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2006 Volume 3 |
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In this issue ....
By Stephen L. Strayer, President, LAAA
Mary Beth Carroll, Chairman of the Leadership Akron Board of Trustees, along with Mark Scheffler, Executive Director, discussed the strengths of the current program. Mark also reviewed the stated program goals as they have been defined by the Strategic Planning Committee. A review of the Alumni Association was next. We are fortunate to have approximately 80% of our graduates still engaged as members. This participation rate speaks highly of the quality of our overall program and the professional staff that works to keep it running smoothly. Finally, to help keep us all more informed and engaged, a new tool was rolled out to the presidents. The Alumni Association is making available a listserv for each class. This will allow any class member to communicate via email with their entire class through one e-mail address. The same tool is also available for the class presidents to communicate and to share best practices and fun things various classes may be doing. This will be coming your way soon, so keep your eyes and emails open. The luncheon wrapped up with a lively discussion on various ideas for the program and the Alumni Association. It was agreed that this first-ever gathering was beneficial to all and should become at least an annual event to share ideas and continue to grow as the best Leadership program ever.
Law & Order: Leadership Akron – Justice Day 2006 By Mona Wolfman '93
Mona Wolfman attended Justice Day as an alumni observer and “reporter” for the LeaderLine.
Regioning, Incubating, Accelerating Class XXII Highlights Innovation on Regionalism, Business/Economy Days By Mary Jones '06 On May 3, 2006 Class XXII gathered with twelve other leadership groups at the Lorain County Community College for Regionalism Day. The day was filled with learning about other areas of Northeast Ohio and interacting with other leaders. Class XXII members gladly shared the new ideas and projects that are taking place in the Akron area. Participants finished the day with a new appreciation of all the great things that can happen when we build bridges. For his achievements in modeling regionalism, our own Dr. Proenza of The University of Akron received the Regional Vision Award at the day’s close. Our fast pace continued for Business and Economy Day. Dr. Ned Hill, Vice President for Economic Development and Professor at Cleveland State University, made a powerful presentation on Northeast Ohio’s economic opportunities and challenges. We also heard from other area business leaders as to why they choose to operate in our area, and we made a site visit to Akron’s Incubator. Business and Economy Day was enlightening and stimulating. Class XXII now has the challenge of helping to keep this area’s business community strong and vital.
LAAA Community Issues Forum Features Hospital CEOs By Dan Sveda '93 Alan Bleyer '00, Bill Considine, and Tom Strauss '01, CEOs of Akron General Health System, Akron Children’s Hospital, and Summa Health System respectively, teamed up to inform the alumni about an important community need. Currently in Summit County there are 65,000-70,000 people who do not have Health Care coverage. Of this amount 15,600 are children. A majority of these people are employed. This group increasingly uses the Emergency Room for their primary care and often delay care until the situation is chronic and more expensive to treat. Hospitals continue to bear the costs for this uncompensated care. The trends for the future are not good. The number of employers providing health care coverage is dropping as the cost of charity care continues to rise. Public sector reimbursement has not kept pace with costs and the burden is picked up by the hospitals. It is estimated that $922 per year in additional premiums are paid because of uncompensated care per person. The area hospitals are working together to address the problem, however it will take a community wide effort. Current programs such as Healthy Connections, the Health Resource Center and the Open M free clinic address a portion of the problem. It was suggested that a Leadership Akron work group be assigned to investigate the problem and review models from Columbus, OH and Massachusetts.
