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 MRDD as the Supported Living Director.

Deb resides in Defiance with her husband and two teenagers.

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 MR/DD in 2002 but could not stay away and returned to NOWAC in June 2003 as the Quality Assurance Manager. Prior to working at NOWAC, she was employed as the Executive Director of a non-profit crisis pregnancy center in Lima, Ohio.

As the Quality Assurance Manager, her job duties include monitoring the QA department to insure that services provided to persons with developmental disabilities in home and community based waiver programs and supported living are based on the individual’s choice and designed to enhance the quality of his/her life. Shannon is responsible for supervising the QA staff and ensuring that the program and provider compliance are implemented in accordance with state and federal requirements. Some of her additional job duties include performing provider compliance 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.

Rob Elston is the Investigative Agent for NOWAC, once again. 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 is married to his wife, Amy, and they have two girls named Brenna and Marrah. Rob enjoys watching movies, sports, and doing various activities with his family.

Amy Barnett is the NOWAC Medicaid Waiver Assistant.  Some of her job duties include provider recruitment and certification, Medicaid waiver billing, inputting PAWS, and other various duties.