In honor of Leadership Lorain County’s 30^th Anniversary, a new award for a young professional was established for the 2015 Difference Makers.  Geared towards individuals aged forty-five and younger, this recipient must have demonstrated integrity, honor, service, and transformative leadership in Lorain County.

Former Recipients:

2015 Juliana Chase-Morefield

2016 Farnaz Ansari Berna

2017 Gregory Willey

2018 Catherine Woskobnick

2019 Danielle M. Locke

2020 Stacie starr

2021 MARSALIS l. HAMMONS

2022 Parris Smith

2023 Carmen M. Scott, Esq.

2024 Christopher Cocco

2004
Kass Crooker
Jack Lavriha
Betsy Manderen
Sister Annamae Murphy
Denis A. Radefeld, M.D.

2005
Judge Joseph Girigiano
Maureen Ross Cromling
Ted Jacobs
Alice Weston
Community Foundtion Of
Lorain County

2006
Paul Balcolm
Michael & Lisa Bramhall
Evelyn France
Dr. Alex & Maria Zolli
Lorain County Metro Parks

2007
John D. Beckett
Benjamin G. & Jane Norton
Dr. Florencio & Lily Yuzon
Lorain County
Community College

2008
Leonard Deluca
William T. Locke
Joan Lowry
Elyria Rotary Club

2009
Joel P. Arredondo
David L. Herzer
Bishop A. James Quinn
Easter Seals Northern Ohio

2010
Kathryn C. Boylan
Terry D. Goode
Gerald E. Skully
Douglas B. Wilber
Big Brothers Big Sisters Of
Lorain County

2011
Larry A. Bettcher
Frank P. Detillio
El Centro
De Servicios Sociales

2012
Donald Knechtges
Marvin Krislov
Neighborhood Alliance

2013
Donald Sheldon, M.D.
Michael & Dina Ferrer
The Lcada Way

2014
Claudia Jones
100 Women Who Care About Lorain County Founding
Members: Susan Bowers,
Marcia Miller, Nancy Sullivan
& Libby Thuning
Polyone Corporation

2015
Rex Engle
Charles & Alyce Horton
Lorain County JVS

2016
Rick Grahovac
Kevin J. Flanigan
Marilyn Zeidner
Chicks Against Hunger

2017
Patricia O’brien
Sheriff Phil Stammitti
Stephanie Wiersma
Blessing House

2018
Anthony Gallo
Jeanine Donaldson
The Ross Group of companies

2019
Barbara Thomas
Victor Leandry
Nordson Corporation Foundation

2020
clare cygan young
david & noelia nodal
the nord center

2021
rEY CARRION
JOHN W. SCHAEFFER, M.D.
SECOND HAVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO

2022
Wendy Caldwell
Ann schloss
lorain county urban league

2023
Dr. Norva J. Ross
Linda Ong Styer
lorain county Chamber of Commerce

2024
Dr. Mark A. Ballard
James Vandemark
Sheffield Sheffield lake city school district student services team

Gayle A. Reeves, Esq.

Gayle A. Reeves has been a visionary, innovator, and servant-leader in Lorain County for over forty years. Gayle started her private practice as an Elder Law Attorney when there were very few female attorneys in Lorain County, and even fewer who practiced in the Estate Planning and Probate area. When Long-Term Care Planning became a new area of practice, Gayle was one of the first attorneys to embrace it.

She personally experienced the overwhelming feeling of having to move her father to a nursing home and providing care for her mother when she moved in with Gayle and her husband, Mark. She understands the humbling experience of standing in line at the Medicaid office and being treated as a nonentity. Her heart was changed, and she committed herself to helping her clients and their families navigate the complicated world of long-term care planning. Gayle provides exceptional counsel to individuals and families with her elder care practice. She truly cares about her clients and her compassion comes through, giving them understanding, and hope.

Gayle has served on the Elder Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Probate Committee of the Lorain County Bar Association, and the International Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Gayle has travelled all over the world, including to China, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with a delegation to learn unique solutions adopted by other countries to manage the legal challenges facing the elderly.

She has used her successful, professional platform to help the Lorain County legal community every step of the way. She sat on the Lorain County Bar Association’s Executive Board for ten years and served as the President of the Board in 2006-2007. She has sat on the LCBA Legal Ethics & Grievance Committee and served as that Board’s Chair. Gayle also served as a mentor for female attorneys entering the field to help them fit in the Lorain County legal community during a time when there were very few females that practiced probate law. She continues to be sought out by her peers when they have elder law questions because they know Gayle always takes the time to assist her colleagues. She regularly presented for the Lorain County Bar Association’s continuing education series and conducted character and fitness interviews of Ohio Bar Applicants for the Ohio State Bar Association.

