our 2021 NAMI FOUR COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President:​  Katherine Rakes, is a Partner with Newcomer, Shaffer, Spangler, Breininger & Rakes law firm in Bryan.
​ Term expires December 31, 2021.  ​
Vice-President:  Lori Robison, is a school-based therapist, with A Renewed Mind Behavioral Health.                      Term expires December 31, 2023.
​Treasurer:  Todd Ziegler, Assistant Vice President, commercial lending with Premier Bank, Napoleon.       Term expires December 31, 2021.
Secretary:  Wendy Jennings, NAMI Executive Director is a Certified Employment Support Professional with PARTNERS in Employment. 
​
Board Members:
Sarah Hankinson, is a finance manager with Erie Construction, Toledo. 
Term expires December 31, 2023.
Nathen Henricks, is a cost accounting manager with Spangler Candy Company, Bryan. 
Term expires December 31, 2022.
Jamie Marshall,  is Director of Operations with Parkview Physicians Group, Bryan.                                                      Term expires December 31, 2022.
​Mary Alice Nagel, is a private banker with Premier Bank. 
Term expires December 31, 2021.
Rob Spengler, is Product Development Manager with Spangler Candy Company, Bryan.                                      Term expires December 31, 2021.
​Ann Wasson, is a Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Defiance. 
Term expires December 31, 2023.
​
Board of Directors' meeting:
Regular meetings of the NAMI Four County Board of Directors are held quarterly at the Four County ADAMhs Board, T-761 State Route 66, Archbold, Ohio.

​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Wendy Jennings is a Bryan native who lived in the Toledo area while attending college and working  in retail and restaurant management. She then relocated to Metro Atlanta as a young adult where she raised a family and worked for 26 years before moving back to Northwest Ohio in 2015 to help manage family businesses.  While in Georgia, she worked several years with Apparel Manufacturing in a variety of administrative positions including Operations Manager.  Throughout those years she became an autism advocate while raising two sons on the spectrum. She was a member of  St. Oliver Catholic Church, serving as a catechist over 15 years.  Wendy learned about NAMI through a CIT training she shadowed with AADD at Atlanta Police Training Center. It peaked her interest and she soon became a part of Citizens Police Academy . Since her return to Ohio, Wendy has worked with Partners in Employment as a Job Developer CESP serving individuals throughout Lucas, Wood, and the Four County area. A member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, she currently serves as President of Bryan ARTS Club and is Vice President,  Board of Directors with Never Let Go Ministries. 
Wendy currently lives in Defiance and has 3 sons. Her relationship with NAMI Four County began over three years ago after moving to the area when she needed assistance for a son who was battling addiction, had multiple mental health issues, and autism. “Resources for my son were limited due to the many complications.  The judicial system was uncooperative, and my pleas for help seemed to be met with little to no compassion ,or went unheard because of my son’s difficult situation,” she recalls.
​“Through NAMI, I was able to make connections and better advocate for my son.  More importantly, I felt my voice was being heard when I shared experiences.  I felt hopeful after receiving support they offered. I decided to get involved with NAMI Four County when I read on a pamphlet that NAMI was Northwest Ohio’s voice on mental illness. I wanted others to know they also are not alone and NAMI can help them too." Wendy has served as Chapter President over the past two years. 

---

​​President

​Katherine (Katie) Rakes was born and raised in Northwest Ohio. She graduated from Fairview High School.  She received a Bachelor's degree from Huntington College, her law degree from the Appalachian School of Law and is a Partner with Newcomer, Shaffer, Spangler, Breininger & Rakes in Bryan. Her practice focuses on domestic relations, estate planning, and real estate law primarily in Williams and Defiance Counties. Katie is licensed to practice law in both Indiana and Ohio.  ​ Katie was selected to serve as the solicitor for Stryker. She has  worked as a legislative intern with the Insurance Institute of Indianapolis. Katie also served as a Legislative Assistant with the Indiana House of Representatives, and worked as the Scheduling Coordinator for the Mayor of Indianapolis.  Katie lives in Defiance County with her husband, Doug.

