Events

Hardesty, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Downtown Akron Development Corporation brings nearly a decade of experience to his new role in Akron. In his career, he has worked on various forms of development and city-wide initiatives including downtown development, adaptive redevelopment, residential development, site and greenfield development, and program and incentive development. Hardesty played a key role in shaping Canton’s Downtown and intends to bring that experience and success to Akron’s core.

In addition to his experience, he is a University of Akron alumni, holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Walsh University, is an Ohio Certified Economic Developer (OhioCED), and is a 2024 member of ystark! ‘Twenty under 40!’ class.

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, and community engagement, Danielle Robertson Thompson is a proven leader in advancing organizational impact and fostering meaningful partnerships. She currently oversees two governing boards and six committees, including the Grant Selection Committee, where she guides funding strategies and community investments.

Danielle raises funds annually through high-profile fundraising events such as the Ambassador of Golf presented by the FirstEnergy Foundation, honoring global figures including President George W. Bush and Stephen Curry. Her expertise extends to financial management, budget oversight, and compliance, as well as leading large-scale volunteer initiatives that engage more than 1,000 volunteers for events like the Kaulig Companies Championship.

Danielle holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University and a master's from Syracuse University. She brings a strong foundation in donor relations, volunteer and board engagement, and organizational leadership, and is deeply committed to leveraging her skills to promote volunteerism and philanthropy.

We are delighted to welcome on November 4, 2025, our inbound Rotary exchange student as our presenter on Luciana "Lu" Ortiz Ancí, from Arequipa, Peru. We look forward to hearing about her activities and experiences during her first few months with us!

Luciana Mercedes Ortiz Ancí was born on November 1, 2008, in Arequipa, Peru — a city known for its rich culture, vibrant colors, and artistic spirit. From an early age, she showed a deep love for the arts, often spending her time painting, taking pictures, and exploring creative expression through music and movement.

Growing up surrounded by the beauty of Arequipa’s landscapes and traditions, Luciana developed a keen eye for detail and a strong emotional connection to visual storytelling. Her interests expanded to include playing the piano, dancing, singing, and experimenting with makeup, each outlet allowing her to express different facets of her personality.

At the age of 16, Luciana embarked on a new chapter as an exchange student in the United States. This experience broadened her perspective, giving her the opportunity to share her Peruvian heritage while embracing new cultures and ideas. Her time abroad has deepened her artistic voice and inspired her to continue exploring creativity in all its forms.

Luciana’s love for cats, her passion for photography, and her dedication to the arts make her a dynamic and thoughtful young creator. Whether behind a camera, at a piano, or in front of a canvas, she brings warmth, curiosity, and authenticity to everything she does.

Rob and Doug will help you understand the difference between The Rotary International Foundation and The Akron Rotary Foundation. 

Purposeful Giving is a concept that emphasizes intentional, thoughtful, and meaningful acts of generosity. 

They will discuss how giving goes beyond simply donating money or resources—it’s about aligning your giving with your values, making a sustainable impact, and fostering connection and purpose.

Marissa Gerbitz was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During her time at Kent State, she was an active member of Delta Gamma and volunteered with the Kent Lions Club. She later completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. Before joining Apex, Marissa worked as a registered nurse at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and as a nurse practitioner at Milan Laser, where she received two medical excellence awards for outstanding patient care. Currently enrolled in the Apex training program, Marissa specializes in diagnosing and treating both acute and chronic dermatologic conditions for patients of all ages. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, staying active with Pilates, and listening to ’80s rock. A proud Ohioan, she’s also an enthusiastic Ohio State football fan.

This meeting is also being offered via Zoom

Topic: Rotary Club of Akron, OH Club Meeting, 9 December 2025

Time: Dec 9, 2025 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://rotary-org.zoom.us/j/95247435026?pwd=RmOjZ2C0lqcgpafB1o6yiLe79wgpva.1

Meeting ID: 952 4743 5026

Passcode: 752903

Amanda Barna, M.A. is Principal and co-founder of the Center for Marketing & Opinion Research (CMOR). A small-business leader who wears many hats, she oversees business strategy, marketing and client development, and serves as a lead researcher and project manager. With more than 25 years of quantitative and qualitative research experience, Amanda specializes in survey design, secondary data analysis, program evaluation, community health assessments and translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations for community partners.

