Leadership

Orion previously served as President and CEO of CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, the Area Agency on Aging in Indianapolis, Indiana. This followed a career with the American Red Cross in a variety of leadership roles. Bell earned both Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Louisville.

His current research focuses on development, testing and implementation of evidence-based programs, with a special emphasis on care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and their family caregivers, and caregiving among diverse populations. In accord with the mission of Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, a consistent theme of Dr. Bass’ work is the translation of research into practical applications that enhance the wellness of, and quality of care for, older adults and their family members. Dr. Bass received his doctoral degree in Sociology from the University of Akron and Kent State University in 1985.

Prior to joining Benjamin Rose, Bennett served as Vice President of Marketing and Fund Development for Neighborhood Family Practice, a federally qualified health center with seven locations on Cleveland’s near west side. In addition, she has held progressively increasing roles of responsibility in business-to-business, consumer and non-profit environments with experience in healthcare, insurance, retail, vision services, digital and trade publishing.

Bennett earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Ohio University.

Prior to joining Benjamin Rose, Brennan was the Controller for The Cleveland Orchestra from 2017 to 2019. She also served as CFO of the Barberton Community Foundation from 2014 to 2019 after completing close to 9 years in public accounting with Brockman Coats Gedelian & Company (now Sikich), where she had a significant focus on not-for-profit entities.

Brennan was active in the Barberton community while working at the Foundation, and served as Treasurer of Neighborhood Conservation Services of Barberton and was a member the Rotary Club. She has also served as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, holding positions of Vice President, Treasurer and chair of various fundraising endeavors. Additionally, she served as a finance committee volunteer with the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

Brennan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Kent State University before becoming licensed as a CPA. She is an active member of the Ohio Society of CPAs.

She joined Benjamin Rose in 1999 as the Assistant Administrator of Kethley House, the organization’s former 184-bed nursing facility, and was named Executive Administrator in 2003. Since 2006, Marita has been responsible for property management and campus development of the organization’s subsidiary, Benjamin Rose Property LLC. In 2008, Marita was responsible for the award of a $4.3 million grant under HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program to rehabilitate 36 units of housing. In 2011, she oversaw the renovation of these 36 one-bedroom units added to Margaret Wagner Apartments, the organization’s affordable senior housing located in Cleveland Heights. In 2012, she was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the 144,000-square-foot Kethley House to Kindred Healthcare for $17.4 million. The following year, she led the development and construction of the organization’s 31,000-square-foot, $11.4 million headquarters in Cleveland. Most recently in 2014, she assumed her current position, overseeing the organization’s home- and community-based services, which include behavioral health services, social work, senior companions, WeCare…Because You Do, as well as a home-delivered meal program and senior centers locations. In 2015, Marita oversaw and managed the $1.25 million sale of 1.5 acres of campus property to Choice One Development for future development by Fresenius Medical Care.

Marita began her career in the field of aging in Northeast Ohio as an Assistant Administrator with a for-profit long-term-care provider. She earned a master’s degree in health services administration from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration in management from John Carroll University. She has been a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the state of Ohio since 1998.

In 2012, Marita was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in the 40 Under 40 awards. In 2014, she was honored as a Woman of Professional Excellence at the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards. She is a member of the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2014 and a 2015 graduate of the American Society on Aging Leadership Institute. Marita currently serves on the Dance Alliance of Beck Center, and recently served on the Greater Shaker Square Area Development Corporation.

Billnitzer has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Toledo with additional studies at Harvard University, is a certified trainer of Blanchard’s “Situational Leadership” and a 2014 graduate of the Social Transformation Project’s “The Art of Transformational Consulting.” He is a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP), and currently serves on the Steering Committee for The Cleveland Foundation’s HR Collaborative for Non-Profit organizations. Billnitzer’s clients and employers have ranged from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits.

She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).

Conwell received her Master of Social Service Administration degree at Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Edinboro University. Conwell completed the YWCA Women’s Momentum Leadership Program in 2015. Ms. Conwell is an inaugural Fellow with the Sisters of Charity Innovation Mission, developing the first Food is Medicine process in Cuyahoga County; she is also the recipient of the CWRU Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Alumni Achievement Award. She is a National Board of Governor for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and co-chair of the local HRC Steering Committee.

Prior to joining Benjamin Rose, Schneider served as Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Compliance for a federally qualified health center with seven locations near Cleveland’s west side. In addition, she held various leadership positions at the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, including Operations Director for the Y-Haven Branch, New Business Development Director and Executive Director of Child Care Services.

Schneider earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Akron, and a Master of Labor Relations and Human Resources degree from Cleveland State University.