Goodwill Employee of Distinction Luncheon Recognizes Honorees

55 HONOREES RECOGNIZED AND 5 AWARDED WITH HIGHEST HONOR

AKRON, Ohio — Sept. 6, 2018 — Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties recognized 55 outstanding employees in our community at its 17th Annual Employee of Distinction Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 5.  The event provides employers a cost-effective way to publicly recognize outstanding employees. This year 28 area organizations nominated employees for the top honor of receiving the Employee of Distinction Award.

Front row left to right: Jennifer Wicks, Mary Blatnik and Maureen Flynn. Back row left to right: Ted Scott and William Kelly, Ph.D.

Nominations for the Employee of Distinction Award are reviewed based on quality of work, dedication to the business, and extraordinary efforts with the honor going to the top five individuals with the highest average rankings. Congratulations to the 2018 Employee of Distinction Award Winners:

  • Mary Blatnik, teacher, Hudson Montessori School
    Mary puts her heart and soul into the children, their education, the families, and the programs at Hudson Montessori School.
  • Maureen Flynn, social service supervisor, placement unit, Summit County Children Services
    Maureen is instrumental in finding safe placements for children that meet their needs and promote well-being.
  •  William J. Kelly, Ph.D., clinical director of day programs, Blick Center
    Jeff has defined his role as that of a mentor, teacher and coach. He is an asset to the field and is recognized in the field of mental health as well as developmental disabilities.
  • Theodore Scott, Meals on Wheels driver, VANTAGE Aging
    Ted is one of the many Meals on Wheels delivery drivers responsible for getting meals to hundreds of homebound clients across Summit County. He is one of the few drivers to have received a 100% client satisfaction rating, the highest rating in the organization.
  • Jennifer Wicks, elementary teacher, Akron Public Schools
    Jennifer creates an optimum learning environment by setting an expectation of excellence and accepting and appreciating failure as a foundation for student growth.

“We are impressed by all the honorees,” stated Event Co-chairs Todd Caruthers, Superior Staffing, and Kara Hanzie, Ohio Living Rockynol.  “It is inspiring to see how many people go above and beyond daily for the organizations they serve.”

During the event, all honorees received a certificate and gift commemorating their nomination and two free tickets to a performance at the historic Akron Civic Theatre. In addition, the top five winners were presented with a medal, a Visa gift card, as well as tickets and gift cards from Akron RubberDucks, Akron Zoo, Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar, Goodwill, Pizza Hut and Akron Civic Theatre. Para M. Jones, Ph.D., president, Stark State College gave the keynote address and shared information on Stark State College Akron.

“All the honorees are role models in the community and Goodwill is pleased to help local employers showcase their top performers and shining stars,” said Nancy Ellis McClenaghan, president & CEO, Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties.