---

​Vice-President

​Lori Robison is a licensed independent Social Worker Supervisor with a Master Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  A school-based therapist with A Renewed Mind Behavioral Health, she previously worked as Vice-President for Academics at Northwest State Community College, and was the Director of the Social Work Program at Defiance College, and an Assistant Professor of Social Work , and Program Director at Cornerstone University.  Lori also has experience working as an Outpatient Therapist, School Social Worker, Domestic Violence Shelter Program Director, and Vocational Training Program Coordinator for Developmentally Disabled adults.  Lori and her husband, Rex, live in Defiance and have children and a grandchild.  She is involved with Habitat for Humanity of Defiance County and the Second Baptist Church of Defiance.

---

​​Treasurer

​Todd Ziegler has been a banker for more than 30 years. He first started with Huntington Bank and is the Assistant Vice-President for commercial lending with Premier Bank in Napoleon.  A lifelong resident of Archbold, Todd and his wife, Sharon, have two children. He attends St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Archbold and is a member of the Napoleon Rotary Club. Todd serves as a board member of the Henry County Community Improvement Corporation. He is a member of the Henry County United Way, a Junior Achievement teacher,  and a volunteer with Fulton County Christmas Cheer.

---

​Board Members

Sarah M Hankinson is currently a Finance Manager for Erie Construction in Lucas County.  She worked previously with The Farmers & Merchants State Bank.  Sarah is a resident of Delta with her husband Leroy, and two children. Sarah has been primarily focused on raising her family and enjoys camping, hiking, motorcycling or adventuring with them. She wanted to find a way to be involved with mental health. She has completed NAMI trainings and says she is excited to be a part of such a great organization as NAMI Four County. ​​

---

​Nathen Henricks was raised in Northwest Ohio and graduated from Edgerton High School.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Defiance College, and a Masters of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. Nathen works as the Cost Accounting Manager at Spangler Candy Company.  Nathen and his wife, Michelle live in Bryan.  He has been an active volunteer for Big Brothers  Big Sisters and is a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement.  Nathen serves as Chapter  Treasurer.

---

​Jamie Marshall is the Director of Operations for the Parkview Physicians Group, Bryan. She manages the Ohio physician practices, of which there are a total of eight locations.  Jamie was born and raised in Findlay. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, then earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from The University of Findlay. She previously owned a gym in Findlay for six years. Jamie joined ProMedica in 2013, then Parkview in 2015. She and her son live in Bryan.

---

Mary Alice Nagel ​is an Assistant Vice-President and private banker at Premier Bank. She has over 38 years of banking experience and has served clients in Defiance, Napoleon, Hicksville, Paulding as well as Fort Wayne, Indiana.  A lifelong resident of Defiance area, Mary Alice and her husband, Rich, are parents of three children and have grandchildren.  They live on a family farm in rural Defiance and she enjoys spending time with her family at sporting events supporting the Tinora Rams, Ohio State Buckeyes and Detroit Tigers.  Mary Alice attends St. Mark's Lutheran Church where she is a Sunday School teacher and choir member.  She also serves as Secretary of the Zonta Club of Defiance. Mary Alice is a member of the Defiance County 4-H Endowment Committee,  and is a volunteer with Junior Achievement and United Way of Defiance County.

---

​Rob Spengler ​is a native of Wauseon. Rob returned to his hometown in 2015 after living in the Chicago area for 15 years.  Rob began working at Spangler Candy as a Product Engineer.  He finds his current role as the Product Development Manager to be especially fulfilling  as it allows him to utilize both his technical and creative sides while collaborating with all departments across the company.  Ro states that he is insatiably curious and loves learning.  In his spare time he enjoys reading, playing chess and painting. He also likes to explore ethnic cuisines, live music, and travel. Rob purchased his grandparent's home in Wauseon where he spends time with his life partner Stacianne and daughter.

---

​Rev. Ann C. Wasson is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Defiance. She has celebrated over 35 years of her ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Raised in New Jersey, she is a graduate of Lafayette College and Princeton Theological Seminary.  Over the years, she has lived in Missouri and Oklahoma where she has served 10 Presbyterian churches as pastor, interim pastor, as well as a supply pastor for two Lutheran congregations (ELCA).   She has worked with congregations in conflict through her work on committees of the Presbyteries where she has lived and served.  She has served in a variety of community types and is well acquainted with rural communities and small towns with limited access to mental health service, while also seeing how good treatment changes lives.  Ann and her husband, Norman, live in Defiance. They have a son and a daughter. 

---