Diane Stevens Robinson

Diane Stevens Robinson, President/CEO of the Greater Stark County Urban League. As President and Chief Executive Officer Diane serves as the chief administrator and is responsible to manage and oversee the day-to-day operation of the non-profit social service agency. An affiliate of the National Urban League, the Greater Stark County Urban League seeks to improve the economic, educational, cultural, and social conditions affecting all citizens in the Stark County area. Diane, a former senior human resources generalist with Fortune 500 Company experience, held the position of HR Strategic Business Consultant, Operations Hoover Company and Corporate Diversity for the Maytag Corporation.

As HR Strategic Business Consultant of Operations Diane conducted research, led the strategic planning, developed strategy and directed the implementation of Human Resources projects and processes to meet the leadership, developmental and performance management needs of Operations; North Canton, Ohio, El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. These strategic initiatives resulted in improved performance management, improved ability to effectively manage employees from diverse cultures and improved leadership development. Diane’s expertise includes working with Fortune 500 clients, as well as with universities, public and private schools, city government, and health care organizations. Diane is grounded in the cross organizational implications of achieving a diverse, high-performing workforce. She has developed actionable insights into how different worldviews can impact, health, learning, safety, and workplace performance and continues to achieve sustainable success delivering strategic and tactical recommendations to executive level stakeholders.

As Coordinator of Diversity Programs for the Canton City School District, Diane was responsible for Diversity and Inclusion Professional Development. The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Educators Association recognized her work with Canton City Schools and the Canton Professional Educators Association in Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to which the Ohio Educators Association presented Diane with the Doris Allen Blue-Ribbon Award for her groundbreaking collaborative work in creating systems to develop and train educators regarding cultural competence. Diane serves as a Research Project Coordinator on Infant Mortality for Kent State University.

Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Howard University, a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Cleveland State University. Diane has been a community activist for many years and her volunteer service on a local, state and national level is extensive. She is a member of the Kent Area Chapter Links, Incorporated (past president) and the Malone University Business Advisory Board. Previous service includes: Boards of Trustees for Canton Country Day School, National Urban League (Executive Committee member), Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation and Stark State College (past chair), Canton Urban League (past chair). Member of Malone University Teacher Advisory Board, The University of Akron’s Center for Urban and Higher Education Advisory Board). Diane’s service also includes an appointment to the Ohio Commission on Education, State Chair for the Ohio Association of Community College Trustees, member of United Way of Central Stark County Board of Trustees.

Diane was awarded the United Way Gold Key Award for Outstanding Volunteers and was inducted into the YWCA Women’s Hall of Fame. Diane was also presented with the Founders Award by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

Diane is a member of Mt. Calvary 2nd Missionary Baptist Church. She and her husband Preston have 2 children, and 10 grandchildren.

Janet Weir Creighton

Janet Weir Creighton’s professional and community leadership began over 40 years ago. As a result, she has cultivated a diverse background in government and public affairs, graciously serving City, County, State and Country in the process.

Creighton’s journey started through advising and coaching young women in Canton City schools, and it continues today as she educates Ohio’s young women in the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of good citizenship. This is appropriate considering Creighton’s own honorable citizenship throughout the years, evidenced by her numerous elected positions and appointments on countless advisory boards, commissions, associations, organizations, councils and committees. She has even had the great fortune of holding several appointments at the request of Governors, and by a United States President.

In 2004, she became the first female elected as Mayor of the City of Canton. In fact, Creighton’s entire career has involved leadership initiatives for women. She was a founding member of Women’s Impact which brings established women leaders together with emerging women leaders for mentoring purposes. One of her many honors received throughout the decades, was being named a co-recipient of the 1st Athena Award winner in Stark County. Proudly, she is also a member of the inaugural class of the 2015 Women in Government Leadership, for the Governing Institute. Creighton also brought her infectious excitement to the 35 years she spent as a volunteer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. She served as General Chairperson of the Pro Football HOF Festival in the year 2000; a position in which, to this day, few women have held.

