NSME Akron

CONTENT PRESENTED BY:

The Akron/Canton affiliate of National Sales & Marketing Executives presents . . .

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Accent on Excellence

ACCENT ON EXCELLENCE

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he National Sales & Marketing Executives Akron/Canton provides high-caliber education and valuable networking opportunities for sales and marketing leaders in the greater Akron/Canton region.

NSME Akron/Canton has more than 50 members who provide sales and marketing expertise for a wide range of businesses and nonprofit organizations. Members blend their broad experiences and skills to create a highenergy, thought leadership organization that provides cutting-edge information at monthly seminars and dinner programs.

A premier organization Executive director Sharon Reed says NSME Akron/Canton is the premier organization

for leading sales and marketing practitioners in the region, and it plays a significant role in strengthening communities. The group’s vision statement states that members are known for “identifying and mastering emerging trends, and exemplify thought leadership in their industries.”

Reed says the group maintains close connections with similar leading edge organizations across the country in its mission to develop personal and professional excellence in sales and marketing.

The organization has adopted core values to guide members to achieve the highest standards of sales and marketing professionalism. Those core values include: n Educate through top-caliber informative,

2016 BUSINESS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR DR. JAY A. GERSHEN President, NEOMED

A LEADER IN INNOVATION

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r. Jay Alan Gershen, who became the sixth president of the Northeast Ohio Medical University in January 2010, says being recognized by the Akron/Canton NSME as Executive of the Year is humbling.

“The fact that the award comes from a national sales and marketing association serves as validation to us, an organization, that our team’s forward thinking and use of such principles as diversity, equity and inclusion; public-private partnerships; entrepreneurship, incubation and commercialization; disruptive innovation; multiple, one-to-one collaborations; and creative workforce development all are

looked upon with the utmost appreciation by peer groups in and outside of our sector,” Gershen said.

Gershen said NEOMED’s mission to advance science and find solutions using medical research to improve the quality of life and health of Ohioans means engaging with all aspects of the community — business, health and civic.

“We serve at the crossroads of two dynamic sectors — higher education and health care,” he said. “Technological and generational changes notwithstanding, these sectors are in the process of huge organizational, cultural

inspirational programming for professional development. n Network to nurture valuable, life-long relationships, personally and professionally. n Mentor by encouraging and advising the next generation of sales and marketing professionals. n Live ethically through high standards of professional integrity.

The organization offers dinner and luncheon programs throughout the year, as well as in-depth workshops on topics relevant to sales and marketing professionals. NSME Akron/Canton also works with leading area universities to provide mentoring and internship opportunities for students enrolled in sales and marketing programs.

and economic change.

“As a result, we have to use 21st century business principles to keep medical education affordable for our students, to generate revenue streams and remain vibrant for our community’s health and economy, and to advance innovation and research at the epicenter of Northeast Ohio’s health care hub.”

At NEOMED, Gershen initiated the Education for Service program, an innovative health workforce development program that reduces student debt, provides health care to underserved communities, diversifies the health care workforce and contributes to economic growth. He also expanded NEOMED’s regional mission to the Cleveland area, working with local hospitals, community health centers and other providers to create an urban primary care training program.

Gershen also implemented a $166 million campus expansion plan that includes a research tower, a residential “village” and NEOMED’s Education and Wellness Center, which includes the Bio-Med Science Academy — the first STEM high school on a medical university campus in the nation.

The 44th annual Akron/Canton National Sales & Marketing Executives “Accent on Excellence” awards program, slated for Feb. 23, will recognize the highest levels of professionalism in the diverse sales and marketing field. The annual awards program will honor the Executive of the Year, the Outstanding Community Leader of the Year, the Jim Butler Collegiate Awards Recipient and multiple Achievements in Excellence awards.

Reed says these honorees are selected

by NSME leaders, based on nominations from local professionals, questionnaire responses provided by the nominees and publicly available information. Award criteria includes community and civic involvement, professional experience and demonstrated performance.

NSME Akron/Canton has held an annual awards gala to honor the “best of the best” sales and marketing professionals since 1972.

A history of leadership Rich Lewis, vice president of external affairs and secretary of NEOMED’s board of directors, called Gershen a “visionary.”

