About Us
WHO WE ARE
Here to serve you
As a member of our community, you’re important to us. Live your best life! We’re here to advise and guide you along the journey.
Our Mission
Our mission is to use our time and resources to help people with developmental disabilities live, work, and succeed in Darke County.
OUR HISTORY
Darke DD has been serving our community for more than 50 years. We were founded in 1967, when Ohio Senate Bill 169 established county boards to serve people with a developmental disability.
For years, Anthony Wayne School served children with a disability. In the 1980s, Wayne Industries provided employment and day services for adults. In 1992, Federal law revolutionized DD services by mandating that students be transitioned into classrooms with their peers.
Since then, independence and community involvement have been the cornerstones of our approach. Our mission is focused on empowerment and involvement. We work with individuals and families to bring those with developmental disabilities fully into our community.
READ OUR ANNUAL REPORT
Invested into our community
Our work focuses on serving residents with developmental disabilities—but it doesn’t stop there. We partner with local employers, schools, and businesses to involve and enrich all of Darke County. In return, our neighbors generously support our services to help offset shortfalls in state and federal funding.
Read our annual report to learn more. Thank you for your continued investment in our mission. Together, we’re making a difference in our community work with individuals and families to bring those with developmental disabilities fully into our community.
DARKE DD PLANNING
Planning for the future
At Darke DD, we’re proud of what we do. We continuously look at how we can improve. We create a list of priorities and a specific plan of action to achieve them. We closely monitor progress and generate reports to measure outcomes.
BOARD MEETINGS
Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm at the offices of Darke DD.
The list of 2025 board meeting dates will be updated after the January 16, 2025 organizational meeting.
Board Meeting Dates for 2025
January 16, 2025
(Organizational Meeting)
February xx, 2025
March xx, 2025
April xx, 2025
May xx, 2025
June xx, 2025
July xx, 2025
August xx, 2025
(If needed)
September xx, 2025
October xx, 2025
November xx, 2025
December xx, 2025
(if needed)
OUR BOARD
A seven-member board of engaged community volunteers oversees Darke DD’s overall operations.
Carol Bruss
President
Gwen Tinkle
VICE PRESIDENT
Pamela Neff
Secretary
Joseph Lofino
BOARD MEMBER
Jimmy Meade
Board Member
Mike Boyer
Board Member
Brad Hoffman
BOARD MEMBEROUR LEADERSHIP
Tonya Clark
SUPERINTENDENT
Joseph Badell
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Christy Bugher
Business Services DirectorOUR STAFF
Dawn Aronhalt
Service & Support Administrator
Mary Baker
Early InterventionDevelopmental Specialist
Meladi Brewer
Service & Support Administrator
Caitlin Brown
Service & Support Administrator
Drew Chadwick
Service & Support Administrator
Jonathan Connor
Service & Support Administrator
Becca Cotterman
Service & Support Administrator
Alexis Denlinger
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Kristi Edger
Early InterventionDevelopmental Specialist
Sue Huston
Community Connections &Advocacy Coordinator
Eric Lee
Information Technology &Public Relations Specialist
Louie Masso-Rivetti
Medicaid Services Manager
Amy Mauricio
Service & Support Administrator
Jodi Mikesell
Early InterventionSpecialist Assistant
Nicole Moneysmith
Service & Support Administrator
Angela Perkins
Service & Support Administration Manager
Cheryl Pressly
Employment & Community Resource Coordinator
Jack Rivetti
Service & Support Administrator
Jessica Shaffer
Service & Support Administrator
Mike Swiger
Facilities MaintenanceCoordinator
Ryan Thatcher
Service & Support Administrator
Leslie Zimmers
Early InterventionDevelopmental Specialist
