Our Staff
FRAN GERBIG
Fran (she/her) joined Prevention Action Alliance as assistant executive director in 2017 after enjoying a long-standing relationship with our agency, which included serving on committees and participating in our learning collaborative. In July 2020, the Board of Directors appointed her executive director.
At Prevention Action Alliance, Fran supervises staff, assists in program and grant development, and represents our agency on various state and local committees, boards, and coalitions. She is an active member of the Ohio Prevention Professionals Association, the Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee, the Coalition for Healthy Communities, and the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center Advisory Council. Additionally, Fran was appointed to the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council and serves on the Governor’s School Safety Working Group.
Previously, Fran worked as the health and wellness manager for Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery in Canton, where she coordinated Drug-Free Stark County, a Drug-Free Communities-funded substance misuse prevention coalition. Fran is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant and earned a bachelor’s degree in child and family ecology from the University of Akron and a Master of Public Health degree in health planning and administration from the University of Tennessee.
Fran enjoys gardening, attending live concerts, spending time with family, and traveling throughout the United States.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER
LEAH BLEWITT
Leah (she/hers) joined Prevention Action Alliance in 2022 as the Communications and Graphic Design Coordinator. She now serves as the Communications and Marketing Manager, leading the development of communication strategies and ensuring brand consistency across all platforms. She also manages publication schedules and oversees the visual direction of PAA’s communications, helping to craft and deliver impactful messages.
Leah is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant with a bachelor’s in business administration from The Ohio State University. Leah previously worked in marketing and communications roles at The Ohio State University Technology and Commercialization Office, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio, and BSSI, an IT outsourcing business. Along the way, she discovered her love for design and believes effective design leads to better communication and increased brand visibility.
Beyond work, Leah is a devoted spouse and parent. She enjoys time with her family, running, crocheting, and is actively involved in her local church.
PREVENTION PROGRAM MANAGER
PREVENTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Julianna (she/her) serves as the Prevention Program Manager overseeing the agency’s prevention programs and services. Her professional background spans 20 years in Ohio’s behavioral health field in various capacities, including working with families in the Head Start program, supporting youth leadership development and youth-led programming, serving as a mental health ombudsman, and leading youth mentoring programs. Before coming to PAA, Julianna served as a community outreach coordinator for an addiction services agency in northeast Ohio.
Working with youth and young adults has been Julianna’s greatest passion professionally. She has been involved with the Ohio Adult Allies network since 2014 and has collaborated with other adult allies in the development of resources that inform and elevate youth-led prevention science throughout the state of Ohio. She is a published author on topics pertaining to youth and youth-led prevention and is the founder of the Ohio Adult Ally Northeast Region Learning Collaborative.
Julianna currently serves as co-chair for The HEALing Communities sub-committee for Cuyahoga County and is a member of the northeast Ohio hub for the Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition.
Julianna is a certified prevention specialist (OCPS) and a trainer for both the Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST) and DEA 60 Community Drug Prevention process.
Outside of her professional role, Julianna spends time with her large, blended family of eight kids and two dogs. She also enjoys traveling and volunteering with a community outreach agency serving the homeless in Cuyahoga County.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sondra (she/her) joined Prevention Action Alliance in 2019 and serves as the agency’s Operations Manager. In her role, Sondra manages all aspects of accounting, including financials, accounts receivable and payable, and internal audit. She also provides general budget oversight across all agency networks, programs, and events. Additionally, Sondra leads the agency’s human resource management efforts, including new staff orientation, insurance, payroll, and information technology.
Sondra has over 20 years of administrative experience, including roles in higher education, corporate America, and the service industry. Before joining PAA, Sondra was the accountant for a multi-site car dealership.
Sondra has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University.
In her spare time, Sondra enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, traveling, and hanging out with her cats.