JLA Environment Day & Graduation By Bernie Rochford '04
City Scrap hosted the kids for a tour and demonstrations of recycling metals. Judging by the reactions, most of the students had never been up close and personal with the heavy equipment used in the process. It was like being in an episode of the History Channel’s “Heavy Metal”. Knowing what happens to discarded automobiles, cans and appliances helped the kids understand the connection with recycling and turning the discarded metals into useful products. The group went back to the Waste Water Plant for some enlightening round table discussions with a number of environmental organizations, parks and recycling programs. The day ended with an overview of household recycling and the importance of good stewardship. The practical implication of each person doing their part for the general good was emphasized and well-received. The Day Chairs did a fantastic job of keeping the program entertaining, informative, and fast-paced. Much thanks goes to Mike McGlinchy ’05, Randy Katz '98 and Carlene Groeger ’98. Thirty-three high school juniors from Akron and Summit County graduated from Junior Leadership Akron on April 30, 2006 at The Martin University Center. The 2005/06 class is the 19th to complete the Junior Leadership Akron program. James Hardy, member of the Akron Public Schools Board of Education, served as keynote speaker. We would like to thank Stacy Wessels '99 for all her help and coordination efforts as co-chair for the program. Stacy, husband Mitch and son Taylor have moved to the Cincinnati area. We are also grateful to Lori Lautenschlager ’05 of the Akron Area YMCA for taking the reins as the newest co-chair of the JLA program.
Fran Doll ’88 is spearheading an effort to enlist grandparents and others in making our community safer for kids. Grandparents Against Sexual Predators (GASP) will mobilize a network of grandparents and other volunteers to respond to Amber Alerts for missing children. Volunteers will also promote child safety in the community. When children are abducted, these volunteers will be deployed as extra eyes and ears on the streets to augment law enforcement. As a start-up enterprise, Fran is looking for help in a variety of ways. If you would like to learn more about serving, please call 330-247-1402 or e-mail GrandparentsAgainstSexPredators@adelphia.net.
Congratulations to the new graduates of Leadership Akron Class XXII! On June 14, in keeping with tradition, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. hosted graduation at Wingfoot Lake, with David Lieberth as master of ceremonies. The record audience enjoyed parallels among Class XXII and the great Indians teams of the past. Below are the graduates of Class XXII, taking Leadership Akron’s total graduates past the 700 mark:
Awards/Recognition/Promotions Ruth Dean ’03 received the Women of Achievement Award at the Women’s Network luncheon on June 2. Pat Simmons ’89 received the 2006 Chairman’s Award at the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau Zenith Awards annual luncheon on May 19. Pat was recognized for her contribution to Akron and Summit County’s Hospitality Industry. Leaders Serving the Community Mark Bober '95 has been appointed President of the Shaw Jewish Community Center (effective July 1, 2006). Fran Doll ’88 is starting an organization called Grandparents Against Sex Predators, a volunteer group of grandparents building a network across the country to act on Amber Alerts. Rick Fedorovich ’88 was appointed Chairman of the Board of Akron General Health System. Jim Merklin ’03 was appointed Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries of Akron. Tom Tulodzieski ’02 was appointed Chairman of the Greater Akron Chamber for 2006-2007. Leaders on the Move As of June 28, Karla Clark ’05 will be relocating to The Salvation Army in New York. Address is 440 West Nyack Road, P.O.Box C-635, West Nyack, NY 10994-1739. Telephone number is 845.620.7312; fax 845.620.7755. Home address is E-mail address is Karla.Clark@use.salvationarmy.org. Home address is 418 Pawnee Court, Suffern, NY 10901. Home telephone number is 845.426.2611. On June 30, Tim Fitzwater ’85 is retiring from National City Bank. His home e-mail address is trfitzh20@yahoo.com. Pat McMahon ’89 is now employed with Southwest General Health Center 18697 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, OH 44139-3497. Telephone number is 440.816.6726; fax is 440.816.6716. E-mail address is pcmahon@swgeneral.com. Meg Pais ’96 is now Vice President, Human Resources for Sirva, 6070 Oakland Blvd., Mayfield Heights OH 44124. Telephone number is 440.684.6221. E-mail address is meg.pais@sirva.com, JoAnn Schlue (Leadership Portage County ’01) is now Vice President, Resource Development of United Way of Stark County. Address is 4825 Higbee Avenue NW, Canton OH 44718. Telephone number is 330.491.9971; fax is 330.491.0477. E-mail address is jschlue@uwgsc.org. Karen Smith ’96 and her husband, Felix are co-owners of Home Helpers, Inc./Direct Link, a business that provides in-home care for senior citizens, new moms and those recuperating from illness or injury. Address is 3766 Fishcreek Road #289, Stow OH 44224. Telephone number is 866.357.1837; fax is 330.552.1876. E-mail address is HomeHelpersInc.