Robert H. Brown, BSBA ’62, recently selected to receive the Bradford M. “Buck” Gearinger Professionalism Award by the by the Akron Bar Association Board of Trustees.

Norma J. Rist, BSBA ’65, president of Norma J. Rist CEO Consulting Inc., will be honored with the 2019 Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service and Advocacy for Women, March 5, 2019 at the Women Forever Annual Dinner at Goodyear Hall.

Douglas D. Theaker, MSED ’69, was recently inducted into The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Mr. Theaker was honored for his accomplishments, achievements, and post-military service at induction ceremonies in November in Dublin, Ohio.

David R. Shultz, BA ’77, MS ’85, recently joined the Plastics Pioneers Association. The non-profit Plastics Pioneers Association, comprised of plastics industry leaders with more than 20 years’ experience, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018.

Lynn A. Ciccantelli, AAB ’87, BA ’87, MSE ’94, PhD ’11, a psychologist with the Nordonia School District, was recently recognized by the Ohio School Psychologists Association as the Ohio School Psychologist of the Year. Dr. Ciccantelli was formally recognized at OSPA’s annual conference November 8 and 9 in Columbus.

Steven A. Dimengo, BSA ’83, JD ’86, MT ’86, MBA ’86, has been named the new president and managing partner at Akron-based, law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC. Dimengo has worked for nearly 30 years at Buckingham, where his practice focuses on corporate law and taxation.

Jacqueline McGrath, BSN ’84, recently appointed vice dean for faculty excellence in the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health. Dr. McGrath, as professor and the holder of the Thelma and Joe Crow Endowed Professorship, will guide faculty recruitment and faculty development within the School of Nursing.

Fred P. Pestello, MA ’81, PhD ’85, of St. Louis, was appointed to the Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District. Dr. Pestello, is president of Saint Louis University, where he is also a sociology professor. Dr. Pestello was previously the president at Le Moyne College.

Mark Rourke, BSBA ’87, named incoming CEO at Schneider National, effective April 2019. Rourke will be Schneider’s fourth CEO in its 84-year history. He has been with Schneider since 1987, and he is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Ronald S. Taylor, BA ’88, MA ’89, recently named president, CEO of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA). The organization advances mission of educating, advocating and promoting healthy aging, helping people make choices about home and community-based services and long-term care, improving their quality of life.

Doreen Thorne, AAB ’89, BSBA ’94, recently named marketing director at International Soap Box Derby Inc. (ISBD).

Jeannette L. “Jenny” Williams, AAS ’82, BS ’82, recently named executive director, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security.

Judith Barnes Lancaster, JD ’94, received the Salute Award of Merit from the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce at is annual Community Salute Awards. The Award of Merit is the top award presented each year. Ms. Lancaster has consistently given her time, talent and resources to improve the Stark County region.

Colleen C. Burgess, BSN ’94, MSN ’94, recently named director of nursing programs at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). In 2014, the North Carolina Nurses Association named Burgess one of the Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina. She is a board-certified nurse psychotherapist and is known in North Carolina for advocating for patients and families coping with chronic disabilities.

Stephen F. Higgins, MT ’97, was recently promoted to principal at Packer Thomas, a regional certified public accounting and business consulting firm. He has more than 22 years of public accounting experience, specializing in federal income taxation for businesses and high net worth individuals, business valuations and litigation support services.

Janice G. Murphy, MSN ’91, has been named senior vice president at Sisters of Charity Health System, effective November 1.

Mark M. Polatajko, BS ’91, recently named a recipient of Crain’s 2018 C-Suite Awards. He is senior vice president for finance and administration at Kent State University. Mark was honored at a gala on December 6^th at the Westin Cleveland Downtown.

Charlotte A. Wray, BSN ’98, recently named president of Mercy Health Allen Hospital in Oberlin, Ohio. Wray has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry.

Cynthia L. “Cindi” Zagar, BSA ’97, has been promoted to finance director at International Soap Box Derby Inc. (ISBD). She has been with the Derby for four years.

Nichole M. Booker, BA ’04, MPA ’05, PhD ’09, has joined SVN Summit Commercial Real Estate Group in Akron as an associate adviser. She previously was vice president of strategic affairs at United Way of Summit County.

Jennifer L. Hopkins, BSE ’00, has been named the primary teacher of the month at Lakeville Elementary in West Holmes, Ohio, where she teaches 5^th grade.

Fred “Freddie” L. Johnson, BSBA ’08, has been appointed branch manager at Erie Insurance’s Canton, Ohio branch.

Deanna L. Pickel, PhD ’03, named one of nine educators chosen as part of the inaugural Tennessee Teacher Ambassador Network during the 2018-2019 school year. Teacher-ambassadors are partnered with specific division leaders, studying state-level work and advising the Department of Education – without leaving the classroom. Dr. Pickel is a mathematics teacher at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, TN.

Annaliese E. Soden, BA ’07, recently named a member of  the 2018 Class of Crain’s Forty Under 40. Annaliese is currently Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Lauren A. Zink, BAE ’08, recently named security awareness manager at AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. Zink has implemented processes and programs that won her the Cyber Educator of the Year Award in 2018 from the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu and an invitation to be a cybersecurity LinkedIn Learning Author.

Mona Adeli, BS ’11, has been hired by Hocking Valley Community Hospital as an ophthalmologist. She is a board eligible ophthalmologist and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). She won an award for ophthalmology research at the Ohio State University 37^th Annual Ophthalmology Research Symposium.

Evan T. Gannon, BSED ’15, recently named events manager at International Soap Box Derby, Inc. He joined ISBD in 2018 as a race coordinator.

Deborah L. Hardy, EdD ’13, associate provost for teaching and learning, dean of faculty and dean of health technologies at Lakeland Community College (Kirtland, Ohio), was recently named as one of the Notable Women in Health Care 2018 by Crain’s Cleveland Business. The class of awardees includes prominent female leaders and executives in Northeast Ohio’s health care industry.

Cary D. Katzenmeyer, BSED ’16, has been promoted to marketing manager at International Soap Box Derby Inc. He joined ISBD in 2016 as a marketing intern and returned after graduating from UA.

Heather N. Morrow, BBA ’15, who joined International Soap Box Derby, Inc. in 2014, has been named director of operations.

Ian P. Schwarber, BA ’13, has been named a member of the 2018 Class of Crain’s Forty Under 40. Ian is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at DriveIT.