Programs
GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The Government Leadership Academy is for individuals who are either elected or appointed public officials, or prospective candidates, and those interested in public service.
Ralph Regula speaks at Government Academy Conclusion
Participants of the 2009 Government Leadership Academy recently concluded their 6 week session with a ceremony and remarks from former U.S. Congressman, Ralph Regula at the Akron Canton Airport.
The class met for 24 hours over a six-week period with a focus on strengthening leadership skills skills, developing strategies for inclusion, enhancing knowledge of regional opportunities, and tips for working with the media. Led by volunteer chair Robert Lapp, vice president government affairs, The Timken Company, the program has sponsorship support from The Stark County District Library.
2009 Government Leadership Academy Participants
Jack Angelo, Police Lieutenant, City Of Canton
John M. Beckem II, Reliability Engineer, The Timken Company
Guy Bertram, Life Skills Director, The First Tee of Canton
Peggy Claytor, Manager, State Government Affairs, The Timken Company
Cheli Curran, Eligibility Specialist, Stark County Job and Family Services
Melissa Day, Associate Attorney, Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Mathews
Charles Fenske, Project Engineer, Knoch Corp
Joyce Fetzer, Administrator, Perry Township Board of Trustees
Guy Guidone, Louisville City Council Member, Supervisor-Bill Print Operations, American Electric Power
Michelle Henry, President, Center for Marketing and Opinion Research, LLC
Melissa Link, Training Development, Stark County Board of Elections
Martha Klein Lottman, MLK Property Inc.
Nancy Marion, North Canton City School Board President, Professor, Political Science, University of Akron
Jeanette Mullane, Director, Stark County Board of Elections
Michael Pauli, Lexington Township Trustee, Owner, Pauli Electric
Kathleen Purdy, Teacher, Glenwood Middle School, Plain Local Schools
Charles E. Ringer, Attorney/Partner, Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty
Megan Rotunno, Career Services Advisor, Brown Mackie College
Sean Ruffin, Attorney, Ruffin Legal Group Ltd.
Kent B. Smith II, Operations Director, Stark County Prosecutor's Office
Barry Stayer, Director of Finance, Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
Amanda Stewart, Program Officer, Stark County Out of Poverty Partnership
Cynthia Timberlake, Clerk of Council, Canton City Council
Cynthia Vignos, Graphic Designer, Sterling, Inc.
Deborah Watkins, Community Volunteer
Marilyn Weaver, Retired, Republic Engineered Steels
Carmen West, Deputy Director of Development, City of Canton
Randall L. Wittmer, Private Consultant
| The Academy is a collaboration among Leadership Stark County, Stark County District Library and The Ohio State University Extension. | ![]() |
2009 Government Leadership Academy Steering Committee
Trina Cutter (17th), President/GM, Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, PBS 45 & 49
Robert Fonte (11th), Park Director/Projects Manager, Stark County Park District
David J. Hersher , Operations Manager, Recovery Management Systems Ltd.
Steve Katz , Senior Vice President, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Robert Lapp (4th), Vice President Government Affairs, The Timken Company
Kenton Oliver (16th), Executive Director, Stark County District Library
David Regula (5th), Customer Service Manager, Akron-Canton Airport
Robert Roland (5th), Partner, Day Ketterer Ltd.
Chris Smith , Councilwoman, Fourth Ward, City of Canton
Stephanie Snow Werren (19th), Development Director, Leadership Stark County
See interviews with 2007 Academy graduates relating the value they received from the course at www.pbs4549.org
2008 Stark County Local Government Leadership Academy Participants
James M. Adams, Commissioner, Canton City Board of Health
Ronald C. Beltz, Councilman, Village of Hartville
Monique Cox-Moore, Fiscal Officer and Republican Coordinator of the Townships, Stark County Board of Elections
Lawrence A. Dordea, Candidate for Stark County Sherriff
Louis Giavasis, Plain Township Trustee
Alexander Haas, President, Muggswigz Coffee & Tea Co.
Scott Michael Haws, Service Operations & Planning, Diebold, Inc.
Adam Herman, Communications Director, Mayor's Office
David J. Hersher, Operations Manager, Recovery Management Systems Ltd.
H. Wayne Hicks, Councilman, Village of Navarre
Danny Losch, Councilman, City of Canal Fulton
Shane Wyatt McCartney, Self-Employed
Pam Popovich, Case Manager, Department of Jobs & Family Services
Matthew Ritzert, Strategic Planning Coordinator, AultCare
Mark Rosneck, Manager, Aultcomp
Wendell Craig Short, Production Systems, Ford Motor Company
Corey Minor Smith, Legal Compliance Director, City of Canton
Chris Smith, Councilwoman, Fourth Ward, City of Canton
Jim Urbach, Bethlehem Township Trustee













