Rose Centers for Aging Well

Dabney K. Conwell is Executive Director of the Rose Centers for Aging Well and Vice President at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. She joined Benjamin Rose in 2015.

Conwell has committed her career to working with underrepresented populations developing, implementing, supervising and evaluating social service programs. Prior to joining the Benjamin Rose senior management team, she served as Executive Director of the East Cleveland Neighborhood Center. She was also previously Project Coordinator of the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program for the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County, and later became a national trainer and program supervisor for FAST in Madison, Wisconsin. She has also served as a social worker with the East Cleveland City School District and Guidestone. Conwell’s professional passion includes addressing issues of inequity for marginalized populations.

She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).

Conwell received her Master of Social Service Administration degree at Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Edinboro University. Conwell completed the YWCA Women’s Momentum Leadership Program in 2015. Ms. Conwell is an inaugural Fellow with the Sisters of Charity Innovation Mission, developing the first Food is Medicine process in Cuyahoga County; she is also the recipient of the CWRU Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Alumni Achievement Award. She is a National Board of Governor for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and co-chair of the local HRC Steering Committee.

Melissa A. Winberry is Assistant Director of the Rose Centers for Aging Well LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Winberry joined the Rose Centers administration team in 2015.

Winberry has 20 plus years of progressively responsible experience leading people in multiple capacities, including human resources in manufacturing, retail and service industries to social work focusing on geriatrics, mental health and clinical social work.

Prior to the Rose Centers for Aging Well, Winberry worked for Windsor Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Medicine, where she served as a critical member of the Intake and Referral Department triaging patients and facilitating care plans for people experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Winberry earned her Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University, and a Masters in Social Work from Cleveland State University. Winberry completed the American Society on Aging's Leadership Institute in 2018.

Winberry currently serves on the John Carroll University Nonprofit Administration Community Advisory Committee and the Advocacy in Motion initiative through the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

Kim Fennell is the Center Director at the Paul W. Alandt Rose Center. She is responsible for organizing, development and supervision of day to day activities, and oversees programming and services, the nutrition program and transportation services at the center. She joined the Rose Centers for Aging well in December 2021. 

Fennell is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and has always had a passion for providing a wide range of recreational services to all people. Prior to joining The Rose Centers, Fennell previously served as a recreation therapist in adult and geriatric inpatient mental health settings, as an activity coordinator in a nursing facility, and continues to work part time as an aquatic specialist and recreation therapist serving individuals with disabilities at Rec2Connect Foundation. Kim has volunteer experience serving the Down Syndrome population at Gigi’s Playhouse as Volunteer Coordinator, developing and implementing several adult and teen programs, and has volunteered with the Cuyahoga County Board of Development Disabilities with their special outings program. 

Kim earned her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from The University of Toledo. 
 

Tracey Elaine Kirksey is the Center Director at the East Cleveland at Salvation Army Rose Center for Aging Well. She joined the Rose Centers in 2017.

Kirksey is responsible for planning, development and supervision of day to day activities at the Center, and oversees programming and services, the nutrition program and transportation services. She works to ensure that the East Cleveland Rose Center is an inclusive and welcoming environment that hosts a variety of educational, social and fitness activities for participants.

Kirksey has always enjoyed working with people and has an extensive background in non-profit community development, including 20 years’ in executive level management positions. Her focus and expertise include holistic community development and advocacy, primarily in affordable, market rate and senior housing development, as well as small business development.

Kirksey earned her Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Organization Management from Malone University Organization.

Allison Morford is the Development Manager for the Rose Centers for Aging Well and a member of the Institutional Advancement team. As Development Manager, Morford works to identify, organize, manage and provide leadership on all fundraising initiatives for the Rose Centers programs. She joined Benjamin Rose in 2020.

Morford has institutional advancement experience that includes work in donor cultivation, special events, grant writing, board development, volunteer engagement, communications and marketing.

Prior to joining Benjamin Rose, Morford was the Individual Giving Director at City Year Cleveland. She is dedicated to serving non-profits that provide basic needs support in Cleveland, Ohio. Morford previously worked in the development department at The West Side Catholic Center and University Settlement. 

Morford received a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations with a minor in psychology and international studies from The Pennsylvania State University. Morford serves on the Community Service Alliance Board of Directors and previously served as The Metanoia Project Board of Directors’ Vice President. Morford completed the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute in 2019.