LEAF Staff
Patricia G. Egan, MBA, CFRE
pegan@leaf-ohio.org
Pat has been a senior-level executive in the fundraising community for more than 25 years. Serving large and small nonprofits, Pat has successfully led fundraising teams, developed strategic and integrated development plans, implemented campaigns, created infrastructure and policies, as well as facilitated training for board members. She has also served as a member of top executive teams involved in operations, budgeting, and planning.
As a teacher of fundraising principles, she currently is adjunct faculty at Baldwin-Wallace University, Arts Conservatory, and she has touched students at the Levin College of Urban Affairs, Mandel School of Applied Social Science, and Tri-C Corporate College, as well as the Essentials course modules offered by the Greater Cleveland Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Pat was awarded her MBA in Marketing from Cleveland State University, and earned her Certified Fundraising Executive(CFRE) distinction in1996. Previously, she was the Director of Advancement at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School. Her past employment included senior-level positions at the CSA Healthcare System, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Recovery Resources, EMH Regional Healthcare System, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio. She also is principal of her own consulting business, Beyond Fundraising, which serves non-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio.
Pat is a past president of the Greater Cleveland Association of Fundraising Professionals, past chair of Leadership Lorain County, and continues to serve on nonprofit boards. Pat serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Board, and has been appointed to the Committee on Appointment, a two-year term that appoints members of the Fundraising Board and its officers. She is a past member of the AFPI Research Council and Publishing Committee. In 2011, she was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Cleveland Chapter.
A long-time resident of Bay Village, she has just moved to Brecksville. Pat is the proud mother of two adult children and five grandchildren. Her beautiful Golden Retriever, Lucy, resides with her.
Liz Brainard, Advisory Director, LEAF Advisor
lbrainard@leaf-ohio.org
Liz graduated from Houghton College with a Bachelor of Arts in both Communications and Biblical Studies and completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She served as a pastor for nearly two decades in Lake County, working specifically with teens and families. She enjoys helping students determine their next steps and connecting families with resources through LEAF.
Magen Corbett, LEAF Advisor
mcorbett@leaf-ohio.org
Magen graduated from Lake Erie College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She has over 15 years of customer service, sales and marketing experience. Her background includes working as a Marketing Coordinator for Cardinal Community Credit Union where she had the opportunity to present financial seminars to area high school students. She is looking forward to assisting students In their pursuit of post-secondary education.
Michelle Fisher, Marketing Manager of Publications, LEAF Advisor
mfisher@leaf-ohio.org
Michelle’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University and a Masters in Business Administration from Cleveland State. She has worked for large corporations and small businesses, but has found her non-profit work helping families and children to be the most rewarding. Michelle’s knowledge of college admissions and financial aid has recently been enhanced by her recent hands-on journey through the process with her daughters. Michelle is looking forward to helping local teenagers navigate the next steps as they explore their post-high school future.
Teresa Heavilin, , LEAF Advisor
theavilin@leaf-ohio.org
Teresa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in both Communications and Sociology from Baldwin-Wallace University and earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has over ten years of experience with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs advising veterans and their families regarding education and other benefits. For six years prior to joining LEAF, she taught students of all ages within the classroom. She is excited to help students obtain the available resources in pursuit of their higher education goals.
Renee Morgan, LEAF Advisor
rmorgan@leaf-ohio.org
Renee graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and completed a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in School Counseling at John Carroll University. She previously worked at General Electric in finance and marketing before pursuing a career in college admissions and financial aid counseling. Renee began working at LEAF in 2017. She advises at Aurora, Kenston, Chagrin Falls and Orange High Schools.
Cheryl Suszynski, LEAF Advisor
csuszynski@leaf-ohio.org
Cheryl received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from John Carroll
Jane Csaszar, LEAF Advisor jcsaszar@leaf-ohio.org
Elia De La Garza, LEAF Advisor
edelagarza@leaf-ohio.org
¡Hola¡ Elia De La Garza has two masters in Educational Leadership and a Certification in Special Education from National Louis University, and Curriculum and Instructional Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a bachelors in Education with a double minor in Early Childhood and Bilingual Education from Alverno College. Elia has an extensive background teaching in public and private schools and even teaching internationally. Elia looks forward to helping students and their families to bring resources and assistance in order to be ready for college.
Jeffery Griffiths, LEAF Advisor Scholarship Manager jgriffiths@leaf-ohio.org
Jeff graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. He has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector as a Founder and Executive Director. Most recently he was a stay-at-home parent for his three children – Noah, Abby, and Sharon. Jeff is active in the community as a tennis coach, civic volunteer, and elected member of the City Council in Geneva, Ohio where he resides. He is excited to support students and families in Northeast Ohio.
Christine Jankowski, LEAF Advisor cjankowski@leaf-ohio.org
Christine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She has always enjoyed working with children and young adults; first as a dietitian and then as an educator. Most recently, Christine worked in early childhood education at a local school. Having been on 45 college visits through the last several years, Christine brings extensive college research to LEAF through experiences with her three children. She looks forward to assisting others with the college admissions and financial aid process.
Christina Muha, Executive Office Manager
cmuha@leaf-ohio.org
Christina studied Early Childhood Education and Office Administration at Columbus State. She has 20 years of experience as a Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant. Her countless hours of volunteering in her community, like serving as Treasurer for non-profit Music Mentors, have become a big part of who she is today.
Sarah Treen, LEAF Advisor
streen@leaf-ohio.org
Sarah graduated from Asbury University in Wilmore, KY with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a minor in Computer Science. She has a background in Information Technology, having worked for over a decade supporting customers and troubleshooting problems in a Healthcare environment. She is excited to help students discover all of the options available to them after they leave high school.