AKRON, Ohio — Sept. 5, 2024 — Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties recognized outstanding employees in our community during its 23rd Annual Employee of Distinction Award Program yesterday. The event provides employers with a cost-effective way to publicly recognize outstanding employees. This year 72 employees were nominated for the Employee of Distinction Award.
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 nominations with the highest average rankings. Congratulations to the 2024 Employee of Distinction Award Winners:
2024 Top Employees of Distinction: IBH Addiction Recovery Case Management Team Members: Crystal James, Kyle Luckie and Kathleen Valerius | LeBaron Lynum, Director of Non-Profit Services, Here For You Enterprise | Susie Malkamaki, Extra Daughter, The Extra Daughter LLC | Cindy Nort, Career Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates | Summit County Children Services Intake Specialized Services & Placement Services Team Members: Megan Bertram, Auguste Condon, Cassidy Lindberg, Kristin Lopez, Laurie Marniella, Kristen McGarvey | DeAnna White, Life Enrichment Manager, Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities
- IBH Addiction Recovery Case Management Team: Crystal James, Kyle Luckie, Kathleen Valerius
This caring and compassionate team forms new connections in the community, builds relationships, and utilizes the wealth of resources in Summit County to create a healthier world for their clients.
- LeBaron Lynum, Director of Non-Profit Services, Here For You Enterprise
LeBaron is a positive asset to the Summit County Citizen Circle and Here For You Enterprise, continuously showing care, compassion and selflessness when engaging with returning citizens. In addition to this work, he has developed a food bank to assist those in need.
- Susie Malkamaki, Extra Daughter, The Extra Daughter
Susie has served as an Extra Daughter for four years and has become one of the most experienced and knowledgeable members of her team. Rave reviews about Susie are often received from clients’ families.
- Cindy Nort, Career Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
Cindy is dedicated, efficient and result oriented. She consistently goes above and beyond for the youth that she serves. Cindy will do whatever it takes to help each student be successful.
- Summit County Children Services Intake Specialized Services and Placement Services Team: Megan Bertram, Auguste Condon, Cassidy Lindberg, Kristin Lopez, Laurie Marniella, Kristen McGarvey
This team of individuals worked together on a complex case to ensure the safety of a child in this community. They are tenacious first responders who maintain a steadfast dedication to helping children.
- DeAnna White, Life Enrichment Manager, Hattie Larlham
DeAnna leads her staff in providing meaningful opportunities and experiences that enrich the lives of residents as well as her coworkers. She was nominated as a 2024 Employee of Distinction by three of her colleagues.
“The level of dedication we observed was nothing short of inspiring,” stated Event Chairs Pamela Crombie, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; and Chrissy Myers, AUI & Clarity HR. “We are incredibly proud of all the honorees!”
All honorees received a certificate and gift commemorating their nomination. In addition, the top winners received a medal and gift cards for area businesses. The keynote address during the event was provided by Donna Skoda, Health Commissioner of the Summit County Public Health Department.
2024 Employee of Distinction Honorees
- Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Security Department
- Kim Beech, Security Support Specialist
- Tim Eckberg, Senior Manager Security & Investigations
- William Mulhearn, Investigations Administrative Assistant
- Rocco Ross, Senior Investigator
- Cheryl Sandor, Security Compliance Coordinator
- Tara Baker, Secretary, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Debbie Barry, Deputy Director, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Blick Center Occupational Therapy Department
- Megan Anderson, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Brian Collins, Occupational Therapist
- Matt DeAngelis, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Krista Hamilton, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Eileen Love, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Shawn Bonner, Director of Community Engagement & Volunteer Director at South Street Ministries, Summit County Citizen Circle
- Community Support Services, Inc. SAMI-PACT Team
- Samantha Allshouse, ACT Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Lisa Brunton, Administrative Specialist
- Janet Catalano, SAMI-PACT Supervisor
- Tamika James, ACT Nurse Care Coordinator
- Grace Kane, Recovery Specialist
- Paige Mamajek, ACT Case Manager
- James Mitchell, SAMI Assertive Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Kristina Mollica, ACT Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Crystal Willis, ACT Service Coordinator
- Community Support Servic es, Inc. Southwest Team
- Heather Bell, Case Manager
- Michael Greenfelder, Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Jessica Haines, Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Alysia Jackson, Community Rehabilitation Specialist
- Brian Tolbert, Recovery Specialist
- Angela Collins, Project Coordinator, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Heather M. Coughlin, Self-Sufficiency Initiatives Supervisor, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Rikki Davis, Activity Assistant, Hattie Larlham
- Ellen Dies, Office Manager, St Vincent de Paul Parish
- Kelly Eisentraut, Manager of Human Resources, Kent Displays
- Kristine Floyd, Community Rehabilitation Specialist, Community Support Services, Inc.
