Scott Mendel

Scott M. Mendel is a parent of a daughter with a developmental disability who lives at Misericordia. He is a retired partner of the international law firm K&L Gates. At K&L Gates, Scott concentrated his practice in complex antitrust litigation, including class actions, the antitrust aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, and counseling clients on antitrust compliance with respect to pricing, distribution and other matters. He also counseled the firm’s healthcare clients on antitrust matters. During his 40 years of practice, Scott has been involved in a number of pro bono matters involving individuals with disabilities, indigent clients and incarcerated individuals.

Bob Brown

Robert M. (Bob) Brown is the President and CEO of Opportunity Village, Nevada’s largest habilitation organization providing a variety of services to people with intellectual and related disabilities. Bob is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. He and his bride of 30 years Melinda have 4 children, one of whom has an intellectual disability. Bob is the former Publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and has recently served as the Board Chairman for the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the National Council on Disability by Congress. He is also on the boards of directors of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, the Public Education Foundation and was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on the State of Nevada 150th anniversary committee.

Geana Connelly

Geana started her career at Misericordia 24 years ago after graduating from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI, with a bachelor’s in Psychology. She received her master’s in Psychology with a specialty in Counseling from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Geana currently is the Vice President of Strategy, People and Culture at Misericordia. She acts as a liaison, advocating for choice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. She also serves as Chairperson for the Intersect for Ability Network in the Chicago metropolitan area, striving to move services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled population forward. Through her coordination and leadership, Misericordia held its first national conference in October 2015, “Together for Choice,” which included more than 100 participants from 25 states.

Kevin Connelly

Kevin Connelly has worked at Misericordia since 1992. As co-assistant executive director, Kevin assists the executive director with Financial, Development and Legislative Affairs. Kevin was named CFO in 2000, and prior to assuming this role, he was the controller. In his role as CFO, Kevin has made management responsibility for the Finance, IT and Purchasing Departments. In addition to his duties as CFO, Kevin oversees major gifts and planned giving for the Development Office, as well as assists with Special Events and Legislative Affairs. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Misericordia.

Kevin received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University in 1991 and his M.B.A. from DePaul University’s Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in 2001. He received his CPA designation in 1992, and was a past recipient of the FEI Chicago CFO of the Year Award for mid-size not for profits.

Sister Rosemary Connelly

Sister Rosemary is a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy. A native Chicagoan, she attended parochial schools and taught in several Chicago Archdiocesan schools while continuing her studies. She earned a B.S. in Social Science in 1959, a Master of Arts in Sociology from St. Louis University in 1966, and a Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 1969. Over the years, she has received nine honorary doctorate degrees, and numerous awards and honors. In 1969, Sister was appointed Administrator of Misericordia Heart of Mercy when it had only 36 children and 39 staff.
Sister Rosemary has received numerous awards and honors throughout the years. She has gratefully received all of them on behalf of everyone who is involved with Misericordia.

Jim Whittaker

Jim Whittaker is retired President and CEO of The Arc Jacksonville and The Arc of Putnam County. He had held the position in Jacksonville and Putnam County since 1999 and 1975, respectively. Both organizations provide services, supports and advocacy to hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental differences throughout the two NE Florida communities. He has provided consulting services nationally for the development of quality, inclusive housing options and actively promotes community-based employment opportunities.
Jim is a graduate of the University of Florida and is actively involved in local, state and national organizations that focus on disability issues. Jim’s most recent innovation in the field is the development of The Arc Jacksonville Village, an affordable rental housing community in suburban Jacksonville that opened in May 2016. This apartment-style neighborhood is comprised of 97 one and two bedroom units and is home for 121 individual and has become a national residential prototype of independent living for adults with cognitive differences. Jim promotes individual and family choice while providing an array of options for services and supports in quality community settings which value each individual with dignity and respect.

Adam Pomeranz

Adam C. Pomeranz joined Annandale Village in 2004 as its Chief Executive Officer. A widely respected leader in the developmentally disabled sector, Adam oversees Annandale’s strategic direction and daily operations including the delivery of programs and services, finance, development, health services, and community outreach. In addition, Adam also serves as the Executive Director of The Annandale Foundation.
Immediately prior to joining Annandale Village, Adam served as Director of the Access Center at Ridgeview Institute, a $30 million a year psychiatric and substance abuse hospital in metro Atlanta. In this role, he directed a high volume psychiatric and substance abuse emergency room that triaged over 700 emergent patients a month. Prior to his tenure at the Ridgeview Institute, Adam held several senior-level positions for The Devereux Foundation, managing the daily operations of the 125-bed residential component of the network, supervising five programs, including 120 staff and a yearly operating budget of $5 million.
Adam holds a Master’s of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University. In 2013, Pomeranz graduated from Emory University’s Executive MBA program. Though he no longer practices, Adam is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. Adam and his wife, Veronica, live in Peachtree Corners with their two children, Lily and Evan.

Kari Bates

Kari is the President and CEO of The ARC of Jacksonville. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, The ARC of Jacksonville serves over 500 men and women with intellectual disabilities through innovative residential, educational, vocational and recreational programming. Kari began working for The ARC of Putnam County in 2015 and served as its Executive Director from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, Kari became the President and CEO of The ARC of Jacksonville. Kari is passionate about improving the lives of individuals with developmental differences and believes communities are transformed when people of all abilities are valued for their unique contributions. Prior to joining The Arc, Kari worked in acute-care hospitals, managing a variety of programs. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Administration from the University of Central Florida. In 2018, Kari was named “40 under 40” by the Palatka Daily News and in 2021 she received the University of St. Augustine Force for Good Award.

Karen Knavel

Karen is the president and chief executive officer of Pathfinder Village. Prior to Pathfinder Village, Karen was the chief executive of New Avenues to Independence, Cleveland, and has held leadership roles for over 25 years at non-profit agencies that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

A lifetime advocate for people with disabilities, Karen has served on the Ohio Health Care Association as I/DD Board Chair since 2021, and on the Board of Representatives of ANCOR, the national advocacy group for the I/DD community. She also served as a grant reviewer for the Ohio Department of Education and contributed to research projects for the Social Security Administration, Columbus Children’s Hospital, retired Judge Linda Rocker, and late U.S. Representative Steven LaTourette.

Karen earned a Juris Doctor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History at Walsh University, North Canton. She is the mother of two adult children and enjoys nature, hiking, and reading.