She has always been committed to identifying a need, making a difference, achieving goals and enhancing the quality of life for others in the community. Her valuable service has addressed education, arts and culture, healthcare, hunger, homelessness, safety and much, much more. It is the aforementioned experiences, and knowledge gained as a result, that became the driving force behind Creighton’s sense of duty to share it all through public speaking. Her robust time commitments dedicated to public speaking is her way of openly sharing her involvements, while her participation and leadership in governmental and voluntary positions; her mentoring and fundraising for community causes and non-profit organizations; and pride of being a loving mother, grandmother and wife, is her way of leading by example.

Janet Weir Creighton’s positive attitude, one-on-one accessibility and boundless energy helps boost morale, gives encouragement, and instills the importance of striving for excellence in whatever endeavor she embarks upon, no matter big or small.

Board Memberships

•  United Way of Central Stark County
• Canton Art Museum
• Canton Junior League
• Prudential Real Estate National Board
• Quest
• Arts in Stark
• Domestic Violence
• Kent State Advisory Board
• Stark State College Foundation
• National First Ladies Library
• Museum Guild
• North Canton Chamber of Commerce

Husband Bob and Linda’s Awards

• United Way Gold Key
• North East Ohio Philanthropist
• Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizens
• North Canton Chamber Citizens of the Year
• Canton Chamber Citizens Gold Key
• The Repository Citizens Moving Stark County Forward
• Wilderness Society Citizens of the Year

Linda’s Awards

• Junior League Women of the Year
• Chairperson for the United Way Campaign Drive
• Chairperson for the United Arts Campaign
• Chairperson for the Taste of the NFL-Akron/Canton Food Bank
• Chairperson Aultman Hospital’s Angel Auction
• President of the of Jackson Township

Linda and her husband Bob have two children Molly and Dan and six grandchildren, Bill, Joe, Jackie, Miles, Drew and Claire and a famous Coonhound called “Jack”.

As a Franciscan nun for more than 50 years, Sister Karen Lindenberger has devoted her life to helping those in need. A member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, Ohio, Sr. Karen, as Hispanic Pastoral Minister, serves as the coordinator of the Hispanic community at St. Anthony/ All Saints Parish in Canton, Ohio.

One of nine children, Sr. Karen grew up on a farm in northwest Ohio. As a young girl, she first encountered the Sisters of St. Francis at a small parish in Peru, Ohio. She felt an immediate connection to the nuns and followed her older sister Betty’s footsteps to attend the Sisters’ aspirant school for young people who felt called to religious life. After her high school graduation, Sr. Karen stayed on and eventually took her final vows in the Order.

She began her ministry in education where she served as a first grade teacher for 28 years. Later her service also included nine years serving the poor in a parish in Appalachia and several years as a missionary in Chiapas, Mexico, where she was first introduced to the Hispanic / Latino culture that would become the focus of her ministry today in Stark County.

At the age of 60, Sr. Karen followed her heart and made a commitment to devote her service to helping the Latino immigrant communities. In preparation, she traveled to San Antonio for a three-month intensive course in Spanish and returned to Chiapas to assist in the missionary work that continued there.

In 2005, she joined the St. Anthony/ All Saints Parish in Canton, Ohio, as a full-time Hispanic Minister, overseeing the outreach services, cultural events, faith formation classes for adults and children, summer school ESL sessions for 5-year-olds, and weekly Mass in Spanish. But Sr. Karen’s efforts go far beyond her official duties as she passionately advocates for the rights of others, rejoices in their personal achievements, and offers comfort and strength to those in need. Initiated by Fr. Thomas G. Bishop in 2001 and supported by grants from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Catholic Home Missions, and  Stark Summertime Kids,  these programs also involve access to basic necessities, interpretation services,  transportation, home visits, and, most importantly, a welcoming embrace to all who come.

Last year she went to the border in El Paso to volunteer for several weeks in one of the Refugee Houses. There she experienced first – hand the struggles and hardships of our immigrant brothers and sisters who are fleeing violence and gang activity, and who come asking for asylum but often are treated so unjustly.

