As published in Toledo Business Journal - October 1, 2011
Community leaders honored
at awards program
This year marks the 16th annual 20 Under 40 Leadership Awards Recognition Program. The 2011 program brings the number of distinguished 20 Under 40 award recipients to 320. The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals who are making exceptional contributions to the community and/or have distinguished themselves in their careers. It is intended that the program will assist in motivating young leaders in the area. The awards program also represents a networking opportunity for candidates and attendees. Chrys Peterson, news anchor for WTOL-TV11, is the master of ceremonies for the awards event.
The list of past and present 20 Under 40 award recipients is a virtual who’s who of current and future community leaders. To become an award recipient, many candidates have been nominated two to three times in as many years. Nominations for the 20 Under 40 awards come from all segments of the community.
An outside panel of judges is selected annually, generally consisting of CEOs, officials, and community leaders. This year’s judges include: Keith Burwell, president / CEO, Toledo Community Foundation; Elaine Canning, CFO, Phoenix Technologies; Mike Hanf, partner, Davenport, Hanf & Company LLC; Lisa Hawker, executive vice president, Employee Benefits Practice Leader; Louise Jackson, partner, Spengler Nathanson.
The event is sponsored by Eastman & Smith, Ltd.; Fifth Third Bank; Plante & Moran; and Columbia Gas of Ohio. Leadership Toledo is the community partner, WTOL-TV11 is the media sponsor, and Toledo Business Journal is the media partner. The cultural arts sponsors are Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Symphony, and Toledo Opera. Sponsors have worked over the past several months to organize the event.
Following are profiles of this year’s 20 Under 40 award recipients.
Sashem Brey,
reporter / anchor,
WTVG 13abc
Nominated by Karen Fraker and Kristian Brown
Sashem Brey is a born and bred Ohioan who graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism. She began her career working as anchor in Lubbock, Texas and as a production assistant at E! News in Los Angeles.
Since 2004, she has worked her way up at 13abc, from weekend mornings to co-anchoring both weekday mornings and the 5:30 p.m. newscast. Additionally, for four years she hosted the Red Dress Luncheon and the Chocolate Soiree.
Brey has declined offers to continue her career in larger markets because she wants to give back to a place that embraced and invested in her.
She enjoys spending her free time with her husband, parents, and kitties. She also likes to read “Hollywood” news, books, and magazines.
Marci Cannon Fisher,
general counsel,
Lucas County Juvenile Court
Nominated by Judge Denise Cubbon and Judge Connie Zemmelman
Marci Cannon Fisher is a Toledo native and graduate of the University of Iowa. She has worked as an assistant attorney general in Columbus and in private practice in Kansas City. She returned to Toledo in 2003 and served as a senior attorney in labor / employment law with the City of Toledo.
Cannon Fisher’s community leadership includes president of the board of directors, Alliance Francaise de Toledo; trustee, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo; and board member, Chance for Change, among others.
She was selected to attend the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ Annual Conference. She was also chosen as an emerging leader representing young attorneys in recognizing retired judge Robert V. Franklin. Additionally, she was the first African-American female editor-in-chief of a law journal at the University of Iowa College of Law.
Cannon Fisher serves as the primary caregiver for her father who has battled dementia for the past seven years. Drawn back to the Toledo area, she continues to pursue her international interests locally with Alliance Francaise de Toledo.
Scott Chaudoir,partner,
Plante & Moran, PLLC
Nominated by Dave DiManna
Scott Chaudoir graduated magna cum laude from Western Michigan with a degree in accounting. He began his career at Plante & Moran, PLLC in 1994 as a staff accountant. He was later promoted to an associate. He briefly left the company to work at Allied Electric as a controller before returning in 2006. In 2009, he was promoted to partner.
At Plante & Moran, Chaudoir led the firm’s real estate and construction practice in Ohio. He played a key role in the development, build out, and growth of the firm’s renewable energy practice with an emphasis on northwest Ohio. Additionally, he received the firm’s Morrison Award, which is given to a staff person who best demonstrates team spirit and exemplifies the firm’s culture and values.
In the community, he is a member of the northwest Ohio chapters of Construction Financial Management Association, Ohio Contractors Association, and Associated General Contractors; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, and Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants; EPIC Toledo; Distinguished Clown Corps; Leadership Toledo alumnus; Imagination Station finance committee; and LEADERS. Additionally, Chaudoir was elected president of St. Joan of Arc’s School Advisory Council
In his spare time, Chaudoir enjoys spending time with his children, and nieces and nephews. He regularly volunteers as a baseball and soccer coach for his son’s team and has participated in numerous Cub Scout events. Chaudoir resides in Monclova with his wife, Lisa, and their two children Brendan and Anna.
