Our Executive Director and Board

A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in public policy, John began an early journey into social entrepreneurship. From co-founding the Arnold’s East Teen Center in an abandoned school to combat alcohol and drug abuse among youth, to helping teens launch a community newspaper in a rural upstate New York village during a summer at Cornell, his commitment to community building and literacy was evident. In high school, he received a Rotary Club scholarship in recognition of his community service and a United Way Eureka Award for creating an innovative shared office facility for nonprofit organizations that was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Throughout his professional life, John’s efforts have been multifaceted. He has continually sought innovative ways to address societal challenges, from serving as a press secretary and legislative aide on Capitol Hill to working as a software engineer and IT consultant for over 35 years across banking, telecommunications and public sector industries. He has spent the last 25 years in state capitals as a consultant delivering the information systems used by child welfare agencies to track child abuse and neglect and to provide case management, eligibility, and provider and financial management for agencies supporting families, foster care and adoption.

His foray into hunger relief, sparked by the discovery of empty shelves at a community food pantry, led to the creation of a national toll-free telecommunications network connecting hungry individuals, food donors and volunteers with their nearest hunger agency. This initiative, recognized by prestigious organizations like the Benton Foundation and the ComputerWorld Smithsonian Award, laid the groundwork for his future endeavors. His project plan, housed in the Smithsonian Institution, served as a blueprint for national hunger relief hotlines. In 1992, John received a Governor’s Volunteer of the Year award for his volunteer work in hunger relief.

At that time, inspired by his own and his children’s love of receiving and reading magazines, and a belief in the transformative power of literacy, John conceived MagLiteracy, similar to a food bank but for reading materials and the only project of its kind in the world. His vision is simple, yet impactful: to provide magazines to children and families who lack access to reading materials, thereby fostering a joy of reading to promote lifelong literacy with the power to break the cycle of poverty.

Through MagLiteracy, established as a 501c3 charitable organization on the United Nations International Literacy Day in 2004, John and his team aim to create a global literacy pipeline, leveraging the unique literacy power of new and recycled print magazines to reach people with limited access to reading materials by partnering with community and humanitarian organizations such as food pantries, shelters, and job training and youth mentoring programs. His innovative approach has garnered support from individuals, corporations and publishers alike.

As he continues to champion literacy and community empowerment, John, who one time walked a million steps from Washington, D.C., to Boston in 30 days to spotlight hunger in America for World Food Day, remains driven by a fundamental belief: that every individual has the power to change lives for good, one step at a time. We should give more than we take, and the only way to start is to start — with one step, then another, to get to where we want to go to achieve our goals. Through his tireless efforts and collaborative spirit, he exemplifies the transformative potential of social entrepreneurship and volunteerism in building a brighter, more productive and self-sufficient future for our communities and neighbors.

Jocelyn is a risk consultant for Allstate Insurance, a company committed to giving back to communities by preparing youth to succeed, disrupting the cycle of relationship abuse and supporting non-profit leaders. She joined MagLiteracy in January 2023.

“With a passion fostered by my English-teacher mother, I am deeply committed to our mission of promoting literacy as the first step to end poverty of the mind, heart and pocket. Reading is where it all begins. I am dedicated to connecting free resources to the underserved readers we aim to support. And I’m happy we incorporate sustainability and recycling into our initiatives, to foster a greener, more sustainable future. We’re the only organization of our kind, and it has been my pleasure to support our mission in as many ways as I can.”

During his 36 years in state government, Ken served as nonpartisan staff to the Wisconsin Legislature and then as chief operating/chief financial officer for the State Investment Board, which manages the assets of the ninth largest U.S. public pension fund. He served as board treasurer for the largest Wisconsin credit union and continues to serve on the boards of two foundations. He became director of the Madison office of MagLiteracy in 2021.

“Madison is where John Mennell founded MagLiteracy. I was drawn to it by memories of the magazines I read as a boy: Boys’ Life, with its stories of Scouts performing heroic deeds; Model Railroader, with its pictures of imaginary towns fashioned down to the smallest detail; and Sport, where I could find out what Willie Mays liked for breakfast. There is still something powerful about a child discovering the joys of reading a book or magazine that is theirs to hold and keep.”

Mort has been a professor of French language and literature at Kenyon College for over 30 years. 

“As an educator, I’ve always been a strong supporter of literacy. Reading is not just for school; it increases opportunities for professional, personal and spiritual development. I’ve always believed that the ability to apply one’s reading skills in a variety of settings and for all kinds of purposes is a right, not a privilege. For those reasons, I was thrilled to join MagLiteracy in 2020. Since then, I have spent many hours in our warehouse sorting and shipping magazines, delivering them to local food pantries, and working with other volunteers to increase our reach in local communities and beyond.”

Chuck is retired from Printing Arts Press Inc., where he was president and owner for 43 years. A graduate of Ohio Northern University, he is a member of Kiwanis and the Graphic Media Alliance, a print-centric organization serving the print industry in Ohio, Michigan and Northern Kentucky, where he has served on the Board of Directors and as board chairman. He also has served on the board of directors and as secretary of the Fairways Condo Association for four years.

“Working with MagLiteracy to spread literacy is an extension of my time in the printing industry. It lets me continue to share my love of reading, which started in elementary school, where I checked out library books, usually about history or mysteries, and every quarter went to purchase comic books.”

Lori is a retired teacher and knows the power of literacy. Helping students learn to decode and explore the power of the written word is one of her greatest teaching memories. 

“I love how MagLiteracy supports my love of reading and desire to lessen our contributions to the landfill.”

Kaitlyn has been volunteering with MagLiteracy since 2021, bringing both her professional expertise and personal passion to support its mission. A marketing professional in the security integration industry, she works for a veteran-owned company based in Central Ohio. With a strong background in strategic communications, she helps organizations tell their stories and connect with their communities. A dedicated volunteer for many years, she’s also a proud pet parent to five rescue animals, which speaks to her compassion and commitment to service in all areas of life.

“I am a lifelong reader and deeply inspired by the transformative power of literacy. My passion for books and belief in equitable access to education are what drew me to MagLiteracy’s mission.I truly believe in the power of reading and exploring anything you can through books.”