Events

Bridget is the Executive Director for Akron Parks Collaborative, a nonprofit organization she co-founded in 2018 in partnership with the City of Akron. Previously, Bridget was Executive Director of Friends of Metro Parks from 2011 to 2022, the Director of Volunteer Programs with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park from 2008 to 2011 and Executive Director of Cascade Locks Park Association from 2001 to 2008. She has served on the boards of Torchbearers and Rotary Camp and on the Interpretation Subcommittee for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association. She is the current President of the Board of Trustees for Spring Garden Waldorf School where her children attend.

Bridget has a BA from John Carroll University and an MA in Environmental Studies from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. She lives in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood with her husband, two children and dog.

Julie Brandle is a past president of the Rotary Club of Akron and currently serves as the District 6630 District Governor. 

She has also served the District as a facilitator for the Tri-District Membership Event, chair of the public image committee, Assistant Governor for Summit S-Medina County Cluster, chair of the District Conference Committee, and member of the Foundation Gala committee

Julie is a committed community advocate and currently serves on the boards of Kent State University's Construction Management program, the Portage Development Board (economic development), Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Urban League, Greater Akron Chamber, ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Northeast Ohio, and the Coleman and Hattie Larlham Foundations. Julie volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, Rotary Club of Akron, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Julie is a Lifetime Gold Award Girl Scout and holds the adult honors of Women of Distinction and the Thanks Badge.

Julie is a graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, as well as Bowling Green State University where she earned a double major in Interpersonal and Public Communication and Soviet Studies and a travel grant scholarship to study in Kiev, Ukraine. She is a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses, ScaleratorNEO, Leadership Portage County and Leadership Akron's Class 37.

Construction Services, a female-owned commercial general contractor located in Kent. Metis completes ground-up, renovation, and facilities maintenance projects throughout Ohio, along with projects currently in PA, IL, KY, MI, and NY. With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations, Julie oversees these areas of expertise for Metis along with being an integral part of the management team that designs and manages the overall business strategy for Metis Construction.

Julie is the daughter of Rich(deceased) and Leann Soika and has a brother Rich (Sharon) and sister Kristen (Orlando) and 5 nieces and nephews (Orlando, RJ, Lydia, Ardynn and Reid). Julie and her husband Steven reside in Brimfield Twp. Their daughter Kimberly is a May 2021 graduate of Bowling Green State University. She is employed as an Intervention Specialist for 3rd and 4th graders in Northwest Ohio.