Pulse - Issue 15 Volume 3

LO R A I N C O U NT Y’ S MAGAZINE September 2022 | Volume 15, Issue 3

Building Our Workforce

How local programs offer the tools workers need

INSIDE

2022 Best of Lorain County Finalists

contents

ORAIN COUNTY

Feature

FILLING 14 TODAY’S JOBS

Learn more about programs designed to break the barriers that keep potential workers from getting jobs.

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BEST OF LORAIN 18 COUNTY FINALISTS

Check out which favorites made the list this year and mark your calendar for the September event.

Departments 4 FROM THE EDITOR OUNTY LINE Find out how the Connect to a 6 CCause event raises money for the community.

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ATALYST Lorain County’s business and 8 Cmanufacturing sectors get a boost.

ENTERTAINMENT A new Labor 10 ADayRTSrace&spotlights veterans’ issues.

INING A new Lorain restaurant offers popular 12 Dcomfort food options.

NAPSHOT A 250-pound walleye sculpture 22 Sreminds us about the importance of recycling.

22 PROJECT MANAGER COREY GALLOWAY PRODUCTION MANAGER JENNIFER ROBERTS

PUBLISHER ■ PAUL KLEIN klein@glpublishing.com EDITOR ■ JENNIFER BOWEN SIMA bowensima@glpublishing.com

CREDIT

ART DIRECTOR ■ RAYANNE MEDFORD rmedford@glpublishing.com

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION MANAGER ALYSON MOUTZ COWAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karen Beis and Linda Feagler CONTRIBUTING ARTIST David Schwartz

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Bialowas, Sarah Desmond and Tiffany Myroniak PARTNERS & ADVISORY COMMITTEE American Oncology Network LLC Community Foundation Lorain County Lorain County Board of Commissioners Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Lorain County Community College Lorain County JVS

CLEVELAND MAGAZINE OHIO MAGAZINE LAKE ERIE LIVING BRANDED CONTENT DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL MARKETING

1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730 Cleveland, OH 44115 216-377-3693 glpublishing.com

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www.pulselorainmag.com

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ORAIN FROM THE EDITOR

COUNTY

A Focus on the Workforce ACCESS TO JOBS A PRESSING ISSUE. that are preventing people from joining the workforce.

On page 14, learn more about the programs and initiatives taking place to connect hard workers with jobs at which they can excel.

As the community works together to enhance today’s workforce, it’s also important to remember to support our local businesses. On page 18, meet the Best of Lorain County 2022 finalists who are vying for this year’s top honors in shopping and dining options, services and fun things to do.

Then, mark your calendar for the finalists party on Sept.

15 at the Spitzer Conference

Center, where you can sample a host of offerings, from gourmet bites, chocolates and ice cream to pastries and much more. It’s the perfect destination to help inspire you to plan your next day adventure or night out, as well as show off your foodie knowledge and preview some of your favorite places around Lorain County. We hope to see you there!

SINCERELY,

JENNIFER BOWEN SIMA

EDITOR, PULSE LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE

LORAIN COUNTY CHAMBER upcoming events SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Focus Forward Week SEPT. 12-16

Manufacturing Month Kick-off OCT. 7

Business to Business Expo NOV. 3

For more information on all events go to loraincountychamber.com or follow us on Facebook.

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ERIC MULL

In truth, too many people struggle to find a job — or the right job for them — because of obstacles they face.

There are those who are recovering from addiction or trying to move on post-incarceration and need someone to help them out. Some are moms for whom finding a job goes in hand in hand with securing child care.

Others could secure jobs they want if they could train for them and work at the same time. Then, there are some who just need transportation to the jobs they already have.

Luckily, Lorain County organizations are working to break down the barriers

Personalizing the Right Care for You Whether safely in our clean facilities or virtually from the comfort of your own home, we’re creating the personalized solutions you need, to meet you where you need us. Because no matter how the world around us changes, we believe your health care should always revolve around you.

Visit mercy.com/primarycare to connect with a primary care provider today.

PRIMARY CARE FOR FO R THE UNIVERSE OF YOU

COUNTY LINE

Connecting the Community The Community Foundation of Lorain County connects with causes.

