Goodwill Industries Akron - Celebration of Champions

Jason Brady (center) with his employers Pete Ritz and John Roddy of Arhaus Furniture.

Nicholas Rothermel (center) with Goodwill's Joe Jordan and Nan McClenaghan.

Matthew Feltrup and Dana Wherley of InfoCision Management Corporation (center) with Goodwill's Yvette Watkins (left) and Nan McClenaghan (right).

Barbara Short (center) with two co-workers from her employer, Radiant Research.

Richard Bromley with Goodwill's Nan McClenaghan.

Amy Sutton (center) with Goodwill's Jan Humphrey (left) and Nan McClenaghan (right).

Dennis Kelm of FBC Chemical Corp. (center) with Goodwill's Nan McClenaghan (left) and Jan Humphrey (right).

Each year, Goodwill Industries recognizes true employment champions during Goodwill Week. Successful program participants, as well as employers from across the region and community partners, are honored for their exemplary efforts which turned possibilities into reality.

In 2008, Goodwill presented awards to honor these "employment champions" at two separate “Celebration of Champions” recognition ceremonies in Summit County, one ceremony in Medina County, and one in Portage County.

Summit County Celebration of Champions - May 6 & 7, 2008

On May 6, the Rotary Club of Akron hosted Goodwill's recognition ceremony during its regular luncheon meeting where Goodwill honored the following Summit County Program Participants and Employers:

• Jason Brady of Northfield

• Ida Coffe of Akron

• Dianna Lemon of Barberton

• Nicholas Rothermel of Rootstown (employed in Akron)

• Arhaus Furniture (based in Akron)

• InfoCision Management Corporation (based in Akron)

On May 7, the Rotary Club of Fairlawn hosted Goodwill’s recognition ceremony during its regular breakfast meeting where Goodwill honored the following Summit County Program Participant and Community Partner:

• Barbara Short of Akron

• Cardinal Rubber Co. (based in Barberton)

Goodwill Industries President & CEO Nancy Ellis McClenaghan was the featured speaker for each Celebration of Champions recognition ceremony, where she highlighted the agency’s 2007 record-setting service numbers and shared information about Goodwill and services that the agency provides to residents of its five-county region (including Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland, and Richland). During the ceremony, each honoree “champion” was presented with a medal after the speaker read the honorees’ success stories.

“I feel that InfoCision has been blessed to have the opportunity to partner with Goodwill. The people that work there, and their commitment to their clients is remarkable and everyone is a winner!” said Dana Wherley, Manager of Recruitment and Retention for InfoCision Management Corporation.

Medina County Celebration of Champions - May 8, 2008

On May 8, the Medina Noon Kiwanis Club hosted Goodwill’s recognition ceremony during its regular luncheon meeting where Goodwill honored the following Medina County Program Participants, Employers, and Community Partners:

• Richard Bromley of Medina

• Amy Sutton of Wadsworth

• Adam the Groomer (based in Medina)

• FBC Chemical Corp. (based in Medina)

• Living Hope Church (located in Medina)

"It is with my greatest honor to except this award on behalf of all the women that work hard every day. I am very proud of my accomplishments thus far, I am glad that I was able to share my story and hopefully inspire people to strive to be better," said Amy Sutton, Medina County Celebration of Champions honoree.

Portage County Celebration of Champions - May 6 & 7, 2008

On May 7, Goodwill team members including Vice President of Employee and Public Relations Valarie Still and Kent/Ravenna Store Manager Riley Moore presented Celebration of Champion Employer Honoree Family Dollar, located at 610-1/2 West Main Street in Ravenna, with a medal commemorating their support of Goodwill. Assistant Store Manager Dominic Yeropoli accepted the award on behalf of the store and Store Manager Bill Collins, who could not be present. Goodwill also delivered lunch to the Family Dollar staff, which includes Assistant Store Manager Helena Mazurak, Cashier Lisa Wilson, Cashier Kristin Hager, and Store Associate Daniel Rubbins, who Goodwill helped to place into employment this year.

Also as part of Goodwill Industries Week (a time of celebration and mission awareness for the agency), Goodwill Industries President & CEO Nancy Ellis McClenaghan spoke briefly to the Ravenna Township Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting on May 6, where she highlighted the agency’s 2007 record-setting service numbers and shared information about Goodwill and services that the agency provides to residents of its five-county region (including Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland, and Richland).

Special Thank You to Celebration of Champions Hosts and Sponsors

Goodwill would like to thank the Rotary Club of Akron, the Rotary Club of Fairlawn, the Medina Noon Kiwanis Club, and the Ravenna Township Board of Trustees for their hospitality in hosting the Celebration of Champions events. In addition, Goodwill would like to thank its annual sponsors, which include ASW Global; Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company; Braun & Steidl Architects; Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co.; CF Bank; Chi Chi Rodriguez Management Group, Inc.; Fifth Third Bank; First Energy Corp.; Jackie & Greg McDermott & Family; Meaden & Moore; National City; OMNOVA Solutions, Inc.; Roetzel & Andress; SeibertKeck Insurance; Sterling Jewelers; Welty Building Company Ltd; Westfield Bank; in-kind sponsors Civic Theatre and Shulan’s Jewelers; and media sponsors Akron Life & Leisure and the Rubber City Radio Group.

Goodwill Industries of Akron’s mission is to help individuals prepare for, find, and retain employment.