Speaker: Stephanie York, Executive Director, Shaw JCC of Akron, Signature Class 29
Moderator: Sherry Neubert, Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer, The Symbiotic Collective, Signature Class 27

Stephanie York is the Executive Director of the Shaw Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Akron, which is recognized for its quality fitness, recreation, sports, and educational programming for all ages. The 50+ acre campus includes an early childhood education center, a K–8 private school, a synagogue, JewishAkron, Jewish Family Services, a kosher kitchen with catering, two pools, tennis and pickleball courts, a full gymnasium, fitness facilities, and more. The Shaw JCC serves a broad community, with over 6500 individual members. Before joining the JCC, Stephanie served for eight years as Vice President and in-house counsel at Hennes Communications, one of the few U.S. firms dedicated exclusively to crisis communications and crisis management. With more than 25 years of experience in law and communications, she specialized in crisis and issues management, litigation communications, outrage management, media relations, and social media.Earlier in her career, Stephanie was Director of Communications and Public Relations at Akron General Hospital, where she guided communications during its transition to Cleveland Clinic Akron General. She also spent nearly 24 years with the City of Akron, serving as both Assistant Director of Law and Director of Communications. There, she led messaging on sensitive civil and criminal legal matters, federal investigations, cyberattacks, city council disputes, community perceptions, and leadership transitions—all while managing constituent concerns with skill and care.An engaged community leader, Stephanie has served on several nonprofit boards (Akron Symphony, Downtown Akron Kiwanis, PBS Western Reserve, and more) and currently serves on the board of Stewart’s Caring Place. She is also an Akron Planning Commissioner and host of Forum 360, a PBS program spotlighting local and regional issues.

Breakfast is included, compliments of the Akron RubberDucks

Join us as we bring in Akron’s changemakers for leadership conversations. Get to know the current class and engage with alumni through this open forum.