Meet the Team

Gabe Adler serves as a board member and trustee for several organizations.

Gabe is a retired certified public accountant and was a partner at Rabe, Adler & Co and Zinner and Co. At those firms, he counseled clients in accounting, tax, mergers and acquisitions and transfers of business to the next generation. He advised real estate owners in strategies and had spoken to groups on tax laws and estate planning techniques. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Cleveland State University.

Gabe was a trustee and officer for B’nai Jeshurun and currently serves on several of its committees. Also, he serves on several committees at the Cleveland Jewish Federation.

Kelly Albin serves as Corporate Counsel at The Sherwin-Williams Company, supporting the areas of corporate governance, securities, finance, and general corporate commercial transactions. Kelly earned her undergraduate degree in finance from John Carroll University and a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Kelly was a member of the Board of Directors of Shaking with Laughter, a local nonprofit organization with a mission to fund research to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. She also served on the Board of Directors of Front Steps Housing and Services and co-chaired the organization's largest annual fundraising event. She is a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Northeast Ohio Chapter, and is a mentor for College Now.

Michael E. Bennett is a business and nonprofit leader with expertise managing innovative change, building and sustaining relationships, and creating and implementing strategies that improve communications, marketing, branding, public relations and fundraising / development.

As Vice President of External Affairs for the Cleveland Leadership Center, he supports efforts that inspire and connect individuals to transform Cleveland. Among previous positions are Publisher and Editor of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Co. (Cleveland Jewish News), Director of Marketing and Communications and Campaign Director for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and Features Editor of The Plain Dealer.

After his wife, Laura, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in her 50s, they found InMotion before the original facility was even built and have been actively involved ever since. They are long-time residents of Cleveland Heights, where their two now-adult children were proud Tigers.

Jim Bickel has more than 35 years of experience in information technology management and consulting. Most recently, Jim spent 15 years as the IT Director for the Cleveland Foundation. Here, he planned and completed many key projects, including: the selection and implementation of a completely integrated financial, grant management and fundraising system; a VOIP phone system; and the transformation of the entire technology architecture to a virtual server environment. Previously, Jim held management positions at North American Refractories, Brush Wellman, Forest City Enterprises, and Consolidated Natural Gas. He also was part of the Cleveland Office of Ernst & Young’s small business and information technology practices for 9 years.

Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Foundations Technology Affinity Group for 10 years and was also the Board Chair during his tenure. He earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in business administration from Penn State University.

Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, Kathy Cohen views InMotion as her “happy place.” She serves as a front desk volunteer and has also facilitated care partner support groups at InMotion. Kathy’s father, Allan Goldberg, one of InMotion’s founders, lived with Parkinson’s disease for 15 years before he passed away in 2014. Kathy practiced for 15 years as a social worker. She has master’s degrees in counseling psychology and social work. She is married and has two boys.

Michael Craig is an intellectual property attorney with Tucker Ellis LLP, helping clients protect and generate revenue from their intellectual property. He is experienced in opinion and pre-litigation work for patent and trademark cases, including intensive claims analysis and case law research. Before becoming an attorney, Michael worked as an environmental health and safety consultant in a variety of industries, and was a regulatory compliance manager for a large chemical company.

Michael earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Hiram College, and graduated cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law. He lives in Medina with his wife and three children, two dogs and a cat. He is extremely active in the local community with youth and environmental conservation organizations.

Dr. Howard Epstein, M.D. is a rheumatologist who serves in the Rheumatologic and Immunologic Disease department of the Cleveland Clinic. Since 2011, Dr. Epstein has also served as the Associate Medical Director of the Cleveland Clinic Employee Health Plan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Union College, and he received his medical degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Epstein has delivered various lectures on rheumatology and is a member of professional organizations such as the Cleveland Society of Rheumatology and the American College of Rheumatology. In his spare time, he enjoys aviation, classical music, theater, and serves as a volunteer pilot for disaster relief missions.

Rob Felber, President of Felber Public Relations & Marketing established in 1993, is responsible for the development and implementation of measurable advertising and public relations campaigns for business-to-business manufacturers.  The firm’s client experience includes Buckeye Fasteners, C & J Industries, Cres Cor, General Die Casters, Grand River Rubber & Plastics, Mika Metal Fabrication, Olson Custom Design and PMI Indudstries.