Megan Coyle Stamos,
vice president, preneed director,
Coyle Funeral Home
Nominated by Suzanne Sobel Poague
As the vice president at Coyle Funeral Home, Megan Coyle Stamos is responsible for human resources, finance, accounting, business efficiency improvement through technology enhancements, marketing, advertising, and coordination of funeral arrangements.
She has been recognized as a recipient of numerous Outlook Group Awards for referral marketing and insurance sales. Coyle Stamos was also a recipient of Homesteaders Leaders Conference Top 10 Award for funeral arrangements.
In the community, Coyle Stamos is the chair of Coyle Funeral Home’s Cell Phones for Soldiers Campaign. She is also a member of Swan Creek Retirement Campus Advisory Board and ad hoc committees.
Coyle Stamos is a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals; Kids for Peace; a community-supported organic farming agricultural farming co-operative; Connext Certified Business Network; University of Toledo Family Business Center; and Women’s Entrepreneurial Network.
In her spare time she enjoys historical women’s studies, reading, organic cooking, running half-marathons, Bikram yoga, and renewal energy healing. She has two children, Kate and George.
Lynn Detterman,
president,
Mercy Willard Hospital
Nominated by Karen Fraker
Lynn Detterman was raised in New London, Ohio and graduated from Case Western Reserve University. Before joining Mercy Willard Hospital as the manager of financial operations in 2002, Detterman was employed as a senior auditor for Deloitte & Touche. In 2006 she became the chief financial officer (CFO) of Mercy Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Willard Hospital. Then, in 2009, she was named the president and CEO of Mercy Willard.
While CFO she developed a joint venture ambulatory surgery center between the Mercy Tiffin surgeons and the hospital, which remains operationally and financially successful. Currently, Detterman is working on a replacement facility.
She also has completed the Catholic Health Partners Leadership Academy. The program further develops the leadership skills of high performing senior executives and further expands their knowledge of the healing ministry of the organization.
Detterman enjoys planning vacations and traveling with her family. She has two children, ages 6 and 2.
Brian Dolsey,
interventional cardiologist,
ProMedica Physicians Group
Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants
Nominated by Randy Oostra
Born and raised in Detroit, Brian Dolsey attended Wayne State University and Michigan State University. He later was a fellow at the University of Michigan Hospitals. Currently, he is an interventional cardiologist at ProMedica.
Dolsey has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology; the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions; and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is currently a board member for the local chapter of the American Heart Association and has been appointed chairman for the 2012 Glass City Heart Ball.
Dolsey provides leadership for the Toledo Barbershop Health Initiative. The community-based program provides monthly health seminars on a variety of topics pertaining to men’s health issues in the African American community. The program has been used to break down barriers and common myths held by the community as it pertains to healthcare. It also has been used to screen for various diseases and provide access to medical information and education.
He has two children Jonathan, 8, and Brandon, 6. He enjoys reading and playing golf and the guitar.
Adam Fineske,
principal,
Hill View Elementary,
Sylvania Schools
Nominated by Mike Rochelle
Adam Fineske was born and raised in south Toledo. He later attended the University of Toledo, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Fineske has held teaching and assistant principal positions, in addition to his current role as principal at Hill View Elementary. He has led the school to its first EXCELLENT rating. The school earned the distinction two years in a row while in the midst of a levy and construction. Under his leadership, Hill View was named one of the top six schools in Ohio and honored as a Hall of Fame School for its efforts in increasing student achievement. He was also named Educator of the Year in Sylvania Schools.
He is an active member of the Sylvania Schools Academic Excellence Foundation board of trustees for four years and has served as chair of the American Cancer Society Sylvania Relay for Life event for three years. This year he served on the Sylvania Schools Levy Campaign board. He is also an active member of his church.
Before his career within the Sylvania school district, Fineske was a sales and marketing representative for Coca-Cola and later became a marketing and programming specialist for the City of Toledo’s Mayor’s Office.
Fineske resides in Sylvania and has three children. He is pursing an Ed.D. degree, in hopes of becoming a superintendent.
Alex Gerken,
senior vice president,
business banking executive,
Fifth Third Bank
Nominated by John Szuch
Alex Gerken was born and raised in Napoleon, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Toledo, magna cum laude. He later attended the Ohio State University, where he earned his MBA.
