TMHA Staff |
Board of Commissioners
Staff
Marty Chumney
Marty Chumney initially joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing
Authority in 1995 and holds the position of TMHA Executive Director. His primary
responsibility is the administration of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
and supervision of other housing programs that TMHA operates. His duties include the
management of all TMHA programs and initiatives in conjunction with HUD guidelines,
oversight over implementation of all of TMHA's policies, procedures and Tenant
Integrity requirements, presenting TMHA policies at new tenant briefings, staff
supervision and consulting regularly with TMHA's Board of Commissioners and Resident
Advisory Board. Marty is a member of the Ohio Housing Authorities Conference where
he is an active member of the Training & Conference Committee.
TMHA also operates a side-by-side non-profit known as Tuscarawas Affordable Housing
Services which owns and operates a 40 unit apartment complex in Uhrichsville, Ohio
known as Clay Village Apartments. Mr. Chumney serves as the President of Tuscarawas
Affordable Housing Services.
Previously, Mr. Chumney served as TMHA's Assistant Administrator and coordinated
TMHA's Self-Sufficiency and Homeownership Programs where he worked closely with
Section 8 clients and local service agencies to help clients achieve established
self-sufficiency objectives. He is a graduate of Dover High School and The Ohio
State University with a degree in Political Science. Marty has over 20 years
experience as a high school basketball official and is a member of the Tuscarawas
County Basketball Officials Association. He resides in New Philadelphia with his
wife Shawna and children Derek, Brock and Blake. He also has a daughter and
son-in-law, Laurel and Nathan Stokey who reside in Dover.
Martin Howell
Martin Howell joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in
1992 and now holds the position of Fiscal Administrator. He wears a number of hats
at TMHA including bookkeeping duties, and maintaining TMHA's accounting records.
Martin also provides in-house management and oversight for the TMHA internal
computer network, Section 8 tenant/owner housing database, and numerous software
programs. Before becoming the Fiscal Administrator he also served as the TMHA HQS
Inspector, in charge of TMHA's inspection program to determine if rental units
placed on the Section 8 program meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS)
standards. Prior to joining the housing authority, Mr. Howell served eight years in
the military in various positions with the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of Strasburg
High School and attended the University of Akron.
Amanda Workman
Amanda Workman joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in
December of 2007. She currently has the position of Family Self-Sufficiency and
Homeownership Coordinator. Her primary duties with TMHA are coordinating the FSS
Program which involves working closely with Section 8 clients and local service
agencies to help clients achieve self-sufficiency objectives. She processes interim
changes of client incomes and reviews zero income forms to determine household
income for potential applicants and current clients as well as creating monthly FSS
newsletters.
In addition, Ms. Workman works with families to achieve their dream of becoming a
homeowner thru the Homeownership Program offered by TMHA. She presents new
homeownership training sessions to qualify families. Amanda is involved in several
local networking meetings including Tuscarawas County Job Placement Network, HOME
Network, and is a Board Member for Tuscarawas County Council for Church and
Community. Prior to joining the housing authority, Amanda was a Closing Assistant at
Title One Agency with Cutler Real Estate. She is a graduate of Tusky Valley High
School, and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Walsh
University. She currently resides in Tuscarawas County with her dog Bailey.
Jody Jeffers
Jody Jeffers joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in
2009 and has the position of Occupancy Specialist. Her primary responsibilities
with TMHA are to conduct annual recertification interviews with tenants to determine
if eligibility for housing assistance remains. She also processes interim income
changes and household composition changes as well as the presentation of TMHA
policies at new applicant briefings. With a degree in Business Management, she was
employed as a case manager for the Dept. of Job and Family Services in Belmont
County for over 12 years prior to moving to Georgia where she resided for 9 years.
She then returned to the area with her husband and three children. She was employed
with Lauren Manufacturing for over one year as a Customer Service Representative
prior to joining the TMHA team.
Sarah West
Sarah West joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in June
2009 and has the position of Occupancy Specialist Assistant. Her primary
responsibilities with TMHA are processing applications for the waiting list, general
office duties, reviewing leases and contracts with tenants and landlords, scheduling
appointments and inspections, preparing formal application and recertification
packets and processing payments to TMHA.
Sarah graduated from Dover High School and has a Bachelor of Arts in History and
Criminal Justice Studies from Kent State University. In addition to working at TMHA,
she is a tour guide at the J.E. Reeves Home and Museum. Sarah currently resides in
Dover with her dog Abby.
Curt Gipe
Curt Gipe joined the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority staff in September of
2006 and currently holds the position of Fraud Investigator. His primary
responsibilities with TMHA are to investigate complaints of potential fraud being
committed by assisted tenants. He assists in ensuring that tenants are following the
policies, procedures, and rules of the program. He also participates in termination
hearings, and prosecution of tenants who violate the program rules, and are
suspected of fraud. Additionally, he performs the criminal background screenings on
all new applicants prior to their gaining admittance to TMHA programs. With a degree
in Police Science, he is currently employed as Police Chief for the Village of
Roswell , and part time Police Officer for the Village of Bolivar. He graduated from
Newcomerstown High school in 2003, prior to continuing his education in the criminal
justice field, and joining the TMHA team.