Rob has held numerous leadership positions within marketing associations.  Rob has appeared as a guest speaker on college campuses such as Kent State, John Carroll, Cleveland State, and Akron Universities and before a variety of business organizations. Additionally, Rob served two terms as President of The Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce. In September of 2006, Rob was elected to the board of the Ohio Venture Association where he served as Vice President – Public Relations for six years. Rob was elected to the Board of Governors at The Club at Key Center in February of 2007 and chaired the board in 2011 and 2016.

Rob served as chair of the City Club of Cleveland’s 100^th Anniversary subcommittee on marketing and public relations. Rob has also dedicated 18 years on the leadership team for The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life – Twinsburg/Nordonia and chaired the 2011 and 2012 events. In November 2013 Rob was elected to the Board of Education in Twinsburg, Ohio, and served as Vice President in 2015. In 2016, 2020 and again in 2023, Rob was elected as president of the Board of Education and served the board president. Rob is a past President of the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Board of Education and currently in his 4^th year on the board. Rob joined the regional board of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2018. In September 2023 Rob delivered his first TEDx talk, detailing his journey from high school trauma to his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s. Little known fact: Rob has served as the Public Information Officer for the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team of which he served as a member for 28 years, and is currently in his 41^st year as Lieutenant, firefighter/paramedic with the City of Pepper Pike. Rob lives in Twinsburg, OH with his wife Sheryl and has twin daughters that are now grown and in both the non-profit and elementary education fields.

Ann Freimuth has built a career around her strong communications, organizational and analytical skills. For 15 years, she served as a program officer for The Mount Sinai Health Care Foundation, responsible for evaluating grant requests for the organization. Previously, Ann served as Chief of Staff to the past President of Tulane University.

Ann’s prior positions included serving as the Director of Community Affairs for Premier Industrial Corporation; the Director of Funds Development at Jewish Family Service Association; and Director of Career Planning at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law and the Weatherhead School of Management.

She serves on the IMPACT Advisory Committee for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Women’s Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and is a past board member of United Way of Greater Cleveland.

Grover C. Gilmore is the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Dean Emeritus in Applied Social Sciences in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and Professor Emeritus of psychology and social work at Case Western Reserve University. He retired from CWRU in 2021. A graduate of Brandeis University (AB ’71) and the Johns Hopkins University (MA ’74, PhD ’75), he joined the faculty of CWRU in 1975. Gilmore served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before joining the Mandel School in 2002, chairing the psychology department for five years and serving as acting chair of the Department of Statistics for one year. He was very active in faculty governance, holding leadership positions at every level including a term as the chair of the Faculty Senate. Gilmore is the recipient of Case Western Reserve’s John S. Diekhoff Award for Distinguished Graduate Teaching, and has been nominated several times for the Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award and the Wittke Teaching Award for Undergraduate Teaching. Reflecting his interests in aging, developmental issues, education and mental health, he serves on boards in the community, including InMotion, the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, and the Magnolia Clubhouse. He also served on the editorial board of Intelligence: A Multidisciplinary Journal. Gilmore was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of New England and served on the Visiting Committees of the Schools of Social Work at both the University of Denver and Catholic University

For over 30 years, Gilmore received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his interdisciplinary research with colleagues in biomedical engineering, geriatrics, ophthalmology, neurology, pulmonology and psychiatry. As a principal investigator (PI), he received over $8 million in external funding to support his research programs focusing on identifying sensory and cognitive problems that affect a person’s ability to perform at his or her full potential.

Gilmore has also pioneered methods to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ perceptual and cognitive performance. His latest primary research interests are on the changes in vision that are associated with healthy aging and with Alzheimer's disease, leading a project to examine the impact of cataract removal on the cognitive status of Alzheimer’s patients. He has demonstrated that a portion of the cognitive problems associated with aging and the memory problems in Alzheimer's disease may be attributed to sensory decline and not to higher-order cognitive functions.

Ellen is a tax attorney in a solo private practice (HalfonLaw, LLC), where she focuses on providing legal services primarily in the philanthropic space, serving nonprofit organizations, individuals and families and for-profit entities committed to charitable giving.  Ellen also has over 30 years of experience in private practice in the areas of sophisticated estate planning for high net worth individuals/families and tax exempt entities at Jones Day and Baker Hostetler, and most recently served for 4 years as Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Case Western Reserve University, where she provided strategic support to University Relations and Development Staff and to donors, with respect to all aspects of charitable gift planning and implementation.

Ellen has lectured regularly and published articles in the areas of estate, gift and charitable tax planning, as well as practice issues for tax-exempt organizations. While in private practice, she was selected by Best Lawyers from 2013-2019 in Nonprofit/Charities Law and Trusts and Estates and as Lawyer of the Year Nonprofit/Charities Law in 2014.

