Michele Engelbach has had a passion for elder care since working as a nursing assistant in a nursing home over 35 years ago.  She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Gerontology degree and has been caring for Elders her entire career.  Michele arrived at The Ohio Eastern Star Home in May of 2012 as an interim Chief Executive Officer and was quickly captivated by the caliber of the staff and their commitment to providing the very best care to their residents.  In July Michele was appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as Chief Executive Officer of The Ohio Eastern Star Home.  Prior to The Ohio Eastern Star Home, Michele served as the Licensed Nursing Home Administrator for over 10 years at Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, Westminster-Thurber Campus in Columbus, Ohio.   Michele continues to be dedicated to changing the paradigm of long-term care and is passionate about de-institutionalizing nursing homes and instead creating HOME for our residents and elders.  The newly built Esther Buchwald Neighborhoods reflect that belief, and Michele is proud to bring to the Knox County community a new philosophy of caring for elders while continuing to enrich the lives of all we serve.

Dr.Oza joined MedOne in 2019 and has 20 years of experience in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. She completed her residency at The Ohio State University. She also has a Master’s Degree in Public health and is Board Certified through the American Board of Family Medicine.

Tyler Harris started his Elder care journey as a STNA while working his way through nursing school. He graduated EHOVE Career Center as a LPN in 2009, then returning to school, obtained his RN license in 2014 from Firelands Region Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio, obtained is Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Ohio University in 2017, then finally received his Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2020. Since 2016, Tyler has held administrative positions within the Elder care field working as either an Assistant Director or Director of Nursing. With a strong drive to provide safe, competent and elder-focused care to those he serves, Tyler looks for ways to improve the care provided on a daily basis. He currently resides in Mansfield with his fiancée and houseful of dogs and a cat where he spends most of his free time caring for and playing with his many nieces and nephews. Tyler began his tenure at The Ohio Eastern Star Home in September 2022 and he loves the Elder-focused philosophy of the organization and is looking forward to growing his healthcare career here at The Ohio Eastern Star Home for many years to come.

Barbara Davies graduated with honors in 2015 from Central Christian College of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Business Administration and Human Resources.  Barbara has a passion for helping others, volunteering and serving her community.  She is married to Brad, and has a son, daughter- in- law and two grandchildren. They live in Fredericktown. Barbara has always loved working in the healthcare field. She enjoys the elders, she is interested in the history and stories of the past, and she truly enjoys supporting others.  She is looking forward to the future with Ohio Eastern Star Home.

Earning a BA in Psychology from Alderson-Broaddus College and MSEd in Education/Community Counseling from Duquesne University, Diane’s background spans healthcare and education. Providing Private Duty and Personal Assistance, chairing the Capital Campaigns for Hospice of Knox County and Central Ohio Technical College’s Ariel Hall, and as Development Director at Starting Point Pregnancy Center are highlights. 

Diane has served in leadership roles in community and church, currently on Boards with Hospice of Knox County – Hospice of North Central Ohio, and Knox County Symphony Orchestra; and as an active member of Knox County Task Force for Older Adults and Mount Vernon Rotary.

Outside COVID, Diane and OESH Independent Living Apartment Elders regularly participate in cultural, educational and social events, engaging the greater Mount Vernon community with The Ohio Eastern Star Home.

Having worked with the elderly since age 16, Diane was impressed with the capable manner Care Partners at The Ohio Eastern Star Home assisted her Grandmother from 2003-2012.  The Ohio Eastern Star Home truly and capably offers ‘The Best!’ by avoiding loneliness, helplessness and boredom within a fun-loving, compassionate, gracious living environment!

Nancy Jo has lived in the Mount Vernon area since 2008 and has enjoyed becoming part of this vibrant community.  After graduating from Roberts Wesleyan College with a degree in Elementary Education and Fine Arts, she taught in small private schools for several years, wearing many hats in those fields.

After a move to the Chicago area, Nancy Jo found the world of marketing, working for First Alert and World’s Finest Chocolate in project management.  Several years later, a move to Mount Vernon lead her to Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Admissions Office where she worked for 10 years in data management and integrity, all while working with the Marketing Department and Special Events to draw prospective students to MVNU.  A recent change in direction introduced her to the field of senior care, and brought her to the world of marketing once again at The Ohio Eastern Star Home where she is very excited about being on the ground floor of promoting the exciting community of Pine Hill Independent Senior Living.

Nancy Jo has been married to her husband, John, since 2010, and they enjoy traveling to New England, as well as sites where they can observe the history of America through trains.  In her free time, Nancy Jo enjoys cooking, entertaining friends and family, serving in her church, and spending time in her flower beds.

Jason was raised here in Knox County before going off to college in northwest Ohio.  Returning home, he and his wife settled back in the Fredericktown area to raise a family.  He has been in the technology industry for 25-years, working his way up from repair and system design to the operations and administrative level over many years.   Jason came to The Ohio Eastern Star Home after spending several years working in the pharmaceutical technology industry for a large scale operation in North America.

In addition to his technology background, Jason has 22-years in various aspects of public safety where he continues to serve as a firefighter.  His hands-on experience and training bring security and safety expertise to the elders and staff of The Ohio Eastern Star Home.  

He has a passion for service, volunteerism in the community, and numerous philanthropy projects.

A graduate of Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, Marci earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Fitness.  For nearly two decades, Marci has worked in Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Her career began at Asbury Heights in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as an Exercise Coordinator where she implemented and managed the health, fitness and wellness programs for the elders, then later became the Director of Volunteer Services, Security and Transportation.  

In the summer of 2015, Marci and her family moved to central Ohio where she began working for The Ohio Eastern Star Home, where she holds the position of Director of Life Enrichment. Marci prides herself on being innovative and an “outside the box” thinker taking pleasure in creating events and experiences for the elders of The Ohio Eastern Star Home that will provide enjoyment, pleasure, and stimulation.  

Marci resides in Howard, Ohio, where she and her husband are raising twin boys and a daughter.  

Amanda Pohlman has worked in the long term care industry ever since she graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors degree in Gerontology/ Long Term Care Administration.  She passed her state and federal boards in 2014 to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator  and has been active in the education of caregivers concerning person centered care throughout her various roles in the industry.  She received her Eden Associate Certificate in 2019. 

Amanda brings with her a passion for Elder Centered Care and a specific love of working with those living with Dementia. She loves working here at Ohio Eastern Star because the company allows time and resources to create relationships with the staff and truly encourages them to become the best version of themselves. The staff is the lifeblood of any company and it is through them that we are able to give superior care to those who chose to live here.

When she is not teaching and training the staff at Ohio Eastern Star, she enjoys exploring recipes in the kitchen, going to the theater and playing with her two nephews.