“That’s literally why we hired him — to come here and to help us create what is now Northeast Ohio Medical University,” said Lewis, adding that Gershen created the foundation for the university’s transformation by establishing three colleges — medicine, pharmacy and graduate studies — and assembling a good leadership team.

“What intrigued me most about Jay is I’ve never seen anyone move into a community and establish himself so effectively and so widely in such a short period of time,” Lewis said. “He’s developed a level of respect and professional collegiality around the state that I’ve never seen anyone do in such a short period of time.”

Prior to NEOMED, Gershen served as vice chancellor for external affairs, executive vice chancellor and interim vice president for academic affairs and research at the University of Colorado at Denver, where he played a central role in the consolidation of the university and its Health Science Center.

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S2 February 22, 2016

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADER: HATTIE LARLHAM

Improving lives one at a time

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attie Larlham, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for and improving the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities, is the Akron/ Canton NSME Outstanding Community Leader recipient in the 44th annual Accent on Excellence Awards.

Hattie Larlham was founded in 1961 when Hattie Gadd Larlham, a nurse, brought a vision of providing quality care for people with disabilities to life. Her legacy began with one child and a simple mission to provide comfort, joy and achievement.

Larlham cared for infants with profound special needs in her Mantua farmhouse. Today, Hattie Larlham provides medical, residential, recreational and work-training services to nearly 3,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In its 55-year history, Hattie Larlham has earned the reputation of being an entrepreneurial, forward-thinking and sustainable organization, and a catalyst and leader in providing innovative, integrated services and care.

Along with the Outstanding Com-

munity Leader recognition, the Hattie Larlham Foundation’s Tonnie Alliance, corporate relations and major gifts officer, also is being recognized with an Achievements in Excellence Award.

“It’s a real honor for us not only to be recognized as an organization, but to have our employees recognized as well,” said chief development officer Catherine Schwartz. “There are so many people who are supportive of NSME that I think would be really interested in the work that we do.

While we are well known within the disabilities community, having that broader audience and recognition for the work we do is great.”

Hattie Larlham is readying for the launch of its Food Hub program, an outgrowth of Hattie’s Gardens.

Hattie’s Food Hub is located in the southwest quadrant of Akron, an area Schwartz said is known as a “food

desert” — a geographic area where affordable and nutritious food is difficult to obtain. The Food Hub will build on Hattie’s Gardens by washing, preparing, packaging and selling fresh vegetables from Hattie’s Gardens and local farmers. It also will have a community component with education space for demonstrations and classes in food preparation.

“When we spoke with neighbors, we not only looked at what they were interested in buying, but we listened to their concerns about no community space in the neighborhood,” Schwartz said.

Hattie Larlham’s efforts have been recognized by a variety of groups.

Last year the organization earned its second consecutive PRSA Cleveland Rocks Award from the Cleveland chapter of the Public Relations Society of America; a NorthCoast 99 award from the Employers Resource Council for the sixth time; a SoMe award; an Ohio Public Images Award; and a Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award, honoring Lauri Molnar, business development and recruiter at Hattie Larlham.

Congratulations Jolene Colant

2016 NSME Achievements in Excellence Award Recipient Presented at the 44th Annual National Sales and Marketing Executives Accent on Excellence Event

THE JIM BUTLER COLLEGIATE AWARD RECIPIENT: HALI STRUB, The University of Akron

Making decisions for a better future

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ali Strub, a junior pursuing a degree in integrated marketing communications at the University of Akron, is the Jim Butler Collegiate Award recipient of the 44th annual Akron/Canton NSME Accent on Excellence event.

Strub of Tallmadge said her interest in marketing stems from the motivated business professionals she has met.

“I really like talking and interacting with people,” said Strub, adding that a summer marketing internship at Best Process Solutions Inc. in Brunswick cemented her interest in the field.

There, she executed social media, advertisements and customer lists, discovering a passion for advertising.

As the vice president of human resources for Pi Sigma Epsilon, a national co-ed marketing and sales business fraternity, Strub said she’s very involved with NSME and attends monthly dinners to learn as much as she can from the experts. Her responsibilities in the fraternity include recruitment, planning and organizing events, and creating announcements and advertisements to encourage student membership.