Ellen has 3 grown children and lives in Beachwood with her life partner Allen Littman and dog Mazie.  She enjoys playing piano, swimming and spending time with friends and family.

Linda was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  She received a Bachelor of Arts in both Economics and Art History from Bucknell University.  Entering the insurance industry after graduating from college, she worked for The Travelers and Chubb Insurance in Hartford, Columbus, and Chicago, before returning to Cleveland.

Linda became involved with The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes soon after her return, where she ran the Annual Plant Sale for five years and served as a member of its Board of Trustees.  Additionally, she has volunteered at Laurel School and the Shaker Schools on a number of various projects.  Finally, she has been a long-serving Board member and officer at Heights Youth Theatre, and she continues to work for them regularly.
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease over three years ago and quickly became a member of the InMotion community, taking advantage of many of its classes and programs since that time.  It has truly made a difference in her life, and she understands the incredible value it provides to her and her many friends there.  As importantly, she sees the opportunities the organization has, both locally and nationally.

Linda is married to Larry Hatch and lives in Shaker Heights.  They are parents to two wonderful adult children, a daughter and a son, both of whom they love to visit in their current New York City apartments.

Richard Huckabee is a loving husband, father, and a retired Executive Manager. He is also an avid traveler, hiker, and amateur photographer. He was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in February of 2013. He has become an active voice for people with Parkinson’s. Richard has a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University in Oxford Ohio, and a Masters of Christian Education in Administration and Organization.  He serves in many capacities in the Parkinson’s community. Richard was honored this year to receive the 2023 President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award, signed by President Joe Biden.

Richard is a Parkinson’s Awareness Advocate, an InMotion Ambassador, a member of the MJFF Patient Council, a PD Mover, a Parkinson Foundation Ambassador and Research Advocate. He has participated in numerous PD-related research studies, and he serves on several Parkinson’s-related committees alongside his wife, Angela. He has added exercise to his daily routine to stay healthy, and is a spokesperson for exercise with PD. Richard says he is living well with his disease thanks to his faith and his community of family, friends, and doctors.  Richard continues to inspire People with Parkinson’s to “Get Better Every Day”! His daily Mantra is “Every Day I Fight”!

Since 2010, Patricia Inglis has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for the San Francisco 49ers organization. In that role, she is the senior strategic advisor to team owners and executives on a variety of matters relating to the Team, the stadium, the NFL, team ownership and investments and other business endeavors of the team and its affiliates. Before joining the 49ers, Patty spent time as the Vice President and General Counsel of DeBartolo Corporation after spending the first part of her professional life in the private practice of law.

Patty has served on several for-profit and not-for-profit boards.

Patty lives in Shaker Heights and has 4 wonderful adult children, including her two relatively recently acquired sons-in-law.

After a career practicing law, Donald Insul owned numerous businesses, the last of which was Fidelity National Field Services from which he retired in 2006. Donald has served as an Independent Board Member to Private Equity companies, including The Riverside Company and Prairie Capital. He has been involved in the Cleveland community for many years, serving as advisor to the Leonard Krieger Fund at The Cleveland Foundation and on many community boards, including: the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Institute of Art, MOCA, InMotion and First Tee of Cleveland.

A native of Chicago, Donald graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1965 and later, Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1968. He has been married to Lynda for 58 years and has two adult children and four grandchildren.

Alison Ivey is well-described as a Servant Leader, bringing high productivity, diligence, enthusiasm, and high energy to each role she undertakes. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Alison works in Employer Outreach at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Highland Hills, Ohio. She successfully provides career success strategies for students seeking employment experiences and constituents or groups interested in creating a stronger workforce. Though new to the collegiate environment, Alison’s career has always encompassed teaching, research, marketing, and supporting her clients across a broad range of healthcare-related organizations including Ortho-McNeil (Johnson and Johnson) of Raritan, New Jersey, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Laboratories, and Cardinal Health.

Alison is recognized as a local and regional community leader with expertise in community outreach and support programs. She recently led community awareness initiatives to develop ballot issue awareness, increase voter participation, and political savvy in Greater Cleveland. Her commitment to collaborative engagement, excellence, and her respectful approach to diverse perspectives contributed to the success of her programs leading to a higher voting profile for people of color in these communities.

