Leadership
Beth A. Lucas, MNA
President & CEO
blucas@ucpcleveland.org
Beth Lucas became the President & CEO of UCP of Greater Cleveland in 2022 after serving as UCP’s Chief Operations Officer for seven years and their Director of Development for five years prior to that. She has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector, first specializing in fundraising and marketing. Beth’s passion for program development and sustainability drove her to pursue the operational and administrative sides of the agency and, under her direction, UCP of Greater Cleveland and those they serve have benefited. Beth has a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Administration from John Carroll University and a Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace University. She is a graduate of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities Leadership Academy and engages in advocacy, outreach and fundraising efforts for UCP as well as various mental health-related groups.
Kate Adkins-Dix, MRC, CRC
Associate Director of Community Employment
kadkins-dix@ucpcleveland.org
Kate Adkins-Dix began her career with UCP of Greater Cleveland in 2014 as the Community Employment Manager and progressed into her current role as Associate Director of Community Employment in September 2022. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification. Kate has 16 years of experience in this field across various settings. Prior experiences include residential service provider, job coaching and career planning. Kate enjoys spending time at local museums, parks and zoos throughout Northeast Ohio with her two young daughters and her husband.
Hester Brown, QIDP
Associate Director of Community Inclusion
hbrown@ucpcleveland.org
Hester Brown started as UCP’s Associate Director of Community Inclusion in September of 2022. Hester has been with the agency seven years serving as Program Manager and Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional in Residential Services. Previously she held various management and programmatic roles over a career of 21 years in the field of Developmental Disabilities. She has worked as a Direct Support Professional. Hester also serves as a Guardian and Advocate for an individual in the community. She brings a love of person-centered planning and services to the community inclusion role.
Renée Canfield, MA
Director of Development
rcanfield@ucpcleveland.org
Renée Canfield joined UCP as the Director of Development in July of 2019. Prior to her role with UCP, Renee was the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo (DSAGT). While with DSAGT, she led all fundraising, program, financial, administrative, board development and marketing/PR efforts for the organization. In addition to more than 10 years in nonprofit management and fundraising, Renee has experience in corporate marketing and advertising. She received a Bachelor of Science from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where she was a scholarship student-athlete on the women’s volleyball team, before attending The Ohio State University to earn a Master of Arts. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Renee enjoys exploring all that the Cleveland area has to offer with her family and friends.
Desiree Hudson, MSHROD
Director of Human Resources
dhudson@ucpcleveland.org
Desiree Hudson started as UCP’s Director of Human Resources in May of 2022. She has 19 years of experience in various areas of the Human Resources field, with 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She has had past roles as HR Director and HR Generalist. Desiree has a bachelor’s and master’s degree (specializing in human resource manager and organizational development) from Eastern Michigan University. In her free time Desiree loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and hanging with her 2 teenage children Mariya and Michael.
Celeste A. Isom, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
cisom@ucpcleveland.org
Celeste Isom joined UCP in July of 2019 as Director of Finance & Administration and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2022. She has over 20 years of experience as an accountant and auditor. She has extensive knowledge of tax and financial accounting. Celeste has a Bachelor’s degree from Ursuline College and a MBA from Cleveland State University. Celeste enjoys spending time with her children and reading.
Andrew Kruse, CESP
Director of Operations
akruse@ucpcleveland.org
Andrew Kruse became Director of Business Operations in 2021 after serving UCP as Associate Director of Oakleaf Services, Transition Services Coordinator and Job Placement Specialist. He holds a Bachelors Degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Andrew has 10+ years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. Previously, he has held positions in the residential and community employment settings. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys fishing, traveling, cooking and gardening with his wife.
Paul J. Soprano, MA
Director of OakLeaf Services
psoprano@ucpcleveland.org
Paul Soprano became the Director of OakLeaf Services in 2014 after serving nine years as Director of Vocational Services and three years in Residential Services at UCP. He has a Bachelors Degree from John Carroll University and a Masters from Bowling Green State University. Paul has 20 years of experience in the Developmental Disabilities and Vocational Rehabilitation fields. Prior to UCP he was Supervisor of Work Evaluation, Facility Supervisor and Vocational Evaluator for a leading vocational rehabilitation provider in Cleveland. Paul is an avid world traveler and aviation enthusiast, volunteers as a Cleveland Hopkins Airport Ambassador and loves trying new restaurants.
Amanda Stohrer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Associate Director of LeafBridge Services
astohrer@ucpcleveland.org
Amanda Stohrer started her career at UCP of Greater Cleveland in November of 2010 as an Occupational Therapist. She was promoted to the position of Occupational Therapy Manager in 2013. In this role, she oversaw both pediatric clinic-based and school-based occupational therapy staff while also contributing to educational services through the alternative education program, Independent Education Evaluations and Assistive Technology Evaluations. She was further promoted to Associate Director of LeafBridge in 2021 to assist in the oversight and development of all pediatric programming. Amanda received her credential of Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) in 2019 and has more than 10 years of experience in promoting independence, engagement, and learning for children with complex needs. She graduated from Western Michigan University with her Bachelor of Science in 2008 and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2009. Amanda, her husband, and her two children enjoy spending their time building community and exploring the many exquisite food and outdoor activities offered in Northeast Ohio!
Intesar A. Taye, OTR/L
Director of LeafBridge Services
itaye@ucpcleveland.org
Intesar Taye joined UCP in 1993 as an Occupational Therapist and Clinical Coordinator and became the Director of LeafBridge Services in 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Cleveland State University as well as certification in Threshold Electric Stimulation and is NDT trained. Intesar continually participates in workshops on issues relevant to her work, including spasticity management, sensory processing, Therasuit, neurodevelopment treatment and vision impairment. Her seventeen years of experience as an OT include screening, evaluating and treating children with a variety of motor disabilities and developmental delays. She also had the responsibility for assisting in the development of the research protocol and monitoring the research development of the Steps to Independence program. Intesar enjoys spending time with her four children, as well as doing puzzles and brain teasers.