After working at Fifth Third Bank for four years, Gerken was named vice president, commercial banking. Two years later, he was promoted to business banking executive. Now, he is accountable for leading a staff of 16 business bankers in northwestern Ohio and southeast Michigan who serve as value-added financial partners for over 500 privately held businesses with annual revenues under $20 million. In recognition of his leadership and business accomplishments, he was promoted to senior vice president, one of the youngest recipients of the title.
In the community, Gerken served on the board for the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio and is the vice president of the Epilepsy Center Foundation. He serves on the advisory board for UT’s Center for Family and Privately Held Business, the Greater Toledo Urban League, TASBA, and as treasurer for Belmont Country Club.
Gerken resides in Perrysburg with his wife and 4-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter. He spends his spare time completely remodeling his home, inside and out.
Kendra German,
administrator,
Ottawa Co. Riverview Healthcare Campus
Nominated by Steve Arndt
Kendra German was raised in Graytown and graduated from Oak Harbor High School. She attended Bowling Green State University; earning dual degrees in business administration with a specialization in healthcare administration and also gerontology with a specialization in long-term care administration.
Under the direction of German, Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus has achieved a Five Star Medicare Rating. Additionally, the campus was named in the listing of Best Nursing Homes in 2011 by US News & World Report.
As the first executive coordinator of Ottawa County Senior Resources, German established the senior programs for the county and had oversight of the county’s home delivered meals and six senior centers. Additionally, she assisted the program in establishing the Oak Harbor Senior Center, Adult Day Service, and a Home Care Program. As administrator of Riverview Healthcare Campus in 2009, she led the facility in a restructuring that saved $1.5 million per year.
She currently resides in Graytown with her husband, Chad, and their son, Trace. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking, and singing.
Natalie Jackson,
chief legal counsel,
Owens Community College
Nominated by Lynn Olman
Natalie Jackson is a life-long resident of Toledo. She gradated from Clay High School and continued her education at Kent State University where she obtained a degree in American studies. She then attended Ohio State University to become a public service lawyer. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Toledo.
Jackson has received the American Bar Association Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. She has also been asked to speak for the Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Greater Cincinnati Council of Colleges and Universities. Jackson was a scholarly presenter for the American College Personnel Association, American Educational Research Association, and the Association for the Study of Higher Education. Additionally, she is a certified forensic interviewer and certified juvenile-offender mediator.
In the community, Jackson sits on the board of directors for the Lutheran Homes Society and Greater Toledo Urban League.
Jackson spends her spare time striving to share the traditions of her Greek heritage as a Hellenic dancer, Orthodox Church schoolteacher, and Greek festival volunteer. Jackson has two children, Evvie and Gus, with her husband, Mike.
Andrew Maher,
vice president,
commercial real estate,
Waterford Bank, N.A.
Nominated by Jacqueline Isherwood
Andrew Maher manages a $140 million loan portfolio. He has been financing commercial real estate for ten years and plays a key role in the growth of the Toledo area by partnering with local builders and developers to fund new projects.
However, Maher’s true passion is with the American Heart Association. After his newborn son died from a congenital heart defect, he assumed a leadership position within the association. Maher has put his pain aside and has opened up on camera through various interviews to become a spokesperson for the American Heart Association. He dedicates his time to raising money to support the American Heart Association to fund research and development initiatives that will ultimately advance the treatment options and find the cause and cure for congenital heart defects and other forms of heart disease.
Currently, he sits on its board of directors. He has received the Top Walker Award from the Toledo Start Heart Walk since 2008, raising more than $50,000. In the community, Maher is the successor chairperson for the 2012 American Heart Association Heart Walk, an active member of the executive leadership team for the American Heart Association Heart Walk, a member of the development committee of the Toledo Zoological Society, and a member of the 2010 United Way Campaign committee.
Megan Meyer Foos,
CEO,
Toledo Board of Realtors
Nominated by Carrie Serber, Rachel Zawadony, and Dan McQuillen
Megan Meyer Foos is a life-long northwest Ohio resident who graduated from Bowling Green State University. She has held positions with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and Toledo Community Foundation.
Currently, as the CEO of the Toledo Board of Realtors, she oversees one of the largest trade associations in northwest Ohio and its for-profit company, NORIS.
While at the Center for Nonprofit Resources at Toledo Community Foundation, she worked with non-profit organizations one-on-one to increase their capacity. She secured and managed $800,000 in Federal and State grants. In the community, Meyer Foos was a committee chair Leadership Toledo graduate for the Ryan Serber 8K Classic; a member of the Toledo Lucas County Housing Fund; and an auxiliary member of Olivet Lutheran Church where she participates in the bell choir.