Elain Yenni
Elain Yenni joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in
1997 and has the position of Occupancy/Portability Specialist. Her primary
responsibilities with TMHA include pulling names from the waiting list, processing
client applications, screening applicants for eligibility, assisting the Fraud
Investigator with leads regarding potential tenant fraud, presenting program rules,
policies, procedures & policies in new tenant briefings, reviewing Request for
Tenant Approval forms, preparing all leases, calculating interim changes of clients
income and family composition changes, processing requests to transfer Section 8
vouchers into or out of Tuscarawas County.
Additionally, Ms. Yenni coordinates the Shelter + Care Program and New Philadelphia
Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program (separate programs administered by TMHA).
Prior to joining the housing authority Elain worked at Whitemyer Advertising as a
Production Coordinator. She has three daughters, Ashli, a nurse at Union Hospital,
Autumn, an Adjudication Coordinator at Ohio Board of Nursing, and Ashanté, a nurse
at Gabrail Cancer Center. She has a precious grandson Carter, who is her pride and
joy. She currently resides in New Philadelphia.
Terry Brugger
Terry Brugger joined the staff of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority in
June, 2009. He is serving as the TMHA HQS Inspector,
in charge of TMHA's inspection program to determine if rental units
placed on the Section 8 program meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards
(HQS). Prior to joining the housing authority, Mr. Brugger was
employed as an Operational Supervisor at Zimmer Orthopaedic Surgical
Products.
He is a graduate of Garaway High School, and holds an Associate's
Degree in Chemical Engineering From Columbus Technical Institute,
and a
Bachelor's Degree in Business from Otterbein College.
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Board of Commissioners
Jill Lengler - Chairman of the TMHA Board of Commissioners was first appointed to the
Board by the Mayor of New Philadelphia in the 1980's. Miss Lengler is a Tuscarawas County
Native, Kent State University graduate with degree in Architecture; 21 years with W. E.
Quicksall and Associates, Consulting Engineers, working with local communities for funding
for infrastructure; 6 years Assistant Director at the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association
(OMEGA) a 10 county Appalachian Development District. Currently starting 4th year as Director
of Tuscarawas County Regional Planning Commission and is Floodplain Coordinator for Tuscarawas
County.
Current Affiliations: Dover Shade Tree Commission, Dover Historical Society, Chairman of
Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority, President of Crossroads Resource Conservation &
Development, a 12 county nonprofit. Jill is married, has 2 children and resides in Dover.
Dave Smith has been a member of the TMHA Board of
Commissioners since he was appointed by the Tuscarawas
County Commissioners. Mr. Smith, a licensed Realtor, has
a lengthy history of working in the housing industry.
He was one of the founders of Claymont Jaycee Housing
in Uhrichsville, Ohio and currently serves as Property
Manager for Jaycee Housing where he manages 236 units
of project based assisted housing. Mr. Smith was also
one of the founders of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing
Authority and served as an Administrator in those formative
years. A lifetime resident of the Uhrichsville area, he
along with his wife Sue are the parents of four children.
Twin daughters named Heidy & Holly, Dustin and Kimberly
and twin granddaughters Malory and Maley Ann and a grandson
named Kylar. In his spare time he enjoys golf, basketball,
walking, traveling and spending time with his family.
Carol Penix has been a long serving member of the
Tuscarawas MHA Board of Commissioners. She had initially
been appointed by the Tuscarawas County Commissioners,
but after a brief absence from the Board, was reappointed
in 2000 by the Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court. Ms.
Penix is currently Project Director for Harcatus Housing
where she is responsible for housing and weatherization
services in the three county area of Harrison, Carroll
and Tuscarawas Counties. In her position she is responsible
for home repair, utility programs, home counseling services,
new home construction and the universal service fund.
She is a graduate of the University of Akron with a Bachelors
Degree in Social Work / Sociology. Carol is a member of
Grace Lutheran Church, National Association of Social
Workers and is a Board Member of the Corporation of Ohio
Appalachian Development. She resides in Dover and is an
avid Ohio State and Dover football fan.
Winnie Walker - joined the TMHA Board of Commissioners in 2008, appointed by New
Philadelphia Mayor Mike Taylor to replace the late George Houston. Ms. Walker is retired
from Union Hospital where she was employed as a PBX Operator for 33 years. She has been
very active in our community including the following affiliations. She is currently an
at-large member of New Philadelphia City Council, board member for Tuscarawas County
March of Dimes, Ohio Polio Network board member for 5 years, President of The Helps
Foundation, has been appointed to both the Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Committee and the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities. Additionally,
Winnie co-founded S.E.A. / Independent Living Center and served on the board of director’s
for several years and was appointed to the Tuscarawas County Local Emergency Planning
Committee by the Tuscarawas County Commissioners. She resides in New Philadelphia with
her husband Albert.
Teri Meuhlen
Teri Meuhlen is the resident member of the TMHA Board. She was appointed by Probate
Judge Linda Kate when her name was submitted for consideration by former Executive
Director Claudia Duerr and FSS Coordinator Marty Chumney. She holds a Bachelor of
Arts Degree from Kent State University and was a nontraditional student long before
it was a common sight on college campuses in our area. She is currently serving her
first term as an Americorps VISTA assigned to HARCATUS Tri-County Community Action
Organization and also serves on the Tuscarawas County Family and Children First
Council as a Parent Representative. She believes that by working as a community, we
can overcome the challenges that low income folks like myself face, to achieve self
sufficiency.
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