Leadership Akron Podcast

April's Leadership on Main featured Melissa Gerney, Detention Superintendent of Summit County Juvenile Court [https://juvenilecourt.summitoh.net/]. Melissa joins Danny Zampelli, Retired Captain of the Akron Police Department [https://www.akronohio.gov/cms/site/10c5e96e7db5b10f/index.html], to discuss her path to at-risk youth leadership and how she is able to successfully lead and manage her team to effectively engage with the juveniles under their supervision. Melissa began her career with Oriana House [http://www.orianahouse.org/] after graduating from Kent State University. She began as a resident supervisor on the night shift and worked her way up the ranks before becoming a stay-at-home mom with her first child. After a couple years, Melissa returned to Oriana House. At that time it occurred to her that years of exposure to adults with mental health and drug abuse issues who continued to make poor decisions, left her feeling like she was not making an impact. As a mother of her own child, she instantly knew she could make a difference with youth and help make an impact on their lives so they don't go on to continue making poor decisions as adults. Now, Melissa continues to find passion in her work with Summit County Juvenile Court and hopes to continue making a lasting impact in some capacity for years to come. Full show notes here. [https://www.leadershipakron.org/leadership-akron-podcast-videos/leadership-on-main/melissa-gerney/]

January's Leadership on Main featured Doug Weintraub, CEO at Bounce Innovation Hub [https://bouncehub.org/] talking with moderator Margaret Medzie, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Akron Community Foundation [https://www.akroncf.org/]. In this episode, Doug sits down with Leadership Akron President Barry Dunaway as they discuss the opportunities Bounce Innovation Hub brings to the Akron area for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the community; why Akron is the best place for a business like Bounce; and some of the keys Doug uses to develop leaders within Bounce's 54 companies and organizations currently housed within the building. Bounce, formerly known as the Akron Global Business Accelerator, is located in the historic 300,000 square-foot BF Goodrich building, standing at 150 years old. Doug and his team are working to bring the Hub to life with a new community event space, coworking space, a café, rentable desks and conference rooms, and numerous other amenities the building will offer. Tune in to learn more about Bounce Innovation Hub! Full show notes here. [https://leadershipakron.org/leadership-akron-podcast-videos/leadership-on-main/doug-weintraub/] Each month, the speaker for the Leadership on Main breakfast series identifies a charity or non-profit of choice for donations to be collected for. Doug Weintraub, has chosen The Battered Women's Shelter [https://hopeandhealingresources.org/battered-womens-shelter/] for his charity.

December's Leadership on Main featured Traci Buckner, Executive Director of the Akron Children's Museum [https://akronkids.org/]. Traci joins Barry Dunaway, the new President of Leadership Akron for a conversation around the intentionality of community throughout the museum exhibits, and Traci's career trajectory that led her to lead Akron's first children's museum in the heart of downtown Akron. Traci shares her experience in STEM education and leadership, and the importance of STEM learning in a child's educational journey. Full show notes here. [https://leadershipakron.org/leadership-akron-podcast-videos/leadership-on-main/traci-buckner/]

March's Leadership on Main breakfast hosted Crystal Jones, Esq., Co-founder & former Executive Director of Project Ujima [http://www.projectujima-inc.org/], talking with moderator, Patrick Bravo, Executive Director, Summit County Land Bank [http://www.summitlandbank.org/]. Crystal spent her childhood in Akron, leaving to pursue her education and a career in law. After returning to the city, her passion for service and activism lead her to co-founding Project Ujima. Listen in to learn how principle of "collective work and responsibility" has shaped the way the organization helps people go from talking about an issue, to taking action, to making that action sustainable. Full show notes here. [https://www.leadershipakron.org/leadership-akron-podcast-videos/leadership-on-main/crystal-jones/]

February's Leadership on Main was an engaging conversation with Madhu Sharma, Acting Executive Director for the International Institute of Akron [https://www.iiakron.org/], moderated by Jeremy Lile, Executive Director of Heart to Heart [https://www.h2hc.info/]. Madhu chatted with Jeremy about her work serving the people who immigrate to the United States, first as an attorney in immigration law for 20 years, and most recently at IIA as the Executive Director. Madhu's family left India and come to New London, Ohio while she was still an infant. One of the key experiences that shaped her outlook was the  experience of growing up in the 70's as an immigrant in a small rural community. Listen in as she shares her thoughts on what we as a nation, as a community, and as individuals can and should do to develop stronger more truly integrated and diverse communities. She also offers some unique insights on leading with vulnerability as a strength. Full show notes here. [https://www.leadershipakron.org/leadership-akron-podcast-videos/leadership-on-main/madhu-sharma/]