Note: Many of our Staff, Board Members and Service Managers have either been rigorously trained as Certified Dementia Practitioners or as Dementia Friends Ohio. For the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners training, click here. For Dementia Friends Ohio, click here.
Our Service Managers
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Karina Fuery, CDV
Karina is a Service Manager at the Amherst and North Ridgeville locations, joining our staff in 2024. She is passionate about serving others and has strengths in hospitality and social support. She credits her strong faith and spiritual gifts for positioning her to engage and encourage the participants and their caregivers at the Memory Cafe`. She considers it an honor to be able to serve the community in this way and embraces each person with joy, support, respect and open arms. Karina was born in Lima, Peru. She grew up in the Cleveland area and is attending Lorain County Community College. She currently resides in North Ridgeville with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys time with family and serves actively in her local church. Karina is a Certified Dementia Volunteer and a Dementia Friend, offers bilingual support (Spanish) and is looking forward to becoming a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
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Mary Anne Duncan, CDP
Mary Anne has been a Service Manager since 2019, welcoming participants at the North Ridgeville, Elyria, Wellington and Avon Lake locations . Viewing each person as an extension of her own family, she loves working with clients and caregivers at each location. Mary Anne was introduced to LIFE as a volunteer; that dedication and passion for dementia care has brought her to where she is today. She says, “My heart is so full when I come to work each day. We are a family and each person who attends knows this is a safe environment and that we care about them.” Mary Anne is a retired Registered Nurse and is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She resides in Elyria with her husband Phil.
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Christen Uhl, CDV
Christen has been the Service Manager of the Wooster Memory Café since it was established in 2021. She is also assisting in the opening of our newest location in Orrville. She is passionate about working with people and enjoys creating themed activities each week. Christen enjoys the outdoors and is active in her church and local community outreach organizations. Her education and employment background lie in early childhood development and interpretive education. Christen is a graduate of Hocking College and is a Certified Dementia Volunteer and a Dementia Friend. She looks forward to growing LIFE resources in Wayne County. She resides in
Big Prairie, Ohio, with her husband and three boys. |
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Denise Taylor
Denise is our Float Service Manager for Lorain County, joining us in October 2024. She has been dedicated to life enrichment since 2001, driven by a heartfelt passion for enhancing the lives of seniors. Her passion extends into dementia care. Denise is looking forward to getting her certification as a Dementia Practitioner. Denise resides in Elyria alongside her husband, Scott and their three children. Outside of work, Denise enjoys many hobbies including: baking, cooking, reading, camping and riding roller coasters. |
Our Staff
Carole Klingler, BSN, RN, CDP
Founder and CEO of LIFE: A Dementia Friendly Foundation Carole spent years as an ICU nurse, and was the Director of Nursing for Kendal at Oberlin. She also worked as an adjunct faculty member for Lorain County Community College Allied Health and Nursing Program and in Hospice and Palliative Care in the role of Team Leader and Community Facility Coordinator for the Lorain County Team.
Carole earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Master Trainer for Dementia Friends Ohio. |
Jennifer Tucker, CDV
Financial Administrator Jennifer joined LIFE as its Financial Administrator in 2020. After being part of the caregiving process for her grandmother, she was delighted to join an organization that focuses on the holistic needs of families coping with dementia-related illnesses. Her employment background is in finance; she is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. Although Jennifer is not involved in daily Memory Café activities, she supports the services provided and works behind the scenes. Jennifer enjoys visiting the Cafés and is a Certified Dementia Volunteer and a Dementia Friend. She resides in Olmsted Township with her husband and two children.
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Evelyn Reyes
Bilingual Services Director Evelyn was born in Cleveland and has lived in Lorain her entire life. She studied at LCCC/ EHOVE and graduated with an Associate’s Degree as an Assistant in Applied Science Occupational Therapy. Evelyn is currently working with CareSource as a Member Health Assessor. She joined LIFE as Bilingual Service Director – Spanish and English -- in 2022. Evelyn has worked with people who have dementia and healthcare issues for many years. Evelyn has a son whom she enjoys and loves deeply. When she is not working, she enjoys baseball and outings with her son. Evelyn loves community and helping people.
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LIFE Board of Directors
Karin Kollar
President Karin has been the owner of Home Instead, serving Lorain County, for more than 11 years. After taking care of her parents, Karin realized that she wanted to help people in similar situations. Hence, in 2008, she opened a Home Instead office. Karin is dedicated to providing reliable and responsive services with caring and compassionate caregivers. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is a member of the Home Care Association of America. She is also a Leadership Lorain County Alumn, “Best Class of 2019.”
