to the 36th class graduation committee for their effort in organizing tonight’s event.
Karen Abel Jepsen
Julie Abiecunas
Stephanie Cargill
Bethany Dolak
Allison Gromofsky
Amy Hopkins
Kayla Householder
Travis Johns
Carrilyn Long
John Richard
Andrew Ziegler
Leadership Stark County
Staff
Stephanie Snow Werren
Vice President of Leadership Programs
Kristina Belliveau Assistant Director
Kelly Klein
Program
Welcome & Introductions
Stephanie Werren
Vice President Leadership Stark County Director
Sponsor’s Welcome
Dan Brophy
Huntington
Matt Belair
Kenan Advantage Group
Keynote
LeRoy Butler
Hall of Fame Class of 2022
NaSheka Combs-Lemon
Dan Lowmiller
Shannon McMahon Williams
Moderator, Andy Ziegler
Presentation of Plaques
Stephanie Werren & Kristina Belliveau
Closing Remarks
Stephanie Werren
Graduation presented with the support of...
Dessert sponsor:
Opening Retreat Sponsored by Fresh Mark
A 48-hour experience that focuses on Stark County history, strengths and challenges, and gaining insight into personal leadership styles, team building, and ethics.
Stark County Sponsored by Kenan Advantage Group
A whirlwind motor coach bus tour traverses nearly 100 miles of the county. Similarities/ differences and assets/challenges are addressed as community leaders hop on and off the bus throughout the day.
Economic Growth and Development Sponsored by Midwest
Explore the components of economic growth and discuss current issues affecting the economic health of our community through tours and panel discussions. Lunch & in-depth conversation with CEO’s.
Human Services Sponsored by Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery
An introduction to the organizations that meet many of our community’s needs, the key people and issues involved in providing services to local residents. Lunch at a ‘nutrition center.’
Asset Building
Can a community identify, nurture and develop potential leaders from all walks of life? The selection, development and implementation of small-group community service projects is the focus.
Education Sponsored by Stark State College
A look at present realities, future needs, and the leadership alternatives available to positively impact local educational opportunities.
Building Better Boards Sponsored by Black McCuskey Souers & Arbaugh LPA Morning only-Excellent preparation for serving on a non-profit board. Includes standard practices of a well-run board, legal responsibilities, and effective communication.
Cultural Diversity Sponsored by Aultman Health Foundation
A celebration of the diversity in the class and community. Themes include recognizing the economic value that diversity adds to our community and dealing with perceived challenges.
The Arts
Participants explore the features of a positive quality of life and their availability in Stark County. The role of the arts in our community’s emotional, educational and financial well-being is addressed.
Justice and Safety Sponsored by Plakas Mannos
An overview of the civil and criminal justice systems, processes, and services to the community, with a particular emphasis on juvenile issues. Lunch with judges in their chambers.
Citizenship Day Sponsored by Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs LLP
Increase awareness of the political process – how it works, how it affects local communities, and explore ways for citizens to get involved. Lunch with local elected officials.