By Linda Feagler

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ISTOCK

For more than four decades, the Community Foundation Connect to a Cause will feature four virtual Power of Lorain County has made dreams come true. That calling Hours in which leaders of participating nonprofits discuss will once again be showcased during Connect to a Cause, the instrumental roles their respective organizations play the foundation’s third annual, 12-hour crowdfunding in arts and culture, education and youth development, campaign that takes place Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. health and human services and strengthening Lorain “How often do you get to write one check and offer County. Following each presentation, viewers will have so much support to so many nonprofits in one the opportunity to donate to organizations to which day?” says Community Foundation they relate. Nonprofits receiving the most individual of Lorain County president and CEO donations will be eligible for a bonus from Cynthia Andrews. “We’re so fortunate local businesses that are supporters. “ It’s a time w to be a part of such a giving comLaura Malone, the foundation’s hen we want to ra munity. Sometimes, people feel like development director, credits the Business lly they need to have a million dollars to Champions with being a crucial compoand highlight connect to the Community Foundanent to the appeal’s success. Each is invited the positive tion. But they don’t. They can have to participate at the $1,000, $3,000 or $5,000 initiatives $5, or they can have $20. They can levels. Last year, community leaders assisted donate online or stop by our office the foundation with creating a $43,000 prize going on in o ur with cash or a check. Everyone is pool for the nonprofits that were taking part community.” welcome to join us. It’s a feel-good in Connect to a Cause. Part of the money was day across Lorain County.” put toward an 18% match for every dollar – Brittany Love tt In 2020, more than 1,000 individthey raised. Several individual cash awards uals raised $148,000, plus a $40,000 were also distributed during the event to help match, for a total of $188,000 for 56 Lorain County keep the nonprofits energized. nonprofit organizations. Last year’s fete raised more than “We’ve elected to call them Business Champions for a $277,000 for 65 nonprofits. reason,” Malone says. “They’re invaluable for the value For this year’s campaign, the list of organizations has they provide to our community and the support they give grown to 74. Clearly, says Brittany Lovett, the foundation’s to local nonprofits. Many of the businesses that participate marketing and communications officer, the need is are located in Lorain County, and many have staff and never-ending. employees who also lend a hand during the day’s events.”

“We’re a story that’s changing every day,” she says.

The poignancy of Connect to a Cause is not lost on Lovett, “We’ve heard from so many nonprofits. Some had to cancel who offers advice to potential donors having a difficult time fundraising events due to COVID-19. Others are struggling choosing which organization to support. to keep the lights on. For them, Connect to a Cause is the “Think about what matters to you and your family,” she only fundraiser in which they’re participating for the year. suggests. “What’s your story? All of us have one that’s filled It’s a time when we want to rally and highlight the positive with life experiences. No matter the narrative, there’s a cause initiatives going on in our community.” here that will matter to you.” peoplewhocare.org/c2c2022

Connect to a Cause Connect to a Cause is a 12-hr crowdfunding campaign established by the Community Foundation of Lorain County to help local non-profit organizations fundraise.

C2C is on Thursday, September 15th, from 8 am-8 pm.

Which organizations are YOU going to support?

September 15 2022

8am-8pm

Scan the QR Code with your phone to learn more about Connect to a Cause

Sept. 15, 2022 8:00am-8:00pm

peoplewhocare.org

Bringing in Business

Lorain County is continuing to stand out as a place for new jobs, including ones coming from Ford.

CATALYST

By Linda Feagler

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“ The ingenuity and talent of Ohio’s automotive workforce are second to none, and Ford’s investment in Avon Lake will play an essential role in growing the EV space.”

– Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine “During Manufacturing Month, we’ve been talking about what electric vehicles are going to mean to our local manufacturers, because we have a lot of Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers,” he says. “When you go from a gas-powered engine to an electric one, the parts aren’t the same. They’ve been preparing for this technology for the last four or five years. Ford is not going to put $1.5 billion dollars into a temporary plant. The additional jobs and what that’s going to mean here locally is vital. It’s proof that Lorain County is part of the automotive superhighway from Detroit on down.

And it shows that we have a workforce that comes to work, that’s willing to work and willing to be retrained to do something new. That’s key.”

The Ford Motor Co., DeWine-Husted Administration, Ohio Department of Development, city of Avon Lake, Lorain County, state and local elected officials and Ohio’s Congressional delegation collaborated with JobsOhio to bring the project to Lorain County. JobsOhio, the state’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, has placed significant focus on supporting the automotive supply chain as original equipment manufacturers have begun to place a major focus on electric vehicle production.

“The harder we work with Team NEO and JobsOhio, the more dollars will come [back] to Lorain County,” Gallo says. “Ultimately, we need to get these folks into the workforce again, and they want to be there.”

COURTESY FORD MOTOR CO.

When it comes to attracting new business and preparing workers to enter the job market, Lorain County has become a proven leader.

A case in point: In June, Ford Motor Co. announced that the auto manufacturer is investing $1.5 billion into Lorain County at the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to assemble an all-new commercial electric vehicle (EV). The investment will create 1,800 new hourly jobs. The new expanded facility will continue to produce Ford’s E-series van, medium-duty trucks and super duty chassis cabs.

“The ingenuity and talent of Ohio’s automotive workforce are second to none, and Ford’s investment in Avon Lake will play an essential role in growing the EV space,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement about Ford’s commitment to the county. “Ford has been a partner in Ohio for generations, and its confidence in the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant operations secures EV operations in Lorain County that will be critical for decades to come.”

To support the Avon Lake Ford expansion, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority will consider a tax credit, and JobsOhio plans to provide grant assistance.

To Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, the announcement is a shining example of tried-and-true teamwork between a trio of cities and their leaders.

“The plant sits in three different cities — Avon Lake, Sheffield Village and Sheffield Lake,” he explains. “I credit the cooperation between the three cities and their three mayors — Gregory Zilka of Avon Lake, Dennis Bring of Sheffield Lake and John D. Hunter of Sheffield Village — to making this happen. Not only does the expansion benefit their communities, it also benefits Lorain, Elyria and other nearby cities.”