Recently, Gayle joined the firm of Dooley Gembala McLaughlin & Pecora as a partner, so that her clients would have continued excellent representation after she retired. As she caps off her professional career, Gayle received the LCBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and was honored at the Lorain County Bar Association’s 100th Anniversary Gala.

Gayle’s desire to help others is not limited to the legal arena. She worked in partnership with local school districts to promote student success and connected many school systems to services and partnerships with non-profits. Gayle has spent her entire career giving back to our community by serving on many non-profit boards. She served on the Board of the Epilepsy Foundation, Board of the Community Foundation of Lorain County and is a past Chair of that Board. During her tenure on the Community Foundation Board, Gayle and Brian Frederick created the Board Chair network to elevate the effectiveness of all non-profit boards in Lorain County.

Gayle sat on the Board for Second Harvest Food Bank and Chaired that Board as well. Gayle co-chaired a very successful capital campaign that raised $5.1 million to fund a new food distribution center. She plans to continue to promote the Second Harvest mission in new and innovative ways and volunteers on the Medical Ethics Committee for Kendal at Oberlin, where she also provides counsel to decision makers regarding difficult and complex problems.

As Gayle begins to wind down her practice, she continues to promote the importance of volunteerism by leading a new generation of attorneys through regular activities between her firm and Second Harvest. She has demonstrated her dedication to improving Lorain County for countless years and in many ways.  Gayle has always led with her heart and moved forward with purpose, courage, and enthusiasm to support innovative ideas and goals that raise dignity for individuals and communities throughout our area.

christopher cocco

Christopher Cocco has always felt a strong connection to place. His first job at The Lorain Palace Theatre would cultivate a lasting bond to Downtown Lorain and its nearby waterfront. These formative experiences as a youth would instill core Lorain values of celebrating diversity, loyalty, and community.

Christopher is a graduate of The Ohio State University Department of Design where he received his Bachelor of Science in Design. At Ohio State, Christopher became interested in the human-centered approach to design and how improved interactions and experiences between humans, spaces, and objects have profound impact on lives and society.

Looking for a directional shift in his late 20’s, mentors shared their experiences with service life for a way to find meaning, fulfillment, and community in his life. Service opportunities opened new doors and presented in ways that could empower and transform the people and place he formed a strong connection to as a youth.

In 2019, Christopher was part of a group at the Lorain Historical Society that formed Main Street Lorain and over the last 4 years has been grateful for the opportunity to serve as the board’s Vice President and President over that time. Main Street Lorain continues to build a strong foundation toward the revitalization of Downtown Lorain and Christopher is #LorainProud to have played a small part of bringing vitality to Lorain’s Historic Commercial District.

Christopher’s professional work has also aligned with his vocations for service and social impact. Clark & Post Architects, Inc. has a proud history of working with the non-profit sector in Lorain County. Christopher has been fortunate to work on projects for many great organizations to help increase their capacity and meet community needs. Over his 10 years at Clark and Post, Christopher has worked on projects with the Lorain Historical Society, Neighborhood Alliance, United Way of Greater Lorain County, Road to Hope, Blessing House, Oberlin Community Services, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

When looking for diversion, Christopher enjoys making pizza with his wife Alison, finding beach glass along Lake Erie, listening to a good record, and still kicking the soccer ball around.

Dr. Mark A. Ballard

Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Dr. Mark A. Ballard, Sr. is the quiet force behind many of the social services and initiatives that ensure Lorain County is a great place to live, learn and work. His time and voice have contributed to the development of policy, programming and support benefiting public schools, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, healthcare, environment, politics and perhaps most significantly, our children and families. Some of his many affiliations include:

• CEO, WNZN Power 89.1 FM Radio
• Member and Past President, Lorain City Schools Board of Education
• Chaplain, Lorain Police Department
• Executive Board, Northeast Ohio Boys and Girls Club
• Trustee, Greater Victory Ministries
• Member, Mercy Health Diversity and Inclusion Board
• Member, City of Lorain Sewer Water Advisory Board
• Executive Committee, Lorain County Democratic Party
• Founder, 100 Men of Lorain County
• Founder, PACE Foundation
• President, Lorain County Association of Black School Educators

While the projects he leads are wide ranging, the common thread of his work is rooted in servant leadership, and his Christian faith. For example, when the economy took a downturn in the early 2000’s, Mark founded the PACE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) which focuses on Youth Development, Job Training and Workforce Development, and Economic Development Projects. When gang violence disrupted our communities in the early 2010’s, he founded 100 Men of Lorain County, connecting male mentors with at-risk juveniles to develop their respect for family, spirituality, justice, and integrity.

Significantly, Mark served as President of the Lorain City Schools Board of Education during their fight to remove the district from Academic Distress as a result of House Bill 70 which had been locally perceived as the biggest long-term threat to the Lorain community. Mark made sure the City of Lorain and the struggles of underserved populations were front-and-center both locally and down in Columbus. Working with local legislators, community leaders, media partners, educators, and families, those efforts led to Lorain being the only district of three under state oversight to be released by Governor Mike DeWine earlier this year.

