NOWAC Staff Directory
Debra Guilford, Executive Director
Deb Guilford has been the Executive Director of NOWAC since 1998. Deb began her career as a Language Development Specialist for Good Samaritan School. She has also had experience working in group homes, has taught a mentally handicapped class in the public schools, and worked for the Defiance County Board of DD as the Supported Living Director.
Deb resides in Defiance with her husband and two children.
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Michelle Vogelsong, Business Manager
Michelle has been an employee of NOWAC since February, 2002. Previously she had contracted with NOWAC for four years providing accounting services while employed by Quadco Rehabilitation Center in Stryker, Ohio as their Non-Profit Accountant. Michelle has worked in the DD field since 1991.
As the Business Manager of NOWAC her duties include directing business affairs of NOWAC to insure that financial practices are in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies. Michelle is responsible for the financial reporting which includes budgets and financial statements. She also handles the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable for NOWAC.
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Shannon Timmerman, Reviewer
Shannon started with NOWAC as a Quality Assurance Specialist in October 1999. She left for a short period of time to work at a County Board of DD in 2002 but could not stay away and returned to NOWAC in June 2003 as the Quality Assurance Manager. In 2008 she changed positions to take the role of Reviewer. Prior to working at NOWAC, she was employed as the Executive Director of a non-profit crisis pregnancy center in Lima, Ohio.
As Reviewer, job duties include monitoring the utilization of services provided to persons with developmental disabilities in home and community based waiver programs and supported living, performing provider compliance reviews, day services file reviews, reviewing county board plans for accuracy and content, providing training and technical assistance to county board staff and providers, and developing the NOWAC quarterly newsletter.
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Rob Elston, Investigative Agent
Rob Elston is the Investigative Agent for NOWAC. He reviews and/or conducts investigations into Major Unusual Incidents concerning those individuals who receive services from the county boards served by NOWAC. Rob works with local law enforcement agencies when criminal charges are possible and children services (Job & Family Services) when children are involved.
Rob joined NOWAC in November 2002 as the Investigative Agent. In August 2007 he left the position and worked briefly at Defiance County Children Services. In December 2007, Rob rejoined NOWAC as their I.A.
Prior to joining NOWAC, Rob earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Adrian College in 1997. A year later, Rob came to Defiance, Ohio and became an Independent Provider through NOWAC. Rob worked as an Independent Provider up until he took the position as I.A. in 2002.
Rob has two girls named Brenna and Marrah. Rob enjoys doing various activities with his children such as coaching tee-ball, playing and watching a veriety of sporting events.
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Cody Chrisman, Medicaid Waiver/Housing Coordinator
In November, 2009 Cody joined the NOWAC team as the Medicaid Waiver Assistant. In addition to the job duties that go along with that position, Cody is also assisting with the management of NOAH, (the non–profit housing corporation in Williams County) and assisting with Quality Assurance Reviews. Cody is no stranger to NOWAC, as he previously contracted with NOWAC to do the maintenance on the eight nonprofit houses in Williams County.
Cody’s prior work experience includes working in the supported employment field as a Job Developer with Partners In Employment, a Social Rehabilitation Counselor at Unison Behavior Health in Toledo, OH and most recently worked in the Defiance School System with children who have Autism.
Cody resides in Blakeslee, Ohio with his wife Britni, their sons Corbin & Jaxson and dog Caine.
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Casie Sprow, Quality Assurance Specialist
Casie comes to NOWAC from the provider-world, having worked for two local providers (Filling Home and CRSI) over the past several years, both as direct care staff and a Program Specialist. She has her Associate of Arts degree from Northwest State Community College and is looking forward to continuing her education while at NOWAC. Casie lives just south of Defiance with her husband, Chad and two sons, Tucker and Carter. She enjoys singing with church and the Fort Defiance Players community theater group, sports, the outdoors and spending time with her family and friends.
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