In 2015, Sr. Karen was recognized as a Community Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist International of Canton/ Stark County, Ohio for her tireless work with the Hispanic Community, especially with the women and children she serves so faithfully and in 2016,  Sr. Karen received the Distinguished Service Award from Walsh University.

EDUCATION
• Master of Science in Counseling Studies from Capella University
– Graduated with Distinction
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Business Management from Walden University
– Graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human and Social Services from Stark State College
– Graduated with High Distinction
• Lisbon David Anderson High School Valedictorian Graduate
• 2013 Stark State College Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee

EXPERIENCE
• Since November 2013, serves as Executive Director to the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board and oversees the operation of OhioMeansJobs one stop employment and training centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties in Ohio
• 7 years as Deputy Director with the Workforce Initiative Association (Workforce Development Board)
• 18 years with Stark County Job and Family Services as Program Administrator managing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work activities and subsidized child care programs
• Served 3 years as a County Job and Family Services Representative on the State of Ohio Governor’s Child Care Advisory Board
• Taught Human Services core courses at Stark State College
• Taught American Management Association course at Kent State University – Salem, Ohio Campus

COMMUNITY
• National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Member
• National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Member
• U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council (WDC) Member
• Ohio Workforce Association (OWA) Executive Team Member – President
• Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP) State Stakeholders Group Member
• Stark County Human Resource Association (SCHRA) Member
• Past Tuscora Society for Human Resource Management Member
• United Way of Greater Stark County – Financial Stability Impact Council Member
• Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services Planning Committee Member
• Past Young People Matter Coalition Member – StarkMHAR
• 2012 Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health Participant – Emory University
• Stark State College Gas and Oil Advisory Council Member
• Retention and Expansion Committee Member – Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Committee Member – Alliance Chamber of Commerce
• Education Committee Member – Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Employment Partner Committee Member – Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton
• Business Resource Network Leadership Team and Roundtable Member
• Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Board of Directors – 2nd Vice President

Jennifer is passionate about workforce issues and eager to help individuals become employed and businesses to find the employees they need.

Born in Camilla, GA, Patricia Hopkins Williams is the second child of Minnie and Eddie Hopkins Jr.  Patricia graduated from Timken Vocational High School in Canton, Ohio in 1976. While working full-time and rearing two daughters, she completed her education at Stark State College and the University of Akron.

Patricia retired from Timken Steel after 40 years of working in accounting. She was first hired after high school to be a calculator operator and her career she became manager of operations accounting (formerly known as cost accounting). While at Timken Steel, Patricia was credited by the CFO at the time, for starting the multicultural affinity group for the company. It was the first affinity group to be established at Timken. The primary goal was to assist with on-boarding for new employees.

Patricia has always been an active community member in Stark County and beyond. Patricia is passionate about issues related to children, families, and diversity. Her community involvement includes mentoring children at Kent State University’s Upward Bound Program for several years. She has volunteered with Junior Achievement, volunteering at both Lehman and Crenshaw schools Pat is a member of the Canton Kiwanis Club which is an organization dedicated to helping children, one child at a time.

Pat currently serves as president of American Legion Auxiliary (Post 204), The Mary Church Terrell Club affiliated with the National Association of the Colored Women’s Club and Stark County Council of American Legion Auxiliary. She currently serves at the vice president of the Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR) board. Patricia serves as an application reviewer of the scholarship fund named after her late mother Minnie L. Hopkins, housed at the Stark County Foundation, and The  O‘Jays Scholarship fund. She is also a sustaining life member of the NAACP.

Pat is a member of Community Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Canton. She has served as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, treasurer, deacon and elder. At the state level, she was instrumental in bringing the anti-racism committee to the Ohio region for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), serving as the first co-leader for this committee. She also co-lead the Reconciliation Ministry Commission for the Christian Church based in Indiana.