“I feel very honored to be recognized at the dinner with some of these amazing business professionals, owners and CEOs,” said Strub, adding that she’s taking seriously a challenge from NSME Akron/Canton to get to know

four people in the business, sending LinkedIn invitations and requesting meetings with individuals. “If I can just get to know some of these people, who knows?”

Dominic A. Lofreso, president of Pi Sigma Epsilon and a University of Akron student, said Strub’s “unique charisma” and hard work mentality helps her to maintain a positive attitude regardless of the task at hand.

“As a young professional business student, Hali generously expresses her passion for marketing and sales through all of her student involvement,” Lofreso said. “It’s no secret that her fellow peers can see her passion and love for business and the people around her.”

Strub said her biggest accomplishment to date is paying for her education with earned money and scholarships. The college student is a shift manager at a local pizza shop and also is a part-time caretaker to an elderly woman.

“I am looking for a fulfilling career in advertising,” Strub said on her LinkedIn profile. “I am always learning and building my network. Every day I try to make myself a better worker, student and person. I am excited to see what my future holds, and I understand that I am making decisions now for a better tomorrow.”

She said her role model is her grandfather, Charles, who taught her to never give up on anything.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN EXCELLENCE NSME AKRON/CANTON RECIPIENTS Tonnie L. Alliance Corporate relations, major gift officer Hattie Larlham

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onnie L. Alliance is the corporate relations and major gift officer with Hattie Larlham, a nonprofit that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

Alliance’s multifaceted career has included major special events coordination and corporate relations in Ohio, Arizona and Florida.

At Hattie Larlham, she has coordinated events and relationships and raised significant funds for the organization. She previously worked with the American Diabetes Association’s Northeast Ohio chapter

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and the American Cancer Society.

A 2014 graduate of the Civic Leadership Institute, part of the Cleveland Leadership Center, Alliance sits on the leadership council and is part of the cultivation committee.

She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; the advisory council of the YWCA of Greater Cleveland; the Cleveland chapter of Rotary International; the City Club; Sales and Marketing Executives of Cleveland; and the Republican National Convention Host Committee’s speaker bureau.

She earned her undergraduate degree in communication studies from Kent State University and her associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College.

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Brenda S. Basso Senior insurance specialist Associated Underwriters Insurance

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renda S. Basso is a senior insurance specialist with Associated Underwriters Insurance in Akron.

She has worked in the employee benefits arena as a consultant for more than 18 years, guiding clients through the maze of employee benefits and health care reform.

She partners with employers to develop comprehensive, cost-effective benefits to attract and retain employees while also consulting with clients to identify potential state and federal violations involving employee benefits.

She is a member and former officer of the Women’s Board of Aultman Hospital in Canton, serving as co-chair of the 2016 Aultman Angel Auction.

Basso earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Mount Union. A lifelong Stark County resident, she lives in Louisville with Matthew D. Basso, owner of Abbeyshire ProTurfcare, and her five children.

Mary Schumacher Becker Vice president of sales and marketing Schumacher Homes

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ary Schumacher Becker is vice president of sales and marketing for Canton-based Schumacher Homes, a custom homebuilder with operations in 14 states.

In this role she has bottom-line responsibility for sales results and the development and presentation of the Schumacher Homes brand. Additionally, she oversees Schumacher Homes’ national sales center, comprised of online sales professionals.

The company is a National Housing Quality Award winner and recipient of the National Gold Winning Home of the Year.

Becker has been a featured presenter at the International Builders’ Show during the management summit, as well as a participant on the “Meet the Experts” panel.

She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has a master in residential marketing designation with the Sales and Marketing Council of the National Association of Home Builders.

president of operations of a $100 million real estate media company based in Norfolk, Va., Blood now runs and manages several companies he developed with his team over the past seven years, including HarmonHomes.com, CellHomes.com, CellCars.com, ShaleMart.com, Archboard.com, Carmel Digital Printing and Delta Media Company.

Delta Media is a real estate application and lead management company and is run by Blood’s partners, which are his son, Jonathan, and Mike Minard.

With these partners, Blood in 2006 also started SecureData 365 data centers in 2006 in Canton and Cleveland.

SecureData 365 does data storage, co-location and managed services for more than 100 companies worldwide.