Alison and her husband, Attorney Timothy C. Ivey, live in Aurora, Ohio. She is active in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, Northeasterners, Inc., and The Sophisticates Inc.  Additionally, she is a member of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church of Cleveland.

Dr. Karen Jaffe is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007. Since her retirement in 2013 she focuses her time working on local and national Parkinson’s advocacy issues.

The primary focus of this work has been InMotion which she co-founded in 2014 along with four other like-minded individuals. She continues to be a board member, PD educator and active client who like other clients there is a part of the InMotion community fighting their disease with grit and determination.

Dr. Jaffe is also a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation Patient Council, serving as a liaison between the PD community and the research community for the purpose of advancing a cure.

She has received the Red Cross Heroes Award, The Irene Zehman Award for Volunteerism, The World Parkinson’s Program Community Service Award, the University Hospitals Neurological Institute Champions for Parkinson’s Award and the 2018 InMotion Visionary Award.

She is a graduate of Kenyon College and Wright State University of Medicine, completing her residency at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital.

The founder and team leader of Kichler Wealth Management, Leonard leads an experienced team that focuses on high net worth and ultra-high net worth families who often face complex financial situations. These clients are business owners and top business executives, as well as professionals such as physicians, attorneys and accountants. As one of a small number of UBS Financial Advisors who have earned the designation of Wealth Advisor, Leonard provides highly personalized wealth management services, listening carefully to clients’ needs, helping them formulate goals and often working with multiple generations within families.

Leonard joined UBS in 2007 when UBS acquired McDonald Investments, where he had served as a Financial Advisor and Private Banker since 2003.  Previously, he had spent 23 years as a senior banker, serving as Executive Vice President at Metropolitan Bank & Trust and Senior Vice President at National City Corp. His background as a senior officer in a public company helps him empathize with top corporate executives, while his experience as a senior banker is especially useful for those seeking advice on lending, credit card services and other business-related issues. Whatever his clients’ needs, Leonard feels a true sense of satisfaction helping people successfully plan for retirement, children’s weddings, travel, philanthropic giving and any other financial goals they may have.

Leonard graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration from the Ross School at the University of Michigan and holds an M.B.A. from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is a lifelong Clevelander with four beautiful daughters. He is on the board (and has served as past Board Chair) of the Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern Ohio. In his free time, Leonard is an avid musician and enjoys golf, tennis, spending time with family and friends and traveling.

Kenneth B. Liffman is the Chairman of the Board and President of McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal, & Liffman Co., L.P.A. The majority of his practice focuses on transactions, banking matters, and real estate law. Since 2004, Mr. Liffman has been recognized by his peers as one of Northeast Ohio's Top Real Estate Attorneys, as an Ohio Super Lawyer and since 2006, as a Best Lawyer in America.

In addition to his experience managing the firm for over 25 years, he has also maintained a strong presence in the community, including over a decade as trustee for Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, board member of United Jewish Cemeteries, Cleveland Trustee for the Jewish National Fund, trustee for the Cleveland Chapter of American ORT, and board member for the United States Committee Sports for Israel. Mr. Liffman has been President of the firm's Charitable Foundation since it was formed in 1993, is on the Board of Visitors of the Cleveland State University College of Law and has assisted in the coordination and implementation of funds and programs for both the College of Law and the City of Cleveland School System.

Mr. Liffman is the recipient of the 2012 ORT Jurisprudence Award, a past recipient of the Sadie and Maurice Friedman Cleveland ORT Leadership Award, and the 2000 Chapter Supporter of the Year for American ORT. In 2017, Mr. Liffman was named as one of the 18 Difference Makers in our community by Cleveland Jewish News. He sits on the Board of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and is the Chair of the Holocaust Memory Survivor Project. He was awarded the ORT Maimonides Award for Outstanding Community Service and named to the Cleveland State University College of Law Hall of Fame. Most recently, in 2022, he received recognition as a "Notable in Law" by Crain's Cleveland Business.

Mr. Liffman received his B.S. from Miami University in Finance and graduated from the Cleveland State University College of Law, Magna Cum Laude. 

Dr. Adam Margolius, M.D. is a member of the Associate Staff in the Movement Disorders Section at the Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. In his clinical practice, Dr. Margolius sees a broad variety of movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonisms and has a special interest in the intersection of movement disorders and palliative care, including patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Margolius received his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 2015, conducted his residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2018 and his fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in 2020. Dr. Margolius has been published in several journals and has been invited to give numerous talks about his work and research in movement disorders, especially Parkinson’s disease.

