Board of Directors

Interim Chair, Ethel Robitson, is the Director of Occupational Health Enterprise, managing 8 Occupational Health sites of the Cleveland Clinic.  She earned her Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences Management, Cum Laude, from David N. Myers College.  Ms. Robitson earned her Masters of Business Administration degree at David N. Myers University, graduating with honors in 2001.    She has worked as Assistant Director of Public and Media Relations for the Cleveland Clinic; as well as Supervisor of Executive Health for the Clinic.  She is a lifelong Cleveland resident and enjoys community service activities.  She is committed to the mission of Connections Health•Wellness•Advocacy and believes in providing care for people who have limited resources.

Vice Chair, William H. Stevens, is the Vice President of Leasing at Crescendo Commercial Realty, leading his firm’s efforts in representing both tenants and landlords in the marketplace with over one million square feet of office, industrial, and retail space under his direction.  He joined Connections Health·Wellness·Advocacy Board of Directors in 2010 after several years on the Associate Board of Recovery Resources.  He also speaks to groups on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving throughout the year and is co-founder of the Cleveland Area Corrections Committee which seeks to counsel inmates in facilities throughout Northeast Ohio on better choices upon release.  Bill graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and “served” his alma mater as the school’s mascot, Butch T. Cougar.  He proudly resides in the Cleveland area with his wife, Jamie, and their three sons.

 

Interim Treasurer, Rochelle (Shelley) Lipson, is a retired CPA.  Mrs. Lipson originally received a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in Sociology.  She worked as a Social Worker and Vocational Counselor at Jewish Vocational Service. After having three daughters, Mrs. Lipson went back to school to get her accounting hours and worked as a bookkeeper; she then worked as an accountant for over fifteen years.  Ms. Lipson worked mainly in individual and corporate taxes. During tax season, she continues to volunteer for AARP preparing tax returns.  Mrs. Lipson originally served on the Board of Northeast Ohio Health Services from 1990 to 2000.   She rejoined the Board in October of 2008.

 

Interim Secretary, Giovanni DiLalla is the owner of American Copier Solutions. He emigrated from Italy in 1966. He founded the American Copier Solutions business 26 years ago with the idea that he could provide a higher quality of service. He earned his B.A., with a Major in History from Kenyon College. Mr. DiLalla has served on the Board of Connections Health•Wellness•Advocacy since May, 2010. He has volunteered for St. Mark Episcopal Church in St. Alban, WV at fundraising dinners to benefit their Christ Kitchen.

Hinda T. Apple is the owner of the Apple Design Group at the Red Brick Store in Brecksville, Ohio.  She attended the Flora Stone Mather College for Women, a part of Case Western Reserve University; Kent State University; Dyke and Spencerian Colleges as well as Cleveland College.  Ms. Apple has volunteered with Mt. Sinai Hospital, Hopewell, a therapeutic farm community for adults with mental illness located on a 300-acre farm in rural Mesopotamia, Ohio, and has worked at Playhouse Square with Ray Shepardson. Ms. Apple has been involved in the theater, dancing, travel, antiques and music. 

 

Dinorah Bialostosky is a U.S. Certified Court Interpreter-Translator in Spanish. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interpretation and Translation at the School of Interpreters & Translators in Mexico City. Ms. Bialostosky was a Biology major at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She served for 10 years as Treasurer for the Hadassah Women’s Organization and was Treasurer for 5 years for the Israel Bonds in Mexico & Central America. Dinorah served as a full time interpreter for 25 years in the Texas State Courts. She presently serves as a freelance and on-call interpreter for the Federal Courts in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, & Toledo. Ms. Bialostosky has volunteered with the Junior Service League in their prenatal clinic and making home visits and at Medworks, assisting with registration and on the phone bank.

 

Jeanette (Jay) Brzoska is a retired Accounts Receivable Manager.  She has 30 years of Accounts Receivable management and medical billing experience.  Ms. Brzoska worked with Northeast Ohio Health Services (now Connections) for 15 years as the Accounts Receivable Manager.  Prior to working at NEOHS, she worked with the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Glasrock Home Health Care and Cleveland Orthopaedic Association.  Ms. Brzoska is a past Treasurer of St. Therese School PTU in Garfield Hts., Ohio.  She is a past Chairperson for the Benedictine High School German Club Fund Raiser, as well as assisted with the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Fund Raiser.  She believes that her years of experience in behavioral healthcare is a great asset to her position as a member of the Board of Directors of Connections Health• Wellness• Advocacy.

