AKRON, Ohio — Aug. 14, 2014 — Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties is pleased to announce Jodi Kest, head coach of The University of Akron women’s basketball program, will present the keynote address at its 13th Annual Employee of Distinction Award Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014. The speech is titled Recipe for Success. Tickets for the event are $30 each and reservations can be made at http://goodwillakron.org/EDL.
Kest recently completed her eighth year as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at The University of Akron (UA). She has collected more than 320 victories in her 22 years as a collegiate head coach, guiding the Zips to unprecedented heights during her tenure. In 2014, Akron won its first Mid-American Conference championship in the 40-year history of the program, also earning its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament under Kest’s guidance. She has coached UA to three postseason appearances in the last five years, including an appearance in the WNIT in 2013. She has led the Zips to a total of 46 victories in the last two seasons after the team won just 24 games in the six years combined prior to her arrival in Akron.
A 1984 graduate of Slippery Rock, with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Kest was a two-sport standout in basketball and tennis. The three-time basketball team captain garnered All-American honors on the hardwood her final two seasons. She finished her collegiate career with 1,289 points and 540 rebounds, and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
In 1986, she received a master’s degree in education from Northwest Missouri State, where she served as graduate assistant coach from 1984-86.
Employee of Distinction Luncheon
The Employee of Distinction Luncheon is Goodwill’s signature employee recognition event. All honorees are acknowledged at the event, listed in the commemorative program, and in the running to be named one of the top five Employees of Distinction (chosen by a panel of independent judges). In addition, all honorees will receive two free tickets to a performance at Akron’s historic Civic Theater.
Event Details
Date:Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Guy’s Party Centre, 500 E. Waterloo Road, Akron
Cost: $30
RSVP: http://goodwillakron.org/EDL
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, and a United Way agency in Summit County. 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