Leadership Stark County

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Leadership Stark County Leadership Stark County develops a community of engaged leaders committed to positively impact our region!

⚔️ SWORDS UP! Our Youth Leadership Academy juniors kicked off their GROW Year at Walsh University!Junior year is all abo...
10/23/2026

⚔️ SWORDS UP! Our Youth Leadership Academy juniors kicked off their GROW Year at Walsh University!

Junior year is all about developing leadership skills, exploring educational and career pathways, and building confidence for whatever comes next!

New campus, new perspectives, and some valuable lessons along the way!

Here's what our juniors took away from the day:

Find your purpose. Pick Nick Morris for Ohio challenged students to think about what gives their lives meaning and how to put that purpose into action.

Say YES to opportunities! Walsh student leaders shared their experiences navigating college life, balancing responsibilities, and stepping into leadership roles. Their advice? Get involved, try new things, and be open to the unexpected!

Stay curious and adaptable. Professor Marc Biss explored AI vs. Actual Intelligence, challenging students to think critically, embrace change, and recognize that their future paths may look different than they expect.

Students also explored Walsh's campus and got a taste of college life with lunch at Schervish Dining Hall!

The biggest takeaway? There's no single path to success. Growth comes from exploring your options, discovering what matters to you, and having the courage to take the next step.

A huge thank you to Walsh University, our speakers, student panelists, and YLA committee members for making this day possible!

📍 Next stop: Malone University!

How many did you check?Whether you’re an executive director or nonprofit staff member, already serve on a board, or have...
10/22/2026

How many did you check?

Whether you’re an executive director or nonprofit staff member, already serve on a board, or have been asked to join one and said “maybe,” Leadership Stark County and BVU (Business Volunteers Unlimited) have your next step.

Step 1: Board Training, Friday, Nov. 13
Learn the 7 basic responsibilities of a board member, the trends shaping today’s nonprofit sector, and how to find the board that fits you. The morning wraps up with a panel of Stark County board and nonprofit leaders.

Step 2: Board Matching, Friday, Dec. 4
Meet 10–15 local nonprofits in quick 5-minute conversations. When the interest is mutual, we’ll connect you so the conversation can keep going.

Doors open at 8:30 AM | Program 9:00–11:30 AM

$80 per session | $50 per session for Signature alumni (include your class number when registering)

Board Training is required to participate in Board Matching.

Not ready to be matched yet? You’re welcome to attend Board Training on its own.

Registration is open now!
Board Training: https://shorturl.at/jFWSV
Board Matching: https://shorturl.at/XhYue

Session 4 of our Fall Spotlight Program was all about Leadership in Action!Thank you to Dan Lowmiller and the Stark Educ...
10/16/2026

Session 4 of our Fall Spotlight Program was all about Leadership in Action!

Thank you to Dan Lowmiller and the Stark Educational Service Center for hosting us and giving our class a chance to learn more about the work they do in our community.

We started the evening with Dr. Nick Morris from Walsh University, who shared why understanding your purpose is so important. He also left us with a challenge to step outside our comfort zones and invite someone we admire or want to get to know better out for coffee. Sometimes all it takes is starting a conversation!

Next, we heard from Shanna Ebert of The Timken Company, Serena Draper Hendershot of Schauer Group Inc., and Donn Angus of the City of Canton. Each shared lessons from their own leadership experiences, advice they've picked up along the way, and ways to get more involved in our community.

One of our favorite parts of the evening was breaking into smaller groups with each panelist. It gave our participants a chance to ask their own questions, have more personal conversations, and build relationships with leaders right here in Stark County.

That's a big part of what Spotlight is all about. Not just learning about leadership, but getting to know the people who are putting it into practice in our community.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make Session 4 a great evening!

You asked, we listened. Board Training and Board Matching are BACK!After hearing the need from our community, Leadership...
10/09/2026

You asked, we listened. Board Training and Board Matching are BACK!

After hearing the need from our community, Leadership Stark County is partnering with BVU Volunteer Connect to bring Board Training and Board Matching back.

Whether you’re an executive director or nonprofit staff member, serve on a nonprofit board, or want to get involved, this one’s for you.

At Board Training, you’ll:
-Understand the 7 basic responsibilities of a board member
-Learn the trends and challenges shaping the nonprofit sector
-Find your fit and know the right questions to ask
-Hear from a panel of Stark County board and nonprofit leaders

Then take the next step at Board Matching! Meet 10–15 local nonprofits in a speed-networking format and find the board that fits you. You must complete Board Training to participate in Board Matching.

Board Training: Friday, Nov. 13
Board Matching: Friday, Dec. 4
Doors 8:30 AM | Program 9:00–11:30 AM
$80/session | Signature alumni discount available (include your class number when registering)

Spots are limited.
Register for Board Training: https://shorturl.at/ZBsCX
Register for Board Matching: https://shorturl.at/ov1rS

10/08/2026

What a way to kick off the year! 🎉

Yesterday, YLA Sophomores from 19 schools across Stark County came together at Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park for our Youth Leadership Academy Opening Retreat, and they brought the energy all day long.

