Events

Akron Rotary and the Akron Rotary Foundation is once again supporting Open M's Feeding Kids Backpack Program which provides supplemental food for students attending Innes Middle School.  On Wednesdays 3-4 Rotarians will pack food sacks at Open M that are delivered to Innes by a Rotarian on Thursdays.

This project lasts throughout the school year.

Father Dean Kokanos was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended college and graduate school, earning a Master of Music Degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  After pursuing a career in classical music, Fr. Dean attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts .  In 2013, Father Dean earned the Master of Divinity degree with High Distinction. Following seminary Father Dean was ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan SAVAS of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and assigned to be the Assistant Priest at the Annunciation Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio where he oversaw the parish's youth and young adult ministries

In 2017, Father Dean was assigned to be the Parish Priest of the Presentation of Christ Church in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Under Father Dean’s leadership, the parish founded an outreach ministry which included an on-site food pantry, hot meal distribution, and clothing pantry, as well as various seasonal outreach events and thousands of dollars a year for emergency relief.

In September of 2022 Father Dean was assigned to be the Presiding Priest of the Annunciation Church of Akron, Ohio.  Since then, the parish has increased its monthly on-site food distribution program to include a second monthly food pantry, twice-monthly hot meals, a clothing pantry, a weekly off-site feeding program, a program offering assistance with laundry services, seasonal outreach events including an annual Thanksgiving Meal that feeds over 1000, and various programs in cooperation with local charities and agencies.

In addition to his responsibilities at the Annunciation, Father Dean serves as the Spiritual Advisor to the Metropolis of Pittsburgh parishes of the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (MEFGOX).

Since graduating from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Father Dean has earned four units of Clinical Pastoral Education as well as an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University.

Father Dean is married to Presbytera Gabrielle, also of Pittsburgh.  They have two children.  In his free time, Father Dean enjoys sailing his “super snark” boat on the lakes of Northeastern Ohio and watching football.

We need 1 or 2 members to volunteer to pick up the meals prepared on September 18th, 2024 from the Rotary Camp kitchen and deliver these meals to two locations.

The Baked Ziti with Sausage is to be delivered to The Highlands @ 262 South Ave, Tallmadge, OH 44278. PLEASE DELIVER HERE FIRST!

The Chicken Enchiladas are to be delivered to The Shelter Home @ 32 South Ave, Tallmadge, OH 44278.

You can reach out to Marissa Rufe with any questions at 330-204-3873. The Shelter Care coordinator who is Akron Rotary's point of contact is Jessica Purdy, if Marissa is not available, you are welcome to call Jessica at 330-715-1249.

Robert J. (R.J.) Nemer is the 19th president of The University of Akron (UA). He began his tenure on May 15, 2024.

A double alumnus of The University of Akron, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (1990), and a J.D. from the School of Law (1995), Nemer is well connected internationally. Prior to being named president, Nemer served as the dean of the UA College of Business for more than two years. During his time as dean, he grew enrollment, student opportunities, and experiential learning. He expanded branding as well as forged and renewed regional, national and global relationships.

An attorney by education and originally an entrepreneur by trade, Nemer excels through creating, collaborating, guiding, and ultimately reinventing. In Northeast Ohio, he solely founded a professional golf agency and headquartered it in Akron. Nemer grew his agency, established national and international offices, and eventually became the leader of the world’s largest independently held sports agency of its kind.

After 17 years, Nemer sold his business to William Morris Endeavor, a firm that had recently acquired the worldwide sports agency, IMG. He was targeted as the person who could resurrect the IMG brand. Five years later, after more than 20 years in sports, Nemer pivoted and became CMO for a large capital management firm. While this work proved rewarding in many aspects, he missed the energy he felt as a coach and mentor to younger executives.

In January 2022, Nemer was selected from a large field of qualified candidates and named dean of the UA College of Business.

Throughout his career, Nemer has successfully navigated a variety of issues on a global scale. President Nemer now leads the University with the same philosophy he employed in earlier phases of his career—guiding others while preserving his ever-present desire to keep learning, gaining respect in a variety of settings, and championing positivity and an energetic culture.