She has past board involvement with Canton Country Day School and Stark County United Way. She has served as the national treasurer of National Association of the Colored Women’s Club from 2010 to 2012. Pat raised over $6,000 in 2014 for the YWCA Canton and was Champion of the YWCA Night of Champions. Pat is a member of the Greater Stark County Urban League and has chaired their annual fundraiser, the Black and White Ball twice. Pat has also been second Vice President for the state of Ohio Association of Colored Women’s club.

Patricia is especially proud of her family. Her eldest daughter, Sheree has a doctorate from the University of Georgia and currently serves as the interim director of residence life at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She and her husband Marlon, along with her beautiful grandson, Adam Patrick, reside in Atlanta.  Her youngest daughter, Danielle completed her law degree at the University of Akron and is currently a manager of underwriting at Nationwide Insurance Company in Columbus, OH.  Her sister, Cynthia Hopkins, is also an active community member in Canton and a retired math teacher from Canton City School. Her brother, Jeffery Hopkins is the chief justice of the federal bankruptcy court for the southern district of Ohio. Her mother, the late Minnie L. Hopkins, was a principal for Canton City Schools and active community member for many years influencing people young and old. Her dad, Eddie Hopkins, retired from Ford Motor Company as an inspector.

Patricia lives by her mother’s creed, you volunteer to make your community a better place to live.

 

 

I would like to tell you about an amazing young woman who has overcome great odds to become a constructive member of the community with a promising future ahead of her.  Lauren Winland endured a long history of abuse and abandonment but never gave up on believing in herself and believing that she could live a good life.  She is currently a senior in high school where she is earning As and Bs.  Lauren transferred to her current school at the beginning of the school year and quickly impressed the school teachers and staff.  In September 2019, she was selected as her school’s student of the month.  Lauren looks forward to starting college next fall and wants to pursue a career in a medical field.  Throughout the fall she was busy visiting and applying to colleges and universities, and has already received acceptance letters from Walsh University and Bowling Green State University.

In addition to school, Lauren works part time at a local pizza restaurant and is active in community programs.  She participates in a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, mentoring younger students from a nearby school.  She is an active member of her church, participating in youth group and bible study classes.  Last summer she went to a church sponsored summer “camp” that focused on providing food and resources to underprivileged people.

It is hard not to be impressed with Lauren when you meet her.  She is intelligent and resourceful.  No doubt these are qualities she needed to develop to overcome the many challenges she has faced in life.  She is optimistic.  In the time I have known her I have never heard Lauren identify as a helpless victim.  Instead she is always focused on moving forward, learning from experiences, and taking the next steps toward building a better future.  She cares about others.  Lauren knows what it is like to be hurt, lonely, scared.  Because of these experiences she is able to have great empathy for others who are struggling or going through difficult times and is willing to lend a hand to help others out or to support or encourage them.

2019 Award Recipients:

Michelle Cordova

Brook Harless

Alivia Hershberger

Constance Rubin

Mary Lynne Zahler

Teen, Christine Lawver

2018 Award Recipients:

Jennifer Fox

Judi Krew

Kristen Moore

Michelle Mullaly

Mandy Altimus Stahl

Teen, Sadie Owens

2017 Award Recipients:

Janet Baker

Janice Messenheimer-Courtney

Joyce Salapack

Margaret Reaves

Wendy Rockenfelder

Teen, Sarah Meade

2016 Award Recipients:

Barbara Abbott

Judith Barnes Lancaster

Elaine Russell Reolfi

Karen Shackelford

Corey Minor Smith

Teen, Kim Kettering

2015 Award Recipients:

Dawn Campanelli

Barbara Ewing Cockroft

Judge Chryssa Hartnett

Paula Mastroianni

Lisa Warburton-Gregory

Teen, Kaela Brown

2014 Award Recipients:

Jennifer Anderson

Diana Boggia

Cathy Catazaro Perry

Beth Anne Clark Thomas

Cheli Curran

A. Darlene Moss

Lucia M. Pileggi

Gloria Pope

Teen, Jenna Mari Humphries

2013 Award Recipients:

Maureen Ater

Betty Ebert

Tanya Hockman

Delores Pressley

Gloria Talarico

Margy Vogt

Teen, Megan Rush

2012 Award Recipients:

Barbara Bennett

Elizabeth Boyer

Vera Burton

Deborah Cain

Alex Coon

Julie James

Judge Dixie Park

Kathy Poporad

Teen, Madison Weber

2011 Award Recipients:

Linda Cavella

Carol Lichtenwalter

Marian Manns

Teen, Bethany Dill

2010 Award Recipients:

Margaret Egbert

Lisa Hicklin

Dr. Grace Hofsteter

Faith Kittoe

Jill Miller

 