 

Joanne E. Cooke is Chair of Circle of Hope, a faith-based support group, through Aldersgate United Methodist Church.  She is a former Community Coordinator and she taught Early Childhood Education.  She attended Cuyahoga Community College, East and grew up in Cleveland.  She is a trained Peer Support Specialist, a Family to Family Instructor for NAMI Greater Cleveland and a WRAP facilitator. Ms. Cooke was recognized in 2008 by NAMI with the Community Service Award in the Category of Cultural Competence.  In 2001, Ms. Cooke actively worked on the planning committee to form a consumer advisory council for The Mental Health Board of Cuyahoga County.  She was elected Secretary of The Adult Consumer Advisory Council and served from 2002-2005 and served as President from 2005-2008.  She served on the committee to form NAMI Greater Cleveland's Multicultural Advisory Committee and served as Co-chair.  She was appointed as Social Action Chair for the United Methodist Women, North Coast District, which encompassed 69 churches.  As chair she added mental health advocacy and health care reform to the agenda.  She also was highlighted in a documentary video in 2009 which was produced by PBS entitled "Facing Depression," which speaks about her experience with depression.  This powerful video was grant funded through Mt Sinai, Woodruff and several other organizations.  The documentary video that she appeared in has won the media award from the Ohio Psychological Association.  Ms. Cooke has been traveling throughout the state advocating for mental health care.  

 

Donald S. Dalton is the President of Dalton North Coast, Inc., a full service housing development, grant writing, consulting and project-management company. Mr. Dalton received his B.A. in Urban and Environmental Studies at Case Western Reserve University as well as his M.B.A. He was a board member of CIT, Connections Health• Wellness•Advocacy’s original name. Mr. Dalton was in the president position on the CIT Board when it began with a staff of 20 and remained until there was a staff of 100. In 1991, he helped to found the Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc. (EDEN), which is a contract housing development agency of the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County. He is a past Board Treasurer of their Board of Trustees. Mr. Dalton has also served on the board at Murtis H. Taylor Human Services Center and was the Chair of their finance committee for 8 years. He has been active in civic and non-profit Board activities with such organizations as the Institute for Environmental Education, Friends of Shaker Square, Neighborhood Housing Services of Cleveland, East End Neighborhood House, and Mental Health Rehabilitation and Research Inc. (Hill House).

 

David M. Dobranic is Director of Assurance Services in McGladrey & Pullen LLP’s Cleveland, Ohio office.  Dave has over fourteen years of experience as a practicing advisor providing a full range of auditing, accounting, tax and consulting services to a wide range of closely-held businesses in the manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, private equity, service and real estate industries as well as to various employee benefit plans.  Dave graduated from Myers University with a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Certified Public Accountant.  His professional affiliations and credentials include:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

• Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants

• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP)

• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB)

• AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center

• Certified Public Accountant

Dave is also a volunteer member of the City of Eastlake’s Audit Review Committee.  Dave resides with his wife and daughter in Eastlake, Ohio.

 

David M. Kribel is Vice President of Operations and Programs at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Behavioral Health, located at Marymount Hospital’s Trudell Center.  He has spent 30 years in Management as a Manager, Director, and Administrative Director.  Mr. Kribel has a BA from John Carroll University, with a major in Psychology.  He earned his MA at the University of Akron, with a major in Clinical Counseling and Psychology.  He has also had a three-year post graduate training in Gestalt Therapy.  Mr. Kribel volunteers as a Supervisor of Masters Degree-seeking counseling students and has volunteered for NAMI of Greater Cleveland, the Diabetes Association and Med-Wish through the Cleveland Clinic.  He averages 80 hours of volunteer service per year. 

 

Norman S. Leavitt is retired as Director of Credit from the Imperial Manufacturing Co.  Previously, he was the Controller at Reynolds Aluminum.  He Attend East High School and graduated with a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Case Western Reserve University.  Mr. Leavitt has also served on the Weider-Silver Manor Board.  He has a variety of interests such as Dramatics, Music, Writing and Sports. 

 

Molly L. Wright LISW, CCM, is a licensed independent social worker and certified case manager with over twenty years of experience in the field of social work. Currently she is employed at Grace LTAC Hospital at the Huron Road site. Mrs. Wright earned her Master’s of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University. Molly Wright has had extensive experience as a manager and direct care provider in both the rehabilitation setting and acute medical care. She has lectured and conducted workshops regarding brain injury patients and family care giving needs. She is involved in several local and national non-profit organizations and volunteers at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and in the AGAPE program at Antioch Church.