Amanda earned both her M.A. in Urban Studies and B.A. in Sociology from The University of Akron (where she was named Undergraduate Student of the Year). She is an alumna of Leadership Akron Class 37; past board member of Akron Torchbearers; past Board Chair and current Board Member of Goodwill Industries of Akron; and President of the University of Akron Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Council. Amanda, along with her sister, run their local school district’s annual Safety Town program for incoming kindergarteners. She is a recipient of the Greater Akron Chamber’s 30 for the Future award.

Amanda lives in Canal Fulton with her husband, Tim, their three sons, and two spoiled dogs and is an avid runner who enjoys long distance running and trail races.

Rachel Tecca was hired as the first Executive Director of YSS in November, 2023.  Rachel has distinguished herself locally, regionally, and nationally as an innovative breakthrough leader dedicated to closing youth opportunity gaps.  In her role as Director of College and Career Academies and Assistant Superintendent for Akron Public Schools, she was responsible for leading the district in the transformation to College and Career Academies of Akron (CCAA) ensuring all APS students graduate from high school prepared for college and a career to fuel Akron’s workforce.  Rachel has dedicated her career to serving youth with the greatest systemic barriers and inequities to success in a variety of leadership positions. In each of these roles, she viewed positive youth development and reduction of youth violence as key to creating environments where youth thrive.

William “Mac” Love is an international artist, branding professional, and diehard Cleveland sports fan. Born in New York City, Mac grew up in Brussels, Belgium, studied Fine Art & Synaesthesis at Skidmore College, and earned his MFA in Painting from the Edinburgh College of Art. He has led and produced thousands of private and public art projects around the world. Mac is the president of Leadership Akron Class 38, serves on the board of Akron Roundtable and the Akron Bicentennial Commission, and is an inaugural graduate of Creative Ohio’s Advocacy Leadership Institute.

Willy Kollman is a two-time graduate of The University of Akron and proudly serves as Vice President for University Engagement, Chief of Staff to President R.J. Nemer, and Executive Director of The UA Alumni Association. He and his wife, Caitlin—also a two-time graduate—reside in Twinsburg, Ohio, with their two daughters.

Forever a Zip,

                          Willy 

William R. Kollman '08 '10

Vice President, University Engagement

Executive Director, The UA Alumni Association 

The University of Akron | O 330-972-2575 | C 330-697-6403

Nathan began serving as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Greater Akron in 2024, bringing nearly 20 years of experience working with, advocating for and supporting the Autism community. His career spans roles as a direct support professional working with adults on the spectrum, as an administrator directing residential and day programs for developmentally disabled people, and as an executive dedicated to lowering barriers to access to a sense of belonging for members of the Autism community by creating meaningful quality-of-life opportunities.

Nathan’s dedication to service leadership was shaped by both his parents as well as his service in the New York State Air National Guard during 9/11 and the War on Terror. It was further developed through his academic pursuits. Nathan holds an Executive MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, a Master of Public Administration (Health Care) from Marist College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (English) from SUNY New Paltz.

As the second Executive Director in ASGA’s history, Nathan is proud to build on the sound foundation already in place through the dedication and passion of the ASGA staff and Board of Directors. In collaboration with them and the Northeast Ohio community, Nathan continuously seeks even more effective, efficient, economical ways to continue advancing the mission of creating connections that empower everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully.

Nancy Ellis McClenaghan (Nan) is the President and CEO of The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc. For over 98 years, Goodwill has been a leader in workforce development serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties. Its mission is to help individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. It serves more than 15,000 individuals annually through the direct and indirect efforts of over 450 employees in its workforce development, retail (donated goods) operations, business services and administrative areas. With a focus on strengthening the region’s work force, Goodwill prepares citizens for work and empowers people to live independent, productive lives. Services are available for anyone unemployed, underemployed, downsized, dislocated or new to the workforce as well as those with physical, mental, emotional or background barriers to employment. In late 2020, Goodwill was honored to receive its largest grant ever, a $5 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott which is being utilized to help reduce transportation barriers in its region!

