Leadership Akron Podcast

April’s Leadership on Main featured Melissa Gerney, Detention Superintendent of Summit County Juvenile Court. Melissa joins Danny Zampelli, Retired Captain of the Akron Police Department, to discuss her path to at-risk youth leadership and how she is able to successfully lead and manage her team to effectively engage with the juveniles under their supervision. Melissa began her career with Oriana House after graduating from Kent State University. She began as a resident supervisor on the night shift and worked her way up the ranks before becoming a stay-at-home mom with her first child. After a couple years, Melissa returned to Oriana House. At that time it occurred to her that years of exposure to adults with mental health and drug abuse issues who continued to make poor decisions, left her feeling like she was not making an impact. As a mother of her own child, she instantly knew she could make a difference with youth and help make an impact on their lives so they don’t go on to continue making poor decisions as adults. Now, Melissa continues to find passion in her work with Summit County Juvenile Court and hopes to continue making a lasting impact in some capacity for years to come. Full show notes here.

January’s Leadership on Main featured Doug Weintraub, CEO at Bounce Innovation Hub talking with moderator Margaret Medzie, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Akron Community Foundation. In this episode, Doug sits down with Leadership Akron President Barry Dunaway as they discuss the opportunities Bounce Innovation Hub brings to the Akron area for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the community; why Akron is the best place for a business like Bounce; and some of the keys Doug uses to develop leaders within Bounce’s 54 companies and organizations currently housed within the building. Bounce, formerly known as the Akron Global Business Accelerator, is located in the historic 300,000 square-foot BF Goodrich building, standing at 150 years old. Doug and his team are working to bring the Hub to life with a new community event space, coworking space, a café, rentable desks and conference rooms, and numerous other amenities the building will offer. Tune in to learn more about Bounce Innovation Hub! Full show notes here. Each month, the speaker for the Leadership on Main breakfast series identifies a charity or non-profit of choice for donations to be collected for. Doug Weintraub, has chosen The Battered Women's Shelter for his charity.

December’s Leadership on Main featured Traci Buckner, Executive Director of the Akron Children’s Museum. Traci joins Barry Dunaway, the new President of Leadership Akron for a conversation around the intentionality of community throughout the museum exhibits, and Traci’s career trajectory that led her to lead Akron’s first children’s museum in the heart of downtown Akron. Traci shares her experience in STEM education and leadership, and the importance of STEM learning in a child’s educational journey. Full show notes here.  

March's Leadership on Main breakfast hosted Crystal Jones, Esq., Co-founder & former Executive Director of Project Ujima, talking with moderator, Patrick Bravo, Executive Director, Summit County Land Bank. Crystal spent her childhood in Akron, leaving to pursue her education and a career in law. After returning to the city, her passion for service and activism lead her to co-founding Project Ujima. Listen in to learn how principle of "collective work and responsibility" has shaped the way the organization helps people go from talking about an issue, to taking action, to making that action sustainable. Full show notes here.

February's Leadership on Main was an engaging conversation with Madhu Sharma, Acting Executive Director for the International Institute of Akron, moderated by Jeremy Lile, Executive Director of Heart to Heart. Madhu chatted with Jeremy about her work serving the people who immigrate to the United States, first as an attorney in immigration law for 20 years, and most recently at IIA as the Executive Director. Madhu's family left India and come to New London, Ohio while she was still an infant. One of the key experiences that shaped her outlook was the  experience of growing up in the 70's as an immigrant in a small rural community. Listen in as she shares her thoughts on what we as a nation, as a community, and as individuals can and should do to develop stronger more truly integrated and diverse communities. She also offers some unique insights on leading with vulnerability as a strength. Full show notes here.  

January's Leadership on Main welcomed Dr. Michael Hughes, President, Summa Health System-Barberton Campus to sit down with moderator Marlo Schmidt, Director of Community Benefit, Summa Health. Full show notes here.

