Nominate a Leader

Help us identify and honor Greater Akron leaders.

Nomination Opportunities

New Executive Leader

New Executive Leaders are individuals in our community who have stepped into top decision-making roles in the previous year, highlighting those poised to impact our community significantly.

Whether new to the area or stepping into a new significant leadership role, these leaders are at the heart of the New Executive Leader Reception.

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.

  • 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).

  • New Executive Leaders honored at our 2026 New Executive Leader Reception include:

    • 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

    • Shelly 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

    • Kieth 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 Childrens

    • 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

    • Colleen Suich, Executive Director, Akron Soul Train

    • Jay Turakhia, Regional President, Northeast, The Huntington National Bank

    • Dominique Waters, Founder & Executive Director, Akron Sneaker Academy, Inc.

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Life Trustee Awards Trinity

The Life Trustee Awards Trinity is a unified recognition that honors individuals whose leadership is shaping Greater Akron through service, vision, and lasting impact. First introduced in 2024, the Life Trustee Awards Trinity brings together three of Leadership Akron’s highest honors: the Read Family Difference Maker Award, the Lieberth Community Vision Award, and the Maynard Distinguished Leader Award.

Read Family Difference Maker Award

The Read Family Difference Maker Award, created in July 2017, honors the Read family (Roger, Judy, and Scott) in recognition of their involvement in:

  • Advancing the mission and work of Leadership Akron.

  • Promoting community leadership.

  • Strengthening the Akron community's well-being.

Each year the award recognizes an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have been instrumental in expanding the scope or impact of Leadership Akron's mission and work.

  • The criteria below will be considered in determining the awardee(s):

    1. Primary Responsibility - the recipient(s) will be those primarily responsible for initiating and/or significantly advancing a specific effort that strengthens the mission, impact, and/or reach of Leadership Akron. The effort may be a new or revamped program, a major event/activity, or a strategic goal of the organization.

    2. Durability of Impact - The effort that the recipient(s) initiated will have long-term influence on Leadership Akron, and extend to present and future generations of leaders.

    • 2025 – Tony* and Toby Gorant

    • 2024 – Mark & Sandy Auburn

    • 2023 – Dan Rice

    • 2022 – Ken Babby & the Akron RubberDucks

    • 2021 – Danny Zampelli

    • 2020 - Dr. Cynthia Capers, John Williams, Jim Mullen, Roxia Boykin, Ethel Vinson, Robert DeJournett, Bernett Williams, & Dr. Steve Ash

    • 2018 - Laura E. Culp, Ronald S. Kopp, Kyle Kutuchief, Amanda Leffler, and Brian Pollack

    • 2017 - Roger & Judy* Read

    • 2017 - Scott Read

    *deceased

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Lieberth Community Vision Award

Leadership Akron created the Lieberth Community Vision Award in November 2012, to honor the life and leadership of Dave Lieberth upon his retirement as Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff of the City of Akron. A founder and life trustee of Leadership Akron, Lieberth has been known for bringing vision, pragmatism, and a relentless work ethic to his involvement in countless community causes.

The Lieberth Community Vision Award recognizes individuals who reflect the values of its namesake, Dave Lieberth—demonstrating thoughtful, pragmatic leadership that brings people together to move Akron forward.

  • The Lieberth Community Vision Award will be given each year to a leader who exemplifies the type of leadership that Dave has modeled and Leadership Akron seeks to foster, in consideration of the criteria below:

    • COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEADERSHIP: The recipient will be known for putting aside individual agendas and looking at opportunities, challenges, and issues through the lens of the whole community.

    • PRAGMATISM/HARD WORK: The recipient is known for his/her work ethic, willingness to go the extra mile, and problem-solving ability when advancing community. S/he does not hesitate to plunge into the sometimes unglamorous details to get the job done.

    • IMPACT ON AKRON: The recipient’s leadership has shaped the Akron community in significant ways.

    • INVOLVEMENT IN LEADERSHIP AKRON: The recipient has played a meaningful role in advancing the mission and work of Leadership Akron. S/he may or may not be an actual graduate of Leadership Akron.

    • MULTI-DIMENSIONALITY: The recipient’s leadership has impacted multiple sectors in the Akron community, not just one specific area.

