The
Play Brigade
Amanda Watanakunakorn, President
Volunteer, Philanthropist, & Child Advocate
Meet our board president, Amanda! Amanda is our busy body. She is actively involved in numerous charities and volunteer organizations. Amanda is a graduate of Youngstown State University and has a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with concentrations in Education, Science, and Business. Additionally, Amanda received her Minor in Nonprofit Leadership. During that time, she had internships in the Development Office at both NEOMED and Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. Amanda enjoys trying to make the community she lives in a better place for all. Amanda resides in Canfield, Ohio with her husband, Paul, and two children, Alexis and Joshua.
Elizabeth O’Hara, Vice President
Owner, Gymsters
Liz is one of the original board members of The Walnut Grove and has been active since its inception. She was instrumental in during the original vision of the project to the accessible playground that we have today. Liz along with her husband, Dave, have been owners of the Gymsters program for over 25 years. She graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a degree in Physical Education, a minor in Adapted Physical Education and Rehabilitation. She started at the Youngstown YMCA developing physical fitness programs and worked as an Adapted Physical Education teacher at Leonard Kirtz School. Thereafter, she purchased the Gymsters franchise and began with six area locations. To this day she has served over 60 schools. Liz lives in Boardman with her husband, Dave. They have three children and one grandchild.
Shellie Duchek, Past President
Grants and Human Resources Coordinator, Potential Development
Shellie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University and Certificate of Resource Development from Regis University. Shellie loves watching her students at Potential Development grow and learn. From the small victories to graduation day, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student accomplish their goals and milestones; and she shares these sentiments with individuals who use The Walnut Grove. Outside of work, Shellie is currently the secretary of the Rotary Club of Poland and a Past President of AFP Mahoning Shenango Chapter. She lives in Poland with her husband, David, and their children, Gabriella and Josephine.
Shari Lewis
Director of Special Education & Student Services, South Range Local School District
Justin Rogers, RLA
Planning Manager, Mill Creek MetroParks
Justin Rogers currently serves as planning manager for Mill Creek MetroParks (MCMP). In his role with MCMP, Justin is responsible for planning, design, and implementation of capital improvement projects, grant-writing, project design, budget development, environmental analysis, contract management, agency coordination, master planning, restoration and stewardship efforts, land preservation and recreational facility development. As an alumnus of Cardinal Mooney High School, Justin attended The Ohio State University, graduating with honors from the Knowlton School of Architecture with a BS in Landscape Architecture. A licensed landscape architect since 2006, Justin is active throughout the Mahoning Valley, volunteering his time and serving in leadership positions for various community organizations. These groups include the Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway (GOLRG) Coalition, Alliance for Watershed Action and Resource Education (AWARE), City of Youngstown Planning and Zoning Design Review Committee, Eastgate’s Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC), Mill Creek MetroParks Employee’s Association, Applewood Swim and Tennis Club Board, and many others. Justin resides in Boardman with his wife, Melissa, and two children.
Joe Bettura
Kelly Long
Parent Advocate
Kelly attended Youngstown State University and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Kelly worked in the mental health field for many years eventually becoming an IEP Specialist. She further studied Special Education law to become a Parent Advocate and assisted families of special needs children to advocate and obtain special education services and accommodations. Kelly teaches fitness/Adaptive Physical Education to typical and special needs children at Gymsters. Kelly enjoys fitness and working out. She has three children, including a set of twins with special needs, who sparked her love of special needs kids.
Corey Patrick
Director of Marketing & Communications, Youngstown Business Incubator
Corey is a 2016 graduate of Youngstown State University where he majored in Finance and Marketing, minored in Entrepreneurship and earned a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership. Post-graduation, Corey remains involved by not only serving on the Board of Directors for The Walnut Grove, but Corey is also an advisor to the St. Joseph Church Celebrate Group, he is the Director of Marketing for the Sigma Tau Gamma Beta Gamma Chapter Alumni Group, he is a group fitness trainer at Studio Pump, a content writer for Cleveland Plus, and he maintains his own Digital Marketing company, Cubed Digital.
Jill Landau
Attorney
Jill K. Landau is a Youngstown, Ohio, native and a Youngstown State University graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in American studies. She entered law school after taking time off to raise her son and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron. Today, she spends the majority of her time building her family law practice in Canfield, Ohio. She is a member of the Mahoning County and Trumbull County Bar Associations, and the Mahoning County Grievance Committee.
Tony Sertick
Attorney
Katie Layshock
Field Office Trainer, Drayer Physical Therapy
Greg Ensley
Vice President & Commercial Banking Team Leader, Farmers National Bank
Greg Ensley is a Vice President and Commercial Banking Team Leader for The Farmers National Bank of Canfield, where he has worked for the past 17 years. He holds his B.S. in Business Administration from Youngstown State University. Greg currently serves on the board of the American Red Cross Lake to River Chapter and is the Treasurer of the Springfield Township Baseball Association. Greg resides in New Middletown, Ohio, with his wife Katie and sons Jackson and Cooper.