’s first Masters in Engineering Management (MEM) for over 17 years. After over 30 years in the technology field, Ron is now retired and works as a Fabricator in the FabLab repurposing salvaged items at Rebuilders Xchange (RBX) an innovative endeavor founded by his wife Jessica. Ron is a reunited birth father who resides in Ohio City with his wife Jessica Davis.
Kim Dyckes, M.A. – Retired Montessori Teacher
Kim Dyckes was a Montessori teacher for over 25 years and recently retired to be more available for her elderly mother. She has extensive experience working with children and families and planning and implementing school programming. Kim is an adoptee and found her birth mother through the International Soundex Reunion Registry at age 33. She has met five of her seven biological half-siblings. Kim is excited to rejoin the ranks of Adoption Network Cleveland volunteers. In the 1990s, Kim helped with our organization with public relations and programming, and she sat on the Board of Directors, serving as president for a time. Over the years, Kim knew she would return when the time was right. Kim lives in Auburn Township with her husband, Kevin, and two black cats, Herman and Gomez.
Carla S. Lanier, MSW – Program Coordinator Caregiver Programs, Fairhill Partners
Carla Lanier is the Caregiver Program and Senior Guest House Program Coordinator at Fairhill Partners. She provides some individual assistance but primarily facilitates two support groups, Kinship Caregivers and Family Caregivers, and two education programs. The support groups' members are older kinship relatives raising grandchildren, and family caregivers, who are caring for someone with a disability or illness. Some group members are in both groups. The education and training programs are dedicated to increasing the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers through lifelong learning, earning, and service. For over a decade, Carla has been working professionally with older adults. She received her BSW and MSW from Cleveland State University. Carla is focused on serving the community and the institution she represents. Her compassion for people is her consistent motivation for the work that she does.
Jeffrey Rohrs, J.D., M.S. – VP, Marketing Insights, Active Campaign
Jeffrey K. Rohrs serves as VP, of Marketing Insights, for Active Campaign, the CRM, sales and marketing platform that smart teams use to power profitable businesses. A SaaS tech veteran, Jeff served in chief marketing officer and marketing leadership roles for ExactTarget, Jobvite, Salesforce, Tendo, and Yext. Jeff has worn other hats as well including president of a digital marketing agency, author of AUDIENCE: Marketing in the Age of Subscribers, Fans & Follower, and attorney at Baker & Hostetler. However, his lasting career "Rosebud" was as a DJ at the legendary modern rock radio station 97X, WOXY in Oxford, Ohio ("BAM! The Future of Rock & Roll"). Jeff joined Adoption Network Cleveland’s Outreach & Development committee in January. A beekeeper in his spare time, Jeff lives in Lakewood with his wife, Jenny, where they dutifully document seasonal midge invasions, look up the names of cargo ships passing by on Lake Erie, and occasionally shout compliments at Canada.
Kristen Simonton, MD – Pediatrician, Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Program Director, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Kirsten is a pediatrician specializing in child abuse pediatrics. She is currently working at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL where she has been the child abuse pediatrics fellowship program director for the past 6 years. In Summer 2024, Kirsten and her family will relocate to Cleveland, where she grew up and met her husband. Kirsten first became connected to Adoption Network Cleveland in 1997 just weeks after becoming a birth mother, and immediately became a member and volunteer. Kirsten joined the staff of Adoption Network Cleveland as an administrative assistant from 2001-2002 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 2002-2005. Kirsten left Cleveland in 2005 to pursue her medical education and has lived in Columbus, OH; Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH and Chicago, IL. While in Cincinnati, Kirsten collaborated with the Ohio Birthparent Group to start a birthparent support group in her area, which continued successfully for two years until their family relocated. Professionally, Kirsten has worked closely with child welfare and foster care systems in several states, has published journal articles and textbook chapters on a variety of child maltreatment topics, and has given local and national talks on the health of children in foster care. Kirsten lives with her husband and two school-aged daughters and has been in reunion with her birth daughter for the past ten years.
Christine Zanoni, M.Ed. – Principal, Insightful Minds Community of Learning
Christine Zanoni is the Principal of Insightful Minds Community of Learning, serving students on the autism spectrum through experiential engagement, mindfulness, and restorative practices. During her 32 years in education, she’s focused on a strengths-based approach dedicated to helping young people challenged by complex developmental trauma, mental health issues, and autism. In 2023, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association recognized Christine as the 3Rs Teacher of the Year for her work connecting PEP students with their program. Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Hiram College, a master’s degree in special education from Kent State University, and leadership credentials from Baldwin Wallace University. Christine is an adoptee who was reunited with her birth family in 1996 and lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and furry companions. When she’s not reading up on ways to help students and staff know some joy in each day, she can be found watching her actor-husband in plays, enjoying puns, and binging The West Wing on television.