Gail McShepard received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Education at Eastern Michigan University in 1987. In 2000, she received her Master of Arts degree from Cleveland State University in Early Childhood Education – Pervasive Disorders. Gail served as an elementary school teacher at Fort Bend Independent School District in Houston, Texas, and as a K-8 school teacher and media specialist at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She is very involved in the community and in civic engagement. Gail serves as a Board member for Birthing Beautiful Communities, and from 2010-2020 served as a member of the Stewardess Board at St. James AME Church. She has been a candidate for Beachwood City Council and served as a Board member for Murtis-Taylor Human Services Center from 2013-2017.

Jane Meyer serves as a community volunteer for numerous organizations in Greater Cleveland. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College, and received a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. She is a retired certified public accountant, and previously worked at Ernst & Young, Cleveland and Dayton offices, and for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Jane's volunteer involvement includes serving in various board roles and on oversight committees for: the McGregor Foundation; the Village of Hunting Valley; Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital; the Garden Club of Cleveland; the Health Museum/Healthspace; Judson Retirement Community; and University School.

Jane's hobbies include golf, bridge, reading and traveling, and she is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. She is widow of Henry L. Meyer III, has three sons and one grandchild.

Joel Salon, D.D.S., M.D., recently retired after practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery in Greater Cleveland for 37 years. He is president of the Northeast Ohio Society of Oral Surgery. Joel is past president of the Ohio Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Heights Dental Study Club and the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, Cleveland Chapter. Previously Joel taught for the Mount Sinai oral surgery program and Case Western Reserve University’s School of Dental Medicine.

Joel is a graduate of Indiana University School of Dentistry and Indiana University School of Medicine. He has served on committees for Mount Sinai Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, the American Heart Association, PIE Insurance and B'nai Jeshurun Congregation.

Idelle K. Wolf is the Retired President of  Barnes Distribution and VP of Barnes Group (NYSE:B) She is a senior executive leader with finance, logistics, international and general management experience with  multi-industry experience .

She has public, private and non-profit board experience.  She currently serves on the boards of AOSmith (NYSE:AOS), Jewish Family Service, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, Mandel Jewish Day School,  and Menorah Park.  She is Administrative Chair at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and a past officer and committee chair.

Idelle resides in Orange, Ohio and is the proud mother of an adult son.

Adam Wolinetz is Director - Transaction Manager on the Advisory & Transaction Services Team at CBRE, where he manages national and global accounts for several Northeast Ohio Fortune 500 companies. Adam works with clients on real estate portfolio management, tenant representation, and real estate consulting involving complex negotiations. He has completed transactions in nearly every major North American market, as well as numerous assignments throughout Europe, South America, India and Asia.

Prior to joining CBRE, Adam was a Vice President at JLL in Cleveland. In his previous roles, Adam facilitated real estate transactions on both a national and international scale. He served large multinational corporate clients, as well as local and regional private corporations and non-profit entities. He assisted clients on a wide variety of real estate projects including: lease negotiations and relocation analyses, land acquisition and ground up build-to-suits, asset acquisitions and dispositions, and operations consolidations.

He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kansas School of Journalism.

Ms. Yankey is a Principal and Co-Owner of Yankey Associates, a small consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, board development, and fundraising counsel for nonprofit organizations. She has been the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s prestigious Grand Award for Overall Fundraising Excellence at a Major University. In addition, she served as President of ICAA, an association of 42 colleges in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

Beth Curtiss
Earl Franklin
Allan Goldberg*
Terry Goldberg
Jeff Gottlieb
Patrick Graham
Amy Handel
Lee Handel*
Karen Hess
Debi Kortanek
Harvey Kotler
Laura Milgram
Steve Owendoff
Zack Paris
Judy Peters
Susie Ratner
David Riley, MD
Lisa Salamon-Handel
Glenn Southworth
Mario Tonti

*In Loving Memory

Cathe Schwartz is a visionary leader who brings to InMotion deep experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. In her role as InMotion’s chief executive officer, she has overall strategic and operational responsibility for staff, programs, expansion and mission execution. She joined InMotion in 2018.

Cathe's career has spanned both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She has served as a development professional in higher education, advocacy, and arts organizations and for 10 years ran a family-owned healthcare publishing business. A resident of Beachwood, she holds a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado.

John A. Ambrose joined the InMotion team in February 2020 and currently serves as InMotion’s Program and Outreach Director. Shortly before arriving at InMotion, John graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Administration from John Carroll University. John also graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from John Carroll University in 2015.

