PEACH WEEKENDER | AROUND TOWN

20 young leaders recognized for success

10/4/2017

Whitney and Jordan Rofkar attended this year's 20 Under 40 Toledo program Thursday, September 29, 2017, at the Valentine Theatre in downtown Toledo.

The Blade/Katie Rausch
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TWENTY outstanding individuals among 120 young leaders from Ohio and Michigan were nominated for the 2017 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award.

The 22nd annual awards presentation at the Valentine Theatre was in honor of young people who have excelled in their careers and/or as a community volunteer. Also recognized were many of the 420 alumni recipients.

"While only 20 can be selected, all candidates are to be celebrated by the recognition of their accomplishments through the nomination process,” said Bob LaClair, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Ohio, and a long-time sponsor of the event.

This year’s candidates reside in Bowling Green, Bryan, Defiance, Delta, Findlay, Holland, Maumee, Monclova, Northwood, Oregon, Ottawa Hills, Perrysburg, Swanton, Sylvania, Tiffin, Toledo, Walbridge, Waterville, Lambertville, and Temperance.

The top 20 honorees are:

■ Lamar Anderson, Owens Corning;

■ Erika Contreras, the Lathrop Co.;

■ Luke Harman,Toledo Fire Department;

■ Sara Hegarty, American Heart Association;

■ Jeremy Holloway, University of Toledo;

■ Richard Jackson, City of Toledo;

■ Prakash Karamchandan, Balance Pan-Asian Grille;

■ Monica Leppelmeier, ProMedica;

■ Adam Levine, Toledo Museum of Art;

■ Dr. Eugene Lin, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center;

■ Christina Muryn, Pain Management Group;

■ Erica Parish, Owens Community College;

■ Brook Reddish, The Collaborative Inc.;

■ Whitney Rofkar, Thread Marketing Group;

■ Cami Roth Szirotnyak, Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County;

■ Tyler Shuff, Shuff Consulting LLC;

■ Kendra Smith, Preferred Properties Inc.;

■ Sarah Sobel-Poage, Sylvania Graphics Inc.;

■ Zak Vassar, the Toledo Symphony, and

■ Katie Yarder, My Resource Library.

Program sponsors were Eastman & Smith, Fifth Third Bank, Plante Moran, The Andersons Inc., University of Toledo Alumni Association, and Sauder Woodworking Co. The Toledo Business Journal was the media partner, Leadership Toledo was the community partner, and The Creative Block was the website partner. Community support was also provided by EPIC Toledo, Oregon Community Theatre, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Zoo, the Valentine Theatre and Ulrich Pinciotti.

Nominations for 2018 candidates are open at 20under40toledo.com.

READ for Literacy celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gathering at Stone Oak Country Club to honor volunteers, donors, and friends. Originally a merger between the Toledo Area Literacy Council and Junior League’s: Project Read, Read for Literacy has served thousands of adults, children, and families through its signature lines of service, Adult and Family Literacy, Creating Young Readers, Claire’s Day and Literacy Outreach, said executive director Jeanette Hrovatich, who will leave the organization this month. Diana Bush, an employee of the organization for 28 years, will serve as the interim executive director.

Grace Recknagel was recognized for 30 years of volunteer service. Adrienne Green was recognized for seven years of service as a Read for Literacy board member. “Read for Literacy students are successful because donors and volunteers make a difference every single day,” board chairman Adele Jasion said.

Among the guests at the celebration were Jim Funk, Bob and Kim LaClair, and Brad and Julie Rubini.

Contact Barbara Hendel at bhendel@theblade.com or 419-724-6124.