December’s Leadership on Main brought Malcom Costa, President & CEO of Akron Summit County Community Action Inc., to the Rubber Ducks Club, where he sat down with Jeff Ferguson, Superintendent, Tallmadge City Schools. Full show notes here:

September’s Leadership on Main featured Mark Gerberich, president and CEO of International Soap Box Derby. Mark chatted with moderator Anne Armeo, Vice President of Medicare and Individual Products & Sales at SummaCare. Full show notes here.

September’s Leadership on Main featured Iris Harvey, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. Sonya Williams the Interim Executive Director for the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Kent State University served as the moderator. Full show notes here.  

June’s Leadership on Main featured Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. In this episode, Ilene sits down with Laurie Zuckerman of Zuckerman Consulting Group, Inc., to share her journey from small business owner to County Executive. From a young age, Ilene developed a strong sense of community—a guiding principle that would carry on throughout her life’s journey. Ilene began her career as an entrepreneur, consulting with different organizations to create a shift in culture. While she was working with Summa Health, former mayor Don Plusquellic saw something in her and encouraged her to run for Akron City Council. Ilene served on Akron City Council for nearly 10 years, three of which as Council President, while continuing her time at Summa and consulting with local businesses. Since August 2016, Ilene has served as the Summit County Executive, managing the county’s nearly half billion-dollar budget, passing legislation, and overseeing nine departments. In this role, it was important for Ilene to position the county as a resource that’s here to help. The county also developed initiatives under her leadership to help drive opportunity for the region. Ilene’s leadership, commitment to community, and her focus on the greater good have proved valuable for not only the city of Akron but the full scope of Summit County. Full show notes here.

May’s Leadership on Main featured Justin Hilton, Senior Administrator for Community Outreach at Kent State University, and was moderated by his fellow Leadership Akron Signature Class 27 classmate, Sherry Neubert Vice President and Chief Information Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In this episode, Justin Hilton recapped his life’s journey to success as he shared his primary sources of motivation and how he chose to redesign his life as a result of who he wanted to be, not as the world said he should be. It was through this journey that Justin identified his list of wants, needs, dreams, desires and goals that would be the driving force to achieve this success. At Kent State University, Justin has had the opportunity to work as a professor helping countless students. Later moving into administrative and community work, he has been able to help thousands of people establish their dreams and goals. Justin credits Kent State University as the avenue that has allowed him to help others redesign their lives and see what they can become. For Justin’s life purpose, he chose to define his life in three words: fill found needs. These are the guiding principles that help him continue to be a servant leader in all aspects of his life, and for others he encounters. Full show notes here.

March’s Leadership on Main marked the first live recording of a Leadership on Main event, featuring David Lieberth, President of Lieberth Consulting Group. In this episode, Dave sits down with Stephanie York, Vice President and In-House Counsel at Hennes Communications, as they discuss Dave’s long list of life and career achievements. Throughout his career, Dave has served as a news director, reporter, radio DJ, an attorney, as the mayor’s chief of staff, deputy mayor, and as a downtown developer and activist, to name a few. In 1974 Dave was a part of the conversations that would later lead to the inception of Leadership Akron. As a founder and life trustee of Leadership Akron, Dave has been instrumental in shaping the journey of our leaders who have gone through each class of the Leadership Akron Signature Program, as well as numerous other Leadership Akron programs such as NEXT and the Community Leadership Institutes. Leadership Akron is grateful for Dave’s leadership and insights he's contributed along the way. Tune in to hear more from Dave Lieberth’s Leadership on Main discussion! Full show notes here.  

February’s Leadership on Main featured Dr. Michael Forbes, Director of Clinical Research & Outcome Analytics at Akron Children’s Hospital, and was moderated by Rev. Ronald Fowler, Former Pastor of Arlington Church of God. In this episode, Dr. Forbes joins Rev. Fowler to discuss Dr. Forbes’ journey from poverty in Brooklyn, New York to medical school at University of Pittsburgh, finally landing in Akron, Ohio to pursue pediatric critical care research. Dr. Forbes reflects back on his social evolution and the hardships he’s had to overcome along the way that helped shape him into who he is today. When Dr. Forbes was a child, he spent hours sorting through the World Book Encyclopedia, fascinated with the human anatomy. He struggled through grade school and high school until he was able to go to college and study his passion, medicine. Dr. Forbes has lived in Akron for nearly 14 years and understands the strong sense of community here. He plans to continue his research at Akron Children’s Hospital and hopes to make an impact on domestic and child abuse in the Akron area. Tune in to hear more from Dr. Michael Forbes! Full show notes here.  