A Cleveland native, John especially enjoys exploring the wonders of Cleveland with his family and friends. John also enjoys traveling, particularly visiting close friends and family in Columbus, Ohio, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ontario, Canada. During his free time, John loves to exercise, read, watch movies and documentaries, and listen to music. John has loved his time at InMotion and very much looks forward to interacting more with all members of the InMotion family. He is honored and proud to do his part in helping people with Parkinson’s disease feel better every day.

Taylor Grillo joined the InMotion team in May 2023 as the new Development Officer and comes with 10 years of experience in the Greater Cleveland Area non-profit sector. She graduated from John Carroll University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.

Taylor is a Cleveland area native and loves spending time with her family. She is a reader and enjoys a good binge worthy TV Show. She loves live music and you can typically find her at the latest concert. She is excited to be a part of the InMotion team and can’t wait to dig in and make a difference to people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Deborah Holland comes to InMotion with a specialized background in Donor-Based Management with Raiser’s Edge. She most recently served as Database Administrator for over 9 years at Hattie Larlham Foundation. During her time there, she was responsible for establishing standards and procedures for entering data, training and providing support to users, entering contributions and assuring integrity of the database through regular maintenance of records. It is her privilege to continue building her skill set at InMotion.

Kari Kreft joined the InMotion team in February 2017. In July 2024, Kari assumed the role of InMotion’s Chief Operating Officer. As Chief Operating Offcer, Kari will continue managing the organizational finances, as well as oversee the day-to-day operations of building management, including administration and facilities.

Kari brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills to the position of Chief Operating Officer. She is highly organized with concern for detail and commitment to rigor and thoroughness. Her background is in wholesale and retail fashion where she spent years in purchasing, store management, and human resources.

Kari feels connected to the InMotion mission as she had family members and close family friends with Parkinson’s disease. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing from Michigan State University. She and her husband of 33 years, John, have lived in Cleveland all their married life but have roots in Michigan. Kari enjoys traveling, especially visiting her three children, Michael, Natalie, and Olivia and during her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading and outdoor activities.

Ben Rossi is one of the founders of InMotion and serves as its Chief Program Officer. He brings over 26 years as a fitness professional and 13 years as a qualified community exercise instructor for Parkinson’s clients.

Ben has created multiple exercise and measurement programs for Parkinson’s disease clients, with data from these programs shared in global research. He is actively involved with the World Parkinson Congress, the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Ohio Parkinson Foundation Northeast Region.

In August of 2009, Nancy took her first formal yoga class. The class opened up Nancy's life. She discovered peace on her mat, learned how to live in the present moment and found that she “ is always where she is supposed to be.” In May of 2011, Nancy graduated from Cleveland Yoga’s 200- hour Teacher Training Program. She is also a Reiki Level 1 Practitioner. Nancy has been teaching adaptive yoga with YogaReach®LLC for the past 17 years. She thanks Char Grossman for her love, support, kindness and introduction to YogaReach. Nancy is thrilled to be a part of this amazing team that is housed at InMotion.

Jane Barber is a nurse and adaptive sports professional with a passion for bringing healing through sports to people living with disabilities, injury or the effects of trauma and Parkinson's Disease. She has taught adaptive skiing with Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) in Breckenridge, Colorado for the past 15 years. Several years ago she had the inspiration to pursue yoga teacher training so that she could bring yoga to her adaptive skiing clients.

She received her E-RYT 200 certification in May, 2016. She added to her career, one-on-one yoga therapy that she received from YogaReach. Jane also teaches yoga with Spaulding Adaptive Sports on Cape Cod in the summer. Jane is delighted to become a member of the YogaReach team.  Jane is grateful to Char Grossman for the incredible opportunity to be a part of InMotion's journey.

Jill recently joined InMotion to pursue her interest in Parkinson’s, fitness, and helping others get “better every day.”  Jill has been a Physical Therapist for over 30 years with a special interest in the geriatric and neurologic populations.  Jill  recently became a Certified Personal Trainer and holds her Corrective Exercise Certification through NASM.  She also received her Parkinson’s Instructor Certification through Total Health Works.  Jill soon will be certified in YogaReach Mindful Movement for Parkinson’s Disease Professionals and is currently working on her Group Fitness Certification through AFAA. For fun Jill plays USTA Tennis and enjoys hiking with her husband and three children.