    • 2025 | Robert DeJournett | “Broadcasting Leadership: Faith and Fellowship”

    • 2024 | Sylvia Trundle | “A Heart For The Community”

    • 2023 | Laurie Zuckerman | “Creating Communities of Love and Respect”

    • 2022 | Ron Kopp | “Leadership Mastered”

    • 2021 | Karen Talbott | “A Lifetime of Leadership”

    • 2019 | Dr. David W. James | “All About the Kids”

    • 2018 | Robert W. Malone | “Riding the Wave of Leadership”

    • 2017 | Laura Culp | “A Story of Extraordinary Leadership”

    • 2016 | Theresa Carter | “Grace in Motion”

    • 2015 | Brian Moore | “Leadership in Harmony”

    • 2014 | Tim Fitzwater | “Leadership in Motion”

    • 2013 | Marie Covington | “In the right hands, the seed of a dream comes to life”

    • 2012 | Dave Lieberth | “Celebrating the Art of Dave Lieberth”

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Maynard Distinguished Leader Award

The Maynard Distinguished Leader Award—renamed in 2024 to honor leader, philanthropist and Greater Akron advocate Phil Maynard—was created in 1987 to recognize Leadership Akron Alumni who have made extraordinary and notable contributions for the betterment of their community by voluntarily initiating and/or being a significant driving force behind a particular project or issue of critical relevance and impact on the Greater Akron area.

Each year, the award recognizes an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have, in this way, embodied the mission and work of Leadership Akron in proliferating community leadership and strengthening the Akron community's well-being.

  • The Distinguished Leader Award recognizes a Leadership Akron alumnus/alumni whose voluntary leadership has made an extraordinary and lasting impact on the Greater Akron community by serving as the driving force behind a significant project or issue of critical relevance.

    • LEADERSHIP AKRON ALUMNI: Nominee must be a Leadership Akron Alumni.

    • EXTRAORDINARY CIVIC IMPACT: Nominee has made a notable, voluntary contribution that goes beyond routine community involvement, serving as a significant force behind a specific project or in addressing a critical issue affecting Greater Akron.

    • COMMUNITY RELEVANCE: The project or issue must have demonstrably advanced the well-being of the Greater Akron area, creating meaningful and measurable change.

    • VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP: The contribution recognized must be rooted in voluntary service; efforts primarily connected to the nominee’s professional role are not eligible.

    • EMBODIMENT OF PHIL MAYNARD’S LEGACY: Nominee reflects the spirit of Phil Maynard, demonstrating tireless dedication, generosity, and leadership that strengthen the community and inspire future leaders.

    • 2025 | Kemp Boyd

    • 2024 | Phil Maynard * (posthumously)

    • 2023 | Judi Hill

    • 2022 | Sherry Neubert ‘27

    • 2020 | All alumni in the Healthcare Industry, Leadership Akron’s Healthcare Heroes

    • 2019 | Brian Miner '18

    • 2018 | Betsy L. B. Hartschuh '10

    • 2017 | Nick Browning '01 and Kirstin Toth '11

    • 2016 | Norma J. Rist '86

    • 2015 | Kelly Pariso '12

    • 2014 | James E. Merklin '03

    • 2013 | Karen C. Lefton '07

    • 2012 | Mark E. Krohn '03

    • 2011 | H. Sean Fremon ‘09

    • 2010 | William W. Lowery '01 and Christine C. Yuhasz '05

    • 2009 | Frances A. Doll '88

    • 2008 | Joseph D. Parsons '91

    • 2007 | J. Bruce Hunsicker '93 *

    • 2006 | Scott T. Read '03 and Jefferson E. Satterfield '01

    • 2005 | Marc B. Merklin '98

    • 2004 | Steven L. Marks '93

    • 2003 | W. Riley Lochridge '87

    • 2002 | Fr. Norman K. Douglas '97 and Lawrence W. Vuillemin '99

    • 2001 | Laurie Zuckerman '91

    • 2000 | George R. Sarkis '86

    • 1999 | Pamela S. Williams '92

    • 1998 | Leonard M. Foster '92

    • 1997 | Knute Larson, D. Min. '87

    • 1996 | Frank J. Horn '96 *

    • 1995 | Steven P. Schmidt, Ph.D. '92

    • 1994 | Richard C. Fedorovich '88

    • 1993 | Mary L. Briggs '89

    • 1992 | Frank D. Heckel '87

    • 1991 | James P. Nilsen '87

    • 1990 | Michael R. Kura '89

    • 1989 | Barbara D. Mathews '86 *

    • 1987 | Marie E. Covington '85

    • *deceased

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