AKRON, Ohio — Sept. 3, 2025 — Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties was very pleased to announce its 2025 “Making a Difference” award recipient at the September 3rd Employee of Distinction Awards Program held at Guy’s Party Center.
The “Making a Difference” award was created in honor of a longtime Goodwill Director and Honorary Director, Mary Beth Kluge, who served the agency as a volunteer leader for over two decades. She was posthumously recognized as the award’s inaugural recipient in 2022. The award may be given annually to a Goodwill team member, director, key agency volunteer or community leader who has contributed significant time, talent and or treasure to support Goodwill’s mission.
Goodwill’s 2025 employee “Making a Difference” honoree is Heather Hydel, Goodwill’s Medina Retail Store Manager. Heather has been on the Goodwill team for over 18 years! When she started, Heather insisted on working in every retail role to understand the importance of each. She has worked in nearly every store in the agency and helped open several of them. Heather consistently takes initiative, solves problems proactively and always ensures that both team goals and customer needs are met with excellence. Her dedication has improved efficiency, boosted morale, and strengthened customer satisfaction—all while keeping Goodwill’s mission at the center. Heather truly goes above and beyond because she genuinely cares about “Making a Difference” in our community and is well-deserving of the Mary Beth Kluge “Making a Difference” award.
Event Sponsors
Thank you to the event sponsors – Diamond: Clarity HR; County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; Morgan Parke; Platinum: Fifth Third Bank; Synthomer Foundation; Gold: Presper Financial Architects; Silver: Eric & Nan McClenaghan; PNC Financial Services Group; W3 Financial Group; Bronze: Bober Markey Fedorovich; Brennan Manna & Diamond; Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services; Copper: Campbell Construction; S.A. Comunale; Table Sponsor: Towpath Credit Union; Diamond Patron: David & Kathleen Bucci; Dr. Pleas R. Chambers III; Bill & Mary Glaeser; William & Susan Hanlon; Charles & Leslie Zonfa; Platinum Patron: Chip Clupper and Zebulon Keller; Gold Patron: Laura Judge; Patron: Greta Johnson; Gold Program Partner: Akron Children’s; The Blick Center; Community Support Services; Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park; Silver Program Partner: Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority; Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority; Child Guidance & Family Solutions; Hattie Larlham; IBH Addiction Recovery; Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; Project Learn of Summit County; Summit County Children Services; Bronze Program Partner: VANTAGE Aging – Meals on Wheels NEO; In-Kind: Akron Civic Theatre; Akron Zoo; AUI; Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; Media: akronlife; WAKR/WONE/WQMX/WNWV.
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 business services division. For more information about GIA, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.
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Contact: Leah Davis
(330) 786-2519
ldavis@goodwillakron.org