Karen Abel Jepsen, Canton Regional Area Health Education Center, Director
Julie Abiecunas, JRC, Chief Executive Officer
Jennifer Anderson, YMCA of Central Stark County, District Executive Director
Michael Bankovich, Williams, Operations Supervisor
Matt Belair, The Kenan Advantage Group Inc., Sr Director, Revenue Accounting
Dan Brophy, Huntington Bank, SVP, Private Bank Regional Director
Dr. Nicole Bush, Canton City Schools, Elementary School Principal
Stephanie Cargill, Stark Library, Communications Director
Megan Chastek, Stark County Family Court, Probation Officer
Adriana Lucia Cirese, Serving Area Military & Veterans Center, Executive Director
NaSheka Combs-Lemon, Strengthening Stark, Career Connect Engagement Manager
Rebecca Coneglio, Walsh University, Vice President of Enrollment Management
Megan Del Corso, Stark Library, Collection Development and Technical Services Director
Bethany Dolak, Diebold Nixdorf, Salesforce Business Consultant
Dr. Sarah Fiddler, Stark State College, Assistant Director, CCP
Heidi Freshour, Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, LPN-BC, Executive Assistant
Robert Garner, Garner Insurance and Financial Services, Inc, President/Agent
Laura Good, University of Mount Union, Assistant Director of HR & Benefit Systems Manager
Elizabeth Good Knutson, Aultman Hospital, Patient Experience Officer
Timothy Gray, Walsh University, Director, Skilled Technical Workforce Program
Allison Gromofsky, Visit Canton (Stark Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau), Promotions & Grants Manager
Michael Holt, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center, Director of Finance
Amy Hopkins, FirstEnergy Corp, External Affairs Consultant
Kayla Householder, IES Infrastructure Solutions, Marketing & Contract Manager
Paul Hugon, The Timken Company, Sr. Manager Strategic Projects
Michelle Hunt, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Senior Director of Merchandise
Brock Hutchison, Louisville Public Library, Library Director
Travis Johns, Employers Health, VP, Client Solutions
Michael Koutsis, TimkenSteel, Product Manager
Mandi Larson, AxessPointe Community Health Centers, Director of Clinical Services
Ryan Lepley, Hendrickson Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems, Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Carrilyn E. Long, OSU, Program Manager, The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
Dan Lowmiller, Stark County Educational Service Center,Executive Director of Teaching, Learning, and Community Partnerships
Erin McGaughey, Schauer Group, Inc., Client Manager
Tom Phillips, StarkFresh, Executive Director
Clayton Popik, SARTA, Director of Development & Special Projects
JR Reindel, Jackson Local Schools, Principal, Sauder Elementary
Dr. John Richard, Stark Education Partnership, President
Sarah Richards, PNC, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Lee Swinehart
Milistine Tatum, Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority, Director, Resident Services
Matthew White II, Siffrin, Director of CIS and Transportation
Shannon McMahon Williams, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Program Officer
Amy Wise, Early Childhood Resource Center, Regional Coordinator
Matthew Ziders, Jackson Local Schools, Jackson High School Assistant Principal
Andrew Ziegler, Fifth Third Bank, VP, Middle-Market Commercial Relationship Manager
One of the overarching themes of the 36th Class Signature Program has been the discovery and application of each member’s unique combination of personal strengths. These strengths, the culmination of decades of research by Don Clifton and Gallup Inc., are the characteristics of the world’s most successful people.
The themes, or strengths, are a way to describe what each person naturally does best. Led by Stephanie Werren, certified Gallup Strengths Coach, the class has learned what their own and each other’s dominant strengths are, how to use them to achieve personal and career success, and how to apply them for more effective teams.
When people know how to work as a team, value one another’s talents, and know how to get the best out of each other they will experience team success.