2009 Award Recipients:

Eve Brown

Jackie DeGarmo

Maria Heege

Dr. Martha Magoon

Teen, Alyson Sliman

2008 Award Recipients:

Nadine McIlwain-Massey

Ellen McNally

Carol Mendenhall

Marilyn Tullys

Teen, Elizabeth Burton-Jones

2007 Award Recipients:

Bette Elliott

Kay Flood

Mary Hatchett

Martha Lottman

Jane Mathie

Janet Weir-Creighton

Teen, Kaley Hanenkrat

2006 Award Recipients:

Hortense Bobbitt

Norma Capocci

Pamela Cazzolli

Margie Centrone

Dianne Talarico

Teen, Melissa Cyperski

2005 Award Recipients:

Angela Arrington

Linda Casey

Victoria Conley

Cassandra Crowley

Geraldine Radcliffe

Rebecca Stallman

Teen, Kellyn Moran

2004 Award Recipients:

Sally Efremoff

Pat Fehlman

Cynthia Lazor

Betty Onyett

Thelma Powell

Teen, Kristen Stryker

2003 Award Recipients:

Charleen Davidson

Sally Evans

Stephanie Patrick

Jane Schirack

Teen, Abbey Hodakievic

2002 Award Recipients:

Erin Byrne

Gloria Dunnivan

Carolyn Horner

Blanche Motts

Dianna Warren

Teen, Katie Magoon

2001 Award Recipients:

Terri Bate

Dr. Marie Keener

Mary Regula

Launa Stan

Teen, Linda Nader

2000 Award Recipients:

Myra Belcher

Bonnie Bolitho

Karen Feller

Donna Fowler

Patte Streb

Teen, Erin King

 

1999 Award Recipients:

Women’s Hall of Fame was not held this year

1998 Award Recipients:

Emma Brown Malone

Marilyn Thomas Jones

Candy Lautenschleger

Dr. Willia Nwa

Candy Wallace

Teen, Ellen Giordano

Teen, Erin Kienzle

1997 Award Recipients:

Alexandra Harpster

Marty Howard

Ann Lawson

Jane Meyer

Sally Reed, M.D.

Teen, Amanda Copeland

1996 Award Recipients:

Charee Francis- Vogelsang

Nan Johnston

Virginia Neutzling

Cherrie Turner

Teen, Jill Lombardi

1995 Award Recipients:

Lois DiGiacomo

Thenice Gall

Dr. Audrey A.P. Lavin

Margaret Morgan

Myra Watkins

Teen, Cali Benson

 

1994 Award Recipients:

Janet Buehler

Paralee Compton

Julie Edwards

Kathrine Fisher

Joanne Lattavo

Teen, Kelly High

1993 Award Recipients:

Barbara Beattie

Lynne S. Dragomier

Diane Stevens Robinson

Teen, Mary T. Meese

1992 Award Recipients:

Nancy Boylan

Sherry Lee

Kay Moore

Patricia Z. Parker

Barbara Rosenberg

Suzanne Timken

 

 

Teen, Martiza Sanchez

1991 Award Recipients:

Dr. Martha Cook

Florence Frederick

Merle Griff

Dr. Patricia Long

Willa Webb

 

 

 

 

1990 Award Recipients:

Nelle Frease Harris

Dr. Norma Marcere

Nancy McPeek

Mrs. Levi Miller

Linda Moorhouse

Renee Powell

Teen, Jodi Brewster