Gallo adds that the county’s reputation as a leader in manufacturing precedes it when it comes to welcoming new opportunities.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Run for Lives

The Race to End Veterans Suicide (REVS) 22K focuses on veterans support.

By Linda Feagler

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ISTOCK / MEDAL: COURTESY LORAIN COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION

Lorain County’s Labor Day Festival, which will be held on because of personal issues. For Sept. 4 at Black River Landing in Lorain, will feature food others, it’s related to their time from local vendors and live music. But the fete will also be a in service. Many see it as the only way time to remember those whose service to their country was out because they don’t see a solution to the problems they’re fraught with life-ending despair after returning home. facing. It’s a real issue the VA is attempting to address. We The Lorain County Veterans Service Commission is hope the REVS events will raise awareness that assistance is hosting the first-annual Race to End Veterans Suicide (REVS) available and that people do care about them.”

22K, which begins at 7:30 a.m.; and a 2.2-mile run-walk-ruck Lorain County Veterans Service Commission Service that starts at 9 a.m. All participants will receive a T-shirt and Officer Krystol Mayer helped launch the idea for the REVS finisher medal, and proceeds Labor Day initiative in Lorain. will be donated to the The Navy veteran, who served nonprofit Emergency Veterans as the female aircraft director “ If there’s a way we can help a Support of Lorain County. veteran, we do everything we can on the flight deck of the USS The date also coincides with Theodore Roosevelt during to do so. In many cases, what we National Suicide Prevention the first attacks in Afghanistan Week, which takes place Sept. for Operation Enduring do here helps save their life.”

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Freedom, understands the – Jacob Smith Dedicated to delivering help benefits movement brings. and information to veterans “After leaving the service, and their dependents and survivors, the Lorain County I came to Cleveland where my husband is from, started Veterans Service Commission provides transportation to a family and began attending college,” says Mayer, who VA medical appointments; helps with filing claims for participates in races that include the Cleveland Marathon. “It financial assistance and benefits related to term of service; was a difficult transition, and running became an important and recommends resources for mental health issues and stress-relieving outlet for me.” employment opportunities.

Garry Gibbs, director of the Lorain County Visitors “Last year, we provided $940,000 in financial assistance Bureau, hopes the 22K and 2.2-mile run-walk-ruck will to the veterans of the county. That puts us in the elite of the become an annual event that will not only promote suicide state as far as financially assisting veterans,” says Lorain prevention but also bring casualty numbers down.

County Veterans Service Executive Director Jacob Smith, “REVS will give our county a chance to shine,” he says, a former Army artilleryman whose 2000 to 2004 term-of “and will serve as the spark plug for years to come.” service included 15 months in Iraq. “If there’s a way we can help a veteran, we do everything we can to do so. In many cases, what we do here helps save their life.”

That includes focusing attention on suicide prevention.

According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 22 former members of the armed forces, on average, end their lives every day. According to statistics listed on the Ohio Veteran Suicide Data Sheet, 257 Ohioans were among those casualties in 2019.

For more information about the REVS events, visit “Veterans are more likely to commit suicide than their loraincountyveterans.com and click on “Events.” civilian counterparts,” Smith says. “Some take their own life

Here to Help

Dr. Drew Pinsky will share his insights during the Pearls of Wisdom annual event.

COURTESY LCADA WAY

By Linda Feagler

People in all stages and ages of life struggling with addiction know they have a friend at the LCADA Way. Since 1981, the nonprofit organization has delivered customized approaches for treatment to men, women and adolescents in Lorain, Medina, Erie and Cuyahoga counties and surrounding communities.

“The LCADA Way is for anyone who needs it,” says Joe Matuscak, the organization’s director of marketing, development and communications. “We’re here to help.”

On Oct. 27, the LCADA Way will hold Pearls of Wisdom, its annual benefit and recognition dinner, at Embassy Suites Rockside in Independence.

The keynote speaker for the evening is Dr. Drew Pinsky. For 25 years, Pinsky served as program medical director of the chemical dependency unit at Las Encinas Hospital, an acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Pasadena, California. Board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, he has been an assistant clinical professor at the University of

Southern California School of Medicine in the department of psychiatry.

Known nationally as “Dr. Drew,” Pinsky is the author of Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again and hosts a number of streaming shows and podcasts on drdrew.com.

“Unfortunately, we’ve gotten to the point where everyone knows someone who’s struggling with addiction,” Pinsky says.

“One of the reasons I became interested in addiction is that it became clear to me some time ago that this is the medical problem of our time. This country, in particular, has a deficit in resources for mental health treatment, and we have an extraordinary amount of people coming out of their childhood with trauma. We have a spiritual malady in this country that’s showing itself through the disease of addiction.

“LCADA is the shining beacon of light in a pretty dark landscape,” he adds. “It’s gratifying to see the community support this worthwhile organization.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for Pearls of Wisdom, call 440-989-4919 or visit thelcadaway.org/events

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FOOD & DRINK

A new Lorain restaurant lets the owner explore her talents.

By Linda Feagler

strawberries — with eager classmates.

By the time she was a teenager, Smith had learned the nuances of cooking vegetables from her mom and graduated to making dinners that were ready when her parents returned home from work.