She was the youngest executive director throughout JDRF and personally raised $5,000 in pledges and completed a 105-mile bike ride in Death Valley. Following the bike ride, she took the red-eye to Chicago and completed part of a marathon.
Meyer Foos spends her free time playing with her two children and reading.
Frederick Schnoor,
police captain,
City of Sylvania
Nominated by Bill Sanford
Originally from Pemberville, Frederick Schnoor moved to Toledo to work as a patrolman with the City of Sylvania after graduating from the University of Toledo (UT). After completing his graduate degree at UT, he began teaching as an adjunct professor at his alma mater.
Schnoor has spent most of his career focusing on community policing and community problem solving. He is certified as a crime prevention specialist through the Ohio Crime Prevention Association. Additionally, he wrote a crime prevention column for the Sylvania Advantage and the Sylvania Herald for ten years. He helped to start the Sylvania Youth Diversion Program and the Sylvania Police Volunteers.
During his 17 years of service with the Sylvania Police Division, Schnoor has received a “Class A” Award; Police Star; Meritorious Service “Class B” Award; Advanced Certification and Department Instructor Merit Commendations; and six merit commendations for community service.
In the community, he was a board member and committee co-chair for the Sylvania Area Family Services. Schnoor was also an executive committee member for Toledo Area Safe Kids Coalition.
Schnoor has been a police mountain bike cyclist for over 17 years and he enjoys both on and off-road biking. He has been married to his wife for 16 years. They have two sons.
Jennifer Scroggs,
trust officer, AVP,
Fifth Third Bank
Nominated by Marsha Manahan
Jennifer Scroggs went to Anthony Wayne High School. She later attended Ohio University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Additionally, she went to law school at Cleveland Marshall College of Law while working full-time.
Scroggs enjoys attending and supporting local fundraising events. She volunteered on the auction committee for the Toledo Children’s Hospital annual fundraiser; with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio; and with the Toledo Hearing & Speech Celebrity Wait Night fundraiser. In the community, she has been the vice chair and chairman of the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio development committee. She chaired and assisted the development of the White Cane Walk; served as a development committee member for the Toledo Estate Planning Council; and served as a board member for the Toledo Hospital Auxiliary.
She has been a recipient of the Horizon Award and the National Philanthropy Day 2010 Community Volunteer Award. She was also named to co-chair Fifth Third Bank’s affiliate Diversity Committee.
Scroggs is a member of the Toledo Bar Association and EPIC. She is admitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio. She resides in south Toledo, with her husband and dog.
Melissa Shay,
director, marketing services,
Mercy
Nominated by Megan Manahan
Melissa Shay is a native of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. She grew up in Temperance and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo.
Shay is a marketing and communications professional with over ten years of experience in the agency and corporate settings. She currently oversees brand activation and the development of differentiating products and services. At Mercy, she leads facility and product marketing planning and executing. Working for the group for only five years, she quickly advanced from communications manager to director. She held responsibility for two regions within the northern division of Catholic Health Partners.
In the community, Shay sat on the board of directors for Harbor Behavioral Healthcare; YWCA of Greater Toledo Marketing Committee; Race for the Cure public relations committee; Society for Strategic Healthcare marketing and development conference; Beach House Family Shelter board of directors; and Boys and Girls Club marketing committee.
Shay recently completed her masters degree in business administration at the University of Findlay, graduating magna cum laude. She currently resides in Waterville with her husband. Shay enjoys reading, including learning more about trends in the marketing industry as well as healthcare overall.
Dan Smeltzer,
senior manager,
Plante & Moran, PLLC
Nominated by Dave DiManna
Dan Smeltzer was born and raised in Bowling Green, graduating from Bowling Green High School and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) with a BSBA, majoring in accounting. He has been employed by Plante & Moran, PLLC for 14 years.
In 1999, he became a licensed CPA and was promoted to an associate. Currently, he is a senior manager leading the Toledo office, the manufacturing and distribution practice, and the Office Champion of the employee benefit plan practice. Additionally he is a member of the Professional Standards Team for the firm’s employee benefit plan practice.
Smeltzer has been involved in various firm-wide initiatives including paperless work paper implementation and audit re-engineering. His network of referrals and prospects has generated over $2.2 million of new revenue for the firm over the last five years.
He is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since becoming a licensed practitioner. In 2011, he was appointed to the Advisory Board of the accounting department at BGSU. He has been a business leader in the Junior Achievement Business Challenge since its inception, and over the last three years students from his team earned scholarships for college totaling over $16,000.
Smeltzer resides in Monclova with his wife Jamie and two children. He enjoys staying active and has raced in several half-marathons.