Blood also is an international trainer and author, having written top-selling real estate self-help books. He is part of La Red and Global Priorities, which offers leadership and business principles training on an international scale.

He has served in a leadership role in every functional division of Sanctuary, spanning marketing, finance, human resources, IT and production.

He also was co-founder of Neon Cactus Inc., one of the early providers of digital streaming content, which provided content creation, encoding and hosting services nationally to the real estate industry.

Jolene Colant Director of marketing Hall, Kistler & Company

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ith more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience, Jolene Colant leads the certified public accounting and consulting firm Hall, Kistler & Company in all marketing,

BRENDA BASSO

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oe Brady recently was named executive vice president of marketing and strategic relationships for Simplified Logistics, a mid-market, third-party logistics firm in Westlake.

He is a sales and marketing leader in the logistics and supply chain solutions industry, with more than 25 years of experience working to accelerate the growth cycle for startups and entrepreneurial organizations.

He is a member of numerous industry-related organizations and has served on the board for T3 Performance and the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation.

He is a frequent speaker on supply chain topics and has published several papers. He graduated from the University of Dayton and the Professional Fellows Program at Case Western Reserve University.

He is a black belt in tae kwon do.

He lives in Avon with his wife Karen and three children.

Kelly Brown CEO, managing partner Sanctuary Marketing Group

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elly Brown is CEO and managing partner of Sanctuary Marketing Group, a North Canton Internet marketing firm.

social media, coaching and business development initiatives.

Among her other accomplishments, she collaborated with a web design firm to update the company’s website, and she leads the charge on the firm’s social media.

Her prior experience also includes marketing and communications for the legal and retail communities.

She has an undergraduate degree in mass media communication from the University of Akron.

In addition to her membership in NSME, Colant is a founding member of Women’s Impact Inc. and serves on the executive board; a member of the Association for Accounting Marketing; and a past chair of BKR International’s marketing committee.

She also is a past president of the Canton Advertising Federation.

AUI is proud to recognize

Executive vice president of marketing and strategic relationships Simplified Logistics

CEO SecureData 365 rnie Blood is a business entrepreneur with more than 40 years of client development experience.

After retiring as executive vice

Brown has 20-plus years of experience leading entrepreneurial organizations. He joined Sanctuary after serving 10 years as the CEO and marketing director of Communication Resources Inc., a Canton-based publisher serving the church market for more than 38 years.

Brown also in 2008 founded Office Space Coworking in Akron, followed by additional facilities in Cuyahoga Falls and Canton before he sold the business in 2011.

Prior to that he was with EYEMGInteractive Marketing Group in Akron with responsibilities for business development, project management and financial reporting.

Brown has a blend of expertise in the planning and execution of both traditional and emerging direct marketing media channels.

Joe Brady

Ernie Blood

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February 22, 2016 S3

Congratulations on your Achievements in Excellence Award!

Phone: 330.645.6338 n Toll-Free: 800.671.7665 n Email: info@auiinfo.com 2876 South Arlington Rd., Akron, Ohio 44312 www.auiinfo.com

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S4 February 22, 2016

Christopher Faircloth Akron lending manager Economic and Community Development Institute

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hristopher Faircloth is Akron lending manager at the Economic and Community Development Institute.

The ECDI brings training and technical assistance, as well as loan capital, to new and existing entrepreneurs in Summit County to bridge the loan gap.

At ECDI, he uses the skills he honed in the banking realm with more of a community focus. He has eight years of consumer and small business banking and finance experience at national and regional banks, and he launched a niche advertising brokering startup.

Faircloth is a 2005 graduate of the University of Akron’s College of Business Administration and active in the Akron community.

He is a member of the young professional service organization Torchbearers; a Greater Akron Chamber 30 for the Future recipient; and a member of the board of the Highland Square Neighborhood Association and PorchRokr music festival planning committee.

Brian Flenner

Cullen Hardman

Director of ticket operations Akron RubberDucks

Marketing representative Mercy Medical Center

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rian Flenner, director of ticket operations, joined the Akron RubberDucks in March 2013.

He leads and recruits a 14-person sales team, which has generated a 66% revenue increase and a 27% gain in attendance over two seasons.

Most of his career has been spent in sports marketing and sales, including in professional soccer, college athletics and amateur hockey, and as a consultant.