Her specialties included pasta dishes and citrus thyme chicken, as well as a mean alfredo sauce made from scratch with heavy whipping cream. It didn’t take long for her to upgrade to being in charge of cooking her family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.

“It gave me a sense of knowing that they supported what I did — and loved the food itself,” she says. “Each was a home-cooked meal always made with love and a sprinkle of Jesus.”

That mantra is clearly in evidence at Dishes by DaShonda, the restaurant she opened last September in Lorain.

Smith, who hails from Delaware, Ohio, received a scholarship to Kent State University and moved north with the intention of earning a bachelor’s degree in dance. But fate had other plans. After being sidelined with an injury, she began cooking at home for friends and neighbors. They urged her to take her talents seriously and open her own restaurant.

The eatery features a tempting menu available for dine-in, carryout or delivery. Smith’s parents, sisters and grandmother lend a hand to make sure everything runs smoothly. The bill of

BUILT TO L A ST 25 Y E A R S

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RAYANNE MEDFORD

While her friends were glued to the Cartoon Network, 5-year-old DaShonda Smith and her grandmother avidly watched the Food Network. The pair admired the culinary artistry of the shows hosted by Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray, and were captivated by the baking segments.

“It fascinated me to see how you could take such small ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, water and vanilla and transform them into a cake, cobbler or crumble,” Smith, 27, recalls. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is great. I have to try this,’” The youngster readily shared her homemade treats — ranging from artfully iced cupcakes stuffed with cream cheese to chocolate-covered pretzels and

fare, which the owner describes as “meals for the soul,” changes weekly and includes generous portions of African American, Mexican and Caribbean favorites.

“I love seeing my customers walk away with what they love the most,” she says.

The Smith family also plans, caters and finds venues for special events that include themed bridal and baby showers.

“My mom loves decorating, and I also fell in love with the matchy themes and bringing people’s visions to life,” she says.

Although the restaurateur loves where life has led her, she hasn’t abandoned her ardor for dance or the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in the subject from Kent State University.

“I want to someday be able to teach kids how to find their passion,” she says. “With cooking and dance under my belt, it might be both.”

2428 Elyria Ave., Lorain, 614-596-3874, facebook.com/Dishes.By.DaShonda

FAN FAVORITES Southern Fried Catfish: DaShonda Smith estimates that not a day goes by when at least 10 people don’t ask for this delectable specialty.

The secret to its success: Smith’s fresh lemon-pepper seasoning. “Many cooks don’t use that in catfish,” she says. “But I believe the lemon gives the fish a special burst of freshness. We also fry the fish in a cornmeal and flour mixture so it’s crispy and crunchy on the outside, but still soft and tender on the inside.”

Birria Tacos: The mouthwatering tortilla is comprised of a corn shell taco stuffed with quesadilla cheese and slow-cooked beef or chicken.

The secret to its success: Authentic Mexican chiles. “We make them with Guajillo chilies, which is a level 4 spice on a scale of 5. It gives the Birria a kick of flavor and heat, which is so delicious because it is seasoned to a T.” Caramel Brownie-Loaded Cheesecake: This irresistible dessert is oven-baked for 45 minutes before being topped with a whole pan of milk chocolate brownies and drenched in caramel sauce.

The secret to its success: “When you take a bite, you get a bite of everything.

It’s like a party in your mouth.”

www.pulselorainmag.com

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Filling Today’s Jobs

By Linda Feagler

Lorain County organizations are working to break down the barriers preventing people from joining the workforce.

T

ransportation. Child care. Finding a new career. Reentering the job market after facing struggles many of us can’t imagine. Lorain County organizations and employers have banded together to strengthen and engage the workforce in ways that work for everyone.

Recovering and Reentering the Workforce

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P2R Training and Resource Center Inc. helps those in recovery or recently released from incarceration.

job interviews, she makes sure they’re ready to reenter the workforce. Some are recovering from substance abuses that involve alcohol or the recent surge in opioid addiction that put a blemish on their employment record. Others must learn how to reenter society after being serving time in prison.

They are, she adds, from all walks of life, and no profession is immune.

Above all, no one is turned away.

The executive director recommends resources that will help people achieve stability and, after proving they’ve

achieved sobriety for 90 days, they turn to Caldwell to help them put their life back together. During her first year of operation, she assisted 217 clients with making a fresh start.

“We focus on attitude, aptitude and attendance,” she says. “The people who come to P2R must have a desire to change their behavior and have things in place that will help them maintain a sober lifestyle. You need that in order to be successful at any job.”

Caldwell and her team help potential jobseekers sharpen their computer

COURTESY P2R TRAINING AND RESOURCE CENTER INC.

Wendy Caldwell, executive director of Place to Recover (P2R) in Elyria, understands the rough the road ahead for people in recovery and those recently released from incarceration. In 2000, the former parole program specialist with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction founded P2R, a nonprofit training and resource center that provides a safe place where underserved and marginalized populations can receive wraparound services.

“One of our guiding principles is to help individuals recover from all of life’s circumstances through strength-based case management, evidence-based programming and mentorship leading to a better quality of life,” she says. “We tell our clients it won’t be easy but it’ll be worth it.”

