Road to Hope Board Members & trustees

Maria Robinson was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She is a proud graduate of Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. Maria was part of the first Youngstown State Women's Golf Team and met her husband of more than 20 years, Shaun, at YSU. 

Maria's extensive experience is a testament to her capabilities. She has served as CFO at Lorain Public Library System and the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties (MHRBEO). Prior to these positions, Maria spent 16 years with the Ohio Auditor of State's Office. Her journey in governmental accounting began in August 2000, when she gained extensive knowledge of Federal Grants.

Aside from work and her philanthropic efforts, Maria’s days are filled with field hopping, watching her three beautiful daughters compete in various sports and chasing their dreams. Hannah, Hollie, and Haylee keep Maria and Shaun on their toes, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Larry was elected as a trustee to the board of the Road to Hope foundation in 2013. He comes from a large family, with 6 siblings. He and his loving wife have continued the family tradition on their own, raising 5 children, and have 8 grandchildren, with 1 more on the way. They also have 2 adopted grandchildren, as a direct result of the overdose death of their youngest son’s girlfriend in 2012. Larry has been clean and sober since 1994, and his wife has 20+ years in a recovery family group. Larry has actively participated in faith based and recovery based outreach programs and fundraisers. He enjoys his opportunity to work with the Road to Hope, not only helping those in recovery, but the families and surrounding communities that are affected by drug and alcohol abuse.

John Musson was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He received his B.A. from the University of Akron in 1972 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1975. He was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1972 and served as a Judge Advocate in Frankfurt, Germany from 1975 to 1980. He retired from the Army as a reserve Lieutenant Colonel in 1996. After his active duty tour John and his wife, Maureen, moved to North Ridgeville where he established a law practice. He maintained his practice from 1980 to 1997 when he was elected Judge of Elyria Municipal Court. During those 17 years he also served as an Assistant law director for North Ridgeville, as the North Ridgeville Prosecutor, as an Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor, and as a Referee in the Lorain County Domestic Relations Court. John served two terms on the Elyria Municipal Court and retired in 2009. He now serves as a visiting Judge at various municipal courts from time to time. John has served as the District Chairman for the Lorain County Boy Scouts, as the President of the Lorain County Historical Society, and as a member of the Elyria Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. John and Maureen raised two wonderful children, Julia and Daniel, and have five grandchildren. John retired from Civil War reenacting in 2013 having attained the rank of Private. He dabbles at oil and acrylic painting but lists his principal hobby as seeing as much of the world as time allows.

Laurie Knowlton has a Bachelor’s degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She worked in the field of substance abuse for over 40 years beginning in Chicago and eventually migrating to the Cleveland area. Ms. Knowlton owned a private practice in Fairview Park until 2025, at which time she retired. While working, she provided services for adults with a variety of issues impacting their lives.  She also worked closely with various EAP firms, focusing on employees who tested positive for drugs and/or alcohol in the workplace. In addition, Laurie conducted Drug Free Safety Training for a variety of organizations throughout the Cleveland area. Other responsibilities included conducting trainings on various subjects specific to the workplace environment as well as critical incident responses. She remains a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory Designation in the State of Ohio. She is also a DOT qualified Substance Abuse Professional and while in practice, assessed DOT regulated employees who violated federal drug and alcohol testing regulations.

In her retirement, Laurie enjoys traveling, spending time with family, friends, and her cat; she is also actively involved in her church. 

Jen Buza, a Cleveland native and local Director of CX, is driven by a deep belief in  people, purpose, and the power of community.  A proud Bay Village resident, Jen shares her home with her Bernese Mountain  Dog, Coco. When the Cleveland weather allows, she can often be found playing  tennis or enjoying a round of golf.  Jen has been in recovery for over 10 years and is deeply committed to giving back.  She actively sponsors other women, volunteers to lead recovery groups, and  helps organize local fundraisers. Her passion is ensuring women and children  have a safe, supportive environment where they can stay sober, heal, and grow.  With a strong background in operations and leadership, Jen brings a steady,  hands-on approach to board service—focused on strengthening teams, honoring  organizational missions, and helping create lasting, purpose-driven change.  

Brady Aldinger is a dedicated employee benefits professional who is passionate about helping organizations create healthier, stronger workplaces. Through his work with Cardinal Benefits Group, he partners with employers to develop benefit strategies that support employee well-being while helping organizations achieve their goals. 

In addition to his professional expertise, Brady is committed to community service and recovery advocacy. As a former President of the Board of Directors for The LCADA Way, now part of Riveon Mental Health and Recovery, he played an active role in supporting programs and services that help individuals and families affected by substance use and mental health challenges. His leadership reflects a deep belief in the power of recovery and the importance of creating opportunities for people to rebuild their lives.

As a member of the Road to Hope Board of Directors, Brady brings valuable experience in leadership, strategic planning, and nonprofit governance. His passion for strengthening communities and supporting recovery aligns closely with Road to Hope's mission of providing safe, supportive housing and helping individuals and families build a foundation for lasting recovery.

Anne Nolan, a retired school teacher,  brings over 22 years of lived experience in  recovery and a deep commitment to service and community support. She has dedicated  much of her time to sponsoring and mentoring women, helping guide others through  their recovery and professional journeys with compassion, accountability, and resilience.

She previously served on the boards of two nonprofit recovery organizations, where she  contributed to organizational oversight, mission advancement, and community  engagement. Her experience offers a valuable perspective grounded in empathy, lived experience, and a strong understanding of the needs of those in recovery.

A resident of Rocky River, Anne lives with her husband, Ed, and is a proud mother of  two grown daughters and grandmother to two grandchildren. Outside of her service  work, she enjoys gardening, traveling, and sailing. 

Jim Schrantz brings more than three decades of leadership, business experience, and community service to the Road to Hope Board of Directors.

Drawing from his personal recovery journey that began in 1996, Jim is deeply committed to helping individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders find hope, healing, and lasting recovery.  In 2024, Jim became a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter, further strengthening his lifelong mission of helping others navigate the challenges of early recovery.

Jim has extensive nonprofit governance experience, having served for more than 20 years on the board of The LCADA Way (now known as Riveon Mental Health and Recovery), where he contributed to finance, marketing, fundraising, and recovery support initiatives. He has facilitated men's recovery groups in sober living environments and played a key role in advancing recovery services throughout the community. 

Beyond his recovery advocacy work, Jim is a former Board President and current Board Member Emeritus of Bay Arts in Bay Village, Ohio, where he helped guide organizational growth, fundraising efforts, and facility expansion projects.

Professionally, Jim was the founding partner of Thomas James Associates, a manufacturers' representative firm that he successfully led for more than 50 years. His experience in business development, strategic planning, team leadership, and relationship building provides valuable insight to the organizations he serves.