His specialties include product marketing, promotions, sponsorship activation, event management, new business development, customer relationship management, call center management, team building, strategic planning, budgeting/forecasting and marketing planning.

He earned his graduate degree in sports management and an undergraduate degree in business administration (marketing and logistics) from Ohio State University.

Flenner serves on the boards for the Green Area Chamber and Green Youth Basketball Association, and he is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts. He lives in Green with his wife and two children.

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ullen Hardman joined the sales team at Mercy Medical Center in 2013 after starting as a human resources intern in 2011 and working as a human resources office service specialist.

After earning his undergraduate degree in organizational communication, he was appointed as a marketing representative.

He sells the Your Choice program at Mercy Medical Center and works primarily in the field, establishing and maintaining new business for Mercy by promoting its products and services.

He is responsible for generating new business leads and facilitating health fairs for employer groups in Alliance, Canton, Carrollton, Uniontown, Louisville, Massillon, North Canton and New Philadelphia.

Hardman has been involved with NSME since 2014 and serves on the board of directors as director of membership recruitment.

He earned his undergraduate degree in organizational communication from

Kent State University. He resides in North Canton.

Ryan Harrington President Sales Team Inc.

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yan Harrington started Sales Team Inc. in 2010, providing professional sales support to businesses on a contract basis.

Harrington developed a sales process that works across multiple verticals. His company has since closed hundreds of transactions that eclipsed $10 million in revenue for clients.

Based in Brunswick, Sales Team has coverage across the Midwest with sale representatives and internationally for inside sales.

Harrington oversees a staff of sales professionals who can sell products and services in a wide range of industries and provide subcontract sales strategy, support and expertise.

Prior to starting Sales Team, Harrington was a sales professional for large organizations in the environmental and software fields.

In those positions, he created new territories for sales; developed strategies for selling new products and services; implemented sales strategies for new business sectors and territories; and forged relationships with small and large organizations, experiences that have helped to set standards for Sales Team Inc.

Toby Hoy Regional manager Residential Bancorp

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oby Hoy worked in the field of residential real estate management as the managing partner of Carlton Property Management before entering the mortgage industry.

Now, he is the regional manager at Residential Bancorp, where he provides oversight of operations to ensure compliance with federal, state, agency, internal and investor guidelines and regulations.

Additionally, among other responsibilities, he watches over investor development and relationships management; external quality assurance and quality control procedures; and recruitment, training and supervision of multistate sales and support staff.

Hoy has a wide range of experience in multiple fields, including real estate and finance, with significant origination, risk assessment, investment analysis, property management and collateral valuation experience.

He also has education and training experience in instructional design, training delivery and skill assessments.

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Hoy is an adjunct faculty member at Stark State College and Ashland University, and he has taught for the Stark County Association of Realtors and the Ohio and National Associations of Mortgage Professionals, where he was a master certified instructor.

He also is a senior instructor and pre-license education department chair for the Tuxedo Training School of Real Estate.

In 2014, Hoy was recognized by the Stark County Association of Realtors as the instructor of the year.

Anne Hydock Business development Skyline Event Services

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nne Hydock is a sales professional with extensive experience in the trade show, multimedia, commercial real estate and hospitality industries.

Since 2013, Hydock has been head of business development at Skyline Event Services, a trade show marketing company that designs displays, graphics and custom builds. In that role, she specializes in direct B2B sales, new client business, relationship cultivating and social media.

Hydock, who reinvented herself during the recession after 19 years in commercial real estate, also has professional experience with Smart Business Network, the American Lung Association of Ohio and Forest City Enterprises Inc. She has been honored twice by the American Lung Association of Northeast Ohio for her passion and work with the SmokeFree Ohio campaign and Asthma Walk.

Hydock studied business and communications at Cleveland State University and is a member of the Cleveland Sales & Marketing Executives Association. Hydock has one daughter and lives in North Olmsted.

Karen Krantz Individual sales coordinator Aultman Health Foundation

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aren Krantz is an individual sales coordinator for AultCare’s individual product.

Since joining the Aultman Health Foundation in 2000, Krantz has worked in multiple aspects of the health care industry, and as a result has gained a wealth of knowledge in assisting her clients with their individual needs.