Connecting them to potential employers is at the forefront of Caldwell’s work. Before sending clients out on

DAVID SCHWARTZ

skills, provide appropriate clothing when needed and feel at ease with the interview process.

“The individuals we see range in age from 34 to 55,” she says. “They’ve had success and wins in life, but have lost their way or gotten into a lifestyle of criminal behavior that has taken them away from the morals of society.

As a result, they need to be retrained. relearned and reeducated on how to conduct themselves properly on the job. Our goal is to walk beside them so they’re never alone on this journey.”

Since 2020, 15 employers have reached out to Caldwell, asking for referrals. She’s grateful for their support.

“Statistics show that a person who’s in long-term recovery is a valuable employee who has a sense of gratitude that makes them work harder than their younger counterparts,” she says.

“We’re proving that data is true.”

Since 1981, Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc. (LCADA) has delivered customized approaches

to recovery for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. For the LCADA Way President and CEO Dan Haight, his chosen profession is more than a job. It’s his passion.

“Every time I see somebody return to our center and ask them why they’ve returned, the answer is often that they couldn’t find employment,” he says. “Sometimes, they’re laborers who developed backaches and began taking pain medications that became addictive, or perhaps it’s a nurse who lost her license and can’t return to the career she had before.”

The LCADA Way’s Vocational Rehabilitation program is dedicated to helping clients find sustainable employment and eliminate barriers to it that often include transportation, clothing, earning a GED or passing a driving test.

Haight has also joined forces with the Lorain County Manufacturing Sector Partnership — a network of manufacturing companies working together to promote manufacturing and grow a

skilled workforce — to identify what he calls “recovery-friendly workplaces.

“Employers know that candidates are probably going to pass the drug test,” Haight says. “But they worry so much about background checks. And if it comes back [less that stellar], the employee won’t be hired. It’s time for employers to overlook that and say, ‘I need widgets made. I’ve got somebody who can pass a drug test. I know they’re working with LCADA and are in recovery. Let’s give them a chance.’”

Being Able to Get to Work

include United Way of Greater Lorain County, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, OhioMeansJobs and MOVE Lorain County. Beginning in September, riders will pay $2 per trip.

“The service is something we’ve all been talking about for awhile,” says Ryan Aroney, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Lorain County.

“It essentially operates like Uber or Lyft, activating idle vehicles in the community to pick up people needing to get to work. The idea is to do that efficiently

through routes so that the vans fill with people who live in the same neighborhoods and travel to employers who are in close proximity of each other.”

To launch the project, a heat map was created that depicted the neighborhoods where existing Thogus and Avient employees reside. Currently, seven workers use the service to travel to jobs at both manufacturing firms.

“The Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project program has helped us touch base with a population we

The conundrum is one Lorain County has been grappling with long before the word “pandemic” became part of our vocabulary: How do residents travel to other parts of the county to get to work when they don’t live on fixed bus routes?

The solution is in sight. Launched in January, the Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project provides van transportation to employees living in Lorain and Elyria who work at Thogus Products and Avient Corp. in Avon Lake. The transportation service uses software from the Columbus-based Share Mobility platform and is connected to vehicles provided by LifeCare and Safe and Reliable for all shifts. Employees can sign up on a tablet or smartphone and meet their ride at a centralized location close to their home.

During the pilot project, the service is being offered for free and is provided in partnership with organizations that

Statistics show that a person who’s in long-term recovery is a valuable employee who has a sense of gratitude that makes them work harder than their younger counterparts.

The LifeCare vans and Safe and Reliable buses help workers find affordable transportation to the workplace. www.pulselorainmag.com

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wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach,” says Erin Hlaven, director of human resources at Thogus. “It removes the barriers of folks being late or calling off because they don’t have a ride to work.”

Hlavin adds that shared transportation also reduces the carbon footprint, which makes it a win-winwin for the employer, employee and the environment.

Aroney applauds the way Thogus and Avient have stepped up to the plate to make the program a success.

“The process of working with the manufacturing companies has been heartwarming,” says Aroney. “And I choose that phrase carefully. They were deemed essential through the pandemic and their businesses are successful — and yet they’re losing money every moment they don’t have people to fill jobs they have open.

There’s an urgency to those companies to fill those jobs. And with that urgency, they’ve started to think outside of the box in terms of how to fill those jobs.

But they’re doing it with empathy, seeing an opportunity to not only fill open positions, but also do it in a way that transforms our community, that reaches into neighborhoods that have a

higher poverty level, and gives access to living-wage jobs to people who might not otherwise have that access.”

The Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project concludes at the end of August, but Mike Longo, director of the Lorain County Workforce Development Agency — the organization that provides oversight to OhioMeansJobs in Lorain County — explains plans are in the works to ensure the transportation continues. Known for providing services to employers and job seekers, OhioMeansJobs manages a program in which companies become eligible to receive funding for on-the-job training dollars. Thogus has committed to using the funding to find transportation solutions for employees.

“We’re seeing interest from other employers who have heard about the project,” Longo says. “As long as they see that it’s a means to attract qualified employees, I don’t see why they would want it to end.”

