Meet

Our Leadership

A kin-first approach

Leading With Heart. Rooted in Kin.

At Kinnect, we believe lasting change starts with people — those who listen deeply, lead with empathy, and center family in every decision. Our team brings together professionals from across Ohio and beyond who are dedicated to reimagining what’s possible for children, families, and systems. Our leadership team guides the vision and strategy behind Kinnect’s work. They bring decades of experience in child welfare, nonprofit leadership, legal reform, and systems change — and work to cultivate a culture that is collaborative, accountable, and rooted in community.

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Shannon Deinhart

Executive Director
& Co-Founder

Bio
Shannon Deinhart has over 25 years’ experience advancing kinship care, foster care, and adoption. She has led the way in advancing Family Seach and Engagement efforts in Ohio, including implementing best practices in counties and the successful implementation of Kinnect to Family. Shannon led Kinnect’s partnership with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, in the development and implementation of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator Program (OhioKAN). She has a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
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Kimberly Bell

Chief Operating
Officer

Bio
Kimberly Bell joined Kinnect in March 2025 as Chief Operating Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in operations, compliance, and strategic program management across government and nonprofit sectors. A Cleveland native, Kimberly most recently served as Board President for Kinnect’s Board of Directors. She previously held leadership roles focused on streamlining systems, strengthening teams, and driving growth in mission-driven organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University and is a Certified Ethics and Compliance Professional.
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Kristi Burre

Chief Strategy Officer
Kinnect

Bio
Kristi Burre joined Kinnect with over two decades of experience in child welfare. Most recently, she served as the Director of Children’s Initiatives for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Prior to that, she served as the Director of the Office of Children Services Transformation at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. She came to state service with nearly 20 years of experience in children services at the county level in Fairfield and Franklin Counties. She continues to serve on the senior faculty of the Safe & Together Institute as a trainer and coach and has experience as an executive coach with the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. She holds a triple bachelor’s degree from Capital University in Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology as well as a master’s degree from Ohio University in Sociology.
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Erika Blockson

Human Resources Manager

Bio
Erika Blockson joined Kinnect in 2025 with over 20 years of Human Resources experience providing strategic HR leadership and aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals. Erika has developed HR programs including performance management, compensation, talent development, and employee relations. Most recently, Erika served as the Director of People and Culture and Director of Workforce Management for Parkwood and the Mandel Foundation where she had a reputation for building strong business partnerships. Erika began her education locally at Mount Union College and completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies (Cum Laude) at The University of Maryland campus in Okinawa, Japan. She completed a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources (MLRHR) from Cleveland State University. She also holds a Professional in Human Resources Certification (PHR). Outside of work, Erika enjoys participating in public service projects and youth programs through her membership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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Nekiesha Taylor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Bio
Nekiesha joined Kinnect as Director of Marketing and Communications in September 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and ethnic studies from Bowling Green State University and a Minority Executive Leadership Certification from the Center for Nonprofit Resources. With almost 20 years' experience in leading marketing initiatives, Nekiesha has successfully led educational campaigns advocating for women’s reproductive rights, contributing to the passage of Issue 1 in Ohio, and managed multi-channel fundraising campaigns that raised over $1 million. Additionally, she has enhanced nonprofit media exposure, developed content for DEI initiatives, secured grant funding for a training center in energy efficiency, and implemented strategic marketing plans for client growth across multiple states. Outside of her work, Nekiesha is committed to caretaking and nurturing her family and feels that they give her reason and purpose each day.
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Stephanie Beleal

Program Director
Kinnect to Family

Bio
Stephanie Beleal directed the successful implementation of Kinnect to Family (previously 30 Days to Family), in the initial 18 Ohio participating counties, as well as the expansion to additional counties. She has served as the program director for the statewide management and expansion of Youth Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT). Stephanie is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Akron and a BA in Social Work from Malone University. Before joining Kinnect in 2018, she served on the leadership team at Stark County Children Services for ten years.
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Julia Donovan

Program Director
OhioKAN

Bio
Julia Donovan is the program director for the OhioKAN. She is a visionary leader with a passion for direct service and programmatic excellence. Prior to joining Kinnect, she served as the employment services director at LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities, and Potential) for the eight years. At LEAP, Julia redesigned programs and services to exceed budget expectations, created a regional job coach training model and sat on the board of the Employment Collaborative of Ohio. Julia is a graduate of Hiram College and holds an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.