2018 Employee of Distinction Honorees & Award Winners

  • J. Gallagher Executive Personal Lines Team
  • Amanda Bonanno
    personal lines client management services
  • Patty Palmer
    personal lines client management services
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Team
  •   Jason Colón, IT manager
  •  Brenna Herman,  resident services senior manager
  •  Jasna Nolze, financial analyst
  • Marvin Nutter, maintenance supervisor
  • Denny Spardy, maintenance supervisor
  • Patricia Barker, art teacher, Hudson Montessori School
  • Gary Blake, finance director, Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority
  • Mary Blatnik, teacher, Hudson Montessori School
  • Curtis Boggess, community rehabilitation specialist, Community Support Services
  • Tom Brew, wellness director, Britton Gallagher
  • Brent Bruckner, general manager, CycleBar Hudson
  • Amanda Cameron, marketing specialist, VANTAGE Aging
  • Chris Canova, CEO, Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
  • Claudia Denaro, benefits administrator, VANTAGE Aging
  • Michael Erb, system administrator, ACRT Services
  • Michelle Fetzer, HR generalist, Ohio Living Rockynol
  • DaQuane Finley, career specialist, Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
  • Maureen Flynn, social service supervisor, placement unit, Summit County Children Services
  • Dan Francis, section leader/ indoor testing, Bridgestone Americas
  • Richard Gillmore, section manager/standards & specs, Bridgestone Americas
  • Jackie Goodchild, software support specialist, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
  • Kevin Jackson, network technician, Bober Markey Fedorovich
  • Vickie Jennings, licensed optician, Novus Clinic Total Eye Care
  • William J. Kelly, Ph.D., clinical director of day programs, Blick Center
  • Tajha LaFlore, career specialist, Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
  • Denise Lewis, residential scheduler, Community Support Services
  • Andrea Long, coordinator, product development, Bridgestone Americas
  • Terrill Marshall, production team member, Liniform Service
  • Barbara Martucci, program associate, Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center
  • Derek Mast, associate, Braun & Steidl Architects, a Studio of Prime AE Group
  • Anthony Matonis, senior director of research and analytics, Center for Marketing and Opinion Research
  • Marva McCorvey, records specialist, VANTAGE Aging
  • Lori Morrison, legal assistant, Kastner Westman & Wilkins
  • Vanessa Moscariello, senior client service associate, Fifth Third Private Bank
  • Vince O’Leary, assistant general manager, Goldfish Swim School-Hudson
  • Nidhi Pande, systems analyst, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
  • Megan Petruzzi, clinical manager, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
  • Craig Pittman, job development coordinator, Hattie Larlham
  • Jason Rigo, pre-sales engineer, Bay Pointe Tech Services
  • Theodore Scott, Meals on Wheels driver, VANTAGE Aging
  • Beth Staley, production team member, Liniform Service
  • Lori Sullivan, HR coordinator, Bridgestone Americas
  • Fran Thomas, HR administrator, Community Support Services
  • Patricia Valentic, senior client relationship manager, SS&G Wealth Management, a Prosperity Advisors Company
  • Lacy Vartenuk, desktop support specialist, VANTAGE Aging
  • Jarrod Wenger, career specialist, Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
  • Emily Wharmby, community rehabilitation specialist, Community Support Services
  • Laura White, teacher, Hudson Montessori School
  • Jennifer Wicks, elementary teacher, Akron Public Schools
  • Ross Widenor, engineer/advanced commercial compounding, Bridgestone Americas
  • Kerrie Wightman, assistant operations manager, Novus Clinic Total Eye Care
  • Annette Wilson, RN, CDCA, outreach & treatment nurse for Behavioral Health Solutions, VANTAGE Aging
  • Jeri Wilson, volunteer center coordinator, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

Event Sponsors
Thank you to the event sponsors – Platinum: Bridgestone Americas; and OMNOVA Solutions Foundation; Silver: Britton Gallagher; Eric & Nan McClenaghan; and PNC Financial Services Group; Bronze: A.J. Gallagher; Bober Markey Fedorovich; Fifth Third Bank; Navigator Management Partners; Roetzel & Andress; and Kim & Chas Schreckenberger; Copper: Crain, Langner & Co.; S.A. Comunale Co., Inc.; and SS&G Wealth Management; Table: ACRT Services; and Superior Staffing; Gold Program Partner: Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority; Ohio Living Rockynol; Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services; and Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates;  Silver Program Partner: Akron Public Schools; Blick Center; Child Guidance & Family Solutions; Community Support Services; Summit County Children Services and VANTAGE Aging; Bronze Program Partner: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; and Project Learn of Summit County. Diamond Patron: Jennifer & Justin Bako; David & Kathleen Bucci; Bill & Mary Glaeser; Kimberly & Greg Morton and Tadd Schwarz; Platinum Patron: Traci & Rob Prohaska; Patron: Chip Clupper; Lynn & Bambi Miller; Mary Anne & C. Allen Nichols; and  Gary Rickel & Karen Krino; Media: akronlife and WAKR/WONE/WQMX/WNWV; In-Kind: Akron Civic Theatre; Akron RubberDucks; Akron Zoo; Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce; Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar; and Pizza Hut.

 

About Goodwill Industries Serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland Counties

The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation that helps individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. Operating in the five-county region of Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland, the agency was established in 1927. It is a private, independent organization, operating as an affiliate member of Goodwill Industries International. Goodwill helps to directly strengthen the region’s workforce through its employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail outlets and industrial services division. For more information about GIA, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.

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Contact:
Jennifer Bako
(330) 786-2519
jbako@goodwillakron.org