While Krantz’s experience in the health care field is a great asset to the AultCare team, she also focuses on personalized customer service.

As such, Krantz exhibits a commitment to building relationships

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S6 February 22, 2016

with a personalized touch to the members and clients she interacts with.

Doug Lane President North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce

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oug Lane has served as president of the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce since 2009.

He also is president of the North Canton Community Growth Association, a member of the North Canton Civil Service Commission and on the board of the Stark Carroll Oil and Gas Partnership.

Lane served two terms on city council and was on the city’s planning and zoning boards. He also

has served on the boards of several organizations and managed the fourcounty Census 2000 Canton office.

Additionally, his 45-year radio career highlights include twice being named Billboard’s Country Music Program Director of the Year. He is a Kent State University graduate.

Damon Linder Technical services director Lampion Companies

D

amon Linder is technical services director at Lampion Companies in Wadsworth, a traffic signal and outside lighting installation, service and maintenance provider.

Linder transplanted from New York City to the Midwest to attend Ketter-

ing University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, and Tiffin University, where he earned an MBA. Linder also holds the project management professional credential and has experience with various companies in the automotive, medical device and construction industries, including working for consulting firms, small companies and large multinational organizations.

Prior to Lampion, Linder served as president of Beyond Z Training & Consulting Inc. He is an adjunct professor in the Tiffin University School of Business, specializing in small business management and entrepreneurship. He resides in West Salem with his wife and three daughters.

Brent Lowe Director of new business development InfoCision Inc.

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rent Lowe, director of new business development, started at InfoCision Inc. in 2014.

InfoCision, a contact center solutions provider, specializes in a wide array of services to enhance client brands and support sales and marketing channels, including business-to-business, customer retention and acquisition, inbound sales, inbound customer care, direct response and multi-media services.

Lowe, who is credited with landing several key accounts while a member of the InfoCision sales team, also is a member of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP) and has served as a director of the Ohio chapter.

He received SOCAP’s 2015 STAR award for his outstanding contributions to the success of the Ohio chapter.

Kathy Masterson Executive director NARI Greater Cleveland

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athy Masterson is executive director of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Greater Cleveland, a nonprofit trade association focused on the remodeling industry.

Masterson has spent the majority of her career working in nonprofit management and has been with NARI since 1997.

As executive director, Masterson oversees all day-to-day operations while providing strategic leadership for the future success of NARI Greater Cleveland.

She also is responsible for the management of the NARI Home Improvement Show, which was recognized in 2008 by the National Association of Consumer Shows as “The Consumer Show of the Year.”

Masterson also has a great passion for helping her community. She was the walk chairwoman for the inaugural “Walk Now for Autism” in Cleveland, which was recognized in 2007 as the highest fundraising inaugural walk for Autism Speaks.

Masterson is a native of Cleveland and lives in Fairview Park.

Jeff McMahan Account supervisor Innis Maggiore

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eff McMahan has spent more than 30 years in the advertising industry — the past 15 as an account supervisor at Innis Maggiore.

McMahan is responsible for the oversight of a variety of Innis

Maggiore’s top clients, including Aultman Hospital, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, MCTV Internet/TV/Phone and BellStores, a 54-location convenience store chain.

He is a graduate of Leadership Stark County, a member of the NSME Board of Directors and past president of the Massillon Museum board of trustees.

He earned a degree in visual communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He resides in Massillon and has three children.

McMahan is a descendant of John Know Witherspoon, a founding father and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

Frank Salamone Community relations manager Montrose Auto Group

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rank Salamone, a trustee for the Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce, initiated a comprehensive community relations program offering area chambers the exclusive use of the Montrose dealership showrooms for business networking functions.

The move transformed the retail automotive facilities into valued community resources.

Salamone, who is skilled in email marketing, consumer marketing, loyalty marketing and local marketing, has spent more than 35 years in retail automotive, integrating the Northeast Ohio Montrose Auto Group into the fabric of the communities it services.

He has done this through active participation in area chambers of commerce, as well as grassroots marketing efforts to promote the group’s 13 dealerships.

Deborah Scheetz Director of professional outreach and physician relations Affinity Medical Center

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eborah Scheetz is a seasoned health care business development professional whose experience spans the continuum — from retirement living and skilled nursing to long-term acute care and the hospital setting.

