New Executive Leader Reception 2026
Honoring our community’s newest top decision-makers and leaders
Thank you for joining us at Leadership Akron’s 2026 New Executive Leader Reception. Together, we celebrated an outstanding group of leaders whose vision, dedication, and influence are shaping the future of Greater Akron in meaningful ways.
About the 2026 Reception
The New Executive Leader Reception celebrates individuals in our community who have stepped into top decision-making roles in 2025, highlighting those poised to impact our community significantly.
These are leaders throughout the Greater Akron area who represent a variety of for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Through their constant servant leadership, our community continues to be strengthened and empowered as a chosen place to live, work, create, and serve.
This year, we hosted over 200 guests and recognized over 50 honorees who represent a wide variety of sectors and industries! We would like to thank Dr. Cristina González Alcalá (Signature 40) for emceeing this event and The University of Akron for hosting us.
If someone you know is stepping into a new top-decision making role in 2026, nominate them to be recognized next year!
Event Resources
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors!
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Akron Bar Association
Bill Lowery
Meet the 2026 Honorees
-
Bruce Alexander
Former Board Vice President
Akron Public Schools -
William Eugene Blake
Executive Director
Progressive Alliance Community Development Corporation -
Bevin Bowersmith
Executive Director
Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio -
Dr. Steven Brooks
Chief Medical Officer
Cleveland Clinic Akron General -
Chase Canfield
Executive Director of Human Resources
Akron Public Schools -
Chip Clupper
Director of Human Resources
Summit County Ilene Shapiro's Office -
Christine Curry
Vice President, Fund Development
Akron Urban League -
Joan Davidson
Chief Executive Officer
Hope Homes Foundation, Inc. -
Dr. Hans Dorfi
Executive Director & Chief Innovation Officer
The Polymer Industry Cluster -
Holly DuPlain
Chief Financial Officer
Akron Area YMCA -
LeShaunte Edwards
Executive Director
Akron Youth Mentorship -
Tia Farmakidis
Chief Planning & Facilities Officer
The University of Akron -
Cassandra Galloway, M.Ed., MBA, LPCC-S
President & CEO
Child Guidance & Family Solutions -
John Garofalo
President & CEO
Akron Community Foundation -
Dr. Andrew Goodrich
Director of Athletics
The University of Akron -
Shelley Goodrich
Finance Director
City of Green -
Natalie Grieshammer Patrick
Executive Director
Summit Artspace -
Christopher Hardesty
Executive Director
Downtown Akron Development Corporation -
Torrence Hinton
President
First Energy Ohio -
Keith Hochadel
Chief Executive Officer
CHC Addiction Services -
Audrey Houseman
Director of Marketing & Communications
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park -
Dr. Carla Jackson
Former Board President
Akron Public Schools -
Alexis King
President
Torchbearers -
Catherine (Cate) Kurela
Chief Executive Officer
Akron Bar Association -
Jolene A. Lane
Director
Akron Innovation Team (an initiative of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation) -
Dr. Teri Lash-Ritter, MD, MBA, FAAFP
President of Akron General, Lodi & South Submarket
Cleveland Clinic -
Dr. Wanda Lash
Assistant Superintendent
Akron Public Schools -
Eleni Manousogiannakis
Executive Director
Better Kenmore Community Development Corporation -
Annie McFadden
President & CEO
United Way Summit & Medina -
Heather Meeker
Executive Director
Curated Storefront -
Jamie Messenger, LISW, LICDC, OCPSA
Executive Director
NAMI Summit County -
Shawn Metcalf
Chief Protection & Development Officer
Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority -
Agostino Micozzi
Deputy Chief
City of Akron Police Department -
Michael Miller
Deputy Chief
City of Akron Police Department -
Brian Miner
Vice President
Hasenstab Architects, Inc. -
Amanda Novelli
Director of Development & Outreach
Humane Society of Summit County -
Mary Outley
Superintendent
Akron Public Schools -
Don Padgett III
Senior Director Foundation Strategy
Akron Children’s -
Greg Peckham
President & CEO
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park -
Brandon Reedy
District Chief
Akron Fire Department -
Jess Rist
Chief Executive Officer
IBH Addiction Recovery -
Katherine (Kate) Robbins, MPH
Chief Development Officer
Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center -
Dr. Patrick Roberts
Vice President, Advancement
The University of Akron -
Jim Rollins, CPA
Chief Executive Officer
Meaden & Moore -
Lori Sallaz
Chief Lending Officer
Development Finance Authority of Summit County -
Dennis Shumaker
District Chief of Special Operations and Investigations
Akron Fire Department -
Colleen Suich
Executive Director
Akron Soul Train -
Jay Turakhia
Regional President, Northeast
The Huntington National Bank -
Dennis VanFossen, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Soap Box Derby -
Dominique Waters
Founder & Executive Director
Akron Sneaker Academy, Inc.
Nominate a Leader for the 2027 New Executive Leader Reception
We are seeking leaders who:
Stepped into a new role in 2026.
Serve as one of the top top decision-makers or C-suite executives in a private, public, or nonprofit organization located in Greater Akron (Summit County or nearby counties with strong Akron ties).
Lead organizations that are well-established and make an impact on our community.
Are in roles with significant community influence, such as reporting to the CEO, Board of Directors, or overseeing a major operation.
Have accepted prestigious roles outside Greater Akron that elevate their leadership profile (Alumni only).
Do you know someone who fits this description? Or are you a new executive leader yourself? Please take a moment to nominate a deserving leader for this honor.