Nan assumed Goodwill’s leadership role in July 2003 after eighteen months of very early retirement from Dominion Resources. Just before leaving Dominion, she had served as its Vice President, Mass Market and just after Dominion’s January 2000 merger with Consolidated Natural Gas (CNG), Nan had also been the Vice President, Billing & Credit. Her nineteen years of utility experience began with CNG and its subsidiary, The East Ohio Gas Company (EOG), and included Customer Services, Operations, Rates and Treasury roles which, at times, included operations in up to four states. Her utility experience includes customer services and operations, product and market development, cost accounting and pricing activities (rate making), gas supply and operations planning, gas measurement strategy, complaint mediation, and rate case, labor and gas supply negotiations.

Prior to joining EOG, Nan spent two years with Touche Ross & Company (now Deloitte Touche) in Akron. She acquired her Ohio public accounting license while in that capacity and she maintains her registration as an inactive CPA. She holds a Masters of Taxation from the University of Akron (UA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University. During high school, she achieved the First Class Award in Girl Scouting (equivalent of the Eagle Award). She has achieved numerous awards over her career, and most recently, a 2014 Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Award from UA’s College of Business Administration and the 2013 Women’s Network Founders’ Award for Community Progress for Women. She serves on ACRT’s Board as its Governance Committee Chair. Nan is the Treasurer/Trustee of the American Cancer Society’s Joseph S. & Jeannette M. Silber Foundation and a Reworks’ Trustee (Summit Akron Solid Waste Management Authority). As a member of the Summit County Social Services Advisory Board, she chairs its Income, Education & Workforce Development Committee. She resides in Akron with her husband and several rescued golden retrievers. Her childhood home was in Struthers, Ohio.

Sarah Vojtek serves as the President & CEO of Stewart’s Caring Place, bringing a unique perspective to the role as a cancer survivor herself. Her personal journey provides her with a profound understanding of the essential support the organization offers. Sarah is committed to advancing the organization through strategic funding, sustainability initiatives, and operational excellence. Under her leadership, Stewart’s Caring Place recently merged with Aunt Susie's Cancer Wellness Center, establishing a second physical location for the organization, which serves Stark County and beyond.

Prior to her current role, Sarah dedicated a decade to the Greater Akron Chamber, progressing from Events and Program Manager to Director of Member Services. She holds an MBA and began her career in development at the University of Akron's Athletic Department, where she worked in donor relations and event management.

Sarah’s blend of personal resilience and professional expertise drives her success. Outside of work, she enjoys an energetic family life with her husband and their two daughters. Whether supporting her daughters' interests, traveling with family, or spending time with loved ones, Sarah embraces each moment life offers.

Leianne Neff Heppner has been with The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio since 1999 first serving as curator and government records consultant to the County of Summit.  Leianne was named the head of the organization in 2010 and was proud to serve during its 90th anniversary in 2014. She assisted the City of Akron in its Akron History Exhibit for over a decade at Lock 3 (that project is now in a new space and will reopen in the future) and has prepared numerous changing exhibits for the County of Summit.  Leianne is an ArtsNow board member and has served on the Interpretation Subcommittee for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association along with a variety of historically linked committees and collaborative projects. She has been a speaker at the Ohio Museums Association annual meeting and the Ohio Local History Alliance (under the Ohio History Connection in Columbus) at its regional and annual meetings and is a past board member of that agency as well as the Akron Area Arts Alliance and the Friends of the Main Library.

Leianne’s past positions include volunteer and internship coordinator at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio; interim director and assistant director of The Castle, an historic house museum in Marietta, Ohio; and intern at Zoar Village State Memorial, an Ohio Historical Society site featuring a communal society in Zoar, Ohio. Leianne holds a Master of Arts in Public History from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University. Leianne is a transplant moving here in the late 1990s from southeast Ohio. She and her family are rehabbing a HUD foreclosure home in Fairlawn Heights and enjoy living in Akron where life is good.