Sandy Ellis has taught InMotion’s spinning and boxing classes since 2015. Her passion is fitness and says that to be a part of the InMotion Team is a dream come true. She works hard to keep her classes fresh, fun, and full of positive energy. Sandy's certifications and qualifications include: ACE Group Fitness Instructor, ACSM-CIFT, Rock Steady Boxing Coach, Delay the Disease Trainer, Keiser Indoor Cycling Coach, E-RYT - 200 Yoga Teacher, FAI-Functional Aging Specialist, Balance Matters Trainer.

Faith has been with InMotion since 2015. She is a licensed physical therapist, specialist in senior fitness, and a functional aging specialist. Faith was looking for a career change at about the time InMotion opened and after meeting with Chief Program Officer Ben Rossi, knew that InMotion was the place she needed to be. Faith coaches with compassion, enthusiasm and fun, striving to always help and empower clients to feel better every day. Faith holds certifications in PWR!Moves, Ohio Health Delay the Disease, YogaReach, Total Body Resistance (TRX), Zibro Balance, and Balance Matters.

Stephen has been an art provocateur at InMotion since 2018. Educated in photography and painting at San Francisco Art Institute and Art Therapy at Tri-C, Stephen also holds a Master's in Nonprofit Administration from John Carroll. Previously he facilitated art with clients at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and worked with CMSD students creating community health projects. In addition to advocating for blooming artists at InMotion, he makes documentaries and does photography for nonprofits in Cleveland. Lastly, Stephen (really) believes in the cliche that "anyone can make art!"

Inspired and supported by the founders of InMotion, YogaReach Mindful Movement Adaptive Therapeutic Yoga began offering classes for people with PD and care partners at InMotion when it opened its doors in 2015.

As the Founder and Director of YOGAREACH® LLC, a premiere adaptive therapeutic yoga program Char leads a set of adaptive yoga classes at InMotion and provides group/individual therapeutic adaptive yoga programs, speaking engagements, presentations at national conferences, and teacher training workshops. Char is a compassionate, advanced masters degree psychology specialist (PSY.S) and certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). Char has trained with Delay the Disease and the Advanced Dance for PD® programs. She has worked for more than three decades assessing, educating, and counseling people with neuromuscular, neurological and an array of medical challenges.

Char is honored to promote mind, body and spirit through a non-medical therapeutic approach to our loving clients at InMotion.

Christine has been with InMotion since 2022.  She has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. Christine was looking for deeper meaning in her fitness career, and first felt led to InMotion when a personal training client of hers was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She found a passion for helping others fight Parkinson’s Disease through exercise classes such as Spinning, Better Every Day, and YogaReach's Mindful Movement.  Christine leads her classes with energy and a smile, and is grateful to be part of such an inspiring team.

Christine holds the following certifications: ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Biomechanics Method Corrective Exercise Specialist, Total Healthworks Parkinson’s Instructor Certification, YogaReach Mindful Movement for Parkinson’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Cycling Coach.

Aly has over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. Aly is fully certified in Pilates for mat and all equipment. Additional certifications include ACE for group fitness and personal training, Barre fitness, Total Parkinson’s certification, adaptive Yoga through YogaReach and the MELT Method. Aly first came to In Motion in early 2022 as a volunteer and was thrilled when offered the opportunity to become a coach. Aly loves that InMotion truly is a family of clients, volunteers and staff all working together to make things better every day!

Janet has been with InMotion since 2015 and started working with PD clients in 2013. She has been involved in the fitness industry for over 30 years. Her certifications over those years include AFAA (for group exercise), yoga (specializing in adaptive yoga through YogaReach), Ohio Health Delay the Disease, ACE personal trainer, Zibrio Balance Specialist, Arthritis Foundation, and Silver Sneakers Senior Fitness. Janet is very passionate and expresses that feeling in her classes with her coaching skills. It is the highlight of her day when she walks into InMotion. Her goal is to motivate and bring a smile to our clients' faces.

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Amy Larocca, MA, CCC-SLP is the founder and lead certified speech-language pathologist of Polaris Speech with 15 years of experience working with adults with neurological diseases. In addition to her clinical work, her experience includes teaching motor speech, dysphagia, and advocacy courses at a local University and developing the University Speech Clinic’s programming for people with Parkinson’s Disease.  Her specialties are swallowing and swallowing disorders, neurological motor speech, and cognitive-communication disorders. She is passionate about working with People with Parkinson’s Disease in order to support their journey with PD from a whole-person and support network perspective.  She has certifications in SPEAK OUT!^®, LSVT-LOUD^®, Parkinson Foundation Team Training, and McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program. She truly values the collaborative, team approach at InMotion with the collective goal being to dynamically support people with Parkinson’s Disease and their families.