Sharon Pearson, one of the founders of MOVE Lorain County — an advocate for mobility solutions that improve the economy and quality of life for residents — serves as Lorain County’s mobility manager based out of United Way of Greater

Lorain County. Pearson works with civic leaders to increase awareness of transportation options. She collects transportation data, coordinates educational training programs and develops pilot projects designed to improve unmet needs and gaps in transportation services.

“Employers need to look at transportation as a benefit, not an afterthought,” Pearson says. “The reason is that younger workers want to move where they have transportation options. In order to get people to work, to school, to child care or to the grocery store, Lorain County needs transportation. When you strip it all away, that’s the key to everything.”

database; a parent hotline phone referral service that helps families find care that meets early leaning options; and help from parent and community services.

Dodge admits COVID-19 has made the search for quality care a

challenge. A shortage of personnel in the child care community has forced many centers to close because they couldn’t meet the required staff-tochild ratio. Compounding the issue is the fact that mothers who have gotten used to working at home for

The Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project program has helped us touch base with a population we wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.

Addressing the Need for Child Care

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For women returning or preparing to return to the workforce, finding stellar child care often heads their list of stressors. Jennifer Dodge, executive director of the nonprofit Child Care Resource Center in Lorain, has made it her mission to ease that burden.

The center offers myriad ways to help families connect with the child care programs tailor-made for their situation and location.

“Oftentimes, we find families need many services other than child care,” Dodge says. “So we create plans that provide them resources that can connect them to what they need, including funds, to bolster them.”

Free services for everyone, regardless of income, include a 24/7 online

the last several years are reluctant to leave their children.

“I liken it to the day when I took my infant daughter to day care for the first time,” Dodge recalls. “That first week was traumatic. We’ve had babies born during this pandemic who are already recognized, through screening tools, to have less language capacity because they did not have the socialized experiences most children learn in school. Employers are also grappling with what to do.”

Dodge sees a shift in the way many businesses are designing the work day. She hopes they’ll also address the Child Care Resource Center’s new initiative to help ease the transition: Dodge and her team are meeting with local employers to encourage them to think about innovative ways to solve the child care dilemma.

Getting the Training They Need Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is at the forefront of helping job seekers find new careers through training and placement that benefits local businesses and leads to job growth. Through the Training Recruitment Acceleration Innovation Network of Ohio Learn and Earn program, LCCC and local companies have created pathways to early hands-on experience and on-the-job training in high-demand and high-skill industries.

Students enrolled in the Earn & Learn program earn a certificate or associate or bachelor’s degree in fields that include

RON JANTZ

We reach out to human resources managers to understand the kind of positions they are looking to fill and their ability to hire student workers.

“Employees know they can be just as productive at home as in the office because they’ve had to do it,” Dodge says. “The employer is now trying to catch up with that way of thinking. Some have embraced the idea of not requiring their staff to be in the office, and others have nixed the environment completely or have offered hybrid situations.”

The Child Care Resource Center is working with the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce to define where child care deserts exist and find ways to eliminate them.

“Child care has been identified as one of the top three barriers employers face when they’re either recruiting new employees or maintaining them,” she says. “We’re connecting directly with businesses to say, ‘There might be a child care center 10 miles down

Child care has been identified as one of the top three barriers employers face when they’re either recruiting new employees or maintaining them.

the road. What you need is to [honor] the heightened expectation of child care being near your site or on it, or purchase slots in one. It’s time to take it to the next level and say to your employees, ‘We know your family is super important. They’re important to us, too, because [that philosophy] will make you a happy employee.’ This is what we need to start focusing on.”

Lorain County Community College's Earn & Learn program helps jobseekers access training to become qualified for new jobs.

automation engineering technologies, CISS software development, cyber and information systems, digital fabrication data, analytics, blockchain and Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS).

“We reach out to human resources managers to understand the kind of positions they are looking to fill and their ability to hire student workers,” says Kelly Zelesnik, dean of LCCC’s Engineering, Business and Information Technologies Division. “Then, we work with our faculty to embed work-based learning as a requirement to graduate.”

Students attend college full time, two days a week and work at a sponsoring company three days a

week. During the program, they earn a livable wage while completing their education and gain early exposure to the hiring process, including creating a resume and job searching, interviewing and employability skills.

“We keep employers at the table throughout the entire program and get their feedback on these degrees,” says Courtney Tenhover, LCCC’s Earn & Learn program developer.

“This ensures we’re producing students with the knowledge and skills employers need. We’re also building those important personal student-to-employer connections to make sure it’s the right fit.” www.pulselorainmag.com

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Finalists

FOOD Restaurant • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • The Feve, Oberlin • Strip Steakhouse, Avon Fine Dining • Strip Steakhouse, Avon • Dodie’s Dockside, Lorain • 1833 Restaurant, Oberlin Casual Dining • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • The Feve, Oberlin • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst Patio • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin • The Brew Kettle, Amherst Sunday Brunch • The Feve, Oberlin • Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria • Union Town Provisions, Lorain Family Dining • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain Bar Food • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst • Bar Nova, Avon Cheap Eats • Hot Dog Heaven, Amherst • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon Steak • Strip Steakhouse, Avon • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Diso’s Bistro, Lorain 18 puLse

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VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3

Find out which of your favorites will vie for this year’s top honors.