November’s Leadership on Main featured Eric Nelson, Executive Director of Students With A Goal (SWAG). In this episode, Eric sits down with Wendy Bolas to share his passion for youth development in the Akron community. He expresses the importance of lessons he’s learned through his faith, and overcoming life’s challenges with hard work and perseverance. Eric is thankful for the care and mentorship he has received and leverages what he’s learned from his mentors to create an environment where students can learn, grow, and thrive in the face of adversity. Eric urges anyone who is interested in getting involved with SWAG to visit their website at www.studentswithagoal.com to learn more and become a part of the living, learning, and loving process that he has nurtured in SWAG. Full show notes here.

October’s Leadership on Main featured Patrick Bravo, Executive Director of Summit County Land Bank and President of the Akron Public School Board. In this episode, Patrick sits down with Wendy Bolas to discuss the challenges and successes of Akron Public Schools. Patrick shares his appreciation for the staff and students of the school district, and emphasizes the importance of team building and meeting others where they are. Patrick highlights United Way of Summit County’s iC.A.R.E. mentoring program, which links students with a caring, consistent role model that might not otherwise come into their life. In addition to his role with APS, Patrick has contributed to sustainable change in our community through his role with the Summit County Land Bank. "When it comes to collaboration and sustainable change, it's not enough to just talk about it, you gotta be about it," Patrick said. Collaboration has been key for Patrick in the many hats he's worn within the Akron community. Full show notes here.

September’s Leadership on Main featured Doug Piekarz, President & CEO of the Akron Zoo. In this episode, Doug sits down with Stephanie York of Hennes Communications, as they explore Doug’s passion for inspiring lifelong learning and nature conservation. Doug takes us on an adventure through his life that began in the concrete jungle of New York City, to his grandfather’s cabin in the Catskill Mountains, finally landing in Akron, Ohio, where he’s spent the last 20 years at the Akron Zoo. Stephanie and Doug discuss the zoo’s ever-increasing attendance record, the zoo’s recognition as the second zoo in the nation to become certified by Kulture City as a sensory inclusive zoo, and the assets that make the Akron Zoo so unique.  Full show notes here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Dan Flowers, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, explores the evolution of his leadership philosophies with long-time friend, Justin Hilton. As they walk along the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath near the Foodbank, Dan traces his path from growing up in Flint, Michigan, to leading the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank as the CEO. He shares the stories behind some of the key leadership and life lessons he learned over the years. Through everything, Dan's hardworking "get-it-done" attitude and drive to balance results with humanity has enabled him to make a next level impact on the people he leads. Full show notes here.

August's Leadership on Main featured Chief Clarence Tucker of the City of Akron Fire Department. Chief Tucker sits down with Wendy Bolas, Leadership Akron's Interim President, as they chat about shifts within the fire department to meet the changing needs of the community, the benefits of being intentional in developing an inclusive and collaborative culture, and how the Leadership Akron program offers fresh perspectives to even those deeply embedded in the community. Full show notes here.

June's Leadership on Main featured Kemp Boyd, Director of the Vassle Comprehensive Care Center of Pastoral Counseling of Summit County and Head Football Coach of Kenmore-Garfield High School. Tune in to the Leadership on Main Bonus Feature podcast as Kemp Boyd sits down with Leadership Akron's Interim President Wendy Bolas, to reflect on his experience with Leadership Akron, the importance of diversity and inclusion efforts, having the right voices at the table, and his work as head football coach of Kenmore-Garfield High School. Full show notes here.