@neo.rr.com. Kathy Taylor '99 is now Director of Gift Planning for Summa Hospitals Foundation, 525 East Market Street, P.O. Box 2090, Akron OH 44309-2090. Telephone number is 330.375.8083; fax is 330.375.3012. E-mail address is Taylork@summa-health.org. Stacy Wessels ’99 of Image Factory Inc. has moved to the Cincinnati area. Address is 2470 Kewanee Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45230. Telephone number is 330.730.5599. E-mail address is stacywessels@cinci.rr.com. Births Congratulations to Heather Bentley ’05 and her husband, Dennis who adopted a baby boy, Adam Michael Bentley who was born on May 29. Adam weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz. Congratulations to Mary Boesch ’92 on the birth of her grandaugther, Kensington Ann Wheeler who was born on May 15. Kensington weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz. and was 20 ½ inches long. Congratulations to Thomas Tatum ’00 and his wife Milistine on the birth of their son Thomas A. Tatum II (Tre’) on March 29. Tre’ was born premature at a fighting weight of 2 lb.s, 1 oz. As of now, he weighs 5 lbs., 10 oz., is home from the hospital and is doing fantastic! Congratulations to Alisa '04 and Brad Wright '98 on the birth of their son, John James (JJ) who was born on August 18, 2005. Obituaries Our condolences to Capt. Paul Calvaruso ’04 on the death of his mother, Phyllis Joan Calvaruso who passed away on May 15, 2006. Our condolences to the Isroff family on the death of Judith Bear Isroff who passed away on April 14, 2006. Judy served on the Leadership Akron Board of Trustees from 1989–2002. She was Board Chairman 1999-2002. Our condolences to Karen Smith ’96 and her husband Felix on the loss of her mother, Jeannie Thornton who passed away on March 28, 2005. Our condolences to Sarah Stem ’98 on the death of her father, The Reverend Doctor Charles Hubert Stem, who passed away on April 15, 2006.
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© 2005-2006 Leadership Akron Akron OH 44308. All rights reserved.
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On May 5, 2006, for the first time in our 22 year history, we had an
official meeting of the Leadership Akron Alumni class presidents.
Our incoming Alumni president, Bill Lowery '01 of Annaco, Inc.,
hosted our luncheon at Fairlawn Country Club. Attendees included
class presidents or their designee, members of the LA and LAAA
boards, and staff. The purpose of the meeting was to update the
presidents on the activities of the Alumni Association and the main
Leadership Akron program, and to discuss the presidents’ role in
keeping our alumni engaged.
Fans of “Law & Order” know the format of following a case from the
crime itself through the trial process. Justice Day, chaired by
Judge Carol Dezso '92, followed this format and more. After an
overview of the workings of the local court system, we learned about
the prevalence of methamphetamine (crystal meth) in Summit County.
We saw the resources committed to fighting this insidious drug—from
police units (both human and canine); to innovative approaches like
Drug Court; to rehabilitation sentencing options at Oriana House.
Along the way, we witnessed a crime scene rivaling anything on
“Cops”. A mock trial was held with a class member testifying as a
witness, while others served on the jury. Numerous police, attorneys
and judges participated, and through their efforts we learned that
our local justice system not only has the tools in place to “get the
bad guy”, but also to help those who may have just lost their way.
Environment Day marked the close of another successful Junior
Leadership Akron program. Students met at the City of Akron Waste
Water Treatment Plant in the Merriman Valley. They learned about the
technology involved in turning the waste water from hundreds of
thousands of people back into clean water suitable to be
reintroduced into the water table. The students came to appreciate
the complexity of keeping the environment clean for future
generations even if they never got used to the odors.