The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Leadership Lorain County honors Difference Makers
One of the county’s top leadership development organizations celebrated outstanding community activism at the 2019 Difference Maker Gala and Excellence in Leadership Awards Ceremony at LCCC’s Spitzer Conference Center in Elyria. Four individuals, Thomas D. Stuber, Barbara Thomas, Victor Leandry, Danielle M. Locke, and one organization, The Nordson Corporation Foundation were recognized. The annual gala honors individuals and organizations for their leadership and impact on the Lorain County community and beyond. The 2019
class of honorees were selected out 20 nominations submitted to Leadership Lorain County. Thomas and Leandry were both recognized with Excellence in Leadership Awards. “I think what has led to it is 25 years of Kendal caring about the larger community and joining me with more than 700 residents who have come from 35 states and care about the larger community,” said Thomas, the CEO of Kendal at Oberlin. “I think Kendal made an impression and I’ve just been lucky to lead it.” She said she was in awe of her co-honorees and was humbled to be among them. In looking to the future of Kendal at Oberlin, she said affordable housing options. “Kendal is intentional about its growth. And we think the next stage will be about serving the larger community. Right now we have opportunities for more affordable housing. Not doing it by ourselves, but recognizing we can do it with other partners. And I think it’s that kind of intentional –what does that community need and what are the gapsand discover it together.” Thomas has been advocating for older adults since her first job at Cleveland’s Benjamin Rose InstituteMargaret Wagner House while still in high school. Now serving in her 27th year as Kendal at Oberlin’s CEO, the opportunity to partner with other advocates of aging has expanded. Leandry is currently the executive director of El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc. in Lorain. El Centro is a bilingual/bicultural, non-profit, social services agency. El Centro is currently celebrating 44 years of serving the community, specializing in services for the Hispanic/Latino community. “It is a tremendous honor, especially with this group of honorees. It’s fantastic,” Leandry said. “I don’t think I’m in their league, but I am very honored and very humbled to be in that group of honorees. I don’t do what I do for recognition; I do it for the need of the community and my passion for what I do.” He has lived in the city of Lorain for 26 years and is very active in the community. Leandry is currently a member of organizations and boards encompassing a multitude of aspects of community life. Stuber, president and CEO of The LCADA Way was honored with the Eric Nord Award for Excellence in Leadership. Stuber, began his career battling addictions in 1980 at the Lakeland Institute and has spent the past 38 years trying to resolve the impact addiction has on individuals, families, and the community. He has been at the helm of The LCADA Way since 1999. Under his leadership, the organization currently provides treatment services in Lorain, Erie, Medina and soon to be Cuyahoga counties. Since the onset of the opioid epidemic, Stuber has been focused on developing effective services and models of care to address the unique needs of those addicted and their families. These services include: the first ambulatory detox programs, the use of the Bridge, medication assisted treatment, opiate specific research based curriculums and partnerships with recovery housing with day treatment programs. Stuber is a sought after expert in the field of addiction, speaking to community organizations, hospitals, churches, schools/ colleges, and police departments. Danielle M. Locke was recognized with the Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership. Locke has spent nearly 20 years in the non-profit field in various management, fund development, marketing and communication roles. Danielle is the founder and principal of Locke Step Partners, a consulting firm which works with non-profits to maximize their fundraising and marketing potential. Prior to charting her own course, Locke proudly worked as the gift planning officer for the Community Foundation of Lorain County. In this role she led all aspects of strategic asset growth, marketing and community outreach. Her current volunteer and leadership roles include the Center for Public & Nonprofit Management as well as the Dean’s Stakeholder & Alumni Advisory Committee for the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, the Advancement Network, Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Lorain County Bar Association Fee Arbitration panel, Non-profit Communicators of Lorain County and LakewoodAlive. The Nordson Corporation was honored for Excellence in Leadership. Nordson has origins that date to 1952 when the U.S. Automatic Corporation, under the leadership of Walter G. Nord, established The U.S. Automatic Foundation.