Lorain County boasts a wealth of dining options, shopping destinations, fun things to do and services that impact our lives. These finalists were the top vote getters in their categories and will vie for the best of the best honors for this year.

Italian • Nino’s Italian Restaurant, North Ridgeville • Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria, Sheffield • Fratello’s, Avon Lake

Donuts • Expresso Bakery, Elyria • Kiedrowski’s Bakery, Amherst • Marta’s N More Bakery, Lorain

Latin • Papasitos and Beer Mexican Grill, Lorain • El Kefon, Lorain • Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant, Oberlin

Coffee • Slow Train Cafe, Oberlin • Arabica Coffee Bistro, Amherst • Check Please Cafe, Grafton

Asian • ThiNi Thai, Oberlin • Pine Garden Restaurant, Lorain • Golden Crown, Amherst Ribs • Moosehead BBQ Grill, Amherst • Uncle Bo’s Slow-n-Low Smokehouse BBQ, Elyria • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain Burger • The Feve, Oberlin • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville Appetizers • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain • Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria Wings • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst Sandwich • The Feve, Oberlin • The Arb at Tappan Square, Oberlin • The Brew Kettle, Amherst Burrito • Fiesta Jalapeños, North Ridgeville • Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Amherst Pizza • Neechi’s Pizza, Avon • Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin • Yala’s Pizza, Lorain

Desserts • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst • Cakes by the Lake, Lorain • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations Chocolate • Susan L. Chocolatier, Multiple Locations • Gibson’s Bakery, Oberlin Ice Cream • Cowhaus Creamery, Elyria • Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Avon • Twist-n-Shake, Elyria Wine Shop • Wine Room, Avon • Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst Deli • Your Deli, Amherst • Fligner’s Market, Lorain • Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria Pastry Shop • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst • Kiedrowski’s, Amherst • Cakes by the Lake, Lorain Fish Fry • American Slovak Club, Lorain • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Tom’s Country Place, Avon Caterer • Conferencing & Dining Services, Lorain County Community College, Elyria • Crow’s Catering, Amherst • Fligner’s Market, Lorain

JOIN US! Sept. 15 6-9 p.m.

Spitzer Conference Center Go to pulselorainmag. com/bolc for ticket information.

Sushi • Jin House, Amherst • Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, Oberlin • Fujiyama Japanese Restaurant, Avon Healthy Menu • Fresco Bistro, Lorain • Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin • Fresh Planet, Avon

ENTERTAINMENT Sports Bar • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst • Game On Lorain, Lorain • Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria Happy Hour • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Speak of the Devil, Lorain • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon Local Festival • North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville • Woollybear Festival, Vermilion • Lorain International Festival, Lorain

Join us at Spitzer Conference Center this Fall to celebrate everything you love about Lorain County at the

2022 BEST OF LORAIN COUNTY PARTY

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 Get the latest info on purchasing tickets, entertainment, vendors and more

pulselorainmag.com/BOLC SPONSORED BY:

Winery • John Christ Winery, Avon Lake • Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake Theater • Apollo Theatre, Oberlin • Lorain Palace Theater, Lorain • Stocker Arts Center (LCCC), Elyria Charitable Event • The LCADA Way Pearls of Wisdom Benefit and Recognition Dinner, Lorain • Blessing House Rock-a-Bye Ball, Lorain • North Ridgeville Community Care Soup for the Spirit, North Ridgeville

SHOPPING Florist • Off Broadway Floral & Gift, Lorain • Puffers Floral Shoppe, Elyria • Zelek Flower Shop, Lorain

Garden Center • Pandy’s Garden Center, Elyria • Pinehaven Garden Center and Greenhouses, Avon • Don Mould’s Plantation Garden Center & Nursery, Multiple Locations Beer Selection • The Brew Kettle, Amherst • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Beerhead Bar & Eatery, Avon

Farmers Market • Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion • Oberlin Farmers Market, Oberlin • Fitch’s Farm Market, Avon

Senior Living • Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin • Sprenger Health Care Systems, Multiple Locations • Kingston of Vermilion, Vermilion

Gallery • Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin • FAVA, Oberlin • Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery (LCCC), Elyria

Yoga Studio • The Hive, Elyria • Solaluna Yoga, Oberlin • Simply Yoga, Wellington Healthy Food Selection • Heinen’s Grocery Store, Avon • Café Melissa, Avon Lake • Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin

Book Store • Ben Franklin, Oberlin • MindFair Books, Oberlin • Central Book Store, Amherst Jeweler • Elyria Jewelers & Repair, Elyria • Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria • Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake Shopping Area • Avon Commons, Avon • Downtown Oberlin, Oberlin • Main Street Amherst, Amherst Boutique • Dollhouse Boutique, Amherst • Truly Simple Boutique, Wellington • Solene Boutique, Avon

HEALTH Fitness Center • Burn Boot Camp, Avon Lake • Grafton Barbell Club, Grafton • UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon

SERVICES

Fitness Trail • Black River Reservation Bur Oak, Elyria • French Creek Reservation, Sheffield • Sandy Ridge Reservation, North Ridgeville

Mani-Pedi • Headquarters Salon & Spa, Lorain • Adeva Salon and Spa, Oberlin • Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

★★★★★

G R A F TO N BARBELL B I G M I K E E LY MAKE AMERICA G R E AT A G A I N !

