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Community Advisory Board
This Board of dedicated volunteers advocates for community needs to the Wayne Memorial Hospital & Health System Board of Trustees and, in turn, shares the Board’s objectives with the community. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) also provides oversight of community-related projects, including partnerships with allied health organizations that receive funding from sources such as state, federal and foundation grants. CAB members represent the geographic reach and demographics of the Wayne Memorial service area.
Wayne Memorial Community Advisory Board
Michele Bannon, Chair
Michele is the Mayor of Carbondale. She is very active in the community and surrounding area serving or having served on more than a dozen local organizations and agencies.
Joan Edel
Joan is an Aging Care Manager Supervisor I at the Pike County Area Agency on Aging and the Aging & Disability Resource Center Link Coordinator for Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties. She lives in northeastern Pike County.
Amy Gries
Amy is a guidance counselor at Damascus Area School. Amy and her husband Nathan have a son and daughter and live in eastern central Wayne County.
David Hartung
David is Coordinator of the Wayne County System of Care, a youth and family interagency collaboration. David and his wife Nicole live in central Wayne County.
Joanne Hohman
Joanne is the Office Manager at Bold Gold Media in Honesdale. Joanne lives in central Wayne County.
Jim Kane
Jim is the principal of Wallenpaupack Area Middle School. Jim lives in northeastern Lackawanna County.
Wynter Newman
Wynter is the Administrative Director at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers. Wynter lives with her husband Adam and two sons in northern Wayne County.
Jean Pettinato
Jean is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Service Center/Robinson Counseling Center.
Michael James Schuman
Michael is the Deputy Director at the Wayne County Office of Emergency Management. He lives in the Honesdale area.
Valerie Senese
Valerie serves as the Assistant Director at Arrowhead & Shepherds Camp, a camp-based respite facility supporting adults with developmental and associated physical disabilities. She lives in Susquehanna with her husband Tim, their three children, and their dog and cat.
Patricia Striefsky
Patricia is the publisher of the Forest City News. Patricia lives with her husband Brian and two sons in northern Wayne County.
Joanne Tagle
Joanne is a former guidance counselor at Western Wayne High School. Joanne and her husband Jim Murray live in central Wayne County.
William Thomas
William is a former Vice President of Gradall Industries Excavating and Industrial Equipment. William and his wife Connie live in northeastern Pike County.
Ericka Thaxton
Ericka is the medical advocate with Victims’ Intervention Program in Wayne and Pike Counties. She lives in the Hawley area.
Katie Zefran
Dr. Katie is a dentist in the Honesdale area and lives in northern Wayne County.
Jeff Zerechak
Jeff is the Director of the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission and lives with his wife and family in central Lackawanna County.
Student CAB Members
Abigail Bell, Western Wayne School District
Brenna Martin, Wayne Highlands School District
Staff
Carol Kneier MS, RD, LDN, CDCES. Wayne Memorial Hospital Community Relations Manager, overseeing Public Relations and Community Health Departments. Carol has been a registered dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with WMH since 1993. She lives in northern Wayne County.
James Pettinato BSN, MHSA, CCRN-K. Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Memorial Hospital and Health System. Jim began his career at Wayne Memorial in 1999 as head nurse of several departments. After a short hiatus he returned as Director of Patient Care Services and was promoted to CEO in 2022, following the retirement of David Hoff. Jim and his wife live in the northeastern Lackawanna County.
Paula Bennett MD. Dr. Bennett is a primary care physician and has been at Highland Physicians Family Health Center since the late 1980’s. Highland, formerly an independent practice, is now part of Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers. Paula and her husband live in central Wayne County.
Heather May Heather is an executive assistant to the CEO at WMH.