Dan is the program coordinator at InMotion. In addition to teaching Better Every Day™, he also helps run InMotion’s client assessments. Dan says,

“I am absolutely in love with the people that make up InMotion, from the wonderful caring staff and coaches that I get to work with to the amazing clients that inspire me daily. There is not better reward than that feeling at the end of a long day knowing that the InMotion team can help someone feel and get a little Better Every Day.”

Dan holds certifications from Ohio Health Delay the Disease, PWR!Moves, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Parkinson’s Disease Training for Fitness Professionals, and he is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer.

Since 2015, Joan Meggitt has taught movement and dance at InMotion. Through her art, Joan explores and shares the many ways dance combines individual expression and collective experience, with a focus on finding authentic, engaging and meaningful connections with one another and the world around us. She believes that dance teaching and making should honor everyone involved, she fosters meeting people where they are and discovering the possibilities together. Joan has been teaching, making, performing, and researching dance for over three decades, including with individuals and groups ranging from preschool children to community elders, and in settings such as formal theatres, community centers, schools/universities, churches, parks, wilderness sites, and more. Joan says,

“I am grateful to be among the founders, staff, clients, coaches, and patrons, who together create a space that is welcoming, motivating, joyful and relevant to people with Parkinson’s and their wider community."

Joan has a master of fine arts in dance from Case Western Reserve University and is a teaching member of Dance for PD®.

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Sifu Edward Niam is the founder of Tai Chi Institute USA and creator of "The Movement of Life" and has been helping  people of all ages improve their mental, physical and spiritual health through alternative wellness therapies for nearly 50 years. Sifu is a Grand Master of Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation and Traditional Chinese Medicine and has developed specialized programs for those suffering from Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and other movement disorders.

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David Stein has been with InMotion since 2018. When not teaching Mindful Movement, he is a commercial real estate professional. In May 2018, he completed his 200-Hour Teaching Training at Yoga Roots in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, under the direction of Kim and Scott Curtis. David is so grateful for the opportunity to inspire others to learn that participation in yoga can be a source of healing and can provide motivation and a positive perspective leading to an enhanced quality of life. Char Grossman and her team at YogaReach are providing the platform for David’s quest, for which he is most appreciative.

Kevin Teplitzky, MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) is the Director of The Cleveland Music Therapy Company LLC.  He has worked as a music therapist in the Cleveland area for 8 years with a wide range of populations including adults with Parkinson’s, at-risk youth, literacy groups, geriatrics, substance abuse recovery, and individuals of all ages with and without special needs.  Kevin has presented at numerous regional and national conferences on classroom inclusion, guitar improvisation, therapeutic horseback riding, and business growth. He graduated from Ohio University and completed his music therapy internship at the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts in Evanston, Illinois.  In addition to music therapy, Kevin is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, teacher, and writer.

(MFA, 200 hr Certified YT, Trained in Dance for PD and YogaReach Mindful Movement)

Heather Young holds a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College. In July 2022, she was promoted to Executive Director of City Ballet of Cleveland. Prior to that time, she served as administrative assistant for the company. Mrs. Young is also the Office Manager and dance instructor at Cleveland City Dance and a yoga instructor at Yoga Roots. She has worked as an adjunct faculty at Lake Erie College, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University.  Mrs. Young teaches Yes!..I Can Move and Mindful Movement classes at InMotion.

Young has danced professionally with Antaeus Dance, Verlezza Dance Company, Marquez Dance Project, and Tikvah Company of Artists. She has performed in works by notable choreographers including Martha Graham, Pascal Rioult, Carolyn Dorfman, May O’Donnell, Amy Miller, and Elisa Monte. She recently returned to performing with Ajayi Dance, Sarah Holmes Villanueva and Marquez Dance Project.

Young is also a seasoned choreographer whose works have been performed at the Northeast Ohio Dance Festival, Case Western Reserve University, Allegheny College, and Hamilton College. In May 2013, she choreographed the 8^th Grade Musical at Hathaway Brown School and in March 2014 choreographed Shrek the Musical at Euclid High School. Her work, Let My Hero In, premiered at Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks’14. She was also a choreographer for Cleveland Dance Exchange’s Top Ten during Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks’ 15. Mrs. Young has also been blessed with the opportunity to set works on City Ballet of Cleveland dancers for the Youth America Grand Prix.