2022 LORAIN COUNTY FINALIST

Donate on September 15th // 8am-8pm #C2CLorainCounty 20 puLse

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LO RA I N C O U N T Y ’ S M AGA Z I N E

2022

Pet Boutique • Alpha-Dog Pet Center & Pet Wash Systems, Amherst • Polished Paws Salon & Boutique, Avon Lake • Paws by the Lake Pet Resort & Daycare, Avon Lake Car Wash • Blue Falls Car Wash, Multiple Locations • Ridgeville Wash Wizzard, North Ridgeville • Goo Goo Express Car Wash, Avon Dry Cleaner • Elyria Dry Cleaners, Elyria • Pat’s Cleaners, Multiple Locations • Ridge Cleaners, Multiple Locations Day Spa • Adeva Salon and Spa, Oberlin • Headquarters Salon & Spa, Lorain • Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

• Judy Recknagel, Main Street Amherst and Community Foundation of Lorain County, Amherst

CHILDREN Dance Studio • The Little Gym of Avon, Avon • MovementWorks, Oberlin • Miss Kristin’s Dance Studio, Avon Lake Gymnastics • Ten Point 0 Gymnastics, North Ridgeville • Avon Dance Martial Arts and Gymnastics, Avon • Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake

PEOPLE Chiropractor (Name and Practice) • Jeremy Watson, Watson Wellness, Amherst • Beth Kiser, Family Wellness Chiropractic Center, Lorain • Lindsay Horn, Dynamic Movement Chiropractic, Lorain

Learning Center • Laura’s Learning Treehouse, Avon • Children’s Learning Center (LCCC), Lorain • The Child Garden, Multiple Locations

Bartender • Heather Moran, Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Jeff Gresko, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Christina Piche, 83 & Chestnut Pub and Eatery, North Ridgeville

Music Instruction • Avon School of Music, Avon • Community Music School (Oberlin Conservatory), Oberlin • Rock Town Music Academy, Lorain

Local Volunteer (Name and Organization) • Kat Byrnes, Main Street Wellington, Wellington • Annette Corrao, BHS Alumni Memorial Park, Sheffield Lake

Board Member (Name and Board) • Teresa Bosela, Main Street Wellington, Wellington • Brady Aldinger, The LCADA Way Board of Directors, Lorain Chef • Adam Schmith, Culinary Arts Institute (LCCC), Elyria • Brian Weaver, Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Anthony Martorello, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville Personal Trainer • Mike Ely, Grafton Barbell Club, Grafton • Dianne Green, Integral Fitness Ohio, Oberlin • Gina Shaffer, UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon Master Stylist • Megan Morgan, Nix & Row Salon, Avon • Alyssa Hulgin, Light Salon + Spa, Avon • Chelsea Sitzhugh, Light Salon + Spa, Avon

HELP STARTS HERE JUST DIAL DO YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW NEED ASSISTANCE WITH:

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ORAIN COUNTY

Art With Purpose A sculpture focuses on the importance of recycling.

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VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3

it, the pieces lodge into their muscle tissue, which can lead to starvation and reduced growth.

“The plastic can also be present in the muscle tissue of the fish people catch and eat,” Walborn says.

She offers tips for what we can all do to reduce the amount of plastic found in lakes, rivers and oceans. They include limiting the use of plastics such as straws, bottles and bags; recycling plastics; using products made with post-consumer recycled materials; and helping with local cleanup efforts to keep plastic litter from entering waterways.

“To be a good steward of our environment in Lorain County and everywhere, we need to keep our land and waters clean,” Walborn says. “Reducing the amount of waste that we have will reduce the amount of items going into our landfills. If we have to utilize plastics and other materials, recycling them is the best way to help them become another product.”

The sculpture, currently at the French Creek Nature Center, will be on display and make stops throughout the park system. For more information, call 440-458-5121 or visit loraincountymetroparks.com — Linda Feagler

RAYANNE MEDFORD

he 250-pound metal walleye sculpture created by Mitch Beursken, fleet supervisor for Lorain County Metro Parks, is more than a striking work of art. It’s a pointed reminder that none of us should put our recycling efforts on the back burner.

Debuting last year at Lakeview Park, the 5-and-a-half-foot-tall piece has a design that incorporates more than 4,500 plastic bottles park visitors donated for the project. The artist chose the image of a walleye to represent the fish’s prized culinary popularity and the fact that it’s native to Lake Erie.

“The reason we filled the sculpture with plastic bottles is because we want to spread the message about the problem of plastics getting into our waterways,” says Bev Walborn, outdoor experiences manager for Lorain County Metro Parks. “We’re pleased when visitors take the time to study the fish and are attentive to what it says about the importance of clean water and what they can do to help.”

When a plastic bottle hits the waves, it breaks down into small pieces of microplastics, which mimic the look of food. Although walleye are carnivorous by nature and partial to aquatic insects, gizzard chad and yellow perch, they’re also attracted to the plastic. Once they consume

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