Our Team

OuR Staff

Holly Klein MNPM, RN

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Fourteen of Holly's twenty-two years as a registered nurse have been spent providing hands-on care and leadership in hospice and palliative care.  She has a baccalaureate degree in Nursing and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management.

Early in her career she was inducted onto the Cornelius Leadership Congress and received the Barbara Mims Distinguished Nurse Award. In 2021 she was honored as “A Notable in Healthcare” by Crain’s Business Cleveland. She serves as a consultant for the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program and is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Office of Palliative Care at Northeastern Ohio Medical University. 

On the personal side, Holly is a wife and mother to 5 children. She spends her free time spending time with her family, attending athletic events, and reading.

Cindy Browning, MSN, RN

Assistant Director & Co-Founder

Cindy has been in nursing for over 37 years, primarily in homecare and hospice.  She completed her MSN in 2011 focusing on nursing education. Grace House is an eight-year dream come true to serve our community by providing a caring, loving space for people to live their last days.  Cindy loves training our staff and volunteers on how to help our residents to live in comfort and celebrate their lives. Cindy lives in Akron with her husband and 2 quirky rescue dogs.  She has three adult children.

 

Demi Bengston MPH

House Manager 

Demi was born and raised in Summit County and has been working with the geriatric population in both volunteer and professional roles for over a decade.  Demi graduated from Ohio University in 2013 and earned her master’s in public health, health policy and management, from Kent State University in 2018. Demi joined the Grace House Akron team in December 2021 after “totally manifesting this position” when she spoke out loud “I want a job in a startup environment, one where I can help people, and preferably it be in hospice” BAM Grace House Akron appeared. She has a passion for meeting and getting to know new people and truly enjoys putting together policies and procedures. The Grace House team also refers to Demi as our Director of Happiness.

When she isn’t at Grace House, Demi can be found spending time with her husband and daughter, meal prepping or planning their next “daycation” with family and friends.


Our Board

Nicholas Browning, Chairperson - The Huntington National Bank

Brian Emich, Vice Chairperson - Galaxy Medical

Brian Moore, Secretary  - Roetzel & Andress

Becky Newman, Treasurer  - Direction Home, Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities

Dr. Steven Radwany, Medical Director  - The Ohio State Medical Center

Holly Klein, Executive Director  

Anne Armao  - SummaCare

Joleen Cichinelli - Retired, The Huntington National Bank

Jon Fiume - Akron Art Museum

Randy Godding - Knox Marketing, Inc

Jack Hinnenberg - Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Yoleetah Ilodi - Summa Health 

John Mastrojohn, III  - Hospice of the Western Reserve

Sheila Miller - Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Beth Mullen - Ascension HR

Barb Palmisano - Retired, NEOMED

Dave Pastir - AM Higley Construction

Jane Penttila - Retired, Summa Health

Mark Schikowski - Cohen & Company

Matt Soful - RGP

Peter Wiley - First Congregational Church of Hudson