Our Team
Ori Akrish
Executive Director
ori@kidsbookbank.org
216.650.5592
Ori is responsible for overseeing the leadership, community relations, management, and operations of the Kids’ Book Bank. Ori is passionate about equity and opportunity for ALL people, especially children. In his free time, Ori loves to travel, read, and spend time playing with his kids. He also loves sports and is an avid Cleveland fan.
His favorite children’s book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.
Colleen Watt
Operations Director
colleen@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Colleen keeps the Kids’ Book Bank running smoothly, overseeing all aspects of our operations. She loves people, and she loves books. Colleen enjoys camping and bike riding.
Colleen’s favorite children’s book is The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch.
Jessica Walsh-Frazier
Community Outreach Director
jessica@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Jessica works with our community partners to better understand their needs and help us improve our programs to best serve the families and children we support. Jessica loves to read, travel, swim, and bike. A lifelong Clevelander, she’s a huge Browns fan.
Her favorite children’s book is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Leslie FitzSimmons
Communications Manager
leslief@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Leslie is passionate about sharing our story and impact with the world. Her history with the Kids’ Book Bank dates back to the month after we opened when she came to volunteer to sort books—the rest is history! Leslie loves to read and spend time with her family and two Goldendoodles.
Leslie’s favorite children’s book is Muldoon by Pamela Duncan Edwards & Henry Cole.
Devin McNulty-DeMarco
Volunteer Services Manager
devin@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Devin is passionate about giving back to the community and making sure volunteers are supported and recognized for their dedication. She loves to sail, travel, play games with her family, and read to her young daughter.
Devin’s favorite children’s book is Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Sherita Malcolm
Office Manager
sherita@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Sherita has a background working in schools and is excited to use her passion for literacy as part of the Kids’ Book Bank team. She loves jumping in wherever she’s needed and is the smiling voice you’ll hear on the phone.
Sherita’s favorite book as a child was Are You My Mother? She has fond memories of camping out in her closet with a friend and taking turns reading the book. As an adult, Sherita’s favorite children’s book is The Gruffalo. It’s one of the books her youngest son likes to read to her.
Steve Maistros
Warehouse / Inventory Coordinator
steve@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Steve is the Kids’ Book Bank jack-of-all-trades, assisting people picking up and dropping off books, keeping track of our inventory, and making sure our warehouse keeps humming along. Don’t let Steve’s quiet demeanor fool you—he’s got a great wry sense of humor!
Steve’s favorite children’s book is Switch On The Night by Ray Bradbury.
Christine Diamond
Volunteer Services Assistant
Christine has a passion for everything related to homes, gathers great joy in working with teachers and elementary school children, and is an avid walker who adores Lake Erie’s stunning scenery. Christine and HerBrina (below) run our evening and Saturday shifts for volunteers.
Her favorite children’s book is The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.
HerBrina Shepherd
Volunteer Services Assistant
A woman of her word, filled with purpose, devotion, and diligence, HerBrina looks for and creates opportunities to be of service to others. Her passion for education and literacy is evident through her work at the Kids’ Book Bank. She and Christine (above) run our evening and Saturday shifts for volunteers.
HerBrina’s favorite children’s book is Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Board of Directors
Judi Kovach
Co-Founder & Chair
Retired Product Manager, Progressive Insurance
Amanda Schaub
Treasurer
Senior Manager, EY
Deena Epstein
Retired Senior Program Officer, The George Gund Foundation
Annette Fetter
Young Professionals Board Chair
Asst. Development Director, Kidney Foundation of OH
Jacqueline Lamb
Public Service Manager, Cleveland Public Library and Part-Time Professor, College of Education, Cleveland State University
Dr. JaNice Marshall
Vice President, Access & Community Connections, Cuyahoga Community College
Ellen Mattingly
Governance Committee Chair
Retired HR Director—North America, RAND Corporation
Jessica Naik
Community Volunteer
Kevin Pulte
VP, Wholesale Marketing, The Americas Group, The Sherwin-Williams Co.
John Reynolds
Retired Actuary, Willis Towers Watson
Krystle Rivera
Staff Attorney, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Kristen Saada
External Committee Chair
Community Volunteer
Nick Schappacher
SVP and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, KeyCorp
Directors Emeriti
Judy Payne
Retired Executive Director, Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank
Margaret Bernstein
Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives, WKYC