Cleveland Synergy Foundation
  • Vice President for Business Services, The Council for Health & Human Service Ministries, United Church of Christ.
  • Cleveland Synergy Council President.
  • Former Board Chair for: The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland,  The United Church Foundation, Inc.  Service on
    a number of non-profit boards and foundations.
  • Lifelong Cleveland resident.
  • 2006 Gay Games participant in volleyball and softball.
  • Tournament Director or Registrar of 4 NAGVA volleyball tournaments.
  • Member of: North Coast Athletics Volleyball, North Coast Athletic Association Softball, Team Cleveland Tennis,
    Team Cleveland Flag Football.  
  • Co-Founder of Cleveland Frontrunners
  • Participant in over 100 gay sports tournaments since 1979
Michael Readinger, MBA, President
Hollie M. Ksiezyk, Vice President Synergy Council
  • Hollie has spent 22 years developing relationships in the restaurant, hospitality and sports arenas in Cleveland.
Bob Vinkler, Recording Secretary
  • Robert  E Vinkler Jr, R.T.(T).
  • Birthplace: Struthers OH.
  • Radiation Therapist @ University Hospitals Case Medical Center-Ireland Cancer Center.
  • Member: North Coast Athletics Volleyball, North Coast Athletic Association(softball), Team Clevleand Tennis.
    United States Tennis Association(USTA).
  • Participant : 2006 Gay Games Chicago -tennis and softball.
Dirk Breiding
  • Born and rise in Northeast Ohio 48 years.
  • Vice President of Sales, Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau & John S. Knight Center, 16 years.  
  • Partner: Bruce for 17 years
  • One pet: Marshal.
Lisette Bryson
  • Entrepreneur and International Business Specialist.
  • Passionate about gap-bridging projects that further develop individuals.
Peggy Cook
Sharon Gronowski
  • As Vice President of Convention & Visitor Services for Positively Cleveland CVB, she oversees the Convention
    Services & Events department that acts as the primary source of information and assistance to associations and
    organizations meeting in Greater Cleveland.  She serves as liaison between meeting planners and members of
    the CVB, allowing members the opportunity to market their product and services to appropriate meeting decision-
    makers, in addition to assisting with marketing, housing and registration.  She also oversees the coordinating of
    all the special events and member meetings for the CVB.
  • She also oversees the CVB’s new Visitors Center and its day to day operations including staffing, member
    representation, information resource and customer service.
  • Previously to joining the CVB staff of Cleveland in 1994, she was the Convention Services Manager for the
    Cincinnati CVB from 1989 – 1994.  Prior to that, she was a meeting planner for ASM International, located in
    Newbury, OH, where she began her career in 1983.
  • Sharon resides in Twinsburg with her two children Brittany - 16 and Zachary - 14.  She enjoys the outdoors,
    traveling and sports.
Rick Kansa, Chair Development Committee
  • Bachelors in Med Science, Masters in counseling and psych,
  • Worked in EAP (employee assistance program)corporate training in wellness and management issues, political
    consulting.
  • Worked with groups dealing with employee employer problems .
  • Have mangaed few political campaigns
John Katsaros, Co-Chair Site/ Logistics Committee
  • Life long Cleveland resident, John Katsaros is an avid sports fan, and a gold medalist rower (3 times over), a
    silver medalist Dragon Boater (twice over) cyclist, weight lifter and takes part in yoga as well.
  • In his capacity as Owner of Twist Social Club, John is a staunch financial and SOMETHING supporter and
    sponsor  of several LGBT and Straight Allied Leagues and Teams, including: Crew, Bowling, Softball, Volleyball,
    Billiards, and Dragon Boats.  Further, Twist looks forward to sponsoring up and coming leagues such as Cycling,
    Tennis and Flag Football, to name a few.
  • Not only is John a sports supporter, he's philanthropic sponsoring of Community Events, such as Dancin in the
    Streets (as Chairperson of one of Cleveland's largest AIDS Task Force Fundraisers), past sponsor of Cleveland
    Prides and Parades, the Trans Community Day of Remembrance, Supporter of North Coast Men's Choir, the
    Cleveland Fetish Community, and the Clifton Arts Festival.
  • Mr. Katsaros is passionate about his Community and his city, both as an athlete and as a sponsor.
Mary Motley
  • Coordinator, Undergraduate Programs Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance @ Cleveland State
    University.
  • Mary is the former CSU Volleyball Coach, she has directed numerous volleyball camps, coached both men and
    women in Volleyball, Tennis, and Basketball.
  • Recreation interest include: golf, biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, and showing dogs in confirmation and
    obedience.
Sheila Patterson
  • Sheila Patterson, PhD, is the Chairperson and MPH Program Director in the Department of Health, Physical
    Education, Recreation & Dance at Cleveland State University.
  • Her interests include travel, sports, books and new adventures.  
  • She and her partner, Cheryl reside in South Euclid with two cantankerous cats.
Vicci Simpkins, Co-Chair Site/ Logistics Committee
  • Ms. Simpkins is a 12 year Cleveland resident,is currently a United States Rowing Referee, a coach, coxswain,
    Regatta Director and rower for  22 years, and she is also a  community activist and volunteer.
  • In 2004, Vicci and her husband moved into the "Gayborhood" of Cleveland and met some wonderful people, whom
    she they persuaded to try her passion- rowing- and in 2005 the 1st LGBT and Straight Allied Rowing Team was
    founded. Since inception, Team Twist has medaled at all of the local Cleveland races, and participated in regattas
    in Columbus, and had hoped to row at GG Chicago, but were unable to do so.  Further, Ms. Simpkins also
    organized the 1st LGBT Straight Allied Dragon Boat, and they have taken the Silver Medal in the last two Dragon
    Boat Races in Cleveland.
  • Ms. Simpkins has also been the  lead Liaison for Tall Ships Cleveland  and assisted with the Tall Ships Festival in
    Kenosha Wisconsin as well.  In the Neighborhood, Vicci has been on the Cleveland Pride Board, Director of the
    2008 Pride Parade and Logistics Coordinator for 2008 Pride Festival, as well as the Volunteer and Entertainment
    Coordinator for Dancin in the Streets since 2004.  Ms. Simpkins has also sat on the Board of the Cleveland
    Rowing Foundation (as Treasurer) and is the current Treasurer for the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association.
Rachel Randall, Co-Chair Volunteer Committee
  • A 32 year Clevelander born and raised.  
  • Justin works as a Advanced Practice nurse, and currently holds a Faculty position at the Huron School of
    Nursing, part of the Cleveland Clinic.  
  • ustin is very active in Tennis and Volleyball and is currently the Commissioner of the North Coast Athletics
    Volleyball Association, Cleveland's largest sports organization in Cleveland.  
  • He is very proud to be a part of the Synergy foundation, and is excited for all the great work ahead.
Justin Loew, Co-Chair Volunteer Committee
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  • Rachel Randall has both lived and worked in Cuyahoga County for over 10 years. Her employment history during
    this time consists of: JPMorgan Chase and currently, Deloitte & Touche where she is involved in various internal
    initiatives such as United Way and Impact Day as well as the firms internal LGBT Resource Group.
  • Rachel, being an active member of the community for several years, has sat on the Cleveland Pride Board,
    worked as Volunteer Coordinator for the Cleveland Pride Festival and currently for Dancin’ in the Streets (a
    benefit for the Aids Task Force) and has volunteered time for other local organizations.  
Synergy Foundation Council
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