- Taihiesha Frezzell, Program Coordinator, Hattie Larlham
- Arlene Goodwin, Manager of Compensation & Benefits, Hattie Larlham
- Amy Harper, Medical Records Specialist, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
- Hattie Larlham Health Service Coordination Team
- Patty Poe, LPN, Health Service Coordinator
- Erika Reece, LPN, Health Service Coordinator
- IBH Addiction Recovery Case Management Team
- Crystal James, Case Manager
- Kyle Luckie, Case Manager
- Kathleen Valerius, Case Manager
- Charay Johnson, Career Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
- LaRinda Johnson, Research Manager, Center for Marketing and Opinion Research, LLC
- Rachael Jolly-Kosakowski, Business & Community Outreach Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
- Ashley Jost, Prevention Services Coordinator, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
- Steve Kariotis, Senior Career Coach, Pathfinder Career Consulting Ltd.
- John Konen, Capital Projects Manager, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Dane Leimbach, Training Specialist, Hattie Larlham
- Nicole Likouris, LPN, Assistant Director of Nursing, Hattie Larlham
- Rebecca Lowmaster, Legal Assistant / Paralegal, Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC
- LeBaron Lynum, Director of Non-Profit Services, Here For You Enterprise
- Susie Malkamaki, Extra Daughter, The Extra Daughter LLC
- Pamela Miller Crooks, Clinical Site Manager, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
- Javin Morgan, Property Manager, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Cindy Nort, Career Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
- Elizabeth Orley, Master & Commander Elizabeth Ink, Clarity HR & AUI
- Mallory Pilz, Pantry Supervisor, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
- Jessica Porter, Summit County Assistant Coordinator, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
- Robert Shaub, Facilities Coordinator & Purchasing, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
- Isabella South, College and Career Advisor, Project GRAD Akron
- Danielle Steiner, Employment Specialist, Hattie Larlham
- Summit County Children Services Intake Specialized Services and Placement Services Team
- Megan Bertram, Supervisor, Social Services
- Auguste Condon, Caseworker
- Cassidy Lindberg, Caseworker
- Kristin Lopez, Supervisor, Social Services
- Laurie Marniella, Caseworker
- Kristen McGarvey, Supervisor, Social Services
- Towpath Credit Union Member Care Management Team
- Laura Adolphson, Assistant Member Care Manager
- Kimberly Thomas, Senior Member Care Consultant
- DeAnna White, Life Enrichment Manager, Hattie Larlham
- Heather Wuensch, Director Community Benefit, Advocacy & Outreach, Akron Children’s
- Mandy Zantow, Performance Specialist, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
Event Sponsors
Thank you to the event sponsors – Diamond: Akron Children’s Hospital; Clarity HR; Platinum: Fifth Third Bank; Synthomer Foundation; Gold: Presper Financial Architects; Silver: Acrisure; Eric & Nan McClenaghan; PNC Financial Services Group; W3 Financial Group; Bronze: Bober Markey Fedorovich; Brennan Manna & Diamond; Marc Servodio, CFP®, AIF® – Vita Advisors, LLC; Copper: S.A. Comunale; Table Sponsor: Summit County Citizen Circle; Towpath Credit Union; Diamond Patron: David & Kathleen Bucci; Dr. Pleas R. Chambers III; Chuck & Debbie Ducey; Bill & Mary Glaeser; William & Susan Hanlon; Danielle Kimmell; Charles & Leslie Zonfa; Gold Patron: Laura Judge; Mary Anne & C. Allen Nichols; Patron: Chip Clupper & Zebulon Keller; Gold Program Partner: The Blick Center; Community Support Services; Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park; St. Vincent De Paul Parish; Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services; Silver Program Partner: Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority; Child Guidance & Family Solutions; Hattie Larlham; IBH Addiction Recovery; Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; Project GRAD Akron, Summit County Children Services; 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