She specializes in new business development; public relations strategy; physician development and onboarding; team building; consultative/value-added partnering; strategic marketing planning; media and advertising; service recovery consulting; and understanding and applying Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM).

She is an experienced speaker and presenter. Scheetz also is on

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the Stark County advisory board for Coleman Behavioral Health Services and is an advocate for those afflicted with mental health challenges and addictions.

As the director of professional outreach and physician relations for Affinity Hospital in Massillon, Scheetz networks with physicians and stakeholders to educate them on the quality services and centers of excellence offered by the hospital.

Kristin Selby Director of traffic and workflow Grabowski & Co.

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ristin Selby, director of traffic and workflow at Grabowski & Co., a marketing communications strategy firm in Uniontown, applies a hard-charging personality to whip processes into shape and keep projects running smoothing.

Her skills, knowledge and abilities are respected by co-workers and clients.

Selby is on the board of the Domestic Violence Project. A 2003 Ashland University graduate, she lives in North Canton with her husband, Shawn.

Jamie Smart Director of communications and special projects North Canton City School District

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amie Smart, a Hoover High School alumna, is the North Canton City School District’s first director of communications.

A results-focused professional with 20 years of industry experience, she has developed and strengthened the school district’s communication program over the past two years.

Her work includes school public relations, district communications, social media and website work. She leads the district communications committee and oversees the communication internship program she began in 2014, which allows four

February 22, 2016 S7

to six high school seniors to work in the district office for one period a day as marketing/communication interns.

Smart earned her newspaper journalism degree from the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications.

She worked in online publishing and digital marketing throughout her career. Prior to North Canton City Schools, Smart spent eight years with Hitchcock, Fleming and Associates in Akron, winning several awards. She and husband Bob have three sons.

Pat Vickers Senior sales associate Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce

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at Vickers works in Summit, Medina and Portage counties as a senior sales associate with the Greater Akron Chamber.

Her goal is to develop new relationships with the businesses and people who keep the area strong

by working, playing, shopping and dining in the region.

Vickers helps area communities grow by assisting them in strengthening their relationships with loyal customers, and in developing new customers by connecting people to business and business to people.

She has experience in sales; business-to-business sales; advertising and sales management; cold calling; and networking.

She networks in the KNOW (Knowledgeable Network of Women), as well as joins in with other opportunities of networking in Summit, Medina and Portage counties.

Kevin Warrene

helping businesses work on their businesses. He also does customer consulting on marketing, menu development, staff training and operational efficiencies.

A former chef and food and beverage director in the country club and hotel industry, Warrene’s experience led to a career in sales and sales management.

He has worked in food service distribution since 1985 in varying capacities, from street sales representative to sales management roles.

As a street sales representative, Warrene achieved annual sales of more than $3 million and managed teams with annual sales of $17 million.

He lives in New Philadelphia with his wife Sue and children, Josh and Cyndi.

Business development manager Avalon Foodservice

Beth Wood

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Print production manager InnerWorkings

evin Warrene is business development manager with Avalon Foodservice. His focus is to make restaurant operators more profitable.

For more than 30 years, he’s been

B

eth Wood is print production manager at Inner-

CONGRATULATIONS DR.GERSHEN! Northeast Ohio Medical University Proudly Salutes President Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., for being honored as Executive of the Year by the Akron/ Canton National Sales & Marketing Executives.

Dr. Gershen’s leadership has been essential to helping us understand the health and economic needs of Northeast Ohio, to providing educational and wellness services for our communities and to building partnerships to make it all happen.

The definition of sales and marketing.

It’s no wonder that he is being recognized as Executive of the Year!

neom ed.edu

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S8 February 22, 2016

Workings Inc., a global marketing execution firm that provides managed print and promotional procurement solutions to corporate clients.

Wood manages relationships and print spend onsite for The Timken Company and TimkenSteel Corporation. Her pool of stakeholders comes from diverse roles that require a wide variety of materials to support their activities.

Wood, who is motivated to learn and share the most current postal regulations with her clients, also consults and provides support for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the Scotts Miracle-Gro accounts.

A lifelong resident of Summit County, Wood has more than 30 years in the printing industry.

