Meet the Team
Founder / Director Georgann Mirgliotta
Serving those experiencing homelessness throughout Akron, Ohio, Georgann is dedicated to building strong, reliable, and meaningful relationships with individuals in the community.
As Director of Hope Farm, Georgann oversees weekly operations and works directly with individuals living outdoors in encampments, hotels, abandoned buildings, and transitional housing. She also serves on the board of the Summit County Continuum of Care, providing support and advocacy for those with lived experience of homelessness.
This work has become a lifelong passion rooted in connection, dignity, and service. Before Hope Farm, Georgann owned Blossom’s and Bulbs, a gardening service business, and worked with several local organizations in urban farming and landscape design.
ChairpersonMichael Harhager
Michael currently works for COHHIO, a statewide coalition whose mission is to end homelessness and expand access to affordable housing. He brings over a decade of experience working within the homeless response system, with a deep commitment to those most vulnerable in our communities.
Michael holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Akron and is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Ohio. He is a dedicated advocate for social and housing justice, and firmly believes that through collective action, we can solve homelessness.
Vice ChairpersonMark Matthews
Bringing over two decades of business leadership and operational expertise to his role as a board member of Hope Farm, Inc. He is currently the Facilities Manager for Reworld Bedford, and previously spent 25 years as Co-owner and VP of Operations for Hunt Imaging, LLC. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Process Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Mark joined the Hope Farm board because he believes we can and must do better for those experiencing homelessness and that by working collectively, we can create real, lasting change for those who need it most.
Board Member/Lived ExperienceMathew Seifert
Mathew currently serves as a Homeless Outreach Worker with Community Support Services in Summit County, Ohio, where he supports individuals experiencing homelessness with compassion, dignity, and faith.
By meeting people where they are, Mathew helps connect individuals with housing, resources, and a renewed sense of hope. He also serves as Chair of the Lived Experience Committee, using his role to advocate for those who continue to face homelessness and housing instability.
Guided by his faith and the belief that every life can be restored, Mathew strives to be the hands and feet of Christ, walking alongside others as they work toward stability and a new beginning.
TreasurerDana Matthews
Brings a blend of financial expertise and a lifelong passion for people to her role as a board member of Hope Farm, Inc. She currently serves as the project accountant for a contractor specializing in high-end custom home building and remodeling in northeast Ohio. Prior to that, Dana spent 20 years as an elementary school teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Baldwin-Wallace University and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University.
She joined the Hope Farm board because she believes every person deserves a dignified and safe place to live in community and is committed to seeing meaningful progress in how we collectively care for the unsheltered.
Board MemberNick Mirgliotta
A business owner and construction manager specializing in commercial development and hands-on project leadership. As a partner with the J.C. Jones Corporation, he leads projects from planning through completion with a practical, solutions-oriented approach.
Nick earned a degree in Business Management from Kent State University and spent seven years working for his family’s business, Forest City Erectors, where he served as shop manager. His experience there instilled in him the value of hard work, accountability, and leading by example.
As a board member, Nick is passionate about supporting the mission of Hope Farm and helping create meaningful impact in the community. He is committed to using his experience to serve others, strengthen the organization, and contribute to its continued growth and outreach.
SecretaryJamie Bisesi
Jamie studied International Business at Florida State University and the University of South Alabama. After raising her five children, she returned to the workforce and built her professional experience in the construction industry, working as an Account Specialist for several Cleveland-based companies. She has also spent many years serving as a Director of Children’s Ministries with local churches in the Twinsburg area, bringing together her strengths in organization, relationship-building, and community involvement.
Outside of work, family remains a big part of Jamie’s life. She’s a proud mom of five and Mimi to six grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, stitching, crafting, and finding new ways to put her creativity to work.