Here’s what they took on:
-Icebreakers, team challenges, and a photo scavenger hunt
-Everyday leadership through Drew Dudley’s “lollipop moment”: you don’t have to wait to lead
-Mapping the strengths and assets in their communities
-Writing the headlines Stark County could make five years from now
-Discovering and learning about their Top 5 CliftonStrengths
-Communication games that had teams working toward a common goal

Thank you to our sophomores for their enthusiasm, to parents and guardians for their support, and to our school partners for helping make the day possible! A special thank you to Chick-fil-A on Dressler Road in North Canton for generously sponsoring a delicious lunch for our students! We’re excited for the year ahead!

Next up: Resiliency & Healthcare Day!

10/06/2026

Every Signature journey starts with being open to saying “yes.” Hear why the 40th Class said yes, and get a glimpse of what made their Opening Retreat so special.

Our 2 days at Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center were filled with connection, conversation, new perspectives, and dedicated time to bond as a class. Most importantly though, they left the retreat with a solid foundation ready for 10 months of growth and discovery.

This incredible group of leaders dove into their Core Values, GallupStrengths, and what leadership REALLY looks like, including how to bring it all together in an Integrated Life.

We’re especially grateful to Employers Health, our 40th Class Sponsor, for investing in Stark County’s leaders, and to Genevieve Nisly Photography, our Headshot Sponsor, for capturing this group so beautifully.

And a big thank you to our team and Opening Retreat Committee for bringing it all together: Sara Heckert (Chair), Johnny Santora, Allie Kreiner, Damon Gallucci, Matt Petrick, and Margaret DeLillo-Storey.

Drop a comment and cheer on 40th Class as they begin their Signature journey!

Your turn behind the bar. 🍸Join fellow alumni on October 29 for a festive evening of sipping, mixing, and connecting! Ta...
10/01/2026

Your turn behind the bar. 🍸

Join fellow alumni on October 29 for a festive evening of sipping, mixing, and connecting!

Taste three mini holiday drinks, each available with or without alcohol. Then pick your favorite and step behind the bar to make it yourself with guidance from a professional bartender.

-Drink tasting and mixing: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM
-$25 per person, including food

Register now: https://business.cantonchamber.org/ap/Events/Register/oXFJONDc6C2CB

Part of the Spotlight experience is getting outside of your everyday role to better understand the community around you,...
09/30/2026

Part of the Spotlight experience is getting outside of your everyday role to better understand the community around you, the people doing the work, the challenges our neighbors face, and the resources that are making a difference.

Session 3 took our class to the Ken Weber Community Campus at Goodwill for an evening focused on health and wellness in Stark County.

No organization operates in a vacuum. What happens in our community impacts our coworkers, customers, families, and organizations. The more we understand what's happening around us, the better equipped we are to connect people to resources, build partnerships, and recognize where we can contribute.

Throughout the evening, our class experienced that from several different perspectives.

Alex Yoskey and Colleen Porter kicked us off with an interactive Jeopardy game that challenged what we knew about Goodwill and showed how their impact extends far beyond the retail store, including their work in recycling and sustainability.

Elena Aslanides Kandis from StarkMHAR gave us a closer look at mental health in Stark County and reminded us that leadership also means checking in on ourselves and the people around us.

Traci Skipper and Jada McElroy from Canton for All People shared how affordable housing, Shorb Market, and neighborhood investment can help create lasting, generational change.

Then we took the learning beyond the room!

Instead of our usual optional networking, our class volunteered with the Stark County Hunger Task Force. After a tour from Stephanie Sweany, the group packed 210 meals for Massillon East and discovered that serving together can be a pretty great way to build relationships, too.

That's Spotlight: learning more about yourself as a leader, meeting the people shaping Stark County, experiencing our community from new perspectives, and finding ways to make an impact within it.

Thank you to Alex, Colleen, Elena, Traci, Jada, and Stephanie for investing in the next generation of Stark County leaders!

Same Mission. Sharper Look.For four decades, Leadership Stark County has empowered, developed, and inspired leaders who ...
09/29/2026

Same Mission. Sharper Look.

For four decades, Leadership Stark County has empowered, developed, and inspired leaders who make our community stronger. Our mission hasn’t changed, but how we share it has.

Our new website is live! Explore programs like the Signature, Youth Leadership Academy, Spotlight, and Next Level Leaders, and reconnect with alumni across Stark County.

Our Annual Campaign is open, too. Your gift helps develop the next generation of leaders and keep our programs strong for years to come.

👉 Explore the new site and make your gift: https://www.leadershipstarkcounty.org/

Address

222 Market Avenue N
Canton, OH
44702

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13304567253

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