Greenleaf Family Center Names Director of
Community Services of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Media contact: Jeanine Black, Communications Officer, 330-376-9494, bjeanine@greenleafctr.org
AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 29, 2026) – Greenleaf Family Center has hired Timothy Skaggs as Director of Community Services for the d/Deaf & Hard of Hearing (CSD), the program’s first dedicated director in five years. With deep cultural knowledge and an authentic connection to the Deaf community, Skaggs, also the first Deaf person to lead CSD, brings lived experience and leadership expertise to the role.
Skaggs, who resides in Akron, will provide strategic leadership for Greenleaf’s programs serving individuals who are d/Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, with a focus on program growth, financial sustainability, and community impact, while ensuring high-quality, culturally affirming services across the region.
“As director, we look to Tim to expand access to services and build stronger partnerships with other nonprofits and the business community across greater Akron, as well as CSD’s five-county service area,” said Jill Oldham, CEO. “We are excited to have Tim on our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make in this role.”
Previously, Skaggs was with the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center in Cleveland since 2020, most recently serving as the director of the Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing since 2021.
A graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Skaggs has spent his career committed to serving, educating, advocating and developing programs and services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.
Skaggs is also a member of Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. He received the award for his “leadership, advocacy and passion for creating communication access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community” according to the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center.
“Deaf people are often excluded from essential life experiences, especially when they grow up without full access to language and communication. That’s why programs like CSD exist. Everyone can be successful when they are given the right tools, access, opportunities and support,” said Skaggs. “Through Greenleaf, I hope to open conversations with other agencies and organizations, so they understand the support people who are deaf need and that it doesn't stop - it's all the time.”
And he sees even greater opportunities at a multi-service agency such as Greenleaf.
“I’ve appreciated seeing and learning more about Greenleaf’s many programs and how they work together. I want to increase awareness knowledge of the Deaf community at Greenleaf and the surrounding communities to help connect individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing with the many resources available here,” he added.
Founded in 1912, Greenleaf Family Center serves the greater Akron community through three foundational areas – behavioral health treatment and prevention, family support and education, and community services of D/deaf and Hard of Hearing. Each year, Greenleaf empowers thousands of individuals and their families to build healthier relationships and greater well-being through counseling, education, and support services.