Thursday March 22, 2012

7:45-8:45 a.m.

At the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce

If you have always wondered what REALLY goes on at Leadership Stark County’s Signature Program sessions and “is it right for me,” attend our one-hour informational breakfast. For applicants, prospective candidates, and employers, we will cover:

• What is the Signature Program and how does it work?
• How will the Signature Program benefit me or my company?
• How much time will it take to participate?
• How do I apply?

Join us and discover the answers to these and any other questions you may have. The no-obligation information breakfast is free, however, reservations are requested by Wednesday, March 20th to 330-458-2095 or joyw@leadershipstarkcounty.org. All are welcome.

Applications for the 26th Class Signature Program are now available at www.leadershipstarkcounty.org.

Energize your organization with the latest trends, best practices, and techniques. Want to get more done, run more efficient meetings, and garner consensus? Members of local non-profit boards, agency staff, and interested community members are encouraged to attend the Building Better Boards seminar to start 2012 moving smoothly toward your organizational goals.

Three sessions include:

1. The Dynamics of Focused Discussions, John Spitzer, rabbi emeritus, Temple Israel
2. The Role of the Board, Elizabeth Voudouris, Business Volunteers Unlimited
3. Legal Responsibilities of Board Service, Randy Snow, Black McCuskey Law Firm

Ideal for non-profit staff and board members alike
For executive directors, staff and board members who did not attend in January 2010

• Location: The Timken Company Main Auditorium, 1835 Deuber Ave SW
• Registration fee: $15 per person, $45 agency cap
  Register Now

Seminar Sponsored by

Thank you to those that spent time out of their day with us including:
Bill Burgess, Patrice M. Fetzer, Paulla Gates, Christopher Hewitt, Kellijo Jeffries, Kim Labriola, Sherri McKinney-Frantz, Jennifer McNemar, Molly Moriarty, Lori Stokes, Tom Thompson, Lori Travaglino, Donna Williams, David Wills, Todd Porter

Keynote Speaker: John Green, Bliss Institute UA
Breakouts:

• Working Across the Aisle – Tom Bernabei, Stark County commissioner
• Social Media in Politics- Trina Cutter, CEO PBS 45/49 & Jeff Gauger, executive editor, The Repository

Sponsored by: The Ralph and Mary Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement at the University of Mount Union

Cost: $15 includes breakfast

Register Now 

The Industrial Age was Stark County’s first brush with economic prosperity. When Henry Timken used two horses instead of usual four to pull a wagon to illustrate the benefits of his bearings, he was arrested for animal cruelty. He proved his innocence by demonstrating that the ball bearings made the load much easier to pull. It was the beginning of Timken.

Our economic leadership day started with Hall of Fame President Steve Perry. It was an important reminder that the Pro Football HOF’s festivities contribute millions of dollars to Stark County’s economy, a revenue driver for hotels, restaurants, etc. And, while the Hall will always remain an economic driver for the area, the potential impact of the energy “gold rush” to local business is immense. There will be several thousand if not tens of thousands of new jobs which will impact restaurants, hotels, and more. Dan Spring told us that the Day’s Inn in Carrollton has been leased for next two years and Chesapeake is now trying to buy it. Parts of Southeast Ohio such as Carrollton and Steubenville which have been extremely depressed are now looking at a bonanza.

The panel discussion involving Todd Snitchler, Jim Griffith, and Mark Fleiner was perhaps the most interesting in that it included the decision-making involved in locating international companies to Stark County, and the variables that make these decisions significant to companies looking at Stark County for potential relocation. Of potential significance is the impact of energy costs to Timken’s operating plans. One common theme is that Stark County’s interests are receiving global recognition. Mark Fleiner, CEO of Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems, said that while living in Oregon, he had the whole country to choose from to locate this operation and he chose Canton, Ohio!

Chairman of the PUCO Todd Snitchler added that he is confident that Ohio has learned from Pennsylvania and West Virginia and is ahead of the game of managing the impact of the drilling boom on our environment and infrastructure.

Members of the various panels not only talked about the various types of energy (Wind, Fuel Cells, Marcellus/Utica gas/oil, etc), but also the uses to their respective businesses and the economic impact of the extraction/utilization of the energy sources.

Lunch with Jim Griffith, president & CEO, The Timken Company, and Steve Johnson was fascinating. A company the size of Timken (20,000 employees worldwide), maintains a “family culture”. They impressed upon the group how approximately 80% of people polled recognize the significance of manufacturing, yet few actually encourage their children to pursue this career choice. As a consequence recruitment which, in the past began in high school, is actually now being done in middle/junior high, as many high school students have already made decisions on their post-secondary education.