For all his professional and political accomplishments, Mark will humbly describe himself as “just a kid from Lorain” and a “family man.” He and his wife Sandra have life-long ties to the City of Lorain, and both graduated from Lorain High School in 1986. They have two children, Mark Anthony, and Moriah Alyssa, who graduated from Lorain High in 2012 and 2015, respectively.

James (jim) vandemark

Jim started his career in Jewelry in 1981 at Brandau Jewelers in Elyria at the age of 16. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1983 and continued working at Brandau Jewelers, obtaining his certification from the Gemological Institute of America, being certified in diamonds and diamond grading. In October of 2002, Jim opened Vandemark Jewelers, making this year their 23rd year in business. Jim is beyond thankful for the support of the community, which is why he loves to give back.

Jim’s dedication to community service started with the Elyria Jaycee’s where he was President from 1990 to 1991, establishing the Elyria Jaycee’s scholarship fund. He was involved with Elyria Noon Kiwanis for 25 years, running their annual Halloween parade for 15 years. Jim served on the boards of the Elyria Downtown Commons group, reorganized as Main Street Elyria for over 25 years. He was board chair for three years to end his tenure. Jim has been on the Elyria City Schools Endowment board since 1996, co-chairing the annual golf outing. He has also co-chaired two school levy campaigns for Elyria City Schools. Jim was a past board member for the Lorain County Historical Society. He also was a past member of Sales and Marketing Executives of Lorain County, serving as president from 2001 to 2002.

He currently serves on the board for the Elyria Apple Festival, helping coordinate the car show, and is the emcee for the Century Club dinner, raising funds for the festival. He served on the Community Foundation of Lorain County’s board from 2008 to 2015, was Board Chair in 2014, and remains involved on the grants committee. Jim is also involved with the Elyria Public Library Endowment Board, serving as President from 2020 to 2022. Jim currently is a member of the Elyria noon Rotary and a trustee of the Ely Trust.

Giving back to the community that has always supported him is a priority for Jim and his family.

sheffield-sheffield lake city school district student services team

The Student Services Team of the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools provides a wide continuum of behavioral health and social-emotional learning support for the communities of Sheffield Village and the City of Sheffield Lake.  Integrated support is provided through the collaboration of a District Social Worker, Family Engagement Specialist, and five School Counselors.  The team works to provide universal, targeted, and intensive support by identifying gaps in service and environmental barriers which impede student learning.

The Student Services Team engages in work that significantly impacts not only the students in their district, but also families throughout Lorain County.  Projects include addressing immediate needs such as food insecurity, housing, and clothing, as well as educational tools, training, and information nights for parents, grandparents, and other kinship caregivers.  Wraparound support provided by the district includes a mobile food pantry initiated in 2019 through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.  This mobile food pantry, which was one of four county distributions initiated during the onset of the pandemic, continues to serve over 400 families per month.  Available to residents of Lorain County, its service has reached over 6,000 families

and over 21,000 unique individuals since inception.  As an extension of outreach, the team coordinates grant-funded literacy and resiliency kits, which are geared to increase adult-child interactions by providing kitchen and other family-oriented activities via hands-on learning experiences.

Wraparound support also includes a locally developed clothing ‘store’ and community clothing/shoe distributions, so that students can confidently come to school in clean, fitting clothes, as well as have access to hygiene and laundry services in effort to strengthen student learning.  Additionally, vaccination clinics at no cost to the community help keep our communities and schools healthy and safe.

The team recognizes that it is necessary to partner with community and faith-based partners to connect the community with integrated whole-child support.  As part of a comprehensive approach to a continuum of care, the team works closely with a variety of community partners, including Second Harvest Food Bank, SoulToSole, Santa’s Little Helpers, Sheffield Village Lions Club, area churches, pharmacies, community mental health agencies, behavioral health private practices, and the Good Knights of Lorain County.

A culture of student volunteerism has been established where students serve as the majority volunteer workforce in these outreach service projects.  Students participating earn community service credit through a variety of school service organizations, including a locally awarded diploma distinction for volunteerism highlighted at the 50-, 100- and 200-hour service levels.  Through integrated support and social-emotional learning opportunities, the district continually works to showcase the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools as a progressive, community-focused learning center.

Pictured above:

• Back row:  Andrew Smith, School Social Worker;  Amy DeLuca, School Board President; Catharina McNichols, School Counselor Lead; Travis Baldwin, School Counselor 7-9
• Front row:  Jennifer Falk, School Counselor 10-12;  Tandi Fritz, School Counselor PK-2;  Megan Meckes, School Counselor 3-6