Board + Staff

Zac has long considered Akron to be the epicenter of the universe. Growing up in the Westside of Akron, he traded over to the Eastside in 2012. That is where his wife, Beth, and he bought and rehabbed a home for their three sons.  Zac founded The Well CDC in 2016 and decided to repurpose a hundred-year-old church building. When he isn’t coming up with awesome ideas, he loves investing in his local church as a pastor and coaching his sons’ soccer teams.

Kelly grew up on the southside of Akron not far from where her grandparents lived when they were children. While she has spent a significant amount of time traveling throughout the United States and abroad, she found her home right back where she started. She lives with her partner, Steve, and their four cats. They enjoy being outside, eating local food, and conversing about late-stage capitalism, regenerative systems, and yoga philosophy.

Jen is originally from Toledo, Ohio but has called Akron home since her freshman year at UA in 2013. She graduated from The University of Akron with a BA in Education and stayed in Akron because of her love for the city, the people, and of course Zippy. She started and currently manages The Well CDC’s Akron Hope program, oversees the Resident Services team, and supports the Fund Development team. She has 8+ years of experience working in philanthropy and loves that she gets to support students, teachers, and families with her daily work.

Jen received The Greater Akron Chamber 30 for the Future Award in 2021, The University of Akron’s 5 under 35 in 2022, is an associate board member for the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition, and serves as a steering committee member for Akron Public School’s College and Career Academies.

Born and raised in Akron, Alex is a nonprofit professional with 20+ years of experience serving families and youth, passionate about those who are underserved and under-represented. Her goal is to leave those she meets feeling empowered, resilient, and hopeful for their future. Nothing compares to using her gifts and talents to serve those in the greater Akron Community. Alex lives in Firestone Park with her husband Damon, and enjoys being actively involved at her church in various capacities as the Director of Youth Ministry, serving on non-profit boards, mentoring, spending time with her family, and completing her Masters of Divinity. 

After graduating from The Univeristy of Akron in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Anna decided to combine her love of coffee with her desire to invest in her community at The Well CDC as a Compass barista. Five months later, she came on full-time as the part-time Finance Coordinator and part-time Lead Barista. Now she assists in managing The Well’s social media, communications, and special usage, but you can still find her most mornings down in the cafe practicing her latte art.

Ebony is a mother of 5 beautiful children, her reason for joining TheWell CDC team. She loves children and has a passion for helping them to learn and to grow; all while teaching them to be the best that they can be! Ebony earned her Associate’s Degree in Human and Social Services in hopes to have her own counseling business for the youth. She’s excited to grow with The Well and to make a positive impact on her community and workplace!

In her spare time, Gwen is a professional cook specializing in southern cooking. She is a proud mother of two sons who she brags about constantly. Gwen states her favorite thing about working at The Well CDC is the people who she works with side by side.

Jillian is a graduate from Kent State University with a degree in Special Education: Mild to Intensive disabilities. She enjoys using her gifts and talents, especially within the Akron Hope program, to help build capacity in a holistic approach for The Well CDC’s mission and vision. 

Kyle has lived in Akron for almost fifteen years, after growing up in Green. He began his career in food service at 16 and fell in love with the industry. Now, with over a decade of experience in corporate restaurant leadership, Kyle is excited to be able to support and invest in food entrepreneurs through Akron Food Works.

Outside of work, you can find him in his kitchen or garden with his dogs.

Reuben Auck is a Middlebury resident and a member of the Restoring Housing team for The Well CDC. He received his degree in Construction Engineering Technology from the University of Akron in 2012. Prior to joining The Well CDC staff, he worked for Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity as a Construction Site Supervisor and served as a Board Member for The Well CDC. He joined staff in 2017 and has been involved in the purchase and renovation of 70+ units in Middlebury.