In November, Adoption Network Cleveland’s board welcomed five new board members: Denise Astorino, Tashyana Copeland, Cory Isler-Manzo, Nikki Lewis, and Andrew Mangels. Join us in congratulating and welcoming these mission-centered, professionally diverse, and ready-to-serve individuals!
Meet our new members in alphabetical order:
Denise Astorino – Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
Denise Astorino is the Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. This is a position they have held for almost five years and has gained valuable experience in a variety of areas. As part of the PRIDE IN THE CLE planning committee for the past four years, she has been instrumental in organizing and supervising over 100 volunteers each year, coordinating mainstage entertainment, and overseeing the development and coordination of the Pride Scholarship Selection Committee.
Beyond her work at the Center, her background is in arts. As a producer, director, actor and educator, she has worked in United States (Regional), London, and Lagos Nigeria. Having produced numerous productions through two theatre companies she helped create and run…the most recent production was an all cis-trans female and non-binary led Jesus Christ Superstar, in which they directed and co-produced. Her passion is creating opportunities for local artists, especially QPOC, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists. Creating spaces, events, and more that would help increase their ability to work and to share that work with a broad demographic.
In regards to her involvement with other organizations, she has been involved with an arts org called Graffiti Heart where she was on the Special Events planning committee from 2021-2023. She also volunteered as a juror for last year’s Urgent Art Grant for Space’s Art Gallery. Awards she has been fortunate to receive was an arts leadership fellowship with Assembly of the Arts Cleveland, a directing fellowship with Cleveland Public Theatre and a Community Activist Award for her work in community theatre in Brandon Mississippi.
Tashyana Copeland – Project Coordinator, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Tashyana Copeland is an experienced public health researcher and Certified Health Education Specialist. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from The Ohio State University, Tashyana obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Kent State University with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Currently, Tashyana works as Project Coordinator for the Center for Child Health & Policy at UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, where she conducts program planning and evaluation within Rainbow and its surrounding communities. With extensive background in community-engaged research, Tashyana has presented health disparities research exploring social and behavioral impacts on health, specifically impacts on underserved and minoritized groups on a local, national and international level. She was introduced to adoption at an early age observing her grandmother who fostered over 20 years and adopted three children. Tashyana currently resides in her hometown of Bedford Heights, OH, where you can find her working on DIY projects, crafts, and watching true crime documentaries
Cory Isler-Manzo – Staff Accountant, Meaden & Moore
Cory Isler-Manzo is a Staff Accountant in the Assurance Services practice at Meaden & Moore, a leading Northeast Ohio accounting and professional services firm. In this role, he works with clients in a variety of industries to provide knowledgeable and customized accounting guidance. Cory is a member of the firm’s core nonprofit team.
Cory has over 10 years of experience working in Northeast Ohio’s nonprofit sector before entering the field of public accounting. Most recently, Cory served as the Associate Director of Baldwin Wallace University’s Community Arts School. Cory has previously served as Membership Chair for YNPN Cleveland (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network). Cory lives on the west side of Cleveland with his husband, Anthony, their pit bull-mix Franny and tuxedo cat, Rocky.
Nikki Lewis – Director of Partnerships, HighTide & Senior Account Manager, Vinyl Marketing
Nikki Lewis is the Director of Partnerships at HighTide and the Senior Account Manager at Vinyl Marketing. At Vinyl Marketing, she collaborates with non-profits across the country to enhance their organizations' visibility, engagement, and awareness, as well as support them through fundraising campaigns. In her role at HighTide, Nikki manages the partnership program, working with consultants and agencies nationwide to prepare and support them in selling the fully customizable CRM software. Nikki holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and has over a decade of experience working with or for non-profits, including a five-year tenure as the Foundation Manager at the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development. She has actively participated in various local non-profit boards, volunteered extensively, and contributed to marketing efforts for the past 12 years. Nikki is also a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and the Ohio Bankers League Bank Management School.
A first (birth) mother who relinquished a child in 2000, Nikki has navigated both open and closed adoptions and has been reconnected with her child since 2020. She has co-facilitated the Adoption Network Cleveland (ANC) Birth Mothers Support Group since May 2021 and is an active participant in ANC programs and the Program Committee. Residing in Mansfield, Ohio, for the past 17 years, Nikki is deeply involved in her community. She is a proud aunt to two nephews and a devoted dog mom to her deaf Jack Russell Terrier, Bertie.
Andrew Mangels – Director, Westlake Porter Public Library
Andrew Mangels has been the Director of the nationally recognized five-star Westlake Porter Public Library for the past eighteen years. In 2020, he and his wife Christine were named Mr. & Mrs. Westlake for their involvement in the community including Connecting for Kids, Rotary, Kiwanis and many other philanthropic organizations. Andrew has been the recipient of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Hugh Dawson Service Award, Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award, Westlake PTA Helping Hands Award, and was the Leader Among Leaders for his 2018 Leadership Ohio cohort. Andrew and Christine have four children. The oldest was placed for adoption at birth but reached out twenty-six years later and has reconnected with the family.
