Staff

	Ilana Hoffer Skoff, MA Executive Director ihskoff@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x102 Ilana Hoffer Skoff, Executive Director and Co-founder of Milestones, knows that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Determined to bring autism training, resources, and services to Northeast Ohio, Ilana co-founded Milestones with Mia in 2003. Wanting each and every child to reach his or her milestones, Ilana has coached and inspired families over the past 17 years providing practical strategies and innovative programming. Previously, Ilana worked for almost 20 years with non-profit agencies, including consulting in the areas of development, strategic planning, and grant writing.
	Mia Buchwald Gelles Operations Director miabgelles@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x101 Mia Buchwald Gelles, Operations Director and Co-founder of Milestones, makes sure everything runs smoothly. She oversees daily operations, finance, technology and HR. Mia uses her expertise in nonprofit management and project planning so Milestones can effectively serve the community. Her technical skills have enabled Milestones to develop and evolve the web site and database as the organization has grown. Prior to Milestones, Mia provided 20 years of lead program management and data solutions for nonprofits and governmental agencies. Mia serves on the executive board for the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD).
	Amelia Hatheway, MBA Development Director ahatheway@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x107 Amelia joins Milestones with seven years of non-profit experience supporting educational institutions. Most recently she was the Director of Alumni Affairs for her alma mater, The University of New Orleans. Amelia holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in educational leadership from UNO. She is an advocate for education and access for all. Her experience in leading engagement and philanthropy efforts have resulted in successful delivery of programs, campaigns, and events for the communities she has served. She is excited to embark on the journey to help develop strategies and support the fundraising efforts for the advancement of Milestones.
	Vanetta Perry Special Events Director vperry@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x113 Vanetta is a seasoned development professional with over 20 years of experience. As a certified event planner, she brings to Milestones expertise in planning and executing corporate, community, and major fundraising events. Vanetta is passionate about many causes, including premature birth and low birth-weight babies, healthy pregnancies, and health disparities in urban communities. During her time with the Solon School System, Vanetta spent time working with special needs children. In that capacity, she worked with many children on the autism spectrum. She has a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing & computer information systems and has three college-age sons.
	Leslie Rotsky Conference Director lrotsky@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x103 Conference Director Leslie Rotsky has 30 years of experience as a project manager, event planner, and educator. Leslie is passionate about improving the lives of individuals living with autism. In her role at Milestones, she has focused on growing the Milestones Conference into a leading national autism event that delivers evidence-based education and professional development to attendees from across the country. Raising her teenage son who has autism informs and inspires her work every day.
	Beth Thompson, MSSA, LSW Program Director bthompson@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x108 Beth oversees programmatic services for Milestones including the Helpdesk and consultation and training for businesses, providers, families and individuals. She conducts training throughout the community from hospitals to schools to places of employment. She serves on the Cuyahoga Council for Persons with Disabilities which oversees all services and programs that impact persons with disabilities in Cuyahoga County. Beth has a Masters in Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University. With 11 years of experience working with young adults with autism, Beth is passionate about helping teens and adults with autism fulfill their unique potential.
	Molly D. Dann-Pipinias Administrative Assistant mdann@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x114 Molly D. Dann-Pipinias is a self-advocate with a passion for bringing awareness and advocacy to the Cleveland area. She comes to Milestones as a former volunteer and speaker, with a long history of public speaking alongside the Milestones coaching team about topics important to the autism community. She also serves as a Good Life Ambassador with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, a role that allows her to educate others about ASD.
	Haley Dunn, MA, LPC Teen/Adult Manager hdunn@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x115 Haley works with individuals with ASD to help them transition to adulthood. She has experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and ASD to transition from school to work, as well as providing mental health counseling services. Haley has a deep passion for connecting people to their community, whether it is through employment, volunteering, or life enrichment activities.
	Helena Farkas, LISW-S Social Worker hfarkas@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x116 Helena came to Milestones after a lengthy career at Metro Health Medical Center as a social worker. At Metro, Helena worked extensively with the special needs population helping families navigate the medical and community systems. At Milestones, Helena has been coaching families, individuals and professionals to access the multiple resources that promote education, health and independence.
	Hannah Harp Communications & Digital Content Coordinator hharp@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x117 As the Communications and Digital Content Coordinator, Hannah supports Milestones in all communication and content creation efforts. Hannah has a degree in journalism and psychology from Miami University and a professional background in content marketing. With a passion for educating and strengthening communities through media, she feels blessed to join a team that works to enrich the lives of others on a daily basis.
	Nicole Herrera Office Manager nherrera@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x106 Nicole provides the foundation that supports all Milestones programming, ensuringe efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness. She handles database management and oversees registration for all events, including the Milestones National Conference. Nicole is one of the welcoming, friendly faces checking in individuals with ASD and families for consultations. Her previous areas of study and experience include Modern Languages, Education, and technical writing. She has also been an aide in a program for children with communication disorders for 10 years.
	Libby Hill Conference Assistant lhill@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x121 Libby supports Milestones as our Conference Assistant. Libby recently graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in Psychology and formerly interned at Milestones. As she begins her professional career, Libby looks forward to learning about all facets of autism and is happy to contribute to the planning and organization of Milestones Annual Conference.
	Nathan Morgan, MSSA, LSW Early Intervention/School Age Coordinator nmorgan@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x118 Nathan completed professional internships at Milestones Autism Resources and Achievement Centers for Children. Prior to returning to Milestones, Nathan was employed full-time as an Early Childhood Mental Health Social Worker at Achievement Centers where he provided consultation and therapeutic services to young children and their caregivers. Nathan is also an Autism self-advocate who has shared his experiences on panels, at events, and on the local news. He is passionate about teaching and Autism related research.
	Madison VanBurkleo, MSSA Helpdesk Coordinator mvanburkleo@milestones.org (216) 464-7600 x105 As Helpdesk Coordinator and former Milestones intern, Madison connects families to the appropriate programs that will best support their individual needs. Her passion to help individuals with autism comes from her older sister who has special needs, a relationship that has taught Madison about empathy, honesty, and perspective. With a deep interest in autism advocacy, Madison strives to raise the bar for individuals with autism every day and throughout the course of her career. She has a BA in Social Work from Wichita State University and a MSSA from Case Western Reserve University.