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
Margie Ordog
Administrator
margie@kidsbookbank.org
216.417.1803
Margie keeps our staff on the same page, preparing books for pick up, and keeping behind-the-scenes accounting and administrative systems running smoothly. Margie loves being outdoors, hiking in the MetroParks and sailing on Lake Erie.
Margie’s favorite children’s book is The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
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
Pamela Holmes
Retired Executive Director of Government and Community Relations, Cleveland Clinic
Jacqueline Lamb
Community Volunteer
Ellen Mattingly
Governance Committee Chair
Retired HR Director—North America, RAND Corporation
Jessica Naik
Community Volunteer
Allison Paine
Young Professionals Board Chair
Assurance Senior, EY
Kevin Pulte
VP of Marketing Insight and Experience, The Americas Group, The Sherwin Williams Company
John Reynolds
Retired Actuary, Willis Towers Watson
Kristen Saada
External Committee Chair
Community Volunteer
Nick Schappacher
SVP and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, KeyCorp
Addisah Sherwood
Senior Counsel, Dominion Energy
Ron Soeder
Interim Executive Director
Director, the telos leadership foundation
Judy Williams
Executive Search Consultant, GRN Beachwood
Directors Emeriti
Judy Payne
Co-Founder & Retired Executive Director, Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank
Founder, Goods Bank NEO
Margaret Bernstein
Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives, WKYC