In the special edition of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, former Leadership Akron president, Mark Scheffler, joins host Justin Hilton at Summit Metro Parks Clinton Trailhead, which extends from Summit County through Stark County. Mark’s transition to Executive Director of the Timken Foundation offers an opportunity to look back on his nearly thirteen-year career at Leadership Akron. In this episode, Mark explores how the foundation laid in his early years of faith, family, and responsibility serves as the guiding force for his leadership. Justin prompts Mark to reflect back on those who have been instrumental in his success, his ideas that manifested into reality, and what he envisions for his future in Stark County. Tune in to hear Mark Scheffler’s final Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders interview. Full show notes here.

May’s Leadership on Main featured John Petures, Jr., President and CEO of Akron Community Foundation. Listen in as Jody Miller Konstand sits down with Petures to reflect on his path to stewardship in the Greater Akron community. This dedication to thoughtful stewardship permeates the fabric of Petures’ leadership style. Hear about the unique aspects of the Akron Community Foundation, the employees that make it all come together, and why Petures’ work means so much to him. Don’t miss this bonus feature with John Petures, Jr.! Full show notes here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Betsy and Ryan Hartschuh, Co-Founders of the Akron Children’s Museum, join Jody Konstand Miller on a walk through the Akron Children’s Museum in Lock 3 in the heart of downtown Akron. Betsy and Ryan reflect on their leadership journey, their upbringing, and how they decided to bring a children’s museum to Akron, Ohio. When visiting other cities, they learned that nearly 70% of cities the size of Akron have children’s museums. This led Betsy and Ryan to meet with community partners to see if a children’s museum in Akron would be viable. In 2016, the Akron Children’s Museum opened its doors for the first time. Within one year, the Museum saw 55,000 visitors, which has made a positive economic impact on downtown Akron. Tune in to hear what it took to bring the Akron Children’s Museum to reality. Full show notes here.

April's Leadership on Main featured Charles Johnston, the Senior Supervisory Resident Agent at the Akron office of the FBI, and was moderated by Bill Fairweather, retired CIA. Johnston's journey as a leader began with his work in corrections. From there he moved on to become an assistant prosecutor, before beginning his career with the FBI. In our LOM Bonus Feature Charles sits down with Justin Hilton to answer a few extra questions. Among other things, the two chat about the critical nature of trust, the things that drew Charles back to Akron, and how to hold onto hope in the midst of crisis. For Charles everything circles back to the intrinsic value of investing in the people around you and his style of leading where you are. Tune and catch some rapid-fire personal questions as well! Full show notes here.

March’s Leadership on Main featured David Jennings, retired Director of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. In our LOM Bonus Feature Jennings reflects on the value he places on serving the community, both is his work for ASCPL and on many of Akron’s boards. Jennings chats with Wendy Bolas, Interim President of Leadership Akron, about his motivation to be an active participant in the community, the best leadership advice he’s received, and the outcomes of the Civic Solutions Lab. Full show notes here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Jon Fiume, Chief Operating Officer of Mustard Seed Market & Cafe, shares his leadership journey with Leadership Akron’s past president Mark Scheffler as they walk around Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Jon serves as a current board member for Stan Hywet and enjoys the outdoor landscape it has to offer. Through his Leadership Akron Signature experience, Jon found where his passions lie in the community, which prompted his board service. “My eyes opened up to every different sector that makes up a community,” he mentioned. In his role at Mustard Seed and numerous roles prior, Jon has made the ‘customer experience’ a hallmark that guides his work. As a board member, chief operating officer and a community leader, Jon paves the way to make a lasting impact on the Akron area.  Full show notes here.