Here are the Top 5 Strengths of each of the 36th Class members:
Karen Abel Jepsen Achiever, Learner, Relator, Discipline, and Connectedness
Julie Abiecunas Strategic, Maximizer, Individualization, Woo, and Communication
Jennifer Anderson Positivity, Arranger, Includer, Competition, and Woo
Michael Bankovich Learner, Context, Analytical, Responsibility, and Deliberative
Matt Belair Analytical, Consistency, Maximizer, Relator, and Communication
Dan Brophy Achiever, Arranger, Consistency, Relator, and Learner
Dr. Nicole Bush Connectedness, Relator, Arranger, Learner, and Focus
Stephanie Cargill Strategic, Activator, Ideation, Connectedness, and Individualization
Megan Chastek Developer, Focus, Individualization, Relator, and Strategic
Adriana Lucia Cirese Developer, Empathy, Positivity, Futuristic, and Connectedness
NaSheka Combs-Lemon Adaptability, Restorative, Positivity, Belief, and Connectedness
Rebecca Coneglio Achiever, Relator, Responsibility, Focus, and Discipline
Megan Del Corso Harmony, Intellection, Connectedness, Relator, and Restorative
Bethany Dolak Strategic, Maximizer, Communication, Consistency, and Discipline
Dr. Sarah Fiddler Achiever, Command, Self-Assurance, Focus, and Woo
Heidi Freshour Strategic, Connectedness, Learner, Input, and Maximizer
Robert Garner
Laura Good
Achiever, Harmony, Focus, Competition, and Futuristic
Achiever, Analytical, Responsibility, Significance, and Focus
Elizabeth Good Knutson Maximizer, Ideation, Arranger, Connectedness, and Individualization
Timothy Gray
Analytical, Learner, Context, Restorative, and Individualization
Allison Gromofsky Maximizer, Communication, Context, Strategic, and Woo
Michael Holt
Amy Hopkins
Kayla Householder
Achiever, Harmony, Belief, Developer, and Analytical
Individualization, Positivity, Relator, Harmony, and Achiever
Individualization, Strategic, Achiever, Developer, and Competition
Paul Hugon Strategic, Ideation, Analytical, Futuristic, and Learner
Michelle Hunt
Achiever, Responsibility, Maximizer, Harmony, and Consistency
Brock Hutchison
Travis Johns
Michael Koutsis
Mandi Larson
Ryan Lepley
Carrilyn E. Long
Dan Lowmiller
Erin McGaughey
Tom Phillips
Clayton Popik
JR Reindel
Woo, Communication, Includer, Maximizer, and Activator
Individualization, Arranger, Positivity, Woo, and Significance
Woo, Analytical, Harmony, Arranger, and Positivity
Intellection, Learner, Developer, Input, and Responsibility
Discipline, Analytical, Harmony, Communication, and Focus
Connectedness, Positivity, Maximizer, Relator, and Arranger
Arranger, Connectedness, Strategic, Relator, and Responsibility
Positivity, Empathy, Communication, Individualization, and Achiever
Deliberative, Input, Strategic, Analytical, and Achiever
Responsibility, Harmony, Arranger, Consistency, and Analytical
Harmony, Achiever, Consistency, Relator, and Context
Dr. John Richard Learner, Belief, Relator, Responsibility, and Focus
Sarah Richards
Lee Swinehart
Milistine Tatum
Matthew White II
Futuristic, Relator, Strategic, Achiever, and Maximizer
Ideation, Individualization, Achiever, Futuristic, and Strategic
Analytical, Responsibility, Learner, Individualization, and Focus
Restorative, Connectedness, Arranger, Responsibility, and Command
Shannon McMahon Williams Input, Belief, Intellection, Developer, and Empathy
Amy Wise
Positivity, Achiever, Developer, Learner, and Communication
Matthew Ziders Developer, Relator, Responsibility, Analytical, and Belief
Andrew Ziegler
Relator, Ideation, Futuristic, Competition, and Activator
OUR MISSION: To develop a community of engaged leaders committed to positively impact our region.
Leadership Stark County uses a range of leadership development programs to build a community of engaged leaders committed to positively impacting our region.
• The 10-month Signature Program for emerging and established leaders
Applications for the 2024-2025 session will be available January 2024
• Spotlight Stark County for young professionals program
Six sessions beginning in September or February Apply beginning in July
• Encounter Stark County
An interactive and investigative tour of Stark County
• Building Better Boards
For non-profit board members and staff Legal, financial, and organization best practices
• Board Matching program
Find qualified LSC-trained members for your non-profit board.
• Youth Leadership Academy of Stark County + Youth Summer Camp High School students interact county-wide with their peers from other schools while learning leadership skills
• Custom programming
Leadership training for your employees including GallupStrengths, poverty simulations, engagement, team communication and accountability training
For more information contact Stephanie Werren at 330.458.2093 or Kristina Belliveau at 330.458.2095.