Nemer is a long-time active member of the community, having served on the boards of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA of America. He is currently a board member for the First Tee of Akron and Bounce Innovation Hub. Nemer routinely co-chairs and participates in numerous charitable and philanthropic endeavors locally and nationally.

More details to follow with formal invitiations

Contact Amanda for additional information

Connor is a name partner with Wright LaHaie Jarvis Wealth Advisors, one of the largest independent financial consulting and wealth management firms in Northeast Ohio.  Amongst other credentials, he has earned the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, the standard of excellence in the wealth management and financial consulting industry bestowed upon those who have met the rigorous education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements. 

As virtually everyone here knows, he is an active Rotarian, proudly serving on the Board and as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Rotary Club of Akron (embracing his role as everyone’s favorite club member to pick on).  Additionally, he serves on the Walsh University President’s Advisory Board, is a member of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Bluecoats, Inc. of Summit County, and volunteers with the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Annual Enshrinement Week and Young Life of Stark County’s Finance Committee. 

When he is not serving clients or the community, Connor spends his time with family and enjoys outdoor workouts (despite what his present figure may imply), studying maps, baseball, reading, and journaling.  He and his wife (Courtney) are high school sweethearts and “Miami Mergers” (go RedHawks!).  Courtney is a pediatric dietitian by trade, formerly working at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and now working as a Client Relationship Manager in the family business.  They reside in North Canton with their daughter (Emerson - 4) and two sons (Theodore - 2; Beau - 10 months). 

Steve Elliott became Chief Magistrate for Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer in the Summit County Probate Court in January 2023. Previously, he served the Court as a full time Magistrate from July, 2021 through December 2022 and Magistrate/Court Investigator from October, 2018 through July 2021. Prior to joining the Court, Steve was a partner in the law firm of Davis Elliott, LLC and  an associate attorney at Davis, Eoff and Elliott, LLC. In fifteen years of private practice, his focus was on real estate law, estate planning, estate administration, guardianships and civil litigation.

Chief Magistrate Elliott is a native of Canton, Ohio and received his BA degree from Bowling Green State University and his JD from The University of Akron School of Law.  Prior to attending law school, Steve worked in federal and state law enforcement at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.  He is a member of the Ohio Association of Magistrates, the Ohio Bar Association and the Akron Bar Association. Steve is actively involved with the Estate Planning, Probate, & Elder Law Section of the Akron Bar Association and currently serves on the board of its planning committee.  In addition to presenting at continuing legal education seminars at the Akron Bar Association, the Ohio Elder Law Institute and for the Summit County Prosecutor’s office, Magistrate Elliott has presented for many community groups throughout Summit County. Steve is married and lives in Green with his wife and three children.

Jaclyn Palumbo is an elder law attorney practicing in Fairlawn, Ohio, with her law partner Allan Sweet. Her focus is elder law combined with estate planning and probate administration. Her job is to protect assets for loved ones from the nursing home and government, and she wants to hopefully educate and ease fears about the Medicaid process. Her objective is to conserve assets for a spouse living at home to make sure he or she doesn’t go bankrupt, and if the family wishes, to conserve assets for a potential inheritance for their children. She prides herself on client interaction and ability to help people of all walks of life. She has been practicing for the past ten years.  

Joan Lauck joined Akron Roundtable as the Administrative Director in May of 2009. In January 2020 she was named Executive Director.

At Akron Roundtable, she manages the overall organizational operations and works collaboratively with the Board of Directors and board committees to advance the mission of the organization. Previously, Joan held the position of Director of Development at the Akron Art Museum where she successfully conducted a $42 million capital campaign.

Joan’s career has also included positions as Director of Community Relations and Director of Communications for GenCorp where she oversaw the annual report process and managed the GenCorp Foundation providing guidance and counsel to GenCorp’s 35 plant locations across the country.

Joan is a graduate of Leadership Akron and serves on the boards of Akron Children’s Hospital Women’s Board, Summit County Sports Hall of Fame and Woodridge Foundation.