Following a career with several printing companies in Northeast Ohio, Wood joined InnerWorkings in 2008.

John Zielinski Executive vice president, vice president sales and marketing University Polymer & Rubber Ltd.

J

ohn Zielinski, executive vice president of University Polymer & Rubber Ltd., has a 30-year career in manufacturing sales, sales management and general management of manufacturing companies.

He previously worked for RBX Industries as business unit manager, and at Bettcher Manufacturing LLC

as director of sales.

He is responsible for the overall strategy to increase revenue, retain customers and develop new markets.

He began an independent representative group from scratch that maintains its viability and success.

Among his milestones are doubledigit sales growth in several different industries, the ability to learn varied manufacturing processes over a variety of raw materials, leading sales teams to new achievements and overseeing successful acquisitions.

He is Diocese of Cleveland CYO Athletic Advisory Committee chairperson. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife and daughter, with a son who lives nearby in Akron.

KR IS

1973 WILLIAM C. RICHARD JR. ERIK International Co.

1994 WILLIAM H. CONSIDINE The Children’s Hospital Medical Center

1974 M.G. O’NEIL General Tire Company

1995 RICHARD W. YOUNG Akron Regional Development Board

1975 FRED L. ALBRECHT Acme-Click

1996 THOMAS G. MURDOUGH JR. The Step2 Company

1976 WILLIAM C. ZEKAN A. Schulman, Inc.

1997 DONALD PLUSQUELLIC Mayor, City of Akron

1977 RAYMOND C. FIRESTONE Firestone Tire & Rubber Company

1998 KATHRYN HUNTER First Akron Corporation

1978 CHARLES J. PILLIOD, JR. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

1999 WILLARD HOLLAND FirstEnergy Corporation

1979 JAMES H. OTT Novar Electronics

T

IN

GOOOOAL!!!

Honoring our own Kristin Selby, 2016 NSME Achievements in Excellence award winner.

We’re so happy you’re on our team. grabowskiandco.com

PREVIOUS WINNERS OF NSME AKRON/CANTON EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD

1980 JOHN S. BALLARD Mayor, City of Akron 1981 DR. DOMINIC J. GUSSETTA President, The University of Akron

2000 PHILIP H. MAYNARD ASW Services, Inc. 2001 DR. LUIS M. PROENZA The University of Akron 2002 FREDRICK J. KRUM Akron-Canton Airport

1982 NO AWARD

2003 THOMAS J. STRAUSS Summa Health Systems

1983 ROY L. RAY Mayor, City of Akron

2004 TONY O’LEARY Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority

1984 ROBERT W. CLARK Goodyear Aerospace Corp.

2005 MARTIN HAUSER SummaCare, Inc.

1985 BLAKE H. HOOPER Morgan Adhesive Company

2006 GARY TAYLOR InfoCision Management Corp.

1986 RAYMOND D. MEYO Telxon Corporation

2007 W. RILEY LOCHRIDGE ComDoc, Inc.

1987 EDDIE ELIAS Eddie Elias Enterprises

2008 ALAN BLEYER Akron General Medical Center

1988 ROBERT E. MERCER The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

2009 TIM TIMKEN The Timken Company

1989 HOWARD L. FLOOD First National Bank of Ohio and First Bancorporation

2010 DANIEL COLANTONE The Greater Akron Chamber

1990 ALBERT F. GILBERT, Ph.D. Summa Health Systems Akron City Hospital 1991 DAVID L. BRENNAN The Brenlin Group, Amer Cunningham Brennan Co., L.P.A. 1992 DR. WILLIAM V. MUSE The University of Akron 1993 RUSSELL VERNON West Point Market

Advertising director: Nicole Mastrangelo, nmastrangelo@crain.com Managing editor, custom and special projects: Amy Ann Stoessel, astoessel@crain.com Writer: Kimberly Bonvissuto Graphic designer: Staci Buck

2011 DOUG KOHL Akron YMCA 2012 THOMAS WALTERMIRE Team Northeast Ohio 2013 DR. FRANK DOUGLAS Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron 2014 VIRGINIA ALBANESE FedEx Custom Critical 2015 JOE S. KANFER GOJO Industries

For more information about custom publishing opportunities, please contact Nicole Mastrangelo.