February’s Leadership on Main featured Cliff Deveny, MD of Summa Health. In this bonus feature, Dr. Deveny reflects with Mark Scheffler on this past year, and the year ahead. Dr. Deveny’s leadership focuses on building hope and a culture of community engagement, but the number one priority is calming the environment to help people be more confident with Summa Health as an organization. Dr. Deveny reflects on Summa’s greatest asset—the employees—and programs put in place like the Summa CLI in collaboration with Leadership Akron. With Dr. Deveny’s leadership, Summa Health is better positioned to serve the Akron community today. Full show notes here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Lisa King, Executive Director of Summit Metro Parks, shares with Jody Miller Konstand how she uses her platform to create participatory leadership throughout the Metro Parks system. As Lisa and Jody walk a mile through Sand Run Metro Park, they explore the rich landscape and unique aspects of the park that make Sand Run a compelling place to visit. As Lisa reflects on her time as Executive Director, she places a large focus on voluntarism and developing the 'next generation of land stewards.' Lisa is continuously finding ways to engage young people in the Metro Parks in this new era of technology. Tune in to hear how Lisa is using her role as the first female director of Summit Metro Parks to create lasting impact for the Greater Akron community. Full show notes here.

January's Leadership on Main featured Phil Maynard of ASW Properties. Maynard intentionally leads for the sake of the Akron community, with a genuine, authentic leadership style. In this bonus feature, Maynard catches up with Mark Scheffler about future endeavors for 2018, the economic growth and development of Akron over the years, the untraditional career path Maynard took, his mentorship, and his role with Leadership Akron: NEXT.  Full show notes here.

Mark Scheffler catches up with Howard Parr after December 2017's LOM breakfast. Hear Howard answer five bonus questions that weren't asked during LOM.  Show Notes:

In the pilot episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, guest Justin Hilton, Sr. Administrator for Community Outreach at Kent State University, joined Mark Scheffler, President of Leadership Akron, to reflect on the influence of Akron in his leadership journey. As the two walk through the heart of downtown Akron along the Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail, they discuss Akron’s strengths, challenges, and envisions for the future. Justin's career as an architectural designer spanned over the Cleveland and Akron areas including work with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Great Lakes Science Center, The Downtown Cleveland Public Library, and Quicken Loans Arena. He became the first and youngest African American Senior Associate Vice President Executive, as well as the first African American graduate of the School of Architecture in the 105-year history of Kent State University. Justin's experience has informed the unique lens through which he leads. In today’s episode, Justin highlights the power of engaged leadership to foster relationships using a design thinking approach. Through Justin’s lens, being intentional in cultivating meaningful interactions empowers individuals to build a stronger community dynamic. Full show notes here. Catch Justin's Leadership on Main Live interview here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Hillary Stewart, Senior Analyst in Performance Improvement at FirstEnergy and President of Torchbearers, joins Mark Scheffler, President of Leadership Akron, as they walk a mile through the North Hill Neighborhood that Hillary calls home. When Hillary and her husband were searching for their first home, staying local to Akron was their only stipulation—but when they looked at North Hill, the rich culture and endless opportunities sold the two. As Hillary looks forward to the year ahead as Torchbearers President, she also reflects on the collaborative partnership between Leadership Akron and Torchbearers. A Torchbearer since 2013, Hillary Stewart has been prepped and primed for her role as President. In this episode, Hillary sheds light on the trajectory that led her where she is today. Her love of Akron is only matched by her drive to provide emerging leaders with opportunities to connect and develop as she did through her Torchbearers experience. Full show notes here.

In this episode of Walk a Mile with Akron Leaders, Kemp Boyd, Director of Vassel Comprehensive Care Center Pastoral Counseling Service of Summit County and Head Coach of Kenmore-Garfield High School, shares with Justin Hilton of Kent State University, how he uses his platform to challenge those around him to achieve their full potential. As Justin and Kemp walk a mile around Kenmore-Garfield High School, they examine the responsibilities and importance of being a servant leader both on the football field and out in the community. Kemp holds himself to high standards as a leader, a coach, and most importantly, a man. He strives to set an example for the young men on his football team, to help set them up on a successful path for the future. Kemp goes above and beyond to even be a role model for those who might not have a male figure in their lives. Tune in to hear how Kemp developed his transformational servant leadership style and how he's using it to help guide some of Akron's future leaders. Full show notes here. Catch Kemp's Leadership on Main Bonus interview here.