Cheryl Swisher,
treasurer’s office,
Van Buren Local Schools
Nominated by Dave Baz
Cheryl Swisher grew up in Delphos and graduated from the University of Toledo after transferring from the University of Charleston.
Swisher holds a State of Ohio Treasurer’s License and took Swanton Local Schools from negative cash balance to fiscal health. Now the district is one of the top ten financially stable school districts in the State of Ohio. She was one of the first school district treasurers that were able to lower taxes voluntarily. This saved taxpayers $1.1 million in taxes in 2011, while maintaining fiscal stability in the district. In addition, she has written procedures that saved the district money, allowing it to hire over 18 new employees last year.
In the past, Swisher has worked for the Four County Family Center, and Fulton County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Her specialty is financial crisis management.
She has been a member of Rotary for over five years. She volunteers for recreation events, school events, and community events. She is a member of Ohio School Business Officials, Ohio School Board, and the local Eagles.
Swisher has been married to her husband for 16 years. They have two children.
Jim Walrod,
national accounts team leader,
The Image Group
Nominated by Jon Levine, Brian Epstein
Jim Walrod graduated from St. Francis de Sales and continued his education at Siena Heights University earning a degree in business administration.
Walrod was recently promoted to national accounts team leader at the Image Group. His role includes developing business and coordinating efforts with his team.
In the past, he was the president of EPIC Toledo in 2010 and served on the executive committee for Leadership Toledo for fiscal year 2010-2011. He was also nominated and received the PPAI 2011 Rising Star Award. Additionally, he was awarded the 2010 Multiple Sclerosis Society Leadership Award. He is a graduate of Leadership Toledo.
In the community, he has served on the following boards and committees: Mobile Meals volunteer; Junior Achievement tutor; Junior Achievement board member; Multiple Sclerosis Society nominating committee; Levy Review committee for the Chamber of Commerce, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce; and the Regional Growth Partnership. He currently serves as the current past president of EPIC Toledo board; Leadership Toledo board; US Senior Open board member as vice chair of Operations; and United Way of Toledo board member.
Walrod lives in west Toledo with his wife, Erin, and their 2-year-old daughter. They enjoy going to the Botanical Gardens, Toledo Zoo, or Inverness to play a quick nine and hang out by the pool.
Tamara Williams,
interim vice provost,
Owens Community College
Nominated by Dr. Larry McDougle
Born and raised in Toledo, Williams graduated from Macomber Whitney High School. She holds a masters degree in education and a bachelors degree in communications from the University of Toledo (UT). She is currently pursuing her doctorate in higher education administration from UT.
Williams is the associate vice provost at Owens Community College (OCC). She is responsible for academic and student support services in addition to various retention programs.
Williams assisted in the creation of the African-American Student Enrichment Initiatives Office. She also led a team that created the first Bridge to Success Program, which assists students’ transition from high school to college.
In the community, Williams served as an Ohio Reads Tutor and on the Annual Dinner Planning Committee for the Urban League. She also worked with the Boys and Girls Club providing college and pre-college courses to the community. Currently, she serves on the United Way of Greater Toledo’s African Initiative Executive Council and is a member of the Tech Prep Consortium.
In the past, she received an outstanding advisor award from UT’s College of Engineering National Society of Black Engineers student group. Additionally, she received a leadership award for her work with OCC’s systems portfolio.
Williams and her husband Willie, have two children ages 14 and 9. She is active in her church community.
Jeremy Zeisloft,
commercial lender,
Huntington Bank
Nominated by Lori Powe
Jeremy Zeisloft is a graduate of Susquehanna University. He obtained his master’s in business administration from the University of Toledo.
Zeisloft is a board member for the Flower Hospital Foundation and Fort Meigs YMCA. As a team leader for the 2010 YMCA scholarship campaign, he helped Fort Meigs YMCA raise over $150,000. In the past he has served on the Zoo To Do sponsorship committee. He was a part of the 2011 sponsorship team that raised $150,000 in corporate sponsorships for the Toledo Zoo.
Additionally, he was a member of the United Way campaign sponsorship committee; a graduate of Leadership Toledo; a Perrysburg youth baseball coach; and a community venture partners member. He was chosen as a member of the Joint Committee for Capacity Building and Strategic Alliance directly impacting non-profit organizations.
He taught Junior Achievement (JA) and directly impacted nearly 50 students including both team and individual leadership opportunities. He also taught a JA budgeting class over the last three years that helped an additional 75 students.
Zeisloft resides in Perrysburg. He has three children with his wife of 11 years. In their spare time they participate in various activities at the YMCA.