Lunch with Joe and Matt Halter at Solmet Technologies opened the door to one of Stark County’s family-owned small manufacturers. The company successfully combines the old with the new, using forging hammers that date back to the 1950s and the latest computer controlled CNC lathing machines to produce parts for the oil patch. This business, which employs about 50 people, is one of the many small companies that drive much of our local economy.

The afternoon session with Hilscher-Clarke Electric, HydroDyne, Inc., and the Stark Development Board also presented an interesting dynamic in how old and new are combining for the boom in Stark County. Those of us who have stuck it out particularly appreciate Steve Paquette’s comment that before the Stark Development Board welcomes new companies to town, they investigate if someone is already doing a similar business and attempt to facilitate partnerships.

We all believe that as Ohioans we are trying hard to believe that we’re on the cusp of an economic boom. But, it is for real.
Let us, as Jim Griffith said at his lunch session, “Build a society that engages the world”.

Submitted by 25th Signature Class members Linda Dahl, Dean Fox, and Justin Hardesty.

• Meet the 25th Class, enjoy appetizers & friendly networking
• cash bar
• $7.00 per person
• Register on-line

These individuals are about to begin 10 months of leadership training and experiences that will provide an understanding of local issues, assets and resources relating to Stark County’s economy, educational institutions, social services, justice system, political system and the arts. The class participates in community development projects designed to build on neighborhood assets. Upon graduation, members expand their participation on non-profits boards.

The 25th Signature Class members hail from ten area cities or villages and 14 school districts. They range in age from 26 to 59. Six have lived in Stark County less than 10 years, while 17 have lived in Stark County for more than 30 years. There are 27 employees of corporations or businesses, nine non-profit staff members and three educators. They have in common a link to Stark County through their residence or workplace and a desire to serve this community.

The 25th Signature Class includes:

Matthew Ashton, Vice President, Seifert Technologies, Inc
Aimee Belden, Director, ystark!, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
David Beule, President, Appalachian Basin CPAs, Inc.
Neil Bhagat, Attorney, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP
Benjamin Boyd, Marketing/Property Manager, Brookwood Management Co. Inc.
Mary Brady, Early Childhood Specialist, Early Childhood Resource Center
Marcie Bragg, Director of The Center for Entrepreneurial Success, Goodwill Industries
Darla Brown, Editor, About magazine, The Repository/GateHouse Media
Kenneth A. Buie, Programs Coordinator, Stark State College
Christina Burr, Controller, Aultman Health Foundation
Nichole Cardinale, Manager – Admissions & Special Events, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jason Conrad, Assistant Principal, Perry Local Schools
Linda Dahl, Manager of Public Information, Stark County District Library
Michael Discenza, Director – Financial Planning & Performance, The Timken Company
Jill Dorsey, Director of Emergency Services, Alliance Community Hospital
Dean Fox, Administrative Director, Mercy Medical Center
Lisa Grubbs, CEO, Phoenix Rising BHR, Inc
Justin Hardesty, Portfolio Manager, CCO, Greenport Financial
Ryan Heckert, SSA Supervisor, Waiver Services Unit, Stark County Board of DD
Christopher Henson, General Sales Manager – US Distribution Managment, The Timken Company
Jennifer Hoffner, Human Resources Partner, Diebold, Inc.
Barbara Kennedy, Commercial Portfolio Manager, Huntington National Bank
Sheila Klenner, Chief Operating Officer, Sirak-Moore Insurance Agency
Robb Lightell, Assistant Vice President – Commercial Portfolio Manager, FirstMerit Bank N.A.
Paula S. Mastroianni, Director of Community & Provider Relations, Mental Health & Recovery Services Board
Dawn L. Miller, Program Officer, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton
Michelle L. Molinet, Director of Finance & Administration, Black, McCuskey, Souers & Arbaugh LPA
James Molnar, President, Molnar Tech Services
Amanda Paar, Attorney, Tzangas, Plakas, Mannos & Raies, Ltd.
Dwight Parrish, Customer Services Representative, American Electric Power
Brenda Louise Pedro, Administrator, Altercare of Nobles Pond
David B. Pilati, Director of Secondary Instruction, Plain Local School District
Matthew Savage, Vice President, Vasco Asphalt Company
Jason Shilling, Vice President Commercial Lending, Westfield Bank
Diana Smith, HR Generalist, ComDoc
James Stevenot, Senior Legal Counsel & Director of Business Development, Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems
Pamela Valentine, Service Area Director, Girls Scouts NEO
Amy Wesely, Floorcare Marketing Manager, H-P Products, Inc.

Participant selection is competitive and designed to bring diversity (including, but not limited to, geographic, professional and cultural diversity) to the Leadership Stark County program and to area boards. These community-minded individuals have been charged to work together to make a lifelong commitment to Stark County.

For more information about this and other Leadership Stark County programs, visit LeadershipStarkCounty.org.

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Leadership Stark County is a department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.