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Terry Kovach
Vice President Terry is Director of Sales and Marketing for Kendal at Oberlin, where she has worked for more than 25 years. Terry’s work includes management of sales, marketing and public relations efforts for the life plan community. She also works with The Kendal Corporation, serving on both the website and IT strategic impact committees for the Kendal System. In her spare time, Terry enjoys bicycling and volunteering in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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Dr. Supriya Mahajan
Treasurer Dr. Mahajan (Neurologist) is part of a private practice, Neurology Center, Incorporated, founded by her father. Her main passion focuses on the treatment of patients with cognitive changes; however, she also oversees patients with other neurological problems, such as epilepsy, headache, stroke and Parkinson's disease. LIFE: a Dementia Friendly Foundation has been a tremendously powerful tool for Dr. Mahajan's patients.
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Madelyne "Maddie" Flores-Portalatin
Secretary Maddie works as Director of Sales & Marketing for Fairmont Senior Living of Westlake, a beautiful community that provides services for those needing Assisted Living and Memory Care. She has been working with seniors starting at the age of 16 at Adopt-A-Senior Organization. Working with seniors is her first passion, but she is also an advocate and volunteer for organizations that serve the under-privileged and the homeless community. She is currently getting certification at National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners for dementia, especially Alzheimer’s.
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LIFE Board Members
To apply as a Board Member, please find our application here.
Anne Murphy
Anne is the Sales Director for O'Neill Healthcare, focusing on Assisted Living and Memory Care. Having worked in multiple industries for almost 40 years, Anne brings a unique sales and marketing perspective to LIFE. Her father, Mel, suffered from Alzheimer's disease and passed away with hospice. Anne's passion for this disease and on-going research leads her to become involved with specific projects and initiatives, such as the Lorain County Senior Network, Alzheimer Clinical Studies and being a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
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Margie Karl
After graduating from Marietta College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Margie completed her graduate studies at the University of Akron's School of Law. She earned her Juris Doctor degree there. Margie has been involved with many community groups, including the Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce in Olmstead Falls. She enjoys giving back through senior organizations like LIFE.
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Tracey Murphy
Tracey has dedicated more than 16 years to help families navigate the move of a loved one into a senior living community. In addition to her experience in senior living marketing and sales, Tracey has more than 25 years of business development and strategic planning experience. She is the co-founder and two-time President of Lorain County Senior Network, an organization that connects professionals who provide services to seniors in Lorain County. Tracey is currently the Senior Sales Director at Wesleyan Meadows.
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Max Schmittle
Max is currently a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Oberlin, Ohio. Before that, studied finance at Bowling Green State University. Max has been a resident of northeast Ohio all of his life, and graduated from Firelands High School. Before joining A Dementia Friendly Life, he volunteered at our Amherst Café. He is a firm believer in the mission of A Dementia Friendly Life and the services that they provide to our dementia participants and their caregivers. In his free time, Max enjoys going to car shows, fishing, Guardians games, and spending time with friends and family.
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Laurie King
Laurie King is a pet therapist
and a retired school teacher with 33 years’ experience at Black River Schools. After retirement Laurie became a pet therapist and, with her certified therapy dog Putter, she began making visits. She and Putter have logged more than 300 visits to schools, nursing homes, the library and, of course, LIFE! |
Jennifer Krupa
Jennifer Krupa is a degreed Art Therapist, Certified Activity Consultant/Educator and Certified Dementia Practitioner who has worked in the field of health care for more than 35 years. Jennifer founded her business, Krupa Consulting, which provides consultation services/education for residential communities, in 1990. She is a presenter for local, state and national conventions and has been a full-time faculty member and Director of LifeLong Learning for Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, for 20 years. Jennifer is the author of the books Activities Keep Me Going and Going. She is an approved instructor for the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals and the National Council of Dementia Practitioners.
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Austin Wolff
Austin is the General Manager at Home Instead of Lorain County. Before joining Home Instead, he worked as a Finance/Supply specialist (Storekeeper) in the United States Coast Guard, serving as a boarding team member on Lake Superior and managing all financial systems for the Coast Guard Investigative Service in the Great Lakes region. In his spare time, Austin likes to relax with family and friends, listen to music, and watch movies. |