Leadership Lorain County honors six at Difference Makers Gala

Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center played host to the 2017 Difference Makers Gala to recognize the outstanding contributions of six remarkable honorees.

The 14th edition of the gala brought together community leaders who have decades worth of experience in making a positive impact in Lorain County.

The selection process of honorees is a six month process that involves nominations directly from the community. This year more than 30 nominations came forward, and the Executive Board of Leadership Lorain County was presented with the momentous task of selecting the chosen individuals and organizations.

The theme of this year’s event was fire and ice. Julie Cruz Blair, Director of Operations and Development for Leadership Lorain County said they wanted to highlight the dedication, sacrifices and “burning” passions that drives individuals to do extraordinary things.

This year the organization’s highest honor, the Eric Nord Award was presented to Edwin Oley, who is the System Vice President of Mercy Health and Regional CEO for Lorain. Since graduating from Ohio Northern University’s College of Pharmacy in 1977, Oley has been dedicated to improving the health of Lorain County residents for nearly 40 years. After beginning his career as a pharmacist, Oley has overseen Mercy’s development of a regional cancer care, bringing comprehensive cancer treatment to Lorain County. In 2000 after being named CEO of the Oberlin Medical Center he was able to restore services to the community after being on the verge of closure.

Gregory Willey was presented with the Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership. Willey is the Executive Director of the Friendship Animal Protective League, a position he has held since 2009. Willey was able to successfully refocus the organization after years of financial difficulties away from fundraising towards what Willey felt was its core mission. As a result, under Willey’s leadership Friendship Animal Protective League has become the fastest growing animal shelter in Northeast Ohio and had vastly expanded its services in improving the lives of animals cared for through the facility.

The Excellence in Leadership Awards were presented to Patricia O’Brien, Executive Director of the Stocker Foundation; Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti; Stephanie Wiersma, President and CEO of Lorain County Health and Dentistry; and Blessing House, honored for its work as an organization.

Stammitti has been involved in policing for 41 years after getting his start in 1973 when he was hired by the Lorain Police Department. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Stammitti enrolled at Lorain County Community College in 1972 before taking the Lorain Police Examination. Stammitti is currently serving his fourth term as Lorain County Sheriff, a position he has held since 2000.

Wiersma began Lorain County Health and Dentistry in 2002 providing primary and preventive care. Since 2009 the organization has received multiple grants enabling them to expand from two locations to five across Lorain County with a staff of 90. Prior to starting the organization, Wiersma was previously an advance practice nurse specializing in psychiatric and mental health nursing and worked in the hospital system for 18 years where she served in various capacities.

O’Brien joined the Stocker Foundation in 1998 as a program officer and was appointed as Executive Director in 2001. She continues to lead the organization through strategic decision-making, grant evaluation and maintaining best practice governance policies.

Blessing House, located at 5440 Grove Avenue in Lorain, is a children’s crisis care center that provides residential care for children when their families are going through an emergency. Started by three women in 2005, Blessing House cares for more than 175 children each year. Since opening, they have been able to assist more than 1,200 children in need.

The gala was cochaired by James Vandemark, of Vandemark Jewelers, and Timothy Harris, President and CEO of Insurance Board. In addition to recognizing the contributions of the honorees, Difference Makers